Just the 10p, 50p and Pound to find now.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Dave Walker at Greenbelt
I can exclusively reveal that cartoonist Dave Walker uses a small IKEA pencil to draw his cartoons, I have proof.
He was recovering from a virus when this photo was taken, so any larger writing implement could have taken far too much out of him.
He was recovering from a virus when this photo was taken, so any larger writing implement could have taken far too much out of him.
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Greenbelt 2008
Have been away from Exeter for the weekend to go to the Greenbelt festival in Cheltenham. Another good year, although I am finding less and less each year to interest me, but still plenty to do and friends to see!
Some highlights for me were Beth Rowley (http://www.bethrowley.com/), who was fairly new to me, but very impressive on stage
Juliet Turner (http://www.julietturner.com/), a long time favourite of mine!
An artist totally new to me, Esther Alexander (http://www.estheralexander.com/)
And the mainstage headliners of José González and Seth Lakeman on the Saturday night both put in spirited performances.
Off the stage all sorts of things were happening, films, meeting people for a pint of cider, a marvellous collection of photographs called Hard Rain (http://www.hardrainproject.com/exhibition.htm), floating angels and plenty more.
Slight change of plan for the Wibloggers meet, but the "Tiny Tea Tent" was the venue that had the honour of hosting it this year. Not ideal perhaps, but we made the best of it, and had a complicated system in place for keeping track of tea orders.
Some highlights for me were Beth Rowley (http://www.bethrowley.com/), who was fairly new to me, but very impressive on stage
Juliet Turner (http://www.julietturner.com/), a long time favourite of mine!
An artist totally new to me, Esther Alexander (http://www.estheralexander.com/)
And the mainstage headliners of José González and Seth Lakeman on the Saturday night both put in spirited performances.
Off the stage all sorts of things were happening, films, meeting people for a pint of cider, a marvellous collection of photographs called Hard Rain (http://www.hardrainproject.com/exhibition.htm), floating angels and plenty more.
Slight change of plan for the Wibloggers meet, but the "Tiny Tea Tent" was the venue that had the honour of hosting it this year. Not ideal perhaps, but we made the best of it, and had a complicated system in place for keeping track of tea orders.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Leaving Do
Saturday night our friend Ruth was leaving Exeter to move up to London to make a career for herself in singing and songwriting, and we met up at The Living Room in Exeter to see her off. There were some songs from Ruth herself, including a requested version of Big Yellow Taxi, and then her brother Sam played a few songs with his “Peachy Farmer” band mate. Great fun evening and just about dodged the worse of the torrential downpours!
Most of the weekend, however, was spent watching the Olympics. Can't believe how many medals Team GB (Why GB? Why not UK?) have won, I regret not having taken a few days off to watch it.
This weekend I am off to Greenbelt (http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/), quite under prepared for camping this year, but hopefully a trip to Sainsburys tomorrow night will get me all the essentials I need (Cereal bars, Wine and Torch Batteries). Really looking forward to Beth Rowley and Jo Enright, but most of all catching up with old friends!
Will blog again next week...
Saturday, 16 August 2008
British Firework Championships 2008
Although it has been a busy week at work, and I have been getting home pretty exhausted we have still been pretty busy this week. On Wednesday evening we took the fairly spontaneous decision to drive down to Plymouth for the British Firework Championships final. (http://www.britishfireworks.co.uk/2008/)
If you have never heard of this event before (and we hadn't until last year) it is 6 firework companies that compete to put on the best ten minute display. The event takes place over two nights and we went to the second night of the championships.
After some Fish and Chips down on the Barbican we walked up to the Hoe where there was a fair and thousands of people. In a fit of idiocy we decided to take a ride on a manic spinning ride, £3 each for Ivonne to scream solidly for a few minutes and me feel sick for half an hour. Money well spent!
Then the fireworks started, and they were spectacular! 30 minutes of the sky over the sea to be lit up in many colours and fireworks I have never seen in my life before. One of the fireworks exploded into the shape of a smiley face, amazing!
Didn't get home until gone half past midnight, but it was worth it, and we will definitely be back next year!
(Thanks to Ivonne for the pictures)
If you have never heard of this event before (and we hadn't until last year) it is 6 firework companies that compete to put on the best ten minute display. The event takes place over two nights and we went to the second night of the championships.
