New York City - Day Five

Pretty traumatic breakfast in a local deli/cafe the next morning. Found it hard to be understood and everything is such a rush! My tea didn't have milk in and Hazel's iced coffee was hot!
Incredbly HOT outside and muggy. Walked to MOMA which wasn't far from hotel - luckily they were just opening at 9:30 so didnt have to Q. I got in as a senior (over 65 ) all three of us cost 45 dollars. It was worth it though - great Dali show about his involvement in films including the Disney collaboration that I'd not seen before. Alos a show about prefabricated buildings which carried on in a yard outside with full size buildings to wander round in.
The "Wunderkammer" show was a little dissapointing being mostly prints and very little of the "collections" we expected.
Nice to see a couple of Ray Johnsons in the "Art & Music" show. lso Wallace Berman and other essemblagists.
Full of ART we left for some lunch and got pizzas to take away and ate them in a little square( well more of a triangle) just off Broadwayin the middle of traffic chaos and noise of throbbing city. Aarggh! the noise! Even partially deaf it was quite overwhelming!

Walked a couple of blocks but decided to get yellow cab to Empire State Building as we begato flag.
HUge Q's for tickets and touts hussling for tours outside. I couldn't face a 2 hour wait in line after JFK so went off on my own. Hazel and Archie bravley waited and awarded prize of stunning views form top which these photos don't even come near to reproducing.

Meanwhile I had gone in search of the Morgan Museum which I'd been told was good. It took me ages to find but eventually went inside and paid my 8 dollars ( senior over 62 ) but all that was on was a small exhibition of Philip Guston's drawings and the Guttenburg Bible. Most dissappointing.
I walked miles then towrds East Village in search of a mail artists apartment on 3rd street.
Found a nice hat on the way for 15 dollars. It was so hot I was afraid of getting sun stroke! Also found a nice junk shop wich had a few records to sort through. Nothing for me though. Eventually found John Evan's place but sadly he wasnt in.

Spoke to one of his neighbours in gardens opposite . She said she didnt know him but then she didnt know many of her neighbours despite living there for years.
The walked to Laffayette Street and bought a tin robot for ten dollars in a toy shop. I asked about the Blue Man Group theatre and the lady serving said I was walking the wrong way. Eventually found it and sat outside with a Blueberry and Cocoanut Smoothie to wait for Hazel and Archie. They eventually tuned up an hour later.
The Blue Man Group show was amazing. Thank you Angelica ( who sent us the tickets )funny and an assualt on the senses. The first four rows had to wear plastic raincotas and hoods to stop them getting covered in paint!
Had photo taken with one of the Blue Men afterwards in the foyer. Archie bought a T-shirt and cap with the money that Jonathan & Syl. had given him.
Taxi home for showers and rest our weary bones.

Boston/NYC - Day Four

Jonatha drove us to the station and we managed to park nearby.Caught our train to NYC at 11:05 and waved bye bye to Jonathan and to Boston (Syl was at work ).
The 4 hour journey went by quite fast as we gazed out of the roomy carraige window at the passing scene- along the coast of Mass. and Conneticut.Passed fishing villages and holiday homes and yellow sandy beaches. We ate some interesting chunky sandwiches that Hazel bought at the station food court. The tuna and salad was nice but the goats cheese and slimey mushroom was rather disgusting!

Rhode Isalnd , Newport and New Rochelle. Names to conjure with. Jonathan said the journey would be rather dull but to us it all seemed fascinating.
Eventually we arrived at Penn. Station which was an underground hell hole and incredibly hot and sticky. Thankfully above ground it seemed much fresher and we hailed our first yellow NYC taxi to the hotel on 57th street.
The Holiday Inn turned out to be huge and we had a great room on the 15th floor though the view was just of another sky scaper opposite. We had a king size bed that about 5 people could sleep in. No bed for Archie though and we had to order a fold up one which was delivered later.

After unpacking we ventured out to Columbus Circle nearby and Central Park for an afternoon stroll. What a fantastic oasis in the middle of the city. It was packed full of people doing all kinds of running , walking, jogging, skateboading, buggy pushing, you name it- they were doing it! Playing baseball, having picnics, walking the dog (where do they keep all these big dogs?). It was good to get away from the noisy hub-bub of the streets.
Some great busker including Lenny Hoops who you can see in the YouTube stream at the side.
He was handing out hula hoops and teaching children and grown ups to hula hoop and then played the bongos, gong, shakers and trumpet. We bought a CD and DVD off him both of which are excellent.
Watched some baseball pitching and catching while a tramp nearby picked his scabs surrounded by his bags.
We moved to a safer spot when we realised he had Tourette's Syndrome. Stood on the same big boulders that the Beatles stood on for a photo shoot on their first historic visit to New York in the 60's.
Lots of people in rickshaws and horse drawn buggies. The strong smell of horse's douvres pervading the air.

