2003 - Wells - Red, Oj

May: After New Zealand I had another five days to chill before returning to work. Bought Lord of the Rings on DVD; jet lag had us both up until 6am watching it on one day.

Fantastic last couple of days; waking up on early Sunday, hitting town, buying a copy of the New Scientist, went into Boston Tea Party. The day was glorious, sunshine and a fresh breeze; for the past three years my choice of cafe location has been dictated (like a tyranny) by the need for a power-point for my laptop. After three years I'm sick of this. So I sat out in the garden and used pen and paper, making notes from the magazine for new stories. Met up with Matthias, we hung out like old days, drunk coffee, ate ice cream clam shells down by the harbour. I had just bought the first series of TWIN PEAKS on DVD; something I have wanted to do since the days of 1996 when Matthias used to live in the flat below mine and we spent weeks watching twin peaks episodes taped from the TV; the memory of that time was wonderful, although some episodes were missing and the quality of the video was often awful. We always talked about recreating it. Well this day was our chance. We sat down and watched almost the entire first series in one day: fantastic.

In the same day, Jo calls me from outside Matthias's flat, 'Come outside', she says. We step out and see she's fulfilled the plan for our summer this year, one VW Camper Van. Matthias and I clambered inside - mint condition, really really lovely - grinning like kids and we went for a drive.

2003 -Rhossili- Oj inside Red

2003 - Rhossili- Djr inside Red

2003 - Rhossili - Red

It was a lazy start to a Saturday, drinking lots of cups of coffee sprawled on the blankets I have on the floor beside the DVD player. Finally loaded a few kitchen items into a plastic wash basin, scooped up the blankets and carried it out to the VW. Destination: Gower, South coast of Wales.

Driving Red was fab; despite being what 25+ years old she was as smooth as butter melting on a hot scone. Jo did a top job as usual, being a dude of a driver in any situation.

It's got a wicked noise, so unique, and every few cars we get a smile or wave. Good vibe city. Red is in mint condition, she's been converted to unleaded, is lovely inside and has a fab sound system.

Went via The Mumbles to Rhossili, parked up overlooking a wonderful beach and a rocky outcrop called Worms Head (will be using this location for both Game and some written work). Brewed our first cup of coffee on Red's stove, sat grinning as the sun slowly set, a tough breeze blowing around the stark hills and the scattering of white-washed houses. It would have been the perfect location to sleep (could hear the surf down below) but sadly the carpark had a sign saying 'Strictly No Overnight Camping', this is a really fun-killing and irksome statement. I would have loved to have woken up to that beach. As it was we watched the sun set then packed up and parked a couple of miles away in a laybay on a country lane. We pulled out the bed, closed all the curtains, turned off the lights, and climbed in.

We drove to Kidwelly and cooked breakfast below the incredible apron walls of Kidwelly Castle. The castle itself is a 'must' to visit. Enough of it is still intact, and you clamber all over it, that you get a real sense of what it must have been like back then. Great visuals for Game (Medieval).

Then we drove on to Carreg Cannen Castle; a less impressive structure but it's location is incredible, perched high over the surrounding countryside on a limestone outcrop like some residence for Dr Frankenstein or Count Vlad.

2003 - Oj inside Red

2003 - Kidwelly Castle

I was impressed by the access to the labyrinth of rooms once you passed through the first doors; either side to left and right to could explore numerous interconnected or isolated chambers. There was also a jail, including a circular 'drop hole' where prisoners would be lowered and perhaps never let out.

Above this gateway are the Constable's apartments, including a small hall, with control of porticullus and access to three murder holes; slots in the floor where missles could be dropped on people below.

2003 - Devon - Oj

It was the weekend Kelvin (Sharky) came down; first time in a long time. We all met up at Jo's house in Cheltenham, I cooked dinner and we ploughed through the wine. Lovely to see him outside of the usual Game environment.

Next morning Jo and I packed Red and set off for Cornwall; got as far as the junction to join the motorway, it was a bank holiday weekend and the motorway was not moving, rammed with carvans heading South. Plan B, enjoy ourselves and our time in Bristol today and do the trip tomorrow; worked a treat, we had a fab day in the Boston Tea Party (breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh salmon washed down with two cups of exquisite coffee).

Next morning we changed our plan and headed for Devon; got there in a flash. There were some nutty moments taking the VW across the moors, and tackling steep hills but Jo drove like a dude and we managed to avoid the 25% slope leading to Lynmouth.

Found a campsite, parked up, chilled with tunes and coffee; then walked down through gorgeous woods to the nearest town; fish & chips on a bench, delicious wine later on.

Next morning the sunrise was beautiful, intense yellows as the sun lanced between the curtains in Red.

