This year's effort

My sister and I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Had a good comment from a new acquaintance who is a psychoanalyst. She doesn't know my sister and asked who is older - then she said she knew before I could answer. The answer is me. Not because I am more wrinkly and haggard (which I think gives it away). But because I am the larger animal and am supporting my little sibling. Ha! I love psycho babble.

Bad Blogger Lindy Hopper

six months ago i started lindy hopping. before that i was already a bad/infrequent blogger, now i would say i am a bad/pathetic blogger.

have plans to upload some new work, but it all needs tweeking! the above footsteps element are from some posters i have been working on. funny that they should have a dance feel!

i seriously cannot wipe the smile off my face that lindy has put there! i am sure some would like to smack it off!






















there's me dancing with some men in stripes - always a good thing!

anne and kerry in london and cc in athens (very proud my preaching has gone international) are some victims (who i can link!) of my lindy recruitment policy.

now, if you think that you might just like lindy, and things 'don't mean a thing, if they ain't got that swing' i truly urge you to SIGN UP NOW!

THE PAPER CINEMA

Met up with Gemma the producer of 'Ode' last night - she had spotted 'The Paper Cinema' and thought of me! So glad she did. I think that the illustrations must change for different shows as the ones last night were not as good as the ones on the website. But the live aspect still makes for a nice show. Afraid I couldn't get any decent pictures. But there were two people sitting in front of a video camera which fed to a projection of the little cut outs they waved in front of it! All with live music too!

Then to The Ten Bells for a drink!

OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR!

last night the blitz party was a blast... lots of men in uniform, nice shoes, good hair, spitfire beer, war wound comparisons, union jacks, sandbags (actually filled with balloons) lindy hopping old movies 'oldschool bbc' standard english, NICE PEOPLE!

PAUL BOWER. a man to know, admire and remember!

my talented friends new website!
www.paulbower.co.uk

BOO! a happy halloween...

GIANTS

rudolf steiner

elias lönnrot

jean sibelius



this evening i went to a lecture at 'rudolf steiner house'
'The Human Being and the Elemental World. Finland and the Kalevala'
by Virginia Gilmer (who happens to be my sisters childhood lyre teacher!)

it's been too long since i last went to 'rudolf steiner house'.
its an unusual and beautiful building. so i plan on becoming more esoterically inclined and attending more lectures and performances.

i went to the 'kings langley steiner school' which hopefully explains my inclinations!

the lecture renewed my interest in the kalevala - finlands national epic poem.
elias lönnrot travelled all around finland collecting folk tales that had been passed down generations aurally and formed it into the kalevala.
i won't go into it - just take my word for it - its epic and trippy!

his work inspired my final studio project at college..
i went to finland visiting as much of my mothers family as possible and collected family stories and propaganda.
which i re-wrote and recorded as spoken word onto a 12''white vinyl record.

the lecture also focused on sibelius.
who was inspired by the kalevala for one of his symphonies.
virginia who was giving the lecture, spent many moments emphasizing how much his head was like a piece of finnish granite!!
very true virginia!

so, i realize i have not really gone into the whole steiner thing, but i plan on covering it more, a little now and in the future!
rudolf covered almost every aspect of life in such amazing detail, i don't agree with it all but my positive experience of the education system always makes me fascinated with his take on the big and small things. for example he sees the trochaic rhythm (short long short long ...) of the verses as the best route into the spirit world {with which he said the ancient finns were very connected with}. Although this is an aural experience - my take is to make this visual within some form of illustration.
but anyho blah blah blah! i am inspired laterally and literally!

steiner and finland will be back
(would also have liked to have found a decent size image of sibelius with a moustache as that's how i really think of him!)

update!!
miss maud kindly sent numerous links with appropriate images. so here you see a youthful sibelius with the tash!

MAY DAY

i do love my polling station/community hall.
i couldn't capture its cuteness -
it makes me feel nostalgic about a time i never knew up close.
i think its 30's or 40's and its full of little old gents and ladies who may have known it back when they and it were young.

thought today was suitable for a little home-made propaganda for the flat!

LONDON CALLING!

BLOOD FACTORY

this used to be a factory making some sort of medical blood refining machines
its set in a nice mostly deco 'light industrial' area in manor house.
i tagged along today when the boys were making plans to turn it into their home and studio
when they are all done with the hard work i will have a little piece of it too!
new studio!
yay!

20p

another cold, rainy day - my kind of day
except when i'm feeling poorly
but my day has been brightened up with tulips
popped into my local, favorite supermarket,
looking seriously bedraggled
a friendly fella at work in the flower section said:
'' 'ere take these for 20p!''
he placed the discount sticker over the barcode and gave them to me
''if they question the price at the till, just tell them tim gave you them!''
there is something nicely old school about him,
like he works in his fathers store and knows all the customers.

of course a couple of the stems were broken, but it still made my miserable day!

ohh and the lamp in the picture is my current favorite,
i think i am starting to develop a certain penchant for lamps,
have definitely got the beginnings of a collection...hmmm

BONES

check these puppies out!
finally got a box to cheer myself up after a day of forgetting that most shops are closed on sundays and finding things are not quite what they always should be on rainy london days.
don't get me wrong i love rain and i love london, but sunday just wasn't working.
but magma was open! yay!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

ok so three months is a bit of a extended hiatus
so thought i would promote 'food for thought'
the best eats in the west-end
covent garden to be precise
my brother and sister here demonstrate its slightly 'unusual' affects!

have just bought two new splendid screens to use at home
so very soon will produce photographic proof of purchase and use!

NEW PICCADILLY CAFE

the evil deed has been done
the new piccadilly is no more
its last night was heart breaking
i gave lorenzo my favorite london postcard

on monday
i passed by while men ripped it apart
my heart is broken

NEW PICCADILLY CAFE

Events have taken a real bad turn.
The Piccadilly Cafe, Denman Street, Soho, London will
be taking its last orders on Saturday 22nd September 2007.
Oh Piccadilly! You charmed me from day one!
Cx