Vital Villa Stuff

Latest Diary entry is here

My mid-season interview is here

Use Twitter? Follow me at http://twitter.com/sheriffkimbo

More Reading

My latest column on Vital Villa went up on Monday.

Also, my new Two Footed Tackle article will be up on Thursday. I slag off Liverpool, a lot!

Enjoy!

Silent Filter

So, you’ve heard me talk about it, now I’ll tell you about it a bit more in-depth:

What is Silent Filter?

Silent Filter is a promotions organisation interested in helping to build the live music scene in Birmingham. In fact that is summed up in the theme of our nights, which is entitled, “Support Your Local Band”. It’s members are yours truly and a very good friend of mine, Jonathan Core.

When did it begin?

In October last year, Phil Kimberley (that’d be me…!) and Jonathan Core sat in a pub in Sutton called The Gate, and discussed the idea of promoting music. Having similar tastes in music, and both enjoying things like, ya know, going to the pub, we decided it was worth a shot. I am DELIGHTED that we did.

So what has happened so far?

On the 21st November, Silent Filter had it’s debut night at the Wagon & Horses. Unfortunately, Corey couldn’t make it! He had a pre-arranged trip but I held the fort and we had a great night with The Reliants headlining, supported by Broken Witt Rebels and Lucid Uprising. Debbie Earls did a grand job of taking photos for the event and overall, the opening event of Silent Filter was a success. After that, there was another great night at the Adam & Eve on the 2nd December. Those in attendance were thoroughly entertained with great sets by Yeah Sparrow, Broken Witt Rebels and Charlie Can’t Surf. Corey was not only in attendance at this one but acted as compère  for the event – something that is sure to entertain many in the future!

Okay, what is next?

Well, this coming Saturday we are at the Black Horse, with a great looking set once again featuring both Charlie Can’t Surf and Broken Witt Rebels, and support coming from Battle For Prague and The Dirty Knecks – two bands making their Silent Filter debut and are potential headliners for us in the future. After that, we are also at Scruffy Murphys on the 22nd and at the Wagon and Horses on the 30th. Yeah Sparrow will be back for us, and we have debut spots for Figure One, Undue and Electric Cake Salad coming up.

Sounds great! So what’s up after January?

More of the same, with us introducing more venues and, more importantly, there are quite a few more bands lined up. There are also plans for slightly different kinds of nights and events – with something very cool indeed in the summer that may happen – but as soon as we can make announcements, we will! But whatever happens with Silent Filter, there is a tag line that I have used in our advertising which was based on our ‘mission statement’ – good music, good banter, good times – and that is something that we will look to apply to absolutely everything that we do.

Coolio! Anything else we need to know?

Special thanks must be made to Annlouise Shepherd for her help with the posters and flyers. Of course, thanks to the bands involved and we look forward to working with them and many new bands in the future. Thanks to Tom Newton for helping us set up a website. There is nothing to it at the minute other than the poster of the forthcoming gig but we can be found elsewhere on the web, on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and, although we haven’t done anything with it yet, we are also on YouTube! The website will be thriving in time, though. On the subject of the internet, all the bands mentioned so far can be found on MySpace (I believe apart from Lucid Uprising) and if you want to check them out you can ask me and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Anything to say to Jon?

Yeah. I love you, man. Not in a gay way though because I have Jennings for that I’m not gay.

Thanks KIMBO, you’re ace!

I know.

Use Twitter? Follow me at http://twitter.com/sheriffkimbo

My Hot Toddy Recipe

50ml whisky *(see ‘tip 2′)
1 teaspoon of sugar
12.5ml lemon juice
250ml boiling water

It is very simple, and many people find it is a good cold remedy:

Once your water is boiled, pour it into your cup.

Pour in the lemon juice, give it a good stir.

Pour in the sugar, stir again.

Finish up with the whisky, stir it all.

Drink whilst hot!

