Stupid internet connection put paid to me writing this earlier but a couple of weeks ago Izzy and I had possibly the randomest of random nights that ever was.
Let me take you back to July 1st, a quiet night in work and I overheard Hywel telling someone that Hayseed Dixie were playing in the Arts Centre in Pontardawe. Now, I've loved Hayseed Dixie ever since my brother introduced me to them a few years back and I was ver ver gutted that I missed them when they played Sin City last summer so this was finally my chance to see them. Tickets were bought, the night was booked off work and we were all set, Hywel came up with a plan to kidnap/bribe/whetever it took to bring them back to the pub after the gig and good times were going to be had all round!
The gig was one of the most amazing I've ever been to Although the Arts Centre is quite small, there were enough of us to make a noise! Izzy and I met up with Hywel, Liz and Gareth and stood right in front of the stage (quite an interesting view of the band from there!) Iz fell in love with Jake the hairy scary bass player and I confessed to finding lead singer, guitarist and fiddle player Barley Scotch strangely attractive! As they finished their 'Duelling Banjos' encore, Hywel handed a piece of paper to Mr Scotch telling him to join us back at the Gwachel after the gig. After handing out some Festival fliers (always one to find an opportunity to advertise!) Iz and I left Hywel to work his charms and headed back to the Gwachel.
After half an hour or so, Beth had a phonecall from a slightly tipsy Hywel to say he was on his way back with a few of the band so we headed out for a cigarette (after a nasty hi-five incident that lead to her poking me in the eye) and were greeted by the sight of Hywel, Jake, Barley Scotch and Dave-the-sound-guy, complete with bass, guitar and fiddle which hailed the start of part two of the randomness.
There were some quite confused looks on the faces of some of the customers still in the pub, especially those who had also been at the gig and had come back to the Gwachel to catch last orders, when several hairy scary men trail in complete with guitar, bass and fiddle cases and proceed to start jamming with whoever felt like joining in! Iz and I headed out for a cigarette with Dave-the-sound-guy who didn't smoke but fancied the pants off Izzy and were then joined but a slightly tipsy 'When I've got my glasses on, I'm just John'. Holy crap the man came talk shite for Britain! After most of the customers had headed home and Sara (Hywel and Beth's daughter) had threatened us all with death if we didn't 'SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP!' (well, it was about 3am) we decided to call it a night, Jake fancied a walk and had already left so Iz and I offered the other two a lift to their B&B.
Surreal is the moment when you get in your car with the singer of a band that you've admired for years, turn on the engine and the CD player starts playing their songs...that just goes to prove how uncool I really am :) Anyway, John covered it up by singing to me instead while keeping an eye out for Jake (though what we would have done if we'd seen him, I've only got a small car and with the two of us in the front, his guitar and fiddle on the back seat cos my boot was too small, there wasn't really a lot of room for anyone else!
Pulled into the car park, unloaded the cars and had a hug goodbye (and got picked up and shaken so my back 'would feel better because if all else fails in your life you have to look after your back and I've just saved you a trip to an osteopath'), Iz and I decided to go back to hers for a quick smoke before bed (it being half 3 and her having work at 8) but John and Dave took this to mean we were having a smoke in the carpark instead, decided it would be rude to leave us and cracked open a beer each. Tragedy almost struck when we realised we didn't have any Rizlas but a quick phonecall to Jake who was at that moment almost dying as he struggled up the ver steep hill in an alcohol and other stuff induced haze soon averted the situation! So, a drunk sound engineer, a more than tipsy singer and two caned groupies had the most random of random conversations that ever was. We went from driving 10 hours across Kansas tripping on mushrooms to 'Es gibt eine Sonnenblume in meiner Hose' (look it up before you ask questions) to the citizens of Alaska being Devil worshippers for half the year and Jesus freak for the other half (all down to the months of continuous day and continuous night). We traded the phrase 'grinds my cookies' with 'grips my shit', swapped opinions on Jonathon Ross (I'm not special and neither are you...but Jonathon Woss is), gave them a new word...randomest (Me 'Iz, this is probably the randomest night I ever had.' JW 'Rando..randomness...random...don't you mean "most random"?' Me 'No, you're in Ponty now, it's randomest') and had a song sung to us about big old brown balls.
