Mine’s shinier than yours…!

08/03/2008 by Nicky.

Well - today I picked up MY monaco blue BMW 3 series convertible too!        

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

My New Toy!

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!

Hopefully we’ll be collecting this Saturday, 8th March….

WOOOHOOOO…..

        

8¬)

P.

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Shake, Rattle & Roll

27/02/2008 by Rob.

Did anyone else experience the earthquake last night??

I was sitting at the PC at 12.55am, about to log off for the night, when my chair started wobbling. Cursing that extra potato at lunch, I looked to my left, only to see my La-Z-Boy rocking back and forth!

Was it a poltergeist? Had one of Paul’s fiendish monstrosities come to life behind me, and was even now pounding across the floor? I looked over my shoulder to see…..nothing. 

Then everything stopped as quickly as it had started. Was it an hallucination? A waking dream? Or was it…something else?

Just then, Paul came in from next door, where he had been tossed around in bed. All his bookshelves had been shaken.

‘Was that an earthquake, do you think?’ he queried.

‘Probably,’ I replied. ‘It’ll be on the news tomorrow.’

And it was. Epicentre in Lincolnshire….effects felt all the way down to Brighton.

I’d been lying on a couch in my parent’s house when the last one hit 25 years ago. The couch was shaking as though the cat had caught its claw in the fabric and was trying desparately to free itself.

Aware of the San Andreas Fault in California, at the time I put the quake down to the San Denham Fart…could it be the same again? And why was Paul in Lincolnshire in the first place…..?

The plop thickens……

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It’s amazing what you can get on the NHS…..

26/02/2008 by Ness.

As expected my hair has now given up the ghost and almost all gone so I have been wearing a selection of headscarves and hats but today I realised how ridiculous I looked as, with my trendy red chiffon tie neck blouse and wide black belt combo, wearing a black headscarf just made me look like a Pirate - oohh aarrgghh!!

So, after spending an hour at Raouls in Paddington today I am now the proud owner of a very funky, short wig, thanks to the NHS - It’s amazing what you can get on prescription these days! Only problem now is mustering up the courage to wear it in public. This really is the hardest bit of the whole process; you don’t realise how important your self image is until it’s put to the test………

Posted in General | 3 Comments »

Friday afternoon caption competition…

22/02/2008 by Steve.

We recently received a subset of ‘official’ photos from a stylish wedding we attended in December, amongst which was this one of Ruby and Louie. Given the situation was posh frocks and lush hotel surroundings, it just seemed to invite a possible caption - any ideas?

Posted in General | 6 Comments »

You Can Recall Me Al…..

22/02/2008 by Rob.

Can you remember where you were when you first heard a particular song?

In 1986, I was standing in an electronics store in Tottenham Court Road, during my lunch-break. The store was relaying a particular radio station over its Tannoy system. As I was contemplating the stack systems all around me, the commercial break on the station came to an end, and a song started up, one I hadn’t heard before.

I was mesmerised by it. It was brilliant. As it progressed, I thought to myself, “Hmmm…….sounds like Paul Simon singing.”

I had been a fan of Simon and Garfunkel since my mid-teens - in fact, their Greatest Hits was the second LP I’d ever bought, in 1978. I’d also seen them live at Wembley Stadium in 1982, a week prior to the Stones. However, Paul Simon solo hadn’t been doing very well in recent years. None of his albums had done well, and neither had his singles. He was ‘yesterday’s man’, as far as most people were concerned.

I stayed in the shop until the song had finished, curious to find out what it was. “That’s the new one from Paul Simon - YOU CAN CALL ME AL,” announced the DJ. My suspicions were confirmed.

“What an amazing song!” I thought. “Too bad people won’t be buying it because it’s Paul Simon.”

Little did I know what a huge smash it was going to be, turning his whole career around in the process.

