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

toodle pip

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...

toodle pip

a wandering albatross

From the BBC news site. What a great picture.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

postman fucking pat

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

st patricks day muppets celebration

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

the gay escaper - hurricane annual 1965

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

Ah, my innocent youth....

toodle pip

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!

toodle pip.

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!

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.....

toodle pip

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!

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

shadow of a doubt

Apparently this 1943 film by Alfred Hitchcock was his personal favourite, but l can't see why. Obviously it has dated a lot but even so...

'Charlie', who is bored and a female teenager (always going to be dodgy), has her (she thinks) cool uncle come to stay with the family. He is however, being followed by two detectives posing as reporters. This is because they suspect he may be a grannie/old lady killer. I won't give the ending away, but l was disappointed at the end and felt it was an easy ending to take. Not scary, not a lot of suspense.....bloody Hitchcock, overrated if you ask me.

toodle pip

the sex drugs

I don't have a clue about this band, but l saw these posters the other day and thought they looked fantastic. There is however, no way the band can live up to the rather high and unreasonable expectations l now have of them.

toodle pip

the imaginarium of doctor parnassus

Good news and bad news. l am off work with the flu or something, aching a lot, but the good news is l am staying in bed most of the day and then watching films and football (Manchester United have just beaten Marseilles 2-1 to go through to the Quarter finals of the Champions league). Well worth the aches and pains.

Watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, today, it's a 2009 film by Terry Gilliam, which, like some of his other films (Brazil, Time Bandits, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and The Fisher King), to me at least, have excellent sets/scenery/design/imagination, but the stories leave me wanting more. It was interesting to see how the death of Heath Ledger was handled, and it was done well. The story had a bit of a re-write and Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell played some of his parts, which sound crap but worked really well within the story.

My favourite one by the good Mr Gilliam is still Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but l still preferred the book.

While the computer has been down l have been a busy lad, working (sadly), but also finding time to read and watch films and series. I will post some of them up one at a time, rather than lumping them all in together. What excitement!!

toodle pip

batmans new sidekick

toodle pip

bloody files and man flu

I have just finished checking files for work (at home, this evening, while off work!!!) which have to go to Darlington tomorrow morning. What a pain, especially as l have a cold/flu/pleurisy and am aching and tired. Bloody work - where is that lottery win?

toodle pip

the killing

By jimminy, this series has been fantastic, just watched episodes 15 and 16 so there are only 4 more to go before it reaches it's conclusion. It is in Danish with English subtitles, but that has not detracted from the excitement and false leads in pretty much every episode. It is slowly paced but also flies by with lots of cliffhangers. One of the best TV shows l have ever seen, and l can't wait for the end (and then series 2).

Bet it won't be long before there is a British version, which will probably lose all that is good about the Danish one, although Wallender is OK.

toodle pip

the beach boy s re-worked smile project

Do not get me wrong - l love the Beach Boys and l would have loved this idea a few years ago, but l really hope it is a proper reworking over the old master tapes, rather than another botch job

that once again, abuses the Beach Boys legacy, because, trust me (a sad old bastard) they were one of the best bands ever. Love the sound of it but l will hate the reality.

Smile being released....

Beach Boys associates -- engineer Mark Linett and archivist Alan Boyd -- are co-producing the release, which Capitol has titled "The Smile Sessions."

The project will be released in three versions: a two-CD set, an iTunes LP digital album and a limited-edition boxed set containing four CDs, two vinyl LPs, two vinyl singles and a 60-page hardbound book written by Beach Boys historian Domenic Priore.

Q&A: Engineer Mark Linett Talks "Smile" Release

"The Smile Sessions" is being released with the support of the band, including Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson. Wilson wasn't immediately available for an interview but he expressed his excitement about the release in a statement released through Capitol.

"I'm thrilled that the Beach Boys' original studio sessions for 'Smile' will be released for the first time, after all these years," Wilson said. "I'm looking forward to this collection of the original recordings and having fans hear the beautiful angelic voices of the boys in a proper studio release."

royal wedding t shirts

Once again, no matter how tired or drunk l am, l feel the need to post, so it will (eventually) get me into a rhythm of writting some other time (only l know when and how). So here's an easy target, the royal wedding t shirts. Class in a glass (as my cancer ridden toothless , slightly drunk and stinking of wee wee grannie used to say) if only that was true. Never mind, l still hate the royals and everything they stand for, but what can you do (Brighton springs to mind)

o

toodle pip

size of the planets

Space - it's big

toodle pip

portlandia

This series has just finished season one in the States, and l for one am looking forward to it coming to the UK (and it had better not let me down Godamnit!!). All l then require is loads of time off work - come on you lottery!

toodle pip

dental ad

A simple idea, but done well

toodle pip

stewart lee on top gear

Great stuff - my kind of humour

toodle pip

how to clean records

My kind of woman

toodle pip

rockabilly japanese

Somehow, they just don't pull off the look.

toodle pip

It's arrived!!!!

Hurrah! The bloody modem has now arrived, so it's back to normal service.