AWOL 2014 Issue 283 23rd May | Page 15

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week to hull and back Mags Meanderings: From Som Tam To Mushy Peas statuesque Sadly the FA cup has not made it’s way back to Hull, although fans are philosophical about it, and seem pleased enough just to have made it to Wembley in the first place. We did after all come a close second, and it was a nice sunny day. One of the city’s better statues is of Hull poet Philip Larkin, who stands forever at the ready in the railway station looking for all the world as if he is just going off to catch a train. Probably much as the sculptor intended. And in the run up to Cup Final day Larkin was draped in the black and amber colours of Hull City. No-one complained or made a song and dance about it. It just seemed an appropriate outfit for the occasion, while at the same time providing plenty of photo opportunities for passers by. Which brought to mind a bit of a fuss earlier this month involving the Angel of the North. Standing 20 metres high, and with a wing span of 54 metres, the Angel of the North sculpture welcomes people to Newcastle. Shortly after it was unveiled in the late 90’s some Newcastle United fans managed to adorn the Angel with a replica Number 9 shirt in tribute to their hero Alan Shearer. Sadly the authorities up there must be rather less tolerant than Hull folk, because the Angel stayed dressed for only 20 minutes. That cheeky gesture seems to have been surpassed this month though by well known mid range UK supermarket Morrisons. Having recently announced a drop in sales, some enterprising marketing person decided it would be a good idea to project an image of a Morrisons’ brand baguette across the wings of the Angel of the North. And very effective it looked too. Unfortunately the Angels’ sculptor wasn’t too keen. In fact he seemed positively miffed by the desecration of his creation by a mere chunk of bread. Antony Gormley pronounced that his work of art had We have a new ad size! eighth page Prices 4 issues: 1,800 baht (450 baht per issue) 13 issues: 4,940 baht (380 baht per issue) 52 issues: 15,600 baht (300 baht per issue) All prices based on advance payment Please contact us on 081 649 8361 or sales@awolonline.net for more information Dream Guesthouse Cheap room for rent from just 350 baht 0915094729 Th/Eng 0805626735 Swe/Eng Soi 94 (1st left after 7-11) three functions. Firstly an historical one, to serve as a reminder that below the site of the Angel coal miners worked in the dark for 200 years. (A long shift by anyone’s standards.) Secondly to ‘grasp hold of the future, expressing our transition from the industrial to the information age.’ Lastly to be a focus for peoples’ hopes and fears - ‘a sculpture is an evolving thing’ said Gormley. Obviously grasping hold of the future in our transition to the ‘information age’ doesn’t include using modern technology to inform passers by about Morrisons baguettes. Which is a shame when you think back to all those miners slaving in the earth beneath the Angel just to put bread on their tables. This weeks word is ‘miffed’. For no other reason than to confirm that it is actually a genuine dictionary word and not just a slang expression! If you are miffed you are feeling somewhat annoyed or peeved. KEEP CALM AND FIND PARADISE Sopha Land and Houses sell land in a beautiful unspoilt area about 200 km south of Hua Hin. There are miles of beaches and prices and costs of living are still quite inexpensive. For information ring Sopha (English/ Thai) on 083 3240907 or visit www.sophalandhouse.com Join the AWOL forum 15