smiffysexplodinggum

smiffysexplodinggum
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

It's an "Insect Day" at Archie's school so an extra day off ( half term next week). he almost went in to Manchester with Hazel but she decided he'd benefit from extra sleep. Its pouring with rain so stuck indoors. He just went in the garden to resue some drowning snails and got soaked.
We played some games - Worms Blast and GTA. An amusing cheat code allowed the cars to have a strange anti-gravity boost and when they hit the kerb flew into air for about 20 feet. Oh what fun!
Hazel just phoned to say her third lecture on Creative Methodology went well especially the bit where she asks everyone to stand up and then plays them the video about responding to people in authority ( Do you always do what you are told?). Not sure how this relates to being creative but Hazel could probabaly tell you.
This is a collage made recently using a snakes and ladders board as a base. Just bits of it can be seen poking through. It doesn't have any deep meanings so please don't look for any!
Good news is that Harry Hill's TV Burp is back tomorrow but an awful 5-30p.m. time slot for some reason, just when I'm making the dinner!

Animals Living In the Piano Shock Horror!

animalpiano
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Another old collage from the early 80's for Sylvia and fans of that era.
Walked to town this morning before the rain came and the winds got up. Posted a few things at the P.O. and checked the charity shops but no bargains. Took an old rucksack full of videos and CD's to the Help The Aged shop. I shall have to be careful not to buy them all again when they put them out!
Also got some blank CD-R's as I'd run out. Hoping Dixons would have some in their sale but no luck. Had to buy them at the normal price.
Archie got a nice packet back from the Beano Editor who he wrote to recently complaining of the sad state of the new re-vamped Dandy and he hoped the Beano wouldn't go the same way. Archie had asked the cartoonists to sign the comic he enclosed but unfortunatley they all work from home, but the editor signed it "the Editor" and enclosed some printed matter for his collection. Sad news though that the cartoonist who drew Les Pretend, one of Archie's favourites, had died and that's why Les Pretend hadnt been in the Beano for a while.
Below is a rubber stamped sheet made from a page of RUBBER STAMP EXCHANGE documentation. 1985.

More Junk from the gander bag

morejunk
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Another early work with the boring bits cut off at the bottom. Going to try and add an extra tiny collage to this by copying and pasting into the "edit" box and see what happens. I tried it over at the other blog and it went doo-lally!

Piano worked by water-powered anenomes

badart
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A collage from the early 80's when I was finding me feet in the newly discovered mail art network. Making nonsense from other peoples junk always seemed preferable to painting landscapes that took ages to make and hardly ever sold. Collages on the other hand were very quick to make by comparison and I had the added advantage of photo-copying them to spread to a wider audience via the postal network that had been built up since the 60's.

Boot Sale Sounds Uploaded

Seven new scratchy tracks from the flea markets of old London Town are uploaded at yahoo Boot Sale Sounds group including such gems as Eddie Lund & His Tahitians,Errol Dixon's Jamaican R&B, pre-Stiff Jona Lewie and more "ska" rarities from the 60's. Find the link on the left hand side.

The rain has stopped and the sun shines. A walk to town and back. Not much to be found. A game for PC called "Lighthouse" - a point and click mystery from a few years back. So far I have opened the front door of the lighthouse but it's too dark to go in. I have to find some oil for the lamp. Now, where would it be? In this old locked lean-to? Under the flowerpot? I'm stuck already. Will have a go later.
Going to raid the coal shed for some more musty mail art now.

Holy Squelchy Mud Trails!

Cult Bat
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just back from a pleasant Sunday morning walk in the woods over at Marbury where the mad dogs jump in the lake and spray you with water when they shake themselves dry! Archie sprained his ankle so we didnt get as far as we usually do. Hazel was taking photos of natural crosses for his school project about signs.( He made a cloth cross stuffed with macaroni but it was more like a floppy cosh!)
Lots of identical Chryslers turned up to a rally in nearby carpark - ugly retro looking things with big grinning grills on the radiators. Very odd to see so many all at the same time- like being in a tv commercial!
Tried to watch some birds at the hide but some idiot was on his mobile phone, talking very loudly and scaring them all off.
That's the trouble with Sundays - everyone has the same idea and ends up at the same quiet beauty spot making it not very quiet anymore!

Archie's spoon trick

Archie's spoon trick
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Archie's talents never cease to amaze us. He's animating the Battle of Hastings on Flash at the moment - doing a little every day. It looks very impressive already with dozens of Normans and Williams all brandishing swords and firing arrows as they float through the sky over Kent. Archie says with a few tweaks they will be more grounded soon.
I went on a brisk walk to town this morning and did my usual tour of the charity shops but didnt find much. I discovered that I'd neglected to bring any money or cheque book with me so luckily didn't find anything much to buy. I haggled for an old 1969 Beezer in the market hall with the man who sells second -hand books and nick-nacks. He wanted £4 for it which was quite reasonable but I only had £3-50 in small change which thankfully he accepted after some ummming and arring.
Got home to find the postman had been. A returned "banana" card from Anna Banana and some photos of Archie's birthday treat with the owls and hawks etc. Some of my sister and family were spoiled by a reddish blotch creeping from one corner. I looked on the negative and can't see it there so sending them back to do again.
Hazel and Archie have gone out shopping. He has some birthday money burning a hole in his pocket. He wants nearly everything in the Argos catalogue but might settle for a remote controlled car that turns into a helicopter.

