I've been a bit lost since finishing my trip through my ipod. I have got so used to knowing what I 'had' to listen to that having complete freedom to pick and choose is a bit overwhelming for me! So I've just gone through my notes and am going to go back and revisit the albums/bands I made specific mention of.
Interesting to see the same names crop up more than once - so I'll be starting with Gaslight Anthem, Deer Tick, Richmond Fontaine, Future Clouds & Radar, and Built to Spill - they all got more than one mention over the A-Z. But loads of others to revisit as well - now I can relax again - I have another focus!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I'm 'All Ears'
I went to a fantastic evening this week - this 'Storythyme' event run by All Ears events. I absolutely loved it!
My friend pulled out at the last minute as she had a cold and I couldn't find anyone else to go at short notice. I was a bit worried about going by myself, but it turned out fine. And it was such a great evening. I'm a big fan of The Moth podcasts and this was very similar to it.
I really enjoyed the first and last speakers - for very different reasons. Harry's story was just interesting (and makes you realise how lucky you are) and Danny's talk was interesting as what he is trying to do is such a good thing - and so challenging. The middle speaker was good too - but much more polished than the first two and so I didn't enjoy him quite as much.
Food was fantastic, and there is just something really cool about listening to real people tell real stories - at the risk of sounding twee (and given I'm blogging it is a bit sillly!) it was so lovely to hear people talking their stories as opposed to just reading or watching about it.
Can't wait for their 2012 line up!!
My friend pulled out at the last minute as she had a cold and I couldn't find anyone else to go at short notice. I was a bit worried about going by myself, but it turned out fine. And it was such a great evening. I'm a big fan of The Moth podcasts and this was very similar to it.
I really enjoyed the first and last speakers - for very different reasons. Harry's story was just interesting (and makes you realise how lucky you are) and Danny's talk was interesting as what he is trying to do is such a good thing - and so challenging. The middle speaker was good too - but much more polished than the first two and so I didn't enjoy him quite as much.
Food was fantastic, and there is just something really cool about listening to real people tell real stories - at the risk of sounding twee (and given I'm blogging it is a bit sillly!) it was so lovely to hear people talking their stories as opposed to just reading or watching about it.
Can't wait for their 2012 line up!!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Help
I went to see The Help this afternoon - it was a very foggy dank Sunday afternoon so it just seemed to call out for a trip to the cinema.
I really enjoyed it - although I've read a few reviews which are vaguely critical of it in that it is a white person 'to the rescue' again, and a lot of the political history of the time is mentioned at a very high level in the background, but doesn't form much of the story.
However having just read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' I was fascinated by the depiction of the maids bringing up the children of their employers - this is a key theme throughout TKAM as well. And even with the caveats above, it is still an easily watchable piece of social history - that I sat through and thought 'really?' while knowing that it was probably much worse than what was being depicted on screen...
I really enjoyed it - although I've read a few reviews which are vaguely critical of it in that it is a white person 'to the rescue' again, and a lot of the political history of the time is mentioned at a very high level in the background, but doesn't form much of the story.
However having just read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' I was fascinated by the depiction of the maids bringing up the children of their employers - this is a key theme throughout TKAM as well. And even with the caveats above, it is still an easily watchable piece of social history - that I sat through and thought 'really?' while knowing that it was probably much worse than what was being depicted on screen...
Saturday, November 19, 2011
And so it ends...
So it has taken from June 2009 to November 2011 but I have now finally finished my odyssey through my ipod. I've finished listening to all the late additions and a couple of random misses - either songs from albums, or occasionally the whole album, and I can now confirm that almost everything that is on my ipod has been listened to (just finishing off 'Mr Love & Justice' by Billy Bragg as I type.
You'll notice they're all mainly in the first half of the alphabet - acquired after I'd started obviously and I just never went back to listen to them...
So the last lot were:
Admiral Fell Promises - Sun Kil Moon
The Age of Adz - Sufjan Stevens
American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
American IV: Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash
Ancient Melodies of the Future - Built to Spill
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Band of Joy - Robert Plant
Beachcomber's Windowsill - Stornoway
Beneath this Burning Shoreline - Cherry Ghost
Black Dirt Sessions - Deer Tick
Brief History of Love - The Big Pink
Buffalo - The Phoenix Foundation
Contra - Vampire Weekend
Courage of Others - Midlake
Dark Night of the Soul - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
Dark Was the Night - Various Artists
Destroyer of the Void - Blitzen Trapper
Drown Your Heart Again - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Emotionalism - The Avett Brothers
End Times - Eels
Erland & The Carnival - Erland and the Carnival
Fools Gold - Fools Gold
Forward March - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Four Thieves Gone - The Avett Brothers
The Gleam - The Avett Brothers
Go - Jonsi
Here's Tom With The Weather - Shack
Interpol - Interpol
Into Your Lungs - Hey Rosetta!
Kiss Each Other Clean - Iron & Wine
Live, Vol 3 - The Avett Brothers
The Midnight Organ Fight - Frightened Rabbit
Mr Love & Justice (Disc 1&2) - Billy Bragg
The Whole Love - Wilco
The Winter of Mixed Drinks - Frightened Rabbit
Sun Kil Moon I liked. Sort of a bit 60s folkish - nice and balladic. I do like a good ballad! Gaslight Anthem I really enjoyed - the music almost seemed to 'age' over the album. Really rated it. Stornaway was another hit from this list and I liked Deer Tick as well. The Midlake album was a bit depressing for me - but I was listening to it on a Monday morning! Big Pink I loved too. Especially the song Dominos. The Avett Brothers remain firm faves, and I liked TSDOLE as well. No idea how I missed the Billy Bragg and Johnny Cash albums the first time round!
What will I do now I've finished!!??
You'll notice they're all mainly in the first half of the alphabet - acquired after I'd started obviously and I just never went back to listen to them...
So the last lot were:
Admiral Fell Promises - Sun Kil Moon
The Age of Adz - Sufjan Stevens
American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
American IV: Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash
Ancient Melodies of the Future - Built to Spill
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Band of Joy - Robert Plant
Beachcomber's Windowsill - Stornoway
Beneath this Burning Shoreline - Cherry Ghost
Black Dirt Sessions - Deer Tick
Brief History of Love - The Big Pink
Buffalo - The Phoenix Foundation
Contra - Vampire Weekend
Courage of Others - Midlake
Dark Night of the Soul - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
Dark Was the Night - Various Artists
Destroyer of the Void - Blitzen Trapper
Drown Your Heart Again - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Emotionalism - The Avett Brothers
End Times - Eels
Erland & The Carnival - Erland and the Carnival
Fools Gold - Fools Gold
Forward March - The Strange Death of Liberal England
Four Thieves Gone - The Avett Brothers
The Gleam - The Avett Brothers
Go - Jonsi
Here's Tom With The Weather - Shack
Interpol - Interpol
Into Your Lungs - Hey Rosetta!
Kiss Each Other Clean - Iron & Wine
Live, Vol 3 - The Avett Brothers
The Midnight Organ Fight - Frightened Rabbit
Mr Love & Justice (Disc 1&2) - Billy Bragg
The Whole Love - Wilco
The Winter of Mixed Drinks - Frightened Rabbit
Sun Kil Moon I liked. Sort of a bit 60s folkish - nice and balladic. I do like a good ballad! Gaslight Anthem I really enjoyed - the music almost seemed to 'age' over the album. Really rated it. Stornaway was another hit from this list and I liked Deer Tick as well. The Midlake album was a bit depressing for me - but I was listening to it on a Monday morning! Big Pink I loved too. Especially the song Dominos. The Avett Brothers remain firm faves, and I liked TSDOLE as well. No idea how I missed the Billy Bragg and Johnny Cash albums the first time round!
What will I do now I've finished!!??
Thursday, October 27, 2011
On the nature of being ill and memories
Or to be honest - a bit poorly...
I've had a low-level cold this week - took one day off work to try and shake it, and since then have just been generally bunged up and sneezing a lot. Weirdly it feels more like hayfever than a cold, but it is October and the leaves are dropping off the trees and nothing is flowering so I think it is just a cold limping its way out of me.
But this got me thinking about when I am ill. Which (touch wood) I very rarely am. I can't remember the last time I had a full on grotty head cold, let alone the flu (thereby now opening myself up to a winter of lurgies no doubt) and I don't really know what to attribute that to. I'm not uber healthy, nor do I live a clean and pure lifestyle which would build up my resistance to all the bugs floating around. But somehow I tend to manage to avoid the worst of them - the most I do is quaff echinacea and fortified vitamin c when I feel something coming on. Maybe thats it!
But the one thing I do always have is lemon & honey with disprin. I can't bring myself to buy Lemsip - and don't really see the point. And there is something comforting and homely about my lemon & honey drinks. Memories of hearing Mum walk up the passage way when I was ill at home as a child, and knowing she was bringing me my drink. Always before bedtime to help us sleep. Although I think I put a tad more honey in than she did as sometimes they were a bit tart! And even feeling just a little bit poorly, I go straight back there, and still want to be looked after. I'll never forget my 21st family celebration - feeling full of cold, and I just wanted to be at home. I was going home anyhow (I think I bused back with Eryn) and it was a journey from hell - cold, hot, sweating and shivering. But we got back to Taupo, I crawled into bed and Mum bought 'the drink' in. I was so happy to be home - even though I felt like I was dying!
I've had a low-level cold this week - took one day off work to try and shake it, and since then have just been generally bunged up and sneezing a lot. Weirdly it feels more like hayfever than a cold, but it is October and the leaves are dropping off the trees and nothing is flowering so I think it is just a cold limping its way out of me.
But this got me thinking about when I am ill. Which (touch wood) I very rarely am. I can't remember the last time I had a full on grotty head cold, let alone the flu (thereby now opening myself up to a winter of lurgies no doubt) and I don't really know what to attribute that to. I'm not uber healthy, nor do I live a clean and pure lifestyle which would build up my resistance to all the bugs floating around. But somehow I tend to manage to avoid the worst of them - the most I do is quaff echinacea and fortified vitamin c when I feel something coming on. Maybe thats it!
But the one thing I do always have is lemon & honey with disprin. I can't bring myself to buy Lemsip - and don't really see the point. And there is something comforting and homely about my lemon & honey drinks. Memories of hearing Mum walk up the passage way when I was ill at home as a child, and knowing she was bringing me my drink. Always before bedtime to help us sleep. Although I think I put a tad more honey in than she did as sometimes they were a bit tart! And even feeling just a little bit poorly, I go straight back there, and still want to be looked after. I'll never forget my 21st family celebration - feeling full of cold, and I just wanted to be at home. I was going home anyhow (I think I bused back with Eryn) and it was a journey from hell - cold, hot, sweating and shivering. But we got back to Taupo, I crawled into bed and Mum bought 'the drink' in. I was so happy to be home - even though I felt like I was dying!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
From 0 to 100 in...
Ok - not quite. But I've done my 'numbers' albums - so I'm very much reaching the end of my odyssey through my ipod... But I still do have quite a few new ones to listen to, so I'm not quite done yet.
Mhairi asked if I haven't been listening/buying to anything new since I've been doing this. I have been buying the odd new album and listening to new stuff - just as well as this has taken me a couple of years! But it is probably fair to say I have slowed in that regard. But then again, I've discovered some of the great music I already own :-). So the albums are:
004: Hope - The Green Room (Loop)
12 Songs - Neil Diamond
12 Tales from Winter City - The Young Republic
16 Lovers Lane - The Go-Betweens
18 - Moby
19 - Adele
The '59 Sound - The Gaslight Anthem
'64-'95 - Lemon Jelly
69 Love Songs - Vols 1, 2 and 3 - The Magnetic Fields
$87 and a Guilty Conscience that gets Worse the Longer I go - Richmond Fontaine
1972 (Bonus dvd) - Josh Rouse
The ones I really enjoyed in this (short) list were The Gaslight Anthem and Young Republic. Neil Diamond is obviously always brilliant, Moby gets very boring, Lemon Jelly just sounds like background filler music to me, and Richmond Fontaine was also very good.
Mhairi asked if I haven't been listening/buying to anything new since I've been doing this. I have been buying the odd new album and listening to new stuff - just as well as this has taken me a couple of years! But it is probably fair to say I have slowed in that regard. But then again, I've discovered some of the great music I already own :-). So the albums are:
004: Hope - The Green Room (Loop)
12 Songs - Neil Diamond
12 Tales from Winter City - The Young Republic
16 Lovers Lane - The Go-Betweens
18 - Moby
19 - Adele
The '59 Sound - The Gaslight Anthem
'64-'95 - Lemon Jelly
69 Love Songs - Vols 1, 2 and 3 - The Magnetic Fields
$87 and a Guilty Conscience that gets Worse the Longer I go - Richmond Fontaine
1972 (Bonus dvd) - Josh Rouse
The ones I really enjoyed in this (short) list were The Gaslight Anthem and Young Republic. Neil Diamond is obviously always brilliant, Moby gets very boring, Lemon Jelly just sounds like background filler music to me, and Richmond Fontaine was also very good.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Tracey comes to town...
I'm not even going to try and do a catch up in terms of Tracey's visit - she's been gone almost two weeks now :-( . But some of the fun bits below - and loads of photos are now on Flickr. More than my facebook album!
- Day out at the seaside in Brighton
- Beautiful Stresa/Lake Maggiore
- The heat in Bologna and Milan
- The weather during Tracey's last week
- Leeds Castle
- Buckingham Palace - no Queen but we did see 'The Dress'!!
- London Zoo - always a good day out :-)
- The Lost Gardens of Heligan - stunning
- Eden Project - great to go back to
- Having someone to drink G&Ts with!
W, X, Y and Z...
Visiting sister means I've not updated this recently... so lots of music I've got through in the last couple of months! Still not done tho - am now doing the "numbers" and then I've got lots of new music to listen to. This mission ain't done yet...
