Another Week 60 - Winter Storm Watch, Chris Laudani, Jose Mujica

Where time stands still..., the light you can't see.. and

Highlights

of the

Day

The stranger I met

A conversation I had

An appointment

The sky at 4

The perfect parking space I found
The perfect e-mail.; thankyou
A pleasant surprise
I saw 'a cute pair of jeans' out walking

More
to be
grateful
for


cont'd

I got my sight

My boots work

my gloves

four season walking socks

base layers

hot water

Technology that works
&
What's On

Distinguished luminaries who's marketing language incorporates such inspiring and respected words as 'bacon sarnies'  to be found atcha local Business Networking Breakfast .. We do have an actual 'lobster and burger' night to look forward to on the local Events Calendar.. A wedding open day also adds to the difficult 'what to do today ?' question.. Snow White on Ice.?, hmm.., nope.. Thankyou though.. How 'bout 'Birdwatch'..? Looks like another adventurous day  out to see if I can be first in line to press the old crossing lights.. and watch them change.. , although there's also the very mobile coffee shop routine..

Routine
v
Tradition

performed as part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason
v
a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices

an' which team would you choose to be on
?

Routine City
or
Tradition United

Today I'm Grateful for

cont'd

nail clippers

Fresh air

sounds

f/8

Canon glass

Oakley high definition optics

and my belt

your song

Isn't it funny

that feeling inside

Reginald Kenneth Dwight

''Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe''

It can be that (toothbrush kinda) simple

Middle English

tourist boards

and their oft outdated promotional photos

cont'd

Led Zeppelin IV

shaving gel

Tescos

This is the thing - My stomach's growling., or sounding like an ice flow., Valenine's Day.. and Facebook goes down., occasionally.., apparently..

Sword of Truth

SO far I've charged my laptop, my phone and my camera batteries.., e-mailed, texted and called/received, lemon showered., waterpik'd., cerealed w/berries., read a couple of online news thingies., caught up on the sports and respectful honourings., marvelled at the social media posts I've mused over., accomplished 200 sit-up crunch deal type do das and digested a bottle + of aqua.; no coffee, no tea.; searched my wardrobe for anything dark, laundered and layerable.., moistened the ole skin., thought of those I don't see, places I'm not at., wondered about this and wondered about that., tied my boot laces., put a note in ma pocket., cleaned my dark glasses and made sure a spare cleaning cloth is ready for the day's journey too.. The sky's checked, the ground's checked.; no headwear needed., gloves checked.., debit/credit cards checked., pen, notepad checked.. Hmm., 'time' difference check.. The trees are a rockin'.., the road's a swishin'... & the day beckons - Sounds and sights baby

Most of ya'll will be asleep (by now) and those who aren't will be working., unless you're in a coffee shop., driving to one., or simply not. 

I'm awake and not in a coffee shop

Single digits - I dreamed last night of an old black briefcase I once owned (an' may even still be around) ... and dreamed I placed two laptops, one in each of the dividers before a journey.. 

The Girl

in the

Striped Top

In order to achieve THE 6 sunshine hours, daily AVERAGE (!), over the six winter months (October-March) we're supposed to have., and during which time the days are actually (and in reality) ONLY showing about 6 hours of yer actual daylight., certainly for November, December and January, dude, means.. I would have to be enjoying all day EVERYday sunshine..! Just one thing., It ain't happening babe..; not even close.. SO., how  DO the weather folk come up with that one..? I suspect the local tourist board/office/council (allegedly) fudge the numbers., a little.. jus' to satisfy the intended and hoped for visitors .. - Just a thought I'd always thought about when returning home., soaked through, frostbitten and windswept

I suppose the sun shines ABOVE the solid bank of grey clouds (somewhere) though..

Anyone

Another day
another dollar
another ....


