Adrian Phelan
Post 41
Viva Espana| Spaced out| Wordle Shmordle| Scary Movie| Overfestive| Samaritans| Goodbye and thanks| Social links| Links to past posts
Welcome to issue 41 of Adrian’s All. It’s been an amazing week with school fayres, scary movies and quite literally an out of world experience.
I hope you enjoy.
Jules Rimet still gleaming
At the time of writing (this bit anyway) it’s the hydration break in the first half of the World Cup Final. We watched the opening ceremony and first match in Luton Airport, and that seems like a lifetime ago. I would have given my eye teeth for Ireland to be in it. Alas it wasn’t to be. But we lived vicariously through Pico Lopez and Cape Verde and there has been great comedy in reaction to the England matches. I’ll reflect on the winner once it’s done.
Update: Spain has won it. Happy enough with that. I have close family ties there.
The fabulous Dr Fox
From Spain to space. On Friday I went to a Q&A with NASA’s Head of Science, Dr Nicola Fox who recently oversaw the high-profile Artemis II mission to the far side of the moon. You will have seen her on d’telly a lot during the mission as one of those who had to give the thumbs up before it could go ahead. She was also one of the mission’s main spokespeople.
At the event she told stories about growing up locally, her education and career and the pathway to the top job she now has. I don’t often meet people who are cleverer than me, but she certainly was. The Q&A was led by Sumit Paul-Choudhury, British writer, technologist, entrepreneur, and former editor-in-chief of New Scientist magazine and I am cleverer than him, but he was a welcome facilitator, nonetheless.
In all seriousness this was just one event that was part of this year’s Hitchin Festival and as Town Centre Manager Danny Pearson puts it, we regularly punch above our weight.
Wishing the team all the best for the remainder of the festival. Get down to what you can.
What the Wordle
Did anyone get Wordle last Wednesday? At the time of writing, I have two guesses left and have no clue. I was given a tip that it is some obscure word you might hear on a children’s TV programme, but that’s not helping.
So, for my sanity I must abort. I am going to look at the word and continue typing. Whether I know it or not is going to set the tone for the rest of this post.
It’s PSHAW. I mean come on. There must be something wrong with you if you know that word. PSHAW. Where can I complain? I’ve looked it up and ironically: Pshaw is an old-fashioned exclamation used to show impatience, irritation, contempt, disgust, or disbelief. Pshaw to pshaw is what I say. Wordle you are taking the pshaw.
The filim bit
My son turned 15 during the week, so I took him to watch his first 15s movie; the latest instalment of the Scary Movie franchise. I had the best will in the world but suffice it to say maybe there is certain viewing fathers and sons shouldn’t share, implements falling out of orifices being one of them.
But if I pretend he wasn’t there for a moment, if you’ve previously invested in the Scary Movie series you should see this one too. It had a low star rating, but it knows that and there are frequent references poking fun at itself. It’s centred around the Scream character again as expected but also gives nods to more recent horrors like Sinners.
It’s edgy but then what did we expect. It’s Scary Movie. A solid two stars from me, or five for good will.
Some of you might have seen Odyssey already. I’m planning for that to be my next one and I’ll write about it in the next post.
School shenanigans
I was master of ceremonies at the local school fayre again this year and once again it was a superbly run well-attended gig with great weather to boot. (I can’t take credit for any of it, even the weather). Like a mini festival there were six hours of live entertainment, inflatable rides for the kids, food, drink, games and stalls of every description.
Almost a year in the making, it should have made a pretty penny for the school, but more importantly underpinned the great community spirit we have in this area. I’m so happy my boys went there and even happier that they keep a door open for me to be involved in their endeavours.
The school head teacher is retiring this year, so I’ll end this bit by saying thanks for everything Mrs Hayes.
Do Good Well – Samaritans Awareness Day
We all pass by their signs on bridges and at railway stations and probably take them for granted, but on Samaritans Awareness Day (24 July) why not spare a minute to take a closer look at what they do and chuck them a few bob.
We all have mental health, and The Samaritans are there every hour of every day to reach out to when we need them.
They do incredibly important work. I wish the campaign every success.
Goodbye and thanks
I am sorry this issue is late. Much of it was drafted on time, but I was a bit poorly and couldn’t get it over the line. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me and I’ll see you in a few days for the next one.
As ever, I remain your potential future employee. Do remember to keep me in mind. Here is my CV.
Socially viable
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Past posts
12 July
5 July
28 June
21 June
14 June
7 June
31 May
24 May
17 May
10 May
2 May
26 April
12 April
5 April
29 March
22 March
15 March
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1 March
21 February
14 February
7 February
1 February
23 January
16 January
9 January
2 January
26 December
20 December
12 December
5 December
28 November
21 November
14 November
7 November
31 October
24 October
17 October
10 October
3 October
Adrian Phelan 
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