Cardiff

I seem to be a little behind in my bloggings for some reason. I thought I had blogged about our trip to Cardiff but seems I haven't. Most remiss of me as we had a great time courtesy of my old art school buddy Rick Cox and his lovely wife Alison who made us feel very welcome and let us stay a couple of nights.
Before we got there though we drove - or Hazel very bravely did - down via Shrewsbury and Knighton and popped into the Acton Scott Farm Museum which was really nice and great place to have our picnic lunch ( see above outside the old school house ).
Lots to see including the farrier making a horse shoe, a man sawing a big log, big brick ovens ( as seen in the TV prog.about the farm ) and folk dressed in the garb of the day- sewing doilies and knitting ploughs etc.
Well worth a visit if ever you pass that way. Some stunning countryside around the Welsh borders.
Getting into Cardiff was a little more scary despite the Tom Tom who led us a merry dance. Hazel was getting quite nervous by all those huge roads and roundabouts - which lane do we get in? How should I know?! Anyway we finally made it and Rick took us to the Chapter Arts Centre to see an attend an opening of a dreadful exhibition - scrawly drawings pinned to batons. The book shop was more interesting and Archie bought a Royal Wedding sick bag that some enterprising artist had made. He bought it with the 5 pound note he found in the car park at Acton Scott.

After watching a bit of the Royal Welding shinnanegans the following morning we walked through the park to the Castle and had a look around there. Amazing place with very ornate rooms and battlements, a keep and dungeons with Vera Lynne singing in them ( to keep up morale during the war ).
Then a look round the shops and the long walk back through the park, In the evening we were taken by Rick and Alison to the Bay Arts opening ( so much art in Cardiff!) and he shows us his studio upstairs. Then to the docks to see the new buildings ( see above). Afterwards a wonderful chinese meal nearby which was the tastiest Ive ever had. Our treat ofcourse.
The next day Rick and I went to Bristol to the Spike Island Open Studios and the Arnolfini to see a great book arts fair. Met up with lots of people I knew including Mark Pawson, Red Fox Press and Tony and Penny Eve. Not enough time to see it all and I'd run out of money so only had enough to pay for lunch and buy three badges.
Art overload now by this time so glad to get back to Cardiff for relaxing evening with some of the ISSUE participants ( an assembling book that Rick started some years ago ) and delicious food that Alison prepared.
It was home the next day and got caught up in traffic again despite being Sunday and going a different route. Eventually made it back to Acton Scott for a break and a sandwich we bought at an ASDA store. Took us 5 hours to get home!

Yorkshire Derbyshire Trip

Went over to see our old chum Dave in Yorkshire last week for a couple of days. Hazel bravely drove over the Peaks via Glossop where we stopped off for some lunch and wander around the charity shops. Then on to Marsden via that village where Foggy and Nora Batty live. It's a bit of a tourist trap though so avoided the crowds of geriatrics having cream teas at Cleg's Cafe or whatever its called. Last Of The Summer Wine country. Didn't see any old codgers sliding down the cobbles in an old bath - most suprising!

Dave introduced us to his new neighbour who had bought his barn and converted it into a very nice little cottage - with three bathrooms no less! Amazed at the transformation. Walked round the village and popped into the only charity shop open. Bought some snacks at the health food shop.
In the evening had a nice walk along the Huddersfield canal just behind the B&B we were staying in. Had a delicious and filling meal in the swanky restaurant before retiring. Very warm though and when in night by Hazel trying to wedge open the broken sash window with a pile of paperbacks ( see her blog )!
The next day we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with dave driving. It was supposed to be 40 minutes but Dave forget his sat nav and we drove around Wakefield for 45 mins trying to spot a sign to it. Found it eventually and managed to park despite the place being choc-a-block. I didn't realise modern sculpture was so popular! Beautiful grounds and so much to see including Jaume Plensa, Mel Brimfield and Andy Goldsworthy etc. You needed a whole day to see it all really and we just had a few hours.

Stand By Me - Playing For Change

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

This is great - thanks to Roger for pointing this out on Friendface.

Spring Has Sprung

Enjoying a few days out into the Cheshire countryside. Yesterday to Frodsham and the Lady Hayes crafty junk emporiums. The lanes still had quite few daffodils along the verges which was nice to see although some were passed their best.
Not mush cop at Lady Hayes which seems to have gone down hill - now full of expensive modern repro and tat. Hazel managed to find a few jokes and a sheet of old buttons. Also a nice brass magnifying thingy on three legs for looking at fleas.
I didnt get anythings. Hazel's sister Audrey came too and got a few nick nacks.

The big car boot at Chelford was a bit of a marathon last Sunday. Hundreds of stalls to look round and a bouncy castle shaped like Noah's Ark. I managed to resist taking of my shoes and going for a bounce!
Got a few films including The Crazies, The Road, and Nathan Barley, Hazel got a few things but I forget what. Tins? A nice one of Southend Pier and another with a squirrel on the inside of the lid, Good for keeping your nuts (or bolts ) in.

Every Day Is Like Sunday

My mother would probably have preferred a bit of Frankie Vaughn or Robert Earl but Morrisey is my choice for a rainy Sunday.
Went to two indoor boot sales - one in Tarporley and the other in Winsford. Both were very quiet and more pleasant than usual - not having to squeeze through the crowds to see any bargains. Didnt find much though- some cheap frames and a DVD. Hazel got a few plants for her Mom who came over later for a slice of cake and some tea. Archie showed them his new tin whistles and animations which they hadn't seen. The rain came down.

Knit Yourself A Badger Day

I seem to be a little behind in my bloggage as Stanley might have said. Two legends here on the Parkinson show sometime back in the 70's I imagine.
No boot sales last week and the one before that was a complete wash out. We did try the new antique place in Barnton though which used to be an old pub called the Red Lion - it has a lovely view of the chemical works by the River Weaver. Quite expensive and really not much of interest. Afterwards a walk around Marbury and Hazel bought some herbs in the garden centre - Thyme, French parsley and Rosemary. For pots by the back door.
Malcolm the PC bloke came round the other day to delete lots of temp files from our ailing computer. I could have done that myself if I'd known where they were! He added some AntiSpyWare app. and charged 60 quid. Gulp! I shall try and fix it myself next time. It seems a little better now but not 60 quids worth better!

Not much else to report. The usual shopping trips into town - no real bargloaders to speak of. Don't forget to knit yourself a badger!