Tip 1: You can substitute the sugar for honey, but I don’t like honey!
Tip 2: Don’t waste good whisky on this! A basic single malt will do. It is traditionally done with Scotch, but feel free to use  Irish (which is what I used tonight) or bourbon. Alternatively you can use brandy or even rum if you don’t like whisky.
Tip 3: If using it as a cold remedy, be careful if you are taking medication; it may not seem like much alcohol but that is a big double going in to your drink there.

Enjoy. Try it now, thank me later!

Use Twitter? Follow me at http://twitter.com/sheriffkimbo

First post of 2010

It’s not actually a very exciting one – it is just pointing you in the direction of recent writing I have done:

Seven Days of Villa (Vital Villa)

Monthly Musings (Vital Villa)

Thursday Thoughts (Two Footed Tackle)

I must say I really enjoyed writing again this week. I would have put more effort into this blog in recent times but a combination of computer issues, ill health, Christmas, job-hunting and Silent Filter has meant that my writing has taken a back seat recently.

Not any more though – I am back to my regular Vital Villa/Two Footed Tackle spots and I will be updating this again regularly too.

I already have two blog posts planned for next week and I am sure that my weird mind will conjure up something else. So, hopefully this time I’ll be able to continue contributing to the irrelevant drivel that thousands of other bloggers do every day!

On Twitter? Follow me at http://twitter.com/sheriffkimbo

The Twelve Days of K(r)IMBO

On the first day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:
A Philip Kimberley

On the second day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:
2 Sheriff Kimbo’s
And a Philip Kimberley

On the third day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the fourth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the fifth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the sixth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the seventh day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the eighth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

8 Phil Kimbo’s

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the ninth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

9 Phileas Fogg’s

8 Phil Kimbo’s

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the tenth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

10 Big Ginge’s

9 Phileas Fogg’s

8 Phil Kimbo’s

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the eleventh day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

11 P.A.K.’s

10 Big Ginge’s

9 Phileas Fogg’s

8 Phil Kimbo’s

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

On the twelfth day of K(r)IMBO, my true love gave to me:

12 P Kimberley’s

11 P.A.K.’s

10 Big Ginge’s

9 Phileas Fogg’s

8 Phil Kimbo’s

7 Kimbepa’s

6 Philipino’s

5 KIMBO’S

4 PhilJenn’s

3 Philthy Phil’s

2 Sheriff Kimbo’s

And a Philip Kimberley

News of Today #5

I haven’t updated AT all in November, so it was about time I did something. Anyway:

Moose went to his favourite restaraunt

Corey regretted eating that curry

The smell of Debbie's feet started to have strange effects

Jamie tried to hide his baldness

KIMBO felt that he was winning Donna over

Gemma felt a bit uncomfortable at her latest work placement

Jennings decided to try his hand at writing

Dennis felt that his looks improved with age

The Fear denied that he was spending too much time at his computer

Mike wasn't exactly happy with Kate's latest choice of pet

Lynda got into some early training for her 30th birthday celebrations

Robbo got himself a new hat

When he was at his drinking worst, KIMBO was sometimes like a bear with a sore head while waiting for the beer to arrive

In his latter days as a chef, some of Sickboy's menu became questionable at best

Darren got a job as a weatherman

McDonalds regretted their decision to get Silent Filter to help with their promotional work

Some people felt that Kully's new job as a fishmonger wasn't entirely as it seemed

Annlouise showed her angry face

People couldn't understand why Crank only went to the beach before and after the summer months

And finally, the Birmingham City Young Supporters Club got together for a photo

Reading from yesterday

An article regarding my all-time Villa team (it was the 21st anniversary of my first Villa game yesterday) is available by clicking here.

My latest blog for Two Footed Tackle is available by clicking here.

Enjoy!

News of Today #4

Tom's marriage was never going to last

KIMBO was willing to do anything to get some money

Corey got ready for a night on the town

Willy has come a long way in the MMA world since his first lesson

The Vale hoodlums are becoming more creative

Meanwhile, St Cuthberts made an effort to get the Vale youngsters to church

KIMBO decided on a fancy dress outfit...

