mr parrot is 40

 It's a bad situation when a bleeding parrot gets as many presents as me for his Birthday, but l suppose it was his 40th, so a bit of leeway may be given.
Here's a card for him from his previous owners (they sent pressies as well), plus a picture of him celebrating.

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joys of the countryside

Outside my front door. How sweet.
That's lunch sorted, and if it wasn't for the bastard birds chirping away and waking me up at 5.30am each day, life out in the sticks would be great.

Here's my walk home from the pub a month ago.

Plus a cool pub in Bedale that l had been frequenting earlier that evening (The Three Coopers). A pool table surrounded by records you can play, plus a chopper (fnaar). What's not to like?
By the look of the photographs, it looks as though social distancing or the lockdown were already in place.

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loans available!!

It's a good job that some kind soul called Jonathan has been around dropping off leaflets to offer me a loan if l am desperate. He certainly looks to be offering competitive rates, at only 466.37% APR.
I think l'll pass, and l've also blanked his number out, as the last thing l want to do is advertise these kind of loan sharks that prey on the vulnerable in our society, especially in these times.

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the soft cheese is off

Thinking l would have some cheese and crackers, l foolishly rummaged around in the dark recesses at the back of the fridge for some soft Philadelphia cheese. Result!!
I needn't have bothered, as, even with my rubbish sense of smell, l could guess it had gone off a bit.

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mr parrot ignores the 2019 iggy and the stooges remaster

I was playing the rather splendid new two disc 2019 remaster of Iggy and The Stooges album earlier today, at what l would describe as a pretty loud level (turned up to 11).
Mr Parrot however, is so used to my nonsense and lifestyle, he fell asleep during it.
The little cutie.

Also..
My neighbours listen to some great loud music - How do l know? I'm playing it (In reality, they were out).





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cryptic message on my hand

When l was off work last week for a few days, l stayed up all night, drinking and listening to music. At one stage in the early hours, l turned all the lights off in my living room, to chill out and immerse myself in the tunes l was playing at the time (Early T.Rex if you must know). However, l then had a rather splendid idea l wanted to remember, and as l didn't want to get up and put the lights on, l wrote it on the palm of my hand in the blackness.
Great idea - Didn't have a clue what it was the next morning.

Then again - it was a long night!

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l'm not buying keith richard's old home yet

Damn!!!
I haven't won the Euro Lottery of about 170 million pounds, which is a crying shame, as l've had my eye on Keith Richard's old place by Washington Square Park, New York, which would have been a small drop in the ocean for me at a me if l had have won at a mere10 million pounds or so. It's spacious, has a great location and views, and doesn't look as though there are many places for spiders to hide.
What's not to like?
It was on sale last year by Douglas Ellman Real Estate, and some photographs are below.

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the banana splits

I didn't realise bananas actually split until l left this one too long.
Now l guess that's why the TV series and drink were so called.
You live and learn.



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also on heavy rotation

Also on heavy rotation

















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manchester united versus liverpool programmes

Inspired by an advert on Sky where someone has Liverpool stuff framed on the wall behind him, l thought about framing my programmes from Manchester United versus Liverpool in the late 1960's / early 1970's, plus a couple from Oxford United against Manchester United, as l was living by Oxford at the time, and saw Manchester United lose there when they were in the Second Division (and went to lots of Oxford United's home games).
However, l haven't sussed out a way to frame them yet. The enclosed photo is the best l have come up with so far, but l'm still not happy with it so far.
If l don't sort it soon, it probably never will be.

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mr parrot wants attention

This is what my view of the TV is often like when a certain Mr Parrot wants attention (Which is quite often).
Good job l love the scruffy little boy.
By the way, he's on my knee, not really huge.

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the lost bob dylan cds

After erecting (fnaar) some new shelves in the spare room to house a load of CDs and tidy the place up a bit, l realised l was missing a substantial amount by Bob Dylan.  I would normally assume my brother nicked them when staying over, but he's not a fan of his Bobness. It took me ages to locate them amongst all my other crap, but luckily l did, as  I'm pleased to report there's plenty of gems amongst them.
Yes l do realise l have too many and l will never get around to playing them all again before l die, but l like having them as pieces of art as well, and they are there when l do want to play them.
I just need a bigger house, and l don't need reminding l'm a sad git.
The shelves look pretty good as well!

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the car and conker connection

I had to drop off my car recently for some minor work at a local garage, and rather than get up early to do so (as l stay up pretty damn late), l drove it down to the garage at about 6am, put the car keys through the garage letter box, and then walked home (and didn't bother going to bed). The conkers had fallen from some trees on the way back, and as l have been told they deter spiders, l picked them up to put on my window ledges to keep the eight legged bastards out.
Let's hope they work.

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august friedrich schenke and mackenzie thorpe's sheep

Mackenzie Thorpe has created many paintings of sheep in his distinctive style, is pretty local (Middlesbrough) and has a gallery in Richmond, North Yorkshire, not far from my home. Even my local pub has some paintings of his, and l do like them.
However, although it's obviously completely different, August Friedrich Schenck's 'Anguish' is my favourite sheep painting, a rather harrowing and distressed sheep / ewe bleating and pining for what one assumes is it's dead calf, surrounded by crows.
I wouldn't want it displayed at home, and l understand humans anthropomorphize, especially with animals, but l think it's captured the extreme emotion perfectly.

To lighten the mood after that, here's some by Mr Thorpe

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I finally got rid of the settee in the spare room, as l am trying to declutter the place (well, tidy it up at least).
I had to drive down to Harrogate to pick up the shelving unit which l bought online, but it was well worth it, as it fits the gap perfectly.
Now l've got more room to fill with other stuff!!!

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sneaky mr parrot

Mr Parrot trying to sneak up behind me to get a banana that was by my side (he loves them). What a cutie.

And here he is later on looking happy after having some banana

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