Xmas DAY 2006

I guess on reflection my Christmas this year was very Australian- esp for my Northern hemisphere readers!
Here is our tree:
Note the Weber bbq and the Galah at the bird feeder in the background!

Here is another shot of the wrap around verandah with a bunch of Galah's having a go at the feeder. These Galah's are pretty bossy and push off the other birds.
There's a pair of Crimson Rosella's that come down and are pretty tame. I was able to feed them from my hand.



After we had breakfast and exchanged gifts within the Fraser family we headed off to my uncles beach house at Copacabanna. (A beach on the Central Coast- in between McMasters and Terrigal).
And by beach house I mean RIGHT ON THE BEACH:

It's a fantastic place and with an outlook I really appreciated this year.

All the Uncles, Aunties and Cousins get together each year for lunch and table tennis competition. It's quite a big table spread:

Lunch consists of cold meats, seafoods and lots of salads. Oh, and plenty of beers and wine!
Anyways.... that was pretty much my Christmas this year.

Xmas EVE 2006

So this year I did Xmas the traditonal FRASER way!

This involved heading to The Valley- the parents weekender- a little over an hours drive north from Sydney.
I really dig it up there!

The folks were already up there, but I drove up solo as the brothers were taking to long to get themselves ready. Once you get off the main road you have to drive along a dirt road that eventually comes into a very scenic valley, and as soon as you hit the bottom, on cue, you have to casually swerve past the wallabys that are hanging out on the road.

As I pulled up the drive way I noticed that there was a PIG in the paddock out front of the house. I asked my dad about it and he said he thinks it belongs to someone a few properties up the road. I decided to go down and check him out!

He was pretty friendly and liked a bit of a pat (and a feed!)

About an hr later my brothers arrived so we all went down to check out the pig again...

(Thats the Los Bros Fraser! L-R: Matt (eldest), Nick (youngest and tallest(6'4!), Todd (largest) and me (shortest and 2nd eldest).

We were chilling up on the verandah when I looked down and saw the PIG in our garden. Somehow he'd gotten out of the paddock and wandered up to see us! He hung out for a bit until Dad chased him off.

I guess we had a typical Australian Christmas Eve dinner:

Prawns and snags on the barbie!!!

Hey- I think Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers plays bass in Younc MC's (awesome) song "Bust a Move!"

It's midnight on saturday. I'm just about finished off a bottle of wine and the film clip just came on cable!

I think I HAVE TO obtain that song!


If I had it it'd be just another weapon in my aresonal to beat DI in dj battles!!


YOU HEAR THAT?

It's almost been a YEAR since our last battle, DI!

TIME FOR A RE-MATCH!!!

Ho Ho Ho- HOE!

I know it looks shitty- but click on it and it'll open up all nice and pretty. And then you can see my shitty animation!!!

So it's been very quiet around here of late. I guess alot has been going on, but I honestly haven't had the inclination to post anything. No internet at home dosen't help either.

The world seems like it's still spinning at an alarmingly rate- and I feel dizzy and unsettled by it all.

The Diggsville Offices have successfully relocated to Melbourne where we nabbed ourselves a fantastic RAD-PAD/LOVE-SHACK/BUNGALO!
The London/Spanish Project epic has wrapped up. We've visited EVERY god-damned home wares/furniture/white goods store EVER created. I reckon I dropped a few grand in the last few weeks so my tollerance levels for shopping is now at an all time low!
Just got back from my 3rd Xmas shopping expedition and it was pretty lack lustre.

I find I'm missing being in Europe and even living in London. Melbourne seems like a big country town and my survival instincts have been put to the test over the last 2 years that everything this side of the world seems tame and small-towness.
Live is safe and easy here.
Although there are an enormous amounts of junkies and fucked up people in Melbourne. Which I'm curious about as life here is just so much easier. I guess it's all about comparasion.

Looking forward to kicking it Melbourne-style proper-like come January. We'll see how my itchy feet and wandering spirit goes at settling.

London is covered in a thick fog over the last few days. It's so bad that airports have closed. I'd like to have seen this! Must make for a very atmospheric time of year!

Instead I've been in the desert/drought/bushfire stricken Melbourne! Seriously- it's so dry and dusty that our local park feels like the outback.

I'm up in Sydney where it's still very green and lush. Esp in my folks neck of the words in the North. ALthough the weather is pretty wussy. Low 20's. Overcast and rainy. I was hoping for some pool-side action and beach excurisons- but NO!
Today ain't so bad. Hight 20's.

Think I'll go for a swim!

Enjoy your holidays whereever you maybe!

Tunes: Part 102.

If it's not THE PIXIE JUNKIES, it's the BELLE AND SEBASTIAN CULTISTS!!!


I can't win I tells yah!

More shitty artworks

.......?!?!

