I know it says age 10-16 on the box, but being a petrol head and still having most of my lego from when I was a child, I used some money which I got for my birthday to experience again, the joy and pastime which is Lego!
Following a trip to see some friends in somerset where their children had their Lego out, I was engrossed and with their permission, built the Lego train set – this got me thinking!
I looked on websites to see what was available that I would like to build and besides the VW Campervan which was last years’ addition, which I couldn’t find a stockist of, I came across this truck and I could only find one place which had it in stock – so, a quick trip and 2 nights building later, saw me the proud owner and builder of this wonderful beast which has working steering, winch, sliding rear flatbed (motorised) and rear wheel lift for towing (motorised).
I was surprised at the complexity of the gearing and the ability to select which operation you wanted to use and see the cogs change gear and then watch the action!

… now I need a vehicle to put on the back of it!!!

As James May once said..”if you’re ever in doubt what to buy an adult male, look for anything techy with the age group 10-16″

FESTIVAL DATES: FRIDAY 27TH – SUNDAY 29TH JULY 2012

Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, The Lake District

Tickets available at 9am on Thursday 23rd February from www.ticketline.co.uk

www.kendalcalling.com

Winner of Live UK Best Small Festival 2011 & UK Festival Awards Best Small Festival 2010

11 stages – 3 days and nights of fun in the fields in the beautiful Lake District

The most anticipated festival in the Lake District, Kendal Calling are set to make a big announcement next week and open the flood gates once more as tickets go on sale! With tickets released at 9am on Thursday 23rd February, the news of the first crop of hand-picked line-up will also be unleashed at the same time with info revealed across the website, facebook and twitter.

Kendal Calling HQ have secured another spellbinding bill of acts set to grace the 11 stages along with a myriad of performers, art and exhibits all set to descend on one of the UKs most breathtaking festival sites.

Nominated for Best Small Festival in the 2012 NME awards, Kendal Calling have delivered a sold out event every year for the past 6 years attracting revellers from all over the UK. Spread across 3 days in late July, Kendal Calling return bigger and bolder than ever before with a multitude of additions and tweaks to make the 3-day party even better.

With areas including Mainstage, GLoW dance tent, Calling Out new music stage, Kaylied tent, Soapbox, Kids Area, Kendal Calling real ale festival, Garden of Eden, Village Green and the Houseparty, Kendal Calling has something for everyone.

Kendal Calling cannot wait to reveal a taster of the 2012 line-up. Hundreds more acts across all 11 stages will be announced over the coming months so watch this space…

KEY INFO:

Date: 27th – 29th July 2012

Location: Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, CA10 2HN

Tickets info: Adult: £105 full weekend / 11-15yrs £50 / under 11 – free (must have a ticket)

More details on Emperors Field camping area & camping accommodation coming soon

Ticket link: www.kendalcalling.com / www.ticketline.co.uk

WHAT THE ARTISTS SAID ABOUT KENDAL CALLING 2011:

“It was definitely the highlight of a really great festival season for us, the site was amazing and the crowd were one of the best we’ve played to. We enjoyed it so much we camped and stayed the rest of the weekend.” – The Cribs

“Beautiful site, a refreshing absence of corporate logos, fantastic soundsystem and up for it crowd. Perfect gig.” – Adam Freeland

“Kendal was a riot. It’s quickly becoming the best festival in Britain with a true family atmosphere.” – Craig Charles

“It’s unlike any other festival… One of the highlights of the summer” – Tim Burgess (Charlatans)

“Amazing setting, lovely people, great mix of music & a real ale tent right next to where I was DJing!” – Mr Scruff

“Kendal calling is like our dream festival, a beautiful location, not too big, not too small… The atmosphere was electric” – Young Knives

WHAT THE PRESS SAID ABOUT KENDAL CALLING 2011 -

“A beautiful Lake District location is the setting for a festival that has already won over many fans” – Daily Mirror

“Cool Cumbrian independent festival that is set to rock the lake district” – Guardian

“Run to the hills for this small, family-friendly indie-dance festival” – Independent

“This is the Glastonbury of the North, albeit a fraction of the size.” – Marie Claire

“One of the most beautifully scenic places in the country” – NME

“Award winning indie festival in the Lake District. The stunning 150 acre field and woodland site is transformed by artwork, flags and a glowing dance tent.” – Sunday Times Culture

“Kendal Calling once again boasts a stellar line up at this family friendly fest in picturesque surrounds” – Time Out

Such a loss. 7th Feb 2008 RIP John.