W
Wait for Me - The Pigeon Detectives
Wake Up! - The Boo Radleys
Want One - Rufus Wainwright
Want Two - Rufus Wainwright
War Elephant - Deer Tick
Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Washington Square Serenade - Steve Earle
Water is Life, Aman Iman - Tinariwen
Watershed - Grant McLennan
Watina - Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse
A Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
What Are You Going to do With Your Life? - Echo & The Bunnymen
What the Crow Brings - The Low Anthem
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I Am - Arctic Monkeys
When Its Over We All Have to Clear Up - Snow Patrol
Whiplash - James
Whiskey Tango Ghosts - Tanya Donnelly
White Ladder - David Grey
Who You Are - Cary Brothers
Wilco (The Album) - Wilco
Wildwood - Chatham County Line
Wingspan (Hits & History 1 & 2) - Wings
Winnemuca - Richmond Fontaine
The Wire ' "And all the pieces matter" - Various Artists
Woman King - Iron & Wine
Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips
Words & Music: Greatest Hits Disc 1&2 - John Mellencamp
Workbook - Bob Mould
So the Ws....? Pigeon Detectives were good - bit Arctic Monkey-ish, Deer Tick was great - sort of alt country. Great voice! Modest Mouse have a couple of songs that I've added to my faves, but overall didn't grab me a lot. Cary Brothers I liked - sort of Snow Patrol/Mumford & Sons style. Quite into that at the moment. Richmond Fontaine also great - really like his stuff. Two albums of Wings is a bit too much though!
X&Y - Coldplay
XX - The XX
I quite like this Coldplay album. XX got loads of press when they hit the scene, and its a good album. Didn't really really love it though.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
Yellow Moon - The Neville Brothers
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
You Are Not Alone - Mavis Staples
You Can Have it So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand
You Gotta Go There To Come Back - Stereophonics
Yours Truly, Angry Mob - Kaiser Chiefs
Youth and Young Manhood - Kings of Leon
Enjoyed the Kaiser Chiefs again - some good songs on that album. Kings of Leon were a bit 'meh' on this album. Not one of my faves of theirs. Wilco - always good, and the Neville Brothers were a bit of history! The Flaming Lips was great - I saw them sing songs from this album at the Big Day Out back in 2004 so I have a real softspot for it!
"Z" - My Morning Jacket
Zeus - British Sea Power
MMJ - always good! The British Sea Power ep was ok. Good at the start but gets a bit too full on for me towards the end.
W
Wait for Me - The Pigeon Detectives
Wake Up! - The Boo Radleys
Want One - Rufus Wainwright
Want Two - Rufus Wainwright
War Elephant - Deer Tick
Warnings/Promises - Idlewild
Washington Square Serenade - Steve Earle
Water is Life, Aman Iman - Tinariwen
Watershed - Grant McLennan
Watina - Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse
A Weekend in the City - Bloc Party
What Are You Going to do With Your Life? - Echo & The Bunnymen
What the Crow Brings - The Low Anthem
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I Am - Arctic Monkeys
When Its Over We All Have to Clear Up - Snow Patrol
Whiplash - James
Whiskey Tango Ghosts - Tanya Donnelly
White Ladder - David Grey
Who You Are - Cary Brothers
Wilco (The Album) - Wilco
Wildwood - Chatham County Line
Wingspan (Hits & History 1 & 2) - Wings
Winnemuca - Richmond Fontaine
The Wire ' "And all the pieces matter" - Various Artists
Woman King - Iron & Wine
Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips
Words & Music: Greatest Hits Disc 1&2 - John Mellencamp
Workbook - Bob Mould
So the Ws....? Pigeon Detectives were good - bit Arctic Monkey-ish, Deer Tick was great - sort of alt country. Great voice! Modest Mouse have a couple of songs that I've added to my faves, but overall didn't grab me a lot. Cary Brothers I liked - sort of Snow Patrol/Mumford & Sons style. Quite into that at the moment. Richmond Fontaine also great - really like his stuff. Two albums of Wings is a bit too much though!
X&Y - Coldplay
XX - The XX
I quite like this Coldplay album. XX got loads of press when they hit the scene, and its a good album. Didn't really really love it though.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
Yellow Moon - The Neville Brothers
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
You Are Not Alone - Mavis Staples
You Can Have it So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand
You Gotta Go There To Come Back - Stereophonics
Yours Truly, Angry Mob - Kaiser Chiefs
Youth and Young Manhood - Kings of Leon
Enjoyed the Kaiser Chiefs again - some good songs on that album. Kings of Leon were a bit 'meh' on this album. Not one of my faves of theirs. Wilco - always good, and the Neville Brothers were a bit of history! The Flaming Lips was great - I saw them sing songs from this album at the Big Day Out back in 2004 so I have a real softspot for it!
"Z" - My Morning Jacket
Zeus - British Sea Power
MMJ - always good! The British Sea Power ep was ok. Good at the start but gets a bit too full on for me towards the end.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Verily through the 'V's...
Another letter that didn't take long to get through... but quite a few 'Very Best Of' in there!
Valhalla Dancefloor - British Sea Power
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Vehicles & Animals - Athlete
Very Best of Elvis Costello - Elvis Costello
The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (Disc 1 & 2) - Fleetwood Mac
The Very Best of Kris Kristofferson - Kris Kristofferson
The Very Best of The Eagles - The Eagles
Very Best of The Jam - The Jam
Very Best of The Smiths - The Smiths
Very Best of Woody Guthrie - Woody Guthrie
Vexations - Get Well Soon
Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends - Coldplay
Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods
Athlete were ok - bit 'Snow Patrol' lite and ended up sounding a bit derivative. I enjoyed Vexations - quite melodic but lots of different styles in there so you never knew what was going to come next. Mixed it up a bit which was interesting. Viva la Vida has to be Coldplay's worst album - just a bit dull really. British Sea Power are always good :-).
Short but sweet letter, but lots of old faves in the 'Very Best Of's so I quite enjoyed it.
Valhalla Dancefloor - British Sea Power
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Vehicles & Animals - Athlete
Very Best of Elvis Costello - Elvis Costello
The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (Disc 1 & 2) - Fleetwood Mac
The Very Best of Kris Kristofferson - Kris Kristofferson
The Very Best of The Eagles - The Eagles
Very Best of The Jam - The Jam
Very Best of The Smiths - The Smiths
Very Best of Woody Guthrie - Woody Guthrie
Vexations - Get Well Soon
Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends - Coldplay
Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods
Athlete were ok - bit 'Snow Patrol' lite and ended up sounding a bit derivative. I enjoyed Vexations - quite melodic but lots of different styles in there so you never knew what was going to come next. Mixed it up a bit which was interesting. Viva la Vida has to be Coldplay's worst album - just a bit dull really. British Sea Power are always good :-).
Short but sweet letter, but lots of old faves in the 'Very Best Of's so I quite enjoyed it.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
A trip to East Yorkshire...
Not the nicest bit of the county to go to... but it is where my friend Dawn lives so off I went. Got the train to Hull although she actually lives in Beverley. Not much of note to say about Hull as we didn't spend any time there - although it was where the poet Philip Larkin lived, and there was a very nice statue of him at the train station - I particularly liked the inscription :-).
Saturday we went over to Helmsley and visited Rievaulx Abbey which was really quite spectacular. Also interesting to visit having finished Wolf Hall recently. One of the many Abbey's that Henry VIII had stripped to get their wealth. Gives you a bit of a different perspective on history!
It was a lovely weekend - and as always it was great to get out of London and see the countryside! Photos below, and more on Flickr :-).
Saturday we went over to Helmsley and visited Rievaulx Abbey which was really quite spectacular. Also interesting to visit having finished Wolf Hall recently. One of the many Abbey's that Henry VIII had stripped to get their wealth. Gives you a bit of a different perspective on history!
It was a lovely weekend - and as always it was great to get out of London and see the countryside! Photos below, and more on Flickr :-).
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
London prepares...
I went out and checked out the London-Surrey Cycle Classic today - fortuitiously the route went through Kingston!
There were loads of people out watching, and it was a great atmosphere. As soon as the police came through people started cheering and clapping them. I'm pretty sure that was a direct result of the riots and looting of last week, and it was lovely to be able to show them some appreciation as they've been getting beaten up a bit from the press and the politicians recently. I don't think that people would normally be quite so keen to 'clap the cops'. And they loved it! At various points as they had to stop to wait for the cyclists, they were chatting away to the crowd, they were waving, acknowledging the claps and cheers, tooting their horns, putting their sirens on etc. Brilliant!
As for the cyclists, a bit like when I went to see the Tour de France come through London they were past in a flash! As you can see from the only two photos I managed to get of the cyclists!!
Good fun though - am really pleased I went and did it.
There were loads of people out watching, and it was a great atmosphere. As soon as the police came through people started cheering and clapping them. I'm pretty sure that was a direct result of the riots and looting of last week, and it was lovely to be able to show them some appreciation as they've been getting beaten up a bit from the press and the politicians recently. I don't think that people would normally be quite so keen to 'clap the cops'. And they loved it! At various points as they had to stop to wait for the cyclists, they were chatting away to the crowd, they were waving, acknowledging the claps and cheers, tooting their horns, putting their sirens on etc. Brilliant!
As for the cyclists, a bit like when I went to see the Tour de France come through London they were past in a flash! As you can see from the only two photos I managed to get of the cyclists!!
Good fun though - am really pleased I went and did it.
The front runners
The front runners
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
These were the first two through - the rest of the pack were a good bit behind them.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Two very interesting blog posts...
These are both good - the first one was linked to in the Guardian (it is worth reading through the comments below as well), and the second one I got to through the comments on the first post.
The press and the radio are full of people talking about how and why this happened/is happening - debates on whether they are protesting (general consensus is that they aren't - the BBC won't refer to the looting as protesting), rioting, or looting. I'm firmly in the looting category it has to be said...
Walworth Road
Power of One
And another recording as well of 'yoof' from Manchester talking about their looting - let me know if it doesn't play and I'll describe it in a separate post. The Guardian also had this bit from Kevin Sampson about his role in the Toxteth riots - hard to argue with the logic in it. It is essentially a Wii game come to life for a lot of them, with the bonus of free stuff thrown in...
The press and the radio are full of people talking about how and why this happened/is happening - debates on whether they are protesting (general consensus is that they aren't - the BBC won't refer to the looting as protesting), rioting, or looting. I'm firmly in the looting category it has to be said...
Walworth Road
Power of One
And another recording as well of 'yoof' from Manchester talking about their looting - let me know if it doesn't play and I'll describe it in a separate post. The Guardian also had this bit from Kevin Sampson about his role in the Toxteth riots - hard to argue with the logic in it. It is essentially a Wii game come to life for a lot of them, with the bonus of free stuff thrown in...
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Well 'U' didn't take long...
And here I am - back again with another letter completed! Easy when there aren't many albums!!
Ugly Beautiful - Babybird
The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People - The Czars
The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection - Bill Withers
Unchained - Johnny Cash
Under Cold Blue Stars - Josh Rouse
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
The Unforgettable Fire - U2
Up - REM
Urban Hymns - The Verve
Us - Mull Historical Society
Not much not to like in this short list. Babybird was fun to listen to again after a very long time. Can't go past a bit of Johnny Cash either! Mull Historical Society and The Verve - both wee strolls down memory lane. All good fun.
Ugly Beautiful - Babybird
The Ugly People vs The Beautiful People - The Czars
The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection - Bill Withers
Unchained - Johnny Cash
Under Cold Blue Stars - Josh Rouse
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
The Unforgettable Fire - U2
Up - REM
Urban Hymns - The Verve
Us - Mull Historical Society
Not much not to like in this short list. Babybird was fun to listen to again after a very long time. Can't go past a bit of Johnny Cash either! Mull Historical Society and The Verve - both wee strolls down memory lane. All good fun.
Panic on the streets of London...
Or Manchester or Birmingham or....
It has been a surreal few days in London town - probably right up there for me with the few days immediately after the July 7 bombing. Right now it appears fairly calm across London but its all starting to kick off up in Manchester.
Still loads of people referring to it as 'rioting'. This isn't rioting - this is pure outright looting. The mob mentality takes over and off they go. The worst thing about it is the effect it is having on small local businesses and people who live in these areas. Homes are being burnt out as fires are started in the shops they live above, whole businesses are being destroyed - and they aren't the big multi-nationals either.
This clip is interesting - not sure if non-UK readers will be able to listen to it, but essentially two girls talking about what a laugh all this rioting is, and how they're attacking businesses as 'they are rich' and they are showing the rich they can do what they want. They're drinking looted rose wine at 9am in the morning, hoping it all kicks off again that evening. So awful - so stupid and so so awful. I've heard and seen so many truly heartbreaking stories over the last couple of days and to hear this sort of stupid commentary just makes it worse.
And of course it is also bringing out some interesting attitudes as well - my favourite facebook comment so far has been from someone suggesting that we bring the army back from Iraq and ship all of the looters out there... Hmm - not sure that would work.
Hopefully this will all start to calm down now - the police have taken a battering (both literally and in the press/from the public) but if nothing else London is only reaping the results of the cuts the Met has had to make recently.
Interesting times we live in...
It has been a surreal few days in London town - probably right up there for me with the few days immediately after the July 7 bombing. Right now it appears fairly calm across London but its all starting to kick off up in Manchester.
Still loads of people referring to it as 'rioting'. This isn't rioting - this is pure outright looting. The mob mentality takes over and off they go. The worst thing about it is the effect it is having on small local businesses and people who live in these areas. Homes are being burnt out as fires are started in the shops they live above, whole businesses are being destroyed - and they aren't the big multi-nationals either.
This clip is interesting - not sure if non-UK readers will be able to listen to it, but essentially two girls talking about what a laugh all this rioting is, and how they're attacking businesses as 'they are rich' and they are showing the rich they can do what they want. They're drinking looted rose wine at 9am in the morning, hoping it all kicks off again that evening. So awful - so stupid and so so awful. I've heard and seen so many truly heartbreaking stories over the last couple of days and to hear this sort of stupid commentary just makes it worse.
And of course it is also bringing out some interesting attitudes as well - my favourite facebook comment so far has been from someone suggesting that we bring the army back from Iraq and ship all of the looters out there... Hmm - not sure that would work.
