Super Good Times

I love it when Piglet comes out to play.

2009-03-03T21:49:00.001Z

How's Your News meets Amy Sedaris from How's Your News? on Vimeo.

Sinéad O’Connor should still be scary for certain people.

2009-03-01T02:55:00.001Z

She makes me homesick. But for where?

Woof woof…

RIP – Wendy Richard

2009-02-27T15:46:00.001Z

Wendy Richard died yesterday. So Sad.

I first knew her from Are You Being Served?. I used to watch it on PBS after Letterman and later Conan O’Brien.

The theme tune of which was referenced in Ladytron’s Paco!. Watch it set to an PSA.

When I started spending a lot of time in London, I got hooked on EastEnders. Unfortunately, her character Pauline Fowler died soon after I became a fan.

So, so sad.

Plane, heave on to Gatwick.

2009-02-12T09:53:00.001Z

Yippee! I’m off to London Anglo Terror for two weeks! Marky-mou, ‘Benders, fry-ups, Marky-mou! And wedding planning. Why won’t J.Lo return my calls? Why isn’t she called J.Lo anymore?

The venue:

And Parisa [Pillows for the People] has inspired me to learn how to embed music in this here dead-end blog. If you were at my birthday in December, you probably met Ben who’s in Fenech-Soler. They even got a write up in The Guardian in September!

The Fight - Fenech Soler

If anyone can send me a couple jars of Baconnaise, I’d be forever grateful.

Scotland pride is alive!

2009-01-28T10:33:00.001Z

Even though I have a Scottish surname, I’ve never considered myself Scottish. Until now. I feel that I can final understand where that crass John Barrowman character is coming from. Watch out, Fiancé-mou, I’m wearing a kilt to the wedding!

I’m in training to be the best Hausfrau ever.

2009-01-26T13:35:00.001Z

And this is the equipment I will be investing in to fulfil my dreams, because dreams are my reality.

My spirit is circumcised, my horn unblown.

2009-01-26T08:32:00.001Z

Unless you walk in my moccasins, you have no right to judge.

[Everything Is Terrible]

Jeg er måske Under Byen, eller hvor jeg war.

2009-01-21T22:23:00.001Z

I think we've found our wedding band.

2009-01-15T13:32:00.001Z

There's a little teen witch in all of us. Top that!

2009-01-14T11:12:00.002Z

Kenneth on '30 Rock'.

The original.

Dennis Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast.

2009-01-11T12:52:00.000Z

It's gonna be one of those Cocteau Twin days.

2009-01-10T11:04:00.000Z

I am a Singstar ABBA convert.

2009-01-09T00:47:00.003Z

Thanks, Daryl. Now my voice has been fed back to me even faggier and depressingly than on the old camcorders. I thought puberty had cured me of such wretched squeeks and squelches. Le boo. Le hoo.

I may have been eyeing that Belgian waffle iron a bit too closely.

2009-01-08T12:35:00.001Z

I can't wait for married life. Good times!

2008-10-31T14:21:00.000Z

Happy Halloween! It's a bank holiday in Germany. Except in Berlin, of course.

2008-10-31T08:17:00.004Z

Slightly more worrying:

Is it really, though?

2008-10-30T15:09:00.001Z

This autumn requires more 4AD guitar.

2008-10-08T14:55:00.003+01:00

I don't know which version I like better. No, I do. I like the second version. I feel like I should like the original version, cos it's more rare, but I don't know. What do you think?

Original:

Second version:
(I also love that this is lifted off of VHI Classics. Really? Already?)

My favourite Lush song, for what it's worth:

Life is a game. A video game.

2008-10-06T12:26:00.001+01:00

Even when I feel that all may be lost, this video puts everything into perspective.

I missed Gus Gus at Melt! and I do regret it now.

2008-07-27T11:59:00.002+01:00

I saw them in San Francisco in 1997, but couldn't keep myself awake enough to see them at Melt! in 2008 at 6.00 in the morning. Lame.

I went to Melt! Festival and upped my 'seeing divas in concert this year' quota by three; four if you count Goldie.

2008-07-27T10:39:00.004+01:00

I went to Melt! Festival with assorted friends and lover. I can only recommend it for next year. It's held at an old strip mine! What's sexier than that?

Some of the acts I saw:

Robyn.
At Melt!.

Video.

Zoot Woman.