ALSO:

Working in the new studio in Melbourne. Working hard. But made more easy with the eye-candy in the room. (I like to perve on Garth when he's pretending to work (but I'm sure he's actually reading downloaded comics or playing around with tattoo designs. WE SEEEE YOU!!)
Really can't quite wait till next week when my current BIG deadline has passed so I can chill out a bit and enjoy Melbourne. Although I'll probally be stressing about house hunting then!

WHICH REMINDS ME:

House hunting SUCKS ARSE! Not made anymore enjoyable then cocksucking agents and rip-off slum lords!

I would like to see this movie:

What up in November?

Culture shock?
Nuerotics?
Hoopleheads?
Beautiful landscapes?
Babies?
Big Country Towns (aka Australian cities)?
Customer service?
Duty Free scotch?
Hong Kong?
Crappy Australian weather?
Jetlag much?
Over priced- yet great quality food?
Melbourne?
Sydney?
Hobart?
Doomed Relationships?
Cats and Cat allergies?
Old Jobs that are New Jobs?
Chicken, Brie and Tomatoe pizza?
Weddings?
Balls?
Homeless?
House hunting?
Over priced "foreign beers"?
Tassie beer festivals?
Tassie seafood?
The Familius?
The Paternatural Familius' 60th Birthday extravaganza?


........ think thats it........!





Whats up with you?

Diggsville East Coast Tour Dates

It works like this:
Tues 31st Oct- Leave London
Weds 1st Nov- Arrive Melbourne (late)

Sun 5th Nov- Arrive Sydney (midafternoon)
Dads 60th Birtdhay. See older brothers new pad. See the dog before she dies. Hopefully see peoples new babies.

Weds 8th Nov- Arrive Hobart
Weds 16th Nov- Arrive Melbourne.

Right now I've got 10 mins left of work FOR THE LAST TIME!!

To those in Elsewhere in the world- I'll see you sometime soon!
To those in Australia- I'll see you REAL soon!

s.

The Fonz would dispair.

After walking all the way THRU London this morning (45mins) , and being at work for 1 and a half hrs, I discovered MY FLY WAS UNDONE!



NOT COOL, Scott! NOT COOL!

The old blog has been a bit quiet of late which would lead readers to believe that nothing has been happening WORTH reporting on.

Nothing could be further from the truth. NOTHING!

Fact is I’ve been doing SO much I haven’t had a chance to sit down and write it out. That’s probably a reason why I’m behind on some of my emails as well. Got a lot going on!

I won’t get a chance to give a blow-by-blow description- but you’ll be able to read it in the lines of my face next time we meet.

However, here are some tasters of some of the FUN stuff that’s been happening:

From Ireland. Just 2 of the kick-arse castle we came across.

LOVED the ivy covered ruin. It was in an amazing location- in the middle of a cow paddock by the ocean. We were able to climb all over it.

The Hommies on the London Eye:

The latest exhibition at the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall is an incredibly cool slide exhibition. That’s SLIPPERY slides!!

Carsten Höller is the madman/genius behind it. His vision of the future involves slides as the new means of transport!

There are 5 slides in all- each one coming from a different level of the hall.

Check it out:

Read more HERE.

And… best of all.. here is VIDEO FOOTAGE of ME being spat out of the level 4 slide. Check out my exit speed- that’ll give you an inclination of just how fast you go.

Also listen at the beginning. You can hear me squealing like a girl (but in a manly way).

The London Girls footage is the funniest out of all of us, but I’ll let her show it if she wants.

Next week I’ll have FIRM dates of the East Australian tour. Some surprises there for sure!

The Kimster!

Occasionally I’ll get marginally fascinated by individuals of importance . Fascinated enough to do some internet research into them. Early this year it was Jesus. The other week it was Pope Benedict XVI.

This week it’s Kim Jong-il:

Such a strange and enigmatic man. Is he a cunning master manipulator or an irrational madman?

There are all sorts of weird stories about him, but due to the highly secretive nature of the North Korean government, no one really knows if they are true- or part of Kim Jong-il’s own mythmaking.

His flamboyant playboy lifestyle, stern leadership abilities and hip love of pop-culture would make him the coolest world leader ever- if he wasn't such a dangerous nutjob who's actions make not only the people of Nth Korea life a misery, but also threaten to plunge the world back into a nulcear cold war.

In my VAST internet research (by "vast" I mean the BBC news website and Wikipedia) I've come across this rad propoganda video about the man himself.

Here's a screen capture:
It's a musical retelling of his birth. It starts out similar to the creation of Monkey Magic and ends with a bit of Clint Eastwood/Pale Rider action!

Lets hope those High Five's aren't EXPLODING NUCLEAR POWERED High Fives!

Peace out Mr Kim. PEACE OUT!

Food

I’ve lost my inspiration for cooking of late. The only thing I seem to crave cooking is salmon.