Jammin' With Hegley

Nice to see John Hegley yesterday who came over from Manchester on the train for lunch. We were hoping to go for a walk but he missed the earlier train so we only had a couple of hours to eat and discuss the things on the walls that John seemed interested in. Archie was encouraged to get his ukulele for a quick jam session after lunch of goats cheese quiche, salad and crusty bread etc. I managed to capture the last 90 seconds of it ( see above). Hazel was playing the old crunchy cornflake cluster box. We gave John a lift to Crewe station afterwards so he could get back to London. Off to Scotland next week for gigs he said so try and catch him if you can. While he was here he coloured in a copy of his latest little book on the Donut Press which is called The Adventures Of Monsieur Robinet which has 3 new line drawings added in this edition. He took from his pocket some tiny fragments of crayon which he carefully held in his fingertips and coloured in the illustrations. We lent him some coloured pencils but he seemed to prefer these crayon pellets. They smudge better apparently.

Previously..... did I mention the Fire Engine Museum in Tarporely? There is one indeed which looks like a large shed but has a big arched door filled with glass and inside is an old horse drawn fire engine ( without the horse ) surrounded by other fire fighting paraphenalia like brass helmets and stirrup pumps etc. It was closed being a Sunday but hope to go back sometime to look more closely although you can see it all quite well by looking through the front door!

"Tarporley first had an independent station in 1866 and there as been a fire station here ever since. At that time, 1866 - 1957, they were situated at Park Road.

The Park Road site has since become the location for the Fire Brigade Museum, housing various memorabilia plus a horse drawn Shand Mason pump owned now by Maurice Hunt, one of our retired firefighters. Maurice also acts as curator for the museum, opening up and closing the doors at each end of the day.

In 1957 the station moved to a new location in the centre of the High Street until 1993. This has since become a chocolate shop known as "The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop". Whilst the fire engine was housed at High Street, the fire service Land Rover still resided in the old "hearse house", that should speak for itself, it's where the hearse used to be kept long ago, which is right next to the old fire station in Park Road.

In 1993 we moved to our present address in Birch Heath Road. "

The King's Peach

Not been to see it yet. Archie has and said it was OK. Too hyped up for my liking. All the cinemas near us have closed now so have to go miles to see films anyway. Quite happy to watch DVD's. Have quite a pile to get through as it is.
Still, it's nearly Spring and the sparrows are twitterpated or high on sunflower seeds - one or the other.
Nice weekend of trips out to Chester on Saturday and Tarporley on Sunday.
Met up with Hazel's chum Alex, who used to work at Manchester Art Gallery, She lives in Sheffield so quite a train journey to get to Chester. She'd never been though so a treat for her to see the Roman Wall and the River Dee ( Hazel and Alex went on a boat trip ) and the shops ofcourse. Plenty of buskers out in force. A would be Jimmy Page playing Led Zeppelin riffs and a violinist with backing track that is cheating a bit I always think. Also various folkies and a tiny tot duo on guitars.
I went off on my own to scour the charity shops but didnt find any bargains. We met up at lunchtine at Spud-U-Like ( Spudoolickay as Victoria Wood once said ) and ha d a very boring spud with a mountain of cheese and tuna on top with horrible plastic cutlery! Wont go there again! Mind you it did give us a chance to see the Roman ruins in the basement.
Later we wandered around some more until my feet ached and met up again for a coffee in a posher coffee shop with proper cups and spoons. Then back to the bus stop and the park and ride- waved Alex off to the station and her train home.
The indoor boot sale at Tarporley was much like previous sales - I seemed to be looking through the saem piles of books and records! I did buy some films though including Galaxy Quest ( an old favourite), Once Upon A Time In Mexico and Bill Bailey in Concert double disc set. Hazel bought some embroidery for her friend and a tin pencil box.

Knutsford

Nice day out to Knutsford to meet up with Tony and Penny. First we did a tour of the charity shops and suchlike. Hazel popped in a clothes shop whilst me and Archie looked in the crafty art/card shop. Didnt find any bargains. Archie bought a china pig with a slot. Some project he has in mind.
Then we met up with Tony and Penny at a pizza place which was incredibly noisy being half term - full of toddlers and kids making a racket. Could hardly hear yourself think!

Nice pizza though . I had the goats cheese and spinach.
Afterwards we wandered around for a while trying to find out where to have a coffee. Penny Farthing was packed also so went in the Visitors Centre to see the tapestry that 3,000 locals made. A helpful lady volunteer told us all about it.
Back to the Penny Farthing Museum Cafe which was not so crowded now and we found a seat next to some rusty boneshakers.
Waiting in today for the gasman again. Seems to be an ongoing saga! Hope he arrives soon - I hate waiting around for people to turn up.
Out for a walk this morning in the sunshine - lovely springlike weather, Felt very overdressed in my duffle coat. Had to turn the central heating off as it was so hot indoors.
Ideal day to put a new roof on the shed - nevermind. Hopefully it will nice again tomorrow.

Teddy Bare

New animation from Archie he made today on Flash.

Bum Diddy Bum Bum!

A new "ish" artistamp sheet for Mary Anne who mentioned his stamp book and the possibility of a Yoko Ono page to got with the Fluxus page and Ray Johnson pages etc. Ken Friedman? Those others who were artistamp pioneers. So inspired I made this for him. Used some old "Cult Mail" frames and some bottoms (Yoko made a film called "Bottoms" - I think John Lennon's bottom was imortalised in it ) Anyway seemed like an obvious thing to try - having found some bottoms in an old book by Alas Smith and Jones annual.

The last few days have been a bit frustrating with the broadband playing up and finally going off altogether. The engineer who came today said it was the old Netgear router. So gave us a BT home hub version which worked straight away and got up to 14 megs. Even the engineer was impressed who only gets 4megs where he lives. he says its because we live about 500 yards from the telephone exchange!

We had a nice chat about the how far computers have come over the last twenty years - getting all nostalgic for the Atari, NES and Megadrive etc. The trouble is it all goes out of date so quickly. Even two year old computers are considered old hat and rubbish now- things moving apace! Its hard to keep up with technology.

Thankfully the gas men have gone and taken their piles of rubble and traffic lights with them. Hazel is still waiting for them to return and paint her white line again which had tow holes drilled into it and big tarmac patches turning it into a couple of hyphens.

