Since the bank holiday weekend I've been pretty busy. A large-ish part of that time I've been at home. As much as the place usually bores me to tears, and isn't a patch on being here in Wales, it actually wasn't all that bad. It involved a fair few nights out which helped. Sitting on my own during the day wasn't overly fun, but I was busier than I thought I'd be. It seems like people at home are part of a completely separate life that I've moved on from, but it was still nice to see everyone.
I got back on the day before my 21st birthday. My birthday was one of the best days I've ever had. It was great to have the time to sit about and do very little, whilst being spoilt. It was a shame that my hair had flattened quite a lot by the end of the day but it was still amazing. Getting to spend the day with my best friend, being looked after and doing something I've wanted to for years was a fab way to spend my birthday. I love the makeup I had done. The difference the foundation alone made was great. If I wasn't skint by now I'd have bought it. The best bit of the day, however, was having my photo taken. They've come out really well and I can't wait for them to arrive on CD soon. I'll be showing them to everyone.
My birthday night out was pretty great too. I was really pleased that so many people came out with me. It was a fairly tame night, but having had my hair and makeup done, and wearing my favourite dress made all the difference. It was one of the best nights out I've had in a long time. It was a special night out with special people. Being able to walk home along the beach was a perfect way to end it. It's fairly safe to say I was really happy by the time I got home.
Now I'm about to start my final (hopefully) year of uni. I still can't believe that so much has happened in the past 2 years, and yet in just 10 months it'll all be over. In some ways I can't wait for the end because it'll be the start of something else new, but at the same time I'll have to leave behind what I have. For now though, I'm going to make the most of it and fight the whole way to pass the year well enough.
Music: Johnny Foreigner - Sofacore
Socks: Pink and blue with rainbows.
Showing posts with label Cardiff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cardiff. Show all posts
Monday, 29 September 2008
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Update...
It's been a while since I last updated. Too long really but I've been busy. I keep starting posts and never getting around to finishing them before I'm distracted. I've got so much to do at the moment but I never know what to do first so nothing gets done.
5th May: CSS/The Futureheads/MGMT
It's fairly safe to say that that day led to me hating Arriva Trains Wales more than ever. First Great Western have a pretty poor reputation, but at least they have nice trains and in this case at least they got me to Cardiff. Getting on a train, it breaking and having to get off again without even leaving the station was not a good start. I then found out that the next train wasn't running and I wouldn't be leaving until 6.30. With doors at 7 and the band I wanted to see on first, I wasn't happy. Pulling out of the station an hour after we were supposed to didn't leave me exactly confident that we'd make it in time. This wasn't helped when we pulled out of the station and stopped for 10 mins. Luckily catching up time on the way and crossing Cardiff in record time meant that I'd only missed 5/10 mins of MGMT. I'd heard various reports about their live shows, so wasn't sure how much to expect from them, but I was really glad I've seen them. They didn't play the one song I really wanted to see, but at least I didn't miss it. When I was at the bar after they'd finished, it became apparent that a lot of people had gone purely to see them. The Futureheads followed and weren't that great. They have the odd song I like, but just didn't seem to be on form. After the stage was reset and loads of balloons appeared for the end of filming. I tried to get one of the balloons passed into the crowd but spectacularly failed. It made for fun spotting people as they walked through Cardiff afterwards anyway. CSS were good, but not as good as MGMT. The songs went down well but the set was full of new songs, as it was being filmed for a MTV special and it was the first time they'd ever played most of them. Overall it was good, but the best band were on first and I came out still singing Mystery Jets songs from a few days before.
Since then I've not been to any more gigs but I have had fun, with the exception of getting ill for a few days. It wiped me out last weekend, but at least the weather was good so I relaxed on the beach and eventually I'm feeling better. I fail at revision in a big way so I'll do something I'm good at by having fun. Foam party, a stupid number of beach parties in glorious sun, BBQs, trips to Siro's, shopping and a trip to an Indian come to mind. I may fail the year, but at least this year is memorable. Cramming really is my only option.
