Off Topic Passions, Hobbies and Interests

He said the poverty in Naples made the Gorbals (he did his training in Glasgow)look like a garden village. He was in Palermo and said that was interesting, more in the grip of the Mafia back then. All very interesting for someone who was 18 at the time and who had never been outside of Yorkshire before enlisting in the navy.

 

My dad joined the merchant navy at 16 and his first trip was to Tunisia in 1965.
He was off Hessle Road so must have been a huge big adventure.
They can tell some stories the old salty sea dogs

 

I used to play the guitar (admiringly not very well). I’ve taught myself a few songs on work’s piano too. The opening to Clocks by Coldplay was the first thing. Really easy to pick up watching a YouTube video.

I like to swim. I don’t go much but enjoy the peacefulness of swimming under water.

I have a PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch but rarely go on any of them. If I do, it’s usually on Fortnite which is taking the world by storm at the minute.

Love theme parks. Well, Rollercoasters. It’s a kind of punishment really because I always leave the places feeling really sick. Sister had open heart surgery not long ago. Docs said it could be genetic and that I should go for a scan. Probably not the best idea going on rollercoasters when that’s one of the warnings not to ride. Guess I’ll find out one way or another.

Started going to concerts. Radio 1 Big Weekend gave me the taste for that. At the Killers soon and then Bastille in July.

Most of my time is taken over by work during the week. I’m sure there’s supposed to be some sort of balance. I’ve scaled back a little bit and don’t do any of the sports tournaments anymore so I’ve clawed back 5-6 hours a week there.

Oh and I still torture myself going to City. Aim to do 5-6 away games a year alongside the home ones. So far I’ve done 1. Guess that’s a measure of the best run club in the league.

 

I hope Etna was a nice girl?

 

So when are you going for that scan, Cortez? The Docs advise you for a reason mate. Love to your Sister x

 

Using both hands, no doubt, big boy

 

Spent a week on Stromboli, no cars no proper roads and difficult to reach but well worth the hassle. Some kind of hydrofoil/hovercraft thing from Naples, which is roughest place in Europe I've been to.

Been up Mt Teide on Tenerife and got caught short above the cloud line and had to hurriedly lay some cable with tourist path just a few yards away. Weird to see the clouds below.

 

Barcelona is my second favourite after Venice.

Naples is a really ****hole, but I want to dive in Naples Bay on the submerged Roman Villas, so will have to go back!

 

Have stayed at Sant'Agnello,on the other side of the Bay of Naples near Sorrento, which was very nice and much cheaper than Sorrento

 

Watching City despairingly
Snowboarding (abroad but also messing about at Xscape on jumps etc)
Buying snowboarding stuff that I really don’t need!
Playing bass (not to Des’ standard by sounds of it, but still play in bands occasionally)
I own several sets of golf bats which I haven’t assaulted anything with for ages, maybe need to get back to that
Hiking, but sadly Mrs Tash is still recovering from an ankle op so not been lately
Reading
Watching films and any sport

Anyway the not606 band is taking shape. If Des doesn’t mind drumming, I’ll play bass and then we can have the other 65 guitarists on stage !

 

How bizarre, it’s incredibly small but I’ve stayed there too. It was largely by accident but I was glad we were there, Sorrento was monstrously busy. I had the best seafood risotto I’ve ever had in my life at a nothing restaurant in Sant’Agnello.

 

I could be the percussion section if that helps the band. If I don't mind saying so I'm a pretty mean spoon player and can make the sound of an owl by cupping my hands and blowing in to them?

 

I’ll be the talentless one that all the girls fancy.

 

I do also mess about with synthesisers so I'm happy to deviate from guitar

 

You've nicked that line from Ian Dury 'What A Waste'

 

Deviant.

 

Probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me, thanks.

 

I really haven’t, I’ve never heard of it or heard it.

 

Maybe it was an Echo (and the Bunnymen) song then?