Buoyed by a surprisingly successful trip to Berlin (I even managed a comprehensible sentence in German, and met a Russian-speaking alsatian in a dive bar in the darkest East) I'm heading back to Germanic parts next week.
Unfortunately my knowledge of Austria is based around Alps, Mozart, the Alps, Vienna and some mountains. And to avoid all of this I'm going to Arnie's home town, Graz. If Ultravox had shifted cities I could tell you this place means nothing to me. Apparently it can't even rustle up a small hill (I'm English, so I don't need towering peaks to impress me. A gentle incline will usually work, but it seems I will be disappointed anyway).
The main reason for going is a young lady, inevitably, but I need things to occupy me while she's working. I have four days and one hire car, and I'm not going to learn to ski.
I have found a football match in Slovenia, which is only an hour's drive away, but I sense this may not be an acceptable option for my hostess. Advice, anyone?
Graz, Austria
- andymackem
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Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- Obviousman
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All I know is they build loads of cars, mostly SUVs there. Mercedes G and M-class, Jeeps and Chryslers...
That's all and not very helpful, I'm affraid
That's all and not very helpful, I'm affraid
- eastmidswhizzkid
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with a little dyslexia and a massive imagination, hey presto! austria becomes australia....that should be enough for anyone.
Well I was handsome and I was strong
And I knew the words to every song.
"Did my singing please you?"
"No! The words you sang were wrong!"
And I knew the words to every song.
"Did my singing please you?"
"No! The words you sang were wrong!"
- andymackem
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I had a bad feeling about this trip from the start. Graz appears to be the Coventry of Austria.
Hurrah! All I need now is a Fraulein Godiva and I'm laughing.
Hurrah! All I need now is a Fraulein Godiva and I'm laughing.
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- boudicca
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Teutonic two-tone bands?andymackem wrote:I had a bad feeling about this trip from the start. Graz appears to be the Coventry of Austria.
"This town... is 'comin' like a geist-town"...
There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
- andymackem
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You haven't heard the fenland version: "Diss town, be a-cummin loike a ghostie town" (assuming the fens mysteriously relocated to somewhere off the M5, of course).boudicca wrote:Teutonic two-tone bands?andymackem wrote:I had a bad feeling about this trip from the start. Graz appears to be the Coventry of Austria.
"This town... is 'comin' like a geist-town"...
Still, anything's possible. Last weekend I heard a band fronted by the bastard Swiss offspring of Marc Almond and Brett Anderson. Who were actually quite good. FAQ was the name, 'Is Pornongraphy Art?' is the embarrassingly entitled disc currently enlivening my daily commute. A bit like The Faint, but more synthy. Shades of Soft Cell, of course, and Brett for looks and androgyny. But from Switzerland? /scratches head/
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Sounds like a mighty fine place to meandymackem wrote: ghostie town"
Being brave is coming home at 2am half drunk, smelling of perfume, climbing into bed, slapping the wife on the arse and saying,"right fatty, you're next!!"
- boudicca
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Ahhh... in my preteen years, Suede videos provided quite an "awakening"...andymackem wrote:Brett Anderson
Still definitely would .
Now, where's this lookey-likey?
There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
- emilystrange
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*quiver*
I don't wanna live like I don't mind
- andymackem
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I did take some pictures at the gig. But unless someone can tell me something useful, interesting and accurate about Graz I won't tell you where to find themboudicca wrote:Ahhh... in my preteen years, Suede videos provided quite an "awakening"...andymackem wrote:Brett Anderson
Still definitely would .
Now, where's this lookey-likey?
Also the pictures came out a bit s**t, so you won't have much luck anyway, I wouldn't think. But a bit of emotional blackmail never hurt anyone, did it?
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- canon docre
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Graz is one of the dullest places on earth.*
* this information is neither interesting nor useful, but accurate.
Pics now?
* this information is neither interesting nor useful, but accurate.
Pics now?
Put their heads on f*cking pikes in front of the venue for all I care.
- boudicca
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It gets dark there at night.andymackem wrote:something useful, interesting and accurate about Graz
(A worthy factoid, I think, there are of course places in the world where it doesn't. Plus it really is all I can manage. Oh no wait, the locals speak German ).
Can I see this fella now?
