Lola The Blog

Fat Burger

2009-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Second best burger and milkshake in California... (#1 = Houston's - "california burger", 101 Cafe - "honey nut shake").

Bo-Cross

2009-12-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

The Mutha Fuggin' Bowman and Megan at one of the best places in America: Universal Studios...

Halloween In Kansas City

2009-12-13T20:47:00.000-08:00

Big Baller Shot Caller!

2009-12-13T20:44:00.000-08:00

Dan is living large these days, off to Tokyo after a week in L.A.

O.G. breakfast line-up at Swingers. Check the right arm symmetry...

2009-12-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Rarer than a Big Foot sighting; Mikey Taylor cam...

Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

2009-12-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

J-Bo and I went to a Persian Restaurant that we have driven by a million times but never actually had the courage to go into. The food was 6/10 at best, but the raspberry hookahs were really fun at the time, as was the after dinner dance festival that was part of the Persian marriage we were dragged into. A "quick bite to eat" at 7 turned into staggering home at 3am which turned into a catastrophic headache in the morning. Lesson learnt: stear clear of hookahs!

Giving Of Thanks

2009-12-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

Jushie B and I were invited to Chateau Shier for thanks giving, some time ago I posted a breakfast that Paul had made me that included bacon wrapped asparagus, that was merely a prelude to the spread he presented us with. Evidently more than just a pretty face the food was really superb, mega mega resptepka Senor Shier and great to see Noah fit and healthy.

Dictionary Definition Of Arsehole Parking

2009-12-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

I love how these people tried to look like they are living large in a limo, but stopped at Burger King for dinner!

Nick Jensen In Da House!

2009-12-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

There are very few things on this planet that can make me home sick, but Nick Jensen makes it happen every time. Officially the best house guest ever, Lola was all over Nick like a bad rash. Lola, what would Tyler say?!

Micky J's Crib

2009-12-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

It's sad to admit it, but we bought one of those Star Maps and cruised around Beverly Hills looking to see what we could find. This is Apples infront of Michael Jackson's last house, we also saw one of Elvis' houses, a load of bushes concealing the Playboy Mansion, a house that was in a load of rap videos and about $56 million worth of Bentleys, Beemers and Rollers in the space of an hour or so.

Nuff Said

2009-12-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

Metal Mulisha

2009-12-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

Terry and I took a trip out to the wine growing country inland from San Diego to visit Brian Degan at the Metal Mulisha Compound. Unfortunately, there was no wine drunk, but we did see some serious motor bike riding and managed to shoot my first moto x photo which ended up being an Etnies Ad. It's a composite image, if you look closely in the background you can see him burning out on his motor bike and jumping into his swimming pool with his daughter, little boy and some of his friends. Apparently Brian Degan is one of the originators of freestyle motor cross, hence the name "The General", he does back flips and takes his hands off the handle bars and was an all around cordial man. Restepka!

More Costa Rica

2009-12-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is a clip from my favourite place in the world, Costa Rica; the city, San Jose, is really pikey but the beaches are gorgeous and the forests are breath taking. This poxy video does nothing to convey how loud all the noises of the jungle were, but you can kind of get the idea...

The Beast Of Hernandez!

2009-12-12T20:29:00.001-08:00

True Say

2009-12-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

Time
(Mason, Waters, Wright, Gilmour) 7:06

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.

More Jushie Bee

2009-12-03T17:48:00.001-08:00

J-Bhind in her favourite west L.A. eatery, Joans on Third, clutching a cupcake like her life depends on it!

More Beastie

2009-12-02T20:33:00.000-08:00

More photos of the best beast on the planet, these are from Transworld Art Director Jason Lee, shout out to my favourite Korean! Look at the passion in the second picture!

Back To The Beach With The Beastickle

2009-11-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

Jushie B's Birthday!

2009-10-18T20:17:00.001-07:00

My sister Suze got me started on the stay-cation vibe; being on holiday but knowing that if you forget anything at home or get a work emergency you're only a short car drive away is the best and not having to deal with airports, carthritis or ferry ports is even better. With that in mind, Jerusha and I took a long weekend break in downtown L.A. at the Standard Hotel to celebrate her birthday.

