Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Ministry of Silly Walks Clock


In my younger years I was a bit of a fan of the series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.  Not as big of a fanatic as some of my friends, but many of their sketches were funny in the 1970s and to me they’re still funny today.

They brought us “Twit of the Year” and a hilarious soccer match bit between German and Greek philosophers (spoiler alert: Socrates scores the only goal of the match).  And then there was Ministry of Silly Walks featuring John Cleese, which lampooned England’s thick bureaucratic structure.  Rather than try and explain the scenario in this post, you can watch it here.  Even if you’ve seen it, it’s worth seeing again.

I recently saw a “Silly Walk” watch that was being marketed that included Cleese’s crazy legs as the hour and minute hands.  Wondering if there was a corresponding clock for sale, I did some searching but came up with nothing.  So I took things into my own hands and grabbed an unused but functional clock out of the garage.

Using nothing more than Silly Walk images that were on-line, glue, scissors, and some light cardboard backing, I made my very own custom Silly Walk Clock.  Here’s the result:
 

My plan is to rotate it amongst the members of our Plummeting Tortoises Book Group, making it our official clock.  And if anyone knows these guys it’s an extremely appropriate clock.  Whoever is the next book group host will get to take the clock to his residence for the month before and during the meeting, and then give it up to the next host.   Each of us will have the honor of it gracing our living space for three months out of the year.

BowlingWidow has expressed interest in me making another clock to occupy a permanent place in our condo.  She really has no idea what she’s asking for though.  It may inspire me to take up public Silly Walking as my next hobby.

6 comments:

  1. Awesome clock!! I can definitely understand your wife's desire. It was great fun to watch the clip again, too.

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  2. Thanks, Pilla. BowlingWidow has already started buying materials so the writing is already on the wall for a new clock. I hope the learning curve theory will hold true and that this one will be better and easier to make than the first.

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  3. Our Ministry of Silly Walks clocks will be available later this year:
    http://www.dolltv.com/exclusives.php#.UetTtmQpbpY

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  4. Very cool, Brian. An idea that's long over due. I've made another one since this post....lots of fun to make. I wish you well with your clocks.

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  5. Thanks so much. Ours are officially licensed by Python Pictures, and we hope they're well received. They should be good.

    Take care, Joe.

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