Roger Waters - The Wall Live

I have grown up with the music of Pink Floyd thanks to my Dad. In 1994 we missed the opportunity to see Pink Floyd play at Earl's Court, and I've always regretted that - so when tickets came up to see Roger Waters playing The Wall live at the O2 I jumped at the chance. In some ways, this was better than seeing Pink Floyd - The Wall is such a visceral and personal album, and has such an association with the man who wrote it that I would far rather see him produce the stage show and play it.

We had a few hiccups getting to the O2 last night (namely, the fact that apparently my brother's obstinate sat nav refuses to recognise the O2 exists) and arrived only a short time before the show started. We were right up in the rafters, and this was our view of the rest of the arena. Vertigo ahoy!

Both my dad:

and my brother:

were *painfully* excited *grin*

So, The Wall... This is one of Pink Floyd's concept albums, and was written as a result of Roger Waters' increasing disillusionment and isolation during the 'In the Flesh' tour. It involves the protagonist Pink, based on Water himself, who suffers through the early death of his father, a controlling mother, the bullying of teachers and sexual inadequacies. As he suffers, the metaphorical wall builds around him. Fantastically, during the course of the live show last night, an actual wall was built across the stage and images projected onto this - showing the horrors of war, dark images about corporate greed and various pictures that demonstrate the sheer isolation of this troubled singer.

I found so, so many of the songs last night to be fiercely relevant today, either personally or societally. There were jeers from the audience as Roger Waters sang the line: "Mother should I trust the government?" from the song "Mother", and applause when the words "Bring the Boys Back Home" appeared across the wall. Personally, the song "Comfortably Numb" says everything to me about the darkness and despair of depression. This is a vital album, a very relevant set of songs.

Last night was far more, however, that just a set of songs being played, as is the case with most concerts. This was a stage production. As I say, the wall appeared gradually as Waters sang each song. There were military flags, children singing to "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", and fireworks. My favourite part was when an enormous flying pig hovered over the audience. It was surreal and perfect.

It was, simply, one of the best nights out I've had. As I said on Twitter: "FUCK! Roger Waters still has it in SPADES!" It was simply amazing. And all of you *have* to listen to The Wall.

In Absentia

This blog is going to go suddenly silent.

I have Eastercon this weekend. I have my birthday on Tuesday. I'm working up in Leeds for month end all next week. I am celebrating with family and friends the following Bank Holiday weekend.

It amounts to about eleven days. There will be the odd posts cropping up here and there, but nothing regular, and I'm going to have to skip out of 30 Days of Genre and come back to it once I'm a permanent presence on the blog again.

So... Enjoy a break from me and I'll see you all soon!

A Top Five of Guilty Musical Pleasures

A little while back I did a blog post about some of my most favourite bands. It proved popular, so because it's Friday and I'm feeling fun this time I decided to tackle the guilty end of the spectrum - the five artists/bands that I confess to being a teensy bit embarrassed about *giggles*. In no particular order!

1) The Darkness

These guys brought back bare chests, bad teeth and big hair to the rock arena! Their lyrics were daft, the falsetto voice of the lead singer was ridiculous to the point of pain from laughing, and their hit singles were entirely overplayed on the radio. Yet... I love them. Bombastic music, brilliant guitar solos, thoroughly entertaining. This is one of my favourite tracks (and, yes, it is about genital lice...):




2) Def Leppard

Hey hey, look at the stonewashed jeans! How cool and trendy! Actually, Def Leppard have been a long time love of mine. Their early albums - On Through the Night, High and Dry etc - were pretty rocking. Now they're best known really for being the band that has the drummer with only one arm - which also makes them cool, in many ways. How many bands would have decided to continue with the original drummer, and work with him to develop a unique drumkit that allowed him more pedal control? By necessity, they've become softer in their old age and do a great turn in rock ballads. One of my favourite songs of theirs is totally cheesy and feelgood and embarrassing to admit *grins*



Oh hell...... Just watching that back makes me cringe just a little inside!


