Fourteen boxes should be enough

This packing lark has been pretty tough this week, we're up to fourteen boxes. We only came over with seven. Granted those boxes were bigger than the ones we have bought this time for the return journey back to England. It's quite funny if a little frustrating to be packing up the odd thing that has not been moved or touched since we unpacked it 22 months ago. Back then of course we didn't know if we would be coming back, staying a little longer or for good. The apartments been in a mess all week which has been a constant irritation. We had a good tidy up yesterday, my art desk is no more and has been replaced by a nice tidy pile of boxes. The trusty desk which has served me well over the past year and a half was placed next to the recycling bins waiting for a new owner to take it home. It wasn't there this morning.

After the disappointment of last Saturdays FA Cup final we had high hopes that the Champions League Final would deliver some quality sports entertainment. To get a better atmosphere we planned to watch the game in a local Irish bar, but to our disappointment they had a $20 door charge, each. With food and a drink or two we would easily have spent $80 or more. So it was back to the apartment with a slice of pizza and a coke to watch the game for free. Thought Liverpool should have won but I guess it was sweet revenge for Milan and another final that failed to live up to expectations. I guess a repeat of the 2005 final was never on the cards, and will probably never be repeated. Maybe next year.

Friday night we went to the Pavilion to watch Keane, the last band we would be seeing out here. Well actually that's a lie because it was Earthfest on Saturday with KT Tunstall performing among others, but that doesn't really count because we were stood to the side and couldn't really see. Plus the sound was pretty terrible. Earthfest's an annual free concert and gathering taking place on the esplanade. Lots of eco conscious promotions and things for you to take in, however it was just too busy to actually get close and take anything in. So back to Keane on a lovely Friday night, the temperature had been in the 90's all day and steadied around the 70's for the evenings entertainment. They we're pretty good, the crowd loved them and sang along, but did they make our top 5. Last week it was films, this week bands.

Emma's

Much like the film she stared in Emma has put Madonna in 'a league of her own' and beyond comparison with any other artist she's witnessed. Em waited 20 years to see her, and to then get seats 10 feet from the stage puts her beyond the following list.

1. Coldplay (Verizon Arena, Manchester NH)
2. Snow Patrol (Bank of America Pavilion, Boston)
3. Gomez (Avalon, Boston)
4. Keane (Bank of America Pavilion, Boston)
5. Illinois (supporting The Kooks. Paradise Rock Club, Boston)

Mark's
1. Coldplay (Verizon Arena, Manchester NH)
2. Madonna (TD Banknorth Garden, Boston)
3. Pearl Jam (TD Banknorth Garden, Boston)
4. The Black Keys (Avalon, Boston)
5. Supergrass (Paradise Rock Club)

Cheers.