8/22/06 12:51 pm - Hiding on the BackstreetsHello to all. |
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8/22/06 12:51 pm - Hiding on the BackstreetsHello to all. |
8/14/06 03:11 pm - Mad SeasonHey all. Forgive my probable incoherence as I've just driven for 4 horus to get home and am feeling all tired-ish! Had a good week and a half away from home though. Had a few gigs in Bristol, including our first headlining gig at the Louisiana. It was nerve-wracking stuff, because it also marked a transitional point in the band - we've gone from a 3-piece to a 4-piece with the help of our producer, Anil, who has joined us in an exciting new live context. He plays a combination of bass (with bow), guitar, electronic drum machine and keyboard (not all at the same time, of course), and the upshot of that was the soundman loved us (but he was a legend and microphoned everything properly). Headlining the gig was an odd decision by the promoters - the other two acts on the bill are arguably more high profile in the context of bristol, so although a fair few people ended up coming to see us, not quite as many stayed until the end. Which was a little bit of an annoyance. But the set itself was much tighter than I expected, and I felt personally that I really got into the atmosphere of playing off other instruments. Not an easy thing to fill a 40 minute set, but I think we pulled it off. After more recording and occasional alcohol related breaks (ahem), it was time to make the trip to Hereford (on the border with Wales) to visit my grandparents. Was a relaxing change of pace, though by this time I'd already been away from home for more than a week and was beginning to feel a bit too much like I was living out of my suitcase. That said, it was great to see family, and on one of the days we went walking in the Breccon Beacons, near famous literary town Hay-On-Wye. My phone had packed up earlier in the week and so I went and bought a new one with a far better camera. This photo shows just how stunning the area is and what a nice view we had. So now i'm back home and have plenty more going on - off to Croatia for a week in a week, and moving out to live with housemates. Can't quite believe how quickly these holidays are going and how quickly I'll be back to teaching! Will try and keep you all more updated, take care and much love Andyx |
8/11/06 04:12 pm - One small thingNot long left of work now before a whole schol year is finished. Went to an inset training thingamyjig this afternoon and one of the people giving the talks there put various objects into envelopes and handed them out. The envelope on our table contained a £3 asda bra. This was to illustrate the point that we will all need 'support' in our first years as teachers.
Now I have seen everything. |
7/17/06 04:17 pmThe end is nigh. The bells will soon toll. The cat is in the bag! The guy who wears black is at the door. I'm running out of badly construed metaphors. No, I'm not really depressed about the fact that star trek is still cancelled (oh enterprise, your vision and depth was truely before its time). Nor am I in fact, lamenting the current middle east crisis (almost too depressing to consider). Instead I have but a few working days before I can say that I have worked a year in the education sector. As people who've followed me through the highs and lows of my first year, it is a strange feeling to realise you do still want to teach, especially after some of the things I wrote in here. But something stuck with for the year - the notion things might get better. And they have. I'm a proper teacher come september and will finally have the chance to prove myself a bit more. I think that's when I'll finally be able to settle the doubts I've had in my own mind, after so long cover teaching. |
7/7/06 05:01 pm - How London Carried OnOne Year on and as always, the Guardian does the most eloquent tribute to the July the 7th Bombings. It makes the interesting point that although the attacks were horrific, not a particularly large amount has changed - the stoicism of the country remains the same and the failure of the Government to erode our liberties via its 'terror' laws provides a small amount of hope, I think. We observed a two minutes silence at school and even the kids seem to understand the importance of it. My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones today, more than anything. I also read this article by the (pretty darn good) American writer E L Doctorow and I think it really gets to the core of why I can sometimes find Western policy a depressing thing when I think about it too much. I went to see the Divine Comedy last night, who were absolutely fantastic. I had always though Neil Hannon's blend of orchestral