Perous Secret Diary - Keep Out: September 20, 2006

the killers in paris

the day did not start well:
i should have paid more attention...and gone back to bed.

i set the alarm for 5.45am last night (to go off this morning).
not realising the clock time was set wrong: when it got to 5.45am it was thinking it was 5.45pm and didn't go off.
so overslept by half an hour.
and got caught in major congestion into town.
almost missed the flight to paris but got there in time to be delayed an hour anyway.

photographed 'the killers' again.
ronnie (the drummer) is very friendly and always very pleasant.

after waiting for two and a half hours to do the shoot, we got 14 minutes with them.
and brandon refused to take off his sunglasses...
hohoho how i laughed.

i like to wear my sunglasses all the time.
but then i'm still recognisable (as i've got obvious ears and a shaved head).
brandon looked like a generic bloke.
i suggested that maybe we did some shots with sunglasses and some without and brandon said 'do i look like i'm 3?'
by which i think he meant that i was trying to trick him into being featured without his sunglasses...i actually meant what i said and thought we could do some of both.
DO I CARE?
shot 4 set ups in 14 minutes and all the pictures are GREAT despite the lead singer being unrecognisable and bespectacled.

squatters wrongs

frances was ill so sara was with me.
but frances had to meet the LDA at the factory to give them a set of keys (as they are now my landlords).

she phoned just before i started shooting to say she'd tried to get into the factory but her key wouldn't work and a guy opened the door and said 'who are you?'
'i work here', said frances, 'who are you?'
'i'm gav. i live here: you don't work here...so fuck off'.

yes: you couldn't write it better.
there are trustifarians squatting the factory: 7 'adults' and 2 children.
they even have a caravan parked in the yard.
m***** f***ing freeloading f*****s.

fan f***ing tastic!
so the remainder of my shit is still in there, including all my colouramas, perspex, polyboards, a fine stereo, a double bed, etc...
and i can't get it.

the police won't intervene and say it's a civil matter and that i have to go to court etc...
despite the fact the squatters broke the back door which is criminal damage and an arrestable offence.

as a displaced resident, the police COULD aid me in evicting the squatters with reasonable force BUT they said i would have to prove that i live there by taking a load of papers to court tomorrow.
the police also suggested that if i don't have anywhere to stay tonight, i could stay in a homeless shelter!

obviously i'm now going to make an official complaint against the police and the duty officer that couldn't even be assed to talk to me about it.

and i'm not going to employ some unpleasant people to do something i know nothing about that involves clearing out scum.
we need the 'red ants' of johannesburg to come over and do the business.almost feels worse than being burgled as these people haven't just stolen my stuff: they're using it and i can't do anything legal about it.

they've already done £60 on the phone since being there (some time after thursday)
and the gas, water and ellecy won't disconnect them so i'm paying for the utilies they are caning!

i am SO wound up, my blood pressure is over and beyond.
friday i am going round with a sledgehammer either way.

i don't believe i can be done for criminal damage on my own property so i'm going to go round and redecorate the doors (by removing them) etc...
i actually feel most sorry for their kids.

i'm back at the farm: it stinks of creosote still.

the r32 has developed yet another audibly loud rattle from it's plastic interior.