&


LOVE
for
another
time



a single rose

Thanks this week go/goes to Billie Breland - Alfred Ajani - Hu Huiyuan - Lauren Fern Watt - Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington and Kathy Beitz

Another Week 59 - Superbowl, Windows 10, Hubble Space Telescope, Flickr and

1 degree

but

feels like

-2

It sounds like a train's running through the leafless trees

One of those suckers must have strong roots

Roots

Paths we take.; some of us go right, some take a left.. for some of us, straight on. Some of us walk, some.. a car.. Some of us run, some don't.. Some of us take a bus, the bus makes lots of stops, or none.. Some prefer a train., a bike.., some have to use a wheelchair.. There are scooters, Boris bikes., planes, trucks.. an' all going places, all going at different speeds., but the majority all get there.. 

Humble

What day is it.. ; I know it's a weekday and not Friday., and I know it's not yesterday., but..

Bradshaw's Guide
Miles, Art
&
wheelie bins

What do we know.. other than we leave footprints in the sand.. I know written words, brush strokes and images speak to my instincts.. and a world without music (too) feels like (I imagine) a life without love.. a life without love would mean a life without even the basics of a hug.. Footprints..; I gotta leave footprints man.. - Imagine a life without oceans, without horizons and without nature.. Brrr., I can't..

Who mailed the first letter
Casual delete
warm July
This trip is all mine
light and shade

There's Led Zep's 'whole lotta love (live, '74 ish)', there's tequila, there's roK and there's roll.; there's a 10 on the volume control and there's sunshine, horizons and there's an ''oh yeah.. uh''... 

The correct mix around a Sunday table full of food totally works for me man.. as does a good ole relaxed bit of conversation ..; innocent miracles of life only add to the equation..

I don't sleep with 'window coverings' because I love to wake up to natural light (as soon as there is any).,  aNd I get to see any starry starry night skies when I finally crash..., an' whenever possible... So I wake up this morning to a 'pinkish' sunrise and my immediate thought goes something like this.., ''mmmm ;) ''..., 'cause I kinda like how the sky  can make me smile  (from the insides) when it looks like that... I then make it to the window and look out to see cars covered in ice frost which then reminds me just how much I'm going to look forward to my eventual shower.(!).. and the multiple layers I'm gonna walk around in today.. Now., by the time it gets to 10 am..., the frost has now been replaced by grey clouds and sky AND rain.. The interior lights are ON and I can't tell you just how excited I am by the way the day's looking..- The week.. and how a moment can alter a mood.. I guess it just goes to show how fragile sensitive fragile I am..

cosmopolitanism
&
wine in boxes

every year an 'average' of 750,00 ice-creams are bought on the seven miles of this seafront

Sadly there are no souvenirs left to brag about of The Beatles, Queen, Pink Floyd, Hendrix (YES., Mr. James M. Hendrix)., The Stones., Joy Division.. or Marvin Gaye's visits here to The Gardens..

., but thank God for Russell-Cotes, Obscura Cafe .,  Ludo Lounge and S & D Leisure. . - 

U  guys roK
it

for the 185,0o0

NICE

''The Value of Arts and Culture

to

People and Society''

Education

Economy

Health

Well-being

''critically represent an investment in our quality of life''

''enriching our emotional world''

Gone Hiking

casey lyons

Niche - ''An art film is "intended to be a serious artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal"; they are "made primarily for aesthetic reasons rather than commercial profit", and they contain "unconventional or highly symbolic content"'..

Perspective

what do your eyes say

about
you

and

OUT

well,
for another few days

at least




#FreeSpeechStories

Thanks this week go/goes to - Ezzie Richey, Al Archie, Cassidy Huff, Central Park, Shubham Banergee, EnChroma, Mason Wartman and Fu's pup

Another Week 58 - Scenes and moments in a life., Libraries., Artists and Primary Colours

Go big

or

stay home

Gotta love the peeling paint., rusty padlocks and faded glory., almost as much as an empty zip line.. Once you get to the other end, the whole turn around and walk back INTO the wind and flying sand that stings like (I imagine)  a wet frigid winter's weekend in Siberia..

