Mary Greg Collection

Went into Manchester with Hazel today to see the Mary Greg collection at the Manchester Art Gallery. Got the early train and met all the regulars that Hazel chats too - grumbling about the latenesss of the trains etc.
Hazel had to go into college first to print off a doo-dah for a student applying for a job on some headed paper.
We got a taxi to the annexe in some park in the North of Manchester.
Amazing inside - peeling grandeur of bygone days. Piles of old paintings and bubble wrapped frames. Lots of conservation goes on here now as well as housing the Mary Greg collection in the gloomy shuttered gallery.
The staff there are very friendly and showed us some of the restoration they were doing to some amazing old Burne Jones canvases which had been preserved with beeswax and some other stuff and they were laid out on a plank over it , picking off the wax with tweezers and a cotton bud! It would take months to do - just patience and such tedium but they seemed very happy in their work.

Looked through tons of drawers and cabintets full of the oddest collection - old spoons, keys and watch winders. Fragile books and wooden animals from ancient farmyards and zoos. Took loads of photos- just a few here and on Flickr.
With every drawer that was opened it was met by a "Oooh" or an "Aaaah" and the ocassional "Wow!"
Had a sandwich and tea in the staff room for lunch and then another taxi back to town. Hazel went off to learn about Wordpress from the IT bloke at the gallery and I wended my way home through the drizzle to the station and the next train.

Hazel has driven over to Lostok to get Archie who has been at a chums house all day. She didn't feel much like going with a broken tooth and a sore throat. O dear hope it's not the dreaded swine flu' !

Whatfest Weekend

So much rain ove the last few days one feels like building an ark! Or getting on a bus to go somewhere sunny!
Poor Archie got very damp and soggy at Whatfest but seemed to enjoy it from all accounts. He had to truncate his first music festival experience though yesterday as the rain just didn't stop and the only band he wanted to see was on at 10pm.
The cheap tent seemed to survive very well and is now drying off in Hazel's workshop.

Firstly we went to a boot sale in Weaverham which amazingly was well attended and the sun shone briefly to lull us into a belief that the weather would improve. It was short lived however and soon the heavens opened. I didn't find any bargains but Hazel found a big sack full of clothes which she was pleased with.
We drove to Frodsham and the antique centre for a quick rummage bt had to come home when Archie phoned to say he'd had enough and was packing up his tent and wringing out his sleeping bag.

I remember my first camping experience well - back in the 60's and going to Ireland with some friends. It was Five go mad in the land of the little people, mad horses and the rain. So much rain! But it didnt seem to matter too much when you are young and away from your family for the first time ever. Seemed very magical looking back with rose coloured glasses or should they be emerald green?
My second experience under canvas was several years later in France. The tent had partially rotted by then, having been packed away damp. It was covered in patches and war wounds. Camping outside in France is a totally different experiance. The noise of those crickets and grasshoppers etc. was enough to drive you mad. It felt like someone was scraping a bit of corrogated tin with a spanner next to your head!

I think I gave up camping after this and decided that it wasn't for me. I need my home comforts too much. Archie will decide eventually if life under canvas is for him. In the meantime he seems keen to repeat the experience. Ah, the impetuiousness? of youth!

Nutty Room

A very funny video by Adam Buxton.

Wales

Just back from a few days in Wales. We stayed at our favourite B&B in Llandudno with a nice sea view and a short walk to the shopping streets. We did a bit of shopping as the weather wasn't all that good and shops are good places to dive into when a rain shower comes along.
Our first day though was pretty nice and we got the old victorian tram to the top of the Great Orme for the wonderful views of the welsh hills and bays and Llandudno laid out far below. We considered the wirey dangler back but it was far too expensive so we followed some people down the hill in the direction of Happy Valley. We thought they knew the way but they were just as lost as we were! Eventually we found the right cliff track passed the leaping bunny rabbits and the smugglers caves ( old copper mine digs ) and found our way down to the bottom and the gardens of HP and the long slide, ice creams and standing stones etc. Great views of the pier in the distance. We walked along it later for game of air hockey and penny slots.
Had fish and chips on the prom in the evening surrounded by squawking seagulls.
The next day it was a short car ride to Conway and the castle and the smallest house in Breat Britain as seen in the short Flip film above.
The poor harrassed lady in welsh costume who took the money for souvenirs and entry fee was surrounded by a party of school kids. She asked "Have you any valium in your handbag?"
Looked round the towns shops and when the rain came we got back to the car and had lunch in Llandudno - spinach and cheese pasties. Sat on the beach and threw stones at the sea.
In the evening went for very nice Italian meal in a resturant weve been too before because they make lovely pizzas. I had a vegetarian pasta dish and Hazel had salmon and prawns in a very rich tomato sauce. She had so much she gave me some. Archie stuck with pizza.
More shopping today and more stone throwing and crab hunting on the beach. Home in time for lunch.

Tabley Steam Fair

We went to the annual Tabley Hall Steam Fair today which wasnt at Tabley but a few miles north on the Cheshire Show Ground near Pikemere. It seemed a bit smaller and quieter than usual but with the usual range of traction engines, old vehicles, steam organs, fairground rides and craft tent etc. Hazel was really keen to go despite the weather looking a bit iffy. It turned out quite nice in the end - not too hot and overcaste but no rain thankfully. No Wall Of Death this year but plenty to see and do. Archie tried his hand on the rifle range and Hazel bought some metal gizmos for her blog so she was happy. Even happier when they announced over the tannoy that they required lovely young ladies to steer the traction engines. Hazel jumped at the chance as you can see!

Flying Visit

Nice surprise vist from our old babysitter Deborah today who was on her way to her Mum's in the West Country with her friend.
We had a nice chat and some strawberries and cake and we showed them round the house and garden. She hasn't seen Archie since he was about 5 so amazed at the difference a few years can make!
This morning we went to a boot sale in Hartford and got a few bargains including a stack of DVD's for 20p each which includes Shaft ( a nemake ) 28 Weeks Later, The Unforgiven and The Bicycle Thieves. An eclectic bunch if ever there was one.

Hazel got some home made stitch measurers? some cotton swatches and some plants.
Yesterday we went to Chester to get my collage from the art gallery now the Open exhibition had finished. The nice lady that handed it over said how much she liked my work which was appreciated.
We had our usual sausage roll and coke in the garden of the cathedral which was empty accept for a few pigens and squirrel.
The town was packed with shoppers and tourists though. The buskers were out in force including some christians with a banjo, guitar and tambourine.
Hazel bought a scarf in her favourite clothes shop Morgans.
The drizzle held off for most of the day thankfully. It was slightly cooler and fresher. Archie stayed at home.
I made some salmon fish cakes in the evening which were delicious with new poatoes and salad ( or was that Friday?)
I had a dream about ferrest in sunglasses which inspired this graffiti at Facebook.

