Yesterday was the first warm day of the year - the first time I wasn't freezing cold since the autumn.
We went out for the afternoon to Brighton.
It's never really been my favourite place. Too much of a rip off and just a little bit sleazy really.
But there's a very fine pier;
........and everything you could want from a traditional seaside resort;
And of course, where else would you want to go if you are a MOD?
But Brighton has always been a bit sinister, a bit violent just as in Graham Greene's novel 'Brighton Rock', set amongst the 1930's razor gangs and the 'Bookmakers Protection League' gang wars up at the race track.
We had a walk along the seafront but I was suffering a bit - feeling ill and with a nosebleed for a lot of the time.
Still, I cheered up when I saw The Grand Hotel, site of the assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher.
Thatcher destroyed so many peoples lives, that I can't help wondering every so often, how life would have turned out if the IRA had been a little more accurate in 1984.
We wandered off and walked around 'The Laines', a little rabbit warren of old streets which used to be the centre of the antiques trade on the south coast.
These days it's mainly jewellery and posh, scented shops.
We looked into the excellent Fisherman's Museum which has taken over a couple of the arches on the seafront;
Although we disgraced ourselves by falling about laughing at some old cine film they were showing.
I can recommend it as probably the best tourist attraction in the city.
I couldn't resist a look at Volks Electric railway, which runs along the seafront.
It's now the oldest surviving electric railway in the world having been built in 1883.
It's a big part of summer on the seafront;
Although it's a struggle to keep it open these days;
I've grumbled about Brighton; the tourists, the whole rip-off of it all.
What I like is the alternative Brighton - Gay and Lesbian Brighton, skateboard punk rockers, a slightly crazy Brighton.
I like galleries and art shops that sell things like this;
Or bags like this;
And I like graffiti artists, although there wasn't as much as I remember. I did like this;
Quite a lot;
I ended up collapsed on the pier just soaking up the sun until at 5-30 (like Cinderella) we had to leave.
I am the lucky holder of a disabled parking badge these days and we were able to park on the seafront, free of charge for 3 hours.
You have no idea what a luxury that is, until you have to walk back to the car!
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me; neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
We had a great night out on Saturday - at The Blue Anchor, Byfleet where we saw old friends.........
.......and enjoyed a night out with 'The Serious Chord Squad' one of my favourite bands;
SQS are Darren, Mike, Vere and Andrew and formed when 'The Highs' split up. They've been banging out MOD classics, some Soul, Paul Weller, some Jam and Style Council and a bit of Britpop for about a year now;
They're more raw, there's more energy - just the way I like it - a great night that only ended at midnight.
There were some great, classic Rhythm and Blues;
A real MOD night out!
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
This is a depressing sight; my parka lying on top of the wheely bin and later on today its going into the rubbish.
I've had it for about 14 years, wearing it through thick and thin. Mainly it's been thin really, if I'm honest. I did wear it on a few adventures - including a couple of wild trips to the continent but a lot of the time it's been trips to hospitals.
Sadly it's been worn out for a while; there are some rips and I've been trapped by the zip a couple of times and couldn't get out.
Grrrrrh!
The final straw was when Robyn told me that I looked like I'd been in a fight with a duck and lost - the down had started leaking all over me.
It's sad because it's probably the first time I've ever been without a Parka in my wardrobe and it's really part of me.
I've had cheap silly kids parkas and I've had original German NATO fishtail Parkas as well as everything in between but I've always had one somewhere.
It's a symbol of being a MOD, the ultimate symbol of straight up two fingers, What'cha gonna do about it, in your face rebellion.
And while I've been fitfully looking around shops and even on the net, the truth is there's a big hole in my wardrobe right now.
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
I've been ill this last week and it's all been a bit dull - these pictures are from the week before when I found myself killing an hour or so in Basingstoke.
The last time I was there I wandered into the town's Art Gallery and Museum and they were 'between' exhibits. The walls were stripped and painted white, ready for the paintings to arrive and to be hung.
I joked with the attendant that it was a fine display of minimalism.
This time the pictures had arrived and I had a little treat. The exhibition is 'Defining Moments - A journey through British Modern Art' and it has assembled a small collection of paintings the curator feels are representative of all the major movements of British Modern Art over the last century or so.
It would certainly be ideal for a school trip - for me?
Actually, yes it worked.
Rather like if a businessman had paid a dealer to put together "one of each, please".
I really liked this; 'Skewed relief' by Peter Lowe of 'Systems Group'.
And I was knocked out by this little picture by Terry Frost, representing the 'St. Ives Group'. I know Frost is part of St. Ives but he was very much a latecomer.
My interest was because I associate Frost with large scale prints in big blocks of primary colours - this is right from the beginning when he turned up in Cornwall looking for an education after the war.
