The Tingle Factor Box

So It's Like Pre-Pokemon Pokemon? Japanese Insect Cage

Imagine, you are a child in Japan living in the 1800's. One of your favourite things to do is wander the countryside collecting Mushi (insects) of all different types. You long ago learned to make cages for your little pets out of straw and dried grass, but you have always wanted to have a proper mushi cage. You saw a beautiful metal one in the market place not long ago, decorated in cloisonne of blue and red and green and white. You think any insect calling that cage home would be very lucky!

Roaming Roy Finds A Gold Mine For Artists - Hill End Part 2

Last week you might remember that Roy and I visited a town called Hill End in NSW Central West. We showed you a little around the town and the diggings and explained some of its history as a gold mining city in the 1870's. We also hinted at a fascinating art history focused around the town and promised to revisit to tell you more. We thought of leaving it for a few weeks, but decided that while the visit was fresh in our and your minds we should finish the story of this fascinating and important Australian location. We will explain a little of the history and, using photos of the interpretive signs around Hill End, show you some of their artworks (and even try our best to recreate their pictures ourselves!) So this week, we again take you to Hill End, a town which has proved to be gold mine for Australian artists.

Roy Creates Damper

This week, I told Roy that we had a request! A few weeks ago, the children at work had damper for afternoon tea. They were quite taken with it and told me all about it, though they did mention that it was rather hard. I explained to them that their damper had been cooked several hours before and reheated, so this was probably why it was hard and dry. Damper is best eaten very soon after it is first cooked, preferably warm. The kids suggested they might buy some from the local shops, but after I explained that it is a very easy to make traditional Australian bread, they wanted to have a go for themselves and asked if Roy could give them the recipe. So this week Roy and I are making damper!