Duck Impersonators

A strange week of low level excitement which included the ram raiding of the local tiny branch of Nat West bank which had a big digger imbedded in it's back wall. As I walked passed the other day the forensic team had just arrived and were dabbing it with finger prints. It was all cordoned off and a policeman was standing there by the digger incase anyone stole it. I could not see anyone inside the bank which was shut. It must have happened in the night I suppose. I looked around for tenners stuck in the nearby bushes but didnt see any alas.

In town a man was doing duck impressions but on further investigation it seemed he was trying extract some phlegm at the back of his throat.
I found a VHS vid of THe Brain Eaters - A classic B movie from the 60's- or so it says on the sleeve. Also got the Buy & Sell mag to look for local boot sales but none this week as far as I could see. A few happening over the Easter weekend in Frodsham and Sutton Fields.

A bird of prey spotted tearing apart a starling in our garden yesterday. Hazel saw it on the tree house. Through the binoculars it looked like a hawk of some kind with a mottled brown front. All that was left was a pile of feathers and a beak.

Southend Art School 1954

ART CLASS

Looks like a younger Leo Hardy here in this hilarious old British Pathe newsreel from 1954. Thanks to George Young for the link.

John Hegley

Went into Manchester with Hazel this morning to see and hear John Hegley the poet talk (sing - recite ) to her 1st year group. First we had some breakfast in the canteen and then I wandered over to a collectors shop near Piccadilly Station in a basement. Hazel had bough Archie an old 80's Beezer comic there last time but I couldnt find any more comics. Lots of stuff but mostly expensive. Postcards, records, CD's DVD's etc.. I should have taken a photo as it was a bit like an Alladin's cave but I was the only one in there and the owner was giving me the evil eye for some reason. Maybe he thought I was going to steal his Beezers?
Anyway, so then I tried to find some other shops but they were all closed. The Art Gallery opend at 10 so had to wander around until it opened. Went to see the cabinet that Hazel and Sharon had put togther for the Mary Gregg project. It looked great. Also the Ron Mueck? very lifelike sculptures in the big new exhibition space.

When i got back to the room where John was to do his talk he was there already shuffling through a big wedge of typed papers and drawings. Hazel had gone to get a seebackroscope from the technicians dusty cupboard. It was the dustiest seebackroscope I'd ever seen! John looked rather scornfully at the dusty relic but said it would do. He projected a drawing of tow birds looking at a picture of a dark egg ( or was it a hole?) and was that a sandwich on top of the frame?
John played three songs on his mandolin called Kevin and a few poems but mostly just talked about being creative. Hazel seemed pleased that he said all the right things anyway and the students seemed to enjoy it.
We went for a curry for lunch as thats what John fancied. The chap who is doing the "object" book project from 3-D came along too and infact gave us a lift in his car to the "curry mile" down by the university. We ordered far too much for a light lunch but it was very tasty. Hazel only ate half of hers and I left a bit of mine- a vege biryani with poppadums and dips.
John and Hazel went back to see some animations that some students had done to illustrate one of his poems and I walked to the station and home. I was feeling knackered by this time and only done hald a day - no wonder Hazel feels done in by the time she ges home at 6:30pm.
John told me about CLOD magazine which he reccomended as "your sort of thing" so I found the webiste and ordered the latest copy.

Boot Sails Unfurled

The boot sale season has truly started today with two at Hartford and Weaverham- both in the car parks/playing fields of the schools. It was a lovely sunny day too and no sign of the rain of yesterday. The ground at Weaverham was a bit muddy though - squelch squelch!
I didnt find many bargains though - just a DVD of A Few Dollars More with Clint Eastwood- plus an extras disc with docs. and profiles etc. They had the first one of the trilogy too but foolishly didnt get it as I thought we had it already. Turns out it was The Good, The Bad and The Ugly we have. Doh!
Also got a few Dr.Who badges which Archie snaffled when I got home. Hazel got a few plants and some of those eye washing glasses. A bright green one, one blue and a clear oddly shaped one - obviously for oddly shaped eyes.

