Mhairi strolling up to the top of the Downs
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Revisiting an old walk...
On Saturday Mhairi and I did the 'Pulborough to Amberley' walk that I had done with Julia and Craig a couple of years ago.
This time nettle alley was not quite so bad and we braved the field with the possible bull in it (in fact we think there was one in there, but he was quite happy chewing away with his cows so we were quite safe). We also didn't need to fight our way through the bracken either... Another nice stretch to the top of the Downs - its always good to get back there!
This time nettle alley was not quite so bad and we braved the field with the possible bull in it (in fact we think there was one in there, but he was quite happy chewing away with his cows so we were quite safe). We also didn't need to fight our way through the bracken either... Another nice stretch to the top of the Downs - its always good to get back there!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hot hot Wilco
I may have seen Wilco a lot, but not as many times as Kevin! We worked out he is probably getting to about 15 times...
Anyhow, he had a spare ticket for one of their London shows and I really like them so I snapped it up. Uber hot and sweaty venue however - Troxy. I lasted about 40 minutes near the front before I started to feel decidedly odd - so I beat a hasty retreat further back where I thought I was safe.
But no - my head started going again. So dash for the loo where I sat for a while with my head between my legs until I felt better. Back into the crowd, before I got REALLY bad - back to the back of the venue where I sat down for a few songs and then hung around at the back of the crowd trying to see Wilco while drinking some water.
Almost fainting at a gig is a new one for me - almost doing it 3 times makes it an absolute record!
Anyhow, he had a spare ticket for one of their London shows and I really like them so I snapped it up. Uber hot and sweaty venue however - Troxy. I lasted about 40 minutes near the front before I started to feel decidedly odd - so I beat a hasty retreat further back where I thought I was safe.
But no - my head started going again. So dash for the loo where I sat for a while with my head between my legs until I felt better. Back into the crowd, before I got REALLY bad - back to the back of the venue where I sat down for a few songs and then hung around at the back of the crowd trying to see Wilco while drinking some water.
Almost fainting at a gig is a new one for me - almost doing it 3 times makes it an absolute record!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Leaving another gig early...
That was Animal Collective - who I do really like. Unfortunately the tickets were for the night of the 20th.
I knew trying to go after a day at the cricket was a mistake, but Kevin and Fin wouldn't be swayed. I think we lasted about 40 minutes until we all decided we had to go home!
So two gigs left early in one week - unheard of!
I knew trying to go after a day at the cricket was a mistake, but Kevin and Fin wouldn't be swayed. I think we lasted about 40 minutes until we all decided we had to go home!
So two gigs left early in one week - unheard of!
The Ashes 2009
So again I had managed to secure tickets for the first day of the last Ashes test at the Oval - Kevin and I went last time with Craig, Sarah and Nola back in 2005. Having re-read that post I think the crowd this time was definitely quieter than it was in 2005...
After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing (Craig mismanaging his diary, Owen being poorly), the final line up was me, Finbarr (came over from Ireland for it), Kevin and Craig. We had a great day - no rain, England won the toss, and so we settled in for a day of spectating - with just a wee bit of beer as well...
Saturday I went round to Kevin's to watch the afternoon session (he has Sky and I don't), and I was back there on Sunday to watch England take the little urn again :-). I really would not have been suprised had Australia managed to pull it off - and England took the wickets very sporadically so I was never that comfortable that it would happen, but finally it did.
I was very pleased - although I did feel for Ricky Ponting. The holy grail for England is now to retain it when they go to Australia... that would be a real sporting feat!
Some photos below, but also more on Flickr.
After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing (Craig mismanaging his diary, Owen being poorly), the final line up was me, Finbarr (came over from Ireland for it), Kevin and Craig. We had a great day - no rain, England won the toss, and so we settled in for a day of spectating - with just a wee bit of beer as well...
