I passed my driving theory test, on the multiple choice part I got 49/50 (One wrong in the vulnerable road users section, dunno what it was). On the hazard perception I got 65/75, the software thought I clicked randomly on one of them (I’d actually seen what the hazard would be, and clicked every time I thought it developed) so I got a zero on that, should have been a 5.
Anyway, on towards the practical.
Finally worked out I will be going to British Juggling Convention 2008 in Doncaster, I had originally been scheduled to go to my Uncle’s 60th birthday, but my grandmother is too ill to go really. So off to the BJC (when I work out the trains and how to carry a tent all that way)
3 point turn (or “Turning in the Road” as it’s officially called), seemed easy enough to do. Have my theory test on Wednesday 19th. More later.
I went to my dads over the weekend as I haven’t seen him since christmas, I took my clubs with me and spent some time in his back garden near to his chickens. After an hour or to I could finally manage to get beyond 10 throws using clubs. On the Sunday I finally bought another 2 guppies (1 male, 1 female).
On the Monday night went to the juggling soc, biggest problem was the complete lack of light but I managed to do about 25 throws of a 3 club cascade. I cannot correct for wrong ended passes and the pattern isn’t exactly pretty.
I also did some four & two count passing with Sam, we also have a go at a triangle feed with another guy (who was drunk after having qualified for a 7 ball cascade). I can just about do some of 3 ball mills mess, but I have to stop between throw 3 and throw 4. I should really work on 4 ball fountain, will take some time.
I forgot to do an update on Friday for my first lesson so here goes.
Was feeling rather illy when I went for a spin, went down Narborough Road out into the styx. Went straight on at the Pork Pie roundabout further than before, until a quiet area was upon us all. Then we parked and moved to where it was safe, switched to reverse and gently we came. Steering first to the left, then to the right until the car was straight again.
It seems to be easy enough to reverse around corners, the only problem is the blind spot, my driving instructor says to first reverse straight until the kerb disappears in the mirror, then one turn to the left (I may be back to front on that) reverse for a while until the kerb comes back into view, then round to the right until you straighten up.
This wednesdays one was parallel parking, at the start of the lesson I went down the road near the uni, and didn’t quite see a car (really blind road) coming, the DI put on the break and then I stalled. I didn’t stall for the rest of the lesson, yay me. Parallel Parking seems to be rather easy did remind me a lot of the Seinfeld episode The Parking Space.
My theory test is booked for about two weeks, need to check the date.
I got out of the house at 10 o’clock still carrying my flu around with me. I realised I had forgotten my camera memory card and went into work to get it (having to go through security), unfortunatly when trying to get out the security people were dealing with an incident which ment I had to take another 20 minutes before being released. This meant that I missed my train and had to wait an hour for the next one. In the end I arrived at Nottingham SU at 1 o’clock (Nice campus).
I went to the Mills Mess Beginners workshop, after quite a bit of effort I now have the first 2 throws working nearly perfectly, the under the arm throw has a nasty habit of landing in the hand it started from. Will practise it more.
From my point of view the games didn’t go that well, there was nothing that I could take part in (no 3 ball gladiators). Phil won the 5 club endurance but unfortunatly he was knocked out the balancing by an idiot with staff.
Unfortunately at 4 o’clock the shops shut, meaning we had to go to the SU for food (which wasn’t bad, mmm… (quorn) bangers and mash (peas could have been better, too well done for my taste)).
Whilst waiting for the show to begin me and a friend tried some 4 count passing (every second right throw), this time it went much better than before (After I realised it’s not two right throws after you’ve caught the pass), I want to try 3 count passing this week.
The show, the lack of a proper Dias/Stage was annoying, I sat on the side of the room during the show instead of on the seat.
Ady, i’m not sure about, from a technical POV it was good, but seemed to lack energy and charm, the clapping the rings together did add a bit of energy but wouldn’t work if he wasn’t a child.
The belly dancing didn’t really work for me, especially the faux-ethnic clothing.
In the middle there was a small gap, I was desperate for some water (flu), but couldn’t make it all the way down to the bar, they’d have made quite a good bit of money if they sold some water in the middle of the show.
Apex Acro were good, their act was nicely linked to the music, I’m not sure what to say about it really
Vux (Diabolo), I had seen before in Birmingham, this time a lot less droppy, I’m not sure the whole starwars segment worked very well.
Sylvia (Hoola Hoop) was quite impressive at the end doing 4 independent rings (when I’ve uploaded the photos you’ll see what I mean)
Peter Aberg and Wes Peden were, well put simply, incredible (they got a standing ovation at the end), I think it was the mixture of playfullness, inventiveness, music and technical skill that did it. Unfortunatly my memory seems The first bit which really impressed me (something I had never thought of before) were the clubs that made noises when caught, each club having a different note and as he (Peter) modified the pattern the pattern of the notes changed. I’d like to make a set of clubs like that (or borrow the idea for balls, you could make it with accelerometers and the like), there was also 4 club mills mess, which I hadn’t seen before and towards the end 7 club cascade. At the very end Wes caught 6 rings on various places of his body.
It was a good day in all, I didn’t do very much juggling myself as I was down with flu. I will go to the next one
My suggestions for next time, a) get a raised platform for the show. b) some sort of drinks during the show would be good, c) games that the majority of people can take part in, d) I like the renegade, even a very short 3 or 4 acts would have been nice.
Pictures
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