3) Britney Spears

Hella yeah! And not the Toxic version, no way - we're talking Hit Me Baby, One More Time! I was at university when this song came out, and it takes me straight back there - watching my male room-mates pretending not to drool over Britney in her little schoolgirl outfit :o) The god-awful miming in the music video was particular gigglesome. I don't dare link to pictures or videos on my blog just in case I get odd visitors!

4) Dire Straits

Old man music, surely? Lift music. Easy listening. These are some of the descriptions of Dire Straits my friends have expressed when driving in my car while I play it LOUD! So I have some embarrassment about them - but, honestly, Mark Knopfler is an AMAZING guitarist, and they've written some truly iconic songs. Here is one of my favourites (and a proper 80s music video, no less!):




5) Bonnie Tyler

*blushes* Yep. I have a complete weakness for Holding Out for a Hero - and, in fact, the very greatest use of that song in film (in Short Circuit 2, as Johnny 5 races to the rescue.....) I can sense tumbleweeds across my blog, as you all desert me in droves. Why did I decide to reveal these, again?

Clearly the way to my musical heart is to have RIDICULOUS hair!

Go on, I dare you, tell me your guiltiest musical pleasure!

Herm Island - A Haven for Readers

I have spent the last three days on Herm Island, which looks like this:

Herm Island is described thusly:

Herm Island is 3 miles from the coast of Guernsey and measures just a mile and a half long and half a mile wide. Herm is the perfect place to stay for a truly relaxing island holiday and is ideal for families and anyone wanting to "get away from it all". Once on our paradise island enjoy our beautiful unspoilt beaches and safe, clean pollution-free environment. There are no cars, no crowds and definitely no stress.

You can visit Herm for the day or, better still, choose to stay on the Island where we can offer a variety of accommodation designed to suit all tastes. You could opt to stay in one of our comfortable self catering cottages, allowing you to sample island life while still giving you the freedom to come and go as you please. You could choose to be pampered at The White House Hotel, the only hotel on the Island, where there are no telephones, televisions or clocks.

Enjoy well-appointed bedrooms, an excellent restaurant and outstanding sea views. Alternatively you can camp on Herm Island in one of our modern, well-equipped family size tents or choose to pitch your own tent. Our campsite boasts glorious views across to Sark and the French coast.

I stayed in the White House Hotel, which looks like this from the outside:

The White House Hotel boasts rooms rather like this within:

I walked along the clifftops.

I paddled in the sea.

I drank wine in front of a roaring fire whilst reading my book.

Herm Island is truly a place for the reader. Perfect views, plentiful places to sit and read, peaceful environment. The air is clean and fresh, the pace of life is gentle and slow.

I stayed three days and now I want to live there. In the absence of living there, I will deem it a poor year indeed if I don't manage to visit.

I fell in love this weekend.

Time

You might know this song. You might love it, just as much as me. This is probably my favourite song in all the world. But it is also my most poignant song. Listen. And then check out those lyrics. I first heard the song in my teens, and didn't really "get" what the song was dealing with. From the perspective of 30, with some of my dreams lying in waste behind me, this song has far more resonance. Ask me again in ten years what I think of this song, and I will probably cry. Enjoy! These seven minutes are worth your time.

Time - Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking

Racing around to come up behind you again.

The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.

Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way

The time is gone, the song is over,

Thought I'd something more to say.

Passion #6: Football

This is the fifth in my series of posts detailing some of my other loves in life - the first being, of course, books! Didn't think I needed to tell you much about that particular passion *grins*

So... #6 is indeed football. To my beloved US readers, that would be soccer. I came to football when I was nine, while I still lived in Germany (Dad being in the Forces). Because I didn't have a local team at that point, since I didn't want to support a German team, I plumped on one of the few English football teams that I had heard of - and picked Manchester Utd. Yep, lots of you will be rolling your eyes right now. I have supported them now for 21 years, through good times and bad. I adored Cantona's power and passion. I have followed Giggs and Scholes since they arrived on the scene, pretty much. I marvelled at THAT goal by David Beckham.

