Eclipse (Aug 25, 2012)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlHRSpFGtQk

"That's one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind", and back down to Earth again, as was Neil always.

Thanks Mrs Smith for forcing me awake to watch.


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(9 replies, Latest reply: Aug 28, 2012)

Dixton Harvesters (England centric) (Aug 15, 2012)

http://www.magnoliabox.com/art/207064/Dixton_Harvesters_c1725


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(No replies)

More 'radical' internationalist cultural imperialism? (Aug 15, 2012)

It's a question and issue worth pondering..

http://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/v...ky/is-feminism-in-russia-mortal-sin

What do an essentially western inspired punk band in Moscow to do with the peasants living on the endless steppes and many cultures of the Russian Federation?

Last paragraph of that link is quite telling I think. One thing I learned from my many travels is that you have to listen to the *locals*..
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(1 reply, Latest reply: Aug 17, 2012)

Olympic Ticket (Aug 6, 2012)

So it's coming closer, evening of August 10th at the Olympic stadium...have to keep a lid on my excitement levels. Plan to get the Park a bit early for atmosphere and photos of stuff - especially the wild flower meadow plants from around the world.

I've got all the tablets I need to cover everything I reckon. That is a worry. I stopped chemo a week early, (you take one week off in three to allow the body to recover from the poison). Dr. Ali at Guys said it'll be fine.

I bought an artist book last weekend called 'The Stadium'. Nice line drawings and looking at it culturally. Apparently the London stadium is the only one ever to be scaled down once used for the Olympics and Para Olympics.

'The London Olympic stadiumhas been designed to be dismantled. Not just adapted,altered or re-purposed, but reduced in scale and diminished in purpose. As such, it is unique in the history of Olympic buildings...' Tim Abrahams.

I like that. Like a beacon that burns brightly for a special thing and then dims to a more gentle burn. Lives in the memory though.
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(11 replies, Latest reply: Aug 12, 2012)

Pursuit of Perfection: The Politics of Sport (Aug 5, 2012)

Went to this excellent show today.

http://www.southlondongallery.org/p...erfection-The-Politics-of-Sport/725

Highlight for me was the main gallery at the SLG which was filled by Sicillian artist, Alexandra Mir with all manner of cups given out in sporting competitions. I think she collected them over sometime, paying £5 a throw to the owners/winners. They were as tacky as the one's I got as a kid in my women's football career, along with all kinds of medals...shiny gold and silver but scratched and plasticky tat. She had made all kinds of sculptures with them. The feeling in the gallery space reminded me of a church and the reflections off of the curved surfaces all reflecting each other were quite extraordinary, en masse as it were.

Other highlights at the SLG and down the road at the recently sold off by Southwark council town hall, ( a wonderful Art Deco building), were the videos on a loop of footballers rolling over and over apparently fouled, and in agony. It was pretty hilarious.

I loved the room that had a film taken by the artist of the Los Angeles games from the TV. It was shown in slightly slow motion, in lurid colour and he/she had focussed on the many shots shown of close-ups of women's crotches in the synchronised swimming, as they had their legs spread apart and their heads underwater; also of male sprinters' 'lunch boxes' from the camera facing them at the finish line.

Great stuff.
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(1 reply, Latest reply: Aug 5, 2012)

Holly Blue; Holly's familiar... (Jul 25, 2012)

The Vespa which is under wraps 'til next year, I called Holly and compared her to a butterfly. Voila her familiar visited earlier..Same shade of blue. Weird.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unbland/7644661046/in/photostream/

(Mr Bumble also showed up...trying to work out who he is familiar with I think it maybe Stripey)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unbland/7644743134/in/photostream/
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(6 replies, Latest reply: Jul 27, 2012)

A brother becomes a sister... (Jul 5, 2012)

My life gets stranger.

Just got a message from my very good mate Pete signed Maggie that he has his appointment at the gender re-assignment clinic and will start electrolysis treatment immediately. She's incredibly happy.

A few months ago he told me that he finally faced up to wanting to be a woman...wasn't sure how far to take it. He started sending me pictures of himself as a woman...Then all the palavar happened to me...he visited me a lot. Dressed always as Pete..rock musician from Glasgow...rough tough with a heart of gold. I love him.

Yesterday I repeatedly rang and texted. No reply. Obviously I was worried. (He's had a hell of a life..abused as a kid...alcoholic lived the whole rock and roll lifestyle to the limit. Very talented and intelligent but so down to earth..always said how much he 'loves' women..not just sexually but WOMAN. He hasn't drunk in years now but has cirhosis and and that viral thing. He's a walking miracle.

