Quintessentially British
Well it has been a while since I put
fingers to keyboard. I’ve just been SO
busy. A couple of days with Cat’s Paw
Theatre rehearsing new piece for 16 +, getting all the final bits ready for the
summer and trying to rest my poor damaged ankle. I am pleased to say the last is now almost
better. The swelling has reduced and
although it is still painful, especially after a day on my pins, it is much
better really. I can unicycle and do all
the high balances so that’s all that matters!
The season has well and truly started with
Llandudno a distant past and the Anglesey Vintage Machinery Rally over two weeks ago. My first visit to this and a most
enjoyable weekend all round. Friendly
people and the weather was fine. Not as
fine as the rest of the UK apparently which basked in summer heat. Anglesey was cloudy and rather windy, but no
rain. Which is not what can be said for
the Bank Holiday weekend Saturday at the Hertfordshire County Show. It was a fine day for the set up when I arrived
on the Friday but the rain started in the middle of the night and just didn’t
stop. Well until about 11.00 when a
break in the general sogginess meant I could set up shop and announce the first
show. The 12.00 show was very busy and
enjoyable, likewise the second, but the third was about half way through when
the dark skies presaged a thunder storm of biblical proportions. The dogs rushed for the safety of the lorry
and I rescued props from the deluge! My
occasional call up line ‘The last little show at the end of the world’ seemed
it might be very appropriate, and I was seriously worried about the awning
which shook and billowed in the angry wind.
But hey, a couple of hours later and a
clear sky and open sky sunset and the Sunday forecast was not nearly as
bad. Over 15,000 advance tickets sold and
a very busy day. It’s a lovely County
Show, and a really British affair with all the stewards in bowler hats and
collars and ties. Very nice! The shows
were packed and I had several very appreciative emails along with an invitation
to return next year. That’s the way to
do it!
The other news is that a young film maker
called Rhys Edwards (believe it or not, he’s Welsh) is going to make a
documentary film about me and the strange life I live! He is a wonderful cameraman and
director. He recently won a major National
film award with a real joy of a three-minute documentary about a sheep farming
family near Caernarfon. The film is
called ‘A Good Bitch’ and it is three minutes of real joy. Check it out on Rhys’ website http://www.rhysedwards.tv
He started filming at the Crich Tramway Village. Apart from the day he was there, I spent four
extremely soggy days there. But what a
lovely place. Check it out on (www.tramway.co.uk).
The really great thing about it is the people who work there. Another army of volunteers all dedicated to
keeping the history of trams alive. I especially liked Phil and Angie who made my stay really special. I
was privileged to have the lorry parked in the corner of the tramyard during my
stay and every morning the trams were taken from the shed by the volunteers,
all in uniform and most in their sixties and seventies I guess, with the
occasional young whippersnapper amongst them.
It was like watching Dad’s Army live.
Wonderful and heart-warmingly British.
I love these eccentrics. The ones
who dress up for fun and do something they love doing. Bury me on their side of the grave yard!
The Village is a wonderful attraction and
you must definitely put it on your list of must-go places.
All the best from a road near you,
Mr Alexander
PS I am adding a photo on each blog called
‘from my window’, so you can have some idea of the fantastic places I stay
in. Today’s is the tram yard at Crich
with the Red Lion ( a famous pub which was taken down brick by brick and
reconstructed here) in the background and the trams waiting in the shed
