Monday 28 July 2014

Irony. Sos Man.

This week's honorary retweet mention goes to Country Fresh Mushrooms, exotic mushroom, fruit and veg wholesale. Again, no idea how they stumbled upon my blog. This week expect more record shop stuff, moaning about prerecords, Scrabble and lots of Tramlines stuff.

Monday 21/07/14

The day started with both me and Julie feeling slightly groggy but no real idea why. A brief resumption of last night's Scrabble before Julie headed off to work. It remains unfinished but I still have that healthy lead.

Bit of an interruption here to tell you that it's now Monday 28th and I've just got back from Tramlines weekend so the rest of this will be very hazy indeed.

Scrabble was completed Monday night with a resounding victory by 74 points, 45-18.

Tuesday 22/07/14

This is where it's gonna start getting sketchy. Met a shopfitter, talked ceilings etc. Er, went home, went to see Starsie play at Cask. Went home.

Wednesday 23/07/14

Did a prerecord for Sunday's show today. The upstairs studios at Sine were like a sweatbox. No aircon and couldn't open the window due to the noise. Julie joined me and lasted 5 minutes before she had to leave, the heat was that intolerable. For those that listened you may be intrigued to know I was practically naked recording it. Home for a cold shower then back to Cask for open mic. 

Thursday 24/07/14

Scrabble happened today. I remember that much. Winning all the way til Julie used all her tiles with pretty much her final go on a triple word score. Lost by 33. 46-18. Gutted. I did actually sulk for a bit. I can remember bugger all about the rest of the day.

Friday 25/07/14 - Tramlines Day One

Lunchtime drink with my daughters then over to Sheffield. Found my hotel, got my wristband then realised I didn't have a clue where I was going and I'd not got a map. The planned schedule was:

Mynas @ The Cremorne
Smoking Beagles @ Delaneys
Fallen Trees @ The Royal Standard
The Wedding Present @ The Leadmill
Bang Bang Romeo @ The Frog and Parrot

Headed for the Royal Standard 'cos I know where that is and to have a catch up with The Velcro Teddy Bears (it's their pub). Cremorne wasn't too far away so I managed that one. Mynas are always good fun. Got a text from my mate Mark Loriane, he was in The Great Gatsby. Too hot to walk so jumped in a taxi. Couple of beers with Mark then nipped to The Leadmill to check on a rumour that The Weddoes were going on early. Bumped into Dave Gedge who didn't recognise me without my hair but did confirm the half 9 start time. Popped over to The Royal Standard where things were running very late so I got to chat with Fallen Trees but didn't catch their set. 4 hours in and I'd only seen one band! 

Back to The Leadmill just as The Wedding Present came on stage. Best I've ever seen them. The place was rammed and dripping. And they finished with Brassneck straight into Kennedy. Brilliant. Back out into the Sheffield heat and a yomp up to the Frog and Parrot and again walked in just as Bang Bang Romeo started their set. They owned it. Another packed venue eating out of Starsie's hand. 

I resisted the urge to party on and headed back to my hotel, a very sweaty mess. 

Saturday 26/07/14 Tramlines Day Two

The plan:

Jim Taplin and Mick Holmes @ Maida Vale
The 48ks @ Crystal
Polkadodge @ Leadmill
Section 60 @ Rocking Chair
Deap Vally @ Leadmill
Velcro Teddy Bears @ The Royal Standard

The day started with a tweet from Joel Phillips hinting at a secret set from Dexters that night so (shameless name dropping moment) a quick twitter chat with the Dexters boys confirmed it. Schedule already out the window.

Got to Maida Vale to find that they were having a few technical issues and the guy with the key to the room holding all the equipment wasn't coming in. Nipped over to Crystal for a chat with The 48ks then back to Maida Vale where things were finally up and running where I sat on a very comfy sofa and watched Jim and Mick do their thing. 

Back to Crystal for the first discovery of the weekend, Where Fires Are. Great band and really nice lads. Hopefully be on next week's play list. 48ks next showing just how brilliant they can be. A set littered with new songs that bodes well for the forth coming EP.

Crystal probably had the best line up over the whole city, so many quality bands that you'll be lucky to see for free again. Caught The SSS, Smiler and Dirty Sterling before we jumped in a taxi to catch Polkadodge at The Leadmill. Love those boys so much. I then decided that the heat was too much and I needed a shower. The massive drink Mark bought me didn't help either.





