Those of you who avidly follow these forums, will be aware that last weekend saw the first birthday of Bang and Olufsen's dealership in King Street, Manchester. Now with Dave Jennings and his sidekick Ian (ex Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman) Kinsella at the helm.
Dave had arranged a weekend of events to celebrate the occasion, and as I only live an hours drive away, it was a forgone conclusion that I would attend both the Friday and Saturday evenings.
My friend and fellow Beoworlder, Craig had spoken with me on the 'phone and intimated that he would be there on both the Friday and the Saturday too, so I suggested that he stop at my home on the Friday, and we would stop in my pet hotel in Manchester on the Saturday. This would allow us to go for a few pints after the event. Unfortunately, all hotels were fully booked up months beforehand, due to Celine Dion deciding to have a concert in Manchester without even consulting us!
Well, that was that. Craig would have to stop at my house for both nights.
I had re-arranged my pupils to give me time off from Friday lunch, right through the bank holiday weekend 'til Tuesday morning.
Now I had only met Craig and his wife, Carol once before, but felt I knew him quite well, due to our frequent 'phone calls and PMs, and was really looking forward to his visit. Also, I was looking forward to showing him my rapidly growing collection of older B&O equipment.
At Easter, Craig had had his pride and joy, a beautiful Triumph motorbike, stolen and had bought a Honda 'to make do' and was coming up from Birmingham on that.
Round about three or half past he arrived at my back gate. I always tell visitors to come to the tradesmans entrance!
This is Craig, a nano second before setting foot on Clitheroe soil.
Remember, you can left click on any photo' to see it full size.
PS, Do you like my bollard? I planted four of them to stop folk parking on my pavement.

...and here he is with his helmet off.

A photo thread... by Jandyt... 

Yeeeehaaaaahhhhh !!!!  It's been too long!

 

9 LEE:

A photo thread... by Jandyt... 

Yeeeehaaaaahhhhh !!!!  It's been too long!

 

Don't expect to much, I'm thinking of stretching this one out, so it blends into "King Steet's second birthday celebrations"

Now the event for the Friday, was to be a classical recital performed by a student or students from the nearby, world famous Chethams School of Music.
The student(s) would be playing a keyboard (belonging to Dave I believe) through Beolab 9s.
I had a special interest in this, as not only am I a great classical music fan; I have Classic FM on the radio all day long; but at the age of eleven or twelve, I had passed an exam to go to Chethams but my parents wouldn't let me go, as it involved buying a uniform.

After Craig arrived and had had coffee and the mandatory demo of "Hotel California" in surround sound on my Avant/Pentalabs/8000s and also a demo of Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend" on vinyl  through my 1960s system (Beogram 1102/Beomaster 5000/Beovox5000/Beovox 2500), it was 5.00 and time for Fish'n'Chips.
The plan was to leave the house at 5.30 and arrive at King Street at 6.30, nice and early for the 7.00 start.
Every thing went to plan, and we were washed and changed and off at just after half past five.
I went to my usual car park in Manchester, it was just a five minute walk to King Street.
In this photo' of Craig, the Manchester Cathedral looms behind him, almost silhouetted by the bright evening sunshine on the much newer Arndale Centre, which was the target of a massive IRA bomb in 1996
Incidentally, a river runs under this car park. Story about that later!

So it has started. JandyT's latest photo thread, been waiting all week for this. Just to let every one know I am not on all of the pictures, and I did not know Andy had taken the first one until about an hour after. Andy's house really is like a B&O musuem, the demo of Hotel California was absolutely amazing. As was the 5000 system, so far ahead of it's time. Now I know why they are so highly revered. Andy was a superb host, and I had a great time. Once again thanks to Andy for putting me up. and putting up with me for the weekend. Carol was also happy as she got a whole bed to herself and could do the starfish.

 

Craig

Craig, looks like you need a hair cut!!!!

... and Andy has taken of again!

Jandyt:

...and here he is with his helmet off.

Craig certainly looks happy to see you

Andy,

 Not wishing to steal your thunder - but here is our one and only small-enough-to-post image of Martin - and I'm fairly sure that's your head, bottom left.

