Thursday 28 July 2010 22:02

My bed arrived this evening. It is truly my most favourite thing.
 







Wednesday 28 July 2010 23:07

This is becoming habit forming. Some car park pictures from this evening.
 


I still think it's a sad occasion.

I shan't be visiting the car park after work tomorrow. Or Friday. My new bed's arriving tomorrow evening and I'll be out Friday night. Well, I guess I can't go every day.

Oh, I bought cool silver paint tonight, after my car park visit.



There's a real risk that I'll paint things silver until the tin's empty.


Tuesday 27 July 2010 19:23

Apparently, it'll take around eight weeks to demolish the multi-storey. It's still wrong. Gateshead really doesn't need a new Tesco store.
 


I'll probably call back again tomorrow night. Well, it's almost on my way home from work..

On an entirely different subject, I've just remembered I'd promised a bloke at work I'd meet him in the Tuns tonight to watch a band. I'd best get a move on then.


Monday 26 July 2010 22:40

I've posted a short car park video clip on youtube.


Monday 26 July 2010 22:00

This morning, while eating toast and watching breakfast news on TV, I learned that the Get Carter car park demolition was finally going to get under way today. Although the film was pretty awful, it's a shame that the car park is soon to be no more.



Of course, I had to be there. Despite being ridiculously busy at work, I got away as soon as I could today and went straight to Gateshead Interchange. Even though it was a sad occasion, it was fascinating to see. I'd imagine it'll take a few days to demolish the whole thing.

I took a lot of pictures, but you can get an idea of the demolition from the few below. I might call back tomorrow and take some more.

 







Saturday 24 July 2010 22:21

I've had quite a hassled week (at work). This promotion business isn't all it's cracked up to be.

On a positive note, I managed to get away yesterday with enough time (ten minutes) to pick up a prescription (my inhaler was on its last couple of squirts). Another positive; I got the old kind, not the dodgy CFC-free sort that lasts a couple of weeks and leaves you constantly short of breath.

It gets better. I'd decided not to venture out yesterday evening; I thought I'd have an evening of reflection. Well, everyone needs to reflect now and again. But, on my way back from collecting my prescription, and mid-phone conversation, I passed the Tuns. Since it was a warm evening, I decided to call in and have a cold pint of Guinness. Craig was at the bar and it all went wrong when I asked him for a pint of Guinness. He replied, saying that Star was 'on', so I said, since it was a warm evening, I'd have a cold Staropramen. Craig responded with the very British would you like one in the pump?   Of course, to be polite, I answered in the affirmative.

I chatted to Craig for a bit, then Yorkie and Paul (the drunk one, not the landlord) attracted my attention, so I engaged in conversation with them for a little while. I claimed my second pint from the pump and, since the conversation was clearly going to continue for some time, I felt it rude not to stay a while.

When I realised I'd not eaten for ages, and became a little wobbly, I decided it was time to leave. I bade farewell to my comrades and began the long walk home (at least a minute). After reading my gas bill, a bank statement, and a takeaway leaflet, I prepared an evening meal. After eating my chips, I retired at 10:30. I quickly fell into a deep sleep.

I woke around 1:30. Well, woke isn't quite accurate. I kindof opened one eye when my phone made a noise. Phil had rather kindly sent me a text or two to tell me he was having a drink with my (second) ex wife, or, in his words, the unmentionable woman. Thanks Phil. This led to a text from a number that wasn't on my phone, saying Am out with phil. Do we need to talk or should we leave it? I thought it might've come from bob, but I wasn't certain, so replied Who're you? The response made me realise it was from the aforementioned ex wife. Great, I thought, Just what I needed. I don't mean that in a bad way; it's just that she'd put me through hell and she'd made a point of being particularly hurtful at the end (well, why change at that point?).

Anyway, to cut a not very long story short, I fell asleep again. So both Phil and said ex wife will undoubtedly have assumed that I'd blanked them. At two in the morning.

I woke refreshed at 8:30 this morning, although I did doze off for another 50 minutes or so, to texts from several hours beforehand. Since it was a new day, I deemed it untimely (hence unwise) to respond to messages. After all, conclusions would have been drawn several hours earlier.

After toast and coffee, I departed in search of food. Well, I cycled to Lidl. And back of course. After a shower, I caught the X1 to Washington, then the W5 (they're buses, for any car drivers who might come across this) to my mother's. I had coffee and a kit-kat there, collected deliveries (a shiny new hip flask {with free lettering of choice ... I decided on German ... glucklichkeit}, a pair of glasses I'd bought on ebay and a large ceramic object), and had dialogue with my mother, my eldest child and two of my three grandchildren. Oh, and my sister, her husband and my neice.

I then left, walking to Washington bus station to catch the X1 back to sunny Goatshead.

Arriving home, I went straight to Maxwells, to purchase a door. A standard six-panel pine interior door. Apparently, they only do white ones. They did offer to order one for me though, at only £69. I may go to B&Q and get an £18 one!

This evening, I sanded and varnished my old Chiffarobe. It's looking good.

While sanding the wardrobe, I was listening to amazing radio, as I've done quite a lot recently. I won't go into a lot of detail, but it's a station that plays only unsigned artists. There's a website and the most listened-to stuff is played on the radio. Most of it's really good. As I was sanding earlier, I recognised a song after only a couple of bars. I doubted myself at first (only natural after five years of marriage), but it really did turn out to be the Mosaics, playing Runner. It sounded great on the radio.