1.5 mill for a penguin enclosure., a couple of pieces of metal and I'll still be navigating through chip and vinegar smells inhaling undesired secondhand smoke and dodging lines of open blue bins.. The same puddle that is now haunting me continues to  sit right there. 

yep., the sounds of boards clattering off the now broken step reminds me that the Pavilion's ocean view deck (?) sadly ain't all that from any of the four sides..

Staple

diets

chips/fries

chips/crisps

ice cream

sandwiches/pies

tea

Have you ever wondered why arms seem extra long in winter.? Oversized gloved hands hanging down to the knees., Shoulders hunched upto the ears... Long sleeved coats hiding bunched up hands.. Sleeves being wiped across noses, occasionally polite handkerchiefs stifling sneezes., noses red, cheeks red., then a spit from the person infront flying agonisingly close to your stride..  and 'hi, my name's ------' as I have to quickly decide how to respond to the extended hand.. ''I'm sorry, but I may have a cold I don't wish to pass on to you.'', sounds pretty darn feeble.., but..

I'm not sure why, but maybe you can wear that t-shirt., but at 8 degrees not including the wind chill coming off the water which probably lowers that balmy number to an even more seductive 6 ish, I need my layers.. man..; I'm not that 'hard'...

That WD40 should do the padlock trick., and having a dog does mean 'picking up' after you.. Walking in a straight line, especially at the beach must be more difficult that I thought.. and certainly way harder than suddenly changing direction.. Signs, signs, signs.. Toilets 100 meters., amusements., ding-a-ling goes the train., ripped jeans.. and tiny dogs..; better check that runners watch AGAIN because I'm sure that last stride must have taken at least 15 minutes..- oops, check it again dude.. Phone text, eyes down.. The Walk is obviously where it's happening.., or maybe I just missed it., or I'm too early., or maybe it's next weekend., no, next month..; wrong season., wrong decade.., buh., buh,,, BUT, isn't this where it all goes down baby.. The fountains up and running., the Commodore's trying and the washing's being blown around in the cold damp air.., but yes, the fountain's working it's magic.. Ahh., The Walk.. and it's Bandstand.. I guess it's safe to walk through it's brown coloured excuse..- Community

Sights of those sitting on wet ground in doorways, cans of beer
and
a new 5* hotel casting it's center's shadow

Community

A silver  street performer sans mask and taking his smoking break stands a handful of feet opposite the stationary gold one. Surreal.. No one laughs, no smiles.. There's a strong feeling of dank depression in the air.. The old stone clad surroundings are long weather stained  and the mix match architecture causes me a great deal of confusion. Where am I, what time am I in and who signed off on this. 

Winter Life

death, blue anoraks and instinctive inspiration

art

I'm good if I need to place a bet 

I'm good too if I'm into brown

I'm good if I want a tattoo, a piercing

I'm good if I want a phone

I'm good if I need a coffee and I'm good if I want to walk up a hill

but what I'm not good for is any culture

I can get a new pair of glasses

I can marvel at the number of patchwork'd surface repairs

but I can't find me any art worthy of the word

anywhere

DESIGN

Patagonia., promenades.. and A surf shop.. Blue flags and mobile/archaic 'facilities'.. Car parks where ya can actually open yer car door and git oot without taking a chunk outta the car next doah.. Did I mention chips.. I wonder if I can get just the one more flat roofed bedroom up there.., or infact squeeze another wheelie bin onto the path.. Kerb appeal., what's that.

Hmm., maybe I could scratch off., or spray paint over that street sign as seems to be the fashion.; no.., but maybe I could leave a sofa outside and someone MAY take it.., or not.. Maybe I could kick some sand., but I can't wander art galleries, I can't take in colour or sculptures.; I can't take in modernist stuff, impressionist stuff., I can't take in Plein Air. or expressionist stuff. Where's the pop art, photographic art., I can't take in studios and I can't take in an art walk.. I can take in brown, but I can't take in culture.. I have no clue how it feels to be suffocated., but man., I can't breath..

