Fresh Milk!

Fresh Milk!
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I only drink soya milk now but I don't feel any healthier. I still have butter on my bread though. I've tried all kinds of ertsatz butter and margarine but they all taste like axle grease or worse!
This collage was one for the new theme I started at Collage Kids on Frickr having grown tired of the ATC production line that has taken over for the last three months or so. I framed some of the best the other day and they look good as a set, and hang on the stairs so I can see them everyday.
I walked into town this morning - firstly to the bank and then to the library to take back the Planxty and folk CD's I had borrowed. I couldnt find anything else. No new CD's or DVD's in. So I bought a couple of cheap ones from the record shop that has a few bargain bins. I got 3 vintage sci-fi films on one DVD for two quid. One is called Planet Bandits and is a shortened version of a serial (which I've forgotten the name of) with Buster Crabbe made in 1939. Another is called Earth Vs. Flying Saucers made in the 50's.
Lots of people wearing Liverpool F.C. shirts and scarves in town celebrating their teams winning of the European Cup last night. A thrilling match at the end but I regret to say I turned the TV off at half time in disgust when they were losing 3 - 0 and AC Milan were running rings round them. O ye of little faith!
Weighed down with the papers and a large loaf I got the bus home.
Saw a mouse running on the garden path yesterday between the shed and the bird feeders. One that Treacle (next door's cat) is saving for a snack no doubt.

The Musical Baton

More CD's and a wax cylinder.
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

The "musical baton" has been passed from many people ( interesting to follow the links back) and now from Ilike to me.

Total volume on my computer
I have no idea how to find this information out? Why would it be of interest to anyone beats me!

The last CD I bought.
I rarely buy new ones but mostly get them from boot sales or charity shops. The last one I bought I think was this boxed set from the Booksale shop that I've featured some tracks from already in my blog. It's called Beautiful Country Memories on the Flex-Media label. £14.99 for 20 Cd's!

Song playing right now.
I can't type and listen to music at the same time but if I should stop I would probably be listening to the Planxty CD I borrowed from the library. Two sample tracks can be found below.

Five songs I listen to a lot or mean a lot to me
Impossible to narrow it down to five but for the sake of this blog will upload my current favourites which you will find below.

Five people to whom I'm passing on the baton.
Sorry, but I had to choose somebody!

1. Swapatorium
2. Searching For Blue Sea Glass
3. Sylvia Sometimes
4. Groc's Bloggette
5. Ed's Blog


The Fall (live) - Boxoctosis

Brian Wilson (live) - The Little Girl I Once Knew

Brett Marvin & The Thunderbolts - Highway 61

Huey Smith - Free, Single and Disengaged

John Hegley - Pear Shaped

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

A day of mixed fortunes.

Wagner as a boy.
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

At least it wasn't raining when we set out for the boot sale at Weaverham but later it bucketed down. Not much luck finding bargains and in desperation plucked an old Tommy Steele LP from amongst some old Guy Mitchell 78's for a quid at the last minute as we we leaving. Its pretty awful but quite rare I imagine. Its very scratchy though so quite hard to listen to. Its a soundtrack to a film he made in the 50's called "The Duke Wore Jeans" . The music was written by Lionel Bart I believe and is that mixture of shmaltz and west end show tune with a grudging nod towards rock 'n' roll. Bart and friends were certainly no Leiber and Stoller!
Hazel got a few metal bits and archie got a music stand that they wrestled with for 20 minutes to get folded into something resembling a music stand and not a vegetable strainer.
After we got home and had some tea and toast, Hazel went out again to take her Mom and sister who always get up later. They got a few cheap nick-nacks by the sound of it - as if they had room for any more!
Archie went over to James' house on his bike and Hazel cycled with him to see him safely across the busy road.
She came home to sew some samples to show the woman who in charge of the Shiffly machine (?) , which is a huge machine that can stitch up to 80 identical things from a pattern drawn by pantograph. It all looks like something Heath Robinson has dreamed up and therefor part of its appeal for Hazel I expect. It's in the MMU stitchery dept. or whatever it's called.


Planxty - The Good Ship Kangaroo

Planxty - The Blackberry Blossom/Lucky In Love/The Dairy Maid (reels)

The You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Topper from '67

artschoolsportsday67
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I found some more annuals today from the same charity shop. Putting these away for Archie's birthday as he's had so many treats just lately. Also got a Beezer and another Topper from the 60's. This old photo was taken around that time in 1967 at the Southend Art School sports day. Here's the motley collection of staff and students who bothered to turn up. I was in the tug of war, as I have a photo of that somewhere, but don't remember any other events? The tossing the beret, the leaping over the easel, the putting the palette etc.
Went by Shank's Pony to town today and back. Found a new CD by Planxty in the library. I have a couple of their albums from the 80's which I still enjoy listening to. That Irish folk music never really ages. Some wonderful uillean? pipe playing on it.
I should have some Planxty lined up for the music file but have some strange frenchman singing a song in spanish instead!


Spanish song by a Frenchman?

This You Send It file is availble for seven days or until exhausted.

Archie on guitar

Archie on guitar
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I keep promising some sounds files of Archie's progress with the guitar. So here are a couple I managed to dub onto some floppy tape in a cheap recorder so excuse the hiss. I tried the microphone in the computer but nothing seemed to happen although I was getting a reading on the doodah dial, so obviously the sound was getting in through the wires but finding a knot somewhere to bump into? Hope I"m not being too technical for you all.
Anyway, here he is with an old chestnut much loved by aging guitar teachers!


Just click on the word "chestnut" as it doesn't appear to be highlighted as it should be for some reason?
Here's another sample practice track with a little boogie-woogie.

Just click on the "boogie-woogie". Ah, highlight fixed - I left a couple of dots out somehow.

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Boot sale trail leads to Frodsham.

