The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown.
This is a very cool book that I found I couldn’t put down, but then I do have a thing for conspiracy theories especially on this subject (I won’t spoil it for you here). It is a very exciting ‘boys own’ type of yarn in a Robert Ludlum for today way. It could be good and fertile background work for all those who run modern RPG scenarios.
‘Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum.
Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes.
As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci – and suggests the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vaults of history.
Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever…’
PS - I have just read an article in the Sunday papers, where the Brown is being sued by a couple of academic authors for stealing the 'architecture' for this story.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Sunday, September 26, 2004
More of wot I have read...
A Very English Agent, by Julian Rathbone
This is a slightly odd story. Imagine James Bond - Licensed to Kill, but set in the 1800's. It is an interesting read but the constant references to historical events, twisted for the purposes of the story, is a little disturbing - but entertaining.
'December 1852. Shortly after the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, Charlie Boylan attempts to enter the Palace of Westminster with a loaded pistol in his pocket. He is owed, so he says, a substantial sum be the government department he has worked for over many years - an adjunct of the Home Office that specialises in subterfuge and espionage. Imprisoned in Pentonville, Charlie writes his extraordinary memoirs to prove has claims. In A Very English Agent, Julian Rathbone combines his uncanny talent for wit and adventure with a compelling portrait of an England that history often neglects: the dark embers of the ninteenth century, when repression was bloody, commonplace and orchestrated from on high.'
This is a slightly odd story. Imagine James Bond - Licensed to Kill, but set in the 1800's. It is an interesting read but the constant references to historical events, twisted for the purposes of the story, is a little disturbing - but entertaining.
'December 1852. Shortly after the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, Charlie Boylan attempts to enter the Palace of Westminster with a loaded pistol in his pocket. He is owed, so he says, a substantial sum be the government department he has worked for over many years - an adjunct of the Home Office that specialises in subterfuge and espionage. Imprisoned in Pentonville, Charlie writes his extraordinary memoirs to prove has claims. In A Very English Agent, Julian Rathbone combines his uncanny talent for wit and adventure with a compelling portrait of an England that history often neglects: the dark embers of the ninteenth century, when repression was bloody, commonplace and orchestrated from on high.'
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Edinburgh Festival Best (or worst) Jokes
The dodo died. Then Dodi died, Di died and Dando died... Dido must be shitting herself.
- Colin & Fergus at the Pleasance
My parents are from Glasgow which means they're incredibly hard, but I was never smacked as a child... well maybe one or two grams to get me to sleep at night.
- Susan Murray at the Underbelly
Is it fair to say that there'd be less litter in Britain if blind people were given pointed sticks?
- Adam Bloom at the Pleasance
My mum and dad are Scottish but they moved down to Wolverhampton when I was two, 'cause they wanted me to sound like a twat.
- Susan Murray at the Underbelly
Q: Who are the most decent people in the hospital?
A: The ultrasound people.
- David O'Doherty at the Gilded Balloon
I went to the airport to check in and they asked what I did because I looked like a terrorist. I said I was a comedian. They said, "Say something funny then." I told them I had just graduated from flying school.
- Ahmed Ahmed at C34
A lady with a clipboard stopped me in the street the other day. She said, "Can you spare a few minutes for cancer research?" I said, "All right, but we're not going to get much done."
- Jimmy Carr at the ICC
I realised I was dyslexic when I went to a toga party dressed as a goat.
- Marcus Brigstocke at the Assembly Rooms
Sleeping with prostitutes is like making your cat dance with you on its hind legs. You know it's wrong, but you try to convince yourself that they're enjoying it as well.
- Scott Capurro at the Pleasance
My dad's dying wish was to have his family around him. I can't help thinking he would have been better off with more oxygen.
- Jimmy Carr at the ICC
You have to remember all the trivia that your girlfriend tells you, because eventually you get tested. She'll go: "What's my favourite flower?" And you murmur to yourself: "Shit, I wasn't listening... self-raising?"
- Addy Van-Der-Borgh at the Assembly Rooms
The world is a dangerous place; only yesterday I went into Boots and punched someone in the face.
