Francesca73 blog on Absolute Radio

THE RUSKINS this Tuesday

Francesca73 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:44:00 +0100

check them out folks,

http://www.nme.com/newmusic

they're playing a gig this Tuesday Tuesday, October 21st, 8:00pm at Carling Bar Academy in Islington.....worth seeing

Blog No 8...THE RUSKINS (continued)

Francesca73 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:06:00 +0100

Before I start telling you how much of a fan of The Ruskins I am fast becoming and start whingeing about all the injustices of this world (please read and sing this petition....it's still on my mind www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html ) I’d like to tell you what my 7 year old asked me just now when I started writing this. She said: “Why are you holding a Barbie doll next to Oscar (the dog) Mum?”…..and if you tilt your head back a bit and look under the dogs head….tse he he can you see it? and she is wearing a red life jacket ...I am holding his lead and what looks like Barbies head is my thumb...

Anyway…..The Ruskins……ach! They’re such great kids (I think the average age is 21)….vibrant, energetic, lively. I saw at least five acts before them and they were all good but I forgot their names immediately after, except for a band called Cattiva. This girl has a great voice, a body to die for (I’ve been a lazy couch potato for two weeks before I started my new job last Monday….so couldn’t help but be a bit jealous ya know ) ,and really good stage presence……and I liked her lyrics, the music….well everything. Check them out http://www.myspace.com/cattivauk

But The Ruskins blew me away yet again, you get lost when they start each song,…..and you can’t stop moving along with their beat……Here is a link to my favourite song they did there, called Macho me (still chasing the lyrics as they‘re not posted on their site), I love hearing this one again and again :
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gQzI5K5X85k

Last Sunday at Mono Water Rats my mate Rick (he is the bassist and backing vocals) did a rendition of Quando Quando Quando, singing on his own more or less. If you know Rick you will also know that this must have been just about the hardest thing he ever did in his life so far……and he did great….which is what I have been trying to tell him for a long time now and he still does not quite believe it (as for my Swedish niece….she loved the gig and Rick too lol…..ach! to be that young again….she is only 18.…)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vQGTRyvhg1U

And it’s not easy being great next to Eamon the lead singer, this boy has so much charisma, it follows him around like some sort of a faery dust (he is half Irish…..I am biased slightly here because I have many Irish friends…and I tend to like them from word go)…… Dave the drummer is just too cute for words …..think Knox Overstreet in Dead Poets Society and you will know what I mean.

Enjoy your weekend folks, I am….chilling mostly…My first week at the new job has just been an overload of information…..but I actually cannot wait for Monday!!!! How about that? I keep thinking this is too good to be true…..where’s the catch????

http://www.myspace.com/theruskins

Blog no 7: THE RUSKINS

Francesca73 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:36:00 +0100

I am really excited today, my little niece is coming to stay with us during her gap year, I'm picking her up tonight. She is nicknamed 'Inge from Sweden'...she is also a total and utter ray of sunshine.....will be refreshing to have a 18 year old in the family...... Just as well she is coming as now I have somebody to come with me to the next Ruskins gig. I blogged about these guys before and I have managed to see them since.

It was last month at 'The Filthy's' in Twickenham (where I bumped into Paul Young.....well saw him chat with some people really....my sister had posters of him all over her wall way back then.....at the times of.....'....wherever I lay my hat, that's my home...' so it was really cool to see him). I must say I was not disapointed with the band (although I got a c..p seat, so I couldn't see them very well), but boy could I hear them! I loved the music......could not keep still on that barstool.... had a drink with them after the show and they are really a nice bunch of guys.....(and cute as pie as well....all three of 'em)

They will be playing at the London Water Rats WC1X 8BZ this Sunday. Here is a link to the ticket office:
http://www.themonto.com/listings.php

Here is what the listing says about the Ruskins (link attached):

After recently attaining Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 demo of the week and winning Steve Harris's XFM featured bands competition, The Ruskins have come a long way since 2007. Claiming the Streets, Johnny Cash and the Kings of Leon amongst their favoured influences, this 3 piece band hail from the back alleys of Isleworths Worton Estate, West London. With their lyrics recently applauded by the Sunday Times, The Ruskins immerse themselves into a frenzy of uplifting country/ska rythms laced with a rockabilly twang. http://www.themonto.com/listings_detail.php?listings_id=641

you can check them out here (My favourite song is still Macho me, check out the video for Slow down Jessica though I love it):
http://www.myspace.com/theruskins

P.S. still haven't given up on my quest, please read and sign this petition if you agree with it. Thanks sincerely.
http://www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

Blog no 6: "Sounds like you are a bit of a romantic as well as firebrand!"