Back to the hotel where I managed to fall asleep and wake up 5 hours later having missed so much. 


Got myself together just in time to catch Deap Vally at Leadmill. The place was even busier than Friday night, unbearably hot. I made my excuses after half hour and headed for The Frog and Parrot. Had the traditional pre gig sambuca, Dexters singer Tom actually had three. They agreed to come and play at my shop in November and then went and blew the roof of Frog and Parrot. The venue shut straight after their set but Tom blagged me back in saying I was the keyboard player, bless him.

They don't have a keyboard. Thankfully the doorman was clueless.

Sunday 27/07/14 Tramlines Day Three

Today was all about Crystal. The plan:

Puppet Rebellion, Slow Readers Club, The Darlingtons, The Struts all @ Crystal
The Rifles and The Cribs @ Devonshire Green
Slow Club @ The Leadmill

My very good friend Alistair Pearson came over to join me for the day. We dined. Who warms up an egg mayo muffin? Cafe Nerd that's who. Thankfully Alistair spilt tea on it which made it slightly more edible. Over to Crystal where we met up with Mark Loraine again. Puppet Rebellion came on stage and shocked us by looking nothing like we imagined.



 They put on a stunning performance. So tight. The best discovery of the weekend. I've liked their tunes for some time now but live they really cut it.

The quality continued with Slow Readers Club and then the most energetic band on the planet, The Darlingtons. 



 
 To put on a performance like they do in such blistering heat was staggering. These boys will never get fat.

We nipped outside to cool off and try not to be too gushing when we spoke to the bands. We failed.


 Then it was time for The Struts. I've waxed lyrical about these guys before. We all agreed there simply aren't enough superlatives. They rock. Spectacularly. And in Luke Spiller have THE most charismatic front man in this country currently on the circuit. It was unanimously agreed to be the set of the weekend and a definite 'I was there when' moment. They are gonna be massive. They've already supported The Stones for f***'s sake.


And really nice, surprising humble lads when we chatted (gushingly) with them after their set.

They had broke tramlines for us though. We all said if you were next band on and had seen The Struts set you'd just pick up your guitar case and go and open a shoe shop or something. It's testament to the bands that followed, particularly The Front who were on next that they still by all accounts put on incredible shows.

For us though we had to have a break. We needed to come down from The Struts euphoria. I was so oblivious I walked straight past Neville Staple doing a DJ set. We ate, had tea and regrouped. All thoughts of The Rifles and The Cribs on the main stage had gone out of my head. We braved Crystal again where we bumped into the legend that is Mr. Christian Carlisle.

And we were just in time for The Dunwells. So glad we did get back on it. They make epic big music. If Jim Kerr ever hears them he'll realise that's what Simple Minds should have sounded like. They were the perfect band to lift us out of our Struts come down.

Mark then headed home while me and Alistair watched a very disappointing sound check at Maida Vale. I'd heard by now that The Velcro Teddy Bears were rounding things off at the Green Rooms so we headed that way. Sadly Alistair had to get his train before the band came on. He also missed the man with no legs in a wheelchair trying to fight anyone who wanted some. 

The Teddy Bears were the perfect end to the perfect weekend.

I'd like to thank Mark for great company and the photographs and Alistair for the great company and the quote of the weekend:

Me: I'm going toilet and then the bar.

Alistair: I'll help you carry it.

Oh and a quick footnote. I got back today and this was waiting for me:



 Brilliant.

The Other Way Play List Sunday 27/07/14

The Other Way - Polkadodge
Put Your Money On Me - The Struts
Little Pain - Fallen Trees
Fatback Mama - Orchestre Ruffanti
Bible John - The Sea Kings
Clash City Rockers - The Clash
Cloudfest - Dexters
Carnival - Bang Bang Romeo
Tangled Up In Love - The Rifles
Pictures Of You - The Cure
Tainted Love - Orchestre Ruffanti
Hey There Delilah - Plain White Ts
Closer - Polkadodge
The Music - Alistair Pearson (Music Bomb)
Your Colour - The Away Days
Land Of Hope And Dreams - Bruce Springsteen
E = MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite
Lady Off London Road - The Velcro Teddy Bears
Latin Quarter - Orchestre Ruffanti
Men's Needs - The Cribs
Rotations - The Darlingtons
Hymn From A Village - James
This Charming Man - The Smiths
Freestyle - Unicorn Hunters
Suffering You Suffering Me - Slow Club
These Moods - Orchestre Ruffanti
Break On Through (To The Other Side) - The Doors
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers




Monday 21 July 2014

No Rainy Moss

The writing as I go has gone out the window again so expect a very sketchy blog.

