Seeing Blake

This Saturday just gone, I went to see Blake with my friend at The Forum. I loved it! When I was younger, I wasn’t particularly into classical but over the past few years, I’ve grown to love it. My taste in music is varied, from rock to pop, to dance over to classical etc.

Blake. Courtesy of wikipedia.

This was a rare occasion where both I and my friend dressed up so smartly. I had bought a long, beautiful purple dress with a tiny bit of detail that was little diamantes near the straps. I wore gorgeous silver, diamante jewellery set with a matching hair slide pinning the side of my hair up. My friend wore a tie and shirt. He had forgotten that I told him my dress was purple and he wore a purple tie, ha ha! Our outfits were perfect for a classy night enjoying classical music.

Anyway back to Blake, I was rather excited to see them J for those of you who don’t know who they are, well let me tell you a bit about them. They are a classical boy band (in their own words) which consist of four guys; Stephen Bowman, Jules Knight, Humphrey Berney and Ollie Baines. They have achieved overseas success selling over one million records with three international releases, two of which were nominated for Album of the Year in the UK; one is a classical Brit Award winner.

They have toured the world and even supported Katherine Jenkins on her tour. Often they have sung for charity, such as Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, and the British Heart Foundation and Forces charities such as Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund. The song ‘Beautiful Earth’ was released as the WWF’s anthem for Earth Hour 2010.

The show consisted of the boys and their musician, Martin who played on the grand piano, keyboard and the Apple Mac. As a guest featured the local Abbey Musical Theatre group who sang as our choir who were good.

Blake on stage.

Blake sang many of their songs, some covers such as Chasing Cars, God Only Knows. Whatever song whether it be an original or a cover, they always put their stamp on it and it is always good to hear. They took us on a bit of an emotional journey. In the middle of the show, the emotion went quite sad and emotional with the boys dedicating one song to Jule’s late father and a song to Berney’s late sister with dedications to the Forces. One song that captivated me was Lullaby; I could feel my eyes welling up. Before things got too morbid, they soon sang more uplifting songs. We got an exclusive performance of their new upcoming single, Start Over is really uplifting and I felt it is perfect timing for me as I’m trying to start a new in my life.

You cannot fault the boys voices, they were just spot on. The harmonies blend beautifully. I couldn’t decide whose voice I love the most as they are all good.

One great highlight of the night was meeting Blake, this was after the show. Prior to the show starting, I and my friend bought a programme and a CD each. We got signed when we met the boys. Barney and Ollie seemed really chatty with me, with Ollie making a little joke about us colour coordinating and with the back rest of my wheelchair. I still can’t believe how nervous I felt when I met them, my voice went a bit wobbly or it felt like it did! I thought it was really kind of them to write a nice message to me in my programme and posed for me when I asked to take a group photo. I was very happy and excited about meeting these four handsome young men. I hope I get to meet them again when they tour here next time. Hopefully I won’t get as nervous next time and that they will remember me which I’m sure they will, as most people never seem to forget me (for some unknown reason).

From left to right; Ollie, Jules, Stephen and Berney

After all the excitement of seeing and meeting Blake, me and my friend decided to just go for a drink before we head back home.  I even had my first alcohol drink in a few months! Only one for me though. J So overall, great company, brilliant show, feeling glamorous and meeting the boys meant I had a very lovely night indeed!

My signed message off the boys.

http://youtu.be/D0AH3JqFvEU This is Blake's Start Over music video. Enjoy!

Metal Manicure!!

Just seen these new nail art... Metal Mani!!

Photo courtesy of Company Magazine 2012

I think they look totally crazy and fabulous!! Although I don't see myself having every single nail decorated with 3D spikes and/or skulls as it could cost a fortune and be impractical, I would love to have them on my ring fingers.

I am always looking for ways to jazz up the black nail varnish and think this is a great way to spike them up! What do you think? Have a look at the picture I've posted and see what you think. Then look at my nails as they are at the moment.

What have you done with your nails that are arty and funky? Especially with black nail varnish...

 

Lack of vocabulary in music.

Just want to have a little rant! It is not like to do so... but quite frankly, there is no need for it. What am I going on about, you ask?

Well let me tell you J... firstly, I do not have a problem with swearing personally. Why do all these music artists think it’s acceptable to use bad language in their songs?!! I think it makes the song sound degrading when I hear swearing used regularly in it. There are so many negative words that could be used instead. Yes you hear swearing every day, it has become a part of the daily vocabulary and it doesn’t bother me, except for those who use it in every sentence they speak.

