U2 Album being Mixed in New York - Update

Photo: Jaime Scatena

@U2 has some updates on the info that came out yesterday, seems the band has been doing a bit more than mixing the new album, such as, making a video on the roof of the studio, and for some reason Chris Martin is around now too. I am at last allowing myself to get a little excited LOL! 

Read the updated information here

U2 Album being Mixed in New York

Looks like the next U2 album really is not that far from release, there are credible reports that the band is mixing the album with Dangermouse at Electric Lady Studios, New York.  @U2 has put together recent information here. It fits in with their usual four yearly releases and it seems U2's PR machine is at work as U2 is being played on the radio much more recently.... But being a fan for so long I know that they can ditch or change an album very late in the process, so not letting myself get too excited yet!

Franki's Forever Home!

You may remember Franki, the dog that was horrendously neglected and hours from being put to sleep before being rescued by Extreme Rescue Inc.  She recently arrived in her forever home and I think this fabulous picture shows that she has settled in very well with this lovely family! So great to have such a happy ending to her story. Well done Extreme Rescue!

Some Things Are Meant To Be!

On May 10th I was working. It was a busy shift and just before I started it I'd received bad news about a friend which had upset me, so when I set off to work I felt quite down. I'd taken a CD of U22 with me as I'd just received it and U2's music always lifts me. So I was scooting around the city doing my calls listening to great music - the live CD is fantastic!

I had a break in calls that coincided with me being close to home so I popped in for a quick cuppa. I checked my phone and saw a post on Facebook from @U2 about a benefit gig in Dublin for Christy Dignam  (the singer from that great band Aslan) who, sadly, is suffering from cancer. I remember many years ago seeing Aslan (who then we'd barely heard of) at Vicar St in Dublin. It was a raucous gig, lots of beer,  but also a very amazing one, we were both well impressed and captivated by the totally unique performing style of Christy Dignam. So it was very sad to hear that he is now gravely ill with cancer. The gig is to raise funds for his continuing treatment.

In the article it said that Bono was going to be one of many Irish artists who will sing with the rest of Aslan. Well, I nearly fell out of that chair when I saw the date June 21st - I am on holiday that week! It's been a year since I've been in Dublin and I am sooo ready for a trip there.  I immediately sent a text to Debbi, "Fancy this?" and so began an hour of frantic back and forth texting. I had to go back out to work so Debbi had to try to get tickets, we knew they wouldn't be available for very long.

Eventually I got a text from Deb, "We're in!" Yay! I was over the moon. We got seats in the gods of the Olympia Theatre, but we're in there and that's the main thing. We had no idea if we could get flights or accommodation, and Deb didn't even know if she could get the Friday off! But sometimes you've got to be spontaneous and just go for things. Most of our lives we are "sensible" and, for me, that can get a bit boring, so it's good to take a risk now and then. Luckily we both have that attitude!

And it has all worked out, we got reasonable flights, a brilliant deal (great negotiating Deb!) for a room for two nights at The Clarence and Deb also got her day off.  So it was meant to be, especially as it was also a special birthday ;)!

Review - Afternoon Tea at The Plough, Wreay, Cumbria

This weekend I had my friend Debbi staying for a couple of days. It's ages since we've got together and had a lot of catching up to do. Had a brilliant time and the wine rack is now empty lol! For something different to do on the Saturday we went to have afternoon tea at one of my favourite country pubs, The Plough at Wreay. I've always loved having a proper English afternoon tea, it's very civilised. We were so impressed I felt I had to do a review, so here goes!

Address and Website:
The Plough, Wreay, Cumbria. http://www.wreayplough.co.uk/

Cuisine:
English/European, a cut above normal pub food.

Ambiance:
A genuine country pub in a small village just south of Carlisle. Modernised but retaining its character. Roomy, tables nicely spaced. Lovely panoramic views of the mountains from the car park.

Didn't get the scones on this photo!