Brussel Sprouts from Venus

Brussel sprouts from Venus
They are the vilest and meanest
Alien life forms to invade our turf
I've seen those evil vegetables
Landing in their flying colanders
Smelling like nothing on earth!

Gruesome gherkins from Jupiter
Dripping with slime and covered in hair
Ray guns at their hips
They rampage across our planet
Zapping everything that moves
Spitting out seeds and poisonous pips!

Red raging rhubarb from Mars
Pickled onions in their flying jars
Putrid potatoes with nasty green eyes
All hell bent on world domination
I really will not rest
Until they are caught and put in pies!

More coal shed shenaniggans!

skintransfers
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

What is a shenanniggan anyway? How does one spell it? Anyhow, I was in the jolly old coal shed again, shifting boxes and expecting mice to run up my trouser leg. But none did, thankfully! Found some nice old letters, postcards and prints from the mid 80's including a Michael Scott piece which was nice to see again. Ive put a few on my other blog if you'd care to look.
Also found a little stack of old Dandy comics that will please Archie. Most are from 1976. The difference between these musty old faded things and the horrible modern newly updated version is incredible. How could they be so insenstive to materials? This old cheap paper is so lovely and the colours so subtle. Archie says he's only getting the first issue of the new Dandy and then no more. He's written a strong letter of protest to the editors but I fear it will fall on stoney hearted businessmen's ears.

Unlucky thirteen again!

I don't know why 13 should be so tainted with ill tidings and forbodings but it is. I awoke 45 minutes later than I usually do, this wouldn't be so bad but I'm supposed to get Archie up and get his breakfast and pack him off to school! So I was running round like a headless chicken first of all and discovered to my horror a big puddle of blue liquid on the draining board! The washing up liquid bottle had mysteriously sprung a leak in the night and emptied half it's contents. This took ages to clean up, especially as I was making tea and burning toast at the same time! The tea looked a bit more frothy than usual too!
The rest of the day wasn't so frantic and I even made a banana and carrot cake this afternoon which doesnt look too bad. Hopefully it won't taste too much of washing up liquid!

How?

Indian1987
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Mostly a day of scanning, photography and blogging. Searching the coal shed for likely mail art material from what I laughingly call the archive. I wish i was more organised but I'm not, so everything is mixed up. I keep finding 1980's mail mixed in with 1970's mail and 2001 mail jumbled with 1995's mail. But at least I didnt find any mouse nests!

New companion blog started.

It's called A.1.Mail Art Archive and you can find it at the bottom of my blog links. Since raking around in the dusty,mouse chewed boxes I laughingly call my archive, in the cold dank cobwebbed coal cellar, I find amazing things hidden from view for many years. These "treasures" deserve better and it dawned on me that a blog is a good a place as any to give some of these neglected trifles an airing. So feast you eyes on some postal wonders from the late 60's 70's 80's and 90's. Each week I will brush away the crumbs and snail trails to reveal more of the splendours that once adorned my doormat.

Stamp out mumbo jumbo!

bigstamp
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Actually it's an elephant and it says "Your Designs Made Into Rubber Stamps". Obviously a special stamp made for the Jumbo Rubber Stamp Co. or whatever who went bust and the big stamp ended up down Brick Lane market where I happened to see it and offered a fiver for it. "For the footstool?" the market man said. "Eerr,yes the footstool" I said winking knowingly. So I am the proud possessor of the biggest rubber stamp in the world - that's what I like to think anyway. There are probably bigger ones but the Guinness Book of Records doesn't have a category for rubber stamps for some reason. I wrote to the Alternative Book of Records and they accepted it and put it in their 1987 issue. Some months later I got the clipping sent from my friends at Rubberstampmadness magazine in the states. I guess the people who write and draw the Ripley's Believe It Or Not strip saw the Alternative Book of Records and did their own take on the whole thing. Below is a photo of me with the big stamp in 1990. It does print too if you dab a stamp pad onto the upturned elephant image and stand on the stamp, rocking back and forth for a good clear print.

