Days 24 - 49

Sigh. I started this day to day posting idea with such motivation. I quickly realised it was a berluddy pain in the neck. One learns. So I will quickly sum up the remaining days and get this theme out the way. Let us move on.

• I went on a media course in London where one speaker told us, "...don't join the media, this country needs doctors."
• I got my degree result. Moving on quickly...
• Spent all night sat with a friend next to a lake. The next day my friend then went to work, slightly drunk, smelling a little off, and with a crude male appendage drawn on his arm in biro.
• The crude biro markings were nothing to do with me.
• Emotionally left university for good.

Glad I've got all that out of the way. Weight off the shoulders.

Regards

Day 23: Graduation Ball

Now 23 days since I finished my last exam. It's a shame the Graduation Ball had to be today, on a Sunday, but it turned out to be quite a pleasant day. Apologies to all purists but I attended the ball in jeans. Have a look at the photo and judge for yourself whether my clothing is appropriate.

The ball was held at Edgbaston's Botanical Gardens (not pictured) nearby the cricket ground, and for those less sociable, there were plenty of peacocks, parrots and plants to party with. The evening meal was adequate (wow, don't I sound picky), but I was disappointed in the absence of tea and mints afterwards.

Regards

Day 22: London

London, oh how the bright lights beckon. Me and two friends boarded a Virgin (unfortunate use of words, sorry mum) towards the capital earlier today, the weather extremely hot and sticky. After wandering around aimlessly, we lounged in Hyde Park for a short while, then on to Portobello Road which on the one hand was pleasingly hip, but on the other, excruciatingly busy.

In the evening we ended up in Wapping where John Torrino (according to his name badge), the friendly tube station worker advised us that the Captain Kidd pub overlooking the Thames is the place to be. Apparantly his job is to stand at the tube station entrance, smoking. The Captain Kidd in Wapping is indeed a recommend if anyone happens to be in that part of the world.

The day ended with a trip to Brick Lane where we bought some crisps and a bag of Maltesers to share. Not really. We had a curry.

Regards

Day 21: Moseley

Moseley again today. Me and a pal took a bus to the villiage and had a little wander. I bought some gym shoes from Oxfam, a nice white pair going by the name of "Aliph", although I have searched the internet in vain for any hint of this long defunct brand. We sat in a nice little cafe/bar which had a reassuring sign above the door - "These premises have a strictly no chavs policy". I need a tux for the Graduation Ball on Sunday, but alas, the one I spotted in Retro Bizarre was unachievable due to staff illness, an illness that had rendered the store closed for the day.

Regards

Day 20: Househunting

Today, my possible future housemates - Butcher, Cryer, Otter and Crowe went for a search around Moseley. Moseley, Moseley, oh precious Moseley, the village of my tender heart's desire. Truly, there is no greater suburb of Birmingham than Moseley. Selly Oak, Erdington, Cofton Hackett have no appeal, have no claim on my aims as the fair air of Moseley. Furthermore, Ocean Colour Scene named an album after the place. The Jug of Ale, Bizarre retro clothing, the shisha lounge and trendy entrepreneurs walking around in flip-flops and SLRs, it's like the promised land.

Moseley Flickr page here.

The Moseley Society here.

Doesn't look as if we'll get a house there sadly.

Regards

Day 19: Zero 7 and JG

Today I was supposed to be helping other final years organise the final Christian Union meeting of the year for Aston Students. It turns out they had enough helpers so instead I took the opportunity to see Zero 7 at Birmingham Academy with Brunt. Jose Gonzalez made an appearance with the band, and strummed along in his own low-key manner, finishing off with an excellent version of one of his album tracks, the name of which escapes me now. The name escapes me because, to be honest all his album tracks seem to merge into one. A big mellow soundscape, tracks indistinguishable from each other. Probably much spending a year in a Chinese prison, the days just combine and if the guards refuse you a clock or calendar, you get totally lost.

However, for a great Jose tune, this recent advert is one of the best (see below). I've watched the making-of, they really did send thousands of bouncy balls down a hill...such fun!



Regards

Day 18: Pub Quiz

Day 18 of my freedom, of which I am enjoying immensely, despite being another day closer to the dreaded degree result. Still no word of what will happen about the cancelled exam which is slightly worrying. Pub quiz again tonight resulting in a very respectable second place. Pictured is the quiz master himself, a pleasant cockney geezer.

Today England beat Hungary in a pre-World Cup friendly, the highlight of which was Steven Crouch's robot celebration see here:



Regards

Day 17: Actress and Bishop

Tonight, me and Security decided to head down to a pub we'd heard good things about...the Actress and Bishop. Upstairs there was some excellent live music from a band we later discovered were called "Two", a power-rock twosome (plus session drummer) who deserved more than the handful of people there to see them. Check out their Myspace page here.

There were two other bands on the night who, to be painfully honest, were quite painful. A middle-aged cod-reggae/cod-blues outfit were then followed by youthful trio who spent an age tuning up and faffing about before launching into a terrible racket.

Regards

Day 16: Soundstation Festival

Today, me and Brunt went along to Birmingham's newest festival, the Soundstation Festival, 10 hours of some of the most exciting acts today, Mr Scruff, Guillemots, Graham Coxon etc. Mr Scruff was the highlight. I've never known a DJ get the crowd going the way he did, every punter was moving to the beat like they just did not care! Other excitement came when I inhaled some laughing gas through a balloon, although the effects were debateable as I pulled little more than a wry smile. Check out Guillemots if you can, as a live act they are very interesting! I can only hope they are as good on record.

Regards

Day 15: Charity Shopping Trip

Today James, Phil and I went on our traditional charity shop run to Erdington and Acocks Green, typical Birmingham suburbs. Then we finished off in Selly Oak for a quick glass of Coke. The picture is of me outside PDSA on Erdington High Street, below the actual room where Pink Floyd recorded part of their album Atom Heart Mother. Below is a list of all the lovely products we purchased:

Duffle coat: 99p
Blue Shirt: £1.50
Straw Trilby: £2.50
Watch: £1.50
Marquee Moon - Television LP: 50p
Year of the Cat - Al StewartLP: £1.99
Face Value - Phil Collins LP: 99p
Holland - Beach Boys LP: 50p
The Immaculate Collection - Madonna LP: 49p
Now 8 - Various LP: 49p
Innervisions - Stevie Wonder CD: £1.99
In Square Circle - Stevie Wonder CD: £1.99

Total: £15.43

Small cafe in Acocks Green.

Trying on sandals.