… and then of course… there’s the other side!!!

I’m usually really anal about things like checking in etc… but I guess when it’s business, I’m not too worried. The good thing about travelling with my company is that we book Business Class, so I just checked in for the next flight and am now ‘lounging’ in the Terminal 5 Lounges. It’s an amazing building… very space age and all that. I partcularly like the lounge that I’m in. Here’s a piccy of it:

Hopefully I’ll make it to Dalkeith, where I’m supposed to be meeting someone a 11am. EEK! Wish me luck!

LGMC is spear-heading the Various-Voices London event which will be held at the London Southbank area during 2009, and this forms the main part of what the LGMC will be doing this season. We’ll also be taking the season’s repertoire to Helsinki for their Pride Festival. All very exciting!

Check out the link to the Various Voices website for more information, and I’m sure there will be loads more posts about what we’re doing to prepare for the performances.

For example, the new season of Gladiators. Now, not only are we forced to watch the hooped up madness of muscle-bound hunks and scary females with WAY too much muscle, we have to endure the stupidity of that muppet, Wolf! I thought the constant screaming of that presenter guy was bad enough… but they’ve just compounded the pain with another screaming freak!

I’d also like to point out that EVERY episode of The Simpsons, Scrubs and Frasier has been played more than once, and yet… we are STILL made to watch the repeats!  What the hell are we paying for?! It’s like paying to see the same film in the cinema twice! What’s the point?! I understand that the number of shows and productions coming out of TV land is not enough to satisfy moany people like me… but then… when you consider the number of student productions and other possible things that could be put on air, why do we need to watch the same thing over and over and over again?!?!?!

I for one think that the television executives are taking it upon themselves to force us self-confessed couch potatoes out of the comfort of our sofas and back into the wild open air of the outside world! How dare they !!!

The shopping itself was pretty good, I got some fabby running things, and also managed to get a good little top from GAP, so I was happy… it’s just a shame I had to come back to Edinburgh and bathe in iodine and vinegar for about an hour! (not really).

Bryan, Mom & Dad, Lesley & Euan, Gillian, Ian & Norah, Laura & Dan

You’re all such sweet people and I love you all dearly!

Lesley and Euan went down to York this year to spend Christmas with Euan’s family, so I spent Christmas this year with Bryan’s family. For the first time ever, I managed to wake up with my beloved boyfriend on Christmas Day… something I’ve always wanted to do! We got up, had some tea to wake up… and then opened a few presents before going around to Bryan’s Fathers house when his Father and Norah had prepared a lovely brunch of bacon / sausage / egg rolls and tea! After lounging around for a bit, we headed back to Gillian’s place and then Bryan and I went to Edinburgh Zoo for a Christmas wonder… 

All the animals were in really good favour this visit, including our favourite, the Tapir… who was out in his little paddock squelching about in the mud! The Penguins were also in good form, with most of the family in the water swimming about furiously while children stood on the bridge in awe of their speed and acrobatic ability!

After the zoo, we returned to Gillian’s house where she was preparing a fabulous dinner of Broccoli & Stilton soup… followed by a Haggis, Neeps and Tatties special! It was lovely! Unfortunately, Gillian had to rush her meal because she had to get to work for 6pm (she’s a fire fighting professional).

The rest of the evening was spent in front of the tele… which is my ideal Christmas evening!

There are pictures from the day available on my Flickr page… which you can see by clicking on the picture below:

The choralography this year was also very good. Simple, but effective movement backed up by some fiery dance moves and very witty link material provided by the chorus’ very own Angel Gabriel, Michael Mangion.

Pictures from the season can be viewed by clicking on the picture below…

A fantastic season, and the next one should be even better, with the chorus participating in an International Chorus Festival called Various Voices… as well as an international trip to Helsinki planned for the middle part of the year! Fantastic! See you there!

I think a lot of low impact cardio is in order from now on for at least a week in the gym… no treadmills for a bit!

If you’re on the site, you can see the results already… if you’re a RSS person… here’s a screenshot!

It’s a great place… really huge and more importantly, not full of the ‘usual’ culprits that you get on every high street and in every other mall. I’d really recommend you go if you have a chance, but I have a feeling that Westfield will become the shopping destination for most Londoners. 

Oxford Street, with it’s tiny sidewalks, dingy shops, weather (rain) and muggers… no more… I know where I’m spending my money from now on!

Oh, and when I was leaving, I passed the BBC Television studios… which was quite fun as there was a queue outside the place for the audience, going in to see Strictly Come Dancing. They all looked very smart in their outfits… but that said, they also looked bloody freezing waiting outside like that. 

1. The lack of volume when calling anyone… I have to call people back on my work phone.
2. The shit menu system
3. The phone inability to send email, to anyone, using any account settings, ALL THE TIME!
4. The touch screen is a FUCKING NIGHTMARE!

Bryan, still wanted to know what I was up to… to which my response was as follows…

“I’m creating a cutom PHP.ini file for my domain, but having trouble updating my .HTACCESS fie because my MAC doesn’t display files with a full stop at the beginning”

He smiled and left me alone… I wonder why

I just stumbled across this VERY pretty web app that I plan on using in future develoments, simply because it is THAT stunning. I particularly like the Client Side manipulation of graphs… VERY kewl!

