My mini blog... http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:09:57 GMT http://starzoogle.com no fluffy bunnies http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=1022147 No, I don't have a problem with cute, little, furry creatures. In fact I actually quite like cute, little, furry creatures. But I do have a problem with old, boring and stale magic. And to me that type of magic is represented by two things; old men in brown suits and fluffy bunnies. As much as I was tempted by the name no old men in brown suits I thought the name no fluffy bunnies was better. So what is no fluffy bunnies? no fluffy bunnies (written in lower case to be cool and arty) is my new magic company. But its not just any old magic company. no fluffy bunnies&nbsp;specialises in creating living adverts for companies and businesses of all sizes. These adverts come complete with special fx and are aimed at those businesses who advertise at trade shows or hold special events for their VIP customers or the press. Each show is unique and delivers the product or service message in an entertaining way using custom slight-of-hand, a little psychology and a truck load of showmanship. If you've not already found it check out <a href="http://www.nofluffybunnies.com">www.NoFluffyBunnies.com for more info or <a href="./contact.cfm">contact me directly to make booking or talk about how no fluffy bunnies can help your business.
But I do have a problem with old, boring and stale magic. And to me that type of magic is represented by two things; old men in brown suits and fluffy bunnies.

As much as I was tempted by the name no old men in brown suits I thought the name no fluffy bunnies was better.

So what is no fluffy bunnies?

no fluffy bunnies (written in lower case to be cool and arty) is my new magic company. But its not just any old magic company. no fluffy bunnies specialises in creating living adverts for companies and businesses of all sizes. These adverts come complete with special fx and are aimed at those businesses who advertise at trade shows or hold special events for their VIP customers or the press.

Each show is unique and delivers the product or service message in an entertaining way using custom slight-of-hand, a little psychology and a truck load of showmanship.

If you've not already found it check out www.NoFluffyBunnies.com for more info or contact me directly to make booking or talk about how no fluffy bunnies can help your business.
]]> Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:09:57 GMT 56EA67C603775AAF4744284A2C964B68 The Secret Challenges - UPDATED 6TH MAY 2011 http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=836139 People often ask me if escapology is just something I do as a performance art or if its something I would do anyway, and the answer is quite honestly the latter. I would practice escaping from stuff even if I wasn't a performer. It just so happens that people seem to enjoy watching me do my hobby and are willing to pay to see it. That is something I'll always be hugely grateful for. The stuff I perform and the stuff I do just for the fun of doing it are two different things though. For example, I've sat for hours with a pair of high security Hiatt HSS9s round my wrists trying to pick the double lock off. Then once its off I re-lock the cuffs and start from the beginning trying to pick my way out once more. Its not something the general public want to see. So I will never add that to my show. But it is something I enjoy doing. I thrive on the challenge of setting myself an impossible task and after a lot of pain, blood, sweat and even the odd tear managing to actually escape. Thats not to say I haven't performed tough challenges in public. The cuff that I was challenged with in Llandudno last year was a genuine, old skool escape challenge that I tackled in front of an audience of 10000. Likewise the World Record that I'll be attempting later this year is also a genuine escape challenge that will be open to the public. Anyone who stands there for the whole hour deserves their own World Record for watching a man remove handcuff after handcuff after... You get the idea. But most of the escape challenges I face are between myself and fellow escape artists. This past weekend I was challenged by Dorset's own Weasel Dandaw. He strapped me into a regulation Posey straitjacket but instead of having the arms in front of the body in the regulation fashion he opted to strap my arms behind me! This truly was the first time I'd ever had this done and really had no idea what I was going to do to get out. But before an audience of escape artists (including the World's Most Handcuffed Man), handcuff collectors, Houdini historians and master locksmiths I managed to free myself in just under 15 minutes. As I type some four days after the attempt my shoulders are still bruised and very sore, but at least I did it! No money changed hands. No press were invited. The general public would've had no idea that the challenge was laid down, accepted and that success was mine. The only reason I tell you now is purely as an example of the kinds of things that do go on within the crazy, mixed up World of the escape artist. Other challenges have been set in the past. More challenges will be set in the future. And the only reason is for the fun of it, and nothing more. In the coming weeks I'll be adding some pictures to my <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/RoslynWalkerFans">Facebook page&nbsp;of a few of these &quot;secret challenges&quot;, but they will only be made available to those of you who are members. Hopefully this will include the straitjacket from last weekend. UPDATE - 6TH MAY 2011 As promised I've put some new pictures up on my Facebook page of the Secret Challenge session I went to back in March of this year. Alongside a couple of pictures of me attempting the McKenzie Mitts you will find a series of images depicting my escape from a regulation Posey straitjacket with my arms secured behind my back. Just seeing these pictures brings back painful memories of bleeding fingers and bruised shoulders. The actual time of the escape has been confirmed at 14 minutes and 27 seconds and it is believed that I may be the first person to successfully complete such an escape, which is pretty cool.
The stuff I perform and the stuff I do just for the fun of doing it are two different things though.

For example, I've sat for hours with a pair of high security Hiatt HSS9s round my wrists trying to pick the double lock off. Then once its off I re-lock the cuffs and start from the beginning trying to pick my way out once more.

Its not something the general public want to see. So I will never add that to my show. But it is something I enjoy doing. I thrive on the challenge of setting myself an impossible task and after a lot of pain, blood, sweat and even the odd tear managing to actually escape.

Thats not to say I haven't performed tough challenges in public. The cuff that I was challenged with in Llandudno last year was a genuine, old skool escape challenge that I tackled in front of an audience of 10000.

Likewise the World Record that I'll be attempting later this year is also a genuine escape challenge that will be open to the public. Anyone who stands there for the whole hour deserves their own World Record for watching a man remove handcuff after handcuff after... You get the idea.

But most of the escape challenges I face are between myself and fellow escape artists.

This past weekend I was challenged by Dorset's own Weasel Dandaw. He strapped me into a regulation Posey straitjacket but instead of having the arms in front of the body in the regulation fashion he opted to strap my arms behind me!

This truly was the first time I'd ever had this done and really had no idea what I was going to do to get out. But before an audience of escape artists (including the World's Most Handcuffed Man), handcuff collectors, Houdini historians and master locksmiths I managed to free myself in just under 15 minutes. As I type some four days after the attempt my shoulders are still bruised and very sore, but at least I did it!

No money changed hands. No press were invited. The general public would've had no idea that the challenge was laid down, accepted and that success was mine.

The only reason I tell you now is purely as an example of the kinds of things that do go on within the crazy, mixed up World of the escape artist.

Other challenges have been set in the past. More challenges will be set in the future. And the only reason is for the fun of it, and nothing more.

In the coming weeks I'll be adding some pictures to my Facebook page of a few of these "secret challenges", but they will only be made available to those of you who are members.

Hopefully this will include the straitjacket from last weekend.


UPDATE - 6TH MAY 2011

As promised I've put some new pictures up on my Facebook page of the Secret Challenge session I went to back in March of this year. Alongside a couple of pictures of me attempting the McKenzie Mitts you will find a series of images depicting my escape from a regulation Posey straitjacket with my arms secured behind my back. Just seeing these pictures brings back painful memories of bleeding fingers and bruised shoulders.

The actual time of the escape has been confirmed at 14 minutes and 27 seconds and it is believed that I may be the first person to successfully complete such an escape, which is pretty cool.
]]> Sat, 07 May 2011 03:20:00 GMT 17467C140EE912EF959C55D727BE2224 Straitjackets: Do they still make them? http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=951310 As followers of my fan page will know I've just started a little bit of research on the perception of escapology and escape artists and my first question was asking whether they believed that once a person has learnt how to escape from a straitjacket they know how to escape from all straitjackets. Well one of the most interesting answers was actually another question: &quot;They still make straitjackets?&quot; So I thought I'd better address this straight away with the simple answer is yes they are still made, and not only that they are also still used in various countries around the World. If like me you are from the UK then straitjacket use ceased quite a few years ago. In fact many of us are simply not old enough to remember straitjackets ever being used in our country, they certainly haven't been in use during the 30 years I've been on this planet. However, that doesn't mean they are not used elsewhere. The USA restraint company, Posey, manufacture a straitjacket that is still very much in use. This is also the same straitjacket you will see me using if you come to any of my shows. The Posey is very distinctive in that it has loops attached to the jacket to prevent the arms from being taken over the head. It also has a crotch strap that goes between the legs and the neck is always nice and wide to prevent strangulation. You will also see a coloured band going around the neck, mine is yellow but you may also see red or green. This coloured band isn't for decoration, remember this restraint isn't a &quot;prop&quot; created for a show its a serious piece of equipment used in the medical industry for restraining patients that could cause themselves or others injury, its there to depict the size of the jacket. Yellow is a large. I've read articles online about straitjackets being used within the European Union too. The Spanish use them for transporting illegal immigrants who may try to injure themselves and thus preventing any form of repatriation. Straitjackets aren't the only medical restraint that's available either. There is a whole catelogue of restraints that can be used. Padded wrist and ankle restraints, bed restraints and even restraints that prevent spitting and stratching. I hope this answers the initial question posed and gives a bit more info on the straitjacket it self.
Well one of the most interesting answers was actually another question: "They still make straitjackets?"

So I thought I'd better address this straight away with the simple answer is yes they are still made, and not only that they are also still used in various countries around the World.

If like me you are from the UK then straitjacket use ceased quite a few years ago. In fact many of us are simply not old enough to remember straitjackets ever being used in our country, they certainly haven't been in use during the 30 years I've been on this planet.

However, that doesn't mean they are not used elsewhere. The USA restraint company, Posey, manufacture a straitjacket that is still very much in use. This is also the same straitjacket you will see me using if you come to any of my shows.

The Posey is very distinctive in that it has loops attached to the jacket to prevent the arms from being taken over the head. It also has a crotch strap that goes between the legs and the neck is always nice and wide to prevent strangulation.