- Jeremy Limb, at the Trap
Cats have nine lives. Which makes them ideal for experimentation.
- Jimmy Carr
My friend said to me: "You must be more American," so I went to have botox. The surgeon said to me: "That's $8,000." I couldn't even look shocked.
- Shazia Mirza at the Pleasance
I saw that show, 50 Things To Do Before You Die. I would have thought the obvious one was "Shout For Help".
- Mark Watson, Rhod Gilbert at the Tron
I went out with an Irish Catholic. Very frustrating. You can take the Girl out of Cork...
- Markus Birdman at the Pod Deco
Got a phone call today to do a gig at a fire station. Went along. Turned out it was a bloody hoax.
- Adrian Poynton at the Pleasance
A dog goes into a hardware store and says: "I'd like a job please". The hardware store owner says: "We don't hire dogs, why don't you go join The circus?" The dog replies: "Well, what would the circus want with a plumber".
- Steven Alan Green at C34
Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.
- Demetri Martin at the Assembly Rooms
An American girl hit on me in a club and asked me to make her an Egyptian princess. So I threw a sheet over her head and told her to be quiet.
- Ahmed Ahmed at C34
Walking down Princes Street, soaking up the atmosphere, I saw a big sign that said: "Bus tours, ten quid." So I thought I'd give it a try... what a rip off. Ten quid to have a look round a bus!
- Seymour Mace at Cafe Royal
I like to go into the Body Shop and shout out really loud "I've already got one!"
- Norman Lovett at The Stand
The right to bear arms is slightly less ludicrous than the right to arm bears.
- Chris Addison at the Pleasance
Ask people about God nowadays and they usually reply, "I'm not religious, but deep down, I'm a very spiritual person." What this phrase really means is: "I'm afraid of dying, but I can't be arsed going to church."
- Colin Ramone at The Stand
50 Cent, or as he's called over here, approximately 29p.
- Sarah Kendall at the Pleasance
I was walking the streets of Glasgow the other week and I saw this sign: "This door is alarmed." I said to myself: "How do you think I feel?"
- Arnold Brown at The Stand
'Schindler's List'... I got that out, thinking it was a porn movie. Well... the title's in German... and it did feature a shower scene.
- Ricky Gervais at The Playhouse
- Colin & Fergus at the Pleasance
My parents are from Glasgow which means they're incredibly hard, but I was never smacked as a child... well maybe one or two grams to get me to sleep at night.
- Susan Murray at the Underbelly
Is it fair to say that there'd be less litter in Britain if blind people were given pointed sticks?
- Adam Bloom at the Pleasance
My mum and dad are Scottish but they moved down to Wolverhampton when I was two, 'cause they wanted me to sound like a twat.
- Susan Murray at the Underbelly
Q: Who are the most decent people in the hospital?
A: The ultrasound people.
- David O'Doherty at the Gilded Balloon
I went to the airport to check in and they asked what I did because I looked like a terrorist. I said I was a comedian. They said, "Say something funny then." I told them I had just graduated from flying school.
- Ahmed Ahmed at C34
A lady with a clipboard stopped me in the street the other day. She said, "Can you spare a few minutes for cancer research?" I said, "All right, but we're not going to get much done."
- Jimmy Carr at the ICC
I realised I was dyslexic when I went to a toga party dressed as a goat.
- Marcus Brigstocke at the Assembly Rooms
Sleeping with prostitutes is like making your cat dance with you on its hind legs. You know it's wrong, but you try to convince yourself that they're enjoying it as well.
- Scott Capurro at the Pleasance
My dad's dying wish was to have his family around him. I can't help thinking he would have been better off with more oxygen.
- Jimmy Carr at the ICC
You have to remember all the trivia that your girlfriend tells you, because eventually you get tested. She'll go: "What's my favourite flower?" And you murmur to yourself: "Shit, I wasn't listening... self-raising?"
- Addy Van-Der-Borgh at the Assembly Rooms
The world is a dangerous place; only yesterday I went into Boots and punched someone in the face.
