So! The Swindogs are coming! ‘What are?’ I hear you cry. Swindogs is what! Like the one you see below:
The swindogs are coming
Well – when I say like the one in the image – not quite. For a start, the scale of that one is not unlike the Goodie’s Kitten Kong. Yep – there I go again with my antediluvian references.
As it says in the brochure:
The summer of 2023 will see over thirty larger-than-life balloon dog sculptures – the eponymous Swindogs – let off the leash, right across Swindon.
An artist will adopt each of the dogs and they’ll paint a unique design on it. Then you, the public will discover them along a free, family-friendly big dog art trail. The trail will take you around some of Swindon’s finest landmarks, streets, parks and public spaces. And no poo in sight!
WIA are a commercial organisation employing a core team in the north and south of England. They’re aided and abetted by a pool of specialist freelancers working across the country and overseas.
They’ve got expertise, insights and a network formed in over a decade involved in creating popular art events across the globe.
A bit about Julia’s House
From their website: ‘Julia’s House is not a typical children’s hospice. We provide practical and emotional support for families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, providing frequent and regular support in their own homes, in the community or at our hospices.’
How you can get involved
Here’s one they made earlier
Swindon artist Hannah Dosanjh has already painted one of the dogs and it’s amazing. I saw it at the launch event the other night and I LOVE what Hannah did with it. In particular I love how she highlighted Sir Daniel Gooch rather than Brunel! IMHO Brunel gets over-stated somewhat. So you can read more about all that here in the Swindon Advertiser.
And now for some photographs of Hannah and her amazing dog! it features, in no particular order:
Limoncello Italian Liqueur – seen here in DaPaolo’s deli in Swindon
Only a few days ago I covered Jamaican rum punch in this post here.Now we’re looking at Limoncello. So from the Caribbean to Capri we go! Clink your glasses and we’re off!
I’m not going to lie, I’m not keen on this stuff at all. A shot of grappa I’m partial to but not Limoncello Italian liqueur. Anyway, the bottles of the yellow, lemony stuff you see here are on the shelves in DaPaolo’s deli on Commercial Road in Swindon town centre. But I’m sure you’d get it in any of the many Italian eateries dotted around Swindon.
Limoncello – pronounced Lee-moan-cheh-lo – is a lemon liqueur. It’s made from lemon zest, sugar and a neutral alcohol – most often vodka, but it can be grappa or rectified spirit (highly concentrated ethanol). After Campari ( and I can’t stand that either) it’s the second most popular liqueur in Italy.
The drink carries strong associations with the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri. But it’s made all over Italy by producers large and small.
So how do you drink it? Well, diners tend to enjoy it after a meal, neat and chilled, as a digestif or digestivo.
The origin story of the liqueur is, it seems, open to debate, but it originated in the early 1900s. According to ‘A couple of cooks’, explain that the Capris natives claim the recipe stems from a woman by the name of Maria Antonia Faraceha. It seems that her grandnephew trademarked the Limoncello term in 1988. All of that said, the city of Sorrento has differing origin stories. Whatever the ins and outs of all that, it’s a common European drink.
Maureen and the girls are having their hair done. Barry and the lads are getting a few drinks in down at the pub. And Ralph, Les, Judd and Lucky Eric are readying themselves to man the doors at the town’s hottest nightspot … Mr Cinders.
This great play comes complete with sharp one-liners, 80s dance floor classics and a host of extraordinary characters. And all played by four amazing actors. This promises to be an unmissable evening.
It’s funny but with a touch of pathos and a whole load of nostalgia. This comic drama takes an irreverent look at the ups and downs of urban nightlife through the eyes of its eponymous ‘heroes.’
Get your tickets for Bouncers at the Town Gardens Bowl on Friday 1 July at 7.30pm here: www.theatreatthebowl.co.uk
Any classic drink you care to mention has a history – and the rum punch is no exception. And this blog, Deeper than the Punch Bowl: A Brief History of Rum Punch – tells it. According to the article, the history of punch stretches back over four centuries. Further, it’s intertwined with the civilizations of the East Indies, the huge fortunes of kings and merchants and Europe’s expanding empires.
