1. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982 Album)
Everybody loves a bit of ‘Wacko’ and with the influence of my older brother and sister I had no choice! Whilst I decided to master the moves Robin took a slightly different approach and mimicked the black shoes and white socks look. Ouch!
2. Otis Redding – The Dock of the Bay: Definitive Collection
Again very much under the influence of my brother I have come to love a bit of Otis. From ‘Love Man’ to ‘Try a little Tenderness’ he has it all and it’s a delight to listen to. If it appears in Shrek it must be good!
3. 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
With the nickname of ‘Scally Doyle’ at school my music tastes were as gangsta as my accent. Back in the shell-suit days Fiddy provided some of the best tunes to cruise around in my sister’s red Citroen AX – Badass! I also think I’ll use some of his lyrics on the mountain to give inspiration to Robin...”Go Shorty!”
4. Eminem – Encore
The man is a genius...simple. Being a white man trying to make it as a rapper is harder than a black man trying to make it as a swimmer! Marshall also provides some of the best music videos and genuinely doesn’t give a shit which celebs he offends. Is there a more inspirational song than “Lose Yourself”?
5. Kanye West – Graduation
As you can see the difference between mine and Robin’s Kanye selections say a lot. Firstly it highlights the age difference with the younger man choosing the more recent album. But more importantly there’s deeper meaning in the album titles – is it any surprise that I picked “Graduation” and Robin “College Dropout”?! You think you’ll be finishing any time soon mate?
6. Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
It doesn’t include “Superstition” but this is easily one of the best albums around as nothing else can simultaneously chill you out but make you want to dance. With songs including “Sir Duke”, “Isn’t she lovely?” and “Pastime Paradise” this is truly an album to cherish. Also is there a better tribute than Coolio covering one of your songs with “Gangsta’s Paradise”?
Book: The Hobbit
Unlike Robin I am not renowned for my extensive reading. I am constantly being reminded by my Dad that I need to read more because usually for me it consists of the sports pages of the newspaper (and maybe a cheeky peek at a page somewhere near the front!). But believe it or not I have been known to read a novel or two - and even a few history books at Uni as well! There has only been one book that thoroughly enthralled me from front-to-back and that was J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. This is a masterpiece of literary skills that with a bit of imagination provides one of the best storylines and comes off the page in a way that even Peter Jackson couldn’t do justice on screen. Magic!
Luxury: Football
Simple. It used to be my favourite present at Christmas and provided endless days of fun as a kid. I’d much rather have a footy at my feet than a games controller in my hands. If I was stuck on an island with nothing else then maybe I’d return good enough to be a professional? We can but hope!
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Robin's Discs
1 Rodrigo, Concerto de Aranjuez
I paid the price for my teenage Arseholery with this one; I borrowed it from my Spanish teacher who a week later tried and failed to play it to the class. Queue him holding me up as a paragon of studenthood and the rest of the class realising they had a prize brownnosing tit for a classmate. Seriously though, one of the best pieces of classical music I’ve ever heard.
2 Kanye West, College Dropout
A boy’s teenage years are a constant struggle to achieve and maintain that mythical status “coolness” and here was the golden ticket, sod the chocolate factory tour I wanted this album.. Added to this is the fact that behind all the bravado and Hip-hop priggishness I’m almost 80% confident that Kanye is a musical genius. Jesus walks – Southwood treks.
3 Ally McBeal Soundtrack
My guilty little secret; listening to this is about as Manly as lounging in your bedroom scoffing Haagen-Dazs in pink slippers and dressing gown whilst menstruating over a copy of Grazia. Boys simply shouldn’t own this album but there’s something perversely enjoyable about feeling your balls give you up for a lost cause as you hum along mincingly.
Sean and I will definitely “synchronise” half way up the mountain if this one is allowed on the plane.
4 Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
This album includes “The Chain” probably better known as the intro music to the Grand Prix.
I remember with fondness me and my father settling down to watch the race, my Granddad churlishly refusing to join in with the comment, “it’s not a sport if you can smoke whilst doing it” Quite where he got the idea that any of the drivers would be allowed to light up halfway round Nurburgring is anybody’s guess but if anyone has ever attempted it and lived, I doff my hat to them.