The Notwist.

(Gott, but I miss VIVA Zwei...)

Róisín Murphy.

Hot Chip.

Good view of Melt! venue:

Björk.
And the Wonder Brass!

My favourite live Björk performance ever, though the quality isn't that good. Glastonbury 2007.

Yeah! I can't wait until next year.

It's all about Robyn this year.

2008-07-15T13:16:00.002+01:00

I can't wait to see Robyn at Melt! this weekend and opening for Madonna at Olympiastadion next month!

Artsy-craftsy videos are where it's at.

2008-06-27T12:18:00.002+01:00

The Notwist. Pick Up the Phone.

múm. They Made Frogs Smoke 'Til They Exploded.

Viva Variety.

2008-06-25T13:34:00.003+01:00

Let's hope Christmas comes early this year and Comedy Central releases Viva Variety on DVD.

You decorated my life, '79.

2008-06-20T16:34:00.002+01:00

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.

2008-04-10T12:11:00.002+01:00

The Streak by Ray Stevens:

And you know that I love you.

2008-04-10T11:59:00.004+01:00

Dolly Parton has always been a hero of mine. Amy Sedaris? Ditto, Amy, ditto. Boy George? Well, let me refer to my pre-teen diaries and get back to you.

The highlight:

The lowlight:

Tempelhof Flying Field to Croyden Airport.

2008-04-09T13:10:00.004+01:00

I miss the boy. I wish I were on an Imperial Airways flight to Croydon Airport right now.

Let us return to adventures in Daily Dialogues...

AT THE AIRPORT CUSTOMS, LONDON

Mr. Ronald Long slowly passes along the counters, behind which stand English Customs Officials in dark-blue uniforms, at Croydon Airport.

C.O.: Have you anything to declare, sir ? Just have a look through this list while I attend to this lady, will you ? (Handing him a printed list stuck on cardboard.)

R.L. (after carefully going through the list, says, when the official is free): The only thing I have to declare is my Leica.

C.O.: May I look at it, sir ? Thank you, have you the original invoice, sir ?

R.L.: Yes, here it is. As you see, I've had it over a year.

C.O.: So I perceive. Well, there's only a small duty on it,sir.

R.L.: May I pay by cheque ?

C.O.: Oh yes, sir. Just let me have your full name, home-address and telephone number,if any, as well, and you can take the camera with you. Nothing else in the way of spirits, scent, binoculars, jewellery ?

R.L.: Nothing at all, only the camera.

C.O.: Very good, sir, thank you.

American: This is my tenth trip to England. All I have is a bottle of 4711 (forty-seven eleven), a few cigars, and a partly-full bottle of liqueur.

C.O.: No cameras, lenses, optical instruments or the like, sir ?

American: No, I'm not interested in them.

C.O.: (looking through the contents of his bag): There'll be duty in the scent and cigars, sir, but I'll let the part bottle of liqueur through. You'll get the receipt at the desk, sir.

American: O.K.*, thank you.

Mrs. L.: No, I've nothing in the optical or camera line at all.

C.O.: Any scent, madam ?

Mrs. L.: No, nothing. The only things which might possibly interest you are these pieces of cheap jewellery for my nieces.

C.O.: I'm afraid they're subject to customs duty, Madam.

Mrs. L.: Oh, don't say that. All these "genuine" pearls and diamonds together are not worth more than £5.

C.O.: That may be, madam, but they're still jewellery from our point of view. Here's the regulation about it. (Points to the paragraph about jewellery on the printed card.)

Mrs. L.: So I see. Well, I suppose there's nothing to do but pay up and look pleasant ! It seems to be a case of Hobson's choice.

Business Man: I have a few cigars here for my personal use, and a box of chocolates for my wife.

C.O.: I'll just put them on the scales, sir. (Weighs them separately.) That's all right. Nothing else ?

B.M.: No, nothing else.

C.O.: Very good, sir.

Motor Coach Driver: Take your seats, please.

Mrs. L.: Where are you taking us to, driver ?

Driver: We're taking you to the headquarters of the Imperial Airways, Victoria Station, madam.

R.L.: I suppose we shall have to find our way to our friends from there alone ?

Driver: Yes, sir, that's right.

R.L.: How delightful to be home again and see all these rows and rows of little house with their patches of garden at the back.

Mrs L.: Yes, and don't forget the warm, cheerful fires inside the rooms.

