Promises - July 27 2002

08.47am I woke up around 8.30 with the sound of the people next door
ripping the roof off of the flats next door. I think it is too early to
rip roofs off, especially when you are still half asleep. I fed the
cats again. Then I put on Andy Warhol and checked the post - another
huge box for my wife. Some days she gets a pile of post and I get a
bill or maybe a CD I have ordered from Amazon.

Yesterday (26) I got up later than usual and rushed about trying to
write my online journal and an email and get up and do all the things I
normally take two hours doing in twenty minutes. I don't suppose it
matters. I guess that's why when you read other diaries, some days the
entry may consist of just a sentence.

On the train I listened to the tape ... sent me. It is really good. I
went into the office and then continued working on this big report I
started the day before. Then I did the tapes. It was really hot in the
morning. The pavement simmered quietly in the sun, and people passed me
by wishing they had sunglasses. I have to wear a suit to work and its
not much fun in 80 degree heat trundling about wearing a jacket.

At lunchtime I rang ... and we had a long chat about music and cartoons
and clothes. I told them I would send them the Clash first album as I
think they would like it. Then I bought my panini and latte from
Starbucks. In some respects it's comforting to do the same thing each
day at a particular time. I also like the panini I buy. I went in HMV
and bought two albums: Green Day's "Shenanigans" album and the first
album from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I didnt have time to listen to
them, and later on I posted the Clash to ...

The afternoon passed quite quickly, although I've noticed some days it
really drags and other days it goes quite fast.

I listened to ... tape again on the train and it finished just as the
train arrived at Leigh.

Once I had got in and had a bath, I played the guitar for a while. Then
I stuck on the Green Day album, which is excellent. I also got the
Bowling For Soup album (Amazon) called "Let's Do It For Jonny". I
listened to that as well, and started taping Big Brother at 8.30. I
watched Jade be evicted but since I was taping it I skipped the
interview.

I was about to ring ... when the mobile rang and I went off to collect
my wife from the station. I rang ... anyway just to say that I had to
pop out for a bit, and then when I got back I went back online, and we
chatted for ages. We do quizzes sometimes, just for fun.

There are some more serious threads on the forums now which is good,
because some threads are fun and others make you have a think before
you reply, and there are still others which are like, random
altogether.

I found an old tape of myself from a guitar practise when I lived at
home.The kitchen floor had been ripped up and therefore the acoustics
were great. I used to tape myself in the idea that I would improve. I
seem to have spent a long time tuning the acoustic guitar and I did
songs I have now forgotten how to play.

I would like to form a band sometime (that was another thing I
mentioned to ...) as I think it would be fun and also I would learn how
to play in time and maybe the songs would be better as I would have
lead guitar, bass and drums and maybe some songs would have harmonies
on the chorus. My brother and I used to rehearse in the dining room of
my Mum &; Dad's house several years ago, and when we had a band of
sorts (which we called the Distortions on account of the PA system we
used) we used to "gig" at friend's houses, complete with drum kit and
stuff. I wasn't that good at singing then, but it was quite funny. Once
my brother and I had a big argument about who would play the better
guitar. He plays lead, I play rhythm guitar. We used to mid sixties
Beatles covers like Think For Yourself, Help and Rain, amongst other
material. I think if I had actually written some decent songs we would
have been good. He still has the 63 Vox AC-15 amplifier.

So Kate won Big Brother, and when they announced it I saw her hugging
Jonny and telling him "I love you". Maybe she does, who knows? I tried
voting for Kate, but the line was constantly engaged and my mobile
phone company didn't allow calls to the number of the TV.

I like "The Bitch Song" from the Bowling For Soup album.