Chicks Dig Jerks!

Leeds Seven in the Snow.

2012-02-04T23:07:00.001Z

Likesay I am really back in Chapeltown again. Perfect Day for a photoshoot.

And it is snowing

Here is the old Synagogue (Now the Northern School of Contemporary Dance).

Kermit the Communist, Infamous Liberals and Conservapedia

2011-12-09T00:56:00.007Z

According to Yahoo:-

'The Muppets’ has been accused of brainwashing children with a liberal agenda after making its villain a rich oil baron called Tex Richman.'

'US TV anchor Eric Bolling, who works for Fox Business Network, said ‘The Muppets’ showed "liberal Hollywood depicting a successful businessman as evil – that's not new,” before asking Dan Gainor of the Media Research Centre if Hollywood is brainwashing children.'

'“Absolutely,” Gainor replied. “And they've been doing it for decades... Ultimately, what they’re telling kids is what they told you in the movie ‘The Matrix’: that mankind is a virus on poor, old Mother Earth.'

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/are-communist-muppets-brainwashing-kids-.html consulted 8 december 2011 ce

So Kermit is a Communist and a Liberal? You know I would never have thought so. But then I am quite openly an Ultra Liberal and damn proud of it!

Isn't a Liberal someone who rightly supports Liberty and opposes tyranny?

Cue The Levellers?

Or to look in a dictionary:-

5.Free from prejudice or narrow-mindedness; open-minded, open to new ideas, willing to depart from established opinions, conventions etc.; permissive.
Her parents had liberal ideas about child-rearing.

6.(politics) Open to political or social changes and reforms in favour of increased freedom or democracy.

However... over in Amerika 'Liberal' is a bit of a dirty word. If there was a liberal bias in the media then it certainly wouldn't be. Every Presidential Candidate would be loudly proclaiming their liberalism. After all Amerika was founded as a Secular Liberal Republic by Deists.

But according to Conservapedia

'A liberal (not to be confused with a "leftist") is someone who rejects traditional and biblical standards, often for delusionally altruistic reasons'

Pretty off the wall. Don't get me wrong I am Liberal enough to believe that freedom is freedom to be completely off the wall, to believe what we do, or wish to etc. And yes, believe what you wish, but special creationism (the belief that the various forms of life began abruptly through the agency of an intelligent creator with their distinctive features already intact. Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers, beaks, and wings, etc) is Complete Bollocks! Not Bollocks, Total Bollocks! And Conservapedia is basically a Creationist/Fundamentalist work of wishful thinking. It would be hillarious if it were not so kooky. So presumably Conservapedia would accept that Kermit the Kommie is a Notorious Liberal if they accept that Hitler, Stalin, Darwin and Professor Dawkins?

but apparantly not. As you can see above some bright spark seems to have added Kermit the Kommie to this list only for it to be removed. Maybe the 7 Infamous Liberals has some Occult significance......

but would you believe it, our anti-liberal 'conservative' friends at Conservapedia believe that Eric Bolling, our Fox newscaster was giving false information.

Maybe the conservapedians believe that Kermit wasn't a liberal, or a communist, or just not infamous enough, or there wasn't room on the list of seven. Or maybe they think him a Conservative Redneck Creationist Good Ole' Boy!

I could go on all night. Conservapedia's content is curious in all sorts of ways. Having classed Stalin, Hitler, Darwin and Dawkins as Infamous Liberals, it is remarkable that they have English Socialist George Orwell as a conservative thinker ON THE FRONT PAGE....

One wonders. In the through the looking glass closed universe of conservapedia is a liberal someone they disagree with and a conservative someone that they agree with or think they agree with. Their page on conservative films would add weight to such a view as well as providing a few giggles....

Anyway the liberal media conspiracy has no indepenent existance outside the paranoid delusional minds of the far right. The media by definitionis heirarchical

Ah the curious mind of the fundamentalists. At war with reality. A black and white view of the world and permitting no compromise or concession.

Looks alas like this one is going to run and run.....

screenshot test 1

2011-12-08T16:37:00.008Z

Pamela Bradley 29th February 1940 to 18th October 2011

2011-10-19T01:30:00.002Z

pictured outside the Hyde Park Picture House during the Leeds International Film Festival 2010. Didn't quite make it to the end of 'Night of the Living Dead, 12 hours of horror films. But 8 am was good going, especially for an amazing septugenarian. She rocked!

Fundamentalists and gender identity? (part one, G-d's Cock)

2011-09-27T10:30:00.007Z

Have had a recent exchange on Youtube with a creationist apparently from St Lucia. This morning was posted

'Species is a categorizing of the animals that God created nothing
less and he is a He.A Father and Son and a holy Spirit.God is a not a
her.'

Interesting. I suppose this is conceding that species are not immutable.. as creationists assert in the face of all evidence.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that gender identity is a 'concern' if not obsession with fundamentalists. After all they tend not to be hot on gender equality and if homosexuality is an obsession with many if not all fundamentalists... well that requires a focus on gender identity.

so did comment back

'so G-d has a cock? How big is it?'

maybe there is more to gender identity than genitalia. A creationist case for G-d being gendered without genitalia would be interesting. If the Fundamentalist Brains Trust come up with anything let me know guys...

the morphing telephone...

2011-09-26T13:38:00.002Z

well of course it has sound it's a telephone...

Masters of The Universe (Part 1 of an occasional series...)

2011-09-18T14:03:00.002Z

In Ancient Egypt Cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have clearly not forgotten this.... Well they did make granaries and distilleries possible....

There are lots of moggies in the street. Old terrace houses are mouse infestation prone so I suppose they are a necessity. Problem is that it then drives the little sods into my flat as a perceived soft touch for the small rodent vermin. I think I am finally winning the war against the dirty disgusting incontinent little sods who leave trails of shit.... 11 caught so far in traps 2 found conked out poisoned.

Anyway the local moggies seem a bit scared of me but have managed to get the following pics of them looking down on me with disdain.

This little Master of The Universe is sleek slim and all black very elegant

Here it is again

Was amazed to find these two mates co-existing harmoniously on a green bin. Perhaps they are siblings or just good mates

Cats don't think they own the Universe. They do.....

Solfest 2011

2011-09-02T18:25:00.005Z

Solfest 2011.

Yes when going to a festi it's good to travel light...... thing is that it did add up how much extra kit we really need, such as Pamela needs an airbed. Plus we took a re-usable barbecue to get hot food Thursday evening.

Last year one of the hardest parts of the journey had been the change at Preston, Pamela is mobility impaired. Thankfully we came back via the Settle to Carlisle rail so this year I made sure we went via Settle to Carlisle railway, so only one change at Carlisle. Pamela was impressed even took pics.

Staggering that they even considered closing this line.

'underneath, the Pennine way, the bodies lie in rags'

made it to Settle

England's Mountains Green

So yes, that;s it, it need not have been built, was built at great cost, and defiantly goes over the Pennines. Not a mountain railway but a mainline railway over the mountains.

And so to the Ribblehead viaduct. Thankfully there was a train guide who told us when we were approaching so........

but going across it would hardly have guessed that we were 30 metres up in the air.....

Pamela's Bluebells

A beautiful vale

the guide also sold me a booklet about the line.

'The route was surveyed in the autumn of 1865 by the General Manager James Allport and the Chief Engineer, John Crossley. It tells us much about the gung-ho spirit of the age and the hands-on approach to management that these two senior figures in the Company actually walked much of the route. Starting from Settle, they trudged up to Ribblehead, over Blea Moor, on past Appleby and most of the way to Carlisle.'

'Hardly seeing a soul, they crossed bleak moorland, squelchy bogs and windswept fells in all weathers.'

Try indeed imagining a CEO of a giant corporation (the Railway Companies were the giants of their day) surveying the route without a company car (there were no cars).

'Their conclusion? That the line could be built. Not forgetting that this was no single track 'tourist' railway but a working two-line expressway capable of handling fast passenger trains and heavy freight.'

Here is the statue of Ruswarp. As a fare paying passenger his pawprint was accepted as a valid signature along with tens of thousands of hom-saps who objected to the closure of the line.

'Graham Nuttall and Ruswarp hardly had time to enjoy the railway they helped to save for on 20th January 1990 Graham (then aged 41) and Ruswarp (14)went walking in the Welsh mountains but did not return. Graham had died. It was not until 7th April 1990 that Graham's body was found near to a mountain stream. Close by was Ruswarp who had stayed with his dead master for eleven winter weeks. Ruswarp was so weak he had to be carried off the mountain bur recovered and lived long enough to be at his master's funeral.'

a mars a day.....

we arrive in Carlisle and do a bit of train-spotter-spotting....

and on to Aspatria!

Had to wait for the next shuttle bus to Solfest. Along with the drunk-in-residence and his companion......

But the weather was holding and finally shuttle bus arrived.

got the tent up!

Pamela supervises.....

curry and rice for tea cooked in mess tin on a re-usable barbecue...

likeso

tossing the caber

It's Solfest! YAYA!

Bluebell and Pamela

two happy campers....

the main stage

Pamela does Solfest

the drystone stage

Bluebell and Pamela

the finger puppet man....

Rory McLeod at the Drystone Stage

Politically cool, banter a bit long. Music OK.

And over to the Main Stage for the SawDoctors

likesay!

what can thou say.....

the morning after

Saturday nite at Solfest is Fancy Dress!

On a mission, caught this band playing raggle taggle gypsy at the drystone stage...

here they are bootlegged

thats it! I was fetching Pamela's Oats, couldn't find the porridge van anywhere.....

right in front of me...

procession innit

A Solfest wonderland!

twits

in the tent

a spot of rain.... then a rainbow

red sky at night...

Mr and Mrs Solfest pay a visit to the q for chips

Speaking of Chips, would you believe it the magic chip van had no chips..... I cried all the way to the... er......

Due to the weather we couldn't get our costume on Saturday nite, but we made it to the main stage. Saw The Damned complete with Captain Sensible!

Following day we got our fancy dress on and went for dinner

tiger tiger

hi di hi

the illuminated

a view of the Solway Firth and Scotland

and it was time to go. An early nite and packed ready for the first shuttle bus just. Who should we meet but drunk-in-residence and companion. They did help us get our luggage on and off train all the way to Carlisle.

Didn't manage to get any pics of the Q for the shower. Managed to get a shower then gave up. I thought this was Solfest not Crustymania.......

Architectural features at Aspatria Station...

freight train at Carlisle

Carlisle Castle

And the station itself

England's Mountains Green Again

coffee.....

And safely back to Leeds. Now, had anticipated that I might have a problem getting a taxi with it being Eid. Was asked by Amber if I could get to my flat without going through Chapeltown Road which was closed off for the Chapeltown Carnival. Sure, could go via Spencer Place. Only thing was Spencer Place was closed off. Seems rather than close off the streets on the Carnival route, a whole chunk of Chapeltown is Quadrangled. Taxi driver tried all sorts of routes to no avail. Asked the police who said that until the procession had gone, there was no chance even for a Chapeltown Resident. And had got back early as possible in order to head on to Mansfield for one of Pamela's family gatherings. Was offloading my camping gear etc before getting coach to Mansfield. Eventually after over an hour we got there....

SpriNGG 2011 part two

2011-08-23T20:42:00.003Z

We had arrived at mini-Northern Green, to wit spriNGG 2011.

As had my Mum. This post could be a bit stream of consciousness......

think she had her cranberry with her

even got a sign saying sauna...

The Sauna eventually happened.

alas the fell edge was a major obstacle for someone mobility impaired like the lovely Pamela.

Here is Mum and Pamela

Chris had made it here she is with mum and Pamela

Got the tent up!

mum not looking impressed...

the main firepit from the cafe

close up

back to tent

dinner time

mum serving

souper soup

bon apetit

Yorkshire

the fell edge

in our tent

Mum and Pamela, happy campers

breakfast time

we do earnestly desire seek and wait and queue

through the oval window.....