I have parents who are from the era where ‘your mouth should be washed out with soap!’ so yes, they don’t like hearing it. My dad does swear on the odd occasion when something has gone wrong which is appropriate unlike those who use it every other word! There is a time and a place, I feel. A good example that I can think of is, when you watch an action film, there is a lot of swearing but when you see a rom com film, there’s hardly any, that is because it totally doesn’t fit in with the situation, it is quite off putting. Do you see my point?

Back to music, music is listened to by a wide variety of people of all ages, especially children. I feel that children should not hear bad language; they pick up habits so easily and don’t necessarily know when the appropriate time and place to do things like swearing. I personally want to protect them. So I certainly wouldn’t want to hear little children singing the words like “Party and b******t”. So why swear in music?? Find proper words to use. It makes so much sense to me.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to get it out. I just feel these record companies should take note about their influence on their younger fans.

Undateable?!

Looking on Facebook, at a page that I ‘Like’ has raised an issue which I hold closely to my heart. The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK has been approached by a production company that is currently in the making its second series of ‘Undateables’.

I personally have mix views on the term ‘undateable’ in reference to disabled people on the dating scene. People are trying to steer people away from labelling the disabled from such terminology not reinforcing it. If someone called me as it, I would certainly be upset as I feel it is making me look like a freak.

I am all for raising awareness for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome but just not this way; this is a negative way to do so. Why can’t there be a more positive way, there is a start with Cherylee (as you are aware from a previous blog post of mine) but it isn’t enough. One idea I have is to create a documentary of various EDS sufferers as in a diary form for a certain period of time to give people (viewers) an insight into what it is like to live with and how we all cope with it. There are many different types of EDS so it would be interesting and educational to be aware of all the different symptoms. This is only brief explanation of my idea. What do you think?

Anyway back to the focus of this blog post, it was a long time ago since I was last dating someone (daren’t say how many years, lol!) so I’m a little out of my depth in the dating scene. Back then, my EDS wasn’t affecting me as much as it is now I am older – probably the only way I can think of to describe the difference. I was not aware of how much the EDS affect the people around me. Perhaps I was just young and naive with being young and carefree.

Sometimes just doing the simplest tasks, I have to ask for help, which I know most people don’t mind helping, but it makes me wonder how that would affect my future relationships, how would a potential partner strike the balance between being the boyfriend/partner and the carer? Do people really see beyond the disability they see or know of? If I met someone, would they take me seriously or just see me as many have so far, just a friend? These are just thoughts that circle round in my head.

Like many ‘able-bodied’ people, I enjoy socialising, having fun and trying to do things like others my age do. Sharing interests and hobbies with people is something I definitely don’t have any problems with. Maybe it doesn’t help the fact that I am quite shy and anxious around meeting new people in this particular scenario.

So yeah that kind of explains my reasons for having mix feelings about the subject and that sort of brings me round to the dreaded question... because I have a disability, does that make me 'undateable'??

Just passing a bit of time, with Take That!

Hi peeps!!

 

I have spent the past 2 hours watching Take That videos on You Tube and I just want to comment the big grin on my face. :-)

 

As you are all aware, I'm a huge fan of the man band and have been for a very long time. First I started watching interviews, mostly with Jason, he just comes across as sweet, intelligent and calming in his demeanour. Obviously my opinions are based on what you see in interviews, tours and behind the scenes in various situations, but I don't think I've ever read a negative note written about him.

 

Then following in watching solo interviews, I decided to watch videos from their The Circus Live Tour which happens to be my favourite concert of all time. I don't think there is one bit to not to like. Sometimes I watch Take That's other tours and TV shows but always come back to The Circus.

 

Take That and Kim Gavin (not to mention, the brilliant Gareth Walker) are legendary in building a show together! They make it into something spectacular, something you will cherish for the rest of your lives. It's not just a show about a group singing their songs but performing in various scenarios and themes. I have always said that even if you are not a fan of Take That, you have to see their shows to just feel the passion, the show of a lifetime. It's a show in itself! As you can see in the following picture.

 

So yeah I have a very big grin on my face and I hope you do too when you see one of their shows especially The Circus Live Tour. :-)

The Penny Has Dropped!

I think the penny has dropped! After a few weeks of speculating and circling around in my mind; it has dawned on me why I have been struggling with ideas. Finding ideas as subjects to write about that is.

