Where were you when? Sunny Iceland

It's not every day you achieve the landmark of being liaised with one particular lady for 20+ years and to celebrate the fact, a certain Neil B was whisked away by the good lady in question for a very surprise trip to somewhere he had apparently never considered venturing, namely Iceland.

Much to their amazement they had a really nice time together and the weather was actually more than half decent - maybe a metaphor for their long and fruitful union?!  

Anyway, not being one to miss an opportunity, Neil managed to stow away his TMAK47 T-Shirt and was able to whip it out at an appropriate moment.

So, to the scores.

1. The Location - 5.0 (What a pro!  How much visible signage can you squeeze into a photo?  A sign AND a map!  We are compelled to award top marks).

2. The Pose - 3.5 (Quite a lot of pointing, but maybe not as much pointless grandeur overall, more "informative tour guide").

3. The X-Factor -  3.5 (Not bad, but slightly minimized by the building site peeping through in the background).

Making that a total of 12.0 - The highest score yet on the visible signage front, usually the undoing of so many entrants, but perhaps not as much pointless grandeur as that flying start should have merited - still, good effort.

Where were you when? Gringo goes West

Taken on West Coast, Vancouver Island in the dim and distant past (August 2013), prior to our Gringo stepping off the path of civilisation and onto the West Coast Trail. Reputed as one of the world's top ten hikes, the WCT is a wilderness hike through temperate rainforest that takes about a week to complete. It begins (or ends) on the tiny parcel of land deemed a First Nation Reserve. 

Our intrepid Gringo, no less than Big Chief DR Sweeney made Magnificent strides around the trail and has many tales to tell that only bear the telling with a trusty pint in hand and plenty of time.

And here we go, the scores are in

1. The Location - 4.5 (Not only can we view the iconic Pacheedaht artwork but we can also see that smoke signals are 'old-hat' ... excellent visible signage).

2. The Pose - 4.0 (As much pointless grandeur as a European can muster while stood on one of the few pieces of  land his forefathers didn't acquire during the settlement of this continent, so another good score).

3. The X-Factor -  4.0 (That is one heck of a sign combined with quality pointless grandeur and another fine pair of knees - another good score).

Making that a total of 12.5 - The highest score yet from a bloke on the wildest of trials whilst exposing his lower legs to the mozzies.

Where were you when? Absent Bob strikes again in Lake Louise

Once again, our collective globe trotting continues a pace with a recent(ish) entry from our very own Archaeologist / Daring Pilot / Aeriel Photographer in residence, one Bob B, or as he is more commonly known "Absent Bob"!

Not only being a fine contributor to passing on knowledge about local historical landmarks to liven up otherwise not so lively coach trips, he is a bit of a star at these T-Shirt photos.  

This particular pieces is apparently entitled "Pointless Glaciation" and as you can see he has worked "pointing" AND what we can only take his word for it, a glacier, this photo being snapped near the world famous Lake Louise in that there Canadia.

Anyway, the scores are in

1. The Location - 3.5 (Impressive use of landscape although anyone who has ever read one of these "Where were you when" postings will know what is coming.... "no visible signage").

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Encapsulating pointlessness with a great use of actually pointing and no little grandeur, despite the trousers and socks, this scores very well).

3. The X-Factor -  4.0 (Blending a magnificent natural feature, with such pointy pointless grandeur and a fine pair of knees, Absent Bob does it again - another good score).

Making that a total of 11.5 - The highest score yet from a bloke pointing to a world famous natural feature whilst exposing his lower legs.

Where were you when? Somewhere in Spooky Australia

Now, we have had quite a few photos of  our Blokes in their Magnificent AK47 T-Shirts in quite a few exotic places around the globe, but claiming that you are sat with "The Spookmeister" himself in a bar somewhere in Australia is quite unusual, especially as is comes from one of the Magnificent "Stroud Crowd", that being our very own Mike P.

