A Very Small Camper...

Introducing the Bufalino by German industrial designer, Cornelius Comanns.
This tiny recreational vehicle is designed to meet the needs of one person, probably one very small person.
It's based on the original Piaggo Ape 50 vehicle. On paper it looks like a fun concept but if you like to do more than one thing at a time in it, you may need to reconfigure the bits and pieces first.
Facilities include cooking, washing, sleeping, a work station for a laptop, and refrigeration...
I can't see a toilet anywhere.
Never mind, I'll hang on...

The Shell Clock...

Isn't it amazing, go for a walk on the beach, find one of these and it tells you the time. This one's running just a few minutes fast though...

Sunday Morning...

One Great Big Monster Date Scone this morning, griddle style I guess on top of the fire.
Scrumptious!
Shame you didn't get any.
You have to be quick around here, especially for Slow Food.
Some Andrea Bocelli sounds because Sunday is Opera.
And a walk on the beach...

Her Nextdoor...

Her in the little housebus nextdoor who shall remain nameless, came over as neighbours do, to borrow a cup of flour, oh and have you got wholemeal as well, some seeds, only if you have any, oh yes and some milk powder. No I have a pinch of salt and some yeast. Yes some sugar would be good.
Thanks, bye...
A few minutes ago there was the unmistakable smell of freshly baked bread coming my way on the morning breeze. Come closer to the screen, you can probably smell it too, and now I'm tasting it. Camp oven bread.
It is, as most things so beautifully basic are, really really good...

Bicycle Beauty...

Saul Maret is a French designer living in Boston.
Here's his beautiful little 'Le Pliable' folding bike.
Take a ride to www.treehugger.com for more...

Laidback Living...

Doesn't it make you smile.
Wood stacked under the bus all ready for warming more than just the soul.
The laundry languidly lounging.
The 50cc commuter special waiting to go and on the other side of the bus, there's fish ready to catch.
This is at Golden Bay at the top of the South Island. A special little spot called McKees...

Yummy...

A winters morning, get up, light the fire...
Some self raising flour, milk, a nob of butter, a pinch of salt, mix it, leave to sit for a few minutes and then... Mmmm. That wonderful aroma. Yummy.
Lovely hot pikelets fresh off the firetop...
Now what to have on them.
I think some delicious Canadian maple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice for me.
What will you have on yours...

Not A Pocket Rocket...

I maybe slow, but I'm good...

A Pocket Rocket...

A portable car.
What will they think of next.
This little beauty is the most fuel efficient vehicle licenced to be on the roads of Sweden.
Tested earlier this year it travelled the equivalent of 152.2k on only one litre of petrol.
Designed by some clever kids at Team Baldos at Swedens Lulea University of Technology, this miniture car seats one, is 1250mm wide, 2650mm long and 1250mm high. It weighs 155kg and has a top speed of 35kph.
So when you get to where you're going, no need to park it, just put it in your pocket and...

Sign Here And It's Yours...

Have I got a deal for you. Only one little lady owner and yes her husband and fourteen kids but she only used it on Sunday when she took them to church.
Very low miles and a dream to drive.
Sure, it's in need of some TLC.
A new paint job perhaps. Red's a good look.
Now if you'll just put it on your credit card...

A Sign Of The Times...

How bad is it when people need to pay their mortgages, rates, groceries, the doctor, the butcher, the baker and yes, probably the candlestick maker with a credit card.
How the banks just love this.
They have some folk by the short and curlies.
It's called entrapment...

Birdtown Downunder...

Down here in New Zealand a bird has space to fly and there's room to build a little house where the neighbours are a respectable distance away.
It's a lot more rustic.
The building codes aren't as strict
and the living is easy.
Thanks Bill for the photo...

It's Strictly For The Birds...

Inner city high rise dwellings, it's for the birds.
London Fieldworks is bringing peoples attention to the urban bird population's dilemma of not having enough green spaces to nest and rest.
Such a novel and delightful solution. Each 'apartment' having it's own en suite or should that be long drop... Aptly found on www.treehugger.com

The Latest Innovation...

The latest improvement to TFT is this storage platform welded to the existing bullbars.
I did it because I could. The space was there and it's added another 350mm to the length of the bus which is now just under 7.5m.
It's legal and it's ideal for carrying firewood etc.
You may have noticed it on recent posts.
Wow, it's handy!
It's my new 'front end loader'...

Somewhere...

This afternoon, at the end of the rainbow,
there was a Pot of Gold.
And a Silver Bus...

Some Things Never Change...

"What's happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders and disobey their parents.
They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying.
What will become of them?"
The above quote is attributed to Plato in 400BC. (Source NZCPR Weekly)
There is a widespread perception that today's youth are more badly behaved than ever before.
I wouldn't know but do enjoy this fashion statement...

A Little House In A Barn...

Nick Weston, the author of The Treehouse Diaries-Live Wild In The Woods, has moved out of his treehouse in England and set up this wonderfully simple, rustic and cheap as chips home inside an old barn. A man of eclectic tastes he gets his water from an outside tap and electricity from somewhere using a long lead. How long it is, I don't know, but check out this 'Necessity being the Mother of Invention' solution on http://www.tinyhouseliving.com/ issue No 63 or http://huntergathercook.typepad.com
Living simply, living easy...

It's A Putatara...

Damian Finn is a very fine Artisan and Poet. He made this Putatara. He also makes wonderful knives and walking sticks.
A Putatara is a Maori Shell Trumpet.
This beautiful trumpet is a Taonga which means it's a treasure or heirloom.
It is used as a welcoming or a warring signal.
Abel Tasman, in 1642, mistakenly took the sound of this instrument to be a welcoming one when he arrived at Murderers Bay, an inlet in Golden Bay at the top of the South Island of New Zealand.
Silly man. He lost a few crew that day.
If there are any collectors interested in purchasing this fine piece or knowing more of Damian's work, just contact TFT for details...

A Great Start To The Day...

Sunrise at Whangarei's Parua Bay and a great start to the day.
Just a few kilometres from the centre of town, this little bay with its Cruising Yacht Club is a lovely place to overnight. There's fresh water, toilets and a launching ramp. Good fishing too. Try it sometime...

Hundertwasser at Kawakawa...

Thousands of people visit the famous Hundertwasser toilets in Northland's little town of Kawakawa but fortunately not all at the same time. While there was a wee break in the flow and people were doing their business elsewhere I managed to get these images for you. Hundertwasser lived in this area of New Zealand for many years and it's known as his spiritual home.
How I wish we had more of this marvellous man's magic creations here to enjoy...

The Wizard And Oz...

The World Class act of The Wizard and Oz finished off a wonderful evening at the Haruru Falls Resort and a fantastic festival of Jazz and Blues in the Beautiful Bay of Islands a few minutes ago.
Earlier we had been treated to some great innovative music by Barry Charles who's voice spans five octaves, Haggis on electric harp and before that, Jazz from Miles Ahead.
Thanks for listening.
See you here next year...