Blakemere

Rainy start to the day so we didn't go to the boot sale at Vagrants as planned. Luckily it cleared up by the afternoon so we drove over to Blakemere to root around the antiques and junk. Hazel bought some bits of old stained glass and lead that was once a window - now a kit she will attempt to put together again - just £2 for the lot! Also some chemical jars to put pulses in for a quid. Looked round the garden centre and bought some pansies - £2 a pop. Then to Audrey's and Granma's to plant some pansies and have coffee and home made cakes. Now we are home again and Hazel and Archie are out in the back garden planting pansies and doing other garden chores. I'm making a nut roast with all the trimmings ( not from the garden!).

Birmingham (Gas Hall and Ikon Gallery)

Nice day out in Brum despite the trains playing up on the way home. Went to see the Rowland Emmett mini retrospective at the Gas Hall in the Art Gallery and Museum. Delightful to see so much of his working machines and cartoons etc. Also lots of video of him talking and demonstrating his gadgets. Some can be found on YouTube. Seek out especially the Pathe newsreels of the 50's. Spent a good hour in here and then went for lunch to EAT as we couldn't find the "pie shop" hazel went to previously. It was right by the Ikon Gallery so that was handy. Excellent overview of the last 50 years at Ikon including work by Dennis Oppenheim ( candy floss making machine) and Charles Garrard ( Monsoon and lovely thunder machine ) and Cornelia Parker's mini danging silver things run over by a steam roller. Some hideous slodgy paintings but we ignored them. Bought two Cornelia Parker badges in the shop and drooled over some of the books we couldn't afford. Then round the shops until our legs ached and back home again.

Dagfields.

More antique and junk rummaging around at Dagfields near Nantwich this afternoon. Far too much to see really - 5 or 6 barns of the stuff!. Hazel got a nice folding fisherman's stool/seat with rotted canvas top. Audrey got yet more ceramics and some postcards for her Mom. I didn't find anything though seemed to be looking through piles of records, dvd's and postcards for hours!

Denbigh, Ruthin, Mold, Colwyn Bay etc.

We went on a little mini Antiques Road Trip through North Wales yesterday and stayed one night at a B&B out in the middle of nowhere, near St. Asaphe, which is near Denbigh. Here'e all our bargains. Hazel's are more antiques than mine I must admit! But mine were probably cheaper - most being less than a quid each. We wanted to travel around longer but everywhere is fully booked. Nice to see the Welsh B&B and hotels doing such good business. A bit sad for us though having to come home so early - still we enjoy being at home. Off tomorrow for some day trip antique hunting instead.

Chelford Steam Rally and Fair

I actually deleted all my photos after adding them to Flickr and FB so having to make do with this old one of chains at a previous auto-jumble. Needless to say we had a nice day out in the sun yesterday over near Chelford which is about 15 miles from us. In the grounds of Astley House or estate? (I should do more research before I write these things!) I will try and find some useful links. Straight onto the Wall of Death and the bikes rattling round a big wooden drum and the punters at the top looking fearfully over the edge as the bikers whizz ever nearer to the safety wire which doesn't look like it could hold back a roller skate let alone a powerful motor bike at full throttle! Vrrrrrrrooooooooom! Every photo was rather blurry but must be seen to be appreciated! Also some old gallopers that were at Llandudno and Hazel and Archie had a ride and chatted to the lady owner. Enjoyed also the auto-jumble with its piles of prized rusty car parts and junk of all kinds. Hazel bought another nice battered tin of drawers for her nick-nacks. ( she bought two in the morning at the artisan market in town ) seems green tin things are all the rage! Had a picnic lunch by the antique tractors. The swirling whirling sounds of the vintage pipe organs and steaming engines all added to the general cacophony. Watched the dog acrobatics and the tractors circling the display arena ( not at the same time I hasten to add ). Another rummage round the junk piles and away off home with our ears ringing and the smell of coal and hot steam in our nostrils.

