Alan
Saturday, 28 February 2009
No Comment
I've nothing constructive or positive to say about the performances in Pittsburgh so I just won't. Here are some pictures from the last few days of amateur dramatics
Alan
Alan
Friday, 27 February 2009
Dropt from the zenith like a falling star
Having played 6 weeks at what we all consider to be the cathedral of children's theatre there was always going to be a certain amount of come down on this next leg of the tour. However, nothing could quite prepare us for the scale of the fall, and how far we might tumble. If we were the economy the markets would have crashed, the bail outs failed and the financial systems in tatters.
Our week in Pittsburgh comprises of several gigs in schools on the outskirts of the city as part of the family series, before we play the main theatre at the weekend. That much is fine, I quite enjoy playing schools, but what we have here are a set of shows that don't quite know what they are. We're not performing in the day for kids, we're in the evening, but regular theatre goers aren't coming, more parents of kids at the school. This gives the whole evening a sort of amateur, school play feel. A feeling only added to by the fact that the in house crew are a gaggle of 13/14 year olds from the school who, with the best will in the world, don't have a clue.
The show itself was alright, but scattered with the constant entering and exiting of audience, organisers, children, babies, janitors and the slight bewilderment of all wondering what had brought us all here in the first place. The feeling of the day was best summed up by the janitor who assumed, as we put the set up, that we were the latest school show and exclaimed "thank God, they've been rehearsing that show for months!". The thing was nobody knew what to expect, audience, actors, organisers, and the fact this was all being done a 20 minute drive from Pittsburgh's sate of the art theatre just added to the bizarreness.
Other cities' family series place the show at the theatre and bus the kids and groups in, here it seems the reverse is true, with the effect being it all just feels a bit half assed. Still we got given a nice dinner, and it allowed me to reminisce of my rural touring days. I daresay there is more chaos to come as this tour continues to surprise as we have played one of the world's leading children's theatres and a school lecture theatre in the space of a week. Its nothing if not interesting.
Oh, and in keeping with the US tour policy of not allowing any publicity image to actually contain pictures of the current cast (that would just be daft) the publicity photo for here has been dredged from The Gruffalo archives and even we're not sure who the girl in it is. Answers on a post card (PS. My costume looks much better than that one)
Alan
Our week in Pittsburgh comprises of several gigs in schools on the outskirts of the city as part of the family series, before we play the main theatre at the weekend. That much is fine, I quite enjoy playing schools, but what we have here are a set of shows that don't quite know what they are. We're not performing in the day for kids, we're in the evening, but regular theatre goers aren't coming, more parents of kids at the school. This gives the whole evening a sort of amateur, school play feel. A feeling only added to by the fact that the in house crew are a gaggle of 13/14 year olds from the school who, with the best will in the world, don't have a clue.
The show itself was alright, but scattered with the constant entering and exiting of audience, organisers, children, babies, janitors and the slight bewilderment of all wondering what had brought us all here in the first place. The feeling of the day was best summed up by the janitor who assumed, as we put the set up, that we were the latest school show and exclaimed "thank God, they've been rehearsing that show for months!". The thing was nobody knew what to expect, audience, actors, organisers, and the fact this was all being done a 20 minute drive from Pittsburgh's sate of the art theatre just added to the bizarreness.
Other cities' family series place the show at the theatre and bus the kids and groups in, here it seems the reverse is true, with the effect being it all just feels a bit half assed. Still we got given a nice dinner, and it allowed me to reminisce of my rural touring days. I daresay there is more chaos to come as this tour continues to surprise as we have played one of the world's leading children's theatres and a school lecture theatre in the space of a week. Its nothing if not interesting.
