I admit it, I'm really crap at Blogging

Nigh on two months since I last posted. I really haven't got the hang of this diary thing, have I?

So, the last time I posted I was wittering on about the Solar Eclipse. Well, I can report it was fantastic, and I was incredibly lucky with my photos. Given the lack of opportunities to practice, and the fact light levels go all over the place, it was amazing I got anything - but I am more than pleased with what I did get. Here's an example (assuming this inserting images marlarky works).

I put up a bunch of my photos and a compilation video on my site here - enjoy.

So, in other news, I met up with the press officer from Zoo Venues last week, and the week after next is the official press launch of the Edinburgh Fringe Programme. Plans are coming together, with the odd hiccup here and there, but nothing more than expected to be honest. The biggest headache at the moment is physically how to get the equipment to Edinburgh, but the back up plan is simply to rent a van if (a) it won't fit in Tony's car, or (b) I don't just buy a MPV. Option (b) involves me selling my Cappuccino, and whilst that's a sensible thing to do for may reasons, I just don't want to let go of it just yet.

It's been my pride and joy for a decade now, and although I really ought to move on and get something practical, I'm still not sure I'm ready to let it go. I'm sure I won't get what it's worth, and any new car (especially an MPV) won't have the character or be anywhere as much fun to drive. But, the sensible part of me keeps chiming in, "it's time to get a practical vehicle".

Moving on, next week the long-awaited premiere of one of my best-mate's film is happening in London's West End. Actually, it's a bit of a friends-fest for me, as I'm pals with the Director, Writer and 3 of the actors in it.

It's been a bit of a struggle for Simon (Director) and Patrick (Writer) to get this thing finally to the screen. To start with it took ages to get the funding for filming, and then even after it was finished (in 2004), it's taken this long to get a UK cinema release. Surprising since it's got a pretty well known cast including Dougray Scott, Amelia Fox, Billie Piper, Jimi Mistry and Shaun Parks. Still, it's coming out now so go see it. In fact go see it at least three times and tell all your friends to go see it so that it's a big stonking success. Meanwhile, I'll be in a puddle of my own vomit next Wednesday following a sherbet too many in a swanky West End picture house, no doubt explaining the merits of fringe theatre to Jimi Mistry in the mistaken belief that he'd actually be interested in a drunken fool.

Also this week for those on luvvie-watch, I'm going to be spending Friday morning with Tim Rice - yes, he of the 'Sir' variety, whilst we scope out theatres for a project I'm producing. And for those that are shocked by this revelation, I should add that I've produced theatre in London and Edinburgh already, so whilst I may be no Max Bialystock, I'm not totally new to it either :)

In the shadow of the moon

Oooo... Nearly 130 days now without a smoke. And the strange thing is, it's now only when I look at this blog that I actually remember - such is the distance between me and a ciggy now. Having said those "famous last words" I'll be on 30 B&H a day by Friday. Oh poo.

So, on Sunday I fly to Turkey. Never been there before, and it's out of season. So why, you're asking, am I heading to the elbow of the mediterranean when the pubs are still open in Blighty? Well, dear reader, it turns out that the next total solar eclipse passes over a thin stretch of Turkey next Wednesday 29th March at about 5 minutes to two local time.

Solar eclipses are funny things. I've actually traveled a fair old distance to see two of them in the past; but on both occasions I watched clouds.

The first bite of the eclipse bug was in 1999, when the shadow of the moon passed over the bottom of England, through Europe then raced off into Asia. Because eclipses don't happen in the same place very often (on average every 300 years, I'm told), England got quite excited about the 1999 track; and given that it was England, me and a couple of friends decided to head south into France to get the best chance of clear skies and a longer total eclipse. We drove down in the car the night before and parked up in Noyen, just north of Paris. Three of us spent a very uncomfortable night in a Vauxhall Cavalier followed by standing in a wet field for many hours before watching thick clouds overhead at the moment of the eclipse itself. Strangely, this didn't put us off. Even though the clouds obscured our view, the actual feeling you experience during a total eclipse is eerie and unique. The pressure drops, the bird song stops and you get a feeling inside as though your stomach is being sucked out of your toes. It's pretty wild.

So, addicted "eclipse chasers" (as the street parlance goes), we headed to Ibiza in 2005 for the next chance to see an eclipse in Europe. This one was "annular", which meant the moon was just a little further away from the earth than during the 1999 event, so at the point of maximum eclipse, the sun still circled the moon; like a ring of fire.

The gods, of course, dug the knife in an twisted that day. Whilst the sky was clear when we awoke, by the time of first contact (when the disc of the moon first encroaches on the sun), clouds had gathered and it almost looked like rain. In an ironic twist, by the afternoon, and well after the eclipse had finished, it was a bright sunny afternoon with not a cloud in the sky. I. however, was far too depressed to be enjoying any sun bathing that day.

And so to Turkey. Third time the charm, so they say. And this one is a particularly good one to catch. Over 3 minutes and 40 seconds of totality in Side, Turkey; which in Eclipse terms is a monster. The 2017 total eclipse, which is the next one to touch the shores of the United States, is only 2 minutes 40 seconds at its maximum point in Kentucky.