In Ireland we had plenty of tasty seafood (as well as the Irishman’s’ apple- potatoes). We even stumbled upon an Oyster Festival in Galway. I may or may not be allergic to oysters- so I only had one. Even though I love them.

I also came across WHITE pudding- which begs the question- if BLACK pudding is made from congealed blood- what’s WHITE pudding made from?

The Krauts, The Micks and The Skips!

So once again Germany remains RAD!!

It was my 2^nd time there and really enjoyed:

The Culture- Bavaria has a different culture then rest of Germany- Old skool and long in traditions. For example it is COMPLELY normal for anyone to walk down the street wearing lederhosen. Really. Pretty conservative as well- but if you show a little respect for them, they’ll reciprocate.

The Language-for some reason I can get my head around simple German phrases as opposed to French and Italian.

The Food- lots of meat. Breakfast = Weiswurst (white sausage) Weisbeer (wheat beer) and giant pretzels. Lunch = Grilled sausages with beer. Dinner = Sausages with beer.

The History- Long, interesting history and exceptionally important 20^th C history.

The current Society- The Greens party has been in power for a long time. They are great re-cyclers. You have to pay for plastic bags at the supermarket. Even in the busiest city areas you don’t have to lock up your bike!

My Friends- got one or two awesome friends over there and plenty of friendly acquaintances!

I’ve uploaded some of our photo’s HERE if your interested. You’ll find photos from Berlin and Munich 2005 and Munich this year.

Off to Ireland tomorrow. London Girl and I hook up with my jet-setting/inheritance-spending parents. Fly into Cork. Fly out of Dublin on Sunday. Have no idea what we’ll do in-between. But we’ve hired a car, so road-tripping and Guinness-drinking might be the order of the day. Try and catch some good Irish hoe-downs!

Then it’s back to my last 4 weeks in London!

Yes, that’s RIGHT. I’ll be back in Australia on the 1^st of November!

As I’ve mentioned here sometime ago, I’ll be in Melbourne for a week- then down to Hobart for a week- maybe two. After that I’m not really sure as I want to get up to Sydney see the rest of the family and the Sydney crew…. But duties may force me back to Melbourne.

What duties?

Well finding a house to live in and a job!

THAT’S RIGHT!!

Some of you didn’t know that The Frase and London Girl European Adventure will be re-locating to Melbourne on a permanent basis!!

After much deliberation we decided we want a bit of the good healthy life. So hopefully Melbourne will rock it for us.

If not we’ll be back on a plane to Europe.

I’m actually walking away from a pretty descant job- which seems very crazy, but I’m hoping I can get something as good and enjoyable in Melbourne. I have a few options on the boil but none are set in stone as yet and might end up going nowhere.

So if anyone hears of anything coming up that might suit me, I’d be VERY happy and thankful if you could let me know.

Email on: scott at sdfraser dot com

Laters!

A Bavarian Love Story

Told in picto-grams.

Munich

Yo!
I'm off to Munich tomorrow morning. To the very HEART of Bavaria. Behind The White Sausage Border.

My German is pretty rusty (Herr Helgate- we should've engaged in a hun-disscussion to brush up my skills).
I let my beard grow long and MIGHTY but I HAD to give it a trim last night- it was getting way to itchy and food kept on getting stuck in it.
So I fear I'll be exposed as a Hannsy Auslander!

We get back on Monday, but my folks will be arriving in London that night so I won't be back online till next tuesday morning.

I haven't seen my mum for over a year and a half!

Anways, there's been plenty of stuff here this week to tie you over till next.

Talk amongst yourselves!


Auf weidershen!

General Mike P vs Wolfmother

And while we're talking about music, Mike Patton gives a little word about the state of music today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r98WLLWMq3o&eurl=

New CD's

At lunch time today I went and treated myself to some new cd's.
The following comments are based on ONE listen each, so they may not be FACT.


I've been after this cd for YEARS and I've seen it everywhere in London. I can't remember why I haven't bought it sooner but I am glad that I did.
It's full of great old skool beats and funky samples and is ACE!
Johnny Cash's last recording (except for the OTHER last recording that'll be released next year.....). It's not my faourite American Recordings, but it's Johnny Cash, so thats still GOLD! Quite mellow and soft which I don't like, but it's a testimant to Cashs' vocal storytelling. He achieves more power and narrative on his deathbed with a failing voice then others can only ever dream about.


Wonder Stuff's latest. I probally shouldn't have bought this with out giving it a listen as it's not terribly good. It's not woeful. But it ain't gold, and I don't have time for anything that's not GOLD! So now I'm wishing I didn't blow 13 quid on it. I think I was pressured into it by Maggie and Dogpossum calling me a pussy ages ago....



WORDS HURT!!!

Mead2

I take it back....

