Glass and Glory Holes

We have had some super experiences in our quest to pay tribute to FB's stained glass, but today was probably the most exciting - colour, movement, heat, light, skill, artistry, burning cauldrons (well furnaces actually but cauldrons sounds more exciting) - this took the proverbial Rich Tea. This had energy, which accords with the rather Tiggerish nature of your scribe - stained glass windows have an unfortunate habit of standing still for long periods of time.

Ah, sorry, you want to know what we did? I will keep you in suspenders no longer - we made a visit to English Antique Glass Limited near Alvechurch, Brum area, the ONLY firm in this country producing glass by the traditional methods. In fact one could count the number of similar facilities in the whole of Europe on one hand.

It struck us that if we were to include an educational film about the making of a stained glass panel (by Gareth Morgan AMGP you recall) we perhaps ought to go back one step further and show how the glass sheets themselves are made.

Harry Prior, a Master Glassblower and fellow North Easterner, explained the whole process for us; we watched enthralled as he and Walter Pinches blew glass cylinders and placed them in the glory hole (above); and David Gwilt flattened the writhing almost anthropomorphic glass into sheets. Mike Tuffy, the MD, explained more about the business side whilst Alison Hensey and Sue Eggleton supplied us with information sheets and coffee. And Barney bounced around and sat when instructed so to do. Such a welcoming, amenable band of people it would be hard to meet. Harry was the star of the show though, giving up most of his afternoon for our filming and providing us with a most professional introduction to glass making.

If you want to know more go to http://www.englishantiqueglass.co.uk/


Below left to right: Walter blowing a glass cylinder, Harry in attendance; flattening a glass cylinder; a small sample of the many and varied colours of glass produced by the firm





Left: Charles working hard as ever!
PS It didn't rain!

Wot, no breakfast?

We were informed by the owner that she was going out in the morning and would not be able to cook a breakfast but we should help ourselves in the dining room. We found a few boxes of cereals, some milk, slices of unappetising processed bread in a tupperware box, but no tea and no coffee or even the facilities to make same. Unfortunately I'd already paid for the rooms the previous evening, and there was no-one around, but we were less than impressed, it has to be said.

Thence to Kingsland to take photographs of the cartoon for the Bucklebury window, and back on the road - this time heading for Film Farm.

And what a joy to be sitting in the cosy Aga heated kitchen once again, drying out for what feels like the first time in days (including those Gore-Tex boots).

The next outing? Filming glass making in December near Wolverhampton. I just pray it doesn't rain.

And the rain it raineth

St Winifred's, Manaton.
Below: Charles filming inside the church, with the early 16th century roodscreen behind, defaced (literally) during the Reformation.











Knowing that today would be a long, tiring day, Charles decided on a large cooked breakfast - bacon, sausage, poached egg, tomatoes, fried bread, mushrooms - I think that was all, the right decision as it turned out but it nearly defeated him. Our genial host noted that this was his small size cooked breakfast - he could perform greater feats with even larger plates. Goodness gracious me.

And so, having piled up China once again we sadly said goodbye to Dawlish and headed up to Manaton, a fairly tiddly village near Bovey Tracey (a large proportion of FB's windows do seem to be hidden in obscure parts of the countryside - is there anything relevant in this one might ask onself). We filmed the inside of the church and the FB window (dedicated to Esmond Moore Hunt, the son of one of Brangwyn's friends) and my blurb but I kept getting my murds wuggled up (I blame the cold). I scoured the graveyard for Esmond's grave to no avail and got rather wet in the process. We filmed the outside of the church, me trying to cover Charles and the camera with an umbrella (not easy when the cameraman is 6ft 3in and I am a mere 5ft 2in (although I did actually stretch to 5ft 3in when living in Hong Kong and doing loads of sports). We then bundled into the car, all soggy and wet and back on to the moors for location shots (wet and grey and misty).

And with excellent timing arrived at our next venue nearby to interview a relative. Unfortunately the gentleman was one hour late and no explanation was forthcoming, but he was absolutely charming so we bagged that bit of film and set off again for Leominster area, still exceedingly wet and damp (more so than yesterday's swim in the sea) and by this time rather tired and a little miserable. The B&B didn't 'do' food but we scraped together some picnic goodies at an M&S service station. We finally arrived at our destination about 9pm after a horrible drive in the dark through the rain, and then of course spent the next 30 minutes emptying the car of it's precious load before attacking our picnic with gusto (who he).

Art History Plumbs New Depths

I tried to explain to mine hosts at the B&B that I was a serious academic historian but each time I started uttering broke into gales of laughter, and today proved exactly the point. Donning the wetsuit I had collected Friday we drove down to the front at Dawlish and thence proceeded to Coryton Cove where I put on my flippers, mask and snorkel in order to dive down and find the wreck of the SS Empress of Britain, for which FB had designed some stained glass panels. Unfortunately at this precise moment the rain decided to descend in buckets full and Charles wimped out claiming that his camera would get wet. Meanwhile I frolicked on the beach, did some jogs, beachcombed for interesting stones, found a long stick and performed a Charlie Chaplin act, and sploshed about in the water (my wild child act). After 3/4 hour I realised Charles had completely disappeared but finally found him sheltering under a beach hut. We decided the rain had eased off sufficiently and he tiptoed onto a little promontory with trepidation whilst Libby floundered around in the water, rose from the depths (her Nereid act) and did her words to camera (brilliantly if I may say so) but the filmmaker kept getting things wrong and demanding more takes, which served him right because at one point a rather large wave topped the little pier and poured water into Charles' Gore-Tex boots, about which he was none too happy.