Liverpool Trip

Another week or two has flown by and I'm lagging behind with my bloggage.
I've forgotten most of it but last week we went to Liverpool , all three of us and met Adela and Will at Hartford station. No room on the car park so had to park down a side street. A nice sunny day after all the rain and wind. A and W took us to a nice tea place they knew called Brew close to Oxfam- where all the trendy shops are. Had time for a chat and a croissant and coffee before heading round the corner to FACT where the first part of the Nam June Paik was on. Mostly videos alas but some interesting rooms - one with a big cone you could lie underneath as spirals of multicoloured light were projected upon it from above - rather like falling down a rabbit hole . Most alarming so had to get out of the room quite quickly before I was sick! The chap sitting in there looking after it said he found it very relaxing! Hah!
Then to the Bluecoat to see a nice mixed show with general theme of "Underwater" and included a Bill Viola video and a huge submarine propped up on one end made of wood and frottaged paper ( see above ). Also a nice sub automata attached to wriggly squid. Also nice were several trumpet shaped fog horns with sounds of the sea playing through them suspended in mid air. Went for lunch in greasy spoon type cafe nearby and had cheese toasties.
Then to the Tate to see earlier Nam June Paik stuff which had some nice robots made of piled up old televisions. Lots of old TV's with new innards playing Fluxus type videos of jangled image bank stuff. Starting to get a headache after all this and all arted out! So we made our way home soon after W & A headed back to station. Popped in a few shops first including the Pound Shop but didn't buy anything.

Today I am waiting in for the gas men to dig up our old pipes and replace with new plastic ones. They are doing the whole of Northwich it seems. have been noting their progress - getting closer and closer - with much trepidation for months now. Finally in our road and making a right mess - traffic chaos and parking chaos too. Hazel luckily found a spot over the road on a neighbours frontage while they were away on holiday. Now they are back and she is still there - so don't know where she'll be parking next. Hoping the pipe would be fixed today but doesn't seem likely what with the holes full of water and slow progress generally.

In the meantime making some collaged and rubber stamped pages for Issue 21- an assembling book thing for a friend of a friend. Only 14 pages so quite manageable. Have found a few old camera adverts and finished it off this morning - enveloped and ready to post.

Dials (New Improved)

Latest version with 8 dials that Archie has been making for his "A" level art project.

DIY

We bought some Spring Green emulsion for the front room recently at B&Q so the other day I did the first couple of walls and moved half the furniture around so I could get paint onto the walls and not on the pictures, objets d'arts and nick nackery etc. The process of moving all the clutter and collections took longer than the actual painting!
Today I did the second half of the remaining walls which if anything was even harder as I have to move all the stuff from the mantlepiece and the big mirror that is above it- not to mention the toys, candles, gew-gaws and whatnots! Also had to move part of our DVD collection so I could access the shelves round the back of the telly and toy cabinet. It took a while and uncovered lots of spiders , fluff and dust. So had to hoover and dust a bit which isn't my favourite occupation. Then who DOES enjoy it?

It does look a lot better now its done ofcourse so well worth the time and effort.

We have a new cooker now and still trying to figure out it's various knobs and dials. I managed to burn the lasagne the other evening but it tasted fine if a little crunchy! I have a newly rebuilt tooth so was wary of crunching too hard and breaking it again! Yesterday the brussel sprouts were a bit underdone so still trying to get it right. It is a better oven than the one we used for 12 years though which was the cheapest we could afford at the time. This one has extra thick glass doors and you hardly know its on - which is part of the problem!

Dials

Archie's latest art project made from recycled biscuit tins mostly - for his "A" level course.

Happy New Year!

A relative of Key Hole Kate ( remember her?) that Hazel found at the antique place at the Crafts Centre the other day when she took Audrey over to do some shopping. She also got a big bag of candles from the candle shop. Audrey got some blue and white china so she was happy.
So that's Xmas and New year's over for another year - another decade zipped by at quite alarming speed! We have new toys to play with and more inches around the waste to loose. I'm not making any New Years resolutions though as I know from past experience they don't last past January. One collage a day maybe? We shall see.
Archie is home from his party at a friends and catching up with some sleep on the sofa. Hazel is making some bread in the bread machine. We intended on going for a walk but it's raining and murky. Catching up with some bloggage. Set recorder for Bee Story and Wall-E this afternoon. We had fakey bacon and scrambled egg sarnies for lunch. New Scrapiteria blog theme is "House" so off now to cut out some likely bits from the old mags that Will and Adela gave us for Crimble.

Crimble Mess

I bit behind in my blogging. Very cold here still and even a bit of snow as you can see. We have been let off lightly though as some parts are up to their armpits in the stuff!

Not much to tell really - the usual shopping trips and collaging. The sniffles have abated and left with a tickly cough that refuses to go away.
Will and Adela came for lunch yesterday which was nice. Had some crackers to pull. Inside were the usual tat- plastic shoe horn ( Will made into a dogs tongue ), small playing cards, metal puzzle, pink heart thing to hang on your phone? Adela put it on her camera. Just a simple lunch of home made vegetable soup and crusty bread followed by shop bought mince pies and cream.

Sent off all out cards and packets so at the mercy of the postal service and the weather.

A bit more shopping to do. Glad we are not travelling this Xmas - sounds like hell!

Sniffle!

Still laid low with colds, viruses, sneezles, snuffles and bugs of all shapes and sizes. No lobster men from outer space yet though, but still time. This old collage (above) was picked for a booklet that Artists Newsletter did a few years back when the Millenium Bug was all the rage. I did a few buggy collages back then for a travelling show that did the rounds in the North West. I rarely get invited to them anymore or maybe I cant be bothered to take part - too much of a faff.

Still freezing but no snow like they've had down South and East. Amazing really that we have escaped so lightly. better not speak too soon though - I expect we shall be up to our armpits in it next week!

Managed to trudge into town a few times for a bit of shopping - posting parcels etc.
Ordered a new washing machine and fridge/freezer as the old ones ( bought when we first moved to Cheshire ) are clapped out. The washing machine pump has stopped pumping so a big pile of dirty washing is piling up. Hopefully the new one will arrive Sunday and we can get some clean clothes for next week.

Time for a hot crumpet.

The Secret Life Of The Collagist

The virus or whatever it is still refuses to relinquish it's grasp of my being. Man Flu permeates my vitals. Sneezoids, choughing , snuffling are the order of the day - not to mention the fneedling.
Appetite isn't affected though thankfully so was able to make a dirty great binful of broccoli bake on Monday and a trough of Macaroni Cheese on Tuesday. I cant remember much about Wednesdays meals but Thursday I made a nut roast with fresh chestnuts that Hazel's Mom and Sister gave us. Jolly nice it was too.
Broke the key on Hazel's workshop so Northwich Glass came round to fix it. The guarentee had run out but they didn't charge as we are such good customers. That's what we thought anyway. Only took a few ticks of wonky clock.
Archie has taken it over just lately - making stuff for his art A level - tin things, influenced by Andy Hazell. They look pretty good too for a beginner. he even has the sticky plastered fingers to prove it!

