Arrow Towers

2009-01-13T12:50:00.000Z

OVER

for now

www.johnnyarrow.tumblr.com

2008-11-28T11:38:00.000Z

My hair looks funny today, I forgot to do anything with it. Just woke up and left the house without even considering it. Oh well. I’m sat here at my desk at work, munching through a snickers bar and a packet of Worcester sauce crisps. They’re really hitting the spot. You’ve got to mix those savoury and sweet tastes to really appreciate them. There’s something about the peanut taste of the snickers mixed with the tangy Worcester sauce flavour that really works. And the chocolate/crisp combo is good too. Me and Barker had a revelation walking down cold bath road all those years ago, that chocolate coated crisps would sell like bastards. Jen made me some pasta for my lunch today, tuna and mayo and some other stuff, I’m not sure. Looks delicious though. Jenny’s a diamond chef, like some kind of Nigella Lawson talent in the kitchen. But more sexy. I can’t type with these crumbs on my fingers. All greasy. The minibus is booked up, we even have one on standby if someone drops out – I didn’t think we’d do it, but we have. We’ve sold 30 tickets plus, so far, a resounding success – just hope we do everyone justice, don’t let everyone down on Sunday night. We had a rehearsal last night with Will on drums – never met the guy before, but he knew all my jams, and picked up easily led like he’d heard it a million times before. He’s a great drummer, really fits with the sound. Sim’s a great drummer too, just unfortunate he couldn’t make it on Sunday. My bro’s placed really well to save us in these drummer-less times. And will fits the bill. We were laughing because all my songs have the same backbeat, the same rhythm, it was cracking me up last night – it’s all the same. Fuck it. Who cares? They’re good, I don’t mind saying. We won’t let you down on Sunday x

2008-11-11T13:47:00.000Z

Trying to keep this thing up to date is difficult at times, considering the only time I really have for it is on my lunch break in the office, and this place isn’t exactly the best environment for creative output, or reviewing my activities – mainly as this place sucks you dry of anything other than the effort to get through till five thirty (and also because i’m actually working a lot of the time – imagine). I get these creative urges whilst sat here but I never have the opportunity or skill to actually create anything. I tend to do a lot of my stuff – songs, ditties, ideas, writing and that – on the fly, and the best stuff comes out spontaneous like, just out there. Like this stuff. I think if I think about it too much I more often than not over analyse it and then don’t have the guts to throw it out there, whereas if I just get it done quick and I don’t have the opportunity to veto myself. Like “I Wouldn’t Move to London for You” was a random jam on a single chord sequence that I would never have done anything with, cos I never thought it was anything much, but I wrote it one afternoon cos I had an acoustic show that night and I only had like 3 or 4 songs to play, so I threw it together and now it’s like a crowd favourite or something. It’s just the same as it was that cold afternoon in finchampstead (except simon’s kicked the shit out of it when we recorded it – those drums are bigger than I ever could have imagined and it’s become like this raucous beast that I can’t tame – but essentially the same song, one chord sequence and a silly little harmonica hook). It’s gonna be one of the last tunes we play at this bluetones gig that we’ve been asked to play at – supporting the bluetones, man – that’s crazy. I caught their first album when it came out – I was, what, like 14 or some shit, and they really pricked my ears – you know they’re all beatles-y and chimey on that first album, but also really fucking heavy too- the end of Things Change when Eds is going spack on them skins and there’s like 9 or 10 guitars all layered up, crazy. But then you’ve got The Fountainhead, which is all complicated rhythms and tight acoustics, and bittersweet lyrics (more bitter – why I like it I guess) that bring a tear to your eye. I met them once – we met them, the cheap days – after a gig we saw them play in Aldershot, hung out for a beer with them and got on their bus, they were top guys, proper good company, although I felt a bit like a fawning uberfan at times, but they made us feel comfortable – but now we’re playing with them, propping them up like some sort of unworthy footrest. I can’t undersell how amazing this makes me feel. Balls to the ‘career progression’; or whatever (I doubt there’ll be much of that), but just to be on the same stage as Mark Morriss is such an honour. Hopefully I’ll get to buy him a drink

2008-10-28T15:14:00.001Z

Crisp day on Saturday, went to London, a city I have mixed emotions towards, scene of various set pieces at university which are both great and foul, big pumping city struggling under the weight of its history and the fact that nothing seems to have topped it since the war, unless you include some shiz like the swinging sixties, but was that really any better than the decadent nineties, or the cash haemophilliac noughties (I don’t know if that phrase works but I’m not going to change it cos I like the idea and if you’d like to correct me then go ahead, I’m less of a grammar junkie than I wos. See?). So yeah, London is dwarfed by it’s history, and maybe that’s why all Londoners appear to be clunges of the highest order, as they try to feed the chip on their shoulders – you can’t feed a chip but hey – and perhaps that’s why I love/hate it. In fact, it’s not really love/hate, it’s more couldn’t/give/a/shit. But there is some good stuff there – and on Saturday the little lady and I went to the british museum to see the Hadrian exhib and the Hayward gallery to see Warhol. Good shiz, amazing to see – the Hadrian shiz especially; that shit is so old, and so well preserved, and so well crafted and just perfectly chiseled. All these big statues just look like they were made out of clay in the back room yesterday, imagine creating something that lasting. And you don’t even know who made them. I think I’d want my name to last too, but maybe that’s the point. Talking about statues, when we were in Manchester, Jenny noticed how all the statues up north are of tradesmen, and mill owners and big sidied, big bellied landowners, compared to southern statues which are all statesmen and politicians. It’s a different world really. I suppose they always were. Back in London, the Warhol exhibition at the Hayway was good, althoughi had seen a lot of it before in the Tate show about 6 or 7 years ago. I didn’t feel particularly touched by it then and I felt the same this time. I like the idea of Warhol, I like his mission, but it doesn’t really resonate with me. It’s making art out of popular culture (to put it in it’s simplest b&w) which has virtue, but do we really need it as an art form? I mean it’s there already – it’s already documented because it’s all around us. Does it need to be put in a gallery? I mean I like it – I’m not dissing it – but I don’t think it’s all that- I prefer Liechtenstein, more than anything because of his scale.

2008-10-14T13:20:00.001Z

Audience for this shiz is growing by the day. Not exponentially, to be honest, but at the rate of maybe 1 a year. I’m thinking Lawson might be checking this right now. If she’s got an RSS feed set up like my man Bullough then she’ll probably have already read it. You losers. Dedication is what I require. So the show went well last week, we won – happy – delighted- g r e a t s t u f f – this shit is kicking – but I never really doubted it. I think we’re probably up there with the greatest bands of all time. Maybe even THE greatest bands of all time. Not really. Just shitting you. we’re good though. At least as good as, say, shed seven. (shitting you). I don’t know what to say about it. Well my solicitor’s just rung me (how grown up am I? My very own solicitor!) and told me that we have now exchanged contracts on my flat and it’s all ready for completion tomorrow. I am one happy man. A very happy man. I am living in the material world my shizzers, I am happy.

ps. going to manchester tomorrow so no blog for a couple of days maybe

love
x

2008-10-08T11:54:00.001Z

It’s weird – I mean I’m not doing anything different to what I’d normally do, but there’s a looming cloud of distrust and a strange nervous feeling in my belly. Other than that, really, if you ignore BBC breakfast and the newspaper headlines everyday, you could be forgiven for not really noticing. Well, in my little world anyway. I guess I’m just worried about my flat sale – set to go through next Wednesday but I can’t relax until I have those sheets in my hand. Numbers in my bank. Ache off my head. Irrelevant anyway. I live my life in a little tunnel, buried away from any external distractions, occasionally poking my head out to check on the progress of my flat sale (another thing which once through will allow me to bury myself further) or sing a song, or answer my boss. Off to see Wishbone Ash on Sunday night with my dad – he’s a big fan, and I’m intrigued – never really got the whole twenty minute solo thing – but maybe I’ll be inspired? Who knows… A week till I’m free though, a week till I’m free. Touch all wood around me, metaphorically and literally. Jenny’s keeping a diary now, more articulate and touching than any shit I manage to get down here – I read yesterday’s entry. Beautiful it was. I can’t replicate it but I can try. Try is all I can do. So I’m playing tomorrow night again, these shows coming thick and fast, battle of the bands (shit – sounds like school doesn’t it?) in Reading, hoping to make some more noise round here, get our name on another set of posters, in other people’s mouths. That’s crazy – that should say ‘sounds in other people’s ears’ not ‘name in other people’s mouths’, but that’s the way it appears to work round here. Anywhere.

You know?

2008-10-07T10:54:00.000Z

2008-10-03T14:10:00.000Z

I like coffee, I don’t think I could give it up – two things I couldn’t give up most likely are coffee and alcohol. That’s not including sex and playing the guitar and jenny and writing and lying in (or trying to) and the beatles and steak. But all those things go without saying probably, I mean they’re just obvious aren’t they? They’re the basic human rights of all civilisation. Well Jenny’s not, but you get my plot. Man oh man. Sun shining today, deceptive however, it’s fucking cold. I don’t mind too much though you know, nice and fresh, makes my beard work for its money you know, like some kind of arctic explorer or something. edmund hilary or some shit. But you know, in berkshire. and it’s fifteen degrees. Fifteen – that’s something to listen to, by rilo kiley, off their album from last year, man that’s some cool soul swing on that shit. I reckon jenny lewis is a bit of a singer you know? I just bought her new album a few days ago – I like what I’ve heard, I mean I haven’t really listened to it that much yet, I havent’ been home too much, but you know it sounds good to me. She’s got some soul going on, like late 60 s shit, but also like a post grungy attitude and a self awareness for the 21st C you know? Get into it. Millsy’s been throwing some one liners at me on Facebook and msn the last few epochs, it’s been some funny shit, he’s a good lad that fella, he mentions me a lot in his rants too you know which is nice cos I only ever see him about once a year now you know so it’s nice to be in his thoughts. You’re in mine woggz, you’re in mine you know, even though you say I’m gay.

2008-10-02T14:53:00.000Z

If this was the cold war we could keep each other warm, I said on the first occasion that I met marie…yeah, listening to josh ritter this afternoon on my walk into town, I love his stuff, one of the songs on his most recent is called the last temptation of adam, and it’s about this dude who works in a nuclear missile silo with this girl, and they live there cos it’s the cold war and they’re ready with their fingers on the button. The dude falls in love with the girl and they start having sex and shit, but the guy starts worrying that on the surface their love won’t survive so he starts getting tempted to set off the missile and kick off wwwiii so everyone dies and their love can continue underground. Sweet as.

"If this was the cold war we could keep each other warm," I said
On the first occasion that I met Marie
We were crawling through the hatch that was
The missle silo door
And I don't think that she really thought that much of me
I never had to learn to love her
Like I learned to love the bomb
She just came along and started to ignore me
But as we waited for the big one
I started singing her my songs
And I think she started feeling something for me

We passed the time with crosswords
That she thought to bring inside
"What five letters spell apacolypse?" she asked me
I wandered over saying WWIII
She smiled and we both knew that she misjudged me
Oh Marie it was so easy to fall in love with you
It felt almost like a home of sorts or something
And you would keep the warhead missle silo good as new
And I'd watch you with my thumb above the button

Then one night you found me in my army issue cott
You told me of your flash of inspiration
You said "Fusion was the broken heart that's lonely's only thought"
And all night long you drove me wild with your equations
Oh Marie do you remember all the time we used to take
We'd make our love then ramsack the rations
I think of you leaving now in the avalanche cascades
My eyes get washed away in chain reactions

Oh Marie if you would stay we could stick pins in the map
Of all the places you thought that love would be found
But I would only need one pin to show where my love is at
In a top secret location 300 feet under the ground

We could hold each other close
We'd stay up every night
Look up into the dark and pretend it's the night sky
Pretend this giant missle is a old oak tree instead
And I'd carve your name in hearts into the warhead
Oh Marie something tells me things just won't
Work out above
That our love would live a half-life on the surface
So at night while you are sleeping
I hold you closer just because
As our time grows short I grow a little nervous

So I think about the big one
WWIII
Would we ever really care the world had ended?
You could hold me here forever
Like you're holding me tonight
I think about that big red button and I'm tempted

2008-10-01T15:37:00.002Z

Mixed night last night, not a big crowd, if I’m being truthful – just the 4 I brought along and the headlining band…not really mindblowing (not that I don’t appreciate jenny, mum, dad and mark showing up – in fact makes you appreciate it more) but I had fun mixing the set around – played a rutles song, and that ryan one I mentioned yesterday and another sunny day – man that one is from the ARCHIVES! Getting to like this solo shiz, considering making it the solo shows as Johnny arrow and the band as just the cheap day returns – considering, thinking it over, pros and cons – but my mind is swimming in a sea of obsession at the moment with Jennifer and the god damn sale of arrow towers, which appears to be speeding up – hoping to exchange some fookin contracts in the next couple of days – back out of my hands now and into the fate of others…I’m not opening any bubbles till that cash is in my account, but I’m so close I can smell it…the carbs making me sneeze. Still could be all snatched away quick as a hummingbird of death and I’ll be on my knees, so I’m not getting complacent. MAN it’s hot in here today, fucking air conditioning controlled by satan or some shit.

2008-09-30T13:58:00.000Z

Been fiddling round with my facebook today, discovered you can have the shit in pirate English, it’s crazy, funny. Worth a poke I reckon ,just for a little bit. Anyway, playing tonight, been wracking my brain for a set list and I’ve got it down I think, with a few safe ones in reserve in case my mojo deserts me. There’s something about ryan adams’ lyrics that get me, they hit me right in the chest – not necessarily perfect, not really particularly truthful, but just wonderfully abstract. I’m going to play one of his tonight, probably blue hotel (something about her that’s cold, blowing through the trees, leaving me raw - the words come out and I get confused, i get shattered like a light bulb in an october gloom). Need to get that kinda shit ut of me sometimes, a bit more, you know? Going to miss the camaraderie on stage tonight, miss si’s locks and the groove of geoff or sim, but geoff might come tonight if he feels up to. Geoff and jenny and paul and bev in the audience. Sweet dreams are made of this.

2008-09-29T12:37:00.001Z

In the absence of my little bro on Tuesday night (he’s working – god damn went and got a job at last – didn’t think it would impact the cheap days, but the world keeps turning), been asked to play solo at the cellar bar at south hill park in bracknell. Played solo a couple of weeks ago in reading, first time in about two years, I needed a day’s worth of drinking to bury the nerves, tomorrow night I’m not gonna have that luxury. Working all day, thinking things through – part of me doesn’t understand why I do these things, things would be easier if I didn’t bother – but then what would that make me? Not a singer anyway. Let’s do it. I’m trying to come up with some new ideas for the set, mixing it up a bit – I don’t want it to be a cheap day returns set – although saying that i can’t drop one up or Jennifer – I need to keep some sort of semblance of competence. But I don’t know what I can get away with – toying with up your legs forever but I don’t think it would stand up to today’s rigours – maybe it would? And no-one there would appreciate it – only the gate lot would get down with it totally – others would think it was just a bit of a crap dirty jam, but maybe it’s not, I don’t know. Been saying that a lot – I don’t know – maybe I do know, but just don’t want to commit to it. Where do you take that anyway? I don’t know. Ha. So thinking maybe cover versions too – interesting ones, but I need to know them already – beatles? pavement? God knows. I don’t know. There it is again

2008-09-25T13:05:00.000Z

Good show last night, found myself jumping in the air more times than I have done in the last few shows, something in the air – something made it feel easy to do. Sometimes it just happens that you find yourself being watched, but you don’t feel like that nervous little skinny schoolboy in assembly anymore, you feel like you’ve grown up and you don’t care. I feel like I had them in my hands last night, eyes were following my every move. Our every move – si’s got the moves too you know, he’s all over the stage, it’s a wonder we don’t clash heads (more often). No, was a good show – shortened due to Jack booking too many acts (!) but all good – all good. Loved the Johnsons too, them dudes know how to put on a show – check em out. Jake’s hair reaches for the sun. They’ve got some riffs. And some screams. Lanky came along, hadn’t seen him for a good 6 or 7 years or something, just turned up unannounced while we were necking Guinness before the show; so many things to catch up on, so many stories. The time we sold candles shaped like eggs for a Christmas business studies project, hours spent blowing eggs. Ridiculous. But brilliant. Lanky’s life affirming, just like he always was. I’m writing today, writing some thoughts, not yet formed in any way, just some rambles; they’re becoming something but I don’t know if I can write like johnny arrow anymore, I’m finding it more difficult; I think it’s all changing- my head’s different now, I’ve got jenny – I’m content with much of what’s going on; I’m discontent with a hell of a lot too, but it’s different, too real to make into a song, too grown up (I can’t sing about mortgage repayments and councils)…so I’m writing more happy things, which don’t really tie in with the johnny arrow image. That’s what I’ve got to get used to. It’s maybe what needs to change – maybe, maybe. Who knows? Things are up in the air. Jenny grounds me but there’s so many things going on neither of us can control, still - be over soon. Jenny. She’s a saviour. I’m hungover today, the world has turned and left me here, I’m tanked up on caffeine and cake but it’s not enough, I need more sugar,. Some relentless or something – chris allen got me onto relentless, it works. Too much money though, for a poor scamp like me at the moment. God damn wokingham council denying me my relentless hit

2008-09-24T14:55:00.000Z

Gigging tonight, first time for over a month with the full band – playing bar four which is a nice enough venue, nice and safe, played there a good few times before and have a decent rapport with Dai the sound guy – which is the coolest fuckin name I’ve ever heard this side of David Davies (Nathan’s dad- shout to ya you red pilot machine – keep them wings soaring). Second gig ever with Sim on the drums. It’s weird playing without Geoff, turning round at the end of Feeling Sore or One Up and not seeing him there is gonna take a bit of getting used to…but Sim’s a more than able sub – he slips in those double bass pedal rhythms like a metal demon. Metal playing indie jams, like you know. Works. My guitar’s still covered in blood from the last gig; sounds like I’ve been ripping it up like GG Allen? Nah, no such luck, just snapped a plectrum at the Oakford last month and my finger took the full brunt of my wayward strumming…gotta get that thing cleaned up before showtime, or maybe not? Maybe not. Free beer for the performers too, at BlindPig gigs – Jack knows how to treat us better than most. Gonna need them.

