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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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Saturday, June 26, 2004
So... had a Gastroscopy the other day. About as pleasant as one might imagine. Although I did get to experience the joys of sedation, which made me pleasantly unconscious until the last few minutes when I started retching on the sodding tube. That was pleasant, I can tell you. Still, at least finally after seven years of complaining about my stomach they finally decided to take a look inside. Predictably, I have Gastritis - though what the cause of that is I shall have to wait till the tests get back. It's a times like this I wish that genetic cloning would hurry up and get sorted so that someone could grow me a new digestive system. One which I won't spend a childhood poisoning with Coca Cola and additives.
Also of late been listening quite intentley to the new Broadway musical Wicked. And to my surprise I actually really like it. This is a weird conflict for me. The musical is based on the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, and basically is the life and times of The Wicked Witch of the West (as in Dorothy's victim so she can get home from Oz). The book is brilliant, I cannot recommend it enough to anyone and everyone, whether you love the Wizard of Oz, or have never seen a reel of it, this book is truly fantastic to read. It is dark and political, and by no means a cheery affair, especially since the title character is doomed to only one ending. The musical is, of course, none of this. From what I can tell, they have stripped the story of it's human complexities, political environment and dark disposition, and transformed it into a skeleton of a story, focussing mainly on the relationship between Elphaba (the "Wicked Witch") and Galinda (the Good Witch of the North) in the school days. And is also totally cheesified (and not in the monger's way). In other words - American.
In all logic, I should loath this production with all my heart and hope it dies a well deserved death. Instead, I have found myself utterly charmed by it. A very strange state of affairs. The story elements they have used are funny and interesting, and although no where near as complex as the novel, it does still capture the main crux of things - it's not who you are in life, but how people view you - for that is how you are remembered.
And in the end, this musical will at least achieve one truly good thing - it will cause a whole load more people to pick up the novel and read it, and experience something far superior.
For me this conflict is akin to The Phantom of the Opera. The situation was somewhat different, since I actually saw the musical first when I was a lot younger. I worshipped that show then. Now I'm older I am somewhat more subdued towards it - certainly from a music point of view. But I was obsessed with the story and the darkness on it. My love for that musical caused me to read the original masterpiece by Gaston Leroux, and also the later novel "Phantom" by Susan Kay (another brilliant book). The musical strips away a lot of the rich darkness and realism of the events and turns most of it into drippy nonsense. By trying to imitate the voice and work of the Phantom they immediately create a ridiculous production - the whole point is that no one can create music or make it sound like him, so when Andrew Lloyd Webber's typical mainstream musical meoldies come pouring out, it's almost a mockery. The two are so far apart - but I do love them both.
Wicked I think will work in the same way. I'm sure I will see the musical when it comes to England, and no doubt adore it - but the original book will remain proudly on my shelf, to escape into when the crassness of the musical wears thin. The book never will.
I would like to finish this long thought by proclaiming that musicals actually really aren't my thing. Except there are those cursed few that I still love and can watch or listen to again and again. Little Shop of Horrors I love to pieces, and can actually listen to the soundtrack purely for entertainment. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers forever remains one of the most endearing pieces of fluff I've ever seen. Anything with Marilyn Monroe in it is made fantastic by her mere singing prescense (the same goes for Audrey Hepburn), and two Disney movies affect me even today - Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Here endeth my shame.
9:22 pm
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Sigh. I do hate confirming the stereotype that women are shit drivers. Sorry girls.
In my defence, I had just been in the office for twelve hours, putting up with the patronising one, and was very keen to get home. Alas, I didn't even get out of the parking lot. I'd parked in a different space to normal. I normally part between two cars on the second level, but on Friday I instead parked on the bottom level of the car park - next to a pillar. I normally don't park next to pillars. Now I know where that instinct comes from.
Pulling out of the space, I swung my car to the left, completely forgetting the pillar to the right rear of my car. Poor Mac's front wing went crashing into the pillar. And was well and truly hammered. What was worse was that the panel had bent in, wedging my front wheel out to the right. Which meant the RAC had to come out and rescue me, cause of course I couldn't drive it. Those in the knowledge ended up being the smug "yeah, women really can't drive can they" security guy at the gate, and embarassingly, one of the girls from production, who was really sweet, but god it's embarassing sharing your problems, esepcially when you're crying like a big girl's blouse. See, I cry when I get really angry (this personal quality is an EXTREME liability in trying to get people to take me seriously)- and for a whole hour at least, I was raging furious with myself. Hence, many very cross tears.