Music: Delays - Pieces
Socks: Not worn any in days, it's flip-flops weather :D
5th May: CSS/The Futureheads/MGMT
It's fairly safe to say that that day led to me hating Arriva Trains Wales more than ever. First Great Western have a pretty poor reputation, but at least they have nice trains and in this case at least they got me to Cardiff. Getting on a train, it breaking and having to get off again without even leaving the station was not a good start. I then found out that the next train wasn't running and I wouldn't be leaving until 6.30. With doors at 7 and the band I wanted to see on first, I wasn't happy. Pulling out of the station an hour after we were supposed to didn't leave me exactly confident that we'd make it in time. This wasn't helped when we pulled out of the station and stopped for 10 mins. Luckily catching up time on the way and crossing Cardiff in record time meant that I'd only missed 5/10 mins of MGMT. I'd heard various reports about their live shows, so wasn't sure how much to expect from them, but I was really glad I've seen them. They didn't play the one song I really wanted to see, but at least I didn't miss it. When I was at the bar after they'd finished, it became apparent that a lot of people had gone purely to see them. The Futureheads followed and weren't that great. They have the odd song I like, but just didn't seem to be on form. After the stage was reset and loads of balloons appeared for the end of filming. I tried to get one of the balloons passed into the crowd but spectacularly failed. It made for fun spotting people as they walked through Cardiff afterwards anyway. CSS were good, but not as good as MGMT. The songs went down well but the set was full of new songs, as it was being filmed for a MTV special and it was the first time they'd ever played most of them. Overall it was good, but the best band were on first and I came out still singing Mystery Jets songs from a few days before.
Since then I've not been to any more gigs but I have had fun, with the exception of getting ill for a few days. It wiped me out last weekend, but at least the weather was good so I relaxed on the beach and eventually I'm feeling better. I fail at revision in a big way so I'll do something I'm good at by having fun. Foam party, a stupid number of beach parties in glorious sun, BBQs, trips to Siro's, shopping and a trip to an Indian come to mind. I may fail the year, but at least this year is memorable. Cramming really is my only option.
Music: Delays - Pieces
Socks: Not worn any in days, it's flip-flops weather :D
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Last Night
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Adventuring
I ran out of aniseed balls :(
The past few days have been busy but really good fun. Thursday was "Fake North" adventuring day. It started with a train to Crewe, then another to Stoke. Almost 5 hours on a train is a lot more enjoyable if its a FGW and is generally nicer but at least we weren't delayed. This is where things could have gone very wrong.
I trekked all that way to see The Wombats. I first saw them last June and then again in December, and they cannot be described as anything other than fun. Thursday night was the biggest venue I've seen them in by a long way. We got there during the first support. I've no idea who they were, but they were a local band who were well known by quite a lot of the crowd. It was first time I've ever seen a pit and crowdsurfing before 8pm. Half the time I think they were just acting like it because they could. I could tell already that there were going to be a lot of annoying people. I was later proved right. The band weren't bad and played quite well, but would be liked by fans of The Enemy/The Twang.
It then got worse. We worked our way forwards and were almost at the front when I Was A Cub Scout came on. I now have another band to add to the "Oh Dear God That Was Awful" list. I felt sorry for the drummer really. It looked like he was stuck in a band of idiots. There was a Keyboard player who went AWOL during every other song and a fat guy at the back who didn't seem to do much. He spent half of it with a trombone in his hand walking about the stage, looking at a keyboard and walking off again. I think he played in about half a song. By the end it was just the guitarist and drummer left with backing tracks. The music wasn't good either. I'd love to know who told them they were good or who gave them a record deal. If I never see them live again it will be too soon. As usual the crowd were going mental, but then got worse and started the football chants. Yes, your football team are doing well and are going up. Good for you. Now shut the hell up.
By the time The Wombats were due on stage it was a contender for gig from hell. Half the crowd looked under 12, including the girls in front of me on the barrier, who could only just see over it. The other half probably couldn't have passed a GCSE between them. Annoying was an understatement. Luckily the band were fab. The first time I saw them was in a pub with about 150 other people. When it was announced that they'd be playing an arena by the end of the year I thought it was seriously over ambitious. After Thursday I'm not so sure. I've now seen how they've adapted to 3 totally different sized venues and they done each with ease. If anything they put in an arena performance at a theatre. They played pretty much what they were expected to, but didn't play any of their older songs as the have in the past. The only additions were a new song they wrote at new year, and 'Girls, Boys & Marsupials', which they played the first time I saw them, but not in Cardiff. Highlights were going mental to 'Moving To New York' and 'Let's Dance To Joy Division'. It was worth going just for those alone.
