Naturally, I was beside myself with joy when I was asked if the mighty Level Crossing News could use one of my photos, and unable to contain my level crossing-related excitement any further, I went out and snapped another pair.



Sadly, these gates have long since seen better days and are to be found slowly rotting away in Silvertown, by the old East London docks.



They once guarded an important freight line to North Woolwich, but have lain dormant for decades as the once-bustling docks fell derelict from the late 1950s onwards.

You had to feel sorry for these guys.

They put on a big free music event in the centre of London and then the weather pisses down relentlessly all day long.

A few umbrella-clutching hardy souls huddled together to watch some wet performers put up a spirited performance, but the square was never going to rock today.

All around the perimeter could be seen the long faces of the bored owners of punter-untroubled stalls, who clearly wished they were elsewhere.

We did our best to lend some support, but after ten minutes in the rain, we headed off to the Photographers' Gallery for a nice cuppa and a slice of the excellent, home baked banana cake.

Now, this really sucks.

The Angel, Coldharbour Lane is one of the last old-school black Brixton pubs left here and in the 12 years I've lived opposite the place, it's never caused any bother.

Whenever I've popped in for a pint, it's been a friendly community pub and I've always enjoyed hearing the reggae/ska coming out of the place when I've walked past.

But tonight - out of the blue - I discovered the place has been shut down and sealed up with metal hoardings - suggesting that it's not likely to be reopened for some time soon (if at all).

I've no idea if it was busted or closed down by bailiffs, but losing this pub would be a real loss to the community.

More photos

Still too hungover to string the words together, but here's what guest star Richard Herring had to say about the night:

Later I myself took part in a free piece of theatre. I was doing a gig at the offline club in Brixton. It's an evening of poetry, bands and comedy in the back room of a pub, where entry is free and where acts get paid with two beers. It's a bit anarchic and ramshackle, but a really great night out.

I saw a poet with a furious scattergun delivery and a musical act in which a woman played a hurdy-gurdy (which isn't something you see every day). You should support this place if you are local enough to get down there.

There's a great atmosphere and it's free and better than watching two eccentric academics discussing their careers. I thought I would struggle a bit in my set, as I was going on late and was the only comedian and the audience was drunk and I was on my fourth pint of Guinness, but although there were some dodgy moments and I couldn't really see anyone, it was raw and exciting.

One man bought me a whisky to down in one and another after hearing my story about the Hand Job centre, slithered his way up on to the high stage (I compared him to Tooms from the first series of the X Files which had a surprising level of recognition from the crowd) to tell a story of his "friend" who had fallen asleep on a bus and then woken up to find himself being masturbated by a stranger.

We then had a dialogue, passing the microphone from one to the other as we discussed whether his interruption was relevant or appropriate. It was a really lovely bit of fun, very good natured and experimental and after a few exchanges he slinked off again.

A terrific night of fun. Do go to the next one.

Yep. It was that good :)

But I kinda wish it did.



*thanks to IanW

Back in 1999, big protests like this were still possible!


Blimey: it seems like another age now, doesn't it?

Shame the quality's a bit crap, but these videos were shot on a Sony Cybershot DSC-F55E digital camera back in the days when memory cost the earth!
See: Some short videos from J18

Full photo report

I love walking along the Thames Path on the South Bank on a warm evening.

Here's some pics from last night:


A couple walk into the night along the Thames Path.



More photos: Walking along the Southbank

A short break in Hay On Wye, mid-Wales



Thursday:
Travelled up to the lovely border town of Hay on Wye, staying in a fantastic old higgledly-piggedly house in the hills.

Thanks to Dr Beeching and his railway axe in the 1960s, the journey took ages: train from Paddington to Hereford and then a one hour coach trip to Hay, with a bus driver from Barry at the wheel.

We took a stroll around the picturesque streets of Hay, and checked out the half-ruined castle.



The town is famous for its bookstores and there were plenty to be found (apparently there's one bookstore for every 30 residents!).

Later this month, Hay plays host to the internationally famous Book Festival, where the town's population swells from 1,500 to 150,000!

Popped into a deserted Rose and Crown for pint of Merrie England before moving on to the far livelier - and very friendly - Wine Vaults where everyone seemed to be dropping their pints with gusto.

Maybe it was a curious Welsh custom. Or maybe it's because everyone was absolutely hammered.

Come the end of the night it was pissing down, but some kind local gave us a lift the mile home to our lovely B&B.

Friday
After an enormous fried breakfast, we headed out into the glorious sunshine.

After walking into Hay, we headed north along the banks of the wide and fast-flowing River Wye.



A nifty bit of map reading took us along the overgrown embankment of the former Hay railway before arriving at the Old toll bridge at Whitney.

Had a chat with the flute-playing man working the toll gate who pointed out a huge two foot trout resting at the base of the bridge.

