Miranda's Beach

The Vythons

miranda's beach — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:21:00 +0000

See the debut gig of The Vythons on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XViNnZZEbfo

There are two tracks from their Buckingham school gig on 24/03/2008 - One Hives song - Hate To Say I Told You So and the second a Vython penned masterpiece - Sit Down Shut Up. Band members are Sam Abbo - 12 - Guitar, Harley Wilson - 12 - Bass, Joe Jackson - 12 - Vocals, Fin Abbo - 10 - Drums.

Mirandasbeach World Holiday Directory Launched

miranda's beach — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Perhaps you were thinking of visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands, or heading off to the deserts of Qatar ? Maybe you want to tick Leichtenstein off your list or get to know Kyrgyzstan better ? Or does Lesotho or the Pitcairn Islands tickle your fancy ? Well you can do no better than start your online holiday and travel investigations off at the Mirandasbeach World Holidays Directory. There are sections containing every country in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Australasia and the Pacific Islands , and the Middle East.

UK Family Holidays Update

miranda's beach — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:14:00 +0000

Our MirandasBeach UK Family Holidays Directory has expanded to include the UK City Breaks section which gives you easy access to all the UK City Break info you need in one place (bookmark this place - you will not regret it !).

The cities included are:

Bath Belfast Birmingham Bradford Brighton Bristol Cambridge Carlisle Cardiff Chester Chichester Coventry Derby Durham Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Hull Leeds Leicester Lincoln Liverpool London Manchester Newcastle Norwich Nottingham Oxford Peterborough Plymouth Portsmouth Sheffield Stoke-on-Trent Stratford-upon-Avon Sunderland Windsor York

So, if you are thinking of a UK City Break some time soon, then use this resource and plan a great trip !

Poetry at MirandasBeach

miranda's beach — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:40:00 +0000

Poets like Lauren Beziers and Fester Bryan are regularly adding their latest poems at the mirandasbeach poetry site Read Fester Bryans latest poem Social Attack at the Rear and lots more poetic contributions at the great http://poetry.mirandasbeach.com/ or read the blog at http://i-love-poems.blogspot.com/

If YOU would like to write a poem and get it published on the front page of the site and the blog then all you have to do is send your poem to poetry@mirandasbeach.com

We look forward to receiving your poems -

Worthing Hospital - New song and video

miranda's beach — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:34:00 +0000

Last Saturday I had to have my appendix removed at Worthing Hospital. The nurses were so kind and caring. The hospital is under threat of closure and the local community really need it. I wrote this song (with the help of Ben) to support them and KWASH - Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospitals http://www.kwash.org.uk/.
Miranda Vincent, 30th May 2007

Worthing Hospital Video - Full Screen

Worthing Hospital Video - Small Screen

New 16min Video - JimBobFred 2007 !!

miranda's beach — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:24:00 +0000

Yes - it is one year since the first JimBobFred epic released in January 2006. Now for this year we have the even better, even bigger even more sensational JimBobFred 2007 ! Starring Sam Abbo as JimBobFred and a whole cast of robbers, spy friends, a lions, a tiger, a dinosuar, blubbering Bill and not forgetting Random Man (is he good or is he bad ?). PLAY HERE to see the film in Flash. E-mail contact@mirandasbeach.com for details on a burn on demand DVDs of a selection of our movies and animations (only £10).

You can see a big selection of our short videos and animations at our Videos and Animations page

Some good blogs we recommend

miranda's beach — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:48:00 +0000

There is of course the MirandasBeach Indie Clothing blog which you can also see at the main Indie Clothes Directory site where there are loads of great online Indie Clothes stores personally selected by Miranda.

For something more off the beaten track there is Esten Walker's Stun-Shine blog about travels around the planet after ditching his job.

Camping it up tentwise

miranda's beach — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:15:00 +0000

Europe is a campers delight, and getting under canvas has never been more popular. However one has to be discerning at worst, and clever at best, to weed out the no-go sites and steer a happy course through the some of the truly wonderful sites on the continent. This is of course even more important if you are trying to impress your grumpy teenage kids, or changing nappies at two hour intervals with matchsticks propping up your eyes. Drink wine in the open air ! Fish if you have to, or play long games of campsite football and walk back to your tent happy in the knowledge that you won 36 - 35. To help you pick out the truly memorable sites we have sections in our holiday directories dedicated to all the best in camping in SPAIN, ITALY and FRANCE, three fantasic camping countries with real campsite gems to discover. MirandasBeach holiday directories make a special effort to look out for the interesting, off the beaten track holiday as well as pointing you in the direction of firm favorites that call happy holidaymakers back again and again.

