Sunday, April 17, 2005
Coldplay fans be jealous!
Coldplay
I reserved audience tickets for the taping of a Channel Four music show. I didn't know what band would be performing so bowled on up to Riverside Studios (Rae's old stomping ground) along with Rae and Steve (Joe was unwell) hoping for the best. When we arrived we found out that the act was Coldplay but we'd have to wait in line for an hour before the doors opened. We decided it was worth the wait as Coldplay are a very popular and top class act. I think they are about to release a new album and therefore are getting back on the touring and publicity trail after quite a long break.
Two and a half hours later we finally got into the studio! It was worth it. Not many people can say that they've been only a couple of metres away from the lovely Chris Martin performing live in an intimate studio environment - the audience capacity was only around 250. The band played five new songs and we, the audience, were encouraged to clap and cheer with lots of enthusiasm as if the band were playing their third encore. Suffice to say by the end of the day we had reached our yelping and clapping limit. Chris chatted to us between takes which gave the whole affair a more personal touch. It was nice to see the band at face value and not through the over hyped view that the publicity machine usually shows these music superstars. They are just musicians playing their songs.
Contract stress
The above was a bit of a treat. One I think I deserved after the stress of the past couple of weeks. I'm resigned to the fact that I'll be staying on in my current role. I have another four months guaranteed, with a pay rise, and they will try to get the extra two months I need (to take me up to October when we are going home) as well. The ironic thing is there is more than enough work for me. It's turned out to be a political hot potato.
The general election
Speaking of politics...it's all go on the electioneering front. The three major parties - Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats - are communicating their visions and policy plans. The BBC are providing a lot of analysis, on the performance of the parties' campaigns, and providing useful summaries on the key points and issues...it's like they are unravelling the spin and revealing the real objectives and strategies so you can digest the messages with an understanding of the motivations behind them. Very interesting.
Moving
We've been in our new flat for a week and already we've had our first visitor and the bathroom floor ripped out. "What?" I here you say...well faulty plumbing in our flat was causing severe damage to the flat below so the plumber had to rip up the lino and look under the bath to investigate and fix the problem. The leak has been fixed and he is coming in on Wednesday to replace the flooring. Apart from that, and the dripping sounds coming from the boiler which is in a cupboard in our bedroom, we are settling in well. The flat is nice and bright and the kitchen is modern. Joseph successfully put together our flat pack computer trolley. Well done Joe.
Life should be less stressful from now on. Hopefully the warmer weather is on its way. It's still a little chilly. Looking forward to seeing the ballet this coming Friday and then we are off to Venice the following weekend. Yay!
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I reserved audience tickets for the taping of a Channel Four music show. I didn't know what band would be performing so bowled on up to Riverside Studios (Rae's old stomping ground) along with Rae and Steve (Joe was unwell) hoping for the best. When we arrived we found out that the act was Coldplay but we'd have to wait in line for an hour before the doors opened. We decided it was worth the wait as Coldplay are a very popular and top class act. I think they are about to release a new album and therefore are getting back on the touring and publicity trail after quite a long break.
Two and a half hours later we finally got into the studio! It was worth it. Not many people can say that they've been only a couple of metres away from the lovely Chris Martin performing live in an intimate studio environment - the audience capacity was only around 250. The band played five new songs and we, the audience, were encouraged to clap and cheer with lots of enthusiasm as if the band were playing their third encore. Suffice to say by the end of the day we had reached our yelping and clapping limit. Chris chatted to us between takes which gave the whole affair a more personal touch. It was nice to see the band at face value and not through the over hyped view that the publicity machine usually shows these music superstars. They are just musicians playing their songs.
Contract stress
The above was a bit of a treat. One I think I deserved after the stress of the past couple of weeks. I'm resigned to the fact that I'll be staying on in my current role. I have another four months guaranteed, with a pay rise, and they will try to get the extra two months I need (to take me up to October when we are going home) as well. The ironic thing is there is more than enough work for me. It's turned out to be a political hot potato.
The general election
Speaking of politics...it's all go on the electioneering front. The three major parties - Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats - are communicating their visions and policy plans. The BBC are providing a lot of analysis, on the performance of the parties' campaigns, and providing useful summaries on the key points and issues...it's like they are unravelling the spin and revealing the real objectives and strategies so you can digest the messages with an understanding of the motivations behind them. Very interesting.
Moving
We've been in our new flat for a week and already we've had our first visitor and the bathroom floor ripped out. "What?" I here you say...well faulty plumbing in our flat was causing severe damage to the flat below so the plumber had to rip up the lino and look under the bath to investigate and fix the problem. The leak has been fixed and he is coming in on Wednesday to replace the flooring. Apart from that, and the dripping sounds coming from the boiler which is in a cupboard in our bedroom, we are settling in well. The flat is nice and bright and the kitchen is modern. Joseph successfully put together our flat pack computer trolley. Well done Joe.
Life should be less stressful from now on. Hopefully the warmer weather is on its way. It's still a little chilly. Looking forward to seeing the ballet this coming Friday and then we are off to Venice the following weekend. Yay!
(0) comments
