For Laura Burns

Friends and family say that when I get presents for them they are actually for myself. For example, I once got my mom a Playstation game for Mother's Day. Selfish and inconsiderate? Probably. However, it isn't always the case.

Teresa Elizabeth Hooper called me up a few days ago and asked me to chip in half the money for a bracelet for Laura Burns’ birthday (which is today). She said, “the bracelet cost £100…so £50 each”. Yeah right! We came to a compromise that if more people chipped in I then I wouldn’t mind paying toward it.

For everyone’s information, both Hooper and Laura did not get me a present for my birthday! Hooper said they’ve chosen a present (almost 2 months since) but not bought it yet. Luckily I don’t give to get…ahem.

Hooper found another person to cough up dosh for the bracelet so I suggested we'd go together to buy it. At least I’ll get to see where my money was going. After a little thought, the present didn't sound cool for a number of reasons. The present wouldn't be from me, just my money put into it. Plus £30 is a lot in this climate we're living in, even if Laura is one of my closest friends.

Laura Burns. Painting by Albie Espinola

My creative little mind started ticking away and I thought to do a drawing for her. Predictable from moi but at least it's from me, and something she will hopefully keep forever.

I've been working on Laura's modelling/presenting website for ages and came across the picture I based the drawing/water colour on. I was actually there for this photo shoot. It was our friend Chanel Raisin's submission for the Elizabeth Arden campaign.

I started the drawing at 11:30pm whilst watching Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift. Amazingly, most of the sketching was done by 3am. So the only thing to do was add colour.

I'm really pleased with how it looks. I also framed it in a white country style frame. Looks fab even if I don't say so myself.

To one of my closest friends, thanks for being there always and this drawing is for you!

xx

Albie!

The Piano Master

Playing piano is one of my favourite things to do and since I moved to Casa Slick, I’ve been itching to buy a keyboard. Sadly my piano was too big and raw to transport.

Recently, Sam Reed (AKA Dott Reed, her new stage name) had her first gig in over a year. It was held at this art shop place and she played songs on a piano painted like a British flag. There were 4 pianos and over the coming weeks all the pianos will be placed randomly around London so people can play.

Sam "Dott" Reed on the piano

Sammie was rusty to start, as she was so nervous not having performed in such a long time. As the gig went on, so did the rust and she loosened up. Her new song, “Mon Amor” I really liked.

Speaking of rust, I’ve been itching to do the Playtime Customised 11 Fashion Show for a while now. It has been nearly 2 years since I’ve produced a show. I’ve consulted in shows but there is nothing like a Playtime Customised show. I’m thinking mid-August? Sammie of course will be part of the line-up along with the designers.

sing-along at Carnaby Street

the swingin' 60's

Georgia Goodrick and I randomly saw one of the funky pianos on Carnaby Street. A woman was playing songs from the swinging 60’s so classics from the Beatles et others were played. The public were given the words to all the songs so they can join in. Really old school and nice! More of these fun things should be around the city all year round.

Georgia Goodrick et Albie Espinola on the piano

Albie Espinola, the piano master

back to the 1960's

Georgia Goodrick

My favourite song was “Follower of Fashion” by The Kinks. Twas fitting I guess. Georgia and I were dressed more 1980’s style if anything though. However, London Tonight still did a television interview with us.

"The Hoff"

By the way, I met "The Hoff"! I saw David Hasselhoff randomly while he was filming some programme at Charlotte Street Hotel. According to the producers, it's a reality television show. I asked if I can grab a picture with him and they looked at me like I was dumb. "We are filming...?" they said. A few seconds later, the producers thought it was a good idea and said to intrude his conversation while they were filming and ask for a picture. He was like, "sure, but it's £5 please". I gave him a "high five" instead. Unfortunately I somehow stupidly took a picture of someone’s feet instead of me and The Hoff.

Inspired by Sammie’s gig and playing the random piano on the street, I went to Argos and got me a keyboard! It’s a dream. I’m gonna practice on my roof and everything, play in style.

Anyone out there that can play piano? There's only so much I can learn with books, I so want piano lessons...

xx

Albie!!

Psycho Scary Man & The Hills

Last week, there was a man inside the gate at the bottom of my fire escape at Casa Slick.

It was afternoon so there were a few people around hanging out in the courtyard. I walked downstairs and only until I was face-to-face with the man did he notice my presence. He was a white male with pale skin, in his early 30's, about 5'10, cross-eyed, blonde/white hair and slim build. He was wearing beige trousers and a pale yellow jumper.

Albie impression of psycho man

I hesitantly said "hello" while figuring how to get my scooter out as it is quite a small space we were occupying. Mumbling to himself, he said, "I'm going to set 'her' on fire..."

Freaked out just a touch, I opened the gate and phoned my flatmate Cleo Davis who was upstairs. I asked Cleo to come downstairs to "pass me a jumper". Mostly it was me being a whoosie needing backup but part of it was for the comedy factor (in a not funny way). She walked downstairs and she too was freaked out by the psycho man. When getting the chain off my scooter, he went one further repeatedly saying "I'm going to kill him". I hurriedly got my scooter out, waited for Cleo to run up to the house (and double lock it) and went.

He's been spotted again in my gate recently but I think he’s a local or at least a regular in the local arcade next door to us. I hope the psycho scary man doesn't show again. If he does, what do I do? Call the police? Tell him to pee off ever so nicely?

It may seem minor and I jest about it but imagine if he was downstairs late at night and I was alone! I'd completely cack myself. Or imagine if he actually tried to do harm to one of us!?

Crime date	2nd June 2009
Nature of crime	Psycho Maniac
Where	Casa Slick, W12
Contact	Notting Hill Police Station

Appeal Points

• Do you recognise the E-fit of the psycho man? He is likely to be known within the local drug-taking community in Shepherds Bush.
  

