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Rhythm & Views
Elvis Costello: National Ransom (Hear Music)
Already having established his midcareer reputation as a restless experimenter, Elvis Costello continues his journey down the back roads of America's musical styles on National Ransom. His latest is purposefully all over the map, covering Memphis, New Orleans, West Texas, Hollywood, the Appalachian hills and Tin Pan Alley.
The swings between conventional rock, crooner jazz and several shades of Americana might seem messy at first, but Costello's sonic inclusiveness is what gives National Ransom its impact.
Costello certainly put the right team in place for such a genre-jumping effort. National Ransom has producer T Bone Burnett at the helm and features guests like Buddy Miller, Marc Ribot and Leon Russell. It's mostly the same cast as last year's Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, which stuck to straightforward country/bluegrass music with merely decent results. But by running in the opposite direction, National Ransom finds strengths in its myriad sounds.
The music builds well into the album's thematic commentary on the contradictions guiding modern America: the economic ransom—disguised as patriotism—being paid by the middle class to the wealthy, and the populist surge that's hastening the country's oligarchical slide.
Highlights are the opening title track, the noir-jazz of "Jimmie Standing in the Rain," the gentle acoustic "Bullets for the New-Born King," country rave-up "I Lost You" and "The Spell That You Cast," which is classic Costello.
National Ransom's 16 songs stretch past an hour, and not everything works, but it's a bold and thorough effort from a legend not content to repeat himself.
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Вацлав Кшижановський (, 22 січня 1881, Варшава — 12 березня 1951, Краків) — польський архітектор.

Біографія
Народився у Варшаві. 1904 року закінчив Львівську політехніку. 1902 року спільно із Зигмунтом Добжанським та Мар'яном Гейтцманом заснував Союз студентів архітектури у Львові (перше зібрання відбулось 1903 року). Навчався у Паризькій школі мистецтв. Відбував практику у Відні. Працював у Кракові в архітектурному бюро Юзефа Пакеса. Роботи того часу значною мірою тяжіють до класицизму. Член Кола архітекторів у Кракові. Публікував репродукції власних рисунків та творів живопису у краківському часописі «Architekt». У 1910–1912 роках був секретарем організації. 1912 року був одним з організаторів у Кракові Виставки архітектури та інтер'єрів в оточенні садовому. Створив для неї кілька проектів, які було реалізовано. Входив до виконавчого комітету виставки. У 1914–1916 роках член Чільного комітету народного. Від 1919 року — інспектор відбудови краю, від 1920 — директор робіт публічних з відбудови у Кракові. У 1921–1939 роках був професором архітектури інтер'єрів Державного інституту пластичних мистецтв. У 1928–1935 належав до Безпартійного блоку співпраці з урядом.

Член Краківського технічного товариства. На початку грудня 1908 року у складі делегації товариства брав участь у Першому з'їзді делегатів польських архітектурних кіл у Кракові. Пізніше член Спілки архітекторів Краківського воєводства. Член журі конкурсів на проект перебудови садиби Скібневських у селі Голозубинці Хмельницької області (1904), проектів розписів каплиці Собеського на Кахленбергу у Відні (1909), фасадів Національного музею на Вавелі (1912), проектів будинку Гірничої академії у Кракові (1913), регуляції вулиці Вольської у Кракові (1914), будинку державної учительської семінарії у Пщині (1925), будівлі Міністерства закордонних справ у Варшаві (1929).

Роботи
 Дім на вулиці Битви під Леніно, 8 у Кракові (1905–1906, співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Перебудова інтер'єрів готелю і ресторану Поллера на вулиці Шпитальній, 30 у Кракові (1907).
 Бурса академічна на вулиці Гарбарській, 7 у Кракові (1908–1909, співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Дім на вулиці Шпитальній, 32 у Кракові (1909, співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Дім родини Попелів на вулиці Асника, 1, на розі з вулицею Баштовою у Кракові (1909–1910, співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Будинки на алеї Словацького, 44-46-48 у Кракові (співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Вілла професора Натансона на вулиці Студентській, 3 у Кракові (1909–1910, співавтор Юзеф Пакес).
 Корчма з альтанками на краківській Виставці архітектури та інтер'єрів у садовому оточенні 1912 року. Зовні вирішена із деякими елементами бароко. Оздоблення інтер'єрів та екстер'єрів виконав художник Процайлович. Кіоски для квітів там же.
 Школа св. Ядвіги на вулиці Крупничій, 38 у Кракові. Збудована у 1911–1912 роках. Співавтор Юзеф Пакес.
 Перебудова дому Польської академії знань на вулиці Славковській 17/19 у Кракові у 1911–1913 роках. Співавтор Юзеф Пакес.
 Проект спільного будинку слюсарської, столярської та бронзоливарної майстерень для міської Газовні у Кракові. Проект розбудови адміністративного корпусу. Усе реалізовано 1921 року.
 Проект дерев'яного костелу в Ющині від 1923 року. Не реалізований.
 Палата скарбова у Кракові на ділянці між вулицями Крупничою, Чистою і щойно прокладеною Скарбовою, споруджена у 1922–1925 роках. Має акцентований іонічним портиком вхід, а також декоративно розчленовані колонами скруглені наріжники. Неокласицистична будівля вирішена монументально, але має головний фасад на другорядній вулиці Скарбовій, позбавлена вигідних точок для огляду.
 Проект санаторію у Криниці-Здруй на вулиці Нітрібітта для конкурсу 1926 року. Співавтор Богдан Лащка. Не здобув нагород, але був придбаний журі.
 Проект від 15 грудня 1928 року на забудову ділянки між вулицями Баштовою, Кроводерською і Біскупьою у Кракові. Замовник — Товариство взаємного страхування.
 Два проекти будинку Ягеллонської бібліотеки у Кракові. Створені для конкурсу 1928 року, де здобули відповідно перше і друге місце.
 Костел у селі Хмелюв Підкарпатського воєводства (1920-ті).
 Хрест, створений за проектом Кшижановського і уміщений 7 квітня 1935 року на знищеному блискавкою дереві біля палацу Тарновських у Дзікові (тепер дільниця Тарнобжега).

Примітки

Джерела

 Hass L. Wolnomularze polscy w kraju i na świecie 1821–1999. Słownik biograficzny. — Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Rytm, 1999. — S. 255. — ISBN 83-87893-52-8.
 Purchla J. Jak powstał nowoczesny Kraków. — Wyd. drugie, przejrzane i uzupełnione. — Kraków: Wydawnictwo literackie, 1990. — S. 78, 127. — ISBN 83-08-02087-9.

Випускники Львівської політехніки
Уродженці Варшави
Померли в Кракові
Архітектори Кракова
Архітектори XX століття

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Restaurants in Wales . Vale of Glamorgan
Pizza Pronto, Penarth
On July 13, 2014 by The Plate Licked Clean
Old Monsieur Charles-Guillaume Etienne is apparently the man we have to thank for coining the maxim, On n'est jamais servi si bien que par soi-même.
(Here he goes again, comes the collective groan)
Bear with me. I mention M. Whatsisname because those words have come to us, not literally but certainly in spirit, as the adage: 'If you want something done properly, do it yourself.'
It'll all become clear soon.
Anyone familiar with Penarth will know the kiosk next to what used to be Queen's Café; a tiny building at the head of the shortcut slope to the train station, it has for decades gone through many incarnations but remained constant in this- fast food. The great, the good and the woozy of Penarth have made the most of its proximity to The Railway pub, to load up on such delicacies as The Inexcusable Doner and The Inadvisable Half-Pounder. (Cards on the table: a long-gone tenant used to do a Hawaiian Burger that was a guilty pleasure: a pineapple ring and Thousand Island sauce, and we'll say no more on the matter.)
In short: there has always been food served here, but it hasn't been anything you'd go out of your way to eat sober. Which is where we come in, because this tiny space has for the last fortnight been home to Pizza Pronto, and things are changing.
During periods of home leave, kiosk landlord Kev became so disillusioned at the unambitious approach of former tenants that he teamed up with experienced chef and friend Simeon to launch Pizza Pronto (hence the French bit…) Presumably the mean streets of Penarth look just a tad safer than a tour in Iraq: I guess it saves on having to hire any late-night security, too. Either way, the idea grew out of one of those conversations it is easy to have when the tapas are plentiful and the Estrella Damm is flowing.
As far as results of drunken agreements in Bar 44 go, this must rank as one of the best. Kev and Simeon have teamed up to bring what they see as something unique to Penarth, something substantially different from the imminent Domino's up the road.
The menu here is small and focusses on a few key ideas: serving simple but well-made dishes quickly. There are no surprises on the board: they'll be found in any chain pizza joint on every street, but here speed and quality are priorities.
By the way- when I describe Pizza Pronto as small, I'm not exaggerating. You can get two people in there at once. Just. Customer number three will be shouting their order in from the pavement.
This is the evening menu, by the way- the lunch time options include a daily pasta dish, a soup and dough balls with brie and red onion jam, which I am assured are among the best things they do.
Service is friendly and fast- it has to be- the pizzas arriving thin and crisp, the edges blistered by the fierce heat of that oven, the toppings piping hot. Chicken and bacon, tuna and anchovy, pepperoni: all were uniformly excellent, which is to say they remind you of how good a simple dish can be when done well.
Obviously this is street food in its truest sense- there's no seating to be had- but bearing in mind how hot these things are when they emerge, I'd hotfoot it back to the car* and take a couple of minutes' drive down to the seafront, and eat them on a bench overlooking Flat Holm. That's my 'serving suggestion', anyroad- especially with the tuna and anchovies. Eating those strips of tiny salty fish in sea air… it's not going to get much better than that for a few quid, is it?
Garlic bread follows the same 'flatbread' template and comes dripping butter and reeking with garlic; this is A Good Thing. I tried a (complimentary) vegetarian 'special' which was an Italian spin on bubble and squeak, a family recipe from Simeon's family, which about as far from a tired 'oh let's bung something on the menu for the veggies, bless 'em' as you could find. Recommended.
I have no hesitation in awarding Pizza Pronto the inaugural 'Plate Licked Clean 'Best Italian Street Food Outlet Owned And Run By A Former Royal Marine Commando And His Mate" award.
But seriously. Let's raise a glass to another local indie bringing something different (and did I mention delicious?) to our streets. This is the kind of place it's a pleasure to visit and to write about. No Head Office in Connecticut; no laminated menu, no TV promotions, no uniformed staff reeling off the same company-approved greeting. Just someone coming back to their home area, setting up something they believe in, and relying on enthusiastic customers spreading the word of great, simple street food. With the Hang Fire Smokehouse residence in the offing, Penarth has better options than ever before.
We can all drink to that. Can't we?
*Tip- use the car park in front of the station (and pop into The Bottle Shop for something cold while you're there) and walk up the short slope. Short cut city.
Stanwell Road
CF64 3EU
http://www.pizzaprontopenarth.co.uk/
@pizzapenarth
Thur – 5:30PM – 12:00AM
Fri – Sat – 5:30PM – 1:30AM
Hare and Hounds Ale and Food House, Aberthin, Cowbridge
Pier 64, Penarth Marina
Tiny Rebel Bar, Westgate St, Cardiff
Milkwood, Pontcanna, Cardiff
Tags: Cardiff, Cardiff Restaurants, Pizza, Restaurants in Penarth