Too Hot To Blog

Bluggy bloggy bloogy. Its HOT! Too hot to blog! Hence the lack of blogmess this week. I can't remeber much about it. Spendled to weekend mostly watching Glastonbury on the TV and saying "Phew! It's HOT!" etc.
Not much else on worth watching. Glasto was pretty dull for the most part with only highlights being some old codgers from the 60's and 70's who managed to struggle up onto the stage and show those whipper snappers a thing or three. So a weekend of nostalgia and endless greatest hits.
The boot sale was at Cuddington in the school field. A few bargains including the first three series of Peep Show on DVD a quid each. Misery and Nacho Libre. Hazel bought a pile of old rusty keys and some other metal thingies for her blog.
Archie dragged himself out of bed to come too but didn't get anything.
Yesterday I walked to town and got some groceries. The library sale had a few cheap CD's including Ry Cooder, Modest Mouse and Phil Spectors Greatest Hits. All 50p each.
Time to make the dinner. Something nice and cool methinks , that does not entail much cookery or heat. De frosted kipper or hand wafted salad?
Decisions decisions!

Fathering Sunday

Popped up the co-op to get Sunday papers and bread. Hazel and Archie eventually got up - tired after yesterdays expedition. Archie made me a nice pop-up card and gave me a T-shirt I picked out on Friday.
We went to Granma's and Audrey's for fish and chips for lunch. A late birthday treat- trifle, cake and playing with the knitted puppets she had made fro the church fair. She sold none which was very sad as they were very cheap and took her ages to do. Archie offered to buy this policeman off her be was given it as a present. Audrey seemed most upset that we found its knitted contortions most hilarious!
Puppets are supposed to be funny aren't they?
Watched a flock of mad starlings descended on the remains of the fish and chips and hoovered them up in a twinkling.

Interactive Arts

Find more videos like this on OPEN Fluxus

Just back from Manchester and MMU's Final Year degree shows. The usual curates egg of oddities and eccentricities. Took the train with Hazel yesterday and arrived in time for the exciting stick the name labels on the wall treat. Nice to see Tony and a few others briefly amid the noisy throng.Tony gave me a card and a nice book about a taxidermists that burnt down and every page is a cabinet full of charred butterflies and beetles etc.It gave me a headache - all that art and interactivity!
had a nice pizza in Pizza Hut nearby and then to the hotel for showers and dozing off in front of the telly.
Slept very badly - too hot! Had an egg Mcmuffin breakfast which wasn't too bad considering. Hazel had to look after the show today and turn everything on as the students hadn't bothered to come in and do it - nursing hangovers I expect.
Archie and I went round the other shows like animation, graphics, illustration, 3-D and sculpture before lunch of Sainsburys sandwich as birthday treat.
Left Hazel to continue her duties and walked back to station to get the train. More cards waiting when I got home including one from my sister Barb and old chum Barry.
Might have a take-away curry later when Hazel gets home. Yum!

Weakly Digest

Seven days since my last bloggage. I have forgetten most of what happened so must delve into the few notes made in my diary.
Wednesday seems pretty uneventful. Archie had two more exams. Lots of rain. Finger on the mend.
Thursday I went to town to get Archie an electric razor. I had to borrow my Dad's awful Gillette safety razor I seem to remember for my first shave and ended up covered in bits of bloody tissue.Very attractive. At least Archie is spared that.
Friday I stayed in to do some collaging and washing. Archie went to the prom in the evening. He looked very smart in his new suit. He managed to cadge a lift to the venue with two girls in a huge american black truck with chrome trim. It sounded like a tank pulling up outside.
Went to town on Saturday to get the car serviced and MOT'd. Walked round the shops for a while and got the bus home with Hazel.
Sunday. went to Chelford boot with Hazel and Archie who decided he wanted to go at the last minute. Didnt find a thing . It was far too crowded and hot. Boot Sale Challenge or Car Booty was there filming. Hazel was asked if she wanted to be in the show but she declined. We will have to watch them all now to see if we are glimpsed briefly in the background sorting through old records and junk.
Hazel got a couple of things including an inflatbel bus pillow(?) and a tiny set of scales for weighing letters perhaps. Archie bought a T-shirt with a target on it.
It was so warm we had a bar-b-q for lunch with nice salmon in lime and parsley marinate- vege hot dogs and salad. It was pretty noisy in the garden what with the polish neighbours having a disco and the other noisy lot putting a roof on a new extension we didnt stay outside long. Hazel told the poles off and they turned it down.
Archie did his last exam yesterday and was glad to have finished high school at last. To celebrate he went over to see some friends in the next village.
More blogging and washing. It was so hot it dried outside in no time. The threat of thunderstorms didn't materialise.
I made a pizza and made a rocket salad. Yum!

Sinister Dexter

Just back from a walk round Chester listening to parties of schoolkids shouting the above and similar, being led by a centurion in all the roman gear - looking very serious.
Got some scratchy DVD's of old Hitchcock films like Rear Window, The Birds, etc. for 25p each from the pound shop. If only one of them is viewable it will be worth it.
Archie got some new clobber- pumps.jeans etc. Hazel popped into Morgans but didnt get anything. the jacket she tried on didnt look all that good having strange bulges and creases. Perhaps that is the new style but paying all that money you expect something to be better tailored.
Had our veg sausage rolls and coke in the roman gardens surrounded by kids and harrassed looking teachers.
It was quite warm so glad to get bus back to the park and drive carpark and home again.

My cut finger is a bit better. I changed the bandage and made it bleed again. Still, it looks a bit less grubby now.
A tailess cat was wandering up and down the garden this morning mewling pitifully. He sat in the tree house and bared his teeth at Archie so he kept his distance the mouse was seen soon afterwards flitting backwards and forwards from the shed after some bird leavings.
Plenty of bird leavings on the car too which is parked right under the telephone wires where the sparrows perch!

Mighty Pens

Some nice pens with moving things inside that hazel found at a boot sale recently. She finds all the interesting stuff. These are for Mersey ferries, Brittany Ferries and IOW Ferries all with little boats inside that slide along on the waves as you tip the pen up. The Blackpool Tower pen has a lift that goes up and down. I think we have several others somewhere with similar delights inc. one with a lady in a swimsuit that vanishes when you tip it up. Smut! Filth!
Its raining now after a good week of sun. Another Bar-B-Q and lovely warm buzzing bird chirping and mouse scamperings sitting by the back door in the sun trap- smelling the snap-dragons.
Walked to town today for some brown choc biscuits- the sort that fall of the conveyor belt and get sold cheaper as the chocolate is a bit chipped. Also some amber tea and some pink lentils. Managed to find two DVD's in the hospice shop- a Spanish film called Y'Tu Mama and Le Souffle. They had Amelie too which I was tempted to get as a present but most people must surely own this fabulous film by now. We watched it again last week and it looked even more beautiful on our new wide screen telly.
The river of rain is rushing down the street - swirling in the gutters and drains. The garden needed a good soak and this will be a welcome drink. Cheers!

