cutting hair

Boo!

2005-06-13T11:56:00.000+01:00

Long time no see. Update me one last time:

Contract at work got extended til the end of September. Woo! Means i have to start looking for a job now.
Finally got a copy of Secret Bark Language by The Murder of Rosa Luxemberg, including the comic! Not the screenprinted cover though.
Exams start next week for two weeks, then that's the whole two years over and finished, never to trouble me again. I am expecting to pass.

If you were going to spend any money on me, spend it at Thee Shop instead.

I'll miss you x

Lap-Top Hip-Hop

2005-06-01T15:24:00.000+01:00

Turns out it was Hermano who sent me the MC Lars tshirt: he went to see him at the Oxford Zodiac a couple of days before - apparently he was selling tshirts just before he went on stage (Lars, not Hermano). Hermano said it was really good, therefore cannae wait until Truck even more.

My friends Fitzbar and Doc came up from Reading this weekend. We went out to the Goose in Moseley for a couple of pints, where i seemed to know quite a few people. Don't know if i'm happy about starting to know people round the manor, but it's nice in a way.After this we went back to mine and stayed up til a rediculous time playing poker - i won quite a lot.

F & D didn't get up for ages on sunday. Was well bored waiting for them, as i'd gotten up at like ten in order to show them the sights of Brum.GS came round in the afternoon, and we watched The Love Bug. What the hell is going on with Buddy Hackett's face?

Anyway. I gave GS some cd's that i'd gotten from Engineer Records: Fugo, Planes Mistaken For Stars, Babies Three and Cohesion. Fugo are Swiss, PMFS and B3 are english, and Cohesion are Italian hardcore. They all scream a lot. I suggest you seek them out (if you can't find anything, try some other Engineer stuff here).

Eventually Fitzbar and Doc got up (after GS had left), and we went to the Academy to see New Model Army. They were headlining a bill of five bands, but cos we got there so late we only saw NMA. They seemed quite good; we were all pretty tired and so maybe didn't appreciate it as much as we could've.

Went home and went to bed.

Mary Parker Follett

2005-06-01T15:23:00.000+01:00

"The training for the new democracy must be from the cradle" Mary Parker Follett, 1918

I came across Mary Parker Follett whilst sitting in Kenrick Library yesterday, trying to write a presentation on delegation.

Just so you know.

Italian scream-core

2005-05-26T23:40:00.000+01:00

I'm taking tomorrow off work because i've been told my contract isn't going to be renewed. Imagine that, being made redundant just like my dad.

First thing i'm doing is fixing these damn drawers.

Sponsorship

2005-05-26T09:46:00.000+01:00

For Carling, the Reading and Leeds Weekend festivals are "very, very simply a brand strategy to recruit young males". The company wants to attract 25 to 34-year-old men whose main interests are football, music, beer and women.

My memories of Reading are all about the football, beer and women, except i went there for the music. This is why i'm going to Truck.

Andrew Neilson

2005-05-26T09:35:00.000+01:00

Someone sent me a MC Lars tshirt through the post today, with a mysterious post-it note saying "If you don't want it... i'll have it". I have no idea who it's from, and Hermano is on an "external training course" today and so cannot provide any leads.
No-one knows where i live, so who could have sent it? Suggestions in the comments, please.

Oh, and hello! Been almost a week but i haven't been doing owt.

We're winning

2005-05-21T15:28:00.000+01:00

Me dancing at Fierce. Such a cool tshirt.

Going to Sutton Four Oaks to a post-wedding party. GS has granted his permission for H to be my partner for the night.

Tractor Boyz

2005-05-19T09:23:00.000+01:00

Ipswich lost last night. Another year in the motor leagues.

EDS is coming back to Birmingham today for the *tomp tonight; i believe he's also going to see some film that everyone's talking about, although the name of it escapes me. In fact, i think he may be back in the West Midlands already: much like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker at christmas, i can feel his presence.

New pants for me...

2005-05-18T12:42:00.000+01:00

because mine are too sticky.

Sing your heart out loud

2005-05-18T11:21:00.000+01:00

Yeah, so college is crap. We're doing a presentation on Cadbury's and their sponsorship of Coronation Street, and how they have become the biggest manufacturer of chocolate in Britain. We have to do lots of marketing stuff - segmentation, the 4P's, Porter's 5 Forces, PEST/STEEPLE, etc etc. It all went a bit wrong yesterday, with members of the 'team' not having done the work they were supposed to, or suggesting that we do something else that we don't have time to do.
On top of this i am meant to be doing an individual presentation next tuesday, which i haven't really even started yet. I think i'm going to do it on 'change', maybe cultural change. Who knows.

So. I've got all this work to do and my social life decides now is the time to make up for all the days it missed when i was sitting alone in my room (ages 18-24): I'm going out tonight, it's *ugarfoot *tomp tomorrow, got a wedding party on saturday, and am supposed to be seeing James Yorkston on sunday.

Oh, and i got an email from the webhosting peeps that i owe them money for renewal of me site. As MC Fusion said," money money money, it's all in your head".

NZA took a cool picture of me dancing at Fierce, which i will somehow stick up here for the couple of people that read this.

Tear your heart out

2005-05-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

Have i mentioned Engineer Records yet? I got a load of new stuff of them: Hunter Gatherer, who are fucking brilliant, A Rocket Sent To You, Cornflames and Sometimes Why. I only ordered the Hunter Gatherer and ARSTY ones, and they sent me the other two gratis! And a load more stickers!

It was C's birthday yesterday. I went to the Jug with IND and PND to meet them (C, H, GS, NZA, HMT and others). I made C a card with her face photoshopped onto the body of someone in Belle & Sebastian; think she liked it. Stayed there for a bit then left with PND.
After being at home for about half an hour, GS rang asking if i was going to go with them for a curry. So i did (is it right to leave yer house to go for a curry at half eleven?). Me and NZA shared a vegetable biryana (sp?), was quite nice. C almost smashed her glass calling for a toast.

Fucking this is really boring for you isn't it?

Anyway. I'm in the process of making a website for *ugarfoot *tomp (NZA's done all the pictures, all i've done is some easy-ass Dreamweavering). It was either this or the amount of wine she'd drunk, but C said i was "really cool". Which i am.

Just got back from college; it all went a bit tits-up really.

Peace out xxx

Buy music by Rydell

2005-05-14T19:57:00.000+01:00

GS and I met in town last night about ten, and walked to the Mailbox to go to the Fierce party. Because we got there late everyone was already drunk and dancing. NZA, PND and RPF (another new name) had been there since it started at half six, and were dancing hard.
It was really good; i didn't dance but i was enjoying the atmosphere. There were a couple of middle-aged women who descended on GS. I think originally he was just humouring them, and so danced with them. But they kept coming back for more: one of them started stroking my back. We had to keep moving to get away from them.

PND, RPF and i left at twelveish to go to (gasp!)Snobs. The bouncers took my nearly empty Volvic bottle of apple and blackberry squash/vodka mixer. Had a dance there.

I think we left when it shut. PND, NZA and LJ came back to mine, where the usual amount of destruction happened in my room. The three of them fell asleep on my bed and i couldn't move them and so resorted to the floor. PND and NZA left at some point to go back next door, so i was able to lie on something fairly comfortable, but then LJ started snoring. The boy can snore for Europe. I kept punching his arm but he wouldn't change position.

I didn't go out daytripping with the gang today, was too too tired.

Here's a pic of me and the sleepers:

GS's head on a stick

2005-05-13T11:32:00.000+01:00

GS, NZA and I went to an exhibition last night: i think it was a student who studied here. It was alright, there were three video installations (two of which were shop cctv's sped up), a big metal/wool thing (you remember making pom-poms as a kid? like that, except on a grander scale), and a spherical object covered in dried pig snouts that you were supposed to stick your head into. Suffice to say, i didn't. One of the video bits had headphones that had dried pig ears stuck on them: i didn't wear them either.
Afterwards we took a walk through the Mailbox to see where we're supposed to be going tonight for Fierce. Looks very swanky. I think we all felt a bit out of place in the Mailbox, what with not wearing expensive enough clothes or having expensive enough haircuts. In fact, not really having haircuts at all. Just hair.

After this we had a quiet pint in a smoke-free pub (wtf?), then went to Tesco where GS went a bit mad buying cheese-related products.

C has cancelled her/our planned trip on Severn Valley Railway, as it was discovered that instead of the '1920s' theme, which she was expecting, it's going to be a Thomas the Tank Engine weekend. We're going to the Black Country Museum instead. Frickin' A.

Did i mention i'm going to see the mighty New Model Army in a couple of weeks? Can't wait. They're headlining a seven-hour extravaganza at the Academy, with Future eXwife, Turbonegro, King Adora and Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster.
Saw NMA at Guildford Festival a couple of years ago, and they blew my socks off.

Fierce

2005-05-12T10:15:00.000+01:00

I love working here. This morning there's a lot of people from some department taking photos of us 'working'. They have yet to ask me to be included, but i don't see it being long until they do.
*Update* They asked me. I had to stand looking like i was handing a load of reports to a colleague, which is just what i do every day.

We're all going to the Fierce Festival launch party on Friday. Ought to be really cool. I saw 'we', i mean me, NZA, C, GS, H et al. It's C's birthday on monday too, and it seems she's arranged some kind of trip on the Severn Valley Railway for saturday: i hope we're all still able to walk for it after the performance art hell that will be Fierce (joke).

Hey GS!

2005-05-11T14:49:00.000+01:00

Are you going to come and see James Yorkston at the Glee Club? It's on the 22nd and there's 58 seats left (considering you and i need two each for our immense heads). It'll cost you seven of your Streetley pounds.

Oh, and you remember i saw the guitarist from Rosa Luxemberg on the bus? Well, he only bloody studies here. I smelt him coming up the stairs (i saw him also).

Viewing summary

2005-05-11T13:34:00.000+01:00

I go to college on tuesday (Perry Barr, if ye interested). This means on monday i do very little at work, and on wednesdays i do very little because i did nothing on monday. Today i've been mostly on the interweb looking at the websites of Something Awful and Electric Eel Shock (lovely band).

So. Here's a couple more links, cos i've got very little to say today.
Prozac can defeat cancer. I'm very surprised it's someone at the University of Birmingham who said this, and not someone from Smithkline Beecham. As to the bit about Ecstacy, i wouldn't know about that.
Wherever i lay my hat that's my shopping centre. Rock on.

(***)

2005-05-09T20:46:00.000+01:00

Just had an email from NZA asking if i'm going out with them on friday. It's really cool that people are inviting me out, considering all i do is get real fucked real early and not talk to anyone.

Jarvis who?

2005-05-09T15:10:00.000+01:00

Had a text from KB saying she just saw Jarvis Cocker in Aquascutum on Regent Street.

The lifes of the used-to-be-famous, eh?

Engineer Records

2005-05-09T11:07:00.000+01:00

I ordered a couple of CDs from Engineer Records the other day: a Shudder To Think tribute one and another sampler. When they arrived on friday they had sent me those two, plus another two full-length albums and a load of stickers! Frickin' A.
So, if you want some cool hardcore/metal/'emo' cds get 'em from here. Engineer Records are cool.

(missing)

2005-05-09T10:58:00.000+01:00

I'm sorry. For a while i've been considering stopping this; well, maybe not stopping, but starting afresh. I did actually, but all that was different was the colour.

So. An update. Last weekend went to the Flapper to see Koala Grip with NZA and C. They were good. Afterwards a guy we met gave me and NZA a handful of magic mushrooms each, which we necked on the bus on the way back to mine (NZA and I; C had gone home). Had a nice night; woke up to find texts from IND asking why the hell i wasn't down the park playing frisbee, so i went although my style was flagging a bit.

This weekend: on friday i went to NZA's. I was waiting forever for a bus, and got chatting to a guy at the busstop: he was from Sri Lanka so we chatted about Kandy for a bit (i went there last year(!)). The bus eventually arrived, and i managed to avoid the Selly Oak scum, although i did run the last bit of the journey in case i was being followed. GS was there, although he left after a bit cos H came to pick him up and take him away from us. Me and NZA woke up for some reason at seven am, so i went and caught the bus back home and slept a little more then.HM1 had left his front door keys in the front door, whcih was bad in that the place could've been burgled, but good in that i didn't need to get my keys out of my expansive pocket.

On saturday i went into Harborne with PND to meet one of his friends (in fact, the one that tried to pull me). Haven't seen him (the friend) for ages; i think he was trying to avoid me.
After this we met NZA and EDS (ha! try working out who that is) and some others; it was EDS's birthday a week or so ago, but he lives in London so the Birmingham Crew hadn't seen him since. We then went into town to another place, where more people were (christ, EDS knows loads of peeps). After this we went to the Sunflower Lounge, where it appears we 'crashed' someone's party. There was food and balloons and silver streamers all over.
Had a really good time. Top marks to EDS for being such a nice fellow.

After this me, NZA, GS, H and PND went back to mine, made loads of noise for half an hour, then popped to PND's where we promptly fell asleep.

Yes. Great weekend. Spent too much money though.

Last night I saw Jeffrey Lewis at the Jug of Ale. Was good. Didn't stay to see the main band cos i was too tired.

Coal! Coal!

2005-05-04T14:53:00.000+01:00

She started wondering - where is the profit here?

Recover post

2005-04-29T15:39:00.000+01:00

Went for lunch with GS; we sat on the grass outside St Phillip's Cathedral and ate Pret a Manger sandwiches - i had egg and tomato and GS had cesar chicken. And we had chocolae brownies. The guy who served me in Pret a Manger was very nice and indeed brightened up my afternoon. He told me to have a nice day and gave me a thumbs-up. May go in there again.
This is fascinating for you, dear reader, is it not?

GS got some of his photos developed from ATP so we looked at them, and also some of a holiday GS went on where it seems he just walked up and down long roads.
A little rememberence for GS - your sticky tshirt! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Don't know why i'm laughing, it was all over my hands.

I've just split water all over my crotch (and it is water), so can't go anywhere til it dries. Dammit.

Bike-age

2005-04-28T14:42:00.000+01:00

Oh, and i don't know what NZA or PND are doing tomorrow, but they don't strike me as folky-types who would enjoy the electronic musings of the folk rebel that is Jim Moray. But you never know.
I was supposed to go out for a quick half with PND tonight, but he's emailed me saying he can't, because Super Size Me is on tv tonight, and he's got to go somewhere beforehand. Fair enough.

Should be having lunch with GS tomorrow to discuss all that happened at ATP, and maybe fill in the gaps in each other's memories. Certainly mine needs filling in.

Lonesome

2005-04-28T14:20:00.000+01:00

I am going to see Jim Moray tomorrow. On my own. I don't mind going to gigs on my own, cos it means i get there on time and don't fuck about for ages afterwards. I've seen at least three on my tod - Stiff Little Fingers, Inspiral Carpets and James Robert Morrison.
The SLF gig was good; just as the band walked on and started playing, the forty-year old punk standing next to me threw a glass of water at the stage and it went all over Jake Burns. The band stopped playing and Jake said "Right, if that happens again you've all wasted your money, cos i'm fucking off, the band are fucking off, and you can all fuck off home." Then they started playing again.
Also at that gig, before the band came on, there was some little punk ('punk' in the bad way) standing behind me who i overheard saying "everytime i'm at a gig there's always some tall twat standing in front of me." I turned round and told him to move then. Dickhead.

Anyway. GS, H and C are going away, and IND didn't reply to my text asking if he wanted to go. IND's got himself a girlfriend now, so will probably be wanting to spend time with her. Grrrrr.

Maybe i should get myself one of those. A girlfriend, not a grrrr.

All Tomorrow's Parties #2

2005-04-26T19:44:00.000+01:00

ATP was brilliant. I had a lot of fun and saw some good bands. Can't remember everything but here's a list of the ones i can remember:

Lydia Lunch
Peaches
Polly Harvey
Olivia Tremor Control
The Zombies
Yoko Ono
Magik Markers
Youth Movie Soundtrack Strategies
Money Mark & Kid Koala

I saw Youth Movie... at Truck last year, and i think their playing this year too. Money Mark & Kid Koala were really good, PND and me had a nice dance to them. The Zombies were very friendly and ended with God Gave Rock And Roll To You; danced to them as well. Can't remember a lot about Olivia... but i think there were a lot of them. Magik Markers were really good in a Babes In Toyland kind of way.

We went to the beach a couple of times. Here's GS and PND crashing after rolling down a dune:

All Tomorrow's Parties

2005-04-21T12:17:00.000+01:00

Excellent, today is my last day at work until wednesday. I am going to leave lots of important things unfinished, and change the password on the computer so no-one can get on it to find anything, even if they log on as Administrator.

Here's what i've packed/am planning to pack for my three nights in Camber Sands Holiday Encampment:

two tshirts

one pair of socks

one towel

sunglasses

toothpaste and toothbrush

Can't see anything else coming in useful, especially not drink or drugs. Or train tickets or tickets to get into the place. Mind you, GS has those in his "cheese-panelled inner-sanctum", so at least they're safe.

Aitch

2005-04-18T13:11:00.000+01:00

Me and H first met in the Jug of Ale, although we had been 'friends' on Friendster for a while. Are you on Friendster? I have about twenty 'friends', although half of them are cats or characters from On The Buses.
Anyway, it was at our first meeting in the Jug when we almost didn't become friends. It was something to do with Smokey Joe the travelling mule. H was asking stuff about him, and i was getting a little bored of it, i think. I seem to remember her asking another question, and i was like, quite loudly, "He's a fictional mule!!". Yes, harsh words were said by us both.
We have since wiped the slate clean and now we get on fabulously. We were reminising about it on saturday over white wine and pringles. Then we went to Moseley Bog with IND and i killed them both and buried them.

Oh, and it turns out the Annie Hall dvd was PND's. I still don't understand how it came to be in my possession though.

Weekender #3

2005-04-17T17:14:00.000+01:00

Hello! I've had a very nice weekend, did you?

On saturday H came round and we listened to music and stuff, and then invited IND over in order to go to Moseley Bog (which is where Tolkien used to play as a kid. Shame he didn't fall in). It was very nice, although a trifle muddy. Here's a pic:

We climbed a tree and everything. And stroked a dog.

Afterwards we stopped into PND's, then went to The Rainbow in Digbeth with NZA and C. Then we went back to PND's, left C there asleep on the sofa, and went to that Centre 13 place again, where another party was happening. I thought it was much better this time, the music was fantastic and i got the fear at no time. People did keep asking me for pills though. Which i didn't have.
I left about four i think, after spending ages trying to convince IND and PND to leave. I was literally falling asleep on the floor, so had to go.

When i woke up it was sunny. Now it's raining.
I also discovered a dvd of Annie Hall in my bag. No idea where it came from, but it's quite sticky and covered in tobacco (the cover, not the disc) so i'm guessing maybe at Centre 13 on the floor somewhere.

I ought to go out with my bag more often.

Sunflowers #1

2005-04-17T17:11:00.000+01:00

Last saturday i planted a load of sunflowers into little pots. This is what they look like now:

I'm going to plant them out the front of the house. I shall keep thee updated on their growing.

Fitzbar's feet #2

2005-04-15T23:03:00.000+01:00

G Strode

2005-04-15T16:09:00.000+01:00

GS has gone to Manchester this weekend. I don't know what i'm going to do without him, even if he tells everyone my secrets.
Ol' GS didn't go to *wherever* last night; he sat at home in his chair listening to The Smiths.

Bryl

2005-04-15T13:06:00.000+01:00

My hair looks super-good today. Look out ladies!

Ha! Went to a thing at a place yesterday, where this very blog was mentioned to me by someone, which is why i'm not saying what or where it was, although it will be more than obvious to them. I denied all knowledge, of course. Maybe they did a Google search for the name of the night and found it, or maybe someone (not looking at you, GS) told them about it. Hmm.
Anyway, i was only supposed to be there for an hour, as i only took £5 with me because of All Tomorrow's Parties next weekend and the need for money for that. Ended up staying til the end with PND and NZA, then got a taxi home.
I was wearing my glasses, and H told me that i looked like Indiana Jones when he's still a teacher before his adventuring. I've been told that before, and much prefer it to being told i look like Beckham. You may have noticed the piccy of Indy somewhere below.

Ah yes, the rental car!

2005-04-14T15:17:00.000+01:00

It was a Vauxhall Agila, or something like that. No cd playa, but it had a tape playa so i enjoyed Surfa Rosa on the way there, and borrowed Controlled By Hatred / Feel Like Shit...De-ja Vu off Hermano for the way back. The looks i got, driving a silver old person's car listening to Suicidal Tendencies.
So. They took a £200 deposit off me when i got it, and then paid it back when i took the car back. Although, from looking at my account it seems they neglected to take the money from me, but did put it back in. Hooray! I'm maybe £200 better off!
Oh, and the driver's electric window didn't work, so i was driving about with an ashtray on my lap, which wasn't the most convenient place. I did pretty much 'rag' the car though, but i'm not saying how fast i went in it.

The Saddlers

2005-04-14T12:20:00.000+01:00

Had to go to Walsall yesterday to Bescot Stadium (home of Walsall FC), because work had booked some of the conference rooms there for the stuff what we do. Was alright. For only the second time in my life i ran for public transport: i was at the ticket office in New Street buying my ticket when the loudspeaker informed me that the train was at the platform. So i ran for it.
The first time i ran for public transport was because the two people i was with were running for it; i'd have been happy to wait for the next one.
Anyway. The catering was alright - vegetable samosas and spring rolls, and cheese and pineapple sandwiches (what is it with the Midlands and cheese and pineapple? I've never experienced it anywhere except here). And coffee. Hmm, lots of coffee.
The thing finished at 2:30, so was back at home by 4pm. Sweet. Richard & Judy.

Start

2005-04-14T10:07:00.000+01:00

Ha! Scared ya.

End

2005-04-11T12:54:00.000+01:00

Hello.
Went to see Idlewild on friday and Joanna Newsom on sunday. Idlewild were good, the support (Sons and Daughters) were shit.
Ms Newsom was pretty as a picture. Supports were Six Organs of Admittance, who was really good, White Magic, who weren't, and Alisdair Roberts, who was quite funny in a scottish kind of way.

I really can't be bothered anymore.

Without MSG

2005-04-07T11:20:00.000+01:00

I must've had some kind of impurity on my contact lens this morning cos my eye is still red and i think i'm going blind.
Changed the website again; well, not really changed but added some more stuff and am going to upload it tonight. Have you seen it? No, not many people have. I've decided to put all the drawings on the main bit and have Leave Town as the photographic side. But this may change again.

Creation

2005-04-06T11:41:00.000+01:00

Individuals must be encouraged to express their imagination by giving them as much freedom as possible to germinate creative solutions to given problems. While many tools and techniques for encouraging creativity are to be found on the bookshelves, one of the most useful approaches is to avoid negative behaviour within the group, especially destructive statements such as:

I don't like it;

it is not practical;

it is not our job to change that;

it is not done in that way here; and

NO!!!

Hot dog.

Dancing fool

2005-04-06T11:39:00.000+01:00

Funniest email of yesterday:"Sometimes i really hate Music" - GS, Tuesday 5 April, 18:43

Everyone (well, not everyone) went to see Moving Units last night at the NME place somewhere in Snow Hill (?). I didn't, although i was promised there would be dancing, because i'm seeing Idlewild on friday and Joanna Newsom on sunday. I also didn't go because i'm broke.
But apparently Moving Units didn't play, so i didn't miss much, although they all went for a drinky somewhere instead (my friends, not Moving Units).
Have never heard Newsom before, although IND and C saw her last year (not together, well, it bloody better not have been) and Laura Veirs told everyone to go and see her when we saw her last month. She plays the harp, it seems. Will Oldham likes her too.

Tribute to N

2005-04-05T10:28:00.000+01:00

N of The Pwincess Diaries recently talked about how great Post-It notes are.
I have recently taken a pack home from work, in order to leave annoying messages all over the house; for instance, one saying 'Bin' on the bin in the bathroom and one saying 'Not bin' on the top of the toilet, so the Dior Prefect might actually start using the bin instead of leaving his rediculously expensive empty bottles of shampoo on top of the toilet. Or the empty toilet rolls all over the floor and any place except the bin (i've spoken about his extravagent use of toilet paper, haven't i?).
Other notes i may leave include:

Tea towels stay in the kitchen, not the lounge
Do your own washing up
How about buying some cleaning products?
FTN is a shit channel
Turn off the tv properly, not just on standby
We all hate you (stuck on the underside of his pillow). Heh heh heh. That'll be funny.

City lights blur

2005-04-05T10:11:00.000+01:00

I've got a new favourite band: Minus The Bear.
I do have the unnerving feeling that they're all probably about 18 though (ok, i know this isn't true), and are wildly talented at what they do. Oh, and a big thank you to Thee Shopkeeper for the introduction.

Centre 13

2005-04-04T13:17:00.000+01:00

I found out something about where we were on saturday. Read it here (it's on icBirmingham so will take ages to load up).
Another thing i remembered about it - some bloke kept coming up to me telling me that i look like David Beckham. Which i don't. I actually quit a job once because the boss kept calling me 'Becks'. I also quit cos the boss was a dick.

Monday's fashion

2005-04-04T11:46:00.000+01:00

So, what are you wearing today?
I have: tatty Dunlop Green Flash, dark San Fransiscan Levis, a black "Lords of Chaos, Berlin 1992" New Model Army tshirt, black short sleeved short and dark jumper. And contact lenses.
I thought i'd wear a lot of black today, although there is no reason for it.
Your turn...

2005-04-03T21:27:00.000+01:00

Hello! It's been a lovely weekend, weatherwise. On friday i ventured into Streetly, somewhere in the wilds of northerly Birmingham, to go to GS's house. We had eggs thrown at us, but none hit (reminds me of the snowball incident). Think of it this way: the little twats had to go to the shop to buy those eggs. Imagine them in the shop, buying eggs to throw at people from a moving vehicle.Hermano and me had eggs thrown at us coming back from seeing Ipswich play Wolverhampton. One of them hit.

On saturday we had to go into town to buy train tickets to get to Rye for All Tomorrow's Parties (about three weeks i think). Afterwards me, GS and the NZA went and sat in Cannon Hill Park for three or four hours, with the occassional visit to H and C who were working in the Mac.
We had to buy a new frisbee cos mine was still round at IND's (from when he borrowed it to go to the Malverns and stopped in Kings Heath). Here's us:

In the evening we (NZA, IND, PND, C, H and (a new set of initials to confuse you) LJ) met a couple of friends (no initials) at a pub, then came back to mine, where HM1, girlfriend of HM1 and the Dior Prefect were still up. At some point it was decided to go to an allegedly illegal party. H and C didn't go, cos they're working today. When we arrived at the place, it turned out it wasn't the squat it was meant to be, but a local Islamic Education centre. It was fairly odd, the atmosphere seemed really bad to me. There were loads of pretty dodgy people around, and, according to PND, i got the fear.
IND thought someone had nicked his jacket, and was actually in tears over it. But then he found it where he had left it. He's a teacher so likes to 'have it large' during the holidays.

Left there about 6, left IND in there cos he was still dancing (in his jacket), and walked the short walk home with PND and NZA, constantly checking that we weren't being followed.

I've been wearing my sandels all day; well, since i got up. I can't wait for summer.
Speak soon x

I love Tom

2005-04-01T12:15:00.000+01:00

I got Tea Toast & Turmoil by the mighty Smudge off eBay yesterday. I already have it on brown vinyl, but have no room to set up the record player. Record playa. Of course, i was listening to Smudge long before Dando and Ray, and Hermano will testify to this.

Here's a picture of me on the telephone, taking one of the many important calls i field each and every day. This particular call was from Adam Yee, who played bass in Smudge. I had asked him if he could play in my band, but he said no, what with living in Australia and all.

Leave town (but take me with you)

2005-03-31T14:14:00.000+01:00

Leave Town

Public transport

2005-03-31T14:07:00.000+01:00

I'm going to see Idlewild at the Hexagon in Reading next friday, so i needed to get a train ticket to go there and come back on saturday. Virgin Trains, who i normally go with, have all of a sudden become really shit. Shitter than they were before, that is.
All they could offer were single fares, of about £30 each, and journeys that involved changing trains three or four times. Do you know the geography of England? Birmingham is about 110 miles from Reading, and the trains go straight through to London. This would normally involve no changes at all. What the bloody hel are they playing at?
So. I've rented a car. I've never done it before, but i am quite excited about it. A Class A Economy (Fiat Seicento or similar), no tape/cd player but as long as the radio picks up Radio 2 i'm alright.
I hope the car's red. My mum absolutely hates red cars.

Five strings

2005-03-30T15:28:00.000+01:00

That last post maybe didn't sound right. I didn't mean i wasn't going to reveal anything to you, dear reader, but that i had been going on about this particular thing to people for ages and maybe it is time for me to grow up a little and get a grip.

I forgot to talk about what happened on thursday.
HM1 phoned me about 10pm, saying that he was around at IND's and that everyone was there. Excellent! i thought, everyone's there! It turned out that 'everyone' meant all of HM1's mates, and not GS, NZA, etc. Not that HM1's friends aren't all very nice, but i was expecting the others. They were all pissed as well when i got there, so i felt kind of out of place. Did a little 'un to join in.
Anyway, two of the people found a guitar, and we all sat round in the kitchen playing some tunes. Unfortunately, the D string was missing, so our range was somewhat limited. However, when a sleeping housemate was awokened, we had to take everyone back to ours, where i got a fully-stringed guitar and we commenced the fun! We remembered the rule - no Stairway!
When everyone went i was left with PND and IND falling asleep on my sofa. Sent them packing, went to bed, and then friday started.

The Green Eyed Monster

2005-03-30T13:01:00.000+01:00

Went to another "Arty Birmingham" thing last night, and got taken outside and beaten to fuck by the Green Eyed Monster.
Sometimes i feel i say too much to people. In future, i resolve to keep things to myself, therefore eliminating any distress or alienation.
So there. I'll tell GS the whole story, so you can ask him.

Fallen

2005-03-30T10:55:00.000+01:00

Right. Let’s start on Friday. GS, IND, PND, NZA and myself went to the local *private* park for a picnic. Friday was lovely and sunny, and we brought some wine to drink in the sun. And we took my frisbee. I have never had so much fun. Playing frisbee is the new sex.
When we left the park my memory starts getting hazy. Let’s just say that I think I had a wonderful, if very expensive, time. I made some new friends and ensured the friendship of the existing ones. My carpet was soaked when I woke up on Saturday morning, but nothing was broken, despite the continual avalanches of cd’s and books that kept occurring.
On Saturday I went to Reading to see Hermano’s new flat. Is very nice. Went into the town in the evening, and had the best time avoiding Tilehurst scum wanting to beat us up on the walk back to the flat.
An example of a typical conversation heard in Reading between 11.30pm and 2.30am: “I’m fucking pissed mate. Let’s grab a taxi back to Tilehurst and bash someone.” (Tilehurst is an area of Reading; a “suburb” if you will).
Went to my mum’s on Sunday, ate some Cauldron Foods sausages. I love being vegetarian.
Came home on Sunday.

'Return of the Mac' - coming soon

2005-03-30T10:17:00.000+01:00

This makes me sick.
McDonalds, the world's most evil company (after Disney), are going to pay musicians to drop the words "Big Mac" into their songs.

Weekender #2

2005-03-27T23:49:00.000+01:00

Hellllo.
Had a very long weekend involving frisbees, sunshine and many people in my room.
Will update when my fingers are working properly.
xxx

(untitled)

2005-03-24T12:50:00.000+01:00

Met everyone in the pub made famous by Ocean Colour Scene after work yesterday. Sometimes i get in bad moods for no reason, and IND seemed to think i was angry at him. Which i wasn't. Sorry dude.
Afterwards, i went home and had something to eat, and then met most of them again in the pub across the road. Also met a guy who i used to live with, who i haven't seen for ages. He's off backpacking to Vietnam today, lucky blighter. I wonder who's looking after the cat.

Hooray! Four day weekend! Because i have tuesdays off to go to college it's a five day weekend for me. We've got a lovely picnic planned for tomorrow, provided it isn't raining or snowing. Shall update ye later about it.

Cutting hair?

2005-03-23T13:09:00.000+01:00

Real-life text message i received on Monday 21 March at 19:31 -
"Hi chick. Any chance of a trim b4 friday. If busy no problem. Sam will do it."

I have no idea.

Rosa

2005-03-23T12:50:00.000+01:00

Saw a guy from The Murder of Rosa Luxemburg on the bus this morning. Well, he was wearing all black and had a black scarf covering half his face, so i reckon it was the guitarist.
"Freiheit ist immer Freiheit der Andersdenkenden."

The ancient mariner

2005-03-23T10:49:00.000+01:00

I have used the washing machine. Well, i put it on this morning and quickly ran out of the house to go to work, so if the kitchen's flooded someone else can deal with it.

John Simpson

2005-03-21T15:24:00.000+01:00

John Simpson rules
I first met John Simpson when i was about 2. It was in Zambia, something to do with Reuters (the news agency). I think my mum worked for them or something.
Fast forward a few hundred months, and the 2003 Birmingham Book Festival. Mr Simpson was giving a reading from his latest book, and my ex-girlfriend was working for the company that organised the events, so i was there helping out.
The reading was brilliant, all about his experiences in war-torn countries. Afterwards he signed books and chatted to the people that came; he must of been there for about three hours.
I went last, and casually mentioned the name of a man my mum told me to. His face brightened, and we chatted about Zambia for a bit.
This entry isn't funny, nor very informative. It's just to let you know that John Simpson is a lovely, lovely man.

Define: Microsoft

2005-03-21T13:12:00.000+01:00

Outlook Express isn't working. How am i meant to respond to all the important emails i am bound to have received over the weekend? My boss is away today as well.
Must get fit. Perhaps jogging is the way forward, seeing as i live in one of the greenest and park-iest areas of the city.

Just won '8 Teeth To Eat You', a split ep by Cursive and Eastern Youth, on eBay. $9.50, which is £5.11. A fiver for a cd to be sent all the way from the USA, when in England (if you can find it) it would be about £12. Haven't heard Eastern Youth before, but Cursive fucking rock.
8 Teeth has Excerpts From Various Notes..., which is currently my iPod's favourite song.

Bands

2005-03-21T11:04:00.000+01:00

Superchunk rock.

Cursive rock.

And Up Up Down Down rock.

Jesub loves me

2005-03-20T16:52:00.000+01:00

Hi.
Did i say i went to Sugarfoot Stomp on thursday? Was alright, not many people and very loud.

HM2 broke the washing machine on friday. It was broken already, in that the on/off switch has been pushed inside the machine and we have to use the plug on the wall to turn it on. But now HM2 broke the door off. HM2 says it's still useable, and it has been used, but i'm not going to use it. So there.

Went to NZA's last night cos everyone's broke. Met GS in town; brought some delightful pecan and maple syrup danish types things which we ate on the bus journey. C was there when we got there. Had pizza and vodka.
Got up about 1030 and woke everyone up (not on purpoise. or purpose). Two bus journeys to get home: the first one didn't come for ages and was packed when it did. Got off it too early. Saw the second bus passing before i was at the stop, and upon arriving at the stop found it was a half-hourly service. So walked home, which was nice cos i enjoy walking, and it's quite a pretty walk. (I seem to be sounding really old.)

Idlewild tickets arrived too. Cool as.

Explain myself

2005-03-18T14:11:00.000+01:00

The post below started this way: i was reading a blog by someone whose name involved the word "Irish". I'm not complaining about this person, as a person, or their blog, but the use of the word 'Irish'.
S/he was from Texas. Again, not a problem.
S/he had a list of things she wanted to do. One of them was "visit Ireland".
That is what i have a problem with. This person's from Texas, has never been to Ireland, yet calls themselves "Irish".
I might change my name to Loaded. Or Big Cock.

America for the Irish

2005-03-18T11:33:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was St Patrick's Day. In Birmingham there's a large Irish community, so therefore, understandably, the celebrations are planned months in advance and are fairly big. I was in town last night and you couldn't move for big black and green Guinness hats.
The majority of the Birmingham Irish community were either born in Ireland or their parents were. So, they're Irish. However, if you're descended from someone who arrived in America from Ireland in 1852, you're not Irish. If your grandparents were born in America, you're not Irish. You're American.
To paraphrase Jack Osbourne, if you want to be Irish so much, why don't you move to a South Belfast council estate and see how great Ireland is.

(Incidently, my grandfather was born in County Cork (which is, in case you don't know, on the Southern coast of the Republic), and came to England during World War II (like, 1940). My father was born in England. I am English.)

Snow Patrol

2005-03-18T10:56:00.000+01:00

Bassist exits group
There comes a time when you reach your mid-twenties and realise that there is so much more to life than slow, sad songs played by men dressed in black. You realise that there is a whole world of wonder outside your bedroom, and that you have to embrace yourself and those around you and shout to the world: "I am happy to be here! I AM ME!!"
Anyway, so the bassist from Snow Patrol left, or was forced out (i didn't actually read the story). Wow. Snow Patrol are shit. This isn't the 90s anymore. Music has moved on since the days of cider and shoe-gazing. Get some balls, losers.

Self portrait day #2

2005-03-17T15:38:00.000+01:00

Hot dog! Did i really write that stuff about myself? My favourite sandwich was going to change to crispbread with Philidelphia, except they all went soft and i didn't enjoy them at all. I'm still looking for uteruses or other body parts.

I had the urge to dig up the garden yesterday. Before the Dior Prefect (remember him?) moved in, we lived with a lovely girl who planted potatoes, peas and herbs in the garden. After she moved out, all the garden has seen is a load of rats and, strangely, a deflated football.
As summer is coming, what could be better than pushing your hands about in lovely cool soil and eating the results of your labour? (as long as the results of your labour aren't a steel bridge or a baby.)

Self portrait day

2005-03-17T15:17:00.000+01:00

Hello if you've come from Self Portrait Day! Thanks for visiting. However, there was something of a mistake: i'm not from Chicago and i'm not a mum (I looked for a uterus on eBay but couldn't find one). I would like to go to Chicago though, what with Albini and all. My favourite sandwich is now banana with brown sugar. Or simply rolos wrapped in chocolate with rich chocolate icing.

Jmail

2005-03-17T13:37:00.000+01:00

Just like you, i have had many, many Gmail accounts for ages now. However, i have been solidly faithful to the Yahoo one i've had for years. But, the other day i got an email from KT Tunstall, who is some new singing sensation (i say it was from her, but it's more likely to have been from her record company. All the emails i get from Natasha Bedingfield are actually from Nat though).
I've been very very careful with the yahoo address, making sure it doesn't go anywhere on the internet; obviously i haven't been careful enough.
Anyway, today i have started directing all emails to the brand-spanking-new Gmail account. I shall be interested to see if it's as good as claimed. I may even keep you informed.

howies have a load of new designs; even new pics on the site! My favourite's the Eat Your Own Shit. Or the classic Work Hard, Canoe Home.

Are we seeing this?

2005-03-17T12:19:00.000+01:00

Are we seeing this? Or is it just my broken brain's invention of tension on this chaotic day. Are you seeing this? Or is it just me? If you want a piece of me you know where i live so you can come and give it and i'll come and get it.

Muscle, when will i see it?

2005-03-17T10:25:00.000+01:00

Wouldn't it be easier if our thoughts had a BlogThis! button? It would mean i wouldn't spend the whole night trying to remember things that i can't be bothered to get up and write down. I thought of some wonderful things to write last night, but in the cold light of day they have gone. But i guess that's why they call it the blues.

Decide!

2005-03-16T15:46:00.000+01:00

After a couple of years of pissing about and trying to decide what i want to do with the proliferation of domain names i seem to have acquired, i have come to a decision. I will no doubt shortly change my mind, but for now i am set. I'll fill you in later x

Britney Spears on Michael Jackson: "He needs someone to be like, 'OK, let's buck you up, let's give you a moustache, let's rough you up, let's go to a bar, let's get drunk and be a man."

2005-03-15T23:37:00.000+01:00

My shoes waiting for the train.

Shake those windows

2005-03-15T23:31:00.000+01:00

I'm going to elaborate on a couple of yesterday's ramblings.
One of Athlete's support bands were/are called Morning Runner or something. In another entry somewhere below I reveal that i'm from Reading, followed by a terribly funny sarcastic comment.
Steven Fretwell was also a support (band). He was also big bollocks.

Spent £120 that i haven't got last night on six tickets for gigs. Luckily only two are mine. I'm really getting back into live music. Was talking with Fitzbar about all the bands we just to see at RUSU when we were teenagers: Teenage Fanclub, Carter USM (hundreds of times), Kingmaker (Kingmaker!). First time we saw Kingmaker their support was Suede, and they were crap even then.
And all the Thunderbird beforehand. Oh, Thunderbird; responsible for so many bad, bad things.

