Correspondence Mountain

The morning zipped by as my inbox just stacked up and didn't stop for a good few hours. Once I scaled the correspondence mountain though it all just plateaued which I guess is nice. Some last minute deal to sort out for tomorrow, plus a double banking day is going to be a monster. Nothing we can't handle though!

I hit the beach with some colleagues after work for a sensible drink and some food. This time last year everything was shut up for Covid, starnge to see the same places bustling with life.

Home Beckons

 If someone were to ask me what my favorite part of the day was, I'd say playing games with Rebecca. After a long and very busy day it felt like a homecoming flicking on my laptop and chatting online while shooting zombies together. It's what true love is basically. Our relationship has obviously shifted into long distance terratory for a spell, she give me many pictures of the cat though and that reminds me of home. Takes a lot to make me homesick these days, but I do miss being back in Bristol. Just a few more weeks and I'll be reunited with all the creature comforts I took for granted.

Almost Foiled Again

The bulk of my most important jobs circle around buying Birthday gubbins for people. Foil balloons were requested of me out in the middle of Cornwall, a Google search highlighted a balloon specialist in a row of houses off a main road. On approach it really wasn't a business place, it was literally someone's house - I braced myself and knocked to find a lovely married couple who did indeed do balloons! My team thought it was a tall order but again, I delivered. Hope it makes our cast members' Birthday a little more special.

Slant and Shoot

 Production Truck was in a bit of a slant - so much so everyone kept rolling their chairs downhill whenever they got up to make a tea! It was only for one day though while filming in an old timey train station. I was out and about plenty, visiting set, buying bits for Art Department and printing plenty of amendments. The pace of the work felt right for the first time in weeks though, despite the early start of 6:30. Trying to pace myself for the 6 day week ahead of us.

Carvery Sunday

For the first time in almost a month, I didn't get out of bed until 10am. There was nothing pressing, nothing urgent, just me and Rebecca casually getting up and making coffee together down in Cornwall. I took her to the garden center cafe that we frequented a lot on the job last year and we indulged in a carvery Sunday lunch. Full of gravy, we returned home and she packed ready to leave. It was hard saying goodbye to Rebecca though. The job has flown by so far and solid weekends are slim to find. It reminded me that Rebecca is my favourite person in the little world and we make such a solid team. As much as I'm enjoying this job, what I'm really looking forward to now is being back home long term again.

World's Our Oyster

Rebecca came down to visit me while staying on Cornwall, with unlimited opportunity at our fingertips we decided to explore Padstow. I'd been there this time last year but I never got to share it with anyone. Going round with Rebecca made me appreciate it in a whole new light, I never saw its cove or beach, nor did I get a moment to sit down and marvel at its lovelyness. The weather never quite made up its mind so we huddled under an umbrella on a park bench for a little while, laughing all the while and taking in the view. A pit stop at a Padstow Mexican place was perfect too, we had crab tacos and I ate my first ever oyster... Whe. In Rome and all that.

Shortly after that there was some work to be done. A few people still needed checking in over the weekend so I had to make a pit stop at our holiday resort spot to help them all out. An hour later we were all sorted and everyone was sorted which made my trip to the pub later guilt free. Rebecca shot pool and drank cocktails with my crew down in Wadebridge. A live band sung Mr Brightside and we were just glad to be alive. When home time came knocking Rebecca even helped me book taxis for my team, very proud of her for doing some honorary Production Work. Everyone got back safe and sound and our Production Team was praised by the crew out drinking. A day I won't soon forget.

The Broken Jigsaw

There wasn't a single moment free in my schedule. Drove to a printer just outside of town without enough money on my bank card. Then drove a colleague's car to a garage before driving to Cornwall and back again to shuttle cast luggage down the way. Then headed BACK to Cornwall to help people check into their hotels. This is classically the part of any job when Production holds their breath until everyone is happily in their own bed and it often comes with a few hiccups. And so I was very slightly on the recieving end of a bit of accommodation backlash. Fortunately I came out ok because I managed to think quick on my feet and swap a few things around (the effort didn't go unappreciated) but I still felt like a fool when I had to let down a bunch of colleagues I've worked with for a long time now.

