Saturday, August 30, 2008

yesterday's Happiness Experiment entry


fighting for the integrity of a creative project (Sexperience)

finding the package had arrived after all containing the Stones' first record England's Newest Hitmakers (Japanese import in class packaging via Berwick Street)

Making some more Paper Scissors Rock of Ages

Track of the Day


Not Fade Away - The Rolling Stones from England's Newest Hit Makers

Just watched Stephen Woolley's 'Stoned' - not so immaculate - but Brian Jones' musical talent is compelling

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Sardines on toast



Working from home



Reading Paul Carr's new book Bringing Nothing to the Party - the true confessions of a new media whore (plopped on the doormat from Paul's publishers Orion while I was on hols - good remedy to the back-to-skool blues)

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Track of the Day


Asa - Jailer (totally into this one at the moment, heard it on French radio - Nigerian singer, I gather, recorded in Paris)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Recent Happiness Experiment entries

Tues 19th:

Tapas and rioja (with Agustin and Arithelli in Santander)

An afternoon promenade from Sandineras along the Santander sea front

Watching the olympics late at night in the hotel basement with N

Wed 20th:

Fancy tapas in San Sebastian old town

A farewell beach morning with Agustin, Arithelli, Gonzalo and family - N boogie-boarding like there's no tomorrow (he gave the board to Gonzalo)

Listening to George Benson & Al Jarreau while driving along the coast road from Santander in the sunshine and summer breeze

Monday, August 18, 2008

Landes of plenty - recent Happiness Experiment entries

Monday 18th:

Two butterflies gambolling along the riverside path - a perfect Wind in the Willows walk along the Boudigau near Ondres

A cool dip after a hot walk - azure water, rustling palms

Reading Ice Cold in Alex after the cool dip

Sunday 17th:

A long walk through the pine forest along sandy paths

Watching the tide rise on Ondres Plage

Siesta

Saturday 16th:

Catching a glimpse of GB's Olympic medal haul from the terrace of a cafe in Bayonne - one of the cycling golds on Super Saturday which brought us to No. 3 on the medal table

Watching healthcarers at work in Hopital St Leon in Bayonne

Buying bandes desinees in a Bayonne side street - and a rugby ball for N next door

Friday 15th:

Watching the Olympics at the beach cafe at Plage de Digue

Planting seeds with Dylan on the drift-wood beach at Plage de Digue

Getting soaked with rain in shorts - at Plage de Digue

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Revelling in Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union

Listening to The Secret Garden book recording in the car to St Jean de Luz - D's joy in it

N taking my hand leaving the restaurant at St Jean de Luz - thought he'd have stopped that by 12 but he still does it which says a lot about his inner beauty

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Cycling along a tranquil river (like in that Henri Bosco book I never finished)

The beach at La Pointe - the distant waves and shore shrouded in silver-white spray

Cycling home with the Enfants Terribles after a 20km ride - amazing energy for such little legs

Beer Ritz - yesterday's Happiness Experiment entry

Reading the paper and my Michael Chabon novel under a tree on a rock overlooking a cove in Biarritz

Watching pelota with the Enfants Terribles in Ondres

Watching the Olympics en famille in a cafe in Biarritz - with diabolas and vin rose

Monday's Happiness Experiment entry

The cloisters of Bayonne cathedral

Spiced ice-cream

A quiet moment at the war memorial in Bayonne

Creative Accounting #331

Earth Wind and Fire - Doobie Brothers = Steely Dan

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Wave Hallo - Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Swimming at la plage de la digue in Tarnos, what seems like a locals' beach, by the mouth of the river

Jogging among the pine trees along sandy paths

Buying fruit and veg with the Enfants Terribles at the market in Ondres (get the L out of Londres and you end up in Ondres)

Landing in Les Landes - yesterday's Happiness Experiment entry

Listening to Beer Ritz, the compilation I made in the wee small hours for our holiday in Les Landes

Seeing the pine trees and sandy ground known to me only through Therese Desqueyroux

Snoozing by the evening pool

Track of the Day

Breezin' - Al Jarreau & George Benson (perfect for the coast of Les Landes)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