Since the only real damage seemed to be the front panel, I was hoping I could just pay the repair costs myself and not have to put it through insurance. Oh ho - so wrong. Toyota = £700 just for labour! And they wanted to replace the door as well (which is badly scratched, but otherwise fine), and what with the metallic paint (swell), it was looking to be well over a grand for one frickin dent! I mean, jesus! Things looked better at some of the local garages - who only needed to replace the panel, and charged nearly £450 less for labour, but as Popo pointed out, going to another garage could put my warranty under risk. Ishk. So I am being helf hostage by the Toyota garage, and cannot afford to do anything but go through insurance. 6 years of no claims down the toilet. At least I'll be 25 in 9 months.
5:46 pm
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Sorry - busy week.
Last weekend was filming in Manchester with La Bron for Technically Speaking. Baldy made a cameo on the Saturday - the 2 1/2 hours on the train with him revealed that old Kirsten Imrie (of ex page 3 fame?!?!) is still causing him bother. Try to be more sensible than him - if she ever asks you out, say NO - regardless of the fact she used to get her tits out.
La Spice filmed with us on Sunday (as a happy happy housemate - most amusing). Gregorian and Rockenspiel also tagged a long for the fun, and I was later introduced to 'Spiel's new mini and his terrifying accelerator pedal - fast travel in what vaguely resembles a tin can as far as safety goes is a little scary - not that I should complain since he very kindly gave me a lift to the station and was directed VERY badly by me. And Holly. AND Greg. Mind you, none of us have ever driven in Manchester, and the signs are bloody worse there than they are even in London. Shame on Manchester.
So... new job. Liking it so far. Am annoyed that I got a call from the accountant on Fingersmith on Tuesday - I REALLLY wanted to do that job but didn't hear anything back so took P&P. Grr. Ah well - a job's a job, as someone no doubt says. Like me.
Am also feeling really hard done by as to my salary, which seems to be as low as it is purely on the basis of some shocking nepatism. The accountant's partner (as in home, not business) has been hired at a salary of £300 per week more than me. Now, I have a low experience level, only two films, so my lower salary is fair enough. This guy has worked 4 days on a film. 2 years ago. The other accountant has spent ages training him up, and he seems lovely, and I'm sure he'll pick it all up - but it just means my wage takes the piss. Our workload is the same. The only thing that affects your salary is your experience - or obviously, whether or not you're shagging the boss. Sigh. Not impressed AT ALL with that.
Other than that though things are cool there. A girl who I used to work with at Working Title is there, and she's great, so it's good to have a familiar face about. And thus far most of the crew seem really nice, with the exception of a sour face in production, and a patronising hefalump. So... the usual fun of the workplace. Joy.
6:44 pm
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
In celebration of my new shameful addiction to Big Brother (yes, I know it's shit, and stupid, and boring, but I get home late and I can't be arsed to think, so it's perfect viewing - alright!), I have done the Big Brother game, using names of those in our blog world - the results are most amusing, if not scarily apt at times. Courtesy of dc8p:
Big Brother!
Day 1 - Cheesemonger admits straight away that he doesn't like the look of Small Yappa Dog. He says she looks like a lesbian. As it turns out, Brontone is in fact the only lesbian in the house, although Rockenspiel later admits that he is unsure of his true sexuality.
2 - The house sit down for a discussion of how to organise simple chores. Tall Boy creates tension by stating that the kitchen is where the women belong. Random Creature hits him with a Spork.
3 - The housemates are set their first task by Big Brother - they must make a model of Big Ben out of Asparagus. After much persuasion by Tall Boy, they gamble 50% of next week's food budget on completing the task.
4 - Training for the Big Ben task is well under way. However havoc ensues when Rockenspiel, who is rapidly developing a reputation as the laziest fat bastard in the house, eats half the Asparagus. Random Creature is furious.
5 - Today is the day when the Big Ben task must be completed. Things are going well until shortly before the end when Rockenspiel farts and blows Big Ben over. Big Brother announces that the task has been a failure. Small Yappa Dog cries.
6 - Tall Boy gets pecked on the arm by one of the Big Brother chickens. Not a very exciting day.
7 - Big Brother is worried that things are getting dull, so he summons the housemates to have a mass debate about sex. After far too many cans of cider, Small Yappa Dog admits that she likes to be spanked on the arse with a Spork. Cheesemonger says he never wears condoms because they make his Scrotum sore and Tall Boy agrees. Brontone goes into a rant about how none of the other housemates have ever enjoyed a true orgasm because they're all boring heterosexual bastards. Rockenspiel sits in the corner, quietly eyeing up Tall Boy.
8 - Today is the first day that the housemates must nominate someone to leave. Cheesemonger goes round everyone one by one, telling them he really likes them because they're the only one in the house that he can really relate to. Random Creature and Small Yappa Dog are voted as the two candidates to leave. Nobody votes for Cheesemonger.
