Rat Rapping

Dean, Parkes and I spent a great day and night on Saturday at Justine's place in Highworth, Wiltshire. We spent the afternoon in the garden and ate and drank. In the evening we ventured on a pub crawl and drank and drank. We ended up in a marvellous cellar-bar dancing to tunes from the Jungle Book and Roland Rat. A splendid time was had by all.

Jus and her homies. Taken when we got back from the pub(s). 

Justine, Dean and Parkes misbehaving. 

My house in Essex. Dean, Parkes and myself will be decorating it over the next few weekends. I took this picture for my Dad and Ivan - remember how small the bushes were?! I will be taking a saw to them in August. 

My Face (continued)

Contribution from Steve Kempton;

10. Christian O'Connell (Radio DJ)

At last we have a holiday booked. We going to the Cote d'Azur after Christmas with Parkes, Keith, Nicole, Georgia, Jed, Justine, Jon, Kirsty (and bulge), Joanna, Dean and Emma. Here is a shot of the villa on a sunny day - hopefully there will be plenty of these during our stay. 

Lovely views over the Med. 

Spurs' new third strip for the coming season. Poo springs to mind however it might wear well with jeans. 

You want fries with that??! 

On the Parkes' birthday proper we visited Carmel and Albert for a very pleasant luncheon. Carmel baked a rather dashing steak and kidney pie which looked and tasted delicious.

I managed to install a pie-cam to monitor the cooking of the pie. Here is a close-up shot.

Parker's Birthday Night

We ended up spending Parkes' birthday at a greek restaurant in Ramsgate called Cavallino. The food was really nice; all kleftico (athough they'd ran out!), kebabs, homous, pitta bread, calamari and Glenn Medeiros. Breathtaking. We consumed lots of champers and had a really good night. At midnight the restaurant played "Happy Birthday" on the stereo in true seventies style and everyone sang along.

Dean and Parkes enjoy an early evening drinkee at Rokka by the harbour. 

Nicole, Keith, Dean and Parkes raise a toast to the birthday girl. 

Silk and Hogbin settle down to some after-dinner arm wrestling. 

My Face (continued)

Keith's nephew Josh has kindly added a couple more lookalikes. Go fella!!!

9. Thom Yorke (singer from Radiohead)

10. Steve Lamacq (BBC DJ)

Parkes' Birthday Update

Yes it is still Parker's birthday this weekend. Dean is coming down from Greenwich and we will be going boozing in Ramsgate city on the Saturday along with Keith and Nicole. On Sunday we will be going to Parkes' mum and dad's house for a BBQ (weather permitting!). The camera will be charged and ready.

Parkes' Birthday

It is Parkes' birthday this weekend so DIY will have to take a back seat (thank Jebus!). I understand we will be out on Saturday night for drinkeez and foodeez but as yet I am not certain of the proportions. Dean and Emma will be about as will Keith and possibly Nicole. More to follow...

...there's one I forgot...

Thanks to Keith for reminding me last night of this one - however I cannot find a link to a picture;

8. Smokey (from the PJ's)

My Face

Since my professional working life began friends and acquaintances have told me of my resemblance to certain well-known personalities. Maybe this is due to my bland facial features or there is something strange going on in the mind of the beholder. Here is a list of those people in no particular order (click upon the name to take you to a picture);

1. Emo Phillips (comedian)

2. Gareth Southgate (footballer)

3. Colin Stagg (acquitted)

4. Michael Johnson (athletics god)

5. Chris Martin (Coldplay crooner)

6. Thierry Henry (footballer)

7. Maggot (welsh rapper)


If there are any more please get in touch.

Ramsgate Gets A Tan

Well the power boat weekend was rather hot - perfect weather indeed for driving a boat at 80mph. Although we didn't get down to the seafront to see any races we certainly heard the racket from our back garden. Saturday was very enjoyable; Dean visited us the day after his 34th birthday and football-aside we had a lovely time. In the evening we drank on the seafront with the wounded banshee-style wailing of Diana Ross in our ears. God she's good.

On Sunday Parkes and I met with Keith, Nicole, Georgia and Jed for a mooch along the seafront. You may find pictures below.

The seafront roads were closed to traffic. We all agreed it should remain that way in the future. 

The harbour in Ramsgate boiling in the sun. 

Keith, Nicole, Parkes and Georgia enjoying the Fat River Band. 

Georgia looking splendid in her fire truck. 

Jed relaxing in his pram pondering the life and times of Mussolini. 

Georgia and Nicole whizzing around on the horse and chicken roundabout doodah. I'm sure this ride had an old-fashioned name but it escapes me completely. 

The George Michael pirate inflatible fun-fest on the beach.