Good Charlotte. Bad Newspaper and Horrible Vets

This week it was off to Shepherd’s Bush Empire to see Good Charlottes – the fact that North London was turning into a riot zone didn’t turn out to be an issue as we had not seen the news and so didn’t really notice. That and Tom-Tom took us on a detour away from the war torn world formerly known as Tottenham.  In the good old days our old Sat Nav – Nafman - would have taken us into the heart of the action and all the entertainment that would have ensued…

The downside of not getting sidetracked through a riot zone is that we arrived at the gig with plenty of time to see the support. Now normally I  don’t have a problem with support bands – mainly because Mrs B is joining me after work and in general doesn’t arrives until moments before the main band hits the stage.  So no matter how bad the support act turns out to be I don’t have to worry about Mrs B complaining.  I would classify The Computers as heavy punk verging on crap – all frantic noise with very little tune or melody – Mrs B’s eyes were rolling at me within seconds of “The Computers” hitting the stage… She hinted that all would not be well if the Good Charlottes turned out to play live anything like the support…Gulp….

Now I have to admit that I have only ever listened to the Good Charlottes’ music.  I’ve not seen video footage, interviews or read much about them - so was not really sure what to expect…. I must admit that the baseball caps, tattoos and sleeveless denim jackets were a little unexpected. As was the good old boy southern accents.  Turns out that they are from Waldorf, Maryland and it looked like we had come to see a Dukes of Hazard reunion party – just needed Boss Hog and Daisy Duke (Ah, light bulb suddenly goes on -  so that’s what Katy Perry was referring to in her song "California Gurls")

California Gurls, we're unforgettable, Daisy Dukes, bikinis on top

Fortunately, first impressions can be deceiving and the Good Charlottes proved that they can play live. The joint was soon rocking, which was great for atmosphere but not good for Mrs B being able to see and an absolute nightmare in terms of trying to  get some concert footage with Mega Mini Beast…. I decided to move to the back of the auditorium, which was great for Mrs B and would have been better for taking some shots but before I could set the camera up properly I was tapped on the shoulder by a member of security and asked to step outside. 

He told me I had to hand Mega Mini Beast into the box office and collect it at the end….

I looked at the sea of camera screens glowing in front of me and asked him if he was being serious – apparently he was – just as well I had not sneaked The Beast in….

I was escourted to the I was told that I would have to collect Mega Mini Beast from the stage door after the show as the box office was just closing and was given a raffle ticket in exchange for Mega Mini Beast…

When I got back Mrs B asked me where I had been.

“Just entering Mega Mini Beast into a raffle.”

I enjoyed the rest of the show, especially when the lead singer said:

“We don’t care if you download and share our music – we started with nothing and have done very well out of the music business thank you (I’m pretty sure their record company would not be so happy with that statement).”

It made me wonder about what their feelings were about their digital picture images???

Afterwards it was round to the stage door, which was a bit ironic as the hoards of people wanting to get a look at the band were held back, while me with my little  raffle ticket was waved through and down the alley way, 25 metres to the stage door (I’m pretty sure that I heard some booing and hissing from the held back throng). I knocked on the door and was waved inside to be met by the band who insisted on giving me their autographs and posing for pictures….

Sadly not, just a young girl with a box of cameras, including, I kid you not this time, a phone  and not even a very sophisticated one…Fair play to security for stopping me using the Mega Mini Beast (although to be honest the results were so poor it deserved to go into detention)  but confiscating a phone just seems ridiculous…

Then I was back into the alley way (I probably could’ve hung around and waited for the band but I was already getting death glares from their fan base) and off home, taking yet another detour around the riot-torn streets of Tottenham and avoiding all temptation to pick up the free trainers, flat screen TV’s and designer clothing that are apparently essential for survival in modern Britain today….Mrs B and I will just have to do our best to survive on the things we bought and paid for ourselves….

At war with the local paper (although I suspect the paper neither knows nor cares.  This may turn out to be a mistake)

I’ve decided to abandon buying our local newspaper in protest at them totally ignoring my request for a photo pass for next week’s V festival.  I would totally understand if they came back and said no but to just ignore my request is the last straw.  It’s not as if they have much to do except cover the odd old lady bites dog story. The last Newspaper that upset me like this was The News Of The World and 15 years to the day (give or take a few months) of me stopping purchasing it and The News of The World was confined to history….Local Observer you have been warned…..15 to 20 years and I predict you will be no more….

