My new website is up and running, though still a "work in progress" please feel free to stop by and take a look. http://www.filthyevilmidgetmonkeyman.co.uk
Most of my movie reviews will be posted there first, but if I get a decent enough response asking otherwise Ill continue to put them up here aswell.
There is a whole host of other stuff there also, so go and have a look!
Friday, August 13, 2004
Funeral Songs
1) The Jam - Going Underground
2) The Quo - Head Down
3) Nelly - It's Getting Hot In Here
4) Tina Turner - Disco Inferno (burn baby burn)
5) Living in a Box - Living in a Box
6) The Doors - Light My Fire
7) Take That - Relight My Fire
8) Smoke gets in your eyes
My personal favorite is Living in a Box, think ill have that one playing at mine.... heheh
Do please send me a comment if you can think of any others!
2) The Quo - Head Down
3) Nelly - It's Getting Hot In Here
4) Tina Turner - Disco Inferno (burn baby burn)
5) Living in a Box - Living in a Box
6) The Doors - Light My Fire
7) Take That - Relight My Fire
8) Smoke gets in your eyes
My personal favorite is Living in a Box, think ill have that one playing at mine.... heheh
Do please send me a comment if you can think of any others!
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Slow to Post?
I know it seems as though I have been slack in the posting department recently but i have a very good reason...
I have been completely re-writing my own webpage www.filthyevilmidgetmonkeyman.co.uk so look out for it, it will be up and running soon, and of course I'll keep you posted on any new movies I feel deserve a review, good or (frequently,very) bad.
I have been completely re-writing my own webpage www.filthyevilmidgetmonkeyman.co.uk so look out for it, it will be up and running soon, and of course I'll keep you posted on any new movies I feel deserve a review, good or (frequently,very) bad.
Desert Island Disks, canoe building and William Shatner
When George Clooney was asked on Radio Four's Desert Island Disks why he'd chosen William Shatner's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. George replied "because if I were stuck on an island with this song, I would fashion a canoe out of my own leg to get myself off the island".
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Movie Review: Around the World In 80 Days
Swapping a globe-hopping epic for a Jackie Chan action comedy is a bit of a let-down. Yes, it's mindlessly enjoyable, but the storyline is reduced to a series of scenes that merely link together a string of elaborately choreographed (by Chan) fight scenes. Some sequences are hilarious, others feature wacky cameos, and the filmmakers have fun recreating various international locales on a Berlin movie studio backlot. Digital trickery fills in the details and is mostly eye-catching, although the sparkly transition sequences are rather iffy to say the least.
Oh bring back Willie Fog the cartoon series, now that was cool!
Quote of the movie (and this does somewhat set the tone for the whole movie...):
“You had me at the nipples.”----The Steamer Captain (Mark Addy)
5/10 - Around the World in 80 Days
Oh bring back Willie Fog the cartoon series, now that was cool!
Quote of the movie (and this does somewhat set the tone for the whole movie...):
“You had me at the nipples.”----The Steamer Captain (Mark Addy)
5/10 - Around the World in 80 Days
Friday, July 09, 2004
Movie Review: Shrek 2
Wooooohooo!
I loved Shrek and couldn't wait for this movie!
Enjoyed this one immensely, as to be expected its not as good a movie as the first, but it still has plenty of laughs, the story is good, and the usual bunch of fairytale characters as we wouldnt usually see them!
This film is definately aimed at the more mature audience, a lot of jokes Im sure went way over the heads of the 1000's of children we shared the cinema with.
I wont say anymore here... just go and see it!
9/10 - Shrek 2
I loved Shrek and couldn't wait for this movie!
Enjoyed this one immensely, as to be expected its not as good a movie as the first, but it still has plenty of laughs, the story is good, and the usual bunch of fairytale characters as we wouldnt usually see them!
This film is definately aimed at the more mature audience, a lot of jokes Im sure went way over the heads of the 1000's of children we shared the cinema with.
I wont say anymore here... just go and see it!
9/10 - Shrek 2
Movie Review: Walking Tall
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie starring ex-wrestler The Rock and Johnny Knoxville from Jackass. I did however enjoy The Rock (wonder when he will use his own name?) in his last film "Welcome to the Jungle" so I thought I'd give this one a shot.
and discovered a movie which was reasonably enjoyable. Sure its no great masterpiece and has a very simple format... basic action etc.
Reminds me very much of Arnie's early days.
5/10 - Walking Tall
A better movie of The Rock's is "Welcome to the Jungle" (6/10), both action and comedy are in this one, and a ok performance by King of New York - Christopher Walken as the big bad boss guy.
and discovered a movie which was reasonably enjoyable. Sure its no great masterpiece and has a very simple format... basic action etc.
Reminds me very much of Arnie's early days.
5/10 - Walking Tall
A better movie of The Rock's is "Welcome to the Jungle" (6/10), both action and comedy are in this one, and a ok performance by King of New York - Christopher Walken as the big bad boss guy.
