best character name from a 19th century novel

Spithead

courtesy of The Vicomte de Bragelonne, by Alexander Dumas

Things I Like

Three punks sitting out the front of the milkbar next door eating ice-creams.

"No Culture Issues"

Separated at birth...

this is not christmas children, this is communism

some pics from Ho Chi Minh City...

some thoughts from Meredith 2010

are located here...

• Puta Madre Brothers opened proceedings and at times made you feel like an extra in a Sergio Leone western and at others like a bad Mexican Ritchie Valens coverband performing at a wedding where there had been a little bit too much tequila imbibed. so in other words they were brilliant and a great way to kick off proceedings!
• Rat vs Possum followed up and... well... look i'm sure they're great if you're 18 years old, it's 3am and you're chock a block full of so called party drugs. but i was none of the three and just didn't get it. apologies to those who did.
• Reverend Horton Heat was not quite the poor man's James Brown that i thought he was going to be - their so called psychobilly was much enjoyed and god to dance too.
• unlike Little Red who seemed to think they're bigger than jesus (and they ain't no beatles) and i just couldn't help that they've gotten ahead of themselves by a long way and were definitely a let down. more so because i know they can be really good.
• the lead singer from Silence Wedge's solo project Housekeeping were pretty good... but didn't deserve 3 sets... just saying...
• Miss Police 2010 was a clear and deserving winner, but the win was in no small part thanks to the work done by fluffer extraordinaire Doryan Gowty!
• C.W.Stoneking was enjoyed why i reclined in the sun on my banana lounge with a cold can of Dr Tim's. i don't think you could ask for much better a way to spend a saturday afternoon and his speakeasy bluegrass jazz and blues was a great soundtrack.
• kudos to the organisers for backing up an earlier joke of mine and ensuring that it rained during Washed Out's set. i'm still not convinced there is a band by that name. the festival organisers would also like to thank the assistance of the beijing olympic cloud seeders in helping ensure the rain.
• El Guincho got the boot from myself and my accomplice at the time, as well as from a whole heap of other (smart) people in the crowd. they were great and i highly recommend them and if they're not the biggest soundtrack to the summer then...
• watching The Fall was truly watching a genius at work. a lot of people didn't get it and i understand that. but watching 56 year old punk survivor Mark E. Smith (think a dishevelled Sam Neill with a long comb-over in pleated slacks and business shirt after a stroke) wander aimlessly around the stage midsong dropping microphones (i wondered why he had 3!), adjusting his band members amps, inspecting then dismantling half the drum kit, leafing through a pile of looseleaf sheets of paper as he spat out indecipherable lyrics over the top of the solid, grinding and relentless rythym from his band was just about my highlight of the year. we only clearly understood 2 lines for the entire set: "i hate festivals! i hate f**king festivals!". for more (and i recommend you sate that curiousity) check here... or a younger (and a classic you will know) here...
  
• following up these 2 bands was left to late 90's stalwarts Custard and they were more than up to the task. it was a great flashback to when i was in those easily influenced 16 to 18 years and i definitely felt like i was watching recovery with Dylan, Jane Gazzo and the Enforcer! the little pockets that could be spotted dancing frenetically during the set suggested that my little group of friends weren't the only ones enjoying the memories...
• Neil Finn has the voice of an angel and the sing along in the pink flamingo bar was great fun. he also received the boot from another of my friends and was definitely a deserving recipient...
• Sharon Jones were the Little Red of the saturday night... good, but not great and they can be great...
• red skins were a taste sensation - remind me to buy more next year.
• thanks as always to everyone who was there - i had an absolute ball. and thanks also to the Nolan family and the organisers - stellar job and much appreciated.
  

Gentlemen, the first rule of eat off is...

...don't fill up on bread rolls.

Our fine lunching establishment for this Saturday has a little challenge. That challenge is a double No. 4 Heavenly burger weighing 1kg served with 600 grams of chips.

Become a legend.

Clean the plate in less than one hour and your name goes on their honour board. If you beat the record, your meal is free. The World Record is just over 8 minutes.

Now I know my limitations and sadly this is beyond them, but having spoken to the connections behind Meatlover McCarthy I think we have a clear favourite between our potential contenders... so of course I thought I'd start a book on the contest*.

The Book:

Meatlover McCarthy $2.10 - Clear competition favourite. The man is an eating machine who in dire straits has been known to eat off bacon just to satisfy his craving for meat. He will finish it, but in how long?

Ribs for Ramm $6.00 - Appears possibly a tad sensible for the contest and a lack of Milawa Mustard may slow him down in any attempt. Would give a good show at finishing, but the field appears too contain too much class.

Ingrams Chickens $3.00 - The dark horse. The man likes meat and has been known to spruik this fact often and converted his lovely wife from vegetarianism - which is no mean feat. Will definitely give the favourite a run for his money and would not surprise if we was to push the world record. However, he may prefer something a bit less challenging and may be tempted by the steak sanga.

Gutbuster Golding $5.50 - Lightly raced filly who will be facing a daunting challenge to clear the plate. However Mr Golding is known to have a craving for a good eating challenge and has dabbled in the circulation of eating challenge material from around the globe (but specifically America). With a love of a challenge is definitely one to watch at odds.

Henry the Hamburgler Gilbert $9.00 - The long odds reflect the connections of HtHG's reluctance to let him partake in the challenge. If he runs then the odds will be wound in significantly one would think. Monitor acceptances.

Rest of Field $15.00 - Cannot see the winner coming from outside these top 5 contenders. The rest of the field just seems to be too concerned with ladylike behaviour (your spruiker included!) to enter and/or challenge seriously.

Anyhow, there you have it. Look forward to final acceptances at the call of the card (menu) on Saturday and will see you there.





*note: odds are purely for conversational purposes and no bets will be entered into.

Indochina, in general

I'm not entirely sure if Indochina is even politically correct...

• we invented a couple of games to pass the time and amuse ourselves (alright, amuse myself). the first was spot the gecko - they were everywhere and looked like fancy decorations until they moved. the second game was dog with a collar - Bee actually promised me a beer if we saw one - we saw at least 3.
• I also enjoyed the new and strange fruit that was served every chance they got. dragonfruit was one of the more unique fruits I've ever seen - bright pink/purple on the outside and white on the inside with little black dots - it tasted kinda like kiwi fruit. the other one I liked has a name that I never bothered to learn as I thought that pale yellow giant mandarin was much more appropriate.
• they love their volleyball and shooting ranges.