...and last night it snowed

From Bethnal Green to Brockley via Hammersmith

Saturday 20/01/2007 - diary of the move

7 am: Wake up after 5 hours sleep after Joanna Newsom's concert the night before. Go to Coffee@/Bagel Shop to buy our breakfast: the kitchen has already been cleaned and we are going to leave it that way.

8 am: The three of us start loading the van I had rented the previous day^***.

11.30 am: We realize that we actually have too much to load. Oh no! We have to come back and load what will be left. As well, we need to be in Brockley by 1pm to sign the contract so there's no time left to finish the cleaning of the flat before our first journey.

12.00 pm: We leave Bethnal Green towards Brockley. Takes us 1 hour to get there. According to the google maps instructions it would usually take 20 minutes. What do they know anyway?!...

1.10 pm: We meet up with Ikuko who was waiting for us in Brockley and we go to the agency to sign the contract and meet the owners of the house. The owners are a couple of young lovely people who make sure we have everything we need - they have bought new beds/clothes cupboards [ikea quality stuff - not the cheapest shabby ranges] and got us two sofas.

1.45 pm: We start unloading the van. Much quicker of course than the loading - there's 4 of us and now we just leave things in the living room, the room closest to the front door.

2 pm: We have lunch at the nice cafe that serves good coffee and good food in the corner of Coulgate Street with Brockley Road.

2.30 pm: Susana, Ikuko and myself drive back to Bethnal Green. Neia stays home unpacking and tidying up.

3.15 pm: We get to Bethnal Green (a bit quicker) and load what there is to load (not much in the end). We clean what's dirty, return the keys to the agency, and hope we never again have to deal with them.

4.30 pm: On our way to Hammersmith to get Ikuko's stuff.

5.15 pm: We pass through Kennington to pick up the magnificent desk I got on eBay the day before. It is by far the best bargain I ever got on eBay. Black solid wood about 2.5 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep.

5.30 pm: We leave Kennigton and go to Hammersmith. Loads of traffic from the Chelsea Embankment all the way through to Hammersmith. It takes us about 1.5 hours to get there.

7 pm: We arrive at Hammersmith and start loading Ikuko's things to the van.

7.30 pm: Going home. Again, lots of traffic.

8.45 pm: At last Brockley.


^***So, driving in London... Not easy, the fact that the gears are in the left side, and the wheel on the right side doesn't help at all. Then, the roads are usually too narrow if you have a car parked on one side and it's a two-way road. And now, imagine that driving a van...

I had to have two co-pilots all the time: one with the London A-to-Z and other maps, and the other to mind if I was getting too close to the cars parked on the left side of the road. There were about 10/15 times where I almost hit a car or at least a rear-view mirror of a car. Anyway all ended up well. I lived to tell.

By the end of the rental period I was becoming proficient in van-driving. Well kind of.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor ¬ catch you

One of the most eagerly awaited return in pop has finally arrived. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back in 2007 with the fabulous and catchy 'catch you'. She is also looking as beautiful as always.

Joanna Newsom / Barbican

Joanna Newsom's concert was one of the best I have ever seen in a long time. She played last year's album 'Ys' in full with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican last Friday night.

What I remember the most about the concert was that I kept thinking how can she remember the lyrics to her songs which are like Jane Austen full-length novels? 'Ys' has 5 songs and each song is a multitude of different songs within and is around 12 minutes long.

At the end, after two encores, there was a sense of utter fullfilment and the feeling that she is currently one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the world of music.

Here's an interview with Joanna Newsom made by a Belgian TV company called dan.dv.

Klaxons ¬ golden skans

The creators of the nu-rave movement or whatever.
Last year they arrived and conquered with the brilliant 'atlantis to interzone' and 'magick' and here they are starting 2007 with 'golden skans'. Have a look.

Mason vs Princess Superstar ¬ perfect (exceeder)

Eric-Prydz-esque dance tune featuring Princess Superstar's vocals - what's there not to like it?



