The video's released!!

Thought I'd post the Video to Gaz Coombes' (formerly of Supergrass) "Simulator" on here, now it's been released!  Can you spot me?!
try here
or if that doesn't work try this
Here's what I've spotted, or what I remember from the filming...
I'm the first 'back-of-head' on the far left at 0:08
That's me on my own in the bottom right at 0:44
That's me front row on far left at 1:11
That's me again bottom right at 2:15
I *think* that might be me, front row 2nd from left at 2:28 & 2:33
 
Rob.

Music Video Appearance!!!

2012/06/01: Decided to fulfil a 'last-minute-request' from Gaz Coombes, former lead-man of the band Supergrass, to act as an extra in his next music video. The request was for people dressed in all black to be able to make it to the 'Ultimate Picture Palace' in Oxford for 1pm.
   "Well," I thought, "all I need to add to my work-wear is a black shirt, to become dressed in all black, I work less than an hour's drive from Oxford and I can finish at Midday on a Friday, so What the hell?"
   So that's what I did. I didn't know what the song was or what we'd be asked to do, but I managed to get there just in time and went in. It was a bit dazzling with the Camera lighting and some theatrical smoke,

...but eventually we got sat down and briefed.

   For the video we we're to pretend to be 'Replicants' sort of Robot/clones and would wear silver masks, like this...

   And we were guided how to all move in-time, to create an eerie identical reaction like we were all cloned machines.

   There was roughly 30 extras plus a small team of crew:Gaz and his Brother, Charlie, Directing; James Sharpe Assistant director, a senior and junior camerman, a props girl (well, Charlie's wife), a lighting guy, a couple of gophers, a photographer and a lady doing admin. As it was a warm day and the Cinema was minuscule, we needed frequent breaks to prevent over heating...

   It was a good day, and they managed to get the footage they required, and we all got a big thank-you. They only had half-an-hour to pack away as the cinema was opening for business at 7pm, but Gaz still had time to come round and thank everyone personally and have his photo taken with us...(dodgy picture, I know!)....

   After that, I was exhausted and required food (due to the slight over-sight I made about lunch), so walked across the Road to Atomic Burger, which I'd heard very good things about.

   I can confirm they are all true!! It was an excellent Independent Burger restaurant, almost worthy of cousin Geoff to assess! The food was great, it is the only place I've heard of that imports proper US softdrinks (like this A&W Cream soda)...

  And had amazing geeky decoration everywhere including laminated comic book covers lining the walls, sci-fi toys and memorabilia hanging from the ceilings and even the super-rare original Starwars and ET wall-paper.

   Whilst enjoying my meal I was surprised to see Charlie Coombes come in the restaurant and start chatting to the guy next to me, when he saw me we chatted briefly about the video and after he left, I found out the guy next to me was the new Brazilian Drummer from Charlies own band (Charlie Coombes and the new Breed) and we chatted away for a while about music, Oxford and South America.

   Eventually though, I did have to make a start on the 2 and a half hour drive back home, but my route had to go through the centre of Oxford on a bright and warm evening, which is not a bad way to start a long journey!

  All-in-all a very different and exciting day, even if it was very tiring!!

Rob.

Haughton's Olympic Flame Fame

2012/05/30 Haughton:

  The Olympic Torch for the London 2012 games came to Staffordshire and passed through our Village of Haughton, and we made sure we were there to see it!!

  We all dressed appropriately (dogs included)....

and joined the hundreds of people that lined the route through the village, waiting for the torch...

which was a bit confusing as several processions proceeded it....

   At first, when one of the processions stopped and a man got out with an un-lit torch, we were confused even further...

Especially as he was still hanging around when the torch bearer we knew of (Adele Bisbey), was coming...

   until we realised that they had added an unscheduled 'changeover' on the route, and by luck we happened to be stood right next to it!

   Once lit, he carried on and ran to the other end of the village, then next stop, Stafford!

   After the excitement, we all milled around a bit, before heading down to the Bell Inn, where a BBQ and drinks were enjoyed (even by Skiffle)!!!

COLDPLAY!!