The Afternoon Tea:
We had typical afternoon tea crockery, bone china with flowers and pretty scenes on them. We were a bit - ahem - dehydrated from sampling my wine the previous night and couldn't wait for the tea to come. It was accompanied by a pot of hot water to top it up.

The sandwiches were tuna, egg mayonnaise and ham, very fresh and tasty. There were four small slices of toasted cheesy bread and  gorgeous scones with blackcurrant jam and doubled cream, again very fresh, in fact they were slightly warm still.

The coup d'etat was the lovely old-fashioned cake stand with ten, yes ten, fresh cream cakes! There were chocolate choux buns (real chocolate), Victoria sponge, cup cakes, apple turnovers, and more scones with cream and fresh strawberries inside. We could not eat them all and took what was left over home.

Price:
£14.30. Afternoon tea is served 2-4pm Saturday and Sunday, you must pre-book, tel. 016974 75770

Overall Impression:
Excellent value for money, everything was very fresh and we got more than enough, and we have good appetites! Alos very good and friendly service. Go on, treat yourself one weekend.

Parrot Rescue

I grew up with exotic birds, as far back as I can remember we had parrots and parrakeets in our house. My mother was bird mad. I've had birds myself but none for the last few years. Whilst in a pet store I saw a poster for Birdline Parrot Rescue, and I was intrigued. I thought about it for a while and then decided to get involved. The other day I had the "Safe House" check and all went well. A safe house is where birds are put immediately after being rescued, the length of their stay can vary. So now I'm just waiting for my first rescue bird, it's quite exciting!

Franki Has Got Her Zest for Life Back!

I don't know if you remember my post in January about the dog Franki that was hours from being put to sleep at a shelter in Miami. She was skin and bone and had nigh on given up, you can read the post here http://the-crystal-gazer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/franki.html.  She was rescued at the last minute by Extreme Rescue Inc an organization that, as the name suggests, takes dogs that most people have given up on.

Photo from Extreme Rescue Inc

So, two and a half months later in April here's Franki! Hardly recognisable, healthy, full of life and now ready for her forever home. Apparently she is a great, loving girl so I'm sure that it won't be long until she finds somewhere where she will get the love she deserves.

Well done Extreme Rescue Inc, thank heavens there are people like you out there that give dogs such as Franki a second chance!

Adam Clayton Interview

There's a good interview with Adam Clayton in this week's Hot Press. He talks about U2's new album-in-progress (working with Dangermouse), his problems with lack of self confidence and addiction, his son and his work with the mental health charity for young people, Walk in my Shoes. The interview is very open and candid, and the great news according to the reporter is, quote - The last time we spotted Mr. C at Christmas, he had a near Afro, but today the hair is almost back to regulation U2 bassist length. Phew!!

Read the interview here

Friends

I had a lovely weekend with school friend Marian. She now lives in southern England so we don't see each other that often, but when we do it's as if we've never been apart.  And that's a sign of true friendship, you don't have to live in each other's pockets, don't have to live close by. For many of the years I've known Marian there weren't emails, Skype or texts, but we still remained friends, and now in these days of the Big Idea (U2ers will recognise that lol!) it is so much easier to stay in touch.

She is having a difficult time at the moment and needed the break here. We had a fabulous facial at High Head Spa which was pure bliss! On Saturday we went out for a meal at The Plough in Wreay and another school friend, CJ (my best friend and as near to a sister as I have) joined us.  It was a lovely evening, we laughed, reminisced, even got CJ to pose for a group photo (no mean feat!) and couldn't believe how many years had passed since those school days.  We've got big birthdays this year and it's so strange that you don't feel your chronological age inside, though sometimes your body let's you know lol!