wittiness a wee bit pompous and overdone, but a live context is obviously the place to truely appreciate it. The gig was at Somerset House, formerly the place where all the marriage and death certificates were held (actually they might still be, i don't know), but I digress. They opened with 'To Die a Virgin', a clever and twisted song that somehow gets away with the line "After all the handy andys I've been through". What I discovered is there is that side to DC, but also a wonderfully touching wistfulness to their more delicate songs ("If" and "Lucy", for example), that reminded me of the sincerity I find so compelling in Ben Fold's writing. And they did Alfie which is just a great song from when I was very, very young so I was all happy about that! I was predictably tired from the travelling in and out of london and not much sleep today, but work is over and the weekend is here so all is well. I hope everyone is alright, take care Alfie - Divine Comedy
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6/27/06 05:09 pm - And so it goesA fairly lengthy day at work today, I think the fact that general busyness has lessened somewhat of late means that things are becoming that little bit more drawn out. On the plus side, the new Ani DiFranco record 'Repreive' is nothing short of sublime. Good old ITunes - i don't even think it's supposed to be out until august, but those silly people at Apple seem to have slipped up and it's already available. She Goes On - Crowded House
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6/25/06 10:23 pm - The one with all the sexSo I finally saw the West Wing Episode where Josh and Donna FINALLY sleep together. In screen time it's been about 8= years coming. Imagine Ross and Rachael but better acted and with an even longer period of dragging outness. But finally. You'll forgive me if I get like this, but well, it's the West Wing. And it's coming to an end (it already did in america, i'm following it's final series on more4). It takes a lot for a TV show to hold my attention for over 7 series and the show took a noticeable dip after its creator left but there's so much love for the characters here that I've never been able to come close to letting go of it.
This weekend has been most relaxing for me. I washed the car today and played too much World of Warcraft (online games = bad for doing much of anything else). I then watched England limp home to a win against Ecuador. Wish I could be more positive and thankfully I found out we've got a grudge match next against Portugal (they put us out of the european cup two years ago on penalties), so I hope that we might lose some of the "Alright, old chap?", mentality that seems to perpetually plague the English team. Plus it's a vague excuse to get drunk next Saturday. I hope everyone else had a good weekend and a special mention to Kho who hass graduated with a 2:1! Can't have been easy mate, I'd take my hat off to you if I had one. Oh and Stu, what did you get? |
6/23/06 04:16 pm - That Friday feelingA long Friday, but as I am typing this it must mean that the weekend is here!
For the first time in ages, I have absolutely nothing planned. Cannot wait - been so busy lately I think I need to have a few days taking it easy. A better update at the weekend will surrly follow.... |
6/19/06 08:20 pm - Tired but that's generally a given....long day at work, long weekend. Had a wedding to attend in Cornwall which consisted of very much driving and family I had not seen in a LONG time (like 5+ years - what is it with families?). And yet it was undoubtedly a good, lavish and (most impotantly), alcohol. Never had so much champagne ('it's pronounced "sham-pag-un"', tehe) in my life.
Why was work today so long? I think I am just getting a bit tired of cover teaching, of the constant element of being tested in every class and it's beginning to show a little bit more than it used to because I sense the end is in sight (5ish weeks), and yet it still feels like it's a little bit of a push. On a more optimistic note various things have fallen into place regarding my training in September and the more prep I can do for that in these last weeks, the more I can take my mind off the current job. I am also typing this from my swanky new computer. Got the internet in my room again, so goodbye occasional internet surfing, hello potential addiction! One other thing - A lot of my friends are still travelling the world right now and I just wanted to let them know that I miss them a lot. So there you go! |
6/11/06 12:01 pm - See the world......It's a Sunday and for the first day in a while I am not actually doing anything so thought I would take some time to write down what has at times been a most bizarre and yet enjoyable week.