We walked quite way and so it took ages to traipse back to the shops and resturants to find something to eat. Eventually found a cheap Italina Cafe that some pizza and pasta. I had a sickly tomato slop which was very oily.Hazel and Archie plumped for the Tuna Melts which came with crisps and half a gherking for some reason!
Not a great choice but it got better. back to the hotel for showers and watch some crappy TV prgrammes. 200 channels and nothing on! I shall never be rude about British TV ever again! Our favourite was the cartoon Network and Flapjack which was hilarious.

Boston - Day Three

Sadly Sylvia had to work today so it was up to Jonathan to entertain us and show us the sights of the harbour area and the historic Freedom Trail. I was still deaf in one ear so everyone had to shout at me.
Following a red line in paint and brick on the sidewalks we follwed it to various locations , including the statue of Paul Revere, his house and a church where they signalled by lighting a torch in the belfry to say the British redcoats were coming.

We walked along jetties and sat and watched the fishermen doing their daily fisherfolk deeds. A long walk over a bridge to the other side of the harbour to see the "Old Ironsides" boat in a dry dock. The usual paranoid queueing for the metal detector and frisking before were allowed to enter the site and then told to "clear the decks" by sailors as soon as we set foot on it! We saw most of "Old Ironsides" from the outside whilst a huge paying tour went onboard. Cheapskates like us were shown the door. We took refuge in the shop and took advantge of the rest rooms. Hazel bought a small metal Redcoat with smirking face and a presentation replica of a bit of lead shot made from some alloy.

Had a nice ferry ride from a pier nearby , all the way back to where we started out which saved our legs thankfully. Nice views of the boats and the city skyscrapers etc.
Jonathan found a good mexican resturant where we had lunch of fish and chips and cole slaw.
Then to the old part of town where the streets are cobbled. Saw the thinnest house in Boston and another very old cemetary where more patriots city forefathers were buried.
In a couple of trendy shops we bought some postcards and some chinese kite prayers? Useful for collages when I get home. Archie bought a small plastic hamster for Audrey for looking after Wilf while we are away.
Back through the park to see the infamous duckling statue and the swan boats.
Back to the underground car park to drive through Cambridge, Harvard Squares and MIT along the leafy banks of the River Charles.
Then to Jonathans local "The PLough & Stars" for a pint of draught Guinness I had promised him a year ago. Nice to meet some regulars and the friendly irish barman David who made us very welcome and even treated us to free drinks!

Boston - Day Two

After breakfast we wandered down to the local convenience store to see how it differed from ours. Jonathan said it was nothing special but it seemed fascinating to us as we scrutinised all the different packets and cans. The person behind the till probably thought we looked very suspicious! In the end Archie bought a CLIF candy bar with a picture of a man hanging off a cliff on the front and a packet of M & M's which we can get in U.K. but he just fancied some.

Syl stayed in to look out for our lost bag which would be delivered anytime over the next few hours. Jonathan drove us miles along freeways lined with car rentlas and ubiquitous Dunkin' Donuts etc. We went off a side road in Essex to a nice old antique store called the White Elephant. It was lovely and cluttered and we had a good rummage. Hazel bought a metla whistle with U.S.A. stamped on it and a long gadget that looked like a cross between a potato peeler and gimlet? I spotted a record which we bought for Sylvia for staying at home and missing out on all the fun. It was Popeye songs from the 60's I imagine - nice gaudy cover of the spinach eating sailor.

Then to a coastal resort called Gloucester for a wander in the town and a lovely pizza in a resturant that Jonathan cleverly spotted. It was delicious - cooked in a proper pizza oven. Then to Mystery Train records to browse the hundreds of bins full of old records tapes and DVD's. They even had 78's. I didn't find anything though spotted an original copy of Sgt. Pepper with cut out moustache and badges intact for a measly ten dollars.

Then a long drive through picturesque Massachusettes through villages called Manchester and Bolton etc.
Sadly our wretched bag had still not arrived by three so Jonathan volunteered to stay at home to give Sylvia a chance to drive us to her favourite duck feeding lakes in nearby Cambridge.
It was very windy so didnt stay that long. Hazel got quite upset by the bag incident but luckliy when we got back the bag had arrived so that cheered her up. We had a lovely meal cooked by Sylvia to celebrate the prodigal bags return!
Were able to change our clothes and clean our teeth properly and give the presents we had bought for Jonathan and Sylvia. So the day ended very happily.

Boston - Day One

Horrendous flight and arrival. Not the best introduction to America - stuck in customs and passport control for two hours in dungeon in oppresive heat at JFK. We had to push passed the huddled masses to get to our connecting flight to Boston in time. We needn't have run or dumped our bag so hastily as the connecting flight was an hour late. Our bag went off on a little detour of its own and we didnt get it back until 4-30 the following day.
Lovely at last to be greeted by Jonathan and Sylvia at Boston airport holdig up an A1 card they had sprayed through a stencil. Then the baggage claim fiasco. They gave us some complimentary over night kits with a toothbrush for a midget, a bar of soap for a dwarf and a white T-shirt for a giant. We had left Manchester at 10 in the morning and it was now 7-30 in the balmy Bostonian evening.