A World Of Difference

Sad news about Charlie Gillett who died yesterday. One of my favourite DJ's ever. I've posted a small tribute to him at Boot Sale Sounds. I have been going through some of the dozens if not hundreds of tapes I have of his radio shows from the 70's until now trying to find one suitable for the blog.
Another week flown by and not much to show for it. My "collage a day" resolution seems to have fallen by the wayside.
Had a delicious meal at Adela's and Will's on Saturday. Played some silly games - Flounder and Mousie Mousie. We have some MM somewhere - some old wooden ones?
Awoke with a hangover and mouth like the bottom of a parrot's bottom.
Went to Granma's for Mother's Day lunch of fish 'n chips and cake. Hazel planted some bulbs and flowers in Granma's back garden. No boot sales or jumbles but there was one yesterday - I got some DVD's including "Shrooms" and "Casino Royale".
On Monday walked to town and back. Got some stir fry sauces at Poundstretcher for 49p each. The Thai Green Curry one is quite tasty. I made a stir fry with pretend chicken strips from Holland & Barrett and lots of vegetables and noodles. Yum!

Tuesday we said hello to the new neighbours. Hazel took round a couple of plants which they have put on the kitchen window sill so we can see them.
John Hegley phones for a chat and to ask Hazel about what day he is coming up to MMU.
Getting rid of more old VHS vids. Copying some that will copy to DVD including some old Childrens Film Foundation classics and The Princess Bride and Les Amants des Le Pont Neuf? That's yer actual French.

Wednesday. More walks to town and back. Got some cheap CD';s of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake and Terry Reid 60's stuff from Age Concern.
Got some smoked cod which turned out to be VERY salty and yellow. Tatsed ok though. Made a kedgeree kindo of thing with it with boiled eggs and parsley sauce.

Pully Over Tribe

A week has nearly whizzed by. A week of computers going gaga and brisk walks into town. More National Geographics and a tiny digital camera. This one works but only just. Interesting pixelated look to all it points at. Pully faced pixilated pigmy tribe perchance?

The computer has been mended now thank goodness. A bug of some kind. Malcolm had to take it away and put it through some kind of washer and mangle. Malcolm is a handy person to know when your PC goes AWOL. He's helped on several occasions when the hard drive burned out and when the CD ROM drive refused to work etc. I shall watch what I click on in future. Those hackers are getting more cunning it seems.

Went to a table top sale in Tarporley last Sunday. Got some more DVD's including the Boy In Striped Pajamas and a John Cleese one called How To Irritate People. Also a long frame that was just the right size for a panoramic collage I'd made. Then to antique centre where we picked up some cheap postcards - mostly 1920's saucy seaside variety. Hazel bought a few things including a tin bullet poster and a glass dangly thing that makes tiny rainbows when the sun shines through the window.

Tatton Park

Nice morning walking to town and back. Got some more National Geographics in the Help The Aged shop for 10p. I buy three every day so as not to put my back out carrying too much ancient photo journalism. I have made some collages already using some of it. I hope to make more. The photos are quite stunning and perfect for some of the themes at Scrapiteria.

This afternoon went to Tatton Park with Hazel as we spotted an ad in the local paper for FREE entry to the Antique and Fine Art Fair that is on over the weekend. Saving us a grand total of ten quids. Blimey and what a posh do it was with a doorman to open the doors for you "This way - sir and madam". The prices were way beyond anything we've seen of Bargain Hunt! 600 quid for an chipped old shop sign saying nothing much - Eggs Half Price or Tea- Shilling a Packet! A Lowry for 200 grand. A Donald McGill postcard ( original watercolour ) for nearly a thousand quid! Interesting to see some of the art though and wonder who would be daft enough to buy it for that sort of price. Lots of people obviously, gathering by the throng pouring over the Ming vases and mock Gainsboroughs.
Nice old fairground rides outside to entertain the kids - gallopers and a vintage car roundabout thing. Popped in the farm shop to get some awkward cheese and some onion jam. We know how to live!