Day out at the Zoo

Spent the day with the primates at Twycross zoo yesterday, 3 of which you can see below.




Julie (centre) as already posted on her blog about various things such as the Guanoco getting a bit feisty and the banging of windows when it says please don't!, she also got some nice photographs, so I will leave you to read her blog about those items.

I took lots of photos, most of the enclosures, other members of public, awkward position of subjects and reflective glass screens made it incredibly difficult to get good shots, particularly of the apes and monkeys the zoo specialises in breeding, so a lot of my photos did not come out well.



As can be seen below the new 3 and bit week old elephant was very popular and I could not even get to the fence, I did eventually get a shot from the other side by going down a closed off path.




The zoo has plenty of apes but not much else, we have Capybara the worlds largest rodent, about the size of pig (see below).



Meercats and Prairie Dogs which were fun





I have a couple of cat photos one of a Scottish wild cat which is about the same size as Charlie and a leopard which I edited away the bar from.





We all had a good day out Dave left some ice cream which was too sweet for him and after a few mouthfuls too sweet for me.




We arrived not long after opening and left as the final gift shop was closing so I would say we got a good days entertainment out of the zoo. Julie fed us, Dave provided drinks and I did the driving and even the roads managed to be not blocked by heavy bank holiday traffic, apart from not being able to get off at my junction on the way home due to the road works.



I didn't wear sun block so my exposed arms are a little red today.

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Two photographs with reflections involved, 1 in the glass of a monkey cage, the other me in sunglasses.

Steam Punk Stuff

I finally get to post about some steam punk props made for AscendancyLRP that I started a month or so ago but since I wanted them to be a surprise at the event I couldn't show them here.

I had been busy collecting junk as can be seen below


Which I liberally spread around my house


This my Steam Rifle, made from a crossbow stock, a candle stick, a fire extinguisher and a dial from a foot pump.



Next we have a brain in jar, this is made of biscuit tin, part of a cyberman toy, some cutlery drainers, a bit PVC strip and a latex brain from the Adventurers Emporium

Then a brain transfer device which was mainly made from the back half of a cyberman toy helmet.

This mechanical arm was made from a Dr Octopus toy arm, I then added the innards of a electric drill and few pipes

The memory crystal is basically a bit of brass wire from hobbycraft, a candle stick, a old box and crystal prop I had lying around, glued together with a hot glue gun.

This is my mind testing device, basically a couple of dismantled alarm clocks, which I printed new dials for and Vitalator bought from a junk shop for £8

I have some other steam punk props to post about which I will do separately when I have chance to photograph them.

Photgraphs from the event they where used in can be seen here, including photos of the cybernetic gorilla, brought in by the Goblins

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My latest cat photo

Science of Murder event

Had great fun this weekend all be it very tiring, at the Ascendacy lrp Science of Murder event, probably the nearest Ascendancy will ever get to a traditional murder mystery.

Yes the Butler did it, although the butler killed himself after transferring the murder victims brain into the butlers body, so I suppose the butlers body did it, but not the butlers consciousness I'm sure that makes sense to all my readers.

My main contribution to the event was lots of steam punk props which I will write about separately soon, plus a really obnoxious character.

I enjoyed watching Dave's comedy Cybernetic Gorilla handler who forgot his name and did eventually unleash his not so deadly Gorilla. I did have a lot of fun being in the middle of two or three players mad pressing of the "Do not press this Button" moment which resulted in a couple of hours of chaos and brain swapping.

Anyway this is a quick post with a few photograph below, as soon as I have chance I will put the rest on the photos of players Ascendancy web site.

My steam punk props specially prepared for the event


Julie and Andy the two rotters who tried to steal the money my character was about inherit.



Heather with her urchins pre yellow face paint, which is pre red face paint.


Heather playing a combat nun

Julie working repairing the chains

Me playing a unnamed boot licker of Ubilatis Grim, with newly painted green legs

Amy pre Cybernetic Gorilla.

Julie playing Mrs Periwinkle the murder victims wife.

Dave has just strapped a ladle to Grahams head then covered it in fabric, the improvised Heron costume highly amused those present.

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Insey winsey spider came rushing out a bush for his freshly delivered lunch just as I arrived home last Sunday so he got snapped by my camera.

If there is a spider expert out there, what's his name?

Mud and flies

I spent my weekend crewing a Ascendancy Larp event for Alex, a special one off event to celebrate his birthday and also see off two of his friends emigrating to America.

(Alex wearing his Raven Hat)

The event was at a Shining cliff, a regular site that despite a lovely weekend of weather was more muddy than it gets in the winter due a good month of rain preceding. The damp conditions had brought out the flies and the whole forest buzzed quite loudly with millions of them, at least the forest ants where not as active as usual.

(Me has one of Finalays elite guard)

Julie wrote the event more or less on her own the odd idea was thrown at her but I'd been concentrating on future events and battles, other ref RichS had been ill with zombie plague pig flu and Andy was tied up with future prospects for his store, so it all fell on her to organise so I was glad she at least made one day to see the players and be involved in her hard work.

(Photo below Julie has a villager)

Alex got a few birthday plot surprises, and the players really enjoyed themselves, it was a one off for them so not sure they will be back but I heard at least one say the event had made him want to take up larping again, so it was a great success.

(Julie has the Noodle lady in disguise)

On Saturday I manage to kneel on a sharp stone heavily which not only cut my knee open but made it swell overnight, even though I didn't discover the cut until I showered. Then I had nocturnal leg cramp which made my eyes water and left me limping for the first 30 minutes of my morning. To add to my woes I discovered by time I reached the event around 10am Sunday morning I had begun too fell ill with something, I felt weak, queasy, cold and clammy and started to get a pounding headache, I can only assume I must have looked a little pale or ill since Andy kept asking me if I was alright, however by the time of the last encounter I was feeling much better, and feel fine now apart tired and aching muscles.

Other than that I really enjoyed myself both days, Saturday was lots of fighting, I got to play a dwarf and other combatants, on Sunday I was given the role of player escort since Andy believed I knew the plot and possible I looked ill, well it seemed I did know the plot everything went smoothly and I got to play the evil bad (well at least in the players opinion) Dark Rider or Bringer of Light has he call himself until I got walloped away by a raven staff wielding witch.

(Me has the Dark Rider)

(Below RichS and below that Dave had Nightmare's, Dave has a very good eye for costume and make up.)

(Dave again has our visitor from the dreaming)

The photo above was full of people and blue bags in the background so I re-touched them away

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Skeleton with crossbows from a table top battle

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Cat in a window