Jon Curnow writes on curnow.org about things that interest him. The site has been around for many years in various forms and he always wants to write much more here than he does.
Eventful week with travel challenges, sports highlights, and impressive sights.
Week commencing Monday, 2 September 2024
Paralympics Paris 2024, Paris South Arena
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. 100%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 81,490
Life
I was going to put Mum & Dad on the train at Raynes Park. Glad I stayed with them as delays (into Clapham) and a removed stop (Vauxhall) necessitated agile planning. They had to cope with additional cancellations at Birmingham.
Then on Friday, my train had to run slowly to Guildford and, therefore, a missed connection. Really frustrating. What’s happening to our railways? A refund claim was submitted.
Monday night at the hotel. Total power blackout. We were shown to our room by the light of somebody’s phone. Not sure we should have checked in. The lights startled us when electricity was restored. And then the TV came on, seemingly at full blast, at 2am.
Tuesday, early Eurostar start for a day at Paris 2024 Paralympics: GB lost in the Boccia, France lost in the goalball, and Israel won, GB won (twice) in the table tennis. So much to see and so much existing sport.
Related, we saw the Paralympic flame in the balloon-cauldron from behind the barriers, in the rain, before they had raised it to the sky for the day. And it was still very impressive.
Relatedly, sometimes I felt there was too much “where did it go wrong” when we just won a silver medal.
Wednesday night, the pub had a branded lager. Thursday night, a different pub was noisy, so we sat outside in the rain. What did the table next to us really buy, if it wasn’t the rose they later gave us and we, in turn, passed along the tables?
Saturday, Galeón Andalucía was docked in Cowes. It’s very impressive close up, but we didn’t pay to see inside. Inspired sail past with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.
Sunday it rained and thunder was predicted. When we got to the top of the Spinnaker Tower, the skies turned blue and we watched the boat traffic on The Solent while having a wonderful afternoon tea. Recommended.
Media
It was all Paralympic sport this week. I think I am going to miss watching sport on television. Who am I?
A week filled with summer moments and enjoyable experiences.
Week commencing Monday, 26 August 2024
Ryde Illuminated Carnival 2024
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 1/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/3. Plant diversity: 42. Total steps: 70,180
Life
Hello, September. Let’s have a little more summer, please.
Last week I omitted the scooter rally from my weeknotes. It was impressive and a reminder of why modern engines are much better for air quality.
Bank holiday Monday by the beach was lovely. I observed that low tide was very low.
Former Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu: “So I like to call it bullying being the disease and the isms being the symptoms. And I noticed that whenever I’m in an audience, you know, women, black, brown, women, the disabled, the neurodiverse, LGBTQ+, anyone who’s in the audience who’s of difference will just be nodding furiously because our outcomes are all the same. Our journey is quite different, but our outcomes are the same.”
Wall-to-wall Paralympics coverage is a recent phenomenon, unheard of in many places until recently. Thank goodness we have Channel 4. I’m as addicted to this medal table as I was to the Olympics.
Tuesday, to the theatre for Why Am I So Single, the new musical from the creators of Six. In its current form, it’s too long. I bet this will be addressed before the official opening night.
Thursday, Holland Garden is a lovely, tranquil place for people to spend an afternoon.
Friday, picked up the train tickets for the weekend and realised I’d missed one railcard off the booking, so had overpaid. I get annoyed at myself for things like that.
Saturday, Ryde Illuminated Carnival was as wonderful as its Shanklin sibling. The classic buses from the museum a nice addition.
Related, of course, we ordered the Secreto Ibérico and Berenjenas Fritas, as they were our favourites from last time.
The café queue at Quarr Abbey moves slowly. But the place is another tranquil spot and perhaps the queue shouldn’t move all that quickly.
Wednesday, Paralympics opening ceremony: enjoyable, even if it didn’t feel as energy-packed as I would hope an opening ceremony would.
Thursday and Friday, Test Match Special: unexpectedly good company that I tuned into because Mum and Dad were at Lord’s for the first day. I gather England had quite a good day. Joe Root was the standout, scoring 143 runs. At least one reference to cake.
