2005: A ROLLER COASTER OF A YEAR

January: My New Year's Day starts fantastically at 2am, with a lovely text message from a beloved person... Things were looking up!

February: The text message was just that, so I tried to move on by going to my hometown, Thessaloniki with my mom and having a lovely time.

Me and mom at Thessaloniki's beautiful sea-side city centre.






March: A very good friend of mine, Angela, moves in with me. I'm her Chandler and she's my Joey, as she is a struggling background artist! We are going to have fun!

April: Easter holidays take me to the Greek Orthodox Church in Bayswater, where I meet a long lost Greek friend!

May: My family comes to London and we paint the town red. On the 21st of May, Greece wins the Eurovision song contest with the song My Number One. (click at the title to download and listen)
On the 22nd, my birthday, mom and I go to Oxford to celebrate!


Helena Paparizou, the winner for Greece!





June: Beautiful summer brings sunshine and new hopes.

July: On the 2nd I am working, but just around the corner, in Hyde Park a big party with the biggest names in music, including The Who, is taking place, for Live8. After work, I take a walk around the park and I can hear Bob Geldoff singing I don't like Mondays.
On the 6th, London wins the bid for the Olympics of 2012. I am happy for my favourite city and tears start to flood my eyes.
The next day I get a text message: "WHOLE TUBE IS OUT. Buses are mobbed" As I reach Victoria station the news starts to unfold: London has been struck by terrorists. There are over 100 victims. I walk to work and I can hear sirens around me. The tears flood my eyes for my city again. "London is beautiful, London is strong", I think. The city comes back united after a few days, only to face another bombing. I keep on going to work by foot. I am scared, but not discouraged.

August: I spend a fantastic summer holiday at my beautiful island, Spetses.
And when I come back to London, things start looking up again...

September: ... but it's only for a little while, it was just an illusion, as the song says.

October: reading Pete's website and through The Shout I find out about Rachel Fuller and her In The Attic show. She also has something called a "blog"???? and Pete has one too, for his novella. I go to their "blogsites" and one night I watch the Attic show. My life will never be the same again.
Before I know it I start sending messages to Rachel, showing my admiration for her talent. Next thing I'm in a club, attending a FREE concert with Rachel, Pete, his brother Simon, the talented Foy Vance and the blossoming Mikey. Happy again!
Two days later I become a blogger myself, mainly to talk about my favourite songs and artists.
But, what amazes me is that blogging makes me feel creative and sometimes confessional, which is very therapeutic for me, plus, I make new friends from all over the world! :o)
The month ends with the cast and crew premiere of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire


November: on the 16th of the month and in a very spontaneous way I make the sober decision to quit smoking! I have never looked back since then and my decision takes me to Amsterdam.
I spend five fantastic days and I even throw my patches away!

December: the month couldn't start better. On the 4th of the month me and another 80 bloggers attend another FREE concert given by Rachel and the Attic stars. I make the decision to approach Rachel, which proves to be most rewarding. Sweet Rachel introduces me to my idol, the man whose music is the best thing I've ever heard, Pete Townshend! I still don't believe it.
After that no matter happens, I face it with a big smile and courage...

So that was the year that was... What remains to be said is just a

VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks, sweet blogger-friends!!!

I love this place.
Once someone shows that he or she may have a problem, everyone runs to console...

Thank you for writing such fabulous comments about my, not so serious after all-more sentimental, problem.
Each one of the suggestions is priceless, unfortunately there is nothing I could do, but put the timer on and tape it.
I will be on my way to work when the concert starts, so unless I buy a portable TV -that's an idea that occured to me late last night- I won't be able to watch it live.
I'll think about it...depends on the cost...!

The workload I have is ridiculous. Paperwork weighing a ton to be sorted and put into EXCEL, reports and emails to be sent...don't ask.
Tomorrow I'll be at work at 8am. My choice!
Tonight I'm having a quick dinner, a nice long bath and early sleep.

Sorry, I won't be able to visit your blogs tonight, my dear friends. Thank you for your support and understanding, I'll give you big fat kisses for the New Year, through Blogger, very soon!
A couple of days off are imminent after this crazy weekend, so I'll devote plenty of time to you, my cyber friends.

Also, I need to update my quitting blog, which I have abandoned since the 22nd of the month. Shame on me!
And I'm planning two end-of-the-old-year-beginning-of-the-new posts!!!