She's hiding in his flat but happy. When she's ready we'll meet. I'm excited but nervous. Still can't quite take it in.

He's very anarchist and radical...and angry. He has always expresed and chanelled that in his music. I wonder if she will be, or like that but different or the same?

Wow.


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(9 replies, Latest reply: Jul 8, 2012)

Heady fresias (Jun 28, 2012)
Have been a bit under the weather of late but feeling better but, taking it all slow slow slow and rest.

Beautiful day at last...warm, humid with gentle breeze. The weather suits my present needs.

Took walk earlier up to fishmongers and got prawns and cockles, then deli for orange sorbet...down to butchers for new season lamb chops for sunday...will have with new potatoes. I finally can eat again and have to put on weight...so I'm not holding back.

Collapsed back in flat and gulped delicious cold orange juice. Oh yeah and I stopped earlier at flower shop and treated myself to some wonderful creamy yellow fresias. The kitchen is now heady with their scent.

Stripey appeared, off to the bedroom and stretched out for a long snooze on the duvet. She'd been banned in late winter for coming in in the middle of the night and dispatching fur balls...then birds were nesting...but she's back again now as happy as ever...as if she'd never been away. Still have no idea where her main home is.

Wimbledon on low....it's summer and today I feel happy.

Stripey and fresias:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81510019@N08/


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(13 replies, Latest reply: Jul 3, 2012)

Snork...with a spring in my step. (Apr 30, 2012)

I'm not one to beat about the bush with regards reality, (despite getting a tad spiritual of late..some call that denial ).

But hey the first day of spring after weeks of cold and rain..(I missed the so called summer in winter..as I was in hospital, fencing with grim reaper)..and it is poignant.

And I managed to spend the morning in the House of Death. Well that's my OTT name for it. Lots of people look like skeletons..another lot well over weight. I'm feeling full of life and decidedly alienated. The place has a pall.

A mass of info is given and more bloody scans and an EEG. My heart is tip top they tell me. I could have told them that.

6 months of misery will begin on Thursday..and I'm not supposed to fight the tiredness. I am advised to wear oven gloves to get things out the fridge. Cold will cause pain. Stay out the sun as much as possible..and don't forget to wrap the PICC line inserted in cling film..getting it wet is dangerous..Various phone numbers are given for emergencies.

It simply isn't me..all this..but apparently it is.

It'll be 5 hours stuck in that place on Thursday whilst they drip strong poison into me...then tablets everyday to go with the tablets I take to keep the madnes at bay The PICC line goes through the vein and finishes above the heart Poisoned heart?

I'm practising my gallows humour but I've a heart full of anger about it all. Rage..oh yes.

Some wild flowers in the garden. Spring is sprung.

http://gallery.me.com/flyingants#100834





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(11 replies, Latest reply: May 4, 2012)

Freddie (Frodo) (Apr 24, 2012)

My friend who recently returned from Hong Kong came round for coffee. She brought her dog also returned from Hong Kong. Some sort of Tibetan spaniel. Talk about cute.

He's called Freddie, but she's thinking to re-name him Frodo.

http://bit.ly/I6tB4s

I'm so pleased she's back in my life...a good steadying influence..and we'll take Frodo out for walks.
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(10 replies, Latest reply: Apr 27, 2012)

Knots by R. D. Laing (Apr 22, 2012)

I recently mentioned this book on a thread..which is all about use of language..well specifically the modern English language in the context of his book.

This quote is to do with childhood, something I've also written about on a thread.


'..It is our duty to bring up our children to love,

honour and obey us.

If they don’t they must be punished,

otherwise we would not be doing our duty.



If they grow up to love, honour and obey us

either we have brought them up properly

or we have not:

if we have

there must be something the matter with them;

if we have not

there is something the matter with us.



(Knots - R. D. Laing, (1970) Knots. London: Penguin.)

Excerpt taken from,

http://www.oikos.org/knotsen1.htm

***

If you are at all interested in the way the English language can be used and abused in relationships it is well worth a read.

Of course poetry plays with it, hence the richness of that tradition here, but literature is a context where that is all in the open and is openly playful..it does not have the sinister aspect of the destruction that can be wrought in families, when you can be mentally tied up in knots..

Children are very vulnerable psychologically.

**

More about Laing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._D._Laing
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Ribwort plantains (Apr 21, 2012)

The last two in this album are Ribwort plantain. I ate a few buds today..later in the summer they will be everywhere. I had some for lunch.

Very delicious mushroomy taste and crunch.

http://bit.ly/JWF29U
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(7 replies, Latest reply: Apr 22, 2012)

Photography (Apr 15, 2012)

A bit like the music journal. And anyone is free to post a link to theirs.