Movie Review: The Punisher
I love this character, a great comic book antihero (or is a hero, not sure).
I wont go into to many details regarding his motivations and wot not as it would spoil it for the rest of you.
This movie adaptation is at best adequate, which is unfortunate to say the lesat. The action scenes arnt really up to the standards we have become accustomed to with movies of today, the effects are.. well there isnt a lot to go wrong with as its just explosions and the like so no complaints there. I think the problem is that it was all bit lackluster. By that I mean you never really feel that bad for him, and his vengeance never really heats up all that much. The result being a film which plods along to its inevitable conclusion, one that you know is coming almost from the end of the title sequence.
John Travolta's portrayal of the villain is pretty much sidelined and you cant help but feel he is there for his paycheque and not much else.
Basically I think they have made The Punisher way too nice and although Im not an advocate of violence for violence sake, this isnt violent enough... The Punisher was not a "nice" man, he was fundamentaly a good man that no longer beilieved in the justice system, but never a "nice" man.
Finally, this film couldnt make up its mind if it was going to be a comicbook super hero tale with super villain baddies or a serious action movie, it needs to be one or the other, not some strange amagamation of the two. By this i mean (possible movie spoiler) as an example, when the odd hitman known as The Russian arrives to kill Frank, well in the comic he is an indestructable insane genetically altered man, in the movie he looks identical, has the same comicbook name, even seems to be indestructable and impervious to pain. Then rsther abruptly he is defeated and no more is mentioned. I wouldnt have a problem with this but it felt so incongruous to the rest of the movie that it was just plain out of place and very wrong.
Anyway, its worth a look still, though I would wait for the DVD release.
5/10 for the movie
8/10 for the great website The Punisher
I wont go into to many details regarding his motivations and wot not as it would spoil it for the rest of you.
This movie adaptation is at best adequate, which is unfortunate to say the lesat. The action scenes arnt really up to the standards we have become accustomed to with movies of today, the effects are.. well there isnt a lot to go wrong with as its just explosions and the like so no complaints there. I think the problem is that it was all bit lackluster. By that I mean you never really feel that bad for him, and his vengeance never really heats up all that much. The result being a film which plods along to its inevitable conclusion, one that you know is coming almost from the end of the title sequence.
John Travolta's portrayal of the villain is pretty much sidelined and you cant help but feel he is there for his paycheque and not much else.
Basically I think they have made The Punisher way too nice and although Im not an advocate of violence for violence sake, this isnt violent enough... The Punisher was not a "nice" man, he was fundamentaly a good man that no longer beilieved in the justice system, but never a "nice" man.
Finally, this film couldnt make up its mind if it was going to be a comicbook super hero tale with super villain baddies or a serious action movie, it needs to be one or the other, not some strange amagamation of the two. By this i mean (possible movie spoiler) as an example, when the odd hitman known as The Russian arrives to kill Frank, well in the comic he is an indestructable insane genetically altered man, in the movie he looks identical, has the same comicbook name, even seems to be indestructable and impervious to pain. Then rsther abruptly he is defeated and no more is mentioned. I wouldnt have a problem with this but it felt so incongruous to the rest of the movie that it was just plain out of place and very wrong.
Anyway, its worth a look still, though I would wait for the DVD release.
5/10 for the movie
8/10 for the great website The Punisher
I am the son of Kirk douglas!!!
I came across this account about the son of one of Hollywood's much loved actors, I couldn't stop laughing, but if you dont know Kirk's movies this may pass over your head a little...
Eric (son of Kirk) Douglas, who died this week,
tried his hand at stand-up comedy back in the 80s.
He had some success in Las Vegas and brought his,
frankly dreadful, act to London. On the first
night Eric gets about two jokes in before the
heckling begins. Used to respect from audiences
because he was the son of one of America's best
loved actors Eric was surprised at the hostile
reaction. Eventually he snapped and screamed
"You can't treat me like this... I'm the son
of Kirk Douglas!"
After a very brief pause, a wag at the back of
the audience stood up and shouted "No! I'M the
son of Kirk Douglas"...then someone else stood up
and shouted "No! I'M the son of Kirk Douglas"
and so on. Eric left the stage in tears.
oh Im laughing again...my sides....my sides
*wipes tears from eyes....
I love the Sparticus movie, I wonder if he even realised the joke?!?
for those who don't get it have a look at this:
Sparticus
Eric (son of Kirk) Douglas, who died this week,
tried his hand at stand-up comedy back in the 80s.
He had some success in Las Vegas and brought his,
frankly dreadful, act to London. On the first
night Eric gets about two jokes in before the
heckling begins. Used to respect from audiences
because he was the son of one of America's best
loved actors Eric was surprised at the hostile
reaction. Eventually he snapped and screamed
"You can't treat me like this... I'm the son
of Kirk Douglas!"
