2005 - Pembrokshire - Djr

Nice Guy Tony, Sophie, Jo and myself spent a long weekend tucked away in Sophie's parents cottage. Fab indulgent days of reading (me getting pissy about everyone reading f@*cking Dan Brown!!), drinking wine, fish and chips from a proper chippy, long walks along the beach and wild cliffs.

2005 - Jesmon Dene / Devil's Quarry - Nice Guy Tony, Dominic M

July: the same day I left the Agency for the very last time (14th July) I grabbed a flight to Newcastle with Tony and Dom.

Simon joined us the next day.

For Tony & Dom it was thier first time in Newcastle. It was 5 days of self indulgence. Playing a bit of CoC, but then spending 2 days playing Warrior Knights, and evenings sitting out on the decking drinking wine, burning logs on the Chimenia keeping us warm.

Jesmond Dene has a magical, mystical aura that can't be described in words - you've simply got to be there. It's as if the history of the land has never been diluted by man's hand. It's there - lurking in the steep tree-lines, in the noctural shadows that cling to the pathways even in the middle of the day.

2005 - Jesmond Dene / Devil's Quarry - Dominic M, Djr, Nice Guy Tony

For me - coming to Newcastle was a celebration of leaving the Agency, but more importantly it was a chance to share a special part of my life (the Dene) with people who are special to me. Dom will be leaving for the Middle East soon, perhaps permantly, he will be missed.

2005 - Newcastle - Dominic M, Nice Guy Tony

This is the Tyne Bridge, printed on the label of every bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale. This was thier first full day in the North East - great memory for me of doing the walk from Jesmond to town, then walking down to the Quayside and seeing parts of the city I've not seen in 15 years, if not longer.

2005 - Jesus Mound - Nice Guy Tony

July: Almost in some surreal repeat of our trip snowboarding in Italy, Tony got wasted, became very loud, and then went upstairs to collapse. I grabbed a role of electrical duct tape and taped a fishing rod to one hand, a rifle to the other hand, and his feet to his head.

Then the neighbour stumbled over from next door - absolutely smashed- and I managed to coax her into going upstairs to check on Tony. A quick nudge from me was all it took to send her sprawling on top of Tony.

Tony bless him was utterly confused why there was some middle-aged mum clambering all over him in bed. I used my foot to keep her down as she drunkenly tried to struggle back onto her feet. Evil, I know...

Simon P got me back by smearing toothpaste all over my bed sheets. I went to bed with the blast of minty freshness in my buthole.

2005 - Jesus Mound - Dominic M, Nice Guy Tony, Simon P

July

2005 - Jesus Mound - Neighbour's kids, Nice Guy Tony

The girls next door wanted to shave somebody's head. Tony lived up to his monicker, was nice, and allowed them to butcher his vanity.

2005 - Wookey Hole Caves

July: I know it's a terrible thing to say, and I'm sorry, but... I saw this guy and immediatly thought 'wow, it's matthias in the morning before his first cup of coffee'. I mean, I lived above his flat for four years, I saw him in all his beautiful guises, but pre-coffee, early morning, never a pretty site.

2005 - Wookey Hole - Djr

Another not pretty sight.

2005 - Wookey Hole - Oj, Djr

July: Jo had shrunk in the wash.

2005 - Boston Tea Party - Samantha

July: Met her at Mr Parkers fantastic party couple of weeks back.

She's planning to move to London, study fashion, then drive round Europe in a camper van with her young girl designing clothes. A very cool lady

2005 - Bristol - Dominic

July: So Dom's always been known as Mr Random. One day he and his wife are swimming in a pool in South Bristol - near a scum ridden area called Bedminster. Suddenly there are loud crashes and lots of terrified shouting from one end of the pool. Attendants start urging people to get out of the water. Why? Because a bunch of Bedminster scum have decided to start throwing rocks through the glass windows of the pool. The glass is going into the water. What's worse, is that although the attendants have got people out of the water they seem too afraid to call the police. Afraid of the scum.

Dom was never afraid. So he gets dressed and hurries outside to see what's going on. A group of teenagers are breaking rocks and flinging them up at the windows. It's 3pm. Daylight. Nobody is challenging them or stopping them.

Dom has a go at one of them. Shouting. Several of the teenagers come over. There's an animal energy radiating amongst them. Thick bedminster scum. No brain. No life. No hope. Dom senses he's in trouble so jumps over a fence to get away. More teenagers swarm over and start to attack. Punches start hitting him in the head. Two people are coming up to grab him from behind. Somebody slams a rock into his face. Dom goes down onto one knee, blood pouring from his face. THe scum don't stop. They keep attacking. They want to kill him. It's as simple as that.

Dom's wife is Chinese. She's come out to find Dom. She see's two young men about to grab Dom from behind so they can do more damage. His wife delivers a martial art jab to one of them, striking a nerve cluster- interrupting his breathing. She grabs the other man and rips his T-shirt. The young man is aghast... his T-shirt! Never mind the human being hurt and bleeding by his feet. Dom's wife manages to intimidate them to back off, giving Dom the room to make his escape.

The Bedminster idiot with the ripped T-shirt demands that they buy him a new one. Dom's wife says "Sure, come with us to the hospital and we'll buy you one there."

The idiot actually believes her at first and starts to follow.