Nevfest

As planned, I had a walk down to Gateshead Stadium, for its first Nevfest (Northeast Vegan Festival). The Stadium of Light is the usual venue, the cancellation at short notice due to a power failure earlier this year is a likely reason for the change of location.

I was a frequent visitor to Gateshead Stadium from the mid 90s to the early 00s, since it held a really good computer fair. I’ve built many PCs from parts purchased there. Cheap, disposable computers of the last decade meant that home assembly was no longer cost effective (my current PC was less than half the price of the last one I built – over ten years ago). And, so, computer fairs came to a torturous, shameful end. 

Anyway, the today’s vegan festival was held in the hall which had housed computer fairs in the past. It was satisfying to see the place as busy today as it was in its computer fair heyday. 

Appreciation

I’m feeling most unappreciated right now. In the space of less than a week, two days have been spent in the company of the most annoying person on earth. 

On both occasions, I tried to spare others, absorbing most of the impact by devoting attention to his bullshit. It’s his birthday today, so yesterday was something of a celebration for him. I bought him addition drinks outside rounds, with the aim of getting him drunk quicker. But this let to him expecting me to buy more. 

I had a similar plan for myself, although my motives were more associated with dulling my pain rather than bringing the evening to an early close. I began the day with Old Rosie, which seemed to help at first. I was able to agree with the rubbish he came out with, while not actually listening to of it. But, later, I found that I was unable to get as drunk as I needed to be. I guess I’m a more natural happy drunk, as opposed to the miserable drunk I was trying to aspire to. 

Sadly, my efforts went without notice. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect praise or gratitude. Acknowledgement would have sufficed. 

Thievery

This very evening, a scumbag stole my wallet. In South Shields. My wallet contained around £200, and, obviously, some cards. 

My wallet, made from cork, was a gift, so I’m more bothered about that than the money. 

I’ve reported the cards as stolen, so at least they can’t be used. But, sadly, I’m a few quid missing. I shall never go to South Shields again. Ever. 

Fuckers. 

A/c Ross

My new reading material has arrived. 

It’s a second edition, from 1955, the year the book was released, 20 years after the author’s death. 

It was actually written in the 20s, but wasn’t published in his lifetime, or for a couple of decades later, since it didn’t reflect well on the RAF. 

I’ve only skimmed a few pages, but it’s very well written, with an unusual style. 

Extreme pointing

Not wanting to delay too long after finishing the outside walls of the shed, I’ve made a start on the inside. 

I thought it prudent to begin with the part-buried wall. My intention was to remove the inner layer of stone, in sections (to reduce the risk of collapse), then rebuild it. I knew that the outer layer would be in a pretty bad state, but I had to revise my plan when I encountered daylight. 

This section is now repaired, but there’s clearly some work to be done before I can rebuild the inner wall. 

While working on the shed, I’ve started to wonder whether it’s actually older than the house. I’d always assumed that they would have been built at the same time. But my project has walls build from very large blocks of stone. 

Of course, I’ll never know for certain either way. The only known face is that the shed existed in 1865, since it appears on a map from that time. It’s very likely to be older though, because the house dates back to the 1830s. 

Regardless of its age, the ‘s a cool little thing. I do acknowledge that I need to take care to avoid it becoming an obsession. 

Saltwell park festival

We were impressed with Chase Park festival yesterday, even though it took place in Saltwell Park this year. Which was a good thing since it’s a relatively short walk from the house. 

It’s a small, one day thing, so the lineup wasn’ huge. But it was a cool event. And we enjoyed the Coral. 

And with a bar from Wylam, with Jakehead on tap, what more could a man want. 

Flog-it

My second in command seems to be asleep on the sofa, under her Glastonbury blanket. I’m watching flog-it on TV.

Today was a nice day. We spent time with a man called Simon Diamond.