I finished Tracker, the Disney Plus series I mentioned last week. Wondering if the new season will be shown here.
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 7/7 and Move 7/7. (100%). Morning walks: 4/5. Office days 0/5. Plant diversity: 53. Total steps: 80,235
Life
Monday, going to the theatre, I learned Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation during World War II, aimed at misleading the Germans about the Allied invasion of Sicily. I only scored 3 out of 9 in the pre-show quiz because I knew none of this before.
Related, the story of the operation was adapted into the musical we saw, combining history and satire, and winning awards for its blend of comedy and drama. I thoroughly enjoyed (and recommend) it. There’s a ticket ballot getting you reasonably priced show if you look.
Tuesday, I restarted my morning walks (see quantified self, above) and I went to the gym. Why does it always seem they are rebuilding it? Bets on how long this will last?
Thursday, I expected the injection to be more painful; instead, it was more of an ache than a pain. It was not comfortable, but I was tense for more pain than came.
I wish there was audio for this. I let Siri read it to me instead. Ros Atkins, The UK TV Industry in 2024: Globalisation, digital advertising, and technological advancements are reshaping UK television while public service broadcasters face challenges maintaining their cultural relevance and visibility.
Media
Finished The Jetty. At one point, I thought the ending would be pretty unsatisfying, but while not where I imagined it going, it was very well done.
Engaged in social activities, theatre, and enjoyable media moments.
Week commencing Monday, 12 August 2024
The only surviving one mentioning Kingsway
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 5/7. (71%). Morning walks: 0/5 (days in the office don’t count). Plant diversity: 45. Total steps: 57,194
Life
Excellent internal presentation on the history of software. Shame I can’t share any of it.
Wednesday, really? We all jump now that management ask questions when I have been asking for weeks? This is how it works. But it shouldn’t be.
Wednesday, I learned that there is an optimal temperature to give blood, meaning the current hot spell requires the blood service to rent large cooling units at my local donation centre.
Thursday morning, I fear I came across as annoyed in a meeting where the team didn’t appreciate I was trying to protect them.
Drinks with old friends on Thursday. Always the best.
Saturday night, Next to Normal is a rock musical that explores the struggles of a suburban family dealing with mental illness. Not the usual West End musical jolly, but sensitively done.
Pre-theatre dinner was at Mildreds: I was determined not to have anything faking something traditionally meat-based. That ruled out the burgers and anything with their “chick+n” in it. Grilled Roman artichoke & hemp Caesar salad was wonderful.
Sunday morning, up and out for a 10 am Hidden London tour of Holborn station, where two platforms from the former Strand (Aldwych) branch line are unused and hidden from day-to-day operations.
Finally, bye-bye London’s Kiss 100. Back when we did silly things, my work email inbox played the jingle “1 Kiss will make it better”. It drove people mad.
Media
Home alone for a couple of nights. I could have watched anything. So I watched Death In Paradise. I enjoyed it.
Holborn is the only London Underground station with two hidden closed platforms, unnoticed by passing travelers.
Branch line to Aldwych
In 2015, we embarked on our first ‘Hidden London’ tour, exploring the former Jubilee Line platforms at Charing Cross. It was fascinating to see these platforms, now hidden from public use, preserved in a time warp. It felt surreal to stand just beyond a ventilation grille, watching passengers and trains in the active station while feeling both like a spy and an archaeologist. The knowledgeable guides, who shared the rich history of London’s underground, made the experience even more engaging.
Since then, we’ve followed up with tours of other disused stations, such as Aldwych and Down Street, as well as behind-the-scenes visits to LU headquarters at 55 Broadway and unused parts of stations like Euston, Piccadilly Circus, Moorgate, Highgate, and Shepherd’s Bush. During the lockdown, we even took a virtual tour of the former tram tunnels under Kingsway.
