the recent work cardiff trip

A couple of weeks ago l went away to Cardiff with work for a few days. I'd been to Cardiff (and other parts of Wales) a few times over the years, but all of my previous trips involved travelling, drinking, concerts and nightclubs, so the old memories of the trips can be a bit of a blur. This time however, l went exploring, and, for a change, not just to pubs. Ticked off The Doctor Who Experience (sounds like a 60's band), The Millennium Stadium Tour, and a look around Cardiff Castle, as well as other places such as Spillers records and around the river Taff.
Most enjoyable, and l'd certainly return to Cardiff again. A great place, even if it did take eight and a half hours driving back due to traffic jams and accidents (and only five hours getting there).
Here's a load of evidence

 

Plus here's my detailed state of the art directions of how to get there.

Luckily l've got a brain like a homing pigeon.

toodle pip

hair cutting time again

I'm doing this the wrong way round, as l should keep my longer hair for the colder weather, but as you can see, it got on my nerves again, so it was time for a chop. As usual, it was a head upside down and hacking away job. At least it will scare the neighbours cats away from my garden.

One of these days l may even crumble and go to a hairdressers and get it cut properly (but l very much doubt it).

toodle pip

richmond live

The one photograph l took at this years Richmond Live. From the toilets (if l remember correctly) looking towards Richmond Castle. The photograph does not give the view justice.
Drink had been taken.

toodle pip

eating healthily - not

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Last night's food.
Hickory chicken with extra sweet and sour sauce. They are small chicken pieces, but even so...
Heart attack imminent.

toodle pip

a video a day - crispian st peters - the pied piper and you were on my mind

Today's videos

Two singles l recently purchased, both by Crispian St Peters.

'You Were On My Mind' is one of my all time favourite songs, and l like 'The Pied Piper' as well, just no where near as much (but it was going cheap!).





On a related note, going to Hamelin (Hameln) to see The Pied Piper statue was one of the very few times we had a family trip out, so l also relate the song to that. When l was about 10 years old and had a broken arm.
I also learnt the poem by Robert Browning years ago ('Rats as big as cats'), but l've forgotten most of it now (from his Dramatic Lyrics book). Old age and senility probably has a lot to do with that, alongside all the other crap l try to fill my head with.

If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

toodle pip

the sun newspaper apologises for upskirt photograph, plus news reports of charlotte church becoming a big girl

I got this story from (as you can tell) Graham Linehan's Twitter feed, but it's well worth sharing. 

It reminds me of the time when (I think it was in The Daily Star, but l could be wrong)  had shocked and disgusted type stories about Brass Eye's (hilarious) spoof programme about paedophiles, while featuring a 15 year old  Charlotte Church on the opposite page, who was now 'A big girl'. Obviously nothing to do with the fact that she was attractive and had developed breasts, as that would have been hypocritical and sick. 

toodle pip

ossie ardiles - white, blue and white, and the centenary fa cup final, plus england v west germany, 1972

I've been watching the documentary on Osvaldo (Ossie) Ardiles today - 'White, Blue and White' by ESPN, and rather enjoyable it was as well, especially when they had the (unexpected to me) crash in the Falklands.
However......
As l'm a sad pedantic stickler for details when it comes to such things, it really annoyed me that they kept referring to the 1981 FA Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City (Ciddy) as 'The Centenary one'. It may well have been the 100th cup final in the competition, as it was interrupted twice for the World Wars, but what was billed of at the time, and what was known as the centenary final, was the 1972 final between Leeds United (dirty Leeds) and Arsenal.
Here's the programme for the (Centenary) 1972 final.

Plus, while l was searching for my copy of the programme, l also came across the advert for the programme, on the back of my 1972 England v West Germany programme.

I know l really need to get a life, but these things are important!.

Oh, and if you're wondering about the England game, don't be surprised to learn that they were overrun by the Germans, humiliatingly beaten 1-3, a triumph orchestrated by the magnificent Gunter Netzer, after everyone beforehand had given the Germans no chance. The Germans had a young and mostly inexperienced team out, also had two good penalty shouts not awarded, and so much was expected from England.
Times haven't changed since then.

toodle pip

a video a day - the jesus and mary chain and the pixies - head on

Today's videos

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Head On



Love it, and the rowdier Pixies version



If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

toodle pip

a video a day - the horrors - death at the chapel, and girls - big bad mean mother fucker

Today's videos

Girls - Big Bad Mean Mother Fucker



The Horrors - Death at the Chapel



Nothing to add to these really, both noisy, bad ass songs that l enjoy.

If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

toodle pip

two funerals - bruce and kellie, plus a death sweepstake

On my two days off work last week, l went to two funerals.
Living the dream.

First off last Tuesday was Bruce Clark, a lad l knew from going to concerts and hanging around with many years ago. He died suddenly at Rosedale nursing home after a short illness, and did not want a religious ceremony, so was cremated at Darlington with little fuss, a good speech by Raz, an easy going vicar, and drinks at The Hildyard Arms and White shops afterwards. Also, his coffin was taken into the crematorium to the sound of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid', and was sent to be cremated to the sound of Motorhead's 'Killed by Death'. Fine choices by Bruce, and certainly something different.
Here's one of the few photos l have of him. From many years ago at The Travaux club in Catterick. A tasty looking crew indeed, with Bruce the large fellow in the white shirt. There's also a photograph of me butt naked in The Hildyard Arms with Bruce pointing a dart at me (a mad night), but luckily for you lot, l don't know where it has been stashed.

