Apr 30:  An Unexpected Fruity Surprise

Apr 29:  Olympic Fun Photo Competition

Apr 28:  Tin Hau Festival Photos

Apr 27:  Another Very Busy Lamma Weekend

Pétanque Competition @ Tai Peng International Boulodrome

1st official competition of HK Petanque Club Championship 2008:
Sun, Apr 27, 10am sharp, HK Int'l Boulodrome, 71 Tai Peng Old Village (near the shop): See website.

Tin Hau Temple Guided Tour

Sun, Apr 27, 11am: Click for poster & website.

Meeting Place: Tin Hau Temple next to the football pitch.
Medium of Language: English Duration: about half an hour.
No. of Persons: 15 maximum (first-come-first-serve).

Mad Dog Motorcycle Poker Run

Sun, Apr 27, 11am, Granville Sq., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, HK: $120 rider's fee. Click for website and poster. (Lammaite president and several Lamma members.)

Human Constructions @ The Cyan Gallery

Elizabeth Briel: "Stop by and Visit the last show at The Cyan Studio's Lamma location! The exhibition will take place in the studio and on the stairwells and rooftop of a village house near the sea.

"We'll feature Hong Kong's urban architecture reflected in diverse ways, through the work of three Lamma Island-based photographers: Elizabeth Briel, Barnaby Bruce, and Darren Hayward, from 2-6pm on this Sunday, April 27th.

From slick Central highrises and the ruins of Kowloon's Wedding Card Street to voyeuristic balcony scenes printed on silk, the show will feature a new take on the 'everyday scenes' familiar to many Hong Kong residents. See them before they go the way of Queen's Pier!

"Map and directions available at the studio's website: www.thecyanstudio.com [Attached Photo by Darren Hayward].

"The Cyan Studio, 6252 6839, 2/F 21C Back Street. Yung Shue Wan, Lamma.

Cantonese Opera @ YSW Football Pitch

Fri, Apr 25 - Tue, Apr 29, YSW Football Pitch: Hing Fung Ming Group, afternoon shows on weekend & Monday (Lamma Day).
Click for poster, programme page 1, 2, 3.

Tin Hau Festival

Click for programme in English: page 1, page 2;
Chinese: page 1, page 2.

Apr 26:  DANSTOCK 2008 - The Bastards Beach Bonanza!

Latest updates, "Sent from Dr David Green via BlackBerry from 3":

Saturday, Apr 26, 4:30pm - early, Power Station Beach, Lamma Island:

Start 4.30pm with Transnoodle.

Next up, after 6pm, The Bastards (1) featuring Nigel Pike (original founding Bastards and drummer) all the way from Bangkok. Also Alf Hodges from Bangkok Bastards. Also Dan, Dave + Mark.

Next up The Bastards (2) featuring Dan, Dave (bass) Mark, Brendan and Dave Campbell (guitar) (Classic 90s line up).

Yung Shue Wankers up next. John, Harry, Gareth et al. Have kindly agreed to give us a break mid-evening.

Next up The Bastards (3) featuring Dan, Dave (bass) Mark, Tony Greenwood (drums) Jim Shorthose (guitar) Campbell (Classic 90s line up).

Grand Finale:  Megabastards: All The Bastards at once.

Overnight:

Parksy has kindly agreed to provide power and will be doing the lights and should be able to provide music in the intermissions and through the night, if the weather holds.

Please ask everyone to pray for good weather and to sign the guestbook. Please express our thanks to all who have put in so much time and effort to help us.

The stage is built on Lamma Island. All we gotta do then is pray for no rain and hitch up to the Lamma Power Station... Oh yes, and remember how to play the songs.

Jim, Tony and Mark arrived in HK safely. We are looking forward to seeing Nigel and Alf tonight at The Wanch (The Bastards, Fri, Apr 25, 9pm).

Keep on Rockin' in the Free World!

P.S. We'll put up more directions with B/W poster from the Democracy Wall.

Please also remind people to bring their own snacks and drinks purchased in YSW shops. Just found out that the gigs will be filmed for posterity.

All merchandise (old CD, just released CD & downloadable songs) available from the www.thebastards.hk online shop.

Stop Press!
Dan the Bastard (who's just turning 60! Happy birthday, Dan!) may have acquired some new trademark colourful tight trousers for the show!

