tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81884862012-02-01T01:19:37.506ZMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.comBlogger4691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-67694690235401564232011-05-17T20:32:00.000+01:002011-05-17T20:32:03.316+01:00

In theory, this hotlinked picture should update once a minute, and show activity in our back garden, where chickens are concerned.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-19379736651669704262011-05-10T08:13:00.003+01:002011-05-10T08:14:40.676+01:00

Lovely DayClick here to listen/download The reserve song for the signing bit at a recent wedding. Again, would benefit from Damon's trombone, but I do my best with the side of my mouth. The ShiningClick here to listen/download A request from a recent wedding - sadly missing the excellent trombone skills of one Damon Smith, and the cello intro we managed to organise on the day. Hey YaClick

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-60484150342868460332011-04-21T12:57:00.000+01:002011-04-21T12:57:04.949+01:00

See the toolbar on the right, it's in there somewhere. In preparation for a couple of songs I cobbled together last night. They'll be up early next month, as they're for a special occasion.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-43409976639713624942011-03-28T13:09:00.001+01:002011-03-28T13:09:08.668+01:00

Hurrah for our bird feeder!

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-71519621158456495222011-03-16T15:53:00.001Z2011-03-16T15:53:06.969Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-19007226743162435042010-10-12T10:54:00.001+01:002010-11-01T12:55:20.081Z

Monday - chickened out, on the basis that I'd cycled yesterday and I was a bit sleepy. Tuesday - cycled in, and the journey was entirely uneventful. I kept being passed by a lady with two baskets on her bike, then passing her at each set of lights. And I got in late, having set off late, so I could enjoy the lovely breakfast my wife made me. And then it all sort of slowed down... It's cold now,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-73870288769039860262010-10-05T14:50:00.002+01:002010-10-12T10:56:01.368+01:00

Monday - Tube strike? What tube strike? There are advantages to this cycling thing. Bumped into Ben and Emma coming through Covent Garden, and attempted to look composed. Haven't asked them since, but I probably failed. It's not pretty when I exercise. Ride home this evening was definitely the fastest yet. Tuesday - Riding in, I nearly ran up the back of another cyclist, when my front brakes

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-68137860179119458092010-10-05T14:48:00.000+01:002010-10-05T14:48:05.551+01:00

I like going to Portugal. It's always warm and sunny, the locals are never surprised or annoyed when you don't speak any Portuguese (I try, but I always end up just speaking bits of Spanish by mistake, which is probably more insulting than speaking English), and they have an abundance of waterparks. I also like waterparks. This week in Portugal consisted of: Saturday: Went to hotel, after much

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-81603102300955884162010-09-21T14:56:00.003+01:002010-09-24T13:45:50.151+01:00

Monday - kept up with someone on a mountain bike between Tooting Bec and Kennington. I feel like a proper cyclist now. On the way home, same thing, only this one was wearing lycra (which means he must be fast!). 16 miles as usual, plus 3-4 extra miles popping to Kings Cross to sort out cycle reservations for Tue and Thu. Tuesday - early start, I needed to make Kings Cross for the 8.40. All went

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-39919062897439001522010-09-20T09:56:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:56:59.797+01:00

Monday - both ways. It seems to be settling on an hour at a time now, but I'm not having to pause for water and rest halfway, or slow down as much up the hills. Tuesday - cycled in, then went to Nandos with Elissa and friends Wednesday - cycled home. Thursday - slacked off, on the premise that I was up in Peterborough in the day, and in Surbiton for evening drinks. Poor excuse. Friday -

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-60842082815176295122010-09-10T13:00:00.001+01:002010-09-10T13:01:21.301+01:00

Monday - to work and back - about 16 miles. I was sat between the lanes on a roundabout, ready to feed into the cycle lane on the inside lane of my turning, when a motorcyclist came screaming round the roundabout, and shouted "Get out the lane, man!". No swearing! What a nice chap. Still needing a short break for water at Clapham Common. Tuesday - home to Kings Cross, Peterborough Station to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-69979015037210817242010-09-06T10:00:00.000+01:002010-09-06T10:00:34.198+01:00

I have just resumed cycling into work (at the top end of Shaftesbury Avenue) from home (somewhere near Colliers Wood). It's about 8 miles and there are no really serious hills, so it's a nice gentle start, especially for someone as unaccustomed to exercise as me. And the new cycle superhighway makes for a nice smooth surface. On the way home on Thursday, I got from Parliament Square to Colliers