- Jeremy Limb, at the Trap
Cats have nine lives. Which makes them ideal for experimentation.
- Jimmy Carr
My friend said to me: "You must be more American," so I went to have botox. The surgeon said to me: "That's $8,000." I couldn't even look shocked.
- Shazia Mirza at the Pleasance
I saw that show, 50 Things To Do Before You Die. I would have thought the obvious one was "Shout For Help".
- Mark Watson, Rhod Gilbert at the Tron
I went out with an Irish Catholic. Very frustrating. You can take the Girl out of Cork...
- Markus Birdman at the Pod Deco
Got a phone call today to do a gig at a fire station. Went along. Turned out it was a bloody hoax.
- Adrian Poynton at the Pleasance
A dog goes into a hardware store and says: "I'd like a job please". The hardware store owner says: "We don't hire dogs, why don't you go join The circus?" The dog replies: "Well, what would the circus want with a plumber".
- Steven Alan Green at C34
Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.
- Demetri Martin at the Assembly Rooms
An American girl hit on me in a club and asked me to make her an Egyptian princess. So I threw a sheet over her head and told her to be quiet.
- Ahmed Ahmed at C34
Walking down Princes Street, soaking up the atmosphere, I saw a big sign that said: "Bus tours, ten quid." So I thought I'd give it a try... what a rip off. Ten quid to have a look round a bus!
- Seymour Mace at Cafe Royal
I like to go into the Body Shop and shout out really loud "I've already got one!"
- Norman Lovett at The Stand
The right to bear arms is slightly less ludicrous than the right to arm bears.
- Chris Addison at the Pleasance
Ask people about God nowadays and they usually reply, "I'm not religious, but deep down, I'm a very spiritual person." What this phrase really means is: "I'm afraid of dying, but I can't be arsed going to church."
- Colin Ramone at The Stand
50 Cent, or as he's called over here, approximately 29p.
- Sarah Kendall at the Pleasance
I was walking the streets of Glasgow the other week and I saw this sign: "This door is alarmed." I said to myself: "How do you think I feel?"
- Arnold Brown at The Stand
'Schindler's List'... I got that out, thinking it was a porn movie. Well... the title's in German... and it did feature a shower scene.
- Ricky Gervais at The Playhouse
Virtually Writing...
I have decided to start adding my collection of stories to another 'blog' and so I have set up Virtually Writing...
http://virtuallywriting.blogspot.com/
http://virtuallywriting.blogspot.com/
Back down to earth…
It seems like ages since I last 'blogged'.
We successfully saw Jamie installed in his accommodation and he is very happy. He has lucked-out with the house he is in. He has the largest room in a decent house in a nice, tree lined, street convenient for the University, College and local amenities (bars, take-aways, discount booze shops etc.). There are 5 other first-year guys in the house and, apart from one; he is getting on well with them. He has found is way around to most places (the Student Union, Campus night-club 'Asylum'. Oh! And his classes).
We spent last week in France with my Aunt and Uncle at a hotel in a tiny hilltop village of Fox Amphoux in the Provence region.
As is usual for our holidays the main driving themes were food, wine and local culture. The first was easily achieved, as our expanded waistline can attest. Similarly there was no shortage of the second and we managed to sample quite a few of the local varieties, many of which are little known outside of Provence. The last was found in the many small villages and towns in the region (for those of you even remotely interested I will try and detail some of these in a separate blog).
I am back at work again plodding alone doing the same-old same old. I have moved to another area of the office where I can see out of a window now at the industrial estate and the trees, which are starting to yellow with the autumn leaves.
I had to get a new thermostat and water pump for the car the other day and I was very pleased to only pay £200 for the repairs. I was worried that the head gasket might have blown, and that could have been almost as expensive as the car itself.
