Open Studios Closing Night.

Last night I met up with J.W. and J.M. at Open Space studios on Kingsland Road for the closing ‘party’ of the recent show. A few of my favourite artists were represented: Eine, Pure Evil, Dave The Chimp; and DTC was holding another ‘lucky dip’, where, for the price of a packet of biscuits or a couple of bananas, you could dig deep into his sack and retrieve some goodies. I provided shortbread and chocolate coated ginger snaps, and in return received a DVD of the recent DTC/Flying Fortress collab. in Germany and a Teddy Trooper.
Unlike the opening night of the show, when the beer had all run out by 7pm, the free beer was flowing well into the night; at around 11.30pm - after eight or so bottles, I called it a night; went home; and uploaded my photos.
My head hurts today.

Lindy Hop Week Two

Lindy Hop again last night at Swing Cats Corner. Week two was a rather less stressful affair, and I was able to keep up with what the instructor was saying and showing us, even if I couldn’t remember all the turns when it came round to actually doing it! The ‘intermediates’ in the beginner’s group were a little less uptight than last week’s group too, and were more willing to help out with individual steps when they could see i was having trouble. H. went through many of the same emotions that I experienced last week, getting frustrated and struggling to keep up; but we stood to one side and practiced a little in private as the intermediate class was underway.
Apparently Channel Four Television are going to have a film crew present at the first class of the new year; I’m not yet decided if I want to attend and look like a dork in front of the nation…

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Now listening to: Pilchard - I Want A New Limb For Christmas

A Winter Wonderland (?)

Yesterday, H. and I went ice skating in Hyde Park. After topping up with a bottle of wine to fortify us against the cold night, donning an extra pair of socks and thermal long johns each, we headed out - arriving about 7.35 in time for our ‘one hour skating session’ scheduled to start at 7.45.
Unfortunately there was a long queue and we didn’t actually make it onto the ice until 8.20, but we managed a few circuits; neither of us quite falling over. At 8.45 the ‘marshals’ began shouting at everyone to get off the ice and were initially completely ignored - after all, many people had only been on the ice for around twenty minutes…
The inept marshals continued bellowing at everyone to ‘get inside’ despite the queue snaking out of the door and back onto the ice and it being practically impossible to get inside. By 9pm everyone was bundled off the ice and inside, and there now being no room for a queue, or barriers to dicate one, things quickly disintegrated into a free for all, with a number of tempers also distintegrating and arguments breaking out sporadically. Around 9.15 we finally retrieved our shoes and headed out of the ice rink enclosure (as the next set of sheep were arriving on the ice, unaware that they too would be shouted off the ice in a little under thirty minutes time).
We had a little look around the, now largely deserted, ‘German Market’ and fair, taking a handful of pictures, before heading back to Islington, and the ORL - which is what Fridays are for.

A Chemical Night Out

Last night H. and I went to see The Chemical Brothers at Brixton Academy, the venue was absolutely packed making dancing a little difficult, but we somehow managed.
I was a little disappointed that the set was played very like a band set, rather than a night of “avin’ it large”, that is: each track was seperated from the next by a break in the set and a round of clapping from the audience; the friendly crowd around us would regularly be dancing away, having a good time, only for the beats to break up, the track diminish and finish and be left standing around waiting for the next track to build. Quite a lot of people around us were just standing around, drinking, or chatting to their mates too - which surely isn’t what a Chems. gig is about… ?
Still, we had a top time; the gig finished reasonably early, and we were back home in bed by 1am.

