To put it mildly, I AM ONE KNACKERED KITTY! Secondfest kicked off on Friday and I’ve spent very little time anywhere else.  The islands look great, clearly a lot of effort has been put into the builds and lots of nice little extras are scattered around to keep the interest flowing.  It’s all about the music however, and so far I’ve managed to see a couple  really worthy acts.’The Glimmer Twins’ dropped a rather stonking set on Friday night.  There were plenty of avs in attendence, and unlike my peers I wasn’t suffering any lag issues, so I was free to enjoy the beats.  they were awesome, which I made very clear to all and sundry around.  I was quite chuffed therefore when I was IM’d by the guys real life manager, thanking me for my praise.  However the guys were not really there…they were actually performing in Moscow, so the set was pre-recorded.  I was a tad disappointed by that, but it didn’t detract from a fabbo evening.Saturday kicked off with a cracking set on ‘Chill Out’ island hosted by DJ Jenns, a cocky bugger who drops some fantastic choons and mixes. The sim was bursting, and there was mundo appreciation from the crowd for a fantastic set.  This one fortunately was us, meaning Jenns could interact with us, take requests and basically give us some verbal.  We loved him so much he stayed an extra half hour, and I will certainly be going to more of his gigs in-world on the back of this one.Last night I wandered around the island a bit more, went camping, got a wristband and a few t-shirts, some roller skates and visited a virtual salad bar! (Pffft!) The camp tents are excellent, room for two with a live stream at your feet- a really nice touch. They were also showing movies on the beach ( picnic balnkets provided) and plenty of nice cafes to sit and have a wee coffee in.  Hidden locations abounded too, I found one lovely secret beach, but there was no point hanging around because no one else was there.  Later on, hung around to see Coldcut.  This is when I started to experience lag issues, got bombed out twice and then realised it was a recorded set, with a rather annoying MC.  Now, as a Guardian reader ( Norman Tebbit would love me, lol!) I was obviously up to speed on SF due to their publicity of the event.  I have to say I’m disappointed by the way it was reported that there was going to be exclusive content and live-feeds. The Coldcut performance was a recorded gig, and seeing as it made no mention of SL and there was crowd noise to be heard I don’t class that as ‘live performance’.  However, obviously I haven’t checked all the acts out.  New Young Pony Club seemed to be live, but I kept crashing out of the sim so many times I gave up trying to get in.  The BIG EVENT for me tho is tonight.  My beloved PSB’s are playing the main stage at 10pm.  As luck would have it I founded a group for the chaps only a couple of weeks ago in world, and it was one of my mission statements that we should try and get the PSB’s to perform a gig in SL.  Anyway, of course we now know that this was obviously being planned anyway!! (As previously mentioned, I was interviewed by SLNN on the subject) We even got t-shirts and conical orange and white pointy hats made for the group, by group member Sullybaby Gomez, bless her heart.  What a star!  Anyway, I have heard rumours that it’s going to be again a recorded event- I really really hope not, but I’ll still be there early and ready! I’ll drop a report of how it went later on.  There’s something esle bothering me about it tho..there actually hasn’t been THAT much wider publicity as far as I can tell about this event. Obviously SLNN covered it, but The Avastar completely blanked the occasion in their entertainment guide. Also, the sister paper of The Guardian, The Observer mentioned Sf only on a very small add near the back of the paper, which makes me wonder-has it been the success they were aiming for? Let’s wait and see…Keep your fingers crossed I manage to see the boys tonight! ( Oh, and check out my Flickr stream below for piccies!)

Whoosh Shatner had a wee get together for us nutters who he likes to associate with.  The theme was ‘James Bond’, and I searched high, low and in-between for a suitable costume.  I really wanted to go as ‘Honey Ryder’ but couldn’t find the bikini..So, stuff that, I thought.  I’ll go as a baddie.  And I did…mwahhhhhh!!!  

 Eyepatches RULE!

