Andy Holt and Pink Floyd and T,internet Pals
While in Blackpool we met up with some internet pals and went in the Marton Mens Institute (methinks one of the last bastions of Working Mens Clubs that were hugely popular in the 50,s 60,s and 70,s sadly a lot of the very popular clubs have now gone ,Appearing at the club was Andy Holt who does a fantastic show around Pink Floyd Music (Equinox Pink Floyd Tribute) and if appearing at a venue near you please give him a look Im sure you ill enjoy as much as I did. Background graphics are superb and to add to the electrical ambience coloured laser beams are added to give the show a very appealing look .Through FB I have got to know Andy and he is a very talented lad with a matching great voice,I had chance to catch up with some pals and the evening went very smoothly (except for a nosey lady who kept complaining about everything ! she was obviously ignored>Competing tatoo,s became the entertainment during Andy,s and I,m afraid my 2/6d swallow tat from 1958 looked a little sad !! Great night tho ending in the obligatory very English cup of tea and bed by Midnight,Graham had great difficulty seeing the show even with his specially made thousand pound glasses….Andy Come to Australia mate
Family and a Feast of Fish n Chips and other stuff
On this day we met up for our Thornton/Cleveleys members of our family for a fish and chip dinner (here in the North of England where I was raised dinner is known as Tea) and what a veritable feast it was ! Marie was pleased about the gathering as the eldest boys live away or at University,We swapped various stories on our travels and we are pleased to have met up with the grankids after the delicious meal we sank a few in the Bay Horse conveniently position across the road from the chippy.We are to meet up with the young ones at Bllackpools Comic Com and it is a day out we are looking forward to,stay tuned for hopefully some great photo,s
PlayPics
I have acollection of pics taken at various times on different subjects and have decided to “blog” them rather than stash away in my catalogue of pictures .One is a wrought iron light I made for Ramsden Pub in 1962,singer is Johnny Duffy a well known Club singer doing a turn in the pub he is also doing a short appearance on the North Pier as being a family friend.The berries,dog and spa are spur of the moment family pics and of course the main reason we are here to see my younger surving brother (3 of my brothers are long departed) Sad times but we working on that.Henry is the loveable dog and the 3 Irish pubs are taken by Annie
Eng v Aus ODI
Here we are at Trafford Park Manchester home of the mighty Lancashire Cricket Ground to watch ongoing battles between Australia and England.England have already won the Ashes Test 3 – 2 and the one off T20 but before this match were on the brink of losing the One Day Internationals by trailing 2 – 0 in this 5 game competition,fortunately this game England won and now trail 2 – 1 with a chance,We drove from Blackpool the 90 minute drive and after getting lost a few times found our Hotel.By bus and tram we easily found our way to the cricket ground that was quickly filling to near capacity,People were dressed in all sorts of costumes ( I had my Australian Convict shirt on) after over 30 yrs living in Australia my sporting allegiances are towards English sport (Cricket,Rugby,Football et al) We had excellent viewing seats and had great fun watching the Ozzies get slaughtered ! The crowd were in good spirits having fun with the opposition even a couple of players got in involved.Their was plenty of food outlets,beer could be carried 4 at a time and entertainment throughout the ground during the interval was provided.Games at this level can be up to 10 hours long and lots of people provided their own picnics This ground is very near to my birthplace in Timperley
Blackpool Tower and the 3 Piers
Today we visited the Tower Complex pro gratis courtesy of my granson Matthew.Hight light being a photo taken at the end of the Tower that took us in the Dark Dungeon Days of the 200 year old war ( also known as the war of the Roses) a civil war between Lancashire and Yorkshire in which the Lancastrians won.The photo is easily recognised by the sheer look of horror on me n Annies face !
This photo will be copied and placed in all my home windows to scare potential burglars away!!