Still Here

2008-06-11T14:12:00.001Z

I’ve been asked if I’ve given this blog up. I’d like to say that I haven’t; what I have probably given up doing is just updating for updating’s sake. But to be honest I’ve almost forgotten all about it. If there weren’t all you avid readers (Col) going on at me about it then I probably wouldn’t even remember I had it. I don’t mean to sound like I’ve forgotten you all but, you know, my life has been flip-turned upside down, as a certain member of nineties royalty may reflect, by the death of my singledom and the fact that I actually do stuff now, rather than speculate/moan about it.

However, I don’t want this to die completely so let’s try and think of something to say. Here are your options. I want you to tell me what you’d like me to blog about and I’ll do it next week, in depth:

1. I was ill recently, horribly ill. Do you want to know about that? I could tell you about that
2. I could tell all about my new house, with maybe some pictures
3. I could describe my Reading life, maybe give you a sprinkling anecdotes from a number of random nights out
4. I could let you know about the band, my thoughts on the future and review some of the recent shows

But you’re only getting one ok?

Talk about public service.

The Day Today

2008-04-24T11:40:00.000Z

Apologies for the boring Leeds update the other day, to be honest it was just a bit of space filler, I’m trying to keep this thing regular, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to write about subjects other than the usual “what I did today” self obsessive stuff. But I don’t think I’ve done one of those for a while so here goes.

Things are actually looking up for me at the moment, I foresee a rosy future. My flat has been on the market for about a week now, and there has been a bit of interest already. I just want it over and done with to be honest, there’s not too much joy in waiting and organising and convincing the tenants to let people trudge through their (my) house- it will be such a weight off my shoulders once everything is sealed. Which of course, is a hell of a long way off just yet, but positive steps being made in that direction.

Also Ally, Beehead and I have found a flat and we are moving in on 17th May. It’s a cracking little number, on the other side of town from where we are now, probably about the same distance from the town centre, a little closer if anything. The only real issue that’s come up so far is the fact that to get to one of the bedrooms, you have to walk through another of the rooms; it’s an attic room and the stairs are located in the 2nd bedroom below. We drew lots last night to work out who would have which room, and – as predicted – I got the thoroughfare room. Fucking usual. I could have told you that I’d end up with it, I even almost said let’s not bother drawing lots, I’ll get the shit room anyway, it’s a given.

To be fair it’s not that shit – quite big, built in wardrobes, etc etc, but Ally’s going to have to get used to waking through my bedroom and seeing me sleeping every morning. I’ll never sleep soundly again. Also a bit awkward as I have recently become attached. I don’t want to go on about it too much because I think it’s not too classy to bang on about things, but needless to say I’m very happy and it wasn’t expected at all. Good stuff.

So any other news? Not really, everything has been concentrated on two areas in the last couple of weeks – it’s all been matters of the home and the heart.

And that’s good.

X

15 Points

2008-04-21T14:49:00.001Z

So with a 2-0 victory against Millwall on Saturday, Leeds have pretty much booked themselves a place in the play offs for this year. Damn, why did I type that? With the luck we’ve had in the last few years (yes, a lot of it was down to shoddy management and our even shoddier administration, but luck has also played a part in our demise), we’ll probably end up bottling the last two games of the season and finish 7th. Or even worse, get our 15 points back from that nasty thief Brian Mawhinney, which would put us a clear 2nd and ready for automatic promotion, but again lose our final two games and finish in a play off spot, losing in the final to Doncaster or someone equally as non-descript. (Actually, that’s pretty harsh on Donny, one of the handful of teams, along with Swansea and us, to play some decent football in this league).

Speaking of those 15 points, it riles me up the amount of people who have come out in recent weeks moaning that if we get the points given back then teams like Bournemouth and Luton will have to have their points given back too. This is, of course, absolute bollocks. Bournemouth and Luton were deducted 10 points, just as we were last season, for going into administration. Leeds have never complained about losing these points (and when I say ‘Leeds’ I mean the club, not the supporters), as this deduction is accepted as competition rules. But what these ignorant bastards like Rhys Weston (Millwall Keeper - can't find the bloody link) fail to understand is that the 15 points we are fighting for were taken away from us by the Football League for ‘financial irregularities’, a completely separate issue to the original 10 points deducted in 2007, and absolutely nothing to do with the points that Bournemouth and Luton have lost.

And so the fight goes on. The points were cemented in place, as the Telegraph very eloquently put it this weekend, by chairmen of the clubs in the Football League who were in “direct opposition to Leeds, through their potential promotion rivals in the Championship to the League Two sides whose gate receipts would be swelled by Leeds' fanatical travelling support, all present at that gathering had something to gain”. I can’t see how to be judged by a jury who all have a vested interest in Leeds’ plight can be called any sort of justice at all.

The main problem with our argument is that in order to gain a place in the League for this season, cuddly Ken Bates signed an agreement which said that we wouldn’t seek any further legal matters to overturn the judgement, and many imagine this will be our major stumbling block in getting them back. That said I’m optimistic, and hopeful that by the end of the season we will occupy 2nd spot at least.

This season’s been an amazing one for Leeds fans. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only made it up for one game this season, a mid winter 3-0 thrashing of Port Vale, but I’ve really been transfixed by all the goings on.

15 points, who gives a f*ck?

Writer's Block

2008-04-15T14:23:00.001Z

Continuing with this book’s a bit of a struggle at the moment; every time I sit down to persevere with it I feel like I'm wading through jam – I can never really get going. When I started it I was flying through it, paragraphs, pages, chapters flew out of my fingers like some kind of hyperactive marmite, but now I can’t seem to get anywhere. Enough of the condimental similes, they don’t really work.

I also feel as though the plot has hit a bit of an impasse – I’m really having problems trying to push the narrative on. I know what’s going to happen in the next section, but I can’t seem to get to a place where I can get the action going. The bridging sections I am finding hard to cross, which is especially problematic at the moment, considering my method of working has changed recently from flawless chronological action to writing little sketches and skits, which are all very good but at some point I’m going to have to sew them together and make them relevant. I guess this is the art of the novelist. I march slowly on.

And march on I must – Rich Fee emailed me last week telling me all about his mate, only a couple of years older than me, who has sold the film rights to his novel, Child 44, to bloody Ridley Scott. I can’t see old Ridders making an epic about two lads in the South West of England chatting up loads of birds and spiralling out of control, but I don’t know – maybe someone else. Jerry Bruckheimer? Something to aspire to anyway.

I met someone on Friday night who has also been scribbling (typing?) away on a novel, and who has written 90,000 words! (I think she said 90,000 anyway, I was on my way to boozetown). It was an impressive amount anyway. So now I feel inadequate, and my 12,000 words stands up as nothing but an extended essay. I feel a renewed push is needed, and once I get the ball (point) rolling again properly, I should hopefully be rocking and rolling in no time. (That play on words would have worked if I was actually hand-writing the thing, but I’m not. Thought it was too good to let slip though)

Wish me luck.

Waste of Space

2008-04-11T15:12:00.001Z

I really wanted to post today, just so I didn’t have to over the weekend really, but I am very much lacking in inspiration. I have nothing to say. Work is…well, work; I didn’t do anything last night, except a bit of tidying up, and I haven’t got any comments about modern life or my past to spout for you. So therefore, in the spirit of nothing very much, here is a list of the last few songs I listened to on my mp3 player

Golden Age of Radio – Josh Ritter
Frances Farmer Will Have Her revenge on Seattle – Nirvana
Somebody Remembers the Rose – Whiskeytown
The Biz vs The Nuge – Beastie Boys
Cold Hard Bitch - Jet
Stop Breathing – Pavement
You’re So Pretty – Brakes
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Novocaine For the Soul – Eels
Someday Soon – Wilco
Glitter and Trauma – Biffy Clyro
I Can’t Stand to Stand Beside You – Brakes
C Moon – Paul McCartney
Spit on a Stranger – Pavement
Work, Work, Work – Rakes

Thrilling

No Targets

2008-04-08T15:02:00.001Z

I signed up to the gym last night. There’s something about that sentence that sounds quite ludicrous, coming from me. Perhaps even desperate. If you read back this blog you’ll see numerous attempts to start something virtuous or project-like and more often than not, failing to see them through. I started running last summer to train for a half marathon in September. That didn’t happen – I ended up doing about six or seven three mile runs and then that was it. I signed up to the National Novel Writing Month last November, whereby I committed to writing fifty thousand words in thirty days. I managed twelve thousand in that time (I am, however, continuing with that endeavour and hope to have it finished by the end of the year. Oh shit, I wasn’t going to tell anyone that. Damn).

So it is with this in mind that I am not setting myself any targets for this particular activity. You could say this is defeatist, I say realist. I know, for example, if I say I MUST GO FOUR TIMES A WEEK that I will end up going five times the first week and then once or twice the next couple of weeks and then once or twice a month after that. So therefore, I set myself no timetable. I will go when I want to go. Neither have I set any weight loss or fitness targets. Ideally, I’d like to look good for the summer, lose a bit of the beer gut, but nothing specific. I’m just going to improve my health/lifestyle a bit, and to use the time in the evenings when I am usually bored a little bit more productively.

And there are going to be more of those times in the next few weeks as I’m cutting out the midweek boozing. I’m sad to do it, but it needs to be done – both from a financial standpoint and a health one. The best nights in Reading in my experience have tended to be Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but I can’t justify doing it anymore. I suffer at work the next day, I’m constantly tired, I feel like my insides are caked with filth and debauchery and I just can’t afford it. It helps that Chris seems to have come to the same idea at the same time as me, and Ally never really hit it that hard in the week anyway, so it’s good to have some support. Chris and Ally, along with Beehead, are also members at the gym I’ve joined, so it will become more of a social event than just a painful one.

Last night was painful. I did twenty minutes on the weird walker thing, where you step up and down and grab onto the big sticks. Then I did fifteen minutes on a bike that went nowhere, and then I did some pushy-pushy things on a machine that made my arms feel like someone was shaking them uncontrollably from side to side. I’ll get the hang of the technical terms after a while I’m sure. Not that I’m setting myself a target for that. No targets.

I’m not even targeting going again tonight, although I want to. So maybe I will?

What Do You Do?

2008-04-03T14:49:00.001Z

Meeting people is always a minefield isn’t it? Especially when they have absolutely no pre-conceptions of you. I think that’s the scariest thing about being introduced to people - one word in the wrong place, one instance of saying “there” instead of “their” and you become, to that person, the bloke who can’t speak properly (or tell the difference between talking and writing). The only point of reference of you that they have is what they see in front of them – the scruffy trainers, the lazy week old beard, the speed at which you down your Jack Daniels and Coke, and what you happen to say at that particular moment. You could be caught at the wrong time- your mum might just have called to tell you that she found all your old dusty records in the garage and she’s given them away to the local charity shop for nothing because, well you don’t have a record player anyway do you, and they’ve just been sat in there for months on end, for instance – and you’ll be forever remembered as the grumpy git who keeps thumbing his phone.

But what do you say when you meet someone? Once you’re past the “Hi, how are you, nice to meet you” bit, then things get a little more difficult. Unless of course, the conversee answers the “how are you?” question with a bit of creativity and panache, which is something I’d recommend if you’re trying to engage someone in conversation longer than the requisite thirty seconds. Ultimately, the easiest question to ask next is “so, what do you do?” – a question that I hate. What do I do? Well, I sleep a lot of the time. Sometimes I’ll have a poo. Once or twice a month I’ll try and clean the crumbs out from underneath the keyboard of my laptop. But the question, of course, refers to one’s line of work, the activity that one engages oneself in in exchange for cash; but my question is as follows – when did this become so defining? I work in accounts, in credit control to be specific, but if anyone ever asks me what I am, the last thing that I would ever say is “I am a credit controller” (actually, to be pedantic, my actual job title - working for an American company – is Senior Collections Specialist). It’s not something that I would say makes me what I am, and I’m sure most people my age would agree with me, apart from maybe professional sportsmen, or people in the forces. I think this is something that is new to this generation- work is considered a necessary evil in order to fund the activities that actually make you who you are, but I don’t think this was ever so. I’m sure my Granddad working on the railway in Barry in the 40 and 50s would have introduced himself as a Railway Engineer without hesitation. Even my Dad would no doubt introduce himself as a Sales Director (or whatever it is that he does these days). What has changed?

So what do I actually do? It’s hard to introduce yourself as a writer, or a singer, when there’s no actual money exchanging hands for your efforts (as yet…)- as I say, the question seems to rely on cold hard cash, and any actions during your “spare time” are tossed aggressively to one side, even ridiculed. “So you’re a writer? Ha ha!”. Using this logic, I consider my spare time taken up by work, and the activities I do outside of work – writing, singing, drinking, enjoying myself - as the main part of my life. Isn’t this a much better measure of who you are? After all, if you do end up turning your new acquaintance into a fully blossomed friendship, what part of you are they going to see? Unless they traipse to work with you everyday, the nature of your job is irrelevant to them; the person that they will end up spending time with is going to be the person who you are outside of that realm, and the things you do outside of work will be the things that will directly affect them. I’m a completely different person at work from the man my friends know. I’m quiet, unassuming and speak with a strange Southern accent. Ask my friends what I do and they won’t be able to tell you. Even to my closest confidents, my job is irrelevant.

So don’t laugh at me if I say I’m a singer in a band, or that I enjoy reading about the Napoleonic wars. That will hurt. If you’re going to laugh at anything, laugh at my job title.

Back To The Now

2008-04-02T15:08:00.001Z

I'm looking for somewhere to live at the moment, our tenancy on the current place runs out in May and a friend of mine has decided he’d like to move in with Ally and I. I met Dave (or variously, Beehead, Beeface, Beefy – I know not why…) through the football team, and he now assistant manages Chris’s Sushi restaurant. This apparently entails him being shouted at a lot and covering for Chris when he’s hungover/smoking/having sex with strangers. Still, it evidently pays him enough to want to come on board the piss-your-money-up-the-wall express, which Ally and I currently drive. Well, I drive it, Ally’s more of a ticket inspector really; maybe an over-eager guard who reads out the names of all the stops after every station, causing passengers to take their earphones out just in case there’s an important announcement being made, but ultimately leads to huge disappointment and/or anger. I don’t know where I’m going with this.

We’re booked to look at a couple of places on Saturday morning, but unfortunately three bedroomed dwellings in the town centre seem to be few and far between. There are plenty of options for two sharers – there are masses of new developments all over town – but finding space for one extra arse on the sofa is proving far more difficult.

