I'm beginning to wonder why I started this... But I did, so I will persist!
I used to work in a place of massive cultural diversity, and I had no idea how much I enjoyed that until I worked in a place with a load of Brummies that have less culture than yoghurt. One of the many advantages of this was encountering food from all over the world. Not the restaurant food that we see, but the real, honest stuff. Stews, curries, ingredients, ideas... I'd never have tried chili on watermelon without the Colombian girl, or Coca-Cola Chicken without China Girl, or this recipe without La Mexicana.
Apparently "Huevos Rancheros" is something every Mexican mother can cook, but no two are the same. Some use scrambled eggs, some have cheese, some leave out the things I add - and my version isn't quite what I was taught.
But this is the version I make for me and Number 1 Son, and we love it. Its great for Saturday Brunch, and can cure a hangover.
You will need.
An Egg.
Corn Tortilla.
Hot Salsa.
Guacamole.
Sour cream.
Method.
Warm the tortilla (and it HAS to be a corn tortilla, not a flour one because that's just not as good in any way - we tried) while you fry the egg to your taste. But if I may suggest, leave the yolk as runny as possible because it mixes with the salsa better that way.
Put the egg on the tortilla, add the salsa (which should be as hot as you can stand, don't wimp out, egg and chili work well together.)
Add Guacamole and Sour Cream.
Fold.
Eat.
Lick salsa, egg yolk, cream and avocado from fingers and round mouth.
Repeat as necessary.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Saturday 30 October 2010
A Hobby.
Well, I have several hobbies.
I'm one of those sort of blokes that can get utterly obsessed with a hobby of any sort. That is the main reason I have refused many, many offers to play golf, because I know that I would be that guy who talks about nothing else. And I can bore for England as it is - I can't afford to be worse than I am now!
So - I occupy my time/relax/take my mind off the hook and pretend I'll call back later with the following things.
Birds and Games.
I've played games since I was in my early teens. I was just at the right age when Dungeons and Dragons arrived in the UK. I was bought the set by my dad and I remember being off school ill and him saying "Lets have a game then." I wasn't able to understand it, mostly because I was ill, but also because we had no real idea what the game entailed. He never did play, or understand, it.
I, however, was, once I got my head round it, completely hooked. We started with D&D, then the AD&D (Advanced), Traveller (Sci-Fi adventures), RuneQuest, Mechwarrior, Bushido... the list went on and on.
I played with a bunch of guys all through school, and when I went to college I founded a 'soc' for gamers and made some friends who are still amongst my closest.
I dropped out of the scene when I moved in with my wife, and away from the guys in college. And then a few years ago we went to visit some of the college gang who I'd not seen for a while. We chatted about games 'I don't play any more' I said, 'there's no group in HomeTown.' They told me about a game they play... 'Its online, mate, we all play together. Even the Yorkshire guys play' (2 guys moved north 15 years ago.)
I ummed and erred about it, and wasn't sure about playing. The Wifey handed me the game at Xmas... I installed it and the old addiction was back. A year or so later she moaned about how much time I was playing. I pointed out that she was the one who bought it. That went down well. But she didn't moan at me again.
The Birds.
When Number 1 Son was about 8 I saw a poster one morning at the railway station as I was on my way to work. The local country park was having an 'introduction to birds' guided walk. I suggested it to Number 1, and he said it would be nice to go.
We turned up, walked, looked at the birds, had warm drinks, and headed back to the house. I was buzzing. "Did you see the way that one flew?" I raved to him in the car on the way home, "Wasn't it beautiful? The feathers? The songs?" It dawned on me later that he had been quiet.
A sure sign that he was trying to be polite.
He's not in the least bit interested. I have been up at 4am in dark woods, in the rain waiting to hear a rare pheasant call. I've Driven at speed to see a rare Tern before dusk turns to night (We made it!) I've stood shivering in the wind and the rain, hoping a bird of prey was going to roost where it had been the night before.
I've learned the difference between a birder, a Robin-stroker and a twitcher. I've done all three. I been gripped off, I've dipped out, dropped on, had lifers and county catch-ups, and never, ever strung.
I love doing them both.
Its a shame that the agoraphobia often keeps me indoors, but if its rare enough - I can still get out.
Oh.
Dip/Dip out = To fail to see a rarity.
Gripped off = To dip when a mate sees the bird.
Drop on = to find a rarity, or see one soon after its found.
Lifer = a bird you've never seen before.
County catch-up = a bird that you've not seen in your home county before, but may have seen elsewhere - My worst was a Red Backed Shrike that I saw in a neighbouring county 6 years ago, and only saw at home this year.
String/Stringy/Stringer = To claim to have seen something that you probably didn't. To exaggerate a common into a rarity. The lowest of the low - not to be trusted.
Twitch = to rush to see a rarity, or to travel a long way to see a rarity at short notice.
Birder = a good birdwatcher
A Robin Stroker = someone who looks at the birds in their garden
Twitcher = someone who will duck out of work to drive to the other end of the country to see a rarity with no regard for anything, or anyone else. An extremist and fanatic. Best avoided.
