Zoologistic
ZOO NEWS and MINOR IPOD ADMIN today.
ADMIN. As you heard last week, the iPod we set in motion last year has now done an extraordinary circuit of the country and the final reports are being written as we try to establish exactly how much of a history-making event this is. Before I write an exhaustive blog to immortalise this whole bizarre and slightly wonderful story, here is a message from Rachel, one of the highly-drilled logistics team who risked their sanity by making this happen. Please respond to her appeal for information, so that we can complete the archiving of this Watsonian triumph and so that Rachel’s obsessive-compulsive impulses are eased before she tears up the whole map and reclaims the iPod and throws it into the sea.
‘Can I make a small plea to anyone who met the beloved iPod? I’m putting the map together and have some details on people’s song choices and the handovers themselves missing. This upsets my Google Map OCD. The map itself is here – http://is.gd/zUme77 – so if y’all could have a look and see what’s there, then email anything that you feel like adding to mp3challenge@live.co.uk mailto:mp3challenge@live.co.uk that would make me super-happy.’
And, honestly, this is a person who decides to be super-happy. Again, thanks to everyone whose extraordinary efforts made this pointless-yet-meaningful project happen.
And ZOO NEWS. Today I finally went to Bristol Zoo to be formally initiated into their Bristol Walk of Fame, a collection of 50 blue plaques dotted around the historical zoological gardens, which I appear in alongside Banksy, Blackbeard the Pirate and Russell Howard among others, almost entirely because of the votes I canvassed from you, my faithful blog readers, here and on Twitter, while my more renowned rivals were resting on their laurels or getting distracted doing underground art/ being dead/ being a funny heart-throb.
I have a prime spot just outside the AmphiPod, a sort of greenhouse which provides a safe place for amphibians to live and breed. So next time you’re in Bristol Zoo – and you know there WILL be a next time – give the cold shoulder to the Asiatic lions, impressive as they are; get yourself down to the amphibians and check out plaque number 34. MARK WATSON. Pretty sweet.
And in case you find yourself unable to reach the zoo any time soon, for some reason, here is a photo from today. I’m posing just by my plaque, next to an illustration of a zookeeper drawn on the wall of the AmphiPod. Amusingly, he looks a lot like me for a cartoon character. If we’re still playing Find Someone Who Looks Like Watson, this is a strong contender. http://t.co/9uNoK2j
Posted by Anji on August 31, 2011
I was at Bristol zoo about a month ago and did indeed see ur plaque! I ooo’d so loudly the strange lady I didn’t know that had just head butted the glass while looking at the frogs, turned round and looked at me as tho I had issues!! My friend tutted and me and said she couldnt take me anywhere!!
I was pleased to see it, I was afraid I might have missed it, and having been to the zoo and missing the plaque would have spoilt the day!
Posted by Jen on August 31, 2011
Hello Steven – I went to the first show and also received Marks email – the show was a work in progress type thing I think -ready for the next tour so the idea was to try out as many new ideas as possible in the time available…I was Marks PA for that show (kind of!) and he did the secret room idea too so I’m guessing time limits n just trial n error decided on the format of the rest of the shows – I could however be talking madness!Jx
ps I dreamt about zoos last night – hmmmm the blog follows me everywhere!!
Posted by Rachael on August 31, 2011
I am astonished that it isn’t ‘pain-staking’! Even though that never really made sense anyway. But if everyone thought it was meant to be pain-staking then doesn’t it sort of become right? Because everyone thought it was that anyway so they know what it means? Hmm.
Posted by Lydia on August 31, 2011
I quite like the idea of you as a zoo keeper called Harry. Does Bristol zoo have anything to do with Paignton zoo? My friend has free tickets that cover certain zoos.
Pains-taking has got my mind blown.
Also, as a general sort of question, if you are extremely socially awkward, are you ever likely to become less so? I am tired of being an idiot. A couple of days ago I accidentally pretended to be someone I have never heard of’s daughter to a very emotional man in a graveyard. It has to stop.
Posted by Steven on August 31, 2011
I have a question for anyone who went to Mark’s show at the fringe, I tweeted Mark to ask but he must have been to busy getting plaques in his honour to reply!