But nonetheless, here is the proof, a photo of Mike P, The Spookmeister, and er, a camel with a trilby?  It can only mean that Mike pounced on the High Priest of BlokeSong whist recently performing with Ye Spooky Men's Chorale on their never ending promotion of the quite superb "Spooky Men in History" album.


Anyway, the scores are in

1. The Location - 3.0 (Who's to say where in the world this is, apart from the evidence of the Camel hinting where this might be - regular followers will know that we are about to say "no visible signage").

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Dark night club, who knows where, but with The Spookmeister himself - good score).

3. The X-Factor -  4.0 (Mike P AND a camel wearing a hat?  A highlight of this competition).

Making that a total of 11.0 - The highest score yet from a bloke somewhere in the new world with the mythical leader of BlokeSong.

More please, and hopefully a few more to come before the end of the year.

Where were you? At the edge of the World

Well, you can't claim that our T-Shirts don't get around the place!  Here is another entry from our truly globe-trotting top Alan H as he starts the return journey from visiting Oz for a few weeks.

The photo was taken at Arthur river on the north west coast of Tasmania, at a point furthest west, with nothing between him and not only South Africa, but beyond to South America as well.  It may not be entirely evident from  the photo but the winds were gusting at 70 mph causing that rather pained expression on his face.  Apparently Alan was looking wistfully back towards the civilised world some 80 kms east at a place called Stanley (pop 400).

All a long, long way from North, North Wiltshire, but none the less impressive.

Anyway, the scores are in

1. The Location - 3.5 (Good usage of a plinth to prove the site of the photo shoot, although a little hard to read, so we'll give him this).

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Looking somewhat wind swept, the pointless grandeur is personified in the remoteness of the location and encapsulated by the post).

3. The X-Factor -  4.0 (For possibly being one of the furthest away photos we have every received, it has to be worth that extra 0.5 marks).

Making that a total of 11.5 - The highest score from someone so close to the ends of the earth and the edge of the world.

More please, even if only from round the corner by comparison.

Where were you when? Cossack dancing in Berlin

Never ones to let slip an opportunity for some cross-cultural capers, here is a snap of one of our valiant troupe putting his best foot forward in front of a world landmark albeit in a slightly understated manner.

The photo shows Nigel H in front of The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) which as many of you will know is a former city gate in Berlin, rebuilt in the late 18th century as a neoclassical triumphal arch and is one of the most well-known landmarks of Germany, just one block to the south of the Reichstag building.  It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and having suffered considerable damage in World War II it was fully restored from 2000 to 2002.  During the post-war Partition of Germany, the gate was isolated and inaccessible immediately next to the Berlin Wall, and the area around the gate featured most prominently in the media coverage of the opening of the wall in 1989.  Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often site for major historical events and is today considered as a symbol for the tumultuous European history but also of unity and peace. (Thanks Wikipedia!).

So what brings young Nigel to this location?  Well, apparently the photo was taken in late April 2012, in a spell of completely unexpected incredibly warm weather, as he was visiting a relative to help celebrate his good lady's birthday. In fact it was the warmest weather any of us experienced all last year… The hat was borrowed just to keep the sun off, not for effect!  How we can only dream of those sunny days.

Anyhoo, before we drift off, the scores are in.

1. The Location - 3.5 (Impressive in its European cultural significance, if not in actual signage).

2. The Pose - 4.0 (A daring degree of pointless grandeur, especially given the Cossack dance pose which is probably laden with political overtones).

3. The X-Factor - 3.5 (For having the temerity to be wearing that T-Shirt in that location).

Making that a total of 11.0 - The highest score from someone dancing like a loon in front of a World icon - it must have been all that sun!

More please.

Where were you when? South Blooming Chilly London

From time to time one has to wonder about the sanity of certain people and the activities they chose for their "leisure time", and this is one of those times.  Whilst most foolhardy Brits were curled up on the sofa in their post Yuletide haze,certain hardy Brit fools were out and about enjoying the awful weather of the great outdoors in a form of madness that is known as "Cold Water Swimming".

