Another book finished, so on with the review. Queen Of The Depths by Richard Lee Byers is a Forgotten Realms novel, and the fourth book in a quartet called The Priests. Each book in the small series focuses on a servant of one of the worlds many gods, in this case the deity venerated is Umberleee, the savage, capricious goddess of the seas, who is more feared than venerated. Dubbed The Bitch Queen by those who dwell above the waves, this stories central character is Tu'ala'keth, a shalarin priestess. The shalarin being a race of undersea dwellers, looking much like humans but much more slender, and with webbed feet and hands, as well as crest running down their back.
Tu'ala'keth is a priestess with a problem, no-one is visiting her temple, the offerings draped on the altars are all old, the shalarin people's faith having drifted to other deities of the oceans, most of whom are far less cruel than Umberlee. To compound the problem, the shalarin (and the rest of the ndersea races), are faced with a monstrous threat, a large force of draconic creatures driven mad by The Rage, an affliction which affects dragonkind every now and then, causing them to group together and attack everything in their path (think Football Hooligans on a drunken rampage and you get the general idea).
So she sets out into the wider ocean, away from her temple, to try and hear the call of her goddess, wanting to know her will. It is there that she encounters Anton Marivaldi, drifting on flotsam and close to death. She rescues him after watching him fight off an octopus, a sacred animal of her faith, convinced that he has been sent to aid her. After explaining that he is a spy for the government of a nation called Turmish, and has been tasked with finding a secret base of the villainous Cult of the Dragon, a group of madmen convinced that undead dragons will rule the world someday, and who are working to make it sooner rather than later.
Seeing that the Cult would have information on the raging dragons and how to stop them, and realising that if she can stop the tide of dragons, then the people will have to worship her goddess again, Tu'ala'keth teams up with Anton to find and stop the Cult. The pair bicker over many things, but especially over her unwavering belief that everything is Umberlee's will. As Anton is not a worshipper of the savage goddess himself (he venerates the Red Knight, a goddess of strategy and tactics), the pair are often at odds over this. But they do work well together regardless.
The book is written by the same author who is writing the Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy for the Forgotten Realms, and has written this book as a nice way of showing what else is going on in the world in that year, aside from what the main characters of his trilogy are going through. It is a very well written book, and it gets a solid 5/5 from me. I'd enjoy seeing more books set against the backdrop of that years terrible events, like this one is. For my part as my current D&D campaign is set at around this time (the characters having already seen one group of dragons raging, and currently in a city under attack by another large force of dragons doing the same), this book is a godsend of ideas for running some adventures amidst the Pirate Isles, where the book is set in and around (and where the party would be passing by soon enough anyway).
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
A Pattern Is Emerging
I go out. I get mildly drunk. I dance a bit. Nothing else happens. I come home miserable and feeling more alone than ever. Why do I do this to myself every fucking week? I even tell myself that "This week I'll give it a miss", and yet guaranteed I'll still go out and repeat the same sad, pathetic routine. I'm writing this now, hating myself for having done this again, but I already know that I'll be out next week.
I think part of it is optimism, that one time I'll go out and it won't be that way, and unless I keep going out, then that one time ain't going to happen. But is it worth it? Can anything be worth this much depression? I'm sat here with the curtains open on my bay window, watching others go home hand in hand, couples young and old. I want that. Some part of me deeply craves what those people have, that level of companionship, and of love.
I've been told before that "it'll happen when you least expect it" and "that you won't find it by looking for it" and a hundred other such tidbits of dubious advice. I spent years heeding them, staying out of the limelight, keeping to myself. I got really good at not being noticed, as a result. But I don't think I can do that anymore, I can't just sit here and wait for something to happen, because I've been doing that for years already, and nothing has happened. I'm a patient man, but everyone has their limits. If I don't go out, if I don't go and seek what I want, then I don't think I'll ever find it, and I have zero faith that it will ever find me.
I think it is time I looked at trying another venue, as the Market House while it plays good music, does not seem to be doing me any favours. I'm not sure where else to try though. I've never been in Dellar's Wharf and Que Pasa is overpriced and well... shit! I think next week I'll give Yates' and Remedies a try. I used to like both of those pubs, maybe I should try them again, see if they have improved.
I think part of it is optimism, that one time I'll go out and it won't be that way, and unless I keep going out, then that one time ain't going to happen. But is it worth it? Can anything be worth this much depression? I'm sat here with the curtains open on my bay window, watching others go home hand in hand, couples young and old. I want that. Some part of me deeply craves what those people have, that level of companionship, and of love.
I've been told before that "it'll happen when you least expect it" and "that you won't find it by looking for it" and a hundred other such tidbits of dubious advice. I spent years heeding them, staying out of the limelight, keeping to myself. I got really good at not being noticed, as a result. But I don't think I can do that anymore, I can't just sit here and wait for something to happen, because I've been doing that for years already, and nothing has happened. I'm a patient man, but everyone has their limits. If I don't go out, if I don't go and seek what I want, then I don't think I'll ever find it, and I have zero faith that it will ever find me.
I think it is time I looked at trying another venue, as the Market House while it plays good music, does not seem to be doing me any favours. I'm not sure where else to try though. I've never been in Dellar's Wharf and Que Pasa is overpriced and well... shit! I think next week I'll give Yates' and Remedies a try. I used to like both of those pubs, maybe I should try them again, see if they have improved.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Jingle Bell Rock
I love the Muppets, especially the older ones from the original TV show and the first movie. Children's Tv these days has nothing that compares to the Muppet Show. A good thing then that it can be bought on DVD (Must get those!). While Swedish Chef has always been my overall favourite Muppet, I am very fond of Dr. Teeth and his crazy band The Electric Mayhem (comprising Floyd and Janice on guitars, Zoot on saxophone and especially the insane drummer Animal). This rendition of Jingle Bell Rock is from the Muppet Christmas Special in which the gang head to Fozzie's mum's farmhouse for the holiday. Here they are joined by both the Sesame Street cast and the Fraggles too! The song starts off with Kermit and his nephew Robin, singing a cutesy version of Jingle Bells, until they get interrupted by the loud guitars, drums and saxophone of the band's far better version!
Jingle Bell Rock by Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
(Kermit and Robin)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Ohh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
(The Electric Mayhem)
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell
Jingle bell rock (Yeah!)
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time (Ohh)
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square (Square!)
In the frosty air
What a bright time
It's the right time
To rock the night away (Away!)
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse
Pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell rock
Go Zoot!
So giddy-up jingle horse
Pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling beat
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell rock
(Animal)
Dat the jingle bell rock!
Ahhh... Thank You.
Jingle Bell Rock by Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
(Kermit and Robin)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Ohh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
(The Electric Mayhem)
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell
Jingle bell rock (Yeah!)
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time (Ohh)
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square (Square!)
In the frosty air
What a bright time
It's the right time
To rock the night away (Away!)
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse
Pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell rock
Go Zoot!
So giddy-up jingle horse
Pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling beat
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell rock
(Animal)
Dat the jingle bell rock!
Ahhh... Thank You.
King Kong: A Movie Review
Okay to start this off I feel that it is important to state that I hate King Kong. Not this movie, no no, I mean the original 1933 black and white version. I've watched it a couple times and I think it is crap. It is held up to be this amazing film, and I honestly cannot understand why. That said, I do like the remake of it that was made in the 70's, as while it was a mess of a film, it was at least in colour. I detest black and white as a medium, the world isn't monochromatic, so making a film or taking a photograph that is, to me robs that image of any semblance of reality. It pushes my suspension of belief past breaking point.
I was stoked to watch this film though, from the moment I heard that it was going to be made. You see, I've read the book of King Kong, and the story is dynamite. And it was being made by Peter Jackson, who has already proved with his Lord of the Rings trilogy, that he is a director who can bring books to life on the big screen in spectacular fashion. And of course it would be in colour! I had the day off work today, and had pegged today as Kong Day for the past couple weeks. So I walked to the cinema (a trip of about 2 miles) to see the 3pm showing, as it wouldn't be too busy, and since I had to walk back home afterwards, I wanted the showing to be reasonably early.
I got there in plenty of time, watched the adverts and the trailers (including the awesome teaser for Superman Returns), and then sat and watched 3 hours of one of the best films I've ever seen. I had some doubts going in, most of which revolved around Jack Black, a man I regard as being utterly talentless. His music (if you can call the noise that Tenacious D produces that) is terrible and in the couple films he's been in that I've seen, he was easily the worst thing in them. He is still the worst thing in this film. His character is Carl Denham, a desperate movie maker who carries people with him on his doomed expedition, through lies and hollow promises. Which wouldn't be a problem, only Black's portrayal of him is completely unconvincing. He has zero charisma and it baffles me why the other characters on the ship go along with him.