The reason I have written this post these evening is because one of my absolute FAVOURITE Cup competitions is entering the fifth round this weekend. That would be the FA Cup - still one of the most brilliant events around. I know a lot of people scoff at it and think the magic has been lost. Tomorrow, however, Crawley are going to Old Trafford. Manchester Utd are currently first in the Premier League, they have won the FA Cup a record 11 times - and their opponents are a non-League side. Most of their players probably don't even play football full time. A lot of you might be thinking that this seems like an unfair match-up, but for those Crawley players they are going to experience the event of a lifetime: walking out onto the hallowed turf of Old Trafford, playing against extremely famous players, being watched by literally millions. I watched with delight when Havant & Waterlooville (my local team) visited Liverpool and put two goals past them - they did lose, but they could certainly hold their heads with pride.

We have also just experienced a classic Champions League clash, in the first of the knock out rounds this year, between Arsenal and Barcelona. Now, I don't like Arsenal - obviously, as a Utd fan - but even I can admit that the football they play is breathtaking. Barcelona are even better. And, luckily, the match did not disappoint - I could not look away from the TV if I tried! I adore the Champions League as well - the fantastic talent on display, the bombastic theme tune, the differing styles of football. It's just brilliant.

My third reason for putting up this post is this:



That goal is simply AMAZING!

Honestly, the day that I get Sky Sports, I will become a recluse - for me, there is nothing better on a lazy Sunday afternoon than watching two matches back to back! Probably sounds incredibly sad to a number of you, but this is one of my big passions.

Do you like football? Which team do you support? Are you going to lambast me for my choice of team? *grins* Share!

Happy Christmas!

In previous years I have written out Christmas cards for all friends and family. This year I feel I have made so many friends (and I love you all! Your support this year has been invaluable, and I can't believe how fulfilled my life feels with you in it) and I didn't want to risk missing anyone when it came to Christmas cards.

So, I am doing the charity donation thing.

This morning I donated £20.00 to the following charities:

- Royal British Legion (for all my Warhammer friends, and for those I know who fight for our country)

- RNIB (for all my bookish friends - it is one of my greatest fears to go blind and lose the pleasure of reading, so this donation offers speaking books to children)

- Cancer Research (because every single one of us has been touched by cancer - RIP Dave Fulford, you're forever missed and loved. Sarah Chorn - you are SO brave, this is for you especially).

Everyone - have a very Happy Christmas and festive period. Read loads, spend time with friends and family, and look forward to everything that 2011 brings.

Love you all! xx

(p.s. that there is a picture of my adorable nephew!)

My Christmas Tree

After doing the Christmas giveaway draw this morning and spending the day looking out at a snowy landscape, I just couldn't resist putting up my Christmas tree.

Here it is:

 

Yes, I'm drinking wine. No, not from a pint glass *grin*

Passion #4: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Here we go again with another of my major passions! I arrived late to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When it was first shown on TV, I scoffed at the silly name of the main protagonist and decided it was some kind of teenage "comedy", so I decided to bypass it. When I reached university, Season 3 of Buffy had just started and my flat were very into it. I sat and watched the first episode and found myself utterly gripped by the characters, the dialogue, the emotion. I also spent half the time saying 'Who's that?' or 'Where has that naked man come from, who is he, why are you all surprised to see him?' My housemates were extremely patient, and one of them gave me Seasons 1 and 2 to watch so that I could get myself all caught up. And that was where my love affair began.

I have tried to follow other series (like Charmed, and Smallville, and, more recently, Chuck and BSG). While I have enjoyed them well enough - except Charmed.... - none of them held the same draw for me. None of them seemed to combine the same humour and darkness, and relationships and passion. The central pairing of Buffy and Angel in the first few seasons was inspired, and I longed for them to find peace with each other, even while I knew it could never happen.

