How can it be over already?

Well, well, well, Castlefest has happened once again. I simply cannot believe it. The last few days have been so amazing, as always, that my mind hasn't really had time to process the fact that they really did happen.

At the moment, I'm sat in the apartment that we're renting until tomorrow typing on my new computer (which isn't working properly so I can't get my photos off my camera... annoying thing). The point being, this is going to be a short post with my full post coming, probably, when I get back to England.

I don't really know how to summarise the weekend and a bit that has just passed. Surrounded by some of the most friendly people, beautiful music, amazing costumes, and an atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else... that is Castlefest. I was also happy to meet up with a couple of people I had originally met last year, and meeting new people too - hi everyone :-D

In a lot of ways, this weekend wasn't exactly what I'd planned. I was unable to camp for various reasons, a last minute discussion based on ill health prompted by several hours standing in a queue at an airport (thanks KLM!). However, things also went well in unexpected ways. I got a couple of my scrapbook paintings signed and they drew quite a bit of attention from some the respective bands. I honestly didn't expect it and it was a little over overwhelming actually for something that I do for my own enjoyment to be so much the focus! Weird but in the very best way!

The other non-planned event was my first conversation in German with a native speaker. Because I'm self-taught 100% I've never had the chance to take the baby steps into conversation although my understanding is not bad. I also got to exercise my French a little too (I learned it since I was 6-7 and only stopped about a year ago yet I have never really used it in conversation... everyone seems to want to speak English)

Anyway, I'm rambling on a lot more than I had intended so I'll go for now. As I said, proper long post with photos and stuff is to come. I will probably have at least one generic blog post before then because I'm getting my flat keys tomorrow... eeee!

A day of ick

Well, I didn't plan to be here right now. I should be in The Netherlands, ready to get things sorted out for The Move and, of course, ready to go off to Castlefest. Instead, I am in a hotel opposite the airport, hoping I'll be able to fly tomorrow.

I wouldn't mind all that much except it has been a complete mess. Standing in a queue for about four hours with no communication from the airline (thank you to the people on facebook/twitter, and Maria in particular, who helped everyone in that line to work out what was going on)... told we would be put on a flight leaving at around 5 and having all our details taken with the promise we'd get the boarding pass in a moment... getting to the front desk at last to be told that we couldn't fly until the next day and, from what we've heard, this was because some people got to skip the queue because they paid extra (seriously) and we got taken off the flight again. We weren't told to sign in to get seats so we will have to go and do that tomorrow; some of our fellow passengers were told to check in. And, finally, looking at the amended booking online - I am down as Un Chadburn. Now, I know I go by many names but Un is not one of them. Incidentally, my frequent flier number and bags have been removed too. Somehow I do not think tomorrow is going to go smoothly.

To top it all off, it turns out that our flight is the only flight that has been cancelled. The previous flights were delayed by the weather, the flights after ours (including the one 10 minutes after ours) were on time. Our flight was not cancelled because of the weather, it was cancelled to get the rest of their flights back on schedule. So, because off all the above, I am writing a stonking complaint letter to KLM as soon as I find the energy.

Once again thank you, thank you to anyone who helped out or texted or whatever... you gems!

Anyway, that's the short version cutting out the bit where I collapsed, we couldn't rearrange the taxi even though on their website it said we were entitled to do so etc. etc 

I'm exhausted. Na night!

Well, that's that then

As I write this I'm whizzing down the road in a van half laden with my stuff, the final things ready for The Move. Incidentally, that also means that this is the first blog post I've written on my phone which means anything could happen.

Sitting next to my bass guitar with my desk in pieces in the back, my paints in boxes it really does feel like my life is packed up. This limbo is an extended goodbye without any of the features of the new beginning. In that sense, I feel a little lost yet I also do feel the excitement of that promise of a new adventure. No matter how it may feel I'm not cutting any bonds but rather stretching them and taking them with me as new ones are formed.

Bring on the future!

It's been a while

So, my last post was just after the Reckless Love show which, in all honest, feels like an eternity ago. The days since then have been filled with preparations for the move, buying a thousand things, arranging a million meetings... worryingly, I'm not exaggerating very much!

Anyway, the point being, while the last few weeks have been a complete emotional and physical roller-coaster for me (what is sleep?) they would have translated into complete monotony to read about... more than normal!

So, in short. I'm still alive... just not very interesting ;-)

Book review - 'The Sense of Darkness' by Cinzia De Santis

Rating: 5/5 stars

Plot:

"Clara is a blind girl who lives in Sabana, a small village in Latin America, raised by her aunt Trinidad. Despite her handicap, Clara is adventurous, curious and very much in charge of her life. Thanks to her acute sense of smell, she becomes a renowned healer. Her world falls apart when members of a guerrilla gang bring to her home a wounded prisoner, Mauricio. While Clara struggles to understand the feelings he generates in her, Trinidad's past emerges after more than twenty years."

-from 'The Sense of Darkness' on Goodreads

Review:

There are writers who make their words the focus, crafting language, and there are storytellers for whom the words are secondary as they focus on telling a tale that really sucks the reader in. My goodness, Cinzia De Santis is such a storyteller. The simple yet elegant prose allows the reader to meander through the lives of the characters, becoming fully involved and invested in the narrative. There are also a couple of moments when the author does embellish her language somewhat, often for the scenes focusing on a character’s inner emotions. The contrast in style makes these moments beautiful and sometimes painfully profound.

As for the story itself, the weakest aspect, in my opinion, was the relationship between Clara and Mauricio. It seemed from the blurb, and the introduction, that this would be the key feature of the plot but, although important to the resolution, their relationship wasn’t fully developed. However, that wasn’t a big issue as, reading the novel itself, it seemed to me that this was in fact Trinidad’s story. I would have liked to have seen Clara’s reaction to Mauricio rooted in a little more logic but it really did not affect the story overall.

