More of Wot I have Heard…

We returned to the Isle of Wight Festival this year as a treat for our eldest godson Tom. Sue’s sister Deb also joined us and we stayed at the Silver Glades Caravan Park in the same van we had a few years previously with my mum. We travelled after work on Friday (after Tom’s final exam) and took the ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, then across the floating bridge to West Cowes and on to the caravan park. We went into Yarmouth for dinner at the Blue Crab before having an evening stroll along the pier. While there we saw several black RIBs powering up the Solent without any lights on, they turned towards the harbour and switch on the lights as they cruised in – not sure who they were (we speculated that they might be military, Deb thought they might be delivering her some Milk Tray chocolates).

After breakfast, we drove to a parking spot near the festival site (I volunteered to drive as getting a taxi could have been a bit of an issue later). We were at the gates when they opened at 11am and exploring the site not long after.

It was clear that the weather was not going to be great (some reports of previous days told of a tornado and torrential rain), so we came prepared. As it was the rain was light and patchy and eventually cleared up completely at sunset.

I was wearing my festival top hat (complete with goggles) and my oilskin duster coat, looking a bit like a steampunk cowboy, which got a few comments – positive ones too – from strangers, even an invitation to join a Steampunk Festival the following weekend.

We started at one of the smaller tents and watched a couple of lesser known bands: Floodhounds and The Dead Freights.

At the Big Top we saw Stitch, who impressed us all very much.

After that we moved to set up a place in front of the main stage and as we arrived Andrew Roachford was just finishing. Here we watched KT Tunstall sing her hits, Anne-Marie played up to her pop princess image, Sundara Karma were unknowns who surprised us (the lead singer had a David Bowie’esque sound on some songs), Rick Astley was enthusiastic and fun (he also played the drums on an AC/DC cover), Bastille were just fantastic (they also had a cameo from Rick Astley on the drums for one song), George Ezra had damaged his foot and sat down through his performance which was very polished (he did talk a lot, explaining each song) that culminated in fireworks, and finally, the headliner for Saturday, Fatboy Slim, who put on a particularly impressive show with exciting video images, smoke cannons, laser displays and a thumping sound.

It all finished at about midnight.

The next day we headed off to catch the return ferry at 12:30 and drove back to the Whittenburry’s for a Father’s Day meal as we joined their family.

Sue and I were back home in bed early, still tired from the night before, thankful we only went for the one day.

Green Fingers…

As penance for our excesses we spent the weekend working in our garden getting it tidy (fixing down a deck plank where a wasp nest was evicted from underneath, jet washing the said deck, cutting and trimming and pruning and weeding the greenery until it was all spic and span. We do need to do a few more chores such as paint the fences and wooden furniture, but it is looking much better now.

Afterwards we went to visit 7 local gardens as part of the Pip Brook Open Gardens event in the village that aims to raise funds for a Peace Garden in the St Johns church yard. An excuse for a good nose around other peoples back gardens.

Musical Interlude…

We thoroughly enjoyed and was moved by Rocketman when we saw it recently at our favourite cinema in Reigate, and afterwards we returned to Dorking and spent a drunken evening listening to a lively (if slightly geriatric) band called Blue Haze (or Hayz) at The Old House.

Playing Games…

Martin, Marc and I joined Rhys on our regular board game pilgrimage to the UK Games Expo in Birmingham. This year we stayed further out towards Coventry as it was cheaper than the hotels next to the venue and was closer to where Rhys lives. The hotel was not great but they were happy for us to game in the bar. On the day, we went into the venue it seemed even busier than last year. We did however find a good table to play many games during the day and into the wee small hours. I think the consensus was that Wingspan and the Quacks of Quedlinburg were our favourite games.

Two Guitar Harmony…

We saw the Americana/Folk duo Milk Carton Kids at the Barbican recently and were impressed how two people could command a stage in such a calm and gentle manner with the whole audience hanging on every harmonious note and amusing anecdote. They were very ably supported by Rosie Carney who has a sweet voice. Beforehand we had a lovely and civilised meal at the nearby Chiswell Street Dining Rooms (in the former Whitbread Brewery building). The otherwise fabulous evening was only marred when I lost my debit card.

