The Pipettes

I guess this was a bit of a gamble. We'd heard of the Pipettes by getting their album, and liked what was there. So we went to see them live - I think it's the first time in a while that we were actually going to see somebody we weren't already a "fan" of. But with their 60s-esque sound and polka-dot pop, this was a gig of the highest order. A short set, admittedly, but very much worth it. Plus we had the opportunity to visit our friends Mark and Angela who lived nearby. Excellent :)

Sziget Festival 2006

O-ho! Sziget! This was our first time at the mother-of-all festivals (which takes place on an island in the middle of the Danube near Budapest in Hungary). We took a bit of a risk - we fancied a break and gambled that this would be good - and boy, was it worth it! A whole week of music from every genre you can possibly imagine. And all for less than a weekend festival in the UK. Bring it on.

Market Boy

This was an outstanding piece of drama at the National. We were in the second row, with veery little legroom, but as a result were in the cheapest £10 but within spitting distance (literally, at points) of the actors. Brilliant.

Guilfest Festival 2006

Guilfest, it must be said, was a bit of a disappointment. I guess I've been spoiled with the festivals and music things I've gone to, and so a couple of stages in a field with no "interesting" stuff going on was actually a bit dull. I can't sympathise with people who take their comfy chairs and picnic baskets and sit at the main stage all day who complain that they don't like who's on. In that case, go to see a different band! However, one highlight of this weekend was that my dad came along - I don't get to see him often and so it was really nice to be able to wander around the tents and slag all the bands off with him :-D

Take That

Alice's Christmas present was tickets to see Take That at Wembley. Unfortunately, though, the Australian builders hadn't finished it in time so instead we trekked up to Milton Keynes Bowl with Tabs and Kerry. I was feeling really ill this day, but managed to make it through what was a superb concert. I was off ill for the following week though :( It was clearly a bad reaction to Take That.

Roehampton Summer Ball

The RSU Ball is a fun affair - a bunch of drunken students falling all over the landscaped gardens of Froebel College while members of staff drink wine and eat canapes nearby. We fit into both camps, Alice being a "younger" member of staff - so we have the wine and then go on the dodgems. This year GLC were headlining and, using her enviable powers of persuasion, Alice managed to blag us backstage to drink Cider with the boys. A thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Paul Merton's Impro Chums

We'd first seen the impro crowd at Glastonbury, and soon after went to see some of them in Richmond. However, the chance to see Paul Merton out with them was too good an opportunity to miss. It was strange to be in a full-size theatre for this kind of thing but, being relative "veterans" of the improv scene by now, we managed to crowbar a few of our suggestions into the scenes, which was fun :)