After a very brief pause, a wag at the back of
the audience stood up and shouted "No! I'M the
son of Kirk Douglas"...then someone else stood up
and shouted "No! I'M the son of Kirk Douglas"
and so on. Eric left the stage in tears.
oh Im laughing again...my sides....my sides
*wipes tears from eyes....
I love the Sparticus movie, I wonder if he even realised the joke?!?
for those who don't get it have a look at this:
Sparticus
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Thats a whole lot of hole!
How many times have you thought to yourself: "I'm bored, i think I'll dig a giant hole in my garden." ?
No, am I all alone on this one? Apparently not...
The Hole
This man scares me a ever so slightly mind you...
No, am I all alone on this one? Apparently not...
The Hole
This man scares me a ever so slightly mind you...
Friday, June 18, 2004
How to tackle those non team players
Yes we have all had to work with them, the collegue thats not pulling their weight, the collegue that flaunts the office rules, the lazy, non recycler. But now there is hope for us, in the shape of Terry Tate, office linebacker...
Terry Tate, office Linebacker
Oh how I long to have him here...
*this site has since stopped working - I will try to locate the video's elsewhere so keep an eye out for them here*
Terry Tate, office Linebacker
Oh how I long to have him here...
*this site has since stopped working - I will try to locate the video's elsewhere so keep an eye out for them here*
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Good Job too! i was desperate!!!
Well never let it be said that the internet is not a strange place. This site is an online toilet... What? Yeah thats right an online conveniance, where you can read todays news or just browse the graffiti on the walls... Hey dont look at me, I didnt design it!!!
Online toilet
very strange...
Online toilet
very strange...
Just for streess monkeys out there!!
and yes that DOES include me!
Bubble wrap Fun!!!
What a great idea, though it still doesnt quite compare to the real thing, cant quite de-stress with the mouse!
Bubble wrap Fun!!!
What a great idea, though it still doesnt quite compare to the real thing, cant quite de-stress with the mouse!
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
It made my eyes bleed...
Van Helsing.....
If ever there was a case of a film that shouldnt have been made its this one!
Why oh why did they feel they had to cram in every single victorian monster story???
We had Jekyl and Hyde, Frankenstein, Dracula, Werewolves, Igor..... and for some insane reason Van Helpuke was allegedly the Angel Gabriel, though conveniantly he had forgotten that small fact.
Add to that the terrible script, awful plot, and dreadful special effects and you've got a film worthy of the nearest shredder.
A classic case of film makers relying to heavily on the special effects team, which in this case let them down catastrophicaly. It was, as a friend of mine commented;
"like watching a Hammer House of Horror movie on steroids!"
This movie goers advice is to miss it entirely.
If ever there was a case of a film that shouldnt have been made its this one!
Why oh why did they feel they had to cram in every single victorian monster story???
We had Jekyl and Hyde, Frankenstein, Dracula, Werewolves, Igor..... and for some insane reason Van Helpuke was allegedly the Angel Gabriel, though conveniantly he had forgotten that small fact.
Add to that the terrible script, awful plot, and dreadful special effects and you've got a film worthy of the nearest shredder.
A classic case of film makers relying to heavily on the special effects team, which in this case let them down catastrophicaly. It was, as a friend of mine commented;
"like watching a Hammer House of Horror movie on steroids!"
This movie goers advice is to miss it entirely.
Ansari X Prize: SpaceShipOne launches 21st June
Looks like we will have the world's first commercial space flight by
the end fo the month!!!
MOJAVE GEARS UP FOR HISTORIC SPACE FLIGHT
10 June 2004
The Mojave Airport in California is preparing for the thousands of
spectators that are expected to witness the world's first private
manned space flight there on June 21. X PRIZE team Scaled Composites plans to
launch one pilot aboard SpaceShipOne into space as a precursor for
future X PRIZE competitive flights.
"Landing SpaceShipOne safely is the number one issue on our mind," said Director Bob Rice to Space.com.
"We're dealing with parking locations right now. We can fit only so
many cars. We've got plans for everything. And yes, there will be T-shirts."
See for yourself at:
http://www.xprize.org/
the end fo the month!!!
MOJAVE GEARS UP FOR HISTORIC SPACE FLIGHT
10 June 2004
The Mojave Airport in California is preparing for the thousands of
spectators that are expected to witness the world's first private
manned space flight there on June 21. X PRIZE team Scaled Composites plans to
launch one pilot aboard SpaceShipOne into space as a precursor for
future X PRIZE competitive flights.
"Landing SpaceShipOne safely is the number one issue on our mind," said Director Bob Rice to Space.com.
"We're dealing with parking locations right now. We can fit only so
many cars. We've got plans for everything. And yes, there will be T-shirts."
See for yourself at:
http://www.xprize.org/
Strange comparisons...
Ok, so they are both planes and they both hurtle through the sky way to high and fast! But come on... really... Im fairly sure I know the differences between a glider and a fighter plane.
Perhaps the question should be is why oh why has this man devoted so much time in the pursuit of this comprehensive comparison.
