Tweets from celebrities

Let me first of all say: no I don't know if I'll ever blog about Tennessee and Colorado either. I really should get on it. Especially since Emma is now back. (Well she would be if her flights hadn't got delayed, rerouted and delayed some more. Reminded me somewhat of this experience of mine.)

Anyway, back to tonight. I try not to blog on Friday or Saturday nights, you know, because I have far more important things to be doing. Like watching The Voice. But tonight I got a tweet from a celebrity! And I was out so it's not like I stayed in on a Friday night so I could tweet celebrities.

I was out with Karen Photographer in town. Neither of us drove so as to open up the possibility of a cheeky glass of wine. In fact, it opened up the reality of a cheeky glass of Pimm's and wine.

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred I'll get the salmon when I'm out. Tonight was one of the ninety-nine.

On the train on the way home, once Karen got off I listened to a podcast (a Five Live one if you must know) on my phone. I just caught one station announcement and it hit me who it was: the PR4L! If you listen to Radio 1 you'll probably be familiar with her work. If not she's the Posh Radio 4 Lady and reads Dear Scott. In her actual job she reads the news on the Today programme. Hence, the Posh Radio 4 Lady!

I wasn't sure but I knew I'd seen her on Twitter, so I wrote a tweet and mentioned her:

Am I wrong or is the automatic station announcer on Translink trains the PR4L? @Kathyclugston

But it's Friday night and she's the PR4L and has much better things to be doing than looking at her tweets, let alone replying. But she did! In a matter of minutes. She said, and I quote:

@tinaarena22 you are RIGHT!

So I did what anyone would do in that situation. I retweeted it. Well, I looked on it like a public service announcement for my followers who might have wondered the same thing on a Translink train. 

It's moments like this that make me love Twitter! And the PR4L! RT @kathyclugston: @tinaarena22 you are RIGHT!

But then I had a moment of mind panic; I had mentioned her but not actually thanked her for replying or said anything directly back to her. What's the Twitter etiquette about that, the twetiqutte if you will? So I wrote back to her:

@kathyclugston Thank you! I don't often get the train but tonight it just hit me that it was you so had to check! Have a nice weekend!

I thought that was nice, polite end befitting an encounter with the PR4L. But this is the PR4L we're talking about; of course she wrote back.

@tinaarena22 you too!

Being so encouraged by the PR4L I will now do my very best to have a nice weekend. 

I will draw the line at tweeting her about it come Sunday (or Tuesday). You know, in case she thinks I'm weird or something.

Breaking my technological silence...

to say that if you haven't watched Chris Moyles and Comedy Dave on their longest ever Radio 1 show ever then you are missing out. It has been brilliant. Brilliant.

I drove a lot yesterday and it was quite nice to drive home late at night and be able to listen to Radio 1, because, well we all know it, once Zane Lowe arrives at 7.00pm it gets a bit...rubbish (although I think the term they use is 'specialist'). I think I've lasted a maximum of 1.2 minutes on Radio 1 after 7.00pm. Not last night. Or tonight either for that matter.

My falling in love with the specialists started with Grimmy last night and has carried on tonight with MistaJam and Kissy Sell Out. Eh hello? That's someone who can't spell mister and doesn't value spaces between words and a guy called Kissy. Right.

Mind you, I think most of it has been because of Chris and Dave and their enthusiasm for what they're doing.

All throughout the show they've been reminding us to text so as to donate to Comic Relief. I can't believe they thought they would only raise £100,000 through this. Clearly they've captured our attention though - they passed £1,000,000 at the 37 hour mark. Brilliant stuff.

So my two recommendations tonight: go to iPlayer and donate if you enjoyed any part of it donate.

November

Where has the month gone? I was very close to not actually blogging at all this month and I think that that would have been the first time that would have ever happened. But fear not, here I am with a last minute attempt at saving November. So what have I been up to since last I wrote. Well let's see shall we?

