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This
week's news has been one of the most difficult I have prepared
since the very beginnings of Wyenot News. A lot has happened,
and all of it since Friday morning.
There
are three video films in this issue and one in particular
- that of Mike's funeral was very sad to have to make. I
had to keep breaking off during the editing stage and try
to think about something else because I found it so upsetting.
I
would not normally have made such a film but it was a special
request and I feel pleased to have been asked to help in
this way. I could not have produced it without the kind
help of Chuck, who took a camera on a trike, during the
procession. I would like to have gone along with the trikers
themselves but had to film both start and finish from the
side of the road, so Chuck took the second camera for me
and I raced to the crematorium using a different route.
Tina
worked until nine thirty on Saturday evening, so I covered
the fireworks alone. Last year, I froze my nuts off whilst
covering the fireworks, so this year, I wore a tee shirt,
a thick jumper, (my camouflage jumper as I know it with
an element of sarcasm - it works if I happen to be standing
under an extremely vivid rainbow) my beany hat and a weatherproof
coat. On top of that lot, I wore a Ross Lions reflective
safety coat. Guess what? It was a warm evening and I ended
up roasting - especially as I was stood in the enclosed
ring with the bonfire.
Despite
what the fireworks article says about the rain, (I edited
that from a press release) although it did not pour down,
the fine drizzle, which was not really noticeable at the
time - in the dark, soaked my camera equipment. I had to
spend ages at the next venue - the Dark Side of the Moon,
drying it out before I could begin.
I
really enjoyed the Dark Side performance. Floyd have always
been my favourite band and indeed, the Syd Barrett song,
'Bike' is the ring tone on my mobile phone. It was a great
evening but I was totally knackered. I drank coffee and
water all evening and towards the end, (after the Dark Side
had finished) wanted to get to bed but Tina had turned up.
Dragging Tina from a pub which is still serving beer is
a bit like trying to dig the Channel Tunnel with a tea spoon.
We finally got to bed (having stopped for our first meal
of the day on the way home) at around 2:00 am.
Sunday
morning was frustrating. I was filming a heron by the Wye
at Wilton and, you know how it is when people spot a video
camera!
An
old lady approached me whilst I was actually filming the
bird, stood about ten feet behind and shouted, 'Excuse me
young man. Are you taking a photograph?'
'I
am filming that heron over there,' I replied. ''Sorry but
I can't talk - I'm trying to concentrate.' I wanted to catch
its flight and was filming, waiting for the takeoff.
'Oh.'
She said. 'Only there's a beautiful bird out there on the
Island.'
'That
is the one I am trying to film.' I replied, sharply.
'It
looks like it might be trying to catch a fish.' She observed,
loudly. 'Do you think there are any fish in that river?'
It
was unbelievable. I would like to have run that bit of film
here this week but there are two reasons I could not. The
first is because I think four films in one week is a bit
too much. The second is that, the sound system on that camera
is extremely sensitive and when Tina watched it she laughed
- but not at the lady. I thought I had only thought it but,
unless the camera can pick up telepathically, I must have
actually said it. The microphone picked up me whispering,
'For f... sake, shut up' under my breath.
Anyway,
after a sad front page this week, the music on the fireworks
film should raise a smile and the Dark Side film is well
worth watching. Sorry I had to lower the resolution but
it was a necessary bandwidth conservation move.
Enjoy.
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