Victory in a bottle

Easing ourselves back into running today - air was full of dust and seeds from London plane trees, so we spluttered our way round.

Saw the new sculpture on the forth plinth in Trafalgar square - would have liked to see the reaction at the glass factory when the artist, Yinka Shonibare, commissioned the four tonne bottle.



It is the first commission for the plinth by a black British artist.

We've also wondered for some years what the markings on kerbstones represent




My research has been inconclusive - they may be benchmarks, used by surveyors to keep track of where and how high they are.
Or they are stone mason marks to show who carved them - see http://www.flickr.com/photos/73704776@N00/2506808546/


Finally, Mark's theory is that they represent Parish Boundaries.


But who really cares - I hear you say...

ORC ALERT

On a recent trip around the Elephant and Castle area, I couldn't help but notice a new landmark tower - this is the Strata tower which features three wind turbines integrated into its roof. That should save the planet.

To me it looks like the Tower of Isengard from Lord of the Rings

I'm waiting for the Orcs to come steaming up the Old Kent Road ...

Running on water

Another virtual run this weekend - but getting excited about a new running sport. Will try it out on the Thames next week ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y0BsnTa5RA

Also happy birthday to Hugh and I

Here we see Hugh receiving his present from Mark and thinking

"not another bloody mountain climb for my birthday ..."

Ageing rock stars

Iggy and the Stooges were again on top form at the second gig - I also saw him interviewed on Later... - whilst these days 2 night in a row singing is his limit, he implied that was the only thing that he could only do 2 nights in a row.. .

Seeing Iggy (63) on the same programme sitting next to Ozzy Osbourne (61) watching Ian Hunter (71) perform, made me wonder how long this generation of rock singers will go on. Will they be like the old bluesmen of yesteryear ? How will their acts change ? Perhaps the following video gives us a clue ...

Hope I die before I get old ...

Iggy and the Stooges

Mark and I went to see Iggy last night - despite the use of ear plugs, my ears are still buzzing.

He played the whole of Raw Power from 1973 - still sounded fresh and violent. Also exciting that the original Raw Power lead guitarist, James Williamson, is back with the band after recently retiring as Vice President of Technology at Sony!

I had heard Iggy had given up diving into the crowd now that he was 62 and following a recent dive when no-one caught him - he dived 4 times in the first half hour so what do the media know ?




My favourite song was 'I Wanna be your Dog' - it was the 'most beer thrown into the air' moment as well.
Photos by Mark with his flashy new camera.



Iggy, pull up your trousers you naughty boy ...

Off to see him again on monday night - more news next week...