Big Al 's New Video

Great new catchy song and video from Big Al Davies.

Bar-B-Q Weather

It's bar-b-q time again and the smell of burning haloumi is wafting through the trees. Thankfully quieter this week except for the kids bouncing on what sounds like a rusty pile of springs a few doors down. The Polish reggae has ceased and the birds are chirruping in the apple trees.
The Cloudy Lemonade from Aldi is very nice despite it's name , made the french way with real lemons.
The Linda MacCartney sausages are smoking slightly and the kebabs dripping with herbs and olive oil. Yum!
This morning we went to the boot sale at Verdin park. That's where I got the bernard Miles EP seen here. Uploaded to my audio blog.
Hazel found a few interesting things for her blog including a bunch of novely biros and some badges for Archie. Also a dustcart ( missing its doors ) and some plants.
Betty's stall yielded up a hand held scales- in it's packaging - the sort rag and bone men used to have for weighing the bundles of rags.
I actually saw a rag and bone man the other day - going past in his lorry - shouting through a megaphone thingy - "Any old rags!" as in days of old. The back of the truck was full of old bedsteads, cycles, oil drums, washing machines etc. Good to see he is making a living one presumes in these recycling conscious times.

Bank Holiday Weekend

I can't remember much of the last week's doings. Archie left school but has to go back from some exams in June. He seems much happier and even freed up his brain enough to start some new animation projects.
Today we went to two boot sales in Whitegate and Moulton. The first was in a sunny field and well attended with 50 or so cars parked round the edge of a football pitch. Betty had a stall there with her daughter. We didnt find many bargains just a couple of DVD's so went on to the next one at the British Legion in Moulton. Juts a few stalls here and also not many bargains except ( a blackbird just flew into the window with a bump!) another DVD of an old Orson Welles film "The Lady From Shanghai". Hazel got some plants.
Then to Morrisons to get some bar-b-q foods like buns and vege burgers, salad and orange juice etc.
Had lunch in the garden which was very pleasant under the shadey sycamores. No noisy neighbours with power drills this time.
Talk was of old recordings of Archie when he was 5 or 6. I knew I had some on cassette somewhere and after lunch managed to find two and dubbed them onto MP3. Very funny they are too.
Now its dinner time already and time to get some cheese on toast and salad.

Happy Norway Day!

Another day of sunshine and showers. Luckily we missed the showers when at the boot sale at Weaverham this morning. Not many bargains to be found though had fun looking.
I got a DVD of "Erik The Viking" from Terry Jones and some of the Monty Python crew. Not one of his better efforts but worth the pound I paid for it if only for the extras like "making of" and "documentary" etc.
Hazel found a strange metal measuring thingy for narrow gaps. Also some plants and other bits and bobs.
A bit of a lazy day in front of the PC and telly - watching Come Dine With Me etc.
Also read the Sunday Times and ate a Linda McCartney pie and chips. Very naughty - will have to have a salad tomorrow to make up for it!
It's National Norway day today so clever of them to win the Eurovison Song Contest to celebrate. Got a nice photo and text from our Norwegian chums.

Long Dark Lonely Night

Excellent new animation and song by our clever poet friend Roger Stevens.

Grosvenor Museum

Had to pop into Chester today to fetch rejected collage from the museum. Hazel drove to "park and ride" and then the bus. Got there a bit too early. Looked round the charity shops first and found a CD wallet that are always useful. Hazel went off to Morgan's and other clothes shops she likes while I waited for the museum to open with all the other rejects!
It took about 15 minutes to shuffle in and sign a form whilst frazzled looking helpers looked for the rejected work and held it up so everyone could see it and think to themselves " Oh yes, awful, I can see why they rejected that one!"
Maybe just me then.
I went back to get Hazel and we looked round the Open Exhibition which was open already though the PV is on Tuesday. My collage was hung about 6 inches off the ground so great for any midgets or elves. Other abstract work of the same size was hung higher up which made no sense whatsoever. Hazel wrote as much in the visitors book but I restrained myself incase they black listed me! The whole show was a bit of a jigsaw with pictues hung higgledy piggledy with no apparent thought of how they would be seen. It was a bit of a curates egg as most open exhibitions are with the shoddy amateurs hung side by side with more accomplished professional work.

Went to sit on the Roman gardens to eat our vege sausage rolls and drink our Cola.
Then back via all the buskers and the town crier to the bus and home.
Archie phoned us just as we got to the Craft Centre and asked if we'd had lunch. We told him we had bought him a sausage roll and he could wait 30 minutes or make his own. He agreed to wait. We popped into the co-op to get more food. Didnt see hardly any motorbikes despite the annual Thundersprint on today and tomorrow..

Flobcast

Revived Flobcast from way back.

Novelty songs from the 30's from a tape called "Comic Cuts Vol. 2" on the Old Bean label released in the 80's.

Tracks are-

1. You Can't Do That There 'Ere - Jack Payne & His Band
2. Fanlight Fanny - George Formby
3. The Pig Got Up And Slowly Walked Away - Ambrose & Orch.
4. A Thick Thick Fog In London - Jack Payne & His Band
5. Madame Ah! La Marquise Ah! - Billy Cotton Band


Walked into town this morning in between the drizzle showers. It brightened up later and was quite warm.
I got a bit of shopping including pickle, fish and parsley. Found two old scratchy 78's in a charity shop. Can be found uploaded to my audio blog.
Saw Treena and Betty in the Age Concern shop. Betty says there are several boot sales this weekn including Hartford, Antrobus and Verdin Park. She prefers Hartford she said as it would be drier - a bit damp under the trees in the park especially when the wind blows the leaves covered in rain which drips down on the stalls underneath.

I managed to get a bus back in time for elevens's.
In post was news that one of my collages entered for Chester Open was accepted which was gratifying but annoying that I will have to go all the way to Chester to fetch the other which didn't get selected. They had over 500 artworks sent in for 157 spaces so I suppose they had to choose carefully and not annoy too many people.
Also nice stamp sheet from Leslie Caldera in California of his collection of bicycles plus some late stickers for the Wheelie Bin Gallery.

