Always in my HOUSE!

Two years on from the runaway success* of John Barry Bingo, we're doing it again. That's right, this evening we'll be getting very excited about Always in my HOUSE!** - The Pet Shop Boys concert lottery game.

Following the procedures established almost exactly two years ago, a selection from PSB's perfect pop catalogue was prepared:


and the draw was made to produce two game cards. Here's mine:


I hope Neil shows more interest tonight. And here is CP's:



For those interested in the finer details of this, I selected the tracks largely from the Pop/Art collection, plus a few from the current Yes album. Neither of us were lucky enough to pick the bankers 'Love etc.' and 'Did you see me coming?' and we both have a couple of wildcards in there (I think the chances of playing 'Se a vida e' or 'Opportunities (let's make lots of money)' are fairly remote to be honest).

It's strange that this will be the first time I have seen them perform live, because they were the first band that I got into. 'Actually' on cassette was the first album I owned, and listened to repeatedly on my first cassette player - a big red Panasonic (still going strong) - and first personal stereo - a big turquoise block from Boots (long since departed). It was around this time that I had a fall out with my best friend at primary school. He had previously said that PSB were his favourite group as well, but then in Junior Two he told everyone that Michael Jackson was his favourite. Turncoat! Everyone (by which I mean boys, the opinions of girls were of no interest to me at that time) said Michael Jackson was the best. I was never a fan of his, and probably enjoyed ploughing a lone furrow. I remember eagerly listening to the Top 40 one Sunday at my grans and cheering as 'Heart' reached Number 1. You don't get that with downloads blah blah blah.

Other memories popped up while writing this. In Junior Four, our teacher must have been experimenting with teaching methods or something as I can remember that we were able to bring music in and have it on while working at a particular table. I brought in my 'Introspective' cassette and sat down to work. The extended orchestral opening to 'Left to my own devices' was barely half a minute in when the teacher asked, with disgust, 'What's this?'. I mumbled something about it picking up in a minute and willed it to hurry through to the main bit of the song. Unrelated, I once played my gran the same track, and remember her saying as the drum machine started and the second intro bit kicked in, 'Here they come!'.



Although they've not been 'my favourite band' now for several years, I've remained a fan throughout. I really ought to have gone to their show at the Tower of London a couple of years ago and since missing that I decided that I would take the next opportunity. And as if the prospect wasn't exciting enough, there'll be added bingo!




* Well, I enjoyed it.

** I reckon Craig is the only one who will get that. Munch as an outside bet. I found it very difficult to come up with a PSB/bingo pun - can you do better?

You're a goal-scoring superstar hero...

This Sunday I'll be reacquainting myself with a childhood passion. Sensible World of Soccer, or Sensi, took up a massive proportion of my teenage years. Most games become boring once they are completed or the initial novelty disappears, but the pleasure of Sensi never waned. It isn't much to look at, as the pics will indicate, but it was so addictive that it should have been considered a Class A substance. Towards the end of my time with my Amiga 600 (around the 1st year of University and purchasing my first console), I was keeping records of statistics and successes (a quick look on the internet reveals - obviously - that there are people wayyyyy more obsessed than that). One peak that remains strong in my memory was my all-conquering Manchester City team that scored 300+ goals in a season (all competitions). It's etched in my head - I can remember the core of the team instantly. Florin Raducioiu and Ruben Sosa blasted 100 goals each, with the remaining third spread throughout the rest of the squad: Brian Laudrup (LW), Mario Basler (RW), Jose Chamot (incredible Argentinian defender - in the game anyway, no idea what he was like for real)... all playing to an attacking 3-5-2 formation. I remember enjoying the surprise of finding certain players who were amazing in the game, but could never be considered that in their real life form. The best example being Alan Kernaghan: never a particularly popular player during his time at City but he was a mainstay of my multi-title winning sides. The crucial factor was speed - he was very quick (see also: Ian Brightwell, Phil Babb) - and for me the key to success was building a super-fast team. Another highlight was the names of the loan players that would appear in your squad to replace the injured/banned. They were never real players, but appeared to be incongruent combinations of other players from across the world so would end up with brilliant names like Boudewijn Quigley or something. When I wasn't conquering the world with my MCFC team (and holding cliche-filled press conferences in my head after yet another European triumph), I was creating and updating my own teams via the Custom Teams option. School Bus, People I hate (American kids shoot up the school, I created a football team), Debenhams (colleagues from my part-time job), Tommy's Babes (hahaha....nobody else ever got to see that one. I think Sharon Stone was in net - it was circa Basic Instinct after all), Britpop (Alan McGee was coach, Kermit and Shaun Ryder from Black Grape led the attack, supported by Norman Blake and Louise Wener). The memories are flooding back as I write this.... the simple pleasure of designing the kits! I never kept a diary, but the disk containing the teams I created would tell you all you needed to know about the state of my adolescent mind.

Anyway, as I said, I'm re-immersing myself in this world on Sunday by attending a talk by one of the creators of Sensi (+ other genius games like Cannon Fodder), Jon Hare. Apparently there'll be a tournament too, with the chance to play against JH himself. I'm tempted to give it a go, but fearful that I won't be as good as I thought I was (it's been 10 years!) and will be soundly thrashed by true hardcore SWOS ninjas. Besides, I'd be without my lucky joystick*.

Happy days.



and while we're at it:




* Last year I did get a TV plug in version of Sensi - it's good but I just can't get used to playing with a joypad.

"Maid required. Must be prepared to do a whole lot more than ironing"

While away I enjoyed checking out the latest Malayan news in the papers that were available in the hotels and aeroplanes. Depressingly, the main sports stories were ALWAYS about the EPL (English Premier League), while the major news story was the change to a new Prime Minister, which was occurring while we were out there. The papers were always full of subservient full-page ads from the directors of various companies, either thanking the outgoing PM for his wonderful work for the good of Malaysian people, or congratulating the new PM on his appointment and wishing him every success.

While flicking through the April 8 edition of the Star (the one with the best cartoons), and scanning the readers letters, I came across the following:

Tombolablog's advice to all prospective maids: If he suggests you polish his family jewels, it's time to leave

Wowser! What kind of service does 'Swan' expect??? Come on Fomema, get your act together and scan all maids for herpes. And while you're at it, only employ ones with big tits.

THE BEST POUND EVER SPENT

Amazing.