You will also see a coloured band going around the neck, mine is yellow but you may also see red or green. This coloured band isn't for decoration, remember this restraint isn't a "prop" created for a show its a serious piece of equipment used in the medical industry for restraining patients that could cause themselves or others injury, its there to depict the size of the jacket. Yellow is a large.

I've read articles online about straitjackets being used within the European Union too. The Spanish use them for transporting illegal immigrants who may try to injure themselves and thus preventing any form of repatriation.

Straitjackets aren't the only medical restraint that's available either. There is a whole catelogue of restraints that can be used. Padded wrist and ankle restraints, bed restraints and even restraints that prevent spitting and stratching.

I hope this answers the initial question posed and gives a bit more info on the straitjacket it self.
]]> Thu, 05 May 2011 22:10:15 GMT C42F2399C48BECC6E27B7F8F0566D095 New arrivals http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=905523 Hello my lovlies! So, its my second day off in a row (I know I'm spoilt) and I've had a couple of nice packages drop through my letter box. The first was a working replica of the puzzle lock that Harry Houdini refused to tackle built by master locksmith and handcuff expert Ian McColl. I can't use the name of the original since it is copyright and I wouldn't want to make claims to it being something that its not. Without being able to make a direct comparison with the original lock there is no real way of telling how perfect the match is. However, it is a really interesting piece of kit that comes with a lovely romantic story. Again how true the story is, is unknown for sure. These things tend to get embellished over time and certain facts get lost and forgotten. But in short it goes something like this: In the mid 1700s a sophisticated lever lock was created and used to secure the door of a warehouse in Bradford. The lock itself had many features built within it that makes it unique even today. Rather than just placing the key in the key hole and turning like you would to unlock your front door you need to turn, push and pull the key in a specific combination in order to reach the mechanism that actually pulls the locking bolt back. Pure locksmithing genius. Think of it as a combination lock that uses a key. And of course you could figure out the combination but if the key you are using isn't cut just right you still won't be able to trigger the locking bolt. Anyway, Houdini was first challenged with this lock in about 1904. He refused. Claiming that he was an escapologist and not a locksmith, so wasn't in the business of just picking locks. So on his return to Bradford in around 1910 he was challenged again, this time the lock had a set of primative shackles built in to it. Houdini still refused to try it. There are many theories as to why he refused and this isn't the place for discussing that, there are a chosen few who know the truth and it is for them to make it public not me. But needless to say this is a beautiful story and I plan on showing this lock as I travel my show. So if you'd like to see it make sure you catch a performance near you. A picture of it can be found on my <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/roslynwalkerfans">Facebook Fan Page. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- &nbsp; The second piece was delivered just this morning. The Safariland Cuff-Aide, formerly the NIK Cuff-Aide, and is a secondary restraint system that is used to increase security when transporting high risk prisoners. Cuffs are placed on, then the Cuff-Aide is placed on top of this that is then attached to a waist restraint like a belly chain or transport belt. Its a great piece of kit and does a similar job to the McKenzie Mitts, only this allows the guard to free a prisoners hands so they can attend to &quot;a call of nature&quot; without having to fully release them. Plus, unlike the McKenzie Mitts, the Cuff-Aide isn't made of metal so is much safer and actually helps prevent a prisoner harming both the guard or themselves. I can't wait to add this to my show this season... Once I've figured out how to get the thing off of course&nbsp; A few pics can be found <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150157912577935&amp;id=133466937934&amp;aid=294180">here!
So, its my second day off in a row (I know I'm spoilt) and I've had a couple of nice packages drop through my letter box.

The first was a working replica of the puzzle lock that Harry Houdini refused to tackle built by master locksmith and handcuff expert Ian McColl. I can't use the name of the original since it is copyright and I wouldn't want to make claims to it being something that its not. Without being able to make a direct comparison with the original lock there is no real way of telling how perfect the match is.

However, it is a really interesting piece of kit that comes with a lovely romantic story. Again how true the story is, is unknown for sure. These things tend to get embellished over time and certain facts get lost and forgotten.

But in short it goes something like this:

In the mid 1700s a sophisticated lever lock was created and used to secure the door of a warehouse in Bradford. The lock itself had many features built within it that makes it unique even today.

Rather than just placing the key in the key hole and turning like you would to unlock your front door you need to turn, push and pull the key in a specific combination in order to reach the mechanism that actually pulls the locking bolt back. Pure locksmithing genius.

Think of it as a combination lock that uses a key.

And of course you could figure out the combination but if the key you are using isn't cut just right you still won't be able to trigger the locking bolt.

Anyway, Houdini was first challenged with this lock in about 1904. He refused. Claiming that he was an escapologist and not a locksmith, so wasn't in the business of just picking locks.

So on his return to Bradford in around 1910 he was challenged again, this time the lock had a set of primative shackles built in to it. Houdini still refused to try it.

There are many theories as to why he refused and this isn't the place for discussing that, there are a chosen few who know the truth and it is for them to make it public not me. But needless to say this is a beautiful story and I plan on showing this lock as I travel my show. So if you'd like to see it make sure you catch a performance near you.

A picture of it can be found on my Facebook Fan Page.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The second piece was delivered just this morning.

The Safariland Cuff-Aide, formerly the NIK Cuff-Aide, and is a secondary restraint system that is used to increase security when transporting high risk prisoners.

Cuffs are placed on, then the Cuff-Aide is placed on top of this that is then attached to a waist restraint like a belly chain or transport belt. Its a great piece of kit and does a similar job to the McKenzie Mitts, only this allows the guard to free a prisoners hands so they can attend to "a call of nature" without having to fully release them.

Plus, unlike the McKenzie Mitts, the Cuff-Aide isn't made of metal so is much safer and actually helps prevent a prisoner harming both the guard or themselves.

I can't wait to add this to my show this season... Once I've figured out how to get the thing off of course 

A few pics can be found here!
]]> Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:20:00 GMT 9D78D27B7A0D9C849F10E6E47A8FB9AD Safety release in boot/trunk of your car http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=902853 Hi, Two posts in one day? I know I spoil you don't it! I've been doing a little bit of research on the boot/trunk release lever that many newer cars come fitted with and I've discovered that, certainly in the USA, in 2002 it became mandetory for all car manufacturers to fit a release to those cars with boots/trunks you can become trapped in. So rather than waste time in doing a lot of pointless searching if you're able to work out the year of the car you are trapped in you will know whether or not it will have a boot/trunk release installed. I also found out that around 20 people per year, that's almost two per month, die from being trapped inside the boot/trunk of a car. And its not just kids playing hide and seek either. Adults make up a large proportion of those deaths. If you have a car that is older than 2002 and it doesn't have a safety release you can purchase a little gadget called the Quick Out (<a target="_new" href="http://www.aablelocksmiths.com/Quick_Out_Emergency_Trunk_Rlease.htm">http://www.aablelocksmiths.com/Quick_Out_Emergency_Trunk_Rlease.htm) from AAble Locksmiths. I've not bought one myself, but from what I've read it should fit most makes and models of car on the road today that were manufactured before 2002. Again this is a US website and I'm yet to find a supplier in the UK or other country. But it could be an idea to fit one, especially if you have kids that like to hide in dark places.
Two posts in one day? I know I spoil you don't it!

I've been doing a little bit of research on the boot/trunk release lever that many newer cars come fitted with and I've discovered that, certainly in the USA, in 2002 it became mandetory for all car manufacturers to fit a release to those cars with boots/trunks you can become trapped in.

So rather than waste time in doing a lot of pointless searching if you're able to work out the year of the car you are trapped in you will know whether or not it will have a boot/trunk release installed.

I also found out that around 20 people per year, that's almost two per month, die from being trapped inside the boot/trunk of a car. And its not just kids playing hide and seek either. Adults make up a large proportion of those deaths.

If you have a car that is older than 2002 and it doesn't have a safety release you can purchase a little gadget called the Quick Out (http://www.aablelocksmiths.com/Quick_Out_Emergency_Trunk_Rlease.htm) from AAble Locksmiths.

I've not bought one myself, but from what I've read it should fit most makes and models of car on the road today that were manufactured before 2002.

Again this is a US website and I'm yet to find a supplier in the UK or other country. But it could be an idea to fit one, especially if you have kids that like to hide in dark places.
]]> Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:11:18 GMT 52A79D082BB0449A46030B44CFA62AA5 How to escape from the boot/trunk of your car (part 2) http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=902838 So, here's the second part of escaping from the boot/trunk of your car blog. Remember that these methods are designed to get you out of a potentially dangerous situation. The methods in part one and what will follow in part two aren't designed to be used in performance. Some of these methods will damage the car. But if you are in danger then who cares about the car! If you plan on using these methods for a challenge escape from someone elses car, be prepared to cough up to repair the damage you may cause. There are a few things I will keep to myself and escaping without causeing damage is ceratinly one of those things. Now back to part two. Some cars are fitted with a boot/trunk release cable that runs from the front of the car to the boot/trunk latch and is usually found on the driver's side of the car. When the driver pulls the lever the boot/trunk springs open. Now applying a section of the second method discussed in part one you want to push open the little hatch in the chairs, which will give you access to the main part of the car. If you have something long and stiff (don't make up your own jokes, this is serious stuff) you may be able to reach the lever through the hatch or at least see where the lever is. If you can reach it give it a pull and you'll be free. Otherwise try and find the latch cable in the boot/trunk. It usually runs along the side of the car from the driver's side in to the boot/trunk and to the lock. You may need to pull up the carpet to get to it. Now simply pull on the cable. It may cut your hands and could be quite tough to pull, so have a look and see what tools are in the boot with you. Pliers or other gripping tools will be great. You could also use the carpet to help grip the wire. The fourth and final method is to try and find the jack, every car should have one in the boot. Use this to force the boot open. Lastly if all else fails you might be able to pop the break lights out forming a nice hole in the back of the car. From here you can now signal for help or at least it will give you some more air time. Most importantly though remember you have a good 10 hours of air inside the boot/trunk so stay calm and work your way through all the steps like a check list. So, here's the second part of escaping from the boot/trunk of your car blog.

