Got back in the circle of work today. Did a shoot with Fair To Midland, nice guys who were up for the idea. Thanks to Anna their manager who did a great job of photographer assistant. Had a relaxing afternoon and even a call from Benn!! A possible future visit in the works...

Hooked up with Scoot at the Angelic in Islington. A few drinks and a nice pub dinner, then we made our way over to the Academy to see Fair To Midland play. Probably one of the more intense bands I've seen on stage in a while... Actually completely insane! Finished off the night with a round of shooters and then a stumbly train ride back to the Southeast.

I still stand by,

my early comment about England! If there was an Olympic sport that included vandalism this country would sweep it! But this effort is fantastic. Who would go to the trouble and make see through stickers with an extra station on them?? For the record the entire carriage was covered with them in the same place...

An alien life form sneaked in the back of this shot of Fishy while on the Palace Pier this evening... Never seen anyone trying to be famous and looking for public attention like that before!!

More

fun today. Went for a nice lunch with Kevin, Fishy, and Scarlet at English's. Expensive fish and chips but done very well. Played a bit of Wii and then hit the Komedia for an evening of comedy. Headliner Terry Alderton brought the house down with some of the craziest stand-up I've seen in a while!! Must try and do a bit of work tomorrow...

Absolutely

Lazy! Haven't had a day like today in ages... Watched about 3 hours of a documentary on WW II A Warning From History and then Life Is Beautiful which is easily the best holocaust movie I've ever seen!!! On a lighter note a pic of the sugar cane juice maker in Egypt...

P-shop in the house... Caught up on loads of things, one of which updating this blog which had been neglected since turning 30! A shot from the hellogoodbye shoot done about a month ago.

Went through some old photos today and came across this classic clip!! I love the fact you can see the umbrella attached to my camera bag!

A day of catch up on the computer. Loads of fun as I really haven't put in one for a while. Here's a shot from the Biffy shoot, a great show yesterday evening!

Came into town to see Biffy Clyro at the Roundhouse. A fantastic show and it seemed like the entire K! posse was there. Nice to see everyone and at the end of the show I got my first piece of bootleg merch from a crook on the street which was some giant Biffy poster they took from Kerrang! After some negotiating he gave it to me for free...

Before the gig stopped by a gallery for a show that had some of the worst photography I had seen in ages. A load of really bad student snap shots apart from Ilan's work which was the reason I went. On the way back to the train I took this masterpiece that could have rivaled the work in there!! Yes the piss taking continues...

Another sleepless evening and flew back to Heathrow the longest way possible through Italy. Had to make the best of it even if it included laughing at people trying to use the toilet 10 minutes before landing!

Went to stand-up with Stephen Grant who was trying out new material at a very small theatre, it was hilarious just wish the crowd had not been so quiet and starey! Since I've put up nothing but clowning around shots of Egypt here's a serious one...

Got up nice an early to go out to the Pyramids again... Unfortunately the car we booked was no where to be seen. Said goodbye to Naomi, and Chad! Chad! Chad! (on their way back to jolly old) and hopped into a local cab sorted by Sherif (our first tour guide) who happened to be at the hotel.

The cab driver who took us knew no English so we did the point and nod method which worked out quite well. Got more hassle from the camel riders but learned a bit of Arabic from Chad! Chad! Chad! which was a great camel ride repellent!! Paid off the tourism police where needed and made it back to the hotel no problem.

Kicked up a fuss about the car situation and eventually got given a van, a driver, and our own guide (Mohamed). Wanted to be shown the Egypt that isn't part of the "On The Go" tour and Mohamed was great, taking us to a sugar cane juice bar, a mosque, he showed us parts of Cairo that would have otherwise gone unnoticed (the underground system for one). Went to a massive local market which seemed to be selling an extraordinary amount of underwear (perhaps they suffer like the tourists).

Discovered even the Egyptians like to rock out which is apparent by this car! (pictured) Had a wander around the Museum that was declined in an unwashed state yesterday and it was nice to do at our own speed. For an extra 10 pounds you could see the mummies and it was quite surreal to see how preserved they were. Modern Cairo was just as interesting as the ancient one with all the different things going on. Donkey drawn carts and people trying to make the next meal anyway possible. Headed back to the hotel passed out for a bit then got ready and off to the airport.

Arrived back to Cairo around 8am and upon leaving the station came across probably not the best name for an Egyptian tour group. (pictured) Declined the guided tour around the museum as they wanted us to go unwashed after a long train ride!

Met the group in the lobby for a trip to the perfume "museum" but this time we caved (so did everyone else!!) as the flower oil is the base that is sold to all the major perfumeries. We all piled in the van smelling of christ knows what and drove across town to the Khan El Khalili market. For a change I got some attention at the market from some woman grabbing my leg. Guess she dug the mixture of 8 flowers that makes CK's Eternity for men.

