A little note

This is something i don't want to forget therefore I am going to put it on my blog so I can share it with others and as a constant reminder.

Focus on expressing your child-like creativity on a daily basis. Stop thinking so much about making money, and focus on connecting with people and sharing your creations with them instead.

Adrian

Scary RECESSION!!!

For those who are worried about the recession all over the world or in your country. I invite you to read this is a beautiful post. Making mony in a recession.

Tecnhological Revolution has socially crippled us!!!

This has been an intense week for me. I learned a couple of new things is great. This last week I have

spoken to a lot of people from completely different backgrounds, countries and perspectives in life. I have come to realize that with all the technological revolutionary advancements of this day and age. Individuals are definitely smarter than they were say 100 years ago. Why? Well that is a simple answer.

The information revolution that we are living in and not only that, but they way we communicate has fundamentally changed us. Clear examples are social networks in this particular case Facebook. This tool allows you to stay connected with HUNDREDS of friends and enable us to EMULATE a virtual SOCIAL LIFE. Don’t get me wrong I am an IT guy and develop these things myself, and facebook is an incredible tool that allows to KEEP CONECTED with hundreds of people across the globe SIMULTANEOUSLY. That is powerful!! Thus I said KEEP CONECTED. In this day and age of such huge technological advancements and I all sorts of High-tech communication the idea of KEEPING CONECTED does not mean KEEPING GOOD SOCIAL SKILLS.

My objective point is that for such a highly technological advanced world our social skills are brutally diminished. We are still so tribal like-minded considering such incredible technological advancements. And we are just not able to keep up. The world has created smarted individuals but that doesn’t mean more socially capable. People remain within their social contexts and tribes and What I have come to discover is that we have so much in common with other tribes. This is virtually impossible to imagine until you experience it. What I mean by this is that, if people give instead of take, “socially speaking” results could be absolutely amazing and a total win-win situation. Why I mean by give is to be absolutely open and give yourself to the group in terms of ENERGY life experiences, opinions and emotions.

This is a proven way to ADD SOCIAL VALUE to a specific tribe. Evolutionary speaking we are wired to survive and replicate taking Richard Dawkings theory. This means if a member of a tribe adds a valuable scheme of thought, actions or emotions for the particular objective of the tribe in that specific moment in time. The incorporation and acceptance of the new member is immediate, and not only that, the tribe wants to be around that member, because he or she adds value to the social replication-reproductive pool. I don’t fully believe this human ROBOTIC theory, but we do behave like that in many respects. Ellen is gone to Nepal for 3 weeks and heading to India in another 3. I am so incredibly excited It is going to be my 3th time in India. I love this country so much because it allows you to feel and think stuff that you would have never imagined to think or feel. That is where the beauty of it lies. Finding people with Zero technological access but with incredible social value. I am all about adding incredible value and enriching myself in the process is a beautiful thing!!!!

Adrian

Strangers and the comfort zone.

Hey amigos it has been a while since I last wrote. I have just been really busy working on the website, which I love doing is so challenging. Currently I am learning loads in terms of being able to build any sort of web application, considering the fact that nowadays we use the web so much, mine is going to be amazing with loads of users and specially be able to meet incredible people and learn more about myself.

Regarding people and social interaction I’ve been having great success. During the race week in Galway, I managed to speak to over 50 different people and all strangers of course and got over 40 different e-mails. I happened to learns loads and hone my approaching skills and one of the big realizations is that there is no such a thing as REJECTION. People in general have a friendly tendency towards other people and the big lesson is that we all share a lot of things in common. Just think of yourself having a good night out and all of a sudden a friendly stranger approaches you with a substantial conversation. The likelihood of you reacting positively is very high indeed.

One of the things that I discovered about myself is that I am able to approach any sorts and groups of people, obviously as a human being I feel the norm of social anxiety but the trick is to overcome it and that is when all the magic happens. I am fascinated by approaching strangers and meeting cool interesting people. One thing that I would like to share is that there are loads of interesting people out there. I can’t miss the opportunity to meet them all. A very interesting thing about all the interactions that I had was that out of all 50 only 1 was initiated by somebody else but me. What does this mean? We hardly ever talk to strangers apart from transactional purposes, and if we do, it could turn into a big challenge making the next step, meaning getting their contact details.

We hardly ever make it to the 12 feet with a stranger unless good skills are applied.
The challenge is reaching a casual distance with strangers.