Saturday I went round to Kevin's to watch the afternoon session (he has Sky and I don't), and I was back there on Sunday to watch England take the little urn again :-). I really would not have been suprised had Australia managed to pull it off - and England took the wickets very sporadically so I was never that comfortable that it would happen, but finally it did.
I was very pleased - although I did feel for Ricky Ponting. The holy grail for England is now to retain it when they go to Australia... that would be a real sporting feat!
Some photos below, but also more on Flickr.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Grizzly Bear
No, not of the animal variety... Kevin had a spare ticket to this Grizzly Bear gig, and as I really like one of their songs I decided to go along.
They were good - but not really a band that you stand and listen to. Apparently they are a "muso's" band. Anyhow, once they had played the one song I knew I was ready to go and as Kevin was tired we left early.
Good, but didn't blow me away. Think their cds would be good tho.
They were good - but not really a band that you stand and listen to. Apparently they are a "muso's" band. Anyhow, once they had played the one song I knew I was ready to go and as Kevin was tired we left early.
Good, but didn't blow me away. Think their cds would be good tho.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Two great books
I've just finished two very good books - can thoroughly recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I loved it - but it made me cry. I've been thinking a lot about Mum recently and this book just hit me. But it was worth it - just glad I finished it at home rather than on public transport!
Then I read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. I've read all of her books and I thought this one was almost as good as her first. Quite shocking in many ways, but still very enjoyable.
So get reading!!
Then I read The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. I've read all of her books and I thought this one was almost as good as her first. Quite shocking in many ways, but still very enjoyable.
So get reading!!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
A walk of two halves...
Two more sections of the London Loop completed... the first half was lovely - lots of it alongside the Grand Union Canal - easy walking, nice sunny Sunday morning, good pace. Second half was completely different - overgrown with stinging nettles (Mhairi and I were walking in a corn field at one point to avoid them as we both had long shorts on), and a very indistinct path which was also well overgrown with brambles and other prickly plants. So it was a real battle and my shins are very scratched and nettle stung.
More grist to my mill about walking on a Sunday - it just never goes right. Something always goes amiss... Plus I had to set my alarm for 7am, which on a Sunday is just plain WRONG.
More grist to my mill about walking on a Sunday - it just never goes right. Something always goes amiss... Plus I had to set my alarm for 7am, which on a Sunday is just plain WRONG.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
A rare Sunday walk...
Headed out with Julia for a rare walk on a Sunday - the last time we walked on a Sunday I fell over and Craig had forgotten to put his walking shoes on... This one started in a similarly inauspicious fashion...
We got to Clapham Junction to catch our train - only one an hour so we were both there very early. Which was a tad unfortunate given that our train was late, so we had to hang around for what felt like a long long time... But it did turn up and we were en-route!
Milford to Haselmere - It was just over 10 miles but we ended up shortening it slightly as Julia's achilles heel was playing up. But it was a good walk nonetheless. In Surrey (ie down the train line from Surbs), and the Surrey walks are normally a bit uninspiring - but this was lovely.
We had a great lunch at The Three Horseshoes pub - benefit of walking on a Sunday is that the pubs do roasts :-). Lovely lamb with mint sauce for me, and beef with Yorkshire pud for Julia. Interesting wee pub - it was closed down for years and then the villagers clubbed together and bought it. Lovely garden and great food! We also wandered through Thursley Common which was burnt in 2006. It is now recovering and was really rather stunning - I'm not sure the photos I took do it justice.
We then ended up walking around the rim of the Devil's Punch Bowl - which was where this walk ended. Great day out tho - and the sun came out for the first time in ages!
We got to Clapham Junction to catch our train - only one an hour so we were both there very early. Which was a tad unfortunate given that our train was late, so we had to hang around for what felt like a long long time... But it did turn up and we were en-route!
Milford to Haselmere - It was just over 10 miles but we ended up shortening it slightly as Julia's achilles heel was playing up. But it was a good walk nonetheless. In Surrey (ie down the train line from Surbs), and the Surrey walks are normally a bit uninspiring - but this was lovely.
