Crazy Fm

7 week plan

2012-01-29T13:13:00.006Z

Hallo hello. Welcome. Hi. Bonjorno! I am Kirsty Almeida and you are you.

Well, here I am am. Its spring. Really? You say? Yup, I say. Yup it is. The jasmine in the garden is through so it's Spring. Goodness.

So, what have I been doing with my time? Well, we here at Crazy fm which would be myself and I and of course the higher me and the pain body me and all the other me's too have been busy.

We've all been a little obsessed with Eckhart Tolle so I firmly, wearing spectacles, a suit, holding a cane suggest you get yourself onto iTunes and download the audio book The Power of Now and get listening - chapter a day. You can listen to some stuff for free too on spotify. Swear it'll change your life!

At All Made UP (my record label and Publishing shed) we have been really busy. We have a 7 week plan culminating in the release of Cool Down Rewind with a very very special and unbelievably creative remix built and shaped with musical hammers, drills and sonic nuts and bolts by one of our very own. The release of this single is the end of a year's plan that we made when I left Decca which started with starting our own label and then releasing three singles from the album as handmade singles which I will photograph for you later and I will keep you involved along the 7 week way so you can see which bits were worth it, which a waste of time and which parts led to the incredible success just round the corner (positivity book shelf).

Each week I have a long list of things to get through and the lists culminate in 'Cool Down Rewind' release on April fools day. Also, Pure Blue Green will be re-released as 'DejaVoodu' on our label, All Made Up on April the 8th (full moon) and has had a few mixes opened up and shined from the inside out, new track listing and some sparkly artwork tweaks. The album will be what I originally wanted it to be called and to sound like. Very exciting. Of course we begin 6 degrees to Jools Holland now too - as soon as I receive the photos from all participants.

I have begun painting ballgowns and am loving my time designing each bespoke piece- wait till ya see! Ok, I shall write to you often for a few weeks so you can see what you do to release a single when you're me. If you have any questions please always ask them as it helps me too.

We have lots of wonderful creatives sharing their time and talent to help us at the moment too so will introduce them as we go along on The Cool Down Rewind Path.

I wish you well.

Snow Go for Jools Holland Antarctic

2012-01-18T14:27:00.003Z

Got this back from the antarctic - back to the drawing board - anyone know anyone else out there?

www.6degrees2jools.com

Dear Kirsty,

Thank you for your email and for your interest in British Antarctic Survey.

That's a great idea, but I'm afraid we can't help you with this request. As you can imagine, it's a very busy time period for us at the moment in Antarctica and we get numerous similar requests.

I hope your experiment will work through other people.

Kind regards,

www.6degrees2jools.com

6 degrees from the Antarctic to Jools Holland

2012-01-17T01:52:00.008Z

So it begins - the 6 degrees 2 Jools Holland preparation. (http://www.6degrees2jools.com). We have decided to try for 6 continents. Matt likes the idea of us including Antarctica so I broke my Facebook vow and asked for Antarctic contacts. One of my favourite Facebook buddies gave us a point in the British Antarctic Survey so here is my plea to them...

Aunty Bella

2011-12-30T17:20:00.022Z

Aunty Bella

(by Tom Davies & Kirsty Almeida)

'Letter written to Kirsty's little brother Vic and little Sister Rachel from Aunty Bella'

My dere little chicks,

This is your Auntie Bella here, please excuse the poor quality of my writing but your sister Kirsty has been teaching me to use the computer and I find it all a bit c%$mPffjHxK.

I thought I’d write and tell about my life over here in England and, in particular, my adventures last Sezzanday (the day after Monday but before the start of the week). A most unusual day I’m sure you’ll agree and it is rare that I get through a Sezzanday without at least one adventure.

As you may know, I consider breakfast the most important meal of the week and always insist on a huge feast before I’ve even got out of bed and dressed. On this particular Sezzanday, however, I had risen early to polish my collection of rare apples and had cooked a splendid and nourishing meal of hot dogs, curry and, of course, melted chocolate. After polishing off this delicious brunch, I decided it was time to take my morning constitutional. A constitutional, as I’m sure you know, is a kind of walk that adults must take to stop their legs from exploding.

(To be Continued. Obviously, unless you can end a story with... 'a constitutional, as I’m sure you know, is a kind of walk that adults must take to stop their legs from exploding.' Maybe you can?)

Maybe I can.

Till tomorrow.

Crazy Fm: earthlingalings - the final blog

2011-11-14T08:09:00.000Z

Crazy Fm: earthlingalings - the final blog: So, I finished the week's detox and on the last morning felt really apprehensive about coming back. I had absolutely no idea what it would b...

earthlingalings - the final blog

2011-11-13T22:41:00.012Z

For info on the detox retreat click here please

So, I finished the week's detox and on the last morning felt really apprehensive about coming back. I had absolutely no idea what it would be like. I looked around at the bubble I'd been in and said my goodbyes - and it really was a bubble. You spend all that time just drinking juices and breathing and urging memories to float to the top and teasing emotions to the front. You are in such a safe environment and encouraged to stop thinking and start paying REAL attention to how you feel every moment and of course I had been doing my own learning too when I had spare time. I feasted on Alchemy Past & Present (The Royal Art of Transformation) and Eckhart Tolle's Findhorn Retreat. I spent a lot of my time really trying to bring myself to the present to truly notice and feel what's happening at every moment.

I jumped in the car with one of the girls heading for Manchester and the journey took us all along the Welsh coastline which was stunning and then 3 hours right through the middle of autumn. Beautiful and a perfect, perfect finish.

Once your body has fasted for 6 days you have to be very careful introducing solids which if I'm honest in the past I've paid no attention to when I've done short detoxes but this time something has changed. I actually have no interest whatsoever in a glass of wine or a beer, or foods that aren't good for me. Somehow I've found a deep respect for all the organs in my body and that's a new thing for me. All in just one week.

I have to slowly introduce foods back into my everyday and be gentle with my body and myself which is usually a difficult thing but something feels so good deep inside now and I don't want it to go away so I feel quite happy to go along slowly. I wake up every morning really early and I'm straight out of bed and bright eyed and bushy tailed! That hasn't happened since I was a kid. I feel relaxed. I don't feel sluggish or tired. All the things I was feeling before have cleared.

I tell you what - it was mad to walk around the city centre the afternoon I got back - everyone seemed so stressed and busy. The lines on peoples faces seemed to give me a window into their everyday. I watched for a while and it felt like I'd been given a brand new pair of seeing glasses! The world looked so different. I have to say too, as I walked around so many people seemed to take a second look at me or turn round to watch me pass. I think I must've had a big smile on my face.

