Stick Maniac

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Mr Postman

Sorry for the delay...evidently I don't love my mac enough to blog on it.

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.

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!

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.

I love ... mac

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.

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.

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.

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.

RAH

Last Saturday night we played at the Royal Albert Hall. Cool.

Harry Potter

So, 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.

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...

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?

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!...

Anyway...

#SPOILER REMINDER - DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW#


1)Will Dumbledore be coming back in book 7? If he is dead, has he made his own horcrux?

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?

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?

4) Does Petunia or Dudley have magical powers?

The Fruits of Sunday

Last Sunday, when it was raining, we were bored, so we made this...

Last night with... the ISB

Last night we drove into Elephant and Castle to visit Territorial Headquarters. It was fun.

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!

Last night we played through our song 'Take Broken Me' 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.

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!

The sales pitch: if you would like to get tickets to come to the Gospel Arts Festival then please visit the Royal Albert Hall Box Office Webpage. We'd love to have your support on the day!

Duke Special - last night

Last 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!
















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 no one on the front so we were really close!

I did take some video. The sound is slightly dodgy though and in no way reflective of the quality of the musicianship and show.




So there you have it. The bloke is a genius. Whole heartedly recommend you keep checking out what he's up to. Hope he goes from strength to strength!

I hate Eurovision

It's pretty obvious really. An event like the Eurovision song contest is pretty easy for anyone to hate.

Unless you are Serbian.

Then you love it.

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.

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?

But aside from my bitterness - what can we do to sort things out next year? I suggest there are three options:
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?
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...
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.

Perfect.

It's ours for the taking next year - you mark my words.

New Project

It's really likely that we'll be doing a new album this year. Probably going to be into the studio in September - which means I've got some writing to do...

Is there something that you would love to hear a song written about? Anything at all?

Ideas on a postcard...

Or a comment...

(Phil L - I've still got yours on the back burner)

ROOTS day 3 - Sunday

Bedtime seems to be getting later and later. Tonight we finished a busy day with a tasty, tasty midnight feast at the curry house. Pasanda, Mushroom Pilau. Always. Beautiful.

Earlier on the day we spent a good chunk of time with Katie Pearson (and those two other folk who hang around with her). Katie was extremely cuddly and we're sure she's gonna grow up to be a lovely and fantastic person - especially with parents as cool as hers. God bless you Pearson family!

Session was good tonight. After a mighty long time of sung worship (about an hour) we had Sandra Ryan in to remind me how far I've got to go before I live like Jesus. Wowzers. I think everyone should be supplied with a flak jacket and body shield to hide behind when people like Sandra speak. We were all transfixed but I'm sure that everyone was wondering whether she might do something crazy any second - and maybe pick them to do something very public and shameless.

Even the illustration she started with was fairly coarse. Before saying anything she picked 19 people from the congregation to stand in a line at the front and then asked them if they believed in God. And if they didn't they had the option to go back to sit down. She used these guys to talk about the 19 who were responsible for the 9/11 acts of terrorism - which Sandra pointed out that, whilst they were horrendous acts of violence, they were also incredible acts of faith. You don't see faith like that - she repeated.

Then the venue shut down and we went outside to pray during the sunset. Nice. Must...remember...challenge...

ROOTS - Day 2... which is Saturday.

What a busy day!

Morning session. Lunchtime magazine. International Development seminar with Mel. Evening Session. Gig. I feel like I've been carrying a guitar around with me all day long.

So, ROOTS is half way through already. Feels like we only got here...two days ago. This event is seriously short! What a lot of effort for 3 days worth of event. (1/2 day Friday - 1/2 day Monday)

Anyway, pretty tired now so I'm going to go to sleep like a wise person.

Hopefully this night will be quiet and peaceful with no sleep talking to write home about!

Friday 4th May - ROOTS Day 1

No incredible revelations today - certainly nothing as exciting as the castle room! Upon further research today though it turns out that this room is the poshest one in the hotel...I suppose you could call it the honeymoon suite. I think that says something pretty special about mine and Jon's relationship.

