marilyn monroe quote

I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. This is the sort of thing that people always put up on Facebook, but it's still a good quote. toodle pip

louis tussauds house of wax in great yarmouth, norfolk

 Michael Owen!!!

 Prince Charles!!!

 (A rather tanned) Sean Connery

The Beatles!!!!!

Victoria and David Beckham!!!!!!!!

These waxworks are so bad that l actually wouldn't mind seeing them!  From Louis Tussauds House of Wax in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

comics and leeds

Three of about 30 comics l purchased this Saturday at the comic fair held in Leeds Town Hall.
Robbo and my good self travelled were there for the fair (once he eventually arrived), but we also met my brother as it was his birthday (and he conveniently lives in Leeds), so l could give him some money for his upcoming holiday.  We all only had a couple of drinks after the comic hunting, as Robbo needed to get back, and my brother was under strict instructions not to drink too much, as he and his wife were going out for a meal that evening.  Robbo then dropped me off at White shops for a few ales, as Jisum were playing at JT's, and l couldn't be bothered going to Richmond to see the other band at The Ship.
Pretty much stayed in bed and the bath all day today, reading and then watching TV. Thankfully l have only got Monday at work before l am off for another couple of days, so no doubt lots more reading (and comic sorting) will be done.
I'm a mixture of a rock and roll idiot hellraiser, and a nerdy stay at home geek, depending on how the days off take me.

toodle pip

coventry city fans at arsenal

After yet another scintillating display by Manchester United tonight, and yet another defeat, l need a fix of something football related to cheer me up.
Luckily, there is this.  Coventry City fans singing 'Twist and Shout' during the half time interval at Arsenal.
Who says football fans don't have a sense of humour?

toodle pip

pop stars being cool

To follow on from Bronski Beats Jimmy Somerville joining in with a busker, here's some more pop stars being cool.  First off, Marc Almond singing along to a video he was shown of  floppy disc drives playing Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love.'



Plus Donovan, joining in with a busker in Glasgow, and performing 'Sunshine Superman'.  More from the Donovan busk can be found here.

If only all pop stars were like this.

toodle pip

pharrell mashup (happy get lucky) - pomplamoose

Very clever indeed, and two great songs together.

toodle pip

oxford united against manchester united (and modern football)

Every year it gets worse! It is now 39 years since l went to this game, watching the glorious Manchester United (who l supported) in the Second Division (old school) getting beaten by Oxford United at the old Manor Ground (with Jonathan Knapp - who was (and still is)  an Oxford United supporter.
The way it is going this year, l may get to see Manchester United in the (old school) Second Division again.
I'm sick of the way football has been (and still is) heading in it's non fan related money at all costs superstar players and corrupt owners direction,  and wanted a return to 1970's football, and l have now got it.
Be careful what you wish for!

toodle pip

hear what russell has to say

Russell Brand.  He is very funny, but annoys people, can come across like a twat, and is waaaaaaaaaaay to full of himself (it appears, not that l have a problem with him).  On the other hand, he also talks a lot of sense. Especially when it comes to tragic drugs related deaths and the analysis of them.
In this case, Philip Hoffman Seymour.

Read this piece.

toodle pip

this is a trent reznor song

Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor - l love 'em!  However, this piss take is spot on and really well done.

But....... to appreciate the real thing, here are some examples







And one of their newer (friendlier) songs.  Towards the end you get a sample of their new  light show, which is amazing.  Even if I still preferred them in the Woodstock Festival 1994  years, they are still great.



toodle pip

mad pierre

And another one bites the dust (as Queen would say).

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a little bit of his bobness

Here's two Bob Dylan songs l never get tired of hearing.  The rather magnificent 'Tangled up in Blue' from 'Blood on the Tracks' and 'Hurricane' from 'Desire'.  I especially love the look he was carrying off when singing 'Tangled', which was during the Rolling Thunder Review / Renaldo and Clara period, and am a sucker for Scarlet Rivera's fiddle playing on 'Hurricane' (as well as the lyrics in both songs).
Listening to how he was then reminds me of why l don't want to go and see him live nowadays.  I'd rather remember him when he was still great, rather than the sad parody he has become.

toodle pip

noel gallagher reviews his own videos

Noel Gallagher reviews his own Oasis videos, and he's not impressed by them.
These are the highlights.

toodle pip

training mr parrot

Training Mr Parrot, although l'm now not sure who is the boss of the house, as he may well be training me. He's certainly got an easier life.

toodle pip

the 3d t.rex template

Further to the 3D T.Rex from a couple of posts ago, here's the template to make your own.  It's all the work of Brusspup, and his Facebook page is here.
Now go out and find a huge printer and some hard card to print on - and get cracking!

toodle pip

results from the psychopath test are in!

