Hugh Cornwell

May 2010

My Weekend

The weekend begins for me, like any other day when I’m at home -- with a cup of hot water and lemon. Then I’ll do a few back exercises and go out for a walk or a bike ride.

I also keep fit by swimming. I taught myself to swim a few years ago, so that’s my desire these days. I try to go a few times a week to do 30 lengths at my health club. But I prefer to swim in the Atlantic in Spain. It’s actually colder but much fresher.

Sunday is always a good day to tidy and maybe visit my mum.

I am forever eating out when I travel so I like to cook at home when I get the chance.

That said I have been known to have the occasional takeaway. I know a great Greek takeaway in London with a kleftiko to die for. Otherwise it will be an Indian.

I don’t go to the cinema that much but I do watch quite a few films wither on planes or DVD. Of late I’ve seen Crazy Heart and A Single Man and I loved them both.

I was lucky enough to have been given the complete Sopranos box set for my last birthday. I’d never seen it before. I’m working my way through that at the moment. Last night I watched the episode, Il Bidone by Fellini - a masterpiece!

I started to write fiction recently and, for whatever reason, it has made it difficult for me to read other people’s books. That said I am halfway through Don Quixote and I’m determined to finish it. Not that anyone ever has.

My listening pleasure at the weekend is silence. I don’t listen to the radio and the sort of music I’ll play on CD is bebop jazz. But on the whole I prefer silence.

It’s the same with gigs. I used to go to them all the time but these days it’s a case of only if I’m dragged to one. That can be the case with either gigs, comedy shows or theatre.

My idea of a perfect weekend? Watching a test match.

Hugh Cornwell and band play the Rescue Rooms next Friday May 21, where they’ll revisit The Stranglers’ debut album Rattus Norvegicus IV, followed by his latest solo album The Hooverdam. Doors at 7pm. Tickets are £15 from Rock City box office, call 0871 310 0000 or visit www.alt-tickets.co.uk