Brother DR Sweeney is known for his steadfastness and manly tones but a few people may know him as that crazy guy who likes to go swimming in the sea (he has a record for doing this, see good-luck-to-dr-sweeney-swimming-to-france) and other similarly cold places, such as The 5th UK Cold Water Swimming Chamionships were held on 26th January 2013, an event that attracted over 600 competitors and many more spectators.

Apparently at such events Wet suits are strictly forbidden and all competitors must wear a swimming costume and hat, goggles are optional. While the event took place during a rare day of sunshine, the water temperature hovered between 0 and 1 degree Celsius and he swam one width of the pool in the relay, and picked up a Bronze medal.   As if that wasn't enough he also swam another width in the public 'dipping lane', just to ensure he was receiving value for money!

This all took place at Tooting Bec lido http://www.slsc.org.uk/cwsc/ which is the largest fresh water swimming pool in the country, 100 feet wide by 300 feet long. It was dug by hand by a bunch of blokes as part of a work creation scheme back in 1906 (although it is believed that a few of them were provided shovels). Unheated, the lido is open every day of the year, but only members of the South London Swimming Club can swim in the winter, except on this auspicious occasion held bi annually.  He already has plans for 2015! Brrrrr!

Also see the nearest local equivalent at Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool which was built in 1869 this unique pool offers the chance to swim in natural spring water heated to an average 27°C (80°F). 

Anyway, we digress, and the scores are now in

1. The Location - 3.5 (Cunning use of a fellow attendee to give the signage and in a departure from standard rules a further photo has been included below as supporting evidence - see below).

2. The Pose - 4.0 (A pretty good degree of pointless grandeur, which is a phrase that could be used to sum up the whole event - if somewhat churlishly!).

3. The X-Factor - 3.5 (For the use of portable signage and magnificence of the pose).

Making that a total of 11.0 - The highest score from someone about to do some thing so daft so soon after taking the photo.

More please.

On the right, supplementary evidence of the location and the event, just in case you were doubting the entrant's sanity in any way at all . . . 

Where were you when? Millennium Stadium Magnificence

Another entry from our glorious ChoirMeister, who at this rate is going to need two T-Shirts next year the amount of wear he is getting out of this year's collection.  And another valiant entry, much like his plucky lads from across the Severn.

Apparently this was snapped before the game when hopes were still high (you can see a few Welsh players warming up in the background) - and well before Wales had contrived to pull off their most impressive ever 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' routine (and it's a pretty long list to choose from).

Your boys done good (mutter, mutter).

Anyway, the scores are in

1. The Location - 3.5 (Good visible signage although technically it doesn't say where he is to a technical fault or that).

2. The Pose - 3.5 (A reasonable degree of pointless grandeur, although it is tempting to say made all the more poignant given the eventual result).

3. The X-Factor - 3.5 (Whilst it is always good to see an All Black shirt at a rugby match for the sheer quality of the performer inside, it would possibly be wrong of us to mention the England versus New Zealand result on the same afternoon as the contrast could not be greater, but we should not dwell on the success of the glorious English team in one of their historic victories at the expense of belittling the achievements of the Welsh team, no, that would be beneath us and so we won't, mention it again that is, not even once more, stopping mentioning it NOW).

Making that a total of 10.5 - Given the usually very high standard of pose from this particular entrant perhaps not quite up to his usual quality and dropping away at the very end of his immense cumulative endeavours on this front over the past year, much like the Welsh Rugby Team themselves. . .  isn't it odd how art mirrors sport?  

More please.

Where were you when? In search of the elusive

This moment was recently captured when one of our correspondents was out and roving about  in the depths of soggy Somerset, close to the borders with Exmoor.    Apparently he was spotted searching and searching for the very spot but still couldn't find it ...


