A Day of Mishaps!

I was woken with a jolt today - literally!  I heard a crack, then another and another, then I sunk in my bed, another crack, and I was sinking lower.  I am not good in the mornings, but eventually due to my sunken state under the duvet, realised my bed has collapsed!  I know I'm not slim but this was ridiculous!  I hauled myself out of the bed and peeked underneath and many of the pine slats had given way along with the central metal bar of the bedstead.  I realised then that my laziness a few months ago had come to haunt me.  When I'd decorated my bedroom a while back I'd dismantled the bed and afterwards put it back together.  However after it was all done I realised I'd forgotten to put the three metal legs onto the central metal bar.  I couldn't be bothered to sort it out thinking it would be ok.  Well, my laziness was costly because today the lack of those legs caused that central metal bar to give way.  So now I have to get another bed, and will have to sleep on my mattress on the floor until it arrives.  Just shows that taking the easy way out ultimately doesn't pay!  But I  did find a half price bargain bed on the Tesco website, and I also got 1000 Clubcard points - I'm manically saving these points and changing them to airmiles for a planned trip to the US next year and this has boosted my miles so this episode has had one bonus for me.

Then tonight at work I managed to trip over my own feet and fell heavily on my knee, luckily there was no one around to see me sprawling ungainly on the floor!  My knee is now sore, swollen and very bruised, think I'd better get to my bed (on the floor) before anything else happens!

Websites, Another Job, No U2 in Ireland and a Short Trip to Dublin

I've been neglecting my blog these last few weeks, I will update it more regularly from now on, this hiatus has just been a blip.   

I've been really busy with various things, one being working on a Cumbrian genealogy website that hopefully will see light of day soon.  I'm very much into genealogy, it can lead you on a fantastic and surprising journey as, like a detective, you delve into your past as you follow the clues and twists and turns of your family history.

I've got another job!  Not in place of my present little job, but in addition to it - after all it is only ten hours a week.  On Thursdays I've been working as a volunteer with Age Concern at one of their day groups for the elderly.  I really enjoy it and now am going to go on the organisation's paid staff as a bank carer - I'll fill in when regular caring staff are unavailable.

U2.com finally laid rest to all the speculation about Dublin shows by saying all the European shows for 2010 have now been announced.  I have a feeling that the band may finish the 360 Tour in Dublin next year, no one is saying the Rome show is the last gig of the tour, just of Europe in 2010.  Maybe they will get to Australasia and south America in 2011 too.  I've decided I'll just go to the two German shows I've got tickets for this year, then see what happens next year.

My friend Debbi and I have been on a short trip to Dublin recently.  I got the train to Manchester Airport and as I walked into the station I saw wallpaper on walls, armchairs, settees, lots of lights, laminate flooring.... then I remembered that I'd heard they were making an ad for Homebase at the railway station.  It really cheered the Victorian station up, they should have it like that all the time, easy chairs would be nice to relax in as you wait for your train.  The ad must be getting screened in the summer as the extras were in light clothing, some of the women were shivering in their short sleeves as they waited and waited for the next take on this icy February morning. 

I met up with Deb in Manchester and soon were were on our way to our hotel in Dublin, Bewley's.  After settling in we went out to the nearby shops and bought some wine and nibbles.  Wine is generally horrendously expensive in Ireland and there was one on special offer we fancied but it had a cork and we had no corkscrew.  The helpful shop manager offered to open it for us and I walked back with an opened bottle of red wine in a brown paper bag LOL!

We got our gladrags on and got a taxi to The Clarence Hotel where we were having a meal in the Tea Room.  Prices in that restaurant have tumbled dramatically and it is now really good value for money.  Our meal was fabulous, the chocolate fondant was to die for!  After the meal we had a cocktail in The Study (now open to anyone, not just residents) and chatted for ages.  We wanted to have one more Cosmo cocktail to share and the very helpful waiter made us two glasses topped up with the cranberry juice to make it go further.  Seems the hotel has now got a longer drinking licence letting people drink later as we left at 12.30am and usually the place is closed to non-residents from not long after 11pm. 

On the Friday we checked out Hanover Quay, but there was no sign of U2, I was quite glad we could move on as the wind was piercingly cold.   I love the name of this road close to U2's studios (photo above).  I thought it was just a weird name, but  when I Googled it I found out it was named after Bindon Blood Stoney (1828 – 1909) a civil engineer during the late 19th century. Bindon Blood Stoney was the main engineer working on Dublin Port and Docks in the second half of the 19th century.