Crimestoppers Terri!

the barn from the outside washing up

never worked out what it is at the apex,

close up

moggie

evening ents

Gay As! But only in the Alan Turing sense :-)

The Head Chef

Mum pensive

more ents

the Khazi (from Zulu M'Khazi=Water Closet)

brewing up for the shower

The shower

had a couple of good showers.

The Geese

Pamela and Bluebell

making things with wood

mum and Pamela have been noo-nooed.

I've been Noo=Nooed.

Pedal Power!

Mum lectures Doctor John of the Business Skool

Rory, the Hurdy Gurdy man

an extract of his workshop on the Hurdy Gurdy

big red puddy cat!

Saturday Nite at Northern Green!

with my love

Pamela

its men in dresses nite...

here's the chaps

Crimestoppers Terri again!

the famous green tara

Pamela was seen dancing with much enthusiasm. Might have the pic somewhere.

Chopping onions, hard at work in kitchen, we were on Sunday lunch preparation shift

Andrea Calls the Meeting to Disorder

Sunday Dinner was scrummy! Well I thought so

Pamela puts it away. You get a good dinner at Northern Green.

I then struck the tent just as it started to rain... Then Pamela was feeling ill. Was keen to get her home as soon as possible. Amber cars did a splendid job of getting us both back to Chapeltown plus a hitch hiker from Cornerstone. She was in pain so I called the surgery. Alas unbeknown to me their out of hours number put me through to NHS direct aka fuck off and die quietly. Finally called the ambulance. They eventually got her to Jimmy's. Thankfully she survived and recovered. Seems to have been a common infection. It happens.

Northern Green UFOlogy

2011-08-23T17:50:00.003Z

In accordance with tradition, there is always at least one UFO landing at Northern Green.

Creationists! Put Up or Shut UP!!!

2011-07-31T10:31:00.004Z

I have long hoped to do a longish post on the subject of Special Creationism. Suffice to say that for now. It is total garbage. Plus I think we should be clear that Special Creationism is not a belief that G-d created life but the belief that evolution doesn't happen. To quote the draft of 'Of Pandas and Poopie'

'Creation means that the various forms of life began abruptly through the agency of an intelligent creator with their distinctive features already intact. Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers, beaks, and wings, etc'

and of course in the final published book 'Intelligent Design' and 'Design Proponents' was substituted for 'Creationism' and 'creationists'. And of course leaving the transitional fossil cdesign proponentsists

and if you have any evidence against evolution submit it to a peer reviewed journal and then to cdk007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6aU7zakKBs

so for now, case closed. Game over guys!

In da Ghettos

2011-07-31T10:13:00.001Z

'In da Barkshire ghettos, hapart from youf clubs, cinemas, featres, spotrs centraz, musement arcades, football, school clubs, go-kartin, dryslope skiin, ice skatin, paintballin, fishin, skatebordin, Leggolandin, hoops, sea cadetz, music workshops and swimmin, dere aint duffink for kidz to do..' Ali G.

Beating the Bounds Leeds DPPO 2011

2011-07-14T18:07:00.005Z

We assembled at The Fenton.

Tim brought some sticks to beat the bounds

testing testing

Then we poured out.

Come to beat the bounds of the Leeds Designated Public Place Order.. A nice bit of psychogeography innit.

Anzir with Chips!

And the Public assemble.

like this

another view

a few words from Tim

we listen attentively

and its time to start drinking!

and we are off!

now the motorway marks the boundary of the DPPO but there were logistical difficulties with getting close to the actual boundaries.

I Spy!

a loving tap

I Spy!

Mushrooms!

A Fairy Ring! Lets Dance!

the Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian?) Curiously not mentioned by Maurice?

Chemical Store!

The oldest of experimental sciences begins with attempts to cross boundaries. And transmute the elements.

Walking round the Redbricks

Big Brother is Watching You

The Big Packet of Ciggies aka the Worsley Building. Fitting for a Medical Skool.

on the Universitiy's Purple Route.

Sprog Hospital. Didn't realise it was here.

so what's it to be then?

The Town Hall can be seen

Childrens' toys offered as votive offerings

Votive offerings to the Gods of Landfill

A beautiful mural

at this point a friendly shopping trolly joined us.

on its way back to Mozzas of course

a superlative form of transport

modern architecture with key classical themes of classical symerty and columns

Once there was a swimming pool....

Informative and enlightening etchings

the trolly is still with us

The corporate universe...

Angel Forever!!!

Skyline

You will Transform!

Stopped at an Inn

some nice steps

view from the steps

an old terrace

teasels!

factory with clock tower and 'stones of venice' brickwork theme

we continue widishins

as is traditional duelling breaks out

Urban Rat

the duelling continues

view of the Republican Armouries from a bridge. The batteries in my camera had been low so a bit of a gap in pics. Had scored another packet.

Bridge over the Aire

The Castle

A Ballardian view

we made it!!!

well four of us did anyway

SpriNGG 2011 part one

2011-07-08T17:14:00.000Z

likesay as luck would have it I heard on Arsebook that there would be a mini Northern Green this year. I hand delivered a cheque for two tickets for me and Pamela. Unfortunately it seems nobody visited Northern Green's planetary HQ for over 5 weeks.....

But eventually got our tickets an sorted our dinner tickets out.

So we got here!!!!

Well Pamela did

and here is me

will continue later...

Preparing for spriNGG 2011

2011-07-08T16:43:00.001Z

The day before mini Northern Green aka spriNGG (witty eh?). Pamela came to Leeds and we did abit of retail therapy. The sun was shinning. And here is the Leeds market.

An ice cream for the lovely Pamela.

Electoral Reform is a No Brainer?

2011-04-27T12:12:00.003Z

OK, who but an anorak like me would eagerly view at least some of the Party Election Broadcasts on BBC iPlayer? Alas it seems nobody but me has picked up on the Chief Tory of Scotland extolling the virtues of Regional Assemblies and Proportional Representation:-

'The great thing about this election, and this parliament, is you vote for what you want. You don't have to vote for a party you don't like because there is a party you like even less, you actually vote for the policies you want and for the politicians you believe in.'

I should have written to Ramsey McClegg's mate in downing street to check that he is supporting Electoral Reform......

I'm Voting YES!

2011-04-27T12:08:00.002Z

I will be Voting Yes on May 5th.

I've a horrible fear that its in the bag for the NO campaign who have blatantly distorted and lied. Political advertising is one thing, spin, distortion even.

Anyway, the central question in the referendum is not who will benefit and who will 'lose' under either Plurality Voting (PV, 'First Past the Post is a misnomer which has been picked up by the NO campaign in their broadcast). It is not about Ramsey McClegg and the Fib-Dems. It is Electoral Reform YES or NO? Our current corrupt system of STOLEN VOTES?

First off I do wish that Dan Snow's explanation could have been broadcast. The YES campaign were right to point out that under our current system we have had the MPs expenses scandal. But likesay well done Dan Snow....

Secondly hats off to this livejournaler (not a proper blogger alas) pointing out some of the absurdities and outright lies of the NO campaign

http://webofevil.livejournal.com/664043.html

and forty years from now after 40 years of continued minority rule, probably thatcherite tory misrule and ruin, perhaps we will be singing I voted YES....

really better post this and run as I have a coach to catch.....

Welcome to Chapeltown. You'll Never Leave.

2011-02-07T13:20:00.004Z

Hello to anyone still reading my blog. I am back in Chapeltown. Was here since February last year in a supported tenancy. Now I am an ENE Leeds homes tenant. Lovely ground floor flat. Its a through terrace house and as it's ground floor flat I got the cellar too, which seems dry and dusty which is better than damp. And yes it's a miscellaneous property not a counsel estate.

well the picture will have to wait as photobucket has gone doolally...

back to a bit of blogging

2010-12-11T10:07:00.002Z

Mum arrived yesterday evening. She brought a pic as shown below.

Said it shows her with the Mayor of Ormskirk. At first I couldn't believe her as Ormskirk is a carrot crunching metropolis as distant from the center of the galaxy as it is possible to be. But I have been away for a bit and in my absence it seems that West Lancashire District Council has been incorporated by royal charter and is now West Lancashire Borough Council. Shocking!

Home Blogging again. Sort of part two possibly of a series of two.

2010-09-05T01:38:00.005Z

Hurrah! finally got Internet access in my flat again! Though not home but with the lovely Pamela. Below is my BE box.

THIS IS MY BE BOX. THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT BUT THIS ONE IS MINE. WITHOUT ME, IT IS USELESS. WITHOUT IT I AM FAR FROM USELESS BUT I HAVE A LETTER INVITING ME TO A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE THE AWESOME POWER OF THE INTERNET.

So maybe blogging is dead. The dark age of blogging started just before i got my blog. But there you go.

I am now a twit. You can follow me at @scarletharlot69 i think. But then i don't know how it works. And who would follow me.......

More to follow, some divinely inspired rants. And some fun psychogeography. And what we did in our holidays.

Eligo in Suma Pontifico.....

2010-01-20T22:21:00.003Z

So we got a general election pending. Cameron or Brown? Who cares? And the Lib-Dems are just another bunch of men in grey suits (and tribal politics at it's worse...).

Bachelor and Artist!

2009-12-22T21:41:00.003Z

Graduation Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forget what time I had set my alarm for. Put a pot of coffee on and cooked a fried breakfast for two (the lovely Pamela was enjoying my hospitality). Well a special occasion for sure!

Ok a bit of a rambling post. I will post a big thank you for all the many people who have made my graduation possible. Please bear with me however.

After not so much dropping out of polytechnic, not University in them days, thought I was never going to graduate. Just everyone else. Then I moved to Leeds and to Cornerstone and tidying up at number 16 found a flier for some semester 2 modules in archaeology in the old School of Continuing Education of the University of Leeds. I enrolled and headed for the Union Bar. And the magnificent libraries. So the rest is history. Under considerable difficulty I completed a part time degree programme in Local and Regional History. On Monday 14th December 2009 ce I was admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Local and Regional History with honours class 2:2.

Back to Graduation Day. After breakfast and a shower put on my graduation suit and with Pamela got a taxi to the Parkinson steps. Was joined by Dad, Mum and Ben (mum’s 3rd ex). To the queue for tickets. What an experience! Chap behind me was collecting a masters in music. Then off to collect the cap and gown. By tradition graduands at Leeds do not wear the mortar board cap during the degree congregation. I had however bought the hat from Weed & Ravenscroft. Long story sent it back as it was too small and its currently lost in the post despite being sent special delivery. They gave me a hire mortar board in the interim. Definitely wanted to get the pictures, and Mum said she couldn’t wait to see me in a cap and gown. And over the years it has been perhaps a minor motivating factor, the once in a lifetime opportunity to wear a peculiar hat and gown.

Here I am framed against a Doric pillar of the Parkinson Court.

And here is the three Degrees shot. Though Dad says he has a masters so that makes four.

Left to right Dad (Dave Wareham, Open Univesity graduate), me, and Mum (Chrystal Orme, BA in Psychology as a mature student at Liverpool).

Here I am with the Brotherton Library in the background through the window

So after another coffee off we set to the Great Hall.

Lots of hanging about

We were told to be at the great hall for 10:15 hhrs Universal Time….. It was at this point I learned from Malcolm Chase that Michael Arthur was to preside, so the delay seemed all the more odd. Still we got there in the end and it was good to have received my scroll from the Chairman of the Russell Group.

Here is Professor Chase being asked for autographs

Here is the Great Hall our eventual destination….

A lovely shot of Pamela, left to right Dad, Pamela (mum behind) and Ben

Still queuing.

Finally got there!!!!!! A seat for one Bluebell New Jerusalem Eikonoklastes!

Lots more waiting around

We continue to wait and the marshals confer. They did a marvelous job of getting every graduand into the right seat. Then as we are called up, our name is checked against the list twice.