Talking about the dark side on the other hand is that some people are still wary about NEW people and strangers. That could be a fascinating analysis of why humans instinctively are reluctant to the “new and novel” and prefer the familiar scheme of things, the so called comfort zone. I hate comfort zones. I don’t learn much staying in my comfort zone and familiarity. So if you have any experiences of how have you been BREAKING your comfort zone in the last week or month PLEASE SHARE !!!!!!!!

Anyway I am having loads of fun at the moment and can’t wait to launch my site and meet lots of interesting people.

I completely borderline between disasted zone and adventure zone. Where are you located??

Adrian

Living in Galway and Rocking up to people.

Hi everyone well WE ARE IN GALWAY. I'll try to describe the experience in one paragraph because it is a rather vast one.

Many changes first of all, new house, city, job and general activities and it just has been fantastic. I love developing the web site, it is a complete form of self expression writing code and seeing the output is like writing a poem; meaning I am an artist )):):):):):).

Well you have to work smart and to be a successful artist, but the challenge of creating something yours and trying to convert it into something real is just something completely beautiful. I love it. Galway is a great city like the arts festival is on and went to see a couple of bands from Cape Verde and Mali. It was great and just came back from seeing a couple of art exhibitions and found a lovely cafe place which sells cheese and wine with a combination of organic teas. I saw a beautiful sign in the wall posted which said "WE DON'T SELL CHIPS". This place opens until 4am in the morning amazing!!!, and so full of people and there seems to be a big alternative crowd in Galway which is going to be great for my business so if you are around in Galway don't hesitate and pay us a visit to our great apartment in Galway.

Another technique that I am developing is the technique on talking to strangers and initiate a substantial conversation and later engage them with an idea and ask for their contact details. This is one of the things that I will have to constantly do to sell my website and inviting people. I really love talking to new people and it feels great, instead of feeling all nervous and awkward and not knowing what to say I feel this HUGE BUZZ and so far I have met so many people just by rocking up to them and initiating some sort of conversation. The most interesting part is that most people react in a really friendly way. So if you have any suggestions on how would YOU best like to be approached by a friendly stranger send them up to me amonter5@hotmail.com. I love feedback.

Also I would recommend everyone to talk to strangers it’s great. You realize how many interesting people are really out there!!!!!!

WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL AFRAID OF STRANGERS ????????

Are they going to kill us, rob us, rape us ????

Or are we just being so incredibly tribal like cave men !!!!

Are we still cave MEN ???

Have fun and live your life!!!!!

Adrian

Morocco, London and Galway.

A really good photo was taken by me while Ellen is observing in a very diligently manner how the Moroccan man are in the course of devouring a savoury Tagine (Moroccan dish composed of several spices and vegetables in a clay pot). I saw the guy eating and asked them if we could take a photo with them.

.

That is me in one of the most beautiful Medersa Ben-Youssef (Islamic school which contains dormitories and student halls) which fabulous and fiery Moroccan stucco around the walls. Once you are inside you feel completely subdued to the elegance and beauty of the place.

One of the narrow streets in Fez.

I'll continue very soon ...............................................................

Adrian

Camino de santiago de compostela

So Adrian wrote the last post, and I guess it's my turn! Life has been pretty hectic over the last few months which is great! I love being busy and we have managed to fill our lives with activites that we are passionate about, so its been a very exciting time :)

I just came back from a 10 day holiday in spain with mairead and cliffy. We did 4 days of the camino de santiago de compostela and became peregrinos for the week! We walked 90 km from Pamplona to Logrono and it was just such a fantastic experience that we all agreed to go back to do more of it next year!

It doesnt sound like an amazing holiday opportunity when I describe it - waking up at 6 in the morning after sleeping in a hostel which tends to be occupied by pilgrims who have a marvellous ability to snore, maybe it has something to do with their spirituality - the louder you snore, the closer you are to god?? Wearing, in my case, hand me down professional walking gear which was not in the least bit flattering, living out of a rucksack that you have to lug around with you all day, stale sweat coating every surface of your body, oozing through your rucksack as you walk to permeate every edifice of your belongings, stamping you permanently with your own particular scent... And thats not to mention the foot pain, hip pain, knee pain, blister pain, mosquito bite pain and thirst/hunger/exhaustion that accompanies you on your 6-8 hour walk each day :)

Ah, it was wonderful!

