01 Dec 2008
Christmas come early
Right then. I’m planning to go to Leeds on the 6th and then to this Birmingham market on the 7th.
Who fancies tagging along (to either)?
24 Nov 2008
Mome
A slow start to the next day but I was in no particular hurry. It seems Dumfries is a pain to get to from just about anywhere. The frequency of trains from Glasgow was not great and it would be a 2 hour trip more or less.
But this trip was about getting some quality “sitting back and watching the world go by” time.
Not too many folk on the train either but I kept getting looked at by a bloke in a reflective jacket. I think he was a guard of some sort. When we pulled in at stations he stood up and had a look along the platform but didn’t do the checking tickets thing.
Just before Dumfries I stood up to get my stuff together and then sat down on a different seat with my bag ready to go. This really made him stare. Slightly creepy.
But he didn’t follow me off the train.
Nice meetings again with another lovely friend who would be my host for the next 3 nights.
The first plan was to get to the shop. My pal is a surgeon and when we were in Morrisons we bumped into a guy who was due to go under her knife in a week or so’s time. I’m not sure he was best assured by the trolley full of cat food and booze. But we had a melon as well so that’s all right.
Back to her gorgeous place in the fields one side of the town.
We were planning a walk into town for a pub dinner but one of her pals phoned and invited us for dinner with her and her husband. Grand!
So I got a rather impressive and very tasty german meal that day. Was also v interesting sitting with 2 ortho surgeons and a radiologist. Got me some useful medical info out of the encounter and hopefully held my own in some of the discussion.
Whilst sitting around my host decides to tell everyone there how weird I am for going for foreigners. “Oh hee hee” they all went. I should point out that the woman relating the story is partnered up with a Norwegian chap and the other listeners were an English man and his German wife.
Next day was another quiet one. My host had gone off to “help mend a pelvis” so I was left chilling (literally) in the house with her cats and chickens and ducks.
Later we did the Dumfries sightseeing thing. Didn’t last long but it’s a nice enough place. Certainly much prettier than I expected.
I can’t remember much else about Friday so I’ll assume that that’s about it. I do remember sitting in front of the woodburner of the evening reading and chatting and introducing her to the delights of “The Bugle” (once the News Quiz had finished).
I had intended to go back to Edinburgh on the Saturday to be able to catch my train home but I was (easily) persuaded to stay in Dumfries. All I needed to do was travel to Carlisle and hop across to Newcastle to pick my train up there. And a good plan it was.
And it left Saturday to do stuff. So we had a little tour of Dumfries and its environs. Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright were visited. In fact Kirkcudbright was where me and K spent our first New Year’s eve as a couple. I didn’t remember anything of the town though and was reasonably surprised to discover that it had docks and that.
Besides local towns we also sat in local cafes and bought stuff in little shops and looked at statues of hares and so on. A very nice way to spend a day. And I got to hear the word “demi-johns” quite a lot.
Another evening spent in front of the woodburner. This time I thrashed her at Scrabble a couple of times as well as the reading and drinking and chatting.
And then I had to come home.
She very nicely gave me a lift to Carlisle. My train only just made it to Newcastle on time which was handy as my ticket was for that specific train rather than a specific journey.
It did slightly confuse the conductor when she saw my ticket was from Edinburgh. “But you got on at Newcastle”.
Safely home to find no burglary but also no food in the house. So I’m starving today.
Stuff to remember:
- Don’t forget your razor.
- Scotland is very nice.
- People I know in Scotland are extremely lovely.
- It’s cold up there.
- Trains are variable.
Photos of stuff are up now too.
20 Nov 2008
Down a class
Monday evening was Edinburgh juggling club night. Me and Rosie headed off a little late but it wasn’t to be a long walk. Well it shouldn’t have been a long walk. What actually happened was that we found the place but found no way in. Then we walked all the way around to find a dead-end, this meant a walk all the way back again. But no, we were lucky and found a 3rd way. So back to find a small gate leading us into a dark car park. No idea where to go so we headed for a door with a light on past it. No-one there to ask, no signs.
Once we heard the sounds of droppage we bore left; first up was some community orchestra room, not for us. And then we found it. Juggling hall with people.
And that was it pretty much. No-one talked to us so me and Rosie passed for a bit before approaching someone I recognised from conventions. Say hello to Canadian Duncan - diaboloer extraordinaire.
He was a chatty soul so we passed some time nattering before heading to a pub with someone called Alex who was the image of what you’d expect Donald Grant’s younger brother to look like.
And then home.
Tuesday morning was pretty quiet. I stayed in bed ’til late and then packed up and was away from Edinburgh to Glasgow, thanking Rosie and Tom for their time and spare bed.
Mild hassles with the train but made it in the end despite Scotrail’s attempts to thwart me.
Glasgow was cold and wet when I got here and has remained so since.