We've all been through difficult times, and have been there for each other.  I haven't got a big family but I am lucky to have wonderful friends. Both long time ones like Marian and CJ, other good pals locally and other fab people I've met through a mutual love for U2 and who have become real friends of long-standing too. My next visitor will be Debbi one of those good friends I got to know over 20 years ago through U2. We are both are quite "sensible" most of the time, but like to be spontaneous every now and then and and we've shared some amazing adventures over the years and I'm sure there are more to come!

So, in this post I'm celebrating that special thing, friendship. Friendship isn't an accident of birth, friends choose you and you choose them. Some are lifelong, some peter out, some change as we make our way through our lives.  Different friendships play different roles in your life, but they are all special in their own way.  

Bono at the TED Conference

After watching Comic Relief I thought I'd put up Bono's talk at the TED Conference in America. He gets a lot of stick for his campaigning and his motives are much mis-understood. But he is driven to help eradicate extreme poverty, he has seen the heartbreaking things that were shown on Comic Relief first hand.  He knows his stuff inside out, he is not just a figurehead for a cause. His speech is eloquent, funny, informative and very encouraging on progress so far.  It's well worth watching.

My Afternoon at the Hospital

Had a bit of a day today. For around 20 years I've had a hiatus hernia which has been well controlled with medication. However over the last year or so the medication wasn't working as well and I've suffered indigestion, pain, difficulty swallowing, fullness and wind. I went to my GP and she referred me for a gastroscopy. I went for that today. I had made the mistake of reading what people said about the procedure on the Internet and was quite nervous and determined to have sedation so I would be a bit out of it - I'm not brave lol! I thought I'd write honestly about my experience here to help others who may need the go through the procedure themselves one day.

I had nothing to eat or drink before my appointment as instructed. After arrival I was taken through to a room and there had an interview with a nurse and she checked details and did basic tests such as blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc.  I then was seen by the consultant, a very handsome, dark, foreign man and he explained the procedure.  He said the examination would take about five minutes and I ended up suddenly being inexplicably brave and said I would have the throat numbing spray instead of the sedation! Maybe I was so given courage by the stunning doctor lol!

I went through to the room where they would do the procedure.  I was greeted by two lovely nurses who chatted away to me, we ended up talking about shoes! The doctor introduced me to a young woman who was a junior doctor just there to observe and learn.  I was sat on the bed and the doctor sprayed the numbing spray at the back of my throat throat.  It was very bitter in taste (I had been fore-warned) and worked quickly and it felt bizarre not to feel anything when I swallowed.

I had to lay on the bed on my left side, one nurse stood behind me and kind of held me, every now and then she gave me a pat which was nice, little things like that mean a lot when you are a bit scared and vulnerable. I think another role she would have had would have been to hold me as still as possible if I'd struggled! The other nurse was on my left by my head with suction just like you have at the dentist which she used occasionally.  A gag with a round hole was put into my mouth and tied round the back of my head with bandage.

Then the doctor inserted the endoscope through the hole in the gag and down my oesophagus.  He didn't mess around and it was momentarily quite uncomfortable as it went down. I was conscious of it there, but it wasn't too unpleasant.  I felt a slight sensation of fullness when they expanded the stomach with gas. The doctor then had a look around my stomach and duodenum. It was really weird because I did have a sensation of something moving about in me. Again it was occasionally uncomfortable but not painful.  The doctor was explaining things to the junior doctor and I was trying to listen but the two nurses were talking so I didn't catch a lot of the conversation.  As the consultant and machine were behind me I couldn't see my insides, I would have quite liked to! He took a couple of photos with the machine.

Then the doctor quickly removed the endoscope and the procedure was over. I gave a massive set of burps as the scope came out because of the gas they had put in and there was a lot of gurgling lol!

I was immediately told that my problem was, as I'd thought, my hiatus hernia. It was very large and accounted for all the physically symptoms I was experiencing.  He said to double my medication and that I'd probably need an operation to sort out the problem.  Not the best of news, but it could have been much worse. He will contact my GP. I was then free to leave and that was that!

