Category: Music

Bloggage · Celebration · Life · Music

I’ve been out of the apartment

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I’ve gone from an almost hermit like existence to being less of a hermit.  I can’t really say social butterfly because that would really give the wrong impression.  On the other hand compared to normal it could be used…

Anyway – this year I decided to go to things and do things.  The last few weeks have been busy – busy for me that is (I don’t know why i always feel the need to put in qualifier🤷‍♀️). One event a week is busy for me.  It started when I went to see Jenny Eclair on a Friday night – I did agree with her sentiment that an 8pm start really was late but that’s ’cause we ain’t the spring chickens we like to think we are.  On the whole she really was funny – now on occasion one or two of her references didn’t exactly hit the mark (possibly just for me) – referencing a shop in the UK, yes I recognise the name and have a vague notion of the point you’re making but as we’re not in the uk it didn’t have quite the impact it should have – that kind of thing.  To be honest, that didn’t really matter because it was a great night.  This was slightly overshadowed by looking at the phone afterwards to read of a shouting match in the White House between Trump&Co and President Zelenskyy – like WTAF?!?!

The following week on a Thursday, I went to see James Blunt in concert – this time it was indoors and my word there is such a big sound difference and on this occasion I wasn’t dancing in the rain – so that alone was a big thumbs up.   While we were waiting for the concert to start there was a video on the screens to advertise merchandise – completely brilliant – There was King Charles – unnoticed, Trump – booed, Musk – less booed, Putin – tittering, Starmer – unnoticed, a random woman in the house of commons – confusion for me (I now think it might have been Kemi Badenoch but I’m not 100% confident…) then Zelenskyy – massive cheering.  So whoever came up with this really hit the nail on the head – especially after last weeks fiasco/”art of the deal”

Jump another week and it’s a Friday – myself and my Mam went to see Michael Harding.  It was brilliant!  Mams generation in the audience thought it was hilarious as well – I just thought it was funny in places.  On the other hand I could listen to that man read a shopping list and I’d think it was brilliant.  I have to admit that I haven’t read his books but I do read his pieces in the newspapaer  The lesson of the talk was that you don’t have to understand people – you don’t have to work them out, know what makes the tick – you just have to love them.  Accept them as they are and love them.

This week, I flew solo.  I went to a matinee in the theatre – it always astounds me how they remember the words.  It’s an absolute pure feat!  It’s magic!  Anyway – yesterday’s excursion was to see Shakespeare!  King Lear to be precise.  Now it seems that most people I know of varying generations have all done it for their Leaving Cert. – myself included, when I repeated mine.  When you think of the play you did in school, the general feeling (or possibly personal feeling) is that it’s dry – it was lines and quotes remembered for an exam, the story line was only a thin surface.  The novel you study is all about the story – dialogue, descriptions, narration – it’s all wrapped up to convey the story.  The play however is pure dialogue and to read it on a page for an exam – this can be very barren.  Yesterday however, to see it played out – to see facial expressions, to hear intonation and delivery – this made it – this changed it – this was outstanding.  I think that whatever the play that’s being studied for exams – go and see it being performed – whether it’s via the big screen, the little screen, on youtube or live on stage  – see it performed – see what becomes of a script – because essentially that’s what it is – it’s a script for a visual production.   And yesterday’s production delivered on the visuals too!  Gloucesters ordeal took place on stage with the makeup (?) for each infliction being put into place – I don’t go to the theatre much – so this is possibly something many of you were acquainted with, for me it was better than any CGI in the cinema – it was real – it was credible.  The cast was a cast full of luminaries – 4 of whom I recognised immediately and the rest I’ll be watching out for.

I have 2 weeks of nothing ahead of me – I’m looking forward to them!  However after that it gets busy again with another concert and a trip or two.  I’m going to need a long lie down after all of this is done!

 

Bloggage · Celebration · Christmas · Music · Television

New Year, Same Me

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Yes I’m sat on the sofa watching the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Years Day Concert and I’ve dug out the crochet that I told my Mam I’d do.

It really doesn’t get better than this!

Bloggage · general · Home · Instagram · Life · Music · Photography · Rain · rain · Seasons · Weather

Rainy Days

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This is probably a post that should be over on the blog with the photos, but I decided that this was the place I wanted it to be.

I love nothing more than a rainy day.  It’s even better if I’m sitting inside – a cup of tea in hand, cosy socks and slippers – if it’s in the cooler months, add a warm jumper or oodie – maybe watching some old film.  It all invokes that mood of being cocooned and safe.  It’s possibly part of that Hygge definition – that cosiness is highlighted against the not so cosy weather outside.

The above is the stereotypical notion of being indoors when it’s raining.  However, for me, I like to sit next to the window – if there’s a stair to be sat on that’s a double win, but I like to be next to the window to watch the rain.  Not the rain outside, but the raindrops coursing down the window.  It’s hypnotic.  It allows the mind to wander away and come back to what’s in front of you.  Watching how each trickle can distort the background, how some will join up and become larger and change the pattern it leaves behind.

I love the comfort and the solitude it invokes.

This little video/reel was recorded one evening, using the time-lapse option on my phone.  I like the increased sense of movement that you don’t always get with rain – and because it was still early evening the light outside was sill bright enough to see beyond the window.  So click on it – press play and enjoy the clip of music that it going with it.

 

Books · Cats · Christmas · general · Home · Life · Links · Music · Reading

Do I really have to work?