Anderton

Nice walk today with Barb and Des who are staying a couple of days. Walked through Carey Park from the town centre and had a look round the Anderton Boat Lift site. Took lots of photos. It was quite hot and sunny. The boat trips were all booked up so we went and had a pub lunch at the nearby Stanley Arms instead. Sat under shadey tree in the sunny beer garden. Nice publican happy to drag the table there and put up a parasol for us. Fish and chips and heaps of salad and mushy peas. Waddled back through the woods to find some shade.

Cardiff

Had a nice birthday driving down to Cardiff via Newtown where we stopped off to see the Oriel Peters gallery which sadly was in the middle of hanging the next show. Hada picnic in the park the gallery is in and had a look round the many charity shops. Didn't buy much though. Our legs stretched and refreshed we wended our way via the Brecon Beacons to South Wales. Some hideous traffic snark ups on the way but we got there eventually. Nice to see my old art school chum Rick Cox again after our last trip , three years ago. He'd organised a group show at the West Wharf Gallery which was the main reason for the visit. Also it was a nice way to celebrate my 67th birthday. Rick took us to one of his favourite Chinese resturants in the evening although we insisted on paying . Delicious it was too! The next day we had to wait in for a friend of Ricks to come and look at the rotten fence he was going to mend in the back garden. The weather BTW was really wonderfully hot and sunny the whole weekend. Phew! A bit TOO hot for travelling really! We eventually made it into town to see the exhibition and wandered through the park which stretches for miles it seems and wonderful lung for the city. Also looked round some junk markets and antique emporiums so quite in my element despite not buying anything. Hazel went off to visit her friend Jackie and we met up again for dinner that evening. Feet aching ( corn trouble) so glad Rick suggested driving to the docks to see the studios and galleries where he works. Also looked around the docks and the new builds in that area including the Craft Gallery and the Town Hall? A huge phallic William Pye sculpture dominates the piazza which you can just see in the distance in the panoramic shot of the Docks area. Thats Rick in the other photo mending a picture that had slipped at the West Wharf G. Lovely meal in the evening cooked by Rick's wife Alison. Watched DVD "Hi-Fidelity" again in the evening nodding off in front of the telly. Drove back the next morning after breakfast , via Knighton where we dropped in on old chum Andy Hazell and his ex-partner in crime Lucy Casson and her friend in the house they have just bought around the corner.

Portland Match Experiments

Manchester

I accompanied Hazel into Manchester today to see the degree shows. I had intended to go to Salford too to see Charlie Holt's collage exhibition at the Art Gallery in Peel Park but my corn was throbbing and back still had a slight twinge so didn't make it. I tired to pace myself around MMU and had regular sit downs. Hazel was off interviewing prospective students ( some good ones she said afterwards ) and so I was left to my own devices. Most of the shows were pretty dull but I did enjoy this big paper boat made of many small paper boats ( or are they hats?) which was in the foyer of the new build and not sure which department they belonged to. Also very nice to see were the giant family of ceramic insulators outside the science building near the University. In fact I think I preferred them to the art!

Whitegate/ Alsager

Pleasant Sunday jaunt out to Whitegate first to the boot sale. Got a nice tin motorbike man for two quid. Hazel bought a ton of plants for herself and various other folk. Took some over to Tony and Pene's in Alsager in the afternoon. Dave Smith came along too which was nice. Lovely food and chat in the back garden and the sun came out now and again which made it even more agreeable.

