Bit of a catchup! - Abersoch Jazz Festival 2009

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Well I have realised that I neglected really to tell you about our holiday in Wales.  So just a few bits to share about the jazz festival!

Our main reason for choosing Abersoch again was the jazz festival – 2 of my favourite bands were there – Jim Mcintosh and the Jazzaholics (no weblink cos he still hasn’t done a webpage) and TJ Johnson. Jim’s band  was a riot! – They play together with such enthusiasm and energy – James Evans is supreme on the clarinet (especially this year’s addition of an electric box of tricks to electrify said clarinet – fantastic) Jim himself on banjo, Baby Jools and Annie Hawkins make up the back row , and Mike Pointon and Denny Illet on trombone and trumpet completing the line-up.  Jim also entertained and amused during Saturday afternoon with his “party” – a kind of Jam Session with skits! – Here follows a photograph – not for the faint hearted - of Adrian Cox, dressed as a naughty nurse having a lot of trouble playing his clarinet over his rather over enthusiastic bust!


Also “Baby Jools” and Jack Cotterill doing a drum duet as Laurel and Hardy – On one drum kit!!  – now that really rocked!  (Photo hopefully to be inserted here if I get permission from owner)

I should also mention the wonderful TJ Johnson band, slightly less along the mainstream Jazz lines but more of a rhythm and blues band in general, but delighting the crowd with everything from gospel to country as well. TJ’s voice seems to get better and better, he can melt your heart with a gentle rendition of “Just a closer walk with Thee” and a few minutes later have you laughing out loud (and dancing) to Willie the Weeper.  Along with Adrian Cox on the sax (and the first time I have seen – the guitar!), and Jamie Lawrence on Double Bass and Jules Fenton on drums this band is a must-see for those who aren’t into trad jazz as such but like a good all round band that will have you dancing for sure.

For anyone fancying a weekend Jazz festival – Abersoch is a great one to try. The location is truly beautiful, the festival itself is chilled and relaxed with plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings, not like some others when you find yourself at a slow trot moving between one venue and another.(!!) Many young musicians are booked as guests which is fabulous to see. This year Amy Roberts, Jamie Brownfield, Jack Cotterill, and Kate Browning all guested with most of the other bands. – Jonny Boston was also there as a guest although I don’t know if he can be classed as “young” any more???!!! (tee hee!) ;-) , although I have to admit he certainly rocks with the best of them, and his version (during Jim’s party I think ) of Running Wild was awesome! The younger musicians bring a new dimension to the shores of trad jazz, and stroll gently off the beaten track now and again, with an energy and vibrancy that has you clapping your hands and stamping your feet!

So with great thanks to Jan and all the organisers who work so hard for the whole year to get the festival together, and my dear friends in the bands – you all gave us a cracking weekend and we loved each and every minute of it.

We’re a bit shy

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Cos we know we’re at our ugly stage! – but we think we might be beautiful when we’re ready!

 

View Full Album

Did indeed see the sunset

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

 

From this at 21:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21:37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21:40

 

 

 

 

All taken looking out from the observatory at Uwchmynydd  (Don’t ask me how you pronounce that!)  Looking West(ish) across the sea!  Not great photos as my camera struggled, but they give you the idea!

We’re home now all safe and sound. Spot has been collected from the kennels and is enjoying being home, and the chicks have grown loads in the week I’ve been gone.  Lots of work to catch up on, but will try and do photos soon.

Last evening

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Last evening in abersoch. Sitting on the beach. Hoping to go and watch sunset later

37mins 22 secs

Monday, June 08, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Yep I completed 5km in 37 mins.  Not too shabby to say that I hadn’t trained.  We started the race in hail stones, jogged our way through that, sun and drizzle again at the end, but it was actually so much better that running in the heat we had last year.   My sister did amazingly well and ran all the way to complete it I think she said 4 mins 12 quicker than me (she had the stop watch so did lap splits) .  I am so proud of her running all the way – I had a long walk in the  middle stretch! – It was a good start for Bex though as she has also committed to doing the 10k for Cancer Research in September, I am totally in awe of her, a link for her sponsor page is here for any family/friends that are equally in awe……. .10km is at best an hour of jogging, ….. I can’t even think about that!.   I’d also like to say a special thanks to Sue, who although she wasn’t running this year, still showed up to support us, and given the weather,  that was probably braver than us running (at least we kept warm!)   It made so much difference to see a smiling face half way, and again towards the end…….it gave bex and I both the encouragement we needed.

