Monthly Archives: July 2011

Bristol Harbour Festival

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Michael was in Bristol this weekend, good timing for the 40th Bristol Harbour Festival. We spent Friday night at The Rogues Salute! which was night run by The Invisible Circus a themed street-performance theatre. For the festival they put together a pirate-themed evening, in a theatrical setting based on a port. Great sirens, chains to the wall, and drunken sailors, captains and pirates wandering about. Great fun! There were a few warm-up acts outside the big top, then the main evening event in the tent: a series of circus acts: hoop spinning, pole climbing, rope and cloth acrobatics and a talented tight-rope walker (with a pretty slack rope). The band (the Carny Villains) did a great sound track for the circus events, some of i more impressive than the activities on stage. After the circus events they did a series of numbers, and the whole event converted into a night club. Good nights entertainment, although I wished I’d remembered my sailor’s hat!

We started Saturday with a tea and cake from the Sea Scout Hut below my house: good to see inside and there was a good historic display about the area. There was loads to see and do around the harbour, including a replica of Cabot’s ship, The Matthew. Our first event was hearing An Axe at the Louisiana Pub before lunch. Two of the band members are colleagues at IOP and it was fun to see them on stage. Good music.

We had high-quality tapas lunch at The Olive Shed before taking a harbour cruise on the Pyronaut fire float built in 1934. The deck was very low (for zipping under bridges without lifting them to get to fires) so it made for a great platform to view the festival.

Queens Square was packed, and not very pleasant, so we called it a day for the festival. Sunday was much more pleasant and we had a good wander around the market and food stalls. Interesting community gardening projects and build your own solar cells. We saw the Pyronaut with all water hoses blasting away.

We had lunch at Queens Square, listening to the music. Much more space today compared with yesterday and the sun was really strong. Suzy Condrad was very interesting with her backing composed of her own sample loop created on stage. We stayed to see William Mbuende who was good, but a bit more mellow that I was hoping for. I tried my first Bristol Cider and we had some great Pilsner from Zero Degrees brew pub. You could hardly move the Zero Degrees stalls across the city,

Great festival. Sadly we had to call it a day then for Michael to head back to Cambridge. More photos:

Bristol Harbour Festival 2011

Tweets this Week (2011-07-24)

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  • Gorgeous evening on Puilladobhrain anchorage on Seil Island. Crew are at the pub—Michael and I are making bolognese http://flic.kr/p/a4Ww3b #
  • Moored on a short, stubby pontoon at Port Ellen on Islay: much whisky tasting planned for tomorrow. #
  • Nice pre-dinner drink in the White Hart in Islay Listening to Runrig, with a pint of Islay Ales: Finlaggan Ale. Lovely fire too. #
  • Sunset in Port Ellen, Islay. Enjoyed local hoodies (wearing life jackets), disco music playing from their dinghies http://flic.kr/p/a5xiMV #
  • We're heading out to Lagavulin. Had a good breakfast in preparation. #
  • Fabulous free tasting at Laphroaig. Bryony was great fun. Lovely cask strength whiskys too. http://flic.kr/p/a5MmDG #
  • Excellent customer service from Vodafone Store in Cambridge Grafton Centre for my MiFi. Thanks guys. #

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Tweets this Week (2011-07-17)

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  • Tobermory is lovely in the sun. On a bouy in the marina. http://twitpic.com/5oikwe #
  • Gorgeous morning in Tobermory and Great evening at the Western Isles hotel in Tobermory. Seafood extravaganza! #
  • Anchored in Loch Skipport on South Uist after a great sail across the Minch from Skye. #
  • Anchored in Rhum tonight. Beach BBQ this evening may be a chilly affair, but so far no heavy rain. #
  • Having tea in Rhum community centre after a fascinating tour of Kinloch Castle. #
  • Wet but enjoyable sail from Rhum over to the mainland in 25 knots of wind. Hoping to moor on a buoy in Salen, Loch Sunart #

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Tweets this Week (2011-07-10)

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  • Back at the Kings Head and it's busy tonight, about 20 people in here. A good conversation pub. #
  • I like Christmas Steps in Bristol. On my way home after dinner with Ed and Greg at ZeroDegrees. Lovely evening. #
  • Off sailing on the west coast of Scotland. Also whisky tasting! #
  • Ah, back again in the Bree Louise. Having a pint of Wandle waiting for Michael. #
  • The barman on the Caledonian Express is ruinning 'a wee tab' for us. Looking forward to being back in Scotland #
  • Lovely train route along Loch Long: arriving soon at Tarbert #
  • Settled in Kerrera Marina on board Ruby Too. Lovely weather, good tour of Tobermory Distillery, with free glasses! http://flic.kr/p/a23FNh #

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Tweets this Week (2011-07-03)

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  • Quick drink in the Seven Stars, Bristol CAMRA pub of the year. #
  • Fantastic sunset over Bristol (HDR image) http://flic.kr/p/9XLh1r #
  • Train is packed and lots of people standing from Bath towards London. Not very pleasant. #
  • I love the Ship & Shovell, lovely Badger Beer and the pub is on two sides of the Alley. Nice post-Pride drink to recuperate. #
  • Enjoyed the Pride March: last time was about six years ago. Marched with friends fron the S&CA http://www.gaysailing.org.uk/ #
  • Great lunch and swim at the Riverbank Club. Our bottle of rioja just disappeared. Very social today, lots of chat. Warm too. #

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