Cambridge seems to be becoming a regular, every-three-years event now. Hooray for those of us who live 5 minutes’ walk away. The college May Week Balls start tomorrow. HMHB played one once, you know.
Cambridge seems to be becoming a regular, every-three-years event now. Hooray for those of us who live 5 minutes’ walk away. The college May Week Balls start tomorrow. HMHB played one once, you know.
Emerging from gorse
Oh fuck me. New Rose – as good as the original, dare I say. And 27 Yards…and 1966 & All That. 2 hours all bar a few minutes. Still soaked. Thanks to Neil Dodd & his pals for getting the moshpit going with me. Better than ever.
9 June 2016
Chris The Siteowner
That was fun. I haven’t checked The Big Spreadsheet yet, but “Gubba”, “Valium” and “27 Yards” all had the air of unexpected rarities. But we didn’t come to see the band, did we? We came for the Tremendous Sense Of Community. “Ah, you must be the retired doctor”, said Nigel from the stage. “I feel I know you all now”. He’s read the article.
I’m not even going to start listing all the folks I met who frequent this site, although thanks for far too many unacknowledged beers which came my way. I met some new people too, including Diggory Venn, who walked into the pub, introduced herself, and was greeted like an old friend after making just three posts here the other day. Everyone, it seems, had read them. No explanations were necessary. She’d flown over from the Isle Of Man for her first ever HMHB gig. Some convenient business in Cambridge at the same time? Nope. “Just came for this. It was on my bucket list and it’s a long time until the next gig”. Sure is.
10 June 2016
bobby svarc
At this rate we’ll have to organise a funday in the community park. No sleep till Bilston is along way off. Cov or Derby in September would fill a gap.
10 June 2016
99%
Yet again, another superb gig. New Rose, Everything’s AOR and Bane Of Constance were my favourites from an excellent and different set.
10 June 2016
99% OF gargoyles
Excellent gig, great set with Everything’s AOR, Bane Of Constance, JDOG, Trumpton Riots and Chigley and New Rose. Venue was decent as well.
10 June 2016
POP-TART MARK
Mollema isn’t going to win it (you can get about 325/1 on Betfair after commission), but Paddy’s 300/1 e/w gives you 75/1 for a podium, so it’s effectively a 37.5/1 bet, and surely value when you look at his last 3 Tour finishes (6th, 10th, 7th).
Having said that nobody ever got rich on a Nigel Blackwell tip. He probably just likes the outfit, being a Trek man himself. Has to be said, it’s a cycling top I’d be seen dead in.
10 June 2016
SIMON p
That was a cracking gig. Two “new” live songs for me and a generally splendid set list. “New Rose” was excellently done and “Shit Arm” is a cracking set opener. Props as ever to the excellent sound at the Junction – it’s been a while since I’ve been to a Biscuits show that was actually loud, and it made all the difference to the rockier songs.
10 June 2016
Bobby SVARC
A value bet?? Last 3 tour finishes (6th, 10th, 7th) Lost, Lost, Lost…..Great Value
10 June 2016
POP-TART MARK
Give me more than 37.5 consecutive losses and your stats will mean something.
Anyway he’s a late bloomer, at more or less optimum age for the Tour, and if he does pode, well <ahref=“http://www.treksegafredo.com/team/riders/bauke-mollema”Joy in You-Know-Where for sure
10 June 2016
POP-TART MARK
Hmm. Give me more than 37.5 consecutive losses and your stats will mean something.
Anyway he’s a late bloomer, at more or less optimum age for the Tour, and if he does pode, well Joy in You-Know-Where for sure
10 June 2016
POP-TART MARK
Not happening with that link is it?
http://www.treksegafredo.com/team/riders/bauke-mollema
10 June 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
Dr.bauke van de Meer ,an expert on Etruscan mirrors, was born in joyous Leeuvarden.
10 June 2016
DIGGORY VENN
I’d built up my first HMHB gig to the point where I actually feared it might be an anti-climax. Instead, it was an anti-anti-climax, otherwise known as a climax. A night of tumescent joy. Not even managing to lick my elbow after much striving in vain could compare.
I’m sorry I didn’t say goodnight to the lovely Biscuiteers I met. I strode to the Pig, only to remember you’d said the Derby; realised I was completely shagged; and toddled back to my fen-facing B & B (oh, lucky fellow guests who were given a blow-by-blow gig account over their poached duck eggs this morning). Anyway, thanks for taking me under your wing and being so welcoming – it helped to make my night.
