livster.net

Updates from December, 2003

• dodman 11:57 am on 29/12/2003 Permalink  

  Darlington 

  We got back last night, at 12.15. Amazingly, only a six hour journey, which I don’t really understand, considering there was a lot of traffic, several delays, and a minor hiccup when we missed the M25 turn off and had to double back up the M1. Maybe we entered a time hole.

  It was a great few days, except perhaps the ending, when the Newcastle supporters amongst us headed off to St James’ in the certainty of an easy victory over Blackburn, only to watch a dismal performace turn sour in the second half. Toby buying me a sweaty pie was the highlight of the afternoon: scalding hot ‘meat’ and gravy and damp pastry. Delicious.

  There were nineteen of us for Christmas lunch, with turkey, roast potatoes, brussels, pudding, profiteroles, cheese, coffee, wine, champagne. Later, we played Empires, which some may remember from Isola, and Canasta. Also, on the first evening, we had a long game of Monopoly.

  We went down to the land on Boxing Day and built a bonfire, chainsawed logs, drove the two four wheel drives around and bombed about on the little motorbike. The bike was great, though changing gears was a struggle. It was a freezing cold day but we all got warm. Then, onto Granny’s for lunch.

  I did the 8 mile bike circuit across the golf course and down the avenue of trees with Crip one morning and Jamie the next. There are two seriously steep climbs that strain heart, lungs and thighs; but arriving back and having a hot shower made it all seem most pleasurable.

  Then there was the five a side game. I was in one goal, James in the other. Crip, Jul and Henry just lost to Liv, Jamie, Edward and Edward’s friend. So we had a numerical advantage. We also had another advantage which was Henry struggling with an injured foot. Henry was a nightmare when he got close enough to have a shot at goal. He reminded me of Geoff. I would be lurching in one direction, to stop the ball that looked like it was coming that way, only to see it roll past me into the net on the other side. Had Henry been fully fit, we might well have lost. All in all, both tense and satisfying, with much discussion afterwards and some jolly backslapping amongst the winning fraternity that Jul claimed was ‘frankly nauseating’.

  Then, homeward in Daisy.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   
• carotte 8:53 pm on 19/12/2003 Permalink  

  Sounds good! None of the others joined you then? I will mail in amo after brekkie as it is free here!
  Might phone to.T

   
• dodman 5:15 pm on 17/12/2003 Permalink  

  Cale concert 

  I thought everyone ought to know about this, in detail!

  Having seen John Cale at St Lukeís without the benefit of knowing Hobosapiens back to front, familiarity with the new songs meant I enjoyed Brighton ten times more. The set list was similar, though no Hallelujah, nor Cordoba. Queuing to get in, I was worried only a smattering of people would turn up. In the end, a respectable number half filled the Dome. It was a curious mix of young and old, weird and very ordinary looking. It could have been a model train collectorís seminar. I sat near the front; but as soon as the music started I headed closer to the stage. That was definitely the place to be. I thought the entire set was musically pretty tight, and song seemed to follow song seamlessly. There was very little talking, or introductions: the songs spoke for themselves. Over the years, Iíve got so used to hearing musically simple ñ just piano or acoustic guitar ñ versions of most of John Caleís truly amazing back catalogue, I found I preferred the recent songs to those I knew almost as well as childhood nursery rhymes. Having said that, Chinese Envoy and Andulucia were fantastic. I couldnít say the same for Paris 1919. The lead guitar interpretation of the pastoral interlude just didnít do it for me. There were three great screamers: Fear (unbelievable), Cable Hogue and Leaving It Up To You (visceral); they left me wondering at how much strain a throat (or heart) can take. I would have liked to hear Zen; but Over Her Head, Look Horizon, Magritte, Archimedes, and Things, were all top class. One song stood out above all the others, though, and that was Caravan. This was performed loudly, but started softly, remained beautifully modulated throughout, and rose to its crescendo so sure footedly I was in awe. What a fantastic track it is. I donít know how the enthusiasm of the audience compared with other shows on the tour. John seemed happy enough with his reception. I wasnít yodeling but I was clapping pretty loudly. Clapping above my head, which is rare for me. I did join in the shouts for an encore, but this was always going to happen, since it was used to both introduce and bid farewell to the band members. What I hope to see one day is John Cale in concert, alone with his electronic keyboard. Sensitive and accomplished though the others were, it was Johnís versatility that shone through. What a voice; what lyrics; what an extraordinary performer! My abiding feeling was astonishment at how somebody so accomplished ñ a living legend, as I overheard one person say – should attract such a relatively paltry audience; and how fortunate I was to be there.