A view of the gallery

Looking again up to the stage lots of green hoodies. The University is my ghetto!

All Rise!

We are moving at last! In come the platform crew and the mace party

Here’s the Mace

Likesay ceremony itself is on a webcast

http://webprod2.leeds.ac.uk/webcast/default.asp?eventtype=G

So likesay call comes out, all rise, we all rise, in come assorted tutors followed by the mace party to wit Michael Arthur the Vice Chancellor, the University Secretary and the Mace bearer. Doctor Mike makes a great speech, calls for thanks and applause for

1. the Graduands, that’s us, a credit to ourselves, our families, and our University etc

2. The teaching staff, represented by them up on the platform

3. The parents, partners, friends and supporters of the Graduands.

4. All the staff of the University, all a vital part of the University as a community. And many present to receive long service awards.

Then all the graduands presented for degrees, one at a time, applause!

I was towards the end, got a wonderful knowing nod from Doctor Stella Cottrell, Director of the Lifelong Learning Centre and she pronounced my name spot on!

Up the 7 steps I go, Doctor Michael congratulated me and wished me well. Didn’t quite know what to say. “Cheers Dude!” I said with enthusiasm!

And here is a shot of fellow grads with degrees.

And another shot.

The VC declared the congregation closed and out went the mace party. The music played was Hallelujah! How appropriate! For me at least! I got there at last!

And out of the Great Hall we go in order and down the staircase

A self portrait

Down we go past some gaudy Victorian terracotta. Digging this vile Victorian vibe!!

The Early Childhood Studies BA’s, with an early child.

The big wide world awaits

Lots of graduates. In the background is Botany house.

The Local and Regional History crew, class of December 2009.

On to the departmental reception in the Lifelong Learning Centre.

From left to right Ben (ex stepfather), Mum, Dad, Pamela and Bluebell.

To the Bar!!!!!!!!! Mine’s a pint!

Another Old Bar shot.

Pamela the scholar

Pamela checking arsebook in the Union Bar like a true student

In Essentials, the Union’s in-house supermarket

With Parkinson

Parkinson Steps Anna, sorry Shot, er picture

A view of the Parkinson Court

And off to the official photography.

Is there a Disrobing room?

Some robes

A couple of hats snuggle together for warmth and so on

And here it is! The Scroll!

Perhaps I will write more another day. But best get this posted and go home.

the fun and games continue.....

2009-09-19T19:41:00.003Z

Observant readers as ever to my blog will have noticed I have not posted since the 4th July..

well as it happens my current council in the village that disappeared (Bramley, Armley without the charm) flat is far from a place to call home. There is no soundproofing and I have been blessed by a boom box boy for a next door neighbour. And I did try to reason with him. But perhaps not everyone is reasonable. Ho hum.

I am deeply grateful to the wonderful friends how have given me the wonderful hospitality of somewhere quiet to complete my coursework or start it in the first place. And more than that I just needed a refuge from the negative energy.

And in my absence my flat has been broken into. First time round lots of stuff was taken. Had a phone call on Thursday evening from the Police Service, seems this time a fire has been started. Ho hum. I need a place I can call home...

So, Friday 28th August I handed in my dissertation in at the office of the Lifelong learning center of the University of Leeds, just before closing time. With my lovely friend Pamela caught the last train to Aspatria and Solfest, having bought a tent first from Millets (the burglars took my tent....). Here I am on the train with my receipt for my dissertation.

So after Solfest enjoyed Pamela's hospitality then back to Leeds to complete final piece of coursework. Again handed in just before closing time Monday 14th September. Hopefully I can now just await a place on the pass list.

And now I need a place to call home. Constructive suggestions are welcome and looking into things. Somewhere quiet, where I can offer hospitality and where I can keep my connection with Leeds and pursue my antiquarian and archaeological interests.

Travelling blessings.

getting silly but why not

2009-07-04T18:40:00.003Z

In Britain! If you want to buy a Council you go to a Council Shop. If you want to buy a Council Shop you go to a Council Shop Shop and if you want to buy a Council Shop Shop you're being silly.

To the Moon….Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

2009-07-04T13:54:00.000Z

I read in “Apollo Expeditions to the Moon” (edited by Edgar M Cortright, published by NASA, Washington DC, 1975) that the S-1C stage of the Saturn V Rockets that took the first Men to the Moon were constructed at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama. They were transported to Cape Canaverel by barge down the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. Wonder if anyone on the banks of either river saw them and realised they were on their way to the moon in a manner of speaking. Relatively slowly.

Keighley and Saltaire with Pamela

2009-07-04T13:14:00.003Z

Wednesday with my lovely visitor Pamela we headed off to Keighley, there is a direct bus. I heard from Dr Anzir that there is a Co-op department store there as indeed there is.

We did pause for a glass of J20 in the Livery Rooms, a Tim Martin Alehouse.

Turns out it had previously been a Temperance Hall….

Wikid eh?

They still do a vegan curry so only place for eating out really.

Here is the Town Hall.

Salt’s Mill

The Off Licence. Titus Salt was keen that Saltaire would have all the essential leisure facilities.

Victoria Hall. Great for line dancing. Next time perhaps

The Transmutation of Zion?

2009-06-26T10:12:00.002Z

Looks like an old chapel to me.. saw it on the way back to Equinox from the Ecology AGM...

Has it been coverted into a Carpet warehouse (here in Yorkshire every other former nonconformist chapel is now a carpet warehouse) or a mosque? Or both?

Textual Harassment (Part Seven and surprised how long has been the break...)

2009-06-26T10:04:00.001Z

In no particular order of course

This one was anonymous of course

“NASA sent a woman and 2 chimps into space. Radio Messages were as follows:-NASA to chimp 1. Optimize life support systems and recalibrate radiation monitoring equipment. NASA to chimp 2 Check trajectory and compensate if req using fomula (m2-3n)x(5-m3). NASA to woman Hoover capsule, feed chimps, TOUCH FUCK ALL.”

Shocking, hope he never wanders into a nest of feminists like Nick Cage in the dreadful re-make of “The Wicker Man” or the consequences could be dire... LOL

Did reply

“They were female chimps though! :-p take it operating a computer beyond your brainpower these days... B x”

Anyway sent the following to my little Brother

“Just been reading in take a break 19/Mar/09 15 yr old girl turns down creep who did 2 years4kicking man2 death he pours vodka on her sets alite she survives..”

“But is mega scarred4life.. He now back inside minimum 2.6 years there r sum sick fuckers out there! Current sentence open ended but when will he be out? B x”

Some sick fuckers out there!

On to Rochdale!

2009-06-25T16:33:00.003Z

Sunday morning 26 April 2009. Here is the step to the shelf. Its one small step for personkind and one giant leap for a man etc

Bid Equinox and the lovely Equinox folk merry part and went to Manchester Mount Street Friends’ Meeting House for Meeting for Worship

And took some pictures

Then to Lincoln Square

The statue of Abraham Lincoln commemorates the solidarity shown by the Lancashire Cotton workers with the United States of Amerika in it’s struggle against the slave power. This was during the cotton famine in the Lancashire cotton belt which meant hardship, unemployment hunger and even death. Despite this the cotton workers met in Free Trade Hall and voted to support the United States. Call it an act of Christian Heroism never surpassed in any age or indeed a principled expression of solidarity by the oppressed and downtrodden with the oppressed and downtrodden.

Throughout his term of office the great emancipator of course wore a Yankees baseball cap and suitable Presidential Bling as shown.

Here I am with the Great Emancipator.

And onto Rochdale. Here the Rochdale Pioneers opened their first store laying the foundations of the Great and Glorious Co-operative Movement!

Can I help you?

We honour the Pioneers!

And back to Leeds.

Continued adventures in Manchester and the Cotton Belt

2009-06-25T14:23:00.003Z

Blogging continued with my trip over the Pennines for Ecology Building Society and Toad Lane en passant...

Where was I? Manchester Town Hall I think,

The Shelf at Equinox Housing Co-op, thankfully I did not fall off though I get the impression there are more precarious platform beds in Manky.

My first glimpse of the Victoria Baths

Males First Class! A splendid firm!

Males Second Class! A splendid firm! Not quite so splendid as males first class, stands to reason doesn’t it. Good to have Class in the baths innit?

Females! A splendid firm! No further comment.

Here we are in the Female Baths awaiting the AGM. I was in Manchester for AGM of Ecology Building Society of which I am a member. Wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s I found out what a building society was. Perhaps most people don’t know or maybe I am just blonde. Anyway the Ecology was the last of the Friendly building societies due to change in the law. So well done the pious founders of the Ecology.

The Victoria Baths was built by the City of Manchester under permissive legislation empowering them to build public baths and making an opportunity for workers and peasants (male and female) to get a bath at a time when not every home had a bath or shower.

I did hear that originally the water went first to the male first class baths, then to male second class and finally to female. Perhaps the long Victorian period (including the Edwardian period) was a particularly dark era when it comes to gender equality in Britain at least. In between the social change brought about by the Industrial Revolution with the end of the family unit working together in the workplace and the slow partial emancipation of women as the nineteenth century progressed etc

The Ecology. A Splendid Firm!

Now the stained glass in the Victoria Baths is just something else.

Here is Morning.

Male Baths, forget what Clarse

Life the universe and everything....

Wrestling! Yaya!

Footie! What fun!

Stairway to Heaven!

Cricket! Splendid!

View from the balcony

Brill!

Some stained glass up in the superintendant’s flat. Seems that super was in charge of all the public baths in the City of Manchester.

Running! Cue Chariots of Fire!

Golf!

Brain bashing! What a sensible idea!

Roll the drums for the Annual Assembly

Grand tour for the visiting Ecologists of the Victoria Baths. Likesay here we are in the chill out room in the background is the angel of purity. In this room the lucky punters would be chilling after Turkish bath or whatever so the stained glass would add to the experience and all that. Possibly even meditative altered states of consciousness (ASCs).

Anyway the Victoria Baths was closed some time ago and there is some splendid firm of volunteers looking after it and even in the hope of opening it up again. In the mean time there has been lots of filming including Life on Mars and Prime Suspect.

Close up of the Angel of Purity

In the Turkish Baths...

Or Russian baths not sure...

After a cracking AGM! Superb!!

The mind boggles....

The Angel of Puritiy

And back to Equinox. Did pass a church that like many an old nonconformist chapel may have been converted into a carpet warehouse or Mosque but in this case possibly both.... another post this one is taking me all day......

Gurrilla Blogging

2009-06-24T20:16:00.002Z

I need an early nite.... Here's hoping. Alas there is no sound proofing in West North West Leeds Homes but that was perhaps not an issue as much before amplified "music" became so available.

hopefully catch up a bit on blogging now I am back to uploading pics to photobucket. Its still slow though.

But anyway back to "music". I stopped watching top of the pops before the 80's was out. Part of my feeling of isolation is not feeling comfortable with the culture of loud "music" with no words. Yes I am an old folkie.

Each to their own but no surprise to hear of loud "music" and indeed music being used as a form of torture.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/19/usa.guantanamo

blogging on and on and on

2009-05-20T20:11:00.002Z

really don't know what to say. had lots of photoblogging to do, will hopfully happen one day.

in the mean time, a bit more youtube. Classic spoof of the Village People's classic. out with them brown dresses!

Across the Pennines

2009-04-25T20:22:00.002Z

Wonder if photobucket is always going to be ridiculously slow.......

Yesterday set off across the Pennines. Going by bus and via Rochdale in the hope of calling into Toad Lane. Set off much too late so will hopefully be tomorrow.

It’s Green Up North

Coming into Halifax

And from Halifax bus station a lovely lowryesque upland scene

Here is the top of the pennines.

Here is Lancashire side

And here is a Particular Baptist Chapel!

I arrive in Manky

Pass through Co-op corner looking for a bus to Longsight

A statue of the Immortal (though sadly now dead) Robert Owen

The Town Hall

Hopefully more to follow, can’t say when though........