And what a change from Edinburgh. Firstly there are people here with actual scottish accents - loads of them. Who’d of thunk it?
Second is it is nowhere near as posh as Edinburgh. Full-on working class at least the bits I’ve seen.
Az picked me up from some local train station and we sat and chatted for a while before getting my second curry of the trip. Not a patch on the first one but still ok.
And to Wednesday. A guy called Tom had graciously agreed to guide me today so we trained it into the city to sightsee. Top chap; more so in fact as I found out later he’d had no sleep and was suffering. He hid it well.
The first stop was The Necropolis. Basically it’s a graveyard. But it’s the swanky graveyard for rich nobs and city stars. Nice hillside location near the cathedral. Hopefully a few good pics taken there, I tried to capture some good weather shots. At least one of them won’t be a good advert for Glasgow though unless people do actually want to come here for the wet and grimy weather.
From there to GoMA. A shame that half of it was closed.
And then further to Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery. Now this was more like it. A short tube ride away but near a quiet park and much more genteel than the other places we’d seen so far. The museum wasn’t too bad excepting its rather bitty nature. One gallery would show some stuff in a small amount of detail but then not expand it and the next area was unrelated to it. So you have wildlife of Scotland, which was good and had some stuff about endangered species, but the next gallery was Ancient Egypt. Just too bitty for me.
Canadian Duncan had decided to come along to Glasgow juggling club and phoned to meet us in some pizza place (where I had the biggest Calzone I’ve seen for ages). And onwards to juggle.
Glasgow club was a bit more friendly than Edinburgh’s. Me and Az passed a bit first and then she sat out to chat some. I passed with Duncan and then sat out myself whilst occasionally giving out snippets of advice to beginners.
One thing that surprised me at both clubs was the skill level on display. Mainly that it just wasn’t very high. Sure there was the odd one who was very good (eg Duncan) but club jugglers on display were learning the cascade. Ball jugglers were doing not a lot. And nobody seemed to be able to pass even a 6 club 4 count with any consistency. It just surprised me.
But as I say the Glasgow lot were a friendly enough bunch.
Now I’m back at Az’s to sleep before zooming off to my 3rd place of the trip tomorrow.
Dumfries here we come.
Have fun.
17 Nov 2008
Handi fish
I believe the words are
“Holidaaay! Celebraaytt!”
Didn’t someone once sing that? Not sure.
Anyways I’m on me hols again. I know great int it?
This time I’ve winded up in the frozen wastes of the far north. Well nearly. I’m in Edinburgh today, got here on Saturday after a lovely long train ride. Ok ignore the lovely bit. Merely a long train ride.
I deliberately picked the train instead of flying as I wanted a nice long train ride. I’ve not had one for a while. Tickets bought ages ago so not expensive and seats reserved.
Changed at Chesterfield to get on a “Cross country” train. My reserved seat was in the middle of a large group of drunk football fans but the train was quite quiet so I wimped out and sat elsewhere. The seat chosen was apparently not reserved but at every stop someone got on and moved someone nearby from their reserved seat. None of these seats had “reserved” signs on either so it meant that at every stop I was worrying that I’d be moved.
Turned out that wasn’t necessary at all.
The other problem with the train was its sheer mankiness. I got on it only to melt at the heat intensity inside. Someone else whinged at the conductor and he said that the heating was off so it should cool down. Hmm. Oh and it smelt of stale alcohol too. Sort of like a thinner, more mobile version of Lugeburf students union. Yeurch.
Arrived in Edinburgh on time only to be confused by the randomness of Waverley station. A bigger, less managable station it’s hard to conceive of. This bit seems to be indoors but there’s a bus stop. Ah now we’re outside again and have left the station but there’s a train waiting to be boarded. Very peculiar indeed.
This made finding Rosie, my lovely host, quite awkward.
But connection made and back to her and Tom’s flat.
That evening consisted of dodging rugby fans and eating a very nice curry. I had “Handi fish dupiaza”, the list of ingredients included “pomegranite”. Magic. Very nice and whopping portions.
Yesterday me and Rosie wandered. The Water of Leith is a pleasant stroll, showing off some of Edinburgh’s nice bits. Oh and we wandered into a couple of art galleries too. The evening finished off with a rather lovely home-made roast with beer.
Today they’ve been working so I wandered around the city taking pics and that. Back now to chill. We’re off to the juggling club this evening and I’m away to Glasgow for a couple of days from tomorrow.
Have fun.
14 Oct 2008
Eis oder Scheiss?
I do like Germany. I’ve just been away to Heidelberg (or its environs) for a few days.
I’d hoped to have an old pal but calls and messages weren’t returned and address changed ages ago from what I know. Very sad.