The wetsuit was wonderful (c/o Scuba Solutions) and even after an hour I didn't feel cold. Charles did!

Coryton Cove was known as Gentleman's Cove in Victorian Times, and gained the ENCAMS Quality Coast Award 2007 and Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Award 2007. It is backed by Brunel's railway line and the trains trundle through (unfortunately not puffers) regularly which is rather fun.

Old postcard of the Cove above.

Having treated my colleague to so many wonderful meals during our filming ventures he decided that it was time to reciprocate, and so we ended up at ... (wait for it) ... the Rock 'n' Sole Fish Bar where we (yes, even me) devoured pollack (very good and environmentally correct) and chips (well I left some of the latter which were immediately hoovered up by CM).

James Dean lookalike?!

In the afternoon we interviewed Mike Westbrook, a fascinating shoot, where he sat at his grand piano and explained the thinking behind the FBSG compositions. And in the evening Kate cooked us a meal - without a doubt the best meal during the west country expotition.

Techy Stuff

For those of you interested in such things, here's some extra details about the sound recording:



Soundfield Technology is based on the principle that all acoustic events can be represented by four basic elements. These are 'X' which is front/back information (depth), 'Y' which is left/right information (width), 'Z' which is up/down information (height) and 'W' the central point from which the other three elements are referenced. Collectively, W, X, Y and Z are entitled B-Format. Soundfield are the only microphones in the world which deliver B-format which can be stored on four tracks of any recorder.



The Soundfield microphone itself contains four capsules, mounted in a tetrahedral array. The Soundfield System relies upon B-Format and its processing at its core. B-Format is a 3 dimensional representation of acoustical events, all referenced from a single 'virtual' point source. The 3 dimensions are: X, Y, Z as noted above. B-Format offers these 3 dimensions as an individual output plus the point source reference W, across 4 channels. It is possible to alter mic position within the recording after it was recorded and generate a final stereo output. B-Format also provides multi-channel output capability.



So there. FBSG has the distinction of not only being the first ever Catalogue Raisonne to be published as a DVD but also the first ever to be recorded in 5.1 surround sound! Wowzers, whatever next - don't ask!

Art History Scales New Heights

Mike Westbrook and Andrea Argent conferring
Mike with Miscellany: Andrea Argent , Audrey Barnes, Marianne McAleer, Ann Seabright, Helen Hill, Carolyn Morgan, Alison Pemble, Julie Taylor, Christine Parfitt, Patricia Pimm, Wendy Sergeant, Cynthia Dobson

Today was the day - the great Miscellany recording in St John's church, Clevedon. We piled up the car with all the filming and recording gear, collected Mike Westbrook (still not in the best of health) and zoomed off to Clevedon, where we met Andrea Argent, the highly efficient Musical Director of the group (as well as press officer, secretary, treasurer and musical dog's body), who possesses a wonderful turn of phrase and a good sense of humour. In fact the whole group do - between each take the choir broke into peals of laughter - one of the joys of working with the girls is that they are highly professional, obviously enjoy their music greatly, and have all been good friends for years. Charles set up his wonderful surround sound recording gear in the vestry, the girls ranged themselves in the sanctuary, the piano was trundled up to help with fine tuning, and we were off. Mike has written seven pieces for the film, and Miscellany started with the ones they were most familiar and at ease with. Andrea and Mike talked way above my non musical head, and the collaboration worked well, the choir's abilities growing exponentially as the afternoon progressed, so that when they came to the last (hardest) work they practically sailed through same, although Charles is left with some stitching to perform. And the afternoon was so well organised and well paced that the recording was completed in four hours.

The recording was made using a Soundfield SPS422B microphone system, recording onto a Sound Devices 744T hard disk digital 4 track recorder; the recording was also recorded in stereo onto a Tascam DA-P1 DAT recorder and monitored on Fostex 6301 loudspeakers. The 4 track B-format master will eventually be processed into a 5.1 surround sound audio track for the DVD.

Helen Hill, Andea Argent, Ann Seabright and Marianne McAleer listening to a playback in the vestry with Charles




Andrea wrote afterwards that 'at the end of the day, I felt as if we'd climbed an unfamiliar mountain, reached the top against all odds, and glimpsed a fascinating new world beyond.'



Helen Hill and Carolyn Morgan (my highly revered sister-in-law)

We returned to Dawlish in the wind and rain, took Mike home, emptied the car yet again, and went out in search of food. Unfortunately Dawlish out of season is not the best place for culinary delights and nothing was open. We ended up buying a rather limp pizza (CM) and a tub of coleslaw (me) which was washed down in the B&B with a bottle of red which almost made it palatable.