Owls well that ends well

owls
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Sorry about that. Archie had a great birthday so thanks for all of you who sent good wishes his way. The owl and bird of prey "experiance" was a real treat and enjoyed by one and all. Archie got to hold food in a big leather gauntlet whilst falcons and snowy owls plummeted down out of a clear blue sky to grab the tasty morsel and make him wince! The other kids had a turn too so no one was left out. A nice sticky cake and sugery drink beforehand saw too it that everyone was hyped up to the eyeballs! It was a bit noisy but then 6 twelve year olds usually are! He seemed to enjoy the day so a good choice. Some of the other children were pestering their dad's as they collected them that they wanted the same treat for their next birthdays (sorry dads!) Luckily the weather was great too with no rain and even sunshine during the outdoor display and flying etc.The nice fellow showing the kids around was straight out of "Kes" ( for those of you who have seen the wonderful Ken Loach film ) and could have been Casper grown up!
This is the collaged card I made for Archie's birthday. It took me ages to find the owls, looking through heaps of tattered old children's encyclopedias and books ravaged by previous collage making.

Partytricks and parcels

Partytricks
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Have been making a collaged card for Archie today as it's his 12th birdbath tomorrow and it has owls all over it. A bit of a theme going on as he's off to the Owl and Bird of Prey sanctuary tomorrow with some chums to fly some birds and see them catch lures etc. Praying for good weather.
He got a few cards today which he opened and couple of early parcels of presents from adopted uncles and aunties. He keeps changing his mind as to what he wants so he's getting some money to buy his own present. Some small things including a few books to open tomorrow. Spoilt rotten! He went over to Granma's and Auntie Audrey's this afternoon after a trip to town to get his haircut. They had some sticky cake and more cards.
This was one of the first collages that Boomerang made into a card back in the 90's. They've made several based on my work over the years. This is one of my favourites. I sold the original so this is a scan of the postcard - the only copy I have left.

Fruit Country

Fruit Country
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Not much fruit around but plenty of water today due to main pipe burst over by Archie's old primary school. Both schools were closed today due to lack of water. It's the first time Archie complained that he's miss one of his favourite lessons - drama.( They play a lot of games I think - that's why he enjoys it so much.)
Hazel did her first lecture of the year and was feeling sick with worry this morning but she just phoned to say it went o.k. though she probably "waffled" too much she thinks.
Archie is doing some Art homework- some collages in primary colours. They look pretty good too - I'll have to blog one.
Archie went down to see the huge pool of water flooding the road where the pipe burst. He said children were kicking water at passing cars and cyclists. He cycled home again before he got a soaking.
This postcard was inspired by those cards and photos of huge vegetables and balls of string etc. that find there way into Ripley's Believe It Or Not. I actually made it to the newspaper column that's syndicated in the states. "Michael Leigh who owns the largest rubber stamp in the world!" Next to it a badly drawn cartoon of a chubby man in a suit and tie with a moustache holding what look like a sink plunger!?

Back beat about the bush

Playbox
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Went to a concert last night at the local High School organised by the Cheshire Touring organisation who put on shows in village halls (saw the Ukulele Orch. of Great Britain last year)and community centres etc. This time it was Backbeat a group of four young musicians who play mostly percussion instruments like drums, bongos, marimbas,vibraphones,xylophones and tons of shakers,whistles,triangles, gongs etc. Good fun mostly but went on a bit too long. The seats in the school are not meant to be sat on by humans really! We took our neighbour, Sarah and her young son Thomas, as they are always taking Archie out and it was about time we returned the compliment. Thankfully they seemed to enjoy it too.

W. Reginald Bray

This image should have accompanied the poem on a previous blog but here it is courtesy of the scanner.
Here is proof that Mr. Bray did exist and he's not an invention of my fevered imagination! This Churchman's card (printed and given away with cigarettes in the 1930's) describes how Reginald was a pioneer of postal curios- gathering a fantastic collection of objects that he submitted to the postal system to test it. The smallest object he sent was a bee and the largest an elephant! He also carved his address into a turnip and sent that and it arrived intact. He also sent a bicycle pump, a hat, a shoe, gloves, etc. In the photo he is holding a shirt collar and shirt front he sent to himself.
He also collected thousands of autographs on self addressed stamped postcards he sent out to royalty, archbishops, statesmen and celebrities which they sent back to him.
Also he was the first to drop mail from a gas filled balloon over Belgium long before the first air mail post was started. An incredible man and sadly almost forgotten except by me and few postal curio enthusiasts.

Monsters whos meat is dirt and shadows

Monsters whos meat is dirt and shadows, originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

One of those days when its raining one minute and sunny the next. Archie has gone off to a birthday gathering (not quite a party) at Chris's house.
Town was very quiet this morning. I found a few Xmas presents to stash away but not much else. Looked for some old alphabets for the Collage Kids latest project but didnt find any. Rummaged about in the mag and book pile when I got home and found afew things to add to the collage just started. Let Flo out for a run round the back room.
Some nice mail for a change from Creative Thing,Mark Greenfield and Carol Starr (pages for FLOSS). Not that it was poor mail usually from these people but no mail atall yesterday and last week was very thin on the ground.
This is an old collage from the early 80's, before I did the first issue of Curios Thing. I did a few of these A4 sheets and did some collabs. with Hazel which we folded and sent out as limited editions. Very few were hand coloured like this.

