General update...

[redhillian]

So, last week I did not a lot - ephrael had a few days off with minoutars in her ears or something like that. We took Alan (XLJ) to Manchester so he could buy tat from his wholesalers. We didn't go to bacony's pancake party.

We did get into Manchester again (eventully - it seems that last weekend was Manchester Councils attempt to spend up any road maintenance budget excess) to see kardrath & wiserabbit for their birthday party, meeting up with psion_x, bacony, the_prince, masti, samharber, batelf, kingandy, areteus, sarahlascelles, elektrobard, smoke_rising & currytastegrit (I think that's the whole list) and an equal number of people who have not [yet] succumbed to elle-jaye.

Over the course of the evening, we (being myself and any given combination of the above) discussed variously the downfall of pagga, the hazards of work, Terry Pratchet, Harry Potter fanfic, flirting, lesbians, neurophils, taxis, navigation, work, life, ST:DS9, magic, mead, vodka, bathrooms, gaffa tape, windows and many other things.

Spent Sunday with some the above named, consuming first Bill Bailey, followed by chocolate then Chinchilla Poo. We later said goodbyes o people and left with other people for late lunch at a pub with good food [and bad_service], then retreated back to [some other part of M'cr near the old swimming baths] to watch people displaying signs of Stockholm Syndrome to 80's music.

Monday: Got to drive aforementioned Alan in to Liverpool so he could go to a different Cash 'n' Carry - I'm not arguing as I've got no work on, he doesn't drive, he does pays the petrol and he buys me lunch - fair deal for me.

Then went to a punk gig near Blackpool last night - The Briefs, supported by TV Smith and as a late minute addition Bambix - a gig I've worked before more than once, but this was for fun so I got in for the price of a drink for the organisers - always good to know people.

Bambix - were ok, apparently they were supposed to have played somewhere else over the weekend and the gig was pulled at the last minute (but they'd driven over from Holland for it), so they were added to the lineup at The Oak. Fairly shouty, fast guitar/bass/drum driven thrash-punk, seemed ok, I expect if they go on later / the audience knows them, they go down quite well.

TV Smith - well, he's been about since forever, and he's even had a proper, genuine hit single. Plenty of social inequality, anti-authoritarian, protest-punk from a man with an acoustic guitar and a conscience. The crowd appreciated it, and ephrael & I mused on the family tree of protest music, and what varieties it could bring (including, but not limited to protest-happyhardcore).

The Briefs - who'd I'd made the effort for havign seen them about 18 months ago at the same venue. They're from the Seattle, and have been doing a few dates on this side of the world - The Oak being for fun it seems! Good 'n' loud, good and fast, sweaty, bouncy, jumpy punk. Decent mosh pit.

It's nice to see that due to careful negotiations between the promoters, the landlord and the local licensing committee that kids are now able to come - Blackpool's got a decent punk scene - people will be familiar with the phrase "Old punks don't die, they just stand at the back". Blackpool appears to be the back, but this also means that old punks are now breeding and we have young punks, that can come somewhere, and there were several present last night, who all seemed to be having a great time (and it's one of the notable occasions where I dodn't mind kids - when they're behaving like the adults).

Pancake Social for [the DnD group & friends] tonight, if you're up for it & around, we're at Andrew's house - but I suspect it may be too late by the time you read this.

Got some work at the end of the week - which is a nice change, just the one day and evening but it seems it's for the "Sporting Gentlemans Social", a charity gala dinner with strippers/pole dancers ahoy. It's been a regular AP gig for several years now, I did the fit up for it last year (including building 'the pole') but this'll be the first time I've actually done the whole night - from what I gather it's a bit of an anti-climax though, Dave (XLJ) reports that the 'erotic dancers' are somewhat less than impressive and he has better porn on his phone.

I will, of course, report back (wih photos if possible).