The Return Of The Blog

 Did you know this blog even in its defunct state gets at least  10 hits every day?
That and with new found fame on audioboo.fm with my mini-podcasts has encouraged me to revive the blog.
When it was discontinued it seemed much work for nothing.
Now I have nowt better to do with my time..So welcome back and if you have never been here before have a browse.
The daily hits are mostly for my re-telling of outrageous joke told by Marty Funkhouser (Bob Einstein) in Curb Your Enthusiasm

Welcome ......

Pablo's Desert Island Discs-- Part II

5-Wynton Marsalis-In The Sweet Embrace Of Life
A jazz track mainly chosen for its 55 minute length.A sprawling bluesy hymn to the joy and positivity of it all..Taken from the Village Vanguard 'Live'collection

6- Gato Barbieri - Last Tango In Paris
Jazzy film music I know but Gato's rasping-sax over the orchestra is rather irresistible


7- Neil Young -Change Your Mind

Another lengthy one showing off Mr Young at peak of his 'Grunge' Phase

8- Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough
Would really need some light relief on the desert island


Ask me next week and it would probably be a completely different list

LUXURY ITEM- Decent razor with toiletries.

BOOK- Bonfire Of The Vanities by Tom Sharpe

Pablo's Desert Island Discs-- Part I

1- The Beatles "Get Back" Loved this since I was in primary school.One of McCartney's finest moments with some great electric piano from Billy Preston
2-Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" One of the first records we ever had in our house.It is so short but ever so catchy and Mr Jones' tones are rather magical.
3-Heatwave "Always and Forever" The ultimate romantic ballad from the pen of Mr Rod temperton.
4-Stevie Wonder- Livin' For The City (Album version)Blew my mind the first time I heard it.Still a powerful track to this day

Guy :Caterer To The Stars-: Best & Worst Celebrities

My dear friend Guy owns a restaurant and is worth quite a few bob these days.
However,away back in the mists of time he did big events and media catering.
Asked him what celebrities he has met.Who was the nicest and who was the biggest pain in the arse..

Nicest Celebrity
Mick Jagger.Or rather Sir Mick as he is these days.Apparently former Wild Man of rock is a total gent.Well-mannered and completely charming


Worst Celebrity
Jimmy Nail.
Guy and his gang had been hired to do the catering on Spender (Jimmy Nail's cop show in the 1990's when he was at his peak)They though it was gonna be a great job and thought Jimmy would be 'one of the lads', much like his TV-persona.
Not a chance !
The first day,Jimmy came to the catering van and asked for a bottle of mineral water.Guy handed-him a bottle of Highland Spring only for Jimmy to give him a mouthful of expletives and how he wasn't going to be drinking "no Jock Piss-water" on his set.It was downhill from there and Guy and Co. left after 3 days ,chucked the job because of Jimmy The Nail's rudeness.
You never hear much of Jimmy Nail these days.

Paris:Me &The Pickpockets

I was warned.
On a recent trip to Paris for a holiday break I got my pocket-picked for the very first time.It was on the Paris Metro railway system.Was chatting to some English folks at the hotel and this poor lady had her handbag dipped and purse nicked... all very stressful.
I always carry my wallet in a money belt when overseas but tend to keep some loose banknotes in my pocket.Anyhow we had been sightseeing up at the Pompidou Centre and were travelling back to hotel when we had to change trains on the Metro.This was at rush hour and the stations and trains were packed full.
The train pulled into platform and we had to squash-in. While squashed-in, I started to feel someone's hand go into my trouser pocket and, annoyed by this I just made enough room to grab the hand and twist the wrist of the thieving git who was in my trouser pocket. A teenage boy near me in squashed compartment let out a yell and tried to wriggle free of my grip.While I had grabbed the wrist,another hand was going into my pocket and removing my money.
Original offender wriggled free and bolted through doors of train, which were just closing, along with his mate.
The whole thing lasted about 20 seconds but it was enough to rob me of 20 Euros.
Back at the hotel, geezer on reception told me the pickpockets on Metro are mostly gypsy children who work in gangs. I got a mental picture of them taking the spoils back to their parents at the end of the day.
Little Bastards!
Chatted to an American guy back at hotel called Alex who was totally outraged at my story and said if I wanted he would help me me find the thieves and "rip their fricking heads-off !" He was a burly ex-marine and I had no doubt his offer was genuine, however I declined.
This was the day before I came home and although the amount of money nicked was small
I was well pissed-off.It is just the principle of being robbed that I hated.
I have now been to Paris countless times and have always enjoyed myself there but now must say I have no intention of ever returning.There are other places I must visit.
However, if anyone offers me a free holiday there I would be right there in a minute.

Commonwealth Games Apathy

Who really gives a toss about the Commonwealth Games? Who really knows what the Commonwealth actually is these days and if they do who cares?Either way there will be a load of it on the BBC with the pretence that it is some kind of major event as the Beeb's 'live' sports output is all minority stuff these days (Apart from F1, of course).

Delhi has been described as the most dangerous Commonwealth Games venue in history.

Really? Ahead of Glasgow 2014, that just sounds like fighting talk.
Seriously, you think a couple of roof tiles in a weighlifting gym is bad?
Try running a marathon through Easterhouse.
The Glasgow Games will be the only ones in history where the crowd bring their own javelins. I still don't know how my home town won that bid.
I reckon the organisers turned up and saw loads of people hanging round street corners in tracksuits, and just presumed Glasgow folks were a sporty lot.

In fairness, Glasgow wouldn't let building work affect events. In fact, they'd incorporate it. Use the scaffolding for gymnastics, dive into drying cement for the long jump. And you haven't witnessed proper competition until you've seen the shot putt done with a half brick.

Awright Jimmy !