CATch-up

After the cats were sentenced to death by our vets in December (bring them back in a few weeks time when you are ready to put them down) I unenthusiastically took them back for their half yearly check-up and innoculations.  I had been determined  to change vets after the last experience but being lazy I had not got around to it.  Reluctantly (this was both me and them) I got them into their cat basket and took them to the vets for the open surgery which starts at 9am. I like to get there a bit early so we don’t have to wait around for too long….only the vet never bothered to show. That was enough for me so I went out and found a new vets. A quick check over and they were passed fit and well – all that had been needed was a change of diet....I've even got McG eating cod liver oil to help ease his aging joints…So sod you, old vets. I will request one last thing from you, however, try not to condemn anyone else’s pets to an early and unnecessary demise…

Count yourselves lucky that I don’t write and complain about you to the local press….only I seem to have somehow managed to shut down that particular avenue…

This year’s music gigs and other shows

This is more for me than you guys – to try and make sure I don’t miss any of them - it's getting a bit congested again.

Up and coming

V2011 Sat 20th – 21st August - Hylands Park Chelmsford

Roddy Frame –Thu 20th October - Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush

KT Tunstall  - Tue 8th Nov - Union Chapel

The Pigeon Detectives - Thu 17th Nov, Electric Ballroom

Driving Miss Daisy - Fri 18th Nov, Wyndham's Theatre (Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones)

Duran Duran – Mon 12th  Dec, O2

Shed 7  - Sat 17th Dec, Shepherds Bush Empire

Blink and you missed it

Good Charlotte - Shepherds Bush

Tom Jones – Audley End

Athlete – Union Chapel

Bryan Ferry & Sophie Ellis-Bexter –  Kew Gardens

Blondie –  Kew Gardens

Much Ado about Nothing -   (David Tennant & Kathryn Tate)

Barenaked Ladies - Koko - CamdenTown

Childrens’ Hour  (Kiera Kightly & Elizabeth Moss)

Kylie – O2 Dome

Pigeon Detectives - Cambridge Juncton

The Feeling – Heaven - Charring Cross

Icicle Works – Islington Academy

V- Festival 2011 lineup

As the organisers don't release the times until the day before, these are the provistional based on last year - I'm confident that the running orders are fairly accurate, but the times might vary a little bit....

 