Wooly Jumper Weather

40th Birthday
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Its sunny now but earlier it was very dark and wet and windy. Poor Hazel had to brave the elements to get to the station, but the train was on time for a change and she got to Manchester O.K.
I went out for a walk to the post office when the rain stopped and posted some mail and birthday card for Roger.( Hope it gets to you by tomorrow!) I was looking through Hazel's birthday cards that I had made over the years and found some nice ones that I'd obviously spent some time on - a labour of love.
Audrey just phoned to pick my brains over some crossword clues. What was Capt. Absolute's first name. Jack? What was the novel written by Nigel Belchin and name of the theatrical producer starting with a C and ending with an N. Well the last one was Cochran but don't know the other two. Promised to look them up on the internet. But isn't this cheating?
Scanned loads of new collages into Frickr so have plenty to supply blog now for atleast a week.
Flo, the grumpy rabbit, is indoors now since firework night is approaching and the air will be filled with the smell of cordite and loud reports. She's chewing the skirting board but otherwise behaving herself so far.

How To Dress A Crab For A Chilly October day

howtodressacrab
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

With something more cosy than the strange garment he is wearing thats for sure.
Up early for the boot sale at Weaverham High School. Very chilly and overcaste. Didnt find much really except some cheap videos for 50p each from a video store that was changing over to DVD's or had gone bust maybe. Some films I'd not seen like Blackhawk Down,Road To Perdition,and The Time Machine together with old favourites like Goldmember and Minority Report which I have to watch again to figure out what exactly was going on!?
Also got two scratchy records for 50p each. Worzel Gummidge Sings and Burl Ives folk songs. Hazel and Archie have gone again with Audrey who can never get up early. Archie found two Bash Street Kids annuals which cheered him up but not many metal objects for Hazel maybe she'll have better luck the second time around.

Laurel & Hardy

Laurel & Hardy
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A better scan of this collage that Mark Greenfield and I have passed back and forth a couple of times. I have a whole book of L & H postcards to recycle so maybe I'll send some more out.

Strange Friday Ritual

Strange Alpine Ritual
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Here it is- Friday again! It seems to come round with increasing regularity.
Archie was a poorly boy so I had to be nursemaid and entertainments officer today. When he'd recovered enough and his sore throat felt better he dragged himself away from the schools programmes about Death Valley and The Weather to play Worms on the PC. I did some collaging in between until my hand started to seize up- R.S.S.?
The 60's rooms that Angelica sent me are becoming very handy for putting strange people and animals in! I will Flickr and blog some soon.
More drizzle so just as well I didn't go into town.
Hazel at college testing the breaking strain of the 1st years by reading them the 145 page Course Document!
When I eventually got round to checkin' my e-mails I found I had 69, most of them were spam and nonsense from Fluxlist members with time on their hands!

Wheelbarrows - delicious!

Wheelbarrows
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Another of those days that makes no sense whatsoever - a bit like this collage! Mail was very thin on the doormat - just a circular from the council arts Network. Ive been looking for stuff today. raking through the cupboards and unearthing things I'd forgotten we had like the big box of tie-labels in assorted colours and the book and record by Anna Russell which is great. I will have to make a scan of it and put it on the Boot Sale Sounds group. I was sneezing for ages afterwards with all the dust I disturbed! Still couldn't find that Vindaloo label tape with Stan Dithedrington and Minkey Frasworeth.

Can you guess the celebs this far away?

Class Photo
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Made the photo smaller to make the big gap vanish but now it's hard to see the faces of these people. How many can you recognise?
Went into town this morning. First to the bank to get some dosh. officious clerk made me sign the back of my stupid new card. They change their staff so often at my bank , it's really irritating. Not much in the way of bargains. No Pictbridge connectors at Dixons. Mr. bean with goatee beard said we'd have to buy "unusual" leads from the HP website, which is annoying because the Pictbridge doodah was one of the features they plugged when selling the thing to Hazel, saying how fantastically useful it would be!

Cinema treats and sweets

Cinema Sweets
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This collage is a reminder of those great days of children's matinees I've mentioned before in a previous blog but forgot to mention the sweets. The penny and ha'penny chews, the gobstoppers, the flying saucers, the candy cigarettes (now called candy sticks) the bulls eyes and hundreds and thousands, the bubble gum and the sherbet dabs! No wonder I have so many fillings!

Drink Your Milk

Drink Your Milk
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This big gap has appeared at the top of my blog again for no apparent reason?I have changed the settings in the hope it will fix itself. Here's another scanned collage from a few years ago. So much better than those wonky photos.

