Well, its' been a while since my last entree. Been overwhelmed over the last 4 - 5 weeks with college work and tonsillitis! And although I had officially finished with school a couple of weeks, (I'm due to graduate tomorrow!) I'm only just now finally recovering from the tonsillitis!! Also my old friend, anemia has been adding to my sickness. It's been a struggle to find the right balance of my anemia medication, coz too little and and of course my anemic symptoms of constant exhaustion, dizziness, heart palpitations etc. flair up but too much gives me other nasty side affects that I won't go into detail here!! And it looking like I'm going to have to change my medication, again!
But enough of my whining! Yes, it's graduation tomorrow! And I have an interview with Amnesty International for a fund riser position next Thursday! Yay, it would be my dream job to work for an organization like A.I. It's only a part-time temporary position but it's a step in the right direction!! Wish me luck everyone!!!
But why, I can hear you all asking, why did I title this blog, 'Lightning strikes again!', well coz lightning struck my parents house yesterday, where I was on a short holiday, and killed my desktop computers Internet modem!! This isn't the first time this has happened, I've lost one modem and a couple of computers to lightning over the last several years!! I'm taking the modem today to my Internet provider and I'm hoping that I can either get a new one for free or not too expensive, or I might get me a wireless Internet connection for my laptop that I'm using now at my student flat, depending which is the better option.
But enough of my whining! Yes, it's graduation tomorrow! And I have an interview with Amnesty International for a fund riser position next Thursday! Yay, it would be my dream job to work for an organization like A.I. It's only a part-time temporary position but it's a step in the right direction!! Wish me luck everyone!!!
But why, I can hear you all asking, why did I title this blog, 'Lightning strikes again!', well coz lightning struck my parents house yesterday, where I was on a short holiday, and killed my desktop computers Internet modem!! This isn't the first time this has happened, I've lost one modem and a couple of computers to lightning over the last several years!! I'm taking the modem today to my Internet provider and I'm hoping that I can either get a new one for free or not too expensive, or I might get me a wireless Internet connection for my laptop that I'm using now at my student flat, depending which is the better option.
- Mood:
busy
Oh yeah, coz come 18 th July I'll be going crazy at U2s Berlin concert! After the last couple of months waiting for U2.com to get the new site up and running, so I could finally upgrade my membership to a paid subscription, waiting for U2s new album and then for the announcement of the tour dates, I was very disappointed that U2 won't be coming to Finland this year, but maybe next year when the tour is due to continue. I decided with my concert going buddy, the same girl who was with me at U2s Copenhagen 2005 show, that I would try for Berlin. The pre-sale was today and after 15 minutes of trying to figure out where I needed to go to take advantage of my pre-sale code and tackling the German language, I managed to purchase 3 GA tickets, yay!!
I've just booked my flight, now I just have to wait and see what Nienor wants to before booking a hotel. I'll be going to Berlin on Friday 17th july, leaving my home town at 14:30 and arriving in Berlin at 18:30. I bought another ticket for an online buddy of mine, who lives in Austria and we're all planning to meet up, along with a few other U2 fans, for a night on the town! Then it's back home on the Monday 20t July.
And GA = General Admission means there's every possibility that we'll be right by the stage, all depending how many people are already standing in line waiting and how quickly we're on our feet, gonna have to start training! Last time I had a GA ticket was U2s Slane gig but me and Nienor stay well back from the stage coz her Mum was with us, but this time I certainly have every intention of getting as close to the stage as possible. Last time I was right by the stage at a U2 concert was at the Zooropa, 1993 Stockholm gig, my first ever U2 concert and bloody amazing!!
Now it's the hair pulling, nail biting time waiting for the tickets to arrive!
I've just booked my flight, now I just have to wait and see what Nienor wants to before booking a hotel. I'll be going to Berlin on Friday 17th july, leaving my home town at 14:30 and arriving in Berlin at 18:30. I bought another ticket for an online buddy of mine, who lives in Austria and we're all planning to meet up, along with a few other U2 fans, for a night on the town! Then it's back home on the Monday 20t July.
And GA = General Admission means there's every possibility that we'll be right by the stage, all depending how many people are already standing in line waiting and how quickly we're on our feet, gonna have to start training! Last time I had a GA ticket was U2s Slane gig but me and Nienor stay well back from the stage coz her Mum was with us, but this time I certainly have every intention of getting as close to the stage as possible. Last time I was right by the stage at a U2 concert was at the Zooropa, 1993 Stockholm gig, my first ever U2 concert and bloody amazing!!
Now it's the hair pulling, nail biting time waiting for the tickets to arrive!
- Location:Kuopio
- Mood:
cheerful - Music:U2 - I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tongiht
Yes, it's finally here the new U2 promo pics for the up and coming Q magazine February 2009 issue which will be available in Britain from tomorrow onwards. Here's sneek preview of what you might find....





I've finally taken the plunge and went and applied for a debit/credit card at my bank so that I can subscribe to Q, coz being stuck out here in the back of beyond for the time being, it'll be next to impossible for me to get my hands on this new issue!! And also I'm sure there'll be lots of other Q issues with U2 articles this coming year and it's always been a bit of a hit or miss when trying to find Q or any other international magazine at my usual newsagents in Kuopio. And a year's subscription is surprisingly cheap, at only about 60 euros!?
I also intend to finally join up to U2.com just to ensure I'll get tickets for any up and coming tour next year. Here are few more pics of Bono....


Finally I'd like to wish all my friends here an Inspi(red) New Year!






I've finally taken the plunge and went and applied for a debit/credit card at my bank so that I can subscribe to Q, coz being stuck out here in the back of beyond for the time being, it'll be next to impossible for me to get my hands on this new issue!! And also I'm sure there'll be lots of other Q issues with U2 articles this coming year and it's always been a bit of a hit or miss when trying to find Q or any other international magazine at my usual newsagents in Kuopio. And a year's subscription is surprisingly cheap, at only about 60 euros!?
I also intend to finally join up to U2.com just to ensure I'll get tickets for any up and coming tour next year. Here are few more pics of Bono....


