Hello Sailor!

One of the forgotten but truly upsetting tragedies of the Titanic was the sad loss of my sideburns. Today I was plucked from the production office, squeezed into a Officer's costume and whisked into make up. There the poor sidies I have been cultivating since puberty were robbed from me and then I was on set to 'extra' it up. I am hoping tit is a quicker process this time, as like the Titanic they took years to build but were gone in minutes*.    












*Joke courtesy of Matt's groom speech. 

Get thee behind me....

Free!

My call time is at 07:30 every morning at Ardmore Studios. It is only 30 mins drive away so it could be a lot worse. Yesterday was the first time I had driven to work in 10 years, felt very odd, but less manic than a tube commute. Plus I am guaranteed a seat. 


The shoot is catered so I get the opportunity to have a fry every morning..a blessing and a curse. Sod it. It is my birthday after all. 

First Day on Set

Started filming Saving the Titanic in Ardmore Studios today. I might be least important person on the entire project but I do get a Walkie Talkie so I am more than happy.  

Time Travel

I needed shower gel and Lynx Africa was 2 for 1 in Tesco. Nostalgia got the better of me.  Showering this morning I had vivid flashbacks to being 15. I think I might get the deodorant to complete the set.......I can't wait till my scent revival hits the CK1 years.

Work and Weddings

Work is going well. All is quiet at the moment. The crew is over in the UK filming at Kempton Waterworks. Apparently it has 2 steam engines exactly the same as the Titanic that were used to pump water to London. More interestingly it was the set for Gamesmaster. Where is Dominic Diamond? The crew arrives back on Friday and there will 3 weeks of 12 hour days coming up at Ardmore studios. It is great to be working and especially in a industry I am interested in. Let's hope i can find some more!

Spent the weekend at a wedding in Yorkshire. It was  a fantastic day all round. Being one of the best men my thoughts have been dominated by the best man's speech for a while now. Both the Groom and the Groom's father (he spoke too) are absolute powerhouses in the public speaking department, so the stakes were high. With great relief we held our own and it was well received. The wedding party were all in a big cottage together and as so often with these weekends the time either end of the event was as enjoyable as the event itself. 

The day after the wedding we took a trip to High Force Falls. We did this mainly as we believed it to be the location Costner bathed himself in the great film Robin Hood (Prince of Thieves). It wasn't. That did not ruin the day though. 

High Force Falls

True that.

Job....

.......I have one! 


I am here now so I can't write too much. I am working as a production assistant for a company called Tile Films. My role runs until mid September working on a docu-drama called Saving the Titanic. Great to be working at last (never thought I would say that). I had better go otherwise it might be an even shorter contract than it already is. 

Guiness makes Perfect (mess of it)

Friday's Cricket match was against the Guiness Brewery team. I will spare you too many details but they posted a very healthy 120 for 7 at the end of their 15 overs. My bowling is improving and I believe it is getting quicker or I am at least making it seem quicker by grunting as I release the ball. I was economical without getting a wicket and beat the bat a few times (or they played and missed would be more accurate) 


We started strongly and I was waiting to bat at number 5. We were on 40 for 3 when I came in to haunted  by the memory of my game strangling effort of last time. I was determined to make a better fist of it. I duly played and missed the first 4 balls I faced. Fortunately they brought on their 'spinner' in the next over and his slow looping balls were impossible for even me to miss and I slapped him around the pitch for 12 in the over. Eventually I ended up on 19 (you have to retire on 20). I was determined to go out on a high and I duly went out..caught in the deep going for a 6 that I was never going to make. We struggled towards the end and with the final ball we needed 3. The bowler bowling was the 'spinner'...our man smacked it for 4. 


Stats:
Bowling-
2-0-0-6


Batting-
Caught by a youth, bowled by a member of the opposition, 19 (12)


Other News

• I sent a CV and personalised letter to every film company in Ireland
• Maybe achieved an interview for a 'real' job this week
• went to the gym 4 times and ran 5k 3 times
• Played one of the most exhausting games of 5-aside. 1 hr, no subs and boarded sides so the ball never went out of play.
• Watched Senna
• Visited Killkenny 'the most beautiful city in Ireland'- It was very pretty. 

