Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Adam Crossley, Custard Factory, Digbeth Olympics
No sooner do I blog about the Digbeth Olympics and the film pops up on YouTube. The water really was filthy. “Oh look,” said Adam as he climbed out, “a used tampon.”
Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 ( 4 responses )
Tags: Adam Crossley, bryn tranter, Custard Factory, Digbeth Olympics, john mostyn, John Tighe, Spotted Dog
Here’s John Mostyn launching the Digbeth Olympics with artist Bryn Tranter, the only man brave enough to hold the broken barstool-leg doused in turps that was the Olympic flame.
It was a great day that started off with John Mostyn, Adam Crossley and his friend Matt travelling down the River Rea from the Highgate Middleway to Fazeley Street on rubber dingies. All assured me they’d had a Tetanus jab in the last 5 years.
Next up was the cardboard coracle building workshop, in preparation for the race across the filthy Custard Factory pool, which caused some surprise. I was on the girls’ team, which had drawn-out plans from the internet and everything. After much discussion, team-work and gaffa tape we ended up with a big cardboard tray.
Thankfully John Mostyn’s assistant Claire was appointed Captain under threat of the sack. Someone really should talk to her about union membership. She got soaked and had to scoop out the papier mush the boat became whilst Adam and Matt paddled to glory in their ‘Tighe-Tanic’ creation.
Phwoar. In the Pico Prix Adam again raced home to victory in ‘Outatime’. He was closeley followed by John Tighe, who is obscured by teammate Seamus McPringu living every penguin’s dream to fly.
Seamus had a great day, the little ones loved him. He likes kids and it turns out he can actually eat a whole one.
Luckily this little girl managed to escape his belly in time to squelch to victory in the custard wellie race. No adults were willing to wear boots filled to the brim with the rankest, lumpiest custard I’ve ever seen.
Other highlights included the Snail Race, which ended in a nail-biting photo-finish between Ireland and Germany (the little winner).
All snails were later released back into the wild, although I don’t think the ones who got their shells painted with nail varnish were too happy.
I spoke to a very happy Bryn the following day, who thought there should be more mental community events round here like this. I know that this one was dreamed up by John Mostyn and Adam Crossley over a pint so go on, get drinking and get thinking.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Adam Crossley, Digbeth Olympics, John Tighe, Spotted Dog
Well, if this little lot doesn’t whet your appetite for the Digbeth Olympics tomorrow I don’t know what will.
Organiser Adam Crossley is not only intending to travel through the Digbeth streets in the Pico Prix, but also through time. Him and his team-mate pointed out the inbuilt flux capacitor that will enable time travel:
I really hope this little kid isn’t the driver, he’s his whole life ahead of him:
This 1970’s NHS bathchair is the perfect fit for Spotted Dog landlord John Tighe:
Once Craic magazine editor John McMahon has re-affixed the wheels to this bad Ben Hur chariot, he’s letting his son drive it. I don’t think he likes him very much:
The fun starts in The Spotted Dog at 12 noon tomorrow.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Cardboard Coracle Challenge, custard fact, Digbeth Olympics
My post featuring the Digbeth Olympics map is very comment-heavy now, thanks to Senuray Poseidon responding by announcing his Digbeth Olympics Cardboard Coracle Challenge. It basically consists of building a cardboard boat and downing enough Dutch courage whilst the glue dries to jump in it and travel back and forth across The Custard Factory’s pool in teams of up to 4 people. Building commences at 1pm and the race start at 3pm. Glue and cardboard will be supplied.
There is still room for 3 more teams. Who’s up for helping me form a Digbeth is Good team? Oh, go on. Let’s show those Kamikazakhs what the locals are made of.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 ( 4 responses )
Tags: Adam Crossley, Digbeth Olympics, Spotted Dog
View Larger Map
Good grief. A google map like this can only be the drunken trail for the Digbeth Olympics on 21st September, which now has an Events List!
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Adam Crossley, Digbeth Olympics, penguins 4 justice, Spotted Dog
Covert filming of preparations for the Digbeth Olympics’ Pico Prix in the back garden of The Spotted Dog, featuring their lovely barmaid Aswalia and Seamus the penguin.
Organiser Adam Crossley has advised all attending to book the following Monday off work, so you’ve been warned!
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Custard Factory, Digbeth Olympics, John Tighe, penguins 4 justice, Spotted Dog
John Tighe said he’d email me his comments. And here they are. Who the hell is Little Jimmy?