Finally I'd like to wish all my friends here an Inspi(red) New Year!

- Mood:
cheerful
The above title is the name of U2s up and coming new album and a very a appropriate one at that! It's due for release at the beginning of March next year and when I heard about this, over the radio while I was at work on Friday (19.12), it was all I could do to stay calm enough to ensure I didn’t mess up the accounting program I was working on at the time!! And to top it off they played With or without you, my absolute favourite U2 song of all time, at which point I got up and went to put the volume up!! Luckily there wasn’t anyone else in the office at the time to hear my squeeeeling!!!!!
Also the timing of the release couldn't be more perfect, as far as I'm concerned coz I'll be back in Kuopio by that time and apart from the album itself, I will be able to buy all the singles and magazine articles that are bound to appear along with the release. Soooooo looking forward to March!
Oh and I forgot to mention in my last entry that at the end of August I finally got to see the U23D movie! I had arranged with a few other Finnish U2 fans to meet up and go see the movie together in Hämeenlinna, a town some 300 kms south of where I live. It just so happens that one of my Mums sisters lives in a town near Hämeenlinna, called Tampere and she's been wanting us to go visit her since our last visit a couple of years ago, so I thought it would be a good idea the kill two birds with one stone and take my Mum with me, so we could visit with my aunt and her daughter, my cousin, for the weekend and that I'll go on the Saturday evening, when I movie was being shown, to Hämeenlinna by train/bus. And it all worked out just fine!
And the movie itself, well I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone here who has been lucky enough to see it, what an amazing experience it was! Almost better the real thing! It was all I could do to stop myself from jumping up and down and singing along at the top of my lungs alá real U2 concert!! It was pure torture!!! And at times it felt like Bono was right there in my face and on my lap!! I would have loved to have seen it a second and even third time and if I'd had the time and the money, but I'm saving my cash for the real thing, i.e. the up and coming tour!
Finally I'd just like to wish all my friends here at live journal a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year!

Also the timing of the release couldn't be more perfect, as far as I'm concerned coz I'll be back in Kuopio by that time and apart from the album itself, I will be able to buy all the singles and magazine articles that are bound to appear along with the release. Soooooo looking forward to March!
Oh and I forgot to mention in my last entry that at the end of August I finally got to see the U23D movie! I had arranged with a few other Finnish U2 fans to meet up and go see the movie together in Hämeenlinna, a town some 300 kms south of where I live. It just so happens that one of my Mums sisters lives in a town near Hämeenlinna, called Tampere and she's been wanting us to go visit her since our last visit a couple of years ago, so I thought it would be a good idea the kill two birds with one stone and take my Mum with me, so we could visit with my aunt and her daughter, my cousin, for the weekend and that I'll go on the Saturday evening, when I movie was being shown, to Hämeenlinna by train/bus. And it all worked out just fine!
And the movie itself, well I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone here who has been lucky enough to see it, what an amazing experience it was! Almost better the real thing! It was all I could do to stop myself from jumping up and down and singing along at the top of my lungs alá real U2 concert!! It was pure torture!!! And at times it felt like Bono was right there in my face and on my lap!! I would have loved to have seen it a second and even third time and if I'd had the time and the money, but I'm saving my cash for the real thing, i.e. the up and coming tour!
Finally I'd just like to wish all my friends here at live journal a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year!

- Location:Talluskylä
- Mood:
bouncy
Been rushed off my feet since my last journal entree at with school work at Business College. And soon, at the beginning of December, I’ll be starting a 3 month internship at an Accounting firm, near where my parent live, as a trainee accountant, which means I'll be moving back home for the duration. And if I do well and learn quickly, I may even get a permanent job at the end of my internship!
So I hope I’m able to cope with all the demands of my new profession, as this would be my ideal work place coz its close enough to home the drive back and forth everyday and although it will be a part time job for most of the year but fulltime during the busier times. And even a part time job as a qualified accountant, I’ll be earning more than I do now at my present profession as a gardener full-time! Also this new job would be less stressful on my physique, than my present profession. And this last summer was the culmination of all my physical ailments!
Coz not only did I have my usual foot problem from walking several km’s a day in trainers/wellies but my knees started aching something terrible, from kneeling down umpteen times an hour, but despite this pain I kept going coz I needed the money for college, and medicated myself with painkillers. But when my back eventually went out, with just 5 days before I was to go back to college, I had to take sick leave for the remaining 3 days of work, coz my back was completely jammed up! My doctor prescribed some really strong painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication and I was still very stiff and in a lot of pain when I started college but after about a week on the medication, the pain started to ease off a little, so I could at least sit in class without too much discomfort. So if I ever needed proof, that it’s high time for me to change my profession for something less physically demanding, than this summer was confirmation of that fact!
The last couple of months of college I was busy with a project for my digital camera course where I had to come up with series of photos, taken by yours truly with my own digital camera, and make up a story line with a script and present it before the class and I came up with the idea of my cat Robbie on a hunting trip! I took loads of photos during October and November and ended up using about 23 of them for my PowerPoint presentation and here's a few of my favourites shots that I took:-
Robbie waking up

Sitting on the patio
By the stream looking for fish
Waiting to be let back inside with his sister Marigold

I'm also eagerly waiting for U2 new album! It looks as though we won't be getting the new album until February next year at the earliest. In the mean time apart from buying the re-mastered Joshua Tree album I bought also the re-mastered Boy album. I’m hoping someone will get me the re-mastered October and War albums for Christmas or least that I get enough Christmas money so I can afford to buy them when I go back to college at the beginning of March! Also been following Bono's movements around the globe. Here are some of the latest pics of Bono from the Womens Conference in LA last October:


Oh yeah, looking might dapper there Bono and I have to say the short hair is finally growing on me! Although I wouldn't mind if he let it grow out just a couple more inches more!!
Edit 30.11.2008
I've just uploaded Bono's speech at said Women's conference onto a new playlist on my YouTube channel which can be viewed either by following my YouTube link on this page, I've added the playlist to my YouTube profile, or click on the below link:-
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li st?p=268042F7BD6FD323
And here's a lovely couple of pics of my guys all together for the Music Industry Trusts' Awards 2008, at the Grosvenor House Hotel held on 3rd of November 2008 in London, England.