Oh, and in keeping with the US tour policy of not allowing any publicity image to actually contain pictures of the current cast (that would just be daft) the publicity photo for here has been dredged from The Gruffalo archives and even we're not sure who the girl in it is. Answers on a post card (PS. My costume looks much better than that one)
Alan
Thursday, 26 February 2009
On the Road Again
On the road again, and we've travelled 868 miles to spend a week in Pittsburgh, home of the Superbowl champions. We're playing a variety of venues this week around the area, and to bang our drum a bit this morning Alex ventured onto live morning television as the rest of us lay in our pits watching. The interview was very good and the smiley morning hosts seemed very interested in the show. I myself have done my own bit for the publicity vehicle by being interviewed by the Pittsburgh Tribune. My interviewer seemed a bit more obsessed with the darker meanings of The Gruffalo, and whether it represented the real dangers out there for children today. Meh.
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_613415.html
So a week in Pittsburgh we have, and in a very nice hotel to boot. I shall keep you updated should anything exciting happen to fall our way, right now we're just enjoying having access to more than 5 TV stations and the fact that the temperature is above freezing
Alan
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_613415.html
So a week in Pittsburgh we have, and in a very nice hotel to boot. I shall keep you updated should anything exciting happen to fall our way, right now we're just enjoying having access to more than 5 TV stations and the fact that the temperature is above freezing
Alan
Monday, 23 February 2009
Ready for the off
This weekend brought our closing performances at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre and the end to a fun filled 6 weeks where the temperature has fluctuated from -29 to +7c at times. Its been great fun here and all yesterday as we passed folk in the halls they would wish us "happy closing". Its an odd sentiment as usually there is not much happiness associated with a show closing, it usually signals a return to unemployment, auditions and the end of a job. However, as we already know, in Minneapolis, with a permanent acting company, it merely signals the start of the next challenge. For us, well it means 3 weeks back on the road, a journey that will take us to Pittsburgh and Nashville before completing the triangle and heading back to Minneapolis to dump the set, pick up some things and head for Blighty. We all felt slightly odd yesterday as the last show here felt a bit like the right time to end the tour, and there is a danger of the next 3 weeks being a bit of a damp squib ending to what has been a great tour. I know I've said it before, but I have been hugely impressed with the Children's Theatre and do think there are lessons to be learned from the way they approach work and conduct themselves. Our parting gift to them was to add a sneaky photo the wall of the dressing room we'd been using, who knows when it will be noticed.
The birds we are molesting are singing birds that regale people with "Santa Baby" every time you walk by.
Our closing yesterday combined with my 30th Birthday did provide a great excuse for a session in the CC club, that started at 4 and ended at 4 pretty much as we drank, sang, drank, changed location to the "Bryant Lake Bowl" (not so much a bowling alley as a bar with a couple of lanes) and then headed back to Rik the sound guys pad where we all promptly passed out and eventually stumbled our way home. The evening ended with Anna and Rik making plans to go skiing, something that has not materialised.
Tomorrow we head east to Pittsburgh, so till then I'd better do some laundry and try and figure out why I always feel a hangover in my thighs!
Alan
The birds we are molesting are singing birds that regale people with "Santa Baby" every time you walk by.Our closing yesterday combined with my 30th Birthday did provide a great excuse for a session in the CC club, that started at 4 and ended at 4 pretty much as we drank, sang, drank, changed location to the "Bryant Lake Bowl" (not so much a bowling alley as a bar with a couple of lanes) and then headed back to Rik the sound guys pad where we all promptly passed out and eventually stumbled our way home. The evening ended with Anna and Rik making plans to go skiing, something that has not materialised.
Tomorrow we head east to Pittsburgh, so till then I'd better do some laundry and try and figure out why I always feel a hangover in my thighs!
Alan
Friday, 20 February 2009
It was snowing then and its snowing now- nothings changed
30 years ago amidst one of the coldest winter's to embrace the UK in recent memory Alan Park Jnr (or Alan Park II depending on which you prefer) entered this fragile earth and despite a rather large intake of alcohol between then and now I'm still here and about to cross decades to 30. On my Birthday I find myself across the Atlantic, away from friends and family and making a living dressing up in a big furry suit on a daily basis. My birthday celebrations will take place at Minneapolis' infamous CC Club following our last show here on Sunday. I invited a few of the crew on the show and now fear events may have escalated beyond my control, as I pass random strangers in the halls of the theatre to be met with "Hey see you at the CC on Sunday!"
