Author: merocet

So yesterday went up to Broadway and shopped a bit, got meself a new pair of black jeans for my predictable dress sense. Then back to a nice air conditioned diner for dinner of big veggie burger and chips… mmmmm Elvis! Did i mention it’s hot and sticky here? well it is, both hot and sticky. And there’s a mosquito lives in my apartment who likes the taste of English men… Fee Fi Fo Fum and all that. He’s a big bugger.

After that, back to the apartment which feels strangely like home now. Probably because I haven’t actually got a home anymore. Pre going out G+T’s and then off down to a place called the Knitting Factory to see Electrelane. They weren’t great since all they seem to do is play the end of old Stereolab songs. Their guitarist rules though. Support was a lady called Scout Niblett. Whacky name, whacky girl. She was ace. Then the singer from Cibo Matto played with her new group who made lovely pop music. She was very funny too.

Then back to the apartment for more Gin… ooops, ouch, snooze… night night…

So we wandered past Dave’s house but he was in bed poorly and couldn’t even be enticed out to play by the offer of free lollipops so off to Coney Island we went. Wandered around the Russian exile part of Brighton Beach (no relation), ate big food which was like donuts the size of a mans head stuffed with cheese and chives, went up on the boardwalk (but not under) then off to Coney island proper for a look-see. Had a go on a shooting game. I’m ace at shooting. Went to the beach for a paddle in the Atlantic and waved in the direction of old Blighty, then off to a real live freak show where people pushed ice picks up their noses, did crazy contortionist stuff and lay in beds of nails. Cool!

It’s Labour Day today here which means NY is probably heaving out there and that no-ones allowed to wear white clothing from now on. Today I’m off to Coney Island (baby) featuring a quick wander past David Bowies apartment in Soho. Chances are I’ll be there for cocktails and lollipops most of the afternoon but Coney Island will still be there tomorrow.

Yesterday all the work caught up with me and I had to lie down a lot.

So New York then! Done it.

After 3 months of house crap, it’s really odd to get some sleep and not have to think about the next thing that needs doing. Don’t think I ever worked that hard in all the time I had a proper job. The upside of it was that jet lag is soooo not an issue. I’ve not slept more than 4 hours a night for weeks so even a day like yesterday being awake for 24 hours but only having to sit on a plane then go out for a few drinks felt like utter relaxation in comparison to constant decoration and then a nice 10 hour stretch of sleep followed.

Today is “going to sit in the park with a book day” bought to you by the letters R, E, L, A and X.

Webcam is live when we’re in… If you see us in our pants please look away…

And now the house is done,

the flat packs made,

the factor max that proved the fact is melted down

and soon I’ll be lying on my pillow.

With apologies to DB

Keys are with letting agents. I’m shattered, blistered, bearded and in a strange in between place. Does that count as philosophy? Sorry Cliff.

But I just found a can of lager at the back of my fridge and damn it tastes good.

Next post from NYC… See ya.

This is a pic of a nice man called Will I know who said I should have more pictures on this. Now there are more pictures. It was a little dark this evening…

You know the bit in that film Jack And Sarah when Richard “E sold his soul to Argos” Grant tries to make the baby Sarah stop crying by dancing with her to Stars by Simply Red? That always makes my eyes fill up with tears and I still don’t know whether it’s just cos I really don’t like Simply Red or whether it’s the emotion of the moment. Given that I can cry at Eastenders it’s probably not my phobia of white cod soul that’s causing the problem.

Bizarrely the house is nearly finished, which is good I guess because I have one more night in it before I run away to the land to the Buffalo. Never ever thought I’d manage it this time last week or even 2 days ago but, damn me if cutting sleep out of my life totally didn’t do the trick? I will now proceed to sleep my way around the US for 3 months which if it wasn’t quite literally true would be quite saucy.

I think it’s the fact that I seem to have grown a beard that tipped the balance on the DIY front. If you look a bit more tough DIY falls at your feet in admiration.

On I go putting up 3 curtain poles and a lock on me loft hatch make a bed out of bits and 2 wardrobes and then it’s just having a good old clean up (me and the house) and my work here is done. Normally I wouldn’t mind but if my plane crashes now after all this work I will be so pissed off.

See ya in the pub

…As was the cash point when I went to get some… well, cash…

God I hate technology. I like what it can do but I hate the random way it does it. Trying to transfer email accounts, web hosting stuff, update ftp links and will any of it work? Will it hell. My least favourite phrase at the moment is “may take up to 24 hours for changes to take effect.” Ok, thanks, so how am I supposed to know whether it’s worked or not? Does not getting emails now mean I am incredibly unpopular or is there a dot in the wrong place amongst the billion settings I’ve just had to type?

Also means that no-one can read this post so this is possibly the most futile thing I’ve ever typed. No, hang on, I forgot about all the typing that I did when I worked. A lot of that was far more futile.

Anyway, grumble, moan, grrr.

What else? Builders have been working all weekend including Sunday and todays bank holiday to get stuff finished for me. That makes them very good people. Apart from the being woken up by them at 8 am every day obviously. This whole thing is looking very tight but just about doable, featuring giving my keys to a letting agent on the way to the airport later this week. What can possibly go wrong?

I’m trying to fit in seeing all you lovely people before I go but that’s very tricky indeed given the timing. How about I just give you all my solicitors telephone number and you phone him up and swear at him for screwing the timing of the remortgage so badly? That’ll make us all feel better. Seriously, if I don’t get to see you, doesn’t mean I don’t care.

I’ll be at the Red Lion in Islington on Wednesday night if anyone wants to pop in and say hello, wave goodbye. Standing in the door of the Pink Flamingo… vote over there>>>^

Oh and have a look at the link of my buddy Simon’s similar website up there in the links bit. He’s doing something even more stupid than me.