On our way out after the usual camel offers got a new one of only a few but for just an hour of Fishy's time. So we told her to meet us at the hotel!! Had a nice mellow evening of Chad! Chad! Chad!, Naomi, Jessica (US soldier), Little Mohammed, drinking ourselves silly and saving the world. The conversation with Mohammed was amazing as he basically explained the entire Egyptian culture and way of life.

Chad! Chad! Chad!

Up super early for the Balloon ride. Felt like poopy doodles until we took off. Was nice to see everything from a different perspective. The only negative was going over the local village houses and waking up the people who were sleeping on their rooftops.

Met up with rest of the tour at the Valley of the Kings... Middle of the desert too hot and tombs of sweaty fun. Got fed up after the first few and then sat in the shade which was basically a shack built from straw where loads of really white tourists sat. (Where's your sunscreen now?)

After that it was the usual "On The Go" stop at a "museum" so the guide can make a little extra cash. We refused to get off the bus so upon being locked in I played with the guide's beloved flag and screamed on the bus mic!

Dragged myself around a few more sites, (Valley Of The Queens, yes I was the childish one that laughed at the name Queen Tyti) bargained the water down to the real price, followed around a complaining Brummie at the Temple of Karnak, and could have off loaded the Fish for a million more camels.

Caught the night train back to Cairo which was more fun as we met the nicest couple from Oz (living in London) Naomi and Chad! Chad! Chad! Happy times in the James Bondesque train bar which I think we emptied after the "oh just one more" game...

50 million camels can't be wrong!

Woke up early to the train steward offering the breakfast of three types of bread. Then went to our lovely hotel in Luxor where we crashed out until the afternoon. Woke up and went for a walk to see that we hadn't been invited by the 3 exciting couples to lunch. (Bothered? No!)

The afternoon we ventured out for a walk that was nothing but men trying to get us to take the horse drawn cart ride. In the 40C heat the smell was anything but nice. Had to laugh when the top offer for the Fish came in at 50 million camels. Walked for quite a while but didn't realize if we had walked 2 minutes more we would have come across the Luxor Temple...

Did the optional tour/meal with the group this evening to the Luxor Temple which was the most amazing thing I had seen so far. Too bad the tour guide "Big Mo" was rushing us through. I gave up and just took pics at the end as the light was not to be missed. After getting whipped in the face on the "shitty" horse ride it was over to the dinner which didn't go down well so off to bed early!! Must be up very early for the balloon ride tomorrow and I still don't know what to do with all these camels...

A very nice wake-up call of 4:30 greeted us as we went out for a morning camel ride which promised sunrise over the pyramids of Giza. It was more of a smelly walk with a camel ready to bite my leg off for an hour and a half! Once we finally arrived we were lucky enough to see the Pyramids in the North and the sunrise in the East!?!? Took a few cheesy photos (camel surfing included) and then worried about my leg back to the stables, should have gone side saddle!

Joined up with the three couples of excitement and went for our first tour which was the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Under time constraints by the tour guide Sherif we ripped through the site probably so we wouldn't be taken away by any of the locals who wouldn't let up on offering camel rides. It was amazing to see it all but was a bit rushed.

Next stop was a Papyrus "Museum" which where the guides take you to buy the local wares so they get a kick back. After a demo Fishy was guilted into buying the product which we later joked about giving to the guide as a tip.

Had a quick snack called Koshary which was basically Egyptian pot noodle it was across Cairo to the necropolis of Saqqara. After being briefly cursed by the Egyptian gods my camera stopped working but once I returned the sacred treasures all was good. A few more notes of hilarity at this site included the angriest face came from one of the couples of excitement as our tour guide had a quick chat on his mobile, a plastic bag tornado, and many backhanded exchanges of money between locals, and our guide with the Tourism police...

Once we returned to the bus a new member joined us which was a wasp about the size of an ipod. I loved how the bus driver stopped and beat it with a brochure which had no effect other than giving it tour information. He opened the back door and it flew away and to be honest we really wouldn't have minded joining it!

Stopped off quickly at a hotel to freshen up which was fun as the shower didn't work and it took 6 guys to have a look and then fill the water tank upstairs. Made our way across Cairo to the overnight train going to Luxor. (Safety first as you can see in the picture) The sleeper cabin was great as we sang ourselves to sleep with the piped music which had obviously been taped off a radio in the late eighties...

Was up way too early well didn't even sleep as the Fish and I caught a bus up to Heathrow to get on a plane over to Egypt.

Arrived in the afternoon to the wonderful heat. Met the "On The Go" tour group which was three other couples who seemed a bit reserved.

Did the dinner cruise thing in the evening which was a dignity losing experience, of belly dancing and mysterious food but the midget Whirling Dervish made up for it at the end. (pictured) Off to the pyramids tomorrow and I can't wait!!

Preparing for some

holiday! Off to Egypt tomorrow, well early morning in a few hours. Not sure what the internet situation is going to be like there so posts may be minimal!