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It’s currently 07:45 and I’m still in bed.  However, I’ve already had my breakfast – I made porridge and a cup of coffee and brought it back to bed – so breakfast is finished.  I’m now reading “The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories”, the cat is curled up beside me and ClassicFM is on in the background.  Surely this is a Saturday and I can comfortably stay here for a while longer??  Sadly it’s Wednesday and I have to commute into the spare room, which isn’t exactly torturous, but leaving my little idle is!  Oh well!

Bloggage · Childhood Memories · Life · Music

David Bowie, RIP

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This is another post that isn’t going to make me smile.

This morning the alarm went off – I looked up the weather on my phone and then decided to have a sneaky look at Facebook.  The first post was by the Radio Times with a picture of David Bowie.  The internet has been full of David Bowie the whole weekend – it was his 69th birthday and he had released a new album.  Hang on!  this isn’t about his album – it says he’s dead!  This has to be a hoax – surely- no it’s the Radio Times it must be true – how can it be true?

Pádraig!!!  Quick! David Bowie!!  (the rule in our house is we can wake each other if somebody dies)  what?  DAVID BOWIE – quick turn on the telly.

The telly wouldn’t work so we ran to the living room.

Himself watched it a bit and then headed back to bed saying he still can’t take it in.

I’ve sat on the sofa weeping every once in a while – I don’t know if it’s for me, for him, for his family, for the music, for my youth?

My youth has him linked to Kenny Everett – it’s a strange world.

I know it’s a real, but the body of work makes it a lie.

The Brilliant Bowie – gone but not really.

Bloggage · Home · Life · Music · Television

My Radio

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I love listening to the radio – I have one in every room in the apartment even the smallest room!

Actually, that’s not exactly true – I did have a radio on my locker but retired it for the telly.  What I mean by that is we get the radio through the television and the signal is much, much better!  However this morning two things happened to be bring the radio back to the locker – I woke up in time to listen to Gloria on LyricFM and the remotes were over on his locker.  The radio was found, plugged in and I snuggled back down to listen.  It really was glorious!  The reception wasn’t too bad either.

Speaking of reception – I mentioned earlier that reception is better on the telly – well that’s not really worth anything if there’s no electricity!  As was the case last week.  I had just gotten off the bus when all of the house alarms started going off.  It seems that when the electricity fails you don’t get silence these days.  I do like having no electricity – it’s like an adventure!  Anyway with no telly or internets there was only the radio left!  So out came my transistor (I don’t think they can be called a tranny any more)  and the reception of BBC radio 4 was PERFECT!  We listened away ’til the lights came back and at that point all of the static electricity that was being generated completely destroyed the reception.  Now I know some will go what did you expect but it had never dawned on me before – yes, electrical weather but household, no!

Here is my old faithful –

IMG_2728 I’ve had her for too many years than I’d care to admit to!

Christmas · Music

Neujahrskonzert

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This is something I love to watch every New Years Day and this year is no exception.

Right now we are waiting for the Blue Danube & the Radetzky March 🙂

We were looking at the concert hall where it is taking place and it really does look like a chocolate box all golden and flowers.  In the audience I’ve spotted Julie Andrews – I’m jealous!  You know how some people would love to go to Wimbledon well I’d love to go to this concert!  Although I’m not too sure I could sit still for the entire thing – right now I’m prancing around my living room pretending to waltz and polka – all of those weekends spent watching Strictly Come Dancing have not been wasted 😉

The Danube has started with shots of the river and SNOW – it looks so magical – it all combines to make the heart swell.

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Books · Music · Television

Inspector Morse

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On ITV3 they are holding a John Thaw weekend so I’m glued to the box.  I loved Inspector Morse, both the books and the programme.

I will admit that I cried when Inspector Morse died – I remember it very clearly – sitting up in bed ’til the late, lamp on, no music.  I was given the book for Christmas.  In saying I cried when he died it might also have been that I was still a bit upset as my Grandad had died just over a month before.

There is one other thing I love about the Inspector Morse series and that was the soundtrack – written by Barrington Pheloung.  There are parts of the music when is soars and it almost feels as if you heart wants to fly with it – it’s just so beautiful.

So here is the thing that makes me smile particularly 2min 43sec:

Inspector Morse Soundtrack

Music · Television

BBC One Advert / Bring Me Sunshine

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It really does make me simply smile!

Can you watch it without singing/miming along?

 

 

Childhood Memories · Christmas · Family · Films · Music

Christmas Music – Stop The Cavalry

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Ok I’ve tried to hold off from being Christmassy but I can’t do it any longer – if I do I think I’ll burst!

Today in work we were talking about Christmas Films – I’ll keep that for another post ’cause Christmas really does make me smile so there’s LOADS to say about it.  Anyway back to office chat – the Muppets Christmas Carol was mentioned and after that the songs wouldn’t go away – can you hear it?  Does it feel like Christmas?

So I’m now at home playing with iTunes and I have my christmas music split into two – carols (church type music) and songs (chart type).  What I love about music is that there’s nearly always a story behind why you like songs – whether it’s because of a person, an event or a place – well for me the first christmas song that I want to post about is Jona Lewie – “Stop The Cavalry”  I can’t hear that song without thinking of Dad.  Specifically we’re in the car down at the traffic lights in Portmarnock village, we’re waiting for the lights to change, the song is after coming on the radio and he turns it up and we’re singing – Daddy has the same kind of singing voice as Jona Lewie and can hit the deeper notes – me?  I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket but that has never stopped me trying 🙂

Now press play and sing “duba-duba-dumdum duba-duba-dum wish I was at home…”

 

I know it’s mad but in my head I’m still singing it with Dad 😀

Hopefully this will be the first of many posts about all of the glorious things I love about Christmas