Hazel came down with the same virus and had to have two days off college on Thurs and Friday.
My flu or cold or whatever it is hasnt gone away. Just when you think has it pops up again as bad as before. First thing in the morning is worst.
Went to the college to talk to Archie's teachers. He seems to be doing OK although the art tutor has no idea how hard Archie works at home. He's rather baffled by the control panels I think.
More prostate checks at docs which wasn't much fun. Blood test OK so he put me on some tablets but they make me feel dizzy so stopped taking them after one day. I have decided not to drink tea anymore after 7 o'clock at night and stick to cocoa or a milky drink of some kind. This seems to help quite alot and I only woke up once last night so was able to get some kip for a change.

And now a poem -

What is that smells like glue?
Is it the macaroni cheese or you?
I cant seem to stick to the things I do
So going back to the old UHU.

The collages here are quite old I made for Hazel's birthday and our anniversary.

One Hour Photo

Archie has made a remake of One Hour Photo that originally starred Robin Williams for a college project.

Another Weakly Snet

Did I mention it was our 27th Bear Feeding anniversary? No flies with rucksacks but some chocs and the usual enigmatic cards. I gave Hazel a Blurb book of collages which seemed like a good idea to try. I somehow managed to duplicate tow of the pages- whether through miopia or dyslexia or just excitement I don't know!

Sneezing and sniggling all day long. Sniffing too. A nasty cold which lasted for days - still have it in fact as I write this. Archie has it too and had a day off college.
managed to drag ourselves out to celebrate anyway - a nice meal at the Crafts Centre posh restuarant. Looked round the antiques afterwards. Hazel bought some postcards.
Up all night with coughing and calls of nature. Not sure if its the cold or the prostate. I was due another check up anyway so went to the docs the next day and he sent me to the Infirmary for the usual blood test etc.
Not heard anything yet.
Archie went to London on a college trip. Had to get up and the crack of dawn with Hazel and get a train to Stockport and another to Crewe to join party. Hazel had to drive to Crewe later to fetch him. Luckily she had no college the next day so was able to get some sleep.

Not sure why these photos of Southend's old bandstand are here. I could not find anything else.
Missed the annual charity market due to feeling awful and full of cold. It could even me Man flu - never quite sure of the difference.
Catching up with DVD's Ive bought recently as felt too lethargic to do anything else. Watched a good Orson Welles film "The Stranger" which I'd not seen before - a film noirish thriller about a nazi hunter played by Edward G. Robinson. Also an amusing animation called "Planet 51" and another "Rain With A Chance Of Meatballs".

Burning Car

Quite exciting here this morning as we drove up to the car park in town just behind marks and Sparks - a big plume of black smoke was rising up. A 3 wheeled Reliant had just burst into flames! We watched as the tyres exploded and the whole thing was soon engulfed - in the distance the sound of sirens. By the time the firemen got to the car park the car was a fire ball and then a steam cloud as they trained their hoses onto it from all angles . Hazel took a very bad photo with her crappy phone. I will try and upload it later to my Flickr account. When we returned to the car park after some shopping the car, or the mangle charred remains were being winched up a ramp onto a breakdown truck. What a mess. This is two days after our local dentist round the corner blew up - a faulty gas boiler!

The local paper will have a field day with this - they only have dog poop to write headlines about usually!

Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit - Bob Godfrey 1959

Sandstone Trail

Nice walk along the Sandstone Trail from Delamere to a small farmyard cafe over towards Willington? Will and Adela showed us where it was and led the way. We definately needed our walking boots as the ground was very tricky with roots of gnarled trees and boulders strewn along the way - not to mention the muddy puddles. Passed the riding course and stables up some steep hills and down again into a bit called the Urchins Kitchen which was an gulley carved out during the ice age with big impressive rocks either side. You can see it in this short film. The film is longer but Flickr doesn't allow any films longer than 90 seconds for some reason.
Will led us a merry dance through the undergrowth and brambles until we came out almost where we started! Thankfully a rest and a nice lunch at the cafe which was packed with ramblers and cyclists with Lycra shorts on - what a din. We wore our Halloween masks that W &A brought along for a photo opportunity . Delicious cheese and tuna toasties and we shared a slab of cake. The pressed apple juice was nice too.
Will and Adela showed us the various edible and non-edible fungi en route which they cleverly spotted in the undergrowth. The Stinkhorn and the Fly Alegaric? Followed by very mad bouncy dogs.

Our local dentist blew up yesterday apparently - a gas explosion! Luckily it happened after the clocks were put back an hour at 7:30am- an hour later and the dentist would be full of teeth!
I have an appointment for next week so expect it will be postponed now. Not sure how badly damaged the inside was.

Went for a walk to town and back this morning before the rain. Quite mild still for November. Got a few bits from Quality Save including some balsamic vinegar to make some more onion pickle - the last lot is almost gone. Also some cheap films from the Age Concern shop - Spiders and some old Mighty Mouse cartoons.

Liverpool Biennial

We went to Liverpool on the train today. Hazel had been before but keen to show us round and some of the things she'd discovered.
The car park was full at the station so it was touch and go whether she came along with Archie and me. Luckily she found a parking space nearby down a side road and joined us on the platform before the train arrived. It was pretty packed but we managed to get seats and enjoyed the 25 minute journey.
Most of the Biennale work was spread out over town in various old buildings and galleries around the old cathedral and down towards Chinatown and the more seedier parts of town.
A great deal of video work and installations to view and not so many paintings and 2 dimensional work. In one old tower a huge sword hanging from the ceiling. In FACT and great swathe of old clothes rigged like a mighty sail. In an old foundry an oriental lady like a modern Repunzel sat on a high platfom and cut white paper continously until it flowed down the walls and up into a huge hanging festoon.
Further on was the Young Contempories and art from Asia and the Netherlands. Art from all over the world infact.
Had a nice cheeseless toastie ( cheese lorry stuck up the M6 apparently ) and sald for lunch in CAC. More video and installation.
Popped in a nice antiquey junk shop on the way and found three old scratchy records so I was well pleased. Expect them on my Flickr stream and audio blog any day now.

Fado Fourday

A bit of an accident prone day culminating in a nosebleed but otherwise not too bad for a four day.
Walked briskly into town via the docs to drop off my prescription form. Still long tailback of traffic due to new gas pipes by the station. I was walking faster than the bus which always pleases me. Not many bargains but did find a nice Portuguese fado cassette in the Sally Army shop for 10p. The other cassette by some native Americans dancing round a cactus wasn't nearly so exciting!
I expect both will appear shortly on my audio blog if I can be bothered to get the ION turntable down from upstairs.