It didn't last though as quite quickly my life came back in and my phone started ringing and emails flowed and work piled and it's taking me time to figure out how to use the new tools I have been given on the retreat but it is working slowly and I'll get there. Its so difficult to remember that we are each in charge of making ourselves feel good. I often expect treatment from others to make me feel good and now I'm starting to work out how that works. Its my job to feel good and if someone else's behaviour stresses me out its up to me to not be affected by it and if I am, to walk away and not be offended by it but to look after myself. I certainly don't need to flare up which is what I'm used to doing! I'm learning. I won't ever go back to how stressed I was before I went in.

Best part is my voice feels like a brand new instrument and is able to do things I couldn't before even before warming up.

So, another life changing experience for me and I'm sure for everyone who was there.

Thanks for reading - its been lovely to know that someone is there. My EP is here if you haven't got it yet. Till the next Crazy Fm reason... Crazy Fm - not in the morning - in yer mind. x

emotional detox - Day 5

2011-11-11T16:55:00.009Z

For info on the detox retreat click here please

I woke up numb. More numb than I have felt for a long time. I had no interest in outside, opening the window, showering, swimming or the morning meditation. I checked my emails which just depressed me and I lay down and stared at my computer screen. I felt nothing but deep sadness. Then it changed. Anxiety joined in. So, I lay down in my beautiful little wood burning cottage whilst anxiety and sadness had a party in my head and heart. I got up and managed to get myself over to the meeting house. I did none of the things I should before meditation. I told noone how I felt and looked noone in the eye. I took a blanket and sat down and shut my eyes. Panic and sadness and now anger and bitterness were all staring at me. I opened my eyes. I stared at the hills. Then the group meditation began. Just the breathing alone helped. Then my mind calmed. Then meditation was over and it was juice time. I am a day behind everyone as I went to a beautiful funeral on friday so today everyone has been feeling ready to get out of here whilst I was wondering if they might give me a job as a cleaner or something so I would never have to go back and face reality.

I drank my juice and sat listening to the others - so many breakthroughs and life changing moments and wonderful realisations and I felt nothing but dread, worry and deflation. They were all very excited about breaking the fast and tasting food and the thought made me feel awful.

I did my final colonic for the week and epsom salt scrub and headed over to the farmhouse for our raw food feast. Now, I have to say when I walked in the farmhouse I was greeted by the most beautiful banquet I have ever seen! Long table for us all to sit around and bear in mind I hadn't seen or eaten a solid food now for 6 days - WOW. It was stunning. I wish I'd taken photos for you. Raw foods had been sculpted, shaped and magicked into love hearts, sprinkles, beautifully presented gourmet looking dishes.

We all sat to eat and toasted our water to the chef and began. I have to say I have never in my life tasted things as they tasted today. Because my tongue has healed and cleared and is healthy and my tastebuds detoxed every thing I tasted I felt its flavours. Just wonderful. I ate mindfully as I was a wee bit scared of feeling any more ill than I felt and I didn't each much at all. I just enjoyed all the flavours as they took me over.

I left the table early as everyone else was hatty and excited and I still numb and went off to read a book outside.

I stared at the donkeys and along came one of the therapists. We discussed the pains I had in my Pancreas and how I felt down and nauseous and when I said anxious she looked very happy and said 'Ah -so yesterday you had finished the physical detox - now you begin the emotional one.' Great...

She talked of how the pancreas pain can emotionally have a lot to do with not shining your light or as in my case being too much on a mission - storing emotions there to be dealt with 'someday'. I thanked her and said I'd have a think. This lovely and extremely insightful lady said that she knew I had been asked to sing during the evening and that I should only do it if I felt it felt good to do. I told her that that part was fine and I would just do it. Then she made me see something. I always do that. I always say yes to the mission my crazy mission even if I don't want to!

I then cried, wailed, sobbed, held by belly and dribbled like a toddler. Then, got up and went back to my cottage. another therapist turned up with tissues and a blanket and offered to 'drop me right in the middle of the emotions I was feeling and said she could help. She then guided me through what I can only say is like a replacement for going out on a bender to deal with yourself but a million times better! After, she left and I felt wonderful.

I then went for a lovely walk through autumn with my cottage mate who is also an artist and we walked really slowly to enjoy the sounds and everything around us.

We then all had soup - WOW! And a tiny piece of homemade cake with nothing but goodness in it and let me tell you people when you have detoxed this much and gone through this kind of thing cake made out of dates and nuts and rasberries etc tasted INCREDIBLE!

I then sang a few songs and although I nearly crumbled in the first one from real adrenaline and nerves it was lovely and they were such a lovely and attentive gentle and child like audience. They oooooh-ed and aaahhhh-ed and picked out lyrics and chose their favourite and we all hypnotised ourselves with music.

Then a few of us ran outside to the beautiful full moon and jumped in the outdoor hot tub and enjoyed the moon, the view and inner calm. We all talked about how the 11th of the 11th of 2011 is meant to mean brand new beginnings. Sauna after that. Lovely. They all left after that back to their cottages and I stood in my bikini in the cold night (feeling warm and lovely!) and asked the moon to grant me some wishes and I prayed. Bed. xxxxxx

Aladin's Genie

2011-11-09T16:04:00.007Z

For info on the detox retreat click here please

Last night I did a lot of work with myself I thought, stopped thinking, read, asked, thought and then went for a sauna and a swim. I was dreading the sauna and the swim because I felt so weak and tired but none-the-less off I went and when I was in the sauna I stopped thinking and noticed the moment that I was in. Lovely. I rarely do pull myself to the present as I am usually finishing a project or two and starting another and dreaming up 15 more but this week I have really begun to be right in the middle of each moment. Hippy-toffle I hear you shout. Feels good though when you land right in the middle of now.

I had a dreadful night last night as I had a session with one of the amazing therapists here on forgiveness and self-love which was a beautiful session and I learnt a lot and worked through some stuff that I have held onto for years and years - GONE. Completely gone. I will never have to feel any bitterness or upset or anger towards the issues and people we dealt with yesterday ever again. Now that is amazing. Afterwards some pretty serious physical stuff happened to my body and my colonic showed some crazy stuff - I won't tell you but it is incredible what you have stored in your body that it just doesn't need or want. Anyway my gallbladder (which I've had problems with in the past) detoxed a lot last night as did my liver and I had a painful night.

I spoke to the therapists and they sent various people to my cottage who gave me acupuncture and massages and the colonic therapist worked with me and it all worked. My body has transformed this afternoon into total calm and I feeeeeeeeeel amazing.

