Trailwalker 2006 - NZ style!

Finally got around to checking out the Trailwalker site for the inaugural NZ Trailwalker - set around Taupo no less! Check out the website here.

I would so love to do this one - I sat at work and went into a daydream about the Shields family putting a team in, with me doing my training over here and then coming back to do the walk. But then reality kicked in and I realised that the training as a team is so important that it wouldn't really work.

But I can't encourage you all enough to give it a go! It was one the best things I have ever done, and I am still so tempted by the NZ one... How cool to do it in the UK and the following year do NZ - and around Taupo as well! Sigh.

If you are around Taupo when it finishes make sure you clap and cheer people who are finishing - you have no idea how wonderful that was for us when we were finishing...

I'd love to hear if any of you take up the challenge - Taupo in April tho... Was a bit suprised by that - the UK one is in the middle of summer - and we got less time to do it in! We had 100km in 30 hours, NZ is 36. Have I raved enough?? Check out Nola's Strollers again if you need reminding!

And Saturday's lesson is...

don't accept glasses of champagne from an unknown man at a bar, even if he is wearing an AllBlacks top...

On Saturday night I went out to help my friend Simon celebrate his 30th birthday - at Motion bar - Kevin was at home feeling poorly. All was going well until I went to the bar to get a round of drinks in and this guy started talking to me. He started off by asking me about my accent and then told me he was from NZ and pointed to the Allblacks top he was wearing. So we had a bit of a chat about how the AB's (as he kept referring to them), had won the grand slam and then he offered to buy me a glass of champagne to celebrate the grand slam. I was a bit wary but as I kept making it very clear I was going back to my friends it seemed fine (and they were only a couple of metres away from me) - and who am I to turn down a glass of champagne!? He did know NZ. In fact his father was a friend of one of my old dentist's in Taupo. All very surreal. But despite having lived and been to school in NZ he constantly referred to it like he was a tourist who had only been there on visits, so I couldn't work out what was true and what wasn't. Although I really didn't believe the bit about him being a Harley Street doctor who did facial reconstructions on sportspeople, including several "ABs"...

All's well that ended well however - following a bit of help from my friends he realised that I did mean it when I said I was going back to them... Very entertaining - these things don't happen to me much!

Jeff Tweedy - what a gig!

So on Tuesday night it was off to see Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Woody Guthrie/Billy Bragg fame to name but a few...) at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Wilco is one of Kevin's must see bands so we had seen him earlier this year as Wilco, but this gig was him doing an acoustic set.

I'm not best fond of SBE as a gig venue anyhow (see earlier posting on getting soaked with beer at Salmonella Dub for starters...) and also Wilco at SBE are a particularly bad memory for me. They played a legendary gig there a few years ago - legendary for all the wrong reasons I might add. They were at the end of a long tour, and I went along expecting some nice alt-country music (which was all I'd heard of them at that point) and I got an evening of noise, an incredibly surly singer (aforementioned Jeff Tweedy), which was topped off by a roadie singing on stage during the encore. At which point I finally came to my senses and left.

So I had always sworn to Kevin that I would never go to another Wilco gig... And that resolve lasted a few good years. But I went earlier this year and they were good (great according to Kevin) so was happy to go along to this gig. But I was a tad worried - I was tired, it was freezing out, and I didn't feel like going. But...

It was amazing. He was brilliant. It is now in one of my top 3 gigs of the year (Fat Freddys Drop being one of the others - jury is still out on gig 3). It was just superb. His singing was incredible, the songs were great, and his banter with the audience (including a reference to the infamous last appearance at the Empire) was very funny. Did a great stream about how the audience was his psyche talking to him. Did a song about absent family as well which made me tear up a bit (I'm a sucker for a sad song...). So check out the review in the Independent here, and if you're really keen, his set list here. There are some very keen Wilco fans out there... It was just one of the best gigs I've been to for ages, pure and simple.

Comics in Brighton - and Harry Potter

So on Saturday we were off down to Brighton for the inaugurual Brighton Comic Expo. We've been to the Bristol one a few times but thought we'd see what this one was like... Good reason to go visit the seaside!

I always find the Expo's slightly odd. They are full of some very dweeby comic fans (sort of like Sci-Fi fans), but also full of lots of other bods as well. Although whenever anything like this gets on telly they only ever show the ones who are dressed all in black or are in Star Trek costumes or something silly like that. I'd like to point out that there was no one in a Star Trek costume at this one! One particular highlight for me was the guy flogging Kevin a new irish comic who then turned to me to tell me that there was 'even a story for the girls' at the end of the comic... He needs to learn his market a bit better methinks - there are lots of comic girlies in this world - me included!

