And I'm sat in front of the TV watching the 'World's Strongest Man' - always been one of my fave tv programs at this time of year. So while I watch crazy men do ridiculous feats I'll update my blog with some of the things I've been doing over the last couple of weeks.
Apologies for sporadic-ness of blogging recently - I'm finding it difficult to get the energy together to do it. Hopefully this will improve as time goes on.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Christmas 2007
Was a very low key affair. Kevin let us use his house as he disappeared back up to Wem for Christmas, so me, Maya and Chris spent the day with a lot more space and better TV toys etc than we would have had if we'd spent it in my one bedroom flat!
Chris cooked us a lovely roast chicken, we opened our presents and then we just watched lots of TV...
Boxing Day we headed off for the second year in a row to Hampton Court to go ice skating. This year though I passed the skates over to Chris...
Chris cooked us a lovely roast chicken, we opened our presents and then we just watched lots of TV...
Boxing Day we headed off for the second year in a row to Hampton Court to go ice skating. This year though I passed the skates over to Chris...
More photos
I've blogged a few more photos from Simon's dinner party a few weeks ago - courtesy of his friend Jenny.
Me modelling my new Phantom t-shirt
Me modelling my new Phantom t-shirt
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
I bought this at Auckland Airport on my way back to the UK - I've always loved the Phantom so couldn't believe my luck!!
Love Is A Mix Tape
I've just finished reading the above book, by Rob Sheffield.
Absolutely brilliant.
Very very sad, but also just captures the whole power of music as well. And at times I felt like he was describing my life - which I'm sure many readers would think as well! I won't go through the storyline - you can read that on the Amazon link, but it really made me think about things - I seem to really be thinking about music in my life since Mum, and this book really reinforced that.
I remember sat in the front of the radio in the sunporch in Taupo, creating mix tapes from the radio. Listening to the Top 20 and taping the songs as they came on - always managing to get a bit of the announcer in as well!
Then going to university and music being one of the key connectors as I became friends with Raewyn. I always felt a bit of a fraud - she seemed so much cooler and into better music than me but I went along with it, figuring that I could bluff my way along. And 20 years later we're still friends :-). And so many of my other friends as well - even now I'm making new friends through a shared love of music and gig going...
And there is the whole magic of making mix tapes for people. I still have tapes that friends made me (Raewyn, Jonathan....) and we would have huge mixing sessions at Marlborough Street if there was going to be a party - although we would re-use old tapes there was always new music that needed to be added. And while creating a CD is the same principle I don't quite think it is quite the same...
And when Kevin and I first got together, it was music that was the common bond, we both made tapes for each other (him many more than me it has to be said...), and even now I still pick up so much new music from him. (And he lent me the book...)
Anyhow - I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this - but it was such a great book, and spoke to me in so many ways that I just wanted to try and put some of that down. I absolutely recommend it - but with tissues. I cried, I laughed and I've gone back to music that I haven't listened to for ages because of it.
I guess in some ways it has made me appreciate even more the love of music that Mum and my family have given me. I just can't imagine not having music to love and hate.
As always - any music recommendations always welcome!
Absolutely brilliant.
Very very sad, but also just captures the whole power of music as well. And at times I felt like he was describing my life - which I'm sure many readers would think as well! I won't go through the storyline - you can read that on the Amazon link, but it really made me think about things - I seem to really be thinking about music in my life since Mum, and this book really reinforced that.
I remember sat in the front of the radio in the sunporch in Taupo, creating mix tapes from the radio. Listening to the Top 20 and taping the songs as they came on - always managing to get a bit of the announcer in as well!
Then going to university and music being one of the key connectors as I became friends with Raewyn. I always felt a bit of a fraud - she seemed so much cooler and into better music than me but I went along with it, figuring that I could bluff my way along. And 20 years later we're still friends :-). And so many of my other friends as well - even now I'm making new friends through a shared love of music and gig going...
And there is the whole magic of making mix tapes for people. I still have tapes that friends made me (Raewyn, Jonathan....) and we would have huge mixing sessions at Marlborough Street if there was going to be a party - although we would re-use old tapes there was always new music that needed to be added. And while creating a CD is the same principle I don't quite think it is quite the same...
And when Kevin and I first got together, it was music that was the common bond, we both made tapes for each other (him many more than me it has to be said...), and even now I still pick up so much new music from him. (And he lent me the book...)
