Fat, Hiking Hillbilly

After watching a programme on the 10 creatures David Attenborough would save from extinction I was taken by a little fella, a Solenodon. I keyed in the name, hoping to see some photographs, spelled the way I half heard it - Selenodon - and pages of Celine Dion stuff came up. This has been happening on my mobile, due to too fast typing and it`s amusing to see what the spell check intercepts. Keyed in fast wrongly - fatty. Hiking - hillbilly. I want to shout at it "I didn`t mean that!" Must switch off predictive text. I digress, the Solenodon - a rat like ant eater looking creature with cute ears. They live in caves most of the time, so have an albino appearance. Never seen one of these before. Also the Cane Toad - very impressive creature. The male does his bit for women`s lib as he gives birth to the young from his mouth. The egg is held in a chamber by the male in his mouth after the female has given him responsibility for the egg. It must be our age, but my spam e mails are full of casino adverts while my husband`s continue to be bombarded by viagra ads. Maybe they imagine that I am striking the slot machines to start a new life and he needs more life in...well. whatever. Mails which are more insidious are when I receive a message from a pal who I know for a fact doesn`t travel abroad. It informs me that she has been mugged in Sierra Leone and has no money to fly home, can I just pop some cash over there to help? Should have told them to try their luck on a slot machine. I can point them in the direction of countless gambling joints.

Cuts in Newcastle upon Tyne (March to Civic Centre)

Bar Loco Performance Event

Mark Gibson - Art Exhibition at Bede`s World Jarrow

Newton Hall and Hot Words at the Chilli

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The Jazz Man Go-eth

Pleased that this bloody cold has finally gone. 10 days over xmas of enforced lethargy. I became hooked on newspapers and tv. I have aquired the box set Star Wars, Men in Black, Eat Pray Love, and Prometheus. Pal P bought me The Ascent of Man 4 disc box set, he was going to loan me his book, but thought that this would make a good present. I missed xmas dinner at my sopn G and his partner E`s house, but was cheered up by the news that he had proposed to her on the day itself. He chose the ring himself which was a complete surprise to her. Next up is a trip to Newton Hall for one of those wedding fayres. Hope the weather is ok for this Saturday! Keith Crombie "The Jazz Man" died in hospital. He will be a big miss at the club and also I will miss the chats we had in and around town. He always gave me books that he thought I could use at my reminiscence sessions, particularly Geordie stuff. He knew when the charity shops put their rubbish out and once told me that he often went to the back door of certain shops in town, when I asked him where, he said "Oh, Yvonne I can`t tell you that becasue you will go and get the good stuff" I remember one Saturday night at the cafe, when the band finished he pulled a screen up and showed Tina Turner singing Nutbush City. I enjoyed the Pink Lane Poetry and Performance nights the second Tuesday every month, a time gone by. There will never be another cafe like this one. Folks gathered outside the cafe where his cortege left for St Thomas Martyr church at Haymarket. The horses were beautiful black creatures with plumes on their heads pulling a glass coach with two coachmen, wonderful tribute to the man. Around 400 people marched behind an Orleans style band. I was on the Tyne Idols touring bus behind and managed to get some snaps of the folks. At the church there were another couple of hundred people. Afterwards at Town House for the wake, it was good to hear memories. Two bands playing and people dancing. Keith would have loved this, what a shame that a party like this couldn`t have been staged during his lifetime to honour his contribution to this city. Ordered a new batik pot, I already have the chanting, silk paints and wooden frame to stretch the silk on. I went to stay with an old school pal K who lives in Woodbridge, Suffolk for 4 days in December. She was crotcheting snoods and cushions. This inspired me to seek out a piece of silk I had held on to since the 80`s. I had been working on a Tall Ships Race wall hanging and was using a piece if silk as a tester piece for colours. Usually I would throw testers out, but for some reason, I kept this one. When I got back from my stay, I sought it out and began embroidering and sewing beads on. It just needs to be framed now. Woodbridge is a lovely place, we took trips into Aldeburgh walked on the beach, visited Seckford Hall and Lavenham. Bought some xmas presents at Snape Maltings and ate lovely home cooked food around a roaring coal fire.

