You're still my friend, it's impossible to hate you

Another day trip (this time with my parents and their long-time friends Flor and Ursula, my sis was at school) to Lille on a day off from work. The sun was shining and everything was perfect.

(btw, that darling sheep was a present from Ursula to my sister, who had her birthday a day earlier)

Who is right, who can tell, and who gives a damn right now

I'm having a day off from work and spent the last hour and a half watching Grant Gee's Joy Division documentary. It's by far the best music docu I've ever seen and I think I even prefer it over 'Control' (Anton Corbijn's movie on Ian Curtis). The live footage and interviews (with Tony Wilson, the other JD members, Ian's Belgian girlfriend Annik...) are simply amazing.

A touch of genius

For those who didn't get to see the US Open semi-finale between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (and also for those who did, because it's still great), Roger's amazing between the legs shot:



It's not the first time he pulls a trick like that. This was a couple of months ago against Andy Roddick:



(haha, look at Roger smiling at the end of the video)

But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight

Wednesday was the birthday of my lovely sister Iris, who turned 16. I remember desperately wanting to be 16 when I was a kid, of course inspired by way too many American teenage series. When come to think of it, I'm enjoying things a lot more now than when I actually was 16. Nevertheless, I also have many great memories of that time and I'm wishing my sis lots and lots of those! Some pictures of the celebration.

In the evening, I met up with Sam - a very good friend from back in high school - for an Explosions In The Sky gig at the Rivierenhof (shame I haven't got a good pic of it, because it's an incredibly beautiful venue, sort of an open air amfitheatre in the middle of the woods).

I've got blisters on my fingers!

This is coming out tomorrow and I so need to have it.

http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/product?sourceCode=BEAWEB&sku=BEA47212

"Have you tried Kasabian?"

Okay, that made me laugh out loud. :D

She's a little pilot in my mind

Yesterday was the first day of my student job = working as a salesperson for the "Skyshops" at Brussels airport for one month. The first two days mainly consisted of till training (somewhat more difficult than I had expected it to be, but then again I think it's mostly a matter of getting used to it), learning how to deal with false money/thiefs/difficult clients, etc. The couple of hours we already spent in the shop (they put me in one of the fashion departements, all right!!) were pretty cool, though. Plus, my collegues seem to be nice. And I just like the fact of working at the airport, it's always been an environment I really loved. Even though it seriously makes me want to go on another holiday. :)

Pukkelpop 2009

Just a little over a week ago, I returned from three great days at the Pukkelpop festival. A small recap with some pictures of my favourite acts and the amazing people I shared these days with.

Day 1 - I saw: The Maccabees, Baddies, The Twang, James Yuill, Shantel & Bucovina Orkestar, Paolo Nutini, The Big Pink, Maxïmo Park, Dizzee Rascal, Soap&Skin, La Roux, Andrew Bird, Freaky Age (yes, Filip), Ladyhawke, Faith No More, My Bloody Valentine.

The Big Pink: a very nice discovery. Ministry meets Stone Roses. Lots of potential!

Maxïmo Park and the ever excentric Paul Smith. Andrew Bird: really good, despite the leaking Chapiteau tent. Chearing for my mates from Freaky Age.Faith No More: too good to be true, even though I expected very little from this gig.
Day 2 - I saw: Das Pop, Metric, Alberta Cross, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Chapman Family, The Airborne Toxic Event, Air Traffic, Glasvegas, Patrick Wolf, Snow Patrol, The Black Box Revelation, Placebo, Blood Red Shoes (from a distance), Kraftwerk.

My sister came over for one day.

This Australian bloke called Bert proposed to me in a drunk haze and - polite as I am - I said yes. So...meet my fiancé...technically. ;)
Discovery of the year: The Chapman Family. You find some of their music a few posts back. Definitely give them a listen, although it's their terrific live performance that should really win you over.

The Airborne Toxic Event.

Glasvegas: superb! (and my ultimate sing-along moment)

Patrick Wolf.

Kraftwerk, legends.

Day 3 - I saw: Telepathe, The Temper Trap, The Rifles, Jack Penate, Absynthe Minded, Enter Shikari, The Whitest Boy Alive, Mad Caddies, Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys.

The Temper Trap, glorious gig.

The Rifles, always good to see them again. Indie poprock like it should be.

Meeting up in the press area with Rob, bass player from The Rifles. We catched up over some beers, good to see him again!

Met some weird folks at the festival, as usual.

Filip.

Jim and Bart, falling in love.

Won't stop to surrender

I definitely wouldn't describe myself as a kitchen princess, but these Italian chocolate truffles by me and my sister taste pretty damn good.

Noel left Oasis

...and I can't believe it. I've been loving this band for such a long time - unfortunately only went to my first Oasis gig for the first time this year - fortunately already three times since then (Brussels, Lille, Werchter), each time being a great experience. Rock 'n roll stars like Liam and Noel seem to be very scarse these days. Been listening to Oasis records all day and I just can't get over it.

The kids are not alright

The Belgian Pukkelpop festival is always a great place to discover new bands, but none of them were as good as this one. Meet The Chapman Family!

This is their single 'Kids'...

...and this is one of their amazing live performances (love the part at the end where they turn completely insane).