This blows

Still only January, but I'll be surprised if this isn't the dumbest thing I see all year...

I Bought WHAT?

Note to self: Stay off eBay when drunk. Seriously. It's all very well buying shiny, new technology, but a Spectrum? Come ON!

Count

A recap.

On Monday night, I attended the theatre, don't you know. Wearing a tie, and everything.

Front row seats, no less. To see a living showbusiness legend, after-dinner speaker, and raconteur of some note. I speak of course of Count Arthur Strong.

For those not familiar with the Count, I could try to describe his act, except for the fact that it is almost impossible to describe. Or at least to do it proper justice.

But here goes. Count Arthur Strong is a fictional, very very minor celebrity with delusions of grandeur, and prone to malapropisms. He is one of those comedy creations that polarises opinions. Love him or hate him. There doesn't appear to be any middle ground. Please note that I have not said the word 'Marmite'. Until now, obviously.

"Count Arthur Strong - The Man Behind The Smile" is a tribute to Count Arthur Strong. Err, by Count Arthur Strong.

There were times in Monday evening's performance when I was almost crying with laughter. My personal highlights were when the Count was edited into clips of old TV shows, including Dixon of Dock Green, and Troughton-era Doctor Who. The only problem with that was, because these scenes were pre-recorded, there weren't long enough pauses for laughter - so many jokes were missed because we were still laughing from the previous one. Or two.

Anyway, if you're interested. YouTube.

Culture

In something of a break with tradition, I'm off to the theatre tonight. And I don't mean an operating theatre, before you ask. An actual theatre with a stage and seats and stuff like that . Anyway, more about that after the event

Geolocate this post.

Posted with LifeCast

Had to happen

So I’ve been working onsite at one of our clients for a week now. Which means having to wear a suit, a tie and smart shoes at all times.

The first stumbling block for me was the shoes. I’ll wear whatever is most comfortable on both my feet. If that turns out to be Cat boots, then so be it.

The suit only lasted for the first two days.

Tomorrow, I’m wearing the South Park tie. And possibly some other clothes.

Last Orders. Ever.

Blimey, it’s the 19th already? How’d that happen? Well, I’ve been busy. No, really, I have. Busy by my standards, at least.

I have some distressing news. Distressing to me, anyway. The Ardneil Hotel, conveniently* situated just across the road, is closing at the end of this month. Permanently.

Although it’s a hotel, the bar is open to non-residents and has been a popular watering hole for as long as most people can remember. You can actually see me in the one of the photos on their website. Well, you can sort of see the side of my head. It’s me though, I promise. Look, that’s me there, see?

It was fortunate that I chose this particular night to attach a large arrow to my head.

But now, due to a combination of factors (including – but not limited to – temperamental chefs, a global recession and piss-poor incompetent management) it’s calling last orders for the final time on Sunday 31st.

Ho hum. I’ve booked the 1st of February as a holiday, because obviously I will be in no fit state to work.

In the meantime, the search for somewhere else to spend time and money continues…

* Perhaps a little too conveniently.

Party’s Over

Taking three weeks off work over Christmas and New Year seemed like quite a good idea. At the time.

Gadget

I love a bit of gadgetry, but this is the gadget I've been dreaming of for... well... years.



It's basically just a hard drive. That you can put movies on. Or TV shows. Or music. Or photos.

And then you can hook it up directly to your TV. And watch all the movies that you illegally downloaded... errr.... I mean, bought on DVD and converted. Yeah, that's what I mean.

The One That Got Away

OK, make that My Top 7 Albums of 2009. I forgot one.

Duke Special – I Never Thought This Day Would Come

YouTube – Diggin’ an Early Grave

What’s the fuss?

I’m still not seeing what the big deal is. It’s January, this is the UK. It’s supposed to be cold. So why is everyone acting like it’s the end of the world? It’s a bit of snow. Get over it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8447023.stm

My Top 6 albums of 2009

(couldn’t narrow it down to 5, sorry. anyway, in no particular order…)

Madness – The Liberty of Norton Folgate
 

30-odd years into their career, the still-slightly-Nutty Boys hit the mark with this extended love song to London.

YouTube: Sugar and Spice

 

Mariachi El Bronx – Mariachi El Bronx

Difficult one to explain, this. Ummm… punk band does mariachi. Really well. Unless any mariachi experts say otherwise, of course.

YouTube: Cell Mates

 

Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream

His Bossness returns with a companion piece to the previous year’s Magic. While that was largely an anti-Bush rant, this is the optimistic new-era flipside. Sorry for the shit quality of the Outlas Pete video. I recorded it myself at Hampden, oblivious to the massive head of the guy in front of me.

YouTube: Working on a Dream, Kingdom of Days, Outlaw Pete

La Roux – La Roux

Hurrah! It’s the 80’s again!

YouTube: In For The Kill, Bulletproof

 

Echo and the Bunnymen – The Fountain

Hurrah! It’s the 80’s again… oh wait, we did this already.

YouTube: The Fountain

 

Bad Lieutenant – Never Cry Another Tear

Hurrah! It’s the 80’s again… ohhh…. dammit. Bad Lieutentant. Not New Order. Not much…

YouTube: Sink or Swim

AAAAAAAAAAAAmazon

Note to self:

In future, when buying stuff from Amazon, don’t bother to choose the ‘Express Delivery (guaranteed to arrive by whenever)’ option, as it doesn’t appear to make a blind bit of difference. Twice in a row.

UglyBeautiful

Further proof, as if it were needed, that the world is fucked. This is easily the most offensive thing I’ve seen all year. So far.

Movie

So, I had this great idea for a movie. I call it “Meet The Boss”.

He’s the one in the middle.

Eleventh Doctor

Wow. The BBC didn’t waste any time on this one. No sooner had David Tennant’s final scenes as the Doctor aired, than this trailer for the new guy appeared…

Happy New Year

I hope 2010 is a good one for you.

In something of a break with tradition, it’s New Year’s Day and I don’t have a hangover. Not even a trace of one. What I do have though, is a rather nasty cold which prevented me from going out last night and getting hammered.

Never mind, there’s still over a week before I go back to work, which leaves plenty of time to make up for it.