Angel Manor Reopens with a Bang!

Tonight is the last night of an amazing week long celebration of the arts in Second Life.

Kaya and I were in talks before Christmas on who we thought would work best for our week of reopening and I’ll tell you this – the performers did not let us down!

This year looks like it should be immense and I am so looking forward to seeing what it brings for us

The More Things Change… The More Things Stay Changed

I don’t even know how to start this one.

The past two months have seen SL go slightly crazy – or at least it feels like my SL was thrown apart.

Again I found myself booted off Dublin Staff. Freedom of speech once again didn’t apply, and a shit stirrer was in my midst. To be honest, knowing who it was I should thank them because of what happened next, but I have no need or want to pretend to continue to have them in my SL.

Needless to say, the next time I logged in it really seemed like SL had turned into something crazy.

Dublin was no longer as I knew it, Emmie was leaving, and as far as I could see there was a lot of discontent. Now when I step towards the sims I was once happy, proud and glad to call my home and my family, I feel like an outsider, an outcast. It just doesn’t feel right anymore, and it saddens me to admit to myself that I really tried to give it a go – but I just don’t want to be there anymore.

Times like this I miss The Bushy Beard so much. No matter what else was going on, there was always something to do there, and what we all knew went on behind the scenes in Dublin was seen – or apparent – in Bruges. I don’t know about anyone else but the honesty in Bruge was always a refreshing change from Dublin – and now, it’s missed more than ever.

I’m sure I will lose friends over this blog post – and frankly, if you react negatively then why would I care? There is a WHOLE lot more I could say about this, really air my feelings out about the whole thing, the back stabbing, the bitchery, the nonsense that was going on – but those that were in the know – the REAL ones, not the one’s who think they know it all, think they know Dublin – will understand that it’s out of sheer respect for the crowd of 2007 that I will not. Funny how the worst of it only started when a few individuals were hired.

All I can say is, I really hope that Dublin thrives. Unfortunately, I just can’t see myself being a part of it.

I just hope that we find somewhere we can all just… hang again.

Notecards everywhere

Wow!

I am absolutely LOVING my new role within Angel Manor. Although I have known Kaya and worked with him for four years now, it’s only recently that I have been able to take my ideas and really run with them. And you know what, it’s fantastic.

Angel Manor as a group, a community and as a venue have been going from strength to strength. Now, when we talk about the future – it really is a possibility. Just last week I was taking a dander through some unrelated sims and came across two avatars talking about The Rose Theatre! For me this is absolutely fantastic, it shows that people want to talk about us and share our landmark and their stories about the venue.

This month we have a lot of performances and events, and I will soon be booking through September. It can be difficult sometimes, as none of the staff know their RL schedules too far in advance but so far everything is working so well together.

I am so so proud of the team that Kaya has pulled together. We have some fantastic PR from Kalli, and Kylie has done such wonders with the art galleries, with them far surpassing any expectations and it’s unbelievably good. The hosting staff are starting to come together.

If you haven’t explored us yet, or even Second Life, I urge you to come and see.

New Video, New Schedule, New… Me?

Wow what a crazy couple of weeks this has been!

For those of you who are close, you will be pleased to hear that during my Month in Africa, (RL) I successfully climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, for charity. Thank you all who donated to the charity and helped my success – I couldn’t have done it without you!

In my absence the sim was kept running beautifully, and now that I am back, well, the calendar has filled up substantially!

You can check it out using the tabs along the top of my blog, or by clicking here.

This month kicks of Angel Manor Lounge, the intimate bar venue nestled within the luxury of The Manor House, with a full summer’s lineup of fantastic live artists for you. The Main Stage of The Rose Theatre will also be hosting some fabulous singers and acts, including many for whom have never performed with us.

Angel Manor has also joined the interwebs, with an Angel Manor Facebook Page and a Twitter Account adding to our already fantastic YouTube account.

Speaking of which, a new video showcasing Angel Manor and Angel Manor estate has been released by Kaya Angel, of which you can check it out here. The music alone is worth it!

I’m vast realising that this blog may turn into a glowing Angel Manor update site but, if you’ve seen the place – would you blame me?

Announcing the Grand Opening of Angel Manor Estate

Angel Manor Estate.

Opens to the public on the 21st of May.

This new sim is an expansion of Angel Manor, the famed sim which houses the Rose Theatre. A building and performance venue that has grabbed the attention of many on the Grid. The aim of both sims is to provide you with not only practical services and entertainment, but to do so in an place that celebrates immersive enviroments and provocative architecture. The new sim (Angel Manor Estate) wants to encapsulate you in beauty, creativity and craftsmanship as only this style of building can. It celebrates a style of architecture which has a draw to all people. It has a power to connect to a part of us that’s hard to find in our jungle of concrete and glass, were practicality and functionality rule the design of our modern landscape. It bows with respect to the architects of the romantic era who were able to create buildings that really make an emotional connection with us, and stay with us forever.

The new sim has a large range of Furniture found all over the estate which you can buy. Kaya Angel, the builder of both The Manor House and The Rose Theatre, has responded to many requests to start to build homes and venues, the first of which are now available to purchase. The new range of buildings (which is still growing) offers the same level of detail and design as Kaya’s main builds on the Angel Manor Sims, with many more buildings in the pipeline. However, the real attraction of the sim is the building and the gardens. It’s one of those places you want to surround yourself with your friends and show off what you have found.

With the growth of the second sim, Angel Manor and Angel Manor estate is proud to offer a wider range of events and activities, including Live music, Art galleries exhibiting works from SL artists, Exhibitions and Cultural events like poety readings. The two sims also host Weddings and private parties, and can cater to any request.