They're all looking very well and absolutely fabulous! And I can't wait to see them all in person again soon!! I only hope that this time round U2 will finally make it to Finland on their next tour, coz I have a feeling I either won't be able to afford or have the time to go abroad!!!
So I hope I’m able to cope with all the demands of my new profession, as this would be my ideal work place coz its close enough to home the drive back and forth everyday and although it will be a part time job for most of the year but fulltime during the busier times. And even a part time job as a qualified accountant, I’ll be earning more than I do now at my present profession as a gardener full-time! Also this new job would be less stressful on my physique, than my present profession. And this last summer was the culmination of all my physical ailments!
Coz not only did I have my usual foot problem from walking several km’s a day in trainers/wellies but my knees started aching something terrible, from kneeling down umpteen times an hour, but despite this pain I kept going coz I needed the money for college, and medicated myself with painkillers. But when my back eventually went out, with just 5 days before I was to go back to college, I had to take sick leave for the remaining 3 days of work, coz my back was completely jammed up! My doctor prescribed some really strong painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication and I was still very stiff and in a lot of pain when I started college but after about a week on the medication, the pain started to ease off a little, so I could at least sit in class without too much discomfort. So if I ever needed proof, that it’s high time for me to change my profession for something less physically demanding, than this summer was confirmation of that fact!
The last couple of months of college I was busy with a project for my digital camera course where I had to come up with series of photos, taken by yours truly with my own digital camera, and make up a story line with a script and present it before the class and I came up with the idea of my cat Robbie on a hunting trip! I took loads of photos during October and November and ended up using about 23 of them for my PowerPoint presentation and here's a few of my favourites shots that I took:-
Robbie waking up
Sitting on the patio
By the stream looking for fish
Waiting to be let back inside with his sister Marigold
I'm also eagerly waiting for U2 new album! It looks as though we won't be getting the new album until February next year at the earliest. In the mean time apart from buying the re-mastered Joshua Tree album I bought also the re-mastered Boy album. I’m hoping someone will get me the re-mastered October and War albums for Christmas or least that I get enough Christmas money so I can afford to buy them when I go back to college at the beginning of March! Also been following Bono's movements around the globe. Here are some of the latest pics of Bono from the Womens Conference in LA last October:


Oh yeah, looking might dapper there Bono and I have to say the short hair is finally growing on me! Although I wouldn't mind if he let it grow out just a couple more inches more!!
Edit 30.11.2008
I've just uploaded Bono's speech at said Women's conference onto a new playlist on my YouTube channel which can be viewed either by following my YouTube link on this page, I've added the playlist to my YouTube profile, or click on the below link:-
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li
And here's a lovely couple of pics of my guys all together for the Music Industry Trusts' Awards 2008, at the Grosvenor House Hotel held on 3rd of November 2008 in London, England.


They're all looking very well and absolutely fabulous! And I can't wait to see them all in person again soon!! I only hope that this time round U2 will finally make it to Finland on their next tour, coz I have a feeling I either won't be able to afford or have the time to go abroad!!!
- Mood:
chipper
Finally I've found some time to come and post on my journal! It's been raining nearly all day here, so there's nothing much else to do!!
Over the last month or so (May) I was busy with the last term of college, exams, papers and other projects etc. And at the beginning of June I started my usual job at our local church as head gardener. I've just been so tired that I haven't found the energy to do much else but eat and sleep and work!
Some good news, I got a 50 euro scholarship from college not much but it's nothing to sneeze and it helped to pay off some of my pending bills before I get my first months wage. And it makes all the hard work I put into my studies well worth the effort! I'll be starting my final year this August and I'm having to work an extra ½ hour per day to start school before the end of my work contract.
On the U2 front, U2 movie U23D might get it's premier here in Finland some time in August although an exact date has yet to be announced. And the movie Across the Universe staring Bono as Dr. Roberts is finally being made available on dvd, it never made to the cinema here in Finland I'm afraid to say!
Oh and for all the Finnish U2 fans out there, U2Finland is about to start an official U2 fan club with, membership fees, a proper web page and forum etc. The papers have all been filed and we're just waiting for the officials to cross all the t's and dot all the i's! Hopefully just in time for U2s new album and up coming tour!!
Been following Bono's every move as usual and here's couple of the best pics of Bono from recent weeks, taken at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Third Annual Gala on 7th June 2008....


Looking might fine! Bono's back in Dublin now and hopefully putting the final touches on the new U2 album!!
Hope every one's having a lovely summer! I just wish this summer rain would stop coz it's flooding some parts our garden!!
Over the last month or so (May) I was busy with the last term of college, exams, papers and other projects etc. And at the beginning of June I started my usual job at our local church as head gardener. I've just been so tired that I haven't found the energy to do much else but eat and sleep and work!
Some good news, I got a 50 euro scholarship from college not much but it's nothing to sneeze and it helped to pay off some of my pending bills before I get my first months wage. And it makes all the hard work I put into my studies well worth the effort! I'll be starting my final year this August and I'm having to work an extra ½ hour per day to start school before the end of my work contract.
On the U2 front, U2 movie U23D might get it's premier here in Finland some time in August although an exact date has yet to be announced. And the movie Across the Universe staring Bono as Dr. Roberts is finally being made available on dvd, it never made to the cinema here in Finland I'm afraid to say!
Oh and for all the Finnish U2 fans out there, U2Finland is about to start an official U2 fan club with, membership fees, a proper web page and forum etc. The papers have all been filed and we're just waiting for the officials to cross all the t's and dot all the i's! Hopefully just in time for U2s new album and up coming tour!!
Been following Bono's every move as usual and here's couple of the best pics of Bono from recent weeks, taken at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Third Annual Gala on 7th June 2008....


