Tuesday 7 June 2011

Neckshund Nexploits at the Botanic Garden!

Necky Becky Littl' Nicky and Hals the Neckshund dog at the Secret Portal behind the Intergalactic Cacti The Neckmanns of Giraffe World Storytelling by North East Artist Ingrid Sylvestre at University of Durham Botanic Garden featuring her characters the Neckmanns in their World Artwork and Stories by Ingrid Sylvestre UK Artist & WriterWednesday 1st of June was another nextra special day at the University of Durham Botanic Garden. Once again, Necky Becky travelled all the way from Giraffe World to take part in a story-telling session with Ingrid. This time she brought her beloved neckshund dog Hals with her, and her toddler brother Littl' Nicky too!

They were all very nexcited to arrive at the secret portal behind the Intergalactic Cacti.



Hals the Neckshund dog at the Secret Portal behind the Intergalactic Cacti The Neckmanns of Giraffe World Storytelling by North East Artist Ingrid Sylvestre at University of Durham Botanic Garden featuring her characters the Neckmanns in their World Artwork and Stories by Ingrid Sylvestre UK Artist & Writer
During the storytelling Hals got very hungry and decided to pop back home to get some of his favourite biscuits.

He went to the Intergalactic Cacti, but though he tried and tried, he couldn't get the secret portal to Giraffe World to appear!

Hals the Neckshund dog outside the glasshouses The Neckmanns of Giraffe World Storytelling by North East Artist Ingrid Sylvestre at University of Durham Botanic Garden featuring her characters the Neckmanns in their World Artwork and Stories by Ingrid Sylvestre UK Artist & Writer
"Oh dear!" he said to himself. "I'm so very hungry. I wonder if there are any nice biscuits in the Botanic Garden?"

Someone had left the door to the glasshouses a teeny bit open, so he squeezed through into the fresh air.



There were lots of beautiful flowers in the Garden, and Hals sniffed them. "How lovely!" he said. "But not like biscuits ..."




Further along the path he found a big display board. There was plenty of information about trees on it, but no directions to biscuits.



Hals the Neckshund dog investigating the Gunnera plants The Neckmanns of Giraffe World Storytelling by North East Artist Ingrid Sylvestre at University of Durham Botanic Garden featuring her characters the Neckmanns in their World Artwork and Stories by Ingrid Sylvestre UK Artist & Writer
He trotted past the gunnera and stopped for a moment. They looked so huge and the stems were
very prickly-looking, so he decided not to look for biscuits there!

By now he was feeling tired and very hungry indeed. He wondered if Necky Becky had noticed that he was missing. Maybe she would come and look for him. That would be so comforting.




Suddenly Hals came face to face with a very strange looking creature. In the shadows under the trees he couldn't tell if it was a fallen log or a huge monster!
*

He turned and ran, looking over his shoulder to see if it was following him. Faster and faster, his little legs moving so quickly you could hardly see them, until he arrived at a big blue door - the Visitors Centre!



Hals the Neckshund dog with a nice bowl of water at the Botanic Gardens cafe  The Neckmanns of Giraffe World Storytelling by North East Artist Ingrid Sylvestre at University of Durham Botanic Garden featuring her characters the Neckmanns in their World Artwork and Stories by Ingrid Sylvestre UK Artist & Writer
As he stood outside panting, so very tired and thirsty from his mad dash through the garden, one of the ladies in the cafe saw him. She brought him a big bowl of water to drink.



By this time the story-telling had finished, and how pleased Hals was to see Necky Becky and Littl' Nicky running towards him! Guess what Necky Becky had in her pocket? Some of his favourite biscuits!

They all sat by the Intergalactic Cacti and waited for their dad, Raph, to collect them.



Back through the secret portal they go in their family bus, until neckst time!

Necky Becky's dad has his own blog, Raph's Ramblings, where he writes about his thoughts and the family adventures.

10 comments:

Rune Eide said...

It is not easy to be a small neckshund in this preposterous world we have created. I hope he'll be provided with his own biscuits neckst time.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I loved meeting Necky Becky. I went back to read more about her on your previous post. I'm glad Hals was reunited with Necky Becky and finally got the biscuits he was looking forward to.

Phoenix C. said...

Hals is looking forward to his neckst visit to our world, and Necky B has promised to bring him a plentiful supply of biscuits, RuneE! :)

Phoenix C. said...

I'm glad you enjoyed meeting Necky Becky, Catherine! She will be taking part in lots of story-telling through the summer, and keeping me very busy.

Prospero said...

Ingrid, this story reminded me of the film "Time Bandits" with its use of portals.

Try to dig that one up (pun intended) along with those Tarkovsky films we spoke of earlier.

Phoenix C. said...

Thanks Prospero, I've just Googled "Time Bandits" and it looks really interesting - I'll try and watch it, and the Tarkovsky films.

Diane AZ said...

I enjoyed seeing the neckshund all over the botanical garden. Delightful when Hals met the log monster!

Phoenix C. said...

Glad you enjoyed the adventure, Diane! There are some wonderful log monsters in the woodland area of the garden!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

So cool--I almost thought that ws the TARDIS in that one photo, lol.

Phoenix C. said...

Those doors do look like the Tardis, Monica - hadn't noticed that before!