Hard News by Russell Brown

Also dropped this last night -- thanks to Jen's stash

And she even let me have her spare copy :-)

Sorry (not sorry) to add to your excess baggage - it really is a killer tune. A great night out and a cracking account of it. A wonderful perspective on the mighty SE15.

Have you thought of shipping said finds back ? When I was last in the UK (or one before) I brought back German Pottery and heavy glass objects in my carry on luggage. I walked onto the plane all casual like, like my bag weighed nothing only to reveal myself as weakling of the year when I tried to lift said bag into the overhead compartment. It really was a good thing my thoughts of getting 4 dining chairs into same compartment wasn't going to fly when one discovers just how small those spaces are. T'other had reminded me that it was a com partment not an A partment. Point being, I should have shipped everything back and I wouldn't be regretting those Bertoia chairs now. Shipping around now would also have the benefit of arriving in Auckland around Xmas.You would then be able to carry all that duty free Whiskey back and yes ,your back would thank you too. Win win really.

I have to say that the Royal Mail is an excellent organisation that will take your excess luggage and ship it back to NZ for a reasonable price.

Last time I was in London, I went berserk in the bookshops and ended up with about 7kg of books. I think I paid about 30-odd quid to post them back, and they arrived in a couple of weeks.

As for Peckham Rye, that was one of my stomping grounds when I lived in East Dulwich. First place I ate rice and peas and shopped at a street market.

Surprised it's taken this long to start gentrifying - zone 2, lots of buses all day and night, and Camberwell was full of proto-hipsters over a decade ago. Hope it retains some of its character, unlike Ponsonby (which is fine in some respects these days, but I don't know if I'd want to live there any more).

I suppose it marks me out as a prat when I feel that some gentrification is ok - livening up a neighbourhood with a better range of shops and food, and some houses getting fixed up - services improving, schools getting better. Benefits everyone. But when the original inhabitants get forced out wholesale, govts refuse to fund social housing in the district, ALL the shops become fashion stores or expensive eateries... Meh.

the emperor's new close...

I suppose it marks me out as a prat when I feel that some gentrification is ok – livening up a neighbourhood with a better range of shops and food, and some houses getting fixed up

Londinium just hasn't been the same since the Romans left!
; - )

Those hot baths were decadent but lovely, and have you bought olive oil lately? Almost impossible to find and tiny amounts. Expensive! The Roman grocery down the road used have it for 5 sesterces the amphora!

Hey Russ, thanks heaps for the memory. Remember that Burning Spear gig we went to?

Do you know of the Skint Foodie? Peckham is his part of town.

As I shuttled around yesterday, I had to keep saying to myself, “excess baggage”, because there is simply so much that takes my fancy.

I feel your pain -- I may be unable to walk past a halfway decent bookstore (even if it's in mainland Europe and I can't read anything in the place) but I got told in no uncertain terms on a daily basis that the budget didn't extend to paying excess luggage charges in London AND Vancouver.

Hey Russ, thanks heaps for the memory. Remember that Burning Spear gig we went to?

I sure do!

Found a new shop you'd like in the Brixton covered market -- which has not gentrified as much as people would have you believe. Lots of original reggae pressings, and plenty of sound system atmosphere inside!

<drool>

From the Excess Baggage Company

All shipments into New Zealand are subject to MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) clearance. MPI was previously known as MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries) clearance. MPI is charged per cubic metre with a minimum charge of approximately NZ$120.00. From July 1st 2010 all shipments will also be subject to a New Import Transaction Fee (ITF) which is approximately NZ$50.00. The MPI and ITF charge is not included in your quotation.

I wasn't looking to ship irreplaceable vinyl, just the books I had been reading, a load of Patak's Madras Curry Paste (not available in the S. Hemisphere, but BBQs without it are impossible) and a bunch of household effects.

If in doubt, ship your clothes home via Post and pack the vinyl in your suitcase.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

Record shopping is indeed one of the greatest joys of travel!

I posted packages back every week when in the US for a month not too long ago - worked out at $5 per album .... well worth it over the longer run given the range / price differences which a place like London would offer, enjoy

That's the one . :) I got 5 small bottles of Laphroaig (or as I call it and get called on for it... Lap frog.) home from the Distillery. Although it was late on arrival. The $20 Customs wanted was well worth it. It would seem one will pay $5 an item anywhere and to ship a couple of Kgs to the UK from here is about $400 and that could be pounds, so in all not horrific if you take it upon yourself to send.

hell yeah Paul - there are was and means, as long as they're in the middle and kinda wrapped tight, they're pretty robust. I've never had a breakage. also jam 'em into your carry on and practice walking like it weighs nothing.

also, mo' early doors Bob Seger...

I certainly have vague anxiety inducing memories of trying to get overstuffed vinyl cases back to NZ via hand luggage. For purchasing new vinyl copies of classics from all genres at a decent price, you can't go passed Dunedin online shop "Noise Worth Hearing". Brilliant for reggae, funk, hiphop, punk etc...

Facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/NOISEworthhearing/info?tab=page_info

Trade Me account is here http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Profile.aspx?member=3466679

Highly recommended!

A small word of warning about the Excess Baggage Company - I used them the trip before last to send a big box of xs baggage home after a trip to Europe - and the box arrived with the most valuable stuff missing...

They had carefully opened the outer box, slid out the inner box that contained my old camera and various other bits (and was listed as such in the inventory you have to provide), removed the valuables and then slid the box back into place - without disturbing anything else. Then they re-taped the box with Excess Baggage Company logo'd tape.

I had no idea anything was missing until I unpacked the whole thing. They clearly knew what they were after, and that fact, together with the use of the company's own tape made me think it was likely to be an inside job.

I certainly have vague anxiety inducing memories of trying to get overstuffed vinyl cases back to NZ via hand luggage.

I certainly have vague anxiety inducing memories of trying to get overstuffed vinyl cases back to NZ via hand luggage.

When Fiona and I came back home to New Zealand with our new baby, we for some reason had a very large luggage allowance, and we'd worked out that we could pack our vinyl (and a PC) into a huge old chest and check the lot in at Victoria station. But the allowance for the train from Victoria to Gatwick was lower than the one for the flight itself and we had to take out kilos of records which I then had to casually tote in an overfull courier pack. We got busted at the boarding gate, but they just put them in the hold for us, after a lot of tut-tutting.

My other main memory is, groggy after 24+ hours of travel, having to pick up the 50kg chest from the moving luggage carousel. And, fortunately, getting it first time.

My other main memory is, groggy after 24+ hours of travel, having to pick up the 50kg chest from the moving luggage carousel. And, fortunately, getting it first time.

Good times!

Now, if you manage any further record store capers and just happen to come by the Forward Down A Channel One 12" by African Youth, snap it up! ...and we can negotiate a hearty reward for bringing that little gem home to papa. :)

Leapfrog down here. In years gone by, each year at the Whare Flat Folk Festival, held at the New Year, it was the done thing to take a bottle of it - or some other malt - and throw the top away. These bottles were shared around at the New Year's Eve barn dance. Women would fill their mouths with whisky - or Drambuie - and share as they kissed. Hence the term "whisky kiss", which transferred itself to an album by Shooglenifty.

Leapfrog down here

Leap frog
Leap grog
Leap dog
“whisky kiss”

Lap Frog
Lap grog
lap dog
"Whiskey miss"

all in all, bloody nice :)