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-10454456244945332712010-08-04T11:42:00.000+01:002010-08-04T11:42:56.151+01:00

We got there at about 3pm on the Friday (sadly missing Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, who played before we managed to get the programme with the set times) and set up camp, and quickly realised nearly everyone there had brought children (and pushchairs, and cots, and wheelie thingys to keep the kids in). There was a kids wristband tent near the entrance, so parents could leave their mobile numbers

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-10693428429782410592010-06-15T11:10:00.000+01:002010-06-15T11:10:43.504+01:00

I recently moved the site to free hosting (as I'm not doing much with it) and I've been trying to figure out how to get all the music on there as well. I have done this, and present a lovely new music page! I hope this will encourage me to add some lovely new music as well, but time and free weekends will tell.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-20428645443636641892010-06-09T20:50:00.000+01:002010-06-09T21:01:54.557+01:00

And Elissa is very excited. I'm reserving judgement. I like the one from Romancing the Stone, but i don't think i know anything else... Still, 5 mins and i will.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-42190373607150711002010-02-20T10:25:00.001Z2010-02-20T10:25:22.584Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-44005541095913746612010-01-11T13:50:00.003Z2010-01-11T13:52:18.160Z

No point in writing too much about the plot of Avatar - either you'll go and see it and I'll ruin it, or you don't want to know about it at all. Being a former Physics student, though, I could go on for hours about the 3D effects. Ok, so here's how you make a flat screen appear 3D. Project two images onto it, each taken by a separate camera. When filming, ensure the cameras are separated by a

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-84187230399345620292009-12-03T21:47:00.001Z2009-12-03T21:48:52.621Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-35092304254563750852009-12-03T21:47:00.000Z2009-12-03T21:48:06.917Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-59243358125477285142009-11-24T21:29:00.000Z2009-11-24T21:30:45.347Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-44274714744777557882009-11-05T13:07:00.000Z2009-11-05T13:10:00.891Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-13039825377581009372009-09-12T13:45:00.000+01:002009-09-12T13:46:32.593+01:00

It's more than 500 steps to get here. The view is worth it.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-56038692410024082142009-09-09T21:45:00.000+01:002009-09-09T21:46:10.872+01:00

Don't you think?

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-87494719891206814762009-08-10T12:24:00.000+01:002009-08-10T12:26:33.894+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-12475306187693217022009-08-07T17:39:00.000+01:002009-08-07T17:41:02.598+01:00

At king's cross station, at the end of platform 8.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-62992357303096575302009-08-02T10:10:00.000+01:002009-08-02T10:13:02.559+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-73034359190462341402009-08-02T09:58:00.000+01:002009-08-02T10:01:37.934+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-76076481257543107652009-08-02T09:57:00.000+01:002009-08-02T10:01:00.686+01:00

Great food, great company. Excellent cake. And nana had a lovely time. And i beat archie at super mario.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-26919923223589090522009-07-31T08:18:00.000+01:002009-07-31T08:20:09.803+01:00

So there.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-23061701930052229302009-07-28T21:04:00.000+01:002009-07-28T23:06:47.514+01:00

Not bad on the improv front.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-39505073490567420402009-07-26T22:49:00.000+01:002009-07-26T22:50:59.686+01:00

Is very good. Excellent turns from eddie izzard and john cleese as evil scientists. Expecting a terrible 'happy ending' though..

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-19615475868274942202009-07-23T09:38:00.001+01:002009-07-23T09:38:57.191+01:00

Amazon are normally so good at all this.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-33743929300504545122009-07-19T12:44:00.001+01:002009-07-19T12:44:52.784+01:00

Good band on the stage but the bassist is wearing a silly hat.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-89984120750333078902009-06-27T22:09:00.001+01:002009-06-27T22:09:32.231+01:00

Side by side. And bruce springsteen is about to play, which is nice.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-47715341936519541092009-06-26T23:37:00.001+01:002009-06-26T23:37:51.253+01:00

Take my word for it-he's a long way away.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-24633343625201168142009-06-25T12:56:00.001+01:002009-06-25T12:56:03.120+01:00

Pretty good film. Great atmosphere. Excellent company.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-47090387753221876202009-06-24T15:37:00.000+01:002009-06-24T15:38:05.398+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-33415061016059904982009-06-10T09:12:00.001+01:002009-06-10T09:12:30.062+01:00

Much nicer than the inside of a tunnel, and no one is involved who cries off work because they're only getting £40k a year.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-68051036802707602272009-05-31T14:34:00.001+01:002009-05-31T14:34:55.317+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-3693647251629265252009-05-31T14:33:00.000+01:002009-05-31T14:34:30.929+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-25318390322979245002009-05-16T16:07:00.001+01:002009-05-16T16:07:39.220+01:00

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-53177253448100350792009-05-12T18:44:00.001+01:002009-05-12T18:44:55.290+01:00

Geeft Burrand Thgur. The new slogan of Burger King-Holland?