The afternoon has gone pretty smoothly. Once a few venue things were ironed out and we were soundchecked I was pretty well relaxed for the rest of the evening. Songs this evening were:

Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
Wonderful so wonderful (Beautiful One)
Lord You are good
There's no condemnation (I'm alive)
Strength will rise
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Blessed be Your name

That's not interesting really - but it's nice to keep things recorded proper like.

This evening we celebrated Shawn's 33rd in style at Nandos. Complete with chocolate caterpillar cake it was proper good. Good chicken and good company. Had a nice chat with Suz about her trip to Zambia - sounds pretty amazing. You should chat to her about it some time. Here are a few of the animals she encountered while she was there:
















As you can see she encountered some fairly scary stuff over there. Hopefully she will leave a comment at some point to explain her experience in more detail...or summit...

And finally, here is a picture of Me, Glyn, Michael Owen, Chell and Suz on our way back to our respected sleeping venues...being taken there by the Goldmember. As you can see we are still very happy at this point. Long may it continue.

ROOTS - Thurs 3rd May...the day before

Soooo, just arrived at Southport for ROOTS 2007. Tried to get into the venue - but it was locked...so we went to the team gathering which was already in full swing. It was lovely - a few crisps, a few prayers, a few videos, nice to see a few friends too... and then our short evening had to come to a close. Hence, it was bed time...

Which meant going to the hotel that will be home for the weekend. Which only turns out to be the best darn-dest hotel in the whole of Southport! I arrived to be taken through a rigourous door opening routine (3333 - clever eh? Don't break in though...)

And then...the room...this room is...amazing!

Take a deep breath and see below...I'll walk you through it...














IT'S A MEDIEVAL ROOM! This is angle 1 - on the left you can see the four poster - with curtains. On the right is the en suite. Complete with turrets! And you can see the hatched ceiling effect! I wanna train some clematis over that bad boy!














Here's the view looking back to the door. Note tapestry on the left hand side and most importantly (although hard to grasp the beauty of in a stationary photo) the moving, fire effect wall lamp! How can this get better? It can!














This is the bathroom. This is the view from THE OUTSIDE! Yep - stained glass windows on the bathroom door. Hence Jon and I can watch each other taking a dump...in technicolour!

This is gonna be the best weekend EVER!

Block

I am at a total loss on what I should blog. I am experiencing blog-block. I dislike it when this happens. What I have been trying to do is store up a few ideas that I can blog about for when I have moments like these, but it would seem that the part of my brain that stores those bits of information has been blocked as well...

The other night Glyn was taking notes on what I said. That is, he typed everything I said onto a laptop, and then he read it all back to us. I think I might be his hero - I'm sure that's not normal behaviour? Oh hang on, it is Glyn... Anyway, I did wonder whether a similar principle could be adopted for moments such as these. So to demonstrate I will now type everything that comes into my mind for the next few minutes:

1. I hope Glyn has booked his hotel room for tomorrow night
2. I really must phone Will and tell him that Matt and I don't need to stay over tonight anymore
3. I hope my flowers will not have been eaten by pesky rabbits when I get back from ROOTS
4. ROOTS!? Must think about that some time soon...
5. I hope Jeff Lucas doesn't comment on my blog again
6. I really must stop saying stupid things
7. My PC is making a funny noise
8. I aught to listen to that CD I was given
   

Just read that back and it's pretty riveting stuff. Well, no idea has a chance to fail unless you try it - and I think we can safely say that this one failed.

What do you other bloggers blog about when you feel you should blog but the ideas aren't forthcoming?

NEW & IMPROVED - Self washing hair

Washing my hair in the shower the other day I was reminded of a theory I heard in my school years...

I think it went something like 'if you leave your hair unwashed for 3 months it will start to wash itself'. The theory being that then you would never again have to wash your hair. So, in year 9 I decided that, instead of trying to attract members of the opposite sex, now would be the best possible time to make myself as scanky as possible in an effort to prove the theory wrong. So I didn't wash my hair for a month, and yeah, it got fairly rank. In fact, I don't think I ever did see it through. One thing's for sure...the girls ran a mile and I think that it dawned on me to start washing my hair again.

