News Round Up!!!

I'm back in Hong Kong!!!!

The last two weeks of the course was amazing!
I now have a Live Audio Operator diploma!!!!
I really enjoyed the course and the people involved were fantastic. I made some special friendships and I was at one point seriously thinking of staying and work was offered. But my UK trip carried on with a view of maybe returning to London at a later date.

So it was off to Ballyemena, Northern Ireland to visit The Strachans!
I had a fantastic time with Ian and Anne and it was a blessing, God's love shined through them and it was immense. They have a very special place in my heart.

I was in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day and had a great Irish day out watching rugby, checking out Belfast from the heights of The Belfast Eye (Mega, big wheel) and eating it Irish!
One of the highlights of my stay in Ballyemena, was sitting in the hot tub in their back garden on a clear night gazing at the stars, with a cool breeze blowing, I was at peace.

The next and last port of call was to The Toon!!! (Newcastle)
I was visiting my Uncle Ken, Auntie Rosie, me nana and me cousins, Louise, Sarah & Gemma. They actually live in Alnwick which is about 20mins drive north from Newcastle.
I've not seen them in over 5yrs and you might think its weird, I was nervous but that was all put aside when I met me Auntie Rosie at the airport and me Uncle Ken hugged me and said 'Alreet Hin'!!!
From then on it was banter and laughter for the next 8 days. It was a good crak! I was feeling the love and after the Strachans, the combination was overwhelming. I just felt at ease, I was in my own, I was me.

And if that wasn't enough, to top it off I had one of the best days ever. I watched Newcastle United beat Fulham at St. James Park and I was there with 50,000 other Geordies. We were one heart beating in the stadium for our team, The Toon Army, it was life or death and the victory was sung all through the town.
It was purely belter!!!

With all the banter, laughter, love and awesome memories and experiences, I headed back to HK.

During my time in UK, I often had a conversation with God about what was next? Am I'm going to find a job in HK in the live sound area or shall I stay/go back to London.
During the last few days in England, I received an email from The Vine (my church in HK) and I was excited but aware that God had opened alot of doors for me in England and I was off thinking of if, whats, hows, London, HK, blah, blah.

Cut to the chase I sat in a meeting with Pastor John & Tony and God revealed all. Everything that I was worrying about was no longer. God had provided all.
I am now fully employed at The Vine, official title, Sound/production Assistant. Wohoo!!!

My journey so far has been one of many twists and unknowns. Several times I've wanted to walk away and do things myself but through the support of my close friends, I've pressed on with God and even though there will still be hard times to come, my trust in Him stands.
Thank you Lord.

Thank you to everyone who helped me get this far in life, through love, friendship, prayer and financially. Thank you all.

Love
Michele

Photos:
Class of March 2008
Ballyemena, N.Ireland
Geordieland

Week Two!

The course has been great so far and I feel great in finally knowing the technical stuff that I've been wanting know for ages. And the good thing is that its not just information thrown at me, I've been able to use it straight away and get the full understanding of all the stuff. eg, gates, compressors, matrix, etc.

One of the guys who's on the course with me has an Indie band and they came and played on the Friday afternoon, so we where able to do a live scenario of what would actually happen on a proper gig from scratch. I was running front of house first and then switched to monitors. It was great to be able to use what I've learnt in the two weeks and hear the results immediately.

On Thursday our teacher, George, took us to a pub to do sound for a band that were playing there that night. It was a small place about the size of the Vine lounge area. The stage was at one end of the room. We set up and got things ready as the band got organised. They had drums, bass, electric guitar x 2, vocals, 3 congos, 2 bongos, chimes, cow bells, cymbals & a sax, all on this tiny stage! George kinda of put me in charge as everyone else on the team left for dinner! The first band were quite good playing Spanish stuff, then it went to African something. I ended up doing 4 bands that night with people adding keyboards and Djembes! It was fun and George & I were having a laugh cause at the end everyone was playing everything whenever, it was like the drums were trying to compete with the sound system! Overall, everyone had a good time and a laugh which was a good result for me.

Living with Ben's parents has been good and Ben's mom Kim, bakes a great Banana cake! They're very giving and its nice to stay in such a safe and warm environment.

I've had some great food experiences this week:
Fish'n'chips in Arnos Grove was good.
Sunday roast lunch with me cousin (who I haven't seen in 13yrs) was fantastic! 3-4 slices of roast beef, 2 Yorkshire puddings, roast tatties, veg & gravy and steamed toffee pudding with custard, champion!!
Rolo doughnuts!!!! Doughnut ring filled with toffee with chocolate on top. Oh Aye!!
Cornish Pasty from Cornwall Pasties, grand!
99 Flake - a must!
As most of you know I'm into my pop/soda and its been great having IrnBru, Lilt, Dr.Pepper and stuff on the shelf but I've been searching for two weeks in nearly every supermarket in London for a Mountain Dew!....Today my efforts were rewarded!!! In Covent Garden, a store called the Cyber Candy Sweet Shop had sitting in its fridge Mountain Dew Code Red!!!!
It was a great find and made my day especially after a bad weekend for us Geordies!

Sorry didn't get time to take as many photos this time: London Week 2
I'll take more this week!!

Seeya!!!

Week One!

The first few days in London, I travelled around and got to see a bit of London before my course started. With the help of my monthly travel pass I can travel on the Tube and buses, as many times I want around London. Cool! But I found walking around was better for seeing stuff. I went to Piccadilly, Oxford Circus, Hyde Park, Green Park, The National Army Museum, Knightsbridge, Soho and some other places.
It’s been generally sunny, a few mornings with frost but I reckon that doesn’t mean its cold. I’ve yet to wear a coat! Apparently its 7 degrees here. It can get chilly when the suns down though, nowt a jumper wouldn’t solve.

Day 1 of the course and I was back in the thick of the sound action. Lots of information and practical and I’m really enjoying the course. After the 3rd day I was helping on stage during one of the gigs where 3 bands playing. The headline band was an American band called Manchester Orchestra, which I had not heard of but they sounded good. It was a good insight how things went as bands switched equipment and during the earlier sound checks how different artists set up their gear. At one point I thought this electric guitarist was deaf cause he kept wanting to turn his amp up. It was so loud we couldn’t put any of it through the house and it’s not a small venue! But I’ve been lucky to see all these bands for free and hear different electric & bass guitars, effects and amps and drums, cymbals & snares live.

Thursday was fantastic cause the venue was hosting Sheryl Crowe. Man, they were using a Dshow digital board it was awesome. She was great too. She had her whole band with her and she played songs from her new album and old ones. She’s got a great voice. They were using about 4 different acoustic guitars and it was great to experience how they sounded, they were nice. The total mix was awesome.

The other people on the course with me are nice and it’s been great getting to know them. The course instructors are very helpful and are very keen for us to learn as much as we can during the 4 weeks. Next week I’m helping on another gig probably some others during the week. Its great to get all the hands on experience as you're studying and keeping your eyes and ears open for any information that can be beneficial in the long run!

Check out me photos: London Week One

I'm Off!!!!

Its been a year since I last blogged but its now blogging in excitement!!

Its also been a year since I quit my job after more than 10yrs of working on cars to follow God's calling for me in sound.
So far it has been a journey with many, many struggles and at times I was not confident that I was heading in the the right direction. There were times of doubting that I had made the right choice and that I was crazy, quiting a job that enjoyed.
But God had tipped my world upside down so that I would come to know the path he has set for me.
Through the encouragement and prayers of close friends, I pursued on the sound route and now I have a great opportunity to go on a Live Audio Engineering diploma course in London!

Through the ingenious minds of some friends, they eventually convinced me to have a Grow-a-thon to help raise money for the course fee!

We have managed to raise more than enough money to pay for the course!
I still can't believe I'm going!! I've got 6hrs before I take off!!!

I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me in donations, prayer and encouragement.
Without your support this would of not been possible.

God is awesome and I'm so excited!!! Wohoo!!!!

Wood's Knee



Some of you probably know that I popped my knee out and tore my anterior cruciate ligament ACL) back in August 2006.

After joining queues after queues I finally had my operation on the 1st of Feb! My doctor, Jimmy Wong from Queen Mary Hospital, did a great job and everything went according to plan. I've been out of hospital for just over two weeks now and I'm off crutches walking about - at a sllllooooow pace.

The first week out was tough as I had to stay at home but its great now that I can get out and about. I keep forgetting that my knee has another four months of rehab/physio before its 100% ready for sports. I start walking off at my normal pace only to be reminded immediately by my right knee to slow down!!!

The toughess thing was to accept that I couldn't do things that I could normally do. It was especially hard for me to stop doing sound at the Vine for the whole of February. I felt useless. It got me down cause I'm a 'doing' person.

But God is showing me alot of things, one, that I don't have to be always 'doing' something. That its OK and it doesn't change His love for me.

I just want to say 'Thanks' to everyone who visited me at the hospital and at Anna G's, for the calls and SMS, I'm really blessed to friends like you, I felt the love, it was special.

Thank you for all your prayers, the recovery is going faster than the doctors predicted.

God's A Working!!!!!!

FA Cup 1999

Newcastle United 0 ManU 2

I was just going through a pile of papers that I haven't touched in years and I came across a poem. I wrote it just after I watched wor Toon Army lose the FA Cup in 1999. I was devasted! I was probably with every Geordie in HK crammed into Delaney's watching every second to the final whistle. The next day I was still depressed about the game (that's how passionate we Geordies are about wors football) and all of a sudden a flow of words came out.
I remember, I just had this big grin on me face and I had that extra bounce in me step after I finished writing it.
I read it again today but it ment something different this time but it put that same grin on me face and that extra bounce in my step.
The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Day of Destiny

On this field we stand side by side
In our shirts of black & white
Shall we lift that golden cup?
Will we have that lucky touch?
As in the year of 1952
When wor Jackie donned his golden shoes

Face to face against the Devils red
Who will win the battle in the end?
Will we be the glorious today?
Or will our dreams just fade away?
The kick off whistle blows
Who will score that glorious goal?

As we stand amongst our fellow fans
We become a giant band
Cheering for our home team
Wishing for that famous feat

But alas as the final whistle blows
Our heads bow in sorrow
Football's greatest test
And to only make second best

Hopes lost in the wind
The players despair felt within
The golden cup lost
The glorious day shot
STOP!

We battled the teams of many
To come and play at Wembley
From near regulation
To the FA Cup celebration

Lift your heads you Geordie lads
We have no reason to be sad
We beat the rest
To be in this contest

Here we are in Wembley
We, The Toon Army
We shall return another day
Then it will be our glory day
With our mighty leader
Shearer! Shearer! Shearer!

Remembrance Day 11/11

For those who don't know what Remembrance Day is - here's a short extract from the Royal British Leigion website:

'Remembrance Day and the Two Minute Silence have been observed since the end of the First World War, but their relevance remains undiminished. When we bow our heads in reflection, we remember those who fought for our freedom during the two World Wars. But we also mourn and honour those who have lost their lives in more recent conflicts. Today, with troops on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other trouble spots around the world, Remembrance, and this two minute tribute, are as important as ever'

11/11, I'll be selling poppies for the Poppy Appeal, all monies go to Veterans of HK. See ya on the street!

(Please be respectful and don't post any anti-war comments, thanks)