To see the rest – click here

Since then, Dave has forged an additional career for himself it would seem:
http://tinyurl.com/7q3wnsl

A great win for consumers. Nice one Dave.

PLUS: GENERAL TICKETS ON SALE IN FEBRUARY – WATCH THIS SPACE!

FRIDAY 27^TH – SUNDAY 29^TH JULY 2012

Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe, The Lake District

Full adult Weekend ticket: £99

Tickets available in February from www.ticketline.co.uk – launch date tba

www.kendalcalling.com

8,000 capacity – 8 stages – 3 days and nights of fun in the fields in the beautiful Lake District

Following last year’s spellbinding festival, Kendal Calling are on the look out for talent to get involved in designing the 2012 event; bringing with them weird and wonderful performances, helping with site décor or creating art installations.

Tickets go on sale for the award winning Kendal Calling festival in February, along with the first line up announcement – exact dates of release to be revealed.

Last year saw a multitude of walkabout performers and artists roaming the fields from contortionists to comic fitness instructors, from jugglers to hula-hoopers. The Monsters Garden was a huge, central field of mutant, oversized, bright flora decorated artistically complete with giant hammocks and resting spots. The House party was a tent like no other; a living room inspired den complete with all the usual household amenities you might expect; washing machine, beds, piano, bookshelves… Plus a light-up dancefloor and DJ booth of course!

Around the site there were many other artist installations and fantastically decorated areas; none of which would be possible without the amazing people who bless Kendal Calling with their talents each year. Once more Kendal Calling are opening the doors for creative people to get involved so let’s get inspired!

To apply to be involved, get in touch with us at: http://tinyurl.com/cu3v56p

Whether applicants work individually or as part of a group, Kendal Calling would love to hear from bright folk who make the event the inspiring hotbed that it is.

Bands are of course also welcome to get in touch through the contacts page to submit demos and be in with a chance of performing at this year’s festival. Kendal Calling stay true to their ethos of supporting new & emerging talent; providing a platform and a chance for regional artists to play alongside globally acclaimed acts each year performing to an audience of thousands.

Kendal Calling 2011 was another sold-out, successful year for Kendal Calling with a full to bursting, world-class line up that included Blondie, the Cribs & Chase and Status. This year will have the same high quality artists Kendal Calling fans know and love, with all to be revealed very soon…

The music and activities in the Kendal Calling meadow span 8 diverse stages and areas, situated in a close-knit site that means you’re never far from your friends; here’s a brief tour of the fun and frolics to discover…

Mainstage - boasting a diverse line-up of the best international and national artists on the circuit in this beautiful natural amphitheatre.

GLoW dance tent – with a mind-blowing line-up of DJs and live dance acts. Showcases everything from house to disco, drum and bass to dubstep, electro to breakbeat and everything else in between.

Calling Out new music stage – the place to discover new music, rising stars and unknown gems.

Kaylied tent – featuring an eclectic line-up of folk, ska, funk & soul and world music plus a late-night intimate club vibe

Soapbox – step up for this world of comedy, spoken word, cabaret & burlesque

Kids Area – For big kids and little ones alike, enjoy workshops on percussion making and music, movement and mask making, plus story telling and creative writing along with an array of games and activities running all weekend.

Kendal Calling Real Ale Festival Taking place in Kendal Calling’s very own pub, The Holy Quail the real ale festival is a huge success each year and makes a welcome return.

