Marsden and Bradford

 Had a nice weekend in Yorkshire visiting our old friend Dave Smith in Marsden. We stayed at the Cobblers again- a small holiday cottage that used to be a cobblers shop. We stayed there a couple of years ago and it's ideal, just two doors away from Dave and next to a bubbling brook with ducks.  Dave treated us to a slap up meal at the Olive Branch nearby where we used to stay until we discovered the Cobblers.
The next day Dave drove us to Bradford to see the Media Museum which I've always wanted to see. Hazel had been before with students I think and Archie did once with a school trip.  It looks rather shabby on the outside but the 7 floors are packed with interesting stuff from old cameras and photographic equipment to 8 bit games machines to a fully equipped TV studio where you can make your own news snippet. Hazel had a go and result is on my Flickr stream.  Also loads of things for kids to do - like these giant sets for the Borrowers etc.

We had a nice lunch in the cafe and continued discovering new rooms of wonder through the afternoon. Like the flashy hall of mirrors, the stereo views ( including one of Southend's Pier Hill ).
We managed to negotiate the nightmarish road system of Bradford ( not unlike Leeds)  and found our way back to the tranquility of Marsden.  We got some fish and chips from the busy village chippy ( full of rowdy drunks) and had a nice meal back at the Cobblers with Dave, who bought round his home made stereo viewer and some slides of New York.
We rushed back the next day to avoid the "storm" that was big in the news , coming from the West. Luckily we missed it but the sat -nav took us through the centre of Manchester where we certainly didn't want to be - poor Hazel was having kittens! Thankfully not as busy as a week day. Got back at 9:30am with just a bit of drizzle to contend with. Phew!

Knutsford Boot

 We went to the giant boot sale at Knutsford this morning.  Got a few old postcards including these two of Blackpool Tower. Also a folder for collages. Hazel got a few odd bits for her odd bits collection - a measurer for eyes, picture hangers, fold away magnifying glass and some ceramics etc.  This after noon walked through Carey park to the Anderton Lift along the River Weaver and had lunch in the beer garden of the pub nearby.  Only asked for a sandwich but it arrived with a pile of chips and salad - so much for a light lunch!  Waddled back into town to get some jelly for Hazel's Mom who is having teeth trouble  (had one out and two fillings) so finding it hard to eat solids.  No jelly in Marks & Sparks so got her some custardy trifles etc. to try.

Brighton

 Back from a very nice few days in sunny Brighton to see our boy and enjoy a change of scene by the briney. Hazel was meeting up with her old RCA "Pudding Club" chums on two of the days.  For the first me and Archie had a "boys day out" to Chichester to see the lovely Eduardo Paolozzi exhibition of collages, prints and sculptures at the Pallant House Gallery which was a trifle expensive but well worth it.

 On another day we went to the Marina on the Volk's Electric railway - built in 1910 I think? and still going strong. There was a festival/exhibition of sand sculpture nearby we popped in to see. The marina complex was hideous - just like a huge multi story car park with a MacDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken etc. in the middle.

 Here we are enjoying a nice sit down - one of many - on the pier. We also spent some time in the very noisy slot machine arcades on those tumbling 2p machines that drive you a bit bonkers after a while - hence the photo booth portrait below!

 The peace and tranquility of the Pavilion Gardens was a welcome distraction after the noise and crowds of the sea front.  There was a few buskers about including a good sitar player who blended well with the Indian setting.  We treated ourselves to a tour of the Pavilion - seemed silly not too see inside whilst Archie was living in the town.  It certainly was a wonderful view of a decadent way of life.  Some of the rooms were quite overpowering , especially the one with a candlebra weighing a ton!

 Another silly photo on the pier.

Shackerley Mere/ Leek

 Just back from a ride out to Shackerley Mere which isnt far from us. A nice walk round the lake and back again - watching the geese, gooses and ducks do their thing. Quiet today - just  a few people with dogs and children. Saw a heron. Heard the motorway.  Then to Riverside Organics for decaff coffee and shared a larrge chunk of chocolate cake outside overlooking the wonderful view over rolling Cheshire countryside.  Such a shame if the proposed rail track route goes through here - it would be criminal!

