To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question
I have been
contemplating Twitter. You cannot escape it, that rather annoying, yet somehow
tantalising hashtag pops up everywhere, but should I join in? Am I a tweeter? What’s it really like in the birdbath? From the edge of the pool it looks cold and
pointless, just a lot of birds splashing about following their own tails doing
things they could easily do in other ways.
But then quite respectable people tweet too. There’s a pool of people I almost admire who
belong and flaunt their feathers like peacocks for all to follow.
I’ve done a
little research and there’s a few good introductory online courses. The one I like the sound of (https://www.udemy.com/twitter-course/)
is £42 but seems, from the free introduction, to be comprehensive and sceptical
which is what I need. I’m not convinced
Twitter (would I really want to belong to anything that began with those four
letters?) is right for me but I would like to examine all the pros and
cons. If there’s anyone among my viral
readership who can advise I would be most grateful. Just email, Facebook message, Whatsapp, phone
or even (here’s a shout for the old fashioned ways), speak to me. There may be something I am missing and there
may be some unique and original way I can use it as part of the show, or even
as an essential element to my life, that’s obvious to someone out there but to
which I am innocently oblivious. I look
forward to hearing from you.
And so to
Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration. I am taking a few days over half term next
week to take the lorry and the dogs for a little early spring seaside break in
Devon. Well actually to spend some time
meeting people and furthering the cause of Celebration. I have not been idle since somewhat rashly
offering to be the event’s Artistic Director last June. It badly needed something. Whether I am its panacea has yet to be revealed
but at least I’m pumping its ailing heart and singing ‘Stayin’ Alive’ at the
top of my voice. There’s some evidence
of a response but also a lot of people just standing by, shaking their heads,
sucking their teeth and declaring, ‘I think we should call it.’ We will see.
The gala weekend is shaping nicely (June 17th -19th)
and there are some very encouraging responses to my pleas for help from individuals
and groups in the local community. Next
week I’m going live with a Kickstarter bid for it and will tell you more about
that then.
For now, if you’ve
not been to Devon for a while, or have never visited Ilfracombe, why not plan a
few days away in early summer (June 11th – 19th) in a
beautiful classic Victorian seaside resort and join in the Celebration. You will be made to feel as welcome as I have
these last few years and will be supporting an event which was once and will be
again a highlight of local community life. Dance, parades, music, theatre and
art all with a slight Victorian twist, coming together for a ten days of joy
and revelry. Who could resist that? From
ceilidh dances to ukulele workshops via Victorian Kitchen garden tasters. And of course Mr Alexander’s Travelling Show
with special guest appearances. Watch
this space for more information.
And for those
curious about Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza, I am sorry to relate that
no-one picked up my press release and that my demise from the event will be
likely to go unmarked until my fans turn up to Bog Island to find I am not
there. I will miss them too. I’ve had a good stand there over the years but
this is show business and things always have to move on. At this point it looks as though I will not
be able to fill the gap in my calendar which, had the committee responded to my
email a year ago, might be different, but heigh ho. If anyone knows of a good early spring Bank Holiday
event I can approach for next year please let me know. Just email,
Facebook message, Whatsapp, phone or even (here’s another shout for the old
fashioned ways), speak to me. Or even
tweet me, if I decide, like John Milton in his introduction to Comus, to ‘stretch
my wings’ and fly with the birds.
All the best from a flightpath near you,
Mr Alexander