http://youtu.be/FigGBZkEVko
Check this out. A box set of the series is on my list for spends with xmas money
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
December, the Countdown Begins
First visit to Iguana`s tapas bar in Grey Street with friends. Great atmosphere enhanced by two for the price of one cocktails. Didn`t order food, but Paul and Jane`s fayre looked soooo tasty. Had already eaten, but will be going here again soon to sample gamba`s, chorizo and chicken dishes. We met at 1.30 and the time passed so quickly chatting until 7.30
Southpaw on Friday at the Chillingham Arms was great with amazing pperformers. Looking forward to next year`s programme.
Watched a brilliant programme on BBC4 last night The Strange Science of Decay. A special glass room was constructed and monitored over 50 days. Fresh food, cooked meats, sandwiches and wine were left to rot and filmed. The most amazing patterns and formations emerged. First the flies and maggots moved in. When the last of the edible food was gone and only hardened skin on the pig and chicken were left, then the beetles took over. From among all of the dead things, life emerged in plants, wonderful.
Also watched Spinal Tap for the first time, side splitting stuff. The lyrics in their songs "You`re sweet, but you still got your baby teeth"
and comments "As long as there`s sex I can do without rock and roll" The mini-Stonehenge designed on a napkin. And, when one of the band is pulled up at customs with a cucumber down his kecks, hilarious. Watched Another Year, a bit depressing, miserable.
As usual D has his present early, an ipad which he is using regularly. Unlike last year`s present, a wii fit! It has been under the tv stand since January this year with the occasional dusting. However there is an Abba dance disc out, so he might be persuaded to follow that?
Friday, 2 December 2011
Newcastle Winter Book Festival
Was asked to volunteer at the book festival.
At first imagined that I would be serving books, offering a puppet show or crafts session, no, serving tea with a request to wear my pinny and turban. Hundreds of parents and children attended the event which was packed with activities. A magician, circus performer, many eminent authors. Thoroughly enjoyed the day chatting with lots of interesting people.
Central library put on a great event on Sunday 27th. Poems and Pastries. Poets Catherine Graham, Tom Kelly and Peter Bennet read from their collections. The Northumbrian Language Society members read and spoke of how they promote, preserve, research and publish rich dialects from Northumberland to Durham (including Tyneside) AND there was tea and cakes!
Borderline Books
A kindly member of the public donated a fridge, all we had to do was pick it up. Now we can take a sandwich to keep us going. Last week A gave 600 books away to a community group who are setting up a multi-language library. So there were more book boxes to empty, stamp and sort into languages and categories. A task which I thoroughly enjoy as this project is so worthy. Trouble is that I always see a book or two that I like, while trying to sort my books at home, I bring a bag full to donate, then go away with a few more!!
A curious thing happened, I noticed an old paperback, The World of Suzi Wong, printed in 1957, I remembered that my mother had a copy of this and thought that I would take it to read. On flipping through, discovered a poem in a language that I didn`t recognise, but a name stood out which I did, Yvonne, my own name. Got home and keyed in a couple of words into Google Translations. It`s Dutch, so I could have asked Amina to translate as she has lived there and is fluent. Next Monday will offer it up to her. Some of the words meant ice, cold, mountains, so really curious to know more.
Amina found a piece of paper with the words "uncontrolled stock" How ironic is that, in a place where every bloody thing is? Couldn`t miss the opportunity to take a photo of her among the sea of literature. On the theme of sea, another thing that I have learned today, Silverfish. Two of the little horrors wriggled out from a book I was stamping. First time I have encountered such things, yet everyone that I have mentioned this to already know about them. They eat paper an are usually found in foisty old damp buildings. I suppose this is the problem, receiving donations of books, we don`t know where they have been stored.
Received a fabulous book through the post today. After taking photos at the 60`S Experience and sending them to Alan Mosca of Herman`s Hermits, I was sent a gift from the lads. A limited edition of rare photos of Cliff, not actually one of my favourite performers, but the photos are outstanding, book in a presentation box and black and white photo included. What a lovely thought.
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