Our first ‘holiday’ away in NZ was to northland for a few days. We travelled up in our camper van, Dubbin, and stayed in Kamo (the campsites are virtually empty in spring and so we had no trouble with space or facilities).
The next day we travelled up to the Bay of Islands where we stopped at Paihia and took the ferry across to Russel, the first capital of New Zealand. Here we had a look around the lovely small town and stopped for lunch looking out across the bay. When we returned we travelled the short distance north to Waitangi, the site of the Treaty between the native Maori people and the English government.
The weather started to become more unsettled as we travelled on to Keri-Keri, where some of the country’s oldest standing buildings are to be found. The Stone Store and Kemp House are part of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which allows free access to National Trust members from the UK (as long as you remember to take your card).
We continued on up the coast until we teach Kaitia where we contacted Nick and got directions to their place. Nick is an old friend from when I went to school here in NZ, and he lives in an old converted country farmhouse with Carol and their eight children, the youngest having been born only a few months earlier.
We spent the weekend here and joined in with the family activities around the home, walked up into the hills and bush, played football, and fished for eels in the river. They have a wonderful family atmosphere and everyone pulls together sharing chores and responsibilities. Carol is a superb home keeper and teacher and Nick can make just about anything with his hands. We had a lovely time and we arranged to visit them again as soon as we could.
After leaving our friends we travelled down to the beautiful Hokianga harbour where we paused to admire the stunning scenery. From there we entered the primeval Waipoua forest to camp the night at the DOC site. The next day we walked to visit some of the magnificent Kauri trees before continuing on our way.
Our last stop was at a coastal campsite at the Mangawhai Heads where there a large spectacular surf beaches.
We had a great break, even if it was too short.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Kombi heaven...
We have been enjoying the ups and downs of owning a 30-year-old vehicle.
I have always fancied a Volkswagen Kombi, and we had one in the UK for a while. So when I was looking for a car to purchase for the time we were over in NZ, I was drawn to a 1974 white Kombi that was on an Internet auction site. We were still in the UK at the time but my folks managed to contact the vendor and checked it out for us. It looked pretty good for an old vehicle and several days later we were the proud owners of Dubbin.
The first time we saw Dubbin ‘in the flesh’ was when we were picked up in her as we arrived in the country.
It has its quirks and is not perfect, but we can live with the idiosyncrasies for the fun a pleasure driving around in it gives us. It costs way more than we needed to spend for an ‘ordinary’ car and we have spent even more to keep it going, but as long as there are no major problems it should retain its value.
My brother and father are both good with their hands and both have experience with cars. Dad built my first car, a kitset Lotus Super Seven replica. So they have proved invaluable in the general maintenance of the old girl.
We took her away for our first holiday recently and we found the whole experience very enjoyable. We are looking forward to more trips in the future.
I have always fancied a Volkswagen Kombi, and we had one in the UK for a while. So when I was looking for a car to purchase for the time we were over in NZ, I was drawn to a 1974 white Kombi that was on an Internet auction site. We were still in the UK at the time but my folks managed to contact the vendor and checked it out for us. It looked pretty good for an old vehicle and several days later we were the proud owners of Dubbin.
The first time we saw Dubbin ‘in the flesh’ was when we were picked up in her as we arrived in the country.
It has its quirks and is not perfect, but we can live with the idiosyncrasies for the fun a pleasure driving around in it gives us. It costs way more than we needed to spend for an ‘ordinary’ car and we have spent even more to keep it going, but as long as there are no major problems it should retain its value.
My brother and father are both good with their hands and both have experience with cars. Dad built my first car, a kitset Lotus Super Seven replica. So they have proved invaluable in the general maintenance of the old girl.
We took her away for our first holiday recently and we found the whole experience very enjoyable. We are looking forward to more trips in the future.
Keeping busy...
We have been keeping ourselves busy while we are in New Zealand with a few projects.
Around Mark’s Mum and Dad’s place we spent a good few weeks when we first arrived tidying the land in preparation for a local community Garden Ramble. This entailed extensive weeding until Sue lost the sensation in her fingers, weed eating using a serious metal-bladed, petrol-driven cutter. Mowing everywhere using both of the ride-on mowers, and planting out seedlings. The weekend event went off well and plenty of people came around to see the gardens and the selection of classic minis that Gary had organised to be on display.
We were also busy preparing and planting the vegetable garden. Digging over the earth by hand (Mark broke the rotary-hoe in the first 5 minutes). Sowing seeds in the ground or in seed trays, and planting out seedlings as soon as they were ready. Much of the land is given over to those plants that could be used to make produce in Mum and Dad’s preparation shed to sell at market. We have planted loads of tomatoes, plum varieties for sun drying and beefsteak varieties for sauces. We have planted lots of cucumbers, a small variety that can be used for pickled gherkins. We also have a large number of chillies, courgettes, beetroot and basil along with variety of other vegetables for day-to-day eating. We are now starting to reap our rewards with bowls of courgettes and cucumbers and plums ready to be turned into preserves, pickles and chutneys.
Mark has been working away on his children’s novel and has now completed the first draft. At 39,000 words and approximately 200 pages, it will need more work. But for now family and friends are reviewing it before we send it off to publishers for their comments. At the moment is going by the title of Specific Gravity.
The two tea-chest boxes we sent on ahead finally turned up, but not before we had to pay extra money we had not accounted for them to clear customs. It was a very frustrating time and we would not recommend sending unaccompanied baggage to NZ without thoroughly checking out if there are no other alternatives.
In the boxes were some of Mark’s painting equipment and so he has finally started on a couple of pieces. A small area in the garage acts as the temporary studio.
We are still trying to get our glass-working project off the ground. We borrowed an old kiln from a family friend and have had it installed, but the controller seems not to be working. We have also discovered that raw materials are hard to get hold of and are expensive. We are going to see if we can use recycled glass, as there is always a ready supply of that at our place.
Around Mark’s Mum and Dad’s place we spent a good few weeks when we first arrived tidying the land in preparation for a local community Garden Ramble. This entailed extensive weeding until Sue lost the sensation in her fingers, weed eating using a serious metal-bladed, petrol-driven cutter. Mowing everywhere using both of the ride-on mowers, and planting out seedlings. The weekend event went off well and plenty of people came around to see the gardens and the selection of classic minis that Gary had organised to be on display.
We were also busy preparing and planting the vegetable garden. Digging over the earth by hand (Mark broke the rotary-hoe in the first 5 minutes). Sowing seeds in the ground or in seed trays, and planting out seedlings as soon as they were ready. Much of the land is given over to those plants that could be used to make produce in Mum and Dad’s preparation shed to sell at market. We have planted loads of tomatoes, plum varieties for sun drying and beefsteak varieties for sauces. We have planted lots of cucumbers, a small variety that can be used for pickled gherkins. We also have a large number of chillies, courgettes, beetroot and basil along with variety of other vegetables for day-to-day eating. We are now starting to reap our rewards with bowls of courgettes and cucumbers and plums ready to be turned into preserves, pickles and chutneys.
Mark has been working away on his children’s novel and has now completed the first draft. At 39,000 words and approximately 200 pages, it will need more work. But for now family and friends are reviewing it before we send it off to publishers for their comments. At the moment is going by the title of Specific Gravity.
The two tea-chest boxes we sent on ahead finally turned up, but not before we had to pay extra money we had not accounted for them to clear customs. It was a very frustrating time and we would not recommend sending unaccompanied baggage to NZ without thoroughly checking out if there are no other alternatives.
In the boxes were some of Mark’s painting equipment and so he has finally started on a couple of pieces. A small area in the garage acts as the temporary studio.
We are still trying to get our glass-working project off the ground. We borrowed an old kiln from a family friend and have had it installed, but the controller seems not to be working. We have also discovered that raw materials are hard to get hold of and are expensive. We are going to see if we can use recycled glass, as there is always a ready supply of that at our place.
Monday, December 12, 2005
The migration south…
I have finaly got around to putting a few words together about what we have been upto over the last few months.
To start with with travelled half way around the world, stopping breifly in Malysia. After our previous visit here we were so emamoured with the place we decided to have a longer visit (I didn’t hurt that Malaysia Airlines had the cheapest flights – though thay have lost our reward points for the last visit).
We booked everything over the Internet this time and were a bit nervous about how successful we might have been, but we needn’t have been as everything turned out fine.
We stopped in Kuala Lumpur at the Le Meridien. Picked for its location at the Sentral Station (We stayed in the neighbouring Hilton last time – prices in Malaysia are so cheap). The best way to transfer from the airport To KL is via the supurb KLIA Express train. (When you leave, the station also allows you to check-in before you even get to the airport)
The next day we took the Malaysia rail from KL to Singapore. It takes longer than be road, and even in First Class it lacks some sophistication, but it nevertheless is very cheap and offers a different view of the countryside.
In Singapore we styed in the heart of Chinatown at the sweet boutique Hotel 1929. The rooms were small but perfectly formed and the décor was delightful. We had two days in Singapore and enjoyed it immensely. We took a trip down the river on a ‘bum-boat’, had a drink at Raffles, walked all over Chinatown and the historic centre and had a lovely walk around the botanical gardens.
We took another train from Singapore back to KL where we changed to an overnight train to Butterworth where we took the ferry across to Penang Island and to our favourite hotel of the trip. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion) This place is a stunning historical treasure. From here we explored the small city of Georgetown, took the funicular railway to Penang Hill, had tea at the Eastern & Orient Hotel and walked around the botanical gardens here too.
We took the overnight train back to KL where we took the bus (this was the only part of our journey we couldn’t pre-book, and we had to go by bus as the train didn’t run there) to Malaka (The busses are great and even cheaper than the train - everybody uses them). We stayed here at the lovely Hotel Puri and we walked around the delightfully quaint and hippy town.
This was our last night on our all too short trip to Malaysia and Singapore and the next day we flew on to a happy reunion with my family in New Zealand.
Malaysia is a beautiful country, and the people are lovely too. Since it was once a British protectorate it is easy for us Brits to navigate our way around (they drive on the left, most of the signs are in English, and nearly everybody speaks English too). It is a very cheap country, which at times just brings home the crushing poverty that some of the people are subject to here.
To start with with travelled half way around the world, stopping breifly in Malysia. After our previous visit here we were so emamoured with the place we decided to have a longer visit (I didn’t hurt that Malaysia Airlines had the cheapest flights – though thay have lost our reward points for the last visit).
We booked everything over the Internet this time and were a bit nervous about how successful we might have been, but we needn’t have been as everything turned out fine.
We stopped in Kuala Lumpur at the Le Meridien. Picked for its location at the Sentral Station (We stayed in the neighbouring Hilton last time – prices in Malaysia are so cheap). The best way to transfer from the airport To KL is via the supurb KLIA Express train. (When you leave, the station also allows you to check-in before you even get to the airport)
The next day we took the Malaysia rail from KL to Singapore. It takes longer than be road, and even in First Class it lacks some sophistication, but it nevertheless is very cheap and offers a different view of the countryside.
In Singapore we styed in the heart of Chinatown at the sweet boutique Hotel 1929. The rooms were small but perfectly formed and the décor was delightful. We had two days in Singapore and enjoyed it immensely. We took a trip down the river on a ‘bum-boat’, had a drink at Raffles, walked all over Chinatown and the historic centre and had a lovely walk around the botanical gardens.
We took another train from Singapore back to KL where we changed to an overnight train to Butterworth where we took the ferry across to Penang Island and to our favourite hotel of the trip. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion) This place is a stunning historical treasure. From here we explored the small city of Georgetown, took the funicular railway to Penang Hill, had tea at the Eastern & Orient Hotel and walked around the botanical gardens here too.
We took the overnight train back to KL where we took the bus (this was the only part of our journey we couldn’t pre-book, and we had to go by bus as the train didn’t run there) to Malaka (The busses are great and even cheaper than the train - everybody uses them). We stayed here at the lovely Hotel Puri and we walked around the delightfully quaint and hippy town.
This was our last night on our all too short trip to Malaysia and Singapore and the next day we flew on to a happy reunion with my family in New Zealand.
Malaysia is a beautiful country, and the people are lovely too. Since it was once a British protectorate it is easy for us Brits to navigate our way around (they drive on the left, most of the signs are in English, and nearly everybody speaks English too). It is a very cheap country, which at times just brings home the crushing poverty that some of the people are subject to here.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Ready for take off…
We are now eager to be on our way now. All this build up and anticipation is getting too much. It is bit like when as kids you see the first signs of Christmas during October.
We have been catching up with as many people as we can before we go and have had some lovely evenings with friends and family with more yet to come.
Sue spent a lovely weekend with the girls shopping, eating, drinking and generally cavorting around.
I, in turn, spent the weekend with a couple of buddies playing RPGs and getting set up for playing our games via the internet. We tried a couple of VOIP systems and found that, while Google Talk was easy to use it only seemed to allow you to talk to one person at a time. We also tried the Gizmo Project, which although it was a little more complicated it did seem to allow party line conversations quite successfully. We now have to see if it will work as well from one side of the world to the other.
This is our last week at work now, so we are focusing on the important things, such as our leaving ‘do’s.
