Espens Daiedyr

Her er noen minner fra århundrets fest hos Espen i går . Bedre går det ikke an å gjøre det.

Eg glede meg allerede til 55 års dagen 

The Spanish way

Hi all it`s been a while and quite frankly I have not found much to write about , but I did this week. I have been trying to change my phone from beeing in my company to my private name but have been hitting my head against the wall as I needed a GREEN paper with my spanish fiscal number and mine is yellow . But last week I deceided to buy a new car and this problem came up again so I just had to do something . I went to the Police as they told me , only to find out that I needed to come back another day and do the following procedure :
1, Arrive at the Policestation no later than 7 AM
2. Line up untill 8:30
3. 8:30 a policeman comes out and hands out que numbers , but they only hand out 25 if you are the 26th in line , you need to come back tomorrow and earlier . Luckily I was 3rd in line so I got my number .
Along with the number they hand you out the paper you need to fill out and also to pay , then you have 30 min to go to the bank , which is surprisingly open at that time .
Then they hang up a paper with the starting number of the 2 different lines (see Photo)
4. At 9 am they open the office and the same policeman who gave us the numbers , reads out about 5 numbers that are let in to the office and we can present our papers and that only takes a few minutes .
5. Back 3 days later to pick up what I hope is a GREEN paper ... will see monday ...

After my irritation of actually getting up at 6 am to do this I quite enjoyed it , I saw the sunrise and the city awaken and also in a funny way thought that it was not all that bad.. In fact it`s when I decided that Spain is quite nice after all.

6. Back to bed....

Latin AMERICAN TV and elections

I have to write latin american as this is where we are , but I believe most of this stems from the US . Here in Peru we have what`s called Direct Tv it`s a satelitte service a bit like Sky , Viasat , Canal digital etc , which so far is fine and it`s probably not Direct Tv`s fault , but the stations are terrible when it`s come`s to commercials  and station Promo , it`s almost every 2-4 minute a break and a 20 minute episode lasts a least 1 hour . How many times in an hour do you really want to know whats on next or the next few days . In a day I guess you get around 100 reminders it`s terrible . As for the commercials for me it`s like anti commercial when it`s to much of it and also they are most of them quite bad , and americanised .

The programs also are a bit boring , biased towards the CSI (NY-Miami-LV) , American Idol , Friend`s etc. I sometimes have to watch and my favorite is Two and a half men .

I do as you would expect watch some times the Golf Channel which has a Latin American version here. And thank god there is usually english comments on one of the sound tracks , but there are some programs that don`t have it or some commercials that suddenly appear without sound .  The programs without sound has been airing for years (at least since I started coming) you would think there should be some kind of Quality Control.

Last sunday the 10th was Presidenital elections here in Peru and I went with Adriana when she voted . I must say I was utterly impressed as it was very organized and Peaceful . In a school yard there where maybe 50 small booths each with a list of aprox. 150 names of the people that where to vote there , you went there registered and voted, the only difference from a Norwegian election really was that after you had to put your finger in INK , I guess so you could not vote again , strange as you where already registered and I assume you could not go again anyway . Well nevertheless it was quick and effective .

There are 5 president candidates here where by 4 of them are kinda right wing  , the last and the one that had most votes is a communist in the Chavez class. And this is very scary to most "civilized" Peruvians . The system here is that if nobody get`s more then 50 % the two with the most votes go to a second round , so there is still hope that Peru will have another 5 years of growth and peace.
In the second round we have Ollanta Humala the commie and ex Military , versus Keiko Fujimori who is the daughter of an ex Peru President which now is in Jail for killing terrorist in the 90`s . It has to be said that the brother of Humala is also in Jail I believe for Terrorism . It will be interesting to see how this pans out and if Father and or Brother will be released when one of them is president . We all cross our fingers that Keiko will win, I believe it`s on the 5th of June .

Next album ....

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path
The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall

My first

Yesterday I won my first Golf Trofee in Peru . I was playing in the Senior tournament where because my age I can now join . In Lima golf in my categori 0-14 hcp we where about 12-15 players and one in my group an 11 hcp played like a Pro after 9 holes he was 2 over par GROSS and I was 3 . After 13 holes he was still 2 over and I was 4 over . Then the next 4 holes I made Par`s (should have been 2 birdies)  and he made 4 bogies , so my calculations was that I needed a birdie and he a bogie on the last for me to beat him . My drive was good just left side of Fairway 130 yards to the pin , he was right side in the rough about 175 yards . As I was standing there getting ready for my turn  I see out of the corner of my eye something (a ball) that looked like hitting STRAIGHT in the hole . For christ sake he made an Eagle out of nowhere ..... in the shock I made a bogie and finished 3 shots back with a gross 77 net 69 , but good enough for 2nd place after his net 65 gross 76 . Well almost maybe next time ......