Now whilst all that might sound bleak, its not. I am actually quite positive about the next decade, I feel like I've done my 20s and life is ready to move up a gear. I'm in work in a job I love, I'm married to an amazing woman, have great friends and family and despite every pessimist in the land crying that the world is collapsing amidst credit crunches, recessions and many other things, life is good in the wood.
I might not know where my paychecks come from after April 4th, but that's always been the case. I'm still paying off debt from 10 years ago, I've still got an unusually large pot belly for my frame, and I'm still partial to one or two beers (which might explain the belly). Who knows whats next, but right now at this moment. I couldn't be happier
xx
Now whilst all that might sound bleak, its not. I am actually quite positive about the next decade, I feel like I've done my 20s and life is ready to move up a gear. I'm in work in a job I love, I'm married to an amazing woman, have great friends and family and despite every pessimist in the land crying that the world is collapsing amidst credit crunches, recessions and many other things, life is good in the wood.
I might not know where my paychecks come from after April 4th, but that's always been the case. I'm still paying off debt from 10 years ago, I've still got an unusually large pot belly for my frame, and I'm still partial to one or two beers (which might explain the belly). Who knows whats next, but right now at this moment. I couldn't be happier
xx
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
This so called Career
Warning there now follows a rant!
Something has been gnawing away at me over the last few weeks and it was only the other night over a Jucy Lucy that all the pieces came together in my head and formed the argument I am now about to embark on, the principle of which is this- Theatre in the UK Sucks.
Not creatively, I actually think that as a nation of artists we produce some of the most interesting, diverse work on the planet. Its the support, or lack of it, that I have now come to realise will never be there. We may think we have a very generous arts council, who allow creative freedom, exciting new projects, when what we really have are a few select organisations that are considered "safe" to fund, none of whose funds go towards supporting the protagonists of such work- the artists.
The Minneapolis Children's theatre employs 5 actors on permanent contracts. They have security, benefits, the most recent actor has been here 9 years, the longest 40 years. They are neither bored nor starved of creativity as the constant output of shows, visiting directors and different approaches leaves every show feeling like a new job, and new challenge. In the UK the longest any actor can currently work for a company is the RSC and it is 2 years. 2 years! No wonder actors are deserting the industry in their droves, we have no security, every job must end and every few weeks we must start from scratch. How are we possibly supposed to nurture our talent, explore new boundaries if we're constantly worried about the next job. Now, of course, not everyone can enjoy such luxuries, and some companies use artists again and again, but the fact that nowhere in the UK can you work as an actor permanently is bizarre and tragic. It is also worth pointing out that the US has very little state funded theatre, no arts council, no hand outs, the Minneapolis Children's theatre survives on sponsorship and corporate donations alone, and does very well from them. That sort of funding is still in its infancy in the UK and I do believe all it would take is a professional fundraiser and a powerful argument to start the beginnings of a state free theatre, with a permanent source of private sector funders, and a permanent company. America does private sector fund raising incredibly well. We don't. So I suppose the message is, if the government aint giving you the money, go get it yourself.
As for the cause, or the project to do this with. Well, its worth pointing out our National Theatre at present makes no work for children, the RSC's output for children alone is minimal and the Unicorn (our biggest Children's theatre) has a shockingly low output of shows and a new building which is mostly dark. The Minneapolis Children's Theatre is constantly producing, constantly developing new work, and doing it for possibly the most important audience of all- children. So, a privately funded National Theatre for Children it is then, with a permanent acting company to boot. That's that sorted. What else needs fixing?
Alan
Something has been gnawing away at me over the last few weeks and it was only the other night over a Jucy Lucy that all the pieces came together in my head and formed the argument I am now about to embark on, the principle of which is this- Theatre in the UK Sucks.
