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Tag Archives: Algernon

Best of 2020 Volume 5

08 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Algernon

Playlist by Algernon

Seamus – Pink Floyd

Black dog – Led Zepplin

Cool for cats – UK Squeeze

What’s new pussycat – Tom Jones

We’ve only just begun – The Carpenters

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Immigrant song – Led Zeppelin

Whip it – Devo

Babooshka – Kate Bush

Woman Woman – Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Wichita Linesman – Glenn Campbell

Indian Reservation – Paul Revere and the Raiders

Rhinestone Cowboy – Glenn Campbell

Best of 2020 Volume 3

16 Saturday Jan 2021

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Algernon

Playlist by Algernon

Garageland – The Clash

I don’t want to go down to the Basement – The Ramones

Crowded Room – XTC

Two grey rooms – Joni Mitchell

In the garden – Van Morrison

After the Garden – Neil Young

The secret Garden (Suite Seduction Suite) – Quincy Jones

How do you do it – Gerry and the Pacemakers

Love me do – The Beatles

Poison Ivy – Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs

She’s so fine – The Easybeats

Do wha diddy diddy – Manfred Mann

Tour de France – Kraftwerk

My boy lollipop – Milly Small

Foodge and the Old Bill

03 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by Mark in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Algernon, Benj, Big M, Foodge, Merv, Ms Lake, Sandshoe, Sister Yvonne

Foodge has many faces…

Never Far From The Truth:

Episode One Billion in Some Parts

Written by Shoe – Direction and Photography by Mark.

“Granny can’t be all that deaf,” Mark was remarking.

“I’m not going as Death,” Granny hollered. The cellar’s a long way. From is even longer by the time Granny climbs the stairs after a few quiet ones.

“Fancy dress,” Algy explained to Big M, “They’re holding an Allusion to celebrate we’re all in a better place.

“There’s a row of them in a big wooden box,” Foodge heard Granny screech as he walked in.

“I’m all done in, Uncle Merv.”

Merv set down a steaming cup of milo on the bar. Foodge expelled the breath of a man of all reason. Foodge was a season of reason. No-one dared ask. Foodge was likely to recount. He might recount his entire latest judgement. Foodge never came away from any trial without a good 40-minute obiter.

“Come to think of it,” Shoe said aloud. She thought she was only thinking it. “Foodge comes away from every trial like a man glued to postal mail.”

She wrote it down. Benj, new proprietor of the bookshop suggested, “Like a George the Fifth?”

Benj in better times…

So unnecessary. Overstatement of an adhesive. Strictly speaking, it had been used before.

“If we could make them a little less corny.”

Mark was remarking.

“Not again,” Yvonne groaned. Yvonne could barely breathe for fear if she stopped holding her breath in anticipation, Shoe would say nothing more, write nothing, least of all think.

“Breathe, Yvonne.”

Mark had it in hand. He placed the bar bill down on the, well, bar.

“I can’t read all these zeroes,” Shoe animated. “You can’t expect me to pay this as penalty. Three quadrillion billion five thousand and thirty two million…”

“That’s a heart starter,” sibilanted Big M. Big sibilanted in the face of all emergencies. He knew where to toss a vowel in for good effect when needed.

Ms Lake shouts the next round…

“Here’s a how-de-do,” Veronica Lake said. Ms Lake is new to that beer-soaked chook-squirt-stained establisment. Everyone remembers the Mexican chooks imported from, well, close to the truth.

“This is what comes of putting drinks on tick in an ever-expanding consciousness series sense,” Foodge interrupted, “I’ll take the case.”

Medieval Instruments

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Algernon

Pet Sounds at the Newtown Markets

Playlist by Algernon

Something different, many a popular tune played entirely on medieval instruments. Some with chorus, others just instrumentals. This is just a small selection of what is available across many genres.

Nick of Time

28 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Algernon, Datone, James Hunter six

Album presentation by Algernon

Another album released this year by Daptone. This time, from James Hunter Six.

Just dropped in (to see what condition my rendition was in)

20 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Algernon

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Album Presentation by Algernon

Amazing what she can do from the grave. The latest from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings was released on 23 October. An Album of covers.

