#OTR Day 42: Nottingham to Derby

You would think Nottingham to Derby is a pretty easy one... Not with us! We like to take detours, we like to see people, we like to share the love. So instead of taking the Olympic Flame straight to Derby, we went first up North, then back round!



Our first show was in Bolsover. It was excellent. The crowd was a bit rowdy but it's what we like! I had some people shouting my name so I guess I'm famous there.


 We even had a little session with the police. These guys on this tour are the best, mega friendly! They got so excited they left their door open, "tut tut tut officer!":

I didn't even know we were in the Peak District. I like this traveling business, I'm learning so much. At the end of the tour we should all have a British geography quiz, I will smoke everyone!!! Anyways, the 2 most important things you need to know about the Peak District is:
1. You will see a lot of douchebags with big rucksacks on!
2. In some places, it STINKS of poopoo.
Here we are on a cloudy day:




Our last show was in Buxton. It was pretty mental. I made a few new friends:
Hey you guys

The torchbearer was loving it too:

And some more friends:




The Olympic Flame arrived in Derby, safe and sound. So did we, very tired, hungry and grumpy.
In Derby, I even got the chance to see the most amateur percussion band ever! They were so bad but at the same time so cute. They made quite a few mistakes. I'm really rubbish at rhythms so I shouldn't put them down. Here they are, smiling and not caring:




My voice is gone, my body is knackered, but what a day!

#OTR Day 41: Lincoln to Nottingham

Today's most important news: we escaped the rain!


  

That's how interesting today was. In all seriousness, today's been great, great fun!

Our 2nd show was in Newark. Yesterday if anyone had asked me about Newark, I would have talked about the train station and the ugly part of town you see from there. Little did I know?!? What a susprise when I got there. Here is the Newark Castle, beautiful:


Yes, I was there, yes it was raining:



And we were in Nottingham tonight. We did a surprise show at the celebration site. I had a battle that I won (I will say no more, I don't want put anyone to shame). It was pretty busy, these are the people that were watching the evening shows:

Nottingham looking good today, from the roof of our carpark:



Today is a short one. Some days are quiet like that!

#OTR Day 40: Grimsby to Lincoln

 It was day 40 today. That means 2 things, I like round numbers and we're getting closer to London.



We've been all day in Lincolnshire. There are 2 things you need to know about Lincolnshire:
1. It's flat:

2. The roads are straight:




Today's been pretty uneventful. When the sun is out, it's scorching! I think I might have burnt all that greasy food I had yesterday!
The funny thing at the moment is when you have police or security blocking the roads! No, that's not really funny. They think they run the streets when we've been on the road for 40 days and we know what we're doing! We have the perfect saying for them now: "Are you closing the road for the Relay? WE ARE the Relay!". They let us through, it always works!


The best (looking) cake of the Olympic Torch Relay so far was found in Wainfleet All Saints. We didn't have the pleasure to taste it but good effort guys!



On the way to Boston, we found this. "Heated Hydrotherapy swimming Pool For Dogs"? Really?!? I've never owned a pet so I won't understand but I guess it's the place to be if your dog wants to celebrate his birthday with his bitches:




That statue was in Sleaford, I like it so I'll post it on here:




We're in Lincoln now. The best thing here is there's no blocks of flat, the Cathedral is literally the tallest building in town! It's on top of the steepest hill, that was a tough walk!




Feels like summertime!

#OTR Day 39: Sheffield to Cleethorpes

Back to work, for 5 days non stop...
"-What are your predictions for the game?
-My predictions...? PAIN!"
(Roky III, Eye of the Tiger, classic).
 



Before we start!!! For all those that wonder if I actually work on this gig, let me prove you wrong!

Killing it in Manchester town center! If rolling on the floor and clowning around count as working, I don't stop!