Not creatively, I actually think that as a nation of artists we produce some of the most interesting, diverse work on the planet. Its the support, or lack of it, that I have now come to realise will never be there. We may think we have a very generous arts council, who allow creative freedom, exciting new projects, when what we really have are a few select organisations that are considered "safe" to fund, none of whose funds go towards supporting the protagonists of such work- the artists.
The Minneapolis Children's theatre employs 5 actors on permanent contracts. They have security, benefits, the most recent actor has been here 9 years, the longest 40 years. They are neither bored nor starved of creativity as the constant output of shows, visiting directors and different approaches leaves every show feeling like a new job, and new challenge. In the UK the longest any actor can currently work for a company is the RSC and it is 2 years. 2 years! No wonder actors are deserting the industry in their droves, we have no security, every job must end and every few weeks we must start from scratch. How are we possibly supposed to nurture our talent, explore new boundaries if we're constantly worried about the next job. Now, of course, not everyone can enjoy such luxuries, and some companies use artists again and again, but the fact that nowhere in the UK can you work as an actor permanently is bizarre and tragic. It is also worth pointing out that the US has very little state funded theatre, no arts council, no hand outs, the Minneapolis Children's theatre survives on sponsorship and corporate donations alone, and does very well from them. That sort of funding is still in its infancy in the UK and I do believe all it would take is a professional fundraiser and a powerful argument to start the beginnings of a state free theatre, with a permanent source of private sector funders, and a permanent company. America does private sector fund raising incredibly well. We don't. So I suppose the message is, if the government aint giving you the money, go get it yourself.
As for the cause, or the project to do this with. Well, its worth pointing out our National Theatre at present makes no work for children, the RSC's output for children alone is minimal and the Unicorn (our biggest Children's theatre) has a shockingly low output of shows and a new building which is mostly dark. The Minneapolis Children's Theatre is constantly producing, constantly developing new work, and doing it for possibly the most important audience of all- children. So, a privately funded National Theatre for Children it is then, with a permanent acting company to boot. That's that sorted. What else needs fixing?
Alan
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Bowling and Burgers
Two pillars of the American way, bowling and burgers, two things that America does very well and the UK makes a rather half assed effort at. I've always said that there are things we do well, things America does well and things we both really suck at. For instance, daytime TV. America stinks at daytime TV. If I have to watch one more over excited mid 40 year old scream into a microphone because Ellen gave her a free DVD then I might cry. We on the other hand handle our daytime TV with dignity: Home Under The Hammer, A Place In the Sun, BBC Breakfast and of course This Morning. All perfect examples of British restraint and class. Anyway I digress, this week saw our first expedition to an American bowling Alley, and what an Alley it was. In the UK bowling alleys don't really have an identity, half aimed at kids and half at adults there is no real life or buzz to the place. Well they could do worse than take a visit to "Memory Lanes" a thriving alley which has thumping music, disco lights, and beer by the bucket load. In the US beer and bowling go hand in hand, you have a server for your lane, you play, you drink, and in my case you get better the more you drink. My last game saw 5 strikes, 2 spares and a score of 158. Not bad.
Completely sold on the US bowling experience how would we top such an event you ask. Well ladies and gents I give you the pride of Minneapolis- the Jucy Lucy (and that is how its spelt).
Two burger patties placed on top of each other infused with melted cheese in the middle the Jucy Lucy is Minneapolis. We were taken to Matt's Bar, where the Jucy Lucy is said to have been born (though the nearby 5-8 Club do dispute it). I loved my Jucy Lucy, I loved the fact we had to wait 5 minutes before being able to eat it, the waitress gives you a health warning over the melted cheese so you don't sue the place later on.
So 2 days and 2 perfect examples of what makes America great. Its our last week in Minneapolis this week, and then onto Pittsburgh. Not before the small matter of some poor sod turning 30 on Saturday, but enough of that.
Enjoy
Alan
Completely sold on the US bowling experience how would we top such an event you ask. Well ladies and gents I give you the pride of Minneapolis- the Jucy Lucy (and that is how its spelt).