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-41448366463070460902009-04-05T20:19:00.000+01:002009-04-05T20:20:06.918+01:00

You'll have to take my word for it tho, camera phone is a bit average...

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-24190857115039900462009-03-28T15:31:00.000Z2009-03-28T15:33:29.603Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-29746020551473132202009-03-23T13:22:00.001Z2009-03-23T14:26:55.654Z

I am. But I'm not too idle to take the time to admit I'm being idle. In brief, the last couple of weeks have involved:A jazz band on Friday night. Pianist and drummer were excellent. Bassist may or may not have been under the influence of something that impaired his sensitivity to the other musicians. He played all the right notes, but still stank.The gaining of momentum in continuing wedding

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-68801097224914759102009-03-19T20:48:00.001Z2009-03-19T20:48:50.934Z

He is embarking on a career in social media. And he and his partner are staying in our house. They make excellent bolognese. And they don't like flat beer. Yet.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-28496980724665998212009-03-07T20:32:00.000Z2009-03-07T20:33:05.263Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-47414179841204678252009-02-16T09:56:00.003Z2009-02-16T10:42:49.662Z

My fabulous fiancee took me away to Germany this weekend. She didn't tell me where in Germany until we made it to the departure lounge, and she didn't tell me why until we were on the plane. So at about 7.15pm on Friday evening, just above Luton, I opened a card telling me I was on my way to see Bobby McFerrin in Dortmund. I didn't even know Dortmund was in Germany, if I'd been asked I'd have

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-26179798592484410512009-02-14T21:06:00.002Z2009-02-16T09:56:28.015Z

I just sang on stage with bobby mcferrin...

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-33687653201261392902009-02-05T00:04:00.000Z2009-02-05T00:06:12.878Z

I miss sydney from time to time. It doesn't help that it just started snowing again in brixton. Sydney averages 40+ right at the moment. But the best bits of sydney are here in london, so it's not so bad...

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-11803990566775908092009-02-04T18:35:00.001Z2009-02-04T18:35:37.000Z

"Und noo, vi choop di fïshi. Choop, fïshi! Choop!!"

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-21396038024385521642009-02-01T18:49:00.000Z2009-02-01T18:50:23.705Z

And apparently more is due tomorrow. When it has just fallen, snow can make even lambeth look clean and tidy. And what the picture doesn't show is the sound of children playing in the snow. And it's a lovely sound.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-76287128485895034132009-02-01T10:31:00.001Z2009-02-01T10:31:35.070Z

She is sooooo sneaky...

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-45190201725651794072009-01-28T12:10:00.001Z2009-01-28T12:10:46.064Z

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-29880957413625085632009-01-27T17:20:00.000Z2009-01-27T17:21:03.455Z

Right. I'm going home.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-4991781551830961062009-01-22T10:01:00.002Z2009-01-28T13:00:56.522Z

And all the Miis above clubbed together and bought of a rather nice present. And Elissa did amazing things with restaurants and karaoke bars. And I feel very lucky to have the friends i have, especially the friend i'm marrying next year.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-19687741491744739962009-01-17T00:32:00.001Z2009-01-17T00:32:56.618Z

Lots of bass. I can feel my hair grooving to the beat.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-81153377948286921222009-01-15T14:09:00.000Z2009-01-15T14:14:31.697Z

... a word processor, a music studio, a games console, a graphic design thingy, a website suite, and now, it's a DVD player (with, potentially, access to the internet, and its wealth of downloadable video). I have made it talk to my television.Over Christmas, I bought a Scart - Composite/S-Video adaptor and an S-Video cable. I plugged the cable into the laptop and the adaptor, set the adaptor to

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-43221498132250373272009-01-09T19:29:00.001Z2009-01-09T19:29:49.353Z