No boot sales advertised in the local paper so we decided to go for a drive over to Frodsham via Weaverham to see if we could spot any.
Luckily, about half way there we noticed a poster for one at Sutton Fields on today so we went there - past all the roadkill which included a poor badger with his legs in the air and two squashed squirrels.
The Sutton Fields boot sale is usually quite large and busy but only half the cars there today. I didn't find much but Hazel got a bag of metal gizmo's including a coin safe for threepenny bits, old sixpences and florins etc. Also a rack of grinding thingies for drills. Burring tools. I don't think she'll use them - they are more for show and will look good in the new workshop. Archie got a putter and some golf balls which he has belted into the undergrowth and lost as soon as he got home.
They are both in the garden now - pottering and burning things with the magnifyling glass. Archie is doing most of the burning. I used to do it when I was his age so I'm sure he will grow out of it and we are not encouraging a potential arsonist!
Fricr is up the creek again so can't add a photo today but will find some music to add. I looked through piles of scratchy vinyl today but didn't buy anything. I must be getting more fussy in my old age?

Jay Wilbur Band - Wah-Hoo

Jack Payne Band - My Brother Makes the Noises For the Talkies

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.


Here is Archie using the sun's healing rays to weld the body and legs back on a plastic soldier with a magnifying glass.

Unlucky for some.

The Austens
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I'm always rather uneasy about the number 13 and Friday the 13th in particular. Typically no post today of any kind, not even a bill, so in a way that's lucky I suppose. Archie was feeling unwell with a upset tummy so he's had the day off. He's been watching the video of the Princes In The Tower that his history teacher urged them to watch last night on Channel 4. It looked terribly dull the bit I saw and he didn't seem impressed either.
Now he's cutting up paper and making some origami insects and animals.
Yesterday I walked into town and got some bread and slicing sausage for sandwiches from the health food shop. Not many other bargains to be had. I walked hom a again as nobody was waiting at the bus stop and I could do with the exercise.
Added the last of the novelty postcards to Flickr from the Jones family collection. The one above isn't one of them but a card I found at a boot sale recently with additional collage.
Have been catching up with the mail as I realised I owed letters and cards to quite few people.
Some more western swing from the boxed set I found last week I think-


Spade Cooley - Boggs Boogie

Paul Howard - Rootie Tootie

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Croco-dials.

Crocodile
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just back from the boot sale at Hartford High School. I didn't find much, just a scratchy record of Tufty the Squirrel- songs, rhymes and stories. Tufty used to teach road safety in short cartoons back in the 60 and 70's.
Hazel got some old radio valves and Archie was in a strange grumpy mood, maybe because he didn't find any Beanos and Dandys? I found his some PS2 games to cheer him up.
The rain came down just as we were leaving so it was quite good timing for a change. It was bitterly cold too - more like October than May.
Hazel has gone to take her Mom and sister round the boot sale now the sun is back out again.
Time to go and sort through the postcard albums again. This crocodile card i made back in the 80's carved from a Dick Blick peice of rubber that someone sent me from the U.S.


Bill Haley - Yodel Your Blues Away

The Jones Archive of Epistolotory Fun.

Collaborative postcard - Bags
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This is one example of the postcards we found whilst looking through the twenty or so albums that Hazel's Dad used to collect. Most of them are from holidays at seaside resorts in the 60's and 70's and others like this collaborative collaged card was from Hazel via Snowwhite Jung in the 80's. Many are those "saucy" seaside postcards of the Donald McGill variety and clones thereof.More can be found at Flickr.
Archie has been having fun catching snails - painting numbers on their shells with white ink and letting them go again. His scientific "study" of their movements around the garden is quite interesting to watch. They seem to have vanished into the herbaceous borders and undergrowth and so make a mockery of his graphs and charts he has devised to track them! Perhaps luminous paint would have been better?
It's been showery today so stayed in except for a quick dash to the paper shop. The Star Wars DVD given away in the Sun was very disappionting- only 35 minutes long. The rabbit enjoyed reading and chewing the paper.
Flo is now outside where she would have been at Easter had the conservatory been built on time. She doesn't like it much. Ousted from her cosy corner - she's banging her little furry feet.

All the fives.

Picnic under a tree.
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Not sure what significance that is but it's the fifth day of the fifth month of the fifth year of the new millenium and time for change! I didnt want to vote Conservatorys and no Greenhouse Party standing so left with the Dribbling Dummidrips. Not a great deal of choice really!
Yesterday I went into town and did some shopping. Found a mbira or african thumb piano in a charity shop which sounds like one of those old tin musical boxes with bits missing. It's added to my one string fiddle and the zither and all the other musical implements we are unable to get a tune out of!
The mac has been updated so now is more confusing that ever but has Garage Band on it which is baffling like most of the software. iphoto wasnt working as it should and not recognising any cameras plugged into it but after four hours of pulling her hair out Hazel managed to get it to work thankfully. It even finds the tiny Quicktime movies that we couldnt see before so that was a bonus at least. I would upload one to the blog but no idea how to do it. Will try again tomorrow.


Shelly Lee Alley - Women, Women, Women

Bill Mounce - Kickin' It Off

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

Here we go round the Marbury bush.

marbury mere
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Also the trees, woods, dusty bluebells etc. But that was yesterday. Seems we missed a muddy boot sale over at Weaverham that wasn't advertised in our local paper. Nevermind, we went to two today to make up for it. The first was in the Kwik Save car park in town. I didn't find much really just an old Time/Life book about inventions which I think we have already so will use this one for collage material. Also a cheap PS2 game, Max Payne, where you run around New York shooting the bad guys. Hazel found some strange darning/cobbling needles in a round wooden box and an ancient light bulb with springy filament.
Then we drove over to the Slow and Easy pub where there was a boot sale near to Granma's house. It was getting quite hot by this time. I found a CD of old field recordings of prisoners and preachers etc. in the southern states of America in the 30's and 40's. Terrible crackly sound but some interesting songs for Boot Sale Sounds (see links). I didn't find any vinyl unfortunately. Also a 1973 Dandy for Archie but he already had it.
Afterwards we had a huge lunch at Gramna's house and collapsed on the sofa.( We pulled up some weeds and dandelions in Granma's garden and kicked a ball about until the lunch was ready.)
No need for a big dinner tonight as I am still full! Granma's sure know how to fill you up!
Hazel and Archie are in the garden doing things to snails. Hazel is reading the Sunday papers in her conservatory/workshop again.
What music shall we have today? Let me see....


