Still pretty spiffy after all these years..

An old pleasure that still pleases

That metronome that marks my waking hours seems to get quicker by the day....tick..tick..tick..

Of course there's a lot to pack into the day, to focus on, to be concerned with. It seems like a lifetime ago that I could slow down, listen to music, just let my mind wander and float away. Granted, what I consumed certainly helped, but the albums we listened to certainly played a part in forming the man I am today.

Of course the CDs had to be put away when it was time to grow up. It was all about wringing as much out of the day as possible, fanciful thoughts and dreaming be damned.

This week I dusted down the file marked 'The Orb' on my musical desktop for the fist time in years. It was just as soothing for the wakeful, fretting mind as I remembered - no smoky bedroom with the lights off required as it seemed like during my earlier years. Shocking to think 20 years have passed since my favourite albums were released. And they still sound as fresh now as they did when I first heard 'em.

You don't need Brixton Academy, a 30 foot tall screen for the visuals and a small bag of pharmaceuticals to fully appreciate something wondrous from years back. Having those same tunes piped into your ears on the evening commute can still have an irresistable pull, just like it used to in that former life you used to live.

A.

The Shining - The Sitcom (Seinfeld Style)

How to get away with murder and other thoughts..

The most perfect thing to carry around during daylight hours if you're up to no good is...

A scooter!!

I've often thought this on my daily trip back from dropping X off at school, his trusty Spiderman two-wheeler slung over my shoulder. People smile and look relaxed, the sight of a grown man carrying his child's prized scooter puts passers-by at their ease.

So, think about it. The perfect tool in the backpack for burglars, exposers and other daytime ne'er do wells. Go about your business and then walk straight down the road, as bold as you like. A cheery smile or a "good afternoon" will make you instantly trustworthy in other peoples eyes.

In other news, E, X and myself paid a visit to the local firework display and were not disappointed. Xander had a wonderful time, fun house, ghost train (eyes closed nearly throughout, but still) and glow in the dark neon sword before the main event even started, so it was an A+ night for him. I've become a little more jaded over the years. Increasingly you notice the same things at funfairs and outdoor events. You strive to experience something a little different.

I spied some of the sights, sounds and smells that will never change: the dated mural on the side of the fun-house featuring Fifa 2007, a dreary stream of fairground house which you will hear nowhere else and the tempting waft from the burger van. Some things will never change, right? Lady Gaga blaring out of the PA during the fireworks cheapened events further, those gut battering thumps when the artillery goes off deserve something a little more epic, I reckon.

The ghost train did provide me with one moment of novelty. A [supposedly] creepy, drawn out laugh which sounded just like Sid James!

Nyah, hah, hah! I mean WOOOOOO!!!