Remember that these methods are designed to get you out of a potentially dangerous situation. The methods in part one and what will follow in part two aren't designed to be used in performance. Some of these methods will damage the car. But if you are in danger then who cares about the car!

If you plan on using these methods for a challenge escape from someone elses car, be prepared to cough up to repair the damage you may cause. There are a few things I will keep to myself and escaping without causeing damage is ceratinly one of those things.

Now back to part two.
Some cars are fitted with a boot/trunk release cable that runs from the front of the car to the boot/trunk latch and is usually found on the driver's side of the car. When the driver pulls the lever the boot/trunk springs open.

Now applying a section of the second method discussed in part one you want to push open the little hatch in the chairs, which will give you access to the main part of the car. If you have something long and stiff (don't make up your own jokes, this is serious stuff) you may be able to reach the lever through the hatch or at least see where the lever is.

If you can reach it give it a pull and you'll be free. Otherwise try and find the latch cable in the boot/trunk. It usually runs along the side of the car from the driver's side in to the boot/trunk and to the lock. You may need to pull up the carpet to get to it.

Now simply pull on the cable.

It may cut your hands and could be quite tough to pull, so have a look and see what tools are in the boot with you. Pliers or other gripping tools will be great. You could also use the carpet to help grip the wire.

The fourth and final method is to try and find the jack, every car should have one in the boot.

Use this to force the boot open.

Lastly if all else fails you might be able to pop the break lights out forming a nice hole in the back of the car. From here you can now signal for help or at least it will give you some more air time.

Most importantly though remember you have a good 10 hours of air inside the boot/trunk so stay calm and work your way through all the steps like a check list.

]]> Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:54:13 GMT 65C9BF08CE2D79B38CF40CC587358308 How to ecape from the boot / trunk of your car (part 1) http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=866689 So, as promised here's part one of how to escape from the boot/trunk of your car. &nbsp; I've uses both of these methods to successfully escape from the inside of a locked boot/trunk. &nbsp; The good news is that both are dead easy and can be accomplished with little to no practice. &nbsp; Ok, so method one. This is by far the simplest and most effective way to get out of any modern car. &nbsp; In most modern cars you'll find that they are actually equipped with a safety release switch or lever inside the boot/trunk. &nbsp; Usually these will glow in the dark so you can find it easily enough once inside. &nbsp; The actual location will be different from car to car, but a quick scout a out should produce the desired result in no time. &nbsp; Method two on the other hand will work on older cars too and takes advantage of the design of the car interior. &nbsp; Now most cars I've come across have seats that fold down to make the boot/trunk space a little bigger. &nbsp; They also often have an access hatch through the seats in to the boot. &nbsp; In my younger, slimmer days I could fit through this hatch. But now I'm a little bigger you can use the hatch to allow you to have more light and you may also be able to reach through and hit the button that allows the seats to fold down. &nbsp; Hitting that switch means you'll be able to climb out into the car itself. &nbsp; If you can't reach the button by hand you should find a few tool laying around to help you. Also make use of the rear view mirror to help you see. &nbsp; Sometimes with the help of a few tools that can be found with the spare wheel compartment you'll be able to access and release the chair clamps allowing you to escape. &nbsp; Well boys and girls, that's part 1. Part 2 coming soon. &nbsp; I hope you enjoyed it :)
So, as promised here's part one of how to escape from the boot/trunk of your car.
 
I've uses both of these methods to successfully escape from the inside of a locked boot/trunk.
 
The good news is that both are dead easy and can be accomplished with little to no practice.
 
Ok, so method one. This is by far the simplest and most effective way to get out of any modern car.
 
In most modern cars you'll find that they are actually equipped with a safety release switch or lever inside the boot/trunk.
 
Usually these will glow in the dark so you can find it easily enough once inside.
 
The actual location will be different from car to car, but a quick scout a out should produce the desired result in no time.
 
Method two on the other hand will work on older cars too and takes advantage of the design of the car interior.
 
Now most cars I've come across have seats that fold down to make the boot/trunk space a little bigger.
 
They also often have an access hatch through the seats in to the boot.
 
In my younger, slimmer days I could fit through this hatch. But now I'm a little bigger you can use the hatch to allow you to have more light and you may also be able to reach through and hit the button that allows the seats to fold down.
 
Hitting that switch means you'll be able to climb out into the car itself.
 
If you can't reach the button by hand you should find a few tool laying around to help you. Also make use of the rear view mirror to help you see.
 
Sometimes with the help of a few tools that can be found with the spare wheel compartment you'll be able to access and release the chair clamps allowing you to escape.
 
Well boys and girls, that's part 1. Part 2 coming soon.
 
I hope you enjoyed it :)
]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:42:00 GMT 771075076884626BE3219173D002E6BA The McKenzie Mitts - Too effective they had to be banned! http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=847070 Following on from my last blog about attempting escapes simply for the joy of being able to get out of something deemed impossible I thought I'd share one of my latest challenges that fall in to this category, the McKenzie Mitts. I tried these on for the first time a few weeks back, I think it was 6th March 2011, and oh boy are these tough! It wasn't until I'd been locked in them that I was then told how they were actually taken out of service because they were too effective at restraining a prisoner. You see the&nbsp; Mckenzie Mitts, designed by Jacob Oliver McKenzie and patented March 10, 1925, were designed to completely enclose the prisoner's hands. They in turn were then fastened to a belly chain to prevent these unusual cuffs from being used as a weapon. The theory behind this particular pattern was that in the event the guard fell asleep while transporting a prisoner on a long train journey, the prisoner could neither make use of the keys to escape or be able to handle a gun. In fact it turned out the prisoner couldn't handle anything! Production of this item was quickly stopped after only several dozen pairs were manufactured because of this. The McKenzie Mitts proved to be too good, making the wearer completely helpless to a point where personal needs could not be taken care of, and accompanying guards highly objected and refused to cooperate to this degree. Since railroads have strict rules about unshackling prisoners during transit, the cuff was used no further and became the only locking device to be discontinued because it was too good. So to say that these cuffs were a nightmare to get off would be the biggest understatement ever made. And to really rub salt in to the wound the actual lock used to secure these cuffs is extremely primative. In fact I believe a small child could probably pick open the lock used on the Mitts... If they weren't wearing them! Because once you've got these bad boys on you can't reach the lock, and even if you could you can't manipulate anything to pick it open anyway. Sadly I didn't get to keep these as I do with most of the restraints I'm challenged with, but I do have a photo that at least documents the moment. Enjoy your week and catch you soon, Ros :) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Following on from my last blog about attempting escapes simply for the joy of being able to get out of something deemed impossible I thought I'd share one of my latest challenges that fall in to this category, the McKenzie Mitts.

I tried these on for the first time a few weeks back, I think it was 6th March 2011, and oh boy are these tough!

It wasn't until I'd been locked in them that I was then told how they were actually taken out of service because they were too effective at restraining a prisoner.

You see the  Mckenzie Mitts, designed by Jacob Oliver McKenzie and patented March 10, 1925, were designed to completely enclose the prisoner's hands. They in turn were then fastened to a belly chain to prevent these unusual cuffs from being used as a weapon.

The theory behind this particular pattern was that in the event the guard fell asleep while transporting a prisoner on a long train journey, the prisoner could neither make use of the keys to escape or be able to handle a gun. In fact it turned out the prisoner couldn't handle anything!

Production of this item was quickly stopped after only several dozen pairs were manufactured because of this.

The McKenzie Mitts proved to be too good, making the wearer completely helpless to a point where personal needs could not be taken care of, and accompanying guards highly objected and refused to cooperate to this degree. Since railroads have strict rules about unshackling prisoners during transit, the cuff was used no further and became the only locking device to be discontinued because it was too good.

So to say that these cuffs were a nightmare to get off would be the biggest understatement ever made. And to really rub salt in to the wound the actual lock used to secure these cuffs is extremely primative. In fact I believe a small child could probably pick open the lock used on the Mitts... If they weren't wearing them!

Because once you've got these bad boys on you can't reach the lock, and even if you could you can't manipulate anything to pick it open anyway.

Sadly I didn't get to keep these as I do with most of the restraints I'm challenged with, but I do have a photo that at least documents the moment.

Enjoy your week and catch you soon,

Ros :)

 
 
 
]]> Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:23:23 GMT FADB74A31D57F9A262E4FD18686391AA Handcuff escape World record attempt http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=823887 So I've been keeping this quiet for the past few months through fear of someone else having a crack at this before me, but I can now announce that I will be attempting one of my most technical escape challenges to date. Last year I was challenged with a single pair of handcuffs that took two years to design and make. I defeated them in under two minutes. So this year I'm going to go for the Guinness World Record for the Most Police Handcuffs Escaped In One Hour. Originally set by Stuart Burrell in 2002 with a total of 301 escapes, this was finally beaten in 2010 by Czech escape artist Zdenek Bradac who managed a massive 627 escapes. My job is quite simple in theory, just escape from 628 pairs of handcuffs in less than 60 minutes. But what you should remember is that handcuffs come in pairs, so in reality I'll need to open 1256 individual locks without using the keys. Another way to look at it is a total of 21 locks per minute or 1 lock every 2.85 seconds will need to be opened in order to free myself from the cuffs. Training for this event is tough since under Guinness World Records guidelines&nbsp;ANY regulation police handcuff currently in use ANYWHERE in the World can be used. So I won't actually know which pair of cuffs I'll be placed in until the actual time of the attempt. To train with every pair of cuffs in the World is completely impossible both on a physical and financial level, so I've been working on some of the more unusual cuffs from places like China and Pakistan. The official press release won't be going live for a few days yet, but I wanted to give you lot a heads up before anyone else :) I'll keep you all updated with how things progress.
Last year I was challenged with a single pair of handcuffs that took two years to design and make.

