Wednesday Morning
Good morning happy B3tans, one and all, and welcome to Wednesday.

Here in Hong Kong I was up at 11pm last night writing back to my client and telling them in the nicest way I could manage (which, with me on the outside of a couple of pints (yes, yes, I know ... lightweight) isn't that nice) to sod off.

This morning I'm somewhat narcoleptic having fallen asleep in the shower, and twice in the office already. These are microsleeps (i.e., not more than 10 seconds at a time) but they're quite worrying as they're coincident with a couple of large insect bites on my legs. Hmm.

Oooooooooooooh. Ed's got the dreaded lurgy!

Anyhow - this morning's topic would be this: have you ever been fired, and if so was it deserved?

To answer this question for myself - I was sacked in 2002 (and hence became self-employed, full story passim) and it was entirely undeserved but at the time understandable. HBoS! Grrr.


(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 5:38, 111 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

morning
Surprisingly, I've never managed to get myself sacked. I have a knack of leaving juuust before they ask me to! :D
(weekirst23 Is broken! Silly ice. Silly High heels!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 7:01, Reply)

hello
Just me awake and about then? Early shifts suck...
(weekirst23 Is broken! Silly ice. Silly High heels!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 7:30, Reply)

Good Morning Honk Kong.
I got an email this morning from someone in China i think complaining about how rude people are. stamping feet at all times of the night shouting in corridoors slamming doors etc. Ah fun. Yeah.. i aint moving there. And i thought the Spanish were ignorant fucks..

Anyway being sacked? Hmmm.
I had a walk before I was pushed incident in my last job. Wont bore you to death with details there. But hey I walked into another job which was more money less hours, and the old companies just about collapsed in on itself now anyway - which will leave a few unemployed and no dobut on the next sleazyjet back to rainy UK. So I'm definately glad there :)

There was an incident many many many years ago where I was "made redundant" from a scummy town centre computer shop, because I was doing the Amiga side of stuff and my boss decided it wasnt making any money (it was at the time when Amiga was kinda still clinging on after being bought out by Escom) and so ended that part of the business... Little did he know I knew everyone who was into Amigas and it didnt take me long to find out he'd replaced me with someone else. But ah well, I was 18 at the time, didnt give a crap. So in retaliation put some of my new found web skills to test and put up a site telling the world what a dodgy shop it was. That annoyed him hehehe.
(Miggyman, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:08, Reply)

Never been sacked
They'll never find out what I did...
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:43, Reply)

Never been sacked
no matter how hard I've tried.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:49, Reply)

Clendrix?
Where's my coffee?
You're fired.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:50, Reply)

Brilliant!
*climbs back into bed*
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:54, Reply)

*frowns*
I wish I was in bed.
Had to drop my sister to the station this morning...
Getting up at 7 when you don't have to be at work 'til 9... And it's a twenty minute drive...
Rubbish.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 8:59, Reply)

Kaol
can you fire me too

I'm knackered

I've had some bad dreams the last couple of nights.

last nights episode was that I was playing at a massive festival with my band, halfway through the set I broke a string, so had to carry on with my acoustic guitar, and the rest of the band just stopped playing (can't remember why) I kind of carried on, but the song we were playing pretty much just involved strumming one chord.

I ended up storming off stage because they wouldn't play, and then they started again after I'd left.

doesn't sound like much, but it was one of those dreams that leaves lingering feelings after you wake up. so the nervousness of the gig, plus embarrasment, anger, that kind of stuff

not very nice
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:01, Reply)

Ooh Ooh...Pick Me!
I have once been sacked from a telesales job.

I wasn't very good.

We received a new list of people to call once a month, and on that day the number of sales would always go through the roof, we should all have got at least 20.

A girl who started the week before got 32, I got 6.

Was sacked two days later.

Woo!
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:10, Reply)

@Kaol
I won't go back to bed, I promise.
Gonna get dressed now and achieve things.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:14, Reply)

Kaol
misspelling coffee? You're fired.

I haven't been fired from any jobs but I have left a lot of shit part time ones. Working in a call centre on a sunday cold calling people is the worse job in the world :(
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:20, Reply)

TGB
I don't know what you're talking about...

But if I'm fired, I just need to go to the server room and delete my account...

*grins wickedly*
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:24, Reply)

Al
I'm looking forward to getting my hair cut so that I look slightly less mental.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:26, Reply)

Good morning.....here's a joke.
What's long and flesh coloured and very glad to see you all.















