Goodbye 2023...

 Well 2023 was certainly a year of ups & downs - mostly downs in the latter part...

I learned more about other people and how they can be a lot more complicated than they appear - and in the process I learned more about myself. Including that apparently (to quote a song written by Lemmy) "I ain't no nice guy after all"

"My shine wore off as time wore on" Ain't that the truth... ♠

That episode in the summer triggered another of my periods of self doubt and lack of confidence. It made me take a closer look at myself. Another thing I learned: On top of OCD (which I think I have had most my life without even realising it) I have now also discovered 'Imposter Syndrome' is a thing - a thing I seem to have.

For 2024: Press 'Control/Alt/Delete' to restart...

Pubs don't want to take my money!

It seems like an increasing number of pubs don't want my money. I went to the Good Mixer in Camden on Thursday night to see a band. No real ale available, or any other beer I particularly want to drink. I know at most dedicated live music venues and clubs this isn't unusual, but the Mixer is a pub that just has bands on sometimes. I guess they aren't that bothered about catering for my ale needs so I don't drink much in there.

On Friday I went to the Dublin Castle in Camden - a well known pub and music venue. There used to be three or four real ale pumps on the bar here - so at least I could usually get a pint of Trooper or similar, although the quality of the ales they served often wasn't good as the pub didn't seem to know how to look after them. Sadly the Dublin Castle has recently stripped out all the real ale pumps from it's bar, but at least I could still get a bottle of my old faithful standby - Newcastle Brown Ale. Now they even seem to have stopped serving that. I'd normally sink several pints in a night at the Dublin Castle, but on Friday I only bothered with one as there was really no beer in the pub that I really wanted to drink. They don't seem to be bothered about my custom so I don't bother to drink much these days when I'm there.

When I'm in Camden I like to drop into BrewDog before and after gigs. No real ales in there, but in spite of that they do always have a variety of tasty beers I actually want to drink. Not cheap, and the strongest beers aren't served in pints, but it's a handy port of call if I'm in a rush to get a couple of high strength liveners in before heading to a music venue where I might not drink at all due to the poor quality and high prices. I like to drop into BrewDog after gigs as well for a nice beer or two before jumping on the tube at nearby Camden Town station. However, although it's advertised as being open until midnight Thursday-Saturday it often seems to close earlier. More than once recently I've walked in there around 11.30 after a gig only to be refused service as the bar staff tell me they are closing. I have even gone there about 11.00 to find the place shut and all the lights out. Don't they want my money?

Last night I was planning to go to a gig in Greenwich - at a pub that apparently serves real ales. However, I found out too late that the band I wanted to see and I assumed were headlining were actually going on earlier than I expected. I realised that as it would probably take at least an hour and a half to get to the pub I was going to miss the band. So I'm showered and all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Disappointed but not wanting to put all that effort to waste on a hot summer night I decide on Plan B -  to take a late stroll down to my local. The Railway Bell seems an oddly run place at times. Tonight is one of them. This pub stays open until 1AM but rather bizarrely won't let anyone in after midnight - which means when I often get off the train at New Barnet virtually within sight of the pub around 11.58 I am denied admission by security to a pub which is still serving for another hour! This seems a strange policy as in the last hour of opening there are usually very few people in in the pub - in fact the number of security people present combined with the bar staff is around the same as the number of drinkers for the last hour so they can't be making any money. And yet they still won't let me in to contribute to the money taken at the bar. But last night shouldn't have been a problem as I rolled up around 11.00 - with two hours drinking time to go. When I tried to get in I found the doors were locked! The pub was obviously still open as I could see customers inside - although not many for a summer Saturday night. I point to my watch and try to have a conversation with a security guy through the window pane of the door which he won't open, but I can only hear him shouting that they are shut. At 11.00 on a Saturday night. Once again the Railway Bell doesn't seem to want my money.

Plan B has also fallen though. Disconsolately I turn round and start to walk home - all I wanted was a few beers in a pub on a hot Saturday night. There are actually three other pubs within a hundred yards, but one is a McMullens house and I don't like their ales, the other is expensive with ales that are average at best - plus I don't like it's 'sports bar' atmosphere, while the third is really expensive with ales that aren't as good as they used to be.

