tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101169022024-03-23T18:20:07.907+00:00A slice of Matt pie...Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-74818884714992657292013-09-09T23:30:00.000+01:002013-09-09T23:56:00.200+01:00Tying truth's shoelaces together<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A lie can travel half way round the world while the truth is putting on it's shoes" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Charles Spurgeon</blockquote>
I remember once, a few years ago, writing an email that I felt tremendously proud of. At the time I thought that upon clicking send I would be injecting such challenging & arresting truth into the life of the recipient that they would be arrested by my wisdom & razor sharp critique. <br />
<br />
I thought their whole world would be redefined because of my brilliance.<br />
<br />
Surely they needed to hear what I had to say.<br />
<br />
So I clicked send.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for both of us the reality is something altogether different. Within my email's paragraphs were line after line of damaging, hurtful criticism untempered by any kind of grace. I had originally thought it inspired. But on reflection my words were fuelled by huge measures of arrogance, hurt & a tragic lack of self-awareness. It was full of self-centered lies which suffocated any hint of the truth from which they sprouted. Yes, there was some truth. But it was smothered.<br />
<br />
An email written in haste. Sent in haste. <br />
<br />
Needless to say the phone call I quickly received back from the recipient rejuvenated my evidently residual supplies of humility. I still feel the pang of shame as I remember the episode today.<br />
<br />
Spurgeon died in 1892. He didn't know about my email. Nor for that matter did he know about aeroplanes, the atom bomb or facebook. (In fact, when I wrote that email I didn't know about facebook... but that's beside the point)<br />
<br />
More to the point I'm sure he had no idea how the wisdom quoted above would resonate and clang with ever deepening gravitas in a contemporary world where gossip & lies are spawned, shared and strengthened in the time it takes to tap a return key.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If today you have, like most of us, the opportunity to post your status and comment to the masses then do so But think twice unless you want to make the same mistake that I made. Sometimes... no... often it's better to not say anything at all rather than risk perpetuating something you know with cool judgement to be hurtful, ungracious, unkind or simply unhelpful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just a thought.</div>
Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-15073705305663184132013-07-02T09:48:00.000+01:002013-07-02T22:26:01.852+01:00The Mission Symposium<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A few weeks ago a few gathered at William Booth College to think about the missional focus of The Salvation Army. Where is it headed.... now... in 3 years... in 10 years?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My experience of the 'Symposium' was, I suppose, unique. A group of us were invited to attend a song writer's stream - with the challenge to begin a process of crafting songs which echo themes presented at the Symposium. We were to attend as many sessions as possible and then assimilate that which we heard into song.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My reflection is that we had some small success in this too. I think that the songs we landed on did indeed point towards themes explored in the main sessions. In many ways the process of writing was chaotic... perhaps in the best sense... Our aim, we decided, was purposefully to create as many songs as possible in the time that we had with a view to crafting and honing these later; after the event.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On Wednesday evening we shared the songs we had written to a patient and kind congregation of the symposium. By no means would I say the songs we had written were works of art - far from it - but there was something of a knitting together of the message, the undertone, the momentum of the event. It did feel as though God was opening our eyes to something. Something on the very edge of the canvas... and it was beautiful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My reflection as a worship leader is that i would never even think of using so many baby fresh, brand new songs in an act of worship so I think this was a courageous & trusting move. It was an exercise that we as an entire symposium were in on together... indeed we had to be as there was a great deal of vulnerability laid on the altar. And it is something you could only do in certain contexts. But we need to have space for this, and I believe the symposium was an appropriate space.