Think of me, gentle reader as I type this. I am currently typing this by the light of a mobile phone as the light bulb in the computer room (okay, the spare room) does not seem to want to stay in the light fitting...
...No, really. I've tried three times and each and every time the light bulb has spent 45 seconds in the fitting before essaying a ricochet across the room. As Oscar Wilde put it "to have one bulb ricochet is unfortunate, two is mere carelessness and three is a subtle hint to fix your light fitting".
(This is one of Wilde's less well known sayings and generally gets left out of Wilde's complete works because of it's obscure nature. Wilde himself put it down to some dodgy asparagus he ate in Cambridgeshire).
As I write this I wonder whether this bulb activity is actually the result of some form of supernatural force trying to stop me writing this blog. In which case I would like to take this opportunity to say something to the supernatural world in general:
"GROW UP AND BEHAVE"
Yes, you might think it very clever to possess young girls, expelling ectoplasm from their nostrils and throwing chairs about the room but this kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable any more. Don't get me started on the atrocious spelling one finds when using a Ouija board these days.....
If you find yourself bound by death to walk a lonely road as one of the undead then why not read a good book, take a brisk walk or take up macrame?
Monday, 30 April 2007
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Fizzy grape juice
Yet again I have failed to post for a few days on the basis that, now that I am engaged, I have to spend more time with my fiance making conversation and NOT spend half the night tip-tapping away my deepest thoughts into the electronic ether. Talk about not reading the instructions - someone could have warned me about this before!
A most enjoyable weekend, although it did not go the way that I expected.
Best laid plans of attending a gig fell through as the drummer had to fly home due to family crisis. We all stayed inside instead and I continued to hit the bubbly transparent stuff that, in the past few weeks, I have come to regard as "merely expensive water".
(Champagne, not Perrier. That IS merely expensive water).
Anyway, I had rather too many ales and seemed to spend much of the night trying to avoid conversations about musical instruments (of which I know nothing beyond which end you blow in a recorder) and watching Spanglepuss' new man shake his hips to the beat in a way that came dangerously close to 'turning' me .
As a result (of the booze, and not Spanglepuss' new man's hips) my head was thumping a merry tune on Sunday morning and so I stayed in bead drinking tea and reading about the Olmecs... I'll admit that's not much of a hangover cure but it works about as well as any other that I've heard about - you can take your oysters and 'hair of the dog', I'll take a hot cup of tea and some Central American civilisations any day.
Sunday was spent travelling around looking for somewhere that was cheap to go into but served tea (this is apparently impossible in Yorkshire - the attractively bluff Yorkshire manner seems eternally married to the less attractive trait of attempting to fleece all visitors for the heinous crime of not being from Yorkshire).
Monday was spent at the Doctor Who exhibition at which Tallulah (that's Tallulah and NOT ME you understand) got very excited at seeing David Tennant's long coat and I was forced to stop playing and get out of the walk-in Dalek after a rather long line of children formed behind me waiting for a go (wasted on kids, wasted...).
At which point I feel I should include a link to a website devoted to cats that look like Hitler
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigmiaow.pl
A most enjoyable weekend, although it did not go the way that I expected.
Best laid plans of attending a gig fell through as the drummer had to fly home due to family crisis. We all stayed inside instead and I continued to hit the bubbly transparent stuff that, in the past few weeks, I have come to regard as "merely expensive water".
(Champagne, not Perrier. That IS merely expensive water).
Anyway, I had rather too many ales and seemed to spend much of the night trying to avoid conversations about musical instruments (of which I know nothing beyond which end you blow in a recorder) and watching Spanglepuss' new man shake his hips to the beat in a way that came dangerously close to 'turning' me .
As a result (of the booze, and not Spanglepuss' new man's hips) my head was thumping a merry tune on Sunday morning and so I stayed in bead drinking tea and reading about the Olmecs... I'll admit that's not much of a hangover cure but it works about as well as any other that I've heard about - you can take your oysters and 'hair of the dog', I'll take a hot cup of tea and some Central American civilisations any day.