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Our event at Bar Loco went really well, we got dressed up and performed to a full house. Songs, comedy, burlesque and raffle. Between peformance sets I collected £27 for the raffle. Prize was a bottle of Champagne and chocolates. We didn`t get to put a show on at Pride Cafe, it will be rescheduled for later this year. Andrew Belshaw`s new photo exhibition is at Tyneside Coffee Rooms, check it out. He collaborated with writer in Residence Sheree Mack which resulted in a book launch at the Lit and Phil, great event. Next one will be on Thursday 24th Feb "Abstractions of Verse". Started a new batik today, an elephant with a monkey on it`s back, It`s meant to be Hanuman, the monkey god. I am interested in Indian art and Pre-Columbian art, will also make a representation of an Egyptian marble head. As if I haven`t enough to do, my publisher has asked if I would start a third book, Westenders 2, this really appeals to me and I have three stories already. Three interviews lined up and a visit to a Co-operators Guild, a group of women who still meet after having worked at the Co-op all their lives. I will take a group photo and one account from each person to make up a collective story. On the weather front, I am no longer afraid, I own a pair of pull on grippers for my boots and I haven`t slipped once. I scoff at folks wearing plaster casts on a leg or arm. I am turning into my mother in law "It wouldn`t have happened if you........" I watch people teetering around patches of ice, scuttling onto a piece of grass, sticking to the outskirts of the path or the road. I am striding along as my grippers slice through the ice like cheese wire, ah how liberating. Mind, I still had to drag the trolley through the snow yesterday full of random stuff on my way to hold a recycle project with families at Riverside.

Drew Berry Animations

The sights that you see when you haven`t got your gun!

First Annual Alternative Miss Loco (Andrew Belshaw hosting as Bella Duvall

Dear contestant,




thank you for entering the Alternative Miss Loco 2013 competition. Please read on for some information about the event which you will need to know if you are to be a successful applicant.



-There are 12 places available for the competition.



-To apply you must submit the attached questionnaire completed in full by 25th November 2012. (You can make the answers up if you like but try and be as entertaining as you possibly can as these question and answers will be part of your performance you will be judged on.)



-You should be available for the evening of the 14th December 2012 from 630pm.



-The costume you wear in part 1 is the costume you are judged on regardless of whether you change for your performance in part 2. Make it count!



-All catwalk and performance music should be submitted to Luke Bevan by December 13th.



-You will be judged on two parts of the evening

PART 1

Catwalk - you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff on stage to the music of your selection for about 1 minute showing off your outfit and strut skills.

Questions and Answers - you will be asked some of the questions below by Miss Bella DuVall. Dont worry about remembering the answers as she will have them in front of her and she will be able to prompt you. Not all questions will be used. The most entertaining answers will be used. Be creative.





PART 2

Performance - you have up to 5 minutes to do your thing. Whatever is your talent then we want to see it no matter how off the wall it is. If you are going to be performing live and need a mic then you must let Luke Bevan know so that microphones can be organised for you. If you have any other props that will be part of your performance. Please let us know as soon as possible once you have heard if you are successful in your application. This probably wont come as a shock but any performance where bodily fluids or excrement are part of it are prohibited.



Judges comment - the judges will each speak about your catwalk, outfit and performance at this stage. They may want to ask you some additional questions too.





And thats it! Your application is the questionnaire below so get it completed and returned to belladuvall@yahoo.co.uk! And good luck!



love Bella x x x

Las Iguanas

Audrey Guthrie`s new book (Benwell, Buses and Boxing

A good friend of mine, Audrey Guthrie will be hosting her book launch in November. The book is published by Summerhill Books (Who now has a Facebook page) This is my publisher and he will be posting photos from his publications on this site.

Thriller - Chiller

This year`s Benwell Reunion was attended by around 70 people, much down on last year`s number which was 140. At first I imagined that this would be the last year that I would organise it as the room hire has went up from £60 to £75. I didn`t think that there would be enough raised from the raffle, but it earned enough for me to book for next year. I will advertise it more widely and put posters up to attract more guests.