Huey Smith - Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain

Huey Smith - Somebody Put A Tack (In My Cotton Pickin' Chair)

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

The weak end starts here.

A.1.Waste Paper ATC Co. production line.
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Yet more builders turned up this morning to dig the soakaway and put in the drain despite the drizzle. As we suspected the 18 sacks of gravel were far too many and they had to take half of them home again. They left us four sacks of top soil and mud which they will collect on Tuesday - thus dragging out the procedure even longer!
They seem to have done a good job though it's hard to tell as the drizzle has washed some of the cement around the drain away and so they may have to come back and do it again. But not on Tuesday - oh no, that would be far too simple.
More free DVD's in this weekends papers. In the Mail was "A Handful of Dust" with Alec Guinness amongst others and in another terrible paper only suitable for rabbit bedding (even the rabbit looked offended!) was 3 old creaky tv sci-fi episodes of Batty Starbuck Leap, Quantum Rogers and some other. Probably a big mistake.
On the sci-fi front we went to see "The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy" this afternoon as it was raining. It was o.k. but they'd taken huge liberties with the script and I think I really prefer the radio version where you can make up your own visuals. It had it's moments but not enough really.


Mad River - Merciful Monks

Mad River - Amphetamine Gazelle

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

Flippin' Friday again!

Dinner Party.
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Poor Hazel woke up about 5 and cricked her shoulder out but she managed struggle into college this morning. She e-mailed to say it felt better. Thats happened to me a few times - you don't have to be doing anything particularly strenuous, just bending down to pick up a pea thats rolled under the table or turn over in bed and something goes ping! It's usually the elastic in my underpants!
Anyway, I was just about to get ready to go out for a walk and there was a knock on the door - it was another man from Northwich Glass to put glass in the conservatory to replace the ones that got broke. He was just fitting them and I was putting the kettle on when another turned up! He was delivery a huge pile of gravel (in plastic bags) for the soakaway. He's been here before and so I knew he had coffee , milk and one sugar.
He told the other chap about the conservatory fiasco with the wonky walls and both seemed highly amused. It must be the talk of Northwich now!
After they had gone I dug out the compost from the compost bin and spread it around the garden where I could find gaps in the plants (not many!) and moved the bin over so they had room for the soakaway. The other chap is coming tomorrow to dig it and put the drain in (which he's left also).
It was quite pleasant out in the sun but digging is quite hard work and the anti-biotics made me feel a bit woozy so I stopped and went indoors to cool off and make myself a brew (as they say round these parts).


Brett Marvin & the Thunderbolts - Highway 61

Brett Marvin & the Thunderbolts - Going Round the World

Thanks to Big Al Davies for these great tracks.
These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

I too have seen the inbloggable.

fragilepage3
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Cut up poem made for collaged book project. Not finished like lots of my projects.
Sunday was quite busy what with Archie going to a birthday party at a friends over at a big house near the Art School. They took 10 of them to a bowling alley near Chester -very brave!
We decided to take Audrey to Lady Hayes craft centre and antique barns as it was a nice warm , sunny day.
I found some old "Happy Families" animal cards to collage into ATC's. Hazel bought two old tins - one to make into a "time capsule" to place in the gap in the brickwork before the new sills are made. Archie and I made one each too. Archies was a tin easter egg filled with all kinds of old toys, stickers and trading cards. Mine was similar but in a newish tobacco tin. It included a tape, badges, stickers, a small book and a rubber stamp.
Hazel's Mom and sister came over in the afternoon to inspect the new conservatory/workshop and bought some cakes they had made.




Hazel trying out her new workshop - reading the Sunday papers.

Ice Cream You Scream

The Ice Delivery
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

We all scream for ice-cream, but lemon drizzle cake will do. Hooray, the builders have finished up and gone. Still a few more bits to do. All the glass is in now ( a broken pane which will be replaced we are assured) and we have been sitting inside it admiring the light filtering through the double glazing and contemplating the blobs of mastic like tiny ice cream cones.
Still to be done is the guttering and drainage pit (soakaway) and the sills that a joiner will do next week sometime . The wiring has been channeled inside and dangling. Will have to contact the electrician to see if he can put in two electric points and a light fitting etc.
Hazel has just gone into town to buy some quarry tiles for the floor. She isn't keen to lay them herself or entrust the job to me ( I don't blame her!) so hopefully get someone to do that.
I went into town this morning to stretch my legs and post some mail. Went to the bank. Bought a gift token from Woolies for the birthday party Archie is going to tomorrow. Its at a bowling alley near Chester. Bought a nice book about the russian artist Ilya Kabakov in the library sale for 50p. We saw an amazing installation by him once at the ICA in London.
Also bought 3 videos of Fawlty Towers in a charity shop for Archie to watch as he's been listening to the CD's and wanted to see them too.
All I need now is some music about ice cream, windows or fatty owls!


Ray Noble - I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream

Billy Cotton Band - I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Cocoanuts

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Blinkin' bloggy four day!

A Collaborative postcard
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Stuck in with the builders still who are toiling away. Thrum- thrum! Click -clack! The younger one with the bad cold has gone off in the van to get some more Lemsip one supposes? The older chap is finishing off the brickwork and hopefully they will be finished by lunchtime and I can go out. I have to re-new my prescription at the docs. after 11. Another week of anti-biopics! I don't think they are doing anything but make me feel lousy. Actually these aren't as bad as the first lot I had which made me feel very drowsy and dizzy at times.
No post today for some reason? Just my luck.
At least the sun is out. He's on his mobile phone now but can't hear what he's saying.
The washing machine is making far too much noise. Must remember to keep the socks together.
This collaborative postcard was sent back and forth in the mail to Mark Greenfield in Stoke.
Now wondering what music I can add to this. Have run out of songs about cement mixers.