R.L.: I don't. I'm looking forward to toasting my toes before Neville's fire to-night.

Mrs. L.: The wonderful thing is that one feels so fresh after the trip. After all, we've come five or six hundred miles in a marvellously short time, and I feel as fresh as a daisy.

R.L.: So do I. It's a pleasant change. I always feel tired for a whole day after making the journey by train and ship. Well, here we are at the Imperial Airways ! There are Neville and Muriel waiting for us !

*Okeh is a Choctaw (Red-Indian) word, and means " so be it ". Etymological fairy takes about its being an abbreviation of OTTO KRUEGER, or of an illiterate American's way of writing ALL CORRECT (orl krekt), may be disregarded.

Well, Imperial Airways was obviously no Ryanair. Apparently, Imperial Airways was in business from 1924 to 1939, so our Mr and Mrs Long must have been travelling between the wars.

I do believe in etymological fairy tales, I do ! Er, I do! Otto Krueger, not so much.

Give me, give me cha cha heels.

2008-04-07T12:37:00.009+01:00

Have you been ignoring the feline Eartha Kitt for the last 40 years?

Here's a report on her and Bronksi Beat's single Cha Cha Heels on BBC Breakfast in 1989. There's also some footage from Top of the Pops.

And the video. It looks like a few Berlin gay bars I've been to... I expect to see it performed at Halfway II Heaven any Sunday now.

In my quest to get over to London permanently, I have begun reading Daily Dialogues: Conversational "King's English" by Montcalm Carr (Why aren't there more people with names like this nowadays?) and W. Dadley-Potter. It's a helpful guide for the clueless German traveller to 1940s London. I say, it's jolly good you know. Cricket and the like.

BY AIR-LINER TO LONDON

Ronald Long and his wife Isabel are in their Berlin flat having breakfast on a fine, sunny morning. Ronald looks at the clock, and is reassured to find that it is only 6 a.m., so that he has time for another cup of tea and a pipe before taking a taxi to Tempelhof Flying Field.

Ronald Long: It will be a glorious experience flying through the air on a day like this.

Mrs. Long: I'm much looking forward to it. It reminds me of when I was quite a little girl, and my father took me for my first motor-ride.

R.L.: I think it'll be more thrilling than a mere motor-ride. I've read so many vivid descriptions of flights that I shall not be satisfied till I've actually made a trip myself. By the way, we're not allowed much luggage, so that our heavy bags will have to follow separately.

Mrs. L: I've got all we need for the trip in this suit-case. By the way, I DO hope you haven't forgotten your camera.

R.L.: I haven't done that, don't worry. I hope to take some interesting snaps from the plane. I know that clouds are surprisingly beautiful when seen from the air. So sorry Benson isn't coming with us. He told me yesterday he was going via the Hook.

Mrs. L.: I'm sorry, too. He's very charming, so is his wife. (Looking out the window, she sees the taxi waiting, and in a few minutes they are speeding to the Flying Field at Tempelhof. Their luggage is stored separately, Mr. Long taking with him his document-case, containing a few sandwiches and a thermos flask.)

R.L.: These seats are quite comfortable, aren't they ?

Mrs. L.: Yes, we've got good places at the back of the cabin. Our view is not spoiled by the wings. The sun is shining brightly. I'm sure we shall have a magnificent trip.

R.L.: I'm certain we shall. I've never been so keen about an experience before. I wonder if I can smoke in here ?

An American Passenger: No, the smoking compartment is at the front. I'm afraid all the seats are taken. I wanted to sit there myself. Now I shall have to wait to smoke till we get to Amsterdam. The pilot set the engines in motion, so we shall be starting soon.

Mrs. L.: What a deafening noise ! Good gracious, we're off already. I never even noticed we'd left the ground.

American Passenger: One never does.

Mrs. L.: How fascinatingly interesting it all is! And don't the people down below look small, silly and stupid ! They all appear as if they had walked out of a toy-shop with their toy-motor cars, toy-houses and -farms, toy-fields, toy-horses and everything. It's too absurd !

R.L.: I'm enjoying this thoroughly. I've never seen anything quite so humorous. Everything looks so uncommonly funny. I'd no idea men and things could look so very ridiculous when seen from a height.

Mrs. L.: How tiny the ships appear so far below ! It's hard to realise there are sailors on board.

