south park darlington

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.

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old cinema front

This is a cinema exterior from 1921 and it makes it look really exciting, way better than the drab multiplexes nowadays. They knew how to promote a film back in them days.

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millers crossing

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.

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nice swimwear

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.

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never had it so good

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!

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tubbs needs to go on a diet

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.

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those crazy japanese part 274

A fine selection of vending machines, as only the Japanese can provide. They are for beer, porn and used knickers - what a country.

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george michael - true faith

Not so sure about the video, but l think old Georgie (who didn't kiss the girls) has done a decent reworking of the True Faith song, no matter what anybody else says (l'll see them in the car park)

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kick ass

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.

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this looks wrong part 28

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.

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the otter and fish

I was woken this morning at the Godforsaken time of 10am, which might sound quite late to most people, but l did not go to bed until 4.30am. The reason for the awakening was to inform me l was going out to lunch for 1pm with the FPO's family, which cheered me up so much. I would never be able to express and describe such joy and over welling happiness with the news that the family were coming to meet us.

Next thing l am aware of, l am at the Otter and Fish bar (and restaurant), off the Neasham road by Darlington. The food was good, although slightly sparse, but presented really well and the place itself was pretty scenic (bit a bit too middle class for the likes of poor old scumbag me). Went to South Park in Darlington afterwards, enjoyed the scenery and wildlife, didn't realise it was so spacious and well stocked with ducks before today's visit.

Went to have a quick drink (non - alcoholic!!!) with Dazzer (the teetotaller), Louise and the child l am not allowed to call f** ***d back in Stockton, then off to the Boro to surprise our only mates in Nunthorpe.

Had 2 or 3 drinks in The Cross Keys and then back home to watch 'Kick Ass' - more of which later. Caught some of the comic relief stuff that was on TV back at home, then the FPO went to bed, and l wrote this crap.

Another fine day/date night ticked off, l have defiantly got some favours owed to me stacked away in reserve

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this looks wrong part 23

I don't trust this man at all, just look at his eyes and where his hands are.

He reminds me of a lorry driver l once knew...

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a wandering albatross

From the BBC news site. What a great picture.

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liverpool out of the europa league

Liverpool 0 - 0 Braga (agg 0 - 1) Carroll heads wide for a Liverpool side lacking creativity against Braga By Mandeep Sanghera Liverpool were dumped out of the Europa League as they failed to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit as Braga held them to a goalless draw at Anfield. Hurrah!! Manchester City were also knocked out, what a fine evening. Toodle pip

flat head part 3

This guy l have featured a couple of times already, but on this arrest there is the front facing picture as well as the side shot. He would actually be a good looking lad if his head hadn't been caved in, and Lord knows why he is looking so happy - must be on drugs l reckon.

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postman fucking pat

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mugshots

Oh yes siree, it's the good ol' U S of A.

People you don't want to bump into if you are doing a road trip across the States.

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general custer

The top photo is from 1875, the year before he died at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The ones below are from 1862 and also feature his dog, private pup. It's amazing what colourising pictures does, it makes the person come alive (so to speak), it ensures they come across as real people, making it easier to identify them, as it seems as though the photographs were taken only a short while ago. I think he looks Irish or Scottish, but apparently was from German stock (Küster). Still had a fine moustache.

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st patricks day muppets celebration

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true grit at the station, richmond

Off to what used to be called 'the flicks' this evening to see True Grit, the Coen brothers film, which is based more on the 1968 book by Charles Portis rather than the 1969 film staring John Wayne and Glen Campbell. The picture house itself was small, a converted railway station in Richmond, North Yorkshire, but nice enough to see a film in. It was also pretty full, but that may be because it is a 2 for 1 offer on 'Orange Wednesday', if you have a code.

Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn was excellent, as was Hailee Steinfeld, who played the 14 year old Mattie Ross. Didn't realise till the credits that it was Matt Damon playing Texas ranger LaBoeuf, the old Glen Campbell role, so he must have been good l guess, but l didn't think that much of him during the film itself.

Some scenes were different from the 1969 film, including the ending, but it still had a sense of humour and was well worth watching.

Shame l started feeling bad and had a coughing fit half way through - l nearly had to do an Elvis and leave the building.

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the gay escaper - hurricane annual 1965

A comic strip you would not see these days - from Hurricane annual 1965.

Ah, my innocent youth....

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the demise of cbgb's and monica from friends apartment

l love the Manhattan part of New York, but it has certainly got a lot more upmarket since l first started going there. One thing l liked about it was it had lots of dodgy places that stayed open late (which were relatively cheap). Now it is getting way too gentrified and expensive, which to me is summed up by the closing of CBGB's as the rents became too high. It is now a John Varvatos fashion outlet, which makes me want to puke. Where the fuck the character of New York is going to be in the next few years is anyone's guess, it will of course still have The Empire State building, The Statue of Liberty, Central Park etc, but be inhabited by posh bastards and students (and maybe the Mexican workers sleeping 20 to a room). Everyone is getting pushed out to the suburbs, but these will suffer the same fate unless there is stronger rent controls both for shops and apartments (or lots of aggressive squatting). If l remember correctly, the only way that Monica from friends could live in her apartment was because it was rent controlled. l know it's a new country, but have a sense of history and try to think of the ordinary working man/woman. Mind you, l still don't think Monica could have lived it an apartment that size!

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james blake and the vaccines

Had enough of blogging for tonight as my poor old disease ridden limbs are aching, so l am of to noddy land to visit Morpheus and listen to these two new beauties. Think l will go for the cool relaxing dub step of James Blake as l fall asleep, then give the Vaccines a go if l wake up during the night. l will give it another go if l survive till the morning, (l do have swine flu or something worse). At least l can have a lie in tomorrow. Hurrah!

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the out of towners

The out of towners come to New York and get involved in a identity mix up which leaves them being chased and penniless. Might have been funny if l was born in the States and watched it in 1970 when it was released, but l doubt it. More of my few remaining hours towards the sweet relief of death wasted.

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the paper chase

This was OK as a bit of relaxation, and l had seen the film years ago (it was released in 1973), but the main thing that bugs me about it, was one of the smarmy students. He is a big guy, who says he is not going to hand over his work, and calls the others pimps. l am sure l have seen in something else, but l can't be bothered looking all over the internet for the info, as l would rather try to remember myself, using what few brain cells l still possess. It will however, drive me mad.

This also has Lindsay Wagner in it, who went on to be 'The Bionic Woman', which ended up with me being nicknamed Jamie (it's a long story).

Anyway, James Hart (Timothy Bottoms) goes to Harvard Law School and gets intimidated and fascinated with his professor (John Houseman - who is superb), as well as getting off with the professor's daughter (who ended up being bionic). It is based on John Jay Osborn's (an ex Harvard law student) 1970 book of the same name, but is slightly different at the end, as you get to know Hart's grades at the end of the film, whereas in the book it is left to the readers imagination. Still the same ending though.

Now if l could only remember where l have seen that actor before.....

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doubt (2008 film)

This lived up to the hype of 'one of the best films of the year', superb acting from everyone involved, and it kept you guessing as to whether Father Flynn, (Philip Seymour Hoffman), was guilty of being a paedo at the church school, or if he was being unjustly victimised and accused by Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep), because he was too kind to the boys, and also too liberal and forward thinking. Ironically, his first sermon was about doubt, and how it can unify people.

l got the photo from Google Images, from a blog by Emily White from Southern New Hampshire University http://blogs.targetx.com/snhu/EmilyWhite/2009/04/whew.html. She thought the film was boring and there was just a lot of talking in it. She did however, say she was looking forward to the new Transformers movie, so all is not lost with the youth of America!

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ataturk dam, turkey

After putting up the Hoover Dan picture, l came across these ones of The Ataturk Dam in south east Turkey. It looks pretty damn impressive and l want to go there next time l am in Turkey (if l am nearby and get the opportunity). The above photos are of the dam itself, plus the before and after pictures (it was finished in 1990). Cool as cats, and l had never even heard of its existence before.

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the hoover dam

Rather sadly, l did not take this picture of The Hoover Dam, but (like Bob Mould and Sugar) l have stood on the edge of it, only l had the FPO trying to hold on to me and grab my ankles, and who was worried that a big gust of wind might appear and blow me over the edge.

Insane, and if she was worried about that, you should have seen her at The Grand Canyon a short while later when l was also prating about at the edge.

Happy memories.

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adam (film)

This 2009 film is about Adam, who has Asperger's, who has a job, who meets a girl (Beth), who watches raccoons in Central Park and who is interested in space. He then loses his job, his girls father gets taken to court and pleads guilty (legal stuff), and Adam gets a job in California. Beth decides to stay in New York and that is it. Not that exciting really, a comedy drama with not much comedy in it and very little drama. Luckily l watched it late at night when there was bugger all else on, but l won't be recommending it to anyone else (unless l don't like them). The FPO would probably like it.

toodle pip.