Spike Jones - Wild Bill Hiccup

Spike Jones - Jones Polka

This You Send It file will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

Tomato or not tomato, that is the question.

tomato girl
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Rumble rumble - the sun filtered through the new spring buds of the doodah tree. Rumble rumble - the small concrete mixer tumbles in the back garden. The builders are here still and they say "Rumble rumble - is this door to the left?" Yes, it is. Its rumble rumble - to the left. "Just checking - rumble", he says.
Clunk - clonk - rumble - atishoo - rumble - clunk - clonk.


Slim Gaillard - Cement Mixer

Slim Gaillard - Laughin' In Rythym

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

Wonky brick boys back.

anniverserycard
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This is a card i made for Hazel in 1990 for our 7th anniversary. It seems like only yesterday.
Only yesterday I had to stay in for the builders but they didnt turn up until 2 in the afternoon and spent three hours pondering the wonky base - rubbing chins, measuring, moving bricks, tieing string round bricks, rubbing chins, scratching heads, moving bricks etc. and eventually said they'd come back tomorrow to straighten out the base by chipping abit off the edge and adding concrete on the other side. Hazel thinks this sounds like a bit of a botch up job and is going to phone the boss man today to try to get reassurance that it will look o.k. when they have finished.
I spent most of yesterday clipping bits of collage material out of old Sunday Times magazines and surfing the net.
Also made some more ATC's for the Collage Kids. I think I have done enough now and looking forward to making some larger collages.

Walk along lake at Marbury.

marbury
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Pleasant Sunday walk to blow cobwebs away. Marbury was full of wet dogs and muddy children but we managed to find some quiet areas like this one ( where have all the ducks gone?). We found them a bit further on- mostly stuffed on all the bread they'd been fed all morning so they weren't keen on ours which floated off into the reed beds.
Archie had a wonky knee and I was feeling drowsy from the anti-biotics but managed to walk a fair way to see if the bluebells were out yet - some, but probably better display next week.
No boot sale today alas so a lie-in for everyone. I went to the local newsagent for the Sunday paper which had yet another Michael Caine film on DVD given away inside. This week it was The Eagle Has Landed. Next week it's the 14th Protocol? We've already had The Ipcress File and that one with Julie Walters in where he plays a lecturer. I don't know when we'll get time to watch them all but quite a library of M.C. building up!
It's just started to rain so glad we went out when we did.
Yesterday was pretty quiet until we went to visit Granma and Audrey in the next village who had cousin Maggie and Dennis (the menace) from the West Midlands popping by via the motor cycle rally over at Little Wotsit. Brrmm! Brrm! Dennis is a keen Beano fan too and was happy with the two swaps Archie took over. He was wearing a Dennis the Menace black and red striped jumper and has a Dennis the menace painted on his helmet and rucksack. Archie was impressed.


Carson Robison & the Pioneers - Polly Wolly Doddle

Carson Robison & the Pioneers - Cross-Eyed Sue

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

Thankyou Mr. Postman.

atctodaysmail
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A nice lot of mail art in the post today which cheered me up after a frustrating morning trying to phone the doctor's for an appointment and not being able to. Here are some of the things I got , mostly from the Flickr group who are churning out ATC's. Also a splendid collage from Art Nahpro and a collaborative postcard of Laurel and Hardy from Sticky Fingers. My cup runneth over!
The builder reappeared again with some excuse and proceded to knock down the wonky walls he had built. I left him to it and walked to town for some fresh air. I didn't find much but bought some parsley, bananas, apples and muesli base. Still not eating as much and limited to cereal, toast and fruit.
Hazel isn't eating much either but went to collage anyway. She sent an e-mail saying she was feeling a bit better so hope she's done the right thing.
Archie seems o.k. and struggled off to school with a pack on his back that would make a commando wince!
The builder has gone now and so has the offending wall. He's left the concrete base so I guess that's o.k. - but wouldn't that be wonky too??
O well - they are coming next week to build it again so I'm sure they won't make the same mistake twice!


Iggy Pop - I'm Bored

This You Send It file will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

What was it called again?

Fish Inspection ATC
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

O dear, we've had the most awful 48 hours what with Archie getting the terrible Winter Vomiting Sickness and then Hazel and I getting it at the same time over Saturday night and most of Sunday. Hazel got it the worst, poor thing. Taking the anti-biotics saved me from the vomitting and squitters ( I can't spell diarrearrh!) We have been trying to eat dry arrowroot biscuits but even that seems a massive effort. Drinking gallons of water as it makes you very de-hydrated. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!
So, keeping Archie off school today to recover properly and I'm sure the school doesn't want an out-break of it!
Missed the car boot yesterday which was a blow. I was looking forward to it. I couldnt even find the energy to drag myself down the paper shop for the Sunday Times.
Hopefully we shall all be better by tomorrow.
Have been cheering ourselves up by watching The Incredibles on DVD.



Another ATC collaged for the Collage Kids swapping group on Flickr.

Feeling rather Thursday.

Betty Boop ATC
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Aching all over too due to anti-biotics. Its a horrible feeling. Didnt get much sleep- tossing andf turning. Hazel didn't either. I hope these do the trick as I'd hate to think what the "stronger ones" the doc hinted at might be like?!
Stayed in yesterday- just too lethargic and creaky to do much else really. made some more ATC's ( sample above ) for the Collage Kids at Frickr which is proving to be a helpful diversion. Maybe you'll find it here?
Or maybe not. Not very good at links I've discovered.
Last night another upset as woken by Archie being sick at 2 in the morning and every half hour it seemed until 4. Hope he's feeling better now - having a lie-in.
Poor Hazel- two invalids to take care of !
This Easter holiday seems rather doomed from the start, what with the conservatory fiasco etc.