Two burger patties placed on top of each other infused with melted cheese in the middle the Jucy Lucy is Minneapolis. We were taken to Matt's Bar, where the Jucy Lucy is said to have been born (though the nearby 5-8 Club do dispute it). I loved my Jucy Lucy, I loved the fact we had to wait 5 minutes before being able to eat it, the waitress gives you a health warning over the melted cheese so you don't sue the place later on.
So 2 days and 2 perfect examples of what makes America great. Its our last week in Minneapolis this week, and then onto Pittsburgh. Not before the small matter of some poor sod turning 30 on Saturday, but enough of that.
Enjoy
Alan
Monday, 9 February 2009
Gruffalo, Gruffalo where for art thou Gruffalo?
OK this once a week business has to stop, but in truth I've either been too tired, busy or just plain lazy to update this things. This week has been a fun mix of our show, other people's shows and warmer temperatures. Yup that's right you lily-livered Brits, it got warmer over here just as Blighty was cast into the arctic wilderness and the last person out of the country turned off the light. I know I ranted last week about Britain's inability to deal with a cold climate but the local journos over here are having quite a giggle at us at the moment.
Anywho, we had a lot of morning shows this week (5 in a row to be exact). I don't think any actor is a particular fan of the morning show. When you get into this business it's with a promise that you won't have to even emerge from bed til the sun is over the yardarm and anything resembling a performance won't be needed until evening time. However, in the land of children's theatre that aint so, and 1030am was our time to jump up and down, sing a few songs, don a furry suit and then go home with our work for the day done. This did afford us the opportunity to go see other stuff Minneapolis has to offer. It has to be said there are a LOT of theatre's in Minneapolis, and as far as I can see only 1 houses commercial touring. The others all create their own work, from pub theatres, warehouses, to the jewel in the crown, The Guthrie Theatre, a newly deigned $125 million state of the art thing of beauty. The Guthrie has been around in Minneapolis since the 1960s, but with an old decaying building they elected to move location to near the river and build themselves a fancy new one. It is an amazing place, with 3 performance spaces, countless restaurants and bars and a fancy "bridge to nowhere" which goes... nowhere!
Our trip to the Guthrie was to see their production of Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance". I was very keen to see some American drama in America and was not disappointed. The running time of 2 hours 40 flew buy in what was a fascinating slow burning tale of a crumbling society, played out through the lives are a rather dysfunctional family and their best friends who choose to visit them and stay simply because they are afraid. All very intriguing and bloody good.
Not content with one theatre visit we were also invited to a sneak preview of the Children's Theatre company's new show, a little known play called Romeo and Juliet. The director lives next door to us and is also British, so we've been for a few beers and he was keen to hear our views. I have to say I was not looking forward to yet another take on the star crossed lovers, but when I say it is the best production of R&J I have ever seen, you'll know I liked it.. lots. It is set in a sort of 1950s eastern European town square and the audience just mill around this square as the action unfolds, we can sit on the walls, benches, carts, or stand and follow the action. It is the most exhilarating theatre I have witnessed for some time, with a superb cast full of energy and passion. A live band play at points through the show as they sit in the corner of the square, witnessing the action as we do. You can watch from afar, or up close, sit down next to Juliet as she sleeps or Capulet as he cracks open another beer. Its brilliant, and aimed at that difficult teenage market. However, they should love it and it was refreshing to see a show for young people that didn't feel the need to bombard us with state of the art technology in an effort to trick kids that they are seeing a movie and not theatre (I think you all know who I'm referring to!)
The only worry for R&J is that the over sensitive front of house staff will fail to understand the freedom of the piece and worry that an audience member might not know when to move and so get hit by an actor. Well tough, people have to use common sense some times you know. Greg (the director) had already told us how Tybalt's cologne had to be toned down as he was told some audience members may be allergic. Pah! What if they go to a restaurant and a fellow diner is wearing strong after shave. Jeeze!
Anyway, this has already gone on too long. Needless to say both shows were amazing, and I was hit with suitable pangs of jealousy that always mean I've enjoyed the show. But for every wordy Albee, and passionate Shakespeare, there is also the need for a man in a furry suit singing G G G Gruffalo, and enjoy it I do.