Although I’ve just commented on what I felt was a lack of development, it was the backstory of all the characters that really made this novel something special. Although, as I’ve said, I feel that this was Trinidad’s story more than anything else, every character has their own history, their own relationships and feelings and, for a few pages at least, we explore their lives. Cinza De Santis has focused on one family group yet expands to brush upon the lives of those surrounding them. In this fashion, the book seems to accurately reflect life as we all move in our little bubbles, sometimes blessed with a glimpse of another’s story.

Overall, this is a book that is honestly worth the time spent reading it, and one that I do not doubt I will re-read at a later date. It is written in an easy style that focuses on telling the story at hand and that story is beautiful in its own right. I believe that this is the author’s first English language novel and I look forward to many more to come.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book through Goodread’s First Reads and I am so pleased that I did. The blurb was enough to make me enter to win it, obviously, but would not have convinced me to buy it. Had I not been lucky I may well never have picked up this book and I would have missed out. I would urge you, if you’re tempted at all to give it a go.

The Sense of Darkness is available in both Kindle and Paperback format from Amazon.

Another night of Reckless Love

I will start this blog post with a warning. If something doesn't make sense it's because I haven't quite recovered from the brilliance that was last night and my brain may not be in gear!

Yesterday was another trip to Bristol for an evening of music at The Fleece. It also heralded the last gig that I have with Kim until she comes out to Amsterdam in February and, frankly, that's just sad! As always, we met some delightful people in the queue, and in the venue itself before and after the show.

Kim and I being attacked with a camera ;-)

First up was Mia Klose. With a confidence on stage and a real skill for performance I can see how Klose could be someone to watch. Sadly, I couldn't hear her vocals at all because of bad set up. Indeed, Kim and I spent the first couple of songs trying to work out if the microphone was even on. That said, the instrumental aspects of the music were enough to keep me interested and I've since looked up her music and found it to be quite enjoyable. It's a real shame that the performance was let down by bad sound tech but I guess it's one of those things. In fact, I'm sure I wrote something similar in my last review of a show at The Fleece, hmm...

Next up was the local band, BlackWolf, a band who I saw last Reckless Love gig and felt indifferently, at best about. There was such an improvement in their performance. Last time, it felt like they were trying way too hard and I was more concerned about one of them falling into the audience when their legs got tied together with wires as opposed to the music. This time, the performance was full of energy but felt more polished, mature, and was generally enjoyable. It also allowed me to focus more on their music (they had better sound than last time) and I found that I liked it. It's not the kind of thing I would normally listen to, I don't think, but I think I'll probably give up and buy their CD now and, if I wasn't moving away, I'd like to see them again.

Finally, the stage was set up for Reckless Love, complete with little cameras (or that's what we decided they were) in various positions, including attached to the drummer's chest. Nothing like hidden cameras to make you a little self conscious while 'singing along' and jumping up and down like a loon.

Olli in the spotlight

The usual recording of 'The Boys Are Back In Town' started playing and, after almost all the song had played through, the boys finally turned up on stage. Kim timed them. They were late. Anyway, fashionable lateness aside the band immediately launched into a set filled with old songs and new,

album tracks and singles, and the crowd really enjoyed it.

If anything, this show seemed a little less energetic than previous shows but the difference in the crowd was tangible. There wasn't a moment when people weren't singing along, bouncing up and down and thoroughly enjoying their evening. I have to say that this was probably one of the best audiences I've been in... excited without being overly pushy.

If Olli was less energetic than usual (which still makes him more dynamic than most) then Jalle seemed to be more into the show which was lovely to see. Pepe and Hessu were their normal, wonderful selves. Of course, I can find no complaints... except for the fact that I'm not going to be living in England when they come back!!!

Pepe mid hair flip

We were also lucky enough to meet all of the band members who, again, kindly signed one of my little scrapbook doodle paintings and took photos with Kim and me. The music was a little too loud, there being a club night after the gig, to really converse but it was great to see them all the same.

A few goodbyes and a lost room key later and it was all over. Darn it.

Thank you to everyone I met in the queue (I don't remember everyone's names so won't try to list but if you stumble across this and want to add me on facebook/follow on twitter and say hi then please do!). Also, thank you to Kim for being an amazing person, yet again, (she knows it). And to Reckless Love, well, until next time!

Gathering momentum

With each passing day it's getting closer to The Move, and that's to be expected. What I didn't expect was the way that, with each passing day, time starts barrelling forwards with more and more speed. Suddenly, July is here and with it the daunting phrase: "One more month".

Interestingly, the emotions which have been ballooning around along the terror spectrum are starting to focus more on excitement. I mean, I'll admit that I did have a cry when trying to buy kitchen appliances the other day but we'll just ignore that. It's also starting to feel like things are coming together. Almost every day we're out doing something.  Time is running away and I'm starting to feel ready. I've even bought a bed now, and a sofa bed so people can come visit.

The other thing on the horizon is my final planned UK gig which is, of course, Reckless Love. I'm going to be so upset when they next tour England and I'm not going to be here but I'll ignore that for now! Really looking forward to the concert, which is this Friday, and to meeting up with Kim too. Reckless Love always put on a good show and, with it being a one off festival warm up, I'm thinking it's going to be a bit special!

Naturally, preparing for a gig,
in my mind anyway, means painting

Oh, and as you may have noticed, I've had a go at using my instagram account. I still don't understand the thing but it's easier than going through the whole memory card rigmarole when I want to upload a basic image. We'll see!