say it again

This has been a jolly long week. Monday/Tuesday feels like rather a long time ago.

How about a brief summary? Ok ok.

- David Ford in Oxford
- M & M over for dinner
- recording. This has taken over quite a lot of time. It's coming along nicely, but there's still a fair amount to go
- there were a few glasses of wine and a couple beers
- played this morning. 'twas great.
- cooked up a hunter's chicked stew this afternoon. Another Jamie recipe. Very nice. Although I suppose it should be with 3/4 of a bottle of chianti in it.

I've had thoughts. But they are elusive little beggars it has to be said.

One thought that occured to me this afternoon was that in my reckoning it's a positive thing for famous people to use their position to encourage people to vote, but it's a very negative thing for them to use their position to encourage people to vote for a particular person or party.

This probably sounds quite reasonable on first inspection, but dig a little deeper and it's all based around the assumption that democracy is inherently a good thing. Which I'm not necessarily disputing, but the fact is that it is just another system. To assume it's the best idea is still an assumption.

In fact, I've heard it said that benign dictatorship is the best form of government. Which might be fair enough if you could assume inherent goodness in a leader with absolute power. But when we talk about democracy being the best solution are we not also talking in ideals?

Food for thought I suppose.

Have a good week would you?

overandout

Another one down

It's about time for me to continue the tradition I started last year. In digest form so that you don't actually have to bother (but with links in case you want to) I present to you..

2007!

Januar
Winterwalrus, Blogging about blogging/cooking the saucepan, Center Parcs, Albums, Club 29, BEN!, Snow, Album Launch


Feboo-ar
Bastard Collater, 2 gig weekend, shakes of milk, switchfoot (switchfoop?), more snow, scarves, banoffee pie, cAR-lar's birthday


Marching
PHOTOshoot, JACK BAG!, Life Sentence done broke up


Arpil
BAR - B - Q, Easter in Hastings, wirelessness, ready brek boy, sunny weather


May do
Short studio sesh, new piano, Toby the Plumber, discovered xkcd, BIRTHDAY! AGAIN! What are the chances?, Dave Matthews Band


Juneough
Pontins in Cambridge, The Facebook revolution, Jubnee got hisself marrid, broke me toe, New Prime Minister


---------------------------------------------
:: half-way point. Let's take a breather! ::
---------------------------------------------


Julie
Schmokin' ban, Joelyboy moved on, Badger got marrid, rain, paintball, PLAYED SERBIA GOSHGOSH, Horse races, new sofa, new tee vee, Ollie's stag, Hatt's birthday


Augustus
red mists, antfest, on iTunes (at bloody last), visit to Fogpilot's, surfing, curtains, BubbSass weddiage, Camp Strangeday 07, COFFEETEA, Saffablog GO!, Faceblog GO!


Septeveral
David Ford, Marrid 5 years, 19 runs, Lord of the Rings Day III, Saffa got into BIMM


Octobus
DIWhy?, new strangeday website, illness, England lost, David Ford, Fizz moved to the 'Cup


Novembar
Firey Works, The Great Guiness Treasure Hunt, Shark bite (doo ha ha?), Will Smith Fest, The INSPECTION, Trip to Personchester,


Decembizzle
Boosh, Car broke down, car broke down, work dos, David Ford, MILK AND COOKIES, Cooking a big off Turkey (Torquay?), Antfestive, LOOP STATIONS!


This is all only according to what I blogged. I worry about the gaps I've left. For instance: 'Noock moving in, my parents moving (although I mentioned it a month or two after the event), Anwar & Woody getting knocked up (ditto), El's birthday, in fact most birthdays, a Fizz show (although she didn't feature as heavily in the show as before). There's more than likely more, but I can't remember. Turns out I don't blog about very much at all.

Never mind.

overandout

oberon

well well.

Once again it's Tuesday nite. Once again I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. See I should be doing some work bits, but instead I'm not doing some work bits. And I'm also messing with everyone on facebook.

Please allow me to sum up the weekend (plus Monday/Tuesday) for you.

- Friday was foop-ball, but y'all knew that. They had a small shark infestation whilst we were playing. Kind of a pitch invasion but involving sharks. It was kind of surreal actually, but don't worry I dealt with it in a very masculine way.

- Aha gig day. We were playing in Chesterfield. It was a slightly weird one. Not sure if we were quite the correct band for the audience, but hey, I enjoyed myself and the organiser liked us. And we got paid so you can't complain too hard.

- Whilst in Chesterfield we had a great old time. We were staying in some rooms above the venue afterwards which meant that we could get a couple bottles of strongbow and KEBOIBS (not scoffers ones. And not Sheesh Keboibs neither) which was HELLA!

- 3 hours sleep plus a 3 hour drive the next morning - ALWAYS FUN!

- We made some lovely music on Sunday morning. What with the 5 part harmonies (me, Anwar, Saffa, L-Idea and Bits) and the delicious guitar parts (me, Anwar, Bobs and Saffa) and plus and also the lack of sleep it was a-mah-dandy-azing!