Then I realise High Barnet is only a short bus ride away and Ye Olde Mitre Inne is open until 1AM. I put Plan C into action and about ten minutes later I am in what is probably the best (and definitely the oldest) pub in Barnet and finally enjoying a pint of quality ale in a pub that actually want's my money.

3/6/2023 A busy day of music in North and South London...

I have two gigs to go to today - in different parts of London. Just to make things more (or Moor) complicated I am playing at one of them.

So I have to head down to South of the river in the afternoon. Although Bermondsey Joyriders are one of my favourite bands and I have seen them loads of times - I have never actually been to Bermondsey. Until now. There is a mini punk festival at Moor Beer Vaults. The Moor Beer Company are one of a number of small breweries who have started hosting live music events. I like beer, and I like music - so this is a gig I was never going to turn down.

It's organised by the PhilanthroPunks charity who I have played for on previous events.

It takes quite a long time to get to South London from the Northern Heights but unusually for me I arrive with time in hand. Only to find things are already running at least half an hour late by the time the first band hits the stage. 😕

First band on was Spit Sisters.

No pictures of the next band as I was otherwise engaged on the stage making a racket...

Next up were Landlord Lynch who were very good.

Next were She Bit Me First who were less punk and more polished.  Led by and older and more experienced singer/guitarist who had obviously been around the block back in the day before 'real life' (or starting a family) got in the way...

Next we get something a bit heavier and more raucous from Chad Calamity & The CTGBs.

Then I had to head off back to North London to see some good friends playing in a rock covers band, so I missed Resuscitators, Girls Like Us, and The Scuts. I know the latter are very good as I've played in the same bill as them before. So I'l leave you with the drummer from one of the previous bands - I think he has been enjoying the products of the Moor Beer Company!

So off I head on the long trek back to North London to see my friends. They are playing in Southgate which is actually quite close to home so easy to drop in on the way home - while looking like a poser walking into the pub carrying a bass guitar. 🙄

Above average quality musicians (the guitarist is a pro session player) playing rock covers - a good way to wind down at the end of a long day.

Horizon provide a nice break on my long journey home from South London, and after a chat after they finish their final set it's only a short tube journey home after a busy day. 🍺🎸🍻

28/5/2023 Bike Shed Motorcycle Show - Sunday.

So on Saturday I rode down to the show on my bike. One of the things I like about this event is that if you have a ticket you can go on more than one day and you don't have to pay again. Going on the bike is nice as there is dedicated free motorcycle parking, but the actual ride down there in 2023 isn't the pleasant and fun experience it would have been years ago - these days the traffic is worse (even on a bike!) and there are multiple 20 MPH speed limits - which can be difficult to notice while you are trying just to stay alive not being taken out by the the countless lunatics, idiots, and just bad drivers on the roads. As I found to my cost last year... I knew there were some bikes on display that I'd missed and not got photos of on Saturday, so I thought I'd take advantage of my free travel and go again on the Sunday.

And after Great Northern get me into town I still enjoy travelling on the DLR sitting at the front of the train pretending to be the driver - the novelty still hasn't worn off! And I enjoy the views of the modern dockland area which still seems like an alien and futuristic environment to me - like I'm in Blade Runner or something. I guess I'm still a kid at heart. Don't tell anyone. 😉

Also, the live music bill looked better on Sunday. 🎸😎

I was rather impressed by Logan J. Parker at this event last year and now she is back again - this time in less country and more rock mode. Obviously I prefer the latter.

Oh yes, and there were motorcycles too. As I suspected, there were some interesting machines that I didn't have time to see yesterday as I had a gig to go to afterwards. 🎸

I'm sure these CCM's handle well, but as they are called Spitfire I'd want something more powerful and faster to be honest - and a British engine instead of the BMW designed Husqvarna motor used here. 😕 I'm sure it's good bike and fun to ride, but please call it something else as I don't think this pays tribute to it's name.

Now this new but retro looking Norton Commando is far more like it - although I am even less likely to ever be able to afford one than a CCM.