As the sun came up and John was waxing lyrical about the view out over Pontardawe we decided that at 5am it was most definitely time to call it a night so the boys headed off to their rooms and Izzy and I went back to reality. Not to bed, just to reality. Well, it was light and I couldn't sleep for the sunlight shining through the curtains!
Definitley a night that won't be forgotten in a long long time!
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Monday, 16 June 2008
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
12 years is a long time
Oh. My. God.
Friday night saw me reverting back to the hormonal 14-year-old Boyzone obsessive that I once was...I screamed so much I lost my voice, clapped my hand so hard they were still stinging on Saturday, danced like a fool and sang along to everything whilst surprising myself that I still knew all the words! And as for Chelle..she was even worse since she had never seen them live before and had even bigger expectaions than I did!
I won't lie to you, I had a lovely time!
Saturday ended with another viewing of the wonderfully lovely Indiana Jones (Nyom!), I know people have slated this film for having a 'rubbish plot' and being 'unrealistic' but to be honest, that's what Indiana Jones is all about! I whole-heartedly believe that if this film had some out 15+ years ago then it would have been accepted perfectly well but due to the anticipation and the love that has developed for the other three, people turn into perfectionists and trot out the comments 'that's not possible' and 'no way that could have happened like that' etc but as for this Indy fan, all I can say is BRING ON NUMBER 5!!
As for Sunday, well, Sunday I...went to work! Random case of being in the right place at the right time when they were short staffed in the Gwachel and Rhian gets some shifts (for which I'm indebted to Miss Roo for bigging me up...I can see me covering her shifts for the forseeable future!) It was quiet but it was fun, I haven't worked a bar since before Christmas so it was a little bit of a shock to the system but I'm sure I'll get back into my stride soon enough!
And then to round off my 'weekend' I got a text of the brother at 9pm last night 'We're in potter's wheel if u fancy a pint'
We? Who's 'We'?
'Coolio...ding u when i get there. In a bizzle homie' (I'm so street sometimes)
Get to said pub to find my brother and 4 of his mates (Daz, Tom, Ryan and Chris) watching the football.
'Where's good to go tonight? Where's your pub your brother told us about?'
'Ah, it'll be rubbish there. Um...well, there are quite a few Smurfs around so I'd say that it's student night in Oceana?'
'Where's that?'
'Next door!'
'Happy days!'
The next 3 hours saw us in the company of 2,000+ Smurfs...possibly the most surreal night I've had in a long while but a good laugh all the same, good company, shite dancing, lots of blue!
Friday night saw me reverting back to the hormonal 14-year-old Boyzone obsessive that I once was...I screamed so much I lost my voice, clapped my hand so hard they were still stinging on Saturday, danced like a fool and sang along to everything whilst surprising myself that I still knew all the words! And as for Chelle..she was even worse since she had never seen them live before and had even bigger expectaions than I did!
I won't lie to you, I had a lovely time!
Saturday ended with another viewing of the wonderfully lovely Indiana Jones (Nyom!), I know people have slated this film for having a 'rubbish plot' and being 'unrealistic' but to be honest, that's what Indiana Jones is all about! I whole-heartedly believe that if this film had some out 15+ years ago then it would have been accepted perfectly well but due to the anticipation and the love that has developed for the other three, people turn into perfectionists and trot out the comments 'that's not possible' and 'no way that could have happened like that' etc but as for this Indy fan, all I can say is BRING ON NUMBER 5!!
As for Sunday, well, Sunday I...went to work! Random case of being in the right place at the right time when they were short staffed in the Gwachel and Rhian gets some shifts (for which I'm indebted to Miss Roo for bigging me up...I can see me covering her shifts for the forseeable future!) It was quiet but it was fun, I haven't worked a bar since before Christmas so it was a little bit of a shock to the system but I'm sure I'll get back into my stride soon enough!
