Where can you see Peter Tatchell, Vic Reeves and Tracy Emin in one weekend? I hardly need to spell out the answer… This weekend was Margate’s Gay Pride, an event that made the papers because of some homemade pre-publicity from one man with a photocopier and a seriously not-on attitude. His leaflets asked residents not to let Margate become MarGAY, so the local LGTB crowd quickly got their own print on in reply, and MarGAY t-shirts were being worn with pride. Here’s the small but beautiful parade from my window. And when I opened the front door the mighty Peter Tatchell was walking by – mega-phone in hand, naturally. He’s been beaten up in Russia – he ain’t afraid a’no leaflet.

(more…)

Punched paintings: told you it was a thing

Always nice to see a MFH trend being picked up and going international. Some 18 months ago I reported on a repro Monet canvas I’d bought in the local junk shop, which had a big hole punched in it. The image is of course beautiful, but it was the big fist imprint that really sealed […]

Vanishing London, 60s style

The debate about gentrification, the protests over rows of beautiful old houses being demolished, the huge question of how ordinary Londoners are going to be able to live here in future… instead of looking forward today I’m looking back, having found a fascinating film in the BBC archive that itself demonstrates the endlessly changing streetscapes […]

Castle for sale – another one to pitch in for?

If I’ve got my facts straight – the web can be a confusing landscape – then this little 16th Century castle for sale in Perth and Kinross is the one that Architect and writer Michael Spens commissioned Eduardo Paolozzi to do some ceiling panels for back in 1971. It’s called Cleish Castle and it’s got a […]

Festival of the Horse

I just saw some great photos in the Guardian today and had to share. I am fascinated by folk art and folk festivals, both in the Uk and around the world. My home county of Cornwall of course has plenty – I remember being quite frightened by what was, back in the 80s, a rough-and-tumble, […]