Camels and Elephants - Graham Bond ORGANization

There is never a 'dull moment' here at Parley and there are a few bizarre ones too. This morning I was allowed to forsake the bird feeders to concentrate on the priority task of 'washing' and generally 'cleaning' 7 Elephants and 2 Camels - the mind boggles! While good conditions prevail for the Moth'ers many dozens are being collected each morning but unfortunately none new to the list today.

 First out of the trap was this fine

 BUFF-TAILED BUMBLEBEE

 followed in quick succession by c3

POPLAR HAWK-MOTHS

on the same tray.

 MOTTLED BEAUTY

 PEBBLE HOOK-TIP

 a good looking MICRO along with yet another form of

 HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
but all else was of the common kind.

'Close Encounters' of the CHINOOK Kind.

was followed a little later (the birds having been fed) by a

Second World War

TYPHOON

at least that is what an ex-RAF man told me.

Next to land also hails from that wartime period,

LANCASTER BOMBER

here appearing to be colliding with a WELLINGTON - IA

This brought back memories from 1987, inspiring me to perused the story of a Wellington Bomber recovered from the depths of Loch Ness in 1985. It is suggested you read the following 'short' link which only tells part of the story, the sequel seemingly 'lost to history'?

Wellington Bomber

That part of the story, which was mainly a great success, does not reveal that once brought to the surface, the most critical part of any such recovery, the 'tail gun bubble' broke away and returned to Davy Jones's Locker! It was a full 18 months later (Monday 27 April 1987) when as Captain of the Dive Vessel Ilchester we were dispatched to the site to recover the 'lost part'. Along with a Royal Navy Clearance Diving Team the whole operation ran like clockwork and the Bomber now resides in the Brooklands Museum intact. For me, and I'm sure others, the lasting memory will be transiting the Caledonia Canal and Loch Ness itself.

This ornate table, bought by my Dad in Calcutta, India during his service in the Royal Navy during World War II, was given to me by him with his blessing "I want to see you enjoy this while I am still alive"! He did so for nearly 20 years, but now is the time for it to move on under similar circumstances. Long overdue for a 'refit' every inch was meticulously scrubbed before applying liberal amounts of teak oil ready for transportation to its new home in the very near future - watch this space. All those animals in turn brought back memories of the

 ROUND HOUSE, CHALK FARM, LONDON
(once a Railway Shed)

where back in the 60's and early 70's we would make 'occasional' visits to 'worship' such Blues luminaries as Chicken Shack, Rory Gallagher, Blodwin Pig, The Keef Hartley Band, Jon Hiseman's Colosseum and the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation plus others. A labour of love, as the journey would necessitate a night on Waterloo Station and sleep on the 'Milk Train' on our way back to Weymouth. Little did we realise at the time that history was being made, and what was to become of then little unknown musicians. Prominent in all of these was the seminal

comprising from left

Peter Edward (Ginger) Baker (drums), Jack Bruce (base guitar, harmonica and vocals) both who would later form two thirds of 'Cream', Graham Bond (keyboards, vox) who would tragically end his days under a tube train at Finsbury Park Station and the extraordinary Dick Heckstall-Smith (who is usually credited as Saxophonist?). An understatement if ever there was one as Heckstall-Smith was a unique multi-instrumentalist a master of horns, reeds and any other damn thing that could be blown. Not content playing a single instrument, his 'party piece' would be harmonise while playing, for instance, sax and clarinet at the same time.

'click'

Mellow Down Easy

 to view this with Jack Bruce.

Baker, who we also once met in Talbagh Village, South Africa, also had his own little offering while part of the Combo a drum solo on the track

Camels and Elephants

this number would later form the basis of his likely most memorable composition 'TOAD' which features on the CREAM album 'Fresh Cream'.Bond had a whole selection of ways of presenting and spelling the band name.

Not surprisingly, after several months and the recent correspondence with my friend Gonzalo Horna, there comes renewed interest in the Blog from Panama. A second visit to that fine country earlier this year was again an unforgettable experience, so I can only suggest that whatever your interest (but especially 'birders') go and see for yourself - you won't be disappointed!

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