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>>djpaulette Too many birthdays and not enough cash. What is it with this birthday thing? Did my friends and friends' parents ever think that them all getting laid at the same time would have such momentous results as two baby booms? It seems not. Moreover, I am a soft touch who feels guilty for attending a party empty handed (or so I will be telling my bank manager when he asks me why my account is empty). It has got so bad that I think I am going to throw a random birthday party for myself and see how many of my friends fall for it. Well, they always forget mine, what with it being three days before Christmas, and if old Queenie can pull off the 'I am a biological and scientific freak who was actually born twice in one year' stunt without question or complaint then I don't see why it shouldn't work for me. After the amount I've shelled out on mother's day, countless birthdays and baby showers this month, I need the cash. So send money. All currencies, visa, Amex and diners are accepted. Seriously though — happy birthday to Dave 'Kitty' Kendrick, Gill Kingston, Lewis, Vanessa, Mike, Jeremy B, Julian Jonah, Roger Oldham, Vicky Heller, David Perusse, Thibault Jardon, Alina Cameron, and soon to be Hannah Burdess (my second goddaughter), Georgina Lewis, Sebastien Treney and Ian Bushell. And as for the baby boomers — congratulations to Roger and Penny Piezey on newcomer, Nell's arrival and Maurice and Leslie Bernstein on Miles' arrival. Congratulations also go to twin sister Paula and David (for setting their wedding date — and no I will not be forced into a pink meringue, even if I am the chief bridesmaid) and to my sister Audrey and her boyfriend Adrian who are now officially engaged. Nice. And what's been going on aside from birthdays and all that personal stuff that costs a fortune? Oh yes. DJ'ing. What can I say? Le Queen was Le Queen - c'est comme jouer a ma maison (or something like that - I'm only just learning to write in French so you'll have to cut me some slack). Of course, I loved every minute of being there and playing there and hanging out with my friends. Mind you, I'm not really too impressed with my throwing up an hour before leaving to take my flight to Montreal performance. Yes, I'm a real classy lady. Truthfully it wasn't attractive, especially not since I managed to do it in front of my new boyfriend. I blame drinking too much champagne and having no sleep whatsoever for two whole days and on Laurent, Jodie and Sharmeen - anyway, thanks for holding my hair back and providing the scrunchie, Christina! Next stop, my pre-Miami experience in snowy Montreal at Sona was nothing short of amazing (and not just because I was wearing an amazingly short denim skirt and high heels J). Mat Ste. Marie set the tone with a speaker-phreaking set which had worked the club into such a state of high expectancy that I had no choice but to take his baton and run like hell. Good job I had blinding new music from Antoine Clamaran (Release Yourself), Paul Jackson (The Push), Peace Division (Wherever The Drums Take Me), Electric Tease (Limbo), Bebel Gilberto, Dino Lenny (Change The World) and a completely f***ed up HCCR vs. Who Da Funk remix of Who Da Funk's 'Sting Me Red' to keep the customers satisfied. Thanks to Sandra, Damien 'www.services.com' Leukatis, Caroline Rousse, Annik Charbonneau, Yann and Marie-Noelle for staying the distance and partying hard. But mostly thanks to David Perusse for services above and beyond the call of duty and for all the hard work in making this party happen. You are truly fierce. Happy Birthday! If you haven't already checked out my daily Miami shenanigans via www.dotmusic.com then you really should. So much happened in so little time that it would be criminal to chop it down to a few lines, but it was gratifying to watch (and of course hear) the Nervous and Southport Weekender posse kick everyone's ass party-wise on the Tuesday. Congratulations go to me (hee hee), Bobbi and Steve and every other DJ who took part: hell, I got props from Free2Air's Craig Dimech for dropping Paul Johnson's 'Follow This Beat', debuted Moloko's new cut 'Forever More' (and had the good fortune to be able to thank Roisin personally afterwards) and threw a Molotov in with Defected Records' new Jason Jinx release, 'Your First Time'. OK, maybe it wasn't the mind-bending Miami I've musically come to know and love (from everyone else's parties) and the onset of war certainly