Since long time ago

I just thought that it would be a good time to catch up with what`s been going on since .... well long time ago .
Let`s start with the bad news at the beginning of December 2010 . When Pogo became sick with his Kidney failure . We came back from a week`s golf in Portugal and picked up Pogo from the Kennel in not a very nice shape as he was vomiting and was not in good shape . After a couple of weeks with vets and back and forth it turned out he had cronic kidney failure . This turns out to be worse for a dog than cancer as there is virtualy no cure other than a transplant , which is not very relevant to a dog unless you live in the US and have loads of money and faith that this will work .  Pogo was someday´s quite good but other days not at all good . To cut a story short as most of you know he died on the 20th of January . After a lot of different treatments with , special powder , homeopatic things etc etc . Adriana was really spending most of her awake hours trying her best .
After a short spell in Stavanger , buying more property and just really waiting to go to the south .
We arrived Peru just before christmas and moved to the beach just after . At the new years party which where spent in the party tent (see other story) Adriana had her bracelet stolen . She think`s it`s the guy on stilts for the "hora loca" (crazy hour) where everybody go crazy and are given , baloons, flutes , hats , congas etc etc.  She has really made a fuzz about this later, going on national TV blaming this is not the Hora Loca , but the Hora ROBA . There has been a lot of support for this as many have experienced the same type of stealing over the years .  But so far the Bracelet is still missing .
Adriana thinks she`s cursed this year as just after Pogo died her son came down with Kidney Stones . Which I believe is very painful . Because of Pogo we have not really started the summer , only last weekend we went out to party . I was (surprise) playing a golf tournament early Sunday , but really wanted to see the Pink Floyd band (see story from last year ) . But they still had not started when I left at 1 am . Ahhh we did go to a reggae concert with Junior Reid (ex Black Uhuru ) but when it was 4 am and still he did not start we left.grrrrr remind`s me of (S)pain ....
I have as you may imagine played quite a lot of golf , it has been the Matcheteros where I have won 3-4 dollars each time . The club championship where I`m still in it (it`s matchplay) and I have joined the AGOSEP , Agosep beeing the SENIOR golf federation of Peru . Since I`m 55 this year I can join . It`s really good as I can play in the tournaments they have (twice a month) in the clubs in Lima where I normally need a member to invite me . It`s a great deal 30 dollars for golf , lunch and free bar .... I played like shit last week , but next week is another go in Lima Golf which is one of my favourite. But still the food is good and the bar is free so no sweat if the Golf is shit . I have met a nice English guy which is father to a European Tour Player (John Bickerton) , not the most famous on the tour but still , he has won 3-4 times .
One of my other friends here is the golf pro at my course here in Asia , his name is Luis and he`s a great teacher although he does not speak a word English , most of his teaching gets across . It´s the damn thing to just do what he says that gets me ....He has put me on a physical training schem so watch out when I`m back in Europe . But first is the quarter final of the club championship this Sunday . It`s going to be tuff as I`m facing a really good player a 6 hcpèr .

I`m listening to a lot of music as you may have gathered via my Facebook site , I`m still going back to old music . Spotify is great for that as there are cross links to "related" artist and from there you can really find a lot of old music that I used to listen to when I was younger . Anyone who want to email me their Spotify user name can get access to what I`m listening to , just comment here or send me an email.
I even have some invites for the ones in ; Norway , Spain , UK that has access to Spotify

Until maybe not so long ....

SAHB - Next

From the opening riffs of Swampsnake you know this is Pub/boogie  rock with a Glam take . It was later hailed as Vambo rock .
Link to playlist on Spotify ; spotify:user:virtualolav:playlist:4BXeoHBVB3WvXZcwYLsLwM , so you can listen as you read .

I`m normally not a big fan of Boogie Woogie music , but here it works fine with the guitar of Zal Cleminson and the harmonica more as the boogie “piano”. 

Alex Harvey born in Glasgow in 1935 did have roots from the cabaret , skiffle scene , which comes quite apparent in most of his music . Gang Bang the next track is kinda continuing the pornographic takes on the pub/glam rock , so is the title track Next with also a heavy Tango feel  . I do remember vividly one of the parties at my parents house at Solhøgda where we where dancing or at least trying to dance tango to this track  (Next), wizzing around the whole apartment including the hallways and toilets , great fun .

