Soft Cell Groupie Tour 2001 (Boston)...
I've just booked myself and David a return flight to go and see Soft Cell (along with The Pet Shop Boys, Sinead O'Connor, The Magnetic Fields and Rufus Wainwright.) performing live in Boston, MA on 20th July 2001 at Wotapalava (Bank Boston Pavilion). I can't wait! Details to follow.
overyourhead - some irreverent musings by a gay London guy - crawling though technology, love and life... so you don't have to.
Friday, May 25, 2001
Soft Cell Groupie Tour 2001 (Madrid)...
I've just booked myself a return flight to go and see Soft Cell (along with Utah-Saints-U-U-U-U-Utah Saints and The Orb) performing live in Madrid on 23rd June 2001 at Astronet Live (Plaza de Toros Cubierta de Leganes). Paul (my ex who emigrated to Spain last year) is flying in from Sitges to meet me. I can't wait! Details to follow.
I've just booked myself a return flight to go and see Soft Cell (along with Utah-Saints-U-U-U-U-Utah Saints and The Orb) performing live in Madrid on 23rd June 2001 at Astronet Live (Plaza de Toros Cubierta de Leganes). Paul (my ex who emigrated to Spain last year) is flying in from Sitges to meet me. I can't wait! Details to follow.
Prawn...
A little boy comes into the kitchen one day and says to his mum, "Granny's got a prawn!" The mother says, "What on earth do you mean?!" The boy takes his mother into the front room and shows him Granny, stark naked asleep on the sofa. He points to Grandmas protruding clitoris and says, "Granny's got a prawn!" His mother whispers, "That's your Grandmother's clitoris son!" To which the little boy replies...."Well, it tastes like a prawn!"
A little boy comes into the kitchen one day and says to his mum, "Granny's got a prawn!" The mother says, "What on earth do you mean?!" The boy takes his mother into the front room and shows him Granny, stark naked asleep on the sofa. He points to Grandmas protruding clitoris and says, "Granny's got a prawn!" His mother whispers, "That's your Grandmother's clitoris son!" To which the little boy replies...."Well, it tastes like a prawn!"
Thursday, May 24, 2001
I don't believe it....
I've actually managed to setup a new site for blogging! It took me three hours but finally I managed to do it. And I know diddly squat about any HTML, scripting or anything like that. I'm really pleased with myself. :)))
What with blogspot being down (again) and a bit of encouragement from David and the ukbloggers list I decided to try and publish to my own site. I have some commercial web on Demon's servers as part of my ADSL account. Never been used. Why not I thought? Nothing to lose.
First I checked that the space was up and running. It was. Then I tried to publish something to http://www.overyourhead.co.uk manually as a test. One call to Demon later to check my user name and password I was in. Demon do something odd with their web pages. You have to publish to a \docs directory. So I had to modify the blogger template settings to take this into account. Also the archive folder needed to be created manually and again this new path needed to this added to the template settings too. It took me three attempts to publish (examining the FTP error logs each time to make small corrections). The last hurdle was those wretched "canEdit undefined" errors but a quick check on Blogger's help files sorted that one out.
So here I am. Up and running. Hurrah! Drinks all round!
I've actually managed to setup a new site for blogging! It took me three hours but finally I managed to do it. And I know diddly squat about any HTML, scripting or anything like that. I'm really pleased with myself. :)))
What with blogspot being down (again) and a bit of encouragement from David and the ukbloggers list I decided to try and publish to my own site. I have some commercial web on Demon's servers as part of my ADSL account. Never been used. Why not I thought? Nothing to lose.
First I checked that the space was up and running. It was. Then I tried to publish something to http://www.overyourhead.co.uk manually as a test. One call to Demon later to check my user name and password I was in. Demon do something odd with their web pages. You have to publish to a \docs directory. So I had to modify the blogger template settings to take this into account. Also the archive folder needed to be created manually and again this new path needed to this added to the template settings too. It took me three attempts to publish (examining the FTP error logs each time to make small corrections). The last hurdle was those wretched "canEdit undefined" errors but a quick check on Blogger's help files sorted that one out.
So here I am. Up and running. Hurrah! Drinks all round!
Wednesday, May 23, 2001
Whatever happened to the word 'gay'?...
You can buy tickets for 'the event formally known as Gay Pride' (aka Mardi Gras) on Ticketmaster. Not one mention of the word gay on the site I notice.
You can buy tickets for 'the event formally known as Gay Pride' (aka Mardi Gras) on Ticketmaster. Not one mention of the word gay on the site I notice.
This came today...
Sex & The City
On your nightstand, one would most likely find:
O A pack of cigarettes and a half-eaten orange
O Black's Law Dictionary
O Handcuffs and Viagra
O A bowl of rose petal potpourri
The men you date all seem to be:
O Tall, dark, handsome and emotionally unavailable
O Short, four-eyed and frisky
O Rich and raunchy or at the very least, wearing fireman red
O Well-bred, well-read with a few roman numerals after their names
Your idea of a fashionable ensemble is:
O A vintage 50s slip paired with Manolos and a Fendi bag
O A crisp pant suit and tie
O A trench coat with nothing underneath
O A Cynthia Rowley satin dress and matching mules
In a relationship, you are:
O the 'abracadabra'... the 'poof'
O the big, mean Mommy
O In control
O Counting the days till 'I do'
Your idea of a 'score' is:
O A reservation at a hip new restaurant
O Squeezing in step-aerobics, the dry-cleaner and the New York Times crossword before noon
O The entire defensive end of the New York Giants
O Italian shoes, half-off
The one thing you can't live without is:
O Your laptop computer
O Your Palm Pilot
O Your copy of the Kama Sutra
O Your Martha Stewart Living subscription
Your motto could be:
O 'Why go forward when you can go backward?'
O 'Don't mess with me. I'm a partner'
O 'I'll try anything once'
O 'Nice girls do sometimes'
You wouldn't be caught dead in:
O Pantyhose and hair scrunchies
O A 'Mommy and Me' class
O New Jersey
O A compromising position
What: Party (Fancy dress if you like, but not necessary)
Where: (address withheld to protect the innocent! - let me know if you want to go)
When: Saturday 26 May 2001 from 8.00 pm until...
Why: House warming / Spring has sprung (Garry thinks it's summer anyway!) / Sex & the City celebration
You (and guests) are invited to celebrate the beginning of spring with Richard and Garry. The first cosmopolitan will be free, maybe the second as well, who knows you may be lucky. All you have to bring is your gorgeous self and a bottle of bubbly (nothing cheap please, the hosts will take care of that). Please complete the above questionnaire to determine which Sex & the City Character you are most like. Your analysis will be available on the evening at the party.
RSVP Please
Sex & The City
On your nightstand, one would most likely find:
O A pack of cigarettes and a half-eaten orange
O Black's Law Dictionary
O Handcuffs and Viagra
O A bowl of rose petal potpourri
The men you date all seem to be:
O Tall, dark, handsome and emotionally unavailable
O Short, four-eyed and frisky
O Rich and raunchy or at the very least, wearing fireman red
O Well-bred, well-read with a few roman numerals after their names
Your idea of a fashionable ensemble is:
O A vintage 50s slip paired with Manolos and a Fendi bag
O A crisp pant suit and tie
O A trench coat with nothing underneath
O A Cynthia Rowley satin dress and matching mules
In a relationship, you are:
O the 'abracadabra'... the 'poof'
O the big, mean Mommy
O In control
O Counting the days till 'I do'
Your idea of a 'score' is:
O A reservation at a hip new restaurant
O Squeezing in step-aerobics, the dry-cleaner and the New York Times crossword before noon
O The entire defensive end of the New York Giants
O Italian shoes, half-off
The one thing you can't live without is:
O Your laptop computer
O Your Palm Pilot
O Your copy of the Kama Sutra
O Your Martha Stewart Living subscription
Your motto could be:
O 'Why go forward when you can go backward?'
O 'Don't mess with me. I'm a partner'
O 'I'll try anything once'
O 'Nice girls do sometimes'
You wouldn't be caught dead in:
O Pantyhose and hair scrunchies
O A 'Mommy and Me' class
O New Jersey
O A compromising position
What: Party (Fancy dress if you like, but not necessary)
Where: (address withheld to protect the innocent! - let me know if you want to go)
When: Saturday 26 May 2001 from 8.00 pm until...
Why: House warming / Spring has sprung (Garry thinks it's summer anyway!) / Sex & the City celebration
You (and guests) are invited to celebrate the beginning of spring with Richard and Garry. The first cosmopolitan will be free, maybe the second as well, who knows you may be lucky. All you have to bring is your gorgeous self and a bottle of bubbly (nothing cheap please, the hosts will take care of that). Please complete the above questionnaire to determine which Sex & the City Character you are most like. Your analysis will be available on the evening at the party.
RSVP Please
Always the bridesmaids...
Pop Quiz was set last night by someone called Rupert. We bear-ly knew him (geddit?! 'bear'-ly? Rupert? Rupert the Bear. Oh, please yourselves!) Wendy had said she thought the quiz was easy. But what did she know? It was tough. David, Darren and I sat on three stools by the fag machine and waited out fate. Round one was a who's covering Bowie round. We got 'Heroes' but not that is was being sung by Nico. We got Lulu but not that she was singing 'Watch That Man'. Spectacularly (thanks to Darren) we got 'Life On Mars' being sung, in her native Norwegian, by Frida (the less attractive of Abba twins). The next round was 80's instrumental B-sides. David and I shall be handing in our Soft Cell Fan Club membership cards shortly for incorrectly guessing the Human League when we were hearing Soft Cell's 'So' (the B-side to 'What'), we should all be shot for allowing the suggestion that the The Smith's 'Money Changes Everything' (the B-side to 'Big Mouth Strikes Again') was performed by Dire Straits. We redeemed ourselves at the end of the round however with correctly identifing New Order when we heard 'Hurt' (the B-side to 'Temptation'). Spot the connection round was Barbara Windsor, Noele Gordon and Adam Rickett (all soap stars). Bette Midler performing 'Movin' Out' was the observation round. Yes, he should take up with the baker's wife instead, yes he has 61 cassettes and but no we didn't think he should leave a copy of Lorna Doone behind. Half way through the quiz we had just six points (yikes!).
Luckily Dave showed up at this point so we swelled to be a team four. We also moved to a recently vacated table so things just had to get better - and they did. David was the only one in the pub that spotted Gary Numan singing a 6ths' song which was pleasing. The next round was TV themes. Follyfoot, Ask The Family (I used to love that show) and Eldorado. Then we had a Bowie does covers round. 'I Can't Explain' by The Who and 'Let's Spend The Night Together' by The Rolling Stones caused us no grief. But the Velvet Underground's 'Venus In Furs' did. Anthony Newley anyone? The final round was chart hits. The answers were 'Pete Heller's Big Love' by Pete Heller, 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' by the Vengaboys and S Club 7's 'Bring It All Back' Could you guess the year they were all hits? We did. For a change.
There was a bit on haggling over the Vengaboy's title. Rupert insisted it was three Booms not four. The extra Boom was confirmed by Marky on the phone later though. So we should have got fifthteen then. Lost by a point and a half. The winners (surprize, surprize) were the Reader's Wives but they won the booby prize of the remixes of Geri's CD single (ha! bloody ha!)
Pop Quiz was set last night by someone called Rupert. We bear-ly knew him (geddit?! 'bear'-ly? Rupert? Rupert the Bear. Oh, please yourselves!) Wendy had said she thought the quiz was easy. But what did she know? It was tough. David, Darren and I sat on three stools by the fag machine and waited out fate. Round one was a who's covering Bowie round. We got 'Heroes' but not that is was being sung by Nico. We got Lulu but not that she was singing 'Watch That Man'. Spectacularly (thanks to Darren) we got 'Life On Mars' being sung, in her native Norwegian, by Frida (the less attractive of Abba twins). The next round was 80's instrumental B-sides. David and I shall be handing in our Soft Cell Fan Club membership cards shortly for incorrectly guessing the Human League when we were hearing Soft Cell's 'So' (the B-side to 'What'), we should all be shot for allowing the suggestion that the The Smith's 'Money Changes Everything' (the B-side to 'Big Mouth Strikes Again') was performed by Dire Straits. We redeemed ourselves at the end of the round however with correctly identifing New Order when we heard 'Hurt' (the B-side to 'Temptation'). Spot the connection round was Barbara Windsor, Noele Gordon and Adam Rickett (all soap stars). Bette Midler performing 'Movin' Out' was the observation round. Yes, he should take up with the baker's wife instead, yes he has 61 cassettes and but no we didn't think he should leave a copy of Lorna Doone behind. Half way through the quiz we had just six points (yikes!).
Luckily Dave showed up at this point so we swelled to be a team four. We also moved to a recently vacated table so things just had to get better - and they did. David was the only one in the pub that spotted Gary Numan singing a 6ths' song which was pleasing. The next round was TV themes. Follyfoot, Ask The Family (I used to love that show) and Eldorado. Then we had a Bowie does covers round. 'I Can't Explain' by The Who and 'Let's Spend The Night Together' by The Rolling Stones caused us no grief. But the Velvet Underground's 'Venus In Furs' did. Anthony Newley anyone? The final round was chart hits. The answers were 'Pete Heller's Big Love' by Pete Heller, 'Boom Boom Boom Boom!!' by the Vengaboys and S Club 7's 'Bring It All Back' Could you guess the year they were all hits? We did. For a change.
There was a bit on haggling over the Vengaboy's title. Rupert insisted it was three Booms not four. The extra Boom was confirmed by Marky on the phone later though. So we should have got fifthteen then. Lost by a point and a half. The winners (surprize, surprize) were the Reader's Wives but they won the booby prize of the remixes of Geri's CD single (ha! bloody ha!)
Tuesday, May 22, 2001
And he drove the fastest milkcart in the West...
Dear Bondholder
Congratulations. One of your Premium Bonds has won a prize and a warrant for the money is enclosed. Please pay it into a bank or building society. Hurray, hurrah and good cheer! I've won on the Premium Bonds! Will I be retiring early on the money? I doubt it. Will I be splashing out on a fast car or a glamourous holiday? Probably not. I won the minimum amount. So I shall bank it and buy myself a Mars bar instead. Thanks anyway, Ernie.