• Have you come across something similar by a stranger at your door?

• Casa Slick will offer a reward of a cup of a tea for information resulting in psycho man not being on our doorstep again.

One of my favourite programmes on TV is Crimewatch UK so no wonder I think about this kind of stuff. I LOVE that programme. On lots of levels it's a great show. For example, I like scary things, they are all true stories and I've always wanted to see someone I recognise so I can help catch them...even if it's a "friend". Well depends on what the friend did I guess.

A few years ago there was a friend on there but to my sadness and a lot of other peoples she was a victim of murder...the killer is now thankfully caught and she can now rest in peace.

On to a lighter note. Speaking of TV, on my day of rest I spent the evening watching Season 5 of The Hills. Georgia Goodrick introduced it to me and we watched the whole season over 6 hours.

I never used to watch it but by the end of the last episode, I knew all the names of the characters and was singing along to Natasha Beddngfield at the beginning credits.

Lauren Conrad of The Hills

Kelly Cutrone of Peoples Revolution

In the show, the cut-throat world that is fashion was on brutal display when Kelly Cutrone from Peoples Revolution had Lauren Conrad (main character) fire her friend (and deservedly so). She said, "Think guillotine. Clean..." It would be so amazing to work with them, their company seems so cool but at the same time hard work. Plus it’s in LA LA Land! There, or actually any major PR company in NYC and possibly even London would be fun times.

I also actually learned lots about relationships watching The Hills. You got to see the relationships from different angles, which was quite an eye-opener. However, some people are just pricks and the worse thing is that they can't see it. I'm not even talking about Spencer. At first I thought he was a knob punching the guy at the bar but he is too funny! It’s that girl Stacie who I thought the prick of that season was, the bartender girl. I couldn’t believe she turned up to Spencer and Heidi’s wedding. Grrr...

Anyways, peace, love and "please don't have nightmares"

xx

Albie!!

Doogan & The Hitch Hikers

There are a group of guys that I hang out with loads that were all raised in Ladbroke Grove, like me. To me, they are simply called "The Boys".

The Boys consist of the Lamolony Family with twins Peter & Paul, Daniel and little genius Michael. There is hench Lab, Chris Gosain who has moved to Texas with his wife Susie but comes back to London every year. Mojo (real name Mitu), the lottery winner/turned drunkard/banned from USA "Raksak" (real name Rakesh Patel). Tarek & Jad Issa, Jermal Gray and last but not least, Mark Doogan. We play Poker, PS3, watch boxing together and just hang out.

Mark Doogan

Out of all the boys, "Doogan" as I call him is probably the one I’m closest to. It's weird how we get on as we cuss each other down all the time, especially in front of anyone within earshot. We're both bad losers in everything and also the worse winners. We're so annoying when we win; people just want to see us lose.

However, when no one is around we chat deeply about things. We talk about life, business and even our situations in love. He's just a good-hearted dude. Doogan even made dinner for me, Ahmed Jaber and even his friend the other night. He made Ahmed and his mate steak and a curry for moi!

He is one of the funniest people I know and comes out with the most random stuff in his cockney accent. He once said he was seeing a girl and I would think she was fit as she "looks like a model".

Mark Doogan, Ahmed Obama and Cleo Davis at Casa Slick

Raising my eyebrows slightly from the word "model" and "fit" I asked him to carry on with details. He said, "she's proper fit, model face, body all in proportion, long brown hair and really thin!"

I asked him to show a picture, so he got his phone out. Normally we hugely disagree on what we think is pretty but this time I was like, "Easy Doogan. She IS pretty, but how tall is she though?"

"5 foot" he replied. I pissed myself laughing so hard. I mean, a 5 foot girl with model proportions is like describing a 12 year old girl. Raw.

Another time, Doogan and I went Portobello and he treated me to a coffee from Starbucks. Later that evening, all the boys were over at the house and Doogan asked if he could have a cup of tea. I said "no" and we started arguing. So then I said, "If you want a tea, that'll be £1.50p". He actually paid for the tea in my own house! I sound like a prick toward him but there are so many stories just as bad the other way around.

Mark's a cool friend and everyone should have a 'Doogan' in their lives.

Ahmed Jaber has a "Doogan" in his friend Karim Elgamel. Karim was over at Casa Slick and we had a conversation talking about art and girls and he said the funniest thing I heard in ages...

He said, "It don't matter as long as you get 'pum pum' on the regs".

I was half paying attention to the conversation as I was on my laptop but when I had registered what he'd said I shook my head thinking, "what the hell did you just say?!" Pum pum on the regs...too funny.

Bank Holiday was pure fun in the sun. It was blazing outside so Georgia and I had lunch in Hampstead Heath at the Freemasons Arms which had a really cool garden. The cook just happened to be Filipino so we talked boxing as people from Philippines do. Filipino's are also a tight knit group who stick together and when I asked him to make the country proud when making our food, he gave us the biggest meal ever! So stuffed, we took home a huge doggy bag to eat on my roof.

Zooming on my scooter all day enjoying the sun, I didn't realise my scooter was on its last legs with petrol.

stuck on the A40

"no place like home". My new swank shoes

hitch hiker Albie Espinola

hitch hiker Georgia Goodrick

The next morning, we were driving back to Georgia's "the quick way" on the A40 when suddenly my scoot slowed down to a stop right above Portobello Market. We were rescued by the RAC 45 minutes later and they even gave me free petrol. I'm so getting my monies worth having called them out 3 times in the 3 weeks since I became a member.

My scooter is fine now but thinking maybe a customised paint job and tweaks need to be done?

xx

Albie!!