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Where've you taken me to this time, old girl?

Where’ve you taken me to this time, old girl?

I'm sure everyone does this, right? Have a few beers, see a discarded wardrobe in the street, climb in and pretend it's a Tardis. Everyone does it. ... Read more »
My David Cameron

My David Cameron

I've been loving the efforts of people to thoroughly lampoon David Cameron. MyDavidCameron.com has lots of lovely spoof posters. You can make your own here. Here are some of my own efforts. Nothing clever. Just a bit childish. Here's a brace for for Doctor Who fans and lovers of The Divine ... Read more »
Smash EDO: I never hid my face.

Smash EDO: I never hid my face.

When I was 17, I was arrested during a Reclaim the Streets demo at the Old Steine in Brighton. I spent the afternoon in cells and my bicycle was confiscated. Subsequently, I went to court, pleaded guilty and took the punishment (bound over for a year and a modest fine, as I recall). On the protest ... Read more »
Sell on eBay to help the people of Haiti

Sell on eBay to help the people of Haiti

You’ve doubtless been moved by the heartbreaking tragedy in Haiti over the past few days in the aftermath of the earthquake there. I’ve found the urge to help overwhelming and yet, combined with a sense of powerlessness, also very frustrating. This article from DFID caught my eye today: ... Read more »
Eton: David Cameron and dirty words

Eton: David Cameron and dirty words

When Alec Douglas-Home died in 1995, I remember asking one of my teachers whether he thought there would ever again be a Prime Minister who’d been schooled at Eton. I paraphrase his reply, but it was unequivocal, slightly venomous and laced with regret. “Never again. John Major and his ... Read more »
I’m still a PC. Just.

I’m still a PC. Just.

I’m inclined to use PCs. It’s how I began. It reflects what I need computers for. It speaks to how I see the computer market and audience and, perhaps most importantly, it is a vote of confidence from my experience. It’s also a bit of “yah boo!” at the ‘Mac Wankers’ who like to take ... Read more »
Scary Advertising

Scary Advertising

I'm always too scared to visit this chemists. I can't imagine why. ... Read more »
A tweak here and a tinker there...

A tweak here and a tinker there…

Have you noticed? We’ve tidied the place up a bit. Do you like it? Good websites are evolutionary. A tweak here and a tinker there. Every version is the iteration before the one that comes next. A few weeks back I was chatting with my good chum Sue Bailey, AKA blogmum. Regular readers will ... Read more »
Brighton Scenes #7

Brighton Scenes #7

Backstreet boozer not far from the sea, sunny Sunday evening. A flame haired, ill-tempered 30-something woman approaches the bar. She has enjoyed a few scoops. And I don’t mean ice cream. Her: (Rudely) What wine have you got? Barman: Red or white, madam? Her: White. (As if he should have ... Read more »
TV Nostalgia: Treasure Hunt

TV Nostalgia: Treasure Hunt

Early on, Channel Four specialised in Granny-Vision. Countdown was obviously vital for the old folk as well as students. Treasure Hunt was Sunday afternoon entertainment. Certainly in our household, it was family viewing. Especially if Granny was around. Treasure Hunt in a nutshell (as I ... Read more »
Farewell Henry Allingham

Farewell Henry Allingham

I live a stone’s throw from Brighton’s oldest church, St Nicholas’s. So I felt an urge to attend the funeral of Henry Allingham, one of the last veterans of World War 1. Many hundreds of people were there too. It was a moving occasion, even outside the church. Sombre certainly and all the ... Read more »
Stockman's Plinth Innings

Stockman’s Plinth Innings

It was a tremendous giggle to go and see my mate Martin Stockman strut his stuff on Anthony Gormley’s fourth plinth as part of the ‘One and Other’ project. Dressed in cricket whites, resplendent in team blazer and cap he read his own poems (some with a cricket theme) and also lyrics from ... Read more »
TV Nostalgia: The Boy from Space

TV Nostalgia: The Boy from Space

It’s amusing to think back to the notion of schools’ television when I was a kid in the 1980s. Whole classes would sit in front of a big telly and watch broadcasts live or on video. The video was much sought after, as I recall. Televisions were wheeled from room to room. Telly time was ... Read more »
Real Ale Tasting Notes

Real Ale Tasting Notes

One non-snobby reason I like Waitrose is the very real commitment to local produce. And one of the reasons to rejoice about this policy is their selection of bottled ales from Sussex. Selflessly, I have taken it upon myself to shell out, stock up and tuck in for you, dear readers. Hepworth’s ... Read more »