Lindy Hop

Last night H. and I went dancing.
Lindy Hop, at Swing Cats Corner to be precise. The beginner’s class began at 7.15, and after a couple of pints to ‘loosen up’ we began with a basic 6-step; which was fine. Then a move was added, and we changed partners, and then a move was added and we changed partners, and then a move was added and we changed partners, and I was lost. The pace of the class was way too fast for me, and I struggled to keep up with what later transpired to be a class of ‘Intermediates’ waiting for their class to begin and two other ‘beginners’. So, a bit fast then; but I’ll keep practicing. Lord knows I need to.
Later, the Intermediate class took place followed by some ’social dancing’ which was a pleasure to watch, some of the dancers were dressed appropriately in twenties gear, and I had a bit of a weird moment when I recognised one of them from an earlier post in my blog.
All in all a great night out though, and we’ll be going again next week… Watch this space.

A Wedding

This weekend, H. and I drove to a wedding in Highclere Castle.

I didn’t realise it beforehand, but it appears that Highclere is the home of Carnarvon, and was the home of the 5th Earl of Carnavon: famous for discovering the tomb of Tutankahmun along with Howard Carter. Of particular interest was the basement museum - it transpired that some 64 years after his death in 1923, a large number of Egyptian artefacts were discovered stashed around the castle in a number of secret hiding places. In the walls, in the attic, that kind of thing, and they form the basis for the museum. There’s lots of interesting relics and photographs of the famous Tutenkhamun tomb alongside things like Carnarvon’s contracts with Howard Carter, his glasses and his razor. The razor being the reason for his untimely deatch, and subsequent ‘Mummies Curse’ rumours. The rest of the castle was also of interest, with a great number of beautiful paintings among family photos and includingThe Queen and Priness Diana…

The wedding itself was a great event, and, as might be expected, lots of food was eaten, lots of drink drunk, lots of invitations to homes in Shanghai given out and lots of silly dancing afterwards. H.’s mum was designated driver, and took us back to our hotel for the night, aided only my me and TomTom.

CSS

Went to see CSS at Brixton Academy last night with J., B. and H. and had a blast.
H. had gone home from work early with a bad headache, so it was hit and miss whether or not she’d make it - but with a little gentle persuasion…
For the first time ever, we were sat in the Circle (ie. seats) at the Academy - a bit of a weird experience, as we stood all night anyway, and although the views were exceptional when everyone was seated, they were crap throughout the gig with everyone standing. We did have somewhere to stash our winter coats though, so avoiding the cloakroom queue was a big bonus.
Regardless, CSS. were on great form, arriving onstage dressed as enormous Xmas presents, before unwrapping themselves. Lovefoxxx bounded around in a glittery gold leotard, H. and I bopped about and were silly, B. looked slightly bemused, and J. cradled his beer and looked tired…
The support act, I’m reliably informed, were known as ‘Justice’, and were absolutely awesome. I will be finding some tof their stuff soon.

Three weeks ’til Xmas.

Sunday 2nd December:
A walk to Columbia Road, Brick Lane and Spitalfields markets, topped off by dinner in S&M Cafe all before driving P. back to Euston , arriving five minutes before his train left for Macclesfield. Oh, and I bought a loofah.

Saturday 1st December:
Broadway Market, A ride on the London Eye then off to Tuffnel Park to see White Rose Movement, supported by Ulterior at Tufnell Park Dome.

Friday 30th November:
A day off work. I got a nice Sony TV from Freecycle, then picked up P. from Euston station, we had tea and beer before heading off to the ORL for Curtis’ birthday with moustaches.

Thursday 29th November:
The opening night of James Cauty’s new exhibition involved a large pile of artworks in the middle of the room which everyone was entitled to help themselves to. The Aquarium organisers also said that if anyone wanted to take any pictures off the wall, then they would ‘turn a blind eye’. The walls and floor were cleared within five minutes of the show opening. We then had a couple of free beers, thanked Jim & Steve and went on to
Stolen Space for free mulled wine and mince pies - but we left pretty soon afterwards, ’cause the place was full of Shoreditch tw*ts. Got a bag of bagels on the way back.

Musical Friends

A quick check on the facebook status of some of my friends reveals that

Shiona is happy when it rains;

Niall is freaking out in a moonage daydream, and

Janine is tangled up in blue.

They’ve got good taste, my friends.