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I'm 100!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Well maybe not me but my pod cast is!

I have just published Trunk Cast 100 and it's a very special edition. Not only is there a competition for all your loyal followers but I have also managed to secure a very special interview.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts of this very special show!

Please note the closing date for the competition is the 15th September 2007

Labels: Trunk Cast

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Paddles, Stones, Knives, Guns and Wands

This weekend has been very nice - having the extra today off today is an obvious bonus.

Thanks to the weather making a dramatic shift we have been able to make the most of the three days off.

Richard and I had a quiet day on Saturday which is probably just as well as it helped us shift our colds.

On Sunday we visited the Docklands in London, specifically to go to the Docklands Museum. It's owned and run by the Museum of London and we have always said we'd go and finally we managed to! I found the exhibition very interesting as it gives a very graphic portrait of the history of London and the Docks, dating as far back as the Romans to present day.

We made the most of the dock side location and had a spot of lunch in one of the many restaurants offering alfresco dining.

Canary Wharf is not very far from the 02 where we ended up yesterday as we booked to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It was odd to be back at the 02 so soon after Fridays Prince concert (even odder that the stadium was decked out for the Rolling Stones).

I thought I saw quite a few O(+> t-shirts at the Prince gigs but I was surprised by how many "tongue and mouth" t-shirts I saw the Stones fans wearing. I am not sure what to make of the crowd either - there was a small amount of younger fans but the rest of them appeared to be as old and as geriatric as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards!

The film was good fun though and even though I am not a Harry Potter an I found it entertaining. I do feel however that J K Rowling creates characters just for the sake of it. The headmistress appears to have more attention paid to her than anyone else and yet she is expelled quite rapidly without much intervention from any main characters. And what of the main characters? Do not of them get to progress at any level? It really does appear that they all are a part of the story just to back up Whining Potter!

Richard and I watched the news on the train back yesterday and were not that shocked to hear that someone had been stabbed at the Notting Hill Carnival. Stabbings have became as almost an annual event as he carnival itself. What with the recent culture of knife and gun crime on the streets of the UK I really am worried about the future of this great country. I don't know how things have got to bad not how it can be fixed - all I do know is that government is too soft and the police appear powerless as a result.

I grow tired of the way news and stories are carried on the media. An 11 year old white boy was shot dead (in the back of the neck) in Liverpool earlier this week. It was s hocking story but a couple of days later his tragic tail has slipped to the bottom of the bulletins. When Damilola Taylor, an 8 year old black boy was stabbed to death a couple of years ago in London, his story was top billing for weeks. What allows the news organisations to pitch one story as more important than the other and why aren't they using the news generated from the death of Damilola to make people realise the this poor 11 year old should not have died in this gruesome attack as something should have been done about gang culture years ago!

I really don't know what this country is heading towards...

On a more personal note you may realise that I have decided to end my run of 365 photographs. I enjoy the whole online social thing but to be honest it all takes up too much time. I therefore have decided not to continue with 365 days. I did manage to complete 160 days!

To be perfectly honest I have other things to do with my time, this also a reason why I am growing tired of other social sites such as Facebook - who has the time to spend hours updating useless elements of a web page - and to be honest, who really has the time to read it all? I look at some profiles and wonder if some people actually have much going on in their lives at all as all them appear to do is update My Space and Facebook profiles!

Of course this doesn't mean I will disappear offline nor does it mean I'll stop uploading photos; but only when I have something to share and want to share it!

Labels: London, my, News, Photography, TV, UK, Weather

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The Magic Number

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Through some luck Ness and I managed to acquire tickets to yet another Prince gig last night (my third attendance this tour and Ness's fourth).

Prince once again was on form and we enjoyed one hell of a party.

The piano section this time was spiced up by the use of a vox and some hot sampling by Prince, he managed to reduce me to tears during Sometimes is Snows in April whilst tearing up the floor with new renditions of Sign 'o the Times, Pop Life and When Doves Cry. Prince followed Musicology with Prince and the Band (which I desperately want on MP3!)

He also managed to slot in samples of Honky Tonk Woman and Head.

Prince was also in a very jovial mood last night, popping digs at the Rolling Stones (who also played the 02 this week) and informing us during Satisfied that there rules to comply to to keep his house in order. As far as I can recall these were:

Put the toilet seat down!
Sports are ok on a Sunday - but shopping is not a sport
Free discussion and debate are allowed
If you have to talk, please do so during the commercial breaks ;o)

Another blistering show and another post morning with no voice but elated. I still need to feed my Prince addiction though and (unlike Keith Richards), I'd say it's one of the best drugs of choice out there!

