Tag: r.e.m

It’s a Puzzle..

Ever had a jigsaw puzzle take five years to complete? I have.

For anyone who knows me, they will know only too well my fixation and fanboy devotion to the 90s music of R.E.M

I’ve been a fan from the early days, I’ve seen them live on many occasions, god I even have a tattoo of one of their album covers that I’m actually having touched up next week as it happens.

R.E.M – Monster tattoo

Around Christmas 2020 they released a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle in conjunction with the ALA (American library association) of an original poster that was released in 1990 to promote reading. This poster was quite collectible at the time and still sits in many fan’s collections around the globe. For those that did not possess the original poster, this jigsaw became the next best thing.

The original advert from the Very Good Puzzle company

The puzzle sold through the groups own website and was produced by the Very Good Puzzle Company. In the UK the puzzle retailed for about £25:00GBP. I think it was purchased for me as a Christmas present from a relative.

Box opening

I started the jigsaw in January 2021.

The intention from this day forward was to take a picture daily, as I set myself a target to dedicate an hour at a time towards its completion.

Day one
Day two
Day three
Day four

Beyond day four, which in itself had spanned a couple of months, time being spent on the puzzle when other commitments would allow. The puzzle became ever more difficult and confusing, as there are a number of areas within this puzzle where the areas are dark, or of just one colour and it just became a pain in the ass. So this was 2021 now, and very soon after this last picture, the jigsaw, on its base board just got put on the top of a cupboard in the spare bedroom, and there it stayed until early 2026.

For those who occasionally delve into my ramblings, you will be aware that in January 2026, after protracted selling shenanigans, we eventually moved to our new home. At this point we had packed and shifted almost everything, and the jigsaw was reluctantly broken up and put back into its original box. I guess I’d admitted defeat at this stage.

Step forward my Sister in law – Liz.

Now Liz loves Jigsaws, it’s her hobby and she heard of the ongoing issues with the R.E.M jigsaw. She has absolutely no interest in the group as such, and would probably, in her own way be quite opinionated in her views of their music, that’s her right and I respect that. She asked if she could take on the challenge to build it, and who was I to say no. So in March of 2026 I handed the box over to her.

Good luck with that Liz!

Just a few days ago Liz and her husband Terry came to visit as we were all heading out for a day. And as they came in they had a large object in a black plastic cover.

“Sit down Dave and open this” I was told, you might like it. I did what I was told and to my immense surprise, not only had Liz completed the puzzle, but her husband Terry had also framed it for me. I now have the completed puzzle, and the way it is presented looks absolutely fantastic.

The completed and framed puzzle

Liz had spent a lot of time on the puzzle, and also shared her frustrations on the dark areas that were problematic. But the thing with Liz is once she gets her teeth into something she will never give up. And for that I am forever grateful, for she has done a fantastic job, and this will be a welcome addition to my work room, as the wife won’t let me hang it anywhere else.

So after 5 years, the puzzle is complete. And I think it looks superb. I now have my own personal copy of that poster that was so popular back in 1990.

Thanks Liz. You are a star 🌟

A peaceful day to you all.

R.E.M 30 years ago today

My first R.E.M concert

Yes. 30 years ago today on the 30th July 1995 I was at Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire Uk with one of my buddies. We had taken the train from Watford on a lovely sunny day to watch what was our new favourite band at the time, never knowing that very soon they would occupy a place in my heart as my favourite band of all time. And 30 yrs later my wife will attest to me randomly putting on the music, only to tell me to turn that noise down, she really is a heathen 😂

We were fortunate that day to have three superb support bands who would go on to carve their own little parts of music history The Cranberries, Sleeper and Radiohead.

Back in the early days of the bowl they had a strange system in place where they didn’t accept money to purchase beer, you had this weird system where you had to go and purchase “tokens” before the gates opened, to use as your currency within the stadium. If you didn’t purchase enough or any tokens at all, then it was tough – you would be having a dry old day. I remember purchasing plenty, I was paying the price for days after – no pity for me it was all self imposed.

