Although i have strong political views, I have no political allegiance to any of our parties here in the UK. I tend to agree and disagree with all parties on certain bits of their main policies. They are ALL in it for themselves and what started out as a working for the dirty masses, has turned into a selfish, self-promoting, fuck you jack, free-for-all.
i cant think of one politician who would last 10 minutes in a "proper" job. The amount of fuck-ups by this and past governments are, sadly, too many to list and would be laughable if not so serious in that they fuck up so many people's lives. The latest example of talking before you are fully awake has come from Yvette Cooper, cabinet spokes person for something or other (the treasury, i think) responded to the conservatives' announcement that they would, if they get to power, raise the threshold of Inheritance tax to £1m per person or £2m for a couple. ( currently set by Labour at £1/4M or there abouts) Yvette, I would like to think, in a state of panic (but it probably is down to straightforward idiocy), commented thus:
" It's just a tax break for millionaires". HELLO, you stupid bitch. If you pay no tax on inheritance under £1M; and therefore pay tax on £1M or over, it's a tax ON millionaires. How stupid can one person be? No need to answer that one, i know from experience.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By popular demand
Ok folks. some of you still come here to read what Delbut is up to. Sue even suggested that i should "make something up like i used to". Sue, everything on here is true and factual. I've never made anything up.
Today's topic is the Olympics. Seems team GB has had one of the most successful Olympics -ever. We are third only to the Chinese and Americans. Yeah, we are beating the Aussies. Whoohoo.
Now the realistic bit. We have won most of our medals either in or on the water or on a push bike. Mmm. Considering we are surrounded by water and have had the wettest summer on record and most of the in-land area consists of very large puddles and, just as importantly, because we have run out of petrol, we are now cycling everywhere, how could we fail?
All other events that rely on: throwing things, lifting things, hand/eye coordination, shooting clay objects, punching people, running around in circles, running a long way, jumping over things in the way, any ball game, dressing up in leotards, bows and arrows -well, everything else really-we are still pretty crap at.
What we need now is another conflict with the French so we can brush up on the archery and shooting skills and maybe ask the Romans, Angles and Vikings to invade us again so we can practice the running away bit. We have got too comfortable in peace time so Delbut's answer is: full-on WAR. I intend standing on a cliff at Dover and showing my naked arse to the French while doodling a beard on to a photograph of Edith Piaf. That should do it.
P.S.
Is it wrong to watch the female swimmers for more than their aquatic ability?
Today's topic is the Olympics. Seems team GB has had one of the most successful Olympics -ever. We are third only to the Chinese and Americans. Yeah, we are beating the Aussies. Whoohoo.
Now the realistic bit. We have won most of our medals either in or on the water or on a push bike. Mmm. Considering we are surrounded by water and have had the wettest summer on record and most of the in-land area consists of very large puddles and, just as importantly, because we have run out of petrol, we are now cycling everywhere, how could we fail?
All other events that rely on: throwing things, lifting things, hand/eye coordination, shooting clay objects, punching people, running around in circles, running a long way, jumping over things in the way, any ball game, dressing up in leotards, bows and arrows -well, everything else really-we are still pretty crap at.
What we need now is another conflict with the French so we can brush up on the archery and shooting skills and maybe ask the Romans, Angles and Vikings to invade us again so we can practice the running away bit. We have got too comfortable in peace time so Delbut's answer is: full-on WAR. I intend standing on a cliff at Dover and showing my naked arse to the French while doodling a beard on to a photograph of Edith Piaf. That should do it.
P.S.
Is it wrong to watch the female swimmers for more than their aquatic ability?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
So, what has been happening in the world of Delbut? Well, apart from making sweet lurve to my new lover (see last post) I have mostly been to Cyprus. Northern Cyprus. Kyrenia, to be exact.
Why? I hear you say.
Because Spiny Norman, top Welsh covers band, was invited out there to take part in the first Big Jam weekend in the Tunnel Rock Bar.
To be honest, Delbut was a little negative about it to start with. (Only because we had to fly out at 10pm and, having to stop in Istanbul, Turkey to re-wind the elastic band that was the engine, before flying on to Ercan airport landing at 5am.) but that soon lifted when we got through customs with guitars in tact and Delbut had his first fag in 7 hours.
