it's officially a birthday tradition

A year ago I walked into a karaoke bar on the Chinatown end of Mulberry street (or was it Mott?) in New York, and was surprised (yes, Terry had me fooled) to find a bunch of friends already there, drinking and primed to sing. This year, for the first couple of hours (yes, hours) it was just Terry and me and three salarymen at Smash Hits in Hiroo, a basement dive with four mikes, a pile of tambourines and a stage, wallpapered with LP covers, everything from Olivia Newton-John to Patty Smith. Terry threw down "Lola" and "I Will Survive" (Cake's bluesy-groovy version) like a champ while I attempted to channel Pat Benatar ("Promises in the Dark") and Amy Winehouse ("You Know I'm No Good" - twice!). Then new friend Clare arrived, three other game mums from the British school in tow, and put us all to shame with her spot-on rendition of AC/DC's "Big Balls"... then, of course, there was Abba...

Some pics...

(I'm not wearing blue tights! it's just poor lighting)
(These guys, above, were into Simon and Garfunkel and Billy Joel)
Terry killed!


The dude in the white headband brings the drinks...