Despite the weather and the fact that I've never been to Salford in my life, Jason and I got to the venue in one piece! We set off at about four o'clock since Jason's aunt had heard that trains into Salford would be a bit funny today, and then when we arrived at Manchester Oxford Road we were told that no trains went from that station anyway; the best way to Salford Quays was via a tram from St Peter's Square. Thankfully this was easy enough to find; simply leave the station, turn left and keep walking until you see the tram tracks.

Not long after we found the tram station and figured out which trams went to Salford Quays (MediaCityUK and Eccles), one arrived and we hopped on. It was about fifteen minutes before we got there, and when we did we had loads of time to kill and three places in which to murder said time - Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito (a Mexican place) or a pub, which turned out to be a Hungry Horse venue.

Once Jason realised it was a Hungry Horse place it was decided and I had no say in that decision. He used to go to one when he was down in Exeter and the college would give all students a fiver towards a meal on a Thursday, and the prices are brilliant; much better than Wetherspoon's. I had tomato and basil soup for a starter and a cajun chicken burger for a main and it was AMAZING. Jason had chicken wings and then steak and chips, and even after waiting for our food and then eating it, we still had about an hour to kill.

At half six we headed off to find the Lowry, which was actually very easy to find. The pub we ate at was just across from the Salford Quays tram stop; from there, you just turned left and carried on along the quay, past a Beefeater Grill and the Lowry Outlet Mall, until you reach a funky bridge that gradually changes colours. To the right of this, the big, shiny, multi-coloured building is the Lowry. It's all orange and purple and amazing! So we went in, got directions to where Caravan would be playing... and still had time to kill so we got ourselves a cup of tea. There was a Lowry employee in the bar area where we were waiting who was selling Caravan t-shirts and they had one medium left so I snapped it up. You have no idea how chuffed I am to finally be the proud owner of a Caravan t-shirt!

7.30 came and the doors were open. Jason and I were the first two into the theatre and wow! What a view we had! Our seats, Tier 2, Row A, 38 and 39, were right in the middle of the top tier with a cracking, uninterrupted view of the stage. In the meantime they were playing Frank Zappa, The Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart over the PA to keep us amused. Time ticked on, I tried and mostly failed to get my camera to take decent photos, people slowly began to fill the seats. Instruments were already out on stage; Geoffrey Richardson's violin, guitar and flute. Mark Walker's drums, emblazoned with a Caravan logo. Jan Schelhaas's ensemble of keyboards... and an acoustic guitar. I wondered if we would be treated to an acoustic number tonight. I certainly couldn't see Pye Hasting's trademark red Fender on the stage anywhere, unless he would be carrying it on with him.

Then, at 8 o;clock, when the theatre was about 2/3rds full, the lights dimmed and a silent apprehension fell amongst those gathered. Two young chaps walked onto the stage - Garron Frith, the support act, and Cliff Woodworth, who would be accompanying him on Richardson's violin...

( In Which Kelza Screams About Caravan... )

I was actually working on an entry during the week but it seems to have been eaten somehow. I don't think I actually finished it off and it got deleted when I shut my laptop down or something. Oops! Also, I've only just noticed that LiveJournal has lovingly stuck adverts inbetween every single one of my entries... Not cool, LJ. Seriously not cool.

Anyway, I've been in a good mood for the past five days or so! Being with Jason has cheered me right up and now, even though he's back at his, I still feel good. So I'm going to hold on to this feeling over the weekend. Also, I'm down to 12st 11lbs (YAY) and my final paycheck from Next was a lot bigger than I expected. I was expecting like £50 because I only did a short week, but I actually got £112. Not bad, eh? It must have been a sale period bonus or something. But it means I have a bit to tide me over until my first JSA payment... which incidentally I have yet to sort out.

So, since my last entry I have played a lot of Minecraft, typed a fair bit of my novel up, spent a lot of time with Jason and procured him a free double mattress! Sian revealed when I was at hers last Friday that she was getting a new one on Monday, and immediately I realised that I had a golden opportunity here. Since Jason gave his mattress to his Mum (prior to her stroke she was on the couch and now needs a proper bed more than ever) he's been sleeping on the floor, because his lovely generous brothers have taken up the two couches. Jason shows all the symptoms - minus the cardiac issues - relating to Marfan syndrome, so obviously sleeping on the floor with all his joint troubles wasn't ideal. It was starting to do him in.

( The Epic Tale of the Third-Hand Mattress, and Other Stories )

Updates from Planet Kelza! Hurrah!

( NaNo '12, Kelza's New Job, Its Unexpected Health Benefits and the Best Use of £51 Ever... )

Twas a cold day indeed in Liverpool - and everywhere else in the North West, for that matter. We're talking the 'OH MY GOD IT'S GONNA SNOW *panics*' kind of temperatures. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that; some nut-job might read it and start another meteorological riot. The first mention of 'snow' these days sends the whole of Britain into a frenzy.

