Conference preparations, lots of tunnel experiment preparations, and some festival things

Phew – no rest for the wicked. Inputs-Outputs suddenly feels imminent (and it is). We just met with Judith, and had an excellent discussion about both the conference and future developments.

The weekend brought a little bit of festival activities – we went out to see Faust by Bad Taste Company (or Bad Taste Cru, as their breakdancing ‘face’ is called), which was nothing of the sort. Exhilarating dancing, clearly based on streetdance, but brilliantly expanded into ensemble dancing, what looked like capoeira, and altogether very expressive. Great use of music, too. Thoroughly enjoyable. We went both Saturday and Sunday night.

There was lots of work to be done during the weekend – the tunnel project has turned into a bit of a monster (predictably), and I am glad to say I could contribute quite usefully to making preparations somewhat less frantic and more productive. I prepared and uploaded all the music, and the playback solution I worked out the other week (configuring an alarm clock app to function as the timer for the playlists) ended up being what is going out, at least in phase one. But by Jove, it has been time-consuming. I am counting three days working on it now, and that’s just stepping in to avert meltdown.

This week will see me doing more work with Punchdrunk (hurrah), more work with my new clients (exciting), and quite a bit of time with my kids (which very much I look forward to).

Brighton Festival – first week!

We went to Circopolis on Tuesday, which was excellent; fun, rhythmic, surprising and full of mind-boggling skill. On Wednesday, we went to Table Manners at the Basement, which was absolutely brilliant; especially the middle piece by Future Ruins – absolutely flawless, very uncomfortable, and utterly unpredictable. Last night, we went to see How Like An Angel in All Saints Church, which was also fantastic – acrobatics and aerialism, not a harness in sight, high up under the vaulted ceiling, emphasizing antigravitational struggle and some pretty spectacular falling. And gorgeous choral singing.

We finally discovered The Warren this year, organised by James Turnbull – a lovely little hideaway just off West Street.

All good. Otherwise, the week has been hectic.

It rained on our parade

Brighton Festival opened today with the Children’s Parade, as usual. I took lots of photos, which I will eventually upload. The Mods were excellent, and I really liked Aliens Love Underpants, too. The day started out sunny, but by the end of the parade I was shivering in the drizzle.

Last night, we went to Lighthouse for the opening of James Bridle’s Under the Shadow of the Drone, and on from there to the Regency Town House for the opening of Mariele Neudecker’s The Air Itself is One Vast Library.

We also tried Hove Kitchen, which was a pleasant surprise. The calf’s liver was excellent. Yum! Tomorrow, we might go to Root Experience‘s Plays Series workshops. But not outdoors, if it’s going to rain. I am just not that hardy.

I am currently very successfully procrastinating about doing my book keeping.

Looking at my photos – I like this one from Dublin

Another day, another project

Arts projects come to find me, these days. Is it an indication? Justin and I discussed something akin to an immersive parlour game. We are talking building an environment that makes you feel like a cricket, here (Justin is writing a thesis on non-human characters in opera)(yes, you read that correctly).

He also told me there is a festival that we could possibly take it to, called….Pestival! How marvellous is that?!

They can keep Bestival. I want to go to Pestival, with our immersive parlour game for people pretending to be crickets.

Sun?!

Whatever happened? Today seems rather nice – it is not cold, nor is it windy, or pouring with rain. It is, in fact, warmish and sunny-ish.

There is stop-start-animation making here today. We even have a green screen going. Very exciting. You have no idea what Batman gets up to when out of public view. And you should see the company he keeps!

Later tonight, there is a dinner meeting here, for discussing a proposal that I have been thinking of since it was put to me. I can see further uses for the platform, were we to develop it.

We are having a pretty crafty weekend on the whole, as it happens. I managed to get the sleeves on Katla’s cosplay jacket last night, and they look pretty good. She can even move her arms. We may push the boat out and get some of the detailing done today.

A peaceful weekend at home

Rain pouring on the skylight in the kitchen, but it is lovely and warm inside. Food, music (renaissance lute music and The Knife, in equal measures), making Katla’s cosplay costume. It is nice to use my materials skill, once in a while. And I am enjoying my workspace in the study – I have cleared some admin, so there is space for my laptops, and the sewing. It is coming together, and I am only procrastinating a little bit about fitting the sleeves. I am working from Katla’s drawing of her design, below.

I wonder how Bermuda is. I have had brief report, and I guess I will hear the full tale on Monday. Surely the weather is better than here.

We had the Excursions website facelift session here last night, and Tom and I drove poor James like pernickety slave drivers, but the result is sweet. And James strangely seemed to enjoy it. The new issue will be launched soon, and our paper is all proofed and ready – I signed it off earlier.

Leon and Marlowe have been preparing for making stop-start animation shorts outside, and I am keen to get Katla and Cai involved in that tomorrow. And dust off my After Effects skills.

Right. Enough procrastination about fitting those sleeves.

Happy Easter

Swedish (well, Swedish/US/German/Romanian/English, by virtue of Annika & me, Cornelia from US and Berlin, Catarina, Andy, and assorted bilingual children, including mine) Easter celebrations at Annika’s, with kids. Very nice evening. We painted Easter eggs, talked lots, drank cava and mead, and had a lovely fish dish. All good. Blue-black night sky with an infinite number of stars.

Denise’s birthday do

Denise’s birthday do was a lively and upbeat affair. We arrived late afternoon, when quite a few of the guests had already been celebrating for a couple of hours; sort of in between the first and the second shift.

Many of the usual suspects were there, as well as a significant amount of cake and drink. Not a savoury thing in sight – this gathering clearly was intent on skipping straight to the dessert.

Much discussion around engagement – many definitions are focusing exclusively on ‘positive affect’, which clearly is only part of the picture. Consider not just the military context, but internet trolling, heated debates, and right wing media. Being irate holds a lot of attraction to many people. And it is highly engaging.

Stoke is good, yet again

We are enjoying Stoke again. Nachi’s lab, including the fab people there, is as good as ever. I am beginning to feel quite at home here. We have done research comparing Tekscan chair mat and Vicon, with the 12-stimuli set. It looks as if we are poised to get a few things published this year, which is exciting.

We have had excellent food every evening, courtesy of TripAdvisor – this is not a plug, by the way. But it is a good way to find out about reasonable restaurants. Letif’s in Alsager was great the first evening, Portofino last night was very good, and Jalfrezi tonight was good. Latif’s was a cut above the rest, I have to say – we think they may be Bangladeshi, and the food was excellent: succulent, aromatic, and subtle.

North Staffordshire Hotel is its wonky self, so all is well in the world.