I'll carry the bruises
The mental scars
I'll hold them high
Bear them proud
At least I know
Deep deep down
You cared enough
To hurt me.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Totem - Cirque du Soleil
It's January so it is time for the annual tour to the Royal Albert Hall by Cirque du Soleil. This year they have brought Totem. I nearly didn't buy us tickets. Well how stupid would that have been!
I think this was our 6th Cirque show. And it by far eclipsed any that we had previously seen. There was real innovation and uniqueness to this show. It all passed us by much too quickly. It was spell binding, mesmerizing. Cirque manage to be so much. The music as ever wonderful, the costumes stunning, the acts jaw dropping. And it isn't just the acts themselves, even the way they bring on and remove the props is part of the story, done with care and beauty.
Am I being rather effusive, yes. Do they deserve it, yes!
The clip below is of the trapeze acrobats. It is a fine example of what makes Cirque different. It isn't just a circus act. Here they have choreographed two lovers coming together, the shyness, the pretence, the fooling. And it is done with some very dangerous acts which are incredible to watch.
I think this was our 6th Cirque show. And it by far eclipsed any that we had previously seen. There was real innovation and uniqueness to this show. It all passed us by much too quickly. It was spell binding, mesmerizing. Cirque manage to be so much. The music as ever wonderful, the costumes stunning, the acts jaw dropping. And it isn't just the acts themselves, even the way they bring on and remove the props is part of the story, done with care and beauty.
Am I being rather effusive, yes. Do they deserve it, yes!
The clip below is of the trapeze acrobats. It is a fine example of what makes Cirque different. It isn't just a circus act. Here they have choreographed two lovers coming together, the shyness, the pretence, the fooling. And it is done with some very dangerous acts which are incredible to watch.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Time Lag
I've been wondering recently why we, as a society, decided that self service was a GOOD idea. Somehow we moved from a society where people did things for others - the attendent used to fill your car with petrol, grocers would put together your shopping order, etc - to one where we did it all for ourselves. And does this change in behaviour now reflect our attitudes to each other. Society does not care for its neighbour, people do not watch out for each other or each others children, people think that they have a right to things. Off course 80 years ago things were not all rosey, average lifespan was shorter, less money, and so on. But in trying to imrpove a persons lot in life we have made the whole thing worse. Individuals are better off, but culture is sick.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
A New Year
I've been blogging a lot less if late. It's mainly a case of how many things can be juggled at once. There's geocaching, photography, rugby, riding, masonry (with 4 different orders thats a lot of meetings), gym, the Saints blog and this. Plus I really need to fit in work as well. But I want to try to get this going again. Not exactly a new year resolution but a conscious decision.
Let's see.
Monday, January 03, 2011
It's Not About The Numbers...
Except for some of us it is. Geocaching statistics are fascinating if not a smidge worrying. I wanted to get to 500 by the end of 2010, and I did, although the snow did mean it was a close thing. So, beginning of the year and where am I:
513 Finds on 512 unique Geocaches
Overall Total Finds: 513 finds in 225 caching days over 2401 total days (9.37 %)
Overall Averages: 2.28 finds per caching day, 0.21/day, 1.50/week, 6.50/month
Last 365 Days: 497 finds in 213 caching days over 365 total days (58.3 %)
Last 365 Days Averages: 2.33 finds per caching day, 1.36/day, 9.53/week, 41.45/month
Most consecutive days with finds: 104, from 06/09/2010 to 18/12/2010
Most consecutive days without a find: 1059, from 09/09/2006 to 02/08/2009
Most finds in a day: 10 on 18/07/2010; 10 on 13/10/2010; 9 on 30/10/2010
Best weekend caching: 13 finds, on Saturday 10/07/2010 & Sunday 11/07/2010
Best week caching: 24 finds, from Monday 16/08/2010 to Sunday 22/08/2010
Most finds in a calendar month: 72, in Jun 2010
Most Cache Types in a day: 3 on 01/06/2010
Most States in a day: 4 (South East England, Nil, Southern England, Eastern England, East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.
Most Counties in a day: 5 (Surrey : South East England, Berkshire : Nil, Oxfordshire : Southern England, Buckinghamshire : Eastern England, Buckinghamshire : East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.
Fastest 100 finds: 37 days from 12/06/2010 to 18/07/2010
Last 100 finds: 43 days
Total cache-to-cache distance: 13045 Miles, Note: includes locationless caches.