I’m off to dust my Lladro and dream of Bilston.
10 June 2016
mr Ed
Excellent gig, I had an absolutely fantastic time. I just hope some other gigs are announced, February seems an awfully long way away.
10 June 2016
JoHn anderson
Hugely enjoyable gig. Great to hear He Who Would Valium Take, 27 Yards, Dickie Davies Eyes and 1966 live for the first time.
I can exclusively reveal that Nigel Adderley, despite Mr Blackwell’s claim, is unable to confirm whether Mark Lawrenson collects lladro.
10 June 2016
SIMON P
In other news, I went to see the Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican tonight and they played a cover of Paintball’s Coming Home. Excellent!
11 June 2016
John Stevenson
My first Half Man Half Biscuit gig but definitely won’t be the last. A gig that was everything live music should be: warm, uplifting, intelligent, bloody good fun.
Two days later I’m still grinning at the memories.
11 June 2016
dr desperate
Now that’s what I call a gig!
After meet-up in The Flying Pig (see above, ho ho), slooowww-cooked burgers at the Steak & Honour van meant we arrived at The Junction with less than a minute to spare for greetings. Nice track-suit, Lee.
Walk-on music was Tchaikowsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. Asked whose it was, Nigel informed us it was Tchaikowsky’s, then “a bloke we met outside”. He would have preferred ‘Frankie Teardrop’ by Suicide, possibly as its ten minutes 26 (I checked it out) might have given them enough time to plug in for once. Neil, the bassist, had to ask the lighting engineer to turn out a damned spot, but his X-ray Spex ‘Germfree Adolescents’ t-shirt was still clearly visible.
Precious little detail on the route to Cambridge, though we did discover that the band came via Yelling (denials of having “set off those fire extinguishers” having the air of protesting too much), past a sign warning of a deep pool (“Bet the kids would love to drive through that.”)
Plenty of banter with an excitable crowd, some high on the oxygen of ‘Big Issue’ publicity. Nigel honoured me (“You’re a retired doctor!” and Tony (“You’re 67!”) with threats of following us home, though not in a stalking way, and answered a query about pets with sad tales of the deaths of his Golden Retriever, of old age at 14 on National Shite Day, and his chameleon, of exhaustion after walking across a tartan rug. He tried to cheer himself up on the former occasion by going to watch Rovers, but they lost and were relegated. A cry of “2-1” was met with “Don’t sit next to him on the bus back home.”
Apropos of nothing, someone pointed out that Jimmy Young was still alive, and Nigel revealed that his dad was a fan of JY, and also of John “Friday Night Is Music Night” Dunn.
Asked if he was aware of the Surrey Puma, Nigel suspected it was a posher version of the Beast of Bodmin, which naturally led on to discussion of whether anybody had applied to become the new Marvin The Moose, mascot of Cambridge Utd. Tranmere’s is apparently someone dressed as an enormous syringe, going under the name of ‘Syringey’.
In other local news, there were congratulations for a Cambridge resident who had reached her centenary year, and commiserations for local residents up in arms about loose chippings on their road. “It’s a good job they haven’t got guns.” The May Bumps rowing races had just got under way, so Nigel now knew how to pronounce ‘Caius’.
Avram Grant was spotted in the crowd. Russell Grant may have been appearing at Grantfest in Grantchester, where there may have been heroin still for tea – I was starting to lose track at this point.
No ‘first man in Wallasey’ revelations, but it appears that Ken collects Lladró (like Mark Lawrenson, for whom it may just be a smokescreen for something worse, like jasperware).
As noted above, the sound system was excellent, matching a setlist packed with surprises. I mean, imagine travelling from the Isle Of Man to your first Biscuits gig and hearing ’27 Yards Of Dental Floss’, ‘Dickie Davies Eyes’ and ‘Gubba Lookalikes’! Go on, imagine it.
‘Restless Legs’ was about Restless Legs Syndrome, and ‘Monmore, Hare’s Running’ about betting. There were a few transpositions in the lyrics of the latter, and after forgetting who was due to start the next song Nigel said he’d be needing a fortnightly pill counter next. The upcoming 10th anniversary of the Cantabrigian Syd Barrett’s death may have led to the inclusion of several Floyd references in the set (“Sign on you crazy diamond”; “Careful with that spliff, Eugene”; “Doors, Floyd, etc”; there may have been others).