I called my friend to come to pick me up - she was shocked to hear from me so soon as I'd told her I would be having sedation and would need picked up late afternoon. She soon arrived and took me home, and, bless her, had brought me some soup (that she was going to heat up for me thinking I may not be able to eat much at first) and my fave coffee creams as a treat. She's a pretty amazing friend :).

I have few after effects from the procedure, the numbness soon wore off and I have slightly sore throat and wind lol! Everyone I saw was wonderful, pleasant and professional. None of my examination cost me anything and if I do have an operation that will be free too. Our National Health Service is a wonderful thing, I'm one of the lucky generation, born a few years after it was created and so it has looked after me all my life so far, and I, as a nurse for over 30 years was also part of that NHS, so it is very dear to my heart. I hope that it can survive by adapting to the modern day needs of the population, it's too special and precious to lose.

Dance Pony Dance!

This has to be one of the best ads of all time, it'll make you smile and brighten your day! Brilliant stuff!

Scooby, the Guide Dog I'm Sponsoring!

Meet the gorgeous Scooby, a potential guide dog for the blind that I am sponsoring.  I was in Sainsbury's the other day and there were people there from Guide Dogs for the Blind trying to get people to sign up to sponsor puppies for their training - which lasts two years and costs £28,000 per dog.  It was something I had been thinking about doing for a while so I decided to sign up. There were two dogs to choose from, the other was a gorgeous golden "Andrex" puppy, but I chose Scooby because I thought not as many people would go for him even though he's such a handsome boy - it's that black dog syndrome  they are the ones least adopted in kennels too. I think he's fabulous with his luxurious, shiny, curly coat!

Sponsoring costs only a few pounds a month and you are regularly sent information - Pupdates - about your dog's progress and photos right until he/she graduates at around two years old and is matched with someone.  This is my first photo of Scooby he's a golden retriever/labrador mix and he's around six week old.  Once you have signed up they send you a little album to keep your photos in, along with a certificate, and a small calendar. I think it is lovely how you are able to keep up with your dog's progress in such a close way, and online there is even more, including videos of the dogs.

I think guide dogs are absolutely amazing, and I'm proud to be able to help in the training of Scooby in a small way. He has loads to learn, and I'll eagerly watch his progress - I'm sure he'll do well! I'll keep you updated.

You can read more about sponsoring a puppy here

The Year Ahead

Nearly the end of February, after that this month is over it's all downhill into Spring!  When 2012 turned into 2013 I had NO trips on the horizon at all, I hate that.  I have a big financial outlay for my home this year and I was going to be "sensible" and only go away to celebrate a special birthday in Dublin in October. Well, my birthday is actually in September, but this year I'm like the Queen, having a real and an official birthday lol!  I will be celebrating it with a stay in the penthouse at The Clarence Hotel with friends and family, what better way to enter a new decade!

Then saw Bruce Springsteen was touring again and I regretted not seeing him live last year, so I just had to go to see him in 2013. So I have a short break in Glasgow in June for that!

My friend Dianne and I have always wanted to go to Iceland for New Year, and seeing it was so far off I said I would do it.  But when I looked into airfares they were very expensive over the New Year.  So we changed our plans and are now having a two centred trip, New Year in Dublin (which is always wonderful!) and then on to Iceland for Þrettándinn, 12th night (or more accurately 13th night in Iceland) on 6th January, a time when they have bonfires, fireworks and parades.  Maybe catch the northern lights again and I want to fulfil  my ambition to go dog-sledding then too.  

I have two visits from friends to look forward to as well. My school friend Marian who lives in the south of the country is coming for a few days next month. It's always good to see her, we just pick up where we left off last time we got together!  Then in May my good friend Debbi is coming up.  It's ages since she's visited here, because we saw each other so regularly on our trips away together there was no need. But this year our only trip together will be my birthday one so we couldn't go that long and not meet up!

