Another postponment

Should have guessed that things were not going to go smoothly this year...  I've just recived this email from the Magnum mailing list....

It is with sincere regret that Magnum are postponing their autumn 2021 shows until next year. With the uncertainty of some European country’s management of the Covid pandemic and numerous other logistical problems the band and promoters alike have decided it is in the best interest to reschedule again to 2022, the band’s 50th anniversary year.

The band’s prime interest is fans health and safety, as well as their own of course. We all hope that by the end of the year the worldwide pandemic will be under control and we can all move freely about and go to full capacity shows. The test events that have been going on recently are good news indeed for the entertainment business but, we all feel that we still have a way to go yet before we can have an all clear. 

The shows are being rescheduled as below and there will be further announcements in due course. 

All tickets remain valid, and will be transferred over to the new dates.'

In the meantime the band are carrying on with the recording of their next, as yet untitled, album which should be released in early 2022

Monday 28 March 2022 Cambridge Junction

Tuesday 29 March 2022 Norwich Waterfront

Wednesday 30 March 2022 London Islington Assembly Hall

Thursday 31 March 2022 Birmingham Symphony Hall

Sunday 3 April 2022 Southampton Engine Rooms

Monday 4 April 2022 Cardiff Tramshed

Tuesday 10 May 2022 Goteborg Pustervik

Wednesday 11 May 2022 Oslo Vulkan

Thursday 12 May 2022 Huskvarna Folkets Park

Friday 13 May 2022 Stockholm Fryhuset Klubben

Saturday 14 May 2022 Karlstad Nojesfabriken

Monday 16 May 2022 Malmo Babel

Friday 09 September  2022 Belfast Limelight 1

Saturday 10 September  2022 Dublin Voodoo Lounge

Sunday 11 September 2022

Monday 12 September 2022 Glasgow Garage

Tuesday 13 September 2022 Sheffield Leadmill

Wednesday 14 September 2022 Nottingham Rock City

Thursday 15 September 2022

Friday 16 September 2022 Holmfirth Picture Drome

Saturday 17 September 2022 Manchester Academy 2

At least I have something to look forward to - apart from the second damned COVID-19 jab.

Ah well, time to call this quits - I need a break from the computer.

Back whenever...

Karen

No sign of the morning coming

You've been left on your own

Like a rainbow in the dark

A rainbow in the dark

Stunned by a film

Just watched The Greatest Showman.  I have got to admit that I wasn't sure if it was the sort of film that I would enjoy...  But I have not only enjoyed it - I've done something that I don't normally do..

I've bought the soundtrack.  Normally, I enjoy a film, and don't think any more of it.  But the soundtrack just hooked me from the first track.

If you've not watched it - put doubts aside and enjoy.  Hugh Jackman makes it a really easy film to watch and the rest of the cast help make this a feel good film.

And yes - I did shed a few years in places.

Ah well, time to wipe the tears away and go and help prepare dinner.

Back when I get the chance....

Karen

Cause every night I lie in bed

The brightest colours fill my head

A million dreams are keeping me awake

I think of what the world could be

A vision of the one I see

A million dreams is all it's gonna take

Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make

Getting the Jab

Yep – I’ve had my first dose of the Covid-19 jab.  I’ve had the AZ (Astra Zeneca) variant.  The jab itself was painless – the nurse who did it was very professional, as was the entire team who were administering the jabs.  

I did like the way that the staff went out of their way to reassure those of us who are less than keen on needles, and also made sure that I was aware of the possible side effects.  

The only thing that I will say (more of an observation that anything else) was that the staff trusted people to stay put for the length of time specified.  The gentleman who was telling me about the possible side effects, and things to watch out for, spotted my medic alert, and when when I was asked about it, instantly instructed me to wait 20 minutes after my jab before I could escape.  Thank god for the kindle – I would have gone nuts.

I freely admit that I felt decidedly off on Friday – to the extent where I didn’t think I would be safe enough to drive on Friday night.  That put a dampener on my weekend plans, but my partner was sweet, and said that he didn’t want me driving, as it’s not a short drive to see him.  Ok – it’s not that far (about 40 miles) but it’s on some nasty roads (or I use the M6).  Either way, it meant a weekend at home.