Still no job.....

Friday's Match Report

Friday's weather held off for long enough that we managed to play Cricket. I was playing for Terenure College (the Walnuts) against the formidable Garda. I was informed they were the strongest team we were likely to face and they were bolstered by a few 1st team players that were rained off the night before.  


We won the toss and elected to bat on what was a very green and soft wicket. With the weather drawing it was decided the game would be 15, 8 ball overs each. 


Things looked bad from the start losing a quick wicket to there opening bowler (a tall and unpleasant type with a massive pot and even bigger mouth). There second bowler was pretty handy too...and their third. It wasn't long before yours, truly placed optimistically at number 4, came into bat. The skipper told me to hang about and that I duly did. I am sure what he actually meant was hang about and score a few, not what I did, which was hang about flashing at everything in sight and scoring very little at a breathtaking slow pace. 7 of 15 balls pretty much derailed the team's entire innings and I think there was huge relief all round when I played on from a ball so slow i could have caught it in my teeth.


Shortly after they ran out our 78 year old number 9 we were eventually bowled out for 62. 


Disappointingly the weather just got better and better and we forced to play their innings too. Big mouth was also opening batsmen too and I could hardly contain my delight when he was clean bowled in the first over. He jumped straight in his car and went home. To everyone's surprise  they scored slowly and wickets fell at regular intervals. Even I had their Captain caught for 5. With 2 overs to go though they needed 5 of 16 balls (8 ball overs remember) with 3 wickets in hand. . Well, blow me if they didn't manage it and with some superb fielding we won by a run. It was, I was informed, one of their greatest victories, so hurray for the Walnuts. 


In all it was a splendid way to spend an evening.


Evo's Statistics:


Batting-
Bowled by 'Some old Dude' for 7 (15)


Bowling-
2-0-1-12

Royal Visit Mk II

Still no job.....

Last weekend the Folk's came to visit and a fun was had by all. They brought some of my stuff with them and it feels good to have more than one rucksack's worth of clothes. I also now have my guitar but as I need to find a job, I dare not tune it as I will spend days noodling into destitution. 

Mater and Pater

It was nice that they got to see where I am living and see a bit of Dublin. Saturday we took a walk into the city center that took us past U2's recording studios. I was glad to see there was some excellent anti Bono Graffiti. As we continued we saw a wino relieving himself into the Liffey as his mate chatted to him....classic inner city behavior. 


Sunday was  spent at Phoenix Park in the sun (coincidentally, on the way we saw a a man taking a slash into the canal...brilliant). We spent a few hours at the park and it was well received by the olds. We took a look around Farmliegh which is where the queen stayed on her visit.  We headed back before  jumping on the DART to Dun Laoghaire for a meal and the first meeting of the Clans. 


All went well.


On the way back J Snr said he needed the loo. He said he was going to disembark  in the city center to 'go' as that seemed to be all the rage.


Been asked to play cricket tonight in Phoenix Park of all places. Looking forward to it and hope the rain dies off.  

Busy Doing Nothing

So I am heading into my fourth week and still no sign of a job.....this is becoming a bit of a disaster but I am sure something will turn up.....I hope. 


The good news is I have seen quite a few of the nice parts of Dublin. Phoenix Park is fantastic. It is a huge city park with deer rocking around in it, sports pitches, and it is the home of Dublin Zoo. The weather was nice and the picnic was super. Visiting the park highlighted some real differences between London and Dublin. Like I say, it was a nice day. On a nice London day, any spare bit of grass is rammed full of garden-less London types  drinking Pimms and making merry. In Phoenix park it was empty....there was no-one else within 400 meters of us. There was also 6 empty football pitches and it was early on a Sunday afternoon! This is all without mentioning the 100ft Papal Cross dominating one side of the park. 


There is also a huge obelisk in honour of the Duke of Wellington  who was born in Dublin. On each side of the base there are brass plaques denoting important battles cast in bronze form cannons captures at Waterloo. Running up the obelisk itself are all his great victories which I, of course, recognised from my extensive reading of Sharpe. 