During one of these tours, we learned that, at the end of the nineteenth century, London County Council initiated a redevelopment scheme in the Aldwych and Kingsway areas. This project aimed to clear slums, stimulate development, and create broad boulevards, which ultimately led to significant changes in the area. As part of this redevelopment, the Great Northern Railway management extended their planned railway to the Strand, naming it the Great Northern & Strand Railway. However, construction was delayed due to insufficient funds. When the plans finally materialised, Holborn station opened on 15 December 1906 on the Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompton Railway. The extension to the Strand came later and was eventually constructed as a branch line rather than a terminating station on what is now known as the Piccadilly Line.
Earlier this year, the London Transport Museum advertised a Hidden London tour of Holborn station, and I eagerly signed up. Today, we met a group of fellow enthusiasts around 10 am outside the station. It seemed everyone in our group had previously been on one of the ‘Hidden’ tours.
During the Aldwych tour, we learned that the branch line closed on 30 September 1994 due to the estimated £7 million upgrade costs, which would have supported just 450 trips a day. As the system was considered to be in managed decline, the expense couldn’t be justified. This closure left two platforms unused, and we had the opportunity to explore them.
Pre-war Wayfinding on the Piccadilly Line
One of the platforms remains recognisable, featuring the sole remaining ‘Holborn (Kingsway)’ roundel attached to the wall. Like other disused platforms we’ve visited, it occasionally serves as a mock-up for experimental equipment and signage. After its closure, it was also used as a filming location, notably for the music video of the 80s classic “New Song” by Howard Jones.
We also learned about an experiment involving water pipes to cool the underground and saw test signage showing a ‘St Paul’s’ platform edge sign above the familiar Holborn roundel. Pre-war Piccadilly Line wayfinding signs were also on display, and we peered down the still-lit line to Aldwych. Sadly, the station’s ‘bird’s nest’ control room, once used for early CCTV tests, is no longer there.
The rooms here were added when the platform closed
The other platform had closed much earlier, as the branch line was underused from the start. Through a flood defence door installed during the war, we saw the crossover lines where trains could be directed down one of two tunnels towards the Strand. Much of this platform had been filled in, and one of the tunnels was repurposed as wartime art storage and never returned to service. The filled-in track bed was used as accommodation and shelter during the Blitz but is now a concrete walkway. A corridor of rooms, once used as a cloakroom and later by a model railway group, remains empty and unused. It’s always fascinating to see how much under-utilised space lies beneath London.
As I wandered through these hidden spaces, I couldn’t help but wonder if a branch line from Strand might have gained popularity as tube usage surged in the current millennium. Could it have been viable with an extension beyond Strand to Waterloo and the south?
There are still unfunded plans for station improvements and a new entrance to ease congestion. Of course, the station has seen upgrades before. It was connected to the Central Line on 25 September 1933, the day after the British Museum station closed. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely there will be a Hidden London tour of that station, as the above-ground facilities have apparently been demolished.
A week of carnival culture, sport, and mindful Tai Chi practice.
Week commencing Monday, 5 August 2024
Songs, carnival and a hat parade
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 5/7. (81%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 40. Total steps: 52,988
I don’t think I’ve watched so much sport since 2012. The Olympics really is the tapas of sport. This week: sport climbing, kayak cross, and breaking.
There was more sanding and varnishing of doors. Unfortunately, some of the wood had rotted and required wood filler. It’ll take several coats to get the colours to match.
It was a warm Wednesday evening for Tai Chi, although we practised inside. The group was a bit smaller, probably due to the holidays, so we focused on ‘harmony’ as a single group—it was quite an interesting exercise and really focused my mind. When I go, I find it very relaxing.
To Ryde. Really nice to see the transport interchange work is complete. Not so great to read that the bus shelters are already due for replacement due to seating issues, and the bus station road has had to be resurfaced due to damage.
A nice discovery while we were there: the Tapas place is excellent.
Saturday night was Shanklin carnival: A fire engine led the parade into town, and then all sorts of groups contributed floats. There was a marching band and, towards the end, a fantastic group of drummers. A Chitty Chitty Bang Bang float seems to be Shanklin’s official 2024 carnival float. There was everything from an Olde Tea Shop to a smoke-breathing dragon, in front of which a group were dancing to a mix of music including songs from Steps followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Enjoyed warm days, a local walk, and a barbecue with family.