URGENT PRESS RELEASE
At last one of Digbeth’s dirty little secrets in out in the open.
The rumours had been whispered in dark corners for many a year but, because of the power of the organisation concerned, nobody was brave enough to speak out. Until now!!!
No. These are not the rumours about planning corruption. Far worse!
No. These are nothing to do with Stasi-like activities of Council employees. Far worse!
No. These are not even about the bizarre sexual proclivities of the landlord of The Spotted Dog or rumours that Little Jimmy is really an amputee. Far, far worse!
Suspicions were raised a number of years ago when a strange-looking, secretive crew moved into the long-derelict Bird’s Custard Factory. What would they want to live there for? What were they doing? What was the reason for the spine-chilling noises emanating from the bowels of the old factory? Were they screams?
Sadly, it can now be revealed that even the most outrageous rumours about the inhabitants’ activities fell far short of the truth.
PENGUIN ABUSE!!!
One of the world’s most beloved and intelligent species (the latter evidenced by the fact that no penguin has ever attended a Blues or Villa match) is being systematically ill-treated for, we believe, religious reasons.
Nothing as despicable as this has been seen in England since the dissolution of the monasteries during the reign of that custard fanatic Henry VIII.
All of this has come to light with the escape from the clutches of these so-called Bird’s-lovers of Pingu, one of the long-term captives.
According to Pingu, who fled to The Spotted Dog claiming sanctuary and has now reverted to his real name, Seamus, he was kidnapped off the street when he was on his way home from the fish market, incarcerated in a dark room and subjected to torture by having techno music played to him 24 hours a day. Confusion reigned for a number of weeks during intensive questioning until Seamus realised that the denizens of the Custard Factory thought that he was a nun.
Alas, by this time, it was too late. Seamus had already owned up to being a Catholic. He was denied fish on Fridays and force-fed custard, which, everyone knows, is anathema to an Orthodox Penguin. His letters to His Holiness, Pope Penguidict XVI were severely censored and he was denied time to consort with the numerous other penguins who had been picked up in similar circumstances.
Seamus has said that he wants to stay at The Spotted Dog where he hopes to become a famous racing driver in the illegal Digbeth Olympics. He also wants to pursue his career as a musician and wants to partner Little Jimmy even if he’s an amputee and not a dwarf.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Sunday, August 17th, 2008 ( 3 responses )
Tags: Abacus, Digbeth Olympics, Pico Prix
The Custard Factory have been very careless with their penguins and they all seem to have disappeared. Apart from this one, which was found in the Abacus apartments car park and delivered into the arms of John Tighe at The Spotted Dog.
He wants to hold the little chap to ransom. He couldn’t decide on the terms, so I’ve just gone and made them up: COMMIT TO A SUITABLY OUTRAGEOUS CUSTARD COMPETITION FOR THE DIGBETH OLYMPICS, OR PINGU HERE GETS IT (probably by a nasty crash in some death-trap, home-made soapbox on wheels made for the event’s Pico Prix).
Written by Nicky Getgood on Friday, July 25th, 2008 ( Start discussion )
Tags: Adam Crossley, Barnard Hobbit, Digbeth Olympics, John Tighe, Spotted Dog
A sunny Friday afternoon meant drinks at The Spotted Dog with John Tighe playing 78’s on his growing collection of vintage record players. Here he is dressed to match his current favourite. If the sun holds out for tomorrow afternoon, make your way there for a charity All You Can Eat For £5 barbeque.
Whilst I was ordering my Pimm’s a band walked in to be told they’d got the wrong Spotted Dog and were playing at the one in Bordesley Street. Yes, that’s right, the one I wrote was closing on 6 July following Barnard’s announcement. A barmaid told me they had held a ‘last party’, only to open their doors for a gig the following week. Are independent pubs catching on to the current rallying to their cause and holding their equivalent of Moseley Moneywise’s decade-long Closing Down Sale? Everydrink Must Go!
I also had the joy of meeting Adam Crossley, the Abacus tenant behind the spoof Stella ad made for The Spotted Dog’s noise abatement order struggle. He has something very special planned for Digbeth on 21 September which he begged me not to blog about until next week, so even though I’m busting to write more I’ll just say there’s some seriously silly sports in store. Put it in your diaries, it’ll be good.
Birmingham Post: Digbeth articles We Are Eastside – arts and culture