R.L.: Yes, and the ships must be fairly big too. That looks like a dreadnought.

American: It is, and that tiny speck is probably a fishing-smack. Now we're flying over some white clouds.

Mrs. L. (enthusiastically): Oh, I've never seen anything so lovely in all my life. Look at those strange shapes, for all the world like fairy castles or palaces, with turrets, windows, minarets and roofs all complete. They might be the abode of magicians, sorcerers and fairy-queens.

R.L.: Perhaps they are ! Just see that vast, smooth patch of clouds over there. What a fine skating-rink for millions of fairies of every kind and hue, flitting and pirouetting over its surface.

Mrs. L.: I'd no idea you were so poetical.

R.L.: Nor I either, but I've never seen anything so strikingly beautiful, so awe-inspiring and uplifting in all my life. I shall certainly return by air.

American: It's a pity there's not more cloud scenery. Sometimes we're over clouds the whole flight. The best is the night plane from London, for then you sometimes enjoy sunset on the way, with all its crimson,, golden glory, and when you reach Berlin after darkness has fallen, you come into a fairyland of many coloured lights. Now we're over Father Thames, we shall be in London before you can say Jack Robinson.

It's a miracle that Germans of a certain age are able to speak English at all. How many hyphens can you cram into a sentence? So many questions left unanswered: What happened to their layover in Amsterdam? Will Mr Long and the American flit and pirouette arm and arm through the fairy-lit London streets? Find out in the next exciting chapter when the Longs go through customs.

Godt nytår!

2008-01-15T17:59:00.000Z

Again, I've been absolutely crap at updates. Too much looking for work and translating.

Anyway, I'm going to see some friends play tonight in Shoreditch at The Old Blue Last.

Here are the boys of Fenech Soler:

Right then, more later...

Christmas makes me think of church, church makes me think of heaven, heaven makes me think of dead Beatles.

2007-12-20T21:27:00.000Z

I've been a bad blogger. What have I been up to?

2007-12-11T17:03:00.000Z

A little bit of this:

But mostly this:

PS. Coco's now living with a family in lovely Stuttgart. I miss her.

When I see a man, what's my plan?

2007-11-15T15:30:00.000Z

It's to shake my can.

Someone's riding a bike down Crouch Hill.

2007-11-08T17:11:00.000Z

Between seconds 50 and 55 the rider passes Alix and Mark's flat. Unfortunately, however, you can't see the flat block.

I ♥ Jack O'Lantern, Robyn, Guy Fawkes and wigs. Lots and lots of wigs.

2007-11-06T18:31:00.000Z

I had a second interview on Halloween, which, while short, was still somehow exhausting. The most I got up to was making Jack O'Lantern biscuits. (Cookies? It's so hard being an American werewolf on London.)

So, the bulk of my Halloween fun was provided by Alix who came home from a Halloween pub quiz with her workmates (They came in first and won an MP3 player!).

Mark got in on the wig action too.

The next night we saw Robyn with Rick, John and Cesca. We met and had a couple pints at Ruby Lounge before heading over to Scala. The show was amazing. Go see Robyn. She’s fun, she’s amazing. Here she is singing ‘Cobrastyle’ at the show.

We went to Alexandra Palace to see the Guy Fawkes festivities. The fireworks were amazing. We had a great nighttime view of London as well. We could see fireworks going off all over the city. There’s usually a bonfire and an effigy to burn, but we were in the wrong spot…I did take this amazing video, though. Can you get a sense of how amazing the display was, the pageantry?

Here’s a better video of the same event by someone with a lot more skill and camera power than me.

My failed attempt at taking a photo of the fireworks. This is the best shot. Always a second too late...

We all headed over to the The Noble afterward. Nice beer, nice people. Too much beer perhaps? Alix, Mark and I got into the wigs at home…
Mark channels Pete Burns.

My glamour shot.

Mark and I went to the garden centre at Alexandra Palace where Royce was working to by an allow plant and found this dirty bird feeder...

And Maja had a baby! I have a Danish nephew, Frede Emil. I can't wait to see photos.

Dodgy kebab was cancer.

2007-11-05T18:13:00.000Z

I've been lazy yet again...

Between all the fireworks and lying about, I just haven't had the time to think of witty things to say; or mundane things even. So in the mean time, here are some lovely videos.

