Colindale, London, England // 6.50 pm // Mostly cloudy 16ºc / 61ºf
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
Friday, 24 April 2009
Adventures in Black Sunshine
Colindale, London, England // 1.56 pm // Mostly sunny 18ºc / 64ºf
So finally it's April 24th, and time for the Incognito gig tonight. More on that shortly.
But first a short word on my latest cooking masterpiece last night. It was actually really simple to make, as I mentioned yesterday, but it was absolutely gorgeous and just the right amount portion-wise too. The chicken was perfect, especially for being frozen and baked in the oven before being shredded. Next up, lemon and brocolli chicken on Monday.
Did quite a lot of the magazine last night before going off on a tangent and reading up on the history (and lack of future) of teletext. Gripping stuff, I'm sure you'll agree. Although I do sometimes think how amazing the technology actually was, decades before the public availability of the internet. Especially when it came to things like Datafax and Televox (Google those if you're interested).
Rounded off the night by playing some Football Manager where I continue to be the manager of Norway, trying to qualify for the World Cup 2010. Although it can get quite tedious as much of the job is actually just *watching* other matches to scout for Norweigian players to pick for the team. It'll take a while to finish the campaign, and only then will I retire and finally install the 2009 version of the game!
Woke up around 10am this morning and pretty much got straight onto finishing off typing up contributions for the magazine, which I did about an hour ago.
Tonight is Incognito's first London gig in about two years, at a new venue for me (and for them) the Camden Centre, rather confusingly at Kings Cross. Been really looking forward to this gig, especially as Glasgow girl Gail Evans is back in the band, and that the performance is followed by a live DJ set from Norman Jay. Looking forward to catching up with Robin before the gig, and hopefully Claire although it's been a bit of a mission to get in touch with her in the last week or so!
And just this morning I found out about what looks to be a stunning 30th anniversary gig of Incognito at IndigO2 in August! Jocelyn Brown is rejoining the band for the night, and no doubt there will be many other surprises if the 25th anniversary gig 5 years ago is anything to go by. And then a week after that I'll be back there, this time at the main arena, for the Michael Jackson gig! I'm really glad the Incognito gig is on a Saturday night, as I won't have to worry about booking the time off, and there's only a 1 in 7 chance I'll be on-call that weekend (and even then I should be able to swap it).
And to top it all off, the weather today is again fantastic.
So finally it's April 24th, and time for the Incognito gig tonight. More on that shortly.
But first a short word on my latest cooking masterpiece last night. It was actually really simple to make, as I mentioned yesterday, but it was absolutely gorgeous and just the right amount portion-wise too. The chicken was perfect, especially for being frozen and baked in the oven before being shredded. Next up, lemon and brocolli chicken on Monday.
Did quite a lot of the magazine last night before going off on a tangent and reading up on the history (and lack of future) of teletext. Gripping stuff, I'm sure you'll agree. Although I do sometimes think how amazing the technology actually was, decades before the public availability of the internet. Especially when it came to things like Datafax and Televox (Google those if you're interested).
Rounded off the night by playing some Football Manager where I continue to be the manager of Norway, trying to qualify for the World Cup 2010. Although it can get quite tedious as much of the job is actually just *watching* other matches to scout for Norweigian players to pick for the team. It'll take a while to finish the campaign, and only then will I retire and finally install the 2009 version of the game!
Woke up around 10am this morning and pretty much got straight onto finishing off typing up contributions for the magazine, which I did about an hour ago.
Tonight is Incognito's first London gig in about two years, at a new venue for me (and for them) the Camden Centre, rather confusingly at Kings Cross. Been really looking forward to this gig, especially as Glasgow girl Gail Evans is back in the band, and that the performance is followed by a live DJ set from Norman Jay. Looking forward to catching up with Robin before the gig, and hopefully Claire although it's been a bit of a mission to get in touch with her in the last week or so!
