Head Space Daily Words...

My latest spell of work in Docklands came to an end today (see HSD Image) and next week I am looking forward to working in town, around the Fitzrovia area - a part of London that I really love. In fact I might even have pie and mash one day at the Newman Arms on Rathbone Place. I've not done that for years, what a treat it would be. I discovered a fantastic word today - mellifluous. It means flowing with honey, or smoothly flowing. It would be nice to consider myself as mellifluous, although I'm not so sure it applies to me. To be mellifluous I feel is an occasional thing, to be constantly mellifluous would involve a copious amount of drugs. Football training tomorrow, with my U9s and a match on Sunday, which is also Mothers Day. Still tomorrow to sort something out...

Head Space Daily Image...

The sun sets over the glass and steel, manufactured majesty that is Docklands. Adieu, my friend, until the next time...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That

I mentioned in my previous post that in the office where I have been working, there is a regular late afternoon music session which involves playing a few sing along or dance along classics. This Hall & Oates number gets a regular ironic airing for its naff but good quality and is synonymous with this particular work place. All together now, 'no can do…'

Head Space Daily Words...

Life can quickly become a groundhog day of familiarity and micro management both at home,at work and everywhere else in between. From the repetitive wake up rush of getting the kids together, myself together, bags packed, lunches made and out the door; to the same miserable folk packed on to the train, all with faces like a slapped arse. Fingers tippy tap away on communication devices, a man wrought with frustration, becomes annoyed at the lack of room to read his copy of the metro, whilst a woman, with a set grin watches Youtube videos of cats running around in circles. Another woman puts her face on as she stretches her lips over her teeth and forces her eyes to bulge and roll to the heavens in over to apply mascara. A damn fine impersonation of Skeletor from the 1980s animation He Man, if ever I saw one. Then the uncomfortable stench of unpleasantness wafts into my nostrils. I look around, in search of the perpetrator and realise that it is the oblivious man mountain behind me who is in serious need of some toothpaste and mouthwash. Whilst the routine is groundhog day, it is the people, with their quirks and differences that make it a new experience each day. It's that which makes every day worthwhile, like when I bumped into someone that I work with on the DLR and we had a good old natter about the wonders of London Town, Ronnie Scott's, Darleen Love and Marlena Shaw. When end of the day stresses rear their ugly heads towards the end of the working day, it is always open for bets as to which old school tune will be given an airing in the office - Nightcrawlers, Push The Feeling On (see HSD Tune)was tune of choice the other day. You just never know what lies in store, although if the big guy with stinky breath is standing behind me again, I will be on the blower to Bill Murray.

In other news, my under 9s football team recorded their first away victory and back to back wins last Sunday, when it was decided that victory will now be rewarded with two custard creams at the end of the match. This will provide a much needed shot in the arm to the custard cream industry and boost the economy...

Head Space daily Image...

Mind the step...

Head Space Daily Tune...

NightCrawlers - Push The Feeling On (MK Mix)

This was a massive tune back in the day. I used to love an MK mix. He was the don…

Head Space Daily Words...

This week I am glad to say, has seen no interaction with mutilated pigeons, which is no bad thing. The issue has been being caught out by the weather, fooled by the unseasonal warmth we have recently enjoyed. My winter coat was ditched for a lightweight summer jacket, my thick jumper cast aside for a thinner, less hairy version and my chunky trainers were shunned for my Vans. This has led to me being outside in Crossharbour, sheltering from an icy wind, shivering into my sandwich. At this mornings training session for my Under 9s football team, I even jettisoned my green and black nylon manager's jacket and what did I get in return? A hail storm, that's what. Back to warmer wear from now on, or at least layers and a bit of planning. My club beanie is back in action tomorrow. 

In music news, this week I have been listening to the Loveletters album by Metronomy - a real grower - Otis Redding Greatest Hits,(see Head Space Daily Tune) an Aretha Franklin collection and a Horse Meat Disco podcast from Rinse FM. All good stuff.

Next Monday is the start of my final week working in Crossharbour, for the time being, so I am putting out feelers and waiting to see where I will end up next. Being freelance is the working equivalent of The Littlest Hobo. There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road...

Head Space Daily Image...