When I was at college, there was the interaction of the other students and the coursework which stirred the thoughts in my mind but now I am not at college anymore. Although I loved it immensely and miss it terribly, I found it extremely tiring going in every day. There was always some sort of conversation when I was at college which I thoroughly enjoyed. I could say that I was having a good student’s social life; going to college, then going out on the town for nights out, college socials, birthday parties, and even class trips out.

Now partly due to being in a lot of pain and discomfort and other reasons, I rarely have nights out, day trips out, birthday parties and socials which is normal for when you leave college. In fact, I rarely go out at all, partly I’m happy about and don’t always feel up to being out and about but also partly leaves me wondering about things. Sometimes doing what your body tells you it needs, doesn't always agree with the creative mind.

However, please note that this is not me complaining, because I can assure you I’m not. This is just an explanation of me explaining why I think I am struggling with ideas. I think it is fair to say that inspiration comes from experience and visualisation of the outside world, not from doing the usual things that are not necessarily creative. Am I making sense? I’m not sure...

As a child, I was forever writing stories (which included having my friends as characters), playing out on the street and making crafty things which in a sense were what I called fun. These were when I weren’t at school, obviously. J

Now that I am older, I hardly draw or make crafty things, socialise with as many people as I once did, it is harder to find the inspiration I need. Verging on the conscious mind, I feel I am beginning to feel frustrated with myself for not having the inspiration I so dearly crave for. Reading this, you would probably just tell me to get out more, which is the right thing to do, depending on the circumstances but as you know, this is getting more difficult for me to do so. I mean with the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and the pain it’s causing me to be in.

Thankfully I have the love and understanding of my dear family, who I hold dear to my heart and all of my friends, those who I see regularly, those who I see from time to time and those who chat to me occasionally online. They always show an interest in whatever I write or whatever I need checking over. This is I am extrememly thankful for. :-)
I know I will find the inspiration again soon, somehow, just got to believe in that it will happen.

So yeah the penny has dropped, hasn’t it?!!

Life Without Music

Life Without Music

Like many people, I have grown up with music in my life. A question I ask myself, what would life be like if music did not exist, this is my stance on what my life would be like without music.

My life would be dull; there would be nothing to release my emotion, whatever state of mind I am in at the time. I listen to music every day, from the minute I wake up to the moment I am going to bed. In the mornings, it helps me wake up, to shake off the tense, stiff muscles and to rev me up for the day. When I am getting ready to go out on a night out, again music is played, to help fire me up, dancing away in my room. It inspires me to write poetry and trying to make sense of whatever is going on in my mind.

 

We as a nation tend to take music for granted. It is everywhere; you cannot escape a melody or a beating drum. Just think when you switch on the television, the starting credits of your favourite programme, on the adverts (see the reference between the car and the chosen song, as an example - the Chrysler Brand Relaunch UK TV Advert 2012, it is drawing upon its gritty, urban reputation and the song (Heart of the City by Jay-Z) it is often referred to focus on urban poverty and hopelessness.

 

Music is a universal language. It brings people, from different countries and diverse communities together. It is all to the emotion of the music being played. Everyone goes through happiness, fear and sadness.

 

Throughout history, music has brought us together in unison. In 1940, the French Composer, Olivier Messiaen wrote Quartet For The End of Time. At 31 years old, France entered war against Nazi Germany. He was captured by the Germans and then imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp. Fortunately enough, he was lucky to find a sympathetic guard who gave him paper and a place to compose. Already he lined up his three fellow inmates who were musicians: a violinist, a cellist, a guitarist and a clarinetist. With all the hunger, hopelessness and dreariness, it makes you wonder how he could find the time to create such a piece but it just shows through the darkest times, music brings the people together. This shows that people turn to music for comfort.

An example of how music affects from around the world, in America, an Orthopedic Surgeon. When she was a junior doctor, during a Hip operation and the surgeon in charge requested music to be played. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon was played and it fitted so perfectly. What with all staff dressed in the spaceman outfits, I can only imagine how incredible that must have been to witness. The beating of the anaesthetic machine and all the other sounds in the operating theatre are all forms of music.

 

This brings me to talk about another reason why we take music for granted, because the universe is just made up of matter vibrating at different speeds and frequencies, which in essence is music.

 

I think as I grow older, music will continue to be a great love in my life. As long as there is music, my life will be excited, moved and inspired. Whatever life throws at the world, music will continue to unite the world in many different ways.