Llandudno-Angelsey

Lovely May weekend bank holiday. The weather was beautiful - too hot really . We all got burnt - forget to take the sun block. Usually it rains on bank Holdays so it took is by surprise.
Drove to Llandudno and stayed in hotel we usually stay in. It was double booked so we found outrselves in the house behind the hotel with a view of the car park. The landlady was very apologetic and tried to make us as comfotable as possible.
Another surprise was the annual Victorian Extravaganza - three days of steam fairs and parades and sideshows etc. All great fun though very crowded.
We got there early so able to play the penny slot machines without too much trouble. Some steam rides including a huge "galloper" with ornate horses and pipe organ in the middle. Lots of pipe organs on the sea front too including one on the back of an old van.

Crammed a lot into the first day including parade of all the floats, marching bands- including an amazing one from Woumhout in France. Traction engines, stilt walkers etc. Great to see the George Formby massed ukulele society of North Wales in the town square. We sat and watched them for a while.
Wonderful victorian inspired sideshow in a tent called Professor Voltini and Electra the electric lady who sat in an eletric chair and had sparks coming out of her via a cucumber and a spoon! Prof. Voltini also swallowed swords. Plus a rubber lady from Cuba whose contortions made your eyes water. A Faraday Cage finale with sparks flying round the tiny tent.
Walked down the pier to play the slots and back up to the Happy Valley gardens to have an ice cream and sit on the grass and watch the tide come in.

Later we had a lovely vegetarian pizza at a resturant we discovered a couple of years ago when we were here. There wasa film show in the eveing somewhere of "The Card" with Alec Guinness- filmed in Llandudno apparently but we were too tired to go and see it. Walked along the prom and collapsed at hotel.
The next day a long drive to Anglesey and beach party with Hazel's colleaugues at MMU and Nick who was retiring. Nice picnic and beach games on the beautiful sandy bay on the west coast down a narrow country track. Lots of kite flying and wine drinking etc. We all packed up at dusk and made out way home. Glad we didn't drive all the way from Northwich as it would have been too much. Thankfully a better room when we got back to the hotel and a sea view. A piper in full scottish kilt and regalia was on the hotel steps trying to lure people in to the 40's singalong inside the hotel bar but I think he just frightened them all off!

Bluebell Woods

We walked down to the Co-op this morning to get the papers and check out the boot sale in the car park. before we got there a man and his dog said "Only two cars!" and indeed there was and they hadn't even unpacked the boot yet.
Anyway, plenty of other car boots today - typically a famine last week and feast this with boots at WhiteGate, Lostock and Walnut Farm.
We drove next to Whitegate and found the field eventually by peering through hedges as we sped along the leafy lanes.
It was well attended by over 50 cars and all around the edge of the football pitch.
I got a few DVD's for a few pence each including Billy Connolly Live, The Good. The Bad and The Ugly, The Serpent & the Rainbow and a great documentatry abou the Music Hall era. Also a double DVD of Wall-E that was brand new, an unwanted Xmas gift.
Hazel didnt find much but found some tiny german dictionarys and some plants.
We drove to Lostock next and found a few stalls at the Community Centre. More DVD's including Cabin Fever and a doc. and concert with Al Green.
After lunch of mushroom pate on toast and salald we went for a walk to Marbury as it was still very sunny to see the bluebells before they faded.
So nice to see the woods transformed by the colours and the other spring flowers like the wild garlic whose strong aroma filled the air.
Actually we had lunch after the walk. the day has flown by and now Hazel is catching up with some college work and Archie who should be swotting for his GCSE's is playing some old games on the SuperNintendo he's dusted off from the cupboard.
Soon be time to start thinking about dinner. Maybe those quorn chunks Hazel bought from the health food shop.

Chester

Hazel dropped me off at the railway station this morning and we had a quick scout round for the missing number plate that vanished yesterday. She's not sure if it fell off ( just stuck with double sided tape ) or someone had stolen it for illegal porpoises. Apparently they stick it on hot cars for robberies or breaking the speed limit. In the end she went to get a replacement which cost twenty quid and the Halfords chap just stuck it on with tape again and it promptly fell off! So she made him fix it securely with screws.
The train was packed to Delamere Forest with tiny tots and their minders and I had to move from the window seat to make way for little Charlie and Abigail so they could press their sticky faces against the window and gurn at the cows and rabbits.
I had to take two collage sto the Grosvenor Museum for this years Open Exhibition. I've never tried before - always missing the sending in date for some reason or other so this year determined to take something along. It didn't seem all that busy and just one person infront of me with a large canvas covered in brown paper. All the work was resting face to the wall so no idea what the competition was like. No harm in trying though I feel past doing such things and will be greatly cheesed off if I dont get at least one accepted to make up for the bother of having to fill all those forms in and the journey and the exorbitant handling fee!

My bag was lighter now so happy to go rummaging round the charity shops. Found a nice hawaiian double LP by Alfred Apaka and His Village Serenaders and a bollywood DVD for 99p in the cheapo bookshop.
Had lunch of veg. sausage roll sitting outside the town hall surrounded by cooing pigeons.
It was very warm so regretted taking my duffle coat. I got so hot carrying it around I curtailed my shopping and got the train home only to be surrounded again at Delamere by the same group of toddlers all sweaty and grubby from their walk around the forest!
Reading matter was the great book by Philip Norman about the Beatles called "Shout", Just up to where they have just had three number ones and writing hits for Cilla Black, Billy J, Kramer and Gerry & The Pacemakers etc.

Scaffolders

They have gone now but it was very noisy for a couple of hours - clank- thump! bang ! clang! I just had to go outside and sweep the side passage of debris and dust - cough splutter! I checked the roof and it looks o.k. - no tiles dislodged as far as I can make out.

Southend Art School 1967

Old ex-student of Southend Art School , Alistair Young got in touch recently which was a nice surprise and trying to think back to what he looked like made me dig out these old snaps that Phil Spellacy took at the historic sports day back in the halycon days of 1967 - the Summer of Love and beatleish hair do's.
I may be wrong but I think that is Alistair on the back row with the glasses and the blazer? I'm sure Alistair will tell me if I am wrong! My memory of names is a bit hazy - the day too is a bit of a blur like most of the 60's - you know what they say!
I expect most of these people are retired and gaga by now. I expect Tony Oldfield and Leo Hardy are long gone. I'm still in touch with Barry, Phil, and Maureen but no idea what happened to all the others.

Alderley Edge

Catching up with the week and our doings. Ive forgotten most of it though highlights were certainly the drive to Alderley Edge for a walk among the trees and a picnic by the Wizards Trail or whatever it was called. The map pointed to many exotic locations including the Mine Workings and Beacon Hill etc. It was a beautiful day for a walk and we almost didn't make it - getting lost in the town of Alderley Edge frequented by blue rinsed ladies and WAGS and chavs. We popped into a couple of charity shops with prices that rivalled Harrods and popped straight out again! Some kind man pointed the way up the very steep hill - too steep to climb so we got the car and drove up.
You could see for miles at the top and at the very "edge" of the EDge you could peer over into a sizable abyss. It was very misty so could just make out the Pennines in the hazy distance but on a clear day I'm sure you could see Yorkshire.
The Caving Centre nearby also had a small museum with a 50 foot shaft down to an ancient copper mine below. We looked down into the pool of muddy water illuminated at the bottom by a 50 watt bulb. The man in charge says they often go down and explore the caverns and tunnels below that go off in all directions. The whole hill is perforated by many holes and tunnels that once echoed to the sound of pick axe and shovel.

