The A to Z Reflections Post of 2019

The April  2019 A to Z challenge is well and truly over I always enjoy it (although not last year as I was unable to do it).  I have to say I don’t always get to visit all those other folk  doing it, due to the fact I tend to be doing other things. April is that sort of month you see. Here in Britain after a long wet winter of yuck weather (I’m generalizing, but its true most of the time) suddenly things perk up and folk go . . . . “OOOOoooo look, a fiery ball in the sky providing light and heat. Let’s venture out into the world”. So they do venture out into the world and that includes me.

Now around here on my bit of the English Welsh border going out in April involves fresh country air, plants growing, cutting the grass for the first time, and making sure any random Zombies have not set up home in garden sheds or under dense undergrowth. I mean it is bad enough that the birds all set up home in our garden sheds and the dense undergrowth, but Zombies are bigger and often sing sea shanties at night loudly which makes sleeping difficult. And their eating habits are terrible.

Anyway this year I started making a Workshop at the very end of March and it continues even as I type, (OK not entirely true as I’m typing) and as this is a one man build. Partly because like many grumpy old men I am not really a team sort of chap. And that means the only person I am going to trust to do a job correctly is me which is also worrying because I’m old and starting to lose the plot so can make errors. I generally blame the cats when that happens, partly because it is them that tend to distract me loads leading to me making the errors  . . . . I think you probably get my drift and I am rambling now.

So that, you see is why I tend not to get to blogs on the A to Z Challenge much . . .  April is a funny month for us British folk (as I have said) and we always start our little projects that we have been thinking about through the long dark damp days of winter. I mean writing the posts for an A to Z is easy, well it is for me because I write mad ones, but visiting folk takes time a lot more time than most folk realise which is why most folk don’t get many visitors to their blogs or get to visit many blogs. It is just part of life and the universe.

On the Bright side when you venture out into the garden in the morning to shout at the Zombies who sneaked back into the garden last night and were singing (again) and have eaten all the goldfish (again). You will be able to think to yourself  . . . . . . So I guess a load of other folk who did the A to Z Challenge will be outside right now doing exactly the same as me . . . .Pesky Zombies . . . . . DAMN I don’t have time to visit all those other blogs now.  Maybe I’ll visit them tomorrow  . . . or maybe next year when I’m not so busy and I have made some Zombie defences that actually work.  But blink and before you know it its April again and the cycle continues.

Well thanks to those who did visit my blog, I hope I managed to get back and thank you all, I think I did . . . . . . And maybe I’ll see you all again next year.

And remember regardless of religion, politics, personal views and thoughts, the one great thing about the A to Z is we all start and end equal having perused a single collective objective. And that is a good thing in this world. 

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter Z

Z

 Now I think we all know deep down that no one should contemplate Plan Z. Partly because if Plan Z does not work you have nowhere else to go, you can’t suddenly say what’s the next letter? Because there isn’t one. Actually I’m quite pleased about that because it means I have succeeded yet again . . . . . OK I’m a hardy A to Z challenge chap as I have been known to do it twice in a year just for fun, but it’s a lot of work and I have many other things to do now.

Right back to the point there is one more important aspect of any Plan Z which is why we never try them they are always linked to doomed things. For example Hitler was keen on Plan Z and he is far from popular these days and someone made a film called Plan Z which is all about Zombies eating everyone and I don’t think it was popular either. Yes Plan Z’s are it seems, all a bit dodgy.  

There is one final nail in the coffin too there are no Duck breeds that start with Z . . . . I know that is hard to believe but it’s true. And with that shocking fact I feel it is now time to say thanks for reading and that really is it . . . . . . The End

And I hope your own A to Z challenge was a great success . . . . Maybe I’ll be back next year if I can think of yet another interesting twist to pursue….. I always do.

I will return

Maybe not today

Maybe not tomorrow

But

Soon

.At an Alphabet near you.

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.

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The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter Y

Y

After the various wondrous possibilities of Plan X we are brought down to earth with a bump with Plan Y because Plan Y is a Plumbing System so called because of the shape of the 3 port valve. Well this is the nature of Plans some are huge master plans undertaken by mad scientists bent on taking over the world. And others are simple everyday affairs where a copper pipe is bent round a corner.

The one upbeat point to Plan Y is that any plumbing system worth mentioning will involve water and lots of it. And we all know what water means within the context of the now almost complete A to Z challenge, it means Ducks . . .

I used to do drawings like this for every letter once

But a chap would have to be Mad to do such a thing

AHAHHHHAh ah ah hah hha ha ha h aha 

a ha ha ha ha haha hahahhhah ahahah ah

a ahaha hahahhahaha

a ha ha ha ha 

a ha ha ha

a ha ha

.