added a vibe that doused my ardour but socially and professionally it was my best yet. After playing 'Easy Rider' in a jetlagged haze, I found myself on a plane headed for Estonia and Club Prive. Through the strobe frenzy, I managed to meet the Estonian Eurovision song contest winner and many of Estonia's movers and shakers plus I got the chance to play alongside Ovum Records' The Rulers of The Deep (that's DJs Pjulm and Meri) and experience the wonder of the Dr. Pepper drinking competition and the much needed oxygen bar afterwards. As for that piece of magnesium ribbon (can you hear me Nick)? that is more politely known as my new relationship, you'll be pleased to know that it is burning brighter still. And longer. So there. Mind you, I think we're rapidly running out of London parks, galleries and clubs to pass the time in (last trip was St James' and Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery (try and catch the 'You Look Beautiful Like That' exhibition if you can) and Sundaysonic at Notting Hill Arts Club (with Tom Middleton dropping his Cosmos science) so if you've any ideas for where to go next, I'm all ears. I've had some amazing guests and mixes on my radio show lately: Black Market's Commie landed at such short notice and showed us that it's not just the big names who are worth listening to. The following week, the 'Stereomovers' blew me away with their all original, jacking Montrealness, whilst last week Tim Healey Electric Tease-d us all into quivering wrecks with his electro-fuelled mix and Coburn vibes. There's no show this week as I will be stuffing my face with chocolate but next week, tune in to www.ministryofsound.com/radio for a Liquid People special on April 28th. Talking of radio, I did an exclusive mix for Niall Redmond's 'Sound System' show on Nova FM (that's a Dublin radio station) — this mix is archived on this site and trust me it's great to dance to when you can push the volume to 11: switch off the lights, drink loads of champers and you'll think you're in your favourite club. Well, that's what I did last night after my friend Vicky left and that's exactly where I thought I was, until I woke up with yet another monster hangover. Listen out for Niall's mix on my show on May 19th! I also went to Stoke to record a pilot global radio show with Hacienda hero and Galaxy Radio stalwart, Graeme Park this week. I can't say much more about it but as soon as I have any more news you will be the first to know. It looked like we were all set for an amazing Easter: Thursday and Friday were just glorious weather-wise and everyone found every and any excuse for bunking off work and showing their skin some much needed sun, but then what happened? Saturday came and brought a cold snap with it so mean, that this morning I burrowed under my covers, hugged my alpaca bear and slept with my electric blanket full on until midday. That's it for me, I'm certified agoraphobic until the sun — and our summer — comes back. Before I go, special mention has to go to Junior Records for Friday's Futureshock album launch at the Saga Centre (thanks Paul and Johnny)! I've never seen offices transformed in such a way: the Junior office was DEFINITELY one of the best clubs I've been to in years — no really it was — and I saw people there that I haven't seen in years! The arrival of a much toned down (appearance-wise), jetlagged but still the same, Ralph 'smiler' Perou made me smile from ear to ear (as photographers go he is one of my absolute favourites) and as for Tom Middleton's set — again this was real house with funk by the bucket load that kicked hard in a real acid house environment. Blinding! Just like Friday morning's headache. I'm off to probably-not-sunny Brighton on Sunday 20th to play at Wild Fruit - it's always an excellent party, so come and say 'hi' if you're in the area. And don't forget Wednesday 23rd April - Easy Rider presents Muzik's Youth Club - breaking with the norm, this is a fund raiser that sees Djs like Jon Carter, Tayo and me (amongst others) playing back to back for no fee — all in aid of World DJ Day and the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity, so come and show your support and spend some wedge. It's all in a good cause. If not, you could always catch me headlining at the following venues:
Th… th… th… th… that's
all folks! I'm out of here like I stole something. See you soon with more
news about Hot and Dry (check www.bbcm.org
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