WATCH THIS SPACE

Bad mood :o(

My bosses won't give in. They want me to work on New Year's Day, which means I'll miss the Vienna Concert, which I've been watching every year, only for the past 25 years, or since I can remember myself.
It's like a tradition for me, like my lucky charm to make it a Happy New Year.
I can time the video to tape it, but it won't be the same.
I always call home when the first notes of "The Blue Danube" are heard and we cry all together, my mother, sister and me.

If you have never watched it before, do it this year. It's around 11 am GMT, most European countries show it at the same time, I'm sure it will be shown in the USA as well some time, look for it!
It is always a live broadcast from the magical Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by a famous music conductor.
It's a spectacular show, if you have the chance, don't miss it. 'Cause I will...

So back to my miserable New Year's Day. I'll be working from 11:30am to 6pm.
When the concert will be starting, I'll be on the bloody bus to work... Aaaaarggggghhhhhh!!!!
I had asked for the day off a month ago, but they didn't respect my plea.
And today I was explaining that I have plans, that it will be difficult for me to come to work, due to train delays et.c and their reply was:
"Sorry, it's Sale time and we need you..."
Well, I know it's going to be completely dead, no one will come to the store, and they know it too, so I don't know what's got into them.

I've never asked anything like that before. I'm always the last to chose my holiday dates and I would say I'm a workoholic. I'm the first to arrive and the last to go most of the times. And I never complain.
But this time I'm going to nag nag nag them until they give me the day off!
Next year I'll book the day two months in advance...
Because I have BIG plans: if I'm lucky (it's by ballot) I might be in Vienna, in that Concert Hall!!!

Three lovely days

CHRISTMAS EVE

I went home after work and cooked spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce. Quick and easy and not very Christmassy, I know, but I make it with three cheeses melted in the oven and it's our favourite food. I also warmed up the Christmas pudding and the custard sauce and left them in the oven to be warm for after dinner.

My flatmate had spent all day cleaning and "licking the floors" so the flat looked gorgeous.

I set up the table with my Christmas tablecloth and lit up four candles around it. I opened a bottle of wine and I put on Classic FM, where there were real Christmas Carols playing and we sat down and had a nice quiet dinner. We were both tired from a crazy week (she works in the movie industry) and we both enjoyed that moment.

It had a kind of magic and I will remember and cherish it for a long time...

---

CHRISTMAS DAY

My best friend of 27 years has been living in London for eleven years. One of the reasons I came to live here too is because I was missing her. We are more than two sisters now, she's done so many things for me and I think I was there for her too.
I was also chief bridesmaid at her wedding, when she married a good English man and I am the godmother of her daughter.
Every year her in-laws invite me to their home for Christmas lunch, and this year was no exception. They are fantastic people, warm-hearted, cheerful, funny and they have been amazing towards me all those years. They have a gorgeous house near Bromley in Kent, with a beautiful garden and a lovely fireplace.

I was wearing a new skirt I bought the previous day,

which is quite long and it's like a tu-tu

-and it was love at first sight! -

and my silver pumps

which were combined with my silver top

and my long silver cross on the kneck.

So we arrived at the beautiful house at about 1 o'clock, where we were treated with Champagne and hors d'oeuvres and a working fireplace.

The lovely smells from the kitchen were filling my nostrils and making my mouth sallivate! After half an hour or so we sat down at the table and my 9 year old goddaughter acted like our waitress and started serving our food. The turkey was tender, the potatoes crunchy and juicy, the stuffing delicious, the ham succulent, the bread sauce picant and I even had a Brussels sprout for the first (and last) time in my life. All that was washed down with my favourite wine, a Sauvignon Blanc.
Stuffed and happy like a butcher's puppy!

Then it was time to open the presents...
My best friend gave me a fantastic pair of ear muffs where you can put your headphones in, so that I'm not cold when I go to and from work while I listen to my music, a hilarious book called "Is it just me or is everything shit?" and the 2nd series of Little Britain on DVD. Her in-laws gave me these fabulous glasses, from which I've been drinking all day today.

My presents were liked by everyone: books on war for the boys, Gwen Stefani CD and some money for the little one, Korres cosmetics for the lady of the house and a handbag for my best friend.

And after the presents: the dessert!!! A chocolate cheesecake with vanilla ice cream! Yum-my!

