Lare spawn's depravity

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

freakspawn — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:09:21 GMT

or perhaps pisses people off, haha!

Anyway, I've had good reason to be awol, I've been poorly sick, and bedridden for nearly a week now. But it's a new year and I have plans to put into action.

Next weekend my brother, William, has given me permission to be absent from his birthday celebrations in order to attend: Viking Skull, Henry Rollins and The Almighty over the course of the weekend. I will be making it up to him by taking a trip to Cambridge and treating him to a slap up meal at a restaurant of his choosing though :)

Also Breed 77 have announced they will be playing the Barfly in Birmingham on my actual birthday. Fate, that's what I call it! If anyone fancies joining me, that's where I'll be, March 19 :)

I have Christmas and New Year photos for you all, which I think are enjoyable. Tomorrow. Hope all are ok, I'm just catching up on your journals now, but can't comment much as there's alot I've missed.

Sorreeeeeeee!

freakspawn — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:40:16 GMT

I have 6 gigs to update here with, and I've lost my paid account, and with it scrapbook. Therefore I will wait until I've borrowed someone's card and got it back so I can update with pics.

Let's just say they were all fabulous in their own ways.

Off to catch up with you guys, sorry I've been so abscent, November was crazy gig-month! Hope you guys are all good! *smooch*

Only been to 28 gigs this year....that can't be right!

The man is inspirational. Mike Scott's world:

freakspawn — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:47:42 GMT

"The quality of a bookstore depends not only on its contents, but on how its contents are organised; and the contents of a good, true bookstore are arranged in a coherent system that in ways unique to the particular purpose and interests of each such store honours the seeking of the human mind to learn, to understand, to be transported, to share experience and to be a participant in magic. In the same way that a great cathedral is an expression of the aspirations of the human soul, so does a great bookstore or library reflect the landscape of the human mind. A great bookstore is like a walk-around map of the human mind and memory, and browsing in a great bookstore is an experience of moving naturally and easily through the highways, arenas and alleys of the human imagination.

Or, to put it another way: in a great bookstore you should be able to lose yourself, forget all about time and discover wonders."

Everytime he writes I'm always impressed by his pure eloquence.

lalala - gigs!

freakspawn — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:11:41 GMT

Surprisingly enough I've been to a few gigs lately and have a few more lined up ;)

Tomorrow I shall write up my reports on Common Rotation, David Berkeley and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

All were fabulous in their own unique ways.

More gigs

freakspawn — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:37:44 GMT

Just booked lots of tickets :)

Ricky Warwick
Thunder
Henry Rollins

Also have tickets/bookings for

Queens of the Stone Age (thanks Rachel)
Terrorvision (thanks Siobhan)
Common Rotation (thanks Jules)

And tickets to be booked tomorrow = THE CURE :D

Woohoo!

His Royal Purpleness

freakspawn — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:12:09 GMT

Rugby!

freakspawn — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:47:14 GMT

And the world cup is under way, and what a fabulous start. Today's South Africa-Samoa game definitely the highlight so far, brilliant rugby! Although Ireland were a little disappointing, they need to pick up their game if they want to progress to the next stage!

Really enjoying it all :D

Storm's been a bit perkier today too which is awesome!

Prince day, but no pics from the concert unfortunately!

freakspawn — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:35:03 GMT

It was a Pimms day!

Nutter!

Not Pimms, Bacardi and Coke!

Meep!

I spotted it!

Chimichanga
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Enchillada

The Depeche Mode guitar in all it's glory!

and I touched it!

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We found a beach...

And we were silly!

And they had palm trees!

Pimms in the park!

freakspawn — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:09:10 GMT

Arrived at the park at around half one and it was a glorious day of sunshine. We settled in our spot with our blanket and drinks and food and just chilled for a while watching the world go by. Soon though the entertainment started. Irish dancing, Chinese dragons, Bangra drummers a dog show. But the highligh t for me, why the Vikings of course!

Here there be Vikings!

Paige - who thoroughly enjoyed the Vikings, but hid behind me when they started selecting audience members to participate!

Kim

Claudia

Moi

Then off back to Kim's we did go for a barbecue.