Imminent Stretch Armstrong

 Positively bounced into work, did my rounds while eating breakfast and generally cracked on with all my duties with a spring in my step. More and more work was piled into me but I kept on smiling. A big cast transport plan was going ahead today, thanks in large part to my organization and it all went off without a hitch - chuffed about that but we got another big one tomorrow. I'm going to be pulled around like a dog and a stretch Armstrong from the get go tomorrow, but Rebecca is coming to visit me in my new Cornwall accommodation. I'll just keep her smiling face in mind and that'll give me the strength to push through the bug day.

Best Laid Plans and All That

Yesterday I wrote here that a pin prick could disrupt the best laid plans... Well exactly that happened so now a lot of the hard work we put in yesterday was re-worked. Lot more last minute transport bookings, amended travel plans and a quiet ice cream run also. We're treading water and generally looking professional doing it. Wrap gifts has now been batted into my corner, after knocking it out the park this year there's a lot of expectations too... Hope I can maintain a high standard!

Bude Builder

A member of our Art team sprained his ankle, leaving no one to drive his van... Save for me of course. So I went out on a little jolly to Bude's builders merchants to admire the claw hammers and load timber into a box van. Back in the office me and the team keep trying to shore up travel plans for a bunch of people during the train strikes. Everytime something gets set in stone, something changes and throws the whole plan out if whack. Right now, a pin prick would destroy our whole week, all we can do is cross our fingers and our toes.

Braai Master

Monday is the new Sunday as my schedule decrees. A trip to Asda and a very remote butcher was first in my order if buisness as a BBQ round our place was on the cards and we didn't want to be under prepared. I made lemonade last night plus my infamous burgers - both if which went down really well at the afternoon grilling session. It's so nice to spend time with the crew outside of work, the gig can be so all-consuming on occasion it's great to step back and appreciate all the hard work we're all doing. Back to it tomorrow - sound like we're a man down too so we'll all do what we can to cover the gaps.

In a Ditch

Rose from my bed a little earlier than I would have liked but used the time to enjoy a civil breakfast. In classic fashion though the phone started ringing pretty quickly and there was last minute taxis to book to and from the middle of nowhere. So we put that fire out, next was driving to town to pick up cake and flowers for the birthday of a well regarded member of crew, a job I did gladly on my day off anms no one has a bad birthday on my watch. 

Shortly after returning from a long drive I quickly remembered a job we may have dropped the ball on regarding buying our Canadian cast members some groceries. I panicked because I also forgot it was a Sunday when all the shops closed early. Once again I was hoofing it down the road. At one point I spotted a car that needed to pass me way in the distance so I did the courteous thing and let them pass me. I pulled into the side of the road and straight into a ditch though! One of my tires was free spinning and I was going nowhere fast. Hilariously I got into the pickle right outside of the only house for miles around and they very kindly offered to give me a push. I got back on the road and arrived at the supermarket with moments until they closed - the whole thing was very touch and go but everything went smoothly in the end.

Then it was back to deliver the cake to the Birthday crew member which was delightful. Because they are a head chaperone they were staying with all the cast members, so me, the cast and the other chaperones all huddled in the conservatory lighting candles before singing the customary song. She was touched by our efforts and I even got an email from the Producer thanking me for going the extra mile today. Even on my day off I'm a busy bee, but a genuinely grateful team makes it all worthwhile.

Malory Crew

Torrential rain meant that we wrapped a lot earlier than expected... But it still meant we finished for the week! With week 1 under our belts the crew were eager for a good old fashioned drink and hangout - I asked our AD team to spread the word about heading to a nearby pub and within an hour everyone was making arrangements. I got there once nearly everyone turned up, I bought a round of drinks for my team (cheap Devon prices) and about 4 others bought me a round. We shot pool with the director and DOP and drank until sunset. This is the magic of Malory Towers as a job, everyone on the crew is lovely and spending time with them outside of work is such a joy. Immensely ready for a lie in tonight though, a chance to recharge is greatly needed.

Saturday Trooper

Back in a big van along the narrow county roads of Devon. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a quieter day seeing as it's a Saturday - think of me while I'm still beavering away in our Production Truck.