There is one funny quote however:
"The F-14 can down multiple enemy aircraft from a perch in a different time zone and also perform a devastating ground attack, but it glides like a Coke machine and only comes in gray—factors that seriously limit its recreational soaring appeal."
Heheheh... have a read for yourself at: http://www.flyaboveall.com/willswing_grumman.htm
Perhaps the question should be is why oh why has this man devoted so much time in the pursuit of this comprehensive comparison.
There is one funny quote however:
"The F-14 can down multiple enemy aircraft from a perch in a different time zone and also perform a devastating ground attack, but it glides like a Coke machine and only comes in gray—factors that seriously limit its recreational soaring appeal."
Heheheh... have a read for yourself at: http://www.flyaboveall.com/willswing_grumman.htm
Friday, June 11, 2004
A sporting weekend!
Well what a lineup for the weekend... Im even quite excited myself and im no huge sports fan!
On Saterday morning: The 3rd and final game in the series against the All Blacks (New Zealand) in Rugby Union, if England win it will be the first time we have whitewashed the All Blacks since 1968!
Saterday daytime: Last of the Cricket Tests against New Zealand... We are currently up 2 -0
Sunday lunchtime: Grand Prix, can Jenson Button win his first Grand Prix? He is Currently 3rd in the championship.
Sunday evening: THE BIG ONE... England vs France in the European Championships. Englands first game in a bid to win Euro 2004.
Bookies William Hill are giving odds of 200-1 on a clean sweep and I must say Im tempted to put a fiver on it! What a return! £1000!!!!
Other than that we will be seeing our friends Mark and Sue, with whom we havent had a good old natter with for some time, so thats long over due. We may catch a movie though Im not sure whats out this weekend...
On Saterday morning: The 3rd and final game in the series against the All Blacks (New Zealand) in Rugby Union, if England win it will be the first time we have whitewashed the All Blacks since 1968!
Saterday daytime: Last of the Cricket Tests against New Zealand... We are currently up 2 -0
Sunday lunchtime: Grand Prix, can Jenson Button win his first Grand Prix? He is Currently 3rd in the championship.
Sunday evening: THE BIG ONE... England vs France in the European Championships. Englands first game in a bid to win Euro 2004.
Bookies William Hill are giving odds of 200-1 on a clean sweep and I must say Im tempted to put a fiver on it! What a return! £1000!!!!
Other than that we will be seeing our friends Mark and Sue, with whom we havent had a good old natter with for some time, so thats long over due. We may catch a movie though Im not sure whats out this weekend...
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Summer Games... Medals Won!
What a weekend!
We Rollerbladed over to a friends house at around 2pm on bank holiday Monday. I of course left them all in my dust and arrived 20 mins before anyone else!!! heheh amateurs!
Upon arrival we were immediately thrust into the afternoons games, which included the following:
Hoop Throwing (coits?)
Boules
Feed the Goat (Penalty shootout)
Giant lawn darts (stand well clear of Nikala during this one!)
Wine Tasting
Target Putting
Boules (doubles)
Hoop Throwing (doubles)
Then a huge BBQ... phew with around 30 people it was a long long day and the competition was fierce.
I am proud to say I did actually win the wine tasting competition but humbly stood aside for the other joint winner and ....sniff didn't even get a mention during the award ceremony... so I wont be letting anyone win again I can tell you, bah no recognition there! Not that Im bitter at all grrr!
Still I was able to redeem myself in the Boules. Sadly however it was doubles and I was carried most of the way... sigh.
All other events I was out in the first or second rounds, a pretty poor performance all round really. But at least I won the wine tasting! Even though no one else knew!
After a long and arduous day, we finally trudged home after 10pm... we had been competing for over 8 hours!
Still I have one medal hanging on my noticeboard now; the first I've ever had I might add.
We Rollerbladed over to a friends house at around 2pm on bank holiday Monday. I of course left them all in my dust and arrived 20 mins before anyone else!!! heheh amateurs!
Upon arrival we were immediately thrust into the afternoons games, which included the following:
Hoop Throwing (coits?)
Boules
Feed the Goat (Penalty shootout)
Giant lawn darts (stand well clear of Nikala during this one!)
Wine Tasting
Target Putting
Boules (doubles)
Hoop Throwing (doubles)
Then a huge BBQ... phew with around 30 people it was a long long day and the competition was fierce.
I am proud to say I did actually win the wine tasting competition but humbly stood aside for the other joint winner and ....sniff didn't even get a mention during the award ceremony... so I wont be letting anyone win again I can tell you, bah no recognition there! Not that Im bitter at all grrr!
Still I was able to redeem myself in the Boules. Sadly however it was doubles and I was carried most of the way... sigh.
All other events I was out in the first or second rounds, a pretty poor performance all round really. But at least I won the wine tasting! Even though no one else knew!
After a long and arduous day, we finally trudged home after 10pm... we had been competing for over 8 hours!
Still I have one medal hanging on my noticeboard now; the first I've ever had I might add.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Troy didnt fall in a day......it only took 2hrs 37 mins...
