Check out this short video. I’m sure you can sympathize. I think we’ve all had days like these.
Unfortunately, I learned that one of my favourite children’s shows, The Upside Down Show, was not renewed, this despite this wonderfully offbeat production receiving critical acclaim and more than a few awards. Not enough for the bean counters at Nickelodeon, apparently, who seem more content to feed us a steady diet of Dora the Explorer and, worse still, Wonder Pets.
To which I’d like to reiterate: to Noelle and Jason, parents of their own toddler, who were purchasing birthday gifts for Vivian, passed by a bin of The Wonder Pets Christmas Special and said to themselves: “why should we suffer alone”: you are so dead. :-)
So, sad about the Upside Down Show, but the two actors behind it — a physical comedy duo known as the Umbilical Brothers — are still doing quite well, showing up regularly on Australian television and currently touring the world with their adult stage show.
Here’s another (which allows embedding, this time):
And more here
Now THAT’s Model Railroading
Check out this website. Years ago, Gordon Hatch of Victoria, BC, took up the hobby of model railroading, and went whole hog. Rather than confine himself to the dinky little storebought models, he built his own streetcars and interurban equipment, based on the railway heritage of his neck of the woods and using 1/4 scale. That’s 1 foot to 4 feet. That’s huge. You can have a look at his models, here. And, yes, they operated by trolley wire (which I hope was out of reach of small kids).
Sadly, Mr. Hatch passed away in earlier this year and his models haven’t plied his backyard tracks since. His grandson has been looking to give these gorgeous pieces of equipment a good home, possibly at a local history museum, under glass.
We are hoping to find a place in town to put them on permanent display, as they are of historical significance. It is preferred that they be put in a heated secured building behind glass enclosures perhaps with descriptions, video and other various displays. There are several more artifacts that are streetcar related that my Grandfather has in his possession.
We hope to secure a place or at least begin serious discussions with city council, a developer(s), the business community and other interested groups.
There is great tourist potential and a historical connection of Victoria’s original streetcar system with the city (1890 to1948) so these models are very important.
These models could act as tools in educating the public on the history of public transportation in Greater Victoria. They could be part of a larger display showing the transition of streetcar to bus (and hopefully back to streetcar/tram).
Certainly, they deserve preservation. I wish Mr. Hatch’s grandson all the best and, if anybody is reading this in the Victoria area, get onto your city councillor and make him pay attention!