Layers of Complexity

 Feeling like an underground miner. The deeper into transport requirements I go the more layers I come to appreciate. Things like child licenseing hours, crew overtime and accomodations start to rear their head when you have the best laid plans. It feels like it keeps coming down the the wire - like a final move in a board game where every action, option and consequence has been considered. My brain felt hot at various intervals today, and I was only supporting the real folks doing the hard work. So much goes on behind the scenes that it looks invisible once the cameras start rolling.

Challenges of a Logistical Nature

Consistently find myself getting roped into logistical challenges. Because we're based so far away everything boils down to transport basically. Couriers, transfers and hire vehicles, I do 'em all now. That and print scripts and ready up all the other stuff. As the day gets on now I feel weary but I know I've done a good job - makes it all worthwhile when that happens.

Malory Day 1 (Again)

In good time today the first 'Action' was called and thus, Malory Towers is in full swing. Glad to be back with the crew and with full time caterers again! My docket was still packed to the brim with stuff to do but I was steadily ticking them all off. Biggest ask today was driving a Luton van down the windy roads of Hartland, praying to God I didn't come across any oncoming tractors. Made it back without a scratch (on myself or the van) so I'd consider that a win. With day one under our belt we're already looking mighty fine on the road ahead.

Printing and Printing and Printing

Snuck into our Unit Base before it got busy this morning so I could actually get some work done. Printing was at the tippy top of my agenda so the whole day was spent depleting reams and reams of paper and holding up all the other work going on. When it came to giving them out though everyone was unfussed, especially the cast who didn't really need them as it turns out! Still plenty of stuff to do but I just ran out of time today, gotta get some sleep in before the mighty filming machine begins turning once again.

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad

Though my parents have been married for longer than I've been alive, it was only today that I saw their wedding photo album. Seeing everyone look so young was a treat, especially my grandparents. Rachel commented how there was a certain magic to pawing through old photographs and I felt that moreso than usual today.

For Mum and Dad's 30th wedding anniversary we celebrated with a pub lunch at one of their favorite locals - it was so nice to have one more big meal with everyone that's important to me before filming starts up. I drove back this evening to Hartland and I'm just prepping my mental checklist for tomorrow. Final day of prep tomorrow, one more big push and then we're off to the races.

Production Never Sleeps

Took it steady in between a smattering of emails this Saturday. At least I got to catch up on some sleep and have a normal morning with Rebecca and the cat - routine calms the mind after all. Rebecca's Dad's birthday was today too so we all wished him a good one as he walked through the door. They all headed off on a jolly while I packed my bags and continued prepping for the week ahead. I felt knackered by midday, all I wanted to do was sleep on the sofa. But there was Sun tan lotion and A5 paper to buy before picking up Louis and Rachel to drive us all to Newbury for a decompressing night away. Even after our BBQ dinner I started getting phonecalls. Production never sleeps I suppose, but all I want to do is hit the snooze button.

Logistical Leapfrogging

Being back in our Hartland cottage felt like home. I made a coffee for my roomie and had breakfast together like civilized folk... Then the work started up again and it felt a lot less like a quaint holiday. Managed to pull off a logistical magic trick that saved us a couple hundred pounds, that was followed by another bit of transport leapfrogging that took basically all afternoon to pin down. Signed off and headed back home to Bristol in the evening, arriving back just as the Sun headed over the horizon. Though I'm trying to take the next few days off, a portion of my brain will stay focused on the job.

Tech Recce Part II

Filled my gob with a continental breakfast before driving a brisk 90 minutes from Bodmin to Hartland for part 2 of our big recce. I camped out in the cafe for most of it, scumming off the complimentary wifi to try and get some work done. One step forward, two steps back was the theme as lots of small, niggling issues kept manifesting and needed quashing. Finished the day in a good place though and headed down to our lovely cottage accommodation. While waiting for people to get back to me on emails I popped out to get my roomie and the Producer some groceries. Though I was shattered by the end of the day, I had just enough strength to teach my roomie a board game. First of many!

Tech Recce

 Attended my first Tech Recce in full - usually that's an event reserved for folks paid four times my wage but I was along for the jolly. Saw the locations we're due to visit and met most of the crew, many of which are returning from last year. Stopped by a train station, a beach and a cave, all while struggling to find good phone reception to send some emails. Bit more of the same tomorrow, plus some more last minute car hires... The joys.

