Thursday, April 27, 2006
7.31 Cancelled
17.12 Twenty Minutes Late
If I wasn't off on my holidays tomorrow I'd be capable of being far more annoyed.
As it is, Vodka Week starts right now!
It's A Motherfucker - Eels
I'll Make It Clear - Teenage Fanclub
Do You Realize - Flaming Lips
You Turn Me On - Cinerama
You Know What I Want To Know - David Kitt
Are You & Me Gonna Happen - E
Into Temptation - Crowded House
It's Just That Simple - Wilco
17.12 Twenty Minutes Late
If I wasn't off on my holidays tomorrow I'd be capable of being far more annoyed.
As it is, Vodka Week starts right now!
It's A Motherfucker - Eels
I'll Make It Clear - Teenage Fanclub
Do You Realize - Flaming Lips
You Turn Me On - Cinerama
You Know What I Want To Know - David Kitt
Are You & Me Gonna Happen - E
Into Temptation - Crowded House
It's Just That Simple - Wilco
Labels: real life
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
8.10 Twenty Minutes Late
Silence in the office.
We’re doing our best, but this morning our ‘best’ was “O.K. then, what colour would your ideal vacuum cleaner be?”
This afternoon, more inspiringly, “You’ve got a full tank of petrol and no commitments – where will you be by this evening?”
Hmmmm..... there…?
Unspoken – Four Tet
Hannah - House Of Love
Dallas, Airports, Bodybags - American Music Club
Flight Attendent - Josh Rouse
Let Forever Be - Chemical Brothers
Grass - XTC
Churches Off The Interstate - Laura Cantrell
3 - Speed - Eels
Silence in the office.
We’re doing our best, but this morning our ‘best’ was “O.K. then, what colour would your ideal vacuum cleaner be?”
This afternoon, more inspiringly, “You’ve got a full tank of petrol and no commitments – where will you be by this evening?”
Hmmmm..... there…?
Unspoken – Four Tet
Hannah - House Of Love
Dallas, Airports, Bodybags - American Music Club
Flight Attendent - Josh Rouse
Let Forever Be - Chemical Brothers
Grass - XTC
Churches Off The Interstate - Laura Cantrell
3 - Speed - Eels
Monday, April 24, 2006
Call It Predictable, Yesterday My Dream Was Of You
8.10 Five Minutes Late
Busy weekend - here on Friday, there on Sunday...
And, on Saturday, the Virgin Pendolino.
I was on my way up to Lancaster to meet R&J, so excited enough without the rail equivalent of arriving in a stretch limo.
There was pizza & wine and some considerable deepening of the laughter lines.
We discussed growing old gracefully (or not).
Men and their shortcomings (Tim doesn’t have any, which indicates I must be the defective one in this household).
How we’ve never been back to Ormskirk (because you can never go back can you?)
And, how tricky it might be to blog honestly if you knew who might be reading.
Heart Remains A Child - Everything But The Girl
Ventura Highway - America
Any Major Dude - Steely Dan
The Art Teacher – Rufus Wainwright
You Are What You Love – Jenny Lewis
Wouldn’t Miss It For The World – Johnathan Rice
Sixteen, Maybe Less – Calexico/Iron & Wine
Busy weekend - here on Friday, there on Sunday...
And, on Saturday, the Virgin Pendolino.
I was on my way up to Lancaster to meet R&J, so excited enough without the rail equivalent of arriving in a stretch limo.
There was pizza & wine and some considerable deepening of the laughter lines.
We discussed growing old gracefully (or not).
Men and their shortcomings (Tim doesn’t have any, which indicates I must be the defective one in this household).
How we’ve never been back to Ormskirk (because you can never go back can you?)
And, how tricky it might be to blog honestly if you knew who might be reading.
Heart Remains A Child - Everything But The Girl
Ventura Highway - America
Any Major Dude - Steely Dan
The Art Teacher – Rufus Wainwright
You Are What You Love – Jenny Lewis
Wouldn’t Miss It For The World – Johnathan Rice
Sixteen, Maybe Less – Calexico/Iron & Wine
Labels: nostalgia
Friday, April 21, 2006
7.31 On Time
Am I whingeing a lot lately?
I hope not, but I’m getting an echo of disaffection every time I open my mouth.
Chinese whispers of disillusionment are coming back to me from all corners.
My keyboard taps out insurgency.
There’s definitely something in the air.
Lovely says I need a safety valve.
Something simultaneously tedious and absorbing, like constructing York Minster out of matchsticks, something that will take five or six years to complete and teach me the value of patience.
Am I whingeing a lot lately?
I hope not, but I’m getting an echo of disaffection every time I open my mouth.
Chinese whispers of disillusionment are coming back to me from all corners.
My keyboard taps out insurgency.
There’s definitely something in the air.
Lovely says I need a safety valve.
Something simultaneously tedious and absorbing, like constructing York Minster out of matchsticks, something that will take five or six years to complete and teach me the value of patience.
Garden Ruin - Calexico
Thursday, April 20, 2006
8.10 Five Minutes Late (Sheep on the line)
This morning I wrote a letter and it was almost like the Old Days.
There's satisfaction in writing a good letter.
One where you know you've covered all the points and been polite and given somebody a dignified way out of the mess they've made ... yet there's still enough rope for them to hang themselves, should they be so inclined.
If you can throw in some big words and avoid reference to specific legislation so much the better.
I forgot.
That's what my job should be like.
Then, this afternoon, my phone rang.
There was a chap on the other end looking for help.
I set his mind at rest and then we flirted a bit.
That was good too.
I miss that.
I am loosing all my skills.
Pink Bullets - The Shins
Do You Ever Think Of Me - Laura Cantrell
Underneath The Stars - Kate Rusby
A Case Of You - Joni Mitchell
Silent All These Years - Tori Amos
Melt Your Heart - Jenny Lewis
Sixteen, Maybe Less - Calexico/Iron & Wine
A Dream That We All Share - The Lilac Time
Patience Of Angels - Boo Hewerdine
This morning I wrote a letter and it was almost like the Old Days.
There's satisfaction in writing a good letter.
One where you know you've covered all the points and been polite and given somebody a dignified way out of the mess they've made ... yet there's still enough rope for them to hang themselves, should they be so inclined.
If you can throw in some big words and avoid reference to specific legislation so much the better.
I forgot.
That's what my job should be like.
Then, this afternoon, my phone rang.
There was a chap on the other end looking for help.
I set his mind at rest and then we flirted a bit.
That was good too.
I miss that.
I am loosing all my skills.
Pink Bullets - The Shins
Do You Ever Think Of Me - Laura Cantrell
Underneath The Stars - Kate Rusby
A Case Of You - Joni Mitchell
Silent All These Years - Tori Amos
Melt Your Heart - Jenny Lewis
Sixteen, Maybe Less - Calexico/Iron & Wine
A Dream That We All Share - The Lilac Time
Patience Of Angels - Boo Hewerdine
Labels: work
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Last Night In The Bar
17.12 On Time
There is one song I can't hear without being transported back to the college bar.
At the first screech of "Whiskey in the Jar" I'm there, in a booth, slouching on mustard coloured faux leather, with half a weak cider in a warm glass, monitoring the boy with the Phil Oakey fringe and knowing, from the feeling in the pit of my stomach, that tonight really is going to be different ...
But enough of that.
What I actually need to be doing is concentrating on what the hell I'm going to put on that redeployment form they want in by tomorrow.
Whiskey In The Jar - Thin Lizzy
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Reward - Teardrop Explodes
Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Electricity - Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark
Ever Fallen In Love... - Buzzcocks
Sgt Rock - XTC
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
There is one song I can't hear without being transported back to the college bar.
At the first screech of "Whiskey in the Jar" I'm there, in a booth, slouching on mustard coloured faux leather, with half a weak cider in a warm glass, monitoring the boy with the Phil Oakey fringe and knowing, from the feeling in the pit of my stomach, that tonight really is going to be different ...
But enough of that.
What I actually need to be doing is concentrating on what the hell I'm going to put on that redeployment form they want in by tomorrow.
Whiskey In The Jar - Thin Lizzy
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Reward - Teardrop Explodes
Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Electricity - Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark
Ever Fallen In Love... - Buzzcocks
Sgt Rock - XTC
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
Labels: nostalgia
Thursday, April 13, 2006
The Devil Will Find Work...
8.10 On Time
Idly, for no particular reason and just out of curiosity, Googling “no one ever died of embarrassment” turned up 128 matches.
“died of embarrassment” on the other hand produced 18,200 entries.
Hmmmm.
New song I can’t get out of my head: Deep Down by Calexico
I love songs that start out quiet and work themselves up to a frenzied noise stew.
Throw in a haunting & sinister backing vocal and that’s me, playing it to death.
In The Reins - Calexico/Iron & Wine
Idly, for no particular reason and just out of curiosity, Googling “no one ever died of embarrassment” turned up 128 matches.
“died of embarrassment” on the other hand produced 18,200 entries.
Hmmmm.
New song I can’t get out of my head: Deep Down by Calexico
I love songs that start out quiet and work themselves up to a frenzied noise stew.
Throw in a haunting & sinister backing vocal and that’s me, playing it to death.
In The Reins - Calexico/Iron & Wine
Labels: music
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
17.12 Five Minutes Late
Looks like the game's up.
Lovely just said: "Genuinely, you're not a nasty person are you? You're a nice person."
Let my guard down there.
Looks like the game's up.
Lovely just said: "Genuinely, you're not a nasty person are you? You're a nice person."
Let my guard down there.
Nashville - Josh Rouse
Monday, April 10, 2006
8.10 On Time
It was early spring, 1970, when my best friend asked me the crucial question:
"Which team do you support?"
All the possibilities raced through my mind.
