hahahaha - just remembered something funny... Don't play slaps with Fera. Ever. She'll kick your ass - reactions like a cat! Playground games rule.

Anyway - I made it to Lauras for a good old shoot. Check out the new shots in portfolio One. Not Filippo, he's the guy with questionable hair. The project is looking great, Laura's happy and off to print today so that's a relief. What else... On sat I helped out with Jim, J & Ians music video shoot in town. The band is called Broadcast 2000 - you might recognise their music from the new "I can see the energy I use" adverts on TV. Very nice stuff - go check it out. Straight after that (mercifully without my huge camera bag) I went to Peckham to see DJ Derek who is probably one of my favorite DJs ever. No really. He's a very old bloke who's very young at heart and plays old time music, reggae, ska, dancehall & generally happy happy music. Get to know. He's amazing. There was some dutty skanking (whatever the hell that is) done by all but Simpson who incredulously didn't even tap a toe! WTF?

Sunday it rained. Again. Boo.

Worked with Sam again on Monday and she asked if I was working later in the week. "not yet - you know how it is. Last on the list to call - might get a job for tomorrow at 10pm. You never know" And I did. Boom. Working for another Shoot fella Tom Oxley who's a good guy with some very cool subjects in his book. Shoot was fun - grabbed a cheeky polaroid with the band. I'm such a geek.

That's about it. Off to peel 'tatoes for fish pie. Gonna be hot. New bicycle soon so we'll have to go for a cycle. Just for fun like - according to the snob that's what makes you a cyclist, not just a person on a bike. That and owning a floor pump. Which I do. Pow!

Big love.

RB

Agh - in a rush - again - will have to be super succinct. We're in April already - that's a third of the year. WTF!? That box of Hahnemuhle photo rag is still unopened. Sort it out!! Anyway. Apart from rubbish rains which have kept me from Sheffield for almost a month, things are going pretty well. Pierre came to visit last weekend - except it was two weeks ago and this last week has gone so fast I'm forgetting dates again. So we had a fun night out in Old St. Company was fun but the music was far from it. Someone needs to tell the DJs to get better (in a big way) or maybe we should just get younger. Not a fan - dull dull dull. The kebab (corner of Gt eastern st and Shoreditch high st) was, again, the best I've ever had! So so good. Pete & Pugh were mighty impressed also. Go visit. Just listening to The Bang Gang DJs - "Light, sound, dance" for about the millionth time since yesterday. Unless the music makers in East london are this good, they should just put this album on and we can boogie away happily.

Rant over - I'm really not in one of those moods I promise, just something which needed noting. SO, moving swiftly on, shot some more for Lauras makeup project (that's where I'm currently late for right now), shared a sofa at lunch with Jamie 'Kiddulthood' Winstone who is better looking in the flesh than in photos and not half as scary as I imagine her dad is. Alfie has quite a handful there but there'd never be a dull moment with her around. Lots of fun. The shoot was with Adrian and will be in the next Empire - the film is called Donkeypunch. I'll leave that one up to you to google. The day after I missioned a 17 hour day with Roger Sargent, Dan skinny jeans, James North and the Dirty Pretty Things. We had these huge 16ft foamboard cut outs of the 4 band members to carry around all day and hold up in iconic London spots. They kind of got in the way on millennium bridge at rush hour but what did we mind - it wasn't us in a rush. The guys were holding these up by the seaside the week before and a group of scallies came up to talk. "Who's dis den?" - 'a band called the Dirty Pretty Things' - "Dirty Pretty? That's an oxymoron." hahaha - who knew you could be educated and not lose street cred! Really cool day - thanks to Shoot for getting me along.

Worked with Sam Jones again on Friday, met Joan as a policewoman and went to some questionable modern art on Saturday night. It's brave to do all that stuff but not really my taste. All seemed a bit like art for arts sake. On the plus side I did get in a huge 6ft balloon-filled condom (participatory art, darling) and jump around a bit. The artist who made it asked what I thought and I said it was great fun. She looked heartbroken as if I'd completely missed the point. If that was the case then I had. Completely. Stu took some great shots though!