They promised the bag that evening but it never turned up so next day Sylvia phoned them and they said it would turn up before noon. Sylvia phoned again and they said it would be the afternoon anytime before 3 ! Blinkin' liars! It turned up at 4-30 and poor Sylvia had volunteered to stay in all day to recieve it whilst Jonathan drove us around various out of town sights like the White Elephant Store, Gloucester and Manchester which were far removed from their UK counterparts being tiny villages and towns on the Massachucetts coast.

Anyway, I'm jumping the gun a bit here as this wasn't until the next day.
In the meantime we had a nice look around Jonathan and Sylvia's interesting apartment and Syl cooked a delicious vegetable stew with pasta followed by cheese-cake. Then inflating the mattress for Archie and arranging the furniture to crash out after our arduous journey. Boy, were we tired and I was partially deaf due to the cabin pressure. Still am, 12 days later!

Hayward Gallery

The next day we had great fun at the Psycho Buildings exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. We took Graham along to get him away from the building works next door which was worrying him. Distractions such as these tiny rowing boats on the roof of the gallery. You looked like you could easily tip up or be washed over the edge but a very comical and weird experience. Not sure who the artist was though. Lots of interesting installations inside and on other parts of the roof - a big plastic bubble to go inside- a cinema showing poeple dropping girders into wet concrete etc.
Hundreds of dolls houses piled up like a village on a hill by that women who made the plaster cast of a terraced house in the East End. I'm terrible at names!
Afterwards we walked to the Tate Modern but it was like a giant creche- full of tourists and kids, so we didnt stay long. The other Tate is much more enjoyable if you want to look at art - on the Millbank.
Then to Jerwood Space which was rubbish but nice for a cool juice and a sit down. Archie won a badge completing a video game someone had invented,

London and South Bank

Just back from a few days in London , visiting friends and looking round some galleries and museums.
Missed the train we had booked tickets on but luckily our friendly cabbie Roy came back for us when he told his next customer our plight ( would have to wait an hour for next train ) and as luck would have it, she was going to Crewe and so we all crammed in the backseat.
The train wasnt as crowded as we thought so we did get seats and were in London by the afternoon.
After dumping our bags at our friends, Jane and Graham, we walked through Archbishops Park in Lambeth to the Tate on Millbank. Archie bought some delicious cake from Cooper's in Lower Marsh on the way and we scoffed in the gardens outside.
Inside was a performance? which involved some athletic souls were ran very fast through the large central gallery and vanished out the back every 59 seconds. It wasa work by Martin Creed who is infamous for his bits of blue tack and lights being switched on and off. Hazel said he came to MMU to do a lecture and it was the worst she'd ever witnessed - he just mumbled and threw pictures into a slide projector willy nilly.
Also on show was a small exhibition curated by one of Hazel's ex-students who seems to be making a name for himself but unfortunately Ive forgotten what it is!
We walked back over the Thames via Lambeth bridge in the drizzle and shletered for a bit in the Tradescant Trust Museum of Gardening- in the knot garden where Captan Bligh of Bounty fame is buried along with the tradesdcants and a few other notables.
Here we see Hazel and Archie posing by Blighs grave (above ).
Then to Jane and Graham's for a rest and an interesting experimental dinner of fish baked in orange juice and cracked wheat. Also cold cream of watercress soup.

What's Chores?

A day of chores in the garden we have been putting off for a while - blaming the rain and the heat and prevaricating round the bush, Today was ideal though- a partial eclipse to lure us into the garden with our buckets of water and bits of card with holes in. It brought us face to face with our long overdue tasks like fixing the gate so that it hooked onto a post and not just leant on a rotten peice of timber. Also a water butt was needed to collect the rain for Archie's sensitive venus fly-traps and bug eating stinkhorns ( or whatever they are called? ).
In the photo you can see a bathroom eye view of Hazel giving the newly fixed gate post a lick of paint. It look a bit better and pleasing on the eye when given an impressive wooden orb baluster and a small ceramic dragon to keep out unwanted cats and sellers of clothes pegs.
Hazel went to B&Q to get the plastic butt,the orb and some more varnish.
It didn't take us as long as we imagined. It helps to have the right tools handy and luckily Hazel had the foresight to charge up the electric screwdriver which made the job a little easier.
The down pipe from Hazel's workshop needed a trim to fit the new plastic butt and the hole was snipped with her tin snippers which didn't take long. The pipe juts out a bit but at least it will collect water now and Archie won't have to litter the back garden with buckets, saucepans and trays anymore.
It will be interesting to see how much water the butt will collect after a downpour like we had the other night.
The partial eclipse was very dull and cloudy weather made it impossible for any decent images on the card or in the buckets. Nevermind , we have a a new gate-post and a new water butt.
Sorry to all you americans reading this for the constant use of the word "butt" which we understand means something rather vulgar in your neck of the woods!