Post from Ennio Pauluzzi and Ron Bookless. Ron sent a nice 'zine that I contributed a couple of pages to. Also a CD of a podcast to conjured up by Bob Hampshire who sounds like a Hamster sucking on a helium balloon.
We be thankful for small Murphy's.

I made a delicious spinach bake. Yum!

More snaps here sent by Hazel's Uncle John and Auntie Audrey in OZ of our visit which seems ages ago now. Thats us posing with Bryan Ferry , an old convict who built a ferry over the Roxy River. The other is us on some lookout point - Sydney is far off on the horizon but you cant really see it from here. Actually I'm wrong having looked at it again- that's the tea and scones we had in the Norman Lindsay Gallery cafe. very nice they were too.

Pretty Typical

Valves and more valves! Archie continued his valve obsession with more this weekend from the Antique Fair- the same stall we bought his birthday valves from . He was able to see for himself the strange hirsute man behind the stall and try and haggle with him. He did finally get a small discount for being persistent. Hazel though was annoyed that his penny banks had gone up in price by a third! It seemed a big jump in just a week. Obviously the credit crunch is beginning to bite. Can we blame the government? Yes I think we can. Absolutely outrageous that antiques have shot up in price.

I am joking ofcourse.
I didn't find any bargains though toyed with the idea of buying a 78 for two quid but seemed a bit steep really. Audrey bought a small blue saucer and some postcards for Granma. We were subjected to Tescos afterwards for our sins.
I don't remember much about the last week. I scribbled a few words down in my diary but none of it is legible.
Something about a hippo wrestling in Aldi and gnat filing a snood?
We had a nice walk around Shackerly Mere and ignored the ducks. I took some photos of mushrooms that looked very poisonous and managed to tread in some dog poo.

A pretty typical weekend really.

Birthday Boy

Valves ! Valves! Yes, it's not many 18 year old get ancient crusty valves for their birthday from their mad parents. We know what he likes. He got some other nice stuff including driving lessons and DVD's and chocs. I was hoping to take him down the pub for a pint but he's got lots of homework to do- making dials - and a cranky art teacher breathing down his neck so maybe next week. We can still have some champers with out lasagne tonight though. Hic!
The boot sale this morning was a small affair round the back of the pub in town. Betty was there and I bought a DVD from her. Hazel bought four candles. Not much else.
Archie had a driving lesson and then Hazel quickly blew up a pile of balloons to hang in the window for his return. Also a banner saying "Happy Birthday" over the front door. Bruce told us about his horrible tenants who had to be evicted for not paying the rent, gas or electric. What a long and painful story that was. He just had to change all the locks on the doors.
We went over to Granma's to eat cake and Archie blew out the candles etc. We took a cake and Granma made a cake so we had cake coming out of our ears.
jack came over too this morning to give him a card and money. We looked through some old videos to try and find ones of Jack and Archie when they were 7 or 8 and used to play togther. Couldnt find them but found others that made us laugh of Archie with his Worm Hotel and paper mache puppets that were very funny. I'd forgotten just how chatty he was back then. Yack yack yack!
They are outside now doing some jig sawing and making dials from wood for the vacuum former in the art room at college.
I'm making a lasagne as that is what birthday boy has asked for.

Weakend

I think I have uploaded this photo before but its one of the few on the desktop at the moment due to some Friends ReUnited tinkering over the weekend. I joined again only to find out I hadn't really left. It kept telling me that someone was using my email address and code and then it dawned on me that it was me! Another senior moment. I seem to be getting more and more - just made a cheese and asparagus flan without eggs for some reason and in a very floppy plastic tray. It is oven proof but not ideal really. Shall have fun juggling it out of the oven and spilling contents down my leg.
Otherwise a fun packed weekend despite the torrential rain. Saturday was filled with shopping, collaging and some TV- watched Planet Of The Apes again- mainly for Archie's benefit who hadn't seen the original. He wasn't all that impressed. It still has it's moments of monkey fun.
Sunday was very wet but we foolishly drove ( or rather Hazel did with me cowering in the passenger seat) to a boot sale in Tarporley through rivers of rain making huge sploshing noises that made me jump and grab the gear stick. Hazel didn't appreciate this much as you can imagine! We got there eventually and amazed to see the community hall quite full. Got some silly games including Dastardly & Muttley. Also DVD of Dreamcatcher from a story by Stephen King.

In the afternoon as we dozed after lunch, watching the opening ceremony from the Commonwealth Games from Delhi, there came a knock at the front door and instead of the Mormons or double soffit salesman it was hazel's old college chum Stella and her other half who popped by on their way oop North. We had a nice chat and caught up with their kids education, degree ceremony photos, our photos of Australia etc. over some tea and biscuits. They showed us their caravanette whatsit parked outside complete with all mod cons. They were off to see Stella's Mom who lives up near Blackpool and then maybe the Lake District.

Today was a typical 4 day with wrong coat, walk to town, missed bus, no bargains, Q in post office, gas bills and magpies in the apple tree.
The faulty flan tasted OK thankfully so not all bad!

BTW the old photo above incase I didnt mention before was taken in 1966 outside the dining hut at the old Southend Art School in Victoria Circus. Soon after pulled down to make way for a roundabout of all things. The line up from left to right is, Ned Newitt, Richard Woods, Vic Mills (who collected the dinner vouchers ) Rick Cox, and skulking round the back is Russell Columbo. I took the photo with my trusty Box Brownie.

Manchester

Had a nice day out yesterday which started on the 10:33 train from Northwich. Listened to my MP3 player - old radio shows from the 40's - ITMA and Arthur Askey etc. Train smelled of old flannel. Walked from Piccadilly to All Saints. Hazel warned me I'd be too hot in my duffle coat but wore it anyway and felt fine for a while but soon realised she was right as the sweat pored down my face and dripped onto my shoes - at least I think it was sweat.
Met up with old chum Roger Stevens, the poet, ouside the Art School and we had a tour of the Interactive Arts studios trying to find Hazel who was in the office all the time. Sound of men bricking up corridor. Crash clunk. Popped to see Ian who is doing the book about the objects and he explained to Roger what needed to be done as simply as he could - Roger stroked his chin looking thoughtful. Hmmmm?
Then to the Noodle Bar for refreshments and lunch of Monks Soup and prawny dip things. Yum! Clatter bang woops thud. A noisy place.
Hazel went off to college again and we walked down the Cornerhouse to have a coffee and chat and how my blog is full of stuff just like this and how best to get my collages out there to a wider world. Is there a world wider than the internet? The thought of which filled me with inner dread and horror.
Anyway, then off to the Manchester Art Gallery and an interesting inter-active (that word again ) show by a Mexican Canadian artist Raphael Lorenzo- Something or other. His Pulse Room can be seen in short video above which doesn.t really do it justice. Some nice and playful exhibits. Also went round the impressive Pre-Raphaelite room to see The Scapegoat, Light Of The World, The Hireling Shepherd etc.
More coffee . Then after a rest we walked to the station via the Pound Emporium and the Banardos charity shop.
Roger went off to meet Jilly who had been at the Labour Party Conference and I met Hazel and Will on the platform just before the train to Northwich left. Had a nice chat to Will about his holiday in Wales and mushrooms etc.