A swift note on flying again. I’ve recently said that I hate the whole process. But this time I went with a proper airline. Not a cattle train thing but one where they give you a seat number. There was far less hassle, no pushing, a chance to pick your seat, “free” drinks and food. Just a stack load more civilised.
Having said that the airport at Frankfurt is majorly weird. I got off the plane and followed the signs to passport control and baggage reclaim. After an age of walking I went through some doors and seemed to be outside of the secure bit. There were people waiting for travellers, the shops were all around; but I’d still not seen a pass control or baggage place. Eventually I found a passport control desk. Through that to more shops and more people milling around as if they were non-flyers. Very odd indeed.
I was met at Heidelberg Hbf by young Mini and her mum. The train was 6 minutes late, so much for German trains being wonderful. Tsk.
They laughed at me for saying that German trains should be on time. They stared with amazement when I told them that UK trains must be more than 15 mins late to be counted as “late” in the figures. I still think they win.
Their home is rather nice and like all family homes the action all takes place in the kitchen. My bed was in another building in a little outhouse where the girls had a room each and a living room space for both of them. I was in that bit. Comfy and warm.
On Wednesday afternoon Tamali was away and Helena had to study so I was with Mini who I think would be the first to say that she is not the most confident English speaker. She managed marvellously well though. We had a good hour or two chatting about stuff in poor german (on my part) and adequate English (from her).
Later on in the evening we headed out for food in a restaurant called “Fody’s” which involved a minor trip over a river. The food was excellent german stuff but the place was odd. There were 3 bits to it. Outside was too cold so we didn’t sit there. There was a tent which was quiet but allowed smoking so smelt a bit. Inside was warm and comfy but they had awful music on. We chose to sit inside on the basis that bad music isn’t as bad as smoke wafting our way.
Another oddity was that dogs were allowed in the place. There were a few dogs hanging around under tables. I’ve never seen that anywhere else.
But the highlight was that Jules and Lisa joined us for food. Lovely group of folk, lovely food. Rather a good evening.
Oh apart from “the phone call”. As the group were all here we phoned Clurb and Pee. Clurb gave me my “5 things to do”. She did this by telling Jules who gave a running commentary to the table. Unfortunately one of them involved me taking notice of “Mini’s rack”. Jules didn’t know what this was so kept asking me. My discomfort told them that something was naughty. Tsk.
Thursday was a quiet one. The girls had gone to school early so I slept in til late. Loads of reading done. A couple of supermarket trips followed in the afternoon. And that was about it until the evening.
Helena had an English test to do on Friday and she asked me to chat through the work to be tested. After that we had a long chat about politics, the environment, the economy, religion and more. She held her own admirably and if she failed that test then I’m impressed by how advanced their tests are. Very impressed.
I also briefly had a play on the net. Couldn’t get through to clurb.net. Odd but prolly nothing beyond the server having a spasm. And so to bed.
Oh my phone’s ringing. It’s Pee telling me that clurb.net has vanished. Hmm. Swift return to the web to see that the registration of the domain had lapsed and they’d not bothered to send me an email to tell me.
A slightly nervous time trying to fix it but it seemed to work, eventually.
The following day was the start of the Herxheim convention. Tamali was working in the morning and the girls were at school so I didn’t do a lot until 11 when I was handed the car keys and told “do something!”
Car loaded and we were off. Firstly to pick up Jules and then to Herxheim.
On the way we were passed by a juggler’s car. Not only that but it turned out to be Jules’ mum.
We were there a few hours before it started so we could help out setting up. I didn’t get to do a lot at first. I’m not sure whether they wanted to spare me hassle (as I’m a guest) or that they just didn’t want to chat to someone who may not understand. Of course they may just have assumed I’d be useless at anything they wanted. You decide!
When people started to show up Lisa bounded up to tell me that Thomas! had arrived and that Clurb would have been excited to hear this. After a couple of hours of starting I think I recognised about 2 people (including Thomas!)
But then Helena introduces me to quite a lovely bloke with a guitar. He’s called Jurgen and has an interesting story of performing, drugs, alcohol and dropping out. He’s now trying to build a full on eco-life with sustainable everything. I had a great time chatting for a good few hours.
A little later Lisa introduces me to a guy called Gerhard. She’s grinning a bit and then tells us that we know each other. We’re both blank at this but then she calls me MonkeyJuggler and him Palmcron. We both go “Ohhh!” and then start passing. Another grand person to meet. Was fun teaching him 7 club 3 count and 4 count too.
I was up late that night. I spent my time chatting to Tamali, Helena, Lisa and a pair of fellows called Andreas and Kristian. More nice folk.
I went to bed on a borrowed fake thermarest. The most amazing thing about this was that the air squashed away from where the weight was. In practice this meant that I was sleeping with little cushioning between my body and the floor but my feet were on the biggest bulge of air. Very odd indeed.
So a bad night’s sleep and up early.