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Miners Strike, the Right Honourable Dennis Skinner, MP for Bolsover, is to unveil and dedicate a plaque at Hatfield Main Colliery to the miners, and their families, who struggled during the year long strike of 1984 � 1985.��The plaque, the first of its kind in the country, will sit on a plinth made from an original NCB lamppost that was knocked down during the strike and used as a barricade.
The event will take place at Hatfield Main Colliery Lane on Saturday, 10th May, 2014.��From 12 noon to 12.30 people will gather�outside�the�Pit�Club�in time for the unveiling and dedication, by Mr Skinner, at 1pm.��Afterwards, the event will continue in�the�Pit Club where Barbara Jackson of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Sheila Coleman of the Justice for Hillsborough Campaign and Dave Douglas, ex NUM branch delegate of Hatfield Main, will deliver speeches.��It is likely that Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, will also attend.
Members of Hatfield Band will be in attendance to accompany the unveiling and will deliver a rendition of Gressford,�also�known as the 'Miners' Hymn'.
The organizers are also in the process of putting together two further events.� They are the designing and exhibiting of posters about the strike by Stainforth School children, and a memorabilia exhibition at Stainforth Library.
Contact Mick Lanaghan on 01302 849523 for further information on the event or with help providing memorabilia for the exhibition.


text:
Are we normalising negative behaviours?
By Jaweria Ibrahim
Scene#01
It's a busy day at work and you've been working diligently through the staggering pile of tasks. By mid-day, most of it is done and you're already anticipating freedom. But then your jerk boss saunters by with another "on my desk at the end of the day" assignment that he forgot to give in the morning. That's all it took for the proverbial kettle to boil over, you leave your desk in a huff and proceed to rip your boss a new one to anyone who cares to listen.
It's the weekend and you're relaxing on your couch. Suddenly, your cell-phone beeps for a Facebook notification that you open with dull curiosity and you find another viral scandal. The dull afternoon is forgotten. You add your two-cents to the news to share and relish the ensuing gossip, only to later find out that scandal had been faked, and the person in question was being defamed.
There's a flat 50% sale in a popular clothing brand. Excited, you get there exactly 10 minutes before opening hours, only to bump into a crowd of people already waiting. It's 10 am, the door opens, the crowd rushes in. Madness erupts in the store; shelves bare like the fields after a locust swarm. You brace yourself to fight for products that might never be stocked again. You shove, stomp feet, and bicker over the dress that was yours because you saw it. At last, you leave the store feeling accomplished, despite the suffocation and discourteous crowd you somehow manage to get the dress you had been eyeing since forever.
Running late you disregard the speed limit only to be pulled over by a stern, probably minimal-wage traffic policeman. You offer the poor man some pocket-money instead. The formalities are forgotten, the cop graciously accepts and sends you off with a friendly wave. The system is just corrupt, there's nothing you could have done. Everyone does it.
Sounds familiar? This is daily life, the new normal for many of us. These incidents and our reaction to them depict how we are as individuals and as Muslims in particular. They define our character and morality. At times we don't realize it but these small moments make a huge impact on what we are collecting for our Akhirah. We blindly sin in ignorance without conceiving its aftermath. Now the question is what's going wrong? Are these instances just as okay as we seem to believe? Is Islam really only limited to the 5 pillars of worship? The answer is simple. Islam is a complete religion and our worship is incomplete if all aspects of our lives don't reflect it.
Let's have a look at how, by fitting into the above-mentioned scenarios, we deviate from the path of Islam.
Any person in Scene#01 would feel angry. However, a wise person is one who controls his temper. In the age of near-constant activity exposure to instances of injustice, frustration, and exhaustion a person loses his temper easily. In such instances, we can take a moment to recall the words of Allah's Messenger PBUH as narrated by Abu Hurairah RA,
"The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength but the strong is one who controls himself while in anger"
(Sahih Al Bukhari, Hadith 6114)
According to the Hadith, it takes a greater person to control his might and anger in exchange for patience and mercy instead. A better person would then rather forgo the pleasure of domineering through rage because he is aware and dutiful of his rights and the rights of others. In a beautiful Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas RA,
"The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ' Teach and make it easy. Teach and make it easy.' three times. He went on, 'When you are angry, be silent' twice."
(Al Adab Al Mufrad, Hadith 1320)
Additionally, a person should recite the Ta'awuz in a state of anger.
A'oodhu Billaahi min al-Shaytan ir-rajeem
(I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan)
Today is all about staying aware, being in the loop, and "staying with the trends". It's the latest fad. Such is the case with the person in Scene#2. This could be just about anyone of us. We have access to all sorts of information and have much to say, so it's easier to gloss over the effort to verify information or even consider its necessity.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) once said,
"It is enough for a man to prove himself a liar when he goes on narrating whatever he hears"
(Riyadh as-Salihin, Hadith 1547)
SubhanAllah, I'm amazed how the words of the Prophet SAW speak to us directly, should our words (and our retweets and shares) then not be discreet? Also of the limited words gifted to us in the Qur'an, Allah SWT takes a few to address this matter as well.
"O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful"
(Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:6)
The person in the third scene seems to be affected by materialism. Every person has some needs and desires that need to be fulfilled. However, there's a limit to everything. As a Muslim, one shouldn't cross the line to conform to social standards. A true believer never lets materialism overcome his or her own self (nafs), rather he/she acts within the limits set by Islam. Allah SWT says in the Qur'an:
O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true. So, let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.
(Surah Fatir, 35:5)
What we need to understand is to what extent we should indulge ourselves in this temporary life. Indeed, the Almighty has promised a never-ending reward for those who control themselves.
The acts of giving and taking a bribe are being depicted in the last situation. No matter how much we normalize haram, it remains haram. Giving or accepting an illegal pay-off, cheating, or any kind of deceitful act is condemned by Islam. Not only does it go against the faith of a Muslim but also becomes a reason for Allah's displeasure. This Hadith of the Prophet PBUH is enough for us to be aware of the consequence of this evil.
Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-'As:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes a bribe.
(Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith 3580)
Islam means submission and if we are accepting it, we should adhere to it with absolute allegiance in all aspects of our lives. May Allah guide all of us to the straight path. Ameen!
Health & Lifestyle, Muslim Identity
anger, behaviour, gossip, ignorance, life, muslim, negative, normal
What did Luqman A.S say to his son?
Peer pressure is making us fail.


text:
Have your say on Island Bay seawall
When an Antarctic low ripped through the capital in June last year, it left widespread damage in its wake.
Crowd on Island Bay beach, Wellington, @1930
The region's worst storm since 1968 damaged buildings and tore trees from the ground. In Island Bay, a section of the 350-metre seawall collapsed. In the clean-up that followed, the wall was replaced by a temporary rock barrier to protect the footpath and road.
We are now looking into options for a long-term coastal hazard management solution for the area that also takes into consideration traffic, heritage issues, costs, sea level rise, amenity and links between Shorland Park and the beach.
We want to hear your views and ideas on what the long-term solution to resolve the damage to the wall should be. You can find out more or fill in an online submission form from 3 October in our Consultations section, or pick up a copy of the form at Island Bay Library or Island Bay Community Centre (where there'll also be an information hub). You can also email us at islandbayseawall@wcc.govt.nz. Submissions close 10 November. The feedback will be used to inform a report to the Council's Environment Committee in December.
Come along to one of our public meetings to hear experts' views, discuss issues, ask questions and put forward your ideas and preferences.
Island Bay Baptist Church, 284 The Parade, Island Bay:
6.30pm–8.30pm, Thursday 9 October
6.30pm–8.30pm, Tuesday 14 October
2pm–4pm, Saturday 18 October
Photo credit: Sydney Charles Smith, about 1930. Ref:1/2-045879-G S C Smith Collection.


