Shaun In The City

Sometimes in London you see the strangest things in the most unexpected places. Whilst out on my lunchtime walk today I came across this marvellous sheep statuette outside the Lloyds building.

A little research has revealed that there are fifty Shaun's appearing around London as part of a Shaun In The City event which is raising money for children in hospitals. The sheep I came across is Kanzashi representing Canopius (one of the event sponsors). These fifty sheep will be around London until 25th May. After that seventy sheep will appear in Bristol.

Full details of Shaun In The City can be found here: http://shauninthecity.org.uk

Transgender Day Of Visibility #TDOV

Observed each year on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also recognizing the leadership of transgender and gender nonconforming trailblazers who have led the charge in the fight for equality.

The journey toward living openly and authentically looks different for everyone, and given the levels of violence and discrimination faced by transgender and gender nonconforming people, revealing and expressing one’s gender identity can be a complex and difficult process.

TDoV aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people around the globe and to the need for trans visibility.

We are here to fight transphobia by spreading knowledge of the trans community worldwide! Don't forget to use hashtag #TDOV!

Last day of a long weekend and recording Toni

It was the last day of a long weekend today. I didn't quote go as planned LOL. Toni took the Polo to the garage first thing and ended up spending the whole day there, turned out it wasn't a quick fix! I tidied up and hoovered downstairs and managed to fit in a little bit of The Order 1886 and the had a quick attempt at Bloodborne which had just arrived in the post.

I spent a bit of time planning out how I am going to set up my recording stuff in The Studio as well as starting to source any missing hardware that I might need.

Phase one started tonight as I rigged up some gear to record Toni reading a spoken piece that will be used for a ritual at our Dolmen Grove Beltane Camp. All was good and I can't wait to get everything set up properly

Dolmen Grove Essex Ostara Celebration

After our fun packed day in Leigh-on Sea yesterday Toni and I headed to Grays for our Dolmen Grove Essex Moot. This time we were holding our Ostara Celebration. Drums, chanting and looking at positive blessings in our lives were the order of the day.

It was fantastic to see everyone again and the whole thing rounded off the weekend perfectly.

Recording with Devilish Presley

Toni and I went to Leigh-on-Sea today to visit Jacqui and Johnny of Devilish Presley to spend the day in the studio with them and watch some of the recording of their latest album. This all came about as a result of me pledging on their crowd funder for the album. I was instructed to bring my guitar along too so that I could be recorded for one of the tracks.

Not only did I do some guitar but Toni and I also added backing vocals to the track as well which was great fun!

Zack adding his magic touch to proceedings:

Johnny and Jacqui (she's hiding under the hoodie)

After the recording we then went back to Jacqui and Johnny's for drinks, Indian food and a good old catch up and general chin wag. It was a fantastic day, we had so much fun and it was great to get to know Jacqui and Johnny a bit better. 

The track we recorded sounds amazing and I can't wait for the album to come out so that everyone can here it :)

....and here are the Devil's Dandy Dogs.....

Treat for me

I was off today. It was a good day to be off as my treat for me arrived. My hard work paid off this year which left me in a position to be able to get myself this little beauty:

I've been after a MacBook Pro for quite a while and this one was a real bargain. I am really rather pleased with it :) Let the music making commence!

Demob happy and a nice surprise

It was a bit of a demob happy day today as I had a long weekend planned. Work went well and then I was out of there like a bat out of hell. Toni went over to Jade's for dinner and to help her pack ready for a move next week so Sam and I took advantage and did a catch up on The Following as it was a two episode job this week.

Aaron came in from work later in the evening and presented me with a marvellous surprise, a huge Return Of The Jedi wall hanging! Saying I was pleased is a bit of an understatement! I just have to find a nice piece of wall to give it a good home now :)

IPL session

Had a really good IPL session today. I had been dreading it but went in with a good positive mental attitude which really made a difference. I stuck my headphones in and then meditated to the Maha Mantra for the entire session and it was a breeze today! I will be doing that for every session going forward. Toni took a few pics of the session today:

As has been the cases in the past it was all very emotional once again only this time there was a lot less tears which was another positive!

Last.FM listening post

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:


Top weekly artists:


Overall top tracks:


Overall top artists:

A new dish at Rishta

It was off to Rishta for a meal tonight as Pam wanted to go out (and who were we to complain!). I've been reducing the amount of meat that I eat so decided to try something new. I have always been partial to the butter chicken dish at Rishta. I ordered that tonight but asked for the chicken to be replaced with mushrooms. This was not an issue for the and I was served up what is now known as butter mushrooms. Mixed with garlic rice it was absolutely delicious. They did me proud with the new dish and I can't wait to have it again. No meat and no naan bread left me feeling much better and I even did my coffee without sugar too!

