Stuff 

Wednesday 30 June 2010 22:41

It's twelve hours since I last updated here and I've only just stopped. I was successful in my rug expedition, but had no luck with curtains. Apparently, the ones I wanted haven't been sold in years. I think I'll go for the door option instead (long story). I'm very happy with my new rugs though.

While I remember, a quick word of warning. When you're exposed to a lot of sunshine and plaster yourself with sun cream, don't forget your lips. Now that the blistering has subsided, my lower lip resembles the surface of a Greggs pasty.

---

Wednesday 30 June 2010 10:01

Although I felt that my week old festival beard was rather fetching, I've had to remove it this morning. It's just not the weather for facial insulation. After a hot night of itching and restless sleep, I couldn't wait to lose the growth.

I did play around while shaving, but quickly realised that a goatee made me look like a Village People reject, so that had to go too. My face is now quite cool and itch-free.

I'm off to Ikea in a minute; I need to buy rugs and some curtains. Well, I may as well do something useful. I might, of course, first walk into town and have a quiet pint in the Bridge. Well, why not; I'm on leave you know.

---

Tuesday 29 June 2010 23:35

I watched Glastonbury highlights this evening; couldn't see myself anywhere in the crowd though, despite several reported sightings. Apparently, I do have a double.

However, I did manage to find my only known appearance in TV coverage, from 2008. It's on youtube, Elbow, Leaders of the Free World. You may struggle to identify me. The original BBC coverage was a lot clearer.

Tuesday 29 June 2010 15:46

Two festival-ish songs in a row have jus been played on the radio; Aerosmith, which cringingly reminded me of singing at Download, then the Verve's Bittersweet  Symphony, along with memories of Glastonbury of two years ago.

Which brings me to Glastonbury; 2010 that is. Thre was surprisingly little fuss made about this being the 40th, altough there was a huge Glastonbury 40 sign up on the viewing hill near the stone circle and there were 1970 and 2010s above the screens at the Pyramid stage. A few of the bands made reference to the anniversary, most notably the Scissor Sisters. And I guess Stevie Wonder did end on Happy Birthday. But that was it really.

The weather was gorgeous, way better than the last couple of years, and it was nice not to have to wear wellies.
   
As usual, there was too much to see and I missed too many things due to clashes. Still, that's simply because there are so many bands.
 

Of course, the Silent Disco was a must, with the original Dutch DJ we'd first come across at Connect a couple of years ago. Although we did manage to communicate with the DJ, requesting Skinny Jeans, our timing was rubbish and he'd not actually started 'work' yet. He clearly remembered the whole Skinny Jeans time though.

It was good to finally meet up with Karl too, particularly after the mobile number confusion of last year (where I'd ignored his texts because I'd keyed in his number incorrectly a few months beforehand). He almost didn't make it to the festival after glueing his phone to his hand. I'll not duplicate the story here; he tells it much better than I coud.

My festival formally began on the Thursday evening (although I'd done some exploring with Nicky and Cat), when I went to see Aynsley Lister at Bourbon Street. He was very good and even sang Balls of Steel, just so I could ring Peter to let him hear (it seems to have become a tradition, though I suspect I only got through to voicemail. well, it was 2:30am). I met my NBFs, Paul and Paul, there. They'd been told by a mate that they should see Aynsley, but had some reservations. Until the band played. The evening (morning) ended with drunken hugs, handshakes and promises to be there for the second gig the following day. Strangely, we all remembered.
 

I have to admit to falling in love with Lissie; well, who wouldn't. I'd barely heard any of her stuff, but she was brilliant on the day. A barefoot girl in a dress, playing an acoustic guitar and singing. Heaven.

I made a point of seeing Beth Jeans Houghton; she'd played with Joe Gideon and the Shark last March at the Head of Steam in town (the night before my birthday), but I'd missed her because I had to go straight from work. I have a poster with her name on it though (and Joe Gideon's of course).

