Hawkridge
I’m gonna miss this place, that’s the only thing that I can quickly say.
I remember the summer of the 2008. I’ve cried a lot when I was noticed that I had to move from the residence in Camden Rd1 to Hawkridge2. I took possession of my first room in the early July and I thought to keep that room for a long period. I didn’t. After just 2 months I had to move out, take my stuff and bring them at Hawkridge, the “new” residence in Kentish Town. I went under the tower (two towers, actually) before the moving date (it was still under refubishment at that time) to view the area and the surroundings. Everything was looking so awful. But I moved anyway (because I had to!) and, just arrived, I had the first surprise: my room was the best of the whole bulding, I think. On the 14th floor, with a wonderful view of the London, the skylight, the Emirates Stadium and Hampstead Heath outside of the kitchen’s window, every bad thought went away. After just few days I meet nice guys: Claudia (overall), Andy, Barbara, Thomas, Anel, Adrian, Runa and many others (the list is sooo long). I had a wonderful year, full of parties and nights out. I can’t forget the “Ring of Fire” in my room, Brazil vs Italy with Giovanni at the Emirates Stadium, and the U2′s concerts with Laura, the Extreme’s concert with Valerio and the sightseeing with Fra e Vale. And after all these “events” (and more), coming back home, in my nice tidy room.
Today is my anniversary here. It’s the first and the last, because next weekend I’m again moving out to a new place. I don’t know what this new place is gonna give me, if it’s gonna give me anything at all. And that’s scares me: I don’t like the unpredictable! But I know for sure that I’m gonna miss this place, the people that I meet here and the fire alarm twice every day. I’m gonna miss my clean carpet (I really had care of it!) and this wonderful desk, but I’m not gonna miss my matress (that’s not confortable at all!). It’s in a certain way like changing my life style, a thing that I didn’t desire to do.
But at the end of the story, everything in the life flows and nothing is forever. Expecially a room in a student residence when you’re 27!
U2 @ Wembley
It was a day like another. More or less. Laura & I were wandering in Oxford Street, then in Tottenham Court Road. It was 7PM and we thought to eat a pizza in Goodge Street1. Then, she said “Why don’t we go near the stadium and we see how the stadium and the area looks like?”. “OK”, I replied. Then I had a look at the clock, started a quick calculation on the tube map and my brain had a flash: if we run just a bit, we are under the stadium just in time to seat and see the concert! What!?!? “We already have a ticket for tomorrow”, I said myself! I don’t mind! If tonight they play “Stay” and I’m not inside That stadium, I will blame for the rest of my life that I didn’t spent few pounds to get in.
We took the tube, we did the shortest way (probably not the quickest) and we arrived at Wembley around 8 o’clock. Just the time to make few steps out of the tube station and a guy came toward me and said: “do you want a ticket?” Yep, sure I want one (in my mind again)! “What kind of ticket do you have?” “Standing”, he said. Then my answer was “No, Thanks”. Than another guy came and said “I have two seating tickets”. “How much”. “40£ each”. I was nearly to open my wallet, then I had a quick look around (so many people with tickets to sell and so few minutes before the start!) and a very quick check to my finance. “No, it’s to much” was my answer. He promptly replied: “How much do you offer?”. Quick look to the Laura’s eyes, then “25£ each”.
I have to say, it worth more than 25£. The concert was Magnificent2, the place inside the stadium was amazing, the thrilling feeling inside me made the concert even better than the real thing, but they didn’t play “Stay”. This is the set-list:
- Breathe
- No Line On The Horizon
- Get On Your Boots
- Magnificent
- Beautiful Day
- Elevation
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
- Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
- Unknown Caller
- The Unforgettable Fire
- City of Blinding Lights
- Vertigo
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- Pride
- MLK
- Walk On
- Where the Streets Have No Name
- One
- Mysterious Ways
Encore
- Ultraviolet
- With or Without You
- Moment of Surrender
I woke the day after quite late. It was midday, more or less. As soon as the sleepiness went away, I realized that I had another ticket for the U2′s gig. Great! Honestly, after waiting for 15 years to see the U2, it’s quite amazing to see them 3 times in a bit more than one month. The second day concert was amazing. The set-list probably more interesting than the first day. The seating a bit closer to the stage and the stadium not completely full. I also had the chance to bring a couple of friends (unfortunately they had to seat somewhere else). There are few gems (Yes, I finally listen “Stay” live!) in the set-list:
- Breathe
- No Line On The Horizon
- Get On Your Boots
- Magnificent
- Beautiful Day
- Until The End Of The World
- New Year’s Day
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
- Stay (Faraway, so Close!)
- Unknown Caller
- The Unforgettable Fire
- City of Blinding Lights
- Vertigo
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- Pride
- MLK
- Walk On
- Where the Streets Have No Name
- One
- Bad
Encore
- Ultraviolet
- With or Without You
- Moment of Surrender
Obviously, I’ve done hundreds of pictures. I’ve post two short galleries on the blog, one for the 14th and one for the 15th. Unfortunately, the 14th I had only the wide angle lens attached to the camera, so I have only large picture of the stadium. I’ve also posted the best pictures into my Flickr Concert Pool. Enjoy.
