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.

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe!

Here we have yet another fine example of our Wiltshire agricultural heritage being preserved by our continuing interest in local songs.

Often these pieces can be lost as the generations pass unless they are actively preserved, such as the many songs written down by the likes of local heroes Alfred Williams and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Hopefully our rendition of "The Turnip Hoer's Song", a.k.a. "The Vly" will preserve one particular piece for a while longer and we very much hope to explore some more in the coming year.

Over at Magnificent HQ, plans are afoot to incorporate pieces from these great collectors of local folk songs and who knows what exactly will emerge (or when!).

Here for you delectation in the meantime, is this photo parade of the collection of hoes that became misplaced from their not so careful owners one recent gig.  Thankfully we have not had to resort to naming and shaming the miscreants but we will insist that they are labelled in future.

Only remains to say that next time we have such a photo opportunity we will try to time it just a little better so as to be all the more seasonal when we say "Hoe, hoe, hoe, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"!

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.

The Vly

This time of year many of us rely on winter root vegetables to bulk out meals and yet the humble turnip seems to be somewhat overlooked as a nutritional additions to hearty eating.

Here, pictured left is a fine example of turnip but it being closely guarded by our very own "stage" Vly as fashioned by those fine yeomen of Stroud who grace our number.

Ever since the "Turnip Hoer Song" crept into our set amongst much excitement of discovering a real Wiltshire song, this pesky fella has been popping up on stages to terrify astounded ChoirMeisters and audiences alike.

Very much an integral part of the set now, we have wandered around with this remarkably life-like replica dangling from various pieces of wire, mainly via fishing rods, as it makes an appearance during the chorus of the piece.

Let's not give too much info away about this and other stage trickery of ours but suffice to say, it is part of a growing armory of items that help make one of our shows so "very unique".
 
You never know what is going to appear as part of the props for one of our pieces, which is part of the excitement of the shows, for us as much as the amazed audiences.  Here's to more in 2014!

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.

Wishing you a Merry Yuletide

Wishing you a very Merry Yuletide 

From all the members of The Magnificent AK47

Spot them on the back of the Uffington White Horse or more up close in the photo below.