Apr 25:   Violet Whistling Thrush - The Sequel

Sincere congratulations to Lamma's #1 bird photographer, anonymous guy! He's just succeeded - for the first time in 3 years of trying - in being awarded Image of the Week in the very active, huge, worldwide forum of Naturescapes.net, a leading nature photography website and forum. Well deserved, anonymous guy!

I'm proud to feature his amazing photos frequently in the WILDLIFE OF THE DAY spot on our home page. He's also the main contributor of our most successful forum, Lamma's top 10 birds, started in 2004 by self-proclaimed Bird Nerd Zep in our Flora & Fauna forum (1,258 posts, over 31,500 views, an all-time record for the Lamma forums!)

Apr 24:  'Could You Tend to My Tea, Please!'

Apr 23:  Lamma's Blog Rated 8.6 (Great)

This morning, an email with the above headline arrived in my email box. The Blogged.com website (motto "find better blogs") has selected this (place)blog as #3 in Hong Kong - Travel category. They wrote:

"Dear Lamma-zine blog author,

Our editors recently reviewed your blog and have given it an 8.6 score out of (10) in the Travel category of Blogged.com. This is quite an achievement!

We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style. After carefully reviewing each of these criteria, your site was given its 8.6 score."

A very nice little honour, adding to the #1 Blog in HK we received a while back.

Rate the Lamma-zine or even write a review, click above right!

To find great blogs by Lammaites or Lamma-related ones: Lamma Links page. Add your own blog!

Apr 22 - Earth Day:  Know Your Carbon Footprint

With all these heated discussions about Global Warming, have you ever wondered what your personal carbon footprint is? You can find out now, thanks to a link provided by Lammaite Dr Andy Cornish, Conservation Director of WWF HK. They added a Carbon Calculator to the WWF Website recently, it even accounts for Lamma ferries. Have a try, just for fun, click below!

Apr 21:  Tasty & Tasteful - New Bookworm Menu

After many years of using their tested, proven and popular menu, our advertiser Bookworm Cafe has updated their menu with new dishes and a colourful contemporary design. Have a look at their new online menu and choose from their extensive menu in the comfort of your own home. Try some new dishes instead of their perennial favourites, the Veggie Burger, daily soup, daily Hearty Dal and the yummy, moist cakes! There are now four different versions of my personal favourite, their amazing carrot juice.

They've also added a fine new counter at the left side of the building, from stone slabs and driftwood from Power Station Beach. It's called Bookworm Corner Stone and it's open to everybody and a great spot for people watching along Main Street.

Apr 20:  Ferry Survey Results

Apr 19:  Take Care of Your Valuable Metals

Apr 18:  Tree-Poisoning or -Saving?

Apr 17:  No Trespassing on Lamma Power Station!

After posting this reminder above, I've been updating the Photo of the Day Archives. It was surprising how many great shots of the Power Station have been submitted by our readers over the years. It seems to inspire photographers for some of their best works. Here's a selection of shots, all have been featured as Photos of the Day on this site before. Click on the banner above to access the photo archive and see the photos' titles, plus the photographers' credits:

Apr 16:  French Spiderman Defies Fears, Gravity and Authorities

Jay Scott Kanes - Official Court Correspondent of Lamma-zine: (text & pictures by Jay Scott Kanes)