‘A Lilac Harry Quinn’ included one gear-change manoeuvre. The owner of the eponymous bike, which was chained outside, led calls for ‘D’Ye Ken Ted Moult?’, eliciting a brief snatch of the intro. There was also a verse of honky-tonk hero Webb Pierce’s ‘There Stands The Glass’, but no ‘Man Of Constant Sorrow’ chiz.
Encores included an exercise-tolerance-test cover of ‘New Rose’, before miserable get Showsecs herded us out before 11. After-match lagers: The Earl of Derby (sorry, @Diggory Venn).
Eight months until the next gig is a long time, but as m’ladyfriend points out, more than sufficient to record a new album.
On to Bilston!
11 June 2016
Hendrix TATtoo
Excellent Review Dr.Desperate.
Thank You Sir.
11 June 2016
Brumbiscuit
I shall contact the Bilston Tourist Board and inform them that it is now a place of dreams…
11 June 2016
dr desperate
Enormous thanks to Andy Smith for posting footage of the cover of ‘New Rose’ on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0x2rTzCBQ
Note Tony’s shout at the beginning that Carl was “never far from our thoughts” for agreeing to go ahead with it in the overpowering heat of The Junction – perhaps a word too for Neil and Ken for managing to replicate so closely the Sensible/James sound of the Basher-produced original.
11 June 2016
NOT ROGER, NOR CARRIE ANNE NEITHER
Too early to say whether fame has gone to her head, but Carrie Anne doesn’t seem to get out of bed to post gig reviews these days, so we revert to the good old days of bundling Roger into the back of the van and keeping him there till we’ve photocopied his notebook.
Cambridge Junction, Thu 9th June 2016 (10/06/16)
Roger Green:
Let’s start off with Errors And Omissions. Thanks to Daz for pointing out that I should have included Benny Hill in my list of celebrities with a link to Southampton (see previous review). How could I have overlooked that? And by the way, If Pink Floyd warrant a set of stamps for their 50th anniversary, can we assume that there will be a similar acknowledgement of HMHB’s achievements somewhere around the mid 2030s?
I noted the HMHB entry in the Guinness Who’s Who Of Indie And New Wave (published 1995). The book was loaned by my neighbour, in return for me letting him use my lawnmower. It works like that round here. He also gave me a bottle of Corona. I took that to be not part of the loan deal and slugged the lot. In the book, HMHB were described as a “five-piece scally outfit”. I really thought that the keyboards had gone by the time of Some Call It Godcore, which may or may not have been before 1995. If only I could be bothered to check.
Only four weeks (near enough) since the Cardiff show. Karen and I kept ourselves busy. We saw The Nightingales play the last date of their tour, in Newcastle. A band with a few miles on the clock, but playing as well as they ever have. Sounds familiar? They were supported by a local act called Quarterlight. All interesting stuff, and we were particularly heartened during the gap between the two bands when the DJ delved into the HMHB back catalogue and stuck on You’re Hard. Our sit-down dancing was as embarrassing as it was enthused. I was also pleased to note Totally Wired and Spanish Stroll on his playlist. Could be worth asking the question if you need a DJ for a funeral, wedding or such like in the Newcastle area?
The only thing wrong with that night was the clash with a show by Half Arsed Half Biscuit. Hopefully their gig in Limerick was not just a one off, and I would like to think that someone was there with a notepad. With enough notice, and perhaps somewhere on a bus route, I would fancy my chances of getting to see them sometime. I don’t normally go big on tribute acts (if a “Rock Covers Band” is playing, then I generally head in the opposite direction), but there are always exceptions. Black Market Clash, The Smyths, The Sisters Of Murphy for example. And here is another one that are certainly on my radar.
There was, it must be said, a bit of a stir over Peter Ross’s article in The Big Issue. The magazine came out on the Bank Holiday Monday when we were making our way back from the Nightingales show. There is usually a seller near Wakefield Cathedral. But they were nowhere to be seen. Similarly outside Marks And Spencer in Pontefract. Nothing. Fortunately Karen was successful in Nottz. Grand stuff from Peter. This was a fine piece. See, that’s what you get from a proper writer. Tough luck if you missed it. And good luck to Peter. I’m sure he said he had an appointment with Nicola Sturgeon lined up. I wonder if she’s ever been to a Biscuit gig. And did he ask her what her favourite HMHB song is, I wonder? The article was also raised by Nigel at the Cambridge gig. “You’re a retired doctor!” he said, pointing at John. And “You’re 67!” as he turned to point at Tony. “I also know your surname,” he said, before adding that he would be going on Facebook to investigate the Birmingham Morris Dancing scene and maybe stalking Tony in the process.
