Monday, February 25, 2008
Missing line from the last post.
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett (for "I'm Not There").
I would have got it wrong. Ce la vie.
The good.
Of the six bets I put on, four of them came in correct, which means I was up by about 7 quid. In the annual Pynchon Vs. Lorraine Oscar contest I also won, but for the first time it was a close run thing. I won by 1. It was neck and neck until the end when Lorraine, swayed no doubt by the beauty of gorgeous George, voted for "Michael Clayton" for Best Film. Insanity at it's finest. Not that I didn't like "Michael Clayton", I did, but only one of two films was going to win Best Film on Sunday night.
The bad.
Some fucker (Virgin Media? Sky? Don't know yet) pulled the plug on the Oscar coverage on Sky Premiere, Sky Premiere + 1 and Sky Screen 1 at 4am, this morning. After ringing the customer care line to complain and ascertaining that there was nobody there and the customers could go hang, I then checked the service status on the website. No mention of anything untoward on there, either. I went to bed with a rage that nearly turned me green.
This morning I rang the customer care line and talked to a very nice lady who said that Sky Premiere always ceased broadcasting at approximately 2am. Clearly bollocks and I said so. I know that this time last year the Sky movie channels were still branded as Sky Movies 1, 2, 3, etc., and this year they are branded as Drama, Indie, Classic, etc., but I watched the Oscar coverage last year with no problems and I should have been able to watch it this year with no problems.
I have written two letters of complaint. Frankly I just want to know what happened and who was playing silly buggers. If the letters are ignored, I will be writing to the Managing Director of Virgin Media, with the envelope marked 'Private and Confidential). I am sure that he will be delighted to explain what happened to me himself.
I would not have bothered to stay up all night if I knew that the coverage was going to end before the Best Film was announced.
Yours, disgruntled.
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett (for "I'm Not There").
I would have got it wrong. Ce la vie.
The good.
Of the six bets I put on, four of them came in correct, which means I was up by about 7 quid. In the annual Pynchon Vs. Lorraine Oscar contest I also won, but for the first time it was a close run thing. I won by 1. It was neck and neck until the end when Lorraine, swayed no doubt by the beauty of gorgeous George, voted for "Michael Clayton" for Best Film. Insanity at it's finest. Not that I didn't like "Michael Clayton", I did, but only one of two films was going to win Best Film on Sunday night.
The bad.
Some fucker (Virgin Media? Sky? Don't know yet) pulled the plug on the Oscar coverage on Sky Premiere, Sky Premiere + 1 and Sky Screen 1 at 4am, this morning. After ringing the customer care line to complain and ascertaining that there was nobody there and the customers could go hang, I then checked the service status on the website. No mention of anything untoward on there, either. I went to bed with a rage that nearly turned me green.
This morning I rang the customer care line and talked to a very nice lady who said that Sky Premiere always ceased broadcasting at approximately 2am. Clearly bollocks and I said so. I know that this time last year the Sky movie channels were still branded as Sky Movies 1, 2, 3, etc., and this year they are branded as Drama, Indie, Classic, etc., but I watched the Oscar coverage last year with no problems and I should have been able to watch it this year with no problems.
I have written two letters of complaint. Frankly I just want to know what happened and who was playing silly buggers. If the letters are ignored, I will be writing to the Managing Director of Virgin Media, with the envelope marked 'Private and Confidential). I am sure that he will be delighted to explain what happened to me himself.
I would not have bothered to stay up all night if I knew that the coverage was going to end before the Best Film was announced.
Yours, disgruntled.
Labels: Movies, Television
Friday, February 01, 2008
We have just finished watching series one of "Clocking Off" on DVD. Why the hell doesn't the BBC get a move on and release series' two, three and four on DVD? It has been four years since the first series DVD came out, just after series four had finished.
Anyway, brilliant, brilliant stuff. All of those great actors that became much, much more famous later on. John Simm, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Lancashire, Philip Glenister, Lesley Sharp...
Worth a spot on my sidebar, methinks.
That is all.
Anyway, brilliant, brilliant stuff. All of those great actors that became much, much more famous later on. John Simm, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Lancashire, Philip Glenister, Lesley Sharp...
Worth a spot on my sidebar, methinks.
That is all.
Labels: Television
Saturday, January 19, 2008
After the shittiest of shit days at work yesterday, I got home and found that I was too tired to be bothered to do anything. So I vegetated in front of the TV to the following.
The repeat of the last episode of "Doctor Who" season 3.
A documentary on Marc Bolan.
Another documentary, which was a potted history of British pop music taking in Punk Rock, New Wave, New Romantics, late 80's production line pop (PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman), Britpop, the rise of boy band svengalis and their bands (Nigel Martin Smith - Take That, Tom Watkins - East 17 and Louis Walsh - Boyzone) and then the rise of Simon Cowell and his stable of popstars chosen by the public through the likes of "Popstars", "Popstars - The Rivals", "Pop Idol" and "The X-Factor".
Very interesting documentary, that second one, but the rather snobby attitude that anything produced off a pop production line was crap really pissed me off. Just because a tune is written and performed by a tortured artist in a squat, does not make it a better or more valid tune than one written by a multi-millionaire professional songwriter at their house in L.A. and sung by a white teethed popstrell. A good tune and a good record can come out of any set of circumstances. I can and I will defend "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife, "Back For Good" by Take That and "Stay Another Day" by East 17 as being superior pop records and as good as anything produced by a serious artist.
Phew! Credibility blown. Finally. Thank God for that.
I went to the MAC today to see "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford".
Simply put, I thought that "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" was a cracking piece of work. Serious, poetic and a beautifully shot western, built on excellent central performances by Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford respectively.
Brad Pitt's Jesse James is hardly an American folk hero. He is a nasty piece of work. Unstable, unpredictable, tormented and ruthless. A dominant personality. People are afraid of Jesse James and rightly so. It is one of the best performances of Pitt's career. Forget Pitt as A-lister and tabloid fodder and think about Pitt as the great character actor that he undoubtedly is.
As good as Pitt is, the true revelation here is the performance of Casey Affleck. I have only ever been aware of Affleck as Ben's brother and as the comic relief in "Ocean's Eleven", "Ocean's Twelve" and "Ocean's Thirteen". There is nothing in those films that could prepare you for his work in "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford". Just outstanding. If he does not get a Supporting Actor nod at the Oscars next month, I will be very much surprised.
Casey Affleck's Robert Ford is a slightly creepy, slightly dislikeable man who is trying way too hard. He is very much a small man trying to be a big man and in the process manages to get in way over his head. His initial hero worship of Jesse James turns into something disappointing, destructive and tragic.
"The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" is a great film. Quite a long film, but engrossing throughout. The hours just shot by. It is early days yet, but I think it is my film of the year so far.
The repeat of the last episode of "Doctor Who" season 3.
A documentary on Marc Bolan.
Another documentary, which was a potted history of British pop music taking in Punk Rock, New Wave, New Romantics, late 80's production line pop (PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman), Britpop, the rise of boy band svengalis and their bands (Nigel Martin Smith - Take That, Tom Watkins - East 17 and Louis Walsh - Boyzone) and then the rise of Simon Cowell and his stable of popstars chosen by the public through the likes of "Popstars", "Popstars - The Rivals", "Pop Idol" and "The X-Factor".
Very interesting documentary, that second one, but the rather snobby attitude that anything produced off a pop production line was crap really pissed me off. Just because a tune is written and performed by a tortured artist in a squat, does not make it a better or more valid tune than one written by a multi-millionaire professional songwriter at their house in L.A. and sung by a white teethed popstrell. A good tune and a good record can come out of any set of circumstances. I can and I will defend "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife, "Back For Good" by Take That and "Stay Another Day" by East 17 as being superior pop records and as good as anything produced by a serious artist.
Phew! Credibility blown. Finally. Thank God for that.
I went to the MAC today to see "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford".
Simply put, I thought that "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" was a cracking piece of work. Serious, poetic and a beautifully shot western, built on excellent central performances by Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford respectively.
Brad Pitt's Jesse James is hardly an American folk hero. He is a nasty piece of work. Unstable, unpredictable, tormented and ruthless. A dominant personality. People are afraid of Jesse James and rightly so. It is one of the best performances of Pitt's career. Forget Pitt as A-lister and tabloid fodder and think about Pitt as the great character actor that he undoubtedly is.
As good as Pitt is, the true revelation here is the performance of Casey Affleck. I have only ever been aware of Affleck as Ben's brother and as the comic relief in "Ocean's Eleven", "Ocean's Twelve" and "Ocean's Thirteen". There is nothing in those films that could prepare you for his work in "The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford". Just outstanding. If he does not get a Supporting Actor nod at the Oscars next month, I will be very much surprised.
Casey Affleck's Robert Ford is a slightly creepy, slightly dislikeable man who is trying way too hard. He is very much a small man trying to be a big man and in the process manages to get in way over his head. His initial hero worship of Jesse James turns into something disappointing, destructive and tragic.
"The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" is a great film. Quite a long film, but engrossing throughout. The hours just shot by. It is early days yet, but I think it is my film of the year so far.
Labels: Movies, Music, Television
Monday, January 07, 2008
I have decided to not feel guilty about promising to blog on a subject and then not bothering. It's my blog, so there! (Yer Pynchon blows a raspberry to the Universe.)
Thoughts on the "Aladdin" pantomime will arrive shortly, probably tomorrow, along with some thoughts on the book "The Insider" by Piers Morgan, that I have been reading since January 1st.
Actually, this evening I was quite tired. Tired enough to abandon any thoughts of doing anything creative and instead deciding to vegetate in front of the TV for 3 hours watching the pilot episode of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman" (Living TV are showing the entire series from scratch - frankly I found it mind numbingly tedious but Lorraine, who was a big fan, said that it gets better) and then "Stranger Than Fiction" (kind of brilliant and a good pointer to where Will Ferrell's career might go when the broad comedies stop being successful, which they undoubtedly will).
Nice, relaxing evening. No pressure. Sometimes you need one of those evenings, don't you?
Thoughts on the "Aladdin" pantomime will arrive shortly, probably tomorrow, along with some thoughts on the book "The Insider" by Piers Morgan, that I have been reading since January 1st.
