I can't believe April is upon me already, but it seems my choice to start this adventure started years ago. I've had such a blast in the past three months, a nervous first month, enyoyable full stomach on the second and enjoyed a whole new concert in the space of three months.
This month, it's not about me. Yes, it's food related again, but this time it will benefit others. For the past two years, especially around Christmas, I've always had an inckling to help the homeless. I'm thankful for what I have, great friends, family and a roof over my head and I've always wanted to give a little back to those less fortunate. Not quite in a Robin Hood "rob from the rich to feed the poor", I mean, me in tights?? Nah. But seriously, It's easy to think about these things but another to put your foot down and do something about it.
Strangly enough I've been following a blog since December that follows 'Soup Runs' in Milton Keynes. Might not sound bizarre, but the owner of the website and who runs the soup nights is a colleague's Dad! She since has put me in touch with him and I'll be assisting the Monday night soup run next Monday visits a number of spots around Milton Keynes.
Now, unlike some of my other activities, I have absolutely no idea what to expect. Apparently the evening runs a little like this:
"Meet at starting point around 6.30 for prep
Set out around 7.15 for the first Stop at the Station CMK
Second Stop is the Theatre MK at around 7.45
A quick stop to drop off the 'Wolfmans' sandwiches - we don't usually deliver but this is an exception
Last stop MK Library at around 8.15 to 8.30 depending on how busy the other stops are.
Anything left dropped off at the YMCA, then back to starting point to clear away and generally leaving for home around 9.00."
Now 2hrs 30 is hardly a lot to ask for once a week. I'm also curious to find out who or what this 'Wolfman' is? Half man/half wolf? I Doubt it but I'd like to see how he'd handle a spoon under those circumstances. I've now registered myself with the website and hoping to get chatting to a few volunteers before I start.
After reading a few blogs, it seems towards the end of last year they had to cancel one of their regular drop off points due to verbal abuse from a certain group of guys. I find this insane to believe, you're only trying to help those less fortunate while getting verbally abused by young thugs who have nothing better to do than criticise. I'm sure it would be a different story if their roles were reversed!
On a positive side, recent visits included requests of:
"Do you have any crayfish?" &
"Haven’t you got any proper sandwiches like we used to get?"
This experience is going to be quite an eye opener, but I'm looking forward to it!
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Experience #3: COMPLETE: 'See a concert you normally wouldn't'
Now, anywone who knows me would tell you I love music, doesn't matter on the genre. This month (March) the next item on my list was to see a concert I normally wouldn't. This concert was taking place pretty close to me thinking about what I could go and see, then all the pieces came together....
Yes, for one night, I was one of Lady GaGa's affectionaly known "Little Monsters". Now I have to admit, I do enjoy her music, but I'm also fascinated with all her creations and artistic flair. Just incredible! Plus she's easy on the eye, I guess for this 'experience' I could've seen 'X Factor Live' or 'JLS', but I kept seeing images from the movie 'Wayne's World' where Garth is strapped in to a dentist chair being forced to listen to Kenny G in concert, this was by far a much more enjoyable experience.
Now the week leading up to the concert, I visited Lady GaGa's website, checked out the forum's to see if I could get a sneak peak into what was this 'Monster's Ball' - a tour revamped for the UK! Already, that's damn impressive! I arrived at the venue - LG Arena, Birmingham with an open mind. Now I already assumed majority of the audience might be 13-17, and this was backed by the so called merch guys outside the venue selling pink bunny ears that lit up alternately and glowsticks. The classic sign of any Pop concert! As I got closer to the LG Arena, I could see a huge range of ages queuing up to get into the venue, ranging from 14-late 40's. Walking into the venue (standing floor section) and I'd already missed the support acts, and the whole stage was swallowed up in a white screen hiding what was to be an incredible stage.
45mins late, but the screaming from the audience was intense! A cinema style countdown appeared on the white screen as the cheering got louder and louder while various clips of Lady GaGa were shown in the background. The wait was finally over, and it was one hell of a show! I lost count of the costume changes, but for every costume change, there was a video shown on the screen to keep fans entertained for the 2-3 min duration. The whole story of the 'Monster's Ball' can only be described as The Wizard Of Oz, told in only a way that GaGa could.
The choreography was interesting and how she sang while pulling off some of those dance moves was something else! For me, any artist's true skill is shown acoustically, and when Lady GaGa took to her piano, it was jaw droppingly impressive. Vocal skills that superseed her album and playing a piano that was on fire and occasionally bursting out flames into the air was something else! The walkway that led out in to the crowd was used for the majority of the performance, so fans from the back of the arena could still take in the incredible outfits and dance routines that GaGa had instore for us.
The only dissapointing thing was I had to leave early to get the last train at 11.20pm (to which I had to run the length of the LG Arena, something I won't be doing again!....without some kind of fitness first anyway!) So I missed 'Papparazzi' which from various YouTube clips looked amazing as GaGa battles with 'The Fame Monster'.
Now, Lady GaGa is returning May/June in the UK for a string of additional dates, and I'm sure you're aware of the whole ticket scandal that has flooded various websites - including GaGa's forum over the new 'doubled' prices. Now I paid £80.00 (e-bay ticket) for a ticket face value of £35.00. Now the Promoter is after £75 for seats and £65 for standing. Basing this on the fact the tour is such a huge arena spectacle and not you're average 'arena' show. I feel sorry for GaGa, she's going to get hit hard for this, but I'm sure it's the promoter who's taking the piss here and not her. Now, I would go and see her again, but with talks of a '3D concert DVD' in the works and maybe a tour, let's hope they learn from this and reduce the ticket prices. It's the fans that lose out at the end of the day, especially the younger fans that just want to see their idol live in action, doing what they do best. It's promoters and touts that will destroy this industry and fans love of live music.
Rant over, one awesome night out and another experience completed! Three months in, and I'm having a blast!
That's all for now, more regular updates now - promise!
"RUSSIAN ROULETTE IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT A GUN" ;)
Yes, for one night, I was one of Lady GaGa's affectionaly known "Little Monsters". Now I have to admit, I do enjoy her music, but I'm also fascinated with all her creations and artistic flair. Just incredible! Plus she's easy on the eye, I guess for this 'experience' I could've seen 'X Factor Live' or 'JLS', but I kept seeing images from the movie 'Wayne's World' where Garth is strapped in to a dentist chair being forced to listen to Kenny G in concert, this was by far a much more enjoyable experience.
Now the week leading up to the concert, I visited Lady GaGa's website, checked out the forum's to see if I could get a sneak peak into what was this 'Monster's Ball' - a tour revamped for the UK! Already, that's damn impressive! I arrived at the venue - LG Arena, Birmingham with an open mind. Now I already assumed majority of the audience might be 13-17, and this was backed by the so called merch guys outside the venue selling pink bunny ears that lit up alternately and glowsticks. The classic sign of any Pop concert! As I got closer to the LG Arena, I could see a huge range of ages queuing up to get into the venue, ranging from 14-late 40's. Walking into the venue (standing floor section) and I'd already missed the support acts, and the whole stage was swallowed up in a white screen hiding what was to be an incredible stage.
45mins late, but the screaming from the audience was intense! A cinema style countdown appeared on the white screen as the cheering got louder and louder while various clips of Lady GaGa were shown in the background. The wait was finally over, and it was one hell of a show! I lost count of the costume changes, but for every costume change, there was a video shown on the screen to keep fans entertained for the 2-3 min duration. The whole story of the 'Monster's Ball' can only be described as The Wizard Of Oz, told in only a way that GaGa could.
The choreography was interesting and how she sang while pulling off some of those dance moves was something else! For me, any artist's true skill is shown acoustically, and when Lady GaGa took to her piano, it was jaw droppingly impressive. Vocal skills that superseed her album and playing a piano that was on fire and occasionally bursting out flames into the air was something else! The walkway that led out in to the crowd was used for the majority of the performance, so fans from the back of the arena could still take in the incredible outfits and dance routines that GaGa had instore for us.
The only dissapointing thing was I had to leave early to get the last train at 11.20pm (to which I had to run the length of the LG Arena, something I won't be doing again!....without some kind of fitness first anyway!) So I missed 'Papparazzi' which from various YouTube clips looked amazing as GaGa battles with 'The Fame Monster'.
Now, Lady GaGa is returning May/June in the UK for a string of additional dates, and I'm sure you're aware of the whole ticket scandal that has flooded various websites - including GaGa's forum over the new 'doubled' prices. Now I paid £80.00 (e-bay ticket) for a ticket face value of £35.00. Now the Promoter is after £75 for seats and £65 for standing. Basing this on the fact the tour is such a huge arena spectacle and not you're average 'arena' show. I feel sorry for GaGa, she's going to get hit hard for this, but I'm sure it's the promoter who's taking the piss here and not her. Now, I would go and see her again, but with talks of a '3D concert DVD' in the works and maybe a tour, let's hope they learn from this and reduce the ticket prices. It's the fans that lose out at the end of the day, especially the younger fans that just want to see their idol live in action, doing what they do best. It's promoters and touts that will destroy this industry and fans love of live music.
