Where do we go now?

I'm really struggling at the moment.  I'm looking for a hotel in New York City, that shouldn't be hard to find right?  Trouble is, I'm not made of money and have already made the decision to fly Virgin - because, well to me it was a no brainer, I've flown with them before and it was an enjoyable experience.  Though saying that, I was in Economy and I'm not entirely sure any Economy flight experience is particularly 'enjoyable'.  Especially as I am 5ft 11.  I like aisle seats as I can then cause chaos to airhostesses by blocking the aisle with my extremely long legs - otherwise they just don't fit in the space!!  And as I've already said, I'm not made of money so even Premium Economy is out of the question.

With me previously writing that I've already decided to fly Virgin, that is a slight issue as I've never booked a holiday separately like that.  I've always booked the flights and hotel together.  In reflection on that comment, I have actually booked them separately once before: Amsterdam, 2007 (or 08), I went with 6 blokes...but that's another story.  This may be a truer statement: I have never booked a long haul holiday separately before.

So, back to hotels.  I put out an 'ad' on Twitter, well it was more of a request I suppose, to find out if anyone knew of any good deals for hotels in NYC.  I got 2 responses from 2 hotels which looked incredible.  At around £150-£200 a night per person though and with the flight on it's own costing nearly 500 big ones (Hurrah for the Virgin sale - flight under 400 quid), it's not really something I can afford.  Shame though, The St Giles Hotels and also Room Mate Grace really do look fantastic.  I'm still working on that one though.

Does anyone have any cheaper suggestions?  All suggestions will be greatly received.

Holiday! Celebrate!

We're 13 days into the New Year and this is my first blog post.  I'm pretty slow.

So, New Years Resolutions (which I currently haven't broken!) have been made and I am sticking to them, won't bore you with them but they are there on the back burner just quietly reminding me to stay on track. 

Exciting (depending on who you are) news has come up though, I might be going to New York City at Easter.  I didn't fancy going on my own and a friend is going then so thought I'd tag along and do 'research'.  Also on that note of wanting to move to NYC, my social networking put me in contact with someone who also wishes to move there, she is quite a few steps ahead of me though being of triple nationality and one of those nations is the USA.  Lucky sod.

Speaking of social networking, due to me spending a lot of time doing it, I have been asked to lead a social networking presentation.  Complement or punishment for spending too much time on Twitter? Ha!

Anyway holiday, yes, I haven't been on holiday for nearly 2 years so I think this will be a well deserved break and I thought also about heading to Montreal to 'see an old friend' - that phrase totally reminds me of X-Men where Professor X and Magneto refer to each other as that.

On a completely unrelated note but just something that has been bugging me, does anyone know why I can't get The Office season 5 on DVD from Lovefilm?

Blood On The Dance Floor

Blood on the dance floor?? There was no dance floor!

Today I am supposed to be in London at the Angel Islington (is that a real place or just the Monopoly name? I only ever see 'Angel' on a map) completing a day long Michael Jackson themed dance class.  Unfortunately due to the adverse weather conditions I am doing no such thing.  In fact I am sat at home with cold toes listening to Let It Rain by East 17.  Poor choice of song perhaps.

The dance class was going to be epic.  4 workshops positioned throughout the day and then featuring a showcase at the end to pull together what we had learned.  I had even sorted out some pretty damn wonderful costumes for today including sequinned jackets, a Smooth Criminal-esque suit and appropriate 'zombie' attire.

Also I have been in 'practice(se)' mode for the past few weeks - I bought Dance Central for Kinect and have been using it regularly.  Note; I have gotten rather good at Jungle Boogie (5 gold stars on Hard! Boo yaa!).  Also I have been watching This Is It quite a lot to familiarise myself with his and his dancer's dancing styles.  I have worked this hard as I am was such a terrible dancer.

But never fear, we have rescheduled for March so I have a few months now to perfect my costumes and also my dance moves.  I am also looking forward to the Michael Jackson dance game to come out on the Kinect which I think will be in February so I can do some cramming before the day.  I don't want to look like an unprepared arse y'know.

Hybrid Theory

So, I have this new theory. 