Looking might fine! Bono's back in Dublin now and hopefully putting the final touches on the new U2 album!!
Hope every one's having a lovely summer! I just wish this summer rain would stop coz it's flooding some parts our garden!!
- Location:Talluskylä
- Mood:
artistic
Yes it's Bono's birthday today! He's just turned 48 and is as hot as ever!! Wishing all the best for my lovely man is this his special day. And let's not forget that it's also Bono's daughter Jordans birthday too. So as always since 1989, it's a double celebration at the Hewson house today.


Luthien.

Luthien.
- Mood:
bouncy
Yes, I think the spring thaw as actually started here, the snow is melting rapidly and the temps are over +5 centigrade. Although with the snow banks in some places being almost a metre high it'll take a couple of weeks of continual warm weather before it's all gone!
And I'm typing this post on my new laptop that came last Friday. Been busy ever since setting up the laptop with all my files and programs. Let's hope this HP Pavilion make will last longer than Fujitsu Siemens Amilo notebook that broke down on me. It came with the new Windows Vista which is taking some time getting used to. Can't say if it's any better than the XP, but I do like the sidebar options.
Also I'm using Firefox instead of Windows explorer. It seems to load the internet pages much quicker than explorer.
Had two exams today, back to back, first one was a maths exam, Investment Calculations and I think it went pretty well. The second was Finnish language, Communications and Media, and it too went fairly well. Now I can relax and this Thursday I don't have any lessons, yay!
Just saw Agatha Christie's, Ordeal by Innocence on Sunday with the very lovely Richard Armitage. He didn't have a very large roll but it was great to see one of my favourite actors interpreting one of my favourite authors novels. Also I think this is the first time this particular Marple story has ever been adapted to TV and I thought it was one of the best adaptions of an Agatha Christie novel I've ever seen, not like I'm bias or anything.....
Screen caps thanks to BW/LW of The Armitage Army @ Richard Armitage Central



And I'm typing this post on my new laptop that came last Friday. Been busy ever since setting up the laptop with all my files and programs. Let's hope this HP Pavilion make will last longer than Fujitsu Siemens Amilo notebook that broke down on me. It came with the new Windows Vista which is taking some time getting used to. Can't say if it's any better than the XP, but I do like the sidebar options.
Also I'm using Firefox instead of Windows explorer. It seems to load the internet pages much quicker than explorer.
Had two exams today, back to back, first one was a maths exam, Investment Calculations and I think it went pretty well. The second was Finnish language, Communications and Media, and it too went fairly well. Now I can relax and this Thursday I don't have any lessons, yay!
Just saw Agatha Christie's, Ordeal by Innocence on Sunday with the very lovely Richard Armitage. He didn't have a very large roll but it was great to see one of my favourite actors interpreting one of my favourite authors novels. Also I think this is the first time this particular Marple story has ever been adapted to TV and I thought it was one of the best adaptions of an Agatha Christie novel I've ever seen, not like I'm bias or anything.....
Screen caps thanks to BW/LW of The Armitage Army @ Richard Armitage Central



- Mood:
chipper
I just want to wish every one on the LJ community a very Happy Easter! As is always the case with Easter here, it's turned very cold, we have plenty of snow and the hares are having a wale of a time! Also the sun is shinning warmly, although not warmly enough to melt the snow!

Yes that's a picture of our cat Robbie trying to eat the Easter decorations, namely a painted wooden egg...

Yes that's a picture of our cat Robbie trying to eat the Easter decorations, namely a painted wooden egg...
- Mood:
cheerful
It would seem that I have the worst luck when it comes to computers! Over the last 3 years my first two computers died on me, although granted they where both over 10 years old! And one was struck by lightning!!
But now my laptop, that I only just bought last year and that I only just finished paying for last month, is now broken and coz I've had it for just over a year the guarantee has run out and it would cost me almost 500 euros to get the thing repaired!!
I don't even understand how my laptop got broken! Coz when I got back to my apartment last Monday afternoon from school and unpacked my laptop, which I had taken with me to my parents house during the skiing holidays, I found I was unable to plug in the mains cable coz the mains connection in the computer had somehow broken and come lose!?! How it came lose is a totally mystery, I mean it's not as though I've been throwing it around a anything! Also the people at the repair shop said that it was a very unusual thing to happen and that maybe it was faulty to begin with!! We'll never know.
So now during the week I can communicate on the Internet only via my schools computers. Luckily my desktop computer here at home is still in working order! *she knocks on wood*
I'm just thinking that it's probably cheaper to just buy a new laptop with the latest Windows Vista, than have my old one repaired, coz I really can't afford to fork out 500 euros right now on my students income. And just pay monthly payments like before, only this time take extra care of the laptop! And then later once I go back to work in June, maybe find someone who can repair the old laptop, without having to get the expensive part (that alone would cost 300 euros!) and just pay for the work. Coz the people at the repair shop, that I took it to, do say they could maybe repair it without having to get the new part, but they can't guarantee it'll work!!
So it's decicion time! The only trouble with buying a new laptop is having to upload all my programs and files again i.e. time consuming work! Luckily I had backed up most of the files I had on my old laptop. I just hope there's still enough juice in the battery, so I'll be able download the few files that I hadn't had the time to back up yet!
Wishing every one here a great St. Patricks Day!

