| Tigers at Layer Road 21:11 - Sep 23 with 188893 views | SparkfilmsTV |
In a strange twist of events l found myself in conversation with a young lady who had attended Layer Road for a match against Hull City in our first season in The Championship. The 5-1 encounter.
We were attending a promo evening for a band called The Datsuns in North London in 2008.
During the evening she explained that she had been present at a party that made the national news due to the tragic death of someone by the name of Mark Blanco.
The incident occurred in December 2006.
This incident will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday night at 22.00 in an hour long documentary and several people known to me have made contributions.
It may be of interest to some.
I am very much hoping that the police will reinvestigate the death of Mark Blanco as a result of what will be included in the content.
I know that what l was told by this young lady 15 years ago has been instrumental in the making of this documentary.
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 22:48 - Aug 23 with 2104 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Alpha brainwaves - these can be triggered by attending a powerful musical event.
Many of the attendees at The Reading Festival would have experienced this last night for the Chappell Roan show.
She triggers an hysteria which is equivalent to what The Beatles somehow achieved in their heyday.
I must have woken up with a buzz this morning from last night's events in the Castle Park.
It used to last about 24 hours following a day out at Hylands Park in Chelmsford after a V Festival event.
I think it lasted 72 hours after seeing Muse. The lighting / strobes will add to the effect.
I once did 40 minutes live on Sky News and that buzz lasted for nearly a month ( no strobes in their studios or the chill out area after ).
It's an underrated form of stimulant that can become addictive.... [Post edited 23 Aug 22:50]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 23:11 - Aug 23 with 2085 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Extract from conversation East London, 2005..
'What's it like to perform in front of 100,000 people?'
'Well, what with my contact lenses and the misalignment of the strobes l couldn't see xxxx all for most of the show'.
'Did you listen to the tapes the following day?'
'Yeah, we did and we realised we were playing too fast'.
'That happens show by show?'
'Yeah, we know but somehow fall into the same trap'.
'The soundcheck was brilliant in the morning'.
"Yeah, it was better than what we performed and that concerns us'. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 18:01 - Aug 24 with 2015 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Iron Maiden recording.
I have a copy of what is believed to be the first complete and uninterrupted recorded Maiden gig that represents the entire set list from either late '76 or early ''77.
I'm playing the CD copy through a guitar amp and there is much better quality than playing it through a CD / amp system.
Some of the curtailed elements on this recording may be those leaked onto the internet but this is 50 minutes with all background sounds of audience participation etc.
Maybe this is a CD off the original tape that l believe was purchased by Iron Maiden management.
Or maybe not?
I'm not even sure if Steve Harris has this version.
I'm removing artex from a ceiling and just grabbed a few loose unidentified CD's from my demo's case to play while l scrape away.
There is a rousing version of Transylvania which gives a strong indication of what would evolve when Maiden recorded it on their debut album.
Transylvania is coming up as track 7. [Post edited 24 Aug 18:04]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 18:21 - Aug 24 with 2007 views | TheOldOakTree |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 18:01 - Aug 24 by SparkfilmsTV |
Iron Maiden recording.
I have a copy of what is believed to be the first complete and uninterrupted recorded Maiden gig that represents the entire set list from either late '76 or early ''77.
I'm playing the CD copy through a guitar amp and there is much better quality than playing it through a CD / amp system.
Some of the curtailed elements on this recording may be those leaked onto the internet but this is 50 minutes with all background sounds of audience participation etc.
Maybe this is a CD off the original tape that l believe was purchased by Iron Maiden management.
Or maybe not?
I'm not even sure if Steve Harris has this version.
I'm removing artex from a ceiling and just grabbed a few loose unidentified CD's from my demo's case to play while l scrape away.
There is a rousing version of Transylvania which gives a strong indication of what would evolve when Maiden recorded it on their debut album.
Transylvania is coming up as track 7. [Post edited 24 Aug 18:04]
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Just checking in a caring, fellow U's supporter type way, and not knowing how old your house is, but you probably know that Artex manufacturered up until, I think the mid 1980s, had asbestos in it?