Holiday in France and Stay Healthy !

miranda's beach — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:25:00 +0000

Two new MirandasBeach Sites have been added recently. They are Holidays In France a comprehensive, handpicked directory of the best French holiday ideas. The site currently has sections on Chateaux, Fishing, Camping, Skiing, Art and Cooking holidays, Family, Activity and Golfing Holidays in France .

And:

The Health and Fitness directory, which again is a carefully handpicked directory to help you through the minefields of health and fitness advice on the net. Sections covered so far are the main Health and Fitness section, Slimming Clubs, Slimming Advice, Nutrition, Vitamins and Minerals, Medical Encyclopedias and Yoga Retreats and Holidays

We hope you find these useful.

Missing You - new music video !

miranda's beach — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:45:00 +0000

Missing You - from the great young band - The Chicken's Beak - starring Hannah Abbo on Violin, Fin Abbo on Piano and Sam Abbo on Guitar. Guest vocals from the great Miranda Vincent.

This is there own composition written "in an afternoon instead of watching Drake and Josh or Zoe 101". It has a strong Accoustic feel and beauty in the lyrics and melody. Good solid chompy style piano from the Fin Meister jkeepos it well rooted along with the rock steady guitaring of Sam.

Sam came up with the main chord sequences in the song and considers it an afternoon well spent, and " I am too young to go the pub, so I think writing a song or two on an otherwise normal September Weekend Afternoon is time well spent". Fin agrees, although "getting out to play football would have been very tempting, but providing rhythm piano to a Chicken's Beak number has to take priority, afte all we do have our careers to consider".

Hannah the elder sister of the group and provider of haunting melodies on the violin does have to keep some control during the creative process. "With so many ideas floating around at any one time, it is chaotic to say the least. But we do manage to pull something together, often at the last minute. On this track (Missing You), the inspired ending with seemingly random notes played on all 3 instruments, was plucked out of the ether at the end of the second take and we just had to run with it ". Hannah looked tired after the mammoth recording session " I need a good cup of tea and a nutrigrain bar" she said before disappearing off to Italy for a "history of art" tour.

Click here to see the Missing You video and all our other videos

Summer Holiday nearly over - watch ZINC

miranda's beach — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:00:00 +0000

It's been a rainy August in the UK and we do need wet but it's been disappointing beach weather - so I have hooked up with You Tube and here is my first embed - Its a great video by - Ben Abbo with music by WIRELESS on Armchair Astronaut Recordings. Enjoy it NOW !! its better than stuffing your face with chips and feeling queasy.

Welsh Walk Wireless Video - excerpt now streaming

miranda's beach — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 09:46:00 +0000

An excerpt from the hour long Wireless DVD - "Welsh Walk" is now streaming at the MirandasBeach Videos and Animations page - the music is the hauntingly beautiful sound of WIRELESS from their "TerminalBroadcast Station" album. Those of you new to the WIRELESS phenomenon must go now to the Armchair Astronaut Site (that's their label) and learn and listen to more WIRELESS, explore UNDER MOTHER BUNGALOW, XPIANO, TOMAS HILTZ and HONEYBEE.

Paintings by Miranda Vincent

miranda's beach — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 21:22:00 +0000

See the recent paintings by Miranda Vincent at http://www.mirandavincent.co.uk/ including the one shown here named After The Wedding. You can visit Miranda's painting archives: here for 2004 paintings and here for 2002/2003 paintings.

Carefully selected family holiday Ideas in the UK

miranda's beach — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:25:00 +0000

If you have a family and you are thinking of having a holiday in the UK then have a look at our new site brimming with UK Family Holiday ideas at http://family-holiday.mirandasbeach.com/ . Families need certain things like maybe a heated indoor pool or a farm so that those pesky kids are kept amused and active. You could go for out and out adventure or a slow barge holiday. Whatever, you'll find a lot of ideas.

Indian Summer - New Video Animation Collage

miranda's beach — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:33:00 +0000

Indian Summer is the latest Video animation from MirandasBeach and is by Ben Abbo and Miranda Vincent. It is a 4 minute collage of bollywood excerpts, animations, and Indian images set to the complelling sound of the Paul Horn Nexus track - Latin Tala

The film is being shown at the Beach Dreams two day festival at Shoreham-By-Sea on the South Coast of England. Beach Dreams will be running a Cinema Marquee, called the 'Peacock Picture House'.
This will show short films, some of them award winning, many of them made around Shoreham. They will be showing films in categories eg short dramas, work by young people, under 7s showing etc. Screening times will be over the weekend of 17th - 18th June, programme available on the day.