Adam: Hey, Larry are my eyes deciving me or are there huge three-leaf clovers floating in the air?!
Larry: Ya seeing things Sparky! Now shut up I'm trying to read!!
Bono: You do realize you've got the book upside down...
Edge: *thinking* Uhm three-leaf clovers, it must be St. Patricks day!
But now my laptop, that I only just bought last year and that I only just finished paying for last month, is now broken and coz I've had it for just over a year the guarantee has run out and it would cost me almost 500 euros to get the thing repaired!!
I don't even understand how my laptop got broken! Coz when I got back to my apartment last Monday afternoon from school and unpacked my laptop, which I had taken with me to my parents house during the skiing holidays, I found I was unable to plug in the mains cable coz the mains connection in the computer had somehow broken and come lose!?! How it came lose is a totally mystery, I mean it's not as though I've been throwing it around a anything! Also the people at the repair shop said that it was a very unusual thing to happen and that maybe it was faulty to begin with!! We'll never know.
So now during the week I can communicate on the Internet only via my schools computers. Luckily my desktop computer here at home is still in working order! *she knocks on wood*
I'm just thinking that it's probably cheaper to just buy a new laptop with the latest Windows Vista, than have my old one repaired, coz I really can't afford to fork out 500 euros right now on my students income. And just pay monthly payments like before, only this time take extra care of the laptop! And then later once I go back to work in June, maybe find someone who can repair the old laptop, without having to get the expensive part (that alone would cost 300 euros!) and just pay for the work. Coz the people at the repair shop, that I took it to, do say they could maybe repair it without having to get the new part, but they can't guarantee it'll work!!
So it's decicion time! The only trouble with buying a new laptop is having to upload all my programs and files again i.e. time consuming work! Luckily I had backed up most of the files I had on my old laptop. I just hope there's still enough juice in the battery, so I'll be able download the few files that I hadn't had the time to back up yet!
Wishing every one here a great St. Patricks Day!

Adam: Hey, Larry are my eyes deciving me or are there huge three-leaf clovers floating in the air?!
Larry: Ya seeing things Sparky! Now shut up I'm trying to read!!
Bono: You do realize you've got the book upside down...
Edge: *thinking* Uhm three-leaf clovers, it must be St. Patricks day!
- Mood:
discontent
Would you believe it?! Just the day before I was due to start my ski-ing holiday, I fall ill with the flu! Bloody typical, the same thing happen during the Christmas holiday!! I only hope this won't last too long coz I've got some home work from business school that needs to be completed before going back the week after next!?!
Anyway, to cheer myself up I thought I'd post some pics from U2s re-mastered Joshua Tree videos, namely screen caps the infamous Red Hill Mining Town video! Now the U2 fans, who have been fortunate enough to see this, know how unintentionally funny the video is and that it's only redeeming quality, at least for this Bono girl, is how incredibly hot Bono looks in the video! So girls be sure to have your drool buckets close at hand, coz you're gonna need 'em....






Okay, that's enough of that!
Oh and it was great to able to finally see a pristine version of U2s Joshua Tree concert live from Paris! A pen pal of mine, had sent me a VHS recording of this years ago, not the best quality and incomplete at that! But the one thing that has always surprised me about this concert, is the absence of the one song that has become a stable of U2s set ever since the release of the Joshua Tree album, the highlight of every U2 show, the U2 fans reading this know what song I'm talking about! 'Streets' as it's know amongst U2 and their fans and because of this, I've always found this Paris concert to be a little lacking!
Haven't found the time to watch Outside it's America documentary yet, but I have seen it a several times before. Although I am hoping to find the time to watch the documentary again during my holiday and take some more screen caps of JT Bono!!
As for the re-mastered cd itself, well apart from a few songs, I've never really liked the Joshua Tree album as a whole. But I think they did a marvelous re-mastering job, and With or Without You sounds even more magnificent! Don't much like the alternative video though! It was the original version of the video that made me fall in love with Bono and U2 way back in the late 80's and nothing could ever replace it!
Through the storm we reach the shore, you give it all but I want more, and I'm waiting for you....
Anyway, to cheer myself up I thought I'd post some pics from U2s re-mastered Joshua Tree videos, namely screen caps the infamous Red Hill Mining Town video! Now the U2 fans, who have been fortunate enough to see this, know how unintentionally funny the video is and that it's only redeeming quality, at least for this Bono girl, is how incredibly hot Bono looks in the video! So girls be sure to have your drool buckets close at hand, coz you're gonna need 'em....






Okay, that's enough of that!

Oh and it was great to able to finally see a pristine version of U2s Joshua Tree concert live from Paris! A pen pal of mine, had sent me a VHS recording of this years ago, not the best quality and incomplete at that! But the one thing that has always surprised me about this concert, is the absence of the one song that has become a stable of U2s set ever since the release of the Joshua Tree album, the highlight of every U2 show, the U2 fans reading this know what song I'm talking about! 'Streets' as it's know amongst U2 and their fans and because of this, I've always found this Paris concert to be a little lacking!
Haven't found the time to watch Outside it's America documentary yet, but I have seen it a several times before. Although I am hoping to find the time to watch the documentary again during my holiday and take some more screen caps of JT Bono!!
As for the re-mastered cd itself, well apart from a few songs, I've never really liked the Joshua Tree album as a whole. But I think they did a marvelous re-mastering job, and With or Without You sounds even more magnificent! Don't much like the alternative video though! It was the original version of the video that made me fall in love with Bono and U2 way back in the late 80's and nothing could ever replace it!
Through the storm we reach the shore, you give it all but I want more, and I'm waiting for you....
- Location:Talluskylä
- Mood:
tired
Oh yeah! I've had the hots for Sean for almost as long as I have for Bono! It was around about the same time, i.e. the late 1980s, while I was just getting into U2, had bought their latest album Rattle and Hum, the previous year and any other U2 album/single I could get my hands at the time (no such thing as digital downloads back then!) when I found out that Sting was starring in a new film called Stormy Monday.
Now I'd been a fan of Sting and The Police even before U2, so of course I wanted to see it. But oh my, as soon as Sean appeared on the screen I was like, "Wow, who's this guy?!?" and poor old Sting didn't get a look in after that!! Ever since, I've followed Sean's career as closely as I could for one being stuck out in the back of beyond, where only a fraction of international films and tv series ever get shown or even released on video/dvd! So, of all the films and TV shows Sean ever starred in, I've only been able to see Patriot Games, Lady Chatterley, Golden Eye, When Saturday Comes, Lord of the Rings (it was mainly coz of Sean that I even wanted to see this movie, at the time the story itself was unfamiliar and I knew hardly nothing about any of the other actors!), Troy, National Treasure (which was just recently shown here on TV for the first time!) and most recently Sharpe! Which again, first two episodes have only just been released onto dvd this January, the next 3 episodes were released onto dvd in February, and I of course bought both box sets as soon as they became available. And episodes 6, 7 and 8 are due to be released next month.
I watched the first episode the other day and oh wow, it's not often one can use the word beautiful to describe a man but Sean is sooooo beautiful as Sharpe! All that blond hair, intense green eyes, and fit physique, oh yeah!


