New addition

As part of today’s shopping mission, Sam bought me a new moose to join the collection. Bizarrely, it’s (I haven’t decided whether it’s male or female yet – so far there’s only one that’s definitely female in the collection) actually a cover for a hot-water bottle, and yes, I’m using the loop to hang it from a picture-nail in the wall. Anyway, the problem is – I’ve no idea what to call it. Any suggestions will be gratefully received/considered. UPDATE – I should point out that, as with other members of the collection, all names should be a piss-poor pun involving the word “Moose”. Because this one is a hot-water-bottle holder, I’ve kind of ended up stuck with a name from Monsters Inc – but calling him Watter Moose would be sad. I need inspiration. And I absolutely refuse to stick with Boots’ own idea (from the label) of “Roger the Moose”. UPDATE 2 – Oh, and Peter, Sam is a friend – it was her and her daughter I went to see Avril Lavigne with on Friday. But yes, I should’ve been more diligent in my reporting. *Makes sound of very loud raspberry being blown* (which is in no way slang, nor is it defamatory, although it definitely sounds better in my head)

Avril Lavigne – Manchester Apollo

Well, I’d have written this earlier today (i.e. around moidnight or 1am) but for various reasons I didn’t.Hey Ho.

I have to say, I love the Apollo as a venue, one of the best features is that it’s got an angled floor, which makes it dead easy for shorter people to see over the tops of the lanky gits who always get in the way. Also, the people who work for venue security are some of the best in the city – tonight they were spraying water over the people in the crowd at the front to cool them down, helping kids out of the crush as necessary, walking through making sure everyone had the best possible time at the concert. If there could be a group award, an honours list for venues or areas, then the people in security at the Apollo should be first in the queue to receive one.

As for the concert, well – hard to describe really. Technically, it was an absolute blinder – lighting, sound balance, and music were all spot on. In fact, it was so close to perfect, for me it was almost like listening to a CD. And that was where the problem lay – I didn’t feel there was any real passion – it was just a recital of the songs, it could’ve been done in a studio. When I think of the way Pink reacted to the crowd – a crowd that was just as adoring and into the music and experience as the crowd tonight were – there was just no similarity in the reactions.

So in many ways it was a disappointment – technically perfect, and with no soul at all. There were moments of brilliance – the cover of Green Day’s “Basketcase” was superb, Complicated was a tour de force and it did pick up after that, for all of the three songs that remained. The set was amazingly short too – an hour and five minutes, including the encore. It was a good gig – just lacking in that certain something, that stage presence that’s the real sign of someone who gigs because they love it, rather than just wanting to do it as a commercial venture.

Arseing Bollocks

Well, what a complete tosspot. I’ve got tickets for (among others) both Peter Gabriel and Erasure concerts. And when I opened the diary to write them all down, they’re both on the same fucking day. Bugger.

How do they know?

Looking at the Guardian, I’m told tonight will be “one of the biggest nights of the war“. Or, as it’s known in less well informed circles “the third night of the war” – so how the fuck do they know it’ll be one of the biggest?

And just what makes it a “big night”? Are they persuading the sun to stay down for a bit longer, so it’s a nice long night? Or is it just going to be darker than the others?

Nominations

As normal when my brain is in entirely different places to normal (about which more later/tomorrow/soon), I knew I’d forgotten to mention something. D4D’s been nominated for anti-Bloggies by Kristen. Luckily it’s about as serious as an extremely flippant thing, but it made me smile, so that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

However, it does mean the tagline’s going to change sometime soon.

In the meantime though, I’m off to see Avril Lavigne – and I’ve just realised my camera’s batteries are dead, so no pics tonight. Ah well.

Thoughts

While travelling to work on the bus this morning, for a moment there was a van beside me with the sign “No tools left in this van overnight” on it.

So what I was wondering was : do these vans still get broken into, just on the offchance that the owner of the van is lazy and/or lying? Or do the little scrots just believe the sign and decide it’s not worth the hassle?

Protests

The Guardian today is full of stuff about anti-war protests – and no bad thing either. I’ve been caught up in two of them now, with people chaining themselves to train tracks and railings, and laying down in the middle of busy roads etc. – it’s a pity I still believe it’ll do fuck all, but there we go.

Seeing the way Bush and Blair were attacking at something like hyperspeed, I honestly can’t believe that there was ever any intention not to go to war.

And as for the soldiers who’ve died in a helicopter accident, well, some things never change – the Chinook and it’s brethren continue to kill more soldiers than the Iraqis. Friendly Fire indeed.