I feel privileged today.
My favourite blogger (the fantastic Diamond Geezer) has published a link to my blog.
OK, so it's only one among 200 links, but maybe I'll get some new visitors. I've just checked my referrals and so far, just 2 hours after Geezer's post, no-one's visited from his site. Current number of visitors is 6,899.
I'll check again at regular intervals and we'll see what happens...
Edit: If you DO arrive here from Diamond Geezer and you live in south-east England, I would encourage you to visit my other blog (click it, go on, then come back here) and then buy tickets to see Whose Life Is It Anyway? at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking, next week. The guys and girls in the show are fantastic, they've been working incredibly hard and they really, REALLY deserve an audience.
Edit2: 6.30pm. That's about 9 hours later. 17 visitors since I last checked. And 4 of them appear to have arrived from DG. And one even left a comment! Thanks Jon.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Monday, 21 May 2007
Soaked
Well - I did it. Again. The London Bridges Bike Ride, that is.
Sorry that it's taken me a week to write about it, but (as usual) it's been hectic here!
So, we (me, David, Sally and Becks, Sally's daughter) set off from City Hall at around 10am. Four hours later (though only 3hrs 20mins of cycling time) we arrived at Hurst Park. There's a map of the route at my Sanoodi page.
Despite the lack of training, we finished somewhat faster than last year. Probably because instead of being sunny and warm, it was very rainy and cold, so we weren't inclined to sit still for too long.
Despite the foul weather, this was, again, a most enjoyable ride. I sensibly remembered to wear contact lenses, rather than my usual glasses, so the rain didn't prevent me from seeing where I was going. This, I now realise, is the main reason why I hate wet weather so much. I should wear my contacts more often!
There are some incredibly flattering pictures over at David's website here.
And if you still want to sponsor us, you can click the link at the top of this entry, or the pretty graph over on the right.
There's a 55-mile ride around Hampshire in September in aid of "Make-A-Wish". When the memory of the aches has disappeared, I'm sure we'll be applying for it - and this time we'd better train!
Sorry that it's taken me a week to write about it, but (as usual) it's been hectic here!
So, we (me, David, Sally and Becks, Sally's daughter) set off from City Hall at around 10am. Four hours later (though only 3hrs 20mins of cycling time) we arrived at Hurst Park. There's a map of the route at my Sanoodi page.
Despite the lack of training, we finished somewhat faster than last year. Probably because instead of being sunny and warm, it was very rainy and cold, so we weren't inclined to sit still for too long.
Despite the foul weather, this was, again, a most enjoyable ride. I sensibly remembered to wear contact lenses, rather than my usual glasses, so the rain didn't prevent me from seeing where I was going. This, I now realise, is the main reason why I hate wet weather so much. I should wear my contacts more often!
There are some incredibly flattering pictures over at David's website here.
And if you still want to sponsor us, you can click the link at the top of this entry, or the pretty graph over on the right.
There's a 55-mile ride around Hampshire in September in aid of "Make-A-Wish". When the memory of the aches has disappeared, I'm sure we'll be applying for it - and this time we'd better train!
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Argh!
Blimey. How much do I rely on my PC at home? Quite a lot, it turns out.
It started behaving abnormally and crashing the other day. Looked like a problem with either Windows XP or with the disk. So I tried repairing XP, which failed because the disk was having problems, leaving my installation ever so slightly knackered.
So, I had to try re-installing XP from scratch. Luckily I managed to keep it up long enough (stop it!) to back it up, but the re-install failed as the system disk was unable to format. Kaput!
Righty-ho. Off to PC world today to buy a new disk. Mission accomplished! And I found a 400Gb external USB2.0 hard drive for £85. Now that's a bargain.
So now I'm looking forward to endless hours re-installing Windows (again) and all the network (and IDE and AGP and CPU and video) drivers, and downloading all the service packs and patches and re-installing all my software and then restoring all my (our!) data.
God, I hope that backup worked...
It started behaving abnormally and crashing the other day. Looked like a problem with either Windows XP or with the disk. So I tried repairing XP, which failed because the disk was having problems, leaving my installation ever so slightly knackered.
So, I had to try re-installing XP from scratch. Luckily I managed to keep it up long enough (stop it!) to back it up, but the re-install failed as the system disk was unable to format. Kaput!
Righty-ho. Off to PC world today to buy a new disk. Mission accomplished! And I found a 400Gb external USB2.0 hard drive for £85. Now that's a bargain.
So now I'm looking forward to endless hours re-installing Windows (again) and all the network (and IDE and AGP and CPU and video) drivers, and downloading all the service packs and patches and re-installing all my software and then restoring all my (our!) data.
God, I hope that backup worked...
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
Hubba
Now look at this story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6662213.stm
This is disturbing on many levels: that an infant can be granted a gun license, even though "Illinois gun laws are said to be among the strictest in the US", is just the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, kudos to the kid's father for following the legal niceties and ensuring that the kid won't actaully get to play with his weapon until he's 14 [snigger!].
No. The really disturbing, nay, horrifying, fact in this story is this:
The kid is called "Bubba".
I had always assumed that "Bubba" was a nickname, endemic to a certain strata of American society, and granted only to those men who have demonstrated that they deserve the moniker.