Week commencing Monday, 29 July 2024
This week in pictures
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 5/7 and Move 6/7. (86%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 41. Total steps: 48,826
Life
It’s warm and muggy. Working from home means I can wear shorts. I do not approve of them as workwear.
Monday, a two-handed play at The Criterion: Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Dougal, a naive Brit, arrives in New York for his estranged father’s wedding and meets Robin, the busy, unenthusiastic sister of the bride. With songs! It was very well done but I thought Dougal was a bit bland.
Thursday, Bruce Willis is not bland in the not-really-a-Christmas-movie, Die Hard. I’d never seen it and the opportunity arose to see it at TT Cinema, which specialises in cocktails and cult classic cinema. When collecting our cocktail, other customers expressed shock that I hadn’t seen it. It holds up well.
Nice to be back on a local walk on Friday night. We decided a walk around the Cannon Hill Common would be good, just like we used to during the lockdown months. Lovely.
Family round for a barbecue on Saturday. A lovely afternoon with delicious barbecue food and plenty of drinks. Nothing burnt. The barbecue chicken kebabs turned out to need an oven and not a grill, which was surprising given the name.
We began sanding and varnishing the doors on the back of the house. We should have gotten out the varnish last year, as parts of the doors need significant attention. Nonetheless, we sanded one door and applied a couple of coats. In hindsight, it was a pretty quick process, and we should have done all the sanding at once.
Media
Lots of Olympics watching. I am continually watching the medal table.
The Jetty, a BBC drama one of PY’s colleagues recommended. For most of the episode, it was just OK, and I wondered why it was highly regarded. The twist at the end had us hooked, though it was too late to binge the remaining episodes.
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (86%. Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Plant diversity: 35. Total steps: 56,048
Life
The pub quiz is getting better. We were joint fifth, but with just two more points—if we’d been less gung-ho in the wipeout round—we’d have been second.
The Art of Banksy, a gallery on Charing Cross Road, is really good. We went when it was quiet, and you could spend plenty of time looking at the work. There’s a lot of social commentary in those pictures—what will people of the future think of us?
When we got home, PY randomly looked at Paris 2024 Paralympic tickets for a date in September. Now we have a Eurostar booked and a day off work.
On Friday, we went to the Love Motion festival at Crystal Palace to see Grace Jones, who was brilliant as always. There were delays getting in, and Róisín Murphy cancelled, so we mainly sat for four hours listening to DJs before the main act. Luckily, we were early into the venue and grabbed a seat for much of the waiting time.
Related, we didn’t get to see the Olympic opening ceremony. I thought we would catch up at some point. We haven’t so far.
I was up early on Saturday for a surprise trip for Dad’s birthday. Although the restaurant hadn’t recorded our booking, they made it work. A nice barbecue in the evening involved a croquet game with my niece. The 7-year-old beat me.
On the train home, I finished reading Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart. I’d recommend it, but it’s a bit of an indictment of the British political machine..
A week of journeys, tech challenges, and interesting new discoveries.
Week commencing Monday, 15 July 2024
Hammersmith Bridge
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 2/7 and Move 5/7. (62%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/5. Total steps: 44,085
Life
Bringing back a pungent Subway sandwich to Raynes Park on a table-less train wasn’t the most enjoyable experience!
On Saturday, we went to the Riverside Studios Bar & Kitchen for dinner before E’s birthday celebration at a nearby pub. The lack of the Underground to Hammersmith delayed us because we took the replacement bus service. We found a smarter route home.
On Sunday, we had a nice walk around Wimbledon and stopped at a health food shop for things I never knew existed.
The barbecue came out of the box for the summer. Lovely. When it’s just the two of us, we often decide to grill in the kitchen and eat outside. So, today, we agreed we’d do it properly and use the barbecue to grill some burgers that were the freezer.
The rest of the week wasn’t eventful except for my Wi-Fi, which was causing issues. I bought another range extender to create a better mesh, but I am convinced something else is happening because it’s intermittent. I did confirm that the speed to the router is good; the drop-off is frustrating.
