Simple Plan

I had a really good day today. Got up at 9.15 (still tired from too many late nights), got ready, got the train to Birmingham at 12.27pm. Took a few more Black Velvets to Dale News and then went for my 2.15 Simple Plan interview. I interviewed Pierre. It was a cool interview. You'll have to read issue 59 if you want to know what we talked about.

After the interview I had 3 1/2 hours to kill before doors were opening for the show. I had decided to make good use of my time and try and find somewhere to sit so I could start transcribing the interview. After asking around for recommendations of where to go I ended up walking to the Custard Factory where I bought a soya hot chocolate and sat there for an hour. There was music in the background which was a bit of a pain, esp. since only one ear of my earphones had sound coming through them. I wasn't sure what time they shut so when they started moving furniture around at 4pm I took it as my sign to move on. I wanted to go to the vegan shop (One Earth Shop) on Allison Street to get a few vegan items (always good to support the local vegan store as much as possible). It was actually pretty cool because I walked up Digbeth High Street and what should I stumble across but a little anti-fur protest outside of the vintage clothing store there. I almost wanted to stop and join them protesting... but... I didn't. I did stop and speak to one of the girls who was giving out leaflets to the passers-by and told her I was vegan and believed in animal rights and did go on some of the big national protests. Let's hope the store decides to quit selling fur. Real fur sucks. It's time it was banned.

So I continued on my way and got a few things from the vegan store (two vegan sausage rolls, carob flapjack, throat sweets, strawberry milkshake...) and then decided I'd try out Cafe Soya at the back of the rag market. Someone had suggested going to the small Cafe Soya in the Arcadian, but I figured I'd just try the bigger one behind the rag market as I know exactly where that one is. So I got them to make me another soya hot chocolate (my drink of the day)... It wasn't on their menu but they made it for me. Not as nice as Rootys' and more expensive - but I sat in Cafe Soya for another hour and transcribed a little bit more of my interview... although Cafe Soya too had background music. Next time I'll just go to the library I think.

At 5.45pm I started making my way back to the Academy ready for the Simple Plan show. 15 pix are up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/simpleplanphotos.htm



A review of the show (along with my interview with Pierre of course) will be in issue 59 of Black Velvet.

It's now 4.30am and I'm really tired... but I had a good day. I shall finish drinking my strawbery soya milkshake and then go to bed.

(Check http://www.caft.org.uk)