Surely, Alain Robert, "the real Spiderman", would plunge into misery if he lived on Lamma. Alain derives his happiness from tall buildings, and Lamma has none. Remarkably, he goes where no one else dares - up the outside of the world's skyscrapers. This one-of-a-kind urban climber uses no ropes, hooks or safety gear. "It's dangerous," he says, "but ordinary life's dangerous too. In everything we do, there's potential risk. "Once, I was afraid of heights. But I decided that instead of living with my fears, I'd reach for a goal to become more courageous. Instead of failing to live, I moved forward by climbing - not using ropes and without safety devices, which is unusual." This week, Alain visited Hong Kong to launch an autobiography, With Bare Hands (2008, Blacksmith Books, 306 pages). [Editor: Blacksmith Books is a new Lamma-zine advertiser] "It's an incredible thing he does," said former Lamma Islander Pete Spurrier, the boss of Blacksmith Books. "It makes for an incredible and scary story, but it's inspiring, even funny, too. Alain couldn't take such risks without a sense of humor." A day after meeting readers at a Bookazine store, Alain scaled another lofty building, the Four Seasons Hotel, as a stunt to lift awareness of global warming. "Hong Kong has plenty of tall buildings, for sure," he said. On previous visits, he climbed others. Forty-five-year-old Alain, who weighs just 52 kg, simply ignores vertigo. He's climbed about 80 skyscrapers in dozens of cities. Clearly, he's never fallen. "Sometimes people compare me to Bruce Lee or to a little Arnold Schwarzenegger," Alain said, stressing the need for strength and determination. He trains by practicing and "eating properly. I have a climbing wall at home and do a little jogging too." But is he insane? "No," Alain smiled, responding calmly. "A crazy person is one who doesn't follow his dreams." Using only powder on his hands for a better grip, Alain has conquered the Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur), Taipei 101, the Sears Tower (Chicago), Canary Wharf (London) and many more. "Usually I climb from the bottom to the top," he said. "Sometimes I climb down too." The Sears Tower delivered a scare when the weather turned misty and wet. Holding on became extra-difficult, Alain's confidence ebbed and he expected to fall. He dislikes strong winds too. "Sometimes I meet problems on an ascent, but I must find a way," he said. "If there's no solution right away, then I'm dead. "Before every ascent, there's a fear factor. But once I start to climb, I'm focused and have no time to think of fear." Yet a few times, Alain has started to climb, but changed his mind and returned to the ground. "If I decide it's the wrong kind of day and climb down, then I'll return and do it later." Not every building can be climbed. In advance, Alain studies them with binoculars, looking for grooves, ridges and recesses. "I just need something to grab. But since buildings are man-made, they're not as regular or perfect as they look. Some have impossible sections. They're too smooth, and there's no point trying to climb them. In Hong Kong, the Bank of China's like that. I could try using suction cups, but that's not my technique. My way is with just my bare hands." Clutching at sharp edges and rough corners scrapes his hands. Muscles in his forearms take a huge strain. Does anyone else dare to attempt such climbs? "I've never heard of anyone, so I don't think so," Alain said. He's gained fame and raised money for charities, but also often been arrested on trespassing or reckless endangerment charges. "But people selling junk food endanger the public too," he said. Alain's gone to jail in several countries, sometimes after beatings from the arresting officers. "I like to play with life, and I enjoy freedom, even if sometimes I go to jail," he said. "That just means there's a price for the freedom." When Alain approaches some famous skyscrapers, the security guards follow him, intent to prevent more urban mountaineering. At times he waits until one security guard goes right, another left, and then darts between them. Once he's climbing, no one can interfere. Earlier in his career, Alain focused on rock-faces. Eventually, he graduated to tall buildings. He's married and has three sons, aged 20, 18 and 14 years. When young, the children climbed a little, but then stopped. "Maybe it's selfish for me to still climb and live my life the way I love," Alain said. "But my family doesn't ask me to stop. This is something we don't discuss much at home. "My wife used to watch sometimes, but not so much anymore. She works in France, and it's complicated for her to travel. "I've climbed all my life. It'd be difficult for me to stop. I'd have to change not only my way of life, but also my way of thinking." Eventually, the physical limitations of age may deter him. "If I don't think too much about what I'll do in 10 years, it's fine," Alain said, vowing to continue for "maybe another five years. "Honestly, I meet people and discover cultures around the world. That's a reward too," he said. "By climbing, I've met both national presidents and jail inmates. People may think that jail's such a bad punishment, but it's also something different. At times, I can appreciate just lying on a bed or on the ground and discussing things with some nice guys, really authentic people. "You know, once I spoke to (former French president) Jacques Chirac, but he didn't have much to say -- just simple chit-chat. We didn't go into a deep conversation. "In jail, it's much deeper. You learn more about people's lives. The inmates are much more sincere." P.S. Photo gallery of Alain Robert climbs the Four Season Hotel building 215m in HK on Tue, 15 April 2008. Alain Robert website.

Alain Robert, the 'real Spiderman', gladly accepts 'a little' danger. Does holding a life story beat holding on for dear life? Alain's 'tall-building tales' enthrall the Hong Kong media. The pleasures of 'playing with life' provoke a smile. Alain prefers jail inmates to political leaders like Jacques Chirac or Donald Tsang. A reader collects an autograph, even while concerned for the author's safety. Can 'the real Spiderman' scale tall buildings as fast as the world builds them? Click to learn more about his just published book!

Apr 15:  Finally, an RSS Feed!

On popular demand, you can subscribe now to this daily placeblog, adding it to your news/feed reader to remind you of any new Lamma-zine story as soon as it's published. Click on the RSS icon on the right!