Labels: Prince

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Third times a charm!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Guess where I am off 2 2nite? That's right, 2 c Prince ;)

Now if only I could shift my damn cold :(

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Brought something back

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Well we are back from Brittany and although it's a lovely part of the world, we had to see it through heavy rain and high winds.

We still had a great time though. It was lovely to spend time with Maria, David and the boys. It's just a shame it's over already.

Heading back to the bloody day job with a head full of cold :(

~~I will write more and upload some photos tonight.~~

I have uploaded a sample of the photos taken whilst away but as there were three cameras, there are mnay more to follow!

Labels: holiday

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Out of aktchun!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Off to Brittany (France) - see ya'll in a week!

Labels: Cheezburger, holiday

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A Lovely Weekend

Sunday, August 12, 2007

We have had a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful weekend, but it very nearly didn't happen!

Carol and Dave paid us a visit this weekend but they had a minor crisis at home which was thankfully sorted before they drove down on Friday.

The weather this weekend has been superb and we have made the most of it. Each evening has been spent under the stars in the garden, chilling out with the odd bottle of plonk enjoying civil conversation before heading indoors to play Wii Sports ;o)

During Saturday we had a lovely day looking around Waddesdon Manor and taking gentle strolls around the grounds. As you can see from the photo's, the garden is in fine form and we all look very chilled.

Last night was spent out tucking into an ample dinner at a Chinese before heading back home and cooling off in the garden.

Today was spent showing Carol and Dave the sights and sounds of St Albans (particularly highlighted by the service of the Dunstable Girls Choir which wee performing in the Abbey when we arrived).

A gentle stroll around town before heading back home and all too soon it was over.

We have had a lovely weekend and it has been wonderful to see Carol and Dave. They brought with them another set of photo's from the Big Event which I have uploaded to the collection on Flickr.

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Hot Thing

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

I cannot believe it - Prince was smoking last night!

The two day rest must have done him some good as last nights concert was hotter than Saturdays.

He really tore up the stage, managing to dance and gyrate all night, it did seem that he didn't want to end. With four encores it felt like he didn't too.

The arrangement was different last night starting with a like video to get us all in the mood and then he started the concert with Little Red Corvette and an acoustic guitar set.

The band joined him later followed by the Wonderful World interlude followed by a fantastic 25 minutes session of Prince and his piano. He really belted out some old skool hits last night and the crowd really appreciated it.

Songs that differed from Saturdays performance included, Do Me Baby (which we also heard him rehearse), Diamonds and Pearls, The Beautiful Ones, I Could Never Take the Place of your Man, Alphabet Street, DMSR, Somewhere Here on Earth and Condition of the Heart.

As well as the audience members who got up and danced, one lucky guy was privileged enough to be on the mic to sing Play That Funky Music

The support was a Texan Meringue band called Fantasma. We weren't that bothered by them when they performed their own material but the final encore seen them return to the stage to tear into Get on the Boat with Prince and the Band.

Oh what a night!

(Of course this means I want to go again...)

Labels: Friends, Prince

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Here we go again!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

I cannot believe it's Tuesday already. I am on my way into London to meet Ness for lunch before we head off to tonight's Prince concert.

I am very interested to see how tonights set list will change.

Labels: Friends, Prince

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Good day...

Monday, August 06, 2007

I was having such a good day when I noticed I had received an email from my bank informing me I had changed my password for online purchases.

I had done no such thing so rang them.

Turns out someone has managed to get the details from my old card (which was replaced by the bank as it had expired) and has managed to suss out personal details and made a purchase with the card this morning.

Thankfully the secure system has alerted me (hint me not the bank) to the problem and no money has been removed.

I am perplexed as to how this has happened. I can only imagine it must have been possible through some phishing on my PC (another reason to ditch it and stick with Mac only).

I have to admit I am very annoyed with the bank though - if it was an old card, why on earth was it not cancelled on their system?

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Tired but happy

I thought I had recovered from Saturdays jubilations but this morning I am not so sure.

Thankfully I had the foresight to load my iPod with additional Prince tunes (although I forgot to sync them all!)

At least it's a short working week for me. I am back it the 02 with Ness tomorrow for Planet Earth Round 2. I am really looking forward to next weekend too as Carol and Dave are visiting.

