Postcard

Here's a charming old postcard I found in Oxfam, Norwich, today

THE UK ELECTION

Given The Market Traders and Bankers have created this 'Double Dip' Recession that will find us back in the 1930s with 25 percent public spending cuts, you'd think Big Profits for Shareholders would be taxed at 97 percent. Not a bit of it. We're going to pay - as we always have since the birth of industrial society. So who do you vote for?

There are those (like me) who believed Labour represented working class folk - now and historically. Not a bit of it. At birth, over 100 years ago, there were Lib-Lab MPs and even Tory-Lab MPs. Today, it is obvious Lab, Lib or Tory, these parties do not represent ordinary working people.

In Norwich, I'll vote Green. Adrian Ramsay is an excellent candidate and the Greens in Norwich have established radical credentials. If I were in London, Manchester or Glasgow I would vote for TUSC. The Trade Union and Sociast Coalition rightly questions Labour's Tory policies and calls for a new realignment of politics based on the 'free association' of people. Whether it's the Co-op or the old building society, the 19th Century built organisations of ordinary people to protect themselves from Capitalists gone mad; to protect from poverty, child labour and exploitation. We need to rebuild 'free association' again. Instead of social networks like Facebook, we need A Social Network in the flesh!

Revenge

Yesterday, the students, under my direction, began their analysis of the examination poem with a smile:-
S - structure and sound
M - movement and meaning
I - images and ideals
L - language and lethargy
E - emotions and emissions

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But then the poem brought forth hangmen on the whiteboard:-

_ _ _ _

T _ E

T E _ _ _ E _

CELEBRATING BRITISH SUMMER TIME

Clear away Winter blues with a bowl of boiling water and a few drops of Olbas Oil.

MILESTONES JAZZ CLUB APRIL 4th

TOMMASO STARACE'S ALL-STAR BAND AT MILESTONES JAZZ CLUB

The next concert at Milestones Jazz Club on Sunday 4 April features the return of an exciting alto saxophonist with an all-star band – The Tommaso Starace Quartet.

Over the last few years the hard-swinging Tommaso Starace has become a noted fixture on the UK jazz scene, known for his sparkling lines and tour-de-force performances.

Tommaso's style draws on many strands of modern jazz and at this concert he will be perfoming a few well-chosen standards and impressive new compositions that reflect the diverse inspirations of Maurice Ravel, Cannonball Adderley, Ennio Morricone and Stevie Wonder.

A preference for the attack of bebop and hard bop styles informed many of Tommaso’s own compositions when he appeared previously at Milestones with his Anglo-Italian band and his multi-media event that combined contemporary jazz with the work of photographer Elliott Erwitt.

Tommaso’s superb band also includes Frank Harrison, one of the UK’s finest jazz pianists and for many years the chosen accompanist of sax virtuoso Gilad Atzmon.

Tommaso was born in Milan and started playing alto saxophone at the age of 18, studying with David Baker, Jean Toussaint and Stan Sulzman and greatly influenced by legendary musicians like Cannonball Adderley.

He has performed in jazz clubs all over the UK and Europe, playing with some of the most respected jazz musicians such as Billy Cobham, Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone.

Tommaso has also recorded a number of CDs which will be on sale at this concert including his latest, 'Don't Forget'.

The bands full line-up features Tommaso Starace (alto / soprano sax), Frank Harrison (piano), Will Collier (double bass) and Chris Nickolls (drums).

Listen to Tommaso's music at http://www.tommasostarace.com or http://www.myspace.com/tommasostarace or visit the club website at http://www.milestonesjazzclub.co.uk

All Milestones gigs are held on the first Sunday of every month and take place at Hotel Hatfield, Esplanade, Lowestoft with the doors opening at 8pm.

Admission - £7 / £6 (concession).

Turnip Prize, Norwich

I think this Norwich alternative to the Turner Prize maybe 10 years late but never mind! Anything which livens up the old place is fine by me...

Strike In The City yesterday

Public Service Staff were out on strike in Norwich yesterday - as they were across the country on Budget Day. Huge, huge cuts are coming and the Arts will get hammered too.

Inside The Tent

Grzegorz Wróblewski - Artist & Writer

Grzegorz Wroblewski is an interesting Artist and Writer living in Copenhagen...

It's The Mutt Cutts Van!

It's the Mutt Cutts Van. Have you spotted this furry brown canine in your neighbourhood?

Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk

This weekend, March 20 and 21, the National Trust opened many of its doors for free, so I took advantage of this offer to look over the hall and grounds today. The excursion was worth the effort for the hand painted Chinese wallpaper in one of the bedrooms. Painted on sheets of paper in China, it was then shipped over and hand cut into place. Where there were gaps in this vivid floral and ornithological design, birds were directly painted on to the wall to bring together this extraordinary piece of art posing as craft.

