Seaside entertainment

IHi bloggers hope all is well with you. I’m really delighted that the Paralympic Games are about to commence. I really enjoyed many of the events at the Olympic Games last month and it will be great to have some more sport to enjoy.
My attention was caught by an article relating to English seaside resorts. The Arts Council of Great Britain decided to train some young people in classic seaside entertaining skills; juggling, stilts, Punch and Judy, slapstick and magic shows. All these forms of entertainment were part of the English holiday experience. However as foreign travel became more popular and affordable less people holidayed in England and the decline of many coastal resorts, led to the loss of seaside entertainers. The Arts council wanted to prevent these skills being lost, it also wanted to bring fun back the visitors and ensure that outside entertainment was kept alive. Cultural heritage is very important, the entertainment was performed originally by Pierrot groups dating back to Victorian times.
I’m particularly delighted that the Punch and Judy show is being revived, as a child I watched performances and loved it. The latest versions will be more politically correct no beating of children or wives, but I’m sure they will be fun and well appreciated. The Punch and Judy shows although thought to be English originated in Italy. The puppet show takes place in a portable booth so it’s easy for the puppeteer to take their show from place to place. So I look forward to attending a show and booing and cheering and hopefully having a bit of fun.
Bloggers I really hope that you have a good week, take care over and out London.

RECYCLED ARTWORK FROM THE RIVER CLYDE

Hi bloggers I’ve read about and seen the dreadful flooding, that you have been experiencing in Japan, I do hope that you are all safe. I also see that you have experienced considerable changes in your temperature. London has also become much colder back to jackets. Goodness me it’s all so very strange.
I was reading about a Scottish artist and sculptor called George Parsonage who lives on the river Clyde. His sculptures are made from the objects he finds in the river. He uses, for example supermarket trolleys and cycles that people have dumped in the river. So rubbish becomes a piece of art. He lives in the house he was born in and his studio is the shed he built with his father on the bank of the river Clyde. He also had a job as the officer in charge of the Glasgow Humane Society taking over from his father. I’d no idea of the existence of this Society.
The Glasgow Humane Society is the oldest lifesaving organisation in the world. It was established in 1790 and has saved thousands of lives. The society aims to keep people safe and educating people about the dangers of rivers. The service is run by volunteers and it relies on donations for funding. Only one position is paid the one of the chief officer.
George has combined his two passions of sculpting and saving lives. A remarkable man.
Bloggers please take care over and out London.








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KNITTING

I hope you have had a good week. Japan has been in the news a lot, all the papers said that Inspite of such difficult circumstances, Japan has hosted a wonderful Olympic Games. I really enjoyed the closing ceremony the light show was wonderful.
I felt very proud of Tom Daley, his achievement in the diving was lovely to watch. There has been a lot of interest in his knitting. He said that he was recommended to knit to help him calm down and apparently he has inspired a lot of men to take up knitting.
However although knitting is considered women’s work, historically knitting was a male only occupation. In France there was a knitting union that passed a law in 1527 , that no women were allowed to knit. Knitting is a centuries old craft, archaeologists have trouble determining the date as knitted fabrics decay.
Knitting was a cottage industry done in people’s homes. It became more industrialised after the knitting machine was invented by an English clergyman in 1527. In many countries during periods of war it became a national duty to knit.
Originally people knitted with silk and cotton then was replaced by wool farmers bred merino sheep the Queen of wool.
Knitting is said to be very good for your health, it reduces blood pressure and lowers heart rate and is good for your mental health. I think I’ll have to get my knitting needles out.
Bloggers have a good week I know it’s really hot and humid where you are so take care. Over and out London.











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