Thanks ski. Here's a "what you can do with your time" story you might like, one that we came across on our wanderings ...
Driving the Trans Lab we made a side trip to a small, end of the road village called North West River. I'm drawn to explore end of the road places and this one had a museum, so why not ? Located in an old Hudson's Bay Co. building we found inside what one could expect - historical trading post displays - and, luckily, an amiable curator with whom we could have chatted the morning away. Instead, she said, "do you know about the models ? Come, I'll show you." Following her to an adjoining room we came face to face with models like this,
Dozens of them. A whole room full. Many with what I'll call an automated sequence of music and movement, triggered by pressing a button.
Mind blown, "where... how ..."
The back story goes something like this: US serviceman stationed at nearby airfield in the 50's (then a USAF base, now CFB Goose Bay) explores the area, falls in love with local girl, goes back to the States with new wife. Some time later with help of photos he had taken and recollections and input from his wife he starts to make models of buildings, landmarks, and vignettes of life and traditions in that far away place from a time long passed. The couple revisits her village and brings with them a bunch of his models. Later the couple starts to return every year with a new model or two and the fellow makes repairs to any old ones in need.
That all of this was completely unexpected and amazing made the discovery for us all the more wonderful !
What else this gentleman did in his life I do not know but he is clearly a clever and productive individual. There was an old newspaper clipping in the museum with a pic of him in his workshop. Looked a bit like the photo K6ON posted earlier - I think the fellow was a radio engineer or something. Anyway, I imagine him as a modest, reflective fellow, dreaming up scenes, sourcing parts, tinkering. Quietly working away on his projects in his time off. And then those long drives north into another country to give back to that little village on the edge of the bush.
Not a bad legacy.
Edit to add a media link:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-diorama-model-history-1.4246252