Pretty good. But should definitely be taken down soon-twelfth night and all that.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-15028914084637578222009-01-06T21:02:00.003Z2009-01-06T21:10:43.720Z

So I got engaged, Christmas happened, New Year happened, and lots of other little things. But I break the silence now to talk about Tesco and Sainsburys.The Basics Pollack at Sainsburys costs about £1.50 for a bit that feeds 3, and it's Marine Stewardship Council certified. That's this thing that endorses about 10 fisheries around the world (last time I looked, could be more) to ensure they're

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-90455812856016687872008-11-14T21:13:00.000Z2008-11-14T21:12:48.608Z

I just read a Sky News ticker at Manchester Piccadilly. It said 'Prince Charles celebrates 60th birthday * Tragedy 'could have been avoided'.' Only by his untimely demise. Time makes fools of us all, and in Britain at least, sexagenarians of most of us. Assuming it was a mistake, the following 5 mins of messages gave no indication of what other tragedy they meant.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-74131181458606742402008-10-30T20:40:00.002Z2008-10-30T20:44:12.662Z

I was standing by the counter in the world's best known chain of "restaurants" waiting for my fries to cook, and a man with a pronounced French accent walked in. He asked for a "Royale Cheese". The two ladies behind the counter looked at him blankly. He asked again. Same response. So then he said "Big Mac". I intervened."You mean a big cheeseburger, right?""Yes""(to staff) He wants a Quarter

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-57976598146438171582008-10-14T21:40:00.002+01:002008-10-15T10:16:24.513+01:00

Stand By Me and Message in a Bottle are up on the music page. I screwed something up exporting them though, and they're a bit too fast and high. Personally I think I might prefer it as it is. See what you think. Click the music link to the right.Edit: The files themselves aren't the problem - right click on the line in the flash player and choose download file, and it will give you the MP3 at the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-12852953472430540272008-10-13T12:03:00.000+01:002008-10-13T12:09:06.653+01:00

Superego: Everyone had a really good weekend, and I'm pleased that whatever I contributed to the day helped that to happen.Ego: I had a really good weekend. And I was pretty good when the speeches came round.Id: I want to have another really good weekend.Matt: When I have a few hours I'll actually write what happened, pop a few photos up and tell you all about it. But it was pretty good -

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-56654628951168141932008-10-08T21:29:00.002+01:002008-10-08T21:42:20.878+01:00

I sometimes maintain that Art Garfunkel was my second favourite member of Simon and Garfunkel. This is now no longer true. It's a technicality, but until Paul Simon plays me a live show, I don't think I can make a comparison. And Art is a good lad.His show consisted of about 50% Paul Simon tunes (from the time of their collaboration and afterwards). There were songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Randy

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-19066845215214112402008-10-08T12:18:00.000+01:002008-10-08T12:20:26.892+01:00

Does all this email nonsense work then? Can i put a picture on my blog from my mobile? One that looks suspiciously familiar to readers of b3ta.com?

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-15011105453002399942008-10-05T18:46:00.002+01:002008-10-05T18:50:02.957+01:00

Following a friend's redesign I thought I'd try one of my own. I didn't realise it but until this post I had precisely 404 posts on this blog. If I was just a little geekier, I'd try to make a joke out of that.I've brought the blog to the front page (long overdue) and I've found new flash jukebox functionality, and a nice map that tracks where I've taken photos. Have a poke around, and if you're

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-81798320052180283282008-10-02T09:56:00.000+01:002008-10-02T10:01:20.029+01:00

Last night at the O2. And he played a beauty. He wrote all the songs. I mean ALL of them. Not just the ones he played last night, but actually all of them. I'm not a huge fan, but I'm definitely won over after last night. That is all.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-11614847475191392422008-09-29T21:56:00.002+01:002008-10-05T17:26:17.974+01:00

I've rerecorded Back in Black, as I had a few gripes with the way it came out last time. This time, I have less gripes. Ziggy Stardust is also on there, and the original take of Back in Black. It's all on the music page.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-17312003867915157962008-09-25T13:20:00.001+01:002008-09-25T13:29:52.238+01:00

I saw a sign on a back road near Tottenham Court Road station a couple of days ago. It said "Polite Notice: Please leave quietly as this is a residential area". There was a director of the BBC, News I think, who once banned his staff from describing anyone as "famous". The word was either unnecessary or incorrect, he reasoned. I think the notice falls into the same bracket. We do not need