On monday I went to Monte Carlo to shoot Fillipo Pozzatto for Cyclesport. Again, not a proper job - driving round the Cote D'Azure in the sun taking some photos of a cyclist. Tough. You'll be sorry to hear that Uncle Phil has bagged the 1st assistant position as soon as there's the budget for it. Along with some amazing shots by Simpson from the Tour of Flanders and portraits of David Millar, the next issue of Cyclesport will look more like Esquire than Esquire does! I think we're both just waiting for that call from Rouler... It was a great trip and 'Pippo's a really cool guy. Some questionable fashion sense but then again he's Italian & therefore all's good. Took a detour on the way back to the airport as I was horribly early. Beautiful drive in the soft top until Nice, then Nice rush hour is the same as rush hour anywhere else - best avoided. Great day and some really fun shots in the can / memory card. What a geek.

I'm so late now - sorry laura! REALLY trying to get up to Sheffield soon so if you're around I'll hopefully see you. Miss the place.

Speak soon & be in touch, even if it's just for a 'hello.

Big love

RB

Afternoon. I've looked forward to getting all this down for a while. Had so much fun recently I've had to look in my diary to remind myself exactly what went down in the last fortnight or so... After the moto adventure I spent a lot of time sleeping over bank holiday weekend. Deservedly. It peed it down here so it was a perfect excuse to stay in and watch a film or three. Just a great relax and catch up with Pugh. Just what I needed. Filled in for Niall at the mighty Horton-Stephens office. Not crazy crazy but I caught up on a lot of tea and biscuits, walked to a good amount of ad agencies on a flyer drop mission and got very inspired by all the photographers there. Risked a night at the Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch (twat) for Mr Baxters birthday; having to be up at 05:30 on a Sunday when the clocks go forward and you've spent all week in an office and really fancy a beer...! Danger. Luckily Al had my back and dragged me back before day 1 of my 10 day week was ruined. Thanks. So sat in Brockwell Park all Sunday corralling crazy kids for a fashion shoot for Stardust clothing with James Purssell - who is a really cool guy. When I've mentioned the bike trip I've never been showing off or expecting a fanfare - in fact I've been surprised when people seem to understand the motivation behind it. James however was very impressed and one of those people who given half a chance would do exactly the same thing, rather than say in a naive way "pourquoi pas en l'avion?". Good chat.

Monday evening I flew to Jersey and had a very disappointing curry. That's not the reason I went by the way - was just something I remembered. Oh and the great views of the Isle of White at sunset. Anyway - the real reason was to cover Bernard Hinault who was over courtesy of Jersey tourism to promote the island to the French for cycling. This man won the tour 5 times (Armstrong, Indurain, Merckx and Anquetil are the only others to have done as well in the whole history of the race). He broke his nose in a crash in the 1985 Tour and won with two huge black eyes - his nickname was "the Badger"... We all went on a ride (well they went on a ride and Matt and I tried to keep up) round the island and took a load of photos. Imagine sharing a helicopter in Alaska with Terje or a vert ramp with Matt Hoffman.... it was that level of privilege. I didn't get dropped - even on the chunky steel bike I was lent and with a huge camera bag on my back so i was happy - if a bit sweaty. The steak and red wine afterwards at their hotel was a perfect post ride meal. The sun was out and shots look great - keep an eye out for Cyclesport next month. Such a fun day.

Thursday was just as fun but different. I went to Ibiza. No really. Wow. JD sports catalogue shoot with Adrian and the crew. As I'd been so busy I hadn't had a chance to look at the hotel we were going to - even though Adele and Adrian had both gone on about how ace it was. Won't go into details as you might never speak to me again but have a look at Atzaro hotel. Adrian bagged the room Gisele stayed in the week before. The orange juice was amazing. I'm going to stop now - amazing place. Nuff said. The job went smoothly with no hiccoughs and we all developed a taste for Hierbas. I brought a bottle back so if anyone visits 101 just shout "Yes Boss". You'll sleep well that's for sure. Thanks to JD and Shoot for having me along. My geekyness was tested (I passed) and I still promoted the Wu to anyone who was near my new phone. That and Mickey Avelon. "Mine - M16, yours - broken vending machine" Happy ringtones ahoy. No really - such a cool trip. I'm really lucky to have found a job which introduces me to fantastic company and takes me to some super fun places. Might have said that before.

SO, had a good sleep in my own bed with my good lady and feel pretty recharged. Lots of my own catch up work to do so glad for a few days off. The moto trip photos are looking ridiculous - so pleased with them. Love film - hate scanning. Keep an eye here for those when they're done. Looking forward to a relax again with Pugh and hopefully Pete. It's the marathon this weekend. It honestly feels like it was only a month ago or so - this year has gone by so fast I've got whiplash. Best way to go.

Be in touch and catch up soon.

RB