Actually, this evening I was quite tired. Tired enough to abandon any thoughts of doing anything creative and instead deciding to vegetate in front of the TV for 3 hours watching the pilot episode of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman" (Living TV are showing the entire series from scratch - frankly I found it mind numbingly tedious but Lorraine, who was a big fan, said that it gets better) and then "Stranger Than Fiction" (kind of brilliant and a good pointer to where Will Ferrell's career might go when the broad comedies stop being successful, which they undoubtedly will).
Nice, relaxing evening. No pressure. Sometimes you need one of those evenings, don't you?
Labels: Knackered, Movies, Television
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Just a quick post before I head into town to meet my Brother. We are off to watch the Chelsea/Villa match. I have high hopes that we can turn them over, but I don't think we have won a game on Boxing Day for ages. Never mind. The game itself is just incidental to the day out.
Nice day yesterday. Too much food. Too much drink. Very loud house. Sister 1 very stressed. Sister 2 not stressed at all. Sister 3 looking incredibly overweight. My Brother drunk and morose. My Niece and Nephew dancing to a Rihanna CD. My Mom looking very content.
I opened a couple of late presents at Sister 3's. One of them was a biro with my name on it, that I think was bought as a laugh. I hope it was bought as a laugh. I believe that Lorraine has a similar biro that will be presented to her when she returns.
I went home and watched the "Doctor Who" Christmas special. It was alright, but it probably did not match up to the trailer, a bit like all of the Christmas specials so far. La Minogue was OK. Half of the fun is in trying to work out what Russell T. Davies has included in the script that is going to have meaning later on. Remember the passing mention of "Torchwood" in the first special and the passing mention of "Mr. Saxon" who gave the order to destroy the spaceship last year? The rumour is that La Minogue has shot a little bit of footage to be used in the climax of the next series, which means that she would be appearing alongside all of the ladies that have accompanied the Doctor so far. Some kind of a trap, or is it just smoke and mirrors? I try not to delve too deep into spoiler country. Why ruin the surprise?
I need to go. Probably back tomorrow.
Nice day yesterday. Too much food. Too much drink. Very loud house. Sister 1 very stressed. Sister 2 not stressed at all. Sister 3 looking incredibly overweight. My Brother drunk and morose. My Niece and Nephew dancing to a Rihanna CD. My Mom looking very content.
I opened a couple of late presents at Sister 3's. One of them was a biro with my name on it, that I think was bought as a laugh. I hope it was bought as a laugh. I believe that Lorraine has a similar biro that will be presented to her when she returns.
I went home and watched the "Doctor Who" Christmas special. It was alright, but it probably did not match up to the trailer, a bit like all of the Christmas specials so far. La Minogue was OK. Half of the fun is in trying to work out what Russell T. Davies has included in the script that is going to have meaning later on. Remember the passing mention of "Torchwood" in the first special and the passing mention of "Mr. Saxon" who gave the order to destroy the spaceship last year? The rumour is that La Minogue has shot a little bit of footage to be used in the climax of the next series, which means that she would be appearing alongside all of the ladies that have accompanied the Doctor so far. Some kind of a trap, or is it just smoke and mirrors? I try not to delve too deep into spoiler country. Why ruin the surprise?
I need to go. Probably back tomorrow.
Labels: Christmas, Family, Television
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Yes, last night the TV blew up, with a very loud bang, a retina burning flash of light and kind of attractive wisps of smoke coming from the back of it. I was surprised the electricity stayed on and the windows stayed intact. It was a very loud bang.
The bad news: When the 5 year renewal date for cover came up in October last year we decided not to renew. Shit.
The good news: We were forced to buy a new TV and stand. It did cost a bomb, so why was this good news? Well, let me explain.
The new TV is a lovely Panasonic. Black finish, 32 inch widescreen, good sound quality, as thin as an After Eight mint, HD ready and with a built in Freeview box. (Not that built in Freeview box was ever a deciding factor. We have always relied on our cable box for TV pictures as our Aeriel reception has always been shit because of the... er... absence of an Aeriel. Lorraine told me a long time ago that the daft woman who lived in the house before us took the Aeriel with her from the loft when she left. I've never questioned that story. I stuck my head in the loft once, but have never actually been in there.)
As I have the physical dexterity of Laurel and Hardy, Lorraine put the stand together, hooked up the TV, DVD player and cable box, plugged in the Aeriel cable (although we knew that it would not produce much) and turned it all on. She went through the setup and... oooh, fantastic. Glorious pictures, great sound, etc.
The interesting thing was that the cable box was not switched on. Where were the pictures coming up? God? The future? (I have seen "Prince Of Darkness". Forget what the critics said about it. It is one of John Carpenter's best films.) No. They were coming from the digital Aeriel in the loft that neither of us knew anything about. It had been there for 6 years, at least.
So, where exactly did the story of the Aeriel being removed from the loft come from? Did Lorraine really believe that story or had she made it up? Maybe she been in the loft and just happened to miss it? Possibly. I am not going to pursue it.
We now have a cracking TV with Freeview and a few more channels. True, the TV cost a bomb, but we can live with that.
Inside every cloud there is a silver lining, and all that kind of thing...
On top of that Leon won "The X-Factor". Excellent. I didn't mind Rhydian, or Same Difference come to that, but it is nice to see the underdog win sometimes.
It has been a good day.
The bad news: When the 5 year renewal date for cover came up in October last year we decided not to renew. Shit.
The good news: We were forced to buy a new TV and stand. It did cost a bomb, so why was this good news? Well, let me explain.
The new TV is a lovely Panasonic. Black finish, 32 inch widescreen, good sound quality, as thin as an After Eight mint, HD ready and with a built in Freeview box. (Not that built in Freeview box was ever a deciding factor. We have always relied on our cable box for TV pictures as our Aeriel reception has always been shit because of the... er... absence of an Aeriel. Lorraine told me a long time ago that the daft woman who lived in the house before us took the Aeriel with her from the loft when she left. I've never questioned that story. I stuck my head in the loft once, but have never actually been in there.)
As I have the physical dexterity of Laurel and Hardy, Lorraine put the stand together, hooked up the TV, DVD player and cable box, plugged in the Aeriel cable (although we knew that it would not produce much) and turned it all on. She went through the setup and... oooh, fantastic. Glorious pictures, great sound, etc.
The interesting thing was that the cable box was not switched on. Where were the pictures coming up? God? The future? (I have seen "Prince Of Darkness". Forget what the critics said about it. It is one of John Carpenter's best films.) No. They were coming from the digital Aeriel in the loft that neither of us knew anything about. It had been there for 6 years, at least.
So, where exactly did the story of the Aeriel being removed from the loft come from? Did Lorraine really believe that story or had she made it up? Maybe she been in the loft and just happened to miss it? Possibly. I am not going to pursue it.
We now have a cracking TV with Freeview and a few more channels. True, the TV cost a bomb, but we can live with that.
Inside every cloud there is a silver lining, and all that kind of thing...
On top of that Leon won "The X-Factor". Excellent. I didn't mind Rhydian, or Same Difference come to that, but it is nice to see the underdog win sometimes.
It has been a good day.
Labels: Television
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Niki voted off "The X-Factor"?
Fuck off! Bollocks. Fucking outrageous! I piss on the taste of the British public.
Maybe I am taking this too seriously, but I have been waiting to write that since last night.
Anyway, here is the lady doing a really cracking song.
In other news I saw "The Golden Compass" this afternoon. I will write about that tomorrow.
Fuck off! Bollocks. Fucking outrageous! I piss on the taste of the British public.
Maybe I am taking this too seriously, but I have been waiting to write that since last night.
Anyway, here is the lady doing a really cracking song.
In other news I saw "The Golden Compass" this afternoon. I will write about that tomorrow.
Labels: Music, Television
Friday, September 21, 2007
It has been a bit of a disappointing week, blogwise, but I don't suppose every week can be a maelstrom of activity, now can it? Anyway, I couldn't be particularly arsed. I had, as Lorraine so succinctly puts it, "One on me".
Still, I have not exactly sat staring at the wall doing nothing.
This week I have...
1. Watched television.
Over the past month, BBC 3 have been repeating all of the recent "Doctor Who" series and specials, from Christopher Ecclestone to David Tennant. I have not watched them all of the repeats religiously, but I must say that what I have watched again, I have really enjoyed.
This week the climax of series 3 finally arrived with appearances of Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana and John Simm as Mr. Saxon. I really hope that one of those actors reappears in the next series. UK viewers will know which one I mean. I thought he was over the top and insane and cruel and just marvellous. (No spoilers for foreign friends who are still watching "Doctor Who". I believe that abroad the latest series is still being broadcast.)
I've also been watching "Heroes" on BBC2 (we have just reached the "Six Months Ago" story) which I am really enjoying. Last night I watched "Fonejacker" (never seen it before) and I laughed like a hyena and "Dog Face" (ditto) that was kind of terrible, but it had some moments.
2. Read books.
I have finished "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood, which I thought was really good. A really engrossing read. I think it is the first Booker Prize winner that I have ever read. Maybe I will dig out a few more of them.
I am now halfway through reading "Making History" by Stephen Fry, about which I have mixed feelings.
"Making History" is quite obviously a Stephen Fry book (he always uses 3 words when he could quite easily get away with 1.) It has (I think, but I may be wrong) a bit of gay subtext that is about to come to the fore. It has got the most obvious Time Travel plot of all time, which would normally have been rejected by anybody who has read any Science Fiction as being total cliche from start to end. It ignores the whole principle of time paradoxes. It contains lazy passages where, I feel, Mr. Fry just couldn't be bothered to write it properly.
(So you are not enjoying it then, John?)
Au contraire! "Making History" satisfies the only requirement of a book and that is to keep you turning the pages because you want to see what happens next.
3. Working.
After the release of the new organisation chart (on which I am positioned just above the guy who cleans the toilets) the new M.D. deemed to pay us a visit to do a morale boosting presentation to the troops. I thought that Max Headroom had disappeared many years ago, but obviously I was wrong.
