Ginger DJ Rob

If you're a fan of mugging, car-jacking or shooting innocent people and you were rich enough (or mug enough) to buy a PS3 then you should be excited about the new Grand Theft Auto IV trailer just released. This next gen version is based in New York with some amazing detail and the best landmarks pixelated for HD. It sounds like the central character is an East European mafia type who's into human trafficking. Personally I'd rather wait until at least £100 gets knocked off the price and await some more positive game reviews. YouTube scum Over the last few weeks I have some w**nkers leave some non-supportive comments on my YouTube video of my karate tournament fight. Although I'm not 100% behind the club ethos it doesn't mean people can graffiti my site with anti-GKR slurs. I've removed them all now but it ticks me off when people disrespect web space with sh*tty comments. YouTube gold One good thing coming out of YouTube lately is Adam & Joe's BBC3 (or 4)...

No time was spared to get home and go straight out again for Viv's Friday night birthday celebration. Kerry was already at the Market bar with everyone else whilst I battled against the South London rush hour. Parked at K & K's to grab the 8pm train and some complete stranger decided to tell me all about an old friend's funeral he would be attending. Nice guy but completely random. When I did arrive at the bar, the bouncer refused to let me downstairs due to overcrowding and pointed me to the bar. Luckily it only took another 5 minutes to join the rest. It always feels a bit awkward arriving late when everyone's four rounds in front. Had to put up with George's son teenage-drink ranting cockiness until he fell asleep. By which time everyone was in a mood to head back home for a impromptu party. I struggled for awhile DJing, using Kev's records but finally started finding the good stuff. If it wasn't for the mortgage appointment the next day a serious be...

Monday I received some bad news, the job I had almost thought was mine decided not to interview me. Couldn't believe it and was simply down to not understanding the international teaching market - who the f*ck does out there and have my experience?! The Estate Agent was testing our patience though this time it was to do with the vendor making himself scarce. By Tuesday, we still hadn't heard from them and a few phonecalls through gritted teeth repeating our situation were needed. It all got a bit much thinking we'd been jinxed by this Estate Agent. But the offer got accepted and the dream got stronger. I don't know whether to punch the guy for last week's nightmare or kiss him for the change of fate. Just need to sort out a job now!

We managed to find about six houses for viewing at the weekend after our paranoia that no more would come up. First up was a scruffy over-priced one in Hove and smelt of old ladies. Second was cheap but needed the whole inside gutting since it hadn't changed since before the war (WW2 that is not Iraq). Third was hilariously so bad. It was on the main road with views of giant pylons and a bus stop right outside. Inside we were bombarded with Christ and saint images everywhere with a mixture of cheap Indian restaurant style laminate panelling and flooring. The family selling were Egyptian Christians and had lowered the selling price recently - good luck to them. Another cheap place to view in Portslade which we should have canceled but another chuckle at the décor. The owner was moving to Oz to do Harley Davidson repair. It was the 70's style ninja photos (of the owner) that got me. All these disasters were getting us down by now but like a misty edged, angel singing dream, the n...

With house business off-the-boil I've actually had time to look at normal things. I'd heard there was a trailer for The Simpsons Movie and found it on the BBC Films website . Couldn't quite work out the plot but Mr Burns looks like he's causing trouble and Homer makes himself unpopular. Sunshine has been received well by Solace in Cinema . Danny Boyle, he of Trainspotting, directs this sci-fi flick where astronauts are sent to re-ignite the sun and never come back. Another team goes out to finish the job and... It all sounds a little like Event Horizon to me.

Image via Wikipedia Blazing sunshine for our last day in Brussels. Decided to see the Atomium (pictured above) next to the Heysel stadium . Kerry tried coming up one floor but her vertigo took over and went wobbly. A bit too much queuing for my liking as there was only one lift to the viewing orb. Views were good but the prospect of queuing some more for the left down meant a rush around for photos. The Mini-Euro park was shut until summer so headed back into town for more chocolate shopping and exploring. Shops, cafes and even the subway stations had the same soundtrack of 80's pop which was strange. House latest Back at work and we discovered that the house we lost out to cash buyers thanks to the meddling estate agent had fallen through therefore back in the running. According to the agent they had lied when they offered (are there any honest people in Brighton ?). With fingers still smarting from last week's stress, we're going to wait and see other houses this week...