In my mind, this is how the "Bubba test" works:
First, you have to be born in the South somewhere. My knowledge of US geography is poor, but I do know that Illinois is not famous for mint juleps, crinolene dresses and lynchings.
Next, I reckon you need to have spent at least half your childhood bunking-off school to drive around in a battered blue pickup truck, knocking over mailboxes with your baseball bat. Unless you're the driver; in which case you get to drive along with a beer in your hand, another between your legs and a third in your hat. The hat, of course, has a curly transparent straw which allows you to drink the beer like a caged hamster.
Finally, after a night spent cow-tipping you fail your high-school exams and end up as a janitor in a pool hall.
Only then have you earned the right to call yourself "Bubba".
Of course, I could be wrong about all this. Perhaps it's a name with a long and distinguished history:
Abraham "Bubba" Lincoln.
Benjamin "Bubba" Franklin.
Martin Luther "Bubba" King Jr.
The truth is out there...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6662213.stm
This is disturbing on many levels: that an infant can be granted a gun license, even though "Illinois gun laws are said to be among the strictest in the US", is just the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, kudos to the kid's father for following the legal niceties and ensuring that the kid won't actaully get to play with his weapon until he's 14 [snigger!].
No. The really disturbing, nay, horrifying, fact in this story is this:
The kid is called "Bubba".
I had always assumed that "Bubba" was a nickname, endemic to a certain strata of American society, and granted only to those men who have demonstrated that they deserve the moniker.
In my mind, this is how the "Bubba test" works:
First, you have to be born in the South somewhere. My knowledge of US geography is poor, but I do know that Illinois is not famous for mint juleps, crinolene dresses and lynchings.
Next, I reckon you need to have spent at least half your childhood bunking-off school to drive around in a battered blue pickup truck, knocking over mailboxes with your baseball bat. Unless you're the driver; in which case you get to drive along with a beer in your hand, another between your legs and a third in your hat. The hat, of course, has a curly transparent straw which allows you to drink the beer like a caged hamster.
Finally, after a night spent cow-tipping you fail your high-school exams and end up as a janitor in a pool hall.
Only then have you earned the right to call yourself "Bubba".
Of course, I could be wrong about all this. Perhaps it's a name with a long and distinguished history:
Abraham "Bubba" Lincoln.
Benjamin "Bubba" Franklin.
Martin Luther "Bubba" King Jr.
The truth is out there...
Thursday, 10 May 2007
On Me Bike
I just realised that I promised regular updates about my training schedule for the London Bridges Bike Ride.
Hmmm... Well. "Training" would be the wrong word for it.
More like "irregular jaunts around the Hampshire/Surrey borders" would be more accurate.
On the negative side, I haven't done anywhere near enough miles to be able to complete my ride comfortably. I therefore expect to be very sore on Monday morning!
On the positive side, I've discovered some lovely countryside on my doorstep, which has encouraged me to get out on my bike more throughout the summer.
On the double-positive side, I've done more training than Cyclopathic Dave. Now he's really going to be sore!
Hmmm... Well. "Training" would be the wrong word for it.
More like "irregular jaunts around the Hampshire/Surrey borders" would be more accurate.
On the negative side, I haven't done anywhere near enough miles to be able to complete my ride comfortably. I therefore expect to be very sore on Monday morning!
On the positive side, I've discovered some lovely countryside on my doorstep, which has encouraged me to get out on my bike more throughout the summer.
On the double-positive side, I've done more training than Cyclopathic Dave. Now he's really going to be sore!
Monday, 30 April 2007
Leave Them Kids Alone
On Friday night I went to see Teechers at Brook Hall in Ottershaw.
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. When Clare put Act One on at the WDA festival last October, I was stage manager, so I'd seen that version of the show dozens of times.
Back then it got treated pretty roughly by the adjudicator, though Jack Breslin was nominated for best youth performance.
This time around, with the cast 25% smaller (one of the original four had dropped out and Clare decided to use the suggested casting of 3 actors) the hard work has really paid off.
The show was excellent. Dynamic blocking and energetic performances in a non-stop, breathless production which amused everyone in the hall.
All three of the cast (Suzi Braggins, Jack Breslin & Thomasina Breslin) demonstrated better characterisations this time around, and the extra rehearsal time had led to a more interesting, yet simpler, range of props and furnishings, enabling the action to flow.
I was very impressed with the way they had managed to unlearn the parts they had originally and re-learn their lines as they had been redistributed. Along with learning the entire 2nd act, it was a great feat.
If I had to come up with any criticisms, there would be 2 small points:
1. I'd have to say that at one or two points the lighting was a little too dark (or maybe slightly unfocussed), though as Paul Foster was effectively making his debut on the lighting board, the odd problem was hardly suprising, and I have to say he seemed to get through the 60-odd cues without any fumbles, which is very creditable.
2. There were also a couple of times at which the 'scene changes' (if you can call them that - actually, just moving a table and 4 chairs around!) seemed a little rushed. Once or twice there was opportunity to take time about the change, giving everyone, audience included, time to take a breath before ramping up into the next section.
But those are very minor criticisms and they certainly didn't prevent me enjoying the show enormously.
Well done to Jack, Tommi, Suzi, Clare, Danny, Phil, Paul and Chris for a fantastic production!
