This is today's theme and so we have the Beatles at halloween - a collage for the Flickr group about the fab four. Also, instead of songs about Liverpool or Halloween we have songs about Gloucester and about Cheese and Wintertime! I found these two gems amongst others on a compilation tape called "A Souvenir From the West Country" I found in a charity shop yesterday for 50p. It also has songs by Adge Cutler and the Wurzels, Acker Bilk and Peter Dawson & the Band of the Royal Marines. Other bargains included a CD of someone reading the story of Alice Behind the Looking Glass (or is it "Beyond"?) Also bought a memory card for my digital camera so Hazel can wrap it up for my birthday (next Monday- hint hint!) so will be nice to be able to take lots of pictures and not worry about whether I can fit them all on or not.
Anyway, here's a song about winter followed by one about cheese.
Shag Connors & the Carrot Crunchers - Wintertime In Gloucester
Shag Connors & the Carrot Crunchers - Gloucester Cheese
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Flaming June!
I seem to remember saying the same thing in my blog last year! It's very wet and windy outside and feels more like November!
To cheer us up here is a couple of exotic songs from a Betty Grable musical of 1942 set in Hawaii. I never thought of Betty as a singer but she has a good voice to go with those famous legs of hers!
Betty Grable - Down On Ami Ami Oni Oni Isle
Betty Grable - O'Brien has Gone Hawaiian
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
To cheer us up here is a couple of exotic songs from a Betty Grable musical of 1942 set in Hawaii. I never thought of Betty as a singer but she has a good voice to go with those famous legs of hers!
Betty Grable - Down On Ami Ami Oni Oni Isle
Betty Grable - O'Brien has Gone Hawaiian
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
A Squirrel & His Nuts
Went to Weaverham to a boot sale but found only one sad solitary stall so we drove over to Anderton where luckliy another was in full swing. Quite few stalls too and so had fun rooting through boxes of records and junk but didnt find much. I bought two DVD's for a quid each, Monsters Inc. and Into The Arms of Strangers(the Story Of Kindertransport) which won the best documentary at the 2000 Oscars apparently.
Hazel got a watch chain and some 1962 Bimbo comics that she used to get as a child. Archie got some "Horrible Histories" books that he's collecting.
After lunch we took the worktable which the computer has been on outside to the new workshop. Using a small fold up card table temporarily, which isn't ideal as I can just about get my knees under it!
Archie has gone out with his remote control car and came back with a pot of flowers from the neighbours who have just returend from the Lake District. Hazel and Archie fed their rabbit and guinea-pig whilst they were away and the flowers were a thankyou (Archie got some Lakeland icecream).
Today's musical treat is two songs by Captain Matchbox - a goodtime jugband from Australia who I know nothing about.
Capt. Matchbox - Hotsy Totsy
Capt. Matchbox - Down Undergroundville
These You Send It files are only availabel for seven days or until exhausted.
Hazel got a watch chain and some 1962 Bimbo comics that she used to get as a child. Archie got some "Horrible Histories" books that he's collecting.
After lunch we took the worktable which the computer has been on outside to the new workshop. Using a small fold up card table temporarily, which isn't ideal as I can just about get my knees under it!
Archie has gone out with his remote control car and came back with a pot of flowers from the neighbours who have just returend from the Lake District. Hazel and Archie fed their rabbit and guinea-pig whilst they were away and the flowers were a thankyou (Archie got some Lakeland icecream).
Today's musical treat is two songs by Captain Matchbox - a goodtime jugband from Australia who I know nothing about.
Capt. Matchbox - Hotsy Totsy
Capt. Matchbox - Down Undergroundville
These You Send It files are only availabel for seven days or until exhausted.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
25 years of Fluff.
Here's Hazel sorting through a box of collage material and surroounded by the 25 years accumulation of mail art and correspondence we seem to have collected. Storing it has become a bit of a problem and until recently it was in saggy cardboard boxes that were damp and nibbled by mice! Now all has been transferred to plastic boxes with tight fitting lids and stored in the old coal shed, which is not ideal but the only place we have right now.
This morning I walked into town and back and did the usual round of charity shops, market, library and post office etc. I found Hazel an interesting gadget for her collection - a runner bean slicer that looks like it was designed by Heath Robinson - in it's original packaging too. Also a comedy called "Best of Show" on video that I'd never heard of but made by the same people who made Spinal Tap, one of my favourite films.
I seem to have been neglecting the music side of things here for a while- taken over by silly small films and the like- so here is a couple of tracks by an Australian version of The Singing Postman called Chad Morgan.
Chad Morgan - The Sheik of Scrubby Creek
Chad Morgan - The Crow Flying Backwards
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
This morning I walked into town and back and did the usual round of charity shops, market, library and post office etc. I found Hazel an interesting gadget for her collection - a runner bean slicer that looks like it was designed by Heath Robinson - in it's original packaging too. Also a comedy called "Best of Show" on video that I'd never heard of but made by the same people who made Spinal Tap, one of my favourite films.
