El Padrone

John I'm Only Dancing - 27 July 2009

2009-07-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

The first post for nearly two weeks and celebrating some very good news. I'd worried about today for a long time but now, it seems, I might be able to take up "dancing" again.

And how I love to dance.

John - I'm only dancing,

She turns me on but I'm only dancing.

Paris

2009-07-15T12:23:00.001-07:00

There are no words for once.

All The Young Dudes

2009-07-15T11:09:00.001-07:00

Avignon - July 2007 and a photo of El Padron "turning to shit" as his daughter would ( delicately ) phrase it. But she's right of course as this photo was taken at the start of the 2 year drinking binge that nearly destroyed me and which finally came to end on June 3rd 2009.

To mark the occasion I plan on returning to the South Of France next month although I'll probably stick to Marseilles and Toulouse : I think I'll have a lasting "mental block" for a long time as far as Avignon is concerned.......which is a pity because it's a beautiful little town.

So - if you really want to be bored to death you can come back here next month to see all the pictures of my holiday (and you'd have to be pretty desperate to do that!).

Stolen From Eva Gale

2009-07-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

The title says it all and I guess Eva stole it from somewhere else : she's a very gifted lady but not gifted enough to paint something like this ( and she's going to kill me for saying that !.

The Crown Bar

2009-07-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is The Crown Bar in Belfast and another post with the remains of the famous beard.

BELFAST

2009-07-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

First - and most importantly - a picture of my bed in The Fitwilliam Hotel. A perfect bed for getting up to all kinds of interestings things I should think. I'm sure you can use your imagination : I know I can !

I can't remember which particular bar in Belfast this photo was taken in - it's either The George or The Crown (the oldest bar in Belfast) - the two are more or less next door to each other so it's a perfect situation for both drinkers and non-drinkers (like me). As you can see this photo was taken on Monday 8 July about 2 hours after I first had the beard trimmed and I have the now customary fresh orange juice and lemonade in front of me.

This photo was taken in a coffee shop the next day (Tuesday 7 July) - my 20th wedding anniversary - and phase 2 of the beard removal is now complete. Please note the trendy (!) clean shirt and the attempted sincere expression.

So now I finally understand what Simple Minds were singing about when they said :

" One day we'll return here when the Belfast Child sings again"

No Eggsplantation !

2009-06-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

A Man Out Of Time

2009-06-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

So this is where he came to hide when he ran from you,

In a private detective's overcoat and dirty dead man's shoes,

The pretty things of Knightsbridge lying for a Minister Of State

It's far cry from the nod and wink here at Traitor's Gate,

'cos the high heel he used to be has been ground down

and he listens for the footsteps that would follow him around....

To murder my love is a crime but will you still love a Man Out Of Time ?

El Padrone

2009-06-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

In which our hero , variously known from previous incarantions as "Miles" , "Dr Mick", and - most recently - "Merlin" returns yet again (yawn!) to astonish the world.

Leaner, meaner and altogether more switched on (as if such a thing were possible) this is most definitely the very last word in utter and complete arrogance and inexcusable conceit.

And - as his old friend Bruce used to say - "This guy don't dance".

Be very afraid ......... he is.