Caught On Camera

Some Crazy Moments Photographed On My Travels

I have taken a lot of photos over the years, and always had a camera on me (35mm film), usually due to work, being on holiday or simply traveling.

Sometimes I managed to be in the right place at the right time or wrong depending how you look at it, and captured some strange happenings.

One thing these images have in common are, they happened in front of me and bring back memories of that day, at the time it was just a coincidence that I happened to have a camera, unlike now days most people have a camera on them, in their phones, pens, and even their watches.

I've collected a few of these photos from Spain and included their stories for your entertainment, I hope you enjoy.

Smoke and Flames

First in the series of photographs, a tree burning for no apparent reason in Benidorm Spain, you could see the flames and it looked serious as it loomed over a shop full of people. The Spanish shop keeper climbed up onto his flimsy roof and threw a bucket of water at it which failed to hit the tree.

 

 

Benidorm Costa Blanca

 

 The shop owner evacuated the premisses, cleared his stock first and then called the Fire Brigade and Police.

 

 

Palm Tree Fire

Eventually the Fire Brigade turned up and extinguished the fire. The culprit of the fire, well the clue is in the shop owners mouth, a cigarette. Probably thrown from a window from the apartment block above, apparently this happens often.

 

 Faulty Hand Break 

 

Aguas de Busot

This happened whilst I was working on a house across the road and up the hill in a small Spanish village, a skip lorry – rubbish container. Smashed into the wall, demolishing the kitchen wall and most of the inside, flooding the place, eventually a crane and the police turned up to remove it.

Images taken by ShearArt at the time.

 

 

New work opportunity

After the crane had gone, and several days later, the home owner who was absent at the time didn’t seemed too fazed with what had happened, but he did get a little irritable when I gave him my card and asked if I could give him a quotation for the rebuild. A-B-C.

 

Collapsing Gardens 

 

Rogue Builders

LA Nucia Alicante

I was called to a job after the whole garden had cracked and the patio around the swimming pool had collapsed, next door’s ended up down the mountain after a heavy rain.

 

 

Temporary Repairs

What really happened was the pool guy left a hose on filling the pool and it over ran all night, washed away the mountain. The whole garden had dropped and the owners had people booked into the house for the summer, so he asked us to re-concrete and tile it as if nothing had happened.

 

Risky

The owner had a company build a stack of concrete blocks underneath on top of the collapsing stone hill. They managed to go through the summer without any more movement and then got locked into a legal battle that lasted years with the original Spanish builder. His attitude was, by the time this goes to court he will be retired.

 

Bad Santa 

Drunk on the job

 

This was at Christmas in a Tenerife hotel, the kids waited for Santa to give out gifts but he had other ideas and sat at the bar drinking in full view, it took four waiters half an hour to drag him out, by that time he had blown his cover.

 

The Same Hotel

Speaking of Spanish waiters, these guys risked holding up a ladder so one of them could climb up to change a light bulb, it swung dangerously close to the stairwell window which had a fifty foot drop on the other side. So there’s the answer to that one, it takes four waiters, three to hold the ladder.

This happened all in the same hotel and also my new, at the time expensive cell phone was lifted from a table. The phone company issued me with a new Sim card and the same number, six months later I received a call from a Policeman in Manchester England, they had raided a house and recovered a bag of Sim cards he seemed surprised that I answered. I was not surprised that my phoned wasn’t in the bag with it.

 

Blanket Trip

This bus was on its way to the popular tourist attraction village of Guadalest, inland on the Costa Blanca Spain. The tourists complained of the smoke in the back from the engine but the driver wouldn’t pull over, he eventually did and managed to get everyone out of the bus before it went up in flames. The company, Green tours is no longer running trips.

 

 

 

Crazy Gang

Car Chase Villajoyosa Alicante

I ran out my apartment block late one night to watch a car full of youths chasing down a lad on foot, they drove around the car park at speed chasing him and smashing twenty three cars. The runner hid behind the car in the picture above, so they rammed it. He took a trip to the hospital and a few miles down the road they were apprehended and jailed.