In true life-imitating-art style, Karen and I were even able to take in a Waterstones book launch. At their Deansgate, Manchester store. Didn’t see no crepes. But there was an abundance of Chomsky. He wasn’t hidden in a particular genre. He just had a section all to himself.
There were one or two media spots, apart from the Big Issue thing. It appears that when guesting on the Graham Norton Show on Radio 2, Ross Noble requested an airing of Tending The Wrong Grave. And I also understand that the guys doing the Half Man Half Bike Kit tour appeared on You And Yours. Fans of HMHB support acts may also have spotted Roja appearing on BBC4’s UK’s Best Part-Time Band.
We all seemed to be taking different routes as we converged on Cambridge. I was on the train from Wakefield, changing at Stevenage. I spotted a monk on the train. It’s quite some while since I saw one in person. I assume it was a deliberate plan of his to book in the Quiet Coach. There was a delay (broken rail near Hitchin) which led to half of the trains running from Leeds to Kings Cross being cancelled. More importantly, the delay caused me to have to run round Stevenage station at the kind of pace that I am not used to these days, in order to get on the train to Cambridge. Karen’s journey took her through Ely. She described the toilets there as “the poshest/cleanest I’ve ever seen on the rail network”. Envy of the Fens? She suggested that the floor was so clean that you could have eaten your dinner off it. Maybe that is a discussion for another day. Meanwhile, as Tony was on the train out of Birmingham, they passed St Andrews. He was asked if that was the Villa ground? Not quite, but they will both be in the Championship next year. There, the similarity ends.
On meeting, Karen and I were less than adventurous with our choice for lunch. We were staying at the Travelodge next to the venue. Across the plaza/boulevard/thing is a Nandos. We are becoming regulars. Spicy Olives starter and No Bones Shared Platter (with rice, corn, coleslaw and minted peas sides). It filled a gap. And we noticed that the ice dispenser near the drinks machine wasn’t working. So we started singing the “No dry ice / No dry ice” line from Running Order Squabble Fest. Honestly, we are absolutely hilarious. Rather than going for desserts, our ice cream choice was a Magnum each from Sainsburys. The Double Peanut Butter flavour was a new one on me. Yum.
Later, keen to secure a place down at the front, we were not tardy in joining the queue at the gig entrance. Beaten to the punch as usual, we were placed four and five. Failed to get in the medals again. We were soon joined by Tony and did not have to wait long for the doors to open, as advertised, at 7 o’clock. Gomez had sent his apologies, but others joined us. Howie, struggling with a knee injury, opted for a place at the front rather than in the mosh pit. Jay introduced his wife Emma. Daz was there, having had an evidently good afternoon of beer and sun. John said Hello and we exchanged thoughts about the Big Issue article (I liked his quote about it being great to be in a gang at the age of 58.) Andrew was sorry to have missed the Southampton and Cardiff shows but was happy to be back in the fold. Lee seems to have ditched the Denis Bell / Torquay United persona. This has been replaced with a Borussia Moenchengladbach top, a Warden Hodges helmet and a wig (presumably supposed to be a mullet?) For me, you can wear what you want at these shows, but I think that last feature needs working on. And it was great to meet up with my old school pal Richard, who now lives down Cambridge way. Admittedly it was only a week since we had met in Pontefract for a Thai meal, so there wasn’t that much catching up to be done.
I had a chat with Miles who was in charge of merchandise sales, in the absence of Geoff. Of course I was really just sniffing around, trying to find out if anything was likely to be filling in the forthcoming lack of fixture action. At the time of writing, there is far too long to wait to the next scheduled gig (Bilston, February 2017). Near enough eight months. Unfortunately Miles was unable to confirm anything definite to fill in that gap.
A new-look Sonnenberg were the support. There was Zinney on guitar/vocals and Saul on tablas, as usual. But this time they also featured a cellist and a backing vocalist. Zinney explained that they are the “softer” side of the (Probe Plus) label. They launched (if that is what they do) into The End Of The Rain and other songs may have been called New Morning and We Don’t Want Another War. Zinney advised us to “Always stay positive, even though the world is bad.” That is sound advice, but is easier said than done. And I would have been a lot more positive if they had played Sweet Life, which appears to have been dropped from their set.