All piccies hidden away on my ‘Flickr’

Okay, I admit it- I set up the blog ( like I’m sure countless thousands other peeps do) and I neglected it.  Bad Kitty.  I confess my sins.
So now it’s time for a restart, a refresh if you will!
Let’s bring you up to speed….First things first- SL has been very busy for me of late.  Number 1, Phil and Kai who run the fantastic Three lions Pub in Bourton Village were wed.  By a Linden.  Disguised as a ham… ( Go to my Flickr pages if you need confirmation of that!)  The partying went on all weekend, and it was a rather lovely event, tempered with the humour and sense of fun which make us all love Phil and Kai so much.
Number 2, and this ain’t so cool.  Two couples I know really well spilt over the same weekend, and I literally felt the SL earth wobble a tad under my feet.  It has to be said, I didn’t see it coming and one of the break ups was somewhat acrimonious to say the least.  Chatting to friends around SL suggested that this is an all too frequent occurance.  Perhaps it’s because the cost of getting divorced (L$25) is so low that people get wed and break up without giving it a second thought.  In fact-there’s the rub,SL marriage and divorce are so easy, then why not just end it if it isn’t working the way you’d envisioned.In fact, how is a SL marriage supposed to work? The relationships aren’t real are they?
Well, I disagree.  Just because the world we inhabit is ‘artificial’ by definition, it doesn’t mean that the emotions of the avatars in our world are fictional.  In fact, when you live, breathe and eat SL as so many people do ( and don’t scoff, because this is a very valid point) then why should our fellow avatars emotional intelligence come into question? Is it not true that for some avatars, their virtual existence is just an extension of their real life persona’s?  Bear in mind that as individuals we are all used to wearing masks-we are not the same person in the workplace as we are at home with our family and friends.  We adapt our behaviour. SL is an extension of that and requires the same amount of adaptability so that we can interact freely, and I will go so far as to suggest that for some people it’s the most free they have ever felt.
So forgive me for feeling sad about my friends and their relationship breakdowns,but for me those relationships were as real as the keyboard that I am typing on…
Number 3 The SS Galaxy launched successfully in world, and I have to say that so far this is the best build I have seen in our metaverse.  Architect Bill Stirling has used 3 sims to create a cruise ship, and it is breathtaking in the detail.  Words cannot do the place justice, and I was so impressed that I rented a cabin.  I implore you to check the SS Galaxy out as soon as you possibly can!
And finally- Number 4.  My favourite saying is ‘Everything happens for a reason’, and this week seems to have proved that, as well as another favourite metaphysical fancy of mine.  Here’s an example-you think of a song that you haven’t heard in years, it’s not even a great song but it’s one you remember even though it barely touched the Top 40 singles chart. The next day, you’re driving in your car and switch the radio on…and hear the very same song.  A lot of people ( I do tend to be one of them actually) do believe that the thoughts that we have can manifest in somewhat mundane ways.   This past week I decided to set up a group in Second Life, called ‘Pet Shop Boys Fans in SL’.  I was motivated by my love of the band ( stretching over the past 17 years) and the hope that I could arrange a few PSB evenings in some of the fabulous in-world clubs that SL has to offer.  I even mentioned on my group mission statement that it was my hope to ‘..get the boys to play a gigi in SL’ Now, in all honesty I had no idea how that could be made to happen, but I thought it was a distinct possibility that it may be feasible.
Imagine my surprise then when I find out that the PSB’s ARE going to be playing Second Life this weekend!!! In case you haven’t heard SECONDFESTstarts later this evening and promises a huge array of acts and entertainment over the weekend, finishing with a gig by the PSB’s.  I can’t wait!!  I’ve been interviewed by a reporter for SLNN.COM and I’m hoping that the publicity generated will encourage more fellow PSB fans to ‘Pull those skeletons out of your closet, and step outside'( You’ll only get that if you’re a fan!)
This is Kitty O’Toole signing off, promising not to be such a lazy ass when it comes to documenting her exploits.

Oopsy- you know the habit that RL has of encroaching your SL addiction? Well that’s what’s been happening for me.  In fact, RL and SL are in a strange kind of parallel universe at the moment! SL-   I’ve been busily buying glorious furnies for the house for me and Jez, and also have been horse riding ( YAY! Loving it!) sky-diving and dementedly dancing at ‘Three Lions’ as per usual.  In RL, I’m getting ready for Jez to move in as well.( yes, we’re SL and RL partners:)  Both situations are pretty exciting. 

I’m hoping to get a housewarming party sorted out soon when I can get to grips with  replacing some of the wallpaper textures in my house, they’re not really to my taste at the mo…  Add to that the fact that I am trying to launch my SL businesses and you can forgive me for being a lazy oaf!