"If Music be the Food of Love."

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My neighbour banged on my front door at 2:30am on Friday last.

Can you believe that, 2:30am!

Luckily for him I was still up, 

and tuning the organ’s thirteen Melody pipes for the Regatta at Cookham on Saturday.

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I had to set off at ten o’clock that morning, as I had to be set-up, alongside the river, at 10:30am.

As I waited for the traffic lights on Cookham Bridge, I overheard two blokes who were fishing close by. You see, two cars in front of me was a Hearse and a Funeral Car, and as the lights changed, and we all moved very slowly off over the bridge, one of the fishermen stood up, took off his cap and bowed his head.

When the cars had gone, he put his cap back on, sat back down and carried on fishing.

His mate turns to him and says,

“Pikey, that’s one of the nicest and most respectful things I’ve ever seen you do”

Pike replies, “Well, we were after all, married for nearly 20 years!”

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The regatta field is just upstream from the bridge and alongside Cookham Sailing Club.

The sailing club is here, because it is windy. And of course, wind is something yachtsmen find essential to their sport. It is not something us organ-grinders need in great quantity, just enough to fill our bellows and blow our thirteen Melody pipes!

Last year there was far too much wind everywhere, even without the ‘curried beans‘!

This year there was not so much as a puff.

My pitch this Saturday was just inside the entrance, surrounded by fantastic veteran and vintage cars.

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I was in good company. 

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Just look at the quality (£), oozing out of these Bugatti’s. 

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There were two of these beauties just yards away from me and also the most incredible, irresistible and most desirable ’Bird puller’. (No sorry, I got carried away.) It was an extremely elegant and attractive (£) Rolls Royce.

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I set up my tent and unloaded all my music, beer, bunting, bacon butties and organ.

It was a good pitch, as my playing attracted people as they came in. I say ’people’ but it was really the children that loved the sounds and sights of all my clowns and especially my ’monkey’, or Furry Chimp, to give him his official name.

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When I’m grinding outdoors, I don’t always put up the tent, but here it acts as a screen from the wind, a shade from the sun and of course a dry place for the paper roll music, (and lady friend) if it turns damp.

But as Confucius say -

"Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent".

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This year, as last, I was on my own again. Even though I invited a couple of friends free entry on my pass, it was just Furry Chimp, me and dozens of happy listeners.  

What more could one want?

As I played, I gazed across at those perfectly turned out motors,

And I thought -

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model.

I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull, but that's not the worst of it.

My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close.

My grip on corners is not as great as it once was.

I slip and slide and skid and bump into things, even in the best of weather.

It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed.

My miles per gallon is appalling.

But here's the worst of it -

Almost every time I sneeze, or cough.... either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

It was very crowded this year. I think the glimpse of a bit of blue sky did the trick. As usual they had Dragon boat races most of the afternoon followed by the usual ’Duck race’. 

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You could ‘buy’ a numbered duck for a fiver.

Unfortunately, my duck number 70, stopped on the way downstream to ‘chat-up’ a few birds!

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As I realised I was ‘out for a duck’, I noticed that most of the young children in tow, also looked a bit bored at this mid-stream activity and it was only on hearing and seeing my organ in full blow that their interest picked up. At one stage I felt like one of those Punch & Judy set-ups on the beach. You know, with rows of children sitting in front on the sand.

It was great, and of course they all wanted to give the Furry Chimp a cuddle.

It was a most successful day, with everyone enjoying themselves and my charity collection tub was getting very heavy. I don’t at the moment have a favourite charity that I collect for, and here all donations were collected and distributed by Cookham Rotary Club.

As my dear friend Molly was requesting some more of my videos, I did have a go, but with all the activity, noise from cars and motorbikes, to say nothing of people walking in front of my camera, it was not easy.

Anyway, towards the end of the afternoon, as people thinned out I did get a couple of clips which, as they are not too bad, I shall inflict on you via YouTube.

If it looks as if I am talking to myself - I probably am - it comes with old age!

No. I’m usually thanking people for dropping coins into my pot, asking children not to poke the monkey’s eyes out or making sure they don’t knock the camera off its tripod!

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And this week, as you have all been kind, faithful followers - 

- you get a WOGOF.

“Watch one, get one free”!

No. 

On second thoughts, I had better change it to a BOGOF. 

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Hope you like both of these?

The reason I chose those two tunes, is that they are sort of test pieces, to make sure that your organ valves are operating correctly.

Well ladies, I‘m pleased to say that my organ passed these tests with flying colours!

Years ago, when I was a lad, everything was in ‘Black & White’.

It’s absolutely great now that everything is in flying colours.

Which brings me round to asking -

When you dream in colour, is it a pigment of your imagination?

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“If Music be the food of Love - Play on.”

(And I can serenade any ladies,
at anytime.

at UncB@BTintranet.com)!!!!!