Monday 14/07/14

As I'm sure you're aware this blog gets shared on facebook and twitter and some generous souls kindly retweet it. Today I got retweeted by a company called bubblelove. Never heard of them. A brief check led to the discovery that they sell, er, let's say adult products of a phallic nature. How on earth they've stumbled on my blog and felt it fitted with their mandate I have no idea, but thank you anyway. 

Had a quiet day before heading over to Julie's for evening Scrabble, just like the old days. Round one to me with a 15 point victory. ENGORGED did for me in round two. Lost by 57. 42-17. Think we're due a a game of triv soon. 

The word engorged should lead to a retweet from bubblelove again.

Tuesday 15/07/14

The Boomtown Rats once sang 'Nothing Happened Today.' 

All I managed to do today was lose at scrabble (43-17) and fail to go see my mate Chris 'Jolly Roger' Heald (Rum Direction) play at Cask 'cos I felt 'wiped out'.

Wednesday 16/07/14

The Boomtown Rats once sang 'Very Little Happened Today'.

That's not true. 

Very little did happen today though. Sent off a few emails re shopfitting the proposed Aardvark adventure at a reasonable rate then got a migraine.

I've suffered migraines for getting on 40 years. Anyone who gets a bad headache and calls it a migraine can go get bent right now. You have no idea. Mine start with white zig-zag lines disrupting my vision. This used to be my cue to go lie in a darkened room. Now I find I can mentally will the lines away and work through the pain. It doesn't always work. Tonight I managed it and then foolishly thought that live music and real ale would dispatch the remnants of said migraine. 

Headed off to Cask Corner Open Mic night and had a brilliant night. It really is one of the best night's out in Donny. Home feeling OK if not a little drained only to find the migraine had been waiting in bed for me. A very sleepless night.

Thursday 17/07/14

Migraine part two. Got up and got down with the sickness. Was meant to be dining at Julie's parents this evening but the day alternated between my bed and the bathroom and general self pity.

Friday 18/07/14

Woke up slightly fuzzy and with the head still ropey. Thankfully my eyes were OK and I could read the letter my doctor had sent which was basically the correspondence between him and my consultant. It would appear I have critical aortic stenosis. I have no idea what this is, neither does the letter explain. I'm not happy with that word critical in there. I'm yet to google the condition. I'm led to believe that is the worst thing I could do. Personally I'd have thought digging into my chest with a rusty spoon to have a look for myself would be the worst thing I could do.

I'm out with Al The Loon tonight so I'll probably end up googling or digging around with a rusty spoon.

Or both. 

Afternoon Scrabble saw me lose by 40 points. 44-17.

So Friday night started at the Diamond Live lounge, Donny's newest venue, for Polkadodge and Bang Bang Romeo. Great to see quality bands on a big stage in Doncaster town centre. Had a brief chat with Dominic who runs the place. He's very aware of how important a venue like this can be to Donny if they get it right. He admitted to a few teething troubles and that from the initial plan of name bands they'd slipped into competing with other town centre venues, as oppose to working together for the good of the local music scene. It is a work in progress though and I'm confident Diamond can become pivotal in boosting the Donny music scene.

Polkadodge just get tighter and tighter every time I see them, and they've promised me Claudia will return for Tramlines. They have some quality new tunes which will hopefully be coming to a radio show near you soon. 

Bang Bang Romeo finally brought their polished, superbly crafted Tarantinoesque show back home. Both with their music and Starsie's impeccable stage craft BBR are destined for glory. It's just a matter of when. Admittedly when they get there Anastasia will be late. It was brilliant to witness the people of Doncaster finally realise we have some serious contenders here in the borough.