2012/05/29 Tuesday Evening:
  Lucy and I (Rob) went to see Coldplay at the Coventry Ricoh Arena. We
were a little worried that we'd miss it, as the parking arrangements and organisation at the Arena were atrocious, but we got inside in time to see the 2nd Support act (Robyn) who was 'interesting' (i.e. fairly good, but not really 'our thing') and VERY loud (Properly vibrating our internal organs to a worrying degree!).
  The actual Coldplay show was great as they know how to make a great display: Huge fireworks marked the start of their set, and then the whole show was punctuated with enormous clouds of confetti, crazy laser shows, about 50 giant themed beach-balls that got thrown into the audience, huge models of butterfly's and chrysalises that seemed to appear from no-where and throughout everyone was given a 'xyloband' to wear on their wrist, which lit up or flashed at certain times in the songs to accompany the music...

  Throughout the show there were excellent video screens that you could see really well, so you didn't miss any action as they bounced around the stage and 'catwalks' into the crowds. At the end they started their encore by surprising everyone by suddenly appearing at a tiny stage at the back of the stadium (not far from us) for a couple of acoustic songs before racing back to the main stage for a grand finale....

  They ended in a now familiar style with more confetti and a huge pyrotechnics and laser display. Easily the best gig I've ever been to, and despite all the gimmicks the band play 'live' really well. When a band is as famous as they are, and have as many well-known songs the audience participation and good spirit was hard to beat as well.
   Good enough to go again, I reckon!

On Your Marks, Get Set.......

So as the new kick off blog mentioned below, there is some kind sports day get together happening this August in London, and us reserved Brits seem to be getting in the mood as it's gets closer. It's been pretty amazing seeing how many people are coming out the see the Olympic torch as it started travelling the country last weekend, from Land's End in Corwall.

The organisers say that 95% of the population will be within 10 miles of the flame as it travels for the 70 days, and judging by the crowds even on working week days so far -  most of them seem to want to stand on the roadside as 8000 different torachbearers take a turn to run with it.

The BBC has caught the fever, and here is the torch relay promo with part of their official Olympic tune and some pretty cool animation (representing the "DNA" of the torch transferring to the people involved apparently) to launch coverage:

For the first time you can also watch the torch live as it travel for 70 days on the website. I'm told it works internationally (sometimes the BBC restrict things for the UK only) and it's strangely addictive. Most of the 8000 runners were nominated by friends/ family/ colleagues for particular reasons - plus the odd supporting celebrity or sports person from time to time. The flame travels from about 6am to about 6/7pm UK time each day and goes past some interesting places. It's currently heading towards south Wales, and up the country along the west side (up to the Lake District and Scotland  in a week or two, and then back down the east side of the country towards it's London home in July.

We are going to be posting a few key moments for you guys in America as it will be travelling:

1) Right through Rob and Lucy's little Village of Haughton next Wednesday 30th May around 4:30-5:30pm.

2) In July (7th or 8th I think) it's coming to Cambridge, and as well as ending at Parkers Piece in Cambridge City Centre for it's over night stay, it will be run right down Barnwell Road, right by the estate where Nanny & Grandad used to live.

3) On the following day it will be going to Ramsey road in St Ives right near Auntie Denise.

So we'll get a few key photos for you hopefully.

In the meantime watch it travel, and see the photos news from the BBC at this website address:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/





Dear viewer, we apologise for the delay....

We're back.

No blogs in over a year! Sorry about that. In an effort to get things moving again I've sorted out my access so I can log in again!

So what's happened since last April when we were basking in the sunshine on the last photo?

Well I've achieved 2 years in my house and I'm currently sorting out a remortgage as my 2 year deal has finished.

Rob and Lucy have been doing up their house bit by bit and have got bored so they are thinking of moving this year (well Rob has got a job further south so he wants to move closer to it really).

Mum has been on her long held holiday - photos to come soon

Kathryn & Jaimie have moved into their house after doing lots to it before moving in for the last year or so.

This April was the complete opposite of last April - I think from the 5th April (when a drought was annouced  for most of the South of the UK) it has rained every day of April, and most days of May until this week, where finally we see some warmth & sunshine.

What can you look forward to on the blog in the next few months?

Well we have the Queens Diamond Jubilee long holiday weekend next weekend - I'll do something for that on here.

You may also have heard there's some sort of sports day thing happening here in the summer - I forget it's name, I think it's in London somewhere. There is very little news about it, and absolutely no hype going on here in the UK about it. As you will see shortly.

Ta for now.
Andy.

Unseasonably hot April

Here's the clan in Andrew's garden at 5:20pm, April 23rd sheltering from the 81 degree heat (REALLY!!) We're all in shock! Sorry to rub it in to the folks in the states (well, not really!)