STARSOUND

STARSOUND - FUNCTION COVERS BAND

FUHLEN TRIP - EARLY NOVEMBER 2010

Cynth and myself flew on from Manchester to Padderborn on the wednesday night, flights were on time, weather was very wet, Natalie picked us us, arrived Fuhlen at 1.15am, following morning i went with Nat and the kids to see Oliver off to Kindergarten.

All seemed fine, we decided to do some shopping in Hameln.

Thursday I borrowed Natalies, to pick up Sali from Hannover Airport Terminal B, I arrived at Terminal C, we finally met up, arrived back at Fuheln to a lovely lasagne hor meal.

Friday Rainer and myself picked up Gareth from Hannover Airport, prior to that, I met up with Rainers music teacher for his guitar lesson in a wonderfull attic music studio, where we jammed some blues music using the electro drum kit.

Saturday we went to Polle for a lovely 3 course meal, and visited northern Germanys oldest monestry.

Sunday we did a sunday brunch in Hameln, finally we took the kids to the local swings, before setting off my return flight to Manchester Airport. Gareth and Sali flew back to Birmingham Airport, I had to pick them up from Wolverhampton Station.

Cynth stayed on till the following Sunday, helping out etc etc.

ERDIGG - WRECSAM - NATIONAL TRUST VISIT SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER

We decided to meet Wendy, Val and Jeremy at the National Trust ERDIGG near Wrecsam, it was a great Autumn day, there was a special Halloween Festival on. We all took a picnic,we all thought the house was a wonderfull recovery by the National Trust to capture the early workings of this jewel in the crown. We finally ended up with a lovely scrummy pub meal on route home.Herewith a history of ERDIGG WRECSAM.

When Joshua Edisbury was appointed as High Sheriff of Denbighshire, he decided to build a grand, new house more befitting of his status than the humble family home in which he was raised. A mile outside of Wrexham, the building of Erddig began in 1684 to the designs of Thomas Webb, and has survived with remarkably little structural change to the main core of the house. Edisbury's extravagant plans for the house, combined with his diminishing resources, eventually bankrupted him, causing him to leave Erddig, and Wales. Subsequently being purchased by John Meller, a wealthy barrister and bachelor, Erdigg remained in the family for the next 250 years or so. Extended by new wings at either end of the building to provide a Chapel and additional dressing rooms, Meller then installed many pieces of fine furniture to complete his now lavishly decorated new home.

Philip Yorke, the great nephew of Meller, and his wife Elizabeth, unarguably had the most impact on Erddig, altering the front elevation of the house, remodelling and refurbishing many of the rooms, and reorganising the estate. Among his many pursuits and interests, Philip was a dedicated historian with a developing interest in the lives of everyday people. The servants and estate workers at Erddig were always highly thought of by the Yorke family, and this relationship is amusingly demonstrated in some of Philip's artistic work. It was he who started the unusual tradition of having the servants painted, and these pictures would be accompanied by quirky little ditties composed by Philip. Many of these delightful paintings can now be seen hanging in the servants' hall and along the corridor.

During the early 19th century a large, Regency dining room was created by Philip's son and heir, Simon, and this was the last major work undertaken at Erddig, although regular maintenance of the family treasures continued. Every member of the family that lived in this vast country house had an undeniable appreciation for its history and its treasures, each in turn preserving and restoring whatever required attention. Despite this, Erdigg became severely run down after the First World War and, without sufficient money, and the onset of the Second World War, the situation deteriorated further.

The final straw came when the coal industry was nationalised in 1947, effectively taking away the estate's major source of income, and this was immediately followed by the National Coal Board's decision to mine directly under the house, compounding its declining structural state. It was only through grit and determination, not to mention some small measure of eccentricity on the part of the last two Yorke brothers, that Erddig has survived so remarkably intact.
Set in very picturesque grounds, this fascinating house of contrasts is an absolute delight to explore. Unlike many great country homes and manor houses filled with priceless art collections and exquisite furnishings, Erddig is just crammed full of treasures that say more about the different personalities of the family members.

One thing they all certainly had in common was the fact that none of them liked to throw anything away, however worthless or insignificant the article might have seemed at the time, and this adds immensely to the interest. The National Trust have recently made the attic rooms accessible and these really are the place to indulge in a good rummage around the assorted paraphernalia of a bygone era.