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Would I have suggested we do things differently if we did them again? Yes. Probably. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think the artistic out-working of the symposium could have been more multifaceted. We could have and should in the future invite Salvationist graphic artists, film makers, bloggers, sculptures, poets, rappers, electronic musicians, et al to join in and interpret. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Any rekindling of vision & momentum within a movement should result in an explosion of art. This is something we can encourage on every level - and have more than half an eye out to recognise the prophetic voice through this medium both; within and alongside the scholarly.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-78637810829803235072007-12-05T01:08:00.000+00:002007-12-05T01:23:11.955+00:00December 2007December 2007 is racing away with itself. It's hard to believe that I get married in three weeks and 3 days but that is in fact the truth.<br /><br />I've been so busy I've hardly had time to think about it which is sad but I am now starting to get excited, nervous and excited... but mostly excited. After all I think Chell is mighty fine and I love her!<br /><br />Things I'm looking forward to:<br />- The big day. Hanging out with all our friends and family and celebrating with them!<br />- Seeing Chell in her dress!<br />- The Honeymoon. Going somewhere warm in January... who'd of thought it!<br />- Actually being married, after all this time!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-19536719849855660862007-11-25T00:17:00.000+00:002007-11-25T00:29:45.953+00:00Number 8... the final Omnisonic gig... DundeeWow. What a night and what a crowd! Tonight was a great gig and marks the end of an awesome ten days on tour. It was a tiny stage but a fantastic venue that took us through the finishing line and completed our tour. Which was a tiny one by Delirious' standards, and a big one by ours.<br /><br />Sound was great tonight. Big and powerful, even though the stage was so small that I had to put my amps underneath it! I liked that - it felt like I was being clever.<br /><br />We spent the time that Delirious were on stage in the VIP lounge overlooking the venue, apparently they could see us up there. I wonder if they were jealous of our lovely soft, white leather seats and colour changing mood lighting while they were getting all sweaty on the stage? Perhaps?<br /><br />I'm going to sign off now - sorry it's a short one. I'll reflect on the tour properly later, but for now it's time to get some rest before the long drive home tomorrow.Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-5696940267768781202007-11-23T20:41:00.000+00:002007-11-23T21:42:47.383+00:00Gig 7 - AberdeenWe're sitting in our dressing room having just played our set. Delirious are on stage playing their set. From the murmurs rumbling through I can guess that they're currently playing 'Rain Down'. Things are good.<br /><br />A starting point. Aberdeen is flippin' cold! All the buildings are made out of granite, which is apparently radioactive - cool. But granite is grey - not so cool.<br /><br />Tonight I think we played well. Levski thinks he had an off night but I'm not so sure that anything was dramatically bad at all! Apparently there was a slightly challenging drunk bloke in the front row who was shouting 'who are ya..?!' as we walked on. I didn't hear him even though he was right in front of me...ah the miracle of in ear monitoring! Awesome.. Didn't hear him therefore confidence wasn't knocked therefore still played decent guitar and sang in-tune.<br /><br />Before the gig tonight Delirious called us through to their dressing room to pray with us. It was a cool moment.. it was great to hear their heart for us through prayer. It was really affirming and supportive. The heart I heard was that they are for us and what we are doing. Which is kind!<br /><br />Tonight we're leaving for Tillycorthie which is about 10 miles North of Aberdeen - even higher up! Crazy... we're being put up with a friend of the promoter from this gig, then tomorrow we're gigging down in Dundee, which is about 1hr 30 South. After that? Home time. We'll be driving home on Sunday... but none of that yet... we've got another gig todo.Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-37430738042280951062007-11-23T00:32:00.001+00:002007-11-23T00:48:49.471+00:00Gig 6 - BelfastTonight we played the Spring and Air brake venue in Belfast, N. Ireland. It's a tasty, small-ish venue just off the city centre and along from the BBC building. It was the craziest smallest stage of the whole tour so far. We ended up cramming our gear and ourselves onto it for soundchecks and our part of the gig. Unreal.