August Mixcast.

This here is a mixcast of all of my most memorable songs from this summer, there of course were a lot more, and think my mixcast includes only one new release... but either way. It's got some classics in there.. well worth a download if you as me!

Download here: August Mixcast

(artwork courtesy of Sophie Truman Photography..
and Ambers poor foot.)

1. Joe Jackson - Jumpin' JiveThis is such a great song, instantly infectious, such a exciting song that as soon as its on you wanna dance no matter where you are. So many times this summer has this come on when I'm on the train or walking down the street and I've had to resist the urge to tap my feet. 
2. Bedouin Soundclash - Jeb Rand
   When me, Amber and Sophie were in London we we're having absurdly cheap cocktails one of the Giraffe bars in Soho and this song came on the sound system as we were just talking away. I haven't listened to Bedouin Soundclash in ages but it got me wanting to listen to them loads more so when we went back to the travel lodge I wacked on their "Sounding A Mosaic" album and it was perfect for a chilled mood, and so reminds me of London. (Also, if you get chance, Giraffe do half price on select alcoholic beverages and cocktails on a Sundays.)
3. The Lovin' Spoonfull - Summer in the city. 
   This is just an ultimate summer song, when on my way to SUbmerge really... really hungover from one of Ambers Cocktail nights Paul put on one of his "Rock Gods" CD's or something. Either way my ears and body couldn't handle it, and I thank this song on my ipod for getting me to the service station.. I don't think my insides would have held up quite like they did without it. 
4. Arctic Monkeys - Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts 
   At some point in the holidays a good friend of mine, Joanne, came over for a night of drinking WKD and reminiscing our friendship and Blue Coat over the last 7 years. Naturally, we listened mainly to The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys but this song highlights that night really... I don't think I'd really listened to properly before, a old demo gem of the Arctic Monkeys. 
5. The Beatles - Blackbird
   This doesn't really hold much summer relevance to me other than I learn't to play the intro to this song years ago on guitar and this summer decided to learn the full song, it's probably my favourite Beatles song and plays so beautifully.
6. Leonard Nimoy - Bilbo Baggins
   In London we met up with a friend of mine that lives there who I've known since I was really young and one of my most distinctive memory's was sitting in his car after we'd been bowling and I was really really young and him playing this song which I hadn't heard since. We got talking about it in London and he sent me the link to it and anyway, I can't decide if its good or just hilarious. Probably both.
7. Bronze Medallists - Mathematics
   Again, this song doesn't hold a specific summer memory for me, rather it was just on my "on the go" playlist on my phone and I've just listened to it loads. A really cool song that I found when browsing Julez's Top Picks of the Moment. 
8. Adam and The Ants - Young Parisians 
   Last week or the week before me and Will got roped into cleaning the house and as I was in charge of the living room I got to pick what music was on via the TV. I put on 6 Music as I'm sure so many others would and on it was a interview with Adam Ant, I think the interview was a little dated but it was interesting to listen to and anyway they played this song after and me and Will were singing along cleaning up. It was nice.
9. Rufus Wainwright - Chelsea Hotel #2 (Leonard Cohen Cover)
   This is my all time favourite Leonard Cohen song about his brief romantic affair with contemporary Janis Joplin. Its a timeless classic, covered so well by Wainwright and also Regina Spektor. Cohens original is more of an Autumn song... 
10. Los Campesinos - C is the Heavenly Option
    This song was another on my "on the go" playlist and was also on my shower playlist. Thing is, it was the first song on and so every-time I forgot to press shuffle and it would therefore be the first song I heard every morning. A proper fast tempo uplifting song to get you in the mood for the day.. I think one of the lyrics from it took a proud spot on my Facebook profile for over a year at one point too. Another real pop song from Los Campesinos.
11. Queen Latifa - When you're good to mama (Chicago Sountrack) 
    Erm.. I could easily of picked any song from the Chicago Soundtrack as it was on at least once a day in the SUbmerge Kitchen. I remember cutting up some apples singing this and Sian pointing out how it's really full of innuendos and then I got really paranoid that some of the guests would over hear, not that they would understand anyway. Absolutely mint soundtrack for a mint film.
12. The National - Exile, Vilify
    This song features a proper melodic piano riff. The band recently did a music video contest for the song in which people just sent in there own videos and they picked a winner, I like the winning video but I think it was a little bit easy to do compared to the work the runner up put in, anyway check out the video's here: Video Competition

Hot town, summer in the city.

So, I haven't blogged pretty much all summer. There's no real reason for that; I haven't been exceptionally busy but equally its not like I have had a lack of things to write about... either way I think my blog views has hit an all time low so I'll try and kick start it all off again.

