Right, well, it's been emotional. I won't be blogging anymore and I won't be using this e-mail - if you want me (yeah right) you can get me at ianmc13@hotmail.co.uk.

Taking a break from my research assignment that's due in friday and am doing this week having not bothered to do any work in the last 6 months, I decided to re-string my old bass. The bass has no particular merit, it can no longer be played due to being warped and tatty, so I use it to practice stringing and re-stringing, so that when it comes to haveing to re-string my current bass (Nick's) I'll be able to do it with a minimum of fuss.

 

Not quite.

 

It's just as well the old one isn't usable anymore, as in the fourth failed attempt to wind the D-string, the little purple vein on the side of my forehead popped.  I ripped the coil of the string with the pliers and cut it up. I jabbed the pliers into the base of the body a few times until the red mist cleared and I could breathe normally again.

 

It felt good. I'm not one for embodying my anger in physical actions but clearly there's a lot more anger than I know how to handle! Or maybe the D-string just pushed me over the edge. Bastard.

 

So with the bass now rendered fully unusable I decided to take the whole friggin' mess apart. It's a sloppily built bass and it didn't take me long to unscrew everything and detach all glued surfaces. I've seperated the neck from the body and removed the white plate from the body. I figure I'll have a go at re-building it in the summer, should I get bored.

 

So this is just a warning really. If you look like a bass guitar or have strings that cannot be strung, you're likely to piss me off and feel the full force of my pliers and arsenal of screwdrivers.

 

 

....and relax.

 

[Edit, 6pm] And bizarrely, my fan has just commited suicide. It jumped off my book case, hit my stereo on the way down and crashed into the floor. Just as well nothing valuable was damaged.

Well, the relegation of Swindon Town is now confirmed, and I don't have any dissapointment left. I think I used it throughout the rest of the season. Plus with the investment of Bill Power, the future is looking a lot less bleak for the club. In fact, we do now HAVE a future at the very least. So yeah, down we are, but at least City aren't going anywhere. Again.

 

I spent most of today with Matt burning copies of our CD, creating the labels and writing on contact details, to take to various venues to try and drum up some gigs. We went from Devizes to Seend to Melksham to Trowbridge to Bradford-on-Avon. Everyone was typically unresponsive until we got to two places in Bradford-on-Avon (The Bear and The George) where we now have gigs booked for August 19th and June 17th respectively. w00t. Who knows, maybe someone else will call us back! BTW, if you're reading and have any suggestions for places to try, feel free to leave a comment. Ta. We tried The Bell on the Green (Devizes), The Three Magpies (Seend), The Pilot, The Parsons' Nose & The Bear (Melksham), The White Swan (Trowbridge), The Three somethingorother, The Rising Sun (B-o-A). I'm sure I'm missing some, but hell, it's been a long day and I'm uber knackered.

 

So come see us. You have no reason not to.

The weekend consisted of the usual let down by Swindon Town but also came with a deeper sense of unfulfilment. I shan't name names but it has to be said, my weekend was a complete waste and I squarely blame everyone else around me.

 

I've noticed lately I have a very negative attitude. Maybe it's the time of year, but everything seemed so much better in March and now it's nearly May. There are no gigs lined up (cept for when Gatty and I go see DINOSAUR JR!!shiftone!) and we haven't rehearsed in a while (to be rectified on friday) so musically I'm pretty deprived. Football has put me on a downer. And whilst I think my driving is improving, it is still pissing me off. Stupid car. And let's not even go into females. Actually, let's talk about my Psychology teacher. She's condescending, critical, unsupportive and has a total lack of faith in her students. I submitted what I'd done so far on my psychology assignment due in Wednesday and after she'd told me a textbook lied to me she said "So, you've got till wednesday..." with a look that implied I hadn't a cat's chance in hell. I'd like to say it's spurred me on and I'm determined to pass with flying colours but due to said deficiencies in the above mentioned teacher, my chances of passing are slim. And it's a non-refferable piece. Great!

 

I suppose it's a case of wading through the crap and hoping to come out smelling vaguely presentable.

 

Though how you smell presentable, I'm not sure of.

 

Bring on the Oxford!

...We go and win away from home :S .

 

Don't get me wrong, I still am pessimistic about our chances of survival, but having moved up 2 places and knowing that this season, in this league, anyone can beat anyone, you have to wonder about the possibilities. It is still very much on - the fat lady has taken her seat stage left again for a bit longer. Whether this is a delaying tactic to keep the crowd on their toes or whether it's a genuine sign of hope, no one knows...

