London - 17th-19th of May 2013. Little Annie & Baby Dee...and The Residents.

Old and new.

A trip to London to welcome home a prodigal friend and to see some peculiar sights.

My friend Chris Cundy had a gig with Little Annie and Baby Dee who have been touring in Europe. The timing was good as they were in London playing at a lovely venue, Cafe Oto

Chris has worked on their excellent recent album, State of Grace. Find out more here: http://littleanxietyannie.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/little-annie-baby-dee-state-of-grace/

And the gig was wonderful.

Little Annie & Baby Dee.

Candle-glass at Cafe Oto.

The following day involved a slow wander before the Residents gig that evening. Stopped off at the Coach and Horses in Soho for some fine ales and excellent vegetarian food. http://www.coachandhorsessoho.co.uk/



Coach and Horses, Soho.



It's a proper pub though too and it has an interesting history. I noticed lots of pictures of Peter O'Toole on the walls. He starred in the play 'Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell' which is set in the Coach and Horses.

Find out more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_and_Horses,_Soho



They also serve a wide variety of flavoured pickled eggs.

We were with a friend who said he'd like to pop into the National Portrait Gallery to say hello to his relation... Sir John William Allcock, an aviator who made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Find out more here:

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp00062/sir-john-william-alcock

Sir John William Allcock.

A shocked monkey near Trafalgar Square.

London Eye.

Then headed to the Barbican for the Residents gig.

Barbican.

Here is The Residents website.... http://www.residents.com/home/

This tour is to celebrate 40 years of The Residents and it's called the Wonder of Weird tour.

Randy.... in santa outfit.

Christmassy inflatables - it's May.

Eyeball Christmas Tree.

It's snowing!

St Paul's at night.

A quick trip to the British Museum the following day.

Bye bye for now London.

 

St Fagans National History Museum. 3rd April 2013

I paid a visit to the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff, also known as the Museum of Welsh Life.

Since opening in 1948 over 40 historic buildings from across Wales have been dismantled, brought to the museum and re-erected in 100 acre grounds.
You can find out more here: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/historic-buildings/

Here are some pictures... (you can click to see them bigger.)


Kennixton Farmhouse

The earliest part of this farmhose dates from about 1610. The furnishings are mainly 18th century.

Beams



Irons.

Circular stone pig-sty. C 1800.



Corn Mill Water-wheel

St Teilo's Church

Reconstruction of an Iron-Age roundhouse.

One of my favourite buildings was the Oakdale Workmen's Institute.

Library at the Oakdale Workmen's Institute

Window at Oakdale Workmen's Institute.



Upstairs at Gwalia Stores.



I am reading Pandaemonum 1660 - 1886 by Humphrey Jennings at the moment. The subtitle is 'The coming of the machine as seen by contemporary observers'. It's a collection of first hand accounts, letters, poems and notes from witnesses to the industrial revolution. (The book inspired the opening ceremony of the Olympics). This museum also offers a visual insight into the radical changes that took place during this period and how they affected the way people lived. ...(and live)

A row of 6 ironworkers terraced houses at the museum have been furnished and adapted to show different periods of occupation. They were occupied from 1795 to 1985! More info here: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/buildings/rhydycar/

A plate in the Rhyd-y-car Terrace



Mirror in the 1955 Rhyd-y-Car Terrace



Living-Shed.

Yard at Rhyd-y-Car Terrace.



Roller-Skates.



Anvil at the Smithy.



Cilewent Farmhouse. A longhouse which would have housed cattle at one end.



Byre-floor.



Window - Cilewent Farmhouse.

Nant Wallter Cottage - C 1770



A pig enjoying a rare bit of sunshine.

A wonderful museum...so much to see...and it's free!

Xposed Club - Cheltenham - Friday 8th March 2013

Xposed Club takes place once or twice a month during term time at the University of Gloucestershire. It is a wonderful music night encompassng a wide variety of musical artists and is presented by Stuart Wilding and Mark Unsworth.

Find more info here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Xposed-Club/156974424383741

The atmospheric venue for tonight's Xposed Club is The Chapel of St Mary and St Paul at Francis Close Hall. Francis Close was the reknowned Rector of Cheltenham from 1826 to 1856 and was strongly opposed to alcohol and theatrical amusements ...so who knows what he would have made of tonight's shenanigans.

The first act were The Roof Slate Ensemble. Unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of them. Led by Mike Adcock, the pieces are played on roof slates which came from Wales via an old cottage in Stroud.

You can see a recent video of what they do here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-sc91lg2nE

And you can get more information on Mike's Lithophones website:

http://www.lithophones.com/

Tonight the ensemble were joined on a couple of pieces by wonderful Norwegian singer, Marit and the excellent pianist Pete Robson.

Next up was 90 Degrees South.

90 Degrees South played wonderful twangy guitar tunes which were inspired by 1950's rock n roll instrumentals. What a treat... you don't get to hear this sort of thing live these days and done brilliantly.

Noise Research played atmospheric electronics. The film accompanying is the 1929 experimental silent documentary "Man with a Movie Camera" by Russian Director Dziga Vertov. The subject matter, filming, juxtapositions and editing are inspired and moving. You can watch the whole thing on YouTube for free.

Reflections

Another pastime Francis Close may not have approved of.

90 Degrees South makes a hasty retreat...with a cheeky passenger indeed.

The night is over and we all head off...home? Nah, the night is still young. Thanks Stuart Wilding and Mark Unsworth for another great Xposed Club.