In the interval, a guy came up to me and introduced himself as John Anderson. I always like to know who I am talking to, and quickly established the presence of the “h” in his first name. So, not the Yes vocalist. John Anderson, not Jon Anderson goes back a long way with HMHB but doesn’t catch them as much these days. I hope he can get to one of these evenings again soon.
In theory, HMHB were going to make their stage entrance to a Tchaikowsky composition. In reality, as Nigel agreed, “It didn’t happen. I would have walked on to Frankie Teardrop by Suicide.”
Tony was soon punching the air, as his prediction for HMHB’s opening song (Shit Arm Bad Tattoo) was played. Neil’s request to turn off one of the stage lights made note-taking more difficult than it otherwise would have been. Most of the time I couldn’t read what I was writing, but I suppose that is nothing new.
Karen and I had been reading The Cambridge News in the afternoon. Nigel had obviously bought the same paper, judging by some of his comments through the evening. He referred to The May Bumps rowing competition, and was very pleased with himself for being able to pronounce Caius correctly.
He also mentioned a Cambridge resident who was turning 100 as featured in the paper. Later on he came to a feature where Cambridge United were looking for applicants to be their mascot, Marvin The Moose. As well as pondering the reasons why the previous Marvin lost the job, Nigel asked if anyone in the audience would be applying. He said that Tranmere’s mascot is a man dressed as a syringe. “Syringey.”
The final Cambridge News reference covered the village of Hinxton whose residents are suffering the “nightmare” of having lorries being directed by GPS through the village. Nigel commented that it was a good thing that they didn’t have guns at home.
There was one other thing in the paper that he might, or might not, have noticed. Tonight’s gig was in the Listings section. As it didn’t qualify specifically as Folk/Country, Jazz or Classical, it was lumped in with everything else in the “Other Music” section.
During a break for tuning-up, Nigel nodded towards Ken. “Collects Lladro,” he said, “just like Mark Lawrenson does. I think this is cover for something else.” I lost the thread of the conversation after that, but somehow it got round to Mark possibly also having a collection of small shoes.
The not-very-often-played Dickie Davies Eyes went down well, with an interesting segway into He Who Would Valium Take. You could hardly see the join. There was a shout for Vatican Broadside, to which Nigel responded that Frank Turner does it better, although it did appear in the set later on. Avram Grant was spotted in the audience. Tony asked what about Russell Grant, and suggested that they might meet at Grantfest at Grantchester. To which Nigel replied that this was getting a bit Rupert Brooke. “And is there still heroin for tea?”
There was the usual swapping of instruments with Ken playing bass and Neil playing guitar on Bane Of Constance, as well as 27 Yards Of Dental Floss (“That was for Mrs Jay”), which followed. With Neil being on my side of the stage for those two songs, I was able to take a closer look at his X Ray Spex Germ Free Adolescents t-shirt.
We were told that Bauke Mollema is 20/1 for a podium finish in the Tour De France.
After Restless Legs, Nigel was asked if he has any pets. He replied to this by recalling his own national shite day. This was Saturday 22 August 2015 when his dog died that morning. To console himself, he went to watch “The Rovers” (I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him call them that) in the afternoon. But they lost to Boreham Wood. So he took himself off for a walk in the evening. But when he was half way round, it started raining with one of the worst rainstorms that he remembers. As a footnote, he added that he also had a pet chameleon, but that died of exhaustion after trying to get across a tartan rug. There was a lively moshpit for most of the gig, but it was particularly active during Trumpton Riots. Security moved in to have a look, but did not need to take action. However he did succeed in blocking Karen’s view for a short while.
In tonight’s version of “Dean Friedman”, Bette Midler had a puma. Nigel was told afterwards that a puma is as dangerous as a tumour. Nigel started talking about The Surrey Puma. He suggested that his heckler should go and find it. There was a shout for “Ted Moult”. Nigel played the first few notes.
When the band came back on stage for the encore, there was a shout of “I love you, Nigel” to which he replied “Straight back at you.” Nigel said it was hot on stage and we should spare a thought for Carl before they played New Rose.
The list of songs was
Shit Arm Bad Tattoo
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Old Age Killed My Teenage Bride
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Monmore Hare’s Running
Dickie Davies Eyes
He Who Would Valium Take
A Lilac Harry Quinn
Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Bane Of Constance
Twenty-Seven Yards Of Dental Floss
Here Stands The Glass
Vatican Broadside
Look Dad No Tunes
Restless Legs
National Shite Day
For What Is Chatteris?
