Monthly Archives: December 2016

Excitement in Space 1956…

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s featured vegetable is the escaped Christmas Brussels sprout crouching out of sight behind the toaster on the kitchen worktop. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ‘Yes, I do actually have a biography of blues singer Tommy Johnson on my bookshelves, … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, art, books, colours, cool, history, humour, information, science, style, surrealism, writing | Tagged 1950s, 1956, 2001 A space Odyssey, art, arts, book cover, british science fiction, brussels sprouts, colour, dictionary word, discovery, drawing, film, history, Lion Annual, Lion comics, madness, painting, serendipity, style, Tommy Johnson, transportation, Vostok | 17 Comments

Some smallish items…

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s carefully selected adjectives are: greasy, bogus, preterhuman, suety, lucent, eleutherian, metopic, and fuzzy. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Excuses for being late. No. 317. I’m sorry I’m late, but I was trying to get to grips with quantum entanglement. … Continue reading →

Posted in adjectives, art, conversation, cool, creation, Dulltown, existentialism, fashion, guitars, Hull.UK., humour, information, misheard, observations, overheard, physics, science, seeing, serendipity, style, surrealism, words | Tagged art, art critics, arts, Christmas, conversation, dictionary word, discovery, eleutherian, existential angst, fashion, Gibson Les Paul, journalists, Landsdorf, late, madness, Marshall Amplifiers, metopic, misheard, music, name change, observations, overheard, preterhuman, quantum entanglement, serendipity, spam, style, surrealism, words | 4 Comments

Some song lyrics misheard over cafe hubbub…

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s unusual pencil sharpener is the one shaped like a meteor shower sparkling in a black velvet sky. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ‘The night came in snarling…’ ‘Love your souffle and your bike girl.’ ‘Chimney got spells, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in brain, cafe, drama, dreaming, Dulltown, existentialism, humour, information, overheard, poetry, serendipity, sex, surrealism, words | Tagged a creep in the night, art, arts, black velvet, dictionary word, discovery, existential angst, happy harp, madness, meteor shower, misheard, music, observations, poetry, serendipity, sex, snarling, style, surrealism, unusual pencil sharpener, Whoa!, words | Leave a comment

Il Palazzo de’ Medici Dulltown…

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s existential angst is centred around the sound of the word cloying. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s not in bad shape for a building of that period is it? See the lovely stone, those nice alternating pediments over the … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, brain, cool, design, Dulltown, history, Hull.UK., humour, information, religion, Royalty, seeing, style, surrealism | Tagged architecture, celebrities, discovery, existential angst, Florentine State, history, joke, King Edward IV, Lorenzo de' Medici, madness, observations, Palazzo, photography, Pope Sixtus IV, serendipity, style, surrealism, Wincolmlee, words | 5 Comments

Enquire Within (20). “…intervene between the mustard and the skin…”

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s existential angst is centred around the sound of the word fandangle. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So, what was happening in the world in 1934? Well, someone called Adolph Hitler was becoming very popular in Germany, gangster John Dillinger … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, books, existentialism, food, history, information, instruction, learning, reading, science, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged 1934, Adolph Hitler, black silk reviver, celebrities, dictionary word, discovery, dog licences, Edwin Hubble, existential angst, history, instruction, mustard poultice, serendipity, Shirley Temple, spelling, surrealism, woodcocks and snipes, words, writing | 6 Comments

Crush picks up her pen again…

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s elephant in the room is the one that just sat on the host’s Stradivarius viola which he had stupidly left on the sofa. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A short email this morning from Veronica Crush, writer from the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, brain, cafe, conversation, Hull.UK., humour, surrealism, words, writing | Tagged AA Guide, arts, conversation, dictionary word, history, madness, Monty Tick, New York, style, surrealism, tall tree surgeon, The Hull Surrealist League, Veronica Crush, words | 6 Comments

Mail Art Postcard No. 4619…

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s dictionary words are: distyle, distringas, disyllabism, dita, dithecal, and wootz. Please have these words looked up and placed in suitable sentences ready for Professor Mouldie first thing after breakfast tomorrow morning. The professor will be … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, books, colours, fashion, humour, information, Mail Art, photography, postcards, serendipity, smiling, style, surrealism, TV, words | Tagged 'come hither look', advertising, arts, celebrities, Christmas TV, collage, colour, conversation, dictionary word, discovery, fashion, festive jumpers, madness, Mail Art, photography, Professor Mouldie, serendipity, sex, smile, style, surrealism, TV, weather, What's On TV, words | 14 Comments

