The 'Phonics

I went, I saw, I blogged. Caught the Stereophonics live on Tuesday, read all about it on my "Other Gigs & Concerts" blog by clicking on the menu bar on the right or just click here

On a separate note, guess who has a new album and is touring again? The Fun Lovin' Criminals! Now I'm sure Huey & Co are really nice people but my reaction to this is "PLEASE GIVE IT A REST!!!!!"

Judy Blume

For the past few months I've been re-living my childhood by re-reading Judy Blume's books, who is one of my all time favourite writers. Since my Judy Blume books are all back in Malaysia (most worn out over the years), I've taken to bidding for old copies over ebay (my addiction to ebay will be the subject of a separate blog!). Judy's stories have stayed with me my entire life, from her picture books (Freckle Juice etc), books for children (Are You There God? It's Me Margaret?, the Fudge books etc) and to her more adult books (Forever, Tiger Eyes - major tear-jerker - Wifey - hot stuff!). Her writing is simple yet effective, timeless and, despite being set in America, I found that I could relate to the stories in my own way and I never ever tire of reading them over and over again. If I ever have kids, her books will be on the reading list that's for sure. A few days ago I decided to check out her website and on the spur of the moment, I sent her a personal e-mail expressing how much I loved her books and she wrote back! Her e-mail goes:

"Hi Lyn,

Thanks so much for your warm note. I'm touched by how well you remember my books. Wish there were time for a longer, more thoughtful response, but I'm overwhelmed right now and trying (desperately!) to find the quiet time necessary to write. Hope you'll understand. Readers like you have made my career, and I can never thank you enough. Come back and visit my website again. Hope to get up some new info soon!

Love,
Judy"

The wonders of the internet! I was really touched, especially by how humble she seems. To those of you, especially girls, who have never read Judy's books before, it's not too late. Judy is my J K Rowling. Thanks again Judy!

A Mixed Weekend

Now that I am finally learning to keep my weekends to myself and not let work-related stuff get in the way, it's very disheartening to know that the weekend always ends in the blink of an eye. So here I am at work on Monday morning willing for the day (nay, the week) to end quickly (obviously I have no problem with letting blogging get in the way of work!).

After a few long hot weeks (yes, in London, would you believe it?), it finally rained on Friday but this apparently caused flash floods in Hammersmith and the entire public transport system was effected - nothing new there. For a second we all thought it was Katrina making her way towards us. We were all due to go to Matt's mate's birthday in Sand Bar in Clapham, our names were on the guest list BUT get this, after 9p.m. you still had to pay a fiver to get in. Now I think guestlists are poncey enough as they are but they should at least guarantee you one of two things; free immediate entry or you still pay a cover charge but you skip the queue and go straight in. There was no queue at Sand Bar and you still had to pay a fiver. What a load of bollocks. So me, Matt, Owen, Tom and Dan fuelled up at the pub opposite the road and I succeeded in winding Owen up all night long on all aspects from politics to music. Result! Me and Matt eventually went to the party (Matt paid the fiver for me after my incessant whinging) - it was a good party bar an incident involving a skinny whore who couldn't dance.

Saturday, I tried to get Suchen's bike off him but after realising it would be a nightmare dragging it back I decided to leave it till some time this week. Me and Matt went to Greenwich and we have now fallen it love with the place. I can't believe it's actually in London. Then we met Munhoy and Grush (Ash joined us later) to go see Saian Supa Crew. I've updated it on my Gigs & Concerts page. After the gig me, Munhoy and Matt went to a gay bar in Soho and we met Northern Ireland's Male Model of the Year and his attention-seeking boyfriend, Joey who is Kate "I'm a Waste of Space" Lawler's best friend and showed off Rebecca Loos' phone number to me. Munhoy and I found them quite amusing albeit shallow but after watching them tongue each other for an hour or so, Matt's gay tolerance level reached its end and we left. But just so you know, if you want a bar that opens late and doesn't charge you to get in, gay bars are the way forward and you know you'll never get harrassed (well unless you're a bloke) and every guy can dance. Although gay people's taste in music is much to be desired.