Wednesday 19 August 2009

Spotlight on Nukkle the Drummer!


On my previous post, (oh, my neck - was it really so long ago?!), many of you commented how you loved Nukkle. I thought I'd treat you to a special post about him! (He's all embarrassed and gruff about it, muttering "Mmmvhhhhhhhhh!", but is really rather pleased ...)

So ... Nukkle is the drummer with the Stiffnex band. He isn't terribly tall, but he is big: big hands, big feet, wide neck, and a big heart!





By day he works as apprentice plumber and fitter at the AFF Gas plant, (Anatomically Friendly Flatulence), which powers Neckelchester village. He loves his job! (The picture above shows him with the gas plant's own special band, the AFF Gas Trumpeters).

Nukkle wears his work dungarees wherever he goes, even on stage with the Stiffnex, and keeps his tools in the pockets with his drumsticks.





This means he often gets his drumsticks and spanners mixed up, which doesn't do the drumkit much good at all ...

(You can see a video of him performing with the Stiffnex by clicking here to go to an earlier post).

Nukkle is altogether rather clumsy, and gets terribly teased by his friends. For instance, when carrying his kit down into our cellar, he slipped on some soup which Girth had slopped on the floor.


Down he went, to rise covered in Parsneck Soup!



The drums went bouncing down into the cellar, and are now rather mis-shapen!



Both Nukkle and Necky Becky are good at looking grumpy.



However, Nukkle sweats out any grumpiness when he's playing his beloved drums.


The other great love in his life is his food. Nukkle's idea of bliss is to sit on his favourite bench in the village park and eat his lunch - usually a monster sandwich called the 'Giroffimo'. This is a huge triple-decker made with both white and brown bread. Filled with toasted peppers, onions, garlic, stir-fried bananas, and three different kinds of cheese, it oozes spicy relish and mayonnaise...
"Mmmmmmmmmvhhhhhhhh!"


One day, I'll tell you the story, 'Nukkle's Sandwich' !

58 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

Right on, Nukkle! I love a good drum solo.
The AFF had me in stitches. We could start up a utility service around the Hyggehus some days (but don't tell anybody--it isn't particularly "friendly").

Kat

Linda S. Socha said...

Raph
What a fun story...I felt as if I were slipping on the stairs and in the band. I did have a bit more trouble relating to the plumbing tools!

Glad to see the post!
Linda

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Poetikat, I must record the AFF Gas Song soon and put it on the blog - it's great fun!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Linda!

(Have you really never played drums using a spanner? :)

Cloudia said...

Yes, there must be something in your air that just makes me feel good when I voyage here!

Raph, You are just so Tall in Talent!

Aloha-

Comfort Spiral

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you so much Cloudia! Stick your neck out for your dreams!

Heather said...

Nice to have you back Raph. I always wanted to play a drum at junior school but I had to have a tambourine! Only the boys had a drum and the little dainty girls had a triangle. Says it all really!! I think a good drum solo is thrilling, and once heard a drum group from Japan that was quite remarkable - they made the drums almost sing and were as good as a full orchestra. That Nukkle sandwich looks good, far better than the ones my grandsons talk about!

Unknown said...

That a delightful story, so gald you stuck your neck out.
Tell your daughter her video is fantastic!!! I just loved it!
Bravo.....

Unknown said...

Hi Raph,

Glad to see that you managed a break from work to keep us up-to-date. Nukkle is obviously fun to be around. Not sure I'd want to be standing too close though!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Heather - you're welcome to play on drums anytime here if you can find a portal to Giraffe World! Nukkle says he will help you learn.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Adventurous Art Teacher! I will tell Nexi - glad you enjoyed the video!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Nukkle is great fun, Derrick - and he does have plenty of baths!

Rosemary said...

My world needs the AFF gas plant..... please share the technology.Was ready to try Nukkle's sandwich until the stir fried bananas......Missed your posts.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I'll try and post more frequently again, Rosemary - thank you! (I'll do one on the AFF Gas plant too.)

If you visit us in Giraffe World we'll make you a nice Giroffimo sandwich without the stir-fried bananas!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely to have you back Raph - where have you been for the last month? Those little drawings are exquisite - do you do them yourself?

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you so much Weaver - it's nice to be missed! I've been up to the neck in working - very enjoyable, but no time to blog. This is a very busy time here - but as the nights draw in I should be back in bloggyland more often!

Thank you for the compliment about the little pictures. I take them myself with my trusty little Neckon camera :)

Barbara Martin said...

The AFF Gas Plant brought a chuckle. Thank you for the interesting look at Nukkle, though I liked the protective neckware he wore for plumbing.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Glad you enjoyed the AFF Gas plant, Barbara! (I think the protective neckwear you mention is that worn by Nukkle's boss, Trachelus Aplombus).

nollyposh said...

Lol! i love Nukkle <3 But hey that's the drummer magic no?! X;-)

Lauren said...

Nukkle reminds me in many ways of some of the other drummers that I have met. He seems like a fun giraffe. By the way, I gave you an award over on my blog.

Jeane Myers said...

Nukkle sounds a wonderful fellow and living up to his name is a challenge I'm sure :)

PERBS said...

I enjoyed your story but the picture I like best was the last one. Always enjoy visiting yoru blog world!