One of my worries about moving in with yet another single, virile young man is that the cloud of booze that has descended over my life currently is only going to get thicker. I’m sober at the moment – having not drunk for two days - but I’m being honest when I say that that has only been the case recently from about 10am – 6pm on most weekdays, and not even then on a weekend. Things have been getting a little crazy on a regular basis (which I’m not complaining about – far from it), but I can only prophesise that things will become even more irresponsible once Beeface joins the ranks.

The current routine on a weekday currently resembles the following:

7.30 am – Get up, crawl up the stairs in to the shower, zombie my way though dressing myself, leave the house and onto the train
9.05 am – Arrive at work, fumble my way to lunchtime, try to absorb myself in my work so that I can’t feel the pain anymore
11.30 am – The sandwich man arrives (who isn’t allowed to shout anymore to announce his arrival – per an official email from up high)
11.35 am – Hungrily munch my way through a greasy sandwich and a bag of Monster Munch. Drink can of Relentless
11.37 am – Feel much better. Work through till 5.30, drinking coffee and more Relentless, and get on the train home
6.10 pm – Arrive back in Reading, go straight to Sushi one0eight. Chat up the staff and drink Asahi
7.30 pm – Decide not to go home and eat, stay in restaurant till it closes at 11 (ish)
11.00 pm – Hit Revolution/Walkabout/Pitcher and Piano (or all three)… Drink whiskey
2.00 am (approx) - Stagger home

And thus has been my life since the turn of the year. There were two major incidents at the beginning of January which really bought all of my friends closer together, and whilst these incidents were very negative, the long term effects of them, at least for me, have been extremely beneficial to our social lives, if not our wallets. I’m not telling you what these incidents were – I am sworn to Rule 114 – but needless to say they have since changed our lives.

Makes you wonder what’s going to happen next…

Toilet Reading To Put Your Mind At Rest

2008-04-01T14:55:00.002Z

I'm still nostalgic about Yorkshire. I had a dream that I was back in Harrogate a couple of nights ago, as if I’d never left. Everything was the same as it was back in 1999 (nine years ago! Nine!) and it was perfect.

This dream wasn’t really anything too interesting – I was drinking in Crabtrees with Col, Dave, Trelly and some others, listening to She’s a Star on the jukebox when we decided to go Monteys but then I ended up on my own and had to try and find my way back to Crabby’s, which wasn’t there anymore, and there was probably a bit where I got naked. You know the kind of thing - and then yesterday I was sat atop the shitter, thumbing through the vast variety of reading matter kept there when I came across the Good Pub Guide 2008. I headed for the Yorkshire section, to try and see if there was anything in there I recognised, when I stopped myself. Why was I going for Yorkshire? Why didn’t I head for the chapter on Berkshire? For the whole of my adult life (and for ‘adult life’ read ‘legal drinking life’) I’ve lived in the Royal County, with the exception of three years at university in West London, yet I still consider myself a Yorkshireman. That’s even overlooking the fact that I was born in Cardiff.

So why? Why do I keep this connection with Yorkshire and Harrogate and everything in it? I’ve only ever been back a handful of times since I left, and whenever I did there were less people there I knew and everything had changed more and more each time. The Royal Baths has been turned from what I always thought of as an impenetrable fortress of history and splendour into an (admittedly visually impressive) Wetherspoons. Where there was once the Royal Hall car park/ big white tent thing, there is now a architecturally misguided oversized garage-like structure. Where once you could have innocently strolled through the Valley Gardens of an evening, or enjoyed a game of Headers and Volleys with your mates, you’re now more likely to have to run from hooded gangs and heroin addicts, both of whom after your wallet (or so I’m told). The truth is, the Harrogate in my dream doesn’t exist anymore. The long shadow of the cenotaph following you down Montpellier on a late sunny afternoon; the endless summers; the chips and scraps from Simpsons on the way home from school; riding my bike up to the Valley Gardens to spend the evening talking and laughing. All of that is gone.

But that’s the point. All of that is my childhood and my adolescence. And everyone craves that.

The fact that my adolescence happened to take place in a completely different town to where I now find myself means that I now attribute all the longing that everyone feels for their youth to that place. It’s not that I don’t miss Harrogate and everyone up there, of course I do, but I know that the strength of my feeling for it is distorted by the memories of my youth, and my desire to be 16 again. If I had grown up in Sandhurst, I know I’d have a much stronger connection to that place than I do now.

Probably as a consequence of my recent acknowledgement of this, I now feel a bond forming between myself and Reading, where I now live. I’m starting to feel a sense of place, and of civic pride. I’m becoming attached again, and thank god, it doesn’t feel like I’m cheating on anyone.

Of course, all nostalgia has the majority of the shit helpfully filtered out - like when you squint at Madonna - but does that really matter? I mean memories are all that are left of the past, and if they have been squeezed dry of all their negative juices then surely they’re all the better for it?

By the way, the only Harrogate pub in the Good Pub Guide was The Boar’s Head in Ripley. Stayed there once in the honeymoon suite. Textbook.

How I Know Colin Mills

2008-03-18T14:33:00.006Z

I became friends with Chris Barker one cold, rain sodden afternoon in 1994, cursing my way down Cold Bath Road having spent my bus fare home on a bag of fun mix from the Icky Van at lunchtime. I'll go into it in more detail in a future post, but by the end of that year, the year that Blur released Parklife, and Oasis Definitely Maybe, we were firm friends. Chris was really into his art at the time, and me into my music, and we slowly influenced each other in the way we thought about both. After a while, perhaps a couple of years, Chris had bought a drum kit and decreed that we would form a band. I had already been in a few bands, notable mentions to the Scarlet Bananas and Silver Sixty Six here, but Chris was adamant that this band would be the one to concentrate on. He told me he knew of two lads who would be up for playing with us, who were already pretty much virtuosos in their field. They were both 17 years old. Wow! Seventeen?! Two years our senior! Seventeen year olds were surely going to be amazing musicians, have contacts in the music business and enable us to fall into any kind of record deal we could wish for. The majors would be fighting over us! We would meet 17, maybe even 18 year old girls who would drop at our feet! I was excited.

So around came that fateful day, in the late spring of 1996, I donned my best Joseph jeans and red Caterpillar t-shirt, grabbed my trusty axe and began the long uphill walk to Chris’s house. Up Old Barber I sauntered, passing Peckett’s Holt, Spencer’s Way and Old Barber (Even No.s 84-96) until I reached Knox Lane. A short few steps long Knox Lane and I was faced with the towering sheer cliff face of Knox Avenue. I took a deep breath, checked my ropes were secure and began the ascent. Four sweat soaked hours later I had reached the top. The most physically challenging part of the journey was over, but I wasn’t even half way to Chris’s yet. I headed deeper into Bilton, along the unending Redhill Road, towards the horizon, when slowly the end was in sight. I climbed through the ginnel, past the unused tennis courts just off Knox Way. I feared for my life passing those tennis courts, knowing that out from anywhere could jump Johnny Brown, or Wes Gotting. I came out the other side safely, hopped across St John’s Grove with a skip and a jump, through Scarey Alley and onto St John’s Crescent. I had made it!

Here is a map of my route that fateful day:

So anyway, I turned up at Chris’s and dragged my guitar upstairs to his bedroom. There they were. The bigger boys. I felt slightly nervous, but knew that my guitar abilities would have them spell bound for at least a moment, and then I could attack. “KILL KILL KILL!!!” I screamed, and I ripped out… oh no, hang on. Different story. Sorry. Um. Where was I? Yes. I remember…

They had a tape of a song that one of them had written. The little one. Colin was his name. The lanky one hadn’t really said much yet. He just stood there in silence, staring at my braces and rubbing his bass guitar. More on him in a future post too. The song was called Baby It’s You and they had recorded it at Dave’s (the lanky one) house. I was impressed, the recording quality was pretty good (bear in mind I was 15) and the song itself was strong. I was even more worried that I’d be found out for the fraud I was. I had written songs before, but nothing as complete as this.

“We’d like you to make up a solo for it” Colin said. So this was an audition? Alright then, bring it on. They played the tape again and I picked up my Rickter Les Paul. They want a solo? I’ll give em a fucking solo. Here it came, the space for the solo. I readied myself. Here we go… I played possibly the worst pentatonic solo anyone has ever played. Worse than fucking, I don’t know, the solo on “Magic Pie”. I hung my head in shame. I had failed, The one thing I had needed to do to impress these older lads and cement my name in Bilton folklore and I had messed it up miserably. But then I looked up at them. They were smiling. Grinning! They were impressed! They had loved it!

“That’s just want we were after, mate, that’s great!”

I couldn’t believe it – I had winged it. Unbelievable!

That band of course became Shooter – of which a lot has been written. Countless books and unauthorised biographies litter the shelves of bookshops everywhere and there isn’t much else to add to that story anyway. We all know how that went. I won’t waste your time. I will tell you one other little story from my youth however; the first time I got drunk.

Maybe 6 months after that first meeting, and Colin and I were firm friends. We played in the band most weekends and we all met up as a group to play swing football in the park nearest to where I lived quite often, as the summer sun set over the water treatment works next to the Nidd. Orange tinged memories of a perfect adolescence. Towards the end of the summer Dave decided to have a party at his house. His parents were away and he invited all of us round to his house on Skipton Crescent. I had drunk before, at Verity Hewson’s parties on Dragon Parade, but this was a party with older people, proper teenagers who had been drinking for years. This was going to be big.

I turned up with Andrew Chiu and Chris Barker and 6 bottles of Stella. I still wasn’t really keen on the taste of beer but I could put up with it now. We sat in the living room and I cracked open my first bottle. Down it went. Second and third slipped down nicely too. I was introduced to a girl called Liv; Dave was trying it on with her and it seemed to be working (they ended up together for a year or so as well, so quite a nice little story that). Liv was the first person I met from Harrogate Ladies College and so that was the start of that little avenue of my life. After a while I couldn’t take any more Stella, the nuttiness was just getting to much for my immature palette. I moaned to Col that I had run out of booze (lies!). He poured me a Jack Daniels and Coke. From that day, I have never looked back.

So thank you Col, for enjoying my substandard solos, entertaining me in the evenings and introducing me to Jack Daniels and creating this alcoholic monster which I have since become. I owe it all to you

Ladies and gentlemen, Colin Mills.

Guilt

2008-02-26T13:13:00.001Z

Been a lot of drinking going on recently. Far too much most probably. If you happened to ask a doctor, or a psychiatrist or someone like that, they’d probably tell you that I have a problem, or that my friends have a problem. We probably all give each other problems to be honest, egging each other on in an unstoppable force of sheer booze, fun and sex. As the Rakes say on their cracking first album (to which I’ve been recently been re-acquainting myself), if work only knew what I got up to at the weekend they wouldn’t speak to me. It’s not just the weekend though, it’s pretty much every day. Or it has been for the last…well, two months. It’s crazy, really really crazy. Last night was the first night in I’ve had since 2006 I think. Or it certainly seems that way.

So yes Col, I’ve been slack in updating this thing. But that’s only because I’ve been doing so much that I haven’t found the time. This is taking up my lunch break at work at the moment, in between swigs of Relentless and bites of a cheese and onion sandwich (from the BP Garage across the road), with added salt and vinegar discos for extra crunch. Not that I’m saying writing this a chore, I just want you to know what I’m giving up here. Mediawatch on football365.com will have to wait. Got a new job at work; well, I say a new job, it’s basically just a whole lot more stuff to do on top of my old stuff. But you know, it passes the time in the day before I go home and start living again. I’m feeling increasingly nihilistic, with no real point to vent my frustrations. Although the band have two gigs lined up next month, both within a week of each other. I definitely get to vent some anger on stage, I just don’t have enough of them sometimes and I vent it in other ways, drinking tends to help. Helps a lot actually. Dilutes it for a bit, makes me forget about everything.

Had a great day on Sunday, went into London with the lads for Ally’s birthday. Ally and I met Chris in town about 9.30am. He was supposed to meet us at nine, but after he didn’t show I gave him a call and he was still in bed. He had fallen asleep the previous night in his restaurant, on the kitchen floor, and woken up about 5am, staggered home and collapsed on his bed. To his credit, he met us 20 minutes after waking up, still in the same clothes as the previous night, un-showered, unwashed and still very much drunk. We picked up a bottle of champagne from his restaurant, bought smoked salmon bagels and 4 cans of Stella (Chris’s request) and caught the 10.06 train to Paddington. Having nailed the champagne and bagels on the way up to London and after a quick walk around Chris’s old Met Police stomping ground, we headed for the Oxo Tower, ordered various cocktails (a Margarita for Chris, a Martini for Ally and a Mojito for me) and waited for Adam and Nathan to arrive. They turned up, ordered beers (pussies) and we enjoyed the view over the Thames towards St Paul’s Cathedral. The weather was amazing and we were outside on the balcony. It couldn’t have been more perfect actually, I really felt like I was living.

Afterwards we headed for St Pauls and had a look around it. We didn’t let Chris in though as he was being rowdy and causing trouble everywhere we went. Well, not causing trouble, but you know, attracting attention to himself. It was great, but probably not appropriate. I don’t know. He didn’t want to come in anyway. He was checking out Yo! Sushi. We got a taxi to the Sports Bar on Haymarket to watch the Carling Cup Final. I became an honourary Yid for the day, and I wasn’t disappointed. We celebrated Spurs’ cup win with a bottle of champagne in Tiger Tiger. Then things got silly (sillier?). We went to the Cheers bar, Planet Hollywood, some other places. To be honest I can’t really remember this part of the day. Or much else really. Let’s just say it was all good. Plus my hand is hurting and I need to get back to work.

Twins II

2008-02-05T13:43:00.001Z

Twins

2008-02-04T15:50:00.000Z

Hero's Return

2008-01-31T11:27:00.000Z

Back in 1992, when I was 10 years old, I played football regularly every week. I was captain of my school’s team and I was the first choice right back for the local kid’s team and I also occasionally filled in on the right wing when Wes Gotting wasn’t playing. (Wes Gotting was an idiot of the highest order, incidentally, and was one of the main reasons I gave up playing football six years later). Anyway, the point is that I was mad about football. When I wasn’t playing at school or with Killinghall Nomads at the weekend, I was playing with Lee Sobot up on Saltergate Drive or Gavin Butcher and Yourgos on Sutton Grange Close in Harrogate. If I wasn’t outside playing football, I was playing subbuteo in my bedroom, reading Match magazine and collecting Pannini stickers and Esso World Cup tokens.

In 1992 my team, Leeds Utd, won the league. It was unbelievable – they won the league! My team! Two seasons ago they had been in the depths of the old second division, and Howard Wilkinson had brought in Gordon Strachan, Vinnie Jones, John Sheridan and changed the fortunes of my club so that within two years they were English Champions! Thinking about that now it’s absolutely unreal – imagine Crystal Palace winning the Premiership in 2010. It’s not going to happen is it? I had been to see Leeds play a couple of times at Elland Road, the first game I ever saw was actually the Leeds Youth team beating Man Utd’s youth team to the FA Youth Cup in 1992. This was the Man Utd youth team which included the Nevilles, Scholes, Butt and all that lot. It was Paul Armitage’s birthday, and we stood on the kop and watched our kids destroy their fierce rivals. It was fantastic.

So it was with great joy that I greeted the news that Dad had bought us season tickets for the next season. Me and Dad, going to see Leeds every week.

“What you doing Saturday Jof?” “I’m off to Leeds with my Dad. BYE”

Fantastic. Off to see my team defend their title. Every home game we’d be there. Absolutely top drawer! That championship winning side – I can still name them now – Lukic, Sterland, Dorigo, Fairclough, Whyte, Strachan, Speed, McAllister, Batty, Chapman, Cantona, had been changed a little, David Wetherall had come in to replace Chris Whyte, and Lee Chapman had been replaced by Brian Deane (good move, Wilko) but essentially I would still be watching my heroes every week, in person.

Of course that season we finished 17th, sold Cantona to Man Utd for £1.2m, discovered that Brian Deane was a donkey (which didn’t stop us from signing him again in 2004 though, as if at the age of 36 he’d be any less shit) and I lost a little bit of enthusiasm for our weekly journeys to South Leeds.