We had a great lunch at The Three Horseshoes pub - benefit of walking on a Sunday is that the pubs do roasts :-). Lovely lamb with mint sauce for me, and beef with Yorkshire pud for Julia. Interesting wee pub - it was closed down for years and then the villagers clubbed together and bought it. Lovely garden and great food! We also wandered through Thursley Common which was burnt in 2006. It is now recovering and was really rather stunning - I'm not sure the photos I took do it justice.
We then ended up walking around the rim of the Devil's Punch Bowl - which was where this walk ended. Great day out tho - and the sun came out for the first time in ages!
The "A's" have it
So mid-week I did finally finish the 'A's of my ipod. So here is what I've been listening to...
A.M - Wilco
Abbey Road - The Beatles
About A Boy - Badly Drawn Boy
Absolution - Muse
Accelerate - R.E.M
Achtung Baby - U2
Across the Road - Harding
Addicted to Company (Pt 1) - Paddy Casey
Age of the Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
Aha Shake Heartbreak - Kings of Leon
Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marling
All Change - Cast
All I Intended to Be - Emmylou Harris
All That You Can't Leave Behind - U2
All the Plans - Starsailor
All We Could Do Was Sing - Port O'Brien
Alligator - The National
Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady
Alone With Everybody - Richard Ashcroft
Alright, Still - Lily Allen
American III: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash
American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
American Recordings - Johnny Cash
Angels of Destruction! - Marah
Antics - Interpol
Antidotes - Foals
Arcade Fire - The Arcade Fire
Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
As I Am - Alicia Keys
Ash Wednesday - Elvis Perkins
Asleep In The Back - Elbow
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
Astronomy for Dogs - Aliens
At Dawn - My Morning Jacket (Bonus disc 2 of 2)
At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
Automatic for the People - R.E.M
Autumn Defense - The Autumn Defense
Aw C'Mon - Lambchop
So what stood out? Port O'Brien, Aliens and Paddy Casey - will be going back to them. Rediscovering Interpol and The National - particularly The National. I'd forgotten how good they were! Cast - boring. Think they'll be coming off... Lots of Johnny Cash... Kings of Leon, The Hold Steady and My Morning Jacket were also good listens - and good to rediscover.
The 'B's started off with 'Back in Black' by AC/DC - brilliant! But more of that when I'm done with the Bs...
A.M - Wilco
Abbey Road - The Beatles
About A Boy - Badly Drawn Boy
Absolution - Muse
Accelerate - R.E.M
Achtung Baby - U2
Across the Road - Harding
Addicted to Company (Pt 1) - Paddy Casey
Age of the Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
Aha Shake Heartbreak - Kings of Leon
Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marling
All Change - Cast
All I Intended to Be - Emmylou Harris
All That You Can't Leave Behind - U2
All the Plans - Starsailor
All We Could Do Was Sing - Port O'Brien
Alligator - The National
Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady
Alone With Everybody - Richard Ashcroft
Alright, Still - Lily Allen
American III: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash
American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
American Recordings - Johnny Cash
Angels of Destruction! - Marah
Antics - Interpol
Antidotes - Foals
Arcade Fire - The Arcade Fire
Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
As I Am - Alicia Keys
Ash Wednesday - Elvis Perkins
Asleep In The Back - Elbow
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
Astronomy for Dogs - Aliens
At Dawn - My Morning Jacket (Bonus disc 2 of 2)
At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
Automatic for the People - R.E.M
Autumn Defense - The Autumn Defense
Aw C'Mon - Lambchop
So what stood out? Port O'Brien, Aliens and Paddy Casey - will be going back to them. Rediscovering Interpol and The National - particularly The National. I'd forgotten how good they were! Cast - boring. Think they'll be coming off... Lots of Johnny Cash... Kings of Leon, The Hold Steady and My Morning Jacket were also good listens - and good to rediscover.
The 'B's started off with 'Back in Black' by AC/DC - brilliant! But more of that when I'm done with the Bs...
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