Headed over to Cask and then me and Julie went to meet up with Ian and The Loon. I tripped over a kerb on High Street and just couldn't regain my footing. I ended up flying through the air straight into a group of revellers. I took them out like they were skittles. I rolled over to see one of my victims sprawled out, reaching for his walking stick, clutching his arm and bemoaning the fact he'd just had an operation. As guilty as I feel about it I wish I'd have seen it all unfold. Once we got the guy with the stick to his feet I realised he was taller than me. I think my subconscious saw him and thought, 'I'm not having that, I'm taking him out'. The upshot is a very grazed knee, a sprained left wrist and a realisation that I shouldn't be allowed out.

Saturday 19/07/14

A lazy day saying ow a lot and celebrating the fact that although I ripped my knee I didn't rip my jeans. Afternoon Scrabble saw another defeat. 18 points this time. 45-17.

Nipped to Hallcross in the evening to catch Fluidity at their single launch, on to Cask and then to the Tut to meet up with Ian and Al who'd been in Sheffield all day. Merriment ensued before heading home to peel my jeans off my knee. 

Sunday 20/07/14

Another steady one before The Other Way. Julie joined me for the first time in ages. Had a CD waiting for me from the Orchestre Ruffanti. More of that next week. Did a Tramlines special today, 32 songs played, 21 of which by acts performing at Tramlines next weekend. Headed over to Cask for the jam night. Best one yet. It's becoming another 'must go to' night. Home for Scrabble, curry and to listen to a couple of cds I've agreed to review, the aforementioned Orchestre Ruffanti and the new Rita Payne album. It's all delightfully chilled stuff. So much so that on top of her copious amounts of cider (one and a half pints) Julie drifted off to sleep. Scrabble remains unfinished but I have a healthy lead.

OK, I'm off to write a couple of reviews.

Laters

SS

The Other Way Play List Sunday 20/07/14

The Other Way - Polkadodge
524 Fidelio - The Wedding Present
Heavy Horses - Fallen Trees
Put Your Money On Me - The Struts
Afterglow - The Crookes
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down - Elvis Costello And The Attractions
Pride Of Judgement Day - Bluesy Steve (Music Bomb)
Rango - Catfish And The Bottlemen
Help The Aged - Pulp
Chi-Town - The Cribs
Pirouette - Puppet Rebellion
Given To Fly - Pearl Jam
The Bartender And The Thief - Stereophonics
Minute Mile - The Rifles
Is This Our Day In The Sunshine? - Section 60
Johannesburg - Bang Bang Romeo
Tiny Piece - Michelle Green
Valerie -The Zutons
Stand And Fall - The Velcro Teddy Bears
Unfurl - Blessa
Hands Off She's Mine - The Beat
I Could Be A King - The Dunwells
Suffering You Suffering Me - Slow Club
Hearts Are Breaking - High Hazels
Bible John - The Sea Kings
End Of The World - Deap Vally
Lead The way - The 48ks
Some Things - James Taplin & Mick Holmes
Don't Give Me Hope - The Darlingtons
Night Mail - Public Service Broadcasting
Pennsylvania 65000 - Glenn Miller
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers


 
 


Monday 14 July 2014

Any Sin Rooms?

This week there should be hospitals, jam jars, shopfitters, white vans, sideboards, Leeds and, oh go on then, more Scrabble.

Let's see what happens.

Monday 07/07/14

First up, Happy Birthday to my big brother. 50 Niall! FIFTY!!!!!!

The day started with yet another early alarm and urinating into a jam jar. 

No reason. 

It's just what I do.

Actually I had an ECG appointment for the heart murmur I mentioned many moons ago. Why they needed a sample I've no idea. Anyway, had stickers and wires attached to me and got ecged. The consultant then asked me various questions, used the word abnormal and asked me to come back in the afternoon for an ultrasound scan.

The word woosh is figuring more and more. My doctor used it when he first heard the murmur, the consultant used it this morning and then the person who's job it was to rub gel on my chest and poke me with a sonic device used it too. I got to see my heart. Apparently. Looked like a pulsating potato to me. And I got to hear it. Woosh is definitely an appropriate word. There was the traditional dum-dum noise you'd expect from a heart but a definite woosh as well which I'm led to believe isn't the norm.

The lady in charge of the sonic thingy was training someone up so I also got to hear the words 'So what else do we look for when someone has this condition'. Now that is a worry. Especially as I can't remember the name of the condition that I overheard but it was long and very medical.

On the plus side they let me go and said I should hear from the consultant in a couple of weeks so it cant be too urgent. 

Got a bit lost leaving the hospital and nearly ended up in the morgue. Think I'm getting a bit ahead of myself there. 

