Went to London this weekend. My sister-in-law's birthday. It was a weekend of childless bliss. The son was in France (Marseille to be exact doing something with the school, daughter doing a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the Yorkshire Dales)
So it was champagne in the bar at St Pancras(heated seats and blankets to keep you warm no less). More champagne in Dirty Martinis in Convent Garden and blonde beer and mussels at Belgo
Saturday was spent mostly recovering from Friday's excesses and then into Guildford for drinks at The Slug and Lettuce and meal at Olivos. Our enjoyment of this whole hedonistic (and very expensive)binge was not spoiled by the best efforts of National Express East Coast and their engineering works.
London is my home and going back makes me miss it. We walked across the Thames to Waterloo to get the train out to Surrey (past Woking and yes I do look out for Stanley Road)and that made me remember this song from the late 1970s mod/rnb revival
MP3 Dirty Water- The Inmates
They were a solid hard working bunch of musicians playng straightforward RnB Pub rock. This is a cover of a song by a band from Boston- The Standells (thank you Mr Internet)
Monday 30 March 2009
Monday 23 March 2009
Start The Week
Late start a work today. So I am at home. My meeting doesn't start til 10 and finishes at 2. A short day methinks. I could go to the Office but frankly I can't be arsed.
Lovely weekend weather wise, well at least Saturday was. I spent most of Saturday trudging round Durham. My son is away at the end of the week and in a typical spectacularly incompetent teenage way had forgotten that his Passport needed renewing. So Passport Office in Durham it was. A four hour service (great). That will be £114 thank you, sir.(not so great). He says he will give me the extra money back. Not sure how as he hasn't worked for a while.But it was good to have father son time which has been a bit short this year as he has lost interest in football just as Posh are challenging for promotion to the Championship. Timing!!. Kids! I mean we have been through the bad years, ermm that's every year since we started going together- except 2000 Div Three play off final at Wembley- and just as things are looking up he loses interest. Still I'm looking forward to the Posh v Toon next season.
Saying this caused major argument over the weekend with the wife. Geordies, eh? No sense of humour when it comes to football.
Lovely weekend weather wise, well at least Saturday was. I spent most of Saturday trudging round Durham. My son is away at the end of the week and in a typical spectacularly incompetent teenage way had forgotten that his Passport needed renewing. So Passport Office in Durham it was. A four hour service (great). That will be £114 thank you, sir.(not so great). He says he will give me the extra money back. Not sure how as he hasn't worked for a while.But it was good to have father son time which has been a bit short this year as he has lost interest in football just as Posh are challenging for promotion to the Championship. Timing!!. Kids! I mean we have been through the bad years, ermm that's every year since we started going together- except 2000 Div Three play off final at Wembley- and just as things are looking up he loses interest. Still I'm looking forward to the Posh v Toon next season.
Saying this caused major argument over the weekend with the wife. Geordies, eh? No sense of humour when it comes to football.
Friday 20 March 2009
Music Pt 4
I got the Factory Communications Box set for my birthday present. Track 6 Disc 1 is Time Goes By So Slow by The Distractions.
I tell people it was the music of Joy Division and The Buzzcocks that made me choose Manchester as my University. This is true but its also just as true that it was The Distractions' EP " You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That" that persuaded me to go.
Of all the bands I have loved The Distractions reign supreme. In the 4 years I lived in Manchester I saw them 8 times. This is still my record for seeing a band, even including The Wedding Present. They were unpretentious intelligent pop. They were not very good looking (not even Pip Nicholls the gay bass player). They didn't have a "look" but they could play. They were also nice people. Mike Finney the lead singer recognised me from the audience and stopped at a bus stop and gave me a lift home one time after a gig. Which was nice as the bus was late and I was tired and cold.
They released a few singles , recorded one perfect pop album for Island (Nobody's Perfect), one great EP including the wonderful songs Ghost of A Chance and Love is NotFor Me and then broke up. I still miss them, they just pushed all my "pop" buttons
Here is the song that got me hooked, from that original EP that first made me take notice.
MP3 It Doen't Bother Me
I tell people it was the music of Joy Division and The Buzzcocks that made me choose Manchester as my University. This is true but its also just as true that it was The Distractions' EP " You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That" that persuaded me to go.
Of all the bands I have loved The Distractions reign supreme. In the 4 years I lived in Manchester I saw them 8 times. This is still my record for seeing a band, even including The Wedding Present. They were unpretentious intelligent pop. They were not very good looking (not even Pip Nicholls the gay bass player). They didn't have a "look" but they could play. They were also nice people. Mike Finney the lead singer recognised me from the audience and stopped at a bus stop and gave me a lift home one time after a gig. Which was nice as the bus was late and I was tired and cold.