The Standard is housed in an old office building, it's pretty jazzy, has stark minimal rooms and a swimming pool on the roof. You feel like you are high up on the elevator ride but the view from the window confirms that despite your altitude sickness, you're still dwarfed but sky scrappers. Who ever has to clean the windows of these places must have elephant balls.

This is the view from the bar looking south, you can see the Standard sign in the parking lot if you want to orientate your self with the opening image...

This was the view from the room. The skaters amongst you will recognize the building on the left as housing the infamous but now defunct Arco rails where (Eric Koston nollie heel nose slid the first rail and Jason Lee cruised a line in video days amongst many other things) and the plaza immediately opposite is the LA library an O.G. gap spot skated by all sorts of people especially the Baker boys. The movie buffs will note that the building with the green light at the base is the building that Robert De Niro and his crew rob in the final scene of the movie "Heat".

After settling in, we hit the town.

First stop, the Biltmore Hotel which is where the original Academy Awards were held back when the movies were artistic and the female starlets remembered to wear underwear. Built in the 1920's this building is easily one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in. This is the entrance hall.

This was a function room - pretty pinnacle.

A mango cosmo and chocolately alcoholic dream. Delish.

After getting the drinks I found JB relaxing in the piano bar where the was a live band playing mid-life music.

The ceilings in the Biltmore were seriously impressive.

Bragging rights on European Architectural superiority took a heavy hit.

Then we strolled the streets and found all sorts of olde worlde shops like this book store dedicated to shipping.

The next day meant more pacing. Jushie was in her element, transported back to her New York days.

In case my parents forget what I look like...

Jerusha was dancing like she was on Broadway (even though the street sign clearly says "4th Street")!

Breakfast at the Louie Bodega was the best L.A. breakfast yet.

I got the Farmers Market breakfast which had all sorts of beetroot and green beans and yum yum.

Jush got the salmon benedict which was also TDF.

Macarons for days!

Extremely Sorry Preview! Security Breach!

2009-08-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

Went to the Bo cave for a sneak preview of Tom Penny's part in the new Flip video, Ewan hit the space bar the second I walked in and minimized the screen; no risk of a security breach here!

So we went to the beach and saw this bird which was massive in real life...

Bo and Lola played tug of war.

That's what I call an action shot!!

Il G-Unito!

2009-08-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Turns out Federico is a dab hand with a spray can as well as the Panazonic...

Communication Fail

2009-08-07T17:49:00.001-07:00

Parking Lot Heros

2009-08-07T17:44:00.001-07:00

Willow and Lucas spent the day at Universal Studios and as you can see they were both totally captivated; Lucas' subconscious was already under the hypnotic powers of the American theme park experience before we had even made it out of the car park, check out how he is emulating Woody Woodpeckers body language on the sign in the background!

Thug Life

2009-08-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

Volcom - SO Pinnacle, As Always!

2009-08-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

It's been Africa hot here in Los Angeles so we hit the Volcom team house, more specifically their pool. The Stone goes from strength to strength...

Big Shout Out To Christoph Wildgrube!

2009-08-07T17:38:00.001-07:00

Always Wear Bright Colours When Riding A Bike In The Street!

2009-08-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

(And watch where you're going!)

The Holy Woman In My Life

2009-08-05T18:16:00.001-07:00

Jerusha Bhindie, enough to turn any man religious...

Still Missing Willow

2009-08-05T18:15:00.001-07:00

Chillin'

2009-07-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

"Enough about that German, look at me on the beach swimming in the Pacific!" - Lola

Harsh Ditch

2009-07-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Who knows what is going through a lot of human's heads these days, for the most part you can ignore it move on, but who the foozeball throws away a dog because of economic recession? Whilst cruising around a particularly industrial area of downtown LA, Dill spotted this beastickle laying in the gutter, giving up. After a search of the area to look for owners we drove over to animal magician Sharon's house to ask her what to do?