(Incidentally, I’ve just checked the song on Wikipedia, and discovered the following two facts about it:

Simon allegedly wrote “You Can Call Me Al” after he went to a party with his then-wife Carrie Fisher. A man at the party kept calling Paul “Al”, and Carrie “Betty”, inspiring Simon to write the song.

The song features an unusual bass solo from Bakithi Kumalo, in which the second half is a reversed recording of the first half.

Did anyone else know the latter?)

There are several other songs that, when I hear them now, immediately take me back to the moment of initial discovery - SHINE A LITTLE LOVE by ELO and STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN by Zepp are just two others - whereas I couldn’t tell you when I first heard the vast majority of the songs in my head. They just always seem to have been there.

Any similar situations out there?

Posted in Music | 2 Comments »

Going Dutch

12/02/2008 by Jen.

We’ve just got back from a fantastic weekend to Delft in Holland, where we stayed with Neil’s cousin Mark and his gorgeous girlfriend Liliana.

Delft is like a mini version of Amsterdam and personally we think it’s prettier. Canals, bridges, cobbled streets, soaring church towers (most are leaning over), a big public square surrounded by bars and resturants. I just wish we had some like it in England.

 

 

To top it all we had fab weather. Three days surprisingly warm sunny skies. We were able to sit outside eating out pancakes and drinking our beers whilst actually getting a little sun burnt! Neil had to put factor 50 on his head!

 

We even took a trip on a tram through Den Hagg to the beach. Can’t pronounce the place let alone spell it. Something like Skegness, but with a Dutch accent. When we got there we couldn’t believe how busy it was. Everyone out enjoying the unseasonal weather.

We’ve actually been to this beach before several years ago with Paul and Di. On that day however, it cold, grey and rather damp. I seem to remember us being the only people on the promenade. But Paul insisted he knew a good pancake resturant, so off we went. And it was good.

Anyway, our last day in Delft, we really decided to go dutch and all four of us hired bikes and headed off into the country. Considering how many bikes there are in Holland, it’s surprising how old fashioned even the new bikes are. Most don’t have brakes, those that do, don’t do much apart from make a horrible grinding noise. Quite worrying when your cycling along a path 2 foot wide with canals either side, and then you meet another cyclist coming the other way. The Dutch on bikes don’t slow down for anything.

After several miles we found ourselves at an old windmill, converted into a resturant. Good apple pie to be had.

Then unfortunately it was time to head back and catch the train to the airport. All over far to quick. Wish we could have stayed longer as there were so many bars and resturants that needed investigation. 

Definately a place we want to go back to.

 Many thanks for a fantastic weekend to Mark & Liliana

Neil & Jen x

Posted in Holiday | 2 Comments »

Another Brush With Greatness

03/02/2008 by Rob.

I’ve been working at Wembley Arena as a steward since October 2007 (Rush was my first gig). The best has been the Police, as I was positioned in front of the stage throughout the concert. I heard everything, but only caught the odd glimpse of the band, as we are supposed to be watching the crowd, to prevent them from rushing the stage. However, the crowd were really great that time, in a really good mood, and a happy time was had by all.

Other gigs haven’t been quite as enjoyable. Babyshambles proved a tough one, with several girls having to be taken to First Aid throughout owing to the crushing conditions in front of the stage. Motorhead & Alice Cooper were the same (although Joan Collins walked past me at that one!).

And then there are the boring concerts. Stereophonics (several people walked out). Wet Wet Wet. And UB40.

But UB40/Maxi Priest threw up an amazing experience. I was positioned in front of the sound desk and had to walk back and forth showing people to their seats. I was doing this with one couple towards the end of Monsieur Priest’s supporting set, and was coming back to my original position afterwards. As I neared the desk, the barrier in front of it opened up, and a security guard came out.

Followed by another.

Followed by a little guy in a crumpled suit. ‘I’m just following you,’ he said to the guard in front. As he walked past me, I realised who he was.

Sir.

Paul.

McCartney.

MACCA!

I froze. I wanted to reach out and grab him. I wanted to shake his hand and thank him for his music.