First day of my

30's! Brought in style with a little karaoke... The rest was a little hazy although I do remember Simon, John, and Matt Hughes doing well on the mic. The "Pirate" Sharrock had some good sound effects, and Bezer and I can be seen here destroying Bon Jovi. But hey that's why we brought along Carly and Jo to sing well... Carly and Fishy you rock for sorting out the brothel looking location!

Last day of my

20's! What better way to spend it then with a load of friends!! Had a few troubles getting some of the crew into the Cancer Bats, Bronx show so we ended up at the Royal George pub instead. Once we were royally drunk I was informed we were doing karaoke in Leicester Square. Even got the 2 minutes to midnight call from Larissa which was great.

Slept well on the bus. The driving just lulls you to sleep! Woke up under a Tescos in Earls Court and left fairly early to drop off the gear. Met up with the Bronx again at the Imperial War Museum which was amazing. Spent 3 hours there and I can't wait to go back. Missed so many things but it was well worth it. Was crazy some of the things that were in there. From massive missiles, to Nazi uniforms, even had a German plane that was shot down over Scotland on a failed peace mission.

Up early and off to Manchester. Went up to do an on the road feature with the Bronx. Terry Bezer "The Geezer" and I took the train and met up with the band at the Academy 2. Nothing but loads of fun all day, a very fun band to photograph especially being that it was the moustache tour!

Had a chat to the Cancer Bats who were opening up the show. Gig was great and afterwards it was over to the band's Manc local Big Hands where everyone danced the night away. Onto the bus we started the epic tale of three brothers in the movie Blood In Blood Out which I ended up passing out to. Dragged myself over to the lovely bunk on the bus that was freshly made and passed out!

In this week's issue a shot of Bert from the Used. More than 3 songs and a little paitence is the key!!

Spent the day.

At the computer... Trying to sort so many different things. Where does one begin?!? Need to finish as much as possible before the little trip to Manchester on Thursday!

A pic of WiL from Aiden in tomorrow's Kerrang! Love it when bands show up on time and are ready to have their photo taken. WiL is definitely one of the best for that...

A random,

May day holiday I've never heard of. They should spread them around a bit more over here because after the one at the end of May there isn't another one until end of August. It's all good though as Canadian friends will be in town for July 1st!

A funny shot from Toronto of the Cancer Bats. Will probably see them later this week as they are opening for the Bronx.

G-Ma visit...

Love how even first class is held together with wood. Went into Shoreham today to visit the G-Ma even Carly came down so it was alright. Headed over to Brighton afterwards for a round of Cranium and some Wii with Carly "the sleeper", Simon "the putter", Fishy "master bowler", Scarlet "best guesser", and Kevin "top sculptor" was very fun even after our first choice of comedy was sold out!

Brighton's marina is a bit shit!! But there will be a part 2 to this photo soon...

Went up to Camden Market today to look for a few things. Couldn't find anything and then got soaked head to toe, thanks to a garbage truck driving over a 2L plastic bottle filled with Christ knows what! The people sitting outside the pub had a good laugh but really that's all you can do when that happens to someone.

Went for a drink with the crew after work at the K! local. Pirate Sharrock came down as we figured if a fish is threatening to do something we would make her follow her dreams of becoming a Mermaid...

A local place from yesterday, will try and get more up soon.

Gilbert Aerobie George

Headed into London this afternoon to meet up with the Pirate Sharrock. We went to the Gilbert and George exhibition at the Tate as it closes in a few days. Was really good but it was funny how you could tell when they changed their medium to digital as everything looked so sharp!

A quick sandwich in little Italy and over to Hyde Park for a run around with the Aerobie... Eventually ended up having a go in traffic! (picture) Got back in good time on the fast train and watched Pan's Labyrinth which was a great film. So much better than the last few films I've seen of late.

Staring out the window!

A fun filled day at the computer... Did a bit of starting out the window and waving to the magpies!

Lovely Larissa has informed me that she is coming for a few weeks in late June and early July. Should be loads of fun again as New Years was a blast!!

Fun quick road trip!

Chilled out most of the morning and then hopped in a car with Phoebe "the teaser", Emma "the blusher", and Emma J "I ♥ Biffy" to Nottingham. We went up to do a live review of the Used at the Rock City. It all kicked off with an entertaining car ride including a ravenous Phoebe, and a needing to go pee driver for 60 miles Em.

Got into town and made a b-line for a very nice curry house where the staff kept trying to give flowers to the three ladies. Wandered over to the venue where Emma blushed a few times at the hand of Phoebe. After getting locked in the venue showed Phoebe the true use of an AAA laminate and we were off! Did shots of all the opening bands the Blackout and Madina Lake who were both entertaining. (Madina Lake the high fliers pictured here) The Used finished off the night very nicely. A very entertaining evening with the bands and company!