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Prize Winning Model Aeroplanes

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At last I have found a use for this

very unusual piece of music from the 1930's.

As some of you may already know,

my Dad was in the RAF during the war.

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(Wish I had my Dad's good looks.)

He was a maintenance engineer on ground crew,

and as far as I know, he never got round to

learning to fly.

He went up on the planes for 'test flights',

and once told me how he was involved

in 'target towing'!

His job was to sit in the rear of a Westland Lysander and wind out a wind-sock behind the plane. The gunners on the ground would take pot-shots at the wind-sock for practice!!!

I understand, they used blanks rather than live ammunition.

Whilst in the RAF he got into building model aircraft in his spare time. Some were made out of Perspex and some from solid brass.

These were not meant to fly, they were more of the sort of thing, to sit on the mantle-piece at home.

After he got 'de-mobbed' I remember him coming home with this huge model aeroplane kit.

It was a flying model of a Lysander, similar to the one he did the 'target towing' in.

The war must have ended before he got round to building it.

It lay there, up in the loft, for probably twelve years,

before he thought I was good enough to build it.

Well I did, and the finished model won First Prize

in a Model Engineering Exhibition.

(Yes Helen, I still have the certificate somewhere!)

I also know there is a photograph of the finished model somewhere,

although I have still to track it down in Dads vast hoard of old pictures and negatives.

What I did find however, were a couple of pictures of other models I built way back around 1958. (I was sixteen then.)

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A four engined Handley Page Halifax.

(This model won the First Prize the following year.)

After this I was banned! (Only joking.)

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Another picture of the Halifax,

this time with a model Hurricane.

We even had a "Workshop Manual".

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(This is actually a spoof for Angus!)

About sixteen years ago, I took Dad down to Brooklands,

to see the restoration of a Wellington bomber,

which had been recovered from the bottom of a lake.

There was a bit of a museum there with lots of Vintage bits including this Rolls Royce engine from a Hurricane.

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His Baby!

Dad knew where every 'nut & bolt' came from,

even after fifty odd years!

I could probably write a book on all the goings on

connected with aircraft. Brother Colin took up flying and even now my nephew Owain represents Britain in the Microlight flying competitions.

But what started me on this rambling old blog,

was when, on one of my riverside walks, I noticed a chap flying a radio controlled model aircraft in the 'regatta' field where I had been playing a couple of weeks earlier.

From here down - is now OUT of DATE.

Now take a peek at this.

He has a wee camera under the planes wing, and using an electric motor,

it is powered up to a couple of hundred feet and then it glides around filming.

The motor runs for about 30 seconds at the start.

As it glides around, you can see terrific views of the Thames, Cookham and even Bourne End in the distance.

JUST MY LUCK.

After all this effort - the chap has closed his

YouTube account!

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Sometimes I think I'll just give up!

Sorry. This has made a right mess of my blog.

This is the sort of thing us brothers could have only dreamt of, all those years ago when we were young 'aero-modellers'.

And just to finish.

One of those trees in the arial shots is no more.

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It blew down into the river a couple of weeks ago.

A week earlier I was standing just yards away

playing the organ on a similar windy day.

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A Film Premier!

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I made Cookham meadows on time yesterday.

And I'm pleased to say, it stayed dry all day,

which is the most important aspect of 'Outdoor Grinding'.

My pitch was right alongside the river, and consequently found myself in a Force 2 1/2 gale!

I started playing at 11am and went on until about 5pm.

Certainly good for the muscles in the right arm!

I didn't get round to taking loads of pictures this year,

as I couldn't leave the organ unattended.

So I set up the camera on its tripod,

and had a go at a 'self portrait'

What a hoot!

Now don't laugh!

I'm still a beginner!

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The dogs didn't think much of it,

but the children adored the Monkey,

and

I don't think the parents minded,

as

my two collecting pots

were quite heavy by 5 o'clock.

A Birthday I shan't forget.

I didn't get a pee all day -

until I got home at six!!!!!

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A Day by the River. (Again)

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Today is the day of Cookham Regatta.

I was there last year as a spectator,

and did my usual 'write-up'.

Now, as I'm very busy this morning, I am going to cheat again,

and repeat last years 'do' for any who missed it.

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From where I sit, prodding at this keyboard with one finger, I can look out across the Thames and up the hill on the opposite side. That is Winter Hill and is in Berkshire.

Up on top of this hill is Cookham Dean. On the eastern approach to the hill, is Cookham Rise and finally, down at river level is Cookham Village where I once lived.

Years ago it was quite a round trip to either Marlow bridge or Cookham bridge to get across to Winter Hill. Today we have a footbridge added to the side of the old Great Western Railway Bridge.