Hey everyone, another Nrit to your shores.
RE: The British Are Coming!!!
I sheet meself then? the brits are cominnn.what an entrance, the brits are here already and we are eating with our american friends, so shhhhhh? you tryin to start a friggin warrrr? lol. welcome and enjoy. its ok im in a funny mood. introduce yourself buddy on the intro page on the site. Cheers John (Wales).
ABS Light just started coming on every now and then.
Quick Reply: The British Are Coming!!!


What a great fly Tim…Thank you.
A great video and excellent fly pattern. What material do you use for the legs?
Great job, looks good enough to eat if I was a trout.
It was a beautiful realistic Caddis dry fly. Easy to understand video.
Extremely Well Done, I see that I need to add a few things to my arsenal.
Great video – great looking fly!
awesome fly well tied. just seems time intensive compared to others that work just as well at the bottom line—-catching fish!
I hereby crown you the King of Caddis fly tying!
This is pretty incredible. I can't imagine a trout turning that thing down during a caddis hatch. Just no casting this thing on streams with overhanging bushes I guess.
Great fly and video……to good to present to a trout.
Fantastic dressing. Maybe I could tie it on a 6/0 hook!
Wonderful fly. Too bad about the poor choice of music. I take exception to the MF word while I am tying flies.
I enjoy the music. Who's mixtape is that?
Similar to Jerry and Joe, I have yet to meet a flyfisherman-tyer that can tolerate that kind of music while tying, fishing or laying drunk in a gutter somewhere. Which is where I assume you got those tunes.
It would be great if the video was judged for its amazing ability in tying flies rather than an individual's choice in music. Personally I enjoy a range of music while tying… if you don't, there is volume control.
Nice fly but next time I watch, the volume will match the rating….. Zero.
I listen to all kinds of music as well as enjoy tying all kinds of flies. One big problem with this video was that it's 12 minutes long and it's pretty hard to find music to suit that. If you don't like the music just mute the video and listen to whatever makes you happy.
Very cool fly Timo. Txs.
It is by far the best i have sean good job keep up the work.
I have to agree with the comments of Jerry W French. It's a great looking fly and very well tied but the music was horrible.
A great fly , really well explained for beginner fly tyier like myself.but where do you get, japanese nymph legs,Nutria guard hairs and Medallion sheeting. Are they available on line ?


text:
WHITNEY: CAN I BE ME
(director: Nick Broomfield/Rudi Dolezal; screenwriters: Marc Hoeferlin/writer; cinematographer: Sam Mitchell; editor: Marc Hoeferlin; music: Nick Laird-Clowes ; cast: Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown; Runtime: 105; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Nick Broomfield/Marc Hoeferlin; Lafayette Films; 2017)
"A sympathetic backstage documentary on the rise and fall of renown African-American singer Whitney Houston."
British filmmaker Nick Broomfield ("Tales of the Grim Sleeper"/"Kurt & Courtney") helms a sympathetic backstage documentary on the rise and fall of renown African-American singer Whitney Houston. It expands on her tabloid treatment after her death. The singer died in 2012 in her bathtub in LA, at the age of 48, from a drug overdose. The filmmaker wants us to believe she really died from a broken-heart. The film charts her humble beginnings in Newark, NJ, singing as a child in her Baptist church. By age 15 she was a professional singer, singing background vocals for Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls, and Jermaine Jackson. In 1983 Whitney signed a worldwide recording contract with Clive Davis's Arista Records, and was on her way to stardom and tragedy. Cameraman Rudi Dolezal was given unlimited access to Houston, her family and entourage on a 1999 European tour. Things did not end well on the tour because of the singer's failing health, drug use, an increasing drinking problem, the manifestation of her insecurities and her black peers calling her out for being too white. The likable superstar, with the golden voice, is shown as a vulnerable woman exploited by almost everyone. She comes across as a tragic figure because her stardom (she broke The Beatles' record for consecutive US Number Ones) was so short-lived. The film relies on previous unseen archive footage, interviews from family, friends and other musicians, some TV interviews with Whitney, and live performance recordings. It's a well-done conventional documentary that is frank and fair. It tells us enough about her without telling all to make it at least a relevant biopic.
REVIEWED ON 8/2/2018 GRADE: B https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/
EARWIG
MORGAN!


back home today from an unplugged vacay on a🚢 cruise to Havana & Cozumel 🌱I'll share some favs from the trip this week 📷 . . . . since we got off the boat early, I was able to hang with my puppies, clean, relax (some more) while watching you've got mail & murder on the orient express & meal-prepped for one as the hubs has a training all week with lunch provided 🌱 . . . . Meal Prep: Instant Pot brown rice, IP black beans, @traderjoes taco seasoning, sautéed collard greens & green pepper, a few cherry tomatoes topped with red onion & garlic & cilantro ✌so easy, so much flavor, so nutritious!
anyone else try @naturespathorganic 🍂turmeric cereal, found @Costco? It's like fall in your mouth, so yum 🍂 & makes my heart happy knowing that fall is less than two months away 📆 I love that the cereal contains turmeric 👉 you can definitely taste it! I hope to begin to see more spices in processed foods🌱 . . . . per 1 cup the cereal is what I consider lower in protein @ 2 grams, decent fiber @ 2 grams, & okay in added sugar of 6 grams 🌱 want to boost the protein? have it with greek yogurt; more protein and fiber? add almonds, pecans, & walnuts (love the nuts + cereal as a dry snack) // I also made it into protein balls with dates & almonds & pea protein powder-delish💕 . . . . 📷: bowl I painted last week at an after-work event with some fabulous coworkers! I love the way it turned out!
🍳 + 🥑 + veggies w/ tamari soy sauce, canola oil, fresh ginger, & @traderjoes everything but the bagel sesame seasoning (killer union w/ soy & ginger) 🍽 I also had this combo (minus the avo & egg) with TJ's brown rice + lentil spaghetti and it was fabulous😋 . . . . love how this 👆meal can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. thanks to my fabulous RD co-worker for this delicious fresh Florida #avocado 🥑 the difference between Florida and California avocados is the fat content. California (Hass) avocados have a higher fat content. CA will be creamier and have a richer taste, but both FL & CA avos are great to eat 🙌 have a good hump day night all!
took your everything btbs *but the bagel (sesame) seasoning* recs & sprinkled on top of egg + mashed avo + crispbread cracker 👉 delicious BUT the everything btbs and the sunflower seeds in the crackers kind of competed in a plant-based food showdown for taste, sooo I didn't get the full flavors of the seasoning blend- next time going to have it on classic toast 🍞 more recs I got were to try it on eggs + avocado alone, fish, chicken, carrots, & of course, everything🌿 . . . . although the crackers didn't pair perfectly with this combo, I am diggin the #glutenfree @traderjoes Norwegian crispbread crackers topped with peanut butter 🌿 the crackers alone have 4 g protein and 3 g of fiber, which is really great 🌿 well, I'm off to orange theory fitness my friends, make it a great Sunday for you!
like a kid in a friggin' candy store studying each 🍭 aka me @traderjoes this morning 🤓 // I don't get there often because I don't live near one 👉 tell me do you consume any of these products? do you have a favorite TJ product?🌿 . . . . I have only tried the pancake mix (so fluffy, so good) & peanut butter cups (second best to homemade) // I am so excited to try all but especially the everything but the bagel seasoning, the crackers, & coffee syrup ☕ . . . . & I confess, I have never tried ghee-does it taste like butter?! idk why, but kinda scared to try it 😬 Hope you're having a happy Friday friends!
some nights I'm good with this amount of sweets, some nights I want more, some nights I am good with none 💕this is my kind of balance ✌ . . . I love homemade chocolate treats & "fresh granola bars" aka protein bites 💥 not only do they have more flavor & I digest them easier, but they save me money too!
follow me on the book!


text:
ABOUT ARA
Bloomberg Drive Pilot
ETSY: CRAFT RETAILER
LAND ROVER – LR4
Sound Sculpture
VIDEO JOURNALISM
Coca Crop: Bolivia
Unexploded Ordinance: Vietnam
Asian Tiger: Vietnam
Agent Orange: Vietnam
Dirt Cookies: Haiti
Mr. Condom: Thailand
Vietnamese Views on America
National Pastime: Cuba
War Face: Estonia
Discriminating Tongues: Lithuania
Outsourcing India
Clothing Optional: New York City
Short Film Teaser
THE NAME IS ARMENIAN. IT SIGNIFIES THE SUN AND LIGHT –
ENTITIES I ALWAYS SEEM TO BE CHASING.
I create moments. Sometimes, I steal them.
I'm a director, photographer, editor and producer who also writes. A jack of all trades? No. I'm a master of one: STORY.
I accept editorial and commercial assignments worldwide.
Work has taken me to 25 countries and throughout the United States. I've swum with Sir Richard Branson and humpback whales off the Dominican Republic, braved Merkava tank fire in Gaza and chronicled the aspirations and ingenuity of people from Havana to Hanoi. Over the past decade, I've worked as a contract video director, producer and shooter for Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg LP, PBS, the Associated Press, Edelman PR, NBC, the New York Metropolitan Opera, EPIX and ReFramed Pictures.
I made my bones as a wartime network news producer and conflict photographer in the Middle East. I produced from the front lines of America's war in Afghanistan for NBC Nightly News and spent three years covering the Palestinian Intifada as NBC's Tel Aviv bureau producer. I have reported "on-air" for ABC-TV, NBC-TV and NPR affiliate stations and produced for the newsmagazine show Dateline NBC. I started directing documentary shorts for PBS in 2008 when I was a principal video journalist and producer for the international news show WorldFocus.
My work as a producer/director/editor was nominated for three national Emmys in 2010 for stories I made on the legacy of Agent Orange in Vietnam and dirt cookie consumption in Haiti. For my coverage of the Palestinian Intifada, I was named a national Emmy finalist with my NBC colleagues and won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University silver baton. I was awarded an Emmy citation for my work in New York during the 9/11 tragedy. I have received accolades from the NY Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Club, Investigative and Reporters and Editiors and Getty Images.
My productions have appeared on UpWorthy (4.6+ million views), APTN, Bloomberg TV, the BBC, NBC, PBS and the Huffington Post; my photography in the NY Times, Le Figaro, LA Times, Paris Match, Der Spiegel, Stern, Suddeutche Zeitung, and Corriere della Serra.
ARA AYER PRODUCTIONS :: NEW YORK :: ARA@ARAAYER.COM :: 212.874.3082
ALL CONTENT © 2000-2020 ARA AYER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


text:
Wikigender > Wikis > Portia Simpson-Miller
Portia Simpson-Miller
Revision for "Portia Simpson-Miller" created on November 3, 2015 @ 10:36:22
Portia Simpson-Miller (born 12 December 1945) is "Gender 's Leader of the Opposition and was the country's Prime Minister from 30 March 2006 to 11 September 2007. She was Jamaica's first female Prime Minister.

