ohmigod! Soooo cute!

Have a look -
http://life.ru/video/9120

YAY! Wild Dances!

They look like them, sing like them and do all the moves. They even have got a kid on rollerblades performing as the ice skater from last years act.
I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Haven't seen a Lordi lookalike kiddie act yet though :-( Kids doing heavy metal in masks would be awesome.

My mum bought me my inflaitable Aussie flag hand today to wave at Eurovision. Will you all watch the broadcasts and look out for me?

and once again Russia has delayed Eurovision tix.
They are now saying mid-March for payment.

I might just ask to pick them up on arrival in Moscow, because I probably wont receive them in time here.

Who starts selling tix just 1.5 months before a MASSIVE European event which they have known was going to happen, when and where, for a year?

At the moment I think a lot of fans have decided not to go because they were told accommodation problems would be sorted out (and they haven't - no-one has heard back from the Russian fanclub about hotel bookings - its been 7 weeks) and without having guaranteed accommodation and guaranteed tix only 1.5 months before the event, I think I'd cut my losses.

Thankfully I'm in a better situation. I have my accommodation.

I'm off to the Russian consulate next Monday morning to organise my visa. The 3rd last thing I have to do/pay for (the other 2 being the Eurovision ticket being paid for and booking my Edinburgh to London train).

63 days till I leave for Moscow. 9 weeks.

woah. Just heard the full Azerbaijani song. Its a serious contender. Thinking top 3 (although I believe that Norway is still best).

Updated scoring from me (my personal preferences after 2 full days of listening to songs over and over)...

Points -
12 - Norway
10 - Iceland
8 - Azerbaijan
7 - Finland
6 - Germany
5 - Switzerland
4 - Greece
3 - Moldova
2 - Malta
1 - Turkey

Greece and Turkey (and even Ireland) are starting to wear thin with me. But Germany, Moldova and Switzerland are growing on me. Even the Albanian entry is becoming a fave of mine but I have serious doubts that the girl can give a good live act.

Personally I think we are looking at the following top 5 in the final -
Norway
Azerbaijan
Finland
Greece
Iceland

I think we will also see Turkey and Malta up near the top somewhere. And I think we'll see all of the Big 4 (uk, germany, spain and france) not at the bottom for once, which is where they have been the past 5 years (they will be more like mid range in 2009 - huge improvement).

I still think I need to see the Swedish, Russian and Ukrainian final entries before making a definative list though. Russia and the Ukraine are deciding this weekend, and Sweden is early next week.

After next week I think I might start placing bets on Norway and Azerbaijan (at least).

Bosnia presented their entry last night. Nothing too flashy. 'Bistra Voda' sounds and looks like a Coldplay cover band.
Israel selects tonight.

There are only 6 more countries left to select. woooo... getting close! I can't really believe I'll be in Russia in about 9 weeks time.

Helsinki, Moscow, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Berlin, Krakow, Edinburgh, London.
What an amazing route. I'm almost in shock when I think thats where I'm travelling to. Only have my train from Edinburgh to London left to book now. And a day trip to Auchwitz. And maybe a day trip to Vilinus (from Riga). I've heard theres an amazing KGB museum in Vilinus. And you can drive old Russian tanks in some museum place in Latvia.

My friend Rob told me to speak loudly in an Aussie accent in Helsinki because the Finns love Aussie visitors. I'll keep it in mind.
And *sigh* Riga - the home of Europes biggest food market. I'm staying 5 mins walk away from it.

When I come home I'm sure to look like a beetroot. The plan is to eat a LOT of borcsht (and thus I should lose weight too) in Russia, Latvia, Estonia and Poland.
And perhaps I'll eat reindeer in Helsinki.
Theres an energy drink in Finland called Cocaine.
My fave drink though is Mezzomix in Germany. Close second is the German apple mineral water that I lived on in 1999, 2002, 2004.
And I won't forget to eat a heap of tomato, brie and basil bagettes from Pret a Manger in the UK. mmmm.

Yes, yes, this will be a bit of foodie, eastern european & eurovision tour.

I have to also remember to take lots of photos. I get lazy with my camera but I want to have lots of photos to remember the holiday by. I don't think I'll be going back to Russia anytime soon.

Next year I might have a Scandi tour... I've always wanted to go to Iceland. And Norway. And see more of Sweden. And Denmark is sooooo much fun.
Or maybe I should do a Balkan tour (Romania would be nice)... Or a Spain/Italy/Greece/Malta/Turkey sun and sailing tour... ooooh, something like that Rick Stein barge tour with all the local foodies. Cooking classes in Greece perhaps?
Let's see where Eurovision ends up.

I think thats what I've decided in my life. I'm always happiest organising tours and going on holidays. I like seeing the world. And for that reason, I'll never really settle into a 'career'.

I have an Estonian mobile number all set to go.

Spain chose Soraya, which admittedly was the best of the bunch. She's just another pop diva though, without the appeal and personality that Ani Lorak had when she sang for the Ukraine last year. But I'm sure it will do rather well.

Portugal chose Flor De Lys, which again was the best pick on the night. But the song is rather dull, somewhat folkish without being memorable.

And Croatia and Latvia also decided last night. Not a possible winner amongst them.

Sweden will be next to choose - their final is later this week.

Czech Republic are deciding between 2 songs now by Supergipsy. Both are too hardcore rap for Eurovision.

I think Bosnia and Slovenia might be deciding next weekend. Plus Israel is choosing its song (out of 4 possible). And then Russia, Ukraine and finally Belgium and Azerbaijan will release their full entries.

For f*cks sake Spain, what are you doing?

They decided to fast track the Eurovision choice process by having the 3rd semi and the 2nd chance show on the same night, then decided to scrap the 2nd chance process and have the final on the same night... its now 1am in Spain and they are only up to the 3rd song out of 12 songs in the final.

Oh, and now theres technical problems! The stage has broken under the weight of a prop...
Just send someone!

I hope to god Spain never win Eurovision if this is the crap show they put on.

And Portugal isn't much better. 20 juries? 1am... still voting...
Flor De Lys has obviously won, so announce it, have them perform and finish already!

Ahh, the joys of webcasting mean I can see how bad acts/shows really are. Even Georgia had a better show than this.

I am aware that the actual Eurovision is just as long and drawn out, but its at least entertaining.

Did you all know that the show won't be starting in Moscow until 11pm at night? Its so its broadcast in central Europe during prime time. Means I won't probably leave the arena until 3am in the morning. And then we'll probably go to the afterparty. And then I have to leave my apartment by 10am the same day, and wander around until my overnight train to St Petersburg. Gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong two days.

Latvias entry = rock song in Latvian. The guy doesn't blink, just shouts. Bloody awful. Someone compared it to Laka from Bosnia last year. Laka was at least entertaining and catchy.

Croatias entry = male Croatian ballad. Its a yawn fest.

Spain and Portugal are being decided as I type.

Norway is leading the online betting in the UK - 5/2 odds. Good taste!
Greece, Russia, Turkey and Malta follow.

We are getting down to the final countries/songs being decided, and I think its almost safe to say that Norway is the best this year. Obviously Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine could produce something brilliant in the actual show and change my thoughts, but Norway will be the one to beat.

I don't agree with the odds on Iceland - 40/1 (and 100/1 on another website). I think thats an amazing outside bet. Finland is 66/1.
Even Cyprus is getting closer odds and it sucks.