The Tower is approx 600 feet above ground and has spectacular entertainment and amusement features even a full blown Circus and a magnificent world class Ballroom.At the top a Glass floor has been installed to give customers an extra”thrill” This beautiful building played a large part in my life when a child (we used it as a playground)
The beach line is pristine and serviced by the Irish Sea and boasts 3 piers full of joy rides and multiple machines and side shows,the white building is the local football club ( not doing very well at the moment) and the fabulous showtime complex the Winter Gardens.Pointing straight out to sea is Ireland,to the Right slightly is the Isle of Mann and extreme right The Lake District and to the left Llandudno all of which on a very clear cold day (except Ireland)
40 Miles for an Ice Cream
One of my lovely nieces treated us out to an Ice Cream BUT it was 20 miles away ! and I have to say it was well worth it ! the Ice Cream is made on the premises at Cockerham ( Whallings http://www.wallingsfarm.co.uk/) Choices are incredible,Annie was drooling and opted for a liqurice flavour and we opted for Toffee flavour.Kirstie couldn,t keep still due a pesky wasp that seemed to follow her every move.We took the country roads back and drove over Shard Bridge that spans the River Wyre (another playground for us kids
Winter Gardens and the Opera House
Today we took a tour around a fabulous complex “The Winter Gardens” including the world famous Blackpool Opera House where I had my very first pub beer at 15 ! (Watneys Red Barrel) and really pleased my age wasn,t challenged !! (legal age for pubs was 18) On a Sunday we go to scared to death by the likes of Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee in Vampire movies! which these days wouldn,t even get a U cert !! We ventured around this massive building that has lots of closed down ballrooms/theatres and a variety of bars and rooms. The Empress I remember well from my Grammar School Days where we held presentation days.Lots of these places are being refurbished and brought back to life after being abandoned in the 70s .Mirrors,chandeliers and various pieces of furniture were left to literally rot away,fortunately restoration is a way of life now.There is plenty to see and we were lucky enough to visit the theatre where CATS is currently being shown (we are reliably informed the stage is one of the largest in Europe!)
One of the most memorable bars is the Spanish Hall and that holds lots of great memories for me when in my 20,s My mother used to organize Ladies Darts Balls that were always well attended in the 60,s
ILLUMINASIA a Fantastic Model & Light Show
One of my old stomping grounds used to be the Olympia in Central Blackpool adjoining the Winter Gardens ( more on that soon) All the rides and amusement machines have long gone and in their place a magnificent show of giant models made of a silk mateial and lit up with led lighting.The 3D show was brilliant and although I have seen many 3D films THIS is awesome..the creatures that came out we almost touchable !There are many exhibits featuring giant animals and insects,the last section was on iconic worldwide statues/icons (Blackpool,Eiffel towers the Sphinx and lots more) The exhibition ends up with a great laser stage show (and guess who was selected to go stage?) IF you are ever in this hometown of mine this place is a must visit.Annie didn,t want to leave !!
Daylight Drive in Blackpool
We have a hire car and the weather today is fine so me n Annie took a drive along the Famous Golden Mile of Blackpool,Tourists horse and carts were doind a brisk business going up and down the Prom (the olde type of landau I knew as a child are disappearing and “Cinderella”type carriages are now in vogue) Trams are around,some brand new others from yesterday add to the prom attractions (the Tower will be given a blog of its on later )Driving the prom can be quite hazardous but on this day the going was good..After a while we ended up in Prom suburb where parking is ok an ventured out for a walk,the tide was just coming in and we are on the Irish Sea Coast North West England,On he distant horizon could be see a huge numbers of Power Windmills and they look awesome.This coming weekend see,s the lighting up of the World Famous Illuminations & the Tableaus displayed are looking great
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….LIGHT UP on FRIDAY
A Magical Night at my Nephews Pub The Wheatsheaf Preston
August 30th 2015 isa Bank Holiday in England and my nephew Brian and his wife held a”Mexican”Day.The pub was decorated throughout with all things Mexican and lots of the customers wore dress to enhance the occasion Beer flowed as the day went on and we started on a oozy day at 1pm (lasted till around 1 am after the pub closed (having a sneaky drink with Brian) The (authentic) band were the “Maracaracas” yes Ive probably got that wrong! Music was fantastic and everyone had a ball.Annie disappeared and was kept busy glass collecting (her idea) I got to see lots of my huge family (as I will on Saturday next) People came from miles around to join in the fun,sadly the pub doors were closed as the venue was full,Brian tells me it was the busiest night ever (this is mainly to do with him and Liz being extremely popular with regular customers)
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 