Wednesday 15 December 2021

Whoops, Legs and Boompsy Daisy …

 

I couldn't think up a different title … but this .. or should it be whoopsy daisy?

Human and Gorilla
(stretched out) to
compare



These snippets bemused me – so here they are! Or impressed me for an #WATWB post … but appears here …




King Arthur - our greatest King has ladies legs … who would have guessed – after conservation – it was found that the top of half had been sculpted from Coade stone (invented late 1700s/1800s); while the lower half, including his right leg were crafted from Bath stone in the Roman period (AD 43 – AD 410) - c/o Ian Visits the statue ...




Extraordinary juxtaposition I'd say … especially as the Roman element came from a female statue … possibly even a sculpted goddess?!


Now we move to South America … to find an Inca pottery muscular leg wearing a sandal – on show at the British Museum: “Peru – A Journey in Time” ... 



The leg celebrates the running skills of the Chasquis, messengers in the Inca empire, who took advantage of the vast Inca system of purpose-built roads and rope bridges in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador.




An Inca Quipu

No wonder their legs are muscular – they could run up to 150 miles (240 km) per day – recording administrative details on a Quipu: a fascinating device  ...




Next we come back to London … where a man has been trapped inside a clock – oh yes … more legs to walk forever more; chasing … what? Oh yes – the time …


Maarten Baas, who has been described as an “author designer” … see his bio. The Paddington clock found in Eastbourne Terrace is one of his Real Time Series 12-hour films of performances indicating the time that intends to combine theatre, art and film production in a series of new clock designs ... c/o Ian Visits blog: Paddington has trapped a man inside a clock ... 


I need to see this …Maarten Baas – Real Time Clock outside Paddington station … to quite comprehend it ... 


Last but not least to note a Bristol charity saving prosthetic legs from landfill – here recycling its 10,000th leg – brilliant inspiring charity.



As we're at the end of this post – just watch those legs especially in the northern hemisphere – where ice and snow may well descend.


Well we were at the end til I remembered the dead parrot - actually a sulfur crested cockatoo - residing on a plinth in South London ... and of course the Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch ... 


One more post to come … stay safe and well during this continuing difficult time …


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories


32 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

PS - I have not had a drink! The fonts seem to take on a world of their own ... something to be sorted (sometime!). Cheers ... off to a lunch! Hilary

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
LOL - fun all the way!!! Enjoy that lunch. YAM xx

Joanne said...

I'd say you have a leg up on us in finding whimsy in the world. That rooster cracks me up. Kudos to those fixing legs - that's excellent. And I find your font changes fun - just roll with it and take full credit for the artistic aspect it lends to your blog. Thanks too for posting as we approach the holidays - I'm happy for new stuff to read. Cheers and figgy pudding.

Hels said...

The man that has been trapped inside a clock is doubly clever:
1. chasing time is tricky... you never quite catch up. And
2. a clock uses hands, not legs. So we should use and exercise all parts of the body :)

Be fit and well.

Sandra Cox said...

That picture of the human and gorilla skeletons is striking isn't it?

Elephant's Child said...

What a fun post. I would love to see these for myself, and am v grateful that you shared them (though I will admit to sadness about the deceased cockie).

Debbie D. said...

Well, that was a fun read! ☺ Love the dead parrot sculpture, especially. Thanks for the smiles Hilary!

bazza said...

I'm not sure what to make of this post Hilary! 😊
Every time I got interested in something - it went off in another direction! Enjoyable though...
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s technically tremulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yam - it was a fun lunch ... a change from recent business ones, relaxing too ...

@ Joanne - thank you for the leg-up comment! I just couldn't resist them and not commenting ... made me laugh. Heaven knows what happens re the font moving around ... I guess moving between the Mac and PC doesn't help. Oh! enjoy all the sites - I'm glad to know someone reads them ... Cheers and figgy pudding back too!

@ Hels - yes the clock 'Real Time Series' is a clever 'invention' ... I'd really like to see it. But you're right we need it to leg it a bit more ... definitely something I must do in the New Year.

@ Sandra - the two skeletons' comparison is good isn't it...

@ EC - yes I must try and find them when I go up to London ... I'm sorry about the dead cockatoo - mind you good sculpture though ...

@ Debbie - delighted you enjoyed the read through - and to think I almost forgot the dead parrot sketch ... I'm happy you had smiles as you read it ...

@ Bazza - sorry ... it was one of those posts ... I needed to write about legs - the links are there ... so I'm happy to read you enjoyed the run through ...

Cheers to you - thanks for coming down to my level of amusement!! Happy days - Hilary

Anabel Marsh said...

Very quirky! Good fun.

Jemima Pett said...

What fun. The king does looks sort of top heavy....

Dan said...

I have to ask, how complete a lower half of the king? Sorry, I shouldn't have gone there, but...

The dead parrot and the lower leg are my favs. All fun though.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

A post t hat made me smile and feel good

Botanist said...

150 miles in a day? That's nearly six marathons! That is some going, and I bet it wasn't all on the flat either.

Fascinating collection of leggy trivia :)

Computer Tutor said...

