tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98501472024-03-16T20:17:39.980+00:00superstition is all we have leftmost of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991857089410658893noreply@blogger.comBlogger4797125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-11772267918264899692024-03-16T08:23:00.062+00:002024-03-16T08:23:00.136+00:00effective, kind of sort ofgreetings<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>possibly one of those posts that has some practical value to it then. but, well, do please note that i made a conscious decision to use the word <i>possibly</i>, look you see. for those in a rush, or simply wishing to know what and avoid any needless suspense, the use of some of that nicotine gum stuff instead of actual, real, proper cigarettes. cigarettes, of course, picked up by duty free or off of an independent importer and distributor, since our tw@t government has made it clear they don't want us to buy them legally no more. </div><div><br /></div><div>as a frame of reference, or to set a scene, it was recently (see most posts of late but particular emphasis on <span style="color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2024/03/does-flying-still-suck.html" target="_blank">this one</a></span>) that i was in a position where i could not smoke. yes, smoking is very bad for you, seek help to quit, don't start, and so forth. moving on, it was that i could not smoke for rather prolonged periods, in particular two (2) stints of over 18 hours each. oh dear. if you didn't click on the link (don't blame you) it was due to me being on one of them plane things, the ones that i had vowed not to use again. </div><div><br /></div><div>not <i>that</i> many people what know me would bother to comment on me, instead rather (wisely) concentrating on the idea of <i>not</i> knowing me. the select few who would are likely to suggest that a defining characteristic of me is that i smoke, or that every now and then i stop to take in some regular air as a slight break from inhaling cigarette smoke. it would be that they were rather fascinated with how i would cope with not being able to do so for such a long time, and exactly how many of my fellow passengers would survive this. options for the safety of other passengers were considered.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru8eMte448th19NctusCRYg5qeTo7yofcYiwkFhgna02ZZIQCeAksPoSGD391FTEPSkq77aO3rB7MHq9e5FpLivTYvVktPXhPGJMAT0CJPXv0k2e5zJgDkFZuLjgcxCWjDRsRgLcuegXD9k-QzMQM-aa3_zfJBFbjXY2MwsfF9nEZsQxdAgnQHw/s757/01%20nicorette%20gum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru8eMte448th19NctusCRYg5qeTo7yofcYiwkFhgna02ZZIQCeAksPoSGD391FTEPSkq77aO3rB7MHq9e5FpLivTYvVktPXhPGJMAT0CJPXv0k2e5zJgDkFZuLjgcxCWjDRsRgLcuegXD9k-QzMQM-aa3_zfJBFbjXY2MwsfF9nEZsQxdAgnQHw/w509-h382/01%20nicorette%20gum.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>most people suggested nicotine patches. those who had similar experiences had used them and said they were excellent at getting one through. i was assured these were available <i>gratis</i> off of our NHS, and all one had to do was go to a chemist (pharmacy) and request them. as it turned out they actually make it quite the f*** on to get them, so no. with vaping out (i didn't like it when i tried it anyhow) i procured what you can see above, which is no not the newly acquired Bowie coasters but the nicorette nicotine gum. </div><div><br /></div><div>i had every intention of giving it a try <i>before</i> i flew. however, this did not happen. sheer laziness perhaps, or maybe something more constructive, like assuming if i tried it and didn't like it this would make the flight (anticipation of and actual) more stressful. leaving it to a situation where it was the only choice and theoretically <i>had</i> to do made sense. not every decision i make which would appear to make sense to me makes <i>actual</i> sense, true. but, still. </div><div><br /></div><div>unexpectedly, but partially anticipated, i <i>did not</i> actually feel like smoking on the flights. there's the whole psychology of it, i suppose, of how when you know that you can't your mind is sort of at peace in not doing so, and going without cigarettes for an insane number of hours was, overall, a very small price to pay for such a wonderful trip. also, i did smoke an entire pack before the first flight over the needless distress around that <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2024/02/new-zealand-visa-requirement-for-uk.html" target="_blank">visa which isn't a visa</a></span>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAJZnLGQCj710cTeCLTeRoMoLPIVrNCt4nUCU6JT_Iqz_Iknp2tuO94JIMyOyyZviWVRtNtLByCZXIKEj3ob8tgVv8l2YxTXQPHJSblCjDgqOow9MAytBFkvjiaOSSUDhWraLGFRLw0eMCubAWlSGrfeKYU5JLXAR8bnNE9B2IZWJG4klWcgH9w/s757/02%20nicorette%20gum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAJZnLGQCj710cTeCLTeRoMoLPIVrNCt4nUCU6JT_Iqz_Iknp2tuO94JIMyOyyZviWVRtNtLByCZXIKEj3ob8tgVv8l2YxTXQPHJSblCjDgqOow9MAytBFkvjiaOSSUDhWraLGFRLw0eMCubAWlSGrfeKYU5JLXAR8bnNE9B2IZWJG4klWcgH9w/w509-h382/02%20nicorette%20gum.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div>yet still i tried some of this gum. obviously not the packet (or strip) on display above. my thinking was that the closer we got to landing, etc, the more likely it was that i would commence some form of craving for a cigarette (or two), and so decided to try it as a pre-preemptive strike thing. it has been a fair bit of time since i have had any form of gum, but to my mind (or rather taste) this seemed like just a regular, normal gum. as in i wasn't immediately aware of any nicotine being present. certainly no burning or stinging feeling. a difficult one to test, really. there would be no point giving some to a fellow smoker to see what they thought as they'd be like me, and giving it to a non-smoker who happened to like gum anyway would bring the risk of getting them addicted to nicotine. i would suggest, though, that the yellow like mush the gum turns into gives every indication that oh yes, some nicotine was very much present. <div><br /></div><div>oh, yes, now i remember, i <i>did</i> give some of this gum (an entire strip) to a fellow smoker. whilst sat in the smoking area at Dubai airport i got chatting to a nice bloke off of Austria. or was it the Danish bloke or the German fellow. well, anyway, he asked how i got on with no smoking on the flight, and i told him about the gum. it was not something he had heard of, so i gave him a strip to try and wished him well on his travels. yes he reciprocated with the wishes. </div><div><br /></div><div>the provenance of my nicorette gum? it was on sale for £10, which i think is about half of the usual retail price. vaguely seem to recall i got it off of Superdrug, but it <i>might</i> have been one of them supermarket things. each square i chewed (or what you do with gum) lasted well over an hour. </div><div><br /></div><div>for what it's worth, if i was ever going to quit (!) or <i>cut down considerably</i> on cigarettes, i really rather suspect this gum stuff would do the job. had i any sense, or will for self preservation, i would probably commence such an experiment now. but, it's me, so no. good luck to all of those who wish to try this approach to achieve that, and maybe this has helped. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-50615527205220806282024-03-13T20:35:00.113+00:002024-03-13T20:35:00.179+00:00at mangawhaihello there<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>so more things of New Zealand, then. yes, i do indeed have a few more images and stories to share, look you see. not quite sure, as in i don't rightly know, who would have an interest in such, but, well, so as to say this again (or once more), here we are. </div><div><br /></div><div>as part of the planning of my odyssey it was so that my sister booked all of us in for a week at a place called Mangawhai. well, when i say <i>all</i>, like, you know, family. it would undoubtedly have been lovely to take everyone (not already there) in New Zealand with us, but that would have been likely frightfully expensive to do so. one cannot throw their arms around the entire world. </div><div><br /></div><div>the most interesting this is my inability to recall the name Mangawhai. you would think i could, since a significant percentage of my time in Aotearoa was spent there, but hey, me. it is likely that both Katie and Daniel would take delight in telling you the various names i used for the place. from what i can recall at times i called in Waghamaga, Mangawangamoo or similar. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXDNt9qtbVlBidkIFJqIQp2-LEVV0-53RhNt9nd-3VBn440Rd_eDuL_25yFI2x8_uPtVvCVblKdm708teLBrFYeCbSATcEK2zi6Ucz-JgO0D9gfNQeVpj-KTuu3ux3v4CCjlnu0Jy8RdXMyswsQ6ea465Lcmr7Tk4XUCcobmDZAofwFm9w2K80A/s568/01%20on%20the%20beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="256" height="1074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXDNt9qtbVlBidkIFJqIQp2-LEVV0-53RhNt9nd-3VBn440Rd_eDuL_25yFI2x8_uPtVvCVblKdm708teLBrFYeCbSATcEK2zi6Ucz-JgO0D9gfNQeVpj-KTuu3ux3v4CCjlnu0Jy8RdXMyswsQ6ea465Lcmr7Tk4XUCcobmDZAofwFm9w2K80A/w484-h1074/01%20on%20the%20beach.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>oh goodness me, yes, there are quite a few pictures of <i>moi</i> in this post. as point of fact i believe that i feature in all of them. so, once again, if for some reason you come here to read this but have a preference (to be fair an understandable one) <i>not</i> to actually see me, you may wish to do some deft swiping. or, you know, take it all in. </div><div><br /></div><div>which (or what) body of water am i stood in there? the Pacific Ocean, i believe. some of good memory, or simply like to take me apart, may recall that i made a vow not to stand in any significant body of water again unless it was the Aegean. it's also that i vowed never to get on a plane of any description again, what can i say i am not to be trusted. </div><div><br /></div><div>no, i didn't go swimming in it, just stood there, letting the water flow over my feet. i did take some swimming attire with me, but didn't wear it that day. believe me, there's a very provocative image of this to follow, kind of. it would be unfair to say that i elected not to swim in this ocean due to an unfounded fear of sharks, but that's up to you. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dlTN7BEw-RmjFV4bRK845tEDSvqaNI3ORutrxD8hDl2bV2tV196aWEZjBKYqHNedjJcZawURtDLWyXv9pv1UjIKQLnrpqmzNBv7HJ2hNN5TPJx-TKrtvZdHLaZwSbWNsMV88_q60LpaApiSnc1E4F4gfj7xXavFagoU8STWXMK3yx7x_zDOgmg/s1262/02%20smoking%20at%20the%20beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dlTN7BEw-RmjFV4bRK845tEDSvqaNI3ORutrxD8hDl2bV2tV196aWEZjBKYqHNedjJcZawURtDLWyXv9pv1UjIKQLnrpqmzNBv7HJ2hNN5TPJx-TKrtvZdHLaZwSbWNsMV88_q60LpaApiSnc1E4F4gfj7xXavFagoU8STWXMK3yx7x_zDOgmg/w485-h218/02%20smoking%20at%20the%20beach.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>from my side there's no issue whatsoever if them what do the tourism promotion (advertising) for the place (Mangawhai) wish to use the above image. yes, i am wearing both my preferred hat and them sunglasses i got what i for some reason think are quite <i>Natural Born Killers</i>. further yes, i am indeed enjoying a nice cigarette (sorry), as there were no "no smoking" signs and i disposed of it when done in a responsible, dolphin friendly way. </div><div><br /></div><div>did i spent a great deal of time at the beach? not as much as you might think. i mean, yes, it is famous for being, and celebrated as a splendid coastal beach resort. i am just not really all that much of a beach person, alas. for those looking for smart beach places, well, yes, i would say with confidence that Mangawhai excellent, but also i am not all that qualified in this. </div><div><br /></div><div>sadly i don't have any pictures of them, but something which really caught my attention at Mangawhat was the many "cliffside" houses i saw. they were beautiful. far, far beyond the reach of my humble budget, and rather a distance from my place of <i>verk</i>. one or two of them very much reminded me of that most excellent house in my beloved <i>Body Double</i>, which was excellent.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVQcceYB6kQ3DvUE2NlslKwT5jbC78hvEPtjDBSd_CIAslzmqkomjmOo0_bDT6hmVsaQIxvSUSVcF6l1GH5QBaUGqtjx2PAnmTa8692tfrceGhnW_ydMxE2PElHIERhbW5AAz4bHLHPceEFhSToEUysU3oubOxcqUkVNoEjwGilVAKFhqWhZoEA/s568/03%20ice%20cream%20stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="643" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVQcceYB6kQ3DvUE2NlslKwT5jbC78hvEPtjDBSd_CIAslzmqkomjmOo0_bDT6hmVsaQIxvSUSVcF6l1GH5QBaUGqtjx2PAnmTa8692tfrceGhnW_ydMxE2PElHIERhbW5AAz4bHLHPceEFhSToEUysU3oubOxcqUkVNoEjwGilVAKFhqWhZoEA/w482-h643/03%20ice%20cream%20stop.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>yes, that's me with Mum and Dad, enjoying an ice cream in a sort of cliff like area above the beach like area. oddly, sadly (maybe) there aren't anywhere near as many pictures of me with Mum and Dad, or the rest of the family, as you might think. but not everything has to be documented, some experiences shall linger on as memories for all the time one has. yes, for those who(m) for some reason looked at my feet, i am indeed wearing some dapper slides. Gill insisted i get some. </div><div><br /></div><div>did Mum and Dad have a good time? yes. it was a delight to spend as much time as possible with Mum, with just family time really being my only ambition. as a plus we got to play 2's and 8's, along with other games. in regards of Dad, well, he did (very much) Dad things. one particular incident probably warrants its own paragraph, so. </div><div><br /></div><div>there was the one morning i woke up, went through to the kitchen and found Dad already up. it was not, from what i remember, the morning he elected to wake up so as to watch Middlesbrough FC labour to a draw. he, on seeing me, advised me that he "urgently required an aids test". i suggested, in a most insistent way, that i would really prefer to have at least one (1) cup of coffee and a cigarette (sorry) before going any further with the conversation. this i did. it turns out that what he actually wanted was one of them 'covid' tests (remember them?) but he had been reading the Bernie Taupin book and, having a bit of a fever, got somewhat confused. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dxGdPSclnE4s-RJNS1bFpt7GfD362v0qSmu137h1DDOnMlAa3bfC8YWFZGJnt-0XPDoHMstxMqJigBkvU19TcMjk53MiWXctTSCVdbFf58bx-xxWiaGVdabOkUm2gtFH_LLndaABiv2o4DHENxumuI8B9WjhyGTVysNzH7wzjs73JpUqrvXx_A/s1010/04%20with%20sis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1010" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dxGdPSclnE4s-RJNS1bFpt7GfD362v0qSmu137h1DDOnMlAa3bfC8YWFZGJnt-0XPDoHMstxMqJigBkvU19TcMjk53MiWXctTSCVdbFf58bx-xxWiaGVdabOkUm2gtFH_LLndaABiv2o4DHENxumuI8B9WjhyGTVysNzH7wzjs73JpUqrvXx_A/w480-h270/04%20with%20sis.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>more on all of that shortly, but first, to punctuate the prose, another pic. and yes, one of them selfie type ones, taken by my sis, Gill, who is the one with the smart Bono like sunglasses that isn't me in the above picture. from what i can recall Daniel and Grant were off being busy looking for sharks in the water, whilst i decided to have another cigarette instead. </div><div><br /></div><div>so, tests and Dad. actually, discretion and privacy says that i cannot say all <i>that</i> much more. but what i can tell you is that yes, Mangawhai does indeed have a chemist (or pharmacy). i would not call the relationship what Dad struck up with the staff there (one member in particular) as being particularly constructive or beneficial, but still, all done now, i suppose. </div><div><br /></div><div>golf featured an awful lot more on my odyssey than i had either anticipated or expected. if that isn't saying the same thing twice over. any why not. the golf, that is, on the and why not, and not any form or type of semantic debate on language. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtLOEuCf4htt_CYABlER1_ikvxuHp0Hl4FN6LQyUHl8hl4kGGGzxMN1vgbrdfDjhK9dltxs6HA7AQ5jjhg2JG_pmGxJosLBILxQJWT0DDu7A2PzDObI3oQd97fWdSntZd90hGcuw0MmkvfAWquCfd29bWOnZQSeBoim4Ci_IMAa5_yKggVdXrUA/s568/05%20golf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="855" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtLOEuCf4htt_CYABlER1_ikvxuHp0Hl4FN6LQyUHl8hl4kGGGzxMN1vgbrdfDjhK9dltxs6HA7AQ5jjhg2JG_pmGxJosLBILxQJWT0DDu7A2PzDObI3oQd97fWdSntZd90hGcuw0MmkvfAWquCfd29bWOnZQSeBoim4Ci_IMAa5_yKggVdXrUA/w481-h855/05%20golf.jpeg" width="481" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>it turned out that there was a minigolf course at Mangawhai. possibly more than one, but we found this one quite close to the chemist what Dad is probably now banned for life from. also it was across the road from a Four Square shop, where one could purchase cigarettes. generally all win, then. </div><div><br /></div><div>also it turned out that both Katie and Daniel were most keen on this form of golf. i found this to be splendid and most agreeable, as i enjoy it to. the bloke what ran the place was lovely, and in many respects symbolic of the friendly ways i found across the country. it was late on, so he charged us a lower price and said we were welcome to play a couple of rounds. nice one, man. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='491' height='407' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwe8O5w4VrIem3QzujFYtpEX397GqpwFpGPepyMQp5oshibae3lTdG87tg5RhdnibBVxEsXc2DlOxo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>video, of course, for you above, then. well, so long as you press play, as i don't believe the videos here play automatically. good that they don't, i find such things most annoying. rather fortunate that this video, taken by Daniel i believe (sorry if it was you Katie) features me actually managing to putt one shot. it may well be that i (very much) enjoy playing this variation of golf, but by no means does that mean i am any good at it. <div><br /></div><div>would i like to return (or go back) to Mangawhai one day? certainly. there isn't a single part of New Zealand that i saw which i would not dearly wish to see again. family, mostly, but truly they have all found a wonderful place to make home. granted, or sure, there <i>might</i> be some trepidation in returning to Mangawhai knowing that we might not be at all welcome at the chemist thanks to the sterling ambassador job Dad did there, but we could always just take a supply of pills, bandages and what have you with us, including aids tests. </div><div><br /></div><div>now then. earlier i promised (if not threatened) some visual evidence of my going (or doing some) swimming whilst there. such an image is below. one cannot unsee what they see, so do continue beyond these words of your own decision.</div><div><br /></div><div>it is so that warned, you have been. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvluTjwuX2b5M2Q7zoPZqTshyphenhyphenzUdtLKjHuFeaC3Bs_zXrstLBrqgWxOtEGSwbHz3xQqLsjJ4KyI-k6iOmYblgYYhbnGQZGocu6veQGr2hPKG9TUSriSYOU9DVjm4hqIDFzyr6Frp9SNfdY8dBxjF5B0_YI20kqRR3oCFzE7-zzM1u5QgFJjHZT3g/s568/06%20british%20beefcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvluTjwuX2b5M2Q7zoPZqTshyphenhyphenzUdtLKjHuFeaC3Bs_zXrstLBrqgWxOtEGSwbHz3xQqLsjJ4KyI-k6iOmYblgYYhbnGQZGocu6veQGr2hPKG9TUSriSYOU9DVjm4hqIDFzyr6Frp9SNfdY8dBxjF5B0_YI20kqRR3oCFzE7-zzM1u5QgFJjHZT3g/w480-h638/06%20british%20beefcake.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>around the time this picture was taken (obviously after) i shared it with friends on one of them social media platforms. yes, the book one. i chose to share it with the simple, humble and modest title of British Beefcake. this did not go down well. from what i recall the most polite and diplomatic responde i got to this was simply "where?". </div></div><div><br /></div><div>let me leave this here, then, for now. it is indeed so that there is now a dwindling level of images from my trip to share, you may be pleased, saddened or indifferent to learn. perhaps i shall mix them up with posts on other subjects, so as to make it all feel more closer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-13873755528538331012024-03-10T09:25:00.064+00:002024-03-10T09:25:00.144+00:00gallagher squirehowdy pop pickers<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>an ever so slight break from doing posts about my odyssey to New Zealand, then. just a mere ten (10) or so days after it was released, behold, my comments (or musings, look you see) on the very welcome pairing up of Liam Gallagher and John Squire. well, no, yes, the album proper, after the <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2024/02/just-another-rainbow.html" target="_blank">single</a></span> what came out not so long ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>so, is the album any good? yes, as it happens. i took custodianship of the tape (disc) on day of release via the miracle of our postal service. oddly i was actually in Manchester (in the area) on the very day it came out, but (alas) it was simply not possible for me go stop off and make a symbolic purchase of the record (in any format) there. still, upon receipt i have it a play, and then found myself just listening to it on repeat for the afternoon, four, maybe five, plays. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGW2-BvXvD5_QUYmsLymS5vXko1bWUawxmPgS4PKifVCbun9WcoXpcpPz6CczPjn2CPyyMwgLV8BG6iSByHmofyjy84YQIMmN3aC6-UJkzjorUTg1XXzpEuSCbRInv70KEQrDfRHzxweQy7GQTJOJ4T4Q7EvmaPED0x7jk8UvA1nSDFxklJwtFZw/s757/01%20gallagher%20squire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGW2-BvXvD5_QUYmsLymS5vXko1bWUawxmPgS4PKifVCbun9WcoXpcpPz6CczPjn2CPyyMwgLV8BG6iSByHmofyjy84YQIMmN3aC6-UJkzjorUTg1XXzpEuSCbRInv70KEQrDfRHzxweQy7GQTJOJ4T4Q7EvmaPED0x7jk8UvA1nSDFxklJwtFZw/w480-h360/01%20gallagher%20squire.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>in the lead up the release of <i>Liam Gallagher John Squire</i> by (ahem) Liam Gallagher and John Squire there were several reviews. these ranged from "paint by numbers rock album" to "the best thing either of them have done for decades". all down to the individual of course, but certainly it's much closer to the latter than the former. perhaps the most striking aspect is how fresh it is. also it's very, very, extremely unexpectedly, funny in parts. not <i>Bad News</i> or <i>Spinal Tap</i> funny, just actual "this line will be a laugh" thinking and delivery. </div><div><br /></div><div>to say that this is the best thing either has done "in decades" is really quite harsh. granted the last Oasis album was a sign it was all out of steam, but to discredit both of the Beady Eye albums and all three of Liam's solo albums is ludicrous. on a par with the highlights of his solo career would be fair. for Squire, well, he hasn't actually recorded all <i>that</i> much since 2004, bar two curious singles with The Stone Roses. so that's all a bit Bowie "his best and most important album since <i>Scary Monsters</i>" lazy review stuff. </div><div><br /></div>yes, with the way that record sales work these days, i appreciate that all and sundry interested in this paring with have bought the album during the week, if not on the day of, release. anything anyone says is not <i>really</i> going to influence someone to try and discover it. but, who knows, perhaps this blog of mine shall remain "live" and this will be read by someone, what, 20 or 30 years from now. hello from the past, if that's relevant to you. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_I9Waf0mzyc0Tn_NreK4_721kWQd0UCatnm-tjJxn92hOc6b9A3TSWFrnA3qWfmvrtiLtKUq4F6wzM2yS_RJqYTFWVEoLRUhrj4jufKn-j3mYqNzPOHdc6bbDypoNuVWlIjEP0D2FhagclrMjUwt9GkUuo6jdCKf6BEi3whsEW8HsSg55VWIew/s833/02%20gallagher%20squire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="833" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_I9Waf0mzyc0Tn_NreK4_721kWQd0UCatnm-tjJxn92hOc6b9A3TSWFrnA3qWfmvrtiLtKUq4F6wzM2yS_RJqYTFWVEoLRUhrj4jufKn-j3mYqNzPOHdc6bbDypoNuVWlIjEP0D2FhagclrMjUwt9GkUuo6jdCKf6BEi3whsEW8HsSg55VWIew/w482-h362/02%20gallagher%20squire.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><div>no dud tracks exist on this album. it is a taunt, well considered 40 minutes of pure great album stuff. all of the songs (and they get credited individually) were written by Squire, but it's nigh on impossible to even contemplate anyone but Liam Gallagher singing them. </div><div><br /></div><div>legacy? it is easy to say time will tell. forgive my own lazy comparisons, but the world just does not operate like it used to with vibes, man. no album, it seems, shall ever live beyond the moment, so disposable is the world. whatever they did here with this never ever stood any chance of the life of, say, albums like <i>The Stone Roses</i>, <i>Definitely Maybe</i> or <i>Morning Glory</i>. yet an intrinsic awareness of such exists on the record, very much a here and now, dig it and revel in it. </div><div><br /></div><div>considering his accepted wish for reclusive privacy it must have been one hell of an itch John Squire had that he felt needed this to scratch. working with Liam Gallagher is to put yourself in the biggest limelight which exists in the modern music world. in terms of the music it has paid off very well indeed for someone like me, a simple music fan. no idea if they will carry on working together, who knows, but just enjoy this moment for what it is.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-81700983321228729012024-03-07T21:25:00.064+00:002024-03-07T21:25:00.134+00:00just how bad is itheya<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>in regards to the what "it" is in the title, well, that would be the subject of smoking (cigarettes, look you see) down there in that New Zealand place. where, as regular readers (or recent ones of the last few posts) need not be told is somewhere that i have now been. and for some reason left. so here i am, as it were. no, this is not an endorsement or promotion of smoking, since doing so is (obviously) quite silly, but then why shy away from realities for (or of) those what do such. </div><div><br /></div><div>on the whole i think it's reasonably fair to say that New Zealand's stance on smoking is pretty much well known around the world. at the least, the stance of the previous administration. things have changed, but it was New Zealand that initially brought in a law which would very much ban all legal smoking in the country eventually, with a year on year increase in the legal age for buying cigarettes phasing out the purchase of them. </div><div><br /></div><div>as a heavy, committed and enthusiastic smoker i, believe it or not, welcomed this approach. usually governments are all "well we want to stop smoking but obviously we like the tax" so do nothing. oddly the incumbent (at time of writing) NZ government has cancelled the law and has at least been honest enough to say they want the tax money. still, i believe they are pushing ahead with this law in the UK. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem6dIKyPCNp7coWFgYbJjxDowPlxSkAwwq4rMnb3oK0c0Pls8uTxxfe61nPzIElnXb-HLjvWxxz41ViWvHHaBo3efV-I-WOWqzVzrNTavd2tLhBSWPzDwWS9dLSnVLQbERckFUJOBQQQWfK7HpTojP7LeedaIoVtarJ__4PnRsxtPLDWvxj5V6A/s757/01%20nz%20fag%20warnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem6dIKyPCNp7coWFgYbJjxDowPlxSkAwwq4rMnb3oK0c0Pls8uTxxfe61nPzIElnXb-HLjvWxxz41ViWvHHaBo3efV-I-WOWqzVzrNTavd2tLhBSWPzDwWS9dLSnVLQbERckFUJOBQQQWfK7HpTojP7LeedaIoVtarJ__4PnRsxtPLDWvxj5V6A/w517-h388/01%20nz%20fag%20warnings.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>there you go, some of the warnings (presented in VHS mode) on the packs of cigarettes one gets in New Zealand. same crappy plain colour packaging, but decidedly different warning pictures. indeed i did look at all of these pictures and promptly ignored them. or at least did not let them stop me. </div><div><br /></div><div>mostly the issue with smoking these days is the outlandish thing it gets to be in modern society. somehow lots of people just decided to agree that smoking is absolutely the worst thing in the world, and is to blame for everything wrong. remember how in the 80s and 90s it was all "well if we got rid of smoking then there would not be a burden in the NHS anymore and it will be class"? well, smoking is at the lowest level <i>ever</i> in the UK and the NHS is more f****d than it has ever been. yet still it is so that smoking is to blame for all. i could go to a doctor holding my own severed leg and the doctor would probably just say that if i stopped smoking them it would grow back or attach itself. </div><div><br /></div><div>you may wish to take in and appreciate the below image. due to a phone update my Commodore 64 mode thing no longer works. so, until i can arrange a replacement, this is the last time (for now) an image shall be presented here in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode. oh. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Qr-lWy0qGetM10XZOHqSjCXX8kXiPv-PMfqi_pY0S17hQTMWeCoiIcyMtEoOCPc-FqHbSsaO8GWTqQzi0OUhIscjwux5u40xd1YZ312Iq-mRKekpm77lwNb6WLQNAwmffD5sg0b30aR3SdLbtF2kCqFii5CpeLZqFFTKcoNn554bs3bXhi0FA/s757/02%20nz%20fag%20warning%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Qr-lWy0qGetM10XZOHqSjCXX8kXiPv-PMfqi_pY0S17hQTMWeCoiIcyMtEoOCPc-FqHbSsaO8GWTqQzi0OUhIscjwux5u40xd1YZ312Iq-mRKekpm77lwNb6WLQNAwmffD5sg0b30aR3SdLbtF2kCqFii5CpeLZqFFTKcoNn554bs3bXhi0FA/w516-h387/02%20nz%20fag%20warning%20c64.png" width="516" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>whilst in New Zealand i got to see some of the Parliamentary debate on smoking. it was stated in this that the number of people in the population who smoked was at 6.8%. there is every chance that i may have accidentally pushed that up to 7% with the amount of cigarettes i bought there. well, there we are. for those interested, and because with politics nothing can ever be what it says on the box, a country can <i>technically</i> declare itself "smoke free" if less ("fewer") than 5% of the population smoke. in respect of legal cigarette sales in New Zealand, they are well on course to that figure. honestly, well done. </div><div><br /></div><div>how expensive is it to smoke in New Zealand? quite. no, very. i had to smoke Marlboro Red, look you see. this was due to Daniel not liking the smell of the cheaper ones (Chesterfield) and asking me nicely if i couldn't just keep to Marlboro Red. what we do for family, etc. the exchange rate fluctuated some, but a safe figure would be around £22 (!!!) for a pack of 20 Marlboro Red. by chance i recently bought a pack of these magnificent ones here in England, and it cost just south of £15 for the same. yeah, and we thought they were pricey here. </div><div><br /></div><div>not that i all that often purchase (ahem) shop based cigarettes. like so many people here i have been driven to the more independent, half price sellers of such items. we the people are going to smoke anyway, and all that tax increases do in the UK is push people to the black market. we are unlikely to ever have a government brave or sensible or honest (ha) enough to realise people shall smoke, and that they cannot win a fight against the black market. reducing the tax to a sensible yet still presumably punitive level <i>might</i> see more people purchase legally and more tax revenue. but no, they would rather grandstand and pretend there is no other way. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY2speJx5HcVp_Rcf_iXS22WsgH-xuiGUO6m53gtSk0LtJa9hFnMeck6_iaMX_38z0IZqigQh9a4IIO7zUsnv9c9fdUHoAk5Qo9X3h0mC_c9O2_Ar0Cyxk9qeRr2ifNBIqHHTeDYfw-1hfVpSAFQlusmQxsXfajdpWilxepu0yFuwKgTp7Dr9iw/s757/03%20nz%20cigarette%20warnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtY2speJx5HcVp_Rcf_iXS22WsgH-xuiGUO6m53gtSk0LtJa9hFnMeck6_iaMX_38z0IZqigQh9a4IIO7zUsnv9c9fdUHoAk5Qo9X3h0mC_c9O2_Ar0Cyxk9qeRr2ifNBIqHHTeDYfw-1hfVpSAFQlusmQxsXfajdpWilxepu0yFuwKgTp7Dr9iw/w516-h387/03%20nz%20cigarette%20warnings.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><br /><div>does an independent, black market exist for cigarettes in New Zealand? you would have to suspect yes. for a start they have had an incredible increase in the level of "ram raids" where people drive stolen cars into shops to steal cigarettes. with so many ports and what have you i would guess yes, there is an illegal market for smuggled cigarettes there. no i didn't look for it so i didn't find it. </div><div><br /></div><div>surprisingly, and pleasingly so, there's no overt antisocial stance on smoking there. the people of New Zealand are not complete d!ckheads like you find in the UK. i feared i may get hounded for smoking there, what with the (proposed or scrapped) laws and that, but no. they just let me get on with it, really. perhaps it was a curiosity for them, as so very few other people i saw there smoked. even Auckland airport had a smoking area, which is more than can be said for Heathrow. </div><div><br /></div><div>from what i could see, or ascertain, New Zealand are phasing out smoking in a "natural" way. people appear to be just going "f*** it i won't do it no more" in the face of the costs, and the aggravation of having to wait for a supervisor to bring out cigarettes in shops. by the way, that price i mentioned is flat across <i>all</i> shops, there's no fluctuation in pricing as one finds in the UK. good luck to them with it, and thank you for just letting me get on with it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-75093040200917957022024-03-04T02:04:00.135+00:002024-03-04T02:04:00.135+00:00sky towertena koe<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>yes, then, more from my odyssey to New Zealand, or if you prefer (and many do) Aotearoa, look you see. indeed it is likely my journals (or "blog posts") shall be spread out over a greater time than what i was there, but there seems little sense in throwing it all out at once, so to speak. and oh yes there are numerous pictures featuring <i>moi</i> here, so don't say i didn't warn you. </div><div><br /></div><div>my main, as point of fact only, aim (or ambition) whilst in New Zealand was to spend as much of the time that i had (just north of two weeks, or south of three) with my family. having not seen them for so long i would have been entirely content to just sit there with them all, drinking tea. or that magnificent L&P drink what they have, which i miss dearly. it would not at all be fair to say that the family ignored this wish, they simply wished to spend time with me <i>and</i> showcase what an incredible place it is that they have found a home in. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiuBcoZX2yL1uUKsUzC_bTyc27OcgUhYwR0WzOb70pQ3qBTQeocGvqpel_t9rci4ZdQA56uMs-gmC0YzZosCTXjnXzYH484uWs9rFwNRisPB34YW-p0Y6wxe1KejSkFtyxHPe4QUmG6TjLD31VuxSQL3yfXy-p31NCje95BzLvEc3vDL0PbGhOw/s568/01%20sky%20tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="646" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiuBcoZX2yL1uUKsUzC_bTyc27OcgUhYwR0WzOb70pQ3qBTQeocGvqpel_t9rci4ZdQA56uMs-gmC0YzZosCTXjnXzYH484uWs9rFwNRisPB34YW-p0Y6wxe1KejSkFtyxHPe4QUmG6TjLD31VuxSQL3yfXy-p31NCje95BzLvEc3vDL0PbGhOw/w485-h646/01%20sky%20tower.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>just the one day spent in the business end (literal and figurative) of Auckland then. and as the title of this post gives every indication of, a fair bit of it spent in, on and around the magnificence of the Sky Tower. and yes, in the above image, that is indeed <i>moi</i>, stood on one of them presumably reasonably safe glass walkway bits up at the top viewing (observation?) deck. </div><div><br /></div><div>going up the Sky Tower was not on my "would be nice to do" list, but mostly because my thoughts do not work in such a way. as we embarked on the ride up my sister <i>did</i> kindly think to ask if i "still had an issue with heights"; a thing that was true. well, sort of. it was not being at height that i had a quarrel with, rather that sensation of being stood on a surface quite high up and knowing there was nothing at all beneath what you stood on. like a few things this would appear to have fallen away as i revel in my three quarter life crisis, embracing a decidedly "yolo" or "f*** it" approach. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rYPQ29kLk3lk650PPWwYeQou8iuvhOZhCJaQVk0s6XQfzjDlo4qdvG0t6oC1ynkH6dATv3N2VHtNRKEqYLaQGtvefPFHfi9p9mnAZW0LeBRJPJzC4yyMXVwI92nj7Ya-INsUTNaHaw3ahoZfvtSDxAjwHELDi3JfT9xXsnNknKSyIivnOYxZ1w/s1262/02%20sky%20tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rYPQ29kLk3lk650PPWwYeQou8iuvhOZhCJaQVk0s6XQfzjDlo4qdvG0t6oC1ynkH6dATv3N2VHtNRKEqYLaQGtvefPFHfi9p9mnAZW0LeBRJPJzC4yyMXVwI92nj7Ya-INsUTNaHaw3ahoZfvtSDxAjwHELDi3JfT9xXsnNknKSyIivnOYxZ1w/w484-h218/02%20sky%20tower.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div><br /></div>for clarification, and i would generally suggest anyone using my blog as a sort of tourist guide has some peculiar ways of using google, the Sky Tower is in Auckland. it is, according to the book i picked up there, 328 meters high and (in theory) is so well built that an earthquake of up to 8.0 on that much celebrated richter scale would not trouble it. should you be of a disposition to do something as insane as walk up it, there's a mere 1,267 stairs between the base and the sky deck (which is 220 meters up). <div><br /></div><div>oh, hang on. it turns out that earlier picture (the first one) is me on the main observation deck, which is not the top one (sky deck). that was only 186 meters (610 feet) up, so no, i suppose i don't look quite so much the brave hard man i thought standing on it. unlikely a fall from such a small height would do a very great deal of damage, maybe a fractured bone. also, apparently (no idea how they worked this out but still) the Sky Tower weighs 21,000,000 kgs. twenty one million. which makes it even heavier than my @r$e. blimey. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8ceepIhO-ixeprZio1oEQczJAMFFrO2QK6FmukDiQPrSyLRIpCvp2bYoS4i-UBRQtZF_qEkKlQdwwZimir9EgkLE7I2Zj2JTYjqVkRzPpVdHTYh_GzrP9ebEtHrZ6X5Cho7HJLb34bKxK63KU16tI10doK_OmavDgctCR0OWpmBdr1eqVLSVAQ/s568/03%20below%20sky%20tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="862" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8ceepIhO-ixeprZio1oEQczJAMFFrO2QK6FmukDiQPrSyLRIpCvp2bYoS4i-UBRQtZF_qEkKlQdwwZimir9EgkLE7I2Zj2JTYjqVkRzPpVdHTYh_GzrP9ebEtHrZ6X5Cho7HJLb34bKxK63KU16tI10doK_OmavDgctCR0OWpmBdr1eqVLSVAQ/w486-h862/03%20below%20sky%20tower.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>presumably one or two of you won't mind seeing images of <i>moi</i> (me), what with you visiting my blog and all. so there you go, above, me enjoying a cigarette (sorry) before going in and up the Sky Tower. the practice of smoking is a rather rare sight indeed in New Zealand, no doubt some do smoke but on a face value assessment their plans to eradicate it would seem to be working.</div><div><br /></div><div>being perfectly honest about it, yes i do enjoy a cigarette (sorry) regardless of circumstance. every now and then, mind, i like to have one prior to doing something which might be the last thing what i ever do in this world. as unlikely as it was that anything would go wrong, or some harm befall me, at the Sky Tower, well, you know, still. better to have one that <i>might</i> be the last one, just in case. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1QLIukPoDRaTu6g5IDxUFLHQmLA_uM-kBkLecM2cv5hbU_nzSZkNU_EIZrdWeyeWbXubC3XY7wR4jyhdMtbK1wUFviO0m6a3jmjjB2qN7oBxVNjB5bYBwHEOMISIzy_Dsi9wkE7LeCzIoA-SSYIArnX1lj47ZJYizNQ9SffmIQf-BkDZAiYhkA/s568/04%20sky%20tower%20smoking%20area.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1QLIukPoDRaTu6g5IDxUFLHQmLA_uM-kBkLecM2cv5hbU_nzSZkNU_EIZrdWeyeWbXubC3XY7wR4jyhdMtbK1wUFviO0m6a3jmjjB2qN7oBxVNjB5bYBwHEOMISIzy_Dsi9wkE7LeCzIoA-SSYIArnX1lj47ZJYizNQ9SffmIQf-BkDZAiYhkA/w486-h648/04%20sky%20tower%20smoking%20area.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>similarly, of course, as illustrated in the above image, it is also very nice indeed to have a cigarette after one has completed whatever it was they were doing. here i am enjoying one in a rare dedicated smoking area, just outside the restaurant at the bottom area of the Sky Tower. many thanks to Daniel for taking this picture of me whilst I was unaware of him doing so. actually yes, there was one other person making use of this facility at the time, so a rare instance of me being not alone. </div><div><br /></div><div>every chance exists of some of you reading this having a preference to hear less ("fewer") of my grand smoking exploits and a bit more about the Sky Tower. or a bit more about that and some further tales of the odyssey on which i embarked. there's already been some factual information included in this post, but yeah, go on then. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEU-mFMYkfU8Cb7ethQlf0hnavyLnc4c-7KhHMoIiDWK-W8OfpScLl2L5j83M1XcTfW4ngJn3RI2A3TmEH8-UnlxX_tro6XBsUKOkCusvPFoR6hGOboFtDdMKdoR8aoFYnzSC3I-jBJmcKlXIHNNxnB5Odf7WEfj86_sAlTc9HbtNnIKlMLewkg/s1262/05%20with%20gill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEU-mFMYkfU8Cb7ethQlf0hnavyLnc4c-7KhHMoIiDWK-W8OfpScLl2L5j83M1XcTfW4ngJn3RI2A3TmEH8-UnlxX_tro6XBsUKOkCusvPFoR6hGOboFtDdMKdoR8aoFYnzSC3I-jBJmcKlXIHNNxnB5Odf7WEfj86_sAlTc9HbtNnIKlMLewkg/w487-h219/05%20with%20gill.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>regular readers shall be reasonably aware of it being so that yes, that's my sister and <i>moi </i>in the above picture. stood, of course, on one of the observation decks in the Sky Tower. probably best i do indeed clarify that, as there are pictures of other Auckland places to follow. </div><div><br /></div><div>as far as i am aware this is the second time my sister and i have been up a rather tall tower in the region casually referred to as Australasia. well, should New Zealand fall within such remit. several years, actually a few decades ago, we all, as a family, went up what was once Centrepoint Tower in Sydney, the one in Australia. my understanding is that now it is simply called 'Sydney Tower'. no doubt some clever marketing people came up with that name change, or it was done for tax purposes. quite a few things in the present world appear to be done only for tax purposes. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPeV_fUUmsUPZwMc1UT255q6FRK6G-KNhxmU7lCKZat2sUDEj0Nl3idXPsBGfaxebViTajBXZEgj4mVQyOfngWM4X8LApXaip0KOZy7jgG-vB80Yv2JsxSxcE_J2s4zKck7l0bEiqhiKPF7eAFevigrCFHjWGuQGFI_7AdPyDSFB1AeDKSILhOQ/s568/06%20observe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPeV_fUUmsUPZwMc1UT255q6FRK6G-KNhxmU7lCKZat2sUDEj0Nl3idXPsBGfaxebViTajBXZEgj4mVQyOfngWM4X8LApXaip0KOZy7jgG-vB80Yv2JsxSxcE_J2s4zKck7l0bEiqhiKPF7eAFevigrCFHjWGuQGFI_7AdPyDSFB1AeDKSILhOQ/w487-h649/06%20observe.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>those of you what are quite eager (or fond) of pictures of <i>moi</i> must be enjoying this post. yes, once more, that is me, having a bit of a gander out of some binocular or telescope things. quite splendid views offered by them. something that i was encouraged to look at (and worship in awe) by Daniel was of course Eden Park, where the celebrated New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks, had resoundingly thumped any number of visiting sides. i dare not look at how England have gotten on when they have bravely gone there to play; will assume we got battered. </div><div><br /></div><div>mostly, i would say, of the above picture, is that i am rather pleased by the quite accidental throwback to days of school when i encouraged friends to adopt the "Laibach stance". for those unaware Laibach are a somewhat (and still going) peculiar band who inexplicably managed a fairly significant hit single with what ostensibly was a cover of <i>Life Is Life</i>. on, or rather in, the video for it there was a couple of seconds of a shot of some members of the band standing and posing, looking up at a waterfall or something. for whatever reason this amused me greatly and so somewhere i have a stack of pictures of friends striking the very pose. hello, if you are one of them reading this. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkO8Kw-bLYDUm6KjHuMIP8J6R8Bc0mZIdvY0ONosoxmz1y_U0JdafePNm28s8HG1qzs4X5SEfDKT4tEmvBFpQA6Kmuy46dvq06jALXm-wwE8byE9bj7Df9arcs-QOkADKxOlo7q5cIoCTIOB9SSwWl1du0uYbgnHQZE4GUL0O_1VaO4-7mpPecA/s568/07%20the%20observed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="655" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkO8Kw-bLYDUm6KjHuMIP8J6R8Bc0mZIdvY0ONosoxmz1y_U0JdafePNm28s8HG1qzs4X5SEfDKT4tEmvBFpQA6Kmuy46dvq06jALXm-wwE8byE9bj7Df9arcs-QOkADKxOlo7q5cIoCTIOB9SSwWl1du0uYbgnHQZE4GUL0O_1VaO4-7mpPecA/w490-h655/07%20the%20observed.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>you are probably better off going to visit the Sky Tower yourself to take in the views, but still, above is one of the pictures i took from there. no, not sure why there is an oddly blue hue to all images taken inside. anyway, indeed you can see Auckland Harbour Bridge there, and yes i crossed it. perhaps some video and images of that in another post, then. </div><div><br /></div><div>we, and the we you can see in the last picture (below) did indeed wander around aspects of Auckland, since we were there. actually we went off to meet up with an old friend of mine. indeed i did have a couple of pints. whereas photographic evidence of this exists unfortunately it is of a nature not suitable to include here. however, there is this. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cq80NYnP_6EL1_FTijdvemaHtbtf-8JOTCai6byen7v5K7cMvJddBq9kkY0CstNHt5KwaPcUeddMCfBfSUlRr5TDgKj9cEF9auJSSKN276jtPSpziha3faYVA4w7VHmBJhTdEtwRg2McD6xxrgzf8DFwg0zhulet9j4YFc0xqJ1gKUmNqhqm-g/s568/08%20by%20a%20cruise%20ship.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cq80NYnP_6EL1_FTijdvemaHtbtf-8JOTCai6byen7v5K7cMvJddBq9kkY0CstNHt5KwaPcUeddMCfBfSUlRr5TDgKj9cEF9auJSSKN276jtPSpziha3faYVA4w7VHmBJhTdEtwRg2McD6xxrgzf8DFwg0zhulet9j4YFc0xqJ1gKUmNqhqm-g/w489-h651/08%20by%20a%20cruise%20ship.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>for some reason i thought someone somewhere might quite like an image of me enjoying a cigarette whilst stood near a cruise liner. apologies (i suppose) if i have that one wrong. yes, by the way, a great many cruise ships do stop off in Auckland, and all of New Zealand for that matter. briefly, as it turns out. when i asked why Gill told me that it's because it costs an absolute fortune to dock in New Zealand, so they tend not to stay longer than really required. if you are planning a cruise that way you may wish to make a note of this, but i dare say the crew shall mention it. </div><div><br /></div><div>it is rather (highly) unlikely that i would ever go anywhere in the world and decline to go shopping for tapes, records, discs and related. this i very much did in New Zealand. many thanks to Dad, who suggested to Gill that she take me to Real Groovy records (link <span style="color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://realgroovy.co.nz/" target="_blank">here</a></span>) as he was certain that i would rather like the place. yes, i most certainly did. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5KUhPlqBRhFIFh75PYhi3MMf4ujpx5EIvfLF3d9OaYFNnfLIwojpTnwt_psH7K9Wk2VWXrx7I-kdDx_HWJNGVHcbaI0RFao-VbA4rhHfzaglLi7VJvNyXpndILtCpRhsM0Xi_dZ8dNO4OcN2g0w2qLomDwqces70WheNgoJdwFhkR0oCucGq-A/s568/09%20real%20groovy%20records.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5KUhPlqBRhFIFh75PYhi3MMf4ujpx5EIvfLF3d9OaYFNnfLIwojpTnwt_psH7K9Wk2VWXrx7I-kdDx_HWJNGVHcbaI0RFao-VbA4rhHfzaglLi7VJvNyXpndILtCpRhsM0Xi_dZ8dNO4OcN2g0w2qLomDwqces70WheNgoJdwFhkR0oCucGq-A/w489-h651/09%20real%20groovy%20records.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>on the list of "it would be nice if i get the chance" things to do in New Zealand, procuring some Split Enz tapes (actual, or discs) was high up. another nice thing would have been finding the New Zealand and Australia only release of the single <i>One Tree Hill</i> off of U2. sadly the latter didn't happen, but the former very much did. at Real Groovy i was able to pick up a couple of Enz albums and some Finn as solo concerns ones. on top of this they had some of the <i>12th Man</i> discs, and i got the tape (actual) of the <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2023/09/outside-its-society.html" target="_blank">Natural Born Killers</a></span></i> soundtrack. most happy of happy days. </div><div><br /></div><div>how much, to vaguely get back to the point of this post, does it cost to go in, on or up the Sky Tower? that i cannot say, as Gill elected to (kindly) treat me to it. from what i could see the "Sky Fall" or similar, possibly drop, was expensive. that's where you get attached to a harness and go ahead and freefall down the tower. not bungee (bungy) as it would be rather unwise to bounce around quite so close to glass and concrete. yes, Daniel has indeed done it before. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRMw4hqeG_e2baH547YteTVRR8-xWf-9Ggf_FKCeU87MKVWGbAdpV9SFE1FZUzOj4rpLBJMiP4D3IzFWlK0IFRY9mibZNjzSOMUYx1wRn722Q_X3hOklglr1kYEBGJgw5vh-3GxRFGpd5PT4hwOY0saKxwJIHHja0eT-MNCeWxLXwuUlCLvfeHA/s700/10%20official%20sky%20tower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRMw4hqeG_e2baH547YteTVRR8-xWf-9Ggf_FKCeU87MKVWGbAdpV9SFE1FZUzOj4rpLBJMiP4D3IzFWlK0IFRY9mibZNjzSOMUYx1wRn722Q_X3hOklglr1kYEBGJgw5vh-3GxRFGpd5PT4hwOY0saKxwJIHHja0eT-MNCeWxLXwuUlCLvfeHA/w491-h368/10%20official%20sky%20tower.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><br /><div>i did indeed pay for one of them tourist things where you get loads of pictures. one of them is very much above for your consideration. let me assume you know who each in the picture is on the basis that you have <i>probably</i> looked at other posts. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>right, so yes, the Sky Tower is amazing, and suspiciously <i>slightly </i>taller than what is now know as Sydney Tower, but about 23 meters or so. nothing wrong with a bit of provincial rivalry, especially with regards to the construction business. undoubtedly more New Zealand related posts to follow. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-7120915029808381762024-03-01T01:11:00.094+00:002024-03-01T01:11:00.142+00:00does flying still suck?greetings<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>for clarification (of the title, look you see) what i intend to write of here is if the choice of being a passenger on an airplane (aeroplane?) of a commercial nature remain a daunting, miserable experience. not an easy question to answer in simple terms, but for those in a rush the answer is yes, no, maybe. there is of course the small matter of how <i>in no way</i> can i presume to assume my experiences are going to be true for all. but, here we are. and <i>without</i> images in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, as my boss "app" for that no longer works. VHS mode it is, then.</div><div><br /></div><div>having spent around 48 hours or so of my life this year on planes i do feel <i>slightly</i> qualified, at the least, to speak on the subject. as for provenance, i elected (or opted) to use Emirates airline for my odyssey from here (England) to there (New Zealand) and back. of the now very limited options to fly there it was easily so they came out on top - more or less (excluding Air China) most modest cost, largest seats in economy class, least (fewest) amount of time between connecting flights. also, have used them before a few times, and the service was always good. well, <i>as</i> good as an airline in this modern world gets. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdbTfadswT0f4ab3wGEESEiXFYOkBVCxwKxCYzrBtq34HYEvRn5AETS0Pq6UryycV5aVVv8zPd96QCWTZLaK7h5p8EB15rSURc1BW45ebyydjWMqJ1-cgk55GesvwaTXfFmMGA2LC7dNzEFY4OxXXPjE-nyFpLzq8_W8yD5CtboHwuf3cd3BcOg/s757/01%20flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdbTfadswT0f4ab3wGEESEiXFYOkBVCxwKxCYzrBtq34HYEvRn5AETS0Pq6UryycV5aVVv8zPd96QCWTZLaK7h5p8EB15rSURc1BW45ebyydjWMqJ1-cgk55GesvwaTXfFmMGA2LC7dNzEFY4OxXXPjE-nyFpLzq8_W8yD5CtboHwuf3cd3BcOg/w525-h394/01%20flying.jpg" width="525" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>where to begin? at the start i suppose, or (at least, pedantic types) after buying the ticket and actually heading off to fly. in general terms all airports are miserable, what with the horrid outlay of them, curiously depressing staff and ludicrous amount of people one find there. exactly how much time effort and money gets spent "developing" Heathrow to just make it increasingly worse is baffling. mind, the one mishap i experienced (<a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2024/02/new-zealand-visa-requirement-for-uk.html" target="_blank">here</a>) wasn't the fault of the airport. and once you check in and go through security at Heathrow there's no smoking areas, so be warned. every other country has airports what provide this facility, so it's just Heathrow being tw@ts as usual. </div><div><br /></div><div>on the actual plane, and, well. it is (considerably) out of character for me to give due credit to French things or people, but still. Sartre's frequently quoted line "hell is other people" is so phenomenally apt and true when you find yourself with such (other people) in a tin can some 40,000ft above sea level. what is wrong with people, or what goes wrong when they get on a f*****g plane? is it really that difficult to just get on with it? apparently it is. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxb8yAotIV11fCHdM-8NTgxlwqGHzSzU7g8nqxMu_V1qyA4dDYgSu1mlVBhGQSrHGFdbM2a-GyQJ5GS9Xwm8rBX0uivaZ-Kkg6up3hwTwmibVXvo4OveFSa368Z3_BQbpDZJ1NB9T1XHaF5QVDw0YiELOirrPBFMhPqSQB6SRRApza4WGvCdy2w/s757/02%20flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxb8yAotIV11fCHdM-8NTgxlwqGHzSzU7g8nqxMu_V1qyA4dDYgSu1mlVBhGQSrHGFdbM2a-GyQJ5GS9Xwm8rBX0uivaZ-Kkg6up3hwTwmibVXvo4OveFSa368Z3_BQbpDZJ1NB9T1XHaF5QVDw0YiELOirrPBFMhPqSQB6SRRApza4WGvCdy2w/w526-h394/02%20flying.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>to be (reasonably) fair, <i>most</i> of the passengers on all four (4) flights i took of late just got on with it. but still there are those special cases. a lot of this is down to airlines <i>not</i> enforcing their own rules. they always make it clear that people are allowed one (1) item of hand luggage, of specific dimensions and weight. yet several passengers come onboard with ludicrously oversized cases, taking up all the space in the overhead compartments. what utter w@nkers they are, true, but why are airlines not saying no to them? </div><div><br /></div><div>it is of course the case that a number of flights, sometimes weekly, get diverted or cancelled due to the behaviour of "passengers" on board. with mercy this seems to be on them ultra cheap flights to rather cheap areas of Europe. mostly i suspect this happens because why <i>wouldn't</i> you disrupt the plans of over a hundred people for less than £50 or so? the people who get drunk, or smoke, or fight or whatever and get flights cancelled are not going to pay any fines and will simply use the experience as a tale to enthrall their similarly thick and ignorant contemporaries with down the pub. generally one does not get quite that level of riff raff on flights that cost thousands of pounds. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='530' height='440' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4MapEAwj1mcBLoDHdBPtnmBoTvlKl4-lgJ0f_WcZroRgGk8eR8RZHo2T4C8bCUVbEmjUoznF4D2E' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>but, or and yet, still it was so that my one flight, Dubai to Auckland, had at least two incidents with completely f*****g retarded passengers. there may well have been further, but only two (2) happened near to me. the first illustrates the farcical, illusion based nature of "security" on flights, as someone managed to get an aerosol can on board. yes, a compressed gas canister on a flight, what could go wrong. we all knew they had, as someone set it off in the toilet, which triggered all sorts of alarms. </div><div><br /></div><div>no, that wasn't the most retarded person on the flight. that would be the person who knew full well that they had a nut allergy yet for some reason ate a bag of peanuts. somewhat suspiciously they elected to do this after we had cleared Australia, as in at a (convenient) time when we would not be diverted to land there, but would carry on to Auckland. perhaps they were seeking to unofficially extend their stay in New Zealand, and gambled with their health to do so. very fortunate that they had timed it so, as if we <i>had</i> been diverted they would very much have had a dent in their face more or less matching an imprint of my fist. yes, there was some interest level in watching the cabin crew f*** about with the various medical kits, trying to work out what to do. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCYAMzKkyYvQ1JzW74y6yegym81VCDYQWTf1WVihSs7H7FnL9PZjlTnhMUtlWNFZ0T1NGkDWYTqzKSiXrevfYa_qNYaKmcUsLPswAtoSOjVgV4-zn6bYMK37MJW4InBcoUkqKgeqXiY2x1lpKesm-2sDlRAU7ZQHontiBF_HVG-Wr1s_Xm5Na8A/s757/03%20flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCYAMzKkyYvQ1JzW74y6yegym81VCDYQWTf1WVihSs7H7FnL9PZjlTnhMUtlWNFZ0T1NGkDWYTqzKSiXrevfYa_qNYaKmcUsLPswAtoSOjVgV4-zn6bYMK37MJW4InBcoUkqKgeqXiY2x1lpKesm-2sDlRAU7ZQHontiBF_HVG-Wr1s_Xm5Na8A/w526-h394/03%20flying.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>sensing that it would be wise to do so, i shelled out some extra cash for "extra legroom" seats on the flights (two of them) between Dubai and Auckland. overall this did prove wise. however, what one gains in legroom they lose in general comfort, as you have them ridiculous too small fold out trays and in flight entertainment screens. you win and you lose. also other passengers understandably wish to stretch their legs, and tend to spend a lot of time wandering about trying their best to trip over your outstretched legs. when (rather than if) i make the trip again, i may well begrudgingly pay for the same again, if not shell out a substantial amount more for "premium" economy. </div><div><br /></div><div>eating? quite difficult on the smaller cramped trays in the extra legroom seats, but still, an odd triumph. well, sort of kind of. vast, immense improvements have been made in the quality of food served. as in i had some truly excellent meals. of course this is tempered with the eternal issue. on flights they for some reason have two (2) basic options, one which is extremely appealing to all and one that sounds awful and not interesting. so of course they usually run out of the excellent one before they get to serve you. how difficult can it be to just plan two equally interesting meal options? apparently very. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9YUxIG3nr10Lz-YoRUxaRCZJvaBe4Pa7JlSpVg-T0JSldXouw_-nuyPNpwdGG8Cyro-6O3iBz_KmreKx0KoZF2hEry2QUuv0ECDuspStv0PQ9764sHh3GwZxE8NwwRGNxz1Fvue3V-MJnxnRJfLVC7NlRVeHuKeBSlKyuYMf4weRSZGbcZ00jA/s322/04%20flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="322" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9YUxIG3nr10Lz-YoRUxaRCZJvaBe4Pa7JlSpVg-T0JSldXouw_-nuyPNpwdGG8Cyro-6O3iBz_KmreKx0KoZF2hEry2QUuv0ECDuspStv0PQ9764sHh3GwZxE8NwwRGNxz1Fvue3V-MJnxnRJfLVC7NlRVeHuKeBSlKyuYMf4weRSZGbcZ00jA/w528-h396/04%20flying.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div><br /></div>as it happens, oddly, weirdly and entirely unexpectedly no, not being able to smoke for quite long periods of time didn't actually phase me. i had some of that nicotine gum with me as a just in case thing, but barely used it. let me do a separate post on that. i would imagine a lot of this was down to psychology. one knows they cannot smoke, so just end up at peace with it in mind. well, maybe that, or i just knew that giving up smoking (temporarily) was a very small ask in the grand scheme of things. yes, i suspect the aerosol @r$ehole on our flight was smoking in the toilet. <div><br /></div><div>ultimately in our present world flying is simply an uncomfortable means to an end. once upon a time getting on a plane was an enjoyable, integral part of any holiday. now it's a dehumanised experience, with livestock being driven to slaughter getting better treatment. presumably all of this leads to them that own the airlines make even more money, i hope they enjoy it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-80494744437026829812024-02-27T09:25:00.118+00:002024-02-27T09:25:00.139+00:00taupohello there<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>more New Zealand stuff, then, look you see. well, i <i>did</i> give some warning a few posts ago that it was likely to be a dominant subject for a while. and why not, really, for the place is amazing. yes, a number of selfies, or just normal taken by others pictures of <i>moi</i> feature here, so you've been warned. </div><div><br /></div><div>under no circumstances would i claim to have been everywhere whilst down in Aotearoa. i was there for north of two weeks, south of three weeks. wouldn't even say that i got to see all on offer at those places i did get to. but yes, once again, what i did see was all beautiful, man. this would then indeed be true of Lake Taupo, where we all spent three (3) or so days. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18SxcdxeAsK54EbPsz59lZISLVAK6GNSVtsKllGJsYEtArW7_dn4yzo7HPVlJ7jQOwkLBzFhY3eNzT1zUIiuR-Bq8JrOLi5J2LkvxuD-HiLWG0u_IpkkEf2meeo2cGUsoBqUlmQsLbxZEIQaPs35EhvNxK3D6rdyRHj3d1C-EJH1ZxvgG5p41kQ/s1262/01%20lake%20taupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18SxcdxeAsK54EbPsz59lZISLVAK6GNSVtsKllGJsYEtArW7_dn4yzo7HPVlJ7jQOwkLBzFhY3eNzT1zUIiuR-Bq8JrOLi5J2LkvxuD-HiLWG0u_IpkkEf2meeo2cGUsoBqUlmQsLbxZEIQaPs35EhvNxK3D6rdyRHj3d1C-EJH1ZxvgG5p41kQ/w507-h228/01%20lake%20taupo.jpg" width="507" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>above is an aspect of the actual lake area, then. yes, presented in normal picture mode for a change. which is likely to become standard, as it seems my beloved Commodore 64 mode camera no longer functions with whatever update my phone has gone done. oh dear. moving on from that and this is near, or actually at, where certain activities (very much) go down. be patient, more below. </div><div><br /></div><div>where did we stay at Lake Taupo? just about the fanciest hotel there, the name of which i shall not disclose. but it rhymes with Milton. should i ever have the good fortune to go there again, well, i might just be inclined to stay at the place pictured below. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKa0kImMVwkj71TtnimA2enntw9j4f57y5FnMRxHJwPuk4HK1TdphyphenhyphenSaArG6sBGp1cL-FG4Q0WX9eBRYSpuzzOrs9iPTe3SBfLeRj8oU-wXSshFbPz9VD2_BT9_ERADl2AUxVsDcNEy9iyn42TL7FWKRlWNgIvzsGDcS5uoi5_QwNz-_YA8xLfw/s568/02%20twin%20peaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKa0kImMVwkj71TtnimA2enntw9j4f57y5FnMRxHJwPuk4HK1TdphyphenhyphenSaArG6sBGp1cL-FG4Q0WX9eBRYSpuzzOrs9iPTe3SBfLeRj8oU-wXSshFbPz9VD2_BT9_ERADl2AUxVsDcNEy9iyn42TL7FWKRlWNgIvzsGDcS5uoi5_QwNz-_YA8xLfw/w508-h903/02%20twin%20peaks.