Anyway, I thought I would showcase my top five Buffy episodes with stills from the show and my favourite quote. And I would invite you in the comments to share your own favourite episodes. It goes without saying that The Body and Once More, With Feeling are amazing, but they're so often listed as favourite episodes that I tried to present some different ones. Oh, and these five are in no particular order! It was hard enough to narrow down five I loved, let alone then try to put them in some kind of order and pick an absolute favourite *grins*

1) Passion - Season 2

I can't say a lot about the events of this episode without giving spoilers to those who haven't seen it. And I wouldn't want to spoil this explosive episode for ANYONE. When I watched it my jaw was almost permanently dropped. It was one of those episodes where you realised that life in Sunnydale actually was dangerous. The emotions displayed were so powerful - Anthony Stewart Head, in particular, did a stunning job.

Quote of the episode:

Buffy: It's so weird. Every time something like this happens, my first instinct is still to run to Angel. I can't believe it's the same person. He's completely different from the guy that I knew.
Willow: Well, sort of, except ...
Buffy: Except what?
Willow: You're still the only thing he thinks about.

2) Lovers Walk - Season 3

Spike was always one of my favourite characters, so any episode heavy on the Spike goodness was just fine with me. This one resonates with me particularly, because of the situation between Buffy and Angel - insisting that they're only friends, when everyone but them realises that their passion is unchecked.

Quote of the episode:

Spike: The last time I looked in on you two, you were fighting to the death. Now you're back to making googly-eyes at each other like nothing happened. Makes me want to heave.
Buffy: I don't know what you're talking about.
Spike: Oh, yeah, you're just friends.
Angel: That's right.
Spike: You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love 'til it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other 'til it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood -- blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.

3) Hush - Season 4

Alright, so I didn't include The Body or Once More, With Feeling - but there was NO WAY I could not include this episode in my favourites. It is simply remarkable, from the creepy Gentlemen to the lack of dialogue to the wonderful score. Joss Whedon always enjoyed pushing the boundaries and I believe this is one of his finest hours across everything he's worked on.

Quote of the episode:

Obviously there is not a great deal of dialogue to pick from in this one - in fact, one of the very funniest parts of Hush is where Buffy mimes staking a vampire several times. You try it now, if you haven't seen it, and tell me what it looks like *chortles* #childish I did find an amusing exchange though:

[At Giles's apartment, Xander and Anya are arguing about their relationship.]
Xander: If you don't know how I feel about -
Anya: I don't. This isn't a relationship! You don't need me. All you care about is lots of orgasms.
[The others are silent with disbelief.]
Xander: OK... remember how we talked about private conversations? How they're less private when they're in front of my friends?
Spike: Oh, we're not your friends. Go on.
Giles: Please don't.

4) Fool For Love - Season 5

The first of two from Season 5 - this one deals with flashbacks into Spike's history (remember how I said I rather liked his character? *grin*), and shows his encounters with the two Slayers he has killed in the past. I loved the flashbacks (although Angel's dodgy Irish accent is constantly painful) and I loved the element of vulnerability brought to Buffy's character in this episode. Beautiful work between Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters, as usual.

Quote of the episode:

Flashback Spike: Death is your art.
Spike: You make it with your hands, day after day.
Flashback Spike: That final gasp. That look of peace.
Spike: Part of you is desperate to know: "What's it like? Where does it lead you?"

[Flashback Spike snaps Nikki’s neck]
Flashback Spike: Even you. The only reason you've lasted as long as you have is you've got ties to the world... your mum, your brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here, but you're just putting off the inevitable. Sooner or later, you're gonna want it. And the second- the second - [Both Spikes clap their hands together inches from Buffy's face]
Spike: ... That happens... You know I'll be there. I'll slip in... have myself a real good day. Here endeth the lesson.

5) The Gift - Season 5

There were some very high points in Seasons 6 and 7, but part of me thinks that this episode is the *perfect* ending to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is fitting and moving - and I cry every damn time. Incredible performances across the board, and a killer finish. Just wonderful TV.

Quote of the episode:

I couldn't have picked anything else but this...

Buffy: Dawn, listen to me, listen. I love you. I will always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles… tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world… is to live in it. Be brave. Live… for me.