RSS, "Really Simple Syndication", is used by many blogs and news sources to let viewers subscribe to their favourite sites and list all the recent headlines in a single place, their news/feed reader. There are many free readers available, you might have a favourite, I recommend Google Reader.

Any more improvement ideas for the Lamma-zine, contact me!

Apr 14:  Meet the Human Spider

Pete Spurrier - ex-Lammaite, publisher of Blacksmith Books, and a new Lamma-zine advertiser:

Two chances to meet Alain Robert, the Human Spider, on Monday 14th April Fresh from appearing in the Channel 4 television documentary The Human Spider (clips of which can be seen at this link), French daredevil climber Alain Robert arrives in Hong Kong next week to promote his new autobiography: With Bare Hands. Join us at either of these events! 1. Book Launch: Overcoming vertigo — and countless injuries which have left him officially disabled — Alain Robert has scaled over 70 skyscrapers worldwide: from the Petronas Towers in Malaysia to Taipei 101, from Chicago's Sears Tower to the Cheung Kong Centre, using nothing but chalk and a pair of climbing slippers. The flamboyant Frenchman has gained international fame and raised thousands of dollars for charity, but has also been arrested, beaten and prosecuted. This is the inspiring story of a man who has conquered fear and exceeded his own limits: the world's greatest urban climber. Join us for French wine and cheese and meet the Human Spider himself! Where: Bookazine, 3/F, Prince's Building, Central, Hong Kong When:  Monday 14th April, 12:30-2:00pm What:  Wine and canapes sponsored by Wineshop.hk RSVP:  enquiries@bookazine.com.hk, Tel: 2525 0218 2. Literary Dinner: Acclaimed daredevil Alain Robert joins HK Magazine for a literary dinner at SoHo SoHo. Alain will introduce his new memoir With Bare Hands — the true story of his dramatic life as the world's greatest urban climber. Alain has scaled most of the world's tallest buildings with his bare hands. He has always been determined to become a top climber; when he was just 12, he climbed eight floors to get into the family apartment because he had forgotten his keys. In 1982, he fell 15 metres head first. He suffered a five-day coma and multiple fractures: to his cranium, nose, wrists, elbows, pelvis and heels. The prognosis was that he would never climb again, but this didn't stop him. In 1994, Alain climbed his very first skyscraper and the real Spiderman was born. Many people ask whether it is madness to undertake such perilous ascents without safety equipment of any kind. But in Alain's view, it is madness not to follow your dreams! Where: Soho Soho, 1/F, 4-8 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong When:  Monday 14th April, 7:30pm What:   HK$400 includes a glass of wine, a 3-course dinner and tea or coffee Enquiries: 2850 5065 or www.asia-city.com/events. Tickets on sale at all Dymocks stores. Event flyers can be downloaded at www.blacksmithbooks.com/events.htm. Hope to see you there!

Apr 13:  Early Struggles With a Paddle

Gina Meana - Captain of Lamma Ladies Dragonboating team: (republished with friendly permission from FIT! HK Magazine)

