Life, the Multiverse and Everything...: Don't believe everything you read.

Happy New Year!

A friend texted me in last couple of days to say the Bristol Evening Post and The Mirror had mentioned me in an article about the wonky bridge at the Cabot Circus shopping mall in Bristol. (I wrote a few emails to the people at Cabot Circus a couple of years back ((see here for the original blog post)) and it had now been mentioned in the press.)

Anyway, ever on the lookout for recognition, glory and fame in an otherwise mundane and essentially meaningless suburban life, I checked out the article on Bristol Evening Post and The Mirror's website. Sure enough, a brief mention of me, my blog post and the response from the lovely people at Cabot Circus appeared in the article. It read:

There is even a Facebook group devoted to the bridge, set up by Bristol blogger Steve Crowley, called 'The wonky bridge in Cabot Circus makes me feel dizzy and sick.' The closed group has 229 members.

In response to a letter from Mr Crowley about the bridge's dizzying effects, Berty Aherne, Customer Service Co-ordinator for Cabot Circus said: "The Cabot Circus car parking link bridge has been signed off to all mandatory requirements and the centre has won numerous awards for its design and building efficiency.

"The feedback to date has been positive from a design and practical point of view so we do not intend on making any changes for the foreseeable future."

They called me 'Bristol Blogger, Steve Crowley'? I liked that - made me feel dangerous, like a blogging version of Banksy. Just without the money. And fame. And talent.

Anyway, the real point is this - did you see who replied to me from Cabot Circus? Yes, none other than Berty Aherne. Some of you will be tittering to yourselves right now. Well done you. For the rest of you, here is the email I sent to the Bristol Evening Post and Mirror newspapers to explain the mistake:

From: Steve Crowley
To: Bristol Evening Post, The Mirror UK

Subject: Your article on the Wonky Bridge in Bristol

Happy New Year!

The above named article was brought to my attention as it mentions me by name as well as my blog (http://stephencrowley.blogspot.co.uk/).

I should probably make you aware that whilst all emails and responses from third parties on my blog are 100% genuine, I always change the names to protect anonymity and myself from accusations of libel.

Unfortunately, your article includes the following quote:

Berty Ahern was not the real name of the Cabot Circus employee that I corresponded with on my Cabot Circus blogpost. Berty Ahern was in fact Taoiseach (Head of Government) of Ireland from 1997-2008.

I am fairly confident he has never worked for Cabot Circus and I rather suspect he probably never will.

Here is a picture of him:

He is sat, quietly trying to restore his composure after walking across a wonky bridge that made him feel dizzy and sick.

I look forward to hearing from you presently.

Kindest regards

I heard back from the Journalist at Bristol Evening Post. A young (or perhaps seasoned - I've never met her) reporter by the name of Hunter S Thompson (remember what I said about protecting anonymity etc...?). She was good humoured about it and laughed it off - we all make mistakes don't we? God only knows I've made enough of them...

From: Hunter S Thompson (Bristol Evening Ppost)

To: Steve Crowley

Hi Stephen

Thanks for your email which has certainly made me laugh out loud (and feel somewhat embarrassed) this morning.

It would appear the Daily Mirror didn't pick up on this when they ran the story either.

I did attempt to contact Cabot Circus for myself when I wrote the story but wasn't able to get hold of anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the blog and I hope it's ok that I referenced it for the purposes of my story.

I will amend the copy to read 'a spokesman for Cabot Circus said'- just to be on the safe side.

Kind Regards

Hunter S Thompson

Bristol Post