Probably the Best Band in the World.........Ever!

A rare opportunity to see the Undertones in concert came up recently in Liverpool. The band, although still releasing albums sporadically, are not full time anymore but with singer Paul McLoone replacing Feargal they venture out in short bursts for mini tours and festival appearances. This short " True Confessions" tour was to conicide with their 35th anniversary and would see them play in its entirety their first album.

We arrived en masse with the all Pie Tribe in attendance. Also able to come along were two of the Viking Tribe and John Boy all the way from deepest dark Suffolk.We met up at one of our favourite eateries "Rockerfella's" which is no longer part of the Eddie Rocket group. From here we headed to the 02 Academy for the nights gig but not before lusting after guitars in shop windows and eventually going in one for Viking Jr to have a play on.

Arriving early ish we were able to secure spots right at the front which was great. The support band were from Southampton called Doyle and The Four Fathers . They were ok. I would have liked them more if the singer had not chosen to swear from the time he walked on stage till he left. His mood didn't improve after his guitar packed up in the fist song. Instead of whining, swearing and verbal sparring (unsuccesfully) with a load of scousers he should have just got on with it.

Anyway on come the Undertones who do not disappoint. Loud, fast, funny, rhythmic, sweaty and tuneful they were brilliant. The first album was played in its entirety in about 35 mins! My memory which is not the best can recall in no particular order the following being played as well; Mars Bars, You've Got My Number, It's Going To Happen, Thrill Me, Dig Yourse lf Deep, There Goes Norman, When Saturday Comes, Tearproof, Let's Talk ABout Girls, My Perfect Cousin. Beautiful Friend, Wednesday Week ....

By my reckoning close to 30 songs in all, in just over and hour and half at a breakneck pace. Billy Doherty on the drums looked absolutely shattered. I'm biasied but if you have the chance go to see the Undertones you must as they will become the benchmark by which you judge others!

Great band, great performance and great friends equals a great night.

Longest Day

Pieman and Pie daughter No 1 had to go to London recently for University test/interview and unfortunately missed the cheap value day return tickets by train and had to take the car. Leaving very early we headed south with the intention of parking up in Golders Green and getting the tube in for rest of our journey.

All went well until the roadworks on the M1 which went on for ages. As a result we ended up rushing our journey at the end with a hectic dash into central London and The Strand.The test/interview were intense and interesting. All this against a backdrop of London being blessed with some exceptional spring sunshine making the day a lot more enjoyable.

Activities with the University transferred to the Southbank which meant a walk across Waterloo Bridge. Wow what a vista as we walked out of the University premises onto Victoria Embankment with St Paul's, The Gherkin, Canary Wharf, National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Somerset House...... all coming into view.

After we finished we decided not to join the rush hour throng getting out of the city but headed to Camden High Street for food and refreshment before continuing our journey. We settled on a pub called the Bucks Head which served up an excellent, if some what pricey, Steak and Ale Pie. Good pastry, gravy and chunks of steak with mushrooms and shallots and definite taste of ale. Perhaps I was tired but it was close to a 9/10. Fortified for the the journey back we headed for the car (parked on Hampstead Heath) and made our weary way home getting back shattered just before 11.00pm.

A Brief History of Pies

Not a cookbook but a CD release by the mysterious and fascinating Liverpool band "The Pies". Known for their inventive and huge graffiti around Merseyside in recent years they have released a CD with a collection of tunes, radio interviews and police interviews.

Funny, thought provoking, good music, and a great name means a tasty recipe for excellence. The Pies are playing at the 02 Academy Liverpool on September 11th, 2011. Any pie munchers looking to go?

Pie is Fly

Many thanks to Georgio Dragonslayer who spotted this piece of art whilst walking Milly Vanilly in sunny Deva. Any other Pie art or Pie Advertising of interest send us a piccie.

Shugborough

Following on from enjoying Shed hospitality and birthday celebrations in Madeley the Pie tribe moved onto Shugborough Hall just past Stafford to meet up with the Cray Tribe. This was a suitable halfway meeting point to join up, exchange Christmas presents (!), enjoy each others company and have  a grand day out.

The weather was great and for a first time Shugborough visitor it was pretty good. We would definitely go back as we ran out of time without even going in the main house or around the gardens. The weather was great and very conducive to just chilling out even if the wait for a sandwich was an hour!!