5 Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks
When you listen to Dylan it is as if sandpaper could sing, sandpaper with a Marlborough Red dangling from its grizzled mouth and a sore head. By far the best lyricist of his generation and my favourite solo artist of all time!
6 Michael Jackson, Off the Wall
The man was a walking Daz advert but however ludicrous his personal life became he was still a Stone-Cold-Floor-Filler; songs so ridiculously good that you couldn’t resist crotch grabbing and air kicking your way down the street when they came on.
Robin’s Book:
As many people know my tastes in reading are many and varied; ranging from the wooden economical didactics of Ayn Rand to the unashamed Horsey effluvia of Jilly Cooper novels. I have however, more by luck than judgement, managed to happen upon the occasional literary gem.
That’s exactly what happened with the book I’d choose to take with me, “Out of Africa” by Karen Blixen, which was forced upon me by my Grandfather.
The book is an examination of the quixotic nature of the African continent, its people and a joyous celebration of the evocative surroundings which held me spellbound for three sleepless nights. Here was someone whose heart had been touched by this magical continent, and so were sown the seeds of my own desire to visit this unique landscape.
Robins Luxury item:
Wisden Cricketing Almanac
I paid the price for my teenage Arseholery with this one; I borrowed it from my Spanish teacher who a week later tried and failed to play it to the class. Queue him holding me up as a paragon of studenthood and the rest of the class realising they had a prize brownnosing tit for a classmate. Seriously though, one of the best pieces of classical music I’ve ever heard.
2 Kanye West, College Dropout
A boy’s teenage years are a constant struggle to achieve and maintain that mythical status “coolness” and here was the golden ticket, sod the chocolate factory tour I wanted this album.. Added to this is the fact that behind all the bravado and Hip-hop priggishness I’m almost 80% confident that Kanye is a musical genius. Jesus walks – Southwood treks.
3 Ally McBeal Soundtrack
My guilty little secret; listening to this is about as Manly as lounging in your bedroom scoffing Haagen-Dazs in pink slippers and dressing gown whilst menstruating over a copy of Grazia. Boys simply shouldn’t own this album but there’s something perversely enjoyable about feeling your balls give you up for a lost cause as you hum along mincingly.
Sean and I will definitely “synchronise” half way up the mountain if this one is allowed on the plane.
4 Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
This album includes “The Chain” probably better known as the intro music to the Grand Prix.
I remember with fondness me and my father settling down to watch the race, my Granddad churlishly refusing to join in with the comment, “it’s not a sport if you can smoke whilst doing it” Quite where he got the idea that any of the drivers would be allowed to light up halfway round Nurburgring is anybody’s guess but if anyone has ever attempted it and lived, I doff my hat to them.
5 Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks
When you listen to Dylan it is as if sandpaper could sing, sandpaper with a Marlborough Red dangling from its grizzled mouth and a sore head. By far the best lyricist of his generation and my favourite solo artist of all time!
6 Michael Jackson, Off the Wall
The man was a walking Daz advert but however ludicrous his personal life became he was still a Stone-Cold-Floor-Filler; songs so ridiculously good that you couldn’t resist crotch grabbing and air kicking your way down the street when they came on.
Robin’s Book:
As many people know my tastes in reading are many and varied; ranging from the wooden economical didactics of Ayn Rand to the unashamed Horsey effluvia of Jilly Cooper novels. I have however, more by luck than judgement, managed to happen upon the occasional literary gem.
That’s exactly what happened with the book I’d choose to take with me, “Out of Africa” by Karen Blixen, which was forced upon me by my Grandfather.
The book is an examination of the quixotic nature of the African continent, its people and a joyous celebration of the evocative surroundings which held me spellbound for three sleepless nights. Here was someone whose heart had been touched by this magical continent, and so were sown the seeds of my own desire to visit this unique landscape.
Robins Luxury item:
Wisden Cricketing Almanac
Desert Island Dicks
The format is simple, relatively famous people are invited on air to hypothesise about their music choices were they to be stranded with no hope of rescue and only (incongruously) a gramophone for company.