0.52x Earth Circumnavigation,
0.055x Distance to the Moon
Maximum distance in a day: 332 Miles - 6 caches, on 14/10/2010
Nearest cache found: The Go Between 'Two' GC1797J
Furthest cache found: 1847.08 Miles, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC
Most Northerly cache found: N 57° 26.064, Never mind the Bullers GCG4W9
Most Southerly cache found: N 28° 11.159, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC
Most Easterly cache found: W 0° 05.303, An old street GC1NR69
Most Westerly cache found: W 16° 41.889, Pico Viejo - DP/EC50 GC1WYK8
Cache centroid: N 52° 02.035 W 1° 16.170
Centroid is 18 Miles from home: England, United Kingdom
Youngest cache found: 31/12/2010, D'Abby Dash #21 - Hulcote GC2KVWK
Oldest cache found: 13/10/2001, Accessible by Horse GC22E0
Caches found which are now archived: 24 (4.68 %)
Most FTFs in a day: 2 on 13/07/2010; 2 on 03/08/2010; 2 on 06/09/2010
Most FTFs in a calendar month: 7, in Sep 2010
Most consecutive months with a FTF: 8, from Jun 2010 to Jan 2011 (Current streak)
23 FTF's
Found caches on 217 dates in the year
Highest cache "Picnic" on Teneriffe at an elevation of 7007ft, and lowest cache "Howzat! Torre Abbey" at 7ft.
19 caches hidden which have been found a total of 271 times by 98 cachers.
513 Finds on 512 unique Geocaches
Overall Total Finds: 513 finds in 225 caching days over 2401 total days (9.37 %)
Overall Averages: 2.28 finds per caching day, 0.21/day, 1.50/week, 6.50/month
Last 365 Days: 497 finds in 213 caching days over 365 total days (58.3 %)
Last 365 Days Averages: 2.33 finds per caching day, 1.36/day, 9.53/week, 41.45/month
Most consecutive days with finds: 104, from 06/09/2010 to 18/12/2010
Most consecutive days without a find: 1059, from 09/09/2006 to 02/08/2009
Most finds in a day: 10 on 18/07/2010; 10 on 13/10/2010; 9 on 30/10/2010
Best weekend caching: 13 finds, on Saturday 10/07/2010 & Sunday 11/07/2010
Best week caching: 24 finds, from Monday 16/08/2010 to Sunday 22/08/2010
Most finds in a calendar month: 72, in Jun 2010
Most Cache Types in a day: 3 on 01/06/2010
Most States in a day: 4 (South East England, Nil, Southern England, Eastern England, East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.
Most Counties in a day: 5 (Surrey : South East England, Berkshire : Nil, Oxfordshire : Southern England, Buckinghamshire : Eastern England, Buckinghamshire : East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.
Fastest 100 finds: 37 days from 12/06/2010 to 18/07/2010
Last 100 finds: 43 days
Total cache-to-cache distance: 13045 Miles, Note: includes locationless caches.
0.52x Earth Circumnavigation,
0.055x Distance to the Moon
Maximum distance in a day: 332 Miles - 6 caches, on 14/10/2010
Nearest cache found: The Go Between 'Two' GC1797J
Furthest cache found: 1847.08 Miles, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC
Most Northerly cache found: N 57° 26.064, Never mind the Bullers GCG4W9
Most Southerly cache found: N 28° 11.159, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC
Most Easterly cache found: W 0° 05.303, An old street GC1NR69
Most Westerly cache found: W 16° 41.889, Pico Viejo - DP/EC50 GC1WYK8
Cache centroid: N 52° 02.035 W 1° 16.170
Centroid is 18 Miles from home: England, United Kingdom
Youngest cache found: 31/12/2010, D'Abby Dash #21 - Hulcote GC2KVWK
Oldest cache found: 13/10/2001, Accessible by Horse GC22E0
Caches found which are now archived: 24 (4.68 %)
Most FTFs in a day: 2 on 13/07/2010; 2 on 03/08/2010; 2 on 06/09/2010
Most FTFs in a calendar month: 7, in Sep 2010
Most consecutive months with a FTF: 8, from Jun 2010 to Jan 2011 (Current streak)
23 FTF's
Found caches on 217 dates in the year
Highest cache "Picnic" on Teneriffe at an elevation of 7007ft, and lowest cache "Howzat! Torre Abbey" at 7ft.
19 caches hidden which have been found a total of 271 times by 98 cachers.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Your Song - Ellie Goulding
I don't normally like covers, and especially not when one of the great somgs of our time. But, well listen and see what you think -
Your Song - Elton John
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Bitter Boy - Kate Rusby
There was a boy, a bitter boy,
Who's golden heart I saw gleaming,
I thought I'd win the heart within,
But now I know that I was dreaming.
