The Spinto Band - Dingwalls, Camden

Me and Tim went along to catch The Spinto Band play at the reasonably small Dingwalls yesterday. Having seen them on Jools Holland last series, I kind of knew to expect a slightly oddball, kooky band to play. It's very hard not to find yourself just staring at the one member who dances around in a strange manner as he plays guitar, even when he's not on main singing duties.

I do recommend going to see them live, they will keep you entertained. And if you haven't got the album, why not? Go buy it. *

The set was finished off with a cover version of Tiffany's "I think we're alone now." I'm ashamed to say that after a few drinks I more than happy to join in with the handclaps and dancing. Still it was a good night.

* Word of Warning: The copy of the Spinto Band album on CD (nice and nicely done) that I possess is one of those non-CD discs, which computers won't recognise. And no amount of software that I have for these such shiny things would let my itunes see it. Mmmm, still worth getting hold of a copy though.

Day trip to Amsterdam -30th July

Ok it was with work, so it probably doesn't really count as a trip. Exhausting, having got up at just before 3am, and not getting home till nearly 8pm.

Still what I saw of Amsterdam I loved.

For starters they have lots of Wind farms. Apparently, so my supplier tells me, farmers are given a subsidy for every wind turbine they have on their land. So of course all the farmers have one. To me it makes sense. Any argument that they are an unsightly blot on the land, need to think about what that land will look like a few decades down the line, when we've ravaged this earth of all it's resources, and polluted it to hell.

Plus I think they look cool and quite serene!

Bizarrely in a little town 40 minutes out of Amsterdam we came across a London Red Bus, with Wimbledon as the destination on it...

Nope me neither!

And then there is the cheese of amsterdam...






Being a cheese lover, probably more than I am of chocolate (shock) I was in my element, buying an edam with mustard seeds, another whole farmhouse edam for 10euros. And the best buy of all, was one I bought which caught my attention Reypenaer because it mentioned on a sticker "Nantwich International Cheese Show." Of course I had to buy it! Quite a good salty tasting Gouda, perfect for putting on jacket potatoes.

I'm back there in a few weeks for another work trip. It's a good job you don't need to declare cheese at Customs. Actually scrap that you probably do, I better go and check.

Just for Dave

Now I know how to put videos up on here I can't resist putting just on Hoff Video up on here.

It is a corker.