Pully Over Tribe

A week has nearly whizzed by. A week of computers going gaga and brisk walks into town. More National Geographics and a tiny digital camera. This one works but only just. Interesting pixelated look to all it points at. Pully faced pixilated pigmy tribe perchance?

The computer has been mended now thank goodness. A bug of some kind. Malcolm had to take it away and put it through some kind of washer and mangle. Malcolm is a handy person to know when your PC goes AWOL. He's helped on several occasions when the hard drive burned out and when the CD ROM drive refused to work etc. I shall watch what I click on in future. Those hackers are getting more cunning it seems.

Went to a table top sale in Tarporley last Sunday. Got some more DVD's including the Boy In Striped Pajamas and a John Cleese one called How To Irritate People. Also a long frame that was just the right size for a panoramic collage I'd made. Then to antique centre where we picked up some cheap postcards - mostly 1920's saucy seaside variety. Hazel bought a few things including a tin bullet poster and a glass dangly thing that makes tiny rainbows when the sun shines through the window.

Tatton Park

Nice morning walking to town and back. Got some more National Geographics in the Help The Aged shop for 10p. I buy three every day so as not to put my back out carrying too much ancient photo journalism. I have made some collages already using some of it. I hope to make more. The photos are quite stunning and perfect for some of the themes at Scrapiteria.

This afternoon went to Tatton Park with Hazel as we spotted an ad in the local paper for FREE entry to the Antique and Fine Art Fair that is on over the weekend. Saving us a grand total of ten quids. Blimey and what a posh do it was with a doorman to open the doors for you "This way - sir and madam". The prices were way beyond anything we've seen of Bargain Hunt! 600 quid for an chipped old shop sign saying nothing much - Eggs Half Price or Tea- Shilling a Packet! A Lowry for 200 grand. A Donald McGill postcard ( original watercolour ) for nearly a thousand quid! Interesting to see some of the art though and wonder who would be daft enough to buy it for that sort of price. Lots of people obviously, gathering by the throng pouring over the Ming vases and mock Gainsboroughs.
Nice old fairground rides outside to entertain the kids - gallopers and a vintage car roundabout thing. Popped in the farm shop to get some awkward cheese and some onion jam. We know how to live!

Jumbles

Went to two jumble sales yesterday which made a nice change especially as there are no boot sales this week. Jumble sales used to be a regular thing in other places I've lived but very rare in Cheshire for some reason. I suppose it's because we have so many charity shops and boots.
The first was at the Sally Army which I stumbled upon by chance. An old lady barred my way as I went through the door saying " Its not open yet!" What isn't? "The sale doesn't start until 10" I didnt know there was one! I went into the charity shop next to the hall where the jumble was being held. I could see that all the cream of junk had been skimmed off for the sale and all the dregs were left. I went away and came back at 10. It was packed by then and I managed to get three DVD's for 50p each- For Whom The Bell Tolls, Saving Private Ryan and Creature Comforts ( the Ardman Animations ).
The second jumble was over at a community hall in a small village about 5 miles away. This was also very busy - one could almost say "manic" (see Flip film above)! No chance of getting near any of the tables unless you went sideways. I managed to find a gap and purchased two old Pepys games - Bedlam ( how appropriate!) and What's That ( a game of guessing the names of objects photographed at strange angles ). Also a tiny key chain digital camera that I later discovered didnt work.

Southend Art School 60's

Partly as a response to an e-mail I got yesterday from Fred Eve, who went to the art school at the same time as me (1963/64) I am re-posting some old photos taken at the time.
Above is the old painting room. Thats Fred I think in the glasses and that's me in the silk screened jacket trying to blend in! That painting was based on the grinding surfaces of a hippos tooth or was it a rhino? I'm pretending to stick a bath sponge onto it with the power of my mind.

Ned Newitt sent me this photo - he's at the front in the duffle coat. The others are Richard Poole, Fred Eve, Vic Mills, Richard Woods and me. We all look intent on going somewhere to do something very arty but not sure what it was!? Probably just to Garons to buy some cakes.

This is taken outside the old dining hall. I think these are Ned Newitt, Richard Woods, Vic Mills and Rick Cox with Russell Colombo lurking in the background.
Vic and Russ were employed to take the dining tickets on the door for which they got a free meal. I always took a sandwich or went to Garons to buy a sausage roll or a bun being a penniless art student. This must be 1963 or '64. A couple of years later the old art school was bull dozed to make way for a roundabout and it was moved to the high rise block as part of the Technical College. Very sad. The dining hall was used some years later by Richard Turpin to make garden urns in. I helped or hindered - I cant remember . I think Bill Freeth rented it also as a studio for making his ceramics.

Far Too Early

Woken from my dream of the Pixie Cafe I stumble downstairs to put on the kettle and make Hazel a sandwich for lunch. Its 5:45 am. A bowl of muesli and a quick cuppa and duffle coated and bescarfed I lurch outside into the frosty dark to sit in the car with the engine running whilst Hazel does her ablutions and gathers up her stuff for college. I have to sit in the drivers seat because you never know when a car jacker will strike. These 6 year old Nissan Micras fetch a pretty penny on the black market! Anyway I am lulled from my revelry by the sound of a car being furiously revved up- flippin' 'eck! It woke the whole street up- even Archie woke up! Its me and my foot slipped onto the exelerator! Hazel is frantically waving at me to stop. What am I doing? How is this happening? Which button have I pressed? Such is my knowledge of cars that it took me a few seconds to dislodge my foot from the pedal. How does Hazel fit into this cramped and uncomfortable space? Beats me.
I expect we shall have a good laugh about it later.