Feet Up Friday
A couple of months ago Greg James was in Belfast for Feet Up Friday. It was the day after my birthday and I was going out that night so I didn't want to apply because it'd be too hard to organise it all, you know, because obviously I'd get to go. So when Greg announced at the end of October that they were doing another one out and about, I thought there was no way it'd be Belfast again. But it was. And I applied. Next thing was I got a a phonecall from Radio 1. Ha! They always say to be really enthusiastic and interesting on the phone, so I did my best. Apparently it worked! So off my lucky friends and I trotted to Blackstaff studios and met Greg James, Producer Neil, Producer Sarah, and Scouting for Girls.

Also there, although I didn't get to actually meet him was Hugo Duncan! Oh glory. I wrote about him on my web form, you know, to make mine stand out, rather than writing the usual sort of stuff. I might have actually said he was 'a complete Northern Ireland legend'. Well, it worked didn't it.

Before I even got into the studio though I got to meet a Northern Ireland legend. Paul Clarke!

He was as surprised to meet me as Clare Balding was.

Greg plays the tunes, Producer Neil scratches his head.

Scouting For Girls were brilliant! They played about 2 metres in front of us, singing a medley of their songs and made one up about Belfast.

Writing
Not my blog evidently, but I have been working on my dissertation. Next.

Cooing over my niece and nephew
They're incredibly cute. John is very funny now and Kiera is still gorgeous. But other people's kid stories can be dull, I know that so I won't bore you with detail of how John gave my mandarin to Nanna to peel for because earlier she had peeled his. Ah, we laughed! But dull to you. Next

Baking

I like baking. This past while I have made banana bread, banana and chocolate bread, banana cake (there were a lot of bananas about to be thrown out), brownies, and most excitingly of all, a birthday cake for Karen Marathon.

I thought I would try to base it one of her pieces of art and this was my best attempt. (The cake is on the right, just in case you couldn't tell.)

Boyce Avenue
I went to see them in Belfast. It was a good night and they were really good live! If you haven't heard of them you should You Tube some of their stuff. For convenience I'll include my favourite cover they do.



Funniest thing of the night was the dry bar.

Well it's hard to take a Mi Wadi bar seriously.

Where's Tina?!

This photo is on the Radio 1 website here. Can you see me?

What in the world am I looking at?! Look at the camera Tina, you muppet.

Go on, one last post in November

I've done it again, haven't I?! Unintentionally ignored my blog. Well here I am with a music-I'm-in-to-in-the-autumn-months round up. You're excited, I can tell!

Never Forget You - The Noisettes

Kept on hearing it but always missed who sang it. Then one day I managed to Shazam it! Very 60s eh? The song, not Shazam.

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

Love it. Folksy. Except for the swearing possibly.

Breathing - Lifehouse

An iPod on shuffle find. Keeps on sounding like something else, then I realise it's actually just that song.

New York - Paloma Faith

Cracking song. She looks a bit...unique. And does not at all talk like you'd expect.

The Road - Frank Turner

Heard this on Zane Lowe. Surprising as I spend about two seconds a week listening to Zane show before his incessant shouting gets too annoying. But I am on board with this song Zane!

Drumming - Florence and the Machine

I really wasn't sure about her at the start. Bit too specialist for me, but this song has really grown on me.

Wheels - Foo Fighters

I usually don't like Foo Fighters. But I like this song. Makes me want to drive a long trip in America.

The Captain - Biffy Clyro

I have no notion what's this song is about. Like none. And if you follow me on Twitter you'll know my confusion about some of the lyrics, 'I can't walk rat arsed'. Interestingly, I learned this is called a Mondegreen (a mishearing of the ear, usually a song lyric.) So there.

End Credits - Chase and Status

Love it, so calming at the start. And surprisingly underplayed I thought by my beloved Radio 1.

Children in Need - Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band

You already know my feelings on Children in Need. But that's now what Sky+ and BBC London is for. I loved this, although I didn't know half the new characters (Nicky and Heidi gave me an education. We used to live in similar worlds, now theirs is so different to mine!) Clever intertwining of the songs and brilliant video, but no word on whether Chippy Minton was ex-directory though. Bet he was raging.

This next one is a worry and I can only apologise. I know, you used to respect my musical tastes and I hope we can still be friends...

A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion

Ok, before you get all judgemental, let me just explain. It was used on Strictly the other week, Chris and Ola did their Viennese Waltz to it, and I love them and that dance. If makes it any better, if I could have downloaded the BBC version, I would have.

See, isn't it nice?