W. Reginald Bray

W. Reginald Bray
was a Victorian gent,
who tested the post
with whatever he sent

A collector of curios
and postal phenomena,
his passion was sending
all kinds of ephemera

The largest and elephant,
the smallest a bee.
A bicycle pump,
an old piece of tree

He carved his address
on a large knobbly turnip,
and sent it first class
so they could returnit

His collection of artifacts
was extremely contrived,
but his rasher of bacon?

It never arrived.

Thrilling Correspondence Novels

Correspondence Novel
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Hooray! Managed to figure out new HP combi printer/scanner and copier so all set to send some sharper images of collages and other ephemera to blog. This is the first test scan and look pretty good to me. Probably using up far too much memory and hard disc space though. Oh well, at least we can get photo copies done straight away without having to walk the 2 miles into town to do them at the photography shop.

Boot sale sounds

Just a reminder that the Boot Sale Sounds can be accessed via the link to the left. Just uploaded a motely selection from previous flea markets and charity shop rummagings. As well as two tracks from the Monty Python team there is a strange Bollywood song, Gertie The Girl with the Gong by Elsie Carlisle, the Little One Eyed Trouser Snake and a Captain Beefheart cover by Frank Sidebottom.
They will remain until Monday probabaly. I'm hoping for some scratchy records and floppy tapes from the boot sale on sunday.

Old sweets and candy wrappers

Old sweets and candy wrappers
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This has been taken through glass , so not a very good photo. Its a collection of old sweets and candy wrappers and confections collected by Hazel when we lived in London in the 80's. Some are beginnin g to show their age and leaking out as a kind of primordial syrup!
Yesterday wasa bit of a dull rainy day. The nice electrician, Derrick, came round to fix the new halogen lights in Archie's room. he looked at the doorbell too but couldn't find the fault. Archie came home with another sack of conkers.
Today I went into town and got my haircut. the lady barber was very chatty, telling me all about her kids at university and isn't it terrible weather and the cost of holidays etc. I don't know why they feel they have to tell you all these things? Thank goodness I don't have to have it cut for another 3 months!
Didnt find much in town. A Dennis the menace book for Archie but he already has it. Also a book of cut-out alphabet letters in 3-D. I was supposed to get bananas ( Hazel needs lots of the essential mineral they contain - is it zinc?) but I forgot!
The library had nothing new to offer so i came home and made some toasted haloumi sandwiches with tomatoes and basil. Yum!

You've got to hand it to him

Handy postcards
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just a few of the many dozens of hand shaped postcards hanging from my workroom ceiling - part of a mail art project some years ago. I have a box full in the cupboard. They were hung like this in Worcester Art Gallery for a while and I never did get a photo of them so this is long overdue!
Today I went into town and got Archie some lights for his bedroom so he can read properly. I phoned the friendly retired electrician who promised to come and fix them soon. The charity shops were very busy but I didn't find much, just a CD of comedy from the BBC with Tony Hancock,Pete and Dud, Billy Connolly etc.
Hazel's been on the mac all day with college work so I haven't had much chance to use it. Just heard that a cyber-cafe is being planned for the derelict bit of the station which is good news - maybe use it myself if I can't get online at home!

CaptainVideo

CaptainVideo
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Fond memories came flooding back as I found this poster for Captain Video on the web. One of my favourites and still available to buy on DVD it says! I expect I'd be very disapointed if I saw it today. I recently saw an old Republic serial and realised how cheap and shoddy they were but as kids you don't notice such things ofcourse, well I didnt!

More piles of old tat to sort through

Just back from a fairly big boot sale at Hartford. The ground there was really uneven and full of pot-holes full of water, but managed to find a few bargains stepping gingerly around them. Some videos for 20p including the wonderful City of Lost Children, Ren &Stimpy and The Lost Highway. Also some french films inc. Les Amants des Pont- Neuf and Merci la Vie. So plenty to watch these rainy winter evenings! Bargain of the day must be the old Topper annual from 1960 I got for 20p. Archie was delighted. Hazel says I should have saved it for his birthday but I was too excited and just had to show him what a clever dad he had to spot such a treasure amongst all the rubbish. They've gone for a second rummage and to take Audrey and Hazel's Mom. The weather has been kind so far this morning. Archie also got some How To draw books which he doesn't need really and some Lego kits. Hazel bought some plants and a choc tin of dubious vintage.No scratchy records alas except a single by Monty Python folks -Always Look On the Bright Side of Life from the Life of Brian film.Also the Greatest Hits? of Wrestless Eric.The photo is of the old Century cinema at Pitsea in Essex where I used to go to Saturday morning matinees to see the adventures of Captain Video, Batman and the great Republic serials back in the 1950's.