Down Under

Just back from a trip of a lifetime to Australia. I really didn't want to go at first as I hate flying but Hazel convinced me that it would be nice to see places we had only seen in books and on film- also it would be a chance to meet her relatives some of which she'd never met herself.
For the first 10 days we were in Sydney. Our hotel was very close to the harbour so only a short walk to the ferry terminal, Sydney Opera House, The Botantical Gardens and the famous "coathanger" bridge.
In the above photo we are at the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour which we managed to walk to. Most places are easily reached on foot but sometimes we got the ferry to the Zoo and Manly for example which were too far. We found everything very expensive- twice as much as in the UK , maybe because the pound has rather slumped against most overseas currencies.

Above we are at the Featherdale animal park near Blacktown- halfway between Sydney and Kurrajong were Hazel's Auntie Audrey and Uncle John lived. We din't go there until 11 days later so jumping ahead of ourselves rather.
Most of the animals seemed very sleepy or very sad looking being in small cages and pens. It was a petting zoo for indigenous species so plenty of wallabies, kangaroos, wombats and koalas etc. The big zoo at Sydney was much better and one felt the animals were happier in larger paddocks and enclosures.

One day we walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Luna Park on the North sides - an old fun fair built back in the 40's and still containing some old rides like The Rotor and Gallopers etc. Still plenty of opportunity for photos in the crazy mirrors and these "stick your head through the hole" novelties. Got the ferry back from a nearby jetty. They were very regular and stopped off at many places all over the Sydney and beyond.

Here we are climbing up the many steps to the pedestrian walkway that runs next to the main road and rail bridge. Archie was keen to do the Bridge Climb right over the arch but it was 160 dollars ( about 95 quid! ) which seemed a little pricey.


Lost track now of all the places we visited but needless to say we went to many museums and art galleries including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Powerhouse (Science and Technology), Contemporary Art Gallery, Museum of Sydney, Museum of Australia and Maritime Museum to name but a few. No wonder our legs ached in the vevenings when we staggered back to the hotel. Also went to the Opera House twice to see some George Melies films with live jazz accompniament and The Pirates Of Penzance which was fun.
Met up with Adriana from Flickr- also known as Crafty Dogma- who showed us round Newtown and treated us to a nice Thai lunch and a couple of days later the junk market at Rozelle.
Above is the statue of Solomon Wiseman, a convict who built a small community on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. The ferry is a popular day trip for Sydney siders who who can drive along the old roads by the river and see where the convicts cut their way through the limestone to open up the country back in the 1800's. We went over the river on the "punt" with Uncle John who drove us to many places in the Blue Mountains. Also doing the guided tours were Cousins Mark and Cousin Rohan who drove us to the Jenolan Caves and the Zig Zag Railway respectively. Another high point (quite literally) was the day out to The Three Sisters by way of the Norman Lindasy Gallery ( Magic Pudding fame) in the Blue Mountains. I have posted many photos on Flickr if you want to see more.

Birthday Treats

A busy weekend - birthday treats for Hazel - to the Halle Orchestra and Fireworks at Tatton Park on Saturday evening. Took a picnic and trudged through cornfields for 15 minutes to the lake where the stage was set up. Over 6,000 people attended apparently and it felt like it. We decided we could never go to Glastonbury or similar big gatherings- just one evening amid a big crowd was bad enough. We had to move shortly after the music started as the party next to us just got louder and more drunken! We moved our folding chairs closer to the stage and lake and got a better view as a result. The fireworks and floating Viking ship on the lake etc. were quite stunning as was the music- Nessen Dorma and a few other classical chestnuts which we have been humming since we got home. The Ride Of The Valkyrie with rockets was something else!
Luckily got a quick exit and out of the park by 11. We imagine some people nearer the stage didn't get out of the park by midnight.
The next day we drove to Llandudno and stayed in our usual B&B on the front overlooking the sea. It poured at first but soon brightened up. In the evening went to see Ken Dodd and his Happiness Show again at the Venue Cymru.
Another great show that went on until midnight - 5 hours! Mind you there were two other acts - a ventriloquist and a lady pianist/singer. No Diddy Men this time round.
The next day we got the tramway up the Orme again and walked down to Happy Valley (see video) where a herd of sheep pole vaulted over the fence and ran amok through the park. The new gallery Mostyn has been re-furbished and now a wonderful exhibition space for local and other contemporary art. Nice opening show of varied sculpture painting video and junk pile by African artist to walk through. Hazel bumped into one of her old students in the shop there who was working behind the counter. Small world eh?
Nice meals of fish and chips and pizza/pasta and walks along the pier - the penny slots- air hockey - shopping for tat etc. All the things you do at the seaside.

Signals

Another quiet week looking out at the drizzle.
Have been scanning some of the cigarette cards that I bought last week. Examples here
here and here.
The library sale yielded up a few bargains including some obscure foreign films and less obscure like Dr. Who, Body of Lies and Rescue Dawn ( whoever she is?).
Hazel went to Manchester for her birthday for lunch with the MAG lot. Archie made her a great control panel card with flashing lights and beeps etc.
Masses of starlings on the tree as I write- going crazy - feeding frenzy!
My brother is a little better - slowly does it.
Time to chop up some onions to fry with the vege burgers.