I defeated them in under two minutes.
So this year I'm going to go for the Guinness World Record for the Most Police Handcuffs Escaped In One Hour.

Originally set by Stuart Burrell in 2002 with a total of 301 escapes, this was finally beaten in 2010 by Czech escape artist Zdenek Bradac who managed a massive 627 escapes.

My job is quite simple in theory, just escape from 628 pairs of handcuffs in less than 60 minutes. But what you should remember is that handcuffs come in pairs, so in reality I'll need to open 1256 individual locks without using the keys.

Another way to look at it is a total of 21 locks per minute or 1 lock every 2.85 seconds will need to be opened in order to free myself from the cuffs.

Training for this event is tough since under Guinness World Records guidelines ANY regulation police handcuff currently in use ANYWHERE in the World can be used. So I won't actually know which pair of cuffs I'll be placed in until the actual time of the attempt.

To train with every pair of cuffs in the World is completely impossible both on a physical and financial level, so I've been working on some of the more unusual cuffs from places like China and Pakistan.

The official press release won't be going live for a few days yet, but I wanted to give you lot a heads up before anyone else :)

I'll keep you all updated with how things progress.
]]> Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:06:05 GMT 124444F318FF738D9F84EB40A60749EC Its not all about the danger... http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=804054 What?!?! Is probably the first thing that springs to mind when you read the title of this blog post. Let me try to explain. I am an escape artist, a stuntman if you will, but that doesn't mean all I do is dangerous stuff that could get me hurt or even worse. Part of what I try to do in my work is educate my audiences about what I do, what being one of the UK's most unique stuntmen actually means. For example many people are a little surprised that I do a lot of work with children and young people. Children and young people love to experience new things. They have evolved in a world that has TV, radio, YouTube and Facebook. Your traditional &quot;kids magic&quot; simply doesn't fly for any child over the age of 5-years-old. The parents like it because its safe, its what they&nbsp;know. But the children like danger, or at least they like the perception of danger. And its that perception of danger that I love to give to my audiences. Most of the work I do with children and young people involves me going in to schools and colleges and using my skills to educate in an entertaining way&nbsp;and I do that by juggling, balancing strange things on my face, escaping from stuff and performing the odd sideshow stunt from time-to-time. These unusual feats of dexterity and daring are combined with comedy to help cement what has, or will be, taught in the classroom into the minds of the young people in ways that classroom work alone will struggle to do. Why does this work? Well, as you probably know memory works best if its got something to visualise. And the more obsurd, abstract and unusual those images are the better chance the brain has of being able to recall them. Anything that can be attached to those visually stimulating images will also be recalled, and therefore remembered. In my school work I'm not trying to replace the roll of the teacher. In fact without the help of many great science teachers around the UK and the Netherlands the Science Show probably wouldn't exist. It most certainly would've taken me a lot longer to figure it all out myself. I am not a teacher. But I am a stuntman. I am able to create those unusual images that are so important to helping with memory. For primary schools I work closely with <a target="_new" href="http://www.shootingstarscircus.co.uk">Shooting Stars Circus Skills&nbsp;to present a program that teaches both KS1 and KS2 forces and motion. Through a combination of the Science Show and hands-on workshops the children will learn about Gallileo and Sir Isaac Newton. They will discover that the world of the juggler is closely linked their own everyday experiences. If you've not seen the show or had a chance to experience the work I do using stunts in an educational environment I strongly recommend you go over to the <a target="_new" href="http://www.shootingstarscircus.co.uk">Shooting Stars Circus website and take a look around. They have specialised in taking circus skills to educational environments for the past 20 years and will be able to answer any questions you may have and will, of course, also be able to take bookings for either single Circus Science days or even whole Circus Science weeks! I hope this has been useful and I look forward to meeting you soon, Ros
Is probably the first thing that springs to mind when you read the title of this blog post.

Let me try to explain.

I am an escape artist, a stuntman if you will, but that doesn't mean all I do is dangerous stuff that could get me hurt or even worse.

Part of what I try to do in my work is educate my audiences about what I do, what being one of the UK's most unique stuntmen actually means.

For example many people are a little surprised that I do a lot of work with children and young people. Children and young people love to experience new things. They have evolved in a world that has TV, radio, YouTube and Facebook. Your traditional "kids magic" simply doesn't fly for any child over the age of 5-years-old. The parents like it because its safe, its what they know. But the children like danger, or at least they like the perception of danger. And its that perception of danger that I love to give to my audiences.

Most of the work I do with children and young people involves me going in to schools and colleges and using my skills to educate in an entertaining way and I do that by juggling, balancing strange things on my face, escaping from stuff and performing the odd sideshow stunt from time-to-time. These unusual feats of dexterity and daring are combined with comedy to help cement what has, or will be, taught in the classroom into the minds of the young people in ways that classroom work alone will struggle to do.

Why does this work?

Well, as you probably know memory works best if its got something to visualise. And the more obsurd, abstract and unusual those images are the better chance the brain has of being able to recall them. Anything that can be attached to those visually stimulating images will also be recalled, and therefore remembered.

In my school work I'm not trying to replace the roll of the teacher. In fact without the help of many great science teachers around the UK and the Netherlands the Science Show probably wouldn't exist. It most certainly would've taken me a lot longer to figure it all out myself. I am not a teacher. But I am a stuntman. I am able to create those unusual images that are so important to helping with memory.

For primary schools I work closely with Shooting Stars Circus Skills to present a program that teaches both KS1 and KS2 forces and motion. Through a combination of the Science Show and hands-on workshops the children will learn about Gallileo and Sir Isaac Newton. They will discover that the world of the juggler is closely linked their own everyday experiences.

If you've not seen the show or had a chance to experience the work I do using stunts in an educational environment I strongly recommend you go over to the Shooting Stars Circus website and take a look around. They have specialised in taking circus skills to educational environments for the past 20 years and will be able to answer any questions you may have and will, of course, also be able to take bookings for either single Circus Science days or even whole Circus Science weeks!

I hope this has been useful and I look forward to meeting you soon,

Ros
]]> Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:38:03 GMT 29B8507C4BDADF27EC8E357382DF1C17 Workout? Hmmm..... http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=801278 So, some of you may have read my pathetic post back in December &quot;Running for my life&quot;. It detailed all the pros of starting in leisure running. I boasted about completing my first three miles... How shamefull that all feels now, because after writing that I went out for a run a total of ZERO more times. That's right. I haven't been running again since that first little attempt. I blamed it on the bad weather at first, but it hasn't snowed here for at least two months now. I mean its March for heaven sake, spring is just around the corner and I've been the laziest lazy person ever to not walk (or run) the planet. The simple fact is running, jogging or walking even is just really boring. Yes I know all the benefits. Yes I do want to get fit. Yes I have an iPod that I can play music on. But its still just so dull. You know I even created a twitter account to document my running... Sorry for anyone that signed up to that account, not a lot has been posted there. I know I've let you down and for that I'll be eternally sorry. So how do I make things better? Do I simply delete all records of my failure? Or is there a way to fix it? I'd like to do the latter if I can, but that delete button is just so easy to click. Just one little click of a mouse and nobody would ever know. But then I've written this now, so that would mean deleting this too. Which is two clicks of a mouse and a bit of highlighting of text. My lazyness has kicked in and I can't be bothered to do that so looks like its the fixing it that wins out through default. So how? How do I fix it? I know, just get off your lazy backside and go running. But that was the problem, I didn't did I. I didn't do it then and I probably won't do it now. It'll just be another hollow promise that I've no intention of following through. Nope, it needs to be fun. Something I want to do. So I hand it over to you. Tell me what to do. How can I make running fun?
That's right. I haven't been running again since that first little attempt. I blamed it on the bad weather at first, but it hasn't snowed here for at least two months now. I mean its March for heaven sake, spring is just around the corner and I've been the laziest lazy person ever to not walk (or run) the planet.

The simple fact is running, jogging or walking even is just really boring. Yes I know all the benefits. Yes I do want to get fit. Yes I have an iPod that I can play music on. But its still just so dull. You know I even created a twitter account to document my running... Sorry for anyone that signed up to that account, not a lot has been posted there. I know I've let you down and for that I'll be eternally sorry.

So how do I make things better?

Do I simply delete all records of my failure? Or is there a way to fix it?

I'd like to do the latter if I can, but that delete button is just so easy to click. Just one little click of a mouse and nobody would ever know.

But then I've written this now, so that would mean deleting this too. Which is two clicks of a mouse and a bit of highlighting of text. My lazyness has kicked in and I can't be bothered to do that so looks like its the fixing it that wins out through default.

So how? How do I fix it?

I know, just get off your lazy backside and go running. But that was the problem, I didn't did I. I didn't do it then and I probably won't do it now. It'll just be another hollow promise that I've no intention of following through.

Nope, it needs to be fun. Something I want to do.

