A busier time of late than March and one that brought a much-needed break. I was glad to have a few days off at the start of the month to draw breath. The Easter holidays were pretty good, well apart from the fact that my boiler gave up the ghost. No doubt it had been slightly overworked given the winter we have just had. So far the quotes for a new one have done nothing but bring about a wince and a high pitched shriek from myself!
So away from home-based disasters, I went along to a gig at my favourite venue the Citadel to see Radio 2 DJ Mark Radcliffe's band the Big Figures. They have been playing in his local for a number of years and have this year ventured out on tour. They play a number of Dr Feelgood tunes and early classics. I’m sure there may have been one or two of their own songs in the set too. a band that before now had passed me by. It is quite timely given that Oil City Confidential the documentary about the band was released - it has even made it on to BBC4. I enjoyed the gig and Radcliffe is a fine front man. His humour and talent shine through. I’m looking forward to when he gets the Family Mahone back together for his now legendary Christmas gigs.
As a result of the gig I have checked out ‘Oil City Confidential’ the movie and the accompanying soundtrack. It includes a number of their songs plus a couple from Johnny Kid and the Pirates (a band that influenced the nascent Feelgood). There are some great tunes on the album (live and recorded). You can see why a number of punk bands have cited them as an influence.
Another album that I had been looking forward to being released finally materialised this month. Pavement is the American band who inspired Blur’s conversion from the Britpop style to a more American sound, have released a 23 track compilation album called ‘Quarantine the Past’. I was a late convert to the band and was looking to hearing something that encapsulated their whole career. I’m not sure this is it, the die-hard fan will probably say that there is a lot of stuff missing. ‘Stereo’ remains a favourite of mine, as well as ‘Spit on a Stranger’ that was covered by the folk singer Kathryn Williams to good effect on her ‘Relations ‘album. Its a good introduction to the band and is well worth checking out. Listening to it has got me inspired in checking out the other bits of back catalogue that have been remastered to coincide with this Greatest Hits and reformation of the band.
It was a good month for album releases, the Amazon wish list was served with a number of new additions. One that was instantly purchased was the new Paul Weller album ‘Wake Up The Nation’. Given my devotion of all things Weller, it was always an album that I would be purchasing. A number of publications have given it favourable reviews and compared it well with his previous release ‘22 Dreams’, which was quite eclectic in the number of styles on display over the course of the album. ‘Wake Up The Nation’ is a more stripped down approach and weighs in at less than 45 minutes long, but covers a similar range of styles. One song ‘Trees’ is like a mini-symphony at less then 5 minutes long. The title track rails at the Facebook-age and is quite an impassioned track. I have to say that the album has been seldom of my player since HMV sent it out to me two days before its release (thank you). To these ears I think it is possibly his best solo album and certainly not far off the Jam’s best album Sound Effects. It’s that good. Not bad for an artist who has passed the milestone of his 50th birthday and he is still going strong, where other contemporaries are churning pale imitations of their best work. I look forward to hearing these tunes performed live later on in the year.
The Arctic Monkeys album, I have to say it washes over me in some ways and the reviews that I had read about lacking a little lustre of the first two albums ring true. Lyrically it is still top notch, just lacking in tunes. There are probably two tracks that stand out, with first song ‘My Propeller’ being my favourite, as well as ‘Pretty Visitors’.
Another new band for me is Wild Beasts, who hail from the Lake District. Like the Arctic Monkeys, ‘Two Dancers’ is an album that was released last year, I have seen them mentioned in passing and have heard a few tunes on a number of Uncut free cds. I’m glad I bought the album, it is one of the best new albums I have heard in a long time. It’s very 80s in places and with a bit of Bunnymen thrown in too, which is no bad thing. The highlights for me is the opener ‘Fun Powder Plot’, reminds me of something that for now I’m sure what, and ‘Two Dancers (II)’. I look forward to checking out their previous album in due course.
The last day of the month a rare term time day off and off to Poland where a friend of Silvi was due to be married. We flew by Wizzair and thankfully the flight was less stressful than my previous flight with Ryanair in January. The weekend was busy to say the least we flew into Katowice and then had to get a bus from their to Krakow and then on to Tarnow, where the wedding was taking place on the Saturday. Sunday was spent Krakow were a short trip around the city was only possible.
