In with the old
14 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
Hi again. Now, this is a bit different, but in keeping with the promise to showcase the unusual and a bit weird, here we go. I came upon this little offering during a general Google search (never underestimate the power of the Internet), and although I have yet to be able to visit it myself, it is worth mentioning at length because it sounds entertaining and it’s a good cause.
Swansea Bus Museum is a voluntary project aiming to restore public transport vehicles from South West Wales, as a testimony to future generations and in a bid to maintain a slice of local history. I found this particularly nice because these people do the restoration work out of their own efforts and time, and it just goes to show the kind of passion for their past (and anything mechanical) that they have.
They have been running for a number of years, and they have moved to bigger and better accommodation in late 2010. The fleet is frankly quite impressive, and they seem to attend quite a few national bus-related events. Sounds like not only a cool place to visit, whether or not you are into motors, but a good source of other similar occasions and days out (check it all out here).
Just to keep you in the mood and show some alternative bus trivia, take a look at this;
A bit weird, right? Be mindful in your travels………..
War Artists’ Exhibition
07 Dec 2010 1 Comment
Just a quick entry to show off this little article I found; it is by Ronan Thomas on the BBC site and it refers to an exhibition in London of paintings made during the Blitz to document the damage for posterity. For the story in full, click here
I know that it is in London, therefore the “free entertainment” scope of this blog is a bit lost, once you have to pay for travel and other costs, and I am not sure if the gallery charges for entry. But I thought it was a very sweet thing to do, amongst the wreckage and all that. It also combine two of my passions: art and anything to do with warfare, so brace yourself.
The article mentions that some of the artists went on to paint other conflicts, so I’ll keep an eye out for more.
The Chronicles Of Narnia 3 – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
07 Dec 2010 2 Comments
Got to see this film it looks really good, i loved the last film they made to, im going to make my boyfriend come and see it with me, even though he don’t like films like this lol 
The Cast…
Georgie Henley – Lucy Pevensie
Skandar Keynes – Edmund Pevensie
Ben Barnes – Caspian
Will Poulter – Eustace Scrubb
Gary Sweet – Drinian
Terry Norris – Lord Bern
Bruce Spence – Lord Rhoop
Bille Brown – Coriakin
Laura Brent – Lilliandil
Colin Moody – Auctioneer
Tilda Swinton – The White Witch
Anna Popplewell – Susan Pevensie
William Moseley – Peter Pevensie
Shane Rangi – Tavros
Arthur Angel – Rhince
Arabella Morton – Gael
Rachel Blakely – Gael’s Mum
Steven Rooke – Faun
East Street – EastEnders and Coronation Street Unite
07 Dec 2010 1 Comment
It was really interesting and funny when Eastenders and Coronation Street unite together to do a show for Children in Need.
Animal-chic or costume frenzy?
07 Dec 2010 2 Comments
Hello folk; just sharing with you a little fashion piece I happened to come across at the weekend. I read about this collection on my wanderings between museum programmes and hearty gossips. To be honest, I didn’t pick the best day; snow blizzard outside and daughter in tow (she’s the little fashion geek), it was a relief to take cover into Swansea Museum.
Worn to be Wild evolves from observation of British wildlife; each piece is tied up to a particular time and space, from medieval to contemporary, and accompanied by large-scale photographs that frame the item with the animal in question and its habitat. The designer, Kate Plumtree, has a sound background of work for prestigious theatrical houses and musicals, from The Royal Shakespeare Company to the Lion’s King. For someone a little bit craftier than me, it probably is fascinating to examine how the pieces are put together, since she used techniques and materials that would have been typical of each era. Since I can barely stitch a button on without breaking into a sweat, I ditched the craftsmanship that I don’t understand and concentrated on the visual effects.
First things first; the use of colour, or more precisely the absence of it and the use of cream monochrome. This included an almost-medieval attire inspired by the badger (a little concert of silk, organza and brocade that for someone like me, a teenager in the early 1980s is like a treasure chest; maybe not the Lady Marian style, but the fabrics I’d wear any day!). Pair this with a 1970s, woodpecker–inspired, disco-dancing trouser suit, and a dome artefact that I couldn’t really place.
Author: A. Feuti Licence: CC Some rights reserved
I am not sure if it is connected to the dress, and it does show the structure that support the skirt, or if it is a piece of its own. My friend Jayne, who braved the snow with me, pointed out that has been done before, but wouldn’t be this the point if you are trying to saw the piece to an era? And anyway, all fashion has been done before at some stage; you can only get inspiration from what already exists. Ok, sorry for the philosophical tangent. The point is, it reminds me of a giant, elaborate bird-cage, and in the end I just stood and stared because it’s beautiful.
Other pieces well worth a mention are a Victorian dress reminiscent of the urban fox that almost makes you smell the dingy streets of Dickensian London (strangely enough, it made me think of the suffragettes, don’t know why!); a late 19th century diva dress with the feather collar made of PVC (even though I would have placed it more in the early 20th Century, silent movies time or thereabout), and a sparkling gold hedgehog spiky coat that really fired up the discussion.
