Amazing.

http://www.vimeo.com/2074812

After precisely 7 weeks of very hard work, i am somewhat honoured and happy to announce the launch of www.awalkaroundbritain.com.

This is the 3rd website to go under the banner of The Bakery and will (if my gut is right) bring forth and prosperus era for all of us involved. Working closely with the boys (Ed, Will and Ginger),  having plenty of beautiful artwork availible (courtesy of one very talented lady called Shelley Mould), aided by a random Flasher (Max) and quick PHP genius of Ollie Buck, I (Alaric) have made another website.

However, this site is slightly different from others i have made. Hopefully my hard work will enable the boys to put forth information and wisdom that will intrigue, entertain, make people smile and perhaps even tap a foot. Collecting boundless stories, songs, poems, folklore, herblore, images and videos i wish this site good luck in educating all of us, that there is more to Britain than the information confined in the box of a tabloid or the screens of our TV’s. In fact, i am the last person to be patriotic (and my friends will back up that comment), but the beautiful content these boys have written certainly make me feel like Britain is a magical place to be born and inhabit.

Enjoy.

Altogether now:

“Stop saying that Withnail, of course he’s the fucking farmer!”

. . .

We’ve talked about The Bakery having a joint-owned holiday home before now, for creative-breaks and relaxation, and I think I’ve found the perfect candidate.  

Speaking as somebody who is in the middle of moving house, and who is fed up with having to deal with landlords, I have to say I think it would be a perfect investment:  it hasn’t been lived in since 1955.

I am aware that some members of The Bakery might need their arm twisting about this, but that’s okay because we won’t even need to walk round and view the property, as someone’s already done it for us. (I particularly love the fact – 2min 30secs in – that there is actually a spade in the bath).

I’m ready to put my deposit down.

Has been let go by the Bakery due to lack of communication with the kitchen – i.e. not answering his phone.

Sorry to see you go Dan.

x

http://www.tarvu.com/

Apparently the third biggest religion in the world. Kicked off by ” Oobu the holy octopus”.

A bit of Konkerbury over elaboration in the sense that it could almost be real – this time in the form of a religion. Or at least I hope it is. It might actually be a crazy religion. :S

Adma

1. When Al looks at me from across the room with his big baby blues…

2. The firey haired man.

3. These works of beauty.

http://www.gobelins.fr/galerie/animation/film2008-Apreslapluie.htm

ok…so the latter one, not so much. But the top two…ooooohh…pretty.

Adam

My thanks to the wise soul who sent that quote my way.

Yep, it’s time for another wee update from Scribe’s Corner. This week, I’ve been reading the truly marvellous book The Writer’s Tale by Russell T. Davies and Benjamin Cook. Yes, it has a certain fiery ellipse on the cover, but this outstanding tome is not a book about Doctor Who. Not really. It’s about writing. In the author’s own words, it’s about how the act of writing is a “mad, sexy, sad, scary, obsessive, ruthless, joyful, and utterly, utterly personal thing.”

Not only is this book fascinating and amusing, and possessive of that strangely voyeuristic pleasure of snooping on the correspondence of interesting people (for that is what the book is chiefly composed of). It is also oddly inspiring and reassuring. Reassuring because lengthy passages of it are spent by Davies describing the frustration and exhaustion and panic of bleeding oneself into ones own writing. Simply put, he describes all the shitty feelings that anybody whose every really written will be familiar with.

The first 56 pages are available as a teaser on the official website for those who may be curious.

It’s been a helpful companion to me this week because I have indeed been writing. And creatively failing. Both of these things. And it is comforting to do so in the company of an award winning professional. Because when Russell T.Davies fears failure, it is failure that brings upon his shoulders BBC One, the entire BBC Wales production unit, legion fans, his professional reputation, the viewing millions and 45 years of TV history. I on the other hand, just had Jan Grimshaw, some gawping French schoolkids and the milling crowds of Canterbury High Street watching me.

You see, we started filming ‘Woolworths Isn’t Dead’ this week, and it hasn’t worked. I think it’s good to admit failure. To address it, to learn from it. It makes you stronger. And Bakery products should be strong.

There are numerous problems. Some of them are script based. Some of them are filming based. It was also freezing cold, which stilted my performance. And shop alarms started going off. And drunken crowds came to talk to us. As did one rotund disabled boy. Then there was a camera fault, and the fact that we only had access to microphone equipment for one day.

Suffice to say, at the end of a day’s filming I wasn’t satisfied. I’ve edited together what we got, and it works. Roughly. But there’s so much missing. Hmm. This either requires a rethink or completely scrapping. I’ll keep you updated on what becomes of this particular project. However, if the currently abandoned High Street branch of Woolworths turns into another shop soon then the chances of completion are practically nil. I hate abandonning projects, it’s something I try never to do, but sometimes the Gods place too many obstacles in your path!

Anyhow, I feel I’ve learned a lot from this filming experience. And The Bakery still has LOTS of other things currently in production which are going well. Filming has continued on Al’s forthcoming short, and will continue to do so this Thursday. And plans are underway for the next Gulbenkian Podcast, and maybe even the aforementioned film ‘The Man at Number 11′ and lots more besides.

P.S.

If you fear that this latest blog post is rather too downbeat for your liking, then allow me to point you in the direction of something smile-inducing, of which I have been reminded this week, and which I have already mentioned over on the Konkerbury Blog. I was contacted by Ben, one half of musical duo Ben&Amy. They had previously supplied the specially composed musical intro for my evening-long audio extravaganza KONKERS NIGHT on Kent radio station CSR FM. Well, they also happened to sample some of my speech and mix it into a track called ‘Guildford Based’ which is available to hear on their Myspace page. Silly and wonderful and full of blippy noises. We salute you Ben&Amy.

Come in from the blizzard and snuggle up warm in the mop cupboard – it’s time for the February Podcast!

This month, Richard gets out the candles and wine and shares a Valentine’s meal deal with comedian Lucy Porter; the pant-wettingly hilarious keyboard comic Mr. David O’Doherty (Pampers on standby) does a poor job of selling his show; and the winner of the Gulbenkian Podcast Competition is announced!

CLICK TO HEAR FEBRUARY PODCAST ON THE BAKERY AUDIO PLAYER  

I love our grumpy dissatisfied nation. The heavy snowfall this week has been great. And the first thing people do about it is whinge.

Have a look at this clip of the BBC mischievously pointing a camera at a particular flight of stairs.

I particularly enjoy the criticisms  from the man in the hat and glasses.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7866986.stm

Then again, maybe it’s just because they were filming in London. The campus of the University of Kent was a joyous winter wonderland, whereas London commuters are never happy. Ever.