Naomi Watts though is just stunning in this, perfectly cast as the object of Kong's affections, her Ann Darrow is a vision. I will have to see what other films she is in, because she is superb in this. Also she spends a good chunk of the film in a silk nightie which is very easy on the eyes!
Adrian Brody is great as Jack Driscoll the playwright who get stuck on the ship, when it leaves port (to escape the police who are after Denham), and who falls for Ann on the voyage (she being a huge fan of his plays, the attraction is mutual). I loved seeing him typing in his cage (not enough cabins, so he has to bunk down in one of the animal cages in the hold... sharing space with a huge supply of chloroform! He risks everything to rescue Ann from the jungles.
The other characters are well done, everyone gets their moment to shine, from the various members of the motley crew of the Venture (the ship Denham hires to take them to Skull Island), especially the Captain who quickly figures out that Denham is up to no good to the lead actor in the film Denham is shooting, who papers his cabin with posters of his big action films, yet he himself is a coward. Brilliant!
The SFX are top notch, which is hardly surprising since they are done by WETA, who have replaced ILM as the best effects studio in recent years with the successes of the Rings trilogy, Narnia and now Kong too. The big ape is very believable, really, truly well done, and it will be a crime if this movie doesn't take the Oscar for visual effects. Being a complete aracnophobe, the sequence in the "Bug Canyon" genuinely made me cringe, as the fight between Kong and a trio of T-Rexes had me shifting in my chair, as though I could dodge the snapping jaws and raking talons that filled the screen.
King Kong gets a solid 5/5 from me, as even with the abysmal presence of Jack Black, he thankfully can't ruin the film (though annoyingly he does get the last line). I'll be getting this one on DVD when it comes out for sure, and hopefully there's extra footage lying around somewhere that they can use to make a Director's Cut version, as while the film is long, it is beautiful, and thus for me at least, not quite long enough.
I was stoked to watch this film though, from the moment I heard that it was going to be made. You see, I've read the book of King Kong, and the story is dynamite. And it was being made by Peter Jackson, who has already proved with his Lord of the Rings trilogy, that he is a director who can bring books to life on the big screen in spectacular fashion. And of course it would be in colour! I had the day off work today, and had pegged today as Kong Day for the past couple weeks. So I walked to the cinema (a trip of about 2 miles) to see the 3pm showing, as it wouldn't be too busy, and since I had to walk back home afterwards, I wanted the showing to be reasonably early.
I got there in plenty of time, watched the adverts and the trailers (including the awesome teaser for Superman Returns), and then sat and watched 3 hours of one of the best films I've ever seen. I had some doubts going in, most of which revolved around Jack Black, a man I regard as being utterly talentless. His music (if you can call the noise that Tenacious D produces that) is terrible and in the couple films he's been in that I've seen, he was easily the worst thing in them. He is still the worst thing in this film. His character is Carl Denham, a desperate movie maker who carries people with him on his doomed expedition, through lies and hollow promises. Which wouldn't be a problem, only Black's portrayal of him is completely unconvincing. He has zero charisma and it baffles me why the other characters on the ship go along with him.
Naomi Watts though is just stunning in this, perfectly cast as the object of Kong's affections, her Ann Darrow is a vision. I will have to see what other films she is in, because she is superb in this. Also she spends a good chunk of the film in a silk nightie which is very easy on the eyes!
Adrian Brody is great as Jack Driscoll the playwright who get stuck on the ship, when it leaves port (to escape the police who are after Denham), and who falls for Ann on the voyage (she being a huge fan of his plays, the attraction is mutual). I loved seeing him typing in his cage (not enough cabins, so he has to bunk down in one of the animal cages in the hold... sharing space with a huge supply of chloroform! He risks everything to rescue Ann from the jungles.
The other characters are well done, everyone gets their moment to shine, from the various members of the motley crew of the Venture (the ship Denham hires to take them to Skull Island), especially the Captain who quickly figures out that Denham is up to no good to the lead actor in the film Denham is shooting, who papers his cabin with posters of his big action films, yet he himself is a coward. Brilliant!
The SFX are top notch, which is hardly surprising since they are done by WETA, who have replaced ILM as the best effects studio in recent years with the successes of the Rings trilogy, Narnia and now Kong too. The big ape is very believable, really, truly well done, and it will be a crime if this movie doesn't take the Oscar for visual effects. Being a complete aracnophobe, the sequence in the "Bug Canyon" genuinely made me cringe, as the fight between Kong and a trio of T-Rexes had me shifting in my chair, as though I could dodge the snapping jaws and raking talons that filled the screen.
King Kong gets a solid 5/5 from me, as even with the abysmal presence of Jack Black, he thankfully can't ruin the film (though annoyingly he does get the last line). I'll be getting this one on DVD when it comes out for sure, and hopefully there's extra footage lying around somewhere that they can use to make a Director's Cut version, as while the film is long, it is beautiful, and thus for me at least, not quite long enough.
Old Tapes
I was going to put on my Winamp this evening when I thought I'd listen too something a bit different than my usual mp3's instead. So I brought my portable stereo into my room (it normally lives in the kitchen), and dug out my old tapes. These are compilations of songs that I taped off the radio and other cassettes back in my youth. I have a half dozen or so of these and I've been taking a trip down memory lane listening to some of these songs.
To be sure, a lot of them I have on mp3, my musical tastes haven't changed that much over the years, I liked those songs growing up, I like them now just as much. But even the songs I have on mp3 sound really different on cassette. And then there are songs I haven't heard in a decade or more, some of which after hearing them again I am profoundly glad that I've not heard them in ages, others though that I'll likely download on mp3, such as Fool For Love by Belinda Carlisle, Stand Up For Your Love Rights by Yazz, and Hanky Panky by Madonna.
It has been quite an experience hearing these old tunes again, and I'm glad I held onto these tapes now, as they were going to go in the bin a few years ago, during a clear out of my stuff.
To be sure, a lot of them I have on mp3, my musical tastes haven't changed that much over the years, I liked those songs growing up, I like them now just as much. But even the songs I have on mp3 sound really different on cassette. And then there are songs I haven't heard in a decade or more, some of which after hearing them again I am profoundly glad that I've not heard them in ages, others though that I'll likely download on mp3, such as Fool For Love by Belinda Carlisle, Stand Up For Your Love Rights by Yazz, and Hanky Panky by Madonna.
It has been quite an experience hearing these old tunes again, and I'm glad I held onto these tapes now, as they were going to go in the bin a few years ago, during a clear out of my stuff.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
The End Of The Beginning
Today the people of Iraq turned out in record numbers to vote for their first democratically elected permanent parliament. They have voted before to put an interim government in power and to authenticate a national constitution. But today they took part in a genuine General Election. Even the Sunni's who had boycotted previous votes, and who are the backbone behind the violence and unrest plaguing the country turned out for this vote. Try as they might to derail the process of democracy, no amount of violence has deterred it, or slowed it.
I'm a supporter of what Britain and the United States have done in Iraq. Yes we went to war for the wrong reason. Everyone knows that. We supposedly went to war to prevent Saddam's regime from creating and deploying Weapons of Mass Destruction, which as it has turned out they likely never had. So our military intelligence was wrong. It happens. What the critics of the war seem to conviniently ignore is that we liberated a country the size of France, with a population of more than 30 million people from one of the most brutal tyrannies of modern times.
We took on a larger military force, that outnumbered our own in terms of troops and vehicles, and we defeated it, and we did it at a cost of less than a 1000 Allied lives. It is a high price to pay yes, but a small price compared to what that sacrifice achieved. The invasion was the easy part, the rebuilding, the "war for peace" so to speak, has proven far harder. Barely a day goes by without news of some bomb, kidnapping, suicide attack or beheading being carried out in Iraq, and the body count seems to never stop rising. I have huge respect for the people of that country who still went out to vote when called upon to do so. Even knowing that some fanatic could blow himself up, and them with him while they queued to vote, they still went out and queued. I'm not sure I could do that.
It will take a week or two for the results of the polls to be counted and authenticated, and for the outcome to be known. That is for then, but today I have hope that a truly democratic, modern Iraq can emerge from the voting today. This isn't the end, it's not even the beginning of the end, that day is still a way off, but this is I think, the end of the beginning.