Roll Out the Barrel! (occasional photoblogging part whatever of whatever)

2009-04-14T06:08:00.000Z

Damn, is it me or is photobucket slow? Anyway here goes. Perhaps blogging always takes more time than expected even a quickie post, hence it’s decline. But then even in the golden age of blogging, which I seem to have missed alas, 97% of internet users had never dialed up a blog, or so I heard on the radio.

Must be lots of pics of this ample statue, but here is mine. A gift from Leeds twin city.

Here he is from another angle

And here’s the sign.

Rite, better get a bath and bus to Sheepscar.

Blogging from home (part one of an occasional or very occasional series)

2009-04-10T22:02:00.002Z

I’m very low in energy at the moment. Facial pain, Insomnia, dissertation blues etc...

Anyway a blog post or ten is well overdue so will do my best.

Here’s a random shot of the brand spanking new Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building

Bloody daffodils!

Something else growing all by itself in the front garden. No doubt the rargwort will be up again soon. The rest of the garden is of course a slug farm and ragwort plantation...

Here’s the obamagedon shot in context.

Not got my head round the graphics editor. A close up shows a bar code, so Obamacoded...

And here is the shelf I put up today. Well done me!

International Global No Facebook Day 2009

2009-03-31T19:03:00.002Z

I do believe it is Global International no Facebook Day today. I certainly joined a group, just wondering if I got the right day. Managed to remember not to log onto Facebook, hoorah!

Escape From Facebook (explaining a former facebook status by using 3 dimensions)

2009-03-30T00:31:00.002Z

Trying to explain a joke....

Desperate Photoblogging (part four?)

2009-03-30T00:15:00.000Z

Perhaps now is not the time to rant about noise pollution….

For a while alas the connection lead for my Kodak Easyshare C1013 was missing, managed to find it in very partial tidy up of parts of my flat (aka The Swamp). So some experimental pics

Here is a supermarket trolley from Tesco that has “conked out/bought the farm”

Bloody Students! Respect though Kirkstall Breweries is a long way from Tesco.

And this would make a wonderful Absolutely Northern! L S Lowry. Like Ebbw Vale in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum Coventry where I was briefly a volunteer).

And this is me.

Facebook exercises part 2, fun with the MP3 player

2009-03-29T22:07:00.004Z

for those of you not on Facebook (yes it sucks but alas a channel of communication that I am rather dependent on in a world full of poor communication....)

Had a bit of a problem with this one. Think my larger 1 gig MP3 player has no shuffle button or none I could find. Had downloaded everything from my old half gig player first of course....

instructions read:-

1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.

my answers were....

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Your Hurting Kinda Love- dusty

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Come into the Light- Bliss

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Spirit of the Mountain -Midori

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Anthem of the USSR (sung in English Translation by Paul Robeson)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
I'm coming Home Again - Dusty

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Coat of Many Colours - Dolly Parton

WHAT IS 2+2?
Pagan Born - Inkubus Sukkubus

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
YMCA - Village People

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Dusty

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I Can't Make it All Alone - Dusty

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The Internationale - In Spanish

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Evening Star - Kevin Kendle

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING:
Yesterday When I was Young - Dusty

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL
Oxygen - Jean Micheal Jarre but played by the London fantasy orchestra

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST:
This Love - Bliss

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I'll Be Waiting - Bliss

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Naked - Bliss

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?:
Thaxted/Jupiter - Elgar but likesay by London Fantasy Orchestra

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Grace - Bliss

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?:
Anthem of the United Federation of Planets

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Om Shanti - Bliss

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?:
O Fortuna - Carmina Burrana/Orff but London Fantasy Orchestra

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?:
England Arise! - Edward Carpenter (instrumental)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Sunrise - Bliss

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?:
How Can I Be Sure - Dusty

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?:
I Will Come to You - Dusty

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Chi Mai - London Fantasy Orchestra original Ennio Morricone

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?:
Some of Your Lovin - Dusty Springfield

Shameful and shameless photoblogging with maybe a bit more.. (part three in what may or may not be an occasional series….)

2009-03-14T00:46:00.004Z

No Comment….

Profile….

Here in Leeds we have the Institute of Northern Studies at Leeds Met, a splendid firm indeed! Went to one of the public lectures. Good to see corporate advertising.

Said lecture was on public art, and the Leeds Brick Man versus The Angel of The North or the Angel of the North versus the Leeds Brick Man. Down on the compost heap of England the Angel of The South is under construction. It will be bigger because they feel a certain need down in the Sarf to overcompensate of course.

I do wonder however about the Black Dyke Band. Aren’t any of them Bruvvas? They all seem white…

Then up the road to another University.

It’s that time of the month.

Ok I am just playing with my camera

Eligo In Suma Pontifico

Hasta La Victoria Siempre!/Meet The New Boss

2009-03-14T00:20:00.003Z

A long and heroic pilgrimage to Kirkstall Abbey.

2009-03-03T20:05:00.001Z

Some quick photoblogging. Jess not appearing as she is shy or I think she said she was… Oh well she can upload to her travel blog. Hi Jess!

Inside the Abbey Steeplehouse.

Looking up! Oh I do like this shot…

More of the same I think.

The lighting effects I am particularly pleased with…

The Cloister

From the Cloister

And when you know where to look…..

Really must learn how to blog in a hurry….

Down on the Farmers Market

2009-03-03T19:19:00.002Z

In Britain if you want to buy a farmer you go to a farmers market. If you want to buy a farmers market you go to a farmers market market. And if you want to buy a farmers market market you're being silly

Shameful and shameless photoblogging (part two in what may or may not be an occasional series….)

2009-02-20T22:20:00.001Z

A snowperson

Another snowbeing

And as I walked through the snow another snowcreature of not exactly definite species and gender but hey who cares….

Wonderful Advertising with tasteful additions purely in the interest of art of course….

Close up

Interesting tower, or is it a bartisan? Still haven’t got my head round the architectural lingo… exciting eh?

The tower/bartisan in all it’s glory!

Snow in the heart of the campus

The Chancellor’s Court

More to come…. bet you can’t wait……

Textual Harassment (maybe part six of an occasional series...)

2009-02-20T21:30:00.002Z

Just clearing the memory from my moby. Possibly deleted a few pearls of wisdom and amazing texts which are now lost forever. Herewith the remainder.....

From Becs on New Year's Eve

"2008 was a year of trial & error but we all came out stronger and wiser."

From Linda on new year’s eve also

"2009 is at the door… Remember, Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss lips slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and mostly remember to never regret anything that made you smile."

From Kevin

"A 6ft 4in man in toilet looks 2 his left 7 sees a little man peeping out a huge penis he says that the biggest penis I’ve ever seen the other man says im a leprechaun & we all have big ones. Tall man says I wish I had 1 like that. Leprechaun says I’ll grant u that wish if u let me screw you 1st. Man not sure but agrees. so leprechaun humpin away says what age are u son. tall man says 36. Imagine that 36 & still believe in leprechans!! "

From The Lovely Becs at Imbolc

"Remember on this snowy Imbolc that far beneath the bitter snow there is a seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes a rose x x brightest blessings and a happy Imbolc to all x x x"

Shameless Photo-Blogging (part one of an occasional series so long as my camera holds out….)

2009-02-02T20:12:00.002Z

Right, have camera still. So a bit of shameless photoblogging…..

Harry Pothead!

And here is the statue of Joseph Priestly, Unitarian vicar of Leeds until he went to Birmingham. Wrong way vicar…….

Of course the Brummies burned down his home and laboratory… so he fled to Amerika which I suppose before Joe McCarthy made sense.

Some lovely female form and body beautiful

Not just, ahem, er….

Goth Alert!

Though I thought that goth was more for death…. Bewhare of Whitby! Even the vicar is a goth!

Random shot of Woodsley Road looking south.

Another Camera Crew! Not the same one honest….

Fancy a Christian?

Random shot of The Great Hall in the snow

Bloody Students!

Snowperson

Right must be off could be away from the net for some time…..

Lovely New Ziff Building!

2009-01-30T22:16:00.000Z

Well here it is the brand new Marjorie and Arnold Ziff building!

Here it is a bit closer up.

and here is a random camera crew, lots of them on campus…..

Likesay Ziff Building was eventually opened ages ago, but I was alas without working camera. Have a couple of pics from the common room but later. Not shown is pic of student for whom the excitement was too much… well it was 2 pm so consider it an early morning lol

25 Things About Bluebell (me)

2009-01-29T21:23:00.002Z

1. I joined the Green Party in August 1989. I have served as local contact, regional treasurer, secretary to the Party Executive as well as several times a district council Green Candidate.
2. I have been vegan since the age of 16.
3. I once hitch hiked to Groningen from Leeds to cultivate friendship. 1000 mile round trip. All made possible by my lovely lifts of course, cheers dudes!
4. My career in Road Protesting was very brief. It was followed by 3 months of homelessness in Birmingham.
5. I am a tenant of West North West Leeds Homes. Thankfully there is still some social housing left in England. Alas there is no soundproofing.
6. I scraped dreadful A levels after 3 years at Skem College. D in Maths, E in Physics, failed Stinks and an A in General Studies (after no tuition and arriving 20 minutes late for the second paper).
7. I have once served as a school governor, a single 4 year term with an inner city primary school here in Leeds.
8. I have a younger brother Kevin, who is divorced with 2 kidz, my nephew Joe and niece Abi. I also have 2 younger half sisters Helen and Laura.
9. I have an honorary life membership of Leeds University Union.
10. I have been panning for gold as part of a University of Leeds field trip. Other field trips included a trip to a brewery, a mini beer festival, two trips measuring vernacular buildings and a tour of four old churches and chapels in Leeds city centre.
11. I was born in Leicester. As a child I lived in west Lancashire and Crosby. As an adult I have lived in London, Coventry, Colchester, Bootle and Birmingham before fleeing to Leeds seeking a home.
12. I once cycled from Leeds to Nottingham and back to attend a friend’s birthday party.
13. I have a diagnosis of Chronic Anxiety and Depression. I also suffer from probable complex regional pain disorder.
14. I love cooking. I have twice been a catering coordinator at YFGM (Young Friends’ General Meeting, the Quaker Yoof!).
15. I have been blogging since October 2004. But nobody reads it.
16. I am a member of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society
17. I don’t own a television. There may be no escape from televisual narcosis but I have spent 2 decades trying to avoid it. Television is hierarchical, a handful speak the rest listen.
18. JAH willing I graduate in July. A series of “accidents” led me to my current degree programme, BA (Hons) Local and Regional History (part time).
19. I rectified my name by statutory declaration in January 1997.
20. I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends (the people called Quakers) although I am deeply disillusioned by the lack of community therein especially at local level.
21. I served as a Young Friend assistant at the Friends’ World Committee for Consultation (FWCC, the Quaker International) at its 19th Triennial in Birmingham in 1997. This was mainly welcoming participants and microphone stewarding.
22. Returning home after the local election count one late one night I was described by Radio Leeds as the most colourful candidate in Yorkshire.
23. I served 5 years on the Committee of Kabal (the so called LUU society for Paganism, Magick and Folklore) until it appeared to be a mind control cult.
24. At “Facilitating Ourselves” a community building event based on the work of M Scott Peck and organised by Community Building in Britain, I facilitated a listening session on sex and relationships. It was fairly well attended.
25. Perhaps there is less to me than meets the eye.

Bluebell in 2 and in 3 dimensions

2009-01-29T21:15:00.000Z

Here I am in 2 dimensions

And again

And here I am in 3 dimensions

And of course to see me in 4 dimensions you will just have to meet me in real space. Computers not that advanced yet. Beam me up Scotty!

Respect Ma Authority!

