Sorted out another minor problem with my cousin Tim and his laptop. His McAlfee was about to expire and he had a free Norton Antivirus disc given to him . I suggested he update McAlfee  and pay the annual fee rather than deal with the intrusive Norton package. He took my advice and is now continuing with McAlfee.

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Well the forecast is for more wintry weather on the way but it will not be as bad as the weather they have had in Washington and the rest of the north part of the USA. Ideally i don't any and just hope that smatterings of sleety rain is all we get.

Meanwhile sorting out more records for sale or exchange up in London at some point.

I still prefer the fetid catacombs of LJ against Facebook although the latter does have a nice easy to use chat facility. But here i can usually say what i want without too much of a backlash from other readers of this blog. So once again, i can say that the 666 man  (who missed his vocation in the Omen trilogy of films) at the Hampton Arms is a plonker who does not know what musical direction there to take this establishment towards, and even my mate Lee thinks it has gone rapidly downhill since my DJ residency was snatched away from me so viciously. He even has the temerity to use Facebook under a pseudonym of Giles Collins. What a turd!

There said it. Even if it does manage to read this diatribe i really do not care anymore and that the pub group management get rid off this ignoramus, and then perhaps, there will be a chance for decent music and a better environment for pub customers (plus a more attuned landlord who likes funk,soul and jazzy grooves).

GC and Stefan came down to the Northern Lights DJ night.on Friday. However Ville and Ally did not start til 9pm and i didn't get on the decks til midnight. By then both Stefan and GC felt too tired and went home. They did not even see me play.

Saturday was an uneventful quagmire of a day. Woke up after 11am and just read most of the day.

Right now,in the Evening Star enjoying a pint of the Dark Star Original.

Finally got my cousin Tim to use the chat facility on Facebook. However trying to explain what to do became more problematical when you consider he is a total beginner with anything to do with PC's or laptops. It was grueling but we got there in the end. Whenever he is on Facebook you can't stop him.

Been listening to Radio 4 more often since as a Guardian / Observer reader it seems the most intelligent thing to do.There was an interesting documentary on the life of sculpture Henry Moore and on the science programmer the search for life in the universe.Radio 4 expands your mind.

Today i met GC's short term tenant Stefan, a nice 25 year old IT consultant from Germany. We met in the Evenong Star pub just after i completed my online report to ESA on the Somerfield shop. We had a few beers as well. I had a pint of Dark Star Porter (5.5% ABV) followed by a German Bavarian beer (5.6 % ABV) since he comes from the Munich area, Meantime Special Bock (6.5 % ABV) and a half of a deadly Belgian ale caled Brigend (9.% ABV).  Mucho heaviness!!  He is into music,supports Bayern Munich (ahem!)  and a really likeable person.

Later him, GC,  and I will go to the Northern Lights to see Ville and Ally and i am DJing as well - so now i shall sort out some WICKED VINYL TUNES for my bag! Drop the bass!!

First,, pissed_pacifist has Facebooked me as a friend
Second, Discogs sales picking up again.
Third, GC and i will meet at The Evening Star at 4pom today, or maybe earlier.
and Fourth, Djing with Ally Smith at The Northern Lights on Friday 19th (after the African Soul Rebesl gig) and with Ville and Ally tonight.

Damn sniffling cold again. I was going to start a "no alcohol" regime this month but due to the fact that i have this cold i might postpone the regime til a bit later in the month.

I cannot understand the reasons why ITV has cancelled the excellent South Bank Show. It was a shining beacon for the arts on the commercial channel, and it seems philistine not to  renew it.  Where does Melvin Bragg go now?

The BBC still has plenty of arts related programmes and its BBC 4 channel is generally  essential viewing. Last Friday was the first part of a four week documnetary "Latin Music USA" which looks at the influence of latin music on American jazz and pop. The next instalment looks at the rise of salsa in the seventies and i for one cannot wait to see it,as i have quite a large selection of salsa LP's in my collection.

Our monthly get together for cheap lunchtime food at quality eateries,better known as the  First Tuesday Lunch Club, went well. La Tasca is our usual spot. The food is always good and two can dine for a tenner with five tapas between them. GC and Lesley came with Lesley being on time for once!

We picked up the tickets for the African Soul Rebels night on Friday 19th. Need to change my next DJ night down at the Northern Lights as it classes at the moment.