So I hand it over to you. Tell me what to do. How can I make running fun?
]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:40:00 GMT 661258F225289F0E8C87DC5DA20790DF Its amazing what you'll find locked in a box http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=801259 So, hello one and all. I seem to start every blog of mine the same way, apologising for not writing, and not to break a habit of a life time I'm sorry for not writing. But you know what its like when you're living life you kind of forget to actually tell people about it. Or at least I do. But I promise, I'll write more from now on. We'll call it a Chinese New Year's Resolution or something. Anyway, it was the lovely Kaleigh Grainger's birthday yesterday (<a href="./otherperformers.cfm">see her here) and so we joined a few friends for a few drinks and some good food at a little place called the Trafalgar in Greenwich. All was going well until we returned home. Having been working all day* it was the first time I'd been home since leaving that morning so I went to check the post. We have a communal post area like most apartments seem to have. Makes the life of a posty a little easier, which is nice. So I went to check the post and through the door I saw a bright blue cat box. You know, one of those boxes you use to carry cats to the vets in. This box was just dumped outside. It was cold, and for those that don't know our flat is overlooking the Thames. So I went and had a peek inside and there was actually a cat in there! Yep, a real live cat. Maddness. Who dumps a cat outside locked in a box? For those that know me I'm not a big fan of cats. But I wouldn't want one to freeze to death, so I brought it in. Fed it. And went to bed. Then early this morning** I was awoken to the sound of my phone ringing and on answering it was greeted by a frantic woman looking for her cat. The cat I had single handedly rescued from certain death! I was a hero, albeit a very sleepy one that hadn't yet had his morning coffee, but a hero none-the-less. The cat was safe. The owner and her daughter were happy. And I had completed my first good deed of the month and it was only 1st March (happy St David's Day to any of my Welsh readers by the way)! Why was the cat outside I hear you ask? Well I asked the same question. And its a sad story of lost love, broken hearts and &nbsp;revenge. In short some dude was pissed about breaking up with his Mrs so stuffed her cat out in the cold. Little did he know Roslyn Walker, escape artist, stuntman and rescuer of animals would be there to save the day. So, reading this back it sounded far more &quot;super hearo-like&quot; as I was writing it but its done now and I can't be bothered to hit delete :) *By &quot;working all day&quot; I mean I got up at around 9am, watched a bit of mindless daytime telly, had a shower, cussed that the shower went cold, got out of shower, waited for water to get warm, had another shower this time minus the cussing, ironed a shirt, put shirt on, found trousers, put them on too, found shoes, put them on, drove to gig, did gig in Greenford that lasted 1.5 hours, drove from gig to restaurant in Greenwich arriving at 7.30pm, ate meal, drove home, rescued cat. **8am is considered early for me. Anything earlier is still classed as the day before in my book.
I seem to start every blog of mine the same way, apologising for not writing, and not to break a habit of a life time I'm sorry for not writing. But you know what its like when you're living life you kind of forget to actually tell people about it. Or at least I do. But I promise, I'll write more from now on. We'll call it a Chinese New Year's Resolution or something.

Anyway, it was the lovely Kaleigh Grainger's birthday yesterday (see her here) and so we joined a few friends for a few drinks and some good food at a little place called the Trafalgar in Greenwich.

All was going well until we returned home. Having been working all day* it was the first time I'd been home since leaving that morning so I went to check the post. We have a communal post area like most apartments seem to have. Makes the life of a posty a little easier, which is nice.

So I went to check the post and through the door I saw a bright blue cat box. You know, one of those boxes you use to carry cats to the vets in. This box was just dumped outside.

It was cold, and for those that don't know our flat is overlooking the Thames. So I went and had a peek inside and there was actually a cat in there! Yep, a real live cat. Maddness. Who dumps a cat outside locked in a box?

For those that know me I'm not a big fan of cats. But I wouldn't want one to freeze to death, so I brought it in. Fed it. And went to bed.

Then early this morning** I was awoken to the sound of my phone ringing and on answering it was greeted by a frantic woman looking for her cat. The cat I had single handedly rescued from certain death!

I was a hero, albeit a very sleepy one that hadn't yet had his morning coffee, but a hero none-the-less.

The cat was safe. The owner and her daughter were happy. And I had completed my first good deed of the month and it was only 1st March (happy St David's Day to any of my Welsh readers by the way)!
Why was the cat outside I hear you ask?

Well I asked the same question. And its a sad story of lost love, broken hearts and  revenge.

In short some dude was pissed about breaking up with his Mrs so stuffed her cat out in the cold. Little did he know Roslyn Walker, escape artist, stuntman and rescuer of animals would be there to save the day.

So, reading this back it sounded far more "super hearo-like" as I was writing it but its done now and I can't be bothered to hit delete :)




*By "working all day" I mean I got up at around 9am, watched a bit of mindless daytime telly, had a shower, cussed that the shower went cold, got out of shower, waited for water to get warm, had another shower this time minus the cussing, ironed a shirt, put shirt on, found trousers, put them on too, found shoes, put them on, drove to gig, did gig in Greenford that lasted 1.5 hours, drove from gig to restaurant in Greenwich arriving at 7.30pm, ate meal, drove home, rescued cat.

**8am is considered early for me. Anything earlier is still classed as the day before in my book.
]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:10:00 GMT F840081581A8F94B80247DF7AD2B6445 Summer 2010 comes to an end... Bring on 2011!!! http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=493394 So the summer season of 2010 has come to a close and what a season its been! With over 100 escapes, 5 different escape challenges (all successfully beaten) and venues ranging from steam rallies, theatres, schools, libraries and even an appearance on ITV's primetime celebrity panel show Odd One In its been a crazy few months. In fact I've been on the road so much that I've averaged 320 miles per day, that's 2240 miles a week or just over 38,826 miles this season alone! But its been worth it and I'm starting to prep for next year's run already. Venues have started to confirm repeat appearances for 2011 with the <a target="_new" href="http://Llandudno Extravaganza">Llandudno Extravaganza and the <a target="_new" href="http://www.dacorummachineryandsteam.co.uk/">Dacorum Steam Fayre being the first to re-book making sure they don't miss out. New for 2011 is my very own mobile stage unit. Once I've finished with the minor cosmetic work that it needs the Roslyn Walker Sideshow Stage will be a thing of beauty, so be sure to keep an eye out for it at a country fayre or steam rally near you next summer. And for those that simply can't wait make sure you check back here to be the first to see it, because once its complete I'll be posting pictures for all to see. I'm currently working on some new material for the new season too, including sword swallowing as well as a couple of escape stunts that are guaranteed to be even more crazy and daring than what you saw me do this year! And if you saw any of the stunts I attempted this season you'll know that you're in for a treat. When I've not been hanging from cranes or being locked in beer barrels I've spent my time working with <a target="_new" href="http://www.shootingstarscircus.co.uk">Shooting Stars Circus Skills touring the <a target="_new" href="http://www.shootingstarscircus.co.uk/science_show_1.html">Circus Science Show in primary schools across the UK. As well as performing as Prof. Charles Ignatius Rasputin Cornelius Ulysses Smyth (Prof. C.I.R.C.U.S. for short) I also wrote the show for them. So not only does the show explore the requirements needed for KS1 and KS2 Forces and Motion it also contains highly skilled juggling, magic and of course the most unique and memorable way to teach Newton's three laws of motion using a straitjacket! You will never get to see a show quite like this anywhere else so if you're a teacher, a governor or a parent and want something fun and educational that will benefit your children in numerous ways get in touch with the <a target="_new" href="http://www.shootingstarscircus.co.uk">Shooting Stars team and hopefully I'll be seeing you soon.
With over 100 escapes, 5 different escape challenges (all successfully beaten) and venues ranging from steam rallies, theatres, schools, libraries and even an appearance on ITV's primetime celebrity panel show Odd One In its been a crazy few months. In fact I've been on the road so much that I've averaged 320 miles per day, that's 2240 miles a week or just over 38,826 miles this season alone! But its been worth it and I'm starting to prep for next year's run already.

Venues have started to confirm repeat appearances for 2011 with the Llandudno Extravaganza and the Dacorum Steam Fayre being the first to re-book making sure they don't miss out.

New for 2011 is my very own mobile stage unit. Once I've finished with the minor cosmetic work that it needs the Roslyn Walker Sideshow Stage will be a thing of beauty, so be sure to keep an eye out for it at a country fayre or steam rally near you next summer. And for those that simply can't wait make sure you check back here to be the first to see it, because once its complete I'll be posting pictures for all to see.

I'm currently working on some new material for the new season too, including sword swallowing as well as a couple of escape stunts that are guaranteed to be even more crazy and daring than what you saw me do this year! And if you saw any of the stunts I attempted this season you'll know that you're in for a treat.

When I've not been hanging from cranes or being locked in beer barrels I've spent my time working with Shooting Stars Circus Skills touring the Circus Science Show in primary schools across the UK. As well as performing as Prof. Charles Ignatius Rasputin Cornelius Ulysses Smyth (Prof. C.I.R.C.U.S. for short) I also wrote the show for them. So not only does the show explore the requirements needed for KS1 and KS2 Forces and Motion it also contains highly skilled juggling, magic and of course the most unique and memorable way to teach Newton's three laws of motion using a straitjacket!

You will never get to see a show quite like this anywhere else so if you're a teacher, a governor or a parent and want something fun and educational that will benefit your children in numerous ways get in touch with the Shooting Stars team and hopefully I'll be seeing you soon.

