2001 – A Big Nutter Oddity
By Michael SHARPE
Why Big Nutter? – Introduction
Quite often for internet aliases, people will choose their name to fit themselves. Big Nutter is no Exception. If you where to ask me, I’d reply with one of these two explanations. Both feature writing, Blogging, Podcasting and Dyslexia.
“I’m Dyslexic, who’s got speech problems, who is Writing, Blogging and Podcasting! It’s sounds like a Nutter to me.” – Mike Sharpe, Dec 2008, revised version of similar 2001 quote. (Blogging and Podcasting wasn't well known in 2001)
This is one that I’ll quote in podcasts like Erk Pod. (Ding!) It is true, but it is not the full story. This is one reason why I called myself Nutter. Since Nutter is mainly used in Great Britain and New Zealand, here is the meaning:
nutter
Noun
Brit & NZ slang an insane person
I think people are now asking why I did I call myself insane, but there is a story behind why I chose that name.
In the Beginning
Genesis 1 (KJV)
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.....
I could go through most of the Book of Genesis, but I don’t need to. After the whole creation was done, there was man and woman on the earth. Jumping forwards to about 2000 years ago, a man known as Jesus, was executed on a Cross, by expert executioners. Two days later, he returned from the dead, and talked with several his friends and did a few things, before going off again. One thing he said to his Friends was this:
Mark 16 (KJV)
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Or as I put it as “Go tell the world about the bible.”
This command is still being followed today. One group that does this is The Message Trust, based in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, England. They originally started as a Schools Dance act, under the name of The World Wide Message Tribe. The Dance act had to swap new members in every so often, for various reasons. After a while the Dance act needed a little help, The Message Trust was made to help.
The Message Trust organised a city wide outreach in 2000, they held a big fortnight-long event, in August 2000. I was invited to attend, as a Guest. I was surprised that a member of the local church was attending, unlike me, she was a Volunteer. We managed to meet up with her after the event. She told me that there were lots of out reach events, some are shorter, others are longer and most are based somewhere than my nearest city.
New Years 2001, I decided I’d do something that I had not before. There were several things I hadn’t done, so it was a safe News year’s resolution. Spread the word well was one thing I hadn’t done. I wanted to attend an event as a Volunteer, over the summer. I had a few restrictions, I was 17, while I had a Pass Port, I didn’t want to overseas, and finally the price has to be less than £250. The Price and the location helped each other.
Whist I didn’t have a clue to start, we knew someone who did. But our youth leader knew where to start, and even to follow up. Youth leaders and/or Vicars, depending on the church usually subscribe to several things to help them do their work; one is book like a Telephone Directory, with Schools and events in them.
There was only one event that fit the bill, which was The Message Trust’s 2001 big event. It was close, it was in Salford. Salford was closer to my home town than Manchester. The event was a fortnight just before the end of the School Holidays, the last 11 days of August. For those who are too old to remember, School Holidays are from Mid-July to end of August, or the first week of September.
My Youth leader would sort out a few things such as admin; I’d had to get cash, and supplies. I also had to fill in the form. I’ve got poor handwriting. You’ve heard the jokes about the Doctors’ handwriting, my handwriting is worse.
In late June, a Local church asked for some help for a local event. This church is on good terms with our local church. My Youth leader suggested I go help. I already had been the church before, so I knew where it was, it was in push biking distance. It was at the last week of term. For me, that meant that I just had to make sure my work would get marked.
I prepared myself to go, which was just make sure my Bicycle worked, But when you’re using Weekly for a paper round, I knew it was already ready.
There is something said to starting slow, so it was worth a try.
The Test Run
I have omitted the dates due to poor note taking and this relatively minor detail is now irrecoverable. Each day here could be one of two dates, and I can’t verify which is which.
Day 1 Monday
As I said it was the last week of School term, and it is also for Colleges. As I was attending Wigan and Leigh College at the time, I had left it late to hand in a project. Today was the dead line. So most of my day was filled with completing and handing in project work.
I am going to jump ahead and say now that I failed this year, as this affects our story later.
So I came home for early evening. At the appointed time of 8:30pm, I watched the daily catch up show of the UK Big Brother. Why am I talking about Big Brother? Big Brother follows house mates, I follow me.
Day 2 Tuesday
I don’t drive, and at that time I had not even got a Licence or a car. So I had to resort to one of the other ways I can take to get to the meeting. In this case, I decided to my bicycle to get to the place in time for the afternoon event. The Place where we’re meeting is what I call walking distance, it’s a few miles from my house.
Despite being July, the weather is not as sunny as I was expecting. After we arrive at the place for the out door meet, which is an outdoor grass Football pitch. It starts to rain, just after I got off my bike. The people organising this event quickly decided that they would start early in the church.
The Church is about half a mile way from the football pitch. So I hopped on my Bike. Since I had got a head start, and the fact I could cycle with some speed, I managed to get there with the first cars.
I mess around the church for a little while. I also had a little look around, as I had not been inside this church before, besides a Party in December 2000. This church follows the convention of one style of Church layouts. Basicly, put it’s a large hall with a few rooms to the side. This church has partitions for separate a few rooms to the big hall, some of partitions can be moved to make to hall bigger.
