In Waiting..

Time is passing rather slowly for me at the moment. Perhaps its because im still suffering from the flu and being grounded indoors, or perhaps its the fact theres nothing productive for me to be doing in these interim weeks. Either way im twiddling my thumbs.

Id like to say that my weekend was productive, but again with the flu, ive had little chance to do anything. Sure I managed to watch a few movies, including the new Die Hard (which was actually the most active Id been...going to the cinema), however nothing to write home about.

So I sit here contemplating the options of my life and where I belong. More than usual that is.


PS: My leaving doo doo was aces. We managed to all fit (well, when I say 'all' most of the work posse were away so it was a smaller affair than usual) into Soho Bar on Greek st which is an underground cavernous place. Some pics are up but nothing too incriminating. Oh and some of us had lunch at the local restaurant. Some more pics there.

PS in case youre wondering, im the one in the red gingham shirt.

HitBack! The Phoenix

Well its been over a day and ive lost a days sleep and not managed to eat either, but by god was our gig on saturday the canines undercarriage!

23rd of of June saw the london modernist crowd head to a well known stronghold on the scene: The Phoenix. We (the ANAS) managed to secure the venue and book some amazing DJ's to make sure punters were happy music wise. And they were. We had a full dancefloor, with numbers attending touching 3 figures and the bar pretty much running out of beer!

Ill say no more. words cant describe so here are some pics.

Rollercoaster!

Believe it or not i have made numerous attempts to update the blog recently,but in all honesty the motivation just hasnt been there. As im sure you can gather from most of my posts, ive been rather negative about life and making a half assed attempt to cover it over with smoke and mirrors.

But no more! I finally took the initiative to apply for other jobs. As it turns out, an email was sent to me from one of my dearest (you fuckin know who you are!) detailing a job for a very respectable company. So I decide to cry two tears in a bucket, fuck it and apply. That was a couple of weeks ago. The lady in charge of the position called me, we met up informaly (of course im still in a suit and red socks) and talk about the role. Turns out its hard selling, something which i said i wouldnt want to do much of anymore given a choice. Luckily theres another customer service based role going too so in the end I put my name down for that.

Had the interview on friday and was sure i fucked it up. The people in the interview were so deadpan and aloof it was almost like i was in the morgue. Ok not all of my jokes are funny, im the first to admit, but when youre playing to a tough crowd and youre trying really hard to get a response with no success, its time to wonder why. Anyways, receive a call this afternoon from the lady i was talking to originally. She starts in a very soft and calculated way, which leads me to think instantly that ive let another opportunity in my life slip through the digits. She then proceeds to inform me the jobs mine if i want it. Huzzah!!! Of course I say yes and proceed to write out my resignation letter. My last day at JAi Kudo is friday, 29th of June. Plans for the epic night will be up soon.

In other news, my scooter club is putting on a gig this saturday. Well, when i say the club, its jsut really me using the club name..hey i need to use my presidential title somehow, right?
HitBack! at the Phoenix on the 23rd. Something i tried as a distraction from monotony i suppose. Teamed up with the lads i normally do gigs with (Alfie Noakes Appreciation Society) and it should be a corker. all the djs playing for free (big names on the scene, too) no venue hire costs. should be mint. So with only a few days to go im crossing my fingers it will be a blast.

What else has been happening? Err the usual. Riding around, dressing up like a bank manager and dancing like a maniac all fuckin night. Shit. its July already. I swear these months have passed like a fever dream........

The Winds of Change

Ive ranted at length about the job im in im sure. a fraction off 2 years in the company selling frames and i think the best way to describe my current mood is: Numb. No, it really is a mood. The market is taking a downturn, people left, right and centre are quitting for better things and im left here being the loyal lapdog. For fucks sake im not even lower management yet! So Im thinking about all of the possibilities for the future like a second job to make ends meet in the dead months, selling Rubi (yes its that bad) or just canning the whole thing and pissing off to Australia. Then I receive an email....
Its from a girl whom i used to work with at the hellhole. Shes on a proper london salary doing a similar thing to me and her company want someone to deal with the UK side of operations. Sounds good to me. So after some email banter and a phone call from the woman whos position is up for grabs, we arrange a meet for thursday night. Thats tonight. So im bricking it really. Casual setting, informal meet. Do i wear a suit (which, if you know me is no major thing), or more casual? No, im not worried about what will happen at said meeting, only how I look. After all, its about first impressions, right? Wish me luck.

In other news, sunday saw me again join the fray in the Great London Rideout. Its a classic scooter ride from Regents Park, through Central London and out East to Southend in Essex. What a day. Got lost (nothing new there), met some new friends, saw some old ones, burnt the back of my hands ONLY (think about it..) and ended up in Soho House on the rooftop terrace for supper with most of my scooter club. Surreal is the best word to describe. It comes second only to the experience had earlier in the day, when i was privelidged to see my magician friend of mine pack her suitcase for a business trip (think about that!). Anyways, I didnt take any pics so ill be leaching them from other sites to post up here in time.