I'm one of those sort of blokes that can get utterly obsessed with a hobby of any sort. That is the main reason I have refused many, many offers to play golf, because I know that I would be that guy who talks about nothing else. And I can bore for England as it is - I can't afford to be worse than I am now!
So - I occupy my time/relax/take my mind off the hook and pretend I'll call back later with the following things.
Birds and Games.
I've played games since I was in my early teens. I was just at the right age when Dungeons and Dragons arrived in the UK. I was bought the set by my dad and I remember being off school ill and him saying "Lets have a game then." I wasn't able to understand it, mostly because I was ill, but also because we had no real idea what the game entailed. He never did play, or understand, it.
I, however, was, once I got my head round it, completely hooked. We started with D&D, then the AD&D (Advanced), Traveller (Sci-Fi adventures), RuneQuest, Mechwarrior, Bushido... the list went on and on.
I played with a bunch of guys all through school, and when I went to college I founded a 'soc' for gamers and made some friends who are still amongst my closest.
I dropped out of the scene when I moved in with my wife, and away from the guys in college. And then a few years ago we went to visit some of the college gang who I'd not seen for a while. We chatted about games 'I don't play any more' I said, 'there's no group in HomeTown.' They told me about a game they play... 'Its online, mate, we all play together. Even the Yorkshire guys play' (2 guys moved north 15 years ago.)
I ummed and erred about it, and wasn't sure about playing. The Wifey handed me the game at Xmas... I installed it and the old addiction was back. A year or so later she moaned about how much time I was playing. I pointed out that she was the one who bought it. That went down well. But she didn't moan at me again.
The Birds.
When Number 1 Son was about 8 I saw a poster one morning at the railway station as I was on my way to work. The local country park was having an 'introduction to birds' guided walk. I suggested it to Number 1, and he said it would be nice to go.
We turned up, walked, looked at the birds, had warm drinks, and headed back to the house. I was buzzing. "Did you see the way that one flew?" I raved to him in the car on the way home, "Wasn't it beautiful? The feathers? The songs?" It dawned on me later that he had been quiet.
A sure sign that he was trying to be polite.
He's not in the least bit interested. I have been up at 4am in dark woods, in the rain waiting to hear a rare pheasant call. I've Driven at speed to see a rare Tern before dusk turns to night (We made it!) I've stood shivering in the wind and the rain, hoping a bird of prey was going to roost where it had been the night before.
I've learned the difference between a birder, a Robin-stroker and a twitcher. I've done all three. I been gripped off, I've dipped out, dropped on, had lifers and county catch-ups, and never, ever strung.
I love doing them both.
Its a shame that the agoraphobia often keeps me indoors, but if its rare enough - I can still get out.
Oh.
Dip/Dip out = To fail to see a rarity.
Gripped off = To dip when a mate sees the bird.
Drop on = to find a rarity, or see one soon after its found.
Lifer = a bird you've never seen before.
County catch-up = a bird that you've not seen in your home county before, but may have seen elsewhere - My worst was a Red Backed Shrike that I saw in a neighbouring county 6 years ago, and only saw at home this year.
String/Stringy/Stringer = To claim to have seen something that you probably didn't. To exaggerate a common into a rarity. The lowest of the low - not to be trusted.
Twitch = to rush to see a rarity, or to travel a long way to see a rarity at short notice.
Birder = a good birdwatcher
A Robin Stroker = someone who looks at the birds in their garden
Twitcher = someone who will duck out of work to drive to the other end of the country to see a rarity with no regard for anything, or anyone else. An extremist and fanatic. Best avoided.
Friday 29 October 2010
A Talent of Mine... Eh?
Well, I'm back home for a couple of days, and I have the Internet at my disposal... Catching up on a few things. Mafia wars, youtube vids of people falling over, porn... The important stuff.
And I've missed days on this 'Post every day' thing I promised myself, and the template... So I'll fix that now.
A talent I have.
Hmmm...
I can play the guitar, but I'm not great at it.
I can be funny, but I miss the mark too often.
I'm a great lover... I bet. (That's an Emo Philips joke, I wish I'd thought of it.)
I can self-deprecate pretty well.
And I've missed days on this 'Post every day' thing I promised myself, and the template... So I'll fix that now.
A talent I have.
Hmmm...
I can play the guitar, but I'm not great at it.
I can be funny, but I miss the mark too often.
I'm a great lover... I bet. (That's an Emo Philips joke, I wish I'd thought of it.)
I can self-deprecate pretty well.
Sunday 24 October 2010
Its a shame...
I was doing quite well in the stakes of posting regularly, running the template thing, and actually becoming interested in what I was saying - then the modem died.
It is completely dead and a new one is being sent out by the Evil ISP.
I think its also a massive shame that my 300th post was sent from a phone, was very short, crap and not at all interesting.
So - Here I am in MacDonald's, surrounded by Chavs looking over my shoulder, feeling nauseous from the thing I just ate - I wont call it food - and feeling very paranoid about my identity being stolen from me as I type...
