Author: Mark

Today I jumped in the Ägerisee (lake Ägeri) as part of an annual Christmas Swim event organized by the local expat community. Water temperature was 5.8°C while air temperature was maybe 9°C and sunny. We went last year but just watched. This was my first year jumping in. I hadn’t been in the lake since the summer.

Day 23: Ewok Glider

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 23: Ewok Glider. If this hadn’t been teased on the box art I would have no idea what this was supposed to be. The ewoks were terrible and their primitive Da Vinci hang glider was worse. It might be barely tolerable when they inevitably pair it with an ewok minifigure tomorrow, but on its own this just sucks. Thumbs down. One day to go.

LEGO micro build of an Ewok hang glider made mostly out of brown and tan parts. The results are not good.

Day 21: Emperor’s Throne

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar Day 21: Emperor’s Throne. The Emperor’s throne from the Death Star II. It’s a bit lame on its own but at least it’s recognizable (unlike Day 7’s Clone Command Station). Infinitely better with Palpatine seated on it. Marginal thumbs up on its own merits. Solid thumbs up with the Emperor enthroned upon it having his morning cuppa joe.

LEGO micro-build of Emperor Palpatine's throne with black arms and high back and a gray seat.
LEGO ugly Christmas sweater Emperor Palpatine minifigure seated in his high-backed black Imperial throne with a red coffee mug in his left hand and blue and purple energy bolts zapping out of his right hand.

Advent Speeder Bikes

Advent Speeder Bikes: 2023 vs 2018 vs 2014. Speeder Bikes have also appeared numerous times over the years. The 2014 version is done up as Santa’a sleigh complete with toy sack. (Fun fact: the 2018 speeder was photographed in the Amazon rain forest!) There was another bike in the 2021 calendar, but that year I must have been overwhelmed by life and never photographed anything past day 5.

LEGO micro-build of an Imperial Speeder Bike mostly done in brown and dark gray. The 2023 version is longer and sleeker than the others but lacks the front steering vanes.
LEGO micro-build of an Imperial Speeder Bike mostly done in brown and black. The 2018 version included front steering vanes a transparent brick to make it hover and a small green dish to act as a stand and be a tiny part of the Endor forest floor.
LEGO micro-build of an Imperial Speeder Bike mostly done in brown. The 2014 version is themed as a sort of Santa's sleigh with a sack on the back holding a red present with a white bow. It also has a small black pistol mounted on the rear for some inexplicable reason. Perhaps to shoot toy thieves!