What a dissapointment!
Let me start at the beginning.
Infact thats a good place to start as it was looking ok at that point, exillerating first battle, no talking yet.
... and then the script started... Oh dear...
Such a shame, this tale is a favourite of mine byt the script was so flakey! Brad Pit's Achillies was so 1 dimensional and his portrayal of him wooden to the extreme, I thought he would get washed away witht the tide! Ahh well...
The action was good and the effects fantastic, I just found myself tapping my feet and drumming my fingers waiting for the next battle, which i thought was a shame, especially seeing as there was a lot of rubbish inbetween...
Quite possibly Brad Pit's worst ever role, though I really don't blame him for the poor script he had to work with.
Eric Bana's Hector wasn't bad, and in what could have been an interseting twist to the classic tale, it was told as if the Greeks were the bad guys, which if done right would have been refreshing, as we all know the story from Homer to be pretty pro Greek, too bad they couldnt really carry it off.
The film also leaves out the mystical side of the tale, well the Gods are still mentioned of course, but make no appearances; again a good idea as it tried to focus more on the people involved. REPEAT..... TRIED.
Intersting aside...
During the last weeks of filming the huge set of the Walls of Troy was struck by a hurricane, totaly destroying it. The whole thing had to be rebuilt from scratch for the last fight scene between Hector and Achillies.
Let me start at the beginning.
Infact thats a good place to start as it was looking ok at that point, exillerating first battle, no talking yet.
... and then the script started... Oh dear...
Such a shame, this tale is a favourite of mine byt the script was so flakey! Brad Pit's Achillies was so 1 dimensional and his portrayal of him wooden to the extreme, I thought he would get washed away witht the tide! Ahh well...
The action was good and the effects fantastic, I just found myself tapping my feet and drumming my fingers waiting for the next battle, which i thought was a shame, especially seeing as there was a lot of rubbish inbetween...
Quite possibly Brad Pit's worst ever role, though I really don't blame him for the poor script he had to work with.
Eric Bana's Hector wasn't bad, and in what could have been an interseting twist to the classic tale, it was told as if the Greeks were the bad guys, which if done right would have been refreshing, as we all know the story from Homer to be pretty pro Greek, too bad they couldnt really carry it off.
The film also leaves out the mystical side of the tale, well the Gods are still mentioned of course, but make no appearances; again a good idea as it tried to focus more on the people involved. REPEAT..... TRIED.
Intersting aside...
During the last weeks of filming the huge set of the Walls of Troy was struck by a hurricane, totaly destroying it. The whole thing had to be rebuilt from scratch for the last fight scene between Hector and Achillies.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Deus Ex Machina
I thought Id post this up as for some reason this has been cropping up in conversations recently and Ive never really known the full meaning for it.
In some ancient Greek drama, an apparently insoluble crisis was solved by the intervention of a god, often brought on stage by an elaborate piece of equipment. This "god from the machine" was literally a deus ex machina.
Few modern works feature deities suspended by wires from the ceiling, but the term deus ex machina is still used for cases where an author uses some improbable (and often clumsy) plot device to work his or her way out of a difficult situation. When the cavalry comes charging over the hill or when the impoverished hero is relieved by an unexpected inheritance, it's often called a deus ex machina.
So there you go... not just a computer game heheh
In some ancient Greek drama, an apparently insoluble crisis was solved by the intervention of a god, often brought on stage by an elaborate piece of equipment. This "god from the machine" was literally a deus ex machina.
Few modern works feature deities suspended by wires from the ceiling, but the term deus ex machina is still used for cases where an author uses some improbable (and often clumsy) plot device to work his or her way out of a difficult situation. When the cavalry comes charging over the hill or when the impoverished hero is relieved by an unexpected inheritance, it's often called a deus ex machina.
So there you go... not just a computer game heheh
Monday, May 17, 2004
Ooh this just in....Star Wars
Hmm Star Wars seems to be in almost every conversation I have at the moment in some form or other but, I read this morning that the new film's title has been announced.
"Birth of the Empire"
Though how much truth there is in that, who knows. I did after all only read it in the Sun over the shoulder of someone on the bus this morning, shortly before a rather pretentious schoolgirl fell over her own oversized bag and sprawled face down along the aisle! I had to bite my lip not to laugh, am I wicked? Oh she wasnt hurt, just terribly embarressed!!!
"Birth of the Empire"
Though how much truth there is in that, who knows. I did after all only read it in the Sun over the shoulder of someone on the bus this morning, shortly before a rather pretentious schoolgirl fell over her own oversized bag and sprawled face down along the aisle! I had to bite my lip not to laugh, am I wicked? Oh she wasnt hurt, just terribly embarressed!!!
The Weekend...
This weekend went to visit mum and co. Didnt see much of my sister Claudie as she is now working in a bar in Oxford which takes up a lot of her time... horrid, rememebr it well! However I did get to play lots of Playstation 2 games with my brother Gabriel, which was great fun.