I'm a supporter of what Britain and the United States have done in Iraq. Yes we went to war for the wrong reason. Everyone knows that. We supposedly went to war to prevent Saddam's regime from creating and deploying Weapons of Mass Destruction, which as it has turned out they likely never had. So our military intelligence was wrong. It happens. What the critics of the war seem to conviniently ignore is that we liberated a country the size of France, with a population of more than 30 million people from one of the most brutal tyrannies of modern times.
We took on a larger military force, that outnumbered our own in terms of troops and vehicles, and we defeated it, and we did it at a cost of less than a 1000 Allied lives. It is a high price to pay yes, but a small price compared to what that sacrifice achieved. The invasion was the easy part, the rebuilding, the "war for peace" so to speak, has proven far harder. Barely a day goes by without news of some bomb, kidnapping, suicide attack or beheading being carried out in Iraq, and the body count seems to never stop rising. I have huge respect for the people of that country who still went out to vote when called upon to do so. Even knowing that some fanatic could blow himself up, and them with him while they queued to vote, they still went out and queued. I'm not sure I could do that.
It will take a week or two for the results of the polls to be counted and authenticated, and for the outcome to be known. That is for then, but today I have hope that a truly democratic, modern Iraq can emerge from the voting today. This isn't the end, it's not even the beginning of the end, that day is still a way off, but this is I think, the end of the beginning.
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
When it comes down to Xmas music there are two songs that stand head and shoulders above the others, this is one of them. A lively crazy song with the band backed by a youth choir, giving it a sound like nothing else. It is wildly cheerful, kinda silly and easy to sing-a-long with and I love it. I don't agree with its message though, I wouldn't want Christmas to be everyday. Once a year is enough, as if it were everyday it would be routine, and not special. And that I think would be a shame.
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Roy Wood & Wizzard
Are you ready children? (yes! yes! yes!)
When the snowman brings the snow
Well he just might like to know
He's put a great big smile, on somebody's face
If you jump into your bed
Quickly cover up your head
Don't you lock the doors
You know that sweet Santa Claus in on the way
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
When we're skating in the park
If the snow cloud makes it dark
Then your rosy cheek's gonna light my merry way
Now the frosty paws appear
And they've frozen up my ear
So we'll lie by the fire
'til the sleet simply knocks 'em all away
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
When the snowman brings the snow (when the snowman brings the snow)
Well he just might like to know (well he just might like to know)
He's put a great big smile on somebody's face
So if Santa brings that sleigh (Santa brings that sleigh)
All along the Milky Way (along the Milky Way)
I'll sign my name on the rroftop in the snow
Then he may decide to stay
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oo-oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Okay you lot - take it!
Well, I wish it could be Christmas, every day (Christmas day)
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play (Oh-oh)
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
Why don't you give your love for Christmas?
(when the snowman brings the snow)
Repeat to fade...
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Roy Wood & Wizzard
Are you ready children? (yes! yes! yes!)
When the snowman brings the snow
Well he just might like to know
He's put a great big smile, on somebody's face
If you jump into your bed
Quickly cover up your head
Don't you lock the doors
You know that sweet Santa Claus in on the way
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
When we're skating in the park
If the snow cloud makes it dark
Then your rosy cheek's gonna light my merry way
Now the frosty paws appear
And they've frozen up my ear
So we'll lie by the fire
'til the sleet simply knocks 'em all away
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
When the snowman brings the snow (when the snowman brings the snow)
Well he just might like to know (well he just might like to know)
He's put a great big smile on somebody's face
So if Santa brings that sleigh (Santa brings that sleigh)
All along the Milky Way (along the Milky Way)
I'll sign my name on the rroftop in the snow
Then he may decide to stay
Well I wish it could be Christmas, every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oo-oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Okay you lot - take it!
Well, I wish it could be Christmas, every day (Christmas day)
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play (Oh-oh)
Oh, I wish it could be Christmas, every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
Why don't you give your love for Christmas?
(when the snowman brings the snow)
Repeat to fade...
Please Make It Stop!!
Ever since my place of work converted from a Safeway supermarket to a Morrisons supermarket back in February, I've had to listen to the piped music over the stores tannoy system. Now this isn't such a bad thing, they play a lot of music I like such as 80's stuff. Granted they play a fair amount of music I don't like so much too, but quite a few songs on the regular play list have struck a chord with me and I've ended up buying the mp3 of that tune online.
Everybody knew that come this time of year the piped music was going to feature Xmas songs. Now I like a fair few Xmas songs, and some of them have been playing now and then. But one song is driving me slowly insane. The culprit is "I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus", which I think is by the Jackson Five, or a solo effort by a young Micheal Jackson. I HATE this song with a passion. The tune is whiny, the lyrics are terrible (and very repetitive, which to me is just lazy songwriting), and the kid singing it has a voice so high it sounds like he has been castrated.
The tannoy system is playing this song several times a day (in a 10:30am-6:30pm shift today, I counted it being played 6 times!), and I shudder every time I hear it. If anyone reading this has a time machine (as unlikely as that is), do me and the human race a favour would you? Go back and shoot the kid who sung this musical atrocity before it was recorded!
Everybody knew that come this time of year the piped music was going to feature Xmas songs. Now I like a fair few Xmas songs, and some of them have been playing now and then. But one song is driving me slowly insane. The culprit is "I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus", which I think is by the Jackson Five, or a solo effort by a young Micheal Jackson. I HATE this song with a passion. The tune is whiny, the lyrics are terrible (and very repetitive, which to me is just lazy songwriting), and the kid singing it has a voice so high it sounds like he has been castrated.
The tannoy system is playing this song several times a day (in a 10:30am-6:30pm shift today, I counted it being played 6 times!), and I shudder every time I hear it. If anyone reading this has a time machine (as unlikely as that is), do me and the human race a favour would you? Go back and shoot the kid who sung this musical atrocity before it was recorded!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Big Scan
So Trading Standards visited our store last week. And they did what they always do, get a trolley and go round the store, filling it up, and then take it to the tills. And then they compared the prices they noted on the shelf edges, to what they paid... and they found one error. Just one price that was higher at the till than advertised on the shelf edge. Now if this was any other customer they would go to the Customer Service Desk, point this out and we'd issue a refund for the difference and a sincere apology to them. The Admin dept would be notified and we would speedily print out a new ticket with the correct price, and get it onto the shelf edge. No harm, no foul, no hassle.
Only this wasn't any customer, this was Trading Standards, and so they made a report about us. And that report landed on the desk of our stores regional director. And he decided that our store had "issues", and so ordered an audit. So what this means is that someone from another store is going to come to ours, and try to catch us out in the same way Trading Standards did. We know they are coming, we have a few days warning of this. And we know who is coming, because she used to work in our store, so she is going to be well motivated to claim our scalp if she can do so.
So for the past few days we have been scanning every item in the store, and comparing the price on the shelf edge, to that on the computer system. That's EVERY item in the store... all 30,000 of them!! All because of 1 price error! To say this is a tedious process is a gross understatement, it has taken pretty much the whole Admin dept (minus one person manning the office itself), the past 3 days to do this, and there is still work to do tomorrow to finish the great task. Still it will be worth it if we have managed to stymie our auditor finding anything wrong.
Only this wasn't any customer, this was Trading Standards, and so they made a report about us. And that report landed on the desk of our stores regional director. And he decided that our store had "issues", and so ordered an audit. So what this means is that someone from another store is going to come to ours, and try to catch us out in the same way Trading Standards did. We know they are coming, we have a few days warning of this. And we know who is coming, because she used to work in our store, so she is going to be well motivated to claim our scalp if she can do so.
So for the past few days we have been scanning every item in the store, and comparing the price on the shelf edge, to that on the computer system. That's EVERY item in the store... all 30,000 of them!! All because of 1 price error! To say this is a tedious process is a gross understatement, it has taken pretty much the whole Admin dept (minus one person manning the office itself), the past 3 days to do this, and there is still work to do tomorrow to finish the great task. Still it will be worth it if we have managed to stymie our auditor finding anything wrong.
Monday, December 12, 2005
All I Want For Christmas Is You
I love this song, and by that I mean everything about it. The way it starts out quiet, and then with a thunderous drumroll breaks into a lively pop tune. The way it blends an almost gospel style of singing with pop music, and a tune that is utterly infectious. It is the one song by Mariah Carey that I actually like, I find her other stuff to be far too soppy to be honest. This song though showcases her impressive vocal talents, without being too sentimental and sickly sweet. It also made for a great scene in the movie Love Actually, when it was sung by the object of the boys affections, he having learned to play drums so he could impress her.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true...