There wasn’t much going on in the morning so I headed out to see the town. A rather nice place, bizarrely twinned with a place in Rwanda. And also with Ilfracombe!
Once back I did some juggling. Unheard of.
And watched people.
There was an acro workshop that had the bizarrest warm up of running at people then leaping and slapping hands. Then crawling and going through people’s legs. Then they started “swimming” on each other. Very odd behaviour.
Oh yes and part of the warm up included full lumbar flexion and then twisting whilst fully flexed. Note to acro workshop leaders - this is not such a great idea. This movement is the one that is most likely to put someone’s back out. Don’t do it.
Then the show was getting set up. It wasn’t a full on gala-show. Helena called it an “open show” to me and then giggled.
After the show came more passing and then to bed.
Jules showed me to my room (she had the key) and then sat and chatted for hours. Very nice way to end the day.
And I really managed to sleep well. Thankfully I’d set my phone’s alarm, otherwise I’m not sure I’d have made it to the train.
Hugs to everyone and then to the station with Jules.
Met a guy called Jan there and managed a half hour conversation in German. Woot.
And that was it. Home now and really wanting to go back.
Work just isn’t as fun.
Pics here.
22 Sep 2008
Driving school
So then. First Bg trip since me and K were no more.
The plan was to sort house stuff and that was it.
The flight was fine but I have now definitely decided that I don’t enjoy flying. Not particularly phased by it but the whole process is just unpleasant. The mental pushing to get on, the hanging around, the morons standing up and getting their stuff whilst being yelled at by the stewards to bloody sit down as the plane hasn’t stopped yet, the moronic football fans, the stewards coming to sell you stuff. Just nasty.
We had a late flight so ended up in Sofia at 2am. The next bus was at 6am. So a lovely 4 hours on a hard chair at Sofia bus station. There are SO many places to sit that would be far more enjoyable and comfortable.
But eventually to VT and I actually managed to sleep on the coach which reduced a tedious 3 hour journey to a couple of moments of waking up at random towns on the way. Marvellous.
Straight to the village and arrived sort of midday Wednesday. Slept for a bit and then to work.
To the house to meet with the guys doing the work. Things are coming on and the main work completed is a central heating system and improved fireplace bit downstairs. Still bathroom stuff to do and some decor and a kitchen. But things are looking alright.
Round to the neighbours (who originally sold us the place) for food and chat. And then to a new couple in the village’s house. I was tired and not keen but this was an English couple just moved in. Met them and sat inside for a bit and got beer so they seemed friendly enough.
Later we had food with them and Maiko and chatted. A nice end to a long couple of days.
The rest of the time passed in a blur of doing nothing, playing with animals, eating out and shopping. Oh and I bumped into a 4 club juggler in the city park in VT. Sadly he wasn’t a passer but he was most impressed to meet someone who could at least have a good crack at 4 clubs. First club juggler I’ve met in Bg (and on possibly my last regular trip there. Ah well. Shit isn’t it?)
We picked stuff for house, not much else to do now.
The other place I saw was K’s new flat. She has a garage in the city which someone has built a 1 bed flat on top of. And it’s now hers. Not quite finished but looking good. Bachelor pad in the city for some young bloke I’m sure. Tiny but perfectly good enough for a young ‘un.
One night we had the regulars over for music and food. As fun as usual. A good evening.
Coming home was rather interesting. It was a late night bus to Sofia and my first bus trip journey to Sofia on my own. K asked a bloke looking like he was off to the airport whether he’d sort me a taxi (I’m sure I could have anyway) and he spoke good English so we chatted a bit on the bus. Nice chap.
As we were just about to set off a brit a few seats along was getting hassle off the “conductor”. Apparently his ticket was for the following day. My new friend went to translate and it went sort of
-”But the seat is paid for.”
“No I can’t let you on.”
-”How about I buy a new ticket then?”
“I can’t sell you a ticket. You need to buy one at the office. It’s over there.”
-”It’s closed now.”
“I can’t sell you a ticket.”
-”What does this situation need?” (with hand going to wallet in pocket).
“I can’t sell you a ticket”.
-”I’ll miss my bus.”
“I can’t sell you a ticket.”
And that was that. Bulgarian customer service in all its glory. Guy had to get off and the only way he was getting to Sofia was by getting a taxi. Poor sod.
Then my new pal started getting really ill and threw up on the bus.
Finally to Sofia. Taxi driver was a mental. 90mph up the backside of a huge 4×4 that you couldn’t see past was the least of his indiscretions. New pal threw up on the pavement when the cab finally pulled up at the airport. I was in what can only be described as minor shock/terror as well. My word!
Anyway once in the airport we met the guy who’d been thrown off the bus. He’d commandeered a taxi and made it there before us and came over to say “ta” to the Bg guy for trying and helping back in VT.