Taxi to the hotel was waiting for us and we get there in time for breakfast. A quick kip and off to the tunnel bar at 3pm for a sound check. This is where we started to think we were a little out of our depth. Massive P.A (anything over 600w is huge for us) good equipment, big stage and in a line-up with musicians that know their stuff.
(Spiny and Red Raw conceal the fact that 12 televisions have been thrown into the pool. how childish).
Which brings me to the other bands on the bill. We flew over with a great Scottish band, Red Raw who, to be honest, had an even longer trip to get there than we did, a local blues band whose name escapes me, and resident band. Funky Monkey. Top, top band made up of a Welshman, Scot, Cypriot and Turkish musicians. These guys seriously kick arse and were also the promoters of the event.
First thing we had to do was to sink a couple of lagers, which we begrudgingly did, do the sound check From here on, it got a little surreal, to say the least. Big Al, (bass/vocal) trotted off to do an interview for Cypriot radio. What? Then, during lunch, we were told we had to Turkish TV. interviews. What the fuck?
Apparently, this was a big thing for Northern Cyprus, who have not had too many travelling bands call in. Stupidly, Delbut volunteered along with Egg (guitar) to do it. Even more stupidly, I suggested that to make the most of this one time opportunity, we must elect a word that we had to sneak into the interview. Egg gave me “pineapple”. Never playing this game before, I gave Egg “transit van” and “bread”. Which, on reflection was rather too easy!
(Egg talks bollocks to a t.v man from turkey).
Anyway, apparently, Spiny Norman will be playing at the world-famous Pineapple festival in Birmingham in the summer, and Egg enjoyed breaking bread with some good people and is looking forward to chucking the gear in the back of a transit van and touring the world.
Friday’s gig.
Spiny Norman became the first western band to officially play on Cypriot soil. We were second on and already sunk enough of Jonnie's Tequila to fill a bass drum. But it went well. No, it went spiffingly well.
Red Raw was on next and they were absolutely fab. A great band but better than that, a great bunch of guys.
Ok. With a collective sigh of relief, we then watched Funky Monkey. I’ve seen a lot of covers bands in my time but these guys are a cut above. And gorgeous Anna on guest vocal added a bit of glamour.
(Um, what chord is it?)
Saturday.
Probably got to bed about 4am. I was up at 8am. Ears ringing from last night, I needed food. Eventually, when everyone got up, Spiny and Red Raw were on a mission for an English breakfast. We found Molly’s. The best brekkie ever. It was here that we decided on the plan for the day. Andy (guitar/vocals) and Al had to go do a radio interview. Ok, what word must Andy get in?
To be fair we were democratic about it. Give me a number, says Delbut. 48 says, Al. K, turn to page 48 of yesterdays Times. Number from 1-3. 3, says Al. K. Number from 1 –8. 8. K. Any number up to 20.- 10 he says. Cool. Stamford Bridge. (football stadium). Apparently, we have a secret 5th member of the band. Suffering with snow blindness. Stamford couldn’t be with us on this trip but we wished him all the best.
The gig on Saturday was again great fun. More people there and a great atmos.
(The fab Anna does her Mel C impersonation).
Sunday was a day off and we flew back on Monday.
We have been invited back to play in July at Big Jam 2, which promises to be as good but with even more tequila. Where will all this jet setting end? Apart from the newly-invented Pineapple festival …and a wedding to play?
Why? I hear you say.
Because Spiny Norman, top Welsh covers band, was invited out there to take part in the first Big Jam weekend in the Tunnel Rock Bar.
To be honest, Delbut was a little negative about it to start with. (Only because we had to fly out at 10pm and, having to stop in Istanbul, Turkey to re-wind the elastic band that was the engine, before flying on to Ercan airport landing at 5am.) but that soon lifted when we got through customs with guitars in tact and Delbut had his first fag in 7 hours.
Taxi to the hotel was waiting for us and we get there in time for breakfast. A quick kip and off to the tunnel bar at 3pm for a sound check. This is where we started to think we were a little out of our depth. Massive P.A (anything over 600w is huge for us) good equipment, big stage and in a line-up with musicians that know their stuff.
(Spiny and Red Raw conceal the fact that 12 televisions have been thrown into the pool. how childish).
