Interludes In Old George Yard

Introduction

This is for CZ's Unofficial Slice of Life Challenge, which you can read about here:

These are things that happen most weeks, as these two shops are owned by good friends of mine.

The music is "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." by Noah And The Whale, a favourite of mine.

Interludes In Old George Yard

Almost every week I visit The Glamorous Owl and RPM in Old George Yard and usually come away with vinyl I don't need from RPM or maybe the odd trinket, card, chocolate or jam from The Glamorous Owl.

Claire from The Glamorous Owl is a fane of Half Man Half Biscuit so our conversations veer from music to her amazing jewellery creations and the workshops which she runs.

I even wrote a poem which she loves:

Everyone in the place is very engaging and always extremely helpful.

I am not a fan of jewellery shops but this is very different. I missed the last Haf Man Half Biscuit gig due to the fact I was on holiday and claire berated me for that, but that was just a bit of fun, and we will get to a gig at some point in the future.

Every time I go down Old George Yard I feel I have missed out if I don't drop in and have a chat with the girls and boys in there.

Then just across the cobbles is RPM. A couple of years ago Marek berated me for playing records on my briefcase GPO player and persuaded me to buy a reconditioned one from RPM.

He demoed it for me and I bought it. He came and set it up but I didn;t realise what the speakers looked like, but shall we after three or four years I got a bargain.

Usually, my conversations start with

"I don't need any more vinyl"

and whoever is serving says something like

"Ah, you always say that"

We get into conversations about Krautrock and other music with Ritchie and Craig and record types and on my last visit, I picked a vinyl copy of "The Book Of Invasions" which they were surprised hadn't jumped off the rack as soon as it was put out.

Discussions in RPM have veered from how we are tracked by using our debit cards to the wonderful designs of album covers and labels like the Vertigo Swirl which you can see here:

I remember deciding that I wanted a copy of the laser-etched "History Never Repeats" and I walked into RPM and they had it there for £3.

I always come away from RPM with a little more vinyl that I do not need and I always come away from The Glamorous Owl feeling better and maybe the odd purchase.

I feel I am supporting two excellent local businesses and they always have time for me, and, although I do buy from them, I am never pressured into buying.

So, this weekend I am likely to pay them both a visit, and the links I have included will give you a little indication of why I love them so much.

Thank you for reading.