Easter Sunday (Basilica of the Holy Cross, Warsaw)

Easter Sunday: Christ Has Risen from the Tomb.

A side chapel inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Warsaw which seems to be celebrating its 400 anniversary (as well as Christ's Resurrection, of course):

Great to see the altar rails (so people can kneel easily for Holy Communion) at a Novus Ordo Mass:

Holy Thursday: Basilica of the Holy Cross (Warsaw)

Full turn out for Mass on Holy Thursday at the Basilica of the Holy Cross.

Shortly after Mass ended:

But not many people were leaving:

As they made their way to a big side altar:

To reflect on the institution of the Mass (Last Supper), and Christ's Agony in the Garden; Scourging at the Pillar; Crowning with Thorns; and Eternal Sacrifice on Calvary:

Drinking Becks Again

 

After many years, it was nice to drink Becks (German lager from Bremen) again.

Had completely forgotten just how refreshing this beer is.

Have recently found a supermarket in Warsaw that sells it quite cheap (but for how long?).

Memory Lane with Michael Schenker (Warsaw Progresja 7-03-26)

 

After 43 years or so, it was brilliant to catch up with Michael Schenker live again.

Saw MSG 3-4 times in the early 1980s, including mid-80 on the first MSG album tour and a year later on the second album tour (love the first two MSG albums).

But then after 1982 or 1983, I just lost touch with Schenker, never being in the right place at the right time to see him again.

That's why getting to see him again at Warsaw Progresja was a real blessing:

Seeing a 1970s, all UFO set was magical: Only You Can Rock Me; Rock Bottom; Lights Out; Love to Love; (and of course) Doctor, Doctor etc. It gave me the goosebumps.

Back in the late 1970s, the UFO double live album, Strangers in the Night, was never off my old record player. It's a toss of the coin between Strangers in the Night and Rush's All The World's a Stage for my favourite live album.

Yeah, the recent Schenker concert at the Progresja was a beautiful trip down memory lane, with an entire UFO setlist being the icing on the cake (saw UFO many times over the years, including my first gig in January 1980, but never with Schenker).

Back in the early 1980s, the MSG setlists were kind of half MSG-half UFO (which was great, of course). 

Seeing UFO in January 1980 (without Schenker), then seeing MSG about six months later, kind of let me know/imagine what seeing UFO with Schenker would've been like.

My favourite UFO era, obviously 1972-1978 with Schenker, but also love the early (pre-Schenker) psychedelic period with Michael Bolton and the early 1980s material with Paul Chapman. 

Colourful Mural Outside the VooDoo Club.

Came out of the VooDoo Club (Warsaw) after the Cold in Berlin gig the other Saturday to be greeted by this incredibly colourful mural.

Cold in Berlin: My First Gig of the Year

 Brilliant first gig of the year, catching Cold in Berlin at the VooDoo Club, Warsaw on 21st February:

First time I've seen Cold in Berlin and was massively impressed:

Loved every song in the set especially White Horse and Love Buzz (Shocking Blue tune). 

Was also massively impressed with Datûra:

Will have to get more familiar with this band, they were brilliant.

Was also nice to catch Dead Tahiti early on:

And decent beer at the VooDoo Club too:

Had only been to the VooDoo Club, a kind of friendly Goth haunt, once before, about 20 years or so ago to see Jarboe (ex-Swans).

Cabbage Stew and Other Meals

This meal was brilliant: my wife's cabbage stew, fried egg, and potatoes, just the thing for a prolonged cold winter.

And the next day, cabbage stew with black lentils which worked a treat too:

And a couple of my own, more simple meals, starting with baked beans and white cheese with buckwheat:

 And buckwheat mixed with sweet potato and sweetcorn, topped with yellow and cottage cheese:

It's been a long winter and these inexpensive meals have been invaluable.