Seriously though, walking through the countryside, watching the wheat fields, and poppies, the ground changing from gravel, to stones, to sand, to clay, plodding over every type of soil, every kind of terrain, we crossed rivers, went up hills, and down mountains, through villages and towns, traipsed through mud where sarah fell, gracefully, and through vineyards, where I fell, painfully! Just accompanied by our conversations, our thoughts, the smells of flowers and the simple sounds of the three of us making our way to our destination, I felt like we were all alone in the world.

Needless to say, after 6 hours of walking, I didnt notice anything of beauty, all I could think about was how to make the pain stop :) Until the fourth day, when I didn't want the day to end :( The feeling of reaching our destination was magnificent! A huge accomplishment, and something we didnt tire of in our short trip. Although I would imagine that after 30 days of reaching destinations that the sensation dimishes somewhat!

Once we got to Logrono, we said goodbye to our new friends, and headed to San Sebastian, to the beach and the sun which had been hiding behind clouds throughout our walks. I think the sight of so many people shocked us a little after our peaceful pilgrimage, and it took us a while to get used to not being greeted with the usual respect that a pilgrim deserves :)

Flying back through Biarritz, I spent an extra day there and extended my holiday even further. I came back feeling as though I had been away for a month!

So I am beginning work full time next Monday, which I feel sure is a step in the right direction for me, and Adrian has 3 more weeks of work before he joins me up there to start his own venture on a wonderful website that we are developing - well he is developing and I am the advisor :) Its really something we feel passionately about and I am sure we will make it work.

So, I hope all of my readers are well. It amazes me again and again how happy I can be in this little life, that if I fill it with the things that I love doing, and with the people that I respect, and love and enjoy being with, that everything is possible.

Have a good week xx

More learning experiences !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HI everyone it’s been a long time since I last wrote and is a pleasure to write at this moment. Several events have happened in the last couple of months:

• Adrian and Ellen went to Morocco and London.
• Ellen sent her book to several publishers in Ireland and the UK.
• Ellen went to Amsterdam on her first business experience.
• Adrian with the help from Ellen is creating a great remarkable website that is going to create impact in the world.
• We're moving to Galway and a lot more come.

Adrian and Ellen went to Morocco and London.

London was absolutely great. I went by myself first and saw a great artist called Cranach. He basically was the leading edge in his time, painting provocative pictures of naked women evoking a huge sense of erotism for the 16^th century.

My next big adventure was to see Freud’s house in which he lived for the last year of his life and the most interesting thing was to see that he collected all sorts of antiquities from all over earth. All of which, in a way gave way for him to create ideas about the unconscious and psychosexual development it’s fascinating !!!!!!

Morocco was a great experience completely different from Syria or Jordan. The culture is very different considering food, environment and architecture. People were still very nice more pushy from the sales perspective, but still great in terms great social skills. They were very keen on joking and getting to know the person before diving into the sales pitch. Morocco has an incredible blend of African, European, Middle eastern and Mediterranean cultures mixed into a single melting pot . I really enjoyed the food the architecture and specially the culture as a monolith and it’s so close to Europe, only 3 hours away beautiful. I reiterate my passion for a learning travel experience and meeting interesting new people from completely different backgrounds.

Ellen went to Amsterdam on her first business experience.

This was a really great one, she got to meet people from all over earth and network and talk about interesting topics that all were passionate about, these are one of the things that you really get to learn loads and sort of measure were your overall skills stand in comparison with the most intelligent people out there in the world.

To be continued..

Art packed weekend in Limerick

So, news regarding us: We're going to Morocco!! Yay!!

Adrian's idea, random of the random, we are going in 3 weeks, just for a week... How exciting! Looking forward to diving into a new cultural experience which is defined in the Lonely Planet as "the greatest show on earth." Apparently, "there's no place on earth quite like this." I'll let you know :)

Yesterday we went to the the Limerick City Gallery of Art to see one part of the Eva exhibition, which is held in 10 locations around Limerick. It was great! We were a little shocked that we were unaware of its existence until just recently... How shameful.

The installation by Haegue Yang (Korea / Germany) called Holiday for Tomorrow caught my attention, and I quote:

"She is interested in contemplating the invisible power relationship in structure of society and in everyday life. Her new installation includes a video essay, "Holiday Story", in which the nature and fact of holiday is quietly yet sincerely commented. Holiday is socially agreed temporary suspension of labour from restless production urge, which only legitimated itself for a purpose of regeneration for the better future production efficiency.