.

.

DAMN

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter X

X

Well if there is one letter of the alphabet my slightly weird theme is perfect for it is X. Yes everyone has heard of Plan X and I bet many of you have at some point in your life embarked on your own Plan X, I know I have several times.

Of course the most important aspect of Plan X is that it’s a secret and a pretty big one at that or it would not be called Plan X. In other words the one thing I cannot do here is actually tell you all what Plan X is. Well it is a secret, but again I can refer you to Wikipedia or a general search of Goggle for a random selection of Plan X’s. Remember though any Plan X that turns up on the internet telling folk what Plan X is, is not a good Plan X.

I can say, that one important point to remember with my own Plan X is you need to remember to Duck or you will have a sore head  

Over the years I have created many cardboard arty things

This is one of them made as a Wedding Present 

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The Xecotcovach Bird

Someone will be thinking Hang On where have I heard of that before

  

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter V

V



Well V means its time to repeat (yet again) an old favourite of mine . . . . Yes I know what you are thinking, but I do like this post it always amuses me and I wrote it. . . Well my hands did, I still dont know where my hands got the idea from but that is hands for you.

VICTOR the VOLE.

“VHAT do you VANT” said the VAMPIRE to the VOLE.

“What”? Said VICTOR the VOLE.

“For a start off those are not V words” said VICTOR.

VICTOR the VOLE was very good at words and knew all his VERBS and VOWELS.

  

The VAMPIRE was very displeased because he was being criticized by a little VOLE and he shouted “I VILL bite VOU and VURN VOU into a VOMBIE, VES a VILE VITTLE VOMBIE”.

“A VOMBIE “ said the VOLE “surely you mean a Zombie”.

“VOMBIE VOMBIE VATS VHOT I VED” said the VAMPIRE, who was VERY angry; so angry he bit VICTOR the VOLE on the neck.

“I VARNED VOO” said the VAMPIRE.

And VICTOR the VOLE said “I suppose you VINK that’s VUNNY”.

And they both laughed hysterically as a cow jumped over the VOON.

The VEND 

THe 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter U

U

Remember that famous race between the Mallard Duck and the Mallard Train I have mentioned on previous letters of the Alphabet. The one on the 3rd July 1938 where the Duck lost in a photo finish. Well it is a very little known fact that in Holland a few years later a very similar race took place only in that case the Duck won. Which is why it was all hushed up and removed from the history books. At the time it was a total embarrassment for the Dutch Railways and passengers waiting on platforms would often make quacking noises if trains arrived at the station late, much to the annoyance of the railway staff. So the Dutch decided that they needed to undertake a plan to deal with this and so they adapted Plan U (U was a hint at the Duck problem)

You don’t believe me do you; well Google Plan U and see what Wikipedia has to say about Plan U  (go on try it) you will be surprised and you will probably stop and think . . . Maybe he is not mad after all. 

After all that’s what they said about Rumpelstiltskin and look what happened to him . . . . . . .

DAMN

I cant remember why I drew this 

But is was rather a long time ago

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter T

T

‘Are we there yet’ . . . I can hear my brain saying. This alphabet thing is longer than you think when you are doing your best to keep a slightly bewildered and restless crowd amused via the magic of the Internet. Luckily there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, a tunnel that is full of soot and a rather annoyed Duck who is also heading towards the light at fair old speed which I estimate to be in the region of 126 mph (203 km/h) or there about.

Now you will be wondering about Plan T . . .  I suspect.  Well tonight I have abandoned my Plan and have Planned a Tea Break instead. This is the great virtue of the A to Z Challenge we can just say Ya Sucks Boo and make up our own rules and do our own thing. I mean if folk think . . . . I’m not reading this. . . . Well so be it

Hang on where has everyone gone?

The Front Garden on one of its better days

Full of Plan T's

HAHAH hah aha ha ha haha ha ha ha hah 

a hah ah h ahhahahah ah h hhaa 

a hahahha haha hahhaha h

a aha hahahah ahahhah 

h aha ha h h ha 

a haha hah

ha ha ha ha 

a ha h

a h

ha ha

ha

ha

. . . 

..

.