Which brings me to the other bands on the bill. We flew over with a great Scottish band, Red Raw who, to be honest, had an even longer trip to get there than we did, a local blues band whose name escapes me, and resident band. Funky Monkey. Top, top band made up of a Welshman, Scot, Cypriot and Turkish musicians. These guys seriously kick arse and were also the promoters of the event.
First thing we had to do was to sink a couple of lagers, which we begrudgingly did, do the sound check From here on, it got a little surreal, to say the least. Big Al, (bass/vocal) trotted off to do an interview for Cypriot radio. What? Then, during lunch, we were told we had to Turkish TV. interviews. What the fuck?
Apparently, this was a big thing for Northern Cyprus, who have not had too many travelling bands call in. Stupidly, Delbut volunteered along with Egg (guitar) to do it. Even more stupidly, I suggested that to make the most of this one time opportunity, we must elect a word that we had to sneak into the interview. Egg gave me “pineapple”. Never playing this game before, I gave Egg “transit van” and “bread”. Which, on reflection was rather too easy!
(Egg talks bollocks to a t.v man from turkey).
Anyway, apparently, Spiny Norman will be playing at the world-famous Pineapple festival in Birmingham in the summer, and Egg enjoyed breaking bread with some good people and is looking forward to chucking the gear in the back of a transit van and touring the world.
Friday’s gig.
Spiny Norman became the first western band to officially play on Cypriot soil. We were second on and already sunk enough of Jonnie's Tequila to fill a bass drum. But it went well. No, it went spiffingly well.
Red Raw was on next and they were absolutely fab. A great band but better than that, a great bunch of guys.
Ok. With a collective sigh of relief, we then watched Funky Monkey. I’ve seen a lot of covers bands in my time but these guys are a cut above. And gorgeous Anna on guest vocal added a bit of glamour.
(Um, what chord is it?)
Saturday.
Probably got to bed about 4am. I was up at 8am. Ears ringing from last night, I needed food. Eventually, when everyone got up, Spiny and Red Raw were on a mission for an English breakfast. We found Molly’s. The best brekkie ever. It was here that we decided on the plan for the day. Andy (guitar/vocals) and Al had to go do a radio interview. Ok, what word must Andy get in?
To be fair we were democratic about it. Give me a number, says Delbut. 48 says, Al. K, turn to page 48 of yesterdays Times. Number from 1-3. 3, says Al. K. Number from 1 –8. 8. K. Any number up to 20.- 10 he says. Cool. Stamford Bridge. (football stadium). Apparently, we have a secret 5th member of the band. Suffering with snow blindness. Stamford couldn’t be with us on this trip but we wished him all the best.
The gig on Saturday was again great fun. More people there and a great atmos.
(The fab Anna does her Mel C impersonation).
Sunday was a day off and we flew back on Monday.
We have been invited back to play in July at Big Jam 2, which promises to be as good but with even more tequila. Where will all this jet setting end? Apart from the newly-invented Pineapple festival …and a wedding to play?
Monday, March 24, 2008
My Baby waits in the day for the night...
Ok. So i bought this new geetar. #She is my baby and i love her yeah#.She is not new really -no, someone else has fingered her - but she is mine now. Ok, the pictures are crap -flash wouldn't work -so i'll take some new ones tomorrow. But it's a Gibon J-200 and she is called Mary-Ann.
Friday, February 22, 2008
For Sale
One number VW Camper -slightly used. this has one careful owner and one very careless one. Used in the early days of The Who, it was owned by Mr Pete Townshend but driven by Roger Daltrey because Mr Townshend was always pissed.
Lovingly restored by Rachel Fuller to near its original splendour. (as you can see) You can buy it NOW for £50 or willing to trade for a completed Premier League All-Stars 2007 sticker book.
Buyer must collect from Richmond-on-Thames.
Guernsey update, workload, and the fucking customs and excise bastards.
Went over to Guernsey this week for a last minute check. Was expecting to see it more-or-less finished but there is still loads to do and it's supposed to be open next Thursday. My ass is on the line and it's twitching like a heroin-addict's arm muscle.
We only have the highest government officer on the Island and his wife and about 50 other people going to the opening so not much at stake.