...The installation also includes "Blind Department", which functions as an obstacle of sight that rest of sight is suggested......

...Yangs complex thought on the role of art, cognizing the betrayal aspect of holiday in life, deceiving our expectation of fundamental rest responds to her mental struggle about labour....."

Which led me to wonder if in my time off, I am simply resting so that the next week I will be more productive.However, I also wonder if the artist ever does anything while on "holiday", because I know I definitely never come back feeling "rested"! Although I would like it if we were able to integrate work into our lives so that the two were not so segregated... but then that satisfaction of finishing work, and the build up to time off wouldn't be so sweet. Go check out the exhibition and let me know what you guys think!

Today we took advantage of the free admission on a Sunday to visit The Hunt Museum, and stumbled upon a guided tour in progress with a delightful docent who filled us in on the more amusing and intriguing aspects of a few of the artifacts in the collection.

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend as much as we enjoyed our surprising art packed weekend in lovely little Limerick.

Socialising in Ireland

Ugh, really annoyed with the social scene in Limerick. In Ireland for that matter. I must be getting really old because the concept of big pubs filled with groups of friends, and loud music just doesn't appeal to me. I so badly wanted to talk to the people who I went out with last night, and the atmosphere of too many people, and too little space, really loud music and too little time made the experience more stressful than enjoyable! I know it was Easter, so everyone who ever lived in Limerick was here, and for some reason, everyone who ever went to Nancy’s wanted to spend the evening there... I just can’t see the appeal anymore. Screaming over outdated pop music seems a little ridiculous.

I think we go out for a couple of reasons. Firstly, and most importantly, to meet up with friends, old and new. Usually it's old friends when it’s an event like Easter... to catch up. Seems like a great idea.

Secondly, we go out to see and be seen. We clean up and dress up, put on our masks, ready for the performance. If we are single, to try to find someone to go home with, and if we are attached, to look for someone better :) We go out to flirt, seeking attention, and approval. I think we also go out looking for something different, a new perspective, a triggering point of view, a complex conversation. Well, I do anyhow. I used to tell Adrian that the anticipation of a night out was something delicious, drinking in the house before going out was the best part: opening up the possibility that tonight, in the right outfit, surrounded by the right group of people, in the right destination, anything could happen.

Thirdly, we go out to get incredibly pissed. To relax, and forget the worries of work, of family, of relationships, and just go mad, act crazy, uninhibited, and unleashed. To have a good time. If that’s your idea of a good time.

But it’s funny because as a result of the first, second and third aims of a night out, we have developed a culture of super pubs. Centrally located spaces, designed with a defined age group in mind, where you can arrange to meet all of your different groups of friends, at the same time, in the same place. The fact that you are gathering with people of your own age makes it more likely that you will be attracted to someone in the vicinity, and looking all polished up as you are makes it more likely that you will draw attention to yourself from prospective partners. Single or not single. Drink is readily available, at a price affordable for everyone, because realistically we will pay whatever is necessary in order to fulfill our third objective, getting hammered.

These super pubs sound just that, super. Then why do I fucking hate them?

It’s become like a spectator sport, and a complete waste of time and energy, a lonely affair. You are alone when you battle to pass, single file, through the raging crowd, making eye contact as you go. You are alone when you need to use the facilities, barging your way through the same sea of unfamiliar faces. Alone when you get your drinks, and alone carrying them back to where you have managed to eak out a space for yourself, collected in small groups, standing your ground against the people trying to pass by, in this confined area, jacket in hand, perched in high heels which are designed for sitting, constrained to only making conversation with the person next to you, the third in a circle often spending the time drinking and smoking. Speaking loudly and clearly at your neighbour, so that they can lip read the words that are overwhelmed by the thumping music in the background, or in the foreground I should say, you are forced to drink more, to lubricate your vocal cords. Instead of a back and forth conversation, you end up talking in uninterrupted monologues, telling stories of your life, and just waiting for a nod of understanding. You may as well be talking to yourself. It’s now your neighbours turn to talk, and missing phrases here and there, you attempt to fill in the blanks yourself, too lazy to keep asking, "what?" and, "what?" and, "WHAT?”. With just enough information to get the gist, you nod along, any attempt to delve deeper into the mysteries of their life seeming like waaay too much trouble. The generalities are more than sufficient.

Separating from the cluster for long periods on end to complete the rituals of buying drinks, and pee breaks, in total the night consists of 5 or 6 separate monologue conversations, in 5 or 6 different groups, if you're lucky.