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-2405022803226283762008-09-22T21:01:00.002+01:002008-09-22T21:05:42.405+01:00

It's clear I need to keep working on lots of things, both my recording technique and my singing, not to mention bum notes from the guitar and some tuning issues with my kazoo. That said, I hope that you'll enjoy my latest musical offering. One track. The first recording I've made completely independently (and it shows Jim, your expertise will definitely be needed in the future). Please check out

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-60497745427886246322008-09-19T12:28:00.002+01:002008-09-19T12:47:25.635+01:00

Paul's stag weekend was not blog material. There's some sort of rule about what goes on tour staying on tour, which I've already broken extensively, and plan to break some more, but not on the internet.However, when the dust settled and we made it back to work on Monday, I'd got a Metallica gig lined up for the Monday night. It was a fanclub gig, and I'd had to join a mailing list to get into it.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-18313970278038413212008-09-08T11:00:00.000+01:002008-09-08T11:30:33.414+01:00

On Friday evening Elissa and I popped into Tesco, picked up sandwiches, some smoothie, a couscous salad and a couple of cream slices, and headed to St Pancras to catch our train. Our train to Paris, where we'd be spending what we had down as a very relaxing weekend.Arriving at Gare Du Nord we headed to the Metro and got off just across the bridge from Notre Dame. Our hotel was a short walk away,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-44219790666254806312008-08-12T12:51:00.000+01:002008-08-12T12:53:41.763+01:00

I'm getting keys to my new place tonight! And moving in very soon!In the last few weeks Elissa and I visited Snettisham, and saw birds flying around in vast numbers, there have been a couple of parties, we've watched a few films and, well, everything. But the photos are the best bit, and cause I still don't live anywhere, not much of it is online. Maybe this blog stuff needs to take a back-burner

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-31685122621273246982008-07-29T14:43:00.000+01:002008-07-29T14:50:16.852+01:00

A few weeks ago, Elissa and I took the Metropolitan Line from Aldgate East to Liverpool Street. So did a pigeon. It hid in its own seating well until we approached the station, and then just before the doors opened, it took off, meaning that when the doors did open it could exit the train above the boarding passengers. Presumably it wouldn't have to do this if pigeons were included in the usual "

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-12617930326729177442008-07-11T14:24:00.002+01:002008-07-11T14:34:18.891+01:00

I bought a kazoo a couple of days ago. This was in no small way inspired by Swannee-Kazoo from I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. I intend to put it to good use in a month or two, when I'll have a computer with gadgets attached to it, to pick up all the subtlety of its soothing tones. Last night I was walking past a busker playing "Sittin' on the dock of the bay" and he was just coming up to what I

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-68965728580293665632008-07-08T09:26:00.001+01:002008-07-08T09:34:50.645+01:00

So I moved up to Corby Glen for a few weeks while I trained for my new job, in Peterborough. I have since made it back to London, on numerous occasions, but now, more permanently.And in the last few weeks, the following mildly diverting things have happened.Elissa came up to Corby, saw a hedgehog for the first time, spotted two barn owls, and enjoyed Stamford's premier tourist attractions,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-35611196888054534712008-06-10T18:49:00.002+01:002008-06-10T19:00:01.247+01:00

This weekend was beautiful. Saturday was mostly dry and warm but the weather on Sunday was something else. Everyone and his mother was out in Tooting Bec Common, where Elissa and I arrived at 5pm with a fishing rod and some freshly buttered toast. We were hoping to catch ourselves a squirrel!In the corner of the common, two squirrels started to show an interest. We pulled out the fishing rod and

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-14204000463318520722008-05-27T19:54:00.005+01:002008-05-27T20:52:28.453+01:00

I'm back in Corby for a few weeks while I train in Peterborough, to do my job in London. I lived in Corby for the first 18 years of my life, before I moved to London to study, and so it's packed full of (mostly) happy memories and emotional significance. While this sort of post is probably akin to posts of people's cats (yes, your cat is lovely to you, but why do I have to look at it?) I thought

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-80379222916820831382008-05-23T18:24:00.003+01:002008-05-23T18:43:29.600+01:00

I got a job. I'm a database analyst for one of the nation's leading magazine publishers, and currently based in the Peterborough area. I'll be back in London in a month. The people in the office are friendly and cheerful, and my boss is a man who recently did a skydive in a mankini. For charity, it should be noted. If I don't say that it was for charity, people have generally been concerned for

