IOW And A Big Day Today!

It was an odd, rare occassion on Friday, Rachel had the day off and I had no plans what so ever. So we decided to go somewhere. I suggested Portsmouth and Gunwarf Quays, the train that passes through Godalming goes straight there so it was nice and easy. During more research of what we could do once we got there gave me the idea of the Isle of Wight. I thought this was a great idea, mainly because it meant we could go over on the hovercraft, ideal! I do love odd transport, and it doesn't get much odder than a skirt full of air.

So we did it, got up nice and early and headed to the station for the 9.34 train to Portsmouth and Southsea. It rained on the way down, which had me worried it was going to be a typical Rach and Simon rain sodden day out. It cleared up in the end, and actually ended up rather warm when we were in the Zoo.

We arrived in Ryde with no idea of what to do, so we picked up some leaflets. I wanted to go on the steam railway, sad I know but I've already expressed my love for transport, however, it was shut until next weekend, annoying! So we took the electric railway to Sandown, where most things seemed to be. This train was the oldest, noisiest, bounciest, funnest way of travelling! It looked like it had been built in pre-WWII times, infact it wouldn't suprise me if it was. It bounced along the track and was much more enjoyable than the modern day train journeys!

Once in Sandown I realised I'd been there before, the road from the station, and the station it's self were very familiar! Obviously memories from childhood holidays. By this time it was lunch time and we were starving! We found a nice cafe on the pier and had fish and chips, yum! The place was empty, obviously because it was a week day in March. It felt like we had the island to our selves! We decided to go to the zoo, just a short walk from where we were, although it was longer than we expected, we had a Mr. Whippey Ice Cream on the way to keep us occupied. The zoo is tiny, but with the biggest cats I've ever seen, the roaring lions were just amazing. We visited the "Jeepers Creepers" section and, because we were the only people in there, one of the keepers got a royal python for us to hold and look at, it was incredible! 

We got home at around 7, just in time for Rachel's TV. It was a brilliant day out and I would recommend it to everyone! We were lucky with the weather!

You may have noticed, if you are a user of Facebook, that I have been madly promoting the Johnny Arrow and the Cheap Day Returns gig tonight at the Wilde Theatre in Bracknell at 7.30.

Well it's no different on this site either! It's our EP launch and a big gig for us, it will be brilliant, you should come and buy a CD and/or a badge. We're donating £1 of each CD sale to Thames Hospicecare in memory of our late, great drummer Geoff. 

I can't wait for this gig. The last time we played at the Wilde Theatre was last year with Geoff on drums and was the best gig we had played up to then, and still the most memorable for me. The stage is huge! Great sound too.

Anyway, I better go and get ready to go to sound check. I've got a whole drum kit to set down, pack into my car along with the amps and guitars and drive it all the way to bracknell for 3.30. Then I've got to set it all up again.... I love this stuff!

See you tonight then hopefully! You'll be missing out if you don't come!