Began work with Youth Village this week, the staff are totally dedicated. We are working with the 13-19 year olds at various venues in Newcastle, on fields in tents!  The thought in this weather is offputting, but it has been an extremely enjoyable experience, working alongside great people who have the interests of the youngsters at heart. The theme is folklore and myths so Halloween fits right in, ghost stories, masks, cartoons and old games, sayings and Geordie jokes, my shopping trolley was fit to bust. There have been zombie dancing, to Thriller, Ghostbusters, pumpkin carving, cookery, rapping, advice on health issues, Wii games and much more was on offer. I have two more sessions to do and then next week back to my regular sessions.

Tequila Worms

Popolo`s Tequila Night

Five tequila`s to experience and Richard giving a talk on origins and history. We were given a glass to measure tequila`s and a glass of water to clean our palates after each shot. Shots were very large, so I collected an empty glass from the bar, tasted a mouthful of each one then poured the remainder into my glass. Didn`t want to end up under the table. A came in a little later, after me and J got there, so he missed most of the talk, but benefitted from my collective tequila shots as I was not going to drink that. We all dared eachother to eat the worm, yuk, when you bite into it, the little sod squirts.

The Avenue

Attended the book launch of The Avenue at Waterstones on Friday. Met David Cunningham and his lovely family for the first time. David is the grandson of S.W.Herbert, author of the book. David lives in America but was over here to set up the launch. He explained that his grandfather`s book had been around but nothing was being done with it until he read Angela`s Ashes. He decided that this was an excellent book and not too far removed from his grandfather`s story.

We were treated to tales and chat mixed in with readings. I had borrowed the book and began reading, it is mixed with heartrending accounts of life in Elswick, hilarious stories and anecdotes all written in a friendly coloquial style. I bought my own copy at the event and look forward to finishing this excellent book.

R.A.F Cadets at Benton

The RAF cadets session went really well, I had been asked to carry out the work as part of their Geordie Toon celebrations. There were around 35 cadets between the ages of 15-20 years who were really good fun. They joined in, answered questions, tried on the WW11 helmet, gas mask, played blow football, yoyo, cup and ball games etc. I had a cuppa and met some lovely dedicated people who keep the whole thing going.

Next project will involve story telling, crafts, improv workshops for 13-19 year olds. This will also be new to me, but I am really enjoying the research into local heroes, characters and ghost storie`s/myths of Tyneside. Have- trolley-will-travel again, stuffed to capacity with props. As the sessions will be outdoors in various park venues, (I will have a tent and tables) I have purchased a couple of washing lines and pegs to hang the props from and folks can choose whatever takes their imagination. Maybe mask and prop making might be an option. But definitely some drawing involved.

Worked for the library service in Saturday as part of World Mental Health Day. We set up the stand with drawings and information on health and well being. There were more adults came to draw and experiment with characters than children which was excellent. While it`s not meant to be therapy, drawing is extremely theraputic. We shared a stand with Autism help desk and NHS. There were dancers, singers, poets and zumba workshops along with many information desks offering advice and links to their organisations.



Meeting with Kit Haigh in my pal Des Walton`s old house. He is now living there and is keeping most of the excellent original features. He has just finished a tour with Northumbrian musician Kathryn Tickell. He is busy working on a project which will involve actors playing Des and his friend Jimmy Forsyth. Kit has become interested in the history of the pair since moving into the house and discovering their friendship. We spoke about my memories of Des and I am more than happy to offer any information which may be of help. He has lots of ideas to make Des proud. I left a couple of things for him to borrow which may or may not be useful.

Whenever I visited Des, we always talked of local history and he was a mine of information. If ever I wanted to borrow a book, map or video, out would come the records book where he wrote who had anything of his, what date and when it was returned, ever the librarian. On leaving Kit`s house, he made me laugh when he said "Should you not have got me to sign something for the things I`ve borrowed"  I said that Des would be watching and saying "Why have you left without getting a signature!"

Also spent a productive evening at I W`s house with my publisher. He is working on a book on our friend Audrey Guthrie, boxer and local bus driver. She has a fascinating history of matches all around Britain, has met some very skilled people and done lots of charity fundraising for cancer research.  The launch should be in November and I predict that the sales will go through the roof.  Watch here for book cover photo soon.