Help!

A collage above from latest batch at Scrapiteria where the intriguing theme this week is make a collage from just one page from a book or magazine - show the original page and then what you did with it. The results have been delightful and very ingenius. Mine have veered towards the macabre for some reason!
A quiet week mostly blogging and collaging and shopping ofcourse. It's for the walk more than anything - the two miles from home to town is just the right length and I get to treat myself with a bargain or two in the charityshops. They must be sick of the sight of me!

Yesterday I bought several CD's - mostly 60's folk rock including the Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention and various compilations on Topic and Ace labels.
So a nostalgic afternoon whilst making the above and some others.
A nice surprise the other day when an Italian mail art friend Vittore Baroni informed me that I got a mention in Italian Vogue this month in an article about mail art by a friend of his. It was just a sentence but nice to know I am regarded as a collector of many varied rubber stamps of textural and curious design , or words to that effect.

Mic-Macs

At last - a film worth waiting to see!

Little Jimmy's Breeches

A postcard i found today at the antique place near us. It would make a great title for a poem or a story perhaps but just taken from the lines written on the back by Cecil - whoever he might have been? Seems this little wastrel looked the spit of Jimmy even down to the striped breeches and holier than thou shirt!
other postcards included a scolds bridal worn by a rather unconvincing dummy and an "Old Salt" who signs the reverse and mentions the "lifeboat procession", whatever that might have been? The mind boggles.

Also popped to a nearby boot sale in Tarporely a bit further on. Two stalls in the wet car park but more inside in the warm. Its a strange place Tarporely - everyone seems to be dithering and dozy- getting under your feet and in the way! Must be something in the water. Also found a boxed set of 3 Terry Thomas films on DVD - good show!

Condiments

Postcard that Creative Thing sent from California yesterday of Maoris trying to frighten us. I don't think so.
Just back from a the shops. Trying out my new boots that rub a little but otherwise very comfortable and can see them being more comfortable in future once they are worn in. I always have this trouble with new boots.
Got some cheap stuff from Quality Save. Now the Xmas rush is over it's a bit more relaxing to shop there now. Cheap ginger paste, soy saauce and other goodies.
Saw Betty in the Age Concern shop. Haven't clapped eyes on her for ages - not since last Summer. She went off to Australia for two months in the Autumn and had a good time. Also to Tasmania. She's back doing her stall at boot sales but not one for next week as far as she knew.

Some more snow on Sunday so no boot sale at Antrobus as expected. Hazel was worried she'd end up sliding in a ditch- the lanes not being gritted like the larger roads.
getting a bit fed up with the cold weather now and long for the Spring to arrive.
New neighbours have moved in the old property that Bruce the builder has been doing up over the last 18 months. He's done a good job although the front door seems to be needing a coat of paint.

Crewe Boot

Shocked to see the empty market square at Crewe - a notice nearby saying because of refurbishment the Wednesday boot sale has moved to a car park some half mile away on the other side of the town. A short trek later and I find it - a shabby back street and a few stalls littered about - a shadow of it's former self. I didnt find much - a PS2 game of Bust-A-Bloc.
So then a wander round the charity shops where thankfully some bargains were to be had. A great Face Dough CD software thingy that made the collage grimace above. I have been having fun playing about with it. It sounds better than it really is. The manipulation is pretty basic and just revolves round two features- stretching point A to point B or morphing. I havent tried the morphing yet. Pushing faces round like dough it isn't though! Some other software we had did a better job but seem to have lost it.

Also got a pile of tin badges of various ages. My favourite is the one that says "Ferrets Are Fun!" with a silohette of a ferret on it. Archie choose the MAD badge to go with his increasing collection - a lot he's made himself from plastic dinasaurs and sharks with pins glued to the backs. Got him some insects which he is also utilising in this manner.

A History Of The World

In some parallel world somewhere they may even be using the Currant Drying Shed, who knows? Hazel made this back in the late 80's whilst at the RCA along with a number of other gadgets for doing daft things to currant buns. Pleased to get this onto the BBC website in conjuntion with the 100 Things series thats going on now. It fits in nicely too with the Mary Gregg project that Hazel is doing with the Manchester City Art Gallery. She tried to upload her box of String, Too Small For Use that got rejected for being not daft enough one presumes!

The rest of the week seems quite dull compared to this latest news-

Scott and family are moving from next door because of the damp which is a shame. The land lady too tight to do anything about it. We shall miss little Harvey - a cute 2 year old who enjoys using his growing vocabulary on Hazel as she pops out to the workshop for something. Its always a bit nerve racking when new neighbours move in - you are never quite sure who will turn up. We have been pretty lucky with ours so far. Fingers crossed!

Too wet to go for a walk at the weekend. We stayed in to watch the FA Cup matches on TV - at least I did. Archie seems to have grown another metre and devouring biscuits, cakes and toasted sandwiches like a big long lanky hoover!

Postcards and Pins

A week has whizzed by and not much to blog about. Found these great old photos at the antique place in the crafts centre, bird display, gnome sanctuary, candle shop place not far from us. The signed postard of Jack Lorimer "The Highland Laddie" was a measly pound and the badge of unknown gent was the same.How could I resist? Doing some delving on the internet it turns out that Jack Lorimer was Max Wall's father! So that was a nice surprise and a good investment I'm sure not that I'd ever sell it.
We have several signed photos and portraits of "celebrities" dotted around the house so this will join Roy Hudd, Ivor Cutler and the others.