I didn't buy much, but Kevin got some great new sketches for his book. Loads of the comic artists set up stalls and will do sketches etc of characters for a small fee and so Kevin has a lovely leather bound book which he gets them done in. This time he added a 'Saint of Killers' drawing by Glenn Fabry, 'Constantine' by Sean Philips and a Judge Dredd by John M. Burns. All very cool - Saint of Killers is from the Preacher series which is one I've read and it is just superb. Can't say that the Saint is my favourite character but its not my book!

Then we wandered off to find a pub to watch a very exciting game of rugby where NZ managed to beat England - I was one of the few kiwi voices in the pub, then we went to see the new Harry Potter film. What can I say? Absolutely brilliant - I thought it was superb. Best one yet!

And did I mention the worst travel day ever...?

Got to the station on Friday morning in plenty of time for my 8.08 train - had lots of work to do so was keen to get in relatively early. But it was not to be...

My heart sank when I saw on the information board that there had been a cable fire at Clapham Junction - its not called the busiest junction in the UK for nothing... And problems at Clapham mean problems for lots and lots of trains...

Normally when it is that bad I would have just taken the day as holiday but I had to get in to get my deadlines met so when the first train came along (after 20 minutes waiting on the platform) I squeezed on. And I mean squeezed on literally. I was right up against the door with a mass of bodies all around me. At least I could turn my head and see out of the door. Of course once the train started moving I realised that it had been a bad idea to squeeze on as I don't cope with those situations so well anymore. I had a few bad moments, but I just focused on my music and thought over and over again 'This journey will end. We will get to Waterloo. This journey will end'.

And it did end. Over an hour later. So I was stood on the train for an hour. In my little heels which hurt if I stand too long (I don't normally wear them if I think I'll be doing much walking...)

I finally got to work just before 10 - not bad for someone trying to get in early-ish!

Starsailor at Brixton - a good gig...

So on Friday night we were off again to see Starsailor - one of our regular live bands this year, and also the band that gave me the idea for the name of the blog (see my very first entry). As usual they were very good, but I don't think they fall into the 'fab' category of the last two gigs we've been to. It would have been good if they had played a few more songs from their new album 'On the Outside' but minor quibbles really...

Own up (sibling)

Harumph. If you are going to leave comments on my blog telling me that I really am that old (see posting from 15th November), at least have the decency to leave your name so I know who it is!! None of this anonymous rubbish!

Double harumph.

I know it has to be a family member...

Wine tasting... lots of lovely NZ wine

So Kevin and I went off to the NZ Wine Tasting last night. This was organised by the NZ House of Wine and it was really good. Unfortunately it was the day of my red wine reaction so I couldn't try any of the red wines, but I got through a fair few tastings of the whites!

It was all very civilised, there were a couple of semi-famous rugby players there (Paul Tito and Glen Jackson) who I didn't recognise. Kevin picked out Paul Tito (but you would have known he was a rugby player from his ears anyhow!) and I asked someone who the other guy was. Both have played for the NZ Maori apparently, and Glen Jackson now plays for Saracens (I looked them up on Google in case you are wondering....).

We did (of course) end up ordering a mixed case of NZ whites, but we made sure it included two bottles of Lindauer Fraise which I've never seen over here - looking forward to those! Got a couple of bottles from Mt Difficult, Saint Clair and I can't remember who else. I did try a chardonnay which was £34.99 per bottle and while it was gorgeous did think that was a tad too much to pay!

Will definitely go again tho - and make sure I don't go out the night before the next time!

A weird reaction...

I went out for drinks the other night with a few bods from work, and ended up drinking far too much red wine. I don't normally drink wine when I go out, and certainly not in the quantity I had that night...

The next day was very strange. I wasn't hungover (well, ok - I did feel a tad seedy), but my nose was just streaming and I was sneezing all day. It was like a hayfever attack. People kept assuming I had a cold but I just didn't feel coldy at all. I remember I had a flatmate a few years ago who was dairy intolerant and she couldn't drink red wine for the reason that it made her all bunged up and snotty the next day. And I think that is what happened to me! All very strange. Never happened before - it was either the red wine or the chips as I didn't eat anything else different that day...