And just this morning I found out about what looks to be a stunning 30th anniversary gig of Incognito at IndigO2 in August! Jocelyn Brown is rejoining the band for the night, and no doubt there will be many other surprises if the 25th anniversary gig 5 years ago is anything to go by. And then a week after that I'll be back there, this time at the main arena, for the Michael Jackson gig! I'm really glad the Incognito gig is on a Saturday night, as I won't have to worry about booking the time off, and there's only a 1 in 7 chance I'll be on-call that weekend (and even then I should be able to swap it).
And to top it all off, the weather today is again fantastic.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Salsa
Colindale, London, England // 5.47 pm // Light rain 13ºc / 55ºf
I can't help fearing we've now had our summer! The weather yesterday was beautiful - warm and sunny. In the past we have had some really warm Aprils, followed by a generally shite summer. It hasn't really happened this year, besides yesterday. Does that mean this summer will be sunny and warm?
Anyway, on Tuesday night I did the radio show. I prerecorded the emergency backup show first, which will only be played if I am unable to do a live show for that particular week, and I haven't been able to get into the studio earlier in the week to pre-recorded a specific show. As I started the show I thought about exactly what the circumstances would be if the show was ever played out. So I recorded it as if I had probably died! I made no secret of the fact that it was pre-recorded, and that something was probably wrong with me. When I asked for people to email in, I said either I would get them next week, or someone at the radio station will print them off and put them in my book of condolences. And I ended the show with an advert for a free slot on the radio station, Tuesday nights 7 till 8pm! All in all, it was pretty comical. I just wonder if it will ever get aired, and if it does I do hope it's not because I've had a run in with the front of a bus!
Yesterday after work I picked up a few bits and pieces for the dinner I was making. On the way to the shop to get those, I had to walk past a pub. The pub's beer garden was packed, at only 4pm, with people enjoying a nice cold pint in what was the first lovely, warm afternoon of the year. I just *had* to join them, so I did!
Eventually I got round to cooking crispy Italian chicken breast with polenta, green leaf salad and garlic bread. It was very much different to what I've cooked before, but was just as good. I had never used, or even heard of polenta before I made this, so I was particularly surprised to be able to pick up a block of it in Asda!
Over the last few days Elle and I have been looking at holidays. We are getting a step closer to book something. I've booked three weeks off work in late September/early October and we've set our sights on a few fortnight all-inclusive package holidays to various resorts in Cuba. We are going to go around a few travel agents on Saturday to see if we can cut those prices down. If not, we'll come home and book something online, and then go for a celebratory pub crawl from Edgware to Kilburn, down the A5!
I can't help fearing we've now had our summer! The weather yesterday was beautiful - warm and sunny. In the past we have had some really warm Aprils, followed by a generally shite summer. It hasn't really happened this year, besides yesterday. Does that mean this summer will be sunny and warm?
Anyway, on Tuesday night I did the radio show. I prerecorded the emergency backup show first, which will only be played if I am unable to do a live show for that particular week, and I haven't been able to get into the studio earlier in the week to pre-recorded a specific show. As I started the show I thought about exactly what the circumstances would be if the show was ever played out. So I recorded it as if I had probably died! I made no secret of the fact that it was pre-recorded, and that something was probably wrong with me. When I asked for people to email in, I said either I would get them next week, or someone at the radio station will print them off and put them in my book of condolences. And I ended the show with an advert for a free slot on the radio station, Tuesday nights 7 till 8pm! All in all, it was pretty comical. I just wonder if it will ever get aired, and if it does I do hope it's not because I've had a run in with the front of a bus!
Yesterday after work I picked up a few bits and pieces for the dinner I was making. On the way to the shop to get those, I had to walk past a pub. The pub's beer garden was packed, at only 4pm, with people enjoying a nice cold pint in what was the first lovely, warm afternoon of the year. I just *had* to join them, so I did!
Eventually I got round to cooking crispy Italian chicken breast with polenta, green leaf salad and garlic bread. It was very much different to what I've cooked before, but was just as good. I had never used, or even heard of polenta before I made this, so I was particularly surprised to be able to pick up a block of it in Asda!