  So, there you are. Practically history in the making.

   
• dodman 1:27 pm on 16/12/2003 Permalink  

  The Prince William. 

  For you, Coco!

  

   
• dodman 10:14 am on 15/12/2003 Permalink  

  Tall ship experience 

  Mama and I rolled out of bed at sixish on a cold Sunday morning to get to Portsmouth in time to board the Prince William on our one day voyage. We were in ‘White Watch’ and were assigned a cot in the bowels of the ship that looked like a piece of half drain pipe that had been stretched to accomodate a body. We then started basic safety training.

  Later, after a bacon butty, we headed back on deck for ‘up and over’. This involved scrambling ‘op the rigging’, clipping your safety harness onto a taut wire en route, standing briefly on the level of the first cross mast (it’s got a name, but I can’t remember what it is) gazing out at the view, and then making a wobbly descent. The portion of the steel rope ladder that involved climbing backwards in space I found particularly hairy.

  Then we moved onto heaving on the ropes, letting out a bellow on each pull. I and three others heaved on one side of the ship, Mama and her team loosening the same ropes on the other. This allowed the cross pods to swivel around, which enables the sails to fill with wind.

  While working we kept warm, but otherwise it was freezing. Given an opportunity to climb out onto the bowspit – the pointed bit at the front, with a net hanging below – Mama was out there like a shot, but I declined. I also declined a trip up and out onto the side pods to furl the sails. Blue Watch handled most of the ‘furling’, with an Irish geezer straight out of Master and Commander yelling out how it should be done from the deck below.

  Lunch followed, and then more rope pulling. Much excitement all round. Eventually, we drifted back to port. There was a short video at the end showing clips from longer voyages in more pleasant climes.

  All in all, I should say a ten day trip in the Caribbean or the Canaries would be great fun. They’re cheapish, if you get a last minute deal. All the volunteer crew who had done one of these rhapsoded about it. Okay food, plenty of hot showers, and good honest toil, are the order of the day.

   
• carotte 4:57 am on 14/12/2003 Permalink  

  Hail all.
  good pic of the visit! i like juls two tier hair! huddling for warmth hey! we are raosting here in christchurch with a top temp of 32 degrees today! fairly roasting, and with a warm winf of about 100 miles and hr we were melting on the spot. we made the mistake of leaving the tent up (yes, we are on one of our brief visits to a camping!) and it got so bent over by the wind that on e of the poles broke. no more tent for the present.

  Chch is huge and we have only done a small section of it today. the botanical gardens made a pleasent resting spot for our weary feet after town. we went to an art fair in the morning which was great fun. wondered round lots of wierd and bizzar art – canvas with splodge of paint, bit of wire stuck in an apple, that kind of thing, but most of it was great, and you could actruallt watch da said artist at work in the poting and woodcarving workshops. Potting looks as much of a sinch as i recall. The Dod collection would have fitted in like a piece of the jugsaw, and as there was nothing much beloww about 100 quide i think mireille had the pricing about right. it does seem that mounting and frames are the way to go, so kepp mounting i say! geoff suggested ikea for bulk frames. in an internat place at the mo with paintings on the wall by some aritist or other who obviously prefered the part of the scenery tecnique! well, only 10 days to go before xmas and it has never felt more unlike christmas! boiling hot and sunny, with everyone running round in skimpy clothes, yet all the shops have that tinny music dod described blaring out of their doors. all the same old tunes as at home, and the shops are full of the same things, trees, stockings, decorations, cakes, puddings and a whoile lot more stodgy wintery food to be eaten infront of a roaring fire all nice and cozy. who in their right mind wants a slab of christmas pudding when you can’t move without sweating??? oh well, have fun up north and take a few piccies for me. now making more appropriate new year card for delicately nurtured. i will take over my class black one when i get back you bunch of weasles!
  cheers
  T