I have had the pleasure of seeing Alex and the band live in Oslo in the early 70 (74 to be exact) and it did lasting impression not only the energetic performance of Alex but also the circus like dressing up of the rest of the band , timely in line with the Glam Rock period , But SAHB  as they where called (Sensational Alex Harvey Band ) did a stunning performance . You can watch yourself here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6aLs8zzrs

And you should also notice the trademark horizontal striped shirts he was “always” wearing. And the make and dress  up of the rest of the band.

Well back to Next , I probably could have written about other albums from SAHB but because of the Tango party  link it had to be this one . The title track Next is based on a song  by Jacques Brel , and is quite political about prostitution and anti military , to see the original click here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O0D4Fnb_s4

Faith Healer is a lengthy track with a never ending intro , but burst out into a chorus almost like a Psalm and then back to Zal`s easy guitar riffs , with Alex almost talking on top.

“The last of the teenage idol`s” It´s almost like an Alice Cooper song . (Alex did Schools out )  Especially in the beginning , but it converts to a typical Harvey Vambo rock  track in the end .

As I said there are a  lot of good songs spread around other Harvey Album´s . For instance on Framed the first SAHB there is Framed and Hole in her stocking  and not least Midnight Moses .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNwLxwZHMOw

On The impossible dream , there is Man in the Jar and Weights made of lead possibly the 2 best songs for me . 

Watch here :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cutbD7Eb-Lo

You also have the cabaret type Sergeant Fury . Money Honey and Tomahawk kid.

A Live album came in 1975 and included probably his biggest hit the Tom Jones cover of  Delilah.

On Tomorrow Belongs to me , you have Action Strasse and Snake bite and not least Anthem , watch here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zuuwG7NuPk

In 1976 he released and albums of covers with the Penthouse Tapes , where you find Schools out and a unlikely cover of The Osmonds Crazy Horses. Funny enough Delilah is not included .

This was the last album I bought I think and the ones after that was not that good .

Alex ,died of a heart attack in 1982 on his way back from a concert in Belgium . RIP

The band still carries on  watch : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Z64gElhwA,

web site here :

http://www.sahbofficial.co.uk/home.htm

This is next album , guess witch ? (in comment field or email )

Naked as sin


an army towel, covering my belly


Some of us weep, some of us howl


Knees turn to jelly


But ***********


I was just a child
 A hundred like me


I followed a naked body 
a naked body followed me

***********


I was just a child when my innocence was lost


in a mobile army whorehouse 
a gift of the army,

free of cost
 *********

The Tubes and the Tubes Young and Rich

Thanks to Torkel for suggesting the Tubes I almost had forgotten about this great band .  Again this was as many others a band found in the record shop I was working at . Released in 1975 and 1976 respectively, I guess the Tubes where kind of a  glam USA band but with kinda funky feel  and little bit  of cabaret thrown in . Mostly from phoenix Arizona not far from golf mecca of Scottsdale , but based in San Fransico. Also  not totally unlike early Talking Heads in the rythm parts and Bran Van 2000 in the disco/funky  parts  . The Tubes had some great songs and some really bad ones , and I think that`s why they did not have great success. They had some satirical lyrics like on ie “what do you want from life” where first verse goes like :

What do you want from life
To kidnap an heiress or threaten her with a knife
What do you want from life To get cable TV and watch it every night
or later in the song 
How can you tell when you're doin' alright
Does your bank account swell While you're dreaming at night .
Then it all ends with 
a solid gold Kama Sutra coffee pot, or a baby's arm holding an apple?
What more can you ask from a lyric J
And I belive this satirical type carried on in most songs and they where often about media , porn and  ways of life etc . 

I never got to see them live witch I think would have been very interesting. As they had some performances banned in the UK. I don`t really know much of the names of the band members (of course I could look it up) , but know that one of them went on to join Greatful Dead and probably had more fame there . They are as most 70`s bands still performing . But never really had any success to boost about .

Best songs
Up from the deep
White Punks on dope
What do you want from life
Slipped my disco
Don`t touch me there
Prime time
Talk to ya later

Web site : http://www.thetubes.com

The mother of Party tents

Last night was time again for the traditional New Year Party at Playa Golf , this is a party for the urbanisation and friends here in Peru . Last year was good but this year at least the tent was 100 times better . The size of a football field with a dance floor the size of a HUSBANK house . about 3 stories high celing . The normal crowd was there ie Santiago the wine/pisco maker , the Canepa`s with their husbands and some others that I really don`t remember their names . We stumbled home around 4 am . It`s funny though we arrived at 23:28 (yes I looked at my phone ) there where hardly anybody there . At 24:00 the place was packed I`ll estimate 5-600 people most of them on the dance floor at Midnight .
The above picture is from what they call "hora loca " which means crazy hour , that`s when they share out hats , baloon`s, etc etc .