Busy Abode

On Wednesday the Pieman and the Dragonslayer headed to the Echo Arena in Liverpool to see the mighty Crowded House. We left fairly late but arrived, parked and made our into this new venue ( for us anyway) fairly easily. The venue itself is internally almost the same as the MEN in Manchester except slightly smaller, newer and with excellent views along the Mersey estuary as it is literally on the waterfront.

Support was provided by former Mutton Birds frontman Don Mcglashan who was eventually joined on piano by Mr Finn before giving way to Liverpool Band Voo. They were quite good but not very communicative.

Mr Mcglashan was pretty good and would subsequently appear throughout the Crowdies set backing them with vocals and various instruments. Also filling out the stage, on principally Acoustic guitar, was Elroy Finn.

Crowded House came onstage and were their excellent selves. They played a different set to their show in Manchester last November including Everything is good for you/World Where you live/Love you til the day I die/Isolation/Fall at your feet/Only Natural/Locked Out/Heaven That I'm making/Whispers and Moans/Not The Girl you think you are/Pineapple Head/Other side of the world/Don't dream it's over/When you come/Distant Sun/Encore 1 (with Johnny Marr)There is a light/Don't stop now/Throw your arms around me/Weather with you/Encore 2Fingers of love/Into Temptation

Mr Finn after the third or fourth started a running battle with the health and safety stasi who were not happy with people standing, boogieing and enjoying themselves. The venue was good the crowdies were good and rounded it off by bringing Johnny Marr onstage for four songs.

Most excellent way to finish and not the first time we have seen Mr Marr onstage with Mr Finn. We have previously seen the Finn Brothers at the empire in Liverpool with the Dragonslayers and Viking tribe on the day that John Peel died. Mr Marr walked on at the end and together with Neil played a rousing version of Teenage Kicks in tribute to the great Mr Peel.

Getting away after the gig was not too bad cetainly a lot better than the MEN. The only bad things about the event was the Piemans Man Flu and Neil Finn outing himself as a Red fan of long standing. At least it led to him playing a Split Enz tune ( Great Joy) " I See Red" not good, cue much booing by blue half of audience Ha Ha !!!!

1 Jam 1 Cheese 1 Peanut Butter

A few months back an idea was hatched to contact as many members of YPF for a possible reunion in the future. With the resounding positive response more plans were made and came to fruition on independence day at the home of Mark & Viv TV.

What a fantastic evening!!! With surprised honoured guests Jan & Alan the evening was brilliant. With caramel squares, embarassing photos, music, videos, a quiz, chat, excellent company, Jam, Cheese, Peanut Butter, Schloer, strange haircuts and much much laughter how could it fail.

Many thanks to all who were able to come and helped providing photo's, quiz questions, food, drink and happy memories. Pie was provided by Mark in the way of Banoffe Pie! Can an evening be better spent?

I'm H.A.P.P.Y.
I know I am,
I'm sure I am,
JAN says I am !

If anyone would like a copy of the images shown on the night please contact the pieman and we'll send you a copy of all that we have.

D Day

Father's Day saw the extended Pie Tribe head en masse to Anglesey to visit Holyhead, South Stack, The Rocky Coast Path Nature Reserve and Porth Dafarch Beach.

We all met up at the Nature reserve for a picnic lunch in glorious sunshine which was great as it was pouring down when we left home. After lunch we headed down to Grandad D's bench to lay some flowers, enjoy the view and clamber about on the rocks.

From here we headed, still in unpredicted sunshine, to Porth Dafarch beach for some general messin about and sun worshipping. The Pieman headed off along the Cliff's for a walk with Chough Tribe Dog Tina.


From the beach we moved on to South Stack Lighthouse Cafe, Coffee and Cake! The views on such a good day were fantastic. We even spotted a Chough! The cliffs had plenty of Razorbills, Guiellemotts and Herring Gulls but no Puffins to see.

Harvest Time

Plot 109a is progressing with the planting of sweetcorn, beetroot, swede, more lettuce and Carrots. Life has sprung from everything planted so far except for the beans. The potatoes are our current pride and joy being well established and growing strong.