But at least I'm on the internet. Right?
Maybe I'll come back tomorrow...
It is completely dead and a new one is being sent out by the Evil ISP.
I think its also a massive shame that my 300th post was sent from a phone, was very short, crap and not at all interesting.
So - Here I am in MacDonald's, surrounded by Chavs looking over my shoulder, feeling nauseous from the thing I just ate - I wont call it food - and feeling very paranoid about my identity being stolen from me as I type...
But at least I'm on the internet. Right?
Maybe I'll come back tomorrow...
Thursday 21 October 2010
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Tuesday 19 October 2010
An Art work... hmmm?
I like my art a bit mad.
Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Epstein, Moore, Hepworth...
I like modern, impressionist, abstract. This is a cause of conflict in the household as Wifey likes pretty pictured of a horse, with some nice flowers and a cottage.
She announced in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam that he "Was a crap painter, really" the looks of disgust I got were humiliating.
This statue is in Birmingham Art Gallery, and I've been specifically to see it about 3 times. I think it is a wonderfully disturbingly, beautiful figure. The way the face and body don't quite seem to match, giving a beauty that is... worrying. Its almost like it's hiding something, which would suit the subject matter.
Lucifer by Jacob Epstien
It also has a cute arse.
Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Epstein, Moore, Hepworth...
I like modern, impressionist, abstract. This is a cause of conflict in the household as Wifey likes pretty pictured of a horse, with some nice flowers and a cottage.
She announced in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam that he "Was a crap painter, really" the looks of disgust I got were humiliating.
This statue is in Birmingham Art Gallery, and I've been specifically to see it about 3 times. I think it is a wonderfully disturbingly, beautiful figure. The way the face and body don't quite seem to match, giving a beauty that is... worrying. Its almost like it's hiding something, which would suit the subject matter.
Lucifer by Jacob Epstien
It also has a cute arse.
Monday 18 October 2010
A Song that make me cry - or almost...
I don't cry often. The result of childhood beatings at the hands of classmates because I was an easy crier, an angry crier.
I learned to hold it in over the years.
This gets me to the brink of tears every time.
Hurt.
I learned to hold it in over the years.
This gets me to the brink of tears every time.
Hurt.
Sunday 17 October 2010
A dream house
I rarely think about a dream house. I've stayed in a few I've loved - either on holiday, with friends, or at a wedding or similar - but if I think about it I'm torn between something like this one.
And something like this one...
And something like this one...
Saturday 16 October 2010
It was pointed out to me that yesterday's post "A Fictional Book" should have been about a book that doesn't exist, is only real in a fictional world... I wonder if I missed the point, or perhaps the person who passed the template on to me is not very proficient in English... Or maybe the creator of the template didn't see the difference between a fictional book and a work of fiction.
Who knows?
I'd go for Oolon Colluphid's "Where God Went Wrong"
Today is a "Non-Fictional Book".
I will be hypocritical and assume, for the purposes of this post that they are asking me to talk about a work of non-fiction.
I've enjoyed a few non-fiction or, in the case of autobiographies, semi-fiction books.
I'll just mention two because I've been sat here for ten minutes trying to think of the titles of any others, and failing. Miserably.
Chickenhawk by Robert Mason.
Longitude by Dava Sobel.
Who knows?
I'd go for Oolon Colluphid's "Where God Went Wrong"
Today is a "Non-Fictional Book".
I will be hypocritical and assume, for the purposes of this post that they are asking me to talk about a work of non-fiction.
I've enjoyed a few non-fiction or, in the case of autobiographies, semi-fiction books.
I'll just mention two because I've been sat here for ten minutes trying to think of the titles of any others, and failing. Miserably.
Chickenhawk by Robert Mason.
Longitude by Dava Sobel.
Friday 15 October 2010
Day 13 - A Fictional Book...
That's all the title of today's template post. I am not sure what that entails, as I've already listed my favourite books, and they were all fictional! Well, tomorrow's is "A non-fiction book" so I guess it makes a bit of sense if your favourite book was "The Origin of Species".
But it doesn't say "favourite" book it just says "A" book. Hmmm. Ponders.
OK.
Life of Pi.
A Booker Prize winner. Lauded critically worldwide and I hated every word of it.
None of it made much sense at all. Or rather it did make sense in a rather heavily ladled on way. It's obvious from the very start that the tale being told is utterly impossible, so it is an allegorical imagining of what happened.
And that doesn't work for these reasons.
I just couldn't see what people saw in this book. All the way through the author seemed to be going "see, see what I did there? See how clever my writing is? Isn't it clever? It's not really a tiger... Geddit? Geddit??" And I'd got bored with that in the first few pages. And it went on for page after page.
To make it worse at the end some 'investigators' turn up and Pi (the main character) explains the analogy in really simple words, almost in the way there's a play within a play in Hamlet to explain the plot. Pi tells his tale, then says "Oh the tiger is this person, the zebra is this, the hyena is this..." and the author is saying "I've realised you are a bit dim and not as clever as I am, and because I'm so so clever, I'd better explain this to you..."