And what about the flirting and attention seeking? Is that somehow fulfilled on our singular walks to the toilet and back; to the bar and back? Fleeting eye contact with members of the opposite sex (or same sex if that's your thing) being mistaken for flirtation, as one or other parties is merely searching for recognizable features in periodic sweeping of the room, evoking the internal responses of, "do they fancy me?" or, "wow, he's hot".

That’s it? That’s "mating"? Finding a suitable partner? Who can find a partner in that atmosphere? When you can’t stop and talk to a guy you think is cute as you walk back from the bathroom because you are clogging up the whole procession of people behind you? What about trying to mount up the courage to say hi, not to mention the courage to butt in on his conversation with his intimidating group of friends? We are in the sense "together in one place", yet we are all alone, each group cut off from the next.

That reminds me, the third thing: Getting unbelievably pissed. Well, that one is pretty easy, because the time it takes you to walk to the bar and back, you may as well buy 2 while you're there, save you the return journey. And therein lies the solution to the previous problem: Only through the path of extreme drunkenness can you falsify enough courage to break down the barriers of intimidation, and lean over to talk to the cute guy poised at the stairs.

All three priorities fulfilled, at least for another week.

If you ask me, I think that the only people who are gaining by this are the super pubs. They sell a lot of drink, in double portions, to a huge amount of people. The music is so loud that people need to get drunker to really shout, they need to drink more to protect their voices, and gradually the drunkenness blocks out the discomfort of the constant noise. Atmosphere they call it.

Bullshit I call it. We are letting these companies redefine our idea of a good night out for their own profits. If they only put in tables and chairs, set a reasonable limit on the number of people allowed in, and reduced the volume to a more reasonable level, then it really would be a super pub.

I know places like this exist, I’m not re-inventing the wheel here; I just don’t understand why we don’t ever spend our money there.

I remember that in Mexico the guys at the table next to you would offer you beer, lean over, and start a conversation. They weren’t drunk, or even being intrusive, and not necessarily looking for shag; just to say hi, to share, and to break away from patterns of loneliness, to acknowledge our presence, and the importance of connection in a world more filled with people. For if not, we are all alone here. Distant from our oldest friends, distant from the people who we push past in our quest to buy more drink, distant from ourselves in the inability to even think straight because of the copious amounts of alcohol we need to drink in order to convince ourselves that we are "having fun" during it all. It’s like the only solution is to get drunk. That way, no matter what, you enjoy it. It’s like a band aid on a gaping wound. At least if you are drunk, you are unaware of your loneliness.

Maybe that’s a little deep… maybe I’m exaggerating just a tad… but then it’s a blog and I felt like venting, let me vent!

Happy Easter!

xxx

Paris/Qigong

Hi guys!

I had an amazing time in Paris, just one night by myself, and I really enjoyed it! I went to the Louvre, which I've never been to before, and although I've heard so much about it, it just blew me away! So much art under one roof, and a beautiful roof at that! I went to a jazz club as well, and I went to our favourite shopping centre to get food to bring home. It was great.

I have tai chi/qi gong tonight, another one of my ways to be healthy, body and mind. I heard a story on the Pat Kenny show recently, about a young lady who got ovarian cancer (I didn’t mean to talk about cancer, I never really think about it these days, but I suppose the drugs triggered me!) and she had 2 young kids I think, and she did qi gong, and ate healthily etc, did all the "right things" and the chemo didn’t work, the second lot she tried didn’t work, and neither did the third I think, so she died after maybe a year or 2. I heard the story, and thought, "oh that’s shit" but then forgot about it. And I happened to have my class that evening, and when I went, we did a kind of standing meditation. Well it’s a 2 hour class so you get a lot of time to think. And during the meditation, this feeling of, "oh what’s the point" came into my head. If this lady did qi gong, and ate better, and it didn’t save her then it’s all a pile of bullshit.

The first thing that I thought was great was that the class made me realise that I had been affected by the radio program, even though I hadn’t thought so at the time. And that I had been carrying that little bit of "oh what’s the point" with me all day long without realising it. And I started to feel really sad, standing in the class, moving to different positions, and I had tears in my eyes. I felt doomed.

