Month: November 2012

Origami Saturday

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 5 Comments

Today you have the pleasure of three fantastically amazing pieces of origami. Due, in part, to a particularly busy couple of days:

  • Thursday was a very busy day. Rushed home from school to be in for plumber. Said plumber did not show up. I hate plumbers. Enough said.
  • Thursday night a school trip to see ‘Of Mice and Men’ at The Playhouse in Nottingham. Good play, bad journey. Broken coach door. Enough said.
  • Friday was, after 7 years, a first time visit to the Shalimar Balti House followed by an early night. Rock and Roll!

 

So from this day onwards the 10th November will be forever known as ‘Origami Saturday’. With the aid of some specially purchased origami paper from Amazon for the princely sum of £3 (hence why it is only small me thinks) may I present #origamisaturday……

Origami #8…turtle or maybe a tortoise….

Origami #9…crane or maybe a dragon…

Origami #10….a very cute cat….

Origami….one week down…..

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

After a full week of practising the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, I've created seven absolutely amazing pieces:

  • A boat
  • A lily
  • A pigeon
  • A rabbit
  • A piglet
  • A dinosaur
  • And today…..a box!

Now a box may not sound like the most amazing creation, but I did have the idea that a nice simple piece would keep my tutor group entertained in the morning.

I'm loving this month's challenge, very chilled and relaxed. So one week down and we have a menagerie herd group collection of origami, in a very cheesy style….

 

Origami Day 6

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 5 Comments

If you were unlucky enough to read yesterday's post you'd be aware that I had a cloud hanging over me.

However, I am happy to report that the cloud has moved away. What a difference a day makes!

This morning the students in my tutor group had the delightful experience of learning how to make an origami piglet. Despite having to help some with some difficult inside folds (get me using all the correct terminology) I can report the activity a complete success. We now have 20 pink piglets accompanying the 20 pigeons from last week on the windowsill. I think some selective culling will be required soon.

And so on to today's piece of origami…..can you guess what it is yet?

If the shouts I can hear are….”It's a dinosaur!”….award yourself 10 gold stars!

This definitely looks easier than it actually is. The arms and feet were very tricky, I don't think my tutor group are quite ready for this piece – it is rated as 'hard'. Believe it or not….25 separate steps!!!

 

What a day!

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

A long day, piglet and cults.

Today was a very long and stressful day. It has felt like everything has been against me:

  • I have a stack of marking that, despite my best efforts, does not seem to be going down.
  • I was not really ‘feeling it’ today.
  • The kids have been slightly crazy today. Even my ‘lovely’ Y11s were also not really ‘feeling it’ either. Even a spontaneous bit of Zumba in the classroom failed to shift the negative feeling that was banging around.
  • iPad has less that 4% battery life left – Apple make the shortest ever charging cable in the history of the world so that it is impossible to work and charge it.
  • I made an origami piglet that ‘apparently’ looks more like a rhino (see below).
  • I’ve got work to do but can’t be bothered.
  • The paper is rectangle and not square which is a problem for an origami master like myself.
  • The dog thinks I am mean all because he is a big girl and is stressing out about the fireworks.
  • Blogsy, the app I usually use for posting blogs, has decided that it wants to mess me around as well.
  • All in all I am feeling very sorry for myself.

 

I also found out today that my sister lives in a strange town that offers sacrifices to their God in the form of rather bizarre bonfire Guys. Lance Armstrong was this year’s sacrifice, just ahead of Jimmy Savile and George Osbourne. My sister took part in last night’s procession through the streets of Edenbridge before Reverend Bonfire helped conduct some sort of mass cult prayer session before the effigy was lit to cries of “burn him, burn him!”.

I will be keeping a close eye on my sister’s behaviour in future, although the giant Wicker Man she has erected in her garden is causing some concern.

And so to Day 5 of November’s Challenge to produce one piece of origami per day. Continuing the recent animal theme, a piglet is today’s offering….

Here is Billy hiding like a girl in the cupboard because of the fireworks….

In an attempt to lighten my mood I resorted to the genius of Terry Hall, in his guise of lead singer of Fun Boy Three, that didn’t work either…..

Frostbite and a rabbit…..

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Today it was race 2 in the Frostbite Friendly League hosted by Bushfield Runners. A 5-miler starting and finishing at Bushfield's Leisure Centre near Peterborough. When I left home at around 9.30am all seemed good. When I got to the race is was no longer 'all good'. It was absolutely pissing it down! Walked to race HQ in rain. Warmed up in the rain. Ran the race in the rain. Walked back to the car in the rain. I was wet through and just wanted to get home.

Finished in 145th place in a pretty decent time of 34.06, less than 7 min/mile pace, so couldn't moan too much. But a shower, a lovely bacon and egg baguette and cup of tea and I was sorted.

As for November's Challenge, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding, may I present a rabbit….

Now I understand it may look a tiny bit like a donkey or a dog, but I can assure you it is a rabbit, the app says so….

I can't quite understand how their rabbit is looking slightly more happy and proud than my slightly depressed looking rabbit. I think a visit to the art department tomorrow to steal borrow some coloured paper may be required.

 

Origami Day 3

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

This is the third day of November's Challenge and it would appear we have lots of origami fans out there.

Firstly, Emma (a first dan origami master) at school has offered to teach me how to make a bird, but not just a bird, but a bird that flaps it's wings! I think maybe that will be Monday's piece of origami.

Secondly, my sister has caught the bug, an origami boat appeared on her blog today (I would post a link to her blog, but I'm not sure she is ready for that yet) – and it actually looked better than mine – I think she may also be a secret origami master.

And so on to today's attempt….found, thanks to Claire, using the new How to make origami app, I have pleasure in presenting….a pigeon.

If you're not quite ready to download the app yet you can click here for the instructions online.

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