kimbofo

Who knew pouring a cup of coffee could be so interesting?

[Via Graveyard Barista]

Diary of a Great War soldier

Harry Lamin is an English soldier who keeps a blog detailing his wartime experiences. Except Harry is no ordinary soldier and his blog is no ordinary blog.

Harry was born in 1887.

In 1917, aged 29, he joined up to fight in the First World War.

His blog is based on the letters he posted to his family during that time, with some commentary and background information supplied by his grandson 90 years later.

"The intention of this blog is to publish the letters exactly 90 years after Harry wrote them," his grandson writes on the blog's first post, dated July 25, 2005. "His first letter from the training camp was written on February 7th 1917. It will be published on the blog on February 7th 2007. Each letter will appear on the correct date from then on. [...] If you wish to find out Harry's fate then you'll have to access the blog as the new letters arrive. I may well indicate when the next contribution is due, especially if there is a significant gap."

I stumbled upon this fascinating blog last week, promptly bookmarked it and then forgot about it, until I read an item in today's The Times.

You can access the first post here.

Freshen up, lollipop!

Mid-way through the New Model Army gig that I attended on Thursday night I had to totter off to the lady's loo. Down a very dodgy flight of stairs and through one gigantic swing-door I was greeted by a soap-and-paper-towel dispensing attendant shouting "Freshen up, lollipop!" over and over like a stuck record.

"You should tape that," I said to her, as she squished some pink liquid soap into my cupped hands.

"Tape what?" she asked.

"The 'freshen up, lollipop' thing. Would save your voice. You could just press the 'play' button and keep it on 'repeat' and no-one would know the difference."

She looked at me like I'd just told her the secret of the universe but didn't want to believe it. She gave me a big smile and started shaking her head, as if to say "no, no, that's not possible". And perhaps it wasn't, because for all I knew maybe the management was paying her £1 every time she got the weird sing-song phrase out of her mouth.

Unfortunately, my question put her off her game and when she went to repeat her little mantra she could only stutter "freshen up..." before bursting into a huge fit of the giggles.

"Sorry," I said. "But that tape recorders looking like a good idea, right?"

"Oh get outta here," she cried, waving some paper towel in my direction.

"Merry Christmas -- and have a great night," I said to her, as I opened the door to leave.

"Freshen up, lollipop!" was her reply.

Announcements you'll never hear on the London Underground

Emma Clarke used to be the voiceover woman who made those boring announcements telling people to "mind the gap" on the London Underground. Then she made a load of spoof announcements, put them on her website and had her contract terminated. You can listen to them here. I think they're hilarious.

Thirsty thieves

Some 36,000 pints of Guinness have been stolen from the Guinness Brewery.

In case you were wondering, it wasn't me!

My current favourite TV ad -- or why you shouldn't monkey around with chocolate

One reason you should leave the dead in peace

The London Bridge Experience is a new tourist attraction opening in the capital next month. I'm not making any plans to visit it. And this is why.

Creepy, no?

Born to be an artist, journalist, actor

You Should Be an Artist

You are incredibly creative, spontaneous, and unique. No one can guess what you're going to do next, but it's usually something amazing. You can't deal with routine, rules, or structure. You're easily bored. As long as you are able to innovate and break the rules, you are extremely successful. You do best when you: - Can work by yourself - Can express your personality in your work You would also be a good journalist or actor.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

(Via Warsaw to Paris to Budapest)

Giant spider

Place: Outside the Tate Modern, Bankside.
Date: Friday October 5, 2007.
Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ3.

No, you're not seeing things. That really is a 30ft (9m) spider. It's a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois that is currently on display outside the Tate Modern.

This is the second time the Tate has put this piece of art on show. The last time it was housed inside the Turbine Hall and didn't look half as opposing at it does standing outdoors.

I think the thing is bloody creepy. As I wandered around it tonight I kept expecting it to move, to lift up one of its giant legs and go scuttling off along the Thames, devouring all the tourists along the way. I'll be having nightmares tonight!

A bee fell out of my trousers!

True story.

Sitting on the tube yesterday morning, I could feel something crawling up my leg.

I scratched it and it went away. I thought maybe it was a loose thread tickling the back of my knee.

A few stops later and the sensation appeared again. This time it got stronger. I imagined a great big hairy spider making its way up my shin but didn't want to squish it in case it bit me.

I shook my trouser leg hoping to shake it loose. I nearly died when a bloody big juicy-looking bee fell out... PLOP!!... onto the floor and sat there all dozy-like while my brain screamed WTF!

I still don't know where it came from or how it got there. I didn't stomp on it, but I rather suspect it didn't last long with all the people that scrambled on the tube as I got off.

What a great way to start my morning, eh?