Max was blonde and blue eyed. Slick hair. Nice suit. He spoke well, I'll give him that, but his spiel was so full of little jokes and, aww shucks, self depreciating, I'm-just-like-you modest sentiments about himself and his role in The Corporation, that I wish I had had a grenade to toss into the centre of the room to end it all.
Suit. Salesman. Shark. Nazi youth Conservative poster boy. Tosser. Cunt.
Of course at the end everybody clapped like seals, including Lorraine who was sitting next to me. I sat on my hands, fingering my crack (the highlight of my day) and scowled. Lorraine told me to "Stop it".
4. Told Lorraine that she looked great.
Lorraine had her hair done last night. She was due to have her hair done on Sunday, but we will be travelling back from Nottingham. I compared Lorraine favourably to Vanessa Feltz. It didn't go down well. (How was I to know?)
5. Got better.
The dizziness stopped once the earache started. Maybe it was something to do with my inner ear? The earache has also stopped.
We are in Nottingham tomorrow at the social event of the year. (Informal, thank God! I have not worn by wicked blue suit since 2004. I doubt at this moment in time that I would be able to navigate my belly into the trousers. I would be fucked if I really had to dress up for a bit of a do.) Maybe we will see some of you there. If not, I will be back on Sunday.
Still, I have not exactly sat staring at the wall doing nothing.
This week I have...
1. Watched television.
Over the past month, BBC 3 have been repeating all of the recent "Doctor Who" series and specials, from Christopher Ecclestone to David Tennant. I have not watched them all of the repeats religiously, but I must say that what I have watched again, I have really enjoyed.
This week the climax of series 3 finally arrived with appearances of Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana and John Simm as Mr. Saxon. I really hope that one of those actors reappears in the next series. UK viewers will know which one I mean. I thought he was over the top and insane and cruel and just marvellous. (No spoilers for foreign friends who are still watching "Doctor Who". I believe that abroad the latest series is still being broadcast.)
I've also been watching "Heroes" on BBC2 (we have just reached the "Six Months Ago" story) which I am really enjoying. Last night I watched "Fonejacker" (never seen it before) and I laughed like a hyena and "Dog Face" (ditto) that was kind of terrible, but it had some moments.
2. Read books.
I have finished "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood, which I thought was really good. A really engrossing read. I think it is the first Booker Prize winner that I have ever read. Maybe I will dig out a few more of them.
I am now halfway through reading "Making History" by Stephen Fry, about which I have mixed feelings.
"Making History" is quite obviously a Stephen Fry book (he always uses 3 words when he could quite easily get away with 1.) It has (I think, but I may be wrong) a bit of gay subtext that is about to come to the fore. It has got the most obvious Time Travel plot of all time, which would normally have been rejected by anybody who has read any Science Fiction as being total cliche from start to end. It ignores the whole principle of time paradoxes. It contains lazy passages where, I feel, Mr. Fry just couldn't be bothered to write it properly.
(So you are not enjoying it then, John?)
Au contraire! "Making History" satisfies the only requirement of a book and that is to keep you turning the pages because you want to see what happens next.
3. Working.
After the release of the new organisation chart (on which I am positioned just above the guy who cleans the toilets) the new M.D. deemed to pay us a visit to do a morale boosting presentation to the troops. I thought that Max Headroom had disappeared many years ago, but obviously I was wrong.
Max was blonde and blue eyed. Slick hair. Nice suit. He spoke well, I'll give him that, but his spiel was so full of little jokes and, aww shucks, self depreciating, I'm-just-like-you modest sentiments about himself and his role in The Corporation, that I wish I had had a grenade to toss into the centre of the room to end it all.
Suit. Salesman. Shark. Nazi youth Conservative poster boy. Tosser. Cunt.
Of course at the end everybody clapped like seals, including Lorraine who was sitting next to me. I sat on my hands, fingering my crack (the highlight of my day) and scowled. Lorraine told me to "Stop it".
4. Told Lorraine that she looked great.
Lorraine had her hair done last night. She was due to have her hair done on Sunday, but we will be travelling back from Nottingham. I compared Lorraine favourably to Vanessa Feltz. It didn't go down well. (How was I to know?)
5. Got better.
The dizziness stopped once the earache started. Maybe it was something to do with my inner ear? The earache has also stopped.
We are in Nottingham tomorrow at the social event of the year. (Informal, thank God! I have not worn by wicked blue suit since 2004. I doubt at this moment in time that I would be able to navigate my belly into the trousers. I would be fucked if I really had to dress up for a bit of a do.) Maybe we will see some of you there. If not, I will be back on Sunday.
Labels: Reading, Television, The Corporation, Time
Thursday, September 20, 2007
I am here early. There was a flashing light on my router that I had not seen there before. This was unacceptable. I turned the router off. I turned it back on. The flashing light stopped... er... flashing. More importantly, the router still works.
That is what you call IT Support. Obviously I am a genius. (Pats myself on the back.)
Has anybody been watching "The IT Crowd" on Channel 4? Almost like watching a documentary.
That is what you call IT Support. Obviously I am a genius. (Pats myself on the back.)
Has anybody been watching "The IT Crowd" on Channel 4? Almost like watching a documentary.
Labels: Computers, Television
Thursday, August 23, 2007
England 1-2 Germany.
I chose to abandon watching the game after the first half and turned over to watch "Heroes". By all accounts I had seen everything there was to see.
What's that again? You want a picture of Hayden Panettiere? Oh, all right then. If you insist.
I know. You have a question. Do I get embarrassed as a nearly 44 year old man (on Friday next week, kids, if anybody wants to send me a present) lusting over a teenage actress playing a cheerleader? Certainly not. What am I supposed to lust over?
Er...
Nothing else to write, really. My nemesis returned to work today. I ignored him and he ignored me. He's a cunt and I am not. (At least I think I'm not, but please feel free to let me know if you think I am.)
I am thinking of doing a post introducing you to all of my work colleagues, good and bad. If somebody at work is reading this, and I suspect that they might be, it just might get me the sack.
Fantastic! I'm going to do it. Next week. I'll be honest. They can brace me on it if they want. I'm in a self destruction state of mind.
I can feel a mememe coming on. Courtesy of Mr. Planet.
Hi, my name is: Pynchon.
But you can call me: Sir.
Never in my life have I: Felt like a grown up, fully competent person.
The one person who can drive me nuts is: Lorraine, for all sorts of reasons.
My high school was: A womb that I hated to leave.
When I’m nervous I: Get headaches.
The last song I listened to was: "Night Of Fear" by The Move.
If I were to get married right now it would be: A mistake.
My hair is: Disappearing fast and what is left is going grey.
When I was 4: It was 1967 and I clearly remember watching TV on which a man was running down a beach being chased by a balloon. (No question, it must have been "The Prisoner" I was watching.)
Last Christmas: "I gave you my heart. But the very next day, you gave it away". It's a classic.
I should be: In a better place mentally than this.
When I look down I see: That some of the buttons of my shorts have gone missing. Hey! Let it all hang out, man!
The happiest recent event was: Getting one over on some arseholes from one of the Caribbean sites. I proved without a shadow of a doubt that it was they that fucked up and not me. I got a kind of apology, as well.
If I were a character on "Friends": I'd be Chandler, who was the least annoying character.
By this time next year: I hope that some things will have been sorted out.
My current gripe is: That I feel isolated. In all ways, really.
There’s this girl I know who: Worked on a sex phone line. Nice girl. Very matter of fact about it.
I have a hard time understanding: Accounting systems. (Work stuff. Not interesting.)
There’s these girls: At work that I refer to as the Witches Of Eastwick...
If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Lorraine.
I want to buy: Nothing in particular, but finishing paying for this house would give me great satisfaction.
I plan to visit: Las Vegas, again.
If you spent the night at my house: I have no idea where you would sleep, because the spare room is now my room, the big bedroom is used by Lorraine and the bed in the back room is covered with junk.
The world could do without: People forcing their opinions on everybody else.
Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: Some magazines, I suppose.
Most recent thing someone else bought me: was some shower gel.
My middle name is: Tiberius, or was that somebody else's middle name?
In the morning I: Always wake up before the alarm clock.
Last night I was: Watching the football and then I watched "Heroes". (I've already been through this. Were you not paying attention?)
There’s this guy I know who: I have the greatest of respect for as a UNIX technical support analyst. He really is smart, knowledgeable and incredibly clever. Truly a genius who knows his stuff backwards. Sadly I am also constantly disappointed by the lack of respect he shows to everybody who is not part of the clique, is not his buddy and has no wish to be one of his toady's. I also think that it is unseemly the way he has his tongue constantly wedged between the (humongous) buttock cheeks of the office manager.
If I was an animal I’d be a: Shark. (Swimming around. Smiling at the little fish. "I'm not hungry yet, but I might be... later.")
A better name for me would be: Steve. Steve's your buddy. Steve's your mate. Steve is cool. Steve McQueen. Steve McGarrett. Steve Austin. James Bond is a Steve. ("The Tao Of Steve". Check it out.)
Tomorrow I am: On my last day at work before my week off.
Tonight I am: Going to bed in a minute.
My birthday is: Next week! 31st August 2007. The 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death. (I have been through this before.)
You got this from: Me!
Be Cool.
I chose to abandon watching the game after the first half and turned over to watch "Heroes". By all accounts I had seen everything there was to see.
What's that again? You want a picture of Hayden Panettiere? Oh, all right then. If you insist.
I know. You have a question. Do I get embarrassed as a nearly 44 year old man (on Friday next week, kids, if anybody wants to send me a present) lusting over a teenage actress playing a cheerleader? Certainly not. What am I supposed to lust over?
Er...
Nothing else to write, really. My nemesis returned to work today. I ignored him and he ignored me. He's a cunt and I am not. (At least I think I'm not, but please feel free to let me know if you think I am.)
I am thinking of doing a post introducing you to all of my work colleagues, good and bad. If somebody at work is reading this, and I suspect that they might be, it just might get me the sack.
Fantastic! I'm going to do it. Next week. I'll be honest. They can brace me on it if they want. I'm in a self destruction state of mind.
I can feel a mememe coming on. Courtesy of Mr. Planet.
Hi, my name is: Pynchon.
But you can call me: Sir.
