why I was always drawn to Johnnie Red

An ad page in the Illustrated London News, September 5, 1953.  And me, being only 3 years old.  It  took 60 plus years to finally put the two together - lawn bowling and whiskey.

a busy Christmas Day

ELITISTPROVOCATEUR

Saw an old friend yesterday afternoon, when a group of old Chamberlain Studio employees had a get-together at John Chamberlain's son, Duncan's studio, where this shiny old friend now sat in it's new home. This was a departing gift from, as Duncan called him - "Pops".  ELITISTPROVOCATEUR was the last piece of sculpture I ever photographed of John Chamberlain's work.  A provocative wrapped piece of stainless steel.

The studio manager was there, the spray-painter of all John's metal was there, Duncan the studio facilitator was there, myself the photographer was there - and most importantly, who very rarely received his due credit, the metal worker and welder during most of John's long career, was there.


The handsome ELITISTPROVOCATEUR on a hoist in the old Chamberlain Studio.

And now, sitting in Duncan's studio, seemingly reduced in size, by a tall 6 foot 8 inch Jack Crawford.    Jack - that ever-so-important, metal worker and "mig" welder extraordinaire.

dueling banjo's

The workers had arrived by noon, each with their own tune. Both hired work crews (twelve total) - all sang to the tearing off of our old roof.

Between the dog howling inside and the scrapping and heavy banging up top - it was good to hear the different cultures bring their own melodious work songs.  The Jamaicans brought their loud vocal reggae, and the Hondurans came with their own 'folklorico', sung in a humble way.  I only wish I had recorded it.

What can I say, a beautiful day of weather with everyone working hard and happy, with only one worker falling off a ladder - who quickly recovered - and, who soon was back-up on his feet. Through all this, our own poor Knuckles who'd been stuck inside, who could only do his best -  vocalizing with his synchronized non-stop barking - and combined, all offering a sheer delightful chaos.

stopped at the bridge to see my old pal Billy

with a strong, cold north wind - Billy with his new pup "Kinda" - and both seemingly, more than happy just to be able to be there. Today, Billy's only complaint - "cops still harassing me".  But this afternoon while talking, Billy was ecstatic just to recount his recent catch of a six foot shark on a rough hand line, which certainly had him (and me) more than animated. And, with the new dog, wrapped in her best hand-me-downs, they seemed perfectly prepared for a long cold night.

Tomorrow early, I promised them both hot coffee.

hopefully I've signed up a new Club member

With a little coaching, Miss Kailey showed good form considering it was her very first time. She got excited with her new lawn bowling.

Apple Corps

So - I have this good childhood buddy named Randolph, who on the occasion sends me quirky emails with photos - mostly dealing with our past or early remembrances.  Today he emailed me this stand alone photo with no text, knowing that it would 'spark' me. And the photo did.

While attending Medway College of Design in Kent, England, I had a crazy school chum who lived not far away in London.  One day, in early '70 he proposed a big dare, that I walk into Apple Corps (pronounced "apple core" - playing on the pun) walk in there and ask for a job, "Tell 'em you want to a make short film ...... being a "yank", they'll definitely hire you". Well they didn't hire me, but told me I could run errands.  For about a month after, when I went into the city, I'd stop by.  The receptionist would send me out for pints of milk, pastries, any small errands etc. This was during their (Beatles) personal break-up, their "Let It Be" period.

Writers Alan Clayson and Spencer Leigh would later describe that office scene;
"Out of his depth, a Beatle might commandeer a room at Saville Row, stick to conventional office hours and play company director until the novelty wore off. Initially, he'd look away from the disgusting realities of the half-eaten steak sandwich in a litter bin; the employee rolling a spliff of best Afghan hash; the typist who span out a single letter (in the house style, with no exclamation marks!) all morning before 'popping out' and not returning until the next day. A great light dawned. 'We had, like, a thousand people that weren't needed,' snarled Ringo, 'but they all enjoyed it. They were all getting paid for sitting around. We had a guy there just to read the tarot cards, the I Ching. It was craziness".