Went to sit in Grove Park to look at trees till Julie picked me up to take me home for Scrabble and salad. 

Was meant to be picking up the lumiscope mercurial sphygmomanometer and other assorted items today but obviously with all the heart monitoring and tree hugging that's been postponed. Wednesday is now pencilled in for that.

Home for two very close games of Scrabble. I lost the first by 3 points, won the second by 9. 39-15.

Tuesday 08/07/14

Another meeting in the Waterdale today with shopfitters and tape measures. I now need to sort the layout for my shop. The only problem is I'm hopeless. Design No. 1 went on Facebook. This is design No. 2:




Nipped back to my flat to check on the post situation and to pick up a stupid present I'd got for Julie. She's been a bit fed up recently 'cos of her shoulder so I bought her a sandal on a lead.



He's called Sidney.

The evening again found us at Julie's parents for dinner and to all have a go at sticking our tongues out at Julie's Nexus. It's the only way to unlock it.

Wednesday 09/07/14


White van day with my friend Gary, the man behind the Yorkshire Real Ale business. Off to Ossett to collect more vinyl and CDs, some chairs, a couple of framed maps, a standard lamp, a sextant, a bike, a washing machine, an old radio, a magazine rack, a Christmas tree and the lumiscope mercurial sphygmomanometer. Then off to Harworth to pick up the 8' oak sideboard. It's a thing of beauty, proper craftsmanship and it weighs a bastard ton (like a metric tonne but heavier). Finally got it loaded and headed back to Julie's, failing to save a pigeon on the way. 

It was just stood in the road and refused to move. We did a u-turn to go and try and persuade it to hop/walk/fly on to the grass verge only to find it was no longer stood in the road. It had spread out a bit. Not pretty. 

Enlisted the help of Ian to unload the sideboard which is now nestled in a neighbour's garage. Everything else is in Julie's overcrowded dining room. 

Started on the vinyl cataloguing again. First box and a couple of original gems unearthed, The Animals first album and a Motown compilation from 1966. Cataloguing was abandoned after one box for Scrabble. We stopped mid game to pop to the open mic night at Cask. A lovely chilled night with Julie, again, giving it her all on the banjolelle before heading home to finish Scrabble I was quite pleased with the 37 point EPITOME but TRUNNELS did for me (68 points). Trunnels for crying out loud. I'm sure Julie will claim she knew a trunnel is another word for treenail, a hard wooden pin used for fastening timbers together but I think she's just braver with her guesses than me. 40-15.

Thursday 10/07/14

All kinds of plans today. I was gonna sort more vinyl out, Julie was gonna catch up on paperwork. It's currently 3:45pm and all I've done is shop and put some salmon under the grill. Julie's done a proper shop design for me. With no Helena Bonham Carter sadly. It looks good though. 

Aggghhhh, I've not made any of these:
  •  
It's now Monday morning and the weekend is a blur. I think Thursday night ended up with more Scrabble and I think the score is now 41-16 but I'm not sure. That may include a Friday game too.

Friday 11/07/14

Julie had a chiropractor visit and came back battered, bruised and basically very pissed off. Still at least 2 weeks from being able to do owt. The steroid injection is wearing off so the pain's coming back en force. Not good. 

I've remembered now. I won at Scrabble Thursday night but got battered today. Two 8 letter words led me to lose by about 130 points. Julie needed to sleep so I headed home before another quiet night out. Had the quote from the shopfitter waiting for me. The position is most definitely still open. £500 to knock a wall down seems a bit stiff. 15 grand for all the work I want doing. Hmmmmm.

Met Ian in The Salutation. Whenever he suggest meeting in The Sal I know it means he wants a serious chat before the mayhem ensues. He did but it's none of your business. Caught up with Rob and mayhem did ensue. Lost Ian in The Woolpack, mainly 'cos I'd forgot what pub we were going too. Lost Rob somewhere between Woolpack and the RockBar so I headed home.

Saturday 12/07/14

Leeds today. Ian and a crowd of mates were having a day in Leeds and my mate TJ norton was playing at Kirkstall Festival so I decided on the two birds. one stone option. Took my fragile brain off to get fried in the Kirkstall sun. Cusworth Festival announced it's cancellation today. The organisers should have took a trip to Kirkstall Abbey to see how it's done. So much on offer for all ages and OK the weather helped but there were thousands there. 

