steve harris has his house for sale

Steve Harris from Iron Maiden has put his Harlow house on the market, for a cool £6.7 million.  It has seven bedrooms and land attached, but more importantly, all the classic rock star features included, so it is ready to move into straight away.  Tennis Court?  Football Pitch?  Red telephone box?  Indoor swimming pool?  Bar?   All present and correct.  More information can be found here, and if l had the money, l would be turning up there tomorrow with my removal van and junk.

toodle pip

jimmy savile's flat up for sale

It looks as though Jimmy Savile's penthouse flat overlooking Roundhay Park in Leeds is up for sale.  A snip at £325,000, although it needs some work doing to it, and l bet there will be a few stains that will be hard to shift.  If you are interested in seeing more photographs of it (or making an offer), go here.

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jeff lynne at home

Watching a documentary about Jeff Lynne of ELO and The Travelling Wilburys (amongst others) yesterday, l was impressed by what appeared to be his front room.  A classic rock stars home, with the large rug, records on the wall, huge armchairs, and a robot in the corner.  To say l was jealous would be a rather large understatement.  He also came across as a likeable, down to earth bloke, who rose from good old working class stock to huge financial riches, hanging out and recording with his heroes, so good luck to him.  Saying that, re-recording his own records is the workings of a mad control freak with too much time on his hands, but what the hell, it's his time and his money, so if it makes him happy, l won't lose any sleep over it (but he probably will).

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the weathermen's place is up for sale

With a really corny headline about the apartment exploding onto the market, the place that 'The Weathermen' used as their bomb making factory at 18 West 11 Street, (with the resulting accidental explosion in March 1970 a consequence) is now up for sale through  Corcoran brokers for a cool $10.9 million. Dustin Hoffman and his family narrowly escaped the blast, as they lived next door at the time.

The top photograph is me (my arm anyway) pointing at the bear in the window in 2006. This was dressed by Norma Langworthy, who his since passed away at the ripe old age of 92, but hopefully her descendants will keep the tradition going.

How time flies, and how sickening it is how gentrified New York is becoming.

toodle pip

brough hall, catterick

When l was a young lad (OK, in my 20's), myself and other members of the 'Colburn Popular Front' used to go to Brough Hall at Catterick for a wander round, as it had been derelict for years, was all boarded up and falling apart, and it was pretty spooky down there in the middle of the night. Years later and what's happened? It's been tarted up and gentrified, is now divided up into separate accommodations and is private property. Christ on a bike, even William Hague lives there (probably so he can still be 'part of the community' around Catterick/Richmond, where he is an MP). Look on my brothers and viddy this well. If he ever starts harping on about living by a large council estate, this is what he means. He is not roughing it, l can assure you, even though the closest l have come to living there was when myself and a friend got employed to clean the windows as it was being restored, l can vouch that it is very posh inside.
I also get chased away from that area years ago, and it was the most frightening night of my life, but that's for another time.


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amy winehouse's house is up for sale

Got a bit of spare cash floating about? How about making a bid on Amy Winehouse's old house in Camden Square, London. It's only £2.7 million.
I might have a look for some spare change down the back of the sofa and make an offer myself.
More details and photographs are here.

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camorra clan member nicola schiavone's home and clothes

I am NOT, l repeat NOT making any comments on the home or taste of clothes of jailed Camorra clan member Nicola Schiavone's home near Naples, as l don't want any kind of hit put out on me (better safe than sorry).
His father (Francesco) went on the run a few years ago and was found in his own home in 1998, in a secret room behind a sliding granite wall. Now that is class.
Saying all that, in a mad way, l kind of like the toilet.

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the nest for the garden

This is the sort of thing l should have in the garden for the summertime. As long as the spiders stayed out of it, l would never come indoors again.
More info here.

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elton's copying our décor

Watching a documentary on Elton John the other day, and was surprised by this. By this, l mean the Damien Hirst painting in the background. After Homer stalking me, it also turns out that Elton is copying the décor in our humble abode, as we have the same in our living room. Rather sadly, his will be the real thing, and ours is definitely a print.

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technology problems

My kindle is playing up, the website hit counter seems to have stopped working, and the washing machine has conked out, maybe even taking the hoover with it.