History suggests there's a 50/50 chance of clear skies above Side on the 29th March. But the confusing thing for eager eclipse chasers like me is that the long range forecasts (which are just starting to appear) are all in conflict. The BBC think it will be cloudy. Accuweather say partly cloudy. Weather.com say sunny. I don't know who to believe, but they can't all be right.

All I can hope for is that at 13.57 on the small stretch of sand that I'll have set my tripod up next Wednesday, there will be a gap in the cloud just long enough for me to see my first eclipse live. God knows I've put enough time in to deserve it this time. And if it is cloudy, I might just have a cigarette afterwards to console myself...

Broadway Baby at the Edinburgh Fringe

Two entries in one day? What's the world coming to?

Actually, something I forgot to mention below. I'm currently working flat out on the BroadwayBaby.com website, since I'm making a bit of a splash in Edinburgh this August.

BroadwayBaby.com originally started reviewing Fringe shows to give me an excuse for why I was spending so long in Edinburgh. Like a lot of things, this mushroomed to a more organised reviewing schedule, and now to video podcasting over the internet with a significant marketing campaign to back it up.

So far there are six reviewers on the team for Edinburgh, but after a phone conversation earlier today I think I may have found a seventh.

It's going to be a busy few months!

96 days, 10 hours, 5 minutes and 58 seconds

Since my last cigarette.

Ok, so it's been a while since I posted on the blog, although my excuse is that it was only really created for the Vegas trip (although I wasn't very good at updating it then either!)

Now that I've passed the 3 month milestone, I think I can now call myself a non-smoker. Been around plenty of opportunities to smoke, and God knows I've been that drunk that it wouldn't have taken much - but thankfully I've not really had any inclination to light up.

I'm sure it was much more difficult than this before, on previous attempts to give up. But here I am, 3 months after being a 40-a-day smoker, not really missing them.

Fingers crossed that I can post again in another 90 days an I'm still a non-smoker.

The Family Tree

I've been dipping in and out of research on my family tree for a couple of years now, and this morning a copy of a marriage certificate turned up for my g-g-g-grandfather, which finally gave me some clues about his father.

Whilst this, in itself, is not a major leap, it's these small incremental steps that have characterised my efforts in genealogy ever since the initial burst of activity when info was far easier to find. Now I have over 1,000 relatives in my tree, branching out several times into the US and Australia. I've also discovered my roots are firmly in Derbyshire (even though I thought, as a child, the family was from Barnsley). It would seem the Shaw family followed the industrial revolution in the mid-1800s to Yorkshire, but as a clan they were all from the Belper area of Derby originally.

And now it's been over 8 days since my last ciggy, and things are going ok. Big test to my will-power tomorrow though, as I'm going into London to meet a friend for drinks in a club. No doubt it'll be smokey, and I'll have had more than one sherbet. This is going to be tough!

Theatre Awards

Someone I've known for about 5 years now has been nominated in the 51st Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Shortlisted in the Best Newcomer category, Ben Silverstone is a fine actor who I'm privileged to call a friend. He's done a lot of really good work, but it was his appearance in Man & Boy with David Suchet that caught the eye of the Evening Standard folk.

The awards will be presented on 28th November. Ben, I have everything crossed! You really deserve it! (Of course this means I'll never be able to afford you for any of my productions now!)

Still Smoke Free

Another two days without a smoke.

I think I'm over the worst of the withdrawals, but I'm still getting the occasional pang for a ciggy, normally as a result of doing something I used to associate with having a cheeky smoke. Other than that, it seems to have been easier than I thought.

Last time I attempted to give up was probably about 5 years ago or more, and part of the problem then was I got rid of all the cigarettes in the house (like you're supposed to). But, telling myself I couldn't have a ciggy because I didn't have one was thwarted the first time someone offered me one in the pub. So, this time I have thousands of ciggies in the house - I'm just choosing not to smoke them.

I went to the NHS clinic thing on Friday, and it was encouraging. I got a prescription for the patches, but having slapped one on on Friday, it made me feel really ill, so I've gone without those. The next appointment at the clinic is Tuesday.

mcuth - you're smoking for two now; but you should be the next to give up, matey!

Kicking the habit

The last cigarette I smoked was on Wednesday evening. Now, lunchtime Friday and I'm feeling many of the expected withdrawal symptoms. I'm certainly light-headed, have all the cravings for another ciggy, and my fingers are tingling (not sure if that's normal, but it's probably related).

Although I do have desperate cravings for a cigarette, I have no desire to light up right now. I understand the withdrawal symptoms for what they are; and I know I'll be much happier as a non-smoker.

I have an appointment this afternoon with my local clinic for "smoking cessation", as they call it. I'm not sure what to expect from that, other than some understanding and support for what I'm going through. I'm not keen on relying on patches, gums or drugs. If I can get past the first couple of weeks, I figure that will be the worst of it over and it will be much easier knowing I did it without artificial aid.

Two days isn't exactly a lot, I know, and I'm far from being a "non smoker" just yet.

Woken Up Again

Although I got back to the UK on Sunday, I haven't really been awake until today (and even then I'm not sure I'm quite with it yet...)

The trip to Vegas was fantastic, and there are mumblings of another 'biggie' being organised for this time next year.