And then to round off my 'weekend' I got a text of the brother at 9pm last night 'We're in potter's wheel if u fancy a pint'
We? Who's 'We'?
'Coolio...ding u when i get there. In a bizzle homie' (I'm so street sometimes)
Get to said pub to find my brother and 4 of his mates (Daz, Tom, Ryan and Chris) watching the football.
'Where's good to go tonight? Where's your pub your brother told us about?'
'Ah, it'll be rubbish there. Um...well, there are quite a few Smurfs around so I'd say that it's student night in Oceana?'
'Where's that?'
'Next door!'
'Happy days!'
The next 3 hours saw us in the company of 2,000+ Smurfs...possibly the most surreal night I've had in a long while but a good laugh all the same, good company, shite dancing, lots of blue!
Thursday, 5 June 2008
A few random poems I've been thinking of recently
I'm sure there's a subconcious reason behind my brain throwing these at me!
Remember - Christina Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad
***
When I have fears - John Keats
When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And feel that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love; - then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think,
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
***
Desiderata - Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
***
If - Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Remember - Christina Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad
***
When I have fears - John Keats
When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And feel that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love; - then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think,
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
***
Desiderata - Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
***
If - Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
The sun'll come out tomorrow...
...I bet someone's bottom dollar that it would and I was right! Whoop!
That is pretty much all I have to say for now, to be honest, I only wrote this so I could have my first post for June!
So gay :)
Speaking of so gay, I've had the most rubbish of rubbishest songs in my head for the past couple of weeks now and it's really starting to get on my tits a bit! It's Men Without Hats - Safety Dance and it's possibly the most disturbing video ever...apart from the remix version where it's the same video but with the worst lip-synching ever...and the live version where the lead singer bloke displays his unique talent from dancing! No wonder they were one hit wonders! Damned Scrubs for getting that one in my head...S-S-S-S-A-A-A-A-F-F-F-F-E-E-E-E-T-T-T-T-Y-Y-Y-Y
Also speaking of gay, Chelle and I are off to see Boyzone in Cardiff on Friday and I can't fricking wait! It's been 12 years since I saw them before (Supported by Sean Maguire and Peter Andre. Awesome!) and Chelle's never seen them so needless to say we'll be screaming like a couple of hormonal teenagers (to be fair, I was bad enough when Flo and I went to see McFly in October!)
Ah well, I'm old enough to know better and young enough not to care :)
That is pretty much all I have to say for now, to be honest, I only wrote this so I could have my first post for June!
So gay :)
Speaking of so gay, I've had the most rubbish of rubbishest songs in my head for the past couple of weeks now and it's really starting to get on my tits a bit! It's Men Without Hats - Safety Dance and it's possibly the most disturbing video ever...apart from the remix version where it's the same video but with the worst lip-synching ever...and the live version where the lead singer bloke displays his unique talent from dancing! No wonder they were one hit wonders! Damned Scrubs for getting that one in my head...S-S-S-S-A-A-A-A-F-F-F-F-E-E-E-E-T-T-T-T-Y-Y-Y-Y
Also speaking of gay, Chelle and I are off to see Boyzone in Cardiff on Friday and I can't fricking wait! It's been 12 years since I saw them before (Supported by Sean Maguire and Peter Andre. Awesome!) and Chelle's never seen them so needless to say we'll be screaming like a couple of hormonal teenagers (to be fair, I was bad enough when Flo and I went to see McFly in October!)
Ah well, I'm old enough to know better and young enough not to care :)
Saturday, 31 May 2008
Book Journal
After 26 years and hundreds if not thousands of books read, I've finally started a book journal. So far, it has 4 1/2 books in it but I am ridiculously proud if it!
Lets just hope I keep up the commitment otherwise it's just pointless :)
Lets just hope I keep up the commitment otherwise it's just pointless :)
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Apathy is a wonderful thing
I'm having one of those days where I just really can't be bothered with anything...I have library books due back today, I really want purple nail varnish to do my nails, I've found a job I want to apply for but I can't be bothered to fill out the form, I'm just bumming around on tinternet doing feck all!
Ah damnit :(
Ah damnit :(
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