Puzzling Pictures 13: 1001 Things A Boy Can Make Or Do

If you were to enter our house and make your way along the uncarpeted hallway, and turn in through the second door on your left, you would find yourself in the kitchen. Finding it to be rather on the small side, and in need of decoration, you might (in search of something to say) head towards the window, exclaiming: “Oh, what an entrancing view you have from here!”

"Well, yes, it’s better than looking out onto a housing estate, or in through the windows of the neighbour opposite,” I might reply. And then we could go on to discuss the scenery (i.e. a number of run-down and overgrown allotments) for a while.

When that topic was exhausted, you might then glance down at the windowsill, and ask: “And what have you got here, in this little bowl?”

And I would answer, “It is one of One Thousand And One Things A Boy Can Make Or Do.”

"1001 Things A Boy Can Make Or Do” was the title of a large book that I borrowed, on numerous occasions in my youth, from our local branch library. It contained a whole host of interesting activities of a practical, technical and scientific nature, and it helped to entertain and educate me for many months.

And there on the windowsill is evidence of my desire to bring a little of the enjoyment that I was fortunate enough to experience into the life of young Christopher, when he visits us - as he does, from time to time.

I wonder whether you can guess the activity in which we are currently engaged? It’s been under way for several days now, and I think it will be another week or so until we see the results.

While we wait, I’ve left things under the watchful eye of a curious character, whom you may be able to make out in this second photo. I wonder whether any of you are familiar with his fictional adventures?

To be continued.