It was good to finally see Krakow and would like to visit there again in future though with a longer time to sightsee and with less travelling. As is usually the case when flying for me these days, there was a delay to the flight of 5 hours. Which meant a 7 hour stay at Katowice Airport, a place not noted for its abundance of resources. Sadly it was Silvis birthday, so we had to spend the day celebrating it at an airport. When we finally made it back in the evening we only really had time for tea in a pub with my parents who had come to pick us up from the airport.
After that bit of excitement, May can be summed up by one activity. Marking, marking and more marking. Never mind, it will soon be the summer!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Scriptfrenzy 2010
Today is the first day of Scriptfrenzy a month long writing contest, one that I signed up to take part in last year. It is similar to Nanowrimo and all those other do-something-creative-in-a-month competitions that internet has helped popularise.
Last year, I signed up at the very last minute (as chronicled here) and enjoyed every moment of the experience. This year, I have another idea for a script that I was looking forward to getting stuck into but unfortunately I won't be at the starting line with all the other writers. The main reason I guess is that I have surveyed the month ahead and that from a work point of view (work of the paid kind) I just won’t have the time to give the attention that it deserves. Marking season will soon be upon me!
From a writing point of view I also feel like I have a number of half-finished ideas that I need to get out of the way first before I undertake another project such as this. Last summer, I started a novel, which at this moment stands half completed. I also lined up at the start of Nanowrimo in November - unfortunately work got in the way again so I’m left with another half finished novel. Added to this is the small matter of the last year’s script, which is still at the first draft stage and has been filed away and has not been read since its completion.
This last week while I have been off work I have been surveying a number of pieces of work that I had written for other workshops of late and some other bits that that I had forgotten I had written. So I think for now I should really be concentrating on clearing the decks and start getting some of my already completed/soon to be completed work out there.
That is why with great reluctance that I won't be lining up with other ScreenFrenzy participants. I wish them every success in what is an interesting, frustrating and ultimately enjoyable experience.
Last year, I signed up at the very last minute (as chronicled here) and enjoyed every moment of the experience. This year, I have another idea for a script that I was looking forward to getting stuck into but unfortunately I won't be at the starting line with all the other writers. The main reason I guess is that I have surveyed the month ahead and that from a work point of view (work of the paid kind) I just won’t have the time to give the attention that it deserves. Marking season will soon be upon me!
From a writing point of view I also feel like I have a number of half-finished ideas that I need to get out of the way first before I undertake another project such as this. Last summer, I started a novel, which at this moment stands half completed. I also lined up at the start of Nanowrimo in November - unfortunately work got in the way again so I’m left with another half finished novel. Added to this is the small matter of the last year’s script, which is still at the first draft stage and has been filed away and has not been read since its completion.
This last week while I have been off work I have been surveying a number of pieces of work that I had written for other workshops of late and some other bits that that I had forgotten I had written. So I think for now I should really be concentrating on clearing the decks and start getting some of my already completed/soon to be completed work out there.
That is why with great reluctance that I won't be lining up with other ScreenFrenzy participants. I wish them every success in what is an interesting, frustrating and ultimately enjoyable experience.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
March
The year seems to be slipping away fairly quickly already, somehow it’s April tomorrow. On some level this month has been something of a write-off. Work has just got in the way of everything really and the month has been an exercise in bobbing along.
I suppose one highlight this month was catching up with a few mates for a birthday in Liverpool, I realised that it had been nearly two years since I had caught up with them. That’s just too long but that seems to be the case these days with too many of my friends.
Only one visit to the cinema this month after an almost prolific month last time and that was to see Crazy Heart, which has Jeff Bridges & Maggie Gyllenhaal in the main roles. The story is a well-travelled path, but it's worth a watch. The music is good too, if you like Americana that does not stray into that clichéd Rhinestone Cowboy sound.
I think I only watched one DVD and that was Cloverfield, which frankly annoyed the hell out of me. Instead of wanting the main cast members to survive, I was glad when they were killed off one-by-one. I liked the concept; just the actual execution of the film was not that great.
