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Original poster

WWYD? The Saga of the Family Tuna

361 replies

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn · 27/09/2011 19:43

Bit longwinded but anyone who bears with me can have Wine and Thanks
DD has a toy caterpillar named Sydney Tuna, she liberated him from a car boot sale when she was just gone 2 and has adored and worshipped him ever since.
Last Christmas Santa brought his mummy, Mrs. Mabel Tuna, to live with us. She had missed Sydney since he went to seek his fortune, so had written to Santa to ask him to find Sydney, and Santa gave her a lift to our house on his sleigh. Cue rejoicing and carolling and so on....
DD now informs me that this Christmas, Mrs T and Sydney are writing jointly to Santa to find Mr. Tuna, who rejoices in the name Miguel apparently, and is in the army, fighting for the peaceloving resistance caterpillars who want to stop the slaughter between the marmite and the maple syrup factions I kid you not AND I kept a straight face wile DD told me all this
So... and if you're still with me, a thousand thanks... I can lay my hands on a caterpillar identical to Mrs. Tuna, but how can I make him look like he's been liberated from the army/prisoner of war camp/somewhere else suitable to have kept him away for a long time? I thought about him having been kidnapped by Pirates to explain where he's been all these years, and that was when DD came out with the stuff about the army... any suggestions? DD is 9 and I think this could be the last year for Santa for her, we've had some pointed questions that I have so far lied my way out of managed by the skin of my teeth, so I want to do Mr. Tuna's homecoming right...

OP posts:
Original poster
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn · 30/09/2011 09:29

DD is 9 Katz Grin

OP posts:
MrsSnaplegs · 30/09/2011 09:21

Evedallas and I maybe able to come up with something to send from his "captors"
Eve shall we dress up in rig and do a videoGrin
way too involved must do work

katz · 30/09/2011 08:12

This is just fab and puts the very small bear we bought dd2's teddy from father Christmas to shame.

Flowerista · 30/09/2011 08:00

Don't forget any photos released by his captors need to feature that days edItion of the newspaper, so intelligence agencies Pombears DD and all MNers, Stanley and MrsTknow he s still alive!

Original poster
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn · 30/09/2011 07:45

There's a picture of Sydney (taken some time ago when he was newer and had pristine antennae)
here if the linky thing works crosses fingers I shall put more here as I go along until we, hopefully, have a proper Family Album...

OP posts:
Original poster
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn · 30/09/2011 07:29

Ooooo I am coveting the teeny tiny bullet proof vest from that site Boffin I am just that sad

OP posts:
dawntigga · 30/09/2011 04:09

It worries me immensely that I'm excited about an FB page for him.

MustReallyTryLookingHardForTheLifeSheLostTiggaxx

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 23:12

Thanks, BoffinMum, that's given me some inspiration

I really really really want to set up a Free Miguel Tuna page. Pombear, PM a link to your fb and I'll sooooooo do it!!!

BoffinMum · 29/09/2011 22:57

Safety gear for small animals?

mamaGool · 29/09/2011 22:53

YYY! With several thousand MNers supporters & followers as friends obv.

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 22:49

I think Miguel needs a secret Facebook account - perhaps a sympathetic guard could let him use their phone every so often?

mamaGool · 29/09/2011 22:44

I am getting a little teary-eyed at the thought of the Tuna family reunion. Could you drag it out prolong the excitement with a video email from Miguel, filmed in secret on a smuggled phone & broadcast via his wi-fi antennae, pre Christmas, while imprisoned, saying how much he misses his family & the only thing keeping his morale is the thought of seeing his DW & DC again?

This would give Mrs T, Sydney (& your DD) reassurance that Miguel is alive & well. Appreciate you wouldn't want to ruin the surprise of his appearance, but perhaps in the cramped space of his cell it was only possible for Miguel to film, say, one of his legs? Do you know anyone who could give a convincing caterpillar accent and build you a set?

Have I gone too far..?

Original poster
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn · 29/09/2011 21:58

You lot do realise that every time I envision the wonder that will be Miguel's parachute, the garage roof looks a little bit more tempting and I don't fit out of the landing window so would have to push one of the DCS out there to Do The Honours.

OP posts:
NormanTheForeman · 29/09/2011 21:33

I have already nominated it on the "Classics nomination" thread, but no action taken yet, I see.

grumpykat · 29/09/2011 21:30

No advice really, but another nomination for classics here! Loving the family tuna and hoping our dd will have such a brilliant imagination.

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 21:11

I'm the other side of the Water a £15 train ride away Grin

MrsSnaplegs · 29/09/2011 20:54

Grin fate indeed
We are on the coast between Southampton and Portsmouth Wink

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 20:52

Spooooooooooooky, me too!! It's fate Grin

MrsSnaplegs · 29/09/2011 20:38

I'm Hampshire purplepidj

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 20:19

Lt Snaplegs I'll pm you my address when I get home. If we're near enough perhaps I could have some rl help?

stealthsquiggle · 29/09/2011 20:14

I have found the satin in the large heap modest box which is my fabric stash - it is heavier than parachute silk, but hopefully also more durable. It will be on it's way to you tomorrow, Pidj.

MrsSnaplegs · 29/09/2011 20:01

Snaplegs was a Captain (Army) I'm the Lieutenant (RN) Grin

MrsSnaplegs · 29/09/2011 20:00

DH has just read the whole thread and is now keen to be involved interested. He then put his head in his hands and said I can't believe I'm doing this thinks we're all mad

If you want to do a round parachute then this is his suggestion for construction.

A circular piece of material - you can buy parachute silk from the army navy stores Wink however bloomers would be a good substitute

Take 4 long pieces of your cord (again you can buy proper para cord from A/N stores it's great for gardening and stuff)

Lay them first over the circle as if you were cutting a pie into 8 pieces. Where these cross over is where you want to attach your rip cord to open the chute.

Stitch them in position making sure you have enough length for them to drop down over the sides of the chute to be then attached to your harness.

Gather them so you have four on each side - attach the ends to a small D ring and attach the 2 D rings to the inside fixing on your pack.

Then get both "sets" of the cord - one in each hand and about half way up the length (above Miguels head height when chute is deployed) put a strap that connects them but doesn't bring them right together - again make it look like an H

DH seems to think this will fit better in your pack and look more "military" Grin

He has even drawn me a picture so I know what he is talking about cos he thinks I'm stoopid

Time for Wine however we also want to see pictures/video for the Xmas day reunion.

purplepidjinawoollytangle · 29/09/2011 20:00

Thank you! I have some satin stuff coming from Stealth for the chute itself.

I think I'll put a d ring in the middle then each cord can have a split ring. I'll keep the cords quite short as Miguel is probably quite short of time!

HavePatience · 29/09/2011 19:59

Oh I want to meet your DD. Grin I don't have suggestions yet, but love this thread Smile