I received the email in advance about needing an assistant, bringing jellies etc but these were never mentioned? I did see LSG as a butler but there was no chance to slip him the password, just wondering if this was the same as the other shows as I was slightly confused?
Thanks
Posted by Georgie on August 31, 2011
According to the below link, your plaque is actually number 38. If we were to visit plaque 34 we would in fact be seeing Johnny Morris. Personally, I do not know who that is, so I’d much rather visit plaque 38!
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/comedian-mark-watson-visits-his-plaque-on-the-bristol-walk-of-fame-300811
Also, frogs are pretty awesome. x
Posted by LisaD on August 31, 2011
In (somewhat) related zoo news, I started classes for my vet tech degree today and also got the list of clinical locations we’re supposed to choose from for our final year and the list includes Bristol Zoo! Three years from now I might be taking care of those same amphibians housed behind the Watson plaque! Or possibly not the _same_ amphibians…How long do frogs live? That seems like something a vet tech should know, but it’s only my first day.
Posted by Knox on August 31, 2011
agree that zoo-keeper looks worryingly like you – beware, mark – they’ve given you a plaque, but it’s just to lull you into going to the zoo more, then they’ll capture you and make you stay there forever as a zookeeper, and when you try to leave they’ll say ‘no – you belong here – see, look, here is your picture’ – and they’ll start calling you harry… yes, this is what it’s like in my head – all. the. time.
i’ve just done a tysic update, by the way – looking forward to hearing how everyone’s doing. mostly, am chuffed with myself for having lost 1stone so far in my 50lb quest.
‘I learnt today it’s pains-taking, not pain-staking.’ – i never knew this, and am a little astounded. obviously, it makes much more sense, but still… ah, word-breaks.
Posted by Kate W on August 31, 2011
Yes, that’s a cartoon you (albeit with worse hair and a silly chin).
Rather pleased to see I’m already included on the iPod map because, if I’m honest, I’d forgotten what my song was. So also pleased to see I made a good choice way back then, with “Caliigraphy” by the Popsocks (a sadly now-defunct pop experiment by Stefan Golaszewski of Cowards).
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on August 31, 2011
Lastly, that zoo keeper is you.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on August 31, 2011
I got a guitar today, it’s pink. This will help with item 2 of my TYSIC – not that it’s pink, that it is a guitar, seeing as my challenge is to learn to play that said instrument and being able to play one makes it easier to play… or something.
I also have a confession to make. With each day that passes, it seems less and less likely that the UK will win the Eurovision Song Contest. No progress has been made on that front for months. What am I like, I give myself a fancy job title and then flitter away the power like a pocket full of moths.
I haven’t even been that hot at checking the blog. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still yet to miss one (even that one that never existed) but I often have to catch up more than a week.
Fourthly, I learnt today it’s pains-taking, not pain-staking.
Posted by Sarah on August 30, 2011
I would like to know why the cartoon-ish zookeeper is wearing half of one shirt and half of another please.
Also this blog makes me think about getting a haircut because my bizarre comment about my hairdresser who looks a fair bit like Mark would if he was Turkish started Find Someone Who Looks Like Watson. I’m a bit worried though. How strange am I going to seem if I ask to take a photo of him?!
Posted by Jen on August 30, 2011
….fab pic…I think its the hair…yours is kinda spiked up at the front like his (by ‘his’ I mean cartoon guy!)…funny!
Another positive blog…sounds like an eventful day…congrats on the plaque!!My day…hmmm not so exciting…i’ve been sorting my classroom out ready for going back to work next week…booooo…then baking this afty…yay!Anyway,congrats again n well done all iPod peeps!Jx
Posted by David on August 30, 2011
I will add the plaque to my list of things to get photo’d (sp) next to in Bristol, but I’ve got to do a tour of the gorillas with Daniel (my 17 month old son) before they disappear first.
Posted by Misha on August 30, 2011
It does look somewhat like you I think, but I got back from Edinburgh and had what I can best describe as a mini breakdown so don’t trust me.
Posted by lisan66 on August 30, 2011
Yeah, I agree with Britt….can’t really see it, besides the glasses/beard thing!
Posted by Britt on August 30, 2011
I don’t think he looks that much like you…