Sunday dance to the boot sales.

tyroldance
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This is one of the old postcards I bought this morning, mainly so I could add some "found photos" to the Flickr group of the same name. The first boot sale was in Verdin Park at the top of the hill. Lots of cars and punters but very little in the way of bargains. I found four postcards and a tobacco tin for Hazel's tin thing collection. Archie got a bag of lego which he's pleased with. hazel didnt find much either so afterwards we went to Winnington Youth Club where there was another but hardly any cars and a few stalls inside the hut the youth meet in. Nothing atall. So, the last boot sale at Kwik Save was out only hope of some bargains but only 4 stalls there too! Luckily one had a big pile of old records for 10p each which took me ages to sort through. It was mostly Max Bygraves, Mrs. Mills and Russ Conway piano medleys etc. but found some old British Dance Band stuff with Billy Cotton, Ambrose, etc. so that made up for the disappointments at the other sales. Also found a Ken Dodd video for 50p. Will tag some songs on the end of this later.


Maurice Winnick - Linger Longer Island

Ambrose - When Yuba Plays The Rumba On The Tuba

These You Send It files will be available for seven days or until exhausted.

April fools and picnic in the park.

bedsidemanor
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Yesterday was a bit of a disaster. The men came to put up the rest of the conservatory but after two hours struggling in the drizzle with the windows and frames they realised the base had been built out of true! So they called the foreman and the foreman called the surveyor (who'd already o.k.'d it!) and he called another builder and they stood in the drizzle and shook there heads and finally they decided the whole thing must come down again and be built from scratch! April fool!
If only it was. Hazel took it quite well considering, as she was looking forward to layin the tiles tomorrow and moving her workbench in - but it seems it may take un til the end of April now before that happens.
Today we went for a nice walk and had a picnic in Marbury Country Park. The bluebells weren't quite ready yet though there were a few dotted around. We'll have to go back in a couple of weeks to see the woods in their true blue-belly glory!
The new bridge over the canal is quite impressive and painted black and white like the old buildings of Northwich. It connects Marbury to the other new stretches of parkland that go to town and joins up with Carey Park.


Jerry Colonna - Waltz Me Around

Jerry Colonna - Balling The Jack

These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.

Hot Cross Monday.

oddcouple
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Well, not really that hot or cross but definately a Monday. We drove over to a boot sale at Frodsham in a field next to the community centre and not at the Castle Park as advertised. It was very crowded and difficult to get near a few stalls which was annoying. I meant to go back to a few but forgot where they were in the hustle and bustle. Got a nice Cd of the Scaffolds Greatest hit, which has lots of songs I'd not heard before. Also a DVD-R someone had made with all Beatles related films like the John Lennon "Imagine" film that was on BBC2 a while back and Carl Perkins in concert with George Harrison and others in his back-up band. Its a shame the film of Ringo in Concert goes all weird and pixelated at the end. Maybe it needs buffing up with a cloth?
Hazel got a poker that the owner used to "beat his kids with" - err, yeah nice! Archie got a pile of annuals including a 1973 Beano for a quid so he was happy.
Afterwards we drove to Lady Heyes Craft Centre and Antique emporium to have some tea and toast and browse the barns full of expensive nick-nacks. I tried to find some postcards but even the dull "scenic" ones were £1 each which seemed a bit pricey to me.
Hazel got some metal objects for her collection and her blog. They included some paper fasteners, bulldog clips and patchwork quilt stencil.
Horrible accident we almost witnessed driving back- three police cars parked and officers attending to slumped body on the pavement. It's quite shocking to see that here - in London we used to see bodies lying on pavements and in roads all the time!
Home via Co-op for bread and lunch of haloumi, tomatoes and basil in toasted sandwich.


The Scaffold - 2 Days Monday

The Scaffold - Do The Albert

These two You Send It files are available for 7 days or until exhausted.

Quick nurse the screens!

quicknursethescreens
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Ventured out in to the drizzle to a boot sale over at Witton Albions ground in next village. Amazingly a few foolhardy folk had set their stalls out and were selling all manner of junk very cheaply - obviously in a rush to get home out of the elements!
Got several old scratchy records - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1969 and two by XTC- "English Settlement" and "Mummer". Also CD's by the Darkness and the Platters. I think I have the Platters original hits somewhere on vinyl. This Cd was an inferior re-make done in the 80's probably - it didn't sound right, but for 50p one can't complain too much.
Hazel got a garden rake of uncertain vintage and some plants. Archie found some comics - an old 70's "Buster and a "Cracker" which I'd never heard of.
Hazel too Audrey and Doreen later and they came back for a fish and chip lunch as it was easter and it seemed like a nice idea. They seemed to enjoy it and we had silly games too - Jenga, cards, draughts and Bibble-Blobble on the Playstation.
Another boot sale tomorrow so hopefully it will be less damp than today.

The Tattooed Lady.

tattooedlady
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Michael Scott sent me this photocopy many years ago and I made another copy of it today and added some fake "tattoos" with the aid of a few rubber stamps. This was inspired by the song which follows ( available for 7 days only) that Jim sent on a cassette today. Most was early jazz novelties by Louis Prima but amongst the oddities on side two was The Tattooed lady by Billy Cotton & his Band with vocal by Alan Breeze. This reminded me of the Groucho Marx "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady" which i tried to find but found instead another Tattooed Lady by Paddy Roberts. So here they both are.

Billy Cotton Band - The Tattooed Lady Pt's 1 & 2


Paddy Roberts - The Tattooed Lady

George the Giraffe's Groovy Slide Show.

screaminggiraffehawkins
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Missed a chance to upload some Screaming Jay Hawkins here but instead we get Tommy Handley singing about bananas and eggs.
Went to Crewe Flea market today and didn't find any fleas but Hazel found some flies - in a little red tin. I expect she will show it on her blog fairly soon along with the collection of odd gramaphone needles and lead shot tins. You can find them here.
I didn't find much of interest just a record called Don Juan's Monster Hits Vol. 2 , which turned out to be rather similar to the Barron Knights. Also two PC games for £1 each.
Hazel took Flo to the vet's yesterday to have her bottom de-clagged. The vet said it was probabaly due to too much rich food, so we are cutting back on the trifle and eclairs.


