ok…so I’ve been a little lazy with the posts! I’m not apologising, just been busy ‘practising’ for the biggest gig of my life in Brisbane! Ok so it’s ‘close’ to when I sang on stage with Jean-Michelle-Jarre, and when I was in the backing choir for Barry Mannilowe back in 1992… close! Yup - I’ve had my moment of fame in the Apollo Theatre Manchester - with “The Nose” and all those middle aged mothers waving their lighters… of course if it was Tom Jones they’d be waving their knickers! =P Jean-Michelle-Jarre on the other hand was more of an experience I can tell you! With his laser harp, and the fireworks well if you’ve ever seen his videos you’ll know what I mean; there we were the lucky chosen one hundred voices from Cheshire County Youth Choir singing the vocals for “Chronologie” - walking across the stage in bright white paper flight-suits (to bounce the lasers off apparently), holding FLAMING PARAFFIN TORCHES!!?! ….hmmmm…. let’s reflect? paper, flame… flame, paper??! I’m no Einstein but these two aren’t always the best combination? All ended ok though with very few casualties, and that was the biggest audience I’ve been on stage in front of - over 30,000…. ah the memories, but I digress….

In other news, way back when I used to live in this quaint little country called… er… damn, um… wait a minute, it’ll come to me….. oh yes!! England! I watched a simply FANTASTIC film called “Night Watch” which is in fact a Russian Flick, and a darn good one too… if you watch it, please don’t watch the dubbed version… crappola!! Listen to the original voices with the subtitles makes for a better movie. Same goes for the follow-up movie “Day Watch” which I just finished watching tonight - wicked movie; although to be fair it makes the assumption you’ve watched the first film already, and kinda throws you straight in. Still worthy though with some simply awesome special effects… love the vampire red eye glow!!

Think I’ll go to bed now and dream about Day Watch femme fatale - Zhanna Friske < < Sexy Russian Pop Sensation and Actress, all I can say is…ooooh ‘la la la!’ =P Oh and get this! She’s only 6 months older than me? There’s hope yet!

More in a physical sense than philosophical, or emotional. BAM!! It hit me this evening as I walked back to my bedsit; after spending a pleasant day with friends (Keith and Lyn from UK), it’s simple too! I looked up at the clear night sky, and saw stars which didn’t look familiar, I couldn’t make out little ‘Casseopia’ or ‘The Plough’ all the stars and constellations were alien to me…it was nearly enough to give me that vertigo feeling too! First time I’ve properly looked at the night sky without the clouds to obstruct my view…and you know what? I saw ‘my’ starsign - Saggitarius proudly dominating the sky for the first time in my life! This kinda made things ok again for me

Whilst I feel settled, and enjoy it here, it’s the little things like this that often remind me ‘I’m not in Kansas any more’; course I’ve never been to Kansas either…possibly flown over it maybe? But hey!! It’s a figure of speech, so I’ll stick with it.

We went for a meal last night with ’said’ friends and I tried ‘Kangaroo’ for the first time, which is presented like steak - right down to the peppercorn sauce! I must admit despite having a usual aversion to liver, this was ok! It was like eating liver without the liver texture that always puts me off? I’m amazed I remember as much, because we managed to drink a fair bit of alcohol, and I only just made the last train back from town to suburbia…

Got one more day off work tomorrow, so I intend to use it as productivly as I can, gonna ring the band hall (UK band and surprise em all) and say hi, then once I’ve sorted some water out, and my backpack I’m gonna break in my new walking shoes (Gortex Treksta’s) by heading up to Lowry Lookout again it should be a good day weather wise too, then I’ll head back chill out and go to band practice.

Or should I say “WOOT”?? Now it’s in the dictionary!!

Here I am in NZ. Not really planned much for the cross over into my 33rd year except to have a few drinks down town later on (wink). Having a birthday isn’t always about going out and having a laugh with mates though. So, I’m going to make this day special to me in a different and more personal way - I’m going to find a nice quiet park somewhere and do some meditation - then I’ll try and connect with my inner peace, then once the day has wained slightly I’ll hit Courtney Place and try my luck ;P

1661 1st Yacht race, England’s King Charles vs his brother James

1666 Great London Fire begins in Pudding Lane. 80% of London is destroyed

1858 1st transatlantic cable fails after less than 1 month

1939 WW II starts, Germany invades Poland, takes Danzig

1945 Japan surrenders ending WW II (US date, 9/2 in Japan)

1951 US, Australia & New Zealand sign ANZUS treaty

1977 1st TRS-80 Model I computer sold

1982 Max speedometer reading mandated at 85 MPH

BUT!! Going back way further than any of the above!!

5492 -BC- Origin of Ecclesiastical Era of Antioch

Finally..

Happy Feast of Adjutor Day