Nerd night

Filled up with petrol, overnight bags in the boot, a couple of mates in the car (friends, not the rubber version!), and we were on our way to the steel city that is Sheffield for another edition of "radio nerd night".  Every three months or thereabouts, a number of radio legends and me gather to discuss the latest radio gossip, favourite play-out systems, "dry idents", jingle packages and other fascinating subjects.  As a famous presenter says "No one else, nowhere else"....as we discuss such incredibly dull topics but with much enthusiasm, helped by the intoxicating liquid.

Before the "nerdage" began, me Matt Barton and Dave Woollatt took the opportunity of wandering the streets of Sheffield while there was still daylight.  Very often, in previous nights out, we turn up knackered, sleep a bit at the hotel, then best dresses on for the evening out. Sheffield's a bustling place, and characteristic, still with many red brick buildings from the post-war era.  We had a wander around the Park Hill estate, originally built in 1961, but has seen better days.  The intention was to demolish the site, but demolition was stopped as it's protected by English Heritage.  So, much of it was renovated in 2010, with the original shell still intact.  Quite an eerie feeling standing in the car-park area with the flats, mostly empty all around.  All I needed to see was tumble-weed blowing in the wind.  These terrific photos were taken by Dave Woollatt.

Nearly got run over by one of these.....

I had to lean sufficiently forward as my head would look disembodied otherwise.  Puting the world to rights with Martin Emery.

An all-you-can-eat for £7.99 full fat fry-up the following day rounded off the short stay wonderfully, and reversed the feelings of nausea.  Until Birmingham...for the next stop.

Birthday parties and then some....

This time of year is replete with kids birthday parties.  Namely all the little ones from the ante-natal clinics that the wife and I attended.  "All popping out" at near enough the same time has brought about an endless stream of baby sensory parties.  Ask me a year ago what "baby sensory" meant, and I would have been puzzled like a puzzled thing.  Baby Sensory provides visual development activities that are supposed to be fun for babies and parents.  Like a big kid, I gladly took part in blowing bubbles, waving the coloured flags and "flapping around the big ball on the canopy".  (Your mind - I know what you're thinking....filth)  I think the parents were having more fun than their little ones, who were distracted by poking each other in the eyes, and shuffling off to cause trouble somewhere.  After several of these sugar-filled 1st birthday parties, I think I need a diabetes test from a well-known pharmacy.  Bring on hyperactive.....mums and dads.

Birthday cake in the early stages of development....