Gibbers from the Ledge

2009-10-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

BRAND NEW JURASSIC JEWELLERY WEBSHOP!

Please do take a look at the new Jurassic Jewellery website
It has been totally rebuilt and both looks a damn sight better, and is LOADS easier to navigate.
I will be adding lots of new items to the shop soon, so if you havent checked it out for a while - please do!
Cheers
Ian Barrett
Jurassic Jewellery
http://www.jurassicjewellery.co.uk/

2009-04-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Manchester Evening News -Interview
A few weeks back I gave an interview that was published in the Manchester Evening News and also the South Manchester Reporter.
It was given to coincide with the regional premiere of a superb Tom Stoppard play - Rock and Roll.
The show was put on at the Library Theatre in the Centre of Manchester.
This show features Syd Barrett as one of it's main themes, and as the show is local and I am local, the paper thought it would be interesting to link the two.

You can read the full interview HERE

2009-03-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Jurassic Jewellery - Now Available At The Troubadour Gallery, Manchester

I am excited to announce that a range of Jurassic Jewellery - jewellery
and fossils are available to buy in the prestigious Troubadour Art
Gallery in Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester.

The gallery has a super range of high quality paintings and sculptures from all over the World.

If there is anything you would like to buy that you can see on the website but not in his shop do let him know.
We can then work together and get it in stock.

Gallery owner James Chapman Kelly also writes a column in the
Manchester Evening News and the South Manchester Reporter so you may
know him from there.

If you live in Manchester please do pop in and have a look!

You can visit the website for the Troubadour Gallery at
http:././www.troubadour-gallery.co.uk/

Ian Barrett
Jurassic Jewellery
www.jurassicjewellery.co.uk

For any questions just email me at
shop@jurassicjewellery.co.uk

2009-03-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry

I would just like to apologise for the lack of posts lately
Been rather busy with a panoply of hassles and business plans - and not found much time to update very much.
I promise I will post something interesting very soon.
Here are a few recent images to keep you going for now....

Love to all

Ian Barrett

2009-01-04T01:33:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR...!!!

I would like to wish everyone a splendid New Year and a wonderful 2009
In many ways I prefer New Year to Christmas itself, not least because it is the one time I am guaranteed a good rest.
When you make and sell jewellery you can be sure that the pre-Christmas period will leave very little time to prepare for the Christmas period itself.
I am rushed off my litttle feet in the weeks before Christmas, which in these credit cruncy times can only be a good thing, but does leave you rather exhausted by the time the festivities come round.

We had a lovely time with Beccy's parents in Devon and Max had a good time to run wild.
He had 3 - yes THREE stickings set out around their house, just to be sure Santa had enough room to leave presents. That's not even counting the ones he scattered around the tree.
There was a splendid stash left for him. The boy did well!

I got a fantastic Stylophone and a jellyfish aquarium lamp so I can die happy!

Anyway -
Now I have got Christmas out of the way I will be posting much more regularly, so much more soon!

Love and peace to all!

Ian Barrett
Manchester, 2009

2008-12-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Some Paintings Of Mine

I have been doing a lot of paintings lately. Just for fun really, and rI really have enjoyed messing around with paint. I love making a mess!
These are a few of the pieces I have made lately.
I hope you like them!
Cheers
Ian

2008-10-30T04:05:00.000-07:00

Julian Cope - Joe Strummer Memorial Busking Tour.

From the Julian Cope Head Heritage Website
In keeping with the theme of Julian Cope’s new album BLACK SHEEP, which advocates direct action and civil protest, the Archdrude and several of his musicians will – on Monday 27^th October – embark on a 3-day-long busking tour of UK cultural centres. Accompanied by singer/guitarists Acoustika and Michael O’Sullivan, Universal Panzies leader Christophe F., and Black Sheep strategist Big Nige, Cope will commence the tour at 10 am at the site of ancient law hill Swanborough Tump in the Vale of Pewsey, and conclude on Wednesday 29^th in front of the famous Carl Jung Statue in Liverpool’s Mathew Street. The entire action is dedicated to Joe Strummer, whose 1986 Clash busking tour was the inspiration. The Future is Unwritten!

Julian Cope Hits Manchester....!

There was a lot of umming and arrhing over the logistics of taking a bemused 5 year old boy to a random busking event on a freezing cold day in Manchester, with no promise of a time of arrival.
I eventually decided it was too good an opportunity to miss so thought I would combine the trip with a swimming session. MAx LOVES swimming so i knew this would get him onside.
I also showed him photos of Sqwubbsy as I knew this would help lure him into my web.
he has NO idea who Julian cope is but liked the look of Sqwubbsy!

We arrived FAR too early and had to pootle around various distractions for ages until eventually the archdrude and his rabble arrived in their big vans.

Had a quick hello with Julian and told him how long we had waited. ( nearly 2 hours...)
he said ' you have a very Utopian way of thinking...'
Which I guess is true.
he also asked me for the time which I thinks says something of his attitude to timekeeping!

They eventually assembled and brought Sqwubbsy to life and processed down onto the main road for the main event.

It would be a lie to say the whole of Manchester turned out to witness the busking but a small crowd, almost entirely of fans surrounded the band.

A few strangers wandered past but I think they scared away more than they attracted.

One girl took a look at Sqwubbsy and said 'Its scaring me. I don't like it! I want to go...

The band launched into various songs, of which some of the names escape me.
There were a few that are classics and favourites of mine
Pristeen!! - For free,and stood but 2 feet from the singer. WOW!
Rail On - The same....

Julian ranted and roused the 'crowd' and talked of the horrors and suffering of the Peterloo Massacre.
A minutes silence ensued which was very moving though did confuse Max. He is only 5 and not familiar with one minute silences.

What was weird was the way it turned from literally no event at all
Just me and Max going back to an empty street corner, to being a rock and roll event with crazed singers and their cohorts ranting and banging drums
Then they were gone.
Julian told us not to follow them, and to just dissolve into the afternoon……

Few people joined in who weren’t there for the event. Many were a bit bemused and most sadly walked on too quickly.

Cold though!

An amazing event!!

For More pictures go HERE

2008-10-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

The City Wakes Festival
The City Wakes is the first ever official tribute to Syd Barrett – original front-man and songwriter for Pink Floyd. A celebration of Syd’s creativity, The City Wakes focuses on Syd’s early life in Cambridge, providing a showcase for his remarkable talent and painting a picture of the explosive and vibrant early 1960s cultural scene in which he grew up.

NOW ON!!!

I am terribly excited now that the City Wakes festival is underway. I am constantly amazed that the sustained interest in Rogers life and work has led to the creation of this festival. Creativity was at the root of his life so I am sure Roger would be amazed and touched to know that so many people are both enjoying and benefitting from so many new forms of creativity in his name. While he never wanted nor relished the fame that he never managed to throw off he would be pleased that the art he created is still inspiring so many.

I am looking forward to visiting Cambridge at the end of the week and to attending the Gala night of the festival.
I have read a little about the show itself, but want the bulk of it to be a surprise.
I have heard the performers have interepreted Rogers songs in their own way. That is a good thing!

Go Here to find out more about the City Wakes festival

2008-10-22T02:13:00.000-07:00

A Technicolour Dream
White Crow Productions - 2008

'A Technicolor Dream is the story of the Underground movement in the UK during the sixties and leads up to its culmination at The 14 Hour Technicolor Dream, an all night “musical happening” that was held at Alexandra Palace on the 29th April 1967. The story takes in CND marches in the early sixties, the foundation of the London Free School and from that the International Times, the UFO Club and the Notting Hill Carnival. There are brand new interviews with Roger Waters and Nick Mason from Pink Floyd, John “Hoppy” Hopkins, Joe Boyd, Kevin Ayers, Barry Miles, Arthur Brown, Phil May from The Pretty Things and many more. All of this is set in a musical context with the music of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd.'

I have just been watching a brand new film about the London scene around the 14 hour Technicolour Dream.
The chaps at White Crow Productions very kindly sent me a pre-release copy and I watched it this morning.
I have to say it is a beautifully shot film, with numerous seen and unseen clips and songs from the time, interspersed with intimate interviews with pretty much all the key people of the era ( a few obvious exceptions, but not everyone is still around to speak...)

From a personal point of view, it is lovely to find out so much about what was such an important event at the end of the Sixties. I have met most of the people interviewed at some point in the last few years so it is nice to have them tell stories about their experiences at such a fun time!
I was asked to be in the film, but with it's focus being on an event in the lat 1960's what the hell could I add? I wasn't born till 1972!

it is fascinating to hear about the early stages of the development of the London Psychedelic scene. The later parts are well documented, but the start - with the poetry reading at the Royal Albert Hall featured. It is easy to see it as a strong cultural phenomenon and not just a drug addled music festival as it is often perceived nowadays.
I for one had no idea of the links between the London Psychedelic scene and the development of the Notting Hill Carnival. It seems they developed organically from the same scene in Portobello Road/Notting Hill.

There are some beautiful unseen still images used in the film. I know for a fact they are unseen as I was sent the images before the film was finished. These are stunning live images from the very early shows in London. They help bring the era alive beautifully!
I DO wish I was part of that scene!

More soon... (when it has finished.)

Buy the Dvd cheaply here

2008-10-10T01:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all
Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Nothing deliberate - simply that I have been stupidly busy trying to escape and cushion myself from the alleged horrors of the credit crunch.