Table of Contents

1 Education

2 Political Career

3 Prime Minister

4 Distinctions

5 See Also

6 Sources

Education

She completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration from Union Institute in Miami, and also holds Certificates in Public Relations and Advanced Management. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the Union Institute.

Political Career

Her political career began in 1976, when she was first elected to the Jamaican parliament for the first time, representing the district of St. Andrew. From 1978 to 2006, she was the vice-President of the PNP (People's National Party).
From 1989-1993, Simpson served as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sports. Simpson-Miller became the Minister of Local Government and Sport since October 2002. She was Minister of Labour and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sports from 1995 to February 2000, and Minister of Tourism and Sports from February 2000 to October 2002. Her ministerial portfolios have been characterised by allegations of mismanagement and corruption.

Prime Minister

On 26 February 2006, she received the most votes in an internal party vote to elect a new leader to replace the outgoing Prime Minister P. J. Patterson. She became the first female head of government of Jamaica and the third in the Anglophone Caribbean.
She narrowly lost the 2007 elections, initiatlly refusing to ocncede defeat. In July 2008,Simpson-Miller was challenged for the Presidency of the People's National Party by her former rival, Dr.Peter Phillips. The election was held among the party's delegates on September 20. She has been re-elected as the head of the PNP for her second consecutive year, defeating Phillips by an even wider margin that that of the previous election.

Distinctions

On 29 May 2006 she was invested with the Jamaican Order of the Nation, giving her (and her husband) the style "The Most Honourable".
Prime Minister Simpson-Miller is a member of the "Council, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.

References

http://www.jis.gov.jm/Minister%20Profiles/html/9.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portia_Simpson-Miller

http://psycho.afroplurielles.com/Societe/Portrait-de-Portia-Simpson-Miller-premiere-femme-dirigeante-en-Jamaique-6090.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4861378.stm

See also

"Female

Portia Simpson-Miller with Council of Women World Leaders

November 3, 2015 @ 10:36:22 ocde


text:
Outside New York? Your Rate Sheet Could Help Us Out In NYC!
Christopher Day Reporters August 8, 2022 August 8, 2022 3 Minutes
I have been in touch with a source that claims to have contacts in government, and based on information available to me, I believe it. There are three issues that myself or my source may have the opportunity to shed some light on and explain to people in positions of power. First, the abysmal state of the New York market's pay for many deposition stenographers. Second, the fraud concerns, where stenographer shortage is being used as an excuse to sell digital court reporting. Third, the potential for copy protection. There are no guarantees on the table, but I've put down a lot of time and money on solving these issues, and my audience has too, so I've got to share with the wider Stenonymous audience.
What we have been asked for in order to facilitate a meeting is data, and what we intend to do is show that reporters from other places are pulling in much larger amounts. To this end, a couple of the big box rate sheets to reporters have been acquired, and they show rates that are laughably low when viewed in the light of available historical information. Check them out below.
I already have some data in this regard and intend to share it publicly as soon as possible, but for those of you that would like to assist, please consider sending your rate sheet & info to contact@stenonymous.com and name your state. I anticipate that this round of data collection will not be ending up on Stenonymous.com, so if you help out by sending a rate sheet, rest assured it's not being shared with the world, but it will be used in averages and advocating for reporters over here.
As for things I'll share with the world, reporters should keep in mind that both of these companies deviate upward from these rates when they want to. Don't be discouraged from trying to get more if you take work from either company. It's about negotiation, and if one can negotiate higher than what one sees here, that's what one gets. This is how the game is played. This is in stark contrast to how reporting students were told the game was played around 2008. We were told court reporting sells itself, six-figure salary without a BA. This wasn't a complete lie. I'll be the first to concede there are a lot of court reporters making a lot of money out there. I'm fighting for the ones that are considering picking up a different field because they don't make enough. If they leave, our shortage gets worse, digital expansion accelerates, and then digitals will be used as an excuse to keep stenographer rates down, similar to how stenographers were told "if you don't take it for less, someone else will" all through my early career.
We need to wrap our heads around the fact that corporations and the people representing those corporations will say just about anything to benefit the corporation. An example? When I was a young reporter, I was told by Jaguar Reporting that attorneys see us as a dime a dozen. But when representing at a legal conference with Patricia Bidon and others, attorneys were all about stenographers over alternatives. Perhaps opening up about some of what I've seen will expose why I am so passionate. Think of your mentor or mentee. Do you want them to be told they are a dime a dozen? Do you want them to be told they're less valuable than they are? Do you want to perpetuate that kind of conduct in our field?
A lot of us come from a place of integrity and honesty. A lot of us don't like to speak out unless we're "absolutely certain." But this isn't how anything happens in reality. As a society we convict people based on what 6 to 12 people believe they heard about an incident. We accept or reject laws based upon the say-so of activists and lobbyists. History goes to who wins and not who is right.
So all I'm saying is we might as well win, and if you send me a rate sheet today, you'll be helping me do that.
MAGNA NY Rate Sheet Published by Stenonymous.com
US Legal Support NY Rate Sheet Published by Stenonymous.com
page rate data
Published August 8, 2022 August 8, 2022
Previous Post Median Pay for Stenographers Falling Despite Demand?
Next Post Scam Email Targets NCRA Members – August 2022


And after a morning of wrestling with the BSOD and ending with reinstalling most of the things on my computer, I have no game tonight. Just when I would really have liked to kill some stuff especially given that there was no game on Monday either. Grrr, Grrr I say.
I'm motivated to get some stuff done right now. Unfortunately I have enough irons in the fire that I'm not sure which one to pull out and hammer on right now. Added some links here. Then maybe I'll work on my excel charactersheet for Saga.


text:
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text:
cask "streamlabs-obs" do
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  url "https://slobs-cdn.streamlabs.com/Streamlabs+OBS-#{version}.dmg"
  appcast "https://slobs-cdn.streamlabs.com/latest-mac.yml"
  name "Streamlabs OBS"
  desc "All-in-one live streaming software"
  homepage "https://streamlabs.com/"

  auto_updates true

  app "Streamlabs OBS.app"

  zap trash: [
    "~/Library/Application Support/slobs-client",
    "~/Library/Application Support/slobs-plugins",
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end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Solar: The Learning Curve – Stories From Off The Grid.
The reality:you really don't NEED batteries – except to store your power. If the sun is shining, you are producing power.
However, without batteries, you won't have power at night… so there is that to consider.
You know, I was wondering about that. I think we've already screwed the batteries up by running them well under 50% repeatedly.
My batteries were deep cell (marine type) so they could handle a deeper discharge but my supply wasn't quite enough. Every few days I had to put the batteries in the back of my car and hook them to my aux battery cables and drive around to get them charged back up. – I don't recommend doing that. I think THAT ruined my alternator AND didn't help the batteries either.
You might want to get some good reading materials online.
I imagine you have a cellphone (nearly everyone does) I downloaded an app called "solar wiring diagram", from the google play store (it's free); it might come in handy to you.
I will check on that right away!


