Mr Punch - The International Leicester

 

It is almost a year to the day when I first saw 'Mr Punch' at the 'Musician' in Leicester.The good news is that they are back again, this time at the 'International' in Leicester. They will be playing three shows over the 'Marillion Convention' weekend being held up the road at the 'De Montfort Hall'. Three very very different shows, the first being tonight where the 3rd studio album from 1985 is going to be played in full. As always we have arrived early and a handful of other fans are already starting to congregate outside. We don't have to wait long before the doors open thankfully. I make my way to a centre right of the stage position on the barriers. 

It is amazing to think that the 'Misplaced Childhood' album is now 40 years old! The third Marillion studio album. I can remember buying it on vinyl as though it was only yesterday.Singer Fish reportedly conceived the concept during a 10-hour acid trip. The album was a massive success right across Europe. Helped of course by the massive hit single 'Kayleigh'. It's a semi auto- bioraphical concept album, failed relationships and the loss of childhood innocence are key themes.It feels really busy , being at the front it is hard to tell though. The band take to the stage around 8:40 to the strains of Emerald Lies. 

The intro to 'Emerald Lies' fades and gives way to 'Cinderella Search' and the wonderful guitar solo beautifully handled by the ever smiling 'Marcella Arganase'. The magic of early Marillion has arrived in Leicester once more. The next part of the performance is what the band call 'Mega Pippone', which is open to translation? What it really means though is that 'Misplaced Childhood' is about to be unleashed. Vocalist 'Marco Vincini' is sounding even more Scottish than I remember. We have a change on keyboards tonight as 'Licia' has commitments elsewhere. I have to say the sound is excellent, as is the atmosphere. As you would expect the crowd is largely on the 50 plus side but they know how to enjoy themselves. 'Kayleigh' will no doubt be the highlight for many people. For me it is the keyboards that segway so perfectly from 'Bitter Suite' into 'Heart of Lothian' 'On the outskirts of nowhere. On the ring road to somewhere
On the verge of indecision I'll always take the roundabout way
Waiting on the rain .......Gets me every time.

Marcella Arganase

It has been a superb rendition of 'Misplaced Childhood'. How do you possibly follow that? With 'Incubus' that's how and another great guitar solo. We have two songs from the 1987 album 'Clutching at Straws' with 'Sugar Mice' and 'The Last Straw'. 

Sandwiched between though we have a very old song. The crowd all know it and it needs no announcement really, prepare the funeral pyres for our favourite 'Earth Rim Walker 'Grendel'. Marco has returned to the stage complete with the Grendel/Beowulf helmet. A very impressive version it is too with Marco fully immersed in character. 'Expose your throats to my righteous claws' as he claims Marcella as his next victim, it is all very dramatic and pure theatre , just as it should be.

 But wait, as the helmet is removed Marco tells us that there is a crack in it.... Reassuringly they will continue to play the song until it breaks. 

Screams are his music

My highlight of the whole evening follows, the unmistakable keyboard intro to 'Fugazi'. I'm gad that I've worn my 'Fugazi T shirt, something that didn't go unnoticed by the band I'm pleased to say. A song full of twists and turns, and high on energy and emotion. I think everyone in the house was singing along at the top of their voices.The show has reached a new level! Again I wonder how you follow that Marco disappears, returning in combat gear for 'Forgotten Sons. It all gets a bit much for one of the 'front row' who passes out. Quite rightly the show is stopped while the unfortunate gentleman recovers. Thankfully he is soon on his feet, and departs to the garden for some much needed fresh air. The show continues with Marco using his microphone stand as a would be rifle. It is all very atmospheric and true to the original version.The set continues as all the best freaks are here, please stop staring at me.

'Freaks' isn't a song that you get to hear very often, and sounds really fresh. Things are starting to reach a thrilling climax as the band finish with the classic encores of 'Garden Party' and 'Market Square Heroes'. Apart from a short break the band have been on stage for a good two and a half hours. The energy levels have never dropped and it has been a night to remember. They are joined on stage by 'Doctor Dyper' himself, Promoter in Chief Mr Danny Mayo for a bit of jamming. Although I'm not entirely convinced his guitar was even plugged in? Whatever , he looked the part and was having a great time.A lot of credit must go to him for organising all three shows. What better start could their be to the Marillion Convention weekend!

Thanks to Marcella for the set list, the early Marillion sound is in very good hands for sure. I believe they are returning to The International at Leicester in April 2026. Definitely not to be missed and something to look forward to.

Are you following me, are you following me? We most certainly are.

Many thanks to all the band for a night to remember!

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The John Bunyan Trail (9) Flitwick & Westoning

The latest leg of the 'Bunyan Trail' takes us to to the Town of 'Flitwick'. Equidistant between the much larger towns of Bedford and Luton. We get parked up in a residential area and cut through to the footpath close to 'Flitwick Wood'. Walking in an anti-clockwise direction we will finish in the 'Flit Valley'. This may have been the inspiration for Bunyan's 'The River of the water of life ' from 'The Pilgrims Progress'. That apart there are unlikely to be any other links on this particular walk. Don't let that put you off though! There will plenty of other points of interest to uncover.