The Beastickle was relieved to be in the car with us, she was really skinny and tired and lay in Dill's lap most of the short drive.

When we got to Sharon's, our little street beast demolished a whole bowl of kibble in 2.7 seconds flat.

We took her home and spent the next 4 days trying to find her a home; she's going to be massive soon and Frenchies do n't like sharing their masters with big Germans. Apparently people have been foreclosing on their homes and leaving their pets tied up in the house to die thinking that the person from the bank will really be taught a lesson when faced with an empty home containing nothing but a dead animal, they think that the person in the suit who signs off on them, is the same person who cleans the house out. Stupes. Anyway, this little monkey it turns out is a thorough bred beast and is now living in LA with a couple who love her very much. Hooray for happy endings.

I Tried, But It's True

2009-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

Lady B Saari

2009-06-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

This lovely lass, bestickle beastickle friend of Lady Lols can be found foraging in the undergrowth of Chateau Saari in Hollywood.

Lost Generation

2009-06-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

For All The JR Fresh Fans!

2009-06-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_12514063

True...

2009-06-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

Etnies Spain and England

2009-06-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Despite delaminating windscreens and emergency landings in Detroit, I managed to make it home in one piece from Malaga, Spain via Barcelona and London. Here are some jumbled photos… Malaga was where the party started, Etnies filmer Benny was out-pinnacled in every way possible by his Pedro counter part, check the bootleg razor blades.

Bull fighting is alive and well (depending on what species you are) in the south of Spain, hundreds of people crowd into a confined space in the blazing mid-day sun to watch an old school Luke Skywalker stab a (pre-)exhausted bull to death in the name of “Cultural Traditions”.

Other people sit in the blazing sun and film skaters wanting to stab themselves to death in the blazing hot sun. Oli Beurgin, exhibit one.

Not Jose Rojo, he knows the good life: “When it comes to food, you can always trust me to find the Bombay spot!”

In England, we do n’t condone killing of animals for sport, but there murder on the breakfast plate fo shizzle.

In Leeds, Jose went down but Leo was there to pick him up.

Demo craze.

Do yourself a favor:
http://www.filecabi.net/video/50d14f45a8f1.html

Absolutely...

2009-05-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Get Them While They're Hot!

2009-05-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

My first of hopefully many t-shirt collaborations with my favourite graphic artist, the multi-talented Mister Daniel Magee. Hitting an MTV screen near you soon!

South America Curtains

2009-05-02T16:39:00.001-07:00

Good night from Peru. Back to Los Angeles...

Souf America Part Three...

2009-04-17T12:08:00.001-07:00

Now in Bogata, Columbia, home of many things illegal...

Like this hair cut for example. What sort of parent lets their child leave the house looking like this?! Just kidding, kids should do what kids want to do.

I think that it is fair to call this an absolute communications fail...

Security at the demo was needed after the crushing at the shop signing the night before. It took us 10 minutes just to get out the van and we took the "secret" back door entrance"...

They did n't let everyone into the demo but eventually kids were sneaking in through windows and whatnot. Harsh street course but the crowd was cool and cheered every trick. Proper skate fans in Columbia, the best country in South America so far by miles...

South America Part Two

2009-04-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

After Costa Rica it was time to get a heroically early flight to Panama City in er, Panama init. No idea what to expect apart from white hats and a canal with house boats, the initial skylineage looks like Dubai.

Home of the Panama Canal, a shipping route that saved people having to take the long route around the bottom of South America to get between St Ouens and St Helier. The French were the first to attempt construction of the Canal but 21,900 people peaced out. Eventually the Americans finished the job which eventually cost a total 27,500 people their lives.

Despite the mountains of cash that you have to pay to get through the Canal and the Arab Cash skyline, Panama city is poor like so many of the Latino cities. I was amazed at how many people took offence when I said that San Jose, Costa Rica was pretty rough, believe it or not there is life ouside the beach resorts and good olde skateboarding tends to drop you right in the middle of the get go...

