Shinannigans.

Above is a picture of myself holding a snow dome which contains a picture of me and my friend Mel, given to me by Mel.

I am going to blog about my weekend. The good parts anyways. Mostly all I do at the moment is stay home and do assignments. Assignments are gross. So it was nice to break it up a bit this weekend. I got a lot done but I also managed to do some fun stuff.

On Friday night the boy brought me some pizza (naughty) after he finished work (delivering pizzas) and we watched Good Will Hunting in bed, which I had not seen before. Quite a good movie indeed.

I spent most of the day on Saturday at home. Come afternoon I was really really craving a vege burger. There is a gay bar here that also has a bistro and they sell $5 meals. They have heaps on offer too. And the meals are YUUGE!. Good value. Best vege burgers ever. I love a bargain! Anyways. I was craaaving one but was not sure who to go with. In the end I messaged my cousin and she was up for it so that was fun. Food is so good especially when you've been craving it all day. They have such good service at that pub too. Though I have to wonder if people thought my cousin and I were lesbians, being a gay bar and all. That probably sounds quite naive of me.

After Ben finished work I went around to his place and he, one of his mates and I went out for coffee. That was fun, except I burnt my tongue on my Chai. I am a dill.

Today I did productive stuff, yay me, until the afternoon when Ben and I went to the beach. It was a bit too windy though. We didn't last very long and decided to go get ice cream instead. Good choice I say. Anyone notice the food theme? Yep. So we drove around for a while wondering where to go. Ben needed to get money out so we went into the mall. We were parking when Ben said (this blog gets exciting now!) 'What's going on over there?'.. so I looked and there was a fight happening right before our very eyes! There was a group of about ten people involved in this fight. There was even these young (I mean like 7 year olds) hitting people. And.. a guy with a crick bat.. hitting people.

I freaked out a little. We called the police but by that time some had already arrived. It was broad daylight and everything and heaps of people around. From what I gather, the cricket bat guy was attacking this group of what looked like backpackers, after some kind of altercation, still don't know. They had backpacks on, afterall, and just generally looked like tourists. All fairly young males. So the police stopped them all.. but then the cricket bat guy took off in the direction they had came. Then it was ON. The police (one female, one male) started chasing him.. as did the group of backpackers. One in particular overtook everyone and went charging on, he was so fit, my hero! The chase pursuid and another police car arrived and joined in. They disappeared around the corner and I assume cricket bat baddy was caught.

Meanwhile, Ben and got gelato... amazingly yummy gelato. We returned to Ben's car and there was some police officers nearby. In the end they took our names down as witnesses and such. So, all in all, another day, crime to be fought, you know how it goes.

In conclusion, cricket bat baddys asside, Newcastle is a lovely city. Sometimes I forget that when I am in my room, doing assignments.

I have a 100 question current affairs quiz tomorrow. I feel quite confident though, for some reason. Let's hope it pays off.

Things I Love Thursday

It's that time again. Golly gosh these weeks fly by!

This week I am paying homage to the wonderful Gala Darling for being the founder of Things I Love Thursday by including this cute banner!



Now, for ze list!

+Lentils! I know I know, pretty gross on their own but hey.. a vege needs their iron and there's plenty of scrummy recipes to hide the bland-ness.
+My grandparents, aka Margie and Pop. I saw them today. Margie had an operation yesterday as she had two cancerous melanomas. She's not clear just yet but she's coping so well! I love them. They are ever so cute and make me laugh a lot.
+The new Frankie. Especially the cute poster to add to my collection and the article by Benjamin Law on Japanese Onsen. Hi-larious!
+Skipping. When I went home recently I did a bit of skipping to get my daily exercise dose while I wasn't going to the gym. Today I had a slight feeling that I had a skipping rope somewhere here and alas, I found it. So I had a little skipping workout instead of the gym today. No wonder boxers are so fit!
+Anticipating the end of Uni. Two weeks to go!
+The sunshine today, after a few days of continual rain. Everything is so fresh after the rain.
+Josh Pyke's new song 'Make You Happy'. Ah, that man is amazing. The title says it all.
+ Seeing Nissan Micras driving past and getting really excited. Saw a green one today. Squee! My time will come.

Love and stuff. Xo

Lisa Mitchell.