The snow has melted - turned to grey slush and then the rain came and washed it all away. It feels a bit warmer now - not more doubling up on socks and shirts!
Archie has been doing some "A" levels including Chemistry, Biology and General Studies. He's been swatting quite hard so hopefully he's done o.k. He seeemd quietly confident despite the nerves and dizzy spells. He's grown a bit lately so that may account for it. He's almost as tall as me now.

Let's see. Monday - went to town. Hazel back to college.
Tuesday - dubbed some Jacque Tati films onto DVD for Tony who expressed a wish for some before Xmas. Better late than never.
Wednesday - Went to Aldi - nearly put some of our shopping in somebody else's trolley by mistake - o how we laughed!
Thursday - Town again . Made some more collages. New year's resolution of at least one a day going well. Parents evening at Sir John Deans- Archie's tutors seem happy with his progress, well all except the chemistry lady who had just come back from maternity leave so didnt know he intends to drop chemistry at end of year! She seemed positive despite this bombshell.
Friday - celebrated Archie's hard work with a take away curry.
Saturday - more collaging. Putting old cine film onto DVD. Incredibly nostalgic viewing those old baby films and Lambeth Walk etc. We wus poor but we wus 'appy!
Sunday - Trip to antique centre. Also got my late Crimble present of Flip HD camera which I have been playing with. I let Archie have the old one.
Today was the town again and a nice walk there and back. Got some cheap DVD's "Ben Hur" and "Passage To India" - two classics that I don't remember ever watching in their entirety.

Gem Polishers

A new collage for the Scrapiteria theme of "Gems". A nice weekend with visit from our new friends Adela and Will who live the other side of Northwich. We met them over the road at Rob's house warming last Autumn. Then they had a house warming which we were invited so our turn to entertain which we dont do as much as we should. I made a vege lasagne and Hazel made some delicious olive bread. For pudding I made a readymade puff pastry strudel type roll-up with apple and currents and lemon juice mixture of my own concocting and jolly nice it was too ( with ice cream ). Adela gave us a lovely etching and aquatint she made a few years back. This afternoon I found a frame for it and hung it on the landing. Shifted a few others around. Some collages have been up there for far too long so needs a good re-hanging.

Slipped and sloshed into town this morning in the slush. I didnt find much but good to get out after what seems like days cooped up indoors due to ice and snow.
Hazel has started back to college and Archie is back to 6th form . Two or three A level exams this week and next so he has been revising a lot.
He has found time to knock up a new animation though which you can find HERE.

Twenty Ten

The cold snap continues and not really gone anywhere due to the icy conditions - staying in and catching up with the blogs and doing a few collages, some of which you can see here.
hazel has been venturing out to her workshop once it has reached the optimum temperature. She's also been making lots of bread with Granma's and Audrey's breadmaker we borrowed over the festive season.

The bread has been really delicious which just makes her make more ofcourse. the Olive bread is particularly nice despite the olives being mashed to a pulp during the kneading process. She tried putting them in at a later stage and poking them with a stick and that seemed to work slightly better.
Archie started college agin on Monday but on Tuesday the really heavy snow came down and college was closed at 11 the next day. So he's been enjoying going sledging and snowballing with his mates. The sldege hit a rock yesterday so it has a big crack in it! Ouch!
Archie bought me a boxed set of Absolutely - one of my favourite comedy series on C4 in the 80's. A real bargain at 15 quid for 8 DVD's and the postage was free! We watched a couple last night as there was zilch on TV. Not quite as funny as I remember but it had its moments. I think they took a while to get into their stride and later episodes were funnier.

Woken to thick ice everywhere so looks like another day indoors. The garden does look very attractive in its snowy coat but feel sorry for the birds. The water we put out freezes almost at once and the fat balls are as hard as rocks - they are bending their little beaks on them!
We have taken the decorations down now and the house looks very bare despite all our junk and clutter! The tree looks happy enough back out in the garden decorated with icicles.
I slid down to the docs. yesterday to have my 6 monthly medication review. It seems the blood pressure pills are working as my BP was normal. "Keep taking the tablets" she said. "I bet you say that to all the patients" I said. "Well I have to have some fun" she replied laughing.

End Of Another Decade

Another year almost gone and the "noughties" too - it's amazing how quickly it's flown by! Seems only yesterday we were worrying about the Millenium Bug and watching the thousands of rockets explode overhead back in 1999 at midnight.
We have started our celebrations early with a nutroast and sprouts. The poles from next door have given us some carva and a tuppaware of strange looking mysterious foodstuffs that looks vaguely suerkruatish. Despite having lived here for a couple of years they barely talk any english so finding out what they are up too is difficult. They are off to Manchester it seems and not having a party as they did last year. We gave them a bottle of carva too.
The 90's seems to be the theme tonight Michael Jackson on the ipodplayer and now some There's A Guy Who Works Down The Chip Shop Thinks He's Elvis. A little clouds formed round the light bulb - the candles are blown out . The carva has gone to Hazel's head she says - how we shall get to midnight is anyones guess!
Party streamers are dangling from the paper chains. The crackers have been pulled. I got a tiny jigsaw puzzle of a parrot. Hazel got a three card trick. The smell of burning wax and oranges. Thinking of the days - believe me. Days we remember all our lives.

