The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


Sort-of American Survives Asia …
May 14, 2007, 10:10 am
Filed under: Comment

Dsc00881

Quite alot of you in blogland will know Gareth from his wonderful blog, Brand New.

Gareth is a wonderful – and smart – guy who works at the slightly bonkers Modernista as head of planning … and last week he was in Singapore to catch up with his best mate – the equally great and smart Gorse, who is at O&M.

Anyway, as he was here – I took the opportunity to basically blackmail him and his wife to catch up … so over a lovely cup of tea at the equally lovely Fullerton Hotel [living the Colonial life, haha], we chatted about all manner of things including how they had found their first visit to Singapore.

It’s always interesting to see a country through other people’s eyes – and whilst Singapore is the most Western of Asian countries/cities – it would seem some of the things going on here are still rather different to life in Boston.

So if any of you are interested in seeing/hearing someone else’s view of this small but powerful land in the East [including a very ahem, ‘fetching’ photo of yours truly – though I look about 80 compared to Gareth, who looks ’12’] then click here.


62 Comments so far
Leave a comment

do you only own that one fucking shirt? thats all i ever see you in these days. youre not broke so sort yourself out with some new stuff before we call you tramp man.

Comment by andy@cynic

http://robcampbell.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/the-scorpions-possess-my-soul/

Is that black? Is it? IS IT???

Comment by Rob

No, it’s not black. But it’s fucking ugly.

Comment by Rowan Barsum

Ladies and gentlemen … proof Marcus has multiple blog personality disorder!

Comment by Rob

bugger.

Comment by Marcus

you don’t look like 80. but the pink rose between you two looks a bit poncey.

Comment by Seb

erm…I mean “make you two look a bit poncey”.

Comment by Seb

Shouldnt it be Rowan Barscum?

Comment by Rob Mortimer

You know my spelling Mr M.

Comment by Marcus

Yes I do!
Though technically it should be Rown Barscum.

😉

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Now you know why I never managed to get on Countdown.

Comment by Marcus

Shame…

Sacrum would make a great Countdown contestant.

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Now, there’s a thought…

Comment by Marcus

This blog really addresses the big issues doesn’t it. And what is Countdown? More Brit shit tv?

Comment by Billy Whizz

you may not like it, but that photo of you and Gareth does look like you guys are on your honeymoon, rob. aw.. sweet. ha!

Comment by lauren

The word “shit” and the show “countdown” are bed fellows.

Comment by Marcus

Countdown is ace!

Its (pretty much) the most intellectual quiz show on tv, and despite being fairly dull in hosts and contestants its been on tv for almost 25 years.

Comment by Rob Mortimer

and is shit.

Comment by Marcus

I disagree im afraid.
Its not great entertainment, but as something you get involved with as it is played there is no better quiz.

Comment by Rob Mortimer

no better quiz for train spotters.

Comment by Marcus

😉

Comment by Marcus

so let me get this straight – countdown in the UK isn’t a music chart show from the 70s/80s with live bands, rock stars, pissed hosts and screaming teenagers? you guys have seriously missed out then!

Comment by lauren

Not a Countdown fan. Now Ironside or Diagnosis Murder.. now you’re talking..

Comment by Will

Nah Lauren, we had the Tube for that. (Although I was too young…got the dvd though!)

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Ah, the Tube! Now we’re talking. Any takers for “The Old Grey Whistle Test”?

Comment by Marcus

Thank fuck I don’t live in Limeyland because Countdown sounds really shit tv. Great sell guys.

Comment by Billy Whizz

Is that your strategy to get back in Northern Planners good books Lauren? Start slagging off Rob and calling him ”a gay”. Great idea, I’ll join in and send that photo to all our offices and get them to put it up on the wall. Sorry Rob, I do respect you really.

Comment by Billy Whizz

Billy – to fully understand this rubbish, why not have a look at this:

Comment by Marcus

But its not about the entertainment Marcus. Its about joining in and trying to beat them at home to prove how smart you are. Its like televisual sudoku.

The Old Grey was good, it just happened to be the home for all of the shitty prog bands and dull pre-punk rubbish that spoilt it for the few good bands of the time. (Pink Floyd, Focus to name two good progesque bands ones).

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Old grey whistle test:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI

(this is what I was listening to when I was 8).

And Rob M – you REALLY do like countdown don’t you?

Comment by Marcus

I think he fancies Vorderman….

Comment by Will

😉

Comment by Will

Easy! Easy! Easy!

Comment by Marcus

yay for the old grey!
hey billy – that was not the plan at all, but if it works (shrug), well, so be it. and, uh, rob, how do you feel about shooting the messenger instead of the (accidental) instigator?

Comment by lauren

Hurrah for the Specials!