Every time we go away now we treat ourselves to a bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne (our tastes have got expensive as we've got older).  We meant to get a bottle at Manchester airport but, because we were flying Ryanair carrying only one piece of hand luggage to save money, we had no room for it.  It took us a while to find it, but eventually there it was, in the Eurospar in Barrow St.  So this time when I returned to Bewley's I was carrying champagne in a purple paper bag!

The Meteor Awards, in which U2 were nominated for three awards, were taking place that night at the RDS Simmonscourt, which was minutes from our hotel and we could see the building from our room.  Seeing U2 were nominated we thought that if they were in town they might go so we decided to wander round.  Unlike The Brits last year there was nowhere that fans could stand to watch stars arrive and we just wandered aimlessly for a while.  The ticketholders were arriving and they were very young, so much so that I felt very out of place!  After a short while we decided to go back to Bewley's and have a meal and then opened our champagne. 

Later that evening the Meteors finished and it seemed the VIP cars left on a road right outside our window.  We sat there having a great laugh (whilst supping our Veuve), at some very boisterous young girls hanging onto and running after various cars!  We later found out that Adam had been at the event to present the Industry Award to Lord Henry Mount Charles.  U2 won none of the awards they were up for though they were hotly tipped to take home all three!  Is Ireland's secret love affair with U2 over?

On our last full day Debbi and I did our own thing for a few hours during the day.  I went through to Dun Laoghaire to visit friends Ken and Elizabeth and had a lovely visit and it was nice to catch up on their news.

That evening we went to The Town Bar and Grill in central Dublin for our meal.  We've been there a few times now and it is always fabulous, it is expensive, but we save money every month for our trips and so it doesn't hit the pocket as hard as it could!  I decided to be adventurous and had a starter I'd never had before, wood pidgeon and chestnut lasagne.  The wood pigeon was lovely, but I now know I don't care for chestnuts!  I had tiramisu for dessert and it was the nicest I've ever had, absolutely delicious. 

It was a great way to end our short trip to Dublin.  Over the years we've seen all the sights etc, so a big part of our trips now is to eat really well and wash it down with lovely wine, something we both love doing.  Along with the company of a good friend it's a great way to spend time in Dublin!

Someone Stop Me!

Ever since I was a toddler I've loved shoes.  My mother told me that from a very young age if I got new shoes I would keep them on and even go to bed in them.  Recently my shoe obsession has got a bit out of hand.  I bought a pair of warm comfy boots during our month long freezing snap, a great buy my tootsies were lovely and warm in them. 

Then I got a bargain in the sale of a great pair of shoes that were £55 for £16, well, at such a bargain price I just HAD to buy them didn't I?  

I trawled the Net and found a wonderful pair of walking boots at half price.  Well, seeing I enjoy walking with my Dachshund boys so much they were perfect, so I got them. 

Then I found a lovely pair of going out shoes at less than half price so I had to buy them too.  Then just a couple of days ago I saw a gorgeous pair of ankle boots at half price, I didn't have a pair of ankle boots so, really, it was meant to be wasn't it?  I bought them.

But I must stop now, really I must!  I will NOT buy any more footwear!

U2 to Play Aviva Stadium in Dublin?

A guy on the Irish TV3 channel announced today that U2 were going to play the Aviva Stadium (it used to be Lansdowne Road) in the summer to end their 360 tour.  I'm not sure what to think as the tour isn't ending in the summer, the last announced gig at the moment is Rome well into October.  I suppose it could mean NEXT summer if the tour continues into 2011 but that's unlikely I would have thought.   There's nothing on U2.com to confirm either. 

Rumours always surround U2, but this announcement definitely happened, you can watch the video of it here .  Time will tell.......

Life Goes On

I haven't written much in my blog recently mainly because life has been quiet and I've just been plodding on with my normal life.  This time of year often is quite dull I find, and I'm getting sick of the winter.  Mind you the good thing is that the days are getting longer which is always good to see.

But things are livening up soon, it's not long until my first trip of 2010, a few days in Dublin.  It'll be great to be back in what feels like my second home once more, it'll be seven months since I was there, a long time for me.  As per usual we've already got our evening meals mapped out and I'm salivating at the thought LOL! 