Santa Snowman Race

Here we are at Granma's and the special crackers this years contain either a racing Santa or a racing Snowman which definately was one of the highlights of Xmas Day - the exploding pudding and the renegade parsnip coming a close joint second.
I feel about three stone heavier now and my brain is turned to mush. The game of Monotony didn't help. I fell asleep during Dr, Who so missed most of that. Not many jokes from the Queen this year - she really should get Adam and Joe to write her scripts.
Hopefully going for a Boxing Day walk after a nice light salad today although we a have a ton of leftovers to get through. We seem to have bought enough stuff for a longish seige.
Now where is that extra thick pair of Xmas socks?

At Last! Some Snow!

Everyone else seemed to get the snow days before us but a little arrived today to give a nice frosted look to the garden and environs (whatever they are?).
Full of festive spirit we are embarking on a morning of breadmaking using the breadmaker gadget borrowed from Hazel's Mom. It's whirring away now sounding abit like a cement mixer. Hopefully the results will be more edible than cement!
Hazel's Mom and her sister had a brief breadmaking binge when they first bought it a couple of years ago but after the initial novelty had worn off they consigned the breadmaker to the cupbaod under the stairs.
Hazel is considering making a cake for her Mom as it's her birthday tomorrow. We are are all sledging over there to watch her blow out the candles on the cake etc.

Robin

Nice walk around Shackerly Mere this morning while the sun was shining. We saw several robins or maybe the same one flitting about just in front of us - from branch to branch and turning over dead leaves to find bugs. He very kindly posed for this photo by the water's edge. part of the lake was frozen over and seagulls were skidding along looking most comical. The ducks too seemed to be in good spirits despite the cold and diving and splashing around as if they were at the beach at Brighton in July!
No boot sales today sadly but yesterday I walked into town and got a few "stocking fillers" and two scratchy records - one by a child progeny who plays the piano and sings Inka Dinka Do, the old Shnozzle Durante song- the worst version I have ever heard! The piano playing is Grade Two level and quite acceptable - her only claim to fame is that she starred in the film Girls Girls Girls with Elvis back in the 60's. The other record is a sleeveless copy of an old 50's Brunswick label 10" LP called Country Favourites Vol. 1" and it has a couple of real gems on it including Goldie Hill's "I Let The Stars Get In My Eyes".
Hear them at my Boot Sale Sounds audio blog.

Peter Quinnell

We are the proud owners of a Peter Quinnell assemblage that arrived today by courier. Sadly the glass had shattered into lots of tiny bits but we quite like it without the glass - you dont get those annoying reflections distracting you!
Peter was game enough to suggest a swap for one of my collages so I was very happy. We have several of Peter's boxes he made with Magda Archer ( Magda is now married to comedian Harry Hill but still a working illustrator with books coming out for Harper Collins and cards at Polite ) when they were working together - the graduated from the RCA at the same time that Hazel did ( or was it the year after?). We have always enjoyed the humour in their work and Peter has carried on that tradition with his "solo" work. Peter lives with his illustrator wife - another RCA graduate Claire Fletcher and his daughter in sunny Hastings by the sea. His recent exhibition was hung on the side of a very wind blown and surf sprayed beach hut on the pebbly beach.
Hazel and I used to enjoy trips to Hastings when we lived in London as it was within easy reach of Waterloo station. The wonderful tall wooden net drying sheds there were an inspiration for Hazel's "Currant Drying Sheds" - one of which is now in the collection of the Crafts Council of GB.
Back in the 90's when we still lived in Lambeth Walk we exhibited with Peter and Magda and some other artists at the Roupell Gallery just behind Waterloo Station. The show did very well and even got 2 minutes on a late night arts programme on Thames TV. Peter now does illustrations for book covers , magazines and shop window displays in Oxford Street as well as teaching at Hastings School Of Art.

Crinklemess Is Coming

I have 15 minutes before penultimate piano lesson of the year to write something sensible. I have neglected this blog for a while. Well, all of them really. I must try and catch up.
Today, which is fresh in my mind , was fraught with all kinds of misfortune like the huge Q's in most shops, the post office and the bank. I could not face any of them so consequently didnt get the xmas stamps or post the parcels and cards I had taken along. Luckily WH Smiths had a small supply of 2nd class stamps which I bought - the whole lot! So anybody else asking for stamps will be miffed.
I'd taken my prescription into the chemists earlier and told them I would collect it in 20 minutes or so but it completely went out of my brain and I only rememebers on the bus home. I phoned up and told the bewildered girl on the other end of the phone what had occured and she said I could pick them up tomorrow. So another trip into town due. Another library sale was on but mostly the same books and CD's I had looked at last time.
No other bargains. No sign of Treena or Betty in Age Concern. It was very busy - more like a Saturday. The Crinklemess Rush has begun in Ernest.
Enjoying the repeats of many Alan Bennett films and documentaries on BBC 2 and 4. Great to see again some from the 70's that I missed the first time round.
Time to tickle the ivories.

New Rope String Band

Really fun evening out at the Great Budworth Village Hall to see the New Rope String Band. I already had the Old Rope String Band CD that Jim in Basingstoke sent me and he told me they were very good live. After one of their number died in a hit and run accident a few years back I never thought I'd get to see them but thanks to the Cheshire Rural Touring Network they played a couple of village halls near us and I managed to book tickets. We have been to a few RTN functions and they are always terrific. You see top class acts, theatre groups etc. in the intimate surroundings of the village hall with lots of nice village folk who always seem glad to welcome strangers and pull out all the stops to make the visiting artistes feel appreciated.
Great Budworth is no exception - great care was taken in the decoratiosn of the hall - being a "string and rope" theme they managed to borrow the tug of war rope from the young farmers and wind it round the rafters like a big snake! On the tables were vermicelli and sweet pink stringy shoelaces. Also nibbles and hot mince pies in the interval. Some tasty bottled beers in the bar too.
The band itself were excellent musicians and very funny and inventive as this YouTube video shows. Hazel bought me the DVD of their Old Rope String Band days to wrap up for Crimble.
Everyone we spoke to were very friendly and on our table were some very chatty people who new someone that travels on the train with Hazel - a small world eh?
A kind lady let us park on her drive when we found ourselves stuck down a narrow private road when the car park for the village hall was full.
Instead of the usual raffle they had a themed competition to guess the name of the knots on a tray handed around. We got one out of five needless to say as our knot recognition wasnt up to scratch.