I don't think I am alone in thinking the coverage of it is getting a little tedious.
I have my suspicions it is a supremely modern crisis in that it has been almost totally created by the media.
YES - there are obviously some very real threats and weaknesses in the banking industry and these have at some point to affect the public.
BUT -It seems that these threats have been SO conflated and hyped by the press, that everyone is scared and fearful of the future of their money.
Maybe if the coverage died down the level of fear can subside, and people can get on with their lives without worrying about having everything dear to them taken away.

It brings the wonders of Tulip madness to mind.
If you aren't aware of Tulip madness - basically several hundred years ago in Holland and eleswhere there developed an obsessional desire to buy tulips. YES - tulips!
People spent thousands of pounds buying the latest colours and styles of tulips. The market gre to the extent that single bulbs changed hands for many times more than a house, or a piece of land.

----------------------------------

On a sad note - I was upset to hear of the death of Rick Wright - Pink Floyd keyboard player.
I had the pleasure to meet Richard briefly last year at the Syd Barrett tribute at the Barbican. He really was as quiet and unassuming as he has been described as.
While none of the surviving Pink Floyd members are particularly brash or loud, he really did come across as a polite gent.
Maybe his death will put to bed the almost constant speculation about the Pink Floyd reforming for a tour.
I have alway seen it as HIGHLY unlikely, but I can't see how any true Floyd fan can really expect the Pink Floyd live experience to happen again now it wouldn't have his keyboard playing behind it.
The perception I have is that David Gilmour is pretty fed up with the speculation so maybe this will finally put the idea to bed.

On a more personal note - I know that Roger/Syd was very close to Richard, especially in the later days of his tenure in the Pink Floyd. He lived with Richard for a while and he was very supportive of him through what was the start of a very difficult time in his life.
I think David Gilmour gets a lot of the credit for his friendship ( and with due cause) but Richard was also very supportive.

2008-09-03T11:22:00.001-07:00

Syd Barrett's Cambridge

I have converted and uploaded the ITV Anglia news feature from 3rd September about the upcoming City Wakes Festival in Cambridge.
And I quote from the website.

Supported by Syd’s family and friends, The City Wakes is the first ever official tribute to Syd Barrett – original front-man and songwriter for Pink Floyd. A celebration of Syd’s creativity, The City Wakes focuses on Syd’s early life in Cambridge, providing a showcase for his remarkable talent and painting a picture of the explosive and vibrant early 1960s cultural scene in which he grew up.

Involving many of Syd’s former friends – not least Storm Thorgerson and Mick Rock - The City Wakes includes concert performances, exhibitions, guided tours, music workshops, a 1960s style ‘happening’, talks and a new book of interviews and memorabilia.

I am very excited about all the amazing events during this festival and find it incredible that the creativity that has flourished in the wake of Roger's death seems to just grow and grow.
While he would laugh at the fuss, I'm sure he would secretly be impressed!

I have converted and uploaded the clip as I know there are lots of fans abroad that are unable to watch the clip from the net.

-

PS - On a personal note, I have just rebuilt and improved my Jurassic Jewellery webshop.It has a much nicer layout and is a lot easier to use.
If you like unusual jewellery - made with meteorites and fossils, please do have a look!
There are LOADS of new products to come soon, in time for Christmas! ...hint, hint.....

2008-08-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

A Day At Beeston Castle

We had a fantastic trip to Beeston Castle The other week.
It has been recommended by various people who said it is a beautiful site.
They weren't wrong!
As soon as you start approaching the site by car you can see the castle looming down at you from a huge hill.
Set in a stunning part of the Cheshire countryside it makes for an amazing trip.
We meandered up a hill along country lanes and parked in a stunning car park.
I have never been amazed by a car park before, but this really was a beauty!
It is set in a lovely little orchard and you leave your car in a lovely field surrounded by mature fruit trees.
Really pretty!
And the best thing about it was the ticket machine was broken so we got free parking.
HURRAH!
We crossed the road to the Gatehouse and ticket office. The tickets were also free as Beccy works for Royal Mail and they get free entry to English Heritage sites. Double Hurrah!

The trek up to the castle itself is quite a trauma as it is really is perched on top of a VERY steep hill.
I guess this must be something to do with it being an ideal lookout post. Way back in those far off medieval days......

2008-06-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

BIOGRAFILM FESTIVAL - Bologna, Italy - June 2008

We had a fantastic, if rather tiring trip to Italy for the Biografilm festival.
I was very kindly invited as a guest by the organisers to take part in the last day of the festival when they held a Syd Barrett Focus day.
This basically consisted of a variety of discussions and film screenings focussing on Roger/Syd and his career.
I was amazed by the level of interest in Roger's life and music. I had heard rumours over the years that there was lot of interest in Italy and I know that a lot of the people that travelled to visit his house over the years were Italian, but I have never really seen this obsession in action!

The trip to Italy also coincided with Max's fifth birthday. His wearing of a 'birthday boy' badge helped him to be invited into the cockpit to meet the captain on the flight to Paris. ( we had to change there as there are no direct flights to Bologna.)
With the current security situation we were amazed that he was let into the cockpit, but he was, and he loved it!
As you can see above he got to wear the pilots hat and sit in his seat.
This made the day for him I can assure you!

MORE ON THE TRIP SOON......

2008-06-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Bombay Bad Boy!

I couldn't help but chuckle when I read the below blog from Captain Sensible the other day.
He really isn't lying when he says it is an integral part of The Damned Rider.
When I met up with the band after their superb show in Manchester a while back I was lucky enough to be present with an actual pot of 'Bad Boy'.
I carefully transported this rock artifact home and sampled it's glories the next day.
I must say I was pretty impressed, but it wasn't as hot as I had anticipated.
Very pleasant though!

Oh, the sumptuous luxury us international celebrities are cosseted in as we travel the globe spreading joy and happiness!

I'll let you into a secret - on our gig contracts is a clause that says the promoter must supply, along with the bevarage requirements - 6 Pot Noodles..... and the 'BOMBAY BAD BOY' variety at that.

If you've never indulged discard the anti pot noodle snobbery and get down the shops to purchase one as ASAP as you are seriously missing out on a tongue sizzling experience. Blimey playmates, these snacks are HOT.... and that's coming from your vindaloo guzzling chums in the Damned.

Don't cheat and omit to apply the hot sauce though as you'd only be defrauding yourself of one of the great snack sensations of our times.

Oh, and if there are those out there who are on some strict diet or other then a good second best is TRUfree's Rice & Lentil Quick Snack - 80g of heaven..... especially if you bung in a bunch of chilli sauce or whatever.

2008-05-07T05:41:00.001-07:00

Wire - Futuresonic, Manchester May 3rd 2008

I had a superb night out on Saturday. As part of the gloriously eclectic Futuresonic festival the Academy 2 ( Students Union Hall to you and I) Wire played a blinding set. I don't claim to have intimate knowledge of the band, but I like what I know! I have a vinyl copy of ' A Bell Is A Cup' which I used to play regularly. I know Pink Flag is their 'classic' but I have never really heard it. That is not to take away from what was a superb show.
I spent the evening with good friend Kev Mann. As well as being Drummer with the Television Personalities, Alternative TV and the Creation - Kev is also a confirmed ligger. He spent the previous few days on tour with the Buzzcocks and was telling me some hilarious stories of life with Diggle et al. I heard about and saw pictures of an amazing feat by Steve Diggle at the show in Crewe the night before. During the show Steve had managed to deeply embed a champagne bottle in the back wall of the stage! Not sure exactly how he managed this, but it is an impressive feat. Especially as it was neck end in the wall. I would have thought it would have fallen out of the wall.
But no!
Anyway - The Wire show was amazing This is the first time they have played in many years, and their only UK date. Bruce Gilbert is not back with the band and has been replaced by a competent ( if rather stern looking) Margaret Fiedler McGinnis, who has played with both Laika and in PJ Harvey's backing band.

The opening few numbers seemed rather hesitant and lacking power. The fact that Colin Newman was reading all the lyrics from a Mac Laptop on a stand in front of his was rather offputting. I know it has been a long time since the band's heyday, but surely he could manage to learn the lyrics in that time?! What was amazing was the way the music built it's own momentum, and after 30 minutes had a blinding, motoring energy.

The simplicity of structure and sheer force of playing such simple songs gave the band real power. I don't know what Wire have been doing all these years, but they certainly haven't chilled out any! By the time they ended the main set the bass player was sweating profusely from under his woolly hat, and the Metronomic power of the drummer Robert 'Gotobed' was really something to see.

It is very easy to see why they were so influential. There are very obvious links to bands like Elastica ( who they sued for wholesale riff theft on ' Three Girl Rhumba.)
There are echoes of so many bands in their music.
REM were great fans and you can hear their early sound too. There were rather bizarrely 3 encores. This is very odd for a supposed punk band and the stream of going off and coming back on again got rather tedious.
For a band that resolutely 'Don't do requests. Never have!' - Colin Newman. They seemed happy to use the showbiz encore generously. A superb and fiercely energetic set. I would love to see them again and will go back and learn more of their music and history if I get the chance!

Some superb Live shots from the show

2008-04-08T04:23:00.000-07:00

Kids Are Amazing..