Charlie and Elyssa joined us and Elyssa was smitten with Paige's room. And was not in the least bit interested in food when she had so many pink girlie things to play with upstairs! Charlie also spent quite a while playing Vikings with Paige who had a brand new sword and shield, whilst Kim had bought an axe and a shield which Charlie was allowed to borrow in the name of self-defence. To be fair to Paige, she killed him many, many times!!

Charlie, Paige and Elyssa

Elyssa enraptured with a dollshouse

Paige playing a computer game

All in all a wonderful day and evening, and I went home knackered but happy (and a little tipsy;)).

Stephen King

freakspawn — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:30:40 GMT

I have recently become re-immersed in Stephen Kings world of the Macabre. I have always and forever loved his work since I first picked up his books, but reading The Dark Tower series has re-alighted a fire in my heart for him. I am now feverishly re-reading anything that has even the slightest cross reference to the DT series and am addicted, seriously addicted. Am currently getting through a new book in 2 or 3 days and loving every second of it.

Anyone who has read The Dark Tower series and enjoyed, should DEFINITELY read Hearts in Atlantis, it's wonderful.

Just finished The Long Walk (released as Richard Bachman and nothing whatsoever to do with DT) - that is such an amazing story. I don't think I've ever encountered a book that I've loved and hated all at the same time.

And now, 2 pages into Bag of Bones, and am already crying like a baby.

Books...I adore them soooooo much!!

Breed 77

freakspawn — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:18:50 GMT

I started Saturday morning at around 9am getting up having a cuppa and getting ready for my trip to Bath. Very much looking forward to it! My plan was to arrive, check in and suss out the lay of the land, including making sure exactly where the venue was. Strange venue in my opinion for a rock band such as Breed 77 as it was an all seated one…but we shall see.

On arrival I easily found my hotel (it was half past 3 by this time and rather warm), which was a five minute walk from the train station. Settled myself in and went for a wander into Bath. First things first I treated myself to a wonderful late lunch. Spaghetti Carbonara without the meat ;) And a couple of pints of Guinness later and a few pubs later and it was six oclock. Time to prepare for the gig. Headed back to my room, dumped everything I didn’t need, checked hundreds of times that I had my ticket and headed off to find a pub near the venue, thinking I might come across like-minded B77 fans. I was out of luck and only came across the local chav venue, yuck!

Ah well, time was good and I ventured to the venue. No Guinness…but the wine was good enough for my purposes. Got chatting to someone who was there on the guitar course and part of it was free entry to all the gigs (the gig was part of the International Guitar Festival). And we met a number of times on fag breaks outside the venue. Good to talk to someone who was coming to the gig with a completely open mind and looking forward to seeing them and what they’re like as musicians.

Lunarmile opened, and boy were they good. Lead singer is the daughter of a member of Black Sabbath no less! They did an amazing cover of When Doves Cry, very rocky, very good and made me think about my next gig ;)

Went out for a fag break after, which had to be cut very short when I realised Breed 77 had entered, stage right!

They were FANTASTIC. An amazing band, I really wish I’d discovered years ago. I’ve missed out on so much, but I am sure going to make up for it now!!

I "quite" enjoyed the gig and managed to get the setlist too, woohoo!
For those in the know here's the setlist:
Petroleo
World’s on Fire
Alive
Empty Words
Individuo
The River
A Matter of Time
Remember That Day
Final Prayer
Zombie
Blind
La Ultima Hora

Hung around a little while after and then tried to find the tour bus, I was unsuccessful. But that was no dampner on my evening. FANTASTIC gig! Really amazing. I would encourage anyone reading this to check them out, even if you’re not a fan of rock music, you may just enjoy!!

But really, damn him when he sings in Spanish. I laughed, I cried, I got bruised and it was amazing!!

Gah!

freakspawn — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:50:18 GMT

A slight update

freakspawn — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:48:12 GMT

Still not quite back into this posting lark, but I guess that's because I've been busy and not had much time on the internet lately.