I seem to have been neglecting the music side of things here for a while- taken over by silly small films and the like- so here is a couple of tracks by an Australian version of The Singing Postman called Chad Morgan.
Chad Morgan - The Sheik of Scrubby Creek
Chad Morgan - The Crow Flying Backwards
These You Send It files are available for seven days or until exhausted.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Mouse
This animation by Archie seems very appropriate as we were clearing out the coal shed and finding lots of mouse droppings! You can watch this Quicktime version HERE!
Apart from tidying the shed and sorting the mail art archive ( more to go in plastic boxes I neglected last time!) it was quite a traumatic day all round with Archie in tears because school work was getting very stressful and he didn't want to go in. In the end Hazel had to phone the school and talk to a very nice lady who spoke to Archie to re-assure him and invite him along for a day with her. Hazel said when they got there she said "I'm a big fat chicken and I'm taking you under my wing!"
Anyway, she managed to sort things out hopefully though Archie is not so sure about the fat chicken impression!
The trouble is on wednesdays he has the lunchtime Challenge Group which is sometimes cancelled and moved and the teacher seems very distant and bored by the whole thing and Archie feels rather let down by it. No challenge atall infact! This also clashes with guitar lessons on the same day so he has a lot to do in one lunchtime really besides grab a quick sandwich!
The garden is a bit of a mess now with piles of stuff ready to go to the tip when Hazel gets the car from her sister at the weekend.
It was good to do though as there is more space now ( you can actually walk into the coalshed!) and we found a few things we had mislaid when we moved here 7 years ago! Hazel found her jars of blakeys and odd metal bits which will be useful for her exhibition next year. Also I found some 45's and a lots of postcards which I'm in the process of scanning for inclusion on my mail art blog.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Smalls on Sunday.
This is a compilation of some of Archie's smaller Flash animations with temporary soundtrack by yours truly. I expect Archie will want to make his own when he gets time. You can watch it HERE!
We managed to get to the boot sale at Witton Albion football ground car park this morning despite the inclement weather. Quite a few stalls surprisingly. I found a terrible PS2 game about spies for three quid and a couple of glue sticks. Also some story cassettes for Archie that he likes to listen to in cluding Three men In A Boat, and Just So Stories by Kipling. (Do you like Kipling? I don't know- I've never kippled.)
Hazel got some needles and a bottle opener in a leather pouch. Archie bought some plastic soldiers and a matchstick firing cannon. He's busy making a load of barracks for them in the garden.
Hazel is finishing off the grouting having bought another expensive bag of the stuff for nine quid.
We managed to get to the boot sale at Witton Albion football ground car park this morning despite the inclement weather. Quite a few stalls surprisingly. I found a terrible PS2 game about spies for three quid and a couple of glue sticks. Also some story cassettes for Archie that he likes to listen to in cluding Three men In A Boat, and Just So Stories by Kipling. (Do you like Kipling? I don't know- I've never kippled.)
Hazel got some needles and a bottle opener in a leather pouch. Archie bought some plastic soldiers and a matchstick firing cannon. He's busy making a load of barracks for them in the garden.
Hazel is finishing off the grouting having bought another expensive bag of the stuff for nine quid.
Friday, June 03, 2005
A day out at Chester zoo.
Guess where we went today?
Yes, you're right? How amazing!
Hazel managed to find Chester Zoo o.k. with the aid of the AA route finder. Its pretty much a straight run from our house down the A59 via the A41 sub-circular bypass veering left at the hunchbacked flyover roundabout gyrating system.
No, it was dead easy and only took 30 minutes - half hour at the most.
Lots of animals, birds and reptiles there which was a big shock for us as we expected a big box full of hair grips.
Sorry, I'm getting this blog mixed up with my other blog of nonsense HERE.
The rain held off for most of the day thankfully and we even had a picnic out on the grassy bit by the monkey house. Who was looking at who I wonder?
Saw lots of great animals and some even looked contented. When you see them pacing up and down you know that's a bad sign. Only the one black bear was doing that despite having an enormous enclosure with a waterfall and a pond.
The meerkats were amusing as were the chimpanzees and the urang-utangs who were covering themselves in sacking and pretending to be errrr sacks I guess?
Also saw elephants, rhino, bats(in the Twilight Zone!) parrots, ostrich, marmosets, tapirs, capybara's? (the worlds biggest rat!) and emu's. But no Rod Hull.
Yes, you're right? How amazing!
Hazel managed to find Chester Zoo o.k. with the aid of the AA route finder. Its pretty much a straight run from our house down the A59 via the A41 sub-circular bypass veering left at the hunchbacked flyover roundabout gyrating system.