TJ is harmonica player in Crosscut Saw but also goes solo under the banner TJ and The Suitcase. (One voice, one harmonica, one suitcase, one tambourine). It's proper old school blues. The man has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the genre and every song is introduced with a fascinating personal tale of his life as a bluesman. He is simply brilliant. You have to check him out. http://tjnortonmusic.jimdo.com/music/

Back into Leeds city centre to catch up with Ian and the crowd. The day descended into a magnificent singalong, particularly in the beer garden (corridor) of the Whitelocks pub. Managed to get the whole pub singing Bohemian Rhapsody and Duke Of Earl. And again on the train home. Though the highlight could have been Jimmy waiting at the door making sure everyone found the pub while we were all already inside drinking. It was his round though.

Sunday 13/07/14

A steady day before heading over to Julie's to see how she was and pick up my CDs for the radio. She still wasn't great and was taking it easy by doing loads of washing. Grrrrr. She was still fed up so it was agreed I'd leave her too it. Off down to Sine Fm Towers for The Other Way, joined again by the brilliant Mr. Alistair Pearson. Had a cracking show. Alistair's company is always a joy. 

I was meant to join Alistair at Cask after the show for the jam session but I had to go home, drop my stuff off and get changed. I made the schoolboy error of sitting down and basically didn't move again. 

So that was my week. The search for a shopfitter continues.

Laters

SS

The Other Way Play List Sunday 14/07/14


The Other Way - Polkadodge
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
Recurring Dream - Tankus The Henge
Suffering You Suffering Me - Slow Club
Blinded By The Light - Bruce Springsteen
Maguerita Tea Bags(?)  (Live) - Alistair Pearson
Dancing In The Dark - Big Daddy
I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges
Drinking in L.A. - Bran Van 3000
Duke Of Earl - Darts
Ain't Your Train - TJ Norton
Purple Rain - Prince
A Laptop Like You (Live) - Alistair Pearson
Reach Out - Bang Bang Romeo
Geraldine - Glasvegas
Tracy Jacks - Blur
Even The Darkness Has Arms - The Barr Brothers
Start Wearing Purple - Gogol Bordello
All The Rage Back Home - Interpol
Mens Needs - The Cribs
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Bible John - The Sea Kings
The Music (Live) - Alistair Pearson
I'll Be Fine - White Valentine
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead
5:15 - The Who
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers




 
 

Monday 7 July 2014

Say, Mr. Onions!

So I'm starting this Monday afternoon having just posted the previous blog. And why not. Expect more kitchen shenanigans, bongo playing, auction bidding, pie eating, shirt buying, furniture removal, a wedding and Scrabble of course.

Monday 30/06/14

Today's mess in the kitchen is mushroom soup. I'll let you know the results later. Obviously it being Monday Julie's at work all day. Still not better but two days without painkillers now and yet more shoulder action. Don't know what I'm gonna do when she's all better. I'll have to find something else to occupy my time. Maybe open a shop or something. 

I mentioned t'other week Julie has a new tablet/nexus type thing. Unfortunately the autocorrect gets carried away sometimes. The following just happened on Facebook:

Me: or you can have the soup I've made.

Julie: Is it Muslim

Julie: Mushroom
  
Muslim Soup. I just don't know where to go with that one.

The soup was a resounding success (no Muslims were harmed in the making of said soup) as was the Scrabble that followed. Possibly down to the soup but Julie got all kinds of giddy and experimental. Had the words ZE, RAPIDE, IR and PARADINE existed than she'd have won. As it was my 'cheaty' word CHELPS (DO NOT CHECK THE URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION!! I was going with the northern dialect for annoying chattering definition) helped me win. 35-12.

Tuesday 01/07/14

Back to my flat for washing duties and to ask the bank what they've done with my rent then straight back to Julie's to get the washing hung out. Job done and off to Alistair's to re-record the bongos we did the other week. They sounded flat last time. It was a stool's fault. Guitar stand and gaffa tape fixed that. Trust us. We were joined by David Bailey who was there to record some backing vocals and took on the role of tea-boy while I bongoed and Alistair did technical stuff. It was basically DB's way of putting himself forward for a job at the record shop, demonstrating his coffee making skills. Very good his skills are too.