On the music front I checked a couple of albums that I had been meaning to check out for a few years. Wolfmother, was one album that I managed to listen to they are an Australian band that obviously own a few Led Zeppelin albums. It is fairly rocky stuff - but not too bad.
Another band that wear their influences on their sleeves is the Gaslight Anthem. Their album ‘59 Sound’ is a couple of years old and I have been meaning to check them out having read about them a fair bit in Uncut. The New Jersey band not only shares a state with Bruce Springsteen but also a sound - they have even shared a stage in the last few years. This is a great album if you like that impassioned American rock sound; ‘Great Expectations’ is the stand out track. They have a new album in the offing, which I hope to check out when it is released.
I also took the time to limp down memory lane with a blast through the Wonder Stuff, doing ‘Hup’ live. The release is an updated version to celebrate 21 years since it came out. It’s a DVD and cvd package of recent gig in Birmingham and the songs sound great after all these years. It was interesting to hear on the album that the lead singer Miles Hunt considers it to be his favourite Wonder Stuff album, something that I fully agree with. Though ‘Never Loved Elvis’ is a contender for my favourite too as it contains ‘Here Comes Everyone’ and was the album that really got me into the band.
That’s a bout it for March, hopefully next month can be a little more productive than the one that’s just gone.
I suppose one highlight this month was catching up with a few mates for a birthday in Liverpool, I realised that it had been nearly two years since I had caught up with them. That’s just too long but that seems to be the case these days with too many of my friends.
Only one visit to the cinema this month after an almost prolific month last time and that was to see Crazy Heart, which has Jeff Bridges & Maggie Gyllenhaal in the main roles. The story is a well-travelled path, but it's worth a watch. The music is good too, if you like Americana that does not stray into that clichéd Rhinestone Cowboy sound.
I think I only watched one DVD and that was Cloverfield, which frankly annoyed the hell out of me. Instead of wanting the main cast members to survive, I was glad when they were killed off one-by-one. I liked the concept; just the actual execution of the film was not that great.
On the music front I checked a couple of albums that I had been meaning to check out for a few years. Wolfmother, was one album that I managed to listen to they are an Australian band that obviously own a few Led Zeppelin albums. It is fairly rocky stuff - but not too bad.
Another band that wear their influences on their sleeves is the Gaslight Anthem. Their album ‘59 Sound’ is a couple of years old and I have been meaning to check them out having read about them a fair bit in Uncut. The New Jersey band not only shares a state with Bruce Springsteen but also a sound - they have even shared a stage in the last few years. This is a great album if you like that impassioned American rock sound; ‘Great Expectations’ is the stand out track. They have a new album in the offing, which I hope to check out when it is released.
I also took the time to limp down memory lane with a blast through the Wonder Stuff, doing ‘Hup’ live. The release is an updated version to celebrate 21 years since it came out. It’s a DVD and cvd package of recent gig in Birmingham and the songs sound great after all these years. It was interesting to hear on the album that the lead singer Miles Hunt considers it to be his favourite Wonder Stuff album, something that I fully agree with. Though ‘Never Loved Elvis’ is a contender for my favourite too as it contains ‘Here Comes Everyone’ and was the album that really got me into the band.
That’s a bout it for March, hopefully next month can be a little more productive than the one that’s just gone.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A Quiet Pint in the Everyman
After my recent road to Damascus like conversion to real ale, in the middle of a week off from work, I picked up my copy of Around the Pubs in 80 days. I suppose if I was to start a drinking odyssey around Liverpool it would be difficult to know where to begin such a journey
For me, I suppose that journey would begin in the Everyman Bistro. If I were a permanent inhabitant of Liverpool city centre this would be my local. It is not typically a real-ale pub but on some levels adheres to the ethos of what a real-ale pub should be. I should hate this place on account of the low beams of the ceiling; this is on account of it being in the depths of the Everyman Theatre. I can’t help but feel a little self-conscious when the place is full.
Thankfully I have popped in on a quiet Thursday afternoon, it is just me, and a couple of members of staff. I have my usual a quick bottle of Cain's lager before I’m due to meet my friend later on. With French music station on in the background and a beer in my hand it is quite relaxing. It's quite good to have a pub to yourself to contemplate the world. The music is good too and has that French lounge-core feel. On second thoughts it sounds Spanish.