 

Tornado off the coast of Villajoyosa Costa Blanca

Tornado off the coast of Villajoyosa Costa Blanca

28th February 2013

Image ShearArt February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flip Flop Flamenco

 Flip Flop Flamenco - Release date - August.

A sleepy sun drenched Spanish fishing village is about to explode in a raucous gun battle involving thirty ships and the majority of the village taking position on the beach defending themselves and their way of life, whilst a bunch of dysfunctional expats also fight to keep their dreams of living in the sun alive.  

Danny is a shaming debt collector risking the job to realise his dream of becoming a tour operator on the Chinese Junk he had sailed from Hong Kong. A long term friendship is compromised when an old mate treacherously asked him to collect a bag of cash buried in an old monastery in Ireland, the ill-gotten gains of a brutal robbery. The race was on to get back to Spain before the start of the local Moors and Christin's fiesta with startling circumstances.

This enigmatic novel oozes glimpses of no-bull-truth, revealing the naked underbelly of expats on the Costa Blanca. Stirring up a hornet's nest of: murderous gangsters, a sociopathic hotel owner, a quirky cop with an itchy trigger finger, eccentric Indian bar owners. The brutal murder of a young English woman - turned prostitute, forbidden love and a Donkey named Pedro.

Five Star Review Amazon Canada for Streaking For Mother

5.0 out of 5 stars A completely surprising story that was nothing like I was expecting, and it made that much more enjoyable.  2014

By Jimmy Coates

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I loved the overly brash main character who loses his dreams and sets out to heal himself and by doing so, others. It was so easy to grow attachments to the characters as their stories only grew while their pasts were revealed slowly throughout. Do not worry about pace, it unravels at a perfect pace right to the end. The human level and believability mixes so well with the oddness of some of the characters and the actions they take that sparks the equally crazy and fun dialogue. I really enjoyed this book, the story was easy to get into, do not let the Rugby or Sport aspect scare you if you’re not a fan of sports books; this is a much deeper story.

I liked it because it was easy to get into.
I would recommend it to people who like dramatic stories about healing and redemption, with a mix of fun and humor.

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Five Star Review - Streaking For Mother

Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars  2 reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 70's style streaking leads to life changing experiences and to unexpected friends. April 16 2014

By Kay Brown - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This is a poignant novel about a grandstanding rugby superstar who loses his dream but finds his soul. The unusual people that he feels driven to help give him a sense of family and purpose. After learning of his estranged mother's death, he refuses to grieve and returns to the the rugby field. He has goals to reach and records to break until an unexpected stunt during the game ends his chance and drives him to a brutish act. Driven to make amends, he find friends, himself, and at long last his mother.

I enjoyed the creativity of the marketeers in their schemes to advertise. I had an emotional attachment to each person in the group and to his or her individual heartbreaking pasts. The connection of all the characters was unveiled slowly and surprisingly. They all needed hope in their lives. Lady G. first provided each one with positive guidance, and later Ashley helped them face reality and find better lives. Ashley was my favorite character, and I wanted the best for him. I don't want to spoil the book by telling too much so I will just say that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

Mark Shearman is an outstanding author with an innate ability for writing about intriguing characters and plot lines. He always keeps the readers engaged In the story and makes them commiserate with the characters. He crafts great visual imagery with his words. I will continue to read his books just as soon as he writes them. 

 

Streaking For Mother

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Another Five Star Review for Streaking For Mother

Another from Amazon from the US

5.0 out of 5 stars Original in a fun way that will keep you engaged throughout the late night hours April 3, 2014

By Michael

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

In many ways I found “Streaking for Mother” to be witty, and at times thrilling.

What can be said about this book other then it is filled with originality in a fun way that will keep you engaged throughout the late night hours. In “Streaking for Mother” you find that a both a beautiful underwear model and a Rugby player colliding in a fantastic storyline that is sure to engulf the senses. The main character Ashley is developed well and at times I caught myself cheering all the way through.