Hopefully this will all start to calm down now - the police have taken a battering (both literally and in the press/from the public) but if nothing else London is only reaping the results of the cuts the Met has had to make recently.
Interesting times we live in...
Saturday, August 06, 2011
And still falling...
This year Megan comes in at 23 in the most popular names list. Was 20th last year, and 15th the year before! There were 2223 girls named Megan in the UK in 2010...
Maya comes in at 57th (up from 66 last year with 1061), while Lucy pips me (again!) coming in at 21st (down from 16th last year with 2544). No Leigh, Louisa or Tracey, but Elizabeth comes in at 49th. Interestingly Erin comes in at 35th for girls with 1621.
Thomas comes in at 6th with 5307 - no change from last year. William is 7th with 5256. Alex is at 52 with 1359 (down from 50 last year) and Sam is at 93 with 692 (down from 88 last year).
Maya comes in at 57th (up from 66 last year with 1061), while Lucy pips me (again!) coming in at 21st (down from 16th last year with 2544). No Leigh, Louisa or Tracey, but Elizabeth comes in at 49th. Interestingly Erin comes in at 35th for girls with 1621.
Thomas comes in at 6th with 5307 - no change from last year. William is 7th with 5256. Alex is at 52 with 1359 (down from 50 last year) and Sam is at 93 with 692 (down from 88 last year).
Torn through the 'T's
Well not quite actually, as there are a lot of albums beginning with the letter T!
Takk - Sigur Ros
Tallulah - The Go Betweens
Tanglewood Numbers - Silver Jews
Technique - New Order
Teenager - The Thrills
The Tennessee Fire - My Morning Jacket
Theology Disc 1 - Sinead O'Connor
There is no Enemy - Built to Spill
There is Nothing Left to Lose - Foo Fighters
There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama
Think Before You Speak - Good Shoes
Thirst for Romance - Cherry Ghost
This Hungry Life - Tanya Donnelly
This Is Hope - Mull Historical Society
This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours - Manic Street Preachers
This Old Road - Kris Kristofferson
Thriller - Lambchop
Through the Window Pane - Guillemots
Throw Down Your Arms - Sinead O'Connor
Time on Earth - Crowded House
Tired of Hanging Around - The Zutons
To See The Lights - Gene
Tonight At The Arizona - The Felice Brothers
Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives - Soundtrack
Totally 2 Tone - Various Artists
Tourist - Athlete
Treasury Library Canada c/w Houndstooth Europa - Woodpigeon
Trees Outside the Academy - Thurston Moore
Trompe-L'oeil - Malajube
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
True - TrinityRoots
True Love Cast Out All Evil - Roky Ericcson & Okkervil River
Trust the DJ: GP05 - Eclectic, Vol 2 - Various Artists
Tuatara: A Flying Nun Compilation - Various Artists
Turn on the Bright Lights - Interpol
Lots of NZ music in this letter which was great. Revisited a few old fave songs which I hadn't heard for a while. Other thoughts - Crowded House. Musical torture - soooo dull and boring. Their greatest hits are ok, but how anyone listens to their albums is beyond me... Blast from the past with Too-Rye-Ay as well - great fun! The Go-Betweens - also always great. Thurston Moore I enjoyed as well - weird to hear 'Sonic Youth' but it wasn't like Sonic Youth. Mull Historical Society I quite enjoyed as well - hadn't listened to them for years. Sinead - dull as well. Especially the Theology album - bit too ridiculous for this listener...
Takk - Sigur Ros
Tallulah - The Go Betweens
Tanglewood Numbers - Silver Jews
Technique - New Order
Teenager - The Thrills
The Tennessee Fire - My Morning Jacket
Theology Disc 1 - Sinead O'Connor
There is no Enemy - Built to Spill
There is Nothing Left to Lose - Foo Fighters
There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama
Think Before You Speak - Good Shoes
Thirst for Romance - Cherry Ghost
This Hungry Life - Tanya Donnelly
This Is Hope - Mull Historical Society
This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours - Manic Street Preachers
This Old Road - Kris Kristofferson
Thriller - Lambchop
Through the Window Pane - Guillemots
Throw Down Your Arms - Sinead O'Connor
Time on Earth - Crowded House
Tired of Hanging Around - The Zutons
To See The Lights - Gene
Tonight At The Arizona - The Felice Brothers
Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives - Soundtrack
Totally 2 Tone - Various Artists
Tourist - Athlete
Treasury Library Canada c/w Houndstooth Europa - Woodpigeon
Trees Outside the Academy - Thurston Moore
Trompe-L'oeil - Malajube
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
True - TrinityRoots
True Love Cast Out All Evil - Roky Ericcson & Okkervil River
Trust the DJ: GP05 - Eclectic, Vol 2 - Various Artists
Tuatara: A Flying Nun Compilation - Various Artists
Turn on the Bright Lights - Interpol
Lots of NZ music in this letter which was great. Revisited a few old fave songs which I hadn't heard for a while. Other thoughts - Crowded House. Musical torture - soooo dull and boring. Their greatest hits are ok, but how anyone listens to their albums is beyond me... Blast from the past with Too-Rye-Ay as well - great fun! The Go-Betweens - also always great. Thurston Moore I enjoyed as well - weird to hear 'Sonic Youth' but it wasn't like Sonic Youth. Mull Historical Society I quite enjoyed as well - hadn't listened to them for years. Sinead - dull as well. Especially the Theology album - bit too ridiculous for this listener...
Monday, July 11, 2011
Pretty pretty England...
So on the weekend it was off to Stow-on-the-Wold for a couple of nights with Divya. Every town in the Cotswolds seems to have as their claim to fame that they are the prettiest etc, but Stow's seems to be that it is the highest one. Which isn't to say it isn't pretty - it really is rather lovely. You can't go wrong with all the beautiful warm coloured stone they use...
Saturday we walked from Stow to Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter via Bourton-on-the-Water. Bourton-on-the-Water is called the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' - very pretty. Lots of little low bridges over a shallow river. Very pretty - but FULL of people. Bit too busy for us - and we were very spooked by watching a very little boy teeter on the edge of one bridge with no one apparently watching him. Fortunately he didn't topple in.
Sunday we ambled around Maugersbury which was just gorgeous. Very small with lovely little cottages. More beauty!
For anyone not on fb - more photos on Flickr.
Saturday we walked from Stow to Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter via Bourton-on-the-Water. Bourton-on-the-Water is called the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' - very pretty. Lots of little low bridges over a shallow river. Very pretty - but FULL of people. Bit too busy for us - and we were very spooked by watching a very little boy teeter on the edge of one bridge with no one apparently watching him. Fortunately he didn't topple in.
Sunday we ambled around Maugersbury which was just gorgeous. Very small with lovely little cottages. More beauty!
For anyone not on fb - more photos on Flickr.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Ya egg!
Finally got to see 'Boy'! As part of the 'City of London Festival' there was a mini-NZ film festival on at the Barbican - I knew Boy would have to be the opener so I was obsessively checking for tickets from when I first heard about it.
Maya and I went and had a good old Kiwi nostalgia fest. Loved it - the language, the scenery, the 'old stuff' I recognised (like Stud Cola!). Just fantastic.
Taika Waititi was there to introduce it as well - he was somewhat 'jetlagged' however so I'm not sure he really added much to it!
I also sat next to the guy in this advert - somewhat odd. He made sure I knew it was him in the advert - very funny. Or maybe he was trying to hit on me - I wasn't quite sure! But it was definitely him :-)
Maya and I went and had a good old Kiwi nostalgia fest. Loved it - the language, the scenery, the 'old stuff' I recognised (like Stud Cola!). Just fantastic.
Taika Waititi was there to introduce it as well - he was somewhat 'jetlagged' however so I'm not sure he really added much to it!
I also sat next to the guy in this advert - somewhat odd. He made sure I knew it was him in the advert - very funny. Or maybe he was trying to hit on me - I wasn't quite sure! But it was definitely him :-)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
My mini festival...
Headed off to Hyde Park to see Arcade Fire + guests. I like the Hyde Park gigs - they are like mini-festivals but in central London - finish nice and early so its easy enough to get home, and you don't have to take a day off work.
The full line up (well who I saw anyhow...) was The Vaccines, Beirut, Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire. It was good weather (I missed the rain), I hung out with Sue and her friends and drank some cider (I NEVER normally drink cider!), and generally had a very good afternoon. Highlight for me were definitely Mumford & Sons - just felt more 'personal'. Arcade Fire were great, but it was uber rammed by then so I felt quite removed from them. Still good - but they are better in a smaller venue I think.
But I'm now having a full on crush on Mumford & Sons - cute band and great music!
The full line up (well who I saw anyhow...) was The Vaccines, Beirut, Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire. It was good weather (I missed the rain), I hung out with Sue and her friends and drank some cider (I NEVER normally drink cider!), and generally had a very good afternoon. Highlight for me were definitely Mumford & Sons - just felt more 'personal'. Arcade Fire were great, but it was uber rammed by then so I felt quite removed from them. Still good - but they are better in a smaller venue I think.
But I'm now having a full on crush on Mumford & Sons - cute band and great music!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Shed load of the letter 'S'
This letter took me a while to get through... I had to make notes on my phone as I finished an album as I knew I wouldn't remember by the time I came to type it up!!
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers - The National
Safety - Richmond Fontaine
Salty - The Mutton Birds
Sam's Town - The Killers
Saturnalia - The Gutter Twins
Sawdust - The Killers
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
The Second Gleam - The Avett Brothers
The Secret Migration - Mercury Rev
See The Light - The Hours
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
Send Away the Tigers - Manic Street Preachers
Separated by the Sea - Findlay Brown
Separation Sunday - The Hold Steady
Set Yourself on Fire - The Stars
Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens
The Shaky Hands - The Shaky Hands
Shaun of the Dead - Soundtrack
Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks
Showbiz - Muse
Siberia - Echo & the Bunnymen
Sign No More - Mumford & Sons
Silence is Easy - Starsailor
Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
Since I Left You - The Avalanches
Singles - Suede
Sirens of the Ditch - Jason Isbell
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Sky Motel - Kristin Hersh
Sleep Mountain - The Kissaway Trail
The Sleeper - The Leisure Society
Slideling - Ian McCulloch
Snowflake Midnight - Mercury Rev
So Much for the City - The Thrills
The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips
Sojourner Box Set: Nashville Moon - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: Shohola - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: Sun Session - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: The Black Ram - Magnolia Electric Co
Some Cities - Doves
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle - Bill Callahan
Songbook: The Singles: Vol One - Super Furry Animals
Songs for Polar Bears - Snow Patrol
Songs for Silverman - Ben Folds
Songs for Northern Britain - Teenage Fanclub
Songs from the Front Lawn - The Front Lawn
Songs from the Victorious City - Anne Dudley / Jaz Coleman
Songs in A&E - Spiritualized
Songs of Strength and Heartbreak - The Mighty Wah!
The Sound Inside - Breaks Co-Op
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Souvenirs - The Duke Spirit
The Specials Singles - The Specials
Speed of the Whippoorwill - Chatham County Line
Stadium Arcadium: Jupiter - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Stadium Arcadium: Mars - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Stage Names - Okkervil River
Star Time (Disc 1-4) - James Brown
Stars of CCTV - Hard-Fi
Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
The Stereo Bus - The Stereo Bus
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey
The Story - Brandi Carlile
Straitjacket Fits - Straitjacket Fits
Strange Angels - Kristin Hersh
Strangelet - Grant Lee Phillips
Streets of our Time - Danny & The Champions of the World
Strings - Kristin Hersh
Strip-Mine - James
Stutter - James
Subiza - Delorean
Substance - New Order
The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
Summer Teeth - Wilco
The Sun Came Out - 7 Worlds Collide
Sunny Border Blue - Kristin Hersh
Superabundance - The Young Knives
Surfer Rosa/Come on Pilgrim - The Pixies
Surviving the Quiet - Seafood
Sweatbees - My Morning Jacket
The Swell Season - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
So from my notes... Delorean - Good - atmospheric, a bit dancy. Didn't think Brandi Carlile was anything special. Liked Duke Spirit - rough girl singer! Really like Spiritualized - thought it would be more dancy than it was, Leisure Society - very good. Melodic and soft - a bit folky. Kissaway Trail I also really liked - sort of country-ish. Really liked Avalanches as well - bit dancey with a bit of rap sound too, Shocking Pinks I liked - sort of NZish. Stars reminded me of NZ music as well. Gutter Twins I described as being a bit 'Nick Cave-ish'.
Also didn't realise how many albums there were by Kristin Hersh that started with S!
Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers - The National
Safety - Richmond Fontaine
Salty - The Mutton Birds
Sam's Town - The Killers
Saturnalia - The Gutter Twins
Sawdust - The Killers
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
The Second Gleam - The Avett Brothers
The Secret Migration - Mercury Rev
See The Light - The Hours
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
Send Away the Tigers - Manic Street Preachers
Separated by the Sea - Findlay Brown
Separation Sunday - The Hold Steady
Set Yourself on Fire - The Stars
Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens
The Shaky Hands - The Shaky Hands
Shaun of the Dead - Soundtrack
Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks
Showbiz - Muse
Siberia - Echo & the Bunnymen
Sign No More - Mumford & Sons
Silence is Easy - Starsailor
Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
Since I Left You - The Avalanches
Singles - Suede
Sirens of the Ditch - Jason Isbell
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Sky Motel - Kristin Hersh
Sleep Mountain - The Kissaway Trail
The Sleeper - The Leisure Society
Slideling - Ian McCulloch
Snowflake Midnight - Mercury Rev
So Much for the City - The Thrills
The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips
Sojourner Box Set: Nashville Moon - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: Shohola - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: Sun Session - Magnolia Electric Co
Sojourner Box Set: The Black Ram - Magnolia Electric Co
Some Cities - Doves
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle - Bill Callahan
Songbook: The Singles: Vol One - Super Furry Animals
Songs for Polar Bears - Snow Patrol
Songs for Silverman - Ben Folds
Songs for Northern Britain - Teenage Fanclub
Songs from the Front Lawn - The Front Lawn
Songs from the Victorious City - Anne Dudley / Jaz Coleman
Songs in A&E - Spiritualized
Songs of Strength and Heartbreak - The Mighty Wah!