The New Rope String Band Promo from Tom Dalling on Vimeo.

Karma Komedian

Another week has nearly flown. The rain has been pretty relentless as is the the wind that whistles down the chimneys. At least we dont live near a river ( the nearest is the Dane and over a mile away ) like those poor folk in Cumbria who have had to leave their homes and worldly goods and stay with neighbours and family until the worst is over. Today wasn.t so bad here - the sun shone and the wind died away to a light breeze. I walked into town on Monday and got soaked to the skin.
Today was quite balmy by comparison. I even found a few stocking fillers on my usual rounds. Also some boots which are a size too large but will suffice with thick socks during the winter months. A fiver from the Oxfam shop and hardly worn. They seem very heavy so I suspect steel toecaps! Great for charity shop stampedes and careless dropped tins of tomatoes in Aldi.
Archie made the collage above some time ago at his last school. he has collected most of his artwork and flung the most of it into the recycling bag. He's put the lovely boxed assemblages he made on his bedroom wall. I will try and get a photo as they are really quite exceptional. A chip off the old blocks.

Liverpool

An eventful day starting with Hazel feeling ill and then to compound her stress a stupid woman parked her car on out white line so that we couldnt get out. Our train was due at 9:12am and it was now 8:35 and Hazel was seething and wandering the street wringing her hands. Eventually the dozy woman emerged and got an earful from Hazel who by this time was at boiling point. I've never seen her so angry. What made it worse is the fact the woman was totally un-repentent and laughed it off, which made Hazel even more angry. Archie and I hid indoors at this point.
Anyway, eventually we got to the station and got our train. Archie had to walk to college as no time to give him a lift.
The journey was pretty uneventful and didn't take too long. Seemed quite fast infact - the new train probably helped. Hazel was very envious of the comfortable carriages and accoutrements , so unlike the cattle wagons she has to travel in on the Manchester to Chester line.
Thankfully she had calmed down by this time. We had a late breakfast ( slice of toast and tea ) in the Bluecoat cafe. The gallery has been re-furbished but seemed strangley empty and lifeless - the once comfortable and human sized spaces replaced by large,cold and austere spaces that made you want to leave straight away! The nicest rooms were given up to the shop and studios at the back beyond the peaceful courtyard. The latest exhibition didn't help either- some rather depressing paintings and prints by local artists like Adrian Henri etc. based on the novel "Under The Volcano" by the troubled writer Malcolm Lowry.
Time to be cheered up by some Jean Tinguely sculpture at the Tate!

Slightly underwhelming - the show curated by Michael Landy was very thin and contained hardly any large works and very few that were working. Indeed many looked so fragile that they would probably self destruct if plugged into the mains!
Even so it was light relief after the Bluecoat and I enjoyed very much seeing the short film of the "Homage To New York" and the documentary of Michael Landy talking to people who knew Tinguely and witnessed the "Homage To New York" event some 49 years ago.
Hazel was pleased that so many of her students had turned up despite the weather.
Hada nice lunch of soup and roll in the Tate cafe with Nick who teaches on the Interactive Arts course. Expensive but we were hungry and need to rest our weary feet.
Considered walking further to other galleries but we decided two was enough for one day and Hazel was still feeling under the weather.

Widget

Social Whirl

Quite a busy weekend for a change with a trip out to Yorkshire with Tony and Penny on Friday to meet up with Dave,Nick and Joan at a posh pub , high up on the moors near Rochdale or was it Huddersfield? Anyway, it was a very nice meal and good drop of Black Sheep bitter. We had a quick walk to take some photos waiting for everyone to turn up. Most can be found at Flickr.
Afterwards went to a garden centre to look at the Xmas lights ( see Flip video above ). I was tempted to buy some LED candles but decided I prefer the real thing.
Yesterday it was an invite to Adela and Will's lovely old house the other side of Northwich for a house warming. More lovely food and home made cider. Met all the family and got a tour of the rambling house on the side of a steep hill. The back garden looks more like a cliff. Adela and Will have plans for terraces and chickens etc. One can imagine the chickens all roped together and wearing crampons hanging on for dear life. Maybe mountain goats would be a better option?
Had to leave early to get Archie who was having dinner at a friends house.

The social whirl continues today with a trip over to Alsager and Sunday Lunch with Tony and Penny. Archie took two ukulele's so he could show Tony some chords and they played Tiptoe Through The Tulips etc.
Nice nut roast and all the trimmings, soup and ice cream. Pineapple upside down cake. Yum!
Went for a walk along the Salt Line afterwards to burn off some calories. The Salt Line is an old railway track that was closed down in the 60's and eventually changed into a path for ramblers. From it's highest point you can see Mow Cop and the Alsager Tip.

