Tag: Musical Attempts

On with the projects

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The ukulele concert last night was great! Our ‘absolute beginners’ group were first on, and after that I was able to relax and watch all the other groups (there are seven ukulele groups in total among the Sage Gateshead adult music classes) to see what I can expect from classes in the future. Will be signing up to the ‘beginners’ group for next term later this week!

I’ve had quite a good day today – I did my last speed run of marathon training this morning (next week the taper will have started and all of my runs are meant to be at slow pace!), lost a bit at Slimming World (not as much as I would have liked but it’s going in the right direction), and got some writing done in the afternoon for various projects.

More bits and pieces of writing this evening, and hopefully another productive day tomorrow.

OOTD 4th April 2019
OOTD: I’d hoped to be putting the jumpers away soon, but it’s got cold again! Jumper Carlo Colucci (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017), leggings Primark (2018), trainers Reebok (2013).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Blue Öyster Cult – Don’t Fear The Reaper
Lou Reed – Perfect Day
Queen – One Vision
Wizzard – See My Baby Jive
Bananarama – Nathan Jones
Ariana Grande – Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored
Pink – Try
Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand
Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
T.Rex – Get It On
Jim Diamond – I Should Have Known Better
Arcadia – Say The Word
Duran Duran – Serious
Slade – Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Chicory Tip – Son Of My Father
Simply Red – Holding Back The Years
Paul Brady – The Island
David Bowie – Absolute Beginners

And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:

George Formby – When I’m Cleaning Windows

A creative Wednesday

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I had another good day of writing and editing today, and got my book pitch sent off to a couple more agents. After this week, things will really quieten down for the month, so I’m looking forward to some quality writing time.

I’ve got the end-of-term ukulele concert tonight, so I will update you about that tomorrow!

OOTD 3rd April 2019
OOTD: ready for an evening out! Scarf Matalan (2016), jacket unknown brand (estimated vintage 1990s, bought at vintage shop 2003), t-shirt Punk Masters (2018), belt unknown brand (2003), jeans Alexander Wang Denim (2018), boots Primark (2017).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
Duran Duran – Rio
Wham! – Freedom
Duran Duran – Winter Marches On
Oasis – Songbird
Queen – We Will Rock You
Charlie Puth – One Call Away
Arcadia – Say The Word
The Clash – White Riot

On the move

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Most of today was taken up with running – I’m into the most intensive week of my marathon training before the taper and so even my recovery runs take all morning now – and driving, as I went out in a car from the car club again. Now trying to squeeze in a few writing-related things I need to do.

A slightly more relaxed day tomorrow, other than the fact that I’ll be performing with my ukulele group at the end-of-term show tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to seeing all the other groups playing so that I can see what the standard is once you move on from the ‘absolute beginners’ group!

OOTD 2nd April 2019
OOTD: comfy outfit for a slightly harried day. Jumper Ellend (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2019), leggings Primark (2018), socks unknown brand (2007), trainers Reebok (2018).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Suzi Quatro – Can The Can
Heart – These Dreams
The Cure – Kyoto Song
Leo Sayer – Moonlighting
Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill

Back it up

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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 27th March 2019
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

A quiet Tuesday

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I did my Tuesday recovery run this morning (which is starting to feel NOT AT ALL like a ‘recovery run’ now that it’s two hours long!). I’ve tried to keep the rest of the day quiet, so I’ve just been getting on with admin and housework. Evening plans involve ukulele practice and doing a bit of boardgaming with Geth.

I’ve set aside tomorrow for sorting out my long-delayed book pitch, so hopefully – hopefully – I will be able to say that’s done soon!

OOTD 26th March 2019
OOTD: selfie on the sofa for a post-run Tuesday afternoon. Jumper Ellend (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2019).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Oasis – Songbird
Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
Queen – We Will Rock You
Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
The Clash – White Riot
NSG and Tion Wayne – Options
Bastille – Good Grief
Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok

Conquering the nerves

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I decided, when I found out about a week ago that there was going to be a second edition of the poetry night that I went to last month, that I was going to get organised and bring along some poems on the very marginal off-chance that I would be brave enough to volunteer for a reading slot. Of course, I didn’t end up writing said poems until yesterday morning – the morning of the poetry night – because of life and its continual determination to get in the way of my writing. However, I got them written, printed out, and shoved in my handbag. Just in case.

Ukulele class last night was good – we’ve just got one more session now before the end-of-term performance in a couple of weeks’ time, which is yet another thing to be nervous about. After class finished, I got back on the Metro and headed to Drink Art Bar for the poetry evening.

I probably wouldn’t have dared volunteer to read if it hadn’t been for the fact that the bar staff asked if I was going to! Once I had signed up, though, I felt strangely calm about it and just rehearsed everything in my head until it was my turn to go on. I felt quite confident reading my poems, but my limbs decided differently and would not stop shaking. Apparently it wasn’t noticeable to anyone else, but it certainly was to me!