Sadly they are going to renovate this place soon - hopefully the new building will retain some of this place’s character. Though hopefully with a better ceiling space for the non-vertically challenged, like myself.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
February
The second one of these monthly round ups - I have not got bored of doing them as yet…though give it time. I always regard February as the true start to the year. January feels like a shutdown and nothing much really happens. Due to varying factors, this has certainly been the case in 2010. It’s been yet another month that has been blighted with snow.
Well as things start up again the he first weekend of the month saw the first gig of the year. I managed to get to see Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls of the Wonder Stuff, doing one of their acoustic sets at the Liverpool Philharmonic’s intimate Rosewald Suite. The gig was a well-travelled path for the audience but Hunt was in good form both with his songs and ever engaging reflections that Hunt dwells upon in-between the songs. I have lost count at the amount of times I have seen him play in his numerous guises down the years and look forward to future gigs.
Music wise it has been a slack month really, nothing new has really caught my ear. I have not listened to anything interesting apart from catching up with a couple of the free Uncut cds from the last few editions. Uncut magazine and its accompanying cds are normally good at throwing up new bands to check out.
One album that I have been listening to of late has been the Florence and the Machine album, I know that the album had been getting a bit of a mention in the papers with Florence becoming something of a ubiquitous figure, something that’s not always good. I have to say the album is good and lives up to the hype and yes she does have a touch of the Kate Bush about her - which is no bad thing. The songs which have appeared on adverts bear up to closer scrutiny but I have to say my favourite song on the album is Drumming Song. I picked up a free remix from RCD RBL, a decent website that offers daily free legit downloads.
With the bad weather returning, trips to the cinema have been the order of the day. Despite putting it off and thinking it could not live up to the hype I finally got around to watching Avatar. Though the plot is fairly flimsy, apparently a carbon copy of Pocahontas, watching it in the cinema in all its 3D glory was certainly something that made the film for me. The clips of future features in 3D looked good too. This month I also went to see Invictus and An Education, though not as visually as enticing as Avatar, they are highly recommended films based on true stories.
I suppose the main highlight of the month, in an ever so geeky way was finally getting hold of an iPhone. After a period of limbo with Vodafone, my contract finally ran out. As someone who had previously taken the easy option of upgrading to the latest Sony Erricson model. Thankfully Apple's exclusivity deal with 02 had ended and I could stick with more reliable Vodafone network.
So what is so good about the iPhone? Well, it's a camera, which has a reasonable spec - better camera phones do exist. The phone is pretty good with some nice features too; the chance to browse emails is also good too. It also enables you to play music too. It feels like the future - well it did until the day of its arrival Apple launched its much heralded tablet computer, which looks good though the iPad I’m afraid that’s for another year.
The iPhone has a head start over other devices given its iTunes store, which offers a number of free and paid for applications. The interests that I have reflect the choices of applications that I planned to download. First up was the Everton app and the Echo and the Bunnymen app.
When you first pick up the box that the iPhone comes in, it is hard not to be overcome by a feeling of ‘is that it?’ Given the economy of space that Apple use with its packaging - all the elements - cables, headphones and instructions. It is bundled together pretty well Once you open up and load your iPhone then these disappointments dissipate.
The one gripe that is common in the reviews that I have read previously is that the battery life is not that great and if you use it constantly then you are lucky to get more than a day out of the device. This I have found so true. That aside, I have to say I like my new toy and have enjoyed the month familiarising myself with its many features.
Well as things start up again the he first weekend of the month saw the first gig of the year. I managed to get to see Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls of the Wonder Stuff, doing one of their acoustic sets at the Liverpool Philharmonic’s intimate Rosewald Suite. The gig was a well-travelled path for the audience but Hunt was in good form both with his songs and ever engaging reflections that Hunt dwells upon in-between the songs. I have lost count at the amount of times I have seen him play in his numerous guises down the years and look forward to future gigs.
Music wise it has been a slack month really, nothing new has really caught my ear. I have not listened to anything interesting apart from catching up with a couple of the free Uncut cds from the last few editions. Uncut magazine and its accompanying cds are normally good at throwing up new bands to check out.