Meanwhile the story below has nothing to do with Dublin but it tickled my fancy today:
The Multilingual Car Park Machine....

Hope For Haiti Telethon

Well night owl me stayed up to watch this (it was on from 1 - 3am in the UK).  I thought it was done well, and there were some good performances, I especially liked Justin Timberlake's version of the wonderful Hallelujah (which must be one of the most amazing songs ever written).  Bono and Edge appeared on stage with Jay-Z and Rihanna.  Jay-Z took the lead with a rap, Bono and Rihanna were kind of backing singers, but Bono's mic was turned so low you could hardly hear him and I'm not a fan of Rihanna's shrill voice.  That put together with the fact I don't like rap meant I didn't really enjoy the performance.  I have to say though Edge's guitar was lovely, but he was hardly shown on camera.  The chorus of the song (called Stranded) was pleasant and melodic.  I've heard that you can hear more of Bono's voice on the iTunes download of the song.

I don't know why the likes of Bono and Edge do collaborations with rappers and R & B singers, rock doesn't mix well with those genres.  But I think they probably do it in an attempt to be more relevant to the youngsters who U2 seem so desperate to have on board.  These guys are having the longest mid-life crisis going I think! 

I feel a little bad about being a bit negative about the performance, it wasn't bad, and after all it was done for a good reason, but it is my opinion.  I seem to be moaning about U2 a lot recently, maybe I'm becoming a grumpy old woman LOL!

 

Hope For Haiti Telethon

The details of the Hope For Haiti event on January 22nd organised by George Clooney have now been released.  There will be concerts in three cities - London, New York and Los Angeles.  Bono and Edge will appear in London along with Jay-Z, also on the bill is Coldplay.  In the UK the two hour telethon will be shown on MTV from 1am Saturday 23rd January (8pm ET 22nd January in the US), if you can't stay up that late it will be repeated later on Viva.

Full details can be found here

The Crystal Caves of Mexico

On the BBC tonight a new series called How The Earth Made Us, which looks at how geology, climate and geography influenced humankind.  I'm interested in this sort of stuff, and will be watching the series.   I saw some information about  the first programme and there was a video and facts about this amazing crystal cave in Mexico.  It is absolutely stunning!  You can read the information and watch the video here .

The programme airs on BBC 2 tonight at 9pm.

Team U2 Fans Support Haiti

A site has been created for U2 fans from across the world to come together and donate in support of Haiti.  It is hosted via BetterPlace.org which sends 100% of donated funds to the organisations the Team is supporting: CARE, Save the Children, and action medeor. Click here to go to the U2 Fans Team Page, join, and make your donation.   The minimum donation is one Euro, so even if you have already given via some other organisation why not give a little here too?  It will show that U2 fans can join together and make a difference.

U2 Contribute to Charity Project for Haiti

Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz are organising a charity project for victims of the Haiti earthquake.  Dave Fanning aired an interview with Edge today on his RTE 2FM radio show.  Edge said that the band had recorded a new song for the project.

Edge explains how the song came about:

"Last night we wrote a song ... Bono got a call from a producer, Swizz. He and Jay-Z wanted to do something for Haiti. So, Bono came up with the phrase on the phone, and last night we were here, we wrote a song -- finished, recorded, and send it back to them. So, that might be the next thing you hear from us!"

What's not certain is when the next proper U2 album will be out. Fanning asked Edge what direction U2 will go in this year -- more ambient material from Fez? Rick Rubin material? Spider-Man material? Or will there be no album in 2010 and instead wait until 2011? Edge replies: "We're asking ourselves exactly the same questions. We don't really know yet. We're working on material here, and it's sounding amazing, but we're far from being certain about what we're gonna do with it."

Oh dear, time is going by and the likeliehood of an album in 2010 looks less and less likely.  This is not promising at all which is very disappointing but not surprising.

Edge also talked a little about the Glastonbury gig and the 2010 tour plans, read more here

Haiti Earthquake

I'm sure you've all seen the heartbreaking news items from Haiti over the last few days.  It so often seems to be the people who have the least suffer the most from these natural disasters.  It seems a hell on earth there, and it is taking aid so long to get there because of the devastation and poor infrastructure.  But amidst all the death and despair were two stories of amazing survIval.

Rescue attempts were still going on last night with British firefighters emerging as heroes.  They hauled two-year-old Mia Charlotte from the collapsed Beatrice kindergarten in Port- au-Prince. The firemen were among a 64-strong British team who raced to the country.

