Nature or Nurture?

Within the World of the Jack Russells, I am interested to see what will happen with Daisy's character. Her role model is an AlphaMale, super cunning pooch called Dexter. But she seems predominantly fun loving and not concerned with protecting the 'pack'. Until this morning.

After taking Dexter for a walk, I returned home, put my key in the door and a little bark greeted me at the top of the stairs. I am convinced she has learnt this from Dexter who consistantly feels the need to protect the pack from passing shadows at the door, and his evil nemesis the 'Postman' (who is actually a charming artist called Joseph Dunmore, and rather tolerant of Dexter's nonsense).

Daisy - house protector! (little woof!).

Daisy has broken through

Daisy has been working her magic on Dexter. Dexter hasn't been totally convinced of Daisy, they play together, but he still looks at me asking 'why?.

It's taken a week, but they have gone from this...

To this...

Daisy Hurricane

Progress is going good in the Land of Jack Russells. The first day, Daisy could
climb 4 stairs. 2nd day she climbed all the stairs. (Below - Here she is at the top of the garden). Now she can throw herself down all the stairs, and fly off the sofa's arms (falling with style). Hurricane Daisy!!!

Say hello to.........Daisy

Welcome a new addition to the family - it's her first photo session (I'm sure of many!).

Darling Miss Dita!

Look who I bumped into! Very polite and charming lady.

Isn't it time for another cute pic

The Mighty Booooooshhh!

Chk a chk ahhh!

How much do I love the Boosh! Vince Noir rock on!

Most bands get slower as they get older. Not the Ramones.

A Scientific Examination of the Ramones' Diminishing Song Length Over a Specified Time Period.
By Jim Peoples (www.ramonesonline.com)

---

Most bands get slower as they get older. Not the Ramones.

Over the years, they played faster and faster, and the songs got shorter and shorter. But faster is not always better. Take, for example, the song "Do You Wanna Dance?" on the album Greatest Hits Live. It is played so fast that you get the feeling it could fall apart at any time, and Joey can't even sing the words fast enough. Much faster and Johnny's pick would have melted.

Below is an example of how their songs have changed over the years as documented by their live albums.

Song	Studio Version	It's Alive 1978	Loco Live 1992	Greatest Hits Live 1996	We're Outta Here 1997
Blitzkrieg Bop	2:12	1:56	1:36	1:37	1:36
Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?	3:42	-----	3:00	3:00	3:00
I Wanna Be Sedated	2:29	-----	2:07	2:07	2:04
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker	2:45	2:15	1:46	1:46	1:46
Rockaway Beach	2:06	1:57	1:31	1:31	1:32
Do You Wanna Dance?	1:55	1:40	-----	1:27	1:28
We're A Happy Family	2:31	2:02	-----	1:28	1:28

View from an Allotment

Yes... the sun is out, it maybe freezing but the allotment is calling.

Despite evil eyes from one of the fellow allotmenteers, I dug to my hearts content.

Just thought I 'd share the view from my allotment with you. Wish me luck, as I spend another year trying to keep the allotment, and therefore get my 'plot with a view'.

The Strokes hit Bristol

The Strokes come to town! A blast of New York guitar punk rock hits the Colston Hall, where hopefully they will be added with the other greats on the wall.

With all that Gary Numan lighting and retro rock, I was transported back in time to my younger days. The guitarist Albert Hammond Jr (he with the poodle fro) was a complete dude wearing a suit John Cooper Clarke would have been proud of.

The sound was supreme, and even though I was sat next to a girl and her mother on one side, and two 15 year olds boys on the other, up in the gods of the Colston Hall – it was thoroughly worth going to.

Ymmm

Love from James

James Lavelle (UNKLE) made his 2nd DJ appearance in Bristol this year at the Tube last night. As anyone who knows me, knows I love UNKLE vinyl and found this opportunity to ask him to sign one of his pointman toys.

I met him briefly at a vinyl toy exhibition in Paris a couple of years back, only to be thwarted by a shonky pen. Upon meeting him on this occasion, I asked him (in a packed out club night) if he would be doing anymore toys, his answer was, I only did it as a favour for 'D' (Rob 3D from Massive Attack). I think a case of cross wires.

I was quite touched he wrote 'love from', maybe he'd been writing a lot of Christmas cards that evening.

Eh Eh Ehhhh!

I got a little too close to one of my favourites characters at the Little Britain gig on the weekend.
We were in the front row, and experienced Andy (of Lou and Andy) stealing someones box of malteser, and various snogging to members off the front row.


Also, as part of the weekend I experenced Antony & The Johnsons, who were quite something. Antony is extraordinarily funny - which I didn't expect, and quite endearing - he brought his little satchel on stage with him, and then took it with him when he left.

And finally, I went to the opening night of John Stapleton's (Blowpop) 'Tube', (which is the old Silent Peach, the Tube, Nocturne, and many other dingy student nightclubs). My memory of it being small was still accurate. But it has been decked out gorgeously in tones of deep red, and black leather. The music was excellent that night, and we were treated to DJ Derek in all his greatness. My treat was being next to Beth Gibbons (Miss Portishead) on the guestlist. Unfortunately I didn't see her, but I'm sure she turned up later.

Dragons in the house

I love a good art trail, and Totterdown was certain one.



Everything from knitted bricks, to inkjet printed japanese papers, perspex jewellry to a lady sprayed in silver mixing cocktails in her lounge. I was pleasantly surprised by all I saw, and forever wonder why artists want complete strangers tramping around their house - privately casting judgement on the state of their house and then looking at their artwork.

Look at my pumpkins!

Happy Halloween!

A bit late, I know. But look at my bumper crop - very proud allotmenteer am I.

Art is an anagram of RAT!

What a joy and an experience. Banksy's new exhibition in London 'Crude Oils' in Notting Hill.

Rats everywhere, cute smelly creatures. They even had their own minder.

Surfer DudeDog

Hollywood beckons!

Dxtr Opie

Dee Ohh Double Gee!

Dexter is the d-o-g-g!

Surfing down at Croyde this weekend.

Happy Birthdays in Chocolate in Cornwall

I had a great birthday in Cornwall, covered it in chocolate and watched the surfer dudes do their stuff.

Went to a cute eaterie in Padstow called the 'R Bar' and as a surprise to me they wished me a Happy Birthday with chocolate - they know me sooo well. Ymmm. Incidentally, the pudding is Baileys brulee.