2003 - Djr with a haircut

2003 - Newcastle - World Headquarters - Djr, Yaz

June: As per tradition: I met up with Ciaran at the Italian restaurant, waited for closing time, then walked down to World Headquarters. Sadly, WHQ have relocated to a new premises and it's lost a lot of its original ecclectic charm as it tries to be like another 'big club'. Walked upstairs and in the sweaty low-light I picked out the unmistakeable mass of crazy hair that was Yasmin. I sneaked up behind her and waited for her to notice me, grinning at her friends who thought I was some odd bloke on the pull.

2003 - Newcastle - World Headquarters - Ciaran Capt Vast

June: I love this guy.

2003 - Newcastle - outside Tyneside Coffee Rooms - Yaz

June: This image was taken on the infamous 'Coffee Day' - I had been spending all day at home, in my old bedroom writing and working on a revamp of Heist, loving in. But I had a rendezvous planned with Yasmin. Part of me did not want to go coz I was so wrapped up in writing but I tore myself away and went to meet her; already buzzing on coffee at home, I necked another 3 very strong ones in town; Yasmin and I bumped into her b/f Ian who insisted we came to a new bar called Popalos, where I drank more coffee - my teeth started grinding and my eyeballs were literally rolling back in their sockets.

Ian started plonking whiskey's down in front of me, followed by Black Forest Gateux cocktails, followed by 747's, followed by more alcohol. I became royally fcked. Walked home through rain happy as a bunny. Alcohol wore off, coffee kicked back in. Did not get to sleep until after 5am. Woke up feeling like death. Decided to stop drinking coffee. Next day woke up 4.30am with cold sweat, shivering, heart palpitations, hallucinations and dry retching at sight of food. This lasted for 3 days. Rang doctor: cold turkey, coffee withdrawl. Mad.

2003 - Newcastle -Mum

June: being able to 'work from home' gave me the fantastic freedom to be able to spend more time up North, with my family, without needing to drain my annual leave.

Dad's condition had deteriorated. He was no longer able to walk without assistance, and the medication had caused massive weight gain... he looked like a giant beach ball...his expanded body straining at the seams of his clothes. Getting him in and out of a chair took superhuman strength, and so mum's own health suffered... and she lost a lot of weight through physical effort and anxiety. Luckily, the social services in Newcastle were amazing. Nurses came in the morning to get Dad out of bed, wash him, dress him, and help him downstairs... and the same again in the evening, putting him to bed. During the day, though, Dad spent his life in the big red articulated armchair... zoned-out on TV which he usually had blasting full volume... it usually meant the rest of the family had to congregate in the kitchen until his bed time came.

2003 - Heaton / Newcastle - Djr

June: A walk with Yaz led to a vast walk through many of my old haunts, and then I ended up here. The old house in Heaton. Christ.

This is where I grew up between 1970 and 1980. The image of me as a child (in the red suit) is from 1975.

I knocked the door of the house but the people inside were not answering. I would have loved to have walked in. Especially as I've had nightmares about this house with a recurring theme for years, I'm inside and I find a doorway that was never there before, and it leads upstairs to a place I never knew existed....

2003 - Malverns VW Festival - Red, Djr

Jo and I head to a festival for V-dubs.

2003 - Malverns VW Festival - Bob

July: one of the many interesting characters I met there.

2003 - Malverns VW Festival - Random Characters

2003 - Malverns VW Festival - Random Characters

2003 - Budokan - Garry Gordon

Garry has been a friend for a couple of years now; met him through the Agency. An Australian, he has a senior position in Head Office but office politic bullshit washes over us and we get on with just knowing each other as individuals. Intelligent guy, very direct and good fun to hang out with.

We normally get together every few months to enjoy our mutual passion for sushi.

2003 - London- Chanell

Get a random E-mail from a woman who's found my web-site and wants to say 'hi'. We strike up a good bond on-line so I jump on a bus and go see her in London.

2003 - Covent Gardens / London - Ben Mears

July: Cafe Nero - the next morning I found myself talking to Jo on the telephone on a Friday morning saying "Yeah I got what I wanted but what was the price?"

Met up with Ben, which was an utter delight. He's scored some more freelance work but is frustrated about having to chase for every penny. Several grand outstanding at this point in time. Meanwhile, he's designed a game called Naru. We played a few rounds on his laptop in Covent Gardens, simple yet fab.

2003 - London - Louis W

It was still Friday morning. I left Ben in Covent Gardens and made my way to see Louis in his Sky Palace.