One album that I have been listening to of late has been the Florence and the Machine album, I know that the album had been getting a bit of a mention in the papers with Florence becoming something of a ubiquitous figure, something that’s not always good. I have to say the album is good and lives up to the hype and yes she does have a touch of the Kate Bush about her - which is no bad thing. The songs which have appeared on adverts bear up to closer scrutiny but I have to say my favourite song on the album is Drumming Song. I picked up a free remix from RCD RBL, a decent website that offers daily free legit downloads.
With the bad weather returning, trips to the cinema have been the order of the day. Despite putting it off and thinking it could not live up to the hype I finally got around to watching Avatar. Though the plot is fairly flimsy, apparently a carbon copy of Pocahontas, watching it in the cinema in all its 3D glory was certainly something that made the film for me. The clips of future features in 3D looked good too. This month I also went to see Invictus and An Education, though not as visually as enticing as Avatar, they are highly recommended films based on true stories.
I suppose the main highlight of the month, in an ever so geeky way was finally getting hold of an iPhone. After a period of limbo with Vodafone, my contract finally ran out. As someone who had previously taken the easy option of upgrading to the latest Sony Erricson model. Thankfully Apple's exclusivity deal with 02 had ended and I could stick with more reliable Vodafone network.
So what is so good about the iPhone? Well, it's a camera, which has a reasonable spec - better camera phones do exist. The phone is pretty good with some nice features too; the chance to browse emails is also good too. It also enables you to play music too. It feels like the future - well it did until the day of its arrival Apple launched its much heralded tablet computer, which looks good though the iPad I’m afraid that’s for another year.
The iPhone has a head start over other devices given its iTunes store, which offers a number of free and paid for applications. The interests that I have reflect the choices of applications that I planned to download. First up was the Everton app and the Echo and the Bunnymen app.
When you first pick up the box that the iPhone comes in, it is hard not to be overcome by a feeling of ‘is that it?’ Given the economy of space that Apple use with its packaging - all the elements - cables, headphones and instructions. It is bundled together pretty well Once you open up and load your iPhone then these disappointments dissipate.
The one gripe that is common in the reviews that I have read previously is that the battery life is not that great and if you use it constantly then you are lucky to get more than a day out of the device. This I have found so true. That aside, I have to say I like my new toy and have enjoyed the month familiarising myself with its many features.
Monday, February 8, 2010
24 Hours in the City
Today’s events could have been anywhere. Our mission to encapsulate the plan of the day was shrouded in a fog of grey cloud that meant it virtually impossible to see the skyline and the coast of the morning light.
It was a long day that encompassed all that Liverpool has to offer football, commerce, music and family are things that all can relate to. Given the nature of Sky and their demands as a broadcaster all points on the day were set up, lunchtime with the family watching the game reflecting on yet another derby defeat for Everton.
Then shopping in the afternoon at the wonderful Liverpool 1, the novelty has not worn off for me yet about this place. Numerous coffees consumed, and for the first time for me Sushi, though of the vegetarian kind.
In the evening still in the heartbeat of the city, a quick drink at the Everyman and then it was off to see Miles Hunt doing his stuff , not in the main auditorium but in the Rosewald Suite of the Philharmonic hall. He gets better every time I see him.
Tentatively heading for our mode our transport with thoughts of returning home after the day’s events, at a time when thoughts should be turning to bed, I still find time to pop in briefly for my cousin’s 30th birthday. Finally an hour and half into the new day, I make it into bed. It was a long day but an enjoyable one all the same.
The events took place on Saturday 6th February 2010
It was a long day that encompassed all that Liverpool has to offer football, commerce, music and family are things that all can relate to. Given the nature of Sky and their demands as a broadcaster all points on the day were set up, lunchtime with the family watching the game reflecting on yet another derby defeat for Everton.
Then shopping in the afternoon at the wonderful Liverpool 1, the novelty has not worn off for me yet about this place. Numerous coffees consumed, and for the first time for me Sushi, though of the vegetarian kind.