Tommy Handley - Bananas Are Coming Back

Tommy Handley - The Egg Song

Two typically daft songs about shortages of fruit and other foodstuffs in the war by Tommy Handley who was there in the black-out cheering us up whilst the bombs were dropping. A stalwart of ITMA (It's That Man Again) on the wireless during the war years.

Sandy Powell found wandering at boot sale.

sandypowell
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Up early for the boot sale at the cow pat field but when we got there it wasn't, if you know what I mean. Maybe it starts next week? So we carry on towards Macclesfield and find the big boot sale at Chelford which Hazel tries to avoid as they are so rude and it costs twice as much to park on a tussocky field in the middle of nowhere. Apparently the fellow who runs it is a millionaire with two planes but can't be bothered to supply a proper porta-loo for the gents who have to use a a piece of corrogated iron leaning on some thistles in the corner of the field! Ouch!
I didnt find many bargains despite the number of cars but the best of the day was an old Sandy Powell LP on the Decca Ace of Clubs label from 1962. On it were a few sketches from radio shows and a handful of music hall songs records in the 40's, one written by the Two Leslies (Sarony & Holmes). The sleeve notes disclose a few facts I was unaware of-
"At the age of sixteen years, Sandy played his first pantomime at the Rotunda Theatre, Liverpool. he became recognised as one of Britain's most reliable pantomime comics in the years which followed. Sandy broke into braodcasting via a series of hour-long prgrammes under the title Pages From Sandy's Album in which he was supported by artists from his own road show.
In 1929, while he was appearing at the London Palladium, Sandy made his first record. It was called "The Lost Policeman" and it sold over a million copies."
Here are two tracks via You Send It which will be available for 7 days or until exhausted.


Sandy Powell - How Ashamed I Was


Sandy Powell - Oh! Ain't It Grand To Be In The Navy

U-MAK-IT

u-mak-it
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I walked into town and went to the bank, the post office, the usual charity shops and took the CD's back to the library.
I bought Archie a home recording studio which you can set up on your computer. It consists of a microphone, a CD-ROM and a CD of drum samples. I thought it would be useful for him to make his own Flash animation soundtracks and maybe when he's more proficient at the guitar he can record some songs? But it's early days yet ofcourse. I spent most of the day pulling my hair out, trying to figure out how to get any sounds to emerge ! Not a sausage! Why do they make it so complicated?! No wonder they were selling them off cheap!


Sweet Mama - Mambo sans mot

This You Send It file will only last for 7 days or until it is exhausted.
Not much known about this french jug band Sweet Mama. This song from a CD called "C'est Completement Fou" from 1983. Thanks to Jim Benson for sending it to me.

Boot sale time again.

crudeartchillshope
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

It's boot sale time again! Hooray! Despite the freezing conditions and a sprinkle of snow we went to Weaverham High School and surprised to see quite a few foolhardy folk had turned up to get rid of their junk.
Not much music alas though was tempted by a big stack of very old scratchy looking 78's. I made an offer for an expensive rare Ray Dorset soundilikey jug band but it was rejected. Maybe I should have bought it. O well, too late now. In the end I got a Fall 1980's vinyl LP that I didnt have and some cheap DVD's including the Iron Giant for Archie. Hazel got a brass coat hook and some plants. Archie found a battered 1989 Dandy annual which he wasn't sure he had or not. Turns out he didn't so he was happy. We didnt stay long as it was so cold. Got the Sunday Telegraph as it had a free DVD of an old Michael caine film called "Last Orders" that I'd never seen before. The Telegraph is a terrible tory right wing rag and I was loathe to buy it but a free DVD is a free DVD and besides it makes fine rabbit bedding!
Hazel took her Mom and sister later and they got some nick-nacks and stopped off at Lidl for some groceries.
Have just been watching an odd film about the Arctic, based on a true story apparently about a scientist who goes to study wolves. he gets dumped in the middle of nowhere with a pile of crates and a canoe and he finds all he has to eat is dozens of tins of asparagus!


The Fall - My New House

This You Send It file will be available for 7 days or until exhausted

Fridays exercises by numbers.

exercisebynumbers
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This collage is another for the Collage Kids at Flickr on the theme of Physical Fitness and the other is Easter Bunny.
Walked into town for some exercise. The usual route round the cahrity shops. Bought a DVD of a film called "Analyse This" for a couple of quid. It was very windy and so leaning into wind on the way there and blown along coming back.
Archie made a pizza in Food Tech. which looks very nice but he said the teacher made him put all the chopped onion on it which he didn't want.
It's Red Nose Day and I certainly had one after all that wind blowing in my face! Archie's school were allowed to go in ordinairy clothes for charity. Some pupils had dyed their hair red and wore red face paint but Archie put tomatoes on his pizza instead.

Jehosophat & Jones - Gal From Arkansaw
The Two Ronnies welcome repeats on the beeb this week. This is to celebrate.
This You Send It file will be available for 7 days or until exhasted.

Test for colour fonts

testing for font colour

Coup de Chickens.

chickens
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This is a nice matchbox label - one of many we bought at the Matchbox Collectors Fair in Northwich a couple of years ago. We managed to miss last years for some reason. These indian labels are so cheap and all brightly coloured and have very attractive designs.
The collectors were all very helpful and generous with their wares- they gave Archie a big starter bag of matchbox labels for nothing. More labels on my Flickr photostream.
Yesterday I walked to town and back and took a DVD back to the library and bought a cheap video of a film that was on tv last week but I forgot to set the video. It's one with Bill Murray in called "Rushmore" .
Only mail was from Mark Pawson who sent some nice japanese inspired badges and a set of recently printed Gocco envelopes and cards.
Archie is learning to play the guitar at school now. He has one 30 minute lesson per week which costs £3. He has to do it in his lunch hour which he does'nt like much so not sure how long this will last. His hands have grown quite big and are the same size as Hazel's now , so should be easier to stretch for those chords.

