The Kooks - "Ooh La" Video

Music Video:OOH LA (by Kooks)

Music Video Code provided by Video Code Zone

Back on the Spice Girls Wagon!

I've had a bit of an *ebay relapse over the past two weeks - and for those of you that know me well, will know it's a weakness strongly leaning towards the Spice Girls.

Even though I packed the old Spice Girls memorabilia into boxes and into the loft, I had a spare fifty pounds in my paypal account so have blown it all on buying signed CD's, 12", chocolate, make up, flask ......Ohh the list goes on and on but it's still rather worrying that I'm still collecting stuff after all these years.

I Want a Pay Rise!

If Madonna can get into the Guinness World Record book for being the highest paid female singer on the planet, then I deserve a pay rise!

It's interesting to note that I actually earn less now than I did 3 years ago! Simply because Royal Mail cut out most of the overtime I used to do at night.

On the positive side, I have a healthier lifestyle as I have more sleep and more relaxation. On the negative side, I have to keep my finances even tighter in order to survive.........

Goodbye Summer

It's time to say goodbye to summer and get set for winter - what a great summer it has been!
June was nice and hot as I spent two weeks in Cyprus with my mate Daz, then July was a scorcher spent many a hour in the garden or at the park. August wasn't exactly a good month for sunshine but September made up for it and I've really enjoyed seeing friends and living life in true "robmacca" style.

Winter means being indoors with the fire on watching a good film and spending longer in bed - just to keep warm................


* The picture above show the Coventry sunset a few days ago, followed by a night view of the Lady Godiva statue.

Royal Mail Coventry To Close

Royal Mail are set to close down the largest delivery office in the UK and transfer the work from Coventry to Northampton in their latest plans to save money.

The office, which was opened by the Queen just over 30 years ago, currently houses hundreds of Royal Mail employees. Those that are part of the Mail Centre (Processing) will be expected to travel almost an hour to a new location and back again. Many of those affected only work 4 hours per night, so are not likely to want to commute so far for a few hours work. It seems this way Royal Mail have the answer solved for them!

Sadly, my brother sounds like he will be one of those who could become a casualty of the move, since he doesn't drive. I should be OK this time around, as they are going to find two buildings for delivery staff within Coventry.

Once the new sorting machines are in place, then I can start to worry about job losses my end!

Friends for Life

This weekend I was out with two of my ex work colleagues (plus their girlfriends) for a great night at London's Bar Academy for the "Feeling Gloomy" night.
Although it's been well over 10 years since we worked together, we've managed to maintain our friendship.

That's one of the positive points we can take with us as we go through life - that some friends will remain friends forever and I love the friends I've made along my way through life's journey.

So a big "thank you" to all my friends from all different walks of life and different countires...............

London Pictures

To end my two week holiday, I had another visit to London and had a night out with my mates. During the day I couldn't resist taking a few mobile phone pictures.
1. Queen Victoria statue
2. The Gerkin across the Thames
3. War statue tribute
4&9 St Paul's Cathedral
5. London Bridge
6. A one nippled cattle hurdler?
7. A police box
8. London art work
10. Little Britain!

Bjork reunites with Sugarcubes

Bjork is to reunite with the Sugarcubes in a special one off concert in Iceland on November 17th. It will be the first time in 14 years they have all performed together since Bjork started her successful solo career.

The money raised will help Icelandic artists via the record label run by the Sugarcubes.

I'm the Daddy!

I guess I've been feeling sad this morning cos the two Lithuanian students that have been staying at mine for the past week, have finally got the house they wanted. Vilimas andEvaldas have been like my children this week as I've "looked after" them.

OK, now that sounds weird - what I mean is, i'm never going to actually have real kids, so by being a host when people come to stay - I'm being the daddy!

Now the kids have spread their wings and fled the nest to set up life on their own. If I feel like this after just 1 week, I can only imagine how real parents must feel when their children grow up and leave home after almost 20 years etc.......................

9/11 - A video tribute

Mobo Awards 2006

Corinne Bailey Rae and Lemar perform and win at the Mobo Awards 2006.

Here are the winners for the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards 2006, which was held on 20 September at the Royal Albert Hall, London:

Best group: Black Eyed Peas
Also nominated: Gnarls Barkley OutKast Pussycat Dolls The Streets

Best song: Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, Deja Vu
Also nominated: Corinne Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On Gnarls Barkley, Crazy Mary J Blige, Be Without You Ne-Yo, So Sick

Best UK female: Corinne Bailey Rae
Also nominated: Alesha Dixon Beverley Knight Jamelia Keisha White

Best international female: Beyonce
Also nominated: Alicia Keys Janet Jackson Mary J Blige Nelly Furtado

Best UK male: Lemar
Also nominated: Kano Nate James Plan B Sway

Best international male: Jay-Z
Also nominated: Chris Brown Kanye West Ne-Yo Pharrell

Best UK newcomer: Corinne Bailey Rae
Also nominated: Fundamental 03 Lady Sovereign Plan B Soundbwoy

Best video: Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, Deja Vu
Also nominated: Busta Rhymes, Touch it Chris Brown, Run it Kano, Brown Eyes Roll Deep, Shake a Leg

Best hip-hop: Akala
Also nominated: Busta Rhymes Kano Kanye West Sway

Best R&B: Rihanna
Also nominated: Beyonce Jamie Foxx Mary J Blige Ne-Yo

Best reggae: Sean Paul
Also nominated: Anthony Hamilton Burning Spear Damian Marley Shaggy

Best gospel: Nu Life
Also nominated: Alan Charles Kirk Franklin Mary Mary Noel Robinson

Best DJ: Steve Sutherland
Also nominated: Semtex Shortee Blitz Tim Westwood Trevor Nelson

Best African act: Batman Samini
Also nominated: Lebo Mathosa P Square Jose Chameleon Tony Tetuila

Friends Re-union

I met up with an old flat mate (Jim) and his wife (Alva) at church tonight.
I used to go out with Alva's sister Sandra, about 19 years ago but when Jim and Alva got married, they moved to the Shetland Islands and I wouldn't go with Sandra so we split up.