Is this urinal evidence enough?!

Beach-side fixer upper...

Jimmy made it all the way from Montana.

Panamanian Mr Miyagi.

Ending on a golden note, that candle on the far right was lit for the Boss.

South America Part One

2009-03-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Another day, another plane, another mission. Finally I make it to South America after several failed attempts, the destinations are Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia and the birthplace of Lady Lottie: Lima, Peru.

After a wibbly wobbly touch down and a good night’s sleep, it was time to hit the streets. Costa Rica is really beautiful, just ask the world’s supply of surplus corrugated iron which seems to have taken up residence…

Costa Rica has created an image of pinnacle beauty and ecological kosherness, but most parts of the capital San Jose rival anywhere in the world for sketchiness; thankfully we had a police escort at one of the dodgier spots.

Mad Max the Cop.

Day one, looking good...

In New York you get hotdogs on the street, London you get the Big Issue, in Costa Rica you get fresh squeezed orange juice to get the day going...

Demo day; better hope your kickflips are on point because this mob wants to be impressed.

This sign posting is dedicated to Chris Massey and his love of foreign notices. I think this might rival anything that Japan has to offer...

Weekends are work days and workdays are work days at the moment, so thank the Skate Gods for the occasional and all too rare day off on tour. First we drove through sketchy mountain raods until we made it to the apex of the mountain. All those hours sat at the bottom of handrails seem worth it for a view like this.

The Fonzi; the Rolls Royce of mini van transportation.

Merchandise fail.

Safety fail.

You want to go swimming in the river? I do n't know, those rocks look just like crocs...

This might be the beach that I thought could not possibly exist from the Lilt ads...

Rodrizzy and Justin get the totally tropical taste.

After a few hours at the beach where we hung out with massive sunbathing iguanas, we went into the forest in search of more nature induced wondermentalism.

It was like being in Jurrasic Park when they first arrive on the island, wild noises beyond anything you can imagine and outrageously coloured plant life surrounded you from all angles.

Massive spiders waiting for bug dinners.

And most epic of all, hundreds of metres of steel cabled zip line to wisk you across the tree tops at high speed. Best day of 2009 fo sho! Next stop Panama...

Thinking of Cam!

2009-02-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

Epic!!

Everyday We're Hustlin'!

2009-02-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

The newly de-nobbed Willoughby Rail gets rolled in some Manzooriks Magik Glitter:
http://etniesskateboarding.com/content/blog/willouby-session-rededit1.mov

Happy Birthday B

2009-02-06T13:36:00.001-08:00

A week late, I'm sure Ali does n't mind. The big 3, still thunking of you mate... Stay up.

Crazy 'Twuan

2009-02-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Someone got a little carried away with the tattoo gun...

RaynBo

2009-02-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

Abducted

2009-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

UCLA’s Royce hall which lives on a very accurate English boy’s boarding school campus replica, played host to the Alien Workshop’s new audiovisual offering “Mind Field”. Chris Carter took time out from his fall-out shelter to present a video that you would have to be either brain dead or some kind of die-hard Flame Boy fan not to like. Greg Hunt nailed it; short parts, great transitions and a bagpipe intro. Pinnacle. Buy it ASAP!

Ewan was pretty excited by the whole shebang, the German national anthem was on repeat, there were bagpipes in the video and there were all sorts of ridiculously dressed jazzy LA types for him to cut down to size. Thanks to new dad Michael Burnett for the photo.

The Long Road Home

2009-01-29T10:38:00.001-08:00

All good things must come to an end and after 6 months of basking in Portuguese sunshine, it was time for Euro-auto to return home to Jersey and go under the hammer. Estoi, was looking most pinnacle on the morning of departure.

I headed North, up past Lisbon and the delicate roadside snow sprinkles.

Winter wonderland was soon to be replaced by low visibility fog, nothing but grey and the occasional kamikaze Spaniard on some kind of F1 death wish mission.

After three or four hours of fog, the clouds finally broke and majestic Northern Spain provided visuals.