Went into town yesterday to do some shopping. Found a John Lennon - Live Peace In Toronto for 99p on DVD. Some nice clips of old rockers - Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, etc. on the same bill. Spoiled only by the wailing banshee that is Yoko Ono at the very end. Also a cheap DVD from some newspaper of "Millions Like Us" a film made to boost morale in the war years.

Today we ventured to Chelford again and the huge boot sale in a big muddy field. Several big muddy fields around it too for all the cars that had to pay two fifty for the privelege of parking! It was very crowded again with the sunshine eventually breaking through the early morning haze. I didnt buy a thing despite money burning a hole in my pocket. Hazel got qite a lot though - mostly metal keys, pins, needle holders etc. Also a very old Nymph razor made of vivid green bakelite or some form of early plastic. A lovely green glass eye bath. A Medico medicine glass and some signs for the outside loo - "in case of electric shocks" and one for Archie which says "No Admittance!" Also a small tin clockwork train with the chimney missing.

Time to go and light the bar-b-q for lunch outside.

Easter Sunday/Monday

A nice sunny weekend up in Cheshire though we hear the South East was a bit grey and damp. Makes a nice change for us to get some good weather at Easter. Though this will probably turn out to be our Summer!
Hazel and Archie had fun with their circus skills in the back garden. It was nice just to sit out there and enjoy the birds tweeting and ants running off with the cake crumbs.
On Sunday hazel and I went to the big boot sale at Chelford which costs two-fiftyto park. It is huge though and took us a good hour to walk round. Hazel was annoyed at first with all the jostling and crowds but soon relaxed and bought a few things including some nails and rusty Elastoplast tins etc. I found a few DVD's including "Help!" with bonus disc of extras for two quid and loose 50p extra disc of "Pans Labyrinth".
In the afternoon we had lunch at Granma's and weeded their back garden. Took out three buckets of dandylions! Also had tea and trifle later on which was far too filling. They wanted us to eat cake as well!
Today Archie has gone off to see a friend in Weaverham and we drove on to Frodsham to look round the charity shops and have lunch in a bakery. Afterwards went to Lady Heys antique centre to rummage in more junk. Bought another recycled tin indian lantern to balance up the other one. Its made from baby milk cans. Also a record by Jimmy Durante which will no doubt feature on my blog soon. It has all his hits on it like "Ink Dinka Doo" and "The Lost Chord" etc.
Hazel got more metal thingies for her blog. We tried some freee samples of beer in the Staion House micro-brewery that's just opened. Delicious bottled ales . We bought three to try.

Nantwich - Alsager

A nice day out to Nantwich to go round the charity shops. We had lunch outside a cafe watching the world go by. It was very sunny and warm - like a real Summers day.
There was live music too from a great band called the Swing Commanders on a small stage in the town square. They played lots of western swing and some old Andrews Sisters songs etc. Here you see a clip of their Hawaiian War Chant. This Flip video really doesnt do them justice.
Then off to see Tony and Pene and their sons and new grand-children Esme and Ellwood. Sat in the garden and had tea and cake. Nice to catch up with what everyone was doing and see the babies do their thing. Being cute and the centre of attention ofcourse. I bounced Esme on my knee but she looked like she might cryso I gave her back to Daddy pretty sharpish!


We got home just in time to see the easter Dr. Who and have some cheese on toast.
Have also been watching the new Red Dwarf trilogy which is O.K. but nothing special. I found the old Smeg Ups afterwards much funnier.

Another Week

Another week has flown by.
Our chimney has been knocked down by Bruce the builder and he's putting it back up again. It looks pretty good so far but his visits have been a bit erratic being "double booked" and the house over the road has distracted him too - overseeing the plumber and electrician etc.
I have a new Epson scanner which I managed to track down and had delivered on Friday. Its been working fine ( touch wood) and have enjoyed raking through piles of old negatives and slides to upload, I still have trouble with some of the settings for more obscure size negatives but it seems to cope with most things. See results at Flickr or on Facebook.
Today we avoided the rain and went to Chester for a wander round the shops and see the buskers etc. Motley groups of musicains playing accordions ( four in all ) and two trumpet players within a hundred yards of each other. Standing in the middle you got a weird ossilating sterao effect! Also the juggler above who had trouble atrracting a crowd at first and could hardly be heard above the din of the accordion and trumpet group. One of the highets diabolo throws I have ever seen. One of those big halibut faced aeroplanes flew over during his performance which brought a surreal slant to the proceedings.
Had a nice vege sausage roll for lunch. Managed to drag Hazel from the Morgans shop before she spent huge ammounts of money on a tentlike dress.
I got a Victor Borge 10 inch LP from a charity shop but not much else. hazel bought a book about inventions in the Oxfam and Archie got a book about piano chords ( much to our surprise) in the Works.
Got the "park & Ride" back and got home in time to make Bruce a cuppa before the rain came down and he covered up the chimney and went home.

Walk Round Shackerley/Organic Farm

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Our walk round Shackerly Mere on Sunday. Afterwards to the organic farm shop to get some honey and mustard. New spring lambs in the field just vanishing in the distance. Nice views over the valley towards Davenham church.
Earlier we had gone to the boot sale at Hartford High School. I found two old scratchy 78's by George Formby.
Hazel got a nice old salt Witch Domestic salt packet from the 40's or 50's I imagine. Salt from the Middlewich Salt Company - still being produced today.
Also a small book of bicyle parts and "aids"from 1962 but looks much older.

The Bells amd Theatre Mimi

Had a very nice lunch out on wednesday with Tony, Pene, Dave, Nick and Hazel at The Bells in Lower Peover. We dont get out to see our chums much so made a pleasant change to chat with them all and hear the latest gossip.
We poppped into Knutsford too to go round the charity shops. Good to see another has opened where a snooty dress shop used to be - a sign of the times. I bought two great old CD comps of British Vintage Comedy. Some featured on my audio blog.
Last night it was more culture at the Whitegate Community Hall and a travelling band of players called Loon/Theatre Mimi who did a great show called Phileas P. Souper. They all come from Newcastle I think and it was organised by the Cheshire Rural Touring Network who really do a great job in providing some class acts in tiny rural hamlets. The hall was packed though and hardly enough room to swing a bed or a trombone! Elements of Spike Jones, Laurel & Hardy and the circus all rolled into one!
It did take us ages to find though and the Tom Tom fell off the windscreen with a crash and sent us halfway home again it got so annoyed! We didn't win the raffle but got a free tumbler of orange juice in the interval and everyone was very friendly, wanting to know if we came from the village or further afield.