Mead is quite nice when heated!

Also: A small update on my website:
www.sdfraser.com

Death of a Crocodile Hunter

Y'know what?
I am genuinely upset about the death of Steve Irwin.
When I first saw his show a few years ago my immediate reaction was "What a dickhead".
But then I watched another episode and I GOT IT.

I've always been an animal lover- inparticular Australian reptiles and I salute the job that Steve did in boosting the publics perception of how beautiful, interesting and important these animals are. He showed that what people regard as "maneating monsters" are really misunderstood, fearful animals that need to be treated with respect and protected.

The work he did for conservation causes was phenomenal.

The work he did internationally for Australia was also huge.

He copped a lot of flack for his perpetuation of the Ocker Australian- but you know what? ALOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA TALK LIKE THAT.... Rarely with such passion, warmth and excitement though.......

His death was very surprising and shocking, but I'm glad that he died at the hands of a wild animal rather then, say, hit by a bus.

That little stingray with the unlucky strike of it's tail should remind us that humans do share this world with other creatures. Even if you've wrestled crocodiles, wrangled boa-constrictors or danced with king cobras- if you are in their environment then treat them with respect.

Black Pudding

Something I just remembered- the other weekend when we were on the Isle of Wight- I tried Black Pudding for the first time.

Black pudding is BLOOD and OFFAL made into a sausage.

It was pretty nice tasting- even if it looked like manure.

Mead

I just remembered that I have a bottle of MEAD at home. Unopened.

Does anyone know whats the best way to drink it? (besides from out of a viking horn or the skull of your defeated foes).
Chilled? Room temperature?
And will it keep after opening? Do I have to refridgerate?

Bought this stuff at the Isle of Wight.

Night of the Living Baseheads

On the weekend we went to Richmond Park. At almost 1000 hectares, it's the largest Royal Park in London.

It kicked arse!!

Just continuous woodlands and open grass fields just 30 mins train ride away from Waterloo Station.

The park is also home to hundreds of wild Red and Fallow deer.

Walking through the old oak woods we came across a few big stag deers with huge sets of antlers. We got some excellent photos and video of them standing in front of us on the path. Just staring us down, before they bounded off into the woods. We also came across quite large herds of females and their young.

But, I can't show you ANY of this because that night our bag (with our digital camera) was stolen from underneath our feet when we were at a pub.

Normally we are quite aware and protective of our stuff when out in London- but somehow these bag-snatching-professionals out-NINJA-skilled us!

I won't go into the rest the night- it's too depressing to think about it and I'd rather try and stay focused on the great experience we had at the park.

I’d really like to go back soon and do it with bikes. It’s so big we only covered a quarter of it on foot. Hopefully I can get a new camera before hand and try and recapture the lost moments…..

Thats How I'm Living

The overwhelming success of having a GUEST WRITER here on Diggsville not too long ago gave me the idea to throw down the gauntlet and open up the soapbox. So....

If you're keen, let me know. Anyone or Anything. I'll post it HERE!

Have your rants, reviews, word-ups, guides-to-better-lives read by ZILLIONS around the world!

If you want to hide your identity you can use a fake name.(e.g Tee Holgate, Doug Selan, London Holgate, Maggie Douglas, etc etc)

Initially I promised to publish WHAT EVER I was given- unedited... but ....I've got someone already lined up and, tell you the truth, I'm .........AFRAID of what she might have to say and show.

But I did promise her I wouldn't censor it... so for now thats the policy..

EGADS!! Have you EVER read anything more EXCITING???!!!!

In OTHER news... the housemates are starting to warm towards 21 Jump St. Well, MOST of them are. There is STILL one who doesn't dig it! But the other night we watched 3 episodes IN A ROW- at the request of Housemate-Paula!

VINDICATION!!

Nacho Libre

Saw this film last week. Was very much looking foward to it- but it pretty much sucked.

About 30 mins into it, Ainslie asked me "Is this movie for retarded people?" .

There were one or two funny moments, some nice wrestling sequences that were over too quickly, and maybe 3 touching moments. The rest was sluggish- if not offensive.
Afterwards I remarked to Ains that it reminded me alot of Napoleon Dynamite. The stilted camera direction, the boring set ups of jokes, and probally most disturbingly, it's racist/stereotypical portrails of Mexicans as ugly, lazy, slow-witted beaners...

The next day I found out it was written and directed by THE SAME GUY- Jared Hess!
Ok- I thought- the guy must be Mexican.
But he ain't. He's a film school graduate from UTAH.....

So, like, WHAT UP Hess??!!?!
Whats his deal?

I didn't really like Napolean Dynamite. The plot was pretty good- but the film was flat, boring and droll.
SAME FOR NACHO LIBRE.
It had GREAT FILM written all over it. JACK BLACK + MEXICAN WRESTLERS!!! Hell, it even had cute kids that were ill-used. But nope. Fell totally flat.
I think this review sums up my thoughts on it pretty accuratly.