Til next time
Alan
Anywho, we had a lot of morning shows this week (5 in a row to be exact). I don't think any actor is a particular fan of the morning show. When you get into this business it's with a promise that you won't have to even emerge from bed til the sun is over the yardarm and anything resembling a performance won't be needed until evening time. However, in the land of children's theatre that aint so, and 1030am was our time to jump up and down, sing a few songs, don a furry suit and then go home with our work for the day done. This did afford us the opportunity to go see other stuff Minneapolis has to offer. It has to be said there are a LOT of theatre's in Minneapolis, and as far as I can see only 1 houses commercial touring. The others all create their own work, from pub theatres, warehouses, to the jewel in the crown, The Guthrie Theatre, a newly deigned $125 million state of the art thing of beauty. The Guthrie has been around in Minneapolis since the 1960s, but with an old decaying building they elected to move location to near the river and build themselves a fancy new one. It is an amazing place, with 3 performance spaces, countless restaurants and bars and a fancy "bridge to nowhere" which goes... nowhere!
Our trip to the Guthrie was to see their production of Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance". I was very keen to see some American drama in America and was not disappointed. The running time of 2 hours 40 flew buy in what was a fascinating slow burning tale of a crumbling society, played out through the lives are a rather dysfunctional family and their best friends who choose to visit them and stay simply because they are afraid. All very intriguing and bloody good.
Not content with one theatre visit we were also invited to a sneak preview of the Children's Theatre company's new show, a little known play called Romeo and Juliet. The director lives next door to us and is also British, so we've been for a few beers and he was keen to hear our views. I have to say I was not looking forward to yet another take on the star crossed lovers, but when I say it is the best production of R&J I have ever seen, you'll know I liked it.. lots. It is set in a sort of 1950s eastern European town square and the audience just mill around this square as the action unfolds, we can sit on the walls, benches, carts, or stand and follow the action. It is the most exhilarating theatre I have witnessed for some time, with a superb cast full of energy and passion. A live band play at points through the show as they sit in the corner of the square, witnessing the action as we do. You can watch from afar, or up close, sit down next to Juliet as she sleeps or Capulet as he cracks open another beer. Its brilliant, and aimed at that difficult teenage market. However, they should love it and it was refreshing to see a show for young people that didn't feel the need to bombard us with state of the art technology in an effort to trick kids that they are seeing a movie and not theatre (I think you all know who I'm referring to!)
The only worry for R&J is that the over sensitive front of house staff will fail to understand the freedom of the piece and worry that an audience member might not know when to move and so get hit by an actor. Well tough, people have to use common sense some times you know. Greg (the director) had already told us how Tybalt's cologne had to be toned down as he was told some audience members may be allergic. Pah! What if they go to a restaurant and a fellow diner is wearing strong after shave. Jeeze!
Anyway, this has already gone on too long. Needless to say both shows were amazing, and I was hit with suitable pangs of jealousy that always mean I've enjoyed the show. But for every wordy Albee, and passionate Shakespeare, there is also the need for a man in a furry suit singing G G G Gruffalo, and enjoy it I do.
Til next time
Alan
Monday, 2 February 2009
The One With The Superbowl
Alright, alright. More than a week between posts is not just infrequent, its plain lazy on my part. But what to write? Its cold- you know that, we've done some shows- you probably figured as much, and its still cold. So its not like I haven't been writing about the most exciting period of my life because for the most part, we've been doing normal everyday things.
That's not to say nothing has happened. Sunday brought the small matter of the Super Bowl (I've given up working out which number it was, all I know is it had this after it "XLIII" answers on a postcard). This year saw the Pittsburgh Whatyemecallits and the Arizona Sparrowsorsummat provide the warm up for Bruce Springsteen's half time show. Its quite amazing the Superbowl, it is a very American thing. Big, loud, and unforgettable. In England the FA cup goes by with not so much as a whimper, here you can't miss the thing. Half time lasted a good 45 minutes as the whole pitch was transformed into a music concert and Bruce Springsteen wailed out 12 minutes of hits (making me slightly regret not getting Glastonbury tickets this year). This was no temporary stage wheeled on and then off again either. Oh no, this saw fireworks, big screens, 30 strong choir, this was like being at Wembley for the greatest show you will ever see, only if you'd got there an ten minutes early or late then you'd have thought you'd come on the wrong day. I dread to think how much muscle it takes to set up and take down in all of 5 minutes for what is basically the half time entertainment.