Saturday found me crossing here on the way to ‘suss out’ the goings on at Cookham Regatta. As I crossed I managed to catch the ‘ Magna-Carta’, a floating hotel, on it’s way upstream from London to Henley. A week on here will put you back a ‘pretty penny’ but for some reason seems to be priced in American dollars!

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Here’s a holiday for you Jan?

I have walked the tow path to Cookham many, many times over the last forty odd years and gazed at the expensive mansions back on the Buckinghamshire side.

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A favourite of mine - the Thames Slipper launch.

This regatta thing was all a bit of fun really,

mainly larking about in rafts, canoes and things called ‘Dragon Boats’.

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I have to admit I was not greatly enthused,

so I sought out the beer tent,

and then went in search of some old friends.

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I met up also with two friend from my ‘working’ days, Chris with one of his old Wolseley‘s and Howard who had brought along a couple of his vintage motorbikes.

There was a very good turn out of vintage vehicles considering it was called a Regatta.

The one that really caught my eye - and camera - was this huge American automobile!

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Complete with an American style snack.

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Later in the afternoon was the usual ‘Duck Race’.

£5 a ticket - £100 First prize.

Loads of yellow plastic ducks thrown in the river at the start.

First past the post takes the money.

A slight snag this year.

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A narrow-boat decides to do a run through and sets the ducks all amok!

No, they didn’t have a re-start.

And if you had spare £20, you could ‘splash out’ on a nicely carved wooden one.

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To finish, another of my favourite Thames boats - a wooden skiff.

I have rowed many miles up and down the river in one of these.

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And there is of course, my YouTube bit -

"Down beside the Riverside".

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And what shall I be doing this year?

Well, celebrating my 'nth' Birthday -

by - Playing there!

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Must go and load up the organ.

The Regatta awaits,

the Beer Tent is ready,

and the beer is getting warm!

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Sunny Days in Old Amersham

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Wow! We've certainly had some heat around these parts.

We've also had our fair helping of rain.

But in between the "Sunshine and showers",

I managed a trip to Amersham to listen to "Bands in the Park".

I've blogged about it before but this time,

I though I would add a bit of music and,

in response to a request from Molly,

'pop something up' on YouTube.

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This is of course a 'mixed bag' of pictures,

taken on many different visits.

(You need about 36 photos to fill 3 minutes)

I hope you approve?

I'm no expert at this video lark.

By the way, it plays well in 'Full Screen' mode.

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Hikers, Walkers and 'Road-runners'.

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I'm not really a 'hiker' but I do enjoy a good walk.

My Dad was a keen walker,

and he belonged to several groups in his local area.

When he came down to stay with me for a week, I used to

arrange a nice series of interesting walks.

I didn't take many pictures at the time,

as I only owned a film camera,

but the one below was the day in 1995,

when we ended up at Didcot Railway Museum.

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I like it best if I can start my walks from home

as I did here, up along Winter Hill.

But the weather this last week,

has not been ideal for walking anywhere!

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My road the other day was water from side to side.

It looked more like a canal.

Here's the same bit of road on a sunny morning.

Complete with a 'road runner'.

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This was taken through the front room window.

We have these small fellows all around the area.

I have no idea what they are. You usually see them running and

in fact I've never seen one fly.

Most (dry) mornings, around 6 o'clock,

I will be out on my early morning walk.

More for exercise really and I don't take my camera, but,

recently I have been spotting more of these birds,

out for their early morning peck.

So I have started taking my camera with me and yesterday,

I struck lucky.

Here's one.

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Too far off to identify it.

Here's another couple.

A bit closer

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And finally I managed to get a closer shot.

Not easy as they 'scoot off'' when you get too close.

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So, what are they?

And can you cook them?

No, I'm only joking.

( I know for sure they are not Jenny Wrens! )

Bright and sunny this morn and

Conifer lopping is complete.

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I have to admit though,

that I don't think I've improved the view?

Next task please.

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The Things Cats get up to.

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Last year, at Shabbington Steam Rally,

I was fascinated to watch this display by,

not a 'Sheep Dog' but a

'Duck Dog'!

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Well, this weekend,

Wesley thought he would try his paw at

rounding a few up.

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I kept a eye on him, but he never goes after

anything these days.

Just investigating.

After all, it is his patch.

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When I called him, he just turned round

and ambled back.

Meanwhile, Hazel said she was fed up with being a Wallflower,

and decided she would rather

be planted up as a Marigold.

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"Does my bum look too big in this?"

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Never a dull moment with these two.

PS. Hazel says "Happy Birthday" to Barbara.

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A Mixed Bag.

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"Eileen, achara, I hear someone tapping."

"Tis the ivy, dear mother, against the glass flapping."

"Eily, I surely hear somebody sighing,"

"Tis the sound, mother dear, of the summer wind dying."

These are some words from a lovely Irish song called

the Spinning Wheel.

