On The Beach - August 04 2002

09.39am, I am listening to "Showbiz" by Muse, which I bought from
Gumbi Records in Southend yesterday (03). Quite a lot happened
yesterday.

I got up later around 9ish and had a cup of tea for a change, then my
wife fed the cats, who have several bowls of food out for them to
choose from, I think cats like choice as much as we do. I played guitar
for a while and recorded a couple of songs onto Erin's tape.

About 11 I went over to my Mum &; Dad's to feed their cat and then
got the bus to Southend, I had last week's leather jacket in a black
sack, and my phone on, so I messaged Erin, but she didnt reply all day,
so maybe she was just incredibly busy. It was quite warm, touch of
rain, and I got off the bus as usual at Vic Circus and went over to the
shop where I had bought the leather jacket.

"Hello, I am sorry, but the jacket doesn't fit."
"OK, what do you want to do?"
"Can I change it for this one?"
"It'll be another twenty..."
"Fine."

So I left the shop wearing a completely different jacket which fitted
this time, and didnt look like something George Michael would wear. I
went down to the Old Record shop where I met G again. We had a chat
about music, I listened to a Shadows of Knight CD but didnt buy it this
time. G and I went in the Last Post for a beer, I had a Guinness and we
had a chat about the forums. Then G had to do some shopping and I went
up the road to where an alternative clothes shop called "Nasty" used to
be, but it had gone and was now some sort of chic punk place for
girls.

I went down York Road and had a look in Gumbi's. The bloke who ran the
shop recommended a band called "Nebula" which is heavy but more punk
than metal. I also bought Muse "Showbiz" and a Blink 182 album, as well
as a copy of a Flamin' Groovies album for Erin.

Then I wandered back up the High Street and went in Macdonalds to take
a leak, before going in Tchibo and asked the girl in there if she had
seen any good films recently. I said I wanted to see Spiderman, but now
I am not sure it is even on anymore, unless I go all the way to
Lakeside and watch it there when I am off work. I had a coffee and a
bun, looked thru the CDs I had bought, and then went round to Honky
Tonk.

In there I picked up the bright red Fender Bullet, and played it for a
while, of course this time there was somebody in there who could play,
and I was strumming some chords, before he said it didnt bother him, so
I showed him the chords to "For No One". I felt confident with the
Bullet so I bought it.

Back home on the bus, thinking of Erin, sitting there with the guitar
between my legs. So when I got home, I played the new guitar for about
an hour and a half. It has a great sound. I tried adding a couple to
Erin's tape but on playback they weren't good enough, so I wiped them
and put on some other stuff instead.

Then I went online for a bit. My wife had gone round to her folks for
the evening. I listened to my tape. Then she got in around nine, and we
had tea and watched a programme on tv featuring Kate from Big Brother.
What surprised me is how chubby she is when compared to how she looked
before she went in. My wife decided she wouldnt do Big Brother because
she couldn't cope with putting on lots of weight. In fact she never
says how much she weighs.

I went online again and listened to Ker Plunk by Green Day. This album
is good stuff, I played it three times. Erin was out tonight with her
friends.

On UKA I setup a web site using the tools provided, and added some
pages. Its very basic but it doesnt matter.

I like Muse, and have Erin to thank for showing me the way. One time we
could walk along the beach by the sea and watch the gulls flying about
in the winter rain.