They released a few singles , recorded one perfect pop album for Island (Nobody's Perfect), one great EP including the wonderful songs Ghost of A Chance and Love is NotFor Me and then broke up. I still miss them, they just pushed all my "pop" buttons
Here is the song that got me hooked, from that original EP that first made me take notice.
MP3 It Doen't Bother Me
Thursday 19 March 2009
Spring!
The last two days have been rather wonderful, at least weather wise. It was my Birthday on Tuesday so I had the day off and my annual Guinness(the curse of sharing a birthday with St Patrick). We went up the coast and walked on the beach at Warkworth before having a meal at The Hermitage Inn in the village. The beach is a classic east coast Northumberland beach- expansive, cold wind blowing with brilliant clear blue skies up above and deserted most of the year). Its not the best beach up the coast, in my opinion that honour belongs to the beach at Bamburgh, but its pretty good. See this website from a local photographer for pictures if you've never been to Bamburgh.
The Hermitage Inn was a good place. Food was slightly adventurous ( the wife had sea bass and lime fishcakes)but not too daring. Judging by the number of people asking for it, the 7 sausage pie must be good.
Yesterday was back at work but the day was made by the walk across the Moor to work in the beautiful early spring sunshine. The days are getting longer and the temperature a bit warmer. Spring is the best time of year in the North East and between April and June we often get our best days. It give you hope after the long cold, dark winter.
The Hermitage Inn was a good place. Food was slightly adventurous ( the wife had sea bass and lime fishcakes)but not too daring. Judging by the number of people asking for it, the 7 sausage pie must be good.
Yesterday was back at work but the day was made by the walk across the Moor to work in the beautiful early spring sunshine. The days are getting longer and the temperature a bit warmer. Spring is the best time of year in the North East and between April and June we often get our best days. It give you hope after the long cold, dark winter.
Saturday 14 March 2009
Saturday Boy
I'm in good mood. A cheque has arrived today which I have been waiting for for a while. Money worries are over (for the time being at least).
The Wedding Present are the band I have listened to consistently the most over the last 20+ years.
If I had could have guaranteed this money would turn up, I might have been tempted to go to Japan to see them play there on their current Tour. But, that would be too reckless for a respectable middle aged local government officer like me. Thank God for T'Internet. I can see them on my PC playing two songs - one outstanding, one average TWP. Work out for yourself which one is which by clicking here
The Wedding Present are the band I have listened to consistently the most over the last 20+ years.
If I had could have guaranteed this money would turn up, I might have been tempted to go to Japan to see them play there on their current Tour. But, that would be too reckless for a respectable middle aged local government officer like me. Thank God for T'Internet. I can see them on my PC playing two songs - one outstanding, one average TWP. Work out for yourself which one is which by clicking here
Friday 13 March 2009
Friday I'm at work
Funny week this one. Evicted someone yesterday. Quite sad really as they had literally gone out to work and school in the morning. Breakfast dishes in the sink, washing machine on.We turn up with the Bailiff at 11am and force entry and change the locks. Half way through the man of the house tuns up.A neighbour has phoned him at work to say someone is breaking into his house and he has hotfooted it back to sort it out.He sees us all there goes white as a sheet as he realises the locks are being changed and I explain to him he is being evicted. Turns out he has been giving the rent money to his wife who has not been paying it. He obviously hadn't noticed the hi spec stereo and TV and kitchen appliances and BT Home Hub and laptops about the place He goes off, advised by me to contact a solicitor or the Homeless section.
Two hours later in the office they all turn up, husband wife and Mum to clear the arrears and ask for the keys back. This is not the first time we have evicted this couple so I say no, get yourself to Court if you want to challenge this.
Earlier today I get a phone call from our Legal team. My Housing officer hadn't filled in the correct paperwork. We have to let them back in. Hey Ho I think.Stuffed on a technicality.
At least we get all the money owed.All 3 and a half grand of it. Makes my figures look good either way!!! I check our files and find out that last time we tried to evict her the judge had let her off because she swore an affidavit that she was getting over her Mum's death.Must have been a ghost that wrote a cheque out for 3 and half grand today. Some people.
MP3 My Place- The Adverts
Two hours later in the office they all turn up, husband wife and Mum to clear the arrears and ask for the keys back. This is not the first time we have evicted this couple so I say no, get yourself to Court if you want to challenge this.