One of the aspects that I think most will find in Mark Shearman’s writing is his ability to move the story along in a dynamic fashion without sacrificing the quality of work. While at times there is humor, action and thrills in this book, there is yet a deeper message hidden inside the overall plot.

That message remains: How far would you go to help the people you love?

I enjoyed this book. It developed well, the characters were easy to get along with and it flowed perfectly.

5 Stars

Streaking for Mother Amazon Five Star Reviews

Streaking For Mother Amazon UK

The dialogue between Ashley and Nadine is priceless, as good as any Hollywood script. There are moments when my cringes burst into laughter finding myself saying OMG a lot.

The house is reminiscent of a shared house by university students, but ten years older and a touch more manic.

What I liked:

Nadine's character is a sexy feminist, crazy and forgiving.

Yanna is the mother hen again sexy and probably the most level headed.

Spam Solo is a troubled and secretive black man, as geeky as he could be, and a genius with his hands.

Shaun's denial has kept him in the closet all his life. But when it comes to streaking he is king until Ashley comes along.

All have unresolved issues, that's why Ashley is there to help them get through the death of their Matriarch and they are there to straighten out Ashley from a life of a playboy.

They all have to team up and fight off a local councillor and art gallery owner Streaker style - I won't elaborate her it's priceless and again cringe.

The ending was full of twists and a shock.

They don’t streak for the sake of exhibitionism they do it to survive and maintain the lifestyle behind the doors of their Pawnbrokers.

Streaking For Mother Amazon UK

Different, entertaining, at times funny, and moving with a shocking ending.

Entrepreneur collects the abandoned from her Greenwich pawnbrokers, most prized, four twenty something guerrilla marketeers.

She's gone leaving them the responsibility of the business and recruitment of her estranged son, Ashley, England fly-half, playboy and underwear model. The press go out their way to wind him up and his antics keep them in front page material.

Her agenda eventually bonds them in a collection of cringing publicity stunts. The reality he doesn't know their patron was his mother and they don't know that she has died. A councillor, the father of Ashley's ex-girlfriend has his eyes on their property and is going to do whatever it takes to procure it from them, armed with Knowledge of Ashley's scandalous family past.

They band together and fight using their skills as Streakers and guerrilla marketers. And set up a risky stunt to expose the councillor in more ways than one.

It soon becomes apparent to Ashley the reason he is in the house is to finish were his mother left off and help these people come to terms with her death and also help them move on. He unselfishly gives up everything

Highly recommended.

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A cynical, famous underwear model, and infamous international Rugby player, despondent and guilt ridden because of a terrible mistake, finds redemption from helping the Streakers who ruined his chances of a world record.

After moving in with this bunch of dysfunctional guerrilla marketeers he discovers all isn't what it seemed and finds out his life is being controlled by his estranged mother from beyond the grave.
His mother is also the patron of a large pawn brokers and the Streakers Matriarch who believe her absence is temporary. It soon becomes apparent to Ashley she has left him with no choice but to help them move on with their lives and come to terms with her untimely death.

Ashley has made enemies too. He is viciously attacked, sent threatening message, and attempts are made to destroy him in the media - both professionally and personally. With his new house mates by his side, they must discover and deal with his pursuer Streaker style.

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My Rooster/Cockerel Collection

Cock-a-doodle-doo Collectables

The first cockerel I bought, was from a market stall in Torgau, a Saxony town on the banks of the Elbe, Germany. I was working on a hospital, building an extension in the early 90's. A jolly rotund fellow ran a small imbus in the main hospital, he used to serve us coffee complete and a Frikadelle at lunch times, so it was a shock to see him behind a market stall at the weekend. After the initial eye-flashing recognition; him half nodding to the products on display. I scanned his stall for a guilt buy, picked up a weird scruffy looking cockerel.

