420 legalise cannabis event in Hyde Park

On Saturday the 20th April I went to Hyde park to attend an event to promote the legalisation of Cannabis. I was hoping for a large event with a stage and important/informative speakers but instead I found myself sat with a group of people on the margins of the park smoking weed, the ambiance permeated by the music emanating from those 'sound systems' that I have come to loath other the years.

You could easily fall into the trap of saying the people were annoying, mostly young kids with up turned caps and that gangster vibe but lets give it some perspective. If it were an event where people came to drink and party the event could easily get of hand and you can only imagine the raised tempers but this event was calm and largely unobtrusive. I mean come on the only concern on their minds was probably where to get a bag of crisps and some water right?

Thatcher party

ARRRGH I'm so angry, I didn't go to the party but I find it an offence to humanity that it happened and think it really show the arrogance of these radical f@*ks. Fine you don't have to agree with her politics but celebrating her death shows that your lifestyle isn't a beacon for whats right in society. Its the implication that they believe their opinion is the right one, arrogance! take a look at the indymedia report on it, its full of rhetoric just like the main stream media maybe even more.

http://bristol.indymedia.org.uk/article/731883

They try to emphasise the good nature of the event but lets put it this way, one mans gold is another mans trash. They say that sound systems appeared and people were in good spirits *pissed* and if it wasn't for the establishment it would have been peaceful. Ignoring the fact that they are keeping people awake who don't share their opinion and have to get up to work the next day. One person in the comments expresses that he was kept awake by it and disagreed with the party saying it was local residence complaining that alerted the police to it. The party caused the problem but they are off in their little world where they think everybody wants to drink and listen to sound systems without responsibility.

Selfish arrogant bastards.

p.s I'm not pro Thatcher I'm anti twat.

Alcohol

Following on from the series on the drunks in the bearpit I thought it would be logicall to document the drinking culture in Bristol, so I took my pen for a night on the town, hoping for inspiration. I have to say its the first time i'd been out in Bristol on a Friday or Saturday night and it is a real eye opener.

To be frank, it's a bastardisation of liberty. I can't tell whether it's because they feel strong or weak. Regardless it creates conflict, it's not just an innocent bit of fun, it puts mens egos in conflict with each other and it reduces people to a sexual commodity. That's no foundation for a civilised society.

Ofcourse theres always a way to rationalise it for yourself. 'Go on my son!'

Greek anti fascists

Happened apon a group of protesters, an odd mix of Greek anti fascist and Bristol Health Services.

Picton street christmas market

Just a quick drawing of the Picton street christmas market...from above!

Trial of Stephen Farrow

Today I went to the Crown Courts in Bristol for the trial of Stephen Farrow accused of murdering an elderly lady and a reverend in a sadistic and aggressively anti christian set of attacks. I came late into the trial. The prosecution was beginning to sum up their case. He admits the killing of the reverend with diminished responsability due to mental health but not to the killing of the elderly lady, although the evidence weighs heavily against him. He has refused to leave his prison cell so I couldn't do a drawing of the defendant but I did manage one of the prosecution.

Im pleased with the facial expression particularly so ill include a close up of that.

Interestingly I got chatting to members of the reverends church which usually you wouldn't do due to the circumstances but they were very open positive characters even under these conditions which I guess is testament to the power of religious belief.

Court drawing,

I thought I would start posting my court room sketches as it fits in with the theme of the blog, I haven't done many and the Post took one of my drawings and didn't give it back (I gues I have a lot to learn about these media types) so ill post an early one I did of Ricky Smith who was sentenced to 28 years for the murder of Keith Soons with a screw driver.

 

I don't have the best pastels but as far as im concerned I got a good likeness. The Paper didn't use it because they said he looked too old, but I thought he looked about 40, It turns out he's 27. What could I do?