9 - Random Creature and Small Yappa Dog are told of their nominations and burst into tears, before hugging everyone and telling them they love them. Brontone sings them a song - Cheeky Girls Song - to make them feel better.
10 - The public vote Small Yappa Dog out of the house. She pretends not to be bothered but then breaks down and sobs that she should never have admitted about enjoying being spanked. Small Yappa Dog leaves.
11 - Relationships are strained in the house as the housemates come to terms with Small Yappa Dog's departure. The food budget is low due to the failure of last week's failed task. Brontone has to make do without the cucumber she requested. Random Creature is visibly depressed and is comforted by Tall Boy, who tries to touch her on her Nipple.
12 - The Big Brother pyschologist replays the footage of Tall Boy touching Random Creature's Nipple over and over again. This is because it shows an interesting psychological incident, of course, not because it will increase the viewing figures. Big Brother sets the housemates the task of jogging on a running machine for twice the circumferance of the globe. They gamble 40% of the food budget on completing it.
13 - The running machine task is on target, despite the fact that Rockenspiel refuses to run because his Scrotum hurts a bit.
14 - Much jubilation in the house as the running machine task is completed. Rockenspiel finally manages to run the last 10 metres of the task and claims that without him they'd never have done it. Random Creature calls Rockenspiel a lazy Scrotum.
15 - Once again it is the day when nominations are due. Cheesemonger tells everyone individually that he thinks Random Creature is a whore. He also points out that anyone who wants to stay at his flat when the show is finished is welcome to come and visit. Random Creature and Tall Boy are nominated by the housemates to leave. Nobody votes for Cheesemonger.
16 - The nominations are announced. Random Creature can't believe she's been voted out two weeks in a row. Tall Boy is equally stunned and turns to Random Creature for comfort. Rockenspiel is distraught and confesses to Brontone that he thinks he is in love with Tall Boy. Brontone says she doesn't fancy any of the housemates because they're all just too heterosexual and she's a lesbian, you know
17 - The public vote Tall Boy out of the house. Random Creature says she is gutted and even gives Tall Boy a clipping of hair from her Nipple to prove how much she cares. Rockenspiel is also devastated but keeps his hair to himself. Tall Boy leaves.
18 - The Big Brother psychologist shows repeated clips of Random Creature clipping the hair from her Nipple. Apparently this is an important psychological incident. The public obviously agree as viewing figures soar.
19 - Big Brother sets the housemates the task of burping the National Anthem of Isle of Man in 60 seconds. They gamble 50% of the food budget on completing it.
20 - Nobody has a clue what the National Anthem of Isle of Man sounds like but Rockenspiel says it's a bit like Dancing Queen. The housemates choose Cheesemonger as the one who must complete the task.
21 - Cheesemonger successfully burps not only the National Anthem of Isle of Man but also God Save The Queen, Cheeky Girls Song and the theme tune to Frasier. He is proclaimed as a hero, despite the fact that a vote in a tabloid newspaper shows that 98% of the public want to kill him.
22 - Nominations are due and Cheesemonger tells everyone that he has a Villa in the South of France and they can all come and stay for a holiday. Rockenspiel and Brontone are nominated.
23 - Rockenspiel and Brontone take their nominations well and sit down with Cheesemonger and Random Creature to discuss why they voted for them. Cheesemonger keeps quiet but Random Creature accuses Rockenspiel of being an arrogant, lazy, self-centred Scrotum before bursting into tears.
24 - The public vote Brontone out of the house and nobody really gives a shit. Brontone leaves.
25 - Cheesemonger becomes the first housemate to have a wank. This footage goes down well with the Big Brother pschologist who proclaims that it gives us a true insight into the working of Cheesemonger's mind and brings out his true personality. In other words, he's a wanker.
26 - Big Brother sets the remaining three housemates the task of shifting 5000 tons of Hefalump dung using only a Spork. Cheesemonger is unsure but Rockenspiel is confident, claiming to have done something very similar when he was younger. They gamble 50% of the food budget.
27 - Completely out of the blue, Rockenspiel breaks down in tears and announces that he is leaving. He claims that it is because the dung-shifting task has brought back the painful memories of the Hefalump incident from his childhood. Random Creature tries to persuade him to stay but Cheesemonger sits in a corner, rubbing his hands slyly. Rockenspiel decides to leave.
28 - With only two housemates remaining, the Hefalump dung task proves impossible. They fail miserably and resort to getting extremely pissed on some vegetable wine, made by Random Creature from a couple of mouldy carrots she found in the Big Brother garden.
29 - Nominations are due for the final time. Cheesemonger asks Random Creature to marry him and she accepts. Unsurprisingly Cheesemonger nominates Random Creature to leave. Rather more surprisingly, so does Random Creature.