Landlubber

Archie's animation for Big Al Davies' "Landlubber" song from his Feztastic CD. He had to make a DVD to send to Cornerhouse in Manchester and deadline is today so it will be a bit late. Fingers crossed. Shiver me timbers!

Norbury Junction

Nice trip out with our friend Tom Tom to Norbury Junction near Stafford to see my old chum Trevor who lives in a delightful spot by the Trent & Mersey canal. We found him painting a narrow boat not far from his mooring with his mate Chris. They did not need a lot of encouraging to go for a pub lunch with us. It was boiling hot but shadey and cool under the trees.
We sat on his poop deck to admire the view and say hello and shiver yer timbers to all the narrow boats that chugged by - quite few now its the height of the holiday season and rented boats are ever more popular.

Trevor drove us in style to the pub in this ancient Daimler he uses for special occasions. I think he rents it out for weddings, bar mitzfas and other functions. It has a lovely Chitty Chitty Bang Bang feel to it as it trundles and shakes down the bumpy narrow lanes- the brambles and thistles flapping your face. The bakelite knobs on the walnut dashboard look like they came off an old wireless radio. Turning them makes the window tune into Uncle Mac's Childrens Favourites and ITMA.

After a pleasant chat and pub lunch in the canal side pub garden we trundled back and had a look round his Steptoe's yard and answered a call of nature in the badger infested wood nearby. "Mind that poop dumping hole!" came the cry as I narrowly missed a wobbly board over some bottomless pit overgrown with ferns and moss.
We let Trevor go back to his painting and baked at gas mark number eight all the way home.

Happy BBQ Day

It was Hazel's birthday today so Granma & Audrey came over in the afternoon for a BBQ in the garden. They bought the birthday cake that Granma made and we ate a chunk of that after Hazel and Audrey (it was her birthday yesterday ) blew out the candles.
I made some haloumi kebabs and marinated them with olive oil, lemon juice and herbs from the garden. Very nice they were too. The veg. burgers however were a bit overdone! Nevermind - disguised inside a big bap they tasted fine with lashings of tomato ketchup and burnt onions.
It was very pleasant in the shadey garden. Hazel had put some candles around and a cloth on the table. Archie climbed up into the tree house to take several aerial shots of us all. I expect they will appear at some point.
Audrey spent ages looking for kniting patternson the internet and then we had a couple of games of Tumbleblocks.
Hazel opened some more presents. A tin signal from a toy train set from me. A bunch of carnations from the Co-op. Boxes of chocs and more candles. A nice old Hazelnut Dainties tin. Clothes from Morgan and weird blinking eye and Marmite rings.

Chester

Just back from an afternoon in Chester , traipsing round the shops and cobbled streets. It was very humid and hot so we didn't wander long. Did the park and ride option and found a few bargains including Shaolin Soccer on DVD in a charity shop that I'd been looking out for. Also Yellowbeard with Graham Chapman, Michael Palin and other scurvy shwabs on video for 50p. It's supposed to be awful but I've never seen it. Hazel bought some birthday clothes from Morgan and other trinkets I will have to wrap up for Saturday.
Archie also got some bargains including some Manga DVD's, book and Pocky from the Japanese shop. He also got some holiday clothes from Gap.
Had a picnic under a shadey tree in the cathedral grounds which was quite pleasant with guitarist plying his trade nearby on the roman wall- close to where this photo was taken. I think the wall has collapsed further along so we didn't go that way for a change.
Nice to get home after the noise and heat to our lovely cool house. Had tea and cake in the garden now the bench and table have been oiled and painted. Hazel has done a good job with re-arranging the furniture and the stove etc. You really appreciate the garden when the weather is like this.

Sunshine At Last

The sun has come out at last ( except when I took these photos!) and so Hazel has ventured into the garden to splosh paint about on the furnituire, tree house and shed and anything else that doesn't move. Very attractive she is too in her stained boiler suit. I still have a cold but managed to walk to town and back this morning. I found a double tape of Humphrey Littleton talking about his life and playing some trumpet in the Hospice Shop. The tape was, not Humphrey!
Also found a present for Hazel as it's her birthday next weekend, but can't say as she reads this and it would spoil the surprise.
Hazel and Archie went to Morrisons with Audrey this morning to get trolley loads of goodies.
Nothing much happened over the weekend as I felt awful and it rained mostly. Watched tons of TV and videos including The Shining and the rest of Flight Of The Conchords.
John Hegley phoned to thank me for the poster/artwork I collaged for him using the cover of Beyond Our Kennel. He's doing the Pleasence at the Edinburgh Fringe again in August.