- Curried whole roast chicken. Durban style. Now this is a tasty dish. I even made a cake afterwards. Yum!

- Sunday early nite

- Dave hit 50 posts

- Can't be bother with Monday and Tuesday. They were fun. Ish. And I was still tired.

- Oh apart from I was listening to Avenue Q soundtrack earlier. Forgot how good that was. Really should go see that show.

This has been danged long. I feel like I should congratulate you for reading this far. Congratulations.

About time to go I pretty much think. You've been here too long. They'll be on to you soon.

overandout..

it's a trip

Thoughts:

- I've had some bizarre spam lately. Some of it is out and out sick and funny ("no more squirt squirt whoops love"), but some of it is just like Radiohead lyrics ("messaging not just"). I'm simultaneously amused and perturbed. Perturbed to think that these emails are worth sending out because there's somehow some kind of return on them.

- I can't help but think these people are in for rather a large shock when they die. I don't think I need to clarify this statement any more, but if you need some help drop me a line

- There are actually two kinds of rebels. Those who rebel from the inside out, and those who rebel from the outside in. The latter can be "inside", it's more of an attitude. I think I'm more of an in/out kind of guy, although I'm not sure I could tell you which I'd prefer to be

- I'm still astounded at how many christians are proud of the fact that they are recognised in non-christian environments as people "who don't swear". I don't want to start the swearing debate (go here if you do), it's just that I can think of a million better things to be 'known' for. If you still need some pointers, how about loyalty, love, honesty, LACK OF PRIDE, gentleness, oh and so on. God, you'd have thought we'd have realised the triviality of externals by now.

That's about it. I had planned on a picture, you know, but somehow it just didn't work out. It's been a good day all told though. Just ask the wife.

overandout

what is the sound of one hand typing?

Hey there yogi bear!

Typing whilst teeth brushing (grammar? El?). Always a charm.

To sum up:

- half term good
- david ford good
- fizz moved to the 'cup
- tommorrow is always too soon to go work
- nick sorted us out with some tasty birds tonite (rock-n-roll-ized versin of the story)
- sleep good

timeout. over

reasons to be cheerful Pt n

Part n^n. That's a lot of n.

- it's half term huzzah!
- Megs, Malcs and Charlie are here.
- I just had porridge with choclit
- We had lasagne last nite

You see despite appearances and cynicism I iz Glass Half Full typa guy. It's true I am. I am a walking contra-muh-diction. But I'm ok with it. Life's a good laugh.

That aside, it's looking like we're going to be hanging out at Bluewater today. So I will be looking at lots of things and not buying them. Uh-huh.

Must be time for getting dressed.

So many thoughts..

So tricky to capture them all..

Ah well. We let the thoughts escape that will and we ensare those that we can.

It's been a very swift week. So swift that I've in fact barely noticed that I haven't blogged. I should, however, inform posterity that the Mothership has this very week departed to become MotherVic.

Also worthy of mention this week (although not quite as worthy):

- Jack's International Open Mic Nite tonite. Yes, it acquired international status since we last discussed it.
- There were some philosophical thoughts pertaining to something or other, but they've been dropped in favour of 'not bother with it don't you know'
- mmmhmm
- somethingsomething
- dreaming a lot this week. I'm sure psychoanalysts could feed that into their probability matrix and work out what I'll be doing for the forseeable future
- it's been far too long since I watched twelve monkies

That all said, it's becoming quite clear that the real reason I came on here has clearly eluded me and therefore I should go before I make a bigger fool out of myself than I already have.

Maybe a day in pictures tomorrow?

I'm not promising anything though because.. well.. you know..

overouatnd

what happens in chain reaction stays in chain reaction..

Or at least identities do. Here's a selection of funny moments (that no doubt will no longer be funny in the retelling) that all went down last nite..

• Solid objects followed by what they're made of: FROGS! ......CELLS!


• plants followed by animals that eat them: Bamboo. KOALAS! ....... oh. pandas


• Breeds of bird: Tit, Shag, Cock.. (I had more but I forgot them)


• Diseases said with a cough in the middle: *cough*aids. No that doesn't work, you were coughing at the beginning. It would have to be ai*cough*ids...... her*cough*pes

there were more but it wouldn't be fair you know..

baronial

I got a few bits and pieces for you today. We're off to check out a church where Bub and Sass are getting marrid in less than a month fairly soon, so I will be brief. For now..

- Did you ever wonder what the difference between a citizen and a denizen is? Not much apparently. You never tend to hear people talk about citizens of the deep however.

- Do you ever get annoyed when you're installing something or using some weblication and they only give you the option for U.S. English? This is probably not a very fresh or original insight but what the carp is that aboot? Either there's some serious inferiority issues going on there or perhaps they're worried that there's gonna be some americans going "I don't get it, my language ain't on this list" if they just list it as ENGLISH.

