Spring in Full Swing

 As the pictures do show:

Spring is now in full swing:

With daytime temperatures between 24-28 Celsius in Warsaw, just how I like it.

Warsaw: Passing the Land Registry Office

 Have passed this way many times before:

Without taking much notice of the Land Registry Office:

The other Sunday, having a bit of time to spare, I ended up properly noticing the building:

Giving it the time and attention that it deserves:

When in a rush, you can miss the fine details.

The Land Registry Office lies on the short walk from the Capuchin church/centre (near the Old Town) which is famous for feeding/trying to help homeless people:

Up to Ratusz Arsenał metro station.

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?).

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).