I'm intending to do some landscape photography this summer. A lot on the web, I find gimmicky, made with all manner of filters, highly distorted lenses..and 'trying to hard' compositions.

That's just my taste though.

I found this site of landscape photography from last year with some good stuff. I quite like the first one...but especially fifth one down.

The third one is an example of trying to hard..I really don't like it.

For me, it gives little 'space' to the viewer and imposes its vision on you in a one dimensional way..I like to enter good art and dream a bit in it.

Many artists struggle with this 'giving space to the viewer', lightness of touch, so you form a relationship with the viewer. I think its the hardest thing about any art.

http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/2010_winners.htm


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(1 reply, Latest reply: Apr 17, 2012)

Smoking. (Apr 13, 2012)

I hear today on news they are talking about making packets plain to prevent youngsters starting to smoke. Apparently in Oz they are choosing a yucky olivey green colur.

It might work there. It won't here...whatever colour is chosen. Very quickly street culture, artists, designers will be creating all manner of stuff in that colour and it will become ultra cool...that happened with the 'death' cigarettes..though that was far more predictible.

I see the only thing working is for thorough research to be done to find a water tight branding that will appear uncool..but this might be morally unacceptable. Even so there is no water tight branding that can be made uncool by clever manipulators.

Capitalism will almost certainly make money out of this...and morality won't be a part in any case.

I'll stick to my plans for panoramas of English countryside. Tedious post modern rebellion is starting to really get on my nerves...hey it's uncool..but that's for me...wrong age..and roll-up addict
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(1 reply, Latest reply: Apr 13, 2012)

StumbleUpon? (Apr 13, 2012)

I just stumbled upon this site/way to explore the web that looks really cool when doing research about panoramic photography.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/about

Haven't yet joined...so can't really vouch but their Twitter looks interesting.

Anyway I wanted to share it in case anyone else finds it good and useful
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(1 reply, Latest reply: Apr 19, 2012)

Just writing some stuff. (Apr 10, 2012)

This isn't a journal intended to get replies...I just need to write some stuff or I'll go mad. Obviously it's a public forum and people read..but I just to write some stuff here.

I'm just so going round the bend with my mother here in my flat. It's not really anyone's fault...just differences between us, but then there is the weight of history of all the same old stuff that happened like this in the past.

I don't know what to really say. Writing and sort of creativity seems to help though.

Thanks god she's just gone out for a walk...

I'm just going to listen to music now on my own in my bedroom.
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(3 replies, Latest reply: Apr 11, 2012)

Mobile phones and ageism. (Apr 7, 2012)

I finally bought a mobile and wonder how I did without. (Actually I did buy one just before I went into hospital...but became convinced I'd melted it, one of many delusions, and threw it away...c'est la vie).

Anyway so I had to get another. Did a bit more research and got exactly what I want this time. A flip top..I find them much more ergonomically pleasing. Large well separated keys..and a bright large lettered display bit. Also a loud loud speaker.

It just does texting and phone calls...all I want and has a very simple and easy menu system.

But what really annoys me is that the 'reviews' the company put out on the web site, all talk about stuff like, 'great for grandad - really simple...good for olds getting a bit deaf and blind..emergency alarm for grandma' etc.

Usual prejudice. It doesn't occur to these idiots that lots of people have these requirements. I wear reading glasses and find distraction when I'm trying to listen to a call very difficult. I much prefer to read books without very tiny text.

It's perfect for me. And what if it is also well designed for older people..why the disparaging remarks?

It's the company that really annoy me. They've *branded* it for the olds and are pushing that...hence the reviews selected.

So there it is. And I love this phone, but not who I bought it from.
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(14 replies, Latest reply: Apr 9, 2012)

Ponds, drought and tap water. (Apr 2, 2012)

Ever since I built my pond two years ago we've had drought here in south east England.

I made the decision at the start to only let rain water fill it to keep it as natural and minimise nitrates, after initially filling with tap water.

Today I gave up on that, after seeing the pathetic puddle it has become.

My mum helped me do it. Now it is brimming with water and already birds are coming to drink and bathe. They are not bothered. I got to be a purity freak about it. A hose pipe ban starts here on Thursday so I wanted to get it done before that; though I might sneakily do a bit after dark. No doubt the foxes will be back to drink as well. The thing is part of a *garden* Gardens are artificial and are also about the pleasure of looking at them. I reckon I'll get more stuff now it's no longer a 'puddle'.

I'm hoping for pond skaters to arrive in a few weeks. They see the reflection of a pond when flying overhead. They fly as well as skate.