TRIP TO PENRYN CASTLE BANGOR NORTH WALES - NATIONAL TRUST

We decided to take a trip to the National Trust Penryn Castle near Bangor on Sunday 17th October 2010, the weather stayed very sunny then clouded over later.

This enormous 19th-century neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait. It is crammed with fascinating items, such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria, elaborate carvings, plasterwork and mock-Norman furniture, in addition it has an outstanding collection of paintings. The restored kitchens are a delight and the stable block houses a fascinating industrial railway museum, a model railway museum and a superb dolls' museum. The 24.3 hectares (60 acres) of grounds include parkland, an exotic tree and shrub collection as well as a Victorian walled garden.

We finally travelled a few miles down the A55 to a Wildlife Trust Birding Hide to do some birdwatching on the Menai Estuary, quite session with Shelduck,Lapwings, Oystercatchers,Greenshank, Curlews,B H Gulls, Flocks of Starlings.

BIRDING ON THE WIRRAL- SUNDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2010

The Dee Estuary, on the North Wales / North-West England border, is one of the United Kingdom's premier birding locations for wetland and shorebirds.

Decided to go bird watching on the Dee Estuary at RSPB Inner Marsh Farm along the front at Parkgate,Hoylake and New Brighton. The weather was very poor heavy rain from early doors till 2.30pm, after that the weather was sunny. Birds seen on the day,Little Stints,Spotted Redshank,Redshank, Black Tailed Godwits, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Black Tern,Gannets,Greenshank,Shovelers,Mute Swans

SPEKE HALL AND JOHN LENNONS AND PAUL MCCARTNEYS CHILD HOOD HOMES - SUNDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2010

A combined escorted tour of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road, the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is your only opportunity to see where the Beatles met, composed and rehearsed many of their earliest songs. Imagine walking through the back door into the kitchen where John's Aunt Mimi would have cooked him his tea, or standing in the spot where Lennon and McCartney composed 'I Saw Her Standing There'. Join our custodians on a fascinating trip down memory lane, and take a moment to reflect on these incredible individuals

Paul McCartneys House Liverpool

VERY MIDDLE CLASS HOME

MENDIPS - HOME OF JOHN LENNON

ARRIVING FOR THE HOUSE TOUR

AT THE HOUSE-WAITING FOR THE GUIDE AT 12.30PM

We planned this visit as Annie Cullen, was over from France for 10days. We all met at Wendy and Tonys house in Alsager on the sunday morning. We all had prepared a picnic, the weather was cold but very sunny. We arrived at Speke Hall, parked up and started the tour with a warm coffee inside our bellies, then we booked a guided tour, which was very interesting and homely, well worth the trip up the M6/M56.We decided to have our lunch at Speke Hall before departing for John Lennons and Paul McCartneys childhood houses.

VICKYS 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FRIDAY 24TH SEPT 2010

We were invited to Vickys 30th Birthday Party held at Hem Heath Cricket Club, near the Brittania Stadiam at 7.30pm, we met up with all the Tudor Family, with all their Grandkids unfortuately Dylan had chicken pox,the party lasted till 12.30am arrived home at 1.30pm.

The disco music was a great selection of very modern and 60's sound, the buffet was well prepared with lots of food left after, Adam, Matthew, Issy were all in good form on the dance floor, followed with Clare, Jenny and Keith and Mal doing some great groovy moves. We had some really funny moments, we also sang happy birthday to Mollie as it was her 10th Birthday. Happy Birthday Vicky and Molly.Ian the west ham fan was in good form as ever

STARSOUND - NEW BAND FROM STOKE

Currently working with band members from Alsager and the Stoke On Trent areas, Kara Nixon on main vocals, Tony Plant on bass and backing vocals, David on lead guitar, and Matthew on keyboards and piano.

SONGS WE ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMING

River Deep 156BPM
Black velvet 92BPM
Don’t speak 76BPM HALF TEMPO
I want to break free 110BPM
Dog Days/ You got the love 150BPM
Crazy 112BPM
Superstition 100BPM
Maria 160BPM
Valerie 84BPM HALF TEMPO
Son of a Preacher Man 90BPM
Who Knew 140BPM
Sweet child o’ mine 126BPM
With or without you 110BPM
I need a hero 150BPM
Kids in America 160BPM
Living on a prayer 122BPM
Mercy 130BPM
Poker Face 120BPM
Brown Eyed Girl 150BPM
Jump 132BPM
Sex on fire 154BPM
I saw her standing there 162BPM
Twist and shout 128BPM
Take on me 168BPM
Don’t stop me now 156BPM

Like a virgin 120BPM

NAT AND KIDS UK VISIT 8TH TO 15TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Watching the little monkeys

At the Britannia Stadium Anna with her SCFC Teddy


Anna with her Mum at Kent way

Group shot at Beaumaris Anglesey

Oliver happy in the water as ever.