text:
26th October 1965 – the Beatles Receive their MBE Medals from the Queen
October 26th 1965 – The Beatles receive their MBE medals from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The Beatles arrive at the palace in John's black Rolls Royce. 2 years later, John had it repainted in very bright psychedelic colours. I wonder how that would have looked arriving at Buckingham Palace!
In this clip below the car is seen leaving from outside Waddon House, William's Mews, Knightsbridge, where George and Ringo had lived for a time. Paul and Ringo are picked up from Ringo's flat in Montagu Square, where they are photographed on the steps, waiting for the car to arrive.
The car is driven by Beatles chauffeur Alf Bicknell.
After they left the Palace, the Beatles attended a press conference at the Savile Theatre, which had just been bought by Brian Epstein.
Many years later, John Lennon told a French newspaper journalist that the Beatles had smoked a marijuana joint each in the Buckingham Palace toilets to calm their nerves. This 'confession' was probably one of John's ways of destroying the Beatles 'nice guy' image when the Beatles were breaking up, and almost certainly didn't happen. John then sent his MBE back to the Queen, in protest of Britain's involvement in the Biafra war and America in Vietnam.
October 26, 2016 Richard Porter1 Comment
Paul McCartney – Different Decade, Same Jacket!
Much was made about Paul McCartney wearing the same jacket to the premiere of 'The Beatles 8 Day's a Week, the Touring Years, than he wore to the premiere of A Hard Day's Night in 1964.
It is not unusual for Paul to keep his jackets for a long time. Here are 2 pics I took of Paul, the first in 1983, the second in 1997,a and he's wearing the same Jacket in both!
Paul McCartney outside AIR Studios in 1983
Paul McCartney at Abbey Road Studios in 1997, wearing the same jacket he wore in 1983!
34 Montagu Square – Home to Ringo Starr, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix!
The ground floor and basement apartment of 34 Montagu Square looks like any other in the area. However, the Chicago Tribune has called it 'The ultimate rock n roll pad'. That's because it had associations with three Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Chas Chandler and god knows how many other rock stars who passed though it non-descript front door.
Ringo Starr moved into the apartment in 1965 with new wife Maureen. The area has always been quite hip and Ringo had Mick Jagger and his then girlfriend Chrissie Shrimpton as virtual next door neighbours – they lived just around the corner in Bryanston Mews East.
Maureen was heavily pregnant when they moved in and gave birth to her first son, Zak, at Queen Charlotte's hospital, Hammersmith, on 13th September 1965. Alf Bicknell, the Beatles chauffeur, remembers getting a call from Ringo at 2am that morning to come to collect Maureen from Montagu Square and take her to the hospital.
Ringo and Paul, who lived in nearby Wimpole Street, left from 34 Montagu Square to go to Buckingham Palace to receive their MBE medals, together with John and George.
Paul and Ringo on the steps of 34 Montagu Square, waiting their ride to Buckingham Palace, to see the Queen
The flat was decorated by Brian Epstein's interior designer, Ken Partridge, in early 60s camp pop star style with purple watered-silk wallpaper, silk curtains and lead-streaked mirrors.
Ringo moved out of Montagu Square after only a few months and into a large house in Weybridge, but kept hold of the apartment as a London base and also so friends could use it. In 1966 Paul McCartney used the basement of the apartment to build a small recording studio.
In his book Paul McCartney – Many Years From Now, Barry Miles recalled that Paul was getting friendly with members of the avant garde and underground art movements. Paul wanted to start a facility for poets and avant garde musicians to record their work. That way a lively exchange of tapes would happen between these people. Paul often let his friends such as author William Burroughs, art gallery owner Robert Fraser, and filmmaker Anthony Balch use the studio to make their weird experimental recordings. Paul also used the studio to work on his own songs such as Eleanor Rigby. The tape perator of the studio was Ian Sommerville, a good friend of Barry Miles. Ian moved into the flat with his boyfriend Alan. In the end the idea for the studio fell through, as Ian got the idea the studio was only for Paul McCartney. The equipment was removed and Ian moved out of the flat.
On 6th December 1966 Ringo let the apartment to Chas Chandler, the former bass player of the Animals. Chas had just discovered a guitarist in a small club in Greenwich Village, New York, and decided to become his manager and bring him to England. His name was Jimi Hendrix. When Chas moved into Montagu Square with his girlfriend, Lotta, Jimi and his girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, moved in too.
Jimi and Kathy had lots of rock star friends and would invite them to Montagu Square for parties. They also had a rather stormy relationship. After one spectacular row Kathy stormed out and didn't return until the next day. When she came back she asked Jimi what he'd been doing while she was away. Jimi handed her a piece of paper with the lyrics of a song he'd written called The Wind Cries Mary. Mary was Kathy's middle name, which she hated and Jimi only used it to annoy her.
After a while the neighbours started complaining about the noise coming from the flat and Jimi and Kathy were asked to leave.
Jimi Hendrix on the steps of 34 Montagu Square
After Jimi and Kathy moved out, the apartment was used by Lillian Powell, Cynthia Lennon's mother. That arrangement changed when Cynthia caught John with Yoko Ono at their house in Weybridge, called 'Kenwood'. Cynthia briefly moved in with her mother. Cynthia went on holiday to Italy, but was shadowed by a private detective, hired by John. Within five minutes of her arrival back at Montagu Square there was a knock on the door and a solicitor handed her a writ for divorce, citing HER adultery. Cynthia immediately counter-sued.
Finally, John moved out of Kenwood and into the Montagu Square apartment and Cynthia moved briefly back to Kenwood, which was eventually sold as part of the divorce settlement.
Soon after arriving in Montagu Square John and Yoko asked Apple assistant Tony Bramwell to come to the flat with a camera and go away before any pictures were taken. They then photographed themselves naked and put the pictures on the cover of their LP Unfinished Music Volume One, better known as Two Virgins.
A censored version of the 2 Virgins Album cover :>)
Nudity on LP covers was certainly not common and when the Chairman of EMI, Sir Joseph Lockwood, was shown the photos, he was horrified. John and Yoko were summoned to explain themselves. When John was asked about his motives, he said it was artistic – shocking people was an art form. At this Sir Joe got really angry, he said to John, 'If you were doing this for art you could at least put some better looking bodies on the cover – why not get Paul to do it – or use statues from a park!'
Time Out later lampooned the Two Virgin's cover picture and drugs bust on one of their famous covers. Over John's 'private parts' is a sticker that says 'Member of the British Empire' – the name of the medal the Beatles were given a few years earlier. Coming out of John's mouth is a speech balloon that says 'It's no good officer – it won't stand up in court!'
A few weeks later the apartment was raided by the police and John and Yoko were arrested for possession of cannabis. Apparently John received a telephone call from a journalist friend to tell him the police were going to come, so he called his old friend Pete Shotton to help him clear the apartment of anything incriminating.
The police still found some cannabis in the apartment. John later said the drugs could have been planted by the police – in fact the leader of the police team Sgt Norman Pilcher was later arrested himself for perverting the course of justice. It was also very suspicious that a press photographer was present to take a picture of John being led out of his flat by the police.
John being led away by the police from Montagu Square
At the time Yoko was heavily pregnant with John's child. However, in November 1968 Yoko was rushed from the apartment to hospital where she suffered a painful miscarriage.
John decided to plead guilty to the drugs charge to keep Yoko off the charge, as she could have been deported if found guilty of drugs possession. Also the police said they would drop the obstruction charges. John was only fined about £100 and thought it was the end of the matter but, when John and Yoko moved to America in 1971 the conviction came back to haunt him. He wanted to stay in the States, but the Immigration Service tried to deport him because of
the conviction.
Later it emerged that the Nixon administration were illegally trying to get John out of the country, as John was campaigning against the Vietnam war. John's fight to stay in America lasted for four years until he was finally given his Green Card in 1976.
Regretably, after John's conviction Ringo was forced by the landlords to sell the apartment, so ending the Beatles' brief but extremely eventful time here.
In October 2010 Yoko Ono unveiled an English Heritage Blue Plaque to John Lennon at 34 Montagu Square. I was lucky enough to be invited to the unveiling. Hundreds of fans gathered to hear Yoko make a short speech, along with Beatles biographer Hunter Davies, and members of English Heritage, who sponsor the plaques.
Yoko Ono unveiling the plaque to John Lennon at 34 Montagu Square
The day before the unveiling, I was lucky enough to go into the apartment, and was interviewed about the history of the apartment for a DVD.
Blogger Richard Porter inside 34 Montagu Square
Blogger Richard Porter is a professional Beatles tour guide in London and owns the Beatles Coffee Shop. For more details of his tours, see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com
The article is adapted from Richard's book 'Guide to the Beatles' London' which is available from http://www.beatlescoffeeshop.com/shop/product.php/2/guide_to_the_beatles_london__guide_book_by_richard_porter
October 25, 2016 Richard Porter2 Comments
Ocober 22nd 1999 – Inside Abbey Road Studios
A great memory from 1999. I was asked to do a special Beatles London tour for DJs from MJI. Later, they were broadcasting Live from Studio One at Abbey Road Studios to all over the US. I was invited along and was interviewed live on about 15 US radio stations in 3 hours!!! I started on stations based on the east coast and working my way west – due to time zones :>) I was in illustrious company too!
Line-up for MJI Broadcast from Abbey Road Studios – including me!
October 22, 2016 Richard PorterLeave a comment
The Abbey Road Crossing
On 8th August 1969, at 11.35am, four men walked across a zebra crossing in St John's Wood. Hardly an earth-shattering event, but since then millions of people have come to the very same crossing to imitate those four men.
Of course, the four men in question were the Beatles, and the crossing is in Abbey Road. The 'Fab Four' were posing for the photo that was to be used on their last album to be recorded. Abbey Road has never been the same since.
Every day, fans from around the world come to the crossing to walk in the footsteps of their heroes and to see the studios where they recorded most of their songs.
The Beatles had been coming to Abbey Road for many years to record at the EMI Studios. Their die-hard fans often visited the studios in the hope of catching a glimpse of them coming or going. A select few even camped in the car park to see their heroes come out after a late night recording session. However, it wasn't until after the Beatles named their album after the street it was recorded in that it became world famous and a shrine for fans.
