30 May 2006

I’m feeling full of self reproach for not attending my blog as often as I ought to. I can’t even use the excuse that the good weather in the UK has kept me away from the PC cause its been bloody raining on and off for the past week. Nor can I offer the excuse that work has had an effect as those of you who’ve read earlier posts know I’ve been bored shitless at work. Furthermore nothing glamorous has been happening anywhere in my life to have stopped me posting and yet I haven’t. Bad Moley!

So I wonder what my punishment would be if I left my blog untended for some considerable time? Is there someone out there employed as the punitive master/mistress who administers punishments to those who fail to update their blogs regularly? And if not, perhaps I should offer myself up for the role. Then again that might be an oxymoron bearing in my lapsidasical approach thus far. Oh well I shall chastise myself and try and try to offer more updates.

I can tell you I have been to the cinema on two occasions since my last post. No not the one to do with the Quiz ‘what pimp name are you’ but the one before that! I’ve seen Mission Impossible 3 and the Da Vinci Code.

I love blockbuster movies, and get immersed in good special effects, so Mission Impossible 3 tended those leanings. Story line wasn’t fantastic, but hey I didn’t have great aspirations that it would be. I went for the action scenes and the whole Impossible ethos and I got it. So I had a great time.

As for the Da Vinci Code, I read the book by Dan Brown when it first came out, I’d also read some years before the Holy Blood, Holy Grail book by Baigent, Leigh & Lincoln. (It was clailmed by the authors of this book that Dan Brown stole their concept, latter dismissed by a Court). The latter I found hard work to read and if the truth be know way too wordy. Funny calling a book wordy bearing in mind it’s full of words. Alternatively I’d describe it as heavy going and not for the subject matter per se but for the way in which it was written. However as I’m such a trooper I persevered and finished it, though I did offer a huge sigh of relief once it was done.

Alternatively the Dan Brown book I read in a whiz, it only took a day. Yes I’m a quick reader, I’m that awful person, who having entered a book shop and headed for the genre they like, stands in front of the bulging shelves, going ‘read it, read it, read it’ in a similar tone to a frog going ‘ribbet ribbet ribbet’. It’s a sad moment, I can tell you, purely as I then become at a loss as to what to do, because when I’m without reading material, I feel bereft.

I am a stickler in that I have to read a book before going to see the film, primarily because I don’t want my personal images of the characters being marred by those imposed upon us by the casting director, I’ve my own personal casting director called my imagination and I don’t want that to be wasted. Evidently having watched a film sometimes I feel the casting director got it right and others well, least said!

The portrayal of the Da Vinci Code was close to the book, though a few bits were missing, nothing too pertinent though in my opinion. Then again what do I know? I though the links to the art works mentioned in the book was cleverly done and enjoyed the whole experience.
Paul Bettany who played the monk was fantastic, and to me stole the show.


Tom Hanks, playing the professor was passable, and in reality I feel any middle aged American Actor could have played the role. Audrey Tautou offered a good reflection of Sophie Neveu the French cryptologist.



I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to others to see. As for the underlying premise of the book/film, it offered a good starting point for discussion, in particular the ethics of the church, hidden agenda’s etc, and for me it makes you question whether there could be some truth in the story. Who knows? I bloody don’t but I do wonder. The whole God thing is one big enigma to me!


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29 May 2006

Typical I come back here to write something poignant and I end up viewing other peoples blogs, which in turn sends me over to blogthings and once there I while away way too much time doing quizzes. Talking of which, how about this one?

Your Pimp Name Is...

Princess Slick
Thank you so much Cheryl for this one!

22 May 2006

I'm officially old now!

I've not been up to much over the past week or so, purely because I've been wallowing around at home. And if any of you associate my wallowing with that of pigs in mud, I'm just not gonna speak to ya okay!

Work's been nonexistant again, which meant everyone has been given extra days off. So for the past couple of weeks I've only been into work twice. Great if only others were around on my days off etc. Sigh.

Anyway onto the age issue. Apparently as I have now joined... wait for it...


this directs I am old, as the whole ethos of the National Trust is to ensure our heritage etc is protected. Yeah right, me old... I don't think so, I joined to ensure cheaper days out! Oh and to soak in the history of our country, visit gardens (me visit gardens!) OMG.. life sure is slowing, hey maybe I am gettin old. Plus there's always the likelihood of a cream tea for after the viewing! Yum yum, I so love cream teas, maybe I should go on a cream tea taste tour of the UK, I'm sure I could handle it.. Now where would I get a sponser for that? So far my favourite place for a cream tea not far from me is Shere, Surrey, the scones there are to die for but I digress.

We ended up visiting Petworth House (not the full tour as we were going to a craft fair in the grounds), which abuts the town of Petworth and which, houses the National Trust's finest art collection. Petworth Park, with its breathtaking views, wandering deer, lakes and ancient trees, was designed by Capability Brown and is open to the public every day.

It was beautiful, the Rhodedendroms in bloom, and the scent coming from some other nameless plants was heady and refreshing, and for once hay fever did not mar the experience. Joy!

Now that I'm a member of the NT it's my intention to try and visit as many places as possible, well I've got to get my monies worth now haven't I?

12 May 2006

I got a great email today from a friend of mine who often inundates me with mail which makes me laugh and today's effort was a particularly joyful one. So I thought why not share it with you, click on the link and enjoy the Evolution of Dance.

Evolution of Dance

Bet you recognise a few of the moves!

08 May 2006

Ah Bonnie Scotland!

On Thursday last week Carole and I headed off to the land of the Scots, thank you Easy Jet for giving us a pleasant flight! We were embarking upon a long weekend to visit my bestest buddies whom I don’t often get to see.

I know that may seem weird having a bestest buddy who I don’t see very often but that is the beauty of our friendship. We can go ages without seeing each other or even talking on the phone and then we catch up, and visit and it’s like we were never apart! Fabulous.

The reason for our visit was as my friends were having their Civil Partnership (CP) and they wanted me and Carole to be their witnesses. So I packed my glad rags and happily made our way up to Scotland.

Not sure if all know about the CP, we had a change in the law last year which meant from December same sex couples could register as being in a CP and this directs they are permitted the same rights as couples in a marriage. So no inheritance tax, access to pension rights, official next of kin etc. Obviously it means your partner’s income can impact upon benefits etc but it offers equality and a recognition that those in same sex relationship are as important as those without. (About bloody time!)

The ceremony was on Friday and my friends looked absolutely gorgeous! Stunning in fact. We were picked up by an old Austin Motor Car, classic and driven into Dundee to the registry office where the ceremony was being held.

It was a wonderful ceremony and a very smiley smiley occasion. Happy feelings all round. After the ceremony it was back in the car for a slow drive up to the Lands of Loyal (go on have a look you know you want to!) a fabulous hotel, old Victorian house, with lots of character features. Lots of quaffing champagne on route, so slightly tipsy on arrival.

And forget the imagery of Scotland being a cold blowy place. We had beautiful weather the whole weekend. Glorious sunshine. Which meant we had the roof down in the car, splendiferous!
On arrival we partook in canapé’s and more champagne, and after a short rest a sumptuous meal, with lots of toasting the happy couple.

Our room was the red room, which has a four-poster bed. First time I’ve ever slept in one of those. Climbing up into bed was a weird sensation! A solid night sleep despite my early fears of the house being a venue, which the TV show Most Haunted, would visit. (No ghosties there! Phew).

Following morning a glorious breakfast (I still cant believe how much I’ve eaten over the weekend ~ tubby tummy syndrome!). Fortunately we walked off some of our indulgencies around Forfar Loch later the same day.

A restful Sunday morning before we set off back home. What a wonderful weekend. Thank you girls for sharing your moment with us!

I’ve been away but now I’m back!

By the lack of updates on my blog it shouldn’t take a genius to realise I’ve been a bit busy recently and today I’m able to offer an update on my inane life!

Stoolball season is back upon us and for the very first time I’ve become an umpire. Okay I admit I’ve never had any experience of doing this task but surely it’s not that difficult. I trundled out for the first time last Wednesday 3rd May 2006 and didn’t do a bad job me thinks. It is kind of weird standing right in the middle of the field of play without offering yourself to receive a ball being thrown in. I often had to stop myself for reaching out to catch the ball! (When I play I play in close in a slip position or as wicket keeper, which means I’m often near to the wicket hence I had to catch the ball when it’s thrown back from the boundary).


I’ve also discovered other than trying to inhibit your natural desire to get involved you’ve got to be quite good at flinching and getting your lardy arse out the way, if a batsman hits the ball toward the position which you had taken up to umpire. I’m sure one of the girls from Graffham (our opposition) was definitely trying to take me out like a skittle by using the ball as a bullet aimed straight for me! Just as well I was feeling alert! Bruises from Stoolballs aren’t particularly attractive!