Saturday 20th August  Chelmsford & Sunday at Stafford

V Stage

1215 - 1245 : Fun Lovin Criminals

1310 - 1350 : Ziggy Marley

1420 - 1505 : KT Tunstall

1535 - 1620 : Bruno Mars

1650 - 1740 : Lostprophets

1810 - 1910 : Kaiser Chiefs

1940 - 2040 : Plan B

2120 - 2250 : Arctic Monkey

4 Music Stage

1200 - 1220 : Kassidy

1235 - 1255 : Big Country

1315 - 1345 : Aloe Blacc

1400 - 1430 : Kids In Glass Houses

1450 - 1520 : Cast

1540 - 1615 : Olly Murs

1635 - 1710 : Example

1735 - 1820 : Jessie J

1845 - 1930 : Tinie Tempah

1955 - 2045: Razorlight

2120 - 2250: Dizzee Rascal

The Arena

1215 - 1235 : Twenty Twenty

1250 - 1315 : Wretch 32

1335 - 1405 : Clare Maguire

1425 - 1455 : Labrinth

1515 - 1545 : Kele

1605 - 1640 : Chipmunk

1705 - 1740 : Wiz Khalifa

1905 - 1955 : Katy B

2020 - 2110 : Glasvegas

2140 - 2255 : Chase and Status

The Union

1200 - 1220 : Alice Gold

1240 - 1300 : Parade

1320 - 1340 : Alex Winston

1400 - 1425 : Maverick Sabre

1440 - 1505 : Beardyman

1530 - 1555 : Frankmusic

1615 - 1640 : SPECIAL GUEST

1655 - 1720 : Yasmin

1740 - 1810 : Chromeo

1835 - 1910 : Airborne Toxic Event

1935 - 2015 : Morcheeba

2040 - 2125 : Gomez

2150 - 2250 : Goldie Looking Chain

Sunday 21st August  Chelmsford & Saturday at Stafford

V Stage

1215 - 1245 : Imelda May

1310 - 1350 : Squeeze

1420 - 1505 : Ellie Goulding

1535 - 1620 : Scouting For Girls

1650 - 1740 : Manic Street Preachers

1810 - 1910 : The Script

1940 - 2040 : Rihanna

2120 - 2250 : Eminem

4 Music Stage

1200 - 1220 : The Knux

1235 - 1255 : D12

1315 - 1345 : Noisettes

1400 - 1430 : Ocean Colour Scene

1452 - 1520 : You Me At Six

1540 - 1615 : Good Charlotte

1635 - 1710 : N-Dubz

1735 - 1820 : The Wombats

1845 - 1930 : The Courteeners

2000 – 2130 : Pendulum (Guessed a rough time)

2200 - 2250 : Primal Scream

The Arena

1215 - 1235 : Slaughter House

1250 - 1315 : Hanson

1335 - 1405 : Chiddy Bang

1425 - 1455 : Dionne Bromfield

1515 - 1545 : The Wanted

1605 - 1640 : Eliza Doolittle

1705 - 1740 : The Saturdays

1805 - 1840 : Hurts

1905 - 1955 : Big Audio Dynamite

2020 - 2110 : Mark Ronson

2140 - 2255 : Duran Duran

The Union

1200 - 1220 : Wolf Gang

1240 - 1300 : Emma’s Imagination

1320 - 1340 : Morning Parade

1400 - 1425 : Fitz and the Tantrums

1440 - 1505 : Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

1530 - 1555 : Mummers

1615 - 1640 : SPECIAL GUEST

1655 - 1720 : Fenech Soler

1740 - 1810 : The Pierces

1835 - 1910 : Bellowhead

1935 - 2015 : Stornoway

2040 - 2125 : I Am Kloot

2150 - 2250 : Jaguar Skills

If anyone wants a copy of my 'band clash' excel spread sheet,  just let me know...

Show me the sunny

Monitoring our way to a fortune (or not) with our Solar Panels - This Summer is not proving as sunny as we would like but we are still on track for this years predition

KW Produced so far –  2318  2405

KW generated in the last week – 87

This has earned us approximately – £1201

Record of the week

The Little Things by Good Charlotte -

Jealousy by Good Charlotte -

I Fought The Law by Green Day - Well to be honest it's more like "I fought security and security won..."

California Gurls  by Katy Perry - just for those Daisy Duke's...

Watch of the week

The regular section in support of Joe (Stunt Cock) and his growing watch business Xupes

Xupes has been trading for over 2 years and  Joe has recently developed some great contacts in the trade which enables him to pick up surplus stock and sell them at great prices. Mrs B is a regular purchaser from his jewellery section, going self service once she finally realised that her husband is not the jewellery buying type…

Breitling Chronomat Evolution SS MOP Diamonds

Xupes price	£6,995.00
RRP	£11,950.00
Saving	£4,955.00

Xupes price

£6,995.00

RRP

£11,950.00

Saving

£4,955.00

 Excellent condition rare Breitling Chronomat Evolution Stainless Steel with factory Breitling Mother of pearl dial and diamonds mens watch on stainless steel strap with deployment buckle. This is the mens 43.7mm model. This model was manufactured in very limited numbers and are rare with the diamond bezel and dial. This particular model is now discontinued so definitely a collectors piece for the future. The watch is in excellent overall condition having barely been worn from new.

Photo Finish

A mix bag this week - including the cats, proving that they are in rude health. My attempts at getting some of our garden birds in flight and some very poor efforts of Good Charlotte.  The firts two subjects were taken with The Beast while the Good Charlotte ones by the Mega Mini Beast (You can see why he ended up in detention).

Mischief, always finds grass is the best medicine

much better than a visit to the sodding vets.....

McG, doesn't exactly look like he's on his sick bed....

Goldfinches playing musical chairs,
someone should tell them that two
birds and two chairs makes for a very
long and dull game....

"Ron, Ron have you seen my Hummingbird impression??"

Surely a straight red for this nasty two footed challenge….

 Good Charlotte - by the Mega Mini Beast - shortly before being incarceration for poor services to photography

More camera's than guitars....

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous....

Be thankful I spared you a sight of
his Daisy Duke's.....

I can at least pass this one off as arty...

I hope to bring you some better concert pictures from the V-Festival  next week...