You'll also find a link to the streamed version of 'Indian Summer' at the MirandasBeach Videos and Animations Page

For more information on Beach Dreams go to http://www.adurfestival.com/weekenders/beach-dreams.htm

The Images below are stills from 'Indian Summer'

Boy Garden

miranda's beach — Mon, 15 May 2006 23:14:00 +0000

Boy Garden by Miranda Vincent

See more at http://www.mirandasbeach.com/comic/comicthumbs.shtml

New Videos out now !!

miranda's beach — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 10:01:00 +0000

Two great new videos have been added to the our Videos and Animations page, both with music from the Amchair Astronaut label. They are "Three Boys" a hyper manic youth snapshot by Ben Abbo with music by great chicken impersonators Under Mother Bungalow and "End of Summer", more peace in the back garden, with music by sonic soundscape artists Wireless
You enjoy these now

Mirandasbeach e-mail: contact@mirandasbeach.com

Armchair Astronaut

miranda's beach — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 22:40:00 +0000

Armchair Astronaut Records is a label and art collective from Brighton UK with an other worldly edge and experimentation, spotaneity and risk taking high on the agenda. Groups include the uncompromisingly beautiful and potentially disturbing Wireless who have several classic CDs available, the "death star fish butter milk cow" that is Under Mother Bungalow (debut CD Mountains Bubble Under) and Xpiano - assembled from the guts of waste pianos, customised and tuned to the pitch of an angel’s whisper Music to play as you fall asleep, for astral navigators and nocturnal journeys, music for the minds eye, sound-tracks to the subconscious. There is also Honeybee including their notorious Nosebleed track with Jamie Lidell

If you enjoy long form soundscape journeys - evolved improvisations, honed by the players over years of musical interaction and experimentation, which drift and pulse from beautiful melancholic peace to shamanic intensity through extreme edginess and visit places beyond straightforward categorisation - then Armchair Astronaut is the place for you ! and MirandasBeach recommends you pay a visit soon to http://www.armchair-astronaut.com where you'll find plenty of free tracks and long live sessions to listen to - VIDEOS and plenty of other great stuff including the Armchair Astronaut webzine - Psychic Radio

Music - The MirandasBeach CD EP "Crazy Paradise"

miranda's beach — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:03:00 +0000

The "Crazy Paradise" CD has four pop folk tracks written by Miranda Vincent and Ben Abbo and produced by Richard Durrant at LongMan Records (Longman 036CDS)

Born at Sea - At the beach...Unique lyrics and oceanic sound samples make this a truly original song. Lovely vocal harmonies and creative melody line complete the effect. And did I hear a mandolin in there somewhere? Sweet! - Review by Ypsilanti, Michigan

Crazy Paradise - Nice voice, good structure, great melodies....kinda reminds me of a tropical B-52s. Great job! - Review by Reticulum4 San Francisco

Stay with Me Always - My favourite, glorious feel to this one, the singers take alternate lines in the verses which works up the mood brilliantly and adds to the power. The chorus then takes off into a fab Beatles go folk jag - the song is a summer scorcher - Review by Evening Standard, London

House on the Hill - Offbeat but melodic track - music hall goes reggae style and with lyrics like "Neon at midnight, walking down fruit aisles, Bare in the light are the quick saving smiles" who can resist ? - Review NME London

The CD has a beautiful handdrawn booklet - all art work by Miranda Vincent - with full lyrics and credits. The players are Miranda Vincent - vocals
Wendy Morgan - vocals
Ben Abbo - keyboards
Richard Durrant - Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Kalimba, Jawsharp, Vibraslap
Tom Arnold - Hammond, Accordian, Percussion
Vinnie Lammi - Drums

You can listen to samples of the tracks at the MirandasBeach Music Page

The best place to buy the CD (only £5) is at Richard Durrant's LongMan Records , so go and buy it and just maybe you shall reap your reward ....

Love from MirandasBeach

Strange Neighbours

miranda's beach — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 23:08:00 +0000

Miranda Vincent's cult CD ROM for kids (and adults !) Strange Neighbours is out on re-release and is well worth the £5.00 it costs at our friends Longman Records. As PC Guide puts it "Strange Neighbours is a breath of fresh air and its original blend of humour and exploration makes it an addictive addition to anyone's collection".

