winter snow by northallerton hospital

Back to work today, but it's not so bad, as l am looking forward to the Manchester United v Chelsea second leg tonight. I also don't have to keep visiting the hospital at Northallerton at the moment, but as l have been sorting out some photos from my mobile, l have found these from one of my last visits. It's nice and sunny outside and so much the better for it, you forget how cold it can be in winter. Bring on the summer l say, l have been in the hammock once this year already, but l want to be lazing in it on a regular basis. The only bad thing is it is also time to cut the grass and sort the front bushes out. Damn.

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dogboarding

Dogboarding from DANIELS on Vimeo.

Don't know how they managed to make this, but it looks pretty damn realistic

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neil diamond documentary

I have just been watching a BBC documentary on Neil Diamond, which was pretty good (from what l could hear over the cat meowing), although nothing too special. The weirdest bit was watching Neil doing a screen test for the part of Lenny Bruce in the film 'Lenny', which eventually went to Dustin Hoffman. I like the Lenny film a lot but it was just strange watching someone else doing it. It's like what losing your marbles must feel like, if you start doubting your own memory of events or history, and seeing them in a way that you can't understand or take in. I can't find the clip on You Tube, but here's my favourite Neil Diamond song. I may go and dig out 12 songs now and play them (one of the albums he did with Rick Rubin).

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more laughing owls

The gift that keeps on giving

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ironic mug shots part 58

More idiots

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weekend fun and games

Been a busy old weekend. Went to the caravan park on Friday evening for Dazzer's birthday, taking Nora with us. Ken and Ann were there as well (they took Nora back), so we had a chill out (with chilli) and sank a few ales. When we arrived at the site, Louise and Ann came to open the gate for us, and just as they got there, there was a loud bang, from a crash on the main road, just as you turn into the site. Louise nabbed my phone, which l foolishly thought was for her to take some pictures, but she rang for an ambulance instead (damn!). We went up to the crash, but apart from some people being in shock, there were no casualties or major injuries, despite the land rover involved having turned over onto its roof. I thought l was going to have to get stuck in with my extensive first aid knowledge, but it was not needed. Still couldn't get any photos, as Louise had then buggered off with my phone, so l missed out there. Anyhows.... the FPO drove back at the end of the evening, so we could sleep in our own bed, as we where meeting Robbo and Kerry the next day.

This we duly did, with me and Robbo going to the Wine Bar and JT's, while the girls went for lunch and met us later. Sat outside in the sun, regaling the other lads with our saucy tales, then me and the FPO stayed out till about 8pm with Lonnie and Emma (but we were a bit tipsy by then). Another excellent day.

Quiet day in on Sunday as we both had some work to do (after l had watched the footie). Louise and Dazzer* came to visit in the afternoon, and l had to drop off some work in Richmond, so that meant a trip to the shops for sugar and wine. Baths, reading and TV was the order of the evening.

It's a hard life.

*Suppose l had better add that Lauren was also involved in the weekends events

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laughing owls

What's not to like (does that sentence even make sense?). Anyway - laughing owls. Excellent.

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brazilian taxi driver does michael jackson

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Genius - the taxi drivers around Catterick are shit compared to this

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crazy animals

This photo just looks so fantastic. That's it.

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awaydays and hot tub time machine

I enjoyed the Awaydays (2009) film, which is based on the same named book (1988) by Kevin Sampson, but it was a lot more homo-erotic than l remembered in the book. It concerns a group of Tranmere Rovers fans who travel on the train to cause a rucus. As usual in these type of films, it's to do with male bonding, in this case between Carty (Stephen Graham) and Elvis (Liam Boyle). It is also about who you can trust, standing your ground etc, before some kind of revelatory bit at the end. Good shots of the trainers and an excellent soundtrack, but some really crap haircuts.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) was crapper than the haircuts in Awaydays. I only started watching it because John Cusack starred, and he was great in the film version of High Fidelity. What a mistake. Four lads go back to the 1980's in a hot tub for (supposedly) hilarious results. I lasted about 40 minutes. I would also have let their mate, Lou (Rob Corddry) commit suicide, rather than be stuck with him at the ski resort. There was nothing funny or loveable about him, an American version of a wild party animal past his sell by date. Very dire.

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The reverend harold francis davidson

'Covering up the girls modesty'

Preaching

With his barrel

That bloody Lion, God's representative

Having a pyjama party with some young girls

The above mentioned Reverend was the Rector of Stiffkey in Norfolk, but was better known for heading off into Soho at every chance to 'rescue young girls'. He preached in Norfolk on Sundays, but would get the Monday morning train to London. He would then stay in London until the Saturday night train back. Between 1919 and 1932, he estimated he had 'helped' two to three thousand girls.

He was however, investigated by the Bishop of Norfolk and on the 29th March 1932, the self-styled Prostitutes' Padre was charged at Church House in Westminster in a Consistory Court, (which has no jury and is presided over, in place of a judge, by what is called a Chancellor of the Diocese).The Rector was found guilty of five counts of immoral conduct and was was charged £8,205 costs. Church career over.

He then travelled the country protesting his innocence, doing stunts such as fasting in a barrel, being put in an oven and poked by the devil (not the real one), and working with a lion. It was the lion that eventually turned on him, mauling him to such an extent that he died of his injuries a couple of days later, on 30th July 1937.

I was interested in this as he may be a distant relation. Also, a lot of the statements applying to him could also have been directed to me.

"He was utterly besotted and bewitched by pretty young girls"

"Davidson would walk around the streets of the West End all week essentially stalking and pursuing girls wherever he went"

"Whether it was attactive young actresses, shop girls or waitresses none of them were particularly safe from the the glint in his eye"

"I was picking up in this way roughly, an average of about 150 to 200 girls a year"

Certainly all sounds familiar to me

For the full story and more photos, go here

http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/

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mani on the stone roses reunion

I saw the Stone Roses in Leeds back in the day when their first album was released, and love both of their albums. I also love Primal Scream (where Mani is to be found touting his wares nowadays). I even love Ian Brown's solo albums, that's how devoted to the cause l am.

The story recently, is that Ian Brown and John Squire (from the Roses) met up at Mani's mum's funeral, had a few drinks, and got on. This has led to speculation in the tabloids that the Stone roses are to reform (yawn). Mani's response is priceless...

"Two old friends meeting up after 15 years to pay their respects to my mother does not constitute the reformation of The Stone Roses. Please fuck off and leave it alone. It isn't true and isn't happening."

Love the man. Also, as a reminder of how a good thing can be spoiled by dragging around it's rotting bleeding and stinking corpse which is well past it's sell by date, here's the Stone Roses at Reading Festival, with Ian Brown on top form (especially at 2.25 seconds in).




Best to remember the good times and leave it at that, there's enough good music about now, so get into that instead.

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todd snider

I have been listening to a lot of Todd's stuff recently, and when he is good, he is very, very good indeed. Check how young is in the grunge song. Age, it catches up with all of us eventually. I (once again) blame God.

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touching yourself

That's an easy one to answer - YES!!!

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richard herring does the first page of the new testament

This is the clever bit from the show when he recites the first page of The New Testament, but he'll never get back the four days it took him to learn it. Still impressive.

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harry rednapp on wayne rooney

So Harry Rednapp thinks that Rooney is a silly boy for swearing. Not that he would ever do it himself or anything like that.

"I haven't heard what he said as I was driving back from Wigan but I've read what's been reported in the papers,"

"I don't know why he did that. I don't remember Bobby Charlton doing that when he used to smack goals into the top corner from 35 yards.

"Why do these young players have to be so angry with the world? I don't know why. They are getting hundreds of thousands of pounds a week.

"I respect him (Rooney) as a player but he is a silly boy for what he did and he shouldn't have done it."

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mothers day and richard herring - christ on a bike - the second coming

Eventually got to Stockton yesterday for Mother's Day at the in laws. Had to wait ages for the FPO to get ready (even though she had been in all morning while l was at work), then had to go to Tesco's for flowers and booze. We had curry on the go all day (not for the first or last time), which was pretty good to pick at while drinking bottles of booze with the father in law (the one who does not want tales of ice pops being repeated). The FPO was trying to interest me in her sisters bambino, but once the crying started (from the baby, not me), l got out of it.

Left about 6.45pm to head to Darlington, then straight into Inside Out Comedy Club, at what used to be known as Perrys. Had two spare tickets which the club took to resell, then time for a quick ale and into the club itself. It was the first time l had been in there since it became a comedy club, and it was a pretty good venue for seeing a comic, as it only had about 100 or so people in, and everyone is reasonably close to the stage. Worked out that it is a pretty good living playing to that kind of audience, as you are still taking about £1,000 a night, plus whatever merchandise you can sell afterwards. Obviously there are overheads, and the club/promoter etc will get some dosh, but it's still better money than most bands get.

Anyhows, Richard Herring was really good. Not a laugh out loud all the way through kind of comedy show, but amusing and interesting. It was about an hour and a half altogether (there was a short interval for more ale) and really well written. He also did a good bit when he reeled off the first page of the New Testament (who begat who), which he said took him four days to learn.

I did have a quick heckle when he asked near the end if anyone thought he was Christ, where l shouted "You're not the Messiah, just a silly boy", which of course is from Monty Python's Life of Brian, but slightly incorrect, as they say "naughty boy", not "silly". This of course was picked up by Richard Herring, and he put me down for not shouting the proper quote. When speaking to him afterwards, l started to fox him by saying l did not know there was a quote and what film was he on about, but the God fearing FPO could not keep quiet, so told him l did know. Foiled again!

At least he signed my programme 'To Jamie, the real Messiah!', so it turned out alright in the end (although he probably thinks l'm a fucking idiot). Another uneventful night ticked off.

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mothers day

Hard day at work this morning after a long night last night. Even the FPO stayed up late, which she has done for two nights running. I think she must be ill. Trying to hint for her to bugger off and go on the computer or go to bed, as l wanted to watch Match Of The Day (to re-watch the Manchester United 4-2 comeback against West Ham), and l had work to go to in the morning. As it was, l ended up staying up later myself, as l watched it after she had gone to bed. At present, l am waiting for her to get her arse in gear and get herself ready, as we are heading to the in laws for mothers day, then off to see Richard Herring in Darlington. It's all go round these parts.

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the sensational alex harvey band - framed

What a front man Alex was. Magic stuff.

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Drink! Feck! And the CEO!!!!

My idiotic FPO has a blog and was writing a draft for it, but foolishly put this amongst my stuff, so l am uploading it to show how mad she is. That'll teach her to be more careful in the future!

I am only writing because I have not updated for so long - this is down to my tendency to procrastinate (think I have already mentioned that) and in contradiction; too much Goddamn work (work - work) and work (college - work) means that I would much rather spend any spare time watching, oh so much insipid mind-destroying crap on the goggle box. I know Americas Next Top Model is shite, I know Four Weddings in absolute Poo, yes, I know Katie is bollocks, and of course I know Master Chef (cooking doesn't get tougher than this!!) is just SO ......................... well, undignified.........!

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what a cool workspace

This was on a blog l was visiting the other night. What a cool place to work in. I l think l will have to get the old decorating skills re-activated and revamp the crappy old place l am currently sitting in (at silly o'clock because l went to bed early and now l can't sleep). Bring on the black paint (although l don't see the need for two computer monitors/screens)

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doodle bug comic

Some reviews from The Record Mirror, back from when God where a lad.

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royston robertson - penguin vs polar bear

I used to help out with DoodleBug comic many moons ago, and Royston Robertson was the main cartoonist involved with it. Oh what fun we had, traipsing around Newcastle with boxes of comics, facing up to the North Eastern wind and rain. Since then, as l have stewed in my own piss and vinegar, he has gone on to be a successful cartoonist with a book out. Am l bitter? YYYEEESSSSS!!!!!!, but it is still good to see someone from Catterick doing well and following their muse. His book can be purchased by clicking onto my Amazon link, or at the Online Shop. A bargain at £5.99 plus £1 postage (and no, l am not receiving any royalties from it).

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sony photography awards for amateurs 2011

By James Chong

Buffalo Race by Chan Kwok Hung

Ration by Andiyan Lutfi

Three of the 10 winners from the open category for amateurs of the Sony Photography 2011 awards. Pretty damn good. Just wait till l get my new mobile phone though, l'll give them a run for their money.

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old christmas card

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).

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coronation programme 1937

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.

Maybe my old Royal family postcards will be my saving grace......

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oxford united - it was 27 years ago

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!

Notice on the Manchester United pennant, how few honours are on it. Liverpool (where l hailed from) were doing a lot better at the time, and continued to do so throughout the 1970's and 1980's. It's certainly changed since then though, even with King Kenny at the helm. Hurrah again!!

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quirkology trick

I think my drugs have kicked in - l'm confused

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arkham asylum - a serious house on serious earth - grant morrison

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

"the story is woven tightly around a small number of symbolic elements, which combine and recombine throughout, as if in a dream: the Moon, the Shadow, the Mirror, the Tower, and the Mother's Son. The construction of the story was influenced by the architecture of a house — the past and the tale of Amadeus Arkham forms the basement levels. Secret passages connect ideas and segments of the book. There are upper stories of unfolding symbol and metaphor. We were also referencing sacred geometry, and the plan of the Arkham House was based on the Glastonbury Abbey and Chartres Cathedral. The journey through the book is like moving through the floors of the house itself. The house and the head are one."

Heavy going man

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the human centipede - first sequence (2010)

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.

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shutter island - martin scorsese (2010)

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........

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nevada smith (1966)

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.

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the invisibles by grant morrison

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).

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richard wiseman paranormality

I finished this book yesterday, and it was pretty interesting, although most of the stuff in it l already knew (just not the specific tests). There were some good tricks and illusions to try out, and the above is a good example of how you can be fooled. Make sure you watch it all the way through.

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