We are planning to have most things organised at home by the weekend. This will mean that from then on until we settle in down under in mid October, that we will be without our computer and possibly incommunicado.
After the weekend we have almost a week to pack and sort those last minute details out before we fly on Friday the 7th Oct. We have a few days in Malaysia and Singapore before we land in New Zealand on the following weekend.
For all of you we leave behind, farewell and we will be back before you know it. For all of you we are about to meet, put the white wine in the fridge and have the glasses ready…
We have been catching up with as many people as we can before we go and have had some lovely evenings with friends and family with more yet to come.
Sue spent a lovely weekend with the girls shopping, eating, drinking and generally cavorting around.
I, in turn, spent the weekend with a couple of buddies playing RPGs and getting set up for playing our games via the internet. We tried a couple of VOIP systems and found that, while Google Talk was easy to use it only seemed to allow you to talk to one person at a time. We also tried the Gizmo Project, which although it was a little more complicated it did seem to allow party line conversations quite successfully. We now have to see if it will work as well from one side of the world to the other.
This is our last week at work now, so we are focusing on the important things, such as our leaving ‘do’s.
We are planning to have most things organised at home by the weekend. This will mean that from then on until we settle in down under in mid October, that we will be without our computer and possibly incommunicado.
After the weekend we have almost a week to pack and sort those last minute details out before we fly on Friday the 7th Oct. We have a few days in Malaysia and Singapore before we land in New Zealand on the following weekend.
For all of you we leave behind, farewell and we will be back before you know it. For all of you we are about to meet, put the white wine in the fridge and have the glasses ready…
More of wot I have read…
Recently I have read a couple of books by Ken Follett, the Hornet Flight and the Night Over Water. These books were given to us and had been lingering on the shelves for a while, so I thought I’d give them a go.
Both books are set in the time of the Second World War and involve a boys-own style adventure that includes airplanes.
Hornet Flight by Ken Follett
This is an interesting story for the setting and background as I was not aware of the situation that Denmark and its citizens found itself in during the war.
It is June 1941, and the low point of the war. England throws wave after wave of bombers across the Channel, but somehow the Lufwaffe is able to shoot them down at will. The skies – indeed the war itself – seem to belong to Hitler.
But on a small Danish island across the North Sea, Harald Olufsen, a bright eighteen-year-old with a talent for engineering, stumbles across a secret German installation. Its machinery is like nothing he has ever seen before and he knows he must tell someone – if he can only figure out who.
With England preparing its largest aerial assault ever, what Harald has discovered may turn the course of the war – but the race to convey the information could have terrible consequences for everyone close to him.
For his older brother Arne, a pilot in the grounded Danish Air Force and already under suspicion of the authorities. For Arne’s fiancee, Hermia, an MI6 intelligence analyst desperate to resurrect the foundering Danish resistance. And most of all for Harald himself – because as the hour of the assault approaches, it will all fall to him and his friend Karen to get the word to England.
And the only means available to them is a derelict Hornet Moth biplane abandoned in a ruined church, a plane so decrepit that it is unlikely ever to get off the ground.
Pursued by the enemy; hunted by collaborators; with almost no training, limited fuel, and no way of knowing if they will survive the six-hundred mile flight, the two will carry with them England's best — perhaps only — hope of avoiding disaster.
Night Over Water by Ken Follett
I found the most interesting character in this story to by the flying boat. I would have loved to have flown in one of them.
In 1939, with war just declared, a group of privileged people board the most luxurious airliner ever – the Pan American Clipper, bound for New York: an English aristocrat, a German scientist, a murderer under escort, a young wife escaping her husband and a charming, unscrupulous thief. For thirty hours, there is no escape from the flying palace. Over the Atlantic, tension mounts and finally explodes in a dramatic and dangerous climax.
Both books are set in the time of the Second World War and involve a boys-own style adventure that includes airplanes.
Hornet Flight by Ken Follett
This is an interesting story for the setting and background as I was not aware of the situation that Denmark and its citizens found itself in during the war.
It is June 1941, and the low point of the war. England throws wave after wave of bombers across the Channel, but somehow the Lufwaffe is able to shoot them down at will. The skies – indeed the war itself – seem to belong to Hitler.
But on a small Danish island across the North Sea, Harald Olufsen, a bright eighteen-year-old with a talent for engineering, stumbles across a secret German installation. Its machinery is like nothing he has ever seen before and he knows he must tell someone – if he can only figure out who.
With England preparing its largest aerial assault ever, what Harald has discovered may turn the course of the war – but the race to convey the information could have terrible consequences for everyone close to him.
For his older brother Arne, a pilot in the grounded Danish Air Force and already under suspicion of the authorities. For Arne’s fiancee, Hermia, an MI6 intelligence analyst desperate to resurrect the foundering Danish resistance. And most of all for Harald himself – because as the hour of the assault approaches, it will all fall to him and his friend Karen to get the word to England.
And the only means available to them is a derelict Hornet Moth biplane abandoned in a ruined church, a plane so decrepit that it is unlikely ever to get off the ground.
Pursued by the enemy; hunted by collaborators; with almost no training, limited fuel, and no way of knowing if they will survive the six-hundred mile flight, the two will carry with them England's best — perhaps only — hope of avoiding disaster.
Night Over Water by Ken Follett
I found the most interesting character in this story to by the flying boat. I would have loved to have flown in one of them.
In 1939, with war just declared, a group of privileged people board the most luxurious airliner ever – the Pan American Clipper, bound for New York: an English aristocrat, a German scientist, a murderer under escort, a young wife escaping her husband and a charming, unscrupulous thief. For thirty hours, there is no escape from the flying palace. Over the Atlantic, tension mounts and finally explodes in a dramatic and dangerous climax.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
The end of one summer…
All signs are that the UK is in transition from summer to autumn. The nights are drawing in, the temperatures are cooling down and it is picking time in the kitchen garden.
Several other signs confirm this change too; England beats Australia at cricket in the Ashes series, and Harvest Festivals are happening in villages throughout the countryside.
We have been very busy on our run up to our departure. The allotment has an abundance of produce which we are gorging on, clearing areas in preparation for the fallow winter time. We have been packing items for storage, selling unwanted items at a local boot-sale, and delivering unsold items to charity shops. Before we leave we are trying to meet up with as many friends and family as possible that necessitates much eating and drinking – it’s a chore, but someone has to do it.
We noticed a strange apparition whilst driving through the local village of Carshalton. Many brightly coloured and strangely clothed individuals were playing music and cavorting around a whirling haystack outside a local hostelry. Intrigued we returned to investigate and found that it was a harvest celebration called Straw Jack. This was the events second year (and so it was now a tradition) where a group of musicians (largely very enthusiastic drummers) and dancers escorted Straw Jack around all of the local pubs from 11am until 7pm where up Straw Jack was put to the torch. It was a very entertaining spectacle that I hope is continued for many years to come.
Several other signs confirm this change too; England beats Australia at cricket in the Ashes series, and Harvest Festivals are happening in villages throughout the countryside.
We have been very busy on our run up to our departure. The allotment has an abundance of produce which we are gorging on, clearing areas in preparation for the fallow winter time. We have been packing items for storage, selling unwanted items at a local boot-sale, and delivering unsold items to charity shops. Before we leave we are trying to meet up with as many friends and family as possible that necessitates much eating and drinking – it’s a chore, but someone has to do it.
We noticed a strange apparition whilst driving through the local village of Carshalton. Many brightly coloured and strangely clothed individuals were playing music and cavorting around a whirling haystack outside a local hostelry. Intrigued we returned to investigate and found that it was a harvest celebration called Straw Jack. This was the events second year (and so it was now a tradition) where a group of musicians (largely very enthusiastic drummers) and dancers escorted Straw Jack around all of the local pubs from 11am until 7pm where up Straw Jack was put to the torch. It was a very entertaining spectacle that I hope is continued for many years to come.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
More of wot I have read...
Balance of Power by Richard North Patterson
This is a ‘big’ book in both size and in the subject matter it tries to cover. It is obvious when reading this book that the author knows his subject very well and that he has done some very detailed research to ensure that the book is both accurate and detailed. Unfortunately, unless you are an avid political geek, all that detail might just get in the way and slow down any building tension. It is another one of those books that appears to be more about the message than the story. The author does develop interesting and believable characters and writes very good dialogue and character interaction. It is worth the effort if you can dedicate time to wade through the convoluted Machiavellian machinations to the pay-off.
“An epic story that moves with force, passion, and authority, Balance of Power begins when President Kerry Kilcannon and television journalist Lara Costello at last decide to marry. But the momentous occasion is followed by an unspeakable tragedy—a massacre of innocents by gunfire—that ignites a high-stakes game of politics and legal maneuvering in the Senate, the courtroom, and across the country, which the charismatic but untested young President is determined to win at any cost. But in the incendiary clash over gun violence and gun rights, the cost to both Kilcannons may be even higher than he imagined.“
This is a ‘big’ book in both size and in the subject matter it tries to cover. It is obvious when reading this book that the author knows his subject very well and that he has done some very detailed research to ensure that the book is both accurate and detailed. Unfortunately, unless you are an avid political geek, all that detail might just get in the way and slow down any building tension. It is another one of those books that appears to be more about the message than the story. The author does develop interesting and believable characters and writes very good dialogue and character interaction. It is worth the effort if you can dedicate time to wade through the convoluted Machiavellian machinations to the pay-off.
“An epic story that moves with force, passion, and authority, Balance of Power begins when President Kerry Kilcannon and television journalist Lara Costello at last decide to marry. But the momentous occasion is followed by an unspeakable tragedy—a massacre of innocents by gunfire—that ignites a high-stakes game of politics and legal maneuvering in the Senate, the courtroom, and across the country, which the charismatic but untested young President is determined to win at any cost. But in the incendiary clash over gun violence and gun rights, the cost to both Kilcannons may be even higher than he imagined.“
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Countdown…
We are counting down the days now until we migrate south for the winter and set up nest in New Zealand for their summer. Everything is pretty much organised now except for the packing up and the last one or two small details.
We are excited and nervous in equal measures, but everyone is very supportive and keeps telling us that we are doing the right thing, which I’m sure we are.
We are excited and nervous in equal measures, but everyone is very supportive and keeps telling us that we are doing the right thing, which I’m sure we are.
Environmental Flair…
On the last Bank Holiday in August we went down to the local Environmental Fair with our neighbours and friends, Deb, Dave and young Tom. Unusually for a bank holiday the weather was great and we had a nice time sitting out in the sun listening to the music, eating the fine food, and drinking the occasional cold one.
This fair is a nice relaxed affair rather than the full hectic extravaganza that is the Notting Hill Carnival that was also on over the weekend.
This fair is a nice relaxed affair rather than the full hectic extravaganza that is the Notting Hill Carnival that was also on over the weekend.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Real RPG online…
Most weeks I get together with a couple of friends to play paper based role play games. We have been looking at the possibility of continuing this over the internet using a sweet little package called Fantasy Grounds
This provides a virtual table top to play on. Check out the demo, the dice are so cool! We will need to use some voice messenger package to be able to talk together, but this should enable us to carry on playing in some form or other. We are looking at the possibility of inviting other players into the group to extend it beyond just the three of us.
At the moment Kevin is working up a game based on the D20 Darwin’s World and a campaign called Metropolis Rho, a particularly violent apocalyptic vision of the future.
To support this Kevin has also been looking at a particularly snazzy map drawing package called Dundjinni. Check out some of the pretty pictures at the gallery.
This provides a virtual table top to play on. Check out the demo, the dice are so cool! We will need to use some voice messenger package to be able to talk together, but this should enable us to carry on playing in some form or other. We are looking at the possibility of inviting other players into the group to extend it beyond just the three of us.
At the moment Kevin is working up a game based on the D20 Darwin’s World and a campaign called Metropolis Rho, a particularly violent apocalyptic vision of the future.
To support this Kevin has also been looking at a particularly snazzy map drawing package called Dundjinni. Check out some of the pretty pictures at the gallery.
Kombi Heaven…
Part of my recent obsession with the old Volkswagen Kombi van led me to peruse various auctions sites and last week I found a 1974 camper van on a New Zealand site. Knowing that we were going to be spending nearly six months there I had been looking a car prices when I found this old ‘bay-window’ Kombi, and since the price was much cheaper than in the UK, I asked my family what they thought of it. My brother arranged with the owner to have a look at and thought it was fine so now we are the new proud owners. Sue wants a large sunflower decal on the side and I fancy a windsurfer in the back.
Can’t wait to bowl up to the beach in it and watch the sun go down.
Can’t wait to bowl up to the beach in it and watch the sun go down.
A weekend of culture…
Henry IV Part 1…
We visited the National Theatre recently with a few friends to see Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 1. The theatre sits on the south bank of the Thames at Waterloo in London next to the National Film Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Harward Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall. From the outside this group of buildings evoke mixed feelings regarding their rough concrete architecture, but inside each has wonderful performance spaces that bring out the best in any performance.
Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 are a little more challenging than many of the better know of Shakespeare’s work, but quality of the performance more than made up for the occasional lack of comprehension in the words. All of the cast was fabulous but, to single out a few, Falstaff: Michael Gambon, Hotspur: David Harewood, and Prince Hal: Matthew Macfadyen were outstanding. We are all looking forward to Part 2 which we will see soon.