P.S. I think the video is not working because someone on YouTube has considered it innapropriate for some, so you will have to double click on the embedded video above to view it on the YouTube website.

Brockley

My new home. Have moved. All is well. New house is amazing. Photos later.

Just Jack ¬ starz in their eyes

Not Jack from Will&Grace doing his panto, Just Jack is the UK's closest thing to a male Lily Allen. 'Starz in their eyes' is out this week on physical release in the UK.

Mika ¬ grace kelly

Mika is currently the most over-hyped pop star in the UK.
'Grace Kelly' will probably be #1 his week and it's catchy as those sticky things to catch flies with.

Gossip ¬ jealous girls

Gossip are releasing 'jealous girls' as the 3rd single out of 'standing in the way of control' on the 12th of February - my birthday (*hint* *hint*). Great rock track and as usual brilliant video.

Avenue Q

My first musical.

Last night David and I went to see Avenue Q. It was fascinating.
Musicals have never interested me, but this one is special: think Sesame Street for grown-ups.
There are puppets like Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut, and their puppeteers and also real-life characters. Two hours of highly recommended great fun.

Here is a clip from the Royal Variety show.

Yes, indeed

On the 11th of February this year, the Portuguese people have the chance to vote in a referendum to decide on a very serious matter.

The question to answer Yes or No to is "Do you agree with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, if by the woman's choice, on the first 10 weeks, in a legally authorized health establishment?" [or something like it]

At the moment it's illegal to have an abortion in Portugal. A woman can ask for a pregnancy interruption if the baby will cause her medical problems, if there is malformation of the phoetus or if the pregnancy was caused by rape.
Of course women with less resources will do it illegally somewhere, and women with money will go to Spain or the UK to do it legally.

What I say is we're all supposed to be responsible for our own actions, so give the woman the right to make her own choices! Who on their right mind can think that having an abortion is an easy choice to make; how painful and traumatizing could that be? As a man I will never have an idea, but that's why I think a women should have the option to have a choice.

This is why I will vote Yes.

the move - again

I'm moving to a new house in Brockley next weekend leaving behind 6 months of living with mice and cockroaches, damp walls, stuck pipes but lovely Bethnal Green.

Brockley is SE4, i.e., south of the river, accessible only by train or bus, no tube.

Goodbye walking home after the Bop, no more bagels at walking distance or Columbia Rd flower market or Spitalfields or Brick Lane... Hello big house with garden where I can raise a cat. No children as for yet.

Eurovision/Morrissey

"Huh?" some of you may ask.

Indeed. The BBC confirmed yesterday that they are in fact in talks with Morrissey to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The most adorable miserable git in the world has always mentioned an interest in participating in the Europe's most famous display of uber-kitsch music.

I can't wait for May to arrive.

Song number 1, United Kingdom. Chanson numero 1: le Royaume Uni:

The LTDDs end-of-year combined chart

Thanks to Tom we now have a combined chart from the end-of-year charts of Luis (me) Tom Davide and David (LTDD).