The Sound Inside - Breaks Co-Op
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Souvenirs - The Duke Spirit
The Specials Singles - The Specials
Speed of the Whippoorwill - Chatham County Line
Stadium Arcadium: Jupiter - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Stadium Arcadium: Mars - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Stage Names - Okkervil River
Star Time (Disc 1-4) - James Brown
Stars of CCTV - Hard-Fi
Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
The Stereo Bus - The Stereo Bus
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey
The Story - Brandi Carlile
Straitjacket Fits - Straitjacket Fits
Strange Angels - Kristin Hersh
Strangelet - Grant Lee Phillips
Streets of our Time - Danny & The Champions of the World
Strings - Kristin Hersh
Strip-Mine - James
Stutter - James
Subiza - Delorean
Substance - New Order
The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
Summer Teeth - Wilco
The Sun Came Out - 7 Worlds Collide
Sunny Border Blue - Kristin Hersh
Superabundance - The Young Knives
Surfer Rosa/Come on Pilgrim - The Pixies
Surviving the Quiet - Seafood
Sweatbees - My Morning Jacket
The Swell Season - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
So from my notes... Delorean - Good - atmospheric, a bit dancy. Didn't think Brandi Carlile was anything special. Liked Duke Spirit - rough girl singer! Really like Spiritualized - thought it would be more dancy than it was, Leisure Society - very good. Melodic and soft - a bit folky. Kissaway Trail I also really liked - sort of country-ish. Really liked Avalanches as well - bit dancey with a bit of rap sound too, Shocking Pinks I liked - sort of NZish. Stars reminded me of NZ music as well. Gutter Twins I described as being a bit 'Nick Cave-ish'.
Also didn't realise how many albums there were by Kristin Hersh that started with S!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Rushing through the 'R's
Yep - another section of my ipod completed... Definitely on the homeward stretch now!
Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
Rabbit Songs - Hem
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Rattle & Hum - U2
Razorlight - Razorlight
Reckoning - R.E.M.
Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House - Crowded House
Remedy - Basement Jaxx
The Reminder - Feist
Remixes and Radio Cuts - Salmonella Dub
The Remote Part - Idlewild
Republic - New Order
Reservoir Dogs - Original Soundtrack
Return of Fly My Pretties - Fly My Pretties
Reveal - R.E.M
Revelations - Gene
Revival - Katchafire
Revolver - The Beatles
Riceboy Sleeps - Jonsi & Alex
Rip It Up - Razorlight
Robbers & Cowards - Cold War Kids
Rock Art & The X-Ray Style - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
The Rockingbirds - The Rockingbirds
Room on Fire - The Strokes
Roots & Echoes - The Coral
Rooty - Basement Jaxx
Route 23 - Chatham County Line
Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright
A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay
Not a bad letter this one! A few old faves there - Gene, Coldplay and a great start with Jenny Lewis and Hem - two I like very much. I found Rice Boys a bit dull (sacrilege possibly??) but really enjoyed Cold War Kids - sounded a bit like Jack White. Good to listen to Razorlight again as well as I don't often think to play them.
Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
Rabbit Songs - Hem
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Rattle & Hum - U2
Razorlight - Razorlight
Reckoning - R.E.M.
Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House - Crowded House
Remedy - Basement Jaxx
The Reminder - Feist
Remixes and Radio Cuts - Salmonella Dub
The Remote Part - Idlewild
Republic - New Order
Reservoir Dogs - Original Soundtrack
Return of Fly My Pretties - Fly My Pretties
Reveal - R.E.M
Revelations - Gene
Revival - Katchafire
Revolver - The Beatles
Riceboy Sleeps - Jonsi & Alex
Rip It Up - Razorlight
Robbers & Cowards - Cold War Kids
Rock Art & The X-Ray Style - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
The Rockingbirds - The Rockingbirds
Room on Fire - The Strokes
Roots & Echoes - The Coral
Rooty - Basement Jaxx
Route 23 - Chatham County Line
Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright
A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay
Not a bad letter this one! A few old faves there - Gene, Coldplay and a great start with Jenny Lewis and Hem - two I like very much. I found Rice Boys a bit dull (sacrilege possibly??) but really enjoyed Cold War Kids - sounded a bit like Jack White. Good to listen to Razorlight again as well as I don't often think to play them.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Spring walking
Spring has finally sprung here in the UK and we took advantage of it to walk the Godalming Circular walk.
This one took a bit to get out of town, but once we were it was lovely - felt really remote and quiet which is unusual for a walk in Surrey - that tends to often still feel very urban.
And the daffs were out! So lovely :-)
This one took a bit to get out of town, but once we were it was lovely - felt really remote and quiet which is unusual for a walk in Surrey - that tends to often still feel very urban.
And the daffs were out! So lovely :-)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Julia turns 40...
Julia hit the big 40 on Friday 18th, so on Saturday 19th she had organised a dinner at River Cottage - home of the Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall food machine. Most people headed down on Friday night but as it was Jackie's birthday on Saturday, Simon and I drove down on Saturday. Well technically he drove...
After a bit of confusion we met up with them all in Seatown (note: Seaton is not the same as Seatown...). But getting there, and then finding them took us through a good few counties - Surrey, Wiltshire, (saw Stonehenge from the car!), Dorset, Somerset, Devon...
The meal was just lovely - we were in the farmhouse, so it was a bit like a private dining room. Gorgeous food, and great company. I think perhaps staying up really late and drinking whisky once we were back in our house was perhaps not the best idea. Def felt the worse for wear on Sunday! I don't think I was much company for Simon on the trip back...
I'm sure most of you will have seen the photos on fb, so won't repost any.
After a bit of confusion we met up with them all in Seatown (note: Seaton is not the same as Seatown...). But getting there, and then finding them took us through a good few counties - Surrey, Wiltshire, (saw Stonehenge from the car!), Dorset, Somerset, Devon...
The meal was just lovely - we were in the farmhouse, so it was a bit like a private dining room. Gorgeous food, and great company. I think perhaps staying up really late and drinking whisky once we were back in our house was perhaps not the best idea. Def felt the worse for wear on Sunday! I don't think I was much company for Simon on the trip back...
I'm sure most of you will have seen the photos on fb, so won't repost any.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Norman Rockwell
Saturday was a lovely spring day (as opposed to Scotland where it is still snowing!) and Jackie, Nicola and me headed off to Dulwich to visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery to check out the Norman Rockwell exhibition. We lunched first at the Crown & Greyhound - very nice 'fush & chups' with tasty minted peas :-).
The exhibition really very good - great history of America in lots of ways, and interesting to see some of the real paintings next to all of the covers as well. Lots of Dulwich is rather nice, so we had a nice time strolling around the streets admiring some of the beautiful houses. When I win the lottery I might move to Dulwich... :-)
The exhibition really very good - great history of America in lots of ways, and interesting to see some of the real paintings next to all of the covers as well. Lots of Dulwich is rather nice, so we had a nice time strolling around the streets admiring some of the beautiful houses. When I win the lottery I might move to Dulwich... :-)
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Books what I have read...
How exciting! Another new feature on my blog... I'm sure all my readers will be thrilled...
So books I have read... Decided to keep a list for this year, so have started it off below. Will be interesting (well to me anyhow) to see what and how many I read, and what I think of them at the end of the year. This is partly inspired by a friend from work who does a fantastic blog on her book reading (and anything book related really). This won't reach the standards of hers, but what the heck - this blog is all about me after all!
So books I have read... Decided to keep a list for this year, so have started it off below. Will be interesting (well to me anyhow) to see what and how many I read, and what I think of them at the end of the year. This is partly inspired by a friend from work who does a fantastic blog on her book reading (and anything book related really). This won't reach the standards of hers, but what the heck - this blog is all about me after all!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Good but disturbing...
Just back from seeing 'Never Let Me Go' - very good, but quite disturbing. Without giving away the story (although it isn't really a 'twist' as such), what is still sort of hanging around for me is the complete and utter acceptance of the situation the characters are in. It really is what it is - and that for me was very unsettling.
I haven't read the book, and I know that people who have are disappointed with the film, but if you've not read it, I think it is definitely worth seeing.
Oh - and my Oscar pick was way off :-( . But I did love 'The King's Speech' so its not too disappointing!
I haven't read the book, and I know that people who have are disappointed with the film, but if you've not read it, I think it is definitely worth seeing.
Oh - and my Oscar pick was way off :-( . But I did love 'The King's Speech' so its not too disappointing!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A difficult choice...
So having been to see True Grit today -
I think the Oscar for the best film should be True Grit or Inception...
I've seen 9/10 so lets see how my choice goes.
I think the Oscar for the best film should be True Grit or Inception...
I've seen 9/10 so lets see how my choice goes.
Mind your Ps and Qs...
Another two letters completed - although to be fair 'Q' didn't take very long as there was only one album!
Parachutes - Coldplay
Partie Traumatic - Black Kids
Penny Century - Clouds
Peoria - Future Clouds & Radar
Perfect from Now On - Built to Spill
Performance & Cocktails - Stereophonics
Pet - Fur Patrol
Phantom Phorce - Super Furry Animals
Phantom Power - Super Furry Animals
Picaresque - The Decemberists
Pieces in a Modern Style - William Orbit
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
The Place We Ran From - Tired Pony
Play - Moby
Playing with a Different Sex - The Au Pairs
Please Describe Yourself - Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Political Manifest - The Creekdippers
The Ponsonby DCs - The Ponsonby DCs
Porcupine - Echo & the Bunnymen
Portishead - Portishead
Poses - Rufus Wainwright
Positively George Street - Sneaky Feelings
Post to Wire - Richmond Fontaine
Postcards from a Young Man - Manic Street Preachers
Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order
A Product of the Ego Drain - The Leisure Society
Puzzle - Biffy Clyro
Queen of Denmark - John Grant
What did I think of these ones? Didn't like The Au Pairs - seemed dated and not my cup of tea at all. Sneaky Feelings are always good :-). Enjoyed more of Future Clouds & Radar and Built to Spill. Moby was tedious (goes on way too long - a couple of songs are good, but the whole album is just too much), and Richmond Fontaine was great as well.
Athough I'm realising I need to take notes as I'm listening as with some of these I can't really remember what I thought - and it wasn't that long ago!
Parachutes - Coldplay
Partie Traumatic - Black Kids
Penny Century - Clouds
Peoria - Future Clouds & Radar
Perfect from Now On - Built to Spill
Performance & Cocktails - Stereophonics
Pet - Fur Patrol
Phantom Phorce - Super Furry Animals
Phantom Power - Super Furry Animals
Picaresque - The Decemberists
Pieces in a Modern Style - William Orbit
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
The Place We Ran From - Tired Pony
Play - Moby
Playing with a Different Sex - The Au Pairs
Please Describe Yourself - Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Political Manifest - The Creekdippers
The Ponsonby DCs - The Ponsonby DCs
Porcupine - Echo & the Bunnymen
Portishead - Portishead
Poses - Rufus Wainwright
Positively George Street - Sneaky Feelings
Post to Wire - Richmond Fontaine
Postcards from a Young Man - Manic Street Preachers
Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order
A Product of the Ego Drain - The Leisure Society
Puzzle - Biffy Clyro
Queen of Denmark - John Grant
What did I think of these ones? Didn't like The Au Pairs - seemed dated and not my cup of tea at all. Sneaky Feelings are always good :-). Enjoyed more of Future Clouds & Radar and Built to Spill. Moby was tedious (goes on way too long - a couple of songs are good, but the whole album is just too much), and Richmond Fontaine was great as well.
Athough I'm realising I need to take notes as I'm listening as with some of these I can't really remember what I thought - and it wasn't that long ago!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Another birthday and a few orchids...
Twas another weekend with a birthday theme as on Friday night I was out with Divya to celebrate her birthday - we went to the Salt Yard which I've been to a few times and really like. We were half an hour late for our table but fortunately they had kept it for us! It was another lovely meal, but not a late night for us - we were both exhausted!
Saturday I met up with David, Dominic, Chris and James at Kew for the 'Tropical Extravaganza' - the (annual I guess) display of the flowering orchids. Absolutely gorgeous flowers - really stunning. And both Chris and David were full of stories of having had orchids in the past and killing them. Reminded me of Leigh! Apparently James has the knack...
It was well worth the trip. Very cool. We also checked out the Marianne North Gallery as well - again just stunning. She had the most amazing life - travelled all over the world (including NZ) and painted the plants, landscapes etc. Didn't start until she was 40 and spent the next 14 years globe trotting. Really quite inspirational - and the newly revamped gallery was beautifully done, and really quite incredible.
Yet again, Kew has not failed to disappoint. Check out the orchid piccies on Flickr if you haven't already seen them on fb.
Saturday I met up with David, Dominic, Chris and James at Kew for the 'Tropical Extravaganza' - the (annual I guess) display of the flowering orchids. Absolutely gorgeous flowers - really stunning. And both Chris and David were full of stories of having had orchids in the past and killing them. Reminded me of Leigh! Apparently James has the knack...
It was well worth the trip. Very cool. We also checked out the Marianne North Gallery as well - again just stunning. She had the most amazing life - travelled all over the world (including NZ) and painted the plants, landscapes etc. Didn't start until she was 40 and spent the next 14 years globe trotting. Really quite inspirational - and the newly revamped gallery was beautifully done, and really quite incredible.
Yet again, Kew has not failed to disappoint. Check out the orchid piccies on Flickr if you haven't already seen them on fb.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Birthday bashes and Paris...
So February started with a weekend of two birthday events. First up was Sarah's at the Alphabet Bar in Soho - I rarely go out in town on Saturday nights so it was both fun, and also a reminder of why I don't do it very often - loads of drunken young things and drunken tourists staggering around. Not always my idea of a good time!