Buoyed by this sense of shared history I then headed to the National Museum of Ireland.. If you are British I suggest you give it a miss. It should be renamed the Museum of Inciting Hatred of the British (particularly the English). I came out hating the ruddy murderous Brits as much anyone else....Well not quite. After reading how much better the world would have been if the Spanish Armada had won or if Napoleon had crushed the English ,  I got in a bad mood and then went home. 


Last night went for a lovely walk on Dun Laoghaire harbour wall..beautiful

Body and Soul

Last weekend I headed to the Body and Soul Festival in West Meath. It was 2 days of camping and music. It was a great chance to try out our new tent and inflatable mattress. The tent was a  success but inflating the bed was like one of the labours of Hercules. You needed the use of a bed after inflating it. There has to be a better way. 


There was a gang of J's friends going. At festivals you have a lot of time to hang about and sitting around talking shite is something I enjoy immensely.  It was nice to hang out with them and having some shared experiences helps a lot with getting to know her friends and taking the pressure of J. 


The downside was the music...it was simply dreadful. Dreadful apart from a band called Delorean.





I also found a dislike which is always nice..... People who take babies to a festival for two days.

Thwarted

Apparently there was a lunar eclipse last night...not that we could see it though. J, M and I headed to the beach to have a look, unburdened by any knowledge about where it might appear if the clouds did break for a second. Luckily there was a chap (left) who did know and he also told us that the space station would be visible shortly after. As we stood there looking up we gathered a little crowd. They included a rather odd lady (who may have been English) who was furious with the cloud and and older chap with shorts and fag. Fag man asked us what was up and our expert explained about the moon and space station. Shortly after a middle aged  jogger came over concerned asking us what was happening. The old boy, his eyes fixed on the sky and fag in corner of his mouth explained, '" The moon is about to go in and then there will be a spaceship". I am not sure what she thought but she promptly continued her jog. 


Not wanting to be thought of as a UFO spotter I decided we should walk to the waters edge and then we made our way home. 




I write this taking a  time out from doing some work and listening to the Sri Lanka test on Test Match Special. Nothing reminds me of England more than Cricket on the radio. 

Pixie Lady

Flew back to blighty on Friday for the long awaited Bad Thing gig in Devon. I flew in to Exeter airport and I can't help liking small airports. There is less to buy and do but I would happily swop that for the friendly staff and speed you get through security. Like Blackpool (International) it was 5 mins from landing to being in the car with Firehands, of on our way to Ottery St Mary. The Bad Thing were booked to play at Pixie Day. We were to play twice. A couple of songs during the ceremony itself and later at the fair before the fireworks. 


First job though was to build the pixie cave.......

Firehands, Jem (Si's mate) and I set about building it.Despite it being made of wood, cardboard and bubblewrap in the end it looked fairly respectable.


The rest of the band arrived the Saturday lunchtime. In true Bad Thing style with only hours till we played we had no idea what we were going to play let alone in what order. 4 hours of graft and a lovely lamb meal later we were loading our kit into a van and off to the town square. 


The main Pixie Day event worked like this; 

• The roads were closed to the main square by the police
• The Legend of the Pixies was read out...(this time by Firehands dressed as a Monk)
• The Head Pixie (a local child in full pixie outfit) read a short piece and then asked where the other pixies were
• what seemed like a 1000 Pixies (probably only 50 local Cubs and Brownies dressed as pixies) came screaming into the square and ran around the square....screaming
• They then headed,screaming, up to the church to capture the bell ringers
• The crowd left behind was entertained by Elfic the Jester (very good) 
• The Pixies came, still screaming, back to the square  with the bell ringers
• They disappeared through the Pixie Cave (ignoring the fact that it was a meter too small in all dimensions....) 
• Elfic did a bit more
• Firehands read the Pixie Blessing
• The Pxies and the Bell Ringers squeeze through the tiny cave
• The Bad Thing Started to play
• The Police immediately opened the road
• The Bad Thing continued to play with cars whizzing past them. 

We then packed up and headed down to the park to get set up for the evening set. On the way I tried to by beer for the boys but failed as the shop keeper wouldn't accept Northern Ireland Sterling. I argued my case calmly and eloquently but he couldn't care less and H had to come and bail me out. 