Firstly,  a little up date of what I've done so far this summer:
Summer... its basically just been a mix up of what people do every summer or every holiday, going to friends houses, hanging out at the pub, occasional game of tennis.. Unfortunately this year I didn't manage to get abroad but instead I had a nice couple of days in London (back in the days where all shops were in tact and nothing had been burnt down) with two of my best friends. It was there where, thanks to Ambers hawk eyes I had a brief encounter with Pineapple Dance Studios Andrew Stone in SoHo's Arts and Theatre Club which we went to at the recommendation and in the company of my dear distant relative James who was a joy to be with for the evening. I then the following week returned back to SUbmerge which, if you're a long term reader of my blog, you might remember me posting about this time last year under the post "You'll need those fingers for crossing.." 

SUbmerge 2011: 
SUbmerge for those of you that don't know is a Scripture Union Christian holiday for kids age 11-14. One that I, like many of the other people now on team and my older brothers all went to as guests (when it was under the name of OneUp.) Sadly this year I didn't get as much time with the kids like when I went last year because I was in the kitchen. Not that I'm complaining too much, I had a sweet time, it was not only great to see all my old friends but when I did get to hang out with the guests they were on fire for God and having an absolutely great time which was so good to see. The worship was on top form, the teaching was flowing.. it was a great atmosphere. Camps one of those places that when I'm there I don't want to go home,its like I'm in this bubble and everything about who I am when I'm there is who I want to be. It's sad to come home.. but I'll look forward to returning next year.

Since then my summers been pretty parched, other than the usual stuff, been to the the theatre, met friends for lunch, gone to the pub. All really same old. I'm hoping (if I can find some transport) to get to Momentum next week, which would be very nice too.
For now however I'm playing the waiting game for results day which is now exactly a week away. Its killing me... the not knowing of where I end up next year, obviously most of the people that are reading have been or are going through this exact feeling. I've come to accept that I probably won't be in Manchester next year, and this isn't me putting myself down, It is unlikely that I've managed to boost myself up a grade in two subjects and I received an email from the university yesterday telling me that "due to the high demand for places this year there will be far less flexibility than usual to accept you if  you have narrowly missed your offer."  Which is not really what I wanted to see... but I think I'm set up. The worst thing is the not knowing; I'm sure that wherever I end up next year and what ever I end up doing it will be the right place for me but I'm fed up of putting things and people on hold till I know. Much as I hope I have good grades this time next week, I'm not going to get my hopes up.


Anyway, that's basically a short run down of what my summer has been so far, and despite the seeming lack of activity, it's been a quite good summer.. on the whole.

Watch this spot for probs a comment on the riots and other kinda stuff soon. 
God Bless, L x

July Mixcast #1: Remixes and Mashups.

So, there was no real reason for wanting to do this, I think its because I was really bored and I guess I've been listening to a lot of remixes. Either way here you go, my personal favourites are tracks 1, 4, 5, 9, 10. The others are good too.. but, not as good. Totes worth a download though.. Hope you enjoy the album artwork this week, my very own brother punkin' out to some sick Remixes and Mashups.:


July Mixcast #1: Remixes and Mashups.

1) Jay Z Ft Blackstreet - Can I Get A Fuck You // No Diggity (Dj Tsumfink) 

2) The Killers Ft Daniel Bedingfield - Human // If your not the one. 

3) Beyonce vs. Dave Matthews - Lets Work It Out

4) Girl talk - Triple Double

5) Missy Elliot ft The Cure - Close To Me // Get Your Freak On (Pop Chop) 

6) The Ting Tings Ft Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out // Shut Up and Let Me Go

7) DJ Earworm - United State of Pop 2010 

8) Lil Wayne - Offfice Musik

9) The Streets - Blinded By The Lights (Nero Remix)

10) Goldfrapp - Happiness (Metronomy Ft The Teenagers Remix) 

Facebook vs Google+?

For me, its a no-brainer.

Google + has got all of the best things about Facebook and incorporated it into its own Social Networking site. Facebook, the worlds favourite social networking site isn't however going to give in that easily, it has the worlds hearts and people don't like change. A slight layout change on Facebook and the whole world gets angry, but if you ask me the new features that Google + has added are ones that were much needed. Post Editing for one is something that most people that are already in my "Circles" (which isn't many as of yet) have commented on.

Yes, Post Editing along with the natural filters which the Circles create meaning that I can say what ever I like about something or someone and only the people I want ever get to see it, Google chats "Invisibility" feature, the over all aesthetic qualitys of Google and of course the bond between Android and Google which enables the "instant upload" for those people which have their Google Accounts synced to their Android phones. I don't doubt that it will take a hell of a long time to get off the ground, and that Google+ has a some existing features that it needs to edit. One being that although I can not Google chat to people that I didn't already have as a contact on Google chat, another being the Photo/Picasa integration - I'm not so sure that the whole photoing layout is quite as neat as facebooks, which is a massive issue as Facebook's photo sharing is one of its best features.