 Previously , we had a nice ride out to meet up with Barry Wenden who had been looking after my collages after the Southend Art School exhibition in June/July.  He kindly brought them back to Leek where he was visiting his cousin. We had a nice pub lunch and chat about old times - and new times!  Had a good wander round the many charity and junk shops.  Barry gave us a great old tin railway signal box and a signal - a late birthday present. I bought a record by Chris Barber and his band ( see my audio blog ).  Drove out to the hills and a rocky outcrop and another pub for another drink in the sunshine.  Lots of butterflies around this year - the budlia was full of them in the pub garden.

Tatton

Frantic looking for tent pegs to hold down runner beans at Tatton.  Hazel got home and found them after Archie and I had looked in the coal shed and garden shed for 15 minutes amongst the cobwebs and detritus - fearing an avalanche of mail art and garden equipment!   She's driven back now to do some more before the heavens open.

This is the second week of putting up the "Art Allotment" that MMU staff and family are doing.  Archie has been along for one day to erect the shed and fence posts etc.  I went along last week with Hazel to help out in the scorching heat. Sat in the shade when I could - sticking bent wire seedlings into strips of plasticine!
Today Hazel has gone on her own to help set everything out as the Press Day is tomorrow which she will miss as she has to go to the dentist for a filling thats fallen out and rubbing her tongue. (There's always something - a favourite phrase in our family!)

These photos give you a idea of the space that has to be filled.  Lots more stuff turning up yesterday and today Hazel said so should be plenty to see.  Audrey's knitted runner beans and cauliflowers- Archie's recycled tin daffodils nodding in the breeze. Hazel's dibbers and seed spacers and my collage and postcards.

Ruthin etc.

Another collage hot off the assembly line.  Check out more at  laughingshed.blogspot.com/">Laughing Shed.  Have been neglecting this blog for a while , for which many apollygoggies to all my readers (all 16 of them!)  .  Too many  blogs and never enough time also the weather has been very warm just lately and not  good for tip tapping on the old keyboard.  besides which my memory isn't as good as it used to was.

A nice day out in Ruthin though ( photos on Flickr and ipernity )  to see Sharon Blakey and her ceramic chum ( his name escapes me for the moment ) do a talk about drawing and sketchbooks and the importance of keeping a record of ideas and visual notes of thoughts about work etc.  Not really meant to be seen by others but essential for most makers whether they be ceramicists, painters, sculptors etc.  Also had a nice sandwich and beer in the local pub for lunch with a view of the Welsh hills  ( just behind that pile of crates ).

Earlier we went to the local boot sale at Whitegate which was on the way to Wales.  I didn't get anything but Hazel found a few bits and bobs including tools,  ceramics, gew gaws and whatchamacallits.

Pin Hole Photography

 Spent a nice morning in the artist run VAC Gallery in Northwich.  First to Brusceta's for a vege breakfast and de-caff coffee which was very nice. Had fun looking at all the postcards of exotic places he has in there on the walls.  Emma was at the gallery and preparing some old tins and shoe boxes etc. for pin hole camera use. She plans to do a workshop at some point.  As I promised to volunteer for a morning I stayed to line a biscuit tine with black paper and make it light tight.  I took this photo of the library next door which came out quite well considering I didn't know the right exposure. I guessed at 5 seconds and thankfully it was spot on!

Llandudno Weekend Part 2

Continuing from the previous post  ----   we climbed up the Orme to the Happy Valley the next day (Sunday)  and had a good view of the Victorian Extravaganza parade as it wended it's way along the sea front. We could see the traction engines steam whistles quite clearly and hear the Drum and Pipe bands wafting up on the breeze.  We took a picnic to eat on the cliff edge and had a wonderful panoramic view of Llandudno , Conway and the the Welsh hills beyond.  We wanted to visit Drew of Salvage Hunter fame but seems he's so popular now through his TV show that you can only peruse all his junk by prior appointment.  Walked down the hill later to have fish and chips on the prom - making sure we hid our meal from the marauding seagulls!
Went back to the gallery again to build more towers and stuff with the bricks and type on the adjusted tip-tappers.  O yes, I missed out the Voltini sideshow  which we saw a couple of years ago and were keen to see again. A real old fashioned Victorian eccentric show man and his chums who do things with electricity - mainly to his lady assistant/ accomplice  Madame Electra who has an enormous rack - of light bulbs and makes cucumbers spark in a very suggestive fashion. In fact the whole show is littered with innuendo from start to finish!   And lots of sparks and flashing lights and weird apparatus out of Frankenstein's laboratory.