Rant over, one awesome night out and another experience completed! Three months in, and I'm having a blast!
That's all for now, more regular updates now - promise!
"RUSSIAN ROULETTE IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT A GUN" ;)
Experience #2 COMPLETE: 'Try new world cuisine' (February)
Apologies for the serious lack of updates, the house move was two weeks ago, and It's taken me a while to get settled in as well as work being crazy busy! Anyway, enough of the excuses, here's what happened in February:
Well, I did it, not only did I try new cuisine, but I also got the whole (now ex) housemates involved! All of them! Not to sure how I managed to do it, but they all seemed excited and I couldn't believe they were all excited to try something new, just like me! I just hoped it would live up to their expectations. (Not that I tried to sell it like a door to door salesman or anything :P)
The table was booked for 7pm, two Taxi's were booked for 6.30pm, everything was going according to plan. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the cooking smells were more than enough to whet the appetite of 9 hungry people! We all took our seats and it wasn't long before we scoped out the place and couldn't wait to attack the buffet! It seemed we were a little too keen and completely bypassed the starters and dived straight into the main course section without realising! No problem, we went back for the 'starters' after :P
Many drinks were sunk to accompany the meal, which led to one of the housemates curious to find out when the infamous belly dancing was going to commence. While many of the housemates seemed full and got their monies worth, I was still going. Not to my stomach's joy, as 30mins later I thought my stomach was going to burst. A sign of getting your monies worth? Or just being a little greedy? You decide! :P
The belly dancer danced for us at least three times during the course of the evening, with the said housemate unimpressed by her "less than erotic dancing".I can only assume his idea of belly dancing was completely different! It was interesting watching various couples around the restaurant while the dancing was taking place. Many of the females looked interested and even clapped along enthusiastically, while their male partners looked down in embarrasment, or just didn't want a verbal beating from their partners when they got home, with comments such as "you never look at me like that!" etc. etc.
All in all, it was a fantastic night out! We all tried something new, I loved their lamb dishes, rice, spicy chicken wings (and they were damn hot!) and some even said they'd go back in the future! We never did decide if the cake was a desert or not, especially as it tasted more like mint toothpaste. It was a great night that really brought out the best in everyone and showed that we weren't just housemates, we were all really good friends. It was just a shame that had to end with us all having to move out, but we're still in contact now and one ex-housemate is determined to get all of us together under one roof again!
Well, I did it, not only did I try new cuisine, but I also got the whole (now ex) housemates involved! All of them! Not to sure how I managed to do it, but they all seemed excited and I couldn't believe they were all excited to try something new, just like me! I just hoped it would live up to their expectations. (Not that I tried to sell it like a door to door salesman or anything :P)
The table was booked for 7pm, two Taxi's were booked for 6.30pm, everything was going according to plan. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the cooking smells were more than enough to whet the appetite of 9 hungry people! We all took our seats and it wasn't long before we scoped out the place and couldn't wait to attack the buffet! It seemed we were a little too keen and completely bypassed the starters and dived straight into the main course section without realising! No problem, we went back for the 'starters' after :P
Many drinks were sunk to accompany the meal, which led to one of the housemates curious to find out when the infamous belly dancing was going to commence. While many of the housemates seemed full and got their monies worth, I was still going. Not to my stomach's joy, as 30mins later I thought my stomach was going to burst. A sign of getting your monies worth? Or just being a little greedy? You decide! :P
The belly dancer danced for us at least three times during the course of the evening, with the said housemate unimpressed by her "less than erotic dancing".I can only assume his idea of belly dancing was completely different! It was interesting watching various couples around the restaurant while the dancing was taking place. Many of the females looked interested and even clapped along enthusiastically, while their male partners looked down in embarrasment, or just didn't want a verbal beating from their partners when they got home, with comments such as "you never look at me like that!" etc. etc.
All in all, it was a fantastic night out! We all tried something new, I loved their lamb dishes, rice, spicy chicken wings (and they were damn hot!) and some even said they'd go back in the future! We never did decide if the cake was a desert or not, especially as it tasted more like mint toothpaste. It was a great night that really brought out the best in everyone and showed that we weren't just housemates, we were all really good friends. It was just a shame that had to end with us all having to move out, but we're still in contact now and one ex-housemate is determined to get all of us together under one roof again!
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