So what's been going on with me? Well Wednesday evening was charliemachina's birthday and as you do, we headed to a pub or two. Twas a fun evening including bum rubbing, dancing with no tops on, and Charlie sitting in a pub with only his boxer shorts on. Just you're average night out these days ;)

Also have booked myself a weekend away next weekend to Bath. Beautiful am sure, never been and always wanted to go. Whilst there I shall be watching a band called Breed 77 who I absolutely adore. They are heavy rock with an infusion of Spanish flamenco type guitars. Yummy! Managed to find myself a pub to stay at for £25! Can't get much better than that now can you :)

Next trip after that will be avec Jules and going to see a little known star called...now what's his name again? Oh yeah...Prince! In London town, yeah baby! And then hopefully to the Cambridge Rock Festival to see Thunder again, but we shall see. A month of great music to come yet again!

Summer came at last!

freakspawn — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:52:54 GMT

What wonderful fashion sense I had in the eighties!

freakspawn — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:34:39 GMT

The gang - Liz, Jo, Zenice, Dave (aka Ozzy), Alan and Rachel

Ozzy!

With the birthday girl, trying to look moody!

Now where did he come from?

The beret begins it's round...

So demure!

Matching outfits, and it was unintentional

Stilts! We just had to play!

He was much better at it than me!

Liz looks perplexed, or amused, not sure which!

Boys!

PJ enters the scene

Transformers tshirt - GEEK!

Michelle and PJ

Jo trys to become Ozzy...not really working!

cd shopping extraordinaire!

freakspawn — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:40:00 GMT

Went to HMV on Friday and bought 4 cd's for £18.

Bargain of the century: Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous for....wait for it....THREE quid!!! Only expletives can describe this album!

Also got:
Screaming Trees - Uncle Anesthesia
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Jeff Healey - The Very Best Of

Most expensive, £6. So I was rather happy with my haul!

A wet Saturday night in Wales

freakspawn — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:40:33 GMT

Kevin and Hoss (kitted out most appropriately given the forecast)

Kevin and moi. These were of course before the deluge. See we’re dry!

Our first glimpse of the stage with the castle in the background. An amazing venue! Rattlesnack Remedy on stage, who were excellent. We stayed further back to watch them. Taking in the view.

In the meantime we’d been to the bar, where I’d bought a pint of wine (saves going back and queuing for ages) and we got some raffle tickets to win a signed guitar.

Toby Jepson – also brilliant, got the crowd going big style. Only annoying part was when it started raining and some idiots near the front put umbrellas up!!

At last Thunder enter!

And yes we had moved a lot closer by then.

The rain began pouring as soon as Thunder took to the stage, but thankfully the umbrellas stayed down. I think they would have been lynched if they hadn’t! The rain did nothing to dampen the atmosphere and everyone joined in completely. It was fantastic. Mud everywhere which made it a little difficult to jump around, but we managed heehee!

They finished with a marvellous rendition of Dirty Love. And I was reliably informed that this was one of their best gigs ever. Kev and Hoss have been to quite a few over the years, and I am joining them from now on. Kevin said afterwards how wonderful it was to see me enjoying it so much :)

At the end they called out the raffle ticket number. And OMG sooooo close. It was the ticket before mine BOO!

Afterwards we walked through the rain to finally find a pub that would let us in, no matter how wet we were. And there, lots of other fellow Thunder gigsters were enjoying a quick one before home. Originally we were going to camp but because of the rather bad weather Kevin decided he’d just be sensible with his drinking and drive home. Got home at 3.30 am. Tired, wet, muddy but incredibly high :D

Hoss took some pictures of me in the rain in front of the stage and as soon as I get them I’ll stick them up too.

This gig definitely ranks up there amongst my top gigs. Can’t wait to see them again.

Beneva and Schubert

freakspawn — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:01:17 GMT

So at last a reason for a real update...

At the weekend anonypooh came to visit. We had two playdates planned. On Saturday evening we were heading down to Liquid cafe bar in town and watching Beneva play two 45 minute sets. And on Sunday heading over to Stratford for a bit of a pubcrawl and to watch what was billed as a piano recital of Schubert.