The evening gig went well and despite our lack of practice in the preceding months we were on fire. Particular highlights were;

• BF's mandolin solo in our version of Spinal Tap's Stonehenge
• H's Drum solo. He lost his stool early on and it gave it added intensity.
• BF changing Foxey Lady to Pixie Lady (Even if the lyrics sounded a bit odd considering the age of the Pixies) 

First Week

I started my first week as I meant to go on...with a bank holiday. 

Things I achieved since Tuesday:

• Applied for a job in a University as a Student Engagement Officer
• Sent my CV to an acting Co-op
• Sent my CV to two production companies.
• Nearly got my Tax number.......nearly

I also played my first game of cricket for a long time turning out for a social team called The Architects XI. It was mixed teams and that gave it an added element of fun. I can't remember who we were playing but they were a nice bunch and their opening bowler looked like Chabal. 

Anyone who has played or indeed seen me play cricket would know I am at best a bowler and not a very good one at that. I think my accent gave everyone a false view and I ended up opening the bowling and batting. 

It was played under 'Taverner's Rules' which are;

1. 15 over innings
2. You cannot be out 1st ball
3. You cannot be out LBW
4. You have to retire at 20
5. You can only bowl 2 overs max
6. Only 2 wides an over count (everything else is re-bowled) 

Evo's Stats were-

Batting

Eveson- Bowled Aziz caught Chabal- 14

After some sublime hooks for 4 to the backward square leg the bowler spotted my weakness and bowled one outside off stump that I predictably slashed at and nicked. The wicketkeeper fluffed it and Chabal caught at slip.

Bowling

Eveson- 2-0-1-4

1st over was unthreatening but straight but  I managed to get a catch out of  their number 2.  My second over came towards the end of the game when things were hotting up. Off two steps I  let one fly and it had yorker written all over it. The opposition wicket keeper ( a 50+ Lady who plays for the womens team) was batting and took a big step and swiped it. She swiped it right off the top edge of the bat and it crashed into her eye. That was the end of her day.

It ended up an amicable draw at 73 a piece.

I saw the wicket keeper in bar after and her eye had completely closed.......It was not the best way to ingratiate myself to a nation. 

Stags and Rods

I arrived in Dublin on the Wednesday afternoon and promptly left next morning to MS's Stag. It was a great weekend and heavy on the booze but I am not going to bore you with that. 


One highlight for me was before everyone arrived on the Friday I spent the afternoon fly fishing on Sir Bob's lakes at the bottom of their gardens. Although I landed nothing at all in my 5 hours it is totally addictive and I can't wait to go again. Casting is a real skill and unbelievably satisfying. 

The Fishing Lake

The stag went well and it was great bunch of people to spend the weekend. 

Booze

Oscar Mirror drawing (very impressive)

Nottingham's new flag. Unofficially named the Outlaw

Dublin

The Evo has landed

Blackpool International

Arrived in plenty of time.
Apparently sets of darts are not acceptable in hand luggage. In fact it is quite frowned upon. Not that frowned upon though that airport security won't take them out to your Dad's car for you though.

Packing

Finished packing at 9 this morning....at 2am last night I thought it would never happen! (see pic) The suitcase weighs in at 19.75kg only 250g under the allowed amount.....perfect. I haven't got everything in there I'd like but more than enough for now.

Flight at 2:30. Leaving the farm now.

Life back up North

Two important events happened on Sunday.  Firstly it was the Lancashire Rally of the Young Farmers. This was held at a farm in the Wigan area and was attended by over 200 young farmers competing in a number of events from Flower arranging to stock judging. I was there as Mother Eveson was judging the 'Can't Cook, Won't Cook Competition'. They all had an hour to cook a main and dessert from scratch using camping stoves and they are marked on areas such as taste, presentation, creativity and health and safety . It was won by Richard Seed of Chipping YFC with his Chicken Pasta and Lemon Cheesecake. He got excellent marks for his safety as he had even brought a fire blanket. 

Secondly, and probably more importantly, it was the AGM of the Dinkling Green Party Development and Steering Committee. This was held at Sister's abode and followed an excellent meal of Tai Green Curry and Eton Mess. Big decisions were made regarding Music, catering, toilet facilities, possible themes and events. This year could be very exciting and this blog could be just the place to hear the news first......