Labels: Friends, Prince

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Beautiful Night

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Last night's Prince concert at the 02 was amazing. He really is on form, jumping, dancing, spinning and gyrating around the stage like he has always done.

The concert was very good and the short dude (to quote Dean) was on stage for around 2 and a half hours.

The set was very tight and this incarnation of the band are very good. Of course the inclusion of Maceo Parker means lots of Sly and James Brown tracks being kicked out to the masses.

Dean and I were both quite interested to see Vanessa's reaction as she was so excited. When Prince came up through the floor of the stage she was speechless. Ness also managed a tear or two during Purple Rain. I am not criticising though as I had tears rolling down my face during Sometimes it Snows in April.

Prince managed three encores during the main concert and he certainly mixed up his repertoire. The opener was Let's Go Crazy which really got the audience in the mood. Other songs (that I remember) were Guitar, Controversy, Raspberry Beret, Pass the Peas, Play that Funky Music, Lolita, Kiss, Musicology, If I was Your Girlfriend, U Got the Look, Shhh, Sexy Dancer/Le Freak, I Feel 4 You, Cream, Pink Cashmere, Black Sweat, Take Me with You, I Would Die for You (although that may have been the after show party), Little Red Corvette and Nothing Compares 2 U.

I think that was it!

I just want to say a quick note about the venue as I am really impressed with the way they have changed the venue since it was the Millennium Dome. It's like a small village inside with the stadium at it's center. it was clean, Light, spacious, everyone got a good view and the acoustics were very good.

I wouldn't want to pay for the £250 front seats though cause I fear being sat at the front by the top of the symbol would mean you wouldn't see very much (Prince seem to spend the majority of the concert on the point).

It was a bit of a crush getting out too - I don't think it helped that out of the 20,000 people, 2,000 of us were making our way to the night club for the after show party.

Now what can I say about the party? I enjoyed it. It was fun. The DJ had a cool knack of mixing Prince tracks in with more contemporary ( and not so contemporary) stuff, I am just ashamed by the behaviour of some of the crowd.

a) I cannot believe just how drunk some people were and b) I cannot believe how rude people were.

We were all told the after show party was a strict no camera affair and people didn't listen, much to their own undoing.

Nikka Costa (who also opened the main concert) came on stage around 1.30 (we had gotten into the club round midnight) and she opened with a very strong set. During Like a Feather, Prince joined her on stage. The song was really tight but sadly our attention was drawn to the bouncer hauling people out of the club for taking photos.

At this point Ness and I did throw glances as we noticed Prince didn't seem to happy. Sure enough we were right as he didn't come back on stage. The band joined Nikka for a rousing rendition of Every body's Got Their Something but after this people started to heckle her.

Nikka really did seem to be struggling to keep the crowds attention and I found it very embarrassing to her this wonderful woman sing whilst a small percentage were chanting "We want Prince".

Nikka Costa left the stage around 2.30 and we noticed the stage wasn't being prepared but it looked like It was being dismantled. It was at this point we'd decided we'd had a great night, enjoyed the concert and had a good ol' dance at the after show party and called it a day. I eventually got home just before 4am!

Reading 3121 this morning it appears that we were right to leave when we did as Prince didn't come back on stage. I am not worried though as we had an excellent time and a free Nikka Costa closed concert to boot (and she had the worlds hottest guitar players backing her up at one point ;o) ).

All in all a fantastic show and my poor aching back and feet are proof of how much dancing we did last night.

Roll on Tuesday when we get to do it all over again!

Labels: 365, Friends, Music, Prince

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SMFWTHV*

Thursday, August 02, 2007

I am now getting excited about the Prince concerts we are going to see this weekend.

As you know I am lucky enough to be going to two shows and judging by all the rave reviews and feedback I have found online I am just itching to get to the 02.

The aftershow reviews sound promising too - hopefully Saturday night will be cause for a double celebration.

I find it interesting that Prince is back to doing several encores by show - tried and tested Prince fans know not to leave the arena/stadium early and it looks like this is once again the case.

Typically some of the reviews have been critical of things that didn't happen at the show and I find this useless, I also tire of comment like "Prince continues his Purple Reign" - please this line has been used since the 80's can you journo's please think up something else?

Anyway two days to go - I count the days...

*Skinny Mother Fucker with the High Voice

Labels: Prince

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