I love Patches. He reminds me of Coco, but with a little less energy.

Brit Nation.

I'm going to see Robyn at Scala tonight!

2007-11-01T09:31:00.000Z

I'm going to my first concert in ages tonight. I think the last concert I went to was either Au Revoir Simone/Slow Club or Glastonbury. My memory's shot though, so who knows what I might be forgetting.

Anyway, I'm going to see Robyn tonight at Scala with Mark, Rick and John. 'With Every Heartbeat' reached number one in the UK over the summer. I even saw Robyn getting into her car outside of MTV in Camden. Before you get to thinking I'm a stalker, I was meeting Mark for lunch.

She also has these amazing songs. Golly, I sure do love the Europops.
'Handle Me'. This is the better, original Swedish video for the song. It's wrong on so many levels.

And the silly re-release version:

'Konichiwa Bitches', 'Cobrastyle' and her first hit from 1997 'Show Me Love', which was in the top ten of the US Billboard charts, people! OK, so were Jewel and Hanson, but still.

The two most amazing shows I saw over the summer (I was at the shows in the videos:
Daft Punk at Wireless.

Björk 'Pluto' and 'Innocence' live at Glastonbury.

My kitty needs a home.

2007-10-30T16:18:00.000Z

As you may know, I've recently relocated to London. I'm unable to bring my cat Coco with me, so I'm looking for a new home for her. If you have room or know of someone who does, I'd be very, very grateful. She's always been an indoor cat, but I think she'd really be great as an outdoor cat too. She wouldn't be very good with kids, but is immensely loyal. I really can't tell you how much it would mean to me to find somewhere kind and safe for her. And think of all the fun kitty photos you can take!

I've been lazy.

2007-10-29T19:12:00.000Z

Hey, kids:

It's been about three weeks since I left Berlin and I have the feeling things are coming together. I've been staying with Mark and Alix in lovely Crouch Hill. It's such a nice part of London; like a little village in the middle of the city.

I've spent the last three weeks settling in and looking for work. I may have found something, but I'm not saying anything until it happens. I still have to go through the whole visa process. Tomorrow I'm ringing a lawyer who was recommended to me. Fingers crossed!

OK, I'm just going to write a quick list of things that I've been up to. I promise to be better in the future.

After three weeks in California with Mark, I was in London for a day and then in Berlin for five days to close up the flat and try to get things in order. I'm afraid I didn't do the best of job and grateful for everyone's help, especially Andreas and Nick. I've someone subletting the flat. Robby found him and Nick helped move him in. Now I've just got to find a good home for Coco. Anyone who can help in this endeavour will have my undying gratitude and a big night out in London ahead of them.

I got to London on October 7, absolutely knackered from so much organising and cleaning and the lovely bon voyage get together that Andreas had for me with Daniel, Guido and Rainer. It was one of the happiest and saddest nights of my life. I also got an amazing send off talk from Daryl; exactly what I needed to hear. And Robby helped me sell books. I love London, but I miss all my Berlin posse.

So, the London stuff...

October 9. I had a lovely beer at the Black Cap with Mark and Yuka (an ex-colleague from VSI and new friend). We saw a funny drag act there this year. As soon as Mark comes home, I'll ask him the name and I'll put it up on the blog. She performs at TrannyShack sometimes.

October 11. I met Ben at the Tate Modern for coffee and lunch. I met Ben years ago through Debra in Cologne. Later in the evening, we met Mark's friend Christina for a couple of drinks.

October 13. We went out for drinks at the Glass House Stores in Soho for Mark's friend Jamie's 24th birthday. After that pub closed, we headed off to Trash Palace for a couple of drinks. Good times!

October 14. A bit hung over, we headed down the road to Chris and Fiona's for tea. Fi made lovely peanut butter cookies (I can't bring myself to call them biscuits if they're American style) and lemon-poppy seed cake. It was a really nice afternoon with buckets of tea and funny conversation.

October 19. We went to Mel's birthday party at Favela Chic, a nice Brazilian bar in Old Street. Lots of funny people.

October 21. We went to the first pub quiz at The Larrick with Anna and Paul. We came in second! But, won nothing. The team that came in first only won £36. No big loss then. Still though, the board did advertise "Prizes, free booze and much more!"...

OK, that's enough for one evening. More tomorrow...

A new start, a new blog.

2007-10-16T17:54:00.000+01:00