Part man part washing machine.

zomboke
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

This collage is for the Collage Kids at Flickr. The new themes is Pin Ups and Inventions. Worth a look.
Walked into town and got the bus back as I was bursting for a Jimmy Riddle. I've been drinking copious ammounts of water since going to the docs . and him saying I might have a bladder infection. I won't go into the gorey details. I bought some Cranberry Juice as thats supposed to be good for cleansing the system - it tastes horrible though and makes your tongue feel like sandpaper!
Didnt find much in town. A folded/popper box to put CD's in. Cheered myself up with a PS2 mag and demo disc which has the new metal gear solid on it. You creep around a very authentic looking jungle complete with butterflies and crocodiles etc. and you have to catch your own food with a tranquiliser gun and a fork. Finding your way out of the impenetrable swamp is hard enough!
Richard the builder has gone and left a bit of a mess but I cleared it up. I painted the bricks brown to ressemble bricks and got rid of the hanging vestages.
They are coming to put the frame and roof up on April 1st. Ho ho! Very funny!

John Hegley

conf_a2_sm
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

John's excellent website can be found here!

Wake up and smell the poems!

alarm clock
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A few moments after slagging off John Hegley for not replying to my letter , the phone rings and it's John asking us if we'd like tickets for his show at Chester's Gateway theatre in the evening. His ears must have been burning! It was very spooky but after some umming and errring we accepted his kind invitation and had to put up with Hazel worrying the rest of the day whether she could drive the 19 miles to Chester without the aid of satellite navigation!
I caught up with some mail and did some collaging for most of the day and around 5.30p.m. we set off to Chester armed with various AA route maps and step by step guides downloaded from the internet. The road from here to Chester is pretty much straight forward and we got there in 30 mins. but it took us anothert 30 mins. to find a car park around the confusing roundabout and one-way systems Chester ( a walled Roman city) has devised to reduce grown men to tears!
We eventually found a carpark close enough to the town and walked the mile or so to the theatre down the narrow cobbled streets. The centre of the town is really lovely with old half timbered shops and houses and a magnificent cathedral and an equally imposing victorian town hall. The Gateway theatre however was less than imposing and was round some grubby backstreet and looked like a bit of shopping mall they'd forgotten about. We got our tickets and made use of the conveniences and got some Filet of fish and fries at the Macdonalds that seemed to be the only place open . As much as I hate Macdonalds and all they stand for they really can be counted on to be there when you are desperate for something quick and unfussy to eat. We even had Filet of Fish and fries at the most northerly MacDonalds at the Arctic Circle in Finland a few years back when hunger drove us there out of a blizzard!
To cut a long story short. John was great and depsite not having any puppets or doing any tap-dancing ( as advertised) his show was full of humour, great songs, great poems and some audience inter-action. We had to write an acrostic from the name of the town we lived at and leave them on the stage during the interval. We did a pathetic combined effort and Archie did one which John read out and got some applause. I wish i could remember it. Anyway, he didnt win ( we'd already won the tickets) and the most applause went to some chap from Warrington which mentioned Ikea.
Hazel bought John's latest book in the interval as it seemed churlish not too and at the end he signed it after we'd waited in the queue for some minutes to thank him and say hello etc. He asked if we could stay for a drink but it was getting late and we were worried about finding the car and running the gauntlet of the drunks and rowdies that roamed the streets at chucking out time.
We managed to get home o.k. and it seemed a lot easier than going but then it always does.

The Great Hoozini

the great hoozini
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Who? You mean you've never heard of him? O he was famous for his slight of hand and dexterity with snakes and the occasional dove. He used produce flags of all nations from the most unlikely places!
A bit of an altercation outside. Some women were having a slanging match with some mouthy bloke about some minor driving misshap by the sound of it. It looked like it might end in tears but they stomped off into the cars and drove off thankfully.
I went to town this morning for the exercise more than anything. I went to the post office to post a few things and the library. Bought some bread and disposable razors. Found a silly record of old childrens tv show themes but it's mostly pretty awful - no the originals but some session musicians by the sound of it.
The builder is off today but will be back tomorrow or Sunday? He wasn't quite sure when. Hazel is already planning what tiles to have and what table and workbench will fit etc. It looks very small in the garden but infact is bigger than the room I work in upstairs.

Carey Park and River Weaver.

Photo Library - 1545
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Just back from a nice walk to the Anderton Lift via Carey Park which hasn't been open long. They've just built this footbridge linking the Northwich side to the Anderton side so you can walk for miles now past all these rotting industrial sites, pipes, bunkers and chemical factory right round to the Anderton Lift and Nature trail. It doesnt sound all that cellubrious but is really quite nice and attractive in parts. Even the old pipes and overgrown concrete bunker things are quite interesting. My camera was playing up so didn't take many photos of them. I think I deleted one by mistake. At one point the camera froze up completely and only started working again when I took the batteries out and popped them back in again!
It was bitterly cold with a freezing wind blowing in our faces but sheltered down by the river was warmer. We had tea and a sandwich for lunch in the Anderton Visitor centre cafe which overlooks the river. We walked back to the car which we left in the car park in town. Just painted the wall with exterior emulsion by the new conservatory as the builder says he will bring bricks and concrete towmorrow and Hazel's worried he will obscure the wall so we can't paint it later on.

300 year monopoly to end.

11postbugs
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

What a game that was! Maybe it just seemed like 300 years?
The builder has been and started on the shed demolition, most of which went yesterday. It was pretty hair raising and noisy for a while but it didn't take long to batter into submission as most of it was rotten and fell down on it's own!
Today he's filled the footings with concrete from a big lorry outside, barrowing it in. Hard work - I know 'cos I did it once to help out a friend building a garage over in Paglesham, Essex. I ached all over the next day. I suppose builders are used to it.
He's putting the first course of bricks down now. Good to see it happening so fast. The difference in extra space and light is amazing!

Nantwich and Dags Antique barns.

