Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Ray Shell


Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell is an African-American film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express. He is a Creative Director of the Giant Olive Theatre Company, resident Company at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town.

His theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Gone with the Wind, Miss Saigon and  The Lion King.

I had the pleasure recently to see him sing at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London, an awesome venue. his repertoire was incredible, his persona interesting and not a trace of arrogance, only humility. His voice too was good. Enjoy these photos.

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright  Chris Bushe

Ray Shell. Copyright Chris Bushe

Amy Winehouse Tribute


Recently had the pleasure to be able to photograph an Amy Winehouse tribute act. I have never before considered myself a fan but in fact recognised most of the songs but had no idea she sang them. The venue was an excellent pub in Weybridge called  The Hand and Spear. Photogenic singer who was superb. She did not introduce herself so cannot tell you her name.

Best IMG_1553ww IMG_1555 IMG_1558 IMG_1559 IMG_1562 IMG_1566 IMG_1571 IMG_1583 IMG_1589 IMG_1591 IMG_1593 IMG_1594 IMG_1597 IMG_1603 IMG_1610 IMG_1611 IMG_1614 IMG_1617 IMG_1622 IMG_1626 IMG_1627 IMG_1628 IMG_1628gg IMG_1629 IMG_1632z

The Incredible Pride of a Brentford FC Supporter. Notts forest 1 Brentford 3


There is no exagerration to say that Brentford coulld have won this game far more easily than the score suggests, maybe 5-0 would have been a fair reflection. not so many years ago Brentford were in the basement division and collecting coins in buckets to pay players wages. Now we sit a few points outside the play off zone in the Championship.

Rather than words, a few photographs to demonstrate the size of club that Brentford last night beat.  long may this continue

photo 1 photo 2 photo 3 photo 4 photo 5 photo c3 photo k2 photo x2 photot 5 photto 1 photto 3

Stop serving Shark Fin Soup. Read this and action please


GOT TWO MINUTES to help inspire London’s Yi-ban Chinese restaurant to stop serving shark fin soup? Please send a polite and educated email (cc: info@bite-back.com) to reservations@yi-ban.co.uk with ‘Hacked Off! Stop Serving Shark Fin Soup’ in the title and ask them to work with Bite-Back and put conservation before commerce. Please share and ask your friends to email them too. Do it for the sharks. Thank you.

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Painshill Park Cobham – Paintings by Vincent Van B


Painting of PainshillIMG_1331IMG_1300z

Cygnets and Swans Painshill Park Cobham


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Painshill Park in Cobham Surrey


At any season Painshill is a beautiful place to visit. Autumn it can sometimes be at its best, with autumnal colours, swans, cygnets and numerous other bird fowl. If you have not been there then you should visit. The walks, the landscape, the bridges are impressive. Tonight just a little photo tour only. And wednesdays in November it is free to visit.

Painting of PainshillIMG_1343IMG_1332IMG_1329IMG_1326IMG_1304IMG_1301Painting of Painshill

Porcelain Poppies London


Angry Shard IMG_0255 IMG_0264 IMG_0267 IMG_0273 IMG_0279 IMG_0281 IMG_0293 IMG_0294 IMG_0296 IMG_0297

Indianapolis. Have a nice Day. Are you coming or going? Reflections on USA Part 3


Indiana is not typically regarded as a holiday destination. But maybe this is unfair. A few days here and it seems that as long as you try not to eat three times a day, a crazy activity, things are actually rather nice. The people are friendly, except the axe-wielding receptionist in one hotel, a look of fury on her face as she sat nailed to the chair trying to avoid her only job, giving out the key and smiling, whilst muttering something that may or may not have come from ” The Shining” from Jack Nicolson. A big difference though between her and Jack, he had the better looks, she had the better axe. She was rapidly named “The Innkeeper”. The rest are friendly. The weather is good, warm and great to sit outside, except in ” authentic mexican restaurants” where the inside temperature approaches that at the arctic circle and it is obligatory to sit outside, even if it were snowing. Nashville is a cute place, maybe a couple too many of those ” antique type” shops, but an OK place to stroll around. The autumn colours are beautiful . The roads quiet mostly, except parking is a curious activity in Nashville. Indianapolis itself is a city sure, but full of actually quite tasteful looking buildings. The architecture is more interesting than one might think. The only irritation is in the hotel where the level of service approaches obsequiosness . Every person asking you to have ” a nice day”. I feel like saying, no thanks, I already have a nice Day. But all their exhortations are so false. If in UK anyone did say that, outside of a hotel, it would be genuine, here it seems like a tick on their PM document. Do not like it at all. When checking in I was seriously asked if I wanted to be walked to the lift by the receptionist. The lift was maybe 10 yards away and was easily identifiable by the sign saying…..elevator.
So sitting here at sunset. The views over Indianapolis are truly pleasant. The food was free. Things are really not too bad at all.

Nashville

Nashville

Indianapolis Skyline

Indianapolis Skyline

indy

indy2

Do people in USA ever stop eating? Reflections on USA Part 2.


The volume of food continues to amaze me. For example a lunch order of what I understood to be strips of chicken with salad arrived, and it was actually very nice eaten with great company, but it was covered with about half a pound of crumbled blue cheese. So salad yes, healthy option, to impress my dining companion, became a calorific disaster zone from which I may need medications to elevate my HDL. But it does not stop there, oh no. Pots of strange sauces, the one that was earmarked for me looked like a sort of cocktail sauce. Around a litre……I exaggerate , but not by much. And just when I thought this meal size was looking vaguely normal otherwise…..4 bread rolls in a basket. So a salad turns into something you would go to Weightwatchers for a month to try and recuperate from. This lunch meal I did survive. Then around 4 hours later the executive lounge here ( sounds grand but equals free food and drink in UK and only free food here) serves what they term ” Hors D’oeuvres”. Now here I want to show you how the various dictionaries define ” Hors D’oeuvres”. This is your selection:
1. A small savory dish, typically one served as an appetizer at the beginning of a meal.
2.A small bit of appetizing food, as spicy meat, fish, cheese, or a preparation of chopped or creamed foods, often served on crackers or small pieces of toast, for eating at cocktail parties or other gatherings where drinks are served with no other food.
3.An appetizer, as a relish or more elaborate preparation, served before or as the first course of a meal.

So you get the drift. Something small and tasty. OK. Here in JW Marriott the take a different approach, a generous one. Firstly a hugely enthusiastic lady was exhorting me at 5.20 pm to prepare to eat. Not usual in New Malden. The selection was, and I was informed the expectation of the norm was to have everything. Here goes- sliders ( these are mini-burgers maybe 2 is a normal burger, a USA thing but creeping into UK), mini beef wellingtons, spicy humous, various crackers and chips, salads, cheeses, bread and a few litres of dips and sauces. So it is fair to say this concoction does not represent a ” small bit of appetising food”. For me this is good, no need to have an expensive dinner. For others, maybe most here, this really is a prelude to the feast called dinner. So I really do not think that folks here ever stop eating. I think maybe I need to come and live here but would be regarded as “odd” for not consuming 5000 calories a day. So another nice Day. I certainly have one.

A small USA breakfast

A small USA breakfast

Sliders and Beef Wellingtons

Sliders and Beef Wellingtons

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