Sign sealed delivered (I’m yours)

Little by Little

Just dropped in (to see what condition my condition was in) 

Here I am baby

What have you done for me lately?

Take me with U

This land is your land

Inspiration Information

Giving up

Rescue me

In the bush

Hurts to be alone 

Tresspasser

Gordon’s Cat

01 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Mark in Big M

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Algernon, Big M, Christina, humour, Mark

Cat and chips, hmm…

Story by Big M

Mark and Algernon were perched at the bar, having enjoyed a lovely morning tea of Granny’s best IPA (Impressive Pig’s A…, I mean, Ale), and were sipping on banana daiquiri chasers. The doors burst open to reveal Big M, wearing his best socks and sandals, Bermuda shorts, and a long sleave shirt, a picture of sartorial excellence.

“Hello Brother, Sister.” Chirped Mark. “Didja come down on the 3801?”

Big M was still brushing dust from his shirt. “Nah, the Flyer’s electric, now. They only

Big M gets ready for work

get the 38 out for spesh. How are you pair? Another round?” Our intrepid bar flies nodded eagerly, with daiquiri forming little yellow moustaches.

“Well, there’s been some concern.” Proffered Algernon. “We think the Bish is dead, or paralysed, or worse, and Gordon’s bin arrested!”

“Feckin’ stupid heap of shite!” Roared Merv from behind the bar. “Oy, Mark, you’re a plumber, aren’t you?”

“Nope”

“But you’ve got an interest in plumbin’?” Merv was red faced.

“Well, sort of.” Mark swallowed the last of his cocktail, placing the glass on the bar, and nodding enthusiastically towards the empty glass. “I do know that Thomas Crapper and Sons were the finest dunny makers in the Old Dart.”

Merv assiduously ignored the empty glass and the nods. “Well, can any of youz fix

Mark

a busted glass washer?” Merv was desperate to avoid washing anything by hand.

“We need to get to the most important matter at hand.” Algernon took control, of the floor, and the cocktails. “Gordon’s cat is missing, feared dead!”

“What, like Schrodinger’s cat?” Mark sounded excited.

“Well, yes and no. Schrodinger’s cat may have been dead, or may be alive.”

“Well, which is it?” Big M raised his a butt cheek off the stool to let out an enormous fart, or was it a shart?

“No, it was Schrodinger’s famous thought experiment, where he put a cat in a steel box..”

“A dead cat?” Mark had taken control of the cocktails, but not the floor, or the conversation.

“No, alive, anyway, it goes into a steel box with a Geiger counter, which feeds into a relay which can crack open a bottle of cyanide. I think Einstein wanted to add explosives, but that’s beside the point. If one single atom inside the box undergoes

Algernon thinks about it

nuclear decay, the Geiger counter detects it, the relay cracks the cyanide bottle, and the cat dies.” Algernon wasn’t sure they were following. “You don’t know if the cat’s dead or alive until you open the box. So in the meantime, the cat could be in two states, alive, or dead. It’s all quantum physics.”

“So can this bloody Schrodinger fix my bloody glass washer?” Merv was about to throw the machine into the yard.

“No!” The trio yelled.

“So Gordon’s cat is in a steel box?” Big M looked self-satisfied.

“No, Schrodinger’s dead cat is.” Laughed Mark, picturing a dead cat in a box.

“No, it’s either, or both, dead and alive!” Yelled an exasperated Algernon.

Yum

 

“So where’s Gordon’s cat?” Chimed in Christina, as she reached between them to grab some coasters.

“How the f#@$ would we know, it’s your story, ‘shoe!”