The pedal was put the metal and the drive to Saint Malo was completed in a new record of just under 18 hours with no stops apart from the occasional need to fill up with petrol.
I arrived massively ahead of schedule and was not allowed on the ferry early since being Christmas period everything was chockablock. Time to check out France’s most visited tourist destination, Mont St Michel.

Mont St Michel absolutely lives up to its reputation, artic temperatures were not very welcome but a return visit would be kosher.

Be careful on the beach, this ‘hood has the fastest tide in the world.

There are two things that are really annoying about France. Only two. First off, none of the public telephones accept coins, you have to buy a card, which is fine, if you live in France, but when you only want to make one call and there is nowhere open that sells the cards it can get a little frustrating. 100% annoying is the scarcity of petrol stations, especially on the run-up to Saint Malo. It must be an inside joke. If you look closely at the petrol gauge on the car, it says that I have 0 miles left of petrol in the tank, 2.5kms to go until Saint Malo. The last petrol station I passed I still had ¼ of a tank.

Well, we made it anyway. Here is the old part of St Malo, time to get on the boat and head for Jersey!

Manifesting Places From My Mind

2009-01-29T10:13:00.000-08:00

Surely we have a copyright situation here!

Beastickle Update Updated!!!

2009-01-15T17:19:00.000-08:00

This most pinnacle beastickle may well be called Yukon Saari!!!!

Beastickle Update!!!

2009-01-15T14:24:00.001-08:00

It is with mostickle pleasure that I present you with two new degs in the world of Lola: Freddy the mini spawn of Dustin, and Sneaky who is none other than Lola and I's spiritual gurus Sharon and Mike's new Labradoodle. Look at that smile!

Weekend At Rojo's

2009-01-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

Lola was getting bored in L.A. and wanted to head up North for some clean air and barking with some new beastickles, so we blasted up to Cece and Jose’s house in San Jose for the weekend.

This is Cero, shaking it out, a most elegant gentleman of the Old English Bulldog variety.

This is Miles, a boy Frenchie.

Peas in a pod.

Jose is working on all sorts of projects at the moment, he’s a busy man logging Muska days. I thank the skate Gods for putting one of my favourite skaters (who also turns out to be one of the coolest people out there) on the Etnies squad. Keep your eyes pealed for more soon and many thanks to Jose, Cece, Cero and Miles for all their hospitality. One Glove.

Pinnacular Moutard

2008-12-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

A double barreled bad boy American refrigerator gets the Finish touch for it’s opening night. Whilst Meemenhauser will see to it that this kitchen gets used to it’s full potential, for full-blown Americana just fill that thing with condiments and drinks, but no food that needs preparing, (except leftovers), because you would n’t want to get those granite counter tops and five ring hobs dirty!

Aaron Suski

2008-12-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

Suburban Paris spots look so good, here is Suski's latest Emerica footwear ad, laid out by main man Chase Nann.

Japaneasy Sean Malto

2008-12-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

After some ferocious emails from the Etnies Japan distributor with allegations of hiding tricks and dishonesty, countered by Heath Brinkley who also dealt with the internal Etnies battle, this sequence of Sean Malto sees the light of day as a Girl Skateboards ad and not as a sequence in Transworld Japan. Seems like everyone wants a piece of the Malto Era.

Fanatical Fans

2008-12-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

Jerry's fans are as fanatical as any Zero Army goth or Red Dragon jock, something that apparently sits a little uncomfortably with Jerry. This case study is from somewhere in the South of France shortly before Braydon out-pinnacled Jerry when a female fan asked him to cut her arm with a knife "So that she would have something to remember him with forever". Autographs on paper are for half steppers these days, flesh is the way forward.

Melted Lilly

2008-12-24T06:18:00.001-08:00

Some one discovered the special effects button in Photo Booth...

Putting the "Great" Back In Britain

2008-12-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

You can travel to Mallorca in the middle of winter to escape the British weather, but you can't hide from it's marvelous Chavs, true ambassadors from one of Europe's most hated countries. Colin Kennedy, Mark Baines and Joey Crack taste the warm welcome of the Prince Wiliam pub in Magaluf.

