I had a whole day free to get on with stuff today, but because of the clocks going forward it’s felt like I’ve had slightly less of a whole day. Going to try and get an early night in order to adjust.
I’ve spent most of the day planning out my notes for April’s writing projects – I’m really quite excited about being able to get back into those. Most of my weeks will be nice and quiet so I’ll have the time to write.
Starting tomorrow as I mean to go on! No time for April Fools – it’ll just be me and my laptop.
OOTD: smart but comfy. Dress Tammy (1997), tights Primark (2017), shoes New Look (2014).
Today’s earworm playlist:
The Prodigy – Omen T’Pau – China In Your Hand Kim Wilde – You Keep Me Hangin’ On Stevie Nicks – Rooms On Fire Billie Eilish – Bury A Friend Duran Duran – The Chauffeur Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
I was interested to hear that there was a new Suzi Quatro album out this week! I first got into Suzi’s classic stuff in my late teens when I was going through my glam rock phase, and she’s still one of my favourite rock acts.
Let’s have a listen to the new tracks.
No Soul/No Control
I like the spooky atmosphere in this one – it sort of reminds me of gothabilly tracks I’ve heard.
Going Home
It’s got a good swing rhythm, but I find the verse a bit repetitive.
Strings
This is a nice upbeat track with a real classic rock feel about it. Nice sweeping epic chorus too!
Love Isn’t Fair
Lots of stuff going on in this track – there’s a nice reggae/calypso bit in the instrumentals, a fun ’60s feel to the vocals, and a general party atmosphere. I really like this one.
Macho Man
Back to the harder guitar for this track, which is the most reminiscent so far of Suzi’s classic early ’70s period. Good piece of stompy rock.
Easy Pickings
A slightly slower track, though still quite upbeat, with lots of harmonica interspersed throughout. I really like the piano solo!
Bass Line
Despite the title, it’s again the piano that I most like in this track. It’s a lovely tune too, with a great atmosphere on the instrumentals.
Don’t Do Me Wrong
Another classic rock track with a nice swing rhythm. Love the harmonica on this one!
Heavy Duty
This is another track that could have come straight out of the ’70s. Huge bonus points for the sax solo.
I Can Teach You To Fly
This one is very reminiscent of Slade’s Coz I Love You, though it’s a little more uptempo. There are also slight hints of Abba’s later output in the vocals. It’s a very pleasing mishmash of sounds, and one of my favourite tracks on the album.
Going Down Blues
A very classic-sounding blues number to finish. Good stuff!
Overall a very interesting collection with lots of different sounds and genres going on. It feels slightly unfocused as an album, but there are quite a few standout tracks that will be going on my playlist.
I did a four-hour 19-mile run on the treadmill this morning. Thankfully that will be the longest I have to run on the treadmill (ever, I hope), because when I do next weekend’s long run, which will be the longest on my training plan, I will be out on the roads to make sure that I’m properly prepared for road-running such a long distance.
I’ve been finding for the last few weeks, as the long runs have got longer, that I need to fuel with sugar during the run to prevent myself from running out of energy. With treadmill running, this has been fairly easy – I just have a bowl of Celebrations that I can munch on when I step off the treadmill for a few seconds to have a drink – but it’s going to be more difficult on the road, as there’s only so much I can carry in my running belt. Next week will be a good trial to see how I can manage it.
I’ve not had the energy to do much else today, so all my weekend tasks will get done tomorrow! Spending the evening on the sofa with Geth, who also needs to rest after a bad fall yesterday.
OOTD: it got strangely grey and dark outside mid-afternoon so an indoor shot will have to suffice! Jumper unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017), skirt unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017), tights Primark (2017), shoes Primark (2018).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Lewis Capaldi – Grace Sarah Brightman and Steve Harley – The Phantom Of The Opera Duran Duran – Lonely In Your Nightmare Geri Halliwell – Look At Me Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes
I treated myself to this oven pizza on Thursday night, because Geth was out boardgaming and I wanted something quick to bung in the oven when I got back from Pilates.
Dr Oetker Ristorante Mozzarella.
This pizza should not be confused with the Dr Oetker Ristorante Margherita, which also has mozzarella, tomatoes, and herbs on, but differently. I’m not sure if they still make the Margherita as I’ve not seen it for a while.
Anyway, Dr Oetker Ristorante pizzas have been my absolute go-to for oven pizza for a good decade or so. Geth usually has the Speciale for meat ‘n’ mushroom purposes, and I tend to favour the Mozzarella (they did use to do a nice spicy veg option called the Vegetale but it seems to have been discontinued now). It’s not quite the Italian restaurant pizza experience claimed by the TV adverts, but it’s still the king of oven pizzas.
I went out driving this morning, using the car club membership I’ve been neglecting since November. It’s been a good fifteen months since I last drove, but it all comes back to you. I’ll be buying a car soon, so I wanted to get used to it again before I go test driving.
