Myspace.com

How much do I love the randomness of Myspace. Make friends. Click on friends. Click on their friends. Find the oddest celebrities. Some real. Some not so real.

Currently in my friends are:

Chesney Hawkes
Cameron off of Hollyoaks (OK he has left now)
Gary Lightbody (It is bizzarely him. Weird set of friends he has. I drew the line at Edith Bowman and Colin Murray.)
Noel Edmonds
The Kooks ("Look at his hair, he's so cute" (The Kooks/Emma ©))
Eddie Argos
Julian Barrett
Naboo

I'm still pending friends:

Mr. T
Noel Fielding

Political Animal - Recording for Radio 4

Another Radio recording, another free night out. (It's News Quiz tonight.)

This time recording was taking place at ULU. I was late, again, sorry guys. Still we did get in.

Having seen John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman's Political Animal show that they did at Soho Theatre just before Christmas we knew what to expect. 3 Acts introduced by John and Andy. However it was explained that whilst the 3 acts were being recorded, John and Andy were not. Their parts were going to be added nearer the time of airing. That led to a catchphrase being formed of 'that won't be making it to air.'

The 3 acts were Jeremy Hardy, who I love, but wasn't on top form I didn't feel. I think he perhaps comes across best when he is off script and being mischevious on News Quiz (Fingers crossed for tonight.) Pete Cain was on next, his act went down well, though me and Caz had already seen it nearly word for word at the show Political Animal show last year. Finally I thought Glenn Wool stole the show. We saw him for the briefest minute on Monday. I hope he comes across as well on the radio as he did on stage. I worry that his material worked so well because of his mannerisms.

It was fun night out again, I've applied for priority tickets next week's show. Yay!

This show should go out next week at 11pm on the 4th April on Radio 4.

28 Acts in 28 Minutes - Recording of 2 shows

Me and Caz headed over to Bloomsbury Theatre to see two shows of 28 Acts in 28 Minutes being recorded for Radio yesterday. Caz obviously had to wait around for me to arrive for 15 minutes, as I was late getting out of work as per normal. I don't think she minded though since she got recognised by Alex Horne and members of Cowards as she hung around outside. They were looking for a dog lead, for some reason they thought she'd have one. (The time we dressed a few up in fairy and angel wings with tiaras, wands and feather boas one strange night seems to have stayed with them.)

The audience was a little thin on the ground, for what was the biggest line-up of any show I've ever been to. Ok they only get to do a minute before the buzzer goes and they are off, but still there were 56 acts!

Here are the majority of those who performed. (I'm missing a few acts, poets, brass instrument players, names who escape me.)

Marcus Brigstock, Martin White, DJ Danny Robins, (Marcus And Danny Together), Cowards (Stefan, Lloyd, Tim, With Alex Horne), Alex Horne, Phil Kaye, Ed Byrne, Matt (Poet?), Phil Nichols, Jo Enright, Alun Cochrane, We Are Klang, Rob Rouse, Kevin Day, Will Hodgson, Jared Christmas, Penny Spubs Party, Rob Deering, Adam Buxton, Punt & Dennis, Justin Edwards, Dan Antopolski, Stefano Paolini, Kit & The Widow,Nick Mohammed (Back In Town Again), Ben Willbond, John Hegley, Lucy Porter, Frankie Boyle, The Trap, Rev. Obadiah Steppenwolf (Jim Muir), Marcus Cummings (May have that wrong?), Neil Edmond, Adam Bloom, Oram & Meeten, Glenn Wool, Richard Herring, Isy Suttie, Nick Revell, Count Arthur Strong, Barry Cryer, Josie Long, James Bachman As Papa Christmas, Jo Neary, Gary Le Strange, Scott Capurro, Susan Murray, The Consultants, Patrick Monahan, Nicholas Parsons.

There were a fair few Book Club regulars in there, and in the audience, which is possibly why Martin got one of the biggest cheers of the nite for his rendition of Song 2 by Blur. (It can be done in a minute!)

Civilisation - Chris Addison, Dan Tetsell, Jo Enright, Geoffrey McGivern - Last recording

I took Tim to the final recording of Civilisation last night. We arrived at a reasonably early time like I did last time, only to find the doors shut, with a note on them stating doors wouldn't be opened until 6.15pm. The Jubilee line was not running and it was Mothering Sunday, so I think that there was a staff problem. Oh well, we queued anyway regardless of the rain. (It's what my parka was invented for.)