On Friday night I was lucky enough to go and see the lovely Lisa Mitchell playing at a local pub. For those of you who haven't stumbled across her yet, Lisa appeared on Australian Idol two years ago. She made it through to the top 12 but not quite the winners spot. However, and not to bag Australian Idol, I feel this has probably lead to greater opportunities for her in the long run. Since Idol she has gone on to release two EPs: Said One to the Other and Welcome to the Afternoon. Recently she has been in the process of recording her debut album Neapolitan Dreams.
The gig was held at the the Northern Star hotel in a room out the back which was quite cosy and intimate. The band consisted of Lisa on the guitar as well as a drummer/percussionist and and a base guitarist. Her first tunes were unfamiliar so I suspect they will appear on her album when released. From the taste I got I think it's going to be quite impressive! Her stage persona was a little shy at first. She seemed somewhat overwhelmed at times but I think it contributed to the overall cute-ness and sweet personality that she has going. She went on to play some of the favourites of her two EPs including Incomplete Lullaby, Slow, Neopolitan Dreams and See You When You Get There. Afterwards I was lucky enough to get a fan-girl photo with her.

If you want to hear for yourself, visit Lisa's MySpace page at : www.myspace.com/lisamitchell

Things I Love Thursday

+H2O! Can't get enough of it at the moment.
+Vitamin C tablets, I actually really like them which is good!
+Gold nail polish. I painted them today and they look super lovely.
+Thursdays in general are really fun because it is the day I have with all my pals at Uni, laughing at Mama Dukes.
+Pink Lady apples, the best.
+Phone calls from my Dad. We never really have anything interesting to say but I always feel happier after talking to him.
+The fact that it's only about 35 days until I leave for Japan!
+Exercising! Have been sticking to my plan of going to the gym as much as possible and I feel great (if not a little sore). I also got some new running shoes which makes it merry fun.
+XTC - the watermelon/strawberry smoothie from Grind on Darby St.
+My Jesus sandals, I had them long before they were cool. Ha!
+Twirling my big flower ring around my finger - it makes for an excellent past time.
+Lisa Mitchell! I am seeing her play tomorrow night <3
+Day Light Savings! I love that when I finish my classes at 7ish it's still light. I also just love the summery evening feeling.

Am going out to dinner so must dash! So hungry, nom nom nom.

I Thought About You.

I've always found this particular quote really inspiring and heartwarming:

'This is one of the wonderful things about being alive. At any time somebody you least suspect might be thinking of you. Somebody you have never met is recalling your face, you are the star of somebody's thoughts and you will probably never know about it'.

Now, I can't quite remember where I heard it or read it. But, I liked it so much I wrote it on a yellow piece of paper and stuck it to my cork board. Come to think of it, the novel 'Strawberry Hills Forever' is ringing some bells. Don't quote me on it though. Ha, get the pun? Anyways, even if it was not from that book, you should all read it because it is wonderful. Oh, it's by Vanessa Berry. I had to read it last year for a Popular Culture subject at Uni and I loved it. Vanessa also came to one of our classes to speak to us. Anyways, I was not supposed to be confessing my love for Miss Vanessa Berry in this post. So I shall get on with it.

I am a thinker. And I often think about other people. Friends and strangers. I am a people watcher. I like to observe. So I will often find myself thinking about particular people, whether I know them personally or not. I don't mean for that to sound creepy! One of the nicest things to hear from a friend, in my opinion, is that they were thinking about you. I love getting messages from my friends who I haven't seen in a while saying 'Han! I was just thinking about you last night and I wanted to say hi'.. :) It makes me feel fuzzy on the insides.

I often stop to think, I wonder if anyone's thinking about me at this very moment? That probably sounds insanely hot-headed of me, but really, someone probably thinking about me. Somebody is probably thinking about YOU. And they are most probably thinking GOOD things about you. Please ignore the underlying sexual connotations that are emerging in this blog. That is NOT what I mean! Ha.

You could be the star of somebody's thoughts at this very moment in time. And you may not ever know about it. So, let people know when you're thinking about them. It will probably make their day.

Annie.

Introducing a very lovely friend of mine, Annie.
At just 19, she would have to be one of the most talented artists I know.
Her water colour paintings are just beautiful.
You can see more of her amazing work for yourself right here.

I hath returned.

