I love you Sugar Cane...

Food being prepared at one of the many stalls selling jerk chicken, goat curry and corn on the cob. This guy was trimming the sugar cane in expert fashion using a machete.

Notting HIll Carnival

To banish the memory of a poor Reading we head to Carnival on Monday. Despite living just around the corner from the main route, this is my first time. All Saints Road is rammed with punters getting down to at least three diverse sound systems playing variants on drum 'n bass, reggae and a more mainstream/ r 'n b sound. It's as loud and as rib cage shaking as expected but the amount of ganja smoke is underwhelming.

Rain on lens

It starts to rain during Bloc Party's set. The sound on the mainstage is a bit rubbish. This is not a vintage year for the festival. How disappointing.

Bloc Rocking Beats

Bloc Party transcend the fact that Kele is a bit of a knob by being great live. Hurrah!

The Raconteurs

Having successfully got the wife in (thanks Dave and Jenny!) We can start to properly go for it. Starting with the mighty Raconteurs!

Ensconsed in Hospitality

Nina and I are in the hospitality area next to the main stage. Our task in hand is to track down another day pass for the wife. So far, we have drawn a blank, but it's early days and the Carlsberg is flowing. The festival is no longer sponsored by Carling and there is a distinct lack of the usual corporate hospitality etc back stage. The usual three or four areas are down to just one uninspiring energy drink tent. This coupled with the uninspiring line up explains the lack of the usual blaggers.

More Reading

Right by the station, grafitti everywhere and what appear to be an empty tower block. You'd think with all the M4 corridor money it wouldn't be such a shit hole