Olive Picking in November

Have just arranged time off to go olive picking in Italy at the end of the November. There's about 50 olive trees that need picking and I've enlisted the help of a few friends to help me out...with the promise of lots of trips to the local restaurants. I've also managed to get a couple of locals to help me out, who will have the experience and equipment to know what they're doing.

We'll then take then to the olive oil mill just outside the town. My very own olive oil! How exciting.

Campervan vs Tipi?

This is the big debate we're having re accommodation at Glastonbury. Tipi is more expensive, but closer to the action. Campervan is quieter but a bit of a trek. Need to decide soon.

Last Sunday's Sketchmob

On Sunday morning a crowd of us met in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern with the sole intention of sketching. I found it quite a challenging brief. The space is huge, there are lots of long perspectives and it gets very busy. In the end I managed to sketch a view of St Paul's from the 4th floor.

What I really enjoyed was looking at other people's sketches at the end and getting inspiration from their amazing work

Next sketchmob is in November. Click here for details.

Another Sign That The Recession is Over

On Sunday, Glastonbury tickets sold out within 12 hours. Last year it took weeks. It may be because 2010 will be the 40th anniversary, but I also think its because people are feeling more upbeat about next year.

Thanks to help from our friends Pete and Teresa, I'm pretty sure we've got tickets. We've not received confirmation yet, but I think they're booked. No acts have been announced yet, but I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

Miserable Irish Taxi Drivers

I've been travelling to Dublin quite regularly over the past few weeks and everytime I get into a taxi I brace myself for the non-stop moaning of the taxi drivers. They usually complain about the number of other taxi drivers that are on the road nowadays, how long they have to wait and how little money they're making. And of course, they blame the foreigners. I used to look forward to chatting to the drivers in Dublin who used to be cheerful chaps. It's not the case any more.

Today one of the taxi driver unions was on strike, blocking the centre of Dublin. Can't imagine it would do their cause any good or that they'll get much sympathy.

Hamburgers in Hamburg

Am just back from some market research in Hamburg where we were exploring the world of hamburgers. Nobody mentioned the fact that the origin of hamburgers was the city of Hamburg. (ie the American immigrants who came from Hamburg).Maybe its because they're so ubiquitous that nobody made the connection.

Anyway....Hamburg is a really nice city. Definitely worth a visit