Bloody Cinderella

Sunday will be the last performance of Bloody Cinderella. How has it gone? Have I enjoyed it? Has it made me want to act again?.....

Before Bloody Cinderella (BC) it had been 3 years since I had acted on stage. I had done some  film work in that time but stage is a different beast altogether. It is also the first and possible last musical I will ever get asked to do.

 In all it has been a great challenge. I have already written about the recording of the album but I have saved writing about the rehearsals and shows till now. 

I was asked to do the show by Kevin Short who I worked for  5 years ago acting in a one man show in Arundel. He is a great actor, singer, songwriter and has been a sort of mentor in my career. He cast me in my first professional show and got me my first agent. He is also incredibly constructive and patient........What you do know when you work with Kevin is that  it will be frenetic, slightly mad and you will be surrounded by interesting characters. This show has been no different.

Death' costume

All the cast have been great to work with but two people deserve a mention. The infamous Georgina Baillie and the legendary Peter Straker. 

Straker is a musical theatre legend who seems to know everyone in the 'business'. He and Kevin have known each other 35 years and it is fascinating seeing them work together. The trust and understanding they have is brilliant to experience.   Straker played  Nell, the other ugly sister and it is fair to say we make a very odd couple. Apart from being talented he has endearing character which leads everyone he meets him to round after him. This in no way a criticism and everyone seems perfectly happy to do it so why not. Lastly on Straker is that he has a phenomenal voice..And I mean fantastic.......... this is a blessing and a curse when you have to duet with him. 

So, Georgina.

The rehearsal period for this show was 3 rehearsals of 2 hours each. Terrifyingly short. She turned up to the first...and the second. Not the third. Not only did she not turn up to the third she dropped out altogether 2 days before the opening night. We still don't really know why but that is irrelevant...it is dastardly thing to do. Especially when you are playing Cinderella in a show called Bloody Cinderella. 

Kevin rang me on the Thursday before the opening Saturday to tell me the news and, without any hint of irony, told me 'the show must go on!'. His brilliant solution was not to replace her with another actor but to play the part himself (as well as his narration role) ..a master stroke. 

The knock on from was this was that we spent the technical rehearsal re blocking and altering the show as we went. This then led to our first full run through of our show being the opening show....I have genuinely had nightmares in the past about this sort of situation.

The opening night went well despite all the challenges but I did cane Kevin across the hands due to mistiming on both our parts. It must have hurt like hell but like a true pro he didn't yelp or punch me. 

Kevin and Straker going for a paddle

 The night after we performed in the cabaret lounge of the Royal Hotel in Bognor Regis. It is a family run business owned by the grandfather who had a tendency to shout 'alright big guy!' and playfully punch me with great force. This was fine was when I could see him coming but slightly more problematic when I was eating breakfast and he would sneak up behind me, belt me and I would send cutlery and sausage flying across the dining room. 


I had a number of friends who kindly came to the subsequent shows and I really appreciated it. Playing in front of your friends always adds a  certain pressure but I have always enjoyed it.                    


The show certainly developed as it went along and I believe it has the makings of being a really good show. We will see what Kevin wants to do with it next.


So how has it been for me? Well, It has been great to do something I really enjoy. I had forgotten how much I enjoy entertaining and how much it has been a thread throughout my life so far. I think if you have been an actor (or other type of creative) it will never really leave you. Rather it just lies dormant while you get on with other things in your life waiting to be used when needed and reminding you of what you are good at. 

Chalets in Felpham 

Rehearsal in the Cabaret Lounge of the Royal Hotel, Bognor Regis

Ciao

The 11:30 Virgin pendaleno, London to Glasgow. Calling at Wigan Northwestern,.Warrington Bank Quay and Preston.
I have left London.

72a James Lane

4 years. Found by Tom. Lived in by 7. Terrible shower  Great sofa. Emptied and cleaned for the last time today. Fin.

Terrible upkeep of this Blog

So what Have I been up to I hear you cry.....