Spring Bulbs, Cables and Harlequin.

Another week has sailed by on the tide. My brain is bobbing along on nicely - catching the Spring breezes. It was quite windy yesterday- the scaffolding built last week by the side of the house to mend the chimney ( next week possibly ) was making a most perculier noise - like a drill being annoyed by an armadillo.
It looks very precarious up there on that little platform. I dont envy the builder his task. Mind you, when he was over the road he didn't seemto have any platform atall and just balanced on the tiles and some how didnt fall off. Hazel dare not look. He made a good job of it though so thats' why we asked him to do ours. More expense.
At the weekend we saw a great theatre group at the Harlequin - a duo called RAW ( Random Acts of Wildness) - a silly name but they did some great physical theatre and clowning and reminded me a little of the League Of Gentlemen crossed with Bottom! Sadly only about 16 people in the audience including us. Northwich is not known for its culture vultures! I think it could have been advertised a bit better mind.
On Mothers Day , Granma and Audrey came over for fish and chips and cake. Audrey found a Norwegian jumper design she liked on the internet and printed it off to take home and knit. She said they had bought all the wool in Aldi and there was none left! I can well belive it.
Archie gave Hazel some chocs, flowers to plant in the garden and a home made card with a pencil drawing on the front.
All the power went off yesterday for 4 hours due to the high winds. I read my SHOUT by Philip Norman and listened to the wind-up radio.
As ill luck would have it the gas man came to mend the boiler which has been giving us luke warm baths but he had to go away again as there was no power. His mate came this morning and fixed it- a fluttering diagram he said. I thought so. He's coming back tomorrow to add a screw that was lost.
I went to town this morning to get some shopping, post some mail and get some HDMI cable for the new telly. It improves the DVD picture no end and almost as good as High Definition they reckon though I have no idea what that would look like.
Nice catalogue for the exhibition Hazel is in at MMU. She's displaying her Rusty Nail Collection.

Another nice sunny springlike day. I walked to town to get some groceries and pots a pile of mail I did yesterday. Hazel was expecting some people from the Manchester City Art Gallery for lunch and to look round her workshop so I got some nice salad and cheeses etc.
Did the usual tour of charity shops and bought a DVD of "Man Thing" for a quid. Also a double cassette of Spike Milligan reading the second part of his war memiors "Rommel- Gunner Who?"
Had a nice lunch and the two girls from the gallery were very enthusiastic about all out collections and stuff on the walls.
After lunch I went upstairs to continue with some collaging.

Gave up looking for a new scanner in the usual shops so have ordered one online today and hopefully it will arrive tomorrow which will be nice. Can't wait to scan all those old slides and negatives we have gathering dust.
Hazel spoke to the builder over the road and he's getting his scaffodling taken down on Friday and moved over to us- so hopefully he can start working on our chimney soon and stop the bits of brick falling off it which is a bit worrying! More expense!

New Telly Box

A nice weekend - very springy. Our old telly has been on the blink for a while now and so we splashed out on new digital LCD wide screen Sony job that is really fantastic after the last one. We watched a great film last night I borrowed from the library - "The Fall" about a little girl and a paralysed stunt man back in the Hollywood of the 20's. A very rich fable filmed in many beautiful and exotic locations round the world. It reminded me a bit of the "Princess Bride". Ideal viewing for the tv's first evening. We will have to watch all out favourites again now and see them in a new light.
We dumped the old telly at the tip this morning after the boot sale at Weaverham.
We got a few bargains including more DVD's whuch included "American Werewolf In London" and Woody Allen's homage to NYC "Manhatten".
Hazel didnt find any gadgets or metal thingys but some plants, an old OXO tin and a CD box to be converted into a Cornell box if Archie wanted it but he didn't.
WE went for a walk this afternoon to Marbury and Archie took some joiner photos for his art GCSE work. We watched the blue tits, ducks, jay, and moorhens feeding and tried to get away from the hoards of noisy kids and dogs that descended on the place as it was so warm!
Hazel is now going to the tip again as she just moved someone off her white line and feels obliged to drive the car somewhere to prove how inconsiderate they were!

How Do You Make A Venetian Blind?

Poked more holes in the walls for shelves and the blinds which look good . We don't feel like we are living in a gold fish bowl anymore. Our neighbours are very nice but they do tend to stand at the open kitchen window and blow smoke outside and always seem to be watching me do the washing up or cooking etc.
On Tuesday went to town and borrowed a DVD "The Fall" from the library. Archie has watched it already and said it was "weird" and gave me some impressions of the characters in it. It looks stunning visually from what I have seen on YouTube.
Hazel is back at college and feeling a lot better- though trying to talk less and catch up on the form filling.
Went back to town on Wednesday with Hazel to get some shopping and look at some TV tables as Hazel is fed up with the pile of gadgetry and wires that surrounds the TV at the moment. They all seem too bulky though for our little alcove corner.
Saw Treena and Betty in the Age Concern. Betty said there was a boot sale this Sunday at Weaverham - first of the year - which we are looking forward too as they are usually very good and well attended. Hopefully the weather will improve by then.
next door are having their windows replaced now so lots of banging, drilling and smashing of glass yesterday. They seemed to be grinding it into a fine dust - crunch! crunch! crunch!
One of the blokes doing the work looked at our multi-coloured stickered wheelie bin as Hazel dragged it back from the roadside and said " Are those travel stickers?" and the idea that the bin had been on holiday , even a world cruise, tickled me.

Warrington Via Anderton

Nice sunny blue sky and drive to Anderton for boot sale at community hall this morning. Got three sealed DVD's for pound each including a polish surreal gem called The Hourglass Sanitorium with a great cover of eyeball/skull. Also Planet Terror by Tarantino. Hazel bought a lovely large blue glass japanese vase.
Archie just sent a text from his coach on the way back from a weekend boot camp - seems he ha d a good time but needs a bath. They have been building rafts and suchlike - playing team games to bond before the GCSE onslaught.
After the boot sale we drove to Warringtom with the help of our friend Tom Tom and found the huge IKEA but there far too early so went to nearby Macdonalds for a brown sludge mascerading as hot chocolate. It was heaving so glad to get out window blinds and leave in a torrential downpour. Popped into PC World for a scanner but they didnt have the one I wanted. Looks like the internet is the best bet.
Got home in 30 minutes despite the rain. Hazel was a bit agitated and nervous navigating the many roundabouts and feeder lanes but we got through it all o.k.