When you detox your body kicks out toxins from all the organs and throws them into the colon ready to be chucked out but the body is confused about what to do with the kind of toxins we put into our bodies so it sends most of them back into the blood stream to be processed which puts them all back into organs and tissues which is why you need the colonics apparently. Our big health problem as humans is that we feed our cells with toxins constantly and although the body has an incredible ability to detox we sometimes put one toxin too many for it to cope with and the body picks up diseases or develops them and we can get very ill. Detoxes like this can help to reset us and purge toxins and replace the body with the nutrients it needs to help it do what it does so well.

Oh dear sorry - I hope I'm not boring you!!!

So, this morning I woke up and was shocked at how white my teeth are! All from oil swishing. WHAT IS OIL SWISHING I hear you say? Well, you detox and the body tries to get rid of toxins and one thing that's heavily affected is the tongue which goes whitish (should be pink when you look at it and not dry) so you have to oil swish here every morning by swishing one table spoon of oil around the mouth for a couple of minutes then spitting it out and brushing teeth as normal. It isn't very nice but my teeth are white, my tongue healthy and my sense of taste and smell outrageously heightened!

My flatmate today was shocked at how well I look. She said she she was shocked at how I look like I have had a facelift or something. Any tired skin, wrinkles or bags are completely gone. I look years younger and brighter.

So, now I'm off for a session with an astrologist who is going to look at my birth chart - this is an extra to the detox but a fun one!

Ah I told you I would tell you about the painting I am going to paint... The forgiveness session I did yesterday is called the journey and the therapist leads you back into your childhood to essentially grow you back up with the nurturing we all need. Its really lovely and very gentle and afterwards even those who feel like they've totally dealt with their childhoods feel so much lighter afterwards. So, I closed my eyes and she said, 'imagine where you store your pain in your body and shrink yourself to a tiny you and climb into that part of your body. So, I imagined myself sitting japanese style facing away and the top of my back was open with two doors much like those of a castle and inside there were lots of post tags hanging with peoples names on. So, I will paint that picture when I get home. The therapist was really laughing at my imagination all the way through - ghandi, aladins genie, the dalai lama, balloons filled with kindness, appreciation and security, chandeliers, a huge diamond and a giant chocolate truffle were all part of my journey. x

Day 2 & 3 - Answers

2011-11-08T23:10:00.014Z

To find out more about the retreat please click here

First may I say - our single came out yesterday with some special new tracks on it - please click here and download. Thank you and I really hope you enjoy this EP - we put a lot of care into it. The tracks I wrote for the Albatross film are on iTunes too. Now on to the health farm...

A friend sent me some questions about my health farm week and I thought it a good way to write this blog so here goes...

How are you? I'm utterly confused. In the way that children can be. You know how kids go through emotions one after another sometimes seconds only between them and then they totally drop the emotion and pick up another? That's what's happening to me. I can be absolutely over the moon with joy one minute and then a few minutes later totally confused about everything, then sitting on a window sill teary immediately followed by wandering outside to stare at a horse and questioning reality. Pretty crazy. Yesterday I was soooooooo sick and ill and drained, depleted, exhausted, weak and feeling empty then today I woke up feeling like a truck had smashed into the back of my head. This afternoon I began to feel light.

How is the detox going? Its wild!! So, there are a few of us here all strangers yet we are spending such intimate conversations and time together - that's pretty mad for one. Then the treatments are a roller coaster of emotional and physical detox then the colonics and supplements make it all go away.

Not hard to live on liquid? No, it really isn't. Its takes very little time to forget when you realise what amazing benefits you are getting just by giving the body a chance to stop and process and clear and clean. Today, though, I saw a lemon slice thought it was a crisp and felt overwhelmed with guilt and happiness! Crazy. I considered building an alter around it and inviting the others to see what I'd made for a laugh but then I saw that it was only a lemon slice and outside I went again to stare at the horse and question reality.

Is it really relaxing? Yes, when I manage to get the voice in my head to shut up and when I let go of my day. The day begins with oil mouth swishing (yuk but oh my word it makes incredible changes happen!) meditation at 8 in front of a beautiful Welsh rolling view usually iced with frost then juice at 9, colonic, rest, skin brushing, sauna, swim hot tub, juice at 12, lesson at 12.30 on nutrition (which has been blowing my mind!) then group walk at 2, juice at 3, treatment in the afternoon, yoga at 4, juice at 6, hot broth and social at 8, colonic then hot tub or epsom salt bath, bed. You don't have to do any of the above if you don't want to of course.

How do you feel? Like I should have done this a long time ago just for my body's sake. Today I'm detoxing my emotions too so a wee bit fragile but I feel like my centre is really strengthening.

Does it feel like a break or still working? Definitely feels like a break but I have been working which I am stopping tonight and will stop checking emails too. Will keep this going because its nice to write.

Do you enjoy your time meditating? My meditation usually goes a little something like this in my head,

"Breathe in...breathe out...breathe in...there you go just concentrating on the breath...no you're not you just thought that...yeah so? I was just commenting on it that's all, wasn't thinking about other stuff...like the fact that you've still got some lyrics to finish by the time you get back...SHUT UP! Breathe in...Breathe out...

Not too lonely? Actually I feel horrendously lonely at times. Really crazily insecure and then like a toddler its gone and I'm staring at autumn. The people here are all so lovely so that helps and everyones in a similar boat - all here for different reasons so the support is there. I've been listening to the Findhorn retreat that Eckhart Tolle gave which has been making me giggle too.

Have you time or inspiration to do some art work? I got a very strong visual today in my head that I will paint. I''ve never done a proper self portrait but I think I have to do this one. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

So intriguing, I look forward to hearing your experience - thank you my friend xxxx

Viewtiful

2011-11-06T22:58:00.011Z

For more info on the detox retreat please click here

So i've booked into a health farm in beautiful wales. Why? Cause I haven't stopped since last January! I get the feeling everything is about to go crazy so I thought best to ready this body to deal with the things I would like to create.

My train down here left Manchester at 11.30 and I arrived at 7.30! Just one train. Crazily, my retreat seemed to begin right there as I my phone ran out of juice before I hit the train, then my computer did the same, no sockets on the train I decided to read my book - which I had left on my bed in Manchester. So, I had an 8 hour trip with nothing and noone but the millions of voices in my head. Luckily the views were outstanding and the train travelled right down the beautiful coastline and I am happy by the sea.