Slow day, Big Hero 6 and sleep

It was a bit of a slow day at work today. I'm not a fan of those anymore, I like to keep active. Fortunately it was a novelty rather than the norm. It's all good though, things are ticking along nicely.

After work we watch Big Hero 6. This is a really funny Disney animation. There was a little too much similarity to various things in Despicable Me for my liking but it's an enjoyable film nonetheless.

After the film I just crashed out, I guess age is starting to catch up with me LOL.

Another bookcase and more work on the office

It was time to build another bookcase today. Now all my Star Wars paperbacks have come out from exile under my desk and are accessible at last! Sometimes it is the little things that please you :)

Added to this I also did some more work sorting out stuff in the office so it is now another step nearer to becoming the craft room.

The day rounded off quite nicely with the Rangers roasting the Ducks with a 7 - 2 victory which saw them return to the top of the league once again! Nice work chaps!

Kirtan Workshop @ Amor Yoga

Toni and I were off to Amor Yoga in Sidcup today for a Kirtan Workshop. This was our third event with our Hare Krishna friends Adi, Kishor and Bhaktin.

It was a nice mellow event today. Lots of chanting and singing and getting to a transcendental state. There's something about the Maha Mantra that just brings me such joy and takes me to a fantastic place. Adi gave everyone a sweet which was an interesting experience for me as it was coated in coconut and I got told off by Toni for pulling my yuck face when I bit into it LOL. Once I'd got over the coconut shock I actually started to enjoy it. We stayed behind for an extra hour just chatting to Adi and friends about various things and I have no doubt we'll be seeing them again very soon.

While there we took a look at the various sessions that get run at Amor Yoga and Toni is now planning to attend a yoga class and we are both looking into taking up Tai Chi as well.

What not to call your shop!

I only noticed the other day that we have had a tanning studio open up on our little parade of shops. Personally I think this place is named more aptly for a drug emporium! I'd have thought that this was the worst possible name for a tanning studio as it's something you would NOT want! LOL

Eltham Hill Spring Concert

After work today it was off to Eltham Hill with Toni and Pam to see Zoe in the Eltham Hill Spring Concert. It was a good show with a variety of styles. It's always great to see kids learning music and playing instruments. Reminds me of my old French Horn days and going to "band camp" LOL.

Last.FM listening post

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:


Top weekly artists:


Overall top tracks:


Overall top artists:

Sick....

I was sick today. Most unimpressed. Cheerio! LOL

Mother's Day fun

Dad departed early this morning as he was off to a meeting and then heading home. It was good to see him and spend some time together.

Jade, Aaron, Zoe and I then got together to prepare a Mother's Day surprise for Toni. It was a candle laced with positive energy to encourage Toni's Glitzkraft business to grow :)

First gift was a steampunk dragonfly that Zoe had made:

Their card to Toni had a wonderful slogan on it:

...and here is the Glitzkraft candle that we all put positive energy into:

Toni was absolutely delighted with what the kids had done for her :)

There was another surprise in store though and this time it was for me. Jade always refers to me as her other mother and I was given a card and a gorgeous present too.

The final surprise of the day was for Pam as we all presented her with a card and loads of flowers. She was so happy....

The decision was made that nobody should cook today so we ordered a massive selection of Tex Mex goodness and enjoyed it while watching Van Helsing.

I also had a nice chat with mum today to make sure that she was OK and to wish her Happy Mother's Day. She was delighted with the flowers that we sent her :)

Sorting out the office and Rangers go top

Operation sort out the office continued today. Toni and I popped into Eltham to but a couple of large bookcases and then proceeded to set up the first one and started ferrying books upstairs to put in it. 

Slowly but surely it is getting there and soon the office will have been transformed into a craft room and office/music studio. Still a few more things to get to make the dream become a reality but we are focussed and know what we want!

Dad had spent the day out at an exhibition so once her returned we ordered some Indian food from Rishta. 

A great day was rounded off quite nicely by New York Rangers beating Buffalo Sabres 2 - 0. Backup netminder Skapski got his first shut out and the Rangers went top of their Division, top of the Eastern Conference and top of the League!

 

Day off, dad arrives and Aaron's armour

Had a nice day off today. This was so that I could Pam site while Toni took Zoe to have her teeth extracted. All went well on that score and she was home really quickly and completely spaced out LOL. I ended up spending a lot of my time continuing the sort out of the office. The job can't be fully completed until we buy two more bookcases which will be done tomorrow. Good progress was made.

Dad arrived in the afternoon as he is staying for a couple of days. It's been a while since we have seen him so there was plenty to catch up on.

Aaron got in from work to discover a package waiting for him. He was delighted that it had arrived as it was a purchase he was really excited about. Leather armour!

Chinese food and Russell Brand's excellent Messiah Complex finished the day off nicely.

Lovely sky

The sky was gorgeous as I was waiting for the bus tonight