I just noticed that last night we had the most ever users online at any one time 48, not sure what the previous best was.
Up till Dec the figures were regularly hiting 2500 unique visitors a month with 8500 hits a month, this has dipped in December/holiday season but was expected as many entertainers are out working.

It may well possibly be Danny The Idiot's Birthday today?
If so then Happy Birthday Mr Idiot  

I found this picture intriguing; http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb ... 0729150811
I believe it's from Balaoecia Edison album

This was posted on balloon hq; http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/ ... g-bookends

I have just booked Shirley Ray to lecture at the Care & Share Day in Darlington on Wed 9th March    Shirley will be doing the full day with four 1 hour sessions.
More details and to book; post28164.html#p28164

I'm looking to update the look of the qualatex website and have a few options,

I belive this book is very hard to dind and out of print, the last second hand one on e-bay was going for over $80 http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/captain ... 5658?mt=11

I thought I would go through some of my old Video's and DVD collection and post a model a week from one of them. This is from Michael Veinbergs 3 video collection, this is the very first set I bought. Not sure when but the date on the case is 1995 so possibly 16 years ago. I bought them at the Blackpool magic convention and remember asking for a discount as they did not have to be posted. The catalogue price was over £100, which 15/16 years ago was very pricey, I was told and rightly so there was no discount because they had to drive to the convention, set up, book hotel for the duration, pack away, drive home, pack away and re-stock. A lesson I learned and one which I agree with as all the conventions I attend as yet I have never made a profit or broken even, they are a PR excercise and public awareness.

On the video he explains things very clearly and is very precise in his details, I have never heard of Michael before or even after I bought the collection, he is from San Diego and the video set is produced by Premier Entertainment.
Vol 1 has tools of the trade, basic twists and Turtle, Poodle, Basic Dog, Rabbit, Giraffe, Teddy Bear, Cat which doubles for 5 othe ranimals as well, Sword, Scabbard and a Penguin. All very basic models but this was 15/16 years ago and it was nice to go down memory lane. I believe Thelma was working on the Playtime Stand with Michael Decker the year I bought these, I remember seeing her book on the stand which was the very first one Thelma produced. I bought them from Magic books by post who used to have a video collection as well.

The first picture is the sword from the video that has a rhinestone feel to it, I would have 5 twists under the handle grip if made again as this was a bit small.

I'm sure many of us come up with plans for the New Year and then somehow they go by the way side, so perhaps if we put them here others can encourage us all to see the plans through, just a thought.
My plans are to finally bring out the DVD on entertaining that has been in the pipe line for over 15 months, it's all written and recorded, just needs editing so a visit to Lord Geoff is on the cards.
Then I would like to do the DVD on wearable's and the main focus will be on my balloon magic act which I think it's time to record all the instructions and how to etc and even possibly start going around the magic clubs lecturing the effects and all the hints and tips I've picked up along the way.
I have been rehearsing the act this week as I have a theatre show at the weekend and have been enjoying the concept, I have to go through the act with props in hand to get the most from this and sometimes new ideas pop into my head so well worth the time and effort, been doing two, one hour sessions per day.

I also like the 365 day blog with a new model per day but have decided to do a 52 thread with just one a week as with everything else time is a factor, there never seems to be enough time! The plan is to go through some of my very early tapes on VHS from my small collection as I'm sure there are some gems hidden away that I've completely forgotten about and to post where from etc and I'm hoping I can commit to one a week.

Anyone else have plans?

I thought this was a fun watch; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFfE6fA ... ature=fvwp

The Darlington Care & Share day will be on Wed March 9th, cost for the day is only £10 with the early bird special which runs up till the 21st Feb.
The cost then will be £20 with a £10 voucher.
We will have three lectures during the day with a mystery lecturer and a couple of competitions as well. All days are dependent on a minimum of 15 people booking for each event.
Booking details, http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/catal ... -23-1.html

Other dates scheduled which are all sponsored by Qualatex Balloons/Pioneer Europe are,

Wed Jan 19th, Bishops Stortford,
Wed March 9th, Darlington,
Wed April 13th, Banstead,
Mon May 9th, Bristol,
Wed June 7th, Manchester,
Wed Oct 5th, Leeds
Wed Nov 30th, Bishops Stortford.
David Grist Memorial lecture, Birmingham on Wed 20th July.

If any date does clash with a school holiday or another event please let me know ASAP, thanks.

The Banstead Care & Share day will be on Wed 13th April, cost for the day is only £15 with the early bird special for the first 15 people to book.
The cost then will be £20.
We will have three lectures during the day with a mystery lecturer and a couple of competitions as well. All days are dependent on a minimum of 15 people booking for each event.
Booking details, http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/catal ... -23-1.html

Other dates scheduled which are all sponsored by Qualatex Balloons/Pioneer Europe are,

Wed Jan 19th, Bishops Stortford,
Wed March 9th, Darlington,
Wed April 13th, Banstead,
Mon May 9th, Bristol,
Wed June 7th, Manchester,
Wed Oct 5th, Leeds
Wed Nov 30th, Bishops Stortford.
David Grist Memorial lecture, Birmingham on Wed 20th July.

If any date does clash with a school holiday or another event please let me know ASAP, thanks.

This is interesting; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90VyvOhP ... _embedded#!

It has been an exciting day at the office, had to delete Mike Gigalsky as he was promoting his penis enlargement excercise programme which he claims worked for him.
Mike a little tip, do not go shouting about how small you are  :lol:
And then had to delete a looner, I have no problem with people and what the like and dislike but please discuss in appropriate places, balloon chat is not an appropriate place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnb9aopSJB0

I just noticed that it's Twistina's birthday, have a nice relaxing day, is that possible on the 24th?
Happy Birthday  

I have started to organise all my picture folders, at a rough guess I have 144 of them. Some have just a few pictures others 200/300 hundred, I have just renamed 50 photos in my portfolio folder into alphabetical order which has taken way too long. Some of the pictures just had a number or date and when I'm looking for something I'm having to trawl through all the folders looking for certain topics.
Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions to make this quicker and a bit easier.

Jeff Hayes, UncannyJeff on the forum has kindly agreed to do the interview for us and will be putting up answers to the questions whenever he gets a few minutes over the next few weeks.
Jeff's portfolio is here; http://uncannyjeff.balloonhq.com/
Thanks for taking the time Jeff, do you have a website? and if anyone else would like to volunteer to do the interview then please let me know.

I saw this on one of the other forums and thought it may be of interest; http://www.twisterart.com/