Over the last few days Elle and I have been looking at holidays. We are getting a step closer to book something. I've booked three weeks off work in late September/early October and we've set our sights on a few fortnight all-inclusive package holidays to various resorts in Cuba. We are going to go around a few travel agents on Saturday to see if we can cut those prices down. If not, we'll come home and book something online, and then go for a celebratory pub crawl from Edgware to Kilburn, down the A5!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
About turn
Colindale, London, England // 9.14 am // Mostly cloudy 12ºc / 54ºf
The rest of Sunday continued on the lazy theme. It was a really good weekend though. Although I missed Elle, it was good to have nothing at all planned. However, now that the weather is getting better, I might be happier to do more stuff out and about at the weekends over the next few months. Exhaustion permitting, of course!
Yesterday, Easter Monday, was just another work day. Well I say that, but it was actually incredibly busy. After work I came home to make the place look decent for Elle getting back from a long weekend back in Walsall for Easter. The night before, I was helping her and her friends with a pub quiz via text, where she texted me what I thought was a substantial proportion of the questions. In the end, most of the questions I answered were right. However, they only got about 30% right! Which were probably most of my answers! And came last. I was sure they were certain to win, but I suppose justice was done as they *were* cheating!
Anyway, Elle came back last night with the wonder of the world that is a takeaway from KFC! Bliss.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned the fact that I received an invite to the first audition of this year's X Factor. It was something that Elle and some other people had been trying to persuade me to do for years, but it just didn't interest me. All of a sudden, when people stopped trying to persuade me, I somehow thought it'd be a good idea to give it a go! So at the end of the last series, I applied online.
A couple of weeks back I got the invite to the first audition at the O2 at the start of next month. Initially I was still fairly upbeat about giving it a go. But as time went on, the more I thought about it and the more I talked to other people about it, I started to wonder what the hell was the point! Firstly, ok... I can sing fairly well, I'll admit that. Various karaoke prizes is testimony to that. But Christ, no where near good enough to get anywhere near very far, I'm pretty sure. Secondly, although I like to think I'm a fairly easy-going, likeable person (I hope!)... I'm hardly Mr Charisma! I don't think I'm outgoing enough and particularly confident enough with singing to be able to perform or impress. And finally, and probably most importantly, I don't *really* want it. It *isn't* my life. I don't have a one-legged granny who is dying of the bubonic plague, whose last wish was to see me sing on tv, and then they'll switch off her machine. And that fact would just shine through, compared to the teeming masses who would break into hysterical crying just at the sight on Simon Cowell's gleaming teeth. Plus, I already have pretty much everything I ever wanted as it is. Why do I need to add this to that; what am I trying to prove?
So if anyone else wants to go as me, I've got an invite here ready to post to you*
* Until I run out of loo roll
The rest of Sunday continued on the lazy theme. It was a really good weekend though. Although I missed Elle, it was good to have nothing at all planned. However, now that the weather is getting better, I might be happier to do more stuff out and about at the weekends over the next few months. Exhaustion permitting, of course!
Yesterday, Easter Monday, was just another work day. Well I say that, but it was actually incredibly busy. After work I came home to make the place look decent for Elle getting back from a long weekend back in Walsall for Easter. The night before, I was helping her and her friends with a pub quiz via text, where she texted me what I thought was a substantial proportion of the questions. In the end, most of the questions I answered were right. However, they only got about 30% right! Which were probably most of my answers! And came last. I was sure they were certain to win, but I suppose justice was done as they *were* cheating!
Anyway, Elle came back last night with the wonder of the world that is a takeaway from KFC! Bliss.
I'm not sure if I've mentioned the fact that I received an invite to the first audition of this year's X Factor. It was something that Elle and some other people had been trying to persuade me to do for years, but it just didn't interest me. All of a sudden, when people stopped trying to persuade me, I somehow thought it'd be a good idea to give it a go! So at the end of the last series, I applied online.