When Saturday comes around again

Toy Shelf
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

The week has whizzed by once more and this morning I ventured out into the drizzle for a brisk walk into town. Shaking my wet brolly outside shops before diving in to gently steam with the other customers. Found two records in the Help the Aged charity shop. A compilation of childrens songs from the BBC including Brian Cant and other Play Away folk and a strange disc of magical tricks and puzzles by Paul Daniels.
Also found some candy floss pink card to make into covers for the first issue of FLOSS. The kind man at the photography shop who I keep bothering was really helpful and fed the card into the colour copier by hand which took ages - luckily no other customers as it was still peeing down outside! They look great though the bottom edge of image just missed slightly so will have to fill in with black pen. Later will fold and staple pages into the first issue and put them in envelopes to send out on Monday.
Bought a gas filled stove lighter as the batteries have run out on the gas stove and don't know how to change them. Using matches is a pain and I've singed the hairs on my knuckles a few times already.
Bought the Daily Mirror, which is a rubbish paper, but it had a free DVD of Brassed Off starring Ewan McGregor and Pete Postlethwaite inside.
Chastised by Hazel for forgetting the eggs and cheese - she wasn't impressed with my alternative purchases!

The Cabinet of Doctor Curiosity

Toy Cupboard
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Filled with all manner of junk, old toys, sweet wrappers,paper gliders and plastic gew-gaws. Didn't quite fit the Sooty egg-cup in the picture.
Just back from a brisk walk into town( a slower walk coming home!) where i took some Cd's and DVD back to the library. 88p fine for being two days overdue. Not much in the "new additions" section. I borrowed a CD of Bollywood songs inspired by my purchase yesterday. Not much else in the way of bargains but did find a PC game called Hand of Fate for 49p. It's one of those "point and click" adventures about a wizardess who has to travel to the centre of the earth to get the KEY STONE to break the enchantment thats making the rocks and trees disappear. Pretty typical of it's type. Awful graphics- a few years old I imagine. My favourite "point and click" adventure was the Broken Sword but havent played the 3-D update on the PS2 yet - waiting to find it cheap at a boot sale.

More scratchy records from Crewe

purab aur pachhim
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just back from crewe flea market and two scratchy records in my sweaty hands. The Indian film "Purab Aur Pachhim"(East & West) 1970 on the Odeon label is a classic piece of Bollywood with a wonderful song called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which I have put in the files of the Boot Sale Sounds yahoo group. It's one of the oddest songs I've heard for a long time. Just found the poster in Dogpile which is even more bizarre with the twin towers in the background! Also got a Kanda Bongo Man comp. on Globe Style. Hazel found a thermometer for her growing thermometer collection. It has a nice metal case shaped like a cruise missile.
Popped round to see Tony and saw the new DVD single of the Fat Cats which was great (see the website in links where you can download it).

The tail end of hurricane Ivan?

Its a miserable morning here - the rain lashing down and the wind whipping whats left of the slug addled sunflowers. I was hoping to go into town to visit the library and do some shopping but maybe I'll wait until later. Maybe it will clear and the sun will come out. Fingers crossed.
Hazel has gone off to Manchester to put some metal objects in the 3-D showcase along with some of her inventions.Archie has gone to school with a rucksack crammed with stuff - it weighed a ton! I think he's filled it with conkers?
The thirteenth lived up to it's reputation for an unlucky day yesterday with no post atall and my search for collage material ended in a cul-de-sac.
Having this big wide gap at the top of my blog doesn't help! It shouldn't annoy me but it does!
Thinking of changing my template but all my links will be lost and I don't fancy typing all those out again.Ho hum.
We complain about our weather constantly but at least our houses dont get blown away! Those poor folk in Jamaica, Cuba and Mexico etc. It must be awful have to leave and return to such a mess. My desk upstairs doesn't seem so bad now!

Tex Ritter rides again!

Tex Ritter
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Not sure why this blog has suddenly developed a BIG SPACE above it? Perhaps this will rectify the matter.
This is not the Tex Ritter LP I bought today but this song was on it - played at 22 rpm.
Hazel and Archie have taken Audrey to the Antique barns of Lady Mugwump. I am staying home to catch up with my correspondance.

More exotic finds at the boot sale

Martin Denny
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Well, not too many really but just enough to make it worthwhile. Pleased with the 3 scratchy LP's I bought for next to nothing from the boot sale at Chelford, the last of the year. We weren't going to go to that one but the other, the cow pat field, only had half a dozen cars in it! So Hazel said to the man in the turban "Is this all there is?" to which he scratched his crotch and held out his hand saying "£1 please" so we turned round and went to Chelford which is a mile or two further on. Hazel hates going there as they are usually so grumpty and snatch your change off you as you drive in. This time they seemed friendlier. Maybe because it was the last of the year on that spot. They are moving to a ploughed pit near Macclesfield.
Other bargains included another Tex Ritter compilation from the 60's with an even slower version of "Blood On The Saddle" sounds like the record needs winding back up! Also a tribute to the Cowboy Copas by some persons called Opry Stars, who abviously not stars atall but nonentities. A nice sound though if you like that kind of thing.
You can hear sample tracks if you go to the Boot Sale Sounds yahoo group that you will find in the links.
Hazel got some pins that will appear on her blog soon. Archie got a Beano from 1981 but he thought it was in better condition but it wasn't really. Another swap.He bought two old newspapers from the 60's. One has a great photo of Mars on the front saying "Amazing Photos from Mars!" but it looks like a blurry shot of someone's thumb!

