oxford street hmv in the 1960's

If only record stores were still like this....

toodle pip

andre the giant

l am not a fan of wrestling, especially the USA version of, but l am a fan of drink and characters, and old Andre The Giant (real name Andre Rene Rousimoff) certainly was one of those.

He became famous as a wrestler, (especially his bouts with Hulk Hogan in the 1980's), but was also a huge (in more ways than one) drinker.

Over 100 bottles of beer in six hours? Two bottles of vodka to 'feel warm'? That my friends, is drinking.

Because of his condition (acromegaly), he did not expect to live very long, so he enjoyed life to the full until his death in 1993 (aged 46).

There's a great article about him here.

As l said before, a drinker and a character.

toodle pip

jeremy mayer's deer made out of typwriter parts

Very impressive. More works and info by Jeremy here.

toodle pip

just william - richmal crompton

I used to love these books when l was a young kid, and read loads (if not all) of them.

Alongside 'Peanuts' books, comics (both American and 'The Valiant'), football (including magazines/annuals that featured football) and TV, they kept me (relatively) sane, although some would disagree with that bold statement.

I have just re-read this, and l could see what the appeal was, even though it was first published in 1922. The themes are (or were) still the same for a young boy, and it is really well written (by Richmal Crompton), capturing the speech, impulsiveness and martyrdom of an adolescent. Hats off to the old girl.

I can't say it bought back happy memories of my childhood, but it did remind me of my escapes from it. Great stuff.

toodle pip

ron jeremy - the hardest working man in showbiz

This was actually a bit boring. Of course it is interesting in some parts, but it didn't have much of a story with which to keep you interested. There's the porn films (and being able to autofellate himself), trying to make it as a serious actor and comedian, how bright he is (and his talks), and his dealing with some celebrities and the law.

That all make sit sound more interesting than it was, but to me at least, it was disappointing, and he seems to have quiet a depressing life (even with the sex and fame).

Ron, (along with John Holmes and Jeff Stryker) is one of the most well known male porn stars in the World, but l don't think he is happy (despite his protests to the contrary).

Shame really, as he seems like a nice (but needy) guy.

toodle pip

john howard davies has died

Who is he?

Only the producer who bought to the screen 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'Fawlty Towers', 'Steptoe and Son' and 'Mr Bean' (as well as 'The Good Life').

I remember him from years ago watching David Lean's 'Oliver Twist', in which he played Oliver (alongside Robert Newton, Alec Guinness and Anthony Newley), and as Tom in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.

Stone me, what a life. I will even forgive him for being involved with 'The Vicar of Dibley' (which is utter garbage).

toodle pip

cowboys and aliens and bud neill

I was talking to the FPO last night (someone has to) about this film, and how it is such a simple idea that l have never thought of (or come across) before. Obviously if the film is a big success, there could be all sort of follow ups (Vikings and Aliens, The Romans and Aliens etc).

Here's something along the same lines by cartoonist Bud Neill.

toodle pip

coin art

How is this done?

It is hurting my brain thinking about it.

toodle pip

miniature streets outside hamburg

This is by the German artist 'EVOL' and is a pretty original idea (as far as l am aware). It is in a field outside Hamburg, but which one, l couldn't tell you.

More of it l say, but make sure the drainage problem is sorted out in advance.

toodle pip

spider-man workout

Ah, the innocence of youth, however, l think there is something a bit disturbing about this. 'Doc Knocker', 'I'm glad Mary Jane isn't here', spraying the kids with his sticky webbing.

Or maybe it's just me.

toodle pip

chinese batman toy

I think they may have lost something in translation.

toodle pip

fernando torres and andre villas boas

Looks like they are getting on well.

toodle pip

sunday at home with the idiot rabbit

Off work till Wednesday afternoon, reading the paper, catching up on the TV, including 'Sunday Supplement' (which l love) and the third series of 'The Inbetweeners'. The idiot rabbit has even decided to get friendlier, lying across me with his little feet up on my leg. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

toodle pip

building bridges the georgetown and bayi rockets way

This is great. The good old US of A send over a basketball team (Georgetown) to play the Bayi Rockets on a goodwill trip to China, and it ends up in a mass brawl. You couldn't make this sort of stuff up.

Classic.

toodle pip

a chess illusion

I love it, but this sort of stuff does my head in.

toodle pip

a naked cat

Praise the Lord stupido jacko keeps his (or her) hair on.

toodle pip

the sugar diet

No wonder l am so slim.

toodle pip

a geek at his computer

I like the look of this room, (courtesy of Jonathan Worth) cluttered and interesting. I have read a few of the books behind him, but would like to delve into a lot of the others (and swipe some of the ornaments). If l only had more time........... (and money) The picture can be enlarged by clicking on it, but more information on the items can be found here.

toodle pip

pukklepop disaster 2011

After posting this the other day, another disaster has hit the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium, leaving some dead and many injured. The weather in the video certainly looks pretty bad. Maybe l should stop going on about the conditions l had to endure at Reading Festival in 1977 (but l doubt that l will).

toodle pip

alex james is promoting cheese at asda

This is pathetic. I love cheese as much (if not more) than the next man, but what a load of claptrap this is.

