Ruth profile picture

Ruth

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

cheerful, social person who enjoys doing stuff with others, but equally happy in my own company. Like playing and listening to music. Want to do more singing and playing as it's sort of gone on the back burner since my accordian player and guitarist have moved onto other projects (doing his PGCE and joining a ceilidh band for the former, getting married and leaving manchester for the latter).I like my scuba diving and I try and get away to dive at least once a year. Do two jobs, both of which I love.

My Interests

Music mainly, but also film, dancing (see music), playing the flute (see music), singing alone or with others(see music), reading and scuba diving.I tend to go diving on holiday and my favourite divespots are the very south of egypt and Sulawesi in Indonesia. I am a divemaster, which means that I can assist in courses and lead dives. I also like to cook and eat good food. I have quite a varied social life and find that there's always more things happening that I can get to.

I'd like to meet:

other like minded musical individuals and anyone who wants to do some music with me - folky/country voice, good at harmonies. I also play the piano and the flute (but not at the same time as singing. I'm not that talented) and guitar - though my guitar playing is a little rusty... am brushing it up right now as of April 2007 after a fifteen year break!

Music:

I have a serious addiction to music - new music, live music, catching up with old bands that I missed out on first time round etc. etc. This means that I have a large music collection (vinyl, cds and mp3s) and that I'm running out of storage space (virtual and real). My taste is quite eclectic, though also quite discerning as well. I get most excited by live music though, especially if it's something that I can dance to as well.Some artists I like: Dolly Parton, Nick Cave, Julian Cope, Amadou & Mariam, Gogol Bordello, Oi Va Voi, Jim Noir, Michael Nyman, Gorillaz, Nightmares on Wax, Sophie Solomon, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, ACDC, Hayseed Dixie, chumbawumba, Martin Carthy, Demon Barbers, Dreadzone, Salsa Celtica, The Bays, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, The Cramps, Bobby McFerrin, Cat Empire, Freestylers, Mariza, Cheikh Lo, Penguin cafe Orchestra, The Specials, The Beat, Sheila Chandra, Carole King, Zero 7, Zap Mama, Temple of Sound, Cinematic Orchestra, The Earlies, Ben Harper, Adam & the Ants, Afro Celt Soundsystem, Baka Beyond, Aphex Twin, Alabama 3, Amon Tobin, Lo Jo, Angel Brothers, Ani Difranco, Gotan Project, Nitin Sawhney, Red hot cHilli Peppers, Rodriguez y gabriela, Talking Heads, The Streets, Brian Eno, Mad Professor, Misty in Roots.......

Movies:

Last year (2006): Live & Become, Brokeback Mountain, A Cock & Bull Story, Hidden, Walk the Line, Wal-mart the movie (a MUST see), Casanova, Truman Capote, The Proposition (phew! go see), Favela Rising (ditto), The Squid and the Whale... General favourites: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Princess Bride, Bladerunner (I was a teenager in the eighties - what can I say).

Television:

Green Wing, Lost, Red Dwarf, ER (sad, I know), Shameless, Coupling, Time Trumpet thing.

Books:

Have a list as long as my arm to read. Have read a similarly long list in the past.

My Blog

Cultural highlights 2006

Well, coming towards the end of 2006 and think it's time to list a few of my cultural highlights for the year.Top five films(in no particular order)The Proposition (wow. Powerful film. very violent)....
Posted by Ruth on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:04:00 PST

End of the summer

 Well, it's coming up to the August bank holiday weekend, which traditionally means it's the end of summer. :( and given the weather over the past few days, it feels like it too. :( It's been a p...
Posted by Ruth on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:23:00 PST

performing

Well, I got up and sung (sang?) at the Chorlton folk club on Thursday. Chose to do a traditional folk song that i've been singing as long as I can remember but that I've never performed. The audience ...
Posted by Ruth on Sun, 18 Jun 2006 01:54:00 PST

Discovering new parts to Manchester

Just cycled home from work. Phew, it's sweaty! But it's such a pleasure cycling again now that it's warmer. Wanted to make use of the good weather yesterday so I ventured out onto the Fallowfield Loop...
Posted by Ruth on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 10:28:00 PST

spectacularly bad music

Went to an acoustic night thing in Manchester yesterday and was reminded that despite the wealth of fabulous, talented musicians out there, there is also a lot of really bad stuff too. I suffered two...
Posted by Ruth on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:02:00 PST

silent disco

Went to the Wychwood Festival last weekend. The first festival of the year is always a special one, and usually a good reminder about how much I love festivals. Especially when the weather is as good ...
Posted by Ruth on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 03:55:00 PST

going clubbing sober

I don't usually feel inspired to write when I get in from a night out, but it's still pretty early and I'm not quite ready for bed yet. Just got back from one of the most hysterical nights out I've ha...
Posted by Ruth on Sun, 28 May 2006 04:26:00 PST

Back from Turkey

Hoorah! I'm back from Turkey and I'm still alive. Managed to negotiate mountain roads, deep gorges, mad drivers and right hand driving.  The whole trip went remarkably well and I really really en...
Posted by Ruth on Tue, 23 May 2006 09:31:00 PST

nervous about going

morning. I've now had insomnia for three nights which is ridiculous.  Last night I woke at 3.30am for ages. worrying about this trip. It's crazy because I know it's going to be amazing, but I th...
Posted by Ruth on Sat, 06 May 2006 11:07:00 PST

All in a tizzy

Well, the producer rang me this morning and said that she's coming up to manchester to do a screen test with me for this tv show tomorrow. Eek. I'm already nervous. She's coming to my house - which a...
Posted by Ruth on Thu, 04 May 2006 03:11:00 PST