It’s a leap of the imagination away from the usual herd of kid's discs. Strange Neighbours presents a series of animated tableaux to explore. The more you click the more you will discover. The action takes place within a hamlet of nine abodes of varying stature, from a greenhouse to a smart town house, each one housing one or more bizarre beings. You can enter any house at any time and once inside, have a good click about to see what happens. For example, in one house Embarrassing Mother is standing around in the kitchen with nothing on except a small pinny tied around her waist, casting spells. Click on the dog in the corner and you can watch it inelegantly lick its nether regions, click on the doormat and the postman arrives with a love letter for the nymph like nudist. There are so many hotspots to click and sounds and animations to see - it will give hours of fun for all the family. Buy now for £5 ! (approx $7.50)

Here are is embarrassing mother from Miranda Vincent's from Strange Neighbours

for more stills from the CD ROM go to http://www.mirandasbeach.com/strange%20neighbours/top%20page.shtml

New Look for Home Page

miranda's beach — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:22:00 +0000

We have used the acrylic painting "Bluebird Dream" by Miranda Vincent as the central image on our new look Home Page. You will find the usual links - split into our main core site with the artwork, music, videos and animations etc. and then our spin off sites like Indie Clothes , poetry, Ben & Miry's free gifs , ethical investment and Family Holiday UK

Enjoy !

Some days I just feel chilled

miranda's beach — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 20:39:00 +0000

"I'm goin' ta have really hard stomach muscles if it kills me .... what's that noise - Sammy being sick ?"

Now - what shall I eat ? - must cut down on my cheese consumption.... erm... but I really fancy a mozarella Jarsberg and goats cheese salad...yum yum that will fill the hole in my tum "

"I've got half an hour to do some quality painting before I get Fin from playgroup.I think I'll paint a tarantula."

"What a life - hope it lasts .... oh look a squashed rabbit, a reminder of mortality ... out out brief candle - let it flicker brightly while it lasts"

Miranda Vincent comics - http://www.mirandasbeach.com/comic/comicthumbs.shtml

Family Holidays

miranda's beach — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 23:57:00 +0000

We have compiled a list of holiday ideas and accommodation suitable for a family in the UK at our UK family holiday site. Being prone to cold wind and rain and fog - before Global Warming really hits - there is a long section on Indoor Heated Swimming Pools, a major bonus for the kids when the beach is not available. Then there are loads of activity adventure breaks like ballooning or canoeing or walking or bungee jumping ... Spa and Health (maybe thats more for parents in need of stress busting pampering !) . There are also Farmhouse, farm cottage, boat and barge sections. We needed to keep a list of the best places we could find to give ourselves here at MirandasBeach good holiday ideas - and now that list has plonked in your lap - maybe you want it there - or you know someone who would like to be plonked - have a look - it could make all the difference.
http://family-holiday.mirandasbeach.com/

Come over slightly poetic ?

miranda's beach — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:32:00 +0000

Then try our poetry site where you'll find top poetry from the likes of Fester Bryan, Lauren Beziers, William Shakespeare (complete Sonnets) and Gary Hargreaves - new poems added all the time - try submitting your own (send and e-mail to poetry@mirandasbeach.com and we will put it in ! HEre is a great Lauren Beziers poem to get you started -

On a lake
Written by Lauren Beziers

I was on a lake
Not walking
I was sitting in a boat
Not laughing
The bearded young fellow
Who rowed us to the middle
Was annoying me
Intensely
I said "So you are going to catch a fish then ?
And he replied
In a twinkle of an eye
That "the time was not right for
Pike"
The air was damp
I felt damp
And the lake was grey to black
I called to my
Mother on the bank
With her paper and pipe
To "stop knitting"
But she ignored me
My bearded young fellow
Rowed us back
And he gallantly helped me out
I said "I never want to see this lake again"
To which he replied "nor me"
Its the fickle nature
Of the mood of day
That can turn you against
The things you should love best
And in keeping with this universal tide
I enjoyed a marvelous day out by a lake
Not three weeks later
But the bearded man
Was replaced by
Smooth faced
Handsome young buck
And I was three weeks older and wiser
We caught a fish that day
And ate it with tartar sauce
All felt beautiful and dreamlike
LB 2006

Into the Forest

miranda's beach — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 22:26:00 +0000

Into the forest is a guitar work composed and played by Richard Durrant with Herbie Flowers on the bass. The animation is by Miranda Vincent. Click the image to play the video in Windows Media Player. For more video & animation streams go to our Streams page