back from corfu

It's a hard life and all of that, but l am now back from the work trip to Corfu, where it was blazing sunshine every day, and l got to do a lot of reading (and some work).
I also managed to catch the football and get a great tan, but l got bitten by mosquitos (which was not so good) as there were swarms of them on a couple of nights (the little spitty blood sucking bastards).
Pretty pleased it has been pissing down in England while l have been away, as l don't want other people enjoying themselves, but it could do with stopping now that l am back. The bloody grass in the garden will be 10 feet tall soon.

toodle pip

off to corfu later tonight

It's going to be a long night, as l am getting picked up at 2.30 am to head to work, then off to Newcastle Airport for a trip to Corfu for a week. I've just been packing my gear, and no doubt l will have left something behind, but as long as l've got everyone's passports, tickets and money, things will be fine (they foolishly entrust me to take care of everything).
I think l may be a bit hot in the outfit above, so l may have to re jig the old suitcase and stick in something more suitable.
(It's actually Oscar Wilde, aged 46,  in 1900).
See you suckers in a week - l'll be back before you know it (and in time for England's second game).

toodle pip 

sarcastic t-shirt

One of these days l'll have to get around to making or buying these.
This one would suit me down to the ground.

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destry rides again (1939) - george marshall

Take back what l said below about them not making films like 'Sheriff of Fractured Jaw' anymore, as 'Destry Rides Again' is pretty much the same (OK, l know it's an earlier film).
James Stewart (as Tom Destry jr) arrives in town to become the new sheriff, only with a twist - he's against using or carrying a gun. The baddies make fun of him until they realise he can draw fast, and the bad girl (Marlene Dietrich), falls for him (once again, pretty quickly).
Not predictable at all, but, as before, good to pass the time chilling out with.

toodle pip

sheriff of fractured jaw (1958) - raoul walsh

A 'Classic' in very large inverted commas, 'The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw' features Kenneth More as the upper class Englishman who travels to the Wild West to sell some of his family's shops guns. Due to a mix up, he becomes sheriff, everyone thinks he is a fast draw and a cool customer, and the local bad girl (Jayne Mansfield) falls for him (and him for her). I can't see what makes her attractive to him, but each to their own.
It's a knockabout farce with lots of stereotypes and ridiculous situations, but pleasant enough for chilling out.
They don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure.


toodle pip

in and out (1997) - frank oz

As myself and the FPO are still a a bit tired from the big push yesterday for Richmond Bank Holiday, we have been staying in, ignoring the street parties for Lizzie's anniversary, and either dossing about on the computer (mainly the FPO) or watching films (me).
We were certainly a bit behind with 'In and Out', as it was released in 1997, yet neither of us had seen it before. We knew that it was about English Literature teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) being outed by an old pupil at the Oscars, much to the teacher's surprise. Why? Only because he is about to get married, and says that he is a heterosexual.
Howard does then start to question his tastes and lifestyle choices, and gradually, with the help of a kiss by a gay news reporter (Tom Selleck), realises he may indeed, bat for the other side.
There's more to it than that, such as how pupils, family, and the community react to the news, but it is mainly about Kline's performance, which was brilliant.
Now l wish l hadn't left it so long to watch, and l am also a bit dubious about the FPO's comments that she can see some similarities between Howard's mannerisms and my own.
How very dare she - and she bleeding well meant it.
Fetch my divorce papers!

toodle pip

we3 - grant morrison

From 2004/2005, We3 (written by Grant Morrison) features animals trained by the military to fight wars in place of humans, drawn in a 'Western Manga' type style, which made a pleasant change from the standard comic styling that l usually read. The dog, cat and rabbit (We3) are to be destroyed after a mission, but, with some assistance, manage to escape, only for the government to try and track them down. The animals have some limited speech, look great, and the story is pretty sound, but the only problem l have with it, is l am not too keen on too many small panels over a large one, but l will let that go. I'd rather the writers and artists experimented with the story, panels and speech, as, even though some of it may annoy or frustrate me, there's a chance something spectacular and unusual might astound me. This wasn't it, but it was still a good effort.
I can also still remember when our Jacko used to attack mice like the cat in the frame above (a long time ago). That will never happen again, that's for sure.


toodle pip

meal at akebar for the birthday girl

It soon rolled round, but once again, it's the FPO's birthday weekend, and this year, we've been to Akebar for a meal with Louise, Dazzer, Lauren, Rookmeister, Deb, Kerry and Robbo. I promised l wouldn't put up any pictures of them, so the cakes and glasses will have to do.
It was a pretty limited selection of food that was available, but for those of us drinking, it helped that we had booze and fizzy to compensate, and l have a really long video of the occasion (which l will also not put up).
I was being an all round good lad (for a change) and had taken up flowers and a cake in advance, but l didn't know Dazzer had made one as well, so there was a feast of chocolate goodness for desert, and l will admit his was tastier.
Myself and the FPO got dropped off at White shops afterwards, where we had a few drinks in The Wine Bar and J.T's, but we were still home by about 8pm.
A splendid day for all the family.

toodle pip

the milky way and the andromeda galaxy to collide

NASA have just announce that the Andromeda galaxy and our own Milky Way are going to collide. Then again, chill out, have a drink, put your feet up and relax, it's not for another four billion years.
The above photos show NASA's prediction of the sequence it will all pan out in.
Just a shame l won't be around to witness it.

toodle pip

Some graffiti by Sir X  ( from Spain).
Good stuff.

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super (2010) - james gunn

I had never heard of Super until l stumbled across it the other day, and l must admit, l thought it would be crap. I only checked it out because Rainn Wilson (from Six Feet Under and The USA Office) was in it, but l was pleasantly surprised by the end. It wasn't crap at all, just crap for sections of it. Otherwise, there were some laugh out loud funny moments, some sad parts, but mainly, some very graphic and long lasting bouts of gratuitous violence.
Frank D'Arbo (Wilson) has his girl stolen, and after a vision, dresses up as 'The Crimson Bolt' to fight crime and win her back. In the meantime, he meets Libby (Ellen Page), a comic book attendant, who discovers his identity, and then dresses up and acts as his sidekick (as well as having sex with him). This was a bit disconcerting for me, as, although Libby says she is 22, she looks about 14. Then again, l am an old git, so everybody looks young to me nowadays.
I felt like the film wasn't sure in which direction to go in, as the violence was pretty gruesome, but in parts, it also tried to be wacky and serious. With a bit of tweaking, it could have been a lot better, but it felt like a rush job, and it was very nearly switched off after about half an hour, as it certainly didn't pull you in and get you wanting more. I'm glad l stuck it out, and it was certainly a lot better than anticipated, but poor marks all round for the lack of effort.

toodle pip

jonah hex (2010) - jimmy hayward

Although Jonah Hex has been panned by the critics, l rather enjoyed it. Based (loosely) on the DC comic books, the FPO was complaining that the story wasn't clear at the beginning (which it wan't), but it was gradually explained as the movie went along. A disfigured bounty hunter, Jonah (Josh Brolin) and his prostitute sweetheart (Megan Fox) try to foil his evil arch enemy Quentin Turnbull  (John Malkovich) from ruining the USA centenary celebrations.  There's more than that, as Jonah re-animates and talks to the dead, does loads of killing while looking cool,  and also makes himself a friend in a raggedy old dog.  The make up on Brolin was excellent, and the musical soundtrack was pretty spot on.  Pure escapism, but better than most comic book adaptations l have seen (Hello Captain America, l'm talking about you).

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