Me!



I've only been fired once. Undeserved I might add.
( girlinthehole, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:27, Reply)

I'm looking forward to leaving work and sleeping
Zzzzzzz
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:32, Reply)

I'm looking forward...
to going to the Isle of Wight for 4 luurrvely days :) Oh and having next Wednesday off aswell to go see my friend for her Birthday which means I get cake *glee*

*waves at BGB*
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:33, Reply)

3 times in a row
1 - I suspect was a personality conflict. Was politely asked if I would like to leave.

2 - Didnt get out of bed for three weeks and was fired when I showed up again.

3 - I called someone I shouldn't have an arsehole and was promptly asked to leave.

Will save details for an appropriate QOTW.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:34, Reply)

I'm looking forward
To:

Getting some rough recordings of my band done tomorrow night.

Seeing ancrenne after work on Friday.

Meeting web-weirdos on Saturday.

Bonus Monday.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:36, Reply)

So then,
how is the Pearl Estuary this morning?
(The Oscillating Gibbon is eating curried squid, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:36, Reply)

@Baz
There has already been a fired QOTW. Do we get the details now *looks hopeful*
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:39, Reply)

ok actual things to look forward to
band practice tomorrow night
gig with my band on friday night
lie in on saturday
lie in on sunday
jamming with my drummer on sunday. he's been working on a prog rock masterpiece. so far it's 6 acts, and about 20 minutes. he's asked me to have some face-melting guitar solo input :-)
lie in on monday, followed by surfing

going to be a good weekend!

edit: Kaol: I'd like to hear your band.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:41, Reply)

Vipros...
If I had a pound for every time I heard that...

Hahaha!

People always assume it'll be screamy, hardcore kinda stuff.
It isn't.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:44, Reply)

@TGB
they might do it again although I could pearoast.

Will work on it, time permitting. Prepare yourself for 500-1000 words on alcoholism, untreated depression and a total abandonment of self-preservation.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:44, Reply)

I want to hear
Kaol and Vipros' bands I need some music for my drive to the IoW!
Edit: Kaol I imagined some kind of funky jazzesq rock.

@Baz - I like the sound of the stories!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:50, Reply)

TGB
Vipros' band are fantastic!
My band not so much...
But when I've got recordings made, I'll let people have a listen.

The closest I've got at the moment accoustic stuff, my mate playing the guitar and me singing, recorded through my digital camera.
Did it to work out song lengths.

EDIT: Funky Jazz-rock? Afraid not, people that are being kind after hearing us say we're somewhere between Nick Cave and Therapy?, via the Cure.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:53, Reply)

I don't imagine that at all
don't see you as the screaming type. more quiet malevolance :-)

for the interested, my band can be heard here:

www.myspace.com/dumberthantheaveragebear

we're a bit better than that now, got a really good harmonica player too. feel free to download the songs if you have a myspace account

edit: who would you say your band sounds most like Kaol? (I know this is a difficult question and I couldn't answer it about mine!)
you've answered my question already
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:53, Reply)

Cool
I shall have to listen at home as my work computer doesn't have any sound :)

My mate is going back to Exeter to do his Masters do you play quite frequently down there? I may be down end of November ish

Edit: Ooh Kaol that sounds better than jazz rock! I was listening to Therapy? in my car the other day :)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:57, Reply)

@ Vipros: Yes I have :p
*looks forward to getting some proper recordings done*
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 9:58, Reply)

@TGB
we are playing pretty frequently now

for some reason we are in demand....

I'm sure we can arrange a gig for when you are down.

if nothing else we have a semi-regular sunday lunchtime thing going on at a pub in exeter
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:02, Reply)

we
opened for the UK Subs once.

first ever gig too, wooo. we lasted another 10 then I fucked off to Uni
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:07, Reply)

Acrenne
Would you like a hug? *hug*

Vodafone are pretty evil what have they done this time? (o2 ftw!)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:15, Reply)

Ningles all!
I've never been fired, I've quit a couple of times though. (Apols for the shameless whoring of old posts!)

What's up, ancrenne? Vodafone are truly a shower of bastards!

EDIT: o2 FTW, TGB! They gave me my shiny precioussssss...
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:16, Reply)

Hey DiT
I like to play the "how much stuff can I blag when renewing my contract" game with O2. I think my favourite demand was free international text messages.
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:25, Reply)

DiT
You took your phone back out of its little sleeping bag after your last post, didn't you? Just to take another peek.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:26, Reply)

iPhone?
If it had a non-touch-keypad I'd get one.