30 - When the nomination is announced, Random Creature graciously accepts defeat and proclaims that Cheesemonger is a worthy winner. As they are soon to marry, she also agrees to shag him. The event is broadcast live to the nation and is preceded by a speech from the Queen. Everyone in the Big Brother production crew breathe a huge sigh of relief as viewing figures go through the roof. Cheesemonger takes his £70,000 and runs away to Isle of Man. Nobody, including Random Creature, ever sees him again.
1:06 pm
Saturday, June 05, 2004
I have oft been of the opinion, that a child actor is only as good as their director. Sure, there has to be ability in the first place, but if they don't have a good director they have little chance of performing well. My latest cinema outing of Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban, I believe, has proved me quite correct. After watching the three kids clunk their way through Philosopher and Chamber, no doubt following inspiring directorial advice such as "look surprised" from anooying-kiddy-that-must-be-funny-cause-he's-annoying creator Chris Columbus, finally it seems as these kids have understood what it is to act from the wonderful Alfonso Cuarón, who really has worked wonders on this latest installment. I mean, these movies are hardly ground breaking, or even masterpieces, but Azkaban was visually beautiful to watch, and I didn't find myself wincing every few minutes at the kids stumble through the weak-ass script. The dialogue in this one wasn't much better, but it was directed with so much more style and talent, that it was happily watchable. My only real complaint was the last shot of the movie - icky indeed. A shame since it had done so well till then.
Am off to Brighton tomorrow to meet the Rarebreed folk - how long do you reckon it takes to drive from London to Brighton on a Sunday afternoon? I never know how much time to give myself. Gonna be meeting at the Brighton Marina though, so at least if I'm early there's lots of shopping I can do (which with my current low bank balance should be amusing).
If all goes well I shall be starting a new job in a week which will give me some location experience, which should be good indeed. Bit nervous though. And the pay is a bit crappy, but it's still more than most, so I shouldn't complain too heartily. Plus I'll probably be working quite a few 6th days and getting Per diems when I travel, so... shouldn't work out too shabby. We shall see.
7:37 pm
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
I sometimes really hate being grown up. Somedays I just wish I could be little again, and not have to worry about all this bloody sodding big life crap that's just ringing in my ears. You remember that potential quandry of dream vs career. Potential now it ain't. My heart wants me to do one thing, whereas my sensibilities tell me another, and I don't know what to do. Suddenly I feel tired of being so fucking responsible and level headed, always doing what I should, always for the benefit of others - but whenever I start to seriously think about it, I get so scared I rush right back to what I should do. And then sit in that pit of adultness and mither myself that there are dreams unfulfilled. I always thought I could strike the balance, and maybe I can - maybe today I just stupidly hormonal and can't handle any decision with more impact that what I should cook for supper.
All I think sometimes is, what if I've made the wrong choice? What if I'm leading myself down some dark path of responsibility that will lead to my own isolation and depression? What if I'm turning into that whining, self-reflective, over-analytical twat that I was when I was 17 - cause it's bloody sounding like it. Sigh. I shall try and think of something amusing.
6:18 pm
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Something's really pissed me off lately, and it's frustrating cause I can't blog about it here. Which is annoying, since this is kind of my diary and where I would naturally vent about it.
So! Instead - good things going on.
Technically Speaking looks like it's continuing well with much mirth at rehearsals - which is always a good sign. We start doing some filming gumf soon, so I shall be up in Manchester in a few weekends - Tall Boy, we need to talk!
Next weekend I shall be driving Mac down to Brighton to meet with Rarebreed regarding the Edinburgh thing. Am always nervous meeting new people, so send me confident and delightfully witty personality vibes!
Other Things
Am bouncing with impatience to see the new Harry Potter, but it's unlikely to be this week - boooooooooooooo! I shall revert to sulky 12 year old status.
Watched that Derren Brown seance thing last night. It's amazing how much I get myself scared by these things. I know the whole thing's psychological, as indeed was proved at the end - but damn it, watching that thing while I was alone in the flat was NOT a good idea. Even though I know the ghost doesn't exist - me scared. Perhaps it's more the psychological phenomenon that takes place - that these people are able to manifest such things that aren't real, and that therefore it could happen to me - that's what's scary. Hmmm.
Am not seeing enough of Cheesy these days, but it's all for a good cause while he Stage Manages his latest production. The show lasts until the end of June, so it's gonna be a tough month. What's worse is that if all goes as expected, I will start a new job in July that will keep me late. Boo. Hiss.
And the curse of being female is weighing me down today - if God does exist, when I die I'm gonna kick him in the nuts for this little creational addition to the female form. I wonder if God does have nuts? Your thought on the matter please....
8:41 am
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