Francesca73 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:40:00 +0100

.................a friend of mine recently said this to me...

........ah yes....as Meredith says "all rolled into one...." (you know the song I mean?).....of course I am a romantic......most people are, they just don't want to admit it (in my opinion).

And what's wrong with being romantic I ask you, huh??? I was moved by a sad love story a while ago and it's always there in the back of my mind...they're not in a good place right now and must be wondering why this is happening to them....I think about them every day........

Can't help it, I'm a sucker okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy? so please sign this petition if you possibly can: http://www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

And because I am an insufferable romantic, I must tell you about the new love of my life. I am in love with this man's soul as it's pouring out of the speakers, I do not even understand the lyrics (well some of them) because he sings in Roma language. He is a true King of the Gypsies, a free spirit......his body may have left this Earth in June.....but his spirit will always be present. He left a big mark on the world, without even realizing it......or wanting to for that matter........he just loved to sing that's all (when asked why he stopped singing during recent Yugoslav wars he answered simply " nije lepo da se peva u ratu"...it's not nice to sing in the war........).

This man deserted from the army when he was a young boy......for love.........how can you not love a man like that?? His punishment was extreemely harsh (google Goli Otok and you will know what I am talking about), but he turned it into a positive......he did not end up resentful and vengeful (just like my good Captain up there).....

for your info I attach a short Wiki article about him, so you know who I am talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saban_Bajramovic

I've been sitting around playing his cd's over and over again, totally addicted, immersed....

Please help Captain Kristo Laptalo (pt 5)

Francesca73 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:11:00 +0100

1232 signatures at present....people are showing support, that's positive but more signatures are needed if anyone is to take any notice.....

www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

I should know already it's kind of an "uncaring" age we are living in. Have been for a while, ever since the yuppies and soft furnishings, flash cars and labels...people look away at crimes and injustices occurring around them every day....it's easier, less hassle, stress......why get involved.....it's not like it can happen to me, right?

Reminds me of the case of two little Roma girls that drowned in Italy recently. While their bodies lay there on the beach covered with towels, people simply continued to sunbathe around them. Two young lives lost, and they didn't even care

Link to the article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-picture-that-shames-italy-873743.html

I'm not giving up hope, I still believe that people are good in general, that there will be more who will contribute a few minutes of their time to show support to a man that can be saved before he is drowned by the bureaucrats, red tape and stupid politicians inadequate for the positions they find themselves in.

Please help Captain Kristo Laptalo (pt 4)

Francesca73 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:26:00 +0100

ok, blog number 4.......1229 signatures as of today. Wish there were more....quicker....it's hard not to be impatient. Every day must be such an agony for the man and his loved ones. At his age, having been on sea most of his life, he is stuck in a dark Greek prison.......it's the injustice of it all that kills me!!! His government did nothing to help him, and Croatia is a small country....seems a hopeless task

But I am continuing in my quest......if I gather one more signaure tonight.....it will be on more than before.

I copied a few of his words, from city of Dubrovnik web page ( http://www.dubrovnik.hr/vijestEng.php?id=1&newsid=133 )

“Thank you for your constant support and struggle. May we force sanity to triumph over insanity, wisdom to defeat madness, and deliver me from here to some better place.

Faithfully yours,

Captain Kristo Laptalo”

please take just a few minutes to sign the petition to show support for this man

www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

Thanks a lot

P.S. Thank you Daniel (you're no 1220)

Please help Captain Kristo Laptalo (pt 3)

Francesca73 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:31:00 +0100

I know most people prefer good funny jokes and the lighter sight of things on webistes like this....but since I first blogged about this here....I have managed to gather 2 signatures.....that's something....more then before I started....and I will keep going (us people from the Balkans can be very stubborn).....besides I am in between jobs and my kids are away until September, so I have a bit of time on my hands to get some more if I possibly can (with your help of course you good people on this site......we all like the same music....that's always a good start)

At present the count is: 1213 signatures (checked a couple of minutes ago)....just as a quick re-cap (since my first blog)...here is a brief history:

I am on a 'quest' to raise as many signatures as I can for this man, so I am posting this petition here in hope more people will show support....all of his basic human rights have been taken away from him....from his unfair trial to long incarceration.....there are at present only a handful of signatures there...because his story is not 'newsworthy' anywhere (except Marine companies and a few web portals). He has been dealt a shitty card and is rotting in jail....and still managing not to hate.....allthough he has many reasons he could....I can't pinpoint the exact reason why his story has moved me so very much. His wife said she was a captain's wife and she was prepared for years to hear some form of bad news.....but not like that...she did not expect to loose him like that in a way so unfair

with sincerest thanks

http://www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

Help me please!!!!!!!!! Part 1

Francesca73 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:29:00 +0100

....on my quest to gather as much signatures as I can for this man

please take time and read this article from a New Zealand website (for your information and a brief history):

http://www.mastermariners.org.nz/?p=73

If you have read this and think he is innocent, like I do, please read my previous blog, I translated some of his words, so you can see for yourself why I am so driven........ or simply sign this petition, help raise awareness....it's for a rare kind of a good guy:

http://www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

Please, every day he spends incarcerated must be so long for him, his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, colleagues, friends.....and people who happened to stumble across his story....every little helps

with sincerest thanks

Help me please!!!!!!!!!!!!

Francesca73 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:10:00 +0100

by signing this petition (there is a brief history of the case when you click on the link below)......

http://www.petitiononline.com/laptalo/petition.html

I sincerely believe this man is innocent and is now suffering a great deal, but still trying his best not to be bitter and hateful about his ordeal. I did my best to translate just a few of his words here, so you can see for yourself what I mean (the link to the whole interview...it's in croatian btw http://www.jutarnji.hr/clanak/art-2008,7,27,,128044.jl )

"I don't think I've upset anyone, but I wonder a lot about why would some kids get scared to do something to help me. (Croatian Embassy in Greece offered him humanitarian aid and advised him to learn Greek...that was ALL the help he had received from them....5 visits in one year) I don't have an answer to this question, and it makes me sad and is haunting me. I don't know who I could have upset so much to do this to me."

...............

"They let me read and write, but they won't let me draw, and drawing means much more to me than writing; altough you could say I am good with the language, I find more joy in drawing. I've been drawing for a long time on board. I haven't asked for a permission to draw yet, but I think I might have to."

................

"When I close my eyes, I don't sleep. I only see harsh things then. I see what happened to me. All the beautiful things I see with my eyes opened. I see Her (his wife), children (two stepsons and a daughter), grandchildren, Town (Dubrovnik)......"

"I got to know some kids here like they were my own. And some of them are my friends. I discovered a lot of goodness amongst the criminals...............
...........Some of them keep my mind from straying. These kids know very well how this feels and how you live through it. Although this concern of theirs brings some weird kind of pain."

Does this old sea captain, coming from a town with longstanding sailing tradition, whose kids are all grown up and well educated, who is close to retirement and loves drawing..........sound like a guy that would smuggle 51kg of cocaine with a cargo of bananas as a sideline??

Please sign the petition and if possible copy the link and send it to your friends....anyone you know.....Not one EC country has reported about his case apart from Croatian papers and web portals...he has been in jail for more than a year before being allowed to speak for 4 minutes only, and being told he is to spend 14 years in prison......he deserves to be heard propper and needs to get out of that jail before it is too late for him, his family and all the people who are already behind him.

Thanks to everybody who took time to read this.

Happy St George's Day!!

Francesca73 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:51:00 +0100

I’ve been living in England for over 16 years now, and although I knew this was a National Day for English people just like St Patrick’s Day is for the Irish I realised I knew absolutely nothing about the English National Day. Heard St George's day mentioned on Virgin a few times and I thought it was high time to learn a little bit more about it (better late then never, right?).

A short hop into the wonderfully enlightening world of Wikipedia later, I've now finally connected St Georges day with one of my favourite songs called "Djurdjevdan" i.e. St George's Day (doh!) Today is also a special day in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Macedonia (three of my ex-sister countries), here's the link to the song. Before it was used in Borat, the song appeared in Time of the Gypsies a wicked Emir Kusturica movie. The clip is a scene from the movie showing Djurdevdan (St George's Day) celebration on the river.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5YeIz-gR3o

St Georges day is celebrated also in Bulgaria, Portugal, Georgia (hence Borat connection) as well as the region of Catalonia (Spain) and the city of Moscow

The English I learned used to wear a red rose on ones lapel on this day in the past. The article then goes on to explain that as fashion moved on, so did the wearing of the rose. Shame, would be quite nice to see everybody wearing a red rose today (even if not on a lapel)

Well Happy St Georges Day Folks!!!!

P.S. still supporting The Ruskins here's the link (loving 'Macho me' at the mo): www.myspace.com

P.S. Would be nice to have a day off as well huh? I can see Mr Brown put the flag up at Downing Street....that's a good start! You never know, this time next year....

.....once upon a time......

