Drew Berry Animations

The sights that you see when you haven`t got your gun!

First Annual Alternative Miss Loco (Andrew Belshaw hosting as Bella Duvall

Dear contestant,




thank you for entering the Alternative Miss Loco 2013 competition. Please read on for some information about the event which you will need to know if you are to be a successful applicant.



-There are 12 places available for the competition.



-To apply you must submit the attached questionnaire completed in full by 25th November 2012. (You can make the answers up if you like but try and be as entertaining as you possibly can as these question and answers will be part of your performance you will be judged on.)



-You should be available for the evening of the 14th December 2012 from 630pm.



-The costume you wear in part 1 is the costume you are judged on regardless of whether you change for your performance in part 2. Make it count!



-All catwalk and performance music should be submitted to Luke Bevan by December 13th.



-You will be judged on two parts of the evening

PART 1

Catwalk - you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff on stage to the music of your selection for about 1 minute showing off your outfit and strut skills.

Questions and Answers - you will be asked some of the questions below by Miss Bella DuVall. Dont worry about remembering the answers as she will have them in front of her and she will be able to prompt you. Not all questions will be used. The most entertaining answers will be used. Be creative.





PART 2

Performance - you have up to 5 minutes to do your thing. Whatever is your talent then we want to see it no matter how off the wall it is. If you are going to be performing live and need a mic then you must let Luke Bevan know so that microphones can be organised for you. If you have any other props that will be part of your performance. Please let us know as soon as possible once you have heard if you are successful in your application. This probably wont come as a shock but any performance where bodily fluids or excrement are part of it are prohibited.



Judges comment - the judges will each speak about your catwalk, outfit and performance at this stage. They may want to ask you some additional questions too.





And thats it! Your application is the questionnaire below so get it completed and returned to belladuvall@yahoo.co.uk! And good luck!



love Bella x x x

Las Iguanas

Audrey Guthrie`s new book (Benwell, Buses and Boxing

A good friend of mine, Audrey Guthrie will be hosting her book launch in November. The book is published by Summerhill Books (Who now has a Facebook page) This is my publisher and he will be posting photos from his publications on this site.

Thriller - Chiller

This year`s Benwell Reunion was attended by around 70 people, much down on last year`s number which was 140. At first I imagined that this would be the last year that I would organise it as the room hire has went up from £60 to £75. I didn`t think that there would be enough raised from the raffle, but it earned enough for me to book for next year. I will advertise it more widely and put posters up to attract more guests.

Began work with Youth Village this week, the staff are totally dedicated. We are working with the 13-19 year olds at various venues in Newcastle, on fields in tents!  The thought in this weather is offputting, but it has been an extremely enjoyable experience, working alongside great people who have the interests of the youngsters at heart. The theme is folklore and myths so Halloween fits right in, ghost stories, masks, cartoons and old games, sayings and Geordie jokes, my shopping trolley was fit to bust. There have been zombie dancing, to Thriller, Ghostbusters, pumpkin carving, cookery, rapping, advice on health issues, Wii games and much more was on offer. I have two more sessions to do and then next week back to my regular sessions.

Tequila Worms

Popolo`s Tequila Night

Five tequila`s to experience and Richard giving a talk on origins and history. We were given a glass to measure tequila`s and a glass of water to clean our palates after each shot. Shots were very large, so I collected an empty glass from the bar, tasted a mouthful of each one then poured the remainder into my glass. Didn`t want to end up under the table. A came in a little later, after me and J got there, so he missed most of the talk, but benefitted from my collective tequila shots as I was not going to drink that. We all dared eachother to eat the worm, yuk, when you bite into it, the little sod squirts.

The Avenue

Attended the book launch of The Avenue at Waterstones on Friday. Met David Cunningham and his lovely family for the first time. David is the grandson of S.W.Herbert, author of the book. David lives in America but was over here to set up the launch. He explained that his grandfather`s book had been around but nothing was being done with it until he read Angela`s Ashes. He decided that this was an excellent book and not too far removed from his grandfather`s story.

We were treated to tales and chat mixed in with readings. I had borrowed the book and began reading, it is mixed with heartrending accounts of life in Elswick, hilarious stories and anecdotes all written in a friendly coloquial style. I bought my own copy at the event and look forward to finishing this excellent book.

R.A.F Cadets at Benton

The RAF cadets session went really well, I had been asked to carry out the work as part of their Geordie Toon celebrations. There were around 35 cadets between the ages of 15-20 years who were really good fun. They joined in, answered questions, tried on the WW11 helmet, gas mask, played blow football, yoyo, cup and ball games etc. I had a cuppa and met some lovely dedicated people who keep the whole thing going.