If you don't live in this country then you should take it from me - it's unseasonably hot here. Which of course makes my job more interesting (i.e. hard, but i digress because I've already fallen into the very British trap of complaining about the weather, even if good). Work this week consisted of teaming up with old friends (good and oddly proud inducing) and more formality interviews for this paid training course I should eventually be starting in september (still yet to recieve any official paperwork that I am on said course which is somewhat frustrating to say the least). Other random things that now slip translucent-like into my slightly tired mind from the week - - I am going to Croatia in the summer. Dubrovnik to be more exact. Cannot wait, will be quite a different city to some of the bigger European cities I've been too plus we have an apartment with a stunning view. I will also get up to Scotland at some point! - I went to see the Goo Goo Dolls at Brixton Academy last Sunday. They were much, much better than I expected them to be. The singalong to Iris sent chills down my spine - never heard a crowd in better voice in such a small venue before. Shame about rude people that insist on chain-smoking in the middle of a crowd. - I went to visit my friend Sam's university exhibition on Thursday night. He'd made a design portfolio and models on a tram design for London and it was really well done. Though somewhat paradoxically they got Jade Goody from trashy reality TV show Big Brother to open it. I think Sam may have tried to campaign against it! The previous night i'd been out with him and his friends in Hitchin and realised that I had probably neglected that place for far too long - some great bars. - It got to Friday and it was still Hot. So I drove to Bristol in Friday night traffic! But when I got there I had very nice beer and mexican food so all was better. Yesterday was the start of England's world cup campaign and somewhat unfortunately for us, our gig just hours before kick off at Oppo (www.oppoharmonicfusion.co.uk). The place was pretty dead but there were a few people who came to watch us so we decided to position ourselves by the breezy windows and play unplugged. Nice dynamic and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Also getting more interest for future gigs so it was still worth doing. Then I squeezed into a pub and watched England play not *too* badly and win our first group match. I went CD shopping in Bristol (it has a FOPP), and got many things - including the new Gomez album, Black Cherry by GoldFrapp and the best of Nina Simone. The new Gomez album is just exceptionally great and I urge anyone and everyone to buy it because I think it's the best thing they've done in ages! And I shouldn't like GoldFrapp but can't seem to stop myself thanks to Alison Goldfrapp's voice and some actual intelligent use of electronic instruments. I'm going to see the Dixie Chicks on Thursday with my Sister which should also be very good. It was then time to head back home so I had today to rest and gear up for another busy week. More updates soon, hope all is well with everyone and special mention to all those people seeing Split Enz right now - I would like to have gone to the gigs, I know there is one person i would like to have seen even more - I think I just need to pluck up the courage to tell her that. |
6/1/06 03:27 pm - Supermassive Black HoleThe new Muse song is great. Kind of like Prince but kind of like Muse. Go watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF9OvIol |
5/25/06 08:01 pm - Did you get ma message?!I really do try and update this, I do! Been another slightly mad week. My school's been Ofsted'd (scary inspector types who shut my old school down, remember?) So it is with MUCH relief that I can report that I am no swinging albatross, and that my school has been given the party line of "a good school with outstanding features." It basically did very well and it's been a very stressful last week in the run up to half-term (and there's still one more day to go hehe), but I am very happy with this. It also means I dont have to worry about being insepcted while I'm training from september - july (inspections only every three years). I also only have another 7 weeks left of cover teaching which I'm so happy about - i've really had enough of it and can't wait to move onto the challenge of my own classes come September. In others news I seem to be continuing my penchant for falling for women that are far away somehow. No, not distance this time, but on this occasion, the fact that they are quite clearly already with someone and have been for a while. And yet I can't help but detect that slight air of attraction that you get with someone and that you can't quite put away. I'm just hoping I actually meet someone where none of that is involved and yet I can't help but wonder if I actually seek it out sometimes. On the plus side, in 24 hours I will be seeing that most talented of men, Jason Mraz in Nottingham in good company with excellent friends. And after 3:00pm tmw I have a week off work. And lee, if you read this I have a present for you (no it's not expensive but it probably has a teeny bit of sentimental value!). Everyone else, I love you very much and don't talk to you nearly enough. And if you feel that i'm neglecting you, please slap me with a wet kipper repeadtedly. And with much feeling. Peace, Andy. Mr Jason Mraz