Recording successfully done, Julie picked me up to go have dinner at her parents. So nice to have a break from the kitchen! Overdosed on veggie burgers and salad and managed to avoid the raspberries. Julie's Mum became the 3rd female member of her family to suggest force feeding me raspberries to see me turn purple. Chilled on the sofa while Julie killed whales by poking herself in the eye. 

Honest. 

Maybe you had to be there. 

Wednesday 02/07/14

Auction day. I had agreed to go eat pie. Andy Milner at the Yorkshire Pie House was having a bit of a photo shoot for his pies with Julie's daughter, Lorna, doing the snapping. I was supposed to go along and help dispose of the models. I'd forgot about the auction though and was tied to my laptop in my little makeshift office (table) at Cask Corner. I texted my apologies and Andy kindly fetched me pie. 

My laptop and/or the internet decided to have an incident just as the vinyl lots came up. Wouldn't accept my bids on the records I wanted then finally recognised my bid on the following lot so god know's what I've bought. If I believed I'd ask him. As it is I'll just have to wait till I pick up my purchases. I know I did buy Julie a bike and a washing machine and I got a sextant and a lumiscope mercurial sphygmomanometer. 

I've no idea either.

Nipped into town for a new shirt and tie for JJ's wedding celebrations this coming Saturday. Really wanted a nice little pink number. I say little. I couldn't get one in my size 'cos I'm far from little. I think I ended up with plum. Or purple if I stop being pretentious. The shoes I coveted were definitely plum. It said so on the box. Sadly again manufacturers refuse to believe people my size exist. I'm gonna get em online though. Hopefully for Saturday. They're gorgeous. 

Comedy Club at Cask tonight but generally claminess and tiredness left me wanting a quiet night in so I headed home for a shower and ended up bidding on a sideboard on ebay. It'll fit in nicely with my idea of a 1950s living room feel for the shop. Actually I've not bidded yet. It's got half hour left and no bids. I may haggle. Offer him a free gourd or something. 

The offer of a plant from the cucurbitaceae family didn't work so we went with cold, hard cash instead. I now own an 8' oak sideboard to put my lumiscope mercurial sphygmomanometer on.  

A tired Julie was home for ten which gave me another chance to add to my Scrabble wins. Hard fought all the way but we're now at 35-13.

Thursday 03/07/14

Julie's day off so of course she took her injury to work again before heading off for more bone crunching with her chiropractor. I spent the morning ordering shoes and making phone calls. Those who know me will know what a big thing that is. I hate talking on the phone. It's almost a phobia. I just find phone's a necessary evil. If you were having a conversation and someone butted in saying, 'TALK TO ME, TALK TO ME, TALK TO ME!!!!' you'd tell them were to go, but phones get away with it. Anyway,  lumiscope mercurial sphygmomanometer paid for, van sorted out for Monday, shopfitter hopefully sorted for quoting duties on Tuesday and hospital appointment confirmed for early Monday morning.

Shopped for lunch/dinner/tea, whatever your preference is. Today's disaster will be salmon. Sat down to listen to this weeks new music sent to me by the pluggers. Electronic is definitely making a comeback but nothing caught my ear. I have nothing against the genre when done well (Kraftwerk, Yazoo, Human League, Visage, Erasure etc) but, again, someone needs to stop and tell bands when something just isn't good enough. I say that but I never do it. I'm a coward but just so any musicians I know are wondering if I ever say to you, 'It's different,' 'I can see what you're trying to do,' or 'It's not my kinda thing,' then it's my spineless way of saying I didn't like it.  

Can I just take a moment to say dobrý večer to the lone Slovak reading this.

Julie got home with strict instructions to take it easy. (Right now she's making a cake. I'm gonna turn a blind eye. It's cake). The salmon was an unmitigated success. Fish is brain food. Obviously Julie benefited far better than me. She won afternoon Scrabble by 67 points. 36-13.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent chilling, psyching myself up for round two and evening Scrabble. Job done. 36-14.

Friday 04/07/14

First up, happy getting rid of the colonial jackboot day to Darrin and Jack. And any other citizens of the U.S. of A. for that matter.

The day started with the shoes arriving. These are they:


They're currently sat in my flat with half a potato in each next to the already ironed plum/purple shirt. Bit organised for me.

