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Pity about the reception

Ships on the Ij

A small selection of ships seen on the Ij

• Read more about the Ij

'Het Vrije Western' free music festival in Westerpark on Liberation Day



Qeaux Qeaux Joans gives it some of that on the Bevrijdingspodium



The Elementary Penguins gamely battle against the noise of
Qeaux Qeaux Joans performing on the next stage

Joanna Weston surrounded by lamp shades on the
Nieuwe Anita mini-stage behind the Westergasfabriek

We also enjoyed the beautiful Karsu Dönmez energetically banging out a tune on the piano on the MC/North Sea Jazz Club mini-stage. Fame beckons!

All this plus brilliant Spring sunshine and pulled pork at the Sunday Market too!

More

• Qeaux Qeaux Joans http://www.qeauxqeauxjoans.com/
• Joanna Weston http://www.joannaweston.com/
• Karsu Dönmez http://www.karsu.nl/
• The Elementary Penguins http://theelementarypenguins.com/

• 'Het Vrije Western' http://www.hetvrijewesten.eu/
• Amsterdam 4 and 5 May Committee http://www.4en5meiamsterdam.nl/
• Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek http://www.westergasfabriek.nl/
• Sunday Market http://www.sundaymarket.nl/

There's no way this is as good as I remember it

The Kentucky Fried Movie by John Landis, picked up for £3 in the Garden House Hospice shop, Letchworth Garden City.

First and last seen by me in 1977, this movie invokes memories of Catholic school girls in trouble, not letting the death of one of the parties interfere with a loving relationship, using greasy teenagers as an energy source and a spoof of Bruce Lee kung-fu classic 'Enter the Dragon', which I had not seen at the time.

I did not appreciate how good the spoof was until I saw Lee in action shortly afterwards. The movie was ruined for me because I was waiting, waiting, waiting for the little robot to appear from around the corner and shoot everybody AND IT NEVER HAPPENED!

How many of the memories above are true I will have to find out (c.f. wrong toffee in earlier post). Stay tuned!

Travel light

Mt Norquay (2300m, background),
Lone Pine run (left) and
Cascade lift (right)

I have been skiing for 20 years, I know how to pack light. No rucksack here, Sir, no Sir; my centre of balance is precarious enough without hauling unnecessary freight. Why only today I set out with just two pairs of gloves, a beanie, balaclaver, three packets of tissues, two trail maps, two velcro straps, ski goggles, locker key, sun glasses, suntan lotion, lipsil, phone, passport, bus timetable, dental floss, paracetemol, pound off coupon for the Sunday Observer, Boots Advantage card, travel insurance contact sheet, a slight sore throat, jet lag, chocolate and a sense of purpose.

I was going to take my iPod shuffle but I thought it might not work at -30'C so I saved myself 1/2 cubic cm right there. Ah yes, listen and learn, Son. The voice of experience is talking.

Letchworth observatory

Letchworth Astronomical Society observatory

The Letchworth Astronomical Society observatory on Standalone Farm can be clearly seen from the Millenium path in the Spring and Autumn when the moon is in the descendent. According to Shozu, if I press the button, then I can blog this sighting from my mobile phone. How exciting!

Walk in my footsteps - buy my boots

My black leather Timberland work boots, adult size 9 1/2, hardly worn, are for sale on eBay. Current bid: £7.82.

To join the bidding war, visit http://bit.ly/hnCE - go on, you know you want to.