I think it was banned complety around 1999 and the modern stuff is asbestos free.
ARTEX actually stands for Asbestos Reinforced Textured coating [Post edited 24 Aug 18:23]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 19:53 - Aug 24 with 1987 views | SparkfilmsTV |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 18:21 - Aug 24 by TheOldOakTree |
Just checking in a caring, fellow U's supporter type way, and not knowing how old your house is, but you probably know that Artex manufacturered up until, I think the mid 1980s, had asbestos in it?
I think it was banned complety around 1999 and the modern stuff is asbestos free.
ARTEX actually stands for Asbestos Reinforced Textured coating [Post edited 24 Aug 18:23]
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I figure l won't last much longer anyway so l am mask free....my property was built around 1968 and there is Artex xxxxxxx everywhere. Most likely applied in the '80's.
As it happens I'm stripping parts on the kitchen ceiling after a flood last Tuesday week when l must have left a tap running in the plugged bathroom sink for five hours.
I lost an entire planchest of art and printed works in the aftermath - and over 1,000 CD's were soaked which destroys the booklets - hence the Maiden find today. ( No booklet with that ).
Thankfully all my publication work is stored elsewhere.
Having lost eight close friends / work associates in the past 15 months l figure my days might be numbered so l am trying to tidy things up a bit. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:46 - Aug 24 with 1978 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Here is something from one hour ago
Met an artist friend in the Dutch Quarter.
He has just arrived back in Colchester from Brighton where he hired an entire art gallery to display his extensive range of work.
The gallery hire was for a fortnight.
He camped out on the hilly bit behind Brighton for a few nights then decided to 'live in the gallery'.
After a few days he had sold a couple of pieces but nothing significant.
The next few days were fairly quiet with the odd browser or two popping in for 5 minutes.
A Chinese gentleman wanders in.
Looks around.
Big canvas. Middle sized canvas. Little canvas. sketch books a plenty. A range of art prints. Walls and table tops full of art.
He buys everything!
It's all being shipped to Hong Kong with glass removed from framed elements due to insurance and the like.
This reminds me of Peter Doherty's 'Blood Paintings' - sold the entire range ( I think it was about 18 or so ) for £68,000 a while back in a small London gallery. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 19:20 - Aug 25 with 1900 views | SparkfilmsTV |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 18:01 - Aug 24 by SparkfilmsTV |
Iron Maiden recording.
I have a copy of what is believed to be the first complete and uninterrupted recorded Maiden gig that represents the entire set list from either late '76 or early ''77.
I'm playing the CD copy through a guitar amp and there is much better quality than playing it through a CD / amp system.
Some of the curtailed elements on this recording may be those leaked onto the internet but this is 50 minutes with all background sounds of audience participation etc.
Maybe this is a CD off the original tape that l believe was purchased by Iron Maiden management.
Or maybe not?
I'm not even sure if Steve Harris has this version.
I'm removing artex from a ceiling and just grabbed a few loose unidentified CD's from my demo's case to play while l scrape away.
There is a rousing version of Transylvania which gives a strong indication of what would evolve when Maiden recorded it on their debut album.
Transylvania is coming up as track 7. [Post edited 24 Aug 18:04]
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From the Maiden recording the line up and instruments played is possibly as follows -
Steve Harris, Fender Jazz Bass, Sunburst
Dave Murray, Fender Stratocaster and Wine Red Gibson, Les Paul. Wah Wah pedal.
Ron Matthews, Five piece Black Hayman Drum Kit.
Bob Sawyer, 1968 Gold Top Gibson, Les Paul and Antoria Flying V Guitar
Dennis Willcock, Vocals [Post edited 25 Aug 19:21]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 21:35 - Aug 25 with 1878 views | SparkfilmsTV |
May 10th, 2018
Lower Castle Park, Colchester.
It was around 11am and l was sitting on a park bench with dog on lap by the former bowling green.
A female with a strung laminated identity badge together with a clipboard and sun glasses is standing in front of me.
She moves a little closer and removes her sun glasses.
