Day 2 started well, despite the jetlag I managed to force myself up early and head to Newburgh Street, and the line of kids I mentioned in yesterdays report – all of whom were eagerly awaiting the release of the Adidas/Neighborhood shoe. Amazingly the line wasn’t too long, and rumors were going up and down about just how many were available. I was lined with a guy called Christoph, who is a freelance designer, and clued up on things in the toy world…..so we had a good chat about stuff. Anyway after an hours line-up, I managed to get one of the last pairs, and the guys who had been there for three days didn’t seem super thrilled that we all scored. But the number available was super limited – looked like about 30 pairs, and an additional 6 and 7 respectively at Hideout and FootPatrol. I was told these were the only places these went on sale in the UK – and bearing in mind that the collab they did last year is super sought after ($800 a pair on the bay), made this quite a special release.

After that excitement, I headed off with my new bud, and made a few rounds at Bathing Ape and Hideout. Nice Bearbrick WWT sets at Hideout for 40 quid, Bape had nothing much – one pair of shoes was about it, and a zillion uber priced shirts. I then go to Play Lounge, to find it is closed again. No indication of opening times. Leaves me frustrated – and some Silly Thing James Jarvis toys in the window have me drooling. Quick re-check of Size? Revealed some AF1’s which the bloke on Sunday couldn’t be bothered to find for me. Suddenly I am carrying three pairs of sneaks. Next up is the legendary Foot Patrol in St Annes Court off Wardour Street in the heart of Soho. This little block holds a special place in my heart, as its where “Dark they were and Golden eyed”, one of the few comic stores from the 70’s used to be. The other was Forbidden Planet, which still exists today. Foot Patrol staff were super friendly and helpful – no sneaker attitude. I picked up two pairs of shoes I had pre-ordered for a friend of mine who will be getting them at SDCC, and also a rather natty pair of Holland Footscape Airwovens. They had some rather fetching matching bearbricks for each team shoe, but promo only of course. So now I have SIX pairs of shoes I’m lunking around, and its hot and humid.

So why am I flogging myself like this? The plan is to leave London and head North to stay with my family for a few days before I head back to LA, and then SDCC. So shopping time is limited. With this in mind I head to Stussy UK, and yes, its purchase of the James Jarvis Leon figure. Modeled on the manager of the Stussy London store, its one of Amos best figures ever in my opinion. Yummy. By now I am feeling pretty shagged out, and I assume that the mad sweating that has started is due to the humidity. I take some pics of the limited edition of 10 Stussy/Honda run-around bikes, which is pretty hard with six pairs of shoes in hand. 2400 quid gets you the bike – but it does come with a ltd ed MA-1 jacket and a tee – bargain! I feel like I need to head home, but the Carharrt store beckons. This is Carharrt Europe – an amazing selection of functional well designed clothing in some great camo designs, and some obviously sneaker inspired colorways. No wonder they collab’d with Bape last year. This is not the Carharrt work wear that we know in the US. The people in there are very cool and want to see all my shoes. The ubiquitous Japanese kid who works there is into toys as well, so we chat, and they let me use the staff bathroom – YAY! By now I am unpleasantly soaked with sweat, and I need to make my way underground for the trip back to sunny Putney, and a couple of proper business meetings I have set up.

When I get back I quickly have to change all my clothes and out I go. When I emerge it’s a summer shower, and I take shelter in the local HMV store, and look at DVDs that I wished were not all region 2. Man, I want that bargain priced Spaced series 2, and especially those new series of Dr Who. I caught ep 13 of 13 the night before – Cybermen vs Daleks vs the Doctor – very, very well done.

Now I am well and truly fucked up, and when I get back home I feel rather peculiar – like I can’t move. I figure its from lack of food, so we order humungous trad fish and chips, which we scarf down before one of my best friends and his wonderful missus come to meet me for an old times get together. Now this in an interesting one, my friend is moving with her to Columbia in Feb next year – pretty brave for a pale blond haired football loving brit boy. His wife is the bomb – super nice, sweet, friendly, great looking and clued up – and she loves all the pug pics I show her. Its so cute, but he took lessons, and is now pretty fluent in Spanish , so he could communicate in her mother tongue, even tho she speaks English. That’s love for u!

So, as we catch up, I really am feeling worse and worse, but trying to act like all is well. After an hour, I suddenly get up, rush to the bathroom and throw up. Thank god they are good, good friends cos they understand when I basically ask them to leave…. And then it begins.

