Interesting (2026 edition)

I kept my phone in my pocket to be present. The year I went camera crazy was 2011, those pics are in this earlier post. Also great archive over here.

I’ve been to many of these over the years and am never quite sure what to say about it. I normally settle on what did it feel like. I forget what year it was but one year someone spoke of their learning about Stan Laurel’s Dad as he moved around North Shields. I have a memory of an enveloping feeling as I sunk into her story…

This edition felt more gentle – it was still full of enthusiasm with all of us following Russ’s “always be clapping” rule (not ABC as in Glengarry Glen Ross) but the stories were a little quieter, with fewer explosions and sound effects.

Actually that last bit isn’t true. There were sound effects and I needed to leave before the end so if there was a giant pyrotechnic I missed it.

Louise Cato stayed the whole way through and listed the talks on her LI

• Hitler and sea monkeys
• Growing up in care
• Bertolt Brecht
• Punk and book titles
• The magic of seeds
• The secret rhythm of the song Videotape by Radiohead
• Stack and Mortar: a magazine of magazines
• 3 things to think about aeroplanes
• Tarot and choices

I think it was Jackie that told the story of growing up in care in the 1960s and 70s. Had a lump in my throat during that one and a slight meltdown after as I chatted with folk.

Also lovely to see once-a-year familiar faces.

And once again thanks to Undermanager for continuing to make these happen:-)