I've had a play with one, was lovely.
And I'm not a big fan of gadgets.

Although 2meg camera... What the fuck is the point?
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:28, Reply)

@Clendrix
I'll be honest, yes. My life was an empty husk before my iPhone. ;)

*stands up*

My name is DiT, and I'm a gadget addict.

EDIT: Point taken on the camera, but I've got a really good camera anyway, so it's not great loss to me! :)
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:34, Reply)

*Glees*
My little sister is here with me and I'm helping her get her paperwork and bank account organised for Uni.

I feel like a proud parent : )
( girlinthehole, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:35, Reply)

Tightly
Aaah, how cute. It's lovely that you're so proud.

Ancrenne, I feel your pain. Let's face it, they're all twunts, but the degree of twuntery varies.

This is applicable to most areas of life.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:39, Reply)

the best bartering
I ever did with Voda-bone was to put my phone omn the table where I couldn't here the evil blood sucking vermin on the other end and i repeatedly shouted I wnat my PAC code at him!.

I didn't leave, but I got free shinyness, Samsung F480 much better than an i-need-a-new-upgrade-already-phone, and for cheapness!
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:41, Reply)

T-mobile have been pretty good
and you can think of it as Mr T-mobile


( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:44, Reply)

I have been with O2 for about 6 years
Never had any problems with them easy to upgrade and I get signal pretty much everywhere :)

Edit: Loving the Mr T Mobile. And damn you Vipros I now have Don't fear the Reaper stuck in my head.
Edit2: Don't suppose anyone knows anything about the removal of lead based paint in work environments? Do you need a licence to remove it like with asbestos?
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:45, Reply)

wish I could say I made it....
there are much worse things to have in your head!

I've been on the verge of shouting out "I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!" for about a week now

might not go down all that well in the office.

mind you, I did announce that I was a lizard at random a little while ago....
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:47, Reply)

I use my mobile so little I'm still on pay as you go.
I still don't understand why everyone uses theirs so much. Why is everything so much more important to us than it was before mobile phones?

*is old*
( girlinthehole, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:48, Reply)

Vipros I think you should do it.
Points for anyone who makes any other SNL references. I like "I put on my pants one leg at a time like everyone else, but then I go out and make multi million selling records"
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 10:59, Reply)

Right wi' tcha BGB!
I have a la-de-da PDA that plays music, porn movies, great games, sat-nav, email, T'interweb...pretty much everything a gadget gonk needs except an auto-arm that pops out and wipes my arse...

I blagged it from my last job (and still use the old works sim card for t'interweb) but for calls I use a PAYG 02 card.

£20 credit...4 months later, still over £15 left.

EDIT: All this talk of bands is making me sad (der)...I miss being in a band
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:01, Reply)

Poof
What did you used to do in your band?
What kinda music was it?
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:04, Reply)

TGB
It'll happen, probably when I'm least expecting it

the best thing is, I hear those quotes in christopher walken's voice in my head. can't beat it.

:-)

I've been thinking (and may have said before) that we should form a band called The B3ta band (see what I did there)

we've probably got all the ingredients. guitar, bass, keyboards, singers, cowbell. everything you could need!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:07, Reply)

Is it too late for useless facts?
Women of reproductive capacity are prohibited by law to work in lead smelting and refining processes or any place where lead acid batteries or lead oxides are used.

(Sorry having to read up on the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 *joy*)

Edit: Bagsy cowbell!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:12, Reply)