- Author: law_keven Licence: CC Some rights reserved
My daughter declared it ‘a residue of the 80s in Camden market’, I suddenly visualised those scenes in Star Wars where they go to that crowded bar, full of species from all over the universe, and Jayne was not impressed. The important thing is, it made us all look and think and I believe this is the major achievement of any artistic work.
After the monochrome, what impressed me is the atmosphere that the collection as a whole manages to suggest; it uses earthy shades and uneven cuts to give a fairies-at-the–bottom-of-the-garden look. The parrot and wildcat creation in particular, seem snatched away from a Peter Pan movie; I am not sure this is what the designer intended, but it is nice (or it could just be me going off on a tangent again!).
- Author: law_keven Licence: CC Some rights reserved
On a sad note, I think it does get let down by the fact that it is a still display; as they are costumes made to be worn in a performance, the lack of live movement doesn’t do justice to the design and the amount of hard work that has gone into it. The textile and fabric samples give you some idea of the processes involved, although I couldn’t find the sketchbooks the leaflet promised. I would have loved to see her drawings!
Going along is definitely a good idea. It is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, the entrance is free and there is a little dress up area for the kids, although I am not sure if it is always available. The collection is surely to be seen; it is unusual, and definitely worth the snowstorm. I’ll keep an eye out for more of her work.
Worn to be Wild, by Kate Plumtree
Swansea Museum until the end of December.
Cataclysm Release
07 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
So, Cataclysm’s out to day and I can’t wait to finish here at iTeC(Sorry guys) get into town, buy it from Gamestation, get home, install it and Play it!
Anyways. Prior to Cataclysm’s release and after me creating my first blog post, Blizzard(the company behind the making of World of Warcraft) released a scheme on ther website. This scheme involved players “liking” the scheme on Facebook, and when a milestone was met 10% of the reward was unlocked such as mini snippets of behind the scenes and such. At 100% this video was released:
This video is a great tour around the new Azeroth(The world, World of Warcraft is set in) and some of the graphical masterpieces that are portrayed in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
I’d like to pop a little video on the end too that some of you may have seen on TV during an ad break:
I felt this should have been added in the first blog post but it’s a bit late, I could edit it and pop it in but nevermind, you can watch it now!
But yeah, enjoy the videos and the next review won’t be on World of Warcraft, I promise. I decided to do WoW again due to the fact Cataclysm is released today and it was quite apt the Blog Workshop was on the same day!
Twin Town..
02 Dec 2010 4 Comments
Twin Town is a comedy film made and set in Swansea, 
“The Lewis “twins” of the title are not twins their brothers, they spend their lives stealing cars, sniffing glue and challenging each other to a hit on the bong.”
Fatty Lewis their father falls off a ladder while doing some roofing work for Bryn Cartwright, a wealthy, prominent local businessman and small time gangster, the twins attempt to get compensation for it but Bryn refuses, the twins take revenge by ruining the local karaoke competition where Bryn’s daughter Bonny is singing, they pee on her during the performance, so Bryn and Terry Walsh, a bent police officer beat up the twins.
Revenge continues, it all spirals out of control, the twins beheading Cartwrights’ pet poodle so Bryn got Terry Walsh to set fire to the Lewis’s dog’s kennel, but it goes wrong a gas bottle explodes, destroying the Lewis’s’ caravan home and causing the deaths of the twins family, leading to the murder of Terry by the twins in revenge.
The twins grant their father’s wish of having a burial at sea, with a Welsh flag over the coffin. it is a sad moment as the local choir sing the Welsh language song Myfanwy at the end of Mumbles Pier. Terry Walsh’s eyes terrified, he’s been gagged and tied to the coffin, which sinks!
The twins are last seen sailing out to sea, heading for Morocco!! 
“This glue is for sticking my model aeroplanes together, not sticking up your fucking noses! Buy your own fucking glue”
"Jeremy Lewis: Im a big, bad, bong banging bible basher!"
The Cast..
* Llyr Ifans – Julian Lewis
* Rhys Ifans – Jeremy Lewis
* Huw Ceredig – Fatty Lewis
* Rachel Scorgie – Adie Lewis
* Di Botcher – Jean Lewis
* Dougray Scott – Terry Walsh
* Dorien Thomas – Greyo
* William Thomas – Bryn Cartwright
* Jenny Evans – Bonny Cartwright
* Sue Roderick – Lucy Cartwright
* Brian Hibbard – Dai Reese
* Morgan Hopkins – Chip Roberts
* Buddug Williams – Mrs Mort
* Ronnie Williams – Mr Mort
This film is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18!
Greyo: Dylan Thomas called Swansea “an ugly, lovely town”.
Terry: I’d call it… a Pretty Shitty City.
Greyo: Dylan Thomas didn’t do as much fucking cocaine as you, did he?
I love this film, seen it so many times ..it’s probs one of the best ive ever seen, Rhys Ifans is amazing, my favorite actor