Last time I saw Louis he had just had recently had a terrible experience in his apartment building, an urgent knocking on his door, open door to see a man standing there covered in blood with a hole through his neck, man collapses into Louis' hallway, Louis runs upstairs and finds a room full of butchered bodies. Is this fiction? Sadly not. Massacre. A fact. So, when I saw Louis this weekend, I saw a big yellow POLICE sign asking for information about MURDER. I said to Louis, "They're still looking into that murder?" Louis' face darknened, "No, this is ANOTHER murder, downstairs last week," Jesus. Louis made lots of proper tea in a pot and we talked; good words about relationships, how most people in relationships turn inwards towards each other, he liked the fact that I still maanaged to draw new people into my life. He admired the love Jo and I have for each other.

He told me about the recent walk he did in Scotland, 54 miles in 24 hours non stop. He did it. Well done.

2003 - The Happy Flat - Nicky

July: Met Nicky at Slinky's @ Creation, one night of clubbing in Bristol.

There was an immediate connection. Fun party girl. Back to her pad with Alex to find Matt on her sofa (Brad Pitt character from True Romance). Dawn breaks and we're still awake. Nina arrives (whirlwind of blonde hair and nails and mad tales from clubland).

Nicky and I keep in touch, and start to meet for lunch every few weeks as she her place of work was just up the road from mine.

2003 - out in the sticks near Cheltenham

Friday night I jumped on a train to Bristol, then on to Cheltenham to pay Jo a surprise visit. She was not there. Arrgh! Rang her: Lloyds. Both of them came back and we spent a fab night in getting mashed on wine and watching Big Brother. Next day for me was a perfect day. Jo left for work, I spent whole day in dressing gown, alternating between writing (finished rewrite of Heist) and sitting out in sun, Jo came back and we spent rest of evening outside in garden, drinking G&T and eating olives, holding hands blissed out in the setting sun. Sunday was a short hope to see Tracy & Stewart, currently living in Arizona but back for a few days.

2003 - Happy Flat - Sharky, Djr

Game weekend. Kelvin arrives on the Friday night (from Reading) and we do Budokan. Kelvin has recently moved (escaped) London to live in Reading with his longterm girlfreind Natalia. They've got plans to be living in Spain this time next year. Kelvin has never looked so good or so happy in life and himself. Whatever Natalia is doing to him, it's positive. Great to see him, as always.

Kelvin tried playing Grand Theft Auto Vice City - I drank half a bottle of whisky with the stress of watching...and ended up spending an hour laughing myself into tears.

2003 - Happy Flat - Dominic Mr Random

Game. I've known Dom properly since around '97. During that time he's transformed from a socially challenged introvert to a really confident and truly lovely bloke - much helped by his long term relationship with a Chinese woman called Lucy. It's Dom's parents mansion in Clifton that hosted many Game sessions in 1999 onwards.

2003 - Happy Flat - Akr

My sister comes to Bristol and pay me a visit. She has not been down to Bristol for four years, and I've not seen her in seven months.

For her, it was a chance to reflect on her life as it was last time she was here, just before she began university. For me, it was a chance to hang out with a best friend. She's looking great.

2003 - Huxley

Also known as Duggy Reloaded. Duggy was the original cat, the one that was only a kitten when I first moved into the Happy Flat and Vega$ lived downstairs. Last year Vega$ found Duggy in the garden at the front of the house with his spine crushed, barely alive, somebody from the scummy area had stamped on him. It's the only time I have ever seen Vega$ cry or show any emotion. Huxley is a fine replacement.

2003 - Ashley Road / Bristol - Akr, Vega$

Hey that's my sister!

2003 - Ashley Road / Bristol - Vega$

Matthias gets into a new on-line craze called House Gymastics.

2003 - Happy Flat - Akr

I dyed her hair black. She bleached mine blonde. Notice Mr Tamaki standing on the fireplace in the background.

2003 - Bristol - Akr

I used this image in a photo exhib, and called it "The Hacker".

2003 - Bristol - Djr

Akr and I did Budokan, then wandered around the city.

2003 - Castle of Tranquility - Djr, Akr

We paid a visit to Sonja and Zed.

2003 - Castle of Tranquility - Sonja, Zed, Akr

This was an absolutely lovely night.

2003 - Watershed Cafe / Bristol - James Mad Biologist

Jules Ms Scarlet goes away on holiday and needs somebody to look after her cat. Jo says No Problem. Jules goes on holiday. Then Jo says, "Baby, I live in Cheltenham, can you look after the cat?"

What choice do I have? Oj and I go to the Tobacco factory for a quiet drink. Next table to us was this guy pouring over a newspaper, chuckling to himself and making loud throwaway remarks. I thought 'annoying American'. But then we got chatting and it quickly transpired he was a very bright, interesting Canadian. Conversation flowed and so did the wine. Oj left us to it. I returned to Jules house covered in curry sauce and stinking of booze.

James is a character.