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Yes I can! Catch up on my sleep, that is...
Nov 6, 2008

I'm tired and spotty and it's all Barack Obama's fault. Why'd he have to be so exciting and inspirational that I had to stay up all night watching him make history? I started the night of November 4 watching the results start to come in at the University of Bradford, explaining the Electoral Coverage to students from a variety of countries and munching the free popcorn provided by the Students' Union to sustain us through the night, in the bar with a special extension until 4am. But I was struggling to hear the TV news over all the excited chatter, so I headed for home.

Then, of course, over the next few hours my smile became broader as I watched the BBC coverage. Pennsylvania... Ohio... ... and finally that magic moment just after 4am UK time when a swathe of declarations took Barack Obama past 270 Electoral Votes.

It was a truly historic moment that I was overjoyed to witness. I was far too excited to sleep, and stayed up until around 6:30 to watch John McCain's gracious, constructive and dignified concession speech and President-elect Obama's inspirational oration in Chicago, which brought tears to my eyes. Yes, sometimes, despite everything, the good guys really win.

I'll muse on the possible consequences of all this at greater length later, probably in . But for now I have a show to do with my choral society tonight, I still haven't caught up on my sleep
and I'll need my stage make-up because all the and diet cola I drank to stay awake for Barack's big moment has brought me out in spots.

I dunno - these defining moments in history. They can be brilliant and unforgettable, like the other night, but they're also a health hazard.

(No replies)

My lucky number comes up!
Aug 16, 2008

In general, I like to try to be rational about things and eschew any thoughts of the supernatural. But sometimes coincidences do get eerie...

So it was yesterday. There are two teams whose home games I watch regularly: Bradford City and Guiseley. Yesterday, they both won 2-0, and City's great local rivals Leeds United lost 2-0. City's Peter Thorne scored two goals, and David Brown scored goal number two for Guiseley two minutes from the end of their game. I could hardly fail to see the pattern there.

So I bought a ticket for the National Lottery's Thunderball game, and chose 2 as the number for both the Thunderball (the key number in the game, drawn from a separate set of 14 balls) and as one of the five other chosen numbers that the game calls for. My other four numbers were selected from other aspects of my team's games today, for instance Peter Thorne's shirt number and the times of his goals.

Guess what happened? I had two winning numbers, and both of them were 2! The two twos I picked both came up in the draw. Sadly none of my other numbers were winners, but as I had the Thunderball and one other winning number, I won £5.

And it certainly seems obvious what my lucky number is at present. Perhaps I should try again in the next draw on Wednesday and try to make it two in a row...

(10 replies, Latest reply: Aug 20, 2008)

An actor's life for me
Jan 30, 2008

I have just taken my first, tentative step towards trying to be a professional actor, by applying for registration with my friendly neighbourhood extras agency. This involved filling in a comprehensive form which enquired after lots of aspects of my physical dimensions, experience and talents, and what I'd be willing to do. I have declared that I'm quite willing to kiss on screen and that I'm prepared to appear topless. Heck, it's possibly the only way I'll get a these days, and if someone's willing to pay to film my hairy, flabby torso then that's fine by me!

It's all quite timely because this week I am playing an army general in a really fine new play called 'Balance of Power' that's on at Bradford University tomorrow (Jan. 31) and Friday. It's a powerful tale of love and Machiavellian political manoeuveres in an unnamed nation in the former Soviet Union. The script is excellent, I've got a great part, and I'm very proud to be involved in bringing this excellent piece of new writing to life. I love the adrenaline rush of a production week!

One question on the extras agency's form asked if I had a stage name. The answer for now is 'no', as the need has never arisen, but it did set me wondering what I might call myself if a new name was required. Any suggestions?

(18 replies, Latest reply: Feb 24, 2008)

On becoming four-eyed
Oct 12, 2007

I have just been through one of those transitions in life that come to us all in the end. For some time now, I had been reading small print by holding it at arm's length and squinting. But there comes a time when that technique isn't enough any more; when, as the optician I went to see this week put it, you simply run out of arm.

And so I have become the owner of two pairs of reading glasses. They're rectangular with neat thin frames, and so make me look very much like this except that I still have all my hair and I'm not yellow. I'm very pleased with them; I can now take a to bed at the end of a long day and actually read it easily. Most of the time I don't need my specs, and when I do wear them I think they make me look quite mature and learned.

I realise, however, that many of my h2g2 friends are far more experienced glasses-wearers than I am. So can you give me any tips on specs maintenance?

(22 replies, Latest reply: Oct 29, 2007)

My life as a mad hatter
Aug 12, 2007

It’s nice to do something different at the weekend, don’t you think? Some friends and I certainly managed that a couple of weeks ago.

First, we dressed up in head-to-foot white boiler suits and bright blue bowler hats. Then we went out to a variety of locations around the centre of Bradford: the city hall steps, a shop, a shop, the Central Library and the city square among them. We stood still and silent, stoically ignoring the inevitable comments and enquiries about what we were doing. From time to time we'd gather around some innocent passer-by one by one, smiling sweetly, until they started to react. Then we'd disappear just after handing them a card with a picture of a blue bowler on one side and the words 'We think you're lovely' on the other, which usually seemed to be well received!

The most uncomfortable moment came when we got noisy attention from some serious, cider-bottle-clutching drunks, but we managed to stay in character and didn't get attacked. In fairness, one of the drunks came up with the most perceptive comment we got all day: ‘I think it’s meant to mess with your consciousness.’ In some other places, like the coffee shop and the book shop, we hardly seemed to be noticed; people didn't bat an eyelid at the gang of oddly-attired folk suddenly appearing in their midst. In different contexts, the comments were different. Near the police station, someone said ‘The forensic squad are out’. In a lift in the library, a little boy, looking anxiously at two of us, asked ‘Are you clowns? I didn’t have the heart to stay silent and probably scare him, so I replied ‘Something like that’.

You won’t be surprised to hear that this was all part of my occasional acting career; a performance art piece, called ‘The Bowlers’, done as part of an arts festival called Stir that took place in Bradford a couple of weekends ago. I really enjoyed the festival. Another highlight was a brilliant theatre piece called ‘They Only Come At Night’ – a drama about grisly murders committed by vampires, performed with the aid of live actors and dancers, projections and pre-recorded commentary, and staged on the top floor of a multi-storey car park! I went to that as a customer and jumped out of my skin a couple of times as the 'vampire' dancers swooped up behind me.

There is now talk of doing a second round of ‘The Bowlers’ up at Bradford University when the new academic year begins, and I may well do it again. At the same time, though, my beloved Uni theatre group is doing a production of ‘Alice In Wonderland’ – so perhaps I’ll have two more opportunities to become a mad hatter!

By the way, very fetching photos of me and a couple of friends in our bowlers are available, and can be e-mailed on request!

(5 replies, Latest reply: Aug 13, 2007)