The fun started after the dessert when we played "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" England VS Greece. My friend (Zoe), her daughter (Alexia) and me for Greece and Zoe's husband with his parents for England. Not only did Greece win, but we won the million as well!!!!!

Oh, it felt so good!

Then we became really silly and played Charades with wine-fuelled laughter, until it was time to go. I had a lovely time and I can't wait for next year's lunch!

I hope your Christmas was as lovely as mine and here's to many more!

---

BOXING DAY

I woke up at midday! Fabulous... Had a great coffee and breakfast and then my flatmate read me my TAROT cards. Exciting things for the future, looks like I'm crossing the ocean to relocate in the following year (???)

The day went quickly after that. In the afternoon I sent a few hellos to fellow bloggers and noticed that EL Wisty recommends Google Earth, a programme where you can see satellite pictures of any corner in the world! Well, I downloaded it and my flatmate and I spent a good three hours looking around the globe and finding our homes in London, in Canada and in Greece. It was quite spooky when we found our house and I zoomed in... I felt a bit weird and scared???? But it was fascinating.

Tomorrow I want to find a quiet time to read Pete's new chapter and back to work Wednesday, when the Sale starts and it's going to be just MAD!!! Who knows when will I rest again...

The New Year is near and it's going to be great, because Pete has announced a new Who Tour and Rachel is going to follow them with the Attic shows! Also, Simon and the Casbah Club are going to be supporting The Who! My excitement couldn't be bigger, I'm smiling like an idiot all the time!!!!!

Have a great week, all of you!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!!!!

LOTS OF LOVE AND KISSES

from

MARIETTA

When will it end?

I am so tired.

And I'm working tomorrow

And Christmas Eve!!!!

My bones are hurting, I am half asleep all the time and I have no energy, not even to speak to my family on the phone. They call me to tell me news from home and I hang up on them quickly, I'm not in the mood and I feel so bad about it.

I just want to stay home, drink my hot tea/coffee/chocolate, watch silly TV programmes, listen to my music and blog...

I am behind with my Christmas gift buying, I need to spend some time for my card writing (now!!!???) and there is no time to do anything.

I only write here, because it feels so good when I do, and I do it always before I go to bed... I would like to thank everyone who visits and leaves comments here, I will visit soon too!

If only those hours go back to normal-crazy, because now they are plain crazy!

In the meantime, take care and enjoy the festive week!!!!

More Than You Know: The Best Of Martika

Well, it's been some time since my Mamas and Papas CD, time for the next one:
I know what some of you might say: "Marietta, pull yourself together! Martika????"
I agree, she's "bubblegum pop", I am not crazy about her either.
But, again, there is this ONE song that drives me nuts.
It's LOVE THY WILL BE DONE, which is written by PRINCE.
It's absolutely divine, the melody is so dreamy and the lyrics are...yawza!

I first heard it when it was released back in the 90s and I liked it very much. It's much more cheerful than Nothing Compares To You by Sinead O'Connor, another Prince song that makes me want to rip my skin off!!! This one just sends me!

Then, this year, around February or March I was in a very moody situation, didn't know whether I was coming or going and I was at home.
My favourite station is the digital Mojo Radio, which plays oldies, soul, lots of Who and Brit pop, very much my kind of music.
So this song starts playing. I dropped everything and collapsed on my sofa!
I had completely forgotten about it, and it was the perfect song for that time in my life...

The next day I went to HMV at Victoria Station. Thankfully, Martika had probably released this Greatest Hits album quite recently, so there it was.
From that day I listen to the song very often and again, everytime, it sends me...

LISTEN TO IT: It's perfect for that feeling you have when you know you found the one, and you will do anything about him/her. Or if you have the illusion that you have found the one, still works, LOL!

The belle of the fall.

It was magical, it was fantastic, the music was great the decorations spectacular, the food delicious and the atmosphere very Christmasy.
When I walked into the Great Room in the Grosvenor House Hotel, everybody was there, dressed beautifully. Long evening dresses in all colours for the ladies, the hair up in complicated signons, jewlery that sparkled, high heels and fancy bags. All the men where very handsome in their tuxedos.
I had my hair down, a change from the past years, where I always had it up. I just had highlights done on Saturday and I wanted to show them off!!!

Some went a bit OTT...!!!

oh... and that's me.