Trees and sky at Oxleas Wood last weekend. Always look up...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Otis Redding - I Can't Turn You Loose

The raw emotion of Otis's voice is breathtaking and the pounding bassline on this number turns it into a proper little dancer...

Head Space Daily Words...

First of all I want to talk about pigeons. I am not a fan of pigeons but they are a fact of life. They are referred to in Withnail And I as rats with wings - the perfect definition. On Friday, I was sitting on a bench at South Quay eating my lunch, taking in the view of the watery vista spread out in front of me, when I became aware of a twitching motion on the floor just by my feet. There was a pigeon, seemingly resting on it's purple chest, jerking around looking for a few crumbs. This is a pigeon I thought, that looks a bit odd. It appeared to be extremely low. Have you ever seen a low pigeon? It bugged me and I had to keep looking at it, in between bites of my cheese and pickle sandwich. Eventually, it moved enough to reveal what the problem was - it had no feet. Now, if that isn't enough to put me off my lunch, his mates started to join him. Down flew hop along, his one legged friend and then they were joined by another member of the invalid pigeon brigade whose legs were so twisted that his feet seemed to be facing backwards. It was an avian freak show!! I only wanted to enjoy a bit of sunshine and fresh air and it put me right off my lunch…

In other news, my Under 9s won 1-0 today in an extremely exciting game. Custard Creams were consumed at half time and devoured at full time. All hail the custard cream...

Today's listening pleasure has come from Rinse FM which is slowly becoming a regular Sunday event in our household. The day starts with deep house, before a female presenter takes us into everything from soul to Lovers Rock, before a Collective called Horsemeat Disco take control of the ones and twos. These two guys have a great record collection of rare groove, soul and disco and are proper nerdy, old school train spotters. It was hilarious hearing one of them get the hump as the other declared his previous statement, regarding the name of a producer, or some such fact, incorrect - with a complete lack of irony. Very good stuff and well worth a listen...

And finally. I came across two girls and a lad hanging out outside a local pizza shop this afternoon. They were listening to music full blast - which is not all that loud - from an i-phone and having a good old sing song. Nothing wrong with that apart from the tune they were getting down to was Red Red Wine by UB40!!! What has happened to youth culture. It has been well and truly eaten alive by the 1980s. At this rate, my kids will be reliving my exact youth from the 1ate 80s into the 1990s. A scary thought...

Head Space Daily Image...

My freshly cleaned football boots, following a hard earned victory today with my Under 9s...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Fever - Just My Nature

This is a gorgeous two step soul tune played by Horse Meat Disco today on their Rinse FM show…

Head Space Daily Words...

Well, here we are again. Friday night. Another week negotiated. I hope you've had a good one. Once more, my thoughts turn to my Under 9s football team. We have a training session tomorrow and a match on Sunday. The group I have is a terrific bunch of kids and what I love about them most of all, is that they are truly representative of their area and of London at its best. We have a fully diverse group, from various ethnic backgrounds and we also have two girls in the squad. I would be surprised if there are many other teams out there with that kind of mix. At this age winning isn't important, we are able to compete, but it is much more about enjoyment, growing in confidence and developing camaraderie. As long as they are getting something positive out of it, we are all happy...

Head Space Daily Image...

A picture of the sun trying to burn through the fog on Thursday morning...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Metronomy - Love Letters

I got hold of the Metronomy album today and am listening to it as we speak. The Michel Gondry video to Love Letters which is attached above, is also terrific. Very simple yet difficult to execute. It reminded me of an exhibition I saw at the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank several years ago, where an installation by Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth used the same round and round motion. A projector fixed to the ceiling circulated a projection of a room and every time the room was revealed, something had subtly been removed. If you saw it, you will remember what I mean…

Head Space Daily Words...

As another week bites the dust, the lights from gigantic corporate towers leer down at us. We snake our way through Docklands on the DLR and thoughts turn to what the weekend may have in store.  Terry Hall yells into my earholes "watching the girls go by, spending money on BEER!" The Specials (probably) still apt description of a night out clubbing, in the track NITE KLUB makes me recall that it has been a long time since I've been clubbing - 2008 in fact. Once the kids have flown the nest I'm back on it, glowsticks and all. In other news the custard creams worked a treat again last Sunday, bringing my Under 9s football team back from being a goal down at half time, to running out 5-2 winners, for our first victory. I am sure it will come out one day that football's top stars owe their success to a half time biscuit boost. All power to the custard cream...

