Tuesday 16 October 2007

Village Fault Lines

Well,
some 4 or 5 months since the election of a new Parish Council, how far have we progressed?

The Addingham/Bolton Abbey Cycle Route
Continues to divide the village with a significant amount of bad blood and feeling being whipped up by the Ilkley Gazette. The next step is probably the daubing of doors with slogans by one or other of the parties involved or maybe a hunt, by local landowners on horseback, of the pro-route brigade.

The Addingham Medical Centre
Inches forwards. At least now we have a doctor in the frame to build it and I understand the tendering process has started...albeit on the proviso that the Scout Hut will be demolished on time and a home can be found for Beavers/Cubs/Scouts. Not sure where the kids who smoke/drink behind the hut will go, maybe a local councillor will invite them round for tea and crumpets?

The Addingham Community Pavilion
Started as a new Scout Hut and is now an all-singing, all-dancing community facility costing a significant amount of wonga.
Whilst the facilities for organisations using it (Scouts, football, tea dances...) will be superb, it seems a lot of money. Can't help wondering whether the Youth Centre could be extended/refurbished for a lot less?

Thought we had reached the nadir but then....
Bus Shelter Blues!
It seems there's now an argument over the siting of a bus shelter in the village and, yet again, feelings are running high and letters are pinging off to the Ilkley Gazette. Glad to see that the important matters in the world are being dealt with by the village.

The Rush or the Surge of Adrenaline?

Sheffield Hallam Arena, Rush, Snakes & Arrows Tour 2007.

Took the kids to see Rush play in Sheffield on their 2007 tour (that's Rush's tour not the kids!)...yup the kids are sometimes partial to a bit of "classic" rock as well as Muse or Mika!

I've been to the majority of tours since Permanent Waves and, yet again, they played a blinder. On the stage around 7:45 PM and, with a short interval in the middle, off the stage around11PM...you certainly get quantity, do you get quality?

The set list for this tour certainly showed two things; they're not afraid of playing new material (most of the album) and they're not afraid to mix up songs from the back catalogue - no 2112!

I did wonder whether my sons would have the stamina but they both enjoyed it, mesmerised by some of the solos, laughing at the South Park video and singing along to Spirit of Radio. My youngest son was desperate for them to play YYZ and he got his wish in the encore - as it's on Guitar Hero II, he's forever playing it himself but Alex was way beyond "expert" :-)

The only downside ... a very loud but muddy sound mix and it had to finish.

SO excited to return to all-things-Rush I followed up the concert by reading Neil Peart's book Ghost Rider. It's a travelogue-sum-personal story describing how Neil dealt with the loss of both his daughter and wife within a year. Not any easy read due to the subject matter but an uplifting one all the same. It also makes me want to motorbike all over North America.

Check it out, I heartily recommend it to you, even if you detest Rush music.
Here: http://secure.showtech.com/rushbackstage/featured-books/the-ghost-rider-by-neil-peart/index.html
or
here:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1550225464/ref=sr_1_8/202-5989027-6375859?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192531657&sr=1-8

Monday 1 October 2007

Reign of the Prince

Managed to get to see Prince at the O2 Arena before the end of his 21 night stint.

Was impressed by the Arena and more impressed by the Purple Squiggle.

Follow the link to his site to see some rather grainy video http://www.3121.com/

A good set, I understand he changed it every night, with some interesting cover versions of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley and then Whole Lotta Love by Led Zep - a tip of his hat to the forthcoming reunion gig at the O2 arena.

People often miss the fact that he's a great guitarist as well as a writer/performer of songs.

Here's to hoping my application for a Led Zep ticket comes through, although I think I've more chance of winning the National Lottery!