So instead of the Luminaire shows today, I've been at home with the family. Very aware that I have NOT been to London and of course there is part of me that wonders about the shows and what they are like (currently writing this in between performances I reckon). In fact, even the fact that i am wondering must show that I am concerned and interested.

It's been a beautiful day though, absoultely perfect light this morning over the river and inspiring even to walk just to the Co-op over the bridge for milk and a paper. Nice to get a lie-in too, and we didn't have breakfast until after 9 o'clock which is unheard of for us!
All over to the church after ten to set up the annual Christmas Bazaar - with more people than ever helping this year, but even less stuff than ever toactually sell! I thin we did really well to raise the nominal £700 with virtually no publicity whatever. Politics and circumstances in the office meant that more or less nothing was don to promote the event, so the turnout was quite good in those circumstances. This is the first time in four years (eight bazaars) that I have NOT run a stall and I felt a bit redundant at times, but it did give me a good opportunity to observe the whole thing. really only the pubicity and marketing that lets it down - very enjoyable and effective for everyone involved on the day. Tx and I have discussed perhaps taking it on next year, as those that do it all the time are getting old and tired of it. Next summer is part of our 140th celebrations, so we could do with really pushing the boat out and trying to get back up to the £1500 income of about eight yeras ago.
People keep reminding me that it's about more than raising money, and that is true enough, but we do the 'church' thing well enough the rest of the time, so one push with fundraising as the main objective shouldn't be too bad.
Kids did very well too. F and A ran a games stall each (and raised £50 between them) and I spent the afternoon floating around with Stan and LC. Baggns still sleeps for her two hours, so Tx was able to rest up and finally give in to her heavy cold.
Good effort with the clearig up and it was well underway by 4.30 when I left with Stan and LC too go to his friend's 7th birthday party at the Megabowl.

Wha a truly fightening experience! Absolutely awful place, really stressful and intense. Loud music from three different sources simultaneously - the general PA, the widescreen TVs in the bar and the advertising screens at the end of the lanes. I'm all for music of course, but surely from only ONE source at a time. You cat actually hear or watch any of it... Flashing lights everywhere and video game machines with 48" screens less than two feet from the players seat. Are there not health and safety issues? Boring question...?
Made me feel quite sick. Expensive too, when you consider that they had a 12 yr old party host with a terrible attitude and total lack of initiative, shit food (burger in bap, no spread, no cheese. Seven chips. The little ones (four 3yr olds) had a lane of bowling while the bigger boys played Quasar. Stanley was second of four to ask to leave, scared out of his head by the darkness, noise and lights. At seven, they are far too young for this experience and shouldn't be 'growing up' so fast. Eventhe bowling was all wrong for little kids. Why the soft-porn MTV vids in a place full of samll kids and young teens.
Not that I'm being prudish, but surely they have to consider ALL their customers.

Scary too just how many 12, 13, 14 etc year olds were there, just hanging out in the 'foyer' area (ie the free bit!) playing on the arcade games, video consoles and dance mats, some in charge of kis no older than mine.
Is it entirely a good idea to have these kind of things to one side of the bar area (underage drinking??) where anyone can just sit and watch them wibbling and giggling in their not quite enough clothing too, which is rather worrying.

A good example of a whole environment where children grow up too fast. I think the providers really act quite irresponsibly in terms of the environment they create for essentially VERY young people. It hardly seems even to be safe, let alone pro-activey unhealthy.

But another disappointing aspect of this evening was that I actually ENJOY tenpin bowling. It's the environment your have to put up with that puts me off the activity.

Is there anywhere you can bowl WITHOUT the huge screen TVs, the flashing lights and the ignorant chavs that have no idea how to interact with each other or respect the people trying to play next to them?

I'm ranting a lot lately...

It has occurred to me over the last couple of days that one other factor underlying my decision not to go to Luminaire is the add-on costs.
OK, so the ticket was £8 and the T-shirt cost me less than that.
Train fare £34 and tube fare of £5 on top.
The bit in between the shows would include a meal £10 and no doubt some beers (£10). Suddenly that's £60!!! which at this time of the month I don't have so I would have had to take food with me and rely on the generosity of others for refreshment. The company could no doubt have justified the train fare somehow, but otherwise it was beyond me current means anyway.

Now Tx is asleep already and I'm about to bath Baggins while the others, knacjkered and hyper-excited from the party collapse into their beds.
Very glad that Tx's sister has postponed her visit tomorrow. Not so good that she is too ill to travel again though