What a collection of interesting bits. That recylced prosthetic legs--that has to win the cake!

retirementreflections said...

Such a fun post, Hilary.
I especially loved your PS!
Wishing you a very happy holiday season.

Liz A. said...

The legs are walking away with this post.

Susan Scott said...

Thanks for l/egging us on Hilary .. pull the other one! Fun post, may check the links later - all best, Susan

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@Anabel – good to see you here … I hope all well and sent with thoughts …

@ Jemima – yes poor King … but just loved the uncovering …

@ Dan – from the link (Ian Visits – above) talks about the lower half of the body being duly covered up with creased clothing! But a professor has concluded that it was from a statue of the goddess Minerva … sculpted in mid-2nd century AD, dating around the time of Hadrian. So regrettably the lower half looks to be from a female torso!!

Good to know the dead parrot (aka sulphur crested cockatoo) and the female leg of King Arthur are your favourites!

@ Jo-Anne … that's good – thank you …

@ Ian – yes that's what I read … incredible isn't it- they needed that musculature – and it was up and down those mountains.

Glad you enjoyed the leg lucky trivia!

@ Jacqui – I just seemed to keep coming across legs – making an easy post – yes the Bristol based charity of recycling prosthetic legs had to be featured.

@ Donna – delighted you enjoyed the post full of legs and the PS – I did have one glass of wine at lunch …

@Liz – the legs certainly walked away with the post …

@ Susan – I know … it just made me smile – each leg or half of one as they appeared onto my radar … always happy to see the links checked out …

Cheers to you all … please stay on your legs! And thanks for all your comments here … Hilary

Annalisa Crawford said...

Loving the legs, Hilary. Running 150 miles a day? I need a lie down :-)

H. R. Sinclair said...

Quipu is so fascinating! I love the people clocks and the cockatoo as well.

Keith's Ramblings said...

What a fun read Hilary! Right now I need to leg it to the shops!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Annalisa - I know: 150 miles up and down the Andes ... sounds great fun doesn't it??!! Well actually I could get to Dorchester from here, stop over night and run on to Penzance! I think we'd all need a lie down for more than a day or two ...

@ Holly - great to see you - the Quipu is an extraordinary device and fascinating how things were recorded back in the day.

The people Real Time clock really needs to be seen, I think - I hope to get there one day. The cockatoo is fun as it brings EC from Canberra and David in Canada together ... they love them!! Monty Python could easily encompass us all with some laughter.

@ Keith - thanks ... I enjoyed the concept - and thought oh ok ... legs it will be! Great - hope you made the shops in time ... I legged it down earlier on - and got boosted en route!

Cheers to the three of you - stay safe and happy - Hilary

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Hilary, Hilary, your mind works in ways none of us could ever hope to emulate! This is all funny stuff, even a dead Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Sue will never forgive me). As for watching our legs in northern climes where snow and ice can cause issues, I was walking on snow the other day and there was ice just beneath it. I was propelled forward in an instant. I can tell you that having a pair of binocular driven into your chest is an experience one should not willingly engage in! Other than a bruise, however, I was fine. Mud on my binoculars didn't thrill me too much but they cleaned up well. Take good care of your self. You have legs to be admired after all! Hugs from Ontario. David

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi David - I'm honestly not quite sure where it came from ... perhaps when my Ma was so ill, I needed lots of subjects that might make her laugh and ones we could elaborate on.

But the legs just stood out for me ... and yes, you and Sue with your cockatoos.

Oh gosh - well all I can say I'm pleased all is well with you and with your binoculars ... and so glad nothing serious occurred - snow and ice can be so dangerous.

We are still fairly warm here - but the cold is settling in for next week - you take care of you and Miriam - all the best ... Hilary

Pradeep Nair said...

Don't take our legs for granted ... there is so much about it ... loved reading this ... the man trapped in the clock, I liked the best ... :-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thanks Pradeep ... I hope to keep my legs in tact! I just couldn't resist posting these ... so I'm delighted you enjoyed them all - particularly the man trapped in the clock - I really need to see it - a visit to London sometime. Cheers - Hilary

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi Hillary!

Another informative and FUN post. I always enjoy visiting your blog because I always learn some very interesting and UNUSUAL facts.

Wishing you a SAFE and wonderful holiday season! ALL the best for 2022...let's hope it is memorable in the BEST WAYS POSSiBLE!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Who would have guessed that about King Arthur? For some reason I'm reminded of Spike Milligan's explanation that he was a brave man but with cowardly legs, so you couldn't blame him for running away from battle.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Michael - that's great ... always good to entertain you ...

I too hope 2022 is better ... and we can have an easier time.

@ John - interesting to read about Arthur's cowardly legs - appropriate for this statue. I have to say I hadn't realised Arthur ran away from battle - or maybe he's a strategist by escaping before defeat - and he's still around to fight some more??

Cheers to you both - cheers Hilary

mail4rosey said...

Poor Monty! I guess he couldn't get a leg up. ;)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thanks Rosey - way too many legs here to chose, which will get which leg up. Cheers and thanks for visiting ... Hilary