I swear he must have some Nordic blood rushing through his veins, there's just something so familiar about his features. I'm not just talking about his blondness but also his eyes and his build, I'm seeing a definite Viking ancestry there!
Here are a couple of screen caps I took from the 3rd episode....


It just so happened that I received episodes 3, 4 and 5 before the first two but I didn't realized it until I watched the first ½ hour of the 3rd episode, taking screen caps! So I forced myself to stop watching it and waited for first box set to arrive!! I only hope that the trend continues and all the rest of the Sharpe series will eventually end up being released on dvd here in Finland.
Oh and I suppose should congratulate Sean on tying the knot again! *she says grudgingly* Let's hope this one's a keeper!! *sort of* It's the jealously talking....
Now I'd been a fan of Sting and The Police even before U2, so of course I wanted to see it. But oh my, as soon as Sean appeared on the screen I was like, "Wow, who's this guy?!?" and poor old Sting didn't get a look in after that!! Ever since, I've followed Sean's career as closely as I could for one being stuck out in the back of beyond, where only a fraction of international films and tv series ever get shown or even released on video/dvd! So, of all the films and TV shows Sean ever starred in, I've only been able to see Patriot Games, Lady Chatterley, Golden Eye, When Saturday Comes, Lord of the Rings (it was mainly coz of Sean that I even wanted to see this movie, at the time the story itself was unfamiliar and I knew hardly nothing about any of the other actors!), Troy, National Treasure (which was just recently shown here on TV for the first time!) and most recently Sharpe! Which again, first two episodes have only just been released onto dvd this January, the next 3 episodes were released onto dvd in February, and I of course bought both box sets as soon as they became available. And episodes 6, 7 and 8 are due to be released next month.
I watched the first episode the other day and oh wow, it's not often one can use the word beautiful to describe a man but Sean is sooooo beautiful as Sharpe! All that blond hair, intense green eyes, and fit physique, oh yeah!


I swear he must have some Nordic blood rushing through his veins, there's just something so familiar about his features. I'm not just talking about his blondness but also his eyes and his build, I'm seeing a definite Viking ancestry there!
Here are a couple of screen caps I took from the 3rd episode....


It just so happened that I received episodes 3, 4 and 5 before the first two but I didn't realized it until I watched the first ½ hour of the 3rd episode, taking screen caps! So I forced myself to stop watching it and waited for first box set to arrive!! I only hope that the trend continues and all the rest of the Sharpe series will eventually end up being released on dvd here in Finland.
Oh and I suppose should congratulate Sean on tying the knot again! *she says grudgingly* Let's hope this one's a keeper!! *sort of* It's the jealously talking....
- Mood:
optimistic
Hello to all my livejournal friends and any one else who might visit my page, I'd just like to wish you all a wonderful St. Valentines day!


- Mood:
loved
Oh yeah, I've just come back in from doing the first decent bit of snow work of the winter. I'm all sweaty and my hair, that wasn't covered by my hat, is wet and I feel great!
I've really been missing doing the snow work this winter, coz up to now we've had so little of it and has melted away almost the next day, which is very unusual. It much the same story last winter. Global warming is so much more apparent up here in the far north.
But anyway, we'll probably have to go out this afternoon and do some more snow work, coz there's a bit of blizzard with a strong but remarkably warm southerly wind and it's only +2 centigrade, so not cold at all! It was wonderful to feel the big cold snow flakes gently hitting my face, and my skin now feels so soft and smooth, natures very own moisturizer!!
I've really been missing doing the snow work this winter, coz up to now we've had so little of it and has melted away almost the next day, which is very unusual. It much the same story last winter. Global warming is so much more apparent up here in the far north.
But anyway, we'll probably have to go out this afternoon and do some more snow work, coz there's a bit of blizzard with a strong but remarkably warm southerly wind and it's only +2 centigrade, so not cold at all! It was wonderful to feel the big cold snow flakes gently hitting my face, and my skin now feels so soft and smooth, natures very own moisturizer!!
- Mood:
energetic
I had the strangest Bono dream a couple of nights ago. I was visiting my old my home town of Leicester with Bono! We went to see my old house in Braunstone (part of Leicester) and then we got on the bus, that I used take to my junior school! And while sitting side by side we started to kiss and just as it was starting to get real intense, (by that I mean tongues and hands all over!) when my blasted alarm went off!!
What could this possibly mean? I mean there's an obvious Richard Armitage connection, coz he's from Leicester, one of the many things we seem to have in common. It just seems strange that Bono and I would be taking a bus anywhere together, a limo yes, but could this mean that I'm gonna meet Bono again, this time in England! Oh I do hope so!!
What could this possibly mean? I mean there's an obvious Richard Armitage connection, coz he's from Leicester, one of the many things we seem to have in common. It just seems strange that Bono and I would be taking a bus anywhere together, a limo yes, but could this mean that I'm gonna meet Bono again, this time in England! Oh I do hope so!!
Oh where to start! Well as I already mentioned in my "New Obsession" post, I've become totally enthralled with British actor Richard Armitage, who star's as Sir Guy of Gisborne in the BBC's latest adaptation of Robin Hood, and as John Thornton in the BBC's historic drama, North and South, that's based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel of the same name, to name just two of the productions he has been involved in.
Is it just me, or is Bono looking a little miffed....