Head Space Daily Image...

Glass, steel and an old crane. This is Docklands, baby...

Head Space Daily Tune...

The Specials - It Doesn't Make It Alright

I have been featuring tracks from some of my favourite albums lately and The Specials is one of my all time favourite, default albums. It is a special piece of work. To have as much resonance 33 years on, is incredible. You can relate to the sentiment, to the lyrics, to the situation of the times and the desire to see change. If you can't relate to it, then you most likely hold very different views to me. Reading about the extensive police corruption regarding Stephen Lawrence, in today's paper, made me revert to The Specials. The police have never been held very high in my regard from an early age, when they would herd football fans around with disdain. Following Hillsbrough, they were never going to get my respect and that has been cemented with justice being seen for the families and their victims. Today it sinks even lower as I read about corruption, harassment of an innocent family and racism. This is not what I want in my world. So, to every nobody out there, this is for you…

Head Space Daily Words...

A Letter to Putin

Dear Vlad,

The world knows you are a genuine action man. We have all seen the wonderful pictures of you riding that horse bare chested. Wow, those pecs. We were all extremely impressed. You should have been a member of the A-Team, a WWF wrestler and the World's Strongest Man all rolled into one. You have recently staged the Winter Olympics, using fake snow, in a city which discovered that some people are homosexual. What an achievement. To have enlightened your people is a good thing - who would have thought the consistency of that snow would have remained so consistent? It is common knowledge that your country's culture is misogynistic, bigoted, intolerant and homophobic but not all Russians hold your views (I have met a couple of genuine Russians)and you are not only letting them down, but yourself and the rest of the world. You don't really need to prove your manhood by bombing he shit out of Ukraine. You have flexed your muscles and proved you are the biggest boy in the playground, now take my advice. Rest your manly frame in the nearest lazy boy, close your eyes and listen to what Charles Bradley has to say in today's Head Space Daily Tune...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Charles Bradley - Let Love Stand A Chance

Vlad - this one is for you...

Head Space Daily Image...

This sign is the last remaining feature of an old pub called The Old House At Home in Shadwell. The building is apparently to be turned into flats. I bet the pub saw plenty of life, good times and bad times and I am sure was a proper old boozer...

Head Space Daily Words...

Tonight I've been watching The Voice on BBC1. Craig Charles wasn't in his usual slot on 6Music so I gave myself to Auntie Beeb and some family viewing. I like the format of the show and the judges are a great selection of personalities. I find Will-i-am to be very funny and endearing. He is an extremely inventive producer of throwaway pop pap, who can fly off on a tangent but by no means has a strong singing voice. Kylie Minogue has become an institution in this country. She is a personality in the old fashioned sense of the word, by no means a great actress, or singer but an entertainer - a celebrity, whom the nation has taken to it's heart. When the Kaiser Chiefs first album Employment came out, it really struck a nerve, both lyrically and musically. Ricky Wilson was a strong frontman, flinging his then, quite portly frame into the audience. They even played at the Live8 concert in Philadelphia. Since then, he has slimmed down, presented Buzzcocks on BBC2 a few times and hey presto, with that quick witted Leeds charm, here he is. Tom Jones on the other hand is the real thing - a complete musical legend who has every right to be passing judgement on a person's singing voice. Not that the others don't have great insight and ability to spot and develop talent but the VT they showed this evening of Tom Jones singing Hey Jude with Wilson Pickett, really reinforced that he has been there and done it and has an incredible gift with the voice that he has. The people he has sung with is a stunning list of icons, from Elvis and Janis Joplin to Aretha Franklin. The fact that these singers with such gifts have chosen to perform with Tom 'The Voice' Jones, says it all. So, if you are taking the title of The Voice literally, he is without a doubt the best qualified judge on that panel. That is all... 

Head Space Daily Image...

A sign to show you the way...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Connan Mockasin - Do I Make You Feel Shy?

There is something really fantastic about the Connan Mockasin album, Caramel and this track simply proves my point…