May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Quite a busy weekend starting on Friday we drove to Ruthin in Wales and went the wrong way first of all and had to come back via Tarvin. Sat Nav was getting quite shirty!
Ruthin is a lovely village but rather overwhelmed by traffic which is a shame. Still we enjoyed a brief stop off for a brunch in the cafe we went to last time and then the Crafts Centre where we were delighted to find a couple of exhibitions by people we liked  - Rodney Peppe toy and automata maker and illustrator and a Gillian Lowndes retrospective.  Also bumped into a colleague of Hazel's from MMU who's name I forget at the moment.
Eventually got to Llandudno around  1pm and checked into the wonderful  Promanad  B&B which we stayed in in for our "honeymoon" last year and promised ourselves we would return as it was so nice.  A great room and sea view.  Then to town to see them setting up the fun fair and building the rides and gallopers etc for the forthcoming weekend Victorian Extravaganza!   Some rides and stalls were over 100 years old!   Hazel was fascinated by the galloper being constructed in sections- the parts being lifted from the lorry and the lorry itself being used as  scaffolding to turn the roundabout every so often to fix the awnings and guilded and beautifully carved wooden sections.
A delicious shared seafood pizza in an Italian resturant and then a walk along the prom as the sun went down.

The following day we had fun at the Oriel Mostyn gallery building towers and domino effect thingys with all the bricks the artist  (who's name escapes me )  laid out in one of the big white rooms.   A mad child ran amok at one point and knocked everything over including a lovely model of the Acropolis someone had taken ages making!  I wanted to film this destruction but Hazel forbade me!
Took in all the side shows and rides now working in the main streets of Llandudno. Lots of roads blocked off - music blaring - quite a cocophony with two or three loud rides pumping out old rock 'n roll and disco hits!

Also did some shopping. Bought some cheap DVD's in the Poundland - Rocko's Modern Life and Monsters animations from the 90's that Archie and I used to enjoy when he was a nipper. Hazel got some things for her blog in a nice antique shop down one of the back streets - also some postcards and old birthday cards.
I found one of Marine Parade in Southend from 1919.

In the evening we ate a nice curry at the Bengal Dynasty which was packed but we managed to find the last two seats. The whole town was packed for the weekends festivities - hardly any parking space and all the hotels and B&B's booked up months in advance  ( we booked up before Xmas )

It was very windy and cold along the sea front despite the sun and so once we had to nip back to the B&B for our thicker clothes!   Needed them too when it rained briefly at the Vintage Car and vehicle fair and auto jumble along the prom at the edge of the town.  Brrrrrr!   Cut short our wanderings to jump on an old bus that was carrying visitors to and from the site for free ( donations to charity )  .  Good to see a number 40 to Poplar that I used to ride on quite a bit back in the 80's when I lived in Stepney!   I will add some more about our trip to Wales tomorrow...........

VAC Gallery

A couple of views of the 23 collages of mine in the local artist run VAC gallery in Northwich.  The "hedgehogs" crowding round the bottom of the walls are nothing to do with me I hasten to add!

VAC Gallery - Northwich

My smallish exhibition at VAC gallery in Northwich is up and running - opens Thursday until May 3rd.  One of 3 new exhibitions together with the best of the recent Open which has an extended run. sadly the last exhibition at the gallery before the lease runs out and they have to find alternative premises.  Rents for commercial property in Northwich are very hight hence so many empty shops.  Hopefully they can find somewhere thats affordable and central but it doesn't look too good so far. Fingers crossed.  It's a shame as the gallery has attracted huge praise and interest from all quarters and the people running it are all artists in their own right and passionate about a community gallery - one the town desperately needs as there is nowhere else for artists to exhibit or meet.  They also have interesting artist run workshops for lino cuts, fabric printing, poetry, knitting and all manner of other media that appeals to wider public.
A busy time in the Leigh/Jones household at the moment what with the "old students" show at Southend Art School  concurrently and Archie has his Party Popper Gatling Gun showing at the 40 gallery in Brighton until the end of the week.

Southend Art School Exhibition

Here's a virtual flyer for the Southend exhibition that Barry sent me yesterday - he's obviously been working very hard on the graphics - tweaking it so it looks just right. I like the old photo of the College Of Further Education or whatever it was called. You can just see the old "tin hut" of the sadly deceased art school in the background - that white building. Many happy years were spent there - when Southend had some character and boasted many old buildings of worth that were outrageously destroyed by council idiots and planners back in the 60's and 70's.  To find out when the gallery opens you have to ring the number on the flyer - doesn't bode well!

Party Popping Time!

