Well a generally relaxed day, culminating in a fabulous gig in a youth club.
I got up slowly and gently and didn't need to do much during the morning, apart from reading and some computery stuff.
Gill went out with our eldest to Leeds to meet a friend who home-schools her son.
I dealt with the corn on the cobs and made a nutloaf so Gill didn't have to cook when she came in at 4pm.
At 3 I set out for school, with our youngest's bike on the trailer. When he emerged, we cycled into town so I could collect my Fiddlesticks boots, which I have had re-soled for £12.99.
We cycled back and got in at about 4pm, Gill came in soon after. She's vowed never to go to the Royal Armouries ever again. In fact, she said she'd never go to Leeds again!
At about 5.30 I loaded my bike with all my circus workshop gubbins, including 3 unicycles, two four-wheel unicycles and one two-wheeler. I cycled up to Haxby to Oaken Grove Community Centre for a 2 hour gig with a youth club, 30 or so 9 to 16 year olds. I did my show first, was quite tough as they were excited, noisy and cheeky. Everything went well apart from when the largest chap in the group was trying the four wheel unicycle and one of the axles broke. Very unfortunate, but quite funny.
This was followed by a 45 minute workshop, which was good... especially when several youngsters 'got' 3-ball juggling. I love it when I show someone how to juggle and suddenly, they are a juggler!
It all finished at 8.30 and I cycled home, had a slice of nutloaf, and finished my evening's writing at 2am.
Showing posts with label circus workshop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label circus workshop. Show all posts
Friday, 8 July 2011
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Saturday 8th November 08
Was lucky to have to have a bit of a lie-in, before lighting the stove so I could have a bath as I'm working today. But as the water was getting up to bath temperature, I went to put a couple of sack's worth of compostables into the Compostumbler. One sack was just watermelons, about 7 of them.... so cut them into chunks and added them with several cardboard boxes. Emptied some collected juices (from a ex-loft water-header tank under the Compostumbler) onto the leafmold pile, to help that rot down, although it seems not to need much help as it's very hot in the middle.
Then had a shave, bath and hairwash to get spruced up for my Knaresborough gig. Gill made sandwiches and ironed my costume, I loaded up my bike trailer and got to the station by 12.45 to get tickets and onto the 13.11 train. I was met in Knaresborough and driven the mile or so to the Community Centre where I was entertaining at a 9 year old's party: a one hour circus show and workshop, followed by a freeplay workshop where they could try out any of the skills I'd brought with me. The 18 boys and one girl all had a great time, as did the Dad, he said on the way back to the station. Very pleasing.
Home soon after 6pm. Gill said that Dexter had just rang, inviting me to a preview of an art show at the Chapel at the York Cemetery which is on all of tomorrow I think. He had been invited to provide some atmospheric lighting, and wanted me to come and see the collection. So I had some tea and went out again! Dexter's lighting was in fact a couple of tables of coloured glass, and clear glass containers (bottles and jars rescued from old landfill sites mainly!) containing coloured water, and lots of candles and night-lights making them look very pretty. This was just outside the doors of the Chapel, making it quite inviting. Inside it was well lit with a selection of display boards with various artworks attached. The organiser, Graeme Martin, was displaying some curious mutated toys and plastic objects mounted in frames, plus a huge (well, maybe 70cm high!) Trojan Horse made out of waste wood, surrounded by tiny plastic toy soldiers, with a weird message which I cannot remember. There were a few paintings in a 'naive' style which had some resonance with me as they were connected to carbon emissions and capitalism, and some work from my old friend Fiona who's been into Dragons ever since I've known her, over 20 years now... She does drawings of mythical monsters, mainly Oriental dragons, and also embroidered fire-screens with landscapes and dragons. I had a good chat with Catherine Scriven who makes paper and original art, especially digital photos, very creative. I also met a 'punter' called Pete, who I probably met many moons ago at the John Bull pub, knocked down a long time ago, replaced by a car showroom. Pete was telling me about his being involved in the starting of SUMA and how the current management had 'rewritten history' and conveniently forgotten how the company actually started, and his work making kites and other fabric items.
I had a lovely time but came back home by 9pm and helped put the children to bed.