1dagsfarm3
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

We had to wait in for the chap to come from Northwich Glass this morning to see that we'd emptied the shed - which we had done, about two hours before. It was freezing cold so kept running indoors to warm up on the computer.
It didnt take long to empty and now the bottom of the garden boasts a fine pile of antique wood and garden implements.
After he's gone we went to Nantwich to see the shop museum but sadly it was closed by the time we got there! Only open 9- 12. on a wednesday for some odd reason. So we found a nice cosy cafe above a bookshop with old beams and wonky flkoor to have lunch of toasted cheese sandwiches and a pot of tea. Archie had panini's and a hot chocolate as he likes to be different.
Then to a few charity shops but we didnt find much. I got a cuban diva Cd for 99p. The "cuban Edith Piaf" it says here on the label. I didnt quite see the resemblance.
Also a DVD of the Secret Policeman's Ball for next to nothing from the Booksale shop.
Then we hunted for the road to Shapely water gardens or is it Stapely? But found oursleves on the long windy road the Whitchurch which we found out was comepletely the opposite direction after we found a lay-by and consulted the map!
We found it eventually and the dags Antique barns nearby full of expensive tat to admire and ridicule. Archie found a big ol' pile of Beanos for quids and also a nice bookshop feller knocked a few quid off as he could see Archie was a collector and would be back for more.

Penny slot machine fun in the countryside.

1slotmachines
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

It's about a 40 minute drive from our house to where the slot machines are, just behind Beeston Castle at the Candle Workshops. Its well sign-posted thankfully so found it quite easily despite the circuitous route down the winding country lanes, past farms and waterlogged fields. We'd not not known about it if it hadn't been for a short clip about the slot machine museum on a local news programme on television last week. For £5 you get 60 big old pennies to play with, and what great fun! The phrase "worth every penny" never seemed so appropriate!
The only thing missing really was a crane machine but they had lots of other interesting diorama's and automata that I remember from my holidays at the seaside- The Drunkard's Dream, The Haunted Graveyard, the Gillotine.
When we came out it was snowing but luckily it stopped by the time we'd got up the road a few miles.
James came over to play with Archie in the afternoon and they could be heard three or four streets away giggling and screaming and firing bits of potato at each other in the back garden.
Hazel washed the mud, leaves,twigs and accumulated debris of the weekend off the car and took it back to Audrey. I loaded all my slot machine photos onto Flickr and had fun writing suitable notes to accompany them.

Party hats and rain hoods.

1partyhats
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

I got back from town just as the drizzle started. This morning I put all the illustrations I'd done for Roger onto a CD and posted it along with a load of other mail. The usual haunts around town but didnt find much. Got some plastic CD envelopes cheap on the market.
This collage was another for the Kids at Frickr on the theme I devised using different "elements" I uploaded for the group to print out and use.


Can you guess the platform oddballs?

Sneaky snapper's shakey snaps.

11fancydressshop
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Archie is still feeling unwell so reluctantly kept him off school again. Luckily Hazel was home to keep and eye on him so I was able to go into town and take advantage of the good weather to do some sneaky photos with the camera dangling on a chain round my neck. I felt very subversive taking pics of shop windows and pub signs - I don't know why. In London, no one would bat an eyelid.
This one of the special display for Valentines day in the Fancy Dress shop window came out a bit blurred because I was rushing things a bit.
It's nice not to worry about using up film and being wasteful.
Borrowed the new Jim Carey film on DVD from the library ( Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?) Awful title but a good film , it says here. Interesting to see Carey in a more serious role.
Hazel and Archie were playing draughts when I got home. The sorted the spud gun collection and Hazel put some on her Flickr blog.
Spent the afternoon catching up with mail and doing a few projects that have accumulated.

Spud-U-Like Sunday Tip Challenge.

11bigpotato
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Not really. But we did clear some junk from the shed you'll be pleased to know, and Hazel took two loads to the tip. We wanted to go out but Archie still looking very pale and not 100% so we stayed in to do odd jobs around the house - which mostly involved traipsing mud from the garden to the inside. The slot machines of the Candle Workshops will have to wait until next week. It's amazing how much junk one collects over the years and today we found heaps of buggy wood and crusty tins of paint. Some wicker baskets of electric plugs and sockets, A plastic rocking horse. 3 bags of flowerpots. 2 sheets of ply and a cartridge in a bare tray.

Sheds and their blokes.

11blokes&theirsheds
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

A great book that I bought for Hazel, or she bought for me, many years ago. Some lovely photos of sheds, mostly crammed full of stuff.
Our shed is nearly empty now ready for it's imminent destruction.
Walked into town this morning under a leaden sky. No chance to take any photos. I feel a bit intrusive taking them of shop fronts though I'd quite like to.Maybe I"ll do it on a weekday when it's quieter and hang the camera round my neck on it's chain to enable a quick getaway.
Didnt find many bargains. The Booksale shop had lots of Beanos and Dandys but Archie has them already for Christmas. Auntie "A" was miffed that now you could get them for next to nothing and she paid the full price a couple of months ago!


One of our many sheds, packed to bursting!

The old giant pear joke never fails.

11giantpear
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.

Archie still not very well so we kept him off another day. Hazel is at home to keep an eye on him so I was able to wander into town in the drizzle for some fresh air and a chance to try out my new camera. Took a couple of the pub signs down Witton Street for Al's Frickr group. I would have taken more but it was very gloomy and wet.
Bought some bread though sad to hear that the "seedy loaf" was no longer available. Luckily the old witch with a face like a slapped arse wasn't in today and I was served by a young girl who was quite pleasant and had manners.
Also bought some re-writable CD-R's for the audio recorder as the others were a bit scratched and jumped occasionally.
With the Times this week you can buy a DVD of Morecambe and Wise highlights for £2.99 which seemed too good to miss. Every week they are selling a BBC related DVD cheap if you buy the paper. Next week I think it's Jane Austin's "Persuasion" starring the Krankies and Basil Brush?
The surveyor is coming tomorrow to measure the shed for the conservatory so I cleared some of the junk out of it to make his life a little easier.
This afternoon catching up with some mail and various mail art related projects.