Cold In De Nobes

Full of cold so don't feel like writing much. Went round town this morning but didn't find any bargains. Hazel bought a short weatherproof coat from a charity shop, bread and nuts for the birds. The bread is for us.
Making spaghetti vege-boll. Big ships in Liverpool on telly. Sailors hanging of the yard arms.
Archie only did half a day as it s the last- hooray! Six weeks off.
Hazel is doing some nice drawings of her discoveries in the workshop.
Time to stir the spaghetti.

Eye Test

Another photo from the steam fair yesterday. Hazel and Archie going round and round and up and down on the ferris wheel. I stayed with the bags and took the photo. I went on it last year so know what it's like. Great view from the top.
Today I had to go and have my annual or two yearly sight test at Specsavers. They are usually pretty good but a bit pushy considering my eyes hadn't altered atall from last time. The woman doing the testing was quite humourless and didnt smile once. Maybe she was having a tough day but it was only 10a.m.! I might try Boots or Holland and Aitchenson next time.
Then a quick look round the charity shops but didn't find any bargains.
Archie didnt feel very well today so had the day off school. Hazel bought him some cough mixture that seems to be made from molasses and paint stripper.

Tabley Steam Fair

We went to two boot sales yesterday. One in Weaverham at the High School which was pretty busy and sprawling. I didn't get anything though except some cheap bananas and mushrooms. Hazel got a tray of plants the slugs don't like. The sort with rubbery leaves.
The next at Hartford High School was less busy but a couple of dozen stalls. I found a cheap PS game . Hazel got a few metal things including a nail file in the shape of a woman's leg and a tiny pocket screwdriver.
In the afternoon we drove over to Tabley which isn't that far from us to the annual steam fair and traction engine rally. A bit like deja-vu as we got every year and all the same people turn up. Sadly the wall of death wasn't there this year. Nice to wander around the stalls and fairground listening to street organs and the noise of the steam engines chugging along. Also a display of old motorbikes, cycles, cars, lorries, buses, etc. We had a picnic in a field away frpm the noise and then walked over to the stationary engines to see them pump water into buckets and turn cranks. The owners sat proudly behind in folding chairs drinking flasks of tea or snoozing in the sunshine. It was very hot so we didn't stay long. Ate an ice cream in the shade of the fairground awning. Archie and Hazel went on the big wheel. I held the bags - Ive been on it before. Great view from the top. You could go up in a helicopter for 30 quid a 5 minute flight but that seemed a bit steep - especially the way it just missed the trees when landing!

Radio Fun

Walked to town and back this morning. Found this old 1941 Radio Fun annual on the cheap book stall in the undercover market. It has lots of old stars of BBC radio in comic strip form- some I've never heard of like Duggie Wakefield and a double act Ethel Revnell & Gracie West. I shall have to do some searching on the internet and see what I can find.

Duggie Wakefiled was in a film called The Penny Pool. Here's a review from a BBC website-

"Duggie Wakefield was a music-hall comedian who made his living playing dolts who, against all the odds, eventually came good. Released by Mancunian Films, which specialised in broad comedies with a distinctly regional feel, this hopelessly dated picture has our gormless hero getting mixed up with factory worker Luanne Shaw just as her winning pools coupon goes missing. Directed by George Black, the film was produced by John E Blakeley, who would go on to work with comedian Frank Randle on a series of vulgar farces in the 1940s and 1950s."

On the website about panto It's Behind You! under the double acts section it describes Ethel Revnell & Gracie West thus-

"Ethel Revnell and Gracie West were a popular female double act. Ethel was just over six feet tall, while Gracie was considerably shorter, at just under five feet. They began their career in Concert party. Their most popular variety characters were “Ethel & Gracie”, malevolent cockney schoolgirls. As a result of this they appeared as comic “Babes” in “Babes in The Wood”, and later as The Ugly Sisters in the Drury Lane pantomime, “Cinderella” in 1934. In this production the Baron’s name was changed to accommodate the “Long & The Short” ladies playing sisters. Instead of being Baron Hardup, he became Baron Mumm. That way his “Daughters” could be called Maxi and Mini!

Gracie retired in 1953, but Ethel continued in variety, and played female Dame in pantomime. Ethel died in 1978 and Gracie in 1989."

So now you know.

It's a horrible dull rain spattered day again and we are sick of it. Hopefully the weather will improve next week but looks like the rain has spoiled our trip to the annual Steam Fair - the ground will be far too soggy for those huge steam engines.

