Exeter

Take the Tarka Line to Exeter. The train service is approximately every 2 hours and the train is packed - it's mid morning on a Thursday and people are standing. I find it symbolic of the UK public transport system - its obviously popular but has outdated rolling stock and is overcrowded. Is it really beyond the wit of man to make the service hourly or have a 4 carriage service rather than 2 overcrowded ones?

Anyway, rant over. Exeter is not quite what I'm expected. For one it's quite hilly. Secondly the centre contains many ghastly post war buildings amongst which there are several oasis of beautiful old architectural gems. It looks as though the city has evolved in patches with little overall direction. Much redevelopment is going on - but are we merely repeating the mistakes of the 50s and 60s with glass replacing concrete as the material of choice?

Potter around the centre and wander down to the quayside - highlight is the cathedral with its wonderfully vaulted ceiling. A welcoming place and the refectory does a fine caramel shortcake.

Go west

Have headed down to north Devon to recuperate and catch up with some people.

Always great to be here and as the sun sets there is a moment to pause and reflect.

An 'ordinary' sunset - after all it's a daily event (!) - but still beautiful nonetheless.

Same time next year?

So, it's over for another year...

The alarm goes off and I head back to do the final things I need to on site. Everyone is pleased how it has gone - everyone is tired.

I've got a few things to finish up and by the time I get them done I head off site at about 2.30pm. It's been a long and tiring few days - but there is always a sense of achievement once it's done. Find myself already thinking of the 2008 festival.

Finally there is the symbolic cutting off of the wristband. I always have mixed emotions at this - pleased that another festival has gone well and I can retreat to a bed to get some sleep, but always a ting of sadness that it's over.

Heaven in Ordinary - Day 4

The final day of the festival - the home stretch.

The good vibe - and weather! - continues. I toddle along to a couple things wearing my 'official hat'. As always there are things to be improved and worked on for next year, but overall the feedback on the festival is very positive.

Chas & Dave have gone down well on the mainstage - seems to be a mass singalong.

As the evening descends, and thousands of festival goers go off and enjoy the delights of Duke Special and Delirious?, I head back to a long night of work.

Tired but happy - it is all just so worthwhile.

Heaven in Ordinary - Day 3

Batteries in my camera have died - hence no photos.

Sunday always a busy day - but with the sun still shining, and the festival in full flow, a good day.

I'm busy and tired but catch a bit of a break and listen to One Nation on the mainstage whilst munching on a fantastic pie.

Sat here in the sun, life is good.

Heaven in Ordinary - Day 2

Manage to get to a couple of things.

"When the sun's shining down on me, when the world's all as it should be.."

And enjoy the delights of Kanda Bongo Man in the evening.

Heaven in Ordinary - Day 1

We have built it - people have come...

The site fills up - things are happening...

...and the festival vibe begins.

Greenbelt 07 - arrival

Leave London to head to Cheltenham - site of the wonderful Greenbelt festival to help set up.

London - rain and wind it's like November.

Get to the other side of Swindon and the weather breaks - things definitely looking up.

Gradually the site is built - the countdown begins.

Website of the week - #51

Time for a gratuitous plug.

If you build it, they will come.

Up 'n' under

Still not sure about summer time rugby league. Today's match - between Harlequins and Wigan - ended in a draw with both teams as inept as other, both playing flat and giving up the ball up too often. Their performances were matched by an incredibly poor refereeing display - the only saving grace was he was equally poor to both teams.

Mind you, with the current weather I'm not sure this match counted as 'summer' rugby league - the floodlights were even on for the second half such was the gloom.

At the third stroke, the time will be...

Currently some work going on at Big Ben - means there is a disagreement on the current time.

Website of the week - #50

The average age for a male to get married in the UK is 36.2- finally I'm above average!

However, some people who have married must have needed to give the wording to their wedding invitations some thought.

Go into the light

To the Antony Gormley Blind Light exhibition at the Hayward.

Going in to the cloud filled box is a strange experience - you really can't see much in front of you and stumble around hoping to find the way out. The Event Horizon installation - lots of life size casts of the artist on top of various buildings across central London - is also intruging, and quite beautiful on such a pleasant evening weather.

However, I've got mixed feelings. The effect of Blind Light is similar to hill walking in low cloud/visibility or being in a really smoked filled room. It's clever, but does it make it 'art'? Similarly, I can't help but think that if an art student submitted it or Event Horizon for their final degree show...

Nonetheless, worth a look.

We have lift-off

Earlier today the time and date read....

11:10 09/08/07

...carry on down and soon we get to 'Thunderbirds are go!" territory.

Website of the week - #49

Forget "hot or not?" Now you can Rate my Turban.

Down by the river

Spent a pleasant few hours enjoying the sun in Stratford upon Avon. Amongst the shops, restaurants and tourists it's hard to imagine that just a couple of weeks ago much of it was under water.

The evening is spent with friends watching more films than is strictly necessary. During The Shawshank Redemption someone comments, "this is a geat film - an accountant is the hero."

No comment.

The Simpsons Movie

Homer falls in love with a pig and dumps its 'leavings' in the local lake causing an environmental disaster leading to Springfield being sealed in a glass dome.

Is the movie worth the wait? Yes... and no.

It's funny, with plenty of the usual Simpsons sharpness, the naked Bart skateboarding scene is cleverly done, and there are knowing references to other episodes, e.g. jumping the Springfield gorge. But...

...OK to be picky - there is not enough of some characters - Apu and Patty & Selma immediately spring to mind - I'd have loved another celebrity cameo other than Tom Hanks, and the love interest storyline for Lisa is just annoying. Why introduce a new character yet neglect other long established ones?

But I'm being picky, very picky. There are plenty of great moments and wicked lines, there is enough of Flan-diddly-anders, and it's the funniest comedy of the year. Enjoy.