Here’s the set list for the day. It was also broadcast live on the BBC’s Radio one.

Set list

It was a cracking day out and a day that would stick with me throughout my life, as I became a fan that would now follow them,whenever they came back to the Uk. The last time I saw them was in Hyde Park London just after the London bombings, on 16th July 2005.

Man I really miss them. I’ve always said if they were to reform just for one concert anywhere in the world, then I would be there. The wife has always been on standby should that date ever be announced.

But I doubt it ever will, but we can only live in a constant state of hope. We all need that bit of hope in our lives.

In the meantime, I’ll just go and crank that stereo up to eleven, just so I can hear the wife shout at me one more time 😂.

Have a lovely day.

I thought you said Bands!

What are your favorite brands and why?

Got exited originally as I thought this said favourite bands, had to sit back down and rethink my reply, as well as putting away my collection of R.E.M memorabilia.

So Brands it is then. I have no real affinity to brands to be totally honest, I have Apple devices, and Dyson devices at home but to be honest with you I would be just the same if they were Samsung phones or a Shark hoover, as long as they do the job I’m not that fussed.

Lindt shop Wembley

Chocolate though is a whole different topic. I love chocolate, but my go to brand has always been Lindt. I don’t think you can beat or replicate the taste of their offerings. I will actually go out of my way to purchase from their own shops. Some people prefer Cadbury chocolate, but to be honest if you go to any branch of Aldi and try their own brand fruit and nut bar you will be hooked. It actually has fruit within and that is something the Cadburys bar severely lacks.

So it’s Lindt chocolate for me. No contest.

And as for Coffee it can only be this bad boy.

Skull Crusher it does what it says on the bag

At work where we are fighting fatigue through long hours of working a 24hr Roster, you cannot beat this coffee. Too much and your heart rate is racing and you will be awake for the next millennium, just like a fine wine or good medicine it has to be taken in moderation. But by heck, does it make you alert. Just what you need, and that’s why we have a tea kitty that we all contribute to so we can keep a good stock of it at hand.

So no real fancy brand expense for me, as long as I have good Chocolate and good Coffee, then Dave’s a happy chap.

Get the kettle on!

Have a super day.

I was there

As you progress through life you start to collect favourites. Favourite sports teams, favourite foods and favourite bands to name just a few.

This post regards my favourite band, a band from Athens in Georgia who go by the name R.E.M

I was there…

I was casually browsing a shopping website when the above metal reproduction of a tour poster caught my eye and the memory banks opened and flooded my brain with fantastic memories of this very day. Yes I was there and what a day it was. And today I purchased that poster to go in my workshop, beautiful memories.

Milton Keynes Bowl

Milton Keynes Bowl (or the National bowl as it was officially known) was just that, like a massive crater in the ground that during this period of time in the 90s attracted a number of big groups to this part of the Buckinghamshire countryside.

The National Bowl (originally the Milton Keynes Bowl) is an entertainment venue located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The site was a former clay pit (for brick-making), filled in and raised to form an amphitheatre using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area. It has a maximum capacity of 65,000. The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.

Wikipedia

I was living in Watford at the time and a friend and i had to make the journey north by train. Not a particularly long journey it’s only about 30 minutes each way.

This was part of the R.E.M Monster tour.

The support was superb with three acts who all became well known in their own rights, Sleeper, Radiohead and the Cranberries, mix that with plenty of sun and beer and it made for a fantastic day.

When my favourite band came on, Wow, they were superb.

Here’s the set list for their show that day:

Set list

I can’t believe it’s almost 30 years ago, the band split in 2011, and by then I’d seen them about 5 times. I’ve always said if they were ever to reform for just one concert anywhere in the world then I’d be there.

It’s just amazing that one picture, can bring such good memories flooding on back.

Happy days.