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. When Clare put Act One on at the WDA festival last October, I was stage manager, so I'd seen that version of the show dozens of times.
Back then it got treated pretty roughly by the adjudicator, though Jack Breslin was nominated for best youth performance.
This time around, with the cast 25% smaller (one of the original four had dropped out and Clare decided to use the suggested casting of 3 actors) the hard work has really paid off.
The show was excellent. Dynamic blocking and energetic performances in a non-stop, breathless production which amused everyone in the hall.
All three of the cast (Suzi Braggins, Jack Breslin & Thomasina Breslin) demonstrated better characterisations this time around, and the extra rehearsal time had led to a more interesting, yet simpler, range of props and furnishings, enabling the action to flow.
I was very impressed with the way they had managed to unlearn the parts they had originally and re-learn their lines as they had been redistributed. Along with learning the entire 2nd act, it was a great feat.
If I had to come up with any criticisms, there would be 2 small points:
1. I'd have to say that at one or two points the lighting was a little too dark (or maybe slightly unfocussed), though as Paul Foster was effectively making his debut on the lighting board, the odd problem was hardly suprising, and I have to say he seemed to get through the 60-odd cues without any fumbles, which is very creditable.
2. There were also a couple of times at which the 'scene changes' (if you can call them that - actually, just moving a table and 4 chairs around!) seemed a little rushed. Once or twice there was opportunity to take time about the change, giving everyone, audience included, time to take a breath before ramping up into the next section.
But those are very minor criticisms and they certainly didn't prevent me enjoying the show enormously.
Well done to Jack, Tommi, Suzi, Clare, Danny, Phil, Paul and Chris for a fantastic production!
Friday, 27 April 2007
Just Five Minutes...
Blimey! It's been a busy week.
Sunday night we continued rehearsing for Whose Life Is It Anyway? Eek! It's about time I updated that blog too...
Monday - Ottershaw Players committee meeting.
Tuesday - rehearsals again.
Wednesday - AGM of the Woking Drama Association, which I needed to attend as I have (for some mad reason) agreed to act as publicity officer for the group.
Thursday - back in Woking again to see The Woman In White presented by Horsell Amateur Drama Society in the Rhoda McGaw.
[Capsule review: Not a bad performance, though it was at least 30 mins too long at 2.5 hours! Though that's partly due to the script (Victorians must have had sturdier bums) the production also could have done with some pep and pace in places. Standout performance was the actress playing Marion (sorry, can't find her name online!) with an honourable mention to Tim Morley as Sir Percival Glyde. Richard Walton gave a good performance as Mr Fairlie, but the decision (his or the director's?) to play the role for laughs, rather than to show what a nasty man he really was, did not help us to believe in the character. Finally, the story seems to come to a precipitous halt with a rather ludicrous explanation, entirely dependent upon unlikely coincidence, and leaves plenty of gaping holes in the plot. I'm not familiar enough with the story to tell whether this was the fault of the original material, the play or the production, but it made for a very unsatisfying ending. All-in-all, a decent effort from HADS, but let-down by a poor text in the final act.
One surprise was seeing housekeeper Mrs Vesey credited as "Marion Fields". This was the name of my 5th form teacher who also taught me drama for 4 years. And the lady did indeed bear a remarkable resemblance to my teacher. The only reason I thought it might not be the same lady is the fact that last time I saw her (a school reunion a few years ago) I'm sure she said she now lived down in Devon... Now I wish I'd gone backstage to say "hello"!]
Friday - I'm doing front-of-house (tickets and seats!) for Teechers at Brook Hall tonight. There's still a few tickets available for the performance on Sat 28th April if you want to come along.
Saturday - along with watching the football (this week I shall be mostly cheering for Man Utd and Bolton) I also need to get some miles on my bike in readiness for my charity ride. And we're entertaining my out-laws in the evening, which is always fun.
So - it's been nothing short of hectic this week. I haven't had a chance to watch anything on the Sky+ box (so it's lucky we've got 20% free). We've got the whole series of Spiral (8 spisodes) to watch at some point. Who knows when we'll get the time...
Sunday night we continued rehearsing for Whose Life Is It Anyway? Eek! It's about time I updated that blog too...
Monday - Ottershaw Players committee meeting.
Tuesday - rehearsals again.
Wednesday - AGM of the Woking Drama Association, which I needed to attend as I have (for some mad reason) agreed to act as publicity officer for the group.
Thursday - back in Woking again to see The Woman In White presented by Horsell Amateur Drama Society in the Rhoda McGaw.
[Capsule review: Not a bad performance, though it was at least 30 mins too long at 2.5 hours! Though that's partly due to the script (Victorians must have had sturdier bums) the production also could have done with some pep and pace in places. Standout performance was the actress playing Marion (sorry, can't find her name online!) with an honourable mention to Tim Morley as Sir Percival Glyde. Richard Walton gave a good performance as Mr Fairlie, but the decision (his or the director's?) to play the role for laughs, rather than to show what a nasty man he really was, did not help us to believe in the character. Finally, the story seems to come to a precipitous halt with a rather ludicrous explanation, entirely dependent upon unlikely coincidence, and leaves plenty of gaping holes in the plot. I'm not familiar enough with the story to tell whether this was the fault of the original material, the play or the production, but it made for a very unsatisfying ending. All-in-all, a decent effort from HADS, but let-down by a poor text in the final act.
