VALENTINE'S DAY 2026

 

LEGO #17: Boutique Hotel

ESCAPE ROOM: Framed (One Way Out)

'Framed' was the last room we had left to do at 'One Way Out' in Oakham, and we saved one of the best for last. The 'country house' setting really added to the atmosphere and this room is certainly one that had the most extravagant setting, with some really neat twists along the way. An unusual room in that you can pretty much do things in any order. A lot to do and probably suited more to 3 or 4 players, but very enjoyable all the same. We took advantage of the extra 30m for £10 and still went a little over. A shame as we were absolutely flying to start with... 

LEGO #16: Gameboy

 

Snow!

 

ESCAPE ROOM: Christmas Tagalong

Our last Escape Room of 2025 (and there have been quite a few!) was the 'Christmas Tagalong' at Oakham's 'One Way Out'. Since our last visit they'd introduced a new scheme where if there was time you could request an additional 30 minutes if you needed it, and boy did we need it! 

For some reason we missed some blindingly obvious clues and by the time we got into our stride we'd already wasted about twenty minutes. We did it in 90m in the end, at least we did get out even if it was a bit 'hard work'.

We only have one more room left to do at Oakham, which is the hardest one apparently, so we're definitely going to need the extra half hour for that one.

Christmas Choccy Haul

 

GIG: Pestilence (Sheffield)

 

Way back in December 1993 Rose and I travelled to London to see Pestilence and Cynic at the Marquee Club. Before the show we went and had a pizza in the Deep Pan Pizza down the road and ended up sitting next to Cynic who were being interviewed by Barney from Napalm Death for Terrorizer (I think). I spoke to Paul Masvidal about touring with Death and then headed to the venue. 

Outside there was a sign saying that Pestilence had split up and that Cynic were now headlining the show and that there were two other bands supporting (Mourn and Decomposed). It was a great gig, but I always rued the lost opportunity to see Pestilence.

In 2009 Pestilence returned with their amazing 'Resurrection Macabre' album and proceeded to release a string of brilliant prog infused Death Metal albums. I actually think these albums are better than the originals and having listened to Spheres again the other day (the album they were touring for in 1993) I'm glad they toned down the jazz-fusion wankery a bit!

There were three support bands on the bill tonight and I had never heard of any of them, so all I really wanted to do was see Pestilence and get home (1h 45m away). I left home at 6:30 and got into the venue at about 8:40 to see Damim sound-checking in the smallest of the three rooms (I didn't know which of the three rooms the gig would be in, and if I had, on reflection maybe I would have gone somewhere else). On the wall there was a poster telling me that Damim were scheduled to play from 8:25 til 8:55, so why they were still sound-checking I really don't know. 

It was quite busy but nowhere near enough people to fill the big room, I had wondered about that because seeing Rage play to a very sparse crowd there a couple of years ago was a bit deflating! 

Anyway, Damim eventually started their set and ended playing more than their allotted 30m too. I'm pretty sure they played a cover of 'Spiritual Healing' by Death, either that or they ripped off the guitar parts for one of their own songs. By that time I was in the bar texting Rose, having tired of them after a promising start.

While I was there a friendly chap approached me and complimented me on my excellent Razor - Evil Invaders shirt and we had a bit of a chat about how awesome the Canadian thrashers are.

Eventually Damim finished and loads of people filed out to the bar. The perfect time to storm in and stand wherever I wanted. There were two short people right in the middle of the floor and I stood behind them. How clever I am, I thought, I'm in the perfect place with two people even shorter than me in front, what a victory!

Of course, my elation was short lived. Stupidly I didn't stand right up close to them (because that would be weird in a half empty room) and so two tall bastards came and stood between us. Fuck. Oh well, I could still see pretty well so it wasn't too bad.

Pestilence were now wandering around the stage and I realised Patrick Mameli was right in front of me. In one hand he had his Steinberger guitar case and in the other 2L of milk. Maybe he had a sore throat? Maybe he drinks milk? Who knows.

Anyway, after some more soundchecking and guitar tuning they eventually kicked off at 10pm, with the supposed curfew at 10:30! 

They kicked off with 'The Secrecies of Horror' and everything sounded pretty good. There were about three people moshing at the front of the stage but apart from that all was calm. But then a few songs in Patrick announced 'Dehydrated' from the first album and instantly the room exploded. Suddenly people were flying in every direction and I was moving backwards, backwards, backwards, turning and ultimately falling! 

I felt two people grab me and pick me up only to find myself right at the back of the room, even so I was still in the firing line and I struggled to get to the left hand wall as it was the only part of the room that looked remotely calm. I eventually got there, taking a few more hits en route, and realized that actually I had a really good view from there (plus I could hold my phone over my head without pissing anyone off).

I really enjoyed the gig, especially 'Devouring Frenzy' and 'Resurrection Macabre', but I was a little disappointed that 'Horror Detox' was dropped from the set (I suspect the curfew was changed to 11pm and something had to give). And of course 'Mind Reflections' was absent from the set anyway. Booo.

And despite getting bowled over it was still on of the best gigs of the year. But looking at the other venues on the tour I cant help thinking any of them would have been preferable. But Manchester Rebellion was on a Friday and Bristol Fleece and the Camden Underworld are a bloody long way to go when Sheffield is available.

While not as momentous as finally seeing Razor, it was still good to finally tick Pestilence off my list and if nothing else constantly listening to them for the last few weeks has made me appreciate their music even more.

I had expected this to be my Gig of the Year, but as good as it was I think I have to give that to Y&T. 

Someone posted the whole Manchester show on You Tube, which makes me wish I'd gone there even more! Dammit.

Bouquet of Flowers

 

Fleckney Christmas Tree Festival 2025

Time once again for our annual pilgrimage to the St Nicholas Church in Fleckney for the Christmas Tree Festival (which as always, takes place in the middle of November for some reason). 

Well it was much the same as other years, although the creativity we've seen in previous years was a bit thin on the ground. I could have done without the nausea inducing 'Diversitree', but this is the world we live in these days isn't it? Ho hum. 

We voted for the 'Cupcake Tree (No19)' and the 'Knitted Tree (No6)', they weren't the actual names of them but we gave the programme back so I can't help you there.

No doubt either the Scouts or the pre-schoolers Trees won, because they usually do (fix!), if so I hope it was the pre-schoolers because the Scouts' one was a bit rubbish honestly.

We bought five raffle tickets, but as we haven't heard anything I guess we haven't won. Mind you I think my phone's been off all day so maybe we have, I better check!

We also headed out the back and bought a few Christmas decoration, including a knitted penguin that has a Terry's Chocolate Orange inside. 

Finally we had a few goes at the Tombala, in fact we had sixteen goes, and we won absolutely nothing. But I did pull out ticket number '666' which was worth it's weight in comedy gold.