Siam 

Siam and Iain 

Bathroom Refit 2005

Day 1, October 16th 2005, Our bathroom refit, got underway today. Iain ripped out the old shower unit and got the tiles off the wall. The walls have now been left to dry out, as there was so much water that had got in behind the tiles, that the plaster fell off the wall with ease.

31st October 2005. As can be seen from the above pictures the bathroom is in full swing. The cylinder was installed in the attic on a floor that was also installed. A lot of the tiles came off the wall in readiness for the plastering. Near where the sink is/was the tiles had been put on the wall three deep.
The old cupboard with the old cylinder got ripped out on day three and the bathroom door was reversed so that it backed against the wall rather than opening into the middle of the bathroom. The new water cylinder was up and running distributing water around the house today also.
Day 4 and the bathroom was started proper with the start of the plastering.

Day 5 and the 1st wall has been plastered and is now left to dry out over the weekend.

Day 6. A small wall had to be erected to house the pipe work and electrical cables in which is what can be seen in the above picture. Once covered in plaster board it is ready for a coat of plaster.

Day 7. Well that's the plastering for the shower completed in the above photo. Also pictured is Iain taking a tea break again.

After Day 7 and day off was called for as the job was at a point that the plaster needed to dry and Iain had another small job to do. So the fan was installed on Day 8,above the shower so as to take the steam directly outside from the shower when it is in use. I also bought home from work the new shower tray. I purchased it from work at a cost of £50. It had originally been intended for use in the Vice Chancellor's bathroom at the University of Warwick.

Work has been put on hold for the last 2 days while the plaster dries out on the walls ready for tiling. Work is due to begin tomorrow with the ceiling being replastered. Quite a messy job to do but it will a least mean that the bathroom will be done from top to bottom upon completion.

16th November and we have been without a shower for a month now.So on Day9, the ceiling was scraped in readiness for plastering. The light was taken down along with the switch so we were left without lighting in the bathroom. I set up an extension lead and hooked up a lamp to get us by. So the order of the day tomorrow will be to order some new ceiling lights.

Day 10 and 1st thing today I got the new lights ordered. Upon returning home from work pleasantly surprised to find the ceiling now plaster and not to much mess as Iain had the good thought of covering the room in polythene sheeting to stop having a mess everywhere. The job is now on hold until next week now so as to let the plaster dry out again. The pictures below show the ceiling in progress and myself and Panee painting it on 26th November.

UFO Showtime DVD.

I bought this DVD today called Showtime by UFO. Info on it can be found here at: UFO Official Website

While at school I originally got into this band during about 1978/79. I got to see them live a few times. I followed them for a few years until my musical tastes began to change around 1983. I tried to get back into them through the years but they seemed to lose their way and become very bland.But during the 2004 they put out a killer album, 'You Are Here',which got some rave reviews which I listened to and decided to buy. And guess what the reviews were spot on, which led me to purchasing this DVD which incidently is also available as a double live album. The Dvd has lots of interviews and some re-recordings of some old UFO songs in the studio with a string quartet also. I missed out on catching UFO on the tour promoting the latest studio album, so this made up for it. I can watch it in the comfort of my own home. LOL!

Rocky Shades

I recently came into aquiring Rocky Shades e-mail address. Very shocked after all these years to get in contact with what seems like an old mate. Below are some e-mails that were sent between myself and Rocky Shades of Legendary Glam Rock Band Wrathchild.

Hi Rocky/ Rob
Dunno if ya remember me or not But I came from Coventry and joined ya on stage a couple of times at Birmingham and Leicester. I had the girlfriend who sounded like a squeaky gate when she laughed. Dunno if that's enough to remember me by. I have a load of pics I'll have to dig em out. I have some tapes too.
Anyhow there are a few people on the Glitzine forum who are saying that there is an imposter Rocky e-mailing on the net. I am sure that this Elwood is the real Rocky although I have an e-mail from Barclay who may not be the same person. A person from the forum called Carl was already duped after a lot of time andhardwork was put into a project of he was working on. Maybe you could go to the forum here and post some messages http://www.hostboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=6249
You could id yourself to me by telling me what part of Coventry you have family living as you did tell me one night while you were out in Coventry if you recall?
Hi Andy,call me stupid if you like but how do you leave messages on the Glitzine board?I registered, i found my name, i can see how you get involved with live chat, but i couldnt work out how to just post a message.I wanted to let people know that i am the real Rocky Shades and that if they wanted to ask me stuff, the answers would be genuine.let me know...no rush...Rocky