One surprise was seeing housekeeper Mrs Vesey credited as "Marion Fields". This was the name of my 5th form teacher who also taught me drama for 4 years. And the lady did indeed bear a remarkable resemblance to my teacher. The only reason I thought it might not be the same lady is the fact that last time I saw her (a school reunion a few years ago) I'm sure she said she now lived down in Devon... Now I wish I'd gone backstage to say "hello"!]
Friday - I'm doing front-of-house (tickets and seats!) for Teechers at Brook Hall tonight. There's still a few tickets available for the performance on Sat 28th April if you want to come along.
Saturday - along with watching the football (this week I shall be mostly cheering for Man Utd and Bolton) I also need to get some miles on my bike in readiness for my charity ride. And we're entertaining my out-laws in the evening, which is always fun.
So - it's been nothing short of hectic this week. I haven't had a chance to watch anything on the Sky+ box (so it's lucky we've got 20% free). We've got the whole series of Spiral (8 spisodes) to watch at some point. Who knows when we'll get the time...
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Bang Bang
There's a nice piece from Richard Herring talking about the lunatic NRA’s response to the recent shootings at Virginia Tech.
[It’s below the weird stuff about Natasha Beddingfield]
Yes, I’m sure the NRA are right, in this particular instance. If every student was armed, then the perp would have been shot by someone else after only killing one or two people.
SARCASM ALERT!
Of course, IF every student at a large university was armed, that’s the only reason they’d use their guns, isn’t it? We wouldn’t see people getting shot because someone had stolen someone’s girlfriend; or because they were failing their classes; or depressed; or mad.
SARCASM COMPLETE.
Those fuckwits at the NRA. Really. They are fuckwits. And if you really believe the first thing that they say it’s because you want to be a macho gun-slinging fool yourself.
Those are the only people we see whenever the NRA try to represent themselves. They put out well-meaning-sounding statements and talk about everyone’s right to have a single, appropriately-calibre'd weapon in the house “just in case”, but then you see the people who are actually IN the NRA and they all own hundreds of assault rifles and bazookas and flame-throwers.
Really - if anyone seriously thinks that the "right" to bear arms, just in case you MIGHT be the victim of a violent crime outweighs the tens of thousands of people killed with registered, legally owned guns each year, then they've got a screw loose.
The NRA card-holder would answer that by saying; "Look at Canada, or Finland, or Switzerland. They have very high gun-ownership rates, but they don't have huge problems with gun homicide rates".
Well, that's true. But then again, it's also true to say that macho, belligerent, posturing is not a national characteristic in those countries in the same way it is in the US. [And in the UK and many other countries.]
The difference is that in the countries where people tend to be a bit "gung-ho" about their civil rights and their property, gun control already exists.
The countries with high gun-ownership and low gun-crime are like the elder children. The ones you trust to baby-sit and cook dinner for the other kids while you're out.
Unfortunately, someone left the USA home-alone with a box of matches, some petrol and a few empty milk bottles...
[It’s below the weird stuff about Natasha Beddingfield]
Yes, I’m sure the NRA are right, in this particular instance. If every student was armed, then the perp would have been shot by someone else after only killing one or two people.
SARCASM ALERT!
Of course, IF every student at a large university was armed, that’s the only reason they’d use their guns, isn’t it? We wouldn’t see people getting shot because someone had stolen someone’s girlfriend; or because they were failing their classes; or depressed; or mad.
SARCASM COMPLETE.
Those fuckwits at the NRA. Really. They are fuckwits. And if you really believe the first thing that they say it’s because you want to be a macho gun-slinging fool yourself.
Those are the only people we see whenever the NRA try to represent themselves. They put out well-meaning-sounding statements and talk about everyone’s right to have a single, appropriately-calibre'd weapon in the house “just in case”, but then you see the people who are actually IN the NRA and they all own hundreds of assault rifles and bazookas and flame-throwers.
Really - if anyone seriously thinks that the "right" to bear arms, just in case you MIGHT be the victim of a violent crime outweighs the tens of thousands of people killed with registered, legally owned guns each year, then they've got a screw loose.
The NRA card-holder would answer that by saying; "Look at Canada, or Finland, or Switzerland. They have very high gun-ownership rates, but they don't have huge problems with gun homicide rates".
Well, that's true. But then again, it's also true to say that macho, belligerent, posturing is not a national characteristic in those countries in the same way it is in the US. [And in the UK and many other countries.]
The difference is that in the countries where people tend to be a bit "gung-ho" about their civil rights and their property, gun control already exists.
The countries with high gun-ownership and low gun-crime are like the elder children. The ones you trust to baby-sit and cook dinner for the other kids while you're out.
Unfortunately, someone left the USA home-alone with a box of matches, some petrol and a few empty milk bottles...
Monday, 16 April 2007
Ouch
To the dentist today to have a filling. It seems that one of my old ones had deteriorated and needed replacing.
I'm glad that I can now go to the dentist without too much terror and pain (although now the local anaesthetic has worn off, my gum/jaw is very sore where he stuck the needle in).
Until around 8 years ago, I'd avoided going to the dentist for a long time. Around 16 years, I reckon.