The trip home was...notable. As far as Crewe it was fine. Nice, even. Arriva Trains Wales should note that halving the number of carriages on a Friday before a bank holiday is not a good idea. Not everyone fitted, even standing. By then I was tired, hungry, thirsty, bored and squashed. After a stop or two enough people had got off for me to sit on the floor in the bike rack, but that's not exactly the best way of reading the Guardian, let alone attempting Sudoku or Kakuro puzzles. Eventually I got a seat and it even turned into a train party with 3 groups of Rugby fans and a group on a hen weekend all heading to Cardiff leading to banter flying across the carriage. Not something I'd do again in a hurry though.
Last night was the drunken BBQ/Tooters trip that I'm surprised so many people can remember. For some reason it seems a lot easier to get drunk there than anywhere else. After a busy few days I could do with a night in to recharge but no...I'm off to see Mystery Jets in Cardiff in 10 mins. Woot!
Music: Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down
Socks: 2 different sailor ones.
The past few days have been busy but really good fun. Thursday was "Fake North" adventuring day. It started with a train to Crewe, then another to Stoke. Almost 5 hours on a train is a lot more enjoyable if its a FGW and is generally nicer but at least we weren't delayed. This is where things could have gone very wrong.
I trekked all that way to see The Wombats. I first saw them last June and then again in December, and they cannot be described as anything other than fun. Thursday night was the biggest venue I've seen them in by a long way. We got there during the first support. I've no idea who they were, but they were a local band who were well known by quite a lot of the crowd. It was first time I've ever seen a pit and crowdsurfing before 8pm. Half the time I think they were just acting like it because they could. I could tell already that there were going to be a lot of annoying people. I was later proved right. The band weren't bad and played quite well, but would be liked by fans of The Enemy/The Twang.
It then got worse. We worked our way forwards and were almost at the front when I Was A Cub Scout came on. I now have another band to add to the "Oh Dear God That Was Awful" list. I felt sorry for the drummer really. It looked like he was stuck in a band of idiots. There was a Keyboard player who went AWOL during every other song and a fat guy at the back who didn't seem to do much. He spent half of it with a trombone in his hand walking about the stage, looking at a keyboard and walking off again. I think he played in about half a song. By the end it was just the guitarist and drummer left with backing tracks. The music wasn't good either. I'd love to know who told them they were good or who gave them a record deal. If I never see them live again it will be too soon. As usual the crowd were going mental, but then got worse and started the football chants. Yes, your football team are doing well and are going up. Good for you. Now shut the hell up.
By the time The Wombats were due on stage it was a contender for gig from hell. Half the crowd looked under 12, including the girls in front of me on the barrier, who could only just see over it. The other half probably couldn't have passed a GCSE between them. Annoying was an understatement. Luckily the band were fab. The first time I saw them was in a pub with about 150 other people. When it was announced that they'd be playing an arena by the end of the year I thought it was seriously over ambitious. After Thursday I'm not so sure. I've now seen how they've adapted to 3 totally different sized venues and they done each with ease. If anything they put in an arena performance at a theatre. They played pretty much what they were expected to, but didn't play any of their older songs as the have in the past. The only additions were a new song they wrote at new year, and 'Girls, Boys & Marsupials', which they played the first time I saw them, but not in Cardiff. Highlights were going mental to 'Moving To New York' and 'Let's Dance To Joy Division'. It was worth going just for those alone.
The trip home was...notable. As far as Crewe it was fine. Nice, even. Arriva Trains Wales should note that halving the number of carriages on a Friday before a bank holiday is not a good idea. Not everyone fitted, even standing. By then I was tired, hungry, thirsty, bored and squashed. After a stop or two enough people had got off for me to sit on the floor in the bike rack, but that's not exactly the best way of reading the Guardian, let alone attempting Sudoku or Kakuro puzzles. Eventually I got a seat and it even turned into a train party with 3 groups of Rugby fans and a group on a hen weekend all heading to Cardiff leading to banter flying across the carriage. Not something I'd do again in a hurry though.
Last night was the drunken BBQ/Tooters trip that I'm surprised so many people can remember. For some reason it seems a lot easier to get drunk there than anywhere else. After a busy few days I could do with a night in to recharge but no...I'm off to see Mystery Jets in Cardiff in 10 mins. Woot!