Seriously, watch this: snow. AAAAH OMG IT'S GONNA SNOW WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEE. See? It's good to know for when you're A) in Britain and B) bored.

I'm glad I started buying Record Collector magazine, because every issue has a list of every record shop that stocks it (Kaleidoscope of St. Helens included), as well as a list of all the major vinyl fairs taking part over the next month. In the latest issue, I read with joy that there would be one in Liverpool on the 20th (today, as you may have guessed). Not only that, but it's run by a group called Premier Fairs, who do fairs all across the North of England on a regular basis. Their Liverpool ones are always at the Holiday Inn, which is just across the road from Lime Street Station.

Did I go? Of course I did! A record fair in my local area was an opportunity too good to pass up. So I put a bit of money aside, and waited for the 20th to arrive.

Before we go any further, I have to make a snazzy announcement. It's music-related, but nothing to do with this vinyl fair. Last Wednesday I got paid, and I spent just over £70 of that money on something very worthwhile.

( It's under the cut, though, because I'm an awful, evil person. )

Premier Fairs will be running another record fair at the Holiday Inn on Lime Street in April - the date will no doubt be in Record Collector and it's already up on the Premier Fairs website. If anyone's interested, it's literally right across the street from Lime Street station and they always put up a great big sign on the day. I'll definitely be going again, alongside my usual raids on the Saturday market record stall and Kaleidoscope. That way I can get a wider range of stuff!

Also, I'm considering bringing a new feature onto my journal - an in-depth catalogue of every vinyl, CD, cassette and book that I own. It sounds very nerdy but it would be a neat way to a) show people what I've managed to get my hands on and b) keep track of what I have.

... I may just revert to watching birds instead. Only the bastards still haven't finished off the bread I put out for them so I could steal their souls photograph them.

Today, my Grand Plan for the Watching of the Calories hit a massive stumbling block. It's Wednesday. The night of the Newton High Families' Group. And it was the Christmas Dinner.

This meant free food in abundance. And let's face it, it's hard to say no when you're constantly breathing the fumes of turkey, gravy and sprouts. When the food is unveiled and the cry goes out, 'come and get it!', it is apocalyptically difficult to keep ye olde arse in its seat.

Mind you, it could have been worse. I could have had a buggering big portion of chips for my dinner at work again. I had a 120-cal Cornish Pasty instead. And a triple chocolate chip muffin...

Christmas this year is a pain. Everyone's putting food in my face, nobody's telling me what they want (except one person) so I've only bought one person's presents this year. We still haven't got our decorations up... If you were to pull me up in the street and say 'you know, Kelza, it's Christmas?' I'd probably give you a very odd look and say, in genuine shock, 'really?'.

I don't know what to get for people. It's maddening. Especially since half of those people have already bought for me. I beg and I plead for answers as to what they want - even just a tiny hint - but everyone's just smiling and saying 'oh it doesn't matter. It's the thought that counts!'.

Fine! I'm going to buy everybody used underpants from the charity shop, that would normally just get chucked, and distribute them amongst said people! "Here you go, friends, it's the thought that counts!"

Zurie has been smart and saved herself by giving me a very specific present idea. So no used bloomers for her.

Rant over. How is life, in the realms of Kelza? Pretty good. I feel like I've been blogging non-stop lately about my war on my diet or my new voluntary job, so I should probably talk about something else. Something nice, and non-ranty.

( In which Kelza goes on another frothing rant, only to calm down with talk of notepads and writing later. )

09:47PM: Have an interview with Lazuli at the end of the book! Of course! That's a nifty way of showing where he might be, one year after reality gets fixed!

09:53PM: Maybe I should try this coffee... anything I put in this flask these days tastes a bit off...

09:54PM: Hmmm. Strong, with a weird biscuity aftertaste. It smells weirder than it tastes, though. And this time, it isn't soapy. For this, I am pleased. I've also only written just over half a page. It's been nearly an hour, now. Bugger.

10:12PM: Wa-hey! A page! Five more to go! I'm turning my phone off to minimise distractions. Not that it's working well, anyway.

10:44PM: Nearly 11, nearly two pages. Oh, wait, two pages exactly because of that little bit I wrote to polish off the page I started on. And the coffee's not all that bad!

11:00PM: There comes a time where every portable CD player requires new batteries. Mine's time is soon, and it had to happen when we're all broke.

11:20PM: Three pages! Currently listening to Matching Mole's 'Gloria Gloom'.

09/08/10 @ 12:37AM: So technically I'm done for the night. Just completed my sixth page. I want to go to bed now as I'm exhausted, but I don't much fancy shifting everything back onto my desk! I listened to 'Cunning Stunts' before 'Little Red Record', and then followed it up with 'Whatevershebringswesing'. It's as wonderful as ever. How long has it been since I've listened to Kevin Ayers? Answer: too long.