Glad you had a good weekend - we raised just about £700 for Chests in the end.

Regards

David

Puncher:

Jandyt:

...and here he is with his helmet off.

Craig certainly looks happy to see you

Well I look terrible in the picture I think its fair to say.

 

Craig

To be fair to Craig, I did catch him off guard, and he'd just been riding for two hours!
Thanks for the (out of chronological order) photo' Dave, between Craig and myself, we have lot's of Martin. One of which, I would likely be sued if I were to use!  I'll keep that one in case I ever need to blackmail Martin. 
Back to the story...
When we got round the corner, onto King Street, we were greeted with the red carpet treatment!

When we entered the store, people had already started to accumulate.

About 50 or 60 chairs had been laid out, and on each one was a little box containing a hand made chocolate, delicately tied with a little lace bow.
Here is my one.

Dave had tried to get a Steinway piano from Steinway but alas it hadn't materialised, so he had provided his own keyboard.
He obviously loves this keyboard and had hired two penguins to guard it!

Jandyt:

Dave had tried to get a Steinway piano from Steinway but alas it hadn't materialised, so he had provided his own keyboard.
He obviously loves this keyboard and had hired two penguins to guard it!

Is the Dalek in charge of the Penguin Bouncers then?

 

Before long, and after meeting each other, Dave took the 'stage' to introduce us to his guest from Chets, having first explained how he doesn't seem to be able to catch the sun on his elbow.
His guest is Murray McLachlan, MA (Cantab), LRAM, FRSA and is the Head of Keyboard at Chets. A really nice chap as well!
This is Murray with the half-pint.

And this is Craig with the two half-pints!
Some people, eh?

Jandyt:

Dave had tried to get a Steinway piano from Steinway

Good place to get a Steinway piano from if you ask me.

 

Craig

9 LEE:

Jandyt:

Dave had tried to get a Steinway piano from Steinway but alas it hadn't materialised, so he had provided his own keyboard.
He obviously loves this keyboard and had hired two penguins to guard it!

Is the Dalek in charge of the Penguin Bouncers then?

 

Exactly!
If the penguins misbehave, the dalek hits them with an organ pipe.

Jandyt:

And this is Craig with the two half-pints!
Some people, eh?

Thanks Andy, now to explain that one glass was Andy's and I was just holding it so he could the the picture. Honestly.

 

Craig

Jandyt:

And this is Craig with the two half-pints!
Some people, eh?

Just goes to prove - two halves don't a full pint make!

Craig:

Jandyt:

And this is Craig with the two half-pints!
Some people, eh?

Thanks Andy, now to explain that one glass was Andy's and I was just holding it so he could the the picture. Honestly.

 

Craig

Does he let you hold his camera while he's taking a drink then??

Puncher:

Craig:

Jandyt:

And this is Craig with the two half-pints!
Some people, eh?

Thanks Andy, now to explain that one glass was Andy's and I was just holding it so he could the the picture. Honestly.

 

Craig

No, only when he needed a picture of himself.

 

Craig

 

Does he let you hold his camera while he's taking a drink then??

Craig:

Jandyt:

Dave had tried to get a Steinway piano from Steinway

Good place to get a Steinway piano from if you ask me.

 

Craig

In fairness, we did have access to a "real" piano, so I don't want anyone to think Steinway either let us down or shunned us - but there were two other factors I didn't think of initially that meant my digi piano was a better choice.  

1.  Over the weekend, the piano was moved four times - a real piano would get tuning problems, more so in an air conditioned unit prone to getting very warm overnight. 

2.  To showcase the Beolab's, the digi piano was used via Lab 8000's, Lab 9's and Lab 5's at different times - and so the speakers got a demonstration too.

It sounded great - and although the students on Friday were maybe used to something that felt a little better under their fingers, they all thought it sounded fine.

Nice piccies Andy - although I know your flash was quite busy, so no doubt there are more to follow .  I have a load here, but they are all about 2mb, and so too big for here.