The List

Douglas’ confession has got me thinking. About stuff.

So I’ve made a list of music/musicians that I am either supposed to love or have had people tell me that I should be loving- but I DON’T LOVE(for one reason or another)

The List: (in no real order and no doubt will be extended when I think of more!)

Sonic Youth

Radiohead

Muse

Ella Fitzgerald

Ryan Adams

Mars Volta

Lester Young

Fletcher Henderson

Sidney Bechet

Incognito

Tom Waits

PJ Havey

Bloc Party

Something For Kate

Gerling

Charlie Parker

GoldFrapp

Flaming Lips

Arctic Monkeys

The Smiths

The Streets

The Hives

Belle and Sebastion

Live Journal Feed

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/thefrase/

For all you LJ users. Now you can friend Diggsville up til the break of dawn!

Uptown Girl

It's not a good thing at all when an ad for a Billy Joel Best Of.. comes on the tele and you find yourself tapping your foot and thinking "That might be a good album to buy."

Certainly it must be a CLEAR sign that you're entering the mid-30's?

(And Ainslie- NO. I don't really want you to buy me it for Xmas. Unless YOU want it for your b'day?)

Last night Ains and I had dinner at a Malaysian place.

For entree she had the deep fried swamp eel and I had the green curried frog legs and salted duck egg.


We don't fuck around when it comes to food.


Don't start none and there won't be none, holmes!

3rd August

I'm quite glad that no one called me up on my offer to publish my anecdote.
On reflection if I hesitate- then it's probaly not suitable.
No one wants to read about my night with car-crashes, partying with my gay-neighbor, the naked 40 yr old anorexic widow of a politician, the homo-phobes, the gay club, the moisturizer creams and the angry 'Nam vets....

TODAY, the 3rd of August, marks the first year anniversary of me arriving in London.

To celebrate I have 2 treats!

This website is for all you guys who like to goof off at work.
http://www.workfriendly.net/
It makes websites look like word documents so you don't get caught at work! Neat!

And this is for all you Star Wars fans:
http://grid212.blogspot.com/2006/07/darth-vader-being-smart-ass-oh-my-god.html

Yesterday morning I woke up with a nice idea for a pirate comic. Not sure where it came from. I saw Pirates 2 a few weeks ago now so it's far from my brain.
In doing a bit of research for this idea I found out the reason why the English are called "limeys". It's due to the British Navy's use of LIMES to combat scurvy and Germans are called "krauts" cos the German Navy used sauerkraut....
I always thought the Soapdodgers were called Limeys cos of all the limescale in the water.
But no.

Did you also know that when the Brits say "pants"- they mean UNDERPANTS?? Reminds me of the cool elderly black lady working at the lounge in Vegas who accidentally spilt some of my drink on my leg. As she was apologizing she told us that she didn't call them "pants" but "trousers" because she was "from the old skool".

Aaaah... Vegas.....


Um... managed to see The Wonderstuff after all on the weekend. As we left the festival on saturday we saw that if you sat outside the fence you still had a really good view of the stage- so we went back on the sunday night to catch the 'Stuffies!
They were good! As good as they ever where- which means half the stuff they did was a bit average and the rest was TOPS!
So, y'know, that makes me NOT a pussy!

*phew*

Tally

After 17 days the tally looks like this:

Lebanese: 425 dead. The Majority civilians and possibly numerous more trapped under rubble.

Israelis: 52 dead. 18 of which are civilians.

BUT I’ve been advised “not to mention the war”.

So here’s another tally.

DVD collections of tv series introduced by me to the flat.

FAMILY GUY: Positive feedback. Everyone digs.

DEADWOOD: Popular with only London Girl and me.

SPACED: Positive feedback. Everyone digs.

21 JUMP ST: Unpopular. Only I dig.

FIRFLY: Semi-popular. Only London Girl and I sorta-dig.

AMERICAN DAD: Unpopular. Only I am willing to give it further chances.

So......
THIS Saturday is definitely the Ben and Jerry festival. Going to be so much fun! Rock, free ice-cream, probably some beer, petting farm and rides. Then we’ll be going to a bbq that night.

The London “heatwave” continues to progress with temperatures just excess of 30 degrees. You would’ve thought it was summer or something?!

Proper air conditioning at work would make it bearable. The sweaty arse and y-fronts is getting pretty annoying.

Luckily I have an ice-cold bottle of white rum at home in the freezer. Cuba Libre’s are this seasons favourite cocktail.

I have a (true) anecdote written but I am afraid to post it here. I fear it’s too much for even YOU, my hardcore Diggsville readers. Top to top SIN-tilating and head-fucking.