Detroit Social Club were very good on the John Peel Stage; and again later at the QueensHead. Maybe a bit hyper, but they've earned it. I enjoyed the Stranglers, despite the change of times since the guide was printed. And the secret Radiohead slot at the Park was good. A chance conversation with a couple, Guy and Lucy, led me to accompany them on a march from the John Peel stage, which was far too small for Mumford and Sons, to the Park. We didn't know who we were going to see, but it was going to be better than the backs of people's heads at the John Peel stage.
 

In common with a lot of people, I was disappointed with Gorillaz. They weren't rubbish or anything. But the atmosphere just wasn't there and they didn't do much to encourage it. Until the last two or three songs.

The high point for me had to be Devendra Banhart at West Holts (it used to be the Jazz stage). I like him a lot anyway, but I'd not seen him play since Leeds festival, in 2007. His dreadlocks have now gone and he played in a different, more lively, style. The old songs were there, but a lot of new stuff too. He went down really well with the crowd, jumping off the stage for multiple high fives (yes, I got one). He was also quite drunk. But so was I.

Jackson Brown was good, though he didn't sing Stay, but that was probably a good thing. The Lighning Seeds were better than I'd expected, but they did sing the inevitable three lions.
 

If I'd not already fallen in love with Lissie, I'd have swooned during Shakira's performance. Her hips certainly don't lie. Scissor Sisters were great, though I didn't particularly think that kylie added anything. Muse were very good at what they do but, just like last year during a headliner, a quick exit and a jog to the Other stage led to a much more enjoyable time with the Pet Shop Boys. There may have been singing.

Then it was off to the Cabaret stage to see Ed Byrne, who was excellent. and then to Shangri La, which had undergone a major transformation since last year.
 

Nicky and Cat spotted Thom Yorke, sitting in the cockpit of the old jet (below). I managed to zoom in and get a picture, but he has red eyes and is a little blurry. Dr Who was also sighted when we went to the toilets.
 

I thought that Ray Davies was brilliant, but I always did like the  Kinks.  Jack Johnson was ok, but I can't really say I like his stuff. However, Stevie Wonder was simply great.
 

There was one negative point, on the last evening. It was a little spooky, but Karl had told me about a sentimental thing he'd done last year, burying a ring at Glastonbury. His relationship going very well led to the need for it to be retrieved this year and, by some miracle, he actually found it. I took a break, missing Faithless to do something similar. Actually, it wasn't remotely similar, but it did make me wonder how many people so bury things in special places there. And never find them again.

Anyway, as I was walking back down from the viewing area, I literally walked right past an ex. Now that's stretching coincidence a little. Naturally, I handled the situation very well, pretending I'd not seen her. But I obviously had. After cringing a little, I drank beer and everything was fine.

All-in-all, I still love Glastonbury. Had a great time. Post festival blues are starting to kick-in now though.

---

Monday 21 June 2010 23:30

I'm off to sleep now, but a quick email exchange with Peter today:

Peter: Would you be interested in going on ... a blind date? With one of Maria's friends
Gary: Nope. I'm celibate.

The only answer a sane man would give.

---

Monday 21 June 2010 22:56

My old festival MP3 player diedlast night. Or, more accurately, I realised it was dead last night. I couldn't get away from work early enough to catch shops, so had to try supermarkets. Without success. Eventually, I found on in the Metrocentre, which meant I didn't get home until ridiculously late. Anyway, I do have one now.

I've spent what little time I've had this evening wrapping children's birthday presents. Since the computer was copying music to the MP3 player, I listened to music while I wrapped. It's not one of my skills, so I'm very slow. Anyway, I've rediscovered Sam Baker tonight. It's extremely hard not to sing along (for anyone who's not had the experience, I should say it isn't pleasant). I need to get some back onto my ipod. I've been running on a reduced range of music since the ipod-in-the-bath incident a few months ago.  I can also remove the heavy stuff I'd put on to brainwash educate myself for Download.

I want to write stuff about work, just to get things out of my head, but as I've said previously, they'd shoot me. Or move me to Preston. Or even worse.

Right, so many things to do.