Our childhood dentist was a sadist. I know that some people think that they had bad dental experiences when they were kids, but unless they went to the Stepgates clinic in Chertsey in the late-70s/early-80s then I'm inclined not to believe them.
[Legal note: I should probably stress here that I'm sure the current dentist at Stepgates is very professional and pain-free. Thank you!]
Back then, the sadistic bitch used to drill out cavities and fill our teeth without any anaesthetic. It's the sort of thing they did in Victorian times, before petticoated ladies threw themselves under the King's horse during the Derby to give us the right to pain-free dentistry.
I remember that other kids at school didn't used to believe me: people still don't believe me. Most people of my generation don't like dentists because they didn't like the discomfort of the injection. Hah! That glorious, numbing balm is soothing compared with the option of having high-speed, diamond-tipped, steel drills buried deep into a molar nerve!
Madame Vlad Dracul (I think that was her name) took a revolutionary approach to pain-relief. When I complained of a slight twinge (as she jabbed an aluminium javelin into my caries) she would twist my arm, giving me a chinese burn, and tell me "if you would only relax, it won't hurt". The stupid, fetid witch.
I don't remember if we ever told our parents what a sadistic cow this dentist was. I'm sure my sister will vouch that I'm not imagining it.
All I know is that if I was to meet her now, I'd twist her ear and punch her in the face and if she yelled out in pain I'd tell her that she obviously wasn't relaxed enough.
I'm glad that I can now go to the dentist without too much terror and pain (although now the local anaesthetic has worn off, my gum/jaw is very sore where he stuck the needle in).
Until around 8 years ago, I'd avoided going to the dentist for a long time. Around 16 years, I reckon.
Our childhood dentist was a sadist. I know that some people think that they had bad dental experiences when they were kids, but unless they went to the Stepgates clinic in Chertsey in the late-70s/early-80s then I'm inclined not to believe them.
[Legal note: I should probably stress here that I'm sure the current dentist at Stepgates is very professional and pain-free. Thank you!]
Back then, the sadistic bitch used to drill out cavities and fill our teeth without any anaesthetic. It's the sort of thing they did in Victorian times, before petticoated ladies threw themselves under the King's horse during the Derby to give us the right to pain-free dentistry.
I remember that other kids at school didn't used to believe me: people still don't believe me. Most people of my generation don't like dentists because they didn't like the discomfort of the injection. Hah! That glorious, numbing balm is soothing compared with the option of having high-speed, diamond-tipped, steel drills buried deep into a molar nerve!
Madame Vlad Dracul (I think that was her name) took a revolutionary approach to pain-relief. When I complained of a slight twinge (as she jabbed an aluminium javelin into my caries) she would twist my arm, giving me a chinese burn, and tell me "if you would only relax, it won't hurt". The stupid, fetid witch.
I don't remember if we ever told our parents what a sadistic cow this dentist was. I'm sure my sister will vouch that I'm not imagining it.
All I know is that if I was to meet her now, I'd twist her ear and punch her in the face and if she yelled out in pain I'd tell her that she obviously wasn't relaxed enough.
Friday, 23 March 2007
Top Ten Films
Hello. I'm back. And to distract myself from the hundreds of boxes that we still have to unpack, here's a little diversion.
My Lovely Young Wife copied me in on an email going round her office. Everyone had to name their favourite top ten favourite films.
So, without too much thought, and more or less off the top of my head, here are my top ten, in no particular order:
Airplane! (1980)
What can you say, a gag every second and 30 years later you still have to concentrate to get them all.
Citizen Kane (1941)
The classic to beat all classics and the film which invented the language of modern movie-making.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
I'll start blubbing if I even think about the ending to this one.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
A chick-flick really, but I like it very much indeed because it's honest and true to itself.
Duck Soup (1933)
The Marx Brothers had to be here somewhere, so here's their most consistently funny film.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Fantastic. To be watched again and again and don't let anyone tell you that Stephen King can't write a decent story!
Alien (1979)
Will someone please tell Harry Dean Stanton not to go after Jones, the cat? I have to watch that bit between my fingers every time. Aliens nearly made the cut too ("They mostly come at night. Mostly").
Double Indemnity (1944)
Genius. Simply genius.
Donnie Darko (2001)
OK. I don't follow this one 100%, but it's so atmospheric. And Maggie Gyllenhall's in it.
Mulholland Drive (2001)
What the...? Makes Donnie Darko look like The Brady Bunch. David Lynch needs to make more films to confuse us and make our brains bleed.
Of course, as John Cusak says in High Fidelity (or possibly it was Nick Hornby) your top ten is never definitive and will change according to mood and as to what purpose the top ten is for. Personally, you could ask me for my top ten comedies, or films noir, or animated features and I'd have to mull it over for a week to do the question any justice.
Anyway - it's your turn now. Your top ten films please. Don't think too hard and just write them all down as quickly as possible.
Finished? Put them down in the 'comments' box then.
And now surf on over to the IMDB Top 250 films to see how many great ones you've missed. There will be at least another 10 or 20 for which you'll say "damn! I wish I'd included that one".
My Lovely Young Wife copied me in on an email going round her office. Everyone had to name their favourite top ten favourite films.
So, without too much thought, and more or less off the top of my head, here are my top ten, in no particular order:
Airplane! (1980)
What can you say, a gag every second and 30 years later you still have to concentrate to get them all.