But talking of BMW's.

Old.

Not so old, but radically customised.

And new but customised.

Yes, these really are 1800CCs - BMW are building stock boxer twins in that capacity now - I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one!

How wide can you make a motorcycle that only has two cylinders?
Those cylinders are 900cc each though!

The new ones straight from the factory aren't cheap, but are cheaper than the new Nortons. But nothing like as fast.

If I won the lottery I'd still have one sitting in my garage though.

Along with a Harley, but not an impractical pretend off-road one like this.

A Kawasaki Z1 based dragster with turbocharger and nitrous oxide injection.

And from one extreme to the other - showing that mopeds can be cool. 😎

And back to the UK with Triumph.

This looks very fast, but less than comfortable.

This modern but retro customised Triumph also looks less than comfortable - I don't like the current fashion for seats like planks - something also found on public transport these days. 😬 This trendy 'scrambler' might look cool for posing around town, but I don't think anyone would want to actually ride it far on London's pothole cratered roads, or for long on a trip into the country. I'm sure my current ride is far more comfortable for either.

This Triumph Daytona styled to look more like a Speed Triple reminds me of my previous couple of bikes - I recognise most of the components.

This Royal Enfield takes the retro look back a lot further.

'Slumdog' is an interesting machine that emphasises the former British motorcycle brand and it's move to Indian manufacture and eventually ownership.

So, it was another great Bike Shed Motorcycle Show - a cool relaxed atmosphere, and many interesting, varied, and imaginative custom bikes. See you there next year?

27/5/2023 Bike Shed Motorcycle Show - Saturday

The Bike Shed Motorcycle Show is always a laid back and enjoyable event. No corporate sponsorship or big money backers - just custom bikes built by people who love what they do at a show organised by bikers for bikers, and anybody else who just thinks motorcycles are cool.

As always, there are many weird and wonderful machines on display - something for all tastes. Here is just a tiny selection of what was on show.

Get your pizza delivered - quickly!

A replica of the Triumph Steve McQueen rode in 'The Great Escape'. Yes, I know the Germans used BMW motorcycles  during WW2 not British Triumphs - and the bike used in the film was obviously post-war.

Quite a similar engine to my first ever bike - a Honda 125 twin, but there the similarities end...

A Honda Gold Wing tourer turned into a cafe racer!

A Harley Davidson with knobly tyres only suited to off-road use demonstrating how wildly impractical many modern custom bikes are...

This very futuristic machine is actually far older than it looks!

Yes - even scooters are allowed!

From mod machines to punk ones - this is powered by a lawnmower engine!

This actually started life as a moped!

And this still is a moped - showing that literally anything can be turned into a custom bike.

This looks less than practical to actually ride, but look at that amazing paintwork! Many of the bikes here are literally works of art.

Yes, that really is a Sinclair C5.

A modern 350 Royal Enfield with a beautifully vintage looking 'bathtub' rear end.

This is based on a Suzuki T500. I used to have one of these - same colour too. Maybe it's my old bike?

This is an old Honda CG125 commuter bike - who'd have thought anyone would ever want to customise some as unglamorous as that?

Meanwhile, over on the Royal Enfield stand. A modern 650 engine in a custom frame. Another totally impractical bike - that seat + no rear suspension would make it far too uncomfortable to actually ride on the road. Especially in London!

A really cool looking Harley, but with no air filter it wouldn't last long if you actually tried taking it off-road where those knobly tyres belong!

Who says mopeds aren't cool?

Based on a modern Sportster - the purists won't like it...

...compared to this.

Check out the welding on those exhaust pipes - that must have taken a very long time!

Would you really want to sit with your arse that high off the ground on a sports bike?😅

Guys - would you want to run into the back of something on this bike? Look at the rear end of the petrol tank! 😖

Who needs a fancy custom paint job? This is actually a leather clad motorcycle!

On the other hand, this has to win the best paintwork of the show award.

Old look - new Triumph motor.

At last - a machine that can handle London's pothole infested roads!

There was so much to see that as it was free on my ticket and I hadn't quite seen everything I decided to come back again tomorrow....