The last item I have been 'listening' to isn't a song. I know, nearly as shocking as the Celine revelation. It's this video. I used it taking YF last week and love it. Very clever editing, but I think it's the way the words appear on screen that make it. I just wish they'd fade the music at the end.

So that's it, December tomorrow. Bring. It. On.

All quiet on the Princess front

It's been a while hasn't it? The past weeks have been particularly busy for me, getting courses finished, and revision classes set up. And you know, dossing and what not.

But I must be more careful in agreeing to Revision classes in future; they're much easier to do if:

1. You taught it first time round.

2. You learnt the stuff yourself in the, oh say, last five years or so.

But I made it through. May Day was a bit of a wash out though, which is a shame because it looks like that might constitute a large part of the 'NI summer'.

Speaking of which I have rediscovered the glory of Fabs, the ice lolly. Every layer is a treat.

What else? 

I hit the cat today with a bit coal. Right square in the face too. Before you report me to the RSPCA let me just explain. Firstly he was eating grass, cats eating grass never turns out well in my experience. Secondly, shouting at him wouldn't stop him. Thirdly, I'm a crap shot. It was meant to land just beside him. I honestly, truly didn't mean to hit him with it. Fourthly, I swear he moved in to the missile so as to generate more love and hugs from my mum. All the same I did feel terrible. I think he is slowly forgiving me and now doesn't seem quite so keen to run away from Scary Coal Lady, which understandably, in the aftermath he did.

I've been listening to Radio 1 a lot recently, as always. My classes in school were surprised, I think were expecting Radio 4. I put this down to my political and analytical mind. Ha! I love Chris Moyles and Dom more and more every day. Quite often I'll look round in the traffic queue to see if anyone else is laughing as much me. Last week I thought I was going to have to pull over when Chris was going on about kids with pierced ears. Funny stuff.

Coming home I hear altogether too much of Edith Bowmen. Back in the day of Colin and Edith, I used to think Edith was the one I liked. Now I realise I did my fellow country...person(is that a term?) a disservice. He was the good one. I count the links (get me and my radio terminology) she does mentioning films. Shut up already and play a song! Even if there's a guest in not remotely related to the movie industry she asks them about films. Honestly, if she's not angling to get the Film 2000andwhatever spot from Jonathan Ross I'll eat my hat.

So that's the round up from me. Hopefully it won't be so long next time round.

Oh one more thing. Chris B. showed us these fake trailers which completely change the genre of the film the other day. Look what they have done to Mary Poppins.

But they'll have to try harder than that to ruin the magic in it for me!

Here you go David

I got birthday mail this week. We're not dwelling on the fact that it's slightly late. Well 80% of them were. Plus it's more than I sent him (a stamp (used) and a card). And poor Karen just got kind thoughts. I would say that my birthday is more special than theirs, but it doesn't sound very gratious in light of their generousity so I shan't.


He's bigger than me. And I can't threaten my big brother on him.


Chocolate, kids' sweets, glow in the dark stars, and even pawty wings*! They know me so well! I don't think you'd even realise that the Sherbert Dip is empty. It didn't last 3 minutes after opening the shoe box of fun.

(*which reminds me, did you hear Scott Mills and the phone a book shop game? I thought I was going to fall off my chair at 'Downpour!' by Wayne Dwops)

But if a blog is all that is required for all this tastiness then I'll crack on.

Daytime TV isn’t up to much

Third day off school and I am suffering now. What I would give for a bit of Fern and Phil. If it weren’t for quality American programmes I might well have gone mad. Earlier today I watched 'Larry King Live', Oprah was on and they showed some clips from over the years, my word she had some dodgy haircuts! I honestly think she looks better now than at any other time in her past. Then I watched 'Oprah' itself. This woman was on who had been burnt alive by her husband who poured gasoline over her. Unbelievable.

After that it was time to listen to Chris Moyles. There was a story on Newsbeat about fast walkers, the fastest are in London, Belfast and Glasgow. I love Dominic Bryne, but he lied today, he said the fastest walkers were in Singapore. Lies, all lies. People here shuffle along.

Anyway, here’s a collection of photos for you, now that I have time to blog.

My new classroom display. This one will be up for a while.