I seem to have been neglecting this blog for a while and it's not as if nothing has been happening lately. Too much stuff really to remember!   Starting off with this great new sculpture from our dear son Archie who has obviously been working hard. We think it's quite stunning but then we would wouldn't we?

Other news is my old chum Barry Wenden popped in the other day on his way back from picking up his work from a gallery in Leeds to pick up some collages for upcoming exhibition at Southend School of Art ( or whatever it's called these days?) just four ex-students, Barry, Phil Spellacy, Dave Segrave and myself. Its on during April and May sometime I think.  Will confirm dates when I have them.   Also have two works in the VAC Open exhibition in Northwich and Emma who is on the committee of the gallery came round yesterday to chuckle her way through my folders of collages to choose a few for a forthcoming exhibition at Visual Arts Cheshire - the last sadly as the lease has run out and they are forced to find other premises.

So I have plenty of framing to do and the phone the plumber for this annoying drippy tape in the bathroom. I'm usually quite good at changing washers but this thing is stuck and needs a professional to sort it out.

Party Popper Gatling Gun

Another great video from Archie and his latest creation at Brighton University.

Social Whirl

Slightly whirlwind weekend where first we met up with John Hegley the poet in Northwich for opening of new VAC gallery and he came back for some soup and cake. The next day off to Brighton on the trains ( which behaved for a change!) to see Archie and quick trip to Hove Museum to see all the toys and then fish and chips with our friends Debra and Bridget who we stayed with. Then to Roger Stevens CD launch ( the one I did the sleeve art for ) at low dive below pub the Greenhouse Effect? Got quite drunk and had a good time ( terrible headache the next day!) and watched a variety of poets and performers including the defunct Killer Rabbits. Breakfast with rowdy throng in the Hove Kitchen (lovely place) and then wet drizzly walk to station and 4 hour journey back home. Phew!

Have been neglecting this blog for a while. Lots of stuff happened between 9th December and now ofcourse - Xmas for one thing and then New Year. Here we are in 2013. Weve all had horrible colds and Man-Flu . Hazel got it worst and was anti-biotics for a week and a week off college. It was awful. Still coughing a month later!

Macclesfield

Another trip over to Macclesfield this time by car which is so much easier than by train which takes ages. Hazel used the sat-nav to guide her but not really necessary as its a pretty straight road and signposted all the way - infact the sat-nav took us through Knutsford which is about 4 miles out of our way! Why? On the way back we came the via Chelford and it was much quicker and not having the low sun in our eyes helped. The exhibition is very good though my work was squashed into a corner with a shadow over it which I was a bit miffed about. O well, you have to try these places. We enjoyed our walk around the charity shops of which there are many - though didnt get any bargains. Bought a "dutch" loaf and custard "danish" from a nice deli we found. ===========================================================================================================================================================================This morning it was the indoor boot sale at Winsford and a rainy ride through to the Asda car park opposite. I found two old 60's CD's - re-issues ofcourse - The Doors "Soft Parade" and "Best of the Merseybeats". Hazel got a few stocking fillers including an officers monocle which makes her look like Patrick Moore!

Rogue Studios

Archie has a video piece in this exhibition in Manchester tonight and next week. It's the Gherkin Training video he made for college. Must try and get over to see it in situ and all the other weird stuff!

Stocking fillers!

Charity Market

I look forward to the annual charity market but know I will be bitterly disappointed by how many stalls are just tombola and covered in those nearly new gifts people have had mouldering away in pantries and cupboards for the last year! It was as I suspected- old dusty bottles of Blue Nun and bath salts, doilies and knitted whatsits. Stuff people will win and then bring back the next year to be in the next raffle - and so the wheel of life goes on! Anyway, I bought a couple of stocking fillers and a DVd of some Roger Corman films for 50p. Then a mooch round the rest of the towns charity shops. Home again to add finishing touches to this collage that was intended as a banner for my audio blog but realised it wasn't quite up to scratch.

Exhibition - Marburae Gallery

Exhibition I'm taking part in soon at the Marburae Gallery in Macclesfield. It's actually situated in a piano showroom but a very nice big light space and they have piano recitals there too sometimes. Do come along if you live nearby. I took the work along recently in a large carrier bag. 6 collages in all. Quite cumbersome on the train but I managed to get there OK . Changed at Stockport and then just one stop. The Virgin train to Bournemouth was very packed but got a seat. Macclesfield is very hilly but has a very nice pedestrianised shopping street with lots of charity shops which is always a bonus as you know. I didn't find any bargains but had a good nose round. Found the Silk Museum ( two of them infact ) and went to both- the larger being full of amazing looms and machines for doing things to silk thread.