Canyon Kids

2008-12-24T05:55:00.000-08:00

Lola's current guardian in the L of A and I have been edging slowly towards full blown Californian status between rounds of yoga, canyon hiking and heavy Berrics sessions. Here we are looking at the backside of the Hollywood Hills where Paul has resided in several different mansions. Picture taken by none other than possible future LA resident, Daniel Magee.

Barcelona Vibes

2008-12-24T05:23:00.001-08:00

This is what my old polaroid spot book used to look like, these days I have the luxury of the skaters knowing what spots they want to skate, especially if your name is Mike Taylor who has more (skate) spots than your average 16 year old fast food eater has on their face...

Congrats Willow!

2008-12-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

Europe's finest stair vaulter is now the proud father of Uber Alva. Many congratulations mate!

Fixed Gear Fever

2008-12-20T20:52:00.001-08:00

Prior to medical butchery, the Fine Fin and I were blasting all over Los Angeles. This day we went from Hollywood to Downtown and back which is about 20 something miles.

After the daily Berrics run through, we went over to Rob Dyrdek’s new skateplaza which is a serious sight to behold. All sorts of crazy contraptions inside as well as the ridiculous skate spot infront of Rob’s office: foam pits, mini motos, high speed buggies, air hockey - hence the name "Fantasy Factory".

Another dream came true for me and I met the only Hollywood celeb that I have ever wanted to meet… Meaty Dyrdek!

And if that was not enough, Meaty also has a sidekick! Beefy! Lola is going to be on set any day with Meaty and Beefy to bring some European class to MTV.

On the way home we stopped at the best Mexican restaurant on the planet, Senor Fish. I could live off this plate alone for the rest of my days: rice, beans, avocado, salad and fish tacos with shredded cabbage. Washed down with tamarind drink. The perfect end to a most pinnacle day…

Live Animal. Oh No There Is Not!

2008-12-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

The morning that we woke up in Paris to take the flight to LA everything was ready to go. Lola was booked in to fly in the hold, I had her crate all marked up, a drinking bottle etc. Desiree’s Frenchie Angus passed on that morning and I stumbled upon three back to back stories about Frenchies not making it in the hold. Panic turned to resolution and I went to the nearest pet shop and got me a soft doggie bag. At the airport I told the lady on check-in that my Mum had prepared her for flying but had never flown with a dog herself so she thought that the big crate would be fine in the cabin. “Obviously the crate is too big, so I’m just going to carry her on in this soft bag which meets FDA regulations for a cabin bag”. Poor Lola was a bit to big for the bag and almost double the weight limit but somehow the Jedi mind trick worked and the lady checked in the crate and Lola got a cabin pass! Being French, Air France were striking that night, luckily we were one of the last flights out of Charles De Gaul and after 12 hours stuck in a bag we touched down in LA and breezed through customs and immigration. Lola had arrived!! Here she is pre-Paris take off. More Life of Lola soon!

Introducing Lighthouse Lionel....

2008-12-16T09:09:00.000-08:00

Men Of Leisure

2008-12-03T09:26:00.001-08:00

I have to admit that Los Angeles is not exactly the most visually inspiring city in the world, but there are many activities to take part in that are actually accessible to normal human beings with normal salaries. Can you imagine the cost in time/dough to play a "Quick Half Round" on a week day if you lived in London?! Well anyway, this was my first time on a course, it was $10 including club rental, slap bang in the middle of L.A. and it was amazing. Check Paul's form on the 8th tee! Does n't Spain have great golf courses?...

The Life Of...

2008-12-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

I went over to you know who’s house in San Clemente for a very entertaining day. Check the trophy cabinet, enough to give even Tony Hawk an inferiority complex! More photos another time…

The Naked Shier Chef

2008-12-03T09:18:00.001-08:00

Spag Bol A La Shier might be a world wide phenomenon but the Croydon cat has gone all LA: "The Shier Fryer" is on the back burner and been replaced with breakfast delights like prosciutto wrapped asparagus with poached eggs on sour dough bagels, washed down with a most pinnacle cappuccino.