Music: Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down
Socks: 2 different sailor ones.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Post :D
What arrived through my front door this morning was an envelope. Inside the envelope was this...
Aren't WeePOP Records fantastic? I order one CD, and it comes in its own little envelope with a handwritten note, badge and a tasty orange sweet. Orange = my favourite.
Inside the little envelope was this...
One 3" CD in handmade card case, complete with furry animal on the front (available in about 6 different colours!), one yellow handmade authenticity card ( I got 36/160), a little booklet with tracklisting and band details and little pictures, and a sticker.
How lovely.
The lovely band in question are Little My. They supported Los Campesinos! in Cardiff, and although we didn't get much chance to see them, I thought they were...lovely. 12 people on one stage with glockenspiels, recorders, kazoos and whatever it seemed they could buy from Early Learning Centre's music section made the sort of noise with a shambolic charm that made me smile. They, in their own words, can be compared to the sound of a primary school music lesson. They are twee and perhaps overly so, but totally unashamed about it. 'All But The Beeps Meep' will be the perfect song to listen to on the walk into uni as the weather gets nicer, on the days that I can walk along the beach in my flipflops and sunglasses.
Music : Little My - All But The Beeps Meep
Socks: Two different striped sailor ones.
Aren't WeePOP Records fantastic? I order one CD, and it comes in its own little envelope with a handwritten note, badge and a tasty orange sweet. Orange = my favourite.
Inside the little envelope was this...
One 3" CD in handmade card case, complete with furry animal on the front (available in about 6 different colours!), one yellow handmade authenticity card ( I got 36/160), a little booklet with tracklisting and band details and little pictures, and a sticker.
How lovely.
The lovely band in question are Little My. They supported Los Campesinos! in Cardiff, and although we didn't get much chance to see them, I thought they were...lovely. 12 people on one stage with glockenspiels, recorders, kazoos and whatever it seemed they could buy from Early Learning Centre's music section made the sort of noise with a shambolic charm that made me smile. They, in their own words, can be compared to the sound of a primary school music lesson. They are twee and perhaps overly so, but totally unashamed about it. 'All But The Beeps Meep' will be the perfect song to listen to on the walk into uni as the weather gets nicer, on the days that I can walk along the beach in my flipflops and sunglasses.
Music : Little My - All But The Beeps Meep
Socks: Two different striped sailor ones.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Holiday summary and LC! review
It's been a long while without an update. 3 1/2 weeks without an internet connection wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be, but it was still horrible. It was almost like living in a parallel world. Life was still carrying on, but I wasn't part of it. Being separated from the best friend I've ever had wasn't much fun either. Thankfully trips to Bath/Bristol and London were the highlights of my holidays thanks to the people I was with. Bath/Bristol and the afternoon in Swindon made for lots of new in-jokes, even though we forgot to play Thomas Top Trumps and I then forgot to take them to London too. They will be coming to the next meetup, sometime in the summer. If I have to sit at a party dressed as a character from Aladdin, drinking wine and playing Top Trumps Junior, so be it.
Although it was during the holidays, I came back to uni early so that I could see Los Campesinos! Although they're based in Cardiff, they hadn't played there much, and hadn't at all for 10 months, so I'd never had the chance to see them. After getting the train with Duncan, we met Olli and Rosie for a much needed Pizza Hut dinner before trying to find Cherry Pie (tradition) and heading off to the union.
After being told that first support, Little My, were far too twee for their own good I wasn't holding up much hope for discovering a new band, but was pleasantly surprised by them. Any band who use recorders, kazoos and glockenspiels is fine by me. It's a good job Solus has a big stage. fitting bands of 7 and 12 onto a stage is no mean feat. Having found via the medium of myspace that Little My have 3" cds with handmade covers featuring furry animals I had to have one and its now on its way, so I think I'll have to review that once I get my eager hands on it.
Lovvers were as expected...horrible. They were horrible when they supported BRS, and equally horrible, if not worse on Thursday. This seemed to be a sentiment echoed across the crowd, small though it was at the time. On arriving, we'd discovered that not many people had arrived yet, and those who had were stood towards the back, allowing us to score a decent spot on the barrier. While this meant we'd had to suffer through Lovvers at the front, it also gave us a perfect view (and Sweet Dreams... dancing spot) for the night's headliners.