Had a nice Skype chat with Ali.
Then had a shave, bath and hairwash to get spruced up for my Knaresborough gig. Gill made sandwiches and ironed my costume, I loaded up my bike trailer and got to the station by 12.45 to get tickets and onto the 13.11 train. I was met in Knaresborough and driven the mile or so to the Community Centre where I was entertaining at a 9 year old's party: a one hour circus show and workshop, followed by a freeplay workshop where they could try out any of the skills I'd brought with me. The 18 boys and one girl all had a great time, as did the Dad, he said on the way back to the station. Very pleasing.
Home soon after 6pm. Gill said that Dexter had just rang, inviting me to a preview of an art show at the Chapel at the York Cemetery which is on all of tomorrow I think. He had been invited to provide some atmospheric lighting, and wanted me to come and see the collection. So I had some tea and went out again! Dexter's lighting was in fact a couple of tables of coloured glass, and clear glass containers (bottles and jars rescued from old landfill sites mainly!) containing coloured water, and lots of candles and night-lights making them look very pretty. This was just outside the doors of the Chapel, making it quite inviting. Inside it was well lit with a selection of display boards with various artworks attached. The organiser, Graeme Martin, was displaying some curious mutated toys and plastic objects mounted in frames, plus a huge (well, maybe 70cm high!) Trojan Horse made out of waste wood, surrounded by tiny plastic toy soldiers, with a weird message which I cannot remember. There were a few paintings in a 'naive' style which had some resonance with me as they were connected to carbon emissions and capitalism, and some work from my old friend Fiona who's been into Dragons ever since I've known her, over 20 years now... She does drawings of mythical monsters, mainly Oriental dragons, and also embroidered fire-screens with landscapes and dragons. I had a good chat with Catherine Scriven who makes paper and original art, especially digital photos, very creative. I also met a 'punter' called Pete, who I probably met many moons ago at the John Bull pub, knocked down a long time ago, replaced by a car showroom. Pete was telling me about his being involved in the starting of SUMA and how the current management had 'rewritten history' and conveniently forgotten how the company actually started, and his work making kites and other fabric items.
I had a lovely time but came back home by 9pm and helped put the children to bed.
Had a nice Skype chat with Ali.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Sunday 24th August 08
Another work day... but woke late after a late night... but didn't have to get to the station til midday as I have a gig in Middleton Park in Leeds at 2pm. So I had a shave and wash and got myself to the station to get the 12.13 train to Penzance and met a young(er) woman whom I sort of recognised but couldn't quite place... but it turned out she, Katie, was/is a volunteer at St Nicks so we had a happy chat until Leeds.
I was met by Alan from Friends of Middleton Park and he drove me to the venue which was a building next to a fishing lake in Middleton Park. I was pleased that the group had bought some circus skills equipment to help with the workshop. I'd thought that my activity would be part of a larger event, but it wasn't... it was just me plus four volunteers and Alan serving teas and cakes... It was a lovely, good-natured event, very easy for me to do, and 4pm came soon.
Alan gave me a lift back to the station and there was a train awaiting me(!) and I was home by 5pm.
I was met by Alan from Friends of Middleton Park and he drove me to the venue which was a building next to a fishing lake in Middleton Park. I was pleased that the group had bought some circus skills equipment to help with the workshop. I'd thought that my activity would be part of a larger event, but it wasn't... it was just me plus four volunteers and Alan serving teas and cakes... It was a lovely, good-natured event, very easy for me to do, and 4pm came soon.
Alan gave me a lift back to the station and there was a train awaiting me(!) and I was home by 5pm.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Sunday 6th April 08
A good day as it started slowly and gently, I had a bath before lunch and popped down to Country Fresh before getting loaded up to go and work.
I cycled off to the MonkBar Hotel via Foss Islands Road, and blocking my way on the cycle path was an overly large 4x4 Range Rover.. so large that the driver couldn't place the damn thing on the lane she was supposed to be in, but spread all over the cycle lane. So I came to a halt behind the thing and gave it a couple of good hefty bangs with my gloved palm to alert the idiot driver to where she was on the road, and the fact that she was blocking me. I then carefully pulled my trailer (with one wheel on the pavement) alongside the car and she wound down her window and started to abuse me. I'm afraid I swore back at her, at which she threatened to call the police! I told her to go ahead and do that, as I knew I'd done nothing wrong, well nothing illegal anyway!
