FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS: Stanford Hall

MEAL OUT: The White Lion (North Kilworth)

A slightly disappointing visit to the White Lion this time. My burger tasted a bit odd, not sure if it was the dressing on the leaves underneath or what, bit it almost tasted like it had a cranberry in it or something. And the cheesecake was more like a whipped lemon puff kind of thing, and the sorbet that came with it was just weird. More like a frozen syrup mixed with sugar. Maybe that's just what happens to sorbet when it's really warm? 

On the other hand the chips were good and Rose's meal seemed okay so maybe it was just me.

SHOPPING: Bicester Village

Another, somewhat brief, visit to Bicester Village Retail Outlet today. The main focus being Kate Spade and of course TAG Heuer. As usual TAG was a mixture of disappointment and surprises...

Disappointment that they didn't have the orange and black Formula One I've been looking for, and surprises like the Carrera Racing Black which was a huge bargain (down from £7500 to £4500!) but which looked a trifle duller in the flesh than it does in the pictures. 

Other bargains included a grand off a Monaco Automobile Club Monaco (Black PVD), which I tried on and a gorgeous black and silver Monaco 24 Hrs, which was reduced from £10k to £6k - unbelievable, but still £6k!).

I also tried on a couple of Carrera's (sadly not with the perforated rubber strap) and they were both quite nice, oddly I preferred the smaller one. I like the idea of the minute markings but they just don't seem to stand out very well.

As usual the staff were... less than knowledgeable, and some of the stock looked a little grubby. Amazingly there was a full boxed Aquagraph on sale complete with rubber straps and tools for about £2200. I would love that rubber strap to put on mine. 

There were some unusual watches there today, there was an Aquaracer with a shark on the face and a ladies automatic with a very nice metallic grey face. Not sure what it was, it was pretty small, definitely not a Link, but £1700 for a watch without any diamonds on is quite a lot.

Confusion reigns now, I like the Carrera, especially with the rubber strap, but the Heuer 01 is coming back into play too, and I also think I am in love with the Monaco 24 Hrs. Argggggggh!

MAJOR PURCHASE: Hyundai i10

THEATRE: The 39 Steps (Market Harborough)

Harborough Theatre is notoriously erratic with the quality of its productions. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's a bit of a slog. Their air conditioning policy doesn't help matter much either, preferring to roast us alive for the sake of the few sitting directly in the flow of the air-con machines. I would gladly exchange seats if it wasn't for the lack of legroom everywhere but the back row.
So, on a warm July evening I was somewhat less than madly enthusiastic about a visit, but thankfully this was one of the best theatre productions I have ever seen. I only found out the day before that this was a comedy version of the famous Hitchcock film, and that could have gone either way. But in the event it was genuinely funny throughout with brilliant performances from the four actors on stage.
The comedy was taken to a whole new level of Spinal Tap proportions though with the farce that was the fire alarm going off after a somewhat OTT use of the dry ice machine. As the alarm sounded, stopped and went off again several times, the audience were left wondering whether or not it was actually part of the performance, especially when we heard a crackling radio message 'What do you want us to do' which brought to mind the moment in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tuffnel's wireless guitar transmitter picks up a local taxi firm.
Eventually the performance was halted while the smoke was cleared, so obviously not part of the show! Thankfully the rest of the night went without a hitch, although it was more than a little 'sticky' and humid in there. Genuinely funny and entertaining throughout, the actors must have rehearsed like crazy to nail all the different parts they had to perform.

GIG: Combichrist (Sheffield)

Rose's first (my second) encounter with Combichrist and if nothing else it was certainly an experience. Brutally heavy for the most part, save for the electronic strains of 'Get Your Body Beat', the Combichrist of 2016 is Metal in all but name. Lots of stuff from the (slightly iffy) new album, highlights from that one being Skullcrusher and My Life My Rules... also in the set tonight were: Blut Royal, Fuck That Shit, Body Beat, Throat Full of Glass and Never Surrender.
Much mayhem on stage, with drums being thrown around and Andy being his nutty self. A riotous encore of Maggots at the Party and What the Fuck is Wrong With You, ended with about fifteen band members and crew on stage, climaxing with a birthday cake to the face for some unfortunate.
Quite a show, though I can't help but wish they were a bit more electronic...