1. sunset at my aunt and uncle's
2. me and my ancient haviannas
3. le sister and I at the lighthouse
4. le sister and the boy at a lookout
5. my lovely boy,

Back to ye ol' University tomorrow, sigh. But the thought of Japan is getting me through it!

Hiatus.

I'm currently spending the week in Port Macquarie (mid-north NSW coast) with my family so have been absent from blogdom for a number of days. My Aunt and Uncle live on the canals here so as you can probably imagine we're having a super time! My siblings and boyfriend and I are staying in a cute cabin on the lake. Today we went boating and beaching although it was a bit too windy to be as enjoyable as it could of been. Yesterday we visited some waterfalls about an hour and a half away and stopped by this cute little town for lunch. It was so fresh and green there. We did a few walks at the waterfalls which I enjoyed because I've been eating SO much this week. My family are all amazing cooks so whenever we get together we just eat amazing food the whole time. Other than that we've just been relaxing, watching heaps of movies and tomorrow I'm going to convince everyone to have a picnic at the lighthouse! I will upload some more photos when I get home but for now, here is one that my brother took of my sister, boyfriend and I. Sam is an awesome photographer, just so you all know :D

Chasing Bailey

Some people reading this will know who I am talking about when I mention the name 'Chasing Bailey' because you've grown up in Tamworth, like me. Others may have been lucky enough to have heard them recently upon the release of their debut single 'Little by Little' and album 'Long Story Short'. For those of you who are yet to stumble across them, I shall take this moment for a bit of proud promotion. I should mention that I am friends with two of the band members, Crystal and Charlene, but despite this influence I think it is safe to say that they are an extremely talented bunch who've come a long long way.

Last semester I wrote a character profile based on an interview I did with Daniel Conway, the lead guitarist. I had every intention of trying to get it published but that is yet to happen/I haven't tried yet. Apologies for the length, but I hope you'll take the time to give it a read.

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Long Story Short
Hannah Lewis speaks with Daniel Conway.

The last two years has been a whirlwind of performing, travelling and recording for 19 year old Daniel Conway. Hannah Lewis met with him at his most relaxed, at home in Tamworth at the local pub where he works casually at any time he’s not busy with the band. Coffee in one hand, the other open for a warm hand-shake, Conway is welcoming and openly eager to share his story.

Seven years ago marked the beginning of Conway’s musical career. Little did he know that when he was asked to play guitar for a band calling themselves ‘The Baileys’, in 2001, he would now be getting ready for the release of the band’s first album. Conway is the guitarist and back up vocalist for the five piece country pop band that was born into the local music scene in Tamworth, recognised as Australia’s Country Music Capital and home to the annual Australian Country Music Festival. The band now goes by the name ‘Chasing Bailey’. It is comprised of the Bailey siblings: 20 year old Charlene (vocals and guitar), 23 year old Crystal (electric mandolin and vocals) and 21 year old Kurt (drums), along with 21 year old Lindsay Dallas (base guitar) and Conway.

They have come a long way since their first gig at the Tamworth Showground arena. Conway says that the audience who witnessed their first live performance consisted solely of the Baileys’ parents, Lindsay’s mum and band manager Joan Douglas.

“That was the very first thing we’d ever done.
“We played to no one.
“We were going upwards from then,” Conway says.

They have definitely moved upwards on a number of levels. Their sound, in particular, has undergone progressive transformations from the original country twang to a more electric pop-rock style. Chasing Bailey’s debut album, Long Story Short, hits stores around the country in July. Their first single, ‘Little By Little’, has already made waves on Australian radio stations as well as Channel Ten’s Video Hits.

The decision as to why the band decided to change their name to ‘Chasing Bailey’ has been on the minds of many fans who’ve known the band since their humble beginnings.

“We’d always thought of changing the band name from ‘The Baileys’ to something that could label the whole band, rather than just the family name, but we didn’t want to take the family name out because that’s really who we are,” Conway says, adding that even if he isn’t a Bailey by birth, he is a Bailey at heart.

Conway spent his first 12 years in Caboolture, Queensland, where he started playing guitar at age 10 after being shown the first few chords by his older brother. Before learning to play, Conway clearly remembers his first experience of live music at his granddad’s 60th birthday party. He recalls it as the moment when he realised playing guitar was definitely something he hoped to be doing in the future.