It has recently struck me how fantastic children are at keeping your mind agile.
I wouldn't claim to be ancient, but over time the old grey cells get strained and weary. There is nothing like the questioning of a fresh young mind to halt this process
This morning we had a game of I-spy in the car while waiting for school to open up
max went first and threw me a curve ball by saying
'I-spy , with my little eye
Something beginning with 5'

MMmmm.
How do you approach this one.
How many words do YOU know that start with 5?
Not many I suspect.

I tried to explain this to him, but he was adamant that it was a valid opening gambit.
We never got much further than this....

The other day, apropos nothing he asked me
'How do you make dogs'

I tried to explain this away with the concepts of puppies and births.
We did get on to the topic of making human babies yesterday but weren't sure how far to take the explanation.
He was happy that Mummies and Daddies make them and they grow in mummies tummies but we chose to leave it rather vague as to EXACTLY how the Daddy gives Mummy the baby in the first place.

I just love the conversations we have. At all times of the day and night we have the weirdest and most wonderful chats and I cherish them dearly
Last week Max tried to convince me that Roly Mo has once been a member of Prince's backing band.
Any of you without kids may not know that Roly Mo is a small purple mole who tells stories and plays the banjo.
He was adamant that he plays with Prince.
We were watching a Prince song on TOTP2 and he seemed sure that Roly Mo used to be one of the New Power Generation.
Mmm... It could be true
I can't really think of any Prince songs that contain Banjo's in the instrumentation.
I'm happy to be proved wrong though!

2008-03-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

2008-02-22T03:01:00.001-08:00

I've Done it!

I am very proud to announce that as of Valentines Day last week - we are engaged!
We had a fantastic trip to London last week, and this gave me the GENIUS idea of proposing to Beccy on the Thames - on Valentines Day.
This was Max' first trip to London so he has been excited for WEEKS before!
Every day it was a case of...
Are we going to London today?
No, not yet
Today...
'No, soon...'

When the day finally came we had a pleasant - if slightly hot trip down the country courtesy of Virgin Trains. The air conditioning was broken down in our carriage. Thanks Mr Branson!

For my plan to come together we would have to drop our stuff off anbd get down to the River fairly quickly. Beccy wasn't too keen on taking a boat that day and wanted to save it for the next day.
Proposing the day AFTER Valentines day just doesn't have the same ring though does it!

We finally reached Embankment, and after a rather long walk down the Thames we got to the boat I had thought of using. It goes from Tate Modern up to Tate Britain at Millbank.
I thought this should give me JUST enough time to do the dastardly deed.

I had a cunning plan for this act.
Everyone loves sweets. Especially MAX!
During the journey I whisked out a cunningly concealed packet of Loveheart Sweets and offered one to everyone.
Max had one first -
THEN....
The next one down just happened to be a SPECIAL one I had made myself.
It was solid silver - and embossed with the words 'MARRY ME'
When Beccy saw this the penny dropped. As did her jaw!
Luckily for me she didn't look upset or worried ,and promptly said yes!
HURRRRRRAHHH....
I could now relax...
Finally....

The rest of the day was fantastic, and we went back up to Baker Street where we were staying.A lovely day, and a job well done!

No immediate plans, but all is well with us and we couldn't be happier!

2008-02-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

It's Awfully Considerate Of You To Think Of Me Here

I had a curious look on Ebay today to see what Syd Barrett stuff there was.
Among the usual mass of weird and innappropriate unlicensed stuff for sale ( Syd Barrett Mousemat anyone?! No me neither.....) I found this book for sale.
The seller has been selling off items from the Cheffins auction last year for some time and I have no doubt that it is real.

This isn't a criticism but I can't really understand why people would pay amazing amounts for what is essentially just a textbook available from Amazon or any good bookshop.

I was truly gobsmacked last year when the auction of Roger's estate took place.
I remember it well as I followed it from home on Ebay live.
The prices flashed up on the screen as they were bid live in the auction room.
The fact that the auction itself featured on the national news was weird enough in itself, but the prices people were prepared to pay was awe inspiring.
£800 for a Pound shop Christmas tree.....!
£600 for a homemade bread bin.....!

It was the bread bin sale that tickled me the most.
It was a pretty badly made breadbin. It seems to have been used to keep clothes pegs in too. Not bread. I find that absolutley hilarious that Rog went to the trouble of making his own bread bin, and then used it just to keep clothes pegs in. BRILLIANT!
He could have just kept them in a drawer really.
Illogical logical madness!
I love it!

It was that auction that brought it home how much love and interest fans have in his life.
It is very easy to buy a record from your local record shop, or have one delivered by Amazon. It shows MUCH more dedication for a fan to fly all the way from the USA to be at an auction and bid several thousands of pounds for what to all intents and purposes is just household items.

From my point of view it is very hard to imagine this level of admiration for a performer, but it is truly moving to see.

I even found this the other day
Someone sold a doll of Rog that they had made themselves
It only went for £29 I think but it is such a cute little doll. I think Rog would find it hilarious that someone went to the trouble of making this little cutie.
And yes - it does look like a Popstar era Syd Barrett!
( the pictures are at the top of this post)

Love to all

Ian

2008-01-14T05:10:00.000-08:00

SHOCK HORROR NEWS ...... Musicians Take Drugs......

You may be as horrified as I to discover the news revealed by a hugely expensive report instigated by Dan Quayle, that bastion of morality and common sense in the USA.
You can read more about the report here

I'm glad I'm not a US citizen as if I was I think I would be disgusted that my money was being spent on what seems a fairly obvious state of affairs.
Far be it from me to incriminate members of my own family - but as Roger has now passed away i think that makes him immune from prosecution.
I don't think the world is likely to be TOO shocked that both he AND ALSO OZZY OSBOURNE took drugs during their career..!
OH MY GOD. THAT'S AMAZING!!! ( As my good friend Texas Bob from The Television Personalities would say.)

2008-01-01T05:01:00.001-08:00

THE WONDERS OF DRESSING UP!

Max has had a whole load of dressing up outfits for Christmas and has since spent hours and hours in various new states of attire.
He even went to the local park as a policeman on his new bike yesterday!
I had to carry his handcuffs for him though so only i really had the power of arrest.

2007-12-18T04:24:00.001-08:00

A Curry With The Damned

I had a fantastic night out last week. I met Captain Sensible when he put on a sterling performance at the tribute night for Rog/Syd at the Barbican in May. He was kind enough to invite me to see him play with the Damned when in town. I have never seen the Damned live and would be mad to pass up on this opportunity.
Along with a few friends - including Kev Mann, drummer with the Television Personalities and Andy Melchior ( Mick Rock's agent) We all had a superb night.
The band may have played for many years and in many incarnations but they still have a an incredible energy and enthusiasm when playing live. I don't profess to know all their songs but I know many such as Smash It up and Eloise.

The set was preceded by an amazing burlesque show featuring the tassled, shimmering glories of Missy Malone and Mimi Le Meaux.
This was compered by Kitten on The Keys a US vaudeville artist. she played some hilariously filthy songs to her own keyboard accompaniment. Superb stuff!

The Damned set started eneergetically and never let up from start to finish. It may be punk, but the problem of fans throwing beer at keyboard player Monty Oxymoron meant he had to be imprisoned in a perspex screen at the back. I spoke to him at length after the show and he was really upset at this. he said it felt like he was playing the gig at home and wasn't part of the action.
Even with this precaution there was still a fair bit of beer throwing and this led to a few heated moments on stage. The bickering and hollering from the Captain was hilarious I must add. I must also congratulate him on some incredible guitar work. A friend with me has seen him play many times and told me to look out for his guitar playing and he wasn't wrong.
He really is one of the most powerful and vibrant guitar players I've seen for a long time.
I watched some footage last week of the Buzzcocks recent show at the Indig02 in London the other week and as contemporaries there was nowhere the same energy and speed coming from that stage.

2007-12-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

The City Wakes

I am delighted to mention this super show that occurred in part in Cambridge this week.
The performance was only a work in progress show in readiness for a full production hopefully in October 2008 as part of Cambridge University's 'Festival of Ideas'

This text explains the show and philosophy better than I could.

The City Wakes is a multi-media arts project, produced by Escape Artists, in association with community groups in and around Cambridge, as a tribute to the legendary Syd Barrett: painter, musician and founder member of Pink Floyd.

Income generated through the City Wakes will go towards supporting the work of Escape Artists, a charity that provides arts-based education and support services to people with mental health problems, both in institutional settings and within the wider community.

The City Wakes has emerged out of the highly successful Cambridge Cantata project, that culminated in a sell out production, with a standing ovation, in King's College Chapel in September 2005 (read what people said about the Cantata here).

All the songs performed in the City Wakes have been written by Syd Barrett, and include such classics as Bike, See Emily Play, Dominoes and Arnold Layne.

At the end of quite a lengthy development phase, probably lasting about two years, the City Wakes will be presented as a professional production; including new versions of many of Syd Barrett's greatest songs, fab retro lighting effects, film and dance.

We are delighted that Syd Barrett's sister, Rosemary, has lent her support to the City Wakes. You can read why she is doing so, and of her interest in arts in mental health, here.

I think it is wonderful that people travelled from all over the world to witness this show. Such dedication is really warming!

While I was unable to get to Cambridge for this show I hope I can get to Cambridge when the full production launches and witness what will hopefully be the first of many projects inspired by the creative influence of Roger. I look forward to the future and what amazing events it may well bring!