You need to travel back to 1632 to find the first mention of punch in the western canon. This was a time before Peter the Great became the Czar of Russia, before William Penn founded the colony that took his name and before Sir Isaac Newton was a twinkle in his mother’s eye.
The rule of five
All that said, it appears there’s no definitive confirmation of the origin of the word punch. It might come from Sanskrit. Or it might originate in the Indian dialect of Hindustani. Others still, argue its root lies in ancient Persia. But whatever the truth of all that – every language’s term for it translates to five. That being the five elements that define a true punch:
Sweet
Sour
Alcohol
Water
Spice
Most common to punches of days gone by was nutmeg. European aristocrats so desired this space that punch journeyed from the shores of the Indian Ocean to London and Paris. In the 17th century, nutmeg was the most valuable of substances.
When the beer went flat
Western sailors of the time were in it for adventure, the possibility of finding fortune – and the drink! They prized their daily ration! Every ship’s belly held barrels of ale to keep the sailors … refreshed. But, as their ships entered warmer waters, their ale went flat and spoiled. Searching for a replacement libation they found … rum! More to the point – rum punch.
It only needed British sailors to discover it, for punch to travel and conquer the world.
By 1655, the rum punch as we know it, was born when Jamaican rum from the West Indies became the alcoholic tipple of choice for a chunk of the western world. As British imperialism crossed the pond to the Americas, the taste for this popular dink grew. So what Jamaica that?! Boom!
Angela Atkinson (looking rather demonic! and the lovely Caroline Davis Khan – not looking demonic!
Epilogue
Yes it was a delicious punch. And yes, the food was amazing!
Event: Local artist helps others walk and sketch in Turner’s footsteps around Malmesbury
Walking in Turner’s Footsteps – Local artist Anne Hayhoe will lead a free workshop and walk this coming weekend. The walk will focus on the time that famous landscape artist, JM Turner, spent in Malmesbury.
‘In the Footsteps of Turner’ steps our with a talk at the Athelstan Museum in front of the artist’s painting of Malmesbury’s Abbey. Anne will then lead the participants on a walk around the Abbey, stopping at places recorded as being where Turner made his exploratory sketches.
Anne Heyhoe – Walking in Turner’s Footsteps
At the abbey
While visiting the Abbey, participants will get encouragement to make their own sketches using their own materials. Finally, participants will have the chance to study those sketches and discuss contemporary artworks to create, using them.
The event is free but do book in advance with the museum. It will start at 10 am with an estimated 1 pm finish.
It’s wonderful for the people of this rural community to have free access to an original watercolour of Malmesbury Abbey by renowned British artist JMW Turner’ said Anne. This event will inspire participants to use the materials available today to create their new images of the Abbey as we experience it, in the 21st Century.’
JM Turner’s painting of Malmesbury Abbey, completed in 1827, is one of the highlights of the Athelstan Museum collection. The artist visited the town three times and made several sketches of the abbey. From those, he later painted the watercolour that went on to form part of his celebrated collection ‘Picturesque Views in England and Wales’ (1825-38). It’s believed to be the only finished watercolour of that particular aspect of Malmesbury Abbey.
There’s so much to learn from studying an original painting. Turner was a highly-skilled painter yes. But he also was an an innovater who became available and adept at pushing his work beyond the boundaries of conventional watercolour painting at that time.’
It’s believed the artist first sketched the Abbey aged 16. But the watercolour that now takes pride of place in the Athelstan Museum he completed thirty years later.
Although now living in Pewsey, Anne has strong links to the town. Educated at Malmesbury Grammar School, she returned to practice art about ten years ago. Having studied fine art at Trowbridge College and Oxford Brookes, she now works across a wide range of media. That includes painting, drawing, textiles, artist’s books, and writes poetry.
For those who miss out on the June event, she’ll repeat the workshop on August 13th. Once again, the event will be free but participants will need to book in advance with the museum.
