Blog off.........

So it's been a while and I've suffered from another attack of lazyblogitis. I've been a bit busier at work in the last few weeks which is fantastic but it's left little time to think of bloggy stuff.

I was asked about my lack of blogging activity last Wednesday by a buddy and only yesterday by central Twyford's most wonderous, charming and welcoming pub landlady (Is that enough sucking up Karen?)

Good food, fine Ales and a warm welcome to all right here at the Duke of Wellington.

So a quick update about what's coming up in my world......

Musicwise I've been a little quiet on the DJ'ing front which has actually been quite welcome. I'm getting far too old to be doing it regularly as even though I love it there are other things in my life that require awareness on weekend mornings and the two never really have gone together all that well.

Saturday just gone I was spinning some tunes..........not playing..........don't you just hate it when DJ's say they are "playing" some tunes? I hardly think sticking on other peoples records and getting paid for it is "playing". Strumming a guitar, tinkling the ivories or bashing some drums is "playing".......sorry off on a tangent there !!! Where was I?........Oh I was spinning some tunes for the folks at my more regular haunt downstairs at Sakura. Was a very good night actually thanks to some rather nice tunes that'll shortly be busted out on the beaches at the Miami winter music conference.

The only other booking I have at the moment is at Bar Mango (the place I call home) in April (or is it May) alongside my DJ hero Brandon Block.....more info to follow on that....

Foodiewise I'm excited and honoured to have been asked to be a judge in this years Reading, Steady, Cook! competition. There are several heats leading up to the semi-finals and final which will be held in Reading town centre on the 4th and 5th of June 2011 as part of the Eat Reading Live programme. I had such fun being a contestant last year and it's just so nice to be part of it again this year and I'll also be doing a demo all of my own on one of the kitchen stages on the finals weekend.

Sportwise the cricket season is gearing up to kick off and net sessions down at my club (Sonning CC) have started. I have a small sub committee role at the club looking after all things related to the pavilion so I still have plenty of projects to get under way there before the season starts and in particular for our confirmed match against the MCC. Once the season gets going why not come along and spend a lazy day watching a match, we have plenty for the kids to do, a stocked bar and every now and then the BBQ gets a blasting.

In the professional game I think that the ICC world cup so far has been tremendous, perhaps a little drawn out with all the associate nations involved but I think it's right that they are there and as Ireland showed against England they can compete with the best now and again and they should be given that chance on the world stage, perhaps that result will encourage cricket Ireland to spend more money developing a team that can soon catch up with the test playing nations, they certainly have the talent there.

Travelwise...............not much going on.........

Oh except for that small 3 week trip to Melbourne I'll be taking in a few days time :-)

I'll be keeping you all up to date on that so don't you worry.

Toodlepip for now :-)

xxx

Blocko.......

Happy Monday to you all.

I'm feeling rather energised this morning however the damaged knee is causing me some confusion. Sure it's feeling a lot better, still uncomfortable but the bruising is somewhat strange !! All the pain and swelling is on the front of my knee yet apart from a tinge of yellow the bruising has come out on the back of my leg.

Emily thinks that my kneecap actually came out the back of my leg bless her.

So anyway yesterday evening I got a DJ booking confirmed for the 10th September at The Venue in Reading appearing alongside my all time DJ hero and biggest influence Brandon Block.

This photo was taken last October when I last got to share the booth with a true legend of the clubbing world.



Hmmm just check out that silly grin I have going on .....

It's going to be one of the last club nights at the Venue as I'm told that it's going to be made into a Gentleman's club very soon so perhaps it's fitting that one of the guys responsible for kicking off the whole UK/Ibiza house scene gives the place a proper send off.

I'm pretty sure that he won't be rocking up with his Macbook and controllers and then trying to take the audience on some kind of musical journey that they really are not interested in at all because they are just out to have a laugh, dance and get bang on it.

The guys promoting the event (Garden of Eden/Dark Matter) are keen to make it as cheap as possible for everybody and I'll expect tickets to only be about £5 but as they are not on sale nor is the flyer even made yet I cannot be 100% certain but I will confirm just as soon as I can.

Pub news is all good at the moment. I now have some stock take figures and a copy of the lease that we'll be taking over (fingers crossed). All this information I'll pass on to my guy who will now have all the elements needed to draw up a professional business plan and let us know how much investment we need to find.

All offers listened too .................. :-)

Maybe Blocko would invest? I can see a nice country pub being just the kind of thing that he'd be interested in.