2007-11-25T05:43:00.001-08:00

Christmas at Jurassic Jewellery

If I may be allowed a little plug - I would just like to draw your attention to all the new jewellery I have just added to my shop. Since studying on the NES course in Manchester I have been given some funding for new equipment and marketing. This has been great as I have bought loads of tools that will enable me to make jewellery that I wouldn't normally be able to make. Please check my shop out and see if there is anything you might like. I am very keen to make more bespoke items for people so if there is anything you would like but I don't have - just email me and I will see what I can do. I will post details of some of the custom work I have already done soon so you can see what I can make.

2007-11-08T01:41:00.000-08:00

The Teletubbies See Emily Play

You really must watch this clip I was sent by a friend. It is the strangest and funniest thing I Have seen for ages!
quite who made it and how I have no idea, but I'm sure if Roger saw it he would wet himself with laughter.
It is just the sort of thing that would have appealled to his sense of humour. He loved a laugh. I think that may be one thing that has been forgotten over the years by others.

Appropos nothing - I was in my local Asda yesterday and had a really freaky experience. Love them or loathe them supermarkets are always being praised for their financial genius and ability to make money.
I needed some double cream. i was about to buy a 300ml pot for 88p. Then I saw a bigger 600ml one . Assuming of course that it would cost more ( and being larger than I needed) I stuck with the smaller one.
I then saw that the larger one was actually cheaper than the smaller one at 68p!!
Hello - Earth to Asda
Why do they even bother selling a small one if they are going to charge more for it than a large one?
Just after that I had another freakout while buying a frozen steak pie.
The pie itself was £1.46
On the box in big red letters was the statement Buy 2 for £3

Why will they sell you one for £1.46 and then offer to sell you two for £3???

That is more than 2 x £1.46 by my simple maths......

It does make you wonder how these shops make a profit if they have people making decisions like this behind the scenes doesn't it.!!!!

Oh well rant over.

2007-11-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

Elephants On Acid

I couldn't resist quoting this incredible article from 'The Times'. What could be more hilarious than the thought of an elephant on Acid. Obviously the result was a sad and unexpected one, but it odes beggar belief that someone thought it would be a good idea in the first place!

When Warren Thomas, the director of Lincoln Park Zoo in Oklahoma City, approached Tusko the elephant with a syringe full of LSD in 1962, he thought that he was about to make a major contribution to science.

Within a few moments of being injected, Tusko began trumpeting furiously, before keeling over as if he had been shot. An hour later, he was dead. “It appears that the elephant is highly sensitive to the effects of LSD,” Thomas and his colleagues concluded.

Some 35 years after his demise, Tusko’s role in the history of science has been recognised with first place in a list of the ten wackiest experiments of all time, compiled for New Scientist magazine.

He has also inspired the list’s author, Alex Boase, to assemble many more strange studies in a newly-published book, Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments.

“I started collecting examples of bizarre experiments years ago while in graduate school studying the history of science,” Mr Boase said. “I confess I had no profound intellectual motive; I simply found them fascinating.

“They filled me with disbelief, astonishment, disgust and — best of all – laughter. With hindsight, perhaps there is a deeper message. These experiments are not the work of cranks. All were performed by honest, hardworking scientists who were not prepared to accept common-sense explanations of how the world works.

“Sometimes such single-mindedness leads to brilliant discoveries. At other times it can end up closer to madness. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing in advance where the journey will lead.”

The Top Ten

1) Elephants on Acid

A curiosity-led experiment from the 1960s, in which Warren Thomas decided to inject an elephant named Tusko with 297 milligrams of LSD — about 3,000 times the typical human dose — to see what would happen. The idea was to determine whether the hallucinogenic drug could induce musth — the state of temporary madness in which male elephants become aggressive.

The result was a public relations disaster: Tusko died. The scientists claimed in their defence that they had not expected this to happen — two of them had taken plenty of acid themselves, they said.

2) Terror in the Skies

Another 1960s experiment, in which ten soldiers on a training flight were told by the pilot that the aircraft was disabled, and about to ditch in the ocean. They were then required to fill in insurance forms before the crash — ostensibly so the Army was not financially liable for any deaths or injuries.

They were actually unwitting participants in an experiment: the plane was not crippled at all. It revealed that fear of imminent death indeed causes soldiers to make more mistakes than usual when filling in forms.

3) Tickling

In the 1930s Clarence Yeuba, a Professor of Psychology at Antioch College in Ohio, formed the hypothesis that people learn to laugh when tickled, and that the response is not innate. He tested it on his son — the family was forbidden from laughing in relation to tickling when he was present.

Leuba’s wife, however, was caught some months later bouncing the boy on her knee while laughing and saying: “Bouncy, bouncy.” By the time the boy was seven, he was laughing when tickled — but that did not stop Leuba trying the experiment again on his sister.

4) Headless rats and painted faces

In 1924 Carney Landis, of the University of Minnesota, set out to investigate facial expressions of disgust. To exaggerate expressions, he drew lines on volunteers’ faces with burnt cork, before asking them to smell ammonia, listen to jazz, look at pornography or place their hands in a bucket of frogs.

He then asked each volunteer to decapitate a white rat. While all hesitated, and some swore or cried, most agreed to do so — showing the ease with which most people bow to authority. The pictures, however, look quite bizarre. “They look like members of a strange cult preparing to offer a sacrifice to the Great God of the Experiment,” Mr Boese wrote.

5) Raising the dead

Robert Cornish, of the University of California at Berkeley, believed in the 1930s that he had perfected a way of raising the dead. He experimented by placing corpses on a see-saw to circulate the blood, while injecting adrenalin and anticoagulants.

After apparently successful experiments on strangled dogs, he found a condemned prisoner, Thomas McMonigle, who was prepared to become a human guinea pig. The state of California, however, refused permission, for fear that it would have to release McMonigle if the technique worked.

6) Slumber learning

In 1942 Lawrence LeShan, of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, attempted subliminally to influence boys into stopping biting their fingernails. While they were asleep, he played them a record of a voice saying: “My fingernails taste terribly bitter.” When the record player broke down, he stood in the dormitory repeating the phrase himself.

It seemed to work: by the end of the summer, 40 per cent of the boys had stopped biting their nails. Mr Boese, however, has another explanation: "'If I stop biting my nails,’ they probably thought, ‘the strange man will go away.’”

7) Turkey turn-ons

Martin Schein and Edgar Hale, of Pennsylvania State University, devoted themselves to studying the sexual behaviour of turkeys in the 1960s, and discovered that the birds are not choosy. Taking a model of a female turkey, they progressively removed body parts until the males lost interest.

Even when all that remained was a head on a stick, the male turkeys remained turned on.

8) Two-headed dogs

Vladimir Demikhov, a surgeon from the Soviet Union, revealed his surgical creation of a two-headed dog in 1954. The head of a puppy had been grafted onto the neck of an adult German shepherd. The second head would lap at milk, even though it did not need nourishment — and though the milk then dribbled down the neck from its disconnected oesophagus. Both animals soon died because of tissue rejection — but that did not stop Demikhov from creating 19 more over the next 15 years.

9) The vomit-drinking doctor

Stubbins Ffirth, a doctor training in Philadelphia during the 1800s, formed the hypothesis that yellow fever was not an infectious disease, and proceeded to test it on himself. He first poured infected vomit into open wounds, then drank the vomit. He did not fall ill — but not because yellow fever is not infectious. It was later discovered that it must be injected directly into the bloodstream, typically through the bite of a mosquito.

10) Eyes wide open

In 1960 Ian Oswald, of the University of Edinburgh, sought to test extreme conditions for falling asleep. He taped open volunteers’ eyes, while placing a bank of flashing lights 50cm in front of them, and attached electrodes to their legs that administered electric shocks. He also blasted very loud music into their ears.

All three subjects were able to fall asleep within 12 minutes. Oswald speculated that the key was the monotonous and regular nature of the stimuli.

2007-10-22T01:11:00.001-07:00

A Trip To Manchester Airport Viewing Park

Max and I had a lovely little trip to the Airport last week. Beccy wasn't overly excited by the possibility of staring at engines on a Sunday afternoon so stayed at home for a rest
Max was terribly excited by the whole thing ( and even said it was better than the trip to the 'Pony Farm' a while ago. Great praise indeed.....)
I must say that the airport viewing park makes for a super little trip out.
It wasn't till we got there that I realised it was where Concorde was on show. There are several other planes on show too so as well as a grandstand view of all the landing and taking off action on the runway you can look round some classic planes.
I was MUCH more excited by seeing Concorde than Max but he was impressed with it's big pointy nose.
You can go on a guided tour - but only on certain days in the year (and you have to pay..)
but it was amazing to just stand under it and ponder on the sights it has seen over the years.
I found out that on one day in 1985 it managed 6 transatlantic flights in one day. Now that really is some going if you think about it!

When we sat on a hill watching the planes taking off and landing I was amazed by just how many flights there are at any one time. Manchester isn't the busiest airport in the country but there was an almost constant stream of planes landing or getting ready to fly. At one point there were 4 planes queueing up to take off. I don't want to get all eco-warrior but it does help you realise the potential damage modern flying may well be doing to the planet.