It's a very simple little abstract, full of the alleys and corners of St. Ives,
I also like Peter Wyndham-Lewis's 'The Vorticist' from 1912;
Both eminently 'stealable' paintings!
I'm a long term fan of Bridget Riley so I enjoyed this print;
Untitled and undated but definitely of the 1970's.
There were some other fine pictures but by this time I was stopped from taking pictures.
The older part of the building is a town museum but the archaeological section was shut.
We wandered around a history of life in Basingstoke which included this representation of a 1950's/1960's kitchen;
Much of which I grew up with and quite a lot of still remains in my Mum's kitchen now!
The art is on at The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery until 16th April and is free to visit.
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
We had a treat!
Well, it was a grim week, we had to get out.
I'm not going to tell you what we did till tomorrow because I've got to wait for Robyn to send me her pictures but we had to go up to London;
We got off at Piccadilly Circus to walk up Regent Street and look at the Christmas lights and nose into the expensive shops along the way.
People were wearing Christmas pullovers and hats, there were office parties looking slightly embarrassed and lots of happy shoppers.
There was a photo shoot - hey it's London!
And I absolutely had to go to Carnaby Street which always has the best lights;
I wonder who this old MOD is in his Parka?
I was here in the 1960's and it was shabby and full of Hippy tat.
It's more cool these days even if it is a bit corporate;
We couldn't get a picture but there were three shops in a row that just sum me up - Levi's jeans, Ben Sherman shirts and Dr Martens shoes - that's all my shopping sorted out;
It's become a home for us MODS, which I don't think it ever really was in the old days. It certainly wasn't when I was young;
Then we went to Liberty's which has to be just the nicest shop in London, even if it's outrageously expensive.
It's a huge shame that the private venture capital company that now owns it has done away with the bay windows which used to be filled with the most wonderful displays but they still have the florist at the front door;
And a grand display in the atrium;
It's a product of the 19th century 'Arts and Crafts' movement which is not my thing but it's a fairy tale at Christmas.
Also it reminds me of 'The Slaviansky Bazaar' which was a Czarist era restaurant in Moscow which survived in all its glory until the Yeltsin age when it was burnt down in an argument between rival gangsters;
There were lots of decorations wherever we went;
And a quick visit to the most impressive pub in London - 'The Argyll Arms on Argyll street;
It was built as a convenient bar near 'The London Palladium' and it has a truly theatrical interior with private little drinking areas and ornate ceilings and glasswork.
No time for a drink though, we were short of time - we had an urgent appointment.
We still had time to take in Oxford Street, Robyn's bank and a walk through Soho though.
Oh, we also had a Burger King which Robyn really enjoyed;
Then we had to get off we had an appointment........more of that tomorrow.
I had a tough week, feeling fairly ill most of the time but today I was feeling good.
If I tell you that after our busy day and our exciting evening we went Christmas shopping at midnight you'll get an idea.
I think I'm paying for it now!
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
After our draining Monday we went to our Jazz Club at The Red Lion, Isleworth armed with a Christmas Stollen to say thank you to the friends who helped us in the morning.
As it turned out, one of them doesn't eat sweet things?!
But I was in for a real treat - just about my favourite line up.
Trevor Tomkins as ever provided some immaculate drums.
This is Simon Spillett looking immaculate in his MOD suit and a narrow tie straight out of the 1960's.
Now who do I know who dresses like that?
I love his playing and the choice of music was very much in my Thelonius Monk and Charlie Parker world.
Next to him is Roger Beaujolais on Vibes - we even got a Milt Jackson solo from him;
On the back row you can see Alec Dankworth playing Bass and John Critchinson on keyboards;
But both Robyn and me were shattered after our day, lets hope it worked out OK.
But Monday night?
That was magical.
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
We had a treat on Saturday night - a first chance to see 'Get Ready' playing at the Egham British legion.
'Get Ready' are Rob on guitar, Boz on bass, John on drums and above all Pippa on lead vocals. We've followed Pippa Smith for a while and it was great to see her again, in good voice and with an appreciative audience;
Here's their Facebook description;
"Get Ready are a Mod band, embracing the style and music of the modernism era and culture. Playing classic songs ...from the 'style' decade of the 1960s, as well as some floor stomping Northern soul, we are a Mod band with a difference. Get Ready play songs that influenced and are ingrained in the mod psyche".
They played a combination of the great 1960's female vocalists, Motown and Northern Soul which is just my kind of night; it's been a while for me.
That's a mixture of being ill, some good bands going under and a number of favourite venues closing.....whatever, it's been too long.
This was treat for any Mod - a long list of great songs sung at the right speed. For any band that means a massive set because back in the 6T's every single was only about two and a half minutes long.
It was also nice to see some familiar faces and not a few snappy dressers too;
And we got a very friendly welcome from a club we were visiting for the first time.
A good evening, a real pleasure.
Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
