Christopher Cross - Warszawa Progresja (26-04-2026)

 My highlight from last weekend, Christopher Cross at Warsaw Progresja, loved every minute of it.

Not just Sailing; Arthur's Theme; and Ride Like the Wind, but also Dreamers; Light the World; Minstrel Gigolo etc.

Now 60, I find myself going to see performers I've never seen before, out of curiosity, to see something I've never encountered before.

And Christopher Cross and his band/female choir were fantastic.

It's great to see varied music.

Karnivool / Intervals - Warsaw Progresja (20-04-2026)

Another musical highlight from the week, seeing Aussie Prog (Metal) band, Karnivool, at the Progresja on Monday evening.

Find Karnivool incredibly melodic and still have tunes like Simple Boy and New Day playing in my head after Monday evening.

As usual, I was stood near the back of the hall where it wasn't always easy to see the band on stage:

But still, I thoroughly enjoyed the set.

Think that Karnivool have an incredible rhythm section.

Also really enjoyed Canadian band, Intervals:

Their kind of five-minute instrumental pieces work well, with Leave No Stone being my favourite tune of the set.

So lucky to still be going to gigs when I'm now 60, I started going to concerts in Manchester in January 1980 when still a 14-year-old schoolboy.

And great gigs like Karnivool/Intervals still give me a thrill. 

Kim Gordon - Warsaw Progresja (21-04-2026)

Found myself kind of tranced out at this gig, it was an amazing audio-visual experience.

Right from the word go, the Play Me album worked well live.

Favourite songs on the night from this album were the opening PLAY ME (a beautiful kind of retro tune) and, of course, the closing BYE BYE, with the wonderful outro.

When I first heard the Play Me album, I didn't really know what to make of it, but seeing it done live was incredible.

But the highlight of the night for me has to be the amazing Cigarette, this tune has a sublime build up and crescendo, it's mesmerising.

Mainly went to see Kim Gordon out of curiosity and nostalgia (can remember listening to the Sonic Youth John Peel sessions back in the day, mainly the mid to late 1980s), and was extremely happy with the experience.

Some Vegetarian Meals

 I only meat (beef) once or twice a week so most of my meals are vegetarian.

Starting off with my wife's fried egg; cabbage pierogi, potatoes, and salad:

Second, lentil and cabbage pierogi customised with raw onion and tomato sauce on top:

Third, very basic but good for if you have a bad stomach: buckwheat mixed with onions and topped with cottage cheese:

Fourth, buckwheat with cooked vegetables, a cold salad, and topped with poached egg (steamed on top of the vegetables):

Fifth, when the poached egg disappears, topping the same meal with cottage cheese:

Sixth, my wife's wonderful lentil soup:

And finally, my own tandoori curry: jar of tandoori curry; cabbage; carrots; potatoes; sweet potato; and chick peas (served with buckwheat and rice mixed together):

None of the above meals are particularly expensive expensive (although pierogi is no longer cheap) and most keep the digestive system ticking over nicely. 

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?).