Media
We’re back in Bridgerton mode this week. Although we’re on series two, we’re powering through them.
On Monday, we took a small boat onto the Thames, and the weather was mostly kind to us. Phil superbly navigated Romney Lock, Windsor, Boveney Lock, and Bray Lock while I enjoyed the view and, later, the bubbles.
Tuesday’s trip to Windsor was more inclement. But the Starbucks was really friendly, and the Windsor Farm Shop provided lunch.
The train home was on Wednesday morning. It was a bit of a walk from the accommodation to the station, but we made it in good time. The afternoon was spent clothes shopping.
Thursday was another day at the office, followed by an extended drinking session in Shepherd’s Bush. But thanks to Uber, I made it back.
On Friday, we went to see Stevie Nicks at Hyde Park. The whole site was wonderfully themed, the support from Brandi Carlile was excellent, and Stevie Nicks was brilliant. Harry Styles joined her at the end, which sent a gasp rippling through the audience.
To The Island on Saturday via Gunwharf Quays, where they did not have the shoes I wanted.
On Sunday, we went to the dinosaurs at Fossil Beach. It was a lovely walk, although we didn’t quite take the whole cliff-edge path to Freshwater. Later, the walk to Yarmouth was sunny; the café we found at the end of the walk will be revisited.
Media
Sunday, we watched the Euros final. Runners up in Europe is excellent. The nation seems disappointed.
Enjoyable week with family, good food, and memorable events.
Week commencing Monday, 1 July 2024
Polling Station
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 4/7; Exercise 1/7 and Move 4/7. (43%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 0/5. Total steps: 38,383
Life
Mum and Dad arrived to make use of the anniversary gift and enjoyed the afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason. The day before, dinner at a local Korean restaurant was mediocre.
While they were eating finger sandwiches and buying tea towels, I went to the physio about my shoulder. It was supposed to be a seminar but because so few people were booked on it we all got a personal consultation. I think I will have some kind of injection to see if it helps.
Wednesday, we all had delicious Mediterranean but, perhaps, I ordered too many dips. I enjoyed it.
Mum & Dad took the train back on Thursday morning. I went to vote. I am not sure if it was tactical or what I would have done anyway.
Evening drinks at The White Horse meant I was spared the big 10pm exit poll TV shenanigans. When I got home I did stay up watching too many results while flicking between channels.
Friday, Closer to Heaven at The Turbine theatre is good. Frances Ruffelle excellent as Billie Trix. It’s the third version we’ve seen and I’d recommend this one. We had cabaret-style tables but kept the little card to say no interaction. In hindsight, that was the wrong decision.
Sunday, Thames-side to an Airbnb in Wraysbury for C’s birthday. The house is nice with a view of the river, the pub had great service and great steaks.
Enjoyable weekend filled with friends, events, and sunshine.
Week commencing Monday, 24 June 2024
London Pride 2024
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 6/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 6/7. (76%). Morning walks: 0/4 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 1/4. Total steps: 65,855
Life
Exhausted after the weekend. Hot and sunny by the sea. Brunch a lovely collection of seafood. The Dell’s crab gratin is wonderful.
It was still hot on Tuesday when we were home. Outside the thermometer registered 24ºc. I ate my lunch sat on the garden bench.
I learned that you do not need to be a fan of the streaming juggernaut that is Stranger Things to appreciate the theatre experience, but you do need to be prepared to sit in a theatre for almost three hours of performance.
Drinks after work on Thursday somehow ended up in a pub on Regents Street that was remarkably quiet for a Thursday evening.
Bucks Fizz. The Fizz were remarkable fun at Indigo O2 on Friday night. There was quite a bit of energy on stage that I might have been lacking.
Saturday to a friend’s kitchen shop opening in North London: we might have really been the first through the door.
Back home via Pride in London. Lots of happy people in the sunshine. Good vibes.
We might have been dancing until the early hours at M&Rs. Sorry to their neighbours.
Sunday night was Pride at The Crazy Cows. Always a good fun.
