political books

If l've been a bit political recently, this recent reading probably hasn't helped.  Then again, with Boris and Trump in power, politics is pretty important.

Toodle pip 

colourised snowball fight in lyon, france 1896, plus les enfants terribles and la machine infernale by jean cocteau

An 1896 colourised Lumiere brothers film of a snowball fight in Lyon, France. As usual, the colourisation process (details of the process used is here) really brings it to life, and,  trying not to sound like too much of a pretentious twat, it reminded me of 'Les Enfants Terribles' by Jean Cocteau (1929), which l have recently re-read, and which starts with a snowball fight in Paris. You can really imagine the people in this film being around and involved in the same kind of mayhem, although it doesn't end well in the book.

To be even more pretentious, the above book was at least the English translation, but l am currently (very slowly) struggling with the French version of  Cocteau's 'La Machine Infernale', and trust me, l only know very basic French, so am painstakingly translating parts l don't understand.  This may take some time, so it's lucky l also have other reading material on the go at the same time. I need more time off work for these kind of endeavours.  No wonder l never get round to cleaning up and finishing the painting jobs.

Toodle pip

andy neill's ready steady go book, and word in your ear

I received my copy of Andy Neill's Ready Steady Go book at the weekend, and to say l'm impressed would be a massive understatement. It's everything an in depth book should be, with plenty of interviews and background information, plus enough stats to bore a normal member of the public to tears. That's without mentioning the marvellous photographs, many of which l have never seen before. Then there's the copious amount of pictures, featuring tickets, letters, magazines, albums etc.  Fantastic! It's also improved my pretty much non existent exercise routine, as it weighs a ton and is the size of an lp boxset. If l was given funds to produce a book like this myself, this exactly how l would wish it to turn out.  Buy it now!!

What a shame pretty much all of the episodes and performances have been wiped.

It's not just me that loves it - here's David Hepworth and Mark Ellen also gushing about it, and talking to the author in one of their 'Word in your Ears'

Toodle pip

postcards and notes inside old books

It's strange what you can find tucked away inside old books. I've recently been out and about charity shopping (again), and found the items below inside a couple of the many books l purchased. I'm usually mildly curious about who's owned the books before they were donated, but items like these certainly make me more interested.

Item 1 - Three unused Canadian postcards inside Olga Grushin's 'The Dream Life of  Sukhanov'

Item 2 - A Postcolonialism and Hybridity critical reading list from Dr Caroline Herbert inside Hanif Kureishi's 'The Buddha of Suburbia'.
The trouble with this list, is because l am interested in reading books l may not have heard of, or bothered with in the past, a list like this makes me want to read the ones l haven't already read if they are grouped with ones l have enjoyed.
I need more time off work (and more room for the junk).

toodle pip

more cds and books!

Had an excellent time recently CD and book wise. The Bob Dylan box set arrived, and l spent about £9 for all of the CDs at the bottom on a charity shop rummage. Now's the time to be buying them if (like me) you want to try out new stuff and replace downloaded copies with the originals. At 4 CD's for £1 it would be foolish not to do so. No doubt more shelf space will be needed soon.
Pretty chuffed to have got the pictured books as well, so now, as usual, l just need a load more free time to get stuck into them all.

The CD images keep appearing sideways every time l try to upload them, and l've lost patience trying to rectify it

toodle pip

the the labour party split and the ragged trousered philanthropists - the money trick

With The Labour Party seemingly in disarray (although The Conservatives are also pretty fragmented) here's a reminder of why they the left wing are so important. From Robert Tressell's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - The Money Trick.
I'm not saying this is the most important book of all time, but every time l return with family members to Liverpool, we visit his grave (Opposite Walton prison - now just before Rice Lane City Farm) as a mark of respect. The language is antiquated, but the message is unequivocal.

toodle pip

recent work / holiday stuff

Some bits and pieces from the recent work trip to Fuerteventura at the start of February, including my reading material. As you can tell from the end photographs, the hotel was excellent and also empty - a great combination as far as l'm concerned.
It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!

toodle pip