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).
This is from 1937, it's aprox 74 years old and it has survived a World War. I found it amongst my crap today and thought l'd flog it. A quick look on Ebay later, and l have decided l might as well keep the bloody thing, as copies are on sale for about a fiver or so. What the Hell is going on? Things like this should have been my pension fund. The world is going to pot and l don't understand it any more.
Whilst l was sorting out some crap today l found these little beauties, two pennants from about 1973 that l had stashed away. I have always supported Manchester United (it's a long story), but when l used to live at RAF Benson, about 10 miles from Oxford, l used to go and watch all their home games. The bottom two programmes are on sale on Ebay at the moment from the 1973/74 season, one of them being Bristol City on 20th April 1974, so it was just over 27 years ago l was at that. Christ on a bike, what an old bastard l am. Luckily l already have those programmes in my extensive collection. Obviously, because l am a sad hoarding git, l bought all of the programmes at the time, and have not thrown any away. Hurrah!
After finishing The Invisibles yesterday, l thought l would re-read Arkham Asylum again, as it has been a while (It originally came out in 1989). Impressive storytelling and impressionistic artwork by Dave McKean, once again, far removed from most peoples ideas of 'comics'. Batman goes into the Asylum (as the inmates have taken it over) and confronts his own past and madness. Grant Morrison said 
What a load of crap this was (and not just for the people at the back). It's a Tom Six film which is meant to represent a reflection on fascism blah blah blah, but it is just an exploitative horror film that aims to shock, with a mad scientist stitching three people together (obviously against their will). He keeps the women topless, so it's not all bad, but it's certainly not very good. I am friends with a certain person who may get some kicks from it, but he is a very sad and disturbed man (and he knows it). I don't think l will bother watching any follow ups.
It's great being off work. Watched this earlier and enjoyed it, but l was expecting more from Scorsese, as l had heard and read good things beforehand, so the experience turned out to be a slight disappointment, although l did think it was good, and was glad l had seen it. Marshal Edward (Teddy) Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner go to Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island to look for a patient who has gone missing, but there are obviously twists and turns along the investigation........
This was OK, although it could have done with being a bit shorter. Nevada Smith (Steve McQueen) parents are murdered, then he goes looking for revenge on the three men that did it. McQueen plays a youngish lad in the film, who does not know how to use a gun properly, has never been in a saloon, and is useless at trailing and looking after himself (until he gets some help). This, despite the fact McQueen was in his 30's when filming it,and looks it. 
Anyone who thinks comics are for kids should try reading these. It is a tale of time travel, space and old gods, not told in a particularly linear fashion. Hard going, and l should know, l have just read issues 1-8. It's very clever, and l like Grant Morrison,'s attitude (he suggested a wankathon to boost sales for this), but l prefer easier to read comics like good old spidey (or maybe l am just a bit thick).
Another great French film (by Jean-Pierre Jeunet) with subtitles. This was hilarious in places and really quirky (those crazy French!). Bazil (Dany Boon) gets a bullet in his head, gets befriended by street people, and sets two arms manufacturers against each other, while falling in love with Elastic girl (Julie Ferrier). Brilliant. I really love Jeunet's earlier films such as Delicatessen (1991) and The City of Lost Children (1995), and although it was completely different, Amélie (2001), was also pretty good. It's a shame he is not doing Life of Pi , as l enjoyed the book and would have liked to have seen what Jeunet would have done with that, but hey ho.
This has finally finished and it was without doubt one of the best things l have ever seen on TV. Sarah Lund may have been tunnel visioned and put herself in danger all the time, but she eventually got the job done.
I am a man who some people may say is an idiot who collects a lot of crap. Admittedly, l do horde stuff, and l also nick menus from restaurants and suchlike. When l went to see The Rolling Stones a few years ago, l climbed up the scaffolding (it was an outdoor gig at Newcastle United's ground, St James' Park), and, with a knife l borrowed from a Hells Angel, cut down a large advertising banner, which l later sold at Sothebeys auction house. 
What a show this is. l have been listening to it tonight whilst pottering about, and it is superb, with great sound quality. Get it now! You don't have to look too far on the old web (l got it on a megaupload download from guitars 101).
I finished work at 8pm this evening and have the place to myself as the FPO is having a girls night out in Richmond, so it's all blissful until l have to go and pick her up at midnight (when she turns into a pumpkin).
Not sure what to say to this one - don't know if the lad is in pain or reaching a sexual climax.
Go on my Dear....drink some more Absinthe....nothing is going to happen to you.......l'll protect you......you can trust me...........l'm a gentleman..........etc etc
I have just seen on the news that Dame Elizabeth Taylor has died today aged 79. When l were a lad, she was always in the news, either because of her marriages (especially to Richard Burton), old films, or later lunacy and Aids benefits.
These are from a few days ago, after the meal at The Otter and Fish, but l have just transferred some camera photos to the computer. What a gay day it was.
It's funny how the memory can be so hit and miss. I have just watched this again and bits of it slowly came back to me as it was going along. I was sure l had seen the film before (which might have been 20 years ago), but could not remember anything about it. As it went on, l had sudden bursts of memory returning, so l knew it had something to do with woods, then someone not getting shot, but that was about it. Basically, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is working with a crime boss played by Albert Finney, but also knocking off his woman. They then fall out over it, so Tom goes off to work for the rival crime boss, with twists and turns along the way. Good film, but l am probably going senile.
This man is watching a beauty contest in Washington, USA 1919. Have to get myself one of those outfits for the next time l am on holiday.
I am one of the first people to whinge that life is hard. l haven't got enough money, work is a pain and there are not enough hours in the day to do things, but this woman is from 1936 in the USA. That is when life was hard (for the poor) and she is really having to wear rags. Still doesn't stop me complaining. Bring on this weeks Euro lottery - l'm feeling lucky!
Tubbs, the indoor rabbit is still such an idiot he is still scared of the wooden floor, trying to run on it extremely fast to make the rug in the living room. Once in the living room, he doesn't like to walk back to his cage by the kitchen, so he has to be shoved along and encouraged. As a result of him hardly moving, he is starting to look like the rabbit above. Looks like he is going to have to wear little rubber boots so he can get a grip and move around more, otherwise, it's diet time.
A fine selection of vending machines, as only the Japanese can provide. They are for beer, porn and used knickers - what a country.
I was so disappointed with this film, as I knew it was based on the comic books by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr (who has form with The Amazing Spider-man comics). I also knew it contained loads of violence and had great reviews (5/5 in the Guardian newspaper and also 5/5 in Empire magazine), so the actual viewing of the bloody thing was a right let down. I even recommended it to a mate yesterday, obviously before viewing it. It is just lacking something (including more humour and a good plot), and it also went on for too long, but maybe that was just because l wasn't enjoying it. I even had to wind it forward during really dull bits. What a waste.
I have no idea what kind of relative this old bloke is to the girl (if he even is one in fact), but he should not have his dirty old hands where they are. The girl is laughing in the photo, but she will be traumatised in the future.