I have a pretty neat bench up this week if you care to stop by . . .

PERBS said...

I forgot to say something about that cute bench in the last photo! See what your grapics do to distract me from my mission of seeking out benches? lol

That is a darling little bench and just perfect for Nukkle. I have a little bench this week too if you care to drop by and check it out. . .

Arija said...

Though your posts
may not be frequent
and your neck is stiff and tall
when spirit stirs
you do create
something that moves us all
and Nukkle's mighty sandwich
though wait for it we must
will sate our hunger yet again
for merriment I trust.

Rune Eide said...

I must admit I fell for the Nukkle sandwich (Great name :-) ) It must be just as well that he is a plumber with the AFF. Maybe he ought to be promoted to the production level after each meal?

And, of course - the bench. Just right for the occasion. After that he can play "The little Drummer Raph" :-) with his spanner on the seat.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I'll tell Nukkle he's got the drummer magic, Nollyposh!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Lauren, Nukkle says he'd love to meet the other drummers - they could have an intergalactic drumming event!

An award! OOh - I shall come across and have a look!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

He is a wondeful fellow Jeane! I must ask his parents why they called him Nukkle ...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you PERBS - I'm glad my pics didn't completely distract you from your bench mission! :)

Nukkle's bench is a very strong one even though little - it has to be, even to carry the weight of the sandwich!!

I shall come across and see your bench.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh Arija - I love this poem - it's girilliant! Thank you!!

I'm glad you enjoyed Nukkle's sandwich - it is one of my aims in life to spread much merriment. :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ah, RuneE - wonderful! Nukkle on the production level would certainly boost the Neckelchester AFF Gas supply!

I'd better not tell him about the drumming on the bench though - it has enough wear and tear already supporting his sandwich and himself! :)

Lyn said...

I must admit that in my earlier days I was the recipient of a Nukkle Sandwich, usually served by my brother! I wonder if the ingredients would match up!

Country Girl said...

Dear Raph,
I've posted the giveaway contest in which you are already a winner (because you are my 300th follower). Please visit this link
http://chroniclesofacountrygirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaway-all-weekend.html
and choose a print that suits your taste.
Others are invited to enter! Contest ends Sun., 8/23 at 6 PM.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Probably not, Lyn, unless your brother happened to be a giraffe! :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Whoopee! Thank you Country Girl - I'm hoofing across to choose my print now!

bindu said...

Brilliant illustrations, as usual. The details are incredible. And it was fun learning about Nukkle!

Btw, you have won a set of bookmarks. Please send me your address at bindu11 (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll put them in the mail for you!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh Bindu, whoopee and thank you! I am having a good day today!!

Glad you enjoyed getting to know Nukkle.

olivia said...

LOL, Nukkle is adorable. And that sandwich looks delish ... :D

Mad Aunt Bernard said...

I have a long neck banjo if there are any vacancies?

kesslerdee said...

Nukkle is really quite the giraffe- both a drummer and a plumber-talk about talent!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Olivia, the Giroffimo sandwich is from the bakers in Neckelchester village, with relish made to a secret recipe!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Certainly, Mad Aunt Bernard! You're most welcome to do a gig at the Gleeful & Greedy - maybe you could put some of your tortoise poetry to music?

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I've told Nukkle your compliment, Dee, and he's gone all pink and bashful!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Oh he sounds like a great drummer! Love the pictures!

Country Girl said...

Dear Raph,
It's me again. I will need your mailing address to send you the print that you won. It will ship directly from my lab. Please e-mail me at katydid56@gmail.com.

BT said...

That Nukkle is a wonder, a drummer gerextrordinaire I'm sure, even with a spanner! My dear papa was a drummer too. And my youngest son. You know that giraffe bench on DJK's blog? Well, I took it at Colchester Zoo on my Grandson's 4th birthday and we fed the giraffes too. I have some super photos of the event. Take care,
BT

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Crafty Green Poet. Nukkle is very proud of his drumming, and practises for hours in our cellars!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh thank you and Giraffitude, Country Girl! I'm so looking forward to receiving my lovely shell print!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

That is amazing, BT! I wondered where the actual bench was situated when PERBS sent me the link! It really is a wonderful bench. I hope you post your photos of the giraffes at Colchester Zoo some time on your blog!

Eryl said...

The young are so good at looking grumpy, aren't they?

I'm desperate to hear all about Nukkle's sandwich, which, by the way, sounds delicious.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Nukkle and Necky Becky are certainly good at looking grumpy, Eryl! As for me, I prefer to think that when I was a young giraffe I had an air of pensive panache :)

Sara said...

I'm glad I poked around in blog land & found your Ramblings. Your lovely tales always make me smile from ear to ear XD

Madame DeFarge said...

Nukkles seems to be a rough diamond of the highest order. A fine example of the drummer's art.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Sara! I'm always glad to make people smile!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ooh, Madame DeFarge - I will tell Nukkle this - a rough diamond of the highest order! He will be flattered!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Margaret - I hope you enjoy your visits!

Caroline Gill said...

I don't know if you are up for this, Raph, (or have already received it), but I am nominating you for a Kreativ Blogger Award. To see what this entails, you might care to read this post on my blog here.

With best creative wishes,
Caroline

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you so much, Caroline! Much appreciated - I shall come across and see!