In 2000 and 2001, it was the cool thing, or the thing to have, for teenagers is to have a Mobile Phone, or as the people from America say, Cell Phone. I had just got mine a few days before and, as I had not seen most of the people there since I had got a phone, I went around getting some peoples numbers. One girl wasn’t that receptive when I wanted to speak to really ignored me, mainly as I said the wrong things the last time I saw her. (This was resolved the next year.)
I found out that they had made an evening meal available for any one who wanted it. I was and still am one of those people who rarely said no to free food.
On the Church’s Stage, was the night’s “entertainment,” Tonight it was Karaoke. I had a go with the mic. My singing was not good, made worse when the Lyrics screen fizzes out mid-way though! Singing that BeeGees Classic with the Falsetto voice also didn’t improve the act. (“Dave, Where’s the Words?”)
After the singing, I located where most of the people are. Several people are in one of the side rooms playing MircoMachines 2 on a Sega MegaDrive/Genesis. I think I should remind people that this is very early Playstation 2 era, neither the Xbox or the Game Cube had been released in Europe. MircoMachines 2 offers up to 4 player racing on one Cart. (The cart had two extra ports for the 3rd and 4th player’s controllers). Games like this work better with reasonable short races, and simple controls. I rarely played on it that day. I was good at this game as I own the PC game, in which my brother and I can make a 3 lap race last to 12 laps for a winner. Racing against me was asking for trouble, as I had learned most of the tracks.
Later on, I had to ride back home. My bicycle had not had its lights and I didn’t want to get in to trouble for riding home at when it was dark.
Day 3 Wednesday
Today was very blustery, and I decided that I didn’t want to get blown off the bike. And I didn’t really want to get blown around on the 2 hour long walk to the Church.
So what did I do instead? I played games and continued to work a website, that never got published. At this time Strict HTML was the most common. One of the pages was going to be my take on the Big Brother TV show. It was called Big Dubber. There are several Meanings of the Word dub, most involve the Music.
When I wasn’t typing, I played on Decent 2, a 3d Shooter, which is quite unique, in that you flew down tunnels and could move and turn in any Direction. Quite a lot of rookies got confused on the first level. There is an official level Pack called Vertigo was included in a Decent 1+2 Box set. Experiencing Vertigo was a possible side effect of this game. Both Decent and Decent 2 Demos are available online at the Interplay site. www.interplay.com The game Decent 3, that followed this game, is not on the Interplay Site for unknown reasons, but is at: http://www.descent3.com/
Day 4 Thursday
I play games over several days, so today I was also playing a few of the Decent 2: Vertigo levels. By the early evening, I was getting a little confused with a maze, and I think I could be experiencing Vertigo. I got a phone call from the assistant youth group leader.
He wanted see if I wanted to go to the Church tonight, so I went along, by taking a Lift in his car.
As I arrive, I’m asked if I want to play in the Game Show. I decline. They mention that winner gets chocolate if they won. I jump at the chance.
The game show is based on the TV show known as Weakest Link. Instead of Ann Robinson, we have a guy called Scottish Steve, acted as the host. Instead of Money we played for Sweets. I managed to bank 3 Circus Peanuts, 5 Pear Drops, 9 Bonbon and a jelly baby. I had planned to get more, but I was eliminated after the 3rd round.
Scottish Steve unlike Ann is more generous, and make sure all the sweets where handed out to the winner. He passed a few sweets around. The Prize of one large box is enough to make a man ill.
After a bit of a doss about, I notice Jonathan about to take the stage. He had a talk. It wasn’t inspiring, and he also had little of an audience. He mentions if he wanted to speak to a few people
One of the Back rooms was set up for people to chill or Pray, I found just about every one was there.
By about nine my lift was heading home, so I when home.
Day 5 Friday
Tonight was the fancy dress party. The last time I went to one I had to borrow one. I also hadn’t got a ticket. Plus, it was our usual Youth Group Meet up. I believe we went and had a Barbeque instead. As expected the people who were running the event who came this meeting didn’t come.
The Results
This was the first event I when to, and I’d admit not a great start. The quantative success of the event itself is hard to gauge, as I’m not a regular member, so I can’t say the event was a success.
The time between events
Since the ending of the event, there were few items of worth to comment about. Except for the following Big Brother finished, with Brain Dowling winning 2001 year’s series. There was some more computer game playing. I also ditched the website about Big Brother, but started to write about the event above, and then lose the file due to disk corruption. I also had to a corrupt hard disk to recover data from, in the two months.
I got some paper work from The Message Trust. One fact was quite clear, most people where being there where only there for week, I was going for nearly two, the first week was before the event.
As I was working on the site between event 1 and The Message 2k1, I said (paraphrased): “I must be a Nutter, to all this. Personally, I think the ones just there for one week are Nutters. So that makes me a Big Nutter for trying two.” The name was born.
During this time, also I managed to get enough Cash for to pay expenses for the event, £80 for the 11 days. I managed to get it pay it on time. I had a Paper round that helped get the money.
Most of the time I spend on my school Holidays, I spent playing computer games, and other things that boys did during the summer holidays. I also read a Book written by Andy Hawthorne, Mad For Jesus. I had bought it at the last World wide Message Tribe School Concert on 1999.
Everything was going well, that is until a few days before…
Day Minus ONE Sunday 19th August
I’ve just realised one day to go that I’m about to leave in the morning and I don’t have a clue where I need to be. My youth Leader later tells me that she got a call on Friday that the package I needed was sent back as address stated on the form doesn’t exist. (I did find the address was on the form and that address doesn’t exist, as I’ve had several jobs that require you to know about it).
