Saturday 18 October 2008


Guardian newspaper catches up with reality but misses several of the essentials. Nice kindly article last week: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/oct/17/popandrock2
But scarcely any mention of the essential technologies, such as modding etc. Nor would you have gained any real idea that this is a great cross-generational style. I went to the June White Mischief and (mid-50s) was by no means the oldest. Complete age range from 18-70+ I would say and all enjoying ourselves and getting into the fun and serious business of dressing the parts.
This picture shows us getting ready to go out.

Tuesday 14 October 2008

I took son to Weald and Downland museum for a whole weekend of bronze age sword making. Just brilliant. However no pix of that since the technique is (quite properly) the intellectual property of the instructor who worked out how it had to be done to get the authentic results. The swords still have to have their handles and the finished articles will have their portraits here in due course.

There was however a nice steam traction engine trundling quietly about the place.

Tuesday 7 October 2008


I have been making a point of going into city centre back lanes and entrances that are open. In nearly all cases I have been walking past these for the whole 20 years I have lived in Glasgow. Many of them are revelations. Some of horror and squalor, filth and graffiti etc. But others have wee gems like this old petrol pump.

This is within 50 feet of the City Chambers, in the back alley that goes behind the Housing Benefit office. There is the social work car pool and lots of these white ceramic bricks but also this amazing ancient petrol pump. I like to think of it as the last one, selling zero gallons, hence the setting on the counter at the top. It could actually be an object of beauty if cleaned up a little. I wonder if i could make them an offer they couldnt refuse?

I will be putting more pix on flickr.

The entrance to the lane is surprisingly rural: