Author: dots and spaces

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Tipiwest

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Tipi2

Had a great weekend with everyone at Tipiwest for my stag do. Not long now until the big day and no better way to say goodbye to them batchelor days than a few nights around the camp fire having a pow-wow with friends. Some of the guys I haven’t seen for a while, some of the filmies, so old friends from work, mixed in with the regulars. We finally escaped work at 5 on the dot and the heavens opened up with the spill that everyone who went to Glastonbury had just endured. It took a while to get out onto the motorway and then plain sailing all the way to Wales, through the mist on top of the hills and along winding lanes to TipiWest. The Tipi’s looked quite beautiful in the late night mist and after a few drinks we settled in. Each Tipi was snug and warm with a fire in the middle that crackled throughout the night. When we got up it seemed quite magical and after a hearty breakfast we walked to the beach. Only a few of us were foolhardy enough to jump in the sea, and it was cold, but you prickled with heat as you got out, feeling healthy and glowing. The evening was spent in classic stag mode with a ruby and a few drinks, and everyone was keen to return to the Tipi’s and enjoy the night around the open fire. We slept late and woke up slowly, breakfast, then a few at a time, people threw stuff into the cars and left. Got back late evening feeling really good – what a great weekend. Ta guys – ’till next time.

Its just an observation, but stag do’s are getting quite mellow, whilst Hen parties are getting more raucous. My woman is off to Brighton and Southampton in one day. I hear “Crazy Nights…” as I type this.

Guys – if any of you have any photos – let me know and I’ll put them up. I keep meaning to open a Flickr account. I will get it sorted.

London to Brighton II

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L2brighton05

Such a hot day, unbelievable, people melting along the roadside. Stayed in Clapham and had extra portions of Spaghetti once the waiter found out we were cycling the next day. We compared notes on great Italian cyclists, what a great place to eat.

The day itself started off hot and sweaty at 8.30am and finished in Brighton hot and sweaty and very tired much later. My computer failed and I don’t really have any stats for the day, just to say that we finished in 5 hours, with a few less stops than last time. We really suffered, and I think I drank litres and litres of water in an attempt to stay cool. We were very grateful for all the little kids with water pistols and those kind people who put on their water sprinklers, especially as we approached Ditchling. Again it hurt, again I made it.

So, many thanks for everyone who’s posted me money, all the dosh we got from work and those kind enough to leave generous donations on the website. So far, to date we raised £186.64 a big thank you.

Face the Truth

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I don’t know why all my posts seem to be about music, maybe there’s lots of good stuff around at the moment. Since we got a little digital radio the spectrum has opened up and apart from zane lowe and Rob da Bank, there’s lots on xfm including Eddie Cooper Temple Clause (as John calls him) where I’ve heard lots of strange things, also just to round up with Mark Radcliffe and the occasional bit of 6Digital.

So, Face the Truth is the new record from Stephen Malkmus its less polished than the last one, but still thoroughly enjoyable. I noticed that Malkmus is on tour, but still won’t be able to catch him. He’s playing a load of stateside gigs, including Slims in San Francisco where we’ll be in August. It would be great to go and watch some bands when we’re out there, so if anyone has any recommendations they would be much appreciated.

Teenage Fanclub

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Saw Teenage Fanclub at The Wedge, with good support from Lucky Luke who are named after a comic book that I used to read when I was little. Lucky Luke could shoot faster than his shadow, was in constant battle with The Dalton Brothers and the final frame was always the same, riding off into the sunset singing “I’m a poor lonesome cowboy, and a long way from home…”

So, I got the new Teenage Fanclub record and its very good and shines through much more than seeing them live – maybe they need a quiet venue, where the intimacy and delicacy of the songs can be more readily distilled. The did look a bit like four lecturers at a College of Higher Education, and you can still hear inflections of grunge mixed with lush Byrds harmonies. I have to admit, a return is a bit of a treat…

Also, they’re one of only three bands that Gorky’s deem linkable…you’ll have to look here to find out about the other two.

Spring…

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Green

I can hear the rain on the skylight and it doesn’t really make me want to leave my desk and explore. I need to be putting in some training hours, but its really not possible at the moment. So I’m sorting out house things and finding bits of files that I have started and don’t really know what to do with. I thought I’d post it up and then it would at least have some sort of a home for the time being. I keep meaning to put a bit of paint on the two canvases that are tucked next to my feet. I know that there are plenty of things to do to the house too, its just finding the time.

I’m searching for Stefan again and also Mr Flynn – if you can both get in touch please. Otherwise, in Stefan’s case I might have to Rent a German…I know, its bizarre.

Oh – there’s a new Stephen Malkmus record out called “Face the Truth”.

And other news is that I’ve gone Tiger and I’m really enjoying all the little widgets. So far I have a magic 8 ball, a plexiglass ruler, a dancing hula girl and an Amazon shortcut. It roars…

Joe’s Friends

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Joesfriends

I was tipped off by a friend, made a few calls and spoke to some lovely people, they sent me some biscuits and they tasted very good. I will be ordering more. They can do this for you too, simply click the link above and get a little closer to the finest biscuits in space… if you need something nice with your cuppa tea, call joes friends, and they’ll sort you out and send you a little black bag of goodness.

Khayelitsha

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Khayelitsha

Arrived, tired and slightly jaded on Monday after a long flight. Finally posted some photos here just a selection but I have lots more, especially from Khayelitsha which is a big township that we visited with the crew. We were treated to a little tour and then played a football match, which was great fun. The kids enjoyed our company and we all had a good day. One of the teachers explained to me that a when you don’t have much, good days and bads days become common currency. We brought along boxes of exercise books and lots of footballs, rugby balls and netballs. I hope that we can do a little in the long term, so I’ve sent out an email and will let you know what you can all do to help the kids in Khaylitsha.

Cape Town

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Out in Cape Town with work and am awoken by seals that sleep on the pontoon below my hotel window. They bark like big dogs and I watch them for hours, so full of personality. Spent the last couple of days escaping the waterfront and visited Robben Island to see the small cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. We were shown around by an ex-political prisoner who had been incarcerated there, it was humbling stuff and makes you feel very lucky and very priviliaged.

Table Mountain frames everything and you get your co-ordinates here by looking up. It reminds me a little of Grenoble, with the mountains rising up just beyond the spread of the city. Waves are big at the beach and crash down with dynamite boom. This must be why all the hip hop bands use huge bass sounds – there are tons of great record shops and if you ask for some recommendations then there’s a real mix of stuff you can get to hear. I’ll be home with some fine tunes.

photos and links when I get back – I’m in one of those backpacker internet cafes.

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