Sound track to my life,

I found this idea of someone else, while having a mooch around I came across the following layout and thought as music is one of the biggest things in my life, I should have a fair crack of the whip and  think about the soundtrack of my life.
I got into music from a very tender age, I grew up in a largish house and every room in that house had a means of listening to music, I have 2 Sisters and a Brother all older. My Mother and Father, along with the Siblings all had very different tastes in music. One sister was a indirect Madonna clone, following hair styles, clothes and music, the other one was into Rock from John Lennon to the Pixies, my Brother loved his 80's synth pop, Me Ma' was a Cliff Richard fan and the old Man loved The big O, Walker brothers, Foster and Allen and Lonnie Donegan.
One Christmas Being the cheeky little bugger that I was, I screamed the house down for a electric guitar after hearing some 80's cock rock. (Van Halen or maybe it was CC Deville from Poison) After about 20 Mins of not being able to play a note the guitar got threw in the corner and I carried on playing with some other child pleasing tat. A few weeks later, my red and white stratocastor and I made our way to Dave's Guitar shop. ( a typical guitar shop) The old man explained to the fella, that I wanted to be able to play like Hendrix and I remember it crystal clear, he laughed and said "Don't we all pal, leave the kid with me for a hour and I will see what I can do!" (Back in them days leaving your child with a stranger was and paying him was normal...)

For weeks after,  This gigantic dude, with hair halfway down his back use to show off to me playing licks and riffs at supersonic speeds and saying "its all in good time Son, for now, you just keep practising them scales and chord shapes." As I sat on a stool with my hands aching and  fingertips bleeding. I said "screw this and you. I want to play songs not just sit here, having you showing off while I get to repeat this same old stuff!"
at that point he said if you comeback next week and can play that scale repeatedly up and down without making a mistake then I will teach you something.  Cut a  very long story short, I got to learn Apache by the Shaddows. Hank Marvin was my first guitar influence for no other reason that we had the same colour guitar and I could sort of play something he did.

Turns out Dave the guitar teacher had a method in his madness and looking at the big picture it was probably this song that taught me pentatonic scales and melodic lead guitar. Many years on, I still love to play the guitar. From researching artists I liked, I traced their influences and always I seemed to find my way back to the 1950's,  for example, I like the stray cats, Brian Setzer the lead in the Cats, wanted to be a modern day Eddie Cochran. John Lennon was influenced by Buddy holly.
Upon discovering  1950's rock n roll, I became more into that than anyone in the charts. In school I, use to get Called Elvis as I do on a daily basis today Just for having a Quiff. (Hey if people want to name me after the most famous and handsome man to ever walk the planet then I'm happy with that!)

So along with these guitar lessons and decades of spending hours every day without fail listening to all kinds of music, then I guess it really took over my life and here today I'm stuck with a dilemma of what songs to pick.
(thinking about it, I don't think I, have ever lived a day without listening to music, I regularly have days where I don't watch T.V or open my laptop. but I always have the music on radio or my I pod on.)

The following is subject to change over a period of time But as today stands then this what I would pick for a Quentin tarantino classic  about me!


Opening Credits –  Ray Lamontagne - How Come.

Waking Up – Lou Cifer and the hellions - Rock n Roll In My Head.

First Day at Work - Imedla May - Proud and Humble

Falling in Love –  Johnny Kidd and the Pirates - Shaking all over.

Fight Song – Furious - Punk Bashin Boogie

Breaking Up – Jack Johnson - If I Had Eyes


Prom/Dance/Ball – Buddy Holly - Oh Boy!

Life's OK – Foo Fighters - Long Road to Ruin

Mental Breakdown – Jamie Cullum - high and dry (Radiohead cover)

Flashback –  Linkin Park - Hands held High
 
Getting Back Together – The Commitments - Bring it on Home to me

Birth of Child – Mumford and Sons - The Cave

Wedding – Roy Orbison - She's a Mystery to me

Final Battle – Florence and the Machine - Kiss with a Fist

Funeral Song – Kathrine Jenkins - time to say goodbye
 
End Credits –Traveling Wilbury's -  Handle me with care

The is some Irony in this and obviously some of the events haven't happened as yet. ( this may give those of you with some depth, a insight into my life!)

Keep smiling folks and thanks for reading.... all Comments welcome.

Am I, a vintage metro-sexual or a modern Dandy highwayman???

Of late, I have discovered the booming world of male grooming, and I like it...
Now I'm not talking about cosmetic surgery, fake tan, guy liner and man-scara. No I am talking about grass roots grooming just like Grandpa use to have.

This all came about by looking for a local barber, capable of keeping my quiff and mutton chops in check. Unfortunately for me both of them carry the rebellious gene and with out any effort can leave me looking like a electrocuted Amos Brierley...(not a good look.)