Romeo and Juliet…
The next day we drove up to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Tring where we were due to watch an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet at the nearby Pendley Manor. As we drove up the heavens opened up and the rain continuing on and off as we ate dinner. Chancing things and taking some wet weather protection we ventured out. Apart from a few spots here and there the rain held off until the crucial moment where Romeo sees Juliet in the tomb, then the two prone figures were lashed with a quick downpour and soaked to the skin before umbrella carrying attendants could rescue them. After a short interlude where the performers and those of us in the audience sort cover, the performance continued and concluded to a rapturous applause. We have seen this company before and they are extremely proficient for an amateur group.
Sunday Lunch…
We stayed over at my Aunt and Uncle’s after the play and met up with several of their friends; work colleagues of my Uncle when they all worked together in architecture and interior design. We had hoped that both Jack and Sue could come along, but unfortunately Sue was ill. We managed to quiz Jack though about some of the things to consider when working with glass and kilns. Together they are Devilish Designs.
Also there was another couple who had also worked together in the interior design industry. John though had a claim to fame that predated this. He was the bass player in a Brit Pop/Rock band in the 60’s called the West Coast Consortium, and they even had a record at number 22 in the charts.
We visited the National Theatre recently with a few friends to see Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 1. The theatre sits on the south bank of the Thames at Waterloo in London next to the National Film Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Harward Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall. From the outside this group of buildings evoke mixed feelings regarding their rough concrete architecture, but inside each has wonderful performance spaces that bring out the best in any performance.
Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 are a little more challenging than many of the better know of Shakespeare’s work, but quality of the performance more than made up for the occasional lack of comprehension in the words. All of the cast was fabulous but, to single out a few, Falstaff: Michael Gambon, Hotspur: David Harewood, and Prince Hal: Matthew Macfadyen were outstanding. We are all looking forward to Part 2 which we will see soon.
Romeo and Juliet…
The next day we drove up to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Tring where we were due to watch an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet at the nearby Pendley Manor. As we drove up the heavens opened up and the rain continuing on and off as we ate dinner. Chancing things and taking some wet weather protection we ventured out. Apart from a few spots here and there the rain held off until the crucial moment where Romeo sees Juliet in the tomb, then the two prone figures were lashed with a quick downpour and soaked to the skin before umbrella carrying attendants could rescue them. After a short interlude where the performers and those of us in the audience sort cover, the performance continued and concluded to a rapturous applause. We have seen this company before and they are extremely proficient for an amateur group.
Sunday Lunch…
We stayed over at my Aunt and Uncle’s after the play and met up with several of their friends; work colleagues of my Uncle when they all worked together in architecture and interior design. We had hoped that both Jack and Sue could come along, but unfortunately Sue was ill. We managed to quiz Jack though about some of the things to consider when working with glass and kilns. Together they are Devilish Designs.
Also there was another couple who had also worked together in the interior design industry. John though had a claim to fame that predated this. He was the bass player in a Brit Pop/Rock band in the 60’s called the West Coast Consortium, and they even had a record at number 22 in the charts.
Sunny Side Up…
We are less than a couple months away from starting one of the biggest adventures in our lives. We are about to become truly migratory, following the sun south to give us permanent summer for as long as we can sustain it. Everything is coming together now as we finalise that last details, most importantly finding someone to look after the house (and help with the mortgage). Boxes are being packed to be stored or shipped on ahead, travel arrangements are almost complete and tickets are ready for collection. Just a few more details to sort out and we will be ready (physically if not emotionally).
After a short visit to Malaysia and Singapore we will be down under mid October and looking to spend quality time with family and friends (taking advantage of their generous natures).
Now all we have to do is find some way of sustaining this for as long as we want too by discovering some well hidden talent of making something out of nothing.
Exciting and scary in equal measures; fingers crossed and stomach knotted.
After a short visit to Malaysia and Singapore we will be down under mid October and looking to spend quality time with family and friends (taking advantage of their generous natures).
Now all we have to do is find some way of sustaining this for as long as we want too by discovering some well hidden talent of making something out of nothing.
Exciting and scary in equal measures; fingers crossed and stomach knotted.
Summer Garden…
Now is the time of year where we are reaping what we sowed. We do not need to buy many vegetables at the moment and again Sue is having to be inventive with the seasonal abundance.
We have had a greater success with our berries since we covered the bushes on a net cage to stop the birds enjoying them before we could. We are also expectantly excited at the prospect of the melons swelling in our green house along side the chillies and peppers (again, though, the aubergines are looking disappointing).
We have just started harvesting our butternut squash and they are huge (several times larger than what we have seen in the shops).
Most of what we have decided to grow this year has been summer crops and only a few plants will be in the ground over the winter; leeks and over-wintering Japanese onions.
We will have to be quite determined to eat it all the harvest up before we leave for sunnier climes. Either that or we will have to give it all away.
With our looming extended visit to the southern hemisphere we are looking forward to starting with a whole new batch of crops as soon as we arrive.
We have had a greater success with our berries since we covered the bushes on a net cage to stop the birds enjoying them before we could. We are also expectantly excited at the prospect of the melons swelling in our green house along side the chillies and peppers (again, though, the aubergines are looking disappointing).
We have just started harvesting our butternut squash and they are huge (several times larger than what we have seen in the shops).
Most of what we have decided to grow this year has been summer crops and only a few plants will be in the ground over the winter; leeks and over-wintering Japanese onions.
We will have to be quite determined to eat it all the harvest up before we leave for sunnier climes. Either that or we will have to give it all away.
With our looming extended visit to the southern hemisphere we are looking forward to starting with a whole new batch of crops as soon as we arrive.
Cousins United…
One of Sue’s Aunts decided to have a garden party inviting her sisters and their families to her cottage in the countryside. A lovely afternoon was had with many members of the extended family that we would not ordinarily get to see very often. As is usual the passage of time was marked by how much the children had grown up. Jamie joined us and happily played with the more boisterous younger relatives.
Everybody managed to catch up with the each other over a tasty buffet and a few cold drinks before we had to leave; promising not to leave it so long next time.
Everybody managed to catch up with the each other over a tasty buffet and a few cold drinks before we had to leave; promising not to leave it so long next time.
Festival Virgins…
At the end of July we went to our first festival with our neighbours Deb, Dave and son Tom. Apart from Debs we were new to the whole thing and naturally apprehensive. Womad Rivermead 2005 was probably the best introduction to festivals that we could have hoped for. We all have an appreciation of a variety of music and although many of the acts were unknown to us, many of the cultural styles were not.
We had decided to camp the weekend, which might not have been so wise considering Deb is heavily pregnant with their second child, and Tom is only two and a half years old. We also managed to find the only party-animal-stoners in the park to pitch our tents next to (though they were amenable to gentle diplomacy which improved our second nights sleep somewhat).
We found the mix and variety of music echoed by the audience as there were as many colourful sights off stage as on; original hippies, alternative lifestylers, extended families, old heads, greenies, stoners and many more.
The large numbers of 'right on' people in the audience meant that the traders had to cater for them, resulting in a superb range of food stalls and an interesting diversity of clothing, jewellery, arts and craft stalls throughout the site. There were several stages and performance spaces on the site, so no matter what your tastes your challenge was trying to find time to see all that you wanted to.
As with most large informal camping sites the major concern was the ‘facilities’ and after a while they were dire (I have never seen cheering and applause for the arrival of sewage truck before). Luckily the site was adjacent to a leisure centre which meant for a small fee you could use the pool, showers and bathrooms there.
Overall we were very impressed with the event, and we are already thinking about planning a return visit next year. We are also hoping that they will announce another New Zealand Womad as we would be keen to visit that too.
We had decided to camp the weekend, which might not have been so wise considering Deb is heavily pregnant with their second child, and Tom is only two and a half years old. We also managed to find the only party-animal-stoners in the park to pitch our tents next to (though they were amenable to gentle diplomacy which improved our second nights sleep somewhat).
We found the mix and variety of music echoed by the audience as there were as many colourful sights off stage as on; original hippies, alternative lifestylers, extended families, old heads, greenies, stoners and many more.
The large numbers of 'right on' people in the audience meant that the traders had to cater for them, resulting in a superb range of food stalls and an interesting diversity of clothing, jewellery, arts and craft stalls throughout the site. There were several stages and performance spaces on the site, so no matter what your tastes your challenge was trying to find time to see all that you wanted to.
As with most large informal camping sites the major concern was the ‘facilities’ and after a while they were dire (I have never seen cheering and applause for the arrival of sewage truck before). Luckily the site was adjacent to a leisure centre which meant for a small fee you could use the pool, showers and bathrooms there.
Overall we were very impressed with the event, and we are already thinking about planning a return visit next year. We are also hoping that they will announce another New Zealand Womad as we would be keen to visit that too.
More of wot I have read…
The Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
I have not read many of his books and I have totally missed the Sharpe phenomenon on the small screen, but I am aware of the author’s attention to detail and passion for this period in British history. It is an enjoyable read – some might even call it a ‘ripping yarn’ - although some of the characters do tend towards being cartoon like and the subject is presented in a ‘boys-own’ sort of way.
‘Gallows Thief is a detective story, set in Regency London, a time when there were no detectives as such. There was a very busy gallows, however. This was a period when the English and Welsh gallows were at their busiest and, very occasionally, the government appointed an 'Investigator' to look into a conviction. That Investigator is the hero and detective, a man who was an army officer, but who, since the battle of Waterloo (it had to get in somehow) has fallen on hard times.’
Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation. And this is one of his best. Rider Sandman is a typical Cornwell hero, rather like his best known central character from the Sharpe series, Richard Sharpe. Sandman is poor but honest, a decent man in desperate times. The story opens with a stomach-churning series of public hangings in 1817, and then switches to Sandman being offered money to investigate a murder and the chance to save a convicted murderer from the gallows. The authorities are convinced that Charles Corday, a portrait painter, murdered a countess whose portrait he was painting. But before stringing up Corday, the Home Secretary is forced, by the intervention of the Queen, to hire an investigator to confirm the painter's guilt. Sandman is an early 19th century Philip Marlowe, a Georgian private detective, moving effortlessly from aristocratic circles to the slums and jails of London. Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.
Gavin Esler - Daily Mail
I have not read many of his books and I have totally missed the Sharpe phenomenon on the small screen, but I am aware of the author’s attention to detail and passion for this period in British history. It is an enjoyable read – some might even call it a ‘ripping yarn’ - although some of the characters do tend towards being cartoon like and the subject is presented in a ‘boys-own’ sort of way.
‘Gallows Thief is a detective story, set in Regency London, a time when there were no detectives as such. There was a very busy gallows, however. This was a period when the English and Welsh gallows were at their busiest and, very occasionally, the government appointed an 'Investigator' to look into a conviction. That Investigator is the hero and detective, a man who was an army officer, but who, since the battle of Waterloo (it had to get in somehow) has fallen on hard times.’
Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation. And this is one of his best. Rider Sandman is a typical Cornwell hero, rather like his best known central character from the Sharpe series, Richard Sharpe. Sandman is poor but honest, a decent man in desperate times. The story opens with a stomach-churning series of public hangings in 1817, and then switches to Sandman being offered money to investigate a murder and the chance to save a convicted murderer from the gallows. The authorities are convinced that Charles Corday, a portrait painter, murdered a countess whose portrait he was painting. But before stringing up Corday, the Home Secretary is forced, by the intervention of the Queen, to hire an investigator to confirm the painter's guilt. Sandman is an early 19th century Philip Marlowe, a Georgian private detective, moving effortlessly from aristocratic circles to the slums and jails of London. Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.
Gavin Esler - Daily Mail
Monday, August 15, 2005
Slow to post…
I have not been very good at keeping this blog up to date recently. It is not because I have nothing to report, on the contrary, we have been very busy, to busy to post.
I hope to remedy this soon as we have lots to tell you all.
Bear with us.
I hope to remedy this soon as we have lots to tell you all.
Bear with us.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Kombi mania…
I don’t know if it is just because we are in the middle of our summer, or if it is because I am experiencing a mid-life crisis, but everywhere I look I see classic Kombi vans.
I am regretting selling our old van that we used to have a while ago, as I have fond memories of taking an extended 6 week holiday through England, Scotland and Wales. It has become a tour that is commonly known in our family as the ABC tour (another bloody castle, another bloody church).
While we were in Cornwall recently I said something that nearly got me divorced. I saw an old immaculate split-screen Kombi and rashly stated that it was the ‘sexiest thing I have ever seen!’
After looking at various classified adverts it would seem that these VW are very desirable vehicles. A concourse condition camper from the 60’s could set you back £10,000 easily.
Almost every day I see a van trundling down the road or parked up and I crane my neck to see if it has a for sale sign anywhere on it; it doesn’t. I guess I will have to continue dreaming and buying the lottery tickets.
I am regretting selling our old van that we used to have a while ago, as I have fond memories of taking an extended 6 week holiday through England, Scotland and Wales. It has become a tour that is commonly known in our family as the ABC tour (another bloody castle, another bloody church).