 

 

I forgot to do this the other night - on request, here's my ratings for everybody who played in the 5-a-side up at Christie Miller on friday (out of 10):

 

Gatty - 7

Patch - 8

Jonny - 9

Evans - 8

Myself - Ha. Like I'm going to be that egotistical. Someone else do mine.

 

Dave - 9

Pete - 6

Sprules - 10 (STAR MAN)

Steve - 7

Snooky - 1

 

Over all, a fair assesment I'd say.

In the time I've been supporting Swindon Town, I've never experienced relegation. The last time they were in position this precarious was my first real season following the team, back in 2000/01 when Danny Invincible's last minute volley spared Alan Reeves' blushes and kept us up. Sadly that sort of romanticism has been missing from the County Ground this year. There was no Mr Invincible to save us this time.

 

I've seen some pretty poor players at the CG over the years, and although they were poor, they at least tried. Step forward Steve Robinson, David Duke, Giuliano Grazioli, Bart Griemink. Basically any player from the early 00's (excluding Bobby Howe. He was just plain God awful, no one cares if he did try). I can't recall seeing a team of players badly in need of three points having such a laz attitude. There was no passion, no desire, no urgency. All except Rhys Evans, but for crying outloud, he's a goalkeeper! He did his best and wasn't at fault for the Dons' winning goal.

 

Jamie Cureton

Ricky Shakes

Sean O'Hanlon

Jack Smith

Stefani Miglioranzi

Charlie Comyn-Platt

Andy Nicholas

Andy Gurney

 

Needn't have turned up today. And they needn't bother turning up next season, as they're clearly not fit to wear the shirt.

I feel somewhat violated knowing now that people actually read this on a regular basis. I mean, I knew Gatty did and Patch, but when Davis & Jonny both said they read it I was quite shocked.

 

I mean, I know it's a public blog and what not, but I didn't seriously think anyone read it.

 

Myself, Col, Steve, Jon Dave and Sam went to Bath this evening for Colin's works leaving do and because it's Jonnys birthday! We were joined by Snooky, Chris, Patch, Davis and Sprulesy in the Litten Tree while Col was hanging otu with his work buddies. There was generally much mirth and knee-jerking good times until it was discovered that the coke was 65% water. So Snooky went and had words, like the big man he is :p .

 

It was quite busy there, and to keep the flow of the evening going we decided to go to the Rat & Parrot, where it was absolutely dead! A good move there. But it did give everyone room enough to play "Universal Drinking Rules" (which everybody is crap at and Jonny cheated at). Snooky, being the intelligent person he is bought chocolate from the mens bogs :| . Not just any chocolate though, no, it was...

 

...CHOCAGRA

 

Go on, see if you can guess what it is. A marketing ploy most likely, and a rubbish tasting one at that (I went halfs with Patch). And no Davis, it doesn't work. It mostly ended up in drinks. Mostly Jonny's.

 

A good night in the end really.

 

- - - - - -

 

So, saturdays gig. It was pretty good, we got a decent reception from the 40 or 50 (maybe, at a guesstimate) people who were there. Were an hour late going on and Oedipus had a hellish time with technical difficulties (a perforated bass drum skin and unspecified guitar problems) but it didn't seem to faze them. Nice guys as well. Could possibly have drawn a larger crowd had we actually advertised the gig :S .

 

Oh well.

 

...don't gossip.

 

Ok so that's unlikely. But be careful who you choose to gossip too. Do not, for example, tell somebody that their ex-girlfriend has a reputation amongst her peers as "one of the biggest slappers in Melksham", that that somebody was previously unaware of (I'm considering having a test now to make sure I haven't caught anything. I suppose I'd know by now but then I'm unsure of different symptoms of STD's).

 

Said person also tarnished my many great (yes, believe it or not) memories of Kwik Save by telling me about a woman I used to work with (incidentally, my ex's mother) chasing after a guy half her age who's married! And seriously, if you were me or Joe or anyone who worked at Kwik Save, you'd know how gross that is. What's worse is she was already in a relationship with some other chap! (who was portrayed to me as not being very nice by said ex, but is apparently a lovely bloke. Either way I pity him).

 

By now I'm glad that I ended things when I did! And although I've mentioned no names and only a select few will know who I'm talking about, I feel better for having aired their dirty laundry on t'internet. Doesn't achieve anything at all, and it's not to say I believe any of it (it's all plausible, but if I believed everything I was told then I'd probably have died of stress years ago) but it goes to show how fucked up people are. And to think, people think I'm strange for reading Bizarre!