Earlier today I get a phone call from our Legal team. My Housing officer hadn't filled in the correct paperwork. We have to let them back in. Hey Ho I think.Stuffed on a technicality.
At least we get all the money owed.All 3 and a half grand of it. Makes my figures look good either way!!! I check our files and find out that last time we tried to evict her the judge had let her off because she swore an affidavit that she was getting over her Mum's death.Must have been a ghost that wrote a cheque out for 3 and half grand today. Some people.
MP3 My Place- The Adverts
Saturday 7 March 2009
Music Part Three
Bill Nelson for those who don't know is a guitar genius. Here are a couple of tracks for you to listen to
MP3 Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape
MP3 Six Strings For Sarah
The first, live track has probably the best guitar solo I have ever heard. Although Bill does great guitar solos this is the best.
The second song was done for a charity Sara's Hope Foundation a local North East based one. Support them by downloading a higher res version of this lovely instrumental.
The two tracks are separated by more than 30 years. Bill still makes music and releases work every year. He has a devoted but small fanbase. He is a great British hero.
MP3 Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape
MP3 Six Strings For Sarah
The first, live track has probably the best guitar solo I have ever heard. Although Bill does great guitar solos this is the best.
The second song was done for a charity Sara's Hope Foundation a local North East based one. Support them by downloading a higher res version of this lovely instrumental.
The two tracks are separated by more than 30 years. Bill still makes music and releases work every year. He has a devoted but small fanbase. He is a great British hero.
Monday 2 March 2009
Monday
A mix of a post this one. The Decorators have done their work very nicely. If you live in Newcastle or North East and want some work done I would recommend them. New Century Decorators 0191 274 4271. No website, they are a bit old fashioned, in a sense that's what you want from painters and decorators. The kids don't like the change.The dog is a bit confused by all the disruption.So its gone down well
We are now post birthday week so, like every year, it feels a bit anti climactic. This year especially so since my son was eighteen and my daughter 16. Big milestones in every one's life.
My daughter was dancing at Durham Gala Theatre last night. It was a school dance troupe plus guests type thing.I wouldn't have gone except she was dancing in two pieces. Modern dance, not my cup of tea. Mind you neither is ballet.She is a talented dancer and is doing work experience this year at Dance City in town. She is doing Grade 6 Ballet exam in the Summer. I hope she can make a living through it.
My son had American football training at Gateshead Stadium for the Senators as usual so it was a bit of a whirl travelling up and down and around the region yesterday. We did manage to fit a bit of food shopping in at Aldi. I love Aldi, its cheap but very good quality food especially the Dairy and Deli stuff . My son tells me that in Germany Aldi is the equivalent of Sainsbury.The service sucks but that is somehow part of its charm. Better than Netto where food and the service suck.
I ripped most of my Wedding Present collection onto the PC last night to put onto my MP3 player. I am after comfort music at the moment after a week or so of forcing myself to listen to new stuff.I am taking a break from Lammo on 6Music for now and indulging my Cinerama/Wedding Present obsession.
One of the new bands I have come across during my foray into the unknown are The Maccabees. I'd forgotten I had seen them supporting someone last year and was impressed then. There is a free download of a good song from their website here.
We are now post birthday week so, like every year, it feels a bit anti climactic. This year especially so since my son was eighteen and my daughter 16. Big milestones in every one's life.
My daughter was dancing at Durham Gala Theatre last night. It was a school dance troupe plus guests type thing.I wouldn't have gone except she was dancing in two pieces. Modern dance, not my cup of tea. Mind you neither is ballet.She is a talented dancer and is doing work experience this year at Dance City in town. She is doing Grade 6 Ballet exam in the Summer. I hope she can make a living through it.
My son had American football training at Gateshead Stadium for the Senators as usual so it was a bit of a whirl travelling up and down and around the region yesterday. We did manage to fit a bit of food shopping in at Aldi. I love Aldi, its cheap but very good quality food especially the Dairy and Deli stuff . My son tells me that in Germany Aldi is the equivalent of Sainsbury.The service sucks but that is somehow part of its charm. Better than Netto where food and the service suck.
I ripped most of my Wedding Present collection onto the PC last night to put onto my MP3 player. I am after comfort music at the moment after a week or so of forcing myself to listen to new stuff.I am taking a break from Lammo on 6Music for now and indulging my Cinerama/Wedding Present obsession.
One of the new bands I have come across during my foray into the unknown are The Maccabees. I'd forgotten I had seen them supporting someone last year and was impressed then. There is a free download of a good song from their website here.
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