Your inspiration for December 2011

This month we ask that you include in your writing the words on the picture  

Picture created in 3D and rendered to 2D by Sven Pertelson

Arwins christmas adventures part 2 by Relay Caedmon

Arwins christmas adventures part 2 by Relay Caedmon

Part 2 Jump Stop

The bus made a leap forward when Arwin pressed down the button, and the boy looked terrified on when they both saw the closest house rushing towards them. The veichled breached thru the garden bush into the closests yard and it didnt stopped there. But just when she closed her eyes and thought the bus were seconds from crashing into the house nothing happend it all became silent, and she heard the boy chanting we did it we diiiid it.

The Santa Special – part 4 – Lillian Morpork

At last, they seemed to have gone through all the weather surprises. The sun shone in a blue sky, with a few puffy white clouds drifting along, like celestial sheep grazing on blue grass. Arwin relaxed, thinking of the arrival, and how happy the Dauphin Lake band would be with all the supplies they were bringing.

Arwin and the Special - Part 4 - by Sven Pertelson

Arwin looked at her rear view mirror and saw the airport shrinking from view, a quick glance out of both side windows. There was Lake Manitoba to the left and Lake Winnipeg to the right. They were flying, but how? This was a bus!

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 4" by Llola Lane

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 4" by Llola Lane

Arwin found that driving the 'Santa Special' was more of an adventure than she had expected...

A half hour later they were on the road, and eating the lunches that Mrs. C. Laus had packed. When the children were fed... Arwin had hoped they'd all take a nap... but they were just too wound up. Soon the bus was in a loud uproar again. So Arwin continued her story. "o.k Children... Are you ready to explore more cities???" They all yelled yeeeeeeees.. and soon Arwin was flying the bus to America.

Arwens Christmas Adventure by Relay Caedmon

Arwens Christmas Adventure by Relay Caedmon

Arwin found that driving the Santa Special was more of an adventure than she had expected.

It all started a few mornings ago on a beautiful winter morning, Arwin had sneaked out early in the cold wintermorning to throw some garbage before work. Just this morning was blistering cold and she could feel the hard crunchy snow under her feet, as she moved towards her big plastic garbage bin.

The Santa Special – part 3 – Lillian Morpork

Finally, everything seemed to be going smoothly. The temperature had risen, and all the ice on the road melted, and a breeze dried the road. No more Ice! Arwin thought. Thank heavens for that. Maybe, just maybe, we will make it to Dauphin Lake with no more trouble. I have never had so many things go wrong on what should be a simple bus trip before. You’d think, since this is a very special trip to help a desperate community, that it would have gone smoothly all the way. Oh, well, let’s just hope the problems are over.

Arwin and the Special - Part 3 - by Sven Pertelson

Arwin carefully typed her password into the GPS. The menu opened, playing 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' as it did so. Only two destinations available on the menu. 'Stop 20071', where she was parked, and 'Santa's North Pole Workshop'. So not much choice there. She was off to see Santa.

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 3" by Llola Lane

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 3" by Llola Lane

Arwin found that driving the 'Santa Special' was more of an adventure than she had expected...

The little girl sitting behind Arwin, named Suzie, yelled out... "Let's pretend THIS is a flying bus." The children all yelled yes.. and Arwin agreed. "Is the bus ready for take off children," Arwin asked. "All presents loaded and labeled ma'am," said the little girl. Arwin chuckled as the little girl saluted. "O.K." Arwin beeped the horn... and the bus slowly lifted off the ground. "Get ready for a grand adventure everyone!"

The Santa Special – part 2 – Lillian Morpork

By the time the snowmobiles had left, it was late in the day, so Arwin decided to stay where they were. They were safely off the road in a wide stopping area, so if any traffic came along, the road would be free.

“One more night here, I think,” she said, “and then we can get on our way again bright and early tomorrow.”

Arwin and the Special - Part 2 - by Sven Pertelson

Arwin snuggled down into the padded leather drivers seat and started reading the next section of the manual. This chair was more comfortable than her own at home. This bus was going to be a pleasure to drive. The workshop had done a great job in mocking up the flight controls and the manual. The GPS actually worked, but wanted a password to work out a route, and it seemed the radar display used the GPS to make it look as if it was really working. This was even better than the 272 Santa Bus that they used for charity collections. A knock on the wind-shield roused her from reading.

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 2" by Llola Lane

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 2" by Llola Lane

Arwin found that driving the 'Santa Special' was more of an adventure than she had expected...

Pulling the bus out of the garage, she noticed snow was starting to fall. "GREAT... Snow... Just what I need." The sun was just starting to come up in the distance. She quickly got on the interstate and headed north. She day dreamed what the BONUS would be. "fa la la la laaaaaaaaa la la la laaaaaa" sang softly in the background. She grumbled....

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 1" by Llola Lane

"Arwin's Christmas Adventure PART 1" by Llola Lane

Arwin found that driving the 'Santa Special' was more of an adventure than she had expected...

The LAST thing Arwin wanted to do on Christmas Eve was work! She HAD planned on sleeping in. But... she would get double time and she really needed the money. So when the bus dispacher called her, she agreed to work. He told her to come to the garage early, so she'd have time to look over her the routing schedule.

"Reindeer Games" by Zhu Juran

"Reindeer Games" by Zhu Juran

Arwin found that driving the “Santa Special” was more of an adventure than she had expected! Grappling desperately with the brakes, the gearshift, anything she could find that would bring the bus to earth, a crash seemed imminent. I don’t want to die in December! was Arwin’s last thought as the “Santa Special” met the snow with a thunderous roar.

(meanwhile, at the North Pole..)

The Santa Special - Part 1 - by Lillian Morpork

Arwin found that driving the ‘Santa Special’ was more of an adventure than she had expected.

It had all started with the spring floods, when the Dauphin River First Nations band community had been almost entirely wiped out. The access road was washed out and most were evacuated. Only a very few were able to stay, and they ended up without supplies of food, water and medical supplies. It was then that all the Scouting and Guiding groups in Winnipeg got together and started raising donations of clothing, blankets, and non-perishable foods. Furniture and household items had been donated by other organizations when the rebuilding had begun. But now it was almost Christmas, the people were moving back, and help was needed.

Arwin and the Special - Part 1 - by Sven Pertelson

The city streets were icy as Arwin made her way to work. Here and there Christmas decorations lit shop fronts and homes in the pre-dawn gloom. At least she knew what to expect as she had learnt to drive a bus here last winter. To say it was challenging was an understatement, twelve tons of bus was a handful at the best of times. Adding ice, snow and unpredictable car drivers to the equation made life really interesting.