The Glory of Glass

Having devoured a ginormous cooked breakfast (CM) and a delicate bowl of grapefruit (me), we took a stroll through the town, decided on a venue for Monday's extravaganza, didn't spy a single black swan (swizzle), and then walked up to Mike and Kate Westbrook's house to say hello and have a coffee. Mike and Charles have worked on a number of projects together and go way back. Unfortunately Mike was suffering from a dreadful cough but says he will still accompany us tomorrow (recording Miscellany). Kate has a wonderful studio in the attic and is a hugely talented painter, not completely abstract, not completely naturalistic, and very multi-layered, like looking at life through gauze or blurred glasses.Midday we packed the car and headed off to interview Patrick Reyntiens (above), Britain's pre-eminent stained glass designer and maker. He was absolutely charming, talked about Brangwyn's glass design, his collaboration with John Piper and his own work, showing us some beautiful autonomous glass panels, his delightful sketchbooks (tea bags and turmeric) and his wonderful library where he declaimed some of the Idylls of Theocritus for our benefit. Amazing how contemporary they sound, proves something about human nature. I would just love to be able to catalogue Patrick's stained glass windows and panels - but can't afford to without some sort of backing or sponsorship. How come thicko footballers get book deals but when one wants to do some serious work nothing is forthcoming? Rhetorical possibly.

West Country

The great west country saga began on Wednesday when I travelled up to Film Farm. The following day Charles charged batteries and sorted the gear which was duly piled up in the hall ready to go first thing Friday. And what a phenomenal pile it was too - all the usual paraphernalia PLUS the new microphone in a huge metal box, mike stand, the new 4 track digital surround sound recorder and miles of cables. Packing the car on this morning was reminiscent of 'how many policeman can one fit in a mini' and worthy of a Guinness record. Packed to the gunnels is no exaggeration but somehow or other I managed to leave space for the driver (MOI) and Charles' very long legs. The worst aspect of travelling with all the film gear is that we dare not leave the car, so coffee and lunch and other breaks have to be staggered. Six hours later we arrived in Dawlish (our base for the next 4 days), collected a wet suit (of which more anon) and booked in to our superb B&B, beautifully appointed, views of the sea, and, as it transpires, cooked breakfasts to die for. If ever you are in Dawlish, the Lammas Park House is the place to be.

Fellowship is Life ...

Lack of Fellowship is Death - so wrote William Morris. Unfortunately the London Borough of Waltham Forest don't see things in the same way and have decided to sack the staff and close the unique gallery which is complete and utter intellectual vandalism to my mind - don't get me started! Anyway, the highly esteemed curator, Peter Cormack, is due to leave mid December, so we had to get in quickly to interview him about stained glass in general and Brangwyn's efforts in particular. He was great, so knowledgeable, very articulate, but all conducted with a wry sense of humour. I think all three of us enjoyed the morning hugely. And here is the man himself in front of a green screen so that we can project him in front of any of the stained glass windows we have filmed!

on the road

No, not Kerouac, but the FBSG leviathan! A week Monday we interview Peter Cormack, then the following weekend my slangam friend and I have a bumper bundle and will be giggiting about the west country. We interview Patrick Reyntiens no less, to which I am greatly looking forward; record Miscellany performing Mike Westbrook's composition; interview Mike about his inspiration; film in Manaton church and do a couple more interviews and photography sessions.

Meanwhile the hunt for illustrations has borne fruit and I've been spending some happy hours in Photoshop!

curious incidents

There's a fascinating article about Brangwyn and art collections by Peter Duffy in the British Art Journal, Vol VIII, No 1, amusingly titled 'Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956) and the curious incidence of the art in the Tate'. Unfortunately the article went to press without Peter being able to proof read, so Fig 6 went out turned through 90 degrees and without the measurements supplied, and the last sentence is missing - it should read 'accommodate both reception and critique' - you heard it here first. Some extremely interesting revelations, and it's good to see people standing up against the authorities - but I doubt Peter will be allowed through the portals of the Tate again!

A RANT!

This is YOUR Post Office they say - USE IT! Well, I do, but feel I'm being ripped off and just wonder whether there are, in reality, any standards and do I have faith in my post arriving at its destination? For example, when based in a small Yorkshire village during the summer I had occasion to send two A4 envelopes to a colleague. I went to the PO and had them weighed and the PO man himself stamped them. The post did not arrive, but about 2 weeks later my colleague received a note saying that two envelopes were awaiting his collection - they had been underpaid! So HE had to pay extra to recover them from bondage.

A couple of days ago I needed to send a parcel speedily to Dorset (not exactly the other end of the world) and since I was working in the V&A Library that day, popped into the S Ken PO. The lady told me the parcel would cost £20! I nearly shrieked (well, OK I did shriek!). She then said it could go for £9 if I wanted but it would take up to 2 weeks - for crying out loud I could run it faster! Pressed further she said there was a 3rd method of postage whereby it would cost £14 and may arrive in 2 days. I compromised and went for the £14 which involved her in taking down the address. At that point she announced there was no such post code. For the next 10 minutes she and another member of staff reiterated their stance that the post code did not exist, therefore the package could not be accepted. By this time the queue was out into the road and I gave up, waltzing out in a distinct huff.

Yesterday I took same parcel to my local PO in Kent. £7 she said - my eyes opened wide in astonishment - but how long will it take? Oh, couple of days tops! You could have knocked me down with a feather.

Oh, and the postcode is completely and utterly bone vide - I've checked.

FREEDOM!

I took my mother back to Yorkshire this weekend, after a 3 week stay with us in Kent. Whilst there we also attended the funeral of her younger sister, so this year is not the best ever. However, I'm now a free agent again after 10 long weeks, and hope to recover my inimitable Tiggerish ebullience, bounce, energy and enthusiasm and return to work with a vengeance.