Things could have been very different. Originally the LP was going to be called Everest – after the favourite brand of cigarettes smoked by Geoff Emerick, the Beatles' recording engineer. Someone had the bright idea that the Beatles should go to the mountain of the same name to shoot the album cover! The Beatles reaction to that idea can't be repeated here without offence! Finally, it was decided to call the album Abbey Road. Incidentally the album was NOT named after the studio, but the road where the studio is situated. The studio was then called EMI and didn't change its' name until after the album came out.
The famous pose of the Beatles on the Abbey Road crossing endures as one of the most memorable LP covers of all time, and one of the easiest for fans to replicate. The idea for the picture was probably Paul McCartney's. A sketch drawn by Paul showing how the picture should look still exists. The photographer was Iain MacMillan, a long time friend of John and Yoko. MacMillan had known Yoko before she met John, and it is quite possible that John's first site of Yoko might have been on one of MacMillan's photos. His photos illustrated the catalogue for Yoko's exhibition Unfinished Paintings and Objects, at which the couple first met.
For the photo shoot, the Beatles congregated by the crossing at around 11.35am. This was an early start for them, as normally recording sessions didn't start until around 5pm. This was done deliberately to ensure fans would not interrupt the photo session. The day was gloriously sunny and Iain MacMillan stood on a stepladder in the middle of the road to get the required angle. The Beatles were asked to cross the road in procession, while MacMillan attempted to get the best shot. In the end six photographs were taken, and the whole session only took about 10 minutes.
Shot one shows them walking from left to right, with a Mercedes car coming out of the car park of the studios. Shot two has them walking the other way across, towards the studios. In both shots Paul has his head bowed and is seemingly preoccupied with his feet. By shot three Paul has removed the open top sandals he was wearing and is now barefoot – an historic decision! Shot three was probably the best so far, but has traffic too near to the crossing to be perfect.
Shot four again shows them going from right to left. Like shot two, the Beatles don't seem to be concentrating on getting the right pose. Maybe they already had it in mind that the shot would look better going the other way across. Shot five was the best by far and the one used on the album cover. Another shot was taken but this was far inferior.
The first Abbey Road photo
The 3rd Pic taken
The 4th Pic
The 5th pic taken – the one used on the album cover
The last pic taken
After the session on the crossing Iain MacMillan got in a car with Anthony Fawcett, John and Yoko's assistant, to find a suitable road sign for the back cover. They found one on the junction of Abbey Road and Alexandra Road. As MacMillan was about to take a photograph of the sign a girl in a blue dress walked through the shot. Fawcett remembers that Iain MacMillan was angry the girl had got in the way – but other accounts said it was planned. Unfortunately, the Abbey Road sign no longer exists. This part of Abbey Road was redeveloped in the 1970s and the wall and sign demolished.
The session on the crossing only lasted about 10 minutes – leaving the Beatles over three hours to kill before they were due to start recording. According to Mal Evans in his personal diaries, Paul, John and Ringo went to Paul's home nearby to relax while George and Mal went to "Regents Park Zoo to meditate in the sun. To Krishna Temple for lunch and studio for 3pm".
Since the famous Abbey Road picture was taken, several million people have crossed the street to imitate their heroes. In 2005 Abbey Road Studios estimated 150,000 come to Abbey Road every year.
Just after the album came out, the Abbey Road cover became the central part in a bizarre rumour and conspiracy theory that Paul McCartney was dead! It is hard to pinpoint where the rumour started, but it seemed to begin almost simultaneously in different universities in America. Word went around that Paul had died in a car accident in 1966 and that the Beatles had replaced him with an imposter, to ensure their fame wasn't affected. However, the Beatles felt guilty about doing this, so they put 'clues' on various album covers and songs to tell the truth. Many of these clues can be found on the Abbey Road album cover.
The picture is supposed to be of Paul's funeral procession, with George Harrison dressed as the gravedigger, Ringo Starr the undertaker, and John Lennon the preacher. Paul McCartney is supposedly wearing an old suit, and is barefoot – how bodies are buried! Paul is holding his cigarette in his right hand – fans pointed out the 'real' Paul McCartney is left handed, so the man in the picture isn't Paul, but an imposter. Some even named the imposter as William Campbell, who had won a Paul lookalike competition. Paul is also out of step with the others, drawing attention to himself.
By the side of the crossing is a white Volkeswagen car. The first part of the car's license plate is LMW – this is supposed to stand for 'Linda McCartney – widowed.' The second part is 281F – this is supposed to signify that Paul McCartney would have been 28 years old – IF he was still alive! Actually, he was 27 in 1969.
There are even clues on the back cover. The 'Beatles' sign has a crack through it – to show that the band are no longer complete. Also the sun has shone though the shadows to create a shape that is supposed to resemble Paul McCartney's skull!
Rumours of Paul McCartney's demise spread like wildfire, especially when Russ Gibb, a DJ on a radio station WKNR in Detroit, received a telephone call from a student telling him to look for clues. From there the whole thing became an international pastime. The Beatles' offices received many calls from distraught fans wanting to know the truth.
The rumour only started dying down when a reporter from Life magazine went up to Scotland, where Paul was staying, to obtain an interview to prove that Paul was still alive.
The cover of a mag on the Paul is dead rumour
Since 1969 the rumour has refused to go away. There have been many books and TV shows on the subject. Paul himself lampooned the rumour on his 1993 album Paul is Live. He returned to the Abbey Road crossing with Iain MacMillan to pose with his old English sheepdog, Arrow. For the cover Paul is superimposed on an original Abbey Road picture – with the Beatles taken out. However, the VW license plate has been changed, to 51 IS – Paul's age when the Paul is Live picture was taken.
The cover of 'Paul is Live'
On 8th August 2009 I organised a mass crossing of Abbey Road, exactly 40 years to the minute since the Beatles. I arranged for a Beatles lookalike band, Sgt Pepper's Only Dart Board Band, to lead fans across wearing the same styled clothes as the Beatles wore 40 years earlier. I thought we may get some media interest, as we'd organised similar crossings on the 25th and 30th anniversaries. However, I was totally shocked by the scenes around the crossing. There were at least 15 TV crews around the crossing, representing over 100 countries. The event was featured in countries like the USA, Russia, India, Greece, Italy, Australia with many covering it live! There were also scores of press photographers and many hundreds of fans. Eventually the police closed Abbey Road for over an hour and fans held an impromptu street party.
Me with Sgt Peppers Only Dart Board Band 8th August 2009
Abbey Road August 8th 2009 – 40 years to the minute since the Beatles crossed
In December 2010 the Abbey Road Crossing was given 'Grade 2 Listed Status' by English Heritage. This means that the crossing cannot by moved or altered without specific Government permission. In its' report English Heritage said, "The Abbey Road zebra crossing is of undisputed interest as a late C20 iconic cultural site". It also states in the English Heritage document that they believe the crossing has moved since 1969. This isn't the case. Linda McCartney was also present on the day of the Abbey Road photo shoot, and took many pictures. Her shots show the side of the road, and shows things like the drain by the crossing on one side, and the manhole cover on the other are still in the same place now as they were in 1969.
Linda McCartney's photo – showing the location of the crossing.
Author and blogger Richard Porter is a professional London Beatles tour guide. For more details on his tours, see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com
The Beatles at the London Palladium, October 13th 1963
On 13th October 1963, the Beatles appeared on a TV show called Val Parnel's Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The Palladium was, and still is, London's most famous theatre, and it was regarded as a highlight of a 'showbiz' career to play there. Sunday Night at the London Palladium had been going for several years, and was one of the most watched TV shows in the the UK. On March 2nd 1958, Buddy Holly and the Crickets appeared on the show – and very much influenced the youth of the UK, including John, Paul, George and Ringo, who were all glued to the TV that night!
The Beatles appearance on the show was very popular – about 18 million people watched this show. By then, the Beatles already had 3 number one hits, and been on TV many times, but all on shows geared towards teenagers. The Palladium show was the first time they had been on an 'family' show. They topped the bill on the show, which was presented by Bruce Forsyth. Forsyth whipped the audience into a frenzy by counting down to the Beatles appearance. They sang From Me To You, I'll Get You, She Loves You and Twist and Shout. They also appeared, together with the rest of the cast, right at the end of the show, to wave goodbye to the audience on the Palladium's revolving podium.
No film of the show remains, as TV bosses at the time did not think anyone would want to watch this performance of the Beatles after it was first shown. There is audio of the show though – which you can listen to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6C_f9lvyFg
There is, however, footage of the Beatles coming out of the theatre. You can see that the street was packed with people. The Beatles come out, and there is no car waiting for them. They rush towards what they think is a taxi, but it turns out to be a police car, and policemen would not let them in. Ringo comes out first, then the other three follow, and there is nowhere for them to go. This confusion was probably because the stage door is around the back, and they came out of the front entrance. Maybe, that was deliberate, as all the press were outside here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYXilEvSo4
Throughout the day the theatre was besieged by several hundred Beatles fans. Next day all the UK newspapers were full of stories of the mayhem. Although screaming girls were a regular occurrence around the Beatles by then, the national newspapers had virtually ignored the Beatles and their fans up to this point. The Palladium show changed that; from now on the Beatles were hardly ever out of the newspapers. A couple of weeks after the Palladium show the term 'Beatlemania' was used for the first time to describe the scenes that now greeted the Beatles wherever they went.
Beatles books have often misstated that their famous 1963 appearance on the Royal Command Performance was held at the London Palladium, when it fact it was held at the Prince of Wales Theatre, a month after the Palladium concert. This confusion was no doubt brought about by a poster that was released at the time, of the Beatles standing in a doorway. The poster said: "The Beatles, Royal Command Performance 1963, London Palladium". This is a mistake, and a strange one, as the poster was officially licensed by NEMS – Brian Epstein's company! You would have thought someone would notice such an error!