Southern Schlep

Rebecca's parents (and every other human on the planet) warned me about London traffic. I just thought they were exaggerating when they told me to add an hour to whatever trip I needed to make. I couldn't be that bad. Could it?

Turns out it takes 2 hours to drive 11 miles in Central London, I did allow myself time for that luckily but it was still a beast. My overall journey wasn't as massive as I fretted about but it was still oodles of driving. From Central London, to Wadebridge Cornwall, I've done the Southern Schlep in style. Just want to sleep now in my comfy Premier Inn bed.

Emails on Wheels

Naively I thought this Monday would be a relatively chill day, I got to work from home afterall which is cool. Turned out to be hell on wheels... Literally because all my woes were transport related. New cars needed hiring, one might have not got dropped off, some licenses were from France, just a bit of everything really. All coming through rapidfire, bang, bang, bang into my inbox and all I tried to do was stay about the water. In the midst of it all I got my own hire car and drove to Louis' house to collect the Amazon parcels he sat around for, bless him.

Tomorrow will be the big one though: Off emails, on wheels. Driving into Central London, then Acton, then Reading, then BACK into Central, back to Reading and then home to Bristol. May my playlist be fresh and my phone have eternal battery.

Platinum Jubilee

Sipped lemonade and enjoyed a home made scone while watching the Jubilee parade on BBC1. Saw the Queen wave on the balcony which was an unexpectedly humbling moment, moreso because of the crowd of supporters showing her genuine warmth. The nation is still hungry for a big post-Covid blowout, but that urge was superceded by gratitude to the Queen, at least that's what I caught a glimpse of today on the telly, while sitting with my cat on a rainy Sunday.

My thoughts now turn to my jobs tomorrow, including stressing about a vehicle handover I've coordinated to a nea fool-prood degree... But I just hate arranging anything where I'm not physically present as I fear something will do a little wrong. No doubt I'm worrying myself over nothing, but up until 9am tomorrow I worry about getting an agitated bloke on the phone to me. After that it's smooth sailing once more.

Bonafide Lemonade

My body must have needed the sleep because I was zonked out until mid morning. So nice to wake up again in my own bed and make a familiar bowl if porridge - call it routine perhaps but we all need our little rituals. A bit if DIY was on the cards, our secondhand strimmer blitzed through the lawn in record time, meanwhile I prepped a wall for another shelf... Then quickly discovered our new electric screwdriver isn't fully up to masonry drilling snuff.

In between all of this I made a batch of real lemonade. Lemon peel and sugar steeped together for about half a day, then all that got mixed in with water and juic, now it's chilling down in the fridge for a sunny day treat tomorrow. Except I hear it's going to be lashing it down most of the day, that won't stop me from enjoying it though!

Shoulder Pillow

The only people in the office today was me and the director. We took it in turns to make teas and coffee and I was even treated to a brownie after recommending a nearby bakery for lunch. While working though all I could think about was home. I kept glancing at saved pictures of Rebecca and the cat, smiling fondly and feeling at ease. The only obstacle was a full MegaBus ride. For almost the entire journey the gentleman on my left used my shoulder as a pillow... Just grin and bear it and keep thinking bof home

Trains Trains Trains

 My day begun and ended the same way: running for trains. In the AM I was dashing for an earlier train as I forget to factor in the weekend operating hours on bank holidays. Then in the PM I had to get back from a friendly BBQ before midnight... Didn't want to turn into a pumpkin afterall. Work has hit a point where my brain just feels full after the first hour of being in the office. Just one more day til the weekend though, then I can empty my head of all the stress.

Cars Cars Cars

Through toil, sweat and phonecalls I managed to sort out all of our vehicle rentals. I was so anxious that the day would slip into the Bank Holidays and nothing would get resolved so I just sprinted through it all - once it was all done and stood atop the metaphorical mountain I screamed proudly once to hear the echo, then calmy continued onto the next thing. With all the vendors closed down over the double bank holiday I can crack in freely on some bits that have fallen by the wayside. Prep on this one is a marathon, but it'll all fall into place once we get shooting.