I ended up sat next to this bloke on the plane and it turned out he’s moved near to VT with his wife and lives in Derby (well nearish anyway). So we ended up on the same train.
His travel day was shocking. Starting in VT he’d been thrown off the bus and had to get a cab. Back in the UK we got on our first train an hour before the one I was expecting to meet, so that was ok. But that was only to Bedford. Once in Bedford (at 8.30) we discovered that Midland trains only ran from 9.50. So a cool hour and a half to wait, in Bedford. The coffee place was expensive, the cash machine was broken so we couldn’t have had food or coffee (or whatever) anyway, the loos were closed due to vandalism. The train also appeared not to go to Derby. He went to find out whether he was allowed to go to Nottingham as he could get a bus from there. Answer “no” but also “there are no trains to Derby today, engineering work”. So he had to go to Beeston. But then another hope! His sister lives in Beeston so he’d stop there for a bit and then ask them to give him a lift. Hurrah!
5 minutes later “Bugger!” What? “My sister’s on holiday. Doesn’t come back for a week.”
Ah well.
And the train we got on was called “The Pride of Derby”. Lovely timing.
Home now.
Photos good. House good. Glad to be back. Glad house is sorting.
Perhaps I can concentrate more on life again now.
We’ll see.
21 Sep 2008
Bulgaria 08
Oh loads to say but frankly I’m v tired and can’t be bothered.
I’ll prolly write some more tomorrow but for now you’ll just have to look forward to stuff about houses, flats, furnishings, and travel hell.
For now here are some pics.
Have fun.
21 Aug 2008
The Koreans are coming!
OK strike that.
They’ve been. I’ve broken my CouchSurfing cherry.
Hyun, her boyfriend and a mate of theirs showed up at mine around 6.30 yesterday evening.
I actually had no idea how many people would be coming. My profile on CS.com says I can deal with 2 surfers at a time; Hyun’s original request didn’t state a number so I assumed 1. Her next message said “we” so I assumed more but I only discovered how many at, ooh about 6.30 yesterday.
Her English was good but the 2 guys didn’t speak it very well but they gamely had a go. Shame they wanted to talk about football. I’ve come to expect football talk. It’s an instant way of finding common ground and heaven knows there’s precious little of that between S.Korea and the UK.
I didn’t know what their plans were for the evening but it seems that they’d more or less stepped off their plane and got the bus here so they were more than a tad tired.
But they still made me a proper noodle dinner with weird fish and flattened sheets of proper seaweed - was actually rather nice.
Shortly after that they disappeared off to sleep.
I discovered this morning that they’d left my stove on overnight. I guess that gas hobs aren’t common there. They’d obviously tried to turn it off but didn’t figure the “press it in and turn” move to proper turn things off. Sigh, there goes my frugality re gas for the month.
Oh and their bedroom light has been on all day.
Tsk.
But all in all they were a nice bunch of folk and they’ve presented me with a rather swish looking bottle of Korean alcohol (rice wine I think).
[edit: just remembered their next bit of journey. I wanted to put this in because it's a beaut (as Tan would say). They're off up to Edinburgh. That's cool but they're going on a bus. That wouldn't be completely awful but they decided to go for cheap rather than practical. So they got the bus this afternoon. To London. Their bus will go this evening from there to Edinburgh. Urgh. What a bizarre route.]
13 Aug 2008
EJC2008
Oh my word.
So much stuff to pack in. A week’s worth of activity and experience. This’ll be a very long post. I was going to do it as separate days but it’s taken me this long to get round to it so here it all is. I’ll do the gala show in another post.
Day 1
Travel there was straightforward if a little on the long side. I got to P&C’s at about 6pm and we’d left before half past. We finally ended up at Karlsruhe not long after midday local time. So it was a 17 hour trip. Hard work and I was dead when we got there. There were some good lines though. The most memorable being “He woke the windowsill woman up and she was NOT happy about it” and “If we were in Australia we’d already be there”.
As we got there I realised that I had no Euros and I didn’t expect to be able to pay by card. The registration queue was long and I didn’t really want to have to either queue for ages and find out that I couldn’t pay with a card, or walk ages to find a cash machine.
Now many of you may know Mini. He was walking the queues trying to speed things up. He heard of my hassles and promptly lent me E100, P&C lent me the rest. Huzzah - helpful people.
Mini - thanks so much - the thought of having to walk to the cash point at that moment was really depressing me.
Tent was put up and I slept. Or at least I tried to. My word it was hot. I ended up in a pool of sweat so picked up my pillow and slept in the shade outside of the tent. I have no clue how long I was out for but I’m assured it was quite some time.
