Political Forum Chat Thread.

Is there anything quite as nice as a steam loco?

 

A steam train all decked out with Christmas lights?

 

I'm not sure I'm using this thread for the purpose Tecoyah originally set it up to do but I find it the best place to come to talk to friends about irrelevant off-topic stuff.
Anyway, I'm going to be on a BBC radio program this Saturday.
Radio Suffolk is a local station that concentrates on regional events and issues.
One of their presenters has a slot which goes through the alphabet and picks a subject related to that week's letter.
This week it is the letter J and she came across the juggling convention I started 20 years ago called the Bungay Balls Up named after the nearest town to the farm we have it on.
She wants me to go to the studio and talk about why we chose juggling as a hobby and what we get up to for 11 days every May.
I was a bit anxious when she first approached me to appear but I spoke to her on the phone today and she was really easy to talk to and appeared to be genuinely interested.
It's only going to be about 10 minutes of talking and then a bit of trying to teach her how it is done.
It will be my first time on the radio but I'm rather looking forward to it now I've spoken to her.
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might like to ask me as a kind of practice run for the interview so long as it's not ''how do you kill a circus?''

 

That's freakin' awesome.

 

That's great, I hope it goes well. Just don't drop the ball.................

 

That's funny, a nice variation on the usual ''makes sure you have clean balls before you let her hold them'' type of comment.

 

We’ll all look forward to hearing it and it’s perfect for this thread, n’est ce pas, Tecoyah?

 

Ps. Do you need an agent?

 

I promise not to let the inevitable fame and fortune go to my head.

 

I'll post a link at the first opportunity.
I really hate listening to the sound of my own voice though. It always sounds like a nerdy monotone to me.

 

My voice sounds shrill and nasal to me. I’ve never been game to ask anyone else if they think so too.

 

Yeah...I did NPR once and ditched the CD they sent because I didn't like it...heh.

The University stuff was even worse but they put it online so it's forever.

 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130913-why-we-hate-hearing-our-own-voice

 

http://juggling.tv/483

That's me at around 6.20 in a black shirt doing a trick with 2 basketballs and again at 14.00.

 

The 30' trebuchet we built one year.

 

Mighty fine ball handling there.

 

Thanks.
I specialise in ball spinning and balancing tricks. I'm pretty average at conventional juggling.
My top trick is balancing a spinning ball on a 6' pole on my chin and then spinning a ball with each hand so I have 3 going at once. That took me about 10 years to learn and I can't do it every time. I've never met anyone else who can do it though.
I don't really practice much any more. I started juggling when I was about 30 and was fairly obsessed until I hit my 40s but then tailed off to the point where now I only really juggle when I go to conventions.
It has been a big influence on my life and most of my best friends are fellow jugglers who I only see a few times a year.
I should juggle more really, it keeps you quite fit and flexible. Now I'm in my mid 50s I'm getting stiff and overweight.

 

Well, if you will fritter away your time building trebuchets.....

 

I spent 5+ years in my 50's bedridden with a misdiagnosed medical condition and eventually had my hip replaced. Yes, I put on weight and had a great deal of leg inflammation that made me very stiff and sore. Then I took up swimming and exercising all year round in a heated pool.

I can now balance on my toes for 2 minutes and I often do that exercise when I am standing in line at a checkout. My breathing is better, I feel younger and I enjoy life to the fullest. Yes, I still have aches and pains but exercise is essential if you want to remain healthy as you age.

I highly recommend that you get back to spinning your balls at least once or twice a week even if only for 10 or 20 minutes. You will feel a positive difference after a couple of months.

 

I hate my voice too, but even worse is seeing me on tape - Cannot believe there are people who like me.

 

Why did you build a trebuchet?

 

Exercise is essential, for sure, activity in general. I have back ache from time to time but rest isn't good, careful exercise, walking/cycling etc. works pretty well.

 

Experimental archeology and fun.
Mostly fun.

 

He has his eye on Norfolk. I expect it will be a sneak attack.