My dad supported Sunderland (family roots) and Arsenal (no idea). My cousin-who-isn't-really-my-cousin supported Manchester United. My real cousin supported Burnley. I think Michael Tomlinson supported Chelsea, which I knew was somewhere away Down South and so they were ruled out on two counts. UnrequitedLove supported Liverpool, but thankfully I hadn't yet fallen under his spell or my life could've taken a very different turn.
Then, the image of best friend's big brother proudly wearing his football scarf came to me and the correct answer was clear.
"Leeds United"
For better or worse, richer or poorer, thick and thin, up and down ...
Saturday was a pretty stiff test though.
Sour Times - Portishead
Country Darkness – Elvis Costello
Drive In Movies & Dashboard Lights – Nanci Griffith
Imitation Of Life - REM
I Thought I Held You - Wilco
Trust – The Cure
2nd Law -Tom McRae
Moon Shadow – Kate Rusby
Happy - Jenny Lewis
It was early spring, 1970, when my best friend asked me the crucial question:
"Which team do you support?"
All the possibilities raced through my mind.
My dad supported Sunderland (family roots) and Arsenal (no idea). My cousin-who-isn't-really-my-cousin supported Manchester United. My real cousin supported Burnley. I think Michael Tomlinson supported Chelsea, which I knew was somewhere away Down South and so they were ruled out on two counts. UnrequitedLove supported Liverpool, but thankfully I hadn't yet fallen under his spell or my life could've taken a very different turn.
Then, the image of best friend's big brother proudly wearing his football scarf came to me and the correct answer was clear.
"Leeds United"
For better or worse, richer or poorer, thick and thin, up and down ...
Saturday was a pretty stiff test though.
Sour Times - Portishead
Country Darkness – Elvis Costello
Drive In Movies & Dashboard Lights – Nanci Griffith
Imitation Of Life - REM
I Thought I Held You - Wilco
Trust – The Cure
2nd Law -Tom McRae
Moon Shadow – Kate Rusby
Happy - Jenny Lewis
Thursday, April 06, 2006
16.12 On Time
We are about to undergo MR3 Redeployment.
I’m none too keen on it myself.
I’m torn between disdainful shrugging (I’m good at shrugging) and engaging in a bloody backstabbing battle for supremacy as the full horror of what the new reality will be, should ‘certain people’ rise to great things in our Brave New World, slowly dawns.
It might be a signal.
Maybe this is the time to shake off apathy and Go Get whatever it is I’ve always wanted to Go Get.
If only I could work out what it is.
Meanwhile, is it just me or is this year's Apprentice not a patch on last?
Electro Shock Blues - Eels
We are about to undergo MR3 Redeployment.
I’m none too keen on it myself.
I’m torn between disdainful shrugging (I’m good at shrugging) and engaging in a bloody backstabbing battle for supremacy as the full horror of what the new reality will be, should ‘certain people’ rise to great things in our Brave New World, slowly dawns.
It might be a signal.
Maybe this is the time to shake off apathy and Go Get whatever it is I’ve always wanted to Go Get.
If only I could work out what it is.
Meanwhile, is it just me or is this year's Apprentice not a patch on last?
Electro Shock Blues - Eels
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
8.10 On Time
The train arrived early.
It was going to be sitting at the station for the next ten minutes.
Everyone was quiet, contemplating the day ahead, reading the paper, taking advantage of an extra ten minutes sleep.
Everyone was quiet, except you.
Punctuating the call with sobs.
"Why won't you talk to me?"....."But... but I love you and you keep running away from me”… "Why don’t you listen to me?” ... “I’m not jealous of her”...."We can get back together again"...
Calling back, even when it was obvious he’d hung up on you.
Calling your friend afterwards to go through it all again.
We all went through it all again.
This was not the place for you to be having that conversation, and you are old enough to know better.
It'll be along time before I forget my jukebox again I can tell you.
The train arrived early.
It was going to be sitting at the station for the next ten minutes.
Everyone was quiet, contemplating the day ahead, reading the paper, taking advantage of an extra ten minutes sleep.
Everyone was quiet, except you.
Punctuating the call with sobs.
"Why won't you talk to me?"....."But... but I love you and you keep running away from me”… "Why don’t you listen to me?” ... “I’m not jealous of her”...."We can get back together again"...
Calling back, even when it was obvious he’d hung up on you.
Calling your friend afterwards to go through it all again.
We all went through it all again.
This was not the place for you to be having that conversation, and you are old enough to know better.
It'll be along time before I forget my jukebox again I can tell you.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Would You Rather... Live In Barrow Or Have Five Fingers On One Hand?
17.12 Ten Minutes Late
'I Am Kloot' are appearing in Barrow.
It's almost worth braving a night in The Majestic.
Almost worth it.
The Life Pursuit - Belle & Sebastian
'I Am Kloot' are appearing in Barrow.
It's almost worth braving a night in The Majestic.
Almost worth it.
The Life Pursuit - Belle & Sebastian