I got it.
I saw the symbolism.
It wasn't subtle, it was obvious.
I shan't be wasting any more time with Yann Martel's works, but don't let that stop you. Its only my opinion.
But it doesn't say "favourite" book it just says "A" book. Hmmm. Ponders.
OK.
Life of Pi.
A Booker Prize winner. Lauded critically worldwide and I hated every word of it.
None of it made much sense at all. Or rather it did make sense in a rather heavily ladled on way. It's obvious from the very start that the tale being told is utterly impossible, so it is an allegorical imagining of what happened.
And that doesn't work for these reasons.
I just couldn't see what people saw in this book. All the way through the author seemed to be going "see, see what I did there? See how clever my writing is? Isn't it clever? It's not really a tiger... Geddit? Geddit??" And I'd got bored with that in the first few pages. And it went on for page after page.
To make it worse at the end some 'investigators' turn up and Pi (the main character) explains the analogy in really simple words, almost in the way there's a play within a play in Hamlet to explain the plot. Pi tells his tale, then says "Oh the tiger is this person, the zebra is this, the hyena is this..." and the author is saying "I've realised you are a bit dim and not as clever as I am, and because I'm so so clever, I'd better explain this to you..."
I got it.
I saw the symbolism.
It wasn't subtle, it was obvious.
I shan't be wasting any more time with Yann Martel's works, but don't let that stop you. Its only my opinion.
Thursday 14 October 2010
The 12th post in this Template is "Something you are OCD about."
Trouble is - I can't see myself as OCD about stuff. Anything.
I assume LBJ is, at this point, spraying a mouthful of coffee over her monitor and choking...
I see myself as passionate about somethings... but not OCD.
I like my beer real, in a proper pub, and not to be cloudy, or off. But I have drunk naff ale on a night out, many a time.
OK - I can't drink badly made tea.
I like mine strong, with a fair amount of milk and definitely no sugar. When I say strong - I mean STRONG. 2 teabags in a mug, leave for at least 5 minutes. Usually left until its gone stone cold and has to be reheated in the microwave.
And it has to be drunk hot. I cannot understand people who leave a cuppa to go cold before drinking it. If you think you can explain that, please do!
Zim made me the worst cup of tea I've ever encountered. Made with a teabag left very briefly in a cup of hot milk with 4 sugars. I had to throw it away... it was truly awful! Am still not sure it wasn't a practical joke of some sort, but she said that's how everyone makes tea where she lives. Poor Buggers, is all I could think to say!
Actually, thinking on, at one point I had about 22 different sorts of tea in the cupboard. Assam, Ceylon, English Breakfast, Kenyan, Gunpowder, Russian Caravan, Rose Oolong... the list went on and on. I now only have two, or three. Hardly OCD behaviour, is it? Is it?
Trouble is - I can't see myself as OCD about stuff. Anything.
I assume LBJ is, at this point, spraying a mouthful of coffee over her monitor and choking...
I see myself as passionate about somethings... but not OCD.
I like my beer real, in a proper pub, and not to be cloudy, or off. But I have drunk naff ale on a night out, many a time.
OK - I can't drink badly made tea.
I like mine strong, with a fair amount of milk and definitely no sugar. When I say strong - I mean STRONG. 2 teabags in a mug, leave for at least 5 minutes. Usually left until its gone stone cold and has to be reheated in the microwave.
And it has to be drunk hot. I cannot understand people who leave a cuppa to go cold before drinking it. If you think you can explain that, please do!
Zim made me the worst cup of tea I've ever encountered. Made with a teabag left very briefly in a cup of hot milk with 4 sugars. I had to throw it away... it was truly awful! Am still not sure it wasn't a practical joke of some sort, but she said that's how everyone makes tea where she lives. Poor Buggers, is all I could think to say!
Actually, thinking on, at one point I had about 22 different sorts of tea in the cupboard. Assam, Ceylon, English Breakfast, Kenyan, Gunpowder, Russian Caravan, Rose Oolong... the list went on and on. I now only have two, or three. Hardly OCD behaviour, is it? Is it?
Wednesday 13 October 2010
More confusion in my head as to what is going on in these posts... I doubled up today's post, reposting what went missing and putting today's on, and now that's gone!
Ah well... Here's a more recent photo of me. It's part of this 30 day template thing, not just random, egotistical, "aren't I gorgeous?" madness... Honest.
Anyway - in the meantime I've finished my first monster shift, got home and then Wifey said "I'm going out straight from work tomorrow, and wont be back until very late."
Glad I bothered driving back last night - was so well worth missing birthday drinks with my mate in a great pub with great beer and even better cheese!
Ah well... Here's a more recent photo of me. It's part of this 30 day template thing, not just random, egotistical, "aren't I gorgeous?" madness... Honest.
Anyway - in the meantime I've finished my first monster shift, got home and then Wifey said "I'm going out straight from work tomorrow, and wont be back until very late."
