2007

So hows it been then? On the face of it it's been pretty damn good, but then again it doesn't take much to spoil things.

At least the people I consider worthy to breathe the air on this planet are more or less still here and to my knowledge, fairly happy..... I know that sounds a little downbeat but you didn't come here thinking I was gonna be all "Commercial Radio DJ" did you?

So here's a rundown of my personal hits and the shits of 2007

I became a "home owner" - Hit
I lost my AddieCat - Shit
Hip infection and the biggest needle jammed into my groin to remove "fluid" - Shit
A weekend in a private hospital - Hit
My name on a Wonder Stuff CD - Hit
Teaching my little fruitloop how to ride a bike - Massive Hit!
Arson attack on the flats where I live - Shit
My first bike tour on the European continent (and driving on the wrong side of the road) - Hit
A new car - Hit
A final date for my hip resurfacing - Hit
Canceling my Op 2 days before its due - Shit
Being mentioned in a Miles Hunt song intro - Hit

So, what will 2008 bring? well, there's a new hip to think about, but I'm not holding my breath. Work stuff comes to a head in January as the ongoing Remedy project goes live in the first few weeks of 2008, but without its champion at the helm it's doomed to early retirement as the Luddites who rule the asylum shout it down...... nothing changed there then.

As this is a blog, I'd like to thank all those visitors who regularly come back for more of my gobshite. There'll be even more during 2008 so keep coming back.

Love, light, and happiness for 2008 and beyond.

Xmas Number 1

Can you see that? That band I help out with are at No 1 in the Rock charts.... It's officially a Christmas Number 1 for Scree!

Now, this is where you have to listen to me...... please do not go to that site and listen to ANY of the stuff up there...... It's bloody awful. I'm not saying that in some kind of "playing it down for effect" response..... it really is nasty. By all means click on the play button to rack up another hit, but for the love of life dont actually listen to any of it.

It's a shame really, cos I love fannying about in Scree... I just hate these "session" recordings.

Oh well, never mind then.

Positive Thinking

Christmas.

As a kid, Xmas was THE most important time, and looking back through all the Xmas's I've experienced those early years were magical.

Parents that lived together, 3 siblings all with the same mother/father and all fairly happy being there......... Who'd of thought those things would become a coverted item?

I don't really think I ever believed in Santa when young. Even as a kid I'd insist on hard evidence when talk revolved around Santa, his elf helpers or even the tooth fairy...... a passport, utility bill from the last 3 months or perhaps an elf/fairy body from a recent accident would have helped.

I also remember how fantastic TV was back then, OK, maybe the tinted specs have affected my judgment but no-one can deny the thrill and anticipation of the Morcambe and Wise Christmas Shows in the 70's.
It's a very British thing, Americans have Apple Pie, but we have the Morcambe and Wise shows, watched by over half the entire population of Great Britain their show defined how good Xmas would be.

It's never been the same since.

Anyhow, here's a clip that you don't see much these days, it's a corker and really does make you smile.

it was... honest.

I knew he was someone I'd seen on the telly, but I just couldn't put my finger on who it was. The way he called all the staff by their first names and the confidence in his voice he was either "theatrical" or a twat........ he was far too well dressed to be the usual twat you'd find in a doctors waiting room. but for the life of me I couldn't place his mug.

That was almost 3 weeks ago. 
It's taken that long for my subconscious to re-assemble the facts and spring the answer.
It was...... Edward Woodward.

He now resides in my growing list of celebrities I've had the chance to talk to but didn't.

These include:

Janice Long - while interviewing Miles Hunt
Vic Reeves - at a Wonder Stuff Gig
Ken Dod - at a dog show
Bobby Thompson - another dog show
Angus Deayton - bus stop in London
Lionel Blair - Waitrose car park in West Byfleet
Des Lynam - shouted obscenities at me from a moving car
Dermot Morgan (Father Ted) - told me to "Feck Off" at the Turks Head in Twickenham
Pete Waterman - I told him to "feck off" - Green room for the Gloria Hunniford Show

Arse....

I really cant think of anything to write about. Several ideas have been started then erased. Maybe I need another cap of Tramadol?

Some of the subjects that have been erased from this very space in the last 30 mins.

1. Xmas day Lunch and why I'm not having one
2. As an amateur misogynist, what I miss the most?
3. The tranquility of not having a family to argue, shout at, and lie to during Xmas
4. My 10 year old bottle of Port
5. My new batch of Chilli
6. Nurses dont understand a mans chest hair
7. Is my Xmas tree really that bad?

Pauleeeeeen....

Its not every day someone bangs on ya front door and suggests you gather up what family you have and run like buggery as the block of flats you're in is being devoured by flames.......

But that's what happened last night..... And its surprising what you learn from your neighbours while watching the fire brigade breathing apparatus at the ready storm into the building.

I should point out that no one has been hurt and were all back in our flats (this statement could change as the days progress, mainly because I'm not very good when it comes to being a nosey git)

First off, a big big thanks to the fella living directly above me, he was the one who initially raised the alarm, attempted to put out the fire and made sure everyone was out. Bit of a hero really, although I did hear the Fire Commander (oh hell yes, not Fire Chief any more, COMMANDER) telling him off for having a go at the fire himself..... and yes, you've guessed it, the Fire COMMANDER was the one who stayed outside, well away from any naked flames while this was going on.... a case of Pot, Kettle, un-accompanied chip pan and black methinks.

The flat where the fire started (up stairs and about 3 doors along from me) has a bit of a history. Apparently during the summer it was being used by a couple of thieving gypos/pykies who were causing all kinds of problems for just about all the people upstairs.... all of this was unknown to me until last night BTW and is more or less just hearsay, but I'll share anyhow.

There had been various incidents and they we're eventually removed about 3 weeks go and the flat has been empty (empty of scum anyhow) since

The fella upstairs (I don't do names, there's too many of them and unless I've shagged them, borrowed money from them or are just around for so long it becomes embarrassing not to remember their names then I just cant be arsed) heard a noise, a beeping and went to investigate, this was about 18:15, he could smell smoke then noticed plumes of the stuff coming from the wide open door of flat 9. He stuck his head around the corner and in his words "looked like something I could have a go at" and went to get a fire extinguisher!

Unfortunately, when he returned (seconds in his account) the flat was well alight with thick noxious black smoke quickly filling the hall way. That's when he went into action and got everyone out.

Its odd what people do when confronted with something like this, my first thought was to put my coat on cos no matter how hot the fire was it would be freezing standing outside in my civvies.

As soon as I was outside the fire brigade were pulling up and before long we had 3 engines on site with an ambulance and cop cars. Fella from upstairs was treated for smoke inhalation, which was kinda ironic as he was sucking on a ciggy just a few moments before (he was OK BTW). And I watched as a reluctant Fireman had to "Firemans Lift" some woman from upstairs who had decided she would "wait it out"..... until several fireman threatened to Pole Axe her front door and drag her out .

After about 90 mins we were all allowed back in, there's no water or smoke damage to my flat but there's a nasty smell in the hallway (nothing to do with me this time). I've not spoken to any of the neighbours as yet, but it looks like there's a ton of smoke damage upstairs

Oh, and the consensus is that the gypos/pykies came back and torched the flat. Lovely. Anyone wanna buy a flat in an "exciting" part of town?

Mickey Love: wants to be a fireman and is in love with Pauleeeeeen

NEC Bike Show 2007