The Salt Line

Charity Market

It was the yearly charity market today. Sadly it seems to have been taken over by charities that insist on a tombola stall. Hardly any books or records etc. There's just so many packets of bath salts and tins of prunes you are able to accomodate. I'm never lucky at such things and despite plunging my hand into the numbered cork drum many a time Ive always seem to walk away with the knitted loo roll cosy!
The charity shops proved just as fruitless. We had to make do with our bargains from Aldi. It was jam packed today and old codgers were getting their trolleys in a twist and blogging the isles. One appeared to be in the pay of Aldi and was exclaiming very loudly to all in earshot about the wonderful savings on marmalade and sliced loaves. I know - that's why we come here I felt like saying but just smiled approvingly.
Archie is off today for some reason and so bored he is actually doing some piano practice!
In the news this morning a scientific survey suggesting that teenagers do need a lie in until noon and its not because they are lazy but need 12 hours sleep.
Latest set of collages at Scrapiteria on the theme of Dinner Guests of which the collage above is just one. The new theme is Unnatural Phenomenon ( or something similar ) so that should be fun. I'm off now to find my clippings of three toed sloths.Or three humped camels-

Fireworks In The Park

Went to the annual Round Table firwork and bonfie extravaganza in Verdin Park which was well up to the usual high standard. Grand finale was impressive when sparks and bits of debris rained down on the essembled throng! A pall of smoke drifted over us and hung in the air above the infirmary. Squelched back through the soggy leaves to the car parked several miles away breathing in the toxic fumes and smell of damp duffle coats. Oh, it was me.
Short film as my Flip camera was low on batteries.

Beer Feeding and Ferdie The Fly Day

Yes, it's 26 years since Hazel and I first went out together and we've been together more or less ever since. We choose the 5th November for our Anniversary as it's quite easy to remember and the evening that sparks flew at the bonfire party in Alsager. I think we did meet up a couple of times before that with friends tagging along - at the Postal Museum in London and in an Alsager pub. I can't remember where Ferdie made an appearance but he seemed much larger then and wore a handy rucksack with a tin bottle of what flies like to drink best. He seems to have lost some weight and aquired a handy embroidered bag with his name on. On the reverse it says "For Mickle xxx"
The Bear Feeding is also an "in joke" of sorts that only very good friends can possibly understand. Come to the Beer Feeding and bring some sparklers. There will be toffee and cakes. Ferdie is welcome too as long as he doesn't sit all over the jelly!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Roger and Jilly Visit

Nice to see our old chums Roger and Jilly from way down in Sussex drop by for a quick overnight visit. They came via Scotland and some other old friends of their's en route.
Had a nice meal with champagne last night and watched some fireworks to celebrate. Hazel lit loads of candles in the garden (or did she? )
Lovely musical improvisation later after the dippy chocolate thingy? Archie lent Roger a ukulele and he also brought his guitar along as he did a gig with the blues band up in the North somewhere. ( The award winning author Ken Follett plays in the band too )


Took some film which is on YouTube.
Today Hazel had to go to college to do her lecture on Creative Methodology but we had a leisurely breakfast and went to town to wander round the charity shops and the market.
Jilly and Roger bought all kinds of stuff including tons of books ( some from library sale) and a china chicken to put eggs in. Jilly found the ellusive plastic funnel she'd always wanted!
I got a book about 60's beat groups from UK for 75p in library sale and one about country living and how to wattle your daubs etc.
Home for lunch of various exotic cheeses, bread, crackers and salad.
They have gone home now and should be almost there.


Roger contemplates buying a special Dinky.

House Warming

Nice to get invited over to our new neighbour for a kind of house warming party last night. Rob had invited a few of his old neighbours who included artists Will and Adela who sound like they do some very amusing performances and installations in the North West area. You can see Adela's blog HERE.
Always good to meet up with like minded people as this rarely happens in this area.
The two boot sales today were very sparse but we did manage to get a few odd bargains including a Fats Waller homage LP by Neville Dickie and some 20p CD's of King Crimson and Ian McNab to name but a few.
Hazel bought a cloche clamp ( in its original box!) and some scratchy 78's including George Formby and a nice hawaiian guitar duet by Ferera & Franchini who sound more like an Italian firm of solicitors.
Also a convex lens, smaller lenses, sewing sets and travelling clothes hangers in their own fabric case.

Marbury Walk

Nice autumnal walk yesterday to see the leaves in all their glory. No boot sales so nice to get out for some fresh air and take a few photos. Most are on Flickr ( see right ).
Surprisingly few walkers in the woods despite the pleasant weather. Hazel and Archie kicked up the leaves and made mounds on the paths for small boys to ride their bikes in.
Amused at antics of diving moorhen and the seagull that was surprised when he re-surfaced allmost underneath him!

Mostly a quiet weekend of internal reflection and reading the papers- doing a bit of collage and watching a strange Norwegian film that Esther sent us.
Found an excellent bit of freeware that transforms YouTube clips into files for DVD. I made a compilation of old Spike Jones clips which is great albeit rather low-fi.
You can find it at dvdvideosoft.com

Rory McLeod

Fabulous evening at Northwich Folk Club last night being entertained by Rory McLeod - travelling troubadour from London and now resident of the Orkneys. We saw him a couple of years ago there and he was still wearing the same T-shirt! Some of the same songs too but all our favourites so that didn't matter. Not only a gifted guitar player he can play the mouth organ , spoons and the percussive board he stands on. He mentioned a trombone too but that was left in the van. Goaded by Hazel I had a quick word afterwards and told him we lived in Lambeth Walk for a while - trying to up my cockney credentials. He didn't seem all that impressed - mind you, he was trying to roll up some microphone cable and get off to the next gig at the time. He did pose for this photo though with his old collaged guitar case. Sorry my snap doesnt really do either justice!

