Friday 14 May 2010

It's Friday . . . Let's Dance



I've had a weird old week.

What with being down in London at a conference and wandering round the Dome for two days.

My hotel was at the opposite end of Westminster Bridge from the Houses of Parliament and on Tuesday evening I decided to take a stroll across the bridge and see what was happening on College Green before I attended, the mandatory Gala dinner. A couple of colleagues and I stayed there for about half an hour and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the festivities to come, as at that point nothing was happening. Later on I found out that another couple of friends , braver than I,  decided to be late for the dinner and found themselves outside Downing Street as Gorden Brown gave what was probably one of the most dignified resignation speeches I've ever heard, his mentor the great John Smith would have been proud.

The last time I was at the Palace of Westminster was when John Smith took me round as a wide eyed school boy, but that's a story for another day.

Anyway, over the last few days I've learned a few things.

Firstly, I now realise I work in an industry where more people, how shall I put it, lean to the right than the left.

Next, that Beardyman is one talented individual, not only is he probably the best beatboxer in the world but he also has a really good singing voice and is quite a talented comedian.

Also that being funny and being part of a great television comedy does not mean that you have  good taste in music and are any good at djing, as it was also my dubious pleasure to catch Mathew Horne djing with cdrs no less!

Another thing I found out is, how much I love the space we have up here in Scotland and how sorry I feel for anybody that has to endure the torture that is the London Underground on a daily basis. I only had to be on it for one stop from Greenwich to Canning Town at rush hour but that was enough. Those of you that can endure that each working day have my admiration and sympathy.

And finally, I was informed by someone during a discussion on NHS spending and mortality rates in Glasgow, that I and my fellow countrymen and women are genetically different. Take from that what you will but I'm sure that the well educated and influential individual was not being complimentary.

All of this has absolutely nothing to do with dancing but I thought that I would share it with you.

To lighten the mood here is Fatboy Slim, with a track from his first and in my opinion best album, Better Living Through Chemistry and yes, I have posted this before but it was only this or Rez that I felt like posting today.

Fatboy Slim - The Sound of Milwaukee

11 comments:

Jay Flan said...

Genetically different eh!
I've had a few 'sweaty socks' and 'stick of rocks' in my time but not that.
Always look forward to fridays and a dance.
Cheers J

Steph Mulrine said...

I'll dance.

I love London, strictly for the maximum of 4-5 days that I ever visit. The Boyfriend wanted me to look at Uni's down there when deciding where to do my Masters. I told him in no uncertain terms that I would go certifiably mental in less than a month.

Andrew said...

Have we had the Big Beat revival yet? It must be due soon!

Check the US version of 'Better Living...' though, there's a fantastic track called 'Next To Nothing' which I don't think you can get anywhere else.

Beardyman's great though isn't he?

And the tube ain't too bad, when it works properly it's great!

Steph Mulrine said...

Oooo. Yea. Forgot to say. Beardyman is great, obvo. He also has a talented and very funny brother. He was at York Uni when I was doing my undergrad and I went along to a few of his gigs. Not sure what he is upto now... But here is a link anyway...

http://www.jayforeman.co.uk/

davyh said...

London's brilliant. Get buses!

Bon weekend mon brave.

drew said...

Buses! On the Wednesday morning we took a boat from Westminster Bridge to Greenwich, quite liked that.

davyh said...

We must do that with the girls again. Then a pub lunch and run around Greenwich Park. GMT. Gin Mean Time.

drew said...

Jay - thanks for the comment

Mulrine - 4 days, I was a wreck after 2

Andrew - will try to find that track

Steph Mulrine said...

I'm hardcore, don't you know?

Ctelblog said...

Lightweights. You need to perfect the art of zen and the Tube. It's a state of mind thing mostly. I quite enjoy the peace it gives for the duration of the journey.

Shame I didn't know you were quite as close to where I work.

drew said...

Ctel - It's the whole underground, crammed in thing that I can't stand. I think that I'm a bit claustrophobic to tell the truth and also genetically different, or so I'm told!