I'm not scared, just not prepared.

This has been the music in my head, all day long. The very wonderful Prego, live in London, last year.

Skating again...

And I love it. I crept out of the house early this morning, around 6.45. Swished silently through the Queens Park Estate, hopped a passing 452 to Kensal Rise, then it was a languorous carving rush down Keslake Road, a slight squiggle through some back streets, then powering down the side of Queens Park itself. That early in the morning, you can dodge the traffic (what there is of it) fairly easily, and you can stretch out and enjoy the tarmac as it rushes beneath your wheels. Can't think of a better way to start the day.

New house, new tarmac.

So, I'm moving on. Brighton is no longer my home town, and all my possessions are beginning their trek back up the M23 (or at least the process has started, the mother lode should arrive back in London by the end of the month)
It makes me look back, ruefully, on the happy times I had on the South coast, and above all, the feeling of release I used to get from leaving the city behind and heading to the calm and quirky charm that only Brighton can give you. I packed up my vinyl yesterday, into the same boxes which it travelled down to Brighton in, all those years ago. A very odd sensation. So, I've rented out my flat in Shepherd's Bush, and have travelled a few miles up the road, to Queen's Park. It means I'm still near the bright lights of Westfield, still near the Jez for beers, still near to the Westway!
And it means there's new delights as far as skating goes. The streets around my new place are smooth and quiet, so I broke out the longboard this morning, for a quick skate. Wonderful. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but if I don't skate for a while, I start dreaming about it, so this should have stopped the dreams for a bit. The board is quicker than ever: put Bones Swiss into the wheels, and it's as fast as hell. However, still getting a bit of "bearing peel" with the wheels (Krypto classic 70's) Anyone else get this? Obviously, I'm using it for some pretty intense pumping carves, so the cores on the wheels aren't doing their job, but what other wheels could I use? Suggestions?

Summer's Here.....

Or at least, it was at the weekend. Seems to have abated somewhat, damn. Spent a lot of it cooking (as ever) with Xacuti curry being top of the pile. Finally got a chance to use the spices I brought back from Goa!
Also managed to squeeze in a trip to Islington to see Spear Of Destiny. Great to see Kirk again, he was on fine form, and the band were as tight as I've seen them, playing "One Eyed Jacks" in its entirety. However the icing on the cake for me had to be seeing Elizabeth from Westworld doing backing vocals! It's been years since I saw her on a stage (1988, I think) and her voice was as wonderful as ever. I'm going to have to dust off my copy of "Where The Action Is" later.
While I'm obsessing about Westworld, here's the video for the title track off the aforementioned album - filmed around the Westway! Ah, I love it when everything dovetails together.....

Morning time.....

And I'm sat in the kitchen. My breakfast today? A piece of toast, an apple and a yoghurt. I'm off to the gym in an hour. There's a feeling of normalcy about today which is close to perfect.
It's been a week of organisation for me, lots of boxes full of possessions, lots of re-assimilation, lots of memories. The divorce got finalised yesterday, which was odd, and sad too; but left me determined to be thinking about now, and all the now to come.
Am just finishing off the links for the Download of The Day, which I do on my show. If you're one of those people who gets it - you'll see it in your inbox in about eight hours. The Santigold tune is IMMENSE. Just sayin'.

More posts about buildings and food.

The building in question being my flat in Shepherds Bush. I've spent the last week tidying it, and having it painted. It now looks AWESOME. Nothing like a lick of white paint and some gleaming windows to raise the spirits. I looked out over West London today, and realised what a truly magical place it is. I'm happy to be up here permanently now; it's been a slightly tortuous few months, but there is happiness around the corner. Life's good.
And the food? Pork tenderloin, rolled in finely chopped fresh herbs and garlic, flash-fried then roasted in a hot oven, with purple sprouting broccoli and new potatoes. Simple, tasty, perfect.

This is how I feel today.....

A little bit of FAIL, and a sore head. Mind you, the Sun has been helping, as has the DS. I'm playing the new version of Broken Sword, and it's aces.
Need to start thinking about food for tonight - what shall I eat? I'm toying with making Macaroni Cheese; that's serious comfort food, isn't it? With nice chunks of Pancetta in there, OM NOM NOM.

A beautiful day....

Sees me sitting in the sunshine, nursing a minor hangover, thinking about the day ahead. This week has been packed full of stuff: Jez has been sorting out the flat, getting it painted (which it definitely needed) and there's been lots to do at work. I've been adding posts to the In The Studio blog, and I'm filling in for Neil Cole this weekend too. There's also the small matter of preparing and recording the show we do for Virgin Atlantic. Tomorrow brings another voiceover for the Travel Channel, and more organisation for weekend shows. Phew.

Well, the weekend is upon us....

And I'll be spending Saturday night in Burnham, for my God-daughter's birthday, then off to visit my parents on Sunday.
It's been a gratifying week, getting back to the business of blogging again, watching the number of followers for my humble little blog start to rise a little - and feeling happy to start to communicate again. It's been a fairly intermittent process, over the past year, but I'm hoping I've turned a corner. Thanks for your patience.