Many of our summer crops are coming to an end at the allotment. Sue has frozen plenty of tomatoes, corn, blackberries and other bits and pieces, and she has made many sauces, chutneys and pickles too. The cucumbers, courgettes, and tomatoes are pretty much at an end now. Now that the weather has started to cool down we are looking at the greens and root vegetables for hot dishes. We have done really well with potatoes having about three big sacks to see us through next year. Unfortunately we didn't do well with the garlic, but we did pick a lovely bunch while we were in France (wonder what the sniffer dog thought of that - especially as we stuck it in the bag with the dirty washing!)
Sue is now busily clearing out Jamie's old room in preparation for redecoration (reconstruction more like). We are hoping to make into a study-computer-games room with a sofa bed for when Jamie is back during the holidays.
Our small gaming group has been playing tabletop 'war-games' for the last few weeks. We all have Games Workshop 40K armies and have been facing off against each other in quick games of Kill-Teams (small groups in hit and run type skirmishes). I play an Ork army and so far they are the only Kill-Team that has succeeded in its mission. James plays Tau and Kevin plays Dark Eldar, there are still a few different combinations to go so things are certain to change.
I am still doing my writing with the NZIBS on their student forum bulletin board and I am enjoying it very much. The other students and tutors are very supportive and are encouraging me to submit a few stories to publishers. I would love to have something turned into print, so I am certainly thinking about it.
We successfully saw Jamie installed in his accommodation and he is very happy. He has lucked-out with the house he is in. He has the largest room in a decent house in a nice, tree lined, street convenient for the University, College and local amenities (bars, take-aways, discount booze shops etc.). There are 5 other first-year guys in the house and, apart from one; he is getting on well with them. He has found is way around to most places (the Student Union, Campus night-club 'Asylum'. Oh! And his classes).
We spent last week in France with my Aunt and Uncle at a hotel in a tiny hilltop village of Fox Amphoux in the Provence region.
As is usual for our holidays the main driving themes were food, wine and local culture. The first was easily achieved, as our expanded waistline can attest. Similarly there was no shortage of the second and we managed to sample quite a few of the local varieties, many of which are little known outside of Provence. The last was found in the many small villages and towns in the region (for those of you even remotely interested I will try and detail some of these in a separate blog).
I am back at work again plodding alone doing the same-old same old. I have moved to another area of the office where I can see out of a window now at the industrial estate and the trees, which are starting to yellow with the autumn leaves.
I had to get a new thermostat and water pump for the car the other day and I was very pleased to only pay £200 for the repairs. I was worried that the head gasket might have blown, and that could have been almost as expensive as the car itself.
Many of our summer crops are coming to an end at the allotment. Sue has frozen plenty of tomatoes, corn, blackberries and other bits and pieces, and she has made many sauces, chutneys and pickles too. The cucumbers, courgettes, and tomatoes are pretty much at an end now. Now that the weather has started to cool down we are looking at the greens and root vegetables for hot dishes. We have done really well with potatoes having about three big sacks to see us through next year. Unfortunately we didn't do well with the garlic, but we did pick a lovely bunch while we were in France (wonder what the sniffer dog thought of that - especially as we stuck it in the bag with the dirty washing!)
Sue is now busily clearing out Jamie's old room in preparation for redecoration (reconstruction more like). We are hoping to make into a study-computer-games room with a sofa bed for when Jamie is back during the holidays.
Our small gaming group has been playing tabletop 'war-games' for the last few weeks. We all have Games Workshop 40K armies and have been facing off against each other in quick games of Kill-Teams (small groups in hit and run type skirmishes). I play an Ork army and so far they are the only Kill-Team that has succeeded in its mission. James plays Tau and Kevin plays Dark Eldar, there are still a few different combinations to go so things are certain to change.
I am still doing my writing with the NZIBS on their student forum bulletin board and I am enjoying it very much. The other students and tutors are very supportive and are encouraging me to submit a few stories to publishers. I would love to have something turned into print, so I am certainly thinking about it.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Flying the nest…
Well, Jamie's done it. He has been accepted to the University of Hull to do a Computer Science degree. Due to his slightly disappointing grades he had to go through the nerve wracking and incredibly bureaucratic Clearing process. His first choice of Oxford Brookes turned him down and his second choice, Greenwich, offered a lesser degree and pissed him about so much that he looked at other institutions. As it turned out he got offers from Bradford and Hull (both much better universities). He is having to do the four year course that includes a foundation year in a local collage, but he is in the degree course, so if he does well he goes on to do the next three years at the university.