While we were in Cornwall recently I said something that nearly got me divorced. I saw an old immaculate split-screen Kombi and rashly stated that it was the ‘sexiest thing I have ever seen!’
After looking at various classified adverts it would seem that these VW are very desirable vehicles. A concourse condition camper from the 60’s could set you back £10,000 easily.
Almost every day I see a van trundling down the road or parked up and I crane my neck to see if it has a for sale sign anywhere on it; it doesn’t. I guess I will have to continue dreaming and buying the lottery tickets.
More of wot I have read…
Darwin’s Children, by Greg Bear
If you can get past the techno-babble this story has a very interesting premise regarding evolution and belonging (or not belonging) to the future. Unfortunately this book often reads like some novelised biology theses and you may need to hold a PhD to get the most out of it. The author has obviously done a great deal of research on this subject and wants to ensure that you are aware that the theories are based on documented work by reputable individuals or organisations. With so much of the book dedicated to the science there is, in my opinion, not enough effort put into developing the characters to make them sympathetic to the reader. This book was hard work.
'In Greg Bear's stunning new thriller, nature is more of a bitch goddess than a kindly mother, and evolution is no longer just a theory -- it's an urgent and dangerous fact. In DARWIN'S CHILDREN, human society is about to get a complete makeover. A new kind of humanity is growing up. Some call them the Virus Children. They are special children, equipped with significant natural upgrades that allow them to communicate and socialize in ways we can hardly imagine, or resist. Charming, gentle, persuasive, beautiful...in them can be seen a future that may make all of human history until now seem clumsy and brutal. As products of an extraordinary evolutionary event called SHEVA that swept through the population like a contagious disease over a decade ago, they carry ancient viruses that could cause our extinction, viruses that may be triggered at any moment by stress, anger...or puberty. The new children are being methodically rounded up and sequestered in special schools where they are studied, measured and biopsied. Stella Nova, the daughter of Kaye Lang and Mitch Rafelson, is one of them. She is driven by instinct to be with her own kind, to establish a new kind of social order and discover her potential. Kaye and Mitch wish to protect her, but to do so, they must keep her isolated, stifled in a blanket of security that they all know must eventually be lifted. Despite their best efforts, Kaye, Mitch, and Stella are tracked by security forces that could break them apart as a family. The new children must be controlled, these forces believe; and the time may come when both species must either separate, or engage in outright war. In DARWIN'S CHILDREN, human society is about to get a complete makeover, and who will win is anyone's guess. For, as Kaye Lang discovers, silence is also a signal…'
If you can get past the techno-babble this story has a very interesting premise regarding evolution and belonging (or not belonging) to the future. Unfortunately this book often reads like some novelised biology theses and you may need to hold a PhD to get the most out of it. The author has obviously done a great deal of research on this subject and wants to ensure that you are aware that the theories are based on documented work by reputable individuals or organisations. With so much of the book dedicated to the science there is, in my opinion, not enough effort put into developing the characters to make them sympathetic to the reader. This book was hard work.
'In Greg Bear's stunning new thriller, nature is more of a bitch goddess than a kindly mother, and evolution is no longer just a theory -- it's an urgent and dangerous fact. In DARWIN'S CHILDREN, human society is about to get a complete makeover. A new kind of humanity is growing up. Some call them the Virus Children. They are special children, equipped with significant natural upgrades that allow them to communicate and socialize in ways we can hardly imagine, or resist. Charming, gentle, persuasive, beautiful...in them can be seen a future that may make all of human history until now seem clumsy and brutal. As products of an extraordinary evolutionary event called SHEVA that swept through the population like a contagious disease over a decade ago, they carry ancient viruses that could cause our extinction, viruses that may be triggered at any moment by stress, anger...or puberty. The new children are being methodically rounded up and sequestered in special schools where they are studied, measured and biopsied. Stella Nova, the daughter of Kaye Lang and Mitch Rafelson, is one of them. She is driven by instinct to be with her own kind, to establish a new kind of social order and discover her potential. Kaye and Mitch wish to protect her, but to do so, they must keep her isolated, stifled in a blanket of security that they all know must eventually be lifted. Despite their best efforts, Kaye, Mitch, and Stella are tracked by security forces that could break them apart as a family. The new children must be controlled, these forces believe; and the time may come when both species must either separate, or engage in outright war. In DARWIN'S CHILDREN, human society is about to get a complete makeover, and who will win is anyone's guess. For, as Kaye Lang discovers, silence is also a signal…'
Monday, July 04, 2005
More of wot I have watched…
We joined a few friends on Wednesday and went out for Sue’s birthday to watch a film at the IMAX Cinema near Waterloo. This venue is pretty amazing with its enormous screen and sound system. We had been previously to see the Polar Express in 3D and were totally impressed.
We had arranged to meet at the Fire Station pub and restaurant around the back of Waterloo Train Station for a drink and something to eat. The place was heaving and we stood out on the sidewalk with the crowds until we all met up (the sight of me and James having a telephone conversation barely six feet apart oblivious to each other and insisting we were at the pub, cracked Sue up). It was an interesting and pleasant restaurant and the food was good. Portion sizes were large and most of us had two starters instead of a main course.
We had arranged to watch the new Batman Begins at the Imax. It was not in 3D which was probably just as well as it was difficult at time to keep up with everything on the screen in just the 2 dimensions. The dark feel of the script and cinematography made this a different type of Batman film than the previous, and more in keeping with the later Dark Knight comic strips. The lead was very good even though his costume must have restricted his throat as it seemed to cause his voice to drop several octaves when he wore his mask. The batmobile was cool (apart from the stupid gun operating arrangement).
For the most part the film relied on the superb supporting cast to carry it through. I did not enjoy the unnecessarily over long and migraine inducing fight scenes, and I would have liked more plotline development. But overall the film is what it is and is till worth a viewing if you like that sort of thing.
The biggest problem about travelling in to London is the journey home afterwards. We had a mad scramble to reach our last train home and didn’t get in until way after midnight (not good for us old folk on a school night).
We had arranged to meet at the Fire Station pub and restaurant around the back of Waterloo Train Station for a drink and something to eat. The place was heaving and we stood out on the sidewalk with the crowds until we all met up (the sight of me and James having a telephone conversation barely six feet apart oblivious to each other and insisting we were at the pub, cracked Sue up). It was an interesting and pleasant restaurant and the food was good. Portion sizes were large and most of us had two starters instead of a main course.
We had arranged to watch the new Batman Begins at the Imax. It was not in 3D which was probably just as well as it was difficult at time to keep up with everything on the screen in just the 2 dimensions. The dark feel of the script and cinematography made this a different type of Batman film than the previous, and more in keeping with the later Dark Knight comic strips. The lead was very good even though his costume must have restricted his throat as it seemed to cause his voice to drop several octaves when he wore his mask. The batmobile was cool (apart from the stupid gun operating arrangement).
For the most part the film relied on the superb supporting cast to carry it through. I did not enjoy the unnecessarily over long and migraine inducing fight scenes, and I would have liked more plotline development. But overall the film is what it is and is till worth a viewing if you like that sort of thing.
The biggest problem about travelling in to London is the journey home afterwards. We had a mad scramble to reach our last train home and didn’t get in until way after midnight (not good for us old folk on a school night).
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Hankies, sticks and pints of ale…
We have recently returned from an eventful long weekend break in the Isle of Wight with the Aldbury Morris Men.
A cultural journey into the traditions of Ye Olde England with a well meaning group of historians you may think, but you would be totally wrong, it was more of a journey into the drinking establishments of sleepy seaside villages with a bunch of jolly drunks.
My Uncle (He is the one on the top hat - see the website) is a musician (he insists in making it quite clear he does not actually dance), and he invited us to become part of the Morris Groupies along with the various relatives and friends of the other members of this band of merry men.
We met them all at Portsmouth (not before being pulled over by the police – but then that is to be expected if you by a ‘cheap’ car). We pulled up at the harbour car park just as the lightning and thunder struck and we promptly found shelter in the local hostelry (well, start as you mean to go on as they say).
Our ferry journey across to the island was dramatic not only for the regular forked lightning strikes on the mainland, but for the assembled naval forces of many nations arranged throughout the harbour in preparation for the Trafalgar 200 ceremonies to come.
During the weekend we were ferried around the island in an old 1965 bus that was built in the Duple coachworks at the same time as my father used to work there. We travelled in style from village to village where the be-belled gentlemen of a certain age would prance about waving hankies and knocking seven bells out of each other with lengths of timber, before retiring for a cleansing ale or a pint of the local cider (very good stuff it was too). The evening consisted of taking over a venue and bringing out a variety of strange and wonderful instruments (mostly musical – of course) and singing and playing some truly moving and memorable folk tunes.
Before we took the ferry home we managed a short sightseeing trip to Cowes to watch the various waterborne craft enjoying the much improved weather. We also came across an interesting T-Shirt shop that held a garment with the legend that symbolised the weekend for us – The liver is evil and it must by punished!
In my opinion the adage ‘never trust a book by its cover’ is certainly true in this case, never turn down a weekend with the Aldbury Morris Men (that is unless you are a recovering alcoholic).
A cultural journey into the traditions of Ye Olde England with a well meaning group of historians you may think, but you would be totally wrong, it was more of a journey into the drinking establishments of sleepy seaside villages with a bunch of jolly drunks.
My Uncle (He is the one on the top hat - see the website) is a musician (he insists in making it quite clear he does not actually dance), and he invited us to become part of the Morris Groupies along with the various relatives and friends of the other members of this band of merry men.
We met them all at Portsmouth (not before being pulled over by the police – but then that is to be expected if you by a ‘cheap’ car). We pulled up at the harbour car park just as the lightning and thunder struck and we promptly found shelter in the local hostelry (well, start as you mean to go on as they say).
Our ferry journey across to the island was dramatic not only for the regular forked lightning strikes on the mainland, but for the assembled naval forces of many nations arranged throughout the harbour in preparation for the Trafalgar 200 ceremonies to come.
During the weekend we were ferried around the island in an old 1965 bus that was built in the Duple coachworks at the same time as my father used to work there. We travelled in style from village to village where the be-belled gentlemen of a certain age would prance about waving hankies and knocking seven bells out of each other with lengths of timber, before retiring for a cleansing ale or a pint of the local cider (very good stuff it was too). The evening consisted of taking over a venue and bringing out a variety of strange and wonderful instruments (mostly musical – of course) and singing and playing some truly moving and memorable folk tunes.
Before we took the ferry home we managed a short sightseeing trip to Cowes to watch the various waterborne craft enjoying the much improved weather. We also came across an interesting T-Shirt shop that held a garment with the legend that symbolised the weekend for us – The liver is evil and it must by punished!
In my opinion the adage ‘never trust a book by its cover’ is certainly true in this case, never turn down a weekend with the Aldbury Morris Men (that is unless you are a recovering alcoholic).
More of wot I have read...
Here is a nicely written fable for the modern day that introduces some old and familiar heroes and villains in some very unfamiliar yet strangely understandable settings. It is a sometimes confusing and convoluted journey where much of the enjoyment comes from getting there. I particularly enjoyed the author's liberty taking and fun poking at mythological characters and the re-interpretation of what a god really is. A good read.
I am most familiar with Neil Gaiman's graphic novel (comic book) series Sandman, and reading this novel you can certainly see how he brings that dramatic visual style to the written word.
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman.
'Is Nothing Sacred?
Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refuge from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.
Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break
Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You'll be surprised by what, and who, it finds there!'
I am most familiar with Neil Gaiman's graphic novel (comic book) series Sandman, and reading this novel you can certainly see how he brings that dramatic visual style to the written word.
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman.
'Is Nothing Sacred?
Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refuge from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.
Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break
Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You'll be surprised by what, and who, it finds there!'
Sunday, June 12, 2005
A Cornish country garden…
We have just returned from an extended weekend away with my Aunt and Uncle to Cornwall. We went especially to visit the Tresco Abbey Gardens.
We all travelled down together late in the week and went straight to St Michaels Mount. The bad weather had just started to improve as we approached and the fog that was shrouding the island lifted to reveal the picturesque view. Luckily this was one of the bright periods in an otherwise very rainy weekend. It is a great for a short visit.
Afterwards we drove off to check into the Gurnards Head Hotel where we were staying while we were on the mainland. An ordinary looking country pub with average facilities, but it did do some less than ordinary food. However, as is our way when we holiday, we did end up spending more on wine than food. The landlord was from Newcastle, his wife was Finish and other staff included a Polish couple and a Thai woman.
Cornwall seems to have been forced out of its traditional industries and solely into tourism. There is hardly any evidence of farming, fishing or other traditional industry any where, but you can’t drive down a road without noticing that every second building is a B&B or Hotel. We looked at the local papers and the housing section was enormous with houses more expensive than those near to London. And yet the job vacancies pages, of which there were few, had no great opportunities.
We flew to Tresco in the Scilly Isles by helicopter, which was quite an interesting and enjoyable (if somewhat noisy and expensive) way to travel (also much faster than by boat). 20mins later we were on the island where we jumped into the back of a small truck and were driven to our hotel, the New Inn.
The island is lovely and once again we benefited from a break in the weather. We walked around the much of the small island in a couple of hours. The next day we walked around the rest and visited the exceptional sub-tropical gardens.
