Around the world in 367 days

After seeing Lord Ashdown and Vivienne Westwood on Thursday night it got me thinking, who are my top 5 and bottom 5 celebrity spots in London. So in no particular order (apart from the first one - that's easily my top one)...

Top
- Sean Bean - I played him at pool in Belsize Park, beat him, he bought me a drink and we chatted about his family holidays to Bournemouth as a kid with his Mum and Brother. Really nice guy. His hangers on - a bunch of...
- Simon Weston shopping on Oxford Street...
- Lord Ashdown fresh from a job interview with Gordon Brown the other night.
- Euan McGregor shopping for light sabres in Hampstead Heath. Potentially it wasn't what he was shopping for but it adds to the drama.
- Boy George riding the tube...

Bottom
- Johnny Ball - I used to live next door to Zoe Ball and he turned up the day that she announced her engagement to Fat Boy Slim.
- 'Sonia' from Eastenders in Islington, real name who cares...
- Richard Maddely in a toy store in Hampstead...
- 'Gita' from Eastenders in Finchley Road, afraid I don't care about her real name either...
- Martina Natirattypavlovo - after losing at Wimbledon, not her last appearance...

Any other's out there to top these?

Posted by Alexander at 06:13 | Permalink | Comments

Yes, it was festival weekend and I was there!! It was incredible... for anyone who's been buried under rock recently, it was Glastonbury this weekend. I myself was truly ensconsed under said rock so rather than going to the music festival of the year I was at the music(al) festival of the year.

This weekend was 'West End Live' in Leiscester Square. Basically, it's a weekend long advert for the West End where all the shows lay on a small teaser for the shows and I have to say, as a lover of West End entertainment it was very good. Some were a bit naff - the Fame guys and gals dragged themselves out to perform one song - theme from Fame - ingenious. To be fair I wasn't overly bothered when I saw the full show so no love lost there. Others, Chicago, Mamma Mia were great and having seen both shows you got a good taste of both. In addition they had some other stuff like Stomp and Zoo Nation as contempory acts also worth taking in.

So back to Glastonbury, second place in the this years Gadget of the year did a great job of recording the footage on the BBC so when I was ready to catch a couple of acts they were ready and waiting on my command. Amy Winehouse looked great, the Kaiser Chiefs - likewise (idiots though I think they are, when I saw them live earlier this year they do entertain) and The Chemical Brothers looked like it would have been a lot of fun to watch. And after watching Gogel Bordello I'm only wearing Purple from now on!!! Despite the comfort and lack of rain from my armchair it does still look like it would be awesome to be there in person, so the year after next (I'm busy next year) I'm planning on going so I'd better start praying for sunshine now!!!

Now I'm just counting down to the Trowbridge Festival in July where I am going and it WILL be sunny although quite how many of the Glastonbury headliners make it to Trowbridge remain to be seen. I am reasurred that if all else fails the beer tent will provide ample entertainment!!!

Posted by Alexander at 22:24 | Permalink | Comments

...so after being suitably refreshed with pizza we headed off to Fortune
Theatre to catch The Woman in Black. I won't include any spoilers - you
should go and see it, it's a very good play.

It's a thriller but a number of comedic moments are also included to
keep a lighter side at times. They cleverly use audio and lighting
effects to increase drama and there are quite a few moments where the
odd scream does emanate from the audience. I, manly as I am of course,
was not frightened at any point remaining steadfast as a rock. There was
one moment when the lady next to me knocked my arm which bumped into
Deborah making her think I had been shocked. However, I remained
composed and as Deborah reached out in the dark, trembling with fear I
was there, her knight in denim armour, to reassure and calm her.

The production and performances are excellent and the actor playing the
actor playing Arthur Kipps is only bettered by the actor playing Arthur
Kipps.

Rating: 9 1/2

The half was only awarded as we saw Lord Ashdown riding the tube on the
way home. Please subtract half a rating point if this means nothing to
you personally.

