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This is where you stick random tidbits of information about yourself.
Age 23, living in sin in Twickenham with Cheesy
Likes
Movies
Books
Writing
Theatre
Hugs
Kittens
Chess
Scrabble (mostly beating Cheesy's butt)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dislikes
Vegetables
Arguments
Cleaning
Trashy TV
Pretensions
Public Transport
Pets
Rabbits-Bambi, Fern, Sooty, Pippa-all deceased
Dog-Sammy-deceased :(
Fish-CatFlap-recently (and finally!) deceased
Cat-Tiggy-still scratching
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Technically Rachel
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Friday, December 19, 2003
It's wunderful, it's wunderful! Woooooo, tis wunderful film.
8:03 am
Thursday, December 18, 2003
In commemoration of my not seeing Return of the King yet - here's my hobbit character, what's yours?
Congratulations! You're Pippin!
Which Lord of the Rings character and personality problem are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
8:40 am
What can you do?
You leave work early, leaving your workmate working late at your benefit, drive like a maniac breaking all legal and personal driving rules in the process, wolf down a bunch of food, quickly tidy the flat, jump on a bus and head to the cinema in Richmond for the all-amazing final part of the Lord of the Rings. You're even fifteen minutes early dammit. Only the boys are not. The boys most importantly with the card for the tickets. Smelly boys cannot make it cause they left with not enough time to spare for public transport errors (surely a prerequisite in London?) and got stuck in West Hampstead. Smelly Cheesemonger, Mr Evil (being very evil indeed), and not-actually-a-very-good-elf Sianodel. What can you do? Scweam and scweam until you're sick - that's what.
8:32 am
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Tis the dawn of a new era. Since the incompetants at Klink Family have screwed up the BlogOut system, and have lost all my past comments, I have moved. To be honest, Klink have been crappy all year, and the only thing that stopped me moving was all my lovely comments. Which are now gone - for good, it seems. Therefore, enter HaloScan, who as far as I can tell have been used by many without grumble. So hopefully no more disappearing comments. Happy posting!
10:20 am
Monday, December 15, 2003
How much does BlogOut suck right now? Time to move I think. Any suggestions?
8:15 am
Friday, December 12, 2003
Due to the imminent arrival of the third and final instalment of Lord of The Rings, I thought I would post this glorious link to Gollum's acceptance speech at last year's MTV Movie Awards. For those of you who've already had the glorious viewing pleasure, a reminder of what you enjoyed so much. And for those lovely innocents who haven't - a huge reminder of the absolute glory that is Gollum. And a chance to laugh. A lot.
3:17 pm
Been having some fun with the Christmas Name Generator.
It's rare that a name generator finds such appropriate names for the people I know:
Babol - Smiley Horny-Stockings (trust me, very apt)
Little Spice - Trumpy Horny-Toes (very funny)
Mr Goulden - Lucky Chilly-Pie (not sure why that's Xmassy - but pie!!!!)
Bron - Bouncy Berry Toes (she is very bouncy)
Benj ' Pie (just pie????!)
Sianodel - Podgy Holly-Gnome (can't... stop... giggling!)
Since I don't know everyone else's surnames, you shall have to find your own yourselves. But that had my giggling all morning. Easily pleased, me.
10:09 am
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
I love my festive kitty. She looks a lot like my cat Tiggy at home - she's the world's misery guts, and I love her to bits. How is it that people can love an animal that's so grumpy - maybe it's the challenge?
Xmas has snuck up on me this year. I find myself with two weeks to go before I have to drive my way back to Chorley, and I still haven't the faintest clue what to buy for anyone. I'm normally more organised than this. I also normally have more free cash at my disposal - not the case this year, since I get two weeks unpaid "holiday" over Xmas (ah, the glamour of the freelance world).
Still, am looking forward to it.
Me and Babol put up our first ever Xmas tree last night - the little bastard's a sharp SOB, I've got scratches all over my fingers. However, our little tree with its sparse bourbels and messy tinsel looks rather lovely. I feel ever so domesticated.
Next thing: damn Xmas card list. Means finding everyone's addresses... again. I gather them every year, and find i have lost them by March! I suck.
Can't wait for next week. Wednesday: Lord of The Rings. Saturday: Eddie Izzard. Giddy, giddy, giddy!
12:25 pm
Monday, December 08, 2003
Weekend frolics were indeed fun. Saturday was a visit to my old theatre in Chorley. Did some nostalgic workshops with the Youth Theatre, and me and Babol watched Bron and her lot do Comedy Sportz which was most funny. It's an improv show where two teams compete with eachother for laughs. Highlights were Darryl's ill-timed burp, Jools' kissing and Ste's first ever backflip - try and imagine someone who's never ever done a backflip before just having a go for the audience. This basically involved Ste hauling himself backwards and landing flat on his back. Looked painful, but oh so very funny.
Me and Bron did some more nattering and it looks like "Technically Speaking" may well be getting a second public airing. Just need to pick a time for it. Which gets me all giddy, cause i like it when Bron directs my plays. The last time she did Storyland Mumbles (yes, I am aware the title's shit), and though it's a hugely silly play designed for kids, it was enormous fun. So yeah, psyched.
The Challenge
Which leads me to another thing I'm working on with the YT - I have the challenge of writing an original play, tailored for the YT Players (a group of older YT members) - they've each given me a character bio, and from those am gonna write the thing! And believe it or not, it's actually getting somewhere, despite the following characters given:
Bisexual Psycho
A Hero who hates paperboys
Agent Smith meets Mr Big (thanks Tom!)
A 16 year old married with 2 kids
A super-bitch hooker
A totally stoned DJ
I don't know - kids these days! Tis fun so far though.
The Family
Despite protestations, Sunday with the family was very enjoyable. Fat Arse was grumpy in the morning due to toothache, but cheered up later. Grandma is still in denial. Bless her. She also bought me a very fetching pink nylon twin set. How hard is it to pretend you like something you like something so completely hideous? Very. But we do these things for our grannies. It is now hidden under Fat Arse's bed. Where it shall never surface again.
And of course Babol was the perfect gentleman, swiftly fooling all and sundry that he's a nice boy, when we all know the real truth.
I, of course, forgot my sister's Xmas present. Sigh. I suck.
Apologies
Sorry to Little Spice for revealing to fella that your mum used to call you "Topsy".
I should have also mentioned that your sister used to call you "The Beast".
And that I used to call you "Hoggy".
I think my life is in danger.
2:42 pm
Friday, December 05, 2003
Now that Kat's done it - I'll have to too.
Here are my three faves from www.mycathatesyou.com:
This kitty hates you with "unparalleled fervour"
This one just makes me laugh
I'd love a cat that did this
8:52 am
Thursday, December 04, 2003
I travel to Chorley this weekend for family fun - my sister is leaving to Australia for a month next week, so everyone's have a little Xmassy thing this weekend to see her off. Yes, my sister will be in Australia whilst I am home this Xmas - woooooooo. This means I get my bedroom, but on the downside it does mean i have no one to torment and bite over the Xmas period. Never mind.
The big news is, Babol is joining me. To see the whole family. For the first time. Now after three years, I can well imagine that my Granny is just itching to see him and give him a good talking to. No doubt. I have an extremely nosy family - they're gonna love this weekend.
Which remind me of another downside to Fat Arse's absence - normally she's the one dodging questions about marriage and boyfriends at Xmas, and I'm missed, but with her gone, there may well be attention. Still, at least I won't get my sister's atack of: "You best hurry up Sarra - you're nearly 30, you don't want to get left on the shelf" - completely serious comment by my Auntie a few years back to Fat Arse. 30 does not beckon me yet, so I think I'll be safe.
Should be good though - my outer family are nothing if not highly amusing. I've told my Granny numerous times that me and Dan live together (in sin, heavens!), and everytime she talks as if I live alone. Beautiful denial.
2:10 pm
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Oh my God!!! I nearly peed myself at this!
5:14 pm
Sigh. Forgot the makeup again this morning. Not good.
A few messages:
Nick: Lovely chatting to you over messenger the other day - though very surreal cause you was so far away
Holly: Congrats on selling the extra tix. Wooo. Do I need to send them somewhere?
Tall Boy: Get your arse over to Rockenspiel's site and sure some support for Tori Amos on his poll - she's losing! And you still haven't told me about your birthday (there has been an extra delay on your super birthday present which I will explain once you know what it is. So alas I won't have it for the weekend - I shall lump it in with your Xmas present now, so you can go "Wow" twice on Xmas day!)
Bron: I sent the scripts to you - I have giddy impatience, I didn't have to pay for the postage, and I didn't want to heave them all the way up to Chorley on the train. Should be with you tomorrow.
Ben: Your site sucks!! Blog more. (And I agree with Bron - MP3s ARE evil. You just wait and see)
Greg: Get your arse also over to Rockenspiel and vote for Tori - Tori Hurrah.
In other news, Master & Commander was very good - not the action movie most will except, but rather a fascinating glimpse into that world. Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany are, of course, brilliant, but the shocker is that Weir has actually managed to put young boys in the film who aren't terminally annoying, and are actually damn good little actors. Makes a change (*cough* Harry Potter! *cough*).
I just sit with giddy impatience for Lord of the Rings - eeeeegggggghhhh. Saw the trailer before M&C, and bloody hell it looks fantastic. Is it just me though, or does Gollum look a but different?