Then as the time passed, and we were standing still, imagining ourselves on a mountaintop, I realised that I was enjoying it immensely. The movements look simple but they require you to concentrate on your body. So, following the teacher, and having nothing else to do, no place to go, or thing to prepare for, I realised that the reason that I do qi gong, or that I want to be doing it, is not to "be cured" or to live forever, but for the simple reason that doing it brings me joy. In the very moment, not later when I go home, although I may feel more relaxed, but the joy is in the action. It’s the same with eating healthily. I know it has long term benefits, but the main reason to do it is not only for the long term, but for the short term - so you wont feel bloated, or tired, so you wont feel guilty, or look in the mirror and be disgusted with what you see... so that you are full of energy to enjoy the moment, the present. And to be proud of taking care of your body as it’s the only one you've got.

So I felt much better after the class, recognising and dealing with a little bit of doubt that had been implanted in my head without my knowledge, and seeing the real purpose for all that I do to be healthy. I know that none of us will live forever, and although I would love to be as lucky to live as long as the normal population, I feel comforted by the fact that unlike many people who are on this planet, I am truly lucky enough to really be living in this life, not spending my day tired, or in a bad mood, unfulfilled or unloved. I do try to feel as good as I can everyday, and learn, see and do as much as is possible in the hours of the day.

I heard Stephen Hawking said that he was unlucky enough to get motor neuron disease, but lucky in everything else. And I must listen to my friend Agnes's advice, and stop listening to morning radio, its depressing! She sent me some lively music to play instead.

That being said, I prefer meditating by myself. And I don't feel worried now about not doing it, as I might have been worried before - as if to say - if I don’t do it I'll get sick again. But I think it’s about finding a way to watch the thoughts that are running through your head, and to acknowledge them, and to sometimes decide that you don’t want them in your life. And for me I get that in meditation.

Hope you are all enjoying your days,

Lots of love
Ell xx

Hi guys,


So... Dusseldorf.

It was a bit of a disaster when we arrived, bright and early, after taking a plane and 4 buses, to find that the hostel we had booked actually resided in another city - Cologne. How was I to know that "Koln" on the internet booking page referred to the famous city, and not to a district of Dusseldorf! Anyhow, it was not entirely my fuck up and so we didnt get charged, and we managed to find another place to stay - equally as romantic - a tiny room with 2 single beds. Sharing the narrow bed with adrians toes as my cuddling companion... needless to say a back ache wasn't my only issue with the sleeping arrangements.

Moving swiftly along, I did lots of shopping, and New Years Eve was mental, mental good not mental bad! White Sensation: 40,000 young people, all dressed in white, the colours of the lights reflecting off the crowd, and just house music playing all night, it was a dream come true! The intial theme was love, and there were intervals with dancers, and gymnastics, costumes and bright lights, and then they showed this really thoughtful video for the New Years Countdown, with a really profound message to make us think a little, (all in english!) and then the theme changed to the dark side of love, with pyrotechnics, and deep reds and blues and fire everywhere. It was really well designed!

Eric Morillo played, who we saw at creamfields, and he was good, but then this dj Axwell started - he also plays in the Swedish House Mafia who are a 3 person dj "team" who played at creamfields as well - they are really crazy, playing everything from tribal to electronic... but this guy Axwell on his own - he blew me away! He was the best I've heard so far. He played pure house but he played very little from what he has made commercial, it was just the blending and joining of complex sounds and making it work, it was incredible! It felt like he was just composing on the spot, and I surrendered to his genius. It was a magic 2 hours, I didnt want it to end - and he played at like 2.45, and my feet were in pain, but when he started playing, the pain left my body, I felt like my feet could dance forever. I'm so glad I got to see him, cos he's just being discovered this year - I'm scared when he gets more famous, he'll get more commercial, and he'll lose the individuality, the uniqueness of his sound.

So, now the downsides: I felt the people who were at the event weren't really into it - maybe the Germans don't take enough drugs or something - I mean I don't take drugs either, but they just seemed a little dull. I guess it was a big event to expect everyone to just be there for the music - they came to have somewhere to go to on New Years Eve. But I would love to go when its on in Amsterdam, (usually its on in Amsterdam, this is the first time I think its been on in Germany) with the energy created by people who are enjoying the music, and appreciating it.

Plus - they smoke. And Jesus they smoke a lot! I just wasn't used to it. The place filled up with smoke, and it didn't leave until they ran out of cigarettes, thankfully, at about 3! I felt my lungs aged by about 6 years in that environment!!

Apart from that, it was brill, and the music made it all worth it.

Happy new year everyone, hope 2008 is smashing for each and everyone of us xxx