Words can’t really explain the wonder of this style of architecture. So come and experience it for yourself.

Angel Manor and Angel Manor Estate – The Arts of Second Life

Angle Manor Estate

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Angel%20Manor%20Estate/134/3/22

Logistically Speaking

Second Life is nearly back to normal for me.

I am working my little avie butt off again. Apart from four Dj sessions a week, I just accepted the role of Logistics Manager of Angel Manor and Angel Manor Estate (or as Kaya put it, I am the Riker to his Picard).

This is the start of a really awesome adventure for me. I will be fully immersed in the venue that I love – have loved – for 3 and a half years. And be able to work with the people that inspire me.

For those who have yet to come experience Angel Manor and Angel Manor Estate, check out the website (www.impl.org.uk) and I urge you to come and see what we are and what we do.

So if you see me in world, chances are I am working. But drop me a line anyway – chances are I’ll enjoy the distraction!! =D

InWorldz

Ok ok that wasn’t particuarily fair.

I’ll talk about something else.

I decided to go and explore InWorldz – you know, the rival to Second Life that is gaining more and more momentum as time goes on?

The similarites are immense. For instance, recognise Ruth?

Bear in mind I took this picture after I had started to tweak – and relogged a few times. And crashed a few times.

I downloaded Imprudence Viewer to log in and I can see the potential. However, saying that it is NOTHING like SL is a little farcical. The avatars look the same, animate the same, the controls are the same. Heck, even the buildings look the same. The only problem is the lag/constant crashing/ script errors and other things that make me feel like I have teleported back into Second Life V.1, 2007.

HOWEVER – I can see incredible potential. They have taken a lot of the things that SL residents have gripes with (including gripes at LL themselves) and written them out.

After about 20mins of logging in and out, crashing and trying to find my feet, Kezzy Forwzy (InWorldz) was assembled.

NB – this was all done using Freebies available at the landing point. Plus there are loads (I mean LOADS) of people milling about ready to help you. And I recommend going and having a nosy. I didn’t get much futher than the logging in area (by this stage I was yearning for a non-crashing SL experience and was straight back to the world I know and love), but already a large base of SL retailers, fashionistas, builders are all making base in InWorldz. Sims are springing up and land is being bought. And one more thing for the builders out there – uploads are completely free. You can live in a Texture Wonderland and not worry about your I’z!

I haven’t been back to InWorldz yet. If I do I doubt I will go as Kezzy Forwzy… Maybe a completely new identity already (Third Life anyone? Guffaw Guffaw). I am not about ready to throw some money into it to buy nice things with I’z.

I will be keeping a close eye on these guys. Great potential here to become the world we all want SL to be.

For now though, I won’t be leaving Second Life.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yes kids, it’s that time of year again when Hallmark makes a fortune.

Except in SL! Sure, you can buy a card for a few Lindens.. hell, if you’re lucky, you might get a scripted one to add your own message to it (OMG R U SRS? THAT’S ‘MAZIN!)

Or you can be a cheap, self obsessed woman like me =D

Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear dear friends. Much love to all of you.

I don’t need a hallmark card to tell you that you all mean a lot to me. Would be lost without each and everyone of you. Thank you for touching my life, my heart, my soul and making me a better person.

Happy Love Day

/me sighs

I had a good run.

Thank you SL

———————-

EDIT:

Last night, I ended up doing something that I will regret for the rest of my life. I took someone and destroyed them. I promised myself I was never going to do it, that I would protect them, care for them, look after them.

Yet, I over-reacted. I took simple words and moulded them into a storm of catastrophic proportions. I grabbed hearts and tore them open with my bare hands, watching the blood drip over the floor…. Including my own.

In my fucked up mind, in my fucked up world and in the fucked up place I thrust myself into, I decided that the best course of action was to destroy one thing that has kept me going in world… the only thing that has kept me going.

I didn’t just cause drama…. I made my own season complete with sequels and spin-offs.

In my profile, it says “This is my art, and it is dangerous”

No shit, Sherlock. I am dangerous. I can’t be trusted. I need to get a grip, get a grip on reality. I won’t be able to function until I know your ok, until I hear from you.

For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I am sorry that you were ever put across my path, and that I have left yours strewn with despair.

I guess…. I guess I just cared too much…

Is this just fantasy…

I wanted to follow up from a previous post.

This world has us all living in a mind numbing whirlwind of technology, pixels, text messages and simulation, granted. However, my real life is very important to me too.

I have a fantastic RL, compared to what I had when I first joined SL, just over three years ago, Then, I had nothing, just abuse, sadness, I didn’t have any friends and the ones I did have I never saw due to my partner. Looking back, I was childish, stupid, I thought I was in love.

Second Life became my therapy, my counselling, it became everything to me. And the first time I started to break out of my shell, and reclaim my RL, was taking a trip to meet other people I had met in virtuosity.

They made me realise there was more to me than pixels, that I was stronger than I thought I was, that I could grab life by the balls and really give it a tug.

And you know what, I did. Now I am surrounded by some of the best friends anyone would be lucky to have. I have opportunity. I’m going to freaking Tanzania, somewhere I have wanted to go my whole life!

I may not have travelled, like youth are supposed to. I may not have seen the world or lived alone. I may be tied down to Ireland, for fear of losing my dogs. But I sure as hell am a much better person now. And it is because of SL.

I don’t need it anymore… But I enjoy it. And I will continue to enjoy it as long as there are people there who want me.