The Beatles made a second appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium in January 1964, and, if anything, were greeted by more mayhem than their first appearance. They returned to the Palladium for the last time in July 1964 for a charity concert called The Night of a Hundred Stars.
The Beatles at the Lonon Palladium, October 13th 1963
Blogger Richard Porter is a professional Beatles Tour Guide in London. For details of his tours, see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com His book, Guide to the Beatles London, is available at http://www.beatlescoffeeshop.com/shop/product.php/2/guide_to_the_beatles_london__guide_book_by_richard_porter
An Interview with Rod Davis of the Quarrymen
From the archives of the London Beatles Fan Club Magazine: Rod Davis of the Quarry Men remembers the day that John Lennon met Paul McCartney
How did you meet John Lennon for the first time
I met John when I was about four or five years old – I lived in Woolton and if you were church of England you would go to St Peter's Sunday School. In the same class was Pete Shotton, Nigel Whalley, Ivan Vaughan, Geoff Rhind – about 15 or 20 kids. John and Shotton were always the ones chewing gum or doing something
They were the bad boys from the beginning?
Yes they were pushing the limits right from the word go. I lived on the lower part of the hill and they lived on the other side so we weren't playmates by any means. –
Did you always regard John and Pete to be the bad boys?
Quarry Bank was fairly academically oriented so any boy that didn't pull in the same way as the others stood out a bit. In a comprehensive they wouldn't have stood out at all. They weren't desperately wicked but in the context of Quarry Bank they were rebels. To get on in this society you have to conform but John was very lucky that in later life his non-conformity was rewarded.
How did you get started in music?
When I was 4 my mother (who I think wanted a daughter) enrolled me in dance classes doing tap and ballet – which is why I'm such a lovely mover now! In the same class was Rita Tushingham. When I was about 6 my sister was born, thank god! – so I hung up ballet shoes. I started playing the piano but it never really inspired me. My brother and I gave up lessons when I sat my 11 plus. I also played the recorder. Then it came to skiffle and my mother and father played the violin and when Rock Island Line came out I tried to find an instrument and they weren't cheap and I had an uncle that played a fiddle and saw and his brother played the banjo and guitar. Unfortunately for me and maybe fortunately for The Beatles he'd sold the guitar by the time I got there. I came back with a banjo that cost £5 in 1957 which was a lot of money then. I bought it on Sunday and on the Monday morning I went into school and saw Eric Griffiths. I told him about the banjo and he asked me if I wanted to be in a skiffle group. I said yes and that was it!
This was the early Quarry Men?.
Yes. I asked who was in it. Eric said 'well it's John Lennon, Pete Shotton on the washboard and Bill Smith on the bass. I knew Lennon Shotton and Eric Griffiths very well because Quarry Bank was divided into 'houses' and although I wasn't in the same class we were in the same house. We were together half an hour a day. We think it might have been in march. My dad had a book he kept his mileage in. Eric used to shout out to me which chords to play and eventually some musical talent somewhere took over and I could do it. We went down to John's mother's place to practise she would say 'A banjo! a real banjo – give me that – its better than a blinking guitar' and she would grab my banjo and show us how to play things. We had great tuition.
What did you think of Julia?
Well, my mum and dad were positive towards the music, but she was nice friendly happy person. Especially when we went to Julia's we used to practise standing in the bath because you can hear yourself in the bathroom better.
Do you remember your first gig?
One of the first gigs was at Childwell Golf Club but we may have played at St Peter's before. I remember it well because our stage uniform was supposed to be white shirts and black jeans – which was where the Black jacks name came from – but lot of parents didn't allow Jeans -including mine. I went to my friend Mike Rice and he sold me a pair. Zip flies were just coming in and as we were tuning up the zip split so I hung the banjo extremely low and hoped for the best!! I don't remember anything else about it. The club still have some records from those days so I'm hoping to find out the date. I don't know how long we were the Black Jacks for. Nigel Whalley's dad was a member of the club and Nigel became a golf professional. We were asked to play and we changed to the Quarry Men came from the Woolton quarry and from the fact we were from Quarry Bank.
Is Quarry Men one word or two?
I was never quite sure – I write it as one word and John Lowe writes it as two. I tend to err on the side as one. The problem with a band is that promoters often get it wrong anyway
The Quarry Men had been going a few months before St Peters Church.
Yes. I also want to get in touch with people who have the Quarry Bank school magazine because it would record the dates we played there.
On to St Peter's did you regard it as a big thing?
Yes, it was a different audience you were playing to. Normally we'd only play for a youth audience and its always a difficult thing to play for an audience that you don't know whether there going to be receptive to what you are doing. We were a bit concerned by it because it was in front of our friends and relations but I don't remember agonising over it
Do you remember much about the day itself?
I remember going around the village on the back of a lorry. I was reading Jim O'Donnell's book and it came back to me that when the lorry started moving down the hill the lorry jerked and that feeling came back to me. We went down Church Road and Kings Drive and the real problem was we didn't have a microphone so I don't know how much we put into the performance on the back of the lorry. The real thing that saddens me is that nobody anywhere seems to have pictures of us on the back of the lorry. I find it astounding because my father later took the official photos for the fete. I've got loads of photos from 1958 and 1959 and nothing from 1957. My own dad who photographed every tree, every blade of grass never took a single photograph. I've been looking through the negatives I have but there is nothing!
Then you went to the church hall where the historic meeting took place.
Well, I have a problem with this. I gather that sometime during the day McCartney saw us playing and Colin Hanton remembers 2 guys turning up. Eric also remembers someone turning up too. Then in the evening we went over to the hall. All of us, was the exception of Len Garry, lived within ten minutes so its quite likely that between the end of the afternoon and the start of the evening I might have gone home for my dinner. I don't remember anything about the meeting so I've starting saying to people for a laugh that I must have gone for a pee! However being more serious I might have gone for my dinner. Also ultimately I was going to out and McCartney in so I might have been the last one to be told. The only thing I've got is negative conjecture. That is John and Eric both played guitars right handed with banjo tuning. The idea of Paul showing John things on Eric's guitar is difficult as that even if he picked up Eric's guitar and retuned it the problem is he couldn't have played anything on it as you were either left handed or right handed. You had to be a great musical talent to do that. I asked Eric and he recalled the meeting where Paul impressed them with his guitar playing took place later at Paul's house – that makes sense to me but it ruins a beautiful story!
Many different dates have been put forward for the St Peter's Church Fete…
The first time I knew what was happening was 1983, I think, when an ad appeared in the Liverpool Echo saying 'Where are John Lennon's Quarry Men?' My aunt sent me this and said 'Why don't you get in touch?' As a result we went to the Beatles Convention at the Adelphi – Colin Hanton went, Len Garry was there but Pete Shotton was in the States promoting his book. We were talking amongst ourselves and Colin was convinced we played at St Peter's twice. A guy was standing a foot or two behind us and came over and said 'It was once – on July 6 1957 – my name is Mark Lewisohn and I've got all the newspaper cuttings.' We thought 'Oh my god – somebody else tells you what you ought to know!' Mark was an absolute revelation.
You also played at the Cavern Club…
I played at the Cavern three or four times. I had an argument on stage with John about playing rock.
Was it because you were a 'folk purist?'
No, its like playing heavy metal to a group of new romantic fans. It was the fact that you'd be torn limb from limb for playing the wrong music to the wrong crowd. Rock music and trad jazz were poles apart and the Cavern was a jazz cellar. I don't know why John was so keen to be torn apart! We'd had a few narrow escapes before this. It wasn't that I wanted to be a purist – I wanted to save my skin!
Paul McCartney is always telling the story of being told to stop playing rock at the Cavern..
He wasn't there! It was a rock venue when Paul first played there. When the Quarry Men played he was away at scout camp. I remember arguing with John and Colin remembers about the note coming. John thought he had a request >from the audience but it was a note from the manager saying 'Cut out the bloody rock!' John was keen on rock music and every time he was there he wanted to play it. I will admit I was probably less keen on rock than John. Later on I became more interested in folk and country.
What did you do when you left the Quarry Men?
My brother and I bought guitars and in Sept 57 there was a jazz pianist at school called Gerald Greenwood and another called Les Brough who had a snare drum and we had a jazz trio.
I've known Rod for many years, and met up with him at the 40th Anniversary Celebrations for the Cavern Club. Rod told me all the original Quarrymen were coming, and that I should stick around. I therefore got the first pictures of the Quarrymen together for 40 years!!
Rod Davis, Eric Griffiths, Len Garry, Pete Shotton, Colin Hanton and John 'Duff Lowe' at the Cavern Club
Author Richard Porter is a professional London Beatles Tour Guide – for more info on his tours, see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com
Happy Birthday John Lennon
John Lennon at Kenwood. Photo: Marilyn Demmen
October 9, 2016 Richard PorterLeave a comment
Me with Gene Simmons in Abbey Road Studios
I've been lucky enough to be featured on TV a number of times on my Beatles Walks. The best time though was very special, when I did a tour INSIDE Abbey Road Studios for Gene Simmons and his family, for their TV show 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels'.
For the show they are 'on holiday' in the UK and I gave them a tour of Studio Two at Abbey Road – where The Beatles recorded nearly all their songs. Normally it is impossible to get into the Studios – but Gene's crew hired Studio Two for the morning. Even though I'd been in Studio Two many times I still get a thrill being inside the place where The Beatles recorded so many songs. I'd also never done a tour inside the Studio, so I knew it was going to be an unforgettable experience.
I was expecting the family to be rather weird and the whole experience very daunting. In Kiss, Gene was known as 'Demon' and supposedly spitting blood on stage, however, in real life he is a real gentleman. He is also an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable Beatles fan – something that surprised me as Kiss are know for their heavy rock.