Chorus:
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until the day I can't conceal it,
Because I hold the saddest song,
And wish to God I cannot feel it.
Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to me for rest and healing,
He reached in his chest, deep in his breast,
Held out the heart for me still gleaming.
Chorus.
Then the boy, me and the boy,
We walked for miles through stormy weather,
Hand in hand, we roamed the land,
And held the gleaming heart together.
Chorus.
Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to take the gleaming treasure,
He reached in my chest, deep in my breast,
And took the gleaming heart forever.
Chorus
Who's golden heart I saw gleaming,
I thought I'd win the heart within,
But now I know that I was dreaming.
Chorus:
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until the day I can't conceal it,
Because I hold the saddest song,
And wish to God I cannot feel it.
Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to me for rest and healing,
He reached in his chest, deep in his breast,
Held out the heart for me still gleaming.
Chorus.
Then the boy, me and the boy,
We walked for miles through stormy weather,
Hand in hand, we roamed the land,
And held the gleaming heart together.
Chorus.
Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to take the gleaming treasure,
He reached in my chest, deep in my breast,
And took the gleaming heart forever.
Chorus
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Go Flash
Flash scores two against the Wallabies. And the second is an iconic moment, fantastic running from his own 22 in order to score. Beautiful to watch.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Searching For A Scare
Last Saturday we attended a geocache event in Great Brington. Just, because of the date, this one had a bit of a scary theme. Although we didn't turn up in fancy dress (we had been watching the Saints beat the Falcons so were in our rugby clothes) many did. I wonder what the villagers thought to so many ghouls, witches, warlocks and vampires turning up in their rather nice pub. Anyway, after a nice pub meal we obtained the list of caches that had been especially put out for a night time cache. Loaded all the co-ordinates in the GPS (seemed a good idea to do this inside rather than in the dark), met up with friends and then set off in the dark. Not quite enough torches to go around and the kids ran off with most of them, so the grown ups were left making their way down footpaths by moonlight.
Great Brington is where Althorp House is (thus sparking a debate on how it is pronounced, I am sticking to Althrup) so I am surprised that the police weren't out in force as a result of multiple reports of torches in the woods. There were so many torches flashing around from all the cachers (over 150 I believe) that it was like an invasion.
But the organiser deserves major credit for the thought that went into these caches. Really went with the theme. Possibly not too surprising that one was a rat, and one a bat. A bit more surprising was the severed hand (the cache was called Thing, and had the adults humming the Adams Family tune). But the real crowning glory was the coffin in the middle of the wood. Yes, a coffin. Full sized. And when opened containing a decaying body. Oh yes, there was a lot of screaming. Excellent.
Great Brington is where Althorp House is (thus sparking a debate on how it is pronounced, I am sticking to Althrup) so I am surprised that the police weren't out in force as a result of multiple reports of torches in the woods. There were so many torches flashing around from all the cachers (over 150 I believe) that it was like an invasion.
But the organiser deserves major credit for the thought that went into these caches. Really went with the theme. Possibly not too surprising that one was a rat, and one a bat. A bit more surprising was the severed hand (the cache was called Thing, and had the adults humming the Adams Family tune). But the real crowning glory was the coffin in the middle of the wood. Yes, a coffin. Full sized. And when opened containing a decaying body. Oh yes, there was a lot of screaming. Excellent.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Ship Ahoy (or No)!
I looked up the definition of asute. I found "having or showing shrewdness and discernment, especially with respect to one's own concerns". Which makes HMS Asute's name even more ironic. Here we have a state of the art nuclear submarine, designed to outmanouvre the keenest of the enemies navy and it can't even get out of the way of an island. It is supposed to be able to circumnavigate the globe underwater but actually getting underwater seems more of a problem.
It certainly seems that Skye boasts a grudge against the navy as this isn't the first time a sub has run aground there. Perhaps this is an attempt by scottish nationals to develop their own navy by hijacking some passing submarine. In fact, quite a few of the navy's subs have had collisions in the last 20 or so years. Maybe they should be fitted with hazard lights.
It certainly seems that Skye boasts a grudge against the navy as this isn't the first time a sub has run aground there. Perhaps this is an attempt by scottish nationals to develop their own navy by hijacking some passing submarine. In fact, quite a few of the navy's subs have had collisions in the last 20 or so years. Maybe they should be fitted with hazard lights.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
With Thanks to Rainbow Dreams
The Invitation ~
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to
be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can
disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to
be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can
disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Addicted Find
I am sometimes accused of being fanatical. Well, when I say accused, to be honest I would agree. I have a tendency to get VERY involved with something that sparks my interest and might not always have the best sense of moderation. Currently geocaching would fit in this bracket. A supposedly cheap hobby has become an expensive one as I make my own signature items, my own caches, buy geocoins and travelbugs etc etc etc.