Second up was lunch for Nicola's birthday at The White Hart - service left a little bit to be desired, but it was a lovely afternoon. Much red wine was drunk by all which is always fun I think!
And I'm just back from a quick visit to Paris for work - my second ever trip for work. The work stuff was so-so, but it was fun to go on the Eurostar again and I did have a lovely 'traditional' French dinner last night of steak with bearnaise sauce and an exquisite creme brulee!
Second up was lunch for Nicola's birthday at The White Hart - service left a little bit to be desired, but it was a lovely afternoon. Much red wine was drunk by all which is always fun I think!
And I'm just back from a quick visit to Paris for work - my second ever trip for work. The work stuff was so-so, but it was fun to go on the Eurostar again and I did have a lovely 'traditional' French dinner last night of steak with bearnaise sauce and an exquisite creme brulee!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Oscar season
This year for the first time in ages I've almost seen all of the films nominated for the Best Film Oscar - unheard of for me!
Latest one I saw was 'Black Swan' which I went to last night. What a full on film - I came out of it still not sure what I thought, and I'm still a bit like that. Will definitely be watching it again on DVD. Natalie Portman was superb and I can see why its got the Oscar nominations it has.
Still to open here are True Grit and The Fighter - both of which I'm really looking forward to seeing. And Winters Bone (the only other nomination I've not seen) is on my DVD list! I really wanted to see that at the cinema when it came out and missed it - doubly cross about that now.
Having seen most of them I'm not sure which one I'd pick at the mo, as I have loved most of them. Probably Inception for its sheer brilliance and incredibly twisty turn plot and filming - but then again I did love The King's Speech and Toy Story 3...
Latest one I saw was 'Black Swan' which I went to last night. What a full on film - I came out of it still not sure what I thought, and I'm still a bit like that. Will definitely be watching it again on DVD. Natalie Portman was superb and I can see why its got the Oscar nominations it has.
Still to open here are True Grit and The Fighter - both of which I'm really looking forward to seeing. And Winters Bone (the only other nomination I've not seen) is on my DVD list! I really wanted to see that at the cinema when it came out and missed it - doubly cross about that now.
Having seen most of them I'm not sure which one I'd pick at the mo, as I have loved most of them. Probably Inception for its sheer brilliance and incredibly twisty turn plot and filming - but then again I did love The King's Speech and Toy Story 3...
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Ode to the O
Trotted through another letter on my ipod as well - racing along now!
O - Damien Rice
Ocean Rain - Echo & The Bunnymen
Oceans Apart - The Go-Betweens
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem
Okonokos (Live - Disk 1 & 2) - My Morning Jacket
Olympian - Gene
On and On - Jack Johnson
On The Outside - Starsailor
On The Sun - The Black Seeds
On Your Sleeve - Jessie Malin
Once - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Once Around - The Autumn Defense
One by One - Foo Fighters
One Drop East - Salmonella Dub
One Life Stand - Hot Chip
One Plus One is One - Badly Drawn Boy
Only By The Night - Kings of Leon
Open Season - British Sea Power
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
Origin of Symmetry - Muse
Original Pirate Material - The Streets
Other Peoples Problems - Upper Room
Out of Nothing - Embrace
Out of Time - R.E.M.
Outside the Dubplates - Salmonella Dub
Overnight Success - Dave Dobbyn
Some old faves in this lot - Embrace, Starsailor, R.E.M... And two Salmonella Dub albums - bit like buses really. None for ages then two at once... Enjoyed Muse, The Streets, British Sea Power and Kings of Leon. And of course Hot Chip... Not many duds in this lot actually - except maybe Jack Johnson. He is definitely music for a time and a place - and I'm not sure its the UK in the middle of winter!
O - Damien Rice
Ocean Rain - Echo & The Bunnymen
Oceans Apart - The Go-Betweens
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem
Okonokos (Live - Disk 1 & 2) - My Morning Jacket
Olympian - Gene
On and On - Jack Johnson
On The Outside - Starsailor
On The Sun - The Black Seeds
On Your Sleeve - Jessie Malin
Once - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Once Around - The Autumn Defense
One by One - Foo Fighters
One Drop East - Salmonella Dub
One Life Stand - Hot Chip
One Plus One is One - Badly Drawn Boy
Only By The Night - Kings of Leon
Open Season - British Sea Power
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
Origin of Symmetry - Muse
Original Pirate Material - The Streets
Other Peoples Problems - Upper Room
Out of Nothing - Embrace
Out of Time - R.E.M.
Outside the Dubplates - Salmonella Dub
Overnight Success - Dave Dobbyn
Some old faves in this lot - Embrace, Starsailor, R.E.M... And two Salmonella Dub albums - bit like buses really. None for ages then two at once... Enjoyed Muse, The Streets, British Sea Power and Kings of Leon. And of course Hot Chip... Not many duds in this lot actually - except maybe Jack Johnson. He is definitely music for a time and a place - and I'm not sure its the UK in the middle of winter!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tragedy...
King Lear that is - which I went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company performing at The Roundhouse.
Absolutely loved it - its one of my favourite Shakespeare plays anyhow (somehow I'm more into the tragedies than the comedies...) and I thought this production was fantastic. I could pretty much remember what happened up to Lear going crazy, but couldn't remember how it finished (although I knew it wasn't a happy ending!) and I'd completely forgotten the sub-plot of Edmund and Edgar.
Seems to have been a few contentious reviews about this particular production - but I'll go with The Guardian's review :-). Although this is reviewing it at The Courtyard Theatre it was the same production we saw with the same cast etc. I'd probably give it 5/5 stars tho...
Absolutely loved it - its one of my favourite Shakespeare plays anyhow (somehow I'm more into the tragedies than the comedies...) and I thought this production was fantastic. I could pretty much remember what happened up to Lear going crazy, but couldn't remember how it finished (although I knew it wasn't a happy ending!) and I'd completely forgotten the sub-plot of Edmund and Edgar.
Seems to have been a few contentious reviews about this particular production - but I'll go with The Guardian's review :-). Although this is reviewing it at The Courtyard Theatre it was the same production we saw with the same cast etc. I'd probably give it 5/5 stars tho...
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Quality 'culcha'
Nice day spent seeing two very good cultural things...
First up was The Glasgow Boys at the Royal Academy with Nicola - very good and some great paintings. Very busy tho - but that does come of going the weekend before the exhibition ends...
Next up was The King's Speech with Jackie. Brilliant film - it has to be a shoe-in for an Oscar for Colin Firth, and Geoffrey Rush is also very good. Would absolutely recommend it - a fascinating story. I remember Mum talking about the abdication and how upset Nana was - that period has featured a lot in things I've seen recently so I might read a bit more about it.
Don't miss it!
First up was The Glasgow Boys at the Royal Academy with Nicola - very good and some great paintings. Very busy tho - but that does come of going the weekend before the exhibition ends...
Next up was The King's Speech with Jackie. Brilliant film - it has to be a shoe-in for an Oscar for Colin Firth, and Geoffrey Rush is also very good. Would absolutely recommend it - a fascinating story. I remember Mum talking about the abdication and how upset Nana was - that period has featured a lot in things I've seen recently so I might read a bit more about it.
Don't miss it!
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Astonishing human endeavour
This has been a weekend of films relating to extraordinary human endeavour - both of which I'd greatly recommend.
First up was 127 Hours - despite knowing what happens, and so waiting the whole film for the 'act' to happen, it was still very very good. Showing Aron reaching the point where he has to do what he does is so well done - does make you wonder how much you would do to survive.
And on that theme I then went to see The Way Back today - I hadn't planned to spend my weekend watching two such full on movies, but today's was already in the diary, and 127 Hours was a spur of the moment thing.
There has been a bit of controversy surrounding The Way Back - was the book it was based on really true etc. This is an interesting piece on the whether it is true or not... However I really enjoyed it, although it did feel long - a bit like their walk :-). But again, showing what people can do and will do to survive. Fascinating film viewing.
First up was 127 Hours - despite knowing what happens, and so waiting the whole film for the 'act' to happen, it was still very very good. Showing Aron reaching the point where he has to do what he does is so well done - does make you wonder how much you would do to survive.
And on that theme I then went to see The Way Back today - I hadn't planned to spend my weekend watching two such full on movies, but today's was already in the diary, and 127 Hours was a spur of the moment thing.
There has been a bit of controversy surrounding The Way Back - was the book it was based on really true etc. This is an interesting piece on the whether it is true or not... However I really enjoyed it, although it did feel long - a bit like their walk :-). But again, showing what people can do and will do to survive. Fascinating film viewing.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Starting 2011 in a busy-ish fashion
As I type the spectre of work again tomorrow is looming over me... But I have been fairly productive with the first few days of 2011 :-).
And I have many plans for the year as well - including blogging a bit more! 2010 was my lowest number of blog entries since I started... so I'll just have to make sure I have stuff to blog about!
And I have many plans for the year as well - including blogging a bit more! 2010 was my lowest number of blog entries since I started... so I'll just have to make sure I have stuff to blog about!
Monday, January 03, 2011
The Big Sleep
Met up with Julia for lunch and we then went to see 'The Big Sleep' at the BFI. It was great! I'd seen it before, years ago, but was wonderful to watch it again. The dialogue was great - and so fast! I also loved the bloodless shootings - so much nicer than the bloodbaths we get nowadays.
My favourite bit was when they both admit they love each other "I guess its because I'm in love with you". Brilliant :-).
And again - I hadn't been to a movie at the BFI for years. Rediscovering things on your doorstep - great cinema, nice bar and restaurant. Might be going back there methinks!
My favourite bit was when they both admit they love each other "I guess its because I'm in love with you". Brilliant :-).
And again - I hadn't been to a movie at the BFI for years. Rediscovering things on your doorstep - great cinema, nice bar and restaurant. Might be going back there methinks!
Sunday, January 02, 2011
First walk of 2011
Headed out with Jackie, Nicola and Sarah to do the first walk of the year - an easy 10 miles in Surrey, not far down the track from me.
This took us past Polesden Lacey where we had a very nice lunch. Didn't go into the house tho - wanted to make sure we could get the walk done while there was still enough light in the day. It was a nice walk - nothing really outstanding. As I've commented before, walking in Surrey often means you don't feel like you are getting that far away from civilization as you see the world out walking their dogs...
But it was great to get out, stretch the legs and get some fresh air and catch up with everyone about their Xmas and New Year!
This took us past Polesden Lacey where we had a very nice lunch. Didn't go into the house tho - wanted to make sure we could get the walk done while there was still enough light in the day. It was a nice walk - nothing really outstanding. As I've commented before, walking in Surrey often means you don't feel like you are getting that far away from civilization as you see the world out walking their dogs...
But it was great to get out, stretch the legs and get some fresh air and catch up with everyone about their Xmas and New Year!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Finishing the trilogy
On New Year's Day I hauled my slightly sorry carcass to the cinema to see the final film in the Lisbeth Salander trilogy.
I had seen the first two at the cinema so really wanted to make sure I caught the last one as well. I thought 'Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' was very good. Finished it nicely and didn't mess with the storyline too much. I did feel a sense of completion!
On a related note, Maya bought be a spoof book for Xmas - called 'The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo'... Lisbeth becomes 'Lizbreath Salamander' - it actually looks quite funny!
I had seen the first two at the cinema so really wanted to make sure I caught the last one as well. I thought 'Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' was very good. Finished it nicely and didn't mess with the storyline too much. I did feel a sense of completion!
On a related note, Maya bought be a spoof book for Xmas - called 'The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo'... Lisbeth becomes 'Lizbreath Salamander' - it actually looks quite funny!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Bidding farewell to another decade
And so 2010 is drawing to a close (although as I type it has already 'closed' in New Zealand).
This is one year that I'm going to be happy to see the back of. Although for me personally it hasn't been too bad, a lot of my friends have had a VERY tough year, and that can't help but affect my view of it as well. I'm going to be quite happy to see midnight roll around a new year full of opportunity and change and hope begin.
Nowhere near enough walking for me this year - want to improve on that in 2011. Also didn't get to anywhere near enough gigs either...
I do have some highlights tho :-)
This is one year that I'm going to be happy to see the back of. Although for me personally it hasn't been too bad, a lot of my friends have had a VERY tough year, and that can't help but affect my view of it as well. I'm going to be quite happy to see midnight roll around a new year full of opportunity and change and hope begin.
Nowhere near enough walking for me this year - want to improve on that in 2011. Also didn't get to anywhere near enough gigs either...
I do have some highlights tho :-)
- Weekend in Prague in February - loved Prague!
- Exercising - although I'm sure Damian (instructor) thinks I'm pretty hit & miss in my attendance, I've loved getting into the boxing and circuit classes
- Coastal walking down in Cornwall
- NZ doing so well in the Football World Cup :-)
- Camping again for the first time in however many years!
- Tea at the Ritz
- Philippa coming to stay
- Seville - my love affair with Spain continues...
- Keeping in touch with a new friend made on my holiday to Egypt - we're both rubbish emailers and she doesn't live in London but we're making it work
- Some good films seen at the cinema rather than on DVD: Up In The Air, Avatar, Invictus, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Crazy Heart, The Blind Side, The Ghost, Robin Hood (OK - that is pushing 'good' a bit - but I do like a bit of Russell Crowe!), The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Social Network, The Kids Are Alright, Easy A
- And likewise, some great films: Kick Ass, Inception, Toy Story 3, Harry Potter 7a, Of Gods and Men
- Standout gigs - I hardly went to any this year :-( - Wilco and Hot Chip
Thursday, December 30, 2010
N-N-N-N Now thats what I call music!
Of course that title will probably be lost on NZ readers if they don't get those compilations in Kiwi-land as well...
Anyhow - so I've burnt through the letter N on my ipod pretty darn quick.
Narcissus Road - The Hours
Nashville - Josh Rouse
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Neu! 75 - Neu!
Never Said Goodbye - Cerys Matthews
Nevermind - Nirvana
New Adventures in Hi-Fi - R.E.M.