Its pretty incredible here though. Wood burning stove, beautiful wee cottage and a lovely house friend. Each year I go away for a while and take some sort of sabbatical type break - so a few years ago it was New York for a month, a month in Ireland, a few months in Sheffield to write an album and this year its this - 7 days of fresh juice, meditation, various different therapies, sauna, colonics, rest and nutrition classes (and a beautiful outdoor hot tub overlooking a wild rolling Welsh view).

I'm usually quite good at knowing what foods to eat and how to cook but some of the things I've learnt here are mind blowing. I live a hectic lifestyle and am constantly thinking Ill get round to meditating at some point in life and rarely give my body a good break and force it through one too many nights out when its tired. I survive on adrenaline and catch a breath when I can. I'm here at the health farm for 7 days on a juice diet with 12 other people (13 women and 1 man who coincidentally is also a Gibraltarian!!)

Today is actually day 2 for me but I couldn't work out if writing this blog was a good idea or not but today I feel I actually should. I'll keep a little diary here so you can read a teeny tiny bit about what this is like. I wish you well.

PS. Our single came out today with some special extras for you all - you can get it here

The Army of Butterflies

2011-10-19T16:05:00.005+01:00

So, a lovely man in America has taken a small army of butterflies to share amongst the US industry and a lovely english man has taken a small army of creative light warriors over to Japan to the Japanese music conference. I have attached photos of the boxes. As you know we made 650 handmaids and they've all gone out with our two incredible radio pluggers and our press and media. so around 1000 light warrior flutterbys are flying across the Uk, the Us and Japan. Stay tuned to Crazy Fm and i'll let you know what comes out of all that.

The Bury Light was a fantastical success and I learnt a phenomenal amount about and will share that with you this week to as soon as I get the beautiful shots back. The single has been serviced so now we wait...

Albatross the film is out - we have 5 songs on it and its in the cinemas now.

"So, what next???!!!" I hear you scream, whilst jumping up and down on your tv set eating your own curtains and squeezing your waist in a little too tight for comfort? Well, I am finally designing a website and creating each of the limited edition handmades.

Stay near - lots of blogs in the next couple of weeks. x

If you can't make me 650 Handmades

2011-09-21T19:53:00.008+01:00

The tea dances and the giant 6 foot silk flowers seem like years ago. It's all systems go at almeida's glitter head quarters. I mean ALL go. Everyone's helped me. Thank you to everyone who's helped. I'd list you all but it would take days! Instead, ill save each of you one of the limited editions to say thanks.

So we folded 1000 handmade covers and I had to buy Fred aldous the artshop out of black rolls of paper. £80 on black paper! I then designed a stamp as a logo for the single. I wanted this one to feel and look a little Mexican day of the dead as I think it suits the song and lyrics. Very kindly the rubber stamp company rushed through my designs and did them in a day! I also designed a stamp for the back cover and Matt picked them up and brought them back to glitter HQ.

For a few days different artists we know slotted themselves into the folding timetable and brought wine and food and fed me through the madness. To give you some perspective into how big this project is I've only ever managed to make 200 in a week working really hard. We're making 650 and I'm making 200 limited edition specials too!! Ha ha!

Matt and Alice have been helping me every step of the way and Lucy has been sending Cumbrian positive thoughts and my cousin Sarah has been sewing with us every day in-between wrestling matches against Hungarian female wrestlers!!!

We've all stamped, glittered, embossed, sewn, cut, trimmed and listened to Edith piaf. We are still going but here's a few pictures.

Will show you the final thing in the next week. I wish you well. X

You've been framed!

2011-08-05T16:41:00.007+01:00

Bun-ting is a Fun-ting - he he

2011-08-03T17:07:00.000+01:00

Photos!

2011-08-02T11:14:00.011+01:00

To all the folk who came - thank you we had loverly time! Such fun. So enchanting and magical. A lovely time was had by all. Here are the first shots - I'll put some up every day this week. For those who would like you can get my new single here!!!

The Brewgaloo Do

2011-07-27T12:44:00.015+01:00

Hello, hello. Whipperty-wo-be-doo-be-do. So, crazy week only the plot thickens! The single has been serviced and Late at Night has gone to 4 radio station playlists already! Woop Woop! So very exciting. It does mean, however, that I am now surviving on nearly 5 hours of sleep every night to get everything done. Luckily, I had Everybody needs a Lucy with me this weekend for the Wild Lily Fete and the wonderful, creative Alice in touringland too. The Wild Lily Fete was enchanting and beautiful and a total dream come true! Thank you to everyone who made it that way.

The Brewgaloo do will be on Friday and is a very different animal to the Wild Lily Fete which was so feminine and dainty. The Brewgaloo Do is all about the B's... Barbie Shop, Billy Buckley, Rockabilly, Blues, Barbie Shop Bingo Shmingo and Bonkers but Beautiful Bunting.

My brand new website will be up and running next week so all those who Tea partied will be able to see their framed selves there next week but for now here's a few sneaky previews... (thanks to Russell Todd and Peter Fay for photo magic)

Musicalitea!

2011-07-23T15:39:00.008+01:00

Come out! Come out! Wherever you are,

All those near

And all from afar

To the Wild Lily Fete tomorrow, half three

Come to Midland, eat cake and sip tea,

Learn how to Waltz in a Viennese style

Or sit back and just relax for a while

In the room where Rolls met Royce

and the first tango was danced

We'll bring the strings to paint musical romance

There will be music and dancing and laughing and cake

What more could you hope for, for goodness' sake?

Dress to impress and wear a happy grin

To the Wild Fete let the Tea Dance begin!

Call 0161 236 3333 to book your last minute tickets

Tea Hee Hee

2011-07-18T14:18:00.005+01:00

A tea dance, or thé dansant (French: literally dancing tea) is a summer or autumn afternoon or early-evening dance from four to seven, sometimes preceded in the English countryside by a garden party.The usual refreshments in 1880 were tea and coffee, ices, champagne-cup and claret-cup, fruit, sandwiches, cake and biscuits. ^[5] The types of dances performed during tea dances included Waltzes, Tangos and, by the late 1920s, The Charleston.^[6]

The expenses of a seated supper, wine and candles associated with a ball were obviated by the tea dance, when a stiff waxed canvas dancing cloth strained over the drawing-room carpet was considered sufficient, rather than taking up the carpet and waxing the floor in preparation for dancing.^[7] Floral decorations were modest.