Citizen Kane (1941)
The classic to beat all classics and the film which invented the language of modern movie-making.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
I'll start blubbing if I even think about the ending to this one.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
A chick-flick really, but I like it very much indeed because it's honest and true to itself.
Duck Soup (1933)
The Marx Brothers had to be here somewhere, so here's their most consistently funny film.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Fantastic. To be watched again and again and don't let anyone tell you that Stephen King can't write a decent story!
Alien (1979)
Will someone please tell Harry Dean Stanton not to go after Jones, the cat? I have to watch that bit between my fingers every time. Aliens nearly made the cut too ("They mostly come at night. Mostly").
Double Indemnity (1944)
Genius. Simply genius.
Donnie Darko (2001)
OK. I don't follow this one 100%, but it's so atmospheric. And Maggie Gyllenhall's in it.
Mulholland Drive (2001)
What the...? Makes Donnie Darko look like The Brady Bunch. David Lynch needs to make more films to confuse us and make our brains bleed.
Of course, as John Cusak says in High Fidelity (or possibly it was Nick Hornby) your top ten is never definitive and will change according to mood and as to what purpose the top ten is for. Personally, you could ask me for my top ten comedies, or films noir, or animated features and I'd have to mull it over for a week to do the question any justice.
Anyway - it's your turn now. Your top ten films please. Don't think too hard and just write them all down as quickly as possible.
Finished? Put them down in the 'comments' box then.
And now surf on over to the IMDB Top 250 films to see how many great ones you've missed. There will be at least another 10 or 20 for which you'll say "damn! I wish I'd included that one".
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
See You On The Other Side
We're moving tomorrow. So I'm about to shut-down the PC and box it up (if we've any boxes left!).
Apparently our new broadband connection won't be functional until 21st March, so it'll be even quieter than usual around here and unless I get around to re-connecting the old-fashioned dial-up modem (and you know I won't!) then I won't be reading all your exploits for a week or so, either.
So, have fun. I'm looking forward to 3 days of unpacking boxes, moving furniture around, unpacking boxes, repainting walls, unpacking boxes, moving boxes, re-packing, moving and unpacking boxes and (occasionally) looking in wonder at our spiffing new house.
Wish me luck!
Apparently our new broadband connection won't be functional until 21st March, so it'll be even quieter than usual around here and unless I get around to re-connecting the old-fashioned dial-up modem (and you know I won't!) then I won't be reading all your exploits for a week or so, either.
So, have fun. I'm looking forward to 3 days of unpacking boxes, moving furniture around, unpacking boxes, repainting walls, unpacking boxes, moving boxes, re-packing, moving and unpacking boxes and (occasionally) looking in wonder at our spiffing new house.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, 8 March 2007
On The Move
Just as Delmonti moves into Addlestone, I am moving out.
Sorry Mr D, it's nothing personal. In fact, it's evidence that the area is becoming more posh and it's making me uncomfortable!
In approximately 24 hours time, my lovely young wife and I will become homeowners again, after a few years on the grubby slopes of Mount Rental.
Off to sunny Aldershot in Hampshire.
From now on it's our problem if the gas boiler stops working or the windows fall out. On the other hand we're also free to redecorate, put up shelves and have pets if the mood takes us.
I know which I prefer.
The day we move will be easier than the last 3 or 4 weeks. I've gradually whittled my 40-item to-do list down to something manageable (while working my new job and starting rehearsals for our latest play!) and most of the remaining items can probably wait until we've moved.
Another chapter...
Sorry Mr D, it's nothing personal. In fact, it's evidence that the area is becoming more posh and it's making me uncomfortable!
In approximately 24 hours time, my lovely young wife and I will become homeowners again, after a few years on the grubby slopes of Mount Rental.
Off to sunny Aldershot in Hampshire.
From now on it's our problem if the gas boiler stops working or the windows fall out. On the other hand we're also free to redecorate, put up shelves and have pets if the mood takes us.
I know which I prefer.
The day we move will be easier than the last 3 or 4 weeks. I've gradually whittled my 40-item to-do list down to something manageable (while working my new job and starting rehearsals for our latest play!) and most of the remaining items can probably wait until we've moved.
Another chapter...
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Thames Bridges Ride 2007
After last year's fantastic ride, I've entered the Thames Bridges Bike Ride again.
In 2006 I managed to raise around £750 for The Stroke Association thanks to the very generous contribution of friends, colleagues and readers of this blog (bless!).
So, in the hope that you're not jaded by all this charitable giving, here's another chance to send some money off to a good cause.
My fund-raising page is at http://www.justgiving.com/PT_Thames_Bridges_2007.
Go on - you know you want to do it!
[Alternatively you may want to sponsor another fat lad on a bike, if he gets around to updating his web-site...]
In 2006 I managed to raise around £750 for The Stroke Association thanks to the very generous contribution of friends, colleagues and readers of this blog (bless!).
So, in the hope that you're not jaded by all this charitable giving, here's another chance to send some money off to a good cause.
My fund-raising page is at http://www.justgiving.com/PT_Thames_Bridges_2007.
Go on - you know you want to do it!
[Alternatively you may want to sponsor another fat lad on a bike, if he gets around to updating his web-site...]