The Trumpton Riots
1966 And All That
Tommy Walsh’s Eco House
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Gubba Lookalikes
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Everything’s AOR
And three in the encore
New Rose
Time Flies By When You’re The Driver Of A Train
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Afterwards I talked briefly with Peter. Born in Ely, he is particularly impressed when they play “Chatteris”.
None of us were totally sure about pub closures in the vicinity, having previously experienced early (11 o’clock} closure at The Flying Pig. So the Travelodge bar felt like the best option for Tony, Andrew, Karen, Mariana, Ian and me. I had my first ever bottle of Stella Artois Cidre. Thanks to all of them for technical assistance with all of this. Everyone was happy with such an excellent show, but were a bit glum at the thought of having to possibly wait for so long for the next one in Bilston. Let’s hope for some news over the summer. In the meantime I’m left in agreement with the guy whose quote brought Peter’s article to a close. “If there’s a better night to be had, tell me about it and I’ll do that instead.”
12 June 2016
EXXO
Ha! “Howie, struggling with a knee injury, opted for a place at the front rather than in the mosh pit.” I have long suspected this to be the wayward attititude of those who hog the barrier, and seem surprised & even disgruntled when they are jostled, etc, but never actually seen it in writing that they believe this not to be a rightful part of the moshpit. Didn’t use to happen say 20 years ago.
12 June 2016
dr desperate
Worth waiting for that, Roger – apologies for pre-empting some of your comments with less accurate spoilers.
On the subject of Villa’s ground, I never did receive a reply from Randy Lerner to my suggestion that he introduce some gridiron-style razzle-dazzle by renaming it The Aston Houstrodome. Don’t suppose I will now.
12 June 2016
Brumbiscuit
I’m not normally one to support violence, but confusing St Andrew’s with the other Birmingham side is worthy of a chastisement…
12 June 2016
John Anderson
Nice of Roger to mention our meeting. I just wanted to thank him for all the entertaining reviews down the years. He’s a very pleasant chap. When I asked him why he doesn’t contribute here, he paraphrased the quote on Gez’s site saying he doesn’t need “more dynamism”.
He’s not the first to comment on my name, of course. Funnily enough I have a friend called Tony Banks so we’re a good way towards forming a prog rock supergroup.
12 June 2016
CARRIE ANNE
The old ways are certainly the best, thanks for posting Roger’s report. The Cambridge gig dovetailed into Wakefield’s Long Division Fest (The Membranes’ age-defying antics proved particularly entertaining), and all that autographing of magazines, posing for ‘selfies’ etc., has been keeping us busy.
12 June 2016
Paul Rodgers
A couple of points:
1) I think I could be vocalist in this supergroup;
2) Mark Lawrenson and Lladró- could it be that Lladró and Lawro are pronounced the same? I don’t know, but it is a question that’s lurked in corners of my mind since Thursday night.
12 June 2016
paRsfan
There’ll be other gigs between now and Bilston. Tranmere’s fixture list comes out on 6th July, so some time after that.
14 June 2016
EXXO
There was a rumour a while back that Carl was going to be working overseas. That still on the cards, anyone?
14 June 2016
Idiots and pigeons
Another fantastic evening just a shame we had to miss Cardiff, I doubt we will be missing anymore though. I must admit I feel somewhat irked as being referred to as a ‘heckler’ after politely informing Nigel that a puma is as deadly as a tumour. A cry to my left of “especially these days” cementing the idea. I also must rebut the claim that Nigel suggested I go and find it. The following link shows that he took it all in good spirit and as I recall at the time he found it most amusing when I softly called out the point. He even offers to accompany me on a Surrey based puma hunt.
I was suprised it only took 3 attempts of me telling him I loved him for him to reciprocate (or deflect) the feeling. The first occasion (Holmfirth) he stepped down from his pedestal and proclaimed: I wish my guitar loved me and would stay in tune, it’s gone so far out its coming back round again. The second at Southampton was acknowledged with “you wouldn’t have to live with me” before questioning me on my whereabouts earlier that day and if I was at Flowerdown Barrows.
Overall a fantastic night marred only by a slight altercation towards the end and the inevitable bruised heels. I only hope that another gig is announced before February as that is too long a wait!
21 June 2016
Nige
You’re right, having read the rest of your “humorous interjections”, I can think of a much more apposite description than “heckler”
21 June 2016
Idiots and pigeons
And where I must ask have you read of my contributions? When I have spoken with Nigel he said he likes it when the crowd engages and that it help tale his mind of the daunting job at hand.