Most favourite recent gig (except for Laura) was Beep Beep and The Faintat the Custard Factory, sometime at the end of last year. They were lovely people.

We got the style

2005-03-14T23:33:00.000+01:00

Hello! I went out on friday to a local pub with IND, PND & NZA. Turned out be be quite a fraught, nervous night.

On saturday i went to Reading to see Fitzbar, for his stepdad's 50th birthday party. Was quite good. Ate a lot of gateau. Gateaux. Whatever. Afterwards we watched Layer Cake (which turned out much better than i anticipated) then went and slept on the sofa.

On sunday we drove to Bristol to Fitzbar's sister's house in order to go and see Athlete. Was really good. The band from Reading were pretty shit, but were much better than Steven Fretwell bollocks, who also supported. Athlete were brilliant. The bass player was cool. Bristol Academy's a really good venue.

Went back to Fitzbar's sister's where, as we found out looking for mugs at about one am, every kitchen cupboard door squeaks really loudly. The much fainted aggressive cat turned out quite amicable.

On monday drove back to Reading, went to my mum's, got a train back here, made a cup of coffee.

Lots of other stuff probably happened, but i'm exhausted. Here's a picture of Bristol Academy's sticky, sticky floor (i'm on the right).

Creamy surprise

2005-03-11T14:06:00.000+01:00

Just come back from a meeting at a "public funding agency". I go there every month or so, and sit in a big board room saying nothing and taking notes. The meetings always go round and round in circles, always about how there's no training opportunities in the particular sector we're involved in, and how there's no money to pay for any training, or training this or training that.
I only go for the food. Most of the time it's crap, but sometimes they surprise me. Today, they had the usual cheese and sweetcorn sandwiches (wtf?), but also some kind of deli-wrap. I didn't have one, cos i was saving space for the sweet option - half a huge scone covered in cream. It almost didn't survive being wrapped in a napkin and carried back to the office. It didn't survive the office.

Have a nice weekend, mystery reader. I'm away til monday so we'll catch up in the week! Love you x

Laura Veirs (still)

2005-03-10T10:59:00.000+01:00

Right, i'm going to start spelling her name properly.
Went to see her yesterday, was a bit late cos of IND. Missed most of Karl Blau, who played first. What we saw of him was really good.Then Gina Villalobos came on. Was alright. Nothing special.
Then Laura! She was brilliant, such an amazing singer. Karl Blau played guitar with her, and Steve Moore played keyboards and trombone. She was so cool. Played all me faves. When they finished the first time, it was me that started the clamouring for an encore by stamping me feet. They came back and played Jailhouse Fire and got us all to clap along. She said we "rocked", which we did.
Seeing Athlete on sunday, then ATP in April sometime.

Stats

2005-03-09T17:35:00.000+01:00

Number of emails sent today: 5
Number of emails received: 0
Happiness quotient: 35
Bitterness quotient: 76

Did you see Look Around You on Monday? Mike from Spaced was walking around with a sign that said "Hot Jon". I've got a friend called Jon, and indeed he is hot.

Me & LV

2005-03-09T15:57:00.000+01:00

If the student who i just passed on the steps out the front noticed me, i wasn't staring at you. It was you staring at me.

Going to see Laura Viers tonight. Well looking forward to it. Need to go food shopping first - need sugar; i stole a load of little sachets from college last night but they didn't even last to the bus stop. Is it possible to live on sugar alone? It might be worth trying - maybe i can get a grant for the research. And then a grant for the dentistry bills.

Squelching emo

2005-03-09T12:24:00.000+01:00

My daughter likes Dashboard so get me one of those.

Our leader

2005-03-07T17:40:00.000+01:00

WTF? Every home should have one.

Work/life balance #2

2005-03-07T13:10:00.000+01:00

My contract at work runs out at the end of June. I know it seems a long time away, but i am becoming very despondent. Anyone want to offer me a job? Something cool, good pay, great benefits and holidays. Good looking colleagues.
I'm going to do my CV soon, so you can see what i have to offer. If you want me working for you (i'm great at everything) mail me for a copy of the cv. I'd love to work for you. Thanks!

Tommy Vance

2005-03-07T11:09:00.000+01:00

Rest in peace, Tommy. Channel 5 light entertainment will never be the same.

BBC News

Work/life balance

2005-03-06T22:36:00.000+01:00

I'm supposed to be giving a presentation at college on tuesday. A 20 minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes of questions. And then a 2,000 word essay to hand in one week later. Haven't even started it yet. I am also hard as nails.

H(eavy)M(etal)T

2005-03-06T22:35:00.001+01:00

It was HMT's birthday on wednesday i think. IND and myself met GS and the NZA in the Gosta on the way to his house for a birthday party. The Gosta's quite odd. Very wood.
(This is going to be like a proper diary entry.)
I made HMT a birthday card with his face photoshopped onto the usual picture of Che Guevara; everyone signed it on the way.
I really like the group of people i've entrenched myself into. Very very very much.
The party was good. H and a friend came later on. HMT went a bit manic clearing up towards the end. IND was sick a couple of times, but hadn't been feeling well all day.

Left about three maybe. GS had left with H et al a bit earlier, and IND, NZA and me went back to IND's, cos his moody housemate was away, and carried on. I went to sleep on IND's bed (after having to make it first) at some point, and was woken at half two by IND going to bed. Was well sunny through the curtains. I tiptoed past a sleeping NZA to go home, turned away a charity collector on the doorstep and rang my mum to wish her a happy mother's day.

Met GS, H and friend later on for some food in a pub. We all were drinking *cola* or lemonade except GS, who's hard as nails.

Went round to see IND after the Simpsons, he'd just gotten up. Helped him find his phone and clear up, then reminisced.

Run

2005-03-06T22:35:00.000+01:00

Hermano ran in the Reading Half Marathon today. He didn't know what place he got but did it in under two hours, and beat the Cheeky Girls. But not Gordon Ramsey. Three cheers for el Hermano.
I have my own reasons for hating Gordon Ramsey.

Laura Viers

2005-03-06T22:33:00.000+01:00

Do you like her? Going to see her on wednesday with IND. Ought to be gooood. IND's only coming in exchange for me going with him to see some harpist, which i am also looking forward to immensely.

Drifters and rolos

2005-03-05T00:15:00.000+01:00

Sounds like it's raining. One more picture:

Caramel shortcake?

2005-03-05T00:10:00.000+01:00

Oooh, this one's lovely isn't it? Very brown. There's not a link bit on this one, so here's thee shop. I'm going to go food shopping there tomorrow. Going to buy Rolos and Pringles probably. And vodka for the party.
Pease out.

I smell cake

2005-03-04T23:57:00.000+01:00

Obviously i've been playing about with the templates. Normally i wouldn't have a 'links' bit cos they tend to end up as big huge lists with i can't be bothered to go looking through. But thee shop's where i get all me groceries.

Eye five

2005-03-04T13:38:00.000+01:00

Thought it was about time for some pictures. We're watching you.