“It was just a house band playing and I was probably about seven, but I’ve got a photo of me standing up at the dance floor playing the guitar.”

It was through Chasing Bailey’s band manager, Douglas, that Conway met the other band members on a visit to Tamworth, in 2001, not long before he made the move from Queensland. All members except for Dallas attended Tamworth High School together. You could say that Conway grew up with the band.

“Since I was 12 not a day has gone by where I haven’t seen the band.
“We’ve been in each other’s pockets since then,” Conway says.

When it comes to musical influences Conway says country music has been a driving force since he was young.

“I listen to heaps.
“Guitar players like Larry Carlton and Keith Urban were a huge influence early on and I listen to singers like Rod Stewart and Jon Bon Jovi.
“People like that.”

After playing the country music scene in Tamworth for many years the band began to spread out nationally and were involved in a ‘Talent Development Program’ in Sydney in 2006. Graduating from the program opened doors to greater opportunities and eventually led to record company interest. The band was signed to EMI: one of Australia’s leading record companies, in 2006.

“I don’t think when they signed us they had actually seen us.
“That’s how much they’d heard about us.”

Signing with EMI had a major impact on how Conway viewed his career as a musician and the role the band had in his life.

“Until things started getting serious with the record companies and stuff like that I didn’t really think, ‘oh wow, this is really going to be something that we’re gonna do seriously’, because it was just an everyday thing.
“But it didn’t take long for things to start happening for the band to be recognised as something pretty cool, then I thought, ‘oh, this is something’.”

Not long after being signed, the band began working with ARIA winning record producer Paul McKercher. Paul has had notable success with the likes of Eskimo Joe, Pete Murray and Spiderbait. Conway says the band was shocked and excited after receiving the call that they would be working with such an experienced producer.

Recording the album began in 2007 and was a four week process. The title, Long Story Short, is the premise of what the album is about.

“The title says it all: Long Story Short.
“It’s just what we’ve been doing, our lives unfolding on that level.
“It’s the stories we’ve learnt and we’re telling it through our songs.”

Conway reveals that at least six of his own songs will feature on the album. When asked about his creative inspiration he is not ashamed to admit that he often writes about girls.

“There are a few songs that aren’t about girls, but mainly when something just happens to stir me, something to mix me up in a good way or a bad way, then I go and write.”

Throughout the entire interview Conway’s excitement for the band and their future together is hard to ignore. When asked about the first time he heard Chasing Bailey’s first single, ‘Little By Little’, on the radio, he says that it happened while working at the bottle-o. “

"That was hysterical” he says. Having just served a customer he returned to the storeroom to be met with the sound of his own hard work blaring on the radio.
“I started dancing around in the store room.
“It was one of the most exciting things I’ve experienced in my life, hearing our song on the radio.
“It sounds small but when it’s you, it’s ‘Oh my God’.”

Since recording the album the band has made appearances on various national radio programs as well as Channel Seven’s Sunrise. It seems that the release of the album in July might lead to further national recognition for Conway who has already had moments of acknowledgment from strangers in Tamworth.

“I actually get recognised at work a fair bit.
“Some people come in and say ‘Oh you’re in that band’ and I don’t even know them,” he says.

After the album is released in July, Conway hopes to get out and give Australian fans a taste of the band’s live music. He says that performing live is the best thing about being in a band, closely followed by spending time on the road with the band members.

“After about a week others want to come home but I just want to keep going,” he says, adding that his favourite part about performing on stage is the vibe and intensity created between the audience and the band.

If Conway weren’t busy touring, recording and performing with the band, he admits that there is one thing that may have led him in totally different path.

“Well gee I don’t think I can give that away,” he says.
“But if I wasn’t a guitar player I would have been a tennis player.
“I’m a huge tennis fan. I would have won Wimbledon, I think.
“I mean, seriously, you’ve got to aim for the top!”

Conway has an exciting future with the band, so it seems that Wimbledon won’t be on the cards any time soon. He is more than happy with his achievements so far and has high expectations for a successful career. In ten year’s time he hopes that the band will be succeeding with multiple albums while maintaining the same level of enjoyment he is experiencing today.

“I’ll always be doing this. Whether it’s playing, writing, producing, whatever.
“It’s what I want to do.”

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You can check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/chasingbailey