Wild flower meadow areas coming on well also the native hedgerow plants.
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(24 replies, Latest reply: Apr 13, 2012)

Back from the edge. (Mar 31, 2012)

Hi all,

Have been very unwell and been in physical hospital for a month...had big operation. Need more treatment. Not going into detail for now. Too tired and weak...but at least I'm still here for now.

Nice to see you all again. One thing I learnt from hospital and saw the pitiable cases in ITU where I was for the fortnight is that I never want to sneer at people again who need a faith or some spiritual thing to help them emotionally. It's HORRIBLE.

I even called for the chaplain myself at one point. If I do that sneering again, please remind me. You can't beat real life for facing the rawness of life death and pain.

See you around h2g2.
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(27 replies, Latest reply: Apr 11, 2012)

The Vespa Experience... (Feb 21, 2012)

Steve from Wrexham emailed me to say the scooter was collected by the motorcycle delivery company, yesterday, at 5.30pm.

I feel a bit panicked. Water proof cover for it is due to arrive today. Not that it rains much here anymore, but I want it hidden away from view as it were, undercover when parked up overnight. It's an especially pretty one so will attrat attention.

I've reorganised the mass of recycling bins in the front bit so that hopefully it can be parked there rather than on the street.

Things still to do:-

Insurance. Send off V5 form when it arrives with the bike.
Study owners manual I downloaded off some scooter site. Fix it so computer will communicate with printer so I can print it out...

Things needed for now:-


Gloves
2 stroke oil
Cleaning shampoo with wax added and chamois leather. (I'd long since given up washing the Golf and think I'd thrown it out, never believing I'd drive again).
Wing mirrors
A separate lock
Proper nice riding jacket
Waterproof trousers

But I realised even if I don't properly ride it for a week, there really isn't a rush...


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(5 replies, Latest reply: Feb 26, 2012)

St. Valentine's Day (Feb 14, 2012)
In honour of it.

Shakespeares' Sonnet 116




Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.





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What to do about travel to the countryside? (Feb 13, 2012)
I suddenly had the most terrible thought earlier that had me crying my eyes out. How will I ever see the countryside again ie those places I know that no bus or train goes near, without a car?

I can't imagine being able to drive a car again..it feels too big as a vehicle to control now. I wouldn't feel safe for others, and Hoo made that clear last year in any case.

But I don't know how I'll cope psychologically with that loss. And christ I've had enough loss. None of my friends have cars.

It hasn't mattered in the winter.

The only thing I can think is to get a scooter. I could easily imagine driving one of those and controlling it.

I haven't been to the countryside in 2 years...but I can't imagine another year not visiting...and the thought that I'll never go again is unbearable. The places I like are remote, that I got to know when I lived in Sussex. I need it this year.
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(30 replies, Latest reply: Feb 16, 2012)

Of late (Feb 9, 2012)

The garden has looked incredibly beautiful of late in its desolate midwinter state...especially with the snow we've had and the incredibly low night temperatures.

And now its gradually melting but little patches of the remaining icy snow make patterns all over the place.

The pond has been frozen for weeks but amusingly has fox footprints on the surface.

The cat, Stripey has been round regularly and happily sleeps for a bit now in the kitchen when it suits her..

As it should be with a cat....when it suits.

I put up a few photos of garden of late and Stripey sleeping.

http://bit.ly/zjZ1GD
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(2 replies, Latest reply: Feb 9, 2012)

'There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.' (Feb 7, 2012)

In honour of today being the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens...I offer this journal. The above quote from 'A Christmas Carol'

I recommend Dickens to everyone.

Don't have a favourite; I adored every novel of his I read.

http://charlesdickenspage.com/works.html
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(1 reply, Latest reply: Feb 7, 2012)

Warmth. (Feb 2, 2012)

I feel very cheered up because I got to the fishmongers today and bought oysters..They are big and juicy...judging by the size of the shells. I think this time of year is supposedly when they are at their best...The guy said its usually saturday or especially sunday when they now sell out early.

Also I'm changing my mind about the new delicatessant coffee/teashop with the men with the funny aprons. They are getting really relaxed and chatty with me now, and let me do the re-fill wine thing they do from barrels. That's to go with the oysters.

Also got croissants from the bakery.

(I still have massive problems with my sense of taste...that's gone on for nearly a year now...like this depression..well that's the cause...always was in the past...Everyone seemed really friendly..)

Oh yeah another reason the deli is growing on me, is they had a chalk board out on the pavement, with a big arrow pointing into the cafe bit with 'Warmth' written on it...(it didn't get above freezing today). I love their humour


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(1 reply, Latest reply: Feb 11, 2012)


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