Francesca73 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:26:00 +0100

A typical English 40 something, having split from his latest girlfriend, decided to take a vacation. He booked himself on a Caribbean cruise and proceeded to have the time of his life, that is, until the ship sank.

He found himself on an island with no other people, no supplies, nothing, only bananas and coconuts.

After about four months, he is lying on the beach one day when the most gorgeous woman he has ever seen rows up to the shore. In disbelief, he asks, 'Where did you come from? How did you get here?'

She replies, 'I rowed from the other side of the island. I landed here when my cruise ship sank.'

'Amazing,' he notes. 'You were really lucky to have a row boat wash up with you.'

'Oh, this thing?' explains the woman. 'I made the boat out of raw material I found on the island. The oars were whittled from gum tree branches. I wove the bottom from palm branches, and the sides and stern
came from a Eucalyptus tree.'

'But, where did you get the tools?'

'Oh, that was no problem,' replied the woman. 'On the south side of the island, a very unusual stratum of alluvial rock is exposed. I found if I fired it to a certain temperature in my kiln, it melted into ductile
iron. I used that for tools and used the tools to make the hardware.'

The guy is stunned.

'Let's row over to my place,' she says.

After a few minutes of rowing, she docks the boat at a small wharf. As the man looks to shore, he nearly falls off the boat. Before him is a stone walk leading to an exquisite bungalow painted in blue and white.
While the woman ties up the rowboat with an expertly woven hemp rope, the man can only stare ahead, dumb struck.

As they walks into the house, she says casually, 'It's not much but I call it home. Sit down, please. Would you like a drink?'

'No! No thank you,' he blurts out, still dazed. 'I can't take another drop of coconut juice.'

'It's not coconut juice,' winks the woman. 'I have a still How would you like a Pina Colada?'

Trying to hide his continued amazement, the man accepts, and they sit down on her couch to talk. After they have exchanged their stories, the woman announces, 'I'm going to slip into something more comfortable. Would you like to take a shower and shave? There is a razor upstairs in the bathroom cabinet.'

No longer questioning anything, the man goes into the bathroom. There, in the cabinet, a razor made from a piece of tortoise bone. Two shells honed to a hollow ground edge are fastened on to its end inside a swivel mechanism.

'This woman is amazing,' he muses. 'What next?'

When he returns, she greets him wearing nothing but vines, strategically positioned, and smelling faintly of gardenias. She beckons for him to sit down next to her.

'Tell me,' she begins suggestively, slithering closer to him, 'We've been out here for many months. You've been lonely. There's something I'm sure you really feel like doing right now, something you've been longing for?'

She stares into his eyes.

He can't believe what he's hearing.

'You mean . . ' he swallows excitedly and tears start to form in his eyes.

'Don't tell me you've got Sky Sports' ( - :

Check out the Ruskins (no connection to the joke): http://www.myspace.com/theruskins

Things you sometimes miss out on...

Francesca73 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:04:00 +0100

A friend of mine from work has invited me to watch him gig with his band quite a few times in the last couple of months (well ever since I learned he played in a band really). And each time something or other happened to prevent me from seeing him in action. They've been playing in Kingston, Notting Hill, Twickenham.....but it was not meant to be, nothing you can do about that.

I've just discovered their myspace profile, and I'm quite gutted I missed out....will definitely make it one day though, no giving up just yet

See and hear for yourselves, I leave it to you to decide

I must say I like the Ruskins, need to get hold of the lyrics though, kind of hard to catch all of it

http://www.myspace.com/theruskins http://www.myspace.com/theruskins

Thank you Leona!!!!!!

Francesca73 — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:39:00 +0000

.....once again you've hit the nail, I've been thinking about stuff and here's 'By the way' you're sending my way. You always seem to pick exactly the one Chilies song I'm in the mood for.

On the other hand I've just upset my 11 and a half year old boy tremendously. I washed all of his Yu-gi-yoh cards (forgive me if the spelling is not correct) today.

Well another lesson he learned, when I say 'I will not empty your pockets before I put stuff in the washing', I really do mean it. His dad learnt his a long time and a number of wallets ago, now I gotta go through all this c...p again?

I thought he knew I meant it when I washed his mobile phone last month,......guess not

Ah well, happy mothers day to all mummies here listening to this good radio station today 'by-the-way'!!

Have a good'un

rock on!!!