After some Fish and Chips down on the Barbican we walked up to the Hoe where there was a fair and thousands of people. In a fit of idiocy we decided to take a ride on a manic spinning ride, £3 each for Ivonne to scream solidly for a few minutes and me feel sick for half an hour. Money well spent!
Then the fireworks started, and they were spectacular! 30 minutes of the sky over the sea to be lit up in many colours and fireworks I have never seen in my life before. One of the fireworks exploded into the shape of a smiley face, amazing!
Didn't get home until gone half past midnight, but it was worth it, and we will definitely be back next year!
(Thanks to Ivonne for the pictures)
Saturday, 9 August 2008
New Two Pence
Sarah at work found this yesterday...
Brilliant!
Just been to see the Film Man on Wire, a documentary film about a french man who walked across a tightrope strung between the twin towers in New York, amazing and mad stuff, but agree with the chap who did it that is was a beautiful thing to do. Even though he could not give a good reason for doing it (When I see three oranges, I juggle; when I see two towers, I walk) it seems to me that such a dangerous, potentially life ending stunt carries a lot of meaning... I just have not worked out what that meaning is yet!
Brilliant!
Just been to see the Film Man on Wire, a documentary film about a french man who walked across a tightrope strung between the twin towers in New York, amazing and mad stuff, but agree with the chap who did it that is was a beautiful thing to do. Even though he could not give a good reason for doing it (When I see three oranges, I juggle; when I see two towers, I walk) it seems to me that such a dangerous, potentially life ending stunt carries a lot of meaning... I just have not worked out what that meaning is yet!
Thursday, 7 August 2008
5 Things on 2 days off
I am on the second of 2 days off work today, I had built up a fair bit of lieu time so booked 2 random days in August off mistakenly thinking the weather would be lovely...
So instead of laying around drinking cider in the sun here are five unrelated things I have been doing and thinking about in the last week.
1. I am getting rather excited about the Olympics, generally I am indifferent about most sport, but this seems an exceptionally large and important event, with all the added side news stories of human rights, smog and drugs. From tomorrow I will be glued to BBC1 and FiveLive.
2. Been watching a few films, Anchorman last night (never seen it before, and although it's very silly it made me laugh lots), some fairly poor Woody Allen efforts, Stardust, and on Sunday night re watched There will be Blood, which is just as good, if not better the second time.
3. Amazon sent me an email this morning telling me about a new book. “As someone who has purchased or rated books by Sophocles, you might like to know his new book will be released on 14 August...” amazing, after 2500 years he is still churning them out!
4. The SPCK bookshops saga rumbles on, I feel that some of the bloggers on this issue are getting a bit obsessed and occasionally silly about the whole matter, but it has been interesting to see that Private Eye magazine have picked up the story (http://spckssg.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/better-than-a-cartoon-private-eye/) and my sense of vanity notes that I got a mention on Phil Grooms blog (http://spckssg.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/sunday-sermon/).
5. Not totally unconnected from the previous point is the fact I have finally booked to go to Greenbelt this year. I was in two minds about going (saving money for the Rome trip being the main concern), but have decided to book it anyway. The year I missed going to Greenbelt felt odd, like I had not had a proper summer, or space to relax with like-minded people. I have also not seen some people for ages, such as Dave and Maddie, Ship of Fools people, Steve and all the other people I bump into year after year. The Wibsite (http://www.wibsite.com) gathering is also always an event to remember.
So instead of laying around drinking cider in the sun here are five unrelated things I have been doing and thinking about in the last week.
1. I am getting rather excited about the Olympics, generally I am indifferent about most sport, but this seems an exceptionally large and important event, with all the added side news stories of human rights, smog and drugs. From tomorrow I will be glued to BBC1 and FiveLive.
2. Been watching a few films, Anchorman last night (never seen it before, and although it's very silly it made me laugh lots), some fairly poor Woody Allen efforts, Stardust, and on Sunday night re watched There will be Blood, which is just as good, if not better the second time.
3. Amazon sent me an email this morning telling me about a new book. “As someone who has purchased or rated books by Sophocles, you might like to know his new book will be released on 14 August...” amazing, after 2500 years he is still churning them out!