1 Hot Chip : Over & Over
2 Nelly Furtado : Maneater
3 The Knife : Silent Shout
4 Peter Bjorn And John : Young Folks
5 Camera Obscura : Lloyd I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
6 The Gossip : Standing In The Way Of Control
7 The Knife : We Share Our Mothers Health
8 CSS : Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
9 Cat Power : The Greatest
10 Jenny Wilson : Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward
11 TV On The Radio : Wolf Like Me
12 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : In This Home On Ice
13 Junior Boys : In The Morning
14 M Craft : Silver & Fire
15 The Knife : Like A Pen
16 The Rapture : Get Myself Into It
17 Regina Spektor : Us
18 Madonna : Jump
19 CSS : Alala
20 Pipettes : Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
21 Spektrum : Don't Be Shy
22 Madonna : Get Together
23 The Good, The Bad & The Queen : Herculean
24 Madonna : Sorry
25 Belle & Sebastian : Funny Little Frog
26 Long Blondes : Weekend Without Makeup
27 Lily Allen : Smile
28 Girls Aloud : Something Kinda Ooohh
29 Tunng : Woodcat
30 Gnarls barkley : Smiley Faces
31 Rihanna : SOS
32 Justin Timberlake : Sexy Back
33 Morrissey : You Have Killed Me
34 Amy Winehouse : Rehab
35 Grandaddy : Elevate Myself
36 Test Icicles : What's Your Damage(Falke&Braxe)
37 Hot Chip : Boy From School
38 Herman Dune : I Wish That I Could See You Soon
39 Bonnie Prince Billy : Cursed Sleep
40 Concretes : Chosen One
41 Simian Mobile Disco : Hustler
42 New Young Pony Club : Get Lucky
43 Metric : Monster Hospital
44 Peaches : Downtown
45 Pet Shop Boys : Minimal
46 Keane : Is It Any Wonder?
47 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
48 Herbert : Something Isn't Right
49 Justin Timberlake : My Love
50 The Strokes : You Only Live Once
51 Danielson : Did I Step on Your Trumpet
52 LCD Soundsystem : 45:33
53 Beirut : Postcards From Italy
54 Fujiya & Miyagi : Ankle Injuries
55 Camera Obscura : Let's Get Out Of This Country
56 Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
57 Flaming Lips : Yeah Yeah yeah Song
58 Yeah Yeah Yeahs : Gold Lion
59 Decemberists : Yankee Bayonet
60 Lo-Fi-FNK : Wake Up
61 Phoenix : Consolation Prizes
62 Scritti Politti : The Boom Boom Bap
63 Booka Shade : In White Rooms
64 Morrissey : The Youngest Was The Most Loved
65 Klaxons : Magick
66 Joan As Police Woman : Eternal Flame
67 Joan As Police Woman : The Ride
68 Justice v’s Simian : We Are Your Friends
69 Lavender Diamond : You Broke My Heart
70 Robots In Disguise : Turn It Up
71 Yeah Yeah Yeahs : Cheated Hearts
72 New Young Pony Club : Ice Cream
73 Schneider TM : Pac Man/Shopping Cart
74 Coldcut : Man In The Garage
75 The Whitest Boy Alive : Burning

Best of 2006 :: 100 - 51

#100.
Just Jack
writer's block
Video

#99.
Noisettes
scratch your name
http://www.myspace.com/noisettesuk

#98.
Sigur Rós
hoppípolla
Video

#97.
Sparklehorse
don't take my sunshine away
Video

#96.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
cheated hearts
Video

#95.
Christina Aguilera
ain't no other man
Video

#94.
The Rapture
w.a.y.u.h (whoo! alright yeah... uh huh) people don't dance no more
Video

#93.
Boy Kill Boy
suzie
Video

#92.
Gnarls Barkley
crazy
Video

#91.
Mika
relax, take it easy
http://www.myspace.com/mikamyspace

#90.
Muse
supermassive black hole
Video

#89.
Robbie Williams
rudebox
Video

#88.
New Young Pony Club
ice cream
Video

#87.
Lily Allen
littlest things
Video

#86.
Goldfrapp
ride a white horse
Video

#85.
Shitdisco
reactor party
Video

#84.
Noisettes
don't give up
Video

#83.
Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins
you are what you love
Video

#82.
Peaches
boys wanna be her
Video

#81.
Jamelia
something about you
Video

#80.
Robyn
cobrastyle
http://www.myspace.com/robynmyspace

#79.
Scissor Sisters
i don't feel like dancing
Video

#78.
Röyksopp
what else is there?
Video

#77.
Nelly Furtado
all good things (come to an end)
Video

#76.
Adem
launch yourself
Video

#75.
M. Craft
sweets
Video

#74.
Joan As Police Woman
eternal flame
Video

#73.
Beyoncé ft Jay-Z
déjà vu
Video

#72.
Alesha
lipstick
Video

#71.
Hot Chip
boy from school
Video

#70.
Justice vs Simian
we are your friends
Video

#69.
New Young Pony Club
get lucky
http://www.myspace.com/newyoungponyclub

#68.
Robbie Williams
lovelight
Video

#67.
Alesha
knockdown
Video

#66.
Test Icicles
what's your damage? [braxe/falke remix]