The show tickets were dished out at registration too but this was odd - P&C got Thurs pm - I got Friday afternoon. These were just given to us and there was no choice. I’d quite have liked to have been given an option to maybe go to the same show as the people I’d just driven all this way with. Mini saw this and set off with my ticket to change it. He did but I found out later in the week that he’d swapped the Fri afternoon for Fri evening. I tried to change it a couple of times but everyone pretty much wanted the Thursday show and no-one would swap. I was annoyed at first but through the week more and more people I met were going to the Friday evening show that it became less of an issue. But I still don’t see why people weren’t just asked which show they’d prefer.
After the marathon journey and sleep I checked out the showers - top news they were grand, hot and clean.
The site was pretty impressive generally. It was in 2 halves separated by a tram line. One side had the main hall (an indoor sports place big enough for a running track - a 200m one anyway) and the camping areas. This whole bit was for conventioners only. The other side was based between a couple of hills and had a couple of huge big tops for shows, a beer tent, catering and more and was open to the public as well (although they couldn’t get into the tents to see any shows).
I spent the first evening there sitting on the grass drinking “Jugglers Brew” a rather nice local Pils rebadged specially for the EJC. It was here where Pete found a lost wallet and then we enjoyed watching a harassed looking man show up and look for it but not opening his mouth to ask anything. Eventually we asked him and Pete gave it him back. It was odd but I suppose he may not have had much English to be fair.
Still tired that first day so off to bed earlyish only to be kept awake by annoying American family with squealy young daughter.
Day 2
Rained a lot overnight which did wake me up but generally not a bad night’s sleep. Me and Clurb’s first juggle was this morning where the gym was rather annoyingly hotter than anywhere else.
Apart from juggling we met more known faces. Me and Tom enjoyed a kebap each and chatted with others on a lovely sunny knoll.
And then one of the highlights - Jules was there. I haven’t seen Jules since about 2000. Wonderful person to know and a great re-union. Hurrah for Jules.
Then we fought our way through the “queue” to get into the “Chapter 2″ show. The deal with this one was a showcase for the Chapter 2 festival coming up in Brugge in October. Was an interesting show with lots of improv stuff done by lots of folk. Highlights for me were Wes Peden and some Chilean guy I’d never heard of called Carlos Munaz. The final act was a double bill of Marco Paoletti and Stefan Sing - nice ideas but too long. The best bit was their sound man doing live sampling - can’t remember his name; Sebastian something I think. Later on discussing the show I came to the conclusion that I’m a heretic in that I think Marco is over-rated. Don’t get me wrong, he’s bloody good, just that his invention and performance just isn’t as good as he wants it to be. I feel it’s like when I was a kid wanting to draw a picture and knowing what that picture should look like but just not having the ability to do it like I wanted to.
Later on that night a strange man stared at Clurb’s boobs for ages and I finally got to speak some Deutsch.
Day 3
I woke up the next morning to find ants everywhere. Sigh. Camping is so much fun. More passing and that. Me and Clurb spent some time hiding in a big top as it was raining and we had a little chat with Jeanine (contact performer). And the rain started to remind me of Ptuj - luckily only lasted an hour or so.
During the day in the gym there had been some announcements over a loudhailer. None of them were understandable, at best the sound carried about 10m. Apparently the place most of us were parked was a payable spot and we were all going to get fined and towed. So I moved the car and on my way back to the site saw a tow truck with the magic name “Auto Spancker” in the area.
So announcements - loudhailers don’t work, shouting doesn’t work. So what would? There was a huge electronic sign at the site. How about putting announcements on there? That would allow various translations at once etc… V helpful I reckon. Or another idea - get a really tall stiltwalker to carry round a board - that would surely be noticeable.
Later that evening we went to the German showcase in the big top. Now here is a German showcase, in a tent in Germany, with all German performers (nearly), hosted by a German, with a mostly German audience. And they did all the hosting in English. No no no! Don’t do it like that. The rest of the event can be in English or a variety of languages - but this should have been a nice little respite for the Germans from having to listen to English. I know it’s friendly and more people will know some English but if there’s ever an occasion to stick with your own lingo then this was it.
The show’s main issue was that it was very long - 3 hours plus. In a very hot tent and on hard benches. But the performers were excellent in the main. Peter Gerber and “Duet Complett” (?sp) were the stand outs. The latter showed off a very funny act (the host stated that they had to move to France to learn humour, being German and all) all Flamenco style with guitar, acro and ukelele juggling. Culminating in a 6 ukelele passing pattern whilst playing a tune on them. Top stuff.
I could have done wihtout the drummer but the 12 year old lad at the end is certainly going to be someone to keep an eye on. Snazzy circus style stuff by someone clearly coached from a young age. And why was the Japanese guy there? Something to do with Bavarian dialect but I have no clue what was said.
I stayed up quite late that night chatting with a stack of Brits including Urszula (NB emphatically NOT “Ady’s mum” or “Mrs Adrian”) - interesting chat with a juggling mother.