Thursday, 22 February 2007
You Won't Get Rid Of Me That Easily...
HELLO!
I'm still here. I'm still reading YOUR blog. Thanks for posting away so diligently while I've been sat here quiet as a church moose.
[They stand in the vestibule and you hang your hats on their antlers...]
Sorry I haven't commented recently - my new job's too busy to while away as much time coming up with snide remarks to leave scattered around the blogosphere.
Sorry I haven't posted recently - see my excuse above. And we're caught in the whirlwind of moving house in (tick, tock, tick, tock: "Jack Bauer's having a bad day!") only 3 weeks time. Add the play I'm directing (rehearsals start on Sunday - "what happened to Merry Wives of Windsor?" Don't ask!) and it's all a bit mental.
Sorry we haven't spoken for so long - recently I seem to manage to catch up with a maximum of 7 friends per year. If I keep going with a strict rotation I'll be able to get around to you in, ooh, 2009?
Sorry I didn't send a birthday card - that's especially for Delmonti and Councillor Mac, whose special day it is today.
Sorry about the state of the world... Oh! That one's NOT my fault. Cool!
Tock follows tick follows tock. And the farmers wife chopped off their tails with a carving knife. Ah! Guinness!
I'm still here. I'm still reading YOUR blog. Thanks for posting away so diligently while I've been sat here quiet as a church moose.
[They stand in the vestibule and you hang your hats on their antlers...]
Sorry I haven't commented recently - my new job's too busy to while away as much time coming up with snide remarks to leave scattered around the blogosphere.
Sorry I haven't posted recently - see my excuse above. And we're caught in the whirlwind of moving house in (tick, tock, tick, tock: "Jack Bauer's having a bad day!") only 3 weeks time. Add the play I'm directing (rehearsals start on Sunday - "what happened to Merry Wives of Windsor?" Don't ask!) and it's all a bit mental.
Sorry we haven't spoken for so long - recently I seem to manage to catch up with a maximum of 7 friends per year. If I keep going with a strict rotation I'll be able to get around to you in, ooh, 2009?
Sorry I didn't send a birthday card - that's especially for Delmonti and Councillor Mac, whose special day it is today.
Sorry about the state of the world... Oh! That one's NOT my fault. Cool!
Tock follows tick follows tock. And the farmers wife chopped off their tails with a carving knife. Ah! Guinness!
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Slack
I know I don't post as often as I should, or as often as I used to, but it was only when looking at some numbers for the amount of posts I've made over the past 18 months that I realised how lax I'd been lately.
Below is a table which shows, for each month, the number of posts I made in that month, and a rolling 3-month average (i.e. the average for that month and the two previous months).
Month Entries 3 Month Ave
Jun-05 12 12.00
Jul-05 14 13.00
Aug-05 12 12.67
Sep-05 16 14.00
Oct-05 14 14.00
Nov-05 11 13.67
Dec-05 15 13.33
Jan-06 6 10.67
Feb-06 8 9.67
Mar-06 6 6.67
Apr-06 9 7.67
May-06 12 9.00
Jun-06 10 10.33
Jul-06 8 10.00
Aug-06 3 7.00
Sep-06 8 6.33
Oct-06 6 5.67
Nov-06 1 5.00
Dec-06 6 4.33
Jan-07 6 4.33
It's quite shocking!
For the first 6 months I managed to keep up around 13 or 14 posts a month. That's 3 per week. Recently, I've struggled to do 1 a week. And last November was a shocker, with only 1 post in the whole month.
So - I really need to do something about this. I've got the new blog for "Merry Wives" which I mentioned yesterday, but I also need to find other interesting things to write about.
Suggestions gratefully received!
Monday, 29 January 2007
New Blogs for Old
I've created a new blog to document the process of directing our latest play.
Ottershaw Players are doing The Merry Wives of Windsor in June. And my Merry Wives blog will give you all a behind-the-scenes commentary of what's been going on.
That's the theory anyway.
I should also point out that we're doing John Godber's marvellous play, Teechers, on 27th and 28th April. I'm not involved, but if it's as good as the version which was put on at last year's Woking Drama Festival, it will be cracking.
Ottershaw Players are doing The Merry Wives of Windsor in June. And my Merry Wives blog will give you all a behind-the-scenes commentary of what's been going on.
That's the theory anyway.
I should also point out that we're doing John Godber's marvellous play, Teechers, on 27th and 28th April. I'm not involved, but if it's as good as the version which was put on at last year's Woking Drama Festival, it will be cracking.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
Annnndddd... Relax
A week into the new job and I feel more relaxed than I have done in years.
Everyone at the office seems very nice. The first day was quite relaxed; a 9.30am start followed by some introductions and an HR induction and the usual sorting out of all the relevant system access requirements.
But the majority of it was all sorted out long before I arrived. Which makes a change from certain recent employers...
So far it's been a varied, interesting week with the chance to brush up some old skills and the prospect of learning something new on the horizon.
And the phone only rang once. It was a wrong number. Bliss!
Everyone at the office seems very nice. The first day was quite relaxed; a 9.30am start followed by some introductions and an HR induction and the usual sorting out of all the relevant system access requirements.
But the majority of it was all sorted out long before I arrived. Which makes a change from certain recent employers...