2007-10-08T00:25:00.000-07:00

Diesel U Music Awards

I had a fantastic night last week at the Diesel Music awards at Koko in Camden, London. I was very kindly invited by friend Mick Rock who was presenting an award and also shooting photos of the winning bands.
The awards was created to promote and encourage up and coming new bands.
There were also awards for Peter Saville and Joy Division.
I had the great privilege of spending the evening with Deborah and Natalie Curtis - Widow and Daughter of Ian Curtis the legendary frontman with Joy Division.
As a Joy Division fan for more years than I can remember this really was a true pleasure.
Natalie and Deborah were there the night after the premiere of Control the new Joy Division film directed by Anton Corbijn. While this has obviously been a difficult time for them it was nice to see them enjoying a fun night out on the back of these times.
I had no responsibility other than having fun and drinking as many of the free cocktails as I could possibly consume. I took on these responsibilities with the gusto that they deserve, and the bar was left pretty much dry by the end of the night. Thanks must go to the gimped up dwarves present on the night. They really were hilarious and made the night even more special!

The show is to be shown on Channel 4 on 21st October so do check it out. It was a night to remember..!

( the clip below is of CSS playing at the aftershow party. I've heard a lot about them but not seem them live - and they really are a class live act. They have an incredible energy and colour - and Lovefox has a lovely sparkly catsuit...!)

2007-10-01T15:05:00.001-07:00

Christmas Is Coming.... ( Kind of)

When you change your lifestyle from being a consumer to a creator and seller - the build up to Christmas takes on a totally different outlook.

In the past Christmas has just been a time for spending, spending and more spending.
It's now turning into a time of selling, selling and more selling.
I know that makes me sound like some money crazed capitalist. This couldn't be further from the truth. I have no desire for millions of Pounds. Merely that my love of creating beautiful things has been converted into a means to actually make some money.

Now I am starting to create a successful jewellery business I have found that I look forward to Christmas but in a different way. I am actually bringing money in this time of year rather than just spending it...
I have recently been booking my first shows to sell at - and looking for many more. If anyone is interested in my work and lives near Leeds - i will be exhibiting at the Mosaic Marke t, (behind the Corn Exchange) on Sunday 11th November. Do pop along and check out my wares if you are free!

I have lots of new jewellery to show off and I'm really looking forward to it!

Visit my Jewellery shop

2007-09-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - 40th Anniversary Reissue

I'm sure there isn't VERY much to say about this release that hasn't already been said.
It is super to see the mono and stereo versions side by side. I know it isn't the first time this has happened, but I think with the extras on the third disc it may be first time many people have been lured into buying another version of what I imagine most Floyd fans already have.
I'm no audiophile geek, but you don;t have to be one to hear that there are significant differences between several songs on the mono and stereo versions.
The Interstellar Overdrive particularly is a much rawer and some would say exciting version on the mono disc.
I for one loved this version much more than the rather over-cleaned stereo mix.

Having seen Norman Smith talking in the flesh as it were on a recent dvd documentary about the making of the Piper At The Gates Of Dawn I can now see why he and Roger/Syd didn't see eye to eye on producing the songs!
By his own admission he is coming very much from a Jazzzzzzzzzz... background.
While some might say that there is a spirit of Jazz in the Floyd, their sensibilities were at rather opposite ends of the experimental poles. ( He says politely!)

There is one issue I would like to clarify - and that is the omission of the 13th page of the Fart Enjoy booklet.
I have seen on some forums comment that the censorship of this page may have some from my family, and not from EMI.
I must just point out that we have had no input at all into this publication, and the omission is not influenced by any Barrett. To be honest, there are more important things in life to worry about than a few swear words!
I think the concerns about copyright on the image used is far more likely to be a concern. bearing in mind the young lady in the image is exposing more than just raw talent I can understand why she might want this exposure to remain as minimal as possible.
As the booklet was made in 1965 as far as I can gather, she is probably old enough now to not want pictures of her naked body printed and sold in record shops across the globe!

Anyway - it is a nicely packaged piece of history and it is good to see EMI finally add at least a few unreleased tracks. Not many, but a couple is better than none at all.

2007-09-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Syd Barrett Tribute album
The Barretts - Flapdoodle Dealings

If you are a Syd Barrett fan you might like to listen to an album of great cover versions.
They were created by a bunch of guys who frequent my favourite website of all time - Julian Cope's Head Heritage.
I don't know the creators personally, but any fan of Julian Cope is a friend of mine!
I've downloaded the album and given it a good listen.
Download it - turn the speakers up LOUD and give it a listen. You won't be disappointed...
There are members of 'The Chemistry Set' as well as various other Psychedelic bands.
Download link

2007-09-10T01:08:00.001-07:00

The UK's First Art Car Parade - Manchester City Centre
We had a fantastic trip on Saturday lunchtime to see the Art Car Parade in town.
Basically it was a chance for people who have created amazing mutated cars to parade them to the crowds.
You can understand the event better from the pictures than I could ever describe it. It was most amazing!
My favourite was the car being grabbed and eaten by a huge metal monster!! ( first picture) This car even had a man hidden in the mouth, operating the head.

There was one car called the Tonefloat that had been turned into a musical instrument with a huge rack of milk bottles tuned to different pitches all around the outside. The creators had rigged it up to a complex system of hammers controlled by a computer. It really was making music! Incredibly silly and wonderful.
Another favourite was 'The Cremulator'
Basically it was a combined hearse and crematorium. It was a hearse, but with a HUGE digger arm fitted to the top.Bearing in mind they had created a mini crematorium inside the hearse, I'm not exactly sure why they needed the huge arm - as there would be no body to bury after cremation but it looked superb!

There were several cars covered in GRASS. (There was even a 4x4 that had been turned into the whole Lake District!).
The lowest car in the World was super too. I would guess it was roughly 10 inches off the ground. The driver and passenger pretty much just poke out of the sunroof as there is very little room inside the car.

There aren't many towns where such a silly venture could be both created ansd funded. This event is one of the reasons I love Manchester so much.
It was free. It was colourful. And most of all - it brought people together on a lovely sunny Saturday lunchtime.
What could be a better idea!

PS - Max loved the car covered in grass - with people playing golf on the roof the most.( we even ended up being interviewed for some obscure TV station while standing around admiring the cars..)

2007-09-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

2007-08-31T09:46:00.001-07:00

Summer In Devon.

We had a superb week in Devon last week.
Gorgeous weather for most of the week.
Max ate raspberries. And more raspberries. And more raspberries..........
I enjoyed exploring the wilds of Dartmoor. A stunning place. When we went a while ago I took myself off and found a weird and wonderful place called Grimspound. It's a strange Neolithic encampment on the side of a hill.
There is a group of stone houses surrounded by a derelict but large stone wall.
It is an incredible settlement. It's amazing just sitting in one of the little houses trying to imagine what life must have been like for the original occupants. When they lived there nobody knows, but it is easy to imagine that they really weren't much different to us.

More soon....................

2007-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

The UFO Club
I was very kindly sent this amazing clip by Rob Chapman - writer of a new Syd Barrett biography.
I have never seen it and never even knew it existed till now.

Watch it and be amazed
This is only a short clip, but it goes some way to satisfy the craving I have long had to see live Pink Floyd clips from the early days.
There are various audio clips of the 'freakout' songs, but it would be great to see some video clips of the supremely long Interstellar Overdrive versions they used to do
There are very few still extant.
I believe there will be ann unheard version of Interstellar Overdrive on the box release of 'Piper at The Gates Of Dawn' ( which is delayed until September I am reliably informed).

One thing I love about this clip is some of the terribly stern and earnest expressions on the faces of certain members of the audience!

You would think they were at a science lecture, not a psychedelic party!

You can spot Hoppy Hopkins and various other luminaries of the time if you look hard enough...

Enjoy....

2007-08-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

While I'm not really one for advertising other peoples websites, I felt I just had to put a word in for Last FM
I'm sure some of you will be aware of it,but if you aren't then I may just help enrich your music listening power!
Essentially, it is like having an Internet music buff on hand to suggest music that is similar to things you already like.
I'm sure you have all had moments in record shops when you kind of know what you want to buy, but just not quite what.
You can use Last FM by telling it a band or singer that you do like, and it then provides you with a constant stream of songs that are similar to that. When I say similar, I don't mean identical, it merely leads you off down a tasteful path.

I'm sure the technology behind it must be quite sophisticated as it learns more about music over time. It must be building up a huge database of musical linkage. If you like A - then surely you must like B too........

You don't have to, but if you download the software from the site then the system is told automatically about every song you choose to play on your PC
It can then learn about your tastes in depth, and really start to help broaden your tastes.

You can just tap in a band to the site player, and it will create a stream of similar songs for you to try.
If you like them,buy them........

It's fantastic for a music fan to be offered such variety.

Give it a go here

I used it to create the little radio station you see playing on the right hand side of this page!

2007-08-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

On The Seventh Day........

The response to the death of Anthony Wilson has been both warming and necessary.
it is impossible to imagine what the Manchester cultural landscape would now look like without his intervention in it.
You can read his partner Yvettes response to the loss of Tony here.

Since his death last week - every time I go past the Hacienda site there are more and more flowers on the railings.
The most recent one - is just the words 'TONY' in white flowers.
As someone who loved the use of flowery prose, it seems remarkably apposite that this has now been placed in his memory!