 

 

 

I’ve had a bad day, don’t ask…

 

Songs from the Past

18 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by Mark in Algernon, Bands at the Pig's Arms

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Algernon, Mariachi, music

Songs from the Past

Songs from the Past

Songs from the past.
Playlist by Algernon

The Legend of Xanadu – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick and Tich

In the year 2525 – Zager and Evans

Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

Cancion Del Mariachi (Morena de Mi Corazon) – Los Lobos & Antonio Banderas

Guantanamera – Playing for change

Guantanamera – The Sandpipers

Soul Sacrifice – Santana

In a gadda da vida – Iron Butterfly

Mas que nada – Sergio Mendes and the Brasil 66

The Lonely Bull- Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

Corcovado – Astrud Giberto

Fly me to the moon – Astrud Giberto

Comin Home Baby – Herbie Mann

Popurii – Mariachi Los Camperos

National Art School

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Therese Trouserzoff in Algernon

≈ 40 Comments

Tags

Algernon, Darlinghurst, Max Dupain, National Art School, Paddington, Reg Mombassa, Tim Storrier

NAS 1

By Algernon

After the Federal budget (where the government sees it fair to allow Universities to deregulate their charges as well as upping interest on loan schemes), I noticed the following article in the Sydney Morning Herald which talks about the lack of classroom space in the eastern suburbs and it would appear Paddington in particular. Apparently it will become critical by 2018 with space running out by 2026. Of course the real problem can be traced back to the Liberal Greiner Government where Terry Metherell, closed public schools down and merged others around the state for supposed low attendance rates. This left gaping holes in many school catchments.

(1)   Read the article here:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/national-art-school-grounds-touted-as-site-for-new-inner-city-high-school-20140526-38zni.html

In my local area two High schools, Ryde High and Peter Board High were closed down with Malvina becoming part selective. The surrounding High schools had to take up the slack. An attempt was made to close down Hunters Hill High however a local campaign managed to keep the school open. Our local state member to his credit is looking at ways to have Ryde High reopened as the buildings are still used educationally.

Two sites were highlighted in the article; Victoria Barracks with buildings constructed between 1841 and 1847and the other was the National Art School (NAS) which started its life as Darlinghurst Gaol.  Building commenced there in 1820 with some of the cellblocks completed in 1840. The Goal was transferred to the department of Education and used as East Sydney Tech in 1923. The National Art School has been resident there since that time.

(2) Some history of Darlinghurst Goal:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlinghurst_Gaol

(3) Some history of Victoria Barracks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Barracks,_Sydney

(4) Read about NAS history here:

http://www.nas.edu.au/about/our-history

(5) NAS Alumni here:

http://www.nas.edu.au/about/Alumni

Some parents told the review that NAS was an ideal site as it’s large and has open spaces. It already has a hall, offices and classrooms. They claim it to be an orphan institution owned by the Department of Education. Also the art school could be moved to a government owned site in the western suburbs.

The hall was interesting, the cell block theatre is narrower than a railway tunnel, the open space, well, much of it is car park for the staff.  As for the classrooms, with desks they’d hold about a dozen students. The line that got me was to move it to the Western Suburbs, which for me was code for we don’t really want art schools in Paddington move it somewhere else.  Little Tarquin and Saarah need a place to go to school.

To the best of my knowledge there has never been a state High School in Paddington. Furthermore NAS has an annual intake of around 180 students into their undergraduate program. Allowing for honours and Masters Degrees perhaps 650 students overall. Most modern High Schools have around 1000 to 1300 students. Realistically this site with historical and cultural significance has no chance of holding that number.

I understand finding a greenfield site in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney would be difficult, yet a few kilometres south a brand new housing development is taking shape. Twelve storey unit complexes and no schools planned.

The National Art School I will admit holds a special place for us. Mrs Algernon was a student there in the late 1980’s. Algenonina the Younger undertook a course there as part of her HSC and at this stage hopes to be part of the intake of students in 2015. NAS has also been the Institution that has educated many of Australia’s significant Artists since its inception, including the producer of the Pig’s arms Coat of Arms.

It also saddens me that Fine Arts politically is not considered worthwhile and where the State Government chooses not to fund it at a Tertiary level, this robs many rural communities of the opportunity to study. Recent blow-ins to communities like Paddington and Darlinghurst can just thumb their noses at the area’s cultural and artistic heritage.

The conversation in the Letters has gone on for four days. As a regular reader of the Letters that is unusual.