As for the game, well it was actually really good. American Football can be slow and dull with a 15 minute quarter taking an hour to complete but this was a topsy turvy (feels wrong to use those words in an American context but the best alternative I have is ding dong, and that aint much better) affair that was settled by a touchdown in the last second as Pittsbugh broke Arizona hearts. I have to say I wanted Arizona to win so that was probably the curse that dunnit. Regardless of the result it was incredibly entertaining, and despite each time at times building big leads, it never seemed to be over and kept swinging back and forward.
Today was a day off and so in keeping with tradition brought another cold snap. On Saturday we got up to 7c (warmer than the UK) but today was back to -16c. Anna and I braved the cold to go and see some of the lakes, but after 20 minutes it all got too much and we retreated to a coffee shop to warm up.
I hear the UK is having some extreme weather of its own, although it is laughable that so much seems to have come to a standstill for weather that here is considered the norm. People here just deal with it, the snow ploughs come out, people salt their own path, clear their own drive, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, and they don't complain and ask why the council hasn't done anything. The fact that London Buses were pulled from service is an absolute disgrace, every year we have this and every year we are embarrassed by how appallingly we cope.
Anyway rant over, time for a cup of tea and some more episodes of "The Wire"
Love ya
Alan
That's not to say nothing has happened. Sunday brought the small matter of the Super Bowl (I've given up working out which number it was, all I know is it had this after it "XLIII" answers on a postcard). This year saw the Pittsburgh Whatyemecallits and the Arizona Sparrowsorsummat provide the warm up for Bruce Springsteen's half time show. Its quite amazing the Superbowl, it is a very American thing. Big, loud, and unforgettable. In England the FA cup goes by with not so much as a whimper, here you can't miss the thing. Half time lasted a good 45 minutes as the whole pitch was transformed into a music concert and Bruce Springsteen wailed out 12 minutes of hits (making me slightly regret not getting Glastonbury tickets this year). This was no temporary stage wheeled on and then off again either. Oh no, this saw fireworks, big screens, 30 strong choir, this was like being at Wembley for the greatest show you will ever see, only if you'd got there an ten minutes early or late then you'd have thought you'd come on the wrong day. I dread to think how much muscle it takes to set up and take down in all of 5 minutes for what is basically the half time entertainment.
As for the game, well it was actually really good. American Football can be slow and dull with a 15 minute quarter taking an hour to complete but this was a topsy turvy (feels wrong to use those words in an American context but the best alternative I have is ding dong, and that aint much better) affair that was settled by a touchdown in the last second as Pittsbugh broke Arizona hearts. I have to say I wanted Arizona to win so that was probably the curse that dunnit. Regardless of the result it was incredibly entertaining, and despite each time at times building big leads, it never seemed to be over and kept swinging back and forward.
Today was a day off and so in keeping with tradition brought another cold snap. On Saturday we got up to 7c (warmer than the UK) but today was back to -16c. Anna and I braved the cold to go and see some of the lakes, but after 20 minutes it all got too much and we retreated to a coffee shop to warm up.
I hear the UK is having some extreme weather of its own, although it is laughable that so much seems to have come to a standstill for weather that here is considered the norm. People here just deal with it, the snow ploughs come out, people salt their own path, clear their own drive, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, and they don't complain and ask why the council hasn't done anything. The fact that London Buses were pulled from service is an absolute disgrace, every year we have this and every year we are embarrassed by how appallingly we cope.
Anyway rant over, time for a cup of tea and some more episodes of "The Wire"
Love ya
Alan
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