Unfortuantely their Arga had died so it was cold food and pub lunch for us!
When we got home on sunday, we popped over to say hi to Nikala's mum who is over from France and staying with Nikala's brother Aaron down the road. It was good to see her and catch up then we watched Shaun of the Dead.... Extremely funny! barely stopped laughing... loved it when the enraged girlfriend is battering zombies with the leg of her boyfriend (or is that something only i would find funny?)
Sore thoat now....grrr think its brought onby the cursed hayfever -- damn pollen everywhere!
Unfortuantely their Arga had died so it was cold food and pub lunch for us!
When we got home on sunday, we popped over to say hi to Nikala's mum who is over from France and staying with Nikala's brother Aaron down the road. It was good to see her and catch up then we watched Shaun of the Dead.... Extremely funny! barely stopped laughing... loved it when the enraged girlfriend is battering zombies with the leg of her boyfriend (or is that something only i would find funny?)
Sore thoat now....grrr think its brought onby the cursed hayfever -- damn pollen everywhere!
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Blogging a facelift...
Well it seems as though the site has been nicely updated, and so not to fall behind the rest of the community (or at least Mark!) i will be giving this page a facelift in the near future!
Back From the east of Middle!
Wow!
Even now I am still stunned!
Wow! and incase I didnt get that across already... wow!
Nikala and I have returned from Dubai to miserable old grey England...how depressing! We have only just bcome acustomed to the 43 degrees Centigrade that we had out there!
Yes thats right! 43 degrees!!! My god it was hot hot hot!
And the service... wow!
Until we had to leave Dubai, the last time either of us had to carry our luggage was when we checked in at Gatwick Airport, after that someone was always there to help, and although there were times we tried to protest and do something for ourselves, the locals were horrified and wouldnt let us. It was a very strange experience. Even the man polishing the floor was all smiles and full of greetings and wishes for a good health etc. and unlike the USA it really seemed to be a genuine question there.
The rooms were fabulous, bigger than our flat and thrice as luxurious -- the bathroom was bigger than our living room and all marble! We had a view of palm trees, sand and the ocean from our balcony... it was an awe inspiring sight and we now feel totaly spoilt.
For those of you like us, to whom food is of great import, the choice was immense... the breakfast alone had so much to choose from that Nikala and I often found ourselves going back for seconds, thirds and on one particularly piggy occaision fourths... didnt feel to well after that!
On saterday we went on the Dune Safari, which consisted of tearing down the almost empty highways at a collossal 190 KPH !!! quite scary! then going off road rocketing up huge sand dunes and sliding down the other side until we eventually reached a campsite in the middle of the desert... (I must say even my usualy ironclad stomach was feeling a little quesy.)
... where we were entertained by a belly dancer and had some traditional Arabian tucker (kebabs and salad heheheh) There was also a lady giving henna prints, Nikala got a butterfly on her hip and ive been cursed with some monstosity that looks somewhat like a wonky bat on my arm!
On our last day, we went to the souks (not sure how you spell it) which are essentaily markets. There are two main ones, the first of which is the gold souk. Its truely an incredible site if a little gaudy... There are close to 300 shops all of which have thousands of rings, bracelets and necklesses in, and to give you an idea of the wealth there... just one of those rings was worth 300,000 US$ ... jaw dropping.
However it was a touch "bling bling" for us...
... and so, we trundled over to the spice souk, and wow!, you have never seen so much stuff! and the smell! i loved it so we were in there bartering and haggling away... didnt actually buy much but it was fun!
Now, I know how expensive saffron is, and if im not mistaken its more expensive by weight than anything else... well there were sacks and sacks and sacks of the stuff all over the place, we bought 10 grams for 20 DHS which is about £3, i think you pay about the same over here for 2 or 3 strands!
Unfortunately the week was over and we were soon to be returning, and as if on que, Nikala suffered from nast painful food poisoning, which spoilt an otherwise great trip; i was glad I had avoided it...
On the plane on the way home... I realised I hadn't... wasnt a fun 7 hours.
Here are some links to the hotels we stayed at...
Royal Mirage
and the not as nice Grand Hyatt
and finaly the souks
Even now I am still stunned!
Wow! and incase I didnt get that across already... wow!
Nikala and I have returned from Dubai to miserable old grey England...how depressing! We have only just bcome acustomed to the 43 degrees Centigrade that we had out there!
Yes thats right! 43 degrees!!! My god it was hot hot hot!
And the service... wow!
Until we had to leave Dubai, the last time either of us had to carry our luggage was when we checked in at Gatwick Airport, after that someone was always there to help, and although there were times we tried to protest and do something for ourselves, the locals were horrified and wouldnt let us. It was a very strange experience. Even the man polishing the floor was all smiles and full of greetings and wishes for a good health etc. and unlike the USA it really seemed to be a genuine question there.
The rooms were fabulous, bigger than our flat and thrice as luxurious -- the bathroom was bigger than our living room and all marble! We had a view of palm trees, sand and the ocean from our balcony... it was an awe inspiring sight and we now feel totaly spoilt.