Damsel Dusty

So the Nice Cuppa Tea Dances are in full swing (Tea Hee Hee). Here is my Tea dance recipe for the Wild Lily Fete (Sunday the 24th of July in the Midland Hotel):

How to make a Wild Lily Fete

Take:

1. New songs (lots of)

2. A String quartet

3. The ridiculously talented Troubadours (Matt Owens, Tom Davies, Rick Weedon & John Ellis)

3. Damsel Dusty the twinklingly talented poet

4. The Mighty Charlton our ever changing in the flash of an era Master of Ceremonies

5. A lovely Audience

6. All sorts of musical flavours from swing to Bolero, waltz to country.

7. A full set of vibes and a full set of vibes.

8. Tea, fresh coffee, little triangular cucumber type sandwich things, and lashings of cake

9. A whole bunch of beautiful chords

10.Fresh flowers

11. A beautiful room with walls that could tell a century of incredible historic stories.

12. Waltzing, waltzing and more waltzing.

mix them all together in a huge bowl and add one Kirsty Almeida, a beautiful dress, a 19th century Parlor guitar, a Manchester Jazz festival and bake at 37.8 degrees for 2.5 hours this sunday at 3.30pm and then dance forever. MMmmmm MMmmmm

How Tealightful x

2011-07-01T16:08:00.007+01:00

Here's a little peek at how beautiful the Trafford room in the Midland hotel is, where we'll be holding the Nice Cuppa Tea Dances for the Manchester Jazz Festival. I thought you might like to see the different stages of the event taking shape. The manchester Jazz Festival have asked me to curate the two events and its so much fun for me. These kind of opportunities, although always hard work are a a great opportunity for me to write lots of new songs and try new things out and work and share with other artists and musicians.

For this one, Matt Owens and I are writing lots of new string arrangements for brand new songs. There are lots of wonderful moments being put together for these tea dances so I am hoping the will be the start of many. I will be dressing the room and the tables and the air will be sented with fresh flowers and freshly made cakes. There will be walzting and beautiful dance displays and the fantastic Barbie Shop will be singing and there will be Barbie Shop BINGO!!!

Here is my blank canvass. Will photograph the work as go along and share. I had the first rehearsal with the Leos String Quartet last week. It was so lovely to hear the parts and songs taking shape. They will be playing at the first Tea Dance on the 24th of July named 'The Wild Lily Fete'. Rick Weedon will also be featured on full set of Vibes. Woop Woop!!!

Will share some video footage as we go along. Get your tickets from here

Day 5 & 6 - Wrestling with deadlines

2011-06-28T19:39:00.015+01:00

So yesterday my cousin, who is a professional female wrestler (!!wow!!) picked me up in her lovely open topped car and flew me round Manchester to an incredible little space that she trains in and that we'll be using for the photoshoot for the next single!! Woop woop! So, what's the plan? Plan is this - my birdcage which has been travelling through time carrying me in it exploring and experimenting with art through the ages and eras lands unexpectedly and totally by Almeida accident smack bang in the middle of a wrestling match. There will be a ring, there will be victorian outfits, there will be a real wrestling audience wearing masks, there with be smoke there will be fog there with be lights and sweat and at the helm there will be the incredible Emily Dennison working her stylish magic behind her weapon of photographic choice. Check Emily's work out here

I'm so VERY excited about the shoot and there are some very interesting surprises in the shot that I look forward to sharing with you.

What else... Well, today, I sat at a sewing machine for 8 hours sewing bits of paper to try and get these handmade deadlines for this first single out the way whilst Annie wrestled with a typewriter. Annie was literally pulling her hair out whilst I was trying to become the sewing machine repeating mantras and trying to breathe in time with the stitches. Alas, it is now 10.30 and I shall still need to sew to get things finished!

Here is your playlist for today ladies and gentleboys - I give you... MILK

Day 4 - Alice in Annieland

2011-06-25T17:18:00.014+01:00

So, what's up? What am I up to? What's the crack here at Limefield? The obvious really. I'm making 2.5 meter flowers out of silks. Just an average day I hear you twitter? Yup. Why? Because they're being commissioned by the Bury Rock for their first year anniversary fashion show. We've been cutting, hemming, painting, varnishing, wiring, laughing and rolling around in silk. Alice and Annie helped me on Saturday as I was pulling my hair out and wondering why I had said yes to so many overlapping projects! I had handmades going on in the back room, a giant pink chalk board going on in the kitchen and 6ft flowers happening in the living room whilst I was also designing the last T-shirt in the other porch. Total madness. There was a moment when the confusion really set in as we were all scratching our heads trying to work out how to get these giant flowers to stand up straight when after a long period of silence Annie said, 'Have you ever wondered why we only have 4 fingers and a thumb? I mean do't you think its weird and there should be five fingers?' We all rolled about laughing and then got on with it. So, there will be 3 giant flowers one orange, one red and one purple and there will be a few giant butterflies. It's going to be a beautiful fashion show! Will let you know when and where nearer the time. I wish you well. xxx

Day 3 - One, two, twinkle & a whisk...

2011-06-25T02:36:00.008+01:00

I've so much to say but with such spent energy !!! So many many many mnay myan things to tell tell but such little nrg. enjoy. I 'll explain when I can ! Sleep well. x

Day 2 of the mad dash to the first single line

2011-06-22T21:22:00.012+01:00

Today Agent Annie and I worked a little slower than yesterday - for a darned good reason! We made a playlist based around biscuits! Oh yes. Agent Annie & Kirsty's Almeida's Biscuit Playlist

Annie is on the main stretch for the handmades preparation and late tonight and tomorrow I shall be putting finishing touches, sprinkling some extra magic and sewing them togther with some good time positivity before taking them to the experts next week. I am at the finishing line for three designs I'm on at the moment - there're a few sneaky peaks at the bottom of this ... The beginings of a couple of T-shirt logo ideas for the Feel Good Festival...

I am designing 6 T'shirts at the moment and some beautiful 6ft Silk flowers for a very colourful exciting do. Tomorrow, I'm off to take the measurements for an abstract bunting installation I've designed for the Nice Cuppa Tea Dance before getting back to begin the 6ft flowers with Tour managing Alice (who's beautifully creative) and Agent Annie. Stay near x Here's a petal heart I found at the lake...

Agent Annie & the Handmade's Tale

2011-06-21T23:48:00.007+01:00

So its begun!! Madness is all around and I am a cyclops. Sometimes I am a butterfly. Sometimes I am a mad scientist staring at sewing machines (I have 5) with the look of a researching scientist so very near the answer. Sometimes I am a giggling teenager high on abstract and then every 10 minutes I am brought to the reality of running a record label in between as emails come through.

So, today Agent Annie came round to help me as I have so much work now its outrageous and wonderful. We prepared 200 more hand made singles for the radio pluggers and PR and I worked on the last of the limited editions too so that they could be posted out this week. Here are a couple of shots from today. I promise to take more tomorrow.

