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I just realised it's been a good couple of weeks since I last posted. Went along to the Aye Write Festival last week, and that was good. This week I've been working towards an essay on Greek Tyrants, and will be relieved when it's all done (although I've been enjoying reading about it). All my poor friends and family are being bombarded with interesting excerpts from Herodotus, whether they like it or not.
So, last Monday I went along the Mitchell Library to see Sandy Toksvig and David Blunkett. Stuart came with me for the walk. They've really done the place up nice- the last time I was there the decor was resolutely 1970s. Now there is a Cafe and a small bookshop, and apparently you can drink beer while you read. Now all they have to do is have it open all night- that would be amazing.
First up was Sandy Toksvig. The main hall was totally packed and the audience seemed thrilled to see her. She talked for around forty-five minutes to great effect without blatantly pimping her new book. As I'd been late in I ended up fairly near the back, which was a bit rubbish for seeing her but meant I could zip out the door for the signing. Managed second in the queue.
Oh, I was nervous. When it was my turn I realised that I was going to be towering over her so I kneeled down. She said "No need to get on your knees for me dear, I'm not that short!" I asked for a picture she sat me down in her chair and her assistant took the photo. After that I sort of rolled away in a human tumbleweed of glee.
David Blunkett was next. I got a seat fairly near the front. There wasn't quite the same crowd. He was a good enough talker, but the jokes he made fell flat and just made him seem a bit creepy. I took two video clips of him talking (dutifully uploaded to YouTube here and here). It was a hard crowd. No one asking him questions seemed to have any political point to make, so it didn't give him anything to rail against. They weren't for or against him, merely interested. At the end no-one seemed to want a book signed. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
On Friday I went along the QMU to take a look at Sir Ming, head of the Lib Dems. He didn't manage to endear himself to the audience, but was a fairly composed speaker. Except when he was trying to make unnecessary political points. I'll vote for him, but I'll begrudge it just a litle.
Later that night, back at the Mitchell, I saw Michael Buerk give a talk on journalism and the state of the media. He didn't seem very optimistic about where it was all headed. Unlike Sir Ming, he was a warm speaker, and you could laugh with him. He didn't seem to think very much about the youth of today, and looking at the general age of the AyeWrite Festival-goers I saw, I'd probably agree with him.
The reason I went to see these particular speakers was because I listen to them on Radio Four, or had listened to programs about them. Dad joked that Radio 4, like short-sightedness, was some sort of hereditary defect that had been passed down from Mom. :D
Sandy Toksvig said "To the question of 'What's on the TV?', the right answer should be 'Dust'."
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amytiger's journal