No, it was dead easy and only took 30 minutes - half hour at the most.
Lots of animals, birds and reptiles there which was a big shock for us as we expected a big box full of hair grips.
Sorry, I'm getting this blog mixed up with my other blog of nonsense HERE.
The rain held off for most of the day thankfully and we even had a picnic out on the grassy bit by the monkey house. Who was looking at who I wonder?
Saw lots of great animals and some even looked contented. When you see them pacing up and down you know that's a bad sign. Only the one black bear was doing that despite having an enormous enclosure with a waterfall and a pond.
The meerkats were amusing as were the chimpanzees and the urang-utangs who were covering themselves in sacking and pretending to be errrr sacks I guess?
Also saw elephants, rhino, bats(in the Twilight Zone!) parrots, ostrich, marmosets, tapirs, capybara's? (the worlds biggest rat!) and emu's. But no Rod Hull.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Light The House
Another Flash animation that Archie made last year and shown at a youth film festival at the Cornerhouse in Manchester and presently doing the rounds of the film festivals of U.K. and Europe.
See it HERE!
See it HERE!
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Wheel
This is one of Archie's latest Flash animations reduced to Quicktime so a lot of the detail is lost unfortunately but you get the idea. He's grasped the technology to make these in just a few hours and quite amazing for a 12 year old, but then this is aboy weaned on animation since he was a baby.
See it here!
See it here!
Monday, May 30, 2005
Baffling Vlog and video bloggy.
Headcahe still from too much sun and fun at boot sale this morning over at Sutton Fields near Frodsham. I didnt get anything atall which is unusual. Maybe the headache didnt help. Hazel got lods of metal tins and odd bits and pieces for her blog and workshop. Archie did well too, with two old annuals for 50p - a Topper and Dennis the Menace.
Home to try and figure out how to put videos onto blog. Still not sure how its done despite watching several useful tutorials. Anyway, heres a link right here.
This is Archie on a strange old roundabout we found in a park in Frodsham last time we went.
Home to try and figure out how to put videos onto blog. Still not sure how its done despite watching several useful tutorials. Anyway, heres a link right here.
This is Archie on a strange old roundabout we found in a park in Frodsham last time we went.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
New blog started today.
I must be mad i know but had a dream about a new blog last night and felt I had to act upon it. Its a version of Curios Thing that mail art contacts will be firmiliar with. I produced 20 or so over the years in limited editions of 100, and sent them through the mailways in exchange for similar publications and mail art etc.
It will be slightly different ofcourse to fit in with the blogging medium and hopefully evolve as it goes along. Hoping also that the comments will be written in the same spirit as the blog itself - so feel free to join in!
You will find it in the links section under a slab of stilton.
It will be slightly different ofcourse to fit in with the blogging medium and hopefully evolve as it goes along. Hoping also that the comments will be written in the same spirit as the blog itself - so feel free to join in!
You will find it in the links section under a slab of stilton.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Fresh Milk!
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.
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.
Monday, May 23, 2005
The Musical Baton
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.
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.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
A day of mixed fortunes.
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.
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.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Topper from '67
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Archie on guitar
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.
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.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
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.
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.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Unlucky for some.
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.
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.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Croco-dials.
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
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
Saturday, May 07, 2005
The Jones Archive of Epistolotory Fun.
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.
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.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
All the fives.
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.
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.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Here we go round the Marbury bush.
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.
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.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
The weak end starts here.
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.
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.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Flippin' Friday again!
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.
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.
Monday, April 25, 2005
I too have seen the inbloggable.
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.
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.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Ice Cream You Scream
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.
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.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Blinkin' bloggy four day!
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.
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.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Tomato or not tomato, that is the question.
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Wonky brick boys back.
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.
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.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Walk along lake at Marbury.
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.
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.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Thankyou Mr. Postman.
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
What was it called again?
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.
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.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Feeling rather Thursday.
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.
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, April 03, 2005
Sunday dance to the boot sales.
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.
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.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
April fools and picnic in the park.
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.
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.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Hot Cross Monday.
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.
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.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Quick nurse the screens!
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.
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.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
The Tattooed Lady.
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
Billy Cotton Band - The Tattooed Lady Pt's 1 & 2
Paddy Roberts - The Tattooed Lady
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
George the Giraffe's Groovy Slide Show.
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.
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.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Sandy Powell found wandering at boot sale.
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
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
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
U-MAK-IT
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.
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.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Boot sale time again.
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
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
Friday, March 11, 2005
Fridays exercises by numbers.
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.
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.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Coup de Chickens.
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.
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.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Part man part washing machine.
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!
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!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Wake up and smell the poems!
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.
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.
Friday, February 25, 2005
The Great Hoozini
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.
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.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Carey Park and River Weaver.
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.
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.
Friday, February 18, 2005
300 year monopoly to end.
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!
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!
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