They’re going to send people stuff via email, expect it in the morning.
Day 1 Monday 20th August, 6 hours to go, 9:00am
I’ve just got confirmation that I am going to 2k1, via email. I just have enough time to pack and catch the bus. It felt weird having 10 day meet up set up over the internet. I should make clear at this time the internet was relatively uncommon in the UK, remember that most of the UK was still on Dial-up. This was a first for me.
The Email said I needed to find a church in Manchester.
DNA Training for Message Trust’s Event
Day 1 Monday 20th August, 3:00pm
I’ve made it to Manchester and now cannot find the place. The directions indicate is that I’m looking for a Church near the Manchester Swimming Centre. I catch the Bus that Heads in that Direction. I get most of the way to Moss Side, a lot further than the said Swimming Centre.
Moss Side is not a place I’d say is the safest. There had been some riots in an area that I thought was not far from here. I managed to get a bus back to Manchester. I rang the number I had on the email. They told me to stay put in Piccadilly Gardens, where I get the Bus Terminus is. They would send someone to get me, and that his name is James.
Some time later, in Piccadilly Gardens, a Man in comes up to me. He asked if I’m Michael Sharpe, I reply with, “Yeah, You’re James?”
He takes me to his car. It’s some distance away, as it is hard to park in Manchester. He drives down Oxford Road, we pass The BBC’s North West England HQ. After a few corners and a turn offs, we arrive at a former warehouse.
The problem is that I was looking for a “traditional” Church. To me a “traditional” church usually has Spire or Tower. I was not looking for a warehouse that has been converted to a church. When most of Manchester is former warehouses, it’s easy to miss.
I arrived about an hour late, so I get a quick introduction of the DNA team. Most of the people here are students of a Christian school ran by a group of churches. There are few people who are, like me, only with the group for the week. The DNA team are based in Scotland, and are camping out in the church, for their time in Manchester. Their website is:
As I said the Church is a former warehouse, it has 3 floors. The entire Top floor is used for services. The best description for the layout is the “Lecture-Hall Floor Plan.” I didn’t spend much time on this floor. Going down on the “first Floor” is a Café area with adjoining Kitchen, and a relatively large room about the quarter of the top floor’s space. The remainder of this floor is filled with offices for Vicars and separate Bathroom facilities for Male and Female.
On the ground Floor is the entrance hall, as well as a little book shop next to the door. The Floor contain several rooms one about the same size large one on the first floor. This Floor also had smaller bathroom facilities. I found out that the boys took the First floor for sleeping and the girls used the ground floor to sleep.
Just before the evening meal James introduces me to Phil. Phil is the guy who’s going to look out after me. Since I’m 17 here, I’m still legally considered a Child or a Minor. He effectively gives me the tour that I’ve just done.
He also introduces me to a few people: Colin, our Cook, Tom and Woody, who are bit of pranksters, Hannah, Hannah and Hanna, No I was not stuttering, there are three girls called Hannah. In this case I’m going to name them as Red Head Hannah, Blonde Hannah, and Hanna with out the H.
Still continuing, there is Sasha from Germany and Chris the Teacher.
As we’re about to start eating, someone else arrive, Matt, another person who was here for the week. I thought I was the last person to arrive, but apparently not.
After the meal of Beans, if I remember rightly, Chris the Student makes himself known. He lets me know that he’s a bit of the Prankster. As I’m still looking around for stuff to do, I find girl wearing an outfit that is very close to the Famous Lara Croft outfit, including the Light green tank top. I later discover that her name is Cathy.
After an evening chat we’re begin to settle for the night. We’re sleeping on the floor in the big rooms on the First and Ground floor. I should make clear that these events are usually held in areas that are or can be made in to a temporary camp site. At least we don’t have to worry about tents this year.
Every one doesn’t settle until late, as it’s the first night and we’re still relatively excited. I listen to the radio, on my personal stereo, one of two Luxury items I bring with me. The item is my Phone, which is charging overnight.
The uncomfortable sleeping surface makes it hard to get to sleep. So it takes some time for me to get to sleep, but I do, eventually.
Day 2 Tuesday
Man, Night on a cold floor doesn’t bode well. I wake up a bit stiff and well way early than expected. I’m the first to awake, so I go for a wash in the Loos. On the way back to Room, I discover that a Vicar is opening up his office, which is next to our room. He knows about he fact there will be people sleeping there.
When I return to my room, I get a smell I wasn’t expecting. It’s foul, to say the least. The smell of sweaty bodies and Gas where the pretty prominent. It’s expected in the Middle of Dry August the morning after everyone has had beans for Tea.
I get dressed quietly and make my way to the kitchen. Since the Rules for the Church normally is to keep Children out of the Kitchen, so as no one in the kitchen I have to wait. I sit waiting for someone to come, I try my Personal Stereo, but I discover that the batteries had died. I go back to my bag to see if I had some batteries, which I did not.
I come back and I discover a woman in the kitchen, I start talking with her, or try to. I have a stutter and there are times it’s apparent, this was one them. I thought this woman is one of the DNA team. I later learned it was Collette, a former World Wide Message Tribe Member, not of the DNA team in any shape or form. Before I make a fool of myself someone stuck a Bowl in my hands, and I found some cereal, now on the counter.
As I was most the way through my cereal, the real DNA Girls came up. They were complaining about the smell of their room. Their Room didn’t have as much ventilation unlike the boys, their window couldn’t be open due to security shutters being in the way.