'L-plates' Laura Picking up a new sport is never easy but Laura Bryant chose to give up Lan Kwai Fong for Yung Shue Wan, and learn what looks deceptively simple: paddling a dragon boat for Hong Kong's Stanley Champions. Laura speaks of her 'early struggles with a paddle'. 投入一項新運動從不容易，難得Laura Bryant下決心暫別蘭桂坊，勇闖榕樹灣，划起龍舟來，為赤柱龍舟錦標賽積極備戰。一項看似簡單的運動，卻叫Laura吃盡苦頭，且聽她娓娓道來。 Laura Bryant, arrived from the UK two years ago and had only lived on Lamma Island for just two weeks before she went to her first dragon boat training practice. She gamely made her way down to the waterfront in Yung Shue Wan Village to meet with her new team mates, sign away her life in an imaginative team waiver, and slosh through a murky spring tide to get into the Lamma Ladies' dragon boat. "Going down to the first session was hard," she says. "I was going through a large transition in my life, and my self confidence was low, but everything was okay when I arrived." Laura had never paddled before: not in a kayak, a canoe, or a dragon boat, and she found learning the stroke much harder than it first appeared. "I felt awkward, like I had no clue, and I didn't get to paddle much because I was just getting used to being in the boat and actually holding a paddle." The exercise was hard for her, she says, as she'd lived in Hong Kong for a few months on Hong Kong Island, and throughout that time, she'd spent a lot of time in Lan Kwai Fong, "drinking too much and partying… I put on weight and felt unfit." The transition to being a member of a competitive dragon boat team wasn't easy. "The exercise was hard because I was out of shape. Those first days in the boat, I used to say to myself, 'this is what it must be like in the army!'". It took her a full season to feel more confident about her stroke, and another season before she felt confident about her ability to get it right most of the time. "Learning the technique was, for me, the worst experience. There were times when I wasn't sure if I was fit enough, and I found it hard to be criticized about technique. The worst was when I was moved further back in the boat to practise my timing and technique - I felt awkward. Sometimes I would get it, and sometimes I wouldn't." One thing Laura never struggled with was finding friendship in the crews. "The people made me feel really good about myself. They welcomed me and talked to me. There were other new people when I joined, so it was good to be in the 'same boat' with other people in that way. Many of us who started that year are still together." She said that realizing you are a member of the team meant that you had to be committed. "I think that I always felt committed; I went to every practice and exercised more and tried to take better care with my diet. And the result was that it improved my self-esteem. Dragon boating with the Lamma Ladies made me the happiest I had been in a long time. I made many new friends… I wouldn't have stayed in Hong Kong for so long if I didn't paddle with the team," she said. In her first year, she remembers her favourite event as the fisherman's races in Cheung Chau. "We did really well and won that race. I was excited and chuffed for the team because I hadn't been paddling long." Her best experience, she says, was the 2007 Gold Cup the Lamma Ladies won at Stanley. Though she had raced in a heat in 2006, when the ladies had also won the gold cup, she didn't feel the same connection to the event as she did the following year, when she paddled in every heat. "We won that race, and the last race felt so good. The second (heat) wasn't great for me, I think I came off my seat a few times." Laura says that in her view, the motivation among the Lamma Ladies has always been at 100%. "We work hard and play hard," she says. "I feel good this season because I know I am fit, and I know the technique — I'd love to sit at stroke sometime when I am ready." Laura admits that the first season was one of the hardest things she'd done,  "but Lamma makes you feel welcomed and special. I think we're the best team in Hong Kong."

Katie McGregor - Publisher/Editor of FIT HK!

For more on paddling in Lamma check: lamma-outrigger.blogspot.com lammaladies.blogspot.com And for some paddling action on your own doorstep: Laracy Gall Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival 2008: 11 May, 2008, Tai Wan To (Power Station Beach): lammadragonboat.com Fit! HK is a free, bilingual magazine covering sport, fitness and health in Hong Kong and is published by Katie McGregor, herself in her 19th year paddling for the Lamma Ladies (the best team in Hong Kong). Click through to the Fit! HK web to for more articles and check the calendar to see what's on. www.fithk.com.