Positive week with highlights from Isle of Wight festival
Week commencing Monday, 17 June 2024
Festival Bus
Quantified Self
This week: Stand 7/7; Exercise 4/7 and Move 5/7. 76%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 0/4. Total steps: 76,589
Life
Did you return last week for the thrilling finale of the Washing Machine saga? I forgot to add it to my weeknotes. They sent a new machine. It’s remarkable how, when it’s not working, the effort engulfed my day-to-day. Whereas after they had replaced it, not a second thought. This one has a digital countdown—genuinely 21st century.
I read today about Sir Rod Stewart’s need to defend his support of Ukraine after he was apparently booed at a concert in Germany on Friday night. Sad world in which we live.
Wednesday evening to the Isle of Wight. There were some tight connections but I thought I’d make the 7:20pm sailing only to be thwarted one station away. So, I went and did my grocery shopping. Apple Maps’ directions to Tesco were lousy (including trying to send me through a park with locked gates).
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Isle of Wight festival. The weather, atmosphere and music were all great. My feet hurt from the amount of standing I needed to do. It was a painful walk to back to the bus on Sunday evening. There were a lot of highlights. I need to write up the experience.
Related: Souther Vectis ran an excellent service.
Media
I watched a video about dishwashers and discovered my machine has space for dishwasher powder in the first wash before the pod is released. Hat tip: Tom Scott.
We spent 10 hours at the flat before returning to the festival site. Today’s shuttle bus was an old Southern Vectis vehicle (it still featured branded informational posters), but it was – obviously – being used elsewhere in the country at the moment. I remarked that it had come home for a holiday. It had carpet on the upper deck ceiling. We didn’t sit at the front today as it was too warm; I am not sure the furry ceiling helped with the heat. We have been fortunate with the weather this weekend. All those wet-weather clothes remained in Ryde.
Once again, arrival was marked by the purchase of coffee. I craved a bacon bun, which proved – surprisingly – elusive until I found a burger stand near the main stage selling them. It was one of the nicest bacon sandwiches I’ve had. We repeated yesterday’s moves of getting to the Main Stage area early and holding a place towards the front. The backstage crew had been busy overnight installing confetti canons for Green Day and adding a platform that extended the stage area into the crowd. We’d have moved closer to that if my thinking had been more intelligent.
Beverley Knight was first and early, opening with “Greatest Day”. I’ve seen Beverley many times, and she’s an outstanding performer. I was surprised she was first on the list for the day. She started with a reasonable, for lunchtime, crowd around the Main Stage. She’d pulled many more people to the stage by the time she finished her set. Another wonderful performance featuring a great mix of her old and new songs and a cover of Radiohead’s “Just”. As she said, nobody can imagine a soul sister performing that song. It worked. There’s a version on BBC Sounds.
Next up, Kyliefied, a Kylie tribute act, was a lot of fun in the Electro Love tent. PY and I did not join in with the “Locomotion” chain that went around, but we laughed. It was another power walk across the festival site back to see McFly. I think McFly are underrated (I don’t know by whom, but it’s a sense, and I am sticking with it) because their set is such fun with a list of songs that you will know. I was disappointed we were so far back, but there was no way to get closer. I could just about see Tom was wearing a Green Day t-shirt in honour of tonight’s headliners, and Harry’s t-shirt labelled him as the drummer.
Zara Larsson was next. There was a noticeable switchover in the age of the crowd at the front. I only recognised “Symphony.” Her show was slick, but I wonder if it would have been better in a stadium rather than a field. The youngsters loved it, so what do I know?
We took some time out for food. This afternoon was chorizo-flavoured Mac’n’Cheese. Again, we sat on the grass near the Big Top and enjoyed the sunshine. We headed back to the Main Stage for “Simple Minds”. As far as PY was concerned, these were today’s headliners. I can’t explain why I was never a fan, so I only recognised the biggest hits, probably “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and “Alive and Kicking” — it was another example of a video show that occasionally seemed to forget that we wanted to see the performers. The fans thought it superb.
