Mods and Rockers (by sarah)

I love motobikes and mopeds and that sort of thing in general - yes I am one of those people that like vintage cars and funky sports cars.

So the other week we were in Morrisions in Cheltenham when I spotted these babies out side the window - apologies for the poor quality of the photographs they were taken through glass.

There was a four wheeler there too 🙂 The guys the belonged too were sitting not far from us wearing Mods and Rockers T-shirts much to my dad's amusement. I think one of them may have been his age but the others were all younger.

Mods and Rockers as popularised by the film Quadraphenia was a sixties phenomina where those that rode motobikes and those who rode mopeds dressed differently and listened to different types of music. They were seen as gangs and a series of riots were blamed on them.

My dad says it wasn't really like that at least not where he lived. He got teased for riding a moped dressed as a Rocker instead of mod but later on had a motorbike and him and his friends all rode about together with a mash up of vechiles not smashing the place up though they did apparently get chucked out of a pub family room for swearing or something.

This is my favourite track from Quadraphenia.

And this is my second favorite.

The album is deeper than the film in my opinion especially as the film never explains the title. Thought the film leaves me with a lingering sadness, the struggle of disconnected youth trying to find where they fit into society whilst not wanting to end up as nothing but a puppet, a clone and boring person and yet they crave stability.

And of course drugs sort of fluffs it all up but mainly it is a desperation and loneliness that bites the protagonist too the core.

I still prefer just the album.

A Little Bit Of Random and Things I Learnt (by sarah)

Saturday was the last day of my Science-Art Exhibition and I went along to the Arts Cafe to meet with friends who were coming along to see it and too work on my visual poetry journal.

At five o'clock I took it down - this happened alot quicker than putting it up. Nothing other than some post cards sold but quiet a few people came along to see it.

The main comments were, 'I really like that picture but I am a student or out of work or have just been told my contract wont be renewed...' There simply is not the spare money at the moment for your average person to buy art. Other artists have said they have had similar. But it wasn't really about the selling it was about the exhibition - however I would have liked to recoup the money spent on frames etc... but that is not money wasted as I now have a bunch of framed pics.

Also I learnt that framers can be unreliable, bought frames are rubbish and flimsy and looking into it we have decided to make our own in future.

Other things learnt are - some spray mounts are better than others and price is not an indicator of which is which. Do not mount on grey card as everyone thinks you've just put it straight on the frames back board - I assume the same goes from brown. Get frames that leave a boarder around all sides of the picture as it looks better.

Severn Print are amazing life savers and even if lots of people say they are going to contribute and take part in something most of them will pull out as the event nears.

Alaric is amazing at getting me out of such a pickle with trips to buy last minute canvases to paint and so much more.

The whole thing would not have been possible without my parents help and of course Centre Arts who helped me sort the mountings out when they slipped that first day and didn't shout!

I came back somewhat deflated from the gallery having missed the Bristol Minni Maker Fair and the meal afterwards with friends - though other friends had tea and cake with me at the centre which sort of made up for it 🙂

Also Seth and Tanu came home with Alaric and we had a lovely random time with Seth making my guitars sound much better than I can ever make them 🙂

Bitcoin Mining (by alaric)

A few folks lately have asked me what Bitcoin mining is all about, and how it works, and I've not seen an explanation that focusses on this at the right level, so I'm writing my own.

Read more »

Bitcoin and Banks (by alaric)

The existing financial industry isn't exactly welcoming Bitcoin with open arms. Paypal regard bitcoin as a currency and their terms of service disallow currency purchases, while where I live in the UK, Bitcoin exchanges keep having their UK bank accounts closed (which is a problem, as wire transfer is generally the best way to get your pounds sterling into the Bitcoin exchange).

Clearly, there's a strong case for the current banking system to see Bitcoin as a competitor, but it's a bit more complex than it seems; Bitcoin only competes with part of the banking business. Read more »

Easter Egg Hunt With Cranham Scouts (by sarah)

Wednesday evening I organised an easter egg hunt for the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. The Beaver leader organised games and Alaric sorted out camp stuff with the parents.

I put chocs and chicks and stickers into plastic eggs.

I also made dairy free chocolates for the children with special dietry requirements.

We had a campfire for the Scouts and their's was done in the dark after the two younger sections had gone home. I had rabbit and duck marshmallows for toasting, hot cross buns of various varieties - again toasted on sticks.

Then I had creme egg splats and as it is Nation Science and Engineering Week and I had gone in to help with their astronomy badge a few weeks previously I created a came called Splats for Facts. They loved this game even though I had inflicted The Little Chicken Song on them all whilst their egg trail was being laid (some of the eggs where in the trees!).

I ended the night by telling Jean a Horice The House Dragon story - it was a continuation of one I've been telling her for a while but off course all made up on the spot. To my amazement I ended up with a group of teenagers all sitting around listening to it and even those I thought weren't listening were as they answered questions about what the story was about to those who arrived back a bit later from the hunt. They seemed very impressed that it was made up of the top of my head 🙂

It was a lovely evening and I took video of the fire and played with my camera in the hope of using the footage for something arty later on!

I took lots of low light level pictures of trees 🙂