So thank you to all who sponsored me, I hope I did you proud……… you should know that I am honoured that you chose me to sponsor.   I know that there are many many women who do this 5km every year and it really is an incredible show of will and determination to see them all ages, all levels of fitness, push themselves to finish that 5km.

My Justgiving widget will soon miraculously turn to point to the p/hop page…… just to keep you on your toes!! – I will explain that more fully when I change it.

In the meantime, I’m off for my annual Jazz pilgrimage on Friday for a week, so this will probably be my last blog before that.  I may try to blog from my phone while we’re away, so if you’re after a bit of fun, music  and jiving, keep your eyes peeled! ;-)

In and out….

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

The world works in a set pattern, things are born, things die……… Two weekends ago I hatched 5 chicks, and this week Primrose died…….. She’d been pretty quiet for a while. We treated for sour crop as that seemed the most likely, but although the symptoms from that seemed to go she didn’t pick up again.   She just went to sleep on Thursday afternoon, so I am happy that it was a peaceful journey to her rest……… – Perhaps she just didn’t fancy the competition from the younger set !?

 

(It’s my race for life tomorrow – and the weather forecast is Heavy Rain – oh joy!! – Think of me if it rains won’t you!!! ;) )

Argghhhhh!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Damm Dog just ate my first ripe strawberry – she is not popular!

OK I lied….

Monday, May 25, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

 

There was no way I could keep away once she brought them out into the sunshine.   - Photo’s are clickable (I hope) thanks to the genius of Windows Live writer, but only taken with my phone so not amazing.

Trying to get all 5 together proved a bit of a test.

 

5………

Posted by Auntie Noo

The final chick count is 5!!! – I am very happy. They all seem healthy and happy and are eating and drinking and snuggling under Mum.  Unfortunately in my eagerness to watch them yesterday and keep lifting the lid off the hen house, I have put my back out. So no more photos for a couple of days as I need both hands to hold me upright!

The back ache has also scuppered any idea I had of going to the Surrey County Show, which is practically in my back garden, so I am a bit miffed. 

Enjoy your bank holiday everyone.

All three for a photo call

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

This one was shy to begin with

Then just peeped

And then they all said "hi" - although it was a tad dark for the camera (Phone!!) under Mum!

The third. . . .

Posted by Auntie Noo

This little one is the third to hatch today. Three more eggs to go. All seems well and i have one light one and two dark so far! This one was the only one willing to pose tho. The others are firmly tucked under mother's wing. (Via mobile)

Bizarre

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

I was just sitting in my conservatory talking to my sister and I saw this.

A duck landed in the ivy on my fence…….. actually there were two – I had seen the male land but you can’t see him in the photo and this was the female peering out. They stayed just long enough for the photo call then flew off to the graveyard (2 doors down!) …… Strangest thing ever!

Bank holidays are for…………

Monday, May 04, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Catching up on blogging, obviously! Tee hee!

So, Mama Silkie, as of Saturday evening, is sitting on 8 more eggs.  These are my own so will be of the Heinz57 variety if they hatch! She couldn’t have gone broody at a more opportune moment to be honest, as the cockerel is beginning to outstay his welcome.  He has started to get aggressive (especially if you are wearing a colour other than black) and has attacked me a few times, and he’s a heavy old bird!!! So at the end of this week he will turn from stud to dinner.  I will actually find it really hard this time, we’ve culled a few cockerels and I’ve not found it too emotionally distressing, but despite him attacking me I still have a soft spot for him, we’ve had some good cuddles in the past, and he looks after his ladies. But an aggressive cockerel is not a keeper so it’s best done sooner rather than later. :( 

Sticking in the garden area – the weather has been lovely these past few weeks and many an early evening hour has been spent in the garden wrapped up in Flicca, with my knitting (It must be said the Flicca is being worn to within an inch of it’s life at the moment).