Dear Bondholder
Congratulations. One of your Premium Bonds has won a prize and a warrant for the money is enclosed. Please pay it into a bank or building society. Hurray, hurrah and good cheer! I've won on the Premium Bonds! Will I be retiring early on the money? I doubt it. Will I be splashing out on a fast car or a glamourous holiday? Probably not. I won the minimum amount. So I shall bank it and buy myself a Mars bar instead. Thanks anyway, Ernie.
Monday, May 21, 2001
Me? Transparent?...
Both Tom and Iain are making blatant attempts to pump up their hits by using "top ten" words from search engines. I think the practice is shameless and I would never consider such an act. No, I would never use the words National Lottery, Maff, Foot and Mouth, Exchange rates, Eminem, Inland Revenue, SMS, text messaging, EastEnders, West Ham, PlayStation Cheats, Westlife, Alton Towers, Harry Potter, Arsenal FC, South West Trains, UCAS, Eurovision, Buffy, Revision, London Eye, Route planner, Big Brother, survivor, sex, naked, lesbian, Microsoft, election, Nintendo, blog, fun, love, Manchester United, Liverpool, cricket, Beckham in one sentence. It would seem so... transparent :)
Both Tom and Iain are making blatant attempts to pump up their hits by using "top ten" words from search engines. I think the practice is shameless and I would never consider such an act. No, I would never use the words National Lottery, Maff, Foot and Mouth, Exchange rates, Eminem, Inland Revenue, SMS, text messaging, EastEnders, West Ham, PlayStation Cheats, Westlife, Alton Towers, Harry Potter, Arsenal FC, South West Trains, UCAS, Eurovision, Buffy, Revision, London Eye, Route planner, Big Brother, survivor, sex, naked, lesbian, Microsoft, election, Nintendo, blog, fun, love, Manchester United, Liverpool, cricket, Beckham in one sentence. It would seem so... transparent :)
Sunday, May 20, 2001
Closer to Heaven review (no plot spoilers in case you wanna see it)...
So was it any good? To be honest no. I so wanted to like this. Bits were OK but I just never felt engaged. I never connected or felt any sympathy towards any of he characters - I just didn't care whether they fell in or out of love. Whether they lived or died. It had all the right ingredients - Pet Shop Boys' music, Jonathan Harvey as author, a cast and crew with a good reputation. But even my low expectations were sadly misplaced. Billie Tricks (Frances Barber) plays an aging pop star with a past. In many ways she holds the whole show together as the confidente of the other leading characters. But despite punchy lines like, "Love? That was like Vietman. After a lot of protesting it ended in the Seventies" her Eartha Kitt growl and Gabriel looks began to grate before long. Her Billie's Babes were little more that Hot Gossip in day-glo. Things looked up a bit half way through the first half with the appearance of Bob Saunders (Paul Boughton) a thinly veiled Tom Watts character as a fat, gay, hideous record producer. But he was bearly used beyond his first half success. The music was generaly OK. The previously written PSB songs such as Shameless and Closer to Heaven sounded adequate live but just like Mamma Mia some songs were shoe-horned with amazing crassness into the plot. In Denial was a good example. It's reprise in the second half was only slightly better. The only moving part in the whole show was a dramatic rendition of Vampires by the father character Vic Christian (David Burt). This consisted of him singing stage right while the two main gay characters had sex in a bed naked stage centre. Sadly the rest of the second half was trite to the point of boredom. On the whole the show was too 'gay'. Not camp enough but too 'gay'. Homosexuality was not only a given of ever male character but their only characteristic. They had no other qualities. I can't see it running as a musical. A straight audience will find nothing to identify with. It'll close at the end of the summer at the latest. Closer to Heaven - your fifteen week's of fame starts now.
Star Alert: Neil Tennant sat in front of us. I chatted to him a bit on the way out - he's going every night. Why torture yourself, love?
So was it any good? To be honest no. I so wanted to like this. Bits were OK but I just never felt engaged. I never connected or felt any sympathy towards any of he characters - I just didn't care whether they fell in or out of love. Whether they lived or died. It had all the right ingredients - Pet Shop Boys' music, Jonathan Harvey as author, a cast and crew with a good reputation. But even my low expectations were sadly misplaced. Billie Tricks (Frances Barber) plays an aging pop star with a past. In many ways she holds the whole show together as the confidente of the other leading characters. But despite punchy lines like, "Love? That was like Vietman. After a lot of protesting it ended in the Seventies" her Eartha Kitt growl and Gabriel looks began to grate before long. Her Billie's Babes were little more that Hot Gossip in day-glo. Things looked up a bit half way through the first half with the appearance of Bob Saunders (Paul Boughton) a thinly veiled Tom Watts character as a fat, gay, hideous record producer. But he was bearly used beyond his first half success. The music was generaly OK. The previously written PSB songs such as Shameless and Closer to Heaven sounded adequate live but just like Mamma Mia some songs were shoe-horned with amazing crassness into the plot. In Denial was a good example. It's reprise in the second half was only slightly better. The only moving part in the whole show was a dramatic rendition of Vampires by the father character Vic Christian (David Burt). This consisted of him singing stage right while the two main gay characters had sex in a bed naked stage centre. Sadly the rest of the second half was trite to the point of boredom. On the whole the show was too 'gay'. Not camp enough but too 'gay'. Homosexuality was not only a given of ever male character but their only characteristic. They had no other qualities. I can't see it running as a musical. A straight audience will find nothing to identify with. It'll close at the end of the summer at the latest. Closer to Heaven - your fifteen week's of fame starts now.
Star Alert: Neil Tennant sat in front of us. I chatted to him a bit on the way out - he's going every night. Why torture yourself, love?
Saturday, May 19, 2001
Amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart wrenching...
Last night's Goldfrapp concert at the Union Chapel was one of the best, if not the best concert I have ever been too. And judging by the roars from the packed pews I wasn’t alone in that view. I’m a fairly recent convert to Goldfrapp’s individual style of trip-hop, orchestral, landscape music. Many have likened Alison Goldfrapp’s voice to Shirley Bassey – to be honest I don’t see the connection. She has a multiple octave range and a delicious sexiness that would put Ms Bassey to shame. Alison is understated, almost shy on stage. She often would face sideways or towards the rest of the band, which only added to the mystery of her performance. She was dressed in an outfit that looked like a grey BOAC airline stewardess’ uniform from the 60’s. She drifted about the stage and struck the occasional pose that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Cabaret. A very enigmatic performance only made more wondrous when we realised that the sound coming over the speakers was actually coming out of her mouth and not from some synthesizer. She could in turns scream, soar, scale and boom in perfect pitch. The dreaminess of the songs and brilliance of the vocal performance from the outset told us we were in for something special. There were nine members of the band in total; a stringed quartet, an Irish fiddler, a drummer, two keyboards (one being Will Gregory) and Alison. Their music has an art house movie / east European freak show dramatic richness that any film score composer would be proud of. Impossibly deep organ riffs swelled and fell and echoed round the chapel with eerie effect. They performed every song from Felt Moutain to a rapt crowd. The light show transformed the chapel from late night smoky jazz room on Pilots to the magical dreamscape evoked by Utopia (the new single). Alison’s dusty vocals on Paper Bag brought a tear to my eye. Well actually tears were streaming down my face by the end. It was a very special moment. They did two encores. The much anticiapted cover of ONJ's Physical and Horse Tears which brought the house down. If ever you get the chance to see them live. Go. I’ll be there.
Star Alert: Simon and Yassim Le Bon were snogging in a row but one behind us. Steven Tyler (that Aerosmith singer) and Chrissie Hynde tried to nick my seat while I was at the bar with Colin. Mark fought them off valiantly.
Goldfrapp interview here.
Last night's Goldfrapp concert at the Union Chapel was one of the best, if not the best concert I have ever been too. And judging by the roars from the packed pews I wasn’t alone in that view. I’m a fairly recent convert to Goldfrapp’s individual style of trip-hop, orchestral, landscape music. Many have likened Alison Goldfrapp’s voice to Shirley Bassey – to be honest I don’t see the connection. She has a multiple octave range and a delicious sexiness that would put Ms Bassey to shame. Alison is understated, almost shy on stage. She often would face sideways or towards the rest of the band, which only added to the mystery of her performance. She was dressed in an outfit that looked like a grey BOAC airline stewardess’ uniform from the 60’s. She drifted about the stage and struck the occasional pose that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Cabaret. A very enigmatic performance only made more wondrous when we realised that the sound coming over the speakers was actually coming out of her mouth and not from some synthesizer. She could in turns scream, soar, scale and boom in perfect pitch. The dreaminess of the songs and brilliance of the vocal performance from the outset told us we were in for something special. There were nine members of the band in total; a stringed quartet, an Irish fiddler, a drummer, two keyboards (one being Will Gregory) and Alison. Their music has an art house movie / east European freak show dramatic richness that any film score composer would be proud of. Impossibly deep organ riffs swelled and fell and echoed round the chapel with eerie effect. They performed every song from Felt Moutain to a rapt crowd. The light show transformed the chapel from late night smoky jazz room on Pilots to the magical dreamscape evoked by Utopia (the new single). Alison’s dusty vocals on Paper Bag brought a tear to my eye. Well actually tears were streaming down my face by the end. It was a very special moment. They did two encores. The much anticiapted cover of ONJ's Physical and Horse Tears which brought the house down. If ever you get the chance to see them live. Go. I’ll be there.
Star Alert: Simon and Yassim Le Bon were snogging in a row but one behind us. Steven Tyler (that Aerosmith singer) and Chrissie Hynde tried to nick my seat while I was at the bar with Colin. Mark fought them off valiantly.
Goldfrapp interview here.
The Erasure revival starts here...
My friend Andy went for an audition a few years back. Three months later I was first in the queue to see his first live gig at the Mean Fiddler and first in the queue to see his second live gig at the Bell in King's Cross. He introduced me to his partner in crime Vince shortly afterwards. Some years later Vince and I went to Amsterdam on an infamous holiday (even PopBitch wouldn't publish the details!) We've lost contact recently though. Imagine my surprize to see that Wheatus have covered A Little Respect as their follow up to Teenage Dirtbag. My flabber has never been so gasted.
My friend Andy went for an audition a few years back. Three months later I was first in the queue to see his first live gig at the Mean Fiddler and first in the queue to see his second live gig at the Bell in King's Cross. He introduced me to his partner in crime Vince shortly afterwards. Some years later Vince and I went to Amsterdam on an infamous holiday (even PopBitch wouldn't publish the details!) We've lost contact recently though. Imagine my surprize to see that Wheatus have covered A Little Respect as their follow up to Teenage Dirtbag. My flabber has never been so gasted.
Friday, May 18, 2001
The world's longest chain...
People are either linking to it or talking about other people linking to it so I shall too. Why girls are evil.
People are either linking to it or talking about other people linking to it so I shall too. Why girls are evil.
Closer and Closer To Heaven...
Friday night: Goldfrapp at the Union Chapel with Tony, Gordon, Nikki, Colin, Marky and me. Can't wait. Will blog about it tomorrow.
Saturday daytime: Dunno, housework probably.
Saturday evening: Closer to Heaven with David, Dave, Ian, Marky and me. No doubt we will all rush to blog our (re)views.
Saturday night: Not sure, may stay in (gasp!)
Sunday: No plans - but a trip to the RVT is long overdue.
Friday night: Goldfrapp at the Union Chapel with Tony, Gordon, Nikki, Colin, Marky and me. Can't wait. Will blog about it tomorrow.
Saturday daytime: Dunno, housework probably.
Saturday evening: Closer to Heaven with David, Dave, Ian, Marky and me. No doubt we will all rush to blog our (re)views.
Saturday night: Not sure, may stay in (gasp!)
Sunday: No plans - but a trip to the RVT is long overdue.
Top night...
We went to the Gaydar Radio launch party at Heaven last night. It was one of those anyone-who-is-anyone kinds of bashes. The cute boys were out in force. Champagne and vodka flowed freely. A little too freely in my case. At least I wasn’t as bad as some people though… (feeling a bit rough are we, Mike?) Apologies to Henry and Cam for any leering and groping that might have gone on. I have no excuse but a lusty eye and a belly full of Dutch courage. We may be living in a high-tech era of chat-rooms and e-mail and but put a group of gay men together with free alcohol and you have a dynamite mix.
Note to self #1: When I tell myself to not drink any more. I shouldn’t.
Note to self #2: Neat vodka should be sipped not quaffed.
Note to self #3: Buy more Neurofen Plus – we’re running dangerously low.
We went to the Gaydar Radio launch party at Heaven last night. It was one of those anyone-who-is-anyone kinds of bashes. The cute boys were out in force. Champagne and vodka flowed freely. A little too freely in my case. At least I wasn’t as bad as some people though… (feeling a bit rough are we, Mike?) Apologies to Henry and Cam for any leering and groping that might have gone on. I have no excuse but a lusty eye and a belly full of Dutch courage. We may be living in a high-tech era of chat-rooms and e-mail and but put a group of gay men together with free alcohol and you have a dynamite mix.
Note to self #1: When I tell myself to not drink any more. I shouldn’t.
Note to self #2: Neat vodka should be sipped not quaffed.
Note to self #3: Buy more Neurofen Plus – we’re running dangerously low.
Thursday, May 17, 2001
Still laughing...
Pssst! Wanna see a porno version of your favourite site? Just visit Pornolize and put in your URL.
Pssst! Wanna see a porno version of your favourite site? Just visit Pornolize and put in your URL.
It reads like the rambling screeds that paranoids scrawl with crayons...
Dave Sim is a mad, mad bastard. Now, let me reassure you right from the outset. This column is not going to be a point-by-point rebuttal of Sim's increasingly bizarre public statements. That could be a complete waste of my time and yours. I am not interested in Sim's ramblings. Not in that way, anyway. But what interests me is the number of people who still are interested. Sim has been cultivating a reputation as a seriously warped mind for a few years now, but in recent months he's excelled himself.
Oh no, I though. What has David done to deserve this? But then soon realised it's not our David Sim but that David Sim, the Cerebus guy. Full rant here.
Dave Sim is a mad, mad bastard. Now, let me reassure you right from the outset. This column is not going to be a point-by-point rebuttal of Sim's increasingly bizarre public statements. That could be a complete waste of my time and yours. I am not interested in Sim's ramblings. Not in that way, anyway. But what interests me is the number of people who still are interested. Sim has been cultivating a reputation as a seriously warped mind for a few years now, but in recent months he's excelled himself.