Chester

Hazel and I went to Chester yesterday for a change. Did the Park & Ride thing and got there about 10:30. Hazel went off round the clothes shops to look for a jacket and I did the charity shops. I found a couple of videos- Harold lloyd's "Younger Brother" which I'd never seen and an old Dr. Who "Revenge Of The Cybermen" with Tom Baker. In the Oxfam found a nice EP of Ian Wallace of "Mud , mud, glorious mud!" fame singing more Flanders and Swann ditties including the great "Down Below" about working in the sewers of London. All now uploaded to Boot Sale Sounds audio blog.
We met up by the cross at the top of the High Street just as the Town Cryer was ringing his bell and posing for all the Japanese and American tourists. We'd seen him and heard his awful jokes before so went to get some lunch.
Hazel bought some Pocko sticks and a surprise present for Archie from the Japanese shop. Archie is doing his party peice on guitar and piano tonight at the music evening at school though not very keen.
Then back to the bus stop and home.
In the evening we watched the Coen Bros. "No Country For Old Men" which is a gripping thriller up to a point - the point is lost right at the end which was a shame as we usually like what they do - Fargo, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona etc. but this was pretty depressing. Amazed that it won four Academy Awards! Glad we didn't go to the cinema to see it though the desert scenes would have looked stunning I'm sure.

Rainy Boot

We didn't expect anyone to be at the boot sale today as the weather was awful. Much to our surprise the field at the top of Verdin Park was quite lively with cars, tents, hot dog stalls and punters. Hazel drove up the hill and parked on a muddy patch by a large marquee. Obviously something to do with the Northwich Carnival later on today - crowning of the Carnival Queen, Dog Show, Line dancing? Who knows.
The procession of floats and marching bands etc. was yesterday but it was raining so we didnt go.
The rain had stopped this morning and looked like it might brighten up. I didnt get much really but pleased with my purchases- a set of Readers Digest CD's for a few pence. Early rock 'n roll from the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and Little Richard with a few poppy things by Pat Boone and The Crewcuts thrown in for good measure. Also a 5 DVD set of Phantasm series of horror films for a quid. Hazel bought some plants and Furbie for Archie which he has stripped down to a bare carcass. I think he is taking to the school for evil experiments.

Crewe Flea Market

We drove to Crewe today. Hazel drove and I just sat in the back admiring the view. Audrey came too but Granma stayed at home. Archie was at school learning how to programme games.
The flea market was pretty busy but I didn't find anything really. Tempted by a big pile of old 50's Practical Householder mags in folders but they wanted ten quid which seemed a lot and I only wanted them for the covers and I have some already.
Hazel bought some useful acetelene nozzle prodders. The man on the stall asked her what she thought they were and she said she didnt know and he said- why do you want them then? She explained that she was eccentric and liked collecting old rusty metal things. He told her what they were when she handed over her 50p.
Audrey got a big bag of googly eyes and other assorted stuff. I was supposed to buy cheap glue for her at the Pound Shop but it had closed sadly.
I found a cheap copy of The Flight Of The Conchords first series on double DVD disc- a late birthday present to myself. I missed it when it was on BBC 4 the first time. I expect they will repeat it now I've bought this. Sod's Law.
We watched the first two episodes tonight which was good. I liked the songs especially and this one (above) in particular.
Also found a video of The Gogs ( see Video Bar ) for 25p which Archie and I enjoyed back in the 90's.

Interesting

An amusing video from Interesting 2008 that Nick at MMU went to and enthused over. 20 plus mini talks about "interesting" things including lego, virtual worlds and masks.
Just back fromtown with hazel where we went to the annual Salvation Army Summer Sale. It was pretty crowded so I didn't stay long. I bought a Bad Boys DVD for 25p. In the market I bought three old annuals from the 50's for a quid each- Playbox and Rainbow ( with Tiger Tim ). He's had them on the stall for 8 quid in the past but obviously didn't sell them so a real bargain I think. I will try and uplaod the covers which are beautiful to Flickr if I get a chance.
Hazel bought a postcard album for her Mom and some papery flowers.
If the sun stays out we may go for a walk this afternoon as we have quite a supply of stale and mouldy bread piling up.

Bottom Joke

Archie made this collaged card for my birthday.

Postcards From The Ledge

Not really from the ledge but from my sister and family on holiday in Cornwall. They found this card at the Telephone Museum down there. I have taken liberties with it as it amused me to change the letters round and add some collage. I am easily pleased.
We had visitors today, mainly to see Hazel and look round her workshop and the house for a film project. Sounds very exciting in a small way. Maybe an exhibition at the end of it - or the beginning. They seemed to be impressed with all our junk and flotsam. We are used to the walls being crammed with stuff but I can see why it would be an assault on the senses coming here. I always explain that this is nothing compared with our old flat in Lambeth Walk which was like living inside a collage.
I can't remember anything really worth mentioning over the last few days. I shall have to check my very dull diary jottings.
O yes, the gas boiler was serviced on Monday and whilst he was doing that another gasman arrived to check out the leaky fridge which was leaving small pools on the kitchen floor. Seems it was a blocked pipe and he unblogged it easily with a length of curtain wire. We can do that in future and not have to pay cover for such trifling matters. The boiler is a different kettle of fish though - anything goes on that and it costs a small fortune to put right! The boiler was given the o.k. and he then fixed the stove ignition which hasnt been working for years. It turned out to be a flat battery. After he pumped it up it was fine.
Archie is learning Japanese so I went to town and borrowed a Japanese phrasebook from the library which has useful words written phonetically. So now he can ask where the Sushi Bar is and how to find the Rocket Train.