It is also very poignant that Tony's passing comes in the middle of the release of 'Control' the Joy Division film - directed by Anton Corbijn.
It could be said that this takes something away from the film itself, and the success and downfall of Ian Curtis.
The two are inextricably linked. Without Tony, We may well never have seen the success of Joy Division.

I also heard yesterday that there are plans to name a road ( I presume in Manchester) after Tony Wilson. There may well soon be people living on 'Anthony H Wilson Way'
I never knew Tony, but I would guess that he would find that hilarious!
I know I found it hilarious when a brewery in Norfolk stared making ' Crazy Diamond Ale' A beer dedicated to the memory of Roger/Syd. As someone who loved his beer ( especially Guinness), I'm sure Roger is up there somewhere laughing himself silly over this.

Footnote - You must read these superb quotes from the man himself

2007-08-10T22:41:00.001-07:00

ANTHONY H WILSON
RIP

Terribly sad.

Living in Manchester you are constantly surrounded by the legacy he created.
I went past the Hacienda site yesterday on the bus. What a stunning block of flats that turned out to be!

I didn't know him, but it's hard to live in Manchester and not know somone whose life he has touched in some way. And I don't mean that in a crass, sentimental way. People don't do sentimental in this town.
They just don't.

I saw him in my local Asda about a year ago. He seemed to be having trouble finding the right apples.
It was just nice to know he was around.

Knowing Tony's love of big words and intricate language I'm sure he could have written his own obituary better han anyone.
Maybe he is up there today looking down and reading all the obituaries, saying.....
'Thats not true...
That's rubbish...
Thats's nonsense......'

Goodbye Tony.

The music will go on.

You'll be pleased about that

2007-08-08T03:56:00.000-07:00

I was wondering if it would be OK to stick a small plug in for Jurassic Jewellery
I have been making fossil and meteorite jewellery for a while now, and in the last few months started to turn this into a full time business.
I have been studying on an entrepreneur scholarship for a few months and this has been great as bunch of likeminded people all keen to start their own businesses can get together and learn the skills they need.
I have been making all sorts of business plans and presentations and leaflets - and it is very close to official launch date.
Please check out my webshop here
I have lots of jewellery and fossils and meteorites here - and many more to come.

I'm the only person in the UK making silver jewellery with meteorites and looking to expand my sales.
I will be doing some shows across the North west in the next few months, and then across the country by next year. Do look out for me!!!!

Thanks for listening

2007-08-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - 40th Anniversary Edition
28th August 2007

This looks to be an interesting release.
As per usual the guys at EMI have failed to add the tracks everyone REALLY wants to see finally released,Scream thy last scream and Vegetable Man, but there are some unreleased versions of Matilda Mother and Interstellar Overdrive. How much different they will be from what is out remains to be seen, but we must be positive.
I have seen proofs of the artwork used for the notebook Rog/Syd created many years ago and it looks great!
You may have seen some before. It was called 'Fart Enjoy' and has all sorts of cut up imagery and word play pasted onto more traditional painting.
I'm sure you will all enjoy reading that immensely!

My good friends at the Julian Cope Forum Head Heritage seem to have found the cheapest place for the 3disc set
It is £15.99 with free delivery at 101cd Click here to visit the page
I think Amazon has it for £11.99 but it is only the 2 disc set without the unreleased tracks so be careful you don't oder the wrong one!

It will be good to really see if the Mono version is that much different to the stereo.
I have an original mono edition from years ago and haven't heard the stereo one really so it might be fun to pit one agains the other. Im no true audiophile so may not hear any great difference. Only time will tell!

Enjoy it anyway......
Every track is a classic, but then I'm biased of course..

2007-07-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

GOGOL BORDELLO - SUPER TARANTA!

Buy the album here

You really must check out anything you can find from this superb band.
What more could you want from a band than mental Gypsy punk music!?
errr nothing in my opinion...
I first saw them on some Glastonbury footage from this year. One of the best of a fairly tawdry bunch of bands on the bill. ( I can only take SO many Kaiser Chiefs songs before my ears start to bleed!)
They are certainly Clash influenced and rock out with the most enthralling vibrant sound this side of Hell.
I couldnt really tall you what many of the songs are actually ABOUT, but I don't think literal meanings are really the point.
They use all sorts of weird instruments - violins, ballalaikas etc as well as some superb guitar playing.
They are touring the UK later this year and I for one hope to check them out in Manchester in December.
AY!!!!!!!

2007-07-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

The Thing About Syd - Radio 2 - Saturday 21st July 2007

In case you aren't in the UK, or you missed it, there was an hour long tribute show for Roger on BBC radio 2 this weekend
I for one really enjoyed it. It was smoothly and warmly put together, and didn't focus too much on the 'crazy' stories and shone more light on his creative side. ( which is certainly what he would have wanted - not that he enjoyed any of the fuss at all..)

While it was nice to hear from the Floyd members ( minus Roger Waters) I felt the focus was too much on them at the expense of other players in the story. It would have been nice to hear from people like Robert Wyatt and Duggie Fields who don't tend to get asked to contribute to these type of ventures.
It was nice to hear my Aunt Rosemary contribute, and I felt she gave a very warm insight into what for most is a very difficult story to understand.
When people hear that he didn't understand what all the fuss was about - he really meant it.
When you have given up on music for so long, it is difficult to see why people don't forget it and move on.
This is obviously far from the truth, and it seems interest is growing rather than diminishing.

I know the BBC are supposed to be making the show available online for a week, but they seem to be having some technical difficulties and there is no link that I can see.
You should be able to download the show from this link i have made and listen to it for yourselves.
( please do post any comments about it here for others to see)
Radio 2 The Thing About Syd.mp3

2007-07-21T01:22:00.001-07:00

A Scary Trip To The Doctor Who Exhibition - Manchester

Last Saturday we had a great ( if disturbing for some small people) trip to the Doctor Who exhibition at the Museum of Science and industry in Castlefield.~
I've been looking forward to this for months now, and really enjoyed it.
While some might point out that it is really just a load of props in a room, they are so well displayed it makes for a fantastic experience.
It is a very loud show, with video clips and loudspeakers all over the place, blaring sirens and phasers all around the space.
Amusing highlight for me was meeting a fake Tom Baker Doctor wandering through the exhibition. He just walked up to us and acknowledged us with a knowing wink.
I remember meeting the real Tom Baker many years ago, so it was nice to meet his doppelganger so many years later.
When I met the real one I got to sit for a good while in a bar with him. He asked me if I was scared of the monsters. I said no - so he gave me a signed postcard dedicated
' For Ian B ( The brave!)'
Fantastic!!
I still have it to this day in a folder!

2007-07-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

New Syd Barrett Book

As some of you may know - there is a new biography of Rog/Syd being written by a chap called Rob Chapman
I met with him this week as he lives near me, to find out his plans for the book.
The book is due to be finished late in 2008 and published early 2009.
Please don't hold your breath for the book as it isn't due to be finished until late in 2008 and published early 2009, but I for one am very excited about reading it when it is finally finished.
Rob is certainly being thorough with his writing and hopes to interview as many of the pivotal figures in Roger's life as possible.

He is writing the book by focusing on the art Roger created and not from the often fanciful ' lunacy' stories so often trotted out.
He will be analysing the lyrics in depth and it seems to me that it will be by far the most intriguing and thorough written analysis yet written.

All fans of Syd Barrett are certainly in for a treat!
Eventually......!

2007-07-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Roger Keith 'Syd' Barrett
6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006

Today is the Anniversary of Roger's death.
I'm not sure quite how I should mark this as I am loathe to write words that may be hacked and manipulated by any good folk of the 'press'.

Be it good or bad, I knew that Roger's death was sadly near before it was common knowledge.
His suffering was mercifully short, and he managed to get home before the end. I know this meant a lot to him, and he was very keen to be released from hospital.
He had very good palliative care, and it was a comfort to get back to the house that he so loved.

When I got the call to tell me that he had died, this was obviously very upsetting, but the weirdest thing was the day it was revealed to the public.
This came in a press release from - I think EMI - and I was at work at the time. I didn't know when this would happen, and had thought it might have been sooner than it was ( I found out on the Saturday, and it wasn't released until the following Wednesday.)
At the office in which I worked everyone checked the BBC news throughout the day to keep track of news and weather etc.
I remember it came as a complete surprise the hour Roger's death flashed up on the site.
I had told my manager in advance, as I would need time off for the funeral etc.
I had never really told many of my workmates about my link to Roger, let alone about his death.
I've always thought this would leave me open to allegations of boasting or name-dropping.
I've also faced allegations of lying about who I am, and that is crazy in itself. I really don't have time to prove to anyone what I've been born into.

When these workmates saw the death on the screen and starting blithely mentioning it to me, it was all a bit much.
At that point I obviously became upset and had to explain the true situation.

More soon....

2007-07-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

Max The Rockstar!!

Max The Rockstar!!

As you can see here, Max Barrett certainly has an air of rockstar about him.
He wouldn't look lout of place in the reformed 'healthy' Happy Mondays and certainly has buckets of the cocky swagger needed.
To be honest, we have all be going rather stir crazy of late as we've been unable to get outside much due to this somewhat humidity laden weather of late.
I've just been in the garden in the one of the brief lulls in the rain and found something quite amazing....
It's been so wet in the garden that the bird feeder on the wall has actually started GROWING!
yes really. The seeds inside have stayed so damp for so long that there are leaves and sprouts shooting up from the bottom.
It's like a batch of hippy mung beans in there. I wouldn't think the birds will be too impressed with it now!