There are more People here today, our number practically doubled from what I remember.
We meet for the morning session, before we start proper; the Teachers explain who the new group are: they are from the X-cellerate School. This school is created from the local charity The Message Trust, the people who are running same event next week. Their course last for 5 months starting in August and February. This School supported several Churches and several Schools.
At Break, someone came up to me and said, “I didn’t know someone from Pennington was here!” Christ Church Pennington is the name of the Church I go to, so I turn around to find Jonathan from the Church I helped out a few months ago. Since I hadn’t been to his church since I left, I asked him if there was any improvements, he couldn’t answer me as he left the Church a few weeks after the event.
At lunch time, the X-cellerate team left. I think our meal had beans in it.
After lunch we had some more lectures. Whist I don’t mind lectures, I have trouble for anything more than 3 hours. If I go over 3 hours, I either get sleepy or I don’t sit still. Today, I was generating static electricity with my Back side on my Plastic seat.
After several self induced very weak electric shocks, it was about 6, time for the evening meal, which was Chilli. I don’t know about you, but I’m spotting a pattern here.
Our Large group separates in to groups of 5-8; my group drives over to Salford, with another group. Leading my group is Phil, also with us Sasha, Cathy and Chris the Student. We’re to meet a Vicar of a Salford church in his Vicarage. For those who don’t know what a Vicarage is, it’s the home of the Vicar.
We meet the vicar, he’s in his mid 30’s, and not gone grey. He give is a quick tour of the place. Before taking use to a nearby Football Field and we meet the one of the other Groups and another Vicar who’s older.
Not before long we find have a football, and all of the boys start playing football. For some people, this game is known better as Soccer, or to give it’s more official title Association Football, actually we’re playing a very informal variation of it. I’m not that a good player and I don’t really play as aggressive as most of the rest of them do. The girls spend the time chatting and watching the football.
After bad Light stops play, we walk to though an industrial estate. To my surprise there us a church is built here. This is the older vicar’s church. Walk back to the younger vicar’s vicarage, before we to head back to the Warehouse Church, that we’re staying on.
We stay up, talk and drink Hot chocolate as our supper, until “lights out.” During the supper, I get hold of several peoples Phone numbers, I ringing some peoples Number, and hang up as they about pick up. I call this “Pranking.” The UK Mobile Phone or cell phone services doesn’t charge for connecting you to call that doesn’t pick up. I was about to ring my Mobile to Prank James, when I receive a phone call just before I hit the “Dial/Pick up” Button. So I answer the phone call. It is Ged and Gavin, friends from Leigh, both of whom were intending to get my Voice mail. I let them know how I doing.
I get to sleep earlier than last night.
Day 3 Wednesday
This morning is bit quieter, than that the previous day. This morning I had a Shower, cross the road in a sports centre. The Church is near to TWO universities, and as a result sports centre is nearby. Due to the time, and my tiredness, I didn’t get I almost walked in to the Ladies changing room, partly as this place doesn’t have signs on the door, but by the door.
Back to the Warehouse Church, Chris the Teacher is actually teaching today. Whilst the X-cellerate team are here, Collette is not. Chris’ Teaching style is very amusing; we all got a Laugh from it. The X-cellerate team goes off again at Lunch. Today, it’s egg salad. I have more the white and yellow objects, and less of the green stuff.
After Lunch My group heads out to the Church that we Visited last night. I presume all the other groups did the same. For a legal paper, I was signing before I could work with the, it could read that I could be in trouble being alone, without any one nearby, as the paper work is designed for adults to sign, as they would be working with children.
We get a physical task today, we’re to clean a back alley of rubbish. This is basically the main “attraction” to this type of event, so we’re all dressed appropriately. Several of us have brought back packs, to carry some items in. Cathy, has a small back pack, complete with smiley face badges, as seen in Tomb Rader: The Last Revelation game.
Several of Greater Manchester’s Streets were built in the Victorian Times. They often had an access road behind the terraced houses.
We almost clear the street of by the time for the late afternoon. The vicar brings us back to his vicarage, to give us time to freshen up.
We then head over to his church where in a back room their kitchen was serving the evening meal. This meal is fish and chips.
After we eaten we head over to the same area where we played football, and the boys play football and I sit and chat with the girls. I find that some of the girls are probably nearly double my age of 17, one even mentions that she is engaged.
The football stops after the light get bad. Most of the Kids and our group head to the church in the industrial estate, where refreshments and a few amusements are taking place. There were no computer games, but several packs of cards.
At 10, we head back to the Warehouse church. As we’re settling, the beans the boys had make them selves known, both audibly and Smelly.
Day 4 Thursday
This morning is similar to the previous two. I didn’t have a shower as we can really only do one every other day.
There is a lot more praying done today. Someone wanted to acted out, something..
At dinner, Red Head Hannah sits next to me. I ask the question, “Is the Cook a fan gaseous foods? … You know they all make you hum tunes at night, like the boys did last night! … I’ll come out straight.. makes you Fart!” I got a Eww from that. They shouldn’t let me steam a head when I had the chance. She shrugged it off after the “Eww.” If you’re going to took and she comes back, she's yours. If you Poots and she bolts, then it was never meant to be.
After Lunch, we head back to the church, we clean the street properly, and then we wash up and then had a sing along in the Vicarage. Phil played the Guitar, which is the 12 String variety. After a few songs we got some food.