   
• decoy 12:04 pm on 13/12/2003 Permalink  

  J & M’s visit 

  
  testing out the hammock

  
  the quality christmas tree – holly of course

  
  huddling before the warmth of the fire;-)

  
  arundel castle

  
  chatting to babs who is in latvia or somesuch place

   
• carotte 4:31 am on 13/12/2003 Permalink  

  I say that parking fine must have cut like a knife!!! Those cardssound slike a dead cert to me – keep churning them out. you could have a nice ‘set’ collection for next year. a small mistake with the price though – they should have been at least 1 pound 50 and then they would have gone towrds the fine!!! i will take over all arangements and the money will come rolling in i say!!! you could hang them in my pottery shop ‘glugs’ when i get one!!!
  a bit of alright though i say. 150 of the best sounds about fine to me if they are in frames and with acompaniying story. a childrens books sounds like a good idea to me. a cheery story full of colourful pictures which will then sell like hot cakes! all in all most pleasing news. even if you havn’t exibited everywhere, if someone thinks you have then there must be something good about the paintings! i would have gone for the full weekend myself but i suppose you get a wider audience if you have them in one place for a while. good egg i say! i will try and phone tonight, that is my tonight with the new cheap phone card we have somehow only discivered now!!!! i find this most ditressing especially as i spent $20 on a card to phone granny and it lasted all of 3 mins! curse the person who sonld it to me for telling mwe it wasd the cheapest option!
  cheersT

   
• dodman 8:16 am on 11/12/2003 Permalink  

  Comment 

  I was in the craft shop in Bognor in late summer looking for a mount cutter (being mean, I ended up buying a cheap, bendy craft knife, so my home made mounts are seriously crooked; but I do like the look of my paintings in a big frame) and I saw a flyer on the wall offering artists free hanging space at the Alexandra theatre. I emailed them and got a reply from someone who claimed to have seen my stuff in the (Bognor?) Observer Magazine and was happy to hang it. Clearly, she was mistaken, since I’m unaware of it appearing anywhere; but I went to see her. She steamrollered me into it. It was either a dedicated exhibition in the small theatre room over a weekend when I would have to be in attendance, or a two to three weeks stint in the main foyer. I chose the latter; and the first date she had available was next April.

  I don’t feel overwhelmed with enthusiasm. It was a wet day, I had parked close to the theatre so I could get some paintings out, but she didn’t want to see them. I ended up getting a thirty quid parking fine!!!

  What I’m really after is a space – a cafÈ, or something – where I can hang two or three paintings indefinitely, calling in every month or so to change them over. Somewhere the paintings are just an incidental part of the scenery, rather than the main reason for people being there.

  Emma suggested making a children’s book. She had an eight month old who seemed to enjoy seeing my pics on the walls. So, now I’m thinking of writing some simple accompanying bits. Mireille is an enthusiast, too, who suggests a minimum price of £150!

  The ‘comment’ was from the theatre blurb. The organiser has evidently got it into her head that I’m some sort of established artist, with many solo exhibitions to my name!

  The cards were for a one day event in Chi. I sold £9 worth, at 50p a shot. What I need is an agent.