Afterwards, we wandered to the Cirque de la Quirk stage. There was a bar opposite. For the first time across the weekend, I tried the fruit cider that PY had been drinking, and I wished I’d had it more often. Stone Cold Hustle, a large-ish (7 or 8-piece) funk band, was grooving providing the perfect laid-back soundtrack as evening approached.
After almost three days on my feet, walking was starting to get painful. We found some benches made of pallets and managed to sit for half an hour. We don’t bring foldable chairs because we want to avoid being stuck with them, mainly because I like being as close to the stages as possible, and chairs are banned in key areas. But I was very grateful to be able to sit down.
Sunday’s headliners, who closed the show, were Green Day, another band I am not familiar with. However, when many people I know found out they were the main act of the day, they said without hesitation we should stay. And we did for most of the show.
It was brilliant. From the inflatable aeroplane dropping merch onto the crowd to those confetti canons, we saw earlier via bringing a fan, Mollie, from the audience to perform on stage with them, it was great. Somewhere around “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” we decided to do another beat-the-crowd shuffle to the bus, hoping to catch a rerun of the set on Sky Arts. We missed the rerun (but caught the bus). Apparently, it’s on later in the week. Dinner was from the kebab shop on Union Street.
We were back at Seaclose Park for noon. Despite my already tired feet, I was glad of the night in a real bed and ready for, more or less, twelve hours of standing. The first call of the day was at a coffee wagon to get a drink and the fortification of a pastry. Then, walk towards the main stage. As the crowds were still not out and, I suspect, many of the on-site campers were recovering, we took the opportunity to look into some areas of the site that went unvisited yesterday.
The Platform One Stage, which a music college runs, showcases student talent. According to the schedule, we watched Stereo Screams, but there seem to be more people in the band (based on their Instagram) than we saw. Whoever they were, they were good.
We walked the long snake-fenced-off queue line for a beer and fruit cider. Nobody else was buying, and the staff watched, amused, as we walked up and down the lines. It’s hard not to feel stupid doing that, but I wouldn’t vault any fences to save a few seconds. We carried our drinks to the Main Stage area, where we could secure a space near the front and watch Apollo Junction. It’s another new band to me and another fantastic way to start the day. Over several years, they had progressed from one of the small stages to opening the big one. Added to my playlist.
Yesterday, I mentioned the challenges of shifting between the Main Stage and other areas. Today, there were several acts in a row that we wanted to see on the biggest stage, so we settled in for about four and a half hours, standing three or four rows from the barrier.
Natalie Imbruglia was first up. Of course, everybody wanted to sing along to Torn, which came towards the end of the set, but there were plenty of other solid songs. It was a great set that pulled people towards the stage.
The act PY wanted to see most today was Jake Shears, who was up just before 3pm. Arriving on stage wearing a glittering red and silver tracksuit, he opened with “Too Much Music”. Pretty much straight afterwards, the tracksuit was removed to reveal a glittering silver and red vest-shorts combo. While most of the acts on the main stage stuck to the accepted dress code of ‘something black’, Jake Shears was the opposite.
Apollo Junction’s Jamie Williamson got down from the stage to sing to the front row, and Jake Shears repeated the move during “Do The Television”. This is great for those of us up close but not so wonderful for those further back with a view of the stage who lose sight of the artists. I am not complaining. Jake’s set was another fantastic one. I hope he’s back in a future year with a longer show as his solo collection of hits is growing, and he still needs to fit in the crowd-pleasing Scissor Sisters tunes.
Half an hour later, possibly the 90s pop highlight took to the stage. Unlike everybody else we’ve seen so far at the festival, S Club did not pretend to be singing to a live band. There were no instruments on stage, and it was a pop-perfect 45 minutes: opening, of course, with “S Club Party’ and closing with the crowd’s favourite, “Reach”. If the Isle of Wight festival has a reputation for being a rock fest, then perhaps S Club will convince people that there’s something for everyone.
After reaching for the stars, we decided it was time to eat. We found a pizza and sat on the grass near the Big Top, watching several people wearing Pet Shop Boys-inspired red and white pointy hats. The crowd had fewer ‘costumes’ than I remember from last year.