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-6743732037204385992008-05-12T21:54:00.002+01:002008-05-12T22:00:27.928+01:00

I've not written anything for about a month, and nothing worth reading for much longer - since I got back really. I am planning to write lots here, when I get my camera working again, when I know what's going on with my life. Almost as notes to myself for the future, but so you know what's happening, I've just been offered a job (through an agency, so I still don't know the details), I've joined

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-24414445759426146822008-04-14T16:47:00.002+01:002008-04-14T16:54:15.717+01:00

Tripod were one of my favourite things about Australia. Here they give Oasis all the respect they deserve. Download the MP3 here, and a bunch of others from here, under Recommended downloads.

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-5387109722142920132008-04-14T15:13:00.003+01:002008-04-14T15:22:40.507+01:00

Me and my tight friends have a habit of drinking in Sam Smith's pubs, where you can buy a round for you and four friends and a bag of crisps with a tenner. A few of us were out last night in The Princess Louise, which was recently refurbished and has lots of little booths with tables in them, for the drinker looking for privacy and getting there good and early. We talked about many things, but

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-15835207137126933102008-04-06T17:57:00.003+01:002008-04-07T17:58:55.735+01:00

This weekend I went to Rock The House in Lincolnshire, a benefit concert for a friend of a friend who was injured around 12 months ago. There were a series of great performances from a variety of people, including the boy's father, who played a very emotional folk set. Later on in the evening, I had just a smidgen too much to drink, and fell over a log, splitting my forehead open and requiring 4

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-43012777812630167042008-03-26T12:33:00.002Z2008-03-26T12:41:24.271Z

I have just been reading what seems like an ongoing saga in the UK news. Gordon Brown wants to pressure the government into voting for a bill to allow experimentation on part human, part animal embryos. This conjures up a lot of strange images, not entirely unlike that mouse with an ear on its back. Personally I'm in favour of it, because it has been described as 'militantly atheist' by various

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-25206783709392127352008-03-19T13:58:00.002Z2008-03-19T14:01:41.206Z

In China, about 2 years ago, I bought a trumpet. It's a pocket trumpet, in a lovely case, with a bag to keep it clean and grease for the thingies, you know, all the moving parts. It's really nice.Today I learned that I can do circular breathing while playing the trumpet. This means I can, potentially, make an infinitely long single note on the trumpet, without running out of air to push through

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-82620690301496156272008-03-12T00:50:00.001Z2008-03-11T07:41:04.797Z

Hi there - this blog is an account of my travels from London to Singapore and Australia, and wherever else I go next.The photos in the posts are just the tip of the iceberg - check my Flickr account for more photos of pretty much everything (many of which, I'm obliged to mention, are taken by Elissa).At this stage, my travels have largely ended, but there's plenty to read, and no doubt there'll

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-1563157491661421762008-03-11T07:25:00.002Z2008-03-11T07:38:28.563Z

Today I had planned to go to Pulau Ubin and Changi Village. Despite being right by the airport they're two relatively undeveloped areas of Singapore, and I had pictured wooden fronted shops, low-rise buildings, and maybe even the occasional wooden shack. I had planned to bicycle round the island and wave at the locals, and then stop for tea before taking the ferry back from Pulau Ubin to Changi,

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-37505202014071319162008-03-10T02:28:00.002Z2008-03-10T03:02:07.992Z

So last night at Esplanade, I went to see Broken Social Scene. They were a bit like The Doors in a way - they seemed to lock into an idea and then keep playing it for about 7 minutes, then pause and have another idea. There were some great ideas in there, but I realised I really like my ideas to come thick and fast. You know, like Bohemian Rhapsody or Paranoid Android. I need an idea every thirty

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-75609912149859605192008-03-04T00:12:00.002Z2008-03-04T00:39:58.220Z

This year has been very exciting. I've climbed the Harbour Bridge, chased a bull, swum with a shark, bar-hopped in Melbourne (and Sydney, and Darwin, and Brisbane for that matter), visited more botanical gardens than in my entire life before last March, helped chase a near-deadly spider with a flip-flop, seen a surprising number of British bands for some reason, watched opera in arguably the

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-76436394118653088252008-02-26T22:52:00.005Z2008-02-27T04:02:14.807Z