Work
I have left.....all part of the life changing thing that is this move. I have made some great friends there and it has been an interesting 4 years. I did have fantastic leaving drinks before I left and the leaving presents I got were so incredibly thoughtful including a personlaised darts shirt. My kind colleague Laura also made me a Bad Thing cake that tasted as good as it looked. I am now unemployed......

The Royal Wedding 

H had the genius idea (one of many) of us all having a mobile street party dressed as royals from throughout the ages. I decided on Richard III, hunch back and all and even went as far as to learn the 'Now is the winter of our discontent' speech. We started our day by watching the wedding with 150,000 other people in Hyde Park and then pub crawled our way to Cleaver Square in Kennington. It is no exaggeration to say that we had our photo taken 200 times including a set up one by the News of the World. The bastards didn't print it though. We are also did TV interviews for 4 foreign news channels. We  There was mixed tolerance in the group for the attention....I personally loved it.  

The ceremony went well.

Home

Spent a few days up North at home. Didn't do anything in particular except hang around with my sister and my Niece and Nephew. They are walking around and that is just chaos. My sister is has the patience of Jobe and is fantastic with them. We took them into the local town and I pushed them around the supermarket as my sister shopped. If you pause near a shelf for a second the whole lot is coming off. The other highlight was having an outside bath at the farm. My sister and Bro in law have an old iron bath under a huge tree at the bottom of their garden. You fill it up, light a fire under it and 30 mins later bobs your uncle. It was very  relaxing  and the kind of nonsense I can't get up to in Leytonstone. I loved it.

H's Birthday

BBQ on a roof terrace with great views over London. Sam's red hot jerk chicken. Fantastic Company. Then Punk to finish it off. 

Catch Up

I have been frightfully busy (lazy) so I will give a brief update on what I have been doing. In no particular order.


Bloody Cinderella


Had the first couple of rehearsals.. All going well. Certainly better than the recording session. The first rehearsal was on the same days as the Grand National. I put £5 on West End Star (how sad) ...it didn't finish.


Rugby League


H got free tickets to watch Harlequins v Castleford at the Twickenham Stoop.  It was my first rugby league game and I have to say it is a great sport to watch. I love Union but there is something to be said for the flow and simplicity of League. It was also helped by the fact it was a dramatic 24-24 thriller. 

The was a minutes silence at the start for the troops serving overseas. H and I both have friends in the forces and as we settled for the minutes silence it was announced that it would started and ended by a light gun of the Royal Artillery. Everyone fell respectably silent and then my head was suddenly full of an ungodly noise as the cannon fired. The 'light gun' caused the whole crowd to duck and one chap behind us to  exclaim "JESUS!". His exclamation was such an unconscious, heartfelt and loud way to start a minutes silence that H and I had a nightmare minute stifling laughter. I have never felt so close to being a disgrace. 




Work


Going into my last week of work after 4 years of working there. I am looking forward to the change but there will be a lot of people I will miss. Leaving drinks on Wednesday night.

The Bad Thing for those who don't know

Return of The Bad Thing

Sunday was given over to a Bad Thing rehearsal in Chiswick. It was great to get us all together for the first time since before Christmas. The practice was all about getting us ready for being the main act (god help them) at Pixie Day. We had a brutal cut of our possibly tired set list and learned a few new tunes including the rock classic The Boys Are Back in Town. The Bad Thing is one of my great pleasures in life. Being in a band is great. It  has all the camaraderie if team sports without the communal bathing.
  

Singing Update

So was I wrong to be so nervous about my recording off Bloody Cinderella?.......Of course not. It was simply THE hardest thing I have ever done in performance.  It was like no other singing I had ever had to do. The detail and control needed to match the other performers recordings was very nearly beyond me. I did have one moment when I felt i couldn't do it and had to be consoled and cajoled by the director. I think this return to performance is rekindling my dramatic side. In the end (5 hours later) it went well and I should hopefully get the recordings Wednesday...First rehearsal Saturday. 

Mugged Off

Helped my talented friend Andrew Scott Butler film this for the BBC's funny in 15 Competition

Mugged Off - watch more funny videos

The Fear

Sitting in my flat listening to the songs I am going to be recording tomorrow. I was very kindly asked to be involved in a new Gothic musical 'Bloody Cinderella' starring, amongst other people Georgina Baillie.  I am having the feeling of mild terror at the moment for a simple reason....I can't really sing. 

Back in Front of the Camera

Framing the Shot- Soho


Spent 12 hours on Saturday filming a short film for my mate Joe Meegan. It is the first acting I have done for about 2 years so I was excited/nervous going into the day. I can't say too much about the script till the film is finished but I think it is really good. The crew was great and the only real snag was the day  that we filmed on. It was the same day as the March against Cuts. This meant that helicopters were permanently in the air making sound recording a real issue.   


The real hero of the day was Jamie though. He spent hours wrapped in bin liners, boiling hot, and then had the bone shattering contrast of lying on cold cobbles. He was a true pro and there wasn't a murmur of complaint. Oh, and another mention should go to Sophie whose excellent food kept us all going. I loved the lemon and poppyseed cake. 


One scene left to shoot in the next couple of weeks.....I can't wait. 

A Quick Photo Round up

 Weekend back at the farm in Lancashire. Sunday lunch with my Niece and Nephew, Tilly and Arthur.

 Weekend in Dublin. J's birthday, Paddy's Day and the Six Nations Finale...We lost.

 Went with my Homie Sammy D to have an Ice cream at Chin Chin Labs. They make it with Liquid Nitrogen.......brilliant, just go. 

 Went to see my mate Andy in his band the IC1's...The lead singer was wasted but they are great.

Jarlath sporting his new Jacket/sleeping bag...essential kit for the Marathon Des Sables. Madness. 

Toilet Humour

Central Saint Martins School of Art, Back Hill.

Stop the Press...... ups

On Friday I built myself up to do my press ups. I was surprised when rather the usual training regime it confidently announced 'Congratulations! You can now complete 50 Press ups!' I was especially surprised when I had fed back to the app that the last session was too hard....

31 (31)

It turns out I can't. 

Update

12-12-14-12-12-10 (72)

The Scary Truth

The ghost of John Wayne- Kings Cross 

Although I should know better I watched BBC Breakfast this morning before work. It is not till you move to London that you realise how London centric the news is. For instance 9 times out of 10  the 'man or woman (no sexism here)  on the street' opinion is collected by talking to people on Chiswick High road. I know this to be true as I lived there fr 2 years and was asked many times. This is unless they want to portray the British public as public as ignorant and then they head north... usually to Barnsley.  It was a quiet news day so a main feature was on why do 1 in 4 people in Britain believe in ghosts. A burning question. 

Whilst living in my flat in west London I had the strangest experience. After a night at the pub, I woke in the middle of the night with  one of those difficult decisions. Do I need a the toilet or am I just imagining it and shall I leave it till the morning...a high risk game. After much deliberation I decided not to risk it and slid out of bed trying not to wake my girlfriend of the time, slipped on some boxers (we shared a flat with friends), and crept to the bathroom. Being windowless I was forced to switch the light on thus rendering me blinded till my eyes adjusted. Mission accomplished, I then preceded to wash my hands like the hygienic soul I am. There was a a big mirror behind the sink and as I bent down to was my hands it happened...... And this is true. 

I felt a cold finger run right down my back. Not a quick sensation. A clear and what I can only describe as a deliberate run of a finger from shoulder to lumber region. 

The door was locked and because of the mirror I could see there was noone or nothing behind me. I thought it may have been the light pull but but that was still. I was in just a pair of boxers and suddenly felt very naked and I will be honest scared. There was no rational explanation....it had to be a ghost.

 I calmly bolted from the bathroom, burst into my bedroom and put on the light, waking said girlfriend. My clear panic lead  her to think something dreadful had happened( which of course it had). I explained that I had been touched by a ghost and that there was no other explanation that fit. It turned out my experience did not warrant waking her up in such a manner. In fact it vexed her greatly. 

Annoyed at not being taken seriously, and still slightly shaken, I indignantly whipped of my boxers. 

A 50p piece then hit the laminate flooring. 

It turned out that I had fallen asleep on the coin and it had suck to my back (the dent was still there on inspection). It must have remained there until I bent over to wash my hands where then it lifted at one side, rolled down my back and lodged in the waistband of my boxers.........

It is amazing what you can end up believing in.