The Tingle Factor Box

Roaming Roy Wonders What's In The Water? - Walka Waterworks

This week, Roy decided that, with Autumn approaching, the perfect picnic weather (according to him) will also soon be here. In the height of summer it is just too hot to have a good picnic, and there are too many insects! Autumn though is that bit cooler and the insects are a little less fierce. With this in mind, Roy thought it would be a perfect time to introduce you to Walka Waterworks, a perfect place for a picnic. Walka Waterworks is on Oakhampton Road in East Maitland, NSW.

Roy Creates Floating Fruit Jelly

This week, Roy decided that he wanted to make dessert for everybody, and naturally he thought he should also show you how to do it! He went through lots of our old cookbooks and came up with lots of different ideas for puddings, but I told him it wasn't pudding weather. So he decided to make a fruit jelly, a proper summer dessert, and one which you might not know how to create.

Prizes were better in those days - Carnival Glass

Imagine, you've had a day out at the local carnival. You had a great day, eating until you felt like you could burst, going on the rides, and playing the various sideshow games. You are particularly proud of your winnings at the sideshow games. You know it isn't much, after all you never win anything expensive at a carnival, but the little glass cup is still beautiful, gleaming with different colours as the light hits it. All in all not a bad day out.

Roaming Roy Catches A Ride - Henry Lawson's The Lights Of Cobb And Co

This week, Roy decided to continue with his Henry Lawson tour. Henry Lawson is one of his favourite poets, and one of Australia's most famous and important because he really captured Australia at the time when he lived. He wrote beautiful poems about the Australian bush, but also wrote about the way people lived, even capturing the experience of public transport in the 1800's. One such poem, The Lights Of Cobb And Co, immortalises the experience of catching the public stage coach, one of the most common modes of transport from 1850 right through until the 1920's. He even found a Cobb and Co Coach in Gulgong Pioneer Museum before he set out to follow the Cobb and Co route from Mudgee, through Hill End and to Sofala and Bathurst (all in NSW)! He found another one at the other end of his trip in the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre, along with a Cobb and Co sign. You can see a picture of it below.

Roy Creates Old Fashioned Cordials

This week, Roy decided that with the weather so hot it would be a good idea to make some cordial for a nice cold drink. When we were getting our ingredients together he decided he would like to write down his recipes so that he can share them with you. One of them is a lemonade recipe which my Mum, Roy's Grandma, made when I was a little girl and the other was given to me by a friend of the family, Leonie. Both make delicious syrups!

Wow - That's Very Loud! - Frog Clicker

Imagine, you are a soldier in World War 2. You need to tell your fellow soldiers in the next trench that you are friendly, not an enemy soldier. But how? Mobile phones are a long way off, and you don't happen to have a bird available to deliver a letter! Luckily, when you were sent to the war you were given a little tin toy which makes a loud click. Most of the soldiers have one, and you can use it to signal your position. It always makes you laugh when you use it - it's just the sort of thing you got in cereal packets when you were a kid!

Roaming Roy Goes To School - Henry Lawson's Old Bark School

This week, Roy decided that he would like to show you a place which you might have heard of. The Old Bark School is a place which Henry Lawson, one of Australia's most famous poets, immortalised in his poetry. It has become a bit of an icon, and lots of Roys friends have learned about it at their own schools when they studied Australian poets. Most of his friends didn't realise that the Old Bark School was real though!

Roy Creates A Gift From The Garden

With Valentines Day coming up, Roy and I thought long and hard about what we should show you how to make today. Then, inspiration struck. On Valentines Day it is traditional to give chocolates or flowers, but did you know that when you give somebody a bunch of flowers or even just a bunch of herbs, you can actually tell them something in a 'secret language'?

That's Very Cooling! Japanese Fans

Imagine, you are living in in the 1600's in Japan. It is early morning and you are getting ready for the day. You are already dressed and now you need to collect the accessories which you need to appear fully prepared for society. One of the most important of these is your fan. Now, you have a range of fans to choose from, and you must make sure you choose the correct type. Choosing a fan is not straight forward - there are different fans for different purposes and which you will choose depends on what you will be doing today.

Roaming Roy Finds A Place Where Things Get Done - Dunn's Swamp

This week, with all the rain we have been having, Roy decided that he would like to tell you about a place which he visited a little while ago, Dunn's Swamp. Roy and I both love the Australian bush, and Dunn's Swamp is not only a beautiful bush setting, it has an interesting history and magnificent rock formations to explore. It is perfect for a picnic, camping, fishing, swimming or canoeing and a wonderful holiday destination. It is located within Wollemi National Park, near Rylstone and Kandos.