Though your conscience is in the right place you also have a pragmatic streak and generally aren’t afraid to do your own dirty work! You’re no shrinking violet - but no daredevil either. You generally have little trouble seeing things from another person’s perspective but, at the same time, are no pushover. ‘Everything in moderation – including moderation’ might sum up your approach to life.

Well, l have had a go at Channel 4's Psychopath test, and my score was 67%, and l got the statement above. Not sure if that's good or not, although it does say the average for a man is 50%, but l know a friend who got 79%, and he would have no trouble killing people (women) if he could get away with it (or so he said last week).
Try it yourself here.

toodle pip

amazing t.rex illusion

Even when l go to the end to see how this illusion is achieved, it still does my head in.  Amazing (and of course l want one!).

toodle pip 

manchester united v oxford united - it was 38 years ago today

Time certainly flies by.  It was 38 years ago today when l caught the train from Darlington (by myself) to watch Manchester United play Oxford United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.  Manchester United won 2-1 (with two penalties), and afterwards, l caught another train and went and stayed overnight at my grandfathers house in Bootle (Liverpool), visited various relatives, and then returned home the next day on yet another train.
Nowadays the train fares themselves would be astronomical, especially if they were bought last minute (like l did then), and its a lot harder to just decide to go to a game on the morning, and know you will get a ticket, especially when Manchester United are playing away from home.
Not all change is good, and l blame the Tories, because even if they are not directly to blame, l still can't stand them.
Nowadays Manchester United are playing like it was 1976 again, and our best hopes are now in the cup competitions after the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on New Years Day.  I might even have a crazy bet and put money on them to win the European Cup (or The Champions League as it is now called).  You have got to have belief and be optimistic in this life, and l am generally a crazy, upbeat kind of guy, so Ladbrokes might as well be some other place l waste my money.
Game on!

toodle pip

pharrell williams - happy - northern soul girl dancing

This is actually better than the real video for Pharrell Williams 'Happy', especially when the old bloke joins in.

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travel photographer of the year 2013

 

It's that time of year again - the awards for the Travel Photographer of the Year have been handed out, and some of the winners are above.
If you want to see extra photographs (and find out more about the above ones), look here.  It's worth it.

toodle pip

the gnome roses

What a genius idea!!! (although it's been on offer for a while)
The Stone Roses as gnomes!!
They look magnificent, and have been modelled to look like cartoony gnomes, but also realistic enough so that you can recognise each member of the band. All for less than £80!!
Available here.

toodle pip

charles baudelaire, mathew arnold, and my good self

I've recently been reading some poetry by Charles Baudelaire (The Flowers of Evil / Les Fleurs Du Mal) and Mathew Arnold (Selected poems, but mainly 'The Scholar Gypsy'), and of course this inspired me to put fingers to keyboard, and produce something myself.Hence the semi autobiographical self pitying effort below.I'm still not 100% happy with it, but l've been messing around with it on and off for a week or so, and it's starting to get on my nerves, so this is as good as it's going to get for now.

Enjoy!

Life
Dec 2013

I once set off with inflated lungs
The master of the planet pale
Knowing every song that’s sung
And thankful for a glass of ale

The air was calm and the water clear
And full of hope l led the way
The mirrored surface held no fear
And the sun embraced me every day

But searching for my lovers eyes
I ache and struggle to set my sail
Fearful of the lowering skies
And hiding from the howling gale

I pine for sleep, l crave for rest
And still the howling winds do wail
If there is a God, this must be a test
I cower beneath the shadows veil 

I feel the anguish within me rise
Captured under a ceiling of mist
My body and soul crave for a caress
And I’m pining for a lovers kiss

The frothing waters tell no lies
I’m lost at sea and in distress
So I must free myself from all these ties
And find myself a place to rest

toodle pip

the state of the colburn lodge at the moment

Obviously l could not have taken these pictures myself, as it would have been trespassing and illegal, and l would never break the law of the land.  However, as they have somehow arrived in my possession, it would be amiss of me not to post them up for all to see.
The Colburn Lodge, a favourite old drinking establishment of mine in Catterick, as it was a couple of days ago.
The talk is that it is going to be re-furbished, re-opened and selling meat, but also have some kind of eating place within.
No doubt we will find out soon, but it is a shame that it is no longer going to be used as a pub, as many a cracking night has been had within those walls, especially when 60 Squadron used to be based over the road from it.
Trust me, it could be as mad as Mad Jack McMad himself (but in a good way!).

toodle pip