The tables were richly decorated in linen tableclothes and elegant candlesticks, the whole room was illuminated by huge chandeliers and behind the stage there was a black curtain covered in tiny blue lights, giving the illusion of the night sky.
Beautiful, I was so happy.
I was also happy to see that there were instruments on the stage which meant that a band was going to play, and I was wishing it would be the same band as last year.

Me and my colleagues sat down and the food was served. A delicious mushroom and asparagus tart, an "amuse bouche" strawberry sorbet, and as a main course chicken in red wine sauce with potato and ryner beans. The desert was a luscious lemon pie with bluberries, covered in raspberry sauce. I am writing and droolling here...!

And...when the coffee and chocolates were served, the band started playing. YES! The wonderful band from last year was singing "Disco Inferno" and everybody was on their feet.
Before I knew it someone grabbed my hand and took me to the dancefloor. The band was playing "Somebody Else's Guy" and I was flying! It's been some time since I've been out to dance and I've missed it. I was going to dance all night.

The wonderful band: powerful sound and fab songs from ten musicians who know what party means








And then the slapstick comedy started.
Firstly, while I was dancing a lady wearing stilleto heels stepped on me with all her strength.
I swear to God I have a round, 1cm diameter mark on my foot. I screamed and lost my balance. My dancing partner was ready to punch the lady but she apologised right away, and I could see she meant it. She steered clear the rest of the night...

The dancefloor, as you can see in the picture above, was packed.
It was getting hot and stuffy so I went to the bar upstairs to ask for a chilled glass of water.
Then off to the ladies', to check on the lipstick, where a bunch of ladies with their beautiful dresses and their hair up in complicated signons were barfing all over the place! How charming... And it was only 11:30.
I really don't understand why they miss all the fun by getting so drunk. I had a glass of champagne before dinner and a glass of wine during. And no cigarettes of course!!! How boring am I???!!!

It was so mad downstairs so I decided to stay a bit upstairs. I found a couple of friends and we chatted, and then the lead singer of the band, a girl with a beautiful voice, started singing "All I want for Chrismas is you"
The crowd went NUTS!!!
I was on my way to go down the stairs, literally two feet away, when a girl who was going bananas with the song FELL ON ME and dropped me on the floor with all her might!
BOOM!
I didn't know if I wanted to scream or laugh. So I just turned around and looked at her with the look "You stupid drunken cow!".

The poor girl was so in shock that she had put her hand on her mouth and she just stared at me speechless. . She was still in shock when I was going down the stairs to find my friends. Petrified! I think she must have left after that...

When the song finished the band said goodnight and the crappy DJ came on stage. The music he played was absolutely unacceptable so I sat down and gossipped a bit more with my friends.
FINALLY he decided to play some decent Madonna and we hit the dancefloor for the last time.

The beautiful chandeliers which sparkled all night through...

The whole thing finished at 1am. Because I was wearing sandals and I was barefoot, I was freezing, until my taxi picked me up at 1.30. I snuggled at the back seat and almost fell asleep.
I came home happy and put my 3 alarms on because I had to wake up in less than 6 hours...!

So that was the ball for this year.
A bit of glam with a lot of slapstick.
Something like out of Absolutely Fabulous...
And it was absolutely fabulous!!!

I shall go to the ball...

It was a fantastic show for those who were able to watch it. I am talking about the Attic Christmas Special of course. And it was so much fun to be once again in BallerinaGurl's chatroom with so many fabulous bloggers.
Some people had problems with the feed, I was lucky to have perfect feed all the time. But it was frustrating to read that they couldn't watch the show. Boo hoo.
Also, during Mikey's song "Torture", completely coincidentally, we were talking about personal problems and the lyrics and Mikey's singing were like the perfect soundtrack, it was pure epiphany!!!

Tomorrow morning I will relax and listen to my newly acquired Casbah Club CD and then get ready for the annual Christmas Ball from work. Every year it's fabulous, luxurious, delicious food and people are dressed up lovely.
The music is usually c-r-a-p, but last year they had a live band which was absolutely incredible and I danced all night.
I hope they will be there tomorrow too.

Will post pictures taken with my new fab camera...

Nothing to report here

But, go to my Quiiiiit blog!

Quickly!

More Xmas tree photos...

...decent this time with a new better camera!

Yes, gift to myself, from me to me, with love, Marietta. With my December cigarette money of course!

I bought a new digi camera, which they promised me it's the best they can suggest for what I was asking for. Let's see...
At least the batteries don't run out every 15 minutes!