On my return journey south I dropped in at Film Farm to scan a tranny, choose some images of Bucklebury for my catalogue and catch up with Muriel and Dot (shedding their feathers everywhere so not looking their finest). Great food as usual, including the excellent Cote Hill Blue*, the wine flowed and we viewed Charles' latest film about the superb potter Phil Rogers (see http://www.philrogerspottery.com)

*(Made by Osgodby farmers Mike and Mary Davenport who only started making cheese 2 years ago but have received their 3rd gold medal at the British Cheese Awards for the Cote Hill Blue, whilst not a single Stilton was rated as highly)

Midi

Mike Westbrook has completed composing the music, and very fine it is too. We got a midi file made of it to help the Miscellany girls, who are slightly nervous because it's very close harmony and, without accompaniment, they have to grasp notes from thin air so to speak. But I'm sure they'll perform brilliantly when we record 18 November. Which is the next time the show (well a diesel filled China) takes to the road and I must think about planning a trip to Manaton at the same time to bag our last window and fix up some interviews. It's all go!

Liver Birds

Went to see the Peter Blake exhibition at Tate Liverpool (see Albert Dock above) - wonderful work they've done on the docks and warehouses and the exhibition is great fun, really inspires me and makes me feel all creative again - cannot understand why it isn't being shown in London.

The drive back to Film Farm is uneventful apart from an episode at the Dunhalm Bridge toll. Charles picks out the requisite 30p for me - 30 1p coins! As I hand it over I note in an apologetic tone that it is rather a handful. The chap looks at the coppers in disgust and opines: 'I should slap your legs for that!'

The number of slow moving caravans was also a hindrance - SCRAP enforecement required!

As they say, it's great to go travelling, but it's oh so good to come home. One regret and niggle - I was promised a drink at The Shelbourne hotel in Dublin but Charles somehow managed to eliminate this from the itinerary. He claims it's my fault.

Ggggreetingggs ffrom Llllibbby!

(For strange words see Christopher Foyle's delightful Philavery!)

Ireland 5

Genevieve Fry from Australia on Harp and Asha Calik from Germany on Hang

Wednesday: Charles tries for kidneys again at breakfast but there are none to be had - the cupboard is bare.

We return to Iveagh Gardens and, despite being hounded by a large grass cutting machine, we succeed in filming my havering. Thence, to placate Charles, we take a ride on the super dooper tram and back, before dashing down to Grafton Street to film the ambience and buskers including some Polish violinists and a duo who play harp and hang (a Swiss metal flying saucer, played like a drum) - the sounds complement each other perfectly. Just time to fit in a quick cappucino at Bewley's Oriental Cafe (beautifully decorated - both the building and the coffee) before returning to the hotel and driving to the ferry (see windswept passengers) and then driving to Liverpool.

Ireland 4

Charles on the move!

Tuesday: At breakfast Charles decides on the kidneys but after a 15 minute wait is told they are OFF!

Today we are bound for St Patrick's Cathedral and require more than the usual amount of equipment so load up my car (known as China).

Jinx #4: En route we spot a garage selling Diesel and join a queue for the pumps. Being early morning it is fairly busy and the owner, standing on the forecourt, directs me into the out lane. She then announces that she will fill the car and shooes me off in the direction of the shop to pay, but part way there a warning bell sounds in my head and I race back - sure enough - she's filling China with PETROL! Aaarrrrgh! All 17 litres of it.

I have to say this for the lady, she is exceptionally contrite and exceptionally helpful. We pile our luggage into her car and she drives us to St Patrick's, finds us at midday to give a progress report and finally collects us at 4pm when we find China sitting quietly in the forecourt gazing at the Grand Canal, having had the petrol siphoned out and a full colonic irrigation before being filled up with DIESEL. Inside the car is a jolly carrier bag with 2 bottles of wine and a large box of chocolates! So, from experience, I have to concur that Irish fuel is exceptionally cheap.

Despite the crowds, filming in St Patrick's goes very well, thank goodness, and Gavan Woods, the Cathedral Supervisor, proves to be very jolly and most helpful. Vertigo kicks in when I attempt the spiral staircase and I wimp out of the second set even though they provide good views of the Brangwyn window.

Jinx #5: Roadworks et al. We then move outside and set up in St Patrick's Park to take some external shots of the ediface and record my usual galimatias. However the hedge trimmers are out in force and some men are digging a very large hole in the adjacent road. I dash off to enquire how long the work might take or when they next anticipate a tea break - ah, this is an emergency, but they might be finished within the hour. So we move on to the Iveagh Trust buildings but they are plagued by the same noise and the traffic, so move on again to the Iveagh Market. Here a van conveniently parks in front of the camera, almost mowing me down in the process (Charles has a knack of positioning me in the middle of the road for my babbles - could this be coincidence or malice aforethought I wonder?!) Having relocated the camera, the dreaded road menders appear from nowhere and start drilling with gusto.

Returning to St Patrick's and the Iveagh Trust we discover that the hole in the road is now being shored up and the noise has abated. We manage to complete by 4pm as arranged with the garage proprietor.

I then drive into the City and Charles films the Liffey and O'Connell Bridge whilst I sit in the car in an illegal space and hope the garda don't appear. On to St James's Gate for film of the Guinness Brewery, and some more illegal parking.