She is looking deep into my eyes.
Then she utters the single word PERFECT and asks me how long l intend to be around.
Suddenly l have been cast without any form of screen test for a non speaking part as a background filler to appear in TOWIE.
My payment and entitlement for appearing is two cups of coffee and meeting some of the cast half an hour later.
Only thought of this as TOWIE is actually on my TV screen for a few minutes and l appreciate the camera work and use of drones. [Post edited 25 Aug 21:45]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:24 - Aug 26 with 1828 views | SparkfilmsTV |
So l find myself in a huddle with the TOWIE clan who are making a fuss of my dog and l just have to take a close up of their cosmetic surgery and body enhancements.
And silly me, l thought some of those long flowing locks might be their own natural hair or at the very least hair extensions, but not so. I know for sure what appeared to be a blonde with long hair in ringlets was actually a brunette with short hair as she took off the former in front of me and handed it to a production assistant.
And what l also noticed is that a few of them speak in a different manner to how they appear on screen. Very nicely spoken as it happens and most likely very well educated.
In the years that have followed such aspects of cosmetic appearance as eyebrow lining have become even more enhanced. This has even stretched to an antiques dealer on the BBC.
And my former employers at Sky News have a long standing correspondent who has had one too many face lifts which give the appearance of her mouth being inside out. [Post edited 26 Aug 12:51]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:05 - Aug 26 with 1786 views | SparkfilmsTV |
On the subject of enhanced looks l recall watching Channel 4 Newscaster Sandy Gall having lipstick applied in the make up department minutes before delivering the news and minutes after exiting a wine bar across the road that was referred to as Channel 5 long before the channel came into being.
Perhaps that was how the name evolved.
This would have been around 1987. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:27 - Aug 26 with 1769 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Continuing with television make up and the like.
A make up artist has landed a position with Sky.
It is her second day.
She hears an American male accent approaching along the corridor.
In walks Marshall Bruce Mather 111 aka Eminem.
She is a super fan and is almost overcome with excitement.
Marshall is everything and more than she could ever have anticipated in her 10 minute exchange. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:27 - Aug 26 with 1694 views | SparkfilmsTV |
My mother used to buy me a comic on a Friday when l was six years old.
I would take it in the front room which was effectively the posh room but just basic really and read about the adventures of my heroes at the time.
Freddie Frog and Harold Hare were two of my favourites in those days.
I would go into the back room and watch the black and white 12 inch television to see what Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men were up to with their good friend Little Weed.
My mother was very impressed that l used to read the newspapers in those days as best l could.
It would be my introduction to an interest in sport and Colchester United in particular.
The Colchester Gazette was a weekly and came out on a Tuesday. The Colchester Express was also a weekly and was published on a Thursday.
We used to have a coal fire.
This was in the back room.
No central heating and l can never recall a fire in the posh room.
My Dad used to do toast on a coal fire. He would butter it and hand slices to me and my mother.
After we had consumed about four slices he would toast a few for himself.
He always left himself to last in this process. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:50 - Aug 26 with 1678 views | SparkfilmsTV |
On a Saturday morning l would sometimes go for a walk with my Dad.
From Margaret Road we would head up to the railway line on the town side and watch the steam trains arriving and departing North Station.
When we headed back home we would stop off at Tweeds which was a bakery where an ugly block of flats and a call centre is now located opposite the former Norfolk Public House.
My Dad would buy bread, cakes and good quality pasties which would all be consumed by Sunday
evening.
The area was vibrant back then with Essex Hall occupying the land where Clairmont Heights now stands.
Colchester was a market town with a population of 65,000. [Post edited 26 Aug 22:18]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:58 - Aug 27 with 1606 views | SparkfilmsTV |
1978.
Walking back towards North Station Road
after a gig at Essex Uni.
We enter Riverside Estate and there is music coming out of a semi where there appears to be a house party.
The front door is open.
We step inside. A student party by the looks of things and although we didn't know anyone it wouldn't make any odds as the 40 of so attendees were way out of it.
The Street Legal album by Bob Dylan.had just been released and was on the turntable with some decent speakers to do it justice.
