Winston just popped in to say it’s Super Bowl Day. What’s that? I asked. He says he doesn’t know, but maybe we should see if we can find our own Super Bowl? Well, why not, let’s have a look.
Hmm. It’s a bowl. It’s nice enough, but I don’t think it’s Super.
No, Winston, not that one.
No, this is just a cereal bowl.
Just bowls for mixing in.
Those are the bowls the Humans have their supper in. Supper bowls. Too many Ps.
What’s that Winston, you think you’ve found it?
Ah. No. Nearly, but not quite.
Well, I don’t know if we’re ever going to find one Winston.
Winston? What are you looking at behind me?
Well! That’s what I call a Superbowl! Hooray!
Right, Winston, you go and fetch the clan. I’ll watch over the Superbowl.
Today, we’re going to make some ‘stained glass’ decorations! We need some squares of paper, a craft knife and some double-sided sticky tape. Oh, and some coloured cellophane wrappers from chocolates. We had to eat the chocolates. The things we do for Art!
First of all, we’re drawing shapes on our paper to cut out. We’re choosing designs that will suit the colours of cellophane we’ve got.
Now we need to make the back of the paper sticky, with the double-sided tape. Before we peel the back off, we’re going to cut out the shapes we’ve drawn.
Then we peel the backing off the tape. What a fiddly job it is! Er, Matilda, are you stuck there?
Now, we put the cellophane on the sticky side, and press it down. And then trim the extra from round the edge.
So here we are! These look nice hung up in a window, where the sun can shine through them. And if you like, you can draw extra details on, like Matilda did with her Father Christmas. Ho ho ho!
Today, we’re going to be doing some pottery! We’re using plasticine, but you could use air drying clay, or even salt-dough. Of course, if you have real clay and a kiln, even better!
Ofelia is starting off making some hanging decorations. She’s rolling the clay out, and cutting a shape. Then put a hole in for a string before it bakes, and there you have it!
Peggy is having a go at a “thumb pot”. Just poke your thumb (or in her case, your hand!) into the ball of clay and shape it up as much as you need!
Ernest’s turn now. He’s going to make a coil pot. Roll your clay back and forth to make a sausage, and then roll it more and more to make a long snake. Then start to coil the snake round to make a base and up the sides.
Careful you don’t coil your snozzle in there Ernest! Ah, well done, a handy pot to keep things in!
Good lord! Winston has a potter’s wheel! We never knew. See how he shapes the clay up as it spins. He makes it look easy, but it’s quite a skill to master.
Good lord! Winston, you’ve made an urn! Oh yes, he says, I’ve made loads of them over the years…
It’s today! Everyone is wondering what we’re going to find out. Ah, here’s Winston.
Nano is enquiring whether there will be any snacks. Winston says it’s all in hand. And if we’d like to follow him, it’s just a short walk.
Can you see anything through the knot hole Hypno? No, it’s not big enough….
Well, this seems to be it! Winston’s all set up for the unveiling. Nano is hoping it’s a biscuit factory.
So, with a flourish, Winson pulls the cloth off the sign.
Ta da! He’s bought a used car lot! He says it’s always been his dream business. So, let’s all go in and have a look!
And now he’s open, Vincent can put out the whirly-round Car Sales sign.
Well look at this! Lots of forecourt space, and a little sales cabin. All very convenient. And he’s got set up with some good stock by the look of it.
Ofelia wonders if many latest models have starting cranks these days, but she’s not going to say anything.
Peggy likes this one, as long as the mileage really is low!
Bernard thinks there’s something for every budget.
Vincent is explaining that he is Valeting and Services Manager. In other words, he washes the car and sweeps the yard. And Fury looks after all the mechanicals and does any servicing or welding needed.
Bernard asks if he can see in the office, so Winston takes him to have a look.
Well, it all looks very professional in here, says Bernard. I see you’ve got all the IT covered.
Yeah! says Winston, just look at thi… Oh! That’s Vincent playing again!
Anyway, I can use this to find new stock, and keep on top of all me paperwork.
There’s a noticeboard, where Winston can keep notes, and all the keys for the motors.
But Winston says, he’s most proud of his executive toy. It proves he’s made it!
Outside again, Nano says it’s all very impressive, but is there anything else he’d like to show us? Anything… edible?
Oh yes! Winston’s laid on a special Grand Opening biscuit feast! What a wonderful day this is. Winston is so proud of it all!
So after all the excitement yesterday, I was up early, but Winston had already got up and gone out according to Vincent. He said something about suitable attire. Oh, here he comes now!
I say! A camel coat! Winston says all the best legit businessvaarks have camel coats. And now he’s going to be moving in those circles, he’ll need it. I wonder what his big plan is!? He says we’ll have to wait and see…
Well. You remember that urn Winston got in a job lot, and took to the museum and it turned out to be really old and valuable? Well, we’ve come to see it auctioned! Turns out Arnold has a job as security at the auction house.
The auctioneer has started. There are a few lots to go before the Urn so we’ll just sit and enjoy watching the auction.
The first lot is this Landscape, in pencils. The auctioneer opens the bidding at £1000!
“Are you bidding sir?” “No! Says Arnold, I’m just amazed at the value!”
Ofelia suggests that Arnold wear his Easter bonnet to keep his ears under control, but he’s not sure it suits his working image. So Ernest fetches his motorbike helmet, which is more in keeping.
