Hot Stuff from Asda

Asda's Hot Stuff

Leaving things a bit late, I ordered my online from Asda as opposed to my preferred Morrisons. I have always loved the wild interpretation and innovative approach to grocery logistics of the Asda back room numpties, so having a glee induced pirouette around the kitchen, I was itching to see my hamper of delights. Would I be scraping yoghurt off my bog roll, or maybe attempting to retrieve the fish fingers , half of which would be still in the depot.
No, this was good, all intact, but sadly not all was present. Yes I could get a refund for the missing sardines, and didn't really know what salad cheese was but I thought I would take a chance and keep them. But , then it came to citrus fruit time, my large oranges were substituted. WIth what I wondered, nice easy peel satsumas or maybe a blood orange with that distinctive flesh colouring. Instead of my loose oranges, I am now the proud owner of RED PEPPERS !!!! I am so happy I could urinate.

The Wynn's Fowler

The Glebelands Newport c1967

In the 1960s there was an Engineering Exhibition staged  I think, by the Newport Model Engineering Society which today still has a narrow gauge railway track operating on club days. The venue was the Glebelands, a large playing and recreational area to be found off the Caerleon Road.
At this time 1967, I was employed by Robert Wynn Heavy Haulage Contractors and used to travel with the Fowler steam locomotive when I could to various  venues and steam rallies on the weekends. It was a delight to be allowed to polish and clean the pride of the Wynns fleet. On a number of occasion I was allowed to start the fire in the firebox to quietly raise steam for the event. Another privilege .On this day  I was with the Driver Arthur Matthews, his son Harvey, my foreman at the time and head of the "Trailer Gang" and the senior director of the firm Mr H.P. Wynn
Here were three wonderful human beings who's combined knowledge of Steam and the Heavy Haulage industry knew no bounds. Now, nearly 50 years on, I would give the earth to just listen once again and take in the ever flowing river of knowledge and experience they were always happy to  share .

The hills are alive to the sound of - MOTORBIKES ??????

What a splendid weekend, with daughter Jody and familan. To the hills and valleys, to the slate mine to the lush green Llangollen, its watery artery now showing infinitely less rage than when I last saw it, two years ago, in torrential rain, when the unforgiving torrent was so loud and deafening.
Now the distant sound of a Great Western whistle and the faint aroma of oily steam takes the centre stage. A fitting scenario to such unrivalled beauty.
Yet again I ask the question, why would anyone wish to go abroad  when dear Britain has it all to offer, in our magnificent Islands.
This was a 40th birthday bash, and much supping dancing and merriment, to the entertaining and effervescent six ton dog,  held in the splendid Ruthin Castle Inn.
What a strangely diverse country Wales is. The ever present planted motorway border trees do little to hid the compelling evidence of an industrial landscape past. Though the few remaining industrial enclaves stand proudly above the eye line. "Look at us, you aint got us yet"

The diverse nature of the North Wales landscape ensures that within a few short miles, you will be plunged into the , more contrasting landscape, synonymous with the Celtic culture. Sheer rock faces of crushed slate bleed into lush green valleys, thatched cottages, short terraced stone dwelling perhaps the homes of the lead miner or slate workers.

For my own part, being, according to my new found supping partners a southern softy, I quite like Wales as it was. I revel in dirt and steam, coal, slag heaps and the omnipresent pyramids of colliery waste.

Sunday life was aptly illustrated by the horrendous onslaught of noisy motorbikes, showing little concern or reverence to the ambience of the occasion, and the rest of the world who sleepily soaked up the summer  blue haze, peering like the ancient mariner into the distant mists, not really sure what they wanted to see. Which was just as well because they only saw even more noisy  motor bikes.

But when all seemed lost to the angels of hell, a spluttering chuffing cavalcade of Vespa scooters, bedecked with hundreds of chrome mirrors and red white and blue Quadrophonic roundels , came over the hill. Shades of Brighton 1965 ? surely not. Happily our age challenged Mods and Rockers now seemed quite content to share their chips in the End of the world car park.

Onwards and upwards, but a recap of some of the memorable architecture I manages to snatch capture from the moving car. Delightful Ruthin and historic Jail, Llangollen, packed with tourists and much welcome money changing hands, and the quiet serene countryside  of the English / Welsh borders.

I Think I shall go more often to the wild North.

Tara and thanks for looking ! Love and peace to all of you.