A little later, she was in another traffic jam near the MonkBar Hotel and she saw me go into the carpark. I did not communicate with her here. I got unloaded and got ready to do my balloon show first. During my balloon show, one of the naming ceremony organisers said that there were a couple of police officers waiting in the hotel lobby to see me. So I finished my show and went to speak to them... all they wanted was my name and address and telephone number, so that if the monster car driver wanted to prosecute me, they'd come and get a statement. I briefly told them what had happened and they said that they were both cyclists and agreed that some car drivers were really bad, didn't think that cyclists should be on the road, and were generally sympathetic with my situation.
I then had something to eat, and did my circus show which was difficult as there were only 15 kids and over 100 adults, but I ploughed through it and it was well received.
When I came out, after a cider which was offered to me, it was snowing. I got wet and cold on the way home, but as there were no Range Rover drivers to block cycle paths, all was well!
Spent 2 hours answering composting questions on the CRAG website and on Facebook, a group called Organic Gardening 101.
I cycled off to the MonkBar Hotel via Foss Islands Road, and blocking my way on the cycle path was an overly large 4x4 Range Rover.. so large that the driver couldn't place the damn thing on the lane she was supposed to be in, but spread all over the cycle lane. So I came to a halt behind the thing and gave it a couple of good hefty bangs with my gloved palm to alert the idiot driver to where she was on the road, and the fact that she was blocking me. I then carefully pulled my trailer (with one wheel on the pavement) alongside the car and she wound down her window and started to abuse me. I'm afraid I swore back at her, at which she threatened to call the police! I told her to go ahead and do that, as I knew I'd done nothing wrong, well nothing illegal anyway!
A little later, she was in another traffic jam near the MonkBar Hotel and she saw me go into the carpark. I did not communicate with her here. I got unloaded and got ready to do my balloon show first. During my balloon show, one of the naming ceremony organisers said that there were a couple of police officers waiting in the hotel lobby to see me. So I finished my show and went to speak to them... all they wanted was my name and address and telephone number, so that if the monster car driver wanted to prosecute me, they'd come and get a statement. I briefly told them what had happened and they said that they were both cyclists and agreed that some car drivers were really bad, didn't think that cyclists should be on the road, and were generally sympathetic with my situation.
I then had something to eat, and did my circus show which was difficult as there were only 15 kids and over 100 adults, but I ploughed through it and it was well received.
When I came out, after a cider which was offered to me, it was snowing. I got wet and cold on the way home, but as there were no Range Rover drivers to block cycle paths, all was well!
Spent 2 hours answering composting questions on the CRAG website and on Facebook, a group called Organic Gardening 101.
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Saturday 22nd September 07
Saturday started in a lovely way, with my youngest child coming into the bedroom at about 7.30am and waking me up with a 'I love you Dad' and getting into bed with me and giving me a little back rub. I rolled over and gave him a big backrub, a perfect if a little early start to the day. So came down and had my bowl of cereal, home-made muesli on top of bran flakes, and then did the washing up from last night with the pan of still-warm water from last night's stove.
At about 8.40 I set off on the bike to go and visit Y, one of my Freecycle friends, who has asked for some help sorting out some woodwormy floorboards, and needs brawny people to move furniture and rip out floorboards. I got 5 minutes away and remembered that I was supposed to bring my bowsaw to lend her, so retraced my route and picked it up. I enjoyed meeting her lodgers, including a young woman from Malaysia who is working for Norwich Union, whom I taught to use the bowsaw to cut floorboards to length. New ones are being refitted to fill holes before the whole lot is replaced in a few months time.
I left after an hour or so, and went via Cycle Heaven to get a replacement dynamo wheel for Gill and then went to Bootham to go to Liz's garage sale. I found a scented candle, some Beano comics, two jigsaw puzzles, two little spades in wood and metal for digging on the beach and some fruit teas for 10 Yorkys, and a 'Freeview' set-top box for just £1, bargain of the week, I should say.