Pete Stevenson, operations commander, said: "We are over the moon. Mia is beautiful and the rescue was a huge success."  Mia was later reunited with her grateful mother.

Another little girl rescued:

Little Winnie Tilin - just 16 months old - was pulled alive from the rubble of her family's home after 68 hours.  Her faint moans were heard by chance by an  Australian TV crew filming the devastation outside the Save the Children charity's office.. Tragically, among those dead  are Winnie's parents, crushed to death by the falling masonry which amazingly missed her.

The TV team's interpreter Deiby Celestino heard her faint cries and jumped into the concrete hole she was trapped in.  After crawling over dead bodies to get to her, he was able to pull her out. Mr Celestino, from neighbouring Dominican Republic, said: "It's very emotional. It felt like my own baby I was pulling out there."

A Save The Children doctor who examined the toddler was amazed to find that, though she was severely dehydrated, she was not seriously injured. The toddler was then passed to her uncle, Frantz Tilin, who was looking for her after losing his pregnant wife in the disaster.

In these situations there's not a lot the ordinary person can do but donate whatever they can towards the appeal, every penny counts.  Those in the UK can donate here .

It Might Get Loud Premiere in Dublin

The Dublin premiere of It Might Get Loud took place at the International Film Insitute in Temple Bar last night.  Considering my previous post I found it amusing that Edge and Bono (I'm not sure if Adam and Larry attended, I found no mention of them in reviews I've read) were late because of the severe weather!

You can read a Hot Press review here 

And a review from the Evening Herald here

Edge and Bono at the Dublin premiere of 'It Might Get Loud'

Photo: Gareth Chaney

Brrrrrr......... The Big Freeze Continues

It was minus 15 degrees centigrade here last night!  This cold snap just goes on and on, I saw that we were way colder than Iceland yesterday.  I was out walking my dogs and felt a cold I'd not felt before nipping at my face (the only part of me open to the elements).  It's such a palaver getting ready to go out at the moment, putting layers of clothes on, boots, scarf, hat, gloves, then of course coats on the dogs too.  Pepsi and Max, being dachshunds, almost disappear in the snow at times but Pep loves it, Max would be quite happy not to go on walks at the moment.  Being wired-haired the snow collects on Pepsi's tummy and forms snowballs, if I walked him long enough he'd be one big snowball rolling along LOL!  Not the best weather for dachshunds.

But having said that we have had a few days of bright blue skies and sunshine, yesterday's sunset was gorgeous, with wispy baby pink clouds in the blueness.  When I was little, my mum used to say that the angels were baking cakes when there were pink clouds, and it made me think of her when I saw them, she too would have noticed their beauty.  The mountains close to where I live look beautiful cloaked in white.  This kind of weather is severe, but there is also beauty in its austerity.

Apaprently this freakishly cold weather here is due to a static weather depression that is literally sucking in icy air from Siberia right onto us.  And at the moment there is no sign of a let up, we've been shivering our socks off for almost a month now. 

The school where I work is closed, as are most of the schools in this area.  I still have to go in to do my hours though or I wouldn't get paid.  I have been able to get there ok - my car temperature display told me it was -10 centigrade at 4pm today as I drove home, yikes.  Most other things have been cancelled - my voluntary work, meeting friends, Tai Chi, shopping (I'm saving a bit money!) people are only going out if absolutely necessary.  My friend Debbi was supposed to be visiting me this weekend, she lives in the Midlands but it just wasn't feasible for her to come.   The Veuve Cliquot will have to wait in my fridge - we always treat ourselves to a bottle when we meet up.

So it's dark now and the curtains are closed, I've got my cosy PJs, dressing gown and bedsocks on and it's warm and snug in here.  Definitely the best place to be, I'm going to put my feet up, open a bottle of red, eat some nibbles and watch the telly and that's me for the next few hours.  Weather report from Siberian Cumbria ends here.

Sliding Out of the Noughties

The last day of 2009 already, and we are literally sliding towards 2010 - it's still icy outside and the best place to see the New Year in is at home with a good red wine and nibbles.  Don't know where the other 364 days of the year went, never mind the decade.  It seems only a short time ago that I was at a New Years party to herald in the new Millenium and now the Noughties are nearly gone.  I'm not doing a usual review, just a quick question and answer piece on things that pop into my head.  Here goes:

Nicest New Placed Visited - Sorry for the pun - Nice of course!