All in all, I do like Google + a lot. I look forward to a time in the future where I can +1 an article I've read and then people in my circles can see it, I look forward to there being no one under the age of 18, so I don't have to put up with the dribble from the lower years in Blue Coat that seem to consist of about 25% of my Facebook friends. What I'm hoping is that Google + becomes a place where all the best people from facebook come.. but people in general don't like change and I feel that it will take some time.

Google + has much potential but it still needs to iron out some issues hopefully by the end of the "Trial Period." But has Google + come too late?

Most likely. Facebook is a the king of Social Networking, it is Billions of users ahead of the trail users on Google + and that's not quite it: Facebook will be quick off the mark to pick up on the main Google + selling features, what with it already working on a Video chat integration with Skype to follow up on Google +'s own video chat and "Hangout" feature. Facebook will, as Google itself does with Bing, keep copying and updating.

Either way, I still have high hopes for Google... maybe its because I just can't be bothered with deleting people I don't want on Facebook, either way, it has potential - and much more that Googles previously "failed" setups such as Wave and Buzz.

For further reading and information:


Google Vs Facebook (by the numbers)
Google Vs Facebook - A verdict.
Google Plus a thoughtful answer to Facebook

God Bless L x

Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver

This is one of my favourite poems out of my favourite anthology. I think everyone else should love it too, so I posted it here.

Quick summary of life since my last post...

Firstly, I'd like to thank you my dear readers as June brought me my blogs highest monthly views since it really started this timeish last year and with only 4 posts in June too, thanks.

I'm afraid this post has no specific aims, It's just I recognise I haven't posted since the 20th of last month.. so:

I ended my "Whit Weekend" post with a little bit of talk on how dearest mummy and daddy headed south west, which gave me Casa Trewinnard all to myself... or at least for a short while. One might think that they must have been crazy, considering the amount of mishap that I've gotten into previously in such situations but I'd like to think, since '09's "Night of Terror" that I have matured and become a responsible young adult. Which, although it being potentially the best thing for my own relationship with @philtrew and @angelatrew felt a little boring, don't get me wrong, the entire week and a half I was home alone I was rarely actually alone and found myself (with the acceptance of one or two nights) constantly in the company of others, weather it be at home with my friends or staying out at a friends, but still, I didn't quite party like one may have done back then, or even, a year ago.

The week was over all good, consisting of much Uno game play, Cludo winning and pizza eating (although, if one has read my tweets, you'll be aware of the disgusting pizza incident of the 23rd in which myself and Joanne Sedz realised that we had fallen victim to some unclean prawns http://yfrog.com/gztz1ygj.) After a long week of going to bed late, getting up late and making the most out of being able to be loud I decided that it was about time to go visit my parents in Devon, who had since been joined by @will_trew. I was only with them for two full days, but it consisted of everything our family holidays are made of, watching films at night, going to a castle and have one day of "cool stuff for the kids" in which Me and Will went here (sadly, @Tom_el_rumi couldn't join us...): http://www.adrenalinquarry.co.uk/ (as featured on Channel 5's Gadget show...)


(it goes way faster than it looks... it was awesome.)

Also, made the most of having a bath whilst there.. I don't think I've had an actual bath for years so it did feel mint being able to have a bath. Bath Bath Bath. (in the cottage.. not at the adrenalin quarry place..)

Yeah, so, even though the travelling was a little harsh on my self esteem, after a crazy lady with pink hair on the outgoing train journey to Devon went ape at me for tapping my pen - and then stole the pen to stop me from continuing to tap AFTER I'd told her I was sorry and would stop.. even though this happened, I found the journey quite enjoyable.

I came home separately from my family because they couldn't fit me in the car. Typical. But it did mean that I was able to make the most of Mary Brock's childhood 18th in which I (among many of my pals) was requied to do a forfeit of doing 10 star jumps during pass the parcel and eat some tediously strong but all the same aesthetically pleasing vodka jelly.

No, it was not till the following day whence came the wrath of @angelatrew on the state of the (what I would call reasonably tidy) house. Either way, it has since blown over, and I think that she's more glad she didn't return to a list of stolen things and a lying daughter which the past had already sold her once. So, some dead flowers were overall a definite one up on previous years.

Not really done much since returning otherwise, except last night I saw Death Cab for Cutie at the Academy, supported by "The Head and The Heart" which was awesome.

Death Cab opened with New Year and ended (if my memory serves me well) with Transattlanticism, every song they played were perfect, even the stuff of the new album which I haven't become quite familiar with yet. Either way, expect songs from both bands on one of the two mixcasts this month.

God Bless, love forever, L x

Worlds strongest Vodka Jelly

Gal Gathering at S.Truemans (missing Amber)

One of the best Pub Quiz names ever..
obviously, only to those that have heard
the whispered stories of S. Sharples

Paddling with @willtrew