So it was nice today, while wandering around London hunting out a few caches, to come across some fellow geocachers and discover that they had flown to London from Sweden for a two day holiday purely to go caching around the capital. Now there's fanaticism!
So it was nice today, while wandering around London hunting out a few caches, to come across some fellow geocachers and discover that they had flown to London from Sweden for a two day holiday purely to go caching around the capital. Now there's fanaticism!
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sunday, September 05, 2010
And Another Thing...
I missed off something else. I missed it because it hadn't really registered as that exciting. But I just used Wiki and that has changed my mind.
I WAS STANDING NEXT TO TOM HOLLANDER WHEN HE BOUGHT A SAUSAGE!!!!!
OK, maybe that sounds a bit weird.
So, Tom Hollander was at Greenbelt this year, and he was doing a bit of filming. At this point I should put my hands up and say that a) I don't normally get that excited by "celebrities" and b) I usually can't recognise them anyway let alone know what they have been in.
On with the story - it was lunch time and I wondered what to get. I thought I would try the Westmoreland and Cumberland Sausage company. I went and stood in the queue. Slightly annoying, I thought I recognised the person in front of me. I racked my brains - had he been in my team in a previous year, did I know him from work, even was he a client when I was in practice near here. All drawing a blank, but I was sure I knew him. Just as I was about to tap him on the shoulder and say "excuse me, do I know you", someone else walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. Then they said a weird thing, they said "can you turn more this way". Odd. I looked, and there was a film camera. Penny dropped, this must be the person they were filming (OK, another admission, at this time I didn't know this was Tom Hollander, I had just got as far as realising this was an actor). We worked our way up the queue. He went to buy a sausage, but him couldn't quite nail the character, so he wanted to take a moment to compose himself, he told me to go in front of him. And then, while I was waiting for my sausage, he came to the counter and ordered two, one with onions and one without.
I wandered off, mildly amused but not particularly excited. I've been on TV before. I've been interviewed by Sky and the BBC. So this didn't rank far out of the ordinary. I did google up the programme and found that it was Tom Hollander. But this still didn't mean much. Until just ten minutes ago. For "J" I thought I would google a picture of Tom Hollander. I did. And OMG, he was in Pirates of the Caribbean!!!!!!!! And I nearly asked him if he had worked in the Support Team!!!!!
So, if you ever see a programme with Tom Hollander buying a sausage then look for me in the background. I'm the one in the hat.
I WAS STANDING NEXT TO TOM HOLLANDER WHEN HE BOUGHT A SAUSAGE!!!!!
OK, maybe that sounds a bit weird.
So, Tom Hollander was at Greenbelt this year, and he was doing a bit of filming. At this point I should put my hands up and say that a) I don't normally get that excited by "celebrities" and b) I usually can't recognise them anyway let alone know what they have been in.
On with the story - it was lunch time and I wondered what to get. I thought I would try the Westmoreland and Cumberland Sausage company. I went and stood in the queue. Slightly annoying, I thought I recognised the person in front of me. I racked my brains - had he been in my team in a previous year, did I know him from work, even was he a client when I was in practice near here. All drawing a blank, but I was sure I knew him. Just as I was about to tap him on the shoulder and say "excuse me, do I know you", someone else walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. Then they said a weird thing, they said "can you turn more this way". Odd. I looked, and there was a film camera. Penny dropped, this must be the person they were filming (OK, another admission, at this time I didn't know this was Tom Hollander, I had just got as far as realising this was an actor). We worked our way up the queue. He went to buy a sausage, but him couldn't quite nail the character, so he wanted to take a moment to compose himself, he told me to go in front of him. And then, while I was waiting for my sausage, he came to the counter and ordered two, one with onions and one without.
I wandered off, mildly amused but not particularly excited. I've been on TV before. I've been interviewed by Sky and the BBC. So this didn't rank far out of the ordinary. I did google up the programme and found that it was Tom Hollander. But this still didn't mean much. Until just ten minutes ago. For "J" I thought I would google a picture of Tom Hollander. I did. And OMG, he was in Pirates of the Caribbean!!!!!!!! And I nearly asked him if he had worked in the Support Team!!!!!
So, if you ever see a programme with Tom Hollander buying a sausage then look for me in the background. I'm the one in the hat.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Greenbelt
I seem to have missed off blogging about Greenbelt this year. Not entirely sure why. Maybe it's because I didn't feel I needed to provide Squeak with running commentary as she came as a punter. Maybe my mind is on other things. Maybe there was so much water in the form of rain that I was worried it would short circuit any equipment that could access the internet.