Today we were still in Yorkshire and we went to some places I know quite well (being a Yorkshire Man myself).
Doncaster ("Donnie" if you're from around my ends) was really good. It got so sunny and so hot I couldn't breathe. Looking tired:

Also, Hung came to see hello. I love it when my homies come for a little catch up! The funny thing about Hung is that I first met 7 years ago and he was just a little dude. Look at him now, last year at uni, dancing on stage, organising jams... Bless the kids:

Looking double tired

We were in the deep ends of Yorkshire today and people kept on dropping some random words on us. We got lost near Dunsville and we couldn't find the school we had to perform at. People kept on saying "yes, it's down this snicket round the corner". We actually had to ask someone what a snicket is... I couldn't stop laughing! It just sounds too funny. Basically it's just a narrow passage, like a "gennel" (my other new word of the day!). Oh the things you learn on your travels!



We performed in Brigg too. I forgot my camera but it was pretty crazy! Loads of people on both sides of the road.
I like that building though. It's pretty cool with the statue on top! I don't know why but they have called it "The Angel" (NOT He Angel, that would be weirdl):




So tonight we're staying in another caravan park! It's not the first time on this gig: Same bed!!! And truth is, I really don't mind! As long as I have a roof over my head, it's all good. I have to get up early tomorrow anyway so it's fine, really, it's fine, yes really!!!
Better than Trailer Park Boys, an horizon of caravans:


And tonight they have a special night for us:
  

 I can't bear the excitement!

#OTR Day 38: Leeds to Sheffield (day off)

Yes, day off! At last. The last one was 7 days ago. it feels good to get up after 7am.



I'm in Leeds today. Let me explain a few things to you. I love Leeds, it's my favorite place in the UK, easily! I have a lot of personal history there and I do feel it's my hometown. I feel happy there.
Now, when people ask me where I'm from, I always answer Leeds. And it's true, best chat up line ever.
I've lived there for 8 years and still can't do the Yorkshire accent at all. I'm not good at languages, I've just learnt through forcing myself really!
This is a picture I took this morning, the center of the epicenter:
Classic.


We're so Leeds we rock up at community events.
In Chapeltown on Mondays, it's a cheap lunch at the Church. We have loads of imagination so we called it Church Lunch!!! £2.50 for a 2 course meal, cheap date!

 Me and Jamie had our business head on...



Right now, I'm in Sheffield and in the hotel we're staying at, they have displayed Olympic Torches from different Olympic Games (all owned by one single person, the things you do when you have too much money...). They're in chronological order (that means from the oldest to the newest for my uneducated readers). The 1st one in from Berlin and the last one from Seoul (can't be bothered to write the rest!):








Wow, that was interesting...


We finished the day by going bowling with the gang. Geek themed! But as Stan would say, some people are born with the geek genes, some aren't! You will be happy to know that I won the 1st game! I didn't play too well on the second one, you have to give the kids a chance. Nerd attack!

#OTR Day 37: Manchester to Leeds Leeds Leeds

Yes that's right, we're in Leeds Leeds Leeds. I'm back in my hometown! I'll tell you more tomorrow...



Today, it's my first day working with Delia. It's been a funny one full of adventures. Driving the old 1972 Bedford can be a bit of a mission sometimes. All that matters is that it was an happy ending. Here she is focusing on the road!



We did a show in Huddersfield, it was fun. The place was packed. One might say that H.U.D has a bad reputation in Yorkshire but people were very friendly. The flame can change the world! I believe I can fly. Here we are at the train station:
 
 As I said it was my first day working with Delia. Who knows how she gets into these situations: one leg stilt, a random wooden chair, entertaining people:


Yorkshire gets really pretty when the sun is out! This is somewhere near Bradford, it looks like a quiet little red town:

 Last but not least, if you live in Yorkshire, you have to taste the real Yorkshire cocktail: 

 I'd rather have a Beef Gravy Moet but that's just me!


The pictures look a bit blurry today, technical difficulties!!! Sorry.