So Jules arrived at 4.30 Saturday and we proceeded to drink merrily, eat pasta and listen to music. We watched Adam Ant's episode of Northern Exposure too. Jules was rather excited by Adam I must say. Re-awoke her Adam squee me thinks ;)

Quick stop off on the way into town via my brothers and then onto Liquid. Much fun was most certainly had by us. Bopping away in our chairs very conveniently placed by the bar. Unfortunately the rest of the audience wasn't so outwardly appreciative, but hey, we had fun. Slow walk home around 1 am and bedtime for 2. Lovely.

Sunday emerged with a lie in. Boiled eggs and crumpets for breakfast before finally getting dressed at midday. Then hit Stratford. It was a bit dreary weather, but that did not deter us, we just headed straight for the pub! After yummy dinner in Weahtherspoons we headed for a walk around the park and came across a mother swan and her 6 signets. So very cute. But for god's sake people give them some space!!!

Unfortunately one pub we entered had some rather nice customers who were rather racist to a young girl leaving, which prompted us to leave rather quickly too....PEOPLE!!! SOMETIMES!!!

But then it was Schubert with ZUBIN VARLA on the piano. It actually turned out to be rather more like a play with music than a recital. 3 Violinists, 1 Cellist, 1 Double Bassist and 2 Pianists plus 3 people reading from a script...Zubin playing Schubert.

Very entertaining. As I said to Jules at the end of the evening. I laughed, I cried and I danced. What more do you require of an evening. Ah shall I explain the dancing then? Heehee. At one point they played 3 of Schubert's more energetic numbers and 4 of the 'actors' waltzed and asked the audience to join them. Only one couple did. And so after asking Jules and getting refused *pout* I walked down the steps asking all in the audience who would join me. I was taken up eventually by an older lady who proceeded to teach me to waltz cause unfortunately I hadn't a clue.

It was fun though...wouldn't have been much fun if noone said yes though I guess ;)

Thanks for the lift home Jules, can't have been nice driving home in that rain *smooch*

Next up - Thunder in Chepstow Castle, Wales on Saturday night....promises to be GLORIOUS!
If you fancy a giggle and like old style rock music watch their video for The Devil Made me do it

I think I love Mike Scott

freakspawn — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:41:08 GMT

My wife and are holed up in a London hotel for a 3 day stopover before heading down to Glastonbury and this afternoon we had lunch in Pizza Express on St Martins Lane. We took a table by the window and, while waiting for our food, and between courses, and also after dining, we had a serious session of people watching.

At first we pretended we had just time-travelled from 1967 and were checking out, from that perspective, how the people dress today. Our 1967 selves were amazed to see so many people who looked hardly dressed at all - people in vests or singlets, guys with shirts hanging out of their trousers - as if on the way home from an athletics meeting or caught in the act of going to the bathroom; and why were there so many people with skinheads, and how come there were so many otherwise normal-ish guys with stubby mohicans on the top of their heads? And what was with all the people sporting rucksacks on their backs on a city street? And why were none of the men wearing ties, or even suits? And from what nether-hell did those multi-coloured anoraks come from?

It dawned on us that everyone today, unlike 1967, is an individual in terms of their clothing, and that almost everyone we watched was making some kind of statement with their clothes and hair; and yet, because everything was statement, nothing made a statement; nothing stood out from the colliding, jostling, clamouring statement-making mass. Our imaginary 1967 selves ruminated on how 'back then' there were conformist people and alternative/trendy/fashionable people, but now there are just people dressing however which way they like - which is a good thing (we're liberated from grey conformity) - and also a bad thing (we have no standard). Nothing stood out, and no one - save a couple of imaginatively dressed women - had any sartorial distinction whatsoever.

In fact, we began to realise just how many people walking around today in London were really very badly dressed - with little sense of shape, colour or style at all! We set ourselves the game of spotting someone dressed really well, and played it all the way back up Charing Cross Road, through Soho and back to our hotel. And we only spotted one person - the chap in the counter-culture bookshop on Cecil Court, who was raffish in a beret and character-ful overcoat (and a nicely malevolent twinkle in his eye).

And yes, we did turn the eye of discernent around and upon ourselves. Mr Scott sported sharp, dark blue moddish trousers, a lightly striped shirt, pointed black shoes and a well-cut velvet jacket. Mrs Scott was her usual beautiful, elegant self, in shades of brown and green, free-skirted, scarved, light-jacketed and loose-haired. We walked the streets, proud to be from 1967, holding our freak flag high.