We head to the football field and separate in to groups. One group stayed playing football and the other headed to the church in Industrial Estate. I was in the group which went to the church. I do several things, one of them is fail at a Card trick.
On the way back to our warehouse church, we do something that is very dangerous and is illegal certain locations. We swapped passengers in the cars at the traffic Lights, in the city centre of Manchester, at 10pm on a Thursday night. Chris the Student managed to get caught out when Lights changed. He managed to run it back to our warehouse church, as it’s only a half a mile from where he got out.
As we’re getting relaxed we find that Tom has his hair trimmed, in the Room where the boys sleep, mainly as it’s tiled, so it’s very easy to clean.
Day 5 Friday
This morning it’s my turn in the shower, and on the way back, I notice some of the Xcellerate team around as I’m having breakfast.
I even spot Colette in the kitchen during the morning lesson and prayer session. I’ve not seen her since Tuesday morning. This session was drier than the previous one.
Just before Lunch, the apparent confinement as an effect on Tom, Woody and Chris the Student, as the invade the kitchen and nab some bananas. They “escape” by vaulting over counter and run to the stairs, just before several girls head down stairs to sort themselves out.
At lunch, we get an announcement that the afternoon is our day off, and the evening there is a Movie in the girls room. As the team is deciding the Movies. I make comments about the Films.
Wayne’s World: “Swing!”
Gladiator: “My Name is Maximus. General Dave of the Third Trunk in Siberia,” (As in reply to, “What is your name, Gladiator?”)
Since we have a few hours to spare, we head in to Manchester, as I’m one of the “locals”, people are wanting to follow me. We start by heading to a Famous Coffee Shop Chain on the road called Deansgate, where we get a drink. The Mocha is not brilliant. To lighten mood Blonde Hannah and James sings a song. I am reminded what a sudden rush of caffeine does my bladder does, and step out the room for a little while.
After a bit of a chat, some of the people want to go shopping, I have happened to mentioned that I wanted to buy an item in a stall in Afflecks. Affleck’s Palace as it was known in 2001, is an indoor market which stocks some of the more weirder items. I wanted a bracelet.
Before we got there we stopped in Piccadilly Gardens where, red head Hannah buys some Hair dye and I get some batteries for my Walkman, and some cash, as I expecting to pay cash in Afflecks.
As I’ve only been to Affecks once before, I got a little lost on the way in. Before I find my bearings, Hannah and her friend does missing. They jump out at me wearing the wings on some of the plastic heads. After a few giggles, they do put the wigs back and I get find the store with the Bracelet I want.
We arrive back to the ware house church, as I’m showing of my Purchases, I spot Colette and several members of the Xcellerate team in the Kitchen. They’re cooking, or at least it appears to be, by the chaos the Kitchen.
The Xcellerate team set a large table in the Lecture room, as the Café area is at full capacity just with the DNA group. Both Teams have chilli. It could be the last proper meal for the next few days.
As the Xcellerate team clears up and head home, several of the DNA team start watching the movie on a video projector in the Girls room. The evening movie is “Wayne’s World.” “Wow, what a totally excellent discovery— NOT!”
As the Movie finishes, I find that Woody and Phil got their hair cut. Phil’s Snake tongue was enhanced by some hair dye left over from Red Head Hannah’s purchase.
2k1: The Urban Adventure
Day 6 Saturday
I’m barely awake when I’m up and in a Minibus that fits most of the DNA team. The Bus takes us though Manchester, and miss the turn off. (Sat Nav was uncommon in 2001, particularly for cars.)
We arrive at the Venue for most of the Worship sessions, a Large Circus-type tent in Bulie Hill Park. We queue ups to our passes and to get in to the Tent. Steve from Xcellerate come up and has a chat, we joke about the fact he’s got preferencal treatment, and we’ve got to queue. The Xcellerate team have a special role, and their passes allow them to in places mine will not.
The queue is long, but moves quite quickly. Remember I said that my Welcome Pack was returned, this is actually the first time I see the address for my non-existent house, as I am to prove my identity. I’m now though the gates, and in to The Message 2k1: The Urban Adventure.
The DNA team have a Promo Pack they need setting up. There is a smaller tent, with a few areas for Promotion. Besides Pioneer, the Trust behind the DNA school, there is Cross Rhythms, a Christian Radio station, with a Radio DJ Desk. There will be more about more on Cross Rhythms later.
We quickly head to the Large Tent where a Stage is set up; there are several large screens that are showing the Event logo.
Andy Hawthorne, being the Mc, welcomes us the 2k1 and introduces the band Phat Fish. Phat Fish are only a few bands that actually have survived at all 8 years after this event. Phat Fish line up changed a few times, but there has been a Lead Female singer, Guitarist and a keyboardist and Drummer. Their website is: http://www.phatfish.net/ The songs choices today and every morning were for worship, and were made to sing along to. The Screens displayed the words.
After a few songs, Mike Pilivachi of Soul Survivor, did a sermon. He has just finished the event which is not far from Bath called Soul Survivor, which is 2 five-day events, similar to this, except that the lack of Street cleaning we are about to do.
After a few more songs, Matt Wilson, a person who works for the Message full time, comes on and gives the safety reminders. Since this event involves a lot of people around my age. They are recommending people not to go in stranger’s houses. Since it is August, there is little excuse to go in houses to get warm! We’re to get given T-Shirts that have the event Logo on to help identify us. To help us out the Police are escorting us around.