Apart from that, two other jobs have finished on time and are looking mighty fine. Only another 20-odd to go.
I went away hoping that my new lover would be here when i got back. A new Gibson J-200 acoustic. Blond it is. (although i prefer brunettes) How foolish of me to think that all would be well. Apparently, it took 5 days to ship from the U.S., which is OK by me -quite good actually - but it's been sitting in customs and excise ever since (3 days!)
I know you have to quarantine animals and that you have to check packages for drugs and stuff but fuck me, how long does it take to assess a 12-year-old guitar? And -this is the best- I may have to pay import tax on it. A second hand, one-off transaction is subject to our government getting some more money off me to spend on their second homes in London. It's perverse.
We only have the highest government officer on the Island and his wife and about 50 other people going to the opening so not much at stake.
Apart from that, two other jobs have finished on time and are looking mighty fine. Only another 20-odd to go.
I went away hoping that my new lover would be here when i got back. A new Gibson J-200 acoustic. Blond it is. (although i prefer brunettes) How foolish of me to think that all would be well. Apparently, it took 5 days to ship from the U.S., which is OK by me -quite good actually - but it's been sitting in customs and excise ever since (3 days!)
I know you have to quarantine animals and that you have to check packages for drugs and stuff but fuck me, how long does it take to assess a 12-year-old guitar? And -this is the best- I may have to pay import tax on it. A second hand, one-off transaction is subject to our government getting some more money off me to spend on their second homes in London. It's perverse.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Just for a change
I'd thought i'd write something about my work.
tis busy, busy, busy already. My job tasks are many-fold but to not bore you, basically i make sure our buildings are maintained, do a bit of design work for refurbishment projects ( that's re-modelling to the yanks, or "tarting them up" if you are Welsh)). And getting contractors to do all the work. I travel quite a bit around part of this insignificant country and get to sit in many traffic jams.
Anyway. I have 26 tarting-up jobs to complete this year (that's one every fortnight-dur) and still do all the other little pain in the arse bits to 200 properties.
As you may imagine, not all jobs go swimmingly so there may be a bit of swearing on here when i report in from time to time.
We are currently on site at our shop on the island of Guernsey, which is just off the French coast. Now i like going there. The flights are few and far between, which means i have to stay over for a night or two, AND i get to bring back duty-free fags. Bargain. The guys started on site on Monday. Well, they would have if the ferry hadn't been cancelled. Bugger, already a day behind. I get a phone call on the tuesday.
" Good news. We are here and have started digging holes."
"Cool", said I.
" Mmm, hang on a minute", said the voice. " We have uncovered a hole that shouldn't be there. It's 6 ft deep and 4 ft across and lined with bricks. We think it may be a well."
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"No, a well?"
"Yeah, you know. A hole in the ground that you keep wat..."
" Yes, yes, i know what a fucking well is."
"It's not my fault". He said, rather hurt.
"Where is it?" I stupidly asked.
"in...the...ground". He spoke slowly.
"Is the boss there". Hopefully.
"He's taking a dump". (shit) He said, far too openly.
"Ok.You'll have to do. Where, in relation to the walls of the new building, is the hole?"
" Oh! Right underneath where two walls join".
"Fucking marvellous", I muttered.
" We need an engineer to tell us what to do." He said, passing the buck.
"I could tell you." I thought
This went on for far too long but eventually we found that it was just an old, disused pit ( probably used to keep builders' brains in) and decided to shift the walls a bit and fill the hole in.
I'm sure this saga isn't over.
tis busy, busy, busy already. My job tasks are many-fold but to not bore you, basically i make sure our buildings are maintained, do a bit of design work for refurbishment projects ( that's re-modelling to the yanks, or "tarting them up" if you are Welsh)). And getting contractors to do all the work. I travel quite a bit around part of this insignificant country and get to sit in many traffic jams.
Anyway. I have 26 tarting-up jobs to complete this year (that's one every fortnight-dur) and still do all the other little pain in the arse bits to 200 properties.
As you may imagine, not all jobs go swimmingly so there may be a bit of swearing on here when i report in from time to time.
We are currently on site at our shop on the island of Guernsey, which is just off the French coast. Now i like going there. The flights are few and far between, which means i have to stay over for a night or two, AND i get to bring back duty-free fags. Bargain. The guys started on site on Monday. Well, they would have if the ferry hadn't been cancelled. Bugger, already a day behind. I get a phone call on the tuesday.