Oh no, I though. What has David done to deserve this? But then soon realised it's not our David Sim but that David Sim, the Cerebus guy. Full rant here.
North / South Divide...
MATHS TEST FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE NORTH:
NAME _________________________
NICK-NAME ____________________
GANG NAME ____________________
1. Deco has 0.5 kilos of cocaine. If he sells an 8 ball to Vinno for 300 quid and 90 grams to Tomo for 90 quid a gram, what is the street value of the rest of his hold?
2. Anto pimps 3 brassers. If the price is 40 quid a royde, how many roydes per day must each brasser perform to support Vinno's 500 quid a day crack habit?
3. Whacker wants to cut the kilo of cocaine he bought for 7,000 quid, to make a 20% profit. How many grams of strychnine will he need?
4. Christy got 6 years for murder. He also got 350,000 for the hit. If his common law wife spends 33,100 per month, how much money will be left when he gets out?
Extra Credit Bonus: How much more time will Christy get for killing the slapper that spent his money?
5. If an average can of spray paint covers 22 square meters and the average letter is 1 square metre, how many letters can be sprayed with eight fluid ounce cans of spray paint with 20% extra paint free?
6. Liamo steals Eamo's skateboard. As Liamo skates away at a speed of 35mph, Eamo loads his brother's armalite. If it takes Eamo 20 seconds to load the gun, how far will Liamo have travelled when he gets whacked?
MATHS TEST FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH:
NAME
___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
___________________
(if longer, please continue on separate sheet)
SCHOOL____________________
DADDY'S COMPANY___________
1. Julian smashes up the old man's car, causing x amount of damage and killing three people. The old man asks his friend who's a JP to intervene in the court system, then forges his insurance claim and receives a payment of y. The difference between x and y is three times the life insurance settlement for the three dead people. What kind of car is Julian driving now?
2. Chloe's personal shopper decides to substitute generic and own-brand products for the designer goods favoured by her employer... In the course of a month she saves the price of a return ticket to Fiji and Chloe doesn't even notice the difference. Is she thick or what?
3. Roly fancies the arse off a certain number of tarts, but he only has enough Rohypnol left to render 33.3% unconscious. If he has 14 Rohypnol, how is he ever going to shag the other two-thirds?
4. If Savannah throws up four times a day for a week she can fit a size 8 Versace. If she only throws up three times a day for two weeks, she has to make do with a size 10 D&G. How much does liposuction cost?
5. Alexander is unsure about his sexuality. Three days a week he fancies women. On the other days he fancies men, ducks and vacuum cleaners. However he only has access to the Hoover every third week. When does his Sunday Independent column start?
MATHS TEST FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE NORTH:
NAME _________________________
NICK-NAME ____________________
GANG NAME ____________________
1. Deco has 0.5 kilos of cocaine. If he sells an 8 ball to Vinno for 300 quid and 90 grams to Tomo for 90 quid a gram, what is the street value of the rest of his hold?
2. Anto pimps 3 brassers. If the price is 40 quid a royde, how many roydes per day must each brasser perform to support Vinno's 500 quid a day crack habit?
3. Whacker wants to cut the kilo of cocaine he bought for 7,000 quid, to make a 20% profit. How many grams of strychnine will he need?
4. Christy got 6 years for murder. He also got 350,000 for the hit. If his common law wife spends 33,100 per month, how much money will be left when he gets out?
Extra Credit Bonus: How much more time will Christy get for killing the slapper that spent his money?
5. If an average can of spray paint covers 22 square meters and the average letter is 1 square metre, how many letters can be sprayed with eight fluid ounce cans of spray paint with 20% extra paint free?
6. Liamo steals Eamo's skateboard. As Liamo skates away at a speed of 35mph, Eamo loads his brother's armalite. If it takes Eamo 20 seconds to load the gun, how far will Liamo have travelled when he gets whacked?
MATHS TEST FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH:
NAME
___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
___________________
(if longer, please continue on separate sheet)
SCHOOL____________________
DADDY'S COMPANY___________
1. Julian smashes up the old man's car, causing x amount of damage and killing three people. The old man asks his friend who's a JP to intervene in the court system, then forges his insurance claim and receives a payment of y. The difference between x and y is three times the life insurance settlement for the three dead people. What kind of car is Julian driving now?
2. Chloe's personal shopper decides to substitute generic and own-brand products for the designer goods favoured by her employer... In the course of a month she saves the price of a return ticket to Fiji and Chloe doesn't even notice the difference. Is she thick or what?
3. Roly fancies the arse off a certain number of tarts, but he only has enough Rohypnol left to render 33.3% unconscious. If he has 14 Rohypnol, how is he ever going to shag the other two-thirds?
4. If Savannah throws up four times a day for a week she can fit a size 8 Versace. If she only throws up three times a day for two weeks, she has to make do with a size 10 D&G. How much does liposuction cost?
5. Alexander is unsure about his sexuality. Three days a week he fancies women. On the other days he fancies men, ducks and vacuum cleaners. However he only has access to the Hoover every third week. When does his Sunday Independent column start?
Wednesday, May 16, 2001
R.E.M....
I'm currently listening to R.E.M.'s newie Reveal. It's actually quite good (this from someone who thinks REM did one good song.) I was amused to see something about Mr Stipe on Popex today.
Oh no! My world has been turned upside down!
Wanting some free publicity, which oddly coincides with the release of REM's new album, Reveal, Michael Stipe has finally come out of the closet. He tells Time magazine he's a "queer artist" who has been "in a relationship with an amazing man" for the past three years. As the world is taken aback by this startling revelation, Stipe also adds, "I was being made to be a coward about it, rather than someone who felt like it really was a very private thing."
In other news, Shit Found in Woods. Police blame Bears.
I'm currently listening to R.E.M.'s newie Reveal. It's actually quite good (this from someone who thinks REM did one good song.) I was amused to see something about Mr Stipe on Popex today.
Oh no! My world has been turned upside down!
Wanting some free publicity, which oddly coincides with the release of REM's new album, Reveal, Michael Stipe has finally come out of the closet. He tells Time magazine he's a "queer artist" who has been "in a relationship with an amazing man" for the past three years. As the world is taken aback by this startling revelation, Stipe also adds, "I was being made to be a coward about it, rather than someone who felt like it really was a very private thing."
In other news, Shit Found in Woods. Police blame Bears.
And David had suggested the Black Cap...
After the quiz Ian, Carl, (insert name of manager of Compton's here) and I had fun putting the world to rights at Bar Code. Carl waxed lyrical about Cole Porter. INOMOCH waxed lyrical about Malta. Ian nodded. I nodded*. We both drank. By 2am I'd found my way home. Just.
* Oh dear. I just read Ian's take on last night. I see the words 'heated discussion' and realise that I probably wasn't nodding my head (as I remember it) but shaking it violently and arguing the toss (as Ian remembers it). Alcohol can prune the memory so effectively I find. Unless I'm very much mistaken we've both come up with acronyms for the same guy at the same time. ALF = INOMOCH. This must be like when women synchronise their cycles.
After the quiz Ian, Carl, (insert name of manager of Compton's here) and I had fun putting the world to rights at Bar Code. Carl waxed lyrical about Cole Porter. INOMOCH waxed lyrical about Malta. Ian nodded. I nodded*. We both drank. By 2am I'd found my way home. Just.
* Oh dear. I just read Ian's take on last night. I see the words 'heated discussion' and realise that I probably wasn't nodding my head (as I remember it) but shaking it violently and arguing the toss (as Ian remembers it). Alcohol can prune the memory so effectively I find. Unless I'm very much mistaken we've both come up with acronyms for the same guy at the same time. ALF = INOMOCH. This must be like when women synchronise their cycles.
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my...
At the Retro Bar's Pop Quiz last night Wendy's outfit was a picture. Bunches, cowgirl jeans, faded blue gingham cotton shirt. See looked just like Dorothy from the Wizard Of Oz. So naturally our team name was... Friends of Dorothy. We teased her a bit during the quiz but she didn't cotton (geddit!!) on until the end. Out team had the full compliment of David, Dave, Juggy and me so hopes were high. Wendy tried to stir up a bit of friendly rivalry between us and The Reader's Wifes team which wasn't really there. That's to say the 'friendly' bit wasn't there. The rivalry was there in spades. The quiz itself had a theme. The alphabet. So answers were:-
ABC
Name the members of Dee-Lite (Lady Miss Kier, Towa Tei and Dimitri)
Eve
Aretha Franklin
Serge Gainsbourg
Lauryn Hill
Name the year Chris Isaak's Wicked Game was a hit (we got this wrong dropping a full point with 1991 - it was late 1990)
Johnny Cash / Grace Jones
Ronan Keating - Lovin' each day
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (we got the band but not the song so dropped a half point)
Barry Manilow / Frank Sinatra
Stevie Nicks
Definitely Maybe
Perez Prado - Guaglione
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon
Michael Stipe
The Sopranos
The The - Matt Johnson
Ultravox - 1980
Visage
Robbie Wiliams - Supreme
X-ray Specs - Germ Free Adolescent
Yello - Shirley Bassey
Zombies - She's Not There
So we got twenty-two and a half out of twenty-four. The Reader's Wifes got twenty-three pipping us at the post (yet again). Luck smiled on us at the end though. They got the booby prize of Ronan Keating's CD.
At the Retro Bar's Pop Quiz last night Wendy's outfit was a picture. Bunches, cowgirl jeans, faded blue gingham cotton shirt. See looked just like Dorothy from the Wizard Of Oz. So naturally our team name was... Friends of Dorothy. We teased her a bit during the quiz but she didn't cotton (geddit!!) on until the end. Out team had the full compliment of David, Dave, Juggy and me so hopes were high. Wendy tried to stir up a bit of friendly rivalry between us and The Reader's Wifes team which wasn't really there. That's to say the 'friendly' bit wasn't there. The rivalry was there in spades. The quiz itself had a theme. The alphabet. So answers were:-
ABC
Name the members of Dee-Lite (Lady Miss Kier, Towa Tei and Dimitri)
Eve
Aretha Franklin
Serge Gainsbourg
Lauryn Hill
Name the year Chris Isaak's Wicked Game was a hit (we got this wrong dropping a full point with 1991 - it was late 1990)
Johnny Cash / Grace Jones
Ronan Keating - Lovin' each day
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (we got the band but not the song so dropped a half point)
Barry Manilow / Frank Sinatra
Stevie Nicks
Definitely Maybe
Perez Prado - Guaglione
Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon
Michael Stipe
The Sopranos
The The - Matt Johnson
Ultravox - 1980
Visage
Robbie Wiliams - Supreme
X-ray Specs - Germ Free Adolescent
Yello - Shirley Bassey
Zombies - She's Not There
So we got twenty-two and a half out of twenty-four. The Reader's Wifes got twenty-three pipping us at the post (yet again). Luck smiled on us at the end though. They got the booby prize of Ronan Keating's CD.
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
Round the bends...
We have an entry in the from-an-original-idea-by-David-to-fit-as-many-album-titles-by-an-artist-in-a-single-SMS competition (did I mention it had become a competition?).
Pablo, honey, what's up with the Kid, a case of the bends maybe? I forget - I'm an amneisac! Still, found an OK computer as you wanted, but no radio head phones.
This from Tom. Who I'd not heard from before but who lists his likes as his red hair which wins an automatic inclusion in my blog list.
BTW: Guy, I'll keep your entry quiet - for a small wad of used fivers Friday latest :)
We have an entry in the from-an-original-idea-by-David-to-fit-as-many-album-titles-by-an-artist-in-a-single-SMS competition (did I mention it had become a competition?).
Pablo, honey, what's up with the Kid, a case of the bends maybe? I forget - I'm an amneisac! Still, found an OK computer as you wanted, but no radio head phones.
This from Tom. Who I'd not heard from before but who lists his likes as his red hair which wins an automatic inclusion in my blog list.
BTW: Guy, I'll keep your entry quiet - for a small wad of used fivers Friday latest :)
PSB-SMS (Pet Shop Boys' - Short Message System)...
David's challenge on Saturday was to get all the Pet Shop Boys' album titles into one SMS message (i.e. less than 160 characters including spaces). As a prize he would get me a copy of the free PSB promo CD from the Daily Telegraph / HMV offer. He seemed happy with what I came up with but it's only now I realised that I missed one out. Relentless. So here's a rejigged one to included that too. Phew! It took some shoe-horning!
Being bilingual my behaviour’s introspective. My life's discography isn't just relentless Disco. Actually my nightlife’s very alternative. Can I Disco 2 please?
This could start a trend. All the album titles by a given artist into one SMS. Any suggestions?
David's challenge on Saturday was to get all the Pet Shop Boys' album titles into one SMS message (i.e. less than 160 characters including spaces). As a prize he would get me a copy of the free PSB promo CD from the Daily Telegraph / HMV offer. He seemed happy with what I came up with but it's only now I realised that I missed one out. Relentless. So here's a rejigged one to included that too. Phew! It took some shoe-horning!
Being bilingual my behaviour’s introspective. My life's discography isn't just relentless Disco. Actually my nightlife’s very alternative. Can I Disco 2 please?
This could start a trend. All the album titles by a given artist into one SMS. Any suggestions?
Goldfrapp...
I've been playing Goldfrapp's Felt Moutain on continous play at work. I just love it. It's my album of the year. Whatsmore they're touring. We're going to see her on Friday night at the Union Chapel at the end of our road. Can't wait.
Bit of blurb:- Bath's singer/composer/keyboardist Allison Goldfrapp began exploring music as a part of her studies as a Fine Art Painting major at Middlesex University, mixing sound, visuals, and performances in her installation pieces. While she was still in college, she appeared on her friend Tricky's 1995 debut Maxinquaye, which led to appearances on albums from other cutting-edge electronic artists, including Orbital's Snivilisation and Add N to X's Avant Hard. By the late '90s, Goldfrapp began honing her own compositions; one of her friends passed some of her demos on to composer Will Gregory. Finding much in common in their musical tastes and approaches, the duo took Allison's surname as the name for their collaboration. After signing to Mute in 1999, Goldfrapp delivered their debut album, Felt Mountain, in Autumn 2000.
I've been playing Goldfrapp's Felt Moutain on continous play at work. I just love it. It's my album of the year. Whatsmore they're touring. We're going to see her on Friday night at the Union Chapel at the end of our road. Can't wait.