We played game today too...one would pick a song by an artist on Spotify and add it to our playlist then the other would have to pick the next song by taking the last letter of the previous artists name and finding a new artist who's name starts with that letter - hard to explain but heres our playlist and a pretty good one it is too...

http://open.spotify.com/user/kirstyalmeida/playlist/0D6E4q996tm5blwq4zupVG

overflow

2011-06-21T00:33:00.004+01:00

It isn't physically or mentally possible to do what I have decided to do in the next month and that's the end of that. I realise now why, er...Everybody needs a Lucy had to go back to work after her years leave to come and help me and now - boy am I beginning to notice. Lucy, Matt and I had such a strong team happening and we were really working so well but now, alas, I am overflowing.

So, today, a friend, Alice said let us help you and I hadn't considered that before. Help. Wow. I really hadn't thought to ask. Madness. So now, people are coming to help!! Thank God they are cause this could be a wonderfully fun month. 200 handmades, a few more limited editions, some 6ft silk flowers to design and produce, 2 videos to make, a website to design and produce, a single to release on my label, a film coming out that I wrote the music for and its premiere, the 2 'Nice Cuppa Tea dances' to organise and decorate, srings for the quartet to finish writing with Matt, new songs to finish for teh 'Brewgaloo Do' a cover to paint for someone elses album, 2 T-shirts to deign and send off..blah blah blah...honest the list goes on!

I'm going to keep you updated so that I can at least relax a little bit by bringing my day to words.

Late at Night Limited edition singles

2011-05-18T10:27:00.002+01:00

I have handmade these singles for you
Each a piece of art
I shall write your name and a word or two
When you pop it in your cart
There are only a few so those who want two
Shall have to return to the line
Each one is different
Unique and new
and all individually signed. x

get yours from www.dejavoodu.co.uk

Lots of exciting stuff happening very soon - stay tuned! Crazy FM first show on its way, new artwork series beginning, new website, tea dances, plan to break the world record for the largest waltz! Will let you know all next week!!!

Crazy Fm: The build

2011-04-05T22:19:00.000+01:00

Crazy Fm: The build: "How does an artist get to where they would like to be? I do not have the answers but I believe in creativity, attention to detail, quality, ..."

The build

2011-04-05T21:28:00.002+01:00

How does an artist get to where they would like to be? I do not have the answers but I believe in creativity, attention to detail, quality, risk taking and above all hard work that is enjoyed as much as possible. These are my tools with the support I have around me to get to where I would like to be.

Today, I and Agent Ani spent the day folding pieces of brown paper into cd covers ready to be sewn with my sewing machine tomorrow. These cd covers will be glittered, pretty papered, stamped and wax sealed and sent to my radio plugger on friday ready to be sent out to radio stations next week. The single we are pushing is from the album and it's called Late at Night. It will be coming out with the video and remixes on friday the 13th of May which is also the launch of my new record label - All Made UP Records and my Publishing company - All Made Up Music. Also, as I told you before the 6 degrees of separation begin that day too. Very exciting.

To do all of those things, though, we have Sooooooooo much work to do. 200 handmade cd covers need to be ready, I am designing a stamp for the handmades, postcards need to be printed, flyers ready, remixes ready, image designed for the single and everything distributed and uploaded!! These are just a few of the huge list and there are 3 of us working through the list. Arrrrghhh!

I'm tired but I am working day and night to get this ready and out there.

There's a very beautiful version of the single coming - arranged by Jasper Wilkinson - its so lovely I hope you like it.

Ps the secret gig was stunning! We are going to begin the London one so stay near xx shhhhhhhhhhhhh xxxx

Crazy Fm: 6 degrees of separation to Jools Holland

2011-03-28T13:20:00.000+01:00

Crazy Fm: 6 degrees of separation to Jools Holland: "We've been working very hard for months here at Almeida headquarters and slowly we shall reveal our inventions. Here is the first... 6 degre..."

6 degrees of separation to Jools Holland

2011-03-28T12:47:00.005+01:00

We've been working very hard for months here at Almeida headquarters and slowly we shall reveal our inventions. Here is the first... 6 degrees of separation to Jools Holland - have a look. It begins on Friday the 13th of May which is also the launch of my new record label All Made Up Records at Fac in Manchester. The full band will be playing that evening to celebrate the launch of my single coming out on the 9th of May!!

Its a week to the secret gig woop woop and its all coming together nicely - there are a couple of tickets left but not many at all so if you would like one then please get it at here.

Matt, Lucy and I have worked very very very hard since Christmas building, renovating, inventing, meeting, greeting and planning and slowly its all coming together. I will trickle things to you as we go. But first - click here.

news

2011-03-06T17:19:00.012Z

Hello all lovely crazy people. And we are all crazy. There is no question there. Have a look around you. Look at the people you (think you) know. They are nuts too. No question. Everyone's just pretending to be normal. Trying to hold it all together and not let people see the madness bubbling away underneath. Total madness. Surrounded by it.

Anyhoo, I though you might like a sane blog from me. (this is as sane as I get). I, am an artist, so, although I am completely mad and manically crazy I have a license to be on the street - the artists card. Woop woop. Thank the universe for creativity or i'd have been locked up a while back.

Now, I thought you might like to see what's going on. Step into my days and be a bit of a voyeur on my life.

As you know, I was signed to Decca last year. I begged them to help me get out the back door and they gladly supported. It wasn't for either of us. All good, and some day young reader-son, I shall tell you all. The madness of a Major label will be here one day but for now too much hard work and spit and polish to get through.

I am starting again. Leaving Decca without a manager doing the work to get you out isn't easy but I got out scratch free thanks to my amazingly supportive and incredibly talented lawyer and team. I've sprung clean, had the counseling, drunk myself into a stupor, considered becoming an astronaut and I'm ready. I've got a strong team around me who are incredible at what they do and help to guide my madness in successful directions.

We've started All Made Up Records and All Made Up Music Publishing. A logo is on its way, the paths have been laid and we are going to release 3 singles this year. Very exciting. I am about to make a new video for one of the singles and artwork is happening. I'm sticking papers to words, words to thoughts, thoughts to ideas, ideas to dreams and sewing the lot up with a 1950's housewife's sewing machine heavier than the titanic.

I'm holding a very secret gig on the 2nd of April for 30 people only in a secret location with a secret chef and secret new songs and I'll be wearing a secret newly designed secret outfit and you can come if you can keep a secret. Tickets are available at www.dejavoodu.co.uk but its all hush hush. Shhhhhhhhhh! x

Crazy Fm: I hope you find something to look for

2011-02-06T21:26:00.000Z

Crazy Fm: I hope you find something to look for: "So soon, I'll give you the ramblings of a crazy fm. I am recording it to give to you so you can know a little about what happens to the word..."

