Business development

Almost a genius.

Archy & Mehitabel

Thanks to K for this.

A note to myself

I must see what is outstanding from the Rudy Van Gelder (RVG) remasters on Blue Note. RVG was the engineer at the finest jazz recording sessions of the 50s and 60s for Blue Note, Impulse and Prestige, amongst others. I acquired a job lot of the remastered CDs, but like a junkie in the midst of a bad crack habit, the grip is getting stronger.

On Whiteladies in Bristol

Before I gave JB the opportunity to drop a very large, very heavy, wooden, designer filing cabinet on me , I tried out Fishworks in Bristol (on Whiteladies Road, a name which never fails to make me snigger). I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants per se, but it was bloody good. Shame I wasn't able to convince K to hand over her book of tart card art to her father.

Making fur fly

Saw Avenue Q last night with D & Kitsune. I laughed so hard my cock fell off.

Acquired: 'A Man Without a Country' and 'Slaughterhouse Five' by Kurt Vonnegut, and the first volume of collected interviews from the Paris Review.

Reading matter

There's something of a backlog...

Mangez

The iPOD Perv and I went to see Micah P Hinson at the deeply atmospheric Union Chapel in Islington last night. It was a great gig. But enough about that - we spent a larger part of the day at The Marquess Tavern in Canonbury. A huge choice of ales and wines that my companion revelled in, plus standout food, with large and hearty starters and perhaps the best roast we have ever had. Puddings were a bit disappointing, but the menu was left largely unexplored so we'll be returning soon.

Micah P Hinson, who errrr, did a gig

Barcelona & BT Broadband Bummers

Back from Barcelona, collapsing into bed at 3am this morning. A week attending a trade show/conference, feeling sleep deprived, ending with a diverted plane, missing luggage, hot spurty coffee and roadworks. Still, it was fun to be with colleagues Shaggy, Tarquin, Doris, Dad, D and Funny Face. I'll be going back in a couple of months for a private retreat.

And two weeks on, my broadband is still up the creek. Before I called BT, I switched router/modems, new microfilters, swapped laptops, cables and tried the test socket. After calling them at their request, they got me to do the same stuff again. One call centre staffer asked me to keep the modem attached to the test socket for 6 hours, as 'it takes time for the modem to catch the signal' - utter bollocks.

I then emailed them while away to explain that the situation was unresolved. They left me contradictory messages - emails confirming that they knew the problem was outstanding, and voice texts telling me the problem was fixed. Earlier today they agreed to get an engineer out, then four hours later I was called to be told my service is working (patently not the case).

BT customer service - more mystery than an episode of 'Columbo'

Listening to: The Long Blondes, Camera Obscura, The Divine Comedy & Third World

Writing: nothing - i'm tired

About to watch: Barbet Schroeder's doc on Idi Amin

I hear tiny feet...

Congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Crouch End.

The lengths some folks go to regain favour...

'Forced by a gay sex scandal to resign as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. Ted Haggard now feels that after three weeks of intensive counseling, he is “completely heterosexual,” says an overseer of the megachurch Mr. Haggard once led.'

'Ousted Pastor "Completely Heterosexual"', NY Times

Soul Britannia at the Barbican

SoulBrittania at the Barbican was da bomb. It was worth it just to see Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band again - my first time since '95. I am surprised that groups like Light of the World and Incognito were not represented - although AWB (Hamish Stuart) & FBI (Root Jackson) were - despite their massive influence. It was also my first opportunity to watch the legendary Cymande in action (check out 'Dove' and 'Rastafarian Folk Song').

Good also to see Jimmy James (of the Vagabonds), Carol Grimes, Madeline Bell, Eddie Floyd, Linda Lewis and Eric Burdon (of the Animals).

Geno Washington

Cymande

Madeline Bell

Eric Burdon

Soul Brittania All-Stars (inc. Root Jackson, Carol Grimes, Linda Lewis)

The whole thing kicked off on Saturday night with a tribute to Lover's Rock, a more soulful, mellow form of reggae that emerged in the late 1970s. Janet Kay performed the classic 'Silly Games' and Victor Romero Evans performed 'At The Club'. Both were also members of the cast for the Channel 4 sitcom 'No Problem' that aired in the early 80s.

Janet Kay & Carol Thompson

Victor Romero Evans

What else to say? Oh yeah, the bistro at the Barbican sucks the sweat off a dead man's balls.

Phew!

What a trip, from lunch at Heathrow with 'dad' on the 21st, to the morning after the night before with 'Colonel Papadopoulos'.

Hyatt Regency, Shanghai

Light Show, Hong-Kong


Pudong, from the Hyatt Regency, Shanghai



Market, Near Hollywood Road, Hong-Kong

View from The Peak, Hong-Kong

All photographs on this post courtesy of 'dad' and his Nokia N93.