Day 1 of the SPART Action Winter Games. 7th Feb. 2008 The Day got off to a heart racing start with a series of warm up routines led by SPARTists and members of the public who came to join in. The Warm-ups were accompanied by our favorite music from the 1980's and we all made a special effort to dress up nice for the occasion. We have awarded a special prize to the Stocky Jesus himself: Kristoff Gillon, for his excellent warm-up routine. We found it most stimulating. After much parading around in sports wear, flag waving and victory laps, we mounted a guard of honor and invited a member of the public to cut a ribbon for us as a symbolic gesture to officially begin the games. Several people refused, one saying that she was afraid in case her work colleagues saw her and it endangered her job in some way. We don't know why this might be the case, but hey! maybe she worked for some real stiffs. Eventually a really nice older woman who was out doing her shopping agreed to cut the ribbon. Purple Rain by Prince was playing. What can I say: It was Magical. After a quick rest we tried to drum up some support for a game of Psychonautic hide and seek Unfortunately a lecture at the near by University of Ulster Art School seemed to be stealing our audience. So, after a great effort by The Grid, we managed to drum up a few players and off we went. In the end, there was only 8 of us playing, which made it quite a challenge. The teams were: The grid and Jane Me (Justin) and Kate Mark and Sarah The Guy above and Lucy Mark and sarah Where the first to hide. We gave them 15 minutes to get out of site. The Grid and Jane split. Kate and I got out a key, hung it from the lace of one of my DM boots, and we tried to divine where Mark and Sarah were hiding. I was being pulled in the direction of Cornmarket. We thought we'd try there. Something in my head was telling me they were hiding in the Paul Rankin Cafe, that was just off Arthur's square at the end of Cornmarket. when we got there the Cafe was closed down. I then realized that maybe what was causing the pull on the pendulum was in fact the Masonic hall on the corner of Arthur st and Ann St. 'Interesting' I thought. Kate then suggested using a random dowsing technique. Basically, I through my key over my shoulder onto a map of Belfast to see where they landed. They landed off the map and one of my key chains broke. We tried again. This time it landed on Franklin St. Fair enough we thought, lets try there. When we arrived at Franklin St we had a quick look in Bar Bacca, just in case they were in there. They were not. Just then we saw Jane and The Grid coming down the Franklin street. 'What the hell are you doing here!?' they shouted. We asked the same thing. The Grid told us that he had used a random dowsing technique which involve sprinkling sugar on a map of Belfast and then blowing it off to see which are sugar remained on. He said sugar remained on Franklin St, so they had came down to check it out. We all had a look around, but couldn't find Mark and Sarah... Above: Everyone at the Start of the Games   The grid got out a picture of Mark, and I got out some gay stickers and made a Ouija Board. We used a key and the photo of Mark to dowse a map of Belfast. We then asked the Ouija board of the location we had divined was correct. It said it was. So we headed for Ormeau Embankment.When we got there, I figured they might have gone into the Ormeau Baths Gallery. We had a quick look and discovered it was closed. We thought this was a bit odd as this is exactly the area of Ormeau Embankment that our divination located. Then we realized they might be in the Spring and Airbreak bar on the other side of the road facing the Ormeau Baths. We went in and there they were!! One nil to Me and The Grid for being so psychic!We hung around for a bit feeling impressed at our own efforts. Then I hit the road, as I had to go and help Meabh get ready for the evenings game of Cripple Mr Shithead in the Eye with the Hot Sauce. When I got home, Meabh already and the place ready for the game. I felt a bit shit because I had been out having fun and she had been slogging away getting everything ready. I decided I owed her one. Everyone eventually arrived to play the game. Most people Arrive between 8pm and 9pm. The first through the door was Paul and Caroline (picture below). After a while we all got down to playing Cripple Mr Shithead in the Eye with the Hot Sauce. This game is essentially a parody of poker games Texas Hold'em, with a few extra hands and rules thrown in for good measure. The other important thing to know is that you don't bet money, but rather units of your own time. So if people win your chips then you go to spend some time with them doing what ever it is they want doing. The game went well. The Gird and me were the first loose all our chips and other followed. At the end the people with the most chips were Mark, Paul, Ben and Sarah. What a night. I'd lost but I'd enjoyed it. I think I owe the most time to Mark. Back to Main Games page Day 2 Day 3