NOVEMBER 2009

RECOVERY SOUNDTRACK #4

With the new found ability to sit upright for more than 30 minutes it's back to the desk to take care of business. At 6am, as much as I love a hype track, the golden oldies rule the early hours.

Frankie Avalon - Venus
The Crystals - He's Sure The Boy I Love
The Dominoes - Sixty Minute Man
Jerry Vale - Pretend You Don't See Her
Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun (the incredible Karen Carpenter on drums)

RECOVERY SOUNDTRACK #3

The next person to I talk to that makes reference to "the 80's" for ANYTHING is getting a smack in the mouth! From the leaders to the follows, let it be known "the 80's" has nothing left to give you.

I am officially moving on to the revival of the 90's, a decade which may not have delivered stellar fashion but delivered some serious tracks. Not to mention the RUNNING MAN!! I do wonder what on earth"the 00's" are going to do when it comes time for its musical revival.. this decade has A LOT to answer for!

Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (grimiest video on the planet)
Prodigy - Out Of Space
Prodigy - Breath (live in Tokyo)
Prodigy - Firestarter
En Vogue - Hold On
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (praise be to Prince)
Snap - I've Got The Power
Adamski & Seal - Killer

MEU DEUS DO SEU!

In an effort to stave off boredom I went over to Rede TV. I distinctly remember them being a bastion for fine programming, "the intellectual's choice" even. With that said I am pleased to report that PANICO NA TV! continues the fine tradition of highbrow entertainment. Caramba!

The solution to the high pitch shrieks of the male host lies in the MUTE option.

Probably NSFW (work with us of, it's mandatory viewing)


Panicats! - Proof that a staple diet of arroz e feijao works

RECOVERY SOUNDTRACK #2

Wayne Wonder - Missing You
Heat Wave - Always & Forever (praise be to the genius that is Rod Temperton)
Beres Hammond - Tempted To Touch
Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets

NEVER TOO EARLY FOR BAH & HUMBUG

Foot up, leg hurts within half an hour. Foot down, ankle hurts within five minutes. So on and so forth each and every cursed day. Impossible to sit at the desk and get work done, impossible to sleep all day, impossible to sit and do nothing so I will spend my time doing what we Londoners do best. COMPLAIN!

Victor Meldrew: Complaining as an art form

RECOVERY SOUNDTRACK #1

To help the recovery along, a bit of drum and bass from four of my favourite producers.

John B - Secrets
Roni Size - Hi-Potent
Goldie - Inner City Life (5:00-5:45 is just filthy)
Dillinja - The Angels Fell

NEW HERO

While browsing through a few retail sites for layout ideas I found a new hero. Surely sent unto me to inspire more inkstravagant activities. Enter Charity Laurus.

The last two are from Julian Murray Photography

BUSTED ANKLE PLAYLIST

Micro tears to the ligaments.. 6 weeks, no walking. Not sure how that's going to work..

Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

SACRIFICE

If DJ Premier is even remotely close you drop what you are doing, go to wherever he is and pay respects. With that said, and against common sense, the ankle was strapped up and we hopped out to see a living legend.

Once again we met up with Premo and Gordon Franklin (who recited my favourite Jeru track "My Mind Spray" LINE FOR LINE) and got down for a while. However, with just under 5hrs of standing on one foot and the ankle not appreciating blood being pumped through it.. it was time to make a very slow and painful exit.

To say it wasn't the most knowledgable hiphop crowd would be an understatement. Premo rammed this fact home by driving the crowd wild by throwing on The Eagles - Hotel California. It never once crossed my mind while hopping over that we would be jamming to Rolling Stone's 49th Greatest Song Of All Time.

Whatever it takes to get there..


DJ Premier: Living legend




Nick Javas tearing it up with a verse from his album on Year Round Records!


Most of the gathered crowd arrived clueless..


...but got a little rowdy when Premo threw on The Eagles - Hotel California




DJ Premier and Dragon-i boss G.Y keeping things lively


After 8 days of not shaving I thought I had set some sort of record. That was until
Gordon told me has been nuturing his beard for 10 years. Beard mission aborted!


Doing my best to represent Year Round Records - 2010, watch out for Nick Javas!

Pree, Me and the Qi

Nas - Nas is like (the ink inspiration)

Jeru The Damaja - My Mind Spray (DJ Premier production)


The Eagles - Hotel California

SOMETHING'S A FOOT... (ha!)

Barely two sun rises after the ankle and foot nearly part company they are required to sort out their differences to get us out of the country (and back in moments later) to appease the visa department. With only a few hours to get there and back on one leg it was going to be a rush. Insisting on living on a high floor with no electronic means of elevation to ensure a healthy dose of forced daily cardio seemed like a good idea a while ago. Now hopping down 150+ steps with a busted ankle and a homemade brace doesn't inspire so much confidence.