For those of you like us, to whom food is of great import, the choice was immense... the breakfast alone had so much to choose from that Nikala and I often found ourselves going back for seconds, thirds and on one particularly piggy occaision fourths... didnt feel to well after that!
On saterday we went on the Dune Safari, which consisted of tearing down the almost empty highways at a collossal 190 KPH !!! quite scary! then going off road rocketing up huge sand dunes and sliding down the other side until we eventually reached a campsite in the middle of the desert... (I must say even my usualy ironclad stomach was feeling a little quesy.)
... where we were entertained by a belly dancer and had some traditional Arabian tucker (kebabs and salad heheheh) There was also a lady giving henna prints, Nikala got a butterfly on her hip and ive been cursed with some monstosity that looks somewhat like a wonky bat on my arm!
On our last day, we went to the souks (not sure how you spell it) which are essentaily markets. There are two main ones, the first of which is the gold souk. Its truely an incredible site if a little gaudy... There are close to 300 shops all of which have thousands of rings, bracelets and necklesses in, and to give you an idea of the wealth there... just one of those rings was worth 300,000 US$ ... jaw dropping.
However it was a touch "bling bling" for us...
... and so, we trundled over to the spice souk, and wow!, you have never seen so much stuff! and the smell! i loved it so we were in there bartering and haggling away... didnt actually buy much but it was fun!
Now, I know how expensive saffron is, and if im not mistaken its more expensive by weight than anything else... well there were sacks and sacks and sacks of the stuff all over the place, we bought 10 grams for 20 DHS which is about £3, i think you pay about the same over here for 2 or 3 strands!
Unfortunately the week was over and we were soon to be returning, and as if on que, Nikala suffered from nast painful food poisoning, which spoilt an otherwise great trip; i was glad I had avoided it...
On the plane on the way home... I realised I hadn't... wasnt a fun 7 hours.
Here are some links to the hotels we stayed at...
Royal Mirage
and the not as nice Grand Hyatt
and finaly the souks
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Years in the Desert
Goodness me, after many years of roleplaying starvation after I left school, i now seem to be doing more and more and more!
Thats not to say this is all recent of course! Infact the first oasis (to labour the metaphor) sprang up from my job at Games Workshop, unsurprisingly I met quite a few like-minded people there heheh. Indeed two of them were customers and now very good friends, so thankyou hugely to Mark and Kevin for the ongoing roleplaying group, without which I would have gone mad for sure...lost to the monkeys probably, cursed things!
But I have recently been playing Star Wars Galaxies online, and found a great roleplaying community there, not interested in the usual hack and slash that goes on, they have developed a huge following from all over the world! It is a roleplaying experiance not to be missed and I highly recommend it. The links to this great group can be found up the top of the page in the links section.
Now lastly, my good old buddies from school have re-united the old roleplaying group, playing the game that staryed it all for us....Shadowrun! WOoooOOooo! how cool is that?!?!?! We have yet to actually do anything other than drink some beer and role up character or two, so same as normal then heheh.
This is great, now my week is full of roleplaying, I love it! Though my head is full of backgrounds and histories and beliefs and names, and temperaments and aims and goals for so many different characters now... but fear not, the monkeyman is still here!
See ya around...
Thats not to say this is all recent of course! Infact the first oasis (to labour the metaphor) sprang up from my job at Games Workshop, unsurprisingly I met quite a few like-minded people there heheh. Indeed two of them were customers and now very good friends, so thankyou hugely to Mark and Kevin for the ongoing roleplaying group, without which I would have gone mad for sure...lost to the monkeys probably, cursed things!
But I have recently been playing Star Wars Galaxies online, and found a great roleplaying community there, not interested in the usual hack and slash that goes on, they have developed a huge following from all over the world! It is a roleplaying experiance not to be missed and I highly recommend it. The links to this great group can be found up the top of the page in the links section.
Now lastly, my good old buddies from school have re-united the old roleplaying group, playing the game that staryed it all for us....Shadowrun! WOoooOOooo! how cool is that?!?!?! We have yet to actually do anything other than drink some beer and role up character or two, so same as normal then heheh
This is great, now my week is full of roleplaying, I love it! Though my head is full of backgrounds and histories and beliefs and names, and temperaments and aims and goals for so many different characters now... but fear not, the monkeyman is still here!
See ya around...
Intrigue at work...
Well it seems as though the company is falling around my ears again! This is getting to be repetative to say the least!
My good friend Vince was made redundant last week. This week another engineer handed ini his notice, quickly followed by another! Now they are trying to get Vince to come back....what on earth is going on!
It seems as though I just bring doom apon companies wherever I go hehehehe.....sigh.... ahh well so be it!
My good friend Vince was made redundant last week. This week another engineer handed ini his notice, quickly followed by another! Now they are trying to get Vince to come back....what on earth is going on!
