catch up

Last Thurs met up with some cricket fans at two boozers outside the Oval including the White Bear where i had a Club orange which was around in the 70s. Then a fast train from London Bridge to Brockley. Colourful grafitti near the station. Brockley Barge is not a boat but a Wetherspoons. Was Curry Night and the vindaloo is quite hot especially if you have it without rice. Good to catch up with the Camra boys Martin, Alex and Pete. There was an army friend who's based in Germany but looking forward to getting out to Afghanistan.
Next stop was the Fox and Firkin, Ladywell with bands and late licence. Bumped into Josh from JD and the Longfellows who i saw play in Boogaloo, Highgate back in 2007 when MySpace was popular. An ex used to teach Claire from the band horseriding. Josh kept looking round at the bar at me and Rosie. After the folk band finished he came up to where we were and i introduced them; macking? Left at 2am.

Fri afternoon there was a rain squall delay at the cricket; restarted 2.20 when it was sunny and amazing. Even when Eng got their first wicket thought Aus would still make 575. Wickets kept tumbling and they nearly didn't make the 133 follow on. This was that afternoon when the Ashes changed. Bumped into Andy who i went to Germany with. Me and Helen went to the Thai rest in Old St. If i was feeling tired there then a night's clubbing gives you that second wind. At Matter, o2 we had the mesmeric noise of the Crystal Method live, then Evil Nine. We left just after 6am, no sitting down there. By 12.30pm i was at Regents Park for big screen cricket. Met Nick Knight; i said to him that he's one of my heroes. Some guys were getting sozzled in the sun and there was banter with Aus fans: 'Get your shit stars off our flag'.
At 5.00 we joined Andy's birthday crawl which did start at midday. Stevo's Toon beat Palace so i didn't talk to him for 10 mins. Did the sandwich run at Teckers just near Big Ben; bought a big doorstep wedge which Stevo and Danny enjoyed. 'Eating is Cheating'!
Went to the Morpeth Arms at Millbank near Vauxhall Bridge. Mike Atherton and David 'Bumbles' Lloyd were there; i said to them 'the legends are here'. Lloydy's also on Twitter. Athers is in good shape and he said 'see ya' when they left.

Snakeblood says

Going to Matter, o2 Fri night to see and not have Crystal Method; also quality breaks from Evil Nine and Scratch Perverts going well into Sat morning daylight.

On the eve of my birthday we went to a Northern Chinese rest in Liverpool St. The cuisine has Middle Eastern influences; historically some Turks went on a walkabout and settled in Northern China. Chilli eating dares maybe wasn't the best idea before my birthday. A dining companion from Shanghai was alarmed that i went for a 56% local spirit; 'my Dad doesn't have that and he's from the village. They put ads in the paper saying to be careful with it'. Want to go to Indonesian rest Bali Bali in Shaftesbury Avenue. At the stroke of midnight we were in Camden. I made last orders at the Clarence, Balham 12.45am. After 1.30 the chillies and spirit started kicking in and i paid for it that night and early morning..

On the Sat the family and myself had a lunch buffet in Yar's Village, Tooting which always looked interesting. Then birthday carrot cake. Did my birthday in town this year; called Enter the Dragon's Den at the Dragon, Shoreditch..Bruce Lee meets Peter Jones. I thought 15 people would come but it was 30; all cool people. Want to do another party for something; bring people together.

Sunday saw cautious Liverpool lose to Tottenham in spite of Gomes. They were boring and had no tempo. Johnny tinkled the ivories back at the flat. VH1 were showing a Madonna Top 50; i enjoyed again Causing a Commotion, Dress You Up..pure pop melody. Her voice live is banal and in interview she's forever justifying herself; deeply insecure.

Think there's going to be an alien film; set in South Africa, called District 9..interesting.

boat drinks

Wed was pretty good; we took the 271 to the Prince of Wales, Highgate Village. Stuart was re-introduced to pork scratchings so there were rounds of that interspersed with ales like the rudely named Butcombe. We are entertaining the idea of making home-made pickled eggs.

We had a lovely walk through Hampstead Heath past the ponds; there's segregated and mixed swimming..their disclaimer was 'the water's untreated, opaque and cold'. Nothing like a selling job. Great view of the Crystal Palace transmitter, Canary Wharf, London Aye. There was kite flying; guys on the ground wrestling control.
Then to Powers just near that pun of a title Brondes Age. Gig posters from the past; like Phoenix 98. Good music on the decks. The Black Lion further down in Kilburn from 1898 had nice decor even though the ale was on the turn.

Missus was in the Notting Hill Record Exchange while i hid vinyl temptation in the Prince Albert. What a gentrified ya, air kisses nightmare; not a single Notting Hill dred and nearly £4 for a drink. Hel came back with £30 of Chicane, Bent, Groove Amanda. The Portobello Star was much better; more edge in the Portobello Road end. They had boat drinks! Guess the film.
Went to wish birthday salutations to Fraser at the gallery.
Thurs Ziggys in Hox Sq on a semi-sensible local night out.

Naveed was the first to take me out for my birthday this lunchtime/ afternoon at the Trader. It falls on the Saturday but i'm milking it even longer than Helen milks me; for all its worth Friday- Sunday. It's a milestone/millstone birdee as a decade winds down tonight with a Chinese; will be out at the stroke of midnight.