1:54 pm
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Well, thanks to yesterday being the busiest work day yet (I was here till sodding 8pm last night) I was unable to take part in this grid:blog thing (Cheesemonger has full details) on brand. Which sucks. I shall have to settle with a summary of my thoughts with one sentence:
Brands make you a non-entity. Make your own label.
Short, not totally sweet, but it'll do.
In other news I've had all my hair chopped off - and wooo, it looks great. It's good to know I can have chin-level hair and it not spring up into a super scary bramble bush.
8:43 am
Friday, November 28, 2003
Sooner, hopefully, than later the film Bad Santa will hit our cinema screens. If it hits a screen near you - GO SEE IT. This is a script I had the fortune to read back in my Working Title days (before I got into all this freelance film industry nonsense) - it is hilarious, and gloriously dark and nasty. Ignore the trailers, they represent nothing of the film. In fact, I think it's one of the worst trailers for a film I've ever seen.
This was co-written by the Coen brothers, so you can imagine roughly what it'll be like - leaning more towards their "Big Lebowski" style of writing. Am very excited. Although I think Billy Bob Thornton will be ace, I would have been fascinated to know what Bill Murray would have done with the part - he was supposed to do it originally but then backed out. Boo to him.
Nothing exciting to report on the Bridget Jones front - except that I keep seeing Colin Firth. I think I fancy him now - this is indicated by the fact I go bright red whenever I go past him. How very sad am I.
(You're still my No.1 Babba!)
10:25 am
In retrospect, I should have posted this in the last post - could've avoided some additional quarrelling.
If scary fundamentalists is your thing, check out some of the posts in this one:
Dean's Christianity Rejection
8:32 am
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
My blog-world has been a bit stressful and life-altering lately. Having being involved in a few debates on other people's sites, I have continually left feeling shaken and somewhat attacked. I find the strength and venom people talk when discussing their beliefs so intimidating at times that I often don't know how to take it. I do believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs in pursuit of universal good, but what some people say and believe terrifies me.
The only real benefit I have taken is that I have been able to explore and understand my own beliefs better, but I understand others less.
I used to be "Christian" - I say this loosely, as I was only 16 at the time. Simply, it fucked me up. Couldn't get my head around it and kept me in a bubble that stopped me from tackling problems properly.
I have since learned Christianity is not for me. I'm not saying it 100%, definitely isn't true or real, but if it is, it's not for me. Most religions have this insane arrogance that theirs is the only one - everyone else is going to hell. I just see each religion as some sort of clubhouse.
For example - Christianity. Follow God's rules, say you like him (and his son) very much, and he'll let you into Heaven (his clubhouse) where you can worship him for eternity, being all blissful and disregarding those you have left behind. Most religions work by the same principle.
The arrogance shows up when they assume that all those who don't get in, burn in hell. That's what's so bizarre to me, and makes it fundamentally impossible for me to accept one religion such as Chrisitianity. Where's the universal good in that?
Why can't all religions be true? Why can't there just be a series of heavens ("clubhouses") where people can go to if the god ("leader") likes them? Hopefully there's one left where all the people not into the universal worship of a club leader can just chill out together and relax.
Or more likely, nothing happens at all.
I'm not saying whether God exists or not - I don't know, and frankly I don't care. If he does, I'm not interested in his clubhouse. Exclusion has never been a good thing in my mind, and I can't see it being much better in the afterlife. Plus, if it's going to be full of the very scary people I've been talking to lately, I REALLY don't want to go. (You know, the type of people who think God can be considered GOOD even if he's skinning babies - nice).
Any God who lets someone into bliss just because they worship him (even if they've murdered thousands) and excludes those who don't (even if they've lead a good life) is not only arrogant, but dangerous.
Sorry God, you're just not my kind of guy.
The only religion I believes pursues the universal good is Buddhism (I am prepared to be argued with on this, cause I don't know a huge amount about it). Reincarnation makes more sense to me than blissful clubhouses in the sky - I don't necessarily believe in it, I'm just more open to the idea. At least as a theology it doesn't suck and all the followers are nice. As far as I know anyway.
9:22 am
Monday, November 24, 2003
Getting to work and realising you've put no make-up on.
It sucks.
2:47 pm
Friday, November 21, 2003
I didn't think I could ever be so disgusted by people and their beliefs:
Christian Craziness
Makes me thankful to be an atheist
9:31 am
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Wooooooooooooo
4:27 pm
http://www.chud.com/graphics9/matrixspoof.jpg
Better than the movie anyway
3:41 pm
Jane Austen wrote you. You are extremely aware of
the power of a single word.
Which Author's Fiction are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
3:31 pm
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
so.... Michael Jackson's house is being searched under warrent over another child molestation incident. Now there's a warrent for his arrest. Shocker. Like I didn't see that coming 10 years ago when it happened the first time! Muppets. Honestly, what kind of parents let their children anywhere near that guy. Surely the parents should be under investigation, for blatant "I'm gonna let my kids hang out and sleep in the same bed with an accused kiddy-fiddler, cause like you know, he's all rich and famous and stuff". Either they have no concern for their kids' welfare over earning a quick buck, or they are ridiculously stupid. Even if there were no accusations whatsoever - the guy is grade-A weird. He may be completely innocent, but christ is he weird. Super weird. Euurrgsh. Makes me shudder.
Muppets.
6:39 pm
Today, Bridget Jones got to hear me pee in the ladies' room. Oh the glamour.
10:03 am
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
I know, i know - disgraceful blog neglect. But it has been a chronically busy week.
Last weekend Little Spice and 'Spiel came to our house to visit. Spent a nice day chilling, played some outdoor chess (were very rudely interrupted by a posh eccentric (Aren't they always?) who told us we were playing it wrong, because you can't move the King out of check - is this true people?). Day was ended rather dodgily when Babba prepared some rather overly "special" cookies, and Little Spice and me being the chocolate fiends that we are wolfed the whole lot down, only to feel rather ill later. Spice reacted in a "You've poisoned me, you bastards!!" kind a way, whereas I felt ill and went to bed, and spent the latter part of the evening certain I was on the verge of some amazing thought. Doubtful. Also had the best pizza I've ever had in my life that night. Still, in the end I've decided the whole experience is not really for me. I have little appreciation for a drug that makes my brain feel to big for my head. Give me tequila any day.
This situation was made no better for the fact that I had to go to work the next morning - on a SUNDAY. Welcome to the freelance world - and a country where we allow our stupid postmen to strike. had to wade through two weeks worth of post. Ishk.
Very busy week after that. But I was rewarded. A last minute reprieve meant that the lovely Chloe of Working Title sent me tickets to the Love Actually Premier - wooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Famous people I eye-balled: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Martine Macutcheon (spelling??), that guy from My Family, Andrew Lincoln, Simon Cowell, that girl who won american pop idol, Dr Fox
Celebrities I brushed arms with - Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightly, all the Pop Idols, Girls Aloud (who Babba loudly insulted within their earshot - hmmm)
Celebrity to whom, when rather drunk and excited, I exclaimed "You're really fantastic!! Really good luck for Saturday!!!" to - Suzanne of Pop Idol fame, who very politely said "Aw Thankyou". Yes, I am a sad sad individual, and I swear I never normally do that at all!!! I hate talking to famous people - but she was just walking past, so I thought, "Fuck it - what's wrong with saying she's good when that's what you think anyway" - Cause she is good, so there.
Other highlight of the evening was being told by three different people that I looked like Keira Knightly - personally I think this is a load of rubbish. The similarities are skinny and big eyebrows, that's about it. Still, it's better than a kick in the teeth I suppose.
Also got Babba in a suit - always a good thing. But my feet are still sore - bloody shoes.
Ooooh - and the was this chocolate fondue fountain, that you dipped truffles and profiteroles in. Took a while to get me away from there, I tell you.
8:54 am
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Okay - so here's where I put myself out on the limb.
From the link below, you can read my script that had a rehearsed reading at Soho Theatre (eeeeee!). It's only short - probably takes about 10 mins to read. So... anyone who fancies having a look at what the fuss was about (and whether it was worth it) click below. Enjoy, or don't. Feel free to be honest in the talk backs available on the page, cause it's not like I know who leaves which comments anyway! Although constructive critisism is always... shall we say, a soften to the blow of you not liking it.
Ta
Waking
3:45 pm
Monday, November 03, 2003
So then.
Had a fab weekend, apart from the disaster and general vindictiveness that it trains:
Train Evil #1: Having looked up my train times on the internet I made my way merrily to Euston station for 9pm, arriving at a healthily early 8:30pm on Friday night. Looked up at the screens to find no trace of the scheduled train. Staggered over to a ticket man (there's the leverage of a heavy bag involved here) and asked in that high pitched frantic oh so bloody typically english female way, where the bloody hell the train was. Turned out it left from St. Pancreas, which thankfully was only a 10 minute walk away. But this caused stress and panic. Admittedly, some of this was my fault for not double-checking, but since when have the trains to Manchester left from St.Pancreas?!
Arrived yuckily late in Manch, and taxied over to Tall Boy's where we gossiped and giggled until 3am, and I was abused on the strength of my apparent southern accent. Humph. The kittens were adorable as always, and refrained from pumping, which was nice.