@ Kaol...
*reminisces*

~~~~wavy lines~~~

I've been in one band for over 10 years. a la Status Quo, there were two of us always together and the rest of the line up (and the band names) changed constantly.

I had my first (little) record deal aged 17 and that was fun - particularly touring.

We played 'student' music but as Vipros says about his band ,it was always very difficult to put into a genre because I would write whatever I felt like - Orchestral ballads one minute, then accoustic stuff, then dead heavy stuff the next. Mostly...ermmm I suppose 'Indie Pop' was the stuff I wrote most.

I narrowly missed out on a major Deal and I can't remember if I've written about it in a QotW before - but it wasn't nice.

Anyway - with true Spinal Tap-ness, our Drummer died aged 26 and we kind of gave up doing it seriously and just pottered about with a nice local fanbase.

After that fizzled out, I started a covers band and had a fucking briliant time before that went stale as it started to feel like a job - (there are definitly loads of posts about this part of my life) so I've just finished that.

I still do accoustic stuff with Captain Placid and that's fun but it's pretty much all over for me. I am old and crap and have to pass the torch over to young whippersnappers such as yourself and Vipros.

I do have loads of recordings and for a while we owned our own studio...If there is one thing I can say to you guys (as well as wishing you loads of luck) it is record as much as you can - and as well as you can - that way it will stay with you forever.

*sniffs*

*puts on cardy and sits with pipe by the fire*

EDIT: I've just noticed that I haven't really answered your question. I'm a singer primarily, then guitarist / piano player.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:15, Reply)

^ I read all of that in a Doctor Evil voice
when he is reminiscing about his childhood...
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:18, Reply)

*puts little finger to mouth*

"ONE HUNDRED BEEEEELLION DOLLARS!"

"MUUHAAAHAAAAHAAAA!"

etc.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:20, Reply)

morning all
I've only just finished breakfast!!

I really need to start getting up in the morning.

I think I'll make Anzac biscuits today.

@BGB Yesterdays biscuits.

( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:25, Reply)

Gr3tans
I was fired from my first job. At the time, it came as a bit of a shock to me, but in hindsight, it was basically because I had the attitude where I took my employment for granted. Have since learned the error of my ways and learned to take my jobs more seriously blah blah blah, but when I was interviewing for my second job, I outright lied when asked why I had left my previous job. The interviewer looked me straight in the eye and asked if they made me leave or if I left on my own accord. I looked him back and said I left on my own accord. This interview led to a job offer and I stayed for a couple of years until I handed in my resignation. I have no regrets about the interview and my lie did not come back to haunt me.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:26, Reply)

Poof,
I really enjoyed reading that!
A true (I assume...) story from you is a rare treat.

Any chance of a sample of your stuff music?
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:33, Reply)

@Mrs Bin
Ooo! they look lovely.

@Pooflake - never give up the dream.
( girlinthehole, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:35, Reply)

Yep - it's all true...
Actually - All of my posts pretty much up to my 3 month enforced 'B3ta stayaway' used to be true - I was really proud of that.

Since I've been back though, I thought 'fuck it!' I miss out on too much fun by sticking to the truth.

The general rule of thumb with my posts are that if they are remotely believable then they are true - for instance the recent one with my missus / Mother & granny in law puking and passing out at the sight of blood..that one was true.

And the ones about gout and shitting my pants etc...(unfortunatley) they are too.

I hope that it's pretty easy to spot the ones that are a steaming pile of mammoth-cack (i.e everything this week)

I'll see what I can do about sending you some of my songs...remember my original stuff is V. old now so sounds very dated. Be kind :)
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:41, Reply)

Morning everybody.
Does this day find us all in fine mettle? Well except for ancrenne and her phone trouble. I've used O2 for about 15 years now and I've never had any serious problem.

@Vipros I've another instrument you can add to the B3ta Band, The theramin! I'm trying to get my head around playing one atm.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:44, Reply)

Theramins are awesome
our drummer (he's a multi-instrumentalist) has recently got himself a micro Korg synth with a vocoder. good fun
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:46, Reply)

Dated?
*shrugs*
I've given up on 90% of new music anyway.

And you're forgetting that I write my own songs... The problem being that I play bass, I'm writing for guitar, so none of our stuff is anything other than chord patterns *cries*
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:50, Reply)

Mornin' HDL
Theramins are indeed awesome. As for the b3ta band, my contribution is the human beatbox (but I've not practiced it in aaaaaaaaages).

Vipros: That sounds like a cool synth!
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:51, Reply)

On one of the Bill Bailey DVDs
In the extras somewhere some guy has made a theremin in a gnome casing.

Someone has just driven past my window with Whitesnake blarring out. *rocks out*
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:51, Reply)

Spakka
it is indeed

it's one of these