And yes – it was the right thing to do.  I spent yesterday dozing, and was barely able to move my arm (I felt like I had done 15+ rounds with a certain M. Tyson…) And I will admit to being very grateful for the kindle – it meant I could read without having to hold a heavy book in my right hand.    

Today?  I feel brighter than I did – but it still hurts to lie on my left arm, and I am still tired.  But, if it’s a sore / bruised feeling arm, or risking catching this dratted virus…  Give me the sore arm any day.

Ah well, time to call this quits – my eyes are tired and I can hardly stop yawning.

Back when I get the inclination… (or my arm stops hurting!)

Karen

You try, yeah, you do your best
But nothing seems to work
You're not like all the rest
When you're the one who hurts
Oh, what a day

Recall sorted and Exhaust Gas Regulator....

Well, the Monster is back, and the recall has been done.  But that didn't clear the error.  No - the annoying little monster did that as I was driving to Arbury this morning.

When I started the car, I got the ping and the warning message (as well as the engine management light on the dashboard.)  OK - I knew about that - it was going to be sorted out.  What I didn't expect was for the damned thing to disappear as I was driving!

So, muttering all sorts of things about the error, I dropped it off to be dealt with by the capable engineers at Arbury, and went shopping with Mum (I'd been smart, and booked the morning off, so I didn't have to rush about like a headless chicken to try to get back to the dining table!)

As we're still in lockdown, it wasn't as if we could head off to Solihull for some retail therapy (to be honest - I've not missed that!)  Instead, it was wildy exotic - off to Morrisons to do the food shopping.  There were some things that we couldn't get, so we headed to Warwick to Tesco to finish off (and I was able to get the obligatory coffee - can't resist Costa coffee...)

We still had time to kill, so we were able to go to a couple of garden centres, and as we were heading back to Leamington, my phone rang.  It was Molly, calling me to let me know that the Monster was out on a road test, and should be ready to collect.

That suited me fine, so Mum and I headed to Arbury, so she could drop me off and head for home with the shopping....  I went in and spoke to Molly who told me the news....  The recall was sorted (software only) but the bad news....  The EGR valve (aka exhaust solenoid) was playing up again.  

Despite the car clearing the error, it had left a record in the ECU so that they could have a look and see what it had recorded.  (Always said the car was plug and pray!)  It turned out that the EGR valve was playing up, so they took it out, cleaned it up and reinstalled in.  

If it throws the same error again (and doesn't go into limp mode - where a snail can overtake you shaking it's little fist at you as it goes past you) - then I have to call Arbury to get it booked in and they will have to sort the EGR.

But, at the end of the day, as long as the little monster runs, I don't mind.  

And time to call it quits - I am fed up with staring at the computer screen.

Back when I get chance...

Karen

Write in dust all you say
Look for the answers you know you can trust
One day they might blow away

Car check

Well, I've checked the car, and at least the battery hasn't drained overnight.  That's one good thing. The bad thing?  Still got the engine management light (and ping). 

Now all I have to do is speak to Arbury to see if I can get the Monster in earlier than Thursday, as I don't really want to risk having to wait for the car over the weekend, when I have plans made.

That, and the fact that this puts added stress on Mum's car with mine being unreliable at the moment.  All I can hope is this is something stupid, because I really *don't* want to have to change the Monster...

Time to call Arbury and see if I can get the car in earlier.

Back when I've spoken to the service team.

*****Update - 08:40 - Spoken to Molly at Arbury Leamington.  The earliest I can get the Monster in is Thursday.  But, they will do the recall work before starting to look at the diagnostics for me, as the issue may be something to do with that, and they don't want to charge me unnecessarily for the diagnostics if the issue is cleared with the recall.  

At least I know that the car is OK to drive, as I didn't experience any loss of power - but it was had to tell as I was only ½ mile away from home when this error triggered.  So, all I can do is pray this issue is sorted, otherwise there is another bill landing on my feet courtesy of the expensive little Monster.

Karen

Oh it gets harder to decide
Fingers crossed there's no time to celebrate

Who are you saying maybe it's our fate?

And when you said you've never lied