<br /><br />It's been another great day. As I write this I'm laying here under a teenage mutant hero turtles duvet, on a bunk bed in the parental home of Matt White (who is, for lack of a better all-in-one title: our roadie / drum tech / spiritual guidance counsellor) and I am feeling really happy with the 75% of the tour that we've experienced so far. With just two more dates to go it's pretty exciting to think back to where we've been over the past week and what is in store for us over the coming 12 months. <br /><br />There's talk of trips to Europe and Canada and a new album looming. Who knows where it's going to go? I suppose that going home with this experience under the belt is going to be helpful and enlightening.<br /><br />This evening's gig was a bit hard work, although we were assured afterwards that we played well and the crowd were with us, it was difficult to sense that on stage; not helped by a poor monitor experience for me. Where did my Bluesbreaker go in the mix? Who knows... all I know is that wasn't the same mix that we sound checked with. Nevermind - 1 out of 6 ain't bad!<br /><br />I've been offered one of Martin's guitars to buy...I'm thinking about it, but I'd have to sell my Les Paul first. If anyone wants to buy my awesome sunburst Les Paul Standard, for around £800 then let me know?<br /><br />Tomorrow brings a new day, and new country (bonny Scotland) and a new audience, who we would love to take along for a musical and spiritual journey... Aberdeen should be good I hope...just need to re-nail that monitor mix!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-3286875878844949262007-11-22T23:08:00.000+00:002007-11-23T00:32:10.064+00:00...the night before tonight. Gig 5 - DublinTemple Music Bar. Last night. Great venue in Dublin, which is a place I've never been before, in fact I've never been to the Republic of Ireland before. It's nice there.<br /><br />The big news of the day was concerning one Martin Smith. When we arrived we heard that he was still on the bus. When he didn't turn up for sound check a few enquiries later we discovered that he wasn't well. Apparently he had been sick as a parrot. And here's the big news...<br /><br />Over tea I sat with Stu Smith (Delirious' drummer) and he told me that Martin would <span style="font-style: italic;">probably </span>make it for the gig but wondered whether I knew many of their songs. Which I do. But not the words. But he said that I was the back up plan!<br /><br />Now I'm sure this was tongue in cheek... but I can now say that I have been officially asked to sing for Delirious. I am Martin Smith's understudy. 'I'm gonna be....a history....' etc. Nevermind, I'll settle for singing for E=.<br /><br />The gig was great, there was a real spiritual vibe about the gig - it felt like there was something more going when we were playing. We sensed that even before we played. Awesome night.<br /><br />After the gig for our accommodation we ended up 30 miles south of Dublin in a place called Greystones (I was excited to see another place later on called Blackskull - if only they could do a 1/2 and 1/2 name swapsee). We stayed in a Theological College there and were hosted by a bunch of enthusiastic students from the college. Many many stories of Chipper shops (see Matt Whites blog) and awesome breakfast venues...<br /><br />Anyway for now...I shall sign off cos I'm being antisocial and I need to blog again in sec about tonight!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-6814882917449788732007-11-21T15:28:00.001+00:002007-11-21T15:44:07.415+00:00Ferry...cross the Irish SeaLast night at 10pm we left Liverpool docks on a P&O Irish Sea ferry, bound for Dublin. We were allocated cabins as, to our surprise, (and prompting a quick rebooking) we discovered that the ferry journey was 7.5 hours! Bleurgh.<br /><br />So, after an evening meal aboard the ferry we retired to bed in our little cabins... thus beginning one of the worst night's of sleep that I've had in a long long time. I woke up in the morning (5 am!) to discover that my sheet had slipped off the bed and I was baked from the 2,000 tog duvet provided. We went down for breakfast then left the ferry in the still dark streets of Dublin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPyrMBgzyl-cBKeB-w6D7mmE5mG_bBP7n1wqgznD24Dp-5HHZqAOuqBNv2TtMJxyS9ZMdSMyaJHMg_MXvRE7VX6XtGSS6N2f58JicxvVNrceCXdt3U4s9f7D5ZzoVnVgvoKE_tw/s1600-h/Matt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPyrMBgzyl-cBKeB-w6D7mmE5mG_bBP7n1wqgznD24Dp-5HHZqAOuqBNv2TtMJxyS9ZMdSMyaJHMg_MXvRE7VX6XtGSS6N2f58JicxvVNrceCXdt3U4s9f7D5ZzoVnVgvoKE_tw/s320/Matt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135319214458401570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">me in the car getting ready to leave the ferry</span><br /><br />After being misdirected by the TomTom for 30 mins we decided to get out the town and headed for Howth Castle, to the west of Dublin. Once we arrived in the mega metropolis of Howth we discovered:<br />1) Free parking!