The Tingle Factor Box

Roaming Roy Finds A Place Where Convicts Were Revolting - Castle Hill Heritage Park

This week, Roy and I decided to head back to the Sydney area. Earlier this month, 11 of Australias covict sites were added to the World Heritage List, including the Hyde Park Barracks, Old Government House, Cockatoo Island in Sydney and the Old Great North Road in NSW. These sites have become well known and popular tourist destinations, but there are other sites which are less well known but also have a significant convict history in the area. This week, Roy decided he wanted to visit one of these sites and tell you the story of its use. So this week, Roy visits Heritage Park in Castle Hill.

Roy Creates A Balloon Powered Toy Car

 

When Roy saw the post earlier this week all about cars and the different ways which they were powered by their inventors, he became quite interested in how he could create his own toy 'automobile' with household items. The most important thing, according to him, was that it 'go' all on its own. I remembered having a toy car which used wind power to make it move, by blowing up a balloon and letting it propel the car along the ground. So, I suggested Roy try making his own version and we were very successful. So this week Roy creates a balloon powered toy car.

I Could Buy A Car If They Were Still That Cheap - Rugby Car Brochure

Imagine your excitement. It is 1925 and your family has just decided that they have put aside enough money to buy a car. Just imagine, a car! Only a few years ago the thought would have been ridiculous, they were too expensive. During the war hardly anybody had one. You had to be rich. Things are better now though and there are big car companies, especially in America, who can make thousands of them in a year. They're still expensive of course, a big investment, but wow - a car!

Roaming Roy Has A Harbourside Swim - Wollongong Harbour Baths

Last week, Roy and I began a series of posts about Wollongong's heritage precinct, centred around the old harbour. We looked at the history of the harbour itself, and promised to return to look at other features in future posts. When we were thinking about where to visit this week, it seemed appropriate to stay in the area. Now, the decision was simply what aspect of the heritage precinct to focus on this week. Roy has been very taken with a photograph of his Great, Great Grandmother on the beach and wanted an excuse to show you the picture. Even though, by todays standards, she is overdressed, the note on the back of the photo says she was dressed indecently! He thought looking at the ocean baths at Wollongong would be a perfect opportunity to show off the picture (which you can see at the bottom of the post), so this week we visit several of Wollongongs ocean baths. 

Roy Creates Old Fashioned Coconut Macaroons

This week, Roy really wanted to make a sweet treat which was easy to make and nice and light. The children have been talking about how much they like French macaroons which they can get in cafes with hot chocolate. So, I suggested that Roy ask his Grandma for her old coconut macaroon recipe, which is easy to make but utterly delicious. Though they aren't like the French ones which are so trendy today, they are a lovely little treat to go with hot chocolate. She was happy to oblige so this week, Roy makes coconut macaroons.

They Didn't Come Off A Mummy, Did They? Egyptian Faience Beads

Imagine, you are an ancient Egyptian. Recently, one of your parents has died, and you are working hard to make sure that they are given all of the proper amulets, funerary goods and rituals to ensure they are protected on the way to the after life. Of course, this is all very expensive, and you can't afford to use gold and gemstones like the upper classes and Royal family do. You aren't so poor that you can't afford to provide faience beads, amulets and ushabtis though.

Roaming Roy Harbours An Interest In Harbours - Wollongong Harbour Part 1

When Roy and I were deciding where to visit this week, we were looking through photographs of places which are important to Australian's. There were a lot of photographs of Sydney Harbour, which seems to be one of the places we hold most dear. Yet Sydney Harbour is not the only beautiful harbour in New South Wales, and nor is it the only one with an interesting history. So this week, Roy decided to show you one of our most significant heritage Harbours, Wollongong Harbour.

Roy Creates A Funky Finger-Knitted 'Snail Bag'

Some weeks ago, Roy and I decided to try our hand at finger-knitting. Finger-knitting had become very popular at school, but the problem that most of the children found they had, was what exactly to do with the end product. Roy and I discovered you could knit a serviceable skipping rope or a pot stand from a thick rope of finger-knitting (to read this post click here), but the children still wanted more ideas. So, Roy and I thought about what else we could do with our finger-knitting when we hit upon this wonderful idea for a colourful, fun bag. So this week, Roy creates a snail bag!

But it's see-through! - Depression Era Clothing

Imagine, you are a woman living in the 1930's. Life is very tough and gone are the days when you could buy some material for a new dress. You can hardly even remember what wearing new clothes felt like. Now you mend and make do and use whatever you can lay your hands on. You are very proud of your 'newest' top - you worked hard on making the lace and used material from an old dress for the front. Nobody need know that it's back is made of a flour sack!

Roaming Roy Discovers A Poets Muse - Henry Lawson's Mum

This week, Roy and I want to tell you about someone who is very important to Australian history, but who you might not know about. Most Australians seem to know who Henry Lawson is and Roy has already visited two places which inspired his poetry. You can read about them by clicking here or here. He is one of our most loved poets and story-tellers, yet how many people know of his amazing Mum, Louisa? Roy and I discovered that the anniversary of Louisa Lawson's death falls later this week, on August 12. She was an extraordinary Australian in her own right and yet beside her famous son is almost forgotten. So this week, Roy and I visit the remains of her home and find out a little about the woman who raised one of our most celebrated poets.