The Night Before - James
Nightfreak & the Sons of Becker - The Coral
Nineteeneighties - Grant Lee Phillips
Nixon - Lambchop
No, You C'mon - Lambchop
Noble Beast - Andrew Bird
A Northern Soul - The Verve
Northern Star - Melanie C
Standouts? I loved 'Nineteeneighties' by Grant Lee Phillips - great covers of songs I grew up with. Very cool. 'Narcissus Road' - still one of my all time fave albums. I think The Hours are just fantastic. Neu! was interesting - Kevin's talked to me about them a bit, but I'd not heard them. Didn't hate it! And 'Nevermind' by Nirvana - its been a long time since I've listened to that - stands the test of time though.
Another thing I've learnt doing this is how annoying 'hidden' tracks are. As I have to listen to everything, there have been a couple of albums where I've had 10-15 minutes of complete silence as it works its way towards the hidden track. Very very boring...
Anyhow - so I've burnt through the letter N on my ipod pretty darn quick.
Narcissus Road - The Hours
Nashville - Josh Rouse
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Neu! 75 - Neu!
Never Said Goodbye - Cerys Matthews
Nevermind - Nirvana
New Adventures in Hi-Fi - R.E.M.
The Night Before - James
Nightfreak & the Sons of Becker - The Coral
Nineteeneighties - Grant Lee Phillips
Nixon - Lambchop
No, You C'mon - Lambchop
Noble Beast - Andrew Bird
A Northern Soul - The Verve
Northern Star - Melanie C
Standouts? I loved 'Nineteeneighties' by Grant Lee Phillips - great covers of songs I grew up with. Very cool. 'Narcissus Road' - still one of my all time fave albums. I think The Hours are just fantastic. Neu! was interesting - Kevin's talked to me about them a bit, but I'd not heard them. Didn't hate it! And 'Nevermind' by Nirvana - its been a long time since I've listened to that - stands the test of time though.
Another thing I've learnt doing this is how annoying 'hidden' tracks are. As I have to listen to everything, there have been a couple of albums where I've had 10-15 minutes of complete silence as it works its way towards the hidden track. Very very boring...
Monday, December 27, 2010
Well thats Xmas done for another year...
And so it is already 27 December and Xmas is done and dusted for another year. Slightly different this year as Maya had to work so she didn't get to mine until about 6pm on Xmas Day. Chris arrived on Xmas Eve so we just chilled out during the day watching TV, making the trifle (me), making the dinner (Chris).
We had yet another delish meal created by Chris and then just relaxed watching the Xmas TV specials - Dr Who and Top Gear! Maya was crashed out by 11pm - cumulation of lots of longs days catching up with her.
Boxing Day was spent much the same way - lazing around my lounge, eating leftovers and watching TV :-).
Very chilled out, very relaxed. I wonder where I'll be next year...?
We had yet another delish meal created by Chris and then just relaxed watching the Xmas TV specials - Dr Who and Top Gear! Maya was crashed out by 11pm - cumulation of lots of longs days catching up with her.
Boxing Day was spent much the same way - lazing around my lounge, eating leftovers and watching TV :-).
Very chilled out, very relaxed. I wonder where I'll be next year...?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Mhairi set me a Xmas challenge following my 'Where's my Xmas mojo' post. For those who haven't read it, here it is...
You sound like you need a Christmas bingo challenge!
1. Visit and photograph the Christmas windows at Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
2. Eat three out of the following
a) mince pie
b) brandy butter
c) candy cane
d) mulled wine
e) Christmas pudding
f) egg nog
3. Sit on Santa's lap and get your photo taken
4. Put up a Christmas tree or at least some decorations
5. Listen to Do They Know It's Christmas at least five times
6. Put a bit of tinsel on your hat or lapel
Let me know how you get on!
The weather is somewhat scuppering my efforts, but I can state that I have had mince pies, and have put up my Xmas tree :-). Slow but steady process - although I'm not sure I'll complete the list before the 25th...
You sound like you need a Christmas bingo challenge!
1. Visit and photograph the Christmas windows at Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
2. Eat three out of the following
a) mince pie
b) brandy butter
c) candy cane
d) mulled wine
e) Christmas pudding
f) egg nog
3. Sit on Santa's lap and get your photo taken
4. Put up a Christmas tree or at least some decorations
5. Listen to Do They Know It's Christmas at least five times
6. Put a bit of tinsel on your hat or lapel
Let me know how you get on!
The weather is somewhat scuppering my efforts, but I can state that I have had mince pies, and have put up my Xmas tree :-). Slow but steady process - although I'm not sure I'll complete the list before the 25th...
Pretty sparkly Xmas tree
Pretty sparkly Xmas tree
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
My pretty sparkly pink xmas tree with the first of the pressies under it - not all for me tho. There's a few there for Maya and Chris :-).
Weather obsessive...
You can't help but be one in this country - particularly at the moment. This is shaping up to be a crazy winter - two nasty cold snaps with lots of snow already, and we're not even in January yet. I woke up on Saturday morning to a full on snow storm and lots of snow already on the ground... A real winter wonderland.
I can't help but think about this time last year - Saturday was the day I went to Egypt - if it had been this year, I think I'd be one of those poor people stuck at Heathrow :-( . I've got friends who have had flights home for Xmas cancelled, and others stuck at the airport waiting to head off for holiday to Australia... this weather really really sucks. It may look pretty at times, but it causes so much grief for so many people.
I am just so pleased that I'm not travelling this year - my biggest hurdle is getting to and from work fortunately.
I can't help but think about this time last year - Saturday was the day I went to Egypt - if it had been this year, I think I'd be one of those poor people stuck at Heathrow :-( . I've got friends who have had flights home for Xmas cancelled, and others stuck at the airport waiting to head off for holiday to Australia... this weather really really sucks. It may look pretty at times, but it causes so much grief for so many people.
I am just so pleased that I'm not travelling this year - my biggest hurdle is getting to and from work fortunately.
Close up of snowy tree from my lounge window
Close up of snowy tree from my lounge window, Dec 18th 2010
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Dec 18th 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Where is my Xmas mojo?
Who knows, but it seems to have well and truly left me...
I started off this season determined to throw myself into the swing of things, but it just hasn't happened - and I'm not feeling the yuletide-ness at all.
I did go to my work party this year which was fun - it was black tie-ish, so I dressed up and put on some heels which was good. Although by the end of the evening I was taking them off to rest my feet!
I am looking forward to stopping work though! And there are a couple of things I still want to do - a visit to the Winter Wonderland and a trip to the Panto might change things hopefully!
I started off this season determined to throw myself into the swing of things, but it just hasn't happened - and I'm not feeling the yuletide-ness at all.
I did go to my work party this year which was fun - it was black tie-ish, so I dressed up and put on some heels which was good. Although by the end of the evening I was taking them off to rest my feet!
I am looking forward to stopping work though! And there are a couple of things I still want to do - a visit to the Winter Wonderland and a trip to the Panto might change things hopefully!
Mmmmmm....
So the M's have been completed...
A Mad and Faithful Telling - DeVotchKa
Made in the Dark - Hot Chip
Made of Bricks - Kate Nash
Magic & Medicine - The Coral
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
Make Another World - Idlewild
Mal de Terre - The Mamaku Project
Mander Salis - The Snake The Cross The Crown
Maplewood - Ed Harcourt
Marshmallow - Marshmallow
Master and Everyone - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Med Sud i Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Ros
Melting Pot - Charlatans
Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever - Cribs
Mermaid Avenue Vol 1 & 2 - Billy Bragg and Wilco
Micah P. Hinson & The Red Empire Orchestra - Micah P. Hinson
Miles From - Richmond Fontaine
Millionaires - James
Moderat - Moderat
Monster - R.E.M
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Moondance - Van Morrison
More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology - Tim Buckley
Moseley Shoals - Ocean Colour Scene
Mother Nature Calls - Cast
Moulin Rouge - Original Soundtrack
Moving - Eight
Mr Love & Justice - Billy Bragg
Murmur - R.E.M
Music From the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology - The Jayhawks
Mutton Birds - The Mutton Birds
My Maudlin Career - Camera Obscura
Myths of the Near Future - Klaxons
So what did I think of the Ms? I learnt that 33 Tim Buckley songs is way too many... but 40 Jayhawks songs was much more easy to listen to :-). A few oldies in there - Ocean Colour Scene are always a good listen, REM, the Mermaid Avenue albums. Really enjoyed DeVotchKa, Richmond Fontaine and the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album as well. And I love the Camera Obscura album as well - definitely one to listen to.
A Mad and Faithful Telling - DeVotchKa
Made in the Dark - Hot Chip
Made of Bricks - Kate Nash
Magic & Medicine - The Coral
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
Make Another World - Idlewild
Mal de Terre - The Mamaku Project
Mander Salis - The Snake The Cross The Crown
Maplewood - Ed Harcourt
Marshmallow - Marshmallow
Master and Everyone - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Med Sud i Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Ros
Melting Pot - Charlatans
Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever - Cribs
Mermaid Avenue Vol 1 & 2 - Billy Bragg and Wilco
Micah P. Hinson & The Red Empire Orchestra - Micah P. Hinson
Miles From - Richmond Fontaine
Millionaires - James
Moderat - Moderat
Monster - R.E.M
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Moondance - Van Morrison
More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology - Tim Buckley
Moseley Shoals - Ocean Colour Scene
Mother Nature Calls - Cast
Moulin Rouge - Original Soundtrack
Moving - Eight
Mr Love & Justice - Billy Bragg
Murmur - R.E.M
Music From the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology - The Jayhawks
Mutton Birds - The Mutton Birds
My Maudlin Career - Camera Obscura
Myths of the Near Future - Klaxons
So what did I think of the Ms? I learnt that 33 Tim Buckley songs is way too many... but 40 Jayhawks songs was much more easy to listen to :-). A few oldies in there - Ocean Colour Scene are always a good listen, REM, the Mermaid Avenue albums. Really enjoyed DeVotchKa, Richmond Fontaine and the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album as well. And I love the Camera Obscura album as well - definitely one to listen to.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Just a bit of snow...
You may have seen on the news the cold snap that the UK is currently suffering from. It has been a surreal few days. Started to get really cold just before the end of November, and the first snow had fallen in November - unheard of! When I first arrived over here, it was years before we had a decent snowfall, and now we're getting them every year.
There has been lots on the news about how this is 'extraordinary circumstances' - which is what they always say - its just every year its a different circumstance. This year it is the 'third rail' apparently. Because the transport system has completely ground to a halt (again).
I did manage to get into work today, but after spending two hours getting there and two hours getting home I've decided to work from home tomorrow...
Worst thing about it (from my own selfish perspective) is that Fin is meant to arrive from Ireland tomorrow and we were all going out for drinks and dinner. Given that Gatwick has been shut for the last 3 days, I don't think its going to happen somehow :-(.
There has been lots on the news about how this is 'extraordinary circumstances' - which is what they always say - its just every year its a different circumstance. This year it is the 'third rail' apparently. Because the transport system has completely ground to a halt (again).
I did manage to get into work today, but after spending two hours getting there and two hours getting home I've decided to work from home tomorrow...
Worst thing about it (from my own selfish perspective) is that Fin is meant to arrive from Ireland tomorrow and we were all going out for drinks and dinner. Given that Gatwick has been shut for the last 3 days, I don't think its going to happen somehow :-(.
Cinema-tastic
Been to a couple of good movies recently. First up was Harry Potter 7 - which geekily I went to see on the opening day :-). Fortunately I have my HP geek friend Kevin to go with as well, as I knew that Maya would be working!
I really enjoyed it - thought it was very well done. Didn't feel too long, thought it finished at a good spot (and yes I did get a bit teary), and overall was very well done.
Also went to see Easy A - independent film, weaving in The Scarlet Letter and modern teenage morality. Very good - lots of funny references to teenage movies from the 80s as well. Definitely worth a look.
Next up will be The American, and the final Lisbeth Salander movie - both of which I'm really looking forward to!
I really enjoyed it - thought it was very well done. Didn't feel too long, thought it finished at a good spot (and yes I did get a bit teary), and overall was very well done.
Also went to see Easy A - independent film, weaving in The Scarlet Letter and modern teenage morality. Very good - lots of funny references to teenage movies from the 80s as well. Definitely worth a look.
Next up will be The American, and the final Lisbeth Salander movie - both of which I'm really looking forward to!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Vegetable Stew...
Went to see Stewart Lee again on Wednesday night. I last saw him around this time last year with Kevin and he was just as funny. Very good jokes about Guardian readers, Godzilla and comedians who do charity gigs.
Everytime I go to comedy I realise I should go more often. Laughter is so good for the soul - and sometimes it can be in short supply in day-to-day life.
Everytime I go to comedy I realise I should go more often. Laughter is so good for the soul - and sometimes it can be in short supply in day-to-day life.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Start of the Xmas silly season
Simon had his annual birthday do on Saturday - that always seems to signal to me the start of the xmas party season.
Last year it was the day we had finished the London Loop - although it was much colder on Saturday. Hard to believe that was a year ago though. Although re-reading my posts from last year Simon's birthday party didn't even rate a mention!
This was a good one though - very chilled out, lots of sparkles and lots of good chat :-).
Last year it was the day we had finished the London Loop - although it was much colder on Saturday. Hard to believe that was a year ago though. Although re-reading my posts from last year Simon's birthday party didn't even rate a mention!
This was a good one though - very chilled out, lots of sparkles and lots of good chat :-).
Saturday, November 13, 2010
LOL
That would be "lots of L's" ... :-)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? - Stereophonics
The Last Broadcast - Doves
Late Registration - Kanye West
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
Legend - Bob Marley
Lemonjelly.KY - Lemon Jelly
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let It Come Down - James Iha
Let There Be Rock - AC/DC
Let's Bottle Bohemia - The Thrills
Libertine - Gene
Lie Down in the Light - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Life in Slow Motion - David Gray
Lifes Rich Pageant - R.E.M.
