The advance copies of my new book have just arrived: one UK, one US. I still find this exciting! The cover illo is by Karim Rashid. ISBN is 978 1 85669 533 6. Publisher is Laurence King.
It was an unexpected delight to see smoke over Hove station as I exitted Ellen's 50th at Ralli Hall around 11pm. I knew it was Lord Nelson, but it should have been at Hove much earlier (21.20 according to the tour company's website, on its way back from Bristol). I was a little bit drunk so the whole thing was like an amazing dream! I do have the albeit wobbly photos to prove it was real tho. Earlier in the day I'd been in Worthing to lend support to the launch of the Artists and Makers Festival. Dan had been up at 9am with young Edward to spot the Lord from a Worthing footbridge (without smoke deflectors). It was also the occassion of a handing over of a petition to the Mayor to save Elisabeth Frink's 'Desert Quartet' sculptures from being removed by the developer who was supposed to have 'gifted' them to the town. Alison Lapper was to have done it but she was late (but in time for the photos -- see some in Facebook). I had a quick look round Worthing - noting that the 'New Amusements' sign on the pier has been replaced by 'Pier Amusements', bought some chilli beer from Stumpy on the farmers' market, plus some BOGOF brocolli ('picked that morning', that would only go to feed the pigs if I didn't buy it!), and did a turn in the festival shop. Then it was a quick trip to snap the other big heads at Amelia Park, and a dash into Lidl for Norwegian smoked salmon. This morning I felt a bit rough and listening to the rain belting down outside decided not to do my planned Clarion ride around Littlehampton.
Went along to Cafe Scientifique last night for the first time, at the Branch Tavern. It's a bit like the Catalyst Club, only there's just one speaker, and it's free! Pint of Courage Best in my hand I went upstairs to listen to Steve Ashley of the National Physical Laboratory and Uni of Surrey (my old stamping ground) talk about 'Radiation in the strangest of places', basically arguing that naturally occuring Radon gas is much more of a worry than human-made radiation, although there are some surprising highly radio-active artefacts around: the luminous instruments of a Lancaster bomber for example, in home smoke alarms, and in glassware. I put Steve up overnight in my lodgers' room and asked him to test with his Geiger counter the two Pilkington's Royal Lancastrian vases I bought at an antique shop in Compton over 20 years ago, which I've always suspected may have a Uranium glaze. Alarmingly, it made as much noise with the vases as it did when he waved it over a lump of pitchblende back at the Branch Tavern!
Popped along to the Kemp Town Karnival on Saturday to sample some of Luca's pancakes, but she was busy so I had a slice of anchovy and onion pizza round the corner (and bought another courgette plant to replace the one eaten by snails). Further along the Max Miller Appreciation Society had a stall and I was lucky enough to catch a set by Mark 'Uke' Walsh doing a few George Formby numbers. It was strange to see Max Millers, Morris Men and Bretons all in the same patch.
One of my favourite albums of all time is a 1965 compilation from Decca called R&B which featured John Mayall, Alexis Korner, Graham Bond and Zoot Money's Big Roll Band. Since then Zoot's appeared with GRIMMS and Vivian Stanshall, amongst many others, and is still touring, with the British Blues Quintet, featuring Zoot (keyboards and vocals), Colin Allen (drums), Colin Hodgkinson (bass), Miller Anderson (guitar) and Maggie Bell (vocals). I can't remember ever seeing Zoot live, but on Saturday night I did, in a marquee by Shoreham Beach, part of the Adur Festival. Zoot was in fine voice, and for the first time I noticed a Mose Allison influence. Maggie (ex-Stone the Crows) was belting them out too and soon had the audience of a certain age bopping on the dance floor! Guitarist Miller (from Houston, Scotland!) was in great form - you could almost imagine Clapton in the room! All except the drummer took at turn at vocals. A truly all-star lineup. Harvey's was on offer, but at 3 quid a pint!
Earlier that day I was on the Brighton leg of the World Naked Bike Ride (though not, you'll be glad to hear, naked!). Friday night I was down the Komedia again to see John Shuttleworth in his new show 'With my condiments'. Laser screeder from Goole Dave Tordoff opened, followed by a brief video of his life and ambitions, then John was straight on with lots of new songs: 'Chef from Sheffield' and 'Tummy Trouble' in the first half; 'Heartache and heartburn' and 'Serial cereal eater' in the second. Very catchy and singalong-to. He ended with the relatively recent favourite 'I can't go back to savoury now' (available to see on U-Bend, err YouTube) then did an encore of oldies: 'Eggs and Gammon', 'Y-Reg', and of course 'Pigeons in flight'. Then he came back for a 2nd encore: 'Mary had little lamb (green beans and new potatoes)' and finally a poignant 'Dandelion and Burdock' (we'd already had a very poignant 'From a father to a son'). What with 'Mutiny of the Bounty' (Mars of Slough, you've really done it now), 'Life is like a salad bar' and 'Two margarines', it's remarkable how many of John's songs are food related! A top night out from Sheffield's premier entertainer. Download his latest EP (extra portions) 4 Rather Tasty Tracks for just £1.99 at his website.