Guests wax lyrical about their 6 tracks and their reasons for choosing them; sometimes self-servingly pompous, sometimes eccentrically unexpected but often illuminatingly poignant, these 6 discs can often tell you more about a person than the car they drive or the strength of their handshake (obviously)
The BBC recently decided to interview the Two Explorers to see what they will be taking on their real life Livingstonian adventure to Kilimanjaro.
Over the next two days we'll be releasing excerpts from their interviews, for the full transcript of the programme follow this link...http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobandSeandoKili
Guests wax lyrical about their 6 tracks and their reasons for choosing them; sometimes self-servingly pompous, sometimes eccentrically unexpected but often illuminatingly poignant, these 6 discs can often tell you more about a person than the car they drive or the strength of their handshake (obviously)
The BBC recently decided to interview the Two Explorers to see what they will be taking on their real life Livingstonian adventure to Kilimanjaro.
Over the next two days we'll be releasing excerpts from their interviews, for the full transcript of the programme follow this link...http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobandSeandoKili
Summit to chew on....facts about the Beaste that is Kilimanjaro
1: We used to own Mount Kilimanjaro but gave it away!
When Kaiser Wilhelm said to Queen Victoria that it was unfair that she had two mountains in Africa, she gave him one. If you look at the border between Tanzania and Kenya on a map, you will see how the line was redrawn to give Kilimanjaro to the German King. The straight line which cuts through the region has only one kink in it, much to the annoyance of pedantic colonial administrators, but then again what do you get a grandson, who already has an empire, for Christmas.
2: Centenary Man
One of the Tanzanian guides who assisted the first person to officially summit Kilimanjaro, Hans Meyer in 1889, was able to celebrate the centenary of that first climb at the ripe old age of 118 years. The secret to his longevity, fifty years dragging other peoples stuff up the mountain probably helped.
3: Oldest person to climb
The oldest person to successfully reach Kilimanjaro’s Peak was Valtee Daniel aged 87 years
4: Other Notable Climbers, no not those Sports relief tits, here are some truly inspiring stories.
South African Bernard Goosen twice scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. The three American veterans from three different conflicts with only one good leg among them have just completed their climb last month. And in 2009 a team of eight blind climbers successfully reached the summit, of those the youngest was the then thirteen year old Max Ashton.
5: Fastest Ascent & Descent
Unofficially the record is held by local boy Simon Mtuy who Duke of Yorked it in the Grand Old time of 8h 27m. To put this in perspective we’re aiming for 6 days or 18 times slower!
6: Pandora’s Box
On Uhuru Peak there is a wooden box containing a book in which people can record their impressions of the climb and leave commemorative mementoes. Among the stranger items left at the Roof of Africa include a set of false teeth and a vibrating sex aid (without batteries!) she/he obviously decided to record the climax of their adventure with a photo instead.
7: Beer Please
Local tribe The Chagga brew a unique drink on the mountain, Mbege or banana beer is actually sold in camps on Kilimanjaro. Knowing this William Hill have lengthened the odds on Sean and Robin reaching the summit; however, it seems apt that the boys will be able to celebrate an idea born of beer in the best way they know how, with a cold brew!
When Kaiser Wilhelm said to Queen Victoria that it was unfair that she had two mountains in Africa, she gave him one. If you look at the border between Tanzania and Kenya on a map, you will see how the line was redrawn to give Kilimanjaro to the German King. The straight line which cuts through the region has only one kink in it, much to the annoyance of pedantic colonial administrators, but then again what do you get a grandson, who already has an empire, for Christmas.
2: Centenary Man
One of the Tanzanian guides who assisted the first person to officially summit Kilimanjaro, Hans Meyer in 1889, was able to celebrate the centenary of that first climb at the ripe old age of 118 years. The secret to his longevity, fifty years dragging other peoples stuff up the mountain probably helped.
3: Oldest person to climb
The oldest person to successfully reach Kilimanjaro’s Peak was Valtee Daniel aged 87 years
4: Other Notable Climbers, no not those Sports relief tits, here are some truly inspiring stories.
South African Bernard Goosen twice scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. The three American veterans from three different conflicts with only one good leg among them have just completed their climb last month. And in 2009 a team of eight blind climbers successfully reached the summit, of those the youngest was the then thirteen year old Max Ashton.