Glad I bothered driving back last night - was so well worth missing birthday drinks with my mate in a great pub with great beer and even better cheese!
OK - no idea what happened yesterday, but I was very tired and probably did something wrong. So, there is the photo from yesterday.
It was taken when I was about 15, on Xmas or Boxing Day. I was sat with my grandfather and his two remaining brothers who were some of the funniest men I ever wish to meet.
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Monday 11 October 2010
Sunday 10 October 2010
Saturday 9 October 2010
A photo that makes me sad.
She's dead.
It's not fair. It's not right and it makes me so sad every time I think of her.
But I don't want to think of her in relation to cancer. I want to think of her throwing herself into my arms because she was going away for two weeks and liked working for me. The girl who was mad about food. The girl who called me in New York to ask if McDonald's were different in the US than they were in the UK. (I couldn't answer that, by the way, I've only eaten one McDonald's in 15 years, it was under protest and it was foul.) The girl who made great Cola Chicken.
And was pretty, funny, clever, sexy, vibrant and just plain life enhancing.
I miss my little China Girl. xx
Friday 8 October 2010
Its time to 'fess up.
I was asked to do a blog template sort of thing by a friend.
Today is "A photo that makes you happy."
This picture was taken by LBJ in Central Park, New York City. This was during one of the best weeks of my life. I don't remember enjoying myself more than I did there and then. It was the only time I've crossed the Atlantic,and the furthest I've ever travelled in a single trip. It was the longest time I've ever spent with LBJ. I enjoyed NYC immensely. It was so amazing to see the places that are so familiar from film and television.
If I ever get the chance, I will go back, but it wont be the same on my own.
I was asked to do a blog template sort of thing by a friend.
Today is "A photo that makes you happy."
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This picture was taken by LBJ in Central Park, New York City. This was during one of the best weeks of my life. I don't remember enjoying myself more than I did there and then. It was the only time I've crossed the Atlantic,and the furthest I've ever travelled in a single trip. It was the longest time I've ever spent with LBJ. I enjoyed NYC immensely. It was so amazing to see the places that are so familiar from film and television.
If I ever get the chance, I will go back, but it wont be the same on my own.
Thursday 7 October 2010
Favourite things... 20 of them apparently.
Good Beer in an old fashioned pub.
Music.
Asian food - be it Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Nepalese, Thai, Burmese... I love it.
Stories.
Huevos Rancheros. A corn tortilla, a fried egg, salsa, guacamole, sour cream... Saturday morning heaven.
Games. Online, role playing, mind, board, MMORPG...
Merrel shoes.
Massages.
Anchovies.
The North Norfolk Coast.
Glimpses of thigh, breast and bottom.
Very, Very Dry Martinis.
Bacon.
Wildlife watching.
Tea. Strong and hot.
Porn and erotica.
The British Museum.
Amsterdam.
Champagne.
Cheese.
Music.
Asian food - be it Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Nepalese, Thai, Burmese... I love it.
Stories.
Huevos Rancheros. A corn tortilla, a fried egg, salsa, guacamole, sour cream... Saturday morning heaven.
Games. Online, role playing, mind, board, MMORPG...
Merrel shoes.
Massages.
Anchovies.
The North Norfolk Coast.
Glimpses of thigh, breast and bottom.
Very, Very Dry Martinis.
Bacon.
Wildlife watching.
Tea. Strong and hot.
Porn and erotica.
The British Museum.
Amsterdam.
Champagne.
Cheese.
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Quotation.
Anyone who knows me will tell you I love quotations.
Like facts they lodge in my brain and hang on for grim death. Not only do I love them but I think they can be useful. Not for making yourself look clever, but to put a point across.
Many years ago I remember hearing a documentary about an anthropologist staying with a tribe in Oceania somewhere. The elders or council only spoke in proverbs, quotations, and aphorisms when discussing a matter of importance to the tribe or village. It was fascinating to hear someone translate.
It went a bit like this.
"A waterfall is never dry" said one. There was a quiet pause.
"But the butterfly cannot rest in the rain" said another. Again a pause for contemplation
"A man cannot feed his family with stone, but can build a house" said another. More silence.
It was fascinating as we were never told what they were discussing, or what the decision was. But they spoke like this for a while, and then it was decided and they all went away, if not happy, then content that the matter had been considered properly by all concerned. Nothing else needed to be said. I envied them for their insight.
That said, I usually enjoy daft quotes. With a few pertinent ones thrown in...
"You can't have everything, where would you put it?" Stephen Wright.
"My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic." Spike Milligan.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Franklin again.
"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to... If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked... If, as they say, God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?... If he is unable to do either, then why call him 'God'?" Epicurus
""That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed." Joseph Heller - Catch-22
"My name in Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." The Princess Bride.
"We want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now!" Withnail in Withnail and I.
"I could dance with you until the cows come home, or better, I could dance with the cows until you come home!" Groucho Marx
Like facts they lodge in my brain and hang on for grim death. Not only do I love them but I think they can be useful. Not for making yourself look clever, but to put a point across.