What’s that smell Brownlow?…

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s rather insipid Victorian expletive is ‘by helecum!…’ Even though it sounds clever and a bit classical, I think that word has no actual meaning – I just searched for it and Google said, ‘Did you … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, brain, conversation, expletives, food, Grumpiness, history, surrealism, swearing, words | Tagged archeology, Aunt Cissy, coconut macaroons, conversation, dictionary word, discovery, history, humour, madness, Professor and Brownlow, serendipity, surrealism, tench, words | 2 Comments

This is not art. No. 12…

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s carefully selected adjectives are: bumptious, armipotent, ontogenic, sesamoid, verbenaceous, mucky, and humic. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> No, of course this isn’t art, (well my photo is, but the scruffy plywood board over the window surely isn’t) but I … Continue reading →

Posted in adjectives, art, brain, colours, composition, creation, humour, information, observations, painting, photography, seeing, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged art, arts, bricks, choice adjectives, colour, dictionary word, discovery, German Expressionists, Japanese woodblock prints, moss, observations, painting, photography, serendipity, style, surrealism, this is not art, words | 8 Comments

Doom in cuffs…

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s ancient Egyptian deity is the baboon-like god Baba. His attributes are: aggression, virility, the penis being the bolt of heaven’s door or the mast of the underworld boat. (Baba) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As I was walking past … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, brain, composition, creation, drama, history, Hull.UK., humour, information, magic, poetry, reading, serendipity, surrealism, words, writing | Tagged Ancient Egyptian gods, art, arts, Baba, books, dictionary word, discovery, Doom, Dostoyevski, handcuffs, history, J K Rowling, Jim Al-Khalili, madness, observations, Philip Larkin, poetry, police car, serendipity, Simon Doom, spoems, style, surrealism, The Brothers Karamazov, Waterstones, words, writing | 9 Comments

Dave goes festive…

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s existential angst is centred around the sound of that rather unpleasant word dungarees. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Look out – it’s nearly upon us!… Christmas, Xmas, Yuletide, the great festivities… Yes, yes, I am a miserable old Scrooge-like … Continue reading →

Posted in art, brain, existentialism, Grumpiness, humour, information, magic, photography, religion, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged art, arts, Christmas lights, colour, dungarees, existential angst, festive, glowing logs, madness, photography, religion, serendipity, style, surrealism, The Pink Wall of Tat, Tiny Tim Cratchet, words, Xmas, yuletide | 12 Comments

A few short but pithy items…

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s financial forecast is for people to like money and power more than anything else. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Excuses for being late. No. 316. I’m sorry I’m late, but I had a spate of goblins and revenants in … Continue reading →

Posted in brain, conversation, drama, Dulltown, existentialism, Hull.UK., humour, information, misheard, money, observations, overheard, seeing, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged Belgorod, conversation, dictionary word, Dulltown Interchange, financial forecast, Girl with the pearl earring, goblins, late, madness, misheard, observations, offensive weapon, overheard, revenants, serendipity, serifs, surrealism, words | 6 Comments

Monsieur Meesh-lan and his bins…

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s elephant in the room is the one annoying the other guests by poking them in their chubby bellies with her trunk in an unwarrantedly playful manner. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here’s a picture of mine from back in … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, architecture, art, brain, composition, Dulltown, Hull.UK., humour, information, observations, photography, seeing, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged advertising, architecture, art, arts, chateaux, composition, dictionary word, discovery, elephant in the room, French, Michelin man, observations, photography, rubbish bins, serendipity, style, surrealism, veolia, words | 13 Comments

Some snatches of overheard and misheard cafe conversation…

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s Raymond Chandler quotation is from The Little Sister (1949): ‘The manager of the rooming house is a most unpleasant person. He smelled of liquor. Do you drink Mr Marlowe?’ ‘Well, now you mention it…’ ‘I … Continue reading →

