Were excellent in a way I wasn't expecting. Had I not bought the tickets in a fit of "I'm bored at work - let's spend cash on the internet" pique I'd have noticed that rather than a standard gig it was actually Jason Pierce, a keyboardist, three gospel singers and a string quartet. This may well be because none of the band can stand to speak to one another anymore but it had an extremely pleasant result - it sounded hauntingly beautiful.
It's a strange thing, but drug addled junkies write all the sweetest love songs. Maybe they appreciate addiction? It was true of the Velvet Underground, and it's true of Spiritualized.
It was a strange night as one of the people in our gig group, we'll call her A, is a complete commitment-phobe and she brought her new bloke. However rather than introducing him as such, A spent the evening trying to make J and I come up with reasons why he was annoying and she should dump him. As scary other people's work stuff was mentioned (maths, share portfolios, accounting.......coma) I assumed he was a work colleague and caught on way too late. I don't think it was too bad in that;
- I did describe him as "relentlessly positive". I think I can dodge this one as he's from California and compared to most people from there, most Britons are clinically depressed.
- I did allow him to believe I was serious about 'Ebony and Ivory' being such a powerful song, it should have been played into the crowd to quell the LA riots for a bit too long. This was entirely J's fault, as he mentioned Heather McCartney first.
- When he stated "You can't buy food to eat on the Tube, that's what really drunk English people do" I did say "You haven't met many of A's friends, have you?" This is just factual.
It'll be fine, she'll either dump him or I'll enjoy the photos of the wedding.
Saturday 28 April 2007
Thursday 26 April 2007
Likes and Dislikes
Inspired by Mr. Monk Seal (move eyes slightly to right for linkage) here is a list of my likes and dislikes, including some shamefully stolen from his good self (some agreeing - who prefers the Romans? - and some not). Reading through I'm not at all sure whether they give any deep psychological insight into my character or whether most are comprehensible if you're not from British. Still, I rather enjoyed matching them up.
Likes;
White wine, Indian Food, Spain, regional accents, Richmond Park, The seaside in autumn/winter, David Bowie, Sandalwood, Beyonce, Seafood, American Independant Films, Kylie, Tulips, Savoury, John Lewis, Steve Coogan, The Beckhams, Pub Quizzes, Hastings, Fresh Laundry, Ginger Beer, Showers, Doctor Who, Arched eyebrows, 20th Century Literature, owning up and taking responsibility, City Breaks, Julie Birchill, Mustard, Amy Winehouse, Prose, Wedge Heels, Rugs, Apples, Radio 4, Living Alone, Tattoos, Modern Art and Medieval Art, The mole on my upper lip, Science, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dogs and Cats, Sunset, Cautious Optimism, Trainspotting, The Greeks, Having my hair brushed, Chris Morris, History, Cellos, Shoes, Dust, Editorials, Battersea Power Station, Blur, Stilton, Flamenco, Simon Cowell, Tamsin Grieg, Cheese and Onion crisps, Clutter, Sarcasm, Sashimi, Toddlers, Boy pants, Football, "Lit", Mediocre customer service, Simon Amstell, Passports, The right side of the bed, Psychiatry, Battered Fish, walking there, Maps, Kate Winslet, The Initially Reticent, South of the River, Being a bit too cold, Cracking an awkward joke.
Dislikes;
Red Wine, Chinese Food, France, ok, I'm not fond of high pitched Scouse or West Country, Hyde Park, The seaside in summer, Mick Jagger, Florals, Nelly Furtado, Chicken, American Action Films, Madonna, Roses, Sweet, Harvey Nichols, Peter Kay, The Windsors, Nightclubs, Brighton, Perfume, Coke, Baths, Eastenders, Not being able to arch my eyebrows, 19th Century Literature, victim culture, Beach holidays, Tony Parsons, Ketchup, Lily Allen, Poetry, Stilettos, Carpets, Citrus Fruit, Radio 1, Eating Alone, Piercings, Renaissance Art, The mole on my upper lip, Alternative Therapies, Jude Law, Rabbits and Hamsters, Sunrise, Blind Pessimism, Everything else Irvine Welsh ever wrote and every other film Ewan McGregor was in, The Romans, Having my feet touched, David Walliams, Nostalgia, Clarinets, Sandals, Antibacterial Spray, Headlines, Tate Modern, Oasis, Edam, Ballet, this need to be untruthfully pleasant to everyone on reality shows, French and Saunders, Prawn Cocktail crisps, Minimalism, Earnestness, Sushi rolls, Newborns, Thongs, Rugby, "Chick-Lit", Falsely enthusiastic customer service, Steve Jones, ID cards, The left side of the bed, Psychoanalysis, Chips, driving there, Nicole Kidman, The Overly Friendly, North of The River, Being a bit too hot, Continuing to frown.