Never in my life have I: Felt like a grown up, fully competent person.
The one person who can drive me nuts is: Lorraine, for all sorts of reasons.
My high school was: A womb that I hated to leave.
When I’m nervous I: Get headaches.
The last song I listened to was: "Night Of Fear" by The Move.
If I were to get married right now it would be: A mistake.
My hair is: Disappearing fast and what is left is going grey.
When I was 4: It was 1967 and I clearly remember watching TV on which a man was running down a beach being chased by a balloon. (No question, it must have been "The Prisoner" I was watching.)
Last Christmas: "I gave you my heart. But the very next day, you gave it away". It's a classic.
I should be: In a better place mentally than this.
When I look down I see: That some of the buttons of my shorts have gone missing. Hey! Let it all hang out, man!
The happiest recent event was: Getting one over on some arseholes from one of the Caribbean sites. I proved without a shadow of a doubt that it was they that fucked up and not me. I got a kind of apology, as well.
If I were a character on "Friends": I'd be Chandler, who was the least annoying character.
By this time next year: I hope that some things will have been sorted out.
My current gripe is: That I feel isolated. In all ways, really.
There’s this girl I know who: Worked on a sex phone line. Nice girl. Very matter of fact about it.
I have a hard time understanding: Accounting systems. (Work stuff. Not interesting.)
There’s these girls: At work that I refer to as the Witches Of Eastwick...
If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Lorraine.
I want to buy: Nothing in particular, but finishing paying for this house would give me great satisfaction.
I plan to visit: Las Vegas, again.
If you spent the night at my house: I have no idea where you would sleep, because the spare room is now my room, the big bedroom is used by Lorraine and the bed in the back room is covered with junk.
The world could do without: People forcing their opinions on everybody else.
Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: Some magazines, I suppose.
Most recent thing someone else bought me: was some shower gel.
My middle name is: Tiberius, or was that somebody else's middle name?
In the morning I: Always wake up before the alarm clock.
Last night I was: Watching the football and then I watched "Heroes". (I've already been through this. Were you not paying attention?)
There’s this guy I know who: I have the greatest of respect for as a UNIX technical support analyst. He really is smart, knowledgeable and incredibly clever. Truly a genius who knows his stuff backwards. Sadly I am also constantly disappointed by the lack of respect he shows to everybody who is not part of the clique, is not his buddy and has no wish to be one of his toady's. I also think that it is unseemly the way he has his tongue constantly wedged between the (humongous) buttock cheeks of the office manager.
If I was an animal I’d be a: Shark. (Swimming around. Smiling at the little fish. "I'm not hungry yet, but I might be... later.")
A better name for me would be: Steve. Steve's your buddy. Steve's your mate. Steve is cool. Steve McQueen. Steve McGarrett. Steve Austin. James Bond is a Steve. ("The Tao Of Steve". Check it out.)
Tomorrow I am: On my last day at work before my week off.
Tonight I am: Going to bed in a minute.
My birthday is: Next week! 31st August 2007. The 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death. (I have been through this before.)
You got this from: Me!
Be Cool.
Labels: Football, Mememe, Television
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A nice, easy 30 questions, just to get back into Blogging again. Courtesy of Mr. Planet.
Yesterday I went to see "Eagle Vs Shark".
I have not read a single print review that has failed to mention "Eagle Vs Shark" without comparing it to the work of genius that was "Napolean Dynamite". It is kind of unfair, but expected, because both films deal with uber nerds, holding massively misguided high opinions of themselves, and possessing little, if no social skills.
"Eagle Vs Shark" is not bad, but it definitely is not as good as "Napoleon Dynamite". It is not as funny and doesn't have as many good jokes. It is slower, not as well paced and does not have as interesting a selection of supporting eccentrics and geeks. But... It is funny in parts and definitely has it's moments.
My favourite bits? Jarrod's constant taunting phone calls to his nemesis. The "Fool! Sucker! Foolish sucker!" and "Tell him... Justice is coming" bits are particularly funny. Duncan ("The greatest Hacker that I know"), his aberrant computer and cunning sources of information. Jarrod's party and the Fightman contest. Jarrod's training regime. Jarrod's final confrontation with the school bully who "Ruined my life!"
I enjoyed it for what it was. "Eagle Vs Shark" could have been an awful lot worse. I don't know how much of a recommendation that is, though, if you can only afford to see one film.
********
Last night we watched "The Lake House" on cable, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Everything inside me screamed that it should have been the kind of film to make me want to pluck my eyes out, but I rather enjoyed it for the romantic slush that it was. This is despite the fact that it made no sense whatsoever and broke every single rule of cinematic time travel stories. (As did "A Sound Of Thunder" that we watched this afternoon. It's a piece of shit. You must seek it out and watch it.) Lorraine wept throughout "The Lake House". I think she appreciated the hankies I put by her chair.
After that, Lorraine went to bed and I, pissed as a fart and unable to move, watched a huge chunk of a programme on BBC3 called "The 50 Most Annoying Pop Moments" which was fairly annoying in itself. Really predictable, lazy targets like Pete Doherty's trilby, Peaches Geldof's DJ'ing skills, George Michael assignations on Hampstead Heath and Amy Winehouse liking for a drink, etc. One of the most annoying items was the selective bit on Joss Stone and her (apparent) UK career suicide appearance at the Brit Awards 2007.
You may have seen it. Poor Joss Stone, red of hair and short of skirt. The poor child obviously suffering from variable accent syndrome (all the way from Alabamamamama to Dorset via New York), either jet lagged or tripping on some unidentifiable substance, begged us to give "Big Love to Robbie Williams" and other such prime nuggets of drivel.
The talking arses (Donny Tourette, anyone?) on "The 50 Most Annoying Pop Moments" said that this was one of the prime causes for the recent chart failure of her records in the UK and indicated that her career may never recover. Might be true. I don't know. But they also failed to mention that her last album went straight in at #2 on the Billboard chart in the States and that, hey, why should she give a fuck about the UK music fans anyway? Her future, peddling her faux soul R'n'B tosh is in the States.
Nothing happened today. I had my hair cut so that I will look pretty for the Stones next week. We went into town. Lorraine bought clothes. It rained. We are going to watch "A Cock And Bull Story", later. Michael Winterbottom is a genius.
- If someone was to surprise you with a present right now, what would you like it to be? No idea. (Not a good start and not good enough an answer. I know. How about a women in nice underwear beckoning me from the door to the bedroom? That would be a nice present?
- Are dimples REALLY attractive? It all depends on who they are attached to.
- Don't you find it kinda creepy that "Santa is always watching you"? Do you mean Santa or do you mean Satan? Why the hell would either of them be watching me? So, no.
- What was the last movie that made you cry? Not sure about a movie, but the last thing I watched that made me cry was the "School Reunion" episode of "Doctor Who" ; specifically the scene where the Doctor tells K-9 that he was a good dog and K-9 wags his tail. I am an utter wuss.
- If you could make any of your physical attributes BIGGER would you? Maybe a couple of inches on my... height. Oh, yes. And a bigger cock. Obviously.
- Do you eat the pizza crust? I rarely eat pizza, but yes.
- How many soul mates does one person have? Just the one at a time, but the person changes.
- If you had lunch with God, would you offer to pay? Of course I would.
- Is there such a thing as an Unforgivable action? I would like to say 'No', but the proper answer is probably 'Yes'.
- When was the last time you got spanked? I honestly cannot remember.
- Name the last "classic" movie you watched? "Five Easy Pieces", but how do you define a classic?
- If you HAD to move to a foreign country right this second, where? The United States Of America.
- Do you like being alone? Yes, I do.
- Does the forest scare you? No.
- What would you rather be doing right now? Nothing in particular.
- Have you ever talked about marriage with anyone? Yes, I have.
- Who’s on your mind RIGHT NOW? Lorraine.
- When was the last time you fell over or ran into something? I cannot remember.
- What do you like to listen to before you go to bed? Nothing in particular.
- Describe 2007? A bad hardening of positions.
- "Harry Potter", "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars"? If I had to choose I'd choose "Harry Potter", although I am not a huge fan.
- Three Names You Go By? Pynchon, Pynchy or Love Machine. (I made one of those up.)
- There was no number 23, so I'll make one up. Turn to your right. What do you see? The wall, but slightly to the right of that is the window and from that I can see into my neighbour's (the foxy Keren) garden. Her grass needs cutting. Obviously her parents have not visited recently.
- What is your all-time favourite romance movie? Extremely difficult to choose, but I still really like "Somewhere In Time".
- Whats your current problem? Finding a way to resurrect some kind of physical relationship with Lorraine. I know that it should not be the be all and end all of a relationship, but it is something and Lorraine doesn't seem to realise that.
- Do you believe you truly love only once? No.
- What song do you want to hear at your wedding? Haven't thought about it.
- One of Your Scars, how did you get it? The scar on my knee I obtained by falling on gravel while running in a race at school.
- What is your favourite smell? Chips. Chips are your friend. Chips are your buddy. Chips are good for you.
- If you could eat anything right now, what would it be? I could murder a cup of tea.
Yesterday I went to see "Eagle Vs Shark".
I have not read a single print review that has failed to mention "Eagle Vs Shark" without comparing it to the work of genius that was "Napolean Dynamite". It is kind of unfair, but expected, because both films deal with uber nerds, holding massively misguided high opinions of themselves, and possessing little, if no social skills.
"Eagle Vs Shark" is not bad, but it definitely is not as good as "Napoleon Dynamite". It is not as funny and doesn't have as many good jokes. It is slower, not as well paced and does not have as interesting a selection of supporting eccentrics and geeks. But... It is funny in parts and definitely has it's moments.
My favourite bits? Jarrod's constant taunting phone calls to his nemesis. The "Fool! Sucker! Foolish sucker!" and "Tell him... Justice is coming" bits are particularly funny. Duncan ("The greatest Hacker that I know"), his aberrant computer and cunning sources of information. Jarrod's party and the Fightman contest. Jarrod's training regime. Jarrod's final confrontation with the school bully who "Ruined my life!"
I enjoyed it for what it was. "Eagle Vs Shark" could have been an awful lot worse. I don't know how much of a recommendation that is, though, if you can only afford to see one film.