<br />2) The sea<br />3) That we were tired enough to fall asleep again.<br /><br />Fast forward 7 hours and here I am sitting in the Temple Music Bar in Dublin, waiting for sound checks to begin, so I thought I'd give a quick update.<br /><br />Still having tons of fun though...just feeling a touch jadedMatt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-57075387251162194572007-11-19T23:38:00.000+00:002007-11-19T23:39:35.399+00:00A photo from the UEA gig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghARueEuym4UtKurMVub7pY2t410x4FV3ktvYJFlBRODzXnnG5RztWg506t5bVO9eLI4zNnPpM9MWo30WYFj1b2vvOuJcX6DmR4zcsf2ECDn2P4D4WvYgay7fjQtmQzJgsfwNi9w/s1600-h/n517123411_258030_9993.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghARueEuym4UtKurMVub7pY2t410x4FV3ktvYJFlBRODzXnnG5RztWg506t5bVO9eLI4zNnPpM9MWo30WYFj1b2vvOuJcX6DmR4zcsf2ECDn2P4D4WvYgay7fjQtmQzJgsfwNi9w/s320/n517123411_258030_9993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134700245246538498" border="0" /></a>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-21376323443098184812007-11-19T13:13:00.000+00:002007-11-19T13:23:05.352+00:00The Plug - SheffieldLast night was our gig in The Plug. It was probably the hardest night of the tour so far... I think the pace of touring caught up with us a bit. It's been four days of solid traveling and gigging so far, it's exhilarating but obviously does take it's toll on us.<br /><br />The Gentlemen played first last night. They're a hyper indie rock band from Sheffield and they enjoyed the bonus of a home crowd. It made me think that we don't really have a home crowd, having never really gigged in Chelmsford. I don't know how possible it is to rectify that either as there aren't very many good gig venues in the Town. Maybe we need to build one?!<br /><br />The venue last night was really nice. And really clean. No sticky floors, which made a nice mid-gig talking point.<br /><br />My monitoring was a bit squiffy last night again...I think I need the level backed down. Might be a good idea to take a look at that in Dublin.<br /><br />As for now I'm sitting at my 'soon-to-be' inlaws tapping away in the office while Jon watched the Da Vinci Code in the other room. It's good to relax before we let ourselves rip into the second half of the tour!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-81891752544067040252007-11-18T01:27:00.000+00:002007-11-18T01:43:31.095+00:00Swansea... Sin CIty Club / VenueYeah that name is pretty apt. The venue tonight took us from yesterday's sublime to today's ridiculous. From the spotless church environment of the 'National Revival Centre' in Horsham to the Sin City club, where the floor is so sticky that they never have a problem with flies.<br /><br />The venue tonight was a lot smaller, and the ticket sales were less because of that but the venue still felt rammed. Apparently there were around 500/600 people there tonight.<br /><br />Our set was slightly shorter than the other two nights and we really enjoyed playing so it felt like it went too quickly! We started with Masterplan again and finished with White Suit... a first, we normally finish with Book Club. Another little tweak tonight was that I intro'd Athens and said a little bit about the song. During the set I had this uncanny sense that this grubby little place is where we're meant to be; meaning these kind of venues, not Swansea... It was almost audible it was so clear. I don't think that means we're gonna need to change direction massively as a band but it's definitely something to hold to and think about.<br /><br />It was the most stressful change over we've yet done. We have to remove stuff from the stage and straight through a nearby door into a fire escape. The fire escape was covered (and I mean covered) in pigeon poo. Which is ironic because the Pigeon Detectives played the venue just 2 days ago; you'd of thought they'd have caught the culprit and cleared up the scene of the crime, but alas, the pigeon poo bags have got off scot free again... I digress... So all of gear needed to come off before Delirious could come on so it was a busy 10 minutes! Mitson got a bit stressed but it was ok...<br /><br />Today we finished our soundcheck quickly and got down to share dinner in a nearby restaurant with crew and the band. It was good to get a chance to relax with them and chat.<br /><br />We're really enjoying this whole tour business, it's kind of weird, we said today that we don't really want it to stop.<br /><br /><br />Getting tired now... looking forward to some days off at Wigley after tomorrow's gig.Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-4388812625444017062007-11-17T00:20:00.000+00:002007-11-17T00:30:32.597+00:00Horsham"Your sound was... meaty" was one friend's appraisal of E= tonight. Matt White went as far as to say it was the best he'd EVER heard us. Whoo blimey you say!