5: Fastest Ascent & Descent
Unofficially the record is held by local boy Simon Mtuy who Duke of Yorked it in the Grand Old time of 8h 27m. To put this in perspective we’re aiming for 6 days or 18 times slower!
6: Pandora’s Box
On Uhuru Peak there is a wooden box containing a book in which people can record their impressions of the climb and leave commemorative mementoes. Among the stranger items left at the Roof of Africa include a set of false teeth and a vibrating sex aid (without batteries!) she/he obviously decided to record the climax of their adventure with a photo instead.
7: Beer Please
Local tribe The Chagga brew a unique drink on the mountain, Mbege or banana beer is actually sold in camps on Kilimanjaro. Knowing this William Hill have lengthened the odds on Sean and Robin reaching the summit; however, it seems apt that the boys will be able to celebrate an idea born of beer in the best way they know how, with a cold brew!
Indiana Bones
Reports suggest that intrepid mountaineer Robin Southwood may have a slightly confused image as to what lays ahead of him on his impending trip to Tanzania.
During a recent trip to Nottingham to visit his girlfriend Robin was spotted with some suspect hand-luggage. Paparazzi captured pictures of the budding climber entering his partner’s house carrying a fedora and whip, leading some to suggest that he is more of an adventurer than first expected. When quizzed about the Indiana Jones paraphernalia a red-faced Robin had this to say:
“Those items are merely part of my personal Kilimanjaro kit list with the sole purpose of getting me to the top of the mountain. I am a firm believer in being fully prepared for all eventualities: over-prepared is better prepared” He mumbled as he sped away.
The London-based 23 yr old refused to answer any more questions as to what ‘eventualities’ he expects to face in Africa but there certainly appears to be something deeper to this story. Maybe this young traveller might be conquering mountains sooner than expected!
In other news a source close to Sean Doyle has revealed why he has been keeping a low profile of late. After days of puzzlement as to what could keep a Mancunian so quiet our insider revealed all. Apparently Sean, while searching Wikipedia (the site many say got him through his degree), has only just discovered that his African nemesis is not just a mountain but a volcano.
Despite the fact that the last major eruption occurred roughly 360,000 years ago this new found information has got the recent graduate concerned. Having been known to have a gamble it seems that his tipster believes the mountain is long overdue and does not like the timing of his trip. Rumour has it that the Lord of the Rings fan has continuously been watching final scenes from Return of the King to ensure himself that he and Robin can pull off an escape similar to that of Frodo and Sam should the mountain erupt.
Regardless of Sean’s obviously destabilised mental condition we were able to obtain his views on his climbing partner’s ‘kit’, with a grin he had this to say:
“I am unaware of his new apparel but I’m sure he is just taking the necessary precautions to stay safe in any future exploits.”
I’m sure we can all second that.
During a recent trip to Nottingham to visit his girlfriend Robin was spotted with some suspect hand-luggage. Paparazzi captured pictures of the budding climber entering his partner’s house carrying a fedora and whip, leading some to suggest that he is more of an adventurer than first expected. When quizzed about the Indiana Jones paraphernalia a red-faced Robin had this to say:
“Those items are merely part of my personal Kilimanjaro kit list with the sole purpose of getting me to the top of the mountain. I am a firm believer in being fully prepared for all eventualities: over-prepared is better prepared” He mumbled as he sped away.
The London-based 23 yr old refused to answer any more questions as to what ‘eventualities’ he expects to face in Africa but there certainly appears to be something deeper to this story. Maybe this young traveller might be conquering mountains sooner than expected!
In other news a source close to Sean Doyle has revealed why he has been keeping a low profile of late. After days of puzzlement as to what could keep a Mancunian so quiet our insider revealed all. Apparently Sean, while searching Wikipedia (the site many say got him through his degree), has only just discovered that his African nemesis is not just a mountain but a volcano.
Despite the fact that the last major eruption occurred roughly 360,000 years ago this new found information has got the recent graduate concerned. Having been known to have a gamble it seems that his tipster believes the mountain is long overdue and does not like the timing of his trip. Rumour has it that the Lord of the Rings fan has continuously been watching final scenes from Return of the King to ensure himself that he and Robin can pull off an escape similar to that of Frodo and Sam should the mountain erupt.
