Bus Station Loonies ๐
So, you probably guessed already I seem to be on a one man 'mission' to go round as many places as I can in Londonโฆand why not! For this post I have tried to encompass the delights of yet another part of London and also link in a couple of bands that have a common thread for one reason or another, so sit back and enjoy the ride...
I have some preferences on how I like to get around our capital city, whilst many people I know love jumping the tube, I personally prefer either catching a London bus or making it on foot. There is just something about jumping a bus and letting the world go by, to be honest in my defence of using bus over the tube, at least you get so see some sights, some good, some bad, but at least you get to see some of those small side roads, wonderful architecture, odd shops and pubs that you would have definitely missed in the black hole that is the underground๐. There are of course downsides to every form of transport as highlighted by 'Brummie' British Comedian/Musician Jasper Carrott way back in the 70's with his well known and loved sketch 'The Bus Nutter' which you can catch at the link, who knows I could be sitting next to you looking for my 'camel' very soon!, probably safer to travel on your 'Funky Moped'๐
In truth there are many places you can get to just on foot and stops on the tube that appear quite a distance are often a lot quicker than you think on foot. We have managed from Oxford Circus to Euston in about half an hour before now and at least you get to see a bit en-route.
Anyhow, this post is kind of celebrating that whole London Bus thing, in that a few weeks ago over the long Bank Holiday weekend I decided to head to West London. I had done a little digging around on-line and had found a wonderful antiques market which occurs every month in sunny Chiswick, we have been to it several times, it also has a fantastic antiques shop called 'The Old Cinema' (you'll never guess what the building used to be!๐). So I was having a little look around the area again to see if there were other places of interest to visit and quelle surprise! I found these little gems on my travels๐.
The Mosaic House
The amazing artwork and design of Carrie Reichardt which took over 20 years to complete in all it's intricate and beautiful mosaic detail. I was quite blown away with the scale of the art, the attention to detail, use of colours and imagery. It truly is an oddity in a reasonably ordinary row of old Victorian/Edwardian style houses on a residential street in London. Hat's off to the artist! I was so impressed and it was worth a visit.
A Load Of Old Bollo
Not far from the house I visited a nice old skool pub called 'The Bollo House' for a brilliant lunch and a lovely pint of their own 'house' ale. Have to rate the pub as being top for friendliness and service and good to see it getting busy on a Bank Holiday weekend (helped of course by the nice weather). Clearly it is in an area just so posh even the post boxes have knitted covers on them! ๐
Gunnersbury Park Museum
From the pub I walked the 25 minute trot from Chiswick up to Gunnersbury Park where I managed to get a look at an art exhibition by 'local artists' all of which again was wonderful. The Museum/House is wonderfully grand and has such beautiful gardens. I could have wandered around the park for longer, but in that rarity over a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK it was screamingly hot๐.
I decided to head back to Turnham Green and jumped the E3 bus heading back through Acton and onto my destination watching the bus driver navigate some of the narrow roads and stupid oncoming cars that thought they could 'just squeeze through' the gaps. Think the driver had the patience of a saint, if it was me I would have been swearing loudly๐คฌ!
And Cue The Bus Station Loonies
Bus Station Loonies, Plymouth Punk band formed in 1995 described by the press as a cross between Splodgenessabounds (catch them on this site at the link) and Crass, often using old songs which they 'punk' or sometimes 'reggae/ska' up. Have a listen to a couple of their tracks, the first is a ska/reggae stylee version of that Goth classic by The Sisters Of Mercy 'Temple Of Love'. Taken from the album 'Mad Frank's Zonal Disco' on the Ruptured Ambitions Record Label in 1999, an absolutely amazing version of it and nominated by BBC Radio 6 as one of the greatest cover versions of all time. Catch the original at my post on here at the link 'Snake Dance'. The second (and in keeping with that whole bus theme is 'Bus Driver 7103' which you can catch at the link to the whole album at approximately 14:31 minutes into this video. A brilliant band!
And Other Subhumans
And finally if that wasn't quite enough about buses the link between the Bus Station Loonies and this group is Dick Lucas, who was in the band and also in anarcho-punk band Subhumans from back in my youth. With their track 'Reality Is Waiting For A Bus' from their second album 'From The Cradle To The Grave' which was released in October 1983 on the band's own 'Bluurg' Records Label. Funnily on my day out on travels the bus was pretty good but was more let down by trains!
Photo Sources
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Photo by Dele Oke on Unsplashย