Matt and Andy then finished the service, and let us disperse in out of the tent.
The DNA team being one of the larger groups here took the area between the two tents, partly as the DNA team needed a few people to manage their stall. We got T-shirts and as we’re sorting out, several photo where taken of us. I later found out that I was used in one of the images in the press packs for later events. Most of us had only to choose between Large and Extra Large, which is fine for a 6 foot male, but for a 5 foot zero Female, the Extra larges could have been dresses. I took an extra large as Cathy wanted the few Larges available.
I wandered around, whist I waited for food, I just avoided getting on a Photo of the Xcellerate team, which later was used for the Xcellerate School promotional material.
I began to feel a little funny, as there was a problem with us getting food. But that was sorted out soon after. Lunch was a Sandwich, a packet of crisps and a canned drink, all in the Supermarket branding, which was sponsoring the event.
After we eat we met our police escorts, they knew where we’re going, or will do. We get a little lost on directions, as they’re checking. With several of our groups I go in to a store, I purchase some Credit for my Mobile phone. My Phone is on a “Pay as you go” or a “pre-paid” Price plan. To put simply, I need to purchase phone credit to use my phone. I tried, what was at the time, a new system had just come out. This system allowed me to pass over a Card, which looked like a Credit card, which is registered to my phone, with my cash. The shop keeper will take the cash and put the card in a machine that tells the phone company that I’ve just purchased some credit. By 2009, this is now a common method to put credit on a Pre-paid Phone in the UK.
We then headed to the Duchy estate, which is on the other side of the Main road in to Manchester and Salford from Liverpool. This area is newer than the Victorians streets we did last week, but the like those streets this area is has quite a few terraced houses.
Phil and I go and pick up some litter off the street. We fill a bin bag, before we arrive back to go for the evening meal. The evening meal is at Pub.
Pubs are not the naturally a place to find me. This is made more apparent here, that I’m not a drinker, and at 17, I’m in a questionable area for drinking Alcohol. So I stay safe and order cokes with my meal, actually, none of the DNA team have a Beer.
As we’re finish our meal, we then realise the time and have to run it back for the evening concert. Our T-Shirts are our passes, for the concert. We’re supposed to give out tickets. I didn’t but Phil and I didn’t have change to give out his and mine, but we’ve got all another 4 days to it.
Andy Hawthorne is being the MC, as he will be doing all week. He introduces the Guest Act, V*enna, a girl group, that had been described as sounding like “Britney Spears,” by the man in the store. (This was 2001 and Britney had only burst on the scene, and was still on her Good Girl charm.) V*enna’s act wasn’t that spectacular, but it was nice.
Here’s some Info about this band, it’s was owned by Innveration, as their Flagship band. These girls, apparently, later disbanded to make way for “thebandwithnoname.” As a result of their disbandment in 2002, there is very little of the band catalogue available to buy today. Most of the bands that attended this event are not even selling CDs.
During this act, I found Collette who had found some place to bounce around in. It was near the Sound desk which is always some distance back from the stage.
After the Act was an In-house Tv show, called “Message TV”. This was present in 2000, and had the similar formula. Matt Wilson goes around the places the delegates are and films us, either us just doing work or in several cases for interviews. Today, the back of the heads of Tom and Phil where shown during the intro. Their hair style had caught the cameras when we were signing in.
Andy Hawthorne, introduced his next guest, a former World Wide Message Tribe member Cameron Dante. Cameron Dante has been though several line ups of the World Wide Message Tribe, most of the Changes were due to backing members leaving. This Guy according to Mad for Jesus by Andy Hawthorne, after he became a Christian spend most of the nights until he got married sleeping on his and then Girlfriend’s sofa. This is a guy who doesn’t talk the talk, he also walks the walk.
After Andy left the stage, Cameron started to talk about Andy Hawthorne on a plane. The Air stewardess made the mistake of handing the Mic to Andy. This is what Andy said, according to Dante, “YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!” Yup, Andy shouted one of biggest bad things you can shout on a plane. I should make it clear that this event on the plane was clearly before August 2001, and Andy had left the band in 1998, and Cameron had left in 1999. Dante states that all the band at the time was on the plane, was going, “Oh No, don’t throw us off the plane.”
Collette, who is also a Former WWMT member, claims to have no knowledge of the event, however, she joined the group after Cameron Date did. She only left in the last line up change.
The Tribe came on and did their trade mark Song, “Jumping in the house of God,” This song is the most familiar song, it was originally done in the days when Andy Hawthorne and Cameron Dante were in the band. This song that has been done for most of the concerts since the song was put in to regular use.
There is a particular “Dance” to this song. I had an attempt of the Chorus, before I got noticed by Collette and she tutored me in the correct moves.
The current Team does some Aerobatic Tricks on the stage. It’s commented by several stage hands that when Lindsay does a run for a “Flip-a-rooney”, a Flip off a wall on a prepared part of the stage, that he runs in to it at high speed, that some people have moved out the way in case of a miss. These stages usually have backing cloth, and there is a panel fastened to a strut for Lindsay to use.
The power failed During the Jumping in the House of God. So lights and Music suddenly stopped. Someone had snagged the leads. The accident was timed well although.