Every time I came a cross it memories come flooding back. I made a point of picking up a cockerel wherever I travel, not so much going out my way, just if I happen upon an unusual one. My collection consists of German Hähnchen, French jeune coq, Spanish gallo joven, American Roosters and cockerels from around the UK in the form of sculpted pieces in metal, ceramics and wood carved, to hand-painted plates and paintings.

I have included some from my collection that were gifts from people and will be adding more when I find them in those boxes not yet unpacked in the garage.

Image by ShearArt 

Spanish Gallo joven

 

  This one was actually in my Christmas stocking found on a market in the Jalon Valley Alicante

German Hähnchen

My first one from Torgau Germany.

Spanish Gallo Joven

 

This one was from an Artist In Tenerife The Canary Islands 

French jeune coq

 

This was a gift from French Girl in Châteaubriant Loire Valley France 

Spanish Gallo Joven

 

This one again from Spain and a gift from my parents years ago from Villajoyosa Costa Blanca, this is made out of iron.

American Rooster

 

This was from an Americana shop on Spain's Route 66 Ruta De La Plata "Silver Trail"

Painted Cockerel

 

  This one was also a gift from a friend in Nottingham Hand painted made out of wood.

Cockerel - Gallo - Rooster

 

An artist made this one out of tin and it doubles up as a money box from Fuentes AlgarCosta Blanca

 'Alektorophobia' the fear of roosters and chickens in general

Micro-distilling Whiskey Rebellion

Boutique booze is big business, the number of licenced micro distillers are exploding on to the market from craft distillers. Before, you needed to be backed up by millions, and could afford to wait four or five years before you started seeing a return from sales, nowadays aging techniques have cut down the waiting time to under a year and a half and the options on the size of a still set up are smaller, thus making it possible to have a start-up for well under a million, premises, licencing and labour costs, notwithstanding.

In England and Wales, they may soon be having their own whisky revolution, as some barriers are coming down and licences are being granted to small scale distillers as low as 350 litres, which is well below the archaic minimum, but there is the added problem of obtain an excise warehouse (bond).

 

The Origin and History Of Scotch Whisky 

 

The Origins and History of Scotch Whisky go back hundreds of years and was first distilled in Scotland, hence the name Scotch. The term whisky is from Gaelic: 'uisge beatha' meaning, lively water. The process of distillation has been around for centuries, from ancient Egyptians, producing perfumes, to 3rd century Greeks distilling chemicals, but not at this time for alcohol.

The spirit commonly made in monasteries, was widely known by medieval Latin distillers as aqua vitae 'lively water', and also known as 'water of life' because it was used for medicinal intendment: for longevity of life, relief of palsy, colic and smallpox. In 1505, Edinburgh Surgeon Barber's monopolies the distillation of aqua vitae, this fact again, enhancing its perceived medicinal properties. King James IV was fond of ethyl alcohol, and visited Dundee a year later paying a barber for a supply of aqua vitae.

Scotch as it is usually referred was originally made from malt barley it was not until the latter half of the eighteen century that distillers started to use wheat and rye. Scottish whisky is divided into five categories: single grain, blended grain, single malt, blended malt and blended Scotch whisky. Whisky is kept in oak barrels and aged for at least three years.

The first written recording of whisky was in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1495. A friar from Lindores Abbey, Fife called John Cor was the distiller. The etched entry was for eight bolls of malt and said to be sufficient to produce over 500 bottles of aqua vitae.

The Union Act with England in 1707, raised taxes dramatically. The popularity of whisky attracted the attention of the Scottish parliament, introduced the malt tax at the end of the 17th century. Increasing rates of taxation drove the distillers underground forcing over half of the Scottish whisky output to become illegal.

Smuggling was standard practice for a 150 years with no moral imputation attached. Clever ways were thought of to store and transport the illicit spirit including storage space made available under pulpits and transported in coffins, this all to allude the watchful eyes of the Excise men or Gaugers.
By the time the 1820s came around over14,000 felonious stills were being commandeered annually, almost half the whisky consumed in Scotland was illegal.