Many years ago I remember hearing a documentary about an anthropologist staying with a tribe in Oceania somewhere. The elders or council only spoke in proverbs, quotations, and aphorisms when discussing a matter of importance to the tribe or village. It was fascinating to hear someone translate.
It went a bit like this.
"A waterfall is never dry" said one. There was a quiet pause.
"But the butterfly cannot rest in the rain" said another. Again a pause for contemplation
"A man cannot feed his family with stone, but can build a house" said another. More silence.
It was fascinating as we were never told what they were discussing, or what the decision was. But they spoke like this for a while, and then it was decided and they all went away, if not happy, then content that the matter had been considered properly by all concerned. Nothing else needed to be said. I envied them for their insight.
That said, I usually enjoy daft quotes. With a few pertinent ones thrown in...
"You can't have everything, where would you put it?" Stephen Wright.
"My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic." Spike Milligan.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Franklin again.
"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to... If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked... If, as they say, God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?... If he is unable to do either, then why call him 'God'?" Epicurus
""That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed." Joseph Heller - Catch-22
"My name in Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." The Princess Bride.
"We want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now!" Withnail in Withnail and I.
"I could dance with you until the cows come home, or better, I could dance with the cows until you come home!" Groucho Marx
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Book?
This is another toughie.
I read a lot, when I have the time, but my reading is sometimes a little restricted. I want to be the sort of person who has read everything from Kafka to Tolkein, from Rushdie to Austen to the next big thing...
But I don't in all honesty.
I generally manage to stick to fantasy, sci-fi, some poetry, and a few interesting modern novels.
I've really enjoyed some of David Mitchell's books. Cloud Atlas threw me a curve and wasn't at all what I was expecting. Black Swan Green threw me another because it wasn't anything like Cloud Atlas. (I did have some issues with BSG as I was the same age as the main character at the time it was set, and much of it didn't ring true. I enjoyed it nonetheless.)
The Time Traveller's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry were both entertaining, but lacked a little something.
But I waffle on pointlessly...
Favourite book? Books... that's easier.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
A Little Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
American Gods, Stardust and Anansi Boys - all by Neil Gaiman.
There - that will do.
I read a lot, when I have the time, but my reading is sometimes a little restricted. I want to be the sort of person who has read everything from Kafka to Tolkein, from Rushdie to Austen to the next big thing...
But I don't in all honesty.
I generally manage to stick to fantasy, sci-fi, some poetry, and a few interesting modern novels.
I've really enjoyed some of David Mitchell's books. Cloud Atlas threw me a curve and wasn't at all what I was expecting. Black Swan Green threw me another because it wasn't anything like Cloud Atlas. (I did have some issues with BSG as I was the same age as the main character at the time it was set, and much of it didn't ring true. I enjoyed it nonetheless.)
The Time Traveller's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry were both entertaining, but lacked a little something.
But I waffle on pointlessly...
Favourite book? Books... that's easier.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
A Little Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
American Gods, Stardust and Anansi Boys - all by Neil Gaiman.
There - that will do.
Monday 4 October 2010
Continuing a theme... Television.
I don't watch a lot of television these days. I got bored with the medium a few years ago and discovered, no re-discovered, the joys of radio. This is something that puts me at odds with Wifey and Number1 Son, because they watch it all... Endless reruns of Friends, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, CSI, NCIS, and so on. I can watch one or two, but then I'm bored beyond belief.
I see the way that its going to go from the outset... and I'm rarely surprised by a plot twist or development, and so I can, at best, watch a programme, once. They can sit and watch the same episodes over and over.
And don't get me started on X-Factor, BGT, Strictly...
So - My favourite?
I watch QI, Mock the Week, Dr Who, I really enjoyed Sherlock on the BBC recently, Match of the Day, and less often now 'Have I Got News For You?' as I think its lost the edge that made it great years ago.
But there is a series that I worshiped when I was younger, and I can always watch it when it appears on a cable channel.
Blake's 7.
I LOVED it! The honest rebels, the evil Federation, the idea that this small group were making a difference and in the end were going to win against overwhelming odd.
When Gareth Thomas left the series, and we were left without Blake I was still addicted, it didn't break step. In later series they kept looking for Blake, who was always rumoured to be out there somewhere I was broken-hearted when Gan was killed in an episode. The ships weren't saucers, they were exotic looking.
I was obsessed with it for years. Never missing an episode in the entire run, except one in which a major character was killed off. Took me a while to forgive my dad for making me go to the works Pantomime trip - in a time before VCRs were common!
And then there was the news that it was going to end.
The final episode arrived. Surely they were going to finally kill the bad guy, well - girl actually! Overthrow the Federation, Blake would be found and lead them to the final victory.
But that's not what happened.
They found Blake, he was changed, and with a few minutes to go he confronted Avon, his right hand man and the leader since Blake had been absent. During the interchange it became clear that the Federation were there, and it was some sort of a trap. Avon shoots at Blake, just as he says something like 'its OK, I'll get us out of here but you have to trust...'
