Pages

Monday 16 August 2010

Mumbling on

Though of course, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta wasn't the place to be seen in 2010. Mumbles, Swansea was the hub of excitement this August weekend, with teams of intrepid, fancy-dressed Mumblers taking to the water for the annual raft race. After watching the homemade constructions jostle for a place on the startline for five minutes, and with a good 15 more to go before the race began, I left them bobbing merrily in Swansea Bay, budding Columbos ready to take on the lengthy paddle to Knab Rock. Who won? Who knows.


Sunday 15 August 2010

Sky drift





Balloons, hot air balloons. Drifting gently over Bristol on the breeze. Colour was so 2009; this year it's all about sepia.

Saturday 7 August 2010

Good penguin fact

... (of which you can never have too many, might I add) ...

Six-foot penguins used to live in Antarctica. Not really the icy continent that we'd recognise, though. Back then, say 50 million years ago, it had a sub-tropical climate; as it cooled, the penguins got smaller. I'm sure that's the scientific explanation. Definitely. It's a fact.

These girls are in haste!

Royal Albert Hall. Between the early evening and late night Prom two friends sit in bar giggling over sandwiches and orange juice.

'What's the time?'
One checks phone. Replies.
'Oh. Oh dear. The Prom starts in six minutes. And we need to pick up the tickets.'
Action. Both get up, scoop up bags. Start to run. Through bar, up stairs. Up more stairs again. Which way is best? They're at door 6, the tickets are at door 12. Through door into inner corridor. Keep running. Halfway round the Royal Albert Hall. Arrive at door 12. Pull door handle. It's locked. Gesticulate frantically at steward in oh-so-smart red coat. Unlocked. 'Where are you going?' 'Tickets!' 'Well, go go.' Run to box office desk. The foyer is deserted. Hurry out name. Tickets. Two programmes. Check. 'It's door 3'. 'Door 3, where is door 3?' 'That way.' Run back to first steward. Hand over tickets. Other door... he points. Then runs with them to next steward, who has to scan the barcodes on the tickets, a la Sainsbury's. 'Hurry up, these girls are in haste!' Said girls crack up laughing. 'Don't laugh, the worst is to come!' Oh no? Where are our seats? The other side? He's just kidding. Unable to speak for laughter – 'these girls are in haste' – they arrive at the door which isn't so far away after all and are let through the red velvet curtain into the inner sanctum, ready for the concert.