Sunday was spent travelling around looking for somewhere that was cheap to go into but served tea (this is apparently impossible in Yorkshire - the attractively bluff Yorkshire manner seems eternally married to the less attractive trait of attempting to fleece all visitors for the heinous crime of not being from Yorkshire).
Monday was spent at the Doctor Who exhibition at which Tallulah (that's Tallulah and NOT ME you understand) got very excited at seeing David Tennant's long coat and I was forced to stop playing and get out of the walk-in Dalek after a rather long line of children formed behind me waiting for a go (wasted on kids, wasted...).
At which point I feel I should include a link to a website devoted to cats that look like Hitler
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigmiaow.pl
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Champagne with eggs
Champagne with chocolate eggs can make a violent concoction as I've learnt to my cost this Easter weekend - the chocolate eggs give me the energy while the champagne took away the inclination to do anything with said energy other than sit in Tallulah's parent's conservatory and watch her nephew indulge in an egg hunt in the garden.
Much to my dismay there _were_ actually eggs to be found in the garden, thus squandering a perfect chance to teach the child some hard life lessons in disappointment and the lies adults tell. Wasted opportunity there, I feel.
Big weekend. Much discussion was had over impending wedding and Tallulah and I now have the wedding venue and registrar booked. Suggestions of a Las Vegas Drive-In wedding and my idea for a wedding meal centred around Turkey Twizzlers met with a somewhat frosty reception from the prospective in laws, but Tallulah and I have managed to choose a venue that lets us do what we want and run the day how we want it. (This appears to be a freakishly rare concept in terms of wedding venues).
To catch up in terms of geekish news from the past few weeks - Primeval has slunk away with it's tail between it's legs like a dog that knows it's master is home because Doctor Who has returned. Hurrah!
Liking the new series so far - David Tennant has cut back on the (very occasional) pantomime lapses of the last series and new assistant Martha is a confidant and energetic replacement for Rose. The series - always more of a science fantasy rather than science fiction - seems to be blurring the line between science fiction and fantasy even further (I've been fighting the urge to point this out for over a week now, but in episode one why does no-one even try to explain why a hospital transported to the moon has electrical power and full earth gravity? - I suppose it might explain it on the commentary).
Speaking of fantasy, last night I watched the final episode of 'Life on Mars'. Can I just say that I think this was the most fitting ending for a series that I have ever seen and satisfied me in a way that the ending of Buffy, Angel and the various Star Trek series never did. All the questions were answered (although, if you look at it another way, none of them were). I'm slightly concerned about the news that the BBC are making a 1980s spin off - the show was very much a one off story that had a distinct beginning , middle and end (not necessarily in that order) and a spin off could well dilute and detract from the strength of the original.
Oh, and I got a quote from my review of 'Shadow of the Torturer' published in the latest edition of SFX. (Only a sentence though).
Looking forward to this weekend as Tallulah and I are off to see a Spanglepuss' new beau's band with Whiskey Murrell and her significant other. I've been told to bring ear plugs and I've yet to work out whether that is a good thing.....
Much to my dismay there _were_ actually eggs to be found in the garden, thus squandering a perfect chance to teach the child some hard life lessons in disappointment and the lies adults tell. Wasted opportunity there, I feel.
Big weekend. Much discussion was had over impending wedding and Tallulah and I now have the wedding venue and registrar booked. Suggestions of a Las Vegas Drive-In wedding and my idea for a wedding meal centred around Turkey Twizzlers met with a somewhat frosty reception from the prospective in laws, but Tallulah and I have managed to choose a venue that lets us do what we want and run the day how we want it. (This appears to be a freakishly rare concept in terms of wedding venues).
To catch up in terms of geekish news from the past few weeks - Primeval has slunk away with it's tail between it's legs like a dog that knows it's master is home because Doctor Who has returned. Hurrah!