The Garden Workshop

MY troops have been extra busy this last few days erecting a new 10" x 6" garden shed, which I will turn into part railway workshop and part messy area for resin casting , plaster work, wood work and paint spraying. Well I have done very little towards it being under constant threat of annihilation by my kinder, should I use my left arm (post pacemaker insertion), though I did have a bit of a go today when no one was looking. I am quite exited about the prospect of having somewhere to do the messy stuff away from the house and be able to implement some new (old ) ideas and projects which I have had in waiting for some years. Pictures to come as things progress. Meanwhile, now feeling quite knackered with knees hips and left shoulder about to seize up  completely, I thought something good for dinner might be in order and a look at the box for a few hours with a glass of Chivas Regal.
I am really fortunate in having six kindly kinder who shower me with heaven sent goodies and Daughter and Son in Law, Gemma and Daniel, yesterday gave me two steaks of Wild Boar.
   I have not eaten Wild Boar since last in Poland so I thought a salad and pop it on the griddle with just some light seasoning of sea salt flakes and black pepper. I made up an interesting little dressing , with diet in mind, of four desert spoons of  Fat Free Yoghurt, juice of half a lemon, teaspoon of Cumin powder, small handful of fresh chopped mint a little salt and pepper and finally a teaspoon of runny honey. It was superb! The wild boar wasn't in the least tough and the dressing complimented it all. I would thoroughly recommend shed building to all, you never know where or what you will be eating for dinner until you build a railway workshop.

Home and Dry

For those who have been following the progress of my latest country church, I can now happily say it has withstood the vigour's of transit and is now at it's new home in the West Country. No matter how hard one tries to protect one's work there is always an elephant with a larger bum than yours waiting to sit on the box. Prompting the Olde English lament, " Some S**T has damaged my model "!!!!
Thankfully this time we won the contest.
My grateful thanks to Steve for allowing me to place these images on my blogsite. He must be complimented on his use of back drop scenery it really is first class.

FInished now

At last plastering finished new window designed and fitted painted and varnished ready to go. I did have some video footage of the latter part of construction but unfortunately the files were too large and couldn't be uploaded. The window was made by printing an actual image of stained glass onto very thin copy paper. This was then soaked in Mod Podge the wonder glue and sealer. I then sandwiched between two separate pieces of glazing and fitted it behind the window. I thought this was  most effective as the paper controls the light the detail is as good as my image and it has a very soft and delicate appearance. My earlier attempts were I admit poor and amateurish, the colours being painted on and far to garish. Still on to the  next one now, which will be some old canal side terraces included a back street Pub, the canal and a small stretch of narrow gauge railway line leading to a canal loading yard . This time I shall make sure the footage will upload so I can show you what is going on as it is happening. Thanks.

Rocking and Rollin

Not much to write tonight, am watching BBC 4, a number of fantastic progs telling the story of rock and roll. Just watched the Bill Haley and the Comets story. What a fantastic period, I am so glad I am a dinosaur and old enough to say Yes I was a alive then and kicking! 

The Roaring Twenties

My good friend and neighbour Jim O'Neil , who has given me immense support with my Heritage work over the years, has come up trumps yet again. Jim never fails to amaze me how he can , without warning, conjure up collections of archive images , whilst I, more often than not plunder the internet and  antique shops often to no avail. Here are two super images , of the Paddle Steamer La Marguerite and a motor bus outing to the Doone Valley and Lynton and Lynmouth.
My word, I fear for the lives of those intrepid day trippers circumnavigating the infamous Porlock Hill. The poor driver having to rely on mechanical brakes must have had his foot riveted to the pedal.

I am wondering if the Lady wearing the fruit bowl, sorry hat ! in the centre of the back row, is acting chaperone to the young couple enjoying footsies under the travel blanket.
" My dear Felicity, I don't wish to dither, but pledging my troth I must reconsider, your father is breathing down my neck and its doing my Head In !!!"

Hidden Eyes

And as I walked through the  foggy winding alleyways, the eyes of fishermen lost, followed every footstep I made, over cobbles steeped in ancient folk lore , through low arches and up granite steps. And then as I was aware of the cold sweat pouring down my aching back, I found the safety of the  cottage, and realised that I had turned the colour off on  Paint Shop Pro and decided to watch the Liverpool V Stoke game instead of any further day dreaming.

1960s Coast Line

Yesterday I took delivery of around 500 35 mm transparencies of mixed subjects, but all from the early to mid 1960s. They are taken partly in the West Country and there are also many quite pleasant shots of the Scottish Highlands. As expected there is a variety of mixed hues, Agfa, Kodak and Ilford plus some Top Rank and Ferranicolour. It is incredible how the characteristics of old colour stock are the same according to the type of film. The Ilford seems to have kept its colour but has faded overall, while the Agfa stock has a definite  Magenta cast which is proving troublesome to remove. This needs to be done before I can add them to the main archive. However as a measure of desperation I have turned the colour off on a small number thus making them Black and White, in addition I have added a soft focus effect to one or two purely as an experiment. I don't agree with image manipulation but as long as the image stays as it was taken I think a softening effect is OK on this occasion.