2009-01-29T21:06:00.000Z

Found this in a charity shop in Charming Armley, the village in the jungle. Likesay lived there for a couple of years near the olde asbestos factory. Anyway apart from charm and asbestos Armley is also famous for the State Penitentiary or Big County Jail as the Amerikans call it. Although the slammer is actually in the township of Wortley not Armley.

Car boot sales in Little Britain

2008-12-29T21:47:00.003Z

If you want to by a car boot you go to a car boot sale. If you want to buy a car boot sale you go to a car boot sale sale. And if you want to buy a car boot sale sale you are just being silly.

Rogues Gallery

2008-12-03T15:31:00.002Z

Blonde in the first degree?

What I did in my holidays (Part Nine - To A Gig in Aspatria! Woho! Not even the locals know how to pronounce it)

2008-11-01T22:57:00.002Z

So, I bid my Friends at Pardshaw merry part and merry meet again. Was counselled against going via Maryport aka Scaryport. Turned out to be good advice… Scaryport station is the smallest in the world…. Likesay best avoided.

Think this is the Solway Firth.. and on the other side is Scotland…

Made it to Aspatria

So, stuck my thumb out, with hitching sign saying “Solfest please dude!” almost first van stopped. A lady from Bedlam Boudouir, saying they were at Solfest to run a munters bar.

Here’s some bluebells… well of a sort.

I checked in, my name was on the right list, how organised! I got my tent up. It was dry and had relatively little hassle and plenty of time to explore a bit and chill before the Stewards briefing. Here is the legendary Drystone Stage under construction

Here are some Scottish mountains on the other side of the Solway Firth. Pretty sure about that one. Solfest is named after the water that separates England from Scotland, where England ends and Scotland begins or vice versa….

Here is a lovely steward directing some lovely traffic

And here is Crimestoppers Terri!

Here’s Crimestoppers again

Perhaps this is the Army.. not sure which one though lol

A sign!

Site art

A view of the site

That hitching sign

The stewards await briefing

Polite. What a capital idea!

We do earnestly desire seek and wait

Man in skrit addresses the proletariat

Close up of Chris the site manager briefing the stewards

Festi to festi….

Meet the new lollipop man…

Stop! In the Name of LoVE!

Hippies crossing

Here come lots of happy people….

… to a Big Solfest Welcome!

Here is the welfare altar.

The Love Fairy tends the altar

The love fairy doing the love patrol!

The morning after…

A steward disapproves…

Cumbria loos arrive…. Turns out that it is a big job emptying the portaloos. Apart from being an experience.. the exquisite kosmic khazis at northern green are just so civilised!!!!! Solfest portaloos are the next best thing festi wise…..

A happily engaged couple!

A hardworking steward on the graveyard shift has a well earned rest

Meet the new lollipop man!

Ah Saturday night at Solfest. Fancy dress….

Looking at the main stage

Happy hippy campers I think

And the 4th solfest brownies… they’ve grown….

Here they are again

A splendid firm!

Noooo nooo

Here’s a mum and daughter team come as stewards

A one-man-band

Another view

The parade!

The parade continues….

And continues….

All the way from Kazakhstan… Borat!

Craig David from Bo-Selecta gets his come uppance….

Ello my little rubiks cubes!

The Queen of Hearts

Solfest!

The Dance Tent!

A rat with a pet…

The pub landlord…

Dunno mate….

Chas ‘n’ Dave!

Where’s Bin Liner?

Chas!

Dave!

More stewards

Tains list

The crims put in an appearance. A splendid firm….

This was a tricky pic to get….. my camera is tricky to operate in low light… can sometimes get a pic but requires the subjects to be relatively still…

Action at the Drystone Stage

For the love of the Goddess…

The knitting knoras. Called on them twice but they didn’t even say hello…..

A one woman band

Here she is again

Some funny folk in florescent hi vis jackets

Somewhat related I think

Dunno mate….

Viking!

Decorative…

Well dressed chap!

Solfest bites the dust…. We head home… but we all had a great time!!! Party on dudes!!!!!

Spent most of the day getting home after a pretty early start. Getting my tent down was a bit more tricky. Oh well at least it had survived. This was as it turned out my last festi of the summer….. Spent most of the day trying to get out of Cumbria on public transport on a bank holiday. Still made it…..

Back to Blighty….

Magick Chair! No really, it just materialised at the bus stop on the way home….

Likesay not one of my best blog posts... but hey nobody reads it lol. Sweet dreams! Must head back to my tipi.

Dodgy Quaker Types Through The Ages. (Part One I think of an occasional series....)

2008-10-30T21:59:00.002Z

"WHAT’S THE USE OF PARSONS. – The Quakers have no hired preachers to explain mysteries, seize the tenth of their industry, and vex and harass them to death with everlasting law suits; and who besides, in return for being supported by the people take against them on all occasions. And yet, notwithstanding this lamentable deficiency, the Quakers are a sensible, cheerful, and prosperous people. God does not strike them dead, or smite them blind because they have no state parsons. On the contrary, they thrive under it. Then why can’t we do the same? Why can’t we christen, and marry, and bury by the help of general register officers and a magistrate’s certificate? The Americans have no bishops or state parsons of any kind, no tithes, glebes, or sacred church property, and yet wonderful to relate, even they thrive under such a wicked system. They have no bloody religious wars-no everlasting law-suits about tithes-no domineering insolent parson magistrates-no political time-serving to get fat livings by; and they also, are a moral, happy and prosperous people. And then, on account of there being no state religion in America, all the different sects live in harmony; there are no Rathcormac massacres committed for the sake of a few pounds of tithes; remember that, you priest-ridden Johnny Bull? Can’t you be bessttled with superstition without paying priests for laughing at you for believing their marvellous [unclear word] stories?"

From a Correspondent of the Brighton Patriot. Poor Man’s Guardian Saturday, December 26, 1835; Issue 238

Fancy a job as a vicar? www.callwaiting.org.uk

Historiography through the ages…. (Part one of an occasional series, the Venomous Bede)

2008-10-20T22:15:00.002Z

Just for fun…. I was trying to do some seminar preparation on the historiography of the Venomous Bede. Found myself compiling a few dates in order to try and keep perspective. Think I lost it anyway. Anyway here goes…..

1 Beginning of the CE.

410 Legions leave Britain. Start of Dark Ages and Modern History.

500 Battle of Badon Hill. Anglo Saxon conquest held up a bit.

597 Augustine consecrated First Archbishop of Canterbury

616 End of the (British and Christian) Kingdom of Elmet in the North.

627 First Archbishop of York

635 Aiden established on Lindisfarne

655 Death of King Penda of Mercia “last great Pagan warrior King”

664 Synod of Whitby. Church of England goes Roman.

669 Theodore the Bubble Archbishop of Canterbury, conversion still touch and go.

672 Venomous Bede Born

731 Bede’s History of the English Church published.

735 Bede goes to the Heavenly Kingdom.

793 Lindisfarne Ramraid. Viking lager louts arrive….

795 Offa’s Dyke defines Wales

867 King Alle of Northumbria gets the Blood Eagle (eek!)

869 King Edmund of East Anglia gets Blood Eagle (still eek)

871 Alfred becomes King of Wessex. Saves Anglo-Saxon civilisation.

878 Emergency Borough of Althelney

886 Danelaw recognised by Wessex.

954 Eric the Bloodaxe ceases to be King of York, England united.

What I did in my holidays (Part Eight - Pardshaw pre solfest social call)

2008-10-07T20:39:00.003Z

Now Pardshaw might be a long way from Aspatria but it is at least in the same county so on the way to Solfest I took the opportunity of participating at a Young Friends’ gathering at Pardshaw Young Friends’ Center despite of course not being young. Even if 40 is young for Britain Yearly Meeting. My thanks to the Young Friends for fitting in a somewhat elderly ex Young Friend.

So lets kick off with some random shots of Cumberland

Specifically on a coach into Cockermouth. Cockermouth used to have connection to the railway network. Connection now seems to be via permenant replacement bus. Oh well better than nothing.

This pic though is Pardshaw Crag I think. Did txt the Convenor of the Committee, Friend Anne to say I was on my way, just taking a pic of Pardshaw Crag.

And here we are in Cockermouth itself!

A close up of the pale blue and white house. Dig the colour scheme

Here’s Mayo. Er no. It's the Town Hall which used to be a Chapel funnily enough. Interesting.

Here's Mayo

And here’s Yorkiegirl’s place in the country.

New Labour New Babylon!

Some Knitting Knoras

Dinner is served! After Quaker grace of course….

Majk the master musician

The excitement is too much for some…

Rise up singing!

Had a wonderful evening epilogue when we sang “Lord of All Hopefulness” with an amazing unity plus Laudate Dominum or something. Quite moving. Plus at some point we sang rediscovered Pardshaw song to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun”. Oh how we laughed!

The mob!

Did walk into Cocker on Sunday morning to go to Meeting for Worship at Cockermouth Friends’ Meeting House. Got a nice lift back. There was a Sunday evening Meeting for Worship at Pardshaw, there being one a month. Not so far to walk…..

And where else but Pardshaw! For a celebration of life. In this case Friend Anne opens her cards.

The fruit bowl

Friend Ericka bakes a surprise cake.

Random shot from the burial ground

Friend Ericka again with the cake

Dinner is served!

The birthday girl contemplates the cake.

The cake itself yummy

The dynamic duo jamming

Digicams reproducing by binary fission….

Taking a pic with an identical digi-cam…

Just before the ceilidh. With my best kilt.

Official group photo. Not sure if it made front cover of “Young Quaker”.

Left to Right Back row: Anne, Majk, Kathleen, Tony, Ericka, Jack
Front row: Andrew, Bluebell

Dancing yeah!

Friend Jack looking pensive

A Quaker mural on the ceiling painted by Bluebell and other Friends at a previous workcamp.

Use Cooper’s Dip

The new Pardshaw log book! Golly!

A random shot of Pardshaw Friends’ Meeting House and Young Friend’s Center.

From the other end of the burial ground

My best shot of the Dalton memorial. Taken at night no flash if I remember and pointing my head torch at it so that you can at least see the writing.

I then set off across Cumberland to a gig in Aspatria leaving some lovely Friends at Pardshaw. Hope to see them all again in this lifetime. And Pardshaw is a sort of home from home. “There is an Olde Meeting House Near Cockermouth! They call it Pardshaw Hall, and it’s been the ruin of many a Young Friend…..”

What I did in my holidays (Part Seven Happy Hippies Going Greener)

2008-09-22T23:40:00.002Z

Ah Northern Green Gathering! AKA Hippies Up North/Men in Dresses. What follows is a photoblog perhaps almost by default. It was yet again another unforgettable trip!

This year we were at Lime Tree Funny Farm for possibly the first time. Well I got to site, cost me 15 UKP in a taxi fare from Ripon, ho hum…. Managed to get my tent up. Not entirely sure why there are no pics from that first night. Anyway lets kick off with some of the lovely site art here in the Yoghurt weavers field.

Here is a close up.

Some more fabulous art, this I think for the main stage.

Nice close up of the head.

Another random shot

And another shot of the birdie in flight to the main stage I think.

Here is the Magic Hat horse and cart….. giving some rides round the site…..

Here’s Trailer Trash, a splendid firm indeed!

And for those who missed the mud at Crustymania…..

Here is the site moggie, thoroughly non plussed….

Now, the permaculture folk had a cunning plan, viz to sow some rye, and hopefully if we were at the same site next year, we could harvest it, bake bread and indeed break bread… so here on the manure heap is what Peter the farmer reckons is a wild sunflower.

Here it is in long view

Here’s the Knitting Knoras

Here they are in close up….

Forgive us our trespasses….

Here’s a general view of the craft area

Now, did I mention did agree to help with preparation in order to sow rye seed. In order to grow rye in order to make bread at next Hippies Up North. Well here I am, a revolting peasant hard at work, but dressed for the job of course lol.

Here I am again shifting the manure…

Herewith the field to grow the rye.

Greenies love their pottery!

Make Stuff Out Of Wood!. You know you want to!

Some lovely volunteer stewards!

Delivering firewood to the firepit via the magic hat haulage.

Some tents.

Solidarity!

And traditionally, we uphold tradition that Saturday night at Northern Green Gathering is Camp Ball.

And let’s have a cup of tea!

Inside the chill-out tent provided by the lovely sustainable sounds

Pray who is Craig David out of Bo Selecta?

A view of the main stage powered by the wind and sun with lovely organic ale bar.

Nice random shot forget where.

Give a Hippy a Lift! You know you want to!

Inside Sunny Jim’s Solar Cabaret!

Some more lovely stewards. The lovely Semra demonstrating that the fluorescent hi-vis jacket is THE must have fashion accessory for style conscious goths

More lovely lovely stewards in this case some lovely stewards from the most excellent team 3 after final shift. Yeah we did it!

Random wellies shot. Well had to have one, in this case Becky’s from welfare crew.

And Northern Green’s wonderful logo. Very clever, in accordance with magickal principals to bring lovely weather as well as promote a wonderful swish corporate image. Or maybe not.

And let’s encourage public transport, cycling, and of course car sharing and hitch hiking….

Good to see the magick Chip van again to wit Nomad. And of course Sue and Marks Sauna (SAMS) which really made Northern Green 2006 in my opinion when it was rained and mudded out. It made it again this year cheers dudes! And well done to all the lovely disorganisers, traders, crew and of course ticket holders who made it all possible, hope you all had a good one!

Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!

Go Green!

76% Eccentric, not bad.....

2008-09-14T19:17:00.000Z

Your result for The Are you an Eccentric? Test...

76% Eccentric!

You scored 76% Eccentric. Eccentrics have lots of hobbies, aren't very mainstream, and have a tendancy to be downright weird or insane. Depending on how high you scored you may want to look into developing more as an Eccentric, as truely we have all the fun!

Take The Are you an Eccentric? Test at HelloQuizzy

What I did in my holidays (Part Six – a roll in the mud (and the rest!) at Crustymania….)

2008-09-02T18:43:00.001Z

Ah Shamania. Four days of “psy-trance”. Not my idea of fun. What had I signed myself up for!!!! Still I had been assured that it was a “spiritual” festi, and no doubt it would be an experience…. Should with hindsight have put a heavier disclaimer on it when discussing it with my mum, but hey she is a big girl now…. Didn’t discover until I got the ticket that there would be no shower on site, didn’t discover till I got there that there was no drinkable or washable water… Oh how civilised we are at Northern Green……

Anxiously did I watch the programme on Youtube…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2FFAAy8tmU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toFnwYbsH6M&feature=related

and 9 parts....

Anyway. Had my usual last minute panic leaving my flat…… One day I will learn to travel light. Made it from home to Nelson in 2 bus journeys, not bad! Met mum at Nelson train station… well eventually it is a building site at the moment…..

Lovely saga trying to get a taxi to site…… There is a big hotel by the station that must be the main landmark in Nelson, and said taxi firm is in the same street… could they find me and mum? Well they did eventually and get us to site…………

So finally made it to site, checked in with Mike the Intensive CareBear, and got tent up.

Nice site art……………

Already the mud was there…

Feel the LOVE! Rite way round this time….

Now this will look good lit up at night….

One of the somewhat related stewards

Think this is the main stage or something….

There’s nothing like an English Summer… so sang Annie Lennox who is not of course English but Scottish. But there you go…

As if by magick a lake appeared! This one is called Jeff!

And beware of the troll!

Welcome to Crustymania!!!

Some funny looking chaps in florescent HI-VIS jackets…

Great bumper sticker

As Alexi Sayle said, “I don’t like the countryside, it hasn’t got a roof over it…..”

Lovely weather heading our way!

Nice sentry box for lovely security.

Runic John, c/w hammer….

Site art, mud and grass where now there is mud……

Close up

Happy Campers!!

Mud etc……..

Written In Mud!

Bluebell!

More straw for exquisite dancing…

Looking up in Fraktals Café!

The soil was I think peat. We were on top of a hill. Large vehicles sank into the mud. Small vehicles sank into the mud. The people sank into the mud…. This made it’s way to Fracktals Café, says it all really…

When your wellies are sunk into the mud you are pretty much stable. It is getting out you might lose your balance….

Dunno how they got this kite in the air…. It’s pretty high up

The Healers at work, after a lovely meditation on Love!

Look at the mud on this site!!!!! Here come the cleaners…..

Solidarity!

Playing with fire… might end up in the tourist guide to Pendle….

Main doo-dah lit up at night, nice and colourful eh?

Look! Captain Pugwash on the Television again! That takes me back

Mud! Mud! Glorious Mud!

There is a light that never goes out…

Said it would look good lit up at night…

The farmer drives a nice Lamba! Did a sterling job pulling all the vehicles out of the mud!

Here it is close up, really is a Lamba!

Bear shows a bit of Flower Power!

Who let the riff-raff in! Well at least they are dressed for the occasion! LOL

The sheep show their comtempt….

Welcome to Shamania! You Will Never Leave!

Beautiful Countryside…

The Proletariat in the crew kitchen..

Your stewards, some of them.

Seems healing took a dive….

A remarkable alchemical transformation brought about by rain…

And the real magick! Mum and I escaped at the first opportunity, got a taxi into Nelson, I bid her goodbye and headed to the bus station, when what do I see…. Go by broom!!!

Probably be £2.50 to Manchester though lol

So farewell to Crustymania. It was an experience… my thanks to all who made it happen.

NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT! (or what's in your wallet? part something of an occasional series)

2008-08-27T21:20:00.005Z

A Pound Coin in my wallet has the words "NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT" (Scottish for "If the grifters take the pish, Nuke 'Em!") about the edge. This is of course the motto of the Queen of Scotland, who is also Queen of a few other countries. Think I will adopt it as my motto, I am sure she will be well chuffed!

Now to do my laundry.

Feel the LOVE!

2008-05-22T19:42:00.002Z

Way Poly
You're 71% tolerant, 76% polyamorist, 48% polyfidelitist, and 79% swinger.

You're either poly, or very tolerant of poly people. You may be practicing the lifestyle, either as a swinger, a polyfidelitist, or a polyamorist in general. Regardless, you embrace the abundance mentality that says loving a second romantic partner doesn't necessarily diminish your love for the first.

This test tracked 4 variables. How the score compared to the other people's:

Higher than 36% on tolerant

Higher than 65% on polyamorist

Higher than 19% on polyfidelitist

Higher than 96% on swing friendly

Link: The Poly Acceptance Test written by kdt26417 on OkCupid
View My Profile(kdt26417)

The Life and Death of Mr Badman

2008-04-04T21:34:00.003Z

"Fourth. At funerals there does use to be mourning and lamentation, but here also Mr. Badman differs from others; his familiars cannot lament his departure, for they have not sense of his damnable state; they rather ring him, and sing him to hell in the sleep of death, in which he goes thither. Good men count him no loss to the world, his place can well be without him, his loss is only his own, and it is too late for him to recover that damage or loss by a sea of bloody tears, could he shed them."

John Bunyan “The Life and Death of Mr. Badman Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive.”

About 3 months ago my laptop “disappeared” from a draw in my room (locked). This is of course either some bizarre psychic phenomena or an internal burglary (there have been a number of “unsolved” thefts in the house). But as they say on the Bill, “what we know and what we can prove are not the same”

I affixed a mirror to the door of my room. Wonder if someone took offence? I later found said mirror broken. Dear oh dear, it is seven years bad luck for breaking a mirror…….

So add a bit of glass paint….

And the oracle speaks….

Oh well, my room was broken into yesterday…. Crowbarred this time. What a life?

Found a painting and have just recalled it was painted after a break in at a previous abode. Living in Newtown (Beiruit in Birmingham…).

And this one, done in a mindful painting workshop at Woodbrooke College.

Misadventures in Edinburgh

2008-03-28T21:15:00.000Z

Safely back in Old Blighty (Leeds) for what it’s worth. Living with the housemate from hell is doing my head in (I am not exaggerating, quite the reverse you wouldn’t believe how off the wall he is… does anyone?).

Anyway, greatly grateful to Gwen and her housemates for giving me a wonderfully therapeutic break. So, very low in energy, I set off a bit too late. Got to Wetherby about 4 if I remember rightly. There were no severe weather warnings so thought I should try and chance it at hitch hiking. Besides, my current account is running on empty alas….

Not quite sure when and what I txted Gwen. Basically that I was hitch hiking after all. Got a reply

“Ok you crazy crazy man.”

Which about sums it up.

There are road works at Wetherby. Where the Leeds Road joins the Great South Road. Couldn’t find a convenient place to try and hitch hike onto the Great South Road going north found myself at the junction for the local road from Wetherby onto the Great South. Decided to chance it stuck my thumb out and within 5 mins someone stopped. Got a lift to Scotch Corner, turns out it was a chap who worked in social housing but lived Catterick way, he’d married a local when he was in the Army.

Stuck my thumb out, after a lack of success wandered up to the service station to spend a penny and get a caffeine fix. Got offered a lift to Washington Services. Chap heading Sunderland way, ex artic driver, now working distributing cans of coke, donated me a couple of cans and a couple of bottles of doctor pepper! Said he wondered why people did not club together and go to cash and carries especially people with families. Interesting idea.

Now increasingly the Great South seems to be the worse of both worlds. Parts of it are under motorway regulations so you can’t hitch hike it, and Washington is a very slow service sation. You would never think that this was the main road into Edinburgh. Or into The Toon.

So, would have continued but since number of vehicles leaving was less than 2 an hour, tried to relax. Dared not try and sleep alfresco, was getting cold and even with a pretty warm luminous jacket, daren’t risk it. The bridge over the motorway had cameras so thought if I rested there I would be hassled by security. So at foot of stairs tried to get 40 winks. Then got woken up by a chap asking did I have any ciggies. Turned out it was Pete, seemed harmless enough. Spent the night chatting to him. Said he was a computer hack with some lucrative work with a big university somewhere. Hi Pete if you are reading this! Cheers for the beans on toast!

So, following morning having got no sleep continued. After hours with no luck changed my sign to next services. Eventually got a lift to Seaton Delaval. Had previously got a good lift to Dalkieth in time for last bus into Edinburgh. But I just didn’t have the energy. Perhaps it is theoretically possible to hitch hike up the Great South Road. But like out eating a sumo wrestler, difficult in practice.

Anyway seems Seaton D is the Delaval mentioned in classic English folk song “The Blackleg Miner”

“Oh, Delaval is a terrible place.
They rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,
And around the heaps they run a foot race,
To catch the blackleg miner!”

Here’s an upbeat version

Got a bus into Gotham Town and then a coach to Edinburgh. On the way saw this

Interesting stone built building it would seem with classical symmetry.

So finally met Gwen at Edinburgh Coach Station.

Good to be in time for the meeting on Monday of the Edinburgh Community Building group (based on the work of M Scott Peck). Nice to meet veterens from Crowbar 2 Heather and Orlando. Here is a pic taken on the way to Michael and Heather’s place.

Later in the week met up with Michael and Heather which was nice. Hello Michael, Heather and Orlando if you are reading this.

Here is a view of the Gothick Spacerocket. More later.

And Edinburgh Castle from Gwen’s flat.

Think this pic was taken in the Rose.

On Sunday went to Meeting for Worship at Edinburgh Central Friends Meeting House.

Here is the Meeting House after Meeting.

And the staircase

Think my first visit to Edinburgh Central Friends Meeting House was as catering co-ordinator at Young Friends General Meeting. Here’s the kitchen from a safe distance…

Here is the Meeting House from the outside, they got the builders in.

Here’s the neighbours, the Wee Frees

Went to their evening service last time I was at YFGM. It was an experience….

Here’s a daft mutt

Now, Greyfriars moggie would have moved to the next suitable supply of catfood….