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The voluntary staff were amazingly helpful. Highlighting the absolute class division is the incredible historic library. There are thousands of leatherbound books here - large books on all manner of subjects. Smaller than one book, there is a wooden box containing 15 to 20 pocket sized books. Only these books could be borrowed by the servants of the hall. One book could be borrowed over the week and only by a servant who proved his or her ability to read. And the subjects of these books? Sewing, cooking and housekeeping. Even in reading the Lord of the Manor feathered his nest.

In The Grounds

Sheringham Park, Smoke Signals

Another National Trust site where there was free entry (free parking) today was Sheringham Park. This is a huge site, much of which was designed by Humphrey Repton, who coined the term "landscape gardening." Humphrey also designed Catton Park, Norwich. A visit, taking in all the walks, requires a complete day.

Departure

I was fortunate to take part in Future Radio's 'Unplugged' monster event to celebrate their platform for the arts at the Playhouse Theatre last night. Over 300 people saw and listened to nearly 40 acts - poets, comedians, musicians, visual artists and pundits - from opera to beat box. The diversity of the entertainment was an extraordinary demonstration of talents in Norwich and beyond.

My contribution was to read two poems as part of Norwich 20's 'Voicing Visions' collaboration between artists and poets last year. Here I am reading 'Departure,' written in response to working with artist Linda Chapman. Our subject was Norwich Railway Station

Arrival

The second poem, 'Arrival,' with part of Linda's etching projected behind.

The Geezer - Nerves

As some may know, I've not read or performed my work for sometime and, even reading it out, nerves took hold and my hands shook violently. My voice was ok but obviously the audience could see me shaking like a leaf... I could retreat but I must practice, practice, practice!

Sun Of Cash At Unplugged

Sun Of Cash took tonight's stage by storm with two Johnny Cash classics, including Folsom Prison.

Spring

Small watercolour.

NEW DIRECTIONS

While this blog will remain the roots and stem of my 'face' on the internet, big changes will be taking place around it.

• The Tom Mallin and Muriel Mallin Galleries will be expanded by the summer, so that searches are easier, more effective and up to date. There will be indepth biographies and special feature pages (on Tom Mallin's writings and Muriel Mallin's earlier paintings).
• I have neglected my own work for a decade, particularly in recording all aspects of it. As a result I will focus my blog Fifty-Seven Pence on a gallery of visual work, video material and sound recordings. The Heather Letters (poems) have been published widely since 1980 and need to be properly gathered. Hence, I must come to terms with this never ending relationship! Broken Links - Writings will gather together poetry, prose and elements of dramatic works. Via these updates and changes I will begin to chart New Directions for my creative energies.
• The Asparagus Shed begain as a blog about my allotment, gathering the crop, cooking and then eating in caffs across Norfolk and Suffolk. The Asparagus Shed will change dramatically as a vehicle for Collecting - as well as filling my metaphorical stomache.

Friends of mine, Anglia Square, Norwich

I caught up with two old friends of mine in Roys, Anglia Square, Norwich, this morning. Pat's nose has narrowed and Jess's beard has grown. The meeting took me back, for once upon a time in 1986 I was Pat - I was Postman Pat - touring East Anglian schools, signing my books... but I soon parted company with myself: the kids began swinging from my large nose, throwing Jess around like a rugby ball and shouting in my giant ears, "You're not really Postman Pat, are you?"

I suppose I never was.

The Essence Cafe, Eaton Park, Norwich

The temperature was up to 8 degrees centigrade in Norwich today - the warmest it's been for well over three months. Not quite a heat wave. Anyway, suddenly the city is dripping with Jumble sales. I managed to get to three today between 10am and 2.30pm...

I took a break in Eaton Park's amazing Essence Cafe positioned in the rotunda. Fantastic high Victorian architecture. Pity the place doesn't live up to its potential.

Iron work on the cafe's shutters

Attention to detail.

Sculpture at City of Norwich School

One of the jumbles I frequented today was a the impressive City of Norwich School, where there are a couple of inviting sculptures.

Holding Back The Sea At Bacton

Spring has sprung. Here are sunlit defences at Bacton today.

Bathing On The Edge At Bacton

Fresh water leaking from a pipe by the sea's edge provides a drink and a bath for this bird.

What Did God Otherwise Imagine?

CAMPAIGN FOR 1 MILLION 'GREEN' JOBS

One of the very best campaigns launched is for one million green jobs to be created in the UK - which is part of the Campaign Against Climate Change.

The campaign for one million green jobs is backed by the key fight-back unions and makes it presently unique in uniting workers with the ecology movement against the rampage of Capitalism on our lives and environment.

BIG FUTURE RADIO EVENT MARCH 20