As the days go by...

Im feeling a little better. Perhaps its the sunshine and the fact ive now managed to apologise to the parentals and the poor girlfriend at work, but its like a weight is being lifted off my shoulders.
Its probably also the fact ive now slept sufficiently and the effects of the booze etc from the weekend have worn off. Either way im feeling a more chipper, albeit not much more.

Its payday tomorrow and ive already spent it mentally on clothes and more clothes. Im sure i wont physically but its nice to dream eh. Also preparing for another long weekend in which im expected to ride to Brighton and back, then say farewell to my best bud who flies back to Australia in the new week, then attend the usual bbqs and piss ups that are associated with extended time off work. So its going to be another big one. But in moderation!!!

Another fucking monday

Ive got a killer migraine thats prevented me from working. Does my head in really. Cant see for a while, I lose the power of cognitive thought, can go numb in my limbs and brain. Today was no exception to the rule. It was so bad that I shouldnt be writing about it online i should be in bed with a cup o soup wishing there was a permanent cure!!

It has been a while since my last entry, so I thought I owed it to you all for an update.
Work has been boring, but now the wheels of change are in full swing, wo ill be working solo in my role from here on in, with someone taking care of things part time. This ensures im busy and ought to in turn earn me more money. God knows I need it. Paying off Rubi is leeching what little I have left after bills each month. Ill be glad when its done.

On the home front, Ive just spent the weekend with the parental units, although I feel awful that I went up to see them and instead end up on the lash at a do in town with the cousin. Still, for what its worth it was a great time.... until I managed one of my infamous blank spots from around 5am-10am. All I vaguely recall is leaving the lads house we had all piled into after the gig, roaming the streets and staggering onto a bus. Needless to say upon waking up in my bed 5 hours had disappeared and dad wasnt speaking to me. God I need to stop going out. Im beginning to think booze and drugs are a bad idea. Oh and so is stubbornly waiting for a bus that you cant be sure is actually running all so you dont have to face your old man whos waiting for an excuse to start a barney. sigh.

So thats the absolute latest. to sum it up, managed to piss off the cousin (who has just started rehab...i left her in a random house with strangers onthe lash), the parents (for said reason), and also managed to inadvertantly offend one of my girlfriends at work who is not best pleased with me anyways. I think the situation is termed a 'cluster fuck'...

In other news, Rubi is running like a dream, some potential rideouts on the weekend and possible relocation to a cave in the hills is on the cards to save money. Oh and of course the suffering of loneliness consumes me exponentially daily.

Pleasant post? no its fucking not. will my mood improve? i fucking hope so. think ill catch a break sometime soon? insert your comments below.

now get yer knickers on and make me a cuppa tea.

Long Week(end)

Im noticing a trend already in my posts towards the melancholy, so why break form?

Its just passed the hump hour at work (ie midday wednesday) and to be honest I had to be told that by someone to realise it. Time has been a blur for me lately and not helped by recent events as mentioned in my last post. Days merge into one, work is the height of tedium and I have more and more trouble sleeping at night. Usually up until 1 now from the earlier time of 11ish.

I know there are things on my mind like the usual 'shit wheres all my money gone this month?' and the classic 'I wonder what it would look like if i wore a skirt?', but some more pressing issues have popped up like 'shall i stay here for the rest of the year and head to australia for study and marriage...or go now? (and if so which course can i afford?, or even will i be arrested if i return to australia for debts i forgot?) and my personal favourite 'why the fack do i feel so empty?'

Whilst I can hypothesise on the answers, and believe me thats all im doing at the moment, I feel that no matter what Im going to do for the moment im missing out on living. Am I paranoid or just unsatisfied? I know theres a difference....

Well whatever it is im trying to be optimistic. Sure I earned less this month than what I owe out thanks to work screwing me over, but surely i can have a spend low month?! Sure im without a companion but isnt the whole point of life to meet new friends and share experiences? Maybe I WOULD look good in a skirt! who knows eh? I just have to ride the winds of change and see where they take me. This weekend will be an interesting one to say the least. Im going to attempt to focus on having a good time. Quality ME time crossing off the things ive wanted to do in my life. I think a ride to Brighton with the club might work in focusing on escapism. *shrug*

NB the skirt was a bet i lost some time ago with one of the girls at work. If anyone has a spare size 36 (in guys sizes) skirt theyre willing to loan me for a day please let me know.

The morning after..