So early/british/queuefiends were we, that we got the front row middle seats. Introducing my friends to any of my favourite comedians is always difficult as I obviously want my friends to love them as much as I do. Chris "Look at his hair, he's so cute" (The Kooks/Emma ©) Addison is one of my favourite comedians of the past couple of years. I don't think he disappointed. As tonights show was the last one of the series, there was a bit of a last day at school mentality, and it was Geoffery McGivern's messing about which stole the show.

The best bit Geoffery's character, the professor, reading from his thesis on children and tradition, "Stop Crying, and put the bells on your feet. Teaching children traditions."

Love it. The show is being aired from the 5th April at 6.30pm on Radio 4.

The Book Club - Another month, another appraisal

I don't actually need to review it this week, it's been done rather thoroughly for me here. Having taken another guest along this month, I understand Tim has too become a Book Club convert, having said he's not laughed that much in ages. Well not since the last time I fell over. Ha ha.

Vienna not Venice. Austria not Australia.

There is a t-shirt reading No Kangaroos in Austria. That sums up most people's knowledge of Austria. It seems on mentioning me and Caz were off to Vienna many confused it with Venice. (The Canal-ridden place in Italy.) Oh dear. So here are some of the highlights for those considering a trip out there to visit Gordon and Lisa. (Well worth doing by the way. So get yourselves flights!)

Lisa and Gordon's Flat - How cool is their wall?!

A tram - obviously.

Special Vienna Coffee, with ice cream instead of cream

Kleines Cafe for a few beers Celebrating St Patricks with beer they turned green.

Had to take a picture of this poster in the toilets! Austrian's like the Bishops! That will interest some of you I'm sure.

Stephansdom and it's Jazzy Roof
The Bread Trading Standards on the side of Stephansdom. I should explain, if you had bought some bread, you could bring it here and measure it against either the semi circle or iron lengths to make sure you weren't short-changed by a dodgy baker.

Beside the entrance is the "Heidentor", an engraving on the wall. The O5 was the name of a resistance movement against the Nazi-dictatorship. The meaning: Oe, the 5 comes from it being the fifth letter of the alphabet. Oe meaning Oesterreich/Österreich, which is Austria. They carved it into the walls of buildings, as anti-nazi graffiti. Since a well known Far Right MP uses the church, a glass pane has been put over the marking, to stop people lining the marking with white chalk to make it stand out, whilst protesting he be there. Flowers are often left there as a sign of respect.

Secsession has a dome roof made from gold leaves.

Some Drinking.The Riesenrad at Prater - The famous big wheel, as seen in The Third Man and Before Sunrise.
Caz and Gordon all ready to take flight on the Wheel.
On The Up.

View of Prater, the Fun fair. One of my highlights along with the Riesenrad was getting to visit both Hundertwasserhouse and Kunst Haus Wein. Both of interest to anyone who knows the artist Hundertwasser. The buildings below were designed by him. Crazy House as Caz aptly called it.

Kunst Haus Wein, around the corner, has two floors showing Hundertwasser's work.

One of his paintings, to give you some idea of his work.
Some more drinking.

A poster that amused us after a few pints.

On the last day me and Caz tried to get in all the important last minute Tourist Traps. First up the Rathaus - the impressive City Hall.

The Burgtheatrer - the National Theatre.

Votivkirche - apparently it has been covered with scaffolding and advertising for years, as they've had trouble with money restoring it.
Only the Austrian's could have an incinerator as a tourist destination.

Fernwarme - designed by, you guessed it, Hundertwasser. Cool incinerator though.

Anyone who has seen Before Sunrise with Ethan Hawke will recognise this bridge no doubt.
The Danube.

A visit to Zentral Friedhof where there are reportedly 3 million buried. More than there are people living in Vienna. A lot of the famous composers are buried here, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, so much so there is an entire music section.

We had to find this guy, a mining magnet, he had his tomb made to look like a mine, protected by Trolls. As you do.

Sorry this is just a funny sign.

Lisa and Gordon took us to the Donauturm, translated means the Danube Tower. A tourist attraction, it boasts a revolving restaurant with views across Vienna.

Ok it got a bit dark to take photos.

The last bit of drinking.
Having travelled to Bratislava and taken the coach to Vienna, we passed through parts of Vienna and Slovakia. The Wind Farm was the most impressive sight.

A great time was had by all. Thanks to Lisa and Gordon for their hospitality, we will be back. I suggest we all go over in the summer. We have been promised a barbecue out on their terrace. I'm there.

Lucy's Birthday Weekend

Lucy has just sent through pictures from her last visit to London. Here are a select few from her birthday evening, which we drunkenly spent in Frog at the Mean Fiddler. Now that was a good night.