Pie Heaven…

Sue made a fabulous Steak, Guinness and Cheese pie for our Kiwi friends, and we were all in raptures afterwards. An absolute culinary masterpiece.  

Geek Life…

I took Ollie to the spring MCM London Comic Con held at the ExCel centre. It was a first for both of us and we were overwhelmed with the number of people and the variety of costumes on show. The event is large and spans several halls with games, comics, costumes, films and collectables everywhere.

Tourist Guides…

Carol visited us a gain for a few days at the end of her European tour before returning home to NZ. We took her around the quaint local villages, slogged up Leith Hill, and wandered around the historic treasure of Polsden Lacey. Sue also took her on an epic tour around London from London Bridge to the Albert Memorial. On a separate outing, they also went to the seaside at Brighton.

Floral Splendour…

We had another visit to RHS Wisely to spend a pleasant day wandering around and taking in the sights and scents of the rather splendid spring flowers.

More of Wot I have Read…

Mars Trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars) by Kim Stanley Robinson

These were three heavy weight books that are epic in in scope and take quite some effort to work through as the author expounds detailed theorems for all aspects of the story (space travel, terraforming geology/chemistry/physics/biology, human psychology and physiology, sociology, politics etc.). This focus on the minutia often slows the pace of a narrative to a crawl but it does give everything an air of believability. Worth the effort if you are a science fan.  

‘Red Mars: The Future History of Mars - Part One

1969: Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to set foot on the Moon.

2020: John Boone becomes the first man to set foot on Mars.

2027: The first mass-landing arrives on Mars.

It's the greatest challenge mankind has ever faced.

In 2027, the Ares, the biggest space-worthy craft ever built by man, reaches high orbit around Mars. Inside is a crew who will become the first one hundred people to land on the planet's surface.

Among them are the Russian team, led by the magnetic Maya Toitovna and radical socialist Arkady Bogdanov with their pragmatic engineer Nadia Cherneshevsky; Hiroko Ai - a Japanese biologist; and the Americans, led by Boone and the ambitious Frank Chalmers. Their mission: terraform a frozen wasteland with no atmosphere into a new Eden.

Their mission must succeed. The future of human civilization depends on it.’

‘Green Mars: The Future of Mars – Part Two

Frozen lakes form, lichen creeps over the dry stone, a thin atmosphere wraps the planet. Man's dream of a new world is underway, but corrupted. The revolution defeated, Earth's transnational corporations set about plundering Mars for profit. Countries are bought and sold by the transnationals, why not planets too?

The survivors of the First Hundred know that technology alone won't bring utopia. But though they all have a common enemy – Earth's grasping corporations – they cannot agree to a means, let alone an end. Boone is dead, Hiroko Ai is venerated by believers in the green way, Sax Russell argues for scientific rationalism; Ann Clayborne opposes all interference – Mars should be preserved absolutely. Do they want bloody revolution or peaceful co-existence? The First Hundred is split and weakened; trust and co-operation are as thin on the ground as the Martian air they breathe.’

‘Blue Mars: The concluding volume in Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy – Part Three.

The product of years of dedicated research, the series is a timeless masterpiece, the ultimate in future history.

Mars is now a living, breathing planet, resplendent with genetically engineered plants and animals living beside canals and teeming seas – an Eden to be envied. In this brave and buzzing new world the survivors of the First Hundred have become like walking myths to the Martian youth, but political schisms have hardened into polar opposites. And as civil war looms, an over populated earth looks on bitterly. For many Terrapins, Mars is mocking utopia. A dream to live for, fight for – perhaps even die for.

As the motives, desires and passions of the characters evolve along with the planet they have made their home, the author explores and interweaves the political, sociological, economic and scientific aspects of their terraforming effort.’