It seems as though I just bring doom apon companies wherever I go hehehehe.....sigh.... ahh well so be it!
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
isnt it amazing......
I had forgotten the delight of visiting the Natural History Museum, and allthough this excursion didnt make it much further in than the main foyer (I just love that diplodocus!)
However, we did see this amazing photographic exhibition called "Earth from the Air" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
truely staggering! We spent a long time in the cold London afternoon making sure we didnt miss a single photograph...oh yes its outside!
Have a look at some of his work here: http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com
However, we did see this amazing photographic exhibition called "Earth from the Air" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
truely staggering! We spent a long time in the cold London afternoon making sure we didnt miss a single photograph...oh yes its outside!
Have a look at some of his work here: http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
The dread of work after the Easter break.....sob...
Well that was a nice 4 days wasnt it....grr of course it only took approximately 7.29 minutes to totaly forget about the break and feel like I needed another holiday but hey-ho...
Am roleplaying tonight (no no no, it involves paper and dice and all things..erm...nice?) with Mark and Kevin. We are playing Star Wars - extremely cool. Then home to play .. erm... Star Wars online...no really... i do have a life... I erm.. just well... oh sod off! I wonder if Nikala remembers me? Ahem anyhoo... yes well...
CHOCOLATE! WOoooOOooOOOoO!!!! Dont we all just love it... course i can feel my clothes tightening around me as i eat but bugger it, I tell my self its only once a year, no honest I never touch the stuff any other time, no really its true.... well apart from the time I....and there was that time on the bus.....Oh shut it alright?!?!?!
Ok I think Ive splurged enough for one post, though i cant promise there wont be more.
Ooh one last thing, Nikala had a job interview today for some pretencious design company so fingers crossed everyone!
See y'all around (yes Im considering speaking only in Texan tonight)
Am roleplaying tonight (no no no, it involves paper and dice and all things..erm...nice?) with Mark and Kevin. We are playing Star Wars - extremely cool. Then home to play .. erm... Star Wars online...no really... i do have a life... I erm.. just well... oh sod off! I wonder if Nikala remembers me? Ahem anyhoo... yes well...
CHOCOLATE! WOoooOOooOOOoO!!!! Dont we all just love it... course i can feel my clothes tightening around me as i eat but bugger it, I tell my self its only once a year, no honest I never touch the stuff any other time, no really its true.... well apart from the time I....and there was that time on the bus.....Oh shut it alright?!?!?!
Ok I think Ive splurged enough for one post, though i cant promise there wont be more.
Ooh one last thing, Nikala had a job interview today for some pretencious design company so fingers crossed everyone!
See y'all around (yes Im considering speaking only in Texan tonight)
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Just experimenting...
Ooooooh i can post in the future....am i really here or was i here then? And if I was here then would that make me there now?
Editor (thats me heheh) --- well you can write them in the past for the future but they always come during the now....erm...yeah, though apprently I am able to edit the past into the present.....yeah!)
Editor (thats me heheh) --- well you can write them in the past for the future but they always come during the now....erm...yeah, though apprently I am able to edit the past into the present.....yeah!)
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Tomorrow I will mainly be speaking in Pirate speak
Yarr! I be makin' it very 'ard to unnerstand me now you scurvy filled swabs! YARR!
Now you take heed or Ill tweak ole Blue's beard and mark my words wiv a spot of black, pegleg or no you'll be a walking the plank so ya will!!!
YARR!
Now you take heed or Ill tweak ole Blue's beard and mark my words wiv a spot of black, pegleg or no you'll be a walking the plank so ya will!!!
YARR!
Well here we are or more precisely, here I am....
Another day, same old job, new web-toy, namely this here blogging stuff..... oooh its exciting isnt it?
Strangely its very cathartic to write this, even though it will almost certainly be comprised of utter gibberish. Even though I dare say almost no one will ever read it, oh I know those of you I email this link to in a few minutes will at least read this post, but I know its less than likely that you will be return visitors and you need not appologise! After all, who on earth is going to find this more than vaguely amusing after the first couple of posts.......?
Dont forget you can also catch up with my ramblings or my alter ego's ramblings here.
Wow look at that... its nearly time to go home! Woohoo!
I came across a quote that I quite like today though I must confess i forget by whom...
"I started out with nothing, and I have most of that left..."
Another day, same old job, new web-toy, namely this here blogging stuff..... oooh its exciting isnt it?
Strangely its very cathartic to write this, even though it will almost certainly be comprised of utter gibberish. Even though I dare say almost no one will ever read it, oh I know those of you I email this link to in a few minutes will at least read this post, but I know its less than likely that you will be return visitors and you need not appologise! After all, who on earth is going to find this more than vaguely amusing after the first couple of posts.......?
Dont forget you can also catch up with my ramblings or my alter ego's ramblings here.
Wow look at that... its nearly time to go home! Woohoo!
I came across a quote that I quite like today though I must confess i forget by whom...
"I started out with nothing, and I have most of that left..."
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