The Duke of Gordon a forerunner in the illicit and high quality distillation of whisky propose in the House of Lords that whisky production should be legalized making it profitable for the government. In 1823, the British passed the Excise Act, legalizing distillation for a license fee of 10 pounds; this eventually put an end to smuggling and the making of the bootleg brew.

Geographically whisky is spelled differently with America and Ireland adding an e changing it to whiskey, apparently to distinguish their higher quality product from the poorer Scottish flavour at the time. Today, Scotch whisky has evolved into one of the greatest spirits the world over. Alexander Walker created a blended whiskey in 1820, in Kilmarnock adding to the Origins and History of Scotch Whiskey and becoming the best-selling brand of Scottish whisky today known as Johnnie Walker.

Running of the Nudes/Bulls

Bull Running Or Nude Running?

Working for a Spanish Company refurbishing a large hotel in Benidorm, had its challenges, although the work and systems were the same as in other countries, my limited Spanish at the time was frustrating, especially as this company would take a two hour lunch break in a local bar/restaurant, so I would sit there listening.
One day we sat down for the menu of the day, and the conversation got heated amongst the older crew members and the younger ones, the bosses son started shouting (to me this was the normal way the Spanish conversed) but this time his father promptly stud up and pushed the table aside clenched fist and nose to nose, they eventually calmed down.
I later found out it was an on ongoing argument about Bull fighting, the father disliked his son's point of view that bull fighting was inhumane.
A view-point the younger generation are adopting more and more.
I asked my daughter and her friends who are Spanish teenagers and they seemed to be firm that they are against it, as if they have in fact disgust it and think that it will not be long before it stops.

San Fermin

What is it that the Spanish find fun about killing bulls?

The Spanish people I have spoken to on the subject of bull fighting and who support it, say it's simply a part of the culture and an ancient tradition, when people think bull fighting they think Spain and as for whether they think it is inhumane, the answers are often ambiguous with examples of other countries sports:

Cockfighting, spider and bug fighting are still popular in the Philippines amongst adults and children.
In Thailand Betta fish fighting is still legal.
Not to mention the illegal ones that still happen like badger baiting in the UK and canary and Dog fights in the USA .

Spain can trace its bullfighting origins back to 711A.D and even though people are saying that it is becoming less popular, thousands attend bullfights each week.

The Spanish aristocracy was stopped from attending bullfights by King Felipe V as it was said to be a bad example, so the lower classes continued it.

Now I'm not going to force my opinion here but I will say I have been to a bull fight and won't ever be going back.

Bull running is often thought of separately from bull fighting yet the reason they are driven through the street is to get to the ring ready to be killed by a Matador (Killer)

The two most popular bull running events are feast of San fermin Pamplona and Denia's Bous a la Mar Festival

Denia is the bull running event that is held at the water's edge and bulls end up jumping or falling into the sea from the harbour wall.

Pamplona is the biggest and considered to be the wildest party on earth.

The bull running tradition started in 1591 as practical operation of herding the bulls to the arena. Butchers eventually drove the bulls as they had an interest at the end.

Now days Pamplona bull run is a global attracting as well as a community event. People from all over the world attend the event and are either supporters or activists.

The activists demonstrate through the streets against the inhumane treatment to bulls that occurs during and after the running of the bulls, referred to as the annual 'Running of the Nudes', most wear little more than red scarfs, horns and signs.

The majority wear underwear, with slogans temporary tattooed across their buttocks and body paint mottoes on various parts. Local authorities forbid protesters parading totally naked and some ignore the authorities as usual.

Hoards of people cram into the square as a rocket is fired from the town hall balcony to start off the fiesta this is called the chupinazo the words Pamploneses - Viva San Femin are spoken and the party explodes and goes on for a week, finishing with the song "Poor Me" Pobre de mi".

The nudes have attracted more interest, crowds and publicity to this July event.

More facts about Fiesta de San Fermin Pamplona running of the bulls 

 

 OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NUDE

 

Running of the Nudes

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 Running of the nudes

 

Mass Naked Protest

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