These are a few experimental pictures I took of my Christmas tree.

This is with no other lights on, just the Xmas tree ones

I love my Angels (and The Who on the background!)

and these "tears" or "drops" they are just magic with the lights

and of course the star on top!

If you want to learn about the Greek Christmas traditions scroll down 3 or 4 posts...

Tired from the long hours, I finally have the weekend off and I'm looking forward for the Xmas Special Pay Per View and the chat at BallerinaGurl's on Saturday night!!! Then on Sunday night my annual Christmas ball from work. Glamour, good food and music... Lovely days and nights!

Gorgeous!

Here are a few of pictures I found of Halkidiki, the place where Rachel went and "fell in love", as she said.
Halkidiki is a Penninsula at the North of Greece, very close to my hometown, Thessaloniki.





It's breathtakingly beautiful as you see in the pictures, the sea is crystal clear, the hotels are super lux and of course the food is the most delicious on earth!

I've been twice, one for holiday when I was little and one when I was 23, and I was touring with an American amateur theatrical company, giving performances of The Three Penny Opera (Roger D. comes to mind) and Carnival.

Ah, summer nostalgia in the middle of December!

Oh, what fun it is to chat!

Event: The Basement Jam Loop Chat
Date: Sunday 11th December 2005
Time: 10.30pm - 02.30am GMT
Place: BallerinaGurl's ChatRoom
Hosted by: KidRic and lil' ol' moi
Special Guests: Rachel Fuller and Stuee Ross!!! - Pete Townshend said hello through Rachel!
Participants - in alphabetical order:
Anne-Marie, Belinda, Ben Reeve, Case Sequence, Claire-Eliza, Dale, Delbut, Denise Purcell (whoiefromstlouie), Jack, Janey, Jlee, KidRic, Koos, Lisa (Nabonidus), Maria(E.L. Wisty), Marietta, Mary, Meg, Michelle (Lifeimmitatesart), Mike, Molly(BallerinaGurl), Pkeets, PTfan, Rai (Andrew - Jack's friend), Sue (Suesjoy), Tausha, Ticharu.
Special appearance: Lexi ( Mollyagain, BallerinaGurl's daughter.)

That was so much fun!!! Thirty of us watching the Basement Jam loop and chatting for four whole hours!

I went into the chatroom at around 10pm. My first question was by Rachel! This made me so happy! Our famous, adorable guest star had showed up!
BRILLIAN!!! (without a T, as Rachel says it, LOL)
I asked Rachel the question I forgot to ask last Sunday, if she's ever been to Greece and she said she's been to Halkidiki and she fell in love... That made me very happy and very proud of my beautiful little country!
Rachel hung around for another fifteen minutes, she said Pete was saying hi to all of us (*faint!*) and sadly she said goodbye. Thank you, Rachel for honouring us with your lovely presence, thank you Pete for acknowledging us!

People had already gathered round, including our host, KidRic and our lady of the manor, Molly. Bloggers were coming from UK, USA, Finland, the Netherlands and Canada if I remember correctly. Fingers were blistered and keyboards were on fire as each one was writing a little something and the lines were disappearing quickly from the screen. ROFLs, LOLs and BRBs were everywhere, :), ;-) and :o) were decorating the chat. Some people were coming and going due to problems with java and other technical difficulties. Talks about music, the show, Rachel, Pete, guitars, jazz, dreams, clothes, travel, invitations to each other's city, this was one fun chat! At some point I was chatting in three different windows! So funny!

So we went on like that for the next four hours. Twenty minutes before the end of the show, Stuart Ross, a.k.a. Stuee, Rachel's bassist came in to the chatroom. He's a fantastic chap, his humour was having us in stitches. And very talented too!!! Stuee, it's been real!

The show was coming to an end and sadly it was time for me to go. It was nearly 3am and I was working early in the morning. I said my bye byes and clicked on the X. I felt sad to leave, but I had a smile on my face because I had a blast!

Thank you Ric, for hosting and Molly for giving us your space! Kisses to both of you! And to everyone who took part: you're the coolest bloggers on the planet!

Please visit KidRic's blog for some hilarious excerpts from the chat.

Also, please do me a favour and visit my Quiiiiit blog . I’m doing a kind of survey and I would like your input. I’ll keep the same post for a couple of days so that I get some feedback…

Thank you!