Bit of blurb:- Bath's singer/composer/keyboardist Allison Goldfrapp began exploring music as a part of her studies as a Fine Art Painting major at Middlesex University, mixing sound, visuals, and performances in her installation pieces. While she was still in college, she appeared on her friend Tricky's 1995 debut Maxinquaye, which led to appearances on albums from other cutting-edge electronic artists, including Orbital's Snivilisation and Add N to X's Avant Hard. By the late '90s, Goldfrapp began honing her own compositions; one of her friends passed some of her demos on to composer Will Gregory. Finding much in common in their musical tastes and approaches, the duo took Allison's surname as the name for their collaboration. After signing to Mute in 1999, Goldfrapp delivered their debut album, Felt Mountain, in Autumn 2000.
Monday, May 14, 2001
TW3 (that was the weekend that was)...
- Had a great night's sleep on Friday (due to new duvet, new pillows, clean sheets)
- Saturday afternoon Arsenal lost 1-2 to Liverpool in the Cup Final. Arrrrrrse!
- Missed the best bit of Eurovision (i.e. the songs) that evening as we were at a pub near by brother's waiting for food that turned up 90 minutes late. Double-arse!
- Had a crap night's sleep on Saturday at my brother's as the countryside at dawn is too fucking LOUD for my liking.
- Rushed back to compete in the Pink Angels charity pool competition on Sunday afternoon at Krystals. Got to the Grand Final but lost out to Central Station Walthamstow. We were representing Freedoms. It took 5 hours to play our way through all the qualifying rounds. Rather tired and emotional by the end. :)
- Had a great night's sleep on Friday (due to new duvet, new pillows, clean sheets)
- Saturday afternoon Arsenal lost 1-2 to Liverpool in the Cup Final. Arrrrrrse!
- Missed the best bit of Eurovision (i.e. the songs) that evening as we were at a pub near by brother's waiting for food that turned up 90 minutes late. Double-arse!
- Had a crap night's sleep on Saturday at my brother's as the countryside at dawn is too fucking LOUD for my liking.
- Rushed back to compete in the Pink Angels charity pool competition on Sunday afternoon at Krystals. Got to the Grand Final but lost out to Central Station Walthamstow. We were representing Freedoms. It took 5 hours to play our way through all the qualifying rounds. Rather tired and emotional by the end. :)
Friday, May 11, 2001
Phew, what a scorcher...
Yesterday and today our transportation services department have been interviewing for crewmen to work on our ships for either 3 or 6 month contracts. Candidates have to be male, fit and young (18-25). In total, 40 cute young, tattooed crew-cuts have been to our office one after the other, sitting in reception for 20 minutes and then being interviewed in the room next to mine. I think I need a cold shower.
Yesterday and today our transportation services department have been interviewing for crewmen to work on our ships for either 3 or 6 month contracts. Candidates have to be male, fit and young (18-25). In total, 40 cute young, tattooed crew-cuts have been to our office one after the other, sitting in reception for 20 minutes and then being interviewed in the room next to mine. I think I need a cold shower.
This weekend...
Tonight:
No plans as yet. The sun is shining. Bar Code is tempting - except I have armfuls of Hungarian goose bedding (see below) so I guess that's out. Maybe go out later instead as I'm not working tomorrow. Hurray!
Saturday:
Bit of house work. Cup Final on telly Go! Gooners! Go! Then to my brother's in Watton-on-Stone, Hertfordshire for the night. Pub meal in the evening followed by Eurovision Song Contest on TV. Should be laugh. I've a pop quiz lined up too if we're up for it.
Sunday:
Travelling back from Watton-on-Stone and straight to Krystals for a charity pool competition in aid of Pink Angels. Starts at 1pm so if we get knocked out early (quite likely) we'll be off to the RVT.
Tonight:
No plans as yet. The sun is shining. Bar Code is tempting - except I have armfuls of Hungarian goose bedding (see below) so I guess that's out. Maybe go out later instead as I'm not working tomorrow. Hurray!
Saturday:
Bit of house work. Cup Final on telly Go! Gooners! Go! Then to my brother's in Watton-on-Stone, Hertfordshire for the night. Pub meal in the evening followed by Eurovision Song Contest on TV. Should be laugh. I've a pop quiz lined up too if we're up for it.
Sunday:
Travelling back from Watton-on-Stone and straight to Krystals for a charity pool competition in aid of Pink Angels. Starts at 1pm so if we get knocked out early (quite likely) we'll be off to the RVT.
It's the geese I feel sorry for...
Having spent ages this lunchtime with Marky in John Lewis I know all there is to know about mattresses, pillows and duvets. We chose the matteress first. It was fun lying on each bed in turn, rolling about and bouncing about and generally embarrassing other customers and the staff by equal measure. Not that two queens shopping in John Lewis is an unusual sight of course. The mattress we eventually ordered was some posh thing that takes eight weeks to be delivered and that claims to have a double-helical super-duper whatsit system. The sales guy blushed when I asked him if it would take three comfortably. Well, you've got to ask! The duvet we chose was stuffed with Hungarian white goose down. My dears, no one buys Siberian any more, white is the new black, feathers are so last century and duck is positively dead in the duvet world. The four pillows we bought were again Hungarian white goose down but we bought two with Hungarian goose feathers for added weight. So we're all set. And we have 350 bald geese to thank.
Having spent ages this lunchtime with Marky in John Lewis I know all there is to know about mattresses, pillows and duvets. We chose the matteress first. It was fun lying on each bed in turn, rolling about and bouncing about and generally embarrassing other customers and the staff by equal measure. Not that two queens shopping in John Lewis is an unusual sight of course. The mattress we eventually ordered was some posh thing that takes eight weeks to be delivered and that claims to have a double-helical super-duper whatsit system. The sales guy blushed when I asked him if it would take three comfortably. Well, you've got to ask! The duvet we chose was stuffed with Hungarian white goose down. My dears, no one buys Siberian any more, white is the new black, feathers are so last century and duck is positively dead in the duvet world. The four pillows we bought were again Hungarian white goose down but we bought two with Hungarian goose feathers for added weight. So we're all set. And we have 350 bald geese to thank.
Thursday, May 10, 2001
The Lion Sleeps Tonight...
Having lived on the floor for 6 months we finally got our act together and bought a bed. Glad to see the picture shows a bed surrounded by a mess. It'll feel right at home chez nous.
Having lived on the floor for 6 months we finally got our act together and bought a bed. Glad to see the picture shows a bed surrounded by a mess. It'll feel right at home chez nous.
Pet Shop Boys...
As Closer To Heaven rolls ever nearer The Telegraph is giving away a free PSB CD to help promote it.
Closer to Heaven promo CD
On Saturday, May 12, the Daily Telegraph will feature an interview with Neil and Chris and also a voucher which can be taken to HMV shops in the UK and exchanged for a free CD of Pet Shop Boys performing four songs from "Closer to Heaven", including two new tracks. The four tracks are: 1. Closer to Heaven (slow version) 2. Friendly fire 3. Shameless 4. Closer to Heaven (Album version) The sleeve will be designed by Farrow as with all official PSB releases. Neil and Chris have begun working with Stephen Hague on the cast album to be released over the summer.
NOTE: There was a special 5 trk CD released earlier last week for Journalists only. This 5 trk CD is NOT the same CD being release through the Daily Telegraph.
We've got tickets for the first Saturday so we shall reserve judgement until then.
As Closer To Heaven rolls ever nearer The Telegraph is giving away a free PSB CD to help promote it.
Closer to Heaven promo CD
On Saturday, May 12, the Daily Telegraph will feature an interview with Neil and Chris and also a voucher which can be taken to HMV shops in the UK and exchanged for a free CD of Pet Shop Boys performing four songs from "Closer to Heaven", including two new tracks. The four tracks are: 1. Closer to Heaven (slow version) 2. Friendly fire 3. Shameless 4. Closer to Heaven (Album version) The sleeve will be designed by Farrow as with all official PSB releases. Neil and Chris have begun working with Stephen Hague on the cast album to be released over the summer.
NOTE: There was a special 5 trk CD released earlier last week for Journalists only. This 5 trk CD is NOT the same CD being release through the Daily Telegraph.
We've got tickets for the first Saturday so we shall reserve judgement until then.
Wednesday, May 09, 2001
Death and taxes...
In the post I just got this.
Abbeyvet
60 Cross Street
Islington
London
N1 2BA
Date: 07 Apr 2001
Veterinary Surgeon: Claire Lang
Item: Oliver
1.00 Euthanasia Only Cat (Incl Consult Fee) CL 23.50 VAT 4.11 TOTAL 27.61
1.00 Cremation Cat CL 11.00 VAT 1.93 TOTAL 12.93
07 Apr 01 CL 34.50 VAT 6.04 TOTAL 40.54
And I was looking at the amount and thinking. Why do I have to pay tax to the Government when one of the closest things to my heart is dead? How cruel VAT is. It doesn't discriminate between life and death. Someone kills my cat and I pay the Government money. Someone burns my cat to a crisp and I pay the Government money. I hate VAT. And I'm not too stupid to realise this is all transference. I'm feeling sad at the loss of my cat and irrationally transferring that to anger at the tax man. All the same I think in my considered opinion ALL VAT MUST DIE. KILL! KILL! KILL!
In the post I just got this.
Abbeyvet
60 Cross Street
Islington
London
N1 2BA
Date: 07 Apr 2001
Veterinary Surgeon: Claire Lang
Item: Oliver
1.00 Euthanasia Only Cat (Incl Consult Fee) CL 23.50 VAT 4.11 TOTAL 27.61
1.00 Cremation Cat CL 11.00 VAT 1.93 TOTAL 12.93
07 Apr 01 CL 34.50 VAT 6.04 TOTAL 40.54
And I was looking at the amount and thinking. Why do I have to pay tax to the Government when one of the closest things to my heart is dead? How cruel VAT is. It doesn't discriminate between life and death. Someone kills my cat and I pay the Government money. Someone burns my cat to a crisp and I pay the Government money. I hate VAT. And I'm not too stupid to realise this is all transference. I'm feeling sad at the loss of my cat and irrationally transferring that to anger at the tax man. All the same I think in my considered opinion ALL VAT MUST DIE. KILL! KILL! KILL!
DJ Jazzy Jonce...
Setting the quiz last night was great fun. Quite a few people came up to me afterwards and said that they had enjoyed it a lot which was great to hear. Wendy was pleased too and said I could do another one anytime I wanted which again was nice to hear; but I don't think I'll do another one anytime soon. It was fun and exciting - but also rather stressful. To be honest it must be a strain for her to come up with fresh quizzes week after week. The boys seemed to enjoy it too - even though they should have won (just like every week, eh boys!). I'd spent a lot of time checking and rechecking the answers. So luckily there wasn't too much controversy. Just the fact that there was no George Martin in the quiz at all (sorry Ian) and the fact that Wendy added Nicky Chinn to an answer where only Mike Chapman should have been. But, hey, what would a pop quiz be like if there were no niggles? Whatsmore what would a quiz be like if Strawberry Switchblade's Since Yesterday wasn't in there somewhere? I'll never know because it's always in mine! Playing the music before the quiz, in the interval and after was great fun too. Now I sort of see the kick that DJs must get from playing music live.
Setting the quiz last night was great fun. Quite a few people came up to me afterwards and said that they had enjoyed it a lot which was great to hear. Wendy was pleased too and said I could do another one anytime I wanted which again was nice to hear; but I don't think I'll do another one anytime soon. It was fun and exciting - but also rather stressful. To be honest it must be a strain for her to come up with fresh quizzes week after week. The boys seemed to enjoy it too - even though they should have won (just like every week, eh boys!). I'd spent a lot of time checking and rechecking the answers. So luckily there wasn't too much controversy. Just the fact that there was no George Martin in the quiz at all (sorry Ian) and the fact that Wendy added Nicky Chinn to an answer where only Mike Chapman should have been. But, hey, what would a pop quiz be like if there were no niggles? Whatsmore what would a quiz be like if Strawberry Switchblade's Since Yesterday wasn't in there somewhere? I'll never know because it's always in mine! Playing the music before the quiz, in the interval and after was great fun too. Now I sort of see the kick that DJs must get from playing music live.
Tuesday, May 08, 2001
Pop Quiz goes all 'Cloak and Dagger'...
Just spoke to Wendy at the Retro Bar and I'm definitely on for tonight. The questions are all typed up, the answers double-checked, the clues cross-referenced and running order colour-coded. All the answers have been put into an envelope marked 'Top Secret' and will be delivered by two burly security guards just moments before the quiz begins. The tunes have been burnt onto fresh unmarked CDs without track listings and are being stored at a secret location. Even the half-time music is encrypted in case it gives any clues to the nature of the quiz. Secret tie-breaker songs have also been prepared and tested on industrial strength quiz teams for robustness. Mulitple endings have been shot so even the cast don't know the outcome... (OK, I'll stop now this is getting silly!)
Just spoke to Wendy at the Retro Bar and I'm definitely on for tonight. The questions are all typed up, the answers double-checked, the clues cross-referenced and running order colour-coded. All the answers have been put into an envelope marked 'Top Secret' and will be delivered by two burly security guards just moments before the quiz begins. The tunes have been burnt onto fresh unmarked CDs without track listings and are being stored at a secret location. Even the half-time music is encrypted in case it gives any clues to the nature of the quiz. Secret tie-breaker songs have also been prepared and tested on industrial strength quiz teams for robustness. Mulitple endings have been shot so even the cast don't know the outcome... (OK, I'll stop now this is getting silly!)
New Top, New Bottom...
I have a new MD starting today - needless to say the internet anagram engines have been working overtime on that one. Also I have a new secretary starting today, June. They both seem nice. Only time will tell. They both passed the first test without a hitch though: "Hello, I'm Jonathan. Welcome to the company. Before anyone else tells you: the water cooler's on the blink, internal calls are a bit crackily at the moment and I'm gay."
I have a new MD starting today - needless to say the internet anagram engines have been working overtime on that one. Also I have a new secretary starting today, June. They both seem nice. Only time will tell. They both passed the first test without a hitch though: "Hello, I'm Jonathan. Welcome to the company. Before anyone else tells you: the water cooler's on the blink, internal calls are a bit crackily at the moment and I'm gay."
Saturday, May 05, 2001
Slapton Sands...
