FELLOW vinyl junkie bores will remember Aussie-based Sixties popsters The Easybeats. Snowy the drummer originally came from Bootle. The guitarist was George Young, elder sibling of Angus and Mal, later of rock monsters AC/DC.
 Before you nod off, it's worth remembering too that they provided a fantastic one hit wonder and the ultimate anthem for workshy hedonism, Friday On My Mind. You know the one: "Tonight, I'll spend my bread, tonight, I'll lose my head ... Monday, I've got Friday on My Mind". In the onset of early middle age, it's become yours truly's definitive anthem for the weekend, a perverse two fingers to the idea that slippers, a nice mug of cocoa, Corrie and an early night are more favourable to the only sensible one - hitting the town. And that's exactly what happened in such a predictably wonderful way, once again, last Friday. Liverpool is currently as vibrant as it has ever been, perhaps as effervescent as it was during the Merseybeat boom. But while many of the pubs, clubs and restaurants have changed in that time, there are constants which have lasted the pace. Take a bow, The Asha. First opened in 1964, its Calcutta-born owner Dipak Choudhury proudly proclaims that it is the oldest Indian restaurant on Merseyside. On April 4 (2004) it celebrates its 40th birthday and the 65-year-old restaurateur is planning a week-long celebration to share with his customers. He freely admits it was slowgoing at first, with Liverpudlians struggling to find the fireproofing necessary to line the taste buds for this strange new foreign food. But that's all changed now and the restaurant has built up an abiding love affair with the city whose citizens he calls "very fair and very friendly" - adjectives which go some way to explain the restaurant's enduring popularity. On regular visits the service has never been short of exemplary, from staff who are quietly efficient, benevolent and attentive without being overbearing. It's the perfect relaxing way to end an evening after a couple of snifters with work chums down The Lion in Tithebarn Street, before sinking the finest Burton ales at another outstanding city hostelry, the Roscoe Head. | 
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