In the beginning (there was Jack)

This morning whilst on an early morning mission to Deptford we caught this poster in a pub window. It’s for Wednesday’s May Day celebrations featuring an appearance of Fowlers Troop and the Deptford Jack in the Green (more on them here which even includes a Hawkwind and Pink Fairies connection!)

The great John Rogers has got a interesting little film that explains the celebrations a little more. Looks like a fun day!

All this talk of May Day revelry reminded us of one spring evening years ago when we were going to London Bridge station and followed a man dressed as a tree walking with a lady who was sporadically ringing an old school bell. We made a bit of a detour so we could capture more of the madness and just before we turned off for the station we had to see what it was all about. “Excuse me mate, could you explain more about your get up” we said to the tree man/man tree to which he curtly replied, “Mayday?” We were told that day and by a bloke with a painted green face.

 

And talking of John Rogers, here is again the two part excellent walk of the “Magic” River Quaggy, which is a “much watch”.

The music keeps on coming

It’s been four years since the passing of the great Andrew Weatherall can you believe. We saw on Facebook a link to this great mix from Outlaw Yacht Club, Leeds 2013 (from a great night presented by our good mate Chris Madden) and we just had to share it. The mix starts off with Big Youth, Ari Up, Dr Who in dub then goes into rockabilly and much more and you know what? It’s downloadable. RIP Andrew Weatherall.

Local seed event alert

Thanks to Ruth for getting in touch about this great event on Sunday 25th February 2024 from 1-4pm held at the AFRIL allotment of refuge at One Tree Hill Allotments SE23 3NP. It looks well interesting, there’s a bit of a seed swap, a free vegan lunch, a tour of the garden and at 2.30pm talks, a workshop and a Q&A session. It’s free and more details and tickets can be obtained here. Thanks for letting us know Ruth!

And this is a pic of a scarecrow at One Tree Allotments from a couple of years ago. We think that the coat has been changed for a yellow one now but it is still there and still creeps us out when we’re passing by. It’s those hands placed casually in the pockets that does it.

Seems a bit milder out there…

 

This morning while putting two tea bags in the compost heap (any excuse to get out there) we noticed it was quite mild weatherwise and also spotted what we think are some giant garlic bulbs (volunteers we reckon) resprouting. That’s a good sign but we won’t speak too soon as you never know it may snow next week (we hope not though!)

(Imaginary) Radio is a (Electro) magnetic thing

Imaginary Stations takes to the internet airwaves from his Monday on Electromagnic Radio. It looks a great station with lots of great shows here.

Times are Mondays at 2pm and on a Saturday at 7pm both UK time. Tune in and enjoy the first show which is Radio Lavalamp but that’s after exploring all the other musical possibilities that are on the site. Enjoy the diverse range of musical enjoyment on Electromagnetic Radio.

First Seed Swap in

News just in of the first Seed Swap of 2024. It’s not south London but it’s in Hackney Wick at Hackney Herbal at Trowbridge Gardens, 1 Trowbridge Road Hackney Wick E9 5LD. It’s on Saturday March 16th from 2.30 to 4.30pm and Free. More on their Spring Equinox Seed Swap here. If we find out about any more Seed Swaps especially situated  the south side of the river we’ll let you know. If you hear of any do let us know too.

We’ve just found out they have an irregular radio show on the great Soho Radio called “Between 2 Parsleys” which is a show that “explore herbs through the interwoven stories of plants and people.” Sounds well interesting, more on the show here.

The sound of more cans of worms opening

And as the Abedare Rockers mix does its job and turns us on to more brilliant tunes here’s another couple of tracks recognised. Cheers to Karl S and Pete R for uncovering the latest lot of tunes.

Cheers to the good Doctor

If you want to hear a great Monday morning radio show which plays all sorts from Jazz, Funk, Dub and Downbeat you should tune into The Rhythm Doctor’s Waiting Room on a Monday morning from 9-11am (UK Time) on IDA Radio, Tallinn.

Cheers to The Rhythm Doc for airing a mix this morning from Weed’s own One Deck Pete called Dub in the waiting room. At 46.28 Minutes in on the show below is the mix and here’s the tracklistings:
Patrick Andy – Please Don’t Go/Version
U Brown – Black Star Liner
Augustus Pablo – Dub in Moonlight City
Wayne Wade – Man of the Living (Version)
King Tubby – Play Fool get wise (Version)
Dillinger – Bongoman
Jackie Mittoo – Congo Man
Prince Buster –Taxation

Tune in and dub out!

One for the Bank Holiday

Big thanks to Jesse Yuen for his last post here and for sending us this tune recommendation. As he says in his own words: “My last few months have been soundtracked by this release from Cousin. Downtempo, dubwise, low-end and percussive!” Sounds great and well up our street Jesse!

The fruits of our labour

We can’t believe that it’s July next week, how time flies (pic above: self-seeded poppy down the garden yesterday). It was just the other week we were thinking if there was going to be a frost or not so we could put those leggy tomato plants out. Gardening is all about patience and just getting on with it, the waiting game so to speak but we’re not very good at that. And talking of tomatoes we’ve got our first trusses of fruit developing on some of the plants we grew from seed (below). That weekly feed of comfrey liquid must be helping as well as sideshooting and a daily water.

The chilli pepper we were given the other week has now got fruits (below) and we were told by the patron of said plant that she started it off very early in January. We’ll be bringing the pot in this winter and see if we can keep it going next year. Peppers and chillies are perennials so we’re told, as it says here “...all peppers – that is sweet peppers and chilli peppers – are perennials, capable of living for several years. Peppers come from the tropics where there is no winter period.” The things you learn eh?It’s funny what with our “sow the seed willy nilly and forget we even sown them” method we still get suprised when something pops up like in the case of the oregano seedlings below. Yes it is in a pot with a plant label with “Oregano” written on it as clear as day but we’re still suprised. Perhaps we should have a colour coded spreadsheet with a map of the garden so we know when we sowed something and where. We reckon that would take the fun out of it though. Happy growing and may that spot of rain we had earlier today further boost up your garden’s growth!