Gridlock. (Day 59)

 

This time at morrisons

Monkey (Day 58)

 

No2 got a monkey.

It's almost tropical (Day 57)

 

Well. Compared to last week...

Lego Ninjago starter pack unopening - build and test

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE3Nvis7prE?wmode=transparent]

We noticed that Lego had started advertising their new Minifig based beyblade style game on their website, so this morning popped by our local toys-r-us as their website said they had them in stock.

I originally wanted one so that I could get a red minifig ninja for my collection, and was interested in the game as well.  But I took too boys with me, and instead of buying three separate ninjas I bought a starter pack for the boys and a red ninja for me.  £20 lighter we came home and had a laugh filming an unopening above and testing the game.

The new bit of lego in the pack is the spinning top which the minifig sits on.  It has a clutch mechanism which holds onto the minifig’s feet, but if any torque is applied to the minifig, pushes a platform up which releases the figure out of the top. The top is heavy and has a 2x2 brick socket on the bottom which an inverted dome fits in to help it spin.

When the fig is in the top, you put one of the weapons in its hands and spin it against an opponent.  When the figs collide, one gets thrown off the top eventually.  The tops are spun by the players hands - no mechanical device - and the minifigs get thrown off straight away before they start to battle if you spin them too hard.

The ninjas seem to be standard minifigs, but the skeleton had modified arms and legs - including large black feet - so it was able to stand properly in the socket.  Surprisingly the skeleton fig seemed to win most of the fights.

You also get an arena in the set - which is just some technic axels which you connect together to form a perimeter arena to play on - which you put on a table - or in our case a lap tray.

You also get a few spare bricks (2 1x2 bricks and a 2 x 2 plate) which first of all look like just a stand to put the cards you get with the set on.  However the cards can be used at random throughout the game, and contain various instructions and modifications to play.  Examples are a card you use as a shuriken, and using the bricks to raise the top off the surface so you are taller than your opponents.

I quite like this system - there’s nothing funnier than seeing a skeleton with black boots and a flailing ball and chain taking out a ninja - but it does seem over priced.  We had a few games with it this evening and it was fun, but I cant see myself returning to it too many times.  

But then again I didn't like beyblades but the kids played with them for months.

Jessie (Day 56) #photoaday

She's always so happy.

My bird (Day 55)

Finally got a handle on this (Day 54)

After over 10 years in the house, I finally finish replacing my bathroom door and fitted the handle on it this evening.

Colourful ninja. (Day 53) #photoaday

Ahhhh bliss (Day 52)

Oh the joy of it being this time in the morning and not having to had trudged to work in the snow yet.

Damocles (Day 51)

No 2 got his first pair of glasses today - so that was my major choice for todays photo.  But when we got back home this evening I discovered he had already left them where we were - so that was a good start.  

So this was my second choice photo - but I saw this A MAY ZING icicle on the way to work this morning, and although I was very uncomfortable about taking a photo of someone else's house I could not pass this one by a second time.

Glad I don't have to knock this door...

Snowglobe (Day 50)

 

This is my view of the outside world from my desk.  When the white fills up the windows, unless someone shakes it again - I'm sleeping here tonight :/

Couldn't think of anything special to do for day 50.

 

Number one just made a lego tribuchet

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM3rQ9Xhi1E?wmode=transparent]

Cold Stars (Day 49)

 

Cold and frozen. 

 

Sunrise over Knowlhill (Day 48)

 

A brisk walk to work this morning - but a fantastic sunrise that I watched develop.  Really pleased with this mobile phone pic.  For once I'm not kicking myself I didn't have the SLR with me.

 

Let it snow (Day 47)

 

Out exploring in the snow. Fun.

Allegedly. (Day 46)

A light dusting (Day 45)

Settled but not deep yet.  I stand here in the warm whilst my trusty steed sits outside in the snow.

Hopefully it will be a safe cycle ride home tonight.

Lets think alike (Day 44) #photoaday

Listening to the triumphant return of Boagworld on the bike on the way home and then web research at home led me, after several clicks,  to this book which I was considering buying.

Looked at my other streams and there was a picture on @joneorange 's account of this book he's just received.  If I play my cards right I may be able to blag a borrow :)

Light Guns (Day 43) #photoaday

Ok - it costs a fortune for decent bike lights - and these didnt. Cost about ??12 delivered for the pair from ebay/Hong Kong. They are the best lights I've ever had on the bike, reinforced by the fact that a fellow cyclist flagged me down on the way home yesterday and ask where I got them from as he had "Seen me from a mile away"

It's not a sub ether sensomatic - but it will have to do (Day 42)

All day I've been trying to think of what to take for picture 42, and there was the chance that I would bable on about Life, the Universe and Everything whilst looking for something appropriate.  But in the end my wife gave the ultimate answer to my seven and a half million year quest for this photo idea.  I think I may go off to a Restaurant to celebrate the long, dark, teatime of the soul, with fine wine and definitely no poetry.