 Image courtesy of Component Art.com

It was a fantastic evening… and really worth attending in the future if you ever get the chance. In all seriousness, if you’re not a classical music fan… the theatrics and beauty of the evening will win you over.

The hall itself was in good form as well… image below. 

It should be a really fab evening, just wish Bryan could have come as it means we’ll not be together on the Bank Holiday Sunday.

It should be really fabby! Here’s some details if you want have a look at the IGLFA World Championship Website…

Oh my gawd… if any of you have been watching the Olympics as much as I have, you should be aware of just how gorgeous the Olympic Divers are. When the Olympics come to London in 2012… I will be a the front of the queue to get tickets for this one! WOOF!!!

To add to the “sigh” factor… the really sexy Australian diver, Matthew Mitcham, happens to be a gay boy… and has a lovely site dedicated to all his lovely jumps and curves.

Here’s a piccy of him… just so you can see what I mean!!!

Click the image for bigger version

Check out Matthew’s website by clicking here.

So… going to Dublin, I visited Dublin Castle to see what the resident medieval architecture had to offer in comparison to good ol’ Edinburgh. Well… I wasn’t all that impressed. Dublin Castle is modern, with a little touch of 1970’s office chique. I was a little disappointed to be honest… it wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

To show you just exactly what I mean… here’s a comparative view.

Dublin Castle (top) vs Edinburgh Castle (bottom)

It’s fairly safe to say that for grandeur, Edinburgh wins hands down! Clearly the Irish missed a trick, but at least they can still justify a gift shop and a tour! 

I was in Edinburgh on Business and couldn’t miss the chance to see Far From Kansas, the LGMC Commercial Choir, perform their show THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOMO. I’d missed the chance to see it performed at The Kings Head in Islington… so was really looking forward to it.

Well… I was not disappointed! The show was funny, well sung, well choreographed and had a glass of free champers to start it!

Of course I sat at the front, and a few of the chorus boys spotted me singing along to a few of the numbers I know… and yes… I sat on the Second Tenor side!

Hopefully the whole run has been a success, and I’d not have any trouble in deciding to go and see another one of their shows!

Well done boys! You’ve done us all proud!

So, here I am, staying in the Edinburgh Holiday Inn in Corstorphine. Interesting hole… but it’ll do! At least they give you free chocolate.

The scary little plane I flew up to Edinburgh on…

I’m staying up to watch the ladies marathon at The Olympics, purely because I can and because it’s a one in every 4 year event. I’d prefer to watch the mens… but I have work to get to on Monday.

The Romanian seems to be doing really well. She’s got a huge gap, so hopefully will get the medal.

The commentators have said nothing good about Paula Radcliffe, so no wonder she’s in 12th position.
Kudos to the Chinese supporters though… they’re all very cheery, and there hasn’t been an open space along the whole route. However, the organisers are nuts. The drinks tables are really close together and the barriers have legs jutting out into the course! Bad organisation on that side. On the other hand, the route is good… really nice run through the centre of Beijing. 

Ooooh… as I write this, Paula just cramped up. I suspect she won’t complete the race!

UPDATE: Proved wrong… Paula finished 22nd! Congrats Paula… ya did well!

The weird thing was… they saw Bryan and I coming back from Waitrose… and as we passed them at the gate, they asked us for a light, and then said the weirdest thing.

“Cheddar, Gay, England”

I have no idea if this was homophobia… of they wanted a dirty foursome! I guess I’ll never know.

Weirdo’s!!! 

It’s for a pole dancing place in Edinburgh called The Liquorice Club.

I have decided we need to install some equipment to solve the problem and will be looking for a suitable supplier in the week. Here’s what I’ll be getting….

Wouldn’t recommend seeing this piece if it comes up again… so here are the details:

Pierre BoulezMémoriale (’… explosante-fixe …’ Originel)
StravinskyL’Histoire du Soldat
Members of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboimconductor

They were incredibly good, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially from our front row box seats on the Grand Tier (I’m such a tart!)

Haydn Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major, for oboe, bassoon, violin, cello* 
SchoenbergVariations for Orchestra, Op.31

BrahmsSymphony No.4

*Members of West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

West-Eastern Divan OrchestraDaniel Barenboimconductor

The view from the box is spectacular, and the Proms were equally as entertaining (except for Prom 39)

I’m not Classical Music Guru… so you’re best checking out Bryan’s Website for any review of the music that was played… so to cheat… I’ll paste some info directly from the RAH website.

Ravel La Valse
Anders HillborgClarinet Concerto (Peacock Tales) (UK premiere)

BerliozSymphonie fantastique

Martin Fröstclarinet 

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra 
Gustavo Dudamelconductor

This is the view you get from the box (click for bigness)

I don’t want to be at work… too tired!

Basically, it’s a guy holding an empty jar over his head. The writing underneath it says, SUCCESS. At first, I thought… “What the hell does that mean”, but then I realised that it meant you fill your own glass up to make a full life. I love this analogy and plan on adopting it. Fill up the jar, loads of things inside of it to make a successful life!