---

Sunday 20 June 2010 21:02

I've had a very unsettled day. I've been stupidly busy all day, but my mind's been elsewhere. It's probably connected with splitting up in pretty awful circumstances, recent communication and Glastonbury being just a few days away. There's actually a Glastonbury thing on BBC4 as I type. Bruce Springstein though; we only stayed a little while to see him then went off to the Other stage to see Franz Ferdinand, which turned out to be one of those moments.

As I'm watching, I can see the I (heart) sausages sign that someone had nicked from a fast food place. Blur's on now. They rocked last year. I was there in that crowd!  And now Elbow's on; we were there too, right at the front! I got all emotional and had tears (although no one knows that).

Change of subject. Back to work tomorrow. Ugh. Short week. Yay!

---

Sunday 20 June 2010 08:32

I've just had a lovely start to my Sunday. It's a nice morning, so I sat in the garden with my first cup of coffee. I watched a female blackbird hopping around, throwing clumps of cur grass about. Then a goldfinch landed on the little wall in front of me. It just did what birds do, jumping and flying around, but it was a nice, colourful thing to see when you're barely awake. When I was a young kid, I had a picture of a goldfinch on my bedroom wall (I still have it somewhere).

I can't sit around though (well, beyond a second cup of coffee). I was going to do some work, since I've a lot I need to clear up, but it's Sunday and I need a day to myself. I'm going to catch a Metro to Tynemouth and have a wander around the market, then I've birthday shopping to do for grandkids. And I need to get supplies for Glastonbury.

I'd debated giving Glastonbury a miss this year; for a few reasons. Firstly, it was a couple thing and I'm no longer part of one of those. Secondly, there's the chance of bumping into an ex-wife. And, lastly, I'd be taking more time off work, after only being back a few days. But, for lots of reasons, I intend to go.

It's an odd line-up this year, but when you think about it, it works very well. There are a lot of clashes though, Mumford & Sons/Aynsley Lister and Scissor Sisters/Kelis (what's wrong with Kelis?) to name just a couple. I won't list everyone I want to see, partly because I know I'll miss half of them. I've agonised over whether to see Jackson Browne, because it'd bring back old memories, but what the hell, I'm sure I could Stay an hour. So, I think I'm trying to say that I'm both dreading and looking forward to Glastonbury.

I've another decision I need to make too. My hosting for this domain is up for renewal. On a whim, I did buy this a few months ago, but I didn't do anything with it. Although Sheriffhill became mine unintentionally a few years ago, it did start out as a joint web page; it's still there if you dig back far enough. So, I'm uncertain as to whether I keep this one or move to something new, possibly something more transportable in the likely event that I move house. Too much thinking for my brain to cope with.

It was a very nice goldfinch.

---

Saturday 19 June 2010 23:03

We'll be washed and buried one day ...
And the time we were given will be left for the world
The flesh that lived and loved will be eaten by plague
So let the memories be good for those who stay

---

Saturday 19 June 2010 22:10

I like to recycle things. I had to cut down an old door I'd found in a skip to make it fit in my house. Since the door was old Victorian pine, it seemed a shame not to keep the offcuts. Lately, I've taken to sitting in the garden when I return home from work. Not being one to sit twiddling thumbs, I used the time to make an incense stick holder from a small piece of ex-door.


One interesting part of the door was the original old cast iron lock.  It was a lovely old thing, although I had to replace it because there was no key and the lock itself was broken. It was a big, heavy old thing and there was something about it that made it a nice object. I decided to keep it, to try to repair it. Sadly, though, the bath in WD40 didn't free the screws, so I had to give up.


Well, I guess you can't win every time.

---

Saturday 19 June 2010 20:00

Festival comedown's a funny experience. A brief dialogue with Phil:
Gary: See that dude?
Phil: He looks like a lady.

And a text message from Peter:
This time last week - under the gazebo, drying off and tanking up for Aerosmith ..... good times

---

Tuesday 15 June 2010 21:40

I'm so glad I had the sense to take today off work; I'm now almost recovered from Download, but there's no way I could have coped with a day in the office. Regrettably, though, I do need to go back to work tomorrow.