Apr 12:  When Stevie Met Tommy

Nick the Bookman & Official Court Music Reviewer: (pictures by Andy Maluche, see below)
When Stevie met Tommy 26/3/08 at The Wanch This gig has been a long time birthing. After much deliberation, it was agreed that the showdown would take place at The Wanch on 26/3/08. Two of Hong Kong's top blues-rock guitarists all set to go head-to-head with guitars on stunning and amps on 11 and beyond. Should be a fantastic night. So, I'm a bit stunned when I enter The Wanch on the due date to find the bar staff outnumber the customers by 3-2. Have I got the right night? Perhaps the place will fill up soon? The showdown features the Tommy Chung Trio and Red Star Rising. Tommy is going to open, Steve will guest for a couple of tunes and Red Star will conclude the musical festivities. As I enter, Tommy is setting out his stall. We chat briefly. He's been in HK a long time and used to run The House Of Blues in Tsim Sha Tsui. He's played at one of the early Underground sessions. He spends a lot of time touring and recording in America where he has a devoted fanbase. Although Tommy is Asian, he's steeped in the Chicago blues. Meanwhile, Steve is English, but has a fondness for Asian licks and beats. Should be an interesting night. The Wanch is slowly filling up. Tommy's 2 sidemen are bassist Alvin, a heavy-metal biker look-alike with a pony tail. Laurence is the clean cut drummer wearing a black t-shirt with "Unlocked" on the front. Alvin wears his 5-string bass down low. Laurence has an easy fluid style with no unnecessary effort. Most of Lamma band Nude have arrived. There's Kevin, Matt, Justin, Hamada, Magnus (the drummer from Garoupa) and Tony (saxman with Thinking Out Loud). They've apparently been rehearsing new/old material for Nude's pending rebirth. Tony says, "We're just here to heckle." They get their drinks and sit outside for the duration of the set. Tommy has two identical, interchangeable white guitars with runty necks (like the top third of the guitar has been sawn off). He makes a hellacious racket on them. As I'm not steeped in the blues, all my references to the style of music and the songs are coming out the Hard Rock Handbook. An opening instrumental to get the band breaking sweat choogles along pleasantly. Sort of Eric Clapton mid 70's style of playing rather than the more Clapped-out later years. The 3rd song reminds me of the epic guitar ending of "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tommy seems to be playing the twin-guitar attack most capably on his own. About 40 minutes into the set comes a tune I recognise. It's "I've Got My Mojo Working" which I mainly remember for the awesome version by The Electric Prunes. The trio do a damn good rendition as well. The more I enjoy myself, the less legible my notes become. I feel like I'm having a Hunter (S. Thompson) moment when he invented Gonzo. There's scribbles and scrawls like "bit like Jimi Hendrix doing Red House". Or "this is almost techno-fast playing, but the band are keeping up". Tommy's voice is "a grizzled, gruff, whisky-soaked effort - almost Tom Waits". Later in the set, Tommy plays the chorus of "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes". A few tunes later, he drops a few bars of the "Robin Hood" theme. An unexpected treat, which keeps the band on their toes.
Tommy Chung's set list Steve wanders past me to the bar and say's "He's full-on tonight" with approval. The band are kicking out the jams with a vengeance. The fifth song has a line "son of a gun" which is spat out in "Great Balls Of Fire" style while the band wander into surfpunk guitar territory. Either "Wipeout" or "Miserlou" by Dick Dale. Dick Dale once recorded with the late Stevie Ray Vaughn on "Pipeline" (I think). The guitar styles are memorably different, but each man is recognisable. Tommy seems to blend their styles together like a magical mashup. A bravado performance. It's coming up to 22:30 when Steve takes to the stage for his guest appearance. Tommy keeps the songs going along, but leaves plenty of space for Steve to pluck and noodle over the top. His guitar seems a bit quiet though. Later, I learn that his amp hasn't gone to 11, so to speak. There's an evident feeling of mutual respect and enjoyment. With a few more gigs, these guest jams could really turn into something splendid. The crowd are united in approval, except for one mellow semi-drunk who wants to play darts and is acting like a one-man South Stand. The Tommy Chung Trio have finished, leaving Steve playing along quietly to himself as Alex and new drummer Neil get set up. Neil joined Red Star Rising last December after Hugh and family returned to London. This is the first time I've seen him with the band and sadly, I'll only get to hear "Megaphone Man" as my dodgy knee has flared up again and the "Last Ferry To Lamma" is beckoning. Neil has a slightly more military precision to his playing. Very fast drum rolls and fills. Flurries of explosive action while maintaining a steady beat. I can't wait to hear how he handles the more indie-rock numbers in the Red Star Rising catalogue. While Alex and Neil set up, Steve has been quietly playing away, entertaining the crowd with some lovely liquid licks. He receives warm applause. It reminds me of the story about Ravi Shankar playing The Monterey Festival in 1967. Ravi and his fellow musicians received a standing ovation after their first number. He said something like thank you very much for enjoying our sound check/warm-up. It was a very good night, guys. Here's to the next one and I hope I'll last the pace. Maybe a double bill at one of the Pier Pressure parties is in the future?

Apr 11:  Tin Hau Festival - Cantonese Opera

Click to enlarge

Apr 10:

A Wonderfully Shambolic Performance by Those Mangy Critters

Nick the Bookman & Official Court Music Reviewer: (pictures by Dan Peterson)