Here is the Martyrs Memorial

Greyfriars is where they signed the National Covenant. Wikid!

Here is Saint Marks, a very baroque looking Unitarian Chapel

And here is the Gothick Spacerocket again! Or another one…

Here is the Planetary Headquarters of the Free Church of Scotland (the wee frees).

Bought a postcard from their bookshop showing the famous painting of their first assembly during the stirring heady days of the Great Disruption.

Likesay shows the historic signing of the Act of Separation and Deed of Demission.

Edinburgh is full of timelords, here is a tardis

so, Tuesday and I start hitch hiking back. Thought I would try the A68. A lift once said that there are 3 roads into Scotland, the Great South, the A68 and the M6 and whatever it becomes north of Carlisle.

Got a bus to Dalkieth. Stuck my thumb out at the first roundabout our of town. Hadn’t the energy, the will, I don’t know. Took another bus back to Edinburgh. Enquired as to the next coach to Leeds. Turns out it set off 21:30 hhrs arriving Leeds 06:30 hhrs change in Gunchester. So I reasoned that was still an adventure. A minor difference from hitch hiking being the tariff of 38 UKP…..

So with some time left to enjoy Edinburgh I headed up and down the Royal Mile. Here is the Scottish Parliament.

And here is Lilibet’s cottage…

A glimpse through the gate…

And made it back to Leeds to catch up on some sleep. Surprised I managed to get some sleep on the coach…. Suppose this was a sort of sleeper coach but unlike the sleeper train u don’t get a bed….

Tripping in Hippyhome

2008-03-12T18:45:00.001Z

Got to Hipperholme Grammar School in Hipperholme, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Took me 3 busses thankfully covered by a county rider ticket.

Here is the front of the Grammar School built in a sort of vernacular classicism. Not only was it built symmetrically, first rule of classicism, but two wings were later added in a symmetrical fashion. Wikid!

Here is a close up of the central bit with the clock (sorry am in a rush not going to consult the rare glossary of architectural terms).

Forget what the central monument says.

Alan our tutor at the Quoin stones. A very classical feature.

Think this monument is in latin saying wish the committee had just got on with it.

Alan continues to give us the lowdown. He served the school as a history master and currently as a governor. Splendid Chap

A monument to all the boys and masters of the school who bought the farm during the First Unpleasantness. Seems the headmaster was in the Territorial Army and encouraged masters and old boys to enlist. He bought it at Ypres.

Close up of the mortar containing ash.

Later rebuilding using recycled stone and modern lintels.

A well spotted feature. Well done Richard!

More classical symmetry, the porch either not original or not planned according to a painting so originally the symmetry was spot on

And here we are back at school. Not that Alan looks like a history master….

Alan shows us how building surveying is done.

And we crack on. It’s not rocket science…

Smoking is bad for your health. Don’t do it kidz!

Many thanks to all at Hipperholme Grammar School not only for making this field trip possible but also for wonderful hospitality.. The coffee was great!

The Joy of YouTube (part three in a very occasional series honest!)

2008-03-02T18:47:00.001Z

Very keen to take a break from blogging while everyone reads my last post. It will of course be a star post for anyone to come back to, I am sure it is not the last thing I have to say on the subject of sex, relationships, love and monogamous assumptions. However, I wonder if YouTube has been down, or if some of my problems accessing it have been down to which computer being used, and the ones I posted on my blog seemed ok….

So….

Fancy some Toast!

I remember seeing Paul Young and the Streetband on Top of The Pops, oh how I laughed! And oh how I am showing my age….. Thought at the time it was by “The Jam” of course, later thought it was by Ian Dury and The Blockheads. But no, it was by Paul Young, somewhat related and the Streeband.

Speaking of Ian Dury, how about Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll!

Evidently, Stiff Records went on the road, blatently promoting the label rather than the artists concerned. The evening would end with everyone up on stage singing Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. Evidently wasn’t much of a success, so they did it again, Stiff Records that is. Undaunted they tried the losing formula another time. Or so it was said on TV so it must be true.

Remember Jilted John?

“I was so upset I cried! all the way to the chip shop!” nuff said. Classic song.

Another classic not of an age but belonging to the ages Gnarls Barkley – Crazy. Unfortunately embedding disabled at request. C’est la vie.

And I first saw this one on a repeat of The Two Ronnies. WALK IN LOVE by MANHATTAN TRANSFER

Nice!

I was flicking through the Guinness Book of Records and discovered that Emperor Bokassa was not only an Emperor but also a Field Marshal. What an achievement!

Here he is at his coronation. Very modestly he crowned himself. Not very expertly it would seem from this video, almost a botched job.

I read somewhere that the Crown Prince was in naval uniform, scaled down for a 2 year old of course. Odd really for a land locked “Empire”. Perhaps he hoped that the French would pay for his Navy as well as his Coronation. He would then of course be able to reach the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Imperial Central African Navy and Air Chief Marshal of the Imperial Central African Air Force. This would perhaps all be funny were he not a nasty dictator responsible for the massacre of schoolchildren.

The French of course decided it was cost effective to topple him in a bloodless coup and restore the previous President.

The Mother of all Cults?

2008-02-23T20:26:00.004Z

Time for a rant!

Below is a discussion paper i produced for a listening session on sex and relationships at the "Facilitating Ourselves" conference of Community Building in Britain.

==================================

The Mother of all Cults?

At the last community building experience that I was able to be present at I felt moved to share that my eating was disordered, that I had spent prolonged periods drug dependent, and that a hot steamy affair had saved my life. Perhaps I will return to the demons of the 20th century (depression, alcoholism, anorexia, obesity and unfashionable trousers) at a later stage. But friends you can rest assured that I am not going to go six days without mention of issues around sexuality. Like I said all those years ago, the attitude of “We’re British we don’t talk about it!” is most unhealthy in my not so humble and no doubt very warped opinion.

Perhaps it is inevitable that, with 44 participants building an intentional community, time in plenary sessions was short, my contribution was pretty brief so people did jump to a few conclusions. One participant did seem to have issues and was somewhat offended, and more than a bit aggressive perhaps. I was able to explain to another participant that the said affair had been secret as my secret paramour wished no public displays of affection, I would have been happy to be open to the world about it. Further, both of us were single when we started the affair. I indeed was 33 and a virgin (agh!!!!). True, that the said affair was concealed from the world made things awkward for me especially as events subsequently unfolded. So yes, there was an illicit dimension in that an otherwise innocent and ethical affair was concealed. Not my idea, but since I agreed to said terms and conditions, I do in part share blame. It was very hard work, but it was fun though, and yes it did save my life. I was dying of sexual frustration, something I suspect that the asexual amongst us will never understand.

Anyway. I chatted to another participant. Explained that further to subsequent experience I had realised that having tried to believe in the cult of monogamy I remained a non believer. I believe in Love, but not in the soupiness of romance or indeed in monogamy. Monogamous relationships may, or may not be, loving but monogamy itself is not about love, it IS about ownership possession and control. Don’t believe me? Well then, do you own your lover/wife/husband’s body? Would you mind if he/she was loved by someone else?

Anyway. Who owns my body? Who decides how much and with whom I may share of it? Is Love about forsaking all others? Is love jealous (contra 1 Corinthians 13:4 if you must). Isn’t living openly non monogamously the most generous way to live? Again, not suggesting any form of non monogamous way of living as a new oppressive norm to replace the old oppressive norm. Was inspired one morning in a Doctor’s surgery seeing an NHS poster saying “Only have sex if you want to”.

OK losing the thread a bit. Started this article then went for a cup of coffee with a former fellow student who has just graduated. 3 pints of coffee, er lager, later………..

Don’t get me wrong, At the end of the day, my approach is pragmatic. If a monogamous relationship is loving I am all for it and against anyone disturbing it. Do what you like in bed, but don’t do it in the streets where it might frighten the horses!

Likesay. Explained to said other participant that I was at least in theory multi-amorous (poly=many well I wish!) she said something along the lines of cool! “I have polyamorous friends they are great, no pressure to have sex”. I wish I was so accepted and indeed, acceptance is not enough, I wish, and indeed have a need to be, appreciated. Wish I had some polyamorous friends. Wish I had some friends but there you go.

Must confess that currently when chatting on msn or okCupid or whatever, or indeed if I were to be out on the pull (sorry haven’t the energy, the clubbing scene in Leeds at least is ear drum splitting), I do tend to ask when chatting up eligible young ladies: (or whatever) “are you a card carrying member of The Cult of Monogamy?” After all, to enter a monogamous relationship would disturb an existing open relationship (howsoever theoretical) and funnily enough I thought that the basis of morality, including that of my mono friends was not disturbing an existing relationship or somesuch.

Don’t get me wrong. Have just looked up the definition of a Cult on the CIC website. But like I wrote on my blog:-

“I wouldn’t want to lose my mono friends but I think they know where I stand by
now, viz monogamy is sort of ok between consenting couples in private if well
not really. “Do what you like in bed but don’t do it in the street where it
might frighten the horses!”

“I was in the Old Bar at a gathering of folks from the LUU website message
boards and when chatting to one chap there, he said that he believed in monogamy
but was not prepared to discuss it. Absolutely fine, discussion of sex and
relationships is not compulsory. But hey, isn’t it characteristic of cults that
you don’t really question the cult?

“Funny, but when a cult has some non
orthodox sexual practice, they are condemned for it (the only examples that
spring to mind being The Family and the Rajneeshis) , whereas I suspect that
most cults are into monogamy (examples being Harry Krishna, The Moonies, The
Mormops, The Hubbardists, Jesus Army, Opus Dei, the Jobos and we could go on an
on here……..).

I tell you these monos are part of a cult!

 ”

(posted on my blog Sunday 6th March 2005 http://chicksdigjerks.blogspot.com/2005/03/i-tell-you-these-monos-are-part-of.html)

Anyway, funny how my email signature for years has been “IN AND THROUGH TRUE COMMUNITY LIES THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD” which hopefully some participants at Horn Farm will be familiar with, being found somewhere in “The Different Drum – Community Building and Peace” by M Scott Peck.

If anyone has ever read my email signature, no one ever commented. Whatever. Perhaps this is significant. But also on all but my yahoo signature I have included:-

"’I think the most dangerous parts of the current cultural trance are pretty obvious: male domination, materialism, and the absence of spirit. Monogamy is another one in there. These are cultural styles which, if not overcome, will probably contribute to our ever more rapid acceleration toward, if not extinction, at least a profound brutalisation of life.’ attributed, by Merrick, to Terrence McKenna.

Again, no comment not even something hostile.

Funny, somewhere in writings of M Scott Peck Scotty seems to say, “Hold up Free Love as an Ideal but under no circumstances practice it”. Again. What other people do in bed and with whom is none of my business so long as it is fully consensual and does not involve children or animals. Yes I am a card carrying Liberal. I do have issues however with people holding up Monogamy as an ideal. Why hold up monogamy as an ideal? Don’t get me wrong. If everyone was

As it turns out I am in theory multi-amorous if very celibate in practice. Such is life. The “New Man” was never top of the pops in the sexual attraction stakes.

Ok, at the risk of all this being a bit stream of consciousness think I will post and head home. Maybe we will have some vigorous debate at Horn Farm maybe not, maybe a further lurch into superficiality and monogamous assumptions.

See you all at Horn Farm.

Love and liberation

Bluebell Eikonoklastes

Some ranters. Ranting I presume....

Adult Education Through The Ages (part one I think…)

2008-02-23T19:37:00.002Z

Here’s teach, obviously….

The Yorkshire Textile Industries through the ages were mainly woollens (made of wool, obviously) and worsteds (also made of wool, though at Saltaire of course they did alpaca worsteds)….

Bring on the wool….

My desk

Ditto….

Wonder if I learned anything… well here goes…..