Jinx # 6: Back to the hotel for a quick wash and brush up and book a taxi because this evening we have promised ourselves a treat - a meal at the Alexis Bar and Grill in Dun Laoghaire. We tell the driver quite clearly that we want the Alexis Bar, St Patrick's Street, Dun Laoghaire and are slightly confused by the route he takes. When he arrives at St Patrick's Street, Dublin we politely point out his error - and, to be fair, he is also contrite and helpful - rings up the restaurant, explains that we will be late, resets the meter, and when we arrive reduces the fare!

The meal is superb especially the freshly caught tuna, the waiter produces 2 spoons for Charles's dessert without prompting, and the prices are less than in Dublin itself. Highly recommended.

This time we state very very carefully that we wish to return to D U B L I N - 'oh', says the taxi driver, 'no worries, I'll take you to Timbuctoo if you really want.'

Ireland 3

Monday: I realise the car needs diesel but decide to wait until I can fill up with cheaper Irish fuel. We set off for Holyhead via Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (which, roughly tanslated, means The church of Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the fierce whirlpool and the church of Tysilio by the red cave - but you already knew that). Whoever invented the Welsh language was provided with a disproportionate number of Ls and Gs and Ys when given the basic typeset!

The Guiness family commissioned the Brangwyn window in Dublin and they were a remarkably philanthropic and humanitarian lot so we embark on a series of clips indicating their good works - St Stephen's Green, Iveagh Park, Iveagh Trust housing, Iveagh Market and of course St Patrick's Cathedral.

Jinx # 1: Monday afternoon we phone for a taxi and sit on the hotel steps in the sun awaiting same (see Charles with baggage and FBSG clapper board). Meanwhile three Europeans drag their voluminous cases down the steps and wait on the pavement for a taxi to take them to the airport. A taxi arrives, they speedily load up, I descend the steps and ask politely which room number the taxi driver has come to collect - he responds with mine - the other travellers now neatly ensconced in the vehicle claim vociferously that this is their room number! I gve up and we await their taxi - a huge affair more suited to transporting bags to the airport. The driver is none too plased at the prospect of his small fare.

Jinx #2: I ask for Iveagh House on St Stephen's Green but the driver takes us to the opposite side of the park, and, due to the vagaries of the one-way system, it would take another 30 minutes to get where we want so he drops us near the tram stop - fortuitously for Charles who is like a little kid when it comes to trains and similar, and from that point on trams take the place of the horse drawn carriages in Bruges!

After filming the trams from all angles (see above) I drag Charles away to the park itself, thence to the exterior of the large house the family used to occupy facing the Green. Managing to spout my words in between bursts of noisy traffic is not easy (a minor and anticipated jinx until it begins to escalate the following day). Armed with tripod, cameras and bags we trudge along to the Iveagh gardens and are transported by a wonderful waterfall.
Jinx # 3: Happily filming in the Iveagh gardens we are accosted by a uniformed gentleman ringing a bell - time's up apparently. We depart without having completed our work and the gates clang behind us.

Another longish walk (well, believe me it is when armed with heavy camera equipment) interrupted by photo opportunities presented by the elegant Georgian doorways, to David Byrne's pub in Duke's Street where, with my feet on the Ulysees plaque, I manage somehow to maintain a cheerful smile whilst being filmed sipping a Guinness! NOT my favourite tipple.

After returning to the hotel we wander round looking for a bistro (not having eaten since breakfast Libby's stomach is performing its borborygmus act with gusto). We finally loacte something suitable near St Stephen's Green but it proves to be tremendously noisy. When we enquire whether the noise level is usually this high, our waiter responds - 'Well, this is my first evening so I could not comment with any degree of certainty.' Wonderful place Ireland - even the waiters are literary!

Ireland 2

Sunday: We arrive in Beaumaris early evening and have another excellent meal at the Bulls Head Inn - the antipasta starter is a delight, with juicy sun dried tomatoes (not your usual normal dry as leather variety), some divine preserved figs which are neither sweet nor vinegary and very tasty bread.

Ireland - 2nd time lucky? (Well, almost)

Sunflower in honour of Oscar of course and purchased in Grafton Street!

Saturday: I leave my mother with strict instructions not to fracture another hip. Second time lucky we hope, although the jinxes are still apparent (see enumerated below).

I am greeted in usual enthusiastic fashion at Film Farm by Muriel and Dot (Croad Langshan and Norfolk Grey).

the 759 mile dinner date

Well, the best laid plans etc, etc. I set off from Kent 7am 4th August in high spirits, visited Peter near Bury St Edmunds, looked at his super litho collection, proceeded to Lincolnshire, chez Charles who was almost recovering from having had 3 Polish builders resident for the past 3 weeks renovating his bathroom. Looks great but probably not an experience to be repeated. Sunday we loaded up the car with film equipment and drove across country to Bangor, where we met Jeremy and Pam for an evening meal - great fun (see above). Thence for a walk along the cute dinky pier (see below).

So far so good. But next morning I received a phone call to say that my 89yr old mother had broken her hip. Brief soul searching and decided to abort trip so then had to drive back to Lincolnshire with all Charles' equipment, before then driving up to Scarborough to visit mea mater. And then a short drive to her house to collapse on a much needed bed. All in all a 759 mile journey just to have dinner in Beaumaris. I'm not saying it wasn't fun you understand - just a long detour!

So FBSG may be delayed further due to parental problems. In fact life feels like it is on hold at present. But I will attempt to keep smiling - always look on the bright side etc. (see below)

Oh I do like to be beside ...

the seaside, as I was today, in Hove, visiting my co-editor on the Brangwyn book - Gillian Naylor (see above). A wonderful, wonderful, vibrant, enthusiastic design historian, great intellect, great sense of fun, great style, northern directness - she just inspires me!