We are quickly on the 'JB Trail' and immediately get our first sighting of a Chinese Water Deer. There is another one in the opposite field too. We are heading in the direction of 'Steppingley' on the 'Greensand Ridge'. Much of the surrounding land is part of either Beckerings Park, or the Woburn Estate. There are some lovely walks around here including 'Katherine's Walk' . Named after Katherine of Aragon, who was imprisoned on the Ampthill Estate during the annulment of her marriage to King Henry VIII in the early 16th Century. 

 

The Greensand Ridge is a long-distance walk of 40 miles (64 km) that crosses Bedfordshire, with brief sections in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. the name "Greensand" is associated with the green color of the rock due to glauconite, the rocks in Bedfordshire often don't show this green coloration. It is however though very sandy underfoot as the photo on the left shows. 

It's certainly a bucolic scene, as my walking companion likes to call it. In the field a young Fox watches cautiously from a safe distance, then disappears beyond the ridge. There are of course more Chinese Water Deer at regular intervals. A welcoming party of curious Cows arrive on the scene. Safely behind the fence, they can come as close as the like. We pass 'Priestley Farm' heading in the direction of Westoning. There is a lovely new wooden bridge that goes over the stream. In parts the water is a rusty colour, part of the rich Iron from the Greensand. The Rhododendrons are just coming into bloom along with the Digitalis plants.  

We are now close to Westoning Manor, although our path doesn't take us close enough to see it. Manor was built between 1842 and 1843 for the new Lord of the Manor, John William Coventry Campion. The part of Westoning we are in looks very affluent indeed. Some big houses, one has even put up wrought iron railings to block off the footpath outside their house. I'm not sure if this is even allowed. The lady of the house casts a dirty look in our direction before disappearing into the garage. We continue down the lane to the pretty looking Church of St Mary Magdalene. We call in to have a look at the Commonwealth War Graves that lie within.

Church of St Mary Magdalene, Westoning

One grave in particular catches my attention, and brings back harrowing memories of something that happened some 37 years ago. I remember watching the awful scenes live as the situation developed. It is something that has always stayed with me as a stark reminder of the shocking evil humans are capable of. Corporal David Howes and Corporal Derek Wood, were off duty and out driving in a car around Belfast, when they got lost and strayed into a funeral cortege for the IRA member. Members of the crowd surrounded the car and both men were pulled from the car, brutally beaten, stabbed and shot multiple times. They both died at the scene in what became known as the "Corporal killings"As I say a totally barbaric episode that should never have happened. A silent prayer is offered.

We continue towards 'Gablehayes'.  To our right on top of the hill the Water Tower at Pilloxhill can be seen .   

Nicely marked footpaths

Beautiful fields of green

We are heading in the direction of Flitwick Moor part of the largest natural wetland in Bedfordshire. It is a nationally important site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).Peat was extracted on this site for hundreds of years. It was also a place where mineral-rich water was taken from and bottled for sale as a tonic.Raised wooden decking takes us between 'The Moor' and 'The Folly'. They aren't  really necessary today given all the weeks without rain. Even so, there is more than a hint of the Louisiana swamps about the place.

Flitwick Moor Boardwalk

All that remains is to navigate ourselves through the side streets of Flitwick back to our starting point. There hasn't really been that many places of interest, but enough to keep our interest. It has been a perfect day for walking and another leg of the walk ticked off. In total a fraction over 10 miles covered.  

Stowe Landscape Gardens - Spring 2025

Stow School in the distance

It's a beautiful sunny late Spring afternoon and nowhere I would rather be than at Stowe Landscape Gardens in Buckinghamshire.Always a great pleasure to cross the border and make another visit. I've written several times about Stowe over the years so this post will be mainly a few photos. We will be focusing our short walk mainly around 'Eleven Acre' Lake and 'Octagon Lake'.  We start off though with the sound of leather on willow, a cricket it match is being played on the South lawn. Could there possibly be a better surrounding? The back drop of 'Stowe House, gently sloping down towards the lakes. We watch a few overs and the batsmen seem to hod the ascendancy. I think i might get a few runs given the perfect conditions. Passing the statue of 'King George II 'we make our way to the 'Sleeping Wood'. Originally a wilderness garden. Designed to deliberately disorientate the visitor, set in a mazy wood the paths wind around shrubberies. Eventually leading to the sleeping parlour in a secret clearing. 

The Sleeping Parlour is now long gone but the challenge is to find the foundation stone which bears the following inscription. 'Since all things are uncertain, indulge thyself'. License to stop off for a pint of beer if ever there was one I suppose! In time the wood will mature and become a secret wilderness away from the garden. We continue on the 'path of Vice and Virtue following the Greek God Hercules personal struggle. The Temples here tell stories of seductive women, sordid goings on and excessive partying. Seems just my sort of place then. Oh and yes we did find the 'Foundation Stone'.     

Pebble Alcove

Earliest Chinese pavilion in UK

Palladian Bridge

Rear view of 'the best view'

As always another fantastic day out at Stowe. Each time I always see so many new things.