Live at Twist & Shout - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels - Original Soundtrack
London Calling - The Clash
Long Player - Hollie Smith
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea - Silver Jews
Loop Select 05: Good Shit Happens - Loop
Loop Select 06: Kono - Loop
Loop Select 07: We Are Here - Loop
Loop Select 08: Rare Vision - Loop
Loss - Mull Historical Society
Lost Horizons - Lemon Jelly
Lost Souls - Doves
The Lost Trident Sessions - Mahavishnu Orchestra
Love is Here - Starsailor
Love It When I Feel Like This - The Twang
Lovesongs for Underdogs - Tanya Donnelly
Not a bad letter, the "L". Some old faves in this one - Elbow and Starsailor are always good. Loop of course are always great albums and The Clash was fab as well. Interesting to see how the same bands crop up in the lists - two albums for Doves and Lemon Jelly in this set...
Almost halfway through the alphabet now!!
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? - Stereophonics
The Last Broadcast - Doves
Late Registration - Kanye West
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
Legend - Bob Marley
Lemonjelly.KY - Lemon Jelly
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let It Come Down - James Iha
Let There Be Rock - AC/DC
Let's Bottle Bohemia - The Thrills
Libertine - Gene
Lie Down in the Light - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Life in Slow Motion - David Gray
Lifes Rich Pageant - R.E.M.
Live at Twist & Shout - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels - Original Soundtrack
London Calling - The Clash
Long Player - Hollie Smith
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea - Silver Jews
Loop Select 05: Good Shit Happens - Loop
Loop Select 06: Kono - Loop
Loop Select 07: We Are Here - Loop
Loop Select 08: Rare Vision - Loop
Loss - Mull Historical Society
Lost Horizons - Lemon Jelly
Lost Souls - Doves
The Lost Trident Sessions - Mahavishnu Orchestra
Love is Here - Starsailor
Love It When I Feel Like This - The Twang
Lovesongs for Underdogs - Tanya Donnelly
Not a bad letter, the "L". Some old faves in this one - Elbow and Starsailor are always good. Loop of course are always great albums and The Clash was fab as well. Interesting to see how the same bands crop up in the lists - two albums for Doves and Lemon Jelly in this set...
Almost halfway through the alphabet now!!
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Bit of rugby, bit of sparkles...
Good day on Saturday :-)
Started off by heading off to meet Owen and some of his friends to watch the AllBlacks play England - I showed my support by wearing mainly black, my 'Born Here' t-shirt, my icebreakers t-shirt - so very NZ! Game was good - I certainly got enough stick from the English - these people are so rude! They barely know me and were giving me stick about the ABs peaking too early... :-). I'm dreading the World Cup next year!
Then it was off to Blackheath to meet up with Nicola and her friends to wander up to Blackheath to see the fireworks display. Photos below and on Flickr - it was a good display, and it was free. Always a bonus!
Started off by heading off to meet Owen and some of his friends to watch the AllBlacks play England - I showed my support by wearing mainly black, my 'Born Here' t-shirt, my icebreakers t-shirt - so very NZ! Game was good - I certainly got enough stick from the English - these people are so rude! They barely know me and were giving me stick about the ABs peaking too early... :-). I'm dreading the World Cup next year!
Then it was off to Blackheath to meet up with Nicola and her friends to wander up to Blackheath to see the fireworks display. Photos below and on Flickr - it was a good display, and it was free. Always a bonus!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Three years
What I've missed sharing:
- My 40th
- Skyping
- British Virgin Islands
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Prague
- Wales
- Walking adventures - Tryfan, Yorkshire, Peak District...
- London Loop
- Visits from the family
- Day trips to new places
- My new found interest in exercise
Friday, October 29, 2010
A new look...
I'm not sure - playing around with blogger and thought I'd try something new. I like the library thing (obviously) but it feels a bit busy.
Any comments welcome :-)
Any comments welcome :-)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Dropping away again...
This year Megan is back down to 20th in terms of popularity of names in the UK... Was 15th last year - check out the post here.
Three of my friends have girls named 1-3 (That would be Olivia/Daphne, Ruby/Raewyn, Chloe/Lindsey). Maya comes in at 66 while Lucy pips me again at 16th! Nothing for Leigh or Tracey... although Elizabeth comes in at 43.
For boys, Harry comes in at 3 (shout out to the Uncle!), Thomas at 6th (he's dropped 3 places), William at 8th, Alex at 50th (also down 3 from last year) and Sam is at 88th (down 9 from 2009).
So there are still going to be plenty of Megan's running around for a while yet...
Three of my friends have girls named 1-3 (That would be Olivia/Daphne, Ruby/Raewyn, Chloe/Lindsey). Maya comes in at 66 while Lucy pips me again at 16th! Nothing for Leigh or Tracey... although Elizabeth comes in at 43.
For boys, Harry comes in at 3 (shout out to the Uncle!), Thomas at 6th (he's dropped 3 places), William at 8th, Alex at 50th (also down 3 from last year) and Sam is at 88th (down 9 from 2009).
So there are still going to be plenty of Megan's running around for a while yet...
Monday, October 25, 2010
Exercising in the cold and the dark...
Post Philippa returning to the fair shores of NZ, I gave myself a couple of weeks off before starting back at my 'bootcamp'. Which has now been rebranded as 'Rumble in the Park' - the first stage in Damian's plan for world domination it appears. I'm curious to see how he expands it...
Anyhow - so now I'm committed to 2x per week (see post below about expenditure... I decided this was something I wanted to invest in), and as I am not a morning person I go in the evening. This was fine in summer, but now involves leaving the house in the cold and the dark to go out and exercise. And as we're having a wee mini-cold snap - it is cold!
Routine is boxing on a Monday and circuit on Thursdays. Not that keen on circuit - it is way too hard for me - which probably means its really good for me!
And tonight I bought my own pair of boxing gloves :-). What on earth has happened to me!!
Anyhow - so now I'm committed to 2x per week (see post below about expenditure... I decided this was something I wanted to invest in), and as I am not a morning person I go in the evening. This was fine in summer, but now involves leaving the house in the cold and the dark to go out and exercise. And as we're having a wee mini-cold snap - it is cold!
Routine is boxing on a Monday and circuit on Thursdays. Not that keen on circuit - it is way too hard for me - which probably means its really good for me!
And tonight I bought my own pair of boxing gloves :-). What on earth has happened to me!!
The UK 'Lady in the Red'
Mhairi put me on to the 'Lady in the Red' blog from Stuff last week, which I have been loving reading, and am looking forward to following it more once she is back from her holiday.
As some of you may know, I've been making a concerted effort to clear my debts, and have struggled with a lot of the stuff that she talks about. Do I go on holiday? Do I not? Do I give up the luxury of living by myself to move in with some other people and save money? Do I get my hair coloured properly or risk doing it myself?
Fascinating and inspirational (for me) reading. There are some decisions I've made which probably means it is taking me longer to clear what I owe, but those decisions help me keep my sanity. And fear not - there have been many sacrifices made. I don't even want to think about some of the gigs I've missed :-(.
Oh - and btw - when I go on holiday now its all paid for from my money - nothing on cards!!
As some of you may know, I've been making a concerted effort to clear my debts, and have struggled with a lot of the stuff that she talks about. Do I go on holiday? Do I not? Do I give up the luxury of living by myself to move in with some other people and save money? Do I get my hair coloured properly or risk doing it myself?
Fascinating and inspirational (for me) reading. There are some decisions I've made which probably means it is taking me longer to clear what I owe, but those decisions help me keep my sanity. And fear not - there have been many sacrifices made. I don't even want to think about some of the gigs I've missed :-(.
Oh - and btw - when I go on holiday now its all paid for from my money - nothing on cards!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Gorgeous autumnal Kew...
I was keen to get to Kew before autumn tailed off as I knew the trees would look good with all the colours, and the weather played right into my hands.
Woke up on Sunday morning to a beautiful sunny autumnal day, and as I had a lunch date at 1.30 I was up and out relatively early for me to take advantage of it. I think the peak time would have been a week or so ago, but I still managed to get some nice photos. A couple below, but a few more on Flickr (for my non-fb readers... if you're out there!)
Woke up on Sunday morning to a beautiful sunny autumnal day, and as I had a lunch date at 1.30 I was up and out relatively early for me to take advantage of it. I think the peak time would have been a week or so ago, but I still managed to get some nice photos. A couple below, but a few more on Flickr (for my non-fb readers... if you're out there!)
Golden orange, Kew Oct 2010
Golden orange, Kew Oct 2010
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
This one really did look stunning - I wasn't the only one taking photos of it!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Social Network
I went to see this film - very interesting and very good! If you like West Wing I think you'd enjoy this. I'm not sure how very true to life it is, but it is a timely reminder of what a brief time facebook has been around for, and how very pervasive it has become in (most of our) lives...
How did we get on without it? I've certainly noticed the impact on my blogging as I do most of my social networking through fb... But then a blog isn't about social networking, but I figure that most people follow what I'm doing through fb.
A challenge I continue to struggle with, as I often feel like I'm blogging into a void which no one is reading.
How did we get on without it? I've certainly noticed the impact on my blogging as I do most of my social networking through fb... But then a blog isn't about social networking, but I figure that most people follow what I'm doing through fb.
A challenge I continue to struggle with, as I often feel like I'm blogging into a void which no one is reading.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Playing a bit of catch up...
Oh dear - usual round up of lateness below... I will try and be better (for my few readers who aren't also on facebook!).
I've put these in date order, so if you've checked recently scroll down to see the August walking entry!
I've put these in date order, so if you've checked recently scroll down to see the August walking entry!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Simon does a half!
That would be a half marathon, not a half pint :-).
Sunday I headed off into town to join Kevin and his family to cheer Simon on in his first half marathon. He only started training about six weeks ago, and he wasn't a regular runner beforehand. Initially I think its fair to say some of his friends were a tad sceptical, but he proved us all wrong, and was very happy with his time of 2:22:24.
We managed to see him just after mile 4, coming up to mile 9 and again at the finish. He missed us at the finish tho - he was completely in the zone and had that finishing line in his sights!
Well done Simon :-)
Sunday I headed off into town to join Kevin and his family to cheer Simon on in his first half marathon. He only started training about six weeks ago, and he wasn't a regular runner beforehand. Initially I think its fair to say some of his friends were a tad sceptical, but he proved us all wrong, and was very happy with his time of 2:22:24.
We managed to see him just after mile 4, coming up to mile 9 and again at the finish. He missed us at the finish tho - he was completely in the zone and had that finishing line in his sights!
Well done Simon :-)
Sunday, October 03, 2010
J's and K's - not many of them!
So I went through the J's & K's fairly quickly - obviously not a very popular letter for album titles!
J.E.E.P - Stereophonics
Jackie Brown - Soundtrack
John Prine - John Prine
Joshua Tree - U2
Journal for Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers
Jukebox - Cat Power
Kasbian - Kasabian
Keep it Like a Secret - Built to Spill
Keep Music Miserable - Lowgold (Disc 1 and 2)
Keep on Pushing - The Black Seeds
Kicking Television - Wilco (Disc 1 and 2)
Kicking the National Habit - Grand National
Kids in Philly - Marah
Kill Bill vol 1 & 2 - Soundtrack
Kish Kash - Basement Jaxx
Kissaway Trail - The Kissaway Trail
Knee Deep in Hits - Rip Rig & Panic
So... two Quentin soundtracks, a bit of Wilco, some great folk. Keep Music Miserable did what it said on the tin... and Rip Rig & Panic. Still have the best song titles ever. 'Keep the sharks from your heart' anyone? Warm to the if in life? Storm the reality asylum... Highlights? Built to Spill and relistening to Marah again. Loads of L's so it will be awhile until the next one...
J.E.E.P - Stereophonics
Jackie Brown - Soundtrack
John Prine - John Prine
Joshua Tree - U2
Journal for Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers
Jukebox - Cat Power
Kasbian - Kasabian
Keep it Like a Secret - Built to Spill
Keep Music Miserable - Lowgold (Disc 1 and 2)
Keep on Pushing - The Black Seeds
Kicking Television - Wilco (Disc 1 and 2)
Kicking the National Habit - Grand National
Kids in Philly - Marah
Kill Bill vol 1 & 2 - Soundtrack
Kish Kash - Basement Jaxx
Kissaway Trail - The Kissaway Trail
Knee Deep in Hits - Rip Rig & Panic
So... two Quentin soundtracks, a bit of Wilco, some great folk. Keep Music Miserable did what it said on the tin... and Rip Rig & Panic. Still have the best song titles ever. 'Keep the sharks from your heart' anyone? Warm to the if in life? Storm the reality asylum... Highlights? Built to Spill and relistening to Marah again. Loads of L's so it will be awhile until the next one...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wilco - again!
Kevin shouted me a ticket to see Wilco at the Royal Festival Hall as a thank you for my Florence Nightingale efforts when he was hobbling around over the summer.
Weirdly, he bought it off a fan ticket site, and was trying to get a ticket sat close to him. He had a good spot quite near the front - and he ended up buying the ticket for the seat next to him! So we got to sit next to each other, five rows from the front with a fab view - it was great!!
And for the first half most people stayed sat down, so he got to rest up his foot for quite a while :-). Great gig - as always! Still didn't play The Lonely 1 - I think I'm destined to never see that done live.
And again I was laughing at Wilco's demographic - middle aged men (sorry Kevin!) who can't dance :-).
Weirdly, he bought it off a fan ticket site, and was trying to get a ticket sat close to him. He had a good spot quite near the front - and he ended up buying the ticket for the seat next to him! So we got to sit next to each other, five rows from the front with a fab view - it was great!!
And for the first half most people stayed sat down, so he got to rest up his foot for quite a while :-). Great gig - as always! Still didn't play The Lonely 1 - I think I'm destined to never see that done live.
And again I was laughing at Wilco's demographic - middle aged men (sorry Kevin!) who can't dance :-).
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Playing the hostess with the mostess...
September 11th Philippa arrived for a whirlwind 2.5 week holiday over here. I won't blog in detail about everything we did, but some of the highlights below - and lots of photos on Flickr :-).