2007-07-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

A Soggy Trip To The West With 'Monkey'

Beccy and myself had a fantastic night out last Thursday to see the opening show of Damon Albarn's show 'Monkey - Journey To The West'
I guess it may upset many involved with the show to call it his show.
The so called 'Opera' was directed by Chen Shizhang a renowned director ( he has recently directed Dark Matter with Meryl Streep) and Damon was the composer.

There is so much I could say about this show, but the best thing I can suggest is that you watch the BBC1 show on tomorrow night at 10.40pm and see for yourself.
Preview here

It seems a bit of a vagary to call it an opera really as this may discourage many from going.
It really isn't an opera - other than it is a stage drama led by singing.
Yes there is singing all the way through, but never in a tradition operatic style.
It is sung entirely in Mandarin Chinese.

The show was an insane mixture of martial arts, mad Chinese acrobatics and bizarre atonal orchestration.
There was an amazing undersea scene with huge starfish floating across the stage and a funky giant prawn pushing a trolley laden with a girl spinning parasols on her legs!
( doesn't every show have these nowadays?!)

The guy playing The Monkey king had the most amazing charisma and owned the stage with his energy and swagger.
Who would have thought a monkey would wear a tracksuit!

After the show we ended up outside in what is now boringly predictable pouring rain. We traipsed up the road to the swish Midland Hotel and met up with Chrissie Hynde and her band for a few drinks, and some superb conversation.
I met Chrissie first at the Barbican tribute show, and she was most charming there.
She was in town supporting Rod Stewart at the Man City Stadium and said we could look her up when she was in town.
It was a hilarious end to a superb evening!

2007-06-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

The Lunatics Have taken over The Asylum

It has amazed me lately to see two singers resuscitated onto a stage that I both adore, and thought would never see play again.
Both Daniel Johnston and Roky Erickson have been playing regularly and even graced these shores with their psychedelic presence.
Tragically - I just missed Daniel Johnston who even played here in Manchester.
Review here
With precious little promotion of his 2 shows here I had no idea he had played in town. (A serious Bummer that!)
I have long loved the fragile heartfelt voice he sings with and the way he perseveres with an incredibly prolific art career as well. If you have seen any of his cartooon art you will know that it is both naive and yet deeply moving. Much like his music really.

And as for Roky Erickson - well the man is a true legend. i have said it to others, and I will say it now - I truly believe he has the greatest rock voice of all time.
You can keep your Robert Plant's and your Roger Daltreys, give me Roky singing 'Two Headed Dog' any day!
I remember emailing someone from his trustees many years ago, just to ask how Roky was. there was very little real news on him in the press, and I wanted to hear something concrete. Obviously the career of Roky has many parallels with Roger/Syd's and I felt a kinship for this reason.
Weirdly I was told by Roky's friend that they actually share the same name. Roky's real name is Roger as well!
How odd is that....
Unfortunately, with going down to London for the Barbican tribute I couldnt travel down again so soon to see Roky. I remain hopeful that he will play again sometime and I will get to see him - and hear that voice!

Please come back Roky and Daniel

2007-06-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

UFO vs Futuresonic

You can see a bunch of great photos I've been sent from the UFO show in Manchester in May
Basically - it was an amazing night featuring the psychedelic legends from the original UFO club in the Sixties. John 'Hoppy' Hopkins and Jack Moore were there.
These guys are absolutely pivotal to the development of the London and Global psychedelic scene.
Hoppy and Jack recreated some of their original lightshow tricks and combined these with some more modern dance legends, including a member of Kraftwerk, and the underground and mysterious 'Black Devil Disco Club'
( watch a clip of them at the show)

It was such a trip to meet and talk to them.
You can read an article written by Hoppy Hopkins about the show and the amazing UFO scene

I have plenty of other pictures of the night if anyone wants to see them

Enjoy.......

2007-06-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

Some Pictures from Young Max Barrett's 4th Birthday.
yes - he really has reached the big 4.

I suspect the face paints will get a good few outings before the year is done!

2006-04-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

Scott Walker - Drift - Released May 2006

If you feel like taking a terrifying journey into the depths of depravity you could do worse than get hold of a copy of the new Scott Walker album - 'Drift'

Being a big fan of his already- having been harangued into listening by years of the idolatry Julain Cope shows him. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have never really been able to engage with 'Tilt' his last album( over 11 years ago)
That just seemed too oblique and distant to really enjoy

When listening to Drift - I have to say I quite enjoyed listening. Maybe enjoy isn't the right word though.
We are certainly not talking about an accessible record in ANY way at all.
With no real musical structure to speak of the album uses instrumentation ranging from atonal clangs and whirring through to the use of mike'd up slabs of meat ( I only know this as a clip of the filming was shown on the recent BBC culture show)

One song Clara has the most amazing mixture of duetting male/female voices lain over a cacophony of slaps and grunts.
This is then followed with a torrent of almost industrial sounding hollers and washes.

If there is one comparison to be made it is with the music of Diamanda Galas. She uses a similar palettte in much of her music but with much more intense and operatic vocals.
The Scott Walker baritone is used to great effect throughout the album. He uses his voice to mysterious and powerful effect as he delivers lyrics that to be quite frank may need a lifetime to fully understand!

A STUNNING and disturbing masterpiece!

2006-03-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Captain has Left The Sinking Ship

The buyout - or should I say sell-out of the Body Shop to L'Oreal has rather strangely been a surprise to me.
I think I may have had my gullibility gene tweaked into action as I clung on to the idea that Anita Roddick would really not sell her last bottle of tea tree flavoured ethics up her beloved Amazon without a paddle.

How wrong I was!!!

Oh how she will enjoy the £160 million she is set to pocket - as well as staying on in an advisory capacity. I don't think her skills at diluting an ethical stance to please shareholders will really cut the mustard now the company is back in private hands.

It could be that L'Oreal will actually do a better job of guiding the company than she has managed over the last ten years.

We shall have to wait and see...

Let's hope Lush cosmetics don't jump ship and go the same way!

You must read Merricks superb article on the sellout

2005-09-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know
I am still alive
my site got locked due to my own absentmindness

It is back and will be fully mended and hopefully I'll find time to actually update it regularly
VERY SOON

watch this space.......................

2004-09-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Howdy all,
Just a short e-mail - we're still alive and kicking in Flagstaff
Arizona, heading for the Grand Canyon tomorrow. Las Vegas very OTT and
out of this world but an experience not to be repeated.Lots of beautiful mountains, canyons, Indian reservations and plenty of blue sky (but frost last night!). Moving north shortly to Page for Bryce Canyon etc.
Hope you are all well.
Love,
Dad & Mum

2004-09-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

STOP PRESS !!!
MAX BARRETT IS FAMOUS !!
Max and Daddy were on the ITN national news on Friday Night!!

I took him into Chorlton for his MMR, which was stressful enough in itself, only to discover that there was a film crew esconsed in the clinic!!! AAARRRGH
They asked if I minded him being filmed for the news, and also asked to interview me for the item - about a new report stating that MMR was safe to give.
My interview was V Poor as I was super stressed after my first time taking his buggy on the bus and thankfully they used a mummy instead.
They filmed all of Max's rather painful injection - HE DIDNT ENJOY IT AT ALL!!
and then lo and behold we ended up on the 6.30 and the 10.30 national news!!
what fun
I'll try and get it streaming very soon but My Daddy made a rather big file of the piece and it needs techno shrinking......

2003-04-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Mummydaddy lessons are hotting up and are VERY funny..
Every Wednesday we go and are entertained by the bizarre events that occur when 8 or so couples who DONT have kids come to terms with the practicalities of HAVING one !!

This week I bonded very closely with a lovely plastic baby with slightly sinister eyes. It was either possessed of some mild satanic influence or a heavy bout of wind. I just wasn't sure which. We seemed to get on very well, until I started to get a bit restless and began whacking its head on my leg which I guess probably isn't in the baby books.

We also got to watch the mildest and most sanitised birth video I've ever seen in my life. The potential mummy didn't so muchg as break into a sweat and certainly swear or scream like a banshee. She appeared to have a slight blockage, then her husband looked at her lovingly and kissed her brow tenderly , and then POP ! the baby appeared like the shopkeeper in Mr Benn !!
It was most unconvincing but put everyones worrries at rest, especially as labour complications (mainly things involving scissors and blood) had previously horrified the mummys to be into submission but 10 minutes earlier!

Everythings going very well and 2 jun is still the action date.
Wooohooooo
bring it on!!!!!

My play is now fully written and cast and I start directing it after Easter. If anyone in Manchester or beyond can come it will be 12-13 July at an Arts festival in North Manchester. Let me know and I'll give you details.
Moston Active Drama is the company and there are currently about 13 kids in the show.
Bye for now

2003-03-21T00:09:00.000-08:00

Hi all
Baby Mummy's getting bigger and the little Barrettius Sproglet is cooking wonderfully !
One thing that dawned on me yesterday was that as long as he/she is born before 12 June I will get my first Fathers Day where I can actually celebrate and not just trundle into Clintons Cards and ponder for something ACTUALLY funny !
I do hope the card will be personally signed by my child and not just PP'ed by its Mother!