While we were sitting on the grass, the Big Top crowd was getting bigger and bigger to the sounds of Irish music. Intrigued, we wandered in and caught the last, thoroughly enjoyable half-hour of The Mary Wallopers before making our way to The River Stage.
I am trying to remember who had just finished on The River Stage when we arrived, but most people who’d seen the previous act were hanging about. I nipped to the bar tent, and when I turned around again to return to PY with a couple of drinks, I needed to push through quite a mass of people. In another 80s flashback, Johnny Hates Jazz took to the stage with a collection of hits. I am not sure some of the crowd knew what was coming as, after the first couple of songs, there was a changeover with a bit of an exodus making way for more people who’d been trying to get into the area.
By the time we’d heard “Turn Back The Clock”, “I Don’t Want To Be A Hero”, and “Shattered Dreams” from the River Stage, the mass audiences had arrived in front of the Main Stage for not-quite-headliners, Keane. I am not familiar with Keane, so I was content to stand back and see most of the set on the video screen. I was surprised I knew as many of their songs as I did.
Generally, I am not a fan of going to concerts where you can’t see the act on the stage and watch the show on a video screen. However, at a festival like this, you must accept that it’s the only way to see some acts without camping out in front of a single stage all day.
After Keane, as it got darker, the air got colder. We both added layers, and I decided that something warm would help. It’s incredible how a portion of super-unhealthy but equally delicious, loaded fries could revive us both. On a side note, the site’s food selection was pretty impressive. PY went to try to find a stall still selling coffee. That’s how rock-n-roll our evening was.
One of the peculiarities of festivals is that there are often no intros to the bands. After many people move equipment, and somebody inevitably hits the drum for a soundcheck, the band starts. And so it was with the Pet Shop Boys. PY returned, coffeeless, once he realised the Pet Shop Boys had started (the coffee queue was moving slowly due to high demand for the waffles that were also available).
By this time, we were stood even further back than we’d been for Keane, and this is the point in my notes where I should inject something about the people who manage the stage-side video screens.
It’s ubiquitous for bands to have impressive video projection shows at the back of the stage. You can tell the amount of money artists are being paid by what they do with those screens. Earlier in the day, it’s usually just the band’s name or logo. As the day progresses, video is increasingly used. It looks nice when you can see the band on stage.
However, when you have 50,000 people back in a field with a partial obstruction of the mid-field sound/video/lighting gear, you only get part of the experience and rely on the side-stage video screen to see what’s happening. Several bands, including PSB, often showed the video effects on these screens instead of the live view, and there was no sight of the band on stage. IMHO, I am there to see a band. Generally, I want to be able to see the performers on stage (even microscopic versions of them), but, as with PSB, when that’s impossible, I implore the art directors of these things to keep the band on screen. If I want video effects, I’ll watch Vevo.
OK, back to the the show (well, almost). The Isle of Wight is very family friendly as a festival. There are lots of kids of all ages. I imagine many little kids are exhausted by 10:20pm (the headline start time). A mass of people stay to see the first couple of songs by the final act and then start heading homeward (or, at least, campsitewards). As a pleasing result, within the first twenty minutes, we’d moved from being a long way back with the screen as the primary view to having a view of the stage where I could see Neil & Chris (and appreciate the aforementioned video effects).
It’s a stunning show. And every song is known. It’s amazing how extensive and familiar PSB’s back catalogue is. When a band can put songs as big as “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” and “Rent” in the early part of the set and still have hits left for later, you’re reminded of how prolific the band has been since their mid-80s arrival on planet pop*.
We took a gamble that “It’s A Sin” was the closing song of the main set and made our way backwards as it was playing. And we were right. Thus, we started the power walk back to the bus stop to beat the crowds for the shuttle to Ryde. “West End Girls” (an encore song) played in our ears.
The bus was significantly busier than yesterday, and my legs were much creakier than last night. But it’s nice to get to the flat for tea and more Sky Arts festival catch-up.
* I put that phrase in as it sounded like a homage to Smash Hits magazine.
