WOMAD

We have just got back from a rather wet WOMAD and are enjoying the simple pleasures of a hot shower and flushable toilets. Overall we were quite disappointed with this years festival. Gone were the impromptu entertainers and general crazy people and in were the boring wellie brigade with their 4 X 4's and waxed coats. Tree and I feel that this festival has lost it's hippy vibe and become a haven for the pseudo middle classes.

Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves despite the rain, especially seeing Mad Professor, The Ghoad Gypsies of Rhajasthan and an amazing set by DJ M3. This year might be where we say goodbye to WOMAD and find another more chilled festie to replace it. We will see!

Camping it up in Cornwall.

We decided to grab a few days in Cornwall camping but, as we went to Tony Ballard's funeral on Monday, we didn't get away until Tuesday. The weather was good to us in that it stopped briefly when we got there so we could get the tent up and then started again, promptly, straight after. Out of the whole trip we managed one fine day and made use of every second of it. We also found a restaurant that serves children ON the menu. Someone wasn't paying attention at advertising school, weren't they? We also made friends with a baby Starling that sat with us, waiting patiently until we were finished, to grab the crumbs leftover - cute. By Friday the rain had set well in so we decamped and went to see Joy in her new shop. She is doing really well and has no regrets in moving at all. I think a trip to sunny India is on the cards if the weather doesn't get better here!!!

In memory of Tony Ballard

It is with a heavy heart that I must report the death of Tony Ballard who drowned whilst swimming in the Severn. Our thoughts go out to Ellie and Duncan, his parents, at this desperate time. For those who came to our handfasting, Duncan was the minister who came and said a few words for us. Tony will be remembered fondly.

Having a jolly BAD time

Blimey, a sunny day and what better than to get down to Tewkesbury for the Fayre. We took this chance to catch up with Brian and Donna of BAD Ceramics as we haven't seen them since the shop closed. They have now got a new tent and their work is as brilliant as ever. Brian is producing some fantastic new works and Donna's glazes are stunning. We hope to see them away from work before they head back up North. Both Tree and I felt the itch to get back to having a stall but this soon passed when the rain came down to remind of the disaster of last year. Although , I must say, once I have finished the Geodesic dome I will not be able to resist trading from it. I don't think it will be ready for WOMAD by a long shot!!

Get your motor running..........

A few good bits to report.

Firstly, Tree is back to swimming again and has been doing 75 lengths each morning (about 0.75 mile). I had to take out her stitches in the end, as they just would not dissolve and were pulling, and this has spurred her on a bit.

Secondly, I realised that I had most of my blogs in draft format and had forgotten to publish them...Doh!

Thirdly, I'm on the road. Thursday saw the delivery of my new Tamoretti scooter (Scoot). Steve, the dealer, drove up from London on a special journey to drop it off. Well done mate. The only drawback is that I have found out that Jamie Oliver rides one (can't be helped I suppose) and I will also not be able to go more than 20 miles an hour until I have run it in. Only 285 miles to go! Oh well.

Geodesic delights.

One of "the back burner jobs", I referred to in a previous blog, is to build a geodesic dome. Now for anyone unfamiliar with them, a geodesic dome is a structure like the Epcot Centre in the USA and was discovered by a man called Buckminster Fuller. The structure is lightweight, aerodynamic and requires a minimal amount of storage. The math behind them basically says that the larger the structure, the stronger it gets. I have fancied making one for years and have opted for a 12' diameter with standing room of 8'. This leaves enough room to put a wood burner in the centre with the chimney out through the middle. Once built, it will take up less ground space than a 4 berth family tent and have almost twice the height for half the weight and storage. I have already begun the build and I am photographing the whole process in order to make plans to sell on to other prospective builders. This is because the resources on the internet are, frankly, too nerdy or just not well described. My plans will be aimed at the complete novice and have adequate illustrations to make sense of the text. I am not looking to make loads of cash but just to cover the cost of my first build. Hopefully, the project will be completed within the month, in time for a testing at WOMAD. I shall keep you posted.