Next up was getting online to get tickets to see The Who. I touched on when is a band not a band in a previous blog. Obviously Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are the only surviving members. Is it still The Who? Some bands have replaceable members. My favourite band, The Waterboys, have had countless line up changes (49 different members according to wikipedia) but as long as Mike Scott's at the helm it will always be The Waterboys (although I'd feel a tad uncomfortable with any other sax player then Anto Thistlethwaite or fiddle player other than Steve 'The Wick' Wickham). With The Who though I struggle. Even though I still loved the stuff with Kenny Jones on drums after Moon The Loon had left us I wasn't happy with it still being The Who. Now The Ox is playing bass for that house band in the sky I'm even less comfortable with it. I have no qualms with seeing Daltrey and Townshend live. I can't wait. Just not sure it should be under The Who banner.

I digress.

MapFest meeting in the afternoon with nothing new to report really except things are progressing nicely followed by coffee with my daughter George with reports of her first non-family holiday in Portugal. She bought me a necklace with a baby shark's tooth on it, presumably for eating baby sharks.

Straight up to Cask after that to pick up the very gorgeous Julie and head up to Cast for the launch of issue 2 of Doncopolitan.



Only had a brief glimpse but I would say it's even better than issue 1. Excellent work by everyone involved.

Friday night saw me having a steady night out with Rob Dannatt and assorted friends. The alarm was set for 7am Saturday morning to help Alistair move house so I distinctly said to Rob we were having a quiet one. Then proceeded to the bar to buy a bottle of mead. Ah, that elusive quite night out. Invented some pretty spectacular dance moves with Rob and James Miller at Cask while Rock To Art and Smiling Ivy put on (think of another word apart from stunning or awesome), er, stawesoming sets. The dancing carried on at Woolpack and RockBar before I decided that sleep really would be the sensible option.

Saturday 05/07/14

The 7 o clock alarm was a joy! Alistair turned up in a very scary van to take my hangover for toast and coffee before we battled with his furniture. First thing was the big sofa. Our ineptitude was staggering but on the 6th attempt we got it through the door. Plain sailing after that. I bailed mid afternoon having got the first load, erm, unloaded at the Pearson/Thompson new gaff. I had to get back to remove potatoes from my shoes.

Regent Hotel Saturday night for the wedding celebrations of my good friends Jonathan and Rosie Jones. (JJ does The First 45 on Sine as I'm sure you know). Due to Julie's still damaged shoulder we were a tad late. Due to Julie's girly shoes we were a tad later still and got there just as the band finished. Thankfully, and I think as a favour to me, The Coopers did a second set. A lovely chilled night and the potatoes worked.

Sunday 06/07/14

Nice lazy start to the day before I headed to the shop for Muslim soup ingredients. We liked it that much I did it all again. Less mess and more confidence this time. Afternoon Scrabble began before tiredness hit us both and we went for an afternoon nap. I was losing by about 60 points at this stage. Got up in time for The Other Way. Very relaxed show with no guests, Julie joined me about half way through having finally woken up. 

Back to the Scrabble, having once again pointed at Polish food, and my fightback began. WAXED on a triple word and had EW been allowed I may have won. I had to miss a go. AXED on the triple word then and I was back in the game only to eventually lose by 3 points. 37-14.

Round two and the biggest trouncing yet.  DELICATE and SMOKING did for me. Was in the game briefly but eventually lost by 214 points!!!!! 38-14.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Laters

The Other Way Play List Sunday 06/07/14


The Other Way - Polkadodge
She Comes In Fall - Inspiral Carpets
Roxanne - The Police
Hotel Room - Richard Hawley
I Could Be A King - The Dunwells
Minute Mile - The Rifles
2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band
Songs Of Joy - Rock To Art
It's Alright, It's OK - Primal Scream
Recurring Dream - Tankus The Henge
High - The Cure
Tequila - Terrorvision
Going Back Home - Roger Daltrey and Wilko Johnson
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
Get Hurt - The Gaslight Anthem
Borderline - Polkadodge
Dancing Song - Little Comets
Walk Away Renee - Billy Bragg
Teenage Rampage - The Sweet
Could Have Been Me - The Struts
Suzy - Rita Payne
If I Had A Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies
Ever Fallen In Love - Buzzcocks
Juxtaposed With You - Super Furry Animals
99 Luftballons - Nena
Suffering You Suffering Me - Slow Club
Pirouette - Puppet Rebellion
Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers