July 2004 Archives
After a quick flit around the Silk Road exhibition at the British Library, and the amazing photos taken by selected 20 century european explorers, I headed back to EC2 to rendezvous with Phil to go to see Before Sunset at the Barbican.
I've not seen Before Sunrise - even though I tried to persuade Hazel to get it out on many a vid 'n' veg night - but even without the background I loved the film. The head straight into cliche-ville, it tugged at the heartstrings, and by the end I had tears running down my cheeks, not wanting the story to end.
The *only* annoyance were the fake walks around Paris (you know, where they turn left at the Eiffel Tower and find themselves looking at Notre Dame) but I don't suppose many viewers would even notice that.
The dilemma delivered by Before Sunset is... do I watch Before Sunset ....?
After many frustrations with the OU's required project management software package (PS8), and irritations with the lack of constructive support from the OU in general, I've finally managed to do my second assignment (with heart-felt thanks to Theresa and Tony who helped me get past the point of wanting to quit purely because PS8 and OU's customisation of it is such a waste of everyone's time), and after a dispiriting 2 hours in work on a Saturday (on top of 2 Sundays here mainly spent grappling fruitlessly with PS8), I'm only 200 words over the limit, and have reached the point where it's not worth agonising any further, so I've sumbitted it.
And emailed Miles asking him to check that he can open the document and type his tutor's comments in it.
British Library, here I come!
Phil introduced me to the country songs of Gillian Welch, and this evening we headed west for an evening's entertainment, rendez vousing with his mum and heading into the Shepherds Bush Empire where the show started off with Old Crow Medicine Show as support, followed by two sets by Gillian and her singing partner David Rawlings providing fantastic guitar action. A lovely evening, fantastic singing and showmanship, bu a rather long and painful journey home on late night buses.
Hazel and I are off to a fortnight of luxury at the Le Meridien Kovalem Beach in November!!! I booked today, and I can't wait. It's just the carrot I need to get me through the shitty BMS Portal project at work, and the Open University Project Management exam - both of which are due to crystalise mid-October.
We're going with Jewel in the Crown holidays (they *really* need to sort out the website optimisation, it took me a lot of perseverence to find their website again so that I could book!), so it's a convenient package of flights, transfers and B&B accommodation, in a deluxe hotel, the very same place where Janette and I enjoyed a couple of amazing yoga classes when we went to Kerala with Kuoni in 1996, not forgetting the massage and beauty treatment session we induldged in on our last morning. I won't be getting my hair conditioned this time....
All that remains is to get a tourist visa from the Indian High Commission at Aldwych.
Hazel and I went to see Jerry Springer - The Opera last night. It was an excellent evening, warming up for our American theme with burgers at Ed's Diner in Soho.
The show itself was excellent, albeit a tad "blue" on the words front. I don't think 5 minutes went by without a slew of **** ***** ***** *****. All beautifully set to music though :)
David Soul played Jerry, and he was far better than I'd expected - not a whiff of Starksy (or was he Hutch?). In fact the whole cast was superb, really getting into the spirit of the show, drawing the audience along with it. I've spent today singing "Talk to the hand....." at various colleagues, and warming up with a spot of "Jer-ry Jerry", complete with hand movements on both counts.
Hazel and I headed up to Brum yesterday for Louie's birthday party at Priory School, and to catch up with Fiona, Greg and Family. We took advantage of the mid-afternoon start to squeeze in a spot of shopping, once I'd recovered from the shock of the Bull Ring transformation - no more underpasses! a completely new route for the Queensway! No more market! Instead, the lovely new shiny shopping mall, containing some very swanky shops. There was an amazing number of shoppers about too - although H and I weren't amongst them.
At Priory School it was 6 hours of blasts from the past, with loads of Links Drive neighbours, more of whom have moved on the pastures new: The Balmers, The Blays, David Gill, Jayne Hanson, the Harmans, the Whites, the Albutts. The whole Kennedy clan was out in force, complete with 7 grandchildren, and the musical performances by Andrew's 2 eldest daughters (5 and 3) won the day - their violin renditions were better than anything heard at No 78 I reckon!
I got to drive back to London, and H and I made the mad dash onto the last tube from Ealing common, leaving dad and Jean to overnight wih Kate, and to spend the day at her graduation today.
A manic, but fun, morning at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink was had by all, even the adults whose ice skating days were long past. Barney sped around like the regular rinker that he is, although some of his other friends struggled to gain their balance, looking more like ducklings on ice than budding Robin Cousins.
The Ally Pally package came complete with a Birthday Lunch in the far end of the cafe - the first time I've had chocolate spread sarnies for years. It was all a bit chaotic, but I guess that's the sign of a very good time when you're 6/7!
Back home, Barney unwrapped a pile of lovely pressies, and tried out Operation and the microscope. And we all had a spot more lunch.....
The Guardian's published a piece on Phil in it's Online supplement, which makes me very, very proud. The paper edition comes complete with a lovely quarter page close up too.
It's a pity about the spurious space in TheyWorkFor You.com, and the absence of any mention of gyford.com!
Post script: 14 July 2004
When Phil went in for a meeting at Poke today, they'd produced this Man of the Moment wall display :)
Phil and I have just returned from a delightful weekend in Derbyshire, joining his mum's cousin and family in celebrating Roger's retirement.
We travelled up from the revamp-in-progress St Pancras, a mere 2 hours on Midland Mainline, and were met at Derby station by Roger and Ben. They ferried the collected family and friend to Rose Cottage, Kirk Ireton where we enjoyed a lovely supper sat around the kitchen table, soup and souls warmed by the aga.
Saturday saw us decorating the Quakers' Meeting House in Bakewell in honour of Roger's Retirement, and laying out the feast prepared and provided by Liz for assorted family and friends. After a lovely walk along the disused railway route, everyone ate themselves silly before heading off in all directions. We returned to KI for a snooze, some tennis and then more food and lots and lots of chat.
Sunday was a very relaxed day, with a late rise and shine, a leisurely breakfast over the weekend papers and then a stroll around the lanes before late lunch and the train back to London.
Lucky Janet's staying until Tuesday.
I'm dead proud (and yes, a little envious) of my brother's involvement in this, the BBC's "vision of the future and manifesto for action".