Half the veggie seedlings are in the garden plot now, and the other half will wait a few more weeks just in case we do have a frost.  If we don’t then I should be ahead of the game, and if we do then i still have more than enough young seedlings to re-crop!!  I’ve already had rhubarb and a single asparagus stalk from the plot, and the strawberries are fruiting up beautifully. The onions and garlic are all well on their way too.

In crafting…… the crochet sweater is finished and I’m really happy with it.  I think I can safely say i can crochet now!  I really enjoyed making it and will definitely be crocheting more.  It grows much quicker than knitting and is so much easier to undo should you make a mistake!!

Urban Aran has also been finished, and instantly consigned to the “winter box”  It took me ages to sew in the sleeves…. probably because I’m not overly enamoured with the finished article, for no reason other than the yarn I chose is a little thick for a jumper really (which is why I should have stuck to my original plan of knitting it as a cardigan

 

But I think by next year in the middle of winter I will be very happy to have it!!

 

 

 

 

There have been several trips to Hayling Island for walking, playing and generally “getting away from it all”

  And that, so my photo folder tells me, has been about that!

So today I have a little work to do (always best to file online HMRC submissions over a weekend cos you’ve half a chance of them getting through), and then a little sock knitting and an audiobook.  I started listening to The Seventy Seven Clocks yesterday, and misplaced 2 hours in the middle of it!!!!!   Came in at what i thought was about 5 or 5:30 to walk the dog and found it was 7pm *oops*  The worst thing was I had defrosted a whole chicken to roast for dinner last night and last me through bank holiday sandwiches and a few dinners next week. – luckily with the intervention of the pressure cooker, the whole roast dinner was ready and served in less than an hour. it did make me giggle though! – Silly woman!  I’ll try to be a bit more “aware” today!!

Have a great Bank Holiday everyone. x

Test

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Trying to blog by email on my mobile. . . .sorry it's not more interesting than that!

Updates

Monday, April 06, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Unfortunately whilst 3 of the chicks hatched, none of them survived. It was all very strange and one that we're putting down to experience. Although as it was a "natural" incubation using my silkie as a broody mum, I can't really see that there was much we could have done differently.  One thing I have learnt is that it's a good idea to put some turf under the nest of a broody as it helps with humidity..... so I have a tray of grass seed in the greenhouse now, along with all the veggie seeds!

And so that brings me to the veggie seeds rather nicely!  Most are sown, Tomatoes, Aubergines, Peas, marrow, cucumber, butternut squash, courgette and peppers. A couple are showing already, but mostly they are still thinking about it.

In other news:- Urban Aran is finished but needs sewing up - and I haven't got the enthusiasm for something so thick and heavy at the moment - although knowing England, it'll be freezing over the Easter weekend so I expect I will get it done then.  I have now started crocheting a sweater dress. I've never successfully followed a crochet pattern, but this one is working rather well (famous last words) and having finished the front and most of the back I can confirm that it is, at least, sweater shaped. Which is always a good start.

Blogging will become less now through the summer months, as I spend more free time growing veggies and generally lounging about in the sun. Plus of course our annual jazz pilgrimage, which this year is again in Abersoch.

Take care all, and enjoy the weather.

quick change of subject……

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Posted by Auntie Noo

Did anyone see the F1 classic Ozzie Grand Prix collection on the BBC1 Red button on Tuesday?   I don’t know if it’s going to be a permanent thing before every racing weekend but it was CLASS!   The longest highlight was the 45 mins full highlights show of the 1996 GP when Schumacher showed us the kind of racer he was going to become by taking Damon Hill out after making a mistake on a World Championship deciding race. The other included Jacques Villeneuves first race, the Mansell/Prost/Picquet World championship decider and a few other tit-bits!

If you are a fan it’s well worth looking out for if they do it again. Check the BBC website and keep checking that red button. – They sure knew how to race in those days!!