Ah! A week or two off from being the mobile disco in Birmingham and time to enjoy a break with the kids. I’ve been covering Heart Breakfast this week and although it’s kept me busy in the day I thought we’d better get the kids out before they kill each other in the name of half term boredom. ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’ is showing in 3D at IMAX all this week, so why not?
I’m hoping that you’ve had the IMAX experience by now but if you haven’t your really missing out.
Based at Millenium Point in Birmingham IMAX is cinema on a scale that you really must check out. With a screen some four stories high, incredibly clear audio system and awe inspiring 3D movies, you’ll LOVE cinema more than ever.
Kel, the kids and I were very privileged to go behind the scenes after the showing and thanks to Caroline at IMAX we got to have a look in the projection room. The technology is amazing with huge reels spinning the film around through multi-million pound equipment
Look at this for a movie reel – a bit bigger than your old Cine8!
Projectionists Graham and Ian have to stick all this tape together with some movies having over 21 kilometres of tape! This pile of boxes are just ONE film!!
The projector itself is an amazing piece of kit…
George and William inspect a piece of super high qaulity 70mm film (and leave fingerprints ALL over it!)
The film is EXCELLENT by the way. Laugh out loud moments for kids and big kids alike – oh and a monkey called Steve! Very random but well worth checking out ;o) Check out IMAX showings here.
Wow. What a busy week! I’ve just found out I’ll be turning on the Christmas Lights at the Fort Shopping Centre in Birmingham on Saturday November 21st. Well, when I say I will be I’m lying a little. There is a very famous TV family lined up to do the deed and I’m just there to support them and be the stage host. More details VERY soon!
From Friday 27th November I shall once again be the Club DJ in Birmingham as I undertake a weekly Friday night residency at Oceana Birmingham! Remember the old days of clubbing in safety where you knew every tune? It’ll be the good times again as I concentrate on playing club classics to a mainly over 25′s audience. I’ll have a HUGE guest list and if you click back here a little nearer the launch I’ll pop you on it. Come drink, dance and have a laugh every Friday.
So two mentions of Christmas in one October blog is heinous! Sorry but it’s that time of year! On Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December 2009 I have been invited to be the Christmas Party DJ at the Offical VIP Aftershow Party for ‘Rock With Laughter’ at the LG Arena, Birmingham. I’m soooooo excited about this as the venue will be full of comics, celebs, pop stars and Christmas spirit! I’m trying to get more details of how you can be involved and I’ll post them here just as soon as I can.
Many congratulations to Chantal and Dave who tied the knot this weekend. It was my pleasure to be their wedding DJ in Birmingham, at Austin Court (near the ICC). What a lovely venue for a bash and what lovely people too! Good luck guys!! If I can help with your wedding party please get in touch here.
So that was Saturday and then on to Sunday…
It’s become a bit of a ritual for me and my bike buddies to visit Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire for our first and last trackday of the season. Sadly this year has seen little track action because my DJ commitments have taken up too damn many weekends. Fortunately though the sun was shining this weekend, so the track bike came out, got dusted down and erm, well and truly thrashed around the circuit! Ok the day wasn’t without incident but I’ll come to that later…
‘Mansfield’ at speed (not bad for a nearly 40 year old big bloke, eh?)
At ‘Charlies’ this time… and I’ve left ‘em all behind – look!
So, do you get the feeling that this trackday is going ever so slightly too well? Pride comes before a fall, and all that?! Ahem. Yes. Bugger…
The third session of the day, a couple of warm up laps complete and those Bridgestone tyres are warm and sticky – time for fun! Up Coppice, round Charlies 1, power up through Charlies 2 onto the back-straight (and passing a couple more). Do another two on the way into Park Corner then around the long way into Chris Curve to avoid a slower bike. Full power going on now – I’m at full lean and about to embarrass a Kawasaki ZX10 owner by slipping underneath him. I’ve got loads of time and enough space to go by – unless of course he turns in too early and then…. BANG! At nearly 100mph there’s a litre sports bike on my back wheel and we’re both likely to be going home in an ambulance.
Fortunately my leathers and lid saved anything other than bruising and a few light friction burns. Despite sliding down the track and over grass for nearly 80 yards it was a get up, shakedown and kiss your ass in thanks moment. The first thing I did was check on the other rider – he was fine too, thankfully. The next task is the horrible one – the 30 yard trot to a stricken machine to inspect the damage. The total loss? A brake line, throttle cable and some panel grazing. That’s it!
Right. I’m off for a hot bath to soak out the bruises! Happy riding and I’ll see you on track next year.
On Sunday 11th October 2009 Kelly (Mrs. Clarke!) entered the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon to raise funds for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
Following 3 months of gruelling training that saw Kelly pounding the streets of Solihull and treadmills of Fitness First, she completed the 13.1 miles in a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 32 seconds.
“I was really disappointed in my final time as I was aiming to be at least half an hour quicker. The fact I was running with a severe chest infection hampered me somewhat. Within a couple of miles of the start line my heart rate was pushing 181bpm and I knew I was in for a long morning! I didn’t want all the training to go to waste and I was acutely aware of all the support and sponsorship I had received for my nominated charity. This, along with all the support on the route, really kept me going although I can’t tell you what a relief crossing the finish line was!!!!”
Kelly’s run has now raised £651 for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. Whilst some of the donations have been made through ‘justgiving.com’ a cheque for the balance will be on its way as soon as all monies have been collected.
On behalf of Kelly and The Air Ambulance a massive THANKS for your support.
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The event did turn into a husband and wife affair as Dave Clarke was main stage compere and host. OK, Dave’s efforts were far less than those of Kel but apparently he did have to drink a lot of coffee backstage. The poor lamb…
Many congratulations to Steve and Lucy Evans who tied the knot on Saturday. It was my great pleasure to be the wedding DJ at the Marriot Forest Of Arden in Meriden, and play a bunch of feel good songs for a really up for it crowd.
I have to say, you get asked some strange things as a DJ. Saturday’s winner – ‘Can you please play something from the last 10 years, you know, like ABBA?’ Erm, make that 30 years then. Oh and this was said whilst Black Eyed Peas ‘I Gotta Feeling’ was blasting out!!! General public, eh? ;o) I’d love to be your wedding DJ in Birmingham or beyond. Click here for a quote.
It’s the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon this weekend and I shall be taking to the stage in Centenary Square to compere the start to the big event. I’ll see you there if you’re running!
I took Kel and the boys over to the Black Country yesterday to enjoy the Dudley Festival Of Water & Light. What a great event! This is the third time that Heart has been invovled with this free Festival and each year keeps getting better, especially as the sun shone on the Waterfront.
I was the proudest Dad in the Dojo last night when George, after 3 and a half years hard work, finally earned his 1st Dan Junior Black Belt. Well done, son.
Here’s my proud moment…
It’s back to work for me now though. I’m Lucy and Steve’s wedding DJ on Saturday night and The Dudley Festival Of Water And Light to host on Sunday. Should be fun! ;o)
