Wild Dunes, Isle Of Palms, SC

From 24 to 28 August 2014

Again this is just the family's trek to the beach for our end of summer week.  We returned to Wild Dunes as it was a case of better the devil you know.  We had a different apartment this year (about a mile north of where we were last year).  Great spot again, right on the beach.  I was however concerned with the amount of erosion happening on the beach.   A lot of work was being done to the complex next door, but our building was getting closer to the water daily (and that was because water was coming under a man-made break wall).  Not a lot to report as we only ever went to the beach or to a pool.  Over all it was nice to be at the beach again.  While the boys weren't 100% well, the delight they get from the beach and pool is fantastic.

View from our condo

B&L

Annual Family Bike Ride

Nine Inch Nails & Soundgarden @ PNC Pavilion

Great line up, but I still am not completely cured of my dislike of seeing shows in a big venue.  This outdoor amphitheater north of Charlotte would be a test.

Unfortunately Mike and I arrived too late to see Dillinger Escape Plan - which is a shame because their angular rock would have been a great compliment to the 2 headliners.  We could hear Searching With My Good Eye Closed as we were entering the grounds and got to our seats halfway through Spoonman.  From there Soundgarden continued to pump out a ton of their classics.  My Wave was great.  The first notes of Jesus Christ Pose sent shivers up the spine and Rusty Cage was phenomenal.  Overall a fantastic set.  Nine Inch Nails would have there work cut out for them to outdo their opener.  The only downside was how far back we were.  My eyes kept wandering to the big screen instead of the stage.

Between sets, Mike and I went and got a beer and checked out the merchandise.  We were back in our seats 10 minutes before NIN were due on stage and nothing but a single keyboard was on the stage.  What was going on?  We were so far back that we didn't realize that the lone guy running towards the keyboard was Trent Reznor - I just thought the crowd were over-reacting to a roadie.  However he burst into Copy Of A and instantly the crowd came rushing back to their spots to see what was to be a spectacular set.  Band members were rolled around an elaborate pre-programmed light show as the group tore shreds off song after song.  March Of The Pigs, an all time fave, was colossal.  Closer was intense and the closing Head Like A Hole was amazing.  The 1 song encore was the haunting Hurt, which while mind-blowing, didn't quite fit the pace of the rest of the show.

A few years ago Nine Inch Nails opened for Jane's Addiction in Vegas during the NINJA tour.  NIN put on a great show that night and Jane's pulled out all the stops to equal them.  Tonight Soundgarden did the same thing.  After wondering how they could match Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails blew them of the stage.  Easily one of the great shows of the year.

The Crap Facts:
This is my 378th concert.
PNC Pavilion is the 104th venue I've seen a concert.
This is my 28th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 30th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 186th concert in the USA.
This is my 5th Soundgarden show.
This is my 4th Nine Inch Nails show.
Nine Inch Nails is the 50th time I've seen a band in North Carolina.

Liverpool v AC Milan at Bank Of America Stadium

My beloved Liverpool....here....in Charlotte!  I can't believe this.  I had my ticket the minute the went on sale and couldn't be happier.  Well almost.  A lack of available babysitter meant that Amy could come with me, but Drew bought Erica, and her son Vince instead.  So still a good crew.

We arrived early and, as usual for Bank Of America Stadium, there are a lot of people milling around before heading in.  I'm not sure what I expected but I would guess roughly 90% of the crowd had Liverpool gear on, a few AC Milan shirts could be seen, and then a spattering of other English Premier League team shirts.  I paid good money and was happy with our seats, about half way between the penalty box and the halfway line.  And high enough up, but not in the nosebleeds.  We walked to our seats, past one of the boxes to see Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush having a beer.  I'm 10 rows in from of God and a Liverpool great who was a hero when I started supporting them.  I wish Nicky Meyers was with me - I didn't have the balls to ask for an autograph.  So  before kick off and I'm already on a high.

Bank Of America Stadium  -Liverpool v AC Milan

Liverpool looked really good from the outset and Joe Allen reacted quickly to slot a rebound off the post into net at 117 minutes.  Liverpool then continued to surge forward and won a penalty, which new boy Ricky Lambert took (a great penalty taker in years gone by).  He couldn't capitalize.  I hope this is not a sign of his season to come.

At half time I went and bought myself a scarf as a souvenir (a bit weird for the middle of summer) and the second half saw both teams make excessive changes as heat and pre-season fitness come into play.  The match became a little more back and forth and it wasn't until the last minute that Suso, right in front of us, secured the win from about 25 years out.  AC Milan don't have all the great names they used to and looked lost at times.  Having said that, Liverpool looked quite cohesive and attacking.  This result puts them up against Manchester United in the final on Monday.  I hope this is the start of a winning season.

Great to get some football in Charlotte.  Let's hope they bring it back here next year.  I'm pretty sure the 70,000 that showed up would be back.

Vince, Me, Erica & Drew

Liverpool 2 (Joe Allen 17, Suso 89) vs AC Milan 0

Attendance: 69,364

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Kolo Touré, Sebastián Coates, Martin Kelly, Jack Robinson, Jordan Henderson, Lucas, Joe Allen, Rickie Lambert, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Ibe

Subs: Brad Jones, Glen Johnson, José Enrique, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho, Emre Can, Conor Coady, Suso, Kristoffer Peterson 

AC Milan: Christian Abbiati, Mattia De Sciglio, Adil Rami, Ignazio Abate, Daniele Bonera, Sulley Muntari, Riccardo Saponara, Michael Essien, Giampaolo Pazzini, M'baye Niang, Stephan El Shaarawy

Subs: Gabriel, Michael Agazzi, Philippe Mexes, Michelangelo Albertazzi, Cristián Zapata, Kevin Constant, Alex, Marco Pinato, Cristian Zaccardo, Keisuke Honda, Andrea Poli, Bryan Cristante, Mario Balotelli, Hachim Mastour

Nanna H

Nan & I - Boxing Day 1981

Nanna H - Xmas Day 2007

b 27 April 1927

d 1 August 2014
Aged 87

Preceded in death, in 1993, by husband of 42 years
Terry H

Survived by her children

Graeme H
Terese H (d 1956)
Wayne H

Robert H
Trish C

her grandchildren

Shayne H
Kelly S
Kara C
Jessica H

Grant H
Morris C
Alexandra H
Kathleen H

and her great-grandchildren

Hailey H

Lucy S

Barrett H

Leland H

Nathaniel H
Max S

Cailin S

Scarlette H

Rest In Peace Nanna H