Im not a huge fan of Countdown, but its not shit. It serves a purpose as an intelligent gameshow for a large section of the public.

Comment by Rob Mortimer

What’s countdown’s time slot? It was something like 17:00 when I was still in the UK.

Comment by Marcus

About that time, yes.

It isn’t a bad show – great when you are ill/can’t be bothered to watch anything of note.

Comment by Will

Rob, are you at home at that time? What large section of the public is at home at 17:00hrs?

Comment by Marcus

Nope.

Old people. (Hence all the denture ads)
Students.
Unemployed.
People with Sky+

Comment by Rob Mortimer

From those 4, I’ll take 2 and 3 respectively. 🙂

Comment by Will

Ive done 2 but not 4, though I do have the box…

Comment by Rob Mortimer

I’ll take number 1.

Comment by Marcus

A bit of a sidetrack this, but entertaining nevertheless 🙂

Comment by fredrik sarnblad

Matters of extreme importance these. Next it’ll be – whether Des O’Connor still has the stamina to present Countdown.

Comment by Will

He cant be less energetic than Des Lynam surely?

Speaking of Singapore, next year they are having the first ever Formula One Night Race there! You will be charged with bringing us pictures and info Rob!

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Very true Mr Mortimer. He’s looked a bit ropey recently though..

Comment by Will

Rob or Des O Connor? 😉

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Don’t mock Countdown please…..

Getting back to the subject, I’ve always liked Gareth’s blog. I read it a lot. It’s one of these lovely, calm, serene, wise places to go. Is he like that in person? I hope he is.

Comment by NP

NP, rob m, will and anyone else who’s going to interesting 2007 – send your shirts in for TDC to print. i don’t know why i feel the need to hassle you on their behalf, especially here, but i do. so do it.

Comment by lauren

WHAT THE HELL HAS BEEN GOING ON?

WHY & HOW DID COUNTDOWN COME INTO THIS POST?

WHY HAS BILLY DECIDED TO RESIGN IN SUCH AN UNUSAL WAY?

DES O’CONNOR?

ROB IN GAY HONEYMOON WITH GARETH SHOCK!

ROB MORTIMER IN ‘I AM 83 YEARS OLD REALLY’ CLAIM!

God I love this blog but for the life of me I am unsure why, ha! Oh and yes, NP – Gareth is as lovely as he come across [bastard 🙂 ] which is why I can only assume he met up with me because he was being generous. Lets face it, would you want to meet up with me … especially when you see the posts and comments that appear on this blog, ha! Even my Mum would probably have 2nd thoughts and she thinks I’m wonderful.

Lets see what comments my post later today brings – 2/1 it’s pretty much the usual mental rubbish, ha!

Comment by Rob

rubbish? you call this intellectual discussion and literary pursuit rubbish? shame on you…

Comment by lauren

this blog generates more shock than the usual issue of the sun:) rob it was a pleasure to finally meet you.
but i’ll take your old grey whistle test and tube and raise you the genius that was razzmatazz. here’s a bit of gary numan, the wife’s favorite:

Comment by gareth

oops here’s the link:

Comment by gareth

Given your wife loves WWF (and I don’t mean the animal organisation) she probably is not the best person to comment on great British television but as Razzamatazz rocked, I’ll let her off. Oh and Gary Numan is an inspired choice for YouTube clip. Lets face it, anyone who can crash planes as many times as him and generally walk away unscathed (beat that Evel Kinevel) is a bloody legend. I’m going to listen to ‘Cars’ in his honour.

Comment by Rob

This blog is so great!

Comment by Age

Savages. Some people don’t appreciate a good day time tv thread.

Next it’ll be: ‘What was better – Knightmare or Fun House?’

I can’t decide, personally.

Comment by Will

If we’re going to have any daytime TV debate – it’ll be whether Brian Cant was a better presenter on PlaySchool than Floella Benjamin or whether Dangermouse was better than Mighty Mouse.

Personally Brian and Dangermouse win by a mile – but I wouldn’t mind what others think as well as whether they agree with me that Roland Rat was quite possibly ITV’s best creation of the 80’s!

Comment by Rob

Dangermouse, obviously. Crumbs!

Can’t debate the Playschool one, as I probably wasn’t born.

I wonder if Rob M remembers ‘Round The Bend’ (not round the twist – that was bollocks).

Comment by Will

Round The Bend? Was that a show on ad agencies?

Comment by Rob

Dangermouse was ace, as was Roland Rat.

I do remember Round the Bend, set in the sewer!

Comment by Rob Mortimer

Rob M, you are a legend. *Tips hat*

And Rob – it might as well have been (for some of them).

Comment by Will

Thanks!

Comment by Rob Mortimer




Leave a Reply