Whilst we were in the county we also visited one of our favourite looking theatres, the Minak built onto a cliff side over looking a beautiful sandy bay.
We also managed to fit in the obligatory National Trust site, this time it was the stately home called Terice.
We had a nightmare journey home with traffic accidents, poor weather, and road works combining to have spent the whole day in the car. We had a short break at my aunt and uncle’s where we dug up the first of the new potatoes for dinner, before we jumped into our car for the journey home. Again we got caught in more traffic and road works and we didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning.
We all travelled down together late in the week and went straight to St Michaels Mount. The bad weather had just started to improve as we approached and the fog that was shrouding the island lifted to reveal the picturesque view. Luckily this was one of the bright periods in an otherwise very rainy weekend. It is a great for a short visit.
Afterwards we drove off to check into the Gurnards Head Hotel where we were staying while we were on the mainland. An ordinary looking country pub with average facilities, but it did do some less than ordinary food. However, as is our way when we holiday, we did end up spending more on wine than food. The landlord was from Newcastle, his wife was Finish and other staff included a Polish couple and a Thai woman.
Cornwall seems to have been forced out of its traditional industries and solely into tourism. There is hardly any evidence of farming, fishing or other traditional industry any where, but you can’t drive down a road without noticing that every second building is a B&B or Hotel. We looked at the local papers and the housing section was enormous with houses more expensive than those near to London. And yet the job vacancies pages, of which there were few, had no great opportunities.
We flew to Tresco in the Scilly Isles by helicopter, which was quite an interesting and enjoyable (if somewhat noisy and expensive) way to travel (also much faster than by boat). 20mins later we were on the island where we jumped into the back of a small truck and were driven to our hotel, the New Inn.
The island is lovely and once again we benefited from a break in the weather. We walked around the much of the small island in a couple of hours. The next day we walked around the rest and visited the exceptional sub-tropical gardens.
Whilst we were in the county we also visited one of our favourite looking theatres, the Minak built onto a cliff side over looking a beautiful sandy bay.
We also managed to fit in the obligatory National Trust site, this time it was the stately home called Terice.
We had a nightmare journey home with traffic accidents, poor weather, and road works combining to have spent the whole day in the car. We had a short break at my aunt and uncle’s where we dug up the first of the new potatoes for dinner, before we jumped into our car for the journey home. Again we got caught in more traffic and road works and we didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning.
More of wot I have heard…
Picaresque, by The Decemberists.
My new favourite band at the moment. They are an unusual combination of Indie edge and folksy story telling. Epic story ideas are played out in each song with the a modern folk sound. They don’t take themselves too seriously but they do the music.
Demon Days, by the Gorillaz.
Here is another ‘band’ that doesn’t but themselves before the music. This is a good second album by the cartoon foursome and has some more of the same along with a few surprises. The website is great fun to play around with especially if you are a fan of Jamie Hewlett’s (Tank Girl) artwork.
Happenstance, by Rachael Yamagata.
We saw this artist last year when we had a spat of going out to music gigs. She was the supporting artist and we had never heard her before. She is a very good musician and has a lovely voice (check it out at her web site). Her album was not available at the gig or at any of the high street stores, so I finally got around to buying it on-line (it is often cheaper to buy music online from America and pay the postage, than it is to buy it hear – the UK is a rip-off for this among other things).
My new favourite band at the moment. They are an unusual combination of Indie edge and folksy story telling. Epic story ideas are played out in each song with the a modern folk sound. They don’t take themselves too seriously but they do the music.
Demon Days, by the Gorillaz.
Here is another ‘band’ that doesn’t but themselves before the music. This is a good second album by the cartoon foursome and has some more of the same along with a few surprises. The website is great fun to play around with especially if you are a fan of Jamie Hewlett’s (Tank Girl) artwork.
Happenstance, by Rachael Yamagata.
We saw this artist last year when we had a spat of going out to music gigs. She was the supporting artist and we had never heard her before. She is a very good musician and has a lovely voice (check it out at her web site). Her album was not available at the gig or at any of the high street stores, so I finally got around to buying it on-line (it is often cheaper to buy music online from America and pay the postage, than it is to buy it hear – the UK is a rip-off for this among other things).
More of wot I have read…
I have bought a few of the 'Young Adult' range of books so that I can get a better idea of what is currently being published at the moment.
Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera.
I guess most people will know this story from the film, but the book approaches the topic from a very different angle. The author spends more time on the spiritual and mystical nature of the story than the narrative, and details the significance of the imagery as it relates to the Maori culture. It is an interesting and moving read but it is not what you might expect if you only know of this author through the silver screen.
‘Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather’s love and attention. But he’s focused on his duties as chief of the Ngati Konohi in Whangara, on the East Coast – a tribe that claims descent from the legendary ‘whale rider’. In every generation since the wale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir – there’s only Kahu. She should be next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl. Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle she has a unique ally: the whale reedier himself, from whom she has inherited the ability to communicate with whales.’
Fat kid rules the world by KL Going.
This book is one of a breed of new edgier teen books and touches on subjects of suicide, sex, drugs and rock and roll.
‘What would you say to a homeless punk who just saved your life?
When Curt (skinny punk, guitar genius) stops Troy (hugely overweight social leper) from committing suicide, it’s the start of a very unlikely friendship. Troy’s family think Curt is just a junkie loser, but Troy knows there’s more to him.
Besides, life’s looking up now Curt’s arrived – with a new image and a new nickname (Big T) the fat kid finally has potential. And when Curt recruits Troy as the drummer in his punk band, it seems like Troy might be cool for the first time ever. There’s just one problem – he doesn’t know how to play the drums. But when Curt’s around, anything seems possible.’
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.
This is more of the old school rip-roaring adventure stories, though even here the author touches on some more adult themes. I like the 'future-Victoriana' setting that is presented in this, the first in a trilogy city-eat-city stories.
‘London is on the move again. The city has been lying low, skulking in the hills to avoid the bigger, faster, hungrier cities loose in the Great Hunting Ground. The great town moves off after its quarry as events within the walls begin to take a sinister turn…’
Postcards from no man’s land by Aidan Chambers.
This is a story of a young man’s journey to find out more about his dead grandfather with whom he shares his name, but in turn he finds out something important about himself. Again this ‘young adult’ book touches on sensitive and adult themes. I read this book to see how the author combined the dual stories of Jacob and his grandfather in two parallel narratives. It has given me some more ideas.
‘Jacob Todd, abroad on his own for the first time, arrives in Amsterdam for the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem where his grandfather fought 50 years before. There, Geertrui Wessling, now an old lady terminally ill, tells an extraordinary story of love and betrayal which links Jacob with her own Dutch family in a way he never suspected and which leads him to question his place in the world.’
I have also been wading through a little New Zealand history. I found the early period more interesting, and now I am having trouble in finishing it.
History of New Zealand by Michael King
Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera.
I guess most people will know this story from the film, but the book approaches the topic from a very different angle. The author spends more time on the spiritual and mystical nature of the story than the narrative, and details the significance of the imagery as it relates to the Maori culture. It is an interesting and moving read but it is not what you might expect if you only know of this author through the silver screen.
‘Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather’s love and attention. But he’s focused on his duties as chief of the Ngati Konohi in Whangara, on the East Coast – a tribe that claims descent from the legendary ‘whale rider’. In every generation since the wale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir – there’s only Kahu. She should be next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl. Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle she has a unique ally: the whale reedier himself, from whom she has inherited the ability to communicate with whales.’
Fat kid rules the world by KL Going.
This book is one of a breed of new edgier teen books and touches on subjects of suicide, sex, drugs and rock and roll.
‘What would you say to a homeless punk who just saved your life?
When Curt (skinny punk, guitar genius) stops Troy (hugely overweight social leper) from committing suicide, it’s the start of a very unlikely friendship. Troy’s family think Curt is just a junkie loser, but Troy knows there’s more to him.
Besides, life’s looking up now Curt’s arrived – with a new image and a new nickname (Big T) the fat kid finally has potential. And when Curt recruits Troy as the drummer in his punk band, it seems like Troy might be cool for the first time ever. There’s just one problem – he doesn’t know how to play the drums. But when Curt’s around, anything seems possible.’
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.
This is more of the old school rip-roaring adventure stories, though even here the author touches on some more adult themes. I like the 'future-Victoriana' setting that is presented in this, the first in a trilogy city-eat-city stories.
‘London is on the move again. The city has been lying low, skulking in the hills to avoid the bigger, faster, hungrier cities loose in the Great Hunting Ground. The great town moves off after its quarry as events within the walls begin to take a sinister turn…’
Postcards from no man’s land by Aidan Chambers.
This is a story of a young man’s journey to find out more about his dead grandfather with whom he shares his name, but in turn he finds out something important about himself. Again this ‘young adult’ book touches on sensitive and adult themes. I read this book to see how the author combined the dual stories of Jacob and his grandfather in two parallel narratives. It has given me some more ideas.
‘Jacob Todd, abroad on his own for the first time, arrives in Amsterdam for the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem where his grandfather fought 50 years before. There, Geertrui Wessling, now an old lady terminally ill, tells an extraordinary story of love and betrayal which links Jacob with her own Dutch family in a way he never suspected and which leads him to question his place in the world.’
I have also been wading through a little New Zealand history. I found the early period more interesting, and now I am having trouble in finishing it.
History of New Zealand by Michael King
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
More of wot I have watched…
StarWars III.
Well that's it then - it's all over. But was it worth it? I quite enjoyed this movie and it did seem to tie up all of the loose ends, though I am glad I didn't book the special screening that included all shows back-to-back just to get there.
Isn't amazing how Hyden Christensen's acting range improves once the mask comes down!
Sideways.
A buddy movie with wine (as long as it is not Merlot). A very well acted story of great sensitivity but it is a little on the slow side.
Spivs.
Not the best movie by a long shot, wait until there is absolutely nothing else to do before you bother with this one.
Battlestar Galactica.
The new TV series has just played out here in the UK and I enjoyed it with only a few gripes (the capture and use of a Raider in particular). I liked how they tied the old series in, the feel and effects and the new twists. You don't have to have been a fan of the original, but it does help. Sky One Link
SciFi Link
Well that's it then - it's all over. But was it worth it? I quite enjoyed this movie and it did seem to tie up all of the loose ends, though I am glad I didn't book the special screening that included all shows back-to-back just to get there.
Isn't amazing how Hyden Christensen's acting range improves once the mask comes down!
Sideways.
A buddy movie with wine (as long as it is not Merlot). A very well acted story of great sensitivity but it is a little on the slow side.
Spivs.
Not the best movie by a long shot, wait until there is absolutely nothing else to do before you bother with this one.
Battlestar Galactica.
The new TV series has just played out here in the UK and I enjoyed it with only a few gripes (the capture and use of a Raider in particular). I liked how they tied the old series in, the feel and effects and the new twists. You don't have to have been a fan of the original, but it does help. Sky One Link
SciFi Link
Roleplaying…
I am currently in a D20 modern campaign and in the occasional DragonQuest adventure.
Kevin is running a campaign set in an American modern city that is becoming the focus of supernatural activity as the Earth is becoming exposed to increasing amounts of Dark Matter. James and I play agents in a shadowy private organisation that investigates these occurrences.
I have played in several adventures run by Kiwis abroad (Dean, Ross and Adam). In all of them I have played Ular Rah Shan a confused E&E mage whose mental problems are increasingly manifesting themselves as physical side effects.
Kevin is running a campaign set in an American modern city that is becoming the focus of supernatural activity as the Earth is becoming exposed to increasing amounts of Dark Matter. James and I play agents in a shadowy private organisation that investigates these occurrences.
I have played in several adventures run by Kiwis abroad (Dean, Ross and Adam). In all of them I have played Ular Rah Shan a confused E&E mage whose mental problems are increasingly manifesting themselves as physical side effects.
The kitchen gardener…
Many of this years crop is in the ground or in seed trays in the green house and with the change in temperatures we are watering and weeding in equal measures. We have had a good few spears of asparagus and now the strawberries are starting to ripen. We are keeping mostly to our favourites this time, but we have a couple of new crop choices that we are trying; out doors we have a row of Pak Choi and in the green house we have a couple of melons.
The first of many…
Summer has come to the UK (though if you slept in that day you would have missed it).
To understand the British fascination with the weather you have to live through a few seasons here. One day it can be so cold that you have the heating on and the frosts kill the new seedlings in the garden, and the next day it is so hot that cars are overheating at the side of the road and people are wearing ill advise clothing choices.
To understand the British fascination with the weather you have to live through a few seasons here. One day it can be so cold that you have the heating on and the frosts kill the new seedlings in the garden, and the next day it is so hot that cars are overheating at the side of the road and people are wearing ill advise clothing choices.
Celebrations…
J has passed his exams and is looking forward to the summer break in Spain before returning back to Hull and continuing on with his Computer Science degree.
In another milestone J has had his 19th birthday recently. He is staying with us for a couple of days before he flies off on holiday.
We had a nice family BBQ at Deb and Fog's place where they showed us a video of their recent holiday to Australia and cooked a joint of pork and a leg of lamb in their new Weber barbie'.