 

For gig related news, check http://www.myspace.com/e_un

I haven't made an entry stoned in a while - mainly because I haven't been in such a state. I was last night and a blog entry seemed appropriate. But it was 4.25 and I didn't want to risk running into my Dad getting up for work.

 

As it turns out it's his day off anyway. But I was knackered. Went to Ross' last night with Andy, Spruls, Prowsk, Gareth & Lisa. We spent about 8 hours last night playing Mario Smash Football (to the point where my right hand thumb is more tender than a good lamb joint). But we won like three cups so it was all worth it.

 

I have a quandry, as I have no football to attend today and no rehersal. Yet Aaron's family are ascending upon us as it's Birthday (oh how fitting). So I have nowhere to go and nothing to do, except hang out with Aaron's family. Maybe not.

 

I think I have a dream squatter. How rude.

but personally I blame John Keats. I took a break this morning from the cynical attitude I've adopted towards any kind of romance or...well, you know, that kind of thing. It's over a year now since I met the danish girl (the breifest of brief...meetings) and that's what I was thinking about today. I half wonder if the attraction was mostly down to the similar build and hair colour of someone else but then that one evening I spent with her was pretty amazing, even if not romantic in the most blatent sense.

 

Erck. If anyone asks, I'm merely proving that my sensitive side still exists. I take it out for a public airing and flogging every now and then.

 

I've taken to eating cereal at lunch, mostly because mum's stopped buying white bread (I'd go and buy my own, but I'm scraping the barrel merely to get the bus) and toasted sandwhiches just don't taste right in brown bread.

 

I'm...organised! Seeing as it was so bloody beautiful on sunday I once again put off doing any college work to enjoy the day (just as well too!) but what I did to was write down all my assignments due, when I have to start them, when I want them to be ready by and their priority. I've genuinely suprised myself with this. Whats more, I'm (semi) sticking to it.

 

Well well. Joe lent me Ed Wood and Dogma last week, and I have to say, both were superb films ("Yeah I know him, nigger owes me 12 bucks!"). I watched Dogma last night. Very cool. It took me till the end credits to realise that Azreal was Jason Lee, because without the moustache, straggly hair and trailer trash clothes he looks nothing like (My Name Is) Earl. Good actor. Ed Wood made me re-asses me opinion of Johnny Depp. That is to say, I didn't really have one, other than recognising him as "the man that every girls wants, and every guy wants to be". He was fantastic.

 

I've also re-written a biography for Taylor. Gayhand wrote it originally and I've edited out the arbitrary and overtly egotistical references. It's a good bio by all accounts though.

 

Grr. Hotmails being gay.

Whoo-yeah! I can breathe once again! It's friday! I feel gooooood.

 

All this week I've had a cold, which largely has been frustrating, as I haven't been able to breathe through my nose properly. So I've been using everything I can get my hands on, vicks, sudafed, the steamy-water-bowl-technique, etc. Thankfully I woke up this morning and all was better. Well, nearly all. My nose is still a bit of a state, it's all sore and crusty. MmmmmMMMMmmmm.

 

I've been to college, survived 2 1/2 hours of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats, had my huge unhealthy lunch and am now probably going to fart around all afternoon. Maybe do some college work. Though I don't want to ruin my good mood...have rehersal at Matts tonight as well, which I'm all geared up for. So whats the betting everyone else is all "meh"? Fazackerly. Venturing to the pub tonight might not be a good idea, with every (ok. Most) Englishman taking advantage of an Irish holiday to get absolutely wankered. Though frankly, I don't see why St. Patricks is used as an excuse, it's not like people excuse themselves from drinking the rest of the time :S

 

Female artists/vocalists: Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, The Like & Yeah Yeah Yeahs. All have new stuff out. And I'm loving it all.

It must be a sign of my improving social life when I haven't blogged for a week - that or the decline of said social life.

 

And, although I am out more, I wouldn't really call it a social life - more like a way of life. Whenever I'm out it's to the West End (usually with Joe, sometimes plus others) and I'm now down there a 2/3/4 nights a week. At least three members of staff know what I'm going to order before I even say "Hello". Mind you I'm not complaining, it beats staying in.

 

Especially as Lee's been 2 1/2 weeks without being sick until tonight, so mum lost it again. I'm really going to have think about moving out...