********
Last night we watched "The Lake House" on cable, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Everything inside me screamed that it should have been the kind of film to make me want to pluck my eyes out, but I rather enjoyed it for the romantic slush that it was. This is despite the fact that it made no sense whatsoever and broke every single rule of cinematic time travel stories. (As did "A Sound Of Thunder" that we watched this afternoon. It's a piece of shit. You must seek it out and watch it.) Lorraine wept throughout "The Lake House". I think she appreciated the hankies I put by her chair.
After that, Lorraine went to bed and I, pissed as a fart and unable to move, watched a huge chunk of a programme on BBC3 called "The 50 Most Annoying Pop Moments" which was fairly annoying in itself. Really predictable, lazy targets like Pete Doherty's trilby, Peaches Geldof's DJ'ing skills, George Michael assignations on Hampstead Heath and Amy Winehouse liking for a drink, etc. One of the most annoying items was the selective bit on Joss Stone and her (apparent) UK career suicide appearance at the Brit Awards 2007.
You may have seen it. Poor Joss Stone, red of hair and short of skirt. The poor child obviously suffering from variable accent syndrome (all the way from Alabamamamama to Dorset via New York), either jet lagged or tripping on some unidentifiable substance, begged us to give "Big Love to Robbie Williams" and other such prime nuggets of drivel.
The talking arses (Donny Tourette, anyone?) on "The 50 Most Annoying Pop Moments" said that this was one of the prime causes for the recent chart failure of her records in the UK and indicated that her career may never recover. Might be true. I don't know. But they also failed to mention that her last album went straight in at #2 on the Billboard chart in the States and that, hey, why should she give a fuck about the UK music fans anyway? Her future, peddling her faux soul R'n'B tosh is in the States.
Nothing happened today. I had my hair cut so that I will look pretty for the Stones next week. We went into town. Lorraine bought clothes. It rained. We are going to watch "A Cock And Bull Story", later. Michael Winterbottom is a genius.
Labels: Mememe, Movies, Music, Television
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I have a feeling that this week is just going to be one of those where I am conspicuous by my absence.
I definitely will not be here tomorrow night because we are going to see "The Bourne Ultimatum" at The Electric Cinema. It is a rare non-weekend visit to the cinema which, strangely enough, was Lorraine's idea. I think she just fancied a change to the normal boring routine. It will be an evening of drinks, nibbles, a comfy sofa seat (twenty four quid for the two of us!) and, hopefully, a really good film. I've liked both of the previous "Bourne" films a great deal, so I have high hopes.
I wasn't here last night because I didn't feel very well. It was all down to too much sweet food, drinks, ice cream and yogurt. I retired to my bed at about 9pm, played with my MP3 player (The Amen Corner, Andrea True Connection, Ash, Arthur Conley, The Backstreet Boys, The Bangles, The Bee Gees, The Boomtown Rats) and then watched the finale of "Cape Wrath" until way past midnight. (The ratings for "Cape Wrath" have dived over the past few weeks, but I've enjoyed every minute of it's cobbled together mix of "The Prisoner", "Twin Peaks" and "X-Files". And that Lucy Cohu....? Oooh, yes. I think so... Great final camera shot, as well).
********
Fancy a joke? Course you do.
A duck walks into a pub and orders a beer and a ham sandwich.
The barman looks at him and says, "But you're a duck".
"I see your eyes are working", replies the duck.
"And you talk!" exclaims the barman.
"I see your ears are working", says the duck. "Now can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"
"Certainly", says the barman, "sorry about that, it's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing round this way?".
"I'm working on the building site across the road", explains the duck.
Then the duck drinks his beer, eats his sandwich and leaves.
This continues for 2 weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town.
The Ringleader of the circus comes into the pub and the barman says to him, "You're with the circus aren't you?, I know this duck that would be just brilliant in your circus, he talks, drinks beer and everything!".
"Sounds marvellous", says the ringleader, "get him to give me a call".
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says, "Hey Mr Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money!"
"Yeah?", says the duck. "Sounds great, where is it?"
"At the circus", says the barman.
"The circus?" the duck enquires.
"That's right", replies the barman.
"The circus?" the duck asks again.
"Yes" says the barman.
"That place with the big tent?" the duck enquires.
"Yeah" the barman replies.
"With all the animals?" the duck questioned.
"Of course" the barman replies.
"With the big canvas roof with the hole in the middle", asks the duck.
"That's right!" says the barman
The duck looks confused.
"What the fuck would they want with a plasterer?"
********
And finally... I've always loved this song. Groovy.
I definitely will not be here tomorrow night because we are going to see "The Bourne Ultimatum" at The Electric Cinema. It is a rare non-weekend visit to the cinema which, strangely enough, was Lorraine's idea. I think she just fancied a change to the normal boring routine. It will be an evening of drinks, nibbles, a comfy sofa seat (twenty four quid for the two of us!) and, hopefully, a really good film. I've liked both of the previous "Bourne" films a great deal, so I have high hopes.
I wasn't here last night because I didn't feel very well. It was all down to too much sweet food, drinks, ice cream and yogurt. I retired to my bed at about 9pm, played with my MP3 player (The Amen Corner, Andrea True Connection, Ash, Arthur Conley, The Backstreet Boys, The Bangles, The Bee Gees, The Boomtown Rats) and then watched the finale of "Cape Wrath" until way past midnight. (The ratings for "Cape Wrath" have dived over the past few weeks, but I've enjoyed every minute of it's cobbled together mix of "The Prisoner", "Twin Peaks" and "X-Files". And that Lucy Cohu....? Oooh, yes. I think so... Great final camera shot, as well).
********
Fancy a joke? Course you do.
A duck walks into a pub and orders a beer and a ham sandwich.
The barman looks at him and says, "But you're a duck".
"I see your eyes are working", replies the duck.
"And you talk!" exclaims the barman.
"I see your ears are working", says the duck. "Now can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"
"Certainly", says the barman, "sorry about that, it's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing round this way?".
"I'm working on the building site across the road", explains the duck.
Then the duck drinks his beer, eats his sandwich and leaves.
This continues for 2 weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town.
The Ringleader of the circus comes into the pub and the barman says to him, "You're with the circus aren't you?, I know this duck that would be just brilliant in your circus, he talks, drinks beer and everything!".
"Sounds marvellous", says the ringleader, "get him to give me a call".
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says, "Hey Mr Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money!"
"Yeah?", says the duck. "Sounds great, where is it?"
"At the circus", says the barman.
"The circus?" the duck enquires.
"That's right", replies the barman.
"The circus?" the duck asks again.
"Yes" says the barman.
"That place with the big tent?" the duck enquires.
"Yeah" the barman replies.
"With all the animals?" the duck questioned.
"Of course" the barman replies.
"With the big canvas roof with the hole in the middle", asks the duck.
"That's right!" says the barman
The duck looks confused.
"What the fuck would they want with a plasterer?"
********
And finally... I've always loved this song. Groovy.
Labels: Illness, Movies, Music, Television
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The idea last night was to post a couple of things, but it never happened because I was astoundingly tired. It's what tends to happen when you go to bed after midnight, get up before 6am, kick against the pricks all day and then fight with your woman for a fair chunk of the evening.
I ended up collapsed on the settee watching a horrible Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider rip off TV movie called "The Librarian: Quest For The Spear". It starred, of all people, Noah Wyle of "ER" fame. Actually, it wasn't really bad. Just cheaply made, a bit lame and with Kyle MacLachlan chewing the scenery as the nefarious villain.
Apparently there is a sequel called "The Librarian II: Return To King Soloman's Mines". It sounds pretty terrible. I might have to watch it. Just for completions sake, you understand.
I ended up collapsed on the settee watching a horrible Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider rip off TV movie called "The Librarian: Quest For The Spear". It starred, of all people, Noah Wyle of "ER" fame. Actually, it wasn't really bad. Just cheaply made, a bit lame and with Kyle MacLachlan chewing the scenery as the nefarious villain.
Apparently there is a sequel called "The Librarian II: Return To King Soloman's Mines". It sounds pretty terrible. I might have to watch it. Just for completions sake, you understand.
Labels: Knackered, Television
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Writers block, but I will fight my way through it.
Lorraine left yesterday to go to London. The funeral was today. I decided, as a little test, not to call her last night because I wanted to see if she would call me. She didn't. She did call this evening, at about 7pm, to say that she was at the station and that she would be back sometime later this evening. She said that she missed me, but I doubt that very much. I am an afterthought.
I watched "Heroes" on BBC2 last night. I don't know if it was just me, but I found the first two episodes kind of simplistic. Not unenjoyable, though. You can already see some of the threads interconnecting and it looks like it could be an interesting series. I will be tuning in again next week. According to a couple of people at work, who saw "Heroes" on the Sci-Fi Channel, it gets better and better and is worth sticking with.
I was going to write about "The Painted Veil", that I saw last Sunday, but I'm not going to do that tonight because I cannot think of a single thing to write other than 'I liked it' and the film is worth a bit more than that.
I was tagged by my friend Katy to do a little mememe, but I'm not going to do that either. Not today, anyway. Again, I cannot think of a single thing to write.
I could write about the number of people at work who were told yesterday that their jobs are 'at risk' (not me or Lorraine), because of the merger, but I don't care about any of them and cannot be arsed.
I have finished reading "Mort" by Terry Pratchett. I enjoyed it a lot. Next up will be "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood; a book I seem to remember somebody bought me a couple of years ago, when it won the Booker Prize. I know nothing about it and have picked it at random from the shelf because I liked the cover.
I think I'm going to bed.
Goodnight.
Lorraine left yesterday to go to London. The funeral was today. I decided, as a little test, not to call her last night because I wanted to see if she would call me. She didn't. She did call this evening, at about 7pm, to say that she was at the station and that she would be back sometime later this evening. She said that she missed me, but I doubt that very much. I am an afterthought.
I watched "Heroes" on BBC2 last night. I don't know if it was just me, but I found the first two episodes kind of simplistic. Not unenjoyable, though. You can already see some of the threads interconnecting and it looks like it could be an interesting series. I will be tuning in again next week. According to a couple of people at work, who saw "Heroes" on the Sci-Fi Channel, it gets better and better and is worth sticking with.