Getting Plastered

The time consuming work of plastering the Church Is done and know I can look forward to painting the stone work, releasing those delightful textures , with firstly a light grey base coat and then a mixture of Ochres and the occasional daub of cadmium orange to give that age impression. When I have coloured sufficient individual stones the whole building will have two coats of mat varnish, At that point the windows with their tracery will be fitted, not forgetting the all important  stained glass window at the rear.
More Images to come soon.

How sweet you are

Dear St David’s Clinic,

I thank you for your recent letter, inviting me to attend the clinic, in respect of my recent blood tests for the second part of my diabetic review. I take notice of your comments, “There is no need for alarm.” This pleases me, as, taking into account the time in which you take to answer your telephone, I estimate that I will be able to attend in approximately 50 years’ . At which point I fear, blood sugars will not be an issue, but the question of fertiliser shall.

Yours in sugary bliss

Jan Preece

Fish Supper with Grandma

On our way back to the charabanc , we stopped at the village fish and chip shop, for our final treat of the day, a fish supper with local Cod, and chips cooked in beef dripping. We found a field overlooking the sea and sat behind an old dry stone wall , to protect us from the stiff sea breeze coming off the water. We ate our meal from the paper, with lashings of salt and vinegar. We emptied the thermos of the last tea and sat enjoying the view while Grandma who was a slow eater finished her supper. It was then with a degree of horror that we realised that she, Grandma,  had a portion of mushy peas, which she consumed with gusto. It was a long , long journey home.

Progress at St Anyones

      

With the news still ringing in my ears that our local Anglican Church St Stephen's is,   going to loose its resident priest, because of dwindling numbers, I am even more pleased to openly admit that I live in a most pleasant time warp and can create my own sacred architecture whenever I wish. Thank you management for this blessing! Here is my latest Country Church building about to receive its stone finish, Two or three layers of 1.5 art board is braced for the wet gooyee onslaught. So here we go, goodbye soft hands for another three months. More pictures when it is finished.

A Doctor De-ath in the making

So the young doctors of England have been on strike, what a pity some of their colleagues across the border couldn't be persuaded to join them on an indefinite protest.
Why do they allow inexperienced medical personal loose on the unsuspecting public, interfering with a time proven medical treatment plan which works and does not need changing. If they require to flex their intellectual muscles, do it in the lecture hall, do not change a game plan  instigated by their seniors and betters because they are incapable of understanding the process.
Rant Over
Please log in at this time tomorrow for the next episode .

Scary Days for the steel men

Living in South Wales, one cannot help but feel a strong empathy for those ultra skilled men of the Steel Industry. I cant imagine what it must feel like to know, that which you have invested your life in, is about to crumble around your feet. My Grandfather was a steel worker in the works of John Lysaught who's company originated in the heart of the industrial midlands. For nearly forty years he wheeled tons of spent ash from the furnaces, unloading trucks full of coal. Twice he suffered serious injuries but he continued until his retirement in the early 1960s.
The politicians must forget their historical beliefs and show their belief and commitment  in those who have given their all to this proud industry. The picture \I have chosen shows a Furnace man from  the Barrow Iron Works C1950s

Tuesday 29th Goodbye Easter

Did it actually make any difference, the spring time clock alteration. Time is something which has been created by someone else so why bother about it. unless the pub is about to close. And apart from that the sun has hardly risen to the occasion, looking out of the window now its black beyond.
So who is the idiot of today ? Yet again its repeat prescription time which is always good for a giggle and an increase in blood pressure. I think I spend at least two whole days per month  on the phone, while the pharmacist blames the doctors receptionist for the wrong prescription and like wise  says the doctors. "we  gave it too them" they protest (I wish someone would!)
Well here we go again!
I am feeling quite spiritual today, 'have been cutting out church windows for a new model. I have now found a superb way to produce the tracery , its called a Silhouette Cameo, a superb pattern cutter in many mediums, ideal for the model maker.

These are the initial trial patterns,they have been cleaned up a lot and are now spot on. There is nothing quite like an Old Church for bringing the mind into perspective and having a good old reflect on where life is taking you. And apart from that old stone and wood is mesmeric , the textures, the smells, it is a wonderful experience. How said that so many are now closing for want of a congregation, even if you don't believe, there is a spiritual dimension that only a complete moron could not fail to notice. Tara !