Camping With Brenda

My camping trips were always fraught with bad weather and incident. Pitching tents in torrential rain on sand dunes isn't really my idea of fun! The first tent I ever bought was with money saved up from a holiday job at Ilford films. Seemed like the first really big purchase of my life at the time although it was probably only about a fiver. Still, in 1967 that was almost a week's wages for a scruffy student winding films on to a spool in the dark for 8 hours every night! Andre Jamet? I think that was the name of the maker of tents. French eh? tres swish! But from that cheapo army and navy shop in Basildon. They are still going - selling plaid shirts and walking boots, bobble hats and thick vests. Millets - yes that was the place. Lugged the tent all the way round Southern Ireland in the Summer of 1967 with some chums in the rain. When I got home I forgot to dry it out so next time I came to use it found it had rotted badly in a few places and the holes needed patching up! Used it again a couple of times in Cornwall and France. Camped on sand dunes near St. Ives- the wind whistling round the flaps. Weird sounds of the Cornish night. Didn't sleep very well - the lumpy ground and the spooky sea hags wailing! No wonder the joys of camping were short lived. Give me a nice warm B&B any day!

Walk To Anderton

Nice walk through Carey Park yesterday to Anderton Boat Lift and along the River Weaver. Excellent pub lunch in the beer garden of the Stanley Arms bathed in glorious sunshine. We made the most of it. Nice pint of Punter ale too which was the "guest beer". Sandwiches came with heaps of chips and salad which we didn't expect and found hard to finish! Walked back a different route through the woods making use of the various wooden benches along the way overlooking the river - watching the boats go by and the occasional heron. Popped into the Anderton visitors centre to use their facilities. Sat and watched to boats enter the lift to be lowered to the River Weaver from the Trent & Mersey canal above.

Walk In The Woods

Pleasant weekend all round but the highlight being a lovely walk in the bluebell woods at Marbury with our old chums Tony and Pene. The bluebells looked amazing and at their best this week in Cheshire. You'll have to go to my Flickr stream to see more photos of them. We went for a delicious vege burger and chips pub lunch afterwards at the Salt Barge nearby and sat in the sunny beer garden at the back. A nice pint of Tatton ale too! Tony and Pene showed us some of their holiday snaps from Oz where they went recently to see family. Looks like they had a great time. Then back to ours for tea and biscuits and our photos we took in 2010 visiting Sydney and Hazel's Auntie and Uncle in the Blue Mountains. Tony tried on the stripey knitted jumper that Hazel's sister and Mom had made for him. Another photo opportunity!

Easter

We've had a busy weekend going places. First to Macclesfield to the Silk Museum and had lunch at the Salt Bar - Swedish and Norwegian food. Looked round the charity shops etc. The weather has been good mostly sunny with a chill wind so still had my duffle coat on most of the time. Archie and Hazel have been doing some gardening. Moving benches and repairing tables, painting the back gate etc. General tidying up and planting stuff they bought at the boot sales. Hazel's hoping to get a new shed/ summer house at the end of the garden and remove the old one that blocks out a lot of light. They have been planting and weeding at Granma's too. Yesterday we went for Easter cake and coffee and Archie filled a large bucket with dandelions he'd picked out of the front lawn. The boot sale at Whitegate was busy but despite the good weather and the crowds we didn't get much. Hazel bought some ceramics for Audrey and some more plants. Archie did some experiments with an electric blower and a funnel - making Easter chicks from the Pound Shop wobble about and spring out in an alarming manner! Ron in Glasgow sent this nice Easter card collage.

Test for Animoto

Test Video

Ruthin - North Wales

Pleasant ride out to Ruthin in North Wales today with Hazel. Nice day considering the weather forecast of sunshine and showers. A few spots and spits but nothing to trouble us. Had a nice breakfast in out favourite cafe in the centre of the town after parking at the Craft Centre. We met up with the Mary Greg crew later - part of an MMU student trip by the 3D department. Some interesting work from the Jerwood Prize selection and some homely crafts in the side gagglery. Not sure what a gagglery is but it sounds good and full of geese which it wasn't! I walked about a bit on my own while Hazel popped in the clothes shops. I found some charity shops - bought a DVD of The Maltese Falcon with extras disc for a quid. I watched it recently but always nice to have the extras - making of, documentaries etc. For lunch in the crafts centre cafe we had a open sandwich to share - salmon and prawn which was delicious. I could have eaten a whole one but had already had three breakfasts! No wonder I am getting fat! Nice chats with Hazel and her chums - possible exhibition in the pipeline - testing out the gallery and the space. Quiet roads back and home by 3-15pm just in time to catch the kids coming out of school and blocking our parking space!