There was one player who I loved above all others though, and that was Gary McAllister. He was so skilful, so aggressive, so aware of everything that was going on around him. Even at the age of 11 I knew that he was the guy that made our team tick. I wanted to play like him (I didn’t see there could be much difference between a full back and a creative midfield playmaker, after all), I started wearing my shirt untucked on the pitch, I carried myself a lot taller and straighter, imagined myself roaming about the pitch like Gary Mac, controlling the game with pin point passes and surges into the box. I couldn’t, of course, do these things, but liked to imagine that I could. I was devastated when he left us to join Coventry in 1996, I couldn’t understand how he could leave me like this…

But now he’s back at Elland Road, looking to steady the ship which seemed to be sailing so well before Christmas, but since then has hit some worrying turbulence. I’ve been excited about Leeds this season but with Dennis Wise leaving us this week I had started to worry about what direction we’d take. With Gary Mac at the helm, I’ve got that 1992 feeling again.

This is Purely a Faecal Matter

2008-01-17T10:46:00.001Z

So the rivers are flooding again. I cross the Kennet every morning on my way to the station - when I say I cross the Kennet, I mean I walk over a bridge. There’s no wading or troll evasion involved, though this would probably make my mornings more interesting – and this morning it had burst its banks. It’s also overflowing at the Oracle shopping centre in town, and they’ve had to rope parts of it off. On my train journey to work you can see it as well, passing through Winnersh, the Showcase Cinema car park is a lake. I feel for all those people who’ve just recovered from the flooding in the summer and are now having to deal with it again, life can be cruel.

I have my own mini flood in my house at the moment, my radiator is leaking and it’s causing a bit of damp in my bedroom. This in turn keeps making our boiler cut out and so this morning the house was as cold as an ex-girlfriend’s stare and I had to have a freezing cold shower. Chronicles of ridic.

Jesus, I’ve just read back that last paragraph and realise how boring that was. I think I better stop now before I start discussing the quality of the local schools.

Shameless Self Publicity

2008-01-14T12:12:00.000Z

This Saturday (19th) sees the return of Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns, playing live for the first time since November. We’re playing at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell, which is a pretty sizable venue (for the likes of us!) and we’re very much looking forward to it.

We’re heading a line up consisting of the Monks of Junk, who play kinda funky rock, and Sell Crazy, who we’ve not seen before, but are reliably informed by their myspace that they “combine rock, punk and pop influences into an energetic and exciting mix”

So there you are, what’s not to love? Jof’s kinda weird stage presence and lacklustre vocal performances, Geoff’s experienced handling of all things percussive and Simon’s startling good looks. A winning combination if you ask me.

Obviously, it’s Chris and Laura’s birthday party on the same night, so fair play if you’re going to that, but if you’ve been (un?)lucky enough to have not been invited, where better to go?

Tickets are £6 if you buy them off Jof or Si, or £8 on the door on the night

Lots of love

Arrow

Thoughts on January

2008-01-02T17:57:00.000Z

This time of year is a funny one. A horrible one in fact, when I think about it. You get paid early in December by work, who think they’re doing you a favour by squeezing in your pay packet before Christmas, when in fact all this does is make January the most financially uncomfortable month of the year as you try and spread yourself as thinly as possible so as not to upset the credit card companies too much. But, of course, with the January sales and the misery that comes with the cold weather and the realisation that all the fun is over until the summer (if that ever shows up), all you want to do is blow your money on Stuff and food and drink and more Stuff. But of course, you’ve made a new year’s resolution to give up drinking for a while, and to try and change your dietary habits into something resembling fit for human consumption, and you’ve decided that this is the year that’s going to change your life; this is the year that you’re going to make your mark on the world and show all the brain-dead consumer monkeys (who just don’t understand) that you’re really going to break out of it this time. Except it’s really dark when you get in from work, and what with all the salad and fruit juice in your diet, you’ve only really got the energy to sit in front of the TV and watch those West Wing DVDs which you got for Christmas, before dragging yourself to bed, knocking the pen and paper off the bedside table, which you put there on New Year's Day to capture all those great ideas you expect to have just before you fall asleep.

Happy New Year Everyone

Goodbye 2007

2007-12-21T15:48:00.001Z

Well, what a year it’s been, etc etc… You know the score here; a full on review of the year would be good wouldn’t it? Would tie things up nicely. Actually, next week this blog is a year old – it started on Boxing Day 2006, inspired by Michael Palin’s diaries which I got for Christmas last year. So it seems it’s even more of an excuse to have a little wander down Nostalgia Avenue and review what’s been going on.

Well, as you may have guessed that’s probably not going to happen, I know that I’ll start it and then end up getting bored writing it, or run out of funny things to say, or discover that not actually that much has happened. So therefore, rather than just ramble on as normal, I thought I’d provide you with some lists for you all to enjoy. Cheers for reading this year, glad you could find the time to pop over. I’m looking forward to a great 2008. Merry Christmas.

Love
Jof

Top Five Albums of the Year

1. Under the Blacklight – Rilo Kiley - Just amazing pop songs, well written, beautifully sung and blindingly produced
2. The Redwalls – The Redwalls - Again, just classic songwriting, some incredible melodies, especially on Summer Romance and Game of Love. Stunning.
3. Easy Tiger – Ryan Adams - Rich Fee said to me he thought this was a real return to form. Took me a few listens to agree, but now I’m in love with it.
4. The Historical Conquests – Josh Ritter - A change from his folky earlier stuff, a lot dirtier and with some interesting production. Although if I’d produced it, it would have been better
5. Sky Blue Sky – Wilco - I only discovered Wilco this year, through this album. Beautifully mournful songs, polished to perfection.

Top Five Gigs of the Year

1. The Bluetones – Aldershot West End Centre, 26th April
Just an amazing gig, so small and intimate, stood right at the front and then met the band, had a drink with them on the tour bus and the performance was great, the new album is a real return to form (just missed out on the top 5 though!)
2. Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns – Cellar Bar, Bracknell, 12th June
Had to put this one in, we performed great and had a pretty decent crowd. Gets the nod over the other gigs due to I feel this was our best performance to date, and it was really hot and sweaty
3. Ryan Adams – Hammersmith Apollo, 16th November
Amazing performance, they’re such a great live band, not higher up due to the fact that we had to sit down and it was a bit quiet
4. Nine Black Alps – Reading Fez, 29th July
This would have been higher if I hadn’t been on my own :P
5. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Portsmouth Pyramids Centre – 19th July
Never heard a band so loud

Top Five Films of the Year

1. Transformers
2. Ocean’s Thirteen
3. And that’s it – I haven’t seen many films this year.

Top Five Blog Posts of the Year

1. Col’s reminisce of the day he saw someone set fire to themselves
2. Stephen Fry’s take on fame
3. Badger’s uni reminisce (I relate to this, a bit)
4. Col’s first short story
5. Dave’s best ever post

Top Five Things I’ve Discovered This Year

1. Relentless Energy Drink
2. Family Guy
3. YouPorn
4. West Wing (kinda re-discovered)
5. Sushi

Florence and Calamity and Joan of Arc

2007-11-28T12:43:00.000Z

OK, so I’m not going to hit 50,000 words by Friday night. It’s not going to happen. I’ll be honest, I’ve written about 12,000 words. I haven’t written everyday, I’ve had about 6 sessions all month. I have, if you like, failed in every way in my attempt to hit my target.

But you know what? I don’t care. I’ve made a start on a novel; I have all the time in the world now to craft it , to hone it and to finish it. I and bloody will do because it’s really good. I reckon.

In other news, I’m off to Leeds next week to watch Utd play Port Vale. Very much excited, although the form they’re in at the moment I'm a little worried that the first game I’ll have been to at Elland Road since my exodus from Yorkshire could end up in a reverse, but let’s hope not. Dave’s coming too, which is ace, but I wonder how he’s going to cope with all the chavvy yobs who will inevitably be around us. Will be interesting.

This blog will be back on track now, by the way, I’m making time for it.

Story of Tuesday October 30th

2007-10-30T22:45:00.000Z

Seeing as I haven't blogged for a while, I thought I'd show you what I did today, so you can live through my eyes. Here we go, chronologically:

I woke up

Washed, got dressed etc (I wore a tie today, just for you lot)

Left my house

Walked through the abbey

And Forbury Park

To the station

Got to Bracknell

And my office

Had a poo

Did some work

Left work

Waited for the train

Got home and tried to learn the words to my new songs

And the music

Decided to go to Sushi 108 for a beer

Then came home, watched Macca on the BBC Electric Proms and wrote this blog at the same time

So there you go, my day.

I doubt there'll be any posts next month as I'm writing my book - keep up to date with it here.

Oh, and check Col's writing - it's ace at the moment, excited about the updates which I've ben promised are on their way

Sushi108

2007-10-18T15:29:00.000Z

The time has finally come, tonight, for Chris Allen’s dream to become a reality. We’ve heard about his plans for world domination now for a good 3 years; how a sushi restaurant was the one fast food gap left in the principalities of Great Britain; how it was healthy, cheap, quick and tasty and how he had spotted a huge money making opportunity and the possibility of creating a whole new franchise. A McDonalds for the carbon considerate, obesity repellent 21st century everyman. Well, ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the night. Sushi108 will be finally opening its doors to the world…well, not the world, tonight is just an opening celebration for friends and family, but you know what I mean.

I remember when Chris came back from travelling many moons ago with a glint in his eye and an idea in his head. I don’t think anyone ever doubted that he would make good on his dream, but equally I don’t think anyone realised it would take so long to get off the ground. There was a feasibility plan to create, projected revenues and costs to be dreamt up, bank managers to brown nose, parents’ fears to quell, and (most difficult of all) a unit to locate. Chris must have been to see dozens of open units in Reading, as well as a good number elsewhere, including Islington and Guildford, and one by one they either fell from favour, or the deals fell through. Ironically, the unit that Sushi108 is now based in was the first unit Chris saw; 18 months after being turned down by the landlord it’s now up and ready for action.

I saw Chris last night when I popped in to say hello. It looked like he hadn’t slept for months, which of course, he hasn’t. Working his arse off gutting and refitting the unit and swimming through reams of paperwork, with the help of his parents and Beehead, his assistant manager. It’s all about tonight though - this is it. This is now Chris’s life, and we’re all very, very proud of him.

Long live the King of Reading.

Oh, and…try the fish.

Wholesome

2007-10-15T10:03:00.000Z

My Dad’s home at the moment, he’s been having monumental toothaches and apparently the Kuwaiti dentists have given up on him. He was supposed to be coming back at the end of this week anyway as he and Mum are going to Iceland for their 30th wedding anniversary, which scares me a little. 30 years! That means they’re getting old, and so am I , and I don’t like that thought. My mum was 19 when she got married, six years younger than I am now, and my dad was 24. When my Mum was my age, I was already 18 months old. Comparing my life theirs at my age, things are so different. I can’t imagine being with someone for thirty years, it’s insane. It’s reassuring, though that people do it.

So yeah, Dad’s home and I had a bit of a family weekend, which was nice. On Friday, Simon and Rachel came over to Reading and we went out. Rachel now has a full time job and so funds all Si’s social activities, which is amazing; I think it’s more the fact that Rachel would never get to out if she didn’t, rather than her wanting to. Either way, it’s a nice set up Si’s got going on there. They’re both great company and they get on really well with Ally, even though on Friday he wasn’t drinking, which is a relief. No awkwardness or anything and I didn’t have to play host at all, we just all got on and had fun, ending the night ringing on Chris Allen’s doorbell at midnight for no reason whatsoever.

Saturday afternoon I went home to Mum and Dad’s to watch the football and the rugby, which was good, obviously. I tend to follow Wales in the rugby more than England, but it was still an enjoyable result, and I’m looking forward to next Saturday (even though I think England will get absolutely spanked – especially on last night’s evidence, SA were pretty unstoppable against the Argies). We managed to cram in a meal at the Golden Retriever between the footy and the rugger as well. That place has really gone downhill in the last year or so – the menu has shrunk to about a quarter of the size it was, and the quality of the food is pretty poor. 5 out of 10.

A lazy Sunday was then had, after an alcohol-free Saturday – I think that must be a first for the year – topped off with a roast lamb dinner with the whole family all eating together. Bethan came over with Dave and I think it’s the first time that all five of us have been together for at least 3 or 4 months. I think Matt and Ali’s wedding was the last time. It was really good. While we were gorging our faces, Ally and Baz were running the Henley half marathon (remember I was training for a half marathon? Well, predictably, I failed). Ally ran it in under two hours, Baz wasn’t far behind him and they did us all proud, raising a proper decent amount of money for Melanoma Research (I think).

Bit of a crap update, but keeping up with demand

2007-10-09T15:28:00.000Z

Went to Pavlov’s Dog last night in Reading, it’s a pound a pint on Monday nights. Mental. I don’t think I’ve experienced being able to buy a pint for a pound since I left Yorkshire 8 years ago – even at uni, the cheapest you could get a drink was £1.50 I think (bloody London). So it was great, I was able to get slightly squiffy for a fiver. Amazing. Really amazing. Short sentence creatingly amazing.

It was full of absolutely beautiful students too, in their boho-indie garb, which I find particularly pleasant on the eye, and as it’s still fresher’s week, everyone’s up for having a chat and meeting you, as long as you don’t look too much like a townie. I suppose I am a townie now aren’t I? That thought's pretty depressing, I am going to grow my sidies a bit longer and wear my suede jacket so I don’t end up looking too much like a…like a what? I don’t know.

Anyway, I wish I was at uni, but I also don’t wish I was at uni. Which I’m not. So that’s 50% happy. That’ll do.

Friday Night In

2007-10-05T20:30:00.001Z

Well I think this writing thing is going to be harder than I expect. I don't know whether I have the patience to dedicate hours to it every day for a month. But maybe it's a good exercise. Well there's no maybe about it, it will be a great exercise. To be honest I'm quite interested to find out what's in this crazy old head of mine, it's a good way to get the shit out. The stream of consciousness thing is always a good cleanser isn't it? Sorts your head out for a bit, gets rid of all the erroneous rubbish that's lurking there. I have a few ideas about plot lines and narratives, I'm interested in getting them developed this month so I defintely know what I need to write about, then I can just bash through it, maybe with some random bits in between and thunder through some crazy thoughts etc. I know it's definitely going to be in the first person, and kinda quasi-autobiographical. I'm comfortable enough to say that I'm quite self-obsessed and it's the only way I think I'll be able to write 1700 words a day; write about myself. It's going to include two relationship threads with girls, a bit of band stuff and the theme of disappointment with adulthood. That is surely the thoughts that go through every twentysomething's head? I hope so, I don't want to be the only one.

I've just written a song. Well, I say just, I wrote the words at work in the week and then messed around with some chords yesterday. Tonight though, with the aid of a bottle of wine and an empty house, I put them together. It's sounding pretty dogger I must say, very 60's pop. I think it's the influence of listening to The Redwalls tonight and the new Rilo Kiley album, which I've been listening to all month. What a great album that is. They deserve to be mainstream, but I'm glad they're not. They have an interesting back story, a beautiful lead singer, great pop tunes and a good old sexy attitude. My favourites on the album, called Under the Blacklight incidentally, are '15' (which reminds me of Chris when I hear it), 'Smoke Detector', and 'Dejalo', which includes the line 'she sleeps on your left side, she gets nailed, I get tired. I sleep on your right side, 100 ways to kep love alive'. I fucking love them.

No plans for tonight. Most of the jocks are away at Saunders' stag do - 30 of them, and I wasn't invited. Fair enough. Chris and James aren't invited either, but they're out with their Mum and Dad tonight; they said they may get in touch later if they end up out on the town afterwards but I'm not holding my breath. I know only too well the effect that a large meal can have on one's night out libido. You never know though. So I'm getting drunk on my own. I've been watching a bit of Monty Python, and may try and find something else funny to watch. I'm satisfied that I've been creative tonight - writing that song and then getting involved with this. Finish off this bottle of wine and then start tackling some of the cans of Grolsche in the fridge - a noble task for the evening if ever there was one.

PS. Loving the attention at the moment dudes- keep it up!
PPS. Check out Sarah's blog on the left too - sorry I forgot it on the last post :)

Novel, in a month

2007-10-03T15:01:00.000Z

OK, well the gauntlet has been thrown down by my old friend Rich, I am going to write a novel in 30 days in November.

I’ve signed up to this website here, it looks pretty awesome, and will give me a creative endeavour to go for next month. Awesome. I was considering using those few paragraphs that I wrote a few months ago as a starting point, but is that cheating? What do we reckon?