Day 4
Woken up by oppressive heat. Awful feeling. Too hot to juggle that morning so I didn’t do a lot until time for a CouchSurfing meeting. I’d not posted on the site that I’d attend but it seemed like it would be a good chance to meet some nice folk. As it turned out there wasn’t a massive turn out but those who were there seemed like a lovely bunch. Andrei (US), Rosie (Israel), Olga (Czech), Monika (German living in Denmark) and Bridget (Ireland). Monika in particular was quite interested in my job as she’d hurt her shoulder earlier in the week and was bemoaning not being able to juggle all week. 5 mins later she had full movement - magic hands you see. Actually she was still in pain but that was no surprise considering how recent her injury was. But hopefully I was of some use.
The bunch of us then went to take in the Latino Fiesta show. Bad choice. It was quite awful. Bad staff stuff (miles off Meghan standard), ok hula but way sub-Silvia or Rachel, droppy other performers, very Spanish sense of humour which entertained the Spanish but not me sadly. At the interval the CouchSurfers all found separate excuses to leave. So that was that. I left too and ended up sat with friends on the grass drinking jugglers brew.
Day 5
Yet again too hot to stay in the tent so I crashed out on the seats in the gym for a while.
Me and Clurb had decided to go on a day trip to Heidelberg and today seemed a good day as any as it was due to be stupidly hot so no juggling would get done anyway. P was to hang around and help Beard out in the traders’ area.
Wow, aren’t German trains ace?
Heidelberg is lovely. Definitely my fave place in Germany (that I’ve seen). Spent the day wandering and wondering why the hell I don’t live there. And why isn’t anywhere in the UK that civilized?
I did try and phone my old friend there too. Her old number was dead - no surprise. But I’d found an old address book not long back and it had her mum’s number in. I phoned that and got an answerphone but it was my pal’s voice on it. Bingo. Garbled message in German was left.
The other notable thing about Heidelberg (actually Germany so far) was the sheer number of injured and maimed people around. At the convention I saw about 3 people with neck collars on (bad idea neck collars - if it were me etc etc…) and people with casts and slings. In Heidelberg there was a man with no arms, one with 1 leg. A homeless woman with no legs (and a rabbit) and more. There were rather a lot of very small men as well.
And to add to the tally was me and Clurb. The walking gave her a blister. It gave me 2 on my heels and I was already suffering from excessive chafing. We must have been a picture as we limped back to the Bahnhof.
Once back in Karlsruhe we sat and drank with Graham and Kate from the Lugeburf jugglers. It could be said that we got quite giggly. Ooh I slept well afterwards.
Day 6
Urgh. Bad morning.
Was v tired and yet again had my bout of convention tonsilitis. Really a rough start. This was the most uncomfortable I can remember being at any event. Too hot, blisters, a cold, tonsilitis and nasty chafing. Oh lovely.
I didn’t do much today - really not in the mood.
This evening was the first gala show and most of my pals were off to it, but not me. But Lisa had organised us all to go for a German meal. It’s not her city granted but the route took us to the wrong tram stop, the wrong way to the road and then not knowing what the actual place was called. Apparently later they got lost walking to the venue - a walk which entailed going along a main road and then turning right.
In the end Me, P&C, German Mini, Lisa, Tom and Tiff came along for the food and it was pretty good to be fair. Not a massive choice but dirt cheap for what it was and there was good beer. Oh and our waitress had an EJC wristband on. Hmm I wonder if this was why this place was recommended to Lisa…
Clurb had her first Cola-Bier here. Think shandy only with Coke instead of lemonade. An odd concoction but she seemed to like it well enough.
After food and drink me and Tom wandered back to the site whilst they got lost before the show.
Actually I went off to find a hotel room for the Friday night. I was suffering for lack of sleep and I reckon a very long drive after a day awake after poor sleep might have been a bad idea.
As the weather seemed cooler I did worry that it was a waste of money but later events demonstrated the wisdom of the move.
Back at the site I went along to the Open Stage and bumped into MattDS, Martin, Pete2 and Helen. Some of the show was awful (more sub-Silvia hooping and sub-Meghan spinning - vigour and enthusiasm is good but no substitute for skill or choreography) but there were some standouts. A Canadian guy doing diabolo was pretty nifty, a Norwegian woman doing a 3 ball cascade for 3 or 4 minutes was also spectacular. Apparently she’s been around on the Euro circuit for a while but it was the first time I’ve seen her act. Think keeping going with a 3 ball cascade whilst doing stuff like forward rolls - I mean slow forward rolls, not 1 high and catch again afterwards.
Oh and one other act was a German acro couple - he was huge, she looked anorexic. At the curtain call he showed up, she was nowhere to be seen prompting one wag to wonder aloud if she’d gone to throw up. Oh and he dropped her twice during the routine.