The Town's Brown

Please mister., can I have some more

''please sir I want some more.''

''WHAT., what., WHAT..!'' 

This is Dickensian .., the Riviera and home of the blue flag boy..

Now, go git yerself an ice cream and put some money in the amusement arcade machine..; the one with the pennies in it.., just like the old days.. and soon we'll have the dodgems working to the sounds of  that 'teddyboy' music; that rock 'n' roll stuff you still like .. ''rock around the clock'' dude.., you young teddy boy.. Arthur Askey..  2015 1963., box rooms and back to the future Marty..

from

The home of noir and black night

&

people who make

DA

decisions

and to those

who

SUPPORT

'em

Rock on dude

shame on y'all

DAYS

''thank you for the

days

those endless days,

those sacred days you

gave me

I'm thinking of the

days;

I won't forget a single

day, believe me''

ray davies

The Kinks

KaliphorNknee Eye A

&

taking the blue train

Thanks this week go/goes to August - Sofas -  Vanuatu and Imagination

Another Week 57 - Getaways, Galleries, Culture

and

A

New

Year

Misty for me - Frosty mornings and crunchy grass., wet wellies and dogs eating bones.. Prying open car doors, toast and early pics.. Two pairs of socks., gloves and a warmed up buff.. Tea., underfloor heating and agas.. Dishwashers, big ass'd heavy curtains and a hot shower.. How my day Sunday began

Messages

books

&

Christmas sweaters

A lil bit of music., planes going somewhere and memories of an event.. I must plug in the tech' machines for charging purposes..  And about August.., I'm there.. baby.. - The fire's NOT lit an' the tree ain't on but the daytime room oozes a festive spirit.. Baubles, candles, cards and distant murmurings.. and it's how my day's looking., so far..

I like this chair 

Footsteps and Thoughts

Where have all the chocolates gone.? Puzzles., cushions and lists .. Muswell Hill., movies & friends.. - New beginnings, great memories and the adventures continue.. - Balderdash, red vino., roaring log fires and side splitting laughter is where the day's frosty beginnings progressed to evening.. Why are fire flames so hypnotic., calming.. and warm..

Decorations

I dragged the two bare Christmas trees (one at a time) a few hundred yards across gardens, down paths and into a field., immediately after one of the two black Labs dragged me round same said field on the end of a lead.. One minute it's the holidays., the next., it isn't.. - Where have all the mince pies., Christmas cakes and nutcrackers gone..

Red

&

color

''scenes from my life''

Today I experienced rudeness (after I politely asked ''excuse me'') and was neither expecting it., or prepared for the response..; I was shocked.. - It's now dark and., I'm listening to Richard Bona - Eyando - Manyaka O Brasil.. after taking in Amos Lee's Jesus., as recorded on the Transatlantic Sessions.. - 'people' hide., and Nivea ain't the same as Banana Boat.. Underground parking is way more sociable when the weather's 'ropey'..

Time stood still

Transfer News

Charlie Brown

Readability

Gaston

 Kitchen Islands - 1950's jazz albums., thankyou cards and ginger beer - Watch The Theory of Everything., because I said so. 

why
'cause

sometimes it's simply ''cause'

Maybe it's the weather
Maybe it's the day
Maybe it's the shower
or
Maybe it's where you left the key

It's just ''cause'



REAL CHARACTER

Leaving fresh footprints

_

To journeys

&

new adventures

jus'

Eat That Toad

Thanks this week go/goes to - Shirley Ratliff - Tom Goethals - Penny - Lauren Hill - Marc Daniloff - Nissa Ellet - Menelik Watson - Nate Dreyfus - Santa Claus and weekends