Saturday, February 18, 2006

8 x 10 Hollywood

Back when I was using film, I had this camera made. It's a beautiful 8 x 10 inch camera with a lovely soft lens just right for the Hollywood portraits I love.

Alas, the move to digital has meant that I never use her and rather than mothball my baby, I've decided to sell her on eBay at the weekend. I have mixed feelings - I was so keen on having this and she is beautiful (but huge) but I'm just not using it. Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Them A Laugh And A KiKi

I first heard ‘Them a Laugh and a Kiki Kiki’ (or ‘Dem a Laugh and a Kiki Kiki’) on my way in to a youth club in St George in Bristol in 1970. 15 years old. It it me in the the face, the ears, made the skin on the back of my neck go hot, cold, shiver up and down.

I had no idea music could sound like this. I huge clanging, kerchanging rhythm, heavy with bass and just designed to make you dance. No idea what the lyrics were about (still don’t) just know this was a joyous sound and I wanted to hear more and more.

My peripheral vision caught the LP sleeve “Tighten Up”. I wanted it, o how I wanted it but I was broke and so was my family and anyhow, my stepfather hated buying clothes for school so how was I going to convince him that he should spend 14/6 (that 14 shillings and sixpence old money or 62p) on an album full of music from Jamaica. By black guys. Singing in patois.

This was the one that started the addiction. More to follow.

Checkout Chaos

Front page of The Times Monday Feb 13, 2006 : “Checkout Chaos. Millions of Shoppers could be turned away from the tills this week because they do not know the PIN for their debit and credit cards.”  It’s an apalling thought that shoppers will be rushing to the supermarkets tonight to complete their weekly shop before the new Chip & Pin system is made compulsory February 14. Queues will obviously stretch around the block as desperate people seek to complete last minute purchases. O me miserum!

Not really. Just like Y2K, this was a non-event. Nothing happened. Yes, a few people will be upset, maybe be even frustrated but this is not news.