Athelia & Other Stories

I've uploaded the 1999 album 'Athelia & Other Stories' which I produced in collaboration with poet Patrick Woodcock, to last fm.

1. On That Winter's Night
2. The Photograph
3. Malbork
4. The Cathedral
5. Mielno
6. The Crooked Vicar
7. Athelia

I say album - it's 44 seconds longer than an EP (23:22)

Lettuce

First harvest of lettuce thinnings.

Placebo Audio Vol.1

I've uploaded a new 4 track EP to last fm entitled Placebo Audio Vol.1.

1. Yew Creek
2. Cushion Den
3. Plain Drift
4. Cloud Roll

File under drone, ambient, electronica

Pieridae

aka Common White Butterfly



aka Cabbage White

Free West Indies match

What with the early finish to the 1st Test against the West Indies @ Lords and therefore no international cricket this weekend, it was off to the Bristol West Indies cricket club for a few hours, where a rounders ball could be chucked about in preparation for a Year 9 rounders team match.

"Are you with the visitors ?", someone asked.
"No"
"Are you with the home side ?"
"No - I'm a trespasser."
"But you're from Bristol, right ?"
"Yeah." (ish)
"Well, you're not a trespasser then."
: )

The visitors made a little over 200 from 40 ? overs, before the home side, starting off well at around five an over, lost a clatter of three or four wickets within the space of a few overs and were on about 50 for 4 when we left. (Move over Simon Hughes)

Radishes & Rhubarb

Pete Taylor

Pete Taylor, one of my neighbours at the allotment and a familiar local environmental activist and campaigner, has died. It's suspected that his death, at home, was connected to the asthma with which he'd had a lifelong struggle and which in part inspired his campaigns against, among other things, traffic pollution.

When I first took on my plot, Pete was very friendly, giving me spare tools, cuttings and advice. In return, I gave him pumpkins and helped to move some of his collection of saplings that he was famous for planting in and around the city. I learned early on of his asthma and hatred for bonfires, ensuring that if I did have to burn anything he wasn't around, although perversely, he still liked a smoke and would occasionally cadge tobacco from me.

He showed me photos of a house he'd acquired in Spain, gave me loads of "Thank You For Not Driving' stickers (a campaign which he'd masterminded) we shared responsibility for making sure the allotment cat had enough biscuits and often had a chat.

He was passionate and could be a bit angry and volatile at times, even to people on the same side, but I respected him the more for apologising when we fell out.

Having checked out now, Pete will be spared the redevelopment of the chocolate factory that lies between his home and allotment, but whatever happens, I'm sure I won't be alone in planting a tree somewhere in the vicinity in his memory.

More info & tributes @ bristolcars.blogspot.com

A B C D Eno

I can't remember where I heard it this weekend, but someone was on the radio explaining that the reason that Brian Eno has created and achieved so much in his lifetime, is that he has four identical twins - A, B, C and D.

The maestro then turned up on Radio 4's 'The Museum Of Curiosity', on which he talked about geothermal energy and the fact that he composed the start up chime for an early version of Windows, on a Mac, adding that he doesn't like Windows and never uses it.

Clean sweep

I've written to the council many times about the flytipping that goes on around here but it still happens every week. I'm not sure what winds me up more; the gits who do this sort of thing, or the council's unwillingness to take the matter seriously and catch the perpetrators.

It's in the trees - it's coming

Despite the Orwellian signs that have recently gone up on the Bristol - Bath cyclepath, there's no evidence of any cameras around. Perhaps the council have fitted birds with cameras or a satellite has been installed to monitor the area.



It's odd that these threatening / reassuring notices weren't around last year when there was a spate of a dozen or so muggings in the area. Surely, they couldn't have anything to do with the proposed development of the old chocolate factory and the mass opposition to the bulldozers that will soon start ripping up the hedgerows of this linear park.

Flora

Flora was the Roman goddess of everything flowery whose festival is celebrated in the first few days of May.

Pararge aegeria

Speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria)

Kershaw Conspiracy

There I was, looking forward to possibly the radio highlight of the year, an interview with DJ and journalist Andy Kershaw for Radio 4's 'On The Ropes' series, which they'd been plugging all week, only for the announcer to say, "In place of our advertised programme, here's some toss about The Wizard Of Oz."

I might not have heard him correctly, such was my frustration.

Whassup ? Did the BBC lawyers have a last minute collywobble ? Did his ex take out another injunction ? Did he go on the lash and do something silly, come off a motorbike ?

At the moment, it just looks like the Beeb are doing everything they can to prevent the return to the airwaves of one of the best broadcasters since John Peel.

UPDATE: I was right the first time - 'twas the lawyers and a last minute concern about privacy.

Reap what you sow

If you've any spare daylight hours at the moment, chances are you're not a gardener. It's one of the busiest times of year, with every windowsill at home crammed with seed trays. Barely a day goes by without sowing something. Today it was more parsnips, lettuce, beetroot, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Still getting a good crop of purple sprouting broccoli, loads of chard, spinach and more leeks. Just as well, 'cos there isn't much food in the shops I can afford these days. 0 % inflation my arse.

The Upwey

Found an old demo on a minidisc.

Old Smoothy

Great grandma Mary Byford, nee Smoothy, with Violet, Archie, Daisy, Stanley and Ivy, c.1897. Great grandpa Edwin seems to have been otherwise engaged. Collectively, they appear resilient, inquisitive, forlorn, haunting and haunted.

Daisy, possibly the one in the hoodie, later met Henry, aka Harry and together they became my grandparents. I remember great uncle Stan and great aunt Ivy but have no memory of Violet and Archie.

Mary's paternal grandfather, Stephen Smoothy, was born in Essex around 1798. Her father, William Smoothy, was born in 1837 and married Essex girl Elizabeth Mynott who was born in 1836, daughter of James and Letitia.

Edwin Byford's father was another William, son of George, born in 1782, husband of Sofia.

The photograph only turned up this week and is the oldest family portrait by years, unless you count the painting reported to be of Elizabeth Mynott, c.1860 (below) which came to light last year.

A Good Hoot

(Press Play for a hoot)

No-Anchor Zone

The westernmost part of Studland Beach, aka South Beach. A voluntary 'no-anchor zone' has recently been introduced to protect the local seahorse population..

Hope it's more successful than the mandatory 20 mph Home Safety Zones back in the big smoke.

Shag watch

Perched on the cliffs at Old Harry Rocks, looking for shags, or are they cormorants ?

Cormorants and shags


(Press play for Sealoop)



A dozen canoeists paddled by.

Wild Garlic Wood

Walked along the coast path and through the wild garlic wood.



My mother reminded me that wild garlic is also known as Ramsons.

Enjoying it's culinary properties tonight - leaves or flowers, it doesn't really matter. A few sprigs with a salad or mixed with oil or a dressing is a nice treat.