Changing of the Guards was the track we walked into and l just had a quick scan through the lyrics which might be the best Dylan ever wrote.
I always got the impression that Mr Zimmerman would have read and reread Howl by Ginsberg in the years before releasing this epic work.
I think we hung around to about 5am. Had a few drinks. A bit of skunk weed. A few magic mushrooms.
The we was myself and Sarah Stratton who l had only met at 10.30 in the student bar at Essex.
She was married a year or so later but not to me. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 21:54 - Aug 27 with 1534 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Should anyone be interested in actually seeing what Sparkfilms TV produces there are a series of images from the 'Street Value' project which is Lot Number 2239 in a Specialist Collectors Sale currently online at Reeman Dansie Auctions.
It includes images from issues One and Two of 'Monster'.
It is also viewable via 'The Saleroom' or should be by tomorrow. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 10:59 - Aug 28 with 1482 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Went to Tesco Hythe this morning.
Was looking for an egg and tomato sandwich.
I think they have stopped doing them.
Bought some dog food instead.
I have planned a 'Bring back the Egg and Tomato Sandwich' demonstration to begin at midnight tonight outside Colchester Town Hall.
I am making placards and having a tee shirt printed.
I realise there will likely be some kind of police presence as l understand there is a counter demonstration from an individual in Greenstead Road who has recently draped a large banner from a bridge on the A12.
It said "xxxx the Egg and Tomato Sandwich'. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:18 - Aug 28 with 1424 views | SparkfilmsTV |
A fortnight ago l was off on the post lunch walk to an area l call 'The Swamp'.
As l set off along Lincoln Way l noticed a large quantity of books spread out in a front garden.
A piece of paper said 'Free'.
I scanned them all.
My dog sniffed a few at the front.
I spotted 'Junky' by William Burroughs and flicked through the stained pages...knew l had to take it and read it in the garage library.
I don't think too many folk in the UK would have discovered 'Junky' before 1977 when it was released as a Penguin paperback -.over 20 years after being released in the US.
Burroughs hints at so much but has either fallen short of the mark with some content or had it confiscated by the original publishers.
It's still a decent read though.
Which leads me on to something else.
I will order a copy of 'Ask the Dust' by John Fante in the next day or so.
Without Fante there may never have been Charles Bukowski. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:42 - Aug 28 with 1377 views | ghughes11 |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 10:59 - Aug 28 by SparkfilmsTV |
Went to Tesco Hythe this morning.
Was looking for an egg and tomato sandwich.
I think they have stopped doing them.
Bought some dog food instead.
I have planned a 'Bring back the Egg and Tomato Sandwich' demonstration to begin at midnight tonight outside Colchester Town Hall.
I am making placards and having a tee shirt printed.
I realise there will likely be some kind of police presence as l understand there is a counter demonstration from an individual in Greenstead Road who has recently draped a large banner from a bridge on the A12.
It said "xxxx the Egg and Tomato Sandwich'. |
How was the dog food? What flavour did you go for? Personally I prefer Lamb & Tripe over Egg and Tomato!  | |
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 21:12 - Aug 28 with 1350 views | SparkfilmsTV |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:42 - Aug 28 by ghughes11 |
How was the dog food? What flavour did you go for? Personally I prefer Lamb & Tripe over Egg and Tomato! |
My dog consumed that.
As it happens I'm just about to return to the store as l operate a free taxi service en route to Lexden in a roundabout way.
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 13:24 - Aug 29 with 1292 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Farm on the outskirts of Cambridge, September 2019.
There are warehouses and outbuildings.
We discover a Popemobile being stored that was purchased in auction and shipped to the UK.
I remember thinking how it would be fun to get a pointed hat and a few robes and props and ride down Colchester High Street in the thing waving at folk.
Would have ran this past the owner but he was out of the country at the time. [Post edited 29 Aug 13:26]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:11 - Aug 30 with 1207 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Here is a line that l wish l had written -
'I was catching the sparks that flew from your heels'
It was written by Johnny Borrell of Razorlight and can be found on the song 'Somewhere Else'.