I took the opportunity to take the trip to the loo. I got another yell from behind to me. This time it was Scottish Steve. I didn’t tell him that I’d be doing this event so it was a surprised meeting. I end up introducing him to several of the DNA team.
MIC did a set in the Main tent. I caught the last song. I spotted a stand with merchandise on it. I got a Tribe Branded hat, which bares resemblances to the hat that Fred Durst wears.
As I left I bumped in to Phil and Tom, we passed Xcelleate’s Steve, who jokingly asked us for our autograph, as Phil and Tom were on the big Screens.
We head to the tent as a gathering point as the DNA stand is there. We take some of the more costly items away. As we’re doing so, The Radio DJ for Cross Rhythms tries and fails to get a DNA team to yell on the radio.
The Bus arrives later than we expect. After we get on the bus we come across a large traffic jam. As this is the last weekend before the end of the school holidays, it is very crazy, as there are some events happening.
We get in and almost all of us just fall straight asleep.
Day 7 Sunday
This morning was very rushed. The church is having their usual Sunday service. The usual church members need the boys room in a state for them to use. So, us boys have move our stuff out the way.
We clear it out the room, partly as we’re living out of our bags for the last week, it’s very quick to clear up. We need to be quick as the minibus won’t wait for long.
We get on our minibus, but as we’re about to leave we re realise we were missing red head Hannah. After a few moments, she comes out, appearing to be wearing just the 2k1 Tshirt. Her trainers are in her hands. But she is appearing to be wearing just the shirt!
As we start moving, I mutter, “I thought that was a T-shirt.. I didn’t know it was dress.” Upon hearing this she shows me her hip, and her shorts.
We get to the Tent, and since we’re all signed in we just need to show our passes to get in.
We’re getting comfortable as the people behind the stage are almost ready. They showed a video series of video clips with Lindsay from The Tribe, and a few people, including a IT Guy I know that works at The Message, getting in one of the wheeled Sound system cases, getting some of his friends to push him to a near some unsuspecting victims. Lindsay either pinches them or does a Jack in the box impersonation.
After this video, Andy Hawthorne officially started the days proceedings, by introducing the worship band, He@t. He@t is a local church band, who’s able to gather a large monthly Friday meeting. This band doesn’t have a strict line up but the core members are the same. This group was noted to be possibly going up in the world, but they are lacking any there own material. The music played is as expected the usual modern hymns.
Andy today takes introduces the person in charge of The Message’s Eden Salford. This guy talked about a friend he had and how we should be more like him. He is a very much a doing person, he has so much drive to do some more mundane tasks, it more makes the Eden Salford a bit crazy. You could say this guy was serving the leader of Eden Salford.
The Bible has a few things to say, about this:
1 Peter 4:10 (King James Version)
10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
After a few more songs Andy introduced a few members of the Salford City Reds rugby team. This team is one of the sponsors, and as based in Salford they will see the effects. They’re playing this evening and we prayed for their success.
After the Prayer the morning worship wrapped up. I took another look in to the tent. This time Mike Rimmer of the Cross Rhythms show Rimmerama. He is doing the Midday show from the Publicity tent instead of the usual location of the Cross Rhythms Studio.
Mike Rimmer is quite approachable, even during the show. Although, he won’t speak to your when he is on air, mainly as he’s speaking to the audience.
After Lunch, as expected the same choices of sandwich filling and drinks and crisps. After Lunch the police escorts from the previous day took us to the place we were yesterday.
Today, we are clearing another Back alley. This had more overgrown grass and weeds than the amount of rubbish than the one that we cleared last week. Since I now had a working radio, I spend some of the time listening to the Radio 1 Chart count down.
This is Sunday, and almost every Sunday they play the UK top 40 Singles in from the 40th on the chart all the way to Number 1. This takes most of the afternoon, considering that they have to play over 40 songs which are 3 to 7 minutes long.
We get the alley clear by four. We have a drink of Orange Juice, before we have to walk to get out our tea is at a Fast Food restaurant, on the other side of Salford. On the way Hannah ends up listening to my radio with me. I kind of regretted that as the song they put up, was a single from the summer kids movie, which was bit of a flop, but it passed the time, in both the cinema and on the walk in.
At the fast food restaurant, we mess around for a small while as the food is being prepared. Actually I just get caught in the cross fire as DNA team members mess around. I should make it clear that almost all the all the DNA team are older than me, and it’s not my place to tell them off for using straws as a cheep pee shooters.
The Cheeseburger was not brilliant, but considering that almost the entire main tent was here. I didn’t complain. Although Cathy managed to be wearing a familiar hat... Wait, that’s my hat!
After we eaten, and I got my hat back, we head back and arrive for the evening acts in the tent. We arrive late, and miss most of the first act, MIC. They play a song which I believe to be their signature tune.
Andy Hawthorne introduces today’s Speaker. He is a former Police officer and is a bit of a laugh. Andy also introduced with The Tribes Emma, who is a former Police officer. They have the silly quote of the night. Emma: “Just to confirm: I am Pregnant,” Ex-Bobby: “I’d also like to confirm that I’m NOT Pregnant!”
Shine is another all girl band. I’d seen them before at the Message 2000, and they had me moving then. Tonight, I got dancing. Like The Tribe, their live shows are excellent, and their CDs are not too in the same leauge. They had one of the Tribe’s Studio people behind them, which explains a lot about the feel. I’d say their best song is Heaven Noise. Sadly, the band is in apparently not around anymore.