Brilliant!

Bryan and I were REALLY lazy today and spend the whole day in front of the TV watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing, and then The Kite Runner with a few friends of Gillian’s (Bryan’s sister).

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the opening ceremony that I’ve piched from other websites… as well as a shot I took of the TV… because I’m a sad git!

Click for bigness

With games such as ‘Should Have Said’, ‘Swap Out’ and ‘The Councilor’ your sides will be splitting by the end of your hour long ordeal with the troup.

Make it a regular, go every year… just one problem (and I won’t mark the show down for this)… avoid the token Yaa’s who usually sit at the back. They were swarming this year and should have been taken out back and hunted!

Good times!

The problem here is that they’ve condensed a three hour musical into an hour and a half. Not an easy thing to do. The only problem with doing something as ballsy as this is that you risk alienating people who don’t know the plot… like me.

Still, I have to give them their dues… for teeny-boppers… they’re fecking brilliant! West End quality singing and amazing acting skills. I look forward to seeing them again next year… just I’ll do some research first to make sure I know what they’re actually doing on stage.

So Bryan booked us in to see Stuart Miles  and it was actually very good. His show “Adventures of Pink Peter” is a drag act taking in three of his characters. The first, a fashion obsessed Primark guru gives advice to the audience on what to wear. The Second, a plastic surgeon who shows us how to make an ugly potato into a beautiful chip and the last one a very well to do lady telling us tories about her life in the past.

For such a small audience, it was actually very entertaining. Especially where I had Stuart Miles climbing over people to get to me so he could stare me in the eyes and flirt with me.

Yes… Stuart Miles flirted with me! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Good camp fun, if you can handle a REALLY tiny and intimate performance (there were only 15 seats in the room).

Her show at the Fringe is fantastic (even though a little pricey… but it’s Joan… so I don’t care). It tells the story of how Joan has had to put up with age discrimination and tells a powerful story of how her home is really on the stage, performing, for the people…. right there and then.

Supported by two very flexible actors, Joan comes into her element while she recants stories from her youth and stories which have moulded her into the amazing person she is today.

Of course… the audience was about 50% homo… but Joan does love her poofy friends, so was more than happy to see us all. So happy in fact that her film crew shoved a camera in my face and interviewed me before we went into the hall.

Fabulous! She’s on tour… go and see her!

By the way… did you know it was Joan Rivers who invented the phrase “Who are you wearing”. This is now used at all award ceremonies around the world from Cannes to The Oscars!

This show makes up for it’s lack in professionalism by planting joke after joke and poke after poke to create a weaved mix of tasteful comedy and thought provoking education. After all… who couldn’t laugh at the famous apple in the Garden of Eden being replaced by the infamous (and sometimes equally as mythological) Deep Fried Mars Bar.

The ‘Ned’ portrayal… was spot on! Just what you run into the second you get off the train in Falkirk and beyond (sorry dad).

Go check this out if it’s still playing, good fun… but low budget (but that’s what the Fringe is all about).

Of course… if I had the Caesar Twins with me… I wouldn’t be too worried

GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

We’ve found a fabulous vegetarian indian restaurant as well.. called Kulpna’s. Really good, and I’d recommend the Thaali! YUM YUM YUM!

So… enjoy the Fringe if you are up, otherwise… you’re missing out! COME UP NEXT YEAR!

I love Craig Hill, I think he’s really witty, and can make comedy out of ANYTHING! Bryan isn’t too keen on him, but will go and see him if I promise we can sit at the back. It’s always a good idea to avoid the sharp tongue that resides in Craig’s mouth.

He was brilliant this year, and Bryan enjoyed the show as well from the safety of the 14th row.

Check him out wherever he plays, he’s good fun!

Oh, and he takes pictures of the audience as well….

Iam at the back on the left side… you can see Bryan a lot easier!

(a) their amazing strength and agility
(b) their classy shows and… erm…
(c) their looks (OMG!)

Really great show, beautifully done, but occasionally bordering on corny. They look good wet as well!

Click for a bigger version

Apologies for the not too good image, but this was the best I could do holding my phone upside down and facing the other direction

I first saw Russell Kane perform at The Tattershall Castle in the shadow of the London Eye… he is… in a word, BRILLIANT!

If you get the chance to see this guy perform, GO! For heavens sake… he is THE BEST in his class!

Dreadful acting, cringe-worthy lines and some rather OTT jokes which were seriously run into the ground make for a rather hap-hazard and unappealing piece of comedy-theatre.

I wouldn’t recommend this one, and have only given it two stars for the really cute IT Manager and his rather attractive ‘rainbow guitar’….

It carries a powerful message, one which I like. Why? Why do people have an issue with homosexuality?

The play is a hit, and I really recommend you go and see it!

I’ll post reviews on here and some pictures s well, so feel free to check them all out. If you’re having trouble finding things, I’ve set up a new category called Edinburgh Fringe 2008, so it should be easy enough to locate using the category selection thingy.

Enjoy!

1) We’re snobs
2) There aren’t any screaming kids in First Class.

It’s mostly the second  point.

So… because I’m bored… here’s me on the train

and here’s Bryan…