Fingers and the Dream Thief

Edward Croydon (also known as “Fingers”) was abandoned and left on the streets of New Babbage by his uncaring parents. Fate forced him to work to survive, shining shoes and picking pockets of rich passers-by. Finally, the kindness of one sympathetic customer encouraged Fingers to consider moving into the local orphanage, financed by the town’s wealthy photographer: Mr. Snude. Fingers found that the children of the home were very well-cared for and had all the toys that they could ever dream of. The orphanage looked like a paradise for homeless street children! However, despite these toys, Finger discovered that these children lacked any imagination or playfulness and he soon discovered that the children’s home had a dark and dreadful secret: Mr. Snude was a dream thief!

Discover how Fingers saved the children from a life devoid of dreams and how he was able to teach Mr. Snude a lesson that he would never forget.

The Incredible Adventure of Fingers and Boston

Abandoned by his parents and forced by fate to work on the streets of New Babbage shining shoes, Edward Croydon (also known as “Fingers”) has to pick the pockets of rich gentlemen in order to survive. However, his life takes an unexpected turn of events when he discovers a stray Boston terrier wandering alone on the streets: a stray dog with the most peculiar-shaped dog tag hanging from her collar. Unfortunately, it’s not only Fingers who is interested in finding out the meaning of this curious dog tag; a gang of local criminals are searching for this dog and her tag too. They will do anything to seize the dog tag for themselves, within the Law or not.

Fingers and the Pocket Watch

Meet Edward Croydon (known by his friends as “Fingers” due to his pick pocketing skills.)

As an infant, Fingers was abandoned by his parents in the town cemetery one winter’s day. He was left alone, to fend for himself on the streets of New Babbage.

Rescued by a strange guardian angel and taken to the sanctuary of an attic, he soon settled down to an impoverished life on the streets, shining shoes for rich gentlemen during the day and picking their pockets whenever he could. Fate bought him into contact with one strange man, wearing a beautiful pocket watch. When Fingers deceitfully gained possession of the watch, his life was to change in the most unexpected way. The theft of the watch bought him all sorts of new and confusing dilemmas and led him through the streets of New Babbage, in a futile attempt to make sense of his tragic past.

• Who was the stranger who became Finger’s guardian angel?
• What effect would the pocket watch have on Finger’s life?
• Will Fingers ever find closure with his grim upbringing?

This steampunk story by Maxwell Grantly has been composed in a lively comic format and has many beautiful illustrations that will enchant and captivate your child.

Children’s Quiet Space

To complement the online virtual church, the 1867 team have also constructed a similar online experience but in a format that is more accessible to children.

(This clip has explanatory subtitles, that can be activated, whilst watching the video.)

Anyone, especially children – who may be more familiar with the Roblox platform, is welcome to simply visit this church and its peaceful surroundings at any time, if they wish to find some peace and solitude at this time of international crisis.

Click on this link to locate the virtual Pfaffenthal church.

Visit an Online Church this Sunday

If you missed this week’s service within Sansar, you are welcome to come next week instead. This is a little of what you missed.

You are always welcome to simply visit the church and its surroundings at any time, if you wish to find some peace and solitude at this time of international crisis.

Click on this link to locate the virtual Pfaffenthal church.

Coronavirus Announcement

Are you isolated at home due to the coronavirus, this Sunday? Don’t worry, you can share in a new virtual experience, in the 1867 church, within Sansar. If you would like a virtual place to pray, to worship or simply observe why not join us with for the first live stream from the All Nations Church Luxembourg today at 10am CET. Don’t worry, the service is conducted in English. Everyone is welcome, regardless of their faith background.

If you are not sure what the virtual world of Sansar is, feel free to visit my YouTube channel and watch a short video that was made last night.

Just click on the link below, to access this virtual church.

Hyperlink to the Virtual Church in Sansar

1867 Promotional Channel

Some of you may know about my love of Victorian history and children’s education.

I’m currently working (with an online friend from Luxembourg) building a ‘free-to-play’ game for young children, to teach them a little about the life and goings-on in the city of Luxembourg during the year 1867. Although this game is aimed at young children, you are still interested to look if you wish. If you are interested, please feel free to watch (and laugh) at my silly promo videos for the game!

1867 Promotional Channel

The game is hosted upon the children’s platform, called Roblox. You can access it here:

1867 (Roblox Game)

1867

You will most likely already know that I am working with a friend (cyberpiper) on the production of an authentic historical reproduction of 1867 Luxembourg, using the Roblox platform. Using old photographs and other historical documents, cyberpiper and I are producing a realistic computer generation of how this part of Luxembourg would have looked in the mid-nineteenth century. If you are interested, this video clip will give you a flavour of how the project is progressing.

You can visit the game here.

1867 Update

If you follow this blog, you will already know that I am currently working with a friend (cyberpiper) in the production of an authentic historical reproduction of 1867 Luxembourg, using the Roblox platform.

Using old photographs and other historical documents, cyberpiper and I are producing a realistic computer generation of how this part of Luxembourg would have looked in the mid-nineteenth century.

If you are keen to see how the work in progress is faring, you are welcome to view the following video clip of a basic walk around the Rue des bons Malades. Cyberpiper and I are now working on buildings on the opposite side of the river, before proceeding to complete the section of the city beyond the church.

There is a great deal of work to do but you are welcome to visit what has been done so far, if you remain interested.

Click here for a link to the1867 game.

Can you recognise the location shown in this photograph, by visiting and playing the game?

Ultimately, our aim is to produce a working game that may encourage gamers to enjoy and respect our amazing shared historical heritage.

1867

You may have seen very little activity from me, over the past few months, and wondered what I am up to.

You will already know, if you have read any of my free eBooks, that I am interested in Victorian history. Many of my stories are based around this era or set in a Victorian steampunk genre. You would be correct in thinking that the Victorian period is a favourite point of interest for me.

Since the start of 2019 I have paired up with an Internet friend of mine (cyberpiper) and, together, we have worked on the construction of a computer-generated reconstruction of 1867 Luxembourg. My friend lives in Luxembourg and has an avid interest in the year 1867, due to its importance in the history of Luxembourg. As for me, as you will already know, this project marries very closely with my own interest in history and my background in the education of children.

Although a great deal of work has been completed, there is still a vast amount of work left to do. It will be a long time until we can both realise our goal of a fully functioning game, set in 1867, where gamers can live, work and explore the city of Luxembourg, in 1867. Even still, this short video should give you a taste of what has been achieved so far.

If you are interested you can access the game by clicking on this link.