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . .Letter S

S

This is the tale of Plan S . . . Plan S is not just any old plan.   No this is a proper plan as listed in that font of all knowledge Wikipedia, something I suspect none of you were expecting; I know I wasn’t. Now when I say not expecting I am referring to a real Plan S, not Wikipedia. OK I’m sure many of us were not expecting Wikipedia before it popped up on the internet like a Duck in a Duck pond, but that was a long time ago now. However I thought it best to clarify the point (But not in a Butter sort of way)  

 

OK yes back to Plan S. Right then I guess it would be possible to say Plan S was also an Unexpected Plan.. The added bonus to Plan S is the fact it’s a fancy science based plan which if I get the general drift right will make Science from across the globe available to all those who need it. So also a font of all knowledge a bit like Wikipedia, only for scientists. This would mean that the science establishment involved in key research such as for example the inner workings of the mind of the Duck would have access to all scientific research on Ducks. .  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Quack for Ducks

Homemade Paper Pirate Ships

Yes they really dont have any link with Ducks

But Docks Do

And Docks and Ducks

Look remarkably similar to someone with dodgy Eyesight

Like

Me

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter R

R

So far on our Alphabetical Trip of Plans the one thing we have not encountered is The Right Plan. Well not until now because R is a good letter for the Right Plan unlike W which will I suspect will be the Wrong Plan not the Write Plan although to tell the truth I have not made my mind up yet. . . . . I can be fickle like that. . . . . .  And Rebellious 

OK time for a Rest so here are a Random selection of pictures instead.

Jenny the Dog . . . Sadly no longer with us

She was a cool dog

Summerhouse One

A Cake

Scotland  . . On Holiday

Still on Holiday

Scotland Again

Pesky Snow

I do like making Ginger Biscuits

Ok that's it I'm off. 

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter Q

Q

Ask a Duck which is his/her favourite Letter in an alphabet and he/she will always say the same thing Quack . . . . .Which brings us to plans involving the Letter Q and Ducks such as The Quad Plan of the world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You see not many folk know this. Actually no one knows this but Frank Lloyd Wright based his designs on principles he learnt from watching Ducks nesting. It is why so many of his iconic house designs involve water, a hard shiny exterior and a white interior with soft yellow furnishings at their very centre. Although the novelty Duck noise door bells were never entirely a success with the public, partly because pesky kids would ring them and then run off and hide leaving an innocent duck on the doorstep to take the wrap.  Luckily most ducks are faster or at least as fast as a speeding steam locomotive as we learnt on a previous Letter. . . . . I bet you now wish you had read the earlier Letters, but I have no intention of telling you it was Letter M . . . . . . . . . . DAMN

Harry

He might look cute but OOOOOOOooo No. 

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter P

P

OK it’s time for, The Peoples Plan or Plan P. Yes after yesterday’s accidental drift into Politics, Pianos and Ducks I thought I could continue the theme tonight with the Peoples Plan. Using People is a cunning move used by many to add a touch of credibility to something; Like’ The Peoples Vote (Very popular in Britain at present), The Peoples Leader, The People's Will and so on. There is nothing quite like implying that the masses are right behind you cheering you on and that whatever you are up to is what the people want.

Here on the ever popular A to Z challenge what folk want of course is, The Perfect Plan. After all P is a long way from A but not yet close enough to Z to make that final sprint to the finish line. Some will now fall by the wayside and Perish their words drying up as they look at the Queues of folk ahead of them.  . . . . . . Q’s see what I did. O yes my mind is still as sharp as a Ducks beak or as this is the Letter P as sharp as a Duck Billed Platypus.

I have never drawn a Duck Billed Platypus so . . . .

Yes OK But it is sort of almost a Duck Billed Thing

And a Rocket

They are sort of Pointed too

OK Ducks are not very pointed

But that is not the Point.

The 2019 A to Z Challenge . . . Letter O

Yes OK I photographed my Food . .  a lot of folk do it

 O

O Dear . . . Plan O . . . . Have you noticed how Plan O actually looks like Piano (yes it does) this is not a coincidence by any means.  Both have important key points both can be harmonious and both can create discord particularly if a Duck is involved in any way.  Both have strings attached and are difficult to move about.  Both come in a variety of sizes and annoy or please people depending on the situation

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I’m sure some of you will know that I have a rather (very) old Piano which I saved from a fate worse than Death after the nice little old lady that owned it died. It was left outside and would have been destroyed had not an old friend asked if I wanted a Piano. Well you can’t let something like that just get destroyed after all that is one of the main problems with the World today we just throw stuff out and think nothing of it. Well that is not going to happen here or luckily under the detailed small print of Plan O.

Yes come the revolution Plan O will be the future.

Have you ever thought Ostriches look a bit like large ducks?  O Yes They Do.

Now someone on the A to Z mentioned Robots Yesterday

So here a a couple I have drawn or made

RoboSanta and his helper.