I'm running out of time right now so I'll just leave you with all the quotes about god from my little archive of quotes. Dandy

• "God made me to run, and he made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure." - Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire
• "I'm not one for dance classes, feeling if God had wanted us to wear leotards he would have painted us purple." - Victoria Wood
• "Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. my crotch. You've punched me in my crotch.'" - Dr Cox
• "As God once said, and I think rightly..." - Margaret Thatcher.
• "For godness sake, will someone else please submit some quotes!!!!!!" - Mothership
• "You can tell it's a heatwave when......
  You come to believe that deodorant is God's own stick of petrochemical derivatives" - Lucy Mangan
• "Live among men as if God beheld you; speak to God as if men were listening." - Seneca
• "I'm not a god. I've just been.. misquoted" - Lister
• "As the days go by, we face the increasing inevitability that we are alone in a godless, uninhabited, hostile and meaningless universe. Still, you've got to laugh, haven't you?" - Holly
• "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
• "Love, having become a god, becomes a demon" - C.S Lewis
• "You go do that. And I'll go find God, quit drinking, get in touch with myself emotionally, and we'll meet right back here at half past impossible. Mm'kay?" - Cox

What a beautiful day

again..

I'm sure we'll look back in times to come when all the bees are dead and gone and marvel that we weren't aware of the catastrophes this lovely spell of weather foretold but for now we're loving it and isn't that part of what life is about? Hmmm..

Anyways, there are many reasons to be happy.

- the sun is shining, the birds are swaying and the trees are singing
- this is post #600
- the weekend she stretches out before us
- last night's gig was all of the funs
- food
- friends
- family
- music

I could go on. I had a few random thoughts in the last few days, let's see if we can remember them..

- we tend to think we know/understand people's motives without knowing that person in the slightest. We tend to think the worst of motives or assume that they couldn't be altruistic. In my experience at least, motives seem to be a big ol' mixed bag. I don't think I've come across a pure motive.
- I love people who can write songs that pinpoint an aspect of humanity and either tell a story with it or just describe it. Ben Folds is very good at this. Songs that spring to mind: Gone (Ben Folds), Sadako (3dBs Down), I had some others but they escape me). I wish I could do it.

El's back now so I will truncate this post.

See you all soon..

personalities

Hello.

I have an addictive personality I think. Here's some reasons:

• I once listened to the bananaphone 20 or 30 times in a row.
• I played minesweeper. A lot.
• The whole 24 thing.
• Some other stuff
• Probably

See?

Toby

it's been so very long..

Well well.

No I know. But then what did you expect?

Any case, I was going to start off tonite with some genius lyrics, so here that is:

• I have always found it easier to skirt around it, careful of the stiches, insisted there was more than this but I lost myself I cannot speak


• We are crooked souls trying to stand up straight, dry eyes in the pouring rain, the shadow proves the sunshine


• So you can keep your belief in whatever, I'll wear my cynicism like a tatoo, while poets try to engineer definitions of love, well you know all I can think of is you


• When a dude's gettin bullied and shoots up your school, And they blame it on Marilyn - and the heroin, Where were the parents at?


• Everybody knows it sucks to grow up and everybody does, it's so weird to be back here, let me tell you what, the years go on and we're still fighting it


• in your eyes, the light, the heat, your eyes, I am complete

And now now now. I know that you all think you're being original and all, but here at tobiwan.co.uk we've done it all. Regardless I will reiterate and also elaborate.

• Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever


• Ash - 1977


• Nirvana - Unplugged in New York


• dc Talk - Jesus Freak


• Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound


• Brave Saint Saturn - The Light of Things Hoped For


• Poor Old Lu - Sin


• Nitin Sawhney - Prophesy


• Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs


• Radiohead - OK Computer

Bubblin' Under: REM - Automatic For The People, Grammatrain - Lonely House, Model Engine - The Lean Year's Tradition, Flick - The Perfect Kellulight, Elliot Smith - XO, David Ford - I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused, Muse - Absolution, Peter Gabriel - So, Radiohead - The Bends, Jeff Buckley - Grace

Radiohead obviously get the special mention for having two albums in the top 20. Go them.. Of course ask me again in a couple years and it might be different.

Gotta go..

it's feboo-ary now

This year seems to be tracking by at quite the pace. Still, life is fun so we can be glad of that.

What has all been going down I hear you ask? Well I'm guess it's time for a patented tobiwan list. Yup yup

• Joelyboy just turned 21
• We launched an album, but y'all knew about that hey
• Been doing some web design ideas. They look nice
• We're playing two yes that's two gigs this weekend.
• Work continues. Still fun.
• I'm watching Enemy of the State (again) as we speak
• Half term is in a weekish. I love working for a school.

Since I've mentioned work a couple times just now I'd like to talk to you about our collating machine. Now maybe these bad boys are gorgeous machines that cause us a lot of convenience. But my one is an evil bastard that deserves pain to be inflicted on it. Here's for why. Misfeeding multiple times during a run? Check. Thinking there's no paper in one of the feeders when there is? Check. Annoying beeps and clicks? Check. Randomly not stapling booklets in a run? Check.

Honestly, if I'm ever found dead in my office surrounded by paper with a collater on top of me it wouldn't be at all surprising. Morbid but true.

I think that's about enough about that.