Not alot to tell am afraid!

freakspawn — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:49:05 GMT

Had last week off work, and spent the whole week drinking Guinness and reading. It was most excellent! Only slight variations were when I had a lovely visit from Jules and hubby and we went to Browns and stuffed ourselves silly. Went to a friends house for their birthday and on Friday went to look at Liz's presentation for her disertation (however you spell that). Yesterday she found out she got a first. VERY well deserved IMO!

The other thing I did, was bought an external 160 gb hard drive and have been spending an awful lot of time downloading music. I already have over 5000 tracks on it hahahaha!

Music freak = me!

Happy Father's Day (in ten minutes) to all you fathers out there, I hope it's a lovely day for you. Tomorrow my Daddy is doing a barbecue...typical :D

Well, you know it was just sitting around looking pretty!

freakspawn — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:30:10 GMT

RHPS and losing weight

freakspawn — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:41:19 GMT

So tonight I've been helping two Rocky virgins think about their costumes for their trip to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And in so doing have been getting out alot of my skanty clothes of my youth.

I've realised that I am now thin enough to get into clothes I haven't been able to wear for fifteen years. But OMG I would never go out in those!

My wardrobe of that time seems to have consisted of nothing but mini skirts. What kind of a tart was I?!

Teehee! Still it's been good fun trying them all on!

lalala couldn't sleep!

freakspawn — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:01:23 GMT

So a little update as to my weekend. It's been a very quiet one actually apart from Sunday, mainly spent reading and drinking tea and listening to music.

Sunday however I headed to the cinema for the 10am showing of PotC with Kim and Paige. Much fun. Oh and JD was fabulous as always. Jules did you see Bill Nighy is at LFaCC? Might be worth keeping an eye on ;)

After which headed to my brother's house for a barbecue. Now all us Brits will know that Sunday was a vile day, really windy and pouring all day long. But hey stoic of hearts we were not deterred. 3 gazeboos were erected and many layers were put on and 5 of us, the foolhardy one would say, spent the whole day outside, whilst the rest decided indoors in the warmth and dry was much better.

Ahhhhh but we pyromaniacs decided on lighting a second fire too, to aid in the heat retention. So much fun, and smoke inhilation was to be had.

Um yeah, exciting eh. And now I've been awake since 3...what to do? Ah tea :D

Tenacious D featuring Andy Serkis - you know you wanna watch this!

freakspawn — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:11:29 GMT

Ezio - it's late it's not raining, it's not tuesday night

freakspawn — Tue, 22 May 2007 20:47:40 GMT

Saturday afternoon and at around 3.30ish Jules and I got together once more, this time we were going to see Ezio playing at Cox's Yard in Stratford upon Avon.

And so once again we started the day with a trip to grab a bite to eat. This time the lucky venue chosen by us was Nando's....mmmmmm, very yummy! Before heading back to my abode to show off my computer and new layout of my room, oh and Julia likes Mark :) We watched a little of Eddie Izzard's Definite Article, which is hilarious and checked a few things out on the internet ;)

Soon it was time to leave though. Decanted wine and stashed coke with us and soon enough whilst singing along to Ezio in the car we were there. Cox's Yard is just a great venue and I promised Jules we didn't need to rush upstairs, because we WOULD get to the front. So we sat and chilled by the waterfront watching the ducks swimming about.

But we couldn't wait any longer and up the stairs we went, and yes there indeed was Neil and his girlfriend already waiting. After a quick catch up it was time to stake our claim on a spot. And sure enough, second row from the front, right next to the bar we had an amazing view, and I have excellent photos to prove it. (Unfortunately that's for a different post as my memory card is round a friends house).

Ezio were brilliant and this time it was even better because we knew all the words to the songs so we could sing along to our hearts content. Here's a snippet of what we saw.

Too soon it was all over, but we went downstairs for a final drink with Neil and Carrie and to squee about the gig, as you so must. Before Jules drove home as she was working the next day (the nutter) and I got a lift back to Cov with Neil.

What a wonderful gig. I'm hard pushed to remember the details right now, but I will try and fill in some gaps later.