Thanks for offering me the Saturday slot.
I'd like to propose writing about Apple Day.
This is celebrated annually on 21st October, and this year it's actually a Saturday so there are lots of events planned.
That sounds great.
We'll need 1000 words, ideally covering all aspects of the celebrations and with a slant towards the London area (or any of the other topic areas on the approved list).
Please outline the general thrust you propose to take.
Also do you have any relevant photos?
Opening sting: Everybody likes apples! Introduction: Origins of Apple Day (invented by Dorset based charity Common Ground in 1990, then it sort of took off nationally). Apples: There are many types (Google a list of funny apple names, pick ten or so). Cultural references: Garden of Eden, William Tell, Steve Jobs. Talking point: proposal to make Apple Day a public holiday (ideal because October 21st falls in the middle of a 4-month bank holiday desert) Report from an Apple Day event: Some years they have one at Valence House (I thought this might have relevance with recent posts) List of Apple Day events: e.g. Barnes, Dulwich Estate, Eastendbrook Park, Thames Chase London Streets called Apple: e.g. Apple Grove, Enfield, Pippin Close, Croydon
I've only got one apple in the fridge. This is just a quick shot of it balanced on a gas bill envelope. Will that do?
• Please find a different opening sentence. Not everybody likes apples, I hate the things.
• Please use the phrase "then it sort of took off" in your final report. It's very on brand for the diamond geezer blog.
• Do try and include Egremont Russet and Bloody Ploughman in your funny apple names list. Also I hear there's a Core Blimey!
The bank holiday thing is brilliant. A much better idea than Trafalgar Day! It's a shame October 21st isn't always a Monday, but 'the nearest Monday to October 21st' is always the week before the clocks go back, so that's perfect.
Have you actually been to an Apple Day event? I know some places go early, but we always publish at 7am so you won't be able to report on an event that takes place in the afternoon.
Also, can you get to Enfield and Croydon and take photos of the street signs on Apple Grove and Pippin Close. We don't use lazy Google Streetview screenshots on this blog.
For the main photos obviously we'd prefer a Granny Smith in an orchard and a group of indistinguishable children at an Apple Day event, but your apple on an envelope will do as a placeholder for now. Do you know what type it is?
I was counting on attending an Apple Day in person and reporting whimsically on the attendees, the craft ciders, the dubious corn dollies, the farmers market, the morris dancers and the glum children who'd prefer to be at home playing with their X-Boxes. I see now that I can't do this and reach the necessary deadline so we'll have to scrub that.
Also I wasn't intending to go to Enfield or Croydon, they're at opposite ends of the capital for heaven's sake. I can't believe anyone who writes for this blog ever goes to these godforsaken non-entity suburban locations and attempts to write about them simply because they have seasonally-relevant names, where would be the public interest in that?