Saturday

Tonight is my Northern Lights DJ set starting at 8pm til 2am and i will be playing a broad mix of vinyl from the usual soul funk, jazz and latin to post-rock ,Krautrock and some prog-rock as well and perhaps some reggae stiuff too. Ville and jake Hollywood are in the Worlds End at the moment watching live football TV match and they asked me to come so i shall walk down there in a moment.

Sunday

Well what a long weekend that was.

It started seeing Ville and Jakko down at the Worlds End pub - as he was watching the Liverpool game against Bolton. Had a few strong ciders there. Then Jakko bought this half bottle of Brandy from Somerfield and we swigged from that down at the Level. Ally joined us outside the Great Eastern pub. We then had a few more beers at the George opposite. I went home o get my vinyl for the evening. Had some snack and fell asleep. Woke up at 9.30 pm . Luckily a text from Manu said don't come til ten as there was a private party on. Phew!

I got there for ten but did not start DJing til 11pm. So really i only had 3hrs to spin the black vinyl.

Afterwtards i left with Ville and jakko, and crashed out at Ville's place. Got home today sometime midday after seeing the tennis this morning.Andy got beaten by the very powerful  Federer. Damn that Yank!

Well,midday was quite mild although it is colder now.

More chats with cousin Tim helping him out with his laptop. This time he said he had no internet connection because McAlfee said so but after a few words with me he is now happily surfing the net again,although he still had problems with the I Tunes Store. I don't use it so could not give any advice one way or the other.

Bought an LP from a charity shop yesterday for £5 and sold it already on Discogs for £24. What a result!!

It was L's birthday on Tuesday. She had a Boots voucher for £25.She been out with her friends yesterday and came back today!

I am sick that Man Utd beat City in the semi final of the League Cup as i wanted City to win. Just hope Aston Villa can do the deeds in the final!

Just finished the book "Music Grooves". Very interesting, a bit difficult in places, but very rewarding.

Some 90's soul,chilled out grooves and a classic soundtrack LP - all vinyl -









The D'Angelo LP and Nightmares on Wax 12" i shall play on Saturday down at The Northern Lights.

A classic prog rock LP by Caravan and a folk-rock Lp by Spriguns.

Miles Davis , a record purchase from the new second-hand record shop in Brighton just before Xmas.




Stylish sound track album.

Today GC and i drove to Horsham for a morning mystery shop at Cote, a French brasserie eaterie. We had a yummy breakfast in rather plush surroundings. Service was great, and the food was divine.

Yesterday evening i did a mystery shop at Bottle (part of My Hotel in Brighton). Had wine and a delicious mushroom and artichoke pizette. Scrummy!.

I love food mystery shops!!

Well, jazz all the way -







Spiritual Jazz (Jazzman), Quincy Jones (MFP) and The Complete In A Silent Way by Miles Davuis (CBS)

After the extraordinary League Cup semi-final   between Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers (6-4 0n Wednesday night to Villa) Brighton travel to Villa's ground today in the FA Cup 4th Round. It will either be goals galore from Villa or a remarkable draw for Brighton for a replay or an amazing win against the Premiership club  for our little struggling team. .I wish them well.

Fairy tales do happen in the Cup and lowly Accrington Stanley play Premiership team Fulham today. Could we have an upset here?

Strangely enough,after the euphoria of Christmas, i would have thought my Discog sales would be unearthly quiet. Well , although not a flood of activity , it is ticking over quite nicely. I have decided against an  overall sale discount but watching things on a regular basis to keep as cheap as possible against competitors. I have done a free postage offer for orders over a  certain value but nobody has taken that offer up so far. Watch this space..

This is a lecture that Mark,my philosophy friend from the pub, alerted me to.

Another interview with Zizek

Friday, Saturday and Sunday was the Evening Star beer festival. Over the three days i had the following ales , mostly halves, to sup and try -

Elland - Maximum Darkness \ 4.3%  ABV
Osset Brewery Treacle Stout  5% ABV
Thornbridge St. Petersburg 7.7 % ABV
Robinsons Old Tom  8.5% ABV
Avec Les Bons Veux  9.5 % ABV
Dark Star Imperial Stout  10.5% ABV



All these are dark beers of course, or better known as Winter ales. The Belguan one is a golden stroong ale.

There is a beer festival in Hove inn March as well