Just like driving a new car down the street, you tend to notice others driving the same car that up until now you never paid any attention to. The same goes for hobbling! I spotted quite a few people with improvised walking styles on this little journey. Some were physically pulling their trouser legs to swing the leg through to stabilize themselves for the next step, some made progress with a very noticeable limp, a flick of the hip and a wave of the hand to maintain balance. For a moment I felt a bond with these strangers making their way through the city. That is until I received my first shady look from the health inspector crossing the boarder. Within that split second of eye contact I tried my best to convince him that my robotic movement wasn't the result of some farm-yard born virus and that it was indeed an undeserved sporting injury.

After the painful traveling and climbing up and down 500+ steps in two countries, it was time to assess the foot. Luckily the constant icing had paid off and the swelling has virtually disappeared. However the serious bruising is coming through now very clearly and the advice from the doctor is not to take another step for a week and eat as many of those delicious Hagan-Dazs sandwich ice cream things as I please...

HUMAN AFTER ALL

A mixture of shock and relief this week. There was a moment back in the day when I contemplated getting myself a glorious, long mane of mouse-blond hair simply because Andre had it. Luckily, jean shorts, neon cycling pants, neon orange Donnay tennis racquets and a highly suspicious double-handed backhand were as far as I went.

With Andre coming clean about drug use (and that he wore a wig which is far more incredible to me) you have to give the man some respect. To quote my boy Jules "that he was playing THAT well with a wig on.. is insane". In fact, as anti-drugs as I am, I can't help but think that the various complainers should stop and think about the actual drug he dabbled in. There are a bunch of people chirping in about Andre's admission who should probably keep a low profile too. I am convinced there are a few tests that have been conveniently overlooked and a few people who are yet to be caught with their proverbial pants down.

Drugs are drugs in sports but there are "social" drugs which people the world over consume and drugs specifically designed to enhance sporting/training performance. Although I don't condone any of them, I detest the type that are taken with the intent to rob everyone else of their hard work. Also, I hardly think the very potent and destructive crystal meth is something any cheater would go for. However, a banned substance is just that so there are no excuses when/if you get caught.

A very weak season in in 1997 not to mention sitting out most of it with a wrist injury might explain a lot. Still, no excuse as a competing athlete, as I am sure Andre will readily admit, but confessing up when you could have gotten away with an untarnished reputation is admirable.

Andre, you are still one of the daddies..

After losing the French Open wearing the coolest bandana of all time..

..Andre then showcased a cap with the WORST shaped peak in the history of
mankind. He also won the almighty Wimbledon Championship. Quite a feat!


These outfits were what it was all about. Despite needing to have the lycra short
tailored to hug my chicken legs, I had every Andre outfit I could get my hands on..


..not to mention all the boots (which lasted all of 5 mins) from the best series Nike
ever made and probably will ever make judging by the recent poor form/lack of
immagination they've been showing of late..


..and the racquet which clearly didn't suit my game but I refused to use anything else

STARTS WITH F, RHYMES WITH LUCK

Rule #1: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #2: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #3: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #4: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #5: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #6: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #7: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #8: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #9: DO NOT PRACTICE WITH AMATEURS!
Rule #10: DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE ZONDA F ROADSTER RACING PAST THE COURTS!

I foresee ice and elevation in my ankle's immediate future

THE TRUTH

Fact: The answers to all modern day conundrums lie in the all too often overlooked flowchart.

THE PUGILIST

Chris Eubank: Legend

Eubank Vs Benn: The rivalry

The knockouts

Eubank Vs Theroux ;)

THE LAW OF THE LAND

My obsession with signs in and around the island has reached new heights. Pay a little attention and you'll see there are signs for absolutely every possible situation you could ever find yourself in. Helpful guidance for the general population or a way to keep the socially challenged amongst us alive and kicking?

48hrs of hitting the basketball courts, the tennis courts, the running track, collecting the first samples, going over the first samples, fitting the first samples, testing the first samples, realising (yes I spell it with an S" the first samples need to go back, boring paperwork and talking a few moments to walk around town and observe is enough to keep you occupied. The Burger King.. count that as a deliciously unexplainable moment.

The most faithful, reliable and world traveled equipment bag on the planet. Overgrips,
tape, scissors, lead tape and world peace all lurk within.

Apart from the monster serve and silky moves, the legendary Huw Wauchope also
taught me how to perfectly wrap an overgrip in under 20 seconds..

The mountain of samples..

The best sign for a playground with a football pitch and four basketball courts..



I would take great pleasure in asking you WHERE you work (REPEATEDLY) if I
found out it was in this building. Title of the millennia goes to the...

Nothing says "gotcha bitch" quite like a brand that makes you QUEUE outside in
the street before "allowing" you to come inside and pay dearly for their product.
Even funnier when they waiting outside the largest retail space the company has
outside of Paris.. Ha! You've got to hand it to the Frenchies sometimes.




Erm... you didn't see this