After some lovely morning shopping (and a quick rendevous with Kitchen Table) I left Tall Boy and went for my train to Chorley:
Train Evil #2 (this is the big one) - Arrived at my platform to find I had just made it in the nick of time for a train to Chorley - I checked the TV screen to be sure it wasn't the train after, and sure enough it read the train for Chorley. Hugely busy, but found a seat. Couple of minutes - looked out the window to double check the screen and see how many stops there were, still all was well. Train set off, but I couldn't hear the announcements, cause all sodding regional trains seem to think we have ears like sodding bats. Closed my eyes for a while. Opened them maybe 20 minutes later to see the train pulling in to Widnes. Fucking Widnes!!! For those of you unaware - Widnes is NOT on the way to sodding Chorley. It is actually on the way to sodding Liverpool.
Yelled at the conductor a bit after discovering the Liverpool train had been delayed and told that I should have checked with a conductor to make sure I was on the right train. Like you do. Why the hell shouldn't the screen on the platform be information enough?!
Anyway long story short - tearful calls home, banging headache, train back to Warrington, Pappa picked me up in the car, home, delicious Chinese food, theatre.
And the theatre was wonderfully fantastic. I shall not go on too much, otherwise I shall give a reader of this blog a big head - but it was very good - certainly the best performance I've ever seen of Stags & Hens (trust me, I've seen a few!)
Caught up with Benjo, Bron, La Tete Rouge, T'Other Rach and many many more, and I left feeling very homesick for my past life of hanging round a smelly theatre, putting on plays and basically having huge amounts of fun. I genuinely wish I could still hold on to part of that. Watching all the younger ones going of to Drama School makes me hideously jealous, and suddenly regretful. I think it's just a case of 'grass is always greener'.
Parental family lunchy things on Sunday - missed out on playing a dead wife in a film, which sucked, but family time mucho important despite that.
Train Evil #3 - After frantically rushing through traffic with Popo for my train, arrived to find it had been cancelled! Eurgh. Had to get the next train, which therefore had two trainloads of people on it. Grrr. That train took 4 hours to get back to London. Dammit, that journey used to take 2 1/2 hours, now it just sucks.
Got home very late, and very grumpy - as Babba will agree.
Still - good weekend though.
7:07 pm
Friday, October 31, 2003
Okay
On this day particularly - England sucks. Halloween is quite possibly my favourite holiday of the year. I was a morbid child fascinated more with vampires and ghosts than ponies and fairies (not that I didn't think they were rather cool in their own right), so I used to relish every Halloween when Momo would dress me up as a witch in black bin liners. University years provided many opportunities for Halloween parties, and it was then I started to notice that the more grown up people get the less they want to play dress-up. What's that about! What, silly outfits are only for the bedroom these days???
Luckily I lived with like-minded housemates, and every Halloween we'd throw a big bash and coming up with the best outfits possible. 1st one I was a vampire, so no real innovation there. BUT, 2nd year I went as a human sacrifice, which involved a corset, lots of bloodied white cloth, rope and handcuffs (all with the purpose, you understand, of seducing the then unavailable Babba - since I spent the entire night handcuffed to him, I think you could say that worked).
3rd one i went as a spider type thing - lots of black netting, and plaited hair. And the old knee high FM boots. This was useful for re-seducing aforementioned Babba... Okay, maybe silly outfits are just for the bedroom.
But my point is - I love dressing up for Halloween! But I know very few people who do. People go out on Halloween, and they wear normal sodding clothes. It's just rubbish, and one of these days I'm going to drag my arse over to the US on Halloween, cause dammit they look like they have some fun with it.
Boring old English twots - no appreciation for the weird things in life.
2:24 pm
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
It's always the little things.
I work with... let's say two 'people' whom I shall name Mr Potato & Turkey (it all makes sense to me!).
They are both generally older than me - she's late 20s and Mr Potato is early 30s - so yes, I know that the conversation isn't going to be exactly thrilling, so I can cope with the utter daily conversational BOREDOM!
However... and here's the little thing. At the moment, sneezing is rather commonplace - what with the cold dark night drawing in. WHENEVER Mr Potato and Turkey sneeze, they both say "Bless you" to eachother, and I also say "Bless you", being brought up with manners. BUT... whenever I sneeze... not a murmur from either of them. I do not get a "Bless you" - ever! Apparently, my sneezes can rot in hell.
I wait now, every time after I sneeze - and each time they say nothing. Zippo. I just wanna throw my hole-punch at them and say "Say Bless you, you Bastards!!!!!"
Humph.
Also just realised i've been spelling stationery (e.g. pens) stationary - which is wrong. And I hate intentional spelling mistakes. Dammit.
5:25 pm
Friday, October 24, 2003
International Advise
A PS Note:
For you International Bloggers: A quick guide to my linked bloggers:
Varsity Life of Spice: Unfortunately no more, due to nasty bosses.
Cheesemongers Anonymous: Babol's site, and the place to go if you want to read dark, funny and often twisted short stories. Or just very strange sentences.
BronTOne: Crazy Bron's site - my theatre chum who's in a slump at the moment, so go put funny things on her blog
Cheeky Minx: Mr Benj who hasn't posted, in like - a sodding year! Shame on him.
Goulden Moments: Our international traveller who is putting down a lot of fantastic punkish details about his world travels. He has a very nice arse.
Sianodel: Blogger newbie - in fact not a blogger at all, but a modblogger! Huh? Check him out for reviews of World Cup Rugby - England rule - we're gonna win this one goddamit!
Gregorian - He's Irish and he talks A LOT - too highly educated for my good, thank you. Smart PHD people - tsk. Still you want detailed blogs, reviews, discussions, this is the place to go.
Kitchen Table: My old boss at the Royal Exchange Theatre, who is totally the completest non-boss you could ever have. Take a look cause he's very funny and he's from Bolton, which is great.
12:10 pm
Blog The World!
It seems my blog world is expanding! To another country indeed.
First up is a lovely lady known to bloggers as Random Creature - this lady was connected via dear old Mr Goulden, who I think is gaining many blog fans in his worldly travels (it's a conspiracy - he's in Bolton!!!). She's very funny and thinks about Mr Goulden's arse, which lets face it girls-don't we all? Plus a fan of sick pumpkin art - which i highly congratulate her for introducing me too. I intend to have fun with the little children this Halloween.
Next up is Blah!Blah!Blah! - who's template I nicked. Apologies once more, but I'm keeping it! Ha ha! I wonder who spawned the original template that Holly (ex, of course), Stuart, and many many others use? She's also seems to be a Calvin & Hobbes fan, which automatically gives her the stamp of approval. Plus she thinks I'm funny - me like her very much.
So check them out fellow UK bloggers, and exand your cultural blog experience. Wooooo!
Grown Up Stuff
Mine and Babol's parents are finally meeting this weekend. Eek. Yup, after nearly three years of a relationship which can best be expressed by the number of sickeningly gross pet names we have for eachother, our parentals are finally meeting eachother. For like, a whole day. Many utterings of "No, we're not engaged/pregnant/eloped" were required, but I'm hoping for a good weekend. Still can't believe they've never all met, but his parents are in Somerset, and mine in Lancashire, so it's no great surprise (yes, a north/south union - very PC). They should get on - both our Dad's tell bad jokes (Popo's a Tommy Cooper nut - I bought him a fez one Xmas), and both our Mums are into spiritually stuff (Momo's a Reiki nut - she's very good, but it's all a but spooky wooky for me).
Fat Ass is coming as well - she should keep the conversation going (bless her, she rarely shuts up) but I'm praying we don't regress to our 12 yr old state of sniping and pulling hair - so far I think Babol's mum thinks I'm a nice well mannered mature young lady, and I'd hate to shatter that illusion by kicking my sister in the shins. She should be in a good mood though - she's off to Australia in a couple of months to shnook up with her Billy Zane. Damn, need to buy her Xmas present.
Xmas!! Aaaargh!! Not yet!!!
11:32 am
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
I just broke another hair clip-and for once I didn't sit/stand/fiddle with it. Just put it in my hair, and snap! Suddenly it's in two pieces. Mind you, this one's lasted 6 months at least, which has to be some kind of record. Still-shoddy piece of crap.
2:17 pm
Another Blog Hits The Dust
Sorry, Nick - I nick your Nick-like blog style for today.
Ms Spice's blog has indeed bitten the dust. Full explanation as to why is still pending, but I believe there are work-related legal issues involved. Still, I await a justifiable reason for the destruction of an entire blog-system - all those letters, words, sentences, quotes, metaphors and spelling mistakes. Why? Yes, there were clearly some evil words that needed to be eradicated (words like research, studying and Cato), but what about the poor innocents? The ones that were merely informative, cheerful and downright blog inspiring? Tis a sad sad day indeed when innocent web-ink is spilled for the sake of destroying the nasties. Sigh.
9:34 am
Friday, October 17, 2003
In my office we have things called Purchase Orders (POs) and things called Return Notes (RN) - we keep a list of how these items are allocated (yes, very dull - but bear with me).
So, today I made myself a file to keep all this information, which had a label reading:
PO/RN
Allocation
Let's just say that file was taken down from the shelf pretty damn quickly. I had to change it - I'm sad. It should still be there, bringing mirth to all who pass it by.
5:28 pm
A New Addition to The List
Of, oh, my many many illnesses. To go on top of the ever-lasting Crohn's disease, and the more recently acquired dose of shingles, the latest in a long line of illnesses has been a lovely kidney infection.
This has had numerous drawbacks - the main ones being peeing acid and an achy back. Did i mention the flu like symptoms? All these things have meant a certain Babol has had to go without of late - it makes for interesting conversation around the flat.
Bigger drawback is that I probably won't now be going to Manchester this weekend - really wanted to go and see Twelfth Night at the Royal Exchange - it's my favourite theatre and play (yeah, so I totally want to be Viola) combined. This is the last weekend I can see it, but I'm still feeling grotty and travelling up to Manchester is hardly what i would call relaxing and health improving behaviour. So we'll have to see. if I feel fine on Saturday I may well still go, but I may have to just curl up and stay in bed instead - my weekend rocks!
Anyway, job continues well - getting busier, and i went 'on set' yesterday and watched Bridget Jones being put into a taxi by her friends, 12 times! My rule is that watching filming is interesting for 15 minute intervals. But because they take the same exact shot over and over and over... well, you can imagine, not as interesting. But I did get driven around by this great guy called Freddie, who totally converted me to the opinion that Mel Gibson is a good guy - not that I particularly disliked him before. Freddie was Mel Gibson's driver i think during Braveheart - during this he got struck down with cancer, and Mel flew him to America and paid for all his medical bills. Freddie is now at full health and definitely kicking. Just thought it was a nice thing - despite the guy's rather creepy obsession with the catholic latin vibes.
2:33 pm
Monday, October 06, 2003
Memorial
'Tis indeed the end of an era. September 1997, I attended the cruddy little fair that turns up in Chorley every now and again. Having been out having a few drinkies here and there (at the illegal age of 17 - don't gasp, I was lucky if I could move for 14 year olds in Chorley pubs), I became excited at the idea of playing a fair ground game. Imagine my excitement when I won a fish (surely a thrill for anyone with enough units in their blood). In my mind I figured it would die within a week anyway - don't they always. This was reinforced by the fact that when I balanced him on a bar some hours later he fell right over, most of his water going everywhere. Perhaps this one little incident made him a survivor. Because a month went by, and he didn't die. A year went by - didn't die. By this point I was heading out to a life of University, which unfortunately leaves little room for a wet pet. My poor Momo was left looking after yet another pet, not having the heart to just claim it died and flush him down the toilet like most would. After another year, surviving my Momo's attention I realised he planned on sticking around so I figured I should probably name him. Henceforth, he became Catflap. Ironically, the cat (Tiggy) paid not the slightest attention to him the whole time he was there. Yes, the past tense here indicates that but days ago, after seven years and 1 month of swimming around in circles in the same goldfish bowl, Catflap has finally signed up for that big ocean in the sky. Seven years! Who knew a grubby little fairground fish could last so long? After such a good innings, it seemed wrong that he be flushed through our sewerage system, and Popo buried him near Sammy at that bottom of the garden (Sammy the dog, by the way).
Poor thing must have been bored stupid in our kitchen. Either that or it was television to him.
MrBenj - you can have your goldfish bowl back now.
2:00 pm
Friday, October 03, 2003
One solid piece of advice: Always listen to your Parentals. Whilst helping us at our flat last weekend, Momo suggested that we should leave all plugs in their holes in the bathroom/kitchen, as this was almost certainly a 'spider house' (this is a phrase I tried to immediately forget, as it would no doubt lead to sleepless nights, and many paranoid wasted minutes checking under toilet bowls and sinks). I nodded and muttered in agreement, and in an attempt to try to be normal about the 'spider thing' I promptly became nonchalant about it.
Mistake. This morning, upon entering the bathroom in preparation for a shower, I noticed the plug was not it. I shrugged, thinking: "I hope no spiders crawled out", turned and saw a spider. Like a Shelob's baby spider or something. Huge. Mamma huge. For once, instead of freezing both my legs and vocal chords to the spot, I ran like crazy (I never like to turn my back on a spider, but needs must), and got the Babba to arm himself with spider-spray and kill it. Yes, okay - I am evil. We are both evil when it comes to spiders. But honestly, I cannot help it!
I don't know where this fear comes from. I'm not generally scared on insects - I can pick most things up, Daddy-Long-Legs included. But spiders....eurururgh. Just can't deal. Even the small ones, I have to get rid of - and I even find it hard to get close enough to them to kill. Sorry spider lovers (FREEEEEEEAKS!) - they must die.
Oh, and what's the bloody deal with house spiders living in drainpipes? Are they completely stupid? In my experience, most spiders do not react well to water (a tried and tested method of disposal). What the hell are they doing in there - are they daredevil spiders? Risking life and limb for a quicker and speedier route around the building. Spiders: find a nice warm floorboard to sit under where we can bloody carpet you in!
Ways to kill spiders:
Drowning - Rather good as this also disables them from running at you/under things where you can't get them, and sit there waiting for an opportunity to pounce on you again.
Spider-spray - officially this is fly spray as apparently killing spiders is bad for the food chain or something - what bloody use they are for catching flies down a drainpipe I don't sodding know. This is good if they're trapped in a sink/bath as they can't run away. Although if they do get away, you can always comfort yourself with the idea that they will die in whatever hole they've crawled in.
It does however take time to kill them, and personally I get a bit freaked out and feel incredibly guilty when they start spasming all over the place. I'm not a complete monster.
Books - the old time favourite. However, usually requires getting a bit too close for comfort. Plus also has potential to ruin the book, which will require cleaning afterwards - something I get way too squeemish about.
Heavy objects - as above, usually as good as books as long as they have a flat part. Ms Spice however will agree that iceburg lettuces are not at all suitable for the task.
Pets - by far the most efficient way, but not always reliable. My dog Sammy was a fantastic spider-eater, but if there's any other food in the house, he would ignore them. Plus there's always the risk they might bring it to you. Cats are fine as long as they're not in a playful mood.
Babba - Tested, approved and extremely reliable. My hero.
Any other suggestions for killing spiders would be most welcome.
12:30 pm
Friday, September 26, 2003
Picked up keys last night for new flat - woooo. Gonna be a sod of a weekend, but I relish the move with glee.
Baldy's back is suddenly bothering him again - maybe it has something to do with the repeated banging of his own head against a wall. Sigh. Means he very conveniently won't be able to help us lift things. This is a repeat performance whenever we move.
So huge fanfare for the parentals, who are trundling themselves down to London in the wee hours of Saturday morning. What parents do for their kids, eh?
12:09 pm
Monday, September 22, 2003
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a giant baby had a temper tantrum?
Ask my dining room chair. It is now in two pieces after encounter with a tantrum-infused Baldy at 5am this morning. I don't know why - I just know I'm damn glad I'm moving to Twickenham next weekend!
11:26 am
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Well, long time no blog. But I have a good excuse - it's been mad cap for me lately. But it's definitely time for an update:
Bye Bye Working Title Bye Bye
First off, I departed the security and freebies of Working Title. Got a fantastic send off at The Union bar (which resulted in me spending pretty much all of the next day in bed, really not feeling too fantastic), and my leaving gift was a friggin' laptop. A good one. A really bloody good one. Rah! Also Tim got me a brill big printer calculator (you have to be a geeky accountant type person to appreciate how fab and geekily exciting a gift this is), and Shefali got me this beautiful shawl from Liberty. So there's my pampering done. My trade in for no more premiers, parties and free DVDs every month. Sorry guys - alas they are no more.
Mac
The car. The bloody driving - started my first day on TE Films (as it is known officially) an hour late cause of the damnedness that is the roads of London. Rubbish.
I've got it under control now though - leaving at 6.35 am pretty much sorts that out. Hardly what I would call a solution, but it will have to do. Discovering though, that I actually rather enjoy driving - in a weird way. I love my car, hence the name giving (the name is taken from the license plate which starts MC03).
Bridget Jones
And so a new job. Spent the first few days feeling incredibly homesick for WT, but after I moved my desk around, it started to feel a bit more like home. I shall have to start finding little desk toys and stuff to make it feel mine. Having to use a laptop, which is a bit weird, but getting used to it. The people are all nice and friendly, though I've yet to feel much use as the workload is pretty low. Bliss compared to WT, but I know that will change dramatically in a week or so. Then I'll be lucky if I get chance for lunch!
Big Shoes
Back at WT, I spent two exhausting weeks training the new girl, Andrea Merry - who from here on shall be known as Dipshit. This is because the Monday after I'd left, Dipshit's boyfriend called her agency (not even WT itself), and told them she wouldn't be coming back to WT again. Now, it is possible that Dipshit's boyfriend murdered her and buried her under the patio, but I'm leaning towards stinking cowardice. The Friday before she's been under a lot of pressure to get stuff done, and hadn't handled the pressure spectacularly well, but walking out? Dipshit. Yeah okay, you may decide a job isn't for you, but you give notice, you don't just drop them in it. The result of Dipshit's flagrant cowardice? I was back at WT for Monday and Tuesday this week - giving a crash course training to the new temp. So today, I'm rather knackered. If you ever bump into someone called Andrea Merry, with one blue and one wonky brown eye and a funny scab on her scalp - slap her would you.
Writing
For the first time in my life - writing seems like a serious possibility. You remember that Soho course. We had our reading last Friday - which I managed to wangle a day off for. The associate director of the theatre chose to direct my piece, and he really liked it. Like, a scary amount of a lot. Had some fab actors too. This guy called Lee Williams (he was in that BBC show "The Debt", and "Me Without You"), and Phoebe who was in Holby City, though she's so much more worthy than that. My play went down really well with the audience, and even the Literary Manager gave me a whole bunch of praise. So, why this moment of blatant self-promotion on my blog? Cause this is a bloody big thing for me. I've always had amazing support from my friends as regards my writing, each all with very different opinions. But for professionals to be pushing me along, it just makes me wonder - maybe I could do this. Now I'm not just going to drop my career and become a penniless writer, but it gives me hope that in the future... there's a maybe. So that's the end of my brag... for now anyway.
9:17 am
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Anyone else getting sick and tired of the problems with Klink's BlogOut?
Oh wait! You can't bloody answer!
Sigh
12:23 pm
Friday, August 15, 2003
I had my first driving lesson yesterday.
I suck.
9:56 am
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Oh, and yeah - I did get the job at Shepperton - forget to mention that! :)
9:38 am
Just returned from the faboo Edinburgh Festival - alas only a flying visit this year, and a fairly last minute one at that. We managed to get in a B&B in Newington that didn't totally rip us off, although the old man who ran the place clearly didn't enjoy having customers - go figure.
The buzz up there is fantastic as always, and it was a relief to experience normal warm weather than the easy-bake oven that is London at the moment. Played around with my "real" camera - you know, one of those things you have to focus yourself - gasp, you say! Most of the pictures are still pretty crappy, but I'm getting there.
Saw 'Pirates of the Caribbean", which I can only hugely recommend you go see - tis fantastic. But of course, being at the fringe meant I did actually manage to see some theatre. Saw "The Water Engine" at The Assembly Rooms (David Mamet play), which I really loved - fantastic piece of theatre, but then again it is semi-professional. Also, there was a show called "Stephen's Last Night In Town", which those of you in the know will recognise as a Ben Folds Five track - yes, it was a musical using Ben Folds music! And it wasn't that bad - a little streched in places ("So, I hear your Uncle Walter died?) but it's cool music so who cares. Bizarrly they sang the "Tom and Mary" song using the names "Tom and Frankie" - there was no reason I could see at all why the girl was called Frankie. Go figure. Also went to see a fantasticly funny show called '"Afterlife", which was written by the brother of a lady I work with. 'Death' was giving a seminar on how to survive in the afterlife, assisted by 'The Holy Grail', 'Light' and 'Neville', who pretty much stole the show. Still makes me giggle, so I see that as a good sign.
Also saw the stand-up Brendan Burns - now, I don't normally approve of watching stand-up at the fringe - I pretty much believe the main-name comics are the reason the fringe costs have risen so much - but I'd never heard of this guy before, and I got dragged along. But he was truly hysterical - it has been a long time since I've cried with laughter at any performance, so if he's ever in your area I highly recommend a viewing.
Also managed to get a spot of leafleting done for Hole in the Ground (wouldn't be the same without it) - the guys are struggling at the moment audience/review wise for 'Kept Their Humanity', but I think this week will prove better. They're a fab group of actors, and things can get hard if your not getting any feedback, so I hope things get better for them - they do deserve it to.
Other experiences included Monster Burger at 'Jekyll & Hyde', the Frankenstein, Espoinage, but unfortunately no Arthur's Seat this year - weather was too crappy on the day we planned it for - plus I was hungover.
Was sorry to return to heat infested London.
Tonight sees my first time behind the wheel of a car for three years, and Friday I have a meeting at Soho Theatre to discuss my writing for the showcase - eek!
Ooh, and thanks to the gallant efforts of Popo, I am now the proud new owner of a Toyota Yaris! Look at me, I'm a grown-up!
9:37 am
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Liked the moon? Like cats? Check this out.
9:04 am
Monday, July 21, 2003
Life Changes
I may as well get into this, although be assured it is still not definite, but I am working towards my final month as a Working Title employee. It seems I may well be going on to the production Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason as a Trainee Accounts Assistant. I still have to meet with the Production Accountant (who I am assured is lovely) so she can make sure I don't totally repel her - but it all pretty much looks like it's happening. And I'm terrified. Excited, undoubtedly - but also terrified. Isn't it funny how some things can just totally make you feel like nothing but a little girl in a big ol' world? Mind you, I was terrified when I first got the job here at Working Title, and that worked out brill, so... Shepperton it is. Have to get a car (lord help me) and a mind-set that's gonna get me driving all the way out there every morning and evening. Main thing is, I'm really gonna miss this place - I mean, yeah, so I sleep-walk through my job these days cause I know it so damn well - and I have no chance of advancement here. I could stay here forever, but I would always be in the same job and the same general pay (it's too small to move up gradually). So I want to get better at what I do, out into the big world I must go.
The big pisser about this, is that I start on the 8th September, but my reading at the Soho Theatre is anytime from the 10-12th September - so damn close! So I'll probably miss it, we'll see. I shall have to offer the world and ask for the time off (not something given freely in the freelance trade). Pray for me - it's going to be a stressful August.
4:24 pm
The Parentals
This weekend saw the first expedition by my MoMo and PoPo to Camberwell, London. With a crazy instinct to drive to London from Eccleston, Lancashire, my parents arrived on Thursday evening after a 6 hour journey. Friday saw shopping frolicks out in Richmond, and the evening I shipped them off to see 'Jus' Like That' at the theatre while I said goodbye to Tessa, who's leaving Soho Theatre (Jus' Like That comes reccommended by the way). In her usual whirlwind, my sister (aka Fat Ass) showed up at the bar at 10pm. Saturday was my cousin Richard's wedding - eccentrics all round, a pissed mother and Fat Ass kept trying to make me dance (not something I like to do in broad daylight). This brands me as anti-social. Really I'm just anti-making-a-tit-of-myself.
Note - why are people who don't drink alcohol so much more eccentric that people who do? Weird.
Sunday was a trip to very pretty Greenwich, and a browse around the market and then a trip to the cinema to see 'Hulk' - unanimous vote on this movie was 'big pile of poo'. Sigh. It really was so cruddy I can't even be bothered to review it.
So parentals trundled off this morning at 8am (yes, driving - they'll be in that car till next week!), with no doubt much emptier wallets, and a greater appreciation for northern prices and traffic.
4:14 pm
Glastonbury
Well, cause I'm so crap it's been way too long since for me to go into any great depth on my Glasto visit - but I shall give you the highlights. The weekend was excellent. The following bands rocked ass - REM, Flaming Lips (surprising, cause I'm not over keen on their music), Sigur Ros, Electric Six, Moby, Athelete, Macy Gray, and of course the almight Radiohead - a rather dangerous gig as Little Blond 'Un and myself decided we were going to be at the barrier - strategically achieved. People truly are crazy, but the gig was worth it. Mr York on top form. Stinkers for me were The Thrills, The Darkness (what on earth is the fuss about?), and Royksopp (sorry, dance music live = big yawn, tired legs & sore ear-drums).
Weather was gorgeous, and I got my second successful tan for over the last 4 years (the other was at my last Glastonbury!).
Tent was a nightmare - it kept caving in on me, and at night it was frickin' freezing. And let's just forget the toilets even existed! Good time had by all.
4:02 pm
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Bloody hell, blogger's been poshed up a bit.
Anyway - shall inform all on Glastonbury soon, but in the mean time, do any of you latin speaking folk out there know the meaning of the following:
"Si qui opprobiis dignos latraverit, integer ipse, solventur risu tabule", Horat.
4:01 pm
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Just to say – J K Rowling totally lived up to expectation. Order of the Phoenix carries on the tradition of the Harry Potter books, yet manages to take things in a new direction. The book is deliciously unfilmable, lacking clear plot points which were so obvious in the earlier books. This is a book of development, a sense of setting things up for the last two books. And finally a development for the character of Harry himself. The book pulses with anger throughout, and there are (whisper it) elements of politics, and no doubt a crack at the press and what arseholes they can be. I actually enjoyed this much more than Goblet of Fire. Though it lacked a clear adventure to be achieved, it also didn’t go overboard on surprise reveals at the end (I hated that whole stuff with Prof Moody not being real – it just pissed me off). Though this book holds its own surprises, there is nothing as far fetched as before. The death had less impact that I thought – probably because it was very late, and I was rushing through to finish before I went to sleep – I will probably feel it more in the next book (please let it be less than 3 years for that one!) And finally we get to see what Dumbledore is really capable of. Wooo. And it’s still fabulously funny.
I shan’t be blogging for the next few days, as I am off to Glastonbury tomorrow. Pray to the Rain Gods for me to keep me dry. Shall update when I return.
1:49 pm
Monday, June 23, 2003
Oh fantastic! I have an advertisement on my blog for www.TallFriends.com! Tall boy should be very pleased indeed.
Have now in my possession my new Potter book - am half way through, and it is truly great. I'm so impressed cause I totally expected the pressure to crack the quality of work. So far, it's been worth the wait. I now have a strong suspicion who I think will die, but time will tell. I no longer think it will be Hagrid, but I'm only half way through so anything could happen yet. But it's been rather dark at the moment, and even political in its way. We shall see.
12:00 pm
Friday, June 13, 2003
The End of An Era
And so it is that Buffy is over. This could be a long blog guys – I apologise in advance for those to whom Buffy means nothing to. But this event is too important for me to ignore in my blog.
And there will be many doubters out who wonder at the significance of this – wonder what all the fuss is about. But Buffy for many is so much more than just a bit of television.
My time watching Buffy marks my main form of escapism – the characters were the first I ever truly wanted to know, wished I could have known them, pretended that this was really a possibility.
I first came across Buffy in a significant way in my first year of university. Sure I’d seen episodes before, but I’d never really established the storyline that took place. My first year at University was tough for me. A lot of my relationships with people I thought would be around forever broke down rather rapidly. Buffy became my support network – my summer at home after my 1st year was spent losing myself in the series. It was my security blanket in a time when real friends had let me down. I’m fully aware that this sounds rather lame, but when things are tough everyone has some form of escape or another. This was mine.
When I returned to Manchester for my 2nd year it was to live with a group of people who I had started friendships with in my 1st year, but we were still all getting to know eachother. When I showed up with my Buffy Boxset for Season1, it was received with sceptical glances. “Buffy?”, said Little Blond Un’, “The Vampire Slayer?”, with a face of ‘Ain’t that a bit lame?’. Even the unbelievably polite Little Voice had a look of ‘ho-hum’.
However – they were to be converted. After suffering the first few episodes to appease me, they were both hooked. It became an obsession, and a major form of bonding. We all adored Buffy’s struggling relationship with Angel, laughed hysterically at Xander, wanted to hug Willow, and bitch slap Cordelia. I bought Box-set after Box-set. Little Voice became utterly smitten with Oz, while Little Blonde ‘Un developed a healthy obsession with another blonde – Spike. Once more it became escapism – but this time from the tedium, exhaustion and stress of studying. A regular evening event was to pop my head into their rooms and demand that an episode of Buffy was required. It took very little persuasion. It was the break and relief that got us through exam after exam. Jeff joined the house, became addicted. Sophie joined the house – addicted. Just one person alluded us – a certain Tall Boy. “Buffy? She’s such a bimbo!” We felt he missed the point. And after two years of ignoring Buffy, he too finally realised the error of his ways. Tall Boy is now the only other person I know of who has as many of the box-sets as I do. He too now is addicted. Even Babol has relented to enjoying them, despite coming in on the rather dubious Season 6.
Buffy therefore has been a significant part of my life for 4 years now – for better and for worse.
So now that it has ended, what is to be said? Sure, Angel should provide enough of the drug to keep us happy, but it can never compare. I look forward to reading the Fray comics – the future slayer, a series written by Joss Whedon; and other Buffy comics – anything to know more of what is going on. Because I am addicted.
And how was the last episode? Has it left me thirsty for more? I have put my review in the next blog in inviso-text for those of you who haven’t seen it yet.
Those of you who’ve seen it, don’t go giving anything away in the talkback for those who haven’t seen it yet.
And Greg – I still don’t understand how this episode sheds light on Holly’s nickname!
10:27 am
The answer is, hell yeah! The episode was true to its potential (pun there). The concepts left me thinking for most the night. Was fabulous to have Angel there, but I really wish he’d stayed to fight by Buffy’s side. However, their encounter gave me enough to know that there’s still hope for those crazy kids. (Sorry Spuffy fans – but Buffy’s always Angel’s girl to me).
There are two deaths. The first to occur made me gasp in horror, and personally I wish more had been made of it. That person should have been carried away from the hellmouth – I really wish that had happened. The other is a little confusing, but was still amazing when it happens. They seem right, but the impact of their absence can never truly be felt now that the series has ended.
The meeting of Willow, Xander, Buffy and Giles before they’re all about to go into battle is the loveliest thing ever, and a true tribute to the very start of Buffy.
The script is sharp, with some of the best lines all season – and the very idea that now there are hundreds of slayers running around the world now is ace.
And no more Sunnydale – seems wrong somehow.
The end was as good as the could have left it – it’s open, we don’t know what’s going to happen next; the story isn’t over. And while this is good, dammit I WANT TO KNOW!!!! I want to know what they’ll do next. And I guess that means that it was one hell of a good episode. And that’s good enough for me.
10:02 am
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Important announcement
MTV Movie Awards are going out on terrestrial tv this Sunday at around 2pm. For those of you interested, this is where you can catch Gollum's fabulous acceptance speech. It'll no doubt be blanked and bleeped all over the place. But it's worth it. Watch it - I demand it!!!
And as for Ebay - there are some sneaky fuckers loitering around there. Some bastard outbid me by £1 in the remaining 5 mins of bidding. By the time I knew, it had closed. His sodding screen-name was Grabber68 - little shitter. Shame on you!!
Do not like this sneaky behaviour - not very sporting at all.
5:10 pm
Monday, June 09, 2003
Finished my second draft of my Soho piece yesterday - I haven't re-read it through yet, but hopefully it will be an improvement. Still don't know the date of the reading yet, and want to!
Have recently ventured into the world of Ebay (as usual, about 5 years behind everyone else) - and am remaining pleased if still a little nervous. Lovely little service.
Work continue merrily along - word is at the moment, October will be my month for moving freelance, hopefully in the form of Bridget Jones II. But of course this isn't definite so we'll still have to wait and see. On the job front, Babol is making his move to the Boiler Room - as a gentleman with the gift of the gab, I predict this will most likely be a good move. Either way, he'll know quickly enough if Sales is not for him. But it does provoke the wearing of numerous clean cut suits - purr.
Have recently been contemplating the world of academia. Occasionally I miss my university life, but having at least two people in my life being taken through the ringer by universities, I do wonder how much I really miss it. I guess I miss learning about new things, but the bureacracy and crappiness of lecturers and supervisors are definitely something worth forgetting.
Also, this week, I am faced with contemplating the end of Buffy. This shall be a hard week. Thank God I have the likes of 24 and Six Feet Under to see me through it (damn you Channel 4 with your very stoooooopid sheduling).
And anyone who gets the chance to see this year's MTV movie awards, please please watch it purely for Gollum's acceptance speech. It's genius. Expletive filled and even Dobby's sexuality is called into quesion. You couldn't get away with it at the Oscars.
It's downloadable on the internet if you have that capability.
5:55 pm
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Just spent a delicious weekend with Tall Boy and the girls - ah, how I miss Manchester! The girls were as adorable and fluffy as I always remember them, and Tall Boy is still just as tall and huggable as ever. Perhaps unwisely though, he took me ice-skating.
I am now so over Ice-Skating - I'm crap, constantly scared of falling on my ass and the shoes hurt like hell. All the skin got rubbed off under my ankle bone, and now I think it's infected! My foot's going to drop off! Or not. We'll see.
Watched South Park The Movie aswell - I had forgotten how much comedy genius is in that movie. I've missed it.
Recent purchases include Animatrix, which I'm hoping will outdo Matrix Reloaded, and Brazil - a Terry Gilliam movie I had never seen or heard of before, but it looks awesome. We shall see.
Apart from that, it's too hot, and I wish I had a chocolate bar. But I'm on a sugar ban this week - Boo. Well, at least Babol will be safe from hyperactivity.
3:36 pm
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Almost forgot I had a blog - jeesh!
Took part in the lovely feedback section of my course at Soho Theatre yesterday - actually went a lot better than I thought it might - generally good reactions. Now I just have to wait until later in the week where I'm just talking to Tessa & Jo - have a feeling that might be the occasion where they start focusing on the negatives. For those of you who have read it - feedback would very much be appreciated right around now. Tis good to be prepared.
Work continues as per - trying not to kill certains, and so far not doing too badly, but things were a little touch and go during the PMS section of last week.
Ooh, and hopefully Little 'Un has received her much belated present by now - yes, I'm the crappest.
Am also starting to fear Glastonbury - I wonder what I can sacrifice to the rain Gods to keep me dry that weekend...
4:40 pm
Monday, May 12, 2003
Saw a rather nice number of DVDs over the weekend. Finally got to watch Battle Royale. I appreciate this is a good film, and a wonderfully chilling concept where school classes in Japan are selected, placed on an island, and have three days to triumph as the only survivor. To be honest, I think the concept is better than the film itself, but it was still an impressive movie. My admiration of Japanese cinema continues to grow.
Being subtitle heavy, we also watched Taxi 2 - now I haven't seen Taxi 1, but Babol gave me a run down, and the second movie was pretty easy to get used to - and damn good too. Thoroughly enjoyable - I recommend it to anyone who isn't too subtitle shy.
It has started me thinking though - as to what a shame it is that I cannot fully understand what is being said. In Japanese cinema, I don't have a clue if what is being said is what is being shown in the subtitles, but watching the french movie, I picked up on little phrases here and there that were not in the subtitles, some of them funnier or more relevant than the subtitles given. Also, we lack puns in subtitled movies - as obviously a pun in our language would not work as a pun in the other language, and vice versa. So they just never happen. Makes you wanna learn a language properly - but I don't think I'd ever be able to understand something like Japanese!
4:12 pm
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Birthday Girl
I spent my first drunken outing in Cambridge at the weekend. The way Little Un went on about how dull the bar life is in Cambridge, I was expected something towards Chorley's standard, but no! We spent the first part of the evening in a really nice bar which made damn good cocktails, and moved on to an almost quaint indie club afterwards. And neither places broke the bank account. Now apparently these are the only two good places to go out in - but I would much rather have just two really good places to go out in than hundreds of crappy bars which charge you the value of all your vital organs for jsut one round. To be honest, since moving to London I've had the crappiest social life ever, cause I can't afford one! So it was a great pleasure to have a night out in Cambridge - not the mention the celebration of my Little friend's 24th birthday. Now if only I'd remembered to bring her sodding present...
X2
Oh my. How amazing was X2? I can't even begin to express how brilliant this film is. Who would have thought I could care about an action movie, cause dammit I cared about every single character in that movie. And everytime I think about the ending I get shivers. Giddy shivers. Brilliant, truly. Bryan Singer - I hope you become the richest and best director in all the world, cause you're well on your way - I just pray he doesn't ever deliver balls ups like some of the other greats. X2 just wiped the floor with things like Attack of the Clones. To be honest, I think I may end up enjoying this movie more than the Matrix (sorry Dan, I know it's blasphemy) - because as fabulous as the concept for the matrix is, and as amazing as the fighting and special effects are - I just am not as involved in the characters. There's nothing wrong with them, I just don't quite take to them like I do to Wolverine and Jean Grey and Rogue, and Nightcrawler (man, he is true brilliance - isn't it brilliant to see Alan Cumming in a high profile role?). X2 has the characters AND the amazing fights and special effects - okay, they're not quite in the same league as the matrix, but they're still exciting and tension building. And not a bit of fighting CGI in sight - that's what really blew about films like DareDevil (hated it), CGI people climbing up church organs. None of that in X2, but I noticed a worrying amount of it in the Matrix trailer alone. Praying that that's the lot of it - cause I hate human CGI - it looks crap.
Go and see X2!!!!! Now, I tell you!
10:15 am
Friday, May 02, 2003
For those of you who haven't seen this on CheeseMongers site - check this out:
Pandas!
5:35 pm
Weird behaviour
Okay, everyday at around 2/3pm the Mole goes into the toilets and sprays himself thoroughly with Lynx. Now he doesn't smell of it in the morning, but for some reason in the afternoon he feels the urge to douse himself in the stuff - and the whole room stinks of it. He may as well have done it in the room.
I don't get it really - why boys feel the need to wear so much of stuff that smells so strong. Surely the whole point of body spray is to stop you from smelling, not masking the smell with another stronger one. Cause surely as soon as someone else can distinctly smell it, they know that deep down - you must smell. In fairness, I don't frequently notice body sprays on the guys I know - so I suppose they must have reached a delicate balance of application. The Mole, however, has not.
I don't mean to be a bitch, but I am :)
4:34 pm
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Well, my rough draft has been handed in for Soho Theatre - we all get one-on-one sessions with Tessa (director at the theatre who's been leading the course) next week. Nowhere to hide then. Nerves ahoy.
Was supposed to see X2 this Friday but now I have to go to a leaving do and can't - so am severly sulking. Boo.
Chorley was very good - feel rather refreshed after a week of sleep and home-cooked food. Finally got to watch the guys at YT do Comedy Sportz (an improvisation show akin to "Whose Line is it Anyway?') which was truly hilarious. My only grumble is that I'm not good enough to play - coz it looks like fantastic fun. Ne'er mind. But was fun to catch up with all you Chorley guys. Apologies to Tall Boy who only got mere seconds of my time (and Polly who got a big kiss - she's the cutest kitten ever). I will be in Manchester only in time, which will allow me to spend quality time with my Manchester buds.
4:56 pm
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Hmmm. Just rather disconcertingly noticed that there are advertisements above my blog for Raquel Welch related sites! Damn BlogSpot - now they mock me too!
Am now in Chorley, and rather bored already - my sister is already pissing me off on the hugest scale. What is it about siblings that we revert to our childhood state whenever we're trapped in the same building for more than 24 hours? Terrible.
But I shan't be making many more blogs while I am here - I have to resort to using my sister's computer, which is quite frankly crap and slow. So, little more until next week.
Those of you in Chorley-esque residence - get your arses over to play!
3:01 pm
Thursday, April 17, 2003
You know you get those days when the stupid people make you want to rip your own ears off? When you know if they open their fat stupid gob again you’re probably going to shove a stapler down it?
I’m having one of those days.
Goldie beware
10:43 am
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Seems like it's been a quiet week for blogs this week all round. I can't stop on because I'm off to see King Lear at the Old Vic, which promises to be excellent viewing. Bought my Friday ticket to Reading Festival so that I can bask in the glory that is Linkin Park.
Writer's group is gaining momentum and intensity - but my ideas were generally welcomed on Monday, so gaining a little confidence.
And British Gas stinks.
5:15 pm
Thursday, April 10, 2003
The Test
Okay, this is kind of silly, but I figure some of you might find it interesting. It's supposed to be a genuine psychology test, so...
This is a story about a girl. While at the funeral of her own mother, she met this guy whom she did not know. She thought this guy was amazing, so much her dream guy she believed him to be, that she fell in love with him there and then. A few days later the girl killed her own sister.
Question: What is her motive for killing her sister.
Have a think about what your answer is, and that click on the Talk Back where I have put the answer
1:32 pm
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Cheese Mongers' blog hurts my head - Babol what are you taking? And can I have some!
5:34 pm
PS Holly, did you actually leave that Buffy video - or were you silly and took it with you?
And bloody Moby is headlining Glasto on Sunday night - balls, I really don't like him. His music's qutie good to listen to in the background, but I can't imagine it being a very interesting concert. The guy seems like pure dullness.
12:53 pm
Hmmm. Feeling sluggish today - definitely an early night tonight - my sleep pattern still hasn't recovered from Sunday night. Wish it was Thursday - I need my Buffy dose.
Floppy has finally done the impossible and finished reading Switch - am getting a little giddy as he loves it - potential play to be performed? I can only wish about stuff like that - it's been way too long since I've been involved in a production. Getting frisky.
Also, anyone know how the hell I can get access to a piano - it has been two long years since I last laid hands properly on the keys, and I think it's starting to warp my brain with the frustatration.
This week also sees me struggling to get writing my scene for Soho Theatre - Character Breakdown and Synopses to be handed in next Monday. Crud.
12:53 pm
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
Check out the new Japander link - tis rather funny
(PS At the party on Sunday I also saw the actress playing Lady Penelope (Sophia Myles) in our Thunderbirds movie, and one of the boys - but I don't know which one he was)
2:44 pm
Monday, April 07, 2003
Yuck - feeling a little crappy today - but with very good justification. Went to the Johnny English Premier party last night - which was pretty darn swanky. We didn't get to go to the actual screening this time, cause they wanted more tickets for kids to see the film. The party was held in the Royal Courts of Justice, had fantastic food & cocktails (for which I am now suffering). Celebrities were a little thin on the ground - but I did see Rowan Atkinson, Angus Deyton, Paul Ross and of all people, Jeremy Beadle! Apparently Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich were there but alas I did not spot them. But a very enjoyable evening all round - managed to scam two extra tickets at the last moment as well so Little Blond Un & Treacle also joined me and Babol in the booze up. We are all old Uni chums so it was a nice reunion of sorts. I also graced the occasion by wearing super dolly heels - it's a rare occasion my legs get a public airing so they deserved some lengthening! Legs and cleavage - you can tell when I'm making an effort. I'm so transparent.
12:56 pm
Thursday, April 03, 2003
Just to remind you all - if you wanna be a Zombie in Shaun of the Dead, they're approaching their deadline for applications - here's the link if you wanna do it Zombie!!
4:59 pm
Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Whoa! Glastonbury tickets sold out already! That's crazy. Although now I'm tempted to sell them on Ebay - just saw some being sold for £400 each!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm, but what kind of vengence would the Little Blond 'Un take?
10:25 am
Monday, March 31, 2003
Well, me and the Little Blonde Un just bought our Glastonbury
tickets today - after being a little nervous that it's just the two of us (we're only little) as a result of Little Voice and Babol shamefully dropping out, am now rather excited. REM & Radiohead are always excellent at Glasto, and there's a delicious rumour that Eminem and Jools Holland may play (not together, although that would be even more delicious) - now if only that Tori Amos rumour would get a little stronger....
4:19 pm
Friday, March 28, 2003
Contemplating the possibility a very boring weekend ahead of me if I don't pull my finger out - Babol is off playing with the boys, which means I have to create my own entertainment. However, the floppy haired one may entertain me this evening, and if my homework for the writers isn't too demanding I may pop over to Farnham to visit the matriarch of CYT and brainstorm. Always fun. Stilll debating whether to go watch Rugby on Sunday - my mood shall decide for me. Goldie persists in irritating, and I have a relatively new workmate who I like to call Mole. He seems really sweet in general, and I don't want to be a bitch, but Oh My God, he is dull. Sooooooooooooo dull. You know those people who have that monotonous voice that doesn't really change, and they ask you a question and you don't even realise they've spoken. I can't be alone in this - someone else surely must have experience of this kind of person!