In another milestone J has had his 19th birthday recently. He is staying with us for a couple of days before he flies off on holiday.
We had a nice family BBQ at Deb and Fog's place where they showed us a video of their recent holiday to Australia and cooked a joint of pork and a leg of lamb in their new Weber barbie'.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
How long?
Wow! This is about the longest I have gone without blogging. Not that nothing has happened just busy doing something else.
We have some big news that can be revealed, although many already know. We are to become migratory – at least for a while. We are planning on following the sun across the globe. After summer ends here in the northern hemisphere, around October time, we will be flying south and soaking the southern sun until April when we return for the northern spring.
We had to make sure all our nearest and dearest were ok with the idea and we are happy to report they have given us their collective blessings. This should mean that we can spend a maximum time with all of our family and friends.
Our major task is to ensure that J and the house are sorted by renting it out while we are away (if you know of someone suitable drop us a note). We need to cover the mortgage and J’s expenses and then a little left over for incidentals.
While we are down under we hope to live a slightly more frugal lifestyle and thus avoid having to work in a traditional job, existing on some small scale enterprises. We hope to start an on-line T-shirt business with some friends here in the UK, and we hope to help sell some of my folks olive produce, along with other local items at craft fairs and the like. In addition we will try our hands at the creative arts, Sue making glass jewellery, and me painting, drawing and writing.
I have continued the progress with my book, but it is slow. If I can get a couple of chapters and a synopsis down I can start sending it out to publishers for their reactions.
Spring has sprung here and I have been spending more time at the allotment with plenty of seedlings sprouting in the greenhouse. Outside it is still too early for many plants as there is still a risk of night time frosts, but we do have the onions, potatoes, some carrots and beetroot in, and we have been eating our first crop of asparagus.
We have some big news that can be revealed, although many already know. We are to become migratory – at least for a while. We are planning on following the sun across the globe. After summer ends here in the northern hemisphere, around October time, we will be flying south and soaking the southern sun until April when we return for the northern spring.
We had to make sure all our nearest and dearest were ok with the idea and we are happy to report they have given us their collective blessings. This should mean that we can spend a maximum time with all of our family and friends.
Our major task is to ensure that J and the house are sorted by renting it out while we are away (if you know of someone suitable drop us a note). We need to cover the mortgage and J’s expenses and then a little left over for incidentals.
While we are down under we hope to live a slightly more frugal lifestyle and thus avoid having to work in a traditional job, existing on some small scale enterprises. We hope to start an on-line T-shirt business with some friends here in the UK, and we hope to help sell some of my folks olive produce, along with other local items at craft fairs and the like. In addition we will try our hands at the creative arts, Sue making glass jewellery, and me painting, drawing and writing.
I have continued the progress with my book, but it is slow. If I can get a couple of chapters and a synopsis down I can start sending it out to publishers for their reactions.
Spring has sprung here and I have been spending more time at the allotment with plenty of seedlings sprouting in the greenhouse. Outside it is still too early for many plants as there is still a risk of night time frosts, but we do have the onions, potatoes, some carrots and beetroot in, and we have been eating our first crop of asparagus.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Online T-shirt enterprise…
Along with a couple of friends we are looking more seriously into the possibility of designing and selling our own range of T-shirts online. We want to keep costs down initially by limiting stock holding and investing in specialised equipment, but we still want to retain a high quality product.
We have several leads to investigate but we will be tapping friends and relations for information and support.
Remember T-shirts make an ideal gift…
We have several leads to investigate but we will be tapping friends and relations for information and support.
Remember T-shirts make an ideal gift…
On the road again…
We have a new (newer than the previous) chariot. The old Ford Mondeo was uneconomical to repair (see my earlier blog regarding the unhappy circumstances) so we splashed out £700 and bought a newer model Mondeo. Although it is lower specification (I am already missing the air-conditioning and automatic transmission), and quite tatty (dent in the door, worn trim etc.) it gets me from A to B, which is the important thing.
And it is red, and as we all know red one's go faster, after all isn't that why the paint fire engines that colour?
And it is red, and as we all know red one's go faster, after all isn't that why the paint fire engines that colour?
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
More of wot I have read…
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
This an interesting book for its cultural insights to elements of society I would not usually be exposed to. In a similar vein as Monica Ali’s Brick Lane this book exposes the challenges face by first and subsequent generations of immigrants to the UK.
It is an entertaining read full of colour and great characterisation, but it is a little long and drawn out affair, if you have the patience it is rewarding.
‘Zadie Smith's White Teeth is a delightfully cacophonous tale that spans 25 years of two families' assimilation in North London. The Joneses and the Iqbals are an unlikely a pairing of families, but their intertwined destinies distil the British Empire's history and hopes into a dazzling multiethnic melange that is a pure joy to read. Smith proves herself to be a master at drawing fully-realized, vibrant characters, and she demonstrates an extraordinary ear for dialogue. It is a novel full of humour and empathy that is as inspiring as it is enjoyable.’
This an interesting book for its cultural insights to elements of society I would not usually be exposed to. In a similar vein as Monica Ali’s Brick Lane this book exposes the challenges face by first and subsequent generations of immigrants to the UK.
It is an entertaining read full of colour and great characterisation, but it is a little long and drawn out affair, if you have the patience it is rewarding.
‘Zadie Smith's White Teeth is a delightfully cacophonous tale that spans 25 years of two families' assimilation in North London. The Joneses and the Iqbals are an unlikely a pairing of families, but their intertwined destinies distil the British Empire's history and hopes into a dazzling multiethnic melange that is a pure joy to read. Smith proves herself to be a master at drawing fully-realized, vibrant characters, and she demonstrates an extraordinary ear for dialogue. It is a novel full of humour and empathy that is as inspiring as it is enjoyable.’
Monday, April 11, 2005
More of wot I have read…
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This was an absolutely riveting and delightful read. It is one of the most enjoyable books I can remember.
It starts with what might appear at first glance a totally improbable premise, but the author's skill and involving personal plot line pulls you in gently until you find yourself hooked and unable to put the book down.
A beautiful book. God I wish I could write like that!
'A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap, and it is Audrey Niffenegger's cinematic storytelling that makes the novel's unconventional chronology so vibrantly triumphant.
An enchanting debut and a spellbinding tale of fate and belief in the bonds of love, The Time Traveler's Wife is destined to captivate readers for years to come.'
This was an absolutely riveting and delightful read. It is one of the most enjoyable books I can remember.
It starts with what might appear at first glance a totally improbable premise, but the author's skill and involving personal plot line pulls you in gently until you find yourself hooked and unable to put the book down.
A beautiful book. God I wish I could write like that!
'A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap, and it is Audrey Niffenegger's cinematic storytelling that makes the novel's unconventional chronology so vibrantly triumphant.
An enchanting debut and a spellbinding tale of fate and belief in the bonds of love, The Time Traveler's Wife is destined to captivate readers for years to come.'
Spring in an urban garden…
Our clocks have changed and the weather is trying to improve, so we went out to the allotment to start the tidy up ready for planting the new season's crops. Before we went on holiday we planted our onion and garlic sets and they are sprouting nicely. We spent a good time pulling up the weeds and unwanted raspberry runners. I took the seed potatoes out of the loft where they have been 'chitting' (we are still eating last years crop, which are also showing signs of sprouting in their sacks). Just a bit more tidying up to go and then the fun task of planting seeds begins. Hope springs…
There and back again…
We have been back in the UK a week now after our short holiday down under and already it seems like an age ago.
We visited family and friends in NZ trying to avoid the usual constant trekking about and normal holiday traps. Nevertheless we were busy most days, managed to see quite a few people and still found time to sightsee and shop.
I did get together with a bunch of guys who hung around together at school. We had a great evening reminiscing of days gone by. It seemed that while were are all becoming a little more staid and nearing our 4 decade we still feel pretty much as we did when we were 15. I wonder if every one feels like that?
We had a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur (we find it is very necessary for us to break that long flight up) and we managed to see a little of this interesting city. There appear to be a large disparity between the have and have-nots (slum suburbs and mansion houses). Some of the place has a slightly worn out look while at the same time there is a lot of brand new building going on. Being an old colony of England they drive on the same side as us and almost everybody speaks English. The city was built up with labour from China and India, so there is a great multicultural flavour (though at times you are the only white face in the crowd).
The only real tragedy in the whole trip was when I left the duty free on the trolley as we got into the taxi to come home. I was almost divorced over that (after all it is not the first time I've done it either!)
We landed back on Sunday evening and on Monday we were back at work. Oh well we need to earn the money for the next trip somehow.
We visited family and friends in NZ trying to avoid the usual constant trekking about and normal holiday traps. Nevertheless we were busy most days, managed to see quite a few people and still found time to sightsee and shop.
I did get together with a bunch of guys who hung around together at school. We had a great evening reminiscing of days gone by. It seemed that while were are all becoming a little more staid and nearing our 4 decade we still feel pretty much as we did when we were 15. I wonder if every one feels like that?
We had a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur (we find it is very necessary for us to break that long flight up) and we managed to see a little of this interesting city. There appear to be a large disparity between the have and have-nots (slum suburbs and mansion houses). Some of the place has a slightly worn out look while at the same time there is a lot of brand new building going on. Being an old colony of England they drive on the same side as us and almost everybody speaks English. The city was built up with labour from China and India, so there is a great multicultural flavour (though at times you are the only white face in the crowd).
The only real tragedy in the whole trip was when I left the duty free on the trolley as we got into the taxi to come home. I was almost divorced over that (after all it is not the first time I've done it either!)
We landed back on Sunday evening and on Monday we were back at work. Oh well we need to earn the money for the next trip somehow.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Shanks's pony...
I was in a car accident last week, though luckily I only suffered mild whiplash.
I was waiting to turn into the company car park after lunch when I was hit from behind. As I got out to investigate the bastard drove off right in front of dozens of witnesses and me - he was even perused by another driver - nobody could believe he did it. Two independent witnesses got his registration (with only one letter different), but neither number came up on the police computer - then the penny dropped - that's why he did a runner. If his plates weren't legal, than neither would be the car, and he wouldn't be taxed; MOT'd or insured.
I spent the rest of that day alternatively at the hospital and at the police station and the next two days off at home. The car is sans-bumper but even though it drives and all the lights work Sue insists that I take public transport to work until I get a new car (The car is only worth a couple of hundred quid, which is less than it would cost to fix). At least I can read my book while I am on the bus and train.
Sue has said I can get a VW Kombi if I want, but they are not cheap. Even a thirty-year-old tatty Type 2 camper is selling for £3000 to £4000. Better quality or rarer Type 1 campers can go for anything up to £10000.
I have found out that for even more money you can get a brand spanking new Type 2 Kombi (or a new 'old style' Beetle, Type 1 Golf or Caddy). VW Brazil still makes these old models and a company, Beetles UK, imports them and turns the Kombi transporter into a Camper Van.
Better check the lottery tickets again!
I was waiting to turn into the company car park after lunch when I was hit from behind. As I got out to investigate the bastard drove off right in front of dozens of witnesses and me - he was even perused by another driver - nobody could believe he did it. Two independent witnesses got his registration (with only one letter different), but neither number came up on the police computer - then the penny dropped - that's why he did a runner. If his plates weren't legal, than neither would be the car, and he wouldn't be taxed; MOT'd or insured.
I spent the rest of that day alternatively at the hospital and at the police station and the next two days off at home. The car is sans-bumper but even though it drives and all the lights work Sue insists that I take public transport to work until I get a new car (The car is only worth a couple of hundred quid, which is less than it would cost to fix). At least I can read my book while I am on the bus and train.
Sue has said I can get a VW Kombi if I want, but they are not cheap. Even a thirty-year-old tatty Type 2 camper is selling for £3000 to £4000. Better quality or rarer Type 1 campers can go for anything up to £10000.
I have found out that for even more money you can get a brand spanking new Type 2 Kombi (or a new 'old style' Beetle, Type 1 Golf or Caddy). VW Brazil still makes these old models and a company, Beetles UK, imports them and turns the Kombi transporter into a Camper Van.
Better check the lottery tickets again!
More of wot I have watched...
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
An entertaining tale though rather unnecessarily overcomplicated I thought (did miss a bit in the middle, which can't have helped). My, haven't those kids grown up!
Vera Drake
A superbly acted (perhaps a tad too much blubbering for my tastes) and very evocative cinematography lift this film above the ordinary.
Super Volcanoe
I saw an interesting docu-drama about the potential disaster of Super Volcanoes (like Taupo), and the catastrophic 'end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it' scenario. Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed.
An entertaining tale though rather unnecessarily overcomplicated I thought (did miss a bit in the middle, which can't have helped). My, haven't those kids grown up!
Vera Drake
A superbly acted (perhaps a tad too much blubbering for my tastes) and very evocative cinematography lift this film above the ordinary.
Super Volcanoe
I saw an interesting docu-drama about the potential disaster of Super Volcanoes (like Taupo), and the catastrophic 'end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it' scenario. Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Another month flies by...
We are experiencing wintry weather here in the UK at the moment with occasional flurries of snow and temperatures below 5 degrees. The heating is on most of the time, and silly hats and scarves are the order of the day. Sue got me a great 'silly hat' that looks like a cross between a Russian soldier's hat and a deerstalker with its fluffy ear flaps - I think it was a joke?