In the evening still in the heartbeat of the city, a quick drink at the Everyman and then it was off to see Miles Hunt doing his stuff , not in the main auditorium but in the Rosewald Suite of the Philharmonic hall. He gets better every time I see him.
Tentatively heading for our mode our transport with thoughts of returning home after the day’s events, at a time when thoughts should be turning to bed, I still find time to pop in briefly for my cousin’s 30th birthday. Finally an hour and half into the new day, I make it into bed. It was a long day but an enjoyable one all the same.
The events took place on Saturday 6th February 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
January
Man alive this month has been bleak, it has constantly been snowing and that has made the briefest of journeys difficult. The newspapers have been speculating that this is the onset of the apocalypse! I was even snowed in at some point for three days and that resulted in having to work from home – which is not easy when you have lectures scheduled. I tried to set off for a 9.00am lecture - an hour later having trundled less than a mile, I turned and headed for home. So the best plan for this month was stay indoors and enjoy the warmth of a glowing fire and some cultural treats.
Of the highlights of the month, the main highlight was something that began in the last days of 2009 and went through until 2nd January. It was a different start to a new year for me. Normally I like to spend that unnamed period between Boxing Day doing as little as possible. This year that changed as I spent the period in Slovakia. I stayed in a place called Kosice in the east of the country with my gf and her sister and was made to feel thoroughly welcome.
Having flown in on Monday evening the week was something of a whirlwind but I have to say enjoyable. I only arrived in Kosice after – two flights from Manchester to Bratislava, then Bratislava to Kosice. The next two days were spent exploring the city and even included my first ever game of squash…which I managed to survive. New Year’s Eve was spent in a club called Wig Wam – which was interesting to see how a different culture celebrated New Year - no different as it turned out.
The final day was spent in Bratislava (where we were due to fly home from), this required an early start to catch the 5.30am train. Bratislava is very nice and is obviously geared towards the tourist trade with the number of quirky and different statues it has littered around the streets - which I took the opportunity to snap and pose in front of. The flight home was my first encounter with Ryanair and everything that I had heard about them is true - cheap without ever troubling the cheerful side of that cliché.
Added to the fun of the flight was the rapid decent due to turbulence…twice. This was conveniently ignored by the pilot, given it happened more than once was a little disconcerting to say the least. When we eventually landed the relief turned to hilarity when the announcement congratulated everyone for being of ‘90% of the flights that landed’…thankfully this was not an admittance of their poor flying abilities mainly the announcement had cut out before it could add the ‘on time’ which was of importance to that mention. A day of rest was called for after all that, alas that was not the case as it was my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary celebrations the next day. This was good and it was good to catch up with family so soon after Christmas.
So the cultural highlights of the month, given that I was a little skint after Christmas it was mainly catching up with the stuff that had been piling up. The pick of the albums that I have been listening to was the Eels, who are now in the veteran stage of their career and now have enough tunes to release a greatest hits collection (not that not having enough hits usually deters other bands). The collection is not the cheeriest but seemed to be fitting giving the weather so far this year.
The other albums listened to this month was the Leisure Society’s, The Sleeper an album I had been meaning to listen to for a few years after hearing their excellent single Last of the Melting Snow on the Mark Radcliffe show. The album was quite cheap on Amazon and contained a bonus disc of equally interesting material. Apart from the afore mentioned song A Matter of Time was my favourite other track.
Another album that I had on constantly this month was the Swell Season’s new album – another bargain considering the package contained an a disc of new tracks, a live cd and DVD. The Swell Season is Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, stars of the 2007 film Once, a favourite of mine, who their song Falling Slowly won an Oscar in 2008 for the Best Original Song…something of a left field success. The album is a follow on from the soundtrack and continues the line of upbeat melancholia.
My only venture to the cinema this month was when I was in Slovakia at the start of the year, thankfully I dodged a Jennifer Anniston movie (my gf and her sister decided to watch that) instead I watched Sherlock Holmes. I liked the look of the trailers but on the whole I think the movie came across as smug and feeling too wrapped up in itself - the film also ends quite abruptly with a sequel obviously in the offing.
The pile of dvds is finally dwindling, I finally got around to watching the Inbetweeners DVD that my brother bought me for Christmas, I had already seen both series but it was well worth watching again. I also watched American Splendor and Finding Eric which I had purchased before Christmas.