UPDATE for the LOOP CHAT

Event: The Basement Jam Loop Chat
Date: Sunday 11th December 2005
Time: 22.30 GMT - 17.30 EASTERN
Place: BallerinaGurl's ChatRoom
Hosted by: KidRic and little ol' mois
Special Guests: have been invited, watch this space!

Useful links: Towser TV, Time Zone converter

Be at the Chatroom 15 minutes prior to the loop, for canapés cocktails and small talk...

Check here or at KidRic's blog for updates.

MY BIG FAT GREEK CHRISTMAS

My Christmas tree this year.
Rather minimal if you exclude the 60 or so twinkling lights. And that's my only Christmas decoration in my house.

I'd love to have a house with a garden and a fireplace and then I would go full deco! The tackiest the better, LOL!


What I'm missing from my Greek Christmas every year:

Neighborhood children singing "kalanda" (Christmas carols) on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. They knock on our doors every morning, really early and we have to give them money. They compete each other who will be the earliest one.

I remember in 1982, it must have been around midnight, I was home in Greece and my doorbell rung. Back then we were not scared that a serial killer or a burglar would come in to cut us into slices, so after I asked who it was and the answer was "Shall we sing for you?" ("Na Ta Poume?" in Greek) I opened the door. A male choir with all kinds of musical instruments started chanting "Silent Night". It was magical. When I closed the door I had tears in my eyes.
I didn't see them in any of the following years, but I will always remember that night.

The food:

Loaves of "Christopsomo" (bread of Christ), a sweet bread formed into shapes of our choice, absolutely delicious. I can eat a whole loaf by myself!

On Christmas Day we eat turkey as well, but that's an imported tradition, I remember eating mostly veal in the old days.

Melomakarona, I think they are equivalent to macaroons (help me here Greek Zoe!). Scrumptuous cookies dripping on honey with almond meg on top. Mamma!
Vasilopitta, or Christmas cake, right after the New Year has come. We hide a pound (gold coin) into the cake. Whoever finds the coin in his or her piece of cake will have good luck in the coming year. Of course little children are always "lucky". I must have won every year until I was 16 or something... Oh, and this year too :o)

The stories about the sprites, or "kallikantzari" we used to hear when we were kids.
These sprites are known to slide down the chimney between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6) and play mischievous pranks on your family. Now most of the houses in Athens don't have chimneys and the children prefer PS2 games than listening to kallikantzari stories.

The exchanging of the gifts on Christmas Eve in my house. Every year, around 8pm after our dinner we would gather round the tree and give gifts to one another. For me it was always the pleasure of giving rather of getting a present. I would try and find the perfect gift for everybody. I still do. Plus, I'm a professionally trained gift wrapper (yo,yo)!
The only problem is I now have to send most of my gifts, and I don't see the reaction on their faces.

What is the best Christmas gift you ever had? Mine has to be my first video recorder in 1983. My life has never been the same again.

In the old days we did not decorate a tree, but a ship. Greece is a nautical country and Saint Nicolas, or Santa Claus is the patron of sailors. We also call Father Christmas Saint Basil and celebrate his day on January the 1st.

New Years's day we would gather at around 1pm to watch the New Year's concert from Vienna. I still watch it from London, I always call home and we cry together when the first notes of the Blue Danube are heard. Magic!

LORD!

I just watched myself on the Basement Jam loop. Reliving the moment was well worth the wait! Can't believe it was me in the Attic with Rachel!!!
No words can express my joy and gratitude!

I had a lot of problems with my computer tonight, it's getting slower and slower. The feed was excellent, but when I tried to jump from window to window it took aaaages.

Working until quite late tomorrow, so I'll post pics of my Xmas decs late at night, and also update the Quiiiiit blog. Doing the advent calendar has given me the chance to find quite interesting things on the net. And quite fun too.

Also, Sunday we'll have a chat over at BallerinaGurl's chatroom, during the loop. I guess 8pm UK time, I'm waiting for confirmation by Kid Ric. I'd love to help with the hosting, Kid Ric, and I'll try right now (2.45 am!) to invite that special someone!!!! Let's hope she says yes! That would be awesome...!!!!

Best Of The Mamas And The Papas

Romantic, soulful, melodic, harmonic, mystical.
These are only a few words that come to mind when I think of The Mamas And The Papas.

