To the 70`s and Beyond!

Bit cloudy earlier so rather than a walk and taking a few landscape shots me and  Sue thought we would reminisce and visit our old haunts. We met at Leeds University in 1976 and whilst taking the chance to look around again  the main reason for our trip there today was to see the new Marks and Spencer`s archive, newly opened in the University`s Michael Marks building.

Michael Marks Building - Clarendon Road behind the Innovation Centre.

Sue reckons she had a hat like this!.

And a gabardine like this for school.

Some nice images / newsreel of old adverts / lines

I liked this building next door best

Opened by Stella Rimington ,of MI5 fame, I can now officially reveal it was always a government plot to make us all shop at higher prices under previous claims of "British made" St Michael`s produce. How else could they rise from a penny bazaar stall to this monster of today if not? Certainly fooled Sue who continues to squander our resources in the food court and Per Una.
The archive is open daily from 10-5 and houses examples of old lines/ M&S uniforms and adverts / newsreels. My favourite quote was from M&S Chairman Marcus Sieff in 1979 who, when told they would be marketing their new Chicken Kiev line named as that even in Newcastle, feared they would never sell with that name up there! Put it in a stottie cake and there would be no problems I would have advised if asked at the time though given it was a perfect accompaniment to chips how could such fine cuisine fail in my native north east! Not a huge archive for the  public to see but there as a student resource too and worth a visit. Having gone down there we thought we might as well wander through the University campus and see how much had changed in over 40 years. Externally the old Union building looked the same...

A lot more bike racks but the same old buildings intermingled with a few new structures (new to us) still make it a nice campus. Posters offered a somewhat larger summer ball than we ever experienced for what seemed like only £10-15 more! Nice to see Great Hall and Clothworkers Court still looking grand!

Most interesting bit though was going through the Union building and finding that whilst the Riley Smith Hall and Refectory are still largely the same, the MJ lounge has gone and even worse the snooker room where I mainly studied has disappeared! I`m told the libraries are still in place but struggled to find them - now as then! A warren of shops, beauticians, eateries with bruschettas and the like  showed the life of a modern student is way beyond what my experience was. My experience of living in an exploitative landlords slum for 8 with weekly shopping trips to Leeds market snapping up bargain bashed tomatoes and bacon scraps are as far from a modern student`s existence as Chicken Kiev was to a Geordie in 1978!

In the refec it was great seeing the list of bands who played in what is a really small hall. Reminded me of all the great musicians I saw - Santana, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, The Chieftains, Nils Lofgren, Wishbone Ash, Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, Joan Armatrading, 10CC even Leo Sayer and many more. My favourite excluding my trip to see Who live at Leeds who I just checked was in 1970 prior to my going to Leeds Uni - got to be John Martyn. I remember being mystified at the range of sound / guitar work and sheer brilliance of one man on stage - and the drugs being smoked freely all around me just raised the perception a bit more!  
After that it was a nice lunch in the Leeds Museum cafe, off Millennium Square, before taking in the 1970`s Exhibition on there until 22nd April.

I remember at Uni saying to others in my Belle Vue Road student house that I would go to France with them if I had £75 in my account. When I found I had more I bought a music centre instead only a little smaller than this which filled my 8ft x 4ft room with music for 2 years!

Ah yes I remember a few nights in there - not to mention Belinda`s, Nouveau and Itzy Ritzy!

Now in the film of the same name who famously posed in a chair like this! If you know you should be ashamed of yourselves!

We laughed at the old recipe books in the 70`s and their limited menus.

Must close now as I am wondering what Sue is cooking up for tonight from her own favourite recipe book! Some things last forever!