The Children Have Been Downsized

Abnormal Service
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

So sayeth the lady selling antiques on Flog It! (BBC 2 TV) I might have missheard her.
Just been helping Hazel put links on her new Blog - about the mechanics of toys.
Throwing a biscuit tin out with odds and ends in. Hazel and Archie, the scavangers, have retrieved it from the back door step to sift through the "treasures" I might have been destroying - broken pencils,badge pins,cocktail sticks,rubberstamp handles,ludo counters, plastic coins and other plastic trivia! They were in Heaven, holding each dusty gew-gaw up to examine it under the "big light".
I declined to go into town as it's too busy on a Saturday - I feel myself turning into Victor Meldrew with all the jostling and noise that goes on!
Hopefully more luck tomorrow at the boot sale,if it's not raining.

Boot Sale Sounds launch party

Decided to add a new dimension to my blogging activites in the shape of a linked yahoo group on collecting vinyl, floppy tapes, CD's, wax cylinders etc. from boot sales, flea markets, thrift stores etc. mainly because I can't figure out how to upload music to my blog. this seeems the next best thing. new tracks from recent jumble sales uploaded now for you to download or just listen to. Mostly it's old crackly stuff that tickels me. So this week you have they Might be Giants. tex Ritter yodelling into his whiskey, lanky Spoken 'ere. and Ivor Biggun and the red hot burglars. Join via the link at the side.

Don't you have any that work?

venice tap merchant
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Ah yes, the old tap sellers of Venice - what has happened to them all? We hardly saw any when we were there over Easter.
Went into town to try and get some copies done but the Photography man was rather unhelpful but in a helpful way. I asked him if i could bring my own card for his photo-copier in the hope I could get some cheaper copies but he looked very concerned and said It might jam the machine. How thick would the card be - so had to look round the shop to find a peiceof card similar to the sort I was thinking of. More concerned looks and chin rubbing. How many sheets did I want? Well, about 25 to start with. MMMMmmmm well, that could be tricky - you might be wasting your money and you'd have 24 sheets to find a use for if the first one went wrong. O dear! And so on in this way for some time. The other assistant came over to rub his chin too and look concerned at my plight. I'll think about it some more then and left them rubbing chins and fingering bits of card.
Borrowed The cat In The Hat on DVD from the library. We watched it later with Archie,Barb and Des (just back from a shopping trip to Manchester) and chortled away at some of the gags. It was funnier than the Grinch.

Tin Robot

Tin Robot
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Seems to be a bit of trouble t'mill? Blogger seems unable to work at the moment. i wonder if this will blog?

I will have to take my jumper off

It's getting warmer. I haven't been to india but imagine this is what the summers must be like. The illusion will be complete if I make a curry tonight.
The comments don't seem to be working at the moment? Has anyone else had this problem?I asked Blogger but no reply from them as yet.
Hazel has gone to Manchester for a meeting though college doesn't start for a couple of weeks yet.Back to the old routine. She hates getting up so early after the comfort of lie-ins during the summer.
I have been doing some last minute hoovering before Barb & Des arrive. Exciting eh?!

The sun has got his hat on - hip, hip, hip, hooray!

Angel of the volcano
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This is an old collage I did for Boomerang which they didn't like either. They wanted one for their schools project which seems to have fizzled out as far as I know. I did one before of a skeleton which they accepted but I don't think the boring old biology teachers liked it much - far too bright and garish for them! I stuck the angel on when I got it back.
Today we went into town for provisions - food for my sister and brother-in-law who are visiting tomorrow for a couple of days. Found a They Might be Giants LP in a charity shop for £1. I like their quirky songs (some free mp3's at their amusing website). Also a strange CD called Weird & Wonderful which caught my eye, also in a charity shop. But it turned out to be a horrible Andrew Lloyd Webber soundalike and not remotely weird or wonderful!

Eight days a week!

The Beatles,
originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Good news! Karin the photographer just phoned to say that my collages had turned up after 8 days lost in the post! I was just about to give up on them and send her another package of work to photograph so good job she phoned when she did!
This Beatles collage to celebrate the 30th anniverary of the release of Love Me Do was one of the lost and now found. I hope she can take a better photo than the wonkey one here!
Have been helping Hazel hoover and tidy up today for impending arrival of my sister Barb and her hubby Des on Wednesday. They are staying a couple of nights before travelling back to Basildon via Nottingham where they will pick up Des's Mum. I've not seen the place looking so spotless and clean. It takes the threat of guests to get us rattling the dust pan and brush!