Garden of Eden – Back once more to offer tranquillity and featuring therapists, shisha and chai cafe.

Village Green - A haven for happy campers from dusk to dawn. You will find delicious treats to eat, a relaxed atmosphere by day and a bustling vibe by night.

Houseparty - the ever-popular Houseparty returns with tea & biscuits in the kitchen and a debaucherous dirty disco in the bedroom. No Houseparty is complete without a bit of fancy dress, which is exactly why you’ll find an entire village dedicated to fancy dress at Kendal Calling, on hand to help you make the best festival costume including Happy Slap boutique back bigger and better than ever before!

Performer and artist submissions are open now so please apply direct at http://tinyurl.com/cu3v56p

See you in the fields!

Watched Arthur Christmas at the cinema during Christmas week – a great film and to be honest, although I have no kids, I really enjoyed it and found it funny and engaging – partially down to the fact that one of the inspirations for the film is the son in law of a good friend and in fact, the character; Arthur Christmas is a direct likeness to him! – his name is Philip Child and at one point in the film – Arthur is in conversation about a girl in Cornwall who`s present hadn`t been delivered and the question came back “You missed a child?” – or You Mister Child?! – how many other films have lines in them like that, that most people won`t get?!!

Also, we`ve just booked to see The Iron Lady at The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster this Friday which is incorporated with a 2 course meal at The Borough pub on Dalton Square – looking forward to both.

Have already started putting some holiday plans in place for this year which will hopefull include a week in Belgium seeing friends and music, a week in Cardiff / South Wales, a week in North Uist, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, a weekend at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, a weekend in Somerset with friends and maybe an actual “holiday” somewhere – depends on finances!

Will try and get out with the camera and post some new images soon!!

Hi Martin,

I hope u don’t mind me emailing you. I was at the last Martyn Joseph concert in Edinburgh where I was doing some photography. Since that gig I have done a few more and my photos seem to be getting picked up and used – which has come as a pleasant surprise. My most recent gig pictures, of an American rock band, are to be used within their annual calendar next year.
I have been doing photography for the last year as a profession and have concentrated on weddings…but I want to move away from this.
I was hoping to see if you had any advice for me as I think covering events etc is more me. IS there a good way to make a living out of this? ( I found it impossible getting any money out of the management firm for the calendar. ) Will magazines or blogs pay for photos from gigs etc?
Hope this doesn’t seem to random, but I am need of some insight into this market place.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Kind regards
Alan

My Response to Alan was:

Hi Alan,
The short answer is, no!, there’s no money in it!!
The only way that i’ve heard of, of anyone making any money from it, is from photographing larger festivals and bigger names and then selling the images to Mojo,Uncut, NME and the papers, etc etc.
But they will already have their preferred Snappers.
The challenge you had getting money for the calendar shots is a typical experience i’m sorry to say.
Stick with the weddings etc for now, keep the music stuff as a hobby and every now and again, something good will turn up.
If you started to make a name for yourself and marketed yourself as a portfolio/photoshoot/promo photographer, then maybe management may be inclined to pay for your services?
It’s getting tougher as more and more people have got cameras now, and good ones at that and the truth (in my opinion) is that photography is a undervalued art form.
I would be interested in putting your email and my response on my website as a blog post if that would be ok with you? If not, that’s fine also… It’s just that i have a thing about the modern media and the sheer number of options available to people which makes it difficult to make any distinguishable progress in a business – apart from contacts and networking, which is a different skill to photography – but again, what you get then is someone who can market themselves really well, but generally speaking, not very good at photography!
I have a full time job selling advertising and in no way would i be able to consider giving this up to persue a job in photography!!
Hope all this info helps!! And sorry ut wasn’t more positive.
Do you have a website?
Also, thanks for your email and if i can help in any way, let me know.