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>indeed i do remain devout to all things <i>Twin Peaks</i> after all these years. even after the bizarre, patience testing ways of the "revival" series. the impression i got was that this particular hotel was not really of as celebrated stature as where we stayed, but still. Mum asked of me how they could "get away" with calling the place such. so far as i am aware they would only attract the interest of the lawyers of Mr Lynch and contemporaries if they deliberately used imagery or "themes" (the feel, the vibe) from the show, since to be fair "twin peaks" is a bit of a generic term. </div><div><br /></div><div>highlights of Lake Taupo? just about all of it, really. a particular shout out to a shop which has the word cat in its name, for i got some truly boss bits of tourist things from there. my Uncle, for instance, is very pleased with his tea towel off of there. also thanks to a chemist there what sold me some heavy duty full tilt hardcore eyewash after i had both an incident with some sun cream <i>and</i> an incident where Dad insisted i shove some stuff into already sore eyes which did not help. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qp_Uzl1yLuQRfsffVrzlWGV97jCjLnW2SuCbPnsqDpHHlMvck4gDP8BXWibwyJzMHQbpyjJ1lNs-h5IO9z6_eUYP7iU3Kv7gMMpcRrpzzqWV0IF8PHjC_iaNt5SVIja5_x5NKQjjsdvzZQzxG7P1Fdg4fpuZGeAh4wjsZUsfu3v-gOFswIpnyw/s1262/03%20golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qp_Uzl1yLuQRfsffVrzlWGV97jCjLnW2SuCbPnsqDpHHlMvck4gDP8BXWibwyJzMHQbpyjJ1lNs-h5IO9z6_eUYP7iU3Kv7gMMpcRrpzzqWV0IF8PHjC_iaNt5SVIja5_x5NKQjjsdvzZQzxG7P1Fdg4fpuZGeAh4wjsZUsfu3v-gOFswIpnyw/w509-h229/03%20golf.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div>golf of the mini, crazy or fun nature is very much a thing in New Zealand. yes, that does endear the nation to me all the more. pictured above is just one of the courses to be found in Lake Taupo, near a bar called Mavericks and not far off some ten (10) pin bowling. we went to this one as Daniel, who is quite keen on this golf variation, had done some of that online research stuff and been informed that this was the "best" such facility in the entire country. i would not disagree. <div><br /></div><div>exactly why was this a good course? mostly just down to being good fun. there was more requirement than you might think to "fire" your (golf) ball onto a particular hole from a gas or air powered gun. not something that i had tried before (that i can recall) and certainly a plus. more regular holes were as fun as they were challenging. <br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX8QxvmxxBv8NZTR3brcnTfWJbQUZMaOHI-lps7r1zWbcRR2Ytr4E_5BaLVHstt96kE2u2Cxim63oPW2S5KZGjwuJ3YBaY2H-eL518KzHvVFo6nmF4dxIEosB1Zzn96tqnFb_bmVPoMZsug2FuW454TEyStl9MGsKW58IMfULcUCtj4Bu71qkHQ/s568/04%20golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX8QxvmxxBv8NZTR3brcnTfWJbQUZMaOHI-lps7r1zWbcRR2Ytr4E_5BaLVHstt96kE2u2Cxim63oPW2S5KZGjwuJ3YBaY2H-eL518KzHvVFo6nmF4dxIEosB1Zzn96tqnFb_bmVPoMZsug2FuW454TEyStl9MGsKW58IMfULcUCtj4Bu71qkHQ/w509-h679/04%20golf.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>yes, that is me (<i>moi</i>) above, doing a regular tee off. i did, from time to time, question my stylish but not particularly practical choice of all black wardrobe. white would <i>probably</i> have been a more practical shade to wear, for it reflects the heat better, but there we go. </div><div><br /></div><div>a closer look at that smart dragon on the mountain which forms one hole? with me also in the picture? go on then, here you go, below. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7vIak5FoaBM57JHGKoNsxWJJfBlflbkJpEQGIu68kOdgR88AqBdq4WxKPan5hnixlZe6ylxaRR2SSPFBoVWbKDJKxkGIwA-2fTii_Ed4BoDxqw8mMRYiAraJXoxeG40yliW6PGpe9XSzbWKDMgdg0U0MIPOzWSXXm8WzIf4Ln8-gkounF3p71A/s568/05%20golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7vIak5FoaBM57JHGKoNsxWJJfBlflbkJpEQGIu68kOdgR88AqBdq4WxKPan5hnixlZe6ylxaRR2SSPFBoVWbKDJKxkGIwA-2fTii_Ed4BoDxqw8mMRYiAraJXoxeG40yliW6PGpe9XSzbWKDMgdg0U0MIPOzWSXXm8WzIf4Ln8-gkounF3p71A/w509-h903/05%20golf.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>did somebody "win" the golf? yes, as it happens, Dad did. quite comfortably, as i recall. it would be nice to think Mum, Daniel and i finished joint second, or close enough. indeed Katie <i>did</i> wish to come along with us and play, initially. the comforts of the fancy hotel, however, were most seductive and she elected to remain there. as one would. </div><div><br /></div><div>back to the lake element (or aspect) of Lake Taupo, then. it is the site of some of those "extreme", exciting and partially dangerous sport things. if you are so inclined, go and look at the first image and concentrate on the central part of the pic, where you can see a diving off platform section. no, i did not go and do that. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GY18nVuC3hwEZ9uUykqeZunbv2oQ6hGUvSF2M_lYhOlhKz79WPHFlchA8M6NrpAE97yWiWGtlqeV37Raz-yljXQ5Ix7Ko57-i-09CnvHAyJnvTYQ7Jf-Sj9CGBA1caU4RB8aUtgz97u4qyXf2DNUnzKynwwDlnxwrXIc4kIZlZs-UTLMAdU8mw/s922/06%20bungy%20late%20taupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="922" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GY18nVuC3hwEZ9uUykqeZunbv2oQ6hGUvSF2M_lYhOlhKz79WPHFlchA8M6NrpAE97yWiWGtlqeV37Raz-yljXQ5Ix7Ko57-i-09CnvHAyJnvTYQ7Jf-Sj9CGBA1caU4RB8aUtgz97u4qyXf2DNUnzKynwwDlnxwrXIc4kIZlZs-UTLMAdU8mw/w505-h311/06%20bungy%20late%20taupo.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>something else that i <i>did not</i> do at Lake Taupo was the bungy (which i am sure the spell of is meant to be bungee, but bungy it is on the signs there) jump. or the bungy (bungee) swing. above you can see myself, Daniel and Grant (from left to right) considering such a thing. i was exceptionally confident that they would have some weight limit which would, alas, preclude me from having a go. this probably is the kind of thing Grant <i>would</i> have a go at, but not at the price being asked. </div><div><br /></div><div>no such issues or quarrel for Daniel, mind, who did indeed go full tilt with it and gone done a bungy jump. or bungee jump if, as i suspect, that is the correct spelling. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wuTA_TgiwJtD95ahWXkU4aAez1l0JCf7Sh24S5yzZoJ9c1Iohyo7xXyOZzoQrLqdjp3-m9qQHuFC99AZ5Vd0w65-50UILgPIGjXp4wRfhWoOllMUyPFzG69ZwN0AvPO9DVMGdIj6ggorIZ1ulZhLs_IscewFpMDieaYbvp5owdyViIZ2zaWRpw/s568/07%20bungy%20lake%20taupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="891" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wuTA_TgiwJtD95ahWXkU4aAez1l0JCf7Sh24S5yzZoJ9c1Iohyo7xXyOZzoQrLqdjp3-m9qQHuFC99AZ5Vd0w65-50UILgPIGjXp4wRfhWoOllMUyPFzG69ZwN0AvPO9DVMGdIj6ggorIZ1ulZhLs_IscewFpMDieaYbvp5owdyViIZ2zaWRpw/w502-h891/07%20bungy%20lake%20taupo.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>if you believe the above picture is a particularly striking one of the moment of jump, well, i would agree entirely. obviously no, i did not take it then. not sure who did, perhaps Gill, or even Grant. the latter was trusted with one of several cameras Dad brought along to capture the incident with. </div><div><br /></div><div>how about a nice bit of video of Daniel doing this bungy jump in (or at) Lake Taupo? the video bit i can most decidedly do for you, but i can't speak on your behalf to say it is nice. for reasons best described as just how i do things, i did indeed video the jump, but in VHS mode. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='507' height='421' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwkpwYklbTqyJsaRxE5nVNNdeJglfM9G9SZVuGXYfpGZhruo3P4pFTYs_TNZr6B9TRi4FCDFgVsqw8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>what's the going rate (as in the price) for a bungee or bungy jump in (at) Lake Taupo? just a little north of NZ$200. it is so that the exchange rate fluctuates somewhat, but at the time of writing that translates into around £100 or so. quite expensive, then. i <i>did</i> suggest to Daniel that there were other things he could do with the same money that were <i>reasonably</i> exciting and probably lasted longer than 11 or so seconds, but he was quite determined. fair play. </div><div><br /></div><div>one more picture of this jump, then, below. this one was taken by Dad, who went off to position himself to take some quite class pictures of it all. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspV-T2-7yEn4cXDMM7qgIRQxTlEPEmDNfDvkicApIdtKVLKO4iK19lXzXfckml2f4BQNgOI0lCwFjS9oNSBmhO7PwykVbljOHWC-WETTsJ4C90G1Yv6S4BlKk2Dw4tlw_EOLlArnE8BCKwQFxBmCL1E2FGgu6J9z1hKlKvlUF3CcfJLvIUTcJmQ/s568/08%20bungy%20lake%20taupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="891" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspV-T2-7yEn4cXDMM7qgIRQxTlEPEmDNfDvkicApIdtKVLKO4iK19lXzXfckml2f4BQNgOI0lCwFjS9oNSBmhO7PwykVbljOHWC-WETTsJ4C90G1Yv6S4BlKk2Dw4tlw_EOLlArnE8BCKwQFxBmCL1E2FGgu6J9z1hKlKvlUF3CcfJLvIUTcJmQ/w502-h891/08%20bungy%20lake%20taupo.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>to be fair you get what you pay for with all of this, by the looks of it. how you jump is entirely up to you, as is the distance you go. should for some reason you wish to jump from the platform, which by the way was 47 meters up, and <i>not</i> get wet they can adjust it so you don't hit the water. for whatever reason Daniel was most keen to hit the water, which is precisely what he did. </div><div><br /></div><div>you can indeed hit the water of Lake Taupo <i>without</i> jumping from 47 meters up, by the way. there was absolutely no stopping Grant having a swim in it. i would imagine the many Grant enthusiasts out there shall be particularly pleased with the below image. well, Gillian was delighted to share it and show it off on his behalf, so i am pretty sure the intention was for me to share it here. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgSuuOH-DtEIX7b9BdgE98SdGpUqW4Ywzf6o6GXgLCVP1hEmkzgmUzS0G9qLMM9T3C5DPJLs7oyhqZsJA7v8VTUGfj07UiCrBVjLEfMOhB_HWn9juj-dRB5auIH24J6bHYv4GX-OX47wkzDmhS-27-L6hQ4Cn4e_xGWTh___lAmnXtX22PZpxVQ/s568/09%20grant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="668" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgSuuOH-DtEIX7b9BdgE98SdGpUqW4Ywzf6o6GXgLCVP1hEmkzgmUzS0G9qLMM9T3C5DPJLs7oyhqZsJA7v8VTUGfj07UiCrBVjLEfMOhB_HWn9juj-dRB5auIH24J6bHYv4GX-OX47wkzDmhS-27-L6hQ4Cn4e_xGWTh___lAmnXtX22PZpxVQ/w501-h668/09%20grant.jpg" width="501" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>do feel free to save that image and admire it all you like. please refrain, however, from using it for immoral or illegal purposes. that's not much to ask of anyone. </div><div><br /></div><div>practical information is not something i would usually give out, but here we are. i would suggest that Lake Taupo is a stunning place to go for a holiday, but it is not really a "tourist" thing. most, if not all, of the shops close at 4pm, for a start, and there wasn't all that much in the way of light machines. so if you are looking for a place to just take in the beauty of (and bungee jump), here it's at. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0yZroQJ76HFybUAxGhHAiC9gfenj6vRki5ccADCCBO0I4YLxsL0pXKBQ1q4tTWh6Bav4uaSmVn0qHeIuvaV5hyE18aQzU-dooi1VeYeFIX7LaIFSTs_vBb32zwI3aTP90XxAcUBIq16Qj4I8I99WixzSFBcI-sSsUtSwiQFYCk6hTDQOiJUQjw/s1262/10%20lake%20taupo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0yZroQJ76HFybUAxGhHAiC9gfenj6vRki5ccADCCBO0I4YLxsL0pXKBQ1q4tTWh6Bav4uaSmVn0qHeIuvaV5hyE18aQzU-dooi1VeYeFIX7LaIFSTs_vBb32zwI3aTP90XxAcUBIq16Qj4I8I99WixzSFBcI-sSsUtSwiQFYCk6hTDQOiJUQjw/w500-h225/10%20lake%20taupo.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div><br /></div>shops may close at 4pm but the restaurants do not, mind. there were several on the go, couldn't get to them all but the ones we did were sensational. also there were some of them geothermal pool things. i didn't go, Dad did, and said that they were quite hot. oh. </div><div><br /></div><div>right, well, that's that for this. quite a few more things off of New Zealand to showcase here, but all in good time. perhaps i shall mix it up with some other stuff first. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-49750899291884852842024-02-24T09:22:00.026+00:002024-02-24T09:22:00.249+00:00a peculiar shoenow then<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>something of a brief break from all these posts what i plan (or intend) to do in respect of my New Zealand odyssey. which may, or may not, be quite nice for the dozen or so people what come here for a gander. off back to London (innit) with me, look you see, and as the title suggests a quite strange bit of abandoned footwear. </div><div><br /></div><div>for one reason or another - and there could be several - items of abandoned footwear seem to be a reasonably popular thing for me to share here. my assumption is that there's an existing fan base for such things, be it related to fetish or sheer curiosity. under no circumstanced do i believe (or think) that i began any sort of trend, but all the same i am delighted to contribute to it all, if not perpetuate. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7XbjlSYzieMcDDaIiq4Ym3RKT2oxNbY3tx0CiKZ3cUCrBU_Kf0DfsQkDnXqPp0JQNjNNKnEqdK_UsXgaiuo6ftuAd2qlVZMkZ7w2o3MCR9otARWM13c3-oiSxS9m_wKZ3e6zXUxNOCayuaDGmPTNlln8jt2nxtuZJ3cJdMNcHtM1pnxJUFILLA/s757/01%20peculiar%20shoe%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7XbjlSYzieMcDDaIiq4Ym3RKT2oxNbY3tx0CiKZ3cUCrBU_Kf0DfsQkDnXqPp0JQNjNNKnEqdK_UsXgaiuo6ftuAd2qlVZMkZ7w2o3MCR9otARWM13c3-oiSxS9m_wKZ3e6zXUxNOCayuaDGmPTNlln8jt2nxtuZJ3cJdMNcHtM1pnxJUFILLA/w520-h390/01%20peculiar%20shoe%20c64.png" width="520" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>this item of footwear was spotted down in Ealing. for those who require some sort of specifics, i saw it in reasonably early February, not long after i had completed the longer return leg of my recent odyssey. as you can see above, in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, it is anything but a standard sort of item what one would place on their foot. maybe one <i>cannot</i> see it all of that in the above, but there is a more regular sort of image below. </div><div><br /></div><div>with regards to things what i document on a regular basis here i suppose i'd best go and do a car wash again some time soon. not sure when the last time was that i posted one here. recently, i suppose, as i vaguely recall doing it all in VHS mode. no i am not searching and linking any other shoe or car wash things what i have gone done, feel free to look yourself. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xda4hMwq5DKkSNbC_rGvKN3AFKTd3gKimIriU1EFrNBT2r0fNFKenE4CpQUfBWFUSKGS4pKR74Gvtj64pcBAXfmT70O7VNU5H119HNoG9L5AlpwdskCrbpTIJA1Zo99LBQHIv48xPPglHJczX5HSHzMpdPOys8bjtx-PyDhDdpjLRvXxYCVwBQ/s1262/02%20peculiar%20shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xda4hMwq5DKkSNbC_rGvKN3AFKTd3gKimIriU1EFrNBT2r0fNFKenE4CpQUfBWFUSKGS4pKR74Gvtj64pcBAXfmT70O7VNU5H119HNoG9L5AlpwdskCrbpTIJA1Zo99LBQHIv48xPPglHJczX5HSHzMpdPOys8bjtx-PyDhDdpjLRvXxYCVwBQ/w522-h234/02%20peculiar%20shoe.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><br /><div>what struck me most about this one is that it's not exactly easy to immediately determine (or even ascertain) if this item of footwear is designed for a left or right foot. instinct, on the basis of straps, suggests it is right, but it could also be left. it looks like it has a deceptively elaborate means of being rather well secured to a foot, which makes it all the more unusual that it was abandoned. perhaps, maybe, it was so that someone wasn't actually wearing it, and it got dropped or fell out of some bag. oh dear, if so. </div><div><br /></div><div>it is entirely possible that i, of late, have seen a few things abandoned and not documented them. now that i think there was the odd left trolley here and there i saw in New Zealand, but i was ostensibly on holiday and so did not take any image. well, anyway, there's a splendid item of footwear for you. and more shall no doubt follow as and when i see such things. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-28464736852259759052024-02-21T22:25:00.079+00:002024-02-21T22:25:00.135+00:00bunnyg'day<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>further images from my odyssey to New Zealand, then. or tales from operation falcon, for that was the codename for the project to get me there, look you see. bit of a warning for you up front, as whilst this post ostensibly concerns (what i think to be) a bunny i saw, there are three (3) selfies of <i>moi</i>. there are certain people who(m) would not care to see me at all; if you are such but still read on then i would suggest you quickly scroll to the bits you wish to see. </div><div><br /></div><div>so, moving on, as part of my odyssey (or adventure) i took a most pleasant stroll around Mount Maunganui with my Dad. the things you never thought you would get to do again, but here we are. it was at the journey end when i encountered what i believe to be (for Dad said so) a hare, rabbit or other such variation of bunny. hence the title. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBU-3pOuCW2tjdFlHPe-H8-hUqqSY2p_vmU5mhlGfxFtLiFrneCtPNKgM8J-X6Gcuds3iOvNUbnFeAMVvdcbke54qalUQxhXIdnwrRe1z5Tll2ATiYf3Uxd0p2vztWv-RfciiojTBe-2iow2kNbzQo8PGvTJykNY8akwQ_DKOp2zIFaXmFGx41A/s1262/01%20bunny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBU-3pOuCW2tjdFlHPe-H8-hUqqSY2p_vmU5mhlGfxFtLiFrneCtPNKgM8J-X6Gcuds3iOvNUbnFeAMVvdcbke54qalUQxhXIdnwrRe1z5Tll2ATiYf3Uxd0p2vztWv-RfciiojTBe-2iow2kNbzQo8PGvTJykNY8akwQ_DKOp2zIFaXmFGx41A/w516-h232/01%20bunny.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>quite pleased that i could get so (relatively) close to it (or him or her) to take reasonable enough looking images and yes, there is some video later. this splendid looking creature, resplendent with exceptional and striking ears, did not get at all skittish as i approached. it would perhaps be a bit much to say (or suggest) that all forms of life in New Zealand are comfortable with each other, but at the least in my experience it was so that they are all more attuned than is the case in England. </div><div><br /></div><div>one of them selfies i spoke (warned) of is coming up below this, so if you have no wish to see me now is the time to get scrolling. a shame if you do, for Dad took a really lovely picture, but no worries. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQxANHCFYLcj1Wnifho4L_Yx9_K7uHj6Y_gFjhrULoe6tDDkaKH5t8DV_2mOlH8u3YtXATC49gnnvI59h8GHP6Vvkc_3S-qESn7qswaT2oV9AccQXx2teQZibL2cJy9kA1FQCnSB1A8fg7x9WRlODafJh_8uH4rIjB58cyAlpsEv8GvbngM7RUw/s757/02%20mount%20manganui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQxANHCFYLcj1Wnifho4L_Yx9_K7uHj6Y_gFjhrULoe6tDDkaKH5t8DV_2mOlH8u3YtXATC49gnnvI59h8GHP6Vvkc_3S-qESn7qswaT2oV9AccQXx2teQZibL2cJy9kA1FQCnSB1A8fg7x9WRlODafJh_8uH4rIjB58cyAlpsEv8GvbngM7RUw/w514-h387/02%20mount%20manganui.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>if we assume that previously my favourite volcano was that boss hollowed out one what Blofeld used as a smart ninja base in <i>You Only Live Twice</i>, then yes, here is my new favourite one. as far as i am aware, and internet says so thus it <i>must</i> be true, it is an extinct volcano. but still, you know, there's at least some excitement in the idea of walking around any sort of volcano, on the off chance it goes pop, or whatever sound they make when erupting. </div><div><br /></div><div>for specifics, the trail around the base of Mauao as it is also called (although most simply refer to it as The Mount) is some 3.5kms. which is just north of 2 (two) miles in proper English measurement. yeah, indeed it is all that kilometer stuff in New Zealand, which just goes to show nowhere is absolutely perfect. they are exceptionally close, mind. at a steady pace, near enough is close enough to an hour to gently wander around it, although i suspect them what we saw jogging or running around it managed to clock in a somewhat shorter time. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVUQ3tDVwAPtgL6qj8R-7Y47UcfkAVstfPvOB2iJ-Ixb5Ug5tkm-WplwO7dyX4f28olYBhdfyKlNojnNvJSQjQC5NF9DYiBwq48FyBPFHfM-GGZPi2OE9Aglgaw9gx6KNJ9mvWNTLyD_6p79FxKYhTVQGphu53tvvp1pRHgeeNdEOo-RxduP3ow/s1262/03%20view%20from%20mount%20maunganui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVUQ3tDVwAPtgL6qj8R-7Y47UcfkAVstfPvOB2iJ-Ixb5Ug5tkm-WplwO7dyX4f28olYBhdfyKlNojnNvJSQjQC5NF9DYiBwq48FyBPFHfM-GGZPi2OE9Aglgaw9gx6KNJ9mvWNTLyD_6p79FxKYhTVQGphu53tvvp1pRHgeeNdEOo-RxduP3ow/w517-h232/03%20view%20from%20mount%20maunganui.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>but there was no such rush for me. to begin, commence or start with, i was thoroughly enjoying the chance to spend some time with Dad. and then there is of course reason to pause and take in the astonishing, magnificent views, such as the one above. i am not sure my limited abilities to take pictures captured how wonderful it is in the above, but i gave it a go. </div><div><br /></div><div>rather likely that you are here <i>mostly</i> for bunny stuff, since that is the title of the post. very well. as i gave every indication of earlier (or previously) behold, here is some video of the bunny doing its thing. just a short video, and apologies for some abstract conversation i caught. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='519' height='431' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyj5918h3CK0hL-D4N1MhDq-ZDxon7rHkf_SpDCO4tisTGSDUPwZE3lONJilvvQv_GPiJ40_bXNHlk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>going off of memory, which is not always the best thing for me to do, not so many others were all that taken by this bunny. no one else appeared to pay that much attention. i suspect the locals would not, but it did seem there were a few other tourists around. Mount Manganui is a rather splendid stop off point for cruise ships, as it happens. can't say with any certainty, but i believe there were a significant number of people off of Austria (or similar) wandering around the same time as us. </div><div><br /></div><div>would you wish (or care) for a warning every time a picture of me turns up? this is <i>kind of</i> my blog you know, but no worries, such a warning is now in place. anyone all <i>that</i> upset to see <i>moi</i> would do well to simply take in the background, or if you like setting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f1Gwq7G5dfjVCMCgHZqE5vdvYyut5qy-n7uGzJzRmgjpCoush0knfjqjwmJ0fuRBXzXF0BAyjQE-1lVdQBdW3rK7oU1z9rJoUGKYqgxKvhUIYfweh5el0MtCc0DyMeBhdy-A2Z2uZXWCIXVDlkl8WQGGS4SO2PvqAchByEss7zFAHMAeltSUfw/s757/04%20mount%20manganui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f1Gwq7G5dfjVCMCgHZqE5vdvYyut5qy-n7uGzJzRmgjpCoush0knfjqjwmJ0fuRBXzXF0BAyjQE-1lVdQBdW3rK7oU1z9rJoUGKYqgxKvhUIYfweh5el0MtCc0DyMeBhdy-A2Z2uZXWCIXVDlkl8WQGGS4SO2PvqAchByEss7zFAHMAeltSUfw/w514-h384/04%20mount%20manganui.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>there are many, many wonderful aspects to taking a walk around the mount. a particularly pleasing element is how on pretty much (virtually) every step around you can pause and see quite a remarkable view. hopefully i get to walk it once more in this lifetime, at the least. </div><div><br /></div><div>did i see any other wildlife or animals whilst in New Zealand? yes. surprisingly more cows than sheep, with one massive one in particular (cow) coming to mind, but perhaps more on that in a later, rather than earlier, post. alas, sadly, no, i did not see a kiwi in bird form. i did, however, find a new favourite bird in the form of a tui. they are quite class. apparently they get quite smashed (be it drunk or stoned) on nectar and go quite mental. but, for now, bunny. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIocEIRCcr2XupHR2JM-WbmczETziXoeg9eT_Z8WZK13FOb4DY-NDWQSUPzd9Wm8GHVjQOfDpkqIwgXRMhGRsn7t5O47wWoEVeR0QxJFv74WoUjNjQOBT-IojaPmjjfr4MtJ5NcEQ1ZYHHuNjTgWCLbk-sKYYMjwVIne92zPBfvvZdzIfS1kAsw/s1262/05%20bunny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1262" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIocEIRCcr2XupHR2JM-WbmczETziXoeg9eT_Z8WZK13FOb4DY-NDWQSUPzd9Wm8GHVjQOfDpkqIwgXRMhGRsn7t5O47wWoEVeR0QxJFv74WoUjNjQOBT-IojaPmjjfr4MtJ5NcEQ1ZYHHuNjTgWCLbk-sKYYMjwVIne92zPBfvvZdzIfS1kAsw/w518-h233/05%20bunny.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>my lingering suspicion is that i could have (potentially) got closer for more better pictures, but i ventured as near as i dared. the zoom on my new(ish) phone what has a camera welded to it is rather poor, so no, i didn't use that function. still, you know, i don't think either picture is too bad, or (nor) the video for that matter. </div><div><br /></div><div>our walk around the mount was in the direction which ended up at the beach. i <i>think</i> this would be a clockwise approach but please (in general as well as specifically here) don't take my word for it, for indeed i did have a significant time displacement thing on the go nearly all the time i was there. actually probably <i>all</i> of the time as it would not be displacement if not. or something like that. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNAnSAL7eGh1OU1c-kasQq4KGsAFfyMVcmeqlPZmDFa6O_GdulAoJrb2DVkogztazoOtrPP8Ho2fz42cfwcxzacSX0my96dqEMdGxJxu4MPtAv_NXViFcuPWDC4hHZO9d3Wrqyq9Y6JAeBbAq8Didoo7t3_DOU2ArqO5cIliHX538IpKt7LdFQ/s1088/06%20volleyball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1088" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMNAnSAL7eGh1OU1c-kasQq4KGsAFfyMVcmeqlPZmDFa6O_GdulAoJrb2DVkogztazoOtrPP8Ho2fz42cfwcxzacSX0my96dqEMdGxJxu4MPtAv_NXViFcuPWDC4hHZO9d3Wrqyq9Y6JAeBbAq8Didoo7t3_DOU2ArqO5cIliHX538IpKt7LdFQ/w520-h272/06%20volleyball.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><br /><div>happy days, or it was a very happy day, to see that a big massive volleyball tournament was about to start, or if you will commence. any fellow <i>Top Gun</i> appreciator will, of course, well, appreciate the nuances and joys of volleyball, where men can express their admiration for other men. </div><div><br /></div><div>in the unlikely (implausible) event of someone consulting this blog for any sort of travel advice, yes, then, Mount Maunganui is absolutely full worthy of a visit. my expressed wish is to visit the place once again one day. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-16411698452873967042024-02-18T03:51:00.094+00:002024-02-18T03:51:00.140+00:00reunion and meetingtena koe<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>well, it was perhaps (somewhat) inevitable that a mere decade (give or take, look you see) after vowing never to be on a plane again that i would take just about the longest journey one could via this method of transport. yes, indeed, as some shall have concluded from my previous (to this post) i went to go and see Aotearoa, or if you like New Zealand. </div><div><br /></div><div>quite a few posts on this subject are rather likely to follow, since i took what seems like a formidable amount of pictures and yes, video. but for now, well, the primary - actually only - reason i went there. which would be to see family. those in the know would know that this isn't the usual sort of post i would do on this particular date, but here we are. obviously this is likely to be all of interest only to friends and family, but what the heck you are here, read on. </div><div><br /></div><div>one has to start somewhere with these pictures what i have. it would appear to make sense, then, to do so with one of me with Mum & Dad. and here it is. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrjqbhxigP-tVOxmzO_WETfoK2P1f1L3cVzMevew_R9HtYb6SaNch3KDLfaGD8siTJC2ZP83OmODru2p5iP7q10L3FE096pKsgwngvTIDUDJ_b7Jz2dB4IhrBnG-TmHRZ2-7L-4T_1EEcPavEINUStMrmbwbBvy4REYn797UCa9NP5mm7swVirw/s725/01%20mum%20and%20dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="725" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrjqbhxigP-tVOxmzO_WETfoK2P1f1L3cVzMevew_R9HtYb6SaNch3KDLfaGD8siTJC2ZP83OmODru2p5iP7q10L3FE096pKsgwngvTIDUDJ_b7Jz2dB4IhrBnG-TmHRZ2-7L-4T_1EEcPavEINUStMrmbwbBvy4REYn797UCa9NP5mm7swVirw/w516-h446/01%20mum%20and%20dad.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>to state the obvious as a perfect understatement, absolutely brilliant to see them once more. it had been more or less (or around) a dozen (!!) years since i had last seen them. not a subject to dwell on or give too much contemplation about, but it did appear, seem or (sadly) feel that i might not have had the chance to see them again. yet, well, i have, and am glad to have done so. certainly i do not rule out seeing them further, for i absolutely would love to go over there again. even, yes, with the prolonged periods of being unable to smoke on the journey. </div><div><br /></div><div>go on then, to give some sort of quasi "reverse bookend" to the above picture, here you go. another image of the three of us, but one which was taken, give or take, fifty (50) or so years ago. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiWcttrTi9VqYj6-Lk8tHvWXgbNRIjssedh8n2YUnjld0RgM8bCvd4QqpFtssxmxZIOXHKZk5TnXLLx3aLaWVxQluzF8pbdkYYcrzC4ksNECZkIENYJORIzOwNSaEo7hBUVstyfspv5OH2t8k9imWPpljKPNPD7QbD8Auwi7Jza-uRaTCdIJobw/s466/02%20mum%20dad%20and%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="466" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiWcttrTi9VqYj6-Lk8tHvWXgbNRIjssedh8n2YUnjld0RgM8bCvd4QqpFtssxmxZIOXHKZk5TnXLLx3aLaWVxQluzF8pbdkYYcrzC4ksNECZkIENYJORIzOwNSaEo7hBUVstyfspv5OH2t8k9imWPpljKPNPD7QbD8Auwi7Jza-uRaTCdIJobw/w514-h514/02%20mum%20dad%20and%20me.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>no, alas, i don't have too many memories of when that (directly) above image was taken, but of course shall forever treasure the memories of the previous. </div><div><br /></div><div>about a dozen or so (give or take) years since i last saw Mum and Dad was one thing. yet it had been longer still since i had last seen my sister. one or two of you may be curious, or at the least mildly interested, in <i>exactly</i> how long it had been, so the answer is 17 (seventeen) years. and so here we are, on my very first afternoon (although time was a vague concept) in New Zealand.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzCIWETJpY9-XO_1ioES6Lk3umRH3YebVaTScJF6eAqyS4ccp6rWB__hIAbHLI4Dw2SwX784T-ma-OMn11g-KeAlM9fOkEAXmtvosBUpbIJbYbhGvoHMsvox-KSjaxlUTeut-BtigNbrTTg4gWawtQFTBlbpQaowxNwoqiwyaLJB4Y_UKhoPmJg/s568/03%20with%20sis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzCIWETJpY9-XO_1ioES6Lk3umRH3YebVaTScJF6eAqyS4ccp6rWB__hIAbHLI4Dw2SwX784T-ma-OMn11g-KeAlM9fOkEAXmtvosBUpbIJbYbhGvoHMsvox-KSjaxlUTeut-BtigNbrTTg4gWawtQFTBlbpQaowxNwoqiwyaLJB4Y_UKhoPmJg/w513-h910/03%20with%20sis.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>from what i recall that picture was taken at Mission Bay, but also it may well have been the one a bit down from it, the name of which escapes me. co-ordinated wardrobe was a pure fluke and very much based on whatever i pulled from my suitcase. </div><div><br /></div><div>it strikes me as appropriate to do <i>another</i> sort of "then and now" picture interlude fr you. and so here i am (or here am i) with my sister, some 42 (ish) years ago, or at the least that time from the time what this all went live on that internet thing. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcYj4WgkWzBa1F0vCGZYF3KxtB47B9PHsR9i3Jaiz-JCAxr3arPzK4htYD8F4ZNmHZWJQ9zQqRhotWYSkSJ3SdpXRW1oDcrayPbIlFSCsUl_J7kVIxIMoI6J2E7rTe0DyFtk-0gKsGNAUxm3X-Z7n96PIhkuMlYuLbzo0c8yNI6FIebtEdHAggg/s622/04%20gill%20lee%20brisbane%20march%201982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="622" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcYj4WgkWzBa1F0vCGZYF3KxtB47B9PHsR9i3Jaiz-JCAxr3arPzK4htYD8F4ZNmHZWJQ9zQqRhotWYSkSJ3SdpXRW1oDcrayPbIlFSCsUl_J7kVIxIMoI6J2E7rTe0DyFtk-0gKsGNAUxm3X-Z7n96PIhkuMlYuLbzo0c8yNI6FIebtEdHAggg/w512-h411/04%20gill%20lee%20brisbane%20march%201982.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>my understanding is that the above image was taken in Brisbane, and yes the Australian one. which is kind of (sort of) next door to New Zealand. there, i have saved you looking it up on a map or atlas or similar. </div><div><br /></div><div>now, it was not <i>just</i> reunions that i was there for. indeed, a primary driver for my decision to go "yes, let me get on a plane again" was to meet someone i had not met before but expressed a wish to meet me. that would be my nephew, Daniel. he had asked his mum (as in my sister) why this curious person called Uncle Lee couldn't quit smoking and come to visit them. for some reason this pulled at heart strings that i was unaware i had. also, well, challenge accepted, really. it turned out that i could indeed, with some planning, go and grant his wish without doing anything silly (or sensible) like ceasing my unwavering support of the tobacco industry.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRUm8HXtHjRB8Y7jLN-x8mYoNwbuScufGbaqOc_Jl6xICQ8wI0AqtPVGNmOEB3gJGVtQnAG1IlkOJSvifA5bjZTThr6wIMdPtzYpr29JmvjTfFqKXxLsstWeTZpSUm91AZgGS9K98C6QGXKRXHZsA-o40cPpll45zcYBRGqMrSU9Sel2MVdA5Pw/s757/05%20daniel%20of%20ideas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRUm8HXtHjRB8Y7jLN-x8mYoNwbuScufGbaqOc_Jl6xICQ8wI0AqtPVGNmOEB3gJGVtQnAG1IlkOJSvifA5bjZTThr6wIMdPtzYpr29JmvjTfFqKXxLsstWeTZpSUm91AZgGS9K98C6QGXKRXHZsA-o40cPpll45zcYBRGqMrSU9Sel2MVdA5Pw/w512-h384/05%20daniel%20of%20ideas.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>under no circumstances at all had it occurred to <i>moi</i> that anyone would actually wish to willingly meet me. just how i see myself, i suppose. my basic understanding is that if you care to name the connection, be it son, brother, father, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, lover, partner or what have you, then i am pretty lacking (or wanting) in having any decent qualities. several people have been extremely kind indeed in pointing out my flaws, shortcomings and so forth, and indeed there are so many more such forms of folly that people aren't even aware of. but here we are, or there i was. </div><div><br /></div><div>hopefully it is so that Daniel got what he wished, if not hoped, for in meeting me. and of course his sister, or if you will my niece, Katie, who(m) i last saw when she was sort of around 1 (one) year of age. for me it was truly epic to meet both and spend as much time as was possible with them. they, as is the case for my whole family there, are truly wonderful people with a sensational life. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnhuH5lOR3yMgc4tlVzkdl-euyxzPpbnEEE1st8PNkarDkr63flPCdmlkoPAzt44gONuAnvi-tygRkzx2FLk9KqcCmZdAY_BAASNjvyf-10jY5fpAE2lKUG0cecqWATVVQxQKVPHv7Iyl1Rk2z1YAZNsjLULvyOB2crfScxwtMtWBZQjQNH3lpw/s4162/06%20whole%20gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2997" data-original-width="4162" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnhuH5lOR3yMgc4tlVzkdl-euyxzPpbnEEE1st8PNkarDkr63flPCdmlkoPAzt44gONuAnvi-tygRkzx2FLk9KqcCmZdAY_BAASNjvyf-10jY5fpAE2lKUG0cecqWATVVQxQKVPHv7Iyl1Rk2z1YAZNsjLULvyOB2crfScxwtMtWBZQjQNH3lpw/w514-h369/06%20whole%20gang.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>and there above is all of us together, with the most excellent dogs Freddy and Charlie. this was taken on my (for now) final afternoon in New Zealand, just before it was time to bid farewell to all. quite strange, my time displacement of it all. ostensibly, or technically, it was just north of two (2) weeks that i was there, but it thankfully felt longer. and i do not mean that in a bad way at all, things did not drag, it just turned out to be a most beautiful time together. </div><div><br /></div><div>many more pictures and tales as i promised (or if you are of a mind to feel so, threatened) shall follow, assuming i can find the time to write and "upload". but for now, one final image, one of them selfie things taken as i was going down the escalator to the international departure thing. oh no hang on this was going down so i could go outside and have one more cigarette before flying. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20fW_fG3bZwYNjZcL5x_Q0vuo3PfkedEgF24DO4UaTgx30yPLSVtddkY5VVbDB-9dSQO9pVqNwFIcDqqsQZIoJGsb02Bl5mMyozY3cOlYSOuKIgIAQfnv5za2u1DA1JE7_2bAn4Dv-TgJMfTuOTb9dRYYpH1rg-GqyhKKm_7ZPOoXebaPJf59QQ/s568/07%20airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="911" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20fW_fG3bZwYNjZcL5x_Q0vuo3PfkedEgF24DO4UaTgx30yPLSVtddkY5VVbDB-9dSQO9pVqNwFIcDqqsQZIoJGsb02Bl5mMyozY3cOlYSOuKIgIAQfnv5za2u1DA1JE7_2bAn4Dv-TgJMfTuOTb9dRYYpH1rg-GqyhKKm_7ZPOoXebaPJf59QQ/w512-h911/07%20airport.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div>you can, if you elect to look at me, see how unusually happy i am at the prospect of about to be going well north of eighteen (18!!) hours <i>sans</i> cigarettes. actually that part was nowhere near as bad as i may have feared, but that's a tale for a different post. <div><br /></div><div>perhaps i have shown some unexpected emotional restraint into this foray of sharing, or maybe it was just me. anyway, whatever your reason (except odd strange ones) for stopping by and reading a happy thing for me, thanks!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>kia pai tetahi ki tetahi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-90841075017393400802024-02-16T00:14:00.003+00:002024-02-16T00:14:00.138+00:00new zealand visa requirement for uk citizens, kind of hello<div><br /></div><div>so, i have been, with a sense of bravery and adventure, off to New Zealand. and back, look you see, but i rather think i am foolish for leaving such a magnificent place. considerably more to follow on my adventures, or if you will odyssey, but first off some reasonably (as in very) important information. my travels very nearly did not happen, thanks to what amounts to a visa but they claim is not. although you absolutely do need it. </div><div><br /></div><div>yes, then. if you have used google (or similar) to search for information (which admittedly i did not) you do need a visa to go to New Zealand, even if you are a UK passport holder. except they don't call it a visa as such, but a NZeTA (their lettering). that stands for "New Zealand electronic Travel Authority", and you can't even get on the plane if you do not have it. which is an interesting thing to (as was the case with me) learn when you are just four hours away from getting on said plane. how unfortunate no one mentions this when, say, buying the ticket. or checking your details, for the app for my airline of choice made no reference to me needing this, instead ticking me off as "complete" with details when i added my passport in. </div><div><br /></div><div>the most important thing i can throw in here for anyone searching is, well, to start with, to state again, <b>yes you do, as a British passport holder, need a visa for New Zealand</b>. after that it is how you get one of the things. my only option was to install the app, which you can find on whatever store your phone system is indelibly linked to. should you wish to pay NZ$6 more for it (don't ask me why) then you can apply for one off of their website, the link for which is <span style="color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/" target="_blank">right here</a></span>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKf4RQaXXQPyOw9BUKNUIsRlBrr4WupKATJ3FPcM_fPhyPQ1aVL3GKr8X0gf8H4_ksd_5xlJmsjX28hDK8bGb-iD72HZ9_Tm1OY-7Zo1iEgWqWPSD7xF3m_tzkFonk8Z6KA9bMYV0wo6pPqw4JLvTx95x_mZyk_x2qiN8Gb2v-iPQet5GG3ha4A/s381/01%20nzeta%20visa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="253" height="719" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKf4RQaXXQPyOw9BUKNUIsRlBrr4WupKATJ3FPcM_fPhyPQ1aVL3GKr8X0gf8H4_ksd_5xlJmsjX28hDK8bGb-iD72HZ9_Tm1OY-7Zo1iEgWqWPSD7xF3m_tzkFonk8Z6KA9bMYV0wo6pPqw4JLvTx95x_mZyk_x2qiN8Gb2v-iPQet5GG3ha4A/w476-h719/01%20nzeta%20visa.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>what, exactly, is a NZeTA? it feels cynical to say such but essentially little more than a cash grab and a means of trying to weed out anyone who(m) may be visiting for reasons the authorities of the country would prefer you not to. a more positive me would like to see it as a not at all unreasonable sort of tourist tax (which you do pay as part of it all) but it all feels rather too intrusive and certainly appears designed to catch people (like, for instance, me) out. </div><div><br /></div><div>as it turns out approval on it is fairly fast, apparently taking minutes. unfortunately the actual app is completely and utterly f*****g useless and does not update you with such information. i had a teary, jelly legged hour or so living in fear of missing my flight because my NZeTA app told me that my application was "pending". and then when i, in a slump of defeat, went to ask how i would go about moving my ticket on to another flight, the people at the airline desk informed me that the visa (for that is what it is) had been approved on their side, and off i could fly. which i did. </div><div><br /></div><div>frankly the NZ government <i>really</i> need to get their sh!t together with this thing. if you wish to charge me and many others to visit, fine, but don't make it such a big secret, and have the decency to give some support and help. you, New Zealand, are making massive efforts to attract tourists, yet you pull this on us. and by this i don't mean the not unreasonable "tourist tax" in the form of a visa, but rather the ludicrous level of difficulty. you have made something simple into a last minute barrier. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNZbLOxmwMHxOlGg5V4Gx4cybRKDlWd8_BeZn_4vrMRfYzXXsrGx4QKaxcDRlYJmtlvi3NE-B_ZHVC68cxozgd1mEuzHTsQ2bfkrJCluCYUxdQk5gEK2xruRM3dbsSk9MZw0E6Z-t8wxZWQreOv7AiJ8nsGHhyphenhyphenvN8Jz_Xn5-bf2rR29cvHtPyTw/s833/02%20nzeta%20cash%20cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="833" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNZbLOxmwMHxOlGg5V4Gx4cybRKDlWd8_BeZn_4vrMRfYzXXsrGx4QKaxcDRlYJmtlvi3NE-B_ZHVC68cxozgd1mEuzHTsQ2bfkrJCluCYUxdQk5gEK2xruRM3dbsSk9MZw0E6Z-t8wxZWQreOv7AiJ8nsGHhyphenhyphenvN8Jz_Xn5-bf2rR29cvHtPyTw/w476-h357/02%20nzeta%20cash%20cow.