I dunno if I was hoping I would end up looking like someone out of The Levellers or some other dread-sporting, marley-esq dude? But I never had the guts to get to the end of the exercise. And so I ask by the medium of blog, has anyone ever done it? Is anyone still a proud host of unwashed hair (and all the other living benefits that have inhabited therein)? Is there any truth in the rumour? Or is it just a playground myth that the clever, suave boys tell the geeky little gimps to keep the competition sparse?

Eden

Yesterday I woke up. Not amazing I know - but it was a bizarre start to the day given what happened afterwards. Everyday I wake up to the Chris Moyles show, and yesterday was comedy Dave's birthday. Because it was his birthday he chose the first track to be played...the track he chose? Rock and Roll Star - by Oasis. The opening song from their album Definitely Maybe.

So later on I travelled down to London with my friend Chris Spring (who I have blogged about before) because he asked JM, Levski and myself to play for him in the studio - recording a new track he's written called It Don't Offend Me. The studio is called Eden Studios and is in West London - that is where I'm sitting as I type this. This place has been responsible for tons of cool recordings but it hadn't dawned on me that this is where Oasis recorded Definitely Maybe! Now that might not be very important for many other people but for me, a true inheritor (sp?) of the 90s I loved it! Awesome! Here's a quick piccy of the studio with Chris sitting there recording some acoustic guitar...
















So, yeah...like I say...tons of cool recordings.

All cool, except for one...

One album which just so happens to be amongst my least favourite albums of all time!

(Sorry, I've slipped into a Rob Bell writing style...I'll pull it back...)

One album that in the mid 90s I tried and tried to listen to. You see I wanted to enjoy it. Some of my friends were raving about it. "Have you heard this album?" they'd say. "It's the best thing since the Las" they'd say. And I would listen, and I would squirm, and I would most definitely NOT enjoy.

The album in question? CAST - ALL CHANGE

I'm sorry, but I simply can't see what was ever good about this album. Does anyone have it? Does anyone still listen to it? If you were involved in making it, I am sorry for offending you, but I just can't see the attraction.

So clearly any decent studio has it's duffers. And I'm just getting that off my chest after all these years.

Anyways, back to the waiting game. We're waiting around for a hired guitar to be delivered... as you can probably tell by the length of this blog I've got some time on my hands...

Shorty

It's late tonight and tomorrow is a busy one but I wanted to blog, just to keep momentum up really.

How has your day been so far upon reading this?

"Temple of the Sun"

Currently I am trying to make a website for work. It's proving a bit of a nightmare and is testing my memory to the limits with regard to the stuff I learnt on my uni course. I did a BSc in software engineering which I finished about 6 years ago - and it certainly feels like a long time ago now. Everything I learnt about object oriented programming and WYSIWYG user interfaces is now but a mere blip in the back of my head. So now this new conundrum is testing me.

Yesterday I spent hours trying to figure out a solution. I browsed hundreds of web sites and forums and phoned a few friends but still to no avail. However, after yesterday's weirdest thing EVER I feel that today could be the day of the naffest game EVER! Upon browsing the Sun Microsystems website (yes I really was that desperate!) I discovered that those crazy chaps had developed a platform game in which you can, and I quote: "Put your C/C++ coding skills to the test". I realised that I did in fact study C++ at uni and clicked to play the game...

The premise of 'Temple of the Sun' (i.e. Sun Microsystems) is that you're an adventurer (Indiana Jones type) who discovers this ancient 'Developers' temple. You have to collect gold coins and jump around missing arrows but the most amazing part of this game is that every so often you are posed with a C++ coding problem which you need to 'debug' before you can continue! Seriously, who thinks up this stuff!? But maybe that's not the most worrying thing - of course I didn't play for long (of course - I wasn't really totally addicted), but the first three debugging screens I came across I got the answer right first time! Whoop! Maybe being a musician isn't my calling after all?

Chell x

Quick bulletin - Chell is now a blogger. Hurray!
(See my blog roll for her blogspot link...)