Branching Out

Hazel decided to chop down a large branch today to make more light come into our shady garden. I thought it was a stupid idea from the start but she ignored my protestations and carried on. I had to hold the step ladder whilst she balanced precariously at the top sawing with a bow saw. The saw dust went into her eyes and she had to retire for a while to wash out the offending material. Red eyed she returned to have another hack at the now creaking branch. When she got tired I had a go - more creaks ( mostly my knocking knees!) The branch was hanging over our neighbour's garden so of course we had to ask them if it was OK to let it fall their side. They were quite happy to oblige. Anyway, eventually the branch broke and swung backwards much to our surprise narrowly missing my nose as I dodged out of the way! Blimey, that was a close one! Then Hazel had to go round to the neighbour's garden to chop it up ( see above gif ) whilst I went indoors grumbling and took these photos.

Brighton

Nice weekend in Brighton to see our boy's 2nd year sculpture show at the Grand parade gallery in the Uni. art college. Good to see Debra and John Hegley turn up to the PV. We saw John later at the Hove Folk Club where he did a short set. Roger Stevens did a spot too at the end of the evening.  We stayed at Roger and Jilly's in Hove. It was very windy and wet!  The next day we showed R & J  the sculpture show and had a nice vegetarian breakfast/lunch in the bohemian quarter.  Did some shopping and then back to Hove for some supper and meet up with Jill's son Joe and grandsom Sam for some Lego action.  Got the train back on Sunday - thankfully no trees had blown on the line.  Got home around 3pm.  Car still where we parked it in the pub car park across the road from the station.  Nice to get back to relatively windless Cheshire!

The Century Cinema /Market - Pitsea, Essex

Fond memories of this old flea pit near Basildon where I spent many happy hours at Saturday matinees watching old Republic serials of Batman, Captain Video, Rocketman etc. and child friendly films like Abbot & Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Childrens Film Foundation flicks and all manner of cartoons and shorts featuring The Three Stooges, Our Gang and the like back in the late 50's and early 60's.  Sadly a bingo hall now like so many others. Just round the back was the fabled Pitsea market which back then had some wonderful stalls that included Alf (The market man) who sold cheap tat and had quite a line in patter and could gather a good crowd on Saturdays to buy almost anything ( I once bought an electric egg whisk from him when I was about 12 for my Mum's birthday - she stuck to the handy fork !) Also remember the ex-juke box record stall that sold scratchy gems for a few pence  ( where are they all now?) and the comic stall for exotic American mags of super heroes and super villians.  A nice old pathe fim here that shows briefly the old market before it was demolished to make way for some space age domes and the hideous fly-over.

A Long Felt Want

Actually just a roll of roofing felt which is slightly different.  We bought some the other day from B&Q at enormous expense but our shed is leaking so has to be done.  I almost did it yesterday as it was a nice sunny day - luckily today is nice and sunny too so girded up my lions and sprang into action!  Well, not quite sprang - more of a slouch and a reluctant DIY's droop.
It wasnt as bad as I expected after I got into it and my hands became less numb with the cold. I warmed up with all the climbing of ladders and banging the clouts in etc.  Didnt even hit my thumb once - or cut myself which is pretty good for me!  I managed to stay on the ladder too. I think this was the bit Hazel was worried about but I only went up two of three rungs so not exactly up to the roof!
I probably should have removed the layers of old felt but that seemed like more hard work and anyway more layers mean a dryer shed inside right?   Well, that was my thinking and Hazel agreed so that was fine.  That roof must weigh a ton though as the roll of bitumen soaked felt was pretty heavy and I just about lifted it from the garden seat to the ground!  You can see how it finally looked in this panoramic shot of the back garden from my workroom window - good eh? Should last another 5 years - thats' what the guarantee says anyway.