Kind regards
Martin

And Alan’s response to me was:

Hi Martin,
Thanks for the quick reply and sorry for my delayed response! Its been a pretty hectic week with work/family.
Thanks for the honest feedback…it was something I became aware of very quickly. It seems to me that no money is made from gigs – but people use it as a stepping stone for portfolio / portrait shots of the band. (when the payment comes in). To be honest I did that gig in particular because I love the band and wasn’t actually expecting them to take notice of my pics. But given that they are now being used for commercial purposes it doesn’t seem right that the pohotographer doesn’t get any payment from that. People are not making it easy at all to be a photographer.
I am currently rethinking my photography direction at the moment, as weddings are not something I enjoy doing as a photographer. I much prefer portrait / event work as a way forward….We shall see.
I really appreciate your thoughts on the gig side…as it was an avenue I was pursuing…not any more (unless for some fun or the market changes)

My website is www.downtoearthphotography.co.uk .

Happy for you to use my email Thanks again Martin,

Take care

–
Alan Davidson
Photographer

www.kendalcalling.co.uk

Kendal Calling have ear marked thousands of pounds to be donated to a selection of key local charities to give back to the community that has provided them with so much! Through the success of the EBay charity auction, guestlist donations, onsite sunflower selling and Kendal Mint cake world record Kendal Calling 2011 raised a solid amount of money solely to put back into the community. On top of the charity donations, Kendal Calling are keeping things close to home once again by reaching out to the local community to get involved with the festival through a variety of challenging and essential volunteer and work experience positions.

Since starting its charity work 2 years ago Kendal Calling has donated over £20,000 to local charities and community projects. This year the funds were raised through a of variety schemes, including Hospice at Home selling sunflowers at the festival gates, an EBay charity auction of signed guitars from festival stars, the Guinness World Record for largest Kendal Mint Cake and a guestlist donation asking everyone from A-list celebs to friends of the bands to put their hands in their pockets and give generously – every penny of which goes directly to the charities involved. All of these combined raised a total of over a whopping £8,000 in 2011!

This year’s chosen charities include, Penrith Lions, North West Air Ambulance, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hospice at Home, Kendal & Penrith Mountain Rescue and a variety of community projects in local communities. The guitar auction money will go toCancer Research, Sue Ryder North West, NSPCC, Tiger Awareness and the WWF. The majority of the money raised by Kendal Calling goes directly back in to the community where the results are immediate.

Zoe Casson - Community Fundraiser for Cumbria and North Lancashire (North West Air Ambulance) said: “The charity relies solely on donations of this kind to keep us operational and save lives. Last year we made more than 1,000 callouts and about 300 of them were made in Cumbria and North Lancashire so I can guarantee that this donation will help somebody in the local community.”

“A huge thank you to all of those who donated money at the 2011 Kendal Calling event in aid of Guide Dogs. The money raised will help to create daily amazing journeys for someone who is blind or partially sighted. Every donation we receive helps us to keep our lifetime promise to provide every guide dog owner with a guide dog for as long as they need one. They also help us campaign for the rights of people with a visual impairment, educate the public about eye care and fund eye disease research. Thank you so much for your support, it is truly appreciated!” Sorrell Coulson (Guide Dogs, Sports and Challenge Events Co-ordinator).

“It’s great to be able to support the local community and charities to give something back. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all those who got involved and donated their time and money to help raise money for these valuable causes. We particularly loved the vibrant scene of all the Sunflowers being worn across the festival site in aid of Hospice at home.” Ben Robinson, co-founder and co-director of Kendal Calling

As well as donating to vital local charities and community projects, Kendal Calling like to maintain a close working relationship with its region and would like to reach out to locals to get involved with the festival through volunteering and work experience positions. Not only is it a great opportunity to work within an award winning team and have a whole lot of fun, but it can also provide valuable experience and skills. To find out more and fill in a volunteer form simply go to the ‘Get Involved’ section of the website: http://tinyurl.com/3zu2nfkcontact.

The Christmas sale tickets sold out in record time and festival tickets will go on general sale in early 2012. To keep up to date with all things Kendal Calling, make sure you sign up to the festival newsletter at www.kendalcalling.com and become a fan on Facebook.