<br /><br />Tonight's gig was in a warehouse / church building in a corner of an industrial estate in Horsham... a place I have never been. I guess it's only a place you would go to if you have a gig there... or family. Or, of course, you might live there. But that's unlikely.<br /><br />The PA was massive - bigger than last night's I'm sure of it. Trev did a sterling job once again...awesome FOH - Thanks Trev. Mark was great on monitors too. Everything worked very nicely. That is apart from my wah.<br /><br />I took the wah out of my setup today - I need to send it off and get it fixed. I'm going to get it 'mod'-ed, and turned into a Hendrix cry baby (apparently the new ones have a different sound). The Hendrix wah will have more wwwhhhhhhaaaaaa and lesss hheeeeeiiiiiiisssssss. So 'm told.<br /><br />I've also put in an order for a new GigRig Humdinger amp distro thing which will also sort out my impedance problems at the pedal end of things. It's all good.<br /><br />No snapped strings although Jon is going through sticks like they're balsa wood. He is an animal!<br /><br />Delirious sounded great tonight - I'm enjoying this whole tour business muchly...Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-89982170302987579912007-11-16T00:10:00.001+00:002007-11-16T00:29:18.493+00:00UEA LCR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAQs8f-DBQyQSNYQ9Fct8ED5MzsLZR9iLJl1-dGU9WN731Gc-OiLAXv5-W0HnmRlBVV5zlCJhP8hIE5fnVlxzbxC5HPmC_O1q96qfEJiIHg_ORaoc2lcByv5US2pwG7yo6eRZng/s1600-h/Electralyte_Sticker_14x6cm_design2.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAQs8f-DBQyQSNYQ9Fct8ED5MzsLZR9iLJl1-dGU9WN731Gc-OiLAXv5-W0HnmRlBVV5zlCJhP8hIE5fnVlxzbxC5HPmC_O1q96qfEJiIHg_ORaoc2lcByv5US2pwG7yo6eRZng/s320/Electralyte_Sticker_14x6cm_design2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133227655579562738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One down... seven to go...<br /><br />We just got home from a great night up in my homelands, the stomping grounds of M Leeder... NAARICH. It was a goodun!<br /><br />A few firsts happened tonight:<br />We played with Delirious<br />We played a live set with in ear monitoring<br />We played 'Athens' and 'Ted Talmeer' for the first time<br /><br />All of these thing happened and went well.<br /><br />Other good things:<br />My guitar rocked tonight - didn't go out of tune (apart from Freedom where it had a hissy)<br />We were toit - like the toiger<br />In-ears rule still<br /><br />Here here.<br /><br />A few things for improvement:<br />I need a new wah pedal<br />I need a new signal splitter<br />I could do with tweaking my mix for tomorrow (slightly more drums - esp kick)<br /><br />All of these things could be improved but 66% of them cost money I don't have<br /><br />It was really nice to have my brothers at the gig tonight - and my sister-in-law! Thanks for coming Bob, Ang and Mike! Hope you enjoyed your first taster of E= live<br /><br />Other than that I need to sign off and go to bed... Horsham here we come!<br /><br />PS (If you want me to report on any other aspects that I haven't here please do let me know. :)Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-69120744426459884812007-11-14T17:47:00.000+00:002007-11-14T18:01:54.658+00:00E= on tourTomorrow we go on tour. We start in Norwich and end up in Dundee...via all manner of places around the uk and ROI. I've got to say it's gonna be exciting, we've never done this before and we all know that touring with Delirious is going to be exciting and challenging.<br /><br />I'll try my best to keep a regular blog going on throughout the duration of the tour.<br /><br />I always get told off by Chell when I wish away gigs and events because I'm worried about performing at them but this one, whilst I am scarily compelled to do the best job possible I am also looking forward to it. How bizarre to think I would actually be looking forward to gigging this much!<br /><br />We're gigging a 45 min set which includes a couple of brand new songs - Athens and Ted Talmeer + a few old crusties like White Suit, Freedom and Breakout. At the moment we haven't included Take Broken Me in the set because it slows the tempo down a bit too much. We're taking a gamble on that I suppose.<br /><br />Last night I spent time on my knees praying. It was great. I know God's with us on this one. I'm sure the messages (even though they are subtle) will emerge from the bizarro lyrics I write and the music will be good music!<br /><br />If you get a few minutes do think of us:<br />- Traveling is gonna be long and hard work. Pray we have stamina and healthy cars.<br />- Performance will take it's toll on us. Pray that we keep stamina and continue to have fun.