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>beyond the somewhat specific, intrusive questions it asks (and surely anyone going to NZ for reasons they are being less than honest about would lie) i am at a loss as to why they can't have you simply pay for this NZeTA on arrival. or have some means that you can apply and pay via the airline you travel with, even if that does shove some "admin costs" on to it. oh, in respect of the cost, i think it clocked in at about £25 or so. quite a silly amount to jeopardise the thousands paid for a flight and make the name of your country a mockery of a shambles. </div><br /><div>not everyone has the "oh well at least it worked out in the end" story i do. this much i know to be true, for there were two ladies of maturing years who were also caught out. alas they could make head nor tail of what the requirement was, or how to get it, and so elected to leave the airport so as to stay at a hotel and work it all out from there. not really sure that's what the drive for New Zealand tourism had intended to achieve, but they hit that target anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>hopefully this information (if not my commentary) has helped someone out with this. may they have a somewhat less stressed travel experience as a consequence. indeed New Zealand is quite far away, but by my word is it well worth the trip. and i can even go back, now i have this visa thing for a couple of years. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-43346992401608676462024-02-13T23:45:00.049+00:002024-02-13T23:45:00.288+00:00landlord remonstratenow then<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>just further observations what i have made recently. and by recently i do indeed mean the recent <i>past</i>, look you see, and not some future vision. </div><div><br /></div><div>back down it is to that there London (innit) place. specifically <i>darn sarf</i> as they say, by which they mean an area what is south of the Thames river. for much (not most) of the population of the place all that exists in the world is north and south of this river. my my, are they in for a treat if they bravely venture to other parts of the nation. sure, also some disappointment. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51AxGX-9O91RoEK9drSQBbdcbRG2-sO4-25cGqKKKiP6a3zmj_MeSvJZl7rrmyjLbs1LG1h9ATs8apdN1_1gbxUpXqzpmDIRQp7_TLeX2uEST4M8i0aLVz9_vLprGArewZ7WQV1xkSD1l5RCtKq3aaNgvwHrbrRIwMcZRHZ4uxaAIBG58O2vOGA/s757/01%20parking%20defaced.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51AxGX-9O91RoEK9drSQBbdcbRG2-sO4-25cGqKKKiP6a3zmj_MeSvJZl7rrmyjLbs1LG1h9ATs8apdN1_1gbxUpXqzpmDIRQp7_TLeX2uEST4M8i0aLVz9_vLprGArewZ7WQV1xkSD1l5RCtKq3aaNgvwHrbrRIwMcZRHZ4uxaAIBG58O2vOGA/w480-h360/01%20parking%20defaced.png" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>one of the (many) complexities of living the London life is that there exists, in the same space, <i>both</i> a large proportion of empty houses <i>and</i> a shortage of housing. this is England. we pride ourselves on having train companies that have no wish to run trains, bus companies that have no wish to provide a bus service, roads constantly closed do to maintenance or works and cycle lanes everywhere which cyclists refuse to use, instead braving the road. as you can (kind of) see in the above image, presented in the greater glory and good of Commodore 64 mode, someone has taken to defacing a no (or limited) parking notice with their views on the subject of what to do with landlords. </div><div><br /></div><div>when he finally leaves the office he should never have had, and if London do <i>not</i> rid themselves of his folly this year then they get what they deserve, Sadiq Khan shall - at best - be vaguely remembered in a not good way. the fine city has been crippled and ruined by this man who clearly hates the place. his ruthless parking restrictions are just the cherry on the cake of his general war on motorists, doing all he can to prevent anyone at all from ever driving anywhere ever again. the sooner he f***s off to the same place of irrelevance as, say, Bercow, the better. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbSAFqDjikGJvw-ClweCLMQK7VMMCwVwXeXDc2R-LpcpJldHFI2V63VO2aFHajL3uZBxuBQf6fyENimRmXOgFT-zh95T__4arda5ckuiJX37tdjD44kMVT0MaLhLU1c3tTGYymiYugo0DAIgxEouH3Qlg3x5cfU0NHIiLsBroattgOA3rQNF1EQ/s454/02%20cat%20statue%20of%20catford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="454" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbSAFqDjikGJvw-ClweCLMQK7VMMCwVwXeXDc2R-LpcpJldHFI2V63VO2aFHajL3uZBxuBQf6fyENimRmXOgFT-zh95T__4arda5ckuiJX37tdjD44kMVT0MaLhLU1c3tTGYymiYugo0DAIgxEouH3Qlg3x5cfU0NHIiLsBroattgOA3rQNF1EQ/w481-h271/02%20cat%20statue%20of%20catford.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>i actually managed to capture the above picture, taken from a passenger seat, quite by chance. yes, that very much is the fabled cat statue of Catford. which makes me wonder why Dartford has statues of two of the <i>proper</i> members of the Stones instead of a dart, but anyway. yes, it is well worth going to see this, but the incumbent (at time of writing) mayor has placed three (or so) layers of driving tax and some parking fines on anyone wishing to go there. should for some reason you not have any wish to throw £100 or so at driving to see this, hope the picture helps. </div><div><br /></div><div>but, back to the defaced sign. i must say the purple pen used is a (really) lovely touch, and there is something quite engaging about the handwriting. just not sure about the sentiment. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFTTrMgvcrKKfXrCE9F4MbU9qj3lCMNTmWPBvuLtl9vQjmQ2htZ5QZU_fks91MapwJ-DeKZTUaHLnL4rWtMPyRQEOC1LYvYXf_My-dSmSPIuPIs0tL_7po6wxwZVDinY6Oo9Y58pSGiBbyatgT-QbjNI-kV545f3C0mm-Ca2JEiKODec0Pw9hoQ/s1010/03%20landlord%20complaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1010" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFTTrMgvcrKKfXrCE9F4MbU9qj3lCMNTmWPBvuLtl9vQjmQ2htZ5QZU_fks91MapwJ-DeKZTUaHLnL4rWtMPyRQEOC1LYvYXf_My-dSmSPIuPIs0tL_7po6wxwZVDinY6Oo9Y58pSGiBbyatgT-QbjNI-kV545f3C0mm-Ca2JEiKODec0Pw9hoQ/w484-h272/03%20landlord%20complaint.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><div>there is every likelihood that, in our society, some truly bad landlords operate. actually have, for purposes of <i>verk</i>, encountered one or two, but anyway. it is also likely there are a few good ones, too. so i am not certain "all" is appropriate here. further, i don't think you can just go around killing people on the basis of one aspect of their lives as if it defined them entire. do be careful giving the power to do so, as who knows, next something of you may be on that particular list. </div><div><br /></div><div>right, well, that's that for another insight into London (innit) thinking. i suppose, in many (or several, at the least) respects this is a quasi companion piece to someone in that there London who had an unexplained disdain for yuppies, which you can see (and read of) by <span style="color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2023/06/cant-be-bought-wont-be-owned.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a></span>. mostly, though, i would suggest, say or just ask if we can't all just get along. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-76259364983686237022024-02-10T11:59:00.075+00:002024-02-10T11:59:00.139+00:00it's only rock and rollhello there<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>every year, at least for the past few, i have done what i can to make sure there's at least one (1) post here which features a statue or statues. normally, notionally (or even nonchalantly, look you see) such pertains to ones outside football stadiums, or other such sporting concerns. not so this year. </div><div><br /></div><div>late <i>last</i> (2023) year was quite the time for all things Stones. for a start there was that album of theirs which was actually pretty good and sold several copies. then came news that, if they were not so already via their music and general existence, they were to be immortalised in the form of statues. well, two (2) of them at least. yes, the third one (or thing) you can see in the below what is not a statue would indeed be <i>moi</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-4F1edaCJvrt3c9PBXuzWHHT3ngLMxwJYWBc1Ed3TSxZEZab5SQ_bS3WsLIBuvcIEJG81JTllqTEMxV1C_6P1c9uIbqZUxsrjlM-7L4EYrapRuJ2HOKdiF4nn_KocxaVeP4qXhJaiwDKVr6fBj0O8EU5gmeDkdIUAHKyflg0KVxBKAsJN7zcLQ/s568/01%20with%20the%20stones%20statues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="426" height="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-4F1edaCJvrt3c9PBXuzWHHT3ngLMxwJYWBc1Ed3TSxZEZab5SQ_bS3WsLIBuvcIEJG81JTllqTEMxV1C_6P1c9uIbqZUxsrjlM-7L4EYrapRuJ2HOKdiF4nn_KocxaVeP4qXhJaiwDKVr6fBj0O8EU5gmeDkdIUAHKyflg0KVxBKAsJN7zcLQ/w503-h670/01%20with%20the%20stones%20statues.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>kind of a form of good fortune saw me needing to be in Dartford recently. the kind of element is that obscured by doubt sense of if it is wise to be there, but as it happens yes, for it provided a chance to go and see these fine statues of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. not sure if you can make it out, but the statues, sculptures or art installation is (as point of fact) called The Glimmer Twins. without going and looking it up, i am <i>fairly</i> certain that is the name the two of them used for any production credits they gone done on their albums. absolutely no idea why they didn't just use their names for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>one immediate question is why, of all Stones past and present (not sure if there shall be future), was it that only these two were celebrated so. a potentially mean, if not catty, answer would consist of wording suggesting they are the only two proper <i>active</i> members of the band left. maybe, and i think this is likely, it is that these, other than obviously being the core heart of the band, were the only two what had that great fortune to have been born in Dartford. i have no idea where the others were born, but i do seem to remember Ronnie Wood making a big deal (if not fuss) that he was the first land born child of his otherwise water gypsy clan family. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuKs7ev2yM3rZ0gO1_bfog0jaHt_Iy1vcf83E41twPicTpYzssBhDUGgg7Pq9R0uN7zFLJjC09T3A8wM5VVY5rIa2uDSY_JkMCTq9pFGUIDPrhIXHleE1xEezVBxWB0nS3hL7vOOdyZtuH-7Y_1fAmt_PVSy2ZcoPWxzGm1v6A0xs0K_-iqhosQ/s568/02%20jagger%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="894" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuKs7ev2yM3rZ0gO1_bfog0jaHt_Iy1vcf83E41twPicTpYzssBhDUGgg7Pq9R0uN7zFLJjC09T3A8wM5VVY5rIa2uDSY_JkMCTq9pFGUIDPrhIXHleE1xEezVBxWB0nS3hL7vOOdyZtuH-7Y_1fAmt_PVSy2ZcoPWxzGm1v6A0xs0K_-iqhosQ/w503-h894/02%20jagger%20statue.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>doubtful that i need to clarify this, but yes, that is Mick Jagger, or Sir Michael Jagger, above. i would suspect (or imagine) there are loads and loads of more better pictures of the statues around the internet, but as you are here hopefully this gives you some idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>is it worth going to Dartford to see these statues? from that complete question, yes. if you were to ask only the first five (5) words of that question, not really, not really no. so hopefully you kind of get the kind of good fortune i did and happen to be <i>reasonably</i> close to the area anyway, so as to go and see them. and yes, one does have to google "glimmer twins" to get the map location. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLlrp0WBZPyB0FxNOaH9LRPblCdh1mKKkhI7CuvTjBH7FGqDn9EWFNVtG-gW-ta4WsnKns05hbdFiVh3SKCecxRZW7U_uO7pTF6AJWtBvH6ABWNXd9N_RJJH1rhio9eV0rKShKbyZVbvm3-i9AZ9VN05Uc2NnEnelIshADaPQ46a15QewgVGbRQ/s568/03%20richards%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="892" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLlrp0WBZPyB0FxNOaH9LRPblCdh1mKKkhI7CuvTjBH7FGqDn9EWFNVtG-gW-ta4WsnKns05hbdFiVh3SKCecxRZW7U_uO7pTF6AJWtBvH6ABWNXd9N_RJJH1rhio9eV0rKShKbyZVbvm3-i9AZ9VN05Uc2NnEnelIshADaPQ46a15QewgVGbRQ/w502-h892/03%20richards%20statue.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>being fair would be to also present a closer look at the Keith Richards statue too, so here it is. the modern day revisionism is appalling, really. a much more better, authentic and realistic statue of Keith would, of course, feature him either having a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, or stuck in the head part at the end of the neck of his guitar. to this day i <i>still</i> have no idea why in America he gets called "Keith Richard", but going on how they drop the "u" from so many words it is little wonder they get spooked and scared of the odd "s", i suppose. </div><div><br /></div><div>not the first time i have expressed doubts about the point (or wisdom) of presenting some video of a thing identified as not really moving (much), but here we are. should you wish to watch about eight seconds of video of these statues, then the video you wish for is below. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='516' height='429' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzDqyZPREbvThoyVISfFa8lud1p0dLy0nLmQN7GMg0AOR07yDC8L2ABKV0U2bHawYDI-hk7EHP15xE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>great stuff, i hope you agree. </div><div><br /></div><div>yes, i am <i>somewhat</i> intrigued by the lack of Ronnie Wood here. there are all sorts of reasons not to have an actual statue of him, but still. considering how much he celebrates his own art, does feel rather strange that they didn't get him to do the statues. actually, now that i think (as i wrote this), they may well have asked him, and in return got a massive statue of Ronnie Wood. just go and look at the (very expensive) paintings he does of the band; he always makes himself fractionally bigger than the rest of the group. artists privilege, i suppose.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0ksMQh9cStjOOekKjzNAjgMJbeVmF9M-d68cd45EMkCGdlzSwYg9-ZuLMakmBywuBjDTDPuZNElvScgNmkn3JjbySTvwOSsP-WqoJVzLaXjWHBcTqDbksf14Cvtc6Lj1tXp6Cu8dWMZERZ-SPc4cTm7j9wELggsJZTDSxqkyO6OVAhOHX8ZSmA/s1010/04%20stones%20statues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1010" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0ksMQh9cStjOOekKjzNAjgMJbeVmF9M-d68cd45EMkCGdlzSwYg9-ZuLMakmBywuBjDTDPuZNElvScgNmkn3JjbySTvwOSsP-WqoJVzLaXjWHBcTqDbksf14Cvtc6Lj1tXp6Cu8dWMZERZ-SPc4cTm7j9wELggsJZTDSxqkyO6OVAhOHX8ZSmA/w505-h284/04%20stones%20statues.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><br /><div>finishing this off then is the image above, which is <i>kind of</i> the two (2) statues but very much without me there disturbing the view, </div><div><br /></div><div>actually, i do hope these statues do bring a lot of people to Dartford, so as to see them. it may well inspire some other towns and cities to erect (so to speak) similar for legends from their area. we, the wider group known as the British, may have got a fair few things wrong, but we do tend to get our rock and roll perfectly spot on full tilt correct. this should be celebrated far more. even if it is already celebrated a fair bit. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-56137512446462720852024-02-07T09:25:00.055+00:002024-02-07T09:25:00.336+00:00just another rainbowhowdy pop pickers<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>yes, indeed i <i>am</i> aware that this is only getting published about a month after its release. i have just been a bit busy with other things, look you see, and besides, i very much doubt many (if any) are waiting for my comments prior to spending five (or so) minutes listening to this song. with this song being the semi quasi surprise first "proper" collaboration between Liam "Oasis" Gallagher and John "The Stone Roses" Squire, no less. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>so, two (2) music legends in general but Manchester in specific have, after a few months of speculation, gone and announced a joint venture. well, a few months of speculation <i>and</i> several years (actually, oddly, decades) of Liam idol worshipping John Squire (rightly). apparently a full blown album is on the way, but just not <i>quite</i> ready for release yet. in the interim, then, we got the first single from this rather quite class sounding collaboration, <i>Just Another Rainbow</i>. indeed i very nearly did sprain my wrist with the speed i got my wallet out to order it the moment it was announced. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy5n7Y1nUmenK3BLruFaYrkxppoQBOHzRFGuXpmpk1ZA8If0EV2Dp7B_lw7PGCkz4bXQbUld2rGEJfaXbsGzGr6hIFoy9P27obbfoc62X2WDEIBfl7IhyCGg-uRVmICracsW_w31SiEMWjrGreUrjh3rJekSwza4U0XTigh23vNGlEpyFyeISSA/s757/01%20just%20another%20rainbow%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy5n7Y1nUmenK3BLruFaYrkxppoQBOHzRFGuXpmpk1ZA8If0EV2Dp7B_lw7PGCkz4bXQbUld2rGEJfaXbsGzGr6hIFoy9P27obbfoc62X2WDEIBfl7IhyCGg-uRVmICracsW_w31SiEMWjrGreUrjh3rJekSwza4U0XTigh23vNGlEpyFyeISSA/w528-h396/01%20just%20another%20rainbow%20c64.png" width="528" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>no, this is not the first venture for the two in the realm of vibes (music). other than the celebrated guest appearances Squire made with both Oasis and Liam on his own (both Knebworth, though), it was so that the debut (and only) album off of The Seahorses (an anagram of He Hates Roses) featured a song called <i>Love Me And Leave Me</i>, which is credited to both John Squire and Liam Gallagher. odd that Liam would write a song for another band before he wrote one for Oasis, but still. actually he probably very well <i>did</i> write a song for Oasis, but, hey, Noel. </div><div><br /></div><div>and is it any good? you have heard worse from both. indeed you have heard (considerably) better from both, too. oh. so it's kind of quite better than average, decent. singing wise Liam does that sort of softer voice what he does from time to time, like on that <i>All You Are Dreaming Of</i> (i <i>think</i> that is what it was called) semi-Christmas single he did a few years ago. for the business end of the music, as in the guitar parts, it starts off a bit psychedelic <i>Waterfall</i>, and then Squire gets two (or so) minutes in the middle of the song to do all that "blues traveller" kind of thing. you know, the type that went down ever so well with everyone on the <i>Second Coming</i> album. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYYt5NjviSYrA3Uvh32KpmhoTK_ORvBBFj8BVvcS99JgQobbOMUQfZcAcSfha5seYFz9ke1CHl0baEvTShxuujh30ImBA41aV23wcrdscjpviea7ikcSXzIAYhWuaF9PbZfslKncNcIl-4HEzBvxj9H_c2kwNlPOnW5R1KB23vcIYikKggxaofQ/s757/02%20just%20another%20rainbow%20vhs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYYt5NjviSYrA3Uvh32KpmhoTK_ORvBBFj8BVvcS99JgQobbOMUQfZcAcSfha5seYFz9ke1CHl0baEvTShxuujh30ImBA41aV23wcrdscjpviea7ikcSXzIAYhWuaF9PbZfslKncNcIl-4HEzBvxj9H_c2kwNlPOnW5R1KB23vcIYikKggxaofQ/w531-h398/02%20just%20another%20rainbow%20vhs.jpg" width="531" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>my favourite bit, and i intend not to be contrarian or obtuse or what have you, was unexpectedly the drums on it. right proper boss, they are, to be sure. but that is absolutely not to say the focus of attention here, being Liam and John, is to be left aside. just really thought it would be all showcasing them two, so splendid to hear an absolute bangin' drums on it. </div><div><br /></div><div>how has the reaction been across the board for it? most reviews have tended to use one word in particular, and that is "predictable". i suppose <i>Just Another Rainbow</i> sounds exactly as one would have imagined it to, but this is no bad thing. regardless of how private and quiet he may be, John Squire is not someone who will deny the fans what they want. the lifeblood of Liam is, of course, giving fans precisely (and exactly) what they crave, it's giving that which keeps elevating him higher and higher.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrLBsqd1m9zOhlf5CdyPUZiJIBG-keVIvN6Ac16hi2PWi11pv3uQMFEDJ1j93yG0H-e4AwfN1hniiUSr1zue3MOs5xNNzl3JkU2hyphenhyphenTZw1ylDjz46QE_yK84hmQ9Z-6FuOJ7xdnUZ4YV_l2BLi62aKW1RoyPws57w8rPCMsADsekD8yaK8hGM8hA/s293/03%20just%20another%20rainbow%20back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="293" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrLBsqd1m9zOhlf5CdyPUZiJIBG-keVIvN6Ac16hi2PWi11pv3uQMFEDJ1j93yG0H-e4AwfN1hniiUSr1zue3MOs5xNNzl3JkU2hyphenhyphenTZw1ylDjz46QE_yK84hmQ9Z-6FuOJ7xdnUZ4YV_l2BLi62aKW1RoyPws57w8rPCMsADsekD8yaK8hGM8hA/w531-h399/03%20just%20another%20rainbow%20back.jpg" width="531" /></a></div><br /><div>where two after this? according to snippets (or if you will, highlights) it seems of the ten tracks proposed for the album they have 8 (eight) what they are happy with, and some work to do, i take it, on the other two (2). there have been a few <i>gentle</i> comments about some gigs, but one needs to be mindful of Liam being full tilt committed to a fairly extensive tour celebrating 30 (!!) years of <i>Definitely Maybe</i>. not <i>too</i> sure how much of a rush i would be in to see the pair of them live, but we shall see how it goes as and when (<i>if</i>) they announce any gigs. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>understated is perhaps the best and most surprising one word way to describe <i>Just Another Rainbow</i>. considering just how many anthems these two have been involved in the creation of, songs that shall almost certainly (maybe) outlive us all, it's a bit unexpected that they didn't hit the accelerator and go full tilt with the debut release. still, let's see what the album holds. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i> </i></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-25060564355342031822024-02-04T01:11:00.061+00:002024-02-04T01:11:00.157+00:00pointy pointed pointlessheya<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>despite what you may (or might) think from the title, with particular emphasis on the latter word, no. this is nothing (really) to do with that quiz show, look you see, or even the <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-tall-one-out-of-that-show.html" target="_blank">former Sonia backing dancer</a></span> what became really, really famous off of the show. just another instance of a shiny thing drawing my attention and costing me coins. </div><div><br /></div><div>i was, recently, out and about. doing a bit of a wander around with rare free time that i, apparently, had no fixed idea on how to fill or what to do. whilst doing this a rather distinct, somewhat unusual and reasonably curious item in a shop window caught my eye. so to speak. as in not literally. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQgbZ9q0HmmEZMM1j8ejeKFpoFC02HnxotqHZgRdHNRc3TIy3wrHuAuiOGjzqT9u_Kmk5_3tYQsql8UUPdyTdF6AZOtShHiZZDiNa0t77-HzF8XgKgxUlkzjIq54wakqdPJr49aaljaQ3_p5LFAZAzC1mqCVsYMyIDe1NEaMowbiWEo6w4ZGn1A/s276/01%20bullet%20usb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="276" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQgbZ9q0HmmEZMM1j8ejeKFpoFC02HnxotqHZgRdHNRc3TIy3wrHuAuiOGjzqT9u_Kmk5_3tYQsql8UUPdyTdF6AZOtShHiZZDiNa0t77-HzF8XgKgxUlkzjIq54wakqdPJr49aaljaQ3_p5LFAZAzC1mqCVsYMyIDe1NEaMowbiWEo6w4ZGn1A/w507-h381/01%20bullet%20usb.png" width="507" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>as you can (probably) clearly see above, what with it being presented in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, a bullet shaped thing. no, not an actual bullet, it is a bit large for such. perhaps i should have included something for scale. also not a <i>love</i> bullet, for those thinking that way. nor is it, ostensibly, a key ring, but it does appear to function as one also. if you want it to. </div><div><br /></div><div>this is, as point of fact, one of them so-called "USB" memory sticks, or flash drives, or what have you. oh. i have, or had, no particular or incidental need for such, but it was on offer for £3, so i deemed it curious enough to purchase it on the spot. the (memory) size of it is 8GB. a size which, a decade or so ago, would have made it a quite large one (so to speak) but now i don't think they make them of such a small nature no more. don't know, really. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRkuFjSCvD7PJc6SRowg16QTNHOPAff3Kw13kM3i_ZZYYJEhPEbrLPTD05deZUYTGmLOpeJltT-J-r67mZXXwAV4mDFdFXsqUs9FsfFyhdC5ECCn8xorDR2m__JwiEpqrP1GPA_efsDrR_Ouvx9X4y0r55FVVJMoacTeBo6J50mkFEN7d_CRnTQ/s710/02%208gb%20v%20128gb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="710" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRkuFjSCvD7PJc6SRowg16QTNHOPAff3Kw13kM3i_ZZYYJEhPEbrLPTD05deZUYTGmLOpeJltT-J-r67mZXXwAV4mDFdFXsqUs9FsfFyhdC5ECCn8xorDR2m__JwiEpqrP1GPA_efsDrR_Ouvx9X4y0r55FVVJMoacTeBo6J50mkFEN7d_CRnTQ/w510-h395/02%208gb%20v%20128gb.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>for comparison, or to entertain (if you find this sort of thing entertaining), here it is next to a regular looking memory stick / flash drive what i bought at some random stage of 2023. which was, at the time of writing at least, last year. indeed the "regular" one is a 128GB drive, and cost somewhere south of £10, off of Tesco as i recall. mostly i bought it via the vagaries of the temptation of price. i had and have no real use for that one either, hence it remaining in packaging. quite nicely this (or that) pic shows where the connector is to shove into a PC (or whatever). a bit bulky and cumbersome to use on the design of some devices, in truth.</div><div><br /></div><div>not entirely sure all <i>that</i> many people still use these drives, or sticks. it's all "uploading it to the cloud" or "streaming" now, isn't it? from what i recall the main use of these devices were to (ahem) borrow films and tele shows off of an internet via a computer or what have you, then put this stick in the tele, or dvd player, to watch them. i suppose now most just have devices plugged into their tele what streams, officially or otherwise, what they fancy directly. lament the dying art of physical piracy if you will. </div><div><br /></div><div>maybe some (a select few) of you may wish to see a bit of a "think piece" on how a bullet can be seen as a metaphor for a love letter, or vice versa. with vice versa likely being more better. over to you, then, Frank, with a severe warning that the below video is absolutely <i>not</i> for everyone. be careful with that play button, now. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='526' height='437' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5zAD1pfTeyMBG4XObrzQ07GY5cUIXXYKGo2BjtK6nF5746Qjk6JKrwmvU-Y3UHKND7Ems9Hz2NQE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>people like to do polls, or votes, on things. some of these are film related, with a few being on the subject of who is (or was) the greatest ever screen villain. routinely such are won by the likes of Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, Dracula, Blofeld out of <i>James Bond</i> or even that shark. i would have thought the answer, or result, would always be Frank Booth out of <i>Blue Velvet</i>. those who watch this film routinely cannot sleep properly for days or weeks after the fact, for when they close their eyes their minds conspire to torment and scare them with a wide eyed Frank Booth staring at them. or maybe that's just me. </div><div><br /></div><div>giving the matter some thought, i suppose Spiros uses these memory drive stick things a bit. you might think he does so to transport important legal documents, but no. i generally switch off when he starts saying these things, but from what i remember he often films instances in public restroom facilities when he makes short term but mutually beneficial friendships with men of a similar proclivity. he has, somehow, obtained several flash drives or memory sticks branded with corporate logos from financial institutions. every now and then he shall add the mutually beneficial part of a video he has taken on to one of these sticks, and then leave it in a taxi, or on the tube, or perhaps even (in one case in particular) on a plane. you would have to ask him why. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMzh8ePnAL4itWiOnru01OR-SmS3anL6GotwQGrduGlDF0_WghVNrGLstjSFVl-pvnBY80bKCmr8Szkp8_yQMSg_G_zbx3NiMDwZsbnXhBNOUag_G3e6j2dlUwFAcCbo2uOgsdTdTq49iLc0zUbfhVPXbJbnKP6gKcWMFkXfwCbP-qdkhTMwlhw/s1009/03%20bullet%20usb%208gb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1009" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMzh8ePnAL4itWiOnru01OR-SmS3anL6GotwQGrduGlDF0_WghVNrGLstjSFVl-pvnBY80bKCmr8Szkp8_yQMSg_G_zbx3NiMDwZsbnXhBNOUag_G3e6j2dlUwFAcCbo2uOgsdTdTq49iLc0zUbfhVPXbJbnKP6gKcWMFkXfwCbP-qdkhTMwlhw/w513-h289/03%20bullet%20usb%208gb.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><br /><div>owing to the shape and dimensions of this device there is little chance of me using it as an actual flash drive or memory stick. a smaller sized one, or even one of them "micro sd" things what one shoves into a (non-Apple, of course) phone would be more likely used. but, even then, i am not sure when i even last used a conventional shaped one. </div><div><br /></div><div>but, still, i suppose i do now own this one. or i am (at least) the present, incumbent custodian of it. maybe i shall just (ahem) borrow some films off of the internet what have "bullet" in the title, or things that sound a bit like that (yes, Steve McQueen), to store on here so as to make some form of statement. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-26968972832801944242024-02-01T09:25:00.023+00:002024-02-01T09:25:00.146+00:00sssshhhhhhhh.........well, hello<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>do you know, i am not entirely sure (so also not close to certain, look you see) that i have the correct spelling in place for the title of this. truly, it is so, both here and in my life outside, that spelling has come to be a sort of abstract, theoretical thing for me. yet i for some reason have concerns about presenting a proper way of wording that "ssssshhhhhhh" sound one makes when they are indicating something should not be spoken, or general kept quite quiet. </div><div><br /></div><div>anyway, here we are. be it that you are a regular reader of this or have just elected to <span style="color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2024/01/see-my-stumble-see-my-fall.html" target="_blank">click here</a></span>, it may be so that you are aware of me having a David Bowie calendar up on the wall for the year this year (2024). a major motivation for this (other than it being who it is one of) was the picture (image) used for the month that is this month, at least at time of publication. which is february, for clarification. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWhVu-c8RX85uLo8sFZUc8jUuYqUkWb2QG_JYGOf0gKMITJBvuiEQB8zJ0oNmSmCkMIFcdcOHUyHAbtVhy5YX8fxrDD9jmujGFzVmcSlWJA8GmIQQYSX7NSN8Qo4X2W6aB0ri6DDz-wiJ7bpY6CBaCeP3RqhEosoFFyAbA-8zAIdlCsKvfGmOEQ/s757/01%20ssshhhh%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWhVu-c8RX85uLo8sFZUc8jUuYqUkWb2QG_JYGOf0gKMITJBvuiEQB8zJ0oNmSmCkMIFcdcOHUyHAbtVhy5YX8fxrDD9jmujGFzVmcSlWJA8GmIQQYSX7NSN8Qo4X2W6aB0ri6DDz-wiJ7bpY6CBaCeP3RqhEosoFFyAbA-8zAIdlCsKvfGmOEQ/w489-h651/01%20ssshhhh%20c64.png" width="489" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>it thus felt appropriate, or apt (pick one), to display images of that month on the calendar as and when it arrived. which is of the day today, or now. my presumption or assumption is that via presenting in the form of the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode (and VHS below) all of this kindly neatly steps aside of any provenance concerns. not that i believe, or think, that them what made this particular calendar had much in the way of concern for rights, etc. could be wrong, but probably not. </div><div><br /></div><div>so far as i am aware (and i have not looked) this image of Bowie only really came out and into the eyes and mind of we, the general public, after his passing. i don't ever remember seeing it other than in the last five (5) or so years. which is apt, if you are aware of a certain song. this has, as i am fairly sure i mentioned (once or twice) before, a firm favourite one. not entirely sure why, probably just the whole unspoken side to it all. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g_0GrmaG8oJAc_gkSfTR_Swt5fC_wYgg5eLrDH444vOs3z1FhSQnRgxB-yJM_CO-RtnZCDF8JTn5aN-_9IdzDNAlBcmbZFtNRvmspYDZAlaztwugdEF3NQwbkqpN6UaDSAK8F4kcCfADu6E9c_pexSTXbYEJCbxkLgPDjJvZTY9KKKuwqWGLkw/s293/02%20ssshhhh%20vhs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="293" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9g_0GrmaG8oJAc_gkSfTR_Swt5fC_wYgg5eLrDH444vOs3z1FhSQnRgxB-yJM_CO-RtnZCDF8JTn5aN-_9IdzDNAlBcmbZFtNRvmspYDZAlaztwugdEF3NQwbkqpN6UaDSAK8F4kcCfADu6E9c_pexSTXbYEJCbxkLgPDjJvZTY9KKKuwqWGLkw/w490-h368/02%20ssshhhh%20vhs.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /><div>my suspicion, or instinct, is that no, i shall not be showcasing (or showing off) every single month as it is presented on this Bowie calendar. but, that said, there are also further really smart images, so perhaps one or two shall pop up. especially if i feel short of something to write. </div><div><br /></div><div>right, well, off and on i go to do other things of stuff. possibly upside down. kind of. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-56582240676870540002024-01-28T02:06:00.190+00:002024-01-28T02:06:00.137+00:00more filmshey<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>so, yes, then, following on from the post what i gone done earlier this month, yet more films it is that i have watched. a grand(ish) total of 6 (six) of them shall be commented on here, look you see. yes, i do appreciate that mostly, or for most, watching a film is not all <i>that</i> special; at the least not so special that they feel compelled to commit it to internet comment. my time for doing this most normal of things is limited, however, so forgive the indulgence. </div><div><br /></div><div>as with the previous post (as mentioned) i had a rare bit of time free, with said time being (or happening) around, during or in that whole Christmas and New Year thing. the one of 2023 that turns into this year (at time of writing), 2024. for something of an unusual (if not peculiar) change, it was a lot of films i had not seen before, well, <i>mostly</i>. one of these here is one i am pretty sure i saw once before, but would not gamble on it being so. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Rdf4ZmjxA6nu4O1QmsVFKqguVdnLssGRUmPkZkWzcClAfJjlENZUkvOwnnuKvD-PMcaieIVGJQr-0qH9zQrYLEtCENxiWI1O4yZOU6jwVBHuUXZQT8A1s3HK1AxkqogvyNwPBPe3yo4zrptTnXTCSlYbU6wbkEbAO3CSIxP-ZZvvNr4750PQA/s584/01%20more%20films.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="584" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Rdf4ZmjxA6nu4O1QmsVFKqguVdnLssGRUmPkZkWzcClAfJjlENZUkvOwnnuKvD-PMcaieIVGJQr-0qH9zQrYLEtCENxiWI1O4yZOU6jwVBHuUXZQT8A1s3HK1AxkqogvyNwPBPe3yo4zrptTnXTCSlYbU6wbkEbAO3CSIxP-ZZvvNr4750PQA/w507-h459/01%20more%20films.png" width="507" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>these all got watched, as you can (kind of) see above via the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, in fancy video. which would be blu ray. no, i am not ever switching formats again. my suspicion is that this "4K" fiddles so much with older films that they are likely to be no longer what the maker(s) of such film(s) intended. being honest (as i normally would be here) the only reason i sought to move to this blu ray format was because it was the only way you could get a <i>proper</i> version of <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://leericketts.blogspot.com/2011/04/classic-cinema-mad-max-2.html">Mad Max 2</a></span>, for only on that disc can you get it complete (uncensored) <i>and</i> with the right name on it. </div><div><br /></div>which conveniently leads into the first of these films that i shall comment on (review implies an expectation i cannot deliver on), being <i>Three Thousand Years Of Longing</i>. no, it isn't really a film in the same feel or genre of <i>Mad Max</i>. yet it happened to be made by the same person. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8bzJPRStCQKdgrwzjciW7Z2P4XU37-JuiJSw-P5jzfgrkbCHMbmdgvDpmX8H_zzah4N0aKpNUVncT3ryC6XYyysaTO28LPIl9sp1AsItI4VrMlDjeDkzDC7MPSvWyatynN0OzQiDXC_IuWiI7cnTKI4WJDDRH-0eI6sd_yKB_VqNGzMu36Oqig/s551/02%20300%20years%20of%20longing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="535" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8bzJPRStCQKdgrwzjciW7Z2P4XU37-JuiJSw-P5jzfgrkbCHMbmdgvDpmX8H_zzah4N0aKpNUVncT3ryC6XYyysaTO28LPIl9sp1AsItI4VrMlDjeDkzDC7MPSvWyatynN0OzQiDXC_IuWiI7cnTKI4WJDDRH-0eI6sd_yKB_VqNGzMu36Oqig/w509-h524/02%20300%20years%20of%20longing.png" width="509" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>by no means is it that i know much of anything about marketing (or advertising), but still. i am <i>really</i> not sure that having "by the maker of <i>Mad Max Fury Road</i>" on the box is wise. yes, it is a true statement, the same person directed both. anyone watching this video (disc) on the basis of that comment, though, would be (i suspect) somewhat disappointed that <i>Three Thousand Years Of Longing</i> lacks any sort of barbaric post apocalyptic wasteland violence. </div><div><br /></div><div>quite simply this film, this <i>Three Thousand Years Of Longing</i>, is a truly beautiful, uplifting, breath of fresh air sort of thing. i was recommended this off of someone and i shall always be grateful for such a kind gesture of suggestion. so yes, i recommend it too. </div><div><br /></div><div>ostensibly the plot is a kind of vague yet direct variation of an <i>Aladdin</i> or rudimentary 'genie in a bottle' with the requisite three wishes sort of thing. ultimately it's a kind of love letter, or love film if you will, to the perpetual importance (and beauty) of storytelling. not since <i>The Princess Bride</i> have a watched a film so wonderful dedicated to the sheer joy of telling a story. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPsj24c_4C4cr4c4BDtiE2zZGjI5T21EGnP8CLVER3ytZBYeTxs5iD6yXgqTO_b7EfhUo2bL6D56aWsY-qnpYVFLcnEvmLWW2v1roJD-btnaq5s35c0alC5G8D2mdTZ-JeLd1QMgdUliqklFAtEHTtPg95tIQ57SpveEQ2NxdxuXY-AHwopoh4g/s757/02%20escape%20to%20athena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPsj24c_4C4cr4c4BDtiE2zZGjI5T21EGnP8CLVER3ytZBYeTxs5iD6yXgqTO_b7EfhUo2bL6D56aWsY-qnpYVFLcnEvmLWW2v1roJD-btnaq5s35c0alC5G8D2mdTZ-JeLd1QMgdUliqklFAtEHTtPg95tIQ57SpveEQ2NxdxuXY-AHwopoh4g/w510-h679/02%20escape%20to%20athena.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>now, then, the one (1) of these films i am not entirely sure if i had seen before. or previously. for some reason i have a hazy (possibly wonky) memory of watching this one, <i>Escape To Athena</i>, on the tele one 80s era Christmas. i could be mistaken. what i do know is that i am in a Sir Roger appreciation group on one strand of social media. mostly we just share images of Sir Roger, or post a statement like wasn't Sir Roger great, and we all say yes. of late a few promo stills from this one have featured in that group, so i decided to pick up a copy. besides, Christmas is a time to watch Sir Roger films. </div><div><br /></div><div>plot? hmn. something something Greece in World War 2, something something prisoner of war camp, something something valuable Greek relics and artefacts, something something steal them and escape. mostly this film appears to be an excuse for a quite impressive cast to get together for a good time and put together an almost coherent film. one of those ones you can watch again and again, especially when you get to see Richard Roundtree do this - </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='526' height='438' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwLdeNIxx7s7Klny3yQ_yoBj3or41ObBzfZ4EofLcrCwOR0vgJhUeKs2uL2Bq109wJ-xGCbC2af5dE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>well, you will (or did) get to see him if you pressed play on the video above. and indeed that was no less than David Niven you get a glimpse of, in a most dapper cardie. the remainder of the cast features the likes of Telly Savalas, who(m) played, as he always seemed to, a Greek sex machine god, Elliott Gould (post-Streisand version), Sonny Bono (<i>that</i> one, and <i>not</i> that <i>one</i>) and, of course, Sir Roger, when he was simply addressed as Roger Moore. </div><div><br /></div><div>deferential respect is very much at the fore with the latter, for the name of he (Roger Moore) comes up in massive letters during the credits. as to his part in the film, he plays a German soldier of some high ranking. yes, Roger does play the part with what one could reasonably define as a German accent. it is an accent what appears to come from the Shatner school of acting. interpret that as you will. certainly, yes, of course, <i>Escape To Athena</i> is one i would strongly suggest you watch. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25VwNQhS76UsLzmAdnYRWe-ndOCaM5zxLgRVWs9SPUGls1GdssMU8sz9JmrfUtikWzo-8B7I4a1Xd-tBsq0NAWraPYvsQCVB2ATof60D0j1pSK9V13ITl6pZRe2-GgTkIvJ0IwiXHpGagGlHr-0UG2paVljJhlF_4clEvYEWt2lr8tVTgp07ssw/s728/03%20oppenheimer%20barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="728" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25VwNQhS76UsLzmAdnYRWe-ndOCaM5zxLgRVWs9SPUGls1GdssMU8sz9JmrfUtikWzo-8B7I4a1Xd-tBsq0NAWraPYvsQCVB2ATof60D0j1pSK9V13ITl6pZRe2-GgTkIvJ0IwiXHpGagGlHr-0UG2paVljJhlF_4clEvYEWt2lr8tVTgp07ssw/w512-h321/03%20oppenheimer%20barbie.