35 shots of rum / 35 rhums (2008) - claire denis

A strange one this. 35 Shots of Rum mainly deals with the story of  Lionel and Josephine, a father and daughter, and the people they share an apartment block with. It does not tell a straight story, and seems to dip in and out of episodes of their life, with plenty of close ups and lingering shots, so many viewers may find this a bit boring, as it's not exactly an edge of the seat roller coaster of a film.
However, l enjoyed it, and it's the real life way the action (or lack of it) is portrayed that appealed to me.
It's about loneliness, moving on, and dealing with life in it's everyday (and sometimes boring) form.
A work colleague of Lionels retires, but is lost and bored. Two suitors are after Josephine, and Lionel realises he has to let her move on with her life. They all go to a concert but the car breaks down and they don't make it (so hit the pub instead). There is a death and a marriage, and at the marriage (of his daughter), Lionel has the 35 shots of rum, as it is a special occasion. That's about it really, but that is fine by me.
Now where did l put that rum.....

toodle pip

chelsea 3 manchester united 3

Football - bloody hell!
We were going to go through to Middlesbrough today so l could watch the Chelsea v Manchester United game with Robbo (relaxing man to man with an ale or two) while the FPO went to the hospital with Kerry to see little Ciarun. Unfortunately, because of the snow, tiredness etc we stayed in sunny Catterick and l watched the game at home.
After about 55 minutes l nearly gave up and got into the bath to sulk, but l am so glad l didn't.
Another magnificent comeback (rare nowadays) by the glorious reds, from 3-0 down to 3-3, plus a world class save from De Gea at the end to boost his confidence. Torres missed a good chance again, and everything is fine with the world once more. Although it is two points dropped on City, the comeback and belief that will install in the team is more important.
Footie and being off work - marvellous!!

toodle pip

think! before it's too late - edward de bono

One of Edward De Bono's recent books, although, like the others, it re-works a lot of the same ideas, and he spends a lot of the book self publicising himself and his achievements with various organisations that use his methods. I must admit, l was glad when l had finally come to the end of it.
If you want to find out about the GG3 (Greek gang of three), using PO (provocative operation), The Six Hat techniques (black is judgemental etc), Opreacy (not literacy or numeracy, but getting things done), plus more, 'Think! Before It's Too Late'  is the book for you, as they are all within.
"You can analyse the past, but you have to design the future". Yawn.
He's obviously a clever guy, and does try to think of new ways to do things, but a lot of the book was just boring and repetitive, with plenty of mentions of other books by him that you can also buy.
Good luck to him if he is making a fortune out of this stuff, but he certainly shouldn't be treated as some kind of all knowing guru and just slavishly followed, as some people do.
Then again, what do l know? l'm just a poor uneducated scumbag.

toodle pip 

birdsong - bbc series - philip martin

Birdsong stars Eddie Redmayne as Steven, the posh Englishman who falls in love with Isabelle (Clemence Poesy - a French woman) before the First World War, but is heartbroken when she suddenly leaves him.
He then has to deal with the troops under his command, (including the tunnellers, known as 'sewer rats').  Meanwhile, he also overcomes his fear of the tunnels, becomes empathetic with his men, and gazes into the distance a lot, looking solemn, whether thinking about his love, or considering the cruel damage that war inflicts.
I was recommended this by somebody at work who loves the book, but the constant sly glances, unspoken words, and lovey dovey shots with piano in the background infuriated me.  After a while, I started wishing he would cop off with Jack, the main tunneller (Joseph Mawle), just to liven it up a bit.
I would have preferred it to be one episode instead of two, cutting to the chase and missing out a load of the crap, which the makers will probably say are the parts that make it romantic, and give it depth and resonance.  Pah!
Some excellent shots of the tunnels and battlefields, but l just felt like slapping some life into the two lovebirds, as l couldn't relate to either of them, and they just got on my ample man boobs.

toodle pip

monster amphipod found off new zealand

 The monster one that has just been found

Normal sized ones

This outrageously huge Amphipod has been discovered about 7km underwater in the Kermadec Trench, just off  New Zealand.
Things like this make me dread the day when they eventually come across a huge spider in the rainforests.

toodle pip

darkness - boulet

The Darkness, is on the internet and doesn't  take too long to read, but is pretty good and easy to relate to (although also a bit girlie and romantic).  Written by Boulet between 24th and the 25th January,  during a 24 hour session, this is an English translation, and it can be found here.
Being off work - it's great!

toodle pip

hidden babies everywhere

I think l am starting to crack up, as now everybody seems to be having babies, l'm seeing them everywhere.
Damn my 20/20 vision and my watery old eyes! (or maybe it's the lack of sleep).

toodle pip

the illusionist / le illusionniste - (2010) - sylvain chomet

From an unfilmed Jacques Tati (who is shown on a movie screen) script, The Illusionist tells the story of Tatisfcheff, (Tati's real name) a magician trying to get bookings and generally survive, as the twin forces of rock and roll and television take over (it's set in 1959). Similar in style to Chamot's earlier The Triplets of Belleville / Belleville Rendezous, but at a more relaxing pace.  Tatisfcheff  gets a booking in the Scottish Highlands, where he befriends a young  girl called Alice, who runs away to Edinburgh with him, believing he can really perform magic. There's nothing sexual between them, and they are like father and daughter, staying in separate rooms while he performs in theatre. It's basically a Cinderella story, as the girl transforms from rags to riches (sort of), as the illusionist buys her clothes and shoes. She however, does not realise he is down on his luck, working odd jobs to make ends meet (and eventually pawning his magic stuff). He then sees her with another man more her age, obviously in love, and so decides to leave her with him, as she has now blossomed into a young woman.
It's about changes in life, and father / daughter relationships, probably based on Tati's own, hence the photo at the end. It's also about friendships, keeping up a cheerful façade no matter what life throws at you, and whether you really know someone when you are only presented with what they wish to reveal. Brilliant animation throughout, and Edinburgh looks fantastic in the way it is portrayed (as does the white bunny).
I loved it (hence all the photographs).

toodle pip

the singing detective's belief system

Re-watching 'The Singing Detective' tonight reminded me (as if l needed reminding), what a great series it was. I've only just seen episode one again, but there was plenty in that to hook you straight away, and in fact there were scenes l thought featured later in the series. One of my favourite scenes in part one (apart from when he is getting greased up), is when he states his belief system as Malthusianism (from 2.30m to 3.10m). Pure class indeed, with great acting, and it's also superbly written (Michael Gambon and Dennis Potter).
Looking forward to the rest of them already.

toodle pip

baby time in the boro and the state of kfc

The small bladdered fool had to visit the toilet

The mother (Kerry) has left the ward. 

Went to James Cook with the FPO yesterday evening to see Robbo, Kerry and the no longer little Jamie (but still little, Ciaran). There was some hassle getting there, as the A66 was closed, so after a long detour around Darlington and up the A1, it was past visiting time to see the baby. Luckily Kerry went with along with Mandy pushing her wheelchair, so a disaster was avoided, as they both managed to get in. Meanwhile, myself and Robbo went for a man to man chat about the changing ways of the world, and the great responsibility now bestowed upon him (a bit like Spider-man).
We're saving the champers until the Manchester United v Chelsea game on Sunday, as we're going up to their place to watch it.
Decided against a KFC on the way home, as the place looked so grotty, and they were taking ages to serve.
Why is that often the case? It must be advantageous to them if they hired extra staff to work or clean up, as it would encourage more custom and profits. I love KFC food, but the outlets do not compete with the cleanliness of a McDonald's, and they are certainly making loads of money (and l don't even like burgers).
Colonel (or his modern day counterpart) - get it sorted, as l had to settle for some Morrisons fajitas instead.

toodle pip

watching you tube while l'm off work - the 1960's

This is NOT about Vietnam (it's about the Sunset Strip riots).

Rare performance without the cartoon (The Archies) that it came from

Alex Chilton was 16 when he sang on this.

Featuring the marvellous pipes of  Tony Burrows

To recover from my great disappointment with the two films below, l have been watching some 1960's stuff on You Tube, as the Edison Lighthouse track was featured in 'The Most Fertile Man In Ireland' (the best thing about the film).
Hurrah! It's great being off work! My mood has improved! All is right with the world once more!
Spring will soon be here (when life is skittles, and life is beer) and l've got crisps and dips for tea (the healthy diet). Spot on.

toodle pip

she's out of my league - the most fertile man in ireland

I really don't know why l keep persevering with these type of (so called) comedy films, as they just wind me up.
She's Out Of My League is an American movie with the standard bunch of loser mates in dead end jobs, until one of them (an everyday, average,  nice guy) get's to cop off with a beautiful (and yet intelligent and down to earth) woman, despite fierce competition. What a load of crap. A standard, run of the mill film, that looks as though it could have been written on the back of a fag packet in under ten minutes, with an added 30 seconds to write the funny bits. I assume there are funny bits, as l certainly didn't come across any, but then again, l switched off after about 40 minutes, so maybe the second half was a rip roaring roller coaster of a fun festival (although I very much doubt it).
The Most Fertile Man In Ireland was like a crappier version of a Richard Curtis project, just set in Belfast. By Richard Curtis project, l am referring to Love Actually, Four Weddings and Vicar of Dibley, not the class that was Blackadder (which ended up having a lot of imput from Ben Elton, which made it funnier).
Anyhows, back to the tripe.
The men of the country become infertile, but one (guess what's coming up!) ordinary loser finds he is outrageously fertile, so he starts getting paid to impregnate the ladies. Of course he also manages to get the girl of his dreams to fall for him, and gets involved with 'the troubles', but this is.....
That's as much l can say, as this was also switched off way before the end, with me dejectedly trudging away from the TV, kicking the cat, and cursing the film industry that produces such tosh. Starring Kris Marshall, it was so bad, it made me pine for the BT ads, and they are a bunch of crap as well.
At this rate, l'll also be pining to go back to work (I'm off with a sprained ankle for a week).
I can only take so much.

toodle pip

hideous looking tardigrades

Sometimes l think it's best not to know too much about stuff (I'm quids in then).
These little bastardos are called Tardigrades. They are very small (up to 1.5 millimetres) and can be found pretty much everywhere. And by everywhere - l mean everywhere.
It's the last time l lie around on the beach, that's for sure, as l won't be able to relax, now l know that these critters will be all over it.
Damn you! science and double damn you! microscopes.

toodle pip

bomb damage in liverpool city centre

I was thinking again about the tornado in Alabama that l had blogged about earlier, and knew l had a similar photograph stashed away that it was reminding me of.  Now l remember what it was (at long last - my brain cells have been destroyed).  It's the above one of Liverpool city centre after a bombing raid during the Second World War, when the Germans tried to get my grannies chip shop (copyright - Stan Boardman).
And l thought Bootle looked bad.

Actually, it did.

toodle pip

sunken moses bridge in the netherlands

Although l reckon this will definitely flood at some stage, l do think it's a great design, and it looks fantastic. It's for crossing the defensive fortress in Halsteren (The Netherlands), and was designed by Ro Koster and Ad Kil. Because of the parting of the waters, it is known as the Moses bridge, and more pictures and information can be found here. Great stuff.
Saying that, although l really do like the look of it, never trust an architect (as my mother used to say). What is the point of designing something like this if it does end up flooding all the time. I'll have to check up on it in the future and maybe re-assess my verdict then. Time will tell.

toodle pip