I spent the rest of the day doing research and admin. Really looking forward to getting back to writing next week! I’ll be taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo during April, which is not quite as intensive as the November version but should encourage me to get more done every day. That pitch will be going out early next week as well – I’m done with letting everything else get in the way of it.
In the meantime, I’ll be concentrating on running over the weekend.
OOTD: sun is glorious right now! Scarf Matalan (2016), hoodie Sonar (2006), vest top Batman (2018), jeans H&M (thrifted from Steff 2016), trainers Reebok (2013).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Pretenders – I’ll Stand By You Eurythmics – Who’s That Girl? Duran Duran – Come Undone Tchaikovsky – Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy REM – Bad Day Duran Duran – Union Of The Snake Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved Queen – One Vision Queen – I Want It All Lewis Capaldi – Grace Depeche Mode – Behind The Wheel
Two weeks’ worth of New Hits today seeing as I didn’t manage it last week!
On the 22nd of March, there were three new hits in the chart.
Lizzo – Juice
Great classic retro-sounding tune! Really, really like this one.
The video does not disappoint – it is absolute gold, chock full of 20th century retro. I am going to be watching this over and over!
Ava Max – So Am I
Another solid pop tune from Ava Max. Good stuff!
The video is a sort of alt-tinged homage to Britney Spears’ classic 1999 video for …Baby One More Time. I really quite like it!
Marshmello and Chvrches – Here With Me
It’s a bit saccharine, and I’m missing the good synths you usually get with Chvrches, but it’s quite a nice tune, and I like the way it gets more epic on the chorus.
They’ve not released the official video yet, but they have done this placeholder one with lots of cool neon effects.
This week saw another four new hits enter the top 40.
George Ezra – Pretty Shining People
First time in the chart for this track due to George Ezra’s recent tour. Nothing to do with the similarly-titled REM song! It’s a standard nice upbeat George Ezra tune with a good singalong chorus.
The video is a fairly twee story about George being executive-meddled by some little kids. There are some excellent retro touches in the set dressing though!
Meduza – Piece Of Your Heart
Cheesy upbeat vocals over dark atmospheric instrumentals, which is a bit jarring. Good beat though.
There’s no video for this one yet.
Russ and Tion Wayne – Keisha And Becky
They really like these two women, but they don’t like the idea of putting any semblance of a tune in the track. The backing track to the rap is really dull and repetitive. I do like the reciting of the women’s names in the chorus, though.
I’ve got a horrible feeling that I already know what this video’s going to be like before I watch it.
I was right. It’s all cars and twerking girls. Highly NSFW, and not my thing.
Steel Banglez, AJ Traceyand Mostack – Fashion Week
There are some nice chilled steel drums going on in the background here, but the track in general is a bit repetitive.
There’s an awful lot of ‘sitting around on a kitchen island’ in this video! Towards the end they go outside and start standing around by a car instead, which is more familiar territory for videos in 2019.
A fairly typical Thursday today – Slimming World and Pilates took up most of my time, and I spent the rest catching up with admin.
I’m not sure I’m going to do the next Pilates course as the classes are at slightly different times. It might be good to have a few weeks off, anyway, as marathon training is taking up enough of my time exercise-wise.
More admin to do tomorrow.
OOTD: comfy Thursday outfit. Scarf MyScarf (2019), hoodie Sonar (2006), vest top Primark (2018), leggings Primark (2018), trainers Reebok (2018).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Sam Smith and Normani – Dancing With A Stranger Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf Duran Duran – Come Undone David Bowie – The Jean Genie David Bowie – Queen Bitch Cast of Frozen – Let It Go David Bowie – Starman Charlie Puth – One Call Away Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill
My plans for today changed when I woke up to a few emails from clients this morning, so I’ve spent most of the day doing day job work. I’ve also been working on a giant complicated backup I’m doing of all my computer stuff. I have an external hard drive that always refused to work with my previous laptop but has decided it likes my current one, so that’s going to give me a bit more breathing room.
Ukulele class tonight, and hopefully a straightforward Thursday tomorrow!
OOTD: all the blues. Hoodie Sonar (2006), scarf unknown brand (2019), t-shirt Campus Crew for Toronto Blue Jays (2018), jeans Zara (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Oasis – Songbird Duran Duran – Girls On Film Jona Lewie – You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties
Two months after I first tried Britvic Ginger Beer (and there was a bit of confusion at the bar about whether I was having the ginger beer or the ginger ale), I finally came across the ginger ale in the hotel bar in Inverness the other week. It was very different to the ginger beer, so I can finally confirm that it was definitely the ginger beer I had in Newburgh!
Britvic Ginger Ale.
Contrary to what the label on the bottle neck says, this one is not spicy at all. However, it’s got a lovely sweet taste, and was very pleasant.