Next project will involve story telling, crafts, improv workshops for 13-19 year olds. This will also be new to me, but I am really enjoying the research into local heroes, characters and ghost storie`s/myths of Tyneside. Have- trolley-will-travel again, stuffed to capacity with props. As the sessions will be outdoors in various park venues, (I will have a tent and tables) I have purchased a couple of washing lines and pegs to hang the props from and folks can choose whatever takes their imagination. Maybe mask and prop making might be an option. But definitely some drawing involved.

Worked for the library service in Saturday as part of World Mental Health Day. We set up the stand with drawings and information on health and well being. There were more adults came to draw and experiment with characters than children which was excellent. While it`s not meant to be therapy, drawing is extremely theraputic. We shared a stand with Autism help desk and NHS. There were dancers, singers, poets and zumba workshops along with many information desks offering advice and links to their organisations.



Meeting with Kit Haigh in my pal Des Walton`s old house. He is now living there and is keeping most of the excellent original features. He has just finished a tour with Northumbrian musician Kathryn Tickell. He is busy working on a project which will involve actors playing Des and his friend Jimmy Forsyth. Kit has become interested in the history of the pair since moving into the house and discovering their friendship. We spoke about my memories of Des and I am more than happy to offer any information which may be of help. He has lots of ideas to make Des proud. I left a couple of things for him to borrow which may or may not be useful.

Whenever I visited Des, we always talked of local history and he was a mine of information. If ever I wanted to borrow a book, map or video, out would come the records book where he wrote who had anything of his, what date and when it was returned, ever the librarian. On leaving Kit`s house, he made me laugh when he said "Should you not have got me to sign something for the things I`ve borrowed"  I said that Des would be watching and saying "Why have you left without getting a signature!"

Also spent a productive evening at I W`s house with my publisher. He is working on a book on our friend Audrey Guthrie, boxer and local bus driver. She has a fascinating history of matches all around Britain, has met some very skilled people and done lots of charity fundraising for cancer research.  The launch should be in November and I predict that the sales will go through the roof.  Watch here for book cover photo soon.

Had a great time at Jane`s party, good food company and conversation. Andrew Belshaw has a book launch soon, his photographs will compliment Sheree Mack`s poems, he also has new Xmas cards and calendars released. Check out his fridge magnets and cup designs. (Pictured second right of first photo)

Lorna Windham

Lorna Windham will be holding her book launch for her recent book Deaths, Disasters and Dastardly Deeds on Wednesday 24th October. The event will take place at 2 pm at the library on Prince George Square, South Shields NE33 2PE.

Her last book sold extremely well and her latest promises to do likewise. Please try to get along, meet the author, listen to an entertaining and informative talk and buy a signd copy.

Lusky

http://society6.com/lusky

Check out one of my brother`s websites for his art work.  He currently has exhibitions at Tower Gallery, Gorilla Gallery and Cafe Neon. He has sold many of his new creations on e bay and continues to do well from sales of his photographs.

Two Weddings and a Spa

The first wedding, J and B chose a vintage theme.  Vicars hate confetti outside their gaff`s, so J set out an old 40`s style cookery basket with pages from books formed into cones holding dried flowers. The wedding took place in the beautiful St Matthew`s Church in Summerhill. The reception at the bowling club pavillion was decorated with bunting also made from pages.  The tables, for 4 were set out with unmatched crockery which gave a 40`s effect and a bottle of champagne on each.  Fabulous food inside as well as a barbeque outdoors. It was a lovely day and evening, folks played croquet on the lawn and danced the night away.

Second wedding at As You Like It for M and K. Beautiful pastel roses, lush surroundings, imaginative photographer who brought a box of costumes, hats and boa`s etc. Everyone took turns in dressing up to have their photo taken. After each photo, guests wrote a message for the couple in chalk on a slate board which would be displayed alongside the photos in an album. The buffet was excellent, I will definitely call in here for a meal soon.

Saw my first robin today, gorgeous little creatures, but they are here to tell us that cold weather is on the way.



Son P and daughter in law B stayed in town at Mal Maison for the hen and batchelor do`s, then at Hotel de Vin. B and I enjoyed a spa and pedicure at Mal Maison then went to Slug and Lettuce for food. P went with the lads go carting.

Why is it that men don`t think to move things before they begin work on a project? D decided to fix a shelf to the wall in my office leaving my lap top underneath, leaning on said appliance, snapping a speaker lead inside the slot. Next, he takes off the back and snaps wires. I wasn`t too bothered, it`s nearly 6 years old and  I mainly use my net book. However, he did me a favour as he volunteered to buy me a new one!  I now have a lovely Toshiba Satellite, the webcam is excellent quality and it has a terrabyte storage.

