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Yup. That’s hail. At the end of May.
Blowing gently through your hair
27 May 2010 · Comments Off
He’s not making any new friends is he, Donald Trump? It’s one thing to fight over redeveloping a piece of land that is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, since you can argue the merits of economic progress over conservation at all costs, but it’s completely another to rename the place to make it easier for the hard-of-thinking to remember and insult the landowners at the same time.
If Mr Forbes wants to live on an old property that isn’t totally maintained, that’s his choice, it’s his land. Capitalism and private property tends to work that way. The Donald needs to play a better PR game.
Stick ‘em up punk
26 May 2010 · Comments (1)
I really, really need Classic Fantastic and Livin’ in the City. Neil can’t stand them but I’ve loved their contemporary sleaze-tastic lounge lizard sound since Come Find Yourself.
They’re playing in Edinburgh in September. Bring it ON!!!
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More proof that it’s all about keeping us down… when people who are wealthier and/or not so rich people even think about money, they’re less likely to enjoy life’s little pleasures. Ha!
Reviews → The Ghost / The Matador
24 May 2010 · Comments Off
The Ghost would have been a great thriller if I didn’t possess a functioning brain. It was kind of flat and not very thrilling at all (in spite of pretty good performances by the cast). Pretty much the only surprise came at the very end, and that was because it just doesn’t seem remotely possible that people are that organised. I’m not sure what it was that made it not great or terribly fun to watch. Maybe it was simply too obvious. Is that the fault of the novelist, scriptwriter, or director? I have no idea.
The Matador, on the other hand, is Pierce Brosnan’s Sexy Beast, I think. He plays a moustachioed and really unsuave Julian Noble — a corporate assassin — and one of my new favourite actors Greg Kinnear plays Danny Wright, a businessman. The two strike up an unusual friendship in a hotel bar in Mexico and both are changed by the experience. It’s a screwed-up comedy and a twisted buddy film. One of the best moments must be Noble (Brosnan) swaggering through the hotel lobby in speedos and boots. I did not know he had such skinny legs!
I love that I get to watch the Cameo Cinema’s double features for free. There are some stormers coming up in June. One of them involves Philip Seymour Hoffman, which makes me a happy girl.
Green shoots of boredom
18 May 2010 · Comments (4)
Photos from the abseil on Sunday, taken by my colleague Caroline who organised our group but didn’t actually do it herself. The horror!
In case you didn’t already know, I’m the chinky one. Who looks like a boy.
Everyone seemed scared or overhyped the climbing over the railing part.
Yes, I was that nonplussed.
If you were waiting for me to prove I’d done it before you donate, there you go. Now go and donate, goddammit. Heh.
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A historic day with David Cameron starting as PM and Nick Clegg as DPM. I hope — but doubt — that the media or public will give them the time to work together before trying to stir things up.
The Magic Roundabout
6 May 2010 · Comments (1)
There’s news. Oh yes, there’s news. Neil has started a new job, which is very exciting. The not-so-fantabulous news is that it’s in Swindon. That would be a place that’s not very close to Edinburgh — it could be further apart and still be on the British Isles, but not by much. I take comfort knowing that we don’t live in the Outer Hebrides and he isn’t working in Brighton.
He’s moved down there for the duration of his contract. It’s very weird, sleeping alone and knowing you’ll be sleeping alone for more than a couple of nights. It’s springtime and it’s not quite as cold, but it’s so quiet all by myself. The good news is my mother is coming for a visit so I’ll have some company, and the even better news is that I’m going to work at the London office occasionally for the time Neil’s based in Swindon. I’m very keen to check out this new city and maybe even see the Delboy and his family at least once over in Cardiff.
Also, now that I’m on my own I need a schedule, otherwise I’ll spend all my time playing with the computer and looking at recipes online instead of doing the part that would be more useful, i.e. actually feeding myself. Neil’s warned me more than once to make sure I eat (my mother knows exactly what he’s talking about), and I need to make sure I keep the place clean and tidy as well.
People who know me know I’m a wee bit spoilt. I’ve never had to do much housework. So after shuddering at episodes of How Clean Is Your House? and promising Neil the flat won’t end up a cowp, I’ve created a cleaning schedule, meant to break the sheer horror of housecleaning into manageable wee tasks. Isn’t that adorable? I’ve got alarms set on my phone to shake me out of my Internet- or teevee-induced stupor.
This could make me more houseproud and I may eventually find the daring to participate in a potluck or cook a meal for other people — people who have functioning tastebuds — at some point in the future. I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you, but miracles could happen.
Reviews → A Matter of Life and Death
5 May 2010 · Comments Off
CSI and Bones fans really should read A Matter of Life of Death. It’s a really interesting collection of interviews with pathologists around the world.
Reading one interview and then taking a break means it’ll take longer to read the book, but it’s better that way. I was fascinated by the journeys these doctors took in their respective careers. I was most intrigued by the doctors who studied cancer, flu, identified victims of genocide, and so on. If you want any sort of insight into this branch of medical science without having to spend all those years in school, this is a great book to get some.
The Pathological Society hosts the full-length interviews with everyone author Sue Armstrong spoke with for the book.
I’d like to give my copy away. I really enjoyed it, but I’m not sure I’d read it again and I’ve not got the room to keep it anyway. If you’d like it, post a comment and I’ll randomly pick someone.
Dairy phobia
4 May 2010 · Comments (1)
Dear George Kerevan,
For Deity’s sake, stop sending me letters almost every day. If I was even inclined to vote SNP, knowing you’re wasting all this money on postage giving me the same promises over and over again would make me think twice.
Goodbye!
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The election draws closer, and I’ve just tried a couple of web apps meant to depress me: Vote Match (only a little, I know exactly where I stand and who I’ll be voting for, it was almost spot on) and the Voter Power Index (very). I bet the stars live in more powerful constituencies… sigh.