micmacs - jean-pierre jeunet (2009)

Another great French film (by Jean-Pierre Jeunet) with subtitles. This was hilarious in places and really quirky (those crazy French!). Bazil (Dany Boon) gets a bullet in his head, gets befriended by street people, and sets two arms manufacturers against each other, while falling in love with Elastic girl (Julie Ferrier). Brilliant. I really love Jeunet's earlier films such as Delicatessen (1991) and The City of Lost Children (1995), and although it was completely different, Amélie (2001), was also pretty good. It's a shame he is not doing Life of Pi , as l enjoyed the book and would have liked to have seen what Jeunet would have done with that, but hey ho.

toodle pip

the killing has finished

This has finally finished and it was without doubt one of the best things l have ever seen on TV. Sarah Lund may have been tunnel visioned and put herself in danger all the time, but she eventually got the job done.

Not so sure about the ending as it left me with some unanswered questions. I assume the necklace must have been ripped from round Vagn's neck during the struggle, so l will let that one go. However, how did he get on and off the boat at the end to kill the taxi driver when it was surrounded by police? Who deleted the phone records at the start, as the old chief of police said he didn't do it. Vagn seemed to be left handed, but Meyer was shot by someone holding the gun in their right hand. Why was the taxi driver so scared and wanting to go to Vietnam, why didn't he go to the police at the beginning? All he did (l think) was phone Vagn after dropping off Nanna.

Anyway, it was still excellent, and l now can't wait for series two to start in the Autumn. It has also been redone in the USA, but l am a bit unsure about seeing their version, as l am pretty sure they will spoil it in some way, to make it more palatable for a US audience. I'm sure l'll find out soon, as it is bound to be shown on British TV pretty damn sharpish.

toodle pip

the k west sign on the ziggy stardust album

I am a man who some people may say is an idiot who collects a lot of crap. Admittedly, l do horde stuff, and l also nick menus from restaurants and suchlike. When l went to see The Rolling Stones a few years ago, l climbed up the scaffolding (it was an outdoor gig at Newcastle United's ground, St James' Park), and, with a knife l borrowed from a Hells Angel, cut down a large advertising banner, which l later sold at Sothebeys auction house.

The above sign does not belong to me, but l wish l had nicked it. It is from the Ziggy Stardust cover and was nicked by someone in the 1980's (l am not giving any names). It is white, but tinted in the cover photo to look yellow. The bottom picture is of the Pulp guitarist Mark Webber, when he was 13, paying homage at the scene.

What a great and iconic memento to have. Wish l had thought about liberating it when l was down in London years ago, although most sane people would inquire why the hell l would want it in the first place. History my dears, history.

toodle pip

ironic mug shots part 7

led zeppelin at southampton university 1973

What a show this is. l have been listening to it tonight whilst pottering about, and it is superb, with great sound quality. Get it now! You don't have to look too far on the old web (l got it on a megaupload download from guitars 101).

toodle pip

hawaii from the air

Nice - from NASA

toodle pip

ironic mug shots part 4

the joy of charity shops

I finished work at 8pm this evening and have the place to myself as the FPO is having a girls night out in Richmond, so it's all blissful until l have to go and pick her up at midnight (when she turns into a pumpkin).

I have been dossing around reading some music magazines that l bought a week or so ago from a charity shop. What a result it was. There was a large cardboard box full of old music mags (Mojo, Classic Rock etc), and all of them at the rather splendid price of 10 pence a copy. Naturally l bought 30 of them straight off, then went back to the shop today to buy some more, but they had all been sold (Damn!).

I suppose it is for my own good really, or more importantly, the poor old floorboards in the spare room, as there are comics, books, records, CDs, DVDs and junk all over the place. The top photos are the top and bottom of my wardrobe. Not a lot of room remaining in there, so l should be cutting down on junk, not increasing it and accumulating more.

Then again, l still bought a couple more books today and have just got another one from Amazon. The madness. It never stops.

toodle pip

ironic mug shots part 1

this looks wrong part 35

Not sure what to say to this one - don't know if the lad is in pain or reaching a sexual climax.

toodle pip

this looks wrong part 34

Go on my Dear....drink some more Absinthe....nothing is going to happen to you.......l'll protect you......you can trust me...........l'm a gentleman..........etc etc

I don't trust that twinkle in his monocle

toodle pip

toodle pip

chuck berry baby doll

What an entertainer he was. Not his best song but there's some great footwork

toodle pip

elizabeth taylor

I have just seen on the news that Dame Elizabeth Taylor has died today aged 79. When l were a lad, she was always in the news, either because of her marriages (especially to Richard Burton), old films, or later lunacy and Aids benefits.

She was the first female movie star to be paid one million dollars for a film, but the main thing l remember about her salery, was that she was paid less than the dog in 'Lassie Come Home'.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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!

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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)

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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.

toodle pip

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