A couple of weeks back I got the invite to the first audition at the O2 at the start of next month. Initially I was still fairly upbeat about giving it a go. But as time went on, the more I thought about it and the more I talked to other people about it, I started to wonder what the hell was the point! Firstly, ok... I can sing fairly well, I'll admit that. Various karaoke prizes is testimony to that. But Christ, no where near good enough to get anywhere near very far, I'm pretty sure. Secondly, although I like to think I'm a fairly easy-going, likeable person (I hope!)... I'm hardly Mr Charisma! I don't think I'm outgoing enough and particularly confident enough with singing to be able to perform or impress. And finally, and probably most importantly, I don't *really* want it. It *isn't* my life. I don't have a one-legged granny who is dying of the bubonic plague, whose last wish was to see me sing on tv, and then they'll switch off her machine. And that fact would just shine through, compared to the teeming masses who would break into hysterical crying just at the sight on Simon Cowell's gleaming teeth. Plus, I already have pretty much everything I ever wanted as it is. Why do I need to add this to that; what am I trying to prove?
So if anyone else wants to go as me, I've got an invite here ready to post to you*
* Until I run out of loo roll
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Recluse
Colindale, London, England // 12.27 pm // Foggy 11ºc / 52ºf
I don't really know what it was about last week, but at the end of it I was absolutely exhausted. On Thursday night I just didn't have the energy to do anything. I do have a kind of routine most days, and I just couldn't be bothered with it. Unfortunately, part of that routine is showering, so I didn't even do that. Still, it's just the one day.
I still managed to get through Friday, which was a really long day. After work I came home for a bit before heading back into town and going for a few drinks with some work colleagues in Carnaby Street. It was a really good night, and made me think I should definitely do it more often. I used to wait to be invited, but actually I'm not really sure if that's how it works. I'm thinking if I just turn up around the same time any Friday night, there will be people from work there, who've just done the same thing. It's good to chat to people outside of the work environment sometimes.
Elle left to go home to Walsall on Friday afternoon and she won't be back until tomorrow night. I've used the opportunity to do absolutely nothing at all this weekend other than chat to friends online, do a lot of DXing, and drink alcoholic beverages (in moderation, of course). I don't really have a choice - the week had left me so zapped that I couldn't think about doing anything at all strenuous. And this coming week is set to be a hectic one, with a few new things happening tomorrow to get used to. I'm trying not to get too anxious about it.
I was so tired yesterday that I failed to wake up in time to watch the Celtic game on TV at 12.30pm. Sounds like I didn't miss too much anyway, as we drew 1-1, meaning Rangers cut the gap behind us at the top to just one point when they won later that day. And on my football coupon, I ridiculously backed Hamilton to pull off a shock win at home to Dundee United. If I didn't do that, I might well be £27 richer.
I don't really know what it was about last week, but at the end of it I was absolutely exhausted. On Thursday night I just didn't have the energy to do anything. I do have a kind of routine most days, and I just couldn't be bothered with it. Unfortunately, part of that routine is showering, so I didn't even do that. Still, it's just the one day.
I still managed to get through Friday, which was a really long day. After work I came home for a bit before heading back into town and going for a few drinks with some work colleagues in Carnaby Street. It was a really good night, and made me think I should definitely do it more often. I used to wait to be invited, but actually I'm not really sure if that's how it works. I'm thinking if I just turn up around the same time any Friday night, there will be people from work there, who've just done the same thing. It's good to chat to people outside of the work environment sometimes.
Elle left to go home to Walsall on Friday afternoon and she won't be back until tomorrow night. I've used the opportunity to do absolutely nothing at all this weekend other than chat to friends online, do a lot of DXing, and drink alcoholic beverages (in moderation, of course). I don't really have a choice - the week had left me so zapped that I couldn't think about doing anything at all strenuous. And this coming week is set to be a hectic one, with a few new things happening tomorrow to get used to. I'm trying not to get too anxious about it.
I was so tired yesterday that I failed to wake up in time to watch the Celtic game on TV at 12.30pm. Sounds like I didn't miss too much anyway, as we drew 1-1, meaning Rangers cut the gap behind us at the top to just one point when they won later that day. And on my football coupon, I ridiculously backed Hamilton to pull off a shock win at home to Dundee United. If I didn't do that, I might well be £27 richer.
