New Zealander builds Hobbit hole

Ananova / The Evening Post ^ | 1/26/02

[John Farson]

New Zealander builds Hobbit hole A New Zealand man has built a Hobbit house. Carl Gifford, a stonemason from Wellington, says he used a 10-tonne digger to make the hole. He's put rocks either side of the front door and plans to install a chimney and lantern on top. He told the Evening Post he was embarrassed as he was constructing the home. He said: "I must admit I was hiding as the cars were driving past. I thought, 'These people think I'm an idiot'." The house is part of a series of stonework mounds, designs and sculptures dotted around his land. "I'm just having a bit of fun. Things that were built by those ancient people like caves have always fascinated me."

[HairOfTheDog]

We are like a car crash on the side of the road. They HAVE to look, they don't want to, they can't stop themselves. It should be treated with understanding. Unless they throw tomatoes out the window as they go by.

[JenB]

We're a car crash? There are threads with titles like "Test post" that get 1500 responses and we're the car crash? That's really sad. Besides, how did a car get into the Shire anyway?

[HairOfTheDog]

It's in the wide shot right after the corn field scene.

[HairOfTheDog]

[yawn] Goodnight I think. I think I am going to rest now.

[TigerTale]

Hey everybody. I thought I'd stop by to voice my support after all the in-hobbit-spitable things which have been said about you folks recently.

BTW-what chapter are you all on over at the Green Dragon? I might want to join the conversation.

[JenB]

Thank you on behalf of those of us who have wandered off to bed. We're on chapter 4, "Shortcut to Mushrooms", and Friday should begin chapter 5, "A Conspiracy Unmasked". Hope we see you there!

[TigerTale]

I am heading off to bed myself--work will beckon soon (no time for second breakfast tomorrow morning, I'm afraid.) I think your Hobbit Hole is a nice retreat in the middle of what can be--at times--our contentious Free Republic. Almost Rivendellian, you might say. Thanks for keeping it open. :)

[lds23]

Tea, cakes, and good company. What more can one ask, really?

[Overtaxed]

we get - visitors, well-wishers, and distant relations!

And they all seem to be hanging on the bell all day. :)

[JenB]

Good morning! Let's see if today is less - interrupted, shall we?

[Overtaxed]

Maybe we should contract with the Dwarves to build the 440 bypass around the Shire for the trolls to take (no off-ramps, of course!)

[JenB]

Hmm, that might work, but I have this bad feeling about building highway bypasses... remember Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy! (If you haven't read it, never mind). Besides, what do Dwarves charge? I'm broke - just sent all my money to the government or to FR.

[HairOfTheDog]

I loved Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

yellow

Good morning! We have the lightest dusting of snow this morning... Who'd have thought!

[JenB]

42! We don't want our hole demolished, so let's keep all bypasses - interstellar or not - far, far away from the Shire.

[Overtaxed]

I forgot about that! :) We don't need an interstellar one anyway. I expect that Dwarf work is expensive but still the best value per mile.

[HairOfTheDog]

Good idea. I am sipping some coffee and getting ready to go feed the ponies and turn them out. They aren't going to like it when they see what has happened outside.

[Overtaxed]

We don't want our hole demolished, so let's keep all bypasses - interstellar or not - far, far away from the Shire.

Does Bugs Bunny do advocacy work? He seemed pretty successful getting the highway to go around his hole.

[JenB]

Hmm... I think he's busy getting hunters to shoot ducks, not rabbits. We'll have to check.

Incidentally, did you know that 6x9=42 - in base 13! (42 base 13 = 54 base 10). So the answer was right - just weird.

[Overtaxed]

But that would change the whole story!

[2Jedismom]

The part that I refered to waayyy back about the vision Sam had of Frodo with the voice coming out of the ring of fire at his breast happens just shy of the top of Mount Doom, in the book. Sam sees it, then it goes away, then Frodo walks alone to the top of Mt. D. Sam catches up after having mercy on Gollum, then Gollum waylays Frodo at the top. That's how it is in the book.

Ok, concerning the movie version...I don't know about the scene that is described, but I wonder if PJ didn't just put that scene at Minas Morgul and just skips it at Mt. Doom. That way, the shock of seeing Gollum jump out at Frodo at the very peak, right when you thought the quest had failed, would be pretty intense. But he didn't want to cut that glorious ring of fire talking bit.

I don't know. . .