Rich, the game is on!

(PS. Please see updated links to the left there – I’ve added Rich and Lee to my colony of fellow timewasters)

4 Coffees In

2007-10-02T13:59:00.000Z

I have this theory. If you sit down and start writing something with absolutely no clue as to what is going to come out, then eventually what you write will take a shape and form, a direction, a beginning middle and end. Even writing about nothing is writing about something, even if that something is nothing. I do think it’s possible to get 500 words down on paper without having a clue where it’s going to go. This can be quite exciting as you literally can take it anywhere. At the moment I’m sat here, at work, consciously avoiding climbing up my mountain of paperwork, as I know that once I start the ascent, I won’t be able to stop until I reach the top (and indeed, descend back down the other side). So I’m procrastinating, and searching for a way to fill my time. I always consider writing to be something worth doing, even if it has no real purpose. I have dreams of having a column in some trendy weekend broadsheet or ‘lifestyle’ magazine where I can spout on incessantly about myself and moan about the direction my life has taken and ‘where am I going to go next’. I also have a dream of being an actor, in films or on stage, not so much on TV. Of course there’s the music dream, but I don’t like to think of that as dream - more of an inevitability that one.

So I thought, you know, I’m 25 now, I suppose I should start going for things that I want. Too often I find myself in the evenings just sat about, going out drinking, fumbling around on my guitar or playing Football Manager, and it’s a proper waste. Well, the drinking isn’t so much of a waste - it’s important to socialise and meet people and everything, of course, but there’s probably a lot more productive things I could be doing with my time. What though? Even when I took up running, which I considered the most positive thing I’d done in a long time, I felt as though the time I was taking doing that could have been used for more productive things. The running didn’t get me anywhere, so to speak. I even regained all the weight I had lost in about 2 weeks. I am considering asking Chris to sort me out some freelance work writing for one of the future publishing magazines, but you need to write things to get published. What do I write about? What do people want to hear about?

Seriously, ideas please.

The acting thing. How do I even go about that? I’ve never acted in my life. I think I’d be quite good at it though - I’m quite shameless, emotional, attention seeking and good at lying. Maybe I wouldn’t like it? Maybe I would be shit at it? But maybe I’d be world class at it? Maybe I’m the next De Niro?

I sat down ten minutes ago and began to write with nothing in my head. Here I am writing about the same old stuff.

Woggzeh Style Stream of Consciousness (with less swearing)

2007-09-11T14:38:00.001Z

So today is a bit dump, the afternoon is dragging quite badly… I’m doing some mind-numbing jobs at work which have needed doing for a while and I’ve had to bite the bullet and get them done. I can’t seem, at the same time, to drag myself away from Facebook. So my day has consisted of doing stuff I hate and refreshing Facebook every three minutes to see if anyone’s chatting to me. My Facebook obsession has become a bit too much recently, I really should try and drag myself away from it for a bit, maybe have a couple of days off. I love it though, I’ve got in touch with loads of people who I wouldn’t have got in touch with otherwise – I even went away for the weekend with Gemma Smith through chatting to her on Facebook, and I hadn’t even seen her in 7 or 8 years or something. Madness.

I really have the urge to write stuff at the moment, but I can’t seem to get anything of any value out of me. I’ve been trying to write a song for the last few days, but all I’ve done is come up with some decent chord sequences; no words. All I need is a decent first line, and then I can work around it. Any first lines would be gratefully received. I’m going out tonight with work for a meal in Bracknell in a pub called the Yorkshire Rose. I like it already.

There’s a new bar open in Reading called the Mix Bar. I went there on Friday and also last night; it’s really nice, cocktail bar. I’m trying to get a DJ gig there. I spoke to the barman last night and have emailed the owner today. He says to drop a CD off and he’ll have a listen. So that’s a job for this week. Be ace if I get my foot in the door there. Chris Allen and his bro have recently moved to Reading as well, so my weeknights are becoming more exciting. Life is starting to get good again.

Love
Jof

To the Dogs or Whoever

2007-09-10T15:55:00.000Z

Some music I’ve been getting into recently, fyi…

Wilco
A couple of months ago I bought their new album, Sky Blue Sky, after hearing ‘Hate it Here’ on some program on them on Channel 4. I’d been looking for more bands that play that kind of acoustic country Americana soul stuff that I like and this ticked those boxes. But it’s also a bit of a guitarists album; some of the solos on there are pretty technically good, and the songwriting is really nice. Particularly the aforementioned ‘Hate it Here’, with it’s lyrics about dealing with breaking up (“What am I gonna do when I run out of shirts to fold?/What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow”) and the first track ‘Either Way;’ with it’s cracking guitar solos. Nice. Also in the last few days bought their first two albums (I’m gonna go through the chronologically), ‘AM’ and ‘Being There’, which are a lot more country and acousticcy.

Josh Ritter
Been a big fan of this guy since I saw him at The End of the Road Festival in September last year (in fact I’m going to this year’s one next weekend). His new album, The Historical Conquests of... has only just come out in the US, and I wanted it so bad I got it on import – it’s not out until 1st October over here. It’s brilliant, an amazing step forward from last year’s ‘The Animal Years’, and I’m gutted that he’s only playing two nights in the UK and they’re both sold out. Download ‘Empty Hearts’ and ‘Right Moves’ to get a taste. I can’t be arsed to find any links to them, it shouldn’t take too long for you to find them. Here’s his myspace anyway.

That’ll do for now. What you listening to?

The Pav

2007-09-06T18:53:00.000Z

Just want to direct you, quickly, towards this blog entry about the sudden death of Pavarotti and the impact he had on the author. Pretty stirring stuff.

Personally, I've just been watching his concert in Central Park on BBC2 tonight, and I was struck by the energy of the man, and the way he acts his way though the pieces he sings. He looks like he lives every word.

Holiday Photos

2007-09-05T15:38:00.000Z

I can't be arsed to write up my holiday properly, although it was bloody text. Here are some photos for you:

A proper update in a bit but...

2007-08-21T09:07:00.000Z

...there's a French guy who works in our office called Antoinne. He's a legend, I really like him. But the (English) girls in the office keep calling him "Anton", like Anton Ferdinand, and it does my head in. Everytime they say it I want to rip their trachea out.

Cocks.

Cheap Day Update

2007-08-15T10:24:00.000Z

Band rehearsal was really good last night. (I hate saying “band rehearsal”, it sounds so lame. I suppose it’s better than “band practise” though. I dunno – ideas please). I introduced four more songs, taking our total repertoire of originals up to 13 now. I could have introduced one more, but I haven’t decided whether it would work in the context of a three piece band or not. It’s a bit miserable and more of a solo style thing. Anyway, the new songs are:

Feels Like Home – A bit of a moany song, for which I am renowned, which is, I suppose, a comment about the fact that going travelling and seeing the world has become so commonplace now that it almost seems out of the norm to not do it. The irony of going and seeing the world but ending up somewhere like Australia, which (apparently) is just England anyway. I’m not against it, or having a go at it, just commenting on it.

I Want to Walk Home Again – A paean (what a great word) to my youth – “that night we drank plenty of mad dog 20/20” – and walking home from school with my best pal. It turned into a bit of an epic actually, with a really nice riff; in a kind of “Fin” by Pavement sort of way – I think it will probably now take over from “I Wouldn’t Move to London for You” as our end-of-nighter

You Didn’t Let Me Know – A kind of rockabilly tune, with lots of snare on it and a good old 12-bar style arrangement. Written a couple of years ago and demo’d, but never used properly. Sounding good.

A Few Requests – The first song that was on the One Up On Me EP from 2006, with new words and a decent arrangement. It’s gone a bit sleazy and is a bit of a laugh, most of my songs are a bit miserable so I thought I’d write one with a bit of an upbeat thing to it. I don’t know how Geoff (drummer) felt about this song, as he didn’t respond to it as much as he did the other three, but I like it so fuck it. Words are below:

Can we go back to what we were saying before please?
We’ve gone off the topic a little since you took off all of your clothes
You’ve got a way of distracting me so very completely
Please put your knickers on so we can start all over again

Don’t be difficult, don’t be difficult
I’m bored of thinking about this

Where were we now? I’ve lost my train of thought
Please don’t do that to me, there’s a time and place for everything
Oh forget it, you’ve made me feel like an idiot
Come and lay down with me and we’ll start all over again

Headshrinker

2007-08-14T14:43:00.001Z

I need to keep abreast of things at the moment, there’s a lot going on. Maybe if I put up here what I’m supposed to be doing in the next couple of weeks, then you lot could remind me of where I’m supposed to be and when.

Tonight - Band practise at Geoff, my drummer’s house. Introducing some new tunes and hopefully writing some too
Wednesday - BBQ/party at Zara Hoddle’s house
Thursday - My Dad’s back from Kuwait late on Wednesday night so I think we’ll probably end up going out on Thursday for a meal and a few drinks all together. Lovely
Friday - No plans as yet, but I expect I’ll be in Sandhurst and I’ll have to be in bed early as I have to get up on Saturday morning…
Saturday - …to go to my cousin’s wedding in Worcester. Nice.

Then next Thursday I’m off on my hols with the family to Lanzarote. Fucking come on.

Col, can you please text me my plans every morning from now on?

Thanks

Bath Weekender

2007-08-13T12:13:00.000Z

There’s a crushing inevitability that the Monday following a great weekend will be a bit of a stinker. Today is no different, it seems. However, I’m not here to talk about today, I’m here to talk about this weekend just gone.

What a great weekend it was; caught the train to Bath on Friday night after work, and arrived just after 7. Chilled in Chris’s flat, listened to some music and played with Chris’ electronic drum kit, which was top notch, I especially enjoyed the pre-set where the crash cymbal was a sample of some bird going “oh yeah”. Made a mental note to use more clichéd vocal samples in my tunes in future. Chris then made me a bacon and egg sandwich for my tea. I have instilled a great sense of competition in Chris with regards to his cooking, ever since I posted about Hannah’s breakfast a few months ago. I told Chris he needed to up his game and he’s really doing so, though I feel he has a little more to prove still. Looking forward to his next contender…

Later on Declan came round, who works at Future Music with Chris, and we continued to drink ourselves silly. We hit the town about ten o’clock, taking in the beautiful surroundings of Porters and discussing the pros and cons of being sat somewhere which has been decorated in the style of an alien’s innards. The conclusion of the discussion culminated in our exit from the place and descent into the wonderful world of Po Na Na.

I could go on for a while about the quantity and quality of the girls in Po Na Na, but I think I may possibly reduce myself to tears if I think about it too much. Put simply, there were lots of them and the quality was high. Nevertheless, our champagne drinking and acerbic wit and charm were not enough for these posing pretties, one of whom confided to us that we were “too old”.

Good night though, and one I will remember for a while.

Exhibits A & B

The next day we got up around 2 and rushed down to Moles as Chris and Dec were scheduled to interview a band calling themselves Crystal Castles. Now I don’t want to be a rumour monger, or turn this blog into a celeb bashing arena (for that, go here) but they were a fooking nightmare. Refused to answer any questions and just basically pissed Chris off. I thought it was quite funny, but it provided material for discussions throughout the afternoon. We schooled off to Opa, by the river, and recommenced our drinking. After meeting up with Lisa, Chris’s girlfriend’s sister, we went down to Moles again about 6ish to catch Crystal Castles in action (they were, predictably, rather good).

Afterwards we went back to Chris’s flat and messed about with all kinds of creative diversions – Dec and I covering Chris Isaac classics, playing Jump by Van Halen as a three piece electro combo, and just generally mucking around.

Saturday night was the same genre of night as Friday, but this time Chris had to work behind the DJ booth whilst Dec and I gorged ourselves on ridiculously strong cocktails. Dec was thrown out. Ledge.

Sunday was nice and chilled, but still booze fuelled – Chris and I sat in the beer garden at Ha Ha drinking Fruili and reading newspapers. I caught the train back to Reading at 22.17(well, it was supposed to be 22.17 but actually turned up at 22.50) and crawled into my unmade bed just before 1am.

Plans for the Weekend

2007-08-10T15:27:00.000Z

Went to bed last night at about 10pm after my run, and fell asleep pretty much straight away listening to Modern Times by Bob Dylan. Really is a great album. Woke up at 8am this morning, half an hour late, and had to rush around to get into work on time as I had to interview somebody at 9.15. Made it with 5 minutes to spare, but the candidate was faced with the picture of a slightly sweaty, still half asleep interviewer. Lovely stuff. He was quite good actually, and we offered him the job temp to perm, but he turned it down. Maybe because of my lack of professionalism. Maybe not though.

So this week’s dragged like anything, seems to have taken ages to get to Friday. A big oil tanker of a week. Should be fun now though as in about 45 minutes I’m heading off to Bath for a couple of nights out over there. When I get back on Sunday I need to run again, but I’m stepping it up – running from Winnersh Triangle station to home, which is about 4 and a half miles. Considering I have to run 13.2 miles in 7 weeks, I’m a bit worried, but I ran my usual 2.75 miles yesterday through the university and found it oddly satisfying and ‘easy’. (Easy in a way that I didn’t feel like being sick all the way along it). So I have to step it up a notch again. Building up to running from Bracknell to home in 4 weeks (10.6 miles). Can’t wait.

Thoughts

2007-08-09T12:22:00.000Z

I’ve been reading through my old posts today (slow day at work) and was astonished at how regular this thing used to be updated. It reminded me of the point of this thing, which is to act like a diary of my life, rather than just a wall for my thoughts and everything. SO I am going to try to get back to how it was and keep it good and updated.

It’s a difficult thing because this blogging lark can all be construed as a bit self involved, and a bit dull. Why would anyone want to know what I get up to everyday? Why is this important to do? Personally, for me, I see this as a diary to keep for myself, to remind me of what I’ve done. I am rubbish at keeping actual diaries, I generally tend to get to about February and then give up, but I think it’s important to document your life in some way. At least with a public blog there’s a potential audience there, so one tries to keep it going. Anyway.

Last night I went out with Gemma Smith in Reading. She’s down for the week doing a course in London, staying with her sister in Burghfield which is just outside town. Gemma’s great fun, and she hasn’t changed at all since she was 16. It’s mental – she is actually still the same person. It’s quite refreshing actually, usually you meet up with people after a long period apart and they’ve been shaped and eroded by time, but not Gemma. We went for a drink in The Oakford, then to 0degrees for a pizza (recommended), and then for a dirty cider and black in the Purple Turtle. She didn’t stay out late – got the bus home at about 9.30 (even though I tried to insist she got a taxi) – and I met up with Al for a couple of beers in Ha Ha. When we got in, High Fidelity was on, so ended up drinking another beer in front of that.

I felt pretty rough this morning, and had to buy a bottle of water on the walk to the station to settle my stomach. Work is a bit strange at the moment, I’m pretty much running the department myself as the boss is away and we haven’t recruited anyone else yet. It’s a good opportunity for me to show what I can do I suppose, but I just have no passion for it.

Oh well.

Tonic and Gin

2007-07-26T13:58:00.001Z

Don’t catch me drinking
Don’t catch me drinking you in
Been sat here all night and I'm fading with the light
Sipping my tonic and gin

Someone disturbs you
But it’s not me at your arm
A confident swagger and eyes that can hammer you
Into submission and harm

But I’ve not got the energy
For weeks of chasing you around
Revolving my life around you
Running myself into the ground

Looks like he’s got the energy
And the will to win
Tonight I’m content with second place
Just sipping my tonic and gin

Overkill

2007-06-27T09:27:00.000Z

Alright then, an update. I haven’t done a diary-style-long-winded-Collywog-sweary-bastard one for a while, so here we go. I might do it as a day by day thing actually, of my last month; then maybe finish it off with a look ahead at coming events and possible exciting times. Would that be ok for you all? I wouldn’t want to disappoint you seeing as you’re obviously all so hooked on this thing. It’s nice of you to think of me really- I appreciate it. Nice that you’re so interested in me. I love you. Not you though. Just you.

Saturday 2nd June

Well, it was my birthday BBQ/party/night out thing on this day. Seems so long ago now. (I have been 25 years old for 23 days. Pretty rubbish eh? Being old sucks. Went to a student night last night and I felt ridiculously out of place. I hate it. Anyway…) Had people round about 4ish and we lit up the BBQ. Ally was on cooking duty, and ended up giving Simon Farrell food poisoning with his half cooked chicken. In the evening we went to the Fez club in Reading and listened to some stuff which I was told was good. I just nodded really.