I did not talk over him, I did not interrupt whilst he was playing? I was not rude so why are you being so? This unfortunately seems to be a bit of a running theme the less than friendly nature to newbies from veteran ‘Biscuiters’. by most but not all I hasten to add.
21 June 2016
CHARLES EXFORD
I was rude to a newbie recently, due to a sheer accumulation of factors which I felt were somewhat temporarily dragging this great site down: attitudes which could bring this site into disrepute and alienate some users; a disregard for the English language which could do likewise (no way do we expect correct grammar & spelling all the time but a bit of an effort surely on a site dedicated to great verse and pedantry); repeatedly copying from Wikipedia only with worse grammar. Contrary to what some might suppose it had nothing whatsoever to do with him opening endorsing a particular football cult (or how would I have got on with Taylo all those years on Yahoo), though there was one post in that regard to which I took strong, silent umbrage.
I am the grumpiest old Hector on here I reckon, but have only ever been rude to one newbie. Well possibly one a half but I get on famously with Acidic Mike in Quicksand these days. More ruded against than ruding over the years I feel.
Of course any HMHB site should rightly be an Area of Outstanding Natural Sarcasm, and that’s not to be confused with rudeness.
Anyway welcome Idiots and Pigeons (you never thought you’d see Charles Exford write that, did you?) that’s a good username and I’m sure it’s in no way indicative that you will be my nemesis, even though I am currently ever deeper at war with the flying rats over what they have done to my TV aerial, messing up reception at many key moments during the Euros. But as long as Cafe Bars and Umbrellas stays off here, we should be OK.
21 June 2016
CHARLES EXFORD
And before anyone suggests it, no you will not get me up there on the roof to try to sort it out. Why is Rod Hull Dead???
21 June 2016
Bobby SVARC
Pearson Out!
21 June 2016
cafe bars and umbrellas
Right, that’s it, I’m off.
21 June 2016
Rubber faced iRritant
One and a half? One and a half? My flabber is gasted.
If you’ve posted on here more than three times and not been the subject ( or is it object?) of an Exxo put down then you should claim a Crackerjack pencil. And how the saintly CtSO hasn’t spontaneously combusted as a result of some of your barbs I’ll never know.
But a bit of controversy is part of this site’s appeal.
22 June 2016
cafe bars and umbrellas
Crackerjack!!
22 June 2016
Nige
But a bit of controversy is part of this site’s appeal.
(Apparently not). Although hopefully CtSO’s email was my final dressing down 😉
22 June 2016
EXXO
Our boy Mollema tucked in nicely in joint 5th as we head into the second week and the Pyrenees. Paddy’s 300/1 is still there (in effect the e/w bet is a 37.5/1 punt on him snatching 3rd place) and surely won’t last much longer
8 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
Steve Cummins wins S 7, Mollema still joint 5th.
8 July 2016
EXXO
Tell you what, our Trek-pedalling front man is given us a hell of a run for our money here. As so often, a bit of a flutter gives me more appreciation of an alien sport.
10 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
Needs a few fallers/retirements say’s my man on the spot.
10 July 2016
EXXO
Spectacularly clever timing from these Trek crosswind specialists here, might get a bit of time for our boy and watch those top 3 odds tumble.
13 July 2016
EXXO
Should have waited longer than a minute before I posted the above. Please delete this one and that one. Froome and Sly still in charge, but like I say, still plenty of mileage in NB10’s tip and crash-outs can happen at any time to any number of riders. Still 6=
13 July 2016
bobby svarc
More by luck than judgement but I’ve had five stage wins up to now, 3 Cav and 2 Sagan. Might draw stumps now and blow my winnings on the grandkids new Leicester and Barca kits.
14 July 2016
ExXO
haha needs fallers is right !!! What a fiasco on Mont Ventoux there!
Our boy might be in the yellow jersey tonight!!!
First he was unlucky to hit the pile-up there after such a brave ride … but then lucky to get a minute and a half up on Froome … and now he’s gonna be unlucky to have it taken off him again by the jury I reckon. But that’s what they’ll do.
14 July 2016
ExXO
You can’t find 20/1 on our boy to win the tour right now and we’re on 37.5/1 for the podium.
14 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
3rd Overall after revised times. Tough TT tomorrow but, you never know. 25/1 with 365 btw
14 July 2016
EXXO
Yeah I wasn’t suggesting anyone would want to back him now, just pointing out what we were sitting on (I had a few quid at well over 300/1 on betfair). I also took some nearly 3/1 on him to finish top 6 yesterday!!