Anyhow - I'm not quite sure where I'm going with this - but it was such a great book, and spoke to me in so many ways that I just wanted to try and put some of that down. I absolutely recommend it - but with tissues. I cried, I laughed and I've gone back to music that I haven't listened to for ages because of it.
I guess in some ways it has made me appreciate even more the love of music that Mum and my family have given me. I just can't imagine not having music to love and hate.
As always - any music recommendations always welcome!
And a bit of singing...
On December 15th, me, Simon, Nicola and Mhairi went to listen to Jackie sing with her choir - the Fulham & Hammersmith Choral Society.
The first half of the program was a performance of the A Sea Symphony, while the second half was some Christmas carols - aided and abetted by a bit of mulled wine and some mince pies... It was a lovely evening - and while singing the carols in the church where the concert was held, I almost felt Christmassy...
The first half of the program was a performance of the A Sea Symphony, while the second half was some Christmas carols - aided and abetted by a bit of mulled wine and some mince pies... It was a lovely evening - and while singing the carols in the church where the concert was held, I almost felt Christmassy...
He's behind you...
So this year I went to see what I think is my first panto as well - I'm pretty sure I haven't been to one before!
Steve - a friend from work was playing Wishy Washy in Aladdin at the South London Theatre - and it was absolutely brilliant. Steve was just fantastic ("Wotcha Wishy Washy!!") and the audience participation was full on. Lots of booing and hissing when the baddie came on, a bit of singing along to Waterloo, lots of shouting 'Oh yes he will, oh no he won't, he's behind you...' type of stuff. I came out and my face was just aching from smiling and having had such a fun evening.
What a great tradition!!
Steve - a friend from work was playing Wishy Washy in Aladdin at the South London Theatre - and it was absolutely brilliant. Steve was just fantastic ("Wotcha Wishy Washy!!") and the audience participation was full on. Lots of booing and hissing when the baddie came on, a bit of singing along to Waterloo, lots of shouting 'Oh yes he will, oh no he won't, he's behind you...' type of stuff. I came out and my face was just aching from smiling and having had such a fun evening.
What a great tradition!!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Sunrise in Surbiton
Sunrise in Surbiton, Dec 2007
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Its got really cold and frosty this week - very clear nights and days - this was the tail end of what was probably a stunning sunrise earlier this week...
A not so Golden film...
On Sunday Kevin and I went to see The Golden Compass which I had been very excited about seeing but it was a wee bit disappointing... Such a shame - the books are so fantastic and the film just didn't quite get it. Bits of it I liked, but on the whole it was just not as fab as it could have been.
And lyrics of another kind...
Saturday a group of us headed around to Simon's place for a dinner party - his kitchen extension was finished and he wanted to show it off.
Was it the copious bottles of bubbles, the lovely port Julia bought or the gorgeous damson plum vodka supplied by Nicola, but it wasn't long before we got the SingStar out... Even I sung!!
It was a great evening - as some of the photos prove :-). Fortunately I was taking them so there are no embarrassing shots of me.
Was it the copious bottles of bubbles, the lovely port Julia bought or the gorgeous damson plum vodka supplied by Nicola, but it wasn't long before we got the SingStar out... Even I sung!!
It was a great evening - as some of the photos prove :-). Fortunately I was taking them so there are no embarrassing shots of me.
Happy singers in between tunes...
Mhairi, Julia, Owen
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Mhairi, Julia and Owen relax while another tune is selected!
Who needs matches when you have a blowtorch?
Mhairi, Owen, Si
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Simon and Owen attempt a ballad - which works on Mhairi!
Getting ready for the go...
J, N, M, J
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Jackie, Nicola, Mhairi and Julia wait for the song to start.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Beware the random lyric...
I'm learning that there are songs I just shouldn't listen to when I'm in public - any old Neil Diamond (especially 'Cracklin' Rosie'), Kris Kristofferson, 'I Miss You' by The Hours... But its the random ones that hit you - the latest lyric came from 'Either Way' by The Twang - "She's the one thats always there, she's the one that always cares".
It really doesn't take much at the moment.
It really doesn't take much at the moment.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Roses in bloom, Taupo
Roses in bloom, Taupo
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Emailed to my by Tracey from her phone, so not too bad quality!
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