4. The SPCK bookshops saga rumbles on, I feel that some of the bloggers on this issue are getting a bit obsessed and occasionally silly about the whole matter, but it has been interesting to see that Private Eye magazine have picked up the story (http://spckssg.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/better-than-a-cartoon-private-eye/) and my sense of vanity notes that I got a mention on Phil Grooms blog (http://spckssg.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/sunday-sermon/).
5. Not totally unconnected from the previous point is the fact I have finally booked to go to Greenbelt this year. I was in two minds about going (saving money for the Rome trip being the main concern), but have decided to book it anyway. The year I missed going to Greenbelt felt odd, like I had not had a proper summer, or space to relax with like-minded people. I have also not seen some people for ages, such as Dave and Maddie, Ship of Fools people, Steve and all the other people I bump into year after year. The Wibsite (http://www.wibsite.com) gathering is also always an event to remember.
Monday, 4 August 2008
Wiscombe Hill Climb 2008
The weekend before last was the National Hillclimb championships at Wiscombe Park, Cars of various shapes and sizes take in turns to hurtle up a narrow track tucked away in a (previously) quiet valley. This East Devon course is considered by many to be the hardest on the calendar.
My friend Steve Clarke was one of the mad people to whizz up the hill, more can be read about that on Sarahs blog (http://tworedboots.co.uk/blog/2008-07-27/priorities-for-the-day-updated/). I am pleased to say he was fastest in his class, and set his best ever time for that particular hill!
The weather was fantastic, and the pint of Otter Ale (http://www.otterbrewery.com/) and Ice cream were very welcome in the heat, goodness knows how hot Steve was in his fireproof overalls.
I was also thinking how many of the July meetings I had been to over the years, here all all the blog entries I can find from over the years...
2007 http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/neil/read.php?25154
2006 http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/neil/read.php?18199
2005 http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/neil/read.php?11203
Ok, off to play poker now, wish me luck!
Sunday, 3 August 2008
The Racists at the Exeter Odeon
Exeblog can exclusively reveal that one of the main cinemas in Exeter displayed some slightly racist tendencies this week...
Shocking.
Shocking.
Saturday, 2 August 2008
New One Pence
Exciting stuff! Ivonne found this in her change yesterday.
So now I have the 5p and the 1p, where will the next one be found?
So now I have the 5p and the 1p, where will the next one be found?
Friday, 1 August 2008
Exeter Pub Guide, No. 2, City Gate Hotel
Where is this pub?
On the Iron Bridge (St Davids Hill) in Exeter. It may sound odd to say it is “on” the bridge, but it sort of is!
What would draw you to this pub?
The walled garden (sheltered from the wind), friendly staff, poker nights, traditional hotel pub atmosphere, reasonably priced rooms.
What sort of person would you find in this pub?
Older couples, hotel guests, the posher students and people relaxing after work.
What can you consume in this pub?
A range of Youngs beers (including Winter Warmer and Waggledance), Addlestones cider and all the usual lagers and spirits. Sprits and wines will set you back a fair amount.
What is quirky about this pub?
The walled garden is a real feature, with views of St Michaels Church (the vicar of this church can often be found in there) and the malthouse building (Now Ginos restaurant). A selection of Roman-esque statues and a fish pond with (manky) fountain. The new conservatory is a nice light place to sit, and strangely comforting on a rainy evening. The pub used to be a lot quirkier before major changes were made in the late 90's, but overall the changes have created a much better space.
What is specifically “Exeter” about the pub?
The views, some of the pictures on the walls have a local theme.
What is there to do in this pub?
The downstairs often holds private parties, and Monday night is poker night. The IT box gets a fair bit of use, and newspapers (albeit the Daily Mail and Telegraph) are always lying around.
What are the worst things about the pub?
Some of the drinks will set you back (£3.20 Pint Addlestones, pushing £4 for a glass of wine or spirits). The smell in the old part of the pub is a little musky. The staff are sometimes more involved in running the hotel part of the business rather than the bar part. The food is hit and miss and the chef is a tad on the vicious side.
Is there an old man sat at the bar?
Not at the bar, but at the round table in the conservatory. This pub has many locals, and the staff know them all by name (or at least by drink!)
In a word, should I bother coming here?
Certainly, it is near the town, but far enough away to feel you are off the beaten track. The staff will make you feel welcome and the ales are good.
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