Anyway - at least the picture is Harmless.  Mostly. 

Borgs Eye View (Day 41)

Taken with Wiregoggles - android ap.

Worried about tomorrow - day 42 has great meaning for me.

Not sure if I can live up to it

The Fallen (Day 40)

The dangers of black ice. (Day 39)

Underworld (Day 38)

Dappled Cranes in the sky again (Day 37)

 

Spotted the cranes again this lunchtime, flying in a different sky.

 

It all hinges on this (Day 36)

Jack (Day 35)

 

The frost has been so beautiful on the millions of trees in MK the last week or so.  So tried this photo with my phone

 

Bubbles (Day 34)

Not technically taken today - but this is all your getting - All I got was a look at the label too, because I was driving.  Was this a good year?  I have no idea.  Cant remember the last time I had bubbly.

Megamind (Day 33)

 

There's a Megamind in there somewhere

Steampunk Rocket (Day 32)

This is my steampunk rocket in lego universe. I know this is not a mobile photo but I've been trying to take a photo of this in the game so I can see how its made so I can make one in real life. Its proving problematic.

Candy Canes (Day 31) #photoaday

As I wasn't driving on the way home I got to hold the camera up.  Was hoping for light trails but got candy canes instead.

Snowy Lake (Day 30)

 

A peaceful scene on my walk to work this morning.  That large flat field is where the lake used to be.  Camera even caught some of the falling snow. 

 

Red sky at morning... (Day 29)

...fields on fire.

(edited - better version of picture with boosted levels)

Both me and the snow have arrived (Day 28)

My trusty little bike got me to work safely in the snow that arrived this morning.  The first day cycling on crisp fresh snow is wonderful, but as it freezes tonight and all of the tyre ruts get fresh snow overthem it puts me at mortal peril.

Looking at the tread on this wheel it looks like I need new tyres as well.

 

I'm a STAR! (Day 28)

It's been a long time coming but finally at around 6pm today I got awarded my red star for 1000 ebay transactions...

Prismatic (Day 27)

Prismatic.

And the astute amongst you will realise that this DVD is the original Little Shop of Horrors that was filmed in Black and White over two and a half days for a dare...

Reward (Day 26)

Used Photoshop mobile to adjust this so the colours may be awful..

Sent from my HTC

Contentment (Day 25)

What a life he has... 

T-Minus One feedback (Day 24)

Here is what I've been waiting for - well, this is how my ebay feedback has looked all week.
I've been waiting for the big 1000 - but then I thought post 999 and then there is one less photo to find when I do hit 1000.
Its a little thing, but a big number.

There's something out there (Day 23)

Been wondering what you really can do with a mobile phone camera at night.  Not a lot...  This was a view over a local lake of the houses on the far side.  There is no manual controls on the camera, so long exposures or any over exposure controls are just not available.  Rested the phone on some railings when I took this.  A failed experiment really.

Tardis (Day 22)

Can you believe that there is a company that prints words on lego bricks?  Well I built this Tardis a while ago and in the end ordered some special lego tiles with police public call box words printed on them  It really finishes the model.  

Again I am awaiting an 'event' that I want to photograph - and its just not happening...  I have no control over when it does so am 'filling' the images until the one I want comes by.  All will make sence soon.

Conference (day 21)

Spent my day here (but inside)

Sparkles (day 20)

Couldn't get the one I wanted so here's some sparkles instead..

Blue Ice (Day 19)

My fantastic Blue Ice Bicycle Deck arrived today. So that was worth a picture.

Long Blue (Day 18)

Been wondering if the phone camera could do a long exposure. Well not really. Here's its attempt.

Guess what this is (day 17)

Go on.. Guess...

Diamonds (Day 16)

 

A few hours early, but I noticed as I got on the bike to come home from work this evening.

Wild Cranes (Day 15) #photoaday.

One  mobile / cellphone photo of the day.

Why four cranes?  It seems like over kill - or in fact over everything!  There used to be a hockey stadium here, then the MK Dons played here.  Who knows what its going to be next.

 

The Frank (Day 14) #photoaday

A much loved possession, which has the added benefit of being able to show itself in the dark.

Susan the dog (day 13) #photoaday

"susan the dog has just given birth to four puppies and two slippers"

Mr Blue (Day 12)

One  mobile / cellphone photo of the day.

I'm going for this photo in the end.  Alternatives were a lego tardis and a heart monitor.  

Book's Book (Day 11)

Belated from yesterday as it didnt send....

One  mobile / cellphone photo of the day.

More Firefly canon.  Been waiting for this bit of the story for years.  Just arrived when I'm working at home - so its tempting me but I'll have to read it later.