Los Campesinos! were as I'd imagined they'd be and more. The band were obviously nervous about playing on a stage they'd looked upto many times before as students, but they put their nervous energy to good use. The crowd were in good spirits, with many knowing the words to every song. This wasn't something the 7-piece were used to judging by Aleks' reaction when she realised that the crowd could be heard singing over her during Math(s). By the time they got onto Y!M!D! the crowd were singing and dancing, front to back and right out to the sides. There's something wrong about standing still to that. It's a song that makes your feet lose control. You have to dance like nobody's watching and your body takes over, which is quite apt really, given the lyrics. Being on the barrier gave me a perfect spot to do the Sweet Dreams... dance with Olli and Rosie, but the band didn't bring it back for the night. Shame on them. They really are the perfect band to shout random lyrics at the top of your voice whenever you feel like it. And I did. More than once. Although it was the first time I'd seen them, it definitely won't be the last. 9/10
So now I'm back and have 4 seminars to prepare for Monday, Tuesday and Friday. It's just as well that I don't have any gigs to go to until April 25th now, but I'm really looking forward to that one.
Music: LC! - C Is The Heavenly Option
Socks: Snoopy and rainbows
Although it was during the holidays, I came back to uni early so that I could see Los Campesinos! Although they're based in Cardiff, they hadn't played there much, and hadn't at all for 10 months, so I'd never had the chance to see them. After getting the train with Duncan, we met Olli and Rosie for a much needed Pizza Hut dinner before trying to find Cherry Pie (tradition) and heading off to the union.
After being told that first support, Little My, were far too twee for their own good I wasn't holding up much hope for discovering a new band, but was pleasantly surprised by them. Any band who use recorders, kazoos and glockenspiels is fine by me. It's a good job Solus has a big stage. fitting bands of 7 and 12 onto a stage is no mean feat. Having found via the medium of myspace that Little My have 3" cds with handmade covers featuring furry animals I had to have one and its now on its way, so I think I'll have to review that once I get my eager hands on it.
Lovvers were as expected...horrible. They were horrible when they supported BRS, and equally horrible, if not worse on Thursday. This seemed to be a sentiment echoed across the crowd, small though it was at the time. On arriving, we'd discovered that not many people had arrived yet, and those who had were stood towards the back, allowing us to score a decent spot on the barrier. While this meant we'd had to suffer through Lovvers at the front, it also gave us a perfect view (and Sweet Dreams... dancing spot) for the night's headliners.
Los Campesinos! were as I'd imagined they'd be and more. The band were obviously nervous about playing on a stage they'd looked upto many times before as students, but they put their nervous energy to good use. The crowd were in good spirits, with many knowing the words to every song. This wasn't something the 7-piece were used to judging by Aleks' reaction when she realised that the crowd could be heard singing over her during Math(s). By the time they got onto Y!M!D! the crowd were singing and dancing, front to back and right out to the sides. There's something wrong about standing still to that. It's a song that makes your feet lose control. You have to dance like nobody's watching and your body takes over, which is quite apt really, given the lyrics. Being on the barrier gave me a perfect spot to do the Sweet Dreams... dance with Olli and Rosie, but the band didn't bring it back for the night. Shame on them. They really are the perfect band to shout random lyrics at the top of your voice whenever you feel like it. And I did. More than once. Although it was the first time I'd seen them, it definitely won't be the last. 9/10
So now I'm back and have 4 seminars to prepare for Monday, Tuesday and Friday. It's just as well that I don't have any gigs to go to until April 25th now, but I'm really looking forward to that one.
Music: LC! - C Is The Heavenly Option
Socks: Snoopy and rainbows
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Good day
I got a 2 week extension for the coursework, plus I've managed to borrow a laptop from uni. Yay!
I can't wait for this weekend. Mucho partying and a trip to Cardiff :D
Today's socks: The other Snoopy and Penelope Pitstop ones.
Today's song: The Wombats - Moving To New York
I can't wait for this weekend. Mucho partying and a trip to Cardiff :D
Today's socks: The other Snoopy and Penelope Pitstop ones.
Today's song: The Wombats - Moving To New York
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