Without getting too graphic, turns out I have the second worse case of food poisoning I’ve encountered in my life thus far, and I am completely fucked. Times like this you know who your friends are, and my friend John I’m staying with comes thru like a trooper and stays up with me all through the night. Six hours of vomiting takes its toll on you quickly, and I’m sure the neighbors must be hearing me as I’m up all through the night, with the worst of all the other symptoms too. Half the time I feel like I’m going to faint, then I have to get up again. I am completely incapacitated the next day (Tuesday) because on top of the poisoning all my electrolyte levels are screwed up. A visit to an excellent free walk-in clinic a few hours ago (drag in more like, I’m helped down the stairs into a taxi) reveals the timeline as most likely being the food on the journey over. Fucking American Airlines food is the likely culprit. Things are compounded by the fact that today was my travel day to the North, so I’ve lost the money on non-refundable tickets – and worse – I’m in no state to travel to see my folks which is the major purpose of this visit. The prognosis is now 4 to five days to fully recover, by which time I’ll be heading back to the US. Makes me wish I could sue the Airline for this turn of events. I’m hoping I recover before that, but this is literally the first time I’ve been able to muster enough energy to touch the keyboard…. If things don’t turn around I won’t be having much to write about. And it had all been going so well……

PS. Banky, thanks for the info, and I managed to visit Magma too before disaster struck! Maybe that drink will still happen?

man food poisiong sucks. I've never had it but see it quite regularly. hope you're feeling better soon Carl.

My pleasure. Glad to be of service. Hope you feel better. Illness on holiday is the worst. And if you feel up to a beer great, if not no worries. I'm manic as a manic thing at work finishing up stuff before San Deigo beckons.

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments.

So, Banky, you'll be coming to SDCC? All the way from the UK, pretty cool. ARe u working or holdidaying, or both?

how far north were you going to travel. If it was far as liverpool I would have said hi

Oh no! That's awful... at least you were able to get it out of your system. At the very least, it will let you catch up on your rest. Take it easy and rest up.

man, i got food poisoning 2 years ago on my birthday. probably one of the worst and most painful nights of my life. i feel for you.

Hope you're feelin' better soon. I had food poisoning so bad once I was halucenating (sp?).

Terrible News Muton, hope you feel better.

travel safe!

You should contact the airline. If it was the food, and enough others (who presumably at the same food) have contacted them as well, they may be willing to give you some kind of compensation. Twelve hours of vomiting is at least worth a free ticket.

Regardless, I hope you feel better soon. Food poisoning sucks.

Maybe they'll give you a food voucher...

Same thing happened to me the first time I went to Mexico City.....
spent three days looking at the city from my hotel room, or bathroom, that is.....
Rest up mate, we can't have you feeling poorly for SDCC....

if it makes you feel any better, the new Dr. Who series is coming out on DVD here in the US, so they will be region 1. it's on the sci-fi channel now so they are releasing it.

I can't help you with spaced though, which I still haven't seen and would love to.

Wow. That is a complete drag. Sorry to hear things have taken such a nasty turn. Here's hoping they turn around for you Muton.

All the best.

Ughh! That sucks! Feel better soon!

That sucks! I spend time in Guadalajara every year with my Dad. Down there its not if you get sick but when. Sounds like you had it bad!

Sorry to hear that Carl! That's dedication though for giving us the update anyway!

Dude - sounds like more then London was calling!!!!

So sorry to hear - Been there and done that - not fun. Hope your feeling better and have a safe trip home!

Man, you guys rule! Best thing I've seen all day was when I logged on here.
Thanks!!!

I'm picking up a bit today.

Skylar, thanks for the Dr Who info. Love the new series, so will get the US release.

In the words of Kelly from Girlschool - Cheers you lot!

really? I haven't seen any full episodes, but from the few clips I've seen I thought the special effects looked really bad.

maybe I'll try to catch some on TV

Hope you feel better, Muton!

As for the new Dr. Who stuff, I thought some of the effects were done a bit "cheese-ily" if you will on purpose. The idea being to keep the spirit of the old shows...

I just picked up the hefty box set and hope to sit down and see it all soon. I was won over with the new Doctor right away, because of his portrayal. Reminded me a bit of my favourite, Doc # 4. ^_^