On Friday, it was Kellie Kean's funeral at a packed Hipswell church. I know her family, and knew her mainly from drinking in The Wine Bar (Hunter's) at Catterick, and although she had been having seizures for years, it was still a shock when one killed her, as she was only 38 and so full of life. Her daughter Kennedy had just given birth to Kellie's grandaughter, so that made it even more emotional and sad. Don't know how her brother Gareth managed to read his poem about her between his sobbing, but he did so. Drinks at The Arc (Hanson club) afterwards, then back to The Wine Bar.
 
                             

Some may deem it in bad taste, but after Bruce's funeral, we talked of starting a sweepstake amongst myself and male mates, as to who would be next to visit the reaper. We are going to get a few of us who are roughly the same age, and all place some money with a safekeeping person for the winner. Here's the drunken starter list from that night.

That's it - off to check my insurance, and cut their brake pipes.

toodle pip

a video a day - the kinks - days and moments

Today's videos

The Kinks - 'Days' (It was a single, but is included on the 'Village Green Preservation Society' re-issue cd)



I'm sure l've put this up before, but what the hell, l love a bit of The Kinks, and this is one of my long time favourites.
It also reminds me of this overlooked classic of theirs

The Kinks - 'Moments' (From their 'Percy' lp)



If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

toodle pip

training myself - a music video a day - she said she said - black keys, the beatles and lone star

Hurrah! I'm back again!.

As l've seriously got out of the habit of trying to post every day, and do some work in the house as well, l am going to train myself.
This will involve me putting up at least one music video a day, sometimes with comments about it and related videos to it, which will help me back into the habit of posting other stuff as well. The videos will be mostly random, taken from that days listening on my ipod or record player, and if from the ipod, may be something that has been thrown at me while it was playing on shuffle mode. As for how long they stay up for, that is not really in  my hands. Some stay up for years, others are taken down pretty quickly.

If you want to convert and download any of these videos into mp3 etc so you put them on your own ipod or listening device, l use this or this to covert ones l am interested in.

So, as a starter, from last night's ipod listening.....

The Black Keys - 'She Said She Said'



This is a cover of a Beatles song on their Revolver album, and I've also got a rocking version on a Lone Star lp, which l like a lot as it reminds me of seeing them live many years ago, which was the first time l had heard the song. I said to someone next to me in the crowd that the song was great, and he told me it was a Beatles track, which shows how little l knew of The Beatles at the time. I won't bother putting up the Beatles version, as 'their people' are pretty strict with copyrights.



And thinking about Lone Star, here's my favourite of theirs - 'Flying in the Reel' on the John Peel show (before Peel went punk). A better version (to me at least) than on their first lp.




toodle pip

busy day with the garden and stockport

Well, it was a pretty productive day yesterday.
First off, l slaved away cutting the grass (with my fourth lawn mower of the year!), which had gotten unfeasibly long again, and trust me, it took bleeding ages, and there's still a little bit to do. Evidence is below.

Next, after cleaning myself up (a treat for everybody), l drove (with Mr Parrot to keep me company) to Stockport to pick up a load of Mojo music magazines that l bought the day before on ebay. Over 160 of the little beauties for under £14 (plus of course the petrol money). I am more than pleased with the purchase, but at some stage, l am going to need a bigger house for all my crap. Either that, or move out non essentials such as furniture.
Manchester United's first league game of the season later on, and no work till the 20th (apart from a trip to Wales next week), so l'm in heaven!!

toodle pip

status quo - big fat mama at glasgow apollo 1976

Watching old music  videos on Youtube last night, l stumbled upon this fine piece of work by Rolloverlaydowndown. It's the once mighty Status Quo performing 'Big Fat Mama' from their 'Live at Glasgow Apollo' album (1976), and, as there is no official film of the gig,  Mr Rollover has made one himself, and marvellous to behold it is. He's done some other good and interesting videos, but the way the album inner has been incorporated into this one is excellent.
Plus, rather like when Merry Clayton's voice cracks while singing on The Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter, l love this live version, despite the odd flaw, as the song has such a full sound, and so much energy, especially when it comes back in just after the 3 minute mark.
From when Quo were great, from when l saw them loads of times, and from when Rick Parfitt was a rock god.
Get well soon Rick.



And after a quick search, here are some Status Quo items from amongst my crap.

The sticker that states l have got my tickets for the Glasgow Apollo gigs in 1976

Lewisham Odeon ticket from 1977

Newcastle City Hall ticket from 1979

Glasgow Apollo ticket from 1982

Milton Keynes ticket and pass from their last ever gig!!!  !984!!!!

toodle pip

john fitzpatrick versus paul pogba and zlatan ibrahimovic

So, Manchester United have just paid a record amount to bring back Paul Pogba from Juventus, and they have already purchased (amongst others) the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic, albeit a few years too late. Hopefully, these will both be a success at United, and are both fine figures of men, and outstanding athletes, but l remember the days when United had players that looked like this - John Fitzpatrick, United's first ever League substitute, and a man who's career was sadly blighted by, and then ended by injury, at only 26 years of age.