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Monday, 6 April 2009
Catching up
Colindale, London, England // 4.08 pm // Mostly sunny 17ºc / 63ºf
One of the best things about the shifts that I do, well actually the single best thing, is the days off midweek. Particularly when they form a long weekend, as they do once a month. Today was the last day of my latest long weekend, and I also need to wake quite early so I'll be tired enough to sleep tonight, in time for my 4am wake up.
So I was up at 7.30am this morning and I've done quite a bit of DXing/radio listening this morning, along with starting and finishing preparations for tomorrow night's radio show. I remember the days when it took me up to four hours to prepare a two hour show. Now it takes me about an hour at the most, which is just about right for a one hour show. It's also helped by the fact that I have a much larger library of music now than I did then, at around 5,000 individual tracks. So it goes without saying that no two shows will be the same!
Really glad that the first show is available to listen to on-demand now, although I was a little surprised to find that the handful of tracks I played before 7pm last Tuesday night have been kept into the on-demand stream. Ideally, it would start right at the start of my show. I'll have a word with the station manager about that tomorrow night.
Also made some lunch today, and did the dishes in preparation for tonight's meal of chicken curry soup, which is the last recipe to come from my "Cooking with the Wok" cookery book. Next it'll either be one of my two Indian curry books, my pasta and risotto book or the BBC Good Food Guide meals for 2 book. And by the way, although it's a "soup", I cook a portion that is apparently for four people. With a crusty baguette. So it's pretty much a meal.
Not a great deal else to write about really. Was glad to see CNN have changed their broadcasting hours on Freeview, now available from 7pm till 12am, with the following two hours leased out to a roulette TV channel. A bit dismayed to see the loss of three local radio stations in the last few weeks though. The last few years really have changed the UK radio landscape, with so many mergers of ownership and subsequently output, handing back of licences and stations going bust. Still, at least I've got Colourful Radio, although god knows how long it'll be before they decide it's no longer viable to be on DAB. And where are the DRM receivers I've been waiting for for years?
Shortwave is ever declining too, generally, although there are some pockets of resistance. One of those seemed to be the Voice of Russia, who recently revealed that they were to reinstate a 24 hours a day World Service in English. All good, you'd think. But at the same time, they seem to have all but abandoned AM SW broadcasting to Europe. Still, I'm more positive now than I was several years ago that there will still be lots to listen to on SW in the next decade or two.
One of the best things about the shifts that I do, well actually the single best thing, is the days off midweek. Particularly when they form a long weekend, as they do once a month. Today was the last day of my latest long weekend, and I also need to wake quite early so I'll be tired enough to sleep tonight, in time for my 4am wake up.
So I was up at 7.30am this morning and I've done quite a bit of DXing/radio listening this morning, along with starting and finishing preparations for tomorrow night's radio show. I remember the days when it took me up to four hours to prepare a two hour show. Now it takes me about an hour at the most, which is just about right for a one hour show. It's also helped by the fact that I have a much larger library of music now than I did then, at around 5,000 individual tracks. So it goes without saying that no two shows will be the same!
Really glad that the first show is available to listen to on-demand now, although I was a little surprised to find that the handful of tracks I played before 7pm last Tuesday night have been kept into the on-demand stream. Ideally, it would start right at the start of my show. I'll have a word with the station manager about that tomorrow night.
Also made some lunch today, and did the dishes in preparation for tonight's meal of chicken curry soup, which is the last recipe to come from my "Cooking with the Wok" cookery book. Next it'll either be one of my two Indian curry books, my pasta and risotto book or the BBC Good Food Guide meals for 2 book. And by the way, although it's a "soup", I cook a portion that is apparently for four people. With a crusty baguette. So it's pretty much a meal.
Not a great deal else to write about really. Was glad to see CNN have changed their broadcasting hours on Freeview, now available from 7pm till 12am, with the following two hours leased out to a roulette TV channel. A bit dismayed to see the loss of three local radio stations in the last few weeks though. The last few years really have changed the UK radio landscape, with so many mergers of ownership and subsequently output, handing back of licences and stations going bust. Still, at least I've got Colourful Radio, although god knows how long it'll be before they decide it's no longer viable to be on DAB. And where are the DRM receivers I've been waiting for for years?
