Author: jarminapple

Mind and blown are words that I would use when first meeting Mr Gaudi's masterpiece, coming out of a Barcelona metro station in October 1986.  A rare magical moment in an otherwise depressing time of my life, but on a plus note it started a lifelong love affair with this architect and city. This was… Continue reading ‘JARMIN MEETS GAUDI’S UNFINISHED CRAZY STRUCTURE’ Autumn Half-Term 1986

Visiting my first architecture exhibition was like watching a porn film…tall erect structures.  This was the closest thing I got to sexual arousal in this period, as there was no internet or anything close to the real thing given my lack of confidence in this area.  My only social life was heated discussions around family… Continue reading ‘CUT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE BULLSHIT’ Jarmin’s Introduction to Modern Architecture Autumn 1986

Expect the unexpected was never as true as when I started my A' level Art course.  The O level/CSE art course was all about cheesy chocolate box art, the equivalent of what Whitney Houston is to pop music.  However, when I started out on my A level, we were told to throw what we learnt… Continue reading ‘FROM CHOCOLATE BOXES TO TOILET ROLLS’ INTRODUCTION TO MODERN ART September 1984 – June 1987

A famous line from a song by Dire Straits, “Money for nothing and your chicks for free”, summed up the culture in the mid-eighties in places like Winchester.  Thatcher was at the height of her powers, kicking the unions’ arses up north and the Yuppies down south were creaming off the nation’s wealth shouting “Loadsamoney!” … Continue reading ‘MUSICAL INDULGENCE IN SPLENDID ISOLATION’ (AOR MUSIC, DIRE STRAITS), April 1984 – June 1987

Seems quite apt that I'm drafting this blog in the place where the events I'll be discussing took place, 'Sunny Winchester'.  I say 'sunny', more like a deep depression gradually creeping up on me.  As with the next few instalments, I'll be using a particular personal creative inspiration as a backdrop to put the events… Continue reading ‘SOLACE THROUGH THE RADIO’ ‘DON’T GIVE UP’ PETER GABRIEL, 1986 (September 1984 – July 1987)

Most evenings after a hard day's work I have a chill and read, listening to a favourite album, before getting our tea.  I try and have a theme each week, a particular genre or era of music.  This week turned out to be 80’s popular chart stuff, albums such as 'True' by Spandau Ballet, and… Continue reading ‘GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES & SOME FINE MUSICAL CHEESE’ 1967-1984

I’ve been labelled as many things throughout my life.  Haven’t we all at one time or another? There’s no way of getting away from this.  It’s what we need to be in order to function as a civilised society.  However, when we are judged solely on our basic demographics, in my opinion things become unstuck… Continue reading THIS IS MY OPINION, IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, THAT’S YOUR OPINION.