When I got home with the various gifts, I was very well liked, everybody happy, especially with the Freeview box, which enables us to get Discovery Channel, BBC3, various kids' TV channels, and probably more. Excellent!
I had lunch and then ran a bath.... using gas and the combi boiler for very hot water and a 5 gal can of warm water from last night's stove, making a good bath, not completely sustainable, but good enough. I washed my hair and got clean for this afternoon's gig and came down and packed my juggle kit for a workshop. I left at about 2.30, the party is in Escrick at 3.45, but I sped along the A59 so fast I was at the venue for 3.05. The dad and younger daughter came at 3.30, as arranged, to open the village hall and let me get changed and get the kit ready. At 3.45 the small group of 13 year-old girls arrived and I did a short show and explanation, followed by a 'freeplay workshop' til 5pm, when they were invited to do a little show to their friends. I really enjoy working with this age-group, as they are so able, and there was a good degree of success with this lot too, very satisfying. Got home for just after 6pm, tired and happy that Gill ad made a pile of bulgar wheat and garden veg. I ate this watching a programme on Capuchin Monkeys.
I recieved an email from the moderator of the CRAG website, copied to me, and sent to the perpertrator of the false 'Professor Fiddlesticks' posting last night, telling him not to use that username unless he could prove that he was the 'real' Professor Fiddlesticks! I felt really glad that the moderator is 'on the case' and had hidden the offending posts, and my replies, from public view. Hopefully the 'offender' will choose a different username! Unless, of course, he IS the real Professor Fiddlesticks!
Had another game of Scrabble and beat Gill by 50 or so points this time. Watched some Freeview stuff!
At about 8.40 I set off on the bike to go and visit Y, one of my Freecycle friends, who has asked for some help sorting out some woodwormy floorboards, and needs brawny people to move furniture and rip out floorboards. I got 5 minutes away and remembered that I was supposed to bring my bowsaw to lend her, so retraced my route and picked it up. I enjoyed meeting her lodgers, including a young woman from Malaysia who is working for Norwich Union, whom I taught to use the bowsaw to cut floorboards to length. New ones are being refitted to fill holes before the whole lot is replaced in a few months time.
I left after an hour or so, and went via Cycle Heaven to get a replacement dynamo wheel for Gill and then went to Bootham to go to Liz's garage sale. I found a scented candle, some Beano comics, two jigsaw puzzles, two little spades in wood and metal for digging on the beach and some fruit teas for 10 Yorkys, and a 'Freeview' set-top box for just £1, bargain of the week, I should say.
When I got home with the various gifts, I was very well liked, everybody happy, especially with the Freeview box, which enables us to get Discovery Channel, BBC3, various kids' TV channels, and probably more. Excellent!
I had lunch and then ran a bath.... using gas and the combi boiler for very hot water and a 5 gal can of warm water from last night's stove, making a good bath, not completely sustainable, but good enough. I washed my hair and got clean for this afternoon's gig and came down and packed my juggle kit for a workshop. I left at about 2.30, the party is in Escrick at 3.45, but I sped along the A59 so fast I was at the venue for 3.05. The dad and younger daughter came at 3.30, as arranged, to open the village hall and let me get changed and get the kit ready. At 3.45 the small group of 13 year-old girls arrived and I did a short show and explanation, followed by a 'freeplay workshop' til 5pm, when they were invited to do a little show to their friends. I really enjoy working with this age-group, as they are so able, and there was a good degree of success with this lot too, very satisfying. Got home for just after 6pm, tired and happy that Gill ad made a pile of bulgar wheat and garden veg. I ate this watching a programme on Capuchin Monkeys.
I recieved an email from the moderator of the CRAG website, copied to me, and sent to the perpertrator of the false 'Professor Fiddlesticks' posting last night, telling him not to use that username unless he could prove that he was the 'real' Professor Fiddlesticks! I felt really glad that the moderator is 'on the case' and had hidden the offending posts, and my replies, from public view. Hopefully the 'offender' will choose a different username! Unless, of course, he IS the real Professor Fiddlesticks!
Had another game of Scrabble and beat Gill by 50 or so points this time. Watched some Freeview stuff!
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