 contemplative |
5/20/06 04:48 pm - hey i got nothing to today but smileHello all. So I finished my first Nick Hornby novel today. He's one of those writers that I've always *meant* to read, but somehow never got round to, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up his latest novel 'A Long Way Down'. What I got was a very solidly written and honest account of 4 people struggling in their own difficult situations and contemplating suicide (they meet on New Years Eve at a notorious suicide spot in London). I liked that the book made the distinction between recognising that the characters were contemplating suicide rather than actually going through with it. I think it made the 4 characters much more easy to identify with. The first part - set on New Years Eve was one of the most vivid and arresting pieces of work I've read in a while. I think Hornby struggles a little bit after this - perhaps inevitably - as the unlikely bond the 4 have formed is continued after the 1st of January, but I also like that Hornby resisted the obvious tempetation to create some kind of structured narrative and a hammy ending. So in other words, definitely reccomended. I shall have to hunt out more of his works. Itunes is addictive. Since I got my Ipod I have become a slave to the whole thing. And yet it is a good tool for getting songs you'd never normally listen to. I still don't think I can buy albums entirely off the net, though. I need my little cd sleeves. Speaking of which, Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska'. In fact I'm talking to Helen now and I've noticed recently that my music taste is all over the place. I guess I'm on a hunt. A hunt for what? Well the perfect song, of course. I'm not quite sure how I'll do it, but the more I listen to popular music I realise I've neglected so many great songs in the past because they didn't fit into a particular cosy musical box that I'd warmed too. How f-ing watever cussing silly is that, I hear you ask? I guess these just days I look at what I consider to be great songs and I see how damn simple they are. It sounds silly too say something like that in the English language but it's absolutely true. I find so many bands today have this kind of self-ironic flexiblity to them - to suceed they have to have a few of these influences - but not too many, and a sort of borrowded image - but best not too much. Possibly i'm taking bollocks now but I know what i'm talking about because it comes from in here (no, not in my pants), and this believe seems to taking me to where the next Fallen View songs are. Getting there's half the fun after all. Hope everyone is well, take it easy contemplative |
5/12/06 09:18 amTaken from www.brucespringsteen.net: "Tickets for the European tour dates have all sold out swiftly. Bruce Springsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band sold out London's Hammersmith Apollo Theatre in ten minutes, The Manchester Evening News Arena in six minutes, and Amsterdam's Heineken Music Hall in just four minutes, all unprecedented. Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany also sold out in a matter of minutes. Legendary promoter Harvey Goldsmith said, "We announced Bruce Springsteen's concerts in the UK at 9.00am on Friday 7 April. By 9.10am both shows had sold out. This is the fastest selling show ever in Manchester."" And I wonder when I'll ever get to see the Boss live. 'We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions' was an album I was not looking forward to (ageing rock-star does political protest folk songs). So it's been a very pleasant surprise that the album is probably the best thing he's done in years. Go buy! Oh well, it's not all bad. I have the Goo Goo Dolls and Jason Mraz coming up. Heart Attack - Nerina Pallot
lethargic |
4/19/06 07:55 pm - So now you say it's....No sooner am I two or three days back at work and everything seems to have taken on that slightly heightened quality - events and days seem to move faster and various interviews and imoprtant things continue to get nearer and nearer. I am neither thankful or ungrateful for this - I felt as if I did almost get stuck into a bit much of a rut during my holiday so the slight welcome of a routine is no longer such a bad thing.