Posted by Alexander at 11:16 | Permalink | Comments

Normally a pizza place wouldn't qualify for a review but 'Fire and
Stone' on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden does qualify because it's just
that little bit different. The base is very light and does not have
quite the same taste as a normal thin pizza base. I'm not 100% on the
base but it helps to alter the experience and is still good. Then
toppings are split into continents with around 25 different varieties to
chose from. Ranging from Koh Samui (Thai Green Curry) in Asia to New
York (Bacon, Potato, Onion Jam and Sour Cream) in the Americas to
Marrakech (Lamb, Mint Yogurt and Raisins) in Africa. Of course, you can
still go for London if you are in the mood for eggs, bacon, sausage and
black pudding on your pizza.

It's very reasonable, the service was quick and very good and it's a
nice looking modern restaurant in the centre of town and it comes
recommended but not indemnified.

Rating: 7 (Recommended)

Posted by Alexander at 09:44 | Permalink | Comments

So, I went to see my Orthopaedic Consultant about my knee after getting
the results on Friday...

First issue was he hadn't even looked at the MRI or the x-ray. I can
forgive that though, they are busy folks, helping many other people out
there and it had only been two days so it's reasonable that he hadn't
had a chance to look at it...

Second issue - I originally saw him because I had an issue with my knee.
I had an MRI on my knee. I was going back for the results of the scans
of my knee. Did I mention the problem is with my knee? So then he looks
at the scans (of my knee) and then tells me, "You'll have to see Mr
Hujamiflip. He's my knee man.". Why on earth did I waste my time going
down there, taking half a day off work, to be told he doesn't do knees
and I'd have to come back. Is it just because it's private and a good
excuse to charge an extra £200 consultancy fees for the sake of it!! Why
oh why wasn't I seeing the 'Knee Man' in the first place. That I can't
forgive. I just hope the next guy I go and see has more of a clue...

I'm going to try and get it aired on Peter Griffins 'You know what
really grinds my gears' or maybe even start my own spin-off show - 'You
know what really gets my goat'.

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Posted by Alexander at 09:43 | Permalink | Comments

Remember that story I posted back in March about bad fashion sense? No? Well go and read it here and come back when you are done...

Recapped? Well it turns out I'm not the only one who thinks this way. The mayor of Louisiana is set to ban the baggy trouser look and offenders will be fined $500 and face up to 6 months in prison. Top quote from Mr Carol Broussard, "They're better off taking the pants (ed. trousers to you brits) off and just wearing a dress.". Read more here.

Our crusade to free the world of such ridiculous fashion statements continues...

Labels: rant

Posted by Alexander at 18:44 | Permalink | Comments

Had an MRI scan on my knee today and 5 minutes later I had the results of the scan on a CD. 'int technology brilliant!!!

It's fascinating seeing the images even if it is a bit weird!!!


Now I just need to wait until Friday to find out if it's good or bad news...

Posted by Alexander at 16:35 | Permalink | Comments

So we were wandering around the West End looking for somewhere to eat and discussing the merits of pizza / pasta or thai food... when we stumbled across Loch Fyne fish restaurant near Covent Garden and thus I find myself reviewing it.

I started with a couple of Oysters However,it had been a while since I last ate them and I had totally forgotten what you are supposed to do. Apparently, it's best to bite them once and then swallow them whole to stop the taste changing too much. Well I went for 3 or 4 chews before swallowing and still found them excellent. I doubt I'd want too many more than two but I'd definitely go back and give them another go. I'll also be giving the Oysters a go next time I'm in Borough Market - soon I hope.

I then had fish stew with olives and chorizo. Again, very good. Not 100% sure what the chorizo was doing in there but I trust the chefs opinion that it enhanced the dish. Deborah went for the fish pie which while good could apparently have been - more fish and less pie.

You can tell that the fish they serve is very good quality and I would definitely go back but maybe next time try the Hallibut or the Brown Crab (both of which looked fab).

Rating - 7 (Recommended)

Posted by Alexander at 22:29 | Permalink | Comments