Coo!

Back in the old time machine to 1987 when life seemed a lot simpler - no double chins to be seen and we won things like a Weekend In Bognor with daft collaged postcards sent to City Limits ( now defunkt ) magazine. Hada lovely time by the sea watchimg the bathers in their zimmer frames waddle down the beach and stayed in a very posh B&B on the seafront. I cant remeber much about it except making a sand castle and sending a postcard back to City Limits to say we were having a "wonderful time - wish you were here". On the train home we made friends with a friendly pigeon ( see above) We later wrapped it in brown paper ( no vinegar ) and sent it to Tony as he liked pigeons and often made his own from plywood and chicken wire.
Beano T-shirts were also all the rage. I have seaid too much already!

City Limits were very good to us in the 80's as they seemed to enjoy my cards and we used to win stuff on a regular basis. It didn't seem like a week went by without cinema and theatre tickets dropping onto our doormat, handy if you were struggling on a student grant and part time wage in a health food shop. Also won videos and books and once a minute shopping trolley dash around a record store ( but without the trolley ) where I got 40 plus african LP's and a hernia.

P.S. Good news on the medical front. Just got letter from hospital saying all is pretty normal for someone of my age so nice to know at last that my aches were due to diverticula and should be fine if I continue my diet of muesli and grit.

Birthday Boy

Our boy is a big long lanky 17 year old now and refuses to have his photo on the internet ( on this blog anyway ) Friends of Archie can find him elsewhere. Hazel doesnt like to be on here either so I'm a bit limited to just me and what I've been up to so sorry for any lack of great detail.
We went to Granma's for tea on Sunday and Archie blew out his candles ( photo here ) and I ate far too much cake after carefully picking off the melted wax!
I have probably said too much already. This was NOT granma's cake but a fruit cake with icing that Hazel had piped ARCHIE on in sickly bogey green icing. The candles burned like sodium flares and smelled rather similar. I have probably said too much.......etc.

Today the peace and tranquility is broken only by the men from Northwich Glass laughing at our nick-nacks and filling the holes under the window sills left by the other blokes two weeks ago. It didnt take them long thankfully. They only needed one cup of coffee and they were off to the next repair job. One put a tender in for the "over cladding" as I happened to mention all the other jobs that need doing. ( They don't miss a trick do they? )

What did I expect for the 13th. A magpie reflected in the mirror at the bottom of the garden? Does that count as lucky or does the 13th cancell that out? Anyway it all seems to be going to plan - the kettle leaking all over the kitchen table ( luckliy still under guarentee ) no sign of that letter from the doctor - door catch falling off at regular intevals etc.

Nearly time to go and burn the dinner so better leave it here. Shhhh! Mum's the word.
You don't know me right?

Barb and Des Visit

We dont get that many visitors but always nice to see friends and family and have some treats. My sister Barb and her other half, Des, drove up from basildon to see us for a couple of days and we took them to see the gardens at Tatton Park(see above) and have a butcher's round Knutsford. Popped in a few charity shops but didnt get much - Hazel found an embroidered tablecloth. Had a light lunch of leek and potato soup and crusy bread at the Penny Farthing Cafe or whatever it's called. It has tons of old boneshaker's and bikes and penny farthings hung up in the rafters. A little toy train chugs round the pelmet at the top to distract diners from their puddings. We had some pecan pie and barb and Des had lemon drizzle cake - yum!

The gardens behind the gift shop at Tatton were a best kept secret. We had no idea they were so big and contained things like a maze, a chinese pagoda, wonderful topiary, a kitchen garden full of pumpkins, lakes, bridges, ponds, follies, huge old trees and miles of footpaths.
Also a giant fern house full of giant ferns of every shape and size. Designed by the chap who did the Crystal Palace apparently.
Lots of gardeners at work pruning the fruit trees and sweeping up the dead leaves.
An italina garden with fountains and lots of statues. I was snapping away for ages with my camera. Most of photos are on my Flickr stream.

Looking Through Windows

This old photo takes me back. To the Isle Of Wight to be exact and the small steam line from Sandown to Somewhere Else? It might not be Sandown but definately somewhere else. Archie looks about 4 or 5 and enjoyed the ride I think . It was a very nice holiday although our B&B was up a very steep hill pushing the buggy up there every evening was very exhausting after a hard day on the beach!
Having yet more windows put in so a loud racket of hammering and splintered wood being wrenched from the wall as I write this. An alarming number of bricks were loose upstairs above the larger window so he's using a prop downstairs just in case. Fingers crossed!
I've had to stay in today to make tea and keep an eye on things though I'm sure are reliable and could work without tea (only one wanted tea ) or supervision but they did ask to borrow a dustpan and brush and the hoover so good job I was here!
Hopefully it will be worth all the disruption. I was up early putting the dust sheets around and moving electrical gadgets- the TV, DVD player etc. so they did not trip over them or cover them in a layer of dust.
I have washed the curtains and luckily a sunny day - ideal for drying.

Thump! thump! thud! crud! etc.

Another Week - More Boots

Another week has flown by. Two boot sales today- one at Weaverham and the other at Verdin Park. They were just queuing up to go into the High School as we arrived so I guesss they were a bit late starting. By the time we found a parking space the Q had trickled down and lots of the stalls had set up. I found a couple of DVD's one of which was Chumps At Oxford with Laurel & Hardy plus a few other shorts. Nice cleaned up copy - digitally enhanced with colour if you want it - I don't!
Hazel found a few old tatty packets of fuses, bulbs and nick-nacks for her blog.
Then to Verdin which was very quiet and no bargains atall. Hazel took Audrey later when she had woken up.
This is a collage for Scrapiteria - the latest theme being "Found". Most of my collage material is "found" in some way or other so quite an easy challenge. This old packaging from a bird feeder has been knocking around on my work table for a while now and so nice to be able to use it at long last.

