new george best and manchester united framed pictures

At long last l have got around to putting the above pictures into frames and sticking them in the spare room. The George Best cartoon and signature was a present from some friends (Hello Mick and Gail!) which has been rolled up in a tube for the last few years, as l wasn't that keen on the cartoon, but loved the signature and thought that had gone into getting me the pressie.
The Manchester United one l put together myself, and am already cursing as l should have put the Typhoo Tea pictures at the top in a different order, with Best and the ball in the middle.  I will do this very soon, but l am put off by the amount of time it took to hang it correctly.  However, my annoyance with it will override my laziness.  If you are sad like me, and wondering what the little pictures are, they are a complete set of the Manchester United team from the  'Soccer Stars In Action' picture stamp album from 1969/70.  I also have the album itself with all of the teams squads completed and stuck in (see below).  Told you l was sad, but l've got to occupy myself somehow.

toodle pip

the old catterick camp cinema

The old Catterick Camp cinema that used to be in Shute road was closed when l arrived here, and the nearest one was in Richmond (which later closed and became a church).
I have however, just seen this. A 1966 programme for the Catterick cinema, which l never knew it was an Essoldo one (they used to be a huge franchise).  Not exactly riveting viewing on offer, although l enjoyed 'Voyage to the bottom of the sea' when l was a kid (on TV).
Nowadays, Richmond has a new cinema at The Station, and very pleasant it is as well (featuring 3D films!!), but l think the old cinemas had more character.
Mind you, nowadays, the smoke, sticky carpets and noise from children would get on my nerves too much.

toodle pip.

how l used to be a rock god like in led zeppelin

It's pretty hard to believe now, but back in the day, this used to be me. A rip-roaring, rodgering, raconteuring, rakish rapscallion of a rogue (but without shagging under age girls).
The evidence is strong.
I have impartial printed evidence that l used to look like Robert Plant (when he was still good looking).
l always had a beautiful lady by my side, and l have hung about (albeit for a short time) with the great and good person that is B.P Fallon, the man with his eyes closed who Plant has his arm around.
I have also handled snakes (of the reptilian kind), and if this photograph was taken in the States, which l suspect it was, l have also been there and had many a rock and roll time in and around it's many hostelries.
Sadly, with my dodgy heart, back, knees, asthma, old age and egg shell head, those days are but a distant memory.
Of course, l blame God (and the FPO for wearing me down and constantly feeding me)
Time to get back to my crunches before her evil plan works and it is to late for me to reclaim my crown.


toodle pip

scalping in the wild west

I've said it before, and l'll say it again. Times were hard in the old days, especially in The Wild West. Not only were there the everyday struggles of trying to make a living, and just surviving generally, there was also the risk of being injured or killed by outlaws or Indians. Add to that, even if you survived an Indian attack, they would probably have scalped you, thinking you were dead.
This happened to the two unfortunate chappies above.
The top person is William Thompson, who was scalped by the Cheyenne in 1867, and that is his hair in the trophy case.
The fellow below is Robert McGee in about 1861, who was scalped by the Sioux when he was a child.
I bet it was mighty painful, and rather them than me.
As stated before, times were hard.

toodle pip

apt tattoo for knife in face guy

I bet he was glad he got to display his tattoo at the hospital, but that knife looks like it might smart a bit.

toodle pip

william blake negro hanging picture

I have read a few slave diaries, seen documentaries etc and thought l knew a bit about what happened to them, but until l saw this picture by William Blake, l didn't realise that they would sometimes be hung from a gallows by the waist and then left.
They certainly had a tough time in those days, poor sods.

toodle pip

holton rower pour paintings

These are classic pieces where you think "I could have done that" as they look so good, but appear easy to do, once the idea had already formed and the colours have been chosen. By Brooklyn based Holton Rower.Then again, he thought of doing it and has cracked on, hence the results that appear above (plus a video of them being made).

(http://holtonrower.com/?page=gallery&section=painting&category=pour)

toodle pip