I was going to write about "The Painted Veil", that I saw last Sunday, but I'm not going to do that tonight because I cannot think of a single thing to write other than 'I liked it' and the film is worth a bit more than that.
I was tagged by my friend Katy to do a little mememe, but I'm not going to do that either. Not today, anyway. Again, I cannot think of a single thing to write.
I could write about the number of people at work who were told yesterday that their jobs are 'at risk' (not me or Lorraine), because of the merger, but I don't care about any of them and cannot be arsed.
I have finished reading "Mort" by Terry Pratchett. I enjoyed it a lot. Next up will be "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood; a book I seem to remember somebody bought me a couple of years ago, when it won the Booker Prize. I know nothing about it and have picked it at random from the shelf because I liked the cover.
I think I'm going to bed.
Goodnight.
Labels: Block, Movies, Reading, Television
Sunday, July 01, 2007
There is horror everywhere.
A little earlier I turned on my TV and accidentally watched a few minutes of the BBC coverage of the "Concert For Diana". After the vomiting had subsided, probably caused by a side glance at the eminently punchable faces of Fearne Cotton and Prince Harry, I turned over and watched "The Evil Of Frankenstein" starring Peter Cushing. Much better. Gothic horror. Not the best of the "Frankenstein" films, but not bad.
A bit earlier today I went to see "Hostel: Part II". It's difficult to write about it without spoilers, so turn away now.
"Hostel: Part II" is very much a mixed bag of a film.
The pros.
To his credit Eli Roth has definitely tried to expand upon the simple formula of the first film. i.e. Young and attractive people, travelling across Eastern Europe, are kidnapped and tortured by rich people, paying for the pleasure of doing so.
You see what happened to the survivor of the first film. You get to see much more of the organisation behind the operation and how victims are matched up with clients. You get to know two of the clients (go-getter, alpha male Todd and quieter, more insecure Stuart), up close and personal. You get to see Heather Matarazzo sans clothes and her extremely kinky demise. (Well, I thought it was kinky, and there was a nice nod there to legend of the Countess Erzsébet Báthory, as well.) The most annoying people in the cast get their just desserts (hurrah!), even if it is a well worn cliche. I liked Todd's freak out when he finally gets to hurt somebody, if only by accident, and the dark humour of the devil kids football match at the end.
The cons.
Sorry, but "Hostel: Part II" just ain't scary. It's also kind of boring for long stretches. The film never manages to get beyond the cliche of suspicious, seedy looking European men, even when two of the girls get off with them. There is no tension to speak off and certainly no jump-out-your-seat moments. "Hostel: Part II" probably isn't gory enough, either, to satisfy the gore hounds. Yes there are bloody and stained implements lurking in the dark, and dark and damp cells with chains, but I counted only one major murder on camera and one extremely gross mutilation, along with a couple of other bits not lingered on. Is that enough for a supposed cutting edge horror film? I don't know if it is.
"Hostel: Part II" was OK, but that was about it.
Yesterday I saw "Ocean's Thirteen".
Pure and simple "Ocean's Thirteen" is an old fashioned entertainment. Nothing more and nothing less. An obviously contrived (but all films are contrived, you fool!), hip, cool, finger clicking, jazz glide of a movie. Beautiful people, dressed in great suits (or in Ellen Barkin's case a great dress), bouncing off each other. Smart dialogue. The camera work is wonderful, switching between styles with ease. "Ocean's Thirteen" looks absolutely wonderful.
"Ocean's Thirteen" also seems to be a very democratic movie. You do not get the impression that it is dominated by Clooney, Pitt or Damon. Everybody in the gang has reasonable screen time and has a part to play in the heist. They all make the most of it. The actors look like they were having a ball.
Great film. The one Summer blockbuster this year that I have truly enjoyed.
A little earlier I turned on my TV and accidentally watched a few minutes of the BBC coverage of the "Concert For Diana". After the vomiting had subsided, probably caused by a side glance at the eminently punchable faces of Fearne Cotton and Prince Harry, I turned over and watched "The Evil Of Frankenstein" starring Peter Cushing. Much better. Gothic horror. Not the best of the "Frankenstein" films, but not bad.
A bit earlier today I went to see "Hostel: Part II". It's difficult to write about it without spoilers, so turn away now.
"Hostel: Part II" is very much a mixed bag of a film.
The pros.
To his credit Eli Roth has definitely tried to expand upon the simple formula of the first film. i.e. Young and attractive people, travelling across Eastern Europe, are kidnapped and tortured by rich people, paying for the pleasure of doing so.
You see what happened to the survivor of the first film. You get to see much more of the organisation behind the operation and how victims are matched up with clients. You get to know two of the clients (go-getter, alpha male Todd and quieter, more insecure Stuart), up close and personal. You get to see Heather Matarazzo sans clothes and her extremely kinky demise. (Well, I thought it was kinky, and there was a nice nod there to legend of the Countess Erzsébet Báthory, as well.) The most annoying people in the cast get their just desserts (hurrah!), even if it is a well worn cliche. I liked Todd's freak out when he finally gets to hurt somebody, if only by accident, and the dark humour of the devil kids football match at the end.
The cons.
Sorry, but "Hostel: Part II" just ain't scary. It's also kind of boring for long stretches. The film never manages to get beyond the cliche of suspicious, seedy looking European men, even when two of the girls get off with them. There is no tension to speak off and certainly no jump-out-your-seat moments. "Hostel: Part II" probably isn't gory enough, either, to satisfy the gore hounds. Yes there are bloody and stained implements lurking in the dark, and dark and damp cells with chains, but I counted only one major murder on camera and one extremely gross mutilation, along with a couple of other bits not lingered on. Is that enough for a supposed cutting edge horror film? I don't know if it is.
"Hostel: Part II" was OK, but that was about it.
Yesterday I saw "Ocean's Thirteen".
Pure and simple "Ocean's Thirteen" is an old fashioned entertainment. Nothing more and nothing less. An obviously contrived (but all films are contrived, you fool!), hip, cool, finger clicking, jazz glide of a movie. Beautiful people, dressed in great suits (or in Ellen Barkin's case a great dress), bouncing off each other. Smart dialogue. The camera work is wonderful, switching between styles with ease. "Ocean's Thirteen" looks absolutely wonderful.
"Ocean's Thirteen" also seems to be a very democratic movie. You do not get the impression that it is dominated by Clooney, Pitt or Damon. Everybody in the gang has reasonable screen time and has a part to play in the heist. They all make the most of it. The actors look like they were having a ball.
Great film. The one Summer blockbuster this year that I have truly enjoyed.
Labels: Movies, Television
Friday, June 29, 2007
"Doctor Who". Speculation and maybe spoilers. You can skip the next bit, if you want.
Wasn't last Saturday's episode brilliant? The Doctor incapacitated. The Master in control. Martha on the run. Captain Jack dead (but not for long). The U.S. President dead. The human race facing doomsday, or at least a severe culling. John Simm just about dominated the episode, and although it was a fine line he straddled between megalomania and pantomime, I think he just about kept on the right side of that line. Great stuff.
On balance most of the current series has been outstanding. Tomorrow is the season finale and then it's the long wait until the Christmas episode that is going to feature, of all people, Kylie Minogue. Apparently Russell T. Davies wrote the part with Britney Spears in mind, but she wasn't interested. Silly Britney (but I still love her...)
The interesting question here is will David Tennant still be The Doctor after tomorrow? Well, there's the rub. I heard this week that 3 different cliffhanger endings have been filmed and they are...
Public schoolboy Nigel Colby (Tom Sturridge) is found dead. His head has been blown off. Arrogant rich kid Alex (Eddie Redmayne) is found standing over the body with a shotgun, but he denies committing murder. As Alex is a minor, criminal psychologist Sally (Toni Collette) is asked to determine whether the boy should be charged with the murder of his schoolfriend. As Alex tells his story, flashbacks reveal the truth of what happened and the shifting relationship between the two boys. Or do they? Who is insane here? Nigel? Alex? Or maybe both?
I checked the cinema listings last Friday, and bored to tears with the thought of seeing a summer blockbuster, I opted for this, primarily on the basis that it featured Toni Collette, who is never less than interesting in every film she has appeared in.
I'd never heard of "Like Minds". It has not had a major cinema release in this country, which is a shame, because it's not a bad film, just a bit derivative. A low key mix of "Murder By Numbers" and "Primal Fear" set in an (English?) public school. It is a thriller, but it is also all about the shifting of control and domination and obsession.
Toni Collette and Richard Roxburgh are not top billed, despite what the picture above says, and that is correct, because their parts are really just extended cameos. The film belongs to Eddie Redmayne and Tom Sturridge as Alex and Nigel. Both good, otherworldly performances, especially by Eddie Redmayne.
I think that "Like Minds" is worth a look.
********
My Brother was barred from Reflex, a couple of Saturday's ago. I have pierced this story together from what my Brother told me and from what my Brother has told my Mom. The truth is somewhere in between.
My Brother has been having a long distance relationship with a girl. Most weekends he has been visiting her, but a couple of weekends ago she came up to Brum. My Brother was out with this girl. His best mate tagged along. My Brother went to the toilet. When he came back his best mate was groping the girl and the girl was trying to swallow his best mate's face. My Brother showed his displeasure at this turn of events with his fists.
Bouncers tried to intervene. My Brother showed his displeasure at the bouncers trying to intervene by kicking one of the bouncers in the balls. My Brother was ejected from the establishment and told to never return.
My Brother is a player. Has been for a while. Goes out with girls, gets his way and then disposes of them. He cares about nothing except his family and Aston Villa football club. I don't think he has any conscience. Frankly, I think he got what he deserved. It's been a long time coming.
Lorraine said it was lucky I wasn't with him that weekend. (It was the weekend I had a pain in my foot.) She said that the girl might have come on to me. No. I don't think so. I'm hardly attractive. I'm glad I wasn't there, though. Because I would have had to stand with my Brother. Right or wrong.
********
The family have been talking about me. My Mom has been thinking about the Pynchon-And-Lorraine-Do-Not-Fuck situation. She has a solution.