Anderton Boot

I seem to have missed a whole week again.
Went to Anderton boot sale today which is a dozen or so stalls , some inside a community hall. Got some frames for Audrey who has given me some ofher watercolours to mount and put under glass for the church art and craft exhibition soon. Also two DVD's including The Seige with Bruce Willis which looks awful but was only 50p.
Hazel bought some old tools including calipers, a automatic centre punch and some dividers. They were a bit rusted up but a soaking in oil freed them up again.
We tried to find the boot at Cuddington but got a bit lost and came home again as I had an appointment at the hospital - another scan. I had to drink a pint of water before leaving so was bursting by the time we got there! Thankfully the scan only took 10 minutes.
Yesterday I walked to town and back as it was such a nice day - the whole weekend has been great, a real indian summer.
The Age Concern shop had it's annual "All You CAn Stuff In A Bag For A Pound" days and so I did just that like all the other vultures who descended on the place! I got a few bargains but mostly rubbish like some terrible japanese anime cartoons on DVD - from the 70's I should think. Also a big pile of birthday and xmas cards to collage over. Plus a book about Beachcomber - the humourous writer from the 30's and 40's.

Willow Pool

Hazel and I drove over to the Willow Pool Garden Centre near Lymm yesterday which was a treasure trove of old junk and rusty stuff as well as duck ponds, pots, fountains and topiary. Quite a maze to wander through and all seemd housed in once was an old fairground. Booths full of antiques and reproductions of antiques, flower pots, gargoyles and fallen angels. There was a cafe too with lots of individual huts and gazebos to sit in. A fascinating place to wander and take photos, of which I took many. (Go to Flickr to see them.)

We didnt buy anything as most of the stuff was expensive or else the price label had rotted away.
Drove back via Lymm and got a bit lost. Ended up at another garden centre at High Legh. This was a duller place though large. We used there fascilities and bought a drink and some biscuits. Hazel bought some bulbs for the Spring.
Last night we watched a second rate Hitchcock film called "Torn Curtain"- an unlikely tale about spies in East Berlin with Paul Newman and Julie Andrews who I couldnt take seriously in a role like that. It was two hours long too!
This morning we were up early for the boot sale at Hartford. Got there as they were all queued up to go in at 8. Had to wait for them to set up their tables and unload their wares. Hazel bought a big ol' tin trunk , a cast iron stool and a long framed mirror. Also a fez for Archie but he'll probably not wear it. The man on the stall did a belly dance for us which was a little alarming first thing in the morning!
I got a DVD by Dylan Moran who made me laugh when he was in Black Books. Not seen much of his stand-up show so this should be interesting.

Catching Up

I seem to have neglected my blog what with one thing and another - so heres a brief catch up of all thats been going on.
Firstly these are images of some of the amazing match box labels we bought at the annual matchbox labellists ( there's a special name but can't think what it is? ) fair at the Memorial Hall in Northwich. We missed it last year so made sure I wrote it down on the calendar for this year.
Very friendly folk on the tables who were happy to sell labels for a few pence .We could have stayed there all day , rooting among the piles of smoking related ephemera but our arms and fingers began to ache with all the sifting and flipping you have to do!
Hazel bought some great metal lucifer cases too - with ingenius lids that and drawers that opened out. I found her three for only a pound each. Also a nice tin A.1. Tobacco holder.

Archie did well with his GCSE's and secured his place at 6th form college. He's been to the signing in day and starts soon. He's been doing lots of cycling to built up his leg muscles for the ride everyday. It's nice to see him become more independent and go off on his own and to visit friends in the next village etc.
The promised bar-b-q summer never really arrived and the weather has been pretty awful. Lots of rain and clouds. But we have managed a few trips out. To Wrexham and Wales to deliver some collages to a obscure gallery in a converted barn in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say it was a bad choice and I ended up going back to get them after a few weeks. We did go to Wrexham again though so not completely wasted trip. Wrexham is a pleasant enough town with lots of markets - indoor and out and loads of charity shops to keep us busy.

Rick Cox dropped in recently for some lunch on is way to Cumbria where he was putting up his exhibition at the Kendal Arts Centre. Had a nice chat about what he was doing. He gave me a nice home made book of workplaces and studiosn which I appear - or rather one corner of my untidy workroom appears with its teetering piles of CD's and cassettes!
Have had a bit of worrying lower back/pelvic region pain so been to Infirmary for some tests. Nothing conclusive so have to go for more soon. Not looking forward to that much, especially those embarressing backless gowns you have to wear and you shuffle round holding your clothes in a wire basket!
Had a nice meal and drink in Middlewhich recently with Tony and Penny - on a pub by the Trent & Mersey canal. Walked round the town afterwards and popped in some charity shops,
Have been to Chester and Frodsham and lots of boot sales. Bargains include some tin badges including Roberts Bakery ( just down the road from us ) and Rolo ( I'd give you my last ROLO anytime!) Hazel has bought tons of old tins and gadgets ( see her blog for details ) and plants. Doing lots of gardening butonly managed tow bar-b-q's.
We have new front windows coming soon so that should be fun. More tea for the workers and house full of dust.
Did I mention we went to Yorkshire and to the Peak District? I think I probably did.