Wednesday 30 September 2009

Everyday I go to work in my new executive English-made shoes wearing a carefully selected shirt and tie combination, aiming to exude a distinct level of worth. What ruins the look, is my nasty £6.99 black polyester 'briefcase'. I've decided that the essential acquisition is going to be this rather fetching Mulberry briefcase; I'm a mere mortgage away from style.

Monday 28 September 2009



...And if you're interested (like I'm fascinated) by social media playing a role in politics, this 3 minute clip pretty much sums up the foundations. The 'Twinge' meets are fast becoming popular and well supported by UK politicians and now ministers, this webpage gives an insight to the whole idea which will no doubt form an interesting role for itself when the general election is called in the coming months.

Sunday 27 September 2009

Another good thing about living in London is the G-List celebrity spotting that will suddenly take you by surprise, like I was when shopping on Regent Street last week. Minding my own business looking for a fitted white shirt I stepped across an absolute zinger - Gaby Roslin.

All this sophistication of summer sport has left me with a void in aggressive all action sport. Of course, by that I mean I've been looking forward to the rugby season for the first time in about 4 or 5 years. Having played a lot of rugby when I was younger, I always enjoyed watching England play on the international stage without really feeling much attachment (obviously disregarding the 1999 World Cup win - I was there in Trafalgar Square amongst the million-strong crowd of Englishmen, to welcome the players home and present us the trophy).

What I realise now is, take as much from this great game as you can, because in a few decades, perhaps even years, I'm almost certain it will be watered down into a game about as dangerous as musical chairs. I for one had to stop playing the game after a tackle left my spine twisted and only nearly a year's physiotherapy would fix that. Another teammate had his eye gouged out and it was a minor miracle he wasn't blinded. Broken bones are expected and you regularly hear of schoolboy deaths that are, tragically, close to home. It won't be long before the Fun Police, possibly rightly, debate how constructive all this aggression actually is.

There are decent arguments on both sides, but one thing I would say is that decisions like that should be made by rugby people. It is, obviously, an optional recreation that people enjoy being wrapped up in. The team spirit is unrivalled, often overzealously displayed by hoards of young men of all shapes and sizes descending onto a bar after a game, some sporting injuries that should almost certainly be seen by a medical professional immediately, but the social aspect always far out-weighs their welfare. Rarely in any sport do you so heavily rely on your surrounding team mates as you do in rugby, the lessons learnt about trust, reliance and pushing your own physical boundaries - individually and as a group - are second to none. Getting smashed in the face, breaking your nose, having your head raked by metal studs and being trampled by the opposition and sometimes your own teammates teaches you about getting up and starting again. You face the very real threat of being hurt, and you face it with 14 others who are willing to put themselves in harms way just to celebrate with you. It is an intense feeling of camaraderie that would only by taken away from us by making it "safer"; for me, it would be a totally different game.

So make the most of it while it lasts. Soon every player will be made to wear padding, maybe even helmets and you'll be that grandfather who always chirps up mid-game saying "in my day we didn't have helmets, if you got concussion you played on, and we taped our ears down to stop them getting ripped off".

Saturday 26 September 2009


There are some things in London you just can't get anywhere else. Shot is probably one of them, but the pros heavily outweigh the cons when it comes to culture, places to be, places to eat and people to see. It gets a bad press with regard to being a busy, rude and dirty city, but that tends to be from people who go for the day, spend their time on Oxford Street meandering around tourists before crushing themselves on a packed tube to get ripped off in a Leicester Square restaurant. I can fully understand the disappointment, but don't go there.

I've lived here before and just moved down again, there are still somethings that make me stop in awe. Last night I was walking from work to Waterloo (just over Westminster Bridge for dinner on the Southbank). It was dusky and the evening and begun to creep in with an air of bustle. As I turned my head to look back where I'd come from I'd totally failed to notice how majestic Big Ben looks in the evening. "Fuck me that's awesome" I said to myself vowing not to take it for granted in future (although I certainly will, as most people do). When I was making the return trip over the water to Embankment station, I passed a saxophone player on the bridge, playing under the lights of the London Eye and setting an awesome Friday night mood. It reminded me that it's such a great place to not only live but have a life.