It was released in 2005 as a single and appeared ( recorded live ) on the re-release of the album 'Up all Night' as a bonus track.
It formed a personal anthem to the backdrop throughout '05 which would eventually lead to me writing around 50 pieces of my own - some kind of poetic wordscape thing.
It became part of 'Ipswich Zero 6'.
I was flicking through one of my books today for the first time in at least 10 years and toying with the idea of doing an AI soundtrack to the material.
Sometimes when l am speaking to writers and lyricists we might briefly discuss what critics have said about our work.
My tip to anyone who writes is that ultimately the only judge of the work that you produce who is worth listening to is yourself. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 10:09 - Aug 31 with 1164 views | noah4x4 |
“….was catching the sparks that flew from your heels'“
Reminds me of a stupid dangerous boyhood prank I witnessed in my first year at Grammar School…
In an effort to prove most of Newtons Laws in one act (and more likely reek some malicious revenge), the Sixth Form removed the physics masters brake blocks from his push-bike. Expecting an equal and opposite reaction at the bottom of the hill, they were foiled when exceeding 20 MPH he dug the metal segs (Blakeys?) located on his heels into the tarmac creating a trail of sparks as he impressively mimicked anti-lock breaking technique with his pumping ankles. Proving Friction, notably metal on tarmac, does generate heat and abundant sparks.
I believe nobody confessed to this misdemeanour after multiple group punishments, such was the code of Omertà at the school, and a few weeks later, the same physics master found his bike suspended from a nail at the top of a 25 foot + high rugby post. Not sure how they achieved that but rumour was it might have been an impressive human pyramid formed by two second rows and a hooker.
But the best prank ever was the Lower Fifth painting the school grand piano hammers with an explosive powder that was inert when wet but produce dramatic noise and smoke special effects during the first chords of Jerusalem. Best school assembly ever!
Happy days were school… |  | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 13:11 - Aug 31 with 1126 views | SparkfilmsTV |
It's the Sparkfilms TV AGM tomorrow - Monday September 1st.
We have to split the meeting into Sitting One and Sitting Two.
Sitting One commences at 11.30am and those in attendance will be Myself, Hunter the Dog, Cyril the Squirrel , Percy Pigeon and hopefully one or two of the Magpies.
At 11.30pm it will be the turn of the Nightshift.
Joining Myself will be the group of Bats who fly alongside HQ after dark, Garden Hedgehog, Giant Spider who moved in to the property three weeks ago and we are hoping that Fiona Fox may put in an appearance.
The main item of discussion will be the repairs required on the side gate.
Refreshments will be available at both sittings.
The Bird Bath will also be refilled as required.
Attendees are kindly asked to refrain from skateboarding while the meetings are in progress. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:56 - Sep 1 with 1038 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I've been reading about 'Out of Body' experiences.
It's just research really for something l may or may not write about at some stage.
I have never had an out of body experience but there have been a couple of things that featured throughout the journey that interest me.
Firstly, sometimes when l am dreaming l am aware that it is a dream and it gives me the freedom to be fearless and extend the dream and be prepared to take the dream far further than anything l would consider in real life.
There is something else that l only recalled yesterday.
When l was about six or seven years old l used to be laying in bed trying to go to sleep and l had the fear of something behind me.
It was an unidentified and unworldly threat.
It used to come on quite suddenly but l somehow discovered a way of instantly repelling the threat.
I did so by placing my right hand behind me and placing it in the middle of my back.
As soon as l did this l experienced a soothing and safety from whatever the threat was.
Sometimes l may have had to repeat this a few times but it was a remedy to removing the threat.
I never mentioned this to my parents or anyone else up until now.
I have however had numerous experiences of poltergeist activity.
These occured for around 10 years shortly after my children came into being.
( TBC ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:12 - Sep 2 with 963 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Should there be any art enthusiasts who happen to be in the Clerkenwell area - and in particular, Exmouth Market, take a peep inside the work currently being exhibited at The Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery - much of which was created in Colchester. | | | |
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