La Serena

Punditswise in the World Cup i like Seedorf; he's serene, smiley..gives off a peaceful aura and is easy to understand. Whereas Davids is more self interested; a more manic energy..he was nearly carjacked a few years ago but he jumped out of the car and whacked them one. Well Earle didn't get me a ticket..that was a waste of a good position hey?

My album 'Interim Photos' has items as diverse as baked beans art and model elephants..you want to create out of life.

The latest 80s song to touch the collective consciousness is Men without Hats' 'Safety dance'..from 1983. Quirky video.

The exultancy of the South Africans about the World Cup is to behold. You see the scenes of a supporter offering up a prayer to the gods, the unconfined joy of a child meeting Drogba; it's so rewarding. When you compare SA now to the past then you know dreams come true. Where there was nothing there are now stadiums; even the old hardliners are begrudgingly acknowledging things have improved after the end of apartheid. Fans are delirious.

There is a cocktail in a Swedish bar uptown aptly named Sven Goran Erection..

'from a.m to a.m'

When i say 'come in the water's lovely' it's more paddling pool than Tooting Lido..there's a good lido in Brockwell too. The Fri filming later start time allowed a drop in to Old St by way of Angel. Mango beer was quite palatable; public houses get too busy and you spend most of your evening just waiting. Saw a band at Favela Chic; what's chic about a slum? But it's being creative. It was an SMS night; nowt to do with texts but Stop Making Sense.. which i did many years ago. The dj played Croatian and Colombian; and was from..Hackney.

Master brewer Robert is bringing 50 ardent beer fans from Stockholm to the Earls Court festival; bring the geeks to me for instant conversance..i'll choose a good ale for them. Fri got to the Ram Brewery, Wandsworth in good time ahead of the shoot; John Hatch runs the place, he goes round on one of those mini scooters. He talked about dry and wet hopping..makes all sorts of wonderful ales. Filmed in a steaming Putney Bridge. Thought it would be remiss on my part not to take up the offer to go to the sample room. My presence expedited the end of Barry's shift as he was more than happy for the company after work; normally it's him, the telly and darts so yes there was a piss up organised in a brewery. Dennis Waterman didn't drop by on this occasion. I pulled pints which i haven't done since last summer's Earls Court; they had the metrically unfriendly yard of ale. The daytime had been a bit too sizzling so evening ales made me feel a whole lot better; Harry joined us. Next up was a teeming Ship where me and Hazza were reinforced by Jul, Dodge and Justin. Dropped into the Alma before i went off to the Alchemist where me and Teri aside it was quiet. Said hi to another Barry and then called it a night; and a great one it was.

Sat lunchtime popped into the French place on Ritherdon Road; full of yahs..not nice.
Met the guys in the Boathouse, Putney Wharf. Jul went off for a nap; sleeping is cheating. Dodge and myself went to the Dukes and the Bricklayers which i like; Timothy Taylors Tim Tam etc and a nice garden. In Citizens they have a beer which i kid you not tastes like vinegar; it's meant to.
Met a few others at the Volunteer, Baker St before onward movement to a gig in Stockwell. A regular, salt of the earth venue..went on till 3am. Morton Valence stood out. Nice, peaceful vibe in the place. There was mass rhymic drumming earlier on. In the cab back me and Dodge sang to B.o.b's 'Nothing on you'; we're gonna start a band and live in a houseboat and i should write a book.

happiness

Some people get offended if you don't reply to their texts straight away; there you go.

12 ppl killed in Cumbria?

Julian thinks the UK is Boresville; it's alright..a global view covers the best of everywhere. Hopefully i won't be unceremoniously cut adrift too much here by people's calculated, disingenuous actions. A starting point of happiness gives longevity. Act with dignity and you'll attract happiness. Did some weights.

Double down livener

Thurs; went to Nolias Gallery for a Stuckists private view.. then me, Tsuya and her friend went to Wagamamas.

Fri; in this time of austerity should go for the supermarket ales sweep; for eg T.E.A, Coffee Porter (described as a livener) just ahead of the World Cup. Saw the Chelsea Flower Show programmes on Thurs and Fri.
Fancy grilled eel, sushi in breadcrumbs. Jul was in Avienda Atlantica; that's in Rio. Only me and Helen are mad enough to have the spontaneous energy to go to Greenwich Jazz and Beer; we make things happen magically..the persuasion worked. Fortunate enough to get £20 tickets at £10 we were wondering who was on it musicwise and it was the Fun Loving Criminals just about to start and we went to just near the front. Handsome Huey in a suit with his cheeky glint. At that expensive a pop oversized belly Camra this was not, middle class this was..was more a gig with a beer fest. Between Thurs 27th and Mon 31st May there were stellar names like Brand New Heavies (!), Tony Hadley and his Swing Band, Prince Sampson, Omar and Incognito. Spanish Galleon afterwards; was relaxed there.

Sat; love Pendulum's 'the Fountain'. Gave the Eurovision Pong Contest a miss. Don't have expectations in life; it's the hope that kills you.

Sun; no direct trains from Liverpool St to Chelmsford so tubed to Newbury Park then the replacement bus to Ingatestone only took half an hour, and then 7 mins by train to Chelmsford. Made the christening in good time; a baptism is a rebirth. They actually ran out of water..The school hall next door was a touch genteel for us nutters but liked the spread and Cinzano, sherry, port. Caught up with Roy who's had a colourful life with several marriages.
Went to the hotel; jumped up and down on the bed..yup the springs worked well. Later saw Eng's win v Japan.

Bank Hol Mon; when you share a bed with the ex the polite veneer of nightclothes is removed. We have an unconventional relationship. With several outfits i made a holiday out of it. Ate at Frankie and Bennys and then back in London went to the Waterfront, Streatham Common.
Mon night saw Little Miss Sunshine and Wondrous Oblivion. In the first; i was amazed at how rude people were at the family; so do it your way and fuck you. The latter was better second time round. There was the issue of prejudice; some people want the same thing and nothing else..i make new traditions. David didn't put Judy first but he 'manned up' and said she was actually better than the friends he thought would eschew her. The immigrants in the 60s came with their dreams.

Count the old songs in current tv ads; Billy Ocean's Suddenly, Vince DiCola's Rocky IV training montage and Reo Speedwagon's Can't Fight This Feeling which has also been done by Glee..there's something in the air, i always tap into what's around me. Had some Liebfraumlich. Eng v USA on Jun 12th should be good. Hoping to visit Billericay at the start of Jul; where they say 'Ricay!'..Working on New Tricks; the old timers on a programme about..old timers. There's going to be a screening of Black Death with Mr Sean Bean which i can go to after maybe dropping in at Soul Salvation, Clapham Junction for free Afro and Broken house. Might go to Ben n Jerry's Sundae in late July. The KFC DoubleDown burger is actually 2 pieces of meat..with no bread; you need that to soak up the meat..and it looks better aesthetically.

I was watching the news and a photo came up which i recognised straight away and then they said it was Alexandra Phillips who was on the Gaza bound ship and is in detention. She's a free spirit who i met at the last day of public transport drinking before Boris Johnson's ban; that's mad..hope she's ok.