I have transferred the following five songs:

1. California Dreamin'
2. Monday Monday
3. I Saw Her Again Last Night
4. Creque Alley
5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Mama Cass

Again, I have to say that although California Dreamin' is their greatest hit and brings to me certain nostalgia, it's the other four songs on my list that I prefer.

Especially no4, Creque Alley. I first heard it on Mojo Radio. I instantly understood it was TMATP singing. After the second time I heard it I was in love with the song. The tune does something to me. And I love the lyrics at the end: "...and California Dreamin' is becoming a reality"

LISTEN TO IT: in a convertible car, American Highway, sunset, a breeze, your loved one by your side. Or that's where I feel I am when I listen to this album.

Old News...

Hey, remember that trip to Amsterdam, couple of weeks ago?
I finally managed to edit a video. It plays on Windows Media Player.
Silvery Moon Flat is just a name I gave to my imaginary production company, LOL.
Ah, one day!

Turn your speakers up to listen to two songs on the soundtrack. First one starts after 20 seconds. I hope you like them, I think they are quite fitting with the atmosphere of the video.




ENJOY!!!

Still there...

My head is still full of beautiful images from last night. I want to write poems about it, sing songs (when no one 's around...), dance, scream, shout about it to the world! What these people have given to me. How these two and a half months have been the best of the year!
I've called everyone I know and talked about it of course, hehehe.

Sorry to hear some of you couldn't watch the show. Loop will be up on Thursday, according to Matt Kent on Pete's site.
I need to get some sleep though, I feel very tired. I had a nap when I got home and at about 10pm I started posting comments to various fellow bloggers.
Then Monsieur Bloggeur turned nasty to me again and I couldn't connect to more blogs. So I have posted a comment on my previous post for the people I couldn't visit: Casesequence, Ali, Dale, KidRic, JoeBoy, Mike and Tausha.

I managed to update my Quiiiiit blog and now I can go to bed...happy!

Tomorrow night more updates, more comments, more news and music!!!!

Sleep tight and sweet dreams...

Pinch me!

Clockwise from left: Mark, Koos, Jim, Debby, Stephanie, Gary, Jill and me

It didn't really happen...
Or did it?

Was I really there? Did I do what I remember doing?
Or was it all a dream?

No, it was REAL and I have witnesses too!!!

It's 5pm and I'm very cold, I'm walking in Richmond on my way to the Aisla Taverna in the hope that I will find some of my fellow bloggers, before the Basement Jam.

As soon as I open the door, I hear my name. Mark and Jill are there. So is Koos F, who is a boy by the way. Sitting with us are Gary and Stephanie, Jim and Debby, all from the USA, all fantastic. After a while Delbut is there too. This is great!

After a couple of drinks, we head for the Oceanic Studios. It's still freezing. I meet Paul and Pieter from Holland and Andrea from Italy. People start gathering around the gates and the anticipation and excitement are evident from everyone...

Finally the gates open and we go in the basement studio. There are chairs and tables, so we pick one and we sit down. It's freezing because the air conditioning is on.

My heart is beating fast... I'm finally here!

The show starts at around 7:30pm from the Attic.
And then we see Rachel coming down. The applause are bringing the house down. I'm so happy!

Mikey with his lovely voice, which I find more amazing everytime I hear it, sings five beautiful songs, and my favourite Plasticine is among them. In his final song, Pigeon Friend everybody's joining in. This is starting to be a great night!

Simon. Ah, Simon! So happy to see him live again. I love his songs so much, and I was so happy that now I knew all the ones he performed tonight. He perfomed six awesome songs including Save Me From Me, Girl In New York (*sob*) and ending with Sex Change, Simon delivered a brilliant performance. And I was getting warmer...

Then Foy hit the stage. What can I say? I think since the Bedford gig I had the need to see Foy sing again. I absolutely loved the last song Bailie's Blood. Foy's got a unique voice with such feeling. An incredible talent.

During the break I met Mikey who signed my CD and took this picture with me. He's so sweet. Simon was very sweet too to sign my Simontownshendis CD. Thank you both so much, you are so kind!

After the break: RACHEL! Her songs and voice have been the soundtrack of the last two months and for me was like coming home, when she started singing Into My Heart. Her band was incredible tonight! Rachel was amazing! Lovely Spin and Jigsaw made my day!

