Friday

Met a “directionally-devoid, drinking-since-lunch” Dan at The Volunteer, near Baker Street station after walking up a thirst following his directions :P. Beers with some of his workmates and friends: Sean, Kieren, Natalie(?), Renee(?) (I suck with names) and was introduced to Sophie who works behind the bar at The Volunteer and originally hails from Melbourne.

To Tottenham Court Road station, where we leave Dan’s work crew and meet Adrian and Rebecca. Bec was turning 21 (wink, wink) today. Went to Brick Lane for dinner at ‘that’ Indian place. It was four months since I’d been here last and hasn’t this area changed!? Looks like the developers have noticed its popularity and moved in. The restaurants now have guys out front to entice customers in, like that street in Carlton that I’ve temporarily forgotten the name of..

Our place was full (blame Lonely Planet) but we waited outside for a couple of minutes and got a table. It was BYO so the others had bought some wine whereas I scored a 4-pack of John Smith ale from the same mini-market nearby.

After dinner we all went to the flash Commercial Road(?) apartment of another of Dan’s mates. Irish brothers running their own Agile/XP programming consultancy company. Earning good money from it too, it seems!

After some more beers, a bunch of us left, with Dan and I going off separately to meet Sophie somewhere. It was after 12pm so all the pubs were closed. We ended up walking to Soho and paying 5 quid to get into a bar. Multiple rounds of Hoegaarden followed.

I don’t know when we left but I remember the illegal cab ride back to Dan’s – mainly because it was driven by cool dude with funky top hat who was all too pleased to play a CD for us. Apparently, there’s a whole bunch of drivers operating cab services in private vehicles. They aren’t licensed cab drivers, hence the illegality. This guy was fine but I’ve heard some horror stories.

Spend the rest of the night talking sh1te until Sophie had to bail to get lunch ready for work around 8am?

Saturday

Slept on the futon at Dan’s, waking around 3pm. Killed time until it was dark, deciding not to bother going back to Ealing. Instead, shower here and then head in to The Volunteer around 9pm for dinner – a tasty but very oily plate of wedges w/ cheese and chorizo sausage for 3.50UKP. I prefered the flat-bread (pizza) thing Dan had. Washed it down with a pint of Bombardier and an old German favourite of mine – Erdinger Weiss beer!

Interesting mix of tunes was pumped out by birthday-boy DJ Chris during dinner 🙂

Initially Dan had told me we were heading to a small party but when I checked on the web, it turned out to be the “event of the year” – Chemical Warfare’s 3rd Birthday @ seOne.

(Click to enlarge)

He checked with another contact and yes, we would be able to get in. Yay!

Bigger than expected was okay because I was cashed up and could actually afford the 18UKP door charge. Walking in, it was immediately obvious I “wasn’t in Kansas anymore Toto!”. Decore and lighting was more than a step above most Melbourne parties, the music was already hard and fast AND there were four rooms of it (Electro, D&B, Techno, Acid Techno)! Me likey!!!

Toilets were manned by a big dude who frequently cleaned them, provided deodorant and personally handed you paper towel after you washed up. It was posh even though it wasn’t, well, posh.

If there was a queue he’d often dance while waiting for patrons to exit the cubicles – cool! 😀

I tipped him a couple of quid during the night.

Another little change from Melbourne..

Red Bull: 3UKP/can

Beer: 3.50UKP/can

Nitrous Oxide: 2UKP/balloon

Ecstasy: 5UKP/pill

Beer is obviously legal, NO2, unlike in Oz is apparently legal – they have frickin’ stalls selling it to punters! I couldn’t believe it!

Pills are not legal but you wouldn’t think so given the number of totally obvious deals going on and the veracity of the dealers.. “You right for gear mate? Need anything?” Fsck me!!!

(I’ll admit to drinking Red Bull and beer)

I spent most of my time in the main Techno room, veering off into the other rooms now and then for a change of pace.

Highlights: the DJ playing at the start of the night in the main room – not sure if it was Jack Luppi or DJ Knights?, Marcello Perri in the Acid room rocked!, Geezer was off his head and rough as guts – I just couldn’t get into his set until near the end, but he was funny to watch!, Anderson Noise from Brazil kicked arse! Chris Liberator was the headline act and played on the main stage. Problems were, he started at 8.30AM! and EVERYONE moved into the main area before he started (did they close the other rooms?) and it was too packed to really dance. I was totally wrecked by then anyway and ended up leaving Dan to chase his rather lovely looking, um, what was her name dude?

Alex and I left around 8am and headed home. She had to work and I needed sleep badly so I left Dan’s and headed back to Ealing.

Anyway, fscking awesome sets the WHOLE night in ALL FOUR rooms!! Even the D&B room had me going and I’m not a huge D&B fan. One London club down and I’ve already formed the opinion that they are totally crazy compared to Melbourne. Sorry Oz, maybe if you were 15,000k closer to Europe with 20-60 million more people you could compete? Fscking awesome night! Another level compared to Melbourne parties for sure!