But I wasn’t allowed to. I was supposed to be professional. AAAAAAAARRGH!!!

So I watched him go. Couldn’t believe my eyes…………….

Not many people knew he was there - only a few who, like me, had seen him leaving the sounddesk area. They were as stunned as I was, telling their friends around them, who understandably scoffed.

The interval soon followed, and word was going round that Sir P. was in the building. Towards the end of the interval, the same security men came back, sandwiching Macca and another, smaller, gentleman, with long, wispy grey hair. I studied him for a few seconds, and then realised that it was Denny Laine! Two members of Wings, who allegedly had been angry at each other ever since the demise of the band in the late ’70s.

And yet here they were, hanging out with each other! Could a Wings reunion be on the cards?

By this time, people were on the lookout, and the few rows surrounding the sounddesk burst into applause as Macca approached, which he acknowledged with several waves. A few people were flashing their mobiles at him, and standing in front of the desk as UB40 started up - we had to clear them away.

Then Ali Campbell announced from the stage during their third number that Macca was in the audience, and the whole place erupted. People deliberately walked past the desk area, ‘pretending’ not to be looking at him. One girl asked me to get his autograph for her, and couldn’t understand it when I said no. All the while he was grooving to the lilting reggae noises being played in front of us.

What I found interesting about my encounter was that it showed Macca as a human being. You normally only see him either playing in concert on TV, being interviewed, or running from the divorce courts. It was nice to see him simply letting his hair down for a change (albeit to UB40! What’s the story there?).

So I’ve now had a close encounter with four Beatles. And seen George Martin.

Sorry, Neil……

Posted in Work | 2 Comments »

Tale of Hoffman

03/02/2008 by Rob.

Flashback: Fri Oct 19th

‘Hi Rob! It’s Sarah at Casting. Are you free to film next Tuesday?’

‘No problem.’

‘Great. You’ll be playing a train traveller on a film called LAST CHANCE HARVEY. Filming takes place at Paddington Station and on board the Heathrow Express.’

‘I’ll be there.’

Tues Oct 23rd

Got to the station at 8am - missed breakfast (damn!). Had to make do with a bowl of cornflakes. Sat on crew bus - couldn’t remember name of film. Found a callsheet - film called LAST CHANCE HARVEY. First actor called to shoot today: Emma Thompson. Oh my God. Emma Thompson. Yes. Suddenly remembered reading an article in the newspaper whilst I was shooting THE DUCHESS a few weekends ago. An accompanying picture of Emma with….no, it couldn’t be….

I check the callsheet again. Second actor called today: it’s only Hoffman! Dustin bloody Hoffman. Benjamin Braddock. Ratso Rizzo. Marathon Man. Rain Man. The man I saw playing Shylock on stage in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE in 1987.

The Hoff-meister.

Dustin.

Hoffman.

I can’t believe it. I’m going to be making a film with Dustin Hoffman.

10.25am - I’m standing in a train carriage with several extras of various sizes, waiting to emerge as part of a ‘morning rush hour’ scenario.

And in the middle of us all are Emma Thompson & Dustin Hoffman.

I’m attempting to act blase, as though this sort of thing happens all the time. I make no attempt to look at them directly. In reality I’m screaming inside.

Now you might think, ‘Get a grip, Rob - they’re just two human beings.’

No - they are not. They are living gods. And one of them is Dustin Hoffman.

We do the scene over and over again, each time emerging in a different formation. I’ve been instructed to have my mobile clamped to my ear, pretending to shout into it (all the extras have to be silent so that the director and sound engineer can hear E & D’s dialogue). And thus the morning passes.

11.30am - E & D are filming a scene of the two of them taking a taxi away from the station. However, this means that they have to do it in the middle of the general public, and there are problems with various star-struck(!) people trying to watch or take photos. They eventually manage to shoot the required shots, and the techies start to dismantle the lighting rigging. D. nips off sharpish to the base unit round the corner, bodyguard in tow; it seems that the public are nervous about approaching him for autographs, but they have no such qualms with E. She signs left and right, poses for photos, etc. for a good five minutes before following Dustin. A good egg. My estimation of her goes up enormously.

