train in vain

 

Say you stand by your man, tell me something  - I don't understand - you said you love me and that's a fact, then you left me, said you felt trapped.  Well, some things you can explain away but my heartache's in me till this day.  Did you stand by me? No, not at all. Did you stand by me? No way.

 

All the times when we were close I'll remember these things the most. I see all my dreams come tumbling down, I won't be happy without you around. So all alone I keep the wolves at bay, there is only one thing that I can say: Did you stand by me? No, not at all. Did you stand by me? No way.
You must explain why this must be.  Did you lie when you spoke to me? Did you stand by me? No, not at all.

 

 

Now I got a job but it don't pay. I need new clothes, I need somewhere to stay, but without all these things I can do, without your love I won't make it through. But you don't understand my point of view, I suppose there's nothing I can do. You must explain why this must be. Did you lie when you spoke to me? Did you stand by me? No, not at all.

 Train in Vain, Clash, London Calling, 1979

Love animals? Don't eat them!

It's that time of year.   The deep winter festival, the shortest day, the turning point.  You can celebrate the birth of baby jesus if you wish, or maybe saturn*, or maybe mammon.  You can get together with family, a gathering of the clans, and friends.  But before you tuck into your turkey or beef or pork or lamb or lark's tongues in aspic just stop and think.  Do you really want to eat that critter?  Seriously.  You don't have to. 

Imagine never having to eat an animal again.  What a victory for common sense!

 ^*Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity, Saturn, held on December 17 of the Julian Calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. Didn't they know it was Christmas time at all?

the beginning of a great adventure

All great adventures start with a journey and the best kind of journey is one by train.  In the snow.  Unless it is by boat. In a stiff breeze.  Or maybe by air.  To the sun.  Well, not literally to the sun . . .

A christmas gif for you

It's a long way from over

Let it grow,

let it grow

let it blossom,

let it flow

Eric Clapton

 

I'm the kind of person who would have liked to have lived at the Plaza. I love crystal chandeliers and gold leaf, velvets and mirrors, oriental rugs and marble.

 Candace Bushnell

 

 

It's not over. It's a long way from over.

Jimmy Spithill

#Madiba

Nelson Mandela (July 18 1918 + December 5 2013

 

 "We will not see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. 

It falls to us to carry forward the example that he set."

Barack Obama

Art is Like Letting Down Car Tyres

From the Chichester Council website:

Graffiti is a form of vandalism. The official term used by the police for graffiti or vandalism is criminal damage: Vandalism in the British Crime Survey ranges from arson to graffiti. Cases where there is nuisance only (e.g. letting down car tyres) are not included.

Contrary to popular belief crimes such as criminal damage and graffiti are not victimless (crimes). Damage to buildings and property is both unsightly and costly to remove. If left unchecked it can ultimately affect business and tourism and send visible signals of decay to the local community.

Chichester District Council is working with a private company to remove all graffiti from public areas as quickly as possible. If you are a victim of graffiti or see some in a public place, please contact Graffiti Solutions on 0845 126 5555

The three fine pieces of graffiti in Chichester pictured above are the result of an exhibition organised by Street Art London.  These particular examples of street art grace the walls of Chichester College, there are a dozen other pieces scattered around the City, including everybody's favourites: Stik People.

These trio at Chichester College are by (from the top) French artist Dscreet, a collaboration between Phlegm and RUN and a wonderful piece by The Rolling People. 

Here's a bit more detail of The Rolling People's vandalism.   With a few words from the Chichester Observer comments section.


 Mr Lawson Baker stressed he was not talking about graffiti, which was generally illegal and often featured wording: “Someone ignorant might consider it graffiti, but street art is completely different. It’s the difference between an amateur painter and a great artist.”

It's no surprise that this was shrouded in secrecy for a year; if the locals had known, they would have objected because it would upset them. When someone deliberately posts things on the Internet to upset people, it's called "trolling". Let's face it, Neil Lawson Baker has brought trolling into the real world and into Chichester.
 

 While the merits of street art are controversial even in the most modern cities, he has decided to bring it to somewhere that prides itself on tradition. It's about as appropriate as organising a fox hunt with horses and hounds in Islington.

  His frankly juvenile attempts to portray critics as ignorant with, "Someone ignorant might consider it graffiti" are only matched by the frankly juvenile results on the walls of Chichester. The results may be distinctive but you'll find better art in local A level art students' portfolios.

  He goes on to say, "It's the difference between an amateur painter and a great artist." Considering the results and that at least one of them was drinking beer while spraying a wall, it seems reasonable to ask why he invited the amateurs.

Graffiti Removal in Chichester | Reviews - Yell

Boat Show

Acrylics

Yacht White Heather in the North Sea 1929, thenewcornpoppy

Two Brothers, porthole, thenewcornpoppy

QE2, thenewcornpoppy

timbers of the Grace Dieu 1414, thenewcornpoppy

Tickleford Gully, wall and shutters, thenewcornpoppy

Tickleford Gully, wall and door, thenewcornpoppy

another Tickleford Gully wall, thenewcornpoppy

Sara (not her real name), thenewcornpoppy