The landscape sold to a bidder at the back of the room. Next up, a… well, I think it’s a portrait. It’s a bit odd. Apparently it’s by a very famous painter though, and it sold for £10,000!
The next item is a very ancient cannon, recovered from a shipwreck. The auctioneer looks a bit worried being at the business end! Fury says she’d buy it, if only she had the money, but it’s too valuable for her.
Now, some sculpture. Peggy wants a closer look, but Gino doesn’t think it’s suitable for a lady! He can be a bit old fashioned.
Right now, it’s time for the urn. Winston is quite nervous now! The auctioneer describes it as a fine example of Early Greek Vaark era ceramic, embellished with heroic figures, in perfect condition.
Oh! The phone’s ringing, It’s a phone bidder from overseas. How exciting!
It STARTS at £10,000! £20,000! £30,000 Oh my! Oh my! It just keeps going up! £500,000! Still going! £750,000! £1000,000! In the room. Is that it? Any more bids? Yes, the phone bidder is back! £1,250,000! All done? Going, Going… GONE! Down comes the gavel.
Oh heck. Winston’s fainted again. Ernest fetches the smelling salts, but he’s still out cold.
Fury says she’ll sort it. Not sure she ought to be throwing water round in here, but anyway…
Well, that woke him up. He whispers “Is it all a dream?” Ofelia brings him a cup of strong sweet tea and reassures him that it’s really happened. He’s a millionaire!
So while Arnold mops up the water, the auctioneer explains that the money, minus commission and fees of course, will be cleared in a few days. The urn has sold to a very important collection overseas.
Bernard says that if Winston wants any investment advice, he’d be happy to help. Winston says thank you, but he’s got a business plan he can finally go ahead with now!
And so, back home, to celebrate an astonishing day. Winston’s still in a bit of a daze.
Er Nano, I wouldn’t sit there if I were… Oh!
“Wheeeeeee!” says Nano, “What fun!” What fun indeed!
Do you remember that old pot Bernard spotted on Winston’s stall at the fete, that he thought might be quite old? Well, he’s made an appointment with the curator at the Museum to check. They’ve come early to look round. Vincent’s tagged along too.
Winston’s wrapped the pot up to protect it. Bit of a struggle getting his trolley in up the steps though!
Wow. The first thing you see in the entrance is the huge Vaarkosaurus Rex. Imagine a time when these creatures roamed the earth. Millions of years ago. They went extinct when a meteorite wiped out all the primeval biscuits.
And to think, the Vaarkosaurs laid eggs! How colourful their nests must have been!
These fossils are even older – before the vaarkosaurs even! Vincent reckons they look like the sort of thing Matilda would sell on her crystal stall. Winston thinks they look like raisins.
What’s this? Ah the Natural History section. All sorts of taxidermy. Vincent says the armadillo looks like Bernard’s stripes. And the elephant reminds them of Ernest. Even the seal is a little bit vaarkish, with it’s dumpy body.
But really, human beings are the oddest looking creatures!
Ah now, we’re onto the Vaarks Through the Ages Gallery. Here’s a prehistoric cave vaark. Dressed in fur and wool and feathers. Vincent thinks it’s amazing how they managed to do so much with just axes like that.
Oh! The Egyptian era now. The magnificent Tut-anh-vaark-mun sarcophagus. Awesome. And so much gold!
Bernard explained that the mummies kept their organs in jars like this. Vincent said he’d seen Dim playing the organ and it would never fit in there.
Winston was surprised by the Sphinx. He’d always thought it would be bigger.
What next? Ah, yes, the Romans. A fine recreation of a Centurion. Vincent likes the shield, even if he could barely see over it.
Winston wondered if they’d run out of them little stones for the mosaic? But Bernard explained that it’s very old, and it’s got damaged over the years, probably by drains and such like.
Here is a depiction of Christopher Columvaark. He discovered America, and therefore cookies, by accident. He was trying to find a new route to China by going the wrong way. What luck!
Next, a Victorian crinoline. The chaps looked at it, and agreed it was a frock, and moved on.
Ooh, more up to date vaark fashion and culture now. Vincent said it reminded him of Fury, Winston asked Bernard if he’d ever been a punk…
“God lord no, what makes you think that!”
The last ‘costume’ exhibit is the famous space suit, in which Ratvaark did his space walk. Winston pondered what happened if you flicked the switch. Bernard moved him on swiftly.
What’s next? The Ceramics gallery. Vincent likes this big jug. Careful not to jog the stand Vincent!
Phew! Well caught. Move on quickly!
This exhibit reminds Winston of his suitcase stock. Bernard remarked that it’s because they are all telling different times…. Talking of time, it’s time to go to the appointment with the curator…
Winston and Vincent reckon the chairs in the waiting area are quite grand – but Bernard tells them to get off the Charles Rennie Vaarkintosh exhibit!
Ah, and here’s the Curator. He says his name is Henry, and they should bring the urn into his office.
Henry looks over the urn very carefully, and finally tells Winston that it is indeed a very rare Grecian Urn, and extremely valuable. Maybe thousands of pounds!
Good grief Winston’s fainted! He’s never had anything really valuable in stock before!
Henry fetches him a reviving cup of tea, and says he can recommend a fine art auction house to handle the sale. What a turn up!
