I am (a) Kloot (convert)

When I was asked by a friend what I was doing this weekend, I really didn't have much to say ( I had hoped that I could get home on Friday night, have something to eat, maybe the first beer since New Year and then sleep through the weekend so that I would be ready for Monday morning.....well maybe go for another run if my legs will allow [see last blog] - what a lifestyle)

Instead they offered me a spare ticket to see a band that I had never heard of on Saturday night. Well after attempting to prevaricate I ended up saying that it would be great, and desperately searching the Internet for any links to their music. I know that I had heard of I am Kloot and that they had a fantastic reputation, but I really didn't want to admit my ignorance to my friend, my sister and her boyfriend, who were constantly talking about them.

I admit that I found one or two tracks online that I recognised, but was still not sure what to expect. I had been to The Duchess in York which is a great location, and to be honest, despite what I have said, I love watching live music, and don't mind what it is.

Arriving in York (always a great event for me anyway) we made our way through to the Duchess, where we had managed to miss the opening act, but the atmosphere was fantastic, and the surround music was great, and then at about 9:00pm I am Kloot arrived on stage...............and they were amazing! The Duchess is a small, intimate venue, and I'm sorry cos it sounds like I am gushing, but I don't know how to say how great the gig was. Being so intimate everyone was feet from the band, you could see everything.

And when the set was over, and queueing up to get the mandatory T-shirt I felt a hand on my back, and turning round found myself next to John Bramwell, the lead singer who was coming through to sign tour posters, CDs and tickets. It was very strange as he really isn't what you would expect of a lead singer in a band, but it just rounded off the evening perfectly.

And I think what I am trying to say is that the despite not being keen on going I would have really missed out if I had not gone! To be with great friends in a location with a great atmosphere and great music is the way to spend your free time!

Excited! You bet your a*s!

Those of you who have read some of my posts, you will have realised that I have a real love for the city of York. I worked and lived there for about 2 years a couple of years back, and I love the whole city, it's feel, the fact that you are surrounded by history, and just the whole atmosphere. Other than a few couple of hours grabbed here and there (and to be honest it is my own fault.....it's only 35 miles away, and since I have been let go from the relationship my diary has been my own!)

There have been a number of nights out that have been arranged, but these have the tendencies of falling apart, usually as a result of a severe case of Cantbe Arseditis not just on my behalf, but unfortunately it has meant that the great nights in York, typically out at Fibbers, Bar BPM, or The Gallois! have not taken place.

Imagine my excitement however because.....Saturday night.......house party.......alcohol......halloween-ish......York night out!

Hotel room booked - City Centre York - ü
Alcohol purchased - ü
Outfit cleaned and pressed - ü

Wednesday night and everyone still up for it - ü

So I am a little bit excited!!!!!

And the fact that friends in York have just had their second baby so get a "Baby Fresh" fix before a night on the beers (okay that sounds so wrong but let me clarrify.......I love the fact that there is nothing quite like the smell of a baby......I will clarrify that again a freshly cleaned baby smell!) so I am just a little excited.

My two favorite cities............one long day

Sometimes The Law has its advantages. One of them used to be the perk of client entertaining for Defendants. When you are working for a multi-million pound insurance company the benefits of client entertaining used to be massive. I have heard of trips to the Channel Islands in private jets, hot-air ballooning around the North York Moors, meals at all the best restaurants, and flights all over the world. I have to say that in the current financial climate the entertaining budgets have declined massively, and I came to the 'dark-side' only relatively recently so now it's an occasional trip to see the clients to share a limp sarnie in a Holiday Inn on the M25. (not quite as glamourous........another of those FOX lies!) 

I have to admit I don't particularly look forward to these events. There is often a lot of small talk that can be quite forced when you first meet people, but last night saw the entire team being taken down to London to drum up business from a big client. Given austerity measures this was held in a really nice Turkish restaurant behind Southwark called Ev. Whilst it was never going to be a night out with friends it was a really good night. What made it more so was that three of us were 'lucky' enough to stay down in London (we had to write why we should stay down in less than a hundred words with pictures), and appartments were booked just off Fetter Lane. The party broke up at about 11:00pm and a short journey back to the appartment and the other two went to their rooms. This left me with an opportunity to walk around one of the biggest commercial centres at night.

There was almost no-one around other than black cabs, and I had the opportunity to walk through the middle of these huge buildings, surrounded by light and almost silence, whilst around me the banks and the big legal behamoths slumbered. Whilst a social animal, I also love spending time on my own, and to find peace and tranquility in the heart of the capital was amazing, being able to walk past the historical buildings dating from between the 16th and 21st centruries, and it is one of the reasons I love London.

From London (and thanks to engineering works on the train network) for some crazy reason the quickest route back to Hull was via York, but this gave me another opportunity to spend time in York. The other city that I love (other than Hull of course!). Again a chance to walk through historic and ancient buildings and with no reason to rush to again watch the world race by whilst enjoying the peace and quite of a place I love.