Fave Three Songs 
Uprising - Muse (Rocking, real class, must see them live in 2010)
Sometime After Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

Worst Buy - In Nice, a "cicada" that you hung on the wall and it chirped when you passed by (yeah I am a bit  eccentric, things like that amuse me).  It drove me mad and I threw it out, it got it's own back though, it was even chirping from inside the dustbin LOL!

Best buy -  My iTouch, an amazing little creation, I love it!

Most Amazing Day - 15th August, London.  Met Bono in the afternoon and then saw one of the most amazing U2 shows ever that night.  And sharing all that with wonderful friends.

Ambition Achieved - Visited Berlin, fabulous, moving, cold and unique.  Amazing to see U2 play in front of the Brandenburg Gate, something that will stay with me forever.

Scariest Thing - I've liked the last two Black-Eyed Peas singles!  There, I've come clean, can hardly believe it myself.

Surprising Thing - That I am working as a cleaner, I hate household chores, yet I really enjoy my little job!

U2 Status - Loved the new album, after two good but safe albums, this more daring creation brought me fully back to their music.  The romance was hot in the summer when they entertained magnificently (sorry I've done it again).  We had a bit of a row recently and I nearly fell out with them, but I've made up and am speaking to them again now.  So the relationship continues into its 27th year.....

So thanks to all who come to my blog, I've enjoyed sharing some of my life and thoughts with you.  Have a happy and healthy 2010.

Bono At Leopardstown Races

Bono and Ali were at the Leopardstown Races as usual on St Stephen's Day and the Irish Indpendent got a short interview with him and Paul McGuinness.  Both  talk a little about future plans. "We are working away and we have a couple of yearlings in the stables that could really turn out to be thoroughbreds in the future," said Bono.  Though McGuinness was "diplomatic"  in what he said, "I have heard some of the stuff the guys have played and, yeah, it is great. Bono is always an optimist but he seems confident of getting a new record out by the end of the next six months. They're talking about June. By that time we will be ready to go back on tour and I think that will give it a different flavour."

Mc Guinness also talks a little about Adam and the court case he has had to take out against his former housekeeper who has allegedly stolen a large amount of money from him.  Read the full article here .

Oh To Be On Grafton Street on Christmas Eve!

Bono joined Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Mundy, and others to busk on Grafton Street on Christmas Eve.  They played to raise money for the Dublin Simon Community, a group that works to prevent homelessness and help the homeless.

Bono sang "Stand By Me," "One," and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"  with the others.  I just love it when he does things like this, especially in his home city.  Some videos have appeared on You Tube and you can watch the part of the performance in which Bono featured in below.

Merry Christmas!

We're going to be having a white Christmas for once here in Cumbria it is very rare for us.  The snow from the other day is still on the ground as it's remained cold.  On the pavements the snow has become impacted and as icy as a skating rink, I'm going out as little as possible, the dogs are getting short walks at the moment, thank heavens they don't need a lot of walking!

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas for you and yours, eat, drink and be merry!

U2 15th August at Wembley Highlights On BBC Radio 2

There I was, sitting warm and snug in my living room, curtains closed against the bitter cold and snow outside, as I listened to the highlights of U2's 15th August 360 Tour show at Wembley Stadium on Radio 2.  I was swept back to the blue skies and sunshine of that day in London - the day I saw one of the best U2 gigs of my life.  All the feelings came back and I had that silly grin on my face that I get when I am entranced with U2,  I felt the rollercoaster of emotions, the pride. 

It wasn't exactly a greatest hits set of highlights which surprised me, good to hear Magnificent, Crazy, there was no One, or Streets, and I would have loved to have heard No Line On The Horizon, Bad  and The Unforgettable Fire.  But that didn't really matter, as the atmosphere of the gig was what was most special about that show and I was able to relive it once more.  I remember well how the crowd spontaneously took over the singing on Still Haven't Found.... a magical moment amongst many special moments.

I've been a bit pissed off with U2 recently, but when I heard the highlights of that gig tonight it reminded me why I am a fan,  they are great live.  And, every now and then their music can take you to a place way beyond yourself, where you are at one with the rest of the audience and the band, and a stadium becomes as intimate as a small room.  That is special indeed....

Anyone who hasn't heard it yet can listen to it here