Last Saturday she told me that I must leave Lorraine. The sooner the better.
Not as easy as that Mom.
Why?
Because I love her.
Well, she doesn't love you, does she?
Maybe. I'll have to ask her.
And then she tutted.
That's my Mom.
********
Ginger Foghorn, I will write about on my next post. I'm in a Glam Rock kind of mood.
Wasn't last Saturday's episode brilliant? The Doctor incapacitated. The Master in control. Martha on the run. Captain Jack dead (but not for long). The U.S. President dead. The human race facing doomsday, or at least a severe culling. John Simm just about dominated the episode, and although it was a fine line he straddled between megalomania and pantomime, I think he just about kept on the right side of that line. Great stuff.
On balance most of the current series has been outstanding. Tomorrow is the season finale and then it's the long wait until the Christmas episode that is going to feature, of all people, Kylie Minogue. Apparently Russell T. Davies wrote the part with Britney Spears in mind, but she wasn't interested. Silly Britney (but I still love her...)
The interesting question here is will David Tennant still be The Doctor after tomorrow? Well, there's the rub. I heard this week that 3 different cliffhanger endings have been filmed and they are...
- Martha is kidnapped by aliens and the Doctor sets out to find her.
- In the act of saving the Earth, the Tardis is apparently destroyed.
- The Doctor is mortally wounded and regenerates into...
Ah... Well, I've heard names. How about this one?
Robert Carlyle.
I don't think he is a good fit, but what do I know? I remember being outraged when Sylvester McCoy got the job in 1987, and he turned out to be brilliant. (I told him as much when I got his autograph a couple of years ago. He smiled at me benevolently and said, "You weren't the only one who thought that." Lovely man.)
Lorraine is convinced that tomorrow will be David Tennant's last hurrah. If it is, I will be sad, because he has been great.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
********
On Sunday I saw "Like Minds" at the Midlands Art Centre.
Public schoolboy Nigel Colby (Tom Sturridge) is found dead. His head has been blown off. Arrogant rich kid Alex (Eddie Redmayne) is found standing over the body with a shotgun, but he denies committing murder. As Alex is a minor, criminal psychologist Sally (Toni Collette) is asked to determine whether the boy should be charged with the murder of his schoolfriend. As Alex tells his story, flashbacks reveal the truth of what happened and the shifting relationship between the two boys. Or do they? Who is insane here? Nigel? Alex? Or maybe both?
I checked the cinema listings last Friday, and bored to tears with the thought of seeing a summer blockbuster, I opted for this, primarily on the basis that it featured Toni Collette, who is never less than interesting in every film she has appeared in.
I'd never heard of "Like Minds". It has not had a major cinema release in this country, which is a shame, because it's not a bad film, just a bit derivative. A low key mix of "Murder By Numbers" and "Primal Fear" set in an (English?) public school. It is a thriller, but it is also all about the shifting of control and domination and obsession.
Toni Collette and Richard Roxburgh are not top billed, despite what the picture above says, and that is correct, because their parts are really just extended cameos. The film belongs to Eddie Redmayne and Tom Sturridge as Alex and Nigel. Both good, otherworldly performances, especially by Eddie Redmayne.
I think that "Like Minds" is worth a look.
********
My Brother was barred from Reflex, a couple of Saturday's ago. I have pierced this story together from what my Brother told me and from what my Brother has told my Mom. The truth is somewhere in between.
My Brother has been having a long distance relationship with a girl. Most weekends he has been visiting her, but a couple of weekends ago she came up to Brum. My Brother was out with this girl. His best mate tagged along. My Brother went to the toilet. When he came back his best mate was groping the girl and the girl was trying to swallow his best mate's face. My Brother showed his displeasure at this turn of events with his fists.
Bouncers tried to intervene. My Brother showed his displeasure at the bouncers trying to intervene by kicking one of the bouncers in the balls. My Brother was ejected from the establishment and told to never return.
My Brother is a player. Has been for a while. Goes out with girls, gets his way and then disposes of them. He cares about nothing except his family and Aston Villa football club. I don't think he has any conscience. Frankly, I think he got what he deserved. It's been a long time coming.
Lorraine said it was lucky I wasn't with him that weekend. (It was the weekend I had a pain in my foot.) She said that the girl might have come on to me. No. I don't think so. I'm hardly attractive. I'm glad I wasn't there, though. Because I would have had to stand with my Brother. Right or wrong.
********
The family have been talking about me. My Mom has been thinking about the Pynchon-And-Lorraine-Do-Not-Fuck situation. She has a solution.
Last Saturday she told me that I must leave Lorraine. The sooner the better.
Not as easy as that Mom.
Why?
Because I love her.
Well, she doesn't love you, does she?
Maybe. I'll have to ask her.
And then she tutted.
That's my Mom.
********
Ginger Foghorn, I will write about on my next post. I'm in a Glam Rock kind of mood.
Labels: Family, Movies, Sex, Television
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I mentioned a week or so ago that Ian, Lorraine's Step Dad, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. Anyway, Lorraine has been in Liverpool since Thursday staying with her Step Dad Ian's missus, Penny. Ian had his operation on Friday. Lorraine called me on Friday night. In her own words, "There's wasn't as much of it as they thought there might be. He should recover quickly and he may not have to wear a bag." It's good news. Lorraine is coming home tomorrow, although she will be going back at some point.
So, I have been alone in this house. The days have shot by in a blur of bad food, TV and alcohol. It's not been a meltdown, but I'm pretty pissed off (and pissed) because I know I could have spent the days more constructively.
Thursday evening I watched the special edition of "Napoleon Dynamite" on cable. The only special thing I could spot was a wedding scene I had never seen before, after the end credits, which frankly was pretty superfluous. Still, it's a brilliant film and constantly hilarious, even after multiple viewings. Remember, Vote for Pedro.
Friday evening I watched "9 Songs" on DVD. There are some quite interesting interviews on the DVD, but they are all deluded. "9 Songs" is porn, but that does not mean that it is not a good film and the soundtrack is dynamite.
After that I watched "Glengarry Glen Ross" on DVD. Crazily Jack Lemmon did not get nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for this film. Al Pacino did. Pacino is hilarious in "Glengarry Glen Ross", but it was Lemmon's Oscar if he had been nominated. (Al Pacino did not win either, but he did win that year for "Scent Of A Woman", which is an inferior film in every way to "Glengarry Glen Ross".)
After that I watched "Bad Lieutenant" on cable. Still pretty grim viewing. That scene where Harvey Keitel abuses those teenage girls in the car is truly chilling and shows just how much of an animal he has become.
Saturday I got up early, ran around buying food, picked up the panto tickets and went to the Midland Masters tournament with my Brother. A bit of an under-subscribed event, compared to last year, but many a fine brew was quaffed and we had a great time. The mighty Villa did not get to the final.
My Brother and I talked about women in general. It was an interesting chat. My Brother has particular thoughts on the Lorraine situation, but it's too much for now. I'll go into it at another time.
I came home. Ate fish and chips and a steak and kidney pie (because I am a fat bloater) and watched "Doctor Who". No spoilers from me, but something that I speculated a while ago might happen, did happen. (You can read about it on the entry for Friday 23rd March 2007. I'm feeling pretty smug about it, actually, and it didn't spoil "Doctor Who" for me.) Then I watched the "Tiswas Reunited" show (which was a bit overwrought and self satisfied and not very good) and then had a bath.
Bed time.
So, I have been alone in this house. The days have shot by in a blur of bad food, TV and alcohol. It's not been a meltdown, but I'm pretty pissed off (and pissed) because I know I could have spent the days more constructively.
Thursday evening I watched the special edition of "Napoleon Dynamite" on cable. The only special thing I could spot was a wedding scene I had never seen before, after the end credits, which frankly was pretty superfluous. Still, it's a brilliant film and constantly hilarious, even after multiple viewings. Remember, Vote for Pedro.
Friday evening I watched "9 Songs" on DVD. There are some quite interesting interviews on the DVD, but they are all deluded. "9 Songs" is porn, but that does not mean that it is not a good film and the soundtrack is dynamite.
After that I watched "Glengarry Glen Ross" on DVD. Crazily Jack Lemmon did not get nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for this film. Al Pacino did. Pacino is hilarious in "Glengarry Glen Ross", but it was Lemmon's Oscar if he had been nominated. (Al Pacino did not win either, but he did win that year for "Scent Of A Woman", which is an inferior film in every way to "Glengarry Glen Ross".)
After that I watched "Bad Lieutenant" on cable. Still pretty grim viewing. That scene where Harvey Keitel abuses those teenage girls in the car is truly chilling and shows just how much of an animal he has become.
Saturday I got up early, ran around buying food, picked up the panto tickets and went to the Midland Masters tournament with my Brother. A bit of an under-subscribed event, compared to last year, but many a fine brew was quaffed and we had a great time. The mighty Villa did not get to the final.
My Brother and I talked about women in general. It was an interesting chat. My Brother has particular thoughts on the Lorraine situation, but it's too much for now. I'll go into it at another time.
I came home. Ate fish and chips and a steak and kidney pie (because I am a fat bloater) and watched "Doctor Who". No spoilers from me, but something that I speculated a while ago might happen, did happen. (You can read about it on the entry for Friday 23rd March 2007. I'm feeling pretty smug about it, actually, and it didn't spoil "Doctor Who" for me.) Then I watched the "Tiswas Reunited" show (which was a bit overwrought and self satisfied and not very good) and then had a bath.
Bed time.
Labels: Illness, Movies, Television
Monday, June 11, 2007
I am in terrible pain. It hurts to stand on my right ankle. My shins ache. My thighs throb. My right wrist hurts. My fingers will not bend properly. My face is also red and the skin has started to peel off the top of my head.
The reason?
On Saturday morning I did some gardening. It was the hottest day of the year so far. I didn't wear a hat and muscles that didn't want to get used were used. Four hours of torture.
Never again. Bloody garden. When we were looking for a house, Lorraine announced that she wanted a house with a reasonably sized garden because she would, and I quote, "do things in it". All lies! Foul woman. I think Lorraine has spent maybe two hours working in the garden in the past six years, and that was back in 2003.