It’s a great story, but like I said- I don’t think you’re up for it.

But shout out if you think you are……….

Season 2

On the weekend I purchases 21 JUMP STREET Season 2 and SPACED Season2.


Witness my JOY!

P-OUT

So far the body count after 10 days is 330 Lebanese and 34 Israelis plus thousands and thousands of civilian Lebanese displaced and basically fucked.

The Israelis have just distributed flyers telling civilians to quit southern Lebanon immediately, amid threats of a large-scale incursion.

Here are the reasons why this crisis has started.
Here are some discussions about the legalities of this war.
Here are some basic facts about the nation of Lebanon.

And here is where I got that RAD image by artists Steff Geissbuhler from.

Peace is truly on the OUT

So did we EVER do what the Beatles asked and actually, y'know, GIVE PEACE A FUCKING CHANCE??



Some days it's an embarrassment to be human.


Photo from the BBC site.

big brother

its late. London Girl reporting.... big brother was excellent tonight until they all went to bed. now its all.. well.... SHITE. drunken evening at a clapham pub topped off with neat scotch with the flatmate paula..... the frase drunk, topic of conversation: nipple suction caps, what up with that?; big brothers tourretts pete and celebrating celebrity with cocaine. oh and curried almonds. yeah! that WAS good. its good to have curried almonds. london girl, out.

ME-3D

This is ME, in 3D!
Created from www.meez.com which I got from T-Bird.
We live only a few blocks from Tower Bridge.

Peeping Tom

This is an excerpt from HERE:

Patton and crew recently shot a video for the album's first single, "Mojo," with director Matt McDermitt (Backstreet Boys, Motion City Soundtrack). The star-studded clip features cameos by model Rachel Hunter, Nakamura, Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 and Patton's longtime friend, actor Danny Devito.

Patton's other projects have been put on the back burner, as he's currently focusing on the upcoming Peeping Tom dates. He says the Fantomas are on hold until next year and he's already "way behind" on work with his band, Tomahawk. Patton is also working on another project comprised of just him and Nakamura. "It's going to be like DMX for white people," he says.

"That's the concept. I think Dan wants me to bark like a dog."

Which leads me to these points:

POINT 1. Who'd a picked Danny Devito and Mike Patton to be "long time friends"?! Although the more I hear about Danny Devito- the more I find that he's a man with surprisingly impeccible and credible tastes!

POINT 2. Mike Patton and Dan The Automator one-on-one?!?! WOWSERS!! Mike P did probally my favourite track on Automators' Handsome Boys album, and the LOVAGE is the shit!

We're going to see Peeping Tom next monday night.

ME!

3 random facts I'm pretty sure you didn't know about me.

1. When I was very young I was biten by a lion.
2. I am anti-pot.
3. I possess no phobias. I am a man with out irrational fear.

Night at the proms

While in the UK, we're always up for trying new things and taking advantage of where we are and what we can do. So when Ainslie asked last night over dinner if I wanted to go to the PROMS she was a little bit taken back by my flat out refussal.
When I asked her in a cynical (and probally really rude way) "why would I want to go?"

She replied that we could sing "Royal Britania", "God Save The Queen" and some other English traditional gospel songs that I forget. We get to wear silly hats and get drunk.

I can honestly see why Ains would want to go to this. She is a trained opera singer, comes from English lineage and likes to drink.

Where as I... well, I'm not that big on classical & don't like English gospel (from what I've heard). Also the United Nations have placed a BAN on my singing. I'm not even allowed to sing in the shower.

I despise "silly hats".

But I am also strongly anti-English Empire.
I think Scotland should be autonomous. Ditto Wales and North Ireland. I also believe Australia should throw off it's yoke of British rule and become a republic.

So despite actually having a LIKING to drink, THIS Johnny Foreigner will not be attending The Proms!

Can't, won't and don't stop

And the fun keeps on going!

Pulled some family strings and scored some tickets to Wimbledon this Friday!

And then on the next day, (Saturday) we’re going to ANOTHER rock festival!

Ben and Jerry’s Sundae music festival! Wonder Stuff were playing on the Sunday- but it was sold out, so we’re going to the Saturday show. I think it only costed £5 (opposed to the £40 for Depeche Mode).


ALSO Peeping Tom are playing in July. Mike Patton and guests!!!

There are a bunch of other tasty acts that I saw HERE!

In between rocking out, we’re trying to organise a weekend up in Edinburgh, another trip to Munich in September (Oktoberfest), Ireland in late September and somewhere for the August long weekend. Maybe Poland, Venice or Prague??? Or perhaps walking in Wales or somewhere south in England?

Times running OUT!

Sirens

You know how you see on tv and movies the cops hit their sirens and weave in and out of the traffic, driving on the wrong side of the road and mounting the sidewalk?
And the pedestrians unawares- stepping infront of the oncoming cars only to jump out of their way with shocked/angry/surprised/frightened expressions on their faces- never to be seen or thought of again, and were probally played by the stunt crew?