I assume the bread shaped blankets for sandwiches/cheese on toast etc will be not dissimilar from the cheese you can already buy that is cut into individual slices.

Cheese that will melt onto a baked potato? What, unlike normal grated cheese?

He is also going to be a guest blogger, but more importantly, is going to travel around the Asda stores to educate people about cheese. Hurrah!

The World can now rest in peace safe in the knowledge that we are about to be educated correctly.

What a tosser.

toodle pip

some japanese manhole covers

Japan - such a cool place. These are some of the souvenirs l will be bringing back when l eventually go to Japan. They will look cool in my garden (although carrying them back may prove to be a bit of an obstacle).

toodle pip

taxidermy gone wrong (again)

This was done for The King Of Sweden (King Frederick 1) in 1731. Oh deary deary me.

In case you can't guess, it is meant to be a lion. A lion l would quite happily take on in a bar room fight (but probably still lose).

toodle pip

benjamin zephaniah - 3 books - face - refugee boy - teacher's dead

I picked these up the other day for £1 each at the local charity shop, thinking l would give them a go, as l like some of Benjamin Zephaniah's poetry (on the odd occasion l have heard it). I did not realise at the time that the books were aimed at children/teenagers or whatever (with messages contained within), so l managed to get through all of them in one day. The verdicts were....

This one was good for highlighting the fact that people or events cannot always be judged at face value. What seems to be obvious, is sometimes a lot more complicated, so it is best to know as many facts as possible before leaping to a conclusion that could turn out to be wrong. A teacher is stabbed and killed, two boys admit it and plead guilty (and there were a lot of witnesses), and everyone thinks they are just evil scum. But of course there is more to it than that...

This one deals with a refugee coming to the UK with his father, and trying to gain a visa to stay in the country. Sounds a bit boring, but this is the one that nearly made me cry. Mind you, l was tired (and emotional) after slaving away at work, not sleeping enough, and then reading it at 6am when l couldn't sleep. Therefore, l have my excuses for being a big girls blouse (Lord knows l need them).

Some friends get involved with some bad lads, have a crash in a stolen car, one gets burnt, and everyone has to deal with the changes in their group dynamics. The worst one out of the three (in my humble opinion). Yawn.

toodle pip

buried (2010) - rodrigo cortez

This was a recommendation from the FPO, as she had received it from her film club, and thought l might enjoy it. I therefore perused it at work last night, and l must admit, it was pretty impressively done. Ryan Reynolds is the only actor shown, as he is the eponymous person in the box. I have enjoyed similar films in the past such as Lifeboat and Phone Booth, where the action is limited to one place, but this film took it to another level. He wakes up in the box, tries to phone for help and/or negotiate with his captors, and the USA try to save him before his air runs out, or the box fills with sand. That's it. Well worth watching (and a good ending).

toodle pip

toodle pip

the misfits (1961) - john huston

Some parts of this film l quiet enjoyed (the underlining tension and changes between the Old West and the new ways), and l do think there should be an up to date remake of it. On the over hand, Marilyn Monroe's acting got on my nerves, as it just seemed like a caricature of what she was meant to be like in real life (unhinged in lots of ways). This may well be true, as her husband at the time, (Arthur Miller) wrote it as their marriage was falling apart, but it was still annoying. She was also meant to be really stunning, but it was evident that by the time it was filmed, she was starting to look older and had lost some of her beauty (which of course, is wasted on the young). This was obvious to a silly degree in some scenes when she was shot in super extra special and noticeable soft focus, such as when she was talking to Clark Gable in the house. I did like Montgomery Clift in it, but Eli Wallach was bugging me as l couldn't remember what other films l had seen him in, until l clicked and remembered The Good The Bad And The Ugly (a classic). I also hope no horses were injured making the film, and if Clark Gable really did do a lot of the stunts himself, no wonder he died shortly afterwards (after having a heart attack 2 days after shooting finished).

toodle pip

the yardbirds and humble pie on the beat club

I was checking this out to see Jimmy Page playing with The Yardbirds (before he became a rock God with Led Zeppelin), but this is great. The drummer decides to show off and throws a drumstick away. A short while later it comes flying back at him and hits his drum kit (below). Those crazy Germans!

The Beat Club could be hit or miss (like the drumstick), but had some really good performances over the years, a favourite being Humble Pie (above).

It certainly passes the time in our house (when the FPO is out).

toodle pip

the spanish super cup final (barcelona 5 real madrid 4)

Football is definitely back! I have just finished watching a recording of the Spanish Super Cup second leg between Barcelona and Real Madrid. As usual, there was some great football, it then got niggly, players were booked and sent off, Jose tried to wind everyone up, there was a scrap at the end, and Messi scored another couple of goals to win the game 3-2 (5-4 on aggregate).

Welcome back you lovely lovely football!

toodle pip