Island Bar reviews with Shep Woolley and The Curs Well, the 2008 Rugby Sevens has ended with a predictable Cup Final result. That means it's time for Shep Woolley's annual piss-up-cum-pub-crawl around the remote areas of Hong Kong and Lamma. It's Thursday, the 3rd of April, and the one-man band is back for a 2nd engagement at The Island Bar. The gig is supposed to start at 20:00 hours, but with Lamma time, well, you know... I've arrived at The Island Bar shortly before 21:00 hours, having asked all I pass if the show has begun. Everyone says no, including Dave the Fiddler, a man I expect to know about these things. I've stepped inside. It's semi-full and rather quiet, mainly because Shep Woolley has enthralled everyone with a hypnotic version of "Road To Dundee". His singing is precise and warm in a trad/folk-Al Stewart sort of way. I think it's his opening number, but Sharon says "He Started On Time!" This might be a historic first for any Lamma performance! His HK mate Ray is sitting adjacent to me. John Hutton walks in and is commended for the fine sound. I grab my usual table. Shep spots me, winks and says the next song is by a live artist (an in-joke reference to my review of his show on March 26 last year - read it on Lamma-zine). The song is Dylan's "Just Like A Woman", done more like a strolling troubadour than Bob's whiny/nasal tones. It proves to be the last tune of the first set. Shep comes over and we discuss the rugby. Ray buys me a 7-Up (off the booze tonight, are we?) and tells me he's bought Shep's guitar off him. "It's a Timothy - handmade" (and it can play in C). The second set begins in a more rock tempo. "Mighty Quinn" segues into "Love Potion #9" in an Americana/blues style. Next up is "All Shook Up" and Shep makes a decent fist of the "uh-uh" chorus. It's somewhere between Elvis and Hank Wangford, the singing gynaecologist/country artist. Some acid-folk-fuzz guitar notes lead into "Summertime Blues" and Andy Windebank is right there on full throttle choral duties. The fun factor is rising as (dead) Elvis gets a second look-in with "His Latest Flame". A highlight (among many) is "House Of The Rising Sun", which seems to start with some bars of "Hotel California". I'm thinking this could be an interesting mashup. It's a different level of brothel opulence, but the vices remain the same. Bring on the (John Lee) Hooker(s). Shep's vocals suck you in slowly. He's not a shouter. There are no anguished castrato yelps and yips to mar the tunes. Another highlight is a song called "Running For Home". Similar in style and pacing to "Dundee" and a return to tradfolk, via The Little River Band of the early 80's. Shep starts up the next number and I'm thinking this is just like Lindisfarne. In fact it's (as Shep sings "Hey, Mr. dream-seller...") and I'm thinking (Mr. dream-seller) aka "Meet Me On The Corner". Great minds, passing by in the night (and we're about to do it again in a few songs time). The mood goes sombre after that with "Pinball" by Brian Protheroe (from the early UK 70's). Shep's giving the strings some welly and Ray's shouting "Don't break MY guitar". "Pinball" is a great lost one-hit wonder and so is "Angie Baby" which follows it. They're real "wrist-slitters" as Shep eloquently explains. He concludes with a stunning version of "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt. I got admonished by Tilly once for playing this at a massive party she and hubby Richard (Cook) threw for his 40th birthday. Was worth it though to see Bob Davis sort of dancing and other old hippies crawling out of the vegetation. It's still a brill' song, especially the live version I've got with extra salty-sweet accordion. I find myself mumbling almost all the words in unison(g) with Shep. It was meant to be the last song, but he still manages to squeeze in "I Saw Her Standing There" before legging it gracefully for the 22:30 ferry with Ray and family in tow. Great fun again, mate. I've already booked my front row seat for 2009. (blink, b...l...i... i...n...k..., blink). I'm back in the Island Bar as those mangy critters, The Yung Shue Wan Curs are dishing up another night of gender-bending, time-traveling tunes. On this occasion, Lamma time is working faultlessly (it's Sat, Apr 5), depending on what song you've arrived to. The famous 5 are as usual: Gavin (upgraded to 4-string bass from twangy 1-string broom). Davey on fiddle. Harry and Fraser on acoustic guitars and John on electric guitar. Parksy is taking care of all the electrics and knob twiddling (except when he isn't). There's a mighty crowd of The Usual Suspects, Various Mutant Inbreds and Passers-by Sucked Inexorably Into The Maelstrom. So it's business as normal. I'm sharing my usual table with Kelly and Lisa. Canadian Fred and Claire are nearby. Terry is working overtime pulling pints. Dan is snapping away and Sharon is schmoozing the far end of the bar, Most of the "true fans" are hanging out in the garden. The Curs kick-start proceedings with a "muddy" (ta, Kelly) gruff-sozzled version of "Hear A Train A-Coming" which serves as an admirable sound check. Davey does his best Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys fiddle licks. Gavin is hidden at the back. All I can see are some nimble walking fingers. Harry and Fraser share one mike, while Davey appears to thrust his fiddle bow into John's ear several times with no deleterious effect. The late Man In Black (aka Johnny Cash) gets some more pennies trickling into his trust fund as the band do "Folsom Prison Blues" (maybe not, could be the after-effect of all those cumulative 7-Ups) and "A Boy Named Sue". All times are being mangled tonight so the songs mentioned are in any order you like. Harry gets all ecumenical on our asses with "Blessed Saviour", "Plastic Jesus" and "Lovesick Blues", prompting the immortal response of "no lager blues". This situation is quickly corrected. Cue some wonderfully dire results further down/up the timeline. Very strange letters are arriving at my table from anon, unknown and who-the-hell. Can't keep a good critic down. Someone is asking "Who knew Harry Harrison was a Southern lapsed Baptist?" Someone else is entranced by this "white trash gwailoh fiesta" and wishing "I was back in the trailer park." I know, I know. Some nights, you just gotta have your excess of Preening Porcelain Percy and his Pirouetting Perverts. "We put the BLUE into bluegrass, don'tcha know?" Basically, The Reverend does all the Bod-gathering bits. Fraser takes care of the songs that sound like the Waterboys and other Celtic Bards. Davey channels up all sorts of fiddle mayhem ranging from Country AND Western to String Driven Thing freakouts. Gavin survives the mayhem while John's guitar seems to be all that's holding him up. He takes lead vox duties on "A Boy Named Sue", "Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" (which sounds like some demented remix of The Whiffenpoos and Splodgeness Abounds) and a reasonable flirt with "Still  Haven't Found...". All that's missing is John's unhinged, unique take on "Surfing Bird" by The Trashmen. Maybe, he'll get to play it at forthcoming guest stints with El Destroyo? Basically, this was a glorious, ramshackle, rambling performance, studded with fits, giggles, short bursts of lunar music, odd non-sequiturs and the occasional outbreak of genius. This is especially apparent when Dan the Bastard takes the stage for 2 mighty renditions of "The Young Ones" and "Sympathy For The Devil". The latter is possibly the finest version I've heard in years without drums. Everyone is singing along (I think). If not, they should be. The wheel is going round and round and the painted ponies are going up and down. A nifty way of returning to the start of these stories, The Curs was a WONDERFULLY shambolic performance. (All right, Fraser?) I had fun, I promise. Worth every moment of my time....