Other than the old E.Coli scares though, it was good fun. Here’s proof:

Monday 4th June

My actual birthday. Didn’t tell anyone at work so got no fuss, and I didn’t have to bring in any cakes. Went out with the family to the Empress Garden in Sandhurst for an all you can eat. Textbook.

Thursday 7th June

Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns played their second ever gig at Quarantine in Farnborough. It was pretty good, the sound in that venue is nice, and we got a decent amount of people down there. Cocked everyone else off the stage too- we’re so good. Have quite big plans for this band, I’m getting older, it’s make or break time. Keep your ear to the ground towards the end of this year/beginning of next year is all I’ll say…

Saturday 9th June

Went to Bath to catch up with me old mate Razor and his bit of stuff. Chris cooked breakfast:

Had a good weekend, but whilst I was there I missed Adam propose to Becky at her birthday party. Congrats to them dudes, though I know none of my Southern mates read this…

Sunday 10th June

Sank 18 bottles of Champagne between 10 of us to celebrate the aforementioned engagement. Piss turned fizzy.

Tuesday 12th June

Band played at the Cellar Bar. No-one came. Bassads. Got a recording of it though- I will upload it somewhere soon and you can all have a listen. It’s quite good. Set list as below:

1. Feeling Sore
2. I Expect Too Much (String broke- cue 5 min break while I change string on stage. Awkward.)
3. I Believe In You
4. Lights Change to Red
5. One Up On Me
6. Melancholy Sunday
7. Back in the USSR (Beatles cover)
8. Just the way it is
9. You Break My Heart Everyday
10. I Wouldn’t Move to London for You

Tuesday 19th June

Went to ‘Pack Yer Face In 2’ at Po Na Na’s with housemate Ally. It was Lil Kirsti’s end of term celebration thing, and she wasn’t too happy with the turn out. It was awesome though, there were plenty of people there and the music was ace. She played a cracking set, including Chris’s Round the Twist remix. Dogger! I don’t think Ally enjoyed it though- it’s not really his scene. Idiot. Kirsti’s gone to London now, working for Dazed and Confused. Big timer. Good luck to her

Wednesday 20th June

Poker night round the house. Lost £10. First out. Whatev.

Thursday 21st June

Work night out- curry in Bracknell. The food was nice. Work is so bloody rubbish at the moment, there’s a lot of pressure on us and they’re really pushing us to hit some ridiculous targets before month end. I need a holiday.

Saturday 23rd June

Went to Royal Ascot with me close mates. Best day out in a very long time. Got verily verily drunk and I can’t remember anything past about 4pm. Was drinking champers from 9am. I don’t drink anything else now.

So there you are- a summation of my month so far. This weekend I think we’re hitting Reading, hopefully somewhere good, nowhere shit. If we end up somewhere shit I will go somewhere good on my own. Yes. Next weekend of course I’m up in Leeds for Col’s birthday. Can’t wait. It’s gonna be so textbook.

I’m out.
J

Excuses

2007-05-25T14:20:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of action. Moved into my new place last Saturday and yet to set up internet. I'm getting it all sort on Wednesday, so we'll be back on track then.

As if you're interested ;)

Jof

Most boring post ever? Nah- look at this

Devs win the League

2007-05-10T11:55:00.000Z

Well, the football season is over, The Sandhurst Devels last night won the Aldershot and District Senior League, which was nice. Friday night is the end of season awards night, and I'm presenting the fan's awards, which should be fun...

Keep checking the flickr for more photos.

More Cheap Day Related Stuff

2007-05-08T23:10:00.000Z

Johnny Arrow and The Cheap Day Returns

2007-05-04T08:42:00.000Z

Well, it's on again- after a cracking night at the Cellar Bar, in which we schooled everyone off the stage, I don't mind admitting- I love life.

The Bluetones

2007-04-26T23:28:00.000Z

Bloody hell, what a night.....

Saw one of my favourite bands ever play a cracking set, then got to meet them, chatted to them in the bar, went on their tourbus, talked about music, then gave them my CD.

Check my flickr.

Amazing....

Office Fun

2007-04-20T10:03:00.000Z

People in my office do my head in. If I left my job it would probably be because of them. They’re not nasty or anything, they just have stupid, dull, inane conversations about things that make me want to hit them. Example:

Dullard 1: I’m going to have a nice day in front of the telly on Saturday, watching the marathon

Dullard 2: Well, you’re going to have a bloody long wait cos the marathon’s on Sunday

Dullards 1, 2 & 3: ABSOLUTE HOWLS OF LAUGHTER RING ON FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS

Dullard 3: [pause] What’s this marathon?

If I was in a better mood I would probably find it funny.

Attitude Watch

2007-04-18T09:05:00.000Z

I think I had got complacent after my comparatively easier run on Monday night. Last night's run was the hardest yet; didn't enjoy it at all. Still, feel good about going for it. I only have to do one more between now and Friday to keep to my 4-runs-in-a-week target.

Now I don't want you to think (whoever 'you' are) that I'm going to become one of these fitness fanatic, talks about body mass index, debates whether to eat anything at lunch, protein shake worshipping knobheads because I'm not. I've just not got anything else to blog about at the moment...

Silly ideas

2007-04-17T10:54:00.000Z

I’ve signed up for the Windsor half marathon, which is on September 30th. Pretty silly thing to do really, seeing as the extent of my exercising usually is walking to the toilet.

I’ve taken up running though- and went for a 15 minute jog on Saturday and another one yesterday. They both killed me, but yesterday’s was markedly easier than the first one.

Somehow I have to get from a 15 minute jog on 14th April to a 13 mile run on 30th September.

Bollocks.

I Love Jenny Lewis

2007-04-12T13:08:00.000Z

Swoon

Updates Update

2007-04-10T10:32:00.000Z

Hi

Sorry for the lack of updates, I will put something on here tonight.

In the meantime- visit my flickr. Oh, and also visit this blog- I love it (especially the bollards tag).

Joffers

19th March 2007

2007-03-19T16:43:00.000Z

Won the Annual Sandhurst Devels Quiz on Saturday night, and then proceeded to get drunk and naked at Dave Shearman's house. Great night, but I was in bed till 4 on Sunday.

Flambescent!

6th March 2007

2007-03-06T11:39:00.001Z

Went round Adam and Becky’s on Friday night for fajitas (amazing, as always- Maiders is such a good cook), and to watch The Departed. Was really impressed, although trying to watch a film with a relatively complex narrative whilst sitting with Chris and Baz can be a bit of a struggle! I love them both though, of course. Ended up being quite an early night, got back to Mum’s about 11.30. Had to sleep in the living room as Rachel was staying over. Rachel seems to be a permanent fixture in that house at the moment, I think Mum finds it a little frustrating on occasion, and the number of times I’ve come over for an evening and found Simon and Rachel stretched out on the sofa, in control of the telly, with Mum exiled to the chair in the corner of the room. It sometimes looks like she is the visitor, and I hope Simon considers the situation. I’m sure he does, he’s a clever lad. Cleverer than me sometimes.

Saturday was supposed to be the big game between the Devels and their main title rivals, Bentley. However, it was called off (it was too sunny or something) so the lads spent all day getting drunk. I stayed at home, getting ready for the Flat 5 gig that night and at 5.30 went to set up and soundcheck at South Hill Park. After a surprisingly stress-free set up, I went home to eat some quiche and get changed. When I returned to SHP at 9, a big load of my friends were there, absolutely smashed out of their faces. The gig went well, punctuated by Ally dropping a pint of snakebite all over the floor, chants of “we want flat 5” from Stav at high volume, Chris knocking over Justin’s mic, Stav trying to get on stage while we were playing and ended by Chris and Ally falling into and breaking the bar.

1st March 2007

2007-03-01T10:51:00.000Z

Went out last night and saw Jubb and the Dirty Sleeves play at the Purple Turtle in Reading. Was good fun- had a bit of a crew up there too- Chris B came over from Bath, my bro came, Laura Macca, Emma Wilson and Kiersty as well. After the gig (storming), we went upstairs and had a few more drinks then the sensible ones (Macca, Emma, Bro, and eventually K) went home and left Jubb, Chris and I to continue the night on. Drank until half two, wandered looking for some dirt. Found it in the way of dirty Zorba’s burgers and got a baxi home to the Towers. Sat and watched babecast for a bit (as you do) then schooled it to bed just before half three. Chris had the sofa and I spooned with Jubb. Lovely. Woke up at 7.45, had a shave, got dressed, peeled Chris off the sofa and drove them both to Wokingham station and I got to work on time. Mental. They’ve gone to Sounds Expo in Earls Court, and I’m sat here drinking the coffee machine dry. Amazing times!

A Work In Progress - Installment 1

2007-02-23T14:31:00.000Z

One of my pet projects at the moment is I'm beginning to write a book. I have no idea really what's it's about, I'm just playing it by ear. I had the idea though, that if I gave myself a deadline every week to write 1000 words and then post them up on here as proof of my hard work, then that will give me incentive to keep it going. So here we go- installment one of the yet-to-be-named masterpiece:

****

Graham picked up his phone and walked over to the fridge. As he typed in the familiar numbers and lodged the phone between his shoulder and his ear, he idly fingered the refrigerator’s contents. The milk was almost past its sell by date. He could never drink two pints in two days on his own. That pizza should have been eaten yesterd…

“Hello?”

Last night’s beer cans lined up on the worktops like a battalion of infantry; the kitchen smelt of wine, lemon and limescale.

“Yeah, can I order a taxi please?”

The boiler clicked into its heating cycle and the radiators groaned. Drizzle turned to rain outside and Graham pulled the open window closed.

“18 Leighton Grove, half an hour? Thanks”

He hung up and stared at the children playing football on the road outside the kitchen window, unperturbed by the rain. Above them, the Horse Chestnuts sighed a weary sigh, echoing Graham’s resignation. The sky was like a vast grey duvet, towering above everything, and yet seemingly so close. This wasn’t a day for the claustrophobics.

Behind him, in the living room, Nicola was crying. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her smiling, the tears seemed permanent to him, a feature of her face no different to the freckles on her nose, or the tiny mole so elegantly positioned on her right cheek. The tungsten above lit her brown hair so that it shimmered like her tears as it fell onto delicate pale shoulders. The curtains were drawn and the room glowed sickly orange.

Graham turned and walked back into the living room and sat at the table, watching Nicola over on the sofa. He felt an intense sadness.

“The taxi’s on its way- half an hour”

She dragged the hair from her face and fixed him with sad eyes and a half smile. She noticed he was fingering the watch she had bought him for his birthday last year. No, the year before. That was the year he had told her he loved her. She felt a surge of happiness for that memory, as if for that split second she was back in that place, could smell the freshly mown lawn, and taste the charcoaled sausages from her father’s barbeque, but she wiped her eyes and quickly faded back into the present tense.

“Can I use your shower?” she asked,

My shower? Considered Graham; ‘my’ shower? Now it was his shower. Before this morning it had been ‘ours’, in fact, before this morning it may as well have been hers, he thought, the amount of time that she had spent in there compared to him. It seemed right that she should take it with her. It was more hers than his, and now she was asking permission to use it. He suppressed his temptation to be pedantic;

“Of course”

“Thank you”

She stood up and walked past him, past her bags which stood packed, bulging with her life in the hallway, to the bathroom. He caught her scent as she passed him, a mixture of sleep and Cerrutti, and reflected on how much that smell used to excite him. He wished the morning were over.

***

Outside in the taxi, forty three minutes later, she stared out through her still damp hair at Graham’s flat, her home for the last two years, and tried in vain not to take a mental picture of its red brick walls for the last time. She tried not to acknowledge the fact that she would probably never set foot in it again, never walk up the crumbling staircase, with its discarded free newspapers and pizza delivery menus which Graham seemed to collect by the dozen. She tried not to imagine greeting the black and white cat which always yawned at her in the evening from the windowsill half way up the stairs when she got in from work, and the cobwebs outside the front door of Graham’s flat which now almost obscured the green copper number 18. Graham refused to clean them away because it was the landlord’s responsibility to “maintain the exterior of his property”. At least she’d not have to hear him complain about that again. But she tried not to consider even that; this was just a normal taxi journey, and she would be home in the evening. This wasn’t a film, after all.

“Where you going, love?”

She could feel his eyes all over her, like snakes exploring the contours of her body. She could smell his coffee breath and the vague trace of Vic. She reminded him of Susanne, one of the girls who had got him expelled from school all those years ago. Vulnerable and hurt. They drove on.

20th February 2007

2007-02-20T10:46:00.001Z

Oh God, I’ve got to do something about this cat situation. It stayed with me last night, slept on my bed. It must be starving- I know for a fact that it hasn’t been fed since at least 6pm last night, and if past form is anything to go by then it won’t be fed all day today (the downstairs lot have in the past left it out all day). So I have a dilemma. Do I feed it, and then risk it becoming mine forever, but, you know, stop it dying of starvation, or do I ignore it and pretend I don’t know it? Speaking to some people in the office today they think I should go and knock on the neighbours’ door and have a word with them. They don’t seem like the kind of people that would appreciate a situation like that though. I can imagine it all kicking off and upsetting them if I questioned their cat looking after abilities. But, then again, they may be more pissed off if I feed it and they never see it again. I’m telling you, it’s too small to be left outside on its own. Fucking idiots. Makes me really angry. Could always ring the RSPCA I suppose, but maybe that’s a bit too much. I don’t know what to do. I think I might buy some cat food at lunch though, just in case.

19th February 2007

2007-02-19T16:28:00.001Z

Thursday

Finish work at 5.30 and dog it home at top speed to at the Towers in time for the arrival of Chris, Claire and Nikki. Chris texts to tell me that they’re going to be 45 minutes late. Relax and set about cleaning the bathroom and changing bedsheets. Welcome Nikki to the flat (she arrives separately to the other two), and feed her gin and Doritos whilst I sup on my third Budvar. Chat about nothing until Chris and Claire arrive, and we listen to some tunes (a nice Jof/Chris mashup of “I’m Into Something Good” by Hermans Hermits and the KLF at one point). More booze, showers and a taxi postponement later, we’re off into Reading and to the Renaissance Hotel where Chris meets up with Deano Ramirez and does his journalist thing. Claire, Nikki and I waltz over to the bar and I get the kind of looks from the other bar dwellers that can only say “two hookers in one night, eh mate? Nice going”. We joke about this. Head off to an empty Fez Club where we meet up with lil Kirstie, and also Sarah Acklin (blast from the past). She’s friendlier than I thought she would have been, which is a pleasant surprise, but my priorities are elsewhere. Drink champagne, dance for about 3 hours, get bored with it, drink some more, enjoy myself again, get a bit bored again. Head back to the flat, make some more cocktails and then go to bed without drinking them. Waste.

Friday

Day off work, so nice and relaxed morning, aside from the drilling from downstairs. Wake up and provide continental style breakfast for my friends. Nikki drives home after Chris unsuccessfully lobbies for a lift, then showers, and say goodbye to Claire. Chris and I head into Reading for a MacD’s (oh yes) and he goes to catch his train. I hang around in Reading for a while until 4, when I go and view two potential flats (very nice, but a little expensive). Back home by 6, tidy the flat, then out again at 7 to Mum’s to get my back waxed by Rachel. Interesting, if not painless experience, but I am now nice and smooth. Chill at Mum’s for the evening and home and in bed by 11.30.

Saturday

Get up 10.30 and lazy around watching Soccer AM. Have some toast and head out to watch the Devels lose 1-0 in the semi finals of the cup to their league rivals. Bad tempered drink in the sports club afterwards. Go home and eat a pizza and have a little lie down in front of Man Utd vs Reading. Ring Chris Allen to see what the plans are for the evening and he sounds very drunk. Strangely, meet Chris, Ally, Beehead, Tom Wilde, Anna and Gareth down the sports club (I don’t think they’d left). When I get there Beehead is dancing with his top off. Ally and Beehead intensely drunk, and very funny. After a while Nathan turns up and we go to the Welly. Barman refuses to serve Ally and Beehead after B is sick out on the patio. Ally (jokingly) threatens to throw a bar stool. After much hilarity, head back to Nathan’s for some Pro Evo and bagels with incredibly hot mustard. I can still taste it.

