ivanhoe (1952) -richard thorpe

Starring Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe, and Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor as the love interests, this is very similar to 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood', starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (Fontaine's sister), only it's not as good.  Although Ivanhoe also features Robin Hood, the basic premise is the same.  Richard The Lionheart (Richard 1) is held captive abroad, and his evil brother John (Guy Rolfe) takes the throne in his absence.  Ivanoe (or Robin Hood) is loyal to Richard, battles John's men, and seeks the hand of the fair maiden.  Good for a bit of escapism, and as l have loads of time on my hands at present due to being off work but pretty much housebound, it was worth viewing. However, the film isn't that good (and features some cringe worthy singing at the start). Elizabeth Taylor looks great, and King John is suitably evil, but that's about it.  Give this a miss and go for the Robin Hood film instead.


toodle pip

chest update

Ah it's fantastic being off work.  I can potter about, drink and eat what l want, read, watch TV and go on the computer, but l can't do anything like stretching to change the cat tray or clean out the rabbit.  What a great result!!  The footie has just about started again, and with a bit of luck, we may even get some sunshine.   This is what the wound is looking like at the moment, still sore, and it is preventing me sleeping properly, but that's a price worth paying.  Hurrah! to modern medicine.

toodle pip

the bleeding flu

I blame Ritchie, as he said he had a sore throat/headache etc the other day, but l have gone and got myself the flu, which is, quite literally, a pain. I got a phone call today to say old Joe was going to the pub for the first time in months, but l was aching and sneezing so much, l went and got a hot bath instead. I had already taken annual leave today as l didn't feel like going into work, and thought l'd be good and not go sick. Things are so bad, l nearly had an accident and crapped my pants, but managed to avoid it (for now). Once again - l blame God. I'm sure he/she has got it in for me.

toodle pip

the bridge (bron / broen) tv series (2011)

As the FPO has been off work this week, it has given us a chance to catch up with some of the stuff on the Sky+ box, one of which has been the series 'The Bridge'. A joint Danish and Swedish production (known also as Bron and Broen), this was ten one hour episodes of pure class. A woman is found on the Oresunde    Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, and it turns out that it is two separate women, cut in half. The two police forces have to work together to try and find the killer, who then starts putting out messages on the internet, and uses a reporter to relay messages. The two people heading the investigation are the polar opposites of one another. Martin Rohde  (Kim Bodnia) is a jovial philandering man trying to unite his (current) family, while Saga Noren (Sofia Helin) is a serious straight talking woman who finds it difficult to relate socially (probably due to some aspect of Autism / Aspergers). Of course they have to learn to get along and trust each other, but there is lots more to it. Lots, lots more. Like 'The Killing', it kept the levels of suspense up all the way through, the acting and writing was great, and it had you guessing at various outcomes with each passing episode. Superb.
Next up - Borgen!

toodle pip

outside the wine bar at work

Life can be great. As part of my work duties, l ended up sitting outside my local pub (Hunters / The Wine Bar at Catterick) on a glorious day full of bright sunshine.
Bliss.
Later on, after finishing work, l resumed the sitting outside and drinking duties.
Keeping it sweet.

toodle pip

out and about at hospitals

My exciting life part 42. I have been out and about a bit this week, including visiting hospitals hither and a yonder. I had to go to the Catterick one yesterday evening for an emergency out of hours doctor (for work), and earlier on in the week l was at Northalleton, visiting someone and taking someone else (work again) for an appointment. That's without the trips to James Cook at Middlesbrough.
At Catterick hospital, the only other person l saw was the doctor, as there wasn't even anyone on the gate when l drove in (excellent security), no one in the corridors, and on the way out l just ignored the security post and didn't stop, as it still looked empty.
Northalleron hospital was busy (apart from the waiting room), but l wanted to avoid photographing other people, so it looks as though a plague has struck.
Still, it's always a ride out and something different to do, so there is no way l am complaining about it, it's great to get out and about as far as l am concerned.
Bring it on.

toodle pip

off work and crying to john prine and the trip

Here's John singing the tale of the two girls and a rocky marriage



Bonnie Raitt singing John's Angel from Montgomery, which she has made her own. Some superb lyrics and a real feel of regret and yearning

If dreams were thunder
Lightning was desire
This old house it would've burned down
A long time ago


I'm still off work and been indoors for the majority of the time, which is fine by me. However, l am still going to bed really late and then waking and getting up early, so l have had a distinct lack of sleep for the last couple of weeks. This has resulted in a tear coming to my eye whenever l have been listening to sentimental songs, or watching decent comedy. This has not been helped by listening to some John Prine and watching The Trip (more from that later). Saying that, it's great! Makes you feel alive (and surprised l have a still functioning heart (albeit a dodgy one), not a lump of black coal in it's place).
Might have an early night tonight though, as post is expected tomorrow, and l don't want to sleep through the knocking.


toodle pip

the hurt locker (2008) - kathryn bigelow

Although l enjoyed The Hurt Locker, it still fell into the old cliché of having a maverick (William James - played by Jeremy Renner) having issues, being a loner, working to his own methods, and  putting others in danger (but obviously getting results), to such an extent, his performance felt like a parody (although it was praised by most).
The film was also let down by some of the unbelievable sequences, such as James going out of the compound by himself looking for a child's killers, and also persuading his two colleagues to give chase where they think a bomber is hiding (it's best if we split up'), without informing anyone else, and after being told that 'It's infantry's job').
There is enough tension involved with the areas and situations that they were put in, let alone the dismantling of the bombs, without having to go down the same route as so many other movies.
I thought they should have just shown the squad at an arbitrary point in time, and the tensions they are under. Squad members (not those sort of members) could have been fired at and blown up at random, with no great rhyme or reason, and new blood shown taking their places. Then, you would have ongoing, relentless tension, as you would never be who (if any) would survive any of the incidents (like at the beginning of the film).
The film could also just end at a random point, with more new squad members arriving (or straight after another death), to highlight that the insanity just goes on.
I should have been involved in sorting this out before it was made, it would have been so much better and hard hitting. Ah well, close but no cigar.
Next time, they should call me first.

toodle pip

the stupid cat in the morning

The only trouble with being off work and then trying to have a lie in, is Jack, our stupid bleeding black and white cat.
She is about 21 years old, pretty death, blind and cronky nowadays. She also sleeps right outside of the bedroom door, and because she is used to the FPO getting up early every morning, she just meows constantly for her food to be put out at that time. It's no good shouting at her to shut up, as she can't hear us, so it's a matter of wearing earplugs or having to get up, trying to resist the temptation to boot her down the stairs for some peace and quiet (the cat, not the FPO). If there was any kind of God, she would have lost her voice, rather than her hearing. Bloody thing.

toodle pip

still off work with a sprained ankle

The good news for me is that l am still off work, as the doctor has now signed me off for another week or so  due to my ankle still being bad (I'm now due back to work on the 25th Feb). Not so good news for the FPO, as she is now cursing everytime she leaves the house in the morning, leaving me asleep in the nice warm bed after being up till silly o'clock (no change there then). I can't even say she is cheerful when she comes in later, as l am usually sitting with my feet up watching a film or reading.
Also, regarding the technology problems, on the good news front, the washing machine and hoover are both fixed (although the washing machine cost £60), the kindle and web counter been sorted, and l have also repaired one of my ipods.
Results all round!!
Right - back to reading, music, TV and the internet.
Life is hard (for some).

toodle pip

crappy bloody stinking snowy weather

After the rather excellent January we had, the snow that fell at the beginning of February is taking some time to shift. Although l have been indoors 99% of the time while l have been off work, it's still annoying. Then again, it doesn't take a lot to annoy me.
There had better not be any more snow tonight, as l am planning to go to the Boro tomorrow to watch the Manchester United v Liverpool game with Robbo (and maybe see the baby).

toodle pip

bananas (1971) - woody allen

One of the classic early Woody Allen films, Bananas has Woody (as Fielding Mellish) falling for Nancy (Louise Lasser), losing her, and then going on holiday to San Marcos to get over it.
Unfortunately, he is set up to be killed as a patsy, but escapes and joins a gang of rebels, becoming their leader (as the old one let power go to his head).
He comes back to the USA, where he is recognised, put on trial, but still gets the girl in the end.
Some classic dialogue and physical comedy, but l preferred watching it years ago, when it still seemed fresh, not as it is now (dated).
Nowadays l prefer the 'Annie Hall' type films of his, but l would still rather watch this than most of what passes for American 'comedies' these days.
And yes, it did feature a young Sylvester Stallone bullying Woody on the subway.

toodle pip.

the killing (forbrydelsen) - series 2

Because l have been off work, there has been time to catch up on some of the Christmas time TV series, so, after ploughing through a couple of episodes a night, this has just been ticked off.
Once again Sarah Lund (Sofie Grabol) is back to investigate a killing, and then it all gets a bit complicated. The first series of  The Killing was up there as of the best things l have ever seen on TV, and this series can also be placed on such a high pedestal.
Afghanistan, punishment killings, false leads, racism, corrupt (and idealistic) politicians, romance, back stabbing and power games, madness........It's all there, and every episode manages to end on a cliffhanger.
Apart from the odd moment of shouting at the TV because leads weren't followed, or Sarah taking too many risks by herself (again), this was brilliant throughout. However, it's certainly not good for my dodgy ticker, as some of it was edge of the seat stuff (and squeaky bum time).
Brilliant - and Morse and the like can bugger off, there is no comparison at all to this kind of quality.
Time for a lie down, before series three comes out.

toodle pip

raising arizona (1987) - the coen brothers

I hadn't seen Raising Arizona for years, and l must admit, l had forgotten how good it was. I like the Coen brothers films anyway, but for some crazy unfathomable reason, when remembering this one, l didn't think it was up to much (Duh!). Probably watched it under the influence or something, as there was plenty for me to enjoy.
Herbert 'Hi' McDunnough (Nicholas Cage), falls for  a cop (Holly Hunter) while getting arrested all the time, and they eventually set up home together. Because she can't have a baby, they decide to steal one from a rich business man who's wife has just given birth to five, but things don't go according to plan (what a surprise). Two convict buddies (the Snoats brothers) escape and come to stay with them, and they are also being hunted down by a bounty hunter, Leonard Smalls 'The lone biker of the apocalypse'. Superb stuff.

toolde  pip