And thanks to an online buddy of mine at the Armitage Army forum I've been able to get my hands on a copy of the North and South dvd. And oh, it's just amazing! I have to admit, I've watched my fair share of romantic historic tv shows and movies, I'm quite the fan of the genre, but this production is by far the best I've ever seen! And not just because of Richard, but the whole cast and the production itself was superb. But don't take my word for it, if you're like me, and love romantic historic dramas then buy this dvd, I guarantee you won't regret it!
Here are a few screen caps of the lovely Mr. Armitage as John Thornton:-




Need I say more!
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this series you can find out more about here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/northandsout h/
Mr. Armitage has of course starred in many other British TV shows, such as the show I mentioned in my previous blog, i.e. the 5th season of Cold Feet. I finally got the dvd just after Christmas, and again I think the best way the enlighten you all to the reasons behind my obsession is to post a couple of screen caps from the first episode of the 5th season where Richard plays the oh so fit and sexy swimming instructor:-




I think those speedos pretty much speak for themselves, wouldn't you agree!?!
http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/coldfeet/
Oh and let's not forget the mad, bad and dangerous to know Sir Guy of Gisborne:-


Marian must be mad to want Robin Hood over this the most sexiest portrayal of Sir Guy I have ever seen, although from what I hear from my fellow AAs, she comes a cropper at the end of the second season, which we here in Finland won't get to see until 2009!
And again, anyone who is not familiar with this series can find out more about it here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/robinhood/in dex.shtml

And on a final note here, I finally got U2s re-mastered Joshua Tree cd, bonus cd, dvd and book. I really haven't had time to watch the dvd or listen to the cds coz my "latest obsession" has been taking up most of my spare time! But I'll writing a blog and posting a few pics from the box set very soon.
Is it just me, or is Bono looking a little miffed....

And thanks to an online buddy of mine at the Armitage Army forum I've been able to get my hands on a copy of the North and South dvd. And oh, it's just amazing! I have to admit, I've watched my fair share of romantic historic tv shows and movies, I'm quite the fan of the genre, but this production is by far the best I've ever seen! And not just because of Richard, but the whole cast and the production itself was superb. But don't take my word for it, if you're like me, and love romantic historic dramas then buy this dvd, I guarantee you won't regret it!
Here are a few screen caps of the lovely Mr. Armitage as John Thornton:-




Need I say more!
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this series you can find out more about here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/northandsout
Mr. Armitage has of course starred in many other British TV shows, such as the show I mentioned in my previous blog, i.e. the 5th season of Cold Feet. I finally got the dvd just after Christmas, and again I think the best way the enlighten you all to the reasons behind my obsession is to post a couple of screen caps from the first episode of the 5th season where Richard plays the oh so fit and sexy swimming instructor:-




I think those speedos pretty much speak for themselves, wouldn't you agree!?!
http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/coldfeet/
Oh and let's not forget the mad, bad and dangerous to know Sir Guy of Gisborne:-


Marian must be mad to want Robin Hood over this the most sexiest portrayal of Sir Guy I have ever seen, although from what I hear from my fellow AAs, she comes a cropper at the end of the second season, which we here in Finland won't get to see until 2009!
And again, anyone who is not familiar with this series can find out more about it here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/robinhood/in

And on a final note here, I finally got U2s re-mastered Joshua Tree cd, bonus cd, dvd and book. I really haven't had time to watch the dvd or listen to the cds coz my "latest obsession" has been taking up most of my spare time! But I'll writing a blog and posting a few pics from the box set very soon.
- Mood:
giddy
Just a quick message to wish everyone a happy new year!
Over the Christmas period I've finally found the time to update my Youtube webpage, which I've had since April of 2006! I've uploaded some of my U2 videos and here's a couple of playlist:-
U2 Farmclub 2000
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li st?p=16C078BC47B1D539
U2 CD:UK 2004
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li st?p=2905A2FE30C978EE
Feel free to watch/download/snatch/embed into your own webpages!

BONO: Hey Happy *hic* New Year to all you lovely livejournal *hic* ladeezzz!
EDGE: Bono, I think you've had one too many, remember what the doctor said! Oh hello there livejournal community! Looking good!!
LARRY: *loud whisper* Hey Sparky, you awake?
ADAM: Of course I am! Can't you tell by my frowny smile!!
Over the Christmas period I've finally found the time to update my Youtube webpage, which I've had since April of 2006! I've uploaded some of my U2 videos and here's a couple of playlist:-
U2 Farmclub 2000
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li
U2 CD:UK 2004
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li
Feel free to watch/download/snatch/embed into your own webpages!

BONO: Hey Happy *hic* New Year to all you lovely livejournal *hic* ladeezzz!
EDGE: Bono, I think you've had one too many, remember what the doctor said! Oh hello there livejournal community! Looking good!!
LARRY: *loud whisper* Hey Sparky, you awake?
ADAM: Of course I am! Can't you tell by my frowny smile!!
- Mood:
ditzy
So wow, I don't know what's going on with my Photobucket account but I'm unable to access it and it would seem all my photos have been deleted! At least my imageshack account is still working, knoks on wood, although I had some trouble accessing that too!?! I've had to sign up for a new photobucket account and it's going to take some time for me replace all the missing pics on this journal of mine. So please excuse the plank spaces, I'm working on it!!
Okay panic over! My photobucket account is back up and running!!

BONO: Arghhh, whose brilliant idea was it to wrap us up in Christmas lights for this photoshoot?!
LARRY: Your's, you dunderhead! Now shut up and smile!!
EDGE: Yeah Bono, stop wriggling about! You're making the lights spark dangerously!!
ADAM: *ZZzzzzzzzz* Wot? *sleepily* Did someone say my name?!
Okay panic over! My photobucket account is back up and running!!