   
• carotte 11:38 pm on 10/12/2003 Permalink  

  I don’t get that comment thingy. i tried to write sopmthing but it doesn’t appear to be working! did you exibit? well known in chi you say!!!!
  what happened to the cards? did you do others? well, nice to talk and i will send mail soonest
  T

   
• dodman 8:46 am on 10/12/2003 Permalink  

  Alexandra Theatre, Bognor 

  Upcoming events:

  27th April ñ 17th May “Figurative Representations” Watercolours by Nicholas Brockbank 01243 552662 dod@dodman.org foyer. Well known Chichester exhibitor.

  Mmm!!!!!

   
• dodman 9:00 am on 09/12/2003 Permalink  

  Photos 

  

  

  

  

  

   
• decoy 11:41 pm on 05/12/2003 Permalink  

  beards 

  I noticed in one of the photos that geoff seemed to be growing a goatie-beard, but after being assailed by the flagrant nudity in some of the following pictures, i didn’t examine the rest too closely. Is it a permanent fixture, geoff?

  Cheers for the postcard. That sounds like my kind of museum! The spitfire being the best fighter plane in the skies in those days, i hope you had no trouble fighting off the Luftwaffe;-)

  The movies were very strange. From the puzzle-place i guess.

   
• dodman 10:43 am on 05/12/2003 Permalink  

  CD arrived. Liv says the movies are good. Mama likes both sets of earrings; but will probably chose the darker ones.

  There’s a parcel and separate letter for you in Christchurch. We’ll send something to Greymouth.

  In Chi this afternoon: heaving masses on the streets; tinny, yodelling sounds of Christmas songs emenating from every shop.

   
• carotte 3:58 am on 05/12/2003 Permalink  

  i say yaya for love actually and will bne going to see it while geoff goes to see some bile about a sailor or something!!!!

  yay, a fresh pusskin for me please! good old daisy was ok was she? i’ll give jul lessons when i get back – most amusing it will be!!! Did any of the other cards sell? how much for? mahaps cards are the way forward.
  i rang granny at the time appointed by geoff the time maistro on her birthday only to hear a groggy voice on the other endof the phone!! poor granny – it was 5.30am!!!! she seemed pleased with the angora rabbit hat we got her in the waikato region.
  i wanted to buy an ostrick egg today but geoff wasn’t too keen! they are huge and i thought they would be good fun to paint, but getting it home would be a problem. Thank you mama for your letter we collected in dunedin, i think the path is a great idea, get liv and jul to collect stoned for you. Hope all the xmas cards got home unbroken. hand them out at xmas would you? i didn’t want to send them as they were quiote fragile. i hope all the french ones got there ok – let me know. havn’t heard from lolo in a while. what is she up to? well, we are hanging round dunedin for today and then heading north with mount cook in mind and then chrischurch.
  cheerio
  T

  PS did i mention that i wouldn’t mind a ginger pusskin??? good egg

   
• dodman 9:53 pm on 02/12/2003 Permalink  

  Master and Commander 

  Well, I can recommend this as a good film, well worth seeing.

  As for Love Actually, we’ll see.

   
• dodman 9:11 am on 02/12/2003 Permalink  

  Parcels 

  Two parcels arrived in quick succession, full of an interesting assortment of shells, leaves, postcards, sundry papers, etc! Beautiful skirts.From India, presumably? Anton and Emma are staying at the moment. Emma’s sister lives in Wellington, and her mum and dad, having spent six months touring NZ in a car earlier this year, have now gone back, bought a motor home, and are doing the same again! They’re considering buying a house.

  Daisy is back on the road. I’ve added Jul onto the insurance; I must sort out some lessons, soon.

   
• dodman 8:32 am on 01/12/2003 Permalink  

  Lumps 

  I don’t understand those lumps. How come you get none on your feet, since they’re under lots of pressure? Did you have your adrenaline stuff handy, just in case?

  Most amusing to hear of all those skin tight lycra clad pole carriers.

  I took part in a one day exhibition and sold a few cards.

  Another moggy, you say? Ha, ha.

   

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