2019 Overview

Hi everyone,

I thought I would share with you my highlights from 2019 

Becoming an Auntie, Not Once But Twice
I became an auntie again both at the beginning and at the end of 2019. I already had a little niece, and now I have two little nephews.

Seeing the 'Rocky Horror Show' Twice in January
I have been wanting to watch the 'Rocky Horror Show' on stage since I saw it on Sky Arts back in 2015. I was originally only supposed to have going the once, but I enjoyed it that much that I went back for a second time, while it was still playing in Manchester for its third and final week. I don't think we have asked for a better cast. Ben Adams and Joanne Clifton made the perfect Brad and Janet, Stephen Webb as Frank n Furter was outstanding, and Kristen Lavercombe's Riff Raff just keeps getting better every time.

Going Seeing 'Breaking the Rules' For a Third Time
This has been another show that I have been wanting to get back too, as I haven't seen it since it's original tour back in 2016. This show just keeps getting better, and its improved loads during the last few years as it seems more natural and free flowing. It's a lovely show, and I'm hoping to go and see it again in the future.

Birthday in Chichester
I went to Chichester for a few days to celebrate my birthday, and I went to watch Terence Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea' at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre. It was a lovely few days in Chichester, and the locals couldn't do enough to help me. They also have a little market on Wednesday, which was nice and I also didn't know anything about this market until I stumbled across it while working through the town centre. The theatre production was beautifully put together, and the cast was on top form. 'The Deep Blue Sea' really suited the Minerva Theatre due to its more personable layout.

Seeing a1 For the First Time
I have waited the best part of 20 years to watch a1 perform live. What a fabulous evening that was, as I went to the concert on my own and came out with a few new friends. We were treated to the classic a1 hits from the late 90s and early 2000s, as well as some new material that has yet to be released. I think that has got to be the only concert were I felt it the following morning (after three hours sleep), and it was worth it and I would happily do it all over again.

No Longer a Beginner Flute Learner
I never thought in a million years that I would saying that I'm no longer a beginner flute learner, and I'm really looking forward to what the next few years bring. I'm having at least year off from doing my grades, as the syllabus for woodwind instruments is due to be updated in 2021. So, we going to be focusing on my development as well as working on kinks that need working out.

My First Blog Collab
During the Summer I did a post related to Discontinued Jo Malone products. To do this post I worked alongside another Jo Malone fanatic called Michael James, who managed to source the information that I needed to do these two blog posts. It was a lot of fun going through products that Jo Malone no longer sells, especially the range of the skin care that I remember fondly.

Concert Review: a1 - The Reunion Tour 2019

Hi everyone,

I had the pleasure of seeing a1 perform live on the 4th November 2019 at Manchester Academy 3. This was a very unclose and personal concert as Academy 3 holds just over 400 people, and what a very fun and enjoyable evening it was.

The show opened up with the opening verse of 'Forever in Love' and then the more upbeat 'Same Old Brand New You', followed by a combination of 'Be the First to Believe/ Summertime of our Lives'. What a fun way to kick off a concert with late 90s nostalgia, and we also had our first dance lesson of the evening as we got shown the moves to 'Be the First to Believe'. We where then treated to an acoustic version of 'One More Try', which was lovely to listen too. We were then treated to another dance lesson for the number 'Ready or Not', and the dance was created by Paul; and then the music began to flow, and then it slowed down just a little bit for the ballad of 'Walking in the Rain', which was followed by the audience jumping up and down to 'Don't Wanna Lose You Again', which is such a fun modern pop number. I loved listening to 'Heaven By Your Side' live, as its one of my personal favourites from their debut album. Then we had the medley that was entitled 'The Songs We Never Did/ Rarely Performed', and this included the hits 'Here Comes the Rain', 'I'll Take the Tears', 'Tomorrow', 'Make it Through the Night', 'When I'm Missing You','Hey You' & 'The Things We Never Did'. We were then treated to 'Learn to Fly', which was then followed by 'I'm in Love and I Hate It', which also involved a little bit of audience participation. We then got treated to their latest single that was released last year entitled 'Armour'. Then it was back to a1 classics that everyone knows and loves with the lovely 'Everytime', and the ever popular 'Caught in the Middle'; which was actually the acoustic version.

We then had a short break, which was followed by an encore in the form of the very popular and very lovely Benthm 'Like a Rose', which everyone knows and loves; and the show closed with their first ever Number One 'Take on Me'.

But that wasn't all we were treated too, as an audience we got chance to listen to a couple of exclusive songs that haven't been released yet, and are not due to be released until sometime next year.

a1 managed to put a fabulous concert, and it was such as fun filled evening. I've never been to concert like it, as they give the audience a few lessons so then they can join in; which also included a work out along the way; as well as a bit of Panto. I also really enjoyed the stripped back feel to it, as they was only a screen as well as Mark's keyboard/ digital piano and Christian's guitar; which proves that you don't need the fancy sets to put on a good show or in a1's case a fabulous, and a very long time coming show. We were treated to a1 trip down memory lane, as well as a sneak peak into some upcoming newness.

I also went to this concert on my own, and I ended up making quite a few new friends on the night. This is also something that's also never happened before while I've been out at a concert.

I would like to thank a1 for putting on such an amazing show, and it was certainly worth the 20 year wait. I will be back to see a1 again in the future.