All I want for Christmas is
You... yeah yeah
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
(and I) Don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you...
You baby
Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
(and I) I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You baby
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere (so brightly yeah)
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing (oh yeah)
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need -
won't you please bring my baby to me...
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is
You (You) baby (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)
All I want for Christmas is you baby... (repeat)
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true...
All I want for Christmas is
You... yeah yeah
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
(and I) Don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you...
You baby
Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
(and I) I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You baby
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere (so brightly yeah)
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing (oh yeah)
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need -
won't you please bring my baby to me...
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is
You (You) baby (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)
All I want for Christmas is you baby... (repeat)
Ahhh That's Better
My hair is once again shaved short, my scalp can breathe and no longer suffocate under an unruly mop of hair. I hate my hair, I really do. I like the colour of it, but that is about the only characteristic of it that I do like. It feels awful, even just after washing and conditioning it it feels dry and lifeless to me. I grew it long when I was in college ohh many moons ago, and wore it with a bandana headband (actually a long strip of grey material made by my Mum out of the leg of a pair of school trousers there due to be binned), wound twice round my head and then tied at the back. I have a photo of what I looked like back then (No I'm not posting it here, I'd have to be drunk to do that, and right now I'm stone cold sober) somewhere, and gawd I wince when I see what I looked like back then.
Having my hair short also flatters me a little, in that it mostly conceals the couple patches on the top of my head where I am beginning to go bald. Yeah, I'm not even 30 yet (35 days and counting down until that happens), and I'm already going bald. This is my Dad's fault, well his DNA anyway, though my Mum would likely insist that "these things skip a generation, and therefore it's my fathers fault".
Another thing I hate about my hair is that at the back of my head, in a band between my ears, the hair there grows in the opposite direction. that is to say that it grows upwards, towards the top of my head. Naturally since the rest of my hair grows downwards towards my shoulders, this results in an area where my hair gets knotted very easily, and as I found out when I did have it long, these knots can be very painful to have to tug out with a comb each morning. I think I look better with very short hair, and since I started University in October 1996, this has been the way I prefer to look (though I initially had my hair shaved to save money on shampoo while I was a student).
Did a bit of shopping in the supermarket where I work on the way home from the Barber's, including getting my Dad's Xmas present, so that I just have Mum's left to buy now (if she can ever remember what it is that she wants!). Hopefully I can get that one bought on the weekend and bring my present shopping to a close with a week to go, which would be nice as the last couple years I've had at least a present still to get on Xmas Eve itself.
Having my hair short also flatters me a little, in that it mostly conceals the couple patches on the top of my head where I am beginning to go bald. Yeah, I'm not even 30 yet (35 days and counting down until that happens), and I'm already going bald. This is my Dad's fault, well his DNA anyway, though my Mum would likely insist that "these things skip a generation, and therefore it's my fathers fault".
Another thing I hate about my hair is that at the back of my head, in a band between my ears, the hair there grows in the opposite direction. that is to say that it grows upwards, towards the top of my head. Naturally since the rest of my hair grows downwards towards my shoulders, this results in an area where my hair gets knotted very easily, and as I found out when I did have it long, these knots can be very painful to have to tug out with a comb each morning. I think I look better with very short hair, and since I started University in October 1996, this has been the way I prefer to look (though I initially had my hair shaved to save money on shampoo while I was a student).
Did a bit of shopping in the supermarket where I work on the way home from the Barber's, including getting my Dad's Xmas present, so that I just have Mum's left to buy now (if she can ever remember what it is that she wants!). Hopefully I can get that one bought on the weekend and bring my present shopping to a close with a week to go, which would be nice as the last couple years I've had at least a present still to get on Xmas Eve itself.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Master Of Chains: A Book Review
I finished reading this book in work today during my lunch hour, and so on with the review while it is still fresh in my mind. Master Of Chains by Jess Lebow is a Forgotten Realms novel, and the first in a set of 4 novels, the set being titled The Fighters. Each novel in the quartet features one central warrior type character with an unusual fighting style. In the case of this book, that character is Ryder, a freedom fighter in the oppressed Barony of Ahlarkhem, part of the Kingdom of Erlkazar.
To be honest I was surprised to see a novel set in this corner of the Realms, as Erlkazar has always been scarcely detailed, so that people wanting to run a D&D campaign in the Realms would have a part of the continent to "make their own", with only the very bare minimum of details provided about that area. Clearly that policy has undergone some change recently. I'm not going to be able to review this without some major spoilers, so if you intend on reading this novel, stop reading this post now.
This is a very confusing book, as there isn't any clear hero. Ryder I suppose, is meant to be that, but he just doesn't work well in the role. The closest person I can find in the plot to that part is Ryder's younger brother Liam, yet he is woefully naive throughout much of the storyline. There is a lot of grey though. Ryder leads The Crimson Awl (or at least he thinks he does), a peasant rebellion (think Robin Hood's Merry Men, only not as well organised) meant to unseat the oppressive Baron Purdun who overtaxes the citizens to maintain a large military force, with which he enforces his iron grip on the land.
Baron Purdun though doesn't see himself as an oppressor at all, he levies high taxes yes, he keeps a large army with the revenue true, but this is to guard the people against the forces of the vampiress Shyressa who he inadvertantly woke from her slumber in the novels prologue, set several years before the main narrative. He knows that the Crimson Awl has been subverted by the vampiress, into a tool to remove him from power so that Shyressa can claim the Barony, as a first step to conquering all of Erlkazar itself. So if he isn't evil, then why when he captures Ryder, does he sell him (and 30 others at the same time) into slavery?
His own greed was what led him to open the tomb that housed Shyressa, and he lost his mentor in the process, he fleeing as undead tore his companion apart. His soldiers are brutal thugs, he has a sextet of half-giant enforcers to back him up, and he uses both honeyed words, and threats against Liam's family to get the young man to work for him. Not to mention the fact that he never tells Liam that his supposedly dead brother is actually alive. I've heard of the term "the ends justify the means" but this really does push it to breaking point.
Ryder gets free of the slave chain when bandits attack it, several weeks walk from home, and then he gets imprisoned by the bandits themselves when he refuses to join them, wanting only to return home to his wife and family (who all think he is dead). The novel covers months worth of events, and Ryder does eventually get his freedom from the bandits, by aiding them in defending their stronghold from a trio of undead giants, he using the chains and shackles that had bound him in coffle with the other slaves, as his weapons, hence the name of the book.
What breaks all credibility for me, is how one of the bandits after seeing Ryder fighting in that manner, just happens to have a length of magical spiked chain lying around to give to him! Worse, the young man claims to have never thought of it as a weapon, despite it clearly being exactly that, even to having leather wrapped hand-holds, and the thing discharging magical electricity on impact! I mean come on!!
The books pacing is terrible, at times dragging its heels, at others horribly rushed (the finale especially). Also the couple erotic scenes in the book are just awful, not even remotely romantic and/or sexual. I'm going to give this book 2/5, because while it is bad, it does flesh out a scarcely detailed part of a world I love, and the combat scenes are actually well written and pretty gruesome in places (not surprising when Ryder is essentially whipping his foes with chains and shackles!!).
To be honest I was surprised to see a novel set in this corner of the Realms, as Erlkazar has always been scarcely detailed, so that people wanting to run a D&D campaign in the Realms would have a part of the continent to "make their own", with only the very bare minimum of details provided about that area. Clearly that policy has undergone some change recently. I'm not going to be able to review this without some major spoilers, so if you intend on reading this novel, stop reading this post now.
This is a very confusing book, as there isn't any clear hero. Ryder I suppose, is meant to be that, but he just doesn't work well in the role. The closest person I can find in the plot to that part is Ryder's younger brother Liam, yet he is woefully naive throughout much of the storyline. There is a lot of grey though. Ryder leads The Crimson Awl (or at least he thinks he does), a peasant rebellion (think Robin Hood's Merry Men, only not as well organised) meant to unseat the oppressive Baron Purdun who overtaxes the citizens to maintain a large military force, with which he enforces his iron grip on the land.
