And then we played Darts in the pub across the road...

Dave 2, Rach 1, The Rest 0

You wouldn't read about it.

The (Official) World Cup Sweep Draw

The (Soccer) World Cup is pretty big in England, apparently. Because it is so big (and because I love an excuse for a bbq), the good folk of Willesden Lane decided to do a Sweep. Countless emails and text messages finally convinced 16 friends to be a part of the Sweep for the small fee of a fiver. The person who has the winning football team on July 11 will take home the grand total of £60, runner's up will pocket a very handy 20 quid - you would be mad not to get involved with that kind of money up for grabs!

We decided to have a bbq and a few drinks in the backyard to celebrate The Official Draw. Countless emails and text messages finally convinced 3 people to turn up at our backyard and help draw some names and teams out of a couple of salad bowls. Potential guests may have been deterred from coming along as I asked everyone to wear something 'Official'. Thankfully Kate turned up in a Policeman's hat. I wore a suit and bike gloves. Nobody else bothered. It was a great day though (the photos prove that). We drew the teams, drank some Pimms, enjoyed a splendid bbq (well done Dave) and finished off playing darts in the pub across the road. Brilliant.

For the record, I drew Germany and New Zealand. Brilliant.

Prostate Cancer Fundraiser

There's a link to the right of this blog where you can help support Prostate Cancer research through donating to the cause. I will be riding my bike through the streets of London in September to help raise money and awareness of this disease, so if you are able, please support me on this venture with a donation of any amount you like.

Sarah Blasko & The Temper Trap at Empire, April 28

The Cemetary Set

The Duke and The King

Amidst plumes of volcanic smoke, The Duke and The King thankfully descended upon Islington's Union Chapel last night. A four piece dedicated to tugging at heart strings one minute and stomping on bones the next, they made the Chapel their home and the audience their congregation.

Songs from their critically acclaimed debut album 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' filled most of the set, starting with 'If You Ever Get Famous' followed by the singalong favourite 'The Morning I Get To Hell'. The four members of the band were all blindingly talented, blessed with honey drenched vocal chords and serious abilities at playing a range of instruments. One song began as a 'Nothing Compares To You' cover before transforming into one of their own. The band also paid tribute to pearl necklace-wearing lead singer Simone Felice's past, with a Felice Brother's ditty the crowd gleefully absorbed.

When the band members weren't high-fiving, hugging and kissing each other with genuine affection, they were playing some wonderful folksy-soulsy songs, beautiful violin and generally enchanting their congregation with one of the finest sermon's held in the Chapel.

To keep the whole show down to earth, rootsy and not too 'rock n roll', once finished, the four members of The Duke and The King walked into the crowd and shook hands, hugged and kissed 'their people'. Not many acts finish their performance this way and the warmth generated from their actions made the awaiting cold night air all the more bearable to face.