Well this morning I WAS one of those pedestrians!!

I stepped out on the main road cheekily against the red light- only to have to dive out of the way of an oncoming police car with it's wailing sirens driving down the wrong side of the road!

And weirdly yesterday aswell- but it was an ambulance then. In the front passenger seat was a camera-man with the biggest video camera I've ever seen pointed a foot away from the drivers face. I could've sworn he was switching from talking INTO the camera and watching the road as he swerved in and out of the traffic.

As I sit here at work they're demolishing the building next door. Bits of debris, and glass are smashing onto the ground outside my window and my desk is covered with dust. There is a new crack appearing in the wall next to me and I'm told there is an even bigger one upstairs.
I'm waiting for a wrecking ball to come crashing through the wall at any moment.

Some one has put on the soundtrack to CSI- which I'm trying not to really dig.

It's all systems GO!

Wheres the JAZZ??

Its that time of year (or that time of my inhabitation) where I am inundated with social engagements.

This weekend I've got some big music things on!
Saturday we're going to THIS.. "BAKED BEATS". Laptop djs, bands etc..
One of our friends is playing. He does what the kids call Mash-ups on his laptop.

Then on sunday I'm going to the O2 WIRELESS FESTIVAL. I've only just looked at the line up. I was sold on Depeche Mode and Goldfrapp. But I was excited to see GANG OF FOUR are also playing!! Fucking radical!!
And there are a bunch of bands i have never heard of before..... but that means nothing.
When I tell Ainslie that I know nothing about todays music- shes states thats because I was "born in the 70's".....!!

Why i'm cutting down on my tea intake

The cup of tea I just made for myself tastes like baby vomit.




Which begs the question- HOW do I know what baby vomit tastes like??

Liverpool

Remember last month we went up to Liverpool? This photo pretty much sums it up.

Lots of fun & adventures. Lots of shitty stuff aswell.

I say good DAY, sir!

I GIVE you your utmost desires and you give me NUTHIN' in return?!

What up with that?

Todays NEWS!

HEADLINE NEWS:

I’m coming “home”.

More about that later in the bulletin.

--------------------------
Further to our discussion earlier on the subject of THE MAN.
Tex Perkins knows where I’m coming from.
He admits that he is “just a man”. Note he claims to be A man, and not THE man.
I hear you, brother!
--------------------------
The 7th UK Big Brother is an absolute travesty and a disgrace. It’s a totally irresponsible bit of tele.
There’s a guy with Tourette’s, a gay Glaswegian Indian who’s mentally unstable and was pulled out of the house for saying he was going to kill himself, an ex-porn actress, a misogynist bigoted A-Hole and plenty of other waste of spaces. Get these FUCKERS of the air!
I’m sort of enjoying reading this blog commenting on the show:
http://www.radiotimes.com/content/features/bigbrother/
And did you know that Bez, from the Happy Mondays won celeb BB awhile back?

Can’t believe we have to pay a television license in this country.
--------------------------

Speaking of television, Deadwood season 2 is plodding along nicely and is building up a strong momentum- much to the chagrin of my house mates who object to the excessive use of “fuck”, “cocksuckers” and “hoopleheads”.

The London Girl and I now refer to the show as “Cocksuckers”. As in when we’re coming home on a crowded tube one of us might suggest “You wanna watch an episode of Cocksuckers tonight?”
The London Girl is down with the program! She even insists we drink whiskey- straight up- while we watch!

(that whole last bit could be read really wrongly)

--------------------------
Saw The Da Vinci Code.
It was DULL!

Although ever since I found Jesus and was the recipient of a MIRACLE in the cathedral back in Florence (now THERE’S a story I haven’t told YOU yet!!), I’ve enjoyed discussing the topic of Jesus and the theories/conspiracies.

I haven’t read the book, but dollars to donuts Garth Ennis did it better in PREACHER!
--------------------------

Saw the trailer for the new Pirates of the Caribbean and it looked FANTASTIC! Have you seen it? Davey Jones squid face looks amazing! Can’t wait! I’d better not be disappointed PEOPLE!!

Also saw the Supes trailer and I’m afraid to say- it looked a bit rad.

--------------------------
Bought some cd’s as well.

On a semi-drunken impulse buy I bought A Proper Introduction to Robert Johnson: Cross Road Blues
And Oscar Peterson Plays The Harold Arlen Song Book .

Last night in a non-drunken and thoughtfully planned out state of mind I purchased Mike Pattons newest master piece “PEEPING TOM”. It’s got Dan The Automators magic touch along with Kid Koala, Massive Attack, Noah Jones and heaps of other cool dudes!

The other purchase was The Raconteurs. ROCK!