Shortwave is ever declining too, generally, although there are some pockets of resistance. One of those seemed to be the Voice of Russia, who recently revealed that they were to reinstate a 24 hours a day World Service in English. All good, you'd think. But at the same time, they seem to have all but abandoned AM SW broadcasting to Europe. Still, I'm more positive now than I was several years ago that there will still be lots to listen to on SW in the next decade or two.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Risin' to the top
Colindale, London, England // 1.52 pm // Mostly sunny 13ºc / 55ºf
As I type this I'm listening to a recent addition to the DAB channels here in London, Colourful Radio. It's a station I was vaguely aware of beforehand due to its presence on Sky Digital, but I hadn't really paid any attention to it. Now though, I've actually replaced Solar with this station! And I've listened to Solar Radio for well over a decade. Colourful is brilliant - much more approachable as far as the DJ's styles are concerned, the mix of music for most shows is far better, and it is more London-centric which appeals to me as, in effect, it's a local radio station with a music policy that wholly appeals to me. And being on DAB, it's much easier to just switch on and listen to compared to Solar's internet stream, which is the only way I can hear it. But it begs the question I continually ask - why the hell aren't Solar on DAB yet?! Surely it doesn't cost *that* much for a Digital One slot these days?!
So quite a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. I went back home on the 26th of March for a long weekend. The train journey was pleasant and non-eventful. I couldn't believe that 80 minutes after leaving London Euston I was speeding past my old home of Stafford! That's the West Coast Mainline upgrade in action, people!
On Thursday afternoon when I arrived I spent most of the day in the house with my mum and John, then headed to my friends Stephen and Ian's house for a few beers in the evening.
On Friday morning it was an early start as me, my mum and John headed up to Gartnavel Hospital, and their specialist cancer unit The Beatson Centre, for John's last chemotherapy treatment. After that, all the signs are good - his blood levels have come right down to normal, and the hope is that he'll get the all clear. But he still needs an MRI scan shortly to confirm that, physically, he is healed. And even then, he'll need to go up every month or so for the next 10 years to make sure there is no relapse.
On Friday night I headed out into Saltcoats for a few drinks in town. Every time I've gone out there, it's been quieter and quieter. It just seems like no-one goes out anymore! How the Metro nightclub can afford to stay open is beyond me. My forecast is that the place will shut by the end of the year.
Saturday was a fairly chilled day, punctuated by an early start to head to Ayrshire Central Hospital to pick up a prescription for John. When I got back to Saltcoats, I walked through the town for a while, popped in a few places to see people, and went for a long walk along the beach. It's no secret that this is what I miss so much about being home. It's a perfect time just to think about things and put things into perspective. I did a lot of that. I sometimes wonder how I manage to get through life without being able to talk a walk along the South Beach whenever I need to.
Saturday night was spent at my friends Stephen and Ian's house, as Stephen was holding a "dinner party". This also involved him cooking, which is something I've never known him to do in the 22 years that I've known him! Starter was tomato and basil soup, followed by a main of lasagne and garlic bread, finished off with homemade trifle. He cooked for 10 people. I brought round a packet of instant noodles, just in case. But it was great - the food was lovely and the portions were huge. So much in fact that nobody managed to even look at the trifle! The rest of the night was spent drinking lots of alcoholic beverages, singing badly on Lips (the Xbox 360's version of Singstar) and half of us disappearing halfway through the night, only to return wearing 70s gear (photos to come!).
I stayed over at Stephen's, got about 4 hours sleep, and had to get up and go out again for the traditional Sunday afternoon/evening night out with my dad and his uncles! This has undoubtedly become the highlight of going back home every time. That Sunday my Dad had just had Sky installed, so we spent a while looking at all the shite available on there. Wedding TV anyone? Horse and Country? Numerous Nollywood channels?