<br />- Ideas and the next season. We go into the studio to start recording shortly after we come back from the tour. Pray that we are inspired to take stuff we learn from the tour into the next album.<br /><br />Thanks. Watch this space... I promise...Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-80663709602251173482007-10-18T11:51:00.000+01:002007-10-18T12:07:43.482+01:00Let me appeal to your better natureIt's been a while. Every so often I have to have a breather from Blogging...I dunno why that is but I just take a break, and come back stronger...so to speak. I don't know how many blogrolls I've been banished from. I don't know how many mobile phone address books I've been deleted from but here goes...I am sorry. Particularly to Mel, for she seems to take the absence of regular bloggers the hardest. Chell's just as bad as me...<br /><br />Anyway, what would a first blog n ages be without some actual content. It's good to be back...<br /><br />I was in Sainsburys the other day getting some food. Not much mind, just a few bits and bobs for tea, some new tooth brushes and a couple of bags of jellys (gummy candy to our transatlantic friends). I get to the checkout and the lady gives me a wide toothless smile and asks me, very kindly, if I would like help packing... <br /><br />Now, I don't know what I look like when I go shopping but I'm pretty sure I come across as a fairly able bodied young man, with good strong arms and a twinkle in my eye. So what is it that makes this woman think I can't handle packing a few plastic bags of veggies and tooth brushes? I must come across so weak to her? <br /><br />Anyway, my pride ensures I don't ask for help. So what does she do? What does she do to this poor, single white male? This weak man? This silly, weak man who she has assessed can't even pack his own bags? Well, she promptly concentrates on throwing my shopping through her scanner and into the packing area as quickly as she can until I am left with a pile up of groceries so high I can't reach the carrier bag dispenser. <br /><br />I finally get it packed (as she sits idle - happy at the embarrassment she has caused me) and at the end of it all with an 'I-told-you-so' expression she happily takes my money and nectar card. Why I aughta!<br /><br />So, what should I do next time? Do all check out people take pride in asking this and then, after the 'no' comes, go to extra effort to try and trap your hands under the potatos? I really am at a loss. Is online shopping the way forward? I have no answers.<br /><br />But that is me for now... :)Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-69048265399496540822007-09-12T17:28:00.000+01:002007-09-12T17:29:05.298+01:00SurfaceLook at this - it is so cool.<br /><br />http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-289093916960316932007-07-09T10:40:00.000+01:002007-07-09T10:48:24.997+01:00Stick ManiacCheck out this little guy<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xALGY7yb7yo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xALGY7yb7yo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-30527430755431985092007-07-05T15:06:00.000+01:002007-07-05T15:15:25.887+01:00Mr PostmanSorry for the delay...evidently I don't love my mac enough to blog on it.<br /><br />Anyway...here's a story to get me back into it. Yesterday I made an attempt at sorting a pile of letters and bills that have gathered on my dining room table in the past month or two. It was a mammoth effort and I got into the flow of opening letter after letter and quickly redistributing paper either into one of my bill piles or the bin.<br /><br />Well, it turns out that one letter wasn't addressed to me - although I didn't find that out until I had opened it. This letter had been sitting on my table for a month and a half. Upon opening it I found a cheque for £1,500! Yikes! You know the scariest thing - the first thing that went through my head was to ask myself if I could change the name to look like M.LEEDER! Well, after quickly giving myself a mental slap I realised that this was unethical and just wrong!<br /><br />So today I took it down the road to the correct address (which was, btw, on the envelope, the postman got it wrong, I must have sticky post I guess!) They were alright about it - although my story sounded unconvincing to even me (and I know it's true!) I felt well dodgy. The moral of the story - always check who your post is for before you open it.Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-61013680368942346292007-06-14T19:04:00.000+01:002007-06-14T21:25:36.374+01:00I love ... mac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzgAf0agYpHeJiETtyz-EiuWMtlR4546uX3RLk05WgQQCLfXup2_I75rUO4ruIu3dLTzeAV9H1s2NFuDVlJGSW4jntntOKNYbwG5ScHudoEEokmv3eSBfWq6tzzpr7GPQ4Ih7hg/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"></a>I have come over to the side of good. I am no longer held captive by the manacles of monopoly. I have been released into a world of beauty and small, white, plastic boxes. I am the proud owner of a MacBook.