I‘ve never done this previously but certainly hope this works. I’m still fairly new on Twitter, but I know I can send tweets from my mobile to my profile. Unfortunately, I cannot instantly check if anyone replies to my messages and talk back, so conversation is a bit one-sided. However, if this is not a problem for you, then check my Twitter stream this evening, when I am hoping to do some “live coverage” from Bridgewater Hall where Michel Legrand is performing tonight. The concert starts at 7.30. I can’t see myself “tweeting” every piece he performs or every spectator’s reaction, but we’ll see. My Twitter stream is http://twitter.com/mundusvivendi, and I’ll use #Legrand hashtag to keep you updated. Of course, there will be a blog post later on, too.
Day: 3 February 2009
The Flirtations – Website and Playlist
There is something good about Google’s contextual advertising that we get in our Gmails. Had it not been for a Google ad, I’d not have learnt that a popular 1960s Northern Soul band The Flirtations have now got their official website. To be fair, I probably have not got something installed to be able to browse it properly. But well, there is some general knowledge at hand, as well as the ever-reliable Wikipedia.
Also known as The Gypsies, the band sailed from South Carolina to the UK (with a stop in New York) where in 1968 they shot to fame with an awesome, dynamic record Nothing But a Heartache (written by Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington; this is a song with a story in all senses – click on the link to read more). The video to this song that has the lovely performers dance on the trumps of stone columns was recorded at the Tintern Abbey in Wales (browse the Tintern Village website; the photo of the abbey ruins is courtesy of the website).
In the playlist I created on Imeem, there is another hit song, Earthquake, with a few prolonged percussion sequences, first starting at about 3:23. It was recorded in 1977, and then its 12-inch version became a hit in 1983.
And below is the very recent story of The Flirtations visiting the Oldies Unlimited music shop in Wolverhampton in December 2008. Click on the link or watch the video report below, courtesy of Express & Star.
http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1418421247
Happy Chinese New Year in Manchester
As they say, “better later than never”. I have mentioned a few times on my Russian blog that January 26th was the date of the Chinese New Year (of the Yellow Ox, no less), as well as the first solar eclipse of 2009. As you can gather, I have forgotten to mention the same here, although I didn’t forget to celebrate another important date on this blog.
Thankfully, though, I wasn’t too late – Manchester celebrated the Chinese New Year on Feb 1st. I didn’t go to Albert Square on Sunday, as I’d just returned from Preston where I was involved in one creative project. But when I was walking in town on a Monday evening I was caught up in the beautiful atmosphere of the Town Hall bells ringing a melody. The Chinese decorations were still in place, as you can see. Better yet, it was possible to look into the Town Hall’s windows and to have a glimpse of the stupendous inner decor. Ford Madox Brown, the unofficial Pre-Raphaelite, undertook extensive work on the decoration of Manchester’s Town Hall.
Manchester has got a large and established Chinese community. There is the city’s own Chinatown with the Arch (left); Chinese Arts Centre in Northern Quarter; and two namesakes of The City of Goats in Princess Street. I wholeheartedly greet my Chinese readers and visitors with the Year of the Yellow Ox. And once again wish that for all of us this year becomes a wonderful, successful, and a very happy one – in spite of all the economic and financial problems!
White Winter 2009 in Manchester
Pay no attention to these well pre-dated Easter adverts (left) – since the weekend, winter has settled in Manchester. I don’t know about you, but I am rather pleased.
It has taken 5 years (on my memory) for this (in)conveniently situated city to experience the proper winter, with temperatures falling well below the nil and lots of snow. The beauty of this snow is that you can make snowballs with it and, of course, snowmen (should there be enough snow and desire).
I called Manchester “inconveniently situated” because as we know the Pennines protect it from the extremities that befall higher situated places like Blackburn or Preston. In fact, my January has been very rich in travel that has taken me out and about Lancashire and Yorkshire. It was certainly great to ride past the snowy Pennines on the way to Blackburn in January. But it was even better to come back to Manchester from Preston on 1st of Feb and to watch the huge snowflakes flying outside my window.
The wintry weather didn’t go today, and I simply had to go out into town with my faithful camera and take a few shots of Manchester the way we’d rarely seen it before.