Birdbath Reflections

Here we are having afternoon tea and cakes with Granma Jones and Auntie Audrey. Tried to not eat too many profriteroles and lemon cheese cake with waxy bits on in case it spoiled our appetite for the curry in the evening.
We met our old chums Tony and Penny at the Bengal Dynasty and had a ncie choice of vegetarians main courses and some poppadums, swilled down with Cobra lager. The waiters were a little too attentive as the place was nearly empty and they obviosly had nothing else to do. I can pour my own beer out thankyou! We joked that they may come round and push your jaw up and down to make you chew faster, but thankfully they must have seen that we were uncomfortable with having our napkins placed on our laps and kept a discreet distance.
Afterwards had a coffee, chat and guitar twanging match at our place.

Today it was raining but Hazel and went into town to post some mail and get some fish. Hazel bought smalls in the smalls department of ( urgh! I've just taken a swig of tea and I've put Hazel's two sugars in mine by mistake!) M&S. Then to Matalan for new summer trousers,
This afternoon it was the church fete/bazaar in Lostock Gralam so we picked up Granma nd Audrey to take them. They had been knitting furiosly all week to supply the church with finger puppets and Croc shaped hand warmers. I bought an Italian Horror film for 20p- not the sort of thing for a church fete surely? Also a CD of Santana. Hazel tried the lucky dip and won some soaps and a mystery prize which turned out to be sticky sweets which we disposed of.
The church also had fun and games in and a selection of old implements around the tressle tables including a wind up gramaphone and some old 78's which caught my eye.
I wanted to hear them but it wasn't allowed. The lady vicar in pink cassock told us about the competitions and prizes. Guess the boxer -"He still lives in the village" and Colour In The Bible etc.
Then home to watch a strange and funny chinese film called "Kung Fu Hustle".
Now the football is on again. Should be a good match between Russia and Holland. My money is on the Russians.

Happy Mirthday!

A great card that just turned up on the doorstep from Roger and Jilly. It made us laugh! We didn't even know this had been taken. Maybe a still from the great lost video of Rye - when we visited Roger and Jilly last year when they lived nearby.
Also a CD of songs to listen too later. Hazel is busy hoovering as her Mom and Sister are coming over later to eat cake and watch me blow out 61 candles - I have the asbestos suit ready.

Two Thirty

These are the Gemini Twins, a collage I did for Scrapiteria theme a few weeks back.
Not much has happened since I last wrote. The weather has taken a turn for the worse - colder and wetter. A typically English Summer I suppose - so much for Global Warming!
Hazel had to take the car into the garage again as it kept leaving small pools of oil overnight. We thought about giving it a big nappy to wear but in the end it was the oil filter thingy that needed tightening or replacing- which they should have done when it was in for it's yearly MOT service last week!
So while the car was in the garage we went shopping in town. I bought myself some early birthday presents in the Help The Aged - some 99p DVD's of "Clerks" ( aboxed set of 3 discs!) "Collateral" with Tom Cruise and a Robert De Niro film I forget the name of. Also "The Elephant Man" on video I always fancied watching again.
Some new stickers turned up for the Wheelie Bin Gallery in the post from Leslie Caldera ( with a birthday collage ) and C. Mehrl Bennett. We hope to have the the most colourful stickered been in the whole neighbourhood by the end of the year!

Father's Day (continued)

This is the collaged card that Archie made for me. A chip off the old block. I actually had quite vivid dream about Archie last night who was driving a Post Office van with me as a passenger. It was in London somewhere and we were trying to get back to Lambeth Walk. Archie was drunk and got out to be sick in the gutter. Very odd.
Yesterday went o.k. despite being very cold for June. Almost tempted to put the heating back on. The boot sale was at Anderton. Hazel took the scenic route via Cumberbatch and Marbury. I didnt get much really just a tuppaware box of assorted cheap rubber stamps. Most of them were animals or birds. Also some numbers and letters of the alphabet.
Hazel bought some plants - runner beans and pretty yellow bell like flowers. Met Jack and his Mom just coming away- they didn't find any bargains. They were looking for a petrol driven hedge trimmer for some reason. Surely a steam powered on would be better?
Archie stayed at home in bed. He got up around noon which is typical of holidays and weekends. As well as the card he gave me a nice box of Terry's "All Gold".
My jaw still aches a bit. It only hurts when I laugh.

