We at the House Of The Rising Badger have been slack. While we actually have done some stuff, it hasn't been chronicled with its usual degree of self-absorption, and we do apologize. My back still hasn't forgiven me, and that has left me less enthusiastic about life in general, and the House Of The Rising Badger in particular. Which is a shame, really, because the House Of The Rising Badger is shuffling along at quite a respectable pace, really.


Let's see… Since last we blogged (it has become a verb, hasn't it?), we exchanged a fistful of purple drinking vouchers for the lovely Tannoy Gold 10" monitors, which had lived in SARM Hook End Studio previous to their brief stay at Mars Recorders. Yum. Monkey like. In another fit of grown-up spending, Timothy bought his first set of grown-up pre-amps – a lovely ATI 8Mx2, an eight channel pre-amp/mixer built by the legendary API, who made some groovy American consoles in the 70s (and are absolutely no relation to either the legendary Steve Jones or his Legendary Drum Machine).

My back gave me a break for a day, and I punished it by painting the floor & a few work surfaces. Apparently, I get a medal for being the tidiest painter in the history of painters, but I found myself being exceptionally motivated, as we didn't have any turps & the shops were closed through Bank Holiday Monday. I am inclined to think this is really Timothy blowing smoke up my ass to assure that he never has to paint again, but hey – praise will get me to do the most extraordinary things. Then, just as we got back up to speed, we adjourned for an Easter weekend in leafy Essex to celebrate Tim's leafy parents' 40th Anniversary. When did we get old enough to have parent that have loved each other that long? Honestly! Cue much eating and drinking, and laying about in a beautifully English Garden ™ with that glorious First Day Of Spring feeling.

Note to self: floor paint takes bloody ages to dry. Wall and ceiling panels go back up, followed by the Ceremonial Unrolling of the New Studio Carpet. Cups of tea are made, a second light is hung, and we are overcome by a lovely smug exhaustion.

April 10, 2007


In the meantime, someone has shit in the basement. Don't you dare suggest it was me.

Today, Tim is getting all manly and building racks for outboard gear. Being deeply suspicious of manliness & useless with power tools, I'm here at the keyboard, playing catch-up & making tea. It's as if feminism never happened. Then again, I can't get excited about building racks, while I can happily waste a day noodling around on a computer and drinking tea, so I suppose it's only fair.

Cue much swearing, drifting up in waves from the basement. It seems that MDF is inclined to split like Wheetabix when drilled from the side. Bugger. Which is why the Good Lord made Polyfilla. Me and the Good Lord's Epoxy Disciple will be getting down to it in a bit.

Cups of tea: lost track, really. How shoddy of us. Really, somebody ought to do something…
Food: let's hear a round of applause for the Crystal, the finest kebab in North London. Chicken kebab, their amazing rice, salad, flat bread, all to take away for four of your English pounds. We [heart] Crystal.
Injuries: I had a migraine early in the day, which kind'a knocked me for six, but I don't suppose there's any way I could blame that on Badger Control. My back's still knackered, but Brother Timothy seems to be in fine form, although getting worn out from the demands of Badger Control, long hours spend at w**k, and the celebratory requirements of leafy relatives. Methinks Brother Timothy needs a break.