I live on the 2nd floor in a block of flats and people regularly pee in my doorway and it seeps through the bottom of the door and onto the doormat on the other side of the door.  It's vile, it's disgusting and above all; it's unhygenic and possible a health and safety hazard.  Unfortunately our letting agents don't give two hoots and no matter how much the residents complain, apparently there is 'nothing they can do'.  I've come up with several solutions so I am unaware how they can come to this conclusion.  It's almost as if as soon as us residents mention it, the letting agents stick their fingers in their eyes and sing "lalala, can't hear you!"

Also, on my way home from work, there is a tramp that lives in a doorway several doors down from me.  He is always begging for money and occasionally has a lass sat next to him.  I never give them money (if I do it once they'll pester me forever right?) and he sees me every day and every day I walk past him and tell him I have no spare change (which to be fair I genuinely don't - I'm trying to save up for a house here people!) and then he sees me saunter off into my building.  He sometimes sees me deliberately not crossing the road before him but after him just so I don't have to say that I can't spare any change.

So back to my theory.  Is it rude to think that he is peeing in my doorway because I don't give me any money and he sees me walk into my flat everyday?  Any thoughts?

Yesterday's Got Nothing For Me

It's been a while...

This isn't really an excuse but I've been mega busy at work recently and also my computer has been all over the place.  It now has a new home though in my new office at home, hurrah!  That last bit really isn't an excuse as I can post blogs from my phone...

So, what have I been doing for the past month?  Quite a bit.  In a nutshell, I have been settling into my new job and coming up with different strategies of how to get what I want.  The most common theme seems to be running alongside the idea of 'fake it til you make it'. 

I have also been trying to save money.  I failed miserably though so will be doing it from next month.  The idea behind me saving money is that Guns N Roses have announced that they are touring the US around March time.  I wanted to go back there anyway so thought I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone (or as Ali G might say - rather crudely - knobbing 2 birds with 1 jonny aiight), and do both at the same time.  I'm incredibly busy in March though so fingers crossed it will be spread out over a few months.

That's enough of this boring post.  More interesting posts will come soon.

In the meantime, this is me

You Could Be Mine

Guns N Roses - LG Arena Birmingham - 17th October 2010

This blog is a bit late as the show was 2 days ago but I wanted to drag out the Guns N Roses experience I had a bit longer before being dragged back to the reality of no Guns N Roses shows.  (What actually happened is that after the gig - I got home at 3am - Had a full day at work the next day - Got home and went to bed - and now it's after work on Tuesday).

I haven't even got inside the building yet and already I am unimpressed.  I was expecting to go in, eat somewhere and then get to the ticketed part of the arena.  But no, I had to queue up til doors open time (6pm) and then get food.  Had I have known that I would have eaten something beforehand and then queued up quietly and got to the front of the gig.  As it turns out I was close to the stage anyway.

Guns N Roses came on over an hour later than Sebastian Bach (who has a wicked voice btw!) and the crowd was starting to get irate and there were some 'boos'.  Not from me, I didn't care, I was about to witness an incredible show.  I knew they'd be on 'around 10' so that was fine for me.  The 'boos' didn't last long, the house lights went down, the crowd erupted in screams and whistles and so the show began.

From the start I noticed that Axl's voice wasn't on top form.  He sounded great but a little strained.  At the end of the show he did apologise and said he woke up with a sore throat.  Again, I noticed that the crowd were really noisy but a bit static.  Maybe it was just where I was stood?

I was absolutely gutted that they didn't play Don't Cry, at around the age of 17, I was completely obssessed with that song.  I love the making of it and can listen to it for hours.  They also didn't play Better (love that one too) and several other songs, making the set about 45-60 mins shorter than the show I went to on Thursday.  But really, how could one top that show - that historical show? 

This is my favourite photo of Dj Ashba that night.  He always had his head down and no amoun of screaming, waving, jumping around etc. got his attention.  (I had even had a ridiclously low cut top on - I planned ahead - but that didn't work either *insulted*)  He was on fine form and I fell in love with him all over again (after Thursday, I got over him by Sunday morning).

Also, he came to the barrier!  Had my boyfriend not be right next time, I expect I would have knocked the girls in front of me out the way and copped a feel ;)

Best Bumblefoot pic.  I stand by my previous statement, he looks so down to earth and friendly.  And, I got in his photo at the end!  Ok, it's only half my face but you can tell it's me!