Nacho Leeper!

2008-12-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

A quick trip down to San Diego during the fires to visit Kyle and Lexy, the best boxer on the planet, for grey skies and ashy air almost exactly a year to the day since the fires last year. Inland in Vista we found some sun at the end of the day.

Kyle has just finished a new extension on his mini ramp and adorned it in the most flamboyant paint job in recent memory…

Leeper living it...

A Blast From The Past...

2008-12-03T08:49:00.001-08:00

For those of you unfamiliar with Dog Town or the history of skateboarding, Paul Revere school in Santa Monica is one of the most important skate spots ever: skateboarding was explored and evolved from it’s most infant stages on these massive asphalt banks, some serious names have thrown lay back carves on these black waves on flat days.

Paul Revere is in a nice area but the pupils still need to be reminded that guns are not really kosher. You think?!

Miscommunication...

2008-12-02T20:57:00.001-08:00

This could be symbolic of every pay phone in the entire US…

The Macho Miata

2008-12-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Paul Shier has a flashy blue sports car:

Joyriders Down 'Winnie

2008-10-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

(That's Sir Winston Churchill Park for those who did n't spend a chunk of their youth in St Brelade)...

Back In 'Nam

2008-10-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Only yesterday and forever ago at the same time... Circa 2000 ish.

Eazy Peazy...

2008-10-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Just another Tuesday evening view from the window of my office.Today we are taking in Tokyo, Japan.

The black one, or the white one? Life is tough at the top of the skateboarding ladder, Sean Malto’s existence is full of these difficult decisions. Check the number plates...

Kyle Leeper is a bowling pin.

A rained out demo and possibly the worst obstacle in skateboarding history…

Me mate? What you sayin’?

Never look an electronic gift pony in the control panel, or something…

Allegedly this is what “Oliver” looks like in hieroglyphics…

The wildlife in the cities is immense, way better than the crack pigeons in London. This butterfly was lying on the pavement, I should have put something for a scale in here but I did not so you’ll just have to take my word for it that this thing was massive.

An anti-skate device is removed just in time for Sean Malto to get punishing before we got kicked out by a gardener brandishing a rake.

This plate of sashimi is enough to send me to heaven, but would send my Dad running for the nearest greasy spoon. Or at least to the plastic pizza place (you'll learn about those in a tick). The green beans are called edamame and are the most delicious appetizer on the planet, unless you are veggie which means you’ll end up eating nothing but edamame. A lot of traditional Japanese restaurants cook the food in front of you (which is great if you are with obnoxious people because it narrows down the scope for kitchen food tampering) and in quite a few restaurants you cook it yourself either on a hot plate or in a bowl of hot water which by the end of the meal becomes a tasty broth, so nothing is left to waste.

In the end all the excitement was all a bit too much for some.

Can you spot the odd man out?

Almost as beautiful as Lol’s though obviously never close, this little Beastickle was spotted in Yokosuka, not too far from the diving eagle sign (scroll down for more). Lola, I miss you so much and I’m coming to get you soon darling…

Despite the language barrier, ordering food in Japan is very easy. Every dish on the menu is presented in the window in a plasticized state, which also makes it very easy to choose the restaurant. Even the drinks available are plasticized for all to see. Unlike in England, when the food comes, it is unplasticized, and for the record, Japanese pizza is some of the best on the planet, although the egg in the middle of the Carbonara looks a little over enthusiastic.

This is Mike Manzoori, one of the first pro-skateboarders I looked up to, whom I saw in real life at the New Malden vert ramp back when skateboards looked like tenis rackets, when I was staying with my sister Suzie. I am now lucky enough to have him as my traveling compadre (he is the Sole Tech video department) and crutch in times of desperation. I can’t really say enough good words about this man, things would be very different without him. This advert for beer made me think of the old Ronseal ads on the T.V. “Does what it says on the tin”. Judging by Mike’s face, yes it does.

