2017 - Week Ten
'She had a mind like a box of fireworks and hands
that played recklessly with matches.'
(Fireworks - Michael Faudet)
The quote above is by a writer from New Zealand whose poetry and short story book Dirty Pretty Things I got off eBay last week. His material is mainly romantic/ erotic, yet very accessible; and there are a couple of pieces about a redhead called Sophia in there which was a cool discovery! His latest collection Bitter Sweet Love is now on my to buy list.
This week got off to a flying start as I went to watch The xx at the O2 Apollo, with support from Francis and the Lights, which was a pleasant surprise as I have been listening to them a fair bit recently. The xx were incredible live, they played loads from their back catalogue rather than just the new album which I was chuffed about, and the set/ lighting was so impressive - it included a perspex box in the centre for all the production aspects of the music, and the stage was surrounded by a series of movable mirrors including one suspended from the ceiling to create some really funky lighting effects.
On Tuesday I got back in the gym after a lazy couple of weeks, though I have still been doing a bit of yoga/ weights/ running at home so I won't grind myself down too much. It is just over six weeks until Emily's hen party to Ibiza, so I am keeping my eyes on the prize of a bikini bod and trying to stick to at least three decent workouts a week. I also got a new poem up on Instagram, a bit of a personal one this week that got pretty good feedback, you can read it here.
The track I have chosen to include this week is by EDEN, a really talented 21 year old Irish kid who I reviewed for Candid when he played at Manchester Academy back in November, not knowing much of his material. I have since got one of his EPs and have been playing it to death the last couple of weeks; his stuff is progressive, with aggressive beats (great workout music), but retains a sense of emotional vulnerability through the lyrics, and this video knocked me for six: watch it until the end. He does everything singlehandedly on stage much like Jack Garrett, and given his success I reckon EDEN will do similarly well in the current musical climate.
(Fireworks - Michael Faudet)
The quote above is by a writer from New Zealand whose poetry and short story book Dirty Pretty Things I got off eBay last week. His material is mainly romantic/ erotic, yet very accessible; and there are a couple of pieces about a redhead called Sophia in there which was a cool discovery! His latest collection Bitter Sweet Love is now on my to buy list.
This week got off to a flying start as I went to watch The xx at the O2 Apollo, with support from Francis and the Lights, which was a pleasant surprise as I have been listening to them a fair bit recently. The xx were incredible live, they played loads from their back catalogue rather than just the new album which I was chuffed about, and the set/ lighting was so impressive - it included a perspex box in the centre for all the production aspects of the music, and the stage was surrounded by a series of movable mirrors including one suspended from the ceiling to create some really funky lighting effects.
On Tuesday I got back in the gym after a lazy couple of weeks, though I have still been doing a bit of yoga/ weights/ running at home so I won't grind myself down too much. It is just over six weeks until Emily's hen party to Ibiza, so I am keeping my eyes on the prize of a bikini bod and trying to stick to at least three decent workouts a week. I also got a new poem up on Instagram, a bit of a personal one this week that got pretty good feedback, you can read it here.
The track I have chosen to include this week is by EDEN, a really talented 21 year old Irish kid who I reviewed for Candid when he played at Manchester Academy back in November, not knowing much of his material. I have since got one of his EPs and have been playing it to death the last couple of weeks; his stuff is progressive, with aggressive beats (great workout music), but retains a sense of emotional vulnerability through the lyrics, and this video knocked me for six: watch it until the end. He does everything singlehandedly on stage much like Jack Garrett, and given his success I reckon EDEN will do similarly well in the current musical climate.
On Friday after a boring couple of evenings babysitting (not complaining at the money though!) I met up with a load of mates at Crazy Pedro's pizzeria in Manchester. There is one just off Deansgate, but we went to the one underneath Affleck's Palace which has a chilled atmosphere, great for post-work drinks. They have a fantastic deal on where between 5pm-9pm all week 16 inch pizzas are just £10, and all cocktails are 2 for 1. The food is definitely worth trying - even without the price reduction - and the menu all sounds so tasty we struggled to choose which to order! We got two pizzas and some nachos between six girls and there was ample food; the boys got four between six. We went for one with nachos, pulled pork, sour cream, salsa, sweetcorn and jalapenos (pic on the right), and another that had mini burgers, lettuce, mac sauce, cheese and gherkins on (left). The raspberry margarita cocktail was one of the best I've ever had too!
After food we all went around the corner to Turtle Bay on Oldham Street to catch their drinks deal (2 for 1 cocktails after 10pm) and then a few of us ended the night with a game of pool and some dancing at Black Dog Ballroom. I wasn't intending staying out late but was having so much fun, and it was really lovely getting all the group together for lots of laughs and catching up.
Yesterday it was my cousin's fiancee Hayley's Hen Party, so I drove Jasmine and I to Leeds just after lunchtime. We arrived at my cousin Stephanie's and got ready and met everyone in The Pit on Merrion Street at 4.30pm for a few bottles of wine before moving next door to Bar Soba where we did a cocktail making class. There were twenty of us so we had to split into two groups, and we made a Bramble and a French Martini - two of my favourites! We were also given a few shots and some amazing dim sum to soak up some of the booze.
After that we all got aboard a huge pink coach complete with disco lights, dancing poles and copious amounts of fizz, where we drove to B&Q carpark, picked up a tattooed muscled man in a fireman's outfit and watched him strip!! Bloody hilarious, Jasmine and I were hiding at the back absolutely wetting ourselves, the guy was like something out of a worse Geordie Shore, not our cup of tea looks-wise but was definitely an experience! Our final port of call was Revolucion de Cuba, where we danced the night away and Jasmine finally made me try one of their infamous drinks served in a plastic pineapple cup. A fabulous night with fabulous people.
Today I have felt awful, and had a nightmare drive home including a closed motorway and an annoying incident in a McDonald's car park where I was waiting nearly 15 minutes to leave whilst everyone was stopping me reversing; my patience wasn't at its best though. Mum's roast dinner when we got back helped to improve the situation, and now I am off for some much desired sleep before work tomorrow. Hen Do, Hen Did!
