No hot desks left, so
I find a quiet cell; now
incarcerated.
by Scooj
Month: November 2016
27. Souvenirs
I have neglected my Falkland adventure in favour of street art and haiku poems, but this blog began with a digitisation of a diary I wrote in 1988 whilst working as a fisheries scientist in the South Atlantic. I feel it is time for me to add another section from the diary. The context to this diary is set out in the first post I wrote entitled ‘An ill wind‘. I recommend you read this first post to get a feel for what this is all about. All of the posts can be seen in the ‘Falkland Journal, 1988’ category to the left of the screen. Enjoy.
Wednesday 8 June 1988. Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
Today there is a general strike. Like yesterday it is cool and overcast, but I can overcome this in my new jacket. Yo ho.
Most of the day on the Koei Maru 30. Watched bits od several films and then all of ‘Lethal Weapon’…again, and also a film called ‘Gotcha’. it was ok.
Ate my first sizable meal of sushimi today, it was good.
The Fishing Master told me, if I understood correctly, that his wife didn’t want him back, so he is prepared to stay in the zone as long as you like. Poor chap. I don’t really understand. Anyway it seems that if another observer comes on board, they will work, but not talk to him. Nice!?!
El Fogon – hotel bar – bed.
Thursday 9 June 1988. Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
‘So begins another weary day’ Grey Day.
Souvenirs
A very boring day on the Koei Maru 30. Oh I don’t know if I can bear it any more.
The crew seem to be in real ‘micky-taking’ mood, I think it has something to do with being in Montevideo.
It didn’t look like much refueling was going on today, so perhaps Brazil, here we come – who knows?
Friday 10 June 1988. Koei Maru 30
I checked out.
My visa receipt (N$ 103,172) amounts to roughly £172 for 11 days – a touch better than Emma’s
For the rest of the day I tried to kill time on the boat. I have forgotten how difficult it is. All the crew except Iyagi, who was on watch and in a horrific mood, and ‘Acne man’, had gone out on the town for the last time.
I needless to say, stayed in – no money no inclination. I bought a few special treats for myself, but stupidly some tobacco.
Saturday 11 June 1988. Koei Maru 30
We are at sea again – there was an eerie mist heralding a beautiful clear day – I took a few slides.
I have missed breakfast – quite a relief – it looks like eggs, eggs, eggs like before.
Saw loads of Magellanic penguins, but otherwise very little of interest happened.
Watched some films, including Indie Jones and the Temple of Doom – an irritating but quite enjoyable movie.
Sencho now tells me that when I go for my holiday, the Koei Maru will head for Japan – that’s not fair, it’s blackmail!
Sunday 12 June 1988. Koei Maru 30
The clocks on board are now set to Falkland time. I am overjoyed – I exaggerate. Radiod Mt ?? of KSJ to say that I’ll radio Fishops at KSJ tomorrow at 9.00 am. I have so much to say to John.
?? = Okaido or something of that sort.
It has become fairly rough and I have got my usual ‘second day at sea headache’.
I sorted things out with the Fishing Master and radio Radar – all seems ok-ish. They will also talk with John tomorrow.
Phoned Deb – highlight of the last fortnight – I am deliriously happy. I can’t help thinking though that she may have met someone – who can blame her? I would die if she had.
Abe said I could phone home tomorrow.
491. Upfest 2016 (65)
This is one of the most beautiful and sensitive pieces that I saw at Upfest this year. The artist, Sokar Uno has created something really touching and outstanding. This is without doubt one of my favourite pieces from this year’s festival.
Sokar Uno is a young German artist who has been painting and illustrating since he was twelve. Clearly he is very talented.
There is a wonderful explanation of the approach he takes to his art on his excellent website which is really worth a visit.
I am thoroughly taken with his ‘classical’ style and would really love to see more of his work. I fear I might have to travel to Berlin to see it though. It is a real privilege to see him at work in Bristol.
It’s coming
Summer’s memories
locked away and discarded;
face up to Winter.
by Scooj
490. Upfest 2016 (64)
This is one of the slightly more bonkers pieces from Upfest this year. Surreal and vivid, it absolutely makes me smile every time I look at it. Unfortunately I never got to see the finished work, but I was pleased to get some pictures of the artist at work.
Super moon
.
The persistent moon
of Westminster’s clock face mocks
urban cloud cover.
.
by Scooj
489. Upfest 2016 (63)
Mr Draws is a busy Bristol street artist who specialises in spraying colourful impressionist mountain ranges. His style is simple and at times appears to be naive, but it is far from that, and some of his pieces demonstrate his sophistication.
Invisible
.
In the grey city
under heavy Autumn skies
anonymity.
.
by Scooj
488. Upfest 2016 (62)
For years, I have been marveling at the incredible 3D pavement works created by street artists and shared through digital media. I used to enjoy these, even before I was interested in street art…they are absorbing and technically brilliant.
Until this year, I had never seen a 3D street piece in the flesh, so it was a genuine thrill to see Leon Keer’s work dominating the Tobacco Factory car park.
Leon Keer was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 1970, which makes him almost as old as me, which is cool. He is described as a pop-surrealist artist and is known for his canvasses and his 3D street art.
Leon Keer has a brilliant website, which I strongly recommend you take a look at. It features not only his 3D art, but also some of his paintings, which I find rather compelling.
The amazing thing about the 3D art is that it only works from a specific viewpoint. Observed from anywhere else and it looks quite bizarre, as you can see from some of these pictures. This was another highlight from the festival, and something quite different.
Decay
In Autumn woodlands
there is a force gathering
plotting destruction.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 