Baron Purdun though doesn't see himself as an oppressor at all, he levies high taxes yes, he keeps a large army with the revenue true, but this is to guard the people against the forces of the vampiress Shyressa who he inadvertantly woke from her slumber in the novels prologue, set several years before the main narrative. He knows that the Crimson Awl has been subverted by the vampiress, into a tool to remove him from power so that Shyressa can claim the Barony, as a first step to conquering all of Erlkazar itself. So if he isn't evil, then why when he captures Ryder, does he sell him (and 30 others at the same time) into slavery?
His own greed was what led him to open the tomb that housed Shyressa, and he lost his mentor in the process, he fleeing as undead tore his companion apart. His soldiers are brutal thugs, he has a sextet of half-giant enforcers to back him up, and he uses both honeyed words, and threats against Liam's family to get the young man to work for him. Not to mention the fact that he never tells Liam that his supposedly dead brother is actually alive. I've heard of the term "the ends justify the means" but this really does push it to breaking point.
Ryder gets free of the slave chain when bandits attack it, several weeks walk from home, and then he gets imprisoned by the bandits themselves when he refuses to join them, wanting only to return home to his wife and family (who all think he is dead). The novel covers months worth of events, and Ryder does eventually get his freedom from the bandits, by aiding them in defending their stronghold from a trio of undead giants, he using the chains and shackles that had bound him in coffle with the other slaves, as his weapons, hence the name of the book.
What breaks all credibility for me, is how one of the bandits after seeing Ryder fighting in that manner, just happens to have a length of magical spiked chain lying around to give to him! Worse, the young man claims to have never thought of it as a weapon, despite it clearly being exactly that, even to having leather wrapped hand-holds, and the thing discharging magical electricity on impact! I mean come on!!
The books pacing is terrible, at times dragging its heels, at others horribly rushed (the finale especially). Also the couple erotic scenes in the book are just awful, not even remotely romantic and/or sexual. I'm going to give this book 2/5, because while it is bad, it does flesh out a scarcely detailed part of a world I love, and the combat scenes are actually well written and pretty gruesome in places (not surprising when Ryder is essentially whipping his foes with chains and shackles!!).
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Gothic Horror
I recently watched Sleepy Hollow, one of several movies I've watched over the past week. I seem to be on a bit of a movie marathon of late. I don't like horror movies as a rule, it's not that I'm scared to watch them, I've watched plenty of them in my time, I simply don't find them to be entertaining. Except for gothic horror. I love gothic horror... wait make that I love GOOD gothic horror, because bad gothic horror is just awful.
So what makes good gothic horror? For one, things should never look quite right, even in daylight (and there should be precious little of that), the shadows cast by it should look slightly off. At night mist is pooled about on the ground, buildings should have sharp angles in their construction, and even though the film is in colour, the world should be bleak with an abundance of black, white and grey. It should not be without colour though, some set pieces should a riot of colour, if only to make the dreariness of the rest of the film that much darker by comparison... and the blood should be a vivid shade of red!
I'm not a fan of black and white movies at all, so while there are plenty of gothic horror movies that are shot in that style, I'm not that fond of them. Also a lot of them, while greatly hyped as being masterpieces, really don't stand up that well to repeat viewing. Examples include the original Frankenstein and Dracula movies. I think part of it is that the world isn't black and white, and so I have a hard time watching such films because they are not remotely believeable, they don't draw me in.
Similarly a lot of the early colour gothic horror movies are pretty bad, especially the majority of Hammer Horror movies, though credit goes to Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the main stars of the studio, who while often starring in dubiously plotted movies, were never less than entertaining, and often superb in them.
Modern gothic horror is really quite sparse, with very few films made in that style these days, and even fewer good ones. Recent films that I have seen and liked though include: Sleepy Hollow, Interview with the Vampire, From Hell, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and for examples set in the present day see Dog Soldiers, The Howling and An American Werewolf In London. For less serious examples of the genre, that incorporate some aspects but also pander to the blockbuster audiences, see The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing.
Part of the reason for the lack of these movies today is that while they look great, they rarely bring in the big bucks at the Box Office, and Hollywood is all about the money. For a slightly different take on gothic horror see the animated films The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride, both by Tim Burton (who I would love to see do a version of Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde or one of the other classics on the genre, the Invisible Man perhaps).
So what makes good gothic horror? For one, things should never look quite right, even in daylight (and there should be precious little of that), the shadows cast by it should look slightly off. At night mist is pooled about on the ground, buildings should have sharp angles in their construction, and even though the film is in colour, the world should be bleak with an abundance of black, white and grey. It should not be without colour though, some set pieces should a riot of colour, if only to make the dreariness of the rest of the film that much darker by comparison... and the blood should be a vivid shade of red!
I'm not a fan of black and white movies at all, so while there are plenty of gothic horror movies that are shot in that style, I'm not that fond of them. Also a lot of them, while greatly hyped as being masterpieces, really don't stand up that well to repeat viewing. Examples include the original Frankenstein and Dracula movies. I think part of it is that the world isn't black and white, and so I have a hard time watching such films because they are not remotely believeable, they don't draw me in.
Similarly a lot of the early colour gothic horror movies are pretty bad, especially the majority of Hammer Horror movies, though credit goes to Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the main stars of the studio, who while often starring in dubiously plotted movies, were never less than entertaining, and often superb in them.
Modern gothic horror is really quite sparse, with very few films made in that style these days, and even fewer good ones. Recent films that I have seen and liked though include: Sleepy Hollow, Interview with the Vampire, From Hell, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and for examples set in the present day see Dog Soldiers, The Howling and An American Werewolf In London. For less serious examples of the genre, that incorporate some aspects but also pander to the blockbuster audiences, see The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing.
Part of the reason for the lack of these movies today is that while they look great, they rarely bring in the big bucks at the Box Office, and Hollywood is all about the money. For a slightly different take on gothic horror see the animated films The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride, both by Tim Burton (who I would love to see do a version of Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde or one of the other classics on the genre, the Invisible Man perhaps).
Last Christmas
I don't get this song. I like the tune and that, but the lyrics... well they make bugger all sense too me to be honest. I mean it's basically about a guy who got betrayed by the girl he loved last christmas, and his remedy for this, is that next time he'll give his heart to someone special... Soooo wasn't the girl he gave his heart too already and got betrayed by special? And if not, why the fuck did he give her his heart anyway? I mean I know we guys can be a bit clueless at times when it comes to romance and all that jazz, but this song really paints us as being complete morons when it comes to affairs of the heart. Anyway here's the lyrics, see what you make of them!
Last Christmas by Wham
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby do you recognise me?
Well it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
(Happy Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I Love You" I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now I know you'd fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
(Oooh. Oooh Baby)
A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice
My God I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Oooh Oooh
Now I've found a real love you'll never fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
(Gave you my heart)
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Next year
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
special
someone
someone
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
who'll give me something in return
I'll give it to someone
hold my heart and watch it burn
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
I've got you here to stay
I can love you for a day
I thought you were someone special
gave you my heart
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone
last christmas I gave you my heart
you gave it away
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone
Last Christmas by Wham
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby do you recognise me?
Well it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
(Happy Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I Love You" I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now I know you'd fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
(Oooh. Oooh Baby)
A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice
My God I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Oooh Oooh
Now I've found a real love you'll never fool me again
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
(Gave you my heart)
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Next year
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
special
someone
someone
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
who'll give me something in return
I'll give it to someone
hold my heart and watch it burn
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
I've got you here to stay
I can love you for a day
I thought you were someone special
gave you my heart
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone
last christmas I gave you my heart
you gave it away
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone
A Saturday Like Any Other
I woke up late today. This is permissible as I didn't get to bed until 3am or thereabouts. I did set my alarm for fairly early, but it went off, and I got up (I keep my alarm clock on the other side of the room, so I have to get up to turn it off), turned it off and went back to bed. Bad me! so when I did finally get out of bed around noon, it was too late for me to go and get that haircut that I promised myself I'd get today. I think I have Monday off work, so I'll go and get my head shaved then.
Set off at around about 2:30pm on the walk to the cinema with Gareth, the pair of us intent on seeing the new Chronicles of Narnia movie. Tony declined to come along, but after we had reached the cinema (with a sidetrek to the McDonald's nearby first for me to grab a late lunch), he joined us anyway having reconsidered watching the film. As for the film, it was okay. If I had to rate it I'd give it a 3/5, it looks superb (especially the Beavers!) but several bits in it are very cheesy (especially the ending), and while it is obvious that the reason for it being made, is Disney's attempt to cash in on the phenomenal success of the superior Lord of the Rings movies, the director of this film is no Peter Jackson. Next week I have Friday off work, I will be at the cinema early to watch King Kong at least once (and maybe twice), and see the work of a true genius director.