1.30pm - after lunch, we head back to the station concourse. Time to board the Hogwart’s Heathrow Express. We have two carriages all to ourselves, and we’ll be making two round-trips whilst we film another scene with E. and D.

One of the assistant directors seats us all (40+ in total) in the main carriage. As luck would have it, I’m placed in a window seat, facing the back of train. I’ll therefore be hidden from view when the cameras are turning. Damn, damn, damn.

But the director’s not happy. The camera has to be placed further back than first thought. He needs the extras brought down the carriage more, and the AD asks us to move accordingly. I don’t need telling twice. I’m up from my allotted seat and hare down the carriage to the seat nearest the camera. Sorted. That’s better.

The scene involves E. standing in one compartment, and D. in another. He spots her at the other end of the crowded carriage, and makes his way through the standing passengers to reach her, talking at her while he does so.

The first shot is the scene from E’s POV. ‘We need a few people to stand in the aisleway,’ says the director, and the AD selects them at random. ‘You, sir…you, madam…you, madam….you, sir…..and you.’ A hand taps me on the shoulder. Blimey.

I’m told to stand in the aisle with my arm outstretched, holding on to the luggage rail over the opposite bank of seats. D. is standing at the other end of the carriage, calling out suggestions as to various shots. He then makes his way down the aisle, and comes to rest in front of me. ‘Why don’t we do the take with me trying to peer over and then under this guy’s arm? Hi! What’s your name?’

‘Rob.’

‘Hi Rob. Pleased to meet you.’ He shakes my hand.

I can’t believe this is happening!

We do the shot several times, each time with D. struggling to get past me to reach E. At the end of the shot, D. comes up to me and shakes my hand. ‘Thanks, Rob. Good working with you.’

‘My pleasure.’

Blase on the outside - screaming inside.

By this time, we’ve arrived back at Paddington, and several people get off, including many of the extras. However, I stay on - how could I not?

The crew then have to turn the camera around and re-film the shot, this time from D’s POV. Whilst this happens, I’m sat down in a compartment at the end of the carriage - opposite Emma. We discuss various things - the shooting schedule, her dress - and share in a plate of biscuits that one of the ADs is passing round. Then she gets the call to pose for the camera, and she’s off.

So the scene is re-shot, with the emphasis now on Emma. However, D. still needs to deliver his lines as before, to give her someone to focus on - but this time behind the camera. Another big guy is called upon to stand in front of D., and I appear to have been forgotten. Ah well…that’s show biz.

However, Emma pipes up. ‘The original chap is still with us.’ She calls back to me. ‘Rob?’ 

I’ll love her for ever and ever.

So once again I’m called upon to bar D’s way, in order to give his voice an ‘authentic’ sound. Several takes, and that’s that. I take my seat amongst the other extras as we head back to Paddington.

As we’re all talking, I notice D. edging towards me. ‘Scuse me….’scuse me’. He’s standing in front of me, grinning. ‘Thanks again, Rob.’ His hand is stuck out towards me. I take it and shake it again. ‘No problem, Dustin.’

And that’s that. My day of glory has finished. Filming with Emma and Dustin. Don’t know if my scenes will end up in the finished movie, but it doesn’t matter. I know I filmed them.

I can now die a happy man…..

Posted in Work | 2 Comments »

Cheeky!

02/02/2008 by Rob.

Following a heated discussion last night, you will no doubt be pleased to hear that if, one day, the Usual Suspects end up stranded in the Andes, with no food to sustain them, and cannibalism the only option…..

then Mr Denham has kindly agreed to donate his buttocks to Steve, should the topic arise.

Please make a mental note.

Posted in Weird | 1 Comment »