Talking of which, Dan McClew, the Mosaics front-man, is playing at the Tuns tomorrow. It's a weekly acoustic thing. I may have mentioned this once or twice. I shall be there. I probably will be every Sunday.

That was a way of communicating to my ex wife that I shall be in my local most Sunday evenings. Subtle, eh? Probably more subtle than the messages I've received, telling me I shouldn't go to see Sam Baker. Anyone wanna buy tickets?

I think that this could perhaps be the longest rant writingness I've ever posted.


Wednesday 21 July 2010 20:02

And i wake up in the morning with my hair down in my eyes and she says hi
And i stumble to the breakfast table while the kids are going off to school, goodbye.
And she reaches out and takes my hand and squeezes it and says how you feeling hon?
And i look across at smiling lips that warm my heart, and see my morning sun.

And if that's not loving me, then all i've got to say,
God didn't make the little green apples, and it don't rain in indianapolis in the summer time.
And there's no such thing as dr. seuss or disney land and mother goose, no nursery rhymes.
God didn't make the little green apples, and it don't rain in indianapolis in the summer time.
And when myself is feeling low, i think about her face and go and ease my mind.

Sometimes i call her up, at home, knowing she's busy.
And ask her if she can get away, meet me and maybe we can grab a bite to eat.
And she drops what she's doing and she hurries down to meet me, and i'm always late.
But she sits waiting patiently, and smiles when she first sees me, because she's made that way.

And if that ain't loving me, then all i've got to say,
God didn't make the little green apples, and it don't snow in minneapolis when the winter comes.
And there's no such thing as make-believe, puppy dogs or autumn leaves, no bb guns.
God didn't make the little green apples, and it don't snow in minneapolis when the winter comes.



The apple tree in the garden usually sheds any fruit, probably because it's a young tree, but this year it has lots of apples. I'd guess at around forty. If they last the summer, I may make pies.


Tuesday 20 July 2010 20:23

A bloke from work, Paul, is playing with his band at the Tuns this evening. I've seen him play before a few times, but the last time was in 2003 when he was with a previous band. At Washington Arts Centre I think. Tonight was a last minute thing, but I do feel the need to show support. And, of course, a pint or two's never a bad thing.


Monday 19 July 2010 19:43

I bought a bed at a bus stop this evening.

Well, I bought it on ebay using my phone. Somehow that doesn't sound as interesting. It's a nice bed though, very manly I think.





Sunday 18 July 2010 22:26

It's been a week? Where did it go? Seriously, it's a little worrying that the weeks go by so quickly. Saying that, I lost a couple of days in Preston and long-ish days meant that there wasn;t a lot of time to do anything during the evening. Well, apart from painting and varnishing. At least the bedroom's pretty much finished, I just need to find the right bed. I'm watching a couple of great ones on ebay, so you never know.

I had a very good Friday evening in the company of gentlemen (Jeff, Alan and Dave). Come to think of it, Saturday evening was good too. Somehow though, after discussion around a diverse range of subjects, a trip to Berlin was planned. Dave's never been and has wanted to go for ages. His wife isn't keen and, since I no longer have one of those, I was apparently the obvious choice of travelling companion. Similar tastes in beer may have had something to do with it too.

There's been a picture frame lying unused in the little bedroom for a year or two, it came from my mother. It's stainless steel and has places for half a dozen pictures. I'd never particularly liked it, having a pretty rigid taste in frames; but I've found the perfect use for it. Years ago, I'd bought a few packets of ... erm ... Cyndi Lauper bubble gum. The kind made in the 80s, that came with picture cards and stickers. Well, they fit perfect. And, better still, they look great. There'd be a picture, but somehow I managed to delete it from my camera.

While on the subject of pictures, I feel the need to say that I do so like bees. I may have mentioned this once or twice over the years, but once more won't hurt. In particular though, I like ginger bees. There's probably a latin name, even a correct English one, but I've always thought they look great. Maybe it's something that goes back to a childhood with red hair. Anyway, the work I've been putting into the garden lately seems to be paying off; ginger bees have appeared.




Sunday 11 July 2010 22:00

Another busy weekend. Went to see the Vaudeville Class on Friday; the Stephenson Works was a gorgeous venue, even though the acoustics weren't brilliant. Bumped into San from the Mosaics later, in the Head of Steam; he has a new weekly acoustic slot in the Tuns, starting in a couple of weeks. Since it's only a minute's walk from my front door, we'll check it out.

After using the main bedroom as a junk room for almost three months, I thought  the time was right to do something with it. So I bought some really cool paint (and applied it). Decorating with a monster hangover isn't fun, you know. Today, I've been varnishing (half of) the floor. Sadly, it's going to take a while to finish.


Wednesday 7 July 2010 23:09

Work, food, Tour de France coverage, ceiling painting, bath, bed.


Tuesday 6 July 2010 21:24

A busy week/weekend meant that my planned decorating didn't happen. However, an early lift back from Preston today allowed me to make a start. It was a feeble effort by my usual standards, but at least it was a start.

I'm now showered and watching a cool documentary about the 50th anniversary of To kill a Mockingbird.

Oh, the Vaudeville Class are playing at the Stephenson Works in town this Friday evening. They're worth a listen.


Thursday 1 July 2010 00:01

Ah, breaker one-nine, this here's the Rubber Duck. You gotta copy on me, Pig Pen, c'mon? Ah, yeah, 10-4, Pig Pen, fer shure, fer shure. By golly, it's clean clear to Flag Town, c'mon. Yeah, that's a big 10-4 there, Pig Pen, yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy. Mercy sakes alive ...





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