The other half. I particularly like the photos on the right, although I've noticed they cause students to daydream.


The end of Chinese New Year. A sad sight, like old Chrismas trees.

The Pope was at the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

As were Storm Troopers. Not sure how they managed to get themselves invited! Who knew they were Irish?!

This man was trying to do his Tai Chi when my class, on their Geography fieldtrip, arrived at the look out post and disturbed the peace. We got dirty looks which I'm pretty sure weren't part of hid inner peace routine.

When Jud's friend was staying we got a cablecar to Sentosa.

Then we went to Raffles Hotel. A relic of auld decency and the place to go for a....

Singapore Sling. Aww, my left hand is intact.

Time for 'Ellen' now.

Buses, trains and Dom

Ross’ blog helped me decide what to write about today. Buses. I don’t like them. Trains, hurrah and huzzah for trains! Maybe it’s because I grew up in the ‘head, maybe it’s because we used to get the train to Belfast when we were little and it was an adventure, but there just something about them that if you have to travel with strangers in close proximity is better.

Now I am decidedly car-less, public transport is the way forward, literally. Singapore has a underground system called the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). But alas, I can’t really use it for my transportation needs as they don’t have a station where I live or where I work. So it’s the bus for me.

Buses are hard for me to work out. First of all there’s the worry that I have just missed one, then that the next one might not arrive for three days, then when one does arrive I have a panic that I might have got on the wrong one. Then when I do get on, chances are I won’t get a seat. I have to watch for my stop and I always have the fear that I'll my stop incase. Even when I do see it coming I'm scared the bus driver won’t stop.

On my first day of proper teaching I thought I got off at the right stop, but no. Then, in my naivety I thought it was the next stop so I walked. Nope not that one either. Eventually I realised that the only thing for it was to admit defeat and get back on the next lucky bus 75 that came my way. Twenty minutes later I was stepping on that bus. Stress doesn’t even cover it. I barely made it in before the announcements in assembly. An auspicious start I think you’ll agree.

But I have discovered something that makes bus rides better. This morning, to celebrate my return to the world wide web, I listened to the Chris Moyles podcast. I tried in vain to hide my undulating shoulders as I laughed (nearly out loud) at the fake local radio interviews with bad sound. I actually think Dominc Bryne is hilarious. Go here to listen to it, about 20 minutes in.

It's coming up to the big hour of eleven o’clock. Bed time for me, I have to get up early for the ruddy bus.

I used to not like Jo Whiley

I’m still not that sure about her, I think she can be smug. I have no time for smug. But over the course of the past few years I’ve heard more of her show and she’s warming on me. I like Changing Tracks, I like Rocks and Sucks but I love, love the Live Lounge. It is the best thing she does. So I was dead excited when she ran text polls a few Christmases ago to get listeners’ opinions about what should go on a compilation album. Twenty two months later and it’s out and I have it.


It’s brilliant. You should buy it.

So with that in mind, here is October’s playlist:

1. Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance (one of those songs you liked ages before you realised you liked it)
2. America – Razorlight (damn Jo Whiley got me into this song too)
3. Set Fire to the Third Bar – Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright (love her voice)
4. Buck Rogers – Feeder (player player player player player player…)
5. How to Save a Life – The Fray (ah the brilliant Grey’s Anatomy, brilliant programme, brilliant music)
6. Wonderful World – James Morrison (one of those songs you think is all lovely but isn’t)
7. Song 2 – My Chemical Romance (not the original but a great effort)
8. Romeo – Basement Jaxx (love them, this is brilliant live)
9. Push the Button - Orson (different, definitely different)
10. The Scientist – Coldplay (how do you make a beautiful song better? Sing it live of course)
11. Gold Digger – The Automatic (makes me laugh out loud)
12. Love Machine – Arctic Monkeys (same)
13. Hey Ya – Will Young (my first memorable Live Lounge)

They haven’t made it yet, but I suspect they might, Love It When You Call – The Feeling, I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! At the Disco.

I’m also fighting the temptation to get McFly’s new song. I swear there are endorphins realised through it, it actually makes me happy. But I think it might be a little too pop for me to have. Maybe Jo Whiley has every right to be smug afterall, I can’t imagine she’d be the biggest McFly fan.