One problem with Shine I have at this time is that they didn’t feel like main act, which is expected, as the Tribe was the Main Act.
After the Song they showed a Video know as Message TV. They interviewed X-cellerate’s Steve and Colette.
The Tribe having a large catalogue of songs to choose from did three songs they didn’t do yesterday.
We head back to Kings Church. After we get in to our sleeping bags, I turn on my Radio and catch the Big Ben ringing at Midnight on Radio 4.
Day 8 Monday
Waking up this morning was different to say the least, mainly, as what I said during my sleep. (All I will say the dream involved a girl and my hat.) Breakfast was done early, but the showers are closed due to the fact that today is Bank Holiday Monday. Bank Holidays are days where the Great British Banks are officially closed. Schools and several of the businesses will be opening their doors, today.
We get to the Main Tent quite quickly as there is a large amount of traffic not present for school and work traffic.
When we get in the tent there is another video of Lindsay West doing something silly. This time it is him and his mates jumping in to retail bins, and getting people to push the bin around. I later found out that this was recorded in Soul Survivor 2001, an event which was held that finished a few days before this.
He@t take the stage for worship for a second day. They seem better today, mainly they’ve performed here yesterday. This He@t band line up more or less, is the one the group that went down to one of the Soul Survivor churches in 2005. They have appeared on a few Soul Survivor Branded CDs, one was their album and the other is a Compilation.
In the morning Sermon, Andy talks about the regular Message’s Magazine column he writes. It’s named “Andy’s Rant,” which in some issues can be considered to be one. In this section, Andy talks about some of the bigger or Personal topics relating to the Message Trust.
We have lunch and then head to the Duchy Estate. Today we’re are clearing some gardens, or we would be if people were in. Today is sunny and most people are out enjoying the sun. We walk around most of the longer streets, looking for a garden to clear. I should make clear, that if we clear someone’s garden without permission, we get in to trouble.
We find one job that just needs a skip, but we can’t get one as most of the skips in Salford are being used for Message 2k1. We end up doing a bit of weeding in a garden.
We are very glad for drinks that they keep giving us, as this is one of the hottest days so far. Despite all the drinks, some of us are quite stinky, as we’ve not had a shower for several days. The Police officers let us know that we can use the one in changing rooms for a football Pitch.
Myself and few others come need to freshen up. We quickly discover that the place was intended for single sex changing rooms, and has little privacy, especially in the shower. So the lads go in first.
ARRG!! We discover that the water comes in Cold or Freezing. It was a shock when you’re used to 18C or higher temperatures, and we were out in the hottest parts of the day.
After our quick shower, we get dressed in one of the side rooms. Some of us are done quickly, others brought just about everything for a nightout. Before he finished Hannah now with wet hair and a change some of clothes tell us to make a move on. Apparently this guy takes longer getting ready than girls do, and I heard girls make-up sessions can take quite some time.
We head to the pub, it’s open today. We watch the cricket highlights as I wait for the meal. Some of the DNA have already eaten by the time, I get my meal. Then I show my Whirlwind action with the food. Eating at the rate I did could give you indigestion, especially if you do some very active footwork, for example jumping and hopping, afterwards.
Since my meal was late, we had to run to main tent. We arrive for the Tribe’s opening act. Their second song is “Take Back the Beat” which is the track from the album of the same name. This is first time I hear the track, and I discover that Emma can really rap. In previous albums, Emma didn’t do much singing, mainly as she started as dancer, But with Cameron Dante leaving Emma took the up the Singing role where Dante would have sung. (I think she may have taken some Tim lines when Tim takes Dante’s.)
The Tribe does Jumping in the House of God, including Emma, who does do not some of the more “Aerobatic” Moves that the lads do. Whist I jump, I have to keep an eye out for those around me, I notice that MIC, the other “resident” band, were doing the number with us in the crowd.
MIC are a 4 man R&B band from South Africa, and features both black and white members. They’ve been around for several years, until December 2007 when they announced their farewell tour. They’re area good at working the crowd and could be the best of the concerts, in act wise for this week.
After this song, Andy begins his chat with, “Emma is dedicated; she’s eight months pregnant and still does Jumping in the House of God.”
Most of the evening happened like the previous days, but the noticeable exception is the lack Message TV. I find out that the equipment had been broken from the Official Message Trust forum that was started later in year.
As the event was quite short, we have to wait for out ride back to Kings Church. I have a Cup of tea with several of the girls. We talk about what we’re are going to be doing in the near future. I mention that I’m going to college. I’d like to join them but apparently I’m underage. (I did read some of the Promo Material that the DNA Team had in the Promo tent)
After settling down for the night back in King Church, I put on my radio. Radio 4 was running a small interview/documentary that featured a Blind Artist. That show started the ball rolling on my stories as accessible as I can, such a podcast, and DRM free e-Books.
This book was actually being considered in one of several forms at this point in time.
Day 9 Tuesday
Today, I miss on the action, as I actually have to sort out college. I sort what A-levels I’m doing. Given that the Educational system had an over haul which came into effect in September 2000, I am actually doing an AS level, then to replace said qualification with an A2 Level. The A2 Level is the equivalent of the older A-Level.
So I had to pop home to sort this out, using the same route in. I get clean clothes and stuff for the next two days and check my email. As expected, the new mail in the box was just mail-shots. I also say hi to the cat. He will be a faithful writing companion, for when I write this up.
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