BUY
Random musings from an English writer slogging through the trenches of traditional and self-publishing. Following my attempts to eke a living through creative writing, graphic design, whilst writing the kind of novels I like to read.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
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
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
Sunday, March 2, 2014
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).
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.
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.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
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.
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.
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
Mass Naked Protest
Friday, February 28, 2014
Recycle Your Old Curtains And Disused Material Into Wall Art
How To Make Art Canvases From Old Curtains
I have purchased rolls and rolls of canvas over the years,
and in Spain canvas is expensive, still, when I'm creating work for
others, I do use canvas, but for my personal use, I make my own with old
material, dust sheets and curtains.
I first thought of making my own canvases when a friend, moving back to England, brought some thick curtains around to my home for me to use as dust sheets, they worked well on large Frames.
I have created wall art from painting abstracts, adding colour to a room, to small paintings for the kitchen. I have even made some large Pop Art for my daughters room (featuring her of course).
Below are a few sequences of what I do to save a few quid, and make creating canvases more bespoke - I hope they are helpful.
I first thought of making my own canvases when a friend, moving back to England, brought some thick curtains around to my home for me to use as dust sheets, they worked well on large Frames.
I have created wall art from painting abstracts, adding colour to a room, to small paintings for the kitchen. I have even made some large Pop Art for my daughters room (featuring her of course).
Below are a few sequences of what I do to save a few quid, and make creating canvases more bespoke - I hope they are helpful.
DIY Canvas
I make frames from wood, either recycling old pallets or buy some
lengths, cut them to size, glue and staple them together. I also use
damaged picture frames.WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
1. Frame
2. Material/Curtains
3. PVA Glue
4. Staple Gun and Staples
5. White Acrylic
6. Water
7. Paint Brush and Tub
8. Flat Surface
Curtains/Material
This curtain was given to me, I didn't buy them with flowers on (Honest).
This material is thin, so I'm going to use it for two small frames. These paintings will be in Acrylic for the Kitchen.
This material is thin, so I'm going to use it for two small frames. These paintings will be in Acrylic for the Kitchen.
Cut the material to size
Either, offer the frame up and cut around or use a tape measure -
make sure you allow enough material to wrap around the frame.Pva And Water
2 Parts Water 1 Part PVA Glue
If the material is thin, I lay it flat and give it a coat of Pva Glue water mix before attaching it to the frameand then hang it to dry flat.
Position the cloth
Once you have done this, lay it on a flat surface and pull the material over the frame and push out all the creases.It is now ready to be stapled.
Sequencing of Staples
Pull the material tight to remove any creases but not to much that it rips on the corners of the frames.Stapling the corners
Fold the corners over and tuck them in flat and staple them - they
should almost fold themselves, try to do them all the same way.Sealing and strengthening
This also tightens up the material
Stapling finished - Coat it again both sides with the PVA water mix and stand to dry.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Hot Air Ballooning Spain
Floating Above The Scenic Baja Velope Elche Costa Blanca Spain
People at certain stages in their lives, write bucket lists -
things to do before they die. Taking part in a hot air balloon flight
is a popular list item for many people.
In my opinion, hot air ballooning should be on lists way before people start thinking about kicking the bucket. I certainly regret waiting until I hit forty before I tried it. The next thing now is to take flights in other parts of the globe, and also a glass bottom basket flight.
Hot air balloonists, worldwide, keep to traditions and have their own subtle difference.
I definitely recommend Hot Air Ballooning Spanish style.
In my opinion, hot air ballooning should be on lists way before people start thinking about kicking the bucket. I certainly regret waiting until I hit forty before I tried it. The next thing now is to take flights in other parts of the globe, and also a glass bottom basket flight.
Hot air balloonists, worldwide, keep to traditions and have their own subtle difference.
I definitely recommend Hot Air Ballooning Spanish style.
This really is as close as it gets to being in a Hot Air Balloon
Alicante Spain
Is it Safe? - ¿Es seguro?
My Flight - Alicante
As soon as the van pulled up, the crew leapt out and dragged the basket from off of the chase vehicle. On that day, it was in the baja velope Elche. The weather was starting to show promise as we stood and watch the pilot release a small helium-filled black balloon, called a piball. This is to determine the wind direction at different heights and speeds.
The balloon or envelope was rolled out and a member of the crew pulled on a line at the top, two of us were asked to hold the mouth of the envelope open whilst the pilot directed heat from the burners into it with the help of a motor driven fan.
As the balloon starts to take shape and rise off the ground the balloon is balanced and equilibrium is achieved at this point we were asked to get into the basket. As soon as the last person climbed in - a young Spanish couple celebrating her birthday, the crew let go of the basket and the balloon shuttle launch shooting up to 4000 feet.
Positive self-talk at this time helps, but it's not long before you settle down. Looking at the dotted houses and landscape is superb but splash and dash is my favorite, skimming a cross the water and also fields of tall grass.
The low flying 500ft limit rule seemed to be bent a tad as we floated over a small housing estate, you could smell what they were cooking and I'm surprised how many people sunbath naked on their roof terraces - only joking - I'm not surprised.
Once we had landed, and the basket and balloon packed away, we drove up the road to a country house and out came the food and drink, finishing with a toast and a certificate.
What An Amazing Experience!
Cheers Aeroglobo! - gracias por un día fantástico
Champagne toast tradition is maintained from the early days of balloon flight in France using Cava
Above the Clouds
Aeroglobo
Mass Ascension
This is very beautiful! - Esto es muy hermoso!
Wish List
Places and flights on my list from the rocky mountains to the out-back Australia.
- http://www.outbackballooning.com.au/
- http://www.rockymountainhotair.com/
- http://www.africansafariair.com/kenyahotairballoonsafariholidays.html
- http://www.france-balloons.com/balloon-ride,provence.php
- http://www.balloonsoverletchworth.com/
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