Christmas baking

Well, as it's Christmas, I decided to make peppermint creams...  The traditional plain ones, and ones rolled in grated Bournville chocolate:

I was also asked to make a Reindeer gingerbread cake / biscuit:

This was before I decorated it - like an idiot, I forgot to take photos...  But hopefully the recipient will enjoy it...

Guess I'd better call this quits - dinner's nearly ready...

Back when I get chance....

Karen

Your dreams, won’t die

If you remember them each day

Sweet dreams, blue sky

They’re gonna take you all the way

I believe, in you, no lie

Your dreams, won’t die

Your dreams won’t die

Finally at the end of The Road to Eternity

What can I say?  Magnum were awesome.  Bob and the boys were in fine form, and it was nice to be able to see them up close.  The Robin 2 was a really good venue to see them in, and to be honest, I’m glad that I went to see them in Birmingham first, as I think the Robin would have spoilt things.

The crowd was almost on top of the band, and as it was all standing, it made for interesting viewing...

The set list was the usual mix of a few songs from the current album – Lost on the Road to Eternity:

With Bob being ably assisted on the vocal duties by Al, as Tobias wasn't with the guys for this tour..

They also played Show Me Your Hands – which the crowd certainly did!

There were also some songs that I wasn’t familiar with – including the opening song of the set – Wild Swan:

As well as others that I was slightly more familiar with – Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies

Then it was Crazy Old Mothers

There was also a fairly gentle ballad – Your Dreams Won’t Die

Then there was the one song that always makes me think of the television adaptation of The Handmaids Tale – Don’t Wake the Lion (Too Old to Die Young)

The one thing I can say is that Bob is very expressive when he’s on stage – a real showman – this was taken during Les Morts Dansant:

But the most popular song was the last one – The Spirit.  Simply because this came from the album that most of the fans consider one of the best – Chase the Dragon.  The very album that my partner kept on about, and was the album that introduced me to Magnum…

And I owe my partner an apology – he was right about the sound at the Symphony Hall.  Magnum sounded so much better here – it was almost as if the sound check had been done to suit the support act – not the main group.  But, as I said at the start – I’m glad that I saw them at the Symphony Hall first, otherwise I may have been disappointed by the sound.

Ah well, time to call this quits.  My poor little phone needs to be charged up – it’s making pathetic beeping noises at me.

Back soon...

Karen

To the spirit that guides you, follow it through

To the spirit inside you, always be true

You know you'll despair

If the spirit inside you is used without care

All noise, no melody.

Who the hell thought that Red Scar were a good support group for Magnum????  It's all noise and no melody.

And yes, I did have the misfortune to listen to them.

Karen

Getting deafened towards the end of the Road to Eternity

Guess who's not impressed

They say a picture says a thousand words.....

Karen

Still on The Road to Eternity

At the Robin 2

The support group are on. Red Scar. The only thing that they are doing is providing the bar staff with plenty of work - people are drinking in a vain attempt to disguise the racket.... 

It's all noise, and little melody. Not my choice of music by any stretch of the imagination.

Roll on Magnum!

Karen

Getting to the end of The Road to Eternity

Back on the Road to Eternity

Well, as I type this, I'm sitting in the Sir Henry Newbolt, with a double of Red Leg spiced rum, waiting for dinner to arrive. I've been a demon, and had the Ultimate  Burger with a can of Innis and Gunn Mango on the run UPA.

The gig kicks off at 7:30 (ok - doors open) and it should be a good night.

Time to call it quits - dinner had arrived.

Karen

Somewhere on the Road to Eternity

No information

Well, this had confirmed my opinion of the resort rep. Useless.

*No* information whatsoever about the flight delay or when the aircraft will arrive in Madeira...

The little bit of information that I have got has been from the airport staff.

TUI needs to remember that without customers, they won't exist.

Jet2 reps on the other hand have been far more helpful, asking if there is anything they can do to help.

Ok - we got a voucher for a snack. €6, compared to Jet2 customers who got €10...

That might not sound much, but when a decent beef sandwich cost €9.60, you realise the difference.

And yes - I am looking forward to filling in the comment form for them. The hotel was superb as always - but the "service"from TUI.... Non-existant.

Back when I get more information.

Karen

Throw me to the wolves,
And I'll come back....
Leading the pack!

Delayed.

Currently at Christiano Ronaldo airport in Madeira, awaiting the arrival of the Thompson Airways flight from Birmingham.

Which has been diverted .... To Tenerife due to adverse weather conditions in Funchal.

Funny that the Manchester flight got diverted into Porto Santo... But the Birmingham flight got sent over 90 minutes flying time away from where it was supposed to be.

Needless to say I am not a happy bunny, but these things happen.

Just hope that the information that we have been given about the flight leaving at 13:45 is correct.  Otherwise I'll be invoking my flight delay rights.

Back later.

Karen

Throw me to the wolves,
And I'll return...
Leading the pack!

Another concert

No sooner did I joke about going to see Magnum, than an email landed in my inbox announcing a tour in November - and they're playing very close to where my partner lives.

So, me being me, I emailed him the details...  And asked if he'd like to go.  I should have guessed that the answer would be a resounding "yes".

So, I logged onto the website for the Robin 2, and found the details:

Legendary UK rock band returns!:

Magnum 2018

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Magnum, who regularly breached the Top 40 of both the singles and album charts in the Eighties and early Nineties, came together in the Midlands in the mid-Seventies and released their debut album 'Kingdom Of

Madness' in 1978, followed by 'Magnum II' in 1979 and their first live album 'Marauder' in 1980. During this period they toured relentlessly with the likes of Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult and Judas Priest.

