Yesterday, after work, I visited the City Tavern, with a colleague from work. He drank Bruges, while I had Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Pleasant conversation was had, followed by a quite random text message conversation. While in the bar, we noticed that an employee, possibly the manager, resembled Freddie Mercury on a bad hoovering day. After we’d parted company, texts were exchanged, mostly related to Queen song titles. While this was enjoyable, I didn’t do very well and had to concede defeat.
Monthly Archives: March 2016
Learning
I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. A few years ago, after a march across the site at Glastonbury, I caught the last half hour of Joe Gideon & the Shark’s set. Which included the end of Kathy Ray, which was worth rushing for after hearing it from a distance, and Civilisation, both favourites of mine.
I’ve only seen them live three times; the first when they supported Lisa Germany in a club in London, eight or nine years ago. And then there was that half set in the old Q Magazine bar, the Queen’s Head, at Glastonbury, and a gig at the Head of Steam (on my birthday, if I recall correctly). The latter was memorable for an unplanned reunion with Karl and a huge row with a former spouse.
Anyway, I’ve been looking forward to seeing them at the Cluny tomorrow evening. The booking system didn’t seem to be working very well, and I’d held off buying because I’d been attempting to persuade someone to go with me (unsuccessfully, I should say, but it wouldn’t have been the first time I’d gone to a gig by myself).
I’m not sure why, but I checked the band’s website this evening, only to find that the tour (Joe Gideon and Jim Sclavanus, rather than the Shark) has been postponed to later in the year. Admittedly, I’m disappointed, but there’s relief that I’ll not be turning up for a cancelled gig.
The Learning quote was from Civilisation, a track from their Harum Scarum album. It’s not exactly mainstream, but I can recommend it.
Mars
A view of Mars in a hundred years or so.
Well, a view of the future from 1960. Apparently, the Earth is at risk of becoming ‘a mass of boiling mud’. A rogue spaceship, controlled only by its ‘electronic brain’, is destined for collision. Fortunately, an attempt is to be made to reach the spaceship, Alpha Two, from Venus. And Venus is just a short trip from Mars.
Oh, a detour must first be made to rescue people from a lost ‘space taxi’.
Assignment Outer Space (1960). I need to stop watching this rubbish; I’m not twelve any more.
Design flaw
The door of my eldest daughter’s washing machine recently parted company from the machine itself. On inspection, I could see that the door was attached with two screws, through the hinge, directly into corresponding holes in the front of the casing. The screws were short and probably self tapping, since there was nothing obvious to receive them. I effected a temporary repair, using silicone, knowing it would only last a day. It lasted two.
When the door once more rejoined the floor, I took it home to drill larger holes in the hinge to accommodate more substantial screws. The new metal drill bits, purchased when fitting stove pipes, worked a treat, drilling through 3mm of hinge in seconds. The replacement, slightly larger, screws fitted the hinge perfectly too. When finished, I removed the drill bit I’d used and inserted the original masonry bit.
On the morning of the day I’d arranged to return with the newly drilled door, I picked up the bag of new screws from the kitchen table (from among the other packs of screws I’d been considering) when leaving for work. At the last minute, I also decided to take the drill in case larger screws were needed.
That evening, after work, I attempted to re-fit the door. Unfortunately, it transpired that I’d pocketed the wrong packet of screws. They were too small and wouldn’t bite. So there was a trip home to collect the correct packet. Which were also slightly too small.
I returned this evening with larger screws. Which wouldn’t fit the holes in the bracket. Fortunately, I’d left my drill at my daughter’s, so I was able to drill larger holes. Or at least attempt to. Regrettably, the masonry bit proved to be wholly ineffective. So, once more, I needed to return home to collect the appropriate drill bits.
To conclude, my repair was successful. The door appears to be firmly reattached. Since my second in command had acted as taxi driver on both occasions, she may not have been entirely pleased with my errors. It’s possibly no coincidence that, as a reward for successfully repairing the washing machine, I was allowed to watch the Liverpool – Manchester United game this evening.
The pit
Quatermass and the Pit, that is.
Quatermass
Or rather, Quatermass ii. The whole series, from 1955, is on YouTube. The film quality isn’t brilliant, but it matches my (very young) childhood memory. The sound’s surprisingly good though; I’m assuming it’s been cleaned up.
It’s so bad, it’s actually quite good. Quatermass and the Pit next I think. It won’t take long to watch this series, since they’re only half hour episodes.
Before you consider viewing too, be warned that it’s unsuitable for children or those of a nervous disposition.
Hats
My second in command’s average daily headwear. All of them.
A league of our own
A league of extraordinary gentlemen. Had a great night in Washington with old gentlemen.
Reconciliation
They’re so beautiful, said Steph McGovern this morning on BBC Breakfast. She was talking about newly born lambs, in an interview with a farmer in Wales. Part of the whole EU debate, of course. The farmer described how the lambs stay with their mothers for a whole 24 hours before being moved to a separate pen, to learn about life.
A strange choice of word, life, since the interview then moved on to talk about the proportion of lamb production destined for export to Other Member States.
I find it rather sad that we can look on these creatures, effectively babies, as both cute and tasty.