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23:32:00 o'clock BST
Hello again. It's been another busy five days. I spent the first couple of days doing the usual household and internet jobs as well as sorting out all the hotel accommodation needed over the next two months. I also started work on various methods for putting solar 'fairy' lights onto the boat. I still have not completely solved the problems of being able to put them up only in the evening and not have them on show all day. My latest idea is to mount them onto garden netting cut to size, but I don't know how I will 'fix' it to the boat.
I did a couple more radio shows about my visit to Exmouth to do a full evening show. The advertising started early and I hope that the local residents take note and remember to come along. The show is always fun.
I had never been to the Henley Festival before and I was not sure what to expect. We were the guests of Bill Alexander, the chairman and his lovely wife, Dee. We entered the large tented area and enjoyed a lovely meal at the Roux Restaurant and met the other guests. As you would expect they were very interesting and Bill gave into his hormones and spent the night ogling Rosemary, a beautiful girl singer from Barbados. The 'grounds' outside the tents were full of fascinating acts, mimes and mummers. There is a great art section, and small arenas showing off various talents.
Sadly for me, the non-music lover, on the evening we went there was only music on offer. After dinner we went to the main arena where we sat in the grandstand to view the large floating stage. The main attraction was 'The Gypsy Kings'. I saw them a few years ago in a cabaret room and I'm sorry to all the lovers of their music, I just don't get it. I don't get it as music and I certainly don't get it as an 'act'; the staging is terrible. Firstly they meandered onstage wearing gear from a Primark store and spent the show singing what appeared to be the same song about 5 times and between times talking to each other with their backs to the audience. They had sadly had charisma bypass operations and weren't all that bothered about entertaining us. Some of the audience got up and danced in the narrow aisles but many others just got up and left for other venues around the site. The only time the show really lit up was when they suddenly went into 'Volare'. The audience, in the main, joined in and I felt I was on a Thomson Holiday. Good bits? They did have a great lead guitar and a fabulous base player. Keyboard player was good too. I felt the rest were there to swell the numbers and their singing voices were of their culture. Festival organisers can't get it all right BUT what followed was wonderful.
The Ceremonial Drums of Dulsori really put on a show. The drumming was sensational and not only was the staging and presentation great but the organisers had put the nightly firework show behind them to add to the occasion. The Gypsy Kings were outclassed, and forgotten.
In a smaller marquee there was a good singer and music but it was interesting to see the musicians faces when Rosemary started to sing. This is a truly impressive singer as well as being a really nice person. Afterwards, at a party, I did some stuff and Rosemary sang. I felt outclassed.
The next day, as I had told everyone, I had an erection in the garden. I didn't do it. A couple of guys turned up with shed panels on a small truck and 20 minutes later I had a shed! Amazing. Debbie couldn't believe they had already gone when she came down to check. Since then, of course, this man has been in and out of his shed. It's what we manly types do, you know.
On Saturday I drove to Southport. Debbie couldn't come with me because once again she had to do her Sunday morning stint on the radio. The trip, although it was over four hours long, was easy until I arrived in Southport and all the traffic was jammed up by an Orange parade. As I sat there waiting I realised that these men, and their fans, were celebrating a battle from 400 years ago. When will we ever learn?
The 'show' was different for me. It was a private party and I wandered around chatting, having pictures done, signing autographs, and doing close up magic when asked. Then I set off to get part way south before turning in. I couldn't find the hotel and it was midnight. The address on the paper led me to completely the wrong place and it took me 45 minutes to find my bed. I slept in until 8.30am the next morning and hit the road south again and got home at 11am. Another day....another week...
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14/07/08 21:09
I like the sound of the fairly lights on the boat. . .they will look really lovely