Library Books

So, have now sorted through the library books we have and classified them all (have a big pile of new donations to go through still though). Lots of standard books on wine as you'd expect and some more anecdotal ones (also as expected), plus a few unusual (for wants of a better word) ones.

Just found this little title in the library one friday:

Cocktails at Law
Kiamran Halil
A collection of learned and lighthearted fictitous court cases, each of which is "based" on a veritable cocktail recipe

Have enjoyed flicking through Hugh Johnson's Pop-Up Winebook and am facinated by the "guides" to wine snobbery.

Vin Rude an Alcholic Alphabet at Room Temperature by David Thorpe was also a bit of a surprise to find there. Am now wondering who got it for the trust and why? Oh well, I suppose it's a book and it's wine related, have filed it on the shelf under "art" as I'm sure it will keep some of the students entertained.

Dana Centre Again...

So went to the Dana Centre again on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

( Geothermal Power in Iceland )

( Building on Floodplains )

Thrales Tour Of Smithfield

On Friday, Thrales were out and we did a tour of Smithfield.

Wasn't the best tour we've done, a few too many restaurants (you don't get as good a reaction in restaurants because people tend to want to eat rather than watch people jump over swords), but was still good fun. Think given the location and the fact it was a Friday night there was a lot more potential for a good tour there though.

( The Pubs of Smithfield )

Chalktown Ceilidh

So, in the end having asked you all where to go, I ignored you and went to Haywards Heath.

Decided I couldn't really afford to go to Cambridge 3 weekends in a row, even if by the sounds of things I missed a really good ceilidh up there.

Anyway, Chalktown were a really good band with plenty of energy and Cat Kelly is generally a really good caller. She didn't seem to be on her best form last night (she was certainly much better at the Gloworms ceilidh in December), but it was still a good evening and it was nice to dance with the Mythago people as I haven't been to a ceilidh with them in ages.

Did however get mistaken for being a sixth former by the people on the door when I arrived. I'm really not sure what to think about that? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

[Poll #671803]

The Rose Theatre

So, yesterday went into the Borough with Paul, Jax and Maryann to figure out a good tour for the Hunt's 15 birthday in September.

While we were there we discovered the remains of the Rose theatre. OK, admittedly someone had already discovered them, dug half of them up and built a visitors centre over the top, but still seemed a good find to us (although it says it's only open to pre-booked tours, it was open generally to the public on Saturday as a one off).

They're looking for funding to excavate it fully and then cover it in a glass floor and open it up to the public.

Piano moving

This morning I went up to Archway to help Rosie retrieve her Piano from Willesden Green.

Hadn't quite realised quite how heavy Pianos are. Even with as many bits taken out as would come out it was still fairly weighty.

We had to tip it on it's end to get it out of the room it was in due to the tight corner. At that point it was just Rosie's Dad and I trying to manouevre it through the door (he had the bottom and I had the top). Really awkward as there is absolutely no where to grab hold of a piano on it's end (well at least not this one - my experiences of lifting pianos on there ends are fairly limited...). Unfortunately the top got slightly chipped as we carried it out the door.

After we got it out the door into the hall it was much easier as we could put it back upright again (yey! wheels!) and we could get all 4 of us round it to carry it out and into the Van.

The other bit of fun was getting it up the steep narrow flight of steps into Rosie's house. Although with 2 of us at the front and 3 at the back we actually got it up the stairs with relative ease (am quite amazed by that in retrospect).

Moving the big wooden cupboard out the way to clear space for was the real eye-opening when you felt how light it was in comparison.

Oh well, only a slight chip in the Piano and it did get moved which is the main thing.

Was amazed to find out she got the Piano free out of Loot and that apparently they have quite a lot given away in there. Would look for one myself given that, but I think I'm lacking room for one in my flat. Shall settle for my whistle instead for now, as it also has the bonus of being portable (I'm fairly sure I could carry it all by myself from Willesden Green to Archway!).

Seeing as these seem to be doing the rounds...

As everyone else seems to have done these, here's mine. Feel free to go along and fill in what you think my strengths and weaknesses are respectively (would be interesting really...)

the Johari Window thing

and

the Nohari Window thing