Times have certainly changed, but not necessarily for the better.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan, from Pogba's Instagram account

toodle pip

the roast me site

There are plenty of ways to kill some time on the glorious internet, and the Roast Me Reddit site is one of them. Basically, people send in photographs of themselves, and asked to be roasted by others putting up smart arsed and derogatory statements about their picture, some of which, are pretty funny.

No wonder l can never find the time to do some cleaning up or gardening.

toodle pip

meat grinder accident

Now this is what l call an injury!

It's an X Ray of an arm, after it was caught in a meat grinder.

That has got to hurt, and if it was me, there wouldn't be enough morphine in the world to stop me blubbing like a little baby.

Poor git.

toodle pip

vinyl collectors are sad bastards - confirmed by ghost world

So this isn't exactly ground breaking news. Rather eloquently summed up by the video clip below from 'Ghost World', at just after 1.15m. 

Sadly, l can relate to it all.

toodle pip

eating dangerously like elvis

 

Yum yum!
During Michael Portillo's TV programme about travelling around America by train, he stopped off in a diner somewhere for an all American breakfast, that consisted of a peanut butter, jelly (jam to us Brits) and banana sandwich. Despite much trepidation on his behalf, he tucked in, and then, to his obvious surprise, declared it to be delicious.
Knowing that this is also the kind of sandwich that helped kill off Elvis Presley, and never having had one before, l thought l'd give it a go last night.
Result - very tasty indeed, despite my Sun Pat peanut butter being more than two years out of date (although it was only opened prior to making the sandwich). Living dangerously maaaaaaan, and l'm still alive!.
However (and some might say it has already happened), it looks like it the gateway has opened to proceed down the Elvis route.
I'll have to be on my guard against my own laziness and greed, but I don't hold out much hope.

toodle pip

how to bend a free kick

Now this is how you bend a free kick!



From here

toodle pip

presents for mr parrot

It's recently been Mr Parrot's birthday (he's now 36), and it turns out that l am now officially his butler. 

It's bad enough that l have to purchase him food, feed and water him, and clean his cages, but l am now also getting letters and presents for him which are addressed to me to pass on.

What a spoilt little bastard, he's living the life of luxury. 

Then again, at least he keeps me amused.

toodle pip

more car boot records

More records from car boot sales.
I'm going to need a bigger house in the future.

toodle pip

spot the odd chair

I accompanied someone to Northallerton's Friarage Hospital the other day, and had to wait for a while before seeing the consultant.
The waiting room was awash with matching blue chairs, except for this stand alone beauty, which l assume must have been donated by some kindly soul. The picture doesn't do justice to how much it stood out amongst the other chairs, but in a way, aren't we all red chairs trying to fit in with, influence, or make our mark on the rest of a conservative society, pointlessly screaming into the onrushing and all encompassing storm? In a similar vein, the red chair could represent Labour against the blue of the Conservatives, and the waiting room the limbo of the undecided and uncertain policies of our modern times, waiting to experience the Brexit aftermath, and the outcome of the possible unraveling of the currently flailing Labour party, but that just shows what mad thoughts can enter your head when there is bugger all to do but wait and think.
I think l maybe took too much acid when l was younger, and l have issues.
Time for a lie down..

toodle pip

impulse buying in tesco

This is what happens when you follow your impulses. I only went into Tesco to buy some butter, and ended up spending £65.
I'm just the sort of customer they will love. Living on the edge!

toodle pip

the crazy circle illusion

Another illusion that does my head in.
Don't believe your own brain!

toodle pip

alan vega has died

Damn! Another death.

Alan Vega is probably unknown to most people, but Vega and Martin Rev were responsible for some groundbreaking music when they were in 'Suicide', and their debut album is one of my all time favourites.
A man with serious bottle, and l don't mean the numerous ones that were thrown at him during their gigs.
At least there's still the music.





And last, but not least, the unsettling 'Frankie Teardrop.' Tension, a build up to a murder, and the most unhinged screams of desperation in a song. Not for the faint hearted.



toodle pip

captain america's birthplace gets changed

This is a sketch of the Captain America statue that is about to be placed in Brooklyn, New York's Prospect Park, with the inscription 'I'm just a kid from Brooklyn'.
The trouble is, he was actually (according to the comics and his co-creator, Jack Kirby) born in Manhattan's Lower East Side, the son of Irish immigrants. Supposedly this is so films fans can identify with it, rather than the comic fans, which to me, is the wrong way round.
This is one of the reasons why, although some of the superhero films are pretty good, it drives me up the wall when they change the stories, so best not to get me started on the Spider-Man movies (again). I'm not even sure whether l should risk the 'Captain America - Civil War' film, as l really enjoyed the comic version, and don't want to taint my memory of that.
Time for a lie down before l get too worked up.

toodle pip.