I feel pretty lucky to have started back here. It's vibrant and never stale and I love it.

Thursday 24 September 2009


Today's Arthur's Day, 250 years after the lease on the Guinness brewery in Dublin was taken out. That, of course meant going for several pints of the black stuff after work today, which has resulted in a horrible aftermath any Guinness drinker will be aware of, and one I won't go into detail over.

Still, well done Arthur.

Saturday 19 September 2009

"You're a big man but you're out of shape, and for me it's a full time job, so behave yourself"
- Michael Caine (Get Carter, 1971)


Easily one of the coolest quotes from any movie.

Friday 18 September 2009

I used to have really fat feet, and I've only just realised. Having slipped on an old pair of loafers I'm taking to London with me as reserves, they're virtually flopping off while I pad down the road. Normally I'd be annoyed as it would mean yet more added expenditure (piling on to an already heaped mountain of London relocation cost), but, quite frankly, I've always had freakishly wide feet and anything to reign in the oddity is a massive plus.

So it seems I've managed to steer away from having hams for feet and now need a new pair of loafers.

P.S. I looked for a picture of "Fat feet", "Obese Feet" and "Swollen Feet" in Google images to liven up the post, but they are all far too grotesque to include.

Thursday 17 September 2009


I've just learnt that in 1999, the then GQ editor James Brown was forced to resign for including Rommel and The Nazis in the century's top 200 most stylish men. I'm kind of thinking there must have been a moment when he thought, maybe this might upset a couple of people, then when he resigned being really annoyed with himself. Really though, I applaud his courage for sticking two fingers up at what is just a sacred cow of Nazi-hating. It's like whenever someone says Hitler was a great leader, they have to instantly follow it with "but totally insane" or "shamefully evil" (N.B. whenever someone tries to tell you you're out of line, remind them our apparent ally Stalin ruthlessly murdered 20m people compared to Hitler's 6m).

Rommel was stylish though; the whole ideology was stylish - that was kind of the plan. Really, it's fascinating whatever your belief. Look at the above picture taken in Cherbourg 1940. The British officers look like a sack of shit compared to Rommel. OK, it might be something to do with them having fought a bitter battle before having to surrender, and Rommel arriving fresh-faced to shake hands on the deal...but still. Evil or whatever, they looked good doing it, let's not be childish and argue that.

If you're going to have a go, spit at the disgraceful discrimination, 'solution' and rampant war crime. Just don't touch the tailoring.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

So I'm slowly finding out who's deleted me as a Facebook friend (which, I'm totally fine with, as I've culled others as well). But it's one of those things where you'll not know until you stumble across them and they've locked their profile down, or you ironically try and invite them to a reunion and you can't (mentioning no names Natalie Ashford-Hodges). It is quite entertaining when you find one, although I don't want to devote my life to the search like a Jewish Nazi-hunter.

Sunday 13 September 2009


This thing is not playing ball currently. I need more patience.

Saturday 12 September 2009


Lord Freddie Windsor and Sophie Winkleman (who plays Big Suze in the hilarious Peep Show - incidentally the new series is starting next Friday) have married.
The coolest part is that they turned down £600,000 from magazines to sell their pictures. That makes him seriously cool...and rich.

Cool Advert


Said this before, posted this before, but I just never get tired of this ad.

Friday 11 September 2009

Do you ever just burst out laughing in the street? Well today I did, remembering when my mum wrote a note to my teacher and addressed the envelope 'Mike Hunt'.

His name was Ian.

Thursday 10 September 2009


Stop Press. I've bought a Cardigan (mine's blue though). I know - fuck.

I just couldn't resist it when I walked into Reiss the other day. It's my weakness and I know it, I WILL buy things when I'm in there. Don't worry, this won't result in skinny jeans.

There seems to be some shock over someone questioning Obama in his Healthcare proposals. OK, he said, "You Lie", which is probably out of order in any government debate, but really it's a massive overreaction. Surely he's doing his job questioning and debating what the President is proposing, especially if it's not in the apparent interest of the people he represents. I'm actually a fan of Obama, but I'd like to see how long he'd last in PMQs or any debate over the dispatch box in the House of Commons. I think he could do it without doubt, but it does make this healthcare outburst look pathetic in comparison:

Wednesday 9 September 2009


Beauty or Beast?

England 5 - 1 Croatia

England are off to the World Cup next summer. Normally this wouldn't be big news, but considering we didn't make it to the Euros last year it's a giant relief. That night we were beaten by Croatia to deny us the tournament entry. This evening we took sweet revenge out on the same team to earn our place in South Africa 2010.

Sunday 6 September 2009

Saturday 5 September 2009


I love kids, and I think kids acting like adults is hilarious (unless they're pretentious, like a 4 year old ordering sorbet for dessert), but this guy takes it ten steps further.

Friday 4 September 2009



As an avid Diet Coke drinker, I have to agree with much of what this article says. I've had people I know to binge drink, smoke and take cocaine try to tell me I should try and give up Diet Coke. I can't help but feel the outrageous hypocracy shouldn't be tolerated.

"It’s a five-can day today,” my friend Naomi Stern tells me over the phone. We both know what she means — in fact I can almost hear the click-hiss of her first Diet Coke of the morning. And she’s not unique: last year Britons on average guzzled 97.3 litres of carbonated drinks each, a third of them sugar-free. According to the analysts Zenith International, Diet Coke is the bestseller in that market “by some margin”.

Diet Coke, which has been around since 1983, is our acceptable addiction. Its fans claim that it gives them a lift, seemingly without any downside.And it’s not as if it’s going to make you fat: each 330ml can has only half a calorie. What harm can it do?

Stern is meticulously healthy in every aspect of her life — scanning ingredients lists, buying only organic produce, visiting the gym five times a week without fail — and describes Diet Coke as her only vice: “I have no idea what’s in it. To be honest I’d rather not know. I just love the idea that it’s calorie-free. It’s my guilt-free treat.”

That “diet” word is clearly a key factor. We know that fizzy drinks aren’t good for us, yet the loyalty to Diet Coke is strong. What secret ingredient is it that keeps us hooked?

First up is carbonated water; nothing much to see there. Then we get to colour — caramel E150d; an E number, but not one of the ones deemed undesirable by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The next items are the artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame K. These are controversial, having been linked to everything from depression to brain tumours and other cancers.

But European Commission studies in 2001 and 2006 found no proof for this. And Coca-Cola GB insists: “The scientific evidence is overwhelming; aspartame is not linked to adverse health effects.” The FSA nonetheless recommends that the average adult drink no more than 14 cans of sugar-free drink a day.

“There may be no evidence that artificial sweeteners are harmful but they are the reason I avoid diet drinks,” Mark Porter, theTimes doctor, says. “They have lots of synthetic chemicals and taste awful. I would advise avoiding the caffeine in these drinks altogether, or limiting your intake to no more than four cans of diet cola, if you are pregnant or have underlying problems like anxiety, insomnia and palpitations.”

Ah yes, caffeine; I was wondering where our little 4pm friend was in this equation. Diet Coke hardly packs a punch with its meagre 43mg per can, less than half the amount you would find in a typical shot of espresso. “You get a bigger hit from a couple of squares of dark chocolate or a cup of green tea,” says Alison Duker, the founder of www.eatbetter.co.uk, “although the caffeine in Diet Coke is absorbed more quickly because it’s mixed with phosphoric and citric acids.” The high speed hit may well explain why so many feel reliant on it.

Acids: doesn’t sound good. “If we could grow new tooth enamel we’d have nothing to worry about,” says Mohit Khurana, who runs his own dental practice and lectures at Liverpool University: “But we need to be careful of anything that weakens tooth enamel. Don’t sip slowly, have them with food so your saliva can best cope with the acid attack and don’t brush within an hour of drinking, when enamel is at its weakest.”