Whatever the reason, it was a good year. As always it went too quickly. A blink and it was over. Were there any highlights. Well, in no particular order:
1) The campsite sweep - for certain reasons we ended up doing a sweep of the main campsite. In previous years it has fallen to our team to sweep the helicopter field on the Friday night. Slight change this year so we ended up doing the central racecourse. Never again springs to mind. The helicopter field is a nice rectangle. Easy to plan, easy to sweep. The central racecourse is completely out of shape. Trying to ensure that the sweep is in a straight line, well spread out, and all areas are checked is next to impossible. No wonder we didn't finish until nearly 0400 hrs. And to cap it all we didn't get to use the golf buggies!
2) The team of doom - they know who they are. An all female pairing which worked together for two nights. They didn't even need to go looking for things to do, trouble came to them. We'd turn our attnetion elsewhere for 5 minutes and the Team of Doom would pick up yet another shout. Even when all else was quiet they were managing to find lost children, burning installations, and just general chaos.
3) Chinese lanterns posing as the ISS - there were a lot of chinese lanterns being let off this year from around the campsite or from outside the campsite. One team seemed to make it their sole purpose to report these. However, in an interesting twist, when they were actually asked to investigate one such incident then they quickly decided that it was the International Space Station passing overhead. Which led to the classic retort from Control "only if its on fire!"
4) A thank you card from the team - Zippie and I were both given a card signed by all the members of the team. A lovely gesture and, don't tell them, really meant a lot to me.
5) The team - we were missing a few old hands this year. But we had some new ones, and also one of the grand originals returned (hard to beleieve that the Support Team is in its tenth year). And they all did really well. It becomes very easy for Zippie and me, we get bathed in the reflected glory of a job well done by our team. I am proud to work with them.
6) The weather - I don't think I have ever tried to put up a tent in as much rain. And then discovered that the new tent is poorly designed and gets very damp. Despite this, the weather improved for the festival itself rather than the set up, and we ended up with sun, plus the most incredible rainbow.
7) Being accused of stealing the FOMs vehicle - on the second day I was approached by a FOM (Festival Operations Manager) to be told that I was using their vehicle. Turns out they were sulking because I was using a Nissan Navara whereas they had a beaten up Landrover. Pleased to say, I kept the Nissan!
Whatever the reason, it was a good year. As always it went too quickly. A blink and it was over. Were there any highlights. Well, in no particular order:
1) The campsite sweep - for certain reasons we ended up doing a sweep of the main campsite. In previous years it has fallen to our team to sweep the helicopter field on the Friday night. Slight change this year so we ended up doing the central racecourse. Never again springs to mind. The helicopter field is a nice rectangle. Easy to plan, easy to sweep. The central racecourse is completely out of shape. Trying to ensure that the sweep is in a straight line, well spread out, and all areas are checked is next to impossible. No wonder we didn't finish until nearly 0400 hrs. And to cap it all we didn't get to use the golf buggies!
2) The team of doom - they know who they are. An all female pairing which worked together for two nights. They didn't even need to go looking for things to do, trouble came to them. We'd turn our attnetion elsewhere for 5 minutes and the Team of Doom would pick up yet another shout. Even when all else was quiet they were managing to find lost children, burning installations, and just general chaos.
3) Chinese lanterns posing as the ISS - there were a lot of chinese lanterns being let off this year from around the campsite or from outside the campsite. One team seemed to make it their sole purpose to report these. However, in an interesting twist, when they were actually asked to investigate one such incident then they quickly decided that it was the International Space Station passing overhead. Which led to the classic retort from Control "only if its on fire!"
4) A thank you card from the team - Zippie and I were both given a card signed by all the members of the team. A lovely gesture and, don't tell them, really meant a lot to me.
5) The team - we were missing a few old hands this year. But we had some new ones, and also one of the grand originals returned (hard to beleieve that the Support Team is in its tenth year). And they all did really well. It becomes very easy for Zippie and me, we get bathed in the reflected glory of a job well done by our team. I am proud to work with them.
6) The weather - I don't think I have ever tried to put up a tent in as much rain. And then discovered that the new tent is poorly designed and gets very damp. Despite this, the weather improved for the festival itself rather than the set up, and we ended up with sun, plus the most incredible rainbow.
7) Being accused of stealing the FOMs vehicle - on the second day I was approached by a FOM (Festival Operations Manager) to be told that I was using their vehicle. Turns out they were sulking because I was using a Nissan Navara whereas they had a beaten up Landrover. Pleased to say, I kept the Nissan!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)