A mysterious figure has been noted amongst the wreckage of the demolished Convent in Notting Hill, scrounging for loose change and odd tidbits which have been seen posted for auction on EBAY, under the user ID, MLesquoc.
I went ahead of him one day, and left a 5 pound note on a slab of masonry near the alter. I left through a wire fence, and returned via Kensington Park Road to Blenheim Crescent in time to see him digging in the rubble, taking photographs, and staring bewilderingly at the tragedy of the demolished Convent.
The money was gone, of course. I noticed a large folder had been placed on the slab of masonry, where the note had been left. I waited until he was gone, then went over to investigate. It was a large manila folder bound with a leather strap. I opened the folder to find a large sketchbook with the name, Maxim Arturovitch Pyatnitski, printed in calligraphic red ink on the cover.
Maxim Arturovitch Pyatnitski, otherwise known as 'Colonel Pyat,' or 'the old Pole,' in the Portobello Road area seems to have left behind shematics and sketches for amazingly advanced vehicles and weapons. It appears Mr. Pyatnitski was more than just a thrift shop owner.
I have no idea why this might have been left in the care of the scrounging 'Mlesquoc,' or why he would have left the sketches for me in exchange for the 5 pound note. I do feel I got the better of the bargain, however.
The images in the sketchbook are very imaginative, if unrealistic, but definitely ahead of their time. Below appear some of the more interesting visions from one of the most brilliant mazed minds of the 20th century:
[link expired]
don't know what happened, but the links are now incorrect...

I went ahead of him one day, and left a 5 pound note on a slab of masonry near the alter. I left through a wire fence, and returned via Kensington Park Road to Blenheim Crescent in time to see him digging in the rubble, taking photographs, and staring bewilderingly at the tragedy of the demolished Convent.
The money was gone, of course. I noticed a large folder had been placed on the slab of masonry, where the note had been left. I waited until he was gone, then went over to investigate. It was a large manila folder bound with a leather strap. I opened the folder to find a large sketchbook with the name, Maxim Arturovitch Pyatnitski, printed in calligraphic red ink on the cover.
Maxim Arturovitch Pyatnitski, otherwise known as 'Colonel Pyat,' or 'the old Pole,' in the Portobello Road area seems to have left behind shematics and sketches for amazingly advanced vehicles and weapons. It appears Mr. Pyatnitski was more than just a thrift shop owner.
I have no idea why this might have been left in the care of the scrounging 'Mlesquoc,' or why he would have left the sketches for me in exchange for the 5 pound note. I do feel I got the better of the bargain, however.
The images in the sketchbook are very imaginative, if unrealistic, but definitely ahead of their time. Below appear some of the more interesting visions from one of the most brilliant mazed minds of the 20th century:
[link expired]
don't know what happened, but the links are now incorrect...

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