18/08/2009 by Paul D.

Today has been a day of complete POO and I just wanted somewhere to vent my spleen.

This morning I heard a good friend of mine and ex work colleague has found out that his ball cancer has come back.

This afternoon I had my lovely shiny new touch-screen phone in my pocket. When I took it out, the screen was shattered. It’s not insured. I guess I’ll just have to go and buy a more ‘manly’ one, won’t I?

Just now I hit my left index finger with a hammer. There’s a big lump of flesh hanging off and I’ve been standing at the sink with cold water running over it to numb the pain. It’s the sort of injury that you just know is gonna get more painful before it gets better.

And that’s why I’ve decided not to do any more DIY today.

I better go round and clear up all the tools that I threw down the garden…

Obviously I wouldn’t expect any sympathy from you lot, but I hope you’ll all feel better knowing that I’m having a sh!ttier day than you.

P. 

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20/01/2009 by Paul D.

Ok… this thang’s gone a bit sour, so I thought I’d give it a little kick.

It’s too good to let it go after all…..

If anyone sees this, post up and say so.

Today is Monday Jan 19th 09.

P.

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04/03/2008 by Paul D.

My 11 year old silver 323i cabrio daily driver has been a great car and completely reliable over the last 2.5 years, but is now getting a bit tired and due for a service, so last Saturday I decided to splash some of my ‘hard-earned’ and chop it in for something a bit more recent….

The new toy is a 330Ci in Monaco Blue, has all the bells, whistles and dangly bits, and just 9,500 on the clock. Stephen James Enfield offered me a reasonable price for Silver, and an appropriate slice off the screen price of the new one, so a deal was struck. Just got to get my number plate transferred on and she’s mine!

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30/01/2008 by Paul D.

I can’t upload pics from home; must be something to do with my settings, so I thought I’d test it from work. Here’s some random pics just to try it out…. 8¬)

Alfie and the laydeez enjoying a quiet night…..

P.

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08/11/2007 by Paul D.

Monday evening was spent in the company of the original and finest keyboard wizard and grumpy (but very funny) old man, Rick Wakeman at his one-man show entitled ‘Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Old Picture Show’ in the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe. I’d managed to secure tickets in the second row, right in the middle, so we could almost see his nasal hairs…..

Armed with a mini grand piano, a cluster of modern and vintage electronic keyboards, a projector screen, a lectern and a very long overcoat, Rick entertained us with stories from his life interspersed with ‘very rare footage’ of interviews with people who had influenced him and he had influenced, some silly gags and of course some incredible piano and keyboard playing.

The screen also showed recordings of other musicians playing that he played along with live, which is quite a technical feat. At various points, there were five Ricks on stage, two Gordon Giltraps, a rock band and a school choir!

Highlights of the show for me were ‘Merlin the Magician’, ‘Amazing Grace’ with Rick’s daughter Gemma on vocals, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ in the style of Prokofiev, and the ‘Injured golfer’ gag….

After the show was another big highlight for me. Rick appeared in the bar for a chat and signings, so I managed to get his squiggle on a few items of great historical importance. We had a bit of a natter and he explained why he was reluctant to agree to do any more massive world tours with YES, which is very sad news because if they do tour in late 2008 for their 40th anniversary (as has been strongly rumoured) it will undoubtedly be their swansong. We can only hope that a compromise is reached and a ‘final’ album and tour do actually come to fruition… It would be unthinkable for the band to end their incredible career without Rick.

By coinsidence, we found ourselves leaving the theatre at the same moment as our host. We continued chatting into the car park where a bemused old rocker came to a stop with a puzzled expression on his face. “Where the bloody hell did I put my car?” he quizzed. Di couldn’t help herself and let out a big belly laugh which echoed around the deserted multi-storey. Our hero appeared slightly less than impressed. Eventually, with a little help from us, he managed to locate his big green car on the level below, so all was well and we could chuckle our way homeward.

Definately another grand success from the YES family, and Di, Steve, Nix and Dave all said they really enjoyed it too. Thanks for coming along guys.

P.

  Rick punishes the keys.

  What a bod, eh girls?

  At the bar.

  Steve couldn’t wait to get an autograph…..

  Old mates?

Posted in Music | 2 Comments »

02/11/2007 by Paul D.

We had a nice couple of days in South Wales last weekend, tearing up some tarmac, eating, drinking (yeah, really!) and raising a few bob for the Born Free Foundation.

There were about 30 cars, most with two people, so a nice social. The weather was crap and the roads were damp which meant the rooves had to stay up until late Sunday morning, when the sun finally broke through, the roads dried up, and the right feet were allowed to become a little more enthusiastic…..

Di took first prize by popular vote in the weekend’s photo competition, winning an iPod Shuffle, with this, which pretty much summed up the feel of the weekend…..

On the Friday night, we were in the second row in a theatre in Dartford to see the brilliant ‘Fragile’ with very special guest, guitar virtuoso Steve Howe of YES doing a solo acoustic set and then joining the band for a few YES numbers.

Steve and the band were certainly on absolute top form and the highlight for me was their rendition of ‘Soon’, the closing movement from ‘Gates of Delirium’, which featured Steve on pedal steel guitar. The piece was beautifully executed, and performed with a passion and grace that even the full YES lineup would’ve been more than proud of.

I guess you guys probably wouldn’t understand, but for me that was truly a little piece of heaven….

P.

Posted in Music, Holiday | 1 Comment »

27/09/2007 by Paul D.

Two thoughts came into my head this morning (amongst others, obviously….) on my way to work.

One of them was of a very rare occurrence, the other was of something I’ve never ever seen or heard of before.

Both of them happened this morning, shortly after me thinking about them…

Based on the premise that ‘these things happen in threes’, I shall today be buying a EuroMillions ticket.

And having owned these shoes for several months and being constantly irritated by a loud and annoying squeek from the right heel at every step, (very embarrassing whilst cruising down the office) they have this morning, fell silent…..

A strange day indeed, and it’s only 9am.

P.

Posted in Weird | 5 Comments »

24/09/2007 by Paul D.

I thought I’d try and post a pic for my first  contribution and this is the best I could find at short notice…..

}¬)

Mad woman attempts to ‘eat camera’.

Handy hints:

Click this thumbnail for a bigger image. (Are you SURE you want to?)

And hit BACK from that to get back here. Don’t hit X to close.

P.

Posted in Beer | 3 Comments »