BONO: Arghhh, whose brilliant idea was it to wrap us up in Christmas lights for this photoshoot?!
LARRY: Your's, you dunderhead! Now shut up and smile!!
EDGE: Yeah Bono, stop wriggling about! You're making the lights spark dangerously!!
ADAM: *ZZzzzzzzzz* Wot? *sleepily* Did someone say my name?!
- Mood:
crazy
So okay, again it's been awhile since I last wrote in my livejournal. Always too busy, working, doing homework, gardening, playing with my cats and surfing the web of my favourite obsession i.e. U2!
U2s new movie U2 3D will be in the theatres next year. I only hope it'll also find it's way here to Finland!! I tried posting a widget of the trailer, but I'm not sure if it's working!?!
Have to tell you about my latest obession. His name is Richard Armitage! The star of the BBC's latest adaptation of Robin Hood, where he plays the all so nasty and yet soooo sexy Sir Guy of Gisborne!!

Some also know him as John Thornton from North and South, which has been shown here twice but I somehow missed it both times! Kicks oneself silly!!

I even remember seeing him on Cold Feet here but he didn't register with me at all, just another pretty boy!

But I now have to dvd of the first season of Robin Hood. And after watching the first disc I realized I missed watching episodes 2,3, and 4!? And the 2nd season won't be shown here until the summer of 2009! By which time U2 will be on tour again, fingers crossed. Oh well, thank God for vcr's!!
U2 are in Dublin working on their next album, although with Bono off campaigning every so often, it's taking longer than it should. But Bono has to follow is heart and his commitments to make poverty history.
So yeah, still busy with my studies at business school. Just finished a Power Point presentation on Emporio Armani's (RED) white Eau de toilette, that I'm going to present tomorrow in my Finnish language class. We were given an assignment to make a plamphlet of a product, real or imaginary, so I decided again to take advantage of the situation to promote Bono's Product (RED) campaign.
http://www.inspiredfragrances.com/_en/_ ww/index.aspx
All summer was spent working at the church and doing the gardening around at home. We finally pulled down our 20 metre long green house coz the work to keep it up was getting too much for both my mother as well as myself.

And my Dad built us a smaller more easy to manage green house on the side of our house. Here's it is mid-build.


It's still big enough for us to grow a couple of cucumber, tomatoe and paprika plants plus all of our summer flowers.
Bought some new mats and curtains for my student flat. Looks a lot more cosier, don't ya think?!

And started our Christmas preprarations. The outside christmas tree has been up for 2 weeks already, and almost bought all my christmas gifts, sending off most my cards tomorrow and started making our tranditional christmas foods. Next week I'll be busy baking ginger bread cookies!
Not much snow here now, it all melted over the weekend! Yay!! Hey, when you live in a country where the snow stays on the ground for an average of 5 - 6 months of the year, one less month of snow work is a blessing!!
Talking of dvd's just also just bought Kevin Costner's latest movie Mr. Brooks. Haven't watched it yet, but it'll be interesting to see Kevin play a serial killer. But it'll have to wait until my Christmas holiday which start next friday. Although I still haven't gotten round to watching Kevin's last movie 'The Upside of Anger' which is proberly better Christmas viewing the a film about a murderer!?!
U2s new movie U2 3D will be in the theatres next year. I only hope it'll also find it's way here to Finland!! I tried posting a widget of the trailer, but I'm not sure if it's working!?!
Have to tell you about my latest obession. His name is Richard Armitage! The star of the BBC's latest adaptation of Robin Hood, where he plays the all so nasty and yet soooo sexy Sir Guy of Gisborne!!
Some also know him as John Thornton from North and South, which has been shown here twice but I somehow missed it both times! Kicks oneself silly!!
I even remember seeing him on Cold Feet here but he didn't register with me at all, just another pretty boy!
But I now have to dvd of the first season of Robin Hood. And after watching the first disc I realized I missed watching episodes 2,3, and 4!? And the 2nd season won't be shown here until the summer of 2009! By which time U2 will be on tour again, fingers crossed. Oh well, thank God for vcr's!!
U2 are in Dublin working on their next album, although with Bono off campaigning every so often, it's taking longer than it should. But Bono has to follow is heart and his commitments to make poverty history.
So yeah, still busy with my studies at business school. Just finished a Power Point presentation on Emporio Armani's (RED) white Eau de toilette, that I'm going to present tomorrow in my Finnish language class. We were given an assignment to make a plamphlet of a product, real or imaginary, so I decided again to take advantage of the situation to promote Bono's Product (RED) campaign.
http://www.inspiredfragrances.com/_en/_
All summer was spent working at the church and doing the gardening around at home. We finally pulled down our 20 metre long green house coz the work to keep it up was getting too much for both my mother as well as myself.
And my Dad built us a smaller more easy to manage green house on the side of our house. Here's it is mid-build.
It's still big enough for us to grow a couple of cucumber, tomatoe and paprika plants plus all of our summer flowers.
Bought some new mats and curtains for my student flat. Looks a lot more cosier, don't ya think?!
And started our Christmas preprarations. The outside christmas tree has been up for 2 weeks already, and almost bought all my christmas gifts, sending off most my cards tomorrow and started making our tranditional christmas foods. Next week I'll be busy baking ginger bread cookies!
Not much snow here now, it all melted over the weekend! Yay!! Hey, when you live in a country where the snow stays on the ground for an average of 5 - 6 months of the year, one less month of snow work is a blessing!!
Talking of dvd's just also just bought Kevin Costner's latest movie Mr. Brooks. Haven't watched it yet, but it'll be interesting to see Kevin play a serial killer. But it'll have to wait until my Christmas holiday which start next friday. Although I still haven't gotten round to watching Kevin's last movie 'The Upside of Anger' which is proberly better Christmas viewing the a film about a murderer!?!
- Mood:
quixotic