Likes;
White wine, Indian Food, Spain, regional accents, Richmond Park, The seaside in autumn/winter, David Bowie, Sandalwood, Beyonce, Seafood, American Independant Films, Kylie, Tulips, Savoury, John Lewis, Steve Coogan, The Beckhams, Pub Quizzes, Hastings, Fresh Laundry, Ginger Beer, Showers, Doctor Who, Arched eyebrows, 20th Century Literature, owning up and taking responsibility, City Breaks, Julie Birchill, Mustard, Amy Winehouse, Prose, Wedge Heels, Rugs, Apples, Radio 4, Living Alone, Tattoos, Modern Art and Medieval Art, The mole on my upper lip, Science, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dogs and Cats, Sunset, Cautious Optimism, Trainspotting, The Greeks, Having my hair brushed, Chris Morris, History, Cellos, Shoes, Dust, Editorials, Battersea Power Station, Blur, Stilton, Flamenco, Simon Cowell, Tamsin Grieg, Cheese and Onion crisps, Clutter, Sarcasm, Sashimi, Toddlers, Boy pants, Football, "Lit", Mediocre customer service, Simon Amstell, Passports, The right side of the bed, Psychiatry, Battered Fish, walking there, Maps, Kate Winslet, The Initially Reticent, South of the River, Being a bit too cold, Cracking an awkward joke.
Dislikes;
Red Wine, Chinese Food, France, ok, I'm not fond of high pitched Scouse or West Country, Hyde Park, The seaside in summer, Mick Jagger, Florals, Nelly Furtado, Chicken, American Action Films, Madonna, Roses, Sweet, Harvey Nichols, Peter Kay, The Windsors, Nightclubs, Brighton, Perfume, Coke, Baths, Eastenders, Not being able to arch my eyebrows, 19th Century Literature, victim culture, Beach holidays, Tony Parsons, Ketchup, Lily Allen, Poetry, Stilettos, Carpets, Citrus Fruit, Radio 1, Eating Alone, Piercings, Renaissance Art, The mole on my upper lip, Alternative Therapies, Jude Law, Rabbits and Hamsters, Sunrise, Blind Pessimism, Everything else Irvine Welsh ever wrote and every other film Ewan McGregor was in, The Romans, Having my feet touched, David Walliams, Nostalgia, Clarinets, Sandals, Antibacterial Spray, Headlines, Tate Modern, Oasis, Edam, Ballet, this need to be untruthfully pleasant to everyone on reality shows, French and Saunders, Prawn Cocktail crisps, Minimalism, Earnestness, Sushi rolls, Newborns, Thongs, Rugby, "Chick-Lit", Falsely enthusiastic customer service, Steve Jones, ID cards, The left side of the bed, Psychoanalysis, Chips, driving there, Nicole Kidman, The Overly Friendly, North of The River, Being a bit too hot, Continuing to frown.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
Happy Days
Good news...
Spent the weekend with Nan and family. She's still frail but has some colour in her cheeks and her sense of humour back. It was highly embarrassing to have her make loud comments about the dress sense and rotundity of other people's visitors and the appalling shitness of the tea, whilst the nurse is giving her it, but was also my Nan back on terribly truthful, take no prisoners form. Really the most terrifying thing about her ill health has been visiting her and having mundane conversations whilst she sits passively like, well, like a little old lady. The best thing is she's absolutely aware that she only gets away with it because she's a little old lady and I aim to be exactly like my nearest elders when I get older.
Through the absolutely tireless efforts of my Dad she's managed to get the only rehab placement in her borough and is now enjoying TLC and bingo for three weeks before she returns home. It's all good.
Spent the day researching dental insurance (my friend just got a £1000 bill! I'd have to give in to the meth addiction at that point) and washing machines from John Lewis. God, I love being a thirty something. Work has been crazy Kafkaness - pm me for details! Actually, please don't.
Tomorrow is different. Tomorrow I'm off to see Spiritualized at Shepherd's Bush Empire. They are from my hometown - I can see how that connection would seem bloody ridiculous if you're from London or New York but when you grow up in Dull Market Town, The Midlands, you grab every local possibility of cool you can - and they rock.
How much do they? I can't wait.
P.S. Happy Belated Birthday Jen! Hope you had a great one :)
Spent the weekend with Nan and family. She's still frail but has some colour in her cheeks and her sense of humour back. It was highly embarrassing to have her make loud comments about the dress sense and rotundity of other people's visitors and the appalling shitness of the tea, whilst the nurse is giving her it, but was also my Nan back on terribly truthful, take no prisoners form. Really the most terrifying thing about her ill health has been visiting her and having mundane conversations whilst she sits passively like, well, like a little old lady. The best thing is she's absolutely aware that she only gets away with it because she's a little old lady and I aim to be exactly like my nearest elders when I get older.
Through the absolutely tireless efforts of my Dad she's managed to get the only rehab placement in her borough and is now enjoying TLC and bingo for three weeks before she returns home. It's all good.
Spent the day researching dental insurance (my friend just got a £1000 bill! I'd have to give in to the meth addiction at that point) and washing machines from John Lewis. God, I love being a thirty something. Work has been crazy Kafkaness - pm me for details! Actually, please don't.