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>a bit of a (kind) of double bill presentation here, then, as i am assured by certain (news and what have you) outlets that <i>Oppenheimer</i> and <i>Barbie </i>were (are) the "best" of cinema 2023. i see. well, from what i recall, this is likely true in the financial sense, for i believe both made lots and lots of money, more than was anticipated and an awful lot in regards of the "new normal" since all of that plague stuff. probably up there with how much the excellent <i>Top Gun Maverick</i> made, as well as that <i>Avatar 2</i> which, like the original, everyone appears to have forgotten about. no, i did not watch that one and really have no intention of doing so, the original being so dull. </div><div><br /></div><div>going left to right, then, and <i>Oppenheimer</i> was quite the perplexing paradox. for a start it is a Christopher Nolan film. the phrase "in Nolan we trust" exists for a reason. make no mistake, this film is made with the quality he is associated with, you are talking of an effortless peer of (and i do not say this lightly) Kubrick. acting is also outstanding, with Cillian Murphy surely in line for awards, followed closely (in a supporting capacity) by Robert Downey Jnr. Matt Damon is also good, but strictly in a Matt Damon doing Matt Damon way. yet, ultimately, my sense was "why make this"? a three hour epic about a famous scientist type. showcasing any personal proclivities he had is a footnote to history; that he may regret what he did with his theory is a given. i suspect this shall go on to become the most celebrated, in terms of awards, film what Nolan does, but ultimately will be the least fondly remembered of his works. but that is not to take away from the rewarding experience of watching. </div><div><br /></div><div>conversely <i>Barbie</i> was clearly made to make money, via the medium of being a comedy with some musical numbers and a lurking (somewhat darkly) wry satirical comment on society, values, etc. a suspicion i had was that all of the jokes, if you will the value, were right there in the trailer. yet people, not that many speak to me, said no, see it, it's really, <i>really</i> goo. and, you know what, it is. if it had to be a choice between these two for "best" of 2023 then i would be full tilt <i>Barbie</i>. a film that makes one, or in this case <i>moi</i>, laugh, smile, cry, feel elevated and be served pause for thought, all in less (or fewer, if you like) than two hours. excellent. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ3uPVosYGNNjzUeMtAodTc5SuaMVhyphenhypheno4hT-H2PDsdw-a17AbSjpSamHLL2KLzRVez7kuzaNAuuOok3hC8O3EKx4sdQ613V57kw2eKPjeHKHVW-2ajruZjxrrKK5BCOvX98zCkqgX1MpYixwQoBSfsqQRaCmJOFKJdtHRskGAGJNplKCQPMIJsg/s752/04%20barbie%20oppenheimer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="752" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ3uPVosYGNNjzUeMtAodTc5SuaMVhyphenhypheno4hT-H2PDsdw-a17AbSjpSamHLL2KLzRVez7kuzaNAuuOok3hC8O3EKx4sdQ613V57kw2eKPjeHKHVW-2ajruZjxrrKK5BCOvX98zCkqgX1MpYixwQoBSfsqQRaCmJOFKJdtHRskGAGJNplKCQPMIJsg/w515-h372/04%20barbie%20oppenheimer.png" width="515" /></a></div><div><br /></div>undoubtedly other media (news) outlets have picked something different from these two as the by default or ostensible "best" of last year (2023). someone somewhere shall have made a hardly seen film about how brilliant lesbians and/or the EU all are, and that is the film the likes of Guardian, Observer, Metro and so on will have triumphed. once again i have not seen either <i>Napoleon</i> or <i>Killers Of The Flower Moon</i>. both are films i <i>hope</i> are good, but how it all went very quiet about them once they actually got me released has me somewhat hesitant. </div><div><br /></div><div>hesitant would be a very good (as in accurate) way to describe my approach to <i>Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny</i>. whereas i thoroughly enjoyed the original trilogy on release in the 80s, and still fondly consider <i>Raiders Of The Lost Ark</i> and <i>The Last Crusade</i>, i never really thought or felt further was needed. not a great deal of <i>Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull</i> said there was much, if any, story left to tell, did it? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR-7VC4ve96ZB3fi6LM7y9MiYRJ41uMeb6rjaBT3GPcPH3PHdj_GKprkAuz5fgQeMPR85CI6AegIC3g6TWHt7egvy_iLQAr511dWWk5uvjRxRdk_adyccTZdSBenrD4hLDYMr6UgR0oAX-PO1WzdI0XEYb77JLWzNoOfU1gy1bTckfKZKFDsLKw/s563/05%20indiana%20jones%205.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="503" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR-7VC4ve96ZB3fi6LM7y9MiYRJ41uMeb6rjaBT3GPcPH3PHdj_GKprkAuz5fgQeMPR85CI6AegIC3g6TWHt7egvy_iLQAr511dWWk5uvjRxRdk_adyccTZdSBenrD4hLDYMr6UgR0oAX-PO1WzdI0XEYb77JLWzNoOfU1gy1bTckfKZKFDsLKw/w514-h575/05%20indiana%20jones%205.png" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>opportunity, and indeed temptation, existed at the time of its release to go and see it at the cinema, or if you like at the pictures. this i declined. mostly due to the reported running time, being given as north of two hours, but that was backed up with reviews (and comments) of it being rather (somewhat dull). quite a few people declined to see it too, which led (i read) to it being quite a financial disaster. oh. when i have asked people why they did not see it, some said "because it will be streaming on Disney+ soon", which proved to be the case. most, however, said "<i>Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull</i>", as in they had no wish to get f****d over again. i did stand and consider the purchase in the shop for a bit, but of course eventually i bought the video (disc), but also didn't rush to watch. </div><div><br /></div><div>it turns out that this film, <i>Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny</i>, is actually pretty good. not exactly as great as the original three, but vastly superior to the 4th one. for context, it was entertaining viewing on Boxing Day morning (say around 10am), sat on the couch, when i could pause two or three (or 4) times and go for a cigarette. perhaps in a cinema it would have led to a numb backside and a yearning for it to end soon so i could appreciate Marlboro. </div><div><br /></div><div>without going into the plot (ancient lost relic of power sought after, etc), the "twist" at the end was sort of <i>kind of</i> worthy of that in <i>Raiders Of The Lost Ark</i>. that was my initial thought. on reflection, though, it did occur to me that the plot <i>could</i> be seen as a second rate <i>Da Vinci Code</i> (remember that?) knock off. either way, it works. </div><div><br /></div><div>now that they own vast swathes of cinema it will be interesting to see where, exactly, Disney goes in the pursuit of money. which is the only reason they make films. from what i can tell the <i>Marvel</i> films have reached saturation point and one of their major actors planned to be used for the next few years has got into some trouble. also, they have discovered that simple nostalgia is <i>not</i> a way to print money, with this one and the last two <i>Star Wars</i> films not going down too well. maybe they will just focus on making a quality product people actually wish to see, but far be it from me to suggest such. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie09lYMUg-bMqq3uipCPdpGqwdsOG_rUDUp4ZFVf6GqXEe8WrRiNyp1SS_nL28bXy-FKzhEykEm8xTZMwtFHjXGHx-AP_7R9x_KSs27PvQX9R9KVkvrzyBc7yG2K4P8-HvHsG7wOWNW_eqmFof8d-S5YjhZISUmRGH6WLM6_1HHscFAkkwxGhyoA/s757/06%20the%20flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie09lYMUg-bMqq3uipCPdpGqwdsOG_rUDUp4ZFVf6GqXEe8WrRiNyp1SS_nL28bXy-FKzhEykEm8xTZMwtFHjXGHx-AP_7R9x_KSs27PvQX9R9KVkvrzyBc7yG2K4P8-HvHsG7wOWNW_eqmFof8d-S5YjhZISUmRGH6WLM6_1HHscFAkkwxGhyoA/w515-h687/06%20the%20flash.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><div><br /></div>finally, then, or in conclusion for here, <i>The Flash</i>. sort of kind of linked to something in the previous paragraph, i believe this film "failed" mostly as one of the actors (i believe the ostensible title character, by default the protagonist) is now considered one of those "not nice" people what get boycotted, or cancelled in modern language. that's a shame, as i believe the "test audiences" ranted and raved at how excellent this film was. and they were not wrong, at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>truthfully i wasn't at all @rsed about this film. i am very much feeling fatigue from all these hero or super hero films. of course there was some curiosity about Michael Keaton returning to the role of Batman, but i assumed (as it turned out incorrectly) that all there was to that was right there in the trailers and related promotional material. both James and William spoke highly of it, so seeing it on sale for £8 (or a penny fewer than that) at HMV had me go sure, why not. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwvfU5k0xYO7A9yyltbRM6vBAFH3RWgnHjrXO9mHEe2_YZbXw0bUsk0xonlv0jwL9G8mCn8Ximqo9ayGhHvBMJ7ek93SQDHczLCWo51HtjjeSPhvZOzAhPyK3-2j62rgpl4-6cqSVuNH8mENot9kR2qAT6j4Sd47oO244RvhSAYQGChiYCBdQKA/s512/flash%20batman.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwvfU5k0xYO7A9yyltbRM6vBAFH3RWgnHjrXO9mHEe2_YZbXw0bUsk0xonlv0jwL9G8mCn8Ximqo9ayGhHvBMJ7ek93SQDHczLCWo51HtjjeSPhvZOzAhPyK3-2j62rgpl4-6cqSVuNH8mENot9kR2qAT6j4Sd47oO244RvhSAYQGChiYCBdQKA/w518-h388/flash%20batman.gif" width="518" /></a></div><br /><div>glad that i did, really. this was excellent. as in really, <i>really</i> f*****g good. i have no interest at all in the character <i>The Flash</i> (or the actor), so it was just as well they decided to make this <i>pretty much</i> just a straightforward <i>Batman</i> film, in all but name. all the ingredients which led to the "superhero" boom at the box office are here - it's witty, perfectly paced, full of tense action (with surprises) and superbly acted by all. further, the plot features one of the best, more intelligent explorations of the challenges of messing about with time / history that i have seen. this is a film i shall certainly watch again. might even dig out the original two Keaton <i>Batman</i> films on the back of it. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>what a shame the ostensible lead did whatever he did, or got accused of whatever (no i have not read up, i am not particularly interested) it was that seems to have ended any chance of major success for this film. it would be fair to say that the DC comics films, at least since <i>Dark Knight Rises</i> (yet i really, really liked <i>Man Of Steel</i>) haven't won over audiences. this <i>could</i> have been a turning point for that, as truly this really was brilliant. unexpectedly so. </div><div><br /></div><div>phew. well, that's that for this post. six (6) films i was overall very glad to have had the chance to sit down and watch. but now, alas, duty (as in <i>verk</i>) calls. my chances of getting to watch all that many more films in an immediate sense are <i>somewhat</i> limited, but you never know. it may be so that i take the odd break here and there, and use that time to watch a few more. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-78817742961583320742024-01-24T01:29:00.041+00:002024-01-24T01:29:00.144+00:00an e for an i, an i for an eheya<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>just another observance (or sighting, look you see) from my travels. also a kind of, bit of object lesson in not assuming that what you see turns out to be what you saw. or something like that; a bit profound but with more better wording that i would seem incapable of would be nice. </div><div><br /></div><div>as fate would have it (or just a plain simple decision) i got to ride in the passenger seat for a while. or i was "shotgun", as our American friends like to term it. this allowed me to look more closely at my surroundings, and indeed take images (pictures) off of my phone with a camera welded to it. like, for instance, this one. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EBEuZR6sBRNmdFlu7gCFXOIpZDO05Qe6BOy1603FLi6XdiySvWFXlObJegiQMXsP6OD7n684Qo0XDBx-UWjVSGJmVj2aMKtbNWU3whz8Lghnyv3QUg3oONqvwAtadX5SRs13dboNGxmMmOuIiQJGZp69fCOD5rOKbKxR7EFGcVy3b7Rx6kAZiQ/s1111/01%20austin%20not%20austen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1111" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EBEuZR6sBRNmdFlu7gCFXOIpZDO05Qe6BOy1603FLi6XdiySvWFXlObJegiQMXsP6OD7n684Qo0XDBx-UWjVSGJmVj2aMKtbNWU3whz8Lghnyv3QUg3oONqvwAtadX5SRs13dboNGxmMmOuIiQJGZp69fCOD5rOKbKxR7EFGcVy3b7Rx6kAZiQ/w547-h307/01%20austin%20not%20austen.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><div><br /></div>you can probably guess what happened here, and why i scrambled (or rushed) to take images. it was indeed so that eye and mind combined to fill in things that were not there. so yes, i did in the first moment or so see this as "Jane Aust<i>e</i>n", and not the "Jane Aust<i>i</i>n" it actually is. oh. right. <div><br /></div><div>well, most, or the majority, of what i <i>could</i> write here would very much have needed that i to be an e, really. all sorts of comments would have been available, mostly related to using a celebrated author not known for her interest in electricity being used to endorse electrification. but, obviously, no. sure, i could speculate if this Austin of Jane had any association with (or connection to) either of the famous Steve Austin people, with <i>six million dollar man</i> of course being the best one. that feels like it would be a fair waste of your time, allowing for mine being there to waste. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqGgus0YNna9L1_o37XYBkjLIzoZzIRucdbMQ2kTwj8bZXBXChtZcqchYiBmIUYN1NbTbjdubPZfdtNAX18QRG9C1l4XzqxF6crKj3hoDvSSMfm1OKH49JjddiQwW_orFqjysaNWUy4ZllaAtQ-rz3clLS8r7uNxXK2hw54YEe_GJCC3jlVnURg/s380/02%20not%20austen%20but%20austin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="380" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqGgus0YNna9L1_o37XYBkjLIzoZzIRucdbMQ2kTwj8bZXBXChtZcqchYiBmIUYN1NbTbjdubPZfdtNAX18QRG9C1l4XzqxF6crKj3hoDvSSMfm1OKH49JjddiQwW_orFqjysaNWUy4ZllaAtQ-rz3clLS8r7uNxXK2hw54YEe_GJCC3jlVnURg/w548-h308/02%20not%20austen%20but%20austin.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><div><br /></div>in regards of what exactly goes on at this place, well, i am not <i>entirely</i> sure. going on the signs and the description, probably teaching people how to put electric in (or on) the various railway lines what are all over our nation. putting electric on (or in) railway lines is, presumably, one of the many ways them what do the trains find reason to actually <i>not</i> have trains running. just as, say, that squatter mayor, Sadiq Khan, absolutely hates London (innit) and the people of the place, them what run the trains really hate the idea of trains running and people using them. very strange. </div><div><br /></div><div>right, well, if i see anything else of remote interest (and should we be honest this is a most curious benchmark for such) i shall be sure to present it here. what else would i do? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-74105744942175379522024-01-20T08:08:00.044+00:002024-01-20T08:08:00.136+00:00restoration<p>hello there</p><p><br /></p><p>not really (or quite) one of my moans about people what have gone done changed things which they should not have, to be honest. this is more a celebratory (albeit qualified, look you see) consideration of what appears to be someone putting things back to the way they were. or making a restoration of better times. </p><p>i had reason to procure, or if you like purchase, some new shampoo. well, obviously new i suppose, for one would take as a given that there's not much of a second hand (or "pre loved") market for this. not that i was immediately "out" of shampoo, mind. the bottle i was currently using was close to a point of exhaustion, and i did have another ready anyway. but, well, one never knows what the next panic buy craze shall be, so i felt it best to get another.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmCD8qiiTZkLOeDpDg2pegKVf-rXMjfjC4AjDHI3HTbO6DmSAHfHcZsPu8atuISSkz2x1tYgjCpYPKGNB9SpmieXcBH1pUjWBpZZF_UPSjJF3tlPtnDi16_v4CXwZUu9sQpbmGpO0g_jQFyN2DhacMECgQ47T3lwB0RPxZ2QBAFm9Yxt7C40aJA/s757/01%20timotei%20green%20tea%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmCD8qiiTZkLOeDpDg2pegKVf-rXMjfjC4AjDHI3HTbO6DmSAHfHcZsPu8atuISSkz2x1tYgjCpYPKGNB9SpmieXcBH1pUjWBpZZF_UPSjJF3tlPtnDi16_v4CXwZUu9sQpbmGpO0g_jQFyN2DhacMECgQ47T3lwB0RPxZ2QBAFm9Yxt7C40aJA/w473-h630/01%20timotei%20green%20tea%20c64.png" width="473" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>delight, or sheer unbridled joy, descended upon me when i saw a most dearly beloved name back on the shampoo shelf. very much back where it belonged. yes, as you can (unusually) see above in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode, the greatest shampoo of all, timotei, is back. kind of. i looked and alas, no, the pinnacle of timotei shampoo, the one what has lemon in it, appears not to have been restored. but i shall accept this as a step towards a return to this. </div><div><br /></div><div>long term, if not regular, readers shall be aware that i am a devout discipline in the school of thinking that the best (greatest) shampoo ever is the type what has lemon shoved in it. this is based on a casual comment passed by Jason Donovan (<i>that</i> one) made in an interview in the 80s, when he revealed that he was partial to such shampoo. i have endeavoured to use this type (shampoo with lemon in it) ever since, but sadly most manufacturers of the stuff have ceased this practice. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52AvrRgoem8mhEPE9yCE-_SPAeWXoE8jqE8EWlkmNxZOdsLSD4o7YPsY7z6x54C7YJpeVjfYwrwMTvWSVne9vGU_60LMssYJElHcNTEHSyka9vlZCYxZLpYII7rv3BrJdTBym0A_FEjjJ4rHYcDCuYgsASaz3OzIwx76xXSSX7Bm6YZnaD43r2w/s833/02%20timotei%20c64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="625" height="631" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52AvrRgoem8mhEPE9yCE-_SPAeWXoE8jqE8EWlkmNxZOdsLSD4o7YPsY7z6x54C7YJpeVjfYwrwMTvWSVne9vGU_60LMssYJElHcNTEHSyka9vlZCYxZLpYII7rv3BrJdTBym0A_FEjjJ4rHYcDCuYgsASaz3OzIwx76xXSSX7Bm6YZnaD43r2w/w474-h631/02%20timotei%20c64.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><p>this is a purifying shampoo, then, as one can read (reasonably) clearly in the VHS mode image above. my thinking, or assumption, is that green tea extract (rather than just green tea) <i>might</i> be some sort of new century variation on lemon. granted, it may <i>not</i> be, but i am prepared to try. also i am prepared to look for the address details of timotei on the bottle and write to them, asking if they have plans to once again shove lemon into the shampoo what they do. </p><p>slowly and only in a few ways it is so that a return to more sensible times comes. even if only briefly there was those instances where we got marathon bars and opal fruits back with proper names. the decision to bring back timotei is, however, a bit of a game changer. once again we, the people of this nation, can use a proper shampoo. bravo. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-85821569755043503772024-01-16T07:36:00.005+00:002024-01-16T07:36:00.132+00:00paradox shatnergreetings<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>it is quite rare that i get to watch much, if any, television on a sunday. whereas i am not really going to discuss why here, know that it doesn't particularly pertain to any sort of religious concern. just one of those things, look you see. </div><div><br /></div><div>on, or during, the rare instances when i have a sunday as my own (to do with what i will) then a particular treat is the one channel here (UK) that basically shows <i>Columbo</i> repeats all day every sunday. quite class it is. which is even better when they show one (for i believe there are two) episode featuring the magnificence of Shatner. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1czivECDEAgaZmzjxiiJnoae-zB_NoTRD0c-dBF4elGv9lawHULRSUEiRwz7Tl6uwnjI5kgzkJR3jxpUE_dfdnYvry1uRp3U9GgjfglKft2Afu35w2B0YjzP841eC4uBKu8PS-VK_j4xhzL9J9Y52SjpNRCXFHbFRT25IgPc1TeLf4PJ7rx_zlg/s757/01%20shatner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1czivECDEAgaZmzjxiiJnoae-zB_NoTRD0c-dBF4elGv9lawHULRSUEiRwz7Tl6uwnjI5kgzkJR3jxpUE_dfdnYvry1uRp3U9GgjfglKft2Afu35w2B0YjzP841eC4uBKu8PS-VK_j4xhzL9J9Y52SjpNRCXFHbFRT25IgPc1TeLf4PJ7rx_zlg/w511-h383/01%20shatner.png" width="511" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>sometimes it is so that when i am indeed left to my own devices on a sunday they don't show one of the two (or however many) episodes what he blessed with an appearance. happily i am now able to counter this. a recent trip to a charity shop saw me find, and immediately (more or less) purchase a video (disc) what has three (3) episodes of <i>Columbo</i> on it. one of them is the celebrated edition off of the 70s what has Shatner in it, as pictured above. so far as i am aware this was his first ever appearance in the show. </div><div><br /></div><div>why is this episode so celebrated? it just so happens that Shatner is cast in the role of playing the greatest ever actor what the world has witnessed in it. needless to say this causes some (mass) debate and heated conversation. many would argue such a role is an absolute breeze for him, for by just turning up and consenting to be filmed he has immediately portrayed the world's greatest actor doing his thing. others may (and do) disagree, suggesting that