Speakeasy

Just like a speakeasy, from the front of the bar you wouldn't know anything was going on but open the back door and there is the steady thump of the bass and wail of hot brass.

TJ took a break from his rigorous international touring schedule to jam with some of the most exciting young musicians in the north. Typically humble, he excused the bands sloppiness as it was the first time they have played as a unit; you wouldn't have known. A chance meeting landed Danny on fiddle, an unexpected but perfect cross-pollination. Just another quiet Wednesday in small town Britain.

Ready

Time spent in a warm climate is good for the soul especially for an Englishman getting ready for winter. Don't get me wrong; I love winter, I just don't like the slow deterioration of the climate to get there.

An excellent week was spent in Sardinia exploring the coast by kayak and snorkel, the mountains on foot and by bike and the culture by taste and smell while the dark and damp days creep nearer the biting cold I enjoy. Roll on winter, I'm ready for you now.

Grappa

The sort of drink you drink when you're very drunk.

Art...

... or road sign?

Looks just like a Lichtenstein to me.

Sardegna

Ciao baby.

Lush

It's easy to be a critic and I think if, like me, you've never built a bike from the ground up you should keep your opinion to yourself. So was it at Stormin The Castles custom bike show. In truth I never expect a great deal and over the years I've been pleasantly surprised. Mostly with tidy classics or understated choppers.

This year I perused a new crop of bikes and, at first, wasn't much taken with any of them. A race replica 750/4 was my first choice, a classic Chinese bike that looked like it had a copy of a Harley XA engine caught my eye, a brightly coloured chopper lured me in but eventually disappointed, chopped down race bikes left me a bit cold, and a custom paint job made me down-right angry. (The only other motorcycle that has ever actually made me angry was the one featured on a picture thread of the Jockey Journal where the ape-hangers go all the way up just to come straight back down leaving the rider in just about factory standard riding position. Still to this day I can't look at that picture without laughing at myself because my piss is starting to boil.)

And then I stumbled upon Urban Surfer. At first glance it was right and the more I looked at it the more right it got. Once I'd given it a good look over I turned to the next bike and then turned right back. This bike was lush! Someone at this rally has a very good eye indeed. I used to say to Johnny that some bikes were built in too small a shed; so you couldn't really stand back and take a look at the overall bike. This bike had the sweet scent of time and space about it. Time and space well spent gathering, arranging and then standing back to ponder. I was gonna shake this man by the hand if I met him. Imagine my surprise when I find myself shaking the hand of a man I already have the pleasure of knowing- Spindle. I shook it twice. Once to say hello, and once to congratulate him on winning best custom. Nice work mate. He duly praised the ever talented Boneshakers Benny and Zip for making his vision come to life.

Other things to report: I finally met a man who truly did not look like he gave a fuck, our favourite music tent is no longer a closely guarded secret, and Evel Kinevel once again crashed. Always a blast.
Spindle

Identity parade

Yes, I like Stone Temple Pilots. No, this is not their merchandise. Yes, it is the engine treatment product. No, I don't actually use it.

It's been a long time since I retired a t-shirt. That's how long it takes. I've just had a massive t-shirt folding session to get them off the floor and came across this old favourite... again. Every time we meet I know I will never wear it again. It's completely yellow and not in a good way. Looks really grimy. Be brave fella, take it out to the shed and consign it to the t-shirt graveyard.