It's all my Brother's fault that I was in the garden on Saturday morning. I was supposed to have been going with him to choose a new laptop, but 10 minutes before I was due to leave the house he called to tell me to forget it. He wasn't bothered about getting one straight away. I think he called from his bed. Bastard.
There was a choice. Go to the cinema (tempting, but I'm always going to the cinema), clean the house (No, I did it last week) or tackle the jungle. I did what I thought was the right thing. Serves me right for being such a caring, wonderful, modest example of manhood.
Lorraine has expressed kind words.
"You should have worn a hat. You're also fat and out of condition. Going out in the garden probably did you good!"
I gave her the evil eye and made a sign at her with my finger.
Other than a trip to my Mom's to deliver Sister 2's late birthday presents ("Cool Runnings" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" on DVD), a trip to the cinema yesterday and a quick detour to the train station to pick up Lorraine's train tickets for Thursday, I have been safely ensconced in the house, slumped in front of the TV set.
We watched "Firewall" on cable.
Absolutely dreadful. Cliche upon cliche. Not an original idea in the whole movie. Virginia Madsen - wasted. Paul Bettany - wasted. Mary Lynn Rajskub playing Chloe, again. Annoying children and, oh fuck me, a cute dog! Terrible. Awful.
Lorraine and I really enjoyed it. No, we did. Really. "Firewall" was really funny. I'm just not sure that it was supposed to be funny...
I hate to add a note of ageism here, but Harrison Ford now seems way too old to be playing action parts. In "Firewall" he looked old, at the age of 64, in a way that neither Connery nor Eastwood looked old at the same age. Such a shame. I'm not looking forward to "Indiana Jones 4" at all.
After Lorraine had gone to bed (she refuses to watch horror) I watched the 2006 remake of "The Hills Have Eyes" on cable. I had seen the original years ago, and it made such an impression on me that I cannot remember anything about it, except for Michael Berryman's startling appearance.
I really enjoyed "The Hills Have Eyes" remake. I thought it was great. Mutants. Horror. Torture. Plenty of gore, for the gore hounds. Plenty of violence for the... Er... Violence hounds. A heroic dog! Good performances from everybody, but especially from Aaron Stanford, looking years older than his turn in the "X-Men" movies.
I find the majority of horror films not at all scary; maybe I've seen too many of them over the years, but for me "The Hills Have Eyes" has one great jaw dropping moment when (Spoiler) mutant guy with teeth breastfeeds from the nursing sister... and then her Mother arrives (End of spoiler).
It's a scene that lasts only a matter of seconds, but Yuck. I'll say it again. Yuck. Urgh and Yuck and Urgh again.
Lorraine and I watched "Doctor Who" on Saturday. Great, brilliant, scary episode. The BBC billed it as the most frightening modern episode of "Doctor Who" that they have ever done, and they were right. I was absolutely on the edge of my sofa. Lorraine had a cushion ready to cover her eyes in case the horror tried to drive her mad.
Lorraine and I watched the "Any Dream Will Do" finale. I had a cushion ready to cover my eyes in case the horror tried to drive me mad. Curly haired Lee triumphed over goofy teethed Keith and Max Headroom haired Lewis. He was the right choice.
I need to go to bed to rest my limbs. I was serious about the pain. I will add links tomorrow.
The reason?
On Saturday morning I did some gardening. It was the hottest day of the year so far. I didn't wear a hat and muscles that didn't want to get used were used. Four hours of torture.
Never again. Bloody garden. When we were looking for a house, Lorraine announced that she wanted a house with a reasonably sized garden because she would, and I quote, "do things in it". All lies! Foul woman. I think Lorraine has spent maybe two hours working in the garden in the past six years, and that was back in 2003.
It's all my Brother's fault that I was in the garden on Saturday morning. I was supposed to have been going with him to choose a new laptop, but 10 minutes before I was due to leave the house he called to tell me to forget it. He wasn't bothered about getting one straight away. I think he called from his bed. Bastard.
There was a choice. Go to the cinema (tempting, but I'm always going to the cinema), clean the house (No, I did it last week) or tackle the jungle. I did what I thought was the right thing. Serves me right for being such a caring, wonderful, modest example of manhood.
Lorraine has expressed kind words.
"You should have worn a hat. You're also fat and out of condition. Going out in the garden probably did you good!"
I gave her the evil eye and made a sign at her with my finger.
Other than a trip to my Mom's to deliver Sister 2's late birthday presents ("Cool Runnings" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" on DVD), a trip to the cinema yesterday and a quick detour to the train station to pick up Lorraine's train tickets for Thursday, I have been safely ensconced in the house, slumped in front of the TV set.
We watched "Firewall" on cable.
Absolutely dreadful. Cliche upon cliche. Not an original idea in the whole movie. Virginia Madsen - wasted. Paul Bettany - wasted. Mary Lynn Rajskub playing Chloe, again. Annoying children and, oh fuck me, a cute dog! Terrible. Awful.
Lorraine and I really enjoyed it. No, we did. Really. "Firewall" was really funny. I'm just not sure that it was supposed to be funny...
I hate to add a note of ageism here, but Harrison Ford now seems way too old to be playing action parts. In "Firewall" he looked old, at the age of 64, in a way that neither Connery nor Eastwood looked old at the same age. Such a shame. I'm not looking forward to "Indiana Jones 4" at all.
After Lorraine had gone to bed (she refuses to watch horror) I watched the 2006 remake of "The Hills Have Eyes" on cable. I had seen the original years ago, and it made such an impression on me that I cannot remember anything about it, except for Michael Berryman's startling appearance.
I really enjoyed "The Hills Have Eyes" remake. I thought it was great. Mutants. Horror. Torture. Plenty of gore, for the gore hounds. Plenty of violence for the... Er... Violence hounds. A heroic dog! Good performances from everybody, but especially from Aaron Stanford, looking years older than his turn in the "X-Men" movies.
I find the majority of horror films not at all scary; maybe I've seen too many of them over the years, but for me "The Hills Have Eyes" has one great jaw dropping moment when (Spoiler) mutant guy with teeth breastfeeds from the nursing sister... and then her Mother arrives (End of spoiler).
It's a scene that lasts only a matter of seconds, but Yuck. I'll say it again. Yuck. Urgh and Yuck and Urgh again.
Lorraine and I watched "Doctor Who" on Saturday. Great, brilliant, scary episode. The BBC billed it as the most frightening modern episode of "Doctor Who" that they have ever done, and they were right. I was absolutely on the edge of my sofa. Lorraine had a cushion ready to cover her eyes in case the horror tried to drive her mad.
Lorraine and I watched the "Any Dream Will Do" finale. I had a cushion ready to cover my eyes in case the horror tried to drive me mad. Curly haired Lee triumphed over goofy teethed Keith and Max Headroom haired Lewis. He was the right choice.
I need to go to bed to rest my limbs. I was serious about the pain. I will add links tomorrow.
Labels: Illness, Lorraine, Movies, Television
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Sister 3 annoys the hell out of me.
After my Nephew's birthday lunch at the Dragon BBQ Chinese Buffet (cheap, cheerful and shit, but there were 17 of us there including family, girlfriends, boyfriends and children, and my Sister did pay for a fair few of them), I have spent a frustrating afternoon at her house trying to find out why the speakers on her computer have stopped working.
I am Sherlock Holmes. I pieced it together. It took time. I'm a bit nervous when messing about with software. Sister 3 had accidentally uninstalled her Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.
Eh? How is it possible to accidentally uninstall an audio driver?
Ah, but it wasn't her! A friend who knows a "bit about computers" tried to install Real Player, fucked it up, and uninstalled everything with the word 'Real' in the title. The first time they realised anything was wrong was when they tried to play a clip on You Tube.
Utter clown. Particular pain in the arse today because Lorraine and I had vague plans to visit the cinema this afternoon, which is the only time Lorraine has free. Hairdresser's tomorrow. Monday... I don't know, probably work.
Anyway, it will be sorted tomorrow. At Sister 3's house today I found that I was getting tied up in knots, and a couple of attempts to find and download the correct version did not work. I've come home, had another look and a think and now I know what is to be done. I am going back tomorrow to sort it out.
I'm off. Could be a classic "Doctor Who" tonight. You mark my words.
After my Nephew's birthday lunch at the Dragon BBQ Chinese Buffet (cheap, cheerful and shit, but there were 17 of us there including family, girlfriends, boyfriends and children, and my Sister did pay for a fair few of them), I have spent a frustrating afternoon at her house trying to find out why the speakers on her computer have stopped working.
I am Sherlock Holmes. I pieced it together. It took time. I'm a bit nervous when messing about with software. Sister 3 had accidentally uninstalled her Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.
Eh? How is it possible to accidentally uninstall an audio driver?
Ah, but it wasn't her! A friend who knows a "bit about computers" tried to install Real Player, fucked it up, and uninstalled everything with the word 'Real' in the title. The first time they realised anything was wrong was when they tried to play a clip on You Tube.
Utter clown. Particular pain in the arse today because Lorraine and I had vague plans to visit the cinema this afternoon, which is the only time Lorraine has free. Hairdresser's tomorrow. Monday... I don't know, probably work.
Anyway, it will be sorted tomorrow. At Sister 3's house today I found that I was getting tied up in knots, and a couple of attempts to find and download the correct version did not work. I've come home, had another look and a think and now I know what is to be done. I am going back tomorrow to sort it out.
I'm off. Could be a classic "Doctor Who" tonight. You mark my words.
Labels: Computers, Family, Television
Monday, May 21, 2007
Heath Ledger as The Joker. It's kind of like looking in the mirror.
Bit down this evening. Didn't want to write. Didn't want to do anything. Not made any better by watching the end of "Greatest Britons 2007".
Apparently the greatest living Briton's in reverse order are
3. Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
2. Robbie Williams.
1. The Queen.
Julie Andrews and Paul McCartney made the top 5, but failed to make the top 3.
Words fail me. Really they do.
TV filler and I sat and watched it and added to it's ratings. That is what I call shit.
I am going to see The Who tomorrow night, with my Brother. I really hope I feel better.
I will catch up with gigs and movies at another time.
Labels: Illness, Television