Had a quick paddle in the Wye before walking past Rhydspace to pick up the Offa's Dyke walk.

Back in Hay, we stopped off for tea, sandwiches and ice cream at Shepherd's as a well-earned reward for our eleven mile walk.

Then walked the mile or so back to our guest house in Lower Cusop, grabbed a quick nap and then back into town via the Offa's Dyke path which runs right behind the house.

Grabbed a couple of pints of ale of Wye Valley Ale at the Kilvert and then on to the local laaaad's hotspot, the Wheatsheaf (aka 38@).

Left early as I felt a bit rough - and things got a lot worse as I spent most of the night being sick and feverish.



Saturday
After a spectacularly awful night, stayed in bed till 1pm but felt well enough to stumble into town to meet Em.

Checked out some bookstores and had tea and cakes at the Granary Cafe (my stomach felt well enough to risk a carrot cake).

Walked back for a lie down and then back into the throbbing metropolis of Hay to grab a half in the Blue Boar and another in the Wine Vaults (now our fave bar in town).

Still not feeling 100%, so home early to watch the brilliant Green Wing.

Sunday
Woohoo! Feeling grand and the sun's out.

Walked into Hay, grabbed a big Shepherd's ice cream and then picked up the Wye Valley Walk, heading west.

Things were going splendidly until I got a text message, "Problem with the bulletin boards: please call."

This turned out to be something of an understatement.

I'll keep the full story for another day, but it involved me shouting and screaming into my phone while a field of sheep looked on, baffled...

Then walked along a B road before walking along a strip of the old Brecon - Hay railway like which has been turned into a small nature reserve, Glasbury Cutting.

Walking into Glasbury we stopped off at the River Cafe for a coffee before crossing the Wye and heading east back towards Hay along the footpath.



Managed to discover how powerful the electric fences for cattle are after I inadvertently leaned right into one to take a picture.

Net result: a sharp, tingling burst on my thigh and a blurry pic.

Took a late lunch in the delightful church graveyard at Llowes and had a wander about inside the ancient church (heavily restored by Victorians) which houses the 1,300 year old stone cross of St Meilig.

Suitably fortified by our local organic bread, cheese, crisps and apples, we strode into the fading sunshine, arriving back in Hay feeling surprisingly dapper after our 12 mile walk.

Back home for a bath and out again to hit Hay's beyond mellow Sunday nightlife.

Had a few pints in the Wine Vaults and then home in the pitch-black of a country lane...

(more photos to come soon)

We've got alternative folksters, a rap outfit, indie popsters, DJs, stand up, poets and the star of TV's Lee and Herring, Richard Herring!

Check out the full bill - and if you're coming, get there early!

THURS 25th MAY Brixton JAMM
8pm-2am. 261, Brixton Rd, Brixton, London SW9.
Nearest tubes: Brixton, Oval, Stockwell
FREE ADMISSION!
Map
JAMM website


VERY SPECIAL GUEST STAR
RICHARD HERRING
Top notch comedian, writer and TV star of Lee and Herring, Fist of Fun and This Morning With Richard Not Judy.
"Endlessly funny" Sunday Times
"Brilliant" Time Out
"Wonderfully funny" Guardian

LIVE ACTS: Full line up of top notch acoustic acts and live bands to be announced including:

PINK PUNK
PINK PUNK is the slam-child of Yap, the former front man of British rap metal legends One Minute Silence.
Their first single YAPOLITICAL was recently called 'the most innovative thing to happen to UK rap in years' (The Downloader) - so get there early for this one!

THE ALBEMARLE HOUSE
Clattering, folk-shanty hymns to burning houses, excessive drinking and the horrors of the working week, created by ex-members of Rhesus and legendary Nottingham kraut-garage loonies The Standing On Tables.

SALT AND BLUE
Experimental acoustic folksters with cello, hurdy gurdy, drones, driving rhythms and floating vocal melodies.

ENTERTAINMENT
VIC LAMBRUSCO'S CABARET HOUR
'Abrasive political comedy' - Time Out
A full line up of top notch poets/stand up acts to be announced:
PLUS A SHEDLOAD OF TOP DJS!
Including Dubversion (PROD), IanW (How Does It Feel To Be Loved), Editor, Skim, LD Rudeboy... more to be announced.
» See our last JAMM party!

Their PA may have had all the power of a wet moth, but I enjoyed their short set in Trafalgar Square - and here's the inevitable 'drunk people in fountain' shot.

Today's sounds
Currently enjoying 'heavy rotation' on the urban jukebox:

Broken Social Scene
Boo Hewerdine: Harmongraph
Sol Peppy: The Bells Of 12
Elbow: Leaders of the Free World
PJ Harvey: Sheela-Na-Gig
Ladyfuzz: Bouncy Ball
Lords of Acid: I Must Increase My Bust