Jamie went up for the day on Monday to look around and to try and finalise some details (like accommodation!). He didn't manage to find some where he really liked to stay so we are going up with him tonight so that we can spend all day Friday getting him somewhere to live.
Talk about last minute. Sue and I are off to France on Sunday with Joyce and Terry for a week, and Jamie starts his orientation and 'freshers' week on Monday.
Needless to say everyone is a little tense (much crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth).
It doesn’t get any easier as they get older - the problems just change.
Fingers crossed, touch wood, rabbits foot and any other good-luck charms welcomed.
Jamie went up for the day on Monday to look around and to try and finalise some details (like accommodation!). He didn't manage to find some where he really liked to stay so we are going up with him tonight so that we can spend all day Friday getting him somewhere to live.
Talk about last minute. Sue and I are off to France on Sunday with Joyce and Terry for a week, and Jamie starts his orientation and 'freshers' week on Monday.
Needless to say everyone is a little tense (much crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth).
It doesn’t get any easier as they get older - the problems just change.
Fingers crossed, touch wood, rabbits foot and any other good-luck charms welcomed.
Dean & Michelle's housewarming…
Last weekend we went up to celebrate Dean and Michelle's move into their new flat. Terry, Ross, Heather and several other friends of D&M were also there.
It was a lovely balmy summer evening and we had a great time drinking and eating and putting the world to rights.
Dean fired up his new shiny black gas BBQ and cooked up a mountain of meat. Michelle had put together some impressive salads and dips. Heather brought along a bottle of Pimms and made a summer punch which never strayed to far from her reach.
A selection of cheese and an impressive array of Port finished the evening off nicely.
It was a lovely balmy summer evening and we had a great time drinking and eating and putting the world to rights.
Dean fired up his new shiny black gas BBQ and cooked up a mountain of meat. Michelle had put together some impressive salads and dips. Heather brought along a bottle of Pimms and made a summer punch which never strayed to far from her reach.
A selection of cheese and an impressive array of Port finished the evening off nicely.
The Village
M. Night Shyamalan's movie is pretty much on a par with his previous film, Signs. That's to say it is no where near as good as Sixth Sense. It is however a fairly entertaining diversion if you have nothing better to do.
The Village web site
Let not the bad colour be seen. It attracts them.
Oh yeah! Also remember…
It is not wise to run screaming through a forest if you are a blind girl.
The Village web site
Let not the bad colour be seen. It attracts them.
Oh yeah! Also remember…
It is not wise to run screaming through a forest if you are a blind girl.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Petworth House & Park
In our continuing exploration of the UK's history and culture we visited another National Trust property recently.
Petworth House is a very interesting and complete manor house with a very important role in the UK's history. The visit was enhanced by a delightfully entertaining and informative talk by one of the guides in the chapel.
Magnificent country house and park with an internationally important art collection. The vast late 17th-century mansion is set in a beautiful park, landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown and immortalised in Turner’s paintings. The house contains the Trust’s finest and largest collection of pictures, with numerous works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, as well as ancient and neo-classical sculpture, fine furniture and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The Servants’ Quarters contain interesting kitchens (including a splendid copper batterie de cuisine of over 1000 pieces) and other service rooms.
Petworth House is a very interesting and complete manor house with a very important role in the UK's history. The visit was enhanced by a delightfully entertaining and informative talk by one of the guides in the chapel.
Magnificent country house and park with an internationally important art collection. The vast late 17th-century mansion is set in a beautiful park, landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown and immortalised in Turner’s paintings. The house contains the Trust’s finest and largest collection of pictures, with numerous works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, as well as ancient and neo-classical sculpture, fine furniture and carvings by Grinling Gibbons. The Servants’ Quarters contain interesting kitchens (including a splendid copper batterie de cuisine of over 1000 pieces) and other service rooms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)