Great continental breakfast (though it stung the bill) with muzak covering strangeness such as the 60's Star Trek theme. Headed out to Grand Place to explore local area ticking all tourist trap boxes i.e. Manique Pis, Toone puppet theatre then shopping for comic book related stuff, chocolates, waffles etc. Lunch ruined by bad Danish blue cheese choice. The puppet theatre was quite kooky at first but entirely spoken in French. Although it was Romeo and Juliet there were some adhoc scripting which amused the audience (although the majority were Euro OAPs so would have found anything amusing) but went straight over my one-language spoken head. After the first half we decided to leave. Back to hotel with staff advising they couldn't find Amadeus restaurant meaning it had either shut down or staff were crap. Couple of strong but expensive drinks in the bar and on to the Kasbah, a Moroccan restaurant. Main dish language confusion meant bland choice but the festival sorbet desser...

Image by Ginger DJ via Flickr Surprisingly no traffic or hold-ups spoiled our journey to the airport. As the gate got called so did my mobile with Neil 'LB' Sutherland and our Estate Agent numbers coming up. Both were ignored. Arrived in Brussels and realised hotel was a little further than we thought taking two underground lines and a tram to reach it. The 3 day travelcard was very cheap though quickly realised you could get away without using it. Hotel was very stylish and opulent décor. After a bit of a lie-down we ventured out searching for lunch and an umbrella. Got as far as Louise area and found a place called Oscars , a movie themed restaurant. It looked cheap so wasn't expecting anything special. Hoegaarden on tap and Kir Royale for the lady. English speaking staff and amazing food. Christopher Lambert 's ( Highlander actor) photo was in pride of place having 'visted' the place. Rain had stopped in time so explored the St Catherine area. Lots of lo...

Took a day off for a trip to Brighton to second view house and visit job agency. What was supposed to be a relaxed day turned into a race and a stress-athon as the agency rescheduled the interview and the estate agent mucked our offer about. The viewing was really to assess the damage and see what needed repair. The house was a bit more scruffy than I remembered but got on nicely with the vendors. Estate agent bloke floated about making small talk but obviously tip-toeing around yesterday's offer. After finishing, he dropped the bombshell that another higher offer was made for someone without a chain. Then the stress piled on as excuses of chain approval and not being able to contact our agent came through. If I'd been anymore switched on I would have accussed him there and then. We asked for a decision to be made by the end of the day. 4.50pm was the phonecall to finish it and trigger a fact finding mission to uncover the estate agent's reputation. A few ugly rumours and n...

Couple of great game related pictures. Perry Bible Fellowship does Mario (below) and a new Nintendo DS game puts women in their place with Housewife Superstar (left). The game packaging gives you an insight of gaming activities including: knitting competitions (it actually says 'sewing the seed of love'), flower arrangement and dressing up to impress your husband including the saucy french maid outfit. I kid not!

So the first house we offered on fell through thanks to evil first-time buyers who have obviously got more more money than sense. We switched over to the other blowing away our budget and getting sucked into evil stamp duty territory at 3%. It's more than we need but after a long, long, long talk about it we need to do it. It's now a waiting game to speak to the Estate Agent though he's out showing other people the very same house! I'm hoping to second view it tomorrow to check again the damage from a leak and see an agency about a job. All this house stuff has let our anniversary trip slip our minds. We're off to Brussels this weekend and have nothing planned at all. Glimmers are DJing Friday night but with the out-of-town location and early start for flight etc. I've a feeling we'll be cosying up for an early one.

Started our search in Portslade and saw two great houses and on the same street as James and Trudy. Would we run in into them? Scooted back to Brighton via Hove for a nice flat but too small. Got mucked about by an Estate Agent who's colleague left the house keys in her handbag! House was quaint but needed a lot of work for the money. Bit of a time gap for next viewing so got something to eat. Soon learned how bad parking is in Brighton with an attempt to park in the swimming pool. Found another part of The Laines we'd never seen before which just blew our minds. Our last house on the list was our last hope really. As we waited for the viewing we spotted another for sale sign four door's up and rang to sneak in a viewing. After a lot of convincing we got one. Both were perfect and offers were phoned in. Returned to Portslade at end of day and as we exited the second house James comes wondering past on cue! Drove back to Brighton in search of parking ready for our live music...

House hunting in Brighton is getting stupid (again). We saw loads on Saturday and one of them was worth a second look. Booked another viewing with it only to get it canceled as an offer had been accepted. By yesterday we felt we were scraping the barrel of house choice and doubts started creeping in that we'll be priced out or having to consider a shitpit. Still no job news which is also worrying. Wednesday evening we joined Steve and Sam at the Astoria for another dose of The Rapture . They were supported by three other bands but only saw Sh!t Disco for the first tune then ignored them. Compared to the Koko club, both venue and performance was rough around the edges. Too many tall people obscured the view and the pocket camera we have is pants for this type of thing (soon to be on ebay). Favourite moment was at the end when Luke went stage diving for the second time then returned to stage dancing like a drunken Bez as if to make up for the weak dive performance. Disappointed to s...