Diary Of A Freelance Peanut With A Flattened Pe..... Monday 24/03/14

Well I kinda promised this blog would turn into a weekly diary. Ish. Problem with that is that last Monday is a week ago now and I cant remember what I did. Let's see what happens.

Monday 17/03/14

Monday is Scrabble date night. Don't knock it till you've tried it. Third week and the running score was 0 for 2. My best attempt yet but Mrs. Aardvark still triumphed. 0 for 3. Hoaxed on a triple word score late in the game and I was done for. Always thought I was quite handy at Scrabble too. Next week ludo. Safer ground.

Tuesday 18/03/14

Tuesday afternoon saw me in Barnsley visiting Debut Records to pick their brains re running an independent record store. Without going into too much detail I'm more convinced than ever that it's doable in Donny. Someone told me pre visit that Barnsley's changed, it's very clean now. The small bit I saw seemed pleasant enough. For Barnsley.

Tuesday evening found me co-judging Pub Idol at The Urban Bar. The name explains it all really. 7 competitors but 2 real stand out singers. Despite the drunken chap in the toilet who insisted I didn't know what I was doing and that he could sing better. He then proved himself wrong magnificently with a rendition of Parklife mashed up with what I believe was entitled vomit in the sink. Lovely.

Wednesday 19/03/14

Wednesday was spent looking online for vacant properties in Donny town centre. This isn't strictly true. It was spent reading messages from Mrs. Aardvark who was sending me links to vacant properties in Donny town centre. She's much better at this kind of thing than me.

Wednesday night a quick chat with The First 45's JJ who's keen to get on board with the record store thing though seems to have got sidetracked by thinking of a name. C**t Records is just not acceptable. And then Open Mic Night at Cask Corner. Always an entertaining evening. And the manageress is fit.

Thursday 20/03/14

Was supposed to be in town for 12 to see The Dunwells and Emma Jade Garbutt busking to promote their upcoming Leopard gig on April 4th. As is my wont these days I failed abysmally to get out of bed. Arrived just in time to catch The Dunwells last chord. Still what I've heard of the band before makes it a must see gig especially with Famous Villains on the bill too.

We took advantage of Mrs. Aardvark having a rare day off with a bonus game of Scrabble. 0 for 4. Lost by 103 points. This isn't funny anymore.

Friday 21/03/14

Not my finest hour. Out with my best mate Ian for a 'few' beers. Got told off in The Doncaster Brewery Tap for playing music on my phone (Bruce Springsteen - Rocky Ground). My apologies to Ian (a different Ian) and Alison (The Milky Bar Kid). Told the band in Horse And Groom they were a disgrace to punk music. A trip to The Mason's that I just don't want to talk about, then back to Cask Corner to get the key to Chez Aardvark. I went back to Julie's while she finished work. In my very drunken state I crashed out and didn't hear her banging on the door, or the text asking where the f**k I was, nor the 15 missed calls. I was woke up by a less than impressed Mrs. Aardvark standing over me having had to kick in her own door to get in. I'm blessed that she has a marvellous sense of humour and a very tolerant nature. In my, very weak, defence she was late home due to a disaster with the plumbing at Cask Corner.

Saturday 22/03/14

In a magnanimous gesture of loyalty and devotion I offered to help with the Cask plumbing disaster. (For magnanimous gesture read creeping). This basically involved holding a pipe while we both got covered in, well, you don't wanna know but you can guess. Then mopping up the stuff you don't wanna know about. The less details the better. Home for a shower then out again to meet the erstwhile Mr. Rob Dannatt. More Record Shop names touted including 'Closed Until Further Notice Records', 'We Don't Sell Records Records' and my personal favourite 'Mansion Records'. After a visit to Johnny Gibson at Tiki Bar to sip ridiculous cocktails and a stop off at La Barraca to see Mark Kelly we gatecrashed a charity do at Woolpack. I did make a donation just to ease my conscience. Then I got the call. An even bigger plumbing disaster at Cask Corner. Commendably the band played on while staff and customers mopped. Back to Cask where I drank coffee (lesson learned) and helped with more mopping. Got to bed at 7am. It's never dull.

Sunday 23/03/14

A lazy day before down to Sine FM Towers for the 2nd The Other Way. I know that doesn't scan well but I can think of no other way of putting it. A much better show this week. Less nerves though I still ran out of time. No iPod Roulette (maybe no bad thing) and only squeezed in one of the exclusive recorded tracks from Johnny Lucas. I really need to plan better. It's bad form to have exclusive recorded tracks that I don't play! Was joined on the show by the superbly talented and very lovely David Bailey for a couple of quality live tracks. After the show over to my favourite Donny restaurant, Tipsy, to see Yusuf and eat his magnificent fare.

This next bit is a tad embarrassing and I'm not quite sure how to word it but here goes. The Aardvarks were laying in bed watching tunage on Youtube on my laptop, erm, naked. A certain body part of mine was resting on the laptop obviously enjoying Faithless' performance at Glastonbury 2002. It was pointed out to me that he seemed to be watching. I'd forgot and on shutting the laptop..... do we really need to go any further with this?

So that was that. It's Monday evening. I've been reliably informed we wont be playing ludo tonight but that the Scrabble carnage will continue.

Laters

SS

The Other Way Playlist Sunday 23/03/14

The Other Way - Polkadodge

Down At The Doctors - Dr. Feelgood

Start To Run - Dexters

Dedicated To The One I Love - The Mamas And Papas

Don't Look Behind You - The Talks

After Hours - We Are Scientists

It Keeps Me Alive - Johnny Lucas (Exclusive)

Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen

Kennedy - The Wedding Present

Get It On - T-Rex

I Like What You Like - Beast

Shock The Monkey - Peter Gabriel

Shimmer Gold - Dexters

New Shoes (Live) - David Bailey

Come Closer - Miles Kane

Ripples - The Coopers

Towerland Lullaby - John Lennon McCullogh

Fictional State - To Kill A King

Blues Hand Me Down - Vintage Trouble

Soul Uncensored - Section 60

Pride Of Judgement Day - Bluesy Steve (Music Bomb)

Rango - Catfish And The Bottlemen

5:15 - The Who

Can't Sleep - Dexters

No Diggity (Live) - David Bailey

Follow The Road - The Dunwells

Spies - Famous Villains

Seven Seas - Echo And The Bunnymen

Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers