the guardian christmas party

An excellent tweet from Steve Stewart-Williams

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mr c and the h bomb

Christmas 2014 at The Robinsons.

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wayne king - have yourself a merry little christmas

I will try to, but l don't think l can manage a whole orchestra.

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dear santa

My card is in the post.

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the youngsters and christmas drinks at my sisters house

 

Adam and Hayley

Kelly and Connor

I was around at my sisters house a couple of evenings ago, dropping of the usual money and books for Christmas, and ended up staying there for about six hours, drinking plenty of spirits, eating cheese, and chatting with Linda, Shane and the youngsters above.  I even came away with some book recommendations from them ('I am Pilgrim' and 'Soldaten'), although it's hard to believe that Hayley will be 21 and finishing University next year, and Kelly will be 18 and starting.
They both still look about 12 to me, and the time has flown on by (in the blink of an eye!) since they were both young sprogs.

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out and about in december

Christmas is over and l am now looking forward to the New bleeding year.  Meanwhile, I've been about and about in December, hence some of the photographs above.  More trips to the dentist, meals out in Catterick Village, and visits to pubs in Newcastle, Darlington, Middlesbrough and locally.
I've just finished work for a few days, missed my link up with the FPO, and Mr Parrot is still hugely entertaining.
Time to crack on with what l laughingly know as reality, and yes, that is Shaun Ryder in the bottom picture.

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christmas is cancelled

After giving it some thought, Christmas was shite when l was a kid, and l'm not ecstatic about this years celebrations either.  Therefore, it's pretty much cancelled, and l am having a break, but will probably return sometime in the new year.  Yo ho ho

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the rich loving santa

How very true.  Santa does indeed, give more to rich kids than the poor.
Signed digital prints are available by the artist here.

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great expectations - bbc three part drama (2011)

I finally got around to watching Great Expectations while l was at work, as it had been gnawing away at my subconscious since Christmas, but l kept putting it off. Everyone knows that it is from the novel by Charles Dickens (although l have never read it), and the film version from 1946 is a bit of an old classic, but this was a pretty fine adaptation.
I thought Gillian Anderson's portrayal of Miss Havisham was the highlight of the series, and Ray Winstone played Magwitch as only Ray Winstone can, like a threatening geezer (whether that is good or bad, take your pick).
Much better than l thought it would be for a BBC production, as they are usually acted in a too middle classy way for my liking (if that makes any sense).
Who knows, l may even get around to reading the book one day (when l am dead and l've got some time on my hands).

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this is england 1988

I can't believe that l forgot to post about This is England 88. It was on over Christmas and is another of the Shane Meadows series following various characters over a period of time around the Midlands (Nottingham/Sheffield) area.  It is one of the best things that has been on TV in the last few years, and the more you know about the people involved, the more you get swept up by their stories, their trials (literally in some cases), tribulations, and their general struggles at survival. There are betrayals, aggression, depression, humour, hallucinations, suicide attempts, questions of faith and class struggles. What more could you possibly want from your Christmas fare?  Happy stuff?  In that case, look elsewhere, as this was one of the most depressing things on over the Yuletide festivities, with the FPO weeping nearly all the way through the three episodes.  Great stuff.

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some photos from christmas time

The Arc (with the back of Jacket and Doghead)

Mick and Gails

The tree being put up

Louise and Dazzers

Our street

Robbo and Kerries

Two fat Geese

Joe's place

Some sheep waiting to be slaughtered

Stocking up on some booze

What a gay old time was had by all.

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the bacon tree for christmas (as chris rea never sang)

Thinking about Christmas and all the tasty food that goes along with it, this image entered my mind. That's the sort of Christmas tree l want this year - a bacon one (maybe with a pork pie on top).

As the good Lord Homer would say, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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please please let me get what I want - the john lewis advert and this is england

There has been a lot of praise for the new John Lewis Christmas advert which uses 'Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' by The Smiths as the music (but sang by Slow Moving Millie - AKA Amelia Warner from Liverpool - AKA Colin Farrell's ex wife). Now I love that song, and there is no way l am going to knock it (or the treacly, saccharine, rosy tinted advert), but to me, my favourite version of the song will always be the one used (performed by Clayhill) at the end of 'This Is England' by Shane Meadows. Very emotive indeed, especially if you have been following the story.

There is also a new series (three episodes) of 'This is England' on Tuesday nights and starting this week! Hurrah!!!!!!!

Watch it.

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batman re-enacts christmas in sunny catterick

As it's the first of December, l thought l would post this, as it is a re-enactment of the way l respond to the FPO when she dares to quiz me about Christmas (me being a poor orphan boy and all of that).

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christmas with cliff

What kind of new Hell is this?

Christmas?

With Cliff?

With the Daily Mail?

No thanks - l think l'm busy.

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new amy winehouse album - lioness : hidden treasures

This will certainly be plugged a lot pretty damn soon (and will probably sell bucketloads). I bet as soon as she died the record company were thinking about how to get their moneys worth out of the Christmas market and their newly deceased star.

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the fpo's present is sorted for christmas

I am looking forward to seeing the FPO's face as she unwraps this present on Christmas day!

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old christmas card

Also amongst the crap today - an old Christmas card l made - here's the inside of it. Don't think my cartooning skills have improved since then (I think this is from about 1991).

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recent books finished - nikki sixx - the heroin diaries, soft - rupert thomson and hunter s thompson - fear and loathing in las vegas

This was a Christmas present from Robbo, sex drugs and rock and roll all the way (and l don't even like Motley Crue). A bit repetitive but amazing the kind of lifestyle that he was living at the time. Of course he was fucked up from his childhood and has now discovered God and sobriety, but what a life he had (Nikki, not Robbo).

Bought this second hand a week or so ago and really enjoyed it. It involves subliminal advertising and interlinked characters with more than a hint of menace, but I was very impressed with it. I will have to get some more of his stuff (if l see them cheap)

Another book about drugs, wild times and being way out there with your buddy. I read it again just before Christmas and also bought it for Robbo as one of his Christmas presents. I guess we had the same kind of idea regarding the books as he had got me the Nikki Sixx one (see above). This is a classic, a mad episode covering a race in the desert and a police conference in Vegas, and thus inventing Gonzo journalism. The DVD is pretty good as well, l can relate to the acid trips etc as l used to be wilder when l was younger. Now it's boring old fart time, which is probably why myself and Robbo thought of these books, it reminds us of a happy, carefree, drug filled time of exploration and buddyship. Happy days.

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