The Big Moo

I’m back!  I have very sore feet and legs from lots of bending down and loads of walking from venue to venue (Milton Keynes shopping centre is one mile end-to-end and the Theatre District is another 500 metres from that).

I got asked to write some of my poems out in big chalk letters “all over The Theatre District”…so I did.

Literally hundreds of people watched me do it and by the end of tonight several thousand will have seen my work.  This is a very good thing.

I also did two performance sets, one hour each, on the two stages.  One stage was by the “Big Tree” in Midsummer Place and the other stage was slap, bang in the middle of Middleton Hall surrounded by all the cafes and restaurants.  I got a very enthusiastic reception and was asked back in the evening for some yummy food (from which I have returned).  I’ve been approached by a few people to do some more in other venues in the next few weeks so I may well take up the offer.

All in all, a very good day…although I am absolutely wiped out now (and a little sunburnt).

To see some of my pics go here:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ian.barker/TheBigMooFringeFestivalOfArtsJuly11132008

There are lots more pictures on the way as I was photographed by the press and several friends who will send me the pictures soon.

Yes, I did read “Sleeper“, twice, and yes my dad did cry, twice.  🙂

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Ah Spring is on its way. The daffodils are starting to flower and the trees already have blossom on them. For some reason I woke up this morning in some kind of alpha state with an absolutely inspirational idea for a program (I can’t describe it here since I don’t want anyone who randomly reads this to nick the ideas – I know of at least two business competitors who actually read this blog which, quite frankly provokes in me feelings of “oh shit” to “ha ha, oh shit”).

I’m about to nip out and buy some stuff to fulfill some of today’s objectives. The running order for today is:

Woke up, superbly drowsy after being totally knackered from work yesterday. Made cup of tea, realised I had a humgously brilliant idea and a moment of pure clarity for a new product. Everything came rushing into my head at once and as I drank my must-have ritualistic cup of morning tea (see previous blog entries en passim for correct builder’s strength and preparation technique. I’m still not buying the milk molecules thing btw young midwife…not for a minute).

Looked at flat and assessed the damage of the winter months and the scale of the task to repair it. I had already decided that today was “spring clean the flat day”. Checked my emails. Some lovely ones from secret admirers. Check online banking, excellent, I can afford to buy stuff like food and cleaning materials. Checked news. Noted absence of earthquakes and floods in surrounding area. Removed tin foil hat and water wings. Changed my Vista laptop’s background to this blast from the past (you’ll need Flash installed to view it). Slightly mourned the old background which featured a car and a snow scene from a potential playground.

Ran bath. During bath decided I really really really must buy an Edith Piaf album and play L’Accordeoniste. Piaf was a tragic genius, a true artist and a remarkable poet of a depth that only this kind of tragedy can produce.

Got out of bath, and lit sandalwood incense stick. Smiled at fortunate life of single male, slightly naughty disposition with own flat and no flatmates (wanted or needed) and realised I probably could not get away with half the things I do if I lived with anyone.

I made a shopping list:

• Vacuum freshener. Spring fragrance. (To promote and elongate feeling of Spring is Sprung).
• Cleaning stuff viz: scrubby things for skirting boards and pipework under sinks etc. Chrome polishy stuff. Mr, Mrs or Ms Muscle worktop cleaner.
• New frying pan. (Put old one in bin to ensure I am not tempted to keep it – the handle is now unrepairably loose and it has occurred to me that it’s only a question of time before I pour hot fat down my soft bits whilst ill-advisedly combining the swigging of Absinthe and cooking Bratwurst).
• Fish (market).
• Veg (market).
• Shoes (all others now being past their sell-by date due to building sites and yucky factories).
• Edith Piaf album.
• Hubcaps and tyres (part of the deal for the use of the car).
• Scanner/printer thing.

The flat now smells totally of Sandalwood. So I’m off now to do the stuff on the list. Then, when I am back and done I am going to watch Control which arrived courtesy of Amazon DVD rental.

Meanwhile; whilst you’re waiting, enjoy Edith in full swing and perhaps you’ll agree (even if you don’t speak French) that this performance is an exemplary example of artistic passion and poetic visualisation.