I recognized the photo of Apple Corps immediately. The receptionist was to the left on entering and I would sit behind her, waiting in the room, looking out that left front window.

good to be home where a palm tree grows

Muir Beach

A young mother with her two children in a quiet view looking out over a calm Pacific Ocean.  And, not giving mind to their wanderlust dog who has run far, far away.

the ancient light of West Marin

The foot trails of the early Miwok culture and the current hiking trails of coastal Marin County blend together easily in the Fall light.  Hiking up along that San Andreas fault line, with the wild animal scat and the occasional horse hoove tracks - all will guide you along.

Central Valley, CA

Went to visit my old pal, my young buddy Josh and his sweet wife Chrissy, who had left Florida several years ago for California's, Central Valley.

Their town, Exeter - is the "Citrus Capitol of the World" and historically settled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  And, in an interesting side note, Exeter's founder named the town after his hometown of Exeter, in rural Devon, England, where I attended college during my first year abroad.

So with that rooted connection, the next day Josh graciously let me borrow his Bonneville (his beloved motorbike) - and I rode through those foothills, and high up into the elevation.  His bike was tuned-in like a bumble bee, and with no traffic and a newly paved road, I found the only one hair-raising feature - a loose black cow, that for awhile ran panicked, right along beside me.  One of life's memorable rides.


On the road to Exeter - in a dry, dusty, and drought ridden Central Valley.

A mural in downtown Exeter, showing the happy and contented local 'orange pickers'.

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

tryin' to find what I was responsible for (in Frisco)

After finding parking, across the street from City Lights (the bookstore), my son Matt & I went searching for our scheduled "rehearsal dinner" restaurant - the one that I was supposedly hosting that night, celebrating my son Wilson's upcoming wedding.  We finally found our venue - the Naked Lunch, next door to the "Hungry 1" - a gentlemen's club, and a cute little strip joint.

San Francisco's Lawn Bowling Club

Having just been in the Bay Area and excited by my new sport, I had recently ventured over to San Francisco's Lawn Bowling Club, situated in the city's, Golden Gate Park.

The interior of the historic clubhouse was filled with old B&W photos, trophies, memorabilia etc.  But my memory will always be with the group camaraderie and it's cast of characters - all giving me a big welcome, with an initial offering from a member's pot of hot tea - and all reaching out, with that big helping hand.


My new buddies, Joanne & Leon outside the Clubhouse (SFLBC - America's oldest Municipal Lawn Bowling Club)

Green #3 with the Club's logo in the background topiary.

Leon Simpson - my first day's bowling partner and SFLBC's unofficial club photographer.

John McClaren - the Club's founder and former superintendent of Golden Gate Park.

Trophies and original wooden "bowls" from the early 1900's.

Members "tag" board.

And "Wally" - a Wheaten Terrier, who always arrived early, and always stayed late, just to watch.

playin' cards

Finnegan

with Lola Bea - and Bella Bleu

the five children ......

altogether for the first time in many a year.  And, all posing for Wilson's wedding photographer, while I managed to sneak in underneath.

Nate, Crete, Wilson, Matt & Becca.

Wilson's wedding (San Francisco)

While the groom looks on - the "grooms men" have their way with Wilson's lovely new bride, Silvana.

"Donna" Sandra out on the front porch summoning-up the native wild birds.

And me - changing outfits in the bathroom at around 10:00 pm for the late night clean-up.

just got back from the salon .....

and later today, heading out for another big adventure - out to California, for my youngest - Wilson's grand wedding. The last of all the kids to be married.

ouch ...

much better

a real cowboy

My buddy "Jimmy Two Shells" just arrived back from a 5 month odyssey - ridin' cross these United States on his Bonneville.  A little saddle-sore, but today, we both sat down and talked over lunch.  22,000 miles he rode - from Ft Myers, Florida - to the Southwest - to the Pacific Northwest - back across Montana and the Great Plains - to New England, down the coast, and finally returning home to Florida.

