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LIFE: The Great Challenge - by Royce B. McClure
- FIRST TO COMPLETE IN SOUTH AFRICA
- FIRST TO COMPLETE AFTER MIXING ALL 24,000 PIECES BEFORE COMMENCING
(note: other prior completions did the puzzle in four 6,000 piece sections.)
January 06, 2008
Jossie Williams - Pretoria, South Africa.
Assembled between 17 September 2007 and 6 January 2008
(Time: solo - 295 hours)
My name is Jossie Williams and I am from Centurion in Pretoria, South
Africa.
I completed the puzzle in 295 hours (17 hours to sort the
pieces included). All the puzzle pieces were mixed together before
starting on the puzzle and I set myself the goal of completing the puzzle
in 250 hours. I was well on target of reaching that goal, until I started
the lost city and the coral reef section. As with the other people, I also
found the most difficult parts the birds and the lost city.
The combined quantity of the pieces for the water below the surface and
the coral reef and the fine detail thereupon, slowed down my speed
considerably. This causes the area to be a very difficult piece to build.
Surprisingly the water surface was easy, as the colours change from left
to right across the puzzle. I enjoyed the sea plants and small fish the
most.
To the credit of Royce, the animals, sea plants and sea creatures "came
alive" as the picture started to form. For its size, the puzzle is well
planned and the colours well distributed throughout the puzzle. I have
built a lot of puzzles, but this was really the most enjoyable of them
all! I am looking forward to the next challenge!
View Jossie's progress chart HERE
Sorting the pieces:
UPDATES:
Jan 21, 2008
Thank you, this achievement means so much to me, since in South Africa,
puzzles are not such a big thing. Because of that, I did not even tell the
media.
I have decided not to frame the puzzle, as I would really like to build it
again in maybe 10 or 15 year's time, this time under no pressure to
complete it first and to enjoy it on my own time. Maybe by that time I
have grandchildren old enough to join me. I am also going to give it to my
mom to build. She is also 76 years old (like Hall of Fame - Mary Benjamin)
and keeps herself busy with puzzles almost every day. I will break it up
into smaller pieces, as she resides in an old age home and does not have
the space to build the whole puzzle. She will have 12 x 2000 piece puzzles
to keep her busy. I have also forwarded her the inset from the old age
home in Michigan, to see if they can maybe get together a group of
enthusiasts to do the same for SA.
Keep well.
Jossie
Williams.
Sept 11, 2008
I have stumbled upon this last email I received from you and just have the
need to say hello again.
I cannot tell you how often I think back to the time I was building the
puzzle and don't think I will wait another 10 - 15 years before I build it
again. I can't wait for my mom to finish it! She is more than halfway
already and is enjoying it immensely.
Josse Williams. |
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