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Sunday 21 September 2014

August outings for Laura

Laura had two outings during the first half of August - I didn't have time to blog about them at the time, so am catching up now.

The first outing was to London to see/listen to two BBC proms in one day - in the afternoon we were lucky enough to attend the War Horse Prom with the wonderful horse puppets designed and made by the Handspring Puppet Co. of Cape Town.  It was filmed and will be broadcast on BBC TV in November and is a must watch.  Between proms we went to Giraffe for dinner, then enjoyed the Mozart Requiem prom.

Reading the tube map on the train 
Laura with the War Horse Prom programme
Awaiting the start of the War Horse prom
Keeping occupied in Giraffe, waiting for food (we didn't have to wait long)
Laura with her new Giraffe
Laura in her doll bag outside the
Royal Albert Hall ahead of the Mozart Requiem prom
Watching the orchestra get ready just before the Mozart Requiem prom
The second outing was to Lincoln Steam Rally to see some fairground organs.  We also enjoyed the model display - people have such amazing collections, some assembled over many years, others painstakingly built by the owner for enjoyment.

An 87 key Gavioli organ over 100 years old with beautiful
bell ringer figures and a 1970s monkey collecting for charity
An 89 key organ (built in 1992), with a new figure
replacing the 3 wooden originals
(which were Scottish - a bandmaster, a seated figure
and two bell ringers all wearing kilts)
Laura is curious and goes to see this fair organ
Laura meets the new bandmaster who is not carved of wood,
but is a fibreglass copy of a wooden figure
Laura and the new bandmaster
For a video of the organ with its original figures see http://youtu.be/gTT-o8Jfl80
Some figures for sale in front of another old organ.
The two small figures are modern.
Laura has a ride on the Gallopers in the fair on Rosie the horse
The organ on the gallopers which was steam driven
(this is why some people here mistakenly called
fairground organs 'steam organ's -
true steam organs are calliopes with
steam blown through the pipes)
Laura took this photo of Henry the horse especially for her friend Henry
A very old bell ringer on a vintage Fair organ (another Gavioli built in Paris)
A gorgeous Ruth organ (built in Waldkirch)
which we last saw at the Waldkirch festival in June
(it made the journey all the way from England)
An amazing layout of a miniature circus, it extended over a very large table
 A model showman's caravan in the model area
I think the Showman's wagon was about 1/12th scale, the detail inside was lovely
Inside the miniature showman's wagon
Laura met a friendly bear and they had a good chat
(he was automated and moved his head by radio control)
At one of the model area was this amazing road
layout for radio controlled vehicles
A large Meccano train
This brilliant little moving dinner table
complete with candles on the table was making its way around the rally
It is specially built for 4 OAPS to enjoy their dinner on the move
This organ has a bandmaster I've always considered has a rakish look in his eye -
I wonder if it has anything to do with the bevy of beauties around him
Laura really enjoyed these outings which happened in the first 2 weeks of August (before her friend Henry came to ride horses with her).

8 comments:

Dee said...

Well it looks like Laura had a wonderful two trips out. First to the two prom's and what great ones to attend. Those horse puppets are amazing.Looks like Laura had a good seat and could see all that went on.

And then to the steam rally! Another great day out with all the wonderful things to see and do.I see she made a friend of the bandmaster , a good person to keep in with.
Looks like Laura had a lot to tell the others when she got home!

Serenata said...

What a fun holiday you have had. The steam rally photos were fascinating, all those organs are all so pretty and intricately designed. Henry loved seeing the horse with his name and would have loved to have ridden on it and thinks Laura was very lucky to go for a ride. It reminded him of his ride on a horse on an old merry go round in Germany when he was there in 2012 with Emily. What fun they had then.

Serenata said...

Actually that trip to Germany Henry had was in 2011 - gosh how time flies!

Kendal said...

Sasha Laura is fast becoming a very highly educated little doll... especially in the musical field.

She is putting all mine to shame very rapidly with all this musical knowledge! Doubt if mine have or know a musical
note between them.....except for perhaps when they hear 'Land of Hope and Glory' being played at BBC's The Last Night at the Proms when I do notice quite a few getting caught up in the atmosphere and excitment.

I don't think that I've ever heard of anyone (human or doll) going to TWO proms in ONE day! (Please can she let me know when the War Horse Prom is being broadcasted on the TV in November so that I and a few of my Brood can hopefully watch it?)

I used to go to several local annual steam rallies.... though before my Sasha Doll collecting took off, but this usually only had the steam vehicles on display, although for a fee you could enjoy driving one or two yourself.

The minature replicas here were delightful and most interesting. What an enormous amount of time and detailed work has gone into their making. Such unique treasures for the future.

Many thanks Laura for such a wonderful and informative post here and I look forward to hopefully seeing you at the Chat n' Snap towards the end of October.

Unknown said...

Hello from Spain: awesome pics ... great travel. Lovely dolls. Keep in touch

Ginger said...

What a beautiful post. Laura is certainly having a great time with so many colorful things to see and beautiful music to hear! I love the miniature circus and the moving table was just amazing! Thank you for sharing your great time! :) xxx

Sharon said...

WOW Laura is one lucky little girl getting to go on all these lovely outings! I envy her the two Proms, I love watching it on the tv....and please let us know when the horses one will be televised, as I'd love to see it!
Hugs Sharon xx

Saphira said...

I'm in love with the pictures from the big and the small girl.... the doll bag is wonderful and I like Laura writing an the sweet giraffe... thanks a lot for showing.... greetings from Germany