A walk in the woods

Carved Tree Trunk
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Quite a busy day considering the heat. Now this is what August should'ave been like!
Went to the annual charity boot sale at Knutsford this morning and found a few bargains including two odd records by obscure comedy groups I'd not hear of before - the Earwigos and Doris and Stanley Piecrust (something like that)
Also got a tape by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren which I think I have already. Hazel got more metal gadgets inc. a tool set inside a brass tube that unscrews very cleverly. Archie got a pile of Horrible Histories books he's wanted for a while and two Beano Annuals so he was happy. Later we took Doreen and Audrey to another boot sale a bit closer at Witton Albion where we found a Weakest Link game for a £1 which we've been trying and not getting very far - Anne Robinson is far too intimidating!
In the afternoon we had a nice walk under some cool trees at Marbury and sat on this tree that had been carved by a local sculptor. It has rabbits, badgers, mice and birds as well as this handsome frog.

The century of miracles

The century of miracles, originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

One of the collages that got lost in the post. Still, at least I have a record of it. Not one of my better efforts by any means but annoying that it's just vanished into the postal void! Changed my Frickr blog settings again - this should look bigger.

Who's an ugly boy then?

Parrot Target
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Another of those sideways looks at the collages of Joseph Cornell that I love so much. I found a big pile of magazines on parrots and bird keeping in a charity shop and leaf through them for likely collage material now and again. One can't help think of Cornell when cutting out a parrot with your trusty scissors. Actually this is just a test run for the new Flickr set-up.

Invasion Of The Handbag Snatchers

Handbag Snatchers
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

One of those envelopes that got out of hand. The photo from the Radio Times or similar magazine with an article about the TV soap Coronation Street. I decided the characters were too dull and needed prettying up a little! Not sure where the Handbag Snatchers label came from but it seemed appropriate some how.

The twistory of history

I've found this great little book called ON THIS DAY puplished by Hutchinson. In it are all the things they deem worthy of note that happened ON THIS DAY going back in time. For instance the first of january says in 1887 Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in Delhi.It tells you who was born and who died. People that are famous and people I've never heard of like the British architect Frederick `Gibberd who died on Jan. 9th 1949. It's a fascinating compendium of useless facts and coincidences. So to amuse myself I've been twisting the facts a little to make up silly names and strange anniversaries for my own ON THIS DAY using the book as a guide.

So today 4th September we have the Red Kipper Society was founded in 1870. John Luddle in a U.S. radio interview claimed his group The Futiles were more famous than Mrs. Doris God and consequently all the Futiles records were melted down in some southern states and made into fried chicken buckets.

The Mail On The Floss

Punch & Judy
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just back from town where I had some photo copies made of several images and typefaces for the FLOSS project. Trying to juggle them into a striking front cover. This Punch & Judy booth would make a nice frame but I found something else that would copy in B & W much more successfully. A colour cover would be nice but I just can't afford it. Hand colouring is an option ofcourse that I will think about.
Went to the new Scope shop but it seemed to be very similar to the last one and with the same stuff for sale!
I bought a white loaf for Hazel and posted some things at the post office No sign of the collages I posted to Chester( the photographer never phoned, so assume she never got them) so had to fill in a claim form and post that off. How annoying - now I'll have to unframe some more and take them to Chester myself as I don't trust the post office anymore.
Archie should be back from his second day at High School soon. Time to put the kettle on.

It was Archie's first day at the High School today so a bit nerve-racking for everybody but it turned out o.k. He looked very smart in his new school uniform. We went into town to get some groceries and check out the library. I borrowed The Return Of the King on DVD as I enjoyed it at the cinema and would like to see it again (and all the "extras"). Hazel got her birthday present at last - a very snazzy and dinky digital camera that she is trying to suss out as I write this. I expect the results of her labours will soon appear on her blog.
Archie came home full of beans and singing so obviously wasn't too bad a day though he has homework already in the shape of some easy maths. It was a general finding you way about day by the sound of it.
The nice family from across the road sent him a Good Luck card and later came over to see how he got on.
He's gone out now to play on his bike with Rosemary. A fuzzy walkie-talkie message just came through "Wphat time izzzzzzzz it? phut"
"Twenty to five" "zzzzphwat? I cantzzzzz hear yozzzzzzzzz"

Summer has been extended until December 1st.

Winter Scene
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A sunny and warm day that feels more like July than September. We went to Crewe flea market to find some bargains including a nice Emergoplast tin for Hazel for 20p( soon to be on her blog I expect) a spanish childrens recording of ducks singing such favourites as Bananas and Couac Couac! Also a Cd of the soundtrack of one of our favourite films The Little Shop Of Horrors on a cheap label.
Archie just found a huge caterpiller he narrowly missed running over with his bike. I looked it up on the internet and it turns out to be an elephant hawk moth.