The Brangwyn book (Frank Brangwyn 1867-1956) was republished last month with glitches removed. I just wish we could have revamped the index. There was a very limited budget for the first edition, and I insisted on commissioning top class art historians who were also familiar with Brangwyn's work - which took the entire budget so Corinne and I worked for free. Towards the end I mentioned an index - no money left, but you cannot have a book of that calibre without - so I set about doing it myself - gratis of course. Unfortunately, at that stage, I didn't have indexing software, had a week to complete the job and was in Oman at the time with final page layouts for all essays bar one - so there are mistakes. There was no money available for my re-editing of the 2007 publication, I still couldn't afford the requisite software, so the indexing faults remain.

Odd business - publishing - still haven't got my head around it!

music, music, music

Wonderful - Andrea emailed me today to confirm that she has booked the recording venue for Sunday 18 November and she has a full choir ready to stand on a horseshoe. Charles will be there manhandling his sooper-dooper new surround sound microphone with which to perform recording justice. Mike Westbrook will be on hand to give the young ladies a final fillip, and I'll be there as bag-handler extraordinaire. Did I lose my vocation in life, or have I just found it?

So, a sudden burst of adrenalin! Although another delay in my self imposed timetable!

Plus I've got the Dublin filming trip sorted (5-8 August) - living near the Channel I'm used to rather better deals than appear to be available Holyhead to Dublin (no point in going by air because we'd have to pay a second mortgage on the weight of the camera equipment). So it's Kent to Lincolnshire, thence to Anglesey (meeting Jeremy - great guy, long, lanky, drole, dry sense of humour - helped me massively with Bangor collection), across to Dublin where Charles has challenged me to sipping a Guinness (not exactly my tas de the unfortunately so be prepared for a GRITTED TEETH smile), mad dash round the Iveagh related sights and FB's stained glass window, back to Linolnshire etc etc.

See you in Dublin - if not before. If you spot us - we'll treat you a drink!

2 July 2007 Life Class

Listening to Andrew Marr (one of my heroes) whilst doing the housework this morning (Monday = kitchen and breakfast room) - one of his guests was Pat Barker, also from Tees-side and born in 1943 (a good vintage). She was talking about official war artists. That got me thinking (rare policy). So many writers have stated that FB was an official war artist as if it were a badge of honour. But FB wasn't.
a) he was not a propagandist

b) he would not have prostituted his art for filthy lucre, and a cause he did not believe in (or in which he did not believe)

c) he wouldn't have towed the party line, far too individual and stubborn for that!

He did, however, produce over 80 designs for posters during WW1 - but the majority of these were given freely to charitable organisations..

1 July 2007 Frustration, frustration, frustration

Or should it be rabbits, rabbits, rabbits, and a pinch and a punch. Mike thinks the music will be ready by the end of July (a capella, interweaving melodic lines with passages of dense chromatic harmony - sounds wonderful), so time to organise a recording session. All I have to do is liaise with Mike, Andrea and Charles. Poor Andrea has to co-ordinate the diaries of her eleven choir members, book the church where they usually record, and liaise with me. And we are going round in proverbial circles which reminds me why I like working alone, had my fill of committees and reinventing the camel years ago. Artist in the garret syndrome for me - actually a ground floor room with a beautiful unhindered view past my yellow flowering hypericum and yellow clambering roses across poppy filled fields! Bliss.

Sad news yesterday. Ruth Artmonsky rang to say that Brenda Rawnsley had died suddenly of a heart attack. Brenda sounded such a character and we had been hoping to film her. Ruth wrote a wonderful book and curated an exhibition about Brenda's forays into art - The School Prints. A Romantic Project (2006).

27 June 2007 Task Sorted!

So I emailed Gareth, who sent me the name of the only company in the UK which blows Antique Glass - the eponymous English Antique Glass Company and they were perfectly charming and we can film any Monday/Tuesday when they are flattening glass. Brilliant news - only when can we find a Monday/Tuesday when either of us is free?!

And the other good news this week is that Martin Eidelberg, Professor Emeritus, Art History, Rutgers has agreed to be interviewed - he's an expert on Tiffany and has a wonderful impish sense of humour, reminds me of Robin Williams!

The bad news is that Peter Cormack isn't free to be interviewed when Charles is in London next week, and that the William Morris Gallery is absolutely definitely only going to be open 2 afternoons a week and Saturday and Sunday, and the staff will be reduced to practically zilch - this despite worldwide protests. Intellectual vandalism.

24 June 2007 - The aftermath

Breakfast with Mike Westbrook (not literally but on a CD) which seemed apt. Those wonderful squiggly menu drawings I made last night, don't make quite as much sense this morning. Wonder why that is. I guess this is what CM calls a 'sophisticated menu structure'!

However, there will be an introductory page explaining the contents etc, and this leads to two buttons, Catalogue Raisonne (which leads to general information on Brangwyn's work and stained glass in particular; the academic information on each stained glass panel or window; slide show of all windows and studies) and Movie Menu. The latter will lead to another menu which has buttons for the main film of the windows; longer individual films of each window; filmed interviews with experts and practitioners; filmed biography. The music can also be heard without having to watch the film, and we're hoping to get Mike to talk about the composition, and Andrea the performance. And last but certainly not least, Gareth will be filmed making the stained glass panel - and then we thought, how about filming antique glass being made?