Sunday

Wake up at Mum’s house and stay for Sunday dinner. Watch a bit of the footy and then head back to the towers and waste the afternoon in front of the telly. Let the cat in for a bit and play with it. Feed it some water after it tries to drink out of the toilet. Guiltily put the cat out at about 8 and hear it miaowing on and off during the evening. Write a song and record a demo. Bed at 12.30.

15th February 2007

2007-02-15T15:47:00.001Z

Right- the mythical cat. Well, it’s not’s not mythical because it’s true, but it seems to have gathered a kind of mystique around it. Legendary would possibly be a better word. I’m not sure. How about The Cat. Yes, I like that. Start again…

Right- The Cat. One of the flats downstairs has recently got themselves a little kitten (to go with the two dogs and 3 kids they already have- I swear, I don’t know how they can all live in a flat that size, with that many people, smoking that amount of cigarettes. Probably explains all the crap they leave discarded outside in their garden- a fridge, skateboards, 3 bikes and a kite last week). This kitten is left outside all day and, I think, all night. It only is ever allowed in the flat, it seems, when they decide it would like to eat. I feel it is neglected. Anyway, I generally show it some love when I come in from work and it’s sat on the stairs in my building shivering it’s little paws off and I’m happy to say that we have built up a bond.

On Wednesday night after five minutes of playing around on the stairs (a little pawplay, if you will), it followed me into my flat. I think I had been secretly wanting this to happen to be honest, I had wanted to pretend for a little bit that I had a cat of my own. Anyway, I didn’t do much to stop it and he/she (I’m not sure, but I’ve called him/her George, so it could go either way) spent a good half an hour having an explore round the Towers. Then ‘it’ came up and sat on my lap on the sofa and fell asleep for 20 minutes. It was ace, but then I felt that if it got too attached to the place then I would never be able to get rid of it and the smokey joes from downstairs would probably try and kill me. So when it woke up I carried it back out into the cold, concrete hallway and shut the door on it. I felt terrible, especially as I could hear it scratching on my front door for a good ten minutes. I had to put Jarvis on really loud so I couldn’t hear it.

So yes, there you are. George and I still have our little corridor relationship, but I mustn’t let him/her get too comfortable, it’s dangerous ground…

13th February 2007

2007-02-13T09:51:00.000Z

I’ve never really been fazed by people with power. I don’t see them as these big shadows looming over my potential career, or as a chance to brown-nose my way up, I just see them as other people, who are doing a job. They all get drunk, poo and wank, just like the rest of us, and I like to think that I can treat them no differently to anyone else that I meet. That said, last night we (the finance dept) went out for dinner with the Senior VP of Finance of the company, and I’ll confess to being a little knocked off my perch at first (Americans tend to knock me back at first anyway- I think it’s because I just assume they’re movie stars). However, as the night wore on (and the red wine flowed) it became apparent that this man was very laid back, up for banter and completely relaxed being with people. My principles, then, are justified. I find it amazing that some people can be intimidated by a man’s job title- some of the girls from the office were being so careful not to step out of line, and answer any of his questions with a scripted “The Company is great” routine, which made me feel sick. After the (very good) meal of steak and sweet peppers, everyone went home, apart from Dave and I (the VP man has a name!), who headed for the Raglan for another drink, where we discussed such varied issues as the Arctic Monkeys and the Iraq war- always interesting to get an American’s perspective on that.

It is my opinion, and I expressed this opinion to Dave last night who concurred, that the difference between someone at clerk level (me) and someone in management is that to be manager you have to sacrifice your spare time for work. Someone at my level can go home and not consider the day’s events, but to be in management one must take the stresses of the day home with you and dream about them in your sleep.

I’m not quite ready for that yet.

8th February 2007

2007-02-08T11:52:00.001Z

Had my hair cut in my lunch break yesterday and I now look like a Beatle, which is kinda what I wanted I suppose. I quite like it. I will put a pic up here tonight when I get home.

To Geoff’s last night for the first ever Johnny Arrow and The Cheap Day Returns rehearsal. I was anxious as to how it would go, as a few of the songs I’ve never been 100% confident with, but it went, I feel, spectacularly well for a first get together. Had some great comments from Geoff with regards to the songs, and they pretty much just flew out of us. Played through 8 of them twice, with very little tweaking. Once I’ve introduced another 4 or 5 songs then I reckon we should be good to go. Below the songs we did;

Melancholy Sunday
One Up On Me
You Break My Heart Everyday
Feeling Sore
I Believe in You
I Wouldn’t Move to London for You
Just The Way It Is
Lights Change to Red

I was particularly pleased with Feeling Sore and I Believe In You, as I wasn’t confident of their quality, but they were two of the best ones we did. I really think this could be the start of something pretty good.

Woke up this morning to snow. Everything looks so good in the snow, the whole drive to work was beautiful, through Crowthorne, and even up the bypass to Bracknell, which has never looked as pretty. It’s never looked pretty, to be fair. I was worried a little about driving in, as the council don’t seem to have done any gritting at all. I find it mental that whenever it has snowed down here the whole county seems to come to a standstill (there are only 4 out of 10 people in my office today). It used to snow up in Yorkshire quite a bit and it never made such an impact on everything. Anyway, I got al the way to work this morning fine, then when I attempted to turn into the car park nothing happened. Braking didn’t help either and so I ended up in a bush. Which was fun.

5th February 2007

2007-02-05T11:16:00.001Z

Of course, I got paid last week, and the weekend which follows payday is generally regarded as one over which a stupid amount of money is spent; this weekend was no exception. Andy came to visit on Friday from Grimsby, where he now lives, and we went into Reading. I was pleasantly surprised to be reminded how easy it is to get on with Andy, and how comfortable I am in his presence, even though I hadn’t seen him for almost two years. The night was mixed; after being knocked off my feet coming out of the train station for no discernable reason by some cunt, we headed to the Oakford Social Club. So good was it that we made the decision to end the night there, after meeting up with Marc and James in the Purple Turtle (who claimed they were going to meet us back at Oakford, but didn’t show). Unfortunately when we got back there it was pretty empty, but the music was still good and we managed a good hour of manic dancing to The Gossip and the like.

Then Saturday morning, after a breakfast of bacon and egg sandwiches, we hit the road for Bath in Andy’s van (which had been left open all night, the door swinging invitingly ajar). Arrived at Chris’s about half two and soon were out at the Ha Ha Bar watching the rugby (yawn) and drinking Fruilis. In the evening we went to Revolution for two cocktails each, then Sub 13, where I was abused by some idiot in a scarf. Then went to Moles to see Annie Mac, although as soon as she stepped up to the oche the lights went out and the sound died. By this time we were too boozed to care and so we went to the Bluerooms, where again I was picked on for some reason (“You look like you need about 10 hours down the gym a week, pal”), but we gave as good as we got. Twat.

And to be honest that’s all I remember, apart from waking up on Chris’s floor (having not pumped the bed up). Got the train home and straight out to a band practise in Ascot on Sunday evening.

1st February 2007

2007-02-01T11:56:00.000Z

Visitors to Arrow Towers two nights in a row! Unheard of! My brother came over for a bit last night to pick up my bass guitar which he wanted to borrow for some recording thing he’s doing on the Beatles on Friday. He really should be pretty clued up on them after his lifetime’s worth of exposure to them due to me. If he doesn’t get an A I’ll be embarrassed! Hopefully he’ll also learn all the Johnny Arrow stuff in time for next Wednesday’s practise.

Watched the first in a new series of Buzzcocks. Simon Amstell has really kicked the life back into it after Mark Lamarr’s half-hearted last series and it’s one of the funniest things on telly. In my opinion.

It’s month end of course, (ie. 28 days to March- WHOOP!), so work is suitably high octane. Well, as high octane as accounts can get I suppose. This week has gone so quickly though; I woke up this morning convinced that it couldn’t be Thursday, so much so that I had to put BBC News 24 on to double check. I was delighted. All this wishing my life away has got to stop at some point right? Maybe when my life’s properly started. Oh, hang on a minute…

Two posts in one day?!

2007-01-31T16:41:00.000Z

I know, two posts in one day is a bit silly, but I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that I now have a Facebook account, which has enabled me to waste even more time at work.

Sign up and get involved. If you like.

31st January 2007

2007-01-31T10:50:00.000Z

Things have settled down again since the weekend, my stomach and head are back to their usual numb selves and are looking forward to more of the same kind of abuse this coming weekend.

On Sunday night I was supposed to be at a band practise for Flat 5, but I forgot, which is pretty bad considering we have a gig on February 10th and there are a few tunes that we’re doing that I definitely need to catch up on. I think another practise has been arranged for next Sunday evening, so I’ll need to make sure I’m back in time from Bath.

Chris and Ally came over last night. Chris is definitely not going to be moving out with us now, as it looks like he will now be setting up Sushi one0eight in Guildford rather than Reading. It wouldn’t make sense for me to move to Guildford, with my job, and to be honest, Reading is where I want to be anyway. Ally and I made some viewing appointments for a couple of 2 bed places in Reading, so the dream is not dead yet!

Took my car into the garage this morning for them to have a look at the brakes issue that I seem to have. Apparently the callipers on my front left wheel have probably gone and I’m taking it in on Friday to get it sorted. I shouldn’t be driving on it really, I’m told, but I’m going to have to for the next couple of days. I can’t afford three day’s worth of taxi fares to and from work.

Arranged for a Johnny Arrow practise round Geoff’s next Wednesday with Simon – things are moving forward quite nicely, and I’m optimistic of being at a gig standard by the end of Feb.

24th January 2007

2007-01-24T16:47:00.000Z

Got in from another productive day at work yesterday and started boxing up some stuff in the flat. A bit pre-emptive probably, considering I haven’t even put the place on the market yet, but I felt good doing something towards the effort, which has come to a bit of a stop in the last week or so. The problem is that a lot of the administrative stuff has been done, and it’s now all about physical labour and general money spending. After filling three boxes with books, I went to Tesco for what turned out to be a very large, but successful shop. Bought some vitamin-heavy consumables and a bottle of Amaretto to add to my increasingly impressive bar at home.

Looking forward to next weekend; Andy Clarke is coming down from Grimsby for a weekend of Southern entertainment. Friday night he and I are going to sample the delights of Reading, and then head over to Bath on Saturday to meet up with Christopher. Wallet, get ready for another battering.

Up early this morning and made myself a bowl of Ready Brek (yes!) and headed to work with the left over duck from last night’s dinner in a sandwich. Check me out, fully functioning as a grown man (except for the Ready Brek). Blimey.

23rd January 2007

2007-01-23T16:45:00.001Z

Drove Dad to the airport last night and had a nice chat, which was good. Discussed the flat and holidays and that, and I felt I had his support, which is good. Next time I see him will be Easter.

Work is pretty busy at the moment, and keeping me nice and tired. I’ve had a twitch at the bottom of my right eye for three days which always comes to haunt me when I haven’t slept enough. Also, the skin around my fingernails is in a bad state, which is a sure sign of malnutrition! To Tesco for apples and carrots and salad!

22nd January 2007

2007-01-22T10:16:00.000Z

Good weekend; Friday night I stayed in and watched the telly. That was quite nice. I had a bottle of wine and watched the ridiculousness of Jade’s Big Brother eviction unfold before my eyes. She’s such a stupid girl, it’s amazing quite how much trouble a bit of stupidity can get you in these days; I can think of a few people I know that would probably cause the same amount of uproar, if not worse, put in that position. Which is worrying.

So anyway, Saturday was an all-dayer at my Mum and Dad’s house for Simon’s 18th. Family started to arrive at midday and I had my first glass of wine at 1. I really do enjoy these occasional family get-togethers; I think it’s probably because it’s occasional. If they happened more often then I think the little grating things that are hidden in the background would suddenly jump into the forefront and I’d become annoyed. Was good fun though, and plans were made for the summer with Jen and Tim etc to have a boozy weekend at the caravan. Geoff turned up just as all the young hairy people started to arrive after 7, by which time I was feeling very loose and frivolous due to all the wine and beer consumed. Had a good chat about Flat 5 and Johnny Arrow, strange that Geoff and I seem to have the same feelings about things and they seem to change in tandem with each other. I think he has stronger feelings about Flat 5 than me, however, but we’re both still pointing in the same direction.

Gareth and Chris turned up just as Geoff was leaving, about 10. They must have been drinking before they came round because they seemed to be in the same physical state as me. They are such great people to have a party together because they can be such a double act and so funny. I can just remember Gareth throwing banter at my Mum and Bethan, which I think took them aback at first. Hit the Agincourt about midnight for a couple of hours, which I really shouldn’t have done, to be honest, but it was nice to see Laura and Jo. Chris and Gareth I think drank themselves silly and I was left to get a taxi back on my own. Simon and Mum were kind enough to reserve the spare bedroom for me and I had a good night’s sleep.

Felt terrible on Sunday but spent most of it asleep on the sofa at Arrow Towers and watching Arsenal vs Man Utd; which was quite comedy. I’m torn this year about who I want to win the title- I really can’t win! Chelsea or Man Utd - who are the bigger shits? Chelsea probably, but I won’t be celebrating if Man Utd win it. It would be nice to have a close nail biting title race though at the end of the season, so I was cheering for Arsenal yesterday.

Went to the Empress Garden (again) last night with all the family and Rachel and Dave. The mood was pretty subdued which is to be expected after a big Saturday session. I need to stop eating so much and get fit. So many pictures taken recently and I don’t like what I see.

16th January 2007

2007-01-16T12:40:00.000Z

Got back into a bad habit recently, filling my weekday evenings with non-productive activity. Been playing Championship Manager, but not the new one, I’ve been playing the 01/02 version- arguably the best. Just finished my second season in charge of Leeds, in my first season I only finished 6th but won the UEFA Cup, but after strengthening my squad in the summer I was expected to do much better. I ended up finished 3rd, 1 point behind 2nd place, but it was a disappointing end to the season really- I lost in both the UEFA and FA Cup finals.

Seeing as I’m into list and stats at the moment, I thought I’d let you know my squad as it is at the moment.

1. Ruslan Nigmatullin GK (£4.4m from Locomotive Moscow?)
2. Alan Maybury RB
3. Ian Harte LB
4. Olivier Dacourt DMC
5. Lucas Radebe DC
6. Jonathan Woodgate DC
7. Robbie Keane FC
8. Henrik Larrsson FC (£12.25m from Celtic)
9. Mark Viduka SC
10. Harry Kewell AMLC
11. Lee Bowyer MRC
12. Kim Kallstrom AMC (£500k from FC Copenhagen?)
13. Paul Robinson GK
14. Stephen McPhail MLC
15. Cristian Zenoni RB (£4m from Inter)
16. –
17. Alan Smith FRC
18. Fernando Couto DC (£600k from Lazio)
19. Ronaldihno FC (£27m from PSG)
20. Mark Kerr MC (£200k from Falkirk)
21. Dominic Matteo DLC
22. Michael Duberry DC
23. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff DLC
24. Nigel Martin GK
25. Cherno Samba SC (£3.3m from Millwall)
26. Jamie McMaster AMRC
27. –
28. –
29. Rio Ferdinand DC
30. –
31. –
32. Justin Georcelin SC (£500k from Northampton)

‘Citing!

15th January 2007

2007-01-15T16:32:00.000Z

Good party on Saturday night at the sports club; Chris came down in the afternoon and we watched the darts and had a few bevs. Almost fell asleep but then cranked up the music and opened some windows and we were soon on form again. Simon picked us up and drove us to the club. He’d had his assessment for Brighton Uni to do Drumming and got put on the top of the waiting list- so proud of him! I hope he goes there and not to the one in Guildford, just because he should move away from home and have that whole experience. It definitely helped me in the long run.

Anyway, the party was great. I hit the cider about 10.30- and it proved to be my (our) down fall:

Thanks to Chris and Laura for putting on a good night. I could write more about it but it’s best just to remember these things in a haze of alcohol, and anyway- I wouldn’t want to upset anyone.

Sunday was a very melancholy one. I watched the darts final, which was an absolute belter- Wolfie was 6-0 up but Nixon won the next 5 sets to give it a proper exciting finale, but Adams won it in the end.

Also finally sorting out Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns. Potential set list is as follows:

Melancholy Sunday
Feeling Sore
I Believe In You
Just The Way It Is
You Break My Heart Everyday
I Wouldn’t Move To London For You
Never Felt Like This
Disappointment
Noble
Girl (Beatles cover)
I Expect Too Much
My Last Love Song
Lights Change To Red
One Up On Me

Should be a good un.

