Glasto 07

Went to Glasto last Wed. Got blisters early doors, one of which got infected and was a right mess. So much so that I had to go to the medi centre (one of 1,800 people who had to do so - though I'm not a number, I'm a free man) and have some guy put my feet in a mysterious foot bath, zap me with a strange spray, slice the offending area open with a scalpel and then patch me up with a nice, comprehensive whiter-than-white dressing. It really did help though.

Band-wise, a few off top of head:

• CSS – saw the last 1.5 songs as I was in the medical tent getting my feet done (I’ll spare you the photos). CSS looked ace though. Gutted to have missed most of the set but have noticed that they’re playing Leeds (phew).
• Reverend and the Makers – I enjoyed. And front man is as funny as hell.
• Super Furry Animals – Very Welsh. Very ok-ish.
• Arcade Fire – Nah.
• Arctic Monkeys – Yeah! But tailed off a bit mid set.
• Shiley Bassey – Class. Some great covers.
• Maximo Park – Ok ish.
• The Long Blonds – Completely ace. Front woman is tops.
• Killers – Really enjoyed them.
• The Pippetts – So bad we all liked them. They are good honest rubbish.
• Billy Bragg – Very political and had some people just out of prison on stage playing with him. Also did a raffle for some campaign he’s fronting to get musical instruments into prisons. You have to respect him even if you’re not supra-socialist leftie (which I’m not) and I enjoyed him which is the main thing.
• Manics – I quite liked. No one else did though for some reason.
  

A special mention to the person who cleverly rubbed out the letter ‘p’ from the word ‘passes’ on a sign so that it read as follows.

"Hospitality area – asses must be shown".

Could have caused all manner of hilarious confusion.

Some songs

Fave song at the mo - 'Old Yellow Bricks' by Arctic Monkeys.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IkmwJKwa2X8

And get a load of their version of Diamonds Are Forever!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvzy_ubmr8I

Some pics

Let's get ready to rumble.

All hail the famous Pyramid stage.

Stoney, George and me in some interesting chill out area.

Me and Mr Stone mix it up.

Me, Stone, Croom and Jonet at the back of the Pyramid stage field.

The Crooms looking sickeningly lovey dovey. Yuk.

Croom and Martyn in the Jazz World field. Also home to the
perry (i.e. pear cider) shop which is the only reason why everyone
was there (seriously).
Croom, Stone, Martyn and me pre the very surreal hippy-like
opening act of the festival on the Pyramid. It rained heavily, as
it did the whole of the weekend (sigh).
Got much worse than this.

Just to prove to PT that I wear the t-shirt he bought me.

Stone enjoying a cup of tasty beverage.
Stone, enjoying a bagel and pear cider. Maybe they're right
and I do take too many rubbish photos. OG - I hope you're
proud that I've taken over your mantle in the UK.
Peace in the valley, peace in the city, peace in your soul. Luckily the
cheesy 90s band who once sang those lyrics weren't at the festival. Stone sporting a tasteful bracelet that we found.
You can't beat a bit of bully.

Muddy hell.

Cricket / Jonet's drinks / Camden / 02 festival

Off work yesterday and today and have been getting ready for Glasto v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Nice to just mill around doing basically nothing as haven't done that in a while.

A week of fun and games and only a few late night moments here and there on Fri/Sat night that need to be filed under OMG/Whaaaaaaa - but such moments are good for the soul and character building ........errr.........maybe!

Let’s have a look then shall we.

Firstly a bit of work cricket. This is Chris and Colin from work looking
ready for action. Note that Col (on right) has taken steps to ensure
that the damage from a bit of unexpected bounce from the wicket is
greatly reduced.

Completely unstaged, obviously.

Never let it be said that I don't mingle when on corporate events.
Me and a load of HSBC types who organised the cricket on Wed.
This is shortly before me and Colin blasted out a tune on
the karaoke. It was my usual very easy song (Song 2 by
Blur - just shout 'Whooo hooo' for 2 mins).

Maybe I should give them a ring, though surely 'muscular
pecks' don't count?

Phil, the lean, mean Guinness drinking machine.

Fri night - Croom, Vicki and that man McE having fun.
Love the pose Phil.

Coff (in my bro's year back home and now in London) in a
separate white t-shirt and cardie - or so we thought. Who'd have
thought it would turn out to be an all in one job?

Sat night in Camden with some ladies I found called Sarah
and Emma from left to right respectively.

Da crowd on Sat night having a schmiiile at the camera.

Ad and Emma somewhere. Looks like a tube station to me.

Let's rawk - at the 02 Wireless festival in Hyde Park...
...with Gary from work, sporting whiter-than-white halfmasts...
et Mlle Aurelie!
Gary and Aurelie outside the coolest tent ever.
I want one for Glasto 08.

And in other news.

1. Diabolical
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4253849.stm

2. Under-crackers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6751777.stm

3. Aftershock vs aftershave
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6752515.stm

Caz and Daniels wedding weekend

Final wedding in my my month long wedding marathonon Sat. The wedding of the lovely Caroline and less lovely but still ok (ish) Daniels. Have put pics on Facebook, as I will do in future, but will also continue to post on here weekly for the benefit of technological Luddites (that's you mother) and the two or three people who occasionally click onto this site as they know there might be a picture of themselves on it. Anyway, I like writing on here.

That man Trantorial weighs up his options in the Leigh
Arms before going for the inevitable pint of mix.

Charismatic Tranter was able to pull in the curry house with ease.

Me with a healthy garden salad. My glass of mineral water is just out of shot.

Completely amazing venue from above...

...and outside. And inside as well. Tranter concurs.

PT and Marie looking please with themselves.

Some girls I found. And ok Alice, maybe your top is pink after all.
But I stick by my assertion that brown is this seasons colour
and what all the cool kids are wearing this season. Well played Lydia.

Me, wearing a brown shirt, and that man Mullock.
Yum yum in my tum.

Awwwwwwwww/blughhhhhh.
Duckers tries to pass Michelle's hair off as his own.

Caz reminds Daniels who's boss. Daniels probably cried again.

Nice catch Jen. I'll expect an invite to your wedding in the post then.

And in other news.

1. Maybe they thought it was a blow-up doll?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/6702017.stm

2. Eh-oh.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6698753.stm

Gartside at 30

One of our inner circle passed over into thirty-something-ness today. Gartside, we salute you.