Anyway, it was really good to finally see them with their daughters - the family were here in the UK on holiday. They live in the USA now and travel around doing evangelical work.

It was also good to see old friends from church again, but at the same time it reminds me that I had also "failed" in some ways. For Jim and Alva, they had continued going to church, continued committed to each other and committed to God.
I on the other hand - no longer go to church, no longer serve God and don't think I could last a year in a relationship!

I love my life and wouldn't swap what I have, but I sometimes wonder "what if" - it's just human to do so...............................

Hosting Update...............

Trying to find a place to live and set it all up through Estate Agents is a right royal pain in the bum - that's official!

I feel sorry for the Lithuanian guys who I'm hosting at the moment as nothing is straight forward, for every two steps nearer sorting a place to live for their Student year in the UK - there is some complication (things like paperwork not being in English etc).

Five days of my holiday have been spent on trying to get them sorted, so lets hope today is completion day..................... Watch this space.

Hosting Lithuania!

Blog life has had to take a quiet back seat, along with all my other net life - as I'm hosting two students from Lithuania. The lads are over here for one year studying at Coventry University and, are quickly learning that trying to find a place to live in England is not as easy as it sounds.
So far we have spent Fri and Sat looking for properties and then visiting properties, but next is the expensive process of contracts. Life is never straight forward!

As well as playing host I went outlast and got very drunk for Kelly's birthday bash. My voice has gone this morning!!

Meanwhile I couldn't resist taking some pictures - the three above are of the two Lithuanian's and their countries flag, the last three are of the flowers in my garden again........

Enjoy!

I got married!

A trip to London wouldn't be complete without getting married!

So in a shock to robmacca blog readers - We present the campist pictures to be found on the net this year................................

Always the Groom, never the Bride - fear no more!



* It must be noted that this topic is just for fun and robmacca does NOT go around wearing wedding dresses or any other dresses for that matter. "It's so gay" , replied a sporting robmacca. The wedding was arranged and co starred Justin. Photography by Tina.

Red Eye Banquet

I went to Ginglik in Shepherds Bush last night to see not only my good friend Norm but also the very talented band Red Eye Banquet who were performing a live set there along with Deadly Rivals and Monkey Seed. The venue was funky as it was underground but the crowd really came to life when REB started up. I love the track "Wanda" and would love it to make the band a hit in the music world.

I did 4 mini video's from the gig last night on my mobile phone and they are uploaded to YouTube. My favourite video is posted above but you can watch the other three video's below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNDzvatjYqM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j8wKynAsCg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSI4TQHIvw8

United Colours of London

As I traveled on the underground during September 11th (aware of the significance of the date), I was also made aware of how the terrorists had failed to divide this great city.

Sat opposite me was an oriental gentleman, who in turn was next next to a white city gentleman - reading his "Financial Times". Next to him was a Latin American man, who was sat next to an attractive black lady, who was sat next to a very dark skinned Indian man. Five very different people from different parts of the world were all able to sit side by side here on London's Underground train system.

The United Colours of London was more proof to me that the freedom we have in our society is so precious.

London Update

Just a little update to let you know I'm alive and well living it up in London on my holiday!
I arrived Saturday evening and we (Kev,Nana and I) went straight out drinking in Islington.
Spent the night clubbing at the Carling Academy in quite an indie night called "Feeling Gloomy" - sad music you can dance to!

As you can see from the pictures taken late into the night - everyone got quite drunk.




Sunday was a beautiful sunny day as well so we walked into the centre of London, sat in Soho Square eating our Subway and enjoying the views. Then we boarded a boat and had a cracking view of the London Eye as we drank our super chilled Fosters!
Then we spent the rest of the night drinking in Islington until the final bar closed at midnight!

Today I'm off to Shepherds Bush to see Norm and the Red Eye Banquet perform at Ginglik, which I'm really looking forward too. Tomorrow I'm hoping to catch up with a good friend who's just got back from traveling the world for the past year.

That's your update folks!

Holiday Time Again

The holidays are about to begin and for the next two weeks it looks like I could be here there and everywhere in the UK.
My journey begins Saturday as I head down to Islington to stay with my good friend Kevin and his girlfriend Nana - it's gonna be late night and lots of alcohol until Wednesday!
While I'm there I get a chance to hang out with another good buddy - Norm. hoping to see some live music in the form of Red Eyed Banquet onMonday.
Then at some point I'll get to spend time with Justin who lives somewhere near Islington and I have a few other options but I'll not go into it now!

Then when I get back home later in the week, my old friend John is coming to visit so we'll have a lot of catching up to do since I haven't seem him in a long while.

I'll update the Blog as the holiday unfolds - I'm trying to keep it as flexible as possible rather than book in too much, after all it is a holiday!

P.S - there's a spider that keeps trying to run across my floor!

Dangermouse To Return

Dangermouse is coming back to British TV after originally appearing on ITV 25 years ago with audiences of 3.5 million.
The BBC have bought the rights to screen the series and are planning on re-running this classic children's programme in the coming months.

So look out for Dangermouse with his sidekick Penfold as they try and overcome the world of evil in the shape of evil Baron Greenback!