It’s early morning in America, it’s five o’clock to be exact and even though it’s dark you can see the weather, every now and again the rain voices its opinion and there is a thunderous argument in the sky welcoming me back to Washington DC.

I’m a surly traveller who can’t sleep in the upright position which made getting to my destination after 24 hours of flights and in-transit shuffles all the more rewarding in spite of being greeted by my brother and his fiancee and the rain.

Five years have passed since the last time I was here, since I made my maiden voyage across the oceans to the posh first world who would have imagined that I would be back visiting my brother who then recided in the land of Egoli, here in DC.

And no time was wasted in getting me outside of my comfort zone as soon as we freshed up it was off to supper, a German established franchise which served Italian food, a hydrid of the old New York bagels payment system and the still in existence Pasta Factory on Park Street. The food was good, the portions, American and then they had no Grappa, that fine Italian digestive, I settled for a vodka.

Next stop was Eighteen Street Lounge, the famous ESL which I could not find the last time when I was here. ESL is the brainchild of the Thievery Corp and was at the heart of the new lounge movement, I was there from the start ESL 01, then that brilliant series by the Karminsky DJs, In Flight 1 and 2 and Espresso Espresso. So needless to say it was important to find it this time around, and in the company of my brothers friends, many introductions, often to women who I now can’t recall all of their names, it made for a memorably pleasant evening even if it didn’t last beyond 10h30 for me. Yes I am consistent, my body clock gets to its lounge com bar maximum a lot earlier these days doesn’t matter the geography or the situation and it’s nothing gradual it’s a light switch with two settings: on and OFF.

Later today its New York which I’m looking forward to, a four hour bus journey and my Ipod playing Empire State of Mind. But that’s later, now I’m fighting one of the cats for the keyboard, they do indeed have staff not masters, and this one wants to play with this I might add dog person.

It’s good to be back…taking this Sentimental Journey…Gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my heart at ease. Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,
to renew old memories…Never thought my heart could be so yearny…

Yes I miss you.

http://www.myspace.com/perrecy07

A few gems from Genevieve Antoine Dariaux whose advise I find extremely helpful even if I’m not exactly the target audience but she’s a gem, her style and elegance of being are noteworthingly charming.

Dinner

Dinner-time should always be a moment of relaxation after a tiring day, and event that the entire family awaits with impatience.

A successful dinner consists of two ingredients: the menu and the conversation, both of which should be varied.

Habit

Habit is the chloroform of love.
Habit is the cement that unites long wedded couples.
Habit is getting stuck in the mud of daily routine.
Habit is the fog that masks the most beautiful scenery.
Habit is the end of everything.

Humour

…A sense of humour transforms the most ordinary black and white film into a kaleidoscope of colour, and the monotony of daily life into a perpetual pleasure. It prevents people from taking things (and especially themselves) too seriously; it enables you to accept the worst affronts with a smile; it is the most attractive form of courage; and for all these reasons it is one of the most precious gifts in the world. God preserve us all from people who don’t have a sense of humour!

Restaurants

Study men carefully in restaurants, for in these places their characters show up and you can see at once whether a man is timid or sure of himself, generous or stingy, a glutton or a gourmet, attentive or egotistical, witty or boring – in other words, whether or not it would be worth your while to become interested in him.

(From the Men in your Life)

Haven’t done this for a while. Haven’t put up a weekly playlist for a while but this has been what I’ve being listening to, some of the highlights. It’s been a rather blue week, you know that you’re alive when that happens, so I had a Richard Hawley moment which seemed to work. It’s ironic but just like a hot cuppa tea cools you down on a sweltering hot day so too for me does a bit of modern blues brighten my outlook.

Open up your door - Richard Hawley

Kathleen – Townes van Zandt

Headache - Girls

Work Day - It Hugs Back

People movin’ - The Shoes