TOP OF THE STAIRS MUSIC

Can't seem to shorten the gaps between my blogs - came close to giving it up this week. So much going on between work, hospital radio and organising my wedding. Started the wedding stuff just after Christmas and whilst on top of most of it there is only 6 weeks to go and time seems to be speeding up. I am determined not to arrive at the day completely knackered, if anyone has any ideas how I can possibly acheive this - let me know.

Not much to report on the music front. In fact only time I get to listen to anything is when I am at the computer working so I tend to pick a station which is instrumental and not too distracting.

I am, however sorting out my collection which is what this blog is all about:-

Now this picture may not mean anything to you but it's gaps in my CD library meaning I am at last listening [in the car with a dictaphone, how sad is that] to CD's which are old or I have bought for just a couple of tracks. I am sorting the track and loading them onto my Ipod database the getting rid of the CD. It's a brilliant feeling to think I am making some small move forward.

Did the Snitterfield Village Fete with the hospital radio Outside Broadcast unit this past Sunday. It was the best Fete I have ever been to and there is such a community spirit. It was a little hot but kept dry and considering there was an England match at 4pm the crowds still filtered in. Not sure how but I managed to get roped [pun] into a womens Tug-Of-War team .. and we lost basically because it was supposed to be teams of 5 each side. Best of 3, the first time we only had 4, then the last time we had 5 but the other team had 6!Only fun I know but if I am going to strain every muscle in my body I at least want some acheivement out of it at the end!

Had to go to Amsterdam on business last week. Have been several times and apart from the obvious areas [red and light come to mind] it is a wonderfully stylish city.

I had a free day on Friday so my girlfriend and I went to the Rijksmuseum as Peter Greenaways latest installation is on show. He has woven a fanstastic light display and soundtrack round Rembrandts The Nightwatch painting. It is so brilliant that he should do this to say the worlds Top 10 most famous paintings and every school kid should see them. Talk about bringing a painting alive!

But the real thrill was that I was standing in the ante room to the main event where he has installed 20 or so TV screens which disect the painting into chapters [very Greenaway] when all of the sudden as I glanced round, I realised I was standing next to Peter Greenaway himself!

Now I am a HUGE fan od his and so this was a thrill and a half. I froze a little then missed the first part of the exhibition because I was just watching him walking around and checking stuff. When we got into the next room I ended up sitting in front of him. I then mustered up the courage to shake his hand and say how brilliant his work was. He seemed quite taken a back at first then genuinely pleased.

Made the whole trip for me, that and spending a fortune on a pair of Italian, suede, chocolate brown Chelsea boots for my wedding day! [Only 6 weeks to go].

Found a great internet radio station which is now dominating my Music Day: www.somafm.com They have some very cool radio stations and I'm now hooked into SECRET AGENT The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life. For Spies and PIs too!
In betwen 2 or 3 tracks they drop in soundbytes from 007 and other spy movies great fun.

I'm Happy!

Hope all my UK blog readers are enjoying this incredible weather - I certainly am but not sure about my little cat Bronte, this was her yesterday stretching out trying to cool down a bit:-

Thought I do bit by bit blog today and chart my day in music which started with Radio 2 whilst I checked my emails and I cannot remember a single track played, must admit that it's only on for news and background.
Had an appointment up town so walked with ipod in pocket. I have like a miscellaneous folder on their just called Pop and as it's crept up to 71 entries thought I would work my way through it and sort it.
I was finishing off listening to a couple of podcasts so only got as far as 3 tracks:

WOMEN KING - IRON & WINE
This is the one of the reasons I subscribe to Mogo magazine as it has the most excellent free CD's each month which is where I picked up this strange track
WORD UP - CAMEO
Just an all time fave
WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND - STING
Sting sings this so well and it's because he sings in hid lower register and not that scrawny high pitch which we know him better for and which I do like [as I have nearly all his albums] but this calmer, lower voice is welcome. Have moved this track to my Covers folder, a work-in-progress for a radio show I want to do at some point.

A little coffe break now I think, will be back later.

PS I may carry on this blog theme as it reminds me of one of my fave blogs by avrilo who blogs her daily recipes/meals.

Half way through the recent Imagine series on TV, this one is on Cat Stevens or Yousuf Islam. I had forgotten just how good his voice is and it goes without saying his song writing was superb.

He gave the singing career up 30 years ago to devote himself to Islam but now he is returning with new music. This is after delving, for some time, into if music is acceptable in his religion. He has spoken with scholars and has come to the conclusion that it is because music is not refered to or mentioned in The Koran.

Now, what sort of religion would not accept music?

I, for one, am glad he's back, even if he does look a little like Bill Oddie now.

Listening to a great podcast at the moment - in sections as to get a traight run at anything these days is proving more and more impossible - it's from In Our Time on Radio 4 with Melvyn Bragg and it's called Mathematics and Music.

He is chatting with 3 mathematicians who are all musicians as well, and that's the first things that wowed me, that most mathematicians are usually musicians as well. Makes sense once it's pointed out.

One of the talkers said that composers are nothing but 'pattern searches.'

I took 4 years of music at school and now wish I had taken more notice. I also took 4 years of needlework at school and it tool me 2 terms to make my Domestic Science apron!