Liking the new series so far - David Tennant has cut back on the (very occasional) pantomime lapses of the last series and new assistant Martha is a confidant and energetic replacement for Rose. The series - always more of a science fantasy rather than science fiction - seems to be blurring the line between science fiction and fantasy even further (I've been fighting the urge to point this out for over a week now, but in episode one why does no-one even try to explain why a hospital transported to the moon has electrical power and full earth gravity? - I suppose it might explain it on the commentary).
Speaking of fantasy, last night I watched the final episode of 'Life on Mars'. Can I just say that I think this was the most fitting ending for a series that I have ever seen and satisfied me in a way that the ending of Buffy, Angel and the various Star Trek series never did. All the questions were answered (although, if you look at it another way, none of them were). I'm slightly concerned about the news that the BBC are making a 1980s spin off - the show was very much a one off story that had a distinct beginning , middle and end (not necessarily in that order) and a spin off could well dilute and detract from the strength of the original.
Oh, and I got a quote from my review of 'Shadow of the Torturer' published in the latest edition of SFX. (Only a sentence though).
Looking forward to this weekend as Tallulah and I are off to see a Spanglepuss' new beau's band with Whiskey Murrell and her significant other. I've been told to bring ear plugs and I've yet to work out whether that is a good thing.....
Thursday, 5 April 2007
There will now be a short intermission...
Have I really not posted since March 19th?
Gosh, tempus fugit as the Romans very probably did not say. My dearth of posts has been down to two things...
Firstly I'm going through a very office-based phase at work at the moment and word processing when I get home has not been an attractive proposition. So much easier to pop on a computer game and kick ass.
Secondly, as the eagle eyed readers of my last post will know, I got engaged in march and the past few weeks have been full of the kind of discussion over venues and guest lists that causes an icy hand to clutch my bowels.
Normal service will be restored soon, I promise.
In the mean time here is a link to a fab Doctor Who game that'll keep you busy until my next post http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/advent06/flash/monstermatch.swf
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Gosh, tempus fugit as the Romans very probably did not say. My dearth of posts has been down to two things...
Firstly I'm going through a very office-based phase at work at the moment and word processing when I get home has not been an attractive proposition. So much easier to pop on a computer game and kick ass.
Secondly, as the eagle eyed readers of my last post will know, I got engaged in march and the past few weeks have been full of the kind of discussion over venues and guest lists that causes an icy hand to clutch my bowels.
Normal service will be restored soon, I promise.
In the mean time here is a link to a fab Doctor Who game that'll keep you busy until my next post http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/advent06/flash/monstermatch.swf
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Monday, 19 March 2007
Rock my world
Well, that was exciting.
Those of you who are so bored that you've been reading these little missives will know that Tallulah and I went to Avebury last week on our annual use-up-our annual-leave break.
For those of you who don't know Avebury - it's a large stone circle and a world heritage site - see above pic:
Basically, imagine a bigger and more impressive version of Stonehenge that doesn't get the tourist trade because
a) it doesn't have the word 'stone' in the title
and
b) the Avebury builders couldn't be ars*d balancing rocks on top of one another like those flashy gits on Salisbury plain.
I've read that Stonehenge builders were real snobs and wouldn't give the Avebury builders the time of day. They would often sneer and look down on the Avebury builders because they wore unfashionable animal skins, ate the wrong kind of mud and used tools made out antlers from the wrong kind of deer.
I've read this mainly because I've just typed it.
Well, golly gosh. Now the Avebury chaps have got their own back because Avebury is an accessible and cherished part of it's own tiny community whereas Stonehenge is an isolated and inaccessible tourist trap with a mediocre gift shop. I bet the Stonehenge builders are turning in their funerary urns.
Before I get any messages from people who watch far too much 'Time Team' pointing out that Stonehenge and Avebury were built at different times and by people who didn't employ funerary urns I would draw your attention to the following points: Firstly - I don't care. Secondly - I really don't care. Thirdly - I really, really don't care.
(This has been an infomercial on the behalf of the blessedarethegeek "Stuff historical accuracy you beardie-weirdies!!!" campaign).