There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
- canon docre
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Wrong. No one can call their oral disease German by any means.boudicca wrote: Oh no wait, the locals speak German ).
Put their heads on f*cking pikes in front of the venue for all I care.
- boudicca
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Ahh... the Deutsch equivalent of a Birmingham accent, is it?canon docre wrote:Wrong. No one can call their oral disease German by any means.boudicca wrote: Oh no wait, the locals speak German ).
That's safe for me to say here, isn't it? No Brummies around?... ach they're all illiterate anyway...
There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets
- Obviousman
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canon docre wrote:Wrong. No one can call their oral disease German by any means.boudicca wrote: Oh no wait, the locals speak German ).
Is Austrian (or more specifically the Graz dialect) that bad then?
- canon docre
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It isnt even understandable for someone livng a few kilometers outside. It just sounds very disgusting. Imagine a dim-witted farmer who enjoys his sheeps every now and then.Obviousman wrote:canon docre wrote:Wrong. No one can call their oral disease German by any means.boudicca wrote: Oh no wait, the locals speak German ).
Is Austrian (or more specifically the Graz dialect) that bad then?
Put their heads on f*cking pikes in front of the venue for all I care.
- andymackem
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See, I told you it was the Coventry of Austria. I'm really going to hate this place, aren't I?
Still unsure of the usefulness of all this. Or my pics. Possibly I hadn't mentioned the impact of alcohol on my (negligible) photographic skills.
www.f-a-q.ch will probably help. It claims to be the band's website. You're looking for Philip Noirjean, which is a great name.
Still unsure of the usefulness of all this. Or my pics. Possibly I hadn't mentioned the impact of alcohol on my (negligible) photographic skills.
www.f-a-q.ch will probably help. It claims to be the band's website. You're looking for Philip Noirjean, which is a great name.
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- Planet Dave
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Imagine it? I live there. It's called Yorkshire.canon docre wrote: Imagine a dim-witted farmer who enjoys his sheeps every now and then.
'Fragged another moaning sh1tbag'
- canon docre
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Well, I hope it's not you then?Planet Dave wrote:Imagine it? I live there. It's called Yorkshire.canon docre wrote: Imagine a dim-witted farmer who enjoys his sheeps every now and then.
Put their heads on f*cking pikes in front of the venue for all I care.
- andymackem
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http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/andymacke ... pg&.src=ph
Might give some idea. Possibly more than the official website, which is alarmingly bad. But then again, so's this pic.
The Brett connection was more to do with his mannerisms. The Marc Almond was definitely more to do with mannerism and voice.
Might give some idea. Possibly more than the official website, which is alarmingly bad. But then again, so's this pic.
The Brett connection was more to do with his mannerisms. The Marc Almond was definitely more to do with mannerism and voice.
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- Planet Dave
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Nah, I'm a foreigner round these parts. Exxiled Mancunian and all that. I just nick stuff.canon docre wrote:Well, I hope it's not you then?Planet Dave wrote:Imagine it? I live there. It's called Yorkshire.canon docre wrote: Imagine a dim-witted farmer who enjoys his sheeps every now and then.
'Fragged another moaning sh1tbag'
- Ozpat
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Just give it a chance and make the best of it! It might even snow overthere...go "langlaufen" and sing a song like snowdriver!andymackem wrote:I'm really going to hate this place, aren't I?
Have a good time!
"as we walk on the floodland"
- andymackem
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Oh, don't get me wrong. This is all about the management of expectations. Most of my best trips have been to wholly unlikely places. Including Oldham, Doncaster and Halifax.Ozpat wrote:Just give it a chance and make the best of it! It might even snow overthere...go "langlaufen" and sing a song like snowdriver!andymackem wrote:I'm really going to hate this place, aren't I?
Have a good time!
Snow would be good, but see my earlier point re mountains and the sad lack thereof.
Names are just a souvenir ...
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
Russian footie in the run-up to the World Cup - my latest E-book available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G
- markfiend
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If you managed to enjoy yourself in Oldham, hats off!
I was born there. And went to school there. Shît-hole of the universe. I couldn't leave fast enough
I was born there. And went to school there. Shît-hole of the universe. I couldn't leave fast enough
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
—Bertrand Russell
—Bertrand Russell