(6) The Letters

Art of the community

Darlinghurst Gaol, and the National Arts School which now resides within it, are some of the last remnants of the artistic legacy Darlinghurst has given this city (‘‘City parents line up old jail in search for learning space’’, May 27). From Tim Storrier to Reg Mombassa to Max Dupain, those sufficiently talented came to the NAS and made this suburb more vibrant for their presence. Even Henry Lawson attended (albeit he predated the art school by many years and was incarcerated at the time).

Turning the NAS into a public school would strip away the dwindling vestiges of the creative spirit which animates this beautiful suburb.

CG

New school of thought

Turning the National Art School into a public high school would hardly strip away the dwindling vestiges of creativity in Darlinghurst. CG (Letters, May 28) merely needs to walk 700 metres from the NAS and he will be at the College of Fine Arts. That’s right, two tertiary art institutions and no public high school in the area. Times change, so can Darlo Gaol.

JD

Art of unsuitability

Perhaps JD (Letters, May 29) chooses to ignore the context of ”Darlo Jail”. The complex hasn’t been used as a jail for 100 years.

The National Art School, on the other hand, has occupied the site since 1923. The buildings themselves are of Georgian or Victorian construction. Is this really appropriate for a modern high school with its small rooms and narrow and steep staircases? How would access be available for the mobility challenged? Where will the children play? Surely the question should be asked why wasn’t a high school considered a priority in housing developments such as Victoria Park. A modern high school needs a modern construction, not an adaptation of a building for which it isn’t designed for.

Why should this Sydney institution have to move to the ”western suburbs” as some find the art school irrelevant? Maybe the College of Fine Arts COFA could move as well and then ”Paddo” could rid itself of its artistic heritage.

Algernon

Look outside the frame 

Algernon (Letters, May 30) raises some valid points regarding locating a new high school on the site of the old “Darlo Jail”. I attended Sydney Technical High School in the 1950s, then located on what is now the COFA in Paddington. Briefly we walked to the old jail for some high school classes because the STHS site was overcrowded.

With some imagination a new multi-storey school building(s) could be built on the old “Darlo Jail” site and the existing National Art School maintained. The two uses would not be incompatible and the various nooks and crannies between the building would make ideal recreational spaces for all the students.

PF

Acknowledgments:

(1)   Sydney Morning Herald 27 May 2014

(2)   Darlinghurst Goal – Wikipedia

(3)   Victoria Barracks – Wikipedia

(4)   History of National Art School – NAS website

(5)   National Art School Alumni – NAS website

(6)   Sydney Morning Herald – Letters -28 to 31 May 2014

Something for Mother’s Day

11 Saturday May 2013

Posted by gerard oosterman in Algernon

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

Abba, Algernon, Blondie, Franklin., Gaynor, Middler, Ross

mothers-daySomething for Mothers Day

Playlist by Algernon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

Respect – Aretha Franklin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tth-8wA3PdY

I will survive – Gloria Gaynor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s

Dancing Queen – ABBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC_VSjBDOz0

Eternal  Flame – The Bangles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxpe1oSp_sg

Heart of Glass – Blondie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo

Total eclipse of the heart – Bonnie Tyler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1eOsMc2Fgg

Killing me softly – Roberta Flack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M912EcPDrKM

Wind Beneath my wings – Bette Midler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_pmKPWLBrE

Ain’t no mountain high enough – Diana Ross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A

Girls just want to have fun – Cyndi Lauper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eja-popojUo

Bette Davis Eyes  – Kim Carnes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJb1Kt1OTRo

Say I love you – Renee Geyer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6UAYGxiRwU

Your so vain – Carly Simon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orv_F2HV4gk

Fast Car – Tracey Chapman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoHuxpa4h48

I feel the earth move – Carole King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGEubdH8m0s

Patrons Posts

  • Songs about 1/2 February 12, 2021
  • A Stay at Home February 8, 2021
  • Best of 2020 Volume 5 February 8, 2021
  • Some History February 7, 2021
  • Best of 2020 Volume 4 January 27, 2021
  • Best of 2020 Volume 3 January 16, 2021
  • Best of 2020 Volume 2 January 8, 2021
  • Merv breaks Out January 4, 2021
  • Merv’s Brain Biopsy January 3, 2021

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