]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:01:43 GMT D648F0AFA560A6C413E3BF1CB44EF78A Upper Norwood Library, Crystal Palace, London http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=348864 So after I'd completed the crazy triple challenge set by the good people of Llandudno at this year's Victorian Extravaganza I received an email from Bradley the head librarian of Upper Norwood Library outlining details of an idea he'd had for an escape challenge and would I be interested. At the time I was still nursing cut feet and sore wrists from the Extravaganza and was reluctant to want to get involved at first. But I asked him to email me the details and I'd get back to him. Well I don't know what's in the water in Upper Norwood but what I received was one of the most unique escape challenges I'd ever heard of. So much so that the pain I was in at the time all but vanished as the excitement grew inside me. What he proposed was a two phase challenge. The first phase saw me restrained with a set of cuffs, a prisoner transport belt and then placed inside a body bag. Similar to my version of the Chrysalis Escape that I performed for Kerrang! Radio in 2006. Assuming I managed to free myself the second phase of the challenge would see me trying to release my fee from their safe! I'd never cracked a safe before. This really interested me. A few emails later Bradley had another idea. What if the combintion was set by the press? What if that combination came from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification" target="_new">Dewey Decimal System found on each of the 60,000 different books on the libraries shelves? I would have no idea what the combination of the safe would be. No way of secretly being able to gain that information before the stunt, because what ever the combination was it would be changed anyway. I'd never done anything like this before and would probably never get a chance to try anything like this again, so I said yes. So how was I going to get that combination? I'd learnt that the safe we were going to use had an electronic keypad rather than the old fashioned dial that we all see on the safes used in films. This meant that any form of traditional safe cracking just simply wasn't going to work. During my research, when I thought all was lost, I stumbled across an old American mentalist called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Dunninger" target="_new">Joseph Dunninger. He was friends with Houdini and regularly had his fee hidden within the theatre he was working in under one of the seats. He then would go through the audience and somehow find his cheque. If he could find his fee within one of 3000 possible locations, could I find my code from one of a possible 60,000 locations in the same way? I have absolutely no idea how Dunninger pulled this stunt off night after night, but I did stumble across an old technique called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_reading" target="_new">muscle reading that has been used by mentalists to gain information through the involuntary responses given out by their subjects. Maybe I could use this to help me discover the location of the book and therefore the combination of the safe? On the 3rd July 2010 I arrived at the library ready to go and was told that they were now going to lock the book in the safe with my fee. This meant that if I followed the involuntary movements of my spectator to the location of the book I would be led to the safe where the book was. I tried to convince them that this was a bad idea, but this only made them want to lock the book up even more. So at the time of the stunt, with the press gathered, I began. The book was selected. The combination changed. My fee and the book placed inside the safe. I'm restrained and locked inside the body bag. All inside the most cramped office I've ever had the &quot;pleasure&quot; of being in. The cuffs and transport belt were off within a couple of minutes, the bag was proving to be more difficult than I'd first thought. It was hot in that little back office, and even hotter in an airtight body bag! The sweat made my hands slippy, which in turn made it much more difficult to manipulate the lock holding the zip closed. Luckily after just over 7 minutes I was able to free myself from the bag. Exhausted I now had to try and figure out the combination to the safe. I tried a few random numbers hoping to get lucky, I had more chance picking the correct lottery numbers than I did getting that safe open. I could feel the panic setting in. My fee was in that safe. The press were outside the office door waiting for me to emerge. I calmed myself down and decided to go for a modified plan A. Maybe I could find the missing book rather than the actual book. With press in tow I raced around the library trying to get a feel for where my captor had located the book originally. It was a busy day so there were spaces where books had been, I couldn't rely on the fact that I was looking for a shelf with spaces. They all had spaces! I had to try and get inside the mind of my spectator. Think like him. Move like him. Which book would he pick? Grabbing his arm I asked him to merely think of his book. To visualise the path he took to pick his book. I suddenly had a feeling of confidence flow through me. We ran for the lift. Went down one floor to the office and rushed for the safe. &quot;I've got it!&quot; I remember shouting as we re-entered the tiny room away from the hussle of the library outside. I plugged in the 6 digit number that had just popped in my head moments ago, pressed the accept button, a short tune played and then flashing on the LCD panel... OPEN! Turning the handle and hearing the locking bolts retract was the finest sound I'd heard all day. I pulled open the door. Grabbed my cheque and held it aloft victorious. What a day. What a day indeed
At the time I was still nursing cut feet and sore wrists from the Extravaganza and was reluctant to want to get involved at first. But I asked him to email me the details and I'd get back to him.

Well I don't know what's in the water in Upper Norwood but what I received was one of the most unique escape challenges I'd ever heard of. So much so that the pain I was in at the time all but vanished as the excitement grew inside me.

What he proposed was a two phase challenge. The first phase saw me restrained with a set of cuffs, a prisoner transport belt and then placed inside a body bag. Similar to my version of the Chrysalis Escape that I performed for Kerrang! Radio in 2006. Assuming I managed to free myself the second phase of the challenge would see me trying to release my fee from their safe!

I'd never cracked a safe before. This really interested me.

A few emails later Bradley had another idea. What if the combintion was set by the press? What if that combination came from the Dewey Decimal System found on each of the 60,000 different books on the libraries shelves?

I would have no idea what the combination of the safe would be. No way of secretly being able to gain that information before the stunt, because what ever the combination was it would be changed anyway. I'd never done anything like this before and would probably never get a chance to try anything like this again, so I said yes.

So how was I going to get that combination?

I'd learnt that the safe we were going to use had an electronic keypad rather than the old fashioned dial that we all see on the safes used in films. This meant that any form of traditional safe cracking just simply wasn't going to work.

During my research, when I thought all was lost, I stumbled across an old American mentalist called Joseph Dunninger. He was friends with Houdini and regularly had his fee hidden within the theatre he was working in under one of the seats. He then would go through the audience and somehow find his cheque.

If he could find his fee within one of 3000 possible locations, could I find my code from one of a possible 60,000 locations in the same way?

I have absolutely no idea how Dunninger pulled this stunt off night after night, but I did stumble across an old technique called muscle reading that has been used by mentalists to gain information through the involuntary responses given out by their subjects. Maybe I could use this to help me discover the location of the book and therefore the combination of the safe?

On the 3rd July 2010 I arrived at the library ready to go and was told that they were now going to lock the book in the safe with my fee.

This meant that if I followed the involuntary movements of my spectator to the location of the book I would be led to the safe where the book was. I tried to convince them that this was a bad idea, but this only made them want to lock the book up even more.

So at the time of the stunt, with the press gathered, I began.

The book was selected. The combination changed. My fee and the book placed inside the safe. I'm restrained and locked inside the body bag. All inside the most cramped office I've ever had the "pleasure" of being in.

The cuffs and transport belt were off within a couple of minutes, the bag was proving to be more difficult than I'd first thought. It was hot in that little back office, and even hotter in an airtight body bag!

The sweat made my hands slippy, which in turn made it much more difficult to manipulate the lock holding the zip closed. Luckily after just over 7 minutes I was able to free myself from the bag.

Exhausted I now had to try and figure out the combination to the safe. I tried a few random numbers hoping to get lucky, I had more chance picking the correct lottery numbers than I did getting that safe open.

I could feel the panic setting in. My fee was in that safe. The press were outside the office door waiting for me to emerge. I calmed myself down and decided to go for a modified plan A. Maybe I could find the missing book rather than the actual book. With press in tow I raced around the library trying to get a feel for where my captor had located the book originally. It was a busy day so there were spaces where books had been, I couldn't rely on the fact that I was looking for a shelf with spaces. They all had spaces!

I had to try and get inside the mind of my spectator.

Think like him.

Move like him.

Which book would he pick?

Grabbing his arm I asked him to merely think of his book. To visualise the path he took to pick his book.

I suddenly had a feeling of confidence flow through me. We ran for the lift. Went down one floor to the office and rushed for the safe.

"I've got it!" I remember shouting as we re-entered the tiny room away from the hussle of the library outside.

I plugged in the 6 digit number that had just popped in my head moments ago, pressed the accept button, a short tune played and then flashing on the LCD panel... OPEN!

Turning the handle and hearing the locking bolts retract was the finest sound I'd heard all day.

I pulled open the door. Grabbed my cheque and held it aloft victorious. What a day. What a day indeed
]]> Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:06:44 GMT 87043361FB700BC662AC603072996A1A Llndudno Extravaganza 2010 http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=274706 I've finally recovered after my weekend away in Llandudno, North Wales where I faced a trio of escape challenges set by the committee of the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza. The challenges were spread over the weekend so I faced one on each of the three days of the bankholiday weekend. My first challenge was to free myself from an original Mitchells and Butlers beer barrel that was donated by <a href="http://www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk/" target="_new">The National Brewery Centre. After being searched with a metal detector for keys, picks or other tools that would help me to escape I was locked into a set of police handcuffs and a pair of victorian shackles. The lid was then secured with chain and padlocks brought forward by members of the crowd. To my surprise a time limit of four minutes was then introduced! Not good when trying to remove cuffs and shackles inside the cramped confines of a beer barrel! However, I am happy to report I made it out within the deadline taking me 3:57! The second day saw me locked into a set of cuffs that were made by the Committe of the Extravaganza. I'd not seen the cuffs until the moment they were locked on to my wrists. I knew I'd have to face the cuffs, but I was unaware of the broken glass I was about to get dragged across bear foot and the three large spikes that followed those. My feet were cut by the glass, but I thankfully managed to free myself before meeting the spikes. Two down and one to go. Monday the committee strapped me into a regulation Posey straitjacket and then suspended me by my ankles from a Victorian steam powered crane. Despite my feet slipping during the escape I managed to free myself quickly enough to make it safely back down. If you have video or photos of any of my escape challenges that took place please do get in touch, I'd love to see them. As well as my own performances I got to work with my good friends <a href="http://www.harleytheclown.co.uk" target="_new">Harley and Emma. Harley is one of the best clowns I've had the pleasure to share a stage with and Emma has a personality that can bring any character to life. Was great fun all round! If you missed it this year make sure you book the time to come next year. Extravaganza is 25 years old in 2011 and promises to be the biggest and best yet!! Check out <a href="http://www.victorian-extravaganza.co.uk" target="_new">www.victorian-extravaganza.co.uk for more info on this event!
The challenges were spread over the weekend so I faced one on each of the three days of the bankholiday weekend.

My first challenge was to free myself from an original Mitchells and Butlers beer barrel that was donated by The National Brewery Centre. After being searched with a metal detector for keys, picks or other tools that would help me to escape I was locked into a set of police handcuffs and a pair of victorian shackles. The lid was then secured with chain and padlocks brought forward by members of the crowd.

To my surprise a time limit of four minutes was then introduced! Not good when trying to remove cuffs and shackles inside the cramped confines of a beer barrel! However, I am happy to report I made it out within the deadline taking me 3:57!

The second day saw me locked into a set of cuffs that were made by the Committe of the Extravaganza. I'd not seen the cuffs until the moment they were locked on to my wrists.

