Quails eggs and gingernuts

The week thus far:

Out in Soho on Tuesday night to celebrate the birthday of Mr Adams: Sting lookalike, maninblack and king of the gingernuts.

Then Acoustic Suicide last night with songs sung in Roma and Turkish from Thee Intolerable Kid and songs with judicious use of the c-word, as well as a song dedicated to misunderstood diabetics, from Simon Breed. All of this and free quail's eggs too, I kid you not, making for a very fine evening's entertainment.

And tonight we're staying in - Howard Marks is on TV and looking uncannily like this mask Shelly made today.

Converted Barn Dance

Tales of the East Midlands nouveau riche set to a mediaeval prog background? That'll be Supreme Vagabond Craftsman again, this time playing a marvelous set at the Hello Goodbye night at the Half Moon in Hernia Hill. Also on the bill were the excellent Hamilton Yarns, whose pastoral English whimsicality might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it gives me the same warm glow I get from Vernon Elliot's music for Noggin the Nog and the Clangers. Special mention also to Keshco for fulfilling their promise to have a band member dressed as a proper old fashioned tramp...fitting in nicely with the vagabond theme.

Where's your caravan?

Got some quality time in the Oak with Spratticus and Christina on Sunday. Then down to Selhurst Park with Robert and Tom last night to see the Tractor Boys in action. Every time I've been to a Town game over the last few years they have lost, so it was a bit of a gamble going along to this game just after they'd rediscovered their away form. Fortunately the curse seems to have been lifted and Ipswich romped to a triumphant 1-0 victory. Cracking game, with both players and fans on good form. I'd forgotten how therapeutic it can be to spend a Tuesday evening in a cold stadium shouting 'Blue Army' with a couple of thousand kindred spirits. Wonderful player that Alan Lee is, however, I couldn't quite bring myself to join in singing his praises to the tune of Spandau Ballet's 'Gold'. Be interesting to see how the name of new signing Velice Sumulikoski ('the Macedonian Steven Gerrard') works itself into a chant.

Forest Punk

Brilliant session today from the excellent Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, who are arguably the finest grindcore folk outfit ever to come out of South Leicestershire. Also on the show was Denver Colorado's George Inai, who does a very nice line in mariachi flavoured ballads.

Badger's Badge

Found by Steph in an Essex Road charity shop. You can't argue with the design or the message really, can you?

Milestones

Saturday night in London's oldest restaurant (apparently) for our neighbour Sylvia's 80th birthday bash. Very nice too. Talking of milestones, my trusty Halford's cycle computer tells me I've now ridden 2000 miles since I fitted it on my bike on my last birthday. Not as impressive as Sylvia reaching the big ochenta, I grant you, but still not be sneezed at, I reckon.