been a long time, been a long time, been a long....

Date: 16 July 2007 09:19:10

Wow this has been ages hasn't it? Sorry, been even more up to my eyelids in a big way for what feels like forever.

So, onto chattery huh? Gonna do a brief post then mooch around the sites for a while to see what's changed etc.

So work wise things are a doozey. Everyone at the college I work at (on the creative side anyhow) had to reapply for their jobs with the knowledge that only half of the staff would stay on. That was a fairly traumatic... well, term really. Anyhow I did keep my job although I'm not 100% sure as to what role I'll be having come September. Interesting times and very upsetting for those who left after a long period of service to the college and to those who've stayed on in a trickier role.

At the arts centre things are even more bonkers. Staff issues, huge groups, hiring group problems the list goes on and on. We had another flood precisely - well, nearly - in the place where we didn't want it and all told it's currently a long and thankless job. That said we've had a few gigs at the centre which are always good fun - once they're running always a hassle and list of work a mile wide prior - but we get through these things somehow. The gigs always energise me a little. I always feel like the extra member on stage with the groups and revel in their successes. This past gig was a complete amazingness in terms of how they performed.

((Kamichi on stage at the Vidgig)).

Then we had the St Peters entrant into the Guildford Raft Race. TBH I have barely any involvement in this as it's the older group at church and that is ably taken care of by Tom and Becky and Derek and others. Tom did a great job on getting the raft set up and sorted and the team did an impressive job against rafts that all seemed to want to ram everyone out of their way...

We also had a hiring group gig at the centre and that went very well also. Helped that they had three great bands performing: Innovia (well, their accoustic division anyway :) ), Dead Gekkos and Aspex. Twas fun.

Then, on saturday we had a big party for one family that's leaving us after a good ten or so years of friendship and help. Party was ace, laster a good few hours, and then, when the assembly had dwindled somewhat somebody had the idea that we should've taken a group shot. Cue everyone dashing out to the front of the church and a number of sensible pix taken. Of course we had to have a bunny ears shot and of course that is the one I'm a usin' :)

Temperance Society Chip Bailey. A drummer of fine ability and strong performance.... Actually: WYAC drummers if you're reading this he should be on your homework lists. This is not a drummer to sit at the back and sit still. Chip that was a fantata set and I'm primarily sorry that my photographic skills (well, the camera :) :P ) couldn't do your performance justice.

Ben Castle.. .If you don't feel that clarinet, sax, occasional percussion and backing vocs are rock and roll then you're not freeing the mind enough. Excellent value on stage and a cracking illustration on how to make fantata music without bowing to dull old convention.

Guilfest: all about this guy and his performing band. Oh yes. Duke Special is well worth a listen if you like broadening your tastes in the most positive of ways. He's an amazingly talented vocalist and pianist, the songs are vastly intriguing.. What more could you want? All the way through the set I was thinking I need these guys to get into the arts centre and teach the kids the brilliance of difference (and the difference of brilliance) and was utterly blessed to bump into him and family at the end of the show as I was walking out. Feel alittle guilty about that now, he had his fam (I assume) with him and there's some scary orange fella stumbling (uneven ground, honest) out of the darkness to invite him to a place in Woking he's never heard of. True to form he was as kind and lovely off stage (although I guess being at the fest and talking to fans doesn't count as off stage really) as he was on. I did encourage a few friends that I bumped into to join me for the DS set and they came back psyched which was cool, although having had a brief glance at the iTunes library it seems some of the back library.. which is under a different name which I didn't look for DOH .. may be there, I don't know. Anyhow: brilliant to see the Duke and the band in Guildford. Next stop, I really hope, Woking... Prayers and internet/email nagging start now.

Uriah Heep at Guilfest. They were good. Although I'm not sure about the black waistcoat, orange t-shirt and blue spandex.

Madness at Guilfest. They were good. From what I could see. Bit of a distance/short thing going on there. Last Train to Cairo was a splended finale though.

Righto, royal visit (well, head of SCC) to centre on Weds to plan for, big gig on the tuesday following as well. Couple of staff issues need sorting and a saturday photographic exhibition as well to work out if we can be a part of as well.... It's all go go go.... Then two summer schools to plan for and then on into the September term. One day things'll calm down maybe, one day I may even get the chance to write something (more on that laters) but for the moment shall leave you for a quick mooch down to the gym before heading into work. Hope everyone is well in blogland and catch up soon.