I think I am going through a mid-life crisis. My hair has grown long, I am wearing leather bracelets with cartoon t-shirts and cords. I have brought Jamie's old 3/4 guitar down from the loft and have re-strung it, tuned it and bought a book on how-to-play-guitar-for-complete-beginners. I am looking longingly at VW Combi vans and we have arranged to go to a world-music festival with our neighbours in the summer (tents, tie-dye and veggie-burgers). If you fancy sitting on the grass lacing daises in our hair and calling each other sister, why don't you come join my commune?
We have decorated (mostly) our bedroom. It was the only room we hadn't done anything with since we bought the house, so we camped in Jamie's room for the weekend and painted the walls. Unfortunately when we moved one of the bookcases it revealed a damp patch that was caused by a leaky down pipe outside, so now we need to get the builders in.
Jamie came down for a visit this weekend, the first time we have seen him since before New Years. It was great to see him again and we all had a nice time when some of the Aunts and Uncle's came over for dinner. He seems to be enjoying the student life to the full and refers to his place in Hull as home (so much so he and his flatmates have paid a deposit to stay at the house next year).
I think I am going through a mid-life crisis. My hair has grown long, I am wearing leather bracelets with cartoon t-shirts and cords. I have brought Jamie's old 3/4 guitar down from the loft and have re-strung it, tuned it and bought a book on how-to-play-guitar-for-complete-beginners. I am looking longingly at VW Combi vans and we have arranged to go to a world-music festival with our neighbours in the summer (tents, tie-dye and veggie-burgers). If you fancy sitting on the grass lacing daises in our hair and calling each other sister, why don't you come join my commune?
We have decorated (mostly) our bedroom. It was the only room we hadn't done anything with since we bought the house, so we camped in Jamie's room for the weekend and painted the walls. Unfortunately when we moved one of the bookcases it revealed a damp patch that was caused by a leaky down pipe outside, so now we need to get the builders in.
Jamie came down for a visit this weekend, the first time we have seen him since before New Years. It was great to see him again and we all had a nice time when some of the Aunts and Uncle's came over for dinner. He seems to be enjoying the student life to the full and refers to his place in Hull as home (so much so he and his flatmates have paid a deposit to stay at the house next year).
More of wot I have read…
Croydon Airport: The great Days, 1928-1939
A historical record of the beginnings of the UK's first international airport from its amalgamation of earlier military and civil sites to the outbreak of WWII and its temporary return to military use. Now the site is half open field and half housing and industrial estate with the only evidence being the airport terminal building, hotel and some obscure road names to hint at its past. Not many locals realise the importance of Croydon, and its role in early civil flying. I have been looking into the history in the hope that I can use some of the events in a children's story, perhaps linking Croydon with New Zealand with record breaking pioneers like Jean Batten.
Links
Croydon Gov
Croydon Online
A historical record of the beginnings of the UK's first international airport from its amalgamation of earlier military and civil sites to the outbreak of WWII and its temporary return to military use. Now the site is half open field and half housing and industrial estate with the only evidence being the airport terminal building, hotel and some obscure road names to hint at its past. Not many locals realise the importance of Croydon, and its role in early civil flying. I have been looking into the history in the hope that I can use some of the events in a children's story, perhaps linking Croydon with New Zealand with record breaking pioneers like Jean Batten.
Links
Croydon Gov
Croydon Online
More of wot I have watched…
The Aviator
We saw this with our friends James and Nikala, and we were not so impressed with this movie, in fact the girls both fell asleep during it. There was something about the Martin Scorsese's directing that made you feel that at anytime soon the cast were all going to burst into a song and dance routine. I have seen much better bio-pics of Howard Hughes on TV. All in all this was a bit of a let down after all the hype in the media.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This is an odd and convoluted sort of film, something I quite like, but Sue didn't. It has a good cast led by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. There are a great many scenes out of order, flashbacks and dream like sequences, which don't suit everyone, but there is a deeper level of moral and ethical subtext.
House of Flying Daggers
We saw this with Jamie, and it is his opinion that there was too much love-story and not enough flying daggers. It did make him want a sword - to Sue's obvious distress. This is a beautiful picturesque film, with wonderful characters (the lead actors are great). It has the same super-human special effects that 'crouching-tiger, hidden-dragon' had but it does have a little more plot. Great heroic adventurer fun.
Ladies in Lavender
This is a lovely, slow and touching story of hope and regret, played out by a couple of fabulous dames (Dench and Smith). In a sleepy 1930's Cornish seaside village under a cloud of war a young foreigner is cast ashore barely alive.
We saw this with our friends James and Nikala, and we were not so impressed with this movie, in fact the girls both fell asleep during it. There was something about the Martin Scorsese's directing that made you feel that at anytime soon the cast were all going to burst into a song and dance routine. I have seen much better bio-pics of Howard Hughes on TV. All in all this was a bit of a let down after all the hype in the media.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This is an odd and convoluted sort of film, something I quite like, but Sue didn't. It has a good cast led by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. There are a great many scenes out of order, flashbacks and dream like sequences, which don't suit everyone, but there is a deeper level of moral and ethical subtext.
House of Flying Daggers
We saw this with Jamie, and it is his opinion that there was too much love-story and not enough flying daggers. It did make him want a sword - to Sue's obvious distress. This is a beautiful picturesque film, with wonderful characters (the lead actors are great). It has the same super-human special effects that 'crouching-tiger, hidden-dragon' had but it does have a little more plot. Great heroic adventurer fun.
Ladies in Lavender
This is a lovely, slow and touching story of hope and regret, played out by a couple of fabulous dames (Dench and Smith). In a sleepy 1930's Cornish seaside village under a cloud of war a young foreigner is cast ashore barely alive.
Monday, February 14, 2005
More of wot I have heard…
I have eventually managed to track down a copy of ‘The Clarence Greenwood Recordings’ by Citizen Cope. Strangely enough his real name is Clarence Greenwood.
I have wanted to get a copy of this for some time now after I heard some of the songs on the Seattle radio station KEXP. It has not been released here in the UK and I’ve not heard it played on any of the local stations.
He has a bluesy gruff and very soulful sound and his lyrics are both moving and playful at the same time, irreverent and yet passionate. I think it is an album that you might put on late at night in a darkened room when you have your feet up with a glass of what-you-like in hand.
Check out his site and try some of the samples. See what you think.
I have wanted to get a copy of this for some time now after I heard some of the songs on the Seattle radio station KEXP. It has not been released here in the UK and I’ve not heard it played on any of the local stations.
He has a bluesy gruff and very soulful sound and his lyrics are both moving and playful at the same time, irreverent and yet passionate. I think it is an album that you might put on late at night in a darkened room when you have your feet up with a glass of what-you-like in hand.
Check out his site and try some of the samples. See what you think.
More of wot I have watched…
On Sunday we arranged to meet James and Nikala at the cinema late morning where we watched the incredibly moving Spanish film ‘The Sea Inside’.
This is not an easy film, based as it is on the true story of a quadriplegic’s fight for the right to end his life. Even so the acting is some of the absolute best I have ever seen and it more than maked up for the subject matter.
Take plenty of tissues to this one…
This is not an easy film, based as it is on the true story of a quadriplegic’s fight for the right to end his life. Even so the acting is some of the absolute best I have ever seen and it more than maked up for the subject matter.
Take plenty of tissues to this one…
Another lovely weekend...
Saturday we did some chores around the house and managed to get out onto the allotment getting it ready for the spring planting. I have my seed potatoes ‘chitting’ in the loft and I have put my onion sets into trays to start their roots growing. In the evening we went to a Valentines themed dinner party at Chris and Carole’s where we ate and drank more than we should have done. Very nice it was too.
Sunday we went out to the movies with James and Nikala and had a lovely roast chicken dinner and followed it with pancakes with glazed banana and maple syrup. Oh boy…
Sunday we went out to the movies with James and Nikala and had a lovely roast chicken dinner and followed it with pancakes with glazed banana and maple syrup. Oh boy…
Monday, February 07, 2005
Another year older…
Well here we go the last year of my 30’s.
Sue and I celebrated by driving down to the lovely Sussex town of Rye. Once an island defence against French invasion, it now sits miles from the see overlooking farmland. It is a bit teashops-and-antiques, but even so it is nice at this time of the year. I can imagine it would be absolutely heaving during the summer months. As it was it took us a while to find accommodation, which we did in the Borough Arms, a family run 300 year old former sailors' inn situated alongside Mermaid Street, overlooking the Strand. After a leisurely drive down we freshened up and took to the cobbled streets and had a look at the local places of interest. This did include a pub or two. We had a wonderful evening meal at the highly recommended The Flushing Inn.
On Sunday, after unwrapping a super haul of pressies (thanks everybody), we stoked up on a Full-English and set off to explore more of the countryside by car. We headed down to the coast to see the sea defences (it is a little unnerving to stand on them and realise that the sea is higher than land behind the barrier). We stopped in Hastings for a ramble around for a few hours before head back homewards.
Near home we stopped at the former Croydon Aerodrome which has an open day on the first Sunday of each month, luckily. We spent a few more hours here being told the history of England’s first International Airport and of famous flyers like Lindbergh, Kingsford-Smith, Amy Johnson, Jean Batten and many more. Many of the guides worked at the airport or flew from it and it was very inspiring to hear their stories.
Sue and I celebrated by driving down to the lovely Sussex town of Rye. Once an island defence against French invasion, it now sits miles from the see overlooking farmland. It is a bit teashops-and-antiques, but even so it is nice at this time of the year. I can imagine it would be absolutely heaving during the summer months. As it was it took us a while to find accommodation, which we did in the Borough Arms, a family run 300 year old former sailors' inn situated alongside Mermaid Street, overlooking the Strand. After a leisurely drive down we freshened up and took to the cobbled streets and had a look at the local places of interest. This did include a pub or two. We had a wonderful evening meal at the highly recommended The Flushing Inn.
On Sunday, after unwrapping a super haul of pressies (thanks everybody), we stoked up on a Full-English and set off to explore more of the countryside by car. We headed down to the coast to see the sea defences (it is a little unnerving to stand on them and realise that the sea is higher than land behind the barrier). We stopped in Hastings for a ramble around for a few hours before head back homewards.
Near home we stopped at the former Croydon Aerodrome which has an open day on the first Sunday of each month, luckily. We spent a few more hours here being told the history of England’s first International Airport and of famous flyers like Lindbergh, Kingsford-Smith, Amy Johnson, Jean Batten and many more. Many of the guides worked at the airport or flew from it and it was very inspiring to hear their stories.
More of wot I have read…
Elle Minow Pea by Mark Dunn
This book was a Christmas present from James and Nikala who bought it for its literary uniqueness. The book revolves around a famous pangram (a phrase, sentence or verse composed of all the letters of the alphabet). But it is the developing political fanaticism that drives the story and I must say that it is one of the only books where the story has actually wound me up. It is a very interesting and entertaining read.
‘As Ella Minnow Pea writes to her cousin with the latest news on the small, quiet island of Nollop, little does she imagine the crisis ahead. The letter z has fallen from the statue of Nevin Nollop, revered author of the sentence ‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’ – and the island’s rulers interpret this as a sign of divine displeasure and ban its use in any form. In a novel composed of correspondence, the loss of z is inconvenient; but far worse is to come as more letters fall and more are banned, until only l, m, n, o, p remain…
The story of a battle against tyranny, this extraordinary novel, written with an ever-shrinking alphabet, is at once a moving love story, a brilliant political allegory and an unforgettable celebration of language.'
Pompeii by Robert Harris
This is a riveting read that I couldn’t put down. I love historical novels and one, like this, based on such a famous incident adds something due to the familiarity of the subject. It is great to read an account from such a personal viewpoint.
‘A sweltering week in late August. Where better to enjoy the last days of summer than on the beautiful Bay of Naples?
But even as Rome’s richest citizens relax in their villas around Pompeii and Herculaneum, there are ominous warnings that something is going wrong. Wells and springs are falling, a man has disappeared, and now the greatest aqueduct in the world – the mighty Aqua Augusta – has suddenly ceased to flow…
Through the eyes of four characters – a young engineer, an adolescent girl, a corrupt millionaire and an elderly scientist – Robert Harris brilliantly recreates a luxurious world on the brink of destruction.'
This book was a Christmas present from James and Nikala who bought it for its literary uniqueness. The book revolves around a famous pangram (a phrase, sentence or verse composed of all the letters of the alphabet). But it is the developing political fanaticism that drives the story and I must say that it is one of the only books where the story has actually wound me up. It is a very interesting and entertaining read.
‘As Ella Minnow Pea writes to her cousin with the latest news on the small, quiet island of Nollop, little does she imagine the crisis ahead. The letter z has fallen from the statue of Nevin Nollop, revered author of the sentence ‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’ – and the island’s rulers interpret this as a sign of divine displeasure and ban its use in any form. In a novel composed of correspondence, the loss of z is inconvenient; but far worse is to come as more letters fall and more are banned, until only l, m, n, o, p remain…
The story of a battle against tyranny, this extraordinary novel, written with an ever-shrinking alphabet, is at once a moving love story, a brilliant political allegory and an unforgettable celebration of language.'