...meanwhile, Smiffy decided to test his outfit on a night in Sutton...

...however Moose got in trouble after trying his out at a local school

Meanwhile, Sickboy decided to get the food ready

Carson Yeung funded a new McDonalds in Small Heath

Kully decided to have another go at running his own business

Darren was always just this cool

Nickie bought a present for MACCA

Toni decided to reprise her Miss Spanksalot role

As the Vital Villa editors had a meeting...

...Jonathan Fear ensured that the site kept running as well as ever

Jennings revealed his favourite childhood book

Hibbert felt that O'Toole's latest practical joke was a bit OTT

And finally, at the latest Second City derby, Crank learnt that you don't mess with the police

Use Twitter? Follow me at: http://twitter.com/sheriffkimbo

(ps Reading this on Facebook? Click on ‘View Original Post’ so I know! Thank you please!)

A Midweek Catch-Up

I haven’t updated this week – I even forgot the quote on Monday – but I have had a productive few days in my life. I now plan on having a fun few days, starting with spending Thursday with the other half of PhilJenn, then on the Friday I’m off to Villa Park for a tour and a night with Gary Shaw and Tony Morley. Incidentally this is thanks to the new Vital Lions Supporters Club – check it out! On Saturday the Villa are at home to Chelsea (which could ruin the weekend I suppose), and I plan on meeting up with the legend that is Jonathan Core at some point too. So if I win the lottery and Villa win it will probably be the best weekend ever!

I have another ‘News of Today’ ready for next week and my stuff on Two Footed Tackle and Vital Villa will be up on Thursday and Friday (maybe Saturday) respectively so there is still blogging to be done amongst other things. The Monday quote will be back too, I know how much you love it!

Speaking of, some people have said that they really enjoyed the work I did on the Diary site. Well the thing is, I needed it at the time. I needed to get my thoughts out, to write about my insecurities, and the struggle to get my head right. It basically come on the back of the most difficult time of my life and let’s face it, I was an absolute mess. But that is not to say that I am completely over it all, of course I am not. However the fact is that I am genuinely the happiest I have been in years, and that is why I no longer feel the need to keep writing about it.

On the flip side of that, I love that what I was writing has genuinely helped people and been a bit thought-provoking. The whole experience was a learning curve not just about booze but about life. You know that thing in Trainspotting – “I chose not to choose life. I chose something else”. Well that was what I did for a while, and it has changed many things. Some of the stuff I learnt in AA will stick with me. For instance, the Serenity Prayer. While I am not a religious man – the talk of God was one of the things that really got on my nerves at AA – I found that this is a useful attitude to take in life:

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.“

Basically, while we do have to do some planning for the future, ultimately all we really can do is do our best today. If we live in the moment then we wont get dragged down with the past and consequently if other people do, then we need to learn that we must accept what is beyond our control.

I’ll give you an example. Recently, an old friend of mine was making it clear (via the whacky world of Facebook!) that they were having various problems. When I reached out to this person to see if I could help, I didn’t even get the courtesy of a response. Now, that is not overly surprising, because this person put up with a lot from me during my heavy drinking days. But the point is that if they can’t get past that, and they are not willing to accept my friendship now I am happier and, for the most part, sober (and even when I am not I am happy these days) then that is their decision and while it really is a shame, ultimately I can accept it and move past it. When I was drinking heavily and in a bad place I would have made a big deal out of it, I know I would have. But now I can approach the situation in a way that I think we all should – we can’t worry too much about what is out of our control. What will be, will be.

So I write this, quite happy with who I am today and while there are improvements and changes to be made, I think I’m doing just fine. I’m single as single can be but I like my freedom and I am blessed with many friends and family. My health could be better but it could also be a lot worse. I could be better off financially but I have a roof – on top of a happy home – over my head and grub on the table.

Rather than worry about the bad stuff, let us all be grateful for the good stuff. That’s what I reckon anyway!

See you next week my people. Love y’all!

Phil

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(ps Reading this on Facebook? Click on ‘View Original Post’ so I know! Thank you please!)