unfortunately I can't really do much with a synth; I can only play guitar, so it was a bit wasted on me!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:54, Reply)

Bass is the most fun instrument to play by miles...

Well, I say that...If I could play the drums I might prefer them..but I can't, my drum recording sessions were painful.

Singing is as-dull-as shit...and no amount of 'getting all the glory', and 'not having to carry shitloads of heavy gear around' makes up for that.

I really must start writing songs again...I'm quite a dab-hand at Adobe Audition / midi / Cubase etc.

If it carries on like this, the most famous song I'll take to the grave will be 'Bernard'...and nobody deserves that.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 11:55, Reply)

@Vipros
That looks like a cool synth.

Unfortunately, I'm not much of a musician but I keep coming up with ideas for making mash-ups.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:01, Reply)

Bass is a lot of fun
I'm a singer too, I just do both at the same time.
Badly :p
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:09, Reply)

Cool
That is indeed a cool synth.

I'm also learning to play the Bass as well, but that's going slowly as I'm very lazy.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:17, Reply)

Herr Doktor
What kinda stuff are you teaching yourself?

I'd recommend learning Pixies songs as a good starting point. Debaser in particular.
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:19, Reply)

^^a 'very lazy' bass player eh?^^
What are the odds?

Sounds like you'll do fine.

@Kaol - what 'type' of Bassist are you? - The proper 'old school' introverted type who turn their back on the crowd and move their neck like a pigeon? or the new type who think they're as important as everybody else and leap about like a rabbit on dextrosol?

Brilliant as he is...Flea has a lot to answer for
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:21, Reply)

@Kaol
I'll give that a try, as what I have is too boring. It's a lot of books bought by family and others.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:25, Reply)

Poof
I'm the "Oh God I've gotta sing this song and play it... Yeah... Chorus... Different bit of bass... Next verse... Change back bass to verse bit... Shit, forgot the words... It's ok, I'll sing the first verse again" type.

If I wasn't singing, I'd be the "Standing still, looking at the floor" type.

Herr Doktor, can you play tabs?
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:28, Reply)

fucking cuntsocks
I can't make the bash on Saturday, not amused would be putting it very mildly
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:29, Reply)

^
Boo! Hiss!
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:37, Reply)

I can
play tabs Kaol, just very slowly.
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:44, Reply)

@Halfy...

Anything we can do? Just let me know who needs to be discreetly 'taken care of'...

I can also provide alibis and can make plausible excuses at the drop of a hat.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 12:45, Reply)

Herr Doktor
I'll have a chat about bass-stuff with you on Saturday!

Woo, lunchtime!
*runs to pub*
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:01, Reply)

I was listening to their
Rime of the ancient mariner a few minutes ago

should be on the national curriculum
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:01, Reply)

A triple
whammy of work, house viewing and nephew sitting :(

sorry all, am booking work off for the beer fest though, am not missing two in a row, that would be rude
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:01, Reply)

OK Kaol
Just make sur I'm sober at the time or I may forget everything!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:03, Reply)

@ancrenne
are you guys camping or hotelling for the beerfest?

really? gosh, feel a little honoured and a bit embarrassed thanks
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:07, Reply)

I saw them in Denmark
(same day as metallica)

they were awesome.

we were strolling towards the main stage when rumbling from the speakers came "whoa to you oh earth and sea, for the devil sends the beast with wrath...."

sent shivers up and down my spine
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:08, Reply)

I saw
maiden and anthrax at Wembley arena many years ago, was tragic but funny at the same time, and not a bad gig really.

let me think, it was the persistance of time album from thrax so . . . 93, 94?
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:10, Reply)

I wasn't too impressed
when I saw Metallica live at Reading but they played a lot of shit new stuff from what I remember... I was very very drunk though
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:11, Reply)

ahem
never the same after Cliff died imho, saw them on the justice for all tour and that rocked.

Pop will eat itself still the best gig ever, at Coventry uni
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:14, Reply)

I saw metallica
just before they released st anger, and it was a festival, so they only played frantic and st anger off that album, and the rest was basically a best of set.

blew me away. particularly because they looked like they were enjoying themselves so much!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:18, Reply)

Ancrenne
It's only bad if you are drinking alone and as we are all here drink away! As I am at work you better have one for me ;)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:18, Reply)

@Anc
lunchtime drinking alone? tea good, lager bad, spirits is one step from trampdom.

Standing outside a pub at 10.55am waiting for it to open? desperate! (only happened 4 times mind)