3 June is due date so not too long now. We've got a very cool cot mobile with zebra, giraffe, elephant and slightly creepy gorilla hanging down and it plays a funky tune.
I just can't wait to be able to shop for toys with impunity. Normally I buy lots of toys and get told off for letting them clutter the house up. Now I've got a valid reason to wander round toys R us for hours ! Huzzahhh !!

I found a truly awesome toy the other day
http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/aquaroid.html
this is an incredible robotic jellyfish that you let go in a big tank and it flips and wibbles itself around !! how cool is that!!?
I've got my diving training behind me now so I am fully qualified to drown myself across the world. I can't wait to test what I learned in Egypt somewhere else and discover some wrecks with vast amounts of gold and diamonds on them. Possibly
Anyway off to the Dentist now to pay for some pain and prodding. Hurrah
see ya

2003-02-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

Hi all.
Things are hotting up chez Barrett/Treen and we've only got 3 monhts till 2 becomes 3 !! Hurrah
The bump is pretty big now and kicking furiously. I love just lying next to it and chatting to him/her and letting them know we're here. It certainly takes a lot of planning (and buying !) but we're vaguely prepared for it's arrival. It will certainly be well looked after.
Having brought Maisie the dragon up from near birth it can't be that different can it ???
Surely you just chuck them a few crickets and bits of cabbage and they're happy. Is that not right??!!
Keep em warm and change their water and you'll have a happy baby.Easy!

2003-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.flaminglips.com
Just a note to demand anyone who hasn't listened to the Flaming Lips and especially their new album 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots' I implore you to seek it out and listen to the shimmering multicolour glory of their sound.
the link at the top gives you no excuse not to as you can listen to the whole album for nothing.
Tragically I was unable to go to their gig in town the other week as I was wearing a tuxedo in Birmingham which is another story entirely but they're playing again in March and I WILL be there !!! to
listen and weep with pleasure.
I have some mad live photos I took of them on their last tour which I'll post when I get my scanner to behave again.

2003-01-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

Hi all. Things are going fantastically with the baby Barrett. It really will be unleashed on the world very soon and looking at the size of Beccy's belly now it could be any day now - even though its not due for 4 months !!
We've got another scan next friday and we can see if it's go the expected 2 spines. I'm famous at work for having two spines (not just two but spines that rearrange themselves every 6 months into a different arrangement !)
We only saw 1 spine on the first scan but this one is more detailed so hopefully it will show up.

I've been busy working on the play I'm hoping to direct later in the year. I've been working with the kids I'll be directing as they finish their current show off . It's called 'When Dali came to Moston'
and if anyones interested it's on at the Contact Theatre on 6 February. Let me know if you want tickets.

Been doing a lot of painting lately which I've found a lot of fun. I'm very untrained as I didn't really take much notice of Mr Flack and the strange Mrs Woolston; my Art teachers at school but I enjoy it. If my scanner worked I'd scan some in but it doesn't so you'll have to wait till it's mended. I've moved onto oil paints on canvas now but the paint is a bit crap and takes ages to dry !! bugger...

Anyway I'm off to make a curry...

see y'all soon.

2003-01-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hi all. in the middle of cooking fishcakes and mash so may pop off any minute but how would you know kiddy winkies.........
anyway, everything is going swimmingly. Been doing lots of paintings lately and finding it a lot of fun. I've been commissioned to do and abstract of Kylie's arse which I'm now planning. Should be fun.
The bump is coming on nicely and we're both hugely excited. I've just been blowing raspberries on it which I'm sure it enjoys - what with it being stuck in the dark all day it could do with a bit of stimulation. 3 June is the big due day. It will be shot into the world with a shimmering sparkle and receive all the love it could possibly need. And more.......................................
HURRAH for my baby.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurrahhhhhhhh!
I'm working on a new play for a kids theatre group which I will direct hopefully in the Summer - developments allowing. Obviously this will be rather a busy year but it's what I want to do and I will succeed at it. Oh yes. Watch this space.
Anyway I'm off to do some more painting now so see y'all soon

2002-11-23T00:51:00.000-08:00

Ive not had time to really update anything recently but there's a very good reason for that. I think most people know by now but my big BIG news is that I'm going to become a father !!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooooooooooooooo
Oh yes... its true......
scary but true.
Things have been rather distracted but very interesting lately and I'm sure they'll get more interesting. As long as the little thing will like visiting stone circles then we'll be fine.
At least there''ll be no shortage for toys around the house, which there aren't now but there'll be even more for me/he/she to play with !!! HURRAH.
Anyway it's my 30th birthday today which is also scary and fun so I'm off to drink tea then drink other stuff later on.
seey'all soon
ps -the expected time of arrival is 3 june 2003

2002-10-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Just got back from mental week on the southern edge of the Sinai Desert in Egypt learning to dive.Incredibly HOT !!!!! Unbelievably so in fact- and this is the cold end of the season. I couldnt even imagine August !!
Very tired at present so more stories and pics soon but suffice to say many many fish- no jellyfish but as I was diving this maybe not a bad thing. Swam with a stingray and pufferfish and saw an octopus hiding under a rock !!!! cool.....

I'm now a qualified diver which is fun and plan more dives soon. Beccy couldnt dive as she had a cold and her ears woudl have xploded but she had a cool time too. We haggled over camels and taxis as is the norm and fed little crabby things popping out of holes while we ate a meal at a beachside restaurant.

I had a video made of my diving by a guy who worked on the Blue Planet and its very cool so hopefully I'll play it to a few of you folks. If poss it would be ncie to stream it from this site but need techie help to do that but maybe.......

Anyway more stories in a day or so... off to rest and then bring Maisie the dragon back home......

2002-08-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

If you fancy reading my review of a beautiful neolithic site we visited today on our holiday on Dartmoor read away !!

We're having a fab holiday and are off to the Eden Project on Thursday of which I will tell all soon...

2002-08-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

I've just had the spirit of Peter Gabriel surgically removed from my ear, as it was starting to annoy me with it's quasimystical folk rock vibes. And also, he was forever strapping on bizarre and unwieldy costumes and these were often so large that they restricted my hearing. There came a time when I had to whisper to Gabriel, 'Sorry mate, you've got to go. Move into a B+B or something but you're not welcome in my aural cavity anymore.'

2002-08-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

www.sodaplay.com
go here and play with the most incredible artificial intelligence type thing EVER !!
you can create your own creatures from wire framed models then place them in the virtual zoo arena and watch how they sit and move !!!
It isn't the simplest system to use but if you're interested in biology and/or physics you can't fail to be amazed by the system.
I've just spent a happy making a cube with horns that wibbles along the floor (very amateurishly but most enjoyable)
It's all free and very clever stuff.
If you make one please email it to me so I can look at it !!

2002-07-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

GIANT SQUID FOUND !!!

Read this for info on a monster squid that's been discovered in the ocean. COOL !!......

2002-07-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Did everyone hear about Maggie Thatchers head being chopped off this week ??!!!
Well unfortunately only the bust was decapitated not the scheming crow herself but it's a start !!
All hail Sir Paul Kelleher who did this fantastic act.

He says he HAS to plead not guilty as he's been charged with criminal damage and he says hes not a criminal so he cant plead guilty; shows that this man has a very shrewd mind and must be saluted !!

I think i f charges of criminal damage were to be brought they should get the head out of the basket, show it on Crimewatch and see what response they get from the general public. I'm sure if we work together we can all track down the apostolic hag and show her what true justice is !!!!!!!!!

2002-07-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing experience this afternoon at the opening ceremony of the Imperial War Museum Of The North
I was lucky enought to be asked along to the first day of opening and it's not something I'll forget in a hurry.

Anyone even remotely near Manchester must visit this musueum as it has the most moving and simple exhibits bringing home the experiences of so many people in many different wars from 1900 to now.

The building was designed by the famous architect Daniel Liebeskind and is a bizarre silvery structure with a really abstract and twisted shape. Go along and be amazed and horrified in equal amounts

2002-06-30T03:26:00.000-07:00

My Plan for the Big Brother house is that they switch the cameras off as soon as the contestants went into the house then the nation quietly pisses itself ,safe in the knowledge that they'll all be inside looning and gurning with their inane histrionics thinking that the country is

A -Watching their every move with voyeurish fascination
and
B - That we give a toss if they live or die.

Neither of which is true.

When they are finally evicted one by one a taped announcement from Davina (who is actually snorting coke from a midgets left buttock in the Met Bar) comes over the tannoy and they pack their silly little travel case and troop outside to what they expect will be a cavalcade of cheers and whoops but what is actually just an empty compound with maybe a bored cleaning lady sweeping coke cans across the concrete. A Security guard points to the exit and they give them enough money to get the bus back to reality.
This is just an idea. maybe the organisers will be brave enough to try this version of reality tv next year, though I suspect they wont !!!!!!

2002-05-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my world. This will just be a place where I can waffle in complete safety, without fear that anyone can say ' Ian, I think it's about time you shut up' or 'Ian, I'd love a cup of tea !'
If you don't wish to read what's here it would be just a click to clear me from your screen and go and do something less boring instead , turn it off's not good to me, WhY Don't you... (oooh went a bit BBC there, sorry)

Anyway... that's the gist, so sorted guvnor. My manifesto is now apparent, however flimsy it may be.