The kindle is soon to be returned and swapped, l can't get into my old email account to rectify the counter, l can't undo a screw to get inside the washing machine, but the hoover is cooling down and might be repairable.

Bloody space age my arse.

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julius shulman's photograph of the stahl's house (case study house #22)

This photograph is by Julius Shulman, and it is the home of the Stahl's, overlooking Sunset Boulevard from the Hollywood Hills, taken in 1960, and his most well known picture, known as Case Study House #22.
There is no way in Gods green earth that the FPO would ever live in a place like that, as she would be constantly cacking herself (no change there then), thinking it was going to collapse.
I must admit, l would be a bit dubious about it myself.

toodle pip

the alabama tornado and underground houses

This is one of the pictures of the devastation caused by the recent Tornado in Alabama. What gets me, is why everyone still adheres to the old way of designing and building houses, especially when there is a good chance a Tornado will come along at some stage and destroy them. Why not build them so they are mostly underground?  The houses would be cooler in summer, warmer in winter, pretty soundproof, and a lot harder to destroy. You could probably get some kind of false windows put in if you wanted, with some kind of periscope device that shows the views from above. Don't even go there if you are thinking about flooding or drainage, as that could easily be sorted.
I tell you, l'm wasted in my job (in more ways than one).

toodle pip

the fat idiot rabbit

Just look at the size of Tubbs, the lazy idiot rabbit. About time he had a run around in the garden.

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hedgehog and the bear

I have just been putting the bins out for tomorrow morning, when l saw some movement in the front garden. It turned out to be a hedgehog, which eventually trotted off and went underneath my car for protection. It looked a bit like this beauty (a bean bag bear), but with spikes. The countryside on the doorstep.

the bloody rain today

tidying up before the mother in law arrives

This cartoon is way too close to home

As the mother in law is coming for tea tonight, and as l am off work until Thursday afternoon, l have been given strict instructions by the FPO to tidy up our stinking hovel, which I have been doing in shifts, as the weather, although still crap, is very close.

To compensate for this, I currently have two fans on (in the bedrooms, not wearing them - that would look silly). This cleaning method also gives me time to read and listen to stuff while l am sorting through things, plus have a break from the computer every now and then, so l can stretch my legs and get a drink at the same time. A classic cleaning strategy, l am sure you will agree (honed to perfection when l used to do waking nights at work).

So far, l have done the dishes and clothes washing, taken the bin out (and then bought it back after it was emptied), tidied the bathroom and living room, cleaned around the kitchen and even washed the kitchen floor. At my age, no wonder l am exhausted.

The only thing left to do now is hoover (and drink more coffee), but l have until about 4.30/5pm, so it is all going splendidly. Now if l only knew where the hoover is kept.........................Hello...it looks like the sun is finally coming out.....

Damn! My cleaning plan may be foiled!

toodle pip

chris' stag do

End of the road for Johnny

End of the road for Robbo

The Durham pub we were in (The Boatman's?)

Newcastle train station

In Durham

My bedtime (last man standing)

Another Durham pub

In Newcastle

At The Boatman's in Durham

Went through to Newcastle, and Durham for Chris' stag do on Saturday, once myself and Robbo managed to get through the Tyne Tunnel, as we were following the sat nav we were instructed (ordered) to use, and there was roadworks at the tunnel, which threw it off the trail somewhat. Anywhoos, we got there in the end, then it was straight into a taxi and down into town for some ales with the boys. We then got the train to Durham for a few drinks there, then back to Newcastle for the evening. We managed to get back to Chris and Hills place (in Heaton ) in dribs and drabs, and once there, l would like to point out that l was last man standing, as everyone ended up flaking out. I shared the living room with Matt, which was a big mistake as he snores louder than Robbo, so l never had much sleep. Probably (no probably about it really) l would have been over the limit driving back on Sunday, then it was the traditional end to the adventure at The Cross Keys, before back to (not so sunny) Catterick. Sat drinking wine in the garden with the FPO and the idiot animals, followed by a soak in the bath and a relatively early night. Chris enjoyed it, l didn't flake out, and there was no violence, so a good time was had by all. I was surprised how many other stag and hen does were out in both Newcastle and Durham, especially as we avoided The Bigg Market. It wasn't like that back when l used to boss the place (Newcastle). Bloody kids today etc etc....

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