Friday afternoon we set off for Devon. Stuart and Chistopher have a beautiful cottage down in Slapton that we go down to every now and again. The journey was fine - if a little long. Friday afternoon traffic coupled with the Bank Holiday crowd meant that we were competing with home counties finest caravans for motorway space. We arrived late, ate late but rose early. Sun bathing in the garden was followed by a marvellous pub lunch in the open air, followed by a leisurely walk along Slapton Sands beach to the 'gay bit' at the end. Needless top say with all this parading about semi-clad I got a little sunkissed. Or should that be son-kissed. Fabulous supper cooked on the arga awaits so I shall sign off now. Early to bed tonight. Sea air and country cooking take it out of a guy.
Friday afternoon we set off for Devon. Stuart and Chistopher have a beautiful cottage down in Slapton that we go down to every now and again. The journey was fine - if a little long. Friday afternoon traffic coupled with the Bank Holiday crowd meant that we were competing with home counties finest caravans for motorway space. We arrived late, ate late but rose early. Sun bathing in the garden was followed by a marvellous pub lunch in the open air, followed by a leisurely walk along Slapton Sands beach to the 'gay bit' at the end. Needless top say with all this parading about semi-clad I got a little sunkissed. Or should that be son-kissed. Fabulous supper cooked on the arga awaits so I shall sign off now. Early to bed tonight. Sea air and country cooking take it out of a guy.
The weekend starts here....
Thursday night was a top night. Started off at Bar Code with David, Dave, Ian, Stuart, Marky, Carl and Richard. Then Carl, Richard, Marky and I went to Yo! Sushi for food. Then Broken Hearts Club at the Warner West End with a crowd full of e-mail friendly poofs. Then Bar Code again. Then Central Station. That Richard is such a bad influence on me. I love him!
Thursday night was a top night. Started off at Bar Code with David, Dave, Ian, Stuart, Marky, Carl and Richard. Then Carl, Richard, Marky and I went to Yo! Sushi for food. Then Broken Hearts Club at the Warner West End with a crowd full of e-mail friendly poofs. Then Bar Code again. Then Central Station. That Richard is such a bad influence on me. I love him!
Thursday, May 03, 2001
The message is the medium...
Pls, stop sendg msgs2ths
no, i am not linda,
I hv not slept w/yr sis,
+i wd nvr call any1's ma a slag.
Gd luk w/viag.
Luv, yr wrong no. xxx
I think this one should have won. Full results here.
Pls, stop sendg msgs2ths
no, i am not linda,
I hv not slept w/yr sis,
+i wd nvr call any1's ma a slag.
Gd luk w/viag.
Luv, yr wrong no. xxx
I think this one should have won. Full results here.
Money For Nothing...
I forgot I opted out of SERPS yonks ago (1988?). Someone at work had suggested it might be a good idea. It'd mean my state pension would be lower but what the hell. What did I know? I signed a form and that was that. Well it turns out that unbeknownst to me the resulting contributions were being put into a pension fund (well three separate funds actually) with Friends Provident. I got a letter today saying that FP is going to demutualise and I'm in line for a windfall. Might be quite a bit of money. Yipeee. Double-yippee 'cos Mark has a FP account too! We're gonna go S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G.
I forgot I opted out of SERPS yonks ago (1988?). Someone at work had suggested it might be a good idea. It'd mean my state pension would be lower but what the hell. What did I know? I signed a form and that was that. Well it turns out that unbeknownst to me the resulting contributions were being put into a pension fund (well three separate funds actually) with Friends Provident. I got a letter today saying that FP is going to demutualise and I'm in line for a windfall. Might be quite a bit of money. Yipeee. Double-yippee 'cos Mark has a FP account too! We're gonna go S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G.
Geri...
Track-by-track review of Geri Halliwell's new album here. Everyone seems to descibed as 'very Shirley Bassey' these days. No one holds a torch of course.
Track-by-track review of Geri Halliwell's new album here. Everyone seems to descibed as 'very Shirley Bassey' these days. No one holds a torch of course.
3, 2, 1...
Ted Rogers is no more. 3-2-1 was a strange quiz show. Perplexingly difficult questions for what were trashy (geddit?) prizes. Still, back in 1978 when it started it was fresh, brash and unmissable Saturday night viewing. The playground became full of people trying the three finger fiddle. Rest is peace, Ted.
Ted Rogers is no more. 3-2-1 was a strange quiz show. Perplexingly difficult questions for what were trashy (geddit?) prizes. Still, back in 1978 when it started it was fresh, brash and unmissable Saturday night viewing. The playground became full of people trying the three finger fiddle. Rest is peace, Ted.
Wednesday, May 02, 2001
Bum...
The Tube strike has been called off. Looks like I'll be in work as usual tomorrow. Sorry Ian, won't be joining you at The White Swan tonight. Bum.
The Tube strike has been called off. Looks like I'll be in work as usual tomorrow. Sorry Ian, won't be joining you at The White Swan tonight. Bum.
The A-Z of Perverted Sex...
This week's Popbitch is very funny (subscribe, I urge you). Highlights are links to a lovely picture of Debbie McGee, a nice story about those S Club 7 girls, the Gay Dictionary and a nice picture of a man with a yo-yo.
This week's Popbitch is very funny (subscribe, I urge you). Highlights are links to a lovely picture of Debbie McGee, a nice story about those S Club 7 girls, the Gay Dictionary and a nice picture of a man with a yo-yo.
Good news about the tube strike tomorrow...
It's ON. That means I can 'work from home'. Hurrah!
Bad news about the tube strike tomorrow...
But oh dear, I forgot. How are we going to get into town tomorrow night? We have freebies to go and see a special preview of The Broken Hearts Club at the Warner West End. We entered the first-100-people-to-email-us competition in Boyz a few weeks back and got a bunch of tickets. We saw the film last year at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and want to see it again. It's fab. It's got Dean Cain and John Mahoney in it. A kind of gay Diner. Heart warming stuff.
(PS: do you like my new pop up text? Thanks to matteecentral for the idea)
It's ON. That means I can 'work from home'. Hurrah!
Bad news about the tube strike tomorrow...
But oh dear, I forgot. How are we going to get into town tomorrow night? We have freebies to go and see a special preview of The Broken Hearts Club at the Warner West End. We entered the first-100-people-to-email-us competition in Boyz a few weeks back and got a bunch of tickets. We saw the film last year at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and want to see it again. It's fab. It's got Dean Cain and John Mahoney in it. A kind of gay Diner. Heart warming stuff.
(PS: do you like my new pop up text? Thanks to matteecentral for the idea)
Tuesday, May 01, 2001
Underground, Overground Wombling Free...
+++ 17:23 Wombles have broken through police lines to the west of Oxford Circus, supported by at least 1000 protestors. Confusing situation: in some cases protestors out manoeuvring police.
+++ 17:30 North of Oxford Circus: atmosphere still festive despite cold and wet.
+++ 17:33 Around Oxford Circus police are still in control, but the 50 or so Wombles who broke through the police lines and around 1000 protestors are now in West End/ Mayfair area, laughing, celebrating and enjoying their freedom. The few police in this area are leaving.
Blow by blow account from IndyMedia.
+++ 17:23 Wombles have broken through police lines to the west of Oxford Circus, supported by at least 1000 protestors. Confusing situation: in some cases protestors out manoeuvring police.
+++ 17:30 North of Oxford Circus: atmosphere still festive despite cold and wet.
+++ 17:33 Around Oxford Circus police are still in control, but the 50 or so Wombles who broke through the police lines and around 1000 protestors are now in West End/ Mayfair area, laughing, celebrating and enjoying their freedom. The few police in this area are leaving.
Blow by blow account from IndyMedia.
Borrring, borrrring....
We can see the so called 'riot' in Oxford Circus from here. Damp squib if you ask me. C'mon lads and lasses. Put some feeling into it. I think it needs some crowd rousing songs. Something to ring in the changes and a need caring society. We're here! We're Queer! And we're don't like global capitalism - in particular Starbucks, Nike or MacDonalds! - ok, I'd be the first to admit that needs a bit of work. And suggestions?
We can see the so called 'riot' in Oxford Circus from here. Damp squib if you ask me. C'mon lads and lasses. Put some feeling into it. I think it needs some crowd rousing songs. Something to ring in the changes and a need caring society. We're here! We're Queer! And we're don't like global capitalism - in particular Starbucks, Nike or MacDonalds! - ok, I'd be the first to admit that needs a bit of work. And suggestions?
Another Fair Lady bites the dust...
Thanks to the Guardian for this.
Last week another episode was added to the soap opera that, appropriately enough, surrounds the National Theatre's My Fair Lady, when Martine McCutcheon's understudy was herself replaced by an understudy. To lose one Eliza might be considered an accident, but to lose two - well ...
It fell to Jonathan Pryce, McCutcheon's co-star, to nail the absurdity of the situation. "This will be your first Eliza," he told last Wednesday's sell-out crowd, "but it is my second of the day - and my third this week. Any member of the audience interested in playing Eliza can find applications at the door."
Thanks to the Guardian for this.
Last week another episode was added to the soap opera that, appropriately enough, surrounds the National Theatre's My Fair Lady, when Martine McCutcheon's understudy was herself replaced by an understudy. To lose one Eliza might be considered an accident, but to lose two - well ...
It fell to Jonathan Pryce, McCutcheon's co-star, to nail the absurdity of the situation. "This will be your first Eliza," he told last Wednesday's sell-out crowd, "but it is my second of the day - and my third this week. Any member of the audience interested in playing Eliza can find applications at the door."
OK, I'm hooked...
I wrote about this a while ago. The hype is now in hyperdrive. Even the Guardian's involved.
Clavius Base
Jeanine Salla
Evan Chan
0015033215122
Cloudmaker
Fuller details from The Trail
Original story "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldis here.
I wrote about this a while ago. The hype is now in hyperdrive. Even the Guardian's involved.
Clavius Base
Jeanine Salla
Evan Chan
0015033215122
Cloudmaker
Fuller details from The Trail
Original story "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldis here.
Preparation for Mayday riots...
Berkeley Square (where I work and the nightingales used to sing) is all boarded up. Well most of it is. Interesting to see that Starbucks just off the square has decided to remain open. I hate Starbucks. Shame there are no protesters here (hint, hint). Maybe if Berkeley Square were a proper place on the Monopoly board rather than just the generic 'Mayfair'...
Berkeley Square (where I work and the nightingales used to sing) is all boarded up. Well most of it is. Interesting to see that Starbucks just off the square has decided to remain open. I hate Starbucks. Shame there are no protesters here (hint, hint). Maybe if Berkeley Square were a proper place on the Monopoly board rather than just the generic 'Mayfair'...
Monday, April 30, 2001
Oh Vienna...
Vienna is a lovely city. Beautiful, friendly, young and horny. It's the location of EuroPride this year. Rooms are £40 a night, food and beer are cheaper than London and there's lot's to see and do. We also managed to stumble upon a sport's night in one of the leather clubs. Bliss. No matter which venue we went to I seemed to be very popular. Every which way I turned I was greeted with a smiling face or a wink. Needless to say, fun was had. Thank you Marky for arranging it all. Love ya.
My new motto...
Veni, Vidi, Visa: I came, I saw, I shopped
Vienna facts...
In 1930s the Synagogue in the Jewish quarter wasn't burnt down in case it set fire to the rest of the town. Nice of them.
The large cathedral in the centre is called St Stephen's and has an Arch Bitchop (sic).
Austrian's are 'fiercely resistant to change' and 'show this with some wit'. Er... really? Like the current policy of financial eugenics I suppose.
The Blue Danube is sometimes Green but usually Grey or Brown. Facts we just couldn't live without.
The Austrian Ministry of War was recently (only recently!) renamed the Ministry of Defence.
Strauss was witty. Had no children, practiced conducting in front of a mirror, always had his beard to the latest fashion, and dyed his hair. Sounds like a Queen.
While I was resting...
Nice to see the video to Kylie's Your Disco Needs You on MTV. I thought of you, Dave.
Vienna is a lovely city. Beautiful, friendly, young and horny. It's the location of EuroPride this year. Rooms are £40 a night, food and beer are cheaper than London and there's lot's to see and do. We also managed to stumble upon a sport's night in one of the leather clubs. Bliss. No matter which venue we went to I seemed to be very popular. Every which way I turned I was greeted with a smiling face or a wink. Needless to say, fun was had. Thank you Marky for arranging it all. Love ya.
My new motto...
Veni, Vidi, Visa: I came, I saw, I shopped
Vienna facts...
In 1930s the Synagogue in the Jewish quarter wasn't burnt down in case it set fire to the rest of the town. Nice of them.
The large cathedral in the centre is called St Stephen's and has an Arch Bitchop (sic).
Austrian's are 'fiercely resistant to change' and 'show this with some wit'. Er... really? Like the current policy of financial eugenics I suppose.
The Blue Danube is sometimes Green but usually Grey or Brown. Facts we just couldn't live without.
The Austrian Ministry of War was recently (only recently!) renamed the Ministry of Defence.
Strauss was witty. Had no children, practiced conducting in front of a mirror, always had his beard to the latest fashion, and dyed his hair. Sounds like a Queen.
While I was resting...
Nice to see the video to Kylie's Your Disco Needs You on MTV. I thought of you, Dave.
Wednesday, April 25, 2001
We even got the year right....
We didn't win - but we were bloomin' close. And what a top night it was. It was big money up for grabs at the Pop Quiz (£117) and our team was out in strength the three Ds - Darren, Dave & David - and me. The supplementary bonus quizlet was ten eighties lyrics worth three bonus points - we walked it. The quiz proper got off to a blistering start...
(insert fuller details of quiz here)*
Inserted at 8pm later same day
OK. Here's fuller details. The first two questions were current releases: Madonna, Destinys Child and Missy Elliot. The R&B Queens were next: Christina Aguilera, Pink amd Li'l Kim. Bonus point for the connection (They are working on a version Lady Marmalade originally done by La Belle). The theme of covers continued with tracks from the Brand New Boots and Panties album namely Cerys Matthews and Shane McGowan. The connection round (Band Of Gold, Man In A Suitcase and a Bille track) gave us the engagement of Chris Evans and Billie Pipsqueak. Correctly identifying Lady Tron, The Avalanches and Linkin Park meant we were on a roll. The soul round (introduced specifically to fox Darren apparently) again presented no problems. Candi Staton, James Brown and Rose Royce were the culprits. The Best round was a two-tracks-at-the-same-time Human League's Being Boiled and TLC's No Scrubs producing the inevitably titled Being Scrubs.