1982's 'Chase The Dragon' album was the first to go Top 20, and was accompanied by a sold out UK tour. 1983's 'The Eleventh Hour', 1985's 'On A Storyteller's Night' and 1986's (Roger Taylor produced) 'Vigilante' album all fared similarly well but it was 1988's 'Wings Of Heaven' LP which really broke the band into the mainstream, going gold, breaching the top 5 of the UK chart and spawning three top 30 singles - 'Days Of No Trust', Start Talkin' Love' and 'It Must Have Been Love'. During this period the band regularly graced the stages of such venues as Hammersmith Odeon and major UK Festivals as Reading and Castle Donington.

1990's 'Goodnight To L.A.' album also went Top 10, spawned the Top 40 single 'Rocking Chair' and was accompanied by a tour of the UK's Arena circuit, including venues such as Wembley Arena and the NEC. 1991's 'The Spirit', 1992's 'Sleepwalking' and 1994’s 'Rock Art', were followed by the announcement of the band’s demise and an extensive farewell tour, during which the band's 1996 live album, 'The Last Dance' was recorded.

Clarkin went on to work as a producer and songwriter for other artists, brought out two albums with Bob Catley in Hard Rain ('Hard Rain' in 1997 and 'When The Good Times Come' in 1999), and generally recharged his musical batteries. Then, in the summer of 2001, Magnum reformed and began writing their February 2002 released ‘Breath Of Life’ album, released 8 years after ‘Rock Art’. "It was particularly inspiring for me to write and produce new material for Magnum," Clarkin enthused at the time, continuing that "Compared to the Hard Rain tracks, the Magnum compositions are powerful, deeper, and more passionate."

2004’s ‘Brand New Morning’ album was an even more accomplished body of work, and won over a host of new fans, as well documented on the ‘Livin’ The Dream’ live DVD, recorded in the UK in 2005, and released in 2006. Both ‘Princess Alice and The Broken Arrow’, released in March 2007, and ‘Into The Valley Of The Moon King’ Magnum’s 2009 studio album, proved how, like a good wine, this band just gets better with every year.

Classic Rock’s Philip Wilding reviewed Magnum’s album, ‘The Visitation’ in Classic Rock Prog’s February 2011 issue, stating; "Latter day Magnum have settled into their respective musical skins, more experimental, more mindful, a better band...The production’s lush and dense, the nuances are subtle and understated, and they can still take a tilt at Radio 2 playlists in songs like ‘Wild Angels’... Everything here feels denser and more thought out, less ambiguous...Songs like the opener ‘Dark Skies’ and ‘Door To Nowhere’ give the impression they are intended to convey something and raise a point, and Magnum are all the better for it."

On ‘On The 13th Day’, the cover of which will once again be created by famous fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (Asia, Nazareth, Eloy), Magnum more than step up to the plate to deliver an even more accomplished body of work than ever before! 2014 brings a new album and new tour. Magnum once again set to deliver a fine crafted album with their trademark sound and more. The new album titled "Escape from the Shadow Garden" will be released March 2014. Followed by UK & EU tour. 'Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies', which also debuted at number 2 in the Rock & Metal chart and at number 6 in the Indie chart on release on Steamhammer / SPV, is a notably heavier, harder offering than its much acclaimed predecessor, 'Escape From The Shadow Garden', and is packed with even more of Magnum's massive trademark rousing rock melodies.

2016 saw Magnum back in the studio once again. From this came the album Sacred Blood Divine Lies. 10 brand new tracks forging forward the Magnum sound. With the collaboration once again with Rodney Matthews artwork the release came with bonus videos and bonus tracks. Never to let anything out of their hands without that extra effort Magnum push the boundaries to give their fans an album worth getting your hands on and not just for the music. Followed by an extensive 33 date 2016 tour in EU, UK & Ireland and then again a Winter tour appearing at a select few UK & Irish venues. 

After a conversation between Tony and his daughter discussing all the ballads the band had in the catalogue, wouldn’t it be a great to re-release in some way an album full of Magnum ballads? Tony talked to SPV and they agreed. This turned out to be a longer process than anticipated. 

So, if the gig is as good as Symphony Hall, and I have no reason to believe it won't be - then we're in for a real treat.

Guess I'd better call this quits - I've got an early start tomorrow morning...

Back when I get chance.

Karen

I know if I could live forever

Nothing would change to better

Nothing will change at all

Magnum ROCKS

Well, as promised, I’ve pulled the best pictures from the concert:

This was the stage before the concert – and I make no apologies – these photos were taken with my phone, and not my camera…

This was Bob in full voice (think this was When We Were Younger)

This was when Tobias Sammet joined the band for Lost on the Road to Eternity:

The vocal duel – don’t mind admitting this is my current computer background!:

Then this was towards the end of the song:

Then this was from Crazy Old Mothers:

Then it was onto the first single released from the new album – Without Love:

I can recall that one of the backing singers was Rebecca Downes…

Then it was onto the home straight with a real foot stomper – Show Me Your Hands:

After that, my damned phone battery died, and I couldn’t take any more photos!

Despite that, I spent the entire concert on my feet, and it was well worth it.  I felt like I could walk on air, and decided that should Magnum tour again, I would definitely go and see them.

Ah well, time to call this quits – I’m due in the playpen tomorrow…

Karen

What a night though it’s one of seven,

What a night for the dancing dead,

What a night to be called to heaven,

What a picture to fill your head

To fill your head