I knew I'd have to face the cuffs, but I was unaware of the broken glass I was about to get dragged across bear foot and the three large spikes that followed those. My feet were cut by the glass, but I thankfully managed to free myself before meeting the spikes.

Two down and one to go. Monday the committee strapped me into a regulation Posey straitjacket and then suspended me by my ankles from a Victorian steam powered crane. Despite my feet slipping during the escape I managed to free myself quickly enough to make it safely back down.

If you have video or photos of any of my escape challenges that took place please do get in touch, I'd love to see them.

As well as my own performances I got to work with my good friends Harley and Emma. Harley is one of the best clowns I've had the pleasure to share a stage with and Emma has a personality that can bring any character to life. Was great fun all round!

If you missed it this year make sure you book the time to come next year. Extravaganza is 25 years old in 2011 and promises to be the biggest and best yet!!

Check out www.victorian-extravaganza.co.uk for more info on this event!
]]> Fri, 07 May 2010 16:01:21 GMT 0A5A49D8EB9132ED544F58C2D14590B7 What fun it is to be in London Town :) http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=184519 Today has been a good day, which is always the way I like my days to be. Even the days that start off bad I try to turn them on their heads and make good things happen. But today wasn't one of those days, it started good and has ended in an equally pleasent way. First I spent my morning preparing for my appearence at next months Cheese 'N' Crackers, which is a variety/burlesque type show that takes place on the last Thursday of every month in London's West End. I'll be appearing in it on March 25th and will be showcasing a completely new escape stunt. Not only is it something I've never done before, its also something that has quite literally never been tried before. A world first! This stunt is also going to be the most dangerous escape I've ever attempted. So as you can imagine the nerves are really beginning to kick in even though I've got over a month before I'm expected to do it on stage. I can't say too much about what it is that I'm going to be trying, only that I've been inspired by the men and women of the sideshow. Those lovable freaks that are able to do seemingly impossible things with their bodies. Things that you or I would literally die trying. Well as those of you who know me will testify I am but a normal guy. I don't have a particularly high pain threshold (no more than any other 28-year-old male anyway) so if what I'm going to attempt goes slightly off course its going to hurt like hell! So I spent my morning working out a few bits for that. Then I met up with my good friend Ben. He's a teacher and is on half term this week and being the all round good egg that he is he decided to come all the way down to London from Birmingham just to hang out for a few hours. Now I know some of you will be shocked reading that last sentence and will be frozen in disbelief having learnt that I know &quot;normal&quot; people. Well yes I do. Not only do I know Ben he's one of my closest friends too. Plus he plays piano and can read Hebrew, although I'm not sure if he does these two things at the same time. I'll ask him next time we meet up. I feel a sense of relief among some of you with the last revelation... &quot;Piano. Hebrew. Phew!!! Ben's not that normal afterall!&quot; Well he wouldn't be completely sane would he? He is my mate. Oh, and he dabbles in a bit of magic too. If only I could talk him in to jacking in the whole teaching thing and to come on the road with me. Imagin. Ben is centre stage playing piano whilst reading Hebrew and then playing cards and coins start to appear at his fingertips. The music and the Hebrew recital continue as he and the piano start to levitate! Now I'd pay money to see that!!! Anyway I digress. So Ben came to visit and I couldn't have had a better day. First stop Starbucks on Tottenham Court Rd for a quick caffine burst. Then a stroll down to China Town for a spot of lunch. Mr Wu's on Wardour Street is where we ended up. As Ben said: &quot;Its not somewhere you'd take a 1st date, but if you're hungry and strapped for cash Mt Wu's all you can eat buffet for less than a fiver is definately the answer.&quot; And I agree completely. Our next stop was a little pub in called the Doggett (or something like that) on Blackfriers Bridge. I've been before and had the most awesome game pie, but having stuffed our faces at Mr Wu's pie was the last thing on our minds. This time we were after ale and plenty of it. Luckily the Doggett (I'll call it that since I've no idea what else to call it) is not only famous for pie but also for its ever changing selection of guest real ales. I've never had the same one twice. Beautiful! This took us to 5:30pm. When we were met by Kaleigh, my fiancee, who had managed to escape the clutches of the office (yes she has a real job) and travel from Canary Wharf to the pub. Another quick beer and a bowl of chips and it was time to hit the road. We took Ben to see Inner Temple, which isn where we're hoping to get married, and then a lovely walk back through London to Euston where we had to say goodbye and return home. I know most people who read my mini blog expect me to be constantly setting fire to myself, or doing something as equally stupid. But today was a different day. Today I was &quot;a normal&quot;. And it felt good. Not good enough that I'd want to live there, but a nice place to visit :)
First I spent my morning preparing for my appearence at next months Cheese 'N' Crackers, which is a variety/burlesque type show that takes place on the last Thursday of every month in London's West End. I'll be appearing in it on March 25th and will be showcasing a completely new escape stunt. Not only is it something I've never done before, its also something that has quite literally never been tried before.

A world first!

This stunt is also going to be the most dangerous escape I've ever attempted. So as you can imagine the nerves are really beginning to kick in even though I've got over a month before I'm expected to do it on stage.

I can't say too much about what it is that I'm going to be trying, only that I've been inspired by the men and women of the sideshow. Those lovable freaks that are able to do seemingly impossible things with their bodies. Things that you or I would literally die trying.

Well as those of you who know me will testify I am but a normal guy. I don't have a particularly high pain threshold (no more than any other 28-year-old male anyway) so if what I'm going to attempt goes slightly off course its going to hurt like hell!

So I spent my morning working out a few bits for that. Then I met up with my good friend Ben. He's a teacher and is on half term this week and being the all round good egg that he is he decided to come all the way down to London from Birmingham just to hang out for a few hours.

Now I know some of you will be shocked reading that last sentence and will be frozen in disbelief having learnt that I know "normal" people. Well yes I do. Not only do I know Ben he's one of my closest friends too. Plus he plays piano and can read Hebrew, although I'm not sure if he does these two things at the same time. I'll ask him next time we meet up.

I feel a sense of relief among some of you with the last revelation... "Piano. Hebrew. Phew!!! Ben's not that normal afterall!"

Well he wouldn't be completely sane would he? He is my mate. Oh, and he dabbles in a bit of magic too. If only I could talk him in to jacking in the whole teaching thing and to come on the road with me.

Imagin. Ben is centre stage playing piano whilst reading Hebrew and then playing cards and coins start to appear at his fingertips. The music and the Hebrew recital continue as he and the piano start to levitate! Now I'd pay money to see that!!!

Anyway I digress.

So Ben came to visit and I couldn't have had a better day.

First stop Starbucks on Tottenham Court Rd for a quick caffine burst. Then a stroll down to China Town for a spot of lunch. Mr Wu's on Wardour Street is where we ended up. As Ben said: "Its not somewhere you'd take a 1st date, but if you're hungry and strapped for cash Mt Wu's all you can eat buffet for less than a fiver is definately the answer."

And I agree completely.

Our next stop was a little pub in called the Doggett (or something like that) on Blackfriers Bridge. I've been before and had the most awesome game pie, but having stuffed our faces at Mr Wu's pie was the last thing on our minds. This time we were after ale and plenty of it.

Luckily the Doggett (I'll call it that since I've no idea what else to call it) is not only famous for pie but also for its ever changing selection of guest real ales. I've never had the same one twice. Beautiful!

This took us to 5:30pm. When we were met by Kaleigh, my fiancee, who had managed to escape the clutches of the office (yes she has a real job) and travel from Canary Wharf to the pub.

Another quick beer and a bowl of chips and it was time to hit the road.

We took Ben to see Inner Temple, which isn where we're hoping to get married, and then a lovely walk back through London to Euston where we had to say goodbye and return home.

I know most people who read my mini blog expect me to be constantly setting fire to myself, or doing something as equally stupid. But today was a different day. Today I was "a normal". And it felt good. Not good enough that I'd want to live there, but a nice place to visit :)
]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:00:55 GMT 66EB4CDBE2FD826372EFDD96DB34ED5D RUNNING FOR MY LIFE!!!! http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=136141 OK, so a slight exaggeration. But I have just taken up the joyous passtime of leisure running. Joyous? Yep, I completed my first 3 mile run yesterday and I'm actually feeling quite good and what's more I'm looking forward to going out again tonight! Strange but true I don't think its the actual running that's caught my interest, but the fact that I'm using probably the coolest iPhone app ever created. Its called Run Keeper and it keeps a record of literally everything I do whilst I'm out running. It even shows me my route via Google maps! So until the novelty wears off I'm pretty safe, and I'm hoping that by that point I'll be happy just to go out for a run. So why running? Well first of all, like most of us these days, I seriously need to trim down and lose those extra pounds. The second reason is my fiancee, world champion unicyclist Kaleigh Grainger, is attempting the impossible. She's signed up for the Brighton marathon that takes place in Brighton (funny that) on April 18th 2010. This is only 18 weeks away! Now we've found an 18 week plan in the Runner's World Complete Book of Running that says it can get us to the point of being able to run the 26 miles needed to complete a marathon, so in theory it should be possible. However, I'm doubting that in 18 weeks time I'll be comfortable running 26 miles. Especially as right now 3 miles is plenty. Seriously! Aparently by Sunday I should be ready to do my first 6 mile run... I can't quite see it, but you never know. I will of course keep everyone posted! If you'd like to support Kaleigh in her quest please visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.runningsponsorme.org/kaleighgrainger">Kaleigh's sponsership website. And if you're a UK tax payer don't forget to tick the box to claim the gift aid. For those who have far too much time on your hands you can keep up to date with my running progress by following me on Twitter. All daily updates will be posted there. Until the next time stay safe and stay happy
Joyous? Yep, I completed my first 3 mile run yesterday and I'm actually feeling quite good and what's more I'm looking forward to going out again tonight! Strange but true

I don't think its the actual running that's caught my interest, but the fact that I'm using probably the coolest iPhone app ever created. Its called Run Keeper and it keeps a record of literally everything I do whilst I'm out running. It even shows me my route via Google maps! So until the novelty wears off I'm pretty safe, and I'm hoping that by that point I'll be happy just to go out for a run.