- Highgate Cemetery - hadn't been for years. Both Philippa and Maya were keen to go after reading Her Fearful Symmetry and it was great. It was a slightly damp day, so the group was small, and it was quite atmospheric. Definitely worth revisiting!
- Westminster Abbey - can't remember the last time I went, but again it was good to go back (if somewhat expensive...). You forget how many famous dead people there are!
- Seville - we spent five nights in Seville which I absolutely loved. Would be very keen to go back again. The Alcazar just blew us away - it was incredible. We also went up to Grenada for a day to go to the Alhambra, but it wasn't as magical to us as the Alcazar. Although I would like to go back and do it again by myself (we were on a guided tour so didn't get any time to ourselves to explore it properly...)
- The Cathedral in Seville - purely just for its size and grandeur. And not that I was aiming to, but I have now been to the three biggies - St Pauls in London, St Peters in Rome and Seville...
- Lots of eating and drinking and just hanging out with Philippa, Maya and Chris. Very good times :-)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
South Downs Walking
Back on August 28th I went walking with Simon (his first outing as part of the walking crew...), Nicola and Jackie.
We did Hassocks to Lewes, which I'm realising is now becoming one of my favourite South Downs walks. Up onto the ridge and then just lots of walking along the top of the hill. Absolutely fab - and it was a lovely day for it as well.
Lunch was at The Half Moon in Plumpton, which we all decided had the best sticky toffee pudding we've ever had - it was amazing!
It was a lovely day of walking, followed by a couple of drinks with Jackie and Simon back in Clapham - nice way to round the day off!
We did Hassocks to Lewes, which I'm realising is now becoming one of my favourite South Downs walks. Up onto the ridge and then just lots of walking along the top of the hill. Absolutely fab - and it was a lovely day for it as well.
Lunch was at The Half Moon in Plumpton, which we all decided had the best sticky toffee pudding we've ever had - it was amazing!
It was a lovely day of walking, followed by a couple of drinks with Jackie and Simon back in Clapham - nice way to round the day off!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Two very different films...
Recently I've been to see 'Inception' and 'Toy Story 3'. VERY different films, but both great.
Inception is one of those films that you really need to talk to people about - and its always so exciting when you find someone else that has seen it so you can say "What did you think about...?" And almost without fail they have seen something in it that I've missed and vice versa. Just fantastic.
And Toy Story 3 - what a wonderful trilogy. I really hope they stop there. It finished so well - and I'll definitely be buying that box set when it comes out!
Inception is one of those films that you really need to talk to people about - and its always so exciting when you find someone else that has seen it so you can say "What did you think about...?" And almost without fail they have seen something in it that I've missed and vice versa. Just fantastic.
And Toy Story 3 - what a wonderful trilogy. I really hope they stop there. It finished so well - and I'll definitely be buying that box set when it comes out!
"I"'ve done the letter I...
Another letter done in my musical odyssey through my ipod. Some goodies from this letter I found...
I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
I See a Darkness - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
I'll Be Lightning - Liam Finn
I'm Not There - Various artists (soundtrack to the film)
I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning - Bright Eyes
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
If I Had Known - Greg Brown
If You've Never Been - Embrace
Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
Imidiwan: Companions - Tinariwen
In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson
In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars
In The Reins - Calexico / Iron and Wine
In Your Bright Ray - Grant McLennan
In Your Honour 1 & 2 - Foo Fighters
Infinite Arms - Band of Horses
Inside In / Inside Out - The Kooks
International Velvet - Catatonia
Into the Wild - Eddie Vedder
Intriguer - Crowded House
Invitation Songs - The Cave Singers
Is This It - The Strokes
It's A Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
IV - Chatham County Line
Great to hear The Lemonheads again - an oldie but a goodie! The Avett Brothers are a newbie to me (thanks to Kevin), and I love them. Really really good. Eddie Vedder - love his voice. Need to find some Pearl Jam again - there isn't any on my ipod! And Chatham County Line - fab. I get a bit scared by my ongoing enjoyment of country/alt country. But I love it :-). Jack Johnson - definitely music for a time and a place. I can't get into him over here, but loved it when I heard it during a NZ summer holiday. The Kooks are a bit of cheesy band, but I still enjoy the light pop of it...
I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
I See a Darkness - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
I'll Be Lightning - Liam Finn
I'm Not There - Various artists (soundtrack to the film)
I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning - Bright Eyes
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
If I Had Known - Greg Brown
If You've Never Been - Embrace
Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
Imidiwan: Companions - Tinariwen
In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson
In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars
In The Reins - Calexico / Iron and Wine
In Your Bright Ray - Grant McLennan
In Your Honour 1 & 2 - Foo Fighters
Infinite Arms - Band of Horses
Inside In / Inside Out - The Kooks
International Velvet - Catatonia
Into the Wild - Eddie Vedder
Intriguer - Crowded House
Invitation Songs - The Cave Singers
Is This It - The Strokes
It's A Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
IV - Chatham County Line
Great to hear The Lemonheads again - an oldie but a goodie! The Avett Brothers are a newbie to me (thanks to Kevin), and I love them. Really really good. Eddie Vedder - love his voice. Need to find some Pearl Jam again - there isn't any on my ipod! And Chatham County Line - fab. I get a bit scared by my ongoing enjoyment of country/alt country. But I love it :-). Jack Johnson - definitely music for a time and a place. I can't get into him over here, but loved it when I heard it during a NZ summer holiday. The Kooks are a bit of cheesy band, but I still enjoy the light pop of it...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Cycling the New Forest
Sunday was another leisurely brekkie, then time to pack up our homes and head off to get our cycles. Luckily we had booked, as when we turned up to collect them they were turning people away again...
We did a circuit of about 16 miles over a mixture of roads and forest roads. It was great fun - couldn't remember the last time I'd been on a bike! One pretty horrible long slow hill tho which we didn't enjoy much, but aside from that it was pretty flat and easy. Had a lovely late lunch at The Oak Inn - really good food, great service and lovely setting. Would definitely go back to it I think.
Then after the cycling it was time to head back to the metropolis - hoping to get at least one more camping trip in though before the summer ends!
We did a circuit of about 16 miles over a mixture of roads and forest roads. It was great fun - couldn't remember the last time I'd been on a bike! One pretty horrible long slow hill tho which we didn't enjoy much, but aside from that it was pretty flat and easy. Had a lovely late lunch at The Oak Inn - really good food, great service and lovely setting. Would definitely go back to it I think.
Then after the cycling it was time to head back to the metropolis - hoping to get at least one more camping trip in though before the summer ends!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
How hard can it be to do a walk backwards...
Saturday morning I was up bright and early. Much earlier than my campmates! So by the time they'd emerged I was up, showered and dressed! We enjoyed our very civilised brekkie of croissants and coffee and took it very leisurely.
We wandered off into the village of Brockenhurst to have lunch and check out the cycle hire. Interestingly Brockenhurst has a NZ connection as wounded soldiers from WWI were hospitalised there. We couldn't get cycles as they were all booked out, so after booking some for Sunday we decided to go for a walk.
The route we had made more sense for us to do it backwards - how hard could it be we thought? As it turned out - quite hard! We got lost, I got stressed (I HATE getting lost when walking...), but Simon and Jackie fortunately remained very sanguine about it all, and Simon navigated us back to the path again! But it did turn a 7.5 mile walk into about 8 - so we had a wee collapse back at the tents.
After reviving cups of tea and some cake we wandered into Brockenhurst for a pub dinner at the Rose & Crown - which had a crazy food ordering system. I didn't love having to stand for about 1/4 of an hour while waiting to order my food... Two pints later and we were done - all feeling very weary after our walking and not much sleeping!
We wandered off into the village of Brockenhurst to have lunch and check out the cycle hire. Interestingly Brockenhurst has a NZ connection as wounded soldiers from WWI were hospitalised there. We couldn't get cycles as they were all booked out, so after booking some for Sunday we decided to go for a walk.
The route we had made more sense for us to do it backwards - how hard could it be we thought? As it turned out - quite hard! We got lost, I got stressed (I HATE getting lost when walking...), but Simon and Jackie fortunately remained very sanguine about it all, and Simon navigated us back to the path again! But it did turn a 7.5 mile walk into about 8 - so we had a wee collapse back at the tents.
After reviving cups of tea and some cake we wandered into Brockenhurst for a pub dinner at the Rose & Crown - which had a crazy food ordering system. I didn't love having to stand for about 1/4 of an hour while waiting to order my food... Two pints later and we were done - all feeling very weary after our walking and not much sleeping!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Hi ho, hi ho, a camping we will go...
Friday after work, Simon, me and Jackie headed off down to the New Forest to go camping for the weekend.
Very exciting! I'd bought a new tent specially- Ness , and as Jackie had never been camping before it was a weekend of firsts :-).
We were camping at Hollands Wood which was really good. We were a bit late arriving and as it was very busy (first day of the school holidays) we didn't have a great choice of sites. We ended up being quite close to the road which made it a bit noisy, but aside from that it was fine. Simon had friends staying there on Friday night, so after we had put our tents up we took our dinner over to their motor home and enjoyed a very nice bottle of wine :-).
As the site is literally set amongst the trees, the ponies just wander through it as they want. Instructions tell you to not leave any food in your tents as they will either walk into them to get it, or trample the tents to get to it!
Very exciting! I'd bought a new tent specially- Ness , and as Jackie had never been camping before it was a weekend of firsts :-).
We were camping at Hollands Wood which was really good. We were a bit late arriving and as it was very busy (first day of the school holidays) we didn't have a great choice of sites. We ended up being quite close to the road which made it a bit noisy, but aside from that it was fine. Simon had friends staying there on Friday night, so after we had put our tents up we took our dinner over to their motor home and enjoyed a very nice bottle of wine :-).
As the site is literally set amongst the trees, the ponies just wander through it as they want. Instructions tell you to not leave any food in your tents as they will either walk into them to get it, or trample the tents to get to it!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The H's are done...
Another letter bit the dust this week as my journey through my ipod continued...
H.M.S. Fable - Shack
Hal - Hal
Happy Ending - The Phoenix Foundation
Hats Off to the Buskers - The View
Have You Fed the Fish? - Badly Drawn Boy
Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady
Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
Heligoland - Massive Attack feat. various artists
Hello Love - The Broken Family Band
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards it Did - Twilight Sad
Here's to Taking it Easy - Phosphorescent
Here's Tom with the Weather - Shack
Heroes Original Soundtrack - Various
Hey Ma - James
High Violet - The National
Highway to Hell - ACDC
Hits - Pulp
Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks - The Brunettes
Hollie Smith E.P. - Hollie Smith
Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond
Home, Land and Sea - Trinity Roots
Honey in the Lion's Head - Greg Brown
Hope is Important - Idlewild
Horsebreaker Star - Grant McLennan
Hospice - The Antlers
Hot Fuss - The Killers
The Hour of Bewilderbeast - Badly Drawn Boy
How I Quit Smoking - Lambchop
How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb - U2
Human Conditions - Richard Ashcroft
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol
Hurricane Glass - Catherine Feeny
Hvarf-Heim (Disks 1 & 2) - Sigur Ros
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
I enjoyed the 'H's. Lots of my faves in there - The National (love the singers voice), Hot Fuss is still a great album, and you can never beat a bit of Neil Diamond. Struggling to find ones I didn't enjoy in this letter...
H.M.S. Fable - Shack
Hal - Hal
Happy Ending - The Phoenix Foundation
Hats Off to the Buskers - The View
Have You Fed the Fish? - Badly Drawn Boy
Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
Heaven is Whenever - The Hold Steady
Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
Heligoland - Massive Attack feat. various artists
Hello Love - The Broken Family Band
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards it Did - Twilight Sad
Here's to Taking it Easy - Phosphorescent
Here's Tom with the Weather - Shack
Heroes Original Soundtrack - Various
Hey Ma - James
High Violet - The National
Highway to Hell - ACDC
Hits - Pulp
Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks - The Brunettes
Hollie Smith E.P. - Hollie Smith
Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond
Home, Land and Sea - Trinity Roots
Honey in the Lion's Head - Greg Brown
Hope is Important - Idlewild
Horsebreaker Star - Grant McLennan
Hospice - The Antlers
Hot Fuss - The Killers
The Hour of Bewilderbeast - Badly Drawn Boy
How I Quit Smoking - Lambchop
How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb - U2
Human Conditions - Richard Ashcroft
A Hundred Million Suns - Snow Patrol
Hurricane Glass - Catherine Feeny
Hvarf-Heim (Disks 1 & 2) - Sigur Ros
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
I enjoyed the 'H's. Lots of my faves in there - The National (love the singers voice), Hot Fuss is still a great album, and you can never beat a bit of Neil Diamond. Struggling to find ones I didn't enjoy in this letter...
Where does the time go...
So since I last blogged:
- the world cup has been and gone. I watched NZ play out of their skins, I watched England crash out (yet again...) and after all that I watched my 3rd fave country win the World Cup for the first time - viva Espana!!
- I have been to The Ritz for tea. Divya and I went a few weeks ago - very cool. Great fun to get togged up on a Sunday afternoon and go and scoff delish cakes and drink (herbal) tea from a solid silver teapot... Something also very enjoyable about only being served by men! Although they were in white coats - maybe I wasn't at The Ritz at all!
- I've been doing a 'boot camp'. Essentially exercising twice a week. So I've been keeping up with the boxing and have also been getting into Kettleball. And one circuit class. All three still knacker me out, but I think I'm starting to enjoy it... this is scary!
- I've bought a tent in preparation for a camping weekend in the New Forest next weekend. Hopefully the weather will be good!
- Kevin has torn his achilles tendon - so I've been helping out as he really is quite incapacitated. Making me relish the ability I have to run around and exercise even more!
- We appear to have had summer - three weeks of temps over 25 most days. That seems to be over now though...
- My phone died and I am now toying with the idea of getting a smart phone (but not an iPhone as I can't afford one that flash!)
The Ritz - Me with the cake menu
The Ritz - Me with the cake menu
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Me with the cake menu - getting ready to scoff!
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