The fruits or vegetables of our labours are now being eaten. With a deluge of radishes and Swiss Chard. Battling with never ending weeds continues but slugs and Wood Pigeons are now Public enemy number 1. A start has been made on the other overgrown part of our plot.

Tribal Gathering

The Viking, Tipton and Pie Tribes headed for a gathering at Tatton Park on Sunday last. This was prompted by the Viking tribes visit to Chester for a long weekend break and Family Celebration. Wendy Vikings parents celebrated 50 years married!

Even though the weather was spectacularly damp for most of the afternoon we all still had a good time. There was lots to do and see with a Classic Car event taking place which had plenty of Automotive delights to drool over.

The various ankle biters from the tribes were quick to spot a large retail unit called the Pie Emporium. Unfortunately at £4.00 a hit for a limp looking offering even the Pieman could not be tempted.

The rain eventually began to cease and we headed back to Chester for Pizza and more chat.

Hogroast

Congratulations to Sean & Jane on their 25th wedding anniversary. Mr & Mrs Pieman along with the Bag Tribe went to the party held in Rossett via the vomit comet driven by Frankie Piester in Law.

The weather was excellent, the venue was brilliant, the company divine, the drink flowing and the Hog superb. A great time was had by the Pie contingent who didn't stop laughing all night, what could be better. Good luck to Jane who is starting a new job soon.

Loose Kites Debut Album

The self titled debut album of the Loose Kites is out and being played a lot by the Pie Tribe. It consists of the four tracks from their ep and 7 other tracks. the full track listing is

THE LOOSE KITES - the loose kites: 1 radiation vibe2 roo ba bah3 love the one your with4 in the blood5 the ballad of bianca owen6 high maintenance7 last orders8 devil's in the detail9 revelation10 dirty rascal11 shoot me

Some of the original tracks have been either remixed, re-recorded or added to with some overdubs including a nice bit of brass (In The Blood). All the tracks are written by the band except "Love The One Your With" a Stephen Stills song.

Apart from the original four tracks the Piemans early favourites are "the Ballad of Bianca owen, Last Orders & Dirty Rascal".

If you haven't experienced the Loose Kites yet listen to some top tunes and view an excellent video for Radiation Vibe at their MySpace site by clicking this link Loose Kites.

Also check out the list of their forthcoming gigs and get yourself along for a toe tapping, hip shaking, soul searchin, mind blowin, harmonising heaven of an experience and a rollicking good time to boot !!!

Afflecks Palace

Saturday saw the Pie Tribe head to Manchester for a birthday treat for Pie Daughter No 1. The destination was Afflecks Palace in Manchester. A departmental store /emporium with a variety of shops dedicated to fashion (of a kind!).

A great time was had, particularly by the female contingent of the Pie Tribe. The excitement over this trip was too much for some members of the Pie Tribe who fell asleep en route!!!

So much time was spent inside that there was not much time to visit anywhere else. Birthday girl enjoyed herself enormously and Princess Pie even managed to buy some bright pink eye shadow, PINK Power!!

Archaeological Dig - Plot 109a

Moving on from being an archaeological dig, planting has begun on Plot 109a.

So far we have planted Potatoes, Onions, Lettuce x2, Chives, Spring Onion, Radishes, Garlic, French Bean and Turnips. Much help, advice, equipment and plants has been generously provided by fellow Allotment Holders.

Many thanks must go to fellow brick diggers Mrs Pieman, Pink Power (pictured below), Frankie Piester-in-Law and Pie Daughter No 1. Half the plot is currently devoted to cultivation and the other half is still in use by the ever growing Triffid population.

Bricks and various other debris is still being unearthed along with plastic sheeting left buried by a previous incumbent. The ongoing battle with couch grass and bindweed continues. Does anyone have a petrol strimmer the Pieman can massacre some jungle undergrowth with?

Here Comes The Summer

It's official the summer has arrived the Pieman has been spotted wearing his shorts in public.

To celebrate sunshine and hard work food was eaten outside for the first time this year with various visitors including Travis, Dave Rave, Frankie and the Funky Gibbon in attendance.