RIP Ramis

Sad to hear the news of comedy writing/acting legend Harold Ramis passing away today at the age of 69. The mastermind behind Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes and Caddyshack to name but a few will be sorely missed. May he rest in the Containment Unit.

Mr. Paul Heaton

To celebrate the fact that Paul Heaton is back on tour soon promoting his latest album, I'm going to take a minute to reflect on the reasons why Mr. Heaton is cool as fuck...

He Loves his Football...
Hometown team Sheffield United are his obvious passion, but his love for the game manifests itself in other ways too. In the mid nineties, when the Italian game was light years ahead of our dull old boring game, Heaton was often a panelist on Channel Fours 'Football Italia' as a "Italian Football Expert". In fact Inter were his second team and he'd often travel to Milan to watch them play, despite a round trip of some 90 hours. Other than that he collects random bits of memorabilia for his 'Football Room' at his Hull home - Fanzines, badges, programmes and stickers etc. And numerous replica shirts, from Ajax to Zaragoza. But not to wear of course, because he "doesn't understand grown men wearing replica shirts to games..."

His Music Is Uncool...
Therefore it's cool. Think about it (for a minute). The Housemartins. Spotty, specky geeky student types in plastic hooligan clobber and gayish sounding lyrics. Uncool. The Beautiful South. Plain sounding middle of the road pop with Country and Western vibes. Uncool. Both seldom in fashion in their day. Uncool. But I love both bands dearly. Cool.

He hates the Premiership...

“The ambition to get in the Premiership is a false one. I have no problem with us staying where we are. I would like the players to be rewarded for their effort, but there would be a fear of losing in the Premiership, a fear of being ferried around by police and not being able to have a drink. Premiership fans are more arrogant too. I liked it when we were in the Third and Fourth Division. There was more of a bond between players and fans.”
Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/paul-heaton-sing-when-youre-winning#g0TxGCp8Zc20y4Zu.99

“The ambition to get in the Premiership is a false one. I have no problem with us staying where we are. I would like the players to be rewarded for their effort, but there would be a fear of losing in the Premiership, a fear of being ferried around by police and not being able to have a drink. Premiership fans are more arrogant too. I liked it when we were in the Third and Fourth Division. There was more of a bond between players and fans.” Can't argue with that.

Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/paul-heaton-sing-when-youre-winning#g0TxGCp8Zc20y4Zu.99

“The ambition to get in the Premiership is a false one. I have no problem with us staying where we are. I would like the players to be rewarded for their effort, but there would be a fear of losing in the Premiership, a fear of being ferried around by police and not being able to have a drink. Premiership fans are more arrogant too. I liked it when we were in the Third and Fourth Division. There was more of a bond between players and fans.”
Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/paul-heaton-sing-when-youre-winning#g0TxGCp8Zc20y4Zu.99

He's a Dresser...
He ran with the Blades Business Crew, even after becoming famous with the Housemartins, and openly admits to finding "Hooliganism fascinating". So much so the designer clobber has left a lasting impression on him. View any YouTube footage of mid nineties Beautiful South gigs, and you'll see Heaton strutting his stuff whilst flashing a cult compass label on his left arm. Other brand tipples seen sporting include Navy Arctic goggles, Lyle & Scott parkas, adidas trainers and Ralph caps / bucket hats.

He's Left Wing...
Anti establishment. Anti capitalist. Anti royalist. Anti Conservative. He's angry. It's embedded in his song lyrics and his furrowed brow. And he was preaching his Socialist ideals and flying the red flag long before it was trendy. If he wasn't famous you get the impression MI5 might have taken him out by now.

He's a Smartarse...
When the Beautiful South split up it was due to "Musical similarities". Make a Housemartins album poking fun at the fact Kingston upon Hull had better bands than the smoke and it's "London 0, Hull 4". When Thatcher died he was interviewed, as the token Famous Socialist, and denounced her policies/person etc, basically said the Iron Lady could rust in peace, but then just for good measure decided to verbally attack modern day politicians he didn't like. So the interview was cut short.

He Hates David Cameron / Tories...
Heaton could never be blue.

Weather Watcher

"You're European, you're Californian. You may have sunshine, good food, good wine, sex on occasion. We don't care about that in this country. We have the weather..." - Suggs

And for the Sun and the Rain we've the perfect Weather Watcher. A vintage U.S. made 60/40 parka...

Sporting Battalions

Shirts and Shoes

Shirts and shoes are two of my favourite things as you can probably tell from the volume of blogs regarding the subjects. Well here's another one on the handful of bits and pieces I've picked up over the winter...

First up shirting wise, back in September I picked up this very autumnal check from everyone's favourite French fashion house Faconnable. Every shade of orange, red and brown included with a splash of blue. Like taking a leafy walk under a crisp blue October sky and treading in dog poo...

Then up is another Fac shirt. FAC2 if you like. Opposite end of the seasonal scale this one. Nice short sleeved button down in a pleasing plethora of summeresque colourways. Also includes my favourite, and lesser seen, large Faconnable badge which seems to be a grouse playing hockey...

Towards the end of last summer picked up something I'd been trailing for ages. The Casual Connoisseur v tuktuk 'Carter' shirt. Although long since sold out via CC, tuktuk had a few down to half price in the sale. I promptly pulled the trigger on the only size left (luckily an XL) and turned out it was the last of the XLs. The last Carter known to man. Sotheby's you have my number. Anyway the quality is unreal and especially love the pocket detailing...

Now onto shoes. Something I desired from the first time I saw them. Clarks Seam Trek. A beautiful design by the masters of casual footwear. Not much else to say. Pictures say a thousand words...

Got a dirt cheap pair of Clarks via ebay at the end of the summer. Brand new in fact and for roughly a fiver if I remember rightly. Purely because the seller sold these as 'Dessert Drille'. So managed to snaffle the incorrectly titled trotters for next to nowt. Not the finest from the Originals range but champion for knocking about in...

Finally a strange choice to the Good Northern household. Well documented I'm not a fan of trainers these days, but purchased a pair of Beckenbauers. Did so for a couple of reasons. One I've always liked the styling on these adidas originals and two TK Maxx had the red sticker on them, down to £18 from £45. Probably won't ever really wear them much but I couldn't resist for that...

Lego (For Adults)

Barbour Thornhill

Fresh from Barbour's back room. The Thornhill. South Shields finests take on the classic four pocket parka in a hikerdelic olive. Plenty of pockets for the compass and Kendal mint cake.

Pleased with this pick up. Headed to Bede blindly, armed only with a few bob of cold hard Christmas cash and no clue if there'd be owt decent. Been a few years since I've visited and I was pleasantly surprised that Barbs have done the place out. Unfortunately I wasn't pleased with the calibre of stock, wave after wave of beige utility jackets and dayglo plasticky looking Internationals. Until I spied this beauty. The only one in the whole place and in my size to boot. Lucky man. £79 down from £220 due to a slight smudge of the B inside. Beautiful.

The eagle eyed amongst you may notice the Clarks Seam Treks pictured too. Another purchase on the same day but you'll have to wait for another blog soon...