In the Days of Shilling and Halfpenny

At a meeting about a new project I am involved in with Holy Trinity Church called Retail Soulmate I was able to take in the exhibition set up at the church by Blank Canvas. The title of this blog and the exhibition refers to William Halfpenny - an architect commissioned to design Holy Trinity Church whose designs for it were never brought about. Holy Trinity Church, working with the new Trinity Shopping Centre next to it - is aiming to develop an arts space and closes sections for refurbishment in May. In early May there will be an exhibition called "Retail Soulmate" featuring the work of me and other photographers / film-makers selected to bring together works around the theme of shopping in Leeds. More of that as it progresses but for now if you want to see the group exhibition "In the Days of Shilling and Halfpenny" you have until Saturday to see works by new and emerging artists in a unique location. Don`t miss it!
A few peeks to encourage you / fill the gap if you cannot make it:

Cruising down the River

My final blog on our trip to Egypt taking in the river cruise and stay in Luxor. Despite all warnings we enjoyed the cruise without mishap. It didn`t run aground, did not have engine failure and neither of us ended up with the runs!
So peaceful and so much to see. We did not get "templed out" as our guide Magdy organised the visits so well - every temple different and just enough detail / time to make a huge impact on us but now bore us! Quite how Egypt will continue to uncover the estimated 66% of remains still to be worked on in such times of economic hardship I don`t know but there is so much more than I realised out there.
What did I like best?

• The boat (MS Sherry) might not have been the most swish on the river but as guide Magdy told us it remained his number 1 choice to work on because the food was superb throughout and with only 12 passengers we were outnumbered by crew by 3 or 4 to 1 I reckon. Great service and always with a smile. Yes we loved the temples but it was also nice to just watch what was happening on the river banks and relax and catch those great sunsets every night.
• Great guide Magdy who was so attentive and at times we had a private tour with him and the two of us. So friendly and helpful
• Met some nice people - Jo and Louise who seemed to stalk us around the temples despite being on a different boat and Winifred and Joe a delightful couple aged 86 and 83 who having travelled through Jordan and Israel were taking in the Nile before going home to Toronto. So many stories and such energy. Hope I am still travelling the world at 86!

Worst things

•  The pollution. Despite being dependent on the Nile for irrigation we were amazed at how rubbish was burned on the river banks and how much rubbish was floating in the Nile. None of the fish eaten in restaurants or on boats comes from the Nile - all from Lake Nasser as they are deemed contaminated. Only the locals fish and catch what they eat from the river. It was amazing to see young kids and babies bathing in such water.
• The sellers meeting us off the boat. Desperation through lack of tourists meant a heavy presence and them never giving up. I had the classic of young kids reaching into my belt wallet under cover of 10 papyrus(banana leaf) bookmarks for sale. Of course it was already empty and open so had fun shouting "Bah" (finish) at them and seeing them run. Other mistake I made was when in the locks and having people on boats some 25-30 feet below trying to sell us stuff. Thinking I was clever I said "Yes chuck it up and I`ll look at it" - never imagining they would reach and get it though the gap between awning and deck. The guy should be in American football with his throwing arm - came straight to me and gave me the challenge of throwing it back and hitting a small rowing boat. Managed it - unlike a French guy on the other side of the boat who made the water!

But enough words and a few more pictures to tempt you to go!

MS Sherry

Head waiter, chef and Aziz our waiter and fervent Arsenal fan!

Our guide Magdy (left)

One of the many sunsets

Valley of the Kings lit up at night from our berthed boat

On sections of the Nile you see little strips of land created by the High Dam water management where farmers graze their cattle free of charge.

Another aspect of pollution on the banks

See the guy selling from a rowing boat - they never give up!

Our ship pilot - 15 years experience of the Nile

Despite low numbers the boat still put on a Whirling Dervish and Belly Dance show

Apprentice seller practising his words

Ali the 7 yr old shoe shine boy at the Winter Palace. We had no shoes on to clean so I tipped him for a shot.Not enough though (as ever) and he gave me as much aggro as any adult seller!

Final  Hotel the Sofitel Karnak - beautiful

The most ornate towel work I have seen

Karnak Temple light and sound show - probably the highlight of the whole trip