Sorry no pictures cos the camera died on me, but I would have loved to share the tranquililty and emptiness of London at night (obviously just a specific part!)

An Evening with Suggs!

(Almost!)

I was invited out for a friend of a friend's Birthday last night, and I know that I have met a number of people who were going before, but I have to admit that the last time I met them was at a very drunken party with my sister and her boyfriend (and mixed with my atrocious memory for names, I wasn't convinced that I would remember too many people there!)

We were eating at a small Italian on Walmgate in York. I knew the place, although not the name Il Paradiso Del Cibo. When I worked in York I walked past it most lunchtimes, and it was a small sarnie/pizza bar, with a long counter in the window, and admit that I never went in. Last night I was therefore hugely suprised to find it full of tables and the counter gone.

Not sure who was going to be there I was given the run down on the journey over......."I'm pretty sure there will be A......and M..... who you'll know, and then S...... and P..., oh and you will probably remember D...... and C....... oh and A.....and Suggs." I have to admit that my mind was somewhat in neutral as I wasn't driving and I kinda let the last one slip over my head.

We found the restaraunt, and a cash machine and then we were ready to go.......and I have to admit that the first impression was somewhat unimpressive. There were twenty of us, sitting around an L shaped table, that was probably big enough for 14 (can't beat a cosy dinner!)

The food however was fantastic. Plates of anti-pasta were placed around the table, and followed by shellfish, crevettes in garlic butter, and asparagus  (really delicious) followed by bowls of ravioli and then huge platters of roast pork. It was wonderful Italian food, cooked by a great Italian chef. It was whilst sitting and chatting to the Birthday Girl that she told me that "Yeah A.... and  Suggs were gutted that they couldn't be here, but he had to sit in for Cerys Matthews on 6 Music! And the manager of Radiohead was going to be here to, but they couldn't make it either!"

It's crazy (whilst I have never met Suggs and I am sure he is a generally normal guy, he was still one of my childhood heroes) everyone at the party is so laid back biking fans (another huge plus in my book anyway!)  and I have to admit that the I'm not sure how I would have coped with a massive group of bikers, and SUGGS! Kinda cool!

A Wonderful Weekend!

Okay so some of my plans for the weekend failed to materialise. Admittedly they were the ones to head to Beverley Westwood to watch the sun rise (getting up at 5am is so much easier when you know that you have to....and I have to hold my hands up and admit that when the alarm went off at 6am on Saturday morning it was almost thrown across the bedroom!)....but although I failed most miserably in watching what may (or may not have been) a glorious sunrise, the weekend was still really enjoyable.

Saturday saw me in York, a wonderful city, where something seems to be happening every week. This week (other than a York City football match and a race meet at the Knavesmire) saw the York Festival of Traditional Dance. I accept that I am not really clued up on what constitutes "Traditional Dance". I think that the last time I tried "Traditional" dancing had been at my Sister's wedding, when the Groom and I thought (after a number of fizzy fall down waters) that "traditional" meant trying to breakdance.....(something I hadn't tried to do for a good 10 years) and which saw us taking it in turns to try and do headstands whilst the other one would spin you round by the legs! (it was a highly classy event although thankfully neither of us were wearing kilts at the time!)

The Festival saw groups of dancers throughout the city centre, dancing with poles, swords, handkerchiefs, floral arches.....all sorts of things, and was really enjoyable. Everywhere you went you were followed by the sound of folk music, and all of a sudden you would come across a crowd of people watching dancers in highly colourful clothes. It really brightened up the centre and gave it a somewhat unorthodox carnival feel.

No trip to York is complete without a trip to Betty's Tearooms, although the queing out of the door to get a table can on occasion be annoying. Fortunately on Saturday the sun was shining, and with a troupe of dancers around the corner, entertainment was on tap. If you have not tried a Betty's Tea I would highly recommend it. It can be expensive although walking in is like stepping back to the 1920s, where all the female staff wear high collared white shirts, and long black dresses with little white aprons, and the male staff, black trousers, ties and highly polished shoes. You could almost expect someone to snuff it over salmon paste sarnies and Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot to appear from somewhere (not I hasten to add due to anything in the salmon paste sarnies [if they even do salmon paste])

A catch up with friends + a few friendly drinks + glorious surroundings = a great Saturday!

Sunday was somewhat taken up invalid visiting, one of The Guys has managed to rupture his ligaments in his right knee so is extremely disgruntled and bored (he can't battle at the moment, and to make matters worse his internet connection is down so he has found himself extremely bored - I am told there is only so much daytime television that you can watch - I have never given it a go but I can certainly understand and commiserate from the listings guide!) Other than visiting the sick.

Perfect weather + garden + good book + BBQ = an equally great Sunday!

I hope everyone else in "Blogland" enjoyed theirs!