--------------------------

And back to our Main Headline Story, The DIGGSVILLE WORLD TOUR has added some Australian dates.

Going to be leaving London on the 31st of October and hitting Melbourne on the 1st Nov.

After that, the details have yet to be finalized. It’ll no doubt be an East Coast tour with appearances in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney.
Truth be told I’ll be yo-yo-ing between the 3 cities right through the summer as I don’t really have a home city to come back to.
More details TBA.

--------------------------
To quote a great man “….and what else?”

That’s about it.

And what about you?

Bars

I’ve been to one or two bars in my time. Yes, yes. It IS true. Believe it or not.

I am a little bit of a fan of cocktails. A skilfully crafted alcoholic beverage that tastes good. I am not a fan of creamy or fruity cocktails. They are for girls and communists.

I think it was Big Daddy who told me that you should be able to see through a cocktail. And I think I agree.

I remember when I first moved to Hobart in 2000, there was NO WHERE you could go and get a cocktail. When I left 5 years later, there were numerous places- and some of them were pretty good.

Last weekend we went to a friend’s birthday drinks at a cocktail bar.
I am always impressed when they actually have GIN Martini’s listed on the cocktail menu and I was pleasantly surprised to see this place had the option of “shaken or stirred”. It’s been scientifically proven that this makes no difference to the drink, but it shows that they actually care about making it the way you want it.
I had 2 dry gin martinis and a Rob Roy. Very nice drinks they were too.
The other good thing about this place was the price. We made it to their Happy Hour. 2 for 1. Even outside of their happy hour, they were reasonably priced.

However while the drinks, music and price were all good, the clientele left something to be desired. Nothing ruins the atmosphere like a half-arsed drunken congo line that turns into a punch up.
Also the barman’s “friends” were rather forcibly cracking onto the female punters. It kind of ruins your drinking experience when you have to keep one eye on your friends ordering drinks at the bar to make sure everything was above board…


My motto: DRINK SMART!

DAMN the MAN!!

Every since I've set foot on the English Isle THE MAN has decided to give me shit! At just about every turn the cocksucker has used his bureaucracy, his scare tactics, he's apathy, he's incompetence to mess with me and mine.

For the most part I've played along, and done what was necessary and when we could, win our small victories.
CROM would look and see that The MAN has won lots of small battles, but I continue to win the war.

Just after Easter I thought, FINALLY, The Man and I had made our peace.

But NO!

Now the cocksucker is messing with our home internet!

DAMN THE MAN!




*sigh*

......

IN OTHER NEWS:
Next week I have some major news regarding the Diggsville World Tour. Some of you will welcome what I will reveal. Others will be disapointed.

PEACE!

Surly, sanctimonious old man

As I get older, I'm getting more surly.
When I don't get my way I get grouchy, angry and gruff. I used to possess the patience of a Saint but I fly of the handle at the drop of a hat these days...

Add to this I'm also getting more self-righteous and strongly sanctimonious.

Not a nice mix.

"Beware Oldman Frase" the children say as I walk by.



On the flip side, the older I get- the more handsome I grow.

Away, again

Going up to LIVERPOOL for the weekend.

Be back late sunday night. Got a wedding.

OH BOY do I love weddings!!

comics

Last sunday afternoon one of my flatmates* and I popped up to Camden to visit the comic shop. I hadn't been into a comic shop in months.

I only came out with one, and that was SCOTT PILGRIM'S PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE. I was wanting to buy a whole bunch more, but really..... there wasn't anything that looked interesting. And it wasn't a bad store. It was a really good one. I blame the COMICS INDUSTRY!

YOU SUCK!

But anyways, it was a nice way to spend a sunday. On the way home we popped into our local (the one with the dungeon cells) and had a few pints and shot the shit well into the afternoon.

I've just about finished reading the book. I really like the small "manga OGN" size. Makes it easy for reading on the tube. I also surprisingly dig his art style. That manga/western hybrid. Traces of Gunsmith Cats and Bone.
The character interaction read a lot like my DOLLBOY comics. Kind of snappy, but you get the feeling it was written based on real conversations. Except he does it better. More polish.
I've reached the end bit where they fight... and it is as I suspected... kinda lame and silly. Or it might be a generation thing.. computer game action...Youth...


*Small world trivia- My flatmate hails from Perth and she's actually a real good friend to Shane McCarthy (writer of Batman and other books)-whom I know through San Diego.

A warning for melbournites

On saturday 20th May, I hope you've got your survival plan ready. Stock up on clean drinking water, canned goods and weapons of skull-destruction:

A treat..

... over at my LJ for music lovers.

Deadwood Season 2

Just came back from purchasing Deadwood Season 2.
£50. But I do believe its worth it!

More cowboy-influenced artworks and a lot more cussing are no doubt on the cards for here.