Glastonbury tickets came today. Last year their arrival was pretty cool; this year it's quite sad.

On a completely different subject, I've been carving an incense stick holder. Having recently bought one, I was sure I could make better than the basic surfboard design. I used to have a cool ceramic one, in the shape of a fish. it didn't do the job very well, but i liked it. My new, evolving holder did worryingly resemble an oversized toothbrush for a while, but it's taking shape now.

Well, at the risk of showing my age, I think I'm going to get my aching body off to bed.

---

Monday 14 June 2010 22:11

I've had a most enjoyable weekend in the company of some fine gentlemen. Although three days of beer consumption means that I don't actually remember a lot. Bits I do recall include Peter winning the gay hat competition (hands down) and Phil getting extremely wet. We saw a few bands too; ACDC were surprisingly good (though the beer probably helped). Aerosmith were good too; however, Phil kindly reminded me today that we were all singing along. The biggest surprise was Billy Idol. We went to see him (in the rain) for a bit of a giggle, but he was actually ridiculously good. I think we might have sung to his stuff too.

On returning home, I found 490 pictures on my camera. A small selection appear below.
 

---

Wednesday 9 June 2010 20:27

No matter how much I listen to ACDC, it hurts my head.

---

Monday 7 June 2010 21:34

This is actually quite cool.

     Orange Belt 9th Kyu -
Terry Whitfield, Chloe Potts, Caitlyn Smith, Alex Jones, Luke Green, Mark Spinks, Harry Bradley, Logan Ellison, Adam Colborne-Howe, William Ho, Jonathan Dowell, Thomas Ord, Iwan Phillips, Ethan Foulder, Sophie Moore-Hills, Adam Sulieman.

---

Friday 4 June 2010 22:01

My cold is fading. Thankfully. Unfortunately, though, I've developed an old man's cough (which must have pissed people off at work today). I've had to withdraw from social activities this evening, indeed for the whole weekend. And I'm supposed to be helping a friend move house too, but I'm not sure I'm up to it. I should be sensible I suppose.

I just received a text from Phil: There's nowt like putting twelve divine comedy songs in a row on a jukebox to clear a pub. Ha the fools! I should point out that Phil is socialising tonight; this isn't some new sport. At least I think it isn't.

---

Thursday 3 June 2010 19:55

I'm absolutely not going to complain about my cold tonight. I won't even moan about this being my third day of extreme suffering. Anyway, while sitting (coughing and sniffling) in the garden yesterday afternoon, I saw a mouse. It was very much a mouse and definitely not another form of rodant. I watched it for ten minutes or so before a sneeze scared it away. I'm not sure quite why, but it made me feel happy (forgetting my misery for a moment). This evening, when looking out of the kitchen window, I saw another mouse. I watched this one for just a minute or two. It hopped around, in a very un-mouse-like way. And then it flew away. Perhaps an eye test is in order.

---

Wednesday 2 June 2010 13:05

What? This sort of thing doesn't happen in the UK; well only in the South or in Stockton. It's the kind of thing you expect to hear from Germany, or the US. Anywhere but the North of England.

It's odd watching daytime news. However, I'm taking this looking after myself seriously; I was only in the office for a few hours this morning. I think I shall sit in the garden for a little while, then have a sleep. Hopefully, this cold will start to die out through the night.

---

Tuesday 1 June 2010 20:11

Today I did something completely out of character. For me, that is. A few months ago, just after Leeds festival, I came down with swine flu. I did my usual man thing and avoided my doctor and went to work while I was still pretty ill. Without a doubt, that had a lot to do with my incredibly slow recovery and resulting infection that dragged on for months. However, it's something I'd always done; I've always tended to ignore illness or injury (although I do tend to complain a lot).

This morning I awoke with a cold. While certainly not flu (It annoys me when people claim to have flu after a couple of coughs and sneezes), it's a nasty cold virus and I do feel rough. So, at mid-day, I left the office, came home, and went to sleep. I've only been awake long enough to eat soup and have a hot bath. And now I'm going back to bed.

This is all very new to me, but it's time I started getting my priorities right.

---

older

back to current