Ps. Not to worry Dave!

12th January 2007

2007-01-12T14:47:00.001Z

It’s been an unproductive week at work- I just haven’t really been able to get going. My mind has been on other things, as well as on its usual meanderings into nowhere. I feel I really should put more effort in and really push on, but then I always feel I should really concentrate my energy into other things. I wonder how long it will be until I give up on everything else and just work work work. Hopefully never.

Geoff is up for drumming and becoming a Cheap Day Return, which is great news; I just need to find some time to fit in compiling a demo and getting it over to him. I was supposed to go to a Flat 5 meeting last night, but I fell asleep on the sofa and when I woke up it was too late. Really need to start getting some early nights next week. It shouldn’t be too difficult, as I have absolutely no money to play with. I have no idea how I am going to fund the next two and a half weeks till I get paid. Hopefully when I move out (well, definitely, when I move out) I will have a lot less outgoings with getting rid of my car and bills and council tax etc, and I should be in a better position. As it is, it’s pretty bleak.

11th January 2007

2007-01-11T10:11:00.000Z

Last night went to see Calibre in Guildford. Turned up at The Star ten minutes before they went on, spoke to a nervous Mike and Scott and then went and found Simon by the stage. Chatted to him and then stood watching the gig with Rachel. The Star’s not a bad venue, quite small but there wasn’t too many people there to begin with so it wasn’t uncomfortable. Reminded me, actually, of the basketball court upstairs at Harrogate Grammar School, although it was nothing like it. You know when you just get a feeling? Anyway, they played a cracking set- a bit short- Simon told me they were offered 45 minutes but they only played 25, apparently recently there’s been a lack of commitment from some people, which is a shame. They played the same set that I saw them do last spring. I wish I had the time and money to be their manager, I’d be proud to represent them.

The band that were on afterwards were…well…I don’t know. They played pretty much shouty emo. Well, I don’t know. I suppose it was like all the shouty bits of Life As Is all put together, minus the melodic bits, and stretched out over 45 minutes. I’m at a loss to have an opinion on it to be honest, because I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. I have no idea how you’d write songs like they played and I couldn’t have taken much more than 45 minutes of it. Still, they were pretty entertaining, throwing themselves about and that.

I’ve got too many in fingers in too many pies at the moment- with the flat, and I said I’d do a preview of Jubb's gig in Reading for Josaka, plus I want to get back doing Johnny Arrow, and there’s something else as well (which I will mention at a later date). Blimey.

Looks like Chris B is coming over on Saturday for the party at the football club, which is top notch. Had a dream last night about playing football and then Michael Palin and Terry Jones came over and sang some songs that everyone knew except me; “You can’t get fitter than a VD clinic” was one of them. Weird.

10th January 2007

2007-01-10T12:35:00.000Z

Blimey! Busy few days…

Bath at the weekend was good fun, don’t have too much recollection of what happened due to a strange phenomenon known as ‘alcohol’, but as far as I can remember Saturday night ran thus:

Started in the Slug and Lettuce and lost a lot of money on the quiz machine playing Bullseye, Deal or No Deal and Q Music Quiz (My name third on the top scorers list- check it out). Met up with Mark and Gabs again in Sub 13 for a couple of cheeky ones and then headed to the Beau Bar to see if we could chat to any sexy girlies. Unfortunately we couldn’t. Went to Moles where Chris was re-acquainted with some people from his not-too-distant past that he would rather not have and then on to The Bluerooms (of course) to drink champagne and look like playas.

We met some old women who were jealous of our youth and so tried to steal our champagne, and then trashed the last glasses of it and acted like they didn’t know what had happened. Confrontation was decided against and we continued to enjoy our night talking to two beautiful brunettes in the ‘lounge’. Chris says he will stay in touch – keep his eye in, if you will – for the next big weekender.

Last night went for a curry with friends (and Anna) for Chris Allen’s birthday. Present were Chris, Nathan, Simon (back from Canada), Adam, Becky, Ally, Anna (yawn), Gareth and myself. Was good fun, I had Onion Bhajis, a Lamb Bhuna, Bombay Aloo and a Garlic Naan, along with about 4 pints and a JD to finish the night off. Feel pretty rough this Wednesday morning, but chin up and all that- big party this weekend for Chris and Laura M’s birthday.

I have set myself a deadline of Tuesday 23rd January to have everything ready and set for renting out my flat- mortgage stuff, gas and electric inspections, insurance etc – and hope to be able to start looking for places with Chris and Ally by then. I aim to put my flat on the market on 1st February.

6th January 2006 - In Bath

2007-01-06T18:58:00.000Z

Well I made it to Bath around 2pm this afternoon after a bastard of a drive though driving rain. At one point I couldn't see the car in front of me and I was slightly worried. Got here in the end though, and had an enjoyable afternoon watching the darts and drinking tea with Chris. It's just gone 7pm and we've just come in from Ha Ha Bar; we had a few Fruilis with Chris's friends Mark and Gabs, who are great company, and now back at the flat having a couple of tins before hitting the town.

Yesterday was a good day, even though I felt terrible and didn't go into work. I had a delicious lie in and then just bummed about my flat until 5ish when a sexy estate agent girl came round and valued my property. I got what I wanted (rent wise- you dirty swines) and then she left and I went out to the New Mill in Eversley for a meal with Mum, Dad, Simon and Rachel to say goodbye to Dad, who is heading back to Kuwait tonight. It was a beautiful meal in a dogger restaurant - one of the best I've been to in a while - and an appropriate end to a period of some good family-ness.

This morning I got up and finished off the mixes to Calibre's demo. I'm not entirely happy with them but I thought it was about time I got them done and they sound passable I think. I'm sure they'll be up on their myspace in a few days - www.myspace.com/calibreband - and you can have a listen.

Right, off to get some more booze down me- the first since New Years Eve would you believe?

3rd and 4th January 2007

2007-01-04T13:53:00.000Z

Oh god, not feeling well today. Trying not to speak for the majority of the day as my voice sounds ridiculous. I sound like I’m going through another stage of puberty where my voice is dropping another octave. Compound to that this morning I discovered that people are still walking on my car- I wonder if it’s just my car they’re targeting or everyone else’s? I have a bit of paranoia about my neighbours for some reason, I always seem to get funny looks. I think it’s because I’ve got a job.

Watched This Life last night, after recording it from Tuesday. I was a bit disappointed to be honest, especially that Egg had ended up with Milly. She’s a right dick, and I couldn’t see Egg sticking with her for so long; I always identified with him in the old series, and I know I wouldn’t have put up with all of her shit. Maybe that’s why I’m single, who knows? Anna didn’t age very well either did she? She looked right haggard and battered.

I wasn’t going to go into work today, but I felt I should as there’s a lot to do. I just hope my cold disappears before Saturday, I have a weekend planned in Bath with Chris, and I don’t want to miss out- I’m already missing the heavy nights of Christmas.

2nd January 2007

2007-01-03T10:43:00.000Z

Went for a Chinese at The Empress in Sandhurst. Really can’t beat that place for value and banter- there was 18 of us- it was pretty dogger- and good to speak to Dave Shearman for the first time in what seems like months. Trying to remember exactly what it was I ate. I think it was as follows:

Starters
Prawn Toasts
Chicken Satays
Spring Rolls
Seaweed
Prawn Dumplings
Sugarry Chicken things
Ribs
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Intermediate
Duck and Plum Sauce Wraps

Main
Egg Fried Rice
Thai Spicy Chicken Slices
Shredded Duck with Szechuan Cabbage
Pork with Szechuan Cabbage

Coffee

So quite a lot really, all for £15, plus drinks. I didn’t drink however, as I was driving. I think yesterday is the first day I have gone out and not drunk for about a year. Even when I’ve driven down the Welly in the week, I’ve always had a token pint of Fosters for my efforts. It’s slightly worrying really. But also, quite good.

I have made an appointment with Richard Worth estate agents for a valuation on Friday afternoon, to see how much I can rent my flat out for. Looking forward to it, but obviously worried about getting my flat in a good shape for then. Planning on a trip to Homebase this lunchtime for some essentials. Spoke to Gareth on the way home from the Chinese last night, who said it would be a good idea to speak to the council and see if they are looking for flats to rent at the moment, which seemed a sensible suggestion. Going to research it and then, depending on how Friday’s viewing goes, give good old Wokingham Council a call.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

2007-01-02T13:03:00.000Z

New Year’s Eve.

Busy day all round. Spent the morning making CDs in a last ditch attempt to ensure I had enough songs for the evening. It was a bit of a nightmare, trying to guess the audience that I would be playing to, but guessed that they would be mainly 30-50 year olds and filled my CDs with ELO, Monkees, Stevie Wonder type stuff, with a few 80s classics (Love shack, Wham, Michael Jackson, Summer of 69) thrown in for good measure. Turned out to be a good decision, although I could have done with a few more tracks and kept having ideas for tunes all though the night which I had forgotten to bring (Hey Jude, Don’t You Want Me). Then the afternoon was spent lugging gear and doing my back in. Bless my Peugeot, stacked up to the roof with amplifiers, cabs, PA systems, bass guitars, disco lights, and I still had to make two trips!

The gig with the band was cracking, we kept the dancefloor filled all night, even with the tunes that no-one knew, like Speed Racer and Barefootin. I think that’s one of the strengths of the band, the tunes we pick – even if we play songs no-one knows, they’re always good enough for people to dance to. Songs which in particular stood out for me were Stay With Me, Honky Tonk Woman and I Saw Her Standing There. We seemed to really gel and for the first time, Justin + Drink seemed to = Result. DJ set was good, as I said before, the tune selection was pretty spot on, although I did play a couple of songs twice (Daydream Believer, Brown Eyed Girl), but no-one seemed to care. I was getting worried about getting the countdown at 12 o’clock spot on, but as Mambo Number 5 faded out, there wasn’t time to play another song, but it wasn’t quite time for the bells. I realised no-one would know if I did it 30 seconds early, so I did, and we celebrated the new year 30 seconds before it actually happened. Although my watch could have been wrong anyway, so who knows?

Enjoyed the night, but got a bit solemn and lonely towards the end when everyone was heading off home. Stood alone behind the decks as the last bars of Purple Rain faded out and the last couples staggered from the floor, I felt very alone, but content with the night’s work. Mum and Dad dropped me off at home and I fell asleep on my sofa, woke up at about 7 and crawled into bed. I had to be up at 9.30 to go and pack everything up and bring it back to the flat, and once that was done I fell asleep again and didn’t emerge until gone 2. Spent a lazy day in front of the telly- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the football and made it to bed about midnight, still dazed from the night before.

Here’s to a brand new year

30th December 2006

2006-12-30T23:59:00.000Z

Had a busy day today, lots of things to get done- which was quite nice- to have some goals on a Saturday. That doesn't often happen (especially as a Leeds fan). Guffaw. Went to Maplin in the morning to buy some connectors and a flight case for tomorrow night's do, stopped off at McDonald's on the way back for some lunch. I hadn't had a McD's for a good while so I managed to justify having a large quarterpounder meal, just. This was shot to shit when I had fish and chips for tea. I swear one day I will wake up and not be able to see my feet. Anyways, after my illicit meal we had a band meeting/rehearsal at Justin's in Ascot. Was a good practise, and pretty positive. At the end we all had a chat about certain issues that we each had with the band and the way we saw it going in the future. Geoof Justin and I managed to air our views I think, and I feel a lot better for it. I think Andy held some stuff back however, and I now get the impression he feels worse than he did before. I really wish he could open up in front of us all so that we can try and resolve any issues (and he does have issues) that he has, before it all blows out of proportion- again. Went to the Queen's Oak with Justin after the practise (the venue) and tried to get some tickets for Simon and Rach and Bethan and Dave, but they had sold out. Completely their fault for not making a decision about what they wanted to do sooner rather than later, and I'm trying my best to not feel guilty about it, but I struggle.

This will probably be the last post before 2007 (so much to do tomorrow!) but I'm going to try and avoid a big retrospective of the year. Time to look forward and plan for the year ahead- which is going to be interesting.

Happy New Year to you all.

27-28th December

2006-12-29T09:47:00.000Z

Well it was back to work on Wednesday, which was inevitably melancholic. There’s a new girl started in my department, but I was so low and pissed off at being back at work that I didn’t really speak to her. She probably thinks I’m either boring or unfriendly now, but I’m not bothered about changing her opinion of me too much. It’s weird, I used to really care what other people thought of me, and strove to portray an open and friendly personality, but as I get older I find that it’s only worth making an effort with people who you want something from. Cynical, eh?

I really must start work on the next amplifier (www.theamplifier.co.uk) , but I’m struggling to find the time at the moment. I need to make some more CDs for my DJ gig on Sunday, (I need to learn a couple of songs for the band’s set too- SHIT), and I also have to get my flat in order for the estate agent’s viewing next week. I’m really hoping that he’ll tell me the following things;

- I don’t need to make any changes at all to the décor. Maybe my black and red kitchen will be my Achilles heel here
- He has a load of people queuing up to see 2 bed flats in Finchampstead
- I can get about £650 a month for it

That would be ideal. I know though, that these things are never that simple. I expect that I’ll have to repaint the entire place, that I’ll have to wait until June to get my first viewing, and that £300 a month would be more realistic. Still, one has to embark on these little journeys in order to improve one’s life. I mean, my life is all very nice and that, but I can’t wait for the change of lifestyle that moving in with friends in the centre of a bustling city will bring. I have loved living on my own – I do love it – and I’m so glad that I’ve had the experience for 18 months, but now I’m looking for a bit of banter, a bit of fun and a few more options socially.

I had a day off work yesterday, a Thursday island in the middle of a Wednesday/Friday sea, and didn’t get anything near as much done as I wanted to. I decided against getting my hair cut, as I want to see how ridiculous I can get this big fluff ball on my head looking before I get arrested. I also didn’t manage to clean my bathroom, which I have been planning to do for a couple of weeks now but have never got round to it, and, of course, I didn’t do an amplifier. And I promised Colin the other night that I’d have it done before the end of 2006. Bollocks.

25th and 26th December 2006

2006-12-27T09:57:00.000Z

Christmas day. One of my gifts from ‘Santa’ was Michael Palin’s diaries which I had mentioned to Mum as a good idea. Have read a reasonable chunk already, in fact spent most of the day devouring it, and it has put me in one of those must-do-better moods which visit me from time to time. Would like to think that I could write a lot more than I do, and write well also. I feel that it’s something I need to explore, especially comedy writing and things other than songs and poems which have preoccupied me for so long. I have the Discography project that is currently underway already of course, and few other ideas are coming to me as I sit here (mostly gleaned from my night at the Welly last night), so definitely some ideas to explore this week.

Was good to hear from most people last night, and a surprising wealth of text messages greeted my headache this morning. Decided not to reply to the people who replied to my ‘Merry Christmas’ text with a polite “who is this?“ riposte; if they didn’t take the care to keep my number then they can wonder on. Today has been good, although with Simon and Bethan both seeing their respective partners this afternoon, I feel at a loose end and slightly morose, though not in any terminal way. After 3 nights of pure hedonism I am looking forward to an early night tonight coupled with a quiet boxing day at Arrow Towers tomorrow, although by tomorrow evening I'm sure to craving more.

*****

Quiet boxing day back at home, until I got a text from Chris Allen asking me if I’d like to head into Camberley. At first I declined, after all there’s work tomorrow and I really should give my liver/wallet a chance to recover, but in the end I acquiesced to my rather weak lack of will power. It was a good decision eventually; good to meet up with Gavin, Sigley, John Mossom, who I hadn’t really spoken to over Christmas too much. Chris Sigley was telling all of his plans to ‘put something back into the world’ next year, which is obviously a great idea and a noble one, but one can’t help but be a little cynical of the fact that he made such a play of telling everyone about it. Maybe a more subtle approach to this kind of thing is more dignified. Saying that, he did buy two £40 rounds last night for everybody, so he must be doing well, and fair play to him.

So that’s it then, really- Christmas is over. It’s been a good one, an inordinately boozy one, and one where I seem to keep questioning the amount of hedonism in my life. Seems to me that the more I eat and drink, then the more I want/need to balance it out – not with exercise, which would most probably be a more sensible option – but with creative pursuits. My writing has increased and so has the amount of new ideas for the new year. It remains to be seen whether this is still the case when I move in with the wonderfully distracting Ally and Chris next spring.