#65.
The Killers
when you were young
Video

#64.
Delays
valentine
Video

#63.
Captain
broke
Video

#62.
Morrissey
you have killed me
Video

#61.
Micah P. Hinson
jackeyed
http://www.myspace.com/micahphinson

#60.
The Rapture
get myself into it
Video

#59.
Boy Kill Boy
civil sin
Video

#58.
Sugababes
i bet you look good on the dancefloor [arctic babes mix]
Video

#57.
M. Craft
silver and fire
http://www.myspace.com/mcraftmusic

#56.
National Forest
a.m. lights
Video

#55.
Joan As Police Woman
the ride
Video

#54.
Rihanna
sos
Video

#53.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
gold lion
Video

#52.
P!nk
who knew
Video

#51.
To My Boy
the grid
Video

Best of 2006 :: 50 - 21

#50.
The Cardigans
don't blame your daughter
Video

#49.
The Pipettes
pull shapes
Video

#48.
Madonna
sorry
Video

#47.
Lily Allen
ldn
Video

#46.
Madonna
jump
Video

#45.
Joan As Police Woman
real life
http://www.myspace.com/joanaspolicewoman

#44.
Girls Aloud
i think we're alone now
Video

#43.
Nelly Furtado ft Timbaland
promiscuous
Video

#42.
Peaches
downtown
Video

#41.
Grandadbob
hide me
Video

#40.
Datarock
fa fa fa
Video

#39.
Justin Timberlake
sexy back
Video

#38.
The Pipettes
your kisses are wasted on me
Video

#37.
Spank Rock
rick rubin
Video

#36.
M. Craft
you are the music
http://www.myspace.com/mcraftmusic

#35.
Madonna
get together
Video

#34.
Amy Winehouse
rehab
Video

#33.
X-Wife
ping pong
Video

#32.
Gossip
listen up!
Video

#31.
The Good, The Bad And The Queen
herculean
Video

#30.
Justine Electra
fancy robots
Video

#29.
Grandaddy
elevate myself
Video

#28.
Tunng
woodcat
Video

#27.
The Knife
like a pen
Video

#26.
Buraka Som Sistema ft Petty
yah!
Video

#25.
Spank Rock
sweet talk
Video

#24.
Camera Obscura
hey lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken
Video

#23.
Metric
monster hospital
Video

#22.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
in this home on ice
Video

#21.
Cat Power
the greatest
Video

Best of 2006 :: 20 - 11

#20.
Robots In Disguise
turn it up


#19.
Klaxons
magick


#18.
Cansei De Ser Sexy
alala


#17.
Lo-Fi-FNK
wake up


#16.
TV On The Radio
wolf like me


#15.
Gnarls Barkley
smiley faces


#14.
Junior Boys
in the morning
http://www.myspace.com/juniorboys

#13.
Lily Allen
smile


#12.
The Knife
silent shout


#11.
Spektrum
don't be shy

Best of 2006 :: 10 - 1

#10.
Cansei De Ser Sexy
let's make love and listen to death from above


#9.
Justin Timberlake ft T.I.
my love


#8.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
the skin of my yellow country teeth
http://www.myspace.com/clapyourhandssayyeah

#7.
Jenny Wilson
let my shoes lead me forward


#6.
Gossip
standing in the way of control


#5.
Nelly Furtado
maneater


#4.
The Knife
we share our mothers' health


#3.
Girls Aloud
something kinda ooooh


#2.
Hot Chip
over and over


#1.
Peter Bjorn And John ft Victoria Bergsman
young folks