Pompeii by Robert Harris
This is a riveting read that I couldn’t put down. I love historical novels and one, like this, based on such a famous incident adds something due to the familiarity of the subject. It is great to read an account from such a personal viewpoint.
‘A sweltering week in late August. Where better to enjoy the last days of summer than on the beautiful Bay of Naples?
But even as Rome’s richest citizens relax in their villas around Pompeii and Herculaneum, there are ominous warnings that something is going wrong. Wells and springs are falling, a man has disappeared, and now the greatest aqueduct in the world – the mighty Aqua Augusta – has suddenly ceased to flow…
Through the eyes of four characters – a young engineer, an adolescent girl, a corrupt millionaire and an elderly scientist – Robert Harris brilliantly recreates a luxurious world on the brink of destruction.'
Old Folk Heads…
Planxty might not ring any bells for many people unless you are an original folky. For those in the know they are one of the most popular Irish Folk bands of the 70’s and a vehicle for the skills of Donal Lunny (bouzouki, vocals), Andy Irvine (bouzouki, mandola), Liam O’Flynn (uilleann pipes), and Christy Moore (guitar, vocals). After two decades the band has got together again to tour the UK. We took Terry and Joyce (old folkys) who are very familiar with Planxty (Their dog is called Liam, the neighbours is Flynn).
We had a lovely Italian meal at Vecchio Parioli near the Barbican tube station. It had a very interesting and delicious menu.
We saw Planxty playing at the barbican on 30th January. The warm up act was another Irish artist called Luka Bloom. The guys came on a played solidly without break for what seamed like a couple of hours. Totally awesome they were too. If you haven’t heard uilleann pipes they are something else, and nobody knows how to play them better than Liam O’Flynn.
We had a lovely Italian meal at Vecchio Parioli near the Barbican tube station. It had a very interesting and delicious menu.
We saw Planxty playing at the barbican on 30th January. The warm up act was another Irish artist called Luka Bloom. The guys came on a played solidly without break for what seamed like a couple of hours. Totally awesome they were too. If you haven’t heard uilleann pipes they are something else, and nobody knows how to play them better than Liam O’Flynn.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
After a long while I have again been playing DQ as Ular Rah Shan (though not quite as you might remember him - this is an old picture, but things have changed - ask the others!).
Dean ran a short campaign to the land of OZ. Things were never quite as they seemed which resulted in ever increasing levels of paranoia with humorous results. Michelle, Marc, Terry and Ross played the mixed level party and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. It was fun.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
More of wot I have watched…
We had a full-on evening on Saturday when we had a few friends and family over for dinner. Sue's sister, Deb, and husband Foggy, newlyweds Terry and Alexis and neighbours Deb and Dave came over. Deb, Fog, Terry and Alexis had recently returned from Australia where Terry and Alexis were married. Alexis didn't manage to last the night and had to be carried to bed.
In the morning after we saw Terry and Alexis off, Sue and I decided to get some fresh air and went for a long walk through the nearby park. Afterwards we took the tram to the entertainment complex where we had a bite to eat and then watched (or in Sue's case slept through) the film, Team America - World Police (the film that's putting the 'F' back into freedom).
This is some crazy puppet shit. Coming from the creators of South Park it has a lot of adult (or adolescent) themes. If you are someone who is easily offended then this is not a film for you. There is total puppet nudity and full sex, extreme violence resulting in dismembered puppets and destruction of several cities, and large amounts of profanity in outrageous accents (we actually saw the subtitled version and I think it helps!).
The best bits for me were the Cairo 'cantina' scene (hey! This looks and sounds familiar - does George Lucas know?), and the Kim Jong Il's song 'I'm so ronery'.
In the morning after we saw Terry and Alexis off, Sue and I decided to get some fresh air and went for a long walk through the nearby park. Afterwards we took the tram to the entertainment complex where we had a bite to eat and then watched (or in Sue's case slept through) the film, Team America - World Police (the film that's putting the 'F' back into freedom).
This is some crazy puppet shit. Coming from the creators of South Park it has a lot of adult (or adolescent) themes. If you are someone who is easily offended then this is not a film for you. There is total puppet nudity and full sex, extreme violence resulting in dismembered puppets and destruction of several cities, and large amounts of profanity in outrageous accents (we actually saw the subtitled version and I think it helps!).
The best bits for me were the Cairo 'cantina' scene (hey! This looks and sounds familiar - does George Lucas know?), and the Kim Jong Il's song 'I'm so ronery'.
Friday, January 14, 2005
More of wot I have read…
Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson
This is a good book but a slight departure for Gibson as it deals in the present rather than the Cyber-Punk future he is more commonly known for. Much of what is in this book is already out there, even if only at the fringes. I like a bit of conspiracy theory and this has it by the bucket load.
'It's only called paranoia if you can't prove it.
Cayce is in London to work. Her pathological sensitivity to brands makes her the perfect divining rod for an ad agency that wants to test a new logo. But when she is co-opted into a search for the creator of a strangely addictive on-line film, Cayce wonders if she has done the right - or indeed, safe - thing. And that's before violence, Japanese computer crazies and Russian Mafia men are in the mix. But she wants to discover the source of the film too, and the truth of her fathers disappearance in New York, two years ago. And from the way people are trying to stop her, it looks like she's getting close…'
This is a good book but a slight departure for Gibson as it deals in the present rather than the Cyber-Punk future he is more commonly known for. Much of what is in this book is already out there, even if only at the fringes. I like a bit of conspiracy theory and this has it by the bucket load.
'It's only called paranoia if you can't prove it.
Cayce is in London to work. Her pathological sensitivity to brands makes her the perfect divining rod for an ad agency that wants to test a new logo. But when she is co-opted into a search for the creator of a strangely addictive on-line film, Cayce wonders if she has done the right - or indeed, safe - thing. And that's before violence, Japanese computer crazies and Russian Mafia men are in the mix. But she wants to discover the source of the film too, and the truth of her fathers disappearance in New York, two years ago. And from the way people are trying to stop her, it looks like she's getting close…'
Global Dimming…
I saw a thought-provoking documentary last night on Horizon about Global Dimming. Why the sun seems to be 'dimming'.
It turns out that the rich polluting European countries may have been responsible for the horrific Ethiopian droughts of several decades ago. Unfortunately the 'cleaning' (removing particles but not removing greenhouse gasses) could actually create a far worse problem to come.
Are we actually ruining the world for OUR children?
'Scientists are now worried that dimming, by shielding the oceans from the full power of the Sun, may be disrupting the pattern of the world's rainfall.
There are suggestions that dimming was behind the droughts in sub-Saharan Africa, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the 1970s and 80s.
There are disturbing hints the same thing may be happening today in Asia, home to half the world's population.
"My main concern is global dimming is also having a detrimental impact on the Asian monsoon," says Professor Veerhabhadran Ramanathan, professor of climate and atmospheric sciences at the University of California, San Diego. "We are talking about billions of people."
Even the most pessimistic forecasts of global warming may now have to be drastically revised upwards.
That means a temperature rise of 10 degrees Celsius by 2100 could be on the cards, giving the UK a climate like that of North Africa, and rendering many parts of the world uninhabitable.
That is unless we act urgently to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases.'
It turns out that the rich polluting European countries may have been responsible for the horrific Ethiopian droughts of several decades ago. Unfortunately the 'cleaning' (removing particles but not removing greenhouse gasses) could actually create a far worse problem to come.
Are we actually ruining the world for OUR children?
'Scientists are now worried that dimming, by shielding the oceans from the full power of the Sun, may be disrupting the pattern of the world's rainfall.
There are suggestions that dimming was behind the droughts in sub-Saharan Africa, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the 1970s and 80s.
There are disturbing hints the same thing may be happening today in Asia, home to half the world's population.
"My main concern is global dimming is also having a detrimental impact on the Asian monsoon," says Professor Veerhabhadran Ramanathan, professor of climate and atmospheric sciences at the University of California, San Diego. "We are talking about billions of people."
Even the most pessimistic forecasts of global warming may now have to be drastically revised upwards.
That means a temperature rise of 10 degrees Celsius by 2100 could be on the cards, giving the UK a climate like that of North Africa, and rendering many parts of the world uninhabitable.
That is unless we act urgently to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases.'
Legalisation of drugs…
The BBC 'If…' series has been very good. It is an accessible introduction to some very controversial, but increasingly possible, 'what if' worst case scenarios. It combines drama and documentary to present a well-balanced view of how the world might become if certain things continue the way they appear to be heading.
This week's subject was 'If… drugs were legal' and proved to be very believable and frightening.
What do you think is the right thing to do?
This week's subject was 'If… drugs were legal' and proved to be very believable and frightening.
What do you think is the right thing to do?
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Back to work…
Well here we go again, back at the grind stone (actually the extra effort made before Christmas means I have enough time to Blog - so at least I can ease back into it slowly).
Now we start making plans for the year to come (every weekend from now until the 14th Feb is full already).
Looking forward to the holidays…
Now we start making plans for the year to come (every weekend from now until the 14th Feb is full already).
Looking forward to the holidays…
More of wot I have watched…
We went to see Lemony Snicket's - a Series of Unfortunate Events, starring Jim Carrey as the evil Count Olaf. This is a dreadfully wonderful children's movie that has plenty to keep the grown-ups entertained too.
The movie is based on a series of Lemony Snicket books that are very popular in America.
Almost an equivalent to the Harry Potter series.
We went with James and Nikala to the early afternoon showing and invited them back to ours for dinner. Sue had got a pasta maker for Christmas so we decided to try it out on friends. Once you role the sheets you are supposed to leave them to dry a little before you pass them through the cutters (unfortunately we left them to dry for a couple of hour while we went to the movies - so some of them didn't come out to well). Also the cutter has a dodge cog that keeps coming out of mesh, stopping the pasta from feeding properly. Nevertheless together we all managed to make more than enough pasta for the four of us, and we all agreed it definitely tastes better freshly made.
The movie is based on a series of Lemony Snicket books that are very popular in America.
Almost an equivalent to the Harry Potter series.
We went with James and Nikala to the early afternoon showing and invited them back to ours for dinner. Sue had got a pasta maker for Christmas so we decided to try it out on friends. Once you role the sheets you are supposed to leave them to dry a little before you pass them through the cutters (unfortunately we left them to dry for a couple of hour while we went to the movies - so some of them didn't come out to well). Also the cutter has a dodge cog that keeps coming out of mesh, stopping the pasta from feeding properly. Nevertheless together we all managed to make more than enough pasta for the four of us, and we all agreed it definitely tastes better freshly made.
Happy New Year…
We spent our New Years at home with a few friends (Deb, Dave & little Tom, and Dean & Michelle) engaging in our favourite activities of eating and drinking. Sue had made a wonderful Moroccan inspired meal starting with spiced vegetable pies, lamb filo parcels, and samosas. The main course was lamb stuffed with dried fruits and covered in harisa. Dave made a delicious Italian custard desert. We washed this down with a few wines, some with bubbles, and topped it of with something stronger from the spirit cabinet.
We saw the New Year in with kisses and hugs and phone calls but soon after we turned in, no long sessions for us.
We were slow to start the next day and we were trying to recharge our batteries with caffeine at breakfast with Dean and Michelle when we had a call inviting us up into town to meet some Kiwi friends for lunch. So we found our selves a few hours latter eating Chinese in China Town with Marc & Heather, Terry and Ross.
Sue and I returned home to rest in front of the television.
Happy New Year to you all…
We saw the New Year in with kisses and hugs and phone calls but soon after we turned in, no long sessions for us.
We were slow to start the next day and we were trying to recharge our batteries with caffeine at breakfast with Dean and Michelle when we had a call inviting us up into town to meet some Kiwi friends for lunch. So we found our selves a few hours latter eating Chinese in China Town with Marc & Heather, Terry and Ross.
Sue and I returned home to rest in front of the television.
Happy New Year to you all…
More of wot I have read…
Billy: by Pamela Stephenson
This is an interesting and entertaining book if you are a fan of Billy Connolly. It is well written and captures Billy's 'voice' well in many places. The only downfall is Pamela Stephenson's habit of name-dropping can become a bit overdone.
It gives you a feel of the difficulties Billy had to endure and overcome in his early childhood which fashioned his outlook and give rise to many of his insecurities and manias. But overall it shows that he has an uncommon view of life and the ability that borders on genius for bring that viewpoint out to an audience.
The only time I have seen him live I was made helpless from laughing so much that I couldn't move or breathe from the ache in my side.
This is an interesting and entertaining book if you are a fan of Billy Connolly. It is well written and captures Billy's 'voice' well in many places. The only downfall is Pamela Stephenson's habit of name-dropping can become a bit overdone.
It gives you a feel of the difficulties Billy had to endure and overcome in his early childhood which fashioned his outlook and give rise to many of his insecurities and manias. But overall it shows that he has an uncommon view of life and the ability that borders on genius for bring that viewpoint out to an audience.
The only time I have seen him live I was made helpless from laughing so much that I couldn't move or breathe from the ache in my side.
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