This week, "Two Shells" leaves again for Alabama, for some vintage motorcycle racing - and hopefully, finally settlin' back down in Clearwater, Florida, especially during our warm winter months.

Proud of him - and a little jealous.

seeing my sister smiling (truely)

This morning, about 7:30 am, I was sitting at the kitchen counter, as I normally do - while reading the daily paper.  And, as the new sun began to rise, and started to break through the trees, I was distracted by a sharp beam of light coming through the kitchen's sliding glass door.  When looking up, and glancing over at the refrigerator - there was my sister (her photo), smiling ever so slightly within that beam of morning sunlight.  Hard to believe.

I miss her.

our new "gang" logo

The motorcycle gang I ride with has come up with a new 'state' patch for our club - courtesy of our fearless leader Mr. Pete, who is always the best at concepts and graphic design. The Brit Iron Rebels are an international club of dedicated riders, riding strictly British cycles.

(design, courtesy of Pete Felice)

sayin' goodbye to an old buddy

with it's handsome looks and three good years of service.

playing with things

Learned the beauty of form "versus" function through a by-gone friend.

driving around

By chance today, saw Craig walkin' his pups, Molly, Shelby and Willy - and all, heading home thirsty.
Craig is not only a big dog lover, but also keeps three ponies west of the Interstate.

sittin' outside

As a smoker, I get to sit outside, and watch the various on-going, doings.  For the past 24 hours we've had a steady, heavy drizzle of rain, where last night our 25 foot bamboo finally began drooping below the roof line, and down to our front door entrance.

lines

People in line were getting a little frustrated, a little edgy, when AT&T representatives came outside to update them on availability.

I was thinking of upgrading to the new iPhone 6 with it's finer "retina" display and higher quality camera, but it will have to wait - the availability was limited.  And, after living in England, I have little patience for the "que".

my new set of "bowls"

A returning club member from the Sarasota Lawn Bowling Club, who recently decided to retire from the sport, brought in her old used "bowls" for sale. These were a particularly hard-to-find set with over twenty-five years of play. They're classic Taylor Bowls from Scotland with a preferred wide bias and most importantly - the right weight and grip.  My perfect bowls.

This past week I've been kept busy, photographing the sport of "lawn bowling" for a magazine piece. So proudly, for one shot, I gathered up my newly acquired set and did a happy group portrait on our local greens.

A set of four, Taylor "Lignoids".

undiscovered local murals

Somebody approached me at the supermarket, somebody that recognized me and knows my interest in 20th century Florida.  We got through the necessary introductions, when "Larry" finally mentions to me something about some obscure murals that he had seen recently in an old parking garage in downtown Sarasota.  Had I seen them?  I had never heard of them - didn't know anything about them - and wasn't even sure of his exact mentioned location.

So today on investigation, I went out looking and found them inside (on either end) of a dark and non-descript parking garage.  Both were of geographic nature.  One, a mapped overview of the  whole Gulf of Mexico region - and the other, more focused on Sarasota's Gulf Coast region.

6' by 8' mural (framed, oil on board) .  Sid Smith (1949)

detailed views

waiting for the light to fall

The Night-blooming Cereus - a strong climbing cacti vine, that during our summer nights, produces foot-broad, white blossoms.  Here, draped over our corner street sign - and waiting for the darkness to finally open to that full flower.

 

my new identity

Everything was expiring on my birthday. My driver's license, vehicle tags - and my ten year old passport. To renew each, all required each others use for identity.

My renewed driver's license now has a 'hologram star' for Homeland Security. And, for the passport renewal, a required government exacting photo. So much so, that I had to call a photo studio. And while there, I was fitted with a neck collar - just so they could apply that needed make-up for their "no smiling, no sheen" requirement (though the studio apparently forgot the hairbrush part).  But for now, I'm good to go for another decade.