Anyway, back to today. Gareth and I walked home, coming back through town and as we were both hungry by then, stopped off in KFC for some food, before running into the Adam's brothers (Richard & Derek) as well as Jon Wright in the town centre, and getting persuaded to join them in visiting Henry's pub at the top of the High Street. Jon bought me a pint of Guiness, and then when no-one else wanted to face him at Pool, I gamely volunteered (despite being terrible at the game). We played 6 games, he beat me 5-1, and I got the feeling he was going a bit easy on me. I've seen Jon play others, he could have beaten me a lot harder than he did.
With that done, and 9pm creeping up on me, I exited the pub and nipped home (about a 3 min walk away), to change my laundry in the machine, spray on some deodorant, comb hair and drop off my coat, before heading back out and going to the Market House for 80's Night, drawing £10 out of the ATM on the way.
It wasn't a good night at the pub though. No-one was dancing, the music was hit and miss, and the thieving bitch barmaid was on duty, though I avoided getting served by her (which is a good thing cos I'd have made a scene else). Weirdly tonight everyone seemed to be congregating in the cellar pit area of the pub, which is normally the first part of the pub to empty. So I left early and headed straight home, avoiding the temptation to hit Tuckers cafe first (my body can only take so much Fast Food in one day!). So here I am, typing this as I listen too (and sing-a-long with) music from my jukebox folder of mp3's (with my folder of Xmas songs added in for good measure).
Set off at around about 2:30pm on the walk to the cinema with Gareth, the pair of us intent on seeing the new Chronicles of Narnia movie. Tony declined to come along, but after we had reached the cinema (with a sidetrek to the McDonald's nearby first for me to grab a late lunch), he joined us anyway having reconsidered watching the film. As for the film, it was okay. If I had to rate it I'd give it a 3/5, it looks superb (especially the Beavers!) but several bits in it are very cheesy (especially the ending), and while it is obvious that the reason for it being made, is Disney's attempt to cash in on the phenomenal success of the superior Lord of the Rings movies, the director of this film is no Peter Jackson. Next week I have Friday off work, I will be at the cinema early to watch King Kong at least once (and maybe twice), and see the work of a true genius director.
Anyway, back to today. Gareth and I walked home, coming back through town and as we were both hungry by then, stopped off in KFC for some food, before running into the Adam's brothers (Richard & Derek) as well as Jon Wright in the town centre, and getting persuaded to join them in visiting Henry's pub at the top of the High Street. Jon bought me a pint of Guiness, and then when no-one else wanted to face him at Pool, I gamely volunteered (despite being terrible at the game). We played 6 games, he beat me 5-1, and I got the feeling he was going a bit easy on me. I've seen Jon play others, he could have beaten me a lot harder than he did.
With that done, and 9pm creeping up on me, I exited the pub and nipped home (about a 3 min walk away), to change my laundry in the machine, spray on some deodorant, comb hair and drop off my coat, before heading back out and going to the Market House for 80's Night, drawing £10 out of the ATM on the way.
It wasn't a good night at the pub though. No-one was dancing, the music was hit and miss, and the thieving bitch barmaid was on duty, though I avoided getting served by her (which is a good thing cos I'd have made a scene else). Weirdly tonight everyone seemed to be congregating in the cellar pit area of the pub, which is normally the first part of the pub to empty. So I left early and headed straight home, avoiding the temptation to hit Tuckers cafe first (my body can only take so much Fast Food in one day!). So here I am, typing this as I listen too (and sing-a-long with) music from my jukebox folder of mp3's (with my folder of Xmas songs added in for good measure).
The Draw Is Done
As of today the 32 teams competing in next summers Football World Cup know who they are up against in their respective qualifying groups. I'm not that great a fan of football (or soccer if you prefer to call it that), but I do enjoy the World Cup. My own country have never qualified to play in the finals, I don't think Wales ever will to be honest. The old joke about Welsh football fans is that they support two teams: Wales and whoever England is playing!
I'm not that patriotic. I'd like to see Wales with its own parliament, treated as an equal to England, like Scotland is. I think I will likely see that in my lifetime. I don't support England unless they are playing one of three teams: Argentina, Germany and France. If they are playing anyone else, I'll be rooting for the other side, but against those three nations, yeah I'll cheer for England all the way.
Argentina because I don't like seeing cheats win, and thats what they did with Maradona's infamous "Hand of God". Also the bastards invaded the Falkland Islands back in 1982. Granted they got a good kicking, and rightly so, but a lot of Brits lost their lives in that war. Sure was fun when David Beckham's kick put them out of the World Cup last time around.
Germany.... well mainly because the Brits and Germans have a good rivalry going and have done for nearly a century now, having fought two World Wars against each other. Also because they are really dull to watch, all professionalism, no flair. I loved watching the match a few years back where they were thrashed 5-1 in their home stadium by England. I don't watch much football, but myself and my Mum sat and relished watching that drubbing!
And lastly France. Well it's the French. I'm British. We have a long and justifiably proud history of hating our neighbours across the channel. The French talk a good fight, but they are fundamentally gutless, and I have nothing but contempt for them.
England face old enemies Sweden (who they have not beaten in 37 years!), newcomers Trinidad & Tobago, as well as Paraguay. I can't see them having any real problems qualifying at the top of that group and progressing to the knockout stage of the contest. I don't think England will win it, they play too conservatively for that, stupidly defending on single goal leads, rather than attacking. If they were to remember that the best form of defence is offence, that the other side can't score in your goal, when the ball is always in their half of the pitch, then I think England would do well. They have the talent to play like that, but they won't.
I think Brazil are going to win the Cup again personally, but it will be fun to watch the tournament unfold next June.
I'm not that patriotic. I'd like to see Wales with its own parliament, treated as an equal to England, like Scotland is. I think I will likely see that in my lifetime. I don't support England unless they are playing one of three teams: Argentina, Germany and France. If they are playing anyone else, I'll be rooting for the other side, but against those three nations, yeah I'll cheer for England all the way.
Argentina because I don't like seeing cheats win, and thats what they did with Maradona's infamous "Hand of God". Also the bastards invaded the Falkland Islands back in 1982. Granted they got a good kicking, and rightly so, but a lot of Brits lost their lives in that war. Sure was fun when David Beckham's kick put them out of the World Cup last time around.
Germany.... well mainly because the Brits and Germans have a good rivalry going and have done for nearly a century now, having fought two World Wars against each other. Also because they are really dull to watch, all professionalism, no flair. I loved watching the match a few years back where they were thrashed 5-1 in their home stadium by England. I don't watch much football, but myself and my Mum sat and relished watching that drubbing!
And lastly France. Well it's the French. I'm British. We have a long and justifiably proud history of hating our neighbours across the channel. The French talk a good fight, but they are fundamentally gutless, and I have nothing but contempt for them.
England face old enemies Sweden (who they have not beaten in 37 years!), newcomers Trinidad & Tobago, as well as Paraguay. I can't see them having any real problems qualifying at the top of that group and progressing to the knockout stage of the contest. I don't think England will win it, they play too conservatively for that, stupidly defending on single goal leads, rather than attacking. If they were to remember that the best form of defence is offence, that the other side can't score in your goal, when the ball is always in their half of the pitch, then I think England would do well. They have the talent to play like that, but they won't.
I think Brazil are going to win the Cup again personally, but it will be fun to watch the tournament unfold next June.
A Lack Of Focus
Ever had days where you just feel like you're drifting? I've had a whole week of that, hence the lack of posts here. It's not that I've not wanted to write, I LOVE writing. I've opened the page to make posts to my blog dozens of times the past few days and each time inspiration has just run dry. Writer's block is the absolute pits. But it's more than just that. More of a general malaise than a specific ailment.
So I've gotten nothing done really the past week. No D&D session logs typed up (I'm now running about 8 sessions behind on those), heck I didn't do much in the way of prep for yesterdays game, as I'd done it for last weeks session and not gotten to use it then. I've watched a load of movies at home and just not felt the need to write reviews about them. Seen the new Harry Potter film too last weekend. There are a load of things I could write about, I just haven't been able to find the words.
Later today after some sleep I'm going to get my hair cut (or rather shaved), as I hate it when it gets long. So a Grade 2 shave all over, will see me back to how I prefer myself to look. This afternoon I am going with my housemates, to see the Narnia movie, and I might well go out to the Market House tonight (though I'll make bloody sure to avoid that thieving barmaid, this time around). Though thinking about it I'll likely give the pub a miss, as I do still have some Xmas presents to get and the money would be better spent on those than on beer.
So I've gotten nothing done really the past week. No D&D session logs typed up (I'm now running about 8 sessions behind on those), heck I didn't do much in the way of prep for yesterdays game, as I'd done it for last weeks session and not gotten to use it then. I've watched a load of movies at home and just not felt the need to write reviews about them. Seen the new Harry Potter film too last weekend. There are a load of things I could write about, I just haven't been able to find the words.
Later today after some sleep I'm going to get my hair cut (or rather shaved), as I hate it when it gets long. So a Grade 2 shave all over, will see me back to how I prefer myself to look. This afternoon I am going with my housemates, to see the Narnia movie, and I might well go out to the Market House tonight (though I'll make bloody sure to avoid that thieving barmaid, this time around). Though thinking about it I'll likely give the pub a miss, as I do still have some Xmas presents to get and the money would be better spent on those than on beer.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Raise Your Hands
I remember that the first time I heard this song was watching the movie Spaceballs, as it is the song that Barf is listening too when we first see him. It was years before I owned a copy of it though, when I eventually bought the bands Slippery When Wet album on cassette. These days I have it on mp3. It is one of my favourite tunes by Bon Jovi, and I was a bit disapointed when it didn't make the cut for their Best Of album... so since there was space on the B side of my cassette, I taped it onto there anyway, as I felt it should have been included.
Raise Your Hands by Bon Jovi
You...
You got a nasty reputation
We're in a sticky situation
It's down to me and you
So tell me... Is it true?
They say there ain't nobody better
Well now that we're together
Show me what you can do
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let it go
Raise your hands
And you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands
I... I've been out on the front line
Where you'll go down if you waste time
They'll walk all over you
But I... I ain't here looking for surrender
I'll raise the flag if you'll defend her
It's up to you
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let it go
Raise your hands
And you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands
Raise Your Hands by Bon Jovi
You...
You got a nasty reputation
We're in a sticky situation
It's down to me and you
So tell me... Is it true?
They say there ain't nobody better
Well now that we're together
Show me what you can do
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let it go
Raise your hands
And you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands
I... I've been out on the front line
Where you'll go down if you waste time
They'll walk all over you
But I... I ain't here looking for surrender
I'll raise the flag if you'll defend her
It's up to you
You're under the gun
Out on the run
Gonna set the night on fire
You're out on the run
Under the gun
And playin' to win
Raise your hands
When you want to let it go
Raise your hands
And you want to let a feeling show
Raise your hands
From New York to Chicago
Raise your hands
From New Jersey to Tokyo
Raise your hands
Transportation
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of the novel Dancer of Gor by John Norman, one of my favourite books in the saga. Doreen Williamson, a librarian from Earth has been kidnapped and taken to that barbaric world on the other side of the sun, where she has been trained as a slave. Her training done, she is en route to her first sale:
I lay there, hooded, a new slave, trying to understand, down in my belly, what is was, truly, to be a property. I could thus come into the ownership of anyone who had the wherewithal to buy me, male or female. Too, I had little doubt that not all the men on this world could be of the nature of Teibars and Ulricks, and the guards in the house where I had been trained. Doubtless there were men here, too, if not as on Earth, men who might be fretful, petty and weak, men the very sight and smell of which I might find offensive, men whose appearance and least touch I might find literally sickening, men I might find inutterably disgusting, men who were unclean, who were cruel, and loathsome and gross, who might be hideous and frightful, men I might find myself shrinking from, almost vomiting in disgust and terror, but they would own me, as much as any other, and I would be obliged, as a slave, to bring myself warmly and unquestionably into their arms, and bring my lips obediently and hotly to theirs, to submit wholly to them, to give myself wholly to them, to surrender wholly to them, holding back nothing, to please them, fully, and intimately. These things were simple attachments to my condition, consequences of what I was. I could not change them. They were simply part of what it meant to be what I was, a slave. We do not choose our masters nor is it up to us, whether or not we will please them, or to what degree. We must strive to be perfection all ways, for anyone. That is part of what is to be a slave. In reconciling myself to bondage I had, also, to reconcile myself to this condition. It is a part of bondage. It is something which the slave must accept. Without it there can be no true slavery. I had accepted this condition, at least theoretically, verbally, acknowledging its incumbency on me, in my training. Somehow, interestingly, this acceptance, too, seemed liberating to me. It made my bondage much more real to me. Too, interestingly, in its way, it also made it seem much more precious to me.
Still, I supposed one could not truly understand what being a property was until one had been sold, and had come into the keeping of masters. Doubtless Teibar’s "modern woman," his arrogant, pretentious Earth female, as he had thought, his despised catch, would come to understand what that was. How amused he would be from time to time, I supposed, thinking of what he had done to me, the fate into which he had brought me. I tried to hate him, but could not. I wanted rather to kiss his feet. But then perhaps he did not even remember me. Perhaps he had forgotten me! Perhaps I was now alone, totally alone, on this world, having been brought here for a price, and then, having earned my coins for others, discarded, cast into the markets, set adrift in uncertain weather, on trackless seas, to vanish from sight, to disappear tracelessly, with no one noticing or caring, at the mercy of whatever course winds and currents, and fortune, and the will and interests of men, might take me. But I would never forget Teibar. I would remember him, always, even as I moaned in my dreams.
I jerked suddenly, frightened, in the manacles. I could belong to anyone, to anyone who could pay for me! Surely that was wrong for a woman of Earth! How could it have come about that I was now only a lowly slave? I had been a woman of Earth! How could it have come about then that I was now, on this world, only a collared animal, stripped and chained, at the mercy of masters? Could it truly be I here, in this cage, in chains? Had I gone mad? Could I be dreaming? But I pushed up with my tongue, straining my tongue, against the bottom of the leather ball in my mouth, fixed there so mercilessly, so effectively. I moved my lips and teeth about it. I could feel its shape and size. But I could not dislodge it. I shook my head a little, moving the chain on my neck. It was on me. I hurt my wrists, pulling against the manacles that confined them. But I could not relieve their stern clasp in the least, nor extend by an iota the tiny span their links allotted me. I moved my shoulder and thigh on the metal flooring. My shoulder was sore, and my thigh was sensitive, and perhaps red. The flooring gave us a very obdurate surface. It was very solid. It was plated, and heavy. I supposed it might be of iron. The plates, I conjectured, judging from the apparent weight and solidity of them, must be an inch thick, at least. No, I was not dreaming. It was I, here, truly, in this place, now a slave. Then again I was content. How had Teibar, and others, I wondered, have known that I was a slave? It had not been hard to tell, I had gathered. I was frightened, but, too, I knew I was where I belonged, in bondage.
I lay there, hooded, a new slave, trying to understand, down in my belly, what is was, truly, to be a property. I could thus come into the ownership of anyone who had the wherewithal to buy me, male or female. Too, I had little doubt that not all the men on this world could be of the nature of Teibars and Ulricks, and the guards in the house where I had been trained. Doubtless there were men here, too, if not as on Earth, men who might be fretful, petty and weak, men the very sight and smell of which I might find offensive, men whose appearance and least touch I might find literally sickening, men I might find inutterably disgusting, men who were unclean, who were cruel, and loathsome and gross, who might be hideous and frightful, men I might find myself shrinking from, almost vomiting in disgust and terror, but they would own me, as much as any other, and I would be obliged, as a slave, to bring myself warmly and unquestionably into their arms, and bring my lips obediently and hotly to theirs, to submit wholly to them, to give myself wholly to them, to surrender wholly to them, holding back nothing, to please them, fully, and intimately. These things were simple attachments to my condition, consequences of what I was. I could not change them. They were simply part of what it meant to be what I was, a slave. We do not choose our masters nor is it up to us, whether or not we will please them, or to what degree. We must strive to be perfection all ways, for anyone. That is part of what is to be a slave. In reconciling myself to bondage I had, also, to reconcile myself to this condition. It is a part of bondage. It is something which the slave must accept. Without it there can be no true slavery. I had accepted this condition, at least theoretically, verbally, acknowledging its incumbency on me, in my training. Somehow, interestingly, this acceptance, too, seemed liberating to me. It made my bondage much more real to me. Too, interestingly, in its way, it also made it seem much more precious to me.
Still, I supposed one could not truly understand what being a property was until one had been sold, and had come into the keeping of masters. Doubtless Teibar’s "modern woman," his arrogant, pretentious Earth female, as he had thought, his despised catch, would come to understand what that was. How amused he would be from time to time, I supposed, thinking of what he had done to me, the fate into which he had brought me. I tried to hate him, but could not. I wanted rather to kiss his feet. But then perhaps he did not even remember me. Perhaps he had forgotten me! Perhaps I was now alone, totally alone, on this world, having been brought here for a price, and then, having earned my coins for others, discarded, cast into the markets, set adrift in uncertain weather, on trackless seas, to vanish from sight, to disappear tracelessly, with no one noticing or caring, at the mercy of whatever course winds and currents, and fortune, and the will and interests of men, might take me. But I would never forget Teibar. I would remember him, always, even as I moaned in my dreams.
I jerked suddenly, frightened, in the manacles. I could belong to anyone, to anyone who could pay for me! Surely that was wrong for a woman of Earth! How could it have come about that I was now only a lowly slave? I had been a woman of Earth! How could it have come about then that I was now, on this world, only a collared animal, stripped and chained, at the mercy of masters? Could it truly be I here, in this cage, in chains? Had I gone mad? Could I be dreaming? But I pushed up with my tongue, straining my tongue, against the bottom of the leather ball in my mouth, fixed there so mercilessly, so effectively. I moved my lips and teeth about it. I could feel its shape and size. But I could not dislodge it. I shook my head a little, moving the chain on my neck. It was on me. I hurt my wrists, pulling against the manacles that confined them. But I could not relieve their stern clasp in the least, nor extend by an iota the tiny span their links allotted me. I moved my shoulder and thigh on the metal flooring. My shoulder was sore, and my thigh was sensitive, and perhaps red. The flooring gave us a very obdurate surface. It was very solid. It was plated, and heavy. I supposed it might be of iron. The plates, I conjectured, judging from the apparent weight and solidity of them, must be an inch thick, at least. No, I was not dreaming. It was I, here, truly, in this place, now a slave. Then again I was content. How had Teibar, and others, I wondered, have known that I was a slave? It had not been hard to tell, I had gathered. I was frightened, but, too, I knew I was where I belonged, in bondage.
Monday, December 05, 2005
The Other Inhabitants
I have a nice room in the house I share, a fairly big room with a bay window that overhangs the pavement outside, a smooth wooden floor, a decorative fireplace and green & grey painted walls. I am, despite my lack of a partner to share my life with, also not alone in this room. I have three other inhabitants. They are Gus, Akimbo and Garfield. They are not pets, our house rental agreement does not allow for pets, rather they are stuffed toy animals.
Gus is the youngest of these. In fact he is not yet a year old, having been bought for me last Xmas by my Mum (though I'm guessing my Sister had a hand in his purchase too). My main present last year was my new bed, and so on Xmas Day itself I got a few items, but nothing major. But I got this character, who I completely was not expecting and who made my day! I love dogs, I worked for 2.5 years at a boarding kennels and I plan on owning a Bassett Hound someday when/if I eventually own my own home and can afford one. That day is a long way into the future, which I think is partly why I was bought this dog. I didn't name him, my Sister did that, but I would have likely called him Gus anyway, it suits him I think. He lives on the pillows on the unoccupied right side of my bed.
The next oldest resident is Akimbo the frog. Akimbo is a beanie, a soft toy filled with polystyrene beans, much like a tiny frog-shaped beanbag I guess. She is named for the term "Legs Akimbo" meaning widely spread, as the long thin legs (hidden behind the speaker in this picture), always spread wide apart whenever she is dropped. She was bought when I moved into my old flat back in 2002. My Mum (and Sister again) took me around the various charity shops prior to the move, to buy me a few things I'd need for a home of my own, bits and pieces like Coffee and Sugar jars, some drinking glasses (including my pair of wine goblets), a bin, bookcase, and a few other things. Akimbo was sat on a shelf in one of these stores and for just £1. I got an odd look from my Mum when I added it to the pile on the counter, but I wanted something decorative for the shower room. For the couple years I lived there, that is where Akimbo resided, on the shelf beside the sink. Nowadays she lives on top of my computer desk, draped over a speaker.
Lastly there is Garfield, who has been with me for many years now, I honestly don't know how many. If I had to guess, I'd say I've owned this cat now since the late 80's. We moved to Taunton in March 1987 and it wasn't that long after that that I spotted him in Hatchers department store in the town centre, whilst with my Mum and both of my siblings. He wasn't cheap, setting me back £14, but he was the only Garfield in town that I felt properly captured the character. I loved the Garfield comic strip as a kid, though these days I feel that the strip should have been retired years ago, as it just recycles the same gags time and time again. Still, all the other stuffed toys of him at the time had him doing something or wearing something. I wanted a Garfield that fitted the one from the comic, so after dragging my Mum across town we found this one, hanging by a hook from the ceiling above a display of other Garfields that I didn't like the look of. Thankfully, Mum was able to reach up and fetch him down.
In my parents house, he lived on top of my wardrobe, looking across the room towards my bed. This used to freak out my friend Mark Newton, who every time he came to visit would turn him around so that "that damn cat isn't staring at me". I still get a grin about that habit of his. Ever since moving to my old flat, and then this house, he has lived atop the books on the shelf at the top of my computer desk, where he can watch/lord over my room/his domain.
So those are the other residents of my bedroom, I honestly have no idea why I've felt motivated to write about them, but I've been searching for a topic to write about all day and this one suddenly popped into my head and I figured it was as good an idea to write about as any other.
Gus is the youngest of these. In fact he is not yet a year old, having been bought for me last Xmas by my Mum (though I'm guessing my Sister had a hand in his purchase too). My main present last year was my new bed, and so on Xmas Day itself I got a few items, but nothing major. But I got this character, who I completely was not expecting and who made my day! I love dogs, I worked for 2.5 years at a boarding kennels and I plan on owning a Bassett Hound someday when/if I eventually own my own home and can afford one. That day is a long way into the future, which I think is partly why I was bought this dog. I didn't name him, my Sister did that, but I would have likely called him Gus anyway, it suits him I think. He lives on the pillows on the unoccupied right side of my bed.
The next oldest resident is Akimbo the frog. Akimbo is a beanie, a soft toy filled with polystyrene beans, much like a tiny frog-shaped beanbag I guess. She is named for the term "Legs Akimbo" meaning widely spread, as the long thin legs (hidden behind the speaker in this picture), always spread wide apart whenever she is dropped. She was bought when I moved into my old flat back in 2002. My Mum (and Sister again) took me around the various charity shops prior to the move, to buy me a few things I'd need for a home of my own, bits and pieces like Coffee and Sugar jars, some drinking glasses (including my pair of wine goblets), a bin, bookcase, and a few other things. Akimbo was sat on a shelf in one of these stores and for just £1. I got an odd look from my Mum when I added it to the pile on the counter, but I wanted something decorative for the shower room. For the couple years I lived there, that is where Akimbo resided, on the shelf beside the sink. Nowadays she lives on top of my computer desk, draped over a speaker.
Lastly there is Garfield, who has been with me for many years now, I honestly don't know how many. If I had to guess, I'd say I've owned this cat now since the late 80's. We moved to Taunton in March 1987 and it wasn't that long after that that I spotted him in Hatchers department store in the town centre, whilst with my Mum and both of my siblings. He wasn't cheap, setting me back £14, but he was the only Garfield in town that I felt properly captured the character. I loved the Garfield comic strip as a kid, though these days I feel that the strip should have been retired years ago, as it just recycles the same gags time and time again. Still, all the other stuffed toys of him at the time had him doing something or wearing something. I wanted a Garfield that fitted the one from the comic, so after dragging my Mum across town we found this one, hanging by a hook from the ceiling above a display of other Garfields that I didn't like the look of. Thankfully, Mum was able to reach up and fetch him down.In my parents house, he lived on top of my wardrobe, looking across the room towards my bed. This used to freak out my friend Mark Newton, who every time he came to visit would turn him around so that "that damn cat isn't staring at me". I still get a grin about that habit of his. Ever since moving to my old flat, and then this house, he has lived atop the books on the shelf at the top of my computer desk, where he can watch/lord over my room/his domain.
So those are the other residents of my bedroom, I honestly have no idea why I've felt motivated to write about them, but I've been searching for a topic to write about all day and this one suddenly popped into my head and I figured it was as good an idea to write about as any other.
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