6 months on, new home, voting and of course more gigs!

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One important milestone reached - I've now been here for 6 months! In a way it feels like forever as this is certainly ‘home’ but in another way I can’t believe that I am 1/3 my planned stay here.

Speaking about home, I’m soon to move homes. Sharing again but this time only with one other person, a girl. The place is closer to the city centre, work and the bus/train stations for trips to London and the airport. Also I’ll get my own bathroom, the place is a little funkier and sharing with one person should be easier than with two - of course the downside is slightly more expensive rent.

I’ll also be signing a 6 month rental agreement, amazingly at 30 it will be the first time I’ve ever properly rented.

This weekend I’ve been in. Given the cheap bus fares I thought I might as well come to the big smoke to vote and whilst here do some shopping and get to some gigs (naturally).

Voting was just like being back home (including the main political parties handing out how to vote cards) but with less queues - even though more 20,000 ex pats are expected to vote in London this weekend.

I was in New York for the 2003 election so this makes two overseas federal elections in a row for me. Hopefully the result will be totally different this time around!

Not a lot else has happened of late - been to far too many gigs of course! I'm really looking forward to the rare chance to sit at home and relax at night. But I am loving seeing all these bands that I’d not get to see back home.

A quick run down …

*Amiina - saw these Icelandic ladies when I first arrived back in May, they put on another great set with the whole crowd sitting on the floor which was unique (and relaxing!)
*Peter Bjorn & John - Swedish popsters put on a very energetic set (sorry to rub it in again Bec!), support from Maps who I’ve seen three times and love more each time
*Animal Collective - New York indie cool freaksters, a totally weird band (and check out the scary skeletons in tutus!)
*The National - great rock set
*Beirut - I swear the main guy was drunk but he sounded awesome and the crowd were very into the band
*Youthmovies and 65dos - Third time I've seen my favourite math rockers this trip and second time for 65days, totally mental set with moshing, stage diving and crazy dancing - left the gig drenched in sweat
*Andrew Bird and Loney, Dear - two very cool sets from these folky bands, Andrew Bird especially sounding like a new Jeff Buckley at times
*Y.A.C.H.T - lots of dancing to this guy's electro tunes
*Okkervil River - one of my favourite bands from the States put on an awesome gig (anyone interested, the band are doing Beck’s Verandah in Feb and are worth checking out - hint hint Bec)
*Tripwire - unsigned band night with a friend from my current work appearing on stage (and singing) with his band. They were surprisingly good.
*Yeasayer - slightly obscure NY band playing a good set but to only about 13 punters
*Hot Hot Heat - Canadian rockers who I saw in Sydney back in 2003
*Beach House - lovely summery pop, London gig
*Arcade Fire - another London gig and another Canadian band putting on an amazing gig so full of energy, great visuals and zany antics from the band (and freaky moment, two Oz chicks next to me and one of them happened to mention Christian Ainslie’s name, couldn’t help butting in and apparently she works with him - small, small world)

That makes 31 gigs in the past 60 days with a further 8 gigs before the end of the month. If I could have seen all the bands I wanted to (sadly some nights there were 3 or 4 different gigs I wanted to attend) that number would be more like 50 gigs! Fortunately December will be quieter gig wise! Even I’m getting a tad sick of all the bands! LOL

Speaking of touring, Feist who I saw a few months back is also appearing at the Beck’s Festival. She put on a great show when I saw her a few months back and will bound to please anyone that likes their female singer songwriters with a little bit of alt rock and disco thrown in for good measure.

Work is still going good, having lots of fun with my new work mates. In preparations for our office move in December there is the inevitable file clean up so we had a busy bee on Saturday = much needed overtime ₤₤₤.

Two weeks ago saw Guy Fawkes celebrations in full force. The public are allowed to buy and set off fireworks and have bonfires and so from the time the sun set to midnight (and later !!!) there were fireworks going off left right and centre last week.

Its also Christmas time so the Xmas lights (sorry Seasons Greetings!) got turned on the other night. Coolest bit is a ginormous cartoony Santa outside of town hall - brings a smile to my face every time I walk by! There’s also a man made ice rink in the city centre. Some cool shop displays in London too.

It has definitely started to get chilly, fortunately the rain hasn’t hit yet but most mornings have been around -1’C and the days rarely exceed 8’c. I hear it was 39’C back home recently, wouldn’t mind a bit of warmth right now!

Bye for now.

Pete

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Comments

[Jacinta]

Cool!
Thanks for the great rundown Pete, Manchester looks very pretty with the lights up doesn't it? And the tips for the Becks Veranda (now to be called the "Becks Music Box" I hear) are also very welcome (I am also impressed you still manage to keep your finger on the pulse from way over there!) Now about Keystone though - you are such a dag sometimes ;) hehe Anyhoo congrats on making your 6 month milestone, and I hope you enjoy your new pad... j :)