Tomorrow is different. Tomorrow I'm off to see Spiritualized at Shepherd's Bush Empire. They are from my hometown - I can see how that connection would seem bloody ridiculous if you're from London or New York but when you grow up in Dull Market Town, The Midlands, you grab every local possibility of cool you can - and they rock.
How much do they? I can't wait.
P.S. Happy Belated Birthday Jen! Hope you had a great one :)
Thursday 19 April 2007
Various random business...
I am starting to panic the I am spending too much time around Sussex hippies. They are a lovely group of friends (I always feel like I'm visiting from Planet Shallow Capitalism when I make the big trip down from the nasty Big City) who always manage to ahem..chill me out and....centre me. However, too much time in the vicinity of people who grow their own organic vegetables and hven't bought anything from a supermarket since 1982 has led to to a forbidding, terrifying state of affairs. I really like 1970s folk music.
Exhibit A:
I love this. I can't stop listening to them.
Exhibit B:
This is probably my favourite song of all time right about now.
Clearly I need to invite them up South London next time for some grime listening and crack.
Secondly - my new favourite restaurant is Amazonas on Brixton Rd, SW9. It's a Colombian place - speciality the Bandeja Paisa - an enormous plate of meat, with some beans for mopping up purposes. After many happy ginger chicken and jeera rice soaked years, it has officially nudged Mirch Masala in Tooting out as the 'default place we all go to meet up' for my friends and I. I have been twice in two weeks - maybe not the best preparation for summer, stuffing myself with belly pork and carbohydrates, but it is so bloody good, plus lots of Colombian music to remind me of my time there.
Thirdly, kind of inspired by Jen's 30 Good Deeds in 30 Days idea, and also a bit by seeing in my ordinary job how badly refugees have it in the UK, then realising "if you're not part of the solution.." I have signed up to be a mentor for a refugee in London. I love this city, and would love to help welcome someone to it, but it's overwhelming enough without a blatantly obstructive government and a racist media and society.
Apparently there's a waiting list and a training ccourse to attend, but we'll see how it goes. I think I'll learn a lot from it as well as hopefully helping someone out.
Fourthly, they're taking really good care of my Nan in hospital, and she's doing a lot better. I'm off to visit this weekend. Now we have to see what happens when she's discharged. There are two battles to fight here - one, persuading social services to put a decent care plan in place, and two, to convince my Nan it's worth the fight. She's not used to being ill - she got to 90 without a day in hospital - this is a good thing, but it means she doesn't know what it's like to be ill, and doesn't really that to recover from a major operation you need to persevere. Right about now she's completely fed up and not motivated to do anything. Which is understandable, but disheartening for her prospects when she gets home. I'm just hoping her natural old lady stubborness can be activated, and I'm off to remind her about Bingo and Ballroom Dancing.
Exhibit A:
I love this. I can't stop listening to them.
Exhibit B:
This is probably my favourite song of all time right about now.
Clearly I need to invite them up South London next time for some grime listening and crack.
Secondly - my new favourite restaurant is Amazonas on Brixton Rd, SW9. It's a Colombian place - speciality the Bandeja Paisa - an enormous plate of meat, with some beans for mopping up purposes. After many happy ginger chicken and jeera rice soaked years, it has officially nudged Mirch Masala in Tooting out as the 'default place we all go to meet up' for my friends and I. I have been twice in two weeks - maybe not the best preparation for summer, stuffing myself with belly pork and carbohydrates, but it is so bloody good, plus lots of Colombian music to remind me of my time there.
Thirdly, kind of inspired by Jen's 30 Good Deeds in 30 Days idea, and also a bit by seeing in my ordinary job how badly refugees have it in the UK, then realising "if you're not part of the solution.." I have signed up to be a mentor for a refugee in London. I love this city, and would love to help welcome someone to it, but it's overwhelming enough without a blatantly obstructive government and a racist media and society.
Apparently there's a waiting list and a training ccourse to attend, but we'll see how it goes. I think I'll learn a lot from it as well as hopefully helping someone out.
Fourthly, they're taking really good care of my Nan in hospital, and she's doing a lot better. I'm off to visit this weekend. Now we have to see what happens when she's discharged. There are two battles to fight here - one, persuading social services to put a decent care plan in place, and two, to convince my Nan it's worth the fight. She's not used to being ill - she got to 90 without a day in hospital - this is a good thing, but it means she doesn't know what it's like to be ill, and doesn't really that to recover from a major operation you need to persevere. Right about now she's completely fed up and not motivated to do anything. Which is understandable, but disheartening for her prospects when she gets home. I'm just hoping her natural old lady stubborness can be activated, and I'm off to remind her about Bingo and Ballroom Dancing.
Friday 13 April 2007
I am a twat..
After a slight fit of the internet dramas I deleted this. I have now decided that I rather enjoyed the old blogging and am bringing it back. This in no way negates the fact that the internet has been bloody grim recently.
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