... and we only tripped up on two. The first was from the Brand New Boots and Panties album; we thought we were hearing Suggs whereas we were really hearing Billy Bragg. Secondly the diva who was belting out some camp show tune or other from 1973 was Liza Minnelli (we put the Supremes). And yes, we even got the year right 1969 (clues were Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Space Oddity, Je T'aime). We got 22 points. Not bad. It turned out that one other team got 22 also so we had a tie-break situation. We hastily drew lots and David got the "short straw". Despite successfully calling out the name of the singer first in the tie-break (Sinead O'Connor) he was told to call out the name again when the vocal started (go figure). Naturally the cat was out of the bag by then so it was a tie-break situation again. The opening bars of Status Quo's Rocking All Over The World proved our undoing though. Consolation prizes of free club passes and beer T-shirts were unnecessary. We knew deep down that we'd won - but lost on a technicality. Strangely Wendy even tried to give us the cash prize at the end by mistake (subconsciously the girl knew she done wrong?)
What made the quiz so much fun was that we all contributed more or less fairly to the answers. The team worked well together. Dave commented that it was the best Pop Quiz night ever for that reason - and I think I agree - even though we didn't win the money this time. Afterwards we all went to Bar Code - and did a bit more laughing/bonding/confessing the way that friends do. Top, top night.
Oh, yes. When I left Bar Code there was a strange sexual tension in the air... anyone care to elaborate?
For my own part I shall pass briefly over the multiple taxi rides on the way home and what followed. And on a completely (look into my eyes) COMPLETELY different subject: Drew stayed last night. Good Luck in your job interview today, Drew. Knock 'em dead.
Oh, and Darren, you said to say something nice about you in my blog today. Darren, you are a sex-god. Nice enough?
* I was so hung over this morning I left the completed quiz form in my jeans - D'oh! Will blog the gory details tonight - honest!
We didn't win - but we were bloomin' close. And what a top night it was. It was big money up for grabs at the Pop Quiz (£117) and our team was out in strength the three Ds - Darren, Dave & David - and me. The supplementary bonus quizlet was ten eighties lyrics worth three bonus points - we walked it. The quiz proper got off to a blistering start...
(insert fuller details of quiz here)*
Inserted at 8pm later same day
OK. Here's fuller details. The first two questions were current releases: Madonna, Destinys Child and Missy Elliot. The R&B Queens were next: Christina Aguilera, Pink amd Li'l Kim. Bonus point for the connection (They are working on a version Lady Marmalade originally done by La Belle). The theme of covers continued with tracks from the Brand New Boots and Panties album namely Cerys Matthews and Shane McGowan. The connection round (Band Of Gold, Man In A Suitcase and a Bille track) gave us the engagement of Chris Evans and Billie Pipsqueak. Correctly identifying Lady Tron, The Avalanches and Linkin Park meant we were on a roll. The soul round (introduced specifically to fox Darren apparently) again presented no problems. Candi Staton, James Brown and Rose Royce were the culprits. The Best round was a two-tracks-at-the-same-time Human League's Being Boiled and TLC's No Scrubs producing the inevitably titled Being Scrubs.
... and we only tripped up on two. The first was from the Brand New Boots and Panties album; we thought we were hearing Suggs whereas we were really hearing Billy Bragg. Secondly the diva who was belting out some camp show tune or other from 1973 was Liza Minnelli (we put the Supremes). And yes, we even got the year right 1969 (clues were Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Space Oddity, Je T'aime). We got 22 points. Not bad. It turned out that one other team got 22 also so we had a tie-break situation. We hastily drew lots and David got the "short straw". Despite successfully calling out the name of the singer first in the tie-break (Sinead O'Connor) he was told to call out the name again when the vocal started (go figure). Naturally the cat was out of the bag by then so it was a tie-break situation again. The opening bars of Status Quo's Rocking All Over The World proved our undoing though. Consolation prizes of free club passes and beer T-shirts were unnecessary. We knew deep down that we'd won - but lost on a technicality. Strangely Wendy even tried to give us the cash prize at the end by mistake (subconsciously the girl knew she done wrong?)
What made the quiz so much fun was that we all contributed more or less fairly to the answers. The team worked well together. Dave commented that it was the best Pop Quiz night ever for that reason - and I think I agree - even though we didn't win the money this time. Afterwards we all went to Bar Code - and did a bit more laughing/bonding/confessing the way that friends do. Top, top night.
Oh, yes. When I left Bar Code there was a strange sexual tension in the air... anyone care to elaborate?
For my own part I shall pass briefly over the multiple taxi rides on the way home and what followed. And on a completely (look into my eyes) COMPLETELY different subject: Drew stayed last night. Good Luck in your job interview today, Drew. Knock 'em dead.
Oh, and Darren, you said to say something nice about you in my blog today. Darren, you are a sex-god. Nice enough?
* I was so hung over this morning I left the completed quiz form in my jeans - D'oh! Will blog the gory details tonight - honest!
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
It'll be a riot...
I think May Day Monopoly sounds rather sweet. OK they'll be mindless violence, random destruction and 5000 extra Police Officers on the streets but I think as Londoners we should take it as a compliment. They don't riot in Wigan do they? But wait, does that mean that the Pop Quiz will be cancelled next week - the Retro Bar being so near The Strand? I hope not.
I think May Day Monopoly sounds rather sweet. OK they'll be mindless violence, random destruction and 5000 extra Police Officers on the streets but I think as Londoners we should take it as a compliment. They don't riot in Wigan do they? But wait, does that mean that the Pop Quiz will be cancelled next week - the Retro Bar being so near The Strand? I hope not.
RIP RtR...
It wasn't the first time I was on TV, or was it the last. But it was certainly the most confrontational. I appeared on Right To Reply a few days after the ITV televised boxing match where Michael Watson was knocked out by Chris Eubank in the last round in 1991. I had called RtR after the match to complain about ITV's coverage. The hype, the slow motion replays with the blood, the fact we didn't know whether Michael Watson was dead or alive. The following Friday I went to the C4 studio to have a head to head argument up against Greg Dyke (then Head of ITV Sport - now BBC Director-General). I think I gave a good showing avoiding the easy "ban boxing" mantra. Dyke is/was/always will be a worm though. He said he'd show bull fighting on ITV if he could and would bid for screening live capital punishment if it were legal and would get ratings. For some time after the screening people would stop me on the tube and congratulate me on my stance. So it is with some sadness I note the passing of Right To Reply.
It wasn't the first time I was on TV, or was it the last. But it was certainly the most confrontational. I appeared on Right To Reply a few days after the ITV televised boxing match where Michael Watson was knocked out by Chris Eubank in the last round in 1991. I had called RtR after the match to complain about ITV's coverage. The hype, the slow motion replays with the blood, the fact we didn't know whether Michael Watson was dead or alive. The following Friday I went to the C4 studio to have a head to head argument up against Greg Dyke (then Head of ITV Sport - now BBC Director-General). I think I gave a good showing avoiding the easy "ban boxing" mantra. Dyke is/was/always will be a worm though. He said he'd show bull fighting on ITV if he could and would bid for screening live capital punishment if it were legal and would get ratings. For some time after the screening people would stop me on the tube and congratulate me on my stance. So it is with some sadness I note the passing of Right To Reply.
Thursday morning 7:30am...
The feeling has gone only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna.
The feeling has gone only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna.
Sunday, April 22, 2001
Town mice have more fun...
Who'd live in the country, eh? At 1am last night Ben and I decided on a whim to go out. We fancied a few beers and a dance. We wandered down to the Garage at Highbury Corner where there's a new Indie night. We stumped up and stumbled in. Two hours later we were pleasantly drunk and all danced out. Town mice: Mission Accomplished. I could never be a country mouse.
How low can you go?...
As a child I used to suffer mildly from ADD. As an adult I now try to avoid any chemical stimulation. Even caffine. My natural lows are quite low enough thank you very much. And I prefer to surf my ocassional unexplicable waves of euphoria unassisted towards the beach of sanity. Whatsmore I now enjoy my Tuesdays again.
IMAX...
The bubble has burst. My brief infatuation is over. "Into The Deep" at the IMAX on Saturday was disappointing. I think I will give it one last try though and go and see Dolphins.
Who'd live in the country, eh? At 1am last night Ben and I decided on a whim to go out. We fancied a few beers and a dance. We wandered down to the Garage at Highbury Corner where there's a new Indie night. We stumped up and stumbled in. Two hours later we were pleasantly drunk and all danced out. Town mice: Mission Accomplished. I could never be a country mouse.
How low can you go?...
As a child I used to suffer mildly from ADD. As an adult I now try to avoid any chemical stimulation. Even caffine. My natural lows are quite low enough thank you very much. And I prefer to surf my ocassional unexplicable waves of euphoria unassisted towards the beach of sanity. Whatsmore I now enjoy my Tuesdays again.
IMAX...
The bubble has burst. My brief infatuation is over. "Into The Deep" at the IMAX on Saturday was disappointing. I think I will give it one last try though and go and see Dolphins.
Friday, April 20, 2001
Busy day...
Not that I've been working too hard mind you. Just getting ready for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm working at Expectations in the morning (more on that another time...). In the afternoon we're going to the IMAX (again). This time to see "Into The Deep" in 3D. Should be fab. There's six of us going this time. And then on for an early supper. After that a few beers and then back to ours to play games - we'll probably stay up all night if the beer lasts! I've been compiling another Pop Quiz and we have some old scores in Super Bomberman to settle too. Can't wait.
Not that I've been working too hard mind you. Just getting ready for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm working at Expectations in the morning (more on that another time...). In the afternoon we're going to the IMAX (again). This time to see "Into The Deep" in 3D. Should be fab. There's six of us going this time. And then on for an early supper. After that a few beers and then back to ours to play games - we'll probably stay up all night if the beer lasts! I've been compiling another Pop Quiz and we have some old scores in Super Bomberman to settle too. Can't wait.
Thursday, April 19, 2001
It's the real thing...
After last week's revelation about the new "self-chopping" cocaine comes the Guardian's article on use and price comparisons. Now there's another reason to not go to Glasgow.
Brighton £30-£60
Newcastle £20-£70
Glasgow £35-£60
London £10-£65
Cardiff £30-£60
Manchester £30-£80
Glorious...
Marc Almond's new single will be called 'Glorious' and should be out on June 11th. It'll have four tracks on it, the bonus tracks being Fur and Give In. You can listen to the title track here. Thanks to the wonderful Michelle at Theatre of Marc Almond for this info.
Marc Almond's new single will be called 'Glorious' and should be out on June 11th. It'll have four tracks on it, the bonus tracks being Fur and Give In. You can listen to the title track here. Thanks to the wonderful Michelle at Theatre of Marc Almond for this info.
Wednesday, April 18, 2001
One finger, one thumb keep moving...
"It wasn't a wedgie. That's when your pants are pulled up your arse. I think I know the difference between a wedgie and someone sticking their finger up my bum." Full story here.
"It wasn't a wedgie. That's when your pants are pulled up your arse. I think I know the difference between a wedgie and someone sticking their finger up my bum." Full story here.
What a waste of a day...
Spent the day at home
1. Waiting for BT engineer to turn up
2. Explaining to BT engineer what the fault was (yet again)
3. Watching BT engineer crawl round on the floor fixing the broken socket and laying new cable for my extension (took him nearly 5 hours!) Cute though.
4. Watching Now Vovager on TV (hard to believe it but I've never seen it before). The BT engineer watched a bit of it too. Hmm. I had a feeling he was sticking his bum out a bit too much to be completely straight.
5. Arguing with BT customer services over compensation for loss of service (eventually settled on £121.41)
Spent the day at home
1. Waiting for BT engineer to turn up
2. Explaining to BT engineer what the fault was (yet again)
3. Watching BT engineer crawl round on the floor fixing the broken socket and laying new cable for my extension (took him nearly 5 hours!) Cute though.
4. Watching Now Vovager on TV (hard to believe it but I've never seen it before). The BT engineer watched a bit of it too. Hmm. I had a feeling he was sticking his bum out a bit too much to be completely straight.
5. Arguing with BT customer services over compensation for loss of service (eventually settled on £121.41)
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
BT are a bunch of bobba bobba bobba...
My BT phone is dead (still). The problem was first reported Saturday 7th April (10 days ago). I won't bore you with my tale of woe, of appointments missed and promises broken. Needless to say I'm pissed off. Big time. I'm not alone.
My BT phone is dead (still). The problem was first reported Saturday 7th April (10 days ago). I won't bore you with my tale of woe, of appointments missed and promises broken. Needless to say I'm pissed off. Big time. I'm not alone.
The AI hype has started big time...
"Hey Jonathan, This is my first time contacting you, but I found out something very interesting with the new AI Trailer. Check out the second frame of credits at the end of the trailer and you'll notice a credit to the Sentient Machine Therapist-Jeanine Salla. Type her name in the www.google.com search engine, and see what sites pop up...pretty cool stuff! Keep up the good work, Jonathan!!"
I've gotten four of these today. Look, if I like the sound of your film I'll watch it. OK? Don't try and get me hooked on fake web sites about Anti-Robot Militia or Coalition for Robot Freedom. This isn't viral marketing. It's plague marketing. Get out of my inbox you bastards!
"Hey Jonathan, This is my first time contacting you, but I found out something very interesting with the new AI Trailer. Check out the second frame of credits at the end of the trailer and you'll notice a credit to the Sentient Machine Therapist-Jeanine Salla. Type her name in the www.google.com search engine, and see what sites pop up...pretty cool stuff! Keep up the good work, Jonathan!!"
I've gotten four of these today. Look, if I like the sound of your film I'll watch it. OK? Don't try and get me hooked on fake web sites about Anti-Robot Militia or Coalition for Robot Freedom. This isn't viral marketing. It's plague marketing. Get out of my inbox you bastards!
Monday, April 16, 2001
Good Monday...
Good films were on TV (finally all is forgiven, Phantom Menace). Good fun was had at Bar Fusion (thanks to Some Like It Hot on the big video screen). Good fun was had at Route 73 with Colin (good pool, good darts and a good jukebox). Good fun was had at the Oak Bar (thanks to Maggie, Gill, Marianne and the gorgeous barman Mark) where we also met Kelly Marie, yes! the Kellie Marie. My head was in a spin. My feet didn't touch the ground. Because she was near to me. My head went round and round. My knees were shaking, baby. My heart it beat like a drum. Boo, Boo. It felt like, it felt like I was in love. And also good fun was had with a certain gentleman called Christian (rather appropriate I thought for Easter) who I bumped into on the way home. Very cute, 26, cute, a nurse, liked me and cute. Did I mention he was cute? All in all a fab weekend from start to finish.
Good films were on TV (finally all is forgiven, Phantom Menace). Good fun was had at Bar Fusion (thanks to Some Like It Hot on the big video screen). Good fun was had at Route 73 with Colin (good pool, good darts and a good jukebox). Good fun was had at the Oak Bar (thanks to Maggie, Gill, Marianne and the gorgeous barman Mark) where we also met Kelly Marie, yes! the Kellie Marie. My head was in a spin. My feet didn't touch the ground. Because she was near to me. My head went round and round. My knees were shaking, baby. My heart it beat like a drum. Boo, Boo. It felt like, it felt like I was in love. And also good fun was had with a certain gentleman called Christian (rather appropriate I thought for Easter) who I bumped into on the way home. Very cute, 26, cute, a nurse, liked me and cute. Did I mention he was cute? All in all a fab weekend from start to finish.
Good Sunday...
As Drew said yesterday, I love Jesus based holidays. The food's always so good. We went to my parents yesterday for a lovely Easter lunch with all the trimmings and then had a chocolate egg hunt which was also great fun. Back into town we went to Shoot! at Central Station. It was fab. Gladys and Charlie were both there which was a nice surprise. Lots of boys in footie and rugger garb. We'll be going back there soon :)
As Drew said yesterday, I love Jesus based holidays. The food's always so good. We went to my parents yesterday for a lovely Easter lunch with all the trimmings and then had a chocolate egg hunt which was also great fun. Back into town we went to Shoot! at Central Station. It was fab. Gladys and Charlie were both there which was a nice surprise. Lots of boys in footie and rugger garb. We'll be going back there soon :)
Saturday, April 14, 2001
Good Saturday...
I was having a fun day; rebuilding the SCSI subsystem on my home server (OK let me redefine 'fun' for you...) but just heard Arsenal got thrashed by Middlesborough round the corner at Highbury :( Plans are now afoot for a trip to Chariots sauna though and then on to Bar Code followed by Central Station to see Dockyard Doris. So I have a feeling things can only get better. Hope you're all having a fun Easter.
I was having a fun day; rebuilding the SCSI subsystem on my home server (OK let me redefine 'fun' for you...) but just heard Arsenal got thrashed by Middlesborough round the corner at Highbury :( Plans are now afoot for a trip to Chariots sauna though and then on to Bar Code followed by Central Station to see Dockyard Doris. So I have a feeling things can only get better. Hope you're all having a fun Easter.
Good Friday...
It lived up to it's name too. Went to the IMAX (again) to see Cyberworld 3D (again). Enjoyed it as much as last week. I'm planning a trip to go see their new Dolphins film soon. It's not in 3D but only 2D - but it still looks fabby. After the IMAX we went for some late lunch at Brown's and then on to the Panton Street Odeon to see "Best In Show" - a mockumentary made by and starring one of the guys who made This Is Spinal Tap. It's set around a dog show in the States and is really very funny. All the characters are, as you might imagine, easy/soft targets but it's well played and funny to the end. Catch it on video/DVD if you can.
It lived up to it's name too. Went to the IMAX (again) to see Cyberworld 3D (again). Enjoyed it as much as last week. I'm planning a trip to go see their new Dolphins film soon. It's not in 3D but only 2D - but it still looks fabby. After the IMAX we went for some late lunch at Brown's and then on to the Panton Street Odeon to see "Best In Show" - a mockumentary made by and starring one of the guys who made This Is Spinal Tap. It's set around a dog show in the States and is really very funny. All the characters are, as you might imagine, easy/soft targets but it's well played and funny to the end. Catch it on video/DVD if you can.
Friday, April 13, 2001
Strange Nights...
I had a dream last night. Mark and I both had cancer. His was more advanced than mine and he decided to choose euthanasia. We was insisting the fatal injection be given at night in the moonlight. I fought and pleaded and cried and hugged. I held him at the end. I hate dreams like that. I keep looking up at him today to make sure he's still there.
I had a dream last night. Mark and I both had cancer. His was more advanced than mine and he decided to choose euthanasia. We was insisting the fatal injection be given at night in the moonlight. I fought and pleaded and cried and hugged. I held him at the end. I hate dreams like that. I keep looking up at him today to make sure he's still there.
Stranger Things...
Marc Almond's new album is going to be out on 18th June. This is the best news I've had in a long time. The "I Created Me" track performed at last year's Christmas show at the Union Chapel was, quite literally, a show stopper. According to Michelle at the Theatre Of Marc Almond site the vibe on the new album is good. "Think big sounds, lush orchestration, a touch of Shirley Bassey, a pinch of a John Barry soundtrack." Sounds like my kind of thing! Can't wait.
Marc Almond's new album is going to be out on 18th June. This is the best news I've had in a long time. The "I Created Me" track performed at last year's Christmas show at the Union Chapel was, quite literally, a show stopper. According to Michelle at the Theatre Of Marc Almond site the vibe on the new album is good. "Think big sounds, lush orchestration, a touch of Shirley Bassey, a pinch of a John Barry soundtrack." Sounds like my kind of thing! Can't wait.
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
False Confession...
OK. OK. It wasn't really us who set fire to the Retro Bar last night. Honest. I spoke to Wendy (the manager) earlier. She's been doing carpentry all morning to fix the damage caused by the firemen after we left. They pulled out most of the back part of the bar apart to try and find the source of the burning smell. Eventually they found the cause of the smell - a ventilation motor in the basement was overheating and pumping the smell up to the ground floor where we were sitting.
The Pop Quiz prize money will now roll over to next week. According to Wendy if the quiz hadn't been abandoned then Gary's team (?) would probably have won with 16 points. His team will get a bottle of champagne as compensation next week. Wendy checked all the entry papers and told me that we came second with 15.5 points (who am I to argue?) So again we lose by a nose. What say we go for a full team next week? Darren...? Dave...?
OK. OK. It wasn't really us who set fire to the Retro Bar last night. Honest. I spoke to Wendy (the manager) earlier. She's been doing carpentry all morning to fix the damage caused by the firemen after we left. They pulled out most of the back part of the bar apart to try and find the source of the burning smell. Eventually they found the cause of the smell - a ventilation motor in the basement was overheating and pumping the smell up to the ground floor where we were sitting.
The Pop Quiz prize money will now roll over to next week. According to Wendy if the quiz hadn't been abandoned then Gary's team (?) would probably have won with 16 points. His team will get a bottle of champagne as compensation next week. Wendy checked all the entry papers and told me that we came second with 15.5 points (who am I to argue?) So again we lose by a nose. What say we go for a full team next week? Darren...? Dave...?
Disco Inferno...
It was just David and I again last night at Pop Quiz. The gorgeous Guy and Neil were on hand to lend much needed moral support. We did OK to start with but it rather fell apart at the end. It was when things started to go really wrong that we hatched our plan. We sailed through the first 9 questions no problem. We spotted Norman Cook in his new video (in a picture on the wall), we knew who wrote a song for Debbie Harry (Alannah Currie and Tom Bailey) and who wrote Only You (Vince Clark). We skilfully recognised Ash's Burn Baby Burn, Crazytown's Butterfly and the Stereophonics' Mr Writer. We even predicted that the track that was going to be played after Ricky Martin's She Bangs and Emma Bunton's What Took You So Long was going to be the Eurythmics' Here Comes The Rain Again (they all have the same line "Talk to me" in them). The musicals round was potentially going to be a toughie. We didn't know that Peter Sallis was in one of the stage versions of Cabaret but so what? That was only our first point dropped. David correctly surmised that it was Kevin Klein who played the Pirate King in The Pirates Of Penzance and a helpful clue from Wendy saved us from thinking that that ruddy witch Audrey Hepburn sang "I Feel Pretty" in My Fair Lady (of course it was Natalie Wood in West Side Story). We shall be haunted by that woman and that song I fear. It was after this point that it all went tits-up. We missed Generation X's Valley of the Dolls, the fact that Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging and Fleetwood Mac's Tusk were both released in 1979 (of course we wrote 1979 and later crossed it out and wrote 1980). We didn't know the chorus to PJ and Duncan's Let's Get Ready To Rumble, couldn't recognise a track by Lush or a Fat Boy Slim track with the word Brighton in it. It was all going so horribly wrong. We were facing an embarrassing defeat. We were desperate. So to save our blushes we decided to torch the building and kill everyone inside. David kept lookout while I dowsed petrol all over the seats. One flick of a match and the place was an inferno. Suffice to say, they won't mess with us again. (David's version of events here).
It was just David and I again last night at Pop Quiz. The gorgeous Guy and Neil were on hand to lend much needed moral support. We did OK to start with but it rather fell apart at the end. It was when things started to go really wrong that we hatched our plan. We sailed through the first 9 questions no problem. We spotted Norman Cook in his new video (in a picture on the wall), we knew who wrote a song for Debbie Harry (Alannah Currie and Tom Bailey) and who wrote Only You (Vince Clark). We skilfully recognised Ash's Burn Baby Burn, Crazytown's Butterfly and the Stereophonics' Mr Writer. We even predicted that the track that was going to be played after Ricky Martin's She Bangs and Emma Bunton's What Took You So Long was going to be the Eurythmics' Here Comes The Rain Again (they all have the same line "Talk to me" in them). The musicals round was potentially going to be a toughie. We didn't know that Peter Sallis was in one of the stage versions of Cabaret but so what? That was only our first point dropped. David correctly surmised that it was Kevin Klein who played the Pirate King in The Pirates Of Penzance and a helpful clue from Wendy saved us from thinking that that ruddy witch Audrey Hepburn sang "I Feel Pretty" in My Fair Lady (of course it was Natalie Wood in West Side Story). We shall be haunted by that woman and that song I fear. It was after this point that it all went tits-up. We missed Generation X's Valley of the Dolls, the fact that Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging and Fleetwood Mac's Tusk were both released in 1979 (of course we wrote 1979 and later crossed it out and wrote 1980). We didn't know the chorus to PJ and Duncan's Let's Get Ready To Rumble, couldn't recognise a track by Lush or a Fat Boy Slim track with the word Brighton in it. It was all going so horribly wrong. We were facing an embarrassing defeat. We were desperate. So to save our blushes we decided to torch the building and kill everyone inside. David kept lookout while I dowsed petrol all over the seats. One flick of a match and the place was an inferno. Suffice to say, they won't mess with us again. (David's version of events here).
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
First things first...
First vinyl 7" I ever bought: Heart of Stone by Kenny (1973)
First vinyl 12" I ever bought: California Dreaming by Colorado (1978)
First vinyl EP I ever bought: On Stage EP by Kate Bush (1979)
First vinyl LP I ever bought (not my money): The Sound Of Music (1967)
First vinyl LP I ever bought (my money): Waterloo by Abba (1974)
First cassette single I ever bought: Into Battle by Art Of Noise (1984)
First cassette album I ever bought: Sulk (UK/US version double-sided) by the Associates (1982)
First CD single I ever bought: Got To Be Certain by Kylie Minogue (1988)
First CD album I ever bought: Welcome To The Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984)
First pre-recorded video cassette I ever bought: Kate Bush Live At The Hammersmoth Odeon (1981)
First DVD I ever bought: The Matrix (1999)
I've never bought a MiniDisc or a DVD single (yet!)
First vinyl 7" I ever bought: Heart of Stone by Kenny (1973)
First vinyl 12" I ever bought: California Dreaming by Colorado (1978)
First vinyl EP I ever bought: On Stage EP by Kate Bush (1979)
First vinyl LP I ever bought (not my money): The Sound Of Music (1967)
First vinyl LP I ever bought (my money): Waterloo by Abba (1974)
First cassette single I ever bought: Into Battle by Art Of Noise (1984)
First cassette album I ever bought: Sulk (UK/US version double-sided) by the Associates (1982)
First CD single I ever bought: Got To Be Certain by Kylie Minogue (1988)
First CD album I ever bought: Welcome To The Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984)
First pre-recorded video cassette I ever bought: Kate Bush Live At The Hammersmoth Odeon (1981)
First DVD I ever bought: The Matrix (1999)
I've never bought a MiniDisc or a DVD single (yet!)
Go...
Going to IMAX was great last Saturday. We went to see Cyberworld 3D. I'd seen most of the film clips before in 2D but being in 3D made them extra "special". Others have waxed lyrical about IMAX in the past so I don't need to. Suffice to say "GO!" It's brilliant. We're planning our next trip already. Let me know if you wanna come too.
Going to IMAX was great last Saturday. We went to see Cyberworld 3D. I'd seen most of the film clips before in 2D but being in 3D made them extra "special". Others have waxed lyrical about IMAX in the past so I don't need to. Suffice to say "GO!" It's brilliant. We're planning our next trip already. Let me know if you wanna come too.
Monday, April 09, 2001
Saturday, April 07, 2001
Friday, April 06, 2001
Bona Nets...
When I formed a group of business companies a couple of years ago with my good friend Marcus naturally enough we called the parent organisation the Polari Business Group. We had three companies within the group: Bona Networks Systems UK, Fabe Kitchens and Bathrooms Direct and Vada Electrical Solutions Ltd. All still going strong to this day.
When I formed a group of business companies a couple of years ago with my good friend Marcus naturally enough we called the parent organisation the Polari Business Group. We had three companies within the group: Bona Networks Systems UK, Fabe Kitchens and Bathrooms Direct and Vada Electrical Solutions Ltd. All still going strong to this day.
Keep Britain Bona...
I was first introduced to the gay slang language of Polari (sometimes spelt Palare) by listening to Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne in the sixties as a child. The shows were basically a star vehicle for Kenneth Horne but for me the high point of every show was the Polari-laced sketches performed by Julian and Sandy (Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick respectively). I was only a nipper but I loved all the outrageousness and the scandalous double-entendres even then.
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #1
Julian: Oooh, Mr Horne! Mr Horne! I great big wave came and we were washed overboard, Mr Horne!
Sandy: We were clinging to the deck. Clinging we were, Mr Horne. To the deck.
Julian: We feared for our very lives, Mr Horne.
Sandy: Our very lives.
Kenneth Horne: How did you save yourselves? Did you manage to drag yourselves up?
Julian: Oooh no. We wore casuals!
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #2
Kenneth Horne: Would I have vada'd any of them do you think?