Control Panel Heaven

A busy few days with lots happening like my little brother having a stroke and ending up in hospital ( get well soon John ) but thankfully he seems to be responding to treatment and getting some movement back. Archie passed his Grade 2 piano and dumped his keyboard in the back room. Mind you- since he's rejected it he's been playing it more now than he ever did when it was in his bedroom. So this was the secret?
Went to Chester the other day and got drenched with torrential rain that came down in buckets. My umbrella developed a leak actually got wetter holding above my head like some surreal Daliesque soggy mannequin.
Hada pleasant enoughtime before the heavens opened around the usual charity shops and the market etc. Didnt find much. Had a vege sausage roll under a tree by the cathedral. A one legged pigeon hopped by and said "You'd better get back to the car as this drizzle will turn into a flood soon!" and he was right.
Yesterday we went to the Secret Nuclear Bunker at Hack Green near Nantwich. A great couple of hours of cold war paranoia and old gas masks etc. The deep bunker isnt very secret anymore and seems to be run by a couple of ladies in the NAAFI cafe upstairs- who take the money and make the tea!

We thought there might be a few control panels there for Archie's art project but delighted to find there were hundreds - whole rooms full! So that cheered him up. He went round snapping away happily for ages. The austere bleak doom laden ambience only made us laugh louder at the dummies wearing all manner of strange garb and expressions on their faces etc. Luckliy not many people around to overhear our chortling.

Shtum!

You didn't see me - right?
Forget everything you have read here - it didn't happen.
Another weak has gun by. Beautiful sunny weather for the mostly part. A little bit of rain is most welkum. Kool soft flowing drippy wet rain. Just the job for the garden. You should hear the moaning- oh no- what awful wevver! People have short memories.
I cant be bothered to look in my diary t see what happened last week. It wasn't all that exciting. On Sunday we went to the boot sale at Weaverham. I got a few daft films including a Russian sword and scullery epic called Wolfhound that was a bit like a cross between LOTR and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. very funny in parts but I'm sure it wasn't suppozed to bee.
Taking grate joy in seeing the words being underloined in red.
Hazel got a few bits for her blog including a tin of pen nibs and lots of plants for the hanging baskets. Archie bought a big jigsaw of a planes cockpit and dials for Audrey and Granma to do. He just wanted the picture on the front for his art project about control panels. He's making some out of card but hopes to make a larger one.

Wednesday again and a walk into town. Borrowed a Sweded film about vampires from the libary. Had a chat with Betty in the Age Concern shop. No boots this week she said- maybe one at the pub in Weaverham. Looks like rain anyway. Luvvly rain to make the grass grow. To make it all grin again.

World Still In Pieces

Busy week making second batch of caramelized onion pickle - just three jars which made the house stink of vinegar for a couple of days. Archie complained bitterly - anyone would think it was a mustard gas attack!
Very warm and high pollen count which made us all sneeze- Archie especially who suffers from hay fever. He's taking pills which help but make him feel sleepy and lethargic.
Hazel still has the tickly cough she had a fortnight ago.
Went to two boot sales on Sunday. At Verdin Park we bumped into Will and Adela who had some big bags of plastic animals they found. I didnt find much but Hazel bought some nice old fob watched for a quid each and gave me one. Just noticed it has a quartz crystal inside so cant be all that old but better than a wrist watch - I can keep it in my pocket or on a chain.
The boot sale at Hartford High School was better for bargains - got a few films including Crash and Identity. Also an old EP by the Stringalongs ( see audio blog ).
Hazel got a few things too including plants and leather wallet full of gold leaf.
Archie made a rare boot sale appearance and got some plastic electronic toys for the innerds. He's taking them apart to make a mad scientists control panel for his art project - flashing lights and ossilators etc.
It was his final piano lesson and grade 2 test on Monday so he was happy and the news that 6 Music had been reprieved really made his day!
A walk into town yesterday and more films that I'll probably never get round to watching including the original King Kong, Under Seige and Hairspray by John Waters.
The image above is the cover of a mail art project I did back in 1984. Quite a nice publication that Dick Turpin's uncle printed for me. The mail was stuck up on a bulletin board my me every day at the Whitechapel gallery as part of the annual Open exhibition. It was quite a job but fun to do at the the time.

Photo-boots

Hazel is still full of cold a week later. She had last Monday off and stayed in bed but struggled in Tuesday.
This photobooth photo is on Archie's wall now- hence the reflections. Taken by one of Hazel's students -Olivia Glasser - at the Interactive Arts degree show. We thought it was just one photo but the camera flashed agin when we were piling out (knocking the curtain down ) and Hazel jumped back in for the last one.
Busy day on Tuesday. Went to the Sorting Office and took down the feet shaped postcards that have been there over a year now. No chance of adding anything new to the cabinet so left it empty. Bought a cheap MP3 player with my birthday money and spent a a while adding lots of stuff to it. I've never really seen the point of getting one before as I would hardly use it but going to Manchester on the train last week with the clunky MD player made me realise it would be quite handy. This Archos is tiny and holds up to 16mbs with added memory slot thingy.
Wednesday watched the football - England v Slovakia which we scraped a win - a portent of things to come.
Archie went into college for final exam - General Studies.
Weather has been very warm and no rain for ages - most unusual for June!
Archie sat outside too long and got heat sickness and headache so he had Thursday off college.
Friday I walked to town and back despite the heat. Made a Waldorf salad for lunch with pecans.Yum! The onion pickle I made a month ago is ready to eat and is delicious even if I say so myself. I shall definitely be making some more!
More futball.

Went to town with Hazel on Saturday. No bargains. Glastonbury started. Watched some I recorded the previous night. Highlight was Bombay Bicycle Club.
More futball. In the evening went to see Bernard Wrigley ( The Bolton Bullfrog) at the local theatre. Phew- it was a bit hot and muggy inside what is basically a corrogated tin hut! Bernard was great though despite bits of the show being , as Hazel described it - like a Saga Holiday sing-along!
Boot sales the next day at Walnut Tree fram and Whitegate football club. Very hot- so hot I wore a silly big hat I bought in New York.
Got a couple of games and Hazel found a few bits and bobs including a fruit bowl, a gyroscope and a packet of old fuses - just what every girl needs!

Watched to England v Germany horror show in the afternoon and cried into our beer.
O well , we'll have to wait for the European championships to try and make up for it.
Had a nice bar-b-q outside later despite the noisy neighbours who seemed to be strangling a pig and sawing up some scaffolding poles with a bread knife.

Belly Funny

New animation by Archie.