Posted in books, brain, cafe, conversation, creation, Dulltown, existentialism, humour, information, overheard, people, poetry, reading, serendipity, surrealism, words, writing | Tagged 1949, arts, bambling, conversation, dictionary word, madness, misheard, observations, overheard, peel an orange, philip marlowe, poetry, Raymond Chandler, serendipity, surrealism, The Little Sister, words, writing | 2 Comments

Veronica and the spare characters…

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s weather will feature: exploding whiteness on high, a badly painted azure and cream backdrop, falling scallops of spiteful ice, and horizontal slices of slimy orange and obscene pink as evening encroaches. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I received an … Continue reading →

Posted in art, brain, creation, Hull.UK., humour, information, postcards, serendipity, style, surrealism, weather, words, writing | Tagged art, arts, celebrities, character names, dictionary word, Donald Trump, Kanye West, madness, Monty Tick, New York, style, surrealism, The Hull Surrealist League, Veronica Crush, weather, words, writer's block, writer's bock, writing | Leave a comment

This year’s non-Christmas card…

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s dictionary words are: ajowan, glyconic, quatorze, tuyere, quatch-buttock, and harmattan. Please have these words looked up and placed in suitable sentences ready for Professor Mouldie first thing after breakfast tomorrow morning. Should the professor turn … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creation, design, drawing, humour, information, magic, Mail Art, photography, religion, seeing, style, Uncategorized, words | Tagged 1991, advertising, art, arts, black and white, celebrations, charcoal drawing, Christmas cards, conversation, dictionary word, dictionary words, discovery, drawing, history, Merry Solstice, photography, Professor Mouldie, religion, Season's greetings, surrealism, Winter solstice, words | 3 Comments

A few minutes at the Sow Hill Bus Station…

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s featured fruit is the misty blueberry that has rolled off the kitchen worktop and has made a secret new home for itself under the fridge. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am writing this leaning, my back against the … Continue reading →

Posted in drama, existentialism, Grumpiness, humour, information, observations, people, serendipity, writing | Tagged arts, Beverley East Yorkshire, clang clang clang, dickhead, existential angst, karlheinz stockhausen, madness, music, Noise, observations, serendipity, Sow Hill Bus Station, thwarting, transportation, writing | 4 Comments

Stella and the stolen fingers…

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s eel is the unshaven one in the dirty grey suit smoking a hand-rolled cigarette in the pub doorway. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Landscape No. 25 (1992). Charcoal and pencil on paper probably about 24″ x 18″. ‘Yes?… Who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in art, brain, composition, conversation, creation, green, humour, information, observations, seeing, style, surrealism | Tagged 1992, art, arts, bankers, black and white, charcoal drawing, conversation, debris, Doom, drawing, eco-disaster, green issues, luxury, madness, observations, pencil drawing, post apocalypse, Stella, style, surrealism | 3 Comments

The holly, the ivy, and the mistletoe…

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s carefully selected adjectives are: fulsome, botryoid, glyptic, oragious, sleazy, and intrinsicate. If I had to pick one, I’d go for botryoid – I like the way it rolls off the tongue… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ‘Mummy…’ ‘Yes dear?’ … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, conversation, Grumpiness, history, humour, information, learning, magic, people, phones, religion, science, thinking, weather | Tagged 1931, 21st December, advertising, bankers, capitalism, celebrations, Christmas, Coca-Cola, conversation, dictionary word, discovery, Father Christmas, history, holly ivy mistletoe, madness, observations, religion, surrealism, Winter solstice, words | 6 Comments

Some small but pithy items…

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Dave Whatt

But first… Dulltown, UK: Today’s instruction is to go into a crowded public space and stand with your eyes closed and your arms outstretched, hold your breath for as long as you can and then suddenly release it shouting out … Continue reading →

Posted in brain, conversation, drama, dreaming, Dulltown, existentialism, Hull.UK., humour, information, instruction, misheard, observations, overheard, people, science, serendipity, surrealism, words | Tagged accent, celebrities, City of Kingston-upon-Hull, conversation, dictionary word, existential angst, expletives, Hull Yorkshire, instruction, Jean Cocteau, late, made up words, madness, misheard, observations, overheard, serendipity, spam, surrealism, tocamak, transportation, white as a sheet, words | 3 Comments