And im feeling a little worse for wear. Last night saw the first night of an event a group of us are running called Hit Back and bugger me is all i can say. Despite the locals in the venue continuously asking if we were officers of the law, everyone there was up for it, the tunes were pounding and the beer was free. Which partially explains my hangover. The main cause for it though was the afterparty. At our flat.
There must have been about 20 or so people piling into cabs to come to the gaff for more of the craic and bloody hell did we have it. The couches ended up sitting vertically for more dance space, more beer was drunk than at the pub im sure and the usual mysterious cigarette burns appeared throughout the flat which can only be a sign of good times had. Oh and did I mention in dont remember a thing? No, wait thats a lie. I do recall the uber drunk girl latching on to me and dragging me around the flat for somewhere to puke and pass out. I also now remember one of the boys using oversized brandy glasses to drink his guinness and about 10kgs of pistachio nuts being consumed. I have just seen the shells as evidence. Oi vey!

For your amusement

I heard that some of you lot were hanging for some new gossip or entertainment. So ill try.

Ive just returned from Brum for a trade convention where we managed to stay pretty drunk most of the time. Believe you me it helped relieve the boredom.
Hard Rock that way sports a second rate off the peg tonic suit as worn by Rick Butler, as well as some garb once sweat on by Spencer Davis. Couple it with dj allsorts and mass cheap booze and it was worth the slumming. With my work its all about the people and honestly without them id be i n a worse state. In saying that the ride back to the insulubrious Hilton at the NEC was an eye opener as to how badly the night had plateaued. You know when your pissed when you start singing, ney, screaming to Bon Jovi. I hang my head in shame.
Upon return from the show on sunday, I decided to start piecing together a rough semblance of a plan. I had heard during the show that one of the designers had quit, leaving the position open....oh did i mention im not satisfied with my current position? ill leave the rest to you.

Monday I took the day off for a supposed photo shoot at the Ace Cafe for some new, flash and glossy mag where they wanted the usual mods vs rockers scenario played out with the vehicles being the focus. So after being previously sold on the pros of the event by the photographer, Gary, fellow BISCL member and I head out there for the agreed time of 3pm. At 6pm the team started shooting. At 9, after having only 3 shots taken, were told were done with and thanks.
So another waste of a day off. I dont have photos either.

This week though sees me playing a part in a new night on the Holloway Road. 60s soul, rhythm and blues, jazz and boogaloo at the Herbert Chapman. Should be a good night. Hit Back! its called. Hopefully the first of many. Hopefully it will take the focus off the blues im feeling right now. you know its bad when you start singing Eric Clapton. ffs.

Anyways, the pic ive posted is me at our local pub with my best fake gameshow host smile on. Please ignore the fact that im wearing exactly the same as in the last pic. I do have a change of clothes i swear!

New School

Let me tell you a little about myself. Im Nick(voice of the people) the bubble. I was born in Perth in Western Australia and travelled back and forth to Nottingham in the UK right up until a few years ago when I decided to make the move to London.
I previously had a thing going promoting and running dance parties and raves (lets be sure not to confuse the two), as well as presenting a radio show on RTRfm in Perth for a couple of years. Doing that made me realise thats what i want to do with my life. Minus the assisted sleepless nights and lack of pay of course. So that was another reason for my travelling 12000 miles across the globe. Well, that and the parental units and my mums entire family. As time progressed, I realised drum and bass and hardcore werent getting the juices flowing. Luckily my other favourite type of music was Motown, so i started to listen to plenty of the stuff. Then I moved into soul, ska , boogaloo and jazz and started dressing more sartorically than i ever had before. To this day im not happy with my threads and you may often see me hunting for some decent schmutter in various places around London.

In 2004, roughly when the promoting and the show were kicking off, I met Geri. She is my definate better half and soul mate. She came with me on my journey for two years but alas has had to travel back to Perth. There is still a large part of me with her and I know that wherever I may be she is out there thinking about how she can keep me on the straight and narrow! heheheh

In 2005 I joined Bar Italia Scooter Club. Based in Soho, the club is there to accomodate anyone with a classic geared scooter or at least a love of them and we always have new and curious riders pop along and join our weekly rides. In August 2006, the mantle of President was handed over to myself by the founder and current President, Al. While the club remains true to its roots, we are branching out and making sure we get about nationwide with summer scooter rallies and weekenders in the pipelines. I couldnt do this without my trusty steed Rubi (1964 Vespa VBB2T with a PX 150 engine and 10 inch wheel conversion for you fellow vespisti), whos pics you will see as time progresses.

Right. Thats that out the way. Its 2007 and seeing as my last blog site cant be accessed, or deleted for that matter, ive decided to go and create a new one, complete with random pics and stupid thoughts for the day. Just like the last one!
to view the other, inferior and quite frankly disorganised blog (but with ace pictures), go to http://movin_and_groovin.blogspot.com

Enjoy the site and I hope to see you about sooner or later in one way shape or form.