To make woollens from wool. You have to

1. wash it
2. card it
3. spin it
4. weave it
5. finish the woven woolens

Finishing might include

- fulling
- dying
- tentering
- raising
- cropping

With additional and omitted steps with worsteds. Looks like a lot of hard work. How anyone managed to make it through all those stages to produce the first ever textiles is beyond me..... Perhaps that’s why Gengiz Khan conquered half the world with little or no textile industry, the mongol yurt being made of felt instead.

Anyway, to spin the spindle was invented millennia ago and was still in use until the Industrial Revolution. A student gives it a go....

Along comes the Great Wheel.

But the hand spindle is still in use, can be used anywhere and until invention of the spinning jenny, yarn is generally in short supply, especially in areas with a textile industry.

Lights!

The Joy of YouTube! (part two of one of them occasional series…)

2008-02-23T18:25:00.002Z

Showing my age a bit. “Galloping On!” the transcendent sound of Black Beauty…..

And indeed the the Holohan sisters (never heard of them but great singers) singing “Down by The Glenside” Transcendent!

Or how about a whole coven of white witches! Pagan Rock Band Inkubus Sukkubus singing Heartbeat of the Earth. Apparently on Brit Brekfast television. Looks like they managed to Evoke Angela Rippon anyway…… wonder why they are all dressed in black though.

I could be here all night….

Textual Harassment! (part five I think but who’s counting?)

2008-02-21T18:28:00.002Z

Ah drug slang and indeed other slang, so much a variable in time and place. I used to think a Bag’ed was a glue sniffer, but perhaps in some contexts at some times it means a Junkie. My brother sent me the following

“New charity on news’ Bagheds to Bagdad’ its to give them a fresh start! blessem"

Aye! Bless Them!

Sent following txt to my brother

“it was a thrill for me to meet Kennedy in that way- while i was doing my job. At that moment, I never could have imagined that fifteen years later i would be publishing nude photos of his wife.” Larry Flynt pious founder of “Hustler” amerikan jazz mag I believe.. He was in the navy on the USS Enterprise"

"Did he know Captain Kirk?" Kevin asked? Perhaps the Captain of the Enterprise at the time was Captain Kirk? Was there a Lootenant Uhura? Did he get a discrete inter-racial kiss? Or even a little more? Make Love not War! I say!

There’s klingons on the starboard side! starboard side! Starboard side! There’s klingons on the starboard side…..

My brother again sent me this one

“A recent survey found that women find different male faces attractive depending on her cycle. For example when a woman is ovulating she prefers a man with a rugged masculine face and when she is menstruating she prefers a man doused in fucking petrol, set on fire with scissors sticking out of his fucking eyes and a cricket stump jammed up his bastard arse!”

I replied

“ROFL! :-D rite on pseudo hippy bint i know said recent research shows when wimmin ovulating they r drawn 2 macho psychotic type rest of time they prefer jerks b”

Forget who sent me this one. Just as well as it might upset the feminists. I only reprint it as a sad reflection on the state of mind and indeed what passes for humour…

‘Husband and wife shopping in Tescos. Husband puts 10 cans of Stella in the trolley the wife takes them out saying “They cost £10, they’re too expensive!” Further down the aisle she puts a £20 jar or face cream in the trolley. He says “Hold on a minute that’s expensive” She says “But it makes me look so beautiful” He say…. “So does 10cans of Stella, but at half the FUCKING PRICE!”’

This one too a bit lacking in political correctness…

“Everytime I see you … I smile!when u walk … I laugh! When u speak…I get excited! For some reason retards amuse the fuck out of me!”

Must confess watching “Police, Camera Crew Action!” gives me some sort of amusement…

“Police, Camera, Retards!”

A policeman’s life is not a happy one…

Local History Quiz (part one of an occasional series…)

2008-02-20T18:09:00.001Z

One for all you Armleyites. Prior to becoming a carpet warehouse, Mike’s Carpets was:-

a) a cinema
b) a Primitive Methodist Chapel
or c) a lapdancing club

UFO on the Kirkstall Road?

2008-02-19T17:49:00.001Z

As I wandered down the Kirkstall Road, I couldn’t help noticing this multicoloured Unidentified Flying Object looking a bit like some stray helium filled balloons. And no doubt the conspiracy theorists will have you believe that is indeed what it was. Have tried to upload to Youtube so here goes…..

Silly Questions?

2008-02-16T19:49:00.001Z

Time flies. At some point in the past when I first arrived in Leeds and was crossing the University Campus I stumbled on this heraldic achievement. Nice motto?

Turns out anyway that it is the Arms of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers of the City of London. Seems the Clothworkers paid for the Textiles Building so it’s in right ordering that their Arms are on display. Seems the Clothworkers have strong connections with this University.

Likesay dialled up their website a few years ago and discovered that you don’t have to be a clothworker to be a Clothworker, or have any connection with the City of London, you just have to be the son or daughter of a Clothworker. In fact that would appear to be the only way in. Well the Livery Companies of the City of London are peculiar peculiarities I suppose. Was listening to State Controlled Radio a while back and they interviewed this vicar who was vicar of one of the myriad churches within the “square mile” not many parishioners but since there are the Livery Companies…. Anyway seemed for one annual service he had to have a tricorne hat , not wear it but have it in his hand. Managed to get one in a theatrical suppliers or fancy dress place for a fraction of what he would have paid in Weed and Ravenscroft (official robe makers to the University of Leeds).

Anyway, top of peculiarities no doubt treasured by the Clothworkers is the following. It appears that if you are lucky to get invited to dinner at Clothworkers hall, the waiter will ask do you dine with the Alderman or with Lady Cooper, which is a now traditional way of asking would you like brandy or gin. Seems back in the midst of time Alderman Cooper was at a Clothworkers Shindig and dropped dead when he got home. Lady Cooper blamed the brandy, and bequeathed funding for gin as a safe alternative. Anyway, silly question really. In my happy go lucky alcohol dependant days wouldn’t have minded both really, preferably trebles. Now I am retired of course….

Time the Worshipful Company of Yogurt Weavers of the City of London was incorporated I would certainly be eligible for election.

Charming Armley (part one of an occasional series?)

2008-02-15T21:34:00.000Z

Was taking a stroll and due to roadworks on the viaduct road, only way out of Armley was over the footbridge over the River Aire. Ah the Magick of Armley to see cans of Special Brew growing on trees!

long shot....

The David Beckham Flag

2008-02-15T21:21:00.001Z

The David Beckham Flag proudly flying over the Town Hall here in Leeds.

The Amerikan way?

2008-02-13T21:36:00.001Z

According to Emma Hartley (“Did David Hasselhoff End The Cold War? – 50 Facts you need to know: Europe” Icon Books Cambridge 2007), those happy go lucky chaps at the OECD claim that Europeans work 350 hours a year less than Amerikans. I’m emigrating! Better learn the lingo though I suppose..

Church

2008-02-12T21:53:00.000Z

A younger brother once asked in a book he had written:-

"Why should I join a Church?"

and he continues

"In seeking for the right answer, we need to ask first of all whether it is more blessed to give or to receive. It is a form of selfishness that tempts on to try to receive from all the Churches, giving them nothing but a few pence in the collecting basket. A member can give a Church far more than a casual visitor, not only money but other things more valuable, prayer, influence, work, and sympathy. "

"Again, there will come a time in our lives when we shall need Christian help and shepherding. It may be in bereavement or sickness, in poverty, or alas, in backsliding."

(from The Principals of Open Brethern, by a younger brother. (Pickering and Inglis Glasgow, Alfred Holness London and Gospel Publishing House New York) )

Perhaps we most need a community when we are backsliding. Not sure what loading backsliding has, is a backslider repentant when backsliding? Whatever. Perhaps we not only need the community when we are unrepentant sinners but also still have a right to belong.

Maybe sex wasn’t meant for men.

2008-01-26T18:18:00.000Z

Recently watched 101 Reykjavik, good film. Some quoatable 1 liners include

"Mother had taken a day off. Is that in the wage contract? Out of the closet earns you one day off?"

"I’d be a lesbian if I only could!"

But best of all….

"Maybe sex wasn’t meant for men."

To brighten an otherwise dull day. Well worse than that as it turns out.

Secret Weapons?

2008-01-16T19:08:00.000Z

“How small accidents affect men’s minds and decide events. The 1st Dragoons and 10th Foot came from Ireland with the 79th, but the last being in kilts terrified the Chartists more than a brigade of other trops” From the Life and Opinions of General Sir Charles Napier GCB (journal May 1839)

Well men in skirts is no laughing matter….

Testing again!

2007-12-28T19:43:00.000Z

Despite assiduous, nay obsessive, care of my possesions, alas my old camera case was lost possibly stolen. In it was my old 6 meg digital camera which had served me pretty well. Ok maybe i do have a digital camera fetish... the future is digital. Cheers PC world for bearing with me while i drove a hard bargain and quizzed them on the iso number which is alas only 400.

Pictured below is the Merrion Center today, named after Avid Merrion of course. Apologies whoever you are who is pictured, happy to remove said picture or credit you.

The Tetley Challenge

2007-12-20T17:27:00.000Z

It would appear that Joshua Tetley, the man who invented beer, successfully challenged Houdini to free himself from a padlocked metal cask full of beer, Tetley’s I presume. Houdini the man who had got out of the Tsarist Secret Fuzz “cassette” failed to find his way out of the barrel. Cheers!

More on the Git Box (Make me a Muslim Lesbian)

2007-12-20T17:24:00.000Z

Must confess saw all 3 episodes of “Make Me A Muslim”.

Must confess also that the title reminded me of a graphitti wall of yesteryear which ran “MY MOTHER MADE ME A LESBIAN” underneath some wag had written “IF I SENT HER THE WOOL WOULD SHE MAKE ME ONE”.

So format of show was they had an Iman (Muslim vicar) on a mission. Goes to Harrogate, here in the West Riding of Yorkshire, a town with few Muslims. Recruits happy go lucky band of non Muslims prepared to give Islam a go if only for 3 weeks.

Now, if there are any identity questions within Islam (and I for one suspect there are some within all of the “great faith traditions”) none came out in this programme, alas. Is someone a “bad Muslim” if they drink alcohol moderately? Or have soft porn? Or hard porn? Or sleep with their fiancé? Or cuddle their boyfriend/girlfriend after a row during Ramadan?

Anyway, Brit Bloke taxi driver Phil seemed to do a lot of the first episode nipping of for a pint, a bacon butty and even a trip to Harrogate’s only strip club. So it was decided that Harrogate is a town with too much temptations… who’d have thought it! I’m on my way! LOL

Also having decided that Luke’s homosexuality was un-Islamic, it seems they felt this was as a result of too much female company (?!?!) so they arranged for him to have more male company (?) and more cricket. Well as I think I recall Luke saying: got his testosterone going hehe.

And there was at least one advert for a product containing dead pigs in the ad breaks. Lead us not into temptation….

Anyway with the rise of Unreality Television, Elimination Shows and so on, television is more than ever it would seem about conflict. So if this band of willing Harrogate Muslims and their mentors had been relatively conflict free, I am sure creative tension would have been introduced anyway. For a start it can usually be done in the selection of the “contestants” (in this case the volunteers and their mentors).

Back to issues of Identity. I must confess to being a non Muslim. I wonder however if the definition of Islam used here has been a particular definition of what constitutes “Orthodox” Islam. Perhaps there are people out there who would define themselves as Muslims but who don’t wear the Hijab? Perhaps they would agree that Islam demands modesty but how much?

Youtube, conspiracy theories and the dark nite of the soul

2007-12-20T17:12:00.000Z

Seems there is a chap on Youtube who thinks that the Jesuits, Zionists and Masons are all working for the Illuminati in a great conspiracy. Unlikely bedfellows I would have thought, but that just shows how clever a conspiracy it is I suppose. And who am I to argue…

And maybe the Illuminati are just working for the aliens anyway. Who knows? No doubt someone knows but is not telling.