You never would have guessed…

That we dont really use this blog any more. The question is, am I brave enough to simply delete it?

Our favourite new video…

…of the boys thanking us for the little treats they were sent for Easter.

SO cute.

(Thanks Megan and Gray!)

Orange Pekoe

This is our favourite cafe, amongst some not so favourite weather (taken back in grip winter…)

Pretty, though. For more about the cafe http://www.orangepekoeteas.co.uk

For more pictures, see http://dreambigger.smugmug.com

One for the home recording junkies out there…

Yes, I might have upgraded myself to Cubase Studio 4 recently… and be hanging out to copy and paste myself some new music… but this just made me laugh. Thanks to my mate Craig for this one…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqumbhfxRo

A third of a century

Sounds grand doesn’t it? A third of a century!

I am 33 1/3 years old today. If we’re talking large fractions of a century, I don’t reach another day like this until I’m 50 – having past the quarter, and on my way to a half.

Hmmm, I feel like cake…

Quintessential Dave Dobbyn

An excerpt from my second live review published on NZ Musician Magazine’s website:

Quintessential: adj : representing the perfect example of a class or quality

This was Dave Dobbyn as everyone should see at least once in their lifetime: In his element – a small venue packed to the bar-and-beyond with punters ready to rock. Fresh from headlining a sold-out Toast Festival in Regents Park days before, the famous Dingwalls at Jongleurs, Lock17 Camden, was a much more intimate venue, and naturally sold out well in advance.

Being 30 degrees outside (at past 9pm for goodness sake!), the 500 of us indoors were in for a hot gig whichever way you looked at it.

After the openers Devil You Know and Whaling it was quickly clear the crowd were in fine voice and everyone was up for a party. Introducing the third song, Dave said Welcome Home had really struck a chord with the NZ public, and he dedicated it to our families back home – currently enduring one of the worst winters anyone can remember. ‘We’re all pacific islanders, really?!’ got a good cheer. Come to think of it, pretty much everything he said got a good cheer…

Read the rest of the review at NZ Musician online.

NZ Musician Review – Online

My first freelance writing article has been published online!

I went to a Bic Runga/Breaks Co-Op gig at Shepherds Bush the other week, and wrote a review for NZ Musician. Check it out here, or paste the link below into your browser:

http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/895

Exciting stuff!

Seeing Angels

I’ve just bought a book ‘Seeing Angels’ by Emma Heathcote-James. I was on a random walkabout during my lunch hour and Waterstones bookstore clearly proved too much of a temptation. I originally headed in there to ‘window-shop’ for books on another topic but then discovered a small section which intrigued me. Right next to the ‘popular psychology’ section (packed with the habits of Steve Covey) was a small section on ‘Angels’.

Heathcote-James’ book was published in 2001, the fruit of doctoral research following her Theology Degree at The University of Birmingham, promises to tell the story of hundreds of ‘contemporary experiences with Angels’. Well, that got my attention! I’m really interested to know what the ‘real world’ thinks about angels – it was the blurb about the research and recounting of many recent experiences that sold it.

So that’s why I walked away with the book.

I enjoy looking for physical and spiritual connections between mankind, the world we live in, and God. Looking at the world in the light of God’s Biblical truth means you see things differently. I’m intrigued by what someone else might see when they haven’t yet encountered that truth. What does an angel (as I am slowly beginning to understand) look like to the guy down the street? If they encounter an angel, what is that encounter like and what does it mean to them?

The Bible talks about angels a lot. And it talks about allegiances. There is a battle being fought between angels loyal to God, and angels who have another agenda altogether. Mankind is right in the thick of it.

I will be trying to imagine, as I read this book, and hear of each persons story, just where those allegiances lie.

Hooked Up

Hooked Up. Connected. Online. Wired for Sound. And video. And useless information, like this guy who has swapped his way to a house from a red paper clip. It’s made the real (respectable?) news too – really! – but that was way back in April. But hey, like I said; we’ve only just got connected.

So yeah, we’re online at home now, which rocks.

Oh, and Skype is cool. And myspace, which is a great place to hook up with people you haven’t seen for ages. Great new music, and some bad hair day music too.

Warning, for those who think there are too many musicians on the planet, beware. They are everywhere.

Amplifier

Just a little plug for NZ music… check out some today at Amp3lifier.