Apr 9:  SOB - Save Our Bikes!

Apr 8:  Bad, Bad, Bad Power Supply!

This is a photo of one more reason that the Lamma-zine has been out of order from April 1-6: the turbo-charged, oversized, short-circuited power supply of the Green Mean Machine, my custom-built PC the Lamma-zine is usually published from, located in the worldwide headquarters of "Compunicate! - Web Publishing, e-Marketing & Photography" in Sha Po Village in Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, HK SAR.

It took several days to get my PC guy to do a home visit and replace it today, while I had to rely on a borrowed laptop to perform at least basic emailing and forum moderation in the last number of days.

If anybody's interested in this piece of abstract sculpture of historical importance, having empowered the Lamma-zine creation for almost 2 years, contact me!

Leaving hospital today, I got this Discharge Form to take to the Accounts Office ("Shroff") to pay the fees. Isn't this just a wonderful example of medical humour?

 I can just hear the designer of this form think:
"The ONLY ways you'll ever get out of this hospital and away from our congee-3-times-a-day is to be officially discharged or if you die!"

I'm so glad they circled the correct term above! It might have taken me months to clear up the mistake in the hospital bureaucracy, convincing them that I'm still alive...

I was just a little bit nervous and suspicious about the extremely inauspicious date of 4/4, a double-4 (very unlucky!), pronounced like "Die! Die!" in Cantonese.

The final diagnosis and advice from the Surgeon/Professor, after 3 days of tests:
"We don't really know what's wrong with you, but it's probably nothing serious. Take our standard painkillers and come back if the pain doesn't go away by itself in a few weeks... or months."

Aaah, the grandiose triumphs of modern medicine never cease to amaze me!

But the weight loss is still amazing, at a rate of losing 1 pound every day since the operation... and my health is improving dramatically as well!

The Lamma-zine is going on a short hiatus, because I'll be spending a few days in hospital as a Class III in-patient (the lowest of the lowest) in Queen Mary Hospital, checking up on my persistent stomach pains after my weight-loss stomach-reduction operation 5 weeks ago.