<div><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzgAf0agYpHeJiETtyz-EiuWMtlR4546uX3RLk05WgQQCLfXup2_I75rUO4ruIu3dLTzeAV9H1s2NFuDVlJGSW4jntntOKNYbwG5ScHudoEEokmv3eSBfWq6tzzpr7GPQ4Ih7hg/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076018113320502322" /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love it. It is the single most beautiful thing in my life (apart from Chell of course). It can do everything. Apart from operating my washing machine (although I've emailed Steve Jobs with a few ideas) it can do pretty much everything else.<br /><br />And this is my first blog on my mac - during which I am happily having a video chat with Lard, JMoney and Irish boy. This is the coolest thing ever. I will try not to blog too much about my mac but I feel it is certainly worthy of at least one post.<br /><br />Anyway, that's enough today. I aso did a VERY cool thing today but I won't blog about it until I have the photos from Will and Debbie. I'll blog about today in a week therefore. Sorry that's confusing.</div></div>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-21754075306378606162007-06-12T00:06:00.000+01:002007-06-12T00:14:15.797+01:00RAHLast Saturday night we played at the Royal Albert Hall. Cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl3EhqYv0kD108LoPsl6xUOmpiERq8_RX-kNRxWf0j3WM-kcQMO7KTCdtEUrG2BSLHuY2eyLT9PjeNP2tJpUxb0MOl9Db6QL2psPu2NfyR1PdN4jpeQD5Wg9fRhO8Fm-4D-jMZQ/s1600-h/Elec_at_RAH"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl3EhqYv0kD108LoPsl6xUOmpiERq8_RX-kNRxWf0j3WM-kcQMO7KTCdtEUrG2BSLHuY2eyLT9PjeNP2tJpUxb0MOl9Db6QL2psPu2NfyR1PdN4jpeQD5Wg9fRhO8Fm-4D-jMZQ/s320/Elec_at_RAH" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074948825377588258" border="0" /></a>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-57699650504428598652007-06-07T18:09:00.000+01:002007-06-07T18:27:19.772+01:00Harry PotterSo, friends, I think it would be good to get some discussion going on amongst us with regard to the pending release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' on July 21st.<br /><br />WARNING - the following post has spoilers from all the previous 6 books - if you don't want to find out too much, don't read on...<br /><br />Anyway, I am looking forward to book 7 coming out. Apparently there has been a guarantee of NO BOOK 8 - which I for one think is a good thing. Harry Potter is a pretty good read, although I think the quality of the series goes a little wayward in book 5 and 6. Hopefully she can pull it back with number 7?<br /><br />I've had a little think have a few thoughts and questions and it'd be good to hear everyone's thoughts. Quick aside, one of my favourite memories of working in the Mission Team office in Morden (as it was then) was sitting quietly in bookclub with James G, Steve C, Lard K (I think?) and possibly Phil H all reading The Order of the Pheonix the day it came out...bless us all!...<br /><br />Anyway...<br /><br />#SPOILER REMINDER - DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW#<br /><br /><br />1)Will Dumbledore be coming back in book 7? If he is dead, has he made his own horcrux?<br /><br />2) Is Harry a Horcrux? Therefore does he need to kill himself to rid the world of Voldemort? Or is there just too much LOVE in him? Does Harry die at all?<br /><br />3) Dumbledore's death seemeed a bit too easy (book 6). Is he dead? Is Snape, who killed him, a goodie? Was it someone else using polyjuice potion?<br /><br />4) Does Petunia or Dudley have magical powers?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-21003023350211286622007-06-02T08:43:00.000+01:002007-06-02T08:44:03.436+01:00The Fruits of SundayLast Sunday, when it was raining, we were bored, so we made this...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a5RziRb8dTM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a5RziRb8dTM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-13387936414637387822007-05-24T17:43:00.000+01:002007-05-24T18:15:09.312+01:00Last night with... the ISBLast night we drove into Elephant and Castle to visit Territorial Headquarters. It was fun.<br /><br />The purpose of our trip was to prepare and practise for our gig at the Royal Albert Hall on June 9th. We're playing a short set in the middle of the Salvation Army's Gospel Arts Festival and we're hoping it's going to be really good!<br /><br />Last night we played through our song '<a href="http://www.myspace.com/electralyte">Take Broken Me</a>' which we're performing live with the International Staff Band - which for those of you who don't speak Salvationist means 'very-musically-able-Salvation-Army-brass-band'. Hope that clears up any misunderstanding.