 

I was sure that I actually had something to write about, hence me starting this entry, but I guess not. We've had three rehersals this week, two at Matts (one minus Bonnie) and one in Holt. Which was fucking freezing as the gas heaters run out. But much has been achieved. We're currently working on adding in vocal harmonies (whilst tweaking the songs) which seems to have everyone bouyant (considering the mood after the gig last week). The other priority for this week is confirming the other bands for our gig at the Porter Butt on April 8th, and getting some form of advertisement done. Hmm...

 

I'm sick of college now (Clive failed to turn in again on friday) but the only thing that really keeps me going is the thought of Uni next year. Where I'll probably hang out in the same pub as I do now, play sporadic gigs and still leave all my work till the last moment. At least Uni should be vaguely interesting, unlike college.

 

 

 

What up, home boys and girls.

 

For your viewing pleasure, I have uploaded all the pictures from a gig we played tonight at Lauren's 18th Birthday party (courtesy of Mr. Whitmore, Fry & Hannah). It wasn't till reviewing the pictures just now that I appear to have dressed like Mr Bean this evening. I think next time I'll think a bit more carefully about ensuring I don't dress like comic figures.

 

On a personal note, I don't think any of the band were particularly happy with the performance tonight. Bonnie really wasn't pleased and neither was I. I attribute (not blame!) my own poor performance to not having run through the set list for weeks, and having extensive rehersals in the last two days just for cover songs and extra material. But, I remain positive (as do the rest of the band) that things can only get better.

 

Here's a treat - the evenings set list!

 

Tomorrow will be a year since I took the National Express for the first time to London and got a flight to Italy. Over the ensuing month and a half I saw a lot of things, met some people and was actually able to get away with not showering for days on end. And since then most of it has stayed buried, apart from the reccuring "dogging" joke that plagues me from the night I slept in a car park in Toulouse. Sigh.

 

Anyway, I'm certainly not going to go into any depth on what happened in those 6 weeks. Maybe I'll publish the diary I kept during that time when I'm a famous rock star and I've put out as many autobiographies as I can. Or maybe I'll have it done when I'm dead. But the most likely scenario is, it'll stay under my bed until such time as I move out.

 

 

Love that line. Anyway. I wondered what I had achieved since I came back from abroad, and I class this as more of a marker than New Years. Let's see:

 

Don't touch my tit.

 

Did you ever have a scenario described to you (usually against your will) that instantly thought "it'll all end in tears", ? I don't know why I'm asking, I'm sure you have, it's just on my mind currently.

 

Had a gig over in Salisbury today at the Spire bar, went really well, at least compared to Wednesday at any rate. It rather felt like a glorified jam, which I suppose was beneficial. I've borrowed Nick's Honher Arbor, which sounds one million times (exactly) better than my bass. It's also easier to play and, well, the benefits are large. Still trying to get used to the thumb-rest though. So all round, a good night.

 

Have now got gigs on March 4th (private do in Westbury - two weeks!), April 2nd (The Old Fat Cat, Southampton, supporting The October Effect) and April 8th at The Porter Butt (Bath). If you're reading this, I hope you'll make it to at least one of these!

 

Swindon lost :| I think the less said the better there.

 

God I'm cold. Good night.

Urgh. I wish I was a heavy drinker.

 

The gig last night wasn't too hot. As a band, it started well and for soem reason, fell spectacularly away. Personally, it started well and plummeted screaming to it's death. To add injury to insult, my right hand cramped up during 'Co-Pilot' (second to last song on the set list). But, the few people I spoke to after didn't seem to think it was too bad. Still, I'm hoping that in 20/30 years I'll be able to sit back in my massaging chair with a giant doobie, surrounded by souless, debased 18 year old girls and think, "That cheese and grain gig, man, that was hilarious!"

 

And on the plus side Joe, Matt and I went for a dirty kebab once everything was packed away. Special sauce included, it seemed, so I had mine sans sauce!

 

A fourth straight home win for the best in the west lifts us from 21st to 16th - which as pleasant as it sounds, doesn't account for the fact that there is no mid table in this league, and anyone below and including Forest could still be relegated. It was also frustrating to see so many spured chances on tuesday night, we could've had four or five!

 

Well upwards and onwards, we have a gig at the Spire Bar in salisbury on sunday (really have no idea what to expect from that!) so let's hope that one goes a bit better. Also, anyone know whats good for preventing cramp?