A conundrum that blokes all over the world will be all too familiar with and identify wholeheartedly.  Now, if only he stopped flapping around, asked directions, and taken the hint from the signs all around him . . .  

Anyway, the scores are in

1. The Location - 4.5 (Good visible signage, we certainly can't fault him for that).

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Suitably pointless grandeur, although the objective of his quest is very laudable).

3. The X-Factor - 4.0 - (Given the universality of the male of the species struggling with finding these sorts of places and the use of "Carry On" innuendo).

Making that a total of 12.5 - by far the highest scoring entry from anyone with a turning a nondescript part of Somerset into a part of The Magnificent folklore.  More please.

Where were you when? Teddy tossing

It's always the mild mannered, quiet ones that you really need to watch out for. . . 

Here Brian D has been snapped apparently on the top of Ashton Keynes Church as part of a "Messy Church" session.  

The story goes something like this "it was just part of messy church. Tie teddy to old umbrella fabric and launch as far as possible. Most made the ground, lighter ones needing a piece of 4X2 for ballast.  Two ended up in the trees needing rescue with a long ladder.  One teddy being on the large side didn't make the most of the parachute and fell, suicidal like, straight to the graveyard". 

It all sounds most intriguing if slightly implausible.

Anyway, the scores are in.

1. The Location - 3.5 (Yet again no visible signage and a bit of a grey day that doesn't show the locality at its best).

2. The Pose - 3.5 (Not much pointless grandeur, more a hint of dastardly deeds about to be perpetrated).

3. The X-Factor - 4.5 - (Bringing up the scoring as this has to be one of the most enigmatic poses anyone has ever done whilst wearing a TMAK47 T-Shirt).

Making that a total of 11.0 - by far the highest scoring entry from anyone about to hurl cuddly toys off a large local landmark!

Where were you when? A bunker in the Czech Republic

Well, we guess it kind of had to happen at some point and if it had to happen to anyone it was always likely to be Hairy Bill! 

Snapped by fellow TMAK47er John W whilst visiting a nuclear bunker in Prague (as you do!), Bill posed for his entry in the AK T-shirt competition. This is an actual, but unloaded,  AK47.  Apparently after the Russians left AK47s were so plentiful that farmers adopted them in preference to their shotguns.  The visit occurred during their recent visit to the Czech Republic as part of the "Sing Your Socks Off" singing Holiday, a report coming soon(ish).

Whilst we in no way condone playing with dangerous former Soviet military hardware, kiddies, it is quite a striking pose.

Anyway, the scores have arrived and they are as follow:

1. The Location - 4.0 (The Judges are as ever unfortunately rather nit picky about the lack of magnificence of the shot [having been spoilt with so many epic, iconic world landmarks in the past] and no visible signage.  On the other hand they applaud the readiness to wear the T-Shirt on these sort of visits and wish to encourage this sort of deviant behaviour and applaud Bill H's & John W's gumption so back up a mark)

2. The Pose - 4.0 (A good pose in the circumstances but perhaps not the note of pointless grandeur that we have come to expect but given that he is holding a potentially lethal weapon it gives another perspective to things.  In fact , on second look it is quite a stern pose as befitting the circumstances so that is a good second best in the absence of pointless grandeur)

3. The X-Factor - 4.0 - (Overall quite scary for any of us old enough to remember the Cold War and gas masks for real so mark)

Making that a total of 12.0 - by far the highest scoring entry from anyone in a bunker on the continent whilst on a singing holiday!  A good team effort by the 2 TMAK47ers.

Where were you when - Only the blooming Olympics!

Well it is fair to say that 2012 has been a pretty amazing year on a number of fronts.  Firstly The Magnificent AK47 have had more workshops and given more performances than ever, and improved those performances beyond recognition in some cases, one could even say that we have achieved one or two "personal bests", which ties in very nicely with the theme of another big event that has happened this year, er, the Olympics and Paralympics.  

