Brighton/London

Lovely sunny weekend in Brighton and London to see Archie's degree show at the sculpture department. His "push alongs" were a big hit with visitors and he had to make sure they were all working everyday - going in to do repairs and clean the rubber wheels etc. Had some nice meals with friends including Meriel's family who came over from Dublin. Also Roger and Jilly and Deborah and Bridget amongst others. Nice to look round the junk markets and antique stalls and wander down to the pier for iced coffee and ice cream and play on the penny slot machines. On the way back in London we visited the Morley gallery near Lambeth North tube to see Archie's "Tan-annoy" sound sculpture in the Engine Room show. Also met up with our old chums Jane and Graham for a nice lunch in their new flat just round the corner.

Roger Stevens - The Position Of Jupiter

Our old poet friend Roger Radio ( Stevens ) who I met in the mail art network some 25 years ago, invited me to do the artwork for his latest CD " The Position Of Jupiter". Well, he actually chose it from my archive of old collages. Delighted of course to be part of this venture. A collage of mine was also on his last CD which you can find at his website with all his poetry books and other musical projects etc.

Gotta Wee by Dear Eskiimo

Archie made this Flash animation for Dear Eskiimo back in the noughties when he was about 12 or 13. A couple of the band went on to form The Ting Tings. A link HERE at FacebOOK.

The Link Gallery - MMU

Nice to meet up with long time FB contact Charlie Holt yesterday at MMU's Link Gallery to put up the Marilyn mini exhibition. Charlie printed out all the images from the FaceBook group he started inspired by a postcard from the Tate Liverpool recently. A friend found him the great Warhol posters. Hazel had a busy day but managed to drop by with essential Blu Tak and a tape measure.

Marbury Country Park

Nice walk in the bluebell woods at Marbury the other day whilst the sun was shining. Lots of bonkers dogs about diving into the stream for sticks or maybe the sheer joy of being loose and smelling all those smells. The wild garlic was not as strong as it usually is or the bluebells in full glory yet but still quite a sight! One of our favourite times of year when everything is so green, fresh and new.

Chums

Lovely day having lunch with our old chums Tone, Pene and Dave. So nice in the garden in the sunshine - so different from last week! Had pudding al fresco and quick game of darts in the summer house. I need more practice!

Berlin

Just back from a 4 day break in Berlin which was interesting. Shame the weather was so awful - rain, hail, snow, gales and more rain, almost constantly! Thankfully the sun came out on our last day so we had some respite in between the showers. Consequently we spent most of the time indoors in museums and art galleries. Culture vultures that we are! Highlights were the Raushenbergs, Beuys and Warhols at the big main contemporary gallery in the old station ( I forget the name ). Also enjoyed the Medical Museum, Communication Museum and the Pargamon Museum which is similar to the British Museum - full of ancient facades of buildings and huge statues etc. aquired back in the Victorian age one assumes when all the world's treasures were there to be plundered. Everyone very friendly and helpful. Had some nice food in various places mostly near our hotel in the West of the City. Guntzelstrasse? our nearest tube station about three stops from the Zoo. Too cold for the Zoo but we did venture into loads of shops like Ka-Da-We ( a bit like a posher Harrods ) and some weird Xmas and Easter inspired shops . Germans are mad for glass baubles, cute pixie houses, candles, Easter bunnies and eggs etc. And sausages which we managed to avoid. Didn't spot any Kartofflepuffles either? Had delicious Italian food, Indian food and German cakes! Yum! Nice to be back home in the relative warm.

A Day In Stafford

Had to return to Stafford on Friday to collect work from the Shire Hall gallery. Trains were running OK thankfully. Saw this nice old cinema turned into a pub on my wanderings. Had a walk round the park where the aviary is ( see budgies ) and around the charity shops and market before getting my work and saying "hello" to the woman who runs the place. Managed to get the 12-35 pm train back to Hartford.

From The Archives

Found recently by my neice Michelle in the attic of her parents. Seen here with me grinning like a Cheshire Cat! There's us outside our council house in Basildon circa 1972. That's me Dad in the army ( X marks the spot ). There he is again at work as a security guard at Mobil Oil at Coryton. My Mum and sister outside the Bull in Corringham when John and Lynn got married. My brother and sister (twins) in their pram.

Sculpture Degree Show - Brighton - Kickstarter

Archie and his pals need money for their catalogue etc. Please donate now to Kickstarter.

Hanley and Stafford

Excellent day out with our old chums Tony and Pene. Went to Hanley to see the Staffordhsire Hoard again and look round the potteries museum. Then to Stafford to see the group show I'm in at the Shire Hall Gallery.

Walk To Lostock

Nice walk along the Trent and Mersey Canal yesterday for a change. Past the steamy TATA works and the frozen puddles on the tow path. Saw a heron and a single magpie. Popped into the crumbling antique shop to chat to the eccentric proprietor who sold Hazel a green glass medicine bottle and thermometer. Much of his other wares were rather expensive. Nice pile of old 60's signed pop group photos but he wanted 50 quid. Home again with the sun in our eyes avoiding the dog poop and the melting mud puddles!

Universe 25

http://archieleigh.tumblr.com/post/107428800527/archieleigh-idea-for-a-song-not-sure-where-to

Find it HERE.

Happy New Year!

Hazel took these photos of Archie's match display for the countdown to 2015. He makes one every year. I will film it being lit later if i am still awake!

Boxing Day

This was yesterday. Typical Xmas din dins at Granma's. We took our own nut roast and gravy, balanced on my knee in the car. Some fun games afterwards including Santa and sleigh races from plastic toys in crackers from Aldi - Granma won the cup seen being presented here by Audrey. The Balderdash which is a fun game about words a bit like Call My Bluff that used to be on the telly years ago with Robert Robinson and Clement Freud? Had us in hysterics - or was it the booze? Helps to be slightly tiddly on these occasions. Today we went for a walk in Marbury Park along with hundreds of others who had the same idea. Lazy day watching all manner of tosh on the telly. That's it then- over for another year. Hope you all had a good one!

Merry Xmas Scrapbook