So why running?

Well first of all, like most of us these days, I seriously need to trim down and lose those extra pounds.

The second reason is my fiancee, world champion unicyclist Kaleigh Grainger, is attempting the impossible. She's signed up for the Brighton marathon that takes place in Brighton (funny that) on April 18th 2010.

This is only 18 weeks away!

Now we've found an 18 week plan in the Runner's World Complete Book of Running that says it can get us to the point of being able to run the 26 miles needed to complete a marathon, so in theory it should be possible. However, I'm doubting that in 18 weeks time I'll be comfortable running 26 miles. Especially as right now 3 miles is plenty. Seriously!

Aparently by Sunday I should be ready to do my first 6 mile run... I can't quite see it, but you never know. I will of course keep everyone posted!

If you'd like to support Kaleigh in her quest please visit Kaleigh's sponsership website. And if you're a UK tax payer don't forget to tick the box to claim the gift aid.

For those who have far too much time on your hands you can keep up to date with my running progress by following me on Twitter. All daily updates will be posted there.

Until the next time stay safe and stay happy
]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:00:00 GMT B41D15298F356A18AA68336635720E75 Become part of show!!! http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=133108 Hello to you all. I hope this post finds you happy and well. I'm getting seriously excited about Christmas this year. It'll be the first one I get to spend at home for many years... I can't wait to tuck in to my Mum's home cooked Christmas dinner!!! Anyway, I digress. The reason for this post is I'm looking for people who want to become part of the show. First I'm after a graphics student, or group of students, who are able to create a series of images that I plan to use for my website, business cards, postcards, poster etc... The images need to cover the many facets of my show. From the escapes I perform to juggling, magic and sideshow etc... You can use cartoon images, photos or anything else you want to get the message across. If you're creative and full of ideas then you're the type of person I'm looking for. You don't have to be living in the UK as things can be done over the web, but you do need to be a student looking for a project for your portfolio. To apply please drop me an email, <a href="mailto:roslyn@roslynwalker.com">roslyn@roslynwalker.com, with a short 500 word written piece about you and what you propose to create. Please also include a sample image. This image must be unique. Created by you and include a hanging straitjacket escape. Don't forget to include your email address and a contact telephone number. Please get in touch by midnight January 22nd 2010. The successful applicant will be contacted by 5pm Monday 25th January 2010. Not an artist? Don't worry, you can still become part of the show by creating an escape challenge! If you have an idea for an escape and you'd like to see it come to life then all you need to do is join my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roslyn-Walker/133466937934" target="_new">FaceBook fan page and join in the disscussion. The escapes will then be recorded and the results, successful or not, will be posted to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/roslynwalker" target="_new">YouTube channel. Can you beat Roslyn Walker? There's only one way to find out, so go get creative! I'm looking forward to hearing from you all and seeing what you come up with.
I hope this post finds you happy and well. I'm getting seriously excited about Christmas this year. It'll be the first one I get to spend at home for many years... I can't wait to tuck in to my Mum's home cooked Christmas dinner!!!

Anyway, I digress.

The reason for this post is I'm looking for people who want to become part of the show.

First I'm after a graphics student, or group of students, who are able to create a series of images that I plan to use for my website, business cards, postcards, poster etc...

The images need to cover the many facets of my show. From the escapes I perform to juggling, magic and sideshow etc...

You can use cartoon images, photos or anything else you want to get the message across.

If you're creative and full of ideas then you're the type of person I'm looking for. You don't have to be living in the UK as things can be done over the web, but you do need to be a student looking for a project for your portfolio.

To apply please drop me an email, roslyn@roslynwalker.com, with a short 500 word written piece about you and what you propose to create. Please also include a sample image. This image must be unique. Created by you and include a hanging straitjacket escape. Don't forget to include your email address and a contact telephone number.

Please get in touch by midnight January 22nd 2010. The successful applicant will be contacted by 5pm Monday 25th January 2010.


Not an artist? Don't worry, you can still become part of the show by creating an escape challenge!

If you have an idea for an escape and you'd like to see it come to life then all you need to do is join my FaceBook fan page and join in the disscussion. The escapes will then be recorded and the results, successful or not, will be posted to my YouTube channel.

Can you beat Roslyn Walker? There's only one way to find out, so go get creative!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you all and seeing what you come up with.
]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:15:04 GMT 5DF87B3A56F51BE49BCB795AB8D03243 Hello...!!! http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=125785 So its been a while since my last blog post. Things have just been a little crazy the past few weeks what with auditions and gigs etc.. But I've managed to squeeze a quick 5 minutes to say hello and let you all know that the rumours of my early demise are greatly over exagerated... I grazed my elbow and that was all. Amazing how these little things get out of hand. Anyway, the second reason I decided to drop by was to tell you about DJ Sega. Now I'm not usually one for dance music, I'm a hardcore rock fan and always have been, and I certainly don't listen to remixes of my favourite rock anthems. However last night was a little bit different. Driving home from a gig I managed to catch Zane Lowe on BBC Radio1. He was in the middle of a DJ battle with Reggie Yates who I have to say was slamming Zane pulling out tune after tune. Then he announced a DJ Sega remix of Smells Like Teen Spirit by the legends that were Nirvana. Under normal cercumstances I would've turned off there and then, but I didn't deciding instead to ride it out and see how things went. I have to admit I really liked it! Driving down the M11 at 8:30pm with this on the radio and the volume turned right up was a great combo that I can highly recommend. You can check out the tune <a target="_new" href="http://hypem.com/track/578952/Nirvana+-+Smells+Like+Teen+Spirit+DJ+Sega+Remix+">here. Its not the best quality version. But its a free listen and will give you an idea of how it plays. I believe you can also get it from iTunes or other download sites too. I'm about to go take a look for myself. If you're a dance, rock, Nirvana or DJ Sega fan you'll love it, so do yourself a favour and check it out! Now to bed I think
But I've managed to squeeze a quick 5 minutes to say hello and let you all know that the rumours of my early demise are greatly over exagerated... I grazed my elbow and that was all. Amazing how these little things get out of hand.

Anyway, the second reason I decided to drop by was to tell you about DJ Sega. Now I'm not usually one for dance music, I'm a hardcore rock fan and always have been, and I certainly don't listen to remixes of my favourite rock anthems.

However last night was a little bit different. Driving home from a gig I managed to catch Zane Lowe on BBC Radio1. He was in the middle of a DJ battle with Reggie Yates who I have to say was slamming Zane pulling out tune after tune. Then he announced a DJ Sega remix of Smells Like Teen Spirit by the legends that were Nirvana.

Under normal cercumstances I would've turned off there and then, but I didn't deciding instead to ride it out and see how things went.

I have to admit I really liked it!

Driving down the M11 at 8:30pm with this on the radio and the volume turned right up was a great combo that I can highly recommend.

You can check out the tune here. Its not the best quality version. But its a free listen and will give you an idea of how it plays.

I believe you can also get it from iTunes or other download sites too. I'm about to go take a look for myself.

If you're a dance, rock, Nirvana or DJ Sega fan you'll love it, so do yourself a favour and check it out!

Now to bed I think
]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT B1646D42B3403760FF1EAB987E60448B Wand Spinning http://roslynwalker.com/miniblog.cfm?feature=914992&postid=103489 Hello! First an apology. Sorry for not writing much the past few weeks. I've been busy working on a new show and I just haven't had time to sit at the computer and write anthing. But I hope this post makes up for at least some of that. In this &quot;things you can do&quot; post we're going to look at wand spinning. This is an area of magic that gets neglected by many magicians new and old. Hopefully this is something that together we can start to put right. The magic wand is the single most important symbol of the magician. Everyone knows what it is and what they do. They help the magician's do magic... And you might be shocked to hear this but that statement is 100% true. The magic wand really does help magicians perform magic. If you do a cups and balls, or you just want to vanish a coin the magic wand can help you out in ways no other prop can. The great Vernon, Michael Ammar and Gazzo have all used the magic wand to make real magic for their audiences. But before you can use it to make magic you need to learn how to handle it. Many magicians handle a wand in a clumsy fashion, which is a shame when their coin and card work is otherwise extremely slick. Far more than mine ever will be. In the video I teach 5 different wand spins. We start extremely easy and work our way up to more difficult spins... But nothing that 30 minutes practice (max) won't solve. So go grab your magic wand and bring it to life... <a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTcBrAlFJQU">
First an apology. Sorry for not writing much the past few weeks. I've been busy working on a new show and I just haven't had time to sit at the computer and write anthing. But I hope this post makes up for at least some of that.

In this "things you can do" post we're going to look at wand spinning.

This is an area of magic that gets neglected by many magicians new and old. Hopefully this is something that together we can start to put right.

The magic wand is the single most important symbol of the magician. Everyone knows what it is and what they do. They help the magician's do magic... And you might be shocked to hear this but that statement is 100% true. The magic wand really does help magicians perform magic.

If you do a cups and balls, or you just want to vanish a coin the magic wand can help you out in ways no other prop can. The great Vernon, Michael Ammar and Gazzo have all used the magic wand to make real magic for their audiences.

But before you can use it to make magic you need to learn how to handle it. Many magicians handle a wand in a clumsy fashion, which is a shame when their coin and card work is otherwise extremely slick. Far more than mine ever will be.

In the video I teach 5 different wand spins. We start extremely easy and work our way up to more difficult spins... But nothing that 30 minutes practice (max) won't solve.

So go grab your magic wand and bring it to life...


]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:35:00 GMT C8537DFB8C7C134CCC12B2EAE958A837