I’m really, really glad I worked up the courage. I never thought I’d be able to tick that New Year’s Resolution off the list so early in the year.

Today was a fairly standard Thursday, with a speed run, Slimming World (I lost six pounds this week, getting rid of last week’s gain plus a bit extra!), and Pilates class.

Our friends Kieran and Lisa are coming to visit tomorrow, so I’m just getting a few things ready, and then it’ll be time for the weekend 🙂

OOTD 21st March 2019
OOTD: comfy Pilates outfit, slightly dishevelled! Hoodie Internacionale (2000), t-shirt Roly for Blaydon Race (2018), leggings Primark (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Barry Manilow – Copacabana
Oasis – Songbird
Pinkfong – Baby Shark

Bits and pieces

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Today has involved various bits of catching up after being away in Inverness. I had a bit of editing to do for a client, and got lots of tidying and admin done. Geth is feeling poorly – he seems to have caught a cold from the weather during Sunday’s race – and so the next few days will probably be quite low-key for both of us.

I also had my ukulele class for the first time in a few weeks – we had a double half term break due to some building works at the Sage Gateshead, so it was good to get back to it.

Not expecting a great result at Slimming World tomorrow after being away, but I have many quiet weeks stretching ahead of me to get back on plan and back into target range!

OOTD 13th March 2019
OOTD: bright light, bright light! Scarf unknown brand (2019), jacket unknown brand (estimated vintage 1990s, bought at vintage shop 2003), t-shirt Punk Masters (2018), skirt Calvin Klein Jeans (2004), tights Primark (2017), trainers Reebok (2017).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Arcadia – Election Day
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
Ariana Grande – Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored
The Beatles – We Can Work It Out
Dire Straits – Romeo And Juliet
The Dave Clark Five – Bits And Pieces
Avicii – Hey Brother
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams

Semi-flying Saturday post

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Just a quick post today as I’ve been very busy! Will update properly over the next few days.

OOTD 9th March 2019
OOTD: outfit for dashing about! Scarf Marks & Spencer (2017), t-shirt Lauren Ralph Lauren (modern but bought from Headlock Vintage 2018), jeans H&M (thrifted from Steff 2016), socks unknown brand (2007), trainers Reebok (2013).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Gala – Freed From Desire
Sam Smith and Normani – Dancing With A Stranger
James Arthur – Naked
Dee Cooke – Summer Rain*
Dee Cooke – Prayer At The Bus Stop**
Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
Duran Duran – Save A Prayer
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
Robbie Williams – Something Beautiful
The Proclaimers – Letter From America
D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better
Duran Duran – Come Undone
Duran Duran – Rio
Jess Glynne – Thursday

*One of my own compositions, a chilled-out EBM number from circa 2013, which has only ever existed in my head.

**Another of my own compositions, a campfire-style song from circa 1998, which again has only ever existed in my head. I’ve not had any of my own daft musical attempts as earworms for years, and suddenly two of them come along on the same day. Rather like buses, appropriately enough.

Girls just wanna read books

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I’ve been finding on Thursdays recently that after doing my early morning speed run and walking back and forth to Slimming World group, I get really tired and don’t have much energy for doing stuff (probably ’cause I don’t eat or drink till after weigh-in, but that’s sort of a necessary evil!). I think I’m going to stop scheduling work for Thursday afternoons and move it to the weekend instead.

I was feeling especially dozy this afternoon after a fairly hectic twenty-four hours. Following a day of editing, yesterday evening I went to ukulele class, then to a poetry evening for a few hours (I’m still looking to get into performance poetry and so I’m in the process of checking out a few nights to see what it involves), then I was up early for my speed run and Slimming World as usual. As such, I decided to spend the afternoon reading, which has cleared my brain fug nicely and means I finally feel up to getting a few minor writing tasks done this evening.

Hoping for a more energetic day tomorrow.

OOTD 21st February 2019
OOTD: this is still a good Thursday outfit even on a non-Pilates day. Glasses Emporio Armani (2017), jumper Carlo Colucci (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2017).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Cadet and Deno – Advice
Little Mix and Nicki Minaj – Woman Like Me
Cast of The Greatest Showman – The Greatest Show
Bros – When Will I Be Famous?
Halsey – Without Me
Joe McElderry – The Climb
Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
Jess Glynne – Thursday

A productive Wednesday

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Another good, productive day of editing, followed by a lot of new stuff learnt at ukulele class. I’m really happy with the speed of progress in our classes – every week there’s something new to practice.

The usual busy Thursday tomorrow, but I’m still planning to squeeze in some editing.

OOTD 13th February 2019
OOTD: it’s getting marginally warmer. Scarf MyScarf (2019), hoodie Sonar (2006), t-shirt Punk Masters (2018), jeans Levi (2018), boots Carefree (2017).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – All She Wants Is
Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
The Beatles – Yesterday
Duran Duran – My Own Way
INXS – Need You Tonight
Tears For Fears – Mad World
Hue & Cry – Labour Of Love

And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:

Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire