Domestic Weekend

Why is it that, when you attend a meeting you really don't want to last too long, there's always one numpty ready to stretch it out for no apparent reason?! The election training would have taken long enough without the gentleman who decided to keep butting in with stories and sarcastic remarks about his previous experience working the elections. The majority of us had done it before, we all had experiences like that but did we go on about them? No. Why not? Well, it was a Friday evening and we all wanted to get home before 9pm.

I ended up going to see Repo Men at the cinema on the way home to cheer myself up. Not a bad film, the premise was interesting and the acting was good but the direction was a bit daft (especially the main finale scene. Some of the most laughable and medically dubious actions I have ever seen). The twist wasn't really unexpected (you could see it coming from the first time someone mentioned it) but I've seen worse films and it made me laugh (albeit, not always at the right things but you take what you can get).

Saturday, I wombled into town to get some type of fabric throw type things to cover the glass doors in the burrow (and who the hell uses a glass door for a bathroom?!) since the posters I've been using are starting to disintergrate. On the way in, I passed the Farmers' Market which I usually miss cause I'm either doing stuff or don't remember it's on so I took the opportunity to have a ramble. Ended up buying a game pie (venison, wild boar and pheasant) which was one of the yummiest things I've ever eaten. May have to try and go along next week and hope that trader is there again.
Anyhow, managed to get some cheap throws and a tin whistle in D (I don't know how I got that either) and set off back to the burrow where I spent the rest of the day doing random bits of frenzied tidying interspersed with lots of musical instrument (especially now that I seem to have added another one!). Finished the day by watching Doctor Who on i-player. Much better episode than last week and it's a 2 parter which always seems to work better.

On Sunday, I remembered to put my tent out to air (the weather was good when I put it away at Oxford but the underside was very wet). Sadly, my putting the tent on the line was obviously the signal the rain gods were waiting for and I now have a burrow full of even wetter tent that I am trying to air out. Almost thought there was going to be a thunderstorm yesterday what with the general mugginess and humidity but, nothing doing.

Have been eyeing up Bellowhead's November tour dates. It looks like the Edinburgh date is going to clash with the melodeons weekend at Witney (which I really want to go to), however, having looked at buses and dates, I think that I could go down to the one in London which is on a Saturday, see folks down that way and then see the gig at Sheffield on the Sunday before heading back up north... There's still a couple of dates that haven't been confirmed yet so, if one of them's Gateshead, I may womble along to that too.

Dragons and Weather

Went to see 'How to Train Your Dragon', last night. Very, very funny and just a really good film. Some of the accents may have been a teensy bit suspect but the dragons were fantastic and I now want one! Saw it in 3D but I don't think there would have been too much difference in seeing it in 2D. Well worth seeing.

Planning to try and do a bit more tidying tonight. Must also do my washing so it gets a chance to dry before DERT. Getting a little edgy about DERT now. Keep practicing my stepping in random places.

Hoping this weather holds for the next 2 weekends. Not quite so important for the DERT weekend, I suppose, since we'll be inside most of the time (although it'd make walking between the pubs a mite more pleasant) but it would certainly improve my camping experience in Oxford! (Must contact the campsite and let them know that I'll be arriving a little earlier than planned)

Wondering Why I Went!

Well, not that impressed by Alice In Wonderland. It was very pretty but oddly a bit flat. The Cheshire cat was fun but was blown off the screen by the March Hare who got the biggest laugh simply by randomly saying 'Spoon!'. The lass playing Alice was alright and not too twee (although the younger version was and wearing a scary amount of lipstick!) and Helena Bonham Carter was very good as the Red Queen. The Mad Hatter, though, long outstayed his welcome and tried too hard for the pathos. I think Johnny Depp is a good actor but sometimes he really misses and this was one of those times. Also no idea why they dragged the Jabberwocky in. Ah well, at least I got to use my 3D glasses again. Quite fancy seeing the dragon cartoon they were previewing and I'd also like to see Solomon Kane and Repo Men when they come out.

It was nice to be back at fiddle (not having been there for 3 weeks). We're playing The Cockle Gatherer's Reel for the concert and it was easy enough to pick up. I'm not convinced that I sound any better with the new bridge but at least I don't sound any worse and it doesn't look like the bridge is about to snap if I look at it wrong. I've also found that IVFDF has left me with a slight leaning towards wanting to play the melodeon as well (because, obviously, I need to add another instrument to learn to my life!) may have to investigate this at some point.

All the blurb is now in for our DERT entry so I can relax a little and dedicate myself to tidying the burrow (and hunting down some rapper shoes that fit!). Roger also seems to be working fine since his key battery changed. It's a bit of a novelty to be able to just press the button and expect the car to unlock.

Recently got the CD Umbrellowhead. Basically a compilation of music by the the various members of Bellowhead's projects outside of the group. Really enjoying it. My favourites are Belshazzer's Feast's 'Rondo a la Turky', Jon Boden's 'Beating the Bounds', Benji Kirkpatrick's 'Wallbreaker', Faustus' 'The New Recruit and Rachel McShane's 'The Fisherman'. This is, admittedly about half the album but there you go. That said, the rest of the tracks are good too. Pete Flood's 'Maste Kilby' is an odd one in that I always think I'll skip it (his voice is a little flat) but then I keep listening to it anyway. The number by Setsuban Bean Unit is nuts but then they're based in Japan which seems to bring out that kind of feeling. I also really enjoyed the choral work at the end. Very nice arrangement. They're a talented bunch, all told.

Wolfy Antics

Well, went to see The Wolfman last night. Took a while to get started (and have to admit that I'm not a big fan of Benicio Del Toro. I always find him a little flat) but it was entertaining enough and there was lots of hilarious gore and dismemberment (This could just have been me though.)
Anthony Hopkins was Ok although he was hairy enough that when he transformed into the werewolf I didn't actually notice he was changing at first, and Emily Blunt did a good job of playing the gothic heroine. It took me ages to work out where I knew the actress playing the old gypsy from until I looked her up and realised she played Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers (The good, Michael York, Oliver Reed version) The whole plot was fairly obvious right from the start but it was entertaining enough (with what looked like a nod to An American Werewolf in London with the whole omnibus thing) and the whole thing was lifted by Hugo Weaving as Inspector Aberline. He was brilliant and very funny and just raised the whole film to another level every time he was on screen. Don't think I'll be repeatedly viewing it a la Sherlock Holmes (thank the gods) but I'm glad I saw it.

Still not sure what's happening with rapper on Saturday but still looking forward to it. Looks like we may not have our normal number 1 so that should be entertaining (for sadistic onlookers, probably not for us!)

Must remember to try and get along to irish set this Friday and, at some point, I must have another go at tidying the burrow.

Silly People

No rapper last night since most of us couldn't make it after the weekend. Therefore, took the opportunity to nip along to the cinema and see Sherlock Holmes for absolutley the last time (at the cinema, obviously) since it looks like it finishes tomorrow. Still enjoying it but I could have lived without the lass in front of me who tried to text all the way through the film which meant there was a really bright light shining in my eyes. I thought I was very polite when I asked her if she would mind not doing it please since the light was very distracting but she looked scared and moved seats. Ah well, whatever works. Could also have done without the family across the other side of the cinema who spent the whole film trying to explain the plot to each other and did not understand the concept of inside voices. Seriously, if you really need a whole film's plot explaining to you as you're watching it, you probably need to go and see something a little more simple (and in this case, that probably limits you to Tom and Jerry cartoons!)

Had a minor ruffle through stuff when I got back but gave in and watched more episodes of Sherlock Holmes and read a couple more library books. (Particularly enjoyed the Railway Detective one but that could just be because I'm on a victorian detective kick.)

The leak is still leaking (thankfully still in a drippy sort of way) Don't think I'll completely relax until it gets fixed.

Rapper tour in Glasgow this coming Saturday. Not sure where or when (other than Saturday in Glasgow, obviously) but will hopefully find out before we go (otherwise the tour will consist of rapper dancers hunting for each other across the city!)

Off to see The Wolfman tonight. It'll make a nice change to see something else at the cinema (even though I'm apparently sticking with the victorian era) and I will get round to seeing Avatar at some point. Probably.

The new bridge for the fiddle arrived last night so I'm just working up the nerve to have a go at changing it. The sandpaper is at the ready to help shape the feet and I have spare strings at the ready just in case (I really don't like the look of my A string.) I'm thinking I will have to pluck up the nerve soon before my current bridge just folds in half. Just hoping the sound post hasn't displaced.

Licence Wonderings

Another bloody fire alarm this morning (I'd only just got in so I went and sat in the car instead of tramping all the way round to the park cause there's no snow to build snow bunnies now) I hope this isn't going to start up all over again!

Picked up the rat cage yesterday. It's a little bigger than I was expecting, the rats will have space to do whatever they want, I will be huddled in a corner of the settee! Still, very cool.

Didn't go to the cinema last night but I did work out how to renew my library books on line. This is useful because I always read them all in the first week, if that, and then I forget all about them as I get through my other books so being able to renew them online means I can have a last minute panic and still not have to pay a fine.

At some point I am going to have to get my telly fixed. Am now seriously wondering whether I should just cancel the service since I haven't had it since before Christmas and I obviously haven't missed it. The only thing I've been watching is 'Being Human' and I can see that on-line. Obviously I like things like Top Gear and QI but I only tend to watch them if they happen to be on and I'm flicking through channels. When it comes to sci-fi shows, I tend to wait for them to come out on DVD. Obviously if I do cancel the media TV service, I'll not be able to watch the freeview since the poor reception in the burrow was what caused me to opt for the cable option in the first place but I think I still have to pay the licence fee for the couple of things I watch on-line and I'll still have the telly cause I like to watch my DVD's on that rather than the laptop. Maybe if I manage to find another flat with actual reception I'll look into the freeview option (and, of course, I'll have to probably get digital adaptors or somesuch). Yep, I think cable TV's going to be cancelled.

Going to make an appointment with the GP at some point just to check on the shins. It suddenly occured to me that this has been going on long enough and is different enough this time that there is the, admittedly small, chance that there might be a stress fracture. It almost undoubtedly isn't one but I've got the thought in my head now and it would be sensible to just reassure myself that it isn't before I go off and do something really stupid.

Have put my 3D glasses in my bag to go and see Avatar tonight. I will go and see it tonight!

What To Do, What To Do...

Well, due to unforseen circumstances, I'm not being accompanied to the cinema tonight. Now, I could still go and see Avatar (although chances are I will do what I normally do when there's a film I know I like on and mean to go and see Avatar and end up buying a ticket for Sherlock Holmes, which is fine, but not what I intended to do in the first place.), I could stay in and do a bit of work on my tattercoat or I could just acknowledge what will happen if I try and go to see Avatar with no-one to steer me and go and see Sherlock Holmes on purpose.
Hmm, will have to consider. Mind, the cinema is warmer than the burrow. Can always concentrate on the coat on Sunday.

Possibility of a rapper tour in Glasgow the weekend after this which could be fun.

The Festive Season

Lot of snow around and definitely feeling the lack of heating in the burrow so I shall have to get that fixed after the holidays. Kept warm by buying a King sized winter downey at Asda's and then using it to make a nest on the settee. No TV over Christmas due to Virgin Media striking again but not exactly a loss. Managed to watch the couple of things I actually wanted to see (mainly the Victorian Farm Christmas which was fun. I really hope they continue with these as they are well done and it's lovely to see people doing this kind of thing who actually have a clue what they're doing as opposed to the ever present 'reality shows') on the internet and then spent the rest of the holiday spring cleaning the burrow. Have so far managed the sitting room and the bathroom and feel ridiculously pleased with myself.

Went to see the new St Trinians' film with the usual suspects just before Christmas. Completely silly and somewhat logically and historically challenged but very, very funny (worth it for the 'ambulance' line alone!). We trotted along to the pub afterwards and just had a very good evening.

On Monday night, we went to see Sherlock Holmes. I think I might be just a little too much of a fan of the books (and the Jeremy Brett TV series) cause I didn't really rate it much while others in the group really enjoyed it. It did have it's good points, the lads playing Watson and Lestrade were very good and it's always nice to see Watson portrayed as competent rather than the bumbling stooge he usually ends up (even if his limp did miraculously disappear in the fight scenes!). Mark Strong is always a good villain although I felt he could have done with more to do. Downey Jr managed a decent English accent (although it suffered slightly when he was talking to the English actors) but I think it threw his timing off slighly cause I usually think he's much better than he was. Still, it was funny (not neccessarily always in the places it meant to be, but still.) and I've seen worse films. (Still feel that they could have done without the whole deja vu thing in the fight sequences which was very annoying, but made up for by the bulldog scenes!) Again we retreated to the pub afterwards for another fun evening.