Music

Yes, I've been cleaning records again and this time it's a cult club classic from the northwest, Ellie Warren's 'Shattered Glass' from 1980 - isn't that just the most 80s cover you've seen? Apparently it was re-done in the late '80s by Stock,Aitken and Waterman but I don't remember that, just the early version that we used to dance to at The Turnkey in Wigan and Henry Africa's in Standish, which sadly didn't break through to be a national hit.

Ah, the memories - girls with shoulder pads, big hair and blazers with fake yachting club badges (hang on, hasn't that all just come back into vogue?) and boys with moustaches (those who could grow them), jumpers tucked in their trousers and permed mullets. Ugh, not one of our finest sartorial moments, but at least it wasn't the 70s!

I wouldn't be surprised if I'm at the back of the photo of Henry's on here... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Friday Fun 7

A colleague sent me this 'cos she said it reminded her of Jon! She's only met him once, so the impression he made must have been startling!

We can see where she's coming from, but this blog cannot condone the wearing of facial hair.

There are loads more on YouTube by the Gentleman Rhymer, the country's leading exponent of 'Chap-Hop', including him doing 'All Hail the Chap' at the Lass o'Gowrie*, Manchester (ah, brings back memories) - enjoy...



Oh, and, don't forget that it's the 4th Chap Olympiad this weekend. We won't be there 'cos we're hosting Mr Oscar, but it should be great fun.

* The book I'm reading at the moment, Andrew Davies' The Gangs of Manchester, gives this description of the Lass in the 1870s, "'No pen could describe' the fearful state of the hovels of Deansgate, where the Hop Pole Inn...was frequented by 'the very lowest dregs of society'...The district between Oxford Road and London Road was little better...One man was seen entering the Lass o'Gowrie on Charles Street 'with nothing on but his shirt and shoes'. The observers noted that 'A fearful state of demoralization exists about this house'".

And, by popular demand...

The last pictures of Mr H's 'tache before it was so cruely cut off in its prime.

As the finale to Movember they got some local school children in to vote on the best bit of facial hair in the office - erm, I'm not sure that 'beauty pagent' is quite the right phrase...
Unsurprisingly, it was Pete wot won it with this stunning display of facial foliage - how did you manage that in just a month? I reckon there must have been liberal applications of 'Miracle Grow'!

Anyway, they raised around £1,000 for charity - including a couple of hundred made in one day by selling home-made cakes to the other offices - with the company matching that, so £2,000 in total. They're all back to being clean-shaven now (much to the relief of their wives and children). Never has a month seemed so long!


















Let's just hope they don't decide to go for Decembeards next year!

Are we hairy, yes we are!


As week 2 ends I'm a bit worried about the addition of a pipe.


Apparently, people keep telling Jon that the 'tash suits him so I do hope he's not getting too used to it!














Here are some of the other n'er-do-wells who are taking part - I'm no expert, but I think the one on the bottom left is a fake...

 

Thanks to those who have made a donation to the charity. Here's the link to Jon's MOVember page again. Their fund raising is doing very well, considering they've only been at it for a couple of weeks. If you do want to donate online, please click the badge below and then click 'donate' and choose 'donate to a team' and type 'magnum i.t' - this means that the money will show up as being raised by all the team.

First week's progress

Well, as you can see, Jon is developing a fine bit of facial hair - and he looks about as happy with it as I am! Luckily, he looks more WWI officer than gay porn star, but there's time yet...

 

Here's the link to Jon's MOVember page again. Their fund raising is doing very well, considering they've only been at it for a week. If you do want to donate online, please click the badge below and then click 'donate' and choose 'donate to a team' and type 'magnum i.t' - this means that the money will show up as being raised by all the team.

Mr Ferret grows whiskers...

Everyone in Jon's office is raising money for 'Movember' - a charity event held during November each year that raises funds for, and awareness of, men's health issues, in particular prostate cancer. For the men this involves growing moustaches... Yes, Jon with facial hair... Never will 30 days have gone past so slowly. Hopefully we'll be able to post update photos as the month progresses, but we doubt he'll manage any of these by the end of the month.

Anyway, here's a link to Jon's MOVember page. If you do want to donate online, please click the badge below and then click 'donate' and choose 'donate to a team' and type 'magnum i.t' - this means that the money will show up as being raised by all the team.



Tagged...

OK, so I've been tagged by Lizzie to reveal 6 random things about myself. The tag rules are: link to the person who tagged you; post the rules on your blog; write 6 random things about yourself; tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them; let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog; let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

Well, I can't tag 6 others 'cos I don't know anyone else (other than Lizzie) who blogs, but here goes for the random stuff...

1. I once had an erotic dream about Michael Portillo. You can't imagine how much that scared the s**t out of me when I woke up...

2. As a child I wanted to be Jewish and wear glasses. Well, I now wear glasses and, as an atheist, I make do with cooking chicken soup.

3. I've just found out how much I hate moustaches (see above). No, I really hate moustaches...

4. I love these people. I wish it was real life 'cos I'd move in.

5. I think that one of these is the best song ever written: The Lodger; Sister Josephine

6. I work on the 9th floor of a building on a hill which gives me views of two of Wiltshire's white horses, as well as most of Bath - does it get much better than that?