Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Lowlands


I arrived back in the NL last Thursday and uneventful but long and hot flight. with one day to rest and making up with my cat before we headed north to the Lowlands Festival. This is one of the better summer festivals in Holland, with 3 days of a massive line-up with acts for almost everyone’s taste. I must admit I was not really in a "I have to see as many bands as possible" mood and the jet-lag was making me pretty tired. I regret not seeing a few of the bands that played, but did see a few that inspired me to stay and watch the whole thing.

On Friday I wanted to see Juliette and the Licks, but I had just gotten to the press tent and did not want to walk to the other end of the festival just then. So in fact the first band I wanted to see was The Doves who had cancelled, and the band that replaced them I don’t recall what they were called, next was the Kaiser Chiefs who were a typical Brit-rock band from the UK, good fun and nice to see even though the singer had hurt his ankle he still gave a pretty good performance. Up next was The Bravery who were another Brit-pop band. Franz Ferdinand was the last one we saw on Friday, in fact they were quite fun and enthusiastic to watch for a wee band from Glasgow. After which I decided to skip both The Prodigy and Royksopp as much as I wanted to see them I could barely keep my eyes open and we still needed to drive over an hour to get home.

Saturday was a find day at the lowlands festival, warm and sunny and just the right temperature to make people want to drink more beer. The festival seemed to have picked up a notch from the day before, more people in strange outfits, some great tee-shirts and a few entertaining things along the way between the stages. One thing that really caught my eye was the Silent Disco, people were really into it, and great fun to watch. We got there just as Apocalyptica was beginning so I missed them again, but I was quite excited because Death from above 1979 was playing on one of the smaller tents, this band I have only just gotten into on the prompting from my younger brother. They were great fun to watch not only because they are Canadian but because they only have two guys playing in the band, which is quite fun and full of great energy. After which my most anticipated band was Arcade Fire, another Canadian band making waves all over the place right now. I stayed to the end to watch them, they were FANTASTIC, right up to the drummer climbing to the top of the speakers with his drum, I am sure the security loved it; I am know the crowd did. Sadly Vive la Fete was playing at the same time and I made the decision to skip them. After was a bit of a wait for me, I skipped the Pixies and was waiting for Marilyn Manson, as usual a huge show with loads of lights and effects and larger than life Marilyn with all the stage fun to go with it. Then it was time to head back for a nights sleep

Sunday was a slow start, but arriving in time for Morcheeba narrowly missing Korn. Morcheeba was not what I expected because there was a new girl singing, apparently the singer no longer wants to tour so they have brought in another woman to sing on tour. She did a pretty good band, but it was not quite the same. Then I wanted to see The Dresden Dolls, who also had cancelled so we went instead to see Sons and Daughters who were ok, needing some energy on stage, but I can imagine they were quite nervous to be playing. All the photographers headed over to Queens of the Stone Age, but we decided to go and find some food and ended up in front of a tent with perhaps the most energetic band at the festival, even more so than Arcade Fire. Cheb Balowski (sorry the link was all I could find) was givin’ it all and the over stuffed tent was taking it all with enthusiasm. The music sounded like it had Polka, North African, French and Gypsy music all squished in, I could not tell how many people were on stage but there were a lot, I cannot recommend enough GO AND SEE THIS BAND if you like music that you can’t help but dance, jump and cheer along to. After they ended we decided sitting in the Sun and drinking a Witbeer was a great option while we waited for Heather Nova. Which was also worth the wait, and who drew an astonishingly large crowd. She was photogenic, sweet and played really well and I was happy that I caught a chance to see her play live. After that I had no desire to see anything else and call it a nice and early night as we both had to work the next morning.

A few things that were quite funny by the festival, the large screens near all the stages, which showed some silly filmed things like “Pimp my Tent” & “Low Land People” shot from a camera on a stick walking through the crowds. There was also a cooking show of what nice dinners people on the camping place were cooking, filming people brushing their teeth and washing their faces in the communal washrooms. I loved the portable Dance floor and DJ’s that was driving around in one of those little 3 wheeled vehicles. I would say it was a job really well done, even Mr. Jan Smeets seemed to be having a great time when we saw him backstage, and he should know running Pink Pop all these years.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Whale of a time

I spent my last few days on the Island just relaxing and enjoying time with my family, visited a few vineyards and said goodbye to Sylvia. On my last day I was waiting for some deer to come back as they almost always do in the morning and after 2 hours still nothing until I walked out the front of the house to get the paper and my dad came after me to say mommy and Bambi were in the back. Then not 45 min later off the side of the house was another mommy and baby boy deer. So sweet.