So, this year is now nicely filled up with a combination of trips away and visits from friends, good to have all that to look forwards to! And maybe we will actually get a summer this year and I can relax in the sun in the garden eh?! Got to be optimistic......

Christmas Eve Busk Video

I'm a bit late putting this up, but I think you U2 peeps will enjoy this. It's a professional behind the scenes video of the 2012 Christmas Eve Busk on Grafton St, Dublin. It shows Bono rehearsing with the others earlier in the day and then singing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) on at the busk. It also features a very chatty Sinead O' Connor singing Nothing Compares 2 U, plus songs from Liam O'Maonlai, Lisa Hannigan and Glen Hansard. It also has clips of Dublin and the ordinary people which just captures the feel of it all.

At the end Glen and some of the others are in Neary's having a pint and counting the money they got from the busk for the Simon Community. Shame Bono couldn't have joined them, I'm sure he would have loved to, but he was whisked off in a police car. Fame separates you. The video is about 15 minutes long and a lovely snapshot of the event.

First Signs of Spring

Well it may not be the most amazing of floral displays  but it lifted my heart to see these two winter pansies in bloom in my garden today. I always love to see the first signs of Spring. My snowdrops will be open soon and the daffodils are well on their way. Crows are pairing up in the tall trees, buds are getting fat and, of course, the days are getting longer. I'm not a winter person and I find January and February tedious months to say the least!  We've a little way to go, but Spring is starting to creep in. Every year it thrills me to see nature wake up like this.

It always amuses me, but even our shops seem to wake up, suddenly brighter coloured clothes appear on the rails, I wish we had them year round, why can't we? Holiday ads are on the TV and Easter eggs sitting there to tempt. I'm thinking ahead to my travels, though unfortunately I won't be doing as much as I would like this year as I've a big household outlay to fund. But I do have a trip to Ireland later in the year to celebrate a "special" birthday I have this year!

Franki

I had one of my insomniac nights last night and was on Facebook and saw a post from Xtreme Rescue Inc about a dog called Frankie, who was skin and bone, in a shelter, no one wanted to adopt her and she was due to be put to sleep today. It broke my heart to see her so skinny and curled up in that bare cage, how cruel people can be, it takes a long time for a dog to get to that state. Here's the post and picture that I found so compelling:

This is FRANKI (A1500649). She is at Miami Dade Animal Services. Tomorrow she gets euthanized because no one has come for her and no one has stepped up to rescue her. She is emaciated... skin and bones. She has given up on life.. would not even look at me... she knows tomorrow is her last day. WE CANT SAVE HER BECAUSE WE ARE FULL. We have NO foster offers, or adopters!! I will think of Franki all night.... maybe a miracle will come our way....

Well due to this post on Facebook, numerous people responded, with offers of help with fostering and transport and money to help Franki. Someone fostered a dog from Xtreme Rescue Inc so there would be a place for Franki. A stay was put on her euthanisation and she was picked up by the Rescue. 

A miracle did happen for poor Franki, and she is now safe and not going to be put to sleep. Let's hope that more miracles will happen for her and that she can be nursed back to health and find a loving home and realise that humans can be kind and caring towards dogs.  It just shows the power Facebook can have for mobilising people for good, and how it spurs action by uniting  communities. It is also great that there are organisations like Xtreme Rescue Inc willing to stand up for these unfortunate animals. And here's happy photo of Franki leaving the shelter!

Bono and Edge at Lincoln Premiere in Dublin

Lots of bits of U2 news around. Bono has had a spider named after him (LOL!) A scientist has discovered a new few species of trapdoor spiders in the US desert near where the Joshua Trees grow and has named one A.Bonoi after the B-man! What next.

Bono is also taking part in a new documentary about Muscle Shoals, a famous US recording studio of that, showing my ignorance, I have never heard of!

Today Bono and Ali and Edge and Morleigh attended the European premiere of Lincoln in Dublin. Photos can be seen here.