" Good news. We are here and have started digging holes."
"Cool", said I.
" Mmm, hang on a minute", said the voice. " We have uncovered a hole that shouldn't be there. It's 6 ft deep and 4 ft across and lined with bricks. We think it may be a well."
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"No, a well?"
"Yeah, you know. A hole in the ground that you keep wat..."
" Yes, yes, i know what a fucking well is."
"It's not my fault". He said, rather hurt.
"Where is it?" I stupidly asked.
"in...the...ground". He spoke slowly.
"Is the boss there". Hopefully.
"He's taking a dump". (shit) He said, far too openly.
"Ok.You'll have to do. Where, in relation to the walls of the new building, is the hole?"
" Oh! Right underneath where two walls join".
"Fucking marvellous", I muttered.
" We need an engineer to tell us what to do." He said, passing the buck.
"I could tell you." I thought
This went on for far too long but eventually we found that it was just an old, disused pit ( probably used to keep builders' brains in) and decided to shift the walls a bit and fill the hole in.
I'm sure this saga isn't over.
Friday, January 04, 2008
It's that time of year
I don't usually get maudling around this time of year. I'm not one for false hopes or wishes so there are no resolutions here.
But saying that, it does make you think,when someone as cool and as nice as Kid Ric passes briefly through your cyber-life;only to be taken away just as quick, perhaps i should have some hopes and wishes?
Ok, just to join in. This year I will be mainly wanting to:
1) Seeing James Casey's band play live.
2) Finishing my mini-opera
3) Starting my book.
4) Buy a Gibson J200
5) Help someone in a fix. ( I know all the beauty pagent girls say they want to that sort of stuff, but it's sincere).
6) NEWLY ADDED - Enter Bex ( i could stop typing there, but better not) 's forum challenge.
BUT befoe i can do that, i have the small problem of this year's panto!!
This year, the Village players are doing Peter Pan. there will be much swaggering and general mayhem. I usually have a small part ( see, the jokes have started already......ta -da I thenk you)
and sort out the sound effects and lighting and sound track etc, then get a monkey to push all the right buttons. this year there will be no acting for me so i've spanked my monkey ( waits for tittering to end) and sent him on his way. I will sit in the attic space and press my own buttons.
I will be locked in for 2 hours with only a bottle to piss in and no where to sneak a fag.
As soon as it's done, i will continue my musical opus (more like 'opeless ) and do a bit of work with Suesjoy, my singing mucker (friend). Until then, let's all swash a buckleand enjoy life before anything nasty happens.
Love and peace.
P.S. I've managed to sneak a Who number in to the panto. Don't tell Pete, he'll sue me.
But saying that, it does make you think,when someone as cool and as nice as Kid Ric passes briefly through your cyber-life;only to be taken away just as quick, perhaps i should have some hopes and wishes?
Ok, just to join in. This year I will be mainly wanting to:
1) Seeing James Casey's band play live.
2) Finishing my mini-opera
3) Starting my book.
4) Buy a Gibson J200
5) Help someone in a fix. ( I know all the beauty pagent girls say they want to that sort of stuff, but it's sincere).
6) NEWLY ADDED - Enter Bex ( i could stop typing there, but better not) 's forum challenge.
BUT befoe i can do that, i have the small problem of this year's panto!!
This year, the Village players are doing Peter Pan. there will be much swaggering and general mayhem. I usually have a small part ( see, the jokes have started already......ta -da I thenk you)
and sort out the sound effects and lighting and sound track etc, then get a monkey to push all the right buttons. this year there will be no acting for me so i've spanked my monkey ( waits for tittering to end) and sent him on his way. I will sit in the attic space and press my own buttons.
I will be locked in for 2 hours with only a bottle to piss in and no where to sneak a fag.
As soon as it's done, i will continue my musical opus (more like 'opeless ) and do a bit of work with Suesjoy, my singing mucker (friend). Until then, let's all swash a buckleand enjoy life before anything nasty happens.
Love and peace.
P.S. I've managed to sneak a Who number in to the panto. Don't tell Pete, he'll sue me.
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