Blake dies. The troopers break in and start shooting, killing character after character, until only Avon and his nemesis Servelan are left.
She offers him a seat as her consort, he smiles, he starts to laugh, it fades to black, the sound of his gun followed by a volley of troopers blaster shots, and the credits rolled in silence.
I sat looking at the telly, on the verge of tears, 13 years old and my heroes were dead. They'd been crushed in the end, it was all for nothing. For days, weeks, I could barely talk about it. At school the few of us who were fans seemed to avoid talking about it, as we were all left stunned.
So, even now, when I watch it, I feel like that young lad.
And one more sad moment. Many years ago I went for an interview in Chiswick. It was a job I was desperate to get and was wearing a suit that has 'seen better days' as they say in the novels. I'd had a bit of an effort travelling to get there as it was a long haul from the area of South London I was living in at the time. So there I am, hot and uncomfortable in my suit, nervous, and worried I'm going the wrong way or something else is going to go wrong and ruin my day. This guy sits down opposite me and pulls a computer catalogue out of a bag. I immediately think - he must be loaded, buying a PC! (at that time about £1500 would get a computer and my salary was likely to be around £8500 in London!) Then he takes out a mobile phone - in those days still an uncommon sight. I immediately think - Rich AND a tosser...
"Hi, Its Stephen Greif..." He starts.
My jaw is on the floor... Its Travis! The evil henchman from Blake's 7 and he's sat opposite me! My opinion of him has been reversed instantly.
And now the train pulls in to my stop.
Dammit.
I have to get off, without saying a word.
Oh, in my defence - he had been heavily made up in the series, scars, badly disfigured because of his many battles etc, and it was about 10 years since I'd seen the programme, no instant DVD release back then!
I don't watch a lot of television these days. I got bored with the medium a few years ago and discovered, no re-discovered, the joys of radio. This is something that puts me at odds with Wifey and Number1 Son, because they watch it all... Endless reruns of Friends, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, CSI, NCIS, and so on. I can watch one or two, but then I'm bored beyond belief.
I see the way that its going to go from the outset... and I'm rarely surprised by a plot twist or development, and so I can, at best, watch a programme, once. They can sit and watch the same episodes over and over.
And don't get me started on X-Factor, BGT, Strictly...
So - My favourite?
I watch QI, Mock the Week, Dr Who, I really enjoyed Sherlock on the BBC recently, Match of the Day, and less often now 'Have I Got News For You?' as I think its lost the edge that made it great years ago.
But there is a series that I worshiped when I was younger, and I can always watch it when it appears on a cable channel.
Blake's 7.
I LOVED it! The honest rebels, the evil Federation, the idea that this small group were making a difference and in the end were going to win against overwhelming odd.
When Gareth Thomas left the series, and we were left without Blake I was still addicted, it didn't break step. In later series they kept looking for Blake, who was always rumoured to be out there somewhere I was broken-hearted when Gan was killed in an episode. The ships weren't saucers, they were exotic looking.
I was obsessed with it for years. Never missing an episode in the entire run, except one in which a major character was killed off. Took me a while to forgive my dad for making me go to the works Pantomime trip - in a time before VCRs were common!
And then there was the news that it was going to end.
The final episode arrived. Surely they were going to finally kill the bad guy, well - girl actually! Overthrow the Federation, Blake would be found and lead them to the final victory.
But that's not what happened.
They found Blake, he was changed, and with a few minutes to go he confronted Avon, his right hand man and the leader since Blake had been absent. During the interchange it became clear that the Federation were there, and it was some sort of a trap. Avon shoots at Blake, just as he says something like 'its OK, I'll get us out of here but you have to trust...'
Blake dies. The troopers break in and start shooting, killing character after character, until only Avon and his nemesis Servelan are left.
She offers him a seat as her consort, he smiles, he starts to laugh, it fades to black, the sound of his gun followed by a volley of troopers blaster shots, and the credits rolled in silence.
I sat looking at the telly, on the verge of tears, 13 years old and my heroes were dead. They'd been crushed in the end, it was all for nothing. For days, weeks, I could barely talk about it. At school the few of us who were fans seemed to avoid talking about it, as we were all left stunned.
So, even now, when I watch it, I feel like that young lad.
And one more sad moment. Many years ago I went for an interview in Chiswick. It was a job I was desperate to get and was wearing a suit that has 'seen better days' as they say in the novels. I'd had a bit of an effort travelling to get there as it was a long haul from the area of South London I was living in at the time. So there I am, hot and uncomfortable in my suit, nervous, and worried I'm going the wrong way or something else is going to go wrong and ruin my day. This guy sits down opposite me and pulls a computer catalogue out of a bag. I immediately think - he must be loaded, buying a PC! (at that time about £1500 would get a computer and my salary was likely to be around £8500 in London!) Then he takes out a mobile phone - in those days still an uncommon sight. I immediately think - Rich AND a tosser...
"Hi, Its Stephen Greif..." He starts.
My jaw is on the floor... Its Travis! The evil henchman from Blake's 7 and he's sat opposite me! My opinion of him has been reversed instantly.