Comic book workshops finished and everything handed over to the designer. Should be a launch soon of comics which will be distributed to parents and children who took part. More work lined up as a result so will be busy. Conversation group going well, we have a Czech interpreter which is a bonus and I also have reminiscence sessions lined up for the rest of the year. Will be taking part in a workshop for RAF cadets - history, stories, jokes and looking at objects from the past. Will be a first, but looking forward to this.

Run by Snow Patrol

http://youtu.be/jS8IZcx7tJY

Tour around Benwell Towers

The old Benwell Towers building which is behind Benwell Lane is being renovated by the Muslim community.  It will become a school/education centre in a few years time.  This will be a task and a half! Previous occupiers have collectively made a bit of a mess of the place.  It has been used in the past as a pub, night club, film set since it had been used as a residence for the bishop. Give them their due, the muslim owners have received no funding from lottery funding, they have raised the money themselves.  When opened, the building will be open to the wider community, there will be sports facilities and events.

We were invited in to look around, we got up on the roof, it was a lovely day, worth the visit.

Sheree Mack (Writer in Residence Literary & Philosophical Society)

Well done to Sheree for hosting a great "pecha kucha" inspired event at the Literary and Philosophical Socirty. As well as reading her own poetry, she presented Jo Colley, Claire Webster Saarements, Stevie Ronnie, Bill Mc kuminsky and Sue Spencer. The performers for the evening were the brilliant Aidan Clarke and wonderful hang drum music of Simon Wood .

Ray`s retirement party

Diamond Jubilee Street Party

Queen`s Diamond Jubilee at La Boca Art Cafe

Lou, Andrew and Brian behind the counter at La Boca for the jubilee. Cutting the cake and making up corned beef sandwiches while "What do you get when you fall in love, a guy with a pin to burst your bubble....la la that`s what you get for all your trouble......I`ll never fall in love again" We set up a performance day, Laura read poems, Aimee Winehouse sang, I wore my pinny and turban and told stories, Margaret Frayne sang jazz and a good time all around.

A lone trolley was spotted outside the cafe and BD couldn`t help but por his goods into it!  Rob pushed and Andrew took charge wearing his queenie mask.

Canada May 2012

The CN Tower is well worth a visit, 1,815 feet (553 m) high with glass panels in the lift!  There is a floor also with glass panels where people dare eachother ot walk across. Young kids were lying on it, arms outstretched of give the illusion of falling to ther photos. We went to the 360 restaurant were the food is amazing. Tip - make sure thqat you remember where your table is as when you return from the bathroom, guess what, it`s not in the same place. Every 45 minutes or so, sat at your table you can see a fabulous panorama of Toronto. We stayed for 3 hours and by then it was sunset and the buildings were cloaked in pink.

Helicopter ride over Niagra takes some beating, but as it turned a couple of times, so did my stomach, wasn`t actually sick, but I did feel that I was in a clip from Inception.

Quebec is a fabulous city, we ate at Pope George a really old pub and were entertained by two French men and their dog. We got on talking about art and one of them said "Put your hands down the trouser"& I did a double take...is this bloke asking me to put my hand down his trousers? But no, I clicked, he began pretending to draw with his right hand while his own left hand was down the back of his pants.  I remembered a book I have called Drawing on the Right side of the brain. It explains that our right hemisphere always jumps in first at most tasks, especially when we try to draw.  If we can fool the left side to take a back seat, the creative right brain will be given more chance. We are advised to turn a picture upside down, just enough time to confuse the left brian and voila, the creative right is in charge.  This is what he was trying to tell me, Keep the left hand hidden when we draw. Phew.

At Montreal, we were "treated" to a hike around the Grand Prick... er I mean Grand Prix track.  D was all of a flutter "Take a picture of me on the start line"  "Take a picture of me beside the garages" "Take......"  For goodness sake!!  Pirelli, isn`t that a slipper manufacturer?  All I know, and ever want to know.  He kept telling people how the coach driver went into a wobble on the approach...SO!  I did really enjoy a visit to the Mussee Beaux Arts in the city, Leger, Picasso, Matisse, Lipchitz, Rodin and Giacometti, wonderful and not a bit of burning rubber in sight.

Didn`t have one poor meal throughout the stay and loved China Town in Toronto.   We took a rikshaw which was pulled 7 blocks by a young lad who was at university and earning extra money. I have never seen such wonderful foods, colourful stalls and people. One sign did amuse me, an acupuncture establishment "Call here for acupuncture and get poked more often"  I don`t suppose that it`s the first time that phrases have been lost in translation, they probably only meant that there would be more needles for your money. Maybe it should have read "Call here and get more pricks for your money"....No? Ah well, somebody ought to tell them, but it won`t be me.