In extremely good news the second Fallen View demo is completed which means 3 more tracks finished to a professional standard. While they're not stronger songs, the ease of their recording and the space they've been allowed in the studio has allowed for arguably better recordings, certainly more accessible I would say. I am tres happy with them and our slightly re-vamped website (www.fallenview.co.uk), which is just a bit more shiny than it was previously. I also bought a ticket to see the Goo Goo Dolls today at the Brixton academy (London) on the 4th of June. They're actually doing a TOUR (unusual for such an obscurish american band), here so I'm most excited about the prospect of seeing them live. That seems to be all for now, take it easy and take care to everyone else. |
4/16/06 02:17 pm - So, everybody's going to warIsn't driving an expensive thing? I have begun looking into my options (I would like to buy a car and start driving as soon as possible) and as long as I can get some sort of loan that is fixed and not evil then I may be able to start driving about very soon indeed. As always the insurance will be a bit of a bitch, but the fact that I'm about to be 22 may well help a little.
In more important issues, Happy Easter everyone. There's something I like about Easter, I think it's probably the fact that it's slightly less hyped up than Christmas and yet still has that sense of togetherness of family and friends. Ok enough vague moralising, the holiday is soon to be over and it's back to work. And if you have a spare 10 minutes and want to listen to some good music go to www.myspace.com/nerinapallot . what a voice and what a collection of songs. Must see live! |
4/13/06 12:43 pm - Won't worry 'bout no rainy weatherCurrent mood: Calm. Current mood nearly 3 hours ago: Not so Calm. So I took my Driving Test today. Woke up to Rain, mist and a distinct lack of light (oh what a fair and beautiful country we live in!). Instructor picked me up an hour before the test (8.17), to do some last minute practising and going over a few details. I wasn't really nervous until I got to the test centre and headed off with the examiner back to the car, without my instructor. That certainly got the nerves going. Then the test itself - I was very, very nervous. I often like to think I thrive in potentially difficult situation but something about the atmosphere of the test made me incredibly nervous, which I wasn't quite expecting. I stalled the car at one point - something I haven't done in my driving lessons for at least a month I think. The 40 minutes or so I was out with examiner on the road seemed like an eternity, but eventually we wound back at the car park where we'd started. I was faily sure at this point that I'd failed. But I hadn't. My examiner was not the most enthusiastic of people and so muttered something about 'you've passed'. Think it took a while to settle in because the nerves from the test and the hidden adrenaline had reached that point of wear when you reach the end. My instructor was impressed that I only got 8 minor faults (you're allowed up to 16) and I bid him farewell, feeling generally thankful that through my sister I'd managed to find such an excellent Instructor who is really the one who got me through this, most dreaded of things! First time as well! Suppose I'd better buy a car now, hadn't I? And also, the other night in wetherspoons was fun. Did I drink too much? I don't remember..... Clarity - John Mayer
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4/5/06 10:28 pm - In the words of Mr Tom McRaeDarling I'm lost Adrift in the dark I'm clutching your words To my vampire heart once more So let in the light Turn me to dust If it don't end in Bloodshed dear It's probably not love Here we are In the darkest place My reflection Shows only your face Something is found Something is lost Went looking for clues On the streets of old New York And I spilled someone's blood I broke someone's heart again Someone you know You're looking at him my friend And the people in our lives We all leave behind Leave behind Here we are In the darkest place To keep from forgetting I picture your face And I wonder While we count the cost Which is sweeter Love or it's loss So I curse you My vampire heart For letting me you love you Love you For letting me love you From the start feeling awful loney tonight, no idea why, but random lyrics playing in my head....... Tom McRae - All Maps Welcome
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4/3/06 08:05 pm - DiversionsThings are good lately. Except for the fact my birthday is rapidly approaching and I can't quite be made to feel that I should make an occasion out of it. Certainly after last year's audacious celebrations (oh yes dear reader, I can use big words and possibly spell them wrong) I doubt there is much topping them and 22 doesn't seem particularly significant to me. I will update more properly in the week when I have something resembling composed thoughts :)
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3/27/06 06:45 pm - Drink of the wine, that's my designSo Josh and Donna are finally about to have sex (oops, *really* should have put a spoiler there), My second season of Arrested Development finally arrived and I have become addicted to the writings of Peter F Hamilton. All is good in the 'Andy-entertainment' world. If I can be allowed to do that to the english langauge, of course. Design - Betchadupa
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curious