Oliver at Treardur Bay facing the seas.

WEDNSDAY EVENING - Nat and the Kids flew into Manchester Airport on wednesday night 8th September 2010 for a 7day holiday break. The plane arrived about 10mins late, the kids were very happy and in good form, we saw Kenny Dagliesh and Alan Hanson ex Liverpool footballers with their wives arriving in at Terminal 1 on the same night from a golfing holiday.

THURSDAY -I was working in London,so it was a low key day at home, some shopping at the local retail park and the playground.

FRIDAY - Natalie and Kids met up with her old school pals Sarah and with their kids, at the night time we all went to the Goats Head for a meal with Gareth and Sali
SATURDAY - Day out with the kids to the Britannia Stadium, My Mums, Monkey Forest,while Nat and Cynth has some retail therapy in Birmingham

SUNDAY - Day trip to Anglesey, the weather was wonderful, picnic at Treaddurr Bay, Beamaris and evening fish and chips in Conwy, with traffic james on the A55 back home.

MONDAY-TUESDAY - Just locally
WEDNESDAY -Just locally getting ready for flight back to Hannover, called at my Mums on the way to Manchester, Nat arrived home at 2.45am due to late take off from Manchester.

SUMMARY - What a wonderful week with them all,we kept them all busy, with happy and great moments with Oliver and Anna, we love you bothxxx Grandad and Granny

DAY TRIP TO THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY - 4TH SEPTEMBER 2010

The Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn in Welsh) is situated off the north-west coast of Wales near the beautiful Snowdonia mountain range. It is separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait, which is spanned by two picturesque bridges, the Menai Bridge and the Britannia Bridge. Anglesey was known as Mam Cymru ('Mother of Wales') during the middle ages because its fertile fields formed the breadbasket for the north of Wales.
The name Anglesey is thought to have come from a Viking place name. In old Norse the -ey ending indicates an island named after a particular person (cf. Bardsey, Orkney, Ramsey, etc.). Anglesey is probably derived from "Ongl's ey", Ongl's island. Who Ongl was we have no idea. To see a BBC video clip about the origin of the name of Anglesey click here.
This site now has a major new section on the Windmills of Anglesey.
Today it has several thriving towns. The historic town of Beaumaris is the site of one of the castles built by Edward I after his defeat of the Welsh princes, as well as the historic mansion Henllys Hall, now a hotel (see their pages for more on the history of Anglesey and Wales). The town of Holyhead, on Holy Island, is the main ferry port for travel across the Irish Sea to Dublin and Llangefni, in the centre of the island, is the county town. Kovach Computing Services (the host of this site) is located in the village of Pentraeth.
Anglesey also has the village with the longest place name in Britain: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (click here to hear it pronounced). The name, when translated into English, means "The church of St. Mary in a hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and near St. Tysilio's church by the red cave". The name was actually coined in the nineteenth century to attract tourists to the Island. It is abbreviated to Llanfairpwll or Llanfair P.G. by the locals.

Red Wharf Bay at low tide, picking moules, we saw curlew, oystercatchers, cormorant, little egret, LB B Gulls, GBB Gulls.

Llandegfan Family Church, were we laid some flowers on their family plot, we then moved onto Red Wharf Bay, a few miles around the coast, weather still holding ok.

Lunch time meal near Menai at the Gazelle Hotel, we met a party celebrating the Aunties 90th Birthday from North Yorkshire to the rich lands of Surrey,Moules, lasagne and sausage were on the menues.Next stop Llandegfan not far away the Williams Family Plot.

Beaumaris Water Front

Gareth and Sali organised a visit to the Isle of Anglesey to see her Great Grandmothers Family Grave on the Island, they asked did we want to come so we said yes. Gareth and Sali stayed overnite with us for an early 7.45am start. We met up with Gavin and Linda at Stafford North Services on the M6 Motorway. The weather looked good with showers late afternoon.

We arrived at Conwy Marina approx 2.75hrs later, we all moved on for stop at Beaumaris over the Menai/Britannia Bridges, for a stroll over looking the Straits and Snowdonia, the views did not let us down.