Not much new on the old gogglebox apart from the new series of Curb your Enthusiasm which is showing on More4, and was especially entertaining as it reunited the cast of Seinfeld and thankfully did not trash the memory of the series. I also made a start on wading through the earlier series, which are still good after all these years.
That’s it for now; hopefully I can keep this going next month. Here’s to spring which can’t come soon enough.
Of the highlights of the month, the main highlight was something that began in the last days of 2009 and went through until 2nd January. It was a different start to a new year for me. Normally I like to spend that unnamed period between Boxing Day doing as little as possible. This year that changed as I spent the period in Slovakia. I stayed in a place called Kosice in the east of the country with my gf and her sister and was made to feel thoroughly welcome.
Having flown in on Monday evening the week was something of a whirlwind but I have to say enjoyable. I only arrived in Kosice after – two flights from Manchester to Bratislava, then Bratislava to Kosice. The next two days were spent exploring the city and even included my first ever game of squash…which I managed to survive. New Year’s Eve was spent in a club called Wig Wam – which was interesting to see how a different culture celebrated New Year - no different as it turned out.
The final day was spent in Bratislava (where we were due to fly home from), this required an early start to catch the 5.30am train. Bratislava is very nice and is obviously geared towards the tourist trade with the number of quirky and different statues it has littered around the streets - which I took the opportunity to snap and pose in front of. The flight home was my first encounter with Ryanair and everything that I had heard about them is true - cheap without ever troubling the cheerful side of that cliché.
Added to the fun of the flight was the rapid decent due to turbulence…twice. This was conveniently ignored by the pilot, given it happened more than once was a little disconcerting to say the least. When we eventually landed the relief turned to hilarity when the announcement congratulated everyone for being of ‘90% of the flights that landed’…thankfully this was not an admittance of their poor flying abilities mainly the announcement had cut out before it could add the ‘on time’ which was of importance to that mention. A day of rest was called for after all that, alas that was not the case as it was my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary celebrations the next day. This was good and it was good to catch up with family so soon after Christmas.
So the cultural highlights of the month, given that I was a little skint after Christmas it was mainly catching up with the stuff that had been piling up. The pick of the albums that I have been listening to was the Eels, who are now in the veteran stage of their career and now have enough tunes to release a greatest hits collection (not that not having enough hits usually deters other bands). The collection is not the cheeriest but seemed to be fitting giving the weather so far this year.
The other albums listened to this month was the Leisure Society’s, The Sleeper an album I had been meaning to listen to for a few years after hearing their excellent single Last of the Melting Snow on the Mark Radcliffe show. The album was quite cheap on Amazon and contained a bonus disc of equally interesting material. Apart from the afore mentioned song A Matter of Time was my favourite other track.
Another album that I had on constantly this month was the Swell Season’s new album – another bargain considering the package contained an a disc of new tracks, a live cd and DVD. The Swell Season is Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, stars of the 2007 film Once, a favourite of mine, who their song Falling Slowly won an Oscar in 2008 for the Best Original Song…something of a left field success. The album is a follow on from the soundtrack and continues the line of upbeat melancholia.
My only venture to the cinema this month was when I was in Slovakia at the start of the year, thankfully I dodged a Jennifer Anniston movie (my gf and her sister decided to watch that) instead I watched Sherlock Holmes. I liked the look of the trailers but on the whole I think the movie came across as smug and feeling too wrapped up in itself - the film also ends quite abruptly with a sequel obviously in the offing.
The pile of dvds is finally dwindling, I finally got around to watching the Inbetweeners DVD that my brother bought me for Christmas, I had already seen both series but it was well worth watching again. I also watched American Splendor and Finding Eric which I had purchased before Christmas.
Not much new on the old gogglebox apart from the new series of Curb your Enthusiasm which is showing on More4, and was especially entertaining as it reunited the cast of Seinfeld and thankfully did not trash the memory of the series. I also made a start on wading through the earlier series, which are still good after all these years.
That’s it for now; hopefully I can keep this going next month. Here’s to spring which can’t come soon enough.
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