With your passing, our
lives will feel impoverished;
blue skies turned to grey.
by Scooj
- The reach of David Bowie’s influence can be found all around us. For example in my post published on 2 January 2016
99. Gloucester Road, No.226
Many of the shops on Gloucester Road have commissioned street art on their shutters, which is how some artists have managed to make some money from their craft. This one caught my eye for several reasons.
The sad story is that this family run butcher shop ‘Stutt and Son’ that has been trading since 1919 has recently been closed at short notice due to the ill health of Mr Stutt senior. The hurriedly scrawled note on the shutter is heartbreaking.
The artwork is by Zase, but is clearly one of his early works as it is unsophisticated and rather raw, compared to some of his more recent pieces, such as the one in Ashley Road. He has come a long way.
As for the Butcher, the shop will be sold and another trader will move in, reinforcing the transient nature of a commercial high street.
5/10
Paint
Watching paint dry is
almost as tedious as
watching…erm…paint dry.
by Scooj
*apologies for the dreadful haiku. Boringly busy weekend decorating a room before the carpet is fitted – no space for creative thinking.
Butterfly day
Flitting from here to
there, never stopping for long;
these Winter weekends.
by Scooj
Flood
All hands to the pumps!
This Winter’s rallying cry;
more records broken.
by Scooj
98. Stokes Croft, Slix (2)
I’ve been going through some old pictures from my iPhone today, and found a few street art images from a long while before I started this blog. This particular picture struck me, because I recently posted a 3Dom piece from this exact location.
This work, also by 3Dom, was photographed in July 2014…it seems that this wall is his.
There is also a subtle tribute to Mibsy. This is a nice work, but long since gone.
Eli Kivuti
We are connected,
you and I, through another’s
love of Africa.
by Scooj
20. Frustration
To those reading this category (Falkland Journal, 1988) for the first time, I urge you to read my first ever post – ‘An Ill Wind‘ to provide context for this post, which is the 20th extract from my 1988 journal.
Saturday 7 May 1988, Koei Maru 30
I am guilty of neglect. I seem to either write letters or my diary, one usually at the expense of the other. It is late Saturday now, I have just had my breakfast. I keep having bonkers dreams, I am plagued with them.
I wrote to the Myers and to Deb and Alex.
I hope so much that Arsenal won last night, yesterday, today I mean. I must be one of their remotest supporters, I may try to join the fan club.
When I think of the only club in London, I think of Gavin and Sean and how lucky they are that they will see the Littlewoods Cup final! Sean will actually be there, lucky pig.
Time goes by. Soon it will be Sunday and soon I will get picked up by the patrol ship. Yahoo!
I took a whole bunch of really boring sunrise shots and tried to photograph a number of birds. It will be a very dull film I think.
Sunday 8 May 1988, Koei Maru 30
I am on to my next 10 Japanese letters! recap on: a i u e o
The next bunch are Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So; Za, Ji, Zu, Ze, Zo
Why is it so bloody difficult?
Wrote a long letter to Mum and Ad, I sent another £15 for developing films.
Monday 9 May 1988, Koei Maru 30
At last I wrote to Clive, but it is very late of me to reply.
I am very bored. Tonight we’ve caught nothing, I have been unable to work. It is pitiful.I am being paid to fritter my time away. Possibly the worst aspect is that during these bad catches I smoke maybe two cigarettes. I must stop before it becomes a habit.
I am sitting listening to my African tape. I must go to Africa – I hear it calling. I am desperate to go there. I want to work in Africa.
Revision:
How could I have dared neglect to put in the article about Uderzo? What a terrible blunder.
Jim was on the radio this time, it was good to talk to him. He enjoys a good chat as opposed to a quick talk! It is good.
It looks like I may be marooned for a few more days! The patrol ship had to arrest a Korean ship and returned to Port Stanley without little old me. It is possible she’ll steam out over the next couple of days to collect me – who knows? Slightly depressing.
It seems as though Jim wants to come to Montevideo – I hope it can be arranged, it would be good to have some company.
Tuesday 10 May 1988, Koei Maru 30
Another five katakana I think.
What a terrible day – nothing, absolutely nothing to do. I think I’ll cry if I don’t get picked up soon. Only my South American music is keeping me sane at the moment, or is it the fact that I’m listening to it at all an indication of my insanity? Some would think so.
Wrote a letter to R&C, a bit short and feeble, but I’m running out of things to tell people.
My room stinks! I think it is because I spend so much time in it. It is stale and nasty, but what can I do?
Well, I’m angry and upset, but that is tomorrow.
97. Nine Tree Hill (2)
A fabulous protest piece by one of my favourite artists – Sepr.
Bristol is a city with a history of rioting…perhaps it is something to do with our independent spirit (I say this as a Londoner who now calls Bristol home).
In 2011 there were riots in Stokes Croft that were focused on the unpopular new Tesco Local store. Arrests were made in the squat opposite, as some of the squatters were suspected of planning to petrol bomb the store. This caused outrage among some locals and some imported trouble makers. This link is a report from the time and this one from a year later.
Sepr’s piece is a reminder of those times and characteristic of the independent spirit of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft. I love the artwork and its political overtones.
8/10
Mamie
At the world’s end we
shall meet again my dear. I
have missed you so much.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 