I hope you find something to look for

2011-02-06T21:11:00.004Z

So soon, I'll give you the ramblings of a crazy fm. I am recording it to give to you so you can know a little about what happens to the words that go into my head. I learn words in conversation and through conventional ways like books and t'internet and then my head turns them round and round and spins them at stupidly fast frequencies kinda like nuclear hamsters on oiled up hamster wheels and then mixes them up with a twist of confusion adds a dash of my history and stores them up in a mental pantry so that when I sit at an instrument they all come flooding out. Problem is, and apparently luckily for my songwriting style all the words are desperate to come out cause usually they've been waiting too long and some push to the front of the queue even though its not their turn...

I'm taking a month out to write and will begin to share bits and bobs with you as I go. I am writing a piece for 8 megaphones to perform from inside my 7 foot birdcage and a 12 minute piece for a jazzestra called 'Wasting People's Time' (Written with Crazy Fm's John Ellis) as well as a handful of songs about my daily days... 'Upgrade Me', 'I hope You find Something to Look For', 'Tall Women and Short Men Crutches' and a whole bunch of others. I also have a list of titles you all gave me months ago to start work on such as, "How dare you take a slice of my Victoria Sandwich'... Love love

Japan

2011-01-19T13:38:00.001Z

Where are you Japan?

Christmas presents... Bruce the Spruce!

2010-12-08T19:30:00.011Z

Click on the bottom four arrows underneath the red line or you won't be able to see Bruce in all his animated glory xxx

A little gift

2010-12-05T16:16:00.004Z

So it's snowing and Bruce, my Christmas Tree is ready to come inside. I bought him from the Manchester Market over five years ago, the definite runt of the pack I felt I HAD to take him in and everyone gave him a kind of, 'Wow, that's the one you picked...? He has so few branches... which I, of course, ignored and willed him through every Christmas. He now has a few branches in the middle too and spends his year gearing up for his big moment - CHRISTMAS! Folk send Bruce the Spruce decorations each year and he's now a famous tree. Of course my friends are sensitive enough to know that they can't send anything too heavy so as not to break his big moment (literally!). I've always been a bit of a roaming Gypsy and I've moved since I was born. Bruce has moved from house to house with me and has added a few roots to my year. I'll upload a photo when I decorate him tomorrow. Don't you dare laugh...

I've bought all my gifts and as soon as I get my passport back from the India Visa Application centre (where they seem to have lost it...) I'll be going home to Gibraltar to spend the fairy light season with my little brother and sister, watching films and playing Rabbids. I have a few weeks yet though and a few special gigs to go - namely the Wintersong gigs - one in Edinburgh at the Bongo Club and one at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on the 21st of December - both with full band. I've written new songs all based on Winter and we have a whole bunch of old Christmas songs arranged in our Troubadour fashion. Matt is arranging all sorts of beautifully warming Christmas flavours and I, outside of the writing am making giant bow ties for the band.

I've been asked by lots of folk where you can buy the album to give as gifts for Christmas which is really lovely of you so I can now share the shop with you. Click here - all the profits from the album and the artwork go straight to the band pot so I can keep the 8 piece out there playing and performing all our new stuff so your support goes to a creative cause. Thank you.

I wanted to share a little gift with you too so thought you might like to see the making of the artwork for 'Wish You Well' from the album so here you go...

Happy first Sunday of December x

getting your house ready for the new year - Feng Shui

2010-12-02T14:53:00.003Z

Prepare Your Feng Shui for the New Year

As the New Year approaches, you may find yourself thinking over the past year and you may be counting your blessings or thinking about what you could have done differently. If you’re like me, you might do a little of both. Whatever the case, it’s important to start the New Year off on a positive, hope-filled note.

This can include everything from stocking the refrigerator to clearing out old junk from the wardrobes.

To greet the New Year, set aside a couple of hours to give your house, bedroom, or office a New Year Blitz. Just remember, you are inviting a very special guest to your house: The New Year. So treat your house the way you would a very important dignitary. This is a new year of your life so welcome it in a grand way!

Take the list below in hand and check off the items one by one! Are you ready? Then, let’s get ready for the New Year! Remember to get everyone in the house in on the act.

Out with the Old

1. De-clutter

Grab a laundry basket. Next, set a timer and take it with you from room to room. Set it for five minutes. Now, start throwing out old papers, magazines, empty bottles of shampoo from the bathroom, old clothes you know you’ll never wear again! Do it.

Got CDs you never listen to? Throw those out or donate them to charity. Have some old coffee mugs that don’t match or odd drinking glasses still hanging around in your cabinets? Pitch ‘em.

When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t forget to look under the bed, too! And toss that lipstick you haven’t worn in two years! Remember to clean out the pantry, too, and toss that half-empty box of Rice Krispies that’s gone stale.

2. Sweep or vacuum

Get the old energy out by making the floors clean.

3. Do the laundry

Don’t have dirty clothes hanging around. You can throw in a load or two while you declutter. Be sure to fold and put the clean clothes away.

4. Clean the bathroom

Make it sparkle. You don’t want a nasty mess to greet the next year of your life!

5. Empty all trashcans

Don’t want last years’ trash hanging around, do you? Toss, toss, toss.

6. Clean out the refrigerator

Got a half-empty jar of apple butter? Get rid of it. You don’t want to go into the New Year with old food or a moldy science project lurking in the fridge.

7. Clear out visual clutter

Too much stuff everywhere? Clear off the counters in the bathrooms and kitchen. Clear off your desk and dust it. Pitch the sticky notes and papers and things taped everywhere! You can do it. Don’t forget the refrigerator! Make it a blank slate.

Make as much space as possible. You cannot bring in new things if there is no room for it and we want a fantastic year, right? Then make your space “open” for the abundance of the New Year!

8. Yard work

Make sure the yard is picked up and the front door step is swept and clear.

9. Change the sheets and towels

Put clean sheets on all the beds on New Year’s Eve and clean towels in the bathroom and kitchen. New sheets are even better.

10. Clean the car

This is what gets you around during the year. Drive through a car wash, take out the trash and do a quick cleaning.

All done? Wow, doesn’t that feel good! Now you’re ready for the next step.

IN WITH THE NEW!

1. Fill your fridge and kitchen

Stock your fridge with food and make sure the pantry is also stocked. It is bad feng shui to have an empty refrigerator and pantry. If you have canisters in the pantry or on the countertops, be sure to fill these.