My best pic of Axl.  He never stayed in 1 place for more than a second so got loads of blurry pictures of him.  I'm actually surprised that he let people take photos because I know he's been really hot on not liking photo's being taken in the past.  I can see why as it does distract you from the show.  I was so excited though that I had to take photos as I forgot most of the show instantly as the house lights came up so having some evidence that I went was great.

The guys at the end of the night.  My dream is gone.

It's now all over so you know what?  I'm now saving up for their US leg of their tour - I'd love to go back to America and what would make it better would be seeing them again on their home turf.  There must be a US leg of the tour right? And surely it would be next year?  Which gives me enough time to save up for a trip across the pond!

Get In The Ring Muthaf****r And I'll Kick Your Bitchy Little Ass, Punk!

Thursday October 14th 2010 - O2 Arena London. 


Without a doubt the best concert I have ever been to.  Visually stunning, excellent pyro effects and lighting.  The whole band was on form, Axl's voice was spot on at all times.  He was still bombing around the stage like he did 20 years ago.  The rest of the band looked and sounded great.  The only downside to the whole night was that it had to end (and also I may have gained an extreme slight crush on DJ Ashba).


We (myself and my friend Sarah) got to the O2 at 4.30pm.  Slightly early.  Apparently we got there too early as Sarah suggested going later and I didn't respond so we went early - I don't remember that bit though.  The guy in Starbucks laughed at me as we were 5 hours early.


Somehow though time flew and suddenly we were in the arena and Sebastian Bach came on stage.  I saw him a few years back in Nottingham when he was supporting Guns N Roses there.  He had the same energy there and was a good performer, he got the crowd going and there were quite a few Skid Row fans in the crowd.  I've got no idea what he was talking about though, I heard his voice but didn't understand.  He performed an hour long set and then we waited for GNR.  After about an hour or so the lights went down, the crowd went wild and then opening riff of Chinese Democracy sounded.


I love that song, I first heard some Chinese Democracy songs around 8 years ago when I went to see them at London Docklands Arena, I only remember Madagascar though from that time. 

Anyway, Sarah and I decided that Bumblefoot would be a great guy to go to the pub with.  He seemed really down to earth and a lot of fun. 

Duff appeared on stage - the first time Axl and Duff have been on stage together for 17 years.  I've seen Axl twice and Duff twice, it was great to see them together.  It was actually pretty impressive.  Since the event there has been loads of speculation that there is going to be a reunion and if so what would happen to the new band and also that Axl was 'cold' towards Duff on stage.  I enjoyed it for that 1 night special, kinda like when Tom Cruise joined the Black Eyed Peas on stage a few months back - obviously Duff was more epic though. 

I found out that Richard Fortus has amazing pecs.

DJ Ashba, I'll be honest, I hadn't heard of him before he joined Guns N Roses.  He's a lot older than he looks.  So he's the 'replacement' Slash.  He's come under a lot of scrutiny because he also uses a Gibson Les Paul (along with thousands of other guitarists may I add), he wears a hat (that looks tailored to suit him, I also know a lot of people who wear hats) and he moves like Slash (again, when playing the guitar, there are only so many ways you can 'jam').  I liked DJ Ashba a lot.  I liked his energy, he had a pretty smile and he spent a lot of time on the side of the stage where I was - I'm going to position myself on that side again in Birmingham and Sods Law will dictate that he decides to take a liking to the other side of the stage that night.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of his pretty smile, I didn't quite catch it.

Axl Rose.  Still my ultimate favourite bloke/showman/performer.  He really proved that he still 'has it'.  He sang and whistled all songs with apparent ease.  What really impressed me was when he sang Nice Boys perfectly.  Yes he still had many costume changes, but from what I saw he needed to - he was running around the stage and his clothes were soaking wet within seconds of a change. 


Guns N Roses played a large range of old and new songs.  I enjoyed every second of it.  I did notice though that for a rock concert, the crowd was rather tame.  The crowd was loud but generally quite static.  Perhaps it was something to do with at the beginning a guy got escorted out by security for starting a mosh pit.  Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures of the rest of the band. 


I took loads of photos, most of them were rubbish.  I learned that the iPhone4 camera is not great in a concert situation.  And the zoom lessens the sharpness of the photo.

Guns N Roses gave a big FU to their haters.


BRING ON BIRMINGHAM!!!!