Stayed up late again chatting and drinking. Got to the tent only to be kept awake by a small bunch of french folk chatting, laughing etc. We picked this field as it was furthest from the site. They made me so angry with their apparent belief that talking loudly would endear them to other campers and that bursts of deafening laughter would be just the thing to lull fellow campers to sleep. This is why the hotel room tomorrow turned out to be a really good idea.
Gits.
Day 7
As well as being kept awake by the french I was also woken too early by them. They are so twattish!
Wandered blearily to the gym and the loo. Whilst there my phone rings and it’s my friend from Heidelberg. Not heard from for years. What a way to cheer my world up in an instant.
A little later on a select few of us went to Tom’s Algorithm March workshop. Was a giggle. Shame there were so few there though.
After that I wandered to the hotel to check-in (managed all of that in German - wahey!) and slept for an hour or so. At this time I was waiting for the lift to come and who should walk up behind me but Urszula. Apparently her and Ady had been at this hotel all week.
Back to site to meet up with a large gang of Brits and then on to the restaurnt we went to yesterday. More nice food oh and Clurb got ID’d. She asked for a Cola Bier again and the waitress asked how old she was. Of course Clurb didn’t know what she’d been asked so I translated - cue gales of laughter around the table and me answering “26″ to the waitress. No proof needed, the laughter and confusion evident around the table must have convinced the woman.
And then to the Gala Show. I’ll describe that separately but I’ll take this opportunity to slag off how shit the euros are at queueing. Ady told me later that he was nearly flattened. There was just no need considering the venue had no bad seats.
Back to site for more drinks and chat before a proper night’s sleep at the hotel. Ah marvellous!
Day 8
Tom ran his March workshop again this time with a few more folk involved including Olga from the CS group. This went better and we could get a few runs through at last. We did have some great looks from confused people including a Jap or 2. We were also treated to Tom singing the tune at us throughout the workshop.
Later in the day Luke and Pola ran the games. These were supposed to be outside between the main big tops but changable weather forced a move into the main gym. This worked quite well for spectators as we had the gym seats to use. And the games were fun. One or two lasted a tad long, most notable was the kids game of “getting into groups” which seemed to be a version of organised bullying. I expected tears. What actually happened was that the kids all spoke different languages so they didn’t know what was going on most of the time. Still it did end up with 4 of them charging into each other and then 2 of them chasing Luke around.
The other interesting game was the club balance which included the bit of “remove your trousers”. The guy nearest my seat was gesturing that he had no pants on. Luke’s response was “If you want to win you’ll do it”. Was quite funny.
Outside for the big toss up and that was that.
Luke later came to interview me for his podcast and I think that went reasonably. I have to say that the order was a bit all over the place but we’ll see what happens after editing. Afterwards I kept remembering stuff I should have said etc…
Earlier in the week Martin had let me know that he’d signed up for tonight’s Open Stage so I had to go for moral support if nothing else. Good job he’s a star.
Matt Hall was hosting. I’d lost my mates so was sat away from them when the intro happened. Matt walks out and announces that the first performer is from Belgium. Cue cheers from the Belgians. He then says that he first saw this act at this year’s Scottish convention - cue titters from me and laughter from MattDS loud enough that I heard it from the other side of the tent. And then he introduces him as “from London, where he lives now. Belgian Martin!”. Wild applause from me and laughter at the thought that there are huge numbers of Belgians there thinking “Who’s he? Never seen him before” whilst shrugging at each other.
And Martin did himself proud. No slips, drops or mistakes. Bloody marvellous. Top show there boss.
I left after the next act (unremarkable to the extent that I can’t even remember what sort of prop was used) and met the others for a last evening of chatting. Sadly no booze for me as I would be driving.
Sat in the gym being hugged by Jules and Helena for a while before me, Clurb and ^Tom_ Algorithm marched out of the gym and to the car.
Farewells said and good friends to go back and visit soon.
The trip home was hellish. Long, tedious and even with the better night’s sleep I was drifting on occasion. But we made it safely and the real world is horrible.
But my house is secure. Woot.
Well done if you’ve made it this far.
Photos to come when I can get home internet (or round to P&C’s to use theirs).
11 Aug 2008
Payment
Back from EJC with the usual array of post-fun deficits.
I ache in lots of places, some more sore than others. I have 2 blisters on my feet. I have tonsilitis. I have a cold.
Bleargh.
The car, however, did excel and managed the 1175 mile (1880km) journey with no complaints.
Total cost of journey wasn’t too bad either. Ferry was only £90 between us and petrol worked out at a touch over £140. Incidentally fuel efficiency worked out to around 40mpg. Not bad.
I’m done with the nerdy details now and would write a review of the event but I haven’t got home net now and don’t have the time to do it justice at work.
But for now just let me thank P&C for being total stars throughout.