2:05 pm
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goldie is so fucking stupid!
3:51 pm
Apologies for the previously incorrect link to the Animatrix site - this is now fixed - view it with pleasure
1:41 pm
Monday, March 24, 2003
Well, the OSCARS were once more upon us and have once again departed leaving behind a trail of mixed satisfaction, horror and much fuelled office/home debate. Keeping with tradition I spent all of last night watching the entire affair - sad, obsessive? Maybe. But what can I say, I'm a big old softy for the affair, despite its incessant unpredictability. Last night's show was another example of this.
On the whole, though, I do have to say none of the awards last night truly horrified me (unlike last year's sobbing Berry and cop-out Washington).
So, let's review:
First, the shorts, because let's face it, truly an area I have no idea about. The only short I had seen was "Mike's New Car", which was truly lovely, but I hear the ChubbChubbs rivalled last year's winner "For The Birds", so I imagine it deserved its little gold man.
Live Action – haven’t a clue in high hell whether “This Charming Man” deserved its award.
Was very pleased to see “Spirited Away” win for Animated Feature rather than the sickly pile of tosh that was Treasure Planet. Next year’s ceremony will no doubt see a battle between a majority of the upcoming Animatrix
series – already in giddy in anticipation for that!
Documentary Short went very predictably to ‘Twin Towers’, but not undeservedly, and I was whooping with glee to see Michael Moore go up to collect the gong for Docu-Feature for “Bowling for Columbine” – a wonderfully politically arrogant speech regarding America’s “fictitious” election, and thus president. Nice to see someone spice things up, despite the loud boos he received (though there were a lovely number of cheers working their way through).
The technical aspects – well, most of these went to Chicago, as the favourite film is usually ticked all the way through. It certainly deserved Art Direction, and I suppose Costume Design & Editing, but I was glad to see Cinematography go to Road to Perdition – we will miss that man sorely, and after seeing his work in American Beauty, I can understand how this film would look just as beautiful.
Visual Effects of course went to Lord of The Rings – how could anyone possibly deny Gollum that award – I just wish he was able to collect it himself! (“My Precious”)
Was surprised that ‘Adaptation’ didn’t win best adapted screenplay, but perhaps it contained one too many gibes at film writing to be popular enough. Giving the award to The Pianist seemed a little token to me, but since I haven’t seen it I can’t really comment.
Original Screenplay – would have liked “Far From Heaven” to take this one, but again I haven’t seen “Talk To Her” – although the fact that this wasn’t nominated for best foreign film makes me wonder as to how good a script it really could be.
Now, the Actors – was completely gobsmacked when Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t win like everyone expected. Since he seems to be the only reportedly good part of the much criticised ‘Gangs of New York’, this seems a shame, but I hear that Adrian Brody was indeed fantastic in ‘The Pianist’ - although I do wish they’d censored that sodding speech of his. It seemed odd that he used the holocaust as a good reason to never go to war (but if the US had gone to war earlier during the Holocaust, who knows how many lives might have been saved?). Expected Christopher Walken to win Best Supporting, but it was also really cool to see Chris Cooper recognised, though I was secretly rooting for John C Reilly.
I expected to see Catherine Zeta-Jones win for Best Supporting Actress, and am glad she did. She was very gracious, looked completely glowing, and it was really nice hearing her giggly Welsh lilt creeping through. And how sexy was the way Sean Connery said “Catherine” when announcing the award?!
And finally, Nicole Kidman! Hurrah, took them long enough. She should have got it last year, but at least ‘The Hours’ gave her a role that was truly deserving of the Oscar she took. Very stylish and lovely as always, although her eyebrows were a little scary. Was glad Renee didn’t win – I’d like her to win an Oscar when she puts some sodding weight back on.
Martin left empty handed – I think everyone expected him to leave with Best Direction, and I was surprised that they gave the award to the extremely controversial Roman Polanski, but in the end Chicago did walk away with the big one. Which is cool. It was a good and well packaged film with a good cast – I don’t really know of anyone who didn’t at least enjoy it. Not a amazingly deserved winner, but neither an obscenely horrifying one.
Steve Martin presented wonderfully – extremely amusing, with only one or two groan inducing jokes. Particular highlights for me were his comments on Nicole Kidman’s nose, and his speech about what it takes to be an Actor… “They can be short or tall, thin or skinny…”
On a female, dress obsessed matter – Nicole looked stylish, Renee looked lovely but way too skinny, Halle Berry’s dress was beautiful, damn her! Julia Roberts, Reece Witherspoon, Kate Hudson and Mira Sorvino all looked lovely. Julianne Moore looks amazing in green, but those frills were not at all flattering. Jennifer Lopez looked stupid, Kathy Bates like a chocolate liqueur and Jennifer Garner’s dress was pretty but way too tight on her chest.
That’s it for now – what do you think?
5:18 pm
Friday, March 21, 2003
Spending my Agent Provocateur vouchers this weekend (rubs hands in glee).
Babol giddy in anticipation.
That's it - just being smug.
9:50 am
Thursday, March 20, 2003
Well, everyone else is blogging about war, and I have but one thing to say. Iraq needs sorting out, and it should have been dealt with a long time ago with the people of the country were screaming for help. The UN however, are unwilling to be seen as America's puppets and are not coming on board, and neither should we. America obviously has its own agenda and that is not a good ally to go to war with. No UN, no war - simple as. I agree the people of Iraq need 'liberating' as it were, just not this way. I know there will always be one dominating power in the world, but unlike the Roman Empire, America is answerable to other powers in the world, and one day they may need their help.
That's all really. And I can't watch Bush or Blair talk on TV without wanting to throw something heavy at them.
10:59 am
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
You wanna play a zombie in a Romantic Zombie Comedy made by those wacky guys from Spaced? My company's making this and it looks ace. If you wanna, here's your chance: Zombie
2:26 pm
Monday, March 17, 2003
Another writers group tonight - have my lonely hearts articles all ready. And I also had to write to my friend about a problem they have and how to make it better - don't worry, friends - I substituted all names to protect privacy. But I shan't tell you whose problem I dealt with - you can try guessing if you like.
Weekend consisted of shopping frenzy - spending of birthday money, very nice. Bought many tops and finally got Ma Babol his birthday presents! Alas the evil pox prevented me on the actual occasion itself. Went down a treat. Unfortunately was entirely entranced by Comic Relief until the early hours - much to Babol's very uninterested dismay. But heck, I like it. Funny is good, as a rule. Sunday consisted of me backing up all my computer files (poor Babol still can't get to his much loved files) and doing my homework, and this and that. 24!!!! For those of you one week behind - ha ha ha! Another thrilling instalment. But yet another example of how that Pug-ugly kid Megan just needs to be shot - she isn't getting any less irritating.
Anywho... Tatty bye for now
Catch up soon
4:45 pm
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Hmmm, am tired today – ‘tis one of those infernal weeks which is dragging and tiresome. I blame the weather.
Have been scouring the personal ads today – no, not because I’m planning a scandalous affair/threesome (take your sick little pick), but for my homework for my Writing course – one lonely hearts ad for a boy and a girl. Hmm. Character work perhaps? Have just been reading one where an unhappily married man of 45 is looking for a female companion of significantly curvy proportions. Ain’t love grand?
Apart from that Mr Thespy seems to have gone into hiding, Baldy is being an ass and then some (no one in the world washes their clothes THAT much), Ma Babol is in despair cause his evil computer is broken, and my bedroom is a mess…. Again… so I’ll be tidying this evening then.
6:02 pm
Monday, March 10, 2003
Well howdy after all this time. Have recently been inspired to get back on my blogger horse as I am now connected to my own web space - www.rachelwelch.com. Now if you wanna find me, that's all you need to type. Ain't life grand? Mucho thanks to Tall Boy for the generous prezzie. (Yes, it was just recently my birthday - 23, whoop!)
Had a rather fantabulous Saturday Night - I take a bow to the gallant contributions of Little Voice, Tall Boy, Little Blond 'Un, and Ma Babol to my drunkeness.
Poptastic hurrah - live forever!
Sunday however... not fun.
Hmmm - so other news:
New Foreign Flatmate, who frequently complains how cold it is - that is getting vaguely annoying.
Baldy now has a steady new girlfriend, who used to be an Page 3 model. Should have seen the indignation on Blondie's face when she heard about that one! Baldy's Bird however is very nice and am so far getting on with her really well - never judge a page by its cover people!
On a catch up note - I did get on the course at Soho Theatre and I start tonight. Terrified, yes, but also rather giddy.
Living with Babol is proving scarily perfect - I guess that means we're stuck with one another. I'm sure we should be arguing more. We are the shame of the Bitter Single Parade.
On the general comments front: The press suck. I know this is fairly common knowledge, but realised their impact the other day when my Grand-dad called my Dad and insist he come and get me from London immediately because it wasn't safe there for me. When you think of the older generation who only have TV for their outlet to the world, it makes me cross how the press are blatantly scare-mongering - they get their heads filled with it every day!
Personally, am bored with the war stuff - we either will or we won't, but I wish they would get on with it and make up their minds which way it's gonna be. This dilly-dallying in the middle is just getting pathetic. Tony Blair. There's a man who needs a swift kick in the ass. Any volunteers....?
2:12 pm
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