 

Not that we consider ourselves up with the top athletes in the world, but it should be noted that at the end of "Satisfaction" we are all pretty breathless from the supreme effort!  Which takes us to this impressive entry, once again from the shameless TMAK47 T-Shirt wearer that is our glorious ChoirMeister, Mr Samuel. 

 

Anyway, the scores are in.

1. The Location - 5.0 (THE place to be this latter part of the summer, utterly spectacular, now totally iconic, what more can we say?  Clearly having paid attention to previous rulings Chris has made absolutely sure there is quality visible signage. Top marks!)

2. The Pose - 5.0 (How much more pointless grandeur can one have in a single photo?  Again top marks)

3. The X-Factor - 4.5 - (Only the lack of dark glasses denies him yet another top mark)

Making that a total of 14.5 - by far the highest scoring entry from anyone at an iconic event at the Olympics - can you beat this?  It's going to be very hard  . . but don't let that stop you posing as there is strong competition coming!

Where were you when? On a wall somewhere

Living up to his very well deserved nickname of "Absent Bob", globe trotting super archaeologist Bob B has once again struck with yet another entry to our T-Shirt competition.  Well done for managing to pack your TMAK47 kit and find a moment to persuade someone to take a quick snap.

We are fairly sure you can guess where he is when this was taken, the backdrop is the quite amazing Great Wall of China.  It looks a pretty hot day but Bob somehow manages to look cool out of the shade wearing his shades.

Anyway, the scores are in.

1. The Location - 4.0 (Quite spectacular, iconic, what more can we say?  However, despite being  a real pro at this and a past winner, the perennial problem of lack of visible signage.)

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Not bad, quite posed, a decent look of pointless grandeur)

3. The X-Factor - 4.0 - (Dark glasses, black T-Shirt and the Great Wall of China - top stuff)

Making that a total of 12.0 - by far the highest scoring entry from someone looking suitably menacing whilst standing on top of a world icon - can you beat this?

Where were you when? Toulouse Airport

Toulouse?  Too many puns to be had  but so little time when you are just about to get on to a flight home after a long holiday and clandestinely been wearing your T-Shirt all day waiting for an opportunity to sneak a photo whilst abroad.  And boy was it hot being in the southern part of France in June wearing a T-Shirt under a shirt and fleece, all in an effort to get round the crazy luggage restrictions on a particular low-cost airline.  The things people like Big Chief Instigator Neil B will do to save a bit of dosh!

Anyway, the scores are in.

1. The Location - 3.5 (Ok, not spectacular but being on a zebra crossing in the middle of a busy car park is impressive, if foolhardy, dedication to the cause. Quality signage brings the score up a point.)

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Reasonable impression of a look of pointless grandeur, although perhaps more "alarmed Brit abroad in middle of the road")

3. The X-Factor - 3.5 - (we'll give him an extra half point for striking a pose when there was a possibility of a car striking him - but not to be encouraged folks)

Making 11.0 - making this the highest scoring entry from someone looking particularly English whilst standing in a car park at a foreign airport - can you beat this?

Where were you when? Mont Blanc

It's big, it's white but it's not Chris's beard, it's the  highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe, and the European Union so is quite literally is right up there in the mountain world.  It rises 4,810.45 m (15,782 ft) above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. It is also sometimes known as La Dame blanche (French for "the White Lady") or Il Bianco (Italian for "the White One").

All fascinating facts (thanks Wikipedia) but what, you are asking, are the scores?

1. The Location - 4.0 (Pretty good, stuck half way up a mountain, great view but once again, no obvious signage.)

2. The Pose - 4.0 (Suitably impressive look of pointless grandeur whilst perched on skis)

3. The X-Factor - 3.5 - (the spectacular view and dramatic pose plus the impressive facts)

Making 11.5 - making this the highest scoring entry from someone standing on long poles whilst looking alarmingly likely to catch a cold - can you beat this?