Post Early For Xmas!

Norman has asked me to remind you all......

Saturday Walk

Nice walk around town to buy supplies- art folders from Works ( third cheaper than anywhere else ) and more DVD's from library sale. Then a pleasant autumnal walk along the river through Carey Park looking at all the yellows and russets and feeling like we were in the middle of nowhere but in fact Marks & Sparks is just 15 minutes walk away! Sat down on a Rotary Club donated bench to see the river cruise go by and wave - just then a heron swooped low over the river and did the most amazingly huge dump just missing the boat. It was like when one of those helicopters fighting a bush fire dumps gallons of water from a bucket! Then onto the Anderton Boat Lift for lunch in the cafe as the nearby pub was being refurbished. Luckily they had a some nice seasonal parsnip and pumpkin soup you could stand your spoon up in - along with half a buttered baguette. That and a decaff cappachino was ideal lunchtime fare Two coach loads of tourists had just arrived so just got into the cafe before they filled it up.

Best Of The Christmas Catalogues

My latest paperback is just out in time for Crimble! ( Launch date 15th October )  121 full colour pages of festive nonsense!  get your copy HERE. You can also get it from Black Scat Books in the USA. Thanks to Norman Conquest for allowing my silly cut ups to find a wider audience. He's as mad as I am!

Crewe Market

As Summer slides slowly into Autumn we find the bees still buzzing and burying their snouts into the pollen orifices. Off on a jaunt to Crewe on the bus which goes round several villages and takes ages but listened to Yoko Ono on Desert Island Discs and Michael Flanders biog on my trusty MP3 player which helped pass the time. Got to Crewe and met up with old chum Tony in the flea market. Wandered around looking through junk and piles of old 78's which caught our eye. I bought one for 50p - terribly worn and scratchy "comic duet" with Harry Kirkby & Harry Hudson ( without his Melody Men ). You can find it on my audio blog. Then a short shower so dived in the bakery cafe upstairs for a cuppa and cheese and onion toastie. Thankfully the sun came out and we were able to emerge fully restored with beverage and nosh. Then to Crewe's Victoria Park to see the new boating lake sans boats but a few laughing ducks. More coffee in the new cafe which looked a bit like a crematorium Tony said. Afterwards to Alsager to say heloo to Tone's other half Pene who had been ill but was now feeling better. Shandy and chat. Tone gave me a pile of stuff for Archie he had lurking in his copious shed/garage. Then off to the allotment and some free beans and that aniseedy root thing that I've forgotten the name of.? Tone kindly gave me a lift home - the scenic route past the salt works and the station at Sandbach.

Mouseion Exhibition

More photos from the group exhibition in Leicester that Hazel and I are taking part in HERE. It's on until next March I think so plenty of time to go and see it if you are anywhere near Leicester. I have 6 small collages on show and Hazel has filled a cabinet full of sketchbooks, collected gadgets and ephemera and some of her latest work that's been inspired by her finds and her involvement with the Mary Gregg project.Mouseion website is HERE.

Honeymoon in Wales

Lagging behind with my blogging so this is a hasty update. We drove to Ruthin (pronounced Rithin) in Wales which is about an hour or so away round some very narrow lanes and hilly roads. beautiful country around there though- never been before, Had a delicious 11'sis breakfast in a friendly cafe in the town square and found a nice antique market nearby. Then to the farm just outside Ruthin where we stayed the night in the B&B. The other guests were two young Germans who had been travelling around Wales and going home to Hamburg? the next day. It was a great place and very friendly and comfortable. We went for a walk up the lane and back again to talk to the four chickens and feed them our sandwich crusts - well, Hazel did- I ate mine as I was so hungry!

The next day it was off to Llandudno which is one of our favourite haunts and a delightful olde worlde seaside resort that is relatively unspoiled. In the evening we went to see Ken Dodd again and decided he should retire gracefully as he was getting a bit dithery, the poor old thing- he is 85 or 86? after all! Did the usual touristy things like go up the Orme on the old tram and walked down again being chased by seagulls and sheep. Also dived in the local museum and art gallery when the rain got a bit too much. The B&B Hazel found online was excellent and did lovely breakfasts of smoothies , kippers and scrambled egg ( not on the same plate!).