Windows 09

We've had some new sash type windows put in to replace the old ones that had "blown" and were all foggy. The new ones are amazingly clear - its like looking at High Definition TV after watching an old 405 line set from the 60's. They seems bigger and brighter too and hopefully will keep the heat in in winter and be cooler in the summer. They tilt too for easy cleaning of upstairs windows. It felt rather extavagant but we had promised ourselves new windows for ages - long before the present financial climate. Hopefully it will add to the attactiveness of the house if we ever consider selling it.
The windows took three days to put in so was rather at a loose end most of the time- the workroom having been almost emptied of junk and furniture. I spent most of the time on the internet or watching TV. Luckliy got a nice DVD from the US of an old Columbia serial from the 50's called "Captain Video" which I remember making a big impression on me when I was about 10 or 11 and used to go to the Century Cinema in Pitsea. They had a wonderful Saturday children's matinee and you could see a feature, a cartoon and serial for a shilling or maybe even six old pence. It was certainly one of the highlights of my week back in the 50's and early 60's.
I also remember the old Batman serial in black and white made in 1943 and Captain Marvel. There used to be small cinema's at some of London's railway sations too- I remember one at Victoria especially. They showed old serials too as well as Pathe newsreels and cartoons. Great if you had to wait an hour for a train.

Hazel is still not very well and her sore throat seems as bad as ever. She got a sick not today to cover her for the last two weeks. I wish they had given her some anti-biotics- it may have cleared up by now.
I have been painting the window frames and trying to sort my room out. I stuck my hand into a box of tools and pens etc. and stabbed my little finger with a scalpel blade- ouch! I knew it would happen one day.

Wilfred RIP 2007-2009

Sadly poor old geriatric Wilf the hamster shuffled off to the big wheel in the sky last night. He was found just now looking very pathetic and cold. Hazel shed a few tears and we buried him in the garden with all the other hamsters, blackbirds and Flo the Bunny who occupy the little graveyard by the tree house. A polish neighbour came out to hang things on the line and waved - probably wondering what this strange english ritual is with the bundle in a tea towel being buried under the apple trees?

Schmapp

I was flattered that Schmapp should ask for this image for their latest thingy - not sure whatit is really- a widget? on iPhones and the like. The image seems very tiny so here is the larger one of Hazel and Archie at the Tradescant Trust Garden Museum near Lambeth Bridge. Schmapp have put it up the road near St. Thomas's for some reason?! Its next to the Archbishops Palace in an old church.

This was taken a couple of years ago on a trip to London. The Garden Museum is undergoing restoration I think so maybe not open yet but the gardens are lovely- if small and a welcome oasis from the traffic of the embankment and Lambeth Bridge Road. You can see also the graves of Captain Bligh (pictured) and other notables.

Sickly Week

We are all proper poorly as some old radio star used to say. Hazel has had a terrible cold and sore throat for a week and since talking too much at college has lost her voice completely. We can't find it anywhere. I told her not to go in but she was determined not to have another day cancelled. The doc has suggested complete rest from talking,even whispering is bad apparently. So Hazel is writing notes on a little pad. Its like living with a trappist monk.
Archie has been off school too with a bad cold. He's gone in today though.
I went to round the town this morning and did usual tour of the charity shops but didn't find anything. Got flowers, bread and garlic in the Co-op on the way home.
Fun in the post office - some dilly dallying at the till and then the womam behind the counter ran out of money so had to go and get some - meanwhile the queue is building up and lot of tutting and head shaking is going on. She comes back and the old chap in front wants some tobacco - cigarrettes? no tobacco in a pouch! In a what? A pouch- oh a pouch etc etc. More tutting and head shaking- gasps of disbelief etc. for ever growing queue. Then it came to my turn . A book of second class stamps and one 56p stamp please. She starts to tear off a one pound stamp - no just one 56 pence stamp for a postcard to america. Oh 56 pence - is that for 0ver 200 milligrams? No its for a postcard to AMERICA! More tutting and fuming from assembled throng. She puts an 81p stamp in front of me. No a 56pence stamp - that's a 8ip stamp! O dear. Tut tut- fume fume. Lots of murmering. I'm getting quite agitated too by now. Eventually I get what I want and get my change and wonder if its the right change but cant be bothered to check after all that hassle over a stamp. I shall get them from Oxfam in future- its easier!

Spring Rolls Round Again

Very mild at the moment and signs of Spring in the air which is welcome after all the cold and frost etc.
Yesterday I took the Canon scanner back to Argos as it wouldnt work properly. I was a bit miffed to say the least as it had been working fine for the last couple of weeks and I was enjoying adding old slide films and negs. to Flickr that have been languishing in an old box for ages. The good thing about Argos is they always exchange goods or give money back within 30 days of purchase. So now I am looking around for another scanner - hopefully one that isn't so prone to breaking and has large negative scanning option. I think I have found just the job with an Epson 4490 but I'll have to get it online or go to PC World in Warrington which seems unlikely.


Poor Wilf looks like he won't last much longer. We thought he had snuffed it last weekend but has bravley battled on despite all the bumps and lumps and bald patches he has. He staggers out of his ball of bedding for a drink and hardly eats anything- looking very bedraggled and ancient , like a hamster version of a one-eyed Yoda.

Went to a boot sale today at Lostock near Hazel's Mom's. It was in the local community centre and mostly indoors. I got some cheap DVD's including John Carpenter's version of "The Thing" with extras like a making of and a commentary which is always interesting. Also a Tommy Cooper video I'd not seen before called "Cooperama".
Hazel bought some books and a box of drawing pins. Audrey and Doreen were late getting up as usual so they were just setting off as we popped in to say goodbye and pick up the fairy cakes they gave us. Hazel's Mom walked very slowly and carefully holding out the the tin of cakes as I was looking elsewhere and when she gave them to me I tipped them up to shove the tin in my carrier bag with all my other goodies. She looked horrified and exclaimed "No!" But no harm done - the icing and cherries were still intact!

Manchester

A nice but exhausting day yesterday - getting up at 5-45am to get train (thankfully not late ) and get to Manchester for a lovely big breakfast in the college canteen. We had a look round the exhibition of art school technicians work in the Holden Gallery. Some nice stuff including some small paintings on plaster of wall fragments a bit like the Boyle Family.
Andy Sykes- ace animator - gave a talk to the 1st years later which we sat in on which was fun. He had pinned up some of his drawings to colour in- he holds these "coulering in" evenings in shopping centrs and places. He showed his animations and film of the artists working at the AYUP animation space at Bradford's Museum Of Film & Television or whatever it's called.
An interesting talk and he seems to be doing well since leaving the Interactive Arts course a few years back.
We had lunch with him in the staff canteen and ate out sushi from M&S . We did buy some fruit crumble though and I think it was plums but not sure!
Archie ordered a new resonanting uke at Johnny Roadhouse. He plays the other one all the time so I'm sure he will find it useful and a slightly different sound as its made of metal.
In the afternoon Archie and I walkded down to the Whitworth Art Gallery and saw the exhibition of Surrealism. Some great Max Ernst collages but not much else to write home about. The modern stuff was pretty awful.
Then walked back to the station via the Cornerhouse (nothing showing ) and home.
Archie was so tired he fell asleep later and didn't wake up until 10 p.m.