Fire, jolly colours etc - having just finished work on Elemental, the film about the Japanese potter, Ken Matsuzaki, Charles is into furnaces! So that's my next task to sort out!

23 June 2007 - Pushing the right buttons

Here's Charles wearing his snazy FBSG T-shirt (designed and painted by yours truly), slaving away at the Bruges rushes in his edit suite.

Later, over a bottle of Crozes-Hermitage 1996 rescued from the flooded cellar, Charles and I discussed the layout of the DVD, the menus, how many buttons, whether there is a jolly musical intro before one reaches the first menu - it brought it home to me how the whole concept has expanded - bit like Topsy - but also how very exciting it is, how adaptable in format, how multi-layered. I feel a little like Oscar Wilde with his blue pots - am I worthy of this brainchild.

I had also become concerned that the words I'd done before camera encapsulated each project rather too succinctly not leaving sufficient room for manoeuvre, but these will go into the overall film, with more detailed expositions within individual sections.

All most confusing for a bear of little brain!

5-7 June Dublin's fair city

And isn't it just! I'm told we spent a day here when I was early 20s but cannot recall a thing - and I wasn't high, honest me lud (not even taking the shot above!). Arrived c/o Ryan Air an hour late, to perform pre-filming recce and research (not your usual R&R), dashed to the Pembroke Townhouse - very comfortable, stylish, clean and not part of a dreaded daisy chain - walked back into town and caught the bus to the wonderfully named Representative Church Body Library where the staff were brilliant and patient and I got the info I needed.

Back into town and walked back to the hotel soaking in the atmosphere, the Georgian squares, the wonderful doors, the friendly people, folks sitting out in the sun having a pre-prandial. Perhaps I'm old fashioned but on my own I find it difficult to eat or drink out, so gathered myself a salad and some decent bread from a deli and ate same slowly during the evening whilst I caught up on work on the laptop. Gosh, what an anorak!

Following day 'walked' some of the town guide, taking in the sights then on to the Hugh Lane Gallery (thoroughly enjoyed the Francis Bacon studio - I know people who live like that all the time and not just in one room either - naming no names of course!) to see their Brangwyn collection - they have the amazing Mars and Venus, the chap being a rather lascivious looking devil!

Wanted to do more sight seeing on the way back but luckily forced myself to book into the National Library first. They were due to shut in 10 minutes for lunch and one needs a ticket. To get a ticket one needs a passport photograph. Ugh! Luckily the bookshop provides a service. Dash downstairs, polordoid type photo taken in a trice or thereabouts. Need identity. Passport at hotel. Joggle back to hotel, collect passport, joggle back to Library, fill in form, get ticket. The letters I want to see are next door, dash down road. Need another ticket. Luckily the guy was charming and we commiserated about Collingwood Library in North London. FINALLY got to sit down with the letters. Afterwards back to main library to read old newspapers. Waled back to hotel rather slower this evening! Won't let on about a meal!

Following day walked to St Patrick's where the other Brangwyn memorial window to Lord Iveagh is to be found. Took notes about important things like plug points in vicinity of window and what would be the best time of day to film - it's in the north transept (seen below centre). Statue of Benjamin Lee Guiness outside the Cathedral (below left). Thence on my pre-ordained tour of Guinness sights - Iveagh House on St Stephen's Green, the Iveagh Gardens, Iveagh Market Hall (the winking stone below right is said to be Lord Iveagh - good to know they had a sense of humour) etc etc (but not the Brewery - I'll leave that for Charles to investigate, beer not exactly being my tass de the, accents excused). Back to the hotel to pay the bill, collect my bags and then a few hours wait until returning to the airport. Luckily the weather still gorgeous, so sat in one of the parks, sunning myself and reading - that's multi-tasking for you!

Guess what - Ryan Air was one hour late again.

24 May 2007 SGFA (part 2)

I kept on getting diverted by FBSG and Christ's Hospital and Ferens and daily events, but finally finished the article. Now to find some illustrations, like this one of FB wiping an etching plate with an American assistant, Edward D Trumbull in the background at the printing press. This is Brangwyn's Temple Lodge studio, Hammersmith.

Whatever qualities Trumbull had as an artist were forgotten when Brangwyn subsequently discovered the American was a bigamist!

17 May 2007 Abingdon

Avenue that is, Northampton. And, with suitable Boris Johnson type apologies, the Northampton header wouldn't have produced the same excitement would it?! (And later I remembered it's ABINGTON Avenue after all! Oops!)

FB designed a window for what was the Congregational Church and is now the United Reformed Church (shown above, and detail below - isn't she lovely!). Obviously a very vibrant parish with daily events. We were welcomed by Ruth Redhead, Eddie and Joyce Jeyes. Ruth read us a piece written by a relative of Fitness who had commissioned the window, Joyce enlightened us as to the symbolism in the design, and Eddie was cajoled into taking his place at the organ seat and giving us a recital.

Filming outside the church, the net curtains of adjoining houses twitched - 'Ooh, who's that then, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? Bill Odie and Kate Moss, it just must be, and its the starlings in the belfry they're after.' Well, we may be delusional but unfortunately none of those descriptions fit us 100%!

Back to Film Farm via Fired Earth showroom at Warmington Mill (a coffee shop there would be a great addition next to the canal?) and a superlative Waitrose cum JL at Rushden.