Happy Father's Day

Here's me and my Dad in 1949 in some seaside place - probably Hastings as we lived in Kent at the time. My naughty Mum has cut off her side of the photo as she obviously didn't like the clothes she was wearing or the face she was pulling? She often used to do this - our albums are full of edited photos for some reason or another!

Interactive Arts

We went to Manchester yesterday to see the Interactive Arts degree show that Hazel works on. It was the opening night and so Hazel was in her special Choo Chin Chow chinese red dress. Hazel travelled up earlier in the day but Archie and I went later in the afternoon. The train was late so pretty typical Friday the 13th! Luckily it wasn't so bad at the opening. Met a few nice poeple like ace animator Andy Sykes (above) who told us about his latest projects and the Ayup Anim Lab at Bradford Museum of Film and TV that he and some friends have taken over.

Here's Archie with some of the varied and interesting work the students have made over the last three years of the Interactive Arts course. Little huts and houses seem to be popular agin this year. Strange sounds were eminating from this log cabin.

After the opening we had a nice pizza at Pizza Hut near the hotel we were staying in and retired for the night. It had been a long day, especially for Hazel.
Today we had breakfast in a greasy spoon type cafe run by Indians or maybe Greek Cypriots? The fried egg on toast came as a sandwich which was unexpected but very tasty.
We went round all the other courses today to see what they had been doing. Embroidery was very good and some interesting work in 3-D design and sculpture. Hazel had to look after the exhibits so couldn't stray far from the main gallery.
For lunch we tried the Noodle Bar which turned out to be very cheap and good. We tried the cheap lunch menu and choose the vegetarian spring rolls and the very hot curry and rice. Hazel and Archie had a king prawn salad which was a mountain of rocket and all manner of other yummy delights. The prawns were cold though. For desert we tried the fruit fritters and ice cream. We shared them as a portion each would have been too much to eat. Also delicious.
Then archie and I walked to the Manchester City Art Gallery which has been extended and re-furbished and looked at the new galleries and interactive childrens gallery in particular. Some nice work from all eras including a lovely Alfred Wallis seascape on a box lid and some Lowrys.
We met Hazel and got the train home at 4-25, by which time we were all exhausted and our feet throbbed with all the walking we had done.

Sunshine Boots

The boot sale on sunday was fun - over at Cuddington.
It was on a school playing field in the sun.
Just local junk for locals which made it very friendly.
I bought a big roll of sticky address labels.
I found a big pile of postcards on one of the tables.
Hazel bought some too and we had a laugh
At some of the messages written on holiday.
One said "I shall be home at 10:35, can you buy me a ten shilling chickin"
And another which read " My face is burnt, if the weather stays hot it will turn out lovely."

Hazel also bought a small set of drawers to keep her collections of nuts in.

In the afternoon we went to Marbury to feed the duck and have a walk under the cool shadey trees. At the bird hide we saw loads of frisky young squirrels, two rabbits, a jay and a woodpecker. Hazel said it was a bit like walking into a Walt Disney glade. You half expected the woodland creatures to break into song and start juggling with the bread we put down. Also lots of tits, chaffinch and a greedy magpie.

Procrastination

Proscrastination


Before I get down to some work
I'll just make a cup of tea
Maybe sort out that sock drawer
And see what's on TV

Plenty to do today
But time for a short stroll
To get the papers
And a bag of crusty rolls

I sit down at my desk
Scratch my head and wonder
Whats on the radio?
Is that the sound of thunder?

Better get the washing in
Before the rain gets quicker
Is that the post man at the door?
Maybe there's a letter

Before I get down to some work
I'll have another cup of tea
The sun's come out!
O dear, it's half past three!

Charity Shops

This is one of the very few charity shops we HAVEN@T got in Northwich. We have quite few which is one of the reasons I enjoy a walk into town two or three times a week. Apart from the exercise you never know what bargains you might find. None today though.
Betty in Age Concern said she was doing the Cuddington Primary School boot sale on Sunday and that was the only one she knew of, which is unusual as she usually knows lots.
Then along to Help the Aged, Red Cross and Scope. Not a sausage. I've looked through all these old scratchy records before! The Charity Card shop is to revert to a charity shop again apparently as they haven't been doing very well. The trouble is they have serious competition - almost as many card shops as charity shops!
The Oxfam shop didn't have much new stuff. I don't bother looking at the records there anymore as they are so expensive. Posted some packets in the postoffice and then bought some smoked cod for tonights fish pie. Hazel has gone off fish pie but Archie and me really like it- so don't know what she's having!
Then a stroll round the Hospice shop and the other one? which I can never remeber the name of and then to M & S for some butter and bread.
No post yet. Audrey phoned for a chat and told me a long list of plants she'd put into her garden.

Punsleys
Primplers
Fluttox
Babweed
Geronimos
Grumblers
and
Hiffwaffs

That's what it sounded like anyway as i thought about my tea getting cold in the other room.