Nightwish - Birmingham Academy

Floor Jansen

Despite all the rave reviews about the 'stand in' singer Floor Jansen (Currently Revamp and ex After Forever singer) I was still apprehensive - I needn't have worried. Anybody watching would have thought she had been in the band for years such was her powerful performance. She fitted in perfectly and added a dimension that has long been lacking since Tarja Turunen left. But I am not about to re-open that debate again. Instead I will celebrate what was a fantastic night and restored my faith in Nightwish.

Peter Tagtgren of Pain

Tuomas Holopainen

Supporting Nightwish were fellow Finns Pain. They went down very well and singer guitarist Peter Tagtgren managed to play in a straight-jacket which isn't something you see every day. It was a good set list and longer than you normally see. It was a very different start to the big arena shows I saw back in April without the dramatic opening and the pyros but it didn't really matter. We lost a few tracks from Imaginaerum but gained a couple of favourites in 'Dark Chest of Wonders' and 'Ever Dream'.Not to mention a brilliant version of the epic Ghost Love Score that I feared I would never hear again.

Marco Hietala

Pipe Master Troy Donockley

With Luke Hendry

Marina & Nikki at the front

 It was lovely to catch up with many fans who I speak to over Facebook and rarely get to see.

Nightwish are probably even better as a live band than they are recording band which is still excellent and I think that the set list was better balanced this time. As much as I love the cover of the Gary Moore classic 'Over the Hills and Far Away;' I am always left with a tint of disappointment that the solo doesn't come close to the original which makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.  

Thirsty work for Tuomas

There was a lot of interaction with the crowd and I think the look on Tuomas’s face when the crowd responded showed just how proud he was and how far the band have come.

Full Set List 

• Storytime 
• Dark Chest Of Wonders
• Wish I Had An Angel
• Amaranth
• The Siren 
• Slow, Love, Slow
• I Want My Tears Back
• The Islander
• Nemo (Acoustic)
• Last Of The Wilds
• Planet Hell 
• Ghost River
• Ever Dream 
• Over The Hills And Far Away
• Ghost Love Score
• Last Ride Of The Day

Cornwall 2012 - Random Photos

The sun sets over the 2 mile sandy beach at Watergate bay

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Falmouth Harbour

Harlyn Bay

Harbour Beach St Ives

Herring Gulls nesting

Headland at Harlyn

Male Stonechat

A friendly Gull

Tree Sparrows

A Cormorant drying wings in the sun

Oystercatchers

Cornwall 2012 - Treyarnon & Constantine bays

Treyarnon Bay will always be a special place for me as it is the place of so many childhood memories. Many of these come flooding back as we walk across the cliff tops and I take a few minutes to let them come back to me. Happy days mostly of times past and holidays that I never wanted to end. I have always said that it only takes 5 minutes to hear the roaring surf and to see the waves crashing on the rocks to feel a sense of freedom and peace.

This is a beautiful natural swimming pool that is only unveiled when the tide retreats. I remember taking 50p many years ago off my dad who bet me that I couldn't swim across it.

Along the cliff top there are several benches at various points dedicated to those who appreciated this area. 'The Captain and the Purple Lady' - The sun is always over the yardarm' strikes me as a lovely tribute. I like that sort of thing and can't help wondering what would be on my bench?

Constantine is possibly the best surfing beach of them all, and on this day there must have been at least 20 surfers in the chilly waters. It is named after the 6th Century Cornish Saint Constantine.

Cornwall 2012 - St Ives

The Tate Gallery

St Ives these day is very much a centre for the Arts. The St Ives September Festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in September 2008. It is one of the longest running and widest ranging Festivals of the Arts in the UK lasting for 15 days and includes music including folk, jazz, rock, classical, world, poetry, film, talks and books. St Ives is situated on the shore of St Ives Bay, its harbour sheltered by Smeaton's pier. I'ts streets are narrow and uneven and is a typical Cornish fishing harbour.
Today we have persistent driving rain and definitely not seeing it at its best. In 1993 The Tate Art gallery opened on the site of an old gas works, overlooking Porthmeor Beach. The gallery's artist residency programme aims to develop the professional practice of artists who live and work in Cornwall.

Cornwall 2012 - Padstow and The Camel Trail

The Execution Cell at Bodmin Jail.

The Camel Trail is a disused and resurfaced railway line that runs from Padstow to Bodmin via Wadebridge. It is around 17 miles long and affords some stunning views across the estuary looking towards Rock. The last passenger train was in 1967, freight finally ceased in 1983, when a need to invest in new track forced closure of the line.Its a lovely bike ride with a few interesting diversion options along the way. Arriving in Bodmin you are immediately greeted by the ominous grim stone building of Bodmin Jail. Built in 1779 and closed in 1927, the range of buildings are mostly in ruins, although parts of the prison have been turned into a tourist attraction.

Padstow is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge. Padstow was originally named Petroc-stow after the Welsh missionary St Petroc. Once a busy fishing port only a handful of boats remain these days. Padstow is best known for its "'Obby 'Oss" festival. Its origins are unclear, it most likely  from an ancient pagan festival such as Beltane.

Cornwall 2012 - Harlyn Bay

Great to be down on the North Cornwall coast again after a couple of years absence. We are actually staying in St Merryn a mile or so inland and closed to the  fishing village of Padstow.

This stretch of surfing beaches is know as 'seven bays for seven days' stretching down towards Newquay.

Samaritans Annual Conference - York University

Central Hall

Themed as 'Space to talk' this is the 59th Annual Conference. The long weekend promised the opportunity to hear thought provoking plenaries and seminars along with the chance to mingle with around 1,000 fellow volunteers.

Terry Waite CBE

Chief Exec Catherine Johnstone * Stephen Hoddel Chairman

Our keynote speaker on the Friday evening was Terry Waite CBE. In January 1987 Terry was captured in Beirut whilst attempting to secure the release of hostages. He was kept in solitary confinement for 4 years and 5 years in total or 1,763 days if you prefer.

Attended some really interesting seminars relating to Self Harm, Borderline Personality Disorder and Suicide in the media and how Samaritans advise. Some lovely grounds at the University and some very tame birds in the beautiful lakes.