Off License Cats

Blake and I visited the UK again and this last Picnic Punk features music from the trip. As does this newsletter you are receiving in your inbox.

“Off License” cats of Dalston.

I think their names were Ginger and Coriander

Straight up did not even notice him until I checked out. At this point he was playing Jason Derulo so I had no inclination that there was a live set happening inside the store. Permission was asked to take this photo and he was psyched as the “off license” was completely empty. The IG algo has now shown me video evidence that he regularly posts up there. Thank you lord algorithm.

I also don’t know if I am using Off License correctly.

Los Thuthanaka at Cafe Oto

After the show DJ-E dj’ed at a club where you could smoke (vape) inside and that’s what all this haze is- it’s not a smoke machine or hazer. There was even a light up vape vending machine next to the bar. DJ-E played country music and the hipster Brits were doing their impression of line dancing and were having a grand ole time. I kept having to go outside for fresh air. I had to wash my hair to get the smell out.

Just my two cents- as a public safety concern the UK desperately needs to legalize weed. Some of the drunkest blokes in the world are out there and the vaping is a bit much. I don’t even smoke weed but it seems like a good redirection.

We saw The Drama at Peckhamplex where tickets are 7£ and people are known to be rowdy during the screenings. The audience was packed but was dead quiet in horror of what life in American must be like (I assume). My friend Kali was an AC on it and this is the first time I’ve seen one of her movies in theaters. Great job Kali :)

Colin jumped into this swamp to check on the tadpoles.

When Bloomberg, yes- the former mayor of nyc/american media empire, was opening up a London office they uncovered a Roman Mithraum temple during construction. It’s open to the public to tour and it is… just on the ground floor of the Bloomberg building. Midtown offices could never, we just have unmarked mass graves.

Saw a lot of baby birds while paddling around on a lake in the middle of Victoria Park. I also went swimming at a public swimming lake in the middle of Hempstead Heath, it’s open year round staffed with life guards and all. They told me in the dead of winter they will have to break open holes in the ice for the real heads to jump in. I was accompanied by 4 different types of water fowl on my swim :3

La vida es un mus put on show and I saw Crazy Spirit who I used to see probably once a month like 11-12 yrs ago. Somehow I knew more people and made more friends at the London show than I typically do at punk shows at home.

Julmud at Cafe Oto!!! I found his music when researching for a Palestinian music special and never dreamed I’d be able to see him live. Check out his album Tuqoos!!! Felt like the luckiest person in the world that we were both in town at the same time.

Museum of Automation

V&A East Storehouse is the storage facility for the V&A Museums that was then also turned into a museum.

Pile of broken glass on a stone pedestal surrounded by flowers in Nottingham.

Returned to Eli’s storybook ass house in Norwich.

Eli stood up on a picnic bench because he was that enthused about… whatever it was he was talking about.

We were in town for Blake to show a game at a festival, fellow video game professional Brad pictured in the town square cemetery.

Rachel sent me an article today that a baby deer wandered into that M&S and got stuck on the escalator and is completely fine.

Another trip to the UK with good food and sunny skies. I wish I took more pictures but I was coming off of a jam packed few weeks and needed to do less camera time.

Next newsletter will be the end of winter / early spring :) If I remember to do it, that is.