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:18, Reply)

I turned up at the Maynard in Crouch End
at just before noon on a Saturday and crashed into the door. Assuming it was stuck, I proceeded to wrench at it - I must have looked like a desperate alcoholic, which I wasn't cos I always have booze at home.

The man had to come out and tell me they weren't open. I stood outside until they were.

Lunchtime drinking. Always OK, whatever the circumstances.
( thealternativefact, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:23, Reply)

Nowt wrong with a lunchtime drink!
We built an Empire on it!

(Not that I do it. I get really sleepy if I have a beer with my lunch...)

EDIT: When I used to be a barman, there would always be a group of 4 old boys who'd be waiting at the door when I opened up on a Saturday.

One weekend, they were already in there. They'd sneaked through the hotel, the cheeky buggers, got themselves drinks and when I arrived said "Oh, there you are. The money's on the side, boy."

Bless 'em.
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:23, Reply)

Ooh my dad bought me some vanilla vodka from bonnie scotland
I may have some on the rocks when I get home :)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:23, Reply)

@DiT
For some reason I read that as "Four year old boys" and thought "What the heck are they doing helping themselves to drinks in a pub?"

*gets eyes checked*
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:32, Reply)

.
@ancrenne
If your back hurts from sleeping in a tent, bring along some padding for underneath the camping-mat. Or alternatively, cover the ground below the tent with straw.

Lunchtime pub trips at work are OK - doubly OK if one of the people you're going drinking with is your boss. However, if I drink more than a pint, I have to think about what I'll be doing in the afternoon beforehand or else it will go slowly.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:43, Reply)

Lunchtime drinking
would be a terrible idea for baz. Last time I did that was the last day of my last job. The remainder of the afternoon was a complete write off spent fantasising about pints of Guinness and looking up pictures on the internet; I mean, look at it, it's beautiful!

lukehoney.typepad.com/the_greasy_spoon/images/2007/12/05/guinness.jpg
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:48, Reply)

^ ^
Ahhhh - beer-pr0n
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:51, Reply)

Ireland vs. Norway
Thank fuck for friendlies - few pints later, anyone?
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:54, Reply)

camping comfort
I go camping as often as possible and the secret to a comfortable bed is this (working from ground up)

soil
grass
groundsheet
additional groundsheet (because my tent is posh)
kingsize airbed
duvet
blanket
sheet
me
duvet

this is a recipe for success.

Edit: baz, that is beautiful. haven't had a guinness in ages...
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:54, Reply)

I come back from lunch and lose track...
*checks above*

@TGB - I saw Metallica at Reading in '96. From what I can remember they were alright, but I was tripping my tits off at the time on some questionable herbal substance.

My favourite gig(s) ever were The Cure at Rock City, Nottingham (a great little place)

I managed to catch them just before they got shit...They were promoting the 'Wish' Album I think, but played requests and did lots of Improv - smart.

My very favourite was Radiohead at the little Wulfrun in Wolverhampton which is like a school hall. It was one of a couple of very small gigs to road test song for 'The Bends' and by jingo it was top-hole.

Worst gig was the Chilis at the Hummingbird in Brum promoting Blood Sugar... It was the last gig before John Frusciante quit for the first time and he was more off his face than I was. Antony also had the flu, and the PA was like a hollowed out baked bean tin filled with angry wasps

Should have been so good....but it sooooo wasn't.

EDIT: @Baz - talking about yourself in the third person ftw!
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:54, Reply)

just posted a "what's your best/worst gig" thread on the off topic board
I've run it up the flagpole, who's going to salute?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 13:59, Reply)

Awww....I've just done mine...

*frowns*

*copies*

*pastes*
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Wed 20 Aug 2008, 14:00, Reply)

Think I saw Metallica at Reading 2003?
Love the Wulfrum saw Incubus there and they played loads of stuff off Science and random stuff with a digerydoo.

Chili's I've seen at Docklands in possibly 2005ish and they were on top form, saw them at the Rico as well actually they were being supported by !!! who were shit.

Best live performance... would probably go to Jimmy Eat World :) But I adore them. That was at reading as well and I randomly met Godhead who were all really lovely down to earth guys. Oh and Roddy Woomble from Idlewild bought me a pint - Top Bloke!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 14:04, Reply)

the airbed is fucking heavy
but then my tent is so big and heavy it has wheels on the bag....

most of my camping is done in conjunction with surf trips, so we always have the car for the boards. makes life much better :-)

after a few days on an airbed you still end up aching a bit!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 14:10, Reply)

Fuck Yes!
Work want me to go do a site visit to London on Friday morning.
It'll take a few hours... Er... So they agreed there's no point me coming back to the office if I'm going to London that night anyway...

So, I have to do about 3 hours work on Friday, and they're paying for what is essentially my train ticket to the bash!
( Cawl, Wed 20 Aug 2008, 15:07, Reply)