Had a great time at Jane`s party, good food company and conversation. Andrew Belshaw has a book launch soon, his photographs will compliment Sheree Mack`s poems, he also has new Xmas cards and calendars released. Check out his fridge magnets and cup designs. (Pictured second right of first photo)

Lorna Windham

Lorna Windham will be holding her book launch for her recent book Deaths, Disasters and Dastardly Deeds on Wednesday 24th October. The event will take place at 2 pm at the library on Prince George Square, South Shields NE33 2PE.

Her last book sold extremely well and her latest promises to do likewise. Please try to get along, meet the author, listen to an entertaining and informative talk and buy a signd copy.

Lusky

http://society6.com/lusky

Check out one of my brother`s websites for his art work.  He currently has exhibitions at Tower Gallery, Gorilla Gallery and Cafe Neon. He has sold many of his new creations on e bay and continues to do well from sales of his photographs.

Two Weddings and a Spa

The first wedding, J and B chose a vintage theme.  Vicars hate confetti outside their gaff`s, so J set out an old 40`s style cookery basket with pages from books formed into cones holding dried flowers. The wedding took place in the beautiful St Matthew`s Church in Summerhill. The reception at the bowling club pavillion was decorated with bunting also made from pages.  The tables, for 4 were set out with unmatched crockery which gave a 40`s effect and a bottle of champagne on each.  Fabulous food inside as well as a barbeque outdoors. It was a lovely day and evening, folks played croquet on the lawn and danced the night away.

Second wedding at As You Like It for M and K. Beautiful pastel roses, lush surroundings, imaginative photographer who brought a box of costumes, hats and boa`s etc. Everyone took turns in dressing up to have their photo taken. After each photo, guests wrote a message for the couple in chalk on a slate board which would be displayed alongside the photos in an album. The buffet was excellent, I will definitely call in here for a meal soon.

Saw my first robin today, gorgeous little creatures, but they are here to tell us that cold weather is on the way.



Son P and daughter in law B stayed in town at Mal Maison for the hen and batchelor do`s, then at Hotel de Vin. B and I enjoyed a spa and pedicure at Mal Maison then went to Slug and Lettuce for food. P went with the lads go carting.

Why is it that men don`t think to move things before they begin work on a project? D decided to fix a shelf to the wall in my office leaving my lap top underneath, leaning on said appliance, snapping a speaker lead inside the slot. Next, he takes off the back and snaps wires. I wasn`t too bothered, it`s nearly 6 years old and  I mainly use my net book. However, he did me a favour as he volunteered to buy me a new one!  I now have a lovely Toshiba Satellite, the webcam is excellent quality and it has a terrabyte storage.

Comic book workshops finished and everything handed over to the designer. Should be a launch soon of comics which will be distributed to parents and children who took part. More work lined up as a result so will be busy. Conversation group going well, we have a Czech interpreter which is a bonus and I also have reminiscence sessions lined up for the rest of the year. Will be taking part in a workshop for RAF cadets - history, stories, jokes and looking at objects from the past. Will be a first, but looking forward to this.

Run by Snow Patrol

http://youtu.be/jS8IZcx7tJY

Tour around Benwell Towers

The old Benwell Towers building which is behind Benwell Lane is being renovated by the Muslim community.  It will become a school/education centre in a few years time.  This will be a task and a half! Previous occupiers have collectively made a bit of a mess of the place.  It has been used in the past as a pub, night club, film set since it had been used as a residence for the bishop. Give them their due, the muslim owners have received no funding from lottery funding, they have raised the money themselves.  When opened, the building will be open to the wider community, there will be sports facilities and events.

We were invited in to look around, we got up on the roof, it was a lovely day, worth the visit.

Sheree Mack (Writer in Residence Literary & Philosophical Society)

Well done to Sheree for hosting a great "pecha kucha" inspired event at the Literary and Philosophical Socirty. As well as reading her own poetry, she presented Jo Colley, Claire Webster Saarements, Stevie Ronnie, Bill Mc kuminsky and Sue Spencer. The performers for the evening were the brilliant Aidan Clarke and wonderful hang drum music of Simon Wood .