Caffeine

Francesca73 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:20:00 +0000

Home sweet home. I've been away on a course for the last three days, away from work, home, Bratz, hubby, everything - how refreshing. My daughter said to me: "..and you didn't have to lift a finger huh, mum?" Three days only, but it feels longer. I've learnt many useful things on this course, I am supposed to be a skilled negotiator now.......not too sure about that. I also met some really nice people, we had a few drinks together, as you do, heard some stories, everyday ordinary stories, but still interesting and funny and sad and strange as well (I will not go into detail as that would be telling). And last but not least I have learnt I am a total addict to turkish coffee - eureka hey?! Well it's the first time it's really hit me. The venue was a lovely little country Tudor style hotel, right in the middle of nowhere, the staff (total of three) is absolutely fantastic, one minute they're on reception desk, the next at the bar, then they emerge from the kitchen. You know the kind of place I mean, always gives you a kind of a home away from home type of feel, very cozy and comfy (this is the second time I've stayed now).. Our company has been a regular client for many years and they treat us really well there. Even the food's not too bad, the only thing they do not have is AN ESPRESSO MACHINE!!! The first time it hit me was on the first day, around 2 o'clock-ish. The course tutor was very good, everything he was saying was interesting, made a lot of sense but as much as I tried to stay focused, I all of a sudden found myself struggling to keep my eyes open. They were literally rolling towards the back (I bet the guy who sat opposite of me must have seen my eyeballs, just hope he wasn't looking!)and my head felt like a tonne. The tutor let us go back to our rooms around 5ish, gave us some homework to do. Lucky it was an easy exercise and it only took me about 15 minutes to do. I have never in my life sat down to do my homework straight away, ever! Always did it just before the class started the next day or whenever it was due, without fail. So this really was a first. As soon as I finished I though it would be good to just close my eyes for a couple of minutes......and that was the last thing I could remember. I have never in my entire life gone out just like that, I always have a little think just before I drift away. Not this time. Woke up just before seven and it took me a good few minutes to think whether it was morning already or what day it was even. Went downstairs for dinner, had a few g&t's after and was back in bed by 11. The first evening I stayed up well past midnight, I'm more of a night person usually. The next morning it was a struggle to get up at 8 and we were supposed to be starting at half past. Of course I then had a repeat of the day before, I think this time it kicked off around 1ish. Lucky we were finished before 3, which meant I could whizz down the M25 like a crazed maniac, thinking about a big pot of turkish coffee my mother-in-law will be making round about time I should be back. Oh, and it was lovely!! And as soon as I came home I made another big pot and shared it with Hubby. Now it's nearly half 1 in the morning.....and guess what??? I can't sleep. I overdosed totally. How on Earth am I going to wake up tomorrow morning, only the Gypsy knows.

Rock Idols

Francesca73 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:35:00 +0000

As far as rock idols go Anthony Kiedis has always been and always will be my absolute no 1 Rock God. I think his lyrics no matter how garbled some of them may seem to some people are always full of honesty and his true feelings at the time they were written. The late H. Slovak, John, Flea and Chad complement and accentuate them with just about every note they play. I love ALL of their albums. I have my preferences, many songs for many different occasions and mood. But the main thing is I agree with everything they have to say, you see. There are loads more bands and artists that I admire, tons of good music out there (most of it is played on VR, definitely!) and to name them all would be a time consuming exercise. Occasionally though you come across something new unexpectedly in a place you’ve given up on a long time ago, and I love it when I get excited about a totally new band and their music like this. I started listening to music in the early eighties, (that’s when I heard ‘Give it away’ for the first time, ach!). All sorts of music, lots of U2, the Chillies, Dire Straits etc etc but also a lot of Yugoslavian rock. There have been some very good rock bands and artists in those days. Some of them are still around, (I even managed to see a few of them here in London, which was a fantastic trip down the memory lane). Some are not together anymore, but the names alone are still there – the legends. But you see those that I admire are from the good old ‘commie’ days the ‘angry mob’ type of guys, opinionated and passionate, wild and wise at the same time. It has been 17 years and until recently I have not heard anybody new from the home territories capturing that YU rock that I am so nostalgic about. Until now that is. My cousin sent me a CD by a Croatian group called Rawbau last week, so I’ve not had a lot of play yet really and I am HOOKED already. There are 10 songs on this album and I agree with every single one. The lyrics are written by Slaven Bilic (yes, no other than the guy that knocked England out at Wembley last month, sorry peeps, he is not the vocalist though) and the rest of the band does exactly the same as Flea & Co brilliantly. One song stands out in particular, title is "Jel’ te sram" – "Are you ashamed of yourself", makes my blood boil. Am really happy to see there are still some good rockers left back home, and certainly looking forward to hearing more from Rawbau (although Mr Bilic might be tied up with footie next year, I do hope he does not forget the rocker in him). Gotta go listen to my new CD now.