One week ago…in 2007

It’s been one week of living the high life in Sherwood!

Jim and Sian briefly returned on Wednesday, only to go to Geneva for a weekend break today - so again I’ve got a big fucking house all to myself. Aaah, the perils of having housemates who holiday/work 9 till 5!

Forest’s tie versus Leicester on Tuesday night was called off, due to Clive Clarke nearly dying. A bit of a shock, but the right decision. It will mean, however, we will lose the rescheduled game. We sounded brilliant on the radio, and it stands to reason that Leicester will not fuck up their second chance and we’ll be dumped out the cup. Again.

I’m finally getting around to uploading pictures from Bournemouth and eventually some higher quality Park Hall Live pictures. The payment system on Flickr is an arse, it will only accept Credit Card payments so I’ve been forced to wait until my bill is paid and there is spare cash available. I had been considering changing to another online gallery, but nothing else on the interweb comes close.

I’ve also recently got into Family Guy. It hasn’t been a case of not liking it, I’ve just never watched it - for one reason or another. It’s a great show, and I’m off later to buy a few boxsets from HMV for further viewing.

Park Hall Live

 

Today I accompanied Iain to Park Hall Live, a music festival about a mile or two outside of Ilkeston. Park Hall Live is organised by Dan Lacey, who is also the bass player in my brother’s band. It was their last gig together before they all get on with different things.

My brother is off to London next year, Dan is off around the world and Carter (lead guitarist) and Baz (drummer) both have young families so barely have a spare moment as it is. It’s a shame though, as they are a good band who, had they attempted this when they were all 18 rather than the late-20’s that they all are, may very well had got somewhere.

So, off I went as official photographer for the band, managed to get into there free of charge (rather than the £8 they were charging!). Iain played solo acoustic material earlier in the day, with the rest of the band turning up within the next few hours to bring to an end a glorious 4 years of working together in some form or another. An emotional time! Except it’s probably not wise to never say never, as who knows what’s around the corner?

 

Me, after today’s 8 hours in a hot Derbyshire field, well I’m as red as a lobster. I’d noticed earlier that Iain had caught the sun but thought I’d got away with it, before then catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror! It was a welcome change from the summer we’ve had though. I’m also happy it wasn’t the blazing hot heat of yesterday, otherwise I’d be sunburnt, rather than the lovely shade of red that I am!

Home is where the bed is…

All moved in now, and this is the view that presents me when I’m looking out the front door. An ace little pet shop (with kittens!) on the middle right of the picture, with Mansfield Road just 30 seconds from our house. I’m glad things have settled down now, as moving house is annoying, especially so when you don’t have a removal van and instead have to rely on your dad’s car!

I’m off to my first festival tomorrow! No, not Reading - Park Hall Live! It’s being held in Ilkeston and has done for the past few years. I’ve managed to get in for free as well, as ‘official photographer’ for the event. It was very simple, my brother’s band is playing this event, and the bass player (Dan) is also the guy who organizes the festival! It’s all about the people you know…

It’s going to be a nice day tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to getting some nice pictures out there. Just a shame it’s in dirty Derbyshire!

The Daily Cut and Thrust

Back in Nottingham now. And glad to be back ‘oop north’ after tiring of the cockney accent that had seemed to had infested itself in Bournemouth. The actual native west country accent heard in Dorset was nowhere to be found, doubtless that many Londoners had invaded Bournemouth for their mid August holiday breaks.

No rest for the wicked, as I return to work tomorrow (boo!) and move out on Wednesday. I’ve solved the bed problem by managing to pick up a bed frame for about £70 - only thing left to sort out now is the buscard and a whole heap of shopping needed once I’ve moved. Luckily, there is a Lidl, Somerfield and Co-Op all within 10 minutes walk of where I’ll be living on Mansfield Street, as well as a Wilkinson minutes away on Mansfield Road, so no worries there!

I’m amazed at the amount of crap I’ve managed to acquire over the years. I’ve packed almost everything, with the whole lot taking about three car journeys!

I’ll be able to relax by the weekend when it’s all sorted.

Moving, keep on moving…

I’m off to the south coast tomorrow.

4 nights in Bournemouth to try and get away from everything up here in Nottingham. I’m glad of this break, as almost all of my thoughts have been about my impending move to Sherwood. The only downside of this coming week is the heavy rain forecast for everywhere on Tuesday. Trust me to go for the shitty weather week, especially after this past week has been the best weather we’ve had in ages!

Regards the move, I decided today to pack stuff away in anticipation of the move next weekend. The room probably won’t be available until Sunday 19th/Monday 20th - which is fine by me - I need the extra bit of time to transport the stuff from Radcliffe up to the house. I’m also having trouble finding a bed. I really don’t want to take the ancient bed I have at the moment, it’s a small wonder that I still use it. My parents bought me the bed from Allders, a shop that went bust two years ago - that’s how old it is! Getting a decent bed isn’t cheap, so for the first few weeks until I can afford it, i’m going to have to sleep ’smackhead style’, with the mattress I have laid out on the floor (again, a past-it’s-best mattress) and scrimp and save the cash!

The football season started yesterday, with Forest (read Calderwood) promising changes from last year but completely failing to deliver them! A 0-0 draw really isn’t a signal of intent, especially when “troubled” Leeds knocked three points off their -15 point total. I’m sure once all the players come back from their injuries we’ll have a more potent attacking force than a lone Scott Dobie…!