And then another break. And then something happened, this is where it got surreal. I saw Rachel in front of me, I called her name and I introduced myself. She said hi very sweetly, like she knew me forever and then she said "Marietta, come to the Attic with me"

I was dreaming, right? Mark and Jill came with us and we entered a room, which was probably the control room. A man was standing in the middle of the room and said hi politely. Rachel introduced me, then Mark and Jill, and the man shook my hand. A warm handshake, a warm smile that warmed my heart.

The man was Pete Townshend.

I always thought that if I ever met Pete I would just stare and say something like "bradithn klstewa parlsx". Tonight another Marietta said to him "I am so happy to meet you" and I smiled back at him.

I can't remember how I got in the Attic. By flying? Floating? Dunno. So there we were, Mark, Jill and lil' ol' mois, us ordinary bloggers, with Queen Blogger Rachel, in the friggin' Attic!!!! The very room we watched every week. This was getting too good to be true. And then we were live! I got hyper and I was talking continuously, don't know if anyone noticed, but I feel bad about it now. But it was a magical moment. Rachel is so sweet to invite us. I gave her the Little Book Of Quitting, which I hope it will help her.

Back in the room, I mean the studio, Mr Pete Townshend gave a performance that made me scream, shout, faint, dizzy, all together.

Behind Blue Eyes was just incredible. He was amazing.
Blue Red and Grey uniquely sung.
Pete told us about the history of the studio where we were and he was very sweet and funny, in a great mood.

I had a taxi waiting outside, so I ran quickly to let them know I will be another 20 minutes. The show took another half hour, with Pete ending his performance with a fabulous Let's See Action and then Rachel and Pete together singing amazingly Sunrise and Just Breathe.

The show ended with the whole gang singing Shine, which was fantastic. I don't think I've heard it before, I loved it!

It was time to go. I walked out in the cold, but I was warm inside. My cab driver was waiting patiently for me. I said to him "Sorry to keep you waiting so long. If there's anything extra I'll gladly pay it. In fact, I don't care if you charged me a million pounds, a night like tonight is worth it!!!!"

50th post, Basement Jam and...smenita

Hey everyone,

Very quick post because it's late, I've been working until 8pm and I barely keep my eyes open.

First of all, WOW! 50 posts!!!! I've joined Blogger on the 20th of October and I've been trying to write almost every day. It's been great being able to express myself and have such fab comments. The highlight of it all is that I have made lots of new friends through Blogger. Some of them I'll meet tomorrow at the Basement Jam and some others, I hope I meet soon. But even if we don't meet we have great communication through the reciprocation of comments through our blogs, don't you agree?

Speaking of comments. I've been trying to leave comments in various blogs and I was getting the same word verification: smenita and my comment wasn't published. Do you have the same problem? If you do let me know...erm, doh! LOL. Well, I hope it's fixed by tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, that is TODAY! Yes the day for the Basement Jam has come and I'm absolutely ecstatic. Rachel's posts excite me more and more and everybody's all happy and as nuts as I am!
I just wish some of the fab bloggers from USA would have been able to be here, Molly, PTfan, Brina, Zoe, Dale, Kid Ric, JoeBoy, Ali, Lisa and Tausha.
I hope you have fun at Molly's chatroom. I'll be thinking of you.
If I forgot anyone sorry, way too tired, I'm typing with one eye open...

I'll update Sunday night as soon as I walk in. I might be exhausted but the adrenaline will still be high and I'll be hyper!!!

LONG LIVE ROCK !

I love December in London!

Somerset House

I had to have it!

Glamorous Regent Street

People are asking me if I'll go home during Christmas. The answer every year is the same: No. a) Because I can't, I'm working and b) Because I don't want to.

I love spending December and Christmas in London. The city is so beautiful, full of lights and Christmas trees, red, green and gold everywhere, Father Christmas, gifts, people in coats, hats and gloves, I just love it.

For me and for some other people it's going to be work-work-work for the next two months, but when I come out of work and see the atmosphere around me I feel happy.

I love December in London! I love London in December!

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I started writing on my Quiiiit blog again.

I will have something different every day until Christmas day, and after that I might write every now and then, to update you with my progress.
It's going v. well and people still can't believe it!

Click on the advent calendar

to go to my Quiiiiit blog.

You think that's funny?

'Cause I do!

Balloon Man

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted,

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist."I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is, technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded, "You must be in Management." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."

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X-RAYS

What would happen if you had x-ray vision? Click here and then run your mouse over the people on the bus stop. Oh, the humanity!