The Benefaktor beat me to it yesterday, in his unexpected return. I have seesawed between relief and resentment ever since. I’m glad he’s not followed the fictional John Lennon Jr’s fate at the hands of his equally made-up partner-in-crime Yoko Ono Jr (AKA the original GANTOB). However, it sounds as if he’s in bad shape, still in hospital more than a week after his fall, with physical limitations and significant gaps in his memory. This gives me some hope, however, as it is less likely that I will be implicated in his “accident”. I have sent him a message saying there is plenty of opportunity for both of us if he sticks to blogging on alternate days. If I am posting this as planned on Sunday 22 October then he has stuck to this plan.
I am fully occupied packaging up the products of my first joint venture with The Benefaktor, now that the double-sided frames have arrived: A re-enactment of The JAMs’ LP 1987. You may have seen the videos of the making🎥 and unveiling🎥 of the first prize. It was only after posting it I realised we hadn’t mentioned Curt Finks, either on the side with his Brent Goose Rock story, or the flip with goose photo. Curt would have loved telling us that the birds were not Brent geese. But he would not have been impressed with us “sampling” his work without mention of the author. I will perhaps rectify this on the second copy that I am packaging up now. But I will not be made to feel guilty about it either, because The Benefaktor and I have probably spent as much time reproducing the story in paper and glue as Curt did writing, and he and his wife Norah then endured tagging the birds in the East Anglian fens.
In contrast, it felt too easy cutting out strips rather than “snips”, and sticking whole rows of words in a single action. So we agreed on a “koncertina“🎥 approach to reduce the white space, adding texture and interest, mimicking the GANTOB/ Benefaktor original. This repeated the difficulties pressing the additional thickness within the glass panes into the chunky frame, and the screeching noise that transformed the cats to a bundle of teeth and claws. I close the doors before inserting. I also have a plan for the offcuts. I credit Curt in biro and keep packing.
GANTOB
22 October 2023
GANTOB blog 