<br /><br />Whilst we went in a little apprehensive and nervous, we came out really positive and excited as the song sounded so beautiful and full. We're really looking forward to the night now - it should be amazing!<br /><br />The sales pitch: if you would like to get tickets to come to the Gospel Arts Festival then please visit the <a href="http://tickets.royalalberthall.com/season/production.aspx?id=8635&src=t&monthyear=6-2007">Royal Albert Hall Box Office Webpage</a>. We'd love to have your support on the day!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-66271488818159285602007-05-16T10:19:00.000+01:002007-05-16T10:34:05.642+01:00Duke Special - last nightLast night we went to see Duke Special at the Shepherds Bush Empire and it was blindingly good. It was a bit of a last minute thing really so we phoned mid morning to find if there was any room left - there was! Four seats - second row back - stalls! Proper brilliant!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rAkygEeRYgmaIb7XfLvN5E5STfNO9GFBh2C_1Stj7jiZaHk2t109gBI1lSFS1pn0VzZiZG01Vh4fkFFoLTV7-sRdRs-XfrcU8eRtl5-NiL_zcVwTFdiUpBb7LGETQsUPgO299w/s1600-h/15052007143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rAkygEeRYgmaIb7XfLvN5E5STfNO9GFBh2C_1Stj7jiZaHk2t109gBI1lSFS1pn0VzZiZG01Vh4fkFFoLTV7-sRdRs-XfrcU8eRtl5-NiL_zcVwTFdiUpBb7LGETQsUPgO299w/s320/15052007143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065086684010621490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The bloke in the middle at the piano is Duke Special - also worth pointing out is the bloke on the left who is Ben Castle. Even though we were second row there was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">no one</span> on the front so we were really close!<br /><br />I did take some video. The sound is slightly dodgy though and in no way reflective of the quality of the musicianship and show.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GrLIUjwf7rY"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GrLIUjwf7rY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />So there you have it. The bloke is a genius. Whole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">heartedly</span> recommend you keep checking out what he's up to. Hope he goes from strength to strength!Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10116902.post-13785953280623250982007-05-13T00:14:00.000+01:002007-05-13T00:36:06.176+01:00I hate EurovisionIt's pretty obvious really. An event like the Eurovision song contest is pretty easy for anyone to hate.<br /><br />Unless you are Serbian.<br /><br />Then you love it.<br /><br />This year was a first for me - I have never watched the Eurovision before...I've made it to my 27th year and finally I have got round to making a date of it. I started off enjoying - hopeful even. Hopeful that uber-camp SCOOCH could well 'pull it out of the bag' or even have 'slotted it home' or whatever cheap semi-inuendo bingo line they wanted to 'squeeze in'. It was not to be. Eventually our tact changed to hoping that the UK would not get any points at all! But that was not to be either...thanks to the Irish and Maltese. Shame really - we could have been the runaway failures...but now we're just also-rans.<br /><br />But seriously, I know nothing about European politics but it strikes me that objective appreciation of a decent performance or tune has very little to do with where one ends up at the end of the night. Every neighbouring country giving their neighbours a pat on the back and 12 points to boot. Obviously not having any neighbours can't help us. Maybe the Maltese just like us because, like them, we're also an island? Or maybe people don't vote for us because over history we've probably attacked every one of them at least once and nicked all their best inventions and claimed them as our own. Or is it because we don't use the Euro yet and we're being punished through pop music!? Maybe we just didn't have enough goth in our entry?<br /><br />But aside from my bitterness - what can we do to sort things out next year? I suggest there are three options:<br />1 - Start a petition to not put in an act next year - leave them to it. They only good thing about it this year was the staging and the Germans...and they got pathetic points too. And they haven't got anywhere near as chequered a past as we Brits...have they?<br />2 - Put in Coldplay. They're not doing anything else at the moment. Chris Martin can do some activist promo at the same time. 100 million viewers in one hit? Nailed it! Could be embarrassing if they get nil though...<br />3 - Send the Beckhams. They'll sort it out - and they're not doing much at the moment either. Everyone loves the Beckhams. David can sing. Victoria can pout and do keepy ups.<br /><br />Perfect.<br /><br />It's ours for the taking next year - you mark my words.Matt Leederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08166928569927398024noreply@blogger.com7