If you've watched Buffy, then you'll already have your reasons for loving the series. If you haven't watched it, I'm sure you have good reasons. But if this is a series you've just never got around to picking up, then please do it. Season 1 can be a bit rough at points, but once they hit their stride in Season 2 it is amazing viewing. Even the bad episodes are better than 90% of what is being put out most of the time.

Go on - share your favourite episodes, or characters, or lines of dialogue!

Passion #3: Hockey

So, here is my second go at writing a blog post that reveals a little bit more about the blogger behind the blog.

One of my other passions is hockey - that would be field hockey for all the Canadians/Americans and anyone else who reads my blog and is more familiar with ice hockey. Ha, the thought of me trying to play hockey *at the same time* as skating is just TOO scary!

An ex-boyfriend played and invited me to go along and watch some of his matches. In the course of doing this I met some of the ladies from Portsmouth & Southsea hockey club, who were having trouble pulling together enough women to fulfil their league fixture. I had never played hockey before - not even at school - but they invited me to stand on the pitch with a stick to make up the numbers. Before I knew it, I was getting involved in the match, going along to training, being picked regularly for the team (even when there were more than enough players for the team) and buying my own stick and kit. The boyfriend became an ex, but the hockey remained.

I now play every week during the season (although have been out for the last five weeks with a torn calf muscle) and I adore it. To the point where the Saturdays during the summer months feel empty without it! I have also done a little bit of umpiring, play indoor hockey and attend hockey festivals with my team. I've been both the ladies captain and the mixed team captain.

Of course, the social side is almost more important than what happens on pitch! We go out regularly as a club - men and women together - and drink maybe a little too much... Pub golf doesn't help that!

Here is a picture of our mascot doing what he does best:

Eeyore comes on tour with us and went to Lanzarote this year when I and three girlfriends headed out there for a week's holiday.

Hockey is one of the best things I ever started. It keeps me fit; I get to meet and spend time with tremendous people; and there is nothing like hitting a ball to get those stress levels down! It can be dangerous, I know - I've seen some pretty nasty injuries while playing, experienced some myself - but I couldn't stop playing now. I love my club, and the fact that getting together and having fun is more important than the results (although that doesn't stop us being ultra competitive when we get on the pitch) is a massive bonus. If you haven't tried it, then maybe look up your local club and give it a go?

If you have any questions about hockey, I'd love to answer them!

Passions #2: Dancing

Right, I've been debating this post for a little while. Some people seem to think a book blog should be about nothing but the books, while others would like to know a little about the blogger behind the blog.

So I've decided. I'm going to do an irregular mini series about passions of mine (they'll be in no particular order, rather will be talked about as I think of them) Obviously, my main passion is the books, so I won't bother repeating what I've said many, many times before about them!

We'll kick off instead with one of my less controversial passions.

I've always enjoyed dancing, but mostly of the drunken clubbing variety up until a few years back. That was the year I first watched Strictly Come Dancing, and was entranced by the beauty and grace of the professional dancers. It didn't take me long to recognise the fact that classes could be found all over the country, and I signed up almost immediately.

My dance studio is Tempo Dancing and I have private lessons with the very beautiful Annie, an Estonian talent with the patience of a saint!



Over the past few years I have been learning a variety of Ballroom and Latin American dances: the smooth Foxtrot, the dreamy Waltz, the fiery Tango, the cheeky Cha Cha, the romantic Rhumba, the frenetic Quickstep and the bouncy Jive. More recently I have tackled the carnival steps of the Samba and the dramatic Paso Doble.

I love dancing. I'm not great at it, but my enthusiasm more than makes up for that! An hour of dancing will flash past, and I'm astonished by how much exercise you get in that hour... There is a reason that the contestants on Strictly can drop as much as two dress sizes during their time on the show! Not least of all, I smile for the entire hour of my dance lesson. I only wish I could go more than once a week!

Do any of you dance? What do you enjoy the most about it? Have you considered trying it after watching Strictly?

Lastly, here is one good reason why dancing is steamy, sexy and unbelievably good fun...



p.s. Would also love feedback whether this is a direction you're happy to see my blog go in (irregular personal posts)?