One of the features of some areas, in particular the servants quarters,was the staff dressing appropriately and only speaking/behaving as the character they were dressed as. Try as I might the cook would not let me taste the huge Rabbit Pie in the kitchens!

University Life

What should a student look for in a prospective University. Course, Facilities, Teaching Methods, Teaching Staff, Support services, Social Life, Accommodation, Student feedback, Course relevance..... no PIE availabilty.

Following recent tests and interview, with Salford University, Pie Daughter No1 reported back on her day trip that the Campus shops were well stocked with the essentials of life even if they were predominantly Ginsters.

A subsequent follow up reconaissance trip revealed Ginsters and new type of Ginsters as the photo below illustrates. Not tried this yet so if you have let us know what you think.

More Exhibits Gromit

Another sunny day saw saw us head for the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Bromborough. Again it is free to go and worth a visit depending on your art preference. Quite a classical/renaissance collection it was not that inspiring for the Pieman although we did see a cracking table, the top of which was made from hundreds of different types of quartz polished and super smooth in a patchwork quilt style.

The afternoon we moved onto Birkenhead, principally to see the Wallace and Gromit exhibition at the Spaceport. Interesting though it was it was not as good as the Dr Who exhibition we had seen previously at this venue. Great views of the Mersey and Liverpool though from the cafe!

Art, DNA and Cake

Half term saw 3/4 of the Pie Tribe head to Liverpool for some culture taking in the Walker Art Gallery, the World Museum and the Maritime Museum all of which are free to enter. 

Starting with a picnic sitting in the garden just below St Georges Hall on a sunny day it was excellent. We had intended to follow a sculpture tour around Liverpool currently available but ended up spending so much time in the Walker and World Museum that that was knocked on the head eventually. Liked the modern stuff it the Walker and the DNA exhibition in the World Museum. Also the creepy crawlies was great as well. We didn't know that World Museum has an Aquarium which was a welcome surprise. 

We eventually ended up at the Maritime Museum for excellent cake and with time running only managed to visit the Customs display before heading home. No pie consumed.

Rhyd-ddu Path

The second day of our short break dawned after a wonderful nights sleep, cloudy, with the prospect of no rain and clearing later in the day. So after a glorious breakfast back at the Cwellyn Arms we were ready to take on the Rhyd-Ddu path up Snowdon.

We set off fairly steadily and the weather was quite kind to us as rose up through the contours. Surprisingly we were quite warm even as we rose higher. Eventually the snow and time meant we had to turn round shy of the summit ( 5-600ft) and head back down.

Yet again we were rewarded with some fantastic views with the sun and cloud interacting like an ever changing kaleidoscope to produce a different vista every few minutes. So without making it the top on either day we still had a great time. Can't wait to go back again soon.

Devils Kitchen

No not a reality cooking program with a swearing cosmetically enhanced presenter but a sweating, cursing short of breath Pieman walking up a mountain, nearly . Mr & Mrs Pieman had a quick two day break into Snowdonia for some walking to clear the cobwebs away.

Starting at the Ogwen Valley car park we made our round Cwm Idwal with the intention of climbing Glyder Fawr (3,284 ft). This meant climbing up Devils Kitchen a steep and rocky route. At the top of which before we entered the clouds the view was stunning and well worth the huffing and puffing. 

After a short plateau it began to rise up quite steeply and it was at this point we encountered snow, ice and low visibility . Eventually, probably no more then 4-500ft from the summit, we turned back. Going up was not too bad but the return trip retracing our steps was not easy so we were glad we made the right decision.

We made our way back to the top of the Devils Kitchen and enjoyed the view with our lunch before heading back to Ogwen. As we walked back into the car park with the cold beginning to bite Mrs Piemans boots literally fell apart the snow was too much for them!! 

So then it was a mad dash via Capel Curig to get to the Y Warws  (Warehouse) in Beddgelert to purchase some new boots. It also gave us the opportunity to complain to the lady at customer services about Mrs Pieman boots which were purchased from this same emporium no more than 25 years previously!!!

From here it was short hop to our overnight stop in Rhyd-ddu. Al rooms at the Cwellyn Arms were taken so we stayed in one of their small but very cosy well equipped cottage just down the road. A reserved spot by the log fire was waiting for us when we returned to the Cwellyn Arms for a fabulous meal and some well needed libations (oh yes Leffe Blonde on draught).