I have to say that is is not easy saying goodbye with perhaps the knowledge that it might be the last time that I see her. My parents took me to the ferry to try and catch the 4pm, and just as we got there they would not sell me a ticket and I had to wait an hour for the next one. Which wasn't so bad but frustrating with those kinds of emotions swelling up inside.
5pm came around and me and the zillion other tourists and commuters got made their way on board, got our bus tickets and found a half decent spot on the outside desk to pass the 90 min ride. About half way across during the crossing of Active pass, the captain announced that there was Orcas on the starboard bow, my entire life I have been taking the ferry and have never seen such a sight.
There were around 15-20 in total, split in several pods, feeding off what I guess was a big salmon run or herring. What a site to see, beautiful black and white beauties with their babies in tow and teaching them how to hunt. It felt a little like it was a gift to behold.


I after the ferry I got into the city and made my way to Jen and Merlyn's place, it was so good to see them after so long and because they are my closest connection to my life in Holland in Vancouver. We made our way up to The Main on Main street and had a great catch up.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Celebration of Life


One of the reasons I came back home was because our friend Sylvia was told that she should just go home and enjoy what time she has left of her life. This has been hard on everyone who knows Sylvia, she is the kind of vibrant and alive person who we all wish we could tap into her energy and enthusiasm. The tumors grow in her every day and she is trying my types of things to perhaps slow them down, but unfortunately according to the doctors to no avail.
What was decided on was a celebration of life party in her honor.
If we build it they will come, my father and his friend built a stage in the back yard, and people came from all over our community to celebrate life.
there was the marimba players, guitarists, singers, keyboards, choirs, sing-along, Alice, dancers and many more. Not to mention that they all brought food and drink as well.
What a great party and what an amazing turnout, I guess if it was my time I would much rather have the party before hand than after when I couldn't enjoy it.
If this truly is Sylvia's time to go, then I hope she knows just how much we have all been blessed by having her in our lives for whatever it is she has brought to us as a mother, friend, teacher, healer and compassionate human being. WE LOVE YOU SYL.

Mr.C

Still at home (meaning Vancouver Island/ Vancouver). I have had an extremely relaxed and uneventful time while being here. And one of the pleasures I have had is seeing old friends. Namely Mr.C my former art teacher from grades 9, 10 and 12. I was telling him that I hardly remember any of my other teachers good or bad, so it must be a good sign that I fondly remember his classes, even if he was a big grump sometimes.
He was the kind of guy you would be either scared of or not in class but in the end he was a great teacher and friend, and a huge inspiration for myself and quite a few others I knew, he always let us focus our talents as we saw fit. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one who was touched by his ability to pull out the best of us during our time in his class.
We met for some Serious coffee one morning while I have been back and it turned into a 4 hour chat about everything under the sun, really great!
Mr. C enjoy your retirement and thanks for all those years of pushing us to be our best, even if we had to listen to CCR during it.
THANKS!

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Home Sweet Home

I am back in Canada now since Wedensday, it was an uneventfull flight and trip thank goodness, even if I had to return as a Brit and stand in the longer customs line it is just so nice.
I have come back to spend some time with my family and friends, and to attend what should be a crazy celebration of life party for our friend Sylvia. She says it should be a reminder and celebration to everyone who will come that life is not to be wasted but we all know it is for her.
I arrived yesterday, took a taxi to the ferry enjoyed the ferry trip in the sun and then got picked up by my parents and after som,e shopping and coffee came home.
I have been swimming in a beautiful river, seen 2 live deers in the back yard and just been enjoying the sites and smells of summer here. Yesterday I was in Victoria met with my Brother saw his friend Matt who is also a miracle on legs. This kid a fw years back was just getting back to school, had enough talent to be a fantastic graphic artist and a great surfer to boot. Drove off the road one night coming home from work and ended up in a coma and later a wheel chair having being told he would most likely never walk. He does now, he has regained his speech and many of his motor skills. Of course he is not good as new but he is still alive and able to function in life. It is just so sad.
After Eric and I went for lunch and window shopped, I amused myself by watching all these girls throw themselves at my baby brother in a 3 block radius, I headed over to my friend Paul's for an appointment.
Paul and I have known each other for years since I was about 18 I guess, he has been cutting my hair since then as well, and it is a nice way to catch up with my friend in Victoria when I am back. Afterwards we went for a quick bite to eat before I headed home. So nice great looking hair and a good visit as well. Oh and Paul is the one who took the best portraits of me ever!! He is also an extremely good photographer. Pity I have not updated those pages in forever!
It may sound boring to some, but this is home sweet home to me.