The National - another fab gig

Went to see The National - a US band that Kevin put me on to (as he does with nearly all of my music!). Check out their website here.

I hadn't listened to all of their cds much, but had been listening to Alligator - and they were absolutely brilliant. Sound fairly lowkey on the cd, but the live performance was superb. Really full of energy, great voices, and generally a great gig.

We've been going to a few good gigs lately - the last two in particular have been real highlights for me this year. Still got a few to go before the end of the year as well! Including the return of Fat Freddys Drop.... Soooo excited about that!! Have got my ticket already!

Am I really that old?

Listening to Radio 5 this morning and they had a piece on the fact that Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run' was released 30 years ago today.... I don't explicitly remember it being released - but 30 years!!

Walking in Kent and birthday celebrations

Nola's Strollers (minus Owen and Finbarr + Sarah and Nola) got together again and went for a gorgeous autumnal walk in Kent on Saturday. Walked from Hever to Leigh (pronounced Lie), a distance of 9 miles. It was absolutely gorgeous - a nice sunny day (amazingly as it had rained all week and we didn't think we'd get to walk) and the colours of the countryside were amazing. I do like living in Surrey, but Kent really is a wonderful place to walk. Lots of Oast Houses , and generally just beautiful countryside. Not called the Garden of England for nothing I guess!

This walk was a tad on the muddy side (which made me thankful that I hadn't chosen the walk Time Out had described as muddy...) and we only got lost once. Well, not really lost, but the directions didn't make sense but then all of a sudden we were where we were meant to be anyhow. Which was just as well as it was getting late (we'd misjudged the time a bit) and poor old Nola was getting a wee bit cold. As we all were actually!

We passed some amazing houses - beautifully kept old places, swimming pools, tennis courts, and immaculately manicured gardens. How the other half live... But possibly the highlight was coming around the corner of a church through the churchyard (towards the end of the walk so all looking a bit bedraggled and all muddy) into an extremely posh looking wedding... If we'd been about half an hour later we would have seen the bride, but instead we had to satisfy ourselves with lots and lots of young men (no doubt all called Tristan and Tarquin and things like that) all in tails - not just the ushers! Very funny - although we were tempted to loiter we decided they would probably frogmarch us off the property!!

Then it was home, shower, quick scoff and off out back into town to have a birthday drink with Owen at the Prince Regent pub on Marylebone High Street. We three were all a bit unsociable as we got a seat and just stayed sat down the whole time - too tired to stand! But Owen was understanding :-). And despite the comments on thre website review I thought it was a good pub. So a very long but very good day all up.

Come home kiwis - your country needs you...

Mhairi noticed this item on the BBC website yesterday and sent me the link. I'm always interested in things like this. Apparently the posters are on the tube, but as I hardly take the tube I haven't seen them. Will be on the tube tomorrow though so I'll keep a look out!

Next week we're off to a NZ wine tasting hosted by the NZ House of Wine (over 100 wines - can't wait!) so it will be interesting to see if there is anything about it there. Read the BBC news story here.

Fab time for TV

Was thinking the other day how much top tv there is on at the moment. Shows I am particularly enjoying are Bleak House (new BBC adaptation), Lost (great US crap!) and Rome (another BBC offering).

Not that I spend my whole life in front of the tele, but we seem to have hit a bit of a good period at the mo! Lost for silliness is my fave, but I'm really enjoying Bleak House as well - I do like my period dramas...

Just finished re-reading Pride & Prejudice as well so had to re-watch the BBC version of it last night - Kevin was off out playing poker. So I had a lovely girly evening with a glass of wine and P&P. Bliss! It was interesting having just finished the book to see how they adapted it - and it made me realise again that the recent film just didn't do it justice... Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle will always be Mr Darcy and Miss Bennett to me!!

Sufjan Stevens - fab gig

Went to see Sufjan Stevens play what was meant to be an acoustic set, but it sounded just like his albums. Check out his website here. He was absolutely superb - beautifully played music, and his voice is stunning. One of the few times I've been to a gig where I really thought that the singer was using their voice as an instrument. It was in a small venue as well so it felt very intimate - he had also played at Shepherd's Bush but Kevin hadn't managed to get tickets for that (seeing as how he buys most of the tickets!), and in retrospect that was a good thing - it was lovely to see him in such a small venue.

Can well recommend people going and hunting out some of his albums - particularly Seven Swans and Illinoise. He has a plan to do an album based on every US state - he has done Michigan and Illinoise so far...