Anyway, Tallulah and I had a really great day in Avebury, hugging stones. Witness following pic of blessedarethegeek performing 80s pop star pose (with detail removed to protect my super identity):
Our day out in Avebury was followed by another day out in Bath and a visit to my family. The sky was blue and there was even an appearance by that beauteous blazing orb we know as the sun.
Oh yeah, Tallulah and I got engaged as well.
And on that tantalizing note, more soon...
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Spring break - yeah!
Very excited today...
Firstly i'm excited because Tallulah and myself are off to Avebury tomorrow on what has become our annual using-up-of-annual-leave outing. Here's hoping that the sun shines (or at least makes an appearance) and the stones (which have stood the test of time for many thousands of years) don't fufill my nightmere scenario and choose this week to fall over, thus turning me into geek pizza.
Mmmmmm.....geek pizza.
Secondly i'm excited because the new Doctor Who teaser trailer has been released in the same week as I got free Doctor Who fridge magnets. Yes, it's only 14 seconds long (the trailer, not the magnets) but having spent the last few saturdays with only Primeval to console me I need some geeky goodness to look forward to.
Incidentally, for those of you who haven't seen it:
Stargate + Walking with Dinosaurs = Primeval
See the Who trailers here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/index.shtml
Firstly i'm excited because Tallulah and myself are off to Avebury tomorrow on what has become our annual using-up-of-annual-leave outing. Here's hoping that the sun shines (or at least makes an appearance) and the stones (which have stood the test of time for many thousands of years) don't fufill my nightmere scenario and choose this week to fall over, thus turning me into geek pizza.
Mmmmmm.....geek pizza.
Secondly i'm excited because the new Doctor Who teaser trailer has been released in the same week as I got free Doctor Who fridge magnets. Yes, it's only 14 seconds long (the trailer, not the magnets) but having spent the last few saturdays with only Primeval to console me I need some geeky goodness to look forward to.
Incidentally, for those of you who haven't seen it:
Stargate + Walking with Dinosaurs = Primeval
See the Who trailers here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/index.shtml
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Hot Fuzzy Sunday
Just thought I'd post today to say that Tallulah and myself managed to catch 'Hot Fuzz' at the weekend and can heartily recommend it at the funniest film either of us have seen for a long time.
Sure, as the son of an Oxfordshire policeman the prospect of an action movie set in the Cotswolds was always going to inspire some sort of a reaction (good or bad) but the jokes came thick and fast and the comic detail was spot on - good to hear some proper Gloucestershire accents too!
Before seeing the film I had been rather worried by a mediocre review I'd read in a certain conservative tabloid (left behind, I might add, by a recent visitor to our household). Suffice to say, the newspaper in question probably reacted badly to the unsympathetic portrayal of Middle England reactionaries - which would seem to be this paper's target audience.
Now that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have brought us a Zombie movie in London (Shaun of the Dead) and an Action flick in Gloucestershire (Hot Fuzz) has anyone got any ideas what they should do next?
Anyone for a teenage High School musical coming-of-age romp set on Orkney?
Part II of the Geeks progress coming soon.
Sure, as the son of an Oxfordshire policeman the prospect of an action movie set in the Cotswolds was always going to inspire some sort of a reaction (good or bad) but the jokes came thick and fast and the comic detail was spot on - good to hear some proper Gloucestershire accents too!
Before seeing the film I had been rather worried by a mediocre review I'd read in a certain conservative tabloid (left behind, I might add, by a recent visitor to our household). Suffice to say, the newspaper in question probably reacted badly to the unsympathetic portrayal of Middle England reactionaries - which would seem to be this paper's target audience.
Now that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have brought us a Zombie movie in London (Shaun of the Dead) and an Action flick in Gloucestershire (Hot Fuzz) has anyone got any ideas what they should do next?
Anyone for a teenage High School musical coming-of-age romp set on Orkney?
Part II of the Geeks progress coming soon.
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