Parkes and I enjoyed a lovely walk in the warm October sunshine in Ramsgate on Sunday. We walked along the beach and then Parkes and I ventured into the arcades where she whipped ma ass on a motorbike video game. Shucks. 

A windy beach and salty sea air. Kite surfers were out in great numbers to take advantage of the conditions (well at least three that I could see). 

Maximo Park

Tonight Parkes and I will going to the Brixton Academy with K and JC to see Maximo Park getting it on. I love the band and have been looking forward to this gig for ages. And I'll also be checking out K and JC's place and newborn for the first time.

Saturday will be a working day in Bexleyheath preparing for our Monday deployments - mine being in Southampton. On Sunday Parkes and I are going to the tip. Woooooo. Should be a giggle.

Belfast

The trip went well. Other than the 3 hour flight delay outbound and the 1 hour delay inbound everything seemed to go fairly smoothly. The place is very attractive - one only has to turn a corner in the city centre to see the big green hills surrounding the city. The people are friendly and hospitable and very softly-spoken. Our taxi driver (Frankie) told us that the Guinness wasn't as tasty as the same brew in Dublin but was substantially nicer than the English version - and so it was! Frankie also recommended to us the heart-stopping Ulster Fry breakfast whish consists of the usual English breakfast components but with fried soda bread and potato bread added for good measure. Unfortunately the Holiday Inn we stayed at didn't have this sort of brekkie so we had to make do with bacon, egg and beans.

I would like to return to Belfast to check out the taxi tour of the Falls and Shankill Road areas - scenes of sectarian protest and violence in the past decades. I believe this tour costs about a fiver.

This weekend I am off to Southampton. Not as swish as Belfast but it will have to do I guess.

Bad Hair Day

Went for a few Thursday night beers with Keith last night. We enjoyed ourselves. However today everything seems to be against me. The computer won't do what I tell it. The vacuum cleaner has a 'seek and destroy' tendency. I should have stayed in bed and dreamed of bears and pixies dressed up as bears.

Parkes, Dean and I are out for a few beers tonight in Ramsgate city. I am working from Saturday until Tuesday - this includes a trip to Belfast on Sunday. How lovely.

I have been listening to a preview of the new Beck album The Information. If you like Beck you'll love it.

Ryder Cup

I've spent the past weekend watching the Ryder Cup from start to finish. It was magnificent to see Europe stuff the Yanks. Not that I dislike Americans but I thought a few of the American players looked like they had overdosed on cheese burgers.

I also watched '50 Greatest Rock Legends' on the Kerrang channel at Keith and Nicole's house. No Jimi Hendrix in the 50 however I was pleased to see Gene Simmons and David Lee Roth in the top 20. Number one was Kurt Cobain singing a song about spuds.

First Rollout Weekend

It's Belfast for me. Superb. I have always wanted to go to Belfast and sample the local colour and now it will happen on the weekend 30/09 - 01/10. I'm sure the locals will be very hospitable and point me in the direction of the nearest Guinness outlet. Actually I haven't had a pint of Beamish for ages. Or Murphys.

Thorpe Park

Steve and Tan kindly invited Parkes and I to Thorpe Park on Saturday for a day of thrills and spills. Whilst it was very busy and there were long queues for the rides we had a lovely time. Highlight for me was the Stealth coaster which left me in pieces. We also visited the 4D Pirate cinema which was amazing and got soaked on the Log Flume. Pictures can be found below.

Parkes, Steve and Tan in front of Stealth. 

Steve checking out Stealth. 

Steve, Tan and Parkes riding on Nemesis. All legs and metal. 

Fresh from riding the Nemesis coaster. 

Parkes, Steve and Tan looking chic in the 4D Pirate cinema. 

David Hasselhog. It takes him hours to get his hair like this. 

Weekend

These days the weekends wouldn't be the same without a trip to my place in Essex. This weekend the carpets were fitted and Bekie cut the back-garden lawn whilst I finished the glossing.

Sunday was spent with the coolers well and truly on.

Big Bear's Porridge

...exploded all over the inside of the microwave this morning. A great way to start the morning but as today is domestic chores day I guess it got me kick-started! This weekend the carpets are being fitted in my house in Essex. Parkes and I will be glossing and tidying the place. Hopefully it will be rented soon. Anyone who wants to rent a cosy two bedroomed place in Essex had better get in touch quickly.

Leaving do pictures. Bal and Stefan chewing the fat. 

Ian, Charles and the ghost of Ash. 

Three wise men. Also here are James, Dean and Matt. 

The legend that is Pasty.