So far it's been a varied, interesting week with the chance to brush up some old skills and the prospect of learning something new on the horizon.
And the phone only rang once. It was a wrong number. Bliss!
Friday, 19 January 2007
Goodbyeeeee!
It's my last day in my current job today.
I feel like going to the pub right NOW! But I've got to do a presentation at 3pm for my erstwhile colleagues. They think it's going to be about Oracle database tuning.
Instead I think I'll do a slideshow about The Merry Wives of Windsor instead!
About this point in a blog would be the usual place to review the last 4.75 years of employment. Note down the good times and the bad. Trumpet my achievements.
But I don't really feel I've achieved anything, workwise, in all that time.
A lack of training; no support from management; risible pay reviews; staff morale through the floor; appalling staff appraisal system (what system?); permanently short-staffed teams with too much work (the good teams anyway) - the teams that do a piss-poor job seem to have plenty of time on their hands and loads of staff to while it away. Why is that?
Anyway, enough of my moaning. I've been telling my bosses all this for the past year or so and it doesn't seem to have made a farthing's difference.
So, I'm off.
To a job with better prospects; where I'm directly responsible to the customers I support; with far fewer databases to support; in a more stable environment; with decent training; and the chance to learn genuine new skills.
Oh, and the commute is a lot easier - even after we move house.
And they are going to pay me quite a bit more money too.
I'ts not the 'dream' job that I was wishing for here a while ago - it's still in the IT industry, so it couldn't possibly be - and that dream job really IS just a dream at present.
But I genuinely feel that it stands a chance of rekindling my enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to Monday morning...
I feel like going to the pub right NOW! But I've got to do a presentation at 3pm for my erstwhile colleagues. They think it's going to be about Oracle database tuning.
Instead I think I'll do a slideshow about The Merry Wives of Windsor instead!
About this point in a blog would be the usual place to review the last 4.75 years of employment. Note down the good times and the bad. Trumpet my achievements.
But I don't really feel I've achieved anything, workwise, in all that time.
A lack of training; no support from management; risible pay reviews; staff morale through the floor; appalling staff appraisal system (what system?); permanently short-staffed teams with too much work (the good teams anyway) - the teams that do a piss-poor job seem to have plenty of time on their hands and loads of staff to while it away. Why is that?
Anyway, enough of my moaning. I've been telling my bosses all this for the past year or so and it doesn't seem to have made a farthing's difference.
So, I'm off.
To a job with better prospects; where I'm directly responsible to the customers I support; with far fewer databases to support; in a more stable environment; with decent training; and the chance to learn genuine new skills.
Oh, and the commute is a lot easier - even after we move house.
And they are going to pay me quite a bit more money too.
I'ts not the 'dream' job that I was wishing for here a while ago - it's still in the IT industry, so it couldn't possibly be - and that dream job really IS just a dream at present.
But I genuinely feel that it stands a chance of rekindling my enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to Monday morning...
Sunday, 14 January 2007
I'm Cross Now
OK - so I haven't been around for a while and my Mum told me off for not blogging recently. I've been busy - I can't help it. I'm about to change jobs, so I've got to write down everything I know about my old one because they won't be able to cope without me.
[That's not arrogance - it's a plain fact: I'm going to steal the keys to all the filing cabinets and change all the database passwords without telling anyone!]
And we're sorting out our new house and I'm in pre-production on our new play.
So it's all been a bit hectic.
Anyway, tonight we get back from a lovely Chinese meal with Ma & Pa (a thank you for helping us with various household tasks today, plus another 40-odd years of parenting) and as we're walking home we notice the lovely clear skies so I decided to take some astro-photos with my shiny new camera.
All is going well and we keep noticing some lovely red stars. Are they stars? Or is it Mars? Let's look it up...
Only Mars is below the horizon at the moment. And when we look closer, the red 'star' is in exactly the same place on every single bloody picture! Which can only mean that my nice, shiny, new, expensive camera has a faulty pixel in the bloody sensor. Arse!
So along with all the other busy-ness, I now have to take it back to the shop and persuade them to swap it out for a new one...
Grrr...
Anyway - phantom star apart - I'm pretty happy with the pictures. Check out the one of Leo. I managed to catch a real planet on that one.
[That's not arrogance - it's a plain fact: I'm going to steal the keys to all the filing cabinets and change all the database passwords without telling anyone!]
And we're sorting out our new house and I'm in pre-production on our new play.
So it's all been a bit hectic.
Anyway, tonight we get back from a lovely Chinese meal with Ma & Pa (a thank you for helping us with various household tasks today, plus another 40-odd years of parenting) and as we're walking home we notice the lovely clear skies so I decided to take some astro-photos with my shiny new camera.
All is going well and we keep noticing some lovely red stars. Are they stars? Or is it Mars? Let's look it up...
Only Mars is below the horizon at the moment. And when we look closer, the red 'star' is in exactly the same place on every single bloody picture! Which can only mean that my nice, shiny, new, expensive camera has a faulty pixel in the bloody sensor. Arse!
So along with all the other busy-ness, I now have to take it back to the shop and persuade them to swap it out for a new one...
Grrr...
Anyway - phantom star apart - I'm pretty happy with the pictures. Check out the one of Leo. I managed to catch a real planet on that one.
Sunday, 7 January 2007
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