Valentine's Day

I made Hazel a collaged card and gave her some chocs. Walked to town before H & A got up and back at 10am. They were still not up the lazy pair. Mind you it has been a long stressful week for both of them what with students and open days and "catch up days" etc.
I didnt find much in town- just a loaf of seedy bread and the Independent with free CD in it.
In the afternoon we all went to Lady Hayes with Audrey to mooch around the antiques and buy some of Bob Carolgee's candles from his shop.
I took the Flip camera and took a few snippets. Hazel found tons of stuff for her blog including packetsof anceint needles and some sewing gadgets- things to thred needles and other bits and pieces. Archie bought a book about Nature for his art class project.
Audrey bought a few things too - postcards a,d a rubber stamp that says "Best Wishes". She showed us the production line of home-made cards when we stooped off for tea at Granma's.
Peeked in the window of one gallery to see the Tardis and Daleks but didnt go in. Found some nice recycled Indian lamps made if tin in one shop. Hard to choose which one to get but eventually plumped for the biggest which Hazel bought me as my Valentines present. It hangs in the back room now- over the dining table and sends out rays of patterned light on the ceiling with a small candle inside. I'll have to take a photo of it if I can.

Chicken Rock

Fat Larry Homes and his clucking geetar! One of my favourite instrumental chicken songs of all time I think.
Nice day yesterday when old friends Tony and Pene came over for lunch. It was Pene's birthday so we rushed out to get her some flowers and chocs at local supermarket and get some nice food in. I made a vegetable soup and cooked a mushroom quiche with some salad. We had a cake a bit later on. I neglected to take any photos which was a bit remiss of me.
Watched a bit of my staggering performance in the film "Dead City" we got inthe post on DVD today. Its the cheaply made zombie film we were in shot at the old Regal cinema in Northwich before is was gutted. Very funny to watch again. Some deleted scenes and documentaries on the extras disc we are looking forward to seeing.
have been digitising some old slides and negs using the new Canon scanner which seems to be working ok so far despite a few early glitches. Probably my fault. Pushing the wrong buttons.

Matchbox Stuffing

We have been matchbox stuffing this weekend - we know how to enjoy ourselves! This is Archie's effort soon to be added to the Flickr group of International Matchbox Stuffers League or whatever it's called. I was just remembering the game we played at Basildon Boys Club - filling matchboxes to see who could get the most items crammed inside and somebody though this would be a fun idea to run with and its grown into this group now of nearly 100 people all madly searching their drawers and tins for tiny things! ( I have mentioend this before ina previous blog - this is bad sign - obviously going a bit senile !)
Yestrday we went to knutsford to mooch around the charity shops and peek into the posh shop windows at all the snooty Knutsford folk. Some are very freindly i must say and in one gallery/craft shop I was given a cup of tea. A new venture to bring in customers the nice girl said - maybe a few chairs and tables at one end.
It made a nice change and lubricated the vocal chords. I still didnt see anything to buy though - all a bit twee and crafty for me.
I found some great DVD's in a charity shop including The Exorcist with extras and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd which I wanted to see and the cinema but never got the chance. We watched it last night. Hazel psent most of the time hiding behind her cushion whenever the blood started to flow and there was copious ammounts of it! Fantastic to watch though - amazing sets and costumes and atmostphere. The singing though started to grate after a few songs and they all started to sound very similar. It made me think of the awful Blood Brothers which is an unfair comparison really but the only one that came to mind.
Hazel bought some clobber in a sale- a new victorian looking blouse and a cardie. I wanted to buy a paper but they don't have a newsagents on Knutsford it seems - its all boutiques and antigue shops and wine bars.
Looked into the Penny Farthing Museum/cafe place but it was packed with "ladies who lunch" and so difficult to take a phot of all the old bikes hanging from the rafters. Took one outide with Hazel leaning on a sign post and bike that someone had made from an old plough or maybe a washing machine?

A 100 Small Things

This is a frame from a very short animation I did using Monkey Jam free software. I realise I didnt have the patience to carry on with it. It looked rubbish anyway and took far too long. I used to have patience - I did spotty paintings that took months to do. I make collages now as they are far quicker and people seem to like them more.
Have been collecting things to put into a matchbox. So this is how you spend your time? Its for a project on Flickr. So far i have put in my matchbox- a pebble, a hairgrip, a pin, a needle, a ticket, a sticker, a button, a plastic duck, a popper, a match, a tiny mirror, a bead, a bit of wire, a leaf, a grain of sand, a granule of sugar and a badge. Hoping to find more things today. We used to play this game at the Basildon Boys Club before returning to the hut to drink lemonade and listen to the Everly Brothers on an old scratchy 78.
Yesterday i went to town and bought a very heavy DK book called "Chronicle Of The Cinema"- 100 years of the Movies for a quid in the market I nearly gave myself a hernia carrying it home. I was going to cut it up for collages as it has some wonderful old film posters inside its 920 pages- nearly all full colour. But it's far too nice really and Archie might find it useful for his Film Studies course he is doing for "A" level at 6th form college- presuming he gets the right grades for his GCSE's.

The snow that everyone else has been getting and grinding the country to a halt hasn't appeared in Cheshire- just a smigeon and its all melted. So no chance of that dusty sledge being used any day now. Its been hanging in the shed gathering cobwebs for the last ten years!

Glove Weather

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Whether or not we wear them is another matter. This one spotted on out walk round Shackerly this afternoon. Brrrr! it was freezin'! Glad to get home again.
No boot sales today- at least none we knew the whereabouts of. Betty said there was one in Winsford but we tried to find it before and went on a wild goose chase.
Yesterday we just did the fortnightly big shop at Aldi.
Its started to snow. The weather forecast said it would- blowing down from Russia. They can have it back anytime!
We watched the directors commentary extra on the Little Shop Of Horrors DVD last night which was fun and insightful. Frank Oz explained a lot of things well and surprised us by saying the man eating plant wasnt shot at the same speed as the rest of it when singing as the puppeteers couldnt move the lips quick enough to sync. with the vocal track. So Rick Moranis? had to move very slowly so when it was speeded up it looked like the right speed. Also they changed the ending as the preview audience didnt like the way it ended with all the good guys getting eaten by the plant! What an admission!