After that we headed to a lovely Indian restaurant in Ardrossan for dinner, before heading out to all the pubs in Saltcoats that you'd never usually go to. Everytime I do wonder why not though, because I always have a great time! It was a brilliant night, got to meet and chat to a few interesting people, and finished off going to my Uncle John's flat for a few drink before going home.
Then on Monday I came back to London, and instantly started preparing my first radio show.
Which I hosted live at Xstream East Radio in Tower Hamlets on Tuesday night. I really enjoyed the show, and it was great to be back on the air again, and to get lots of feedback during the show. Facebook has helped, as I've created a group which at the moment has 64 members. The station manager seems really pleased with the show'ds debut too. The show page is also now live at www.xstreameast.co.uk, including the option to listen again on-demand to the previous show. Eventually, this will have the last four shows.
After the show, I came back and reheated the soup I had made for us - Thai chicken soup with coconut milk which was, of course, excellent!
Really busy two days at work this week due to the G20 summit taking place in the city. Was really glad it was just a two day working week, although I did almost enjoy the week - I think we did some really great stuff.
Had the day off on Friday, which was the first day off in April. Which means a continuation of the famed pub crawl! After a stunning 11 hour sleep (much needed!) I got the bus from Colindale to Wembley, had some lunch, the jumped on the Bakerloo line for the pub crawl, starting at North Wembley, going up to Harrow & Wealdstone and ending up at the other extreme of the line, Elephant & Castle. The weather was beautiful on Friday, but there was a real lack of beer gardens. In fact, I only managed to sit outside twice - at Kilburn Park and Elephant & Castle.
After the 10 stations, and 10 half-pints I headed back home for a quick change before going back out in Kings Cross for a couple of drinks with Elle, our friend Ellie and her friend. Ellie, usually from Manchester, was in town for a birthday night out of another of our friends, Ciara, the following night.
Which was last night. After losing £2 on the Grand National, and £1 on the football coupon (2 minutes and one goal away from winning £40!) Elle and I drove round to Crayford, in Bexley, for the grayhound racing. There was a good show, about 8 of us there, and we bought the pacakge which includes two free bets, two free drinks and free food. I had some really good luck last night, winning in about 5 or 6 of the 12 races. However, overall I finished 30p down! Was a really good night though. Had a drink in a local pub afterwards, before heading back to Colindale.
And so to today, which nothing much is planned other than a trip to Asda and a lot of chilling. Cooking again tomorrow - chicken curry soup. And preparing this week's radio show.
As I type this I'm listening to a recent addition to the DAB channels here in London, Colourful Radio. It's a station I was vaguely aware of beforehand due to its presence on Sky Digital, but I hadn't really paid any attention to it. Now though, I've actually replaced Solar with this station! And I've listened to Solar Radio for well over a decade. Colourful is brilliant - much more approachable as far as the DJ's styles are concerned, the mix of music for most shows is far better, and it is more London-centric which appeals to me as, in effect, it's a local radio station with a music policy that wholly appeals to me. And being on DAB, it's much easier to just switch on and listen to compared to Solar's internet stream, which is the only way I can hear it. But it begs the question I continually ask - why the hell aren't Solar on DAB yet?! Surely it doesn't cost *that* much for a Digital One slot these days?!
So quite a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. I went back home on the 26th of March for a long weekend. The train journey was pleasant and non-eventful. I couldn't believe that 80 minutes after leaving London Euston I was speeding past my old home of Stafford! That's the West Coast Mainline upgrade in action, people!
On Thursday afternoon when I arrived I spent most of the day in the house with my mum and John, then headed to my friends Stephen and Ian's house for a few beers in the evening.
On Friday morning it was an early start as me, my mum and John headed up to Gartnavel Hospital, and their specialist cancer unit The Beatson Centre, for John's last chemotherapy treatment. After that, all the signs are good - his blood levels have come right down to normal, and the hope is that he'll get the all clear. But he still needs an MRI scan shortly to confirm that, physically, he is healed. And even then, he'll need to go up every month or so for the next 10 years to make sure there is no relapse.
On Friday night I headed out into Saltcoats for a few drinks in town. Every time I've gone out there, it's been quieter and quieter. It just seems like no-one goes out anymore! How the Metro nightclub can afford to stay open is beyond me. My forecast is that the place will shut by the end of the year.