But it’s not just our teeth that we need to protect from acid. “There’s a growing body of evidence that too much acid causes loss of bone density,” says Antonia Adeniji, a nutritionist at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Our body balances the acid with alkali, from foods like fruit and vegetables. If you are not getting enough of those then the body will take calcium from your bones.” Food for thought when half of all women are affected by osteoporosis.

Clearly it’s not the caffeine-packed rocket fuel we thought. Nor is there anything specifically addictive in its ingredients. Yet it still exerts a pull over its legion of fans. “I just love my little can of chemicals,” says Stern. And she’s far from alone.

Daniel Finkelstein ’fesses up on fizz

My name is Daniel Finkelstein. And I am a Diet Coke addict. I adhere to the ten steps programme. The first nine steps involve getting you to mind your own business. The tenth is to open another can.

I am told that a Diet Coke habit is the last acceptable addiction. You could have fooled me.

I don’t drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I don’t smoke. And I have never taken an illegal drug. But I do like a cool refreshing can, just for the taste. Actually, a number of cans. Or even, in the right convivial setting, with the right food, a 2-litre bottle.

I am not bothering anybody else. Drinking doesn’t lead me to reel out into the street singing Football’s Coming Home.

I have never punched someone for staring at my bird. Nobody is going to die from passive Diet Coke drinking caused by me imbibing near by. The most that happens is that the caffeine makes me tap the floor with my right foot while another columnist is trying to concentrate.

So you would think that my Diet Coke and I were hardly ever mentioned. That I was allowed to drink in peace. I am sorry to disillusion you. My family bring it up. But that’s all right. They are allowed to.

They are worried that it might be harming me and I appreciate their concern. I do occasionally (ever so nicely, you know me) point out that it would be better if they produced evidence to back up their fear. But generally I put up with it. I even stock caffeine-free Diet Coke at home, to make everyone feel more comfortable.

What surprises me are the people who have no proprietorial interest in my health but hate fizzy drinks. If I ever write about Diet Coke these people write to me in droves. They tell me how awful my habit is, how it is bound to kill me. They urge different drinks upon me, send me scientific papers (which peter out without proving anything) and suggest that I go cold turkey. I have no idea why they care. I have decided to take it as a compliment.

Thursday 3 September 2009


Is this news? It's hilarious whatever it is. Just seen it posted on Facebook so thought I'd put it up here as well. Ties quite well with that slow summer news thing and lazy journalism; go and find something serious to report on!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to win a competition with Esquire magazine from their twitter page. I had to suggest a caption for a video of a cow staring at another cow (talk about a blank canvass). I won't bore you with what I actually provided, but it turns out there was a prize for their favourite. While this prize was inevitably found in the stationary cupboard, I'm looking forward to receiving it as I never win competitions.
The success of the British Empire was almost solely attributed to diarrhea. Or the fact we were the only ones who didn't get it when invading.

Apparently it's also why we always beat the French. Grubby fuckers. Maybe it's also why we love curry.

I love QI and its meaningless facts.

Wednesday 2 September 2009

Hard as nails. Awesome.

I've never been a fan of cheap suits, they're so blatent, and most of the time actually quite expensive (for what they are). You can easily go into a low end high street store and buy what they call a mans suit for £200. That's not money you'd want to chuck away, yet people do day after day. Why not go the extra mile, spend another £80-120 and get something decent; something that isn't a Wool/Polyester lovechild cut with a knife and fork.

This article took it to the extreme and reviewed the George at Asda £25 (yeah...Two-Five) suit. While not everyone has the clout to afford a tailor, there are excellent rack suits out there, so really there is little excuse. To totally contradict myself, I've been recommended a tailor by a friend and will be visiting him in the coming months when the costs of relocating to London have settled themselves. You don't have to spend outrageous cash to get something made in England, and I've seen their product first hand and it's top class.

Tuesday 1 September 2009


This is my new high street. Awesome.