One World, One Nightmare

I dreamt I saw thousands of people moving in unison in circles. I dreamt they were so numerous that the incredible speactacle looked as ultimately unconvincing as CGI. I dreamt I saw children singing songs so simple (so not made up by children) they were bland and charmless - We plant trees, we sow seeds, the land turns green. The air turns brown. We wear masks. I dreamt I saw teenage girls swaying for hour after hour as country after country filed past, filming the filmers on their made in China handycams. Getting tired? Keep swaying happily girls or it's the labour camp for you. Meanwhile back in the labour camp, some months earlier: OK, lads, here's the choice - break rocks or learn this little dance. I dreamt I saw some other lads goose-stepping in black boots. Tanks filing past, missile launchers, fly-bys. One world, one dream. One tank, one student. Meanwhile, some miles away: 150 tanks roll into Georgia. Georgian army 11,320 - Russian army 395,000. Georgian population 4.63m - Russian population 140.7m (though due to halve by 2050). Georgian military expenditure $380m - Russian military expenditure $59,100m. How much did this spectacle cost? How much does China spend on education per year? I dreamt I saw no flag from Tibet. I dreamt I saw unison not unity. I dreamt I saw bird cages in a bird's nest. People moving in small circles. I dreamt of the Mordillo cartoon I cut out as a kid. "We're all different!" shout out the identical looking mass of people. "I'm not!" shouts out one of them. One party, one line. I dreamt I saw something which sub-consciously summarised what others fear.

In 2012 to follow these people making a spectacle of themselves, partying to the tune of the Party, London must be itself, tune in to its idiocyncratic, eccentric, spirited creativity (one thing that cannot be manufactured); its rich mix of cultures and peoples; its unique, particular, genuine handmade in Britain talent; its individual dreams which thread the tapestry of its Jerusalem spirit.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Embarrassing Bodies

Today's Happiness Experiment entry (thurs)

Walking through St James's Park at dusk - end of a summer's day vibe

Watching the Embarrassing Bodies awards dvd

Meeting a female vicar and a sex writer coming out of Paul Carr's book launch

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Seeing my little bro (after too long)

A gift of Moo stickers from Noam

An evening cinema outting with the the Enfants Terribles to see the new Mummy film on its first day of release (we all enjoyed watching the first one in Dublin last weekend)

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

I like this game

Top 5 famous one word lines from the movies



Here's my suggestion:
“Shiiiittttt!!!!!!!” from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when Butch and Sundance jump over the cliff down in to the river to escape the posse

And here's my first Five List:

Top 5 Firsts (as this is my first Five list)





Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Fish and chips and the paper at Poseidon

Dusk in the garden (with a coffee) - light breeze, distant train

Starting to read 'Ice Cold in Alex'

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Jogging along the near pier

Contemplating Capt. James' grave in the shadow of Carlingford mountain - 1.1.11 - cemetery sunday

Hanging with Des, Orla, Elizabeth, Sean and Bronagh in Linn Beag - watching the Gaelic football and drinking tea

Son of a Beach - yesterday's Happiness Experiment entry

Eating blackberries behind the dunes in Rush, Co. Dublin

Watching movies with the the Enfants Terribles (Bridget Jones' Diary [Carlingford, Bernadette's], The Mummy [Rush, Elizabeth's])

Jogging along the beach in Rush opposite Lambey Island - caught in a rain shower, watching birds flying low over the sea, lying on the strand listening to the sea

Track of the Day (yesterday)

Look Up by Zero 7 (jogging through the dunes in Rush, Co. Dublin)

Friday, August 01, 2008

Formula for now - yesterday's Happiness Experiment entry

Initial meeting with Hans Ulrich Oberist of the Serpentine Gallery about Formulas for Now project (on back terrace at Channel 4 in bright sunlight)

Dinner at BAFTA to celebrate nominations with Alfie Dennen and his mum and my mum

Evening walk through St James's Park and St James's in light summer rain

Today's Happiness Experiment entry

Heading for Dublin with the the Enfants Terribles

Visiting artist Tom Phillips' studio in Peckham with Ma

Clearing the name 'Sexperience' for my next project - with Mint Digital and Cheetah TV