Hey Stupid, sorry couldn't resist that, I meant Rocky...
Just click on New Topic on the right hand side of the Glitzine page. A new screen will pop up for ya to type a subject and then type your message below.
There are one or two members you may know on there from past years Ie Buttz from babysitters, Soho Roses Paul Blitz, some Rich Rags guys Marshy from the tattoo Loved boys. Ace from Tigertailz has poped on there in the past.
There is a lot of talk about all things glam and a lot of friendly banter. Wrathchild have took some stick on there as have other bands, but it all makes the world go round.
Carl Isonhart I believe you know? He goes on there a far bit.
There are a couple of pics here in the band section you could check out. You may remember me from the pics. You always knew me when ya saw me. last time I saw ya was over Leamington when ya were doing the One Track and Dirty. I must pick out the couple of pics I have from it. 1st time we met was at The Birmingham Railway when the fire brigade were called out cuz all the smoke was coming out from the doors. Have some pics from that night also.
The 1st time our paths crossed though we never spoke and I spent maybe an hour listening to ya rabbit in front of us in a queue while waiting to to go in and see Twisted Sister after the show at Brum Odeon.Anyhow plenty of memories for me also from the Wrath days. be great to hear some of yers.
Cheers for now. look forward to seeing ya on the board.
Andy

Hi Andy, I remember standing in the queue at Twisted Sister, i met Dee a few times after that and he said that if he had known i was queing up outside, he would have let me in backstage as the rest of the guys in the band were fans of Wrathchild. In his own words he said that he has never met anyone who could talk for as long as he does and as fast as yours truely. You were very lucky to catch One track and dirty as they didnt really do that many gigs and the rythym section of the band was forever changing, which made the sound inconsistant. Speak soon...Rocky

Hi Andy, fear not i can tell you most categorically that Barclay and Rocky are one and the same person, i know coz i'm both. Rocky Shades is really called Rob Barclay, and he is one of the Birmingham Blues Brothers. There has been a couple of bogus Rockys appearing all over the place, why i'll never know, and they have confused the issue, but this feller you are conversing with is the real thing. I know more about Wrathchild (My baby) then any other dedicated or excentric fan, once i try to remember past the drunken haze i used to always be in. So anytime you read a posting by either Rocky, Rob Barclay or Elwood Blues it is the real thing, you only have to talk to Rocky for a Few minutes to realise you have got the right bloke, coz once i start talking there is no stopping. I would like to see some of the photos you have, i love being reminded of what i used to get up to. and i do vaguely remember a lady with a laugh like a squeaky door. But you must understand we met thousands of people during our reign and remembering them all is nigh on impossible. Speak soon Andy....Rocky

Hi Andy, I think i have just registered on the Glitzine site. I'm not technically minded so if i ballsed it up i appologise. Another thing i forgot to tell you, the Barclay site is my outlook express address and my robert elwood blues site is my hotmail address, this would explain why you thought you were dealing with more than one person. Hope this clears up my identity problem Speak soon....Rocky

Hi Andy,
I have a sister in law who originally came from Allesley Coventry but she has moved now.
I want to post something on the Glitzine site but dont know how to do it.
I find it really funny that people think Barclay and Rocky and even Elwood are separate people, and they are all ME!
I WAS ALWAYS BEING ACCUSED OF BEING MULTI PERSONALITIED AND I GUESS NOW I AM.
The only problem being asked to recall things from like 20+ years ago is at the time i was hardly sober then, what hope have i got at remembering now.
Still its all in the name of Rock 'n Roll.
As a last ditch attempt to prove who i am you could always ask Steve Carter, he knows that Barclay, Rocky and Elwood are really me, coz ive told him things about Wrathchild that only i know.
Speak soon oh disbelieving one....Rocky

Hi again Andy,
my regular address is the Hotmail, the Blue yonder is a family address for personal shit and spam.
Ive looked at the photos and they are really cool.
I have some well scarry photos of my early bands pre- Wrathchild that the press would have killed for back then.
sorry for being such a plank, but hey i'm still one up on Eddie he hasnt even got a computer never mind know how to use it. Keep Rockin.....Rocky

Thanks for showing me how to post on the Glitzine site,
as soon as i get a spare moment i will try to contact someone or post a message.
How i'd love to get inside a time machine and start the alcohol abuse all over again.
I'm no health freak now, but i do take certain things in moderation.
Speak soon....Rocky.

It would now seem that a reformation of Wrathchild my very well be on the cards! Let's give it some time and we will see.

Club Night

Above is a picture,taken at the Club, and also sent via phone to Iain, which I have entitled 'The Uglies'. It was taken during our night out at our local club. We had iain's kids for a sleep over, as he was going out to a Folk evening with his girlfriend Mary. So to occupy the time we all went up the club. On this occasion Panee and Siam also came with us. The kids played in the back room most of the night while me and Panee sat chatting and drinking. A great night was had by all as the pics below may predict!,

Club Night