Regardless of Sean’s obviously destabilised mental condition we were able to obtain his views on his climbing partner’s ‘kit’, with a grin he had this to say:
“I am unaware of his new apparel but I’m sure he is just taking the necessary precautions to stay safe in any future exploits.”
I’m sure we can all second that.
Friday, 6 August 2010
UPDATE
So you haven’t heard from the two intrepid explorers for a while, obviously that means we’ve entered a hermitage in an attempt to find the inner peace required to scale mountains right?
Wrong, we’ve both been busy boys; trying every scam, con, hustle, hoodwink, gambit, flimflam and stratagem to bamboozle people out of their hear earned cash in the name of charity.
So here’s what we’ve been up to recently and as an endnote a bit of research we think you might find interesting.
Robin’s been busier than ever in the kitchen creating culinary masterpieces in an effort to raise money for the Stroke Association. From the Da Vinci-esque Scones which flew off the tray to the more modern, Cubism inspired, cookies which he’s still trying to shift.
Every waking minute is devoted to raising the money we need for our charities so Robin has been giving up his weekends to do DIY for residents in his local area. Two front driveways have already been repaired and lots of windows repainted. So if anyone knows of any “odd-jobs” which need doing don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sean, meanwhile, has focussed more on his most marketable attribute, his feet. Whilst that isn’t to say the rest of him isn’t marketable (he’s run Luke Chadwick close in recent Mancunian beauty contests) Sean’s been busy organising a series of charity football matches in his local area for his chosen charity. And despite some tackling that would make Paul Scholes blush everyone’s having a great time.
Now time for some science,
A recent study conducted on Bonobo Monkeys at London Zoo showed a direct link between philanthropy and sexual prowess. Apparently, a pheromone released in the act of giving makes you more attractive to the opposite sex!
This has been backed up by more recent anecdotal evidence from Sean Doyle himself. Since signing up for the climb he has obviously been pumping out pheromones at an alarming rate leading to the end of his mate-drought and subsequent emergence into a proverbial monsoon season (of women NOT Bonobo monkeys, no matter what rumours you’ve heard).
Leading some to observe; “You’ve got to give some to get some” so for all those who would like to give some here’s the link, you all know the drill by now...
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobandSeandoKili.
Wrong, we’ve both been busy boys; trying every scam, con, hustle, hoodwink, gambit, flimflam and stratagem to bamboozle people out of their hear earned cash in the name of charity.
So here’s what we’ve been up to recently and as an endnote a bit of research we think you might find interesting.
Robin’s been busier than ever in the kitchen creating culinary masterpieces in an effort to raise money for the Stroke Association. From the Da Vinci-esque Scones which flew off the tray to the more modern, Cubism inspired, cookies which he’s still trying to shift.
Every waking minute is devoted to raising the money we need for our charities so Robin has been giving up his weekends to do DIY for residents in his local area. Two front driveways have already been repaired and lots of windows repainted. So if anyone knows of any “odd-jobs” which need doing don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sean, meanwhile, has focussed more on his most marketable attribute, his feet. Whilst that isn’t to say the rest of him isn’t marketable (he’s run Luke Chadwick close in recent Mancunian beauty contests) Sean’s been busy organising a series of charity football matches in his local area for his chosen charity. And despite some tackling that would make Paul Scholes blush everyone’s having a great time.
Now time for some science,
A recent study conducted on Bonobo Monkeys at London Zoo showed a direct link between philanthropy and sexual prowess. Apparently, a pheromone released in the act of giving makes you more attractive to the opposite sex!
This has been backed up by more recent anecdotal evidence from Sean Doyle himself. Since signing up for the climb he has obviously been pumping out pheromones at an alarming rate leading to the end of his mate-drought and subsequent emergence into a proverbial monsoon season (of women NOT Bonobo monkeys, no matter what rumours you’ve heard).
Leading some to observe; “You’ve got to give some to get some” so for all those who would like to give some here’s the link, you all know the drill by now...
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobandSeandoKili.
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