Uploads from Ministry, tagged uncle

Senior Lilliputian at Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:14:54 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

The detailing of this Lilliputian's cuffs presumably indicated a certain seniority; she certainly followed the Giant Uncle closely all weekend, intently studying his face as if controlling his expressions using that little radio control unit. Absurd, really; I wonder if he found it irritating.

The Lilliputians in white(ish) behind were those accompanying Xolo, the Little Giant's dog.

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Senior Lilliputian at Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:14:42 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

This dapper gent with lace cuffs and gold braid at his shoulder co-ordinated the team of Lilliputians assisting the Giant Uncle's footsteps; hence the slightly less elegant megaphone.

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Giant Uncle entering Derby Square from James Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:51:08 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Seen from the steps of the Queen Victoria Monument in Derby Square, site of Liverpool Castle until 1726, the source of Castle Moat House's name is fairly clear.

Designed by Edward Corbett and built 1838-40, it's now Grade II Listed and, as the black circular plaque indicates, an aspect of Liverpool's UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
It's a strange building: an irregular quadrilateral (with no parallel or equal-length sides) labouring under a distinctly overwrought roof, it somehow doesn't look balanced, particularly standing alone from its neighbours.

The original owner, the North and South Wales Bank, was a successful provincial bank particularly significant for serving more rural customers than the usual (urban) merchants and for being one of the first banks to open a substantial branch network in Wales. Following acquisitions, the bank moved to larger premises next door; in turn, it was ultimately absorbed into the Midland Bank, now HSBC.

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The Giant Uncle and Lilliputians, Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:47:36 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Preparing to put the Giant Uncle's diving helmet back on for the last time before the Giants left Liverpool.

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The Giant Uncle and Lilliputian, Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 02:38:20 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

The Giant Uncle's Lilliputians were all very attentive to his practical needs – it can't have been easy for him to move on land in all that weighted diving gear – but I only noticed one take the time to talk to him.

Anyone else find her rather familiar?

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Giant Uncle passing the Town Hall, Dale Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 02:38:31 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Apart from the Grade I Listed Town Hall, all the buildings visible on the left of Water Street are Grade II Listed: No.3 (an ex-bank), India Buildings, and West Africa House, their names commemorating the port city's heritage.

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The Giant Uncle and his niece, Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:46:25 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Watching the Lilliputians (and the Little Giant's dog, Xolo) prepare for the giants' final procession along the waterfront.

I loved the contrast between the Uncle's angular, scarred & weatherbeaten face and the Little Giant's softer complexion.

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The Giant Uncle and his niece, Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:46:13 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

There were moments when the harnesses and cables vanished, and the giants were real. Puppets? What puppets?

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The Giants waking at Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:06:21 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Moments after being woken himself, by Xolo (the Little Giant's dog) playing a suitably giant grammophone record, the Giant Uncle gently woke his niece.

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The Giants sleeping at Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 01:59:47 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

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Giant Uncle, St. George's Plateau, Lime Street, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:20:08 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

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Giant Uncle walking along Strand Street, Liverpool waterfront, Merseyside, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:30:47 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

As I mentioned, the Giant Uncle required some assistance to move on land in his weighted diving suit.
This photo more clearly shows how the Lilliputians helped him walk: in pairs, they hurled themselves off a mobile platform, their combined weight on a rope lifting the Giant's foot so he could take a pace forwards. Other Lilliputians did the same on the other side, whilst the first pair returned to the back of a queue to remount the platform and leap off again.

Energetic work (especially with a little flamboyance) and mildly dangerous – I saw two instances of Lilliputians getting out of synch with their megaphone-bearing leader's instructions and falling the ~3 m to the ground.

That's the Merseyside Police headquarters in the background.

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The Giant Uncle's assistants, Strand St., Liverpool waterfront, Merseyside, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:31:01 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

With the greatest of respect, these weren't the youngest of the Lilliputians assisting the Giant Uncle's motion, yet they may have been the most enthusiasic about leaping into space gripping a rope, their combined weight helping lift the Giant's right foot for each step forwards. Whilst most of their younger peers paced themselves in a more subdued manner, this pair were continually moving and shouting, psyching-up themselves and the crowd; I was only able to catch them in repose whilst the Lilliputians' leader had called a brief halt.

The Lilliputians on the upper deck, behind, helped the Giant Uncle to move his arms.

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The Giants leaving Canning Dock, Albert Dock complex, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:34:23 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Emerging from an atmospheric fogbank of smoke laid by Liverpool Maritime Museum's veteran Mersey tug 'Brocklebank', the Giants passed through Canning Half Tide Dock on their way to the River Mersey, then on to...?

The motor packet 'James Jackson Grundy' herself was built (by W. J. Yarwood of Northwich) in 1948 for ICI, and named after the Alkali Division's distribution manager. When not acting as a tender for giants, she regularly transports grain on the Mersey.

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[Image reached no.382 in Flickr Explore on 12/05/12! Thanks!]

The Giants sleeping at Kings Dock, Kings Waterfront, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:13:30 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Surrounded by all their accoutrements (and dog) on the infilled dock, at the end of a long day exploring Liverpool.

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Giant Uncle outside St. George's Hall, Lime Street, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:09:48 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

After hauling that weighted diving suit all the way from Stanley Park (with the assistance of the Lilliputians, for which they gathered to receive deserved applause from the huge crowd), it's hardly surprising that the Giant Uncle stopped for an afternoon nap in the middle of Lime Street.

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Giant Uncle leaving Salthouse Dock, Albert Dock complex, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:54:21 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

That diving suit must have been immensely heavy on land, so the Lilliputians were kind enough to offer assistance, attaching the Giant Uncle to a supporting harness and helping him move.

They'd combined a mechanical digger with a crane; from an upper deck constructed from pallets and scaffolding poles, one team helped the Giant to move his arms, whilst two other teams on a lower deck energetically and ingeniously helped move his legs.
In pairs, burly Lilliputians leapt off the platform, their combined weight on a rope thereby lifting the Giant's foot. Other Lilliputians did the same for the other foot, whilst the first pair scurried round to the back of a queue to remount the platform and jump off again. And again, and again, across the heart of Liverpool.

So far as I can tell (only from unverified online sources – sorry), the rice mill in the background was founded by Joseph Heap in 1778-80; I'm not sure whether this is the original building, dating from an era when the company operated its own ships, trading between Liverpool and Australia via Burma and the East Indies. Apparently the mill, empty since 1988, may be converted to residental use soon.

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Giant Uncle, St. George's Plateau, Lime Street, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:00:14 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

Ahh... Fresh air at last.

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Giant Uncle walking along The Strand, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:57:17 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

This may have been the moment that the Giant Uncle, edging through the crowd, realised he was part of something big....

[I originally posted two versions of this image: one conventionally in colour and this one, a high-contrast variant derived accidentally whilst processing. I asked for visitor's opinions, but this one won on views: 384 to 366 by 08/03/13.]

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Giant Uncle in Salthouse Dock, Albert Dock complex, Liverpool, UK

nobody@flickr.com (Ministry) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:49:56 -0700

Ministry posted a photo:

It was difficult to judge the scale of the Giant Uncle at first – one could see he was big, but so's the dock wall.

However, when the first Lilliputian climbed onto the Giant Uncle to assist him out of the water, and was shorter than his helmet....

Incidentally, I love the way the diving equipment looked well-used and genuine: the lead weights scarred by minor scratches; the brass helmet dented and patinated by corrosion; the suit patched and slightly grubby with use. There was no sense of it being a theatrical costume.

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