Holiday

I won't be writting on this for a while. For updates and photos of our trip to Oz and NZ check out our holiday blog

Flipping Bob Dylan

Call me ignorant, call me uncouth, call me a fool, call me what you like but I just can't stand flipping Bob Dylan.

I know it's been said before (by many a wise person I must add) but the man just can't sing! How has he sold so many albums? I'm told that the words of his songs are 'explosive' 'timeless' yadda yadda yadda - if I could get past his drawling whiny voice perhaps I would agree but the sound of him sliding his voice up a few pitches in what really is glorified talking actually makes me writhe in agony.

The combination of that and the cheesy folk music is just too much. All credit to the guy for persuading people that his 'music' is worth investing in but surely he is sitting at home chuckling saying to himself 'and they didn't even notice I can't sing - suckers'. 'Oh no' says Chris from Coldplay, 'he can sing, he just chooses not to' - whatever.

Yes music boffins, I'm sure his songs have had a huge influence on bands and musicians I enjoy listening to - so excuse me while I take the flipping Blonde On Blonde CD out of the stereo, hide it in a plant pot and replace it with a CD by one of those bands, who can actually hold and tune and sing without wailing. Thank you very much.

'O'

Having been inspired by some of the poets at Latitude Festival I've attempted to write a poem using only (well mostly) the vowel 'O'. Needs some work but here's the first draft. Might try to do one for each vowel.

O

Jon’s got one more ounce,

He don’t own no phone,

Sold to the monobrow,

No dog, no bone,

Only dope.

My brother’s lost his Mojo,

Boy don’t know how,

Looked around slow

Looked high looked low,

No Mojo.

Rob wants to know

Who stopped Old School?

Country Rock found a home

On Radio One - OK for some

But too slow for my bro.

So Jon and Rob

(Older bro, big 3 0)

Throw Old School occasion,

Only got no dough,

So found Jo.

Problem – no one’s told Jo

Joy of Old School grooves,

So Jo don’t know,

Not bothered for dope

Or Mojo.

So Rob and Jon throw do

For only those two,

Smoke most of dope,

Enjoy Old School grooves

Nobody shows,

Only Rob’s Mojo.

Pac Man 2p's

If any of you, like me, like to spend a couple of quid in a good old tacky sea side arcades, check out the new Pac Man 2p machines. Based on the orignal 2p machines with the slidy bits that push the coins down, but with a very exciting added feature where if the 2p's you drop in slide through one of the 6 'fruit' panels a little pac man on a computer screen fires a ball with that fruit on it and if it matches other fruit on the screen you get bonus 2p's fired in. Hit the jackpot with the fruit and you get 50 2p's fired in in one go. Very exciting for someone as easily pleased as me! Yay!

Lands end to John O'Groats

.....well almost. Just got back from holiday in Scotland and Cornwall.

Started with a hen do in Leamington last Saturday and then up to Selkirk in Scotland to visit Rich's Nana for a few days, stopping in Lancaster for lunch - nice place. Much playing of Scrabble and watching bats in the garden with Rich's Nana, climbed some hills (not with his Nana - I don't think her mobility scooter would have managed the 1:1 gradient!) ate lots of fish.

We drove the scenic route back to the Midlands, checking out lots of little towns around the Cumbrian coast and camping for a couple of nights in Morcombe. Big town but definately seen better days and seemed to be full of old people. Lots of wandering around and enjoying the sunshine. We then drove down the the Midlands, stopping off in Bridgnorth for a bit, which was also nice. Cool old Castle ruins which looked like they were abo0ut to come crashing down.

Met up with Lucy at her building site in Brum and she drove us down to Truro in Cornwall on Friday afternoon/evening. Bowker wedding on Saturday which was really great - they are a quality couple and their thoughtfullness for others and inventiveness really made the day special. On Sunday about 15/20 of us met up at Perrenporth beach and went body boarding in the hail with 5 foot waves. It was fantastic - borrowed Lucys wetsuit this time and couldn't believe how warm I was!

Lucy drove us back to the Midlands on Monday. We had a timing stroke of genius and managed to arrive at Junction 27 of the M5 at exactly the same time as my brother and Jo travelling from Swindon down to Devon so stopped and chatted to them for a bit. Rob is still trying to persuade us to have longer in Australia than New Zealand on our trip. I'm sure he has a point but we're sticking with our original plan, espeically as NZ is the main place we wanted to go to in the first place.

Was hoping to see the Mytery plays in Cov on Monday night but it was absolutely chucking it down. Really gutted as they sound amazing.

2 weeks until we go to Oz and NZ! Can't wait!