The day of the tour saw London's first snow of the winter and was freezing cold. I was glad most of the morning was going to be spent inside.
I left for the studios early as I was worried transport would be affected but luckily the buses weren't too bad and I arrived in good time. When Gene and his family arrived I was asked by their TV crew to meet them on the famous steps of the Studios and lead them inside. They greeted me very courteously and any nerves I had about the occasion disappeared.
We first entered the control room in Studio Two where I told them a bit about The Beatles recording history in the Studios. I was surprised that Gene knew the name of Andy White, the session drummer that played on Love Me Do. Gene told the story of how he met Ringo at a party at literally picked him up. He then demonstrated on me!
We then went down into the Studio itself and I pointed out the various instruments in there which the Beatles used on their sessions, including the piano used on Lady Madonna. Nick played some very nice tunes on the piano. We were amazed to see that the piano had cigarette burns all over it – including on the piano keys! Gene expressed surprise that smoking was allowed in the studios – it seems the whole family are against smoking (another surprise!)
The two hours went by much too quickly. Gene and his family were some of the nicest people I've had on a tour. The experience obviously meant more to Gene than the rest of the family, but they all treated me with great respect and listened with interest. They were also just as nice when the cameras were switched off. I told Gene about my book 'Guide to the Beatles London' and Gene asked me for a copy, and for me to sign it for him! I was going to ask for his autograph.
Here is that episode: http://www.aetv.com/shows/gene-simmons-family-jewels/videos/25-british-invasion
For more details on my London Beatles Walks see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com
Me with Gene Simmons and his family in the control room of Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios
Give My Regards to Wimpole Street – Where Paul McCartney Lived with the Ashers
Give My Regards to Wimpole St
In an extract from his book 'Guide to the Beatles London' Richard Porter tells of the London street where Paul McCartney lived with the Asher Family, and dreamed the tune of 'Yesterday'
Wimpole Street is a very quiet street in the centre of the medical quarter of London, close to Harley Street – most of the houses are divided into consulting rooms for specialist doctors. It also has literary connections – Elizabeth Barrett lived at number 50 Wimpole Street. She married fellow poet Robert Browning at St Marylebone Church after being kept virtual prisoner in the house for most of her life.
John and Yoko were big fans of the Brownings. Yoko wrote Let Me Count the Ways based on a poem by Elizabeth and John wrote Grow Old With Me, based on a poem by Robert. John apparently saw him and Yoko as re-incarnations of the Brownings. For Christmas 1980 John bought Yoko an original handwriting of Elizabeth Barrett with a portrait framed next to it – he was never able to give them personally to her though…
The quietness of Wimpole Street was interrupted in 1962 when gun shots rang out in nearby Wimpole Mews. 17 Wimpole Mews was the home of Dr Stephen Ward, a society osteopath. Ward had many female friends he liked to introduce to his high society male friends. For instance, he introduced Christine Keeler to John Profumo, Minister of War and also to Major Ivanov of the Russian KGB. Keeler had simultaneous affairs with these two men – at the height of the cold war.
On 14 December 1962 a spurned lover of Keeler, Johnny Edgecombe, arrived at Wimpole Mews with a gun and started shooting. The story was all over the press the next day and finally led to the uncovering of the 'Profumo Affair' which led to the resignation of Profumo, the ultimate downfall of the Government and the suicide of Steven Ward. It was alleged by Philip Norman, in his book 'Shout!' that the press saw Beatlemania as an antidote to the revelations around the Profumo affair.
Number 57 Wimpole Street is now a private clinic. It just also happens to be where Lennon/McCartney wrote their first US number one and Paul dreamt the tune of the most covered song of all time. The house was bought by the Asher family in 1957 when they moved from a flat in Great Portland Street. Dr Richard Asher was an eminent doctor who specialised in mental health. His wife Margaret was professor of music at Guildhall School of music. She taught a young man called George Martin how to play the oboe. They had three children: Claire and Jane were both actresses and son Peter was a singer.
Jane Asher started acting when only 5 years old and made her film debut soon afterwards. Later, at aged 14, she was the youngest actress to play Wendy in Peter Pan. By 1963 she was a regular on the TV show Juke Box Jury – where celebrities reviewed the records of the week.
On 18 April 1963 Jane did a photographic assignment for Radio Times at a concert called 'Swinging Sounds '63' at the Albert Hall. She sat in the audience with a reporter and a photographer who recorded her reactions. When the Beatles came on stage she screamed. Jane met all four Beatles backstage – apparently all four were very impressed by her – especially George, it was alleged later – but she got on better with Paul. They were seen in public together for the first time shortly afterwards and from then on Paul was continually asked whether he was going to marry Jane. Paul even made fun of this in 'A Hard Day's Night' when answered 'No, we're just good friends' even before the question was asked.
Paul got on very well with the Asher family and jumped at the chance when the Ashers asked him if he would like to make their family home his London base. Paul was given a room at the top of house at the back – it was almost a self contained apartment with its own bathroom. Paul once compared it to an artist's garret. It had a bed, easy chair, record player and small piano. Under the bed Paul kept his gold records and his MBE! Peter Asher had the room next door and Claire and Jane's rooms were below. Even though Paul and Jane had separate rooms they regularly slept together – the Asher's were a very liberal family.
Paul and Jane were often apart. Paul, of course, was often on tour with The Beatles and Jane was often away on acting assignments. Paul seemed to resent that Jane wasn't there all the time. Jane certainly inspired Paul to write songs: Here There and Everywhere, And I Love Her and Every Little Thing were all about Jane. However, the relationship wasn't all champagne and roses, he also wrote I'm Looking Through You, For No One and You Won't See Me about her.
Mr and Mrs Asher were very protective of Paul. Paul's fans heard where he was living soon after he moved in, and fans camped outside the house almost continually. To help Paul get in and out of the house Dr Asher devised an elaborate escape route for Paul. He had to climb onto a foot wide parapet along to the right and into the flat of a retired colonel at No. 56. He then went right down to the basement flat of a young couple who used to let him through their kitchen window and into their garage. Then Paul went out of the street door by 10 Browning Mews and did a left through an archway into New Cavendish St.
Mrs Asher offered to teach Paul how to read and write music notation but after a few lessons Paul gave up. He still can't read music notation to this day. However, Mrs Asher did succeed is teaching Paul how to play the recorder. Paul can be heard playing the instrament on Fool on the Hill.
When the nearby Post Office Tower was being built Dr. Asher watched the building's progress from his bedroom window. Just before it opened he wrote to the owners, the GPO, asking if he could visit the tower with his family. He turned up with Peter and Jane and Paul McCartney! The owners were amazed to see two world famous pop stars and a world famous actress in their new building.
Paul immediately struck up a friendship with Peter and his friend Gordon Waller who sang under the name Peter and Gordon and wrote A World Without Love especially for them. It reached number one in the UK charts. Peter also became involved in a project to start an art gallery and bookshop with two friends Barry Miles and John Dunbar. Paul was also very interested in the project and donated money so it could open. It was called the Indica Art Gallery and was where John met Yoko in November 1966.
Mrs Asher's music room was in the basement of the house. John Lennon was a regular visitor to the house and he and Paul regularly used the music room to write songs. It was not long after Paul moved in that they wrote I Want to Hold Your Hand down there. Gordon Waller remembers that John was on a pedal organ and Paul on a piano. John later remembered they wrote the song 'eyeball to eyeball'. They had the 'you've got that something' line when Paul hit a key on the piano and John looked up and said 'That's It!' – they had the link that made the song.
Early one morning Paul woke up in his bedroom with a tune in his head. He went straight over to the piano he had by the bed to play it. He called the tune Scrambled Eggs. Paul initially thought he was remembering the tune from someone else's and went around his friends asking if they recognised it. No-one did so Paul finally realised that he had dreamt the tune and wrote some proper words to it. He called it Yesterday.
When Paul actually had this dream seems to confuse him; in two different authorised biographies Paul gives different dates. In Yesterday and Today he said it was late 1963 – in Many Years From Now he states it was 1965.
In 1965 Paul bought a house in Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood, just around the corner from Abbey Road. Paul took some time to do it up, with Jane's help, and they both moved in a few months later. However, they started to drift apart – especially when Jane went on tour to America with the Bristol Old Vic touring company. When Jane came back, Paul was heavily into drugs and Jane didn't join in.
Paul and Jane announced their engagement on Christmas Day 1967, but broke up in May 1968. Paul wanted Jane to give up her acting career and start a family but she refused.
Tragically, Dr Asher committed suicide at 57 Wimpole Street in 1969. Not surprisingly, the Asher family moved out soon afterwards.
Jane is continuing her very successful acting career and also had her own lifestyle TV programme on the BBC called 'Good Living'. She is married to cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, who made a satirical papier mache model of The Beatles that was shown on the front cover of Time magazine in 1967.
Peter Asher worked for a time as A and R man of Apple records. Allegedly, when Paul broke up with Jane he stormed into Apple the next morning to sack Peter as an act of revenge – Paul later changed his mind but soon after Peter left Apple with his discovery James Taylor and masterminded his career, along with that of Linda Rondstadt. Peter is now a top record company executive in America.
A few years ago I had the unique opportunity of visiting the house with a reporter from the Times newspaper, who was writing an article on it. The house, at the time, was owned by John Carlotta, who was the former manager of Deep Purple. Throughout the house were many gold records for songs like 'Smoke on the Water'.
57 Wimpole Street was sold for about two million pounds in the early 2000's and is now a private clinic.
57 Wimpole Street is one of the places visited on Richard Porter's London Beatles Walks. For more information see http://www.beatlesinlondon.com
Richard's book 'Guide to the Beatles London' is available at the Beatles Coffee Shop, St John's Wood.
Paul's escape route from his bedroom at 57 Wimpole Street
Paul's bedroom at 57 Wimpole Street