Sandy: Oooaaawwh! He's got all the Polari, ain't he?
Julian: [archly] I wonder where he picks it up?
Sandy: Roll up yer trouser legs ... we want to vada yer calves.
Julian: Hmmm ... his scotches may be a bit naff but his plates are bona.
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #3
Kenneth Horne: Hello, anybody there?
Julian: Hallo I'm Julian and this is my friend Sandy
Sandy: We are the Universal Party. So called because we're at it right, left and centre. Shake hands with your prospective member. That's him.
Julian: That's me, Mr Horne
Kenneth Horne: You Julian?
Julian: Yes, I stand behind the working man.
Sandy: And I stand behind Jule. I'm his Campaign Manager.
The Bona Years (Julian and Sandy's sketches titles)
Bona Bouffant, Bona Homes Estate Agents, Bona homes and fabe gardens, Bona Pets, Bona Tours Ltd, Studio Bona, Bona seats, Bona Productions, Bona Drag, Bona Books, Bona Tattoos, The Ballet Bona, Bona Promotions, Bona Beat songs Ltd., Bona Relations, Bona Performers, Bona Law, Bona Cruise, Bona Antiques, Bona Soulmates, Bona Caterers, Bona Nature, Bona Press, Bona Prods, Bona tax consultants, Bona Bijou tourettes, Bona Sceances, Bona Hunt, La casserole de Bona gourmet, Bona guest house, Bona TV, Body Bona, The lazy Bona Ranch, Bona Gurumat, Bona Indoor Ski School, Bona rags, Bona male model agency, Bona Gift boutique, Bona academy of ballroom dancing, Bona songs, Bona books (again), Keep Britain Bona, Bona Abbey, Bona private detective agency, Bona Language school, Bona Prince Charlie, Bona ads.
Good Links for Polari
http://member.aol.com/frij/polglos.html
http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/Polari/polari.html
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/cello/Polari.htm
Bold he was. Bold.
I was first introduced to the gay slang language of Polari (sometimes spelt Palare) by listening to Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne in the sixties as a child. The shows were basically a star vehicle for Kenneth Horne but for me the high point of every show was the Polari-laced sketches performed by Julian and Sandy (Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick respectively). I was only a nipper but I loved all the outrageousness and the scandalous double-entendres even then.
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #1
Julian: Oooh, Mr Horne! Mr Horne! I great big wave came and we were washed overboard, Mr Horne!
Sandy: We were clinging to the deck. Clinging we were, Mr Horne. To the deck.
Julian: We feared for our very lives, Mr Horne.
Sandy: Our very lives.
Kenneth Horne: How did you save yourselves? Did you manage to drag yourselves up?
Julian: Oooh no. We wore casuals!
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #2
Kenneth Horne: Would I have vada'd any of them do you think?
Sandy: Oooaaawwh! He's got all the Polari, ain't he?
Julian: [archly] I wonder where he picks it up?
Sandy: Roll up yer trouser legs ... we want to vada yer calves.
Julian: Hmmm ... his scotches may be a bit naff but his plates are bona.
Sample Julian and Sandy sketch #3
Kenneth Horne: Hello, anybody there?
Julian: Hallo I'm Julian and this is my friend Sandy
Sandy: We are the Universal Party. So called because we're at it right, left and centre. Shake hands with your prospective member. That's him.
Julian: That's me, Mr Horne
Kenneth Horne: You Julian?
Julian: Yes, I stand behind the working man.
Sandy: And I stand behind Jule. I'm his Campaign Manager.
The Bona Years (Julian and Sandy's sketches titles)
Bona Bouffant, Bona Homes Estate Agents, Bona homes and fabe gardens, Bona Pets, Bona Tours Ltd, Studio Bona, Bona seats, Bona Productions, Bona Drag, Bona Books, Bona Tattoos, The Ballet Bona, Bona Promotions, Bona Beat songs Ltd., Bona Relations, Bona Performers, Bona Law, Bona Cruise, Bona Antiques, Bona Soulmates, Bona Caterers, Bona Nature, Bona Press, Bona Prods, Bona tax consultants, Bona Bijou tourettes, Bona Sceances, Bona Hunt, La casserole de Bona gourmet, Bona guest house, Bona TV, Body Bona, The lazy Bona Ranch, Bona Gurumat, Bona Indoor Ski School, Bona rags, Bona male model agency, Bona Gift boutique, Bona academy of ballroom dancing, Bona songs, Bona books (again), Keep Britain Bona, Bona Abbey, Bona private detective agency, Bona Language school, Bona Prince Charlie, Bona ads.
Good Links for Polari
http://member.aol.com/frij/polglos.html
http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/Polari/polari.html
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/cello/Polari.htm
Bold he was. Bold.
Poor Gladys...
Gladys (a.k.a. Gorgeous Gordon) has had a tough time of it this week. His bank has screwed up big time. Apparently he now lives at an address in Sheffield (news to him). The bank sent a new debit card there last week and the person who really lives at that address has emptied Gladys' account. Cunts.
Gladys (a.k.a. Gorgeous Gordon) has had a tough time of it this week. His bank has screwed up big time. Apparently he now lives at an address in Sheffield (news to him). The bank sent a new debit card there last week and the person who really lives at that address has emptied Gladys' account. Cunts.
By the neon blue wall, 8:30pm, BYOD...
Gladys has arranged for a gang of us to go to the IMAX on Saturday night. All the usual suspects: Wayne, Steve James, Sam Cathcart, Rob & Del, Popcorn Paul, Nicky Nice Boy, me, J. P Raven, Charlie Stewart, Andy Dmonster and Adidas Dave. We'll be in Row G16 to G20, Row H17 to H21, Row J17 to J21, Row K17 to K21 if you wanna join us.
Gladys has arranged for a gang of us to go to the IMAX on Saturday night. All the usual suspects: Wayne, Steve James, Sam Cathcart, Rob & Del, Popcorn Paul, Nicky Nice Boy, me, J. P Raven, Charlie Stewart, Andy Dmonster and Adidas Dave. We'll be in Row G16 to G20, Row H17 to H21, Row J17 to J21, Row K17 to K21 if you wanna join us.
Thursday, April 05, 2001
All change...
Change your name
Change your sex
Change your face
Change your online face
Change your hair
Change your clothes
Change your personality
Change your name
Change your sex
Change your face
Change your online face
Change your hair
Change your clothes
Change your personality
Wednesday, April 04, 2001
We hate Jamie Oliver...
Lots of fabby pictures of our furry-tongued friend. Thanks to PopBitch for this link.
Lots of fabby pictures of our furry-tongued friend. Thanks to PopBitch for this link.
Excert from Monopoly tips and tricks...
Know how to conduct yourself as a player (This is the most important principle of all)
Present yourself as the type of player others won't mind losing to.
Most players don't like losing to:
- browbeaters
- insulters
- know-it-alls
- careless players
- inconsiderate players
Most players don't mind losing to opponents who are...
- diplomatic
- gracious
- knowledgeable
- careful
- considerate
Why is this so important? MONOPOLY usually cannot be won without gaining the cooperation of players in trades and financial settlements. If you don't have a reasonable rapport with your opponents, you'll have a tough time making beneficial trades. i.e. get their trust then shaft them.
Thanks to brainsluice for reminding me about how much I love Monopoly.
Know how to conduct yourself as a player (This is the most important principle of all)
Present yourself as the type of player others won't mind losing to.
Most players don't like losing to:
- browbeaters
- insulters
- know-it-alls
- careless players
- inconsiderate players
Most players don't mind losing to opponents who are...
- diplomatic
- gracious
- knowledgeable
- careful
- considerate
Why is this so important? MONOPOLY usually cannot be won without gaining the cooperation of players in trades and financial settlements. If you don't have a reasonable rapport with your opponents, you'll have a tough time making beneficial trades. i.e. get their trust then shaft them.
Thanks to brainsluice for reminding me about how much I love Monopoly.
Two things I hate to love...
Having survived the upgrade to IE 6.0 I'm back. I hate to say this but I now love it. It's slimmed down, looks good, is fast and it just "works". Oh dear. I was so ready to bitch, carp and slag it off.
On first launch IE 6.0 takes you to the Microsoft's msn.co.uk site. Annoying but no biggy. There I spotted a link to watch the video of Geri's new single It's Raining Men (which I loathe). It's now 30 minutes later and I've played it six times (four times in a box and twice full screen). I hate to say this but I now love it. She's slimmed down, looks good...
Having survived the upgrade to IE 6.0 I'm back. I hate to say this but I now love it. It's slimmed down, looks good, is fast and it just "works". Oh dear. I was so ready to bitch, carp and slag it off.
On first launch IE 6.0 takes you to the Microsoft's msn.co.uk site. Annoying but no biggy. There I spotted a link to watch the video of Geri's new single It's Raining Men (which I loathe). It's now 30 minutes later and I've played it six times (four times in a box and twice full screen). I hate to say this but I now love it. She's slimmed down, looks good...
I'm going outside. And I may be some time...
Fire drill this morning. Like they could have picked a wetter day! Having braved the elements once I decided to live dangerously. So I'm currently downloading Internet Explorer 6.0. If I'm not back soon, tell Netscape I'm sorry.
Fire drill this morning. Like they could have picked a wetter day! Having braved the elements once I decided to live dangerously. So I'm currently downloading Internet Explorer 6.0. If I'm not back soon, tell Netscape I'm sorry.
Gone West...
Quiz night last night. Set by Peter. Despite having Darren we lost. Just. It was a tie-breaker. In three different instances we didn't know as much about the Village People as we should have done. We didn't know the lyrics to In The Navy, the fact that one of them was a G.I not a Marine and the opening bars to Go West. We shall be handing in our gay cards by the end of the day. Oh yes, and Ian has good reason to have the hump. Although his other non-"Cream?" margin scribblings were a little wider of the mark I fear.
Tuesday, April 03, 2001
Hey lady, you lady cursing at your life...
Since you asked, David.
I've been to Georgia
I've been to California
I took the "hand" of a preacher man (well he was a vicar and it wasn't just his hand) and we made love in the sun (in a sauna actually)
I've been to Nice (and got mugged)
I've been to (the Isle of) Greece (with a girlfriend first and later with a boyfriend)
I've sipped champagne on a yacht (many times, many places, darling)
I've moved like Harlow (well I didn't wiggle too much) in Monte Carlo (backpacking)
I've showed 'em what I've got (too many times to remember in too many places)
I've been undressed by kings (well, I've been undressed in Kings, the tacky nightclub)
I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see (you'd better believe it!)
I've indeed spent my life exploring subtle whoring (and sometimes not so subtle)
I've even been to Paradise (and Heaven, Bang and Bolts)
And before you ask, yes, I've been to me too!
Since you asked, David.
I've been to Georgia
I've been to California
I took the "hand" of a preacher man (well he was a vicar and it wasn't just his hand) and we made love in the sun (in a sauna actually)
I've been to Nice (and got mugged)
I've been to (the Isle of) Greece (with a girlfriend first and later with a boyfriend)
I've sipped champagne on a yacht (many times, many places, darling)
I've moved like Harlow (well I didn't wiggle too much) in Monte Carlo (backpacking)
I've showed 'em what I've got (too many times to remember in too many places)
I've been undressed by kings (well, I've been undressed in Kings, the tacky nightclub)
I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see (you'd better believe it!)
I've indeed spent my life exploring subtle whoring (and sometimes not so subtle)
I've even been to Paradise (and Heaven, Bang and Bolts)
And before you ask, yes, I've been to me too!
Forever the same...
Following on from David's "I've never..." item.
I've been to B&Q, Halfords, Homebase, IKEA & Iceland (online and off). I been driving for 22 years. I've been to Scotland. I've got off and on the tube at both Queensway (skating) and Barons Court (some friends live there) many times. I've seen every Derek Jarman film, broken a leg, an ankle and both arms. Ridden a skateboard and those micro scooter things (electric and foot powered). I've watched Dawsons Creek (once), Buffy (twice), Angel (once) and every Star Trek spin-off (but couldn't bring myself to care less about the Bajorans). I've read every Harry Potter (including the two new Comic Relief ones). Remind me again what we have in common, David? :-)
Following on from David's "I've never..." item.
I've been to B&Q, Halfords, Homebase, IKEA & Iceland (online and off). I been driving for 22 years. I've been to Scotland. I've got off and on the tube at both Queensway (skating) and Barons Court (some friends live there) many times. I've seen every Derek Jarman film, broken a leg, an ankle and both arms. Ridden a skateboard and those micro scooter things (electric and foot powered). I've watched Dawsons Creek (once), Buffy (twice), Angel (once) and every Star Trek spin-off (but couldn't bring myself to care less about the Bajorans). I've read every Harry Potter (including the two new Comic Relief ones). Remind me again what we have in common, David? :-)
Monday, April 02, 2001
Don't publish and be damned...
I don't care what the Guardian's article on Popbitch says about how they are strapped for cash. Since they didn't print my Erasure sex-and-drugs binge scoop they can close for all I care.
I don't care what the Guardian's article on Popbitch says about how they are strapped for cash. Since they didn't print my Erasure sex-and-drugs binge scoop they can close for all I care.
Sunday, April 01, 2001
Ding dong the bells are gonna chime...
Contrary to any rumour, Mark and I did not go to Amsterdam to get married. We were simply there to paint the town red by way of celebration for Stuart's birthday. And boy did we do some painting. On the first night alone we ransacked Havana, April, Casa Maria, Argos, the Eagle, the Cuckoo's Nest, the Web and the C-Ring. We left no turn unstoned. Many, many men. Noteworthy were a boy called Vim and a boy called Oover who both lived up to their names - sounding as they do like cleaning products. Naturally we shall be keeping in touch with each and every one. Not! There may have been marriage in the air but our vows were more along the lines of "’Til dawn do us part."
Contrary to any rumour, Mark and I did not go to Amsterdam to get married. We were simply there to paint the town red by way of celebration for Stuart's birthday. And boy did we do some painting. On the first night alone we ransacked Havana, April, Casa Maria, Argos, the Eagle, the Cuckoo's Nest, the Web and the C-Ring. We left no turn unstoned. Many, many men. Noteworthy were a boy called Vim and a boy called Oover who both lived up to their names - sounding as they do like cleaning products. Naturally we shall be keeping in touch with each and every one. Not! There may have been marriage in the air but our vows were more along the lines of "’Til dawn do us part."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)