Blank

2005-03-04T06:09:00.000+01:00

Here's a list of bands i like, in case you're interested:
Superchunk, Cursive, Jim Moray, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, the unknown band (RIP), and Humidifier.

Reading

2005-03-03T16:31:00.000+01:00

I'm going to Bristol on Sunday 13 to see Athlete with my friend Fitzbar. I'm not the biggest fan of the afore-mentioned band, but live music is generally always good.
One of the support bands are called Morning Runner. I googled them, and came up with this quote: "As one journalist said “It makes you proud to be from Reading when the likes of Morning Runner hit the headlines".
I'm from Reading.
However, it's going to take a lot more than some shite band (admittedly i haven't seen them yet) to make me proud of being from Reading.
Actually, i think i am proud of it. Putting Oscar Wilde in jail for being gay; being the birthplace of Kate Winslet, Kenneth Brannagh and Ricky Gervais; the sodden hell hole that is Reading Festival. Fuck it, Reading rocks.

Anyway, apparently this Morning Runner shite sound like a gutsier Keane. Now, i may not know a lot about music (this is, of course, a lie), but how could Keane possibly get any gutsier? Keane are the hardest rockin' band ever. I was on the bus once behind someone listening to Keane, and it was all i could do to stop myself ripping the walkman off their person and chucking it out the window.

Food miles

2005-03-03T11:02:00.000+01:00

I stole all this from The Independent:

Environmental cost of farming: £1.1bn a year
If all farms were organic it would save £1.1bn a year. Removing pesticides from water supplies, for example, adds £250m a year to water bills. Other costs range from pollution to losses in soil and biodiversity, and costs in human and animal health, such as BSE and antibiotic resistance. Hidden costs of £1.5bn a year could be cut to £385m.

Environmental cost of food transport £2.1bn a year
28 per cent of road freight is food or produce; 1.6 billion tons are carried 149 billion ton-kilometres. 23 per cent more food than 20 years ago is on the roads and it is travelling 65 per cent further. Each person makes, on average, 221 shopping trips per year with an average length of 6.4km, up from 4km in 1985. £2.1bn could be saved if all food was locally sourced.

Hidden farming subsidy costs: up to £1bn
The average annual cost of agricultural subsidies paid by the UK taxpayer was £3.1bn with an extra £2bn in 2001-04 for the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Until 2004, agricultural subsidies mostly supported production that caused adverse environmental impacts. Some subsidies can improve the environment but without them, subsidies still total £2.9bn a year.

Anti-snow

2005-03-02T14:58:00.000+01:00

Have so far spent most of the day on Penny Arcade. Some of the strips are very funny. Some of them are quite nerdy. Obviously i don't understand the nerdy ones.
Had a lovely email from H. I think maybe i should change his/her name, in case it's getting too obvious. Who knows. Who cares. Anyway, it cheered me up no end after a hard day at college.
I love Perry Barr at night.

Benson silver

2005-02-28T16:30:00.000+01:00

There's nothing worse than an ex-smoker.

Weekender

2005-02-28T10:59:00.000+01:00

Friday
I wasn't planning on doing anything on friday except watch Friends and The Simpsons. About half eight the door started knocking, and it was PND and his mate, who had locked themselves out. They brought round a bottle of wine which we drank, then they went out into town. I stayed in.

Saturday
Went round to NZA's with PND, and met GS and LJ there. We went to the Flapper, where we met everyone else, then to a warehouse where there was a party going on. Apparently a load of artists live in this place and occassionally throw parties, with the whole building decorated. Was really good. Left at about six and went to C&H's with GS.

Sunday
C&H had to go to work, so me and GS hung around the house for a little bit then walked home through the park. Back at mine we watched Assault on Precinct 13 in black and white; it added to the oppressivness of the film. H came round after work and we all had power-naps. They left about half eight and i had a little chat with HM2, who has finally come home.

Over the weekend two people lost their wallets and one lost their bag. Fairly successful all in all.

1 4 all

2005-02-26T15:52:00.000+01:00

Was watching Dick and Dom in da Bungalow (sic, maybe) this morning, and they had some rock band dressed up all old like, like Spinal Tap or someting you get me? They were playing the theme to Dogtanian and the Three Muskahounds. I don't know how relevant it would have been to the eight-twelve year target audience, but it made me smile.

I was slagging iTunes off to everyone earlier, but i've decided it's alright. In fact, i'm quite in love with it. It certainly catalogues things quite intensely. I'm glad i haven't got it on my computer at work.
I didn't like how it fades the songs into each other. I think it's great now. The Faint going into Def Leppard. Hot shit.

Music RIP #2

2005-02-25T15:01:00.000+01:00

I was right about the death of music. Blue have split up now, as have Blink 182. Shit.

Music RIP

2005-02-25T14:13:00.000+01:00

I note it's a bad day for music, what with the guitarist from Korn quitting. Whoever he is. I expect to see a line of crying, grieving 15 year olds outside the Academy, on some kind of candlelight vigil.

The Dior Prefect left the heating on all night again. Also, the phone bill was £180, because of his spending 4 hours a night in chatrooms. Sometimes i would so rather be living on my own.
HM2 has been away for a week visiting his parents. He was clever and locked his bedroom door before he went, so HM1's party-people didn't go in there and sleep on his bed. When he comes back (HM2) he's going to Canada for a bit, to visit one of his many, many ex-girlfriends. The boy is such a whore.

So. What are you up to this weekend? I'm maybe going to a party on saturday, and food shopping tonight. Apart from that, college work. Excellent. This is a fascinating read, isn't it?

240 songs?

2005-02-25T10:15:00.000+01:00

No.
350 songs, 17.8 hours and 954MB. Hot dog.

.co.uk

2005-02-24T22:37:00.000+01:00

howies

2005-02-24T13:51:00.000+01:00

I was following a link i was sent by someone who works where i work, about an exhibition being put on by Warwick University. Looking in the 'Gallery' (all of the 5 pictures), i was quite pleased to see a photo of none other than David Hieatt, co-founder of howies. This has prompted me to lay down a brief history of my relationship with the wonderful people at howies.
My first howies tshirt was the Home/Work one, with the cheeky "is that it?" on the back. Along with this, i also brought my brother the America's View of The World tshirt. Then i brought an Underachiever hoodie, which is so so comfortable. I also have a pair of howies jeans, although i can't remember which 'model' (and, to be honest, although they are brilliant, they have currently been replaced by the anti-fit Levis my bro got me from San Fransisco) (which is funny, given the threat of legal action by Levis on howies). I also have a green tshirt with the howies logo across the front, which my bro got me when he was buying himself a howies jumper. Copycat.
I am also very pleased to have had maybe three emails from Mr Hieatt.I am now going to type 'howies' a couple more times to make the number even: howies howies.
So. My point is: howies are an authentic company. They work with organic cotton and renewable resources. They employ locally, and if it's sunny let the workers go out to bike, skate or whatever. Their catalogues are also very cool.
Remember where you heard of them first. If you can't, pretend it was here.