14 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
Now 4th. Yates isn’t a threat really, is he?. Lumpy TT tomorrow as well.
14 July 2016
EXXO
Come on down, in your Trek polymer,
To see the mighty Bauke Mollema,
Come on down to the tour, don’t want to go home.
Don’t want to go home, don’t want to go HO-O-OME,
This is the best TIP, I’ve ever been on!
15 July 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
Tour de France always makes me think of Eddy Merkyx. There exists a fascinating biography out there. Half Man Half Bike.
15 July 2016
dr desperate
Think on when you’re up against de Gendt.
15 July 2016
Kennyp
Have come late to this, so can I ask where all the interest in Mollema comes from? Something mentioned in a gig maybe?
He’s certainly going great at the moment.
15 July 2016
Chris The Siteowner
Yeah, Kenny, one brief comment by NB10 at the Cambridge gig (see Roger Green review above) has resulted in yet another tedious betting commentary. They only do it because they know how much it irritates me.
15 July 2016
EXXO
I’m actually devastated to hear you’re not on the tip yourself Chris (‘cos that’s what it was, a proper tip from a proper expert who knew more about it than most of the odds-setters). Hope this thread will turn out to be lucrative for a few others on here (would be interested to hear who else got on the 37.5/1 for a place – he can now be laid off at evens). In terms of run for money, getting me into a sport I’m normally not that bothered by and unexpected thrills and spills it’s genuinely the best tip I’ve ever been on.
16 July 2016
bobby svarc
£5 E/W @200/1 with Bet364
16 July 2016
EXXO
One thing that’s been adding to the excitement of it all is that I’ve been teaching a particularly tedious class till 3pm in a big room with really good audio visuals. When they leave the room I stick the tour on a big screen, sit at the back and try to do me marking or whatever. As they were climbing Ventoux the other day I put ‘Bastille Day’ by Rush on the impressive sound system to irk any passing purists, and when I looked up our boy seemed to have rugby tackled Froome and squashed his bike, reducing the latter to limping up the mountain. Who knew cycling could be like this? (NB10, probably).
16 July 2016
Kennyp
Cheers Chris. Always glad to see cycling on here (or anywhere). I was one of the folk bantering with Nigel about the Tour of Romandie at Glasgow a few years ago. I was pleased to hear I wasn’t the only one going home to watch the highlights after the gig.
16 July 2016
EXXO
Yes, this is about Nigel Blackwell’s favourite sport and his knowledge thereof, as reflected through an exciting little punt, and only partly about the punt itself, though punting has long been a significant reference point within HMHB culture.
I have just written a long informative email to Bauke Mollema (or his “people” more likely), for much the same reasons that I wrote a short email 5 years ago to certain other citizens of Leeuwarden. I’ve told them all about the circumstances of the tip from a fellow Trek rider and why he has our support this week and forever. Bauke is perhaps a little busy at the moment, but in the unlikely event of a reply I shall let you know.
Anyway, happy birthday Nigel,hope you enjoy the stage in peace today. Thanks for the best tip ever, and I know you wouldn’t wish it yourself, even if like us you’re on the bet each way and not just place only, but here’s hoping for the best present the mountain gods could bestow…. a massive Sly pile up, leaving the Trek Espresso to surge ahead and no wriggle room for the jury to give them back the time.
18 July 2016
EXXO
Terrible news that yesterday about Carol Boardman of course. Yet another Wirral/Merseyside cyclist mown down in North Wales. As I’ve said before, ‘See that My Bike’s Kept Clean’ is not just a skit but a very dark, hard-hitting song about real every day possibilities. Take care out there Nigel and everyone else.
18 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
Lost a chunk of time today.
20 July 2016
EXXO
I laid at prices averaging 1.67 a couple of days ago, so at least I make an easy £100 if it all goes pedals up.
20 July 2016
EXXO
With the race winner market more or less settled, the podium market has suddenly exploded, and it seems to me that Mollema going from evens out to almost 5/2 overnight is more a reflection of punters trying to get interest in other contenders for 2nd and 3rd, than it is of our boy suddenly being much less likely to pode himself. For the sheer consistency of our team, the 9/4 with several firms (and nearly 5/2 on the exchange) may well be a very tradeable price at the end of today’s stage.
22 July 2016
EXXO
Ouch. Carnage.
22 July 2016
Bobby SVARC
Ah well, Fun while it lasted, all over for him now.
22 July 2016