Saturday was a fairly chilled day, punctuated by an early start to head to Ayrshire Central Hospital to pick up a prescription for John. When I got back to Saltcoats, I walked through the town for a while, popped in a few places to see people, and went for a long walk along the beach. It's no secret that this is what I miss so much about being home. It's a perfect time just to think about things and put things into perspective. I did a lot of that. I sometimes wonder how I manage to get through life without being able to talk a walk along the South Beach whenever I need to.
Saturday night was spent at my friends Stephen and Ian's house, as Stephen was holding a "dinner party". This also involved him cooking, which is something I've never known him to do in the 22 years that I've known him! Starter was tomato and basil soup, followed by a main of lasagne and garlic bread, finished off with homemade trifle. He cooked for 10 people. I brought round a packet of instant noodles, just in case. But it was great - the food was lovely and the portions were huge. So much in fact that nobody managed to even look at the trifle! The rest of the night was spent drinking lots of alcoholic beverages, singing badly on Lips (the Xbox 360's version of Singstar) and half of us disappearing halfway through the night, only to return wearing 70s gear (photos to come!).
I stayed over at Stephen's, got about 4 hours sleep, and had to get up and go out again for the traditional Sunday afternoon/evening night out with my dad and his uncles! This has undoubtedly become the highlight of going back home every time. That Sunday my Dad had just had Sky installed, so we spent a while looking at all the shite available on there. Wedding TV anyone? Horse and Country? Numerous Nollywood channels?
After that we headed to a lovely Indian restaurant in Ardrossan for dinner, before heading out to all the pubs in Saltcoats that you'd never usually go to. Everytime I do wonder why not though, because I always have a great time! It was a brilliant night, got to meet and chat to a few interesting people, and finished off going to my Uncle John's flat for a few drink before going home.
Then on Monday I came back to London, and instantly started preparing my first radio show.
Which I hosted live at Xstream East Radio in Tower Hamlets on Tuesday night. I really enjoyed the show, and it was great to be back on the air again, and to get lots of feedback during the show. Facebook has helped, as I've created a group which at the moment has 64 members. The station manager seems really pleased with the show'ds debut too. The show page is also now live at www.xstreameast.co.uk, including the option to listen again on-demand to the previous show. Eventually, this will have the last four shows.
After the show, I came back and reheated the soup I had made for us - Thai chicken soup with coconut milk which was, of course, excellent!
Really busy two days at work this week due to the G20 summit taking place in the city. Was really glad it was just a two day working week, although I did almost enjoy the week - I think we did some really great stuff.
Had the day off on Friday, which was the first day off in April. Which means a continuation of the famed pub crawl! After a stunning 11 hour sleep (much needed!) I got the bus from Colindale to Wembley, had some lunch, the jumped on the Bakerloo line for the pub crawl, starting at North Wembley, going up to Harrow & Wealdstone and ending up at the other extreme of the line, Elephant & Castle. The weather was beautiful on Friday, but there was a real lack of beer gardens. In fact, I only managed to sit outside twice - at Kilburn Park and Elephant & Castle.
After the 10 stations, and 10 half-pints I headed back home for a quick change before going back out in Kings Cross for a couple of drinks with Elle, our friend Ellie and her friend. Ellie, usually from Manchester, was in town for a birthday night out of another of our friends, Ciara, the following night.
Which was last night. After losing £2 on the Grand National, and £1 on the football coupon (2 minutes and one goal away from winning £40!) Elle and I drove round to Crayford, in Bexley, for the grayhound racing. There was a good show, about 8 of us there, and we bought the pacakge which includes two free bets, two free drinks and free food. I had some really good luck last night, winning in about 5 or 6 of the 12 races. However, overall I finished 30p down! Was a really good night though. Had a drink in a local pub afterwards, before heading back to Colindale.
And so to today, which nothing much is planned other than a trip to Asda and a lot of chilling. Cooking again tomorrow - chicken curry soup. And preparing this week's radio show.
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