And now the train pulls in to my stop.
Dammit.
I have to get off, without saying a word.
Oh, in my defence - he had been heavily made up in the series, scars, badly disfigured because of his many battles etc, and it was about 10 years since I'd seen the programme, no instant DVD release back then!
Sunday 3 October 2010
Favourite Movie.
I was also asked about my favourite movie. (Is there a pattern emerging here?)
This I can answer more easily!
I love films, though now I rarely find one that moves me like they did 20 years ago. Avatar was OK, but it's just 'Dancing With Wolves' redone - there's nothing new in the story, just the effects - and that's not really enough.
I loved 'Kick Ass', haven't been able to see Toy Story 3, and thought Inception was better while I was watching it than it actually was. To be honest the sort of films I really want to watch are rarely shown in the multiplexes where I live. I'd need to live in London, Manchester or perhaps Birmingham to be able to see Japanese, French and other 'arthouse' films. Alternatively, I'd need to be able to afford a Sky subscription, and be able to kick the family off the telly to watch what I want to watch.
So here is a list of a few films that I would happily watch over and over and over. I know this because I have.
This is my favourite ever. I never get tired of its quiet, slow story. Great performances, script, tension is built slowly, and there are some wonderful moustaches.
Not the same as the book, and that's a shame, but still a great realisation.
Funny, very sexy, and just great.
Oh so quotable...
A great story that is driven by wonderful performances.
Funny, music is superb, quotable, cameos galore... what's not to like?
For anyone who ever went on holiday by mistake...
Pure Japanese weirdness - it makes little sense to me as a Westerner, but is just wonderful.
This I can answer more easily!
I love films, though now I rarely find one that moves me like they did 20 years ago. Avatar was OK, but it's just 'Dancing With Wolves' redone - there's nothing new in the story, just the effects - and that's not really enough.
I loved 'Kick Ass', haven't been able to see Toy Story 3, and thought Inception was better while I was watching it than it actually was. To be honest the sort of films I really want to watch are rarely shown in the multiplexes where I live. I'd need to live in London, Manchester or perhaps Birmingham to be able to see Japanese, French and other 'arthouse' films. Alternatively, I'd need to be able to afford a Sky subscription, and be able to kick the family off the telly to watch what I want to watch.
So here is a list of a few films that I would happily watch over and over and over. I know this because I have.
This is my favourite ever. I never get tired of its quiet, slow story. Great performances, script, tension is built slowly, and there are some wonderful moustaches.
Not the same as the book, and that's a shame, but still a great realisation.
Funny, very sexy, and just great.
Oh so quotable...
A great story that is driven by wonderful performances.
Funny, music is superb, quotable, cameos galore... what's not to like?
For anyone who ever went on holiday by mistake...
Pure Japanese weirdness - it makes little sense to me as a Westerner, but is just wonderful.
Saturday 2 October 2010
Favourite Song.
I was asked recently what my favourite song was.
And I'd have to answer - I have no idea.
I have a list of several hundred songs that move me in a multitude of ways, that leave me breathless with their beauty, make me think "Best bass riff ever!", or make me think of someone in particular.
For example I always think of a woman I met at a wedding in Scotland 18 years ago when I hear "Whole of the Moon" by the Waterboys. Not because there was anything between us, or that she was beautiful - she was quite unattractive to be honest - but because we talked about music during the meal and that song came up, we both said we loved it (I love it for the line "I saw a rain dirty valley, you saw Brigadoon") and I've never forgotten her since. She was from Manchester, blonde and a fireman's wife. I remember nothing else about her.
I love several song's because of mind-blowing live performances - Elbow's Powder Blue, Foo Fighters' Monkey Wrench, Chemical Brother's Block Rockin' Beats...
Right now... As it varies from time to time... my favourite song is "Easy Living" By Uriah Heep (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1323250/uriah_heep_easy_livin/)
Why?
I have no idea, but it got into my head about 3 days ago and I can't get rid of it. So it will do!
And I'd have to answer - I have no idea.
I have a list of several hundred songs that move me in a multitude of ways, that leave me breathless with their beauty, make me think "Best bass riff ever!", or make me think of someone in particular.
For example I always think of a woman I met at a wedding in Scotland 18 years ago when I hear "Whole of the Moon" by the Waterboys. Not because there was anything between us, or that she was beautiful - she was quite unattractive to be honest - but because we talked about music during the meal and that song came up, we both said we loved it (I love it for the line "I saw a rain dirty valley, you saw Brigadoon") and I've never forgotten her since. She was from Manchester, blonde and a fireman's wife. I remember nothing else about her.
I love several song's because of mind-blowing live performances - Elbow's Powder Blue, Foo Fighters' Monkey Wrench, Chemical Brother's Block Rockin' Beats...
Right now... As it varies from time to time... my favourite song is "Easy Living" By Uriah Heep (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1323250/uriah_heep_easy_livin/)
Why?
I have no idea, but it got into my head about 3 days ago and I can't get rid of it. So it will do!
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