Welcome to Oakham

Welcome To Oakham

Paul Conneally

2014

Claustrophobia - Limited Edtion Print - Paul Conneally

'Self Portrait Great Malvern Priory Road North Car Park' 
Paul Conneally 2009

A new edition of 20 prints of this self portrait car park ticket by artist Paul Conneally from INVIGILATOR : MALVERN (2009) on used envelopes is now available.

Each numbered and signed print is on a different sized and type of used envelope and although an 'edition' each is essentially unique.

Price unframed including delivery is £15

 Contact: Love and Barley at LoveandBarley@googlemail.com

Up on the Roof

“When this old world starts getting me down,
And people are just too much for me to face—
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space …”

Up On The Roof – Goffin and King 1962

From now on it’s the roof for me when parking. Even in the rain.

There are not many outside free access urban vantage points to beat the top floor of a multi-storey car park.

This is Newarke Street Car Park, Level 10, the roof.

It’s currently my car park of choice for visits to Leicester City Centre.

I best like it empty.

I like it full of parked cars too.

I never take the lift.

Before a heavy meeting I always take five minutes or so by the margins looking out one way or another.

It sets me up proper for what might be coming and raises my mood.

Same after but one can’t linger as much as your car park ticket won’t raise the barrier to get out beyond ten minutes or so of paying.

That said there’s always time for at least one verse and chorus of “Up on the Roof” thrown up and out onto the Leicestershire breeze.

Today it’s not The Drifters running around my head but Kenny Lynch

“On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let’s go up on the roof
Up on the roof”

Paul Conneally
Leicester 2013

http://burnthewater.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/up-on-the-roof/ 

 

Next Door's Drive

Newarke Street Skyline from Newarke Street Car Park, Leicester 2013

In Leicester for a Holocaust Memorial Day meeting, I park on the roof of the Newarke Street Car Park.

It's a beautiful bright November morning and I look out from the roof across Newarke Street towards the centre of town.

I notice for the first time the pattern in the cast concrete frontage of what was once a textile business but is now Voluntary Action Leicester. Beyond it some of Leicester's skyline.

Concrete has been around in one form or another for over a thousand years. The Romans made and used versions of it,  even here in Leicester.

It's a much maligned material but when made and used well can be wonderful in both form and function.

Some say concrete has had its day but there is surely still scope for new types and uses as we creep forward into this still new millennium.

after all these years
mum's footprint 
in next door's drive

Paul Conneally
Leicester 2013

Holocaust Memorial Day - Voluntary Action Leicester - Paul Conneally