Merz Day

As Creative Thing ( long time mail art chum ) keeps telling me- my birthday is also Kurt Schwitter's. Celebrated with a boot sale at Moss Farm. We had to park miles from it though as the car park was "full up" but when we got there it seemed half empty! Didnt find much- a DVD of Silence Of The Lambs with extras disc for a quid. Hazel was full of cold but bravely trudged round for my sake and bought a few weird things- a wooden ruler with an inch missing, an intricately peirced watch part, a watch chain fob? Then in the afternoon we went over to Granma's for fish 'n chips and a big sticky cake they had bought at the church fete.
It was Father's Day too so got a nice double card from Archie he had collaged with two flaps - one for birthday and the other for fathers. Box of chocs, set of collaging scalpels and plastic box box from Granma and Audrey and some money. Hazel found me a nice old toffee tin at the boot that I'm sure I had as a child.
Home to watch the football - exciting game between Brazil and the Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast left it a bit late for a fight back and lost 3 - 1. It all got a bit silly at the end with lots of diving and play acting.
Hazel was feeling terrible so went to bed early.
This photo was taken a few weeks ago but sums up how happy I felt yesterday being with my family.
Previously in the week we'd been to Manchester and the degree shows. Had lunch with John Hegley and his girlfriend in the Cornerhouse. He opened the Interactive Arts show later with a song and cut the purple ribbon. He then rushed off to the University theatre to do a gig which we managed to catch luckliy. We shared a taxi back to the centre of town. We we all feeling very tired so declined the offer of a drink in the hotel bar. The next day Hazel had to look after the gallery and keep an eye on the students but cold was kicking in. Archie and I wandered round all the rest of them - fine art, graphics, illustration etc.
So a pretty busy fun packed weekend. All that culture gave me a headache!

Budgie

Found this old collaborative mail art "pass along" piece in a folder today. The late and much missed Michael Scott added most of the words with a glue that looks a bit like treacle? Maybe it was treacle?
Another week and bit flashed by. The weekend was marred by the rain but did get to the indoor boot sale at the memorial Hall. Got there too early and passed the time by wandering around the town and looking at bits of buildings we hadnt really noticed before - wooden gargoyles, brightly painted imps, grotesque statuary - and that was just in the newsagents! No, I'm kiddin' ofcourse- some lovely corners and crooked nannies around the back streets of Northwich. Looking above the tarted up shop fronts you see some lovely old brickwork and ornate guttering , wonky chimneys and pointy roofs.
Back at the memorial Hall the Q's had formed and it was a bit packed inside with everyone shuffling around trying to get in each others way. So we didnt stay long. Hazel found a strange biomechanical bracelet with knobs on- for transforming a nervous wreck into a chilled out yoghurt. I found some cheap DVD's ofcourse- 50p each with no sleeves or boxes - he just put them in a paper bag like toffees.
The Comic Strip from the early days of Channel 4 when they showed some good stuff. Also some 10 hours of old cartoons on 4 discs with lots of Betty Boop and Popeye and other Fleischer Bros gems amongst the dross.
Later we went over to Granma's to plant some flowery plugs and weed her overgrown beds- not in that order ofcourse.

Today I ordered my new glasses- both long and short sighted specs. Boots are much better than Specsavers and I don't care who knows it. A little more expensive maybe but at least they treat you properly and you don't feel you're being rushed through because you are over 60.
Archie has been revising for his A levels and had two exams this week- Chemistry and Biology which went OK he said . Its General Studies next week. He's hoping to form a band but has only one conscript so far.
Looking forward to the football fest soon but I don't think Hazel is! I think we will refrain from draping a 6 foot union jack from the upstairs window though.

June Already!!!

A weekly feast of whelks? Why did i write that in my diary? Gawd nose.
The last couple of whelks have whizzed by at an alarming rate. Can't belive it's the 1st of June today- feels more like February! I have the heating on and wearing my thickest shirt and jumper!
So back to the diary to see what I was up to - if anything - for the last few days.
Had to lock up Rob's chickens again. No sign of them in the gloom so presume they were snuggled up inside the coop. They all trooped out the next morning. I could see an egg far back inside but I couldn't reach it. Rob said we could have the eggs if we found any but these chickens are a wiley bunch and super glue them to the back wall.
I finished ICO , well except for the boring final boss and borrowed the sequal , Shadow Of The Colossus from the library. I'm glad I didnt buy it as its not as good as ICO and mostly fighting which gets very tedious. Amazing landscapes to explore though. We watched Avatar on DVD which I heartily recommend for 2 and half hours of escapist nonsense. I can see why its done so well. Shame it means that everything will be in 3D from now on though!

Went to boot sale in Nantwich at the Vagrants Club and got a couple of films by John Carpenter. Hazel found a few things for her cabinet of curiosities. Propelling pencils ( that I found) and other stuff that I forget now. See her blog for details. It was incredibly hot and so unlike the weather today. Too hot to stay there long. After an hour I found Hazel and Archie who had hidden in the shade of a large tree.
O yes, Hazel found me a nice old tin post box with a mangled slit - attacked by some mad child with a cleaver, trying to get his pennies out.
First bar-b-q of the year in the garden.
Hazel trimmed the lawn with the new strimmer which sounds like a Boing 707 taking off.

Went to see excellent Charity Shop Cabaret at Plumly village hall - part of the Cheshire Rural Touring Network. We sat right at the back so didnt get roped into the daft audience participations - like the After Eight mint stuck to your forehead and slid down your face towards your mouth!
Bought some wine vinegar and jam jars and made a batch of caramel-ized onion pickle.Which i can eat on my birthday in two weeks ( hint hint ).
I boiled up a whole saucepanful and it reduced right down and filled two small jars. Hopefully should be tasty though.
No boots this Sunday so went for a nice walk around Shackerly mere to see the gooslings and feed the ducks etc. Dropped Archie off over in Wettenhall to camp out in a field with some college chums. We ha d a drive around the lanes and ended up back at the Broken Cross by the canal for a drink. We shivered outside waiting for boats to chug passed but saw just one solitary duck that seemed attached to some underwater rail- it kept going up and down, mainly for our benefit.
Terrible pub- beer was off- had to have bottled and their sandwiches are rubbish. We had nuts instead.
Yesterday it was Bank Holiday so a boot at Frodsham. Nice and sunny. Got a couple of scratchy records- Burl Ives and Attila The Stockbroker. See Boot Sale Sounds for details.
Also Village of The Damned (another John Carpenter film )Dragon Quest on PS2 and some spillikins for Hazels collection from Betty. Surprised to see her there. She explained her daughter drove her - else she wouldn't have bothered.
Got Archie from the camping field. He hadnt slept much and is making up for it now. 4 o'clock in the afternoon and still no sign of him!
O well, thats my news pretty much updated. The collage above is for the Mary Greg project that Hazel is involved in at Manchester Art Gallery. Mary Greg collected all kinds of weird stuff, some mundane and some fanciful. The toy ark I saw and the broken animals gave me the idea of the hospital ark and the animals with bandaged legs and paws etc.