Eileen's mother was blind therefore not knowing that her

daughter's lover was outside tapping on the window.

I had a tapping on the window yesterday!

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It is usually Wesley,

squeaking his wet paws up and down the glass.

Five o'clock - "Where's my breakfast?"

So fed the cats.

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Made myself a coffee,

Checked that the garden was still there.

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And thought. hey ho!

What shall I blog about today?

I've loads of bits about 'this and that' ,

but not enough 'meat' to justify a post all to itself.

So today is a mixed bag, until I get myself sorted.

I've been busy building these new pipes for the organ.

Here they are in situ, ready to be voiced and tuned.

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I did a write up on the construction,

over on Tracker-bar.blogspot.

It has kept me busy, but I still just about

found time to get up to Cliveden to see how the Tulips are coming on.

Last year they planted up the Long Garden with thousands.

It took me three visits to to catch them in flower.

But this year, a change.

Still thousands, but now blue Hyacinths.

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The perfume as you walked down

that centre aisle was amazing.

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Fancy planting all those!

I bet someone had backache.

I also found out that the new maze was now open,

although I didn't have time to give it a go.

They were still laying it out the last time I went.

On this visit I tried taking short clips using my camera

in 'movie' mode. I was going to post some up,

but found I wasn't very good at holding the camera steady.

They also needed a bit of sound or background music.

I shall work on it.

Here's a sample - just testing.

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The trouble with blogger is that these clips are a bit on the small side.

Still what do you expect for free?

I may have to upload something larger to YouTube I think,

and add some nice Irish tunes.

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Having a Moan with the Lads.

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On Saturday I 'crossed the water' into Berkshire.

To Cookham to be precise, to meet up with a couple of

Vintage car owning mates.

There was a local get-together at the local cricket field.

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This red one is a Sunbeam, belonging to Howard,

and the one to the right is

Chris's Wolseley 18.

As we stood reminiscing and generally moaning

about the eu and all the regulations that make life hard,

look what glided passed and parked up in that space.

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An Armstrong Siddeley.

Absolutely immaculate.

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Memories flooded back.

Dad's first car was an Armstrong, and

on returning home I dug out a few of the old photos I had.

I was hoping to find the one of Dad and I at Welshpool.

We (the Armstrong actually) were towing the caravan

to Towyn in Merionethshire, mid-Wales.

I couldn't find a print, so I guess it's

still in the box of negatives.

So here is a couple of prints of our old motor.

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We used to get the back seat out and put it on the ground

to sit on.

L to R. - Pop, me, Colin, Mom, Adrian & Nan.

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This must have been one of my very first

attempts at photography.

I was only seven then, and somehow managed to

not cut anyones 'head orf'.

What a lovely shiny car. Dad loved tinkering with it.

and polishing the sphinx!

All Armstrongs had a sphinx mascot out on the front.

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This is the one on the car at Cookham.

"Armstrong Siddeley’s famous Sphinx mascot: John Davenport Siddeley first used the upright Sphinx mascot in advertisements for the Siddeley Deasy car made before the First World War. Armstrong Siddeley adopted the Sphinx when they started production in 1919 and continued until they made their last car in 1960. The Sphinx changed over the years – lay down in the 1930s and was streamlined in the 1950s."

Now when our faithful Armstrong was exchanged for a Daimler,

we kept the mascot.

I had it on the front of my Tandem for many years.

Where it is now, I know not.

It is one of many things I failed to keep when I left home.

Ian may know?

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A wee picture. It is on a bracket on the front forks.

Not only Dad had a liking for Armstrong's,

but also dear Aunty Gladys (dad's sister).

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This looks like a 1947 Armstrong 'Hurricane',

but I'm not sure.

So, on Saturday, I had a good day out with the lads.

As I said earlier, lots of moans about all this 'Elf 'n Safety rubbish

and Public Liability Insurance.

It does you good to get it 'off your chest'.

I see David the Cameroon has finally noticed how

people are getting pissed off with all these restrictions

on proposed Street Parties.

"David Cameron will today criticise councils for using red tape to prevent residents from holding street parties to celebrate the royal wedding.

Some local authorities have demanded that events have insurance cover and have charged for road closures, or demanded hosts adhere to strict health and safety rules. Mr Cameron is expected to “debunk” the myths surrounding street party rules.

A party in Rochester was cancelled after organisers were told they would have to take out £5million worth of public liability"

What is all the fuss about?

I have had to insure my "extremely dangerous" organ

before I can play at public events.

I mean - the bellows may explode and kill dozens of bystanders.

(it works on "high pressure air" at 4" water gauge)

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My £5,000,000 cover certificate for this year.

And the annual premium?

Wait for it!

£1.50

Because there is absolutely no risk,

the insurance company simply charge for admin & postage.

I had to write a cheque for £1.50.

Regulations (eu) make you want to weep.

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