The signs in Japan are bonkers. Take the sign asking you to pick up your dog do. In the west, a silhouette an androgynous human stopped over a black blob suffices, but in Japan, Rover and his owner (with well filled plastic poop bag) are depicted happily strolling under a rainbow in a sunny green park. Skateboarders are depicted performing a variety of different tricks (actually they are depicted as a variety of different life forms), there is a sign in the town square of Yokosuka with a photograph of an Eagle warning dog walkers to beware because they might become Eddie the Eagles next dinner date and even the classic lost in translation “For Scuba diving freaks”. My favourite though was from a Japanese department store in the security section. The burglars are brilliant but the man stressing out with the screwdriver in his hand is the best, God knows that the green stuff bursting in to the frame is? Time to call Ghost Busters?!

Well, that's is it for now. Thanks to all the people that made it happen, see you next time!

All The Leaves Are Brown...

2008-09-30T01:19:00.001-07:00

There is not going to be too much adhearance to chronology in this blog, but you're in my world now and this is how we get down. We'll cut back to more Jersey later, but for now, we're starting up at the beginning of the September and the end of my time at home. Time to kick rocks and get the ball rolling on the California ordeal, after two fantastic weeks in the cocoon of #1, this was to be the last time I'd see the hunter gatherer, the man who puts the capital "B" in "Boss", come home for a beef sandwich for a while. How's the cupa soup Dad?

First stop was London and the bestest human in t' smoke, Chris Massey. He's my old room mate from Brentford, one of my nearest and dearest and a superb film maker. He works in music videos with people like Kanye West, and he keeps me inspired because amongst other things, he's winning at life. Here we see Chris in a small section of the Johnathan Glazzer (big boy Director - Sexy Beast, Sony Bravia ads, music videos etc) trophy room at Academy Films, this guy has so many awards they are like inconvenient clutter to him, you find them laying around all over the place.

There were several of these, the MTV spaceman has to be the tip top trophy...

Best rock chair on the planet, this thing was surprisingly comfortable. I'm taking this design to Grande C in Portugal fo sho! Chris said some Polish workers misstakenly took it apart to re-wall paper, looks like they did a pretty kosher job of putting it back together again...

London's finest couple, my main slice Chris and his wonder woman Ali. Thanks for the epicness you two...

Heavy Metal Church...

Down to the studio in Ladbrooke Grove. No soundbite available, you'll have to take my word for it that the sound was pinacle Adrian French engineering...

Nick Jensen in trademark casual steez. It's so amazing to see old friends like Nick but it really brings it home how much you miss them. Jetting around is fun, I just wish that people like Nick could come with me...

After running the con man mini cab gaunlet and having my Brother In Law James drive halfway down the M1 to come and get me, I finally make it to Turvey, the home of Jojo Nicholas, my sister. Time waits for no man and after a couple of very laid back days, it was time to face the music and head to Heathrow. Despite what the rest of the day holds in store, it's hard to stay down with these two little sun flowers on the back seat; Lils and Freya, back to school.

This is Big Bill, the latest addition to our family tree. This was also the last family sighting before getting aboard the luxuriously appointed National Express coach in Luton to get to Heathrow. Thanks Jo and James for your hospitality and the ultimate gravy/mash combo.

I've lost count of how many times I've made this transatlantic trek. Whatever my life holds in store for me down the road, I hope that there might be first class seating written into the script somewhere. After staring at white clouds for an eternity with that one question repeating in my head, I felt like Ranulph Fiennes glimpsing the peak of Everest for the first time when I looked out the window and saw DownTown Los Angeles smoking as the Union Jack Soared triumphantly above. Hopefully a good premonition for the future...

Lola the Blog...

2008-09-21T14:19:00.001-07:00

The bestest, most beastickliest beast on the face of Planet Earth. Currently residing in France but soon to be making Trans-Atlantic power moves, the namesake of this blog, my hound and apple of my eye, Lola.