A quick surf on the internet and I found a place called Jacks of London. Original modern barbers, "chuffin ell, I, thought, that's right up street that!"

 So I headed on down to there, as I walked through the door. I enquired about a haircut. The stylish looking  dude informed me that it's no appointment and as soon as a stylist becomes available then he will give me a shout.  Until then would I like a complimentary beer, tea, coffee or soft drink? Accepting a beer I walked over to the waiting area. Now if anyone ever watched Desmond's you couldn't be further from this place. Along with barber seats and hair products was a fridge full of beer, computers with free access, console games, magazines and a mp3 player.

After spending some time in the males Aladdin's cave, A young but interesting guy offered to take my coat and directed me to a barbers chair, before asking me what I wanted he complimented me on my style and said that his dad was a Teddy boy and his girlfriend runs a vintage fair. I instantly felt in safe hands.

We then got round to chatting about what I wanted. I explained that this was my first dabble in the world of modern male grooming. With that I had my barnet washed and massaged with Moroccan oil he then got to work on cutting my hair and advised me on how to stop certain bits looking like wild mint. A neck shave later and I, was looking good. I decided to have my first cut throat razor shave just like grandpa use to have at this moment. Wow what a experience, hot towels, face massage and shave so close I felt like I had the skin of a baby's arse.
Looking in the mirror i felt euphoric and can honestly say I felt like the man!

This all of a sudden dawned on me. with every little bit of grooming i had the more i felt better about myself. and so far i had only had my hair cut and a shave.

A few weeks later while shaving myself I decided to change my cartridge razor for a safety razor kit. again just like Grandpa's.... the following arrived.

Again using all these products gave me a warm vintage feeling and a confidence boost.

Having thick hair and eyebrows, I normally shave between them to stop me looking like Ming the merciless. I herd about eyebrow threading, waxing etc and thought. what the hell, lets give it a bash, so I booked myself in to a salon for a wax (to shape and separate.)
I was advised that waxing wasn't as painful as threading, one step at a time I thought to myself. Slowly, slowy catch the monkey. Sitting there with a lady laughing and being jovial as she paints hot wax on to me, did make me question her reasons for employment.

A few silent screams and muscle tensions later, I saw no difference apart from heavy redness, I was informed no make up for 24 hours.... well it was the weekend I guess!
The next day, I got a few compliments on my eyes, so again a little confidence boost.

I really am enjoying my slow but interesting journey of male grooming. I'm learning that to put effort into looking good is a great way to boost your confidence.

Wonder what will be next on the list for this old school Teddy boy.....?

Is the a need for a True Gent in a barbaric world????

During some general observation on how folk conduct themselves, it appears that social etiquette has become virtually extinct. Social etiquette has been around since Adam was a lad, and for very good reason too! Apart from making the world a much nicer to live in, it shows respect and courtesy for others as well as yourself. As a lad I can remember my parents yelling at me that manners cost nothing and they had a point.


This week alone I have witnessed the following, that would of earnt me a clip round the ear at least.

• some spotty urk turned to his Mother and said "giz us that here now!" I can only presume  he was foreign and this was a langue similar to English and he actually said. Excuse me Mother, but could you pass me that please?
• Various people saying "excuse me!" as they barge through people, rather than waiting for them to acknowledge that they have herd and understood the request and moved to the side, to allow them through.
• people refusing to tear there eyes away from electronic devices, whilst engaging in conversation with others. (Is eye contact that unimportant these days?)

A few rules I think people should adhere to are always be polite, courteous and respectful. Don't spit, excessively curse, interrupt others and respect your elders. regardless of your age or sex this will make the world a better place.

Being a Gentleman who has manners and chivalry. Chivalry  is a completely different kettle of fish. For those who don't really understand chivalry, it comes from the medieval days of Knights. A Knight is expected to have skills and strength to kill people, they were also expected to live by the code of chivalry. 

Maybe this is why Women fantasied about a man on a white horse rescuing them....(maybe not then haha)

In my understanding, chivalry today consists of Truth, loyalty, courtesy, Justice and commitment. and all of these have a place. For example Truth :- A man who lies can not be trusted, his strength and ambitions can not be esteemed. 

For years this was passed down from father to son. I personally was taught acts of courtesy such as holding doors open, putting coats on, seating at tables and giving up my seat. for reason no other than to be respectful and to make other feel at ease and a pleasure to be in my company.

Thinking back "Girl power" kicked off and became big news in the media. Groups such as Destiny's child started promoting the strength and independence of women. singing about how they don't need men. Now I believe that women are strong and independent, but I also believe that all women like to be treated like princess. ( in her tower, waiting to be rescued by a knight in shinning armour!)

So a question is to be asked. 

Do Women really want men to be chivalrous?

And men is she worth it????