Nice one, cheers

I just had one of the best weekends I've had since arriving in London. Very unexpected as I had expected to be feeling like my right arm missing with Carmel currently in Italy!! (Carm's it would have been 100%, without a doubt, the best if you were here!).

One of the biggest driving forces to get me over to this city was the music. Sam Toucan follows his nose, I follow my ears. Indie & drum and bass have been two of my biggest passions ever and the majority of what I really love in each was born right here.

My favourite drum and bass label - Hospital Records - hold monthly nights all over England + Wales called 'Hospitality'. In London they generally alternate the nights between Herbal in Shoreditch (about a 25 minute walk from my house!) and Heaven in Charing Cross. I had stupidly been holding out to attend one of these nights until my future husband - High Contrast - was playing at one, and then when he did I was sick and couldn't go!

So I bit the bullet and headed off to Herbal on Friday night, check out the line up/ price etc - some of you will be incredibly jealous I'm sure!

Fri, 21st July 06 - Hospitality

Line Up
Downstairs
London Elektricity
Danny Byrd
Sparfunk
Tomahawk
MC Wrec
Upstairs
Zac Vibes
Chris Goss
From: 9:00 pm/
Door: £5 B4 10pm - £8 After

Danced my toosh off - Danny Byrd rocked the house - had a little chat to my good mate Tony Coleman (London Elek - the man responsible for this amazing label) and we somehow swindled our way into the private party room upstairs for a while (think that was Pointi's good work - but she wouldn't remember!!!!!). It felt so amazing to actually be living out one of my dreams. Surpassed all expectations. And the fact I got to share it with such amazing friends made it all the more special. To quote the beloved High Contrast 'music is my life'.

Needless to say we felt a bit under the weather on Saturday - but Mother Nature finally came to the party with a little light rain however the mugginess was unbearable. We struggled for a few hours over horrible 'calming' tea (since discovered it was best before Sept 05...I highly doubt it though) before heading out for a walk along the canal near my house and into the first canal-side pub we came across - The Narrow Boat. A few hairs of the dog (oh, that makes me miss Keiser...) later and we felt MUCH better. Well enough to wander to the good old The Baring to tackle a few Magners!! A lovely day of booze, great conversation, smiles and finished off by a game of rude word Scrabble.

Sunday was our lovely friend Jen's birthday. She chose to celebrate by heading to the Greenwich Film Festival for a day of fun and a screening of Ferris Bueller in Greenwich Park - smashing idea if I do say so Jen. After a delay of a few hours (due to everyone being hungover and just plain lazy!) we finally made it to Greenwich via a walk to Highbury, 2 x tubes, 1 x light rail and a significant walk up a hill!

The theme of the day was 80's. Crazy performers dressed up as 80's aerobics nuts, cheerleaders, geeks and football players kept the British entertained for hours. There was a very wrong 'circus' set up and a TeleKinema tent - containing a message I am still yet to figure out... I doubt I will ever care to learn. The event was sponsored by Stella Artois so everyone got stuck into that, but I actually behaved myself.

There was 80's movie soundtracks being mixed all day and played at decent volume levels, the symphany orchestra played a movie medley - lots of fun for the whole family (except it was an 18+ event). The movie didn't start until 9.30 and due to the long journey home a few of us left at this time - pity we didn't get to see Ferris but with a full day of work ahead of me the next day it had to be done.

As it turned out I woke up with almost no voice anyway - always an indication of great weekend!!

Squeakily yours,

Ren xxx