16 May 2007 Guinness country

Well almost - Charles and I loaded up the Alfa and drove down to the church of St Andrew and St Patrick, Elveden in Suffolk to film the stained glass window FB designed as a memorial to Lord Iveagh (Guiness family) - the window is above the door in the photo. Gillian and Neville Turner (see above) were most welcoming and gave us the full guided tour including the graves of the Maharajah Duleep Singh and family (I kid you not), the original mediaeval St Andrew's church, the shepherds on the pinnacles of the Western Tower (they gave the money and demanded recognition!), the extension dedicated to St Patrick and designed by Caroe (the o should be topped by an umlaut but I can't find the symbol), and the magical cloister and bell tower (also Caroe mit umlaut) erected in memory of the first Vicountess Iveagh. Ah, there's love and devotion for you - recalls the Taj Mahal (which, incidentally, I always considered chocolate box kitchy - that is, until I went there, some twenty years ago, and, despite the crowds, it just took my breath away. It is beautiful and truly magical).

Back to basics after that detour. The church is, unfortunately, cheek by whatsit with the A11 along which traffic thunders in a never ending manner. The photo shows Charles trying to record bird song amid the traffic roar!

The other bird - me - wasn't quite on song, mind elsewhere or something so we had to retake my blurb rather more than a few times (and then afterwards, looking at the rushes, noticed I'd still got my sandals on instead of some slightly smarter black shoes - ***** - can't win 'em all as FB might have said).

Persuaded Gillian to talk about the window but then mortified her because we compared the feel of it to All Things Bright and Beautiful which isn't exactly her favourite hymn! It might be rather jolly to have some youngsters singing the hymn though - any offers of help? The church hosts a campanologists get together in the summer and Neville has promised to tape the ringing for us, which is splendid.

Recovered from our labours in the newly opened Elveden Estate Shop and Cafe (with accent) Restaurant which is excellent - well worth a visit.

Back to Film Farm through sheeting rain - ugh!

15 May 2007. Smokery

Dear Reader

No, I haven't descended to the dreaded weed, or even Bill and Ben, but did give a lecture to a super NADFAS group at Cley by the Sea (Norfolk) and at the same time stocked up on smoked salmon and smoked olives and smoked cheese and kippers at the fabulous smokery there (surprise surprise), and purchased some lavender bread at the Deli (never come across this animal previously, but believe me, warmed in the oven and combined with the smokery delights was truly magnificent).

I was due to lecture to the group last year, but it happened to coincide with the opening of the BRANGWYN Liss Fine Art show at The Fine Art Society - and I just couldn't get from one to the other in time - and hey, I wasn't going to miss my first BIG Brangwyn show of the year! I had, therefore, been feeling frightfully guilty, but think/hope I redeemed myself.

And on to Film Farm to devour said goodies and discuss progress. Have decided to complete the film this year if possible, leaving Gareth's episode as a separate film which can be edited and added at the last moment.

11 May 2007 Spirals and knots

Relevance? Well, possibly the spirals of the projected V&A structure, or spiralling out of control, or the position I find myself in viz a viz the designs FB did for Tiffany in 1898-99.

It's like this. Two finished panels are listed in the Grafton Gallery catalogue (1899), Music and Baptism of Christ. The former doesn't appear to exist but the latter does as does another panel, Child with Gourd. There are two designs which could possibly be Music - but which one is the right one? There are some obvious sketches and some cartoons (with leading shown) illustrated in contemporary magazines but might some of the latter be finished panels? Difficult to say. Wot [sic] a dilemma.

So I've been digging through various old magazines at the V&A Library trying to sort out this knotty problem. But I never graduated from Brownies, so my entanglement in granny, reef, slip and weaver, not to mention Gordian is overwhelming.

8 May 2007 Gareth's glass

Visited Gareth near Carmarthen. What a super chap, hugely enthusiastic, similarly non PC, and could talk the hind leg off the proverbial donkey. He's obviously highly intelligent and was a teacher in a previous life, but luckily isn't didactic. Will come over superbly on film - the energy, the mobile smiling face, the character - and he loves Brangwyn - what more could one want! Rhetorical dear chap, rhetorical.

I had sent him images of all the known designs Brangwyn made for Tiffany and left it to Gareth to decide which one he wanted or felt most able to recreate - and he's chosen the one I secretly wanted him to choose, Girl with fruit bowl (see below) - so that's absolutely brilliant. Saw works in progress, took photographs of the studios (aka the spare room and the garage - here's one of Gareth, smiling of course) - agreed a price, always the heart stopping moment! Unfortunately he won't be able to start work until later this year and the panel won't be finished until about March next, which puts my whole timetable awry, but I feel it is worth waiting for. He's also agreed to be interviewed seperately as a practitioner about FB's approach to designing stained glass.

Also worked out logistics for filming 'how a stained glass panel is made' without negotiating multiple trips from Kent via Lincolnshire to west Wales which would deplete the budget more than a little - might have to do the Blue Peter 'Here's one I made earlier' tack.

Now occurs to me what a wonderful mini exhibition it would make - the new stained glass Tiffany panel, FB's original drawing (well, a photo of it anyway, location of original unknown), Gareth's working sketches, the film of the panel being made, and maybe we could have Miscellany and Mike Westbrook to perform at the opening. Wouldn't that be glorious?!

Got another donation towards the film from relatives!