My parents came to visit a few days after the Police gig, via Hong Kong. Elissa and I managed to find them at the airport and I drove them home, via Maroubra where we walked a little way along the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day. Since then, it has rained everyhwere they've gone in Australia. With the exception of the Great Barrier Reef, where we were all sunburnt from laying face-down for 5

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-92034639082364898692008-02-26T21:38:00.001Z2008-02-26T21:42:38.306Z

Last night Elissa spotted a spider in the doorway of our building. It was a redback. Redbacks are the proud owners of the most potent venom in Australia (against some pretty serious competition - Australia contains 14 of the worlds 15 most venomous snakes). They strongly resemble, but are not, Black Widow Spiders. The three species of Black Widow are found in North America, and are a shade more

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-33028425479736913602008-02-01T22:38:00.001Z2008-02-27T04:05:51.518Z

I also saw The Police at Telstra Stadium. Ever since a French girl gave me a tape of her father's Police Greatest Hits in 1994, I've been hoping there would be an opportunity to see them. I know this isn't particularly cool, but I don't care. There's something about Andy Summers' guitar riffs, and something about these three guys in combination, that just never gets boring for me. Waiting 14

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-80005753510489420692008-01-28T22:21:00.002Z2008-02-27T04:08:24.198Z

I went to Big Day Out, and saw Hilltop Hoods, Regurgitator, Midnight Juggernauts, a bit of Billy Bragg, Silverchair, Bjork and Rage Against The Machine. It was great to see Rage again. Bjork was outstanding, even though the fiercely Rock crowd didn't really want to see her. the guy from Silverchair was wasted, in some capacity. He talked too much and sang too little. But when he sang it was

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-21327740525568372622008-01-23T21:43:00.001Z2008-02-26T22:03:51.701Z

So on we trekked to Rockhampton, and Yeppoon. Every opportunity we had, we joked about Yeppoon, as Elissa had decided that 'poon' had an alternative meaning, possibly one Ali-G enthusiasts would be able to discern more readily than me. Being a seaside town, I mentioned Yeppoon had an odd odour about it. Elissa said she liked the look of Yeppoon, it looked very well kept. It was raining a lot, so

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-61177202814345278952008-01-18T22:31:00.001Z2008-02-26T23:22:34.073Z

Elissa had booked accommodation for the next night, in Dayboro. It was a small town just outside Brisbane, and accommodation was a little further out of town still. It was a small cottage on a Llama farm! The cottage was beautiful, the view was incredible, and we spent an hour feeding the llamas in the afternoon! Their keeper, Miguel, was a professional footballer for a while, with Barcelona, and

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-49196736875567582932008-01-10T02:50:00.001Z2008-02-26T23:26:58.197Z

We were waved off at about 1.30pm, and headed north to Bellingen. Arriving at about 5.30pm, we set up the tent again, apprehensive about just how little sleep we were going to get. A local bar served us a slightly greasy but satisfying dinner and a couple of glasses of beer. Back at the YHA we met the chickens, billed as "punk chooks", who were pretty weird looking. One of the other guests picked

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-12003995126002594382008-01-03T00:48:00.000Z2008-01-25T05:57:33.759Z

Christmas in Australia is a strange affair. With a majority of Australians able to trace their ancestry back to the UK, or Europe certainly, Christmas still has the European feel to it. Fat blokes in warm red suits, snow, reindeer, that sort of thing. But usually the temperature outside is close to 40 degrees, and a roast dinner is the last thing on people's minds. Many Australians spend

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-25882296288463793232007-12-12T06:04:00.000Z2007-12-12T06:09:33.051Z

Last week we saw Tripod's Christmas show at the Metro. Tripod are a three piece comedy band, or a very funny three man rock band, or something like that. They are most famous for being on The Sideshow, which is on some Australian channel or other, and doing funny songs in an hour on Triple J.Their support act was weird. Really weird. I liked him.Tripod themselves performed a series of songs, some

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188486.post-71933352248680073232007-12-04T09:25:00.000Z2007-12-04T09:54:34.784Z

John Williams writes a pretty nifty tune. Elissa managed to land two tickets for this, and I was pretty keen to go, but had been hogging the free tickets, so suggested she take her father. Then on the day, I had a change of heart, too late. I was all set to take the bus home as Elissa wandered off to meet her dad, but then I got a phone call. "Where are you?" "Waiting for the bus" "Can you get

Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903342994529623737noreply@blogger.com0