(sickface)

i was on the bus to work this morning and i felt really sick and then i thought i might actually vom so i had to get off the bus five stops before my stop. i think i'm sick from excitement.

For Em

Kreuzberg

Today Naomi and I went for a walk from Rough Kreuzberg (my preferred part of town) to Posh Kreuzberg, stopping off to sit at the river. I fed the swans a whole half-loaf of bread I had bought. They were eating it out of my hand and nearly made my fingers bleed...I don't know why ducks are more adept at eating from a hand than swans. Then we went to one of the abandoned buildings on a list of 'urban exploration sites' I have found. It's an old brewery in Posh Kreuzberg and I had seen photos of the inside on the internet. BUT we couldn't get inside at all - padlocks everywhere and bricked up doors and windows. We got through the fences, dodged the security guard in his little hut....but just couldn't get in. The place is typical of what is becoming of Berlin............the old being swallowed up by.................GENTRIFICATION (hahah, Tom, I bet you knew that word was coming). The building is being converted into awful new flats. I bet I will go there in six months and barely recognise the place. But, anyway, it was a great discovery, hidden right in the heart of town.

P.S. I don't think this blog site makes it all that clear that I share this page with two of my friends......so I don't have a love for Linux (that's obviously Martin writing that), and I don't have an even greater love for someone called Jimmy McNulty or a new tattoo (Em!)

P.P.S. It may be apparent that I am always wearing the same clothes in photographs.........that is because I am DOWN AND OUT IN BERLIN and will be writing a better sequel to Orwell's crappy book of a similar title.

The sad tale of Alice and Kev

So the basic idea is this, someone has made himself homeless characters on the Sims 3 and is watching what they do.

It's actually strangely moving.

:(

This is the link

Linux thought

One of the reasons I use and advocate Linux is that it's fun.

This might sound odd (or just very geeky) to some, but there is a constant stream of good humour which runs through the Linux world which is far removed from the marketing and media obsessed proprietary alternatives.

I thought of that today when I found the new Linux kernel (2.6.30) is named "Man-Eating Seals of Antiquity". For no reason, other than it's funny...

In other news - an email today read "A staff photograph has been requested by Classical Music Magazine [...] Please could everyone please make sure they are on time and appropriately dressed."

Must make sure my hair is appropriately insane. Wonder where I put my nuts Goth shirt...

some things

hi dudes,

i've been on a training course for the last two days and the lady trainer reminded me of clarissa dickson-wright...you know, the blonde(ish) one from 'two fat ladies'. except she wasn't as fat, or old, nor did she look a bit like a dude. well she reminded me of a cross between her and my old manager. as in previous manager, not geriatric manager. duh. interestingly (questionable) clarrisa dickson-wright's full name, according to wikipedia is: Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright. amazing. sometimes i think i'd like to change my name by deedpoll, but i don't know what i'd change it to. something fun. also, (i'm really not obsessed with CDW) clarissa was the youngest woman ever to be called to The Bar.



it's only two and a half weeks until glastonbury. i'm pretty excited. lis i can't wait to see you <3 (i was thinking as well that i'd come out to berlin at the beginning of august???) i need to get some new wellies as a boy i was seeing last year didn't give mine back. i need a new waterproof too - i think i might spend some dollar and get a decent one. idk. the cheapo ones without lining tend to just STICK to you when it rains. which it will obvs.

The Literal Video trend....

Latest fad to sweep the internet is the "Literal Video". The first of these was Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart (Literal video version) which you can see here:

This video

Like any of these bandwagons there's a lot of rubbish ones out there but I did enjoy.

Losing my religion

and where would any good Internet meme be without this being involved...

A delightful surprise

my new job

i really want to blog about my new job but seeing as i'm a civil servant i'm totally paranoid that somehow someone might read it and i'd get into trouble! (same thing with gordon brown / the labour party / the election / the cabinet resignations / expenses scandal etc.) BUT work is cool and everyone seems nice. i have a swipe card that i have to wear around my neck and use to get through the doors. it makes me feel cool - a bit like i'm in an episode of 24; i'm hoping they'll introduce thumbprint scanning soon. lol. oh there's this club thing i can join to get cheap EVERYTHING (cinema tickets, holidays...um and loads of other cool things i can't remember). i have to go on a course next week about KEEPING SAFE and what to do if people get angry. i can progress and get promoted too.

i don't like getting up at 6:30am. i AM looking forward to PAYDAY.

Folk Ale. Does what it says on the tin...

So this weekend I switched off my laptop on the Friday afternoon, caught a train to god-knows-where, met my my mate Mr Ed at East Croydon (who'd brought his bike in rush-hour which made us very popular indeed) and then walked up a hill from Nowhere; heading towards the middle.

It was a pub. Behind which was a field where I put my tent. There were Folk.

Folk with fiddles, bagpipes, melodeons, guitars, accordions, barbeques, spiced rum, dogs, camper vans, brightly-coloured clothing, juggling toys and children.

There was Folk Music in a marquee. There was Ale...

The first night I drank too much Ale. Not a quantity I'd normally assume to be too much, but after walking up a hill with a heavy backpack and tent in the sunshine it was too much for my poor addled body to cope with. The night was fun, lively and ended early - I was laughed at in the morning for my grumpy response to the suggestion I should wake up and drink Rum and Coke at 2.30 am...

The next morning dawned bright and baking hot in my tent. Friends tried to fire me up with instant cappuccino and offered (to me) stomach-turning bacon and sausage rolls. But as I pottered painfully amongst the revellers I had my mind on a harder, and more urgent mission. To combat the painful effects of horrific dehydration and make my way to the station and back before my friend's band played at 1pm.

A mission I succeeded in! Past the interested cows on the way down the hill, meeting Marie and my dog Sally at the bottom of the hill, being handed (yet another) heavy backpack and ascending the uphill mile once again in the blazing heat.

Marie met the Folk. I retired to my tent to combat the effects of the Ale.

By early evening I was once again able to move and we had an evening of music, fun and old pals. Sally was fractious - her normally chilled out demeanour stressed by the people and, more specifically, the two ferrets who were wandering about on leads. She also had a good bark at the bagpiper - which seems only fair.

The night passed, and the next day wandered cheerfully in the sun as people packed their cars and slowly said goodbyes. Music was still drifting in a lively fashion from the marquee as we picked up our bags and strolled happily down the hill...