2. Got citrus?

Oranges are excellent symbols for the New Year and the Chinese often celebrate the New Year by rolling oranges (symbols of gold) into the house. Place a big bowl of oranges in the living room or central location in the house next to dishes of nuts or candies to symbolize an abundant, fruitful home.

3. Buy a new plant

Put a beautiful new plant in the East (health & family relationships) sector of your house or office to symbolize a healthy beginning. You can also display some beautiful flowers here to symbolize your good health in the coming year.

4. Welcome good news

Place a golden bell in the NW corner of your home, office, or bedroom to bring good tidings from helpful people. Like old school bells? If so, place one of these in the NW corner of your yard for good news from helpful people.

5. Hang up new calendars

What better way to greet the New Year than by throwing out the old one? Take down all of last years’ calendars.

6. Fill your wallet

You don’t want to go into the New Year with an empty wallet. Put some money in your wallet — or better yet — go and buy a new wallet (red is the best!) or purse and start your financial off with new energy!

7. Invite a toad to your house

Place an old, broken clay pot upside down next to a water spout so a toad can make its home here. Toads are believed to invite money into the household; they’re especially nice by the door. You can also place figurines of toads by the door.

8. Feed the birds

Birds are excellent feng shui and believed to bring good news. Fill your feeders or put out a feeder for the New Year.

9. Have fun and celebrate

Fun is good feng shui. A happy vibrant home or space is a good space, so plan a party of some kind of happy gathering. Remember, a home or office with good feng shui is easy to spot it’s the one where everyone goes and doesn’t want to leave! Make your space that kind of place!

Brilliant 5 mins laughter! (not for kids)

2010-11-29T10:44:00.001Z

Absolutely Brilliant!!! Makes me think of some of the characters I know in the music industry!

Click on the link below (The truth in Advertising) and stick with this - you will be rolling around the floor in stitches!

The Truth in Advertising

Today in history

2010-11-28T22:00:00.000Z

things I find interesting about today in history... (28th of November)

1582 – In Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway pay a £40 bond for their marriage licence.

1811 – Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, was premiered at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig.

1814 – The Times in London is for the first time printed by automatic, steam powered presses built by the German inventors Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Friedrich Bauer, signaling the beginning of the availability of newspapers to a mass audience.
1821 – Panama Independence Day: Panama separates from Spain and joins Gran Colombia.

1843 – Ka Lā Hui: Hawaiian Independence Day – The Kingdom of Hawaii is officially recognized by the United Kingdom and France as an independent nation.

1893 – Women vote in a national election for the first time: the New Zealand general election.

1895 – The first American automobile race takes place over the 54 miles from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois. Frank Duryea wins in approximately 10 hours!

1919 – Lady Astor is elected as a Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. She is the first woman to sit in the House of Commons. (Countess Markiewicz, the first to be elected, refused to sit.)

1964 – Mariner program: NASA launches the Mariner 4 probe toward Mars.

2010 - I wrote the first song 'Secret Stash' for my musical.

What's in a name?

2010-11-27T20:23:00.000Z

I'm setting up my own publishing company and have been going through a few names. In my usual way I wanted to check the meanings of the names and got to looking into numerology. If you want to check your name in numerology have a look at http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

So, I've picked a name! Can't tell you what it is yet till it's set up but here's its meaning:

You have a natural flair for big business and the challenges imposed by the commercial world. Power, status and success are very important to you. You have strong urges to supervise, organize and lead. Material desires are also very pronounced. You have good executive abilities, and with these, confidence, energy and ambition.

Your mind is analytical and judgment sound; you're a good judge of material values and also human character. Self-controlled, you rarely let emotions cloud judgment. You are somewhat of an organizer at heart, and you like to keep those beneath you organized and on a proper track. This is a personality that wants to lead, not follow. You want to be known for your planning ability and solid judgment.

You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated.

and here is mine:

You entered: kirstyalmeida
There are 13 letters in your name.
Those 13 letters total to 57
There are 5 vowels and 8 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 3

The characteristics of #3 are: Expression, verbalization, socialization, the arts, the joy of living.

The expression or destiny for #3:
An Expression of 3 produces a quest for destiny with words along a variety of lines that may include writing, speaking, singing, acting or teaching; our entertainers, writers, litigators, teachers, salesmen, and composers. You also have the destiny to sell yourself or sell just about any product that comes along. You are imaginative in your presentation, and you may have creative talents in the arts, although these are more likely to be latent. You are an optimistic person that seems ever enthusiastic about life and living. You are friendly, loving and social, and people like you because you are charming and such a good conversationalist. Your ability to communicate may often inspire others. It is your role in life to inspire and motivate; to raise the spirits of those around you.

The negative side of number 3 Expression is superficiality. You may tend to scatter your forces and simply be too easygoing. It is advisable for the negative 3 to avoid dwelling on trivial matters, especially gossip.

Your Soul Urge number is: 7

A Soul Urge number of 7 means:
With a number 7 Soul Urge you are very fond of reading, and retreating to periods of being alone and away from the disruptions of the outer world. You like to dream and develop you idealistic understandings, to study and analyze, to gain knowledge and wisdom. You may be too laid back and withdrawn to really succeed in the business world, and you will be much more comfortable in circumstances that are tolerant of your reserve, your analytical approach, and your desire to use your mind rather than your physical being.

You are very timid around people that you don't know very well, so much so at times that casual conversation and social situations can be strained. You tend to repress your emotions to the extend that some people have a good bit of difficult understanding you. You tend to be very selective with friends and you don't easily adapt to new environments or to new people very quickly.

The negative traits of the 7 include becoming too much the introvert and isolated from others.

Your Inner Dream number is: 5

An Inner Dream number of 5 means:
You dream of being totally free and unrestrained by responsibility. You see yourself conversing and mingling with the natives in many nations, living for adventure and life experiences. You imagine what you might accomplished.

2010-11-24T18:29:00.000Z

So, I have a ticket to go to Goa this friday. A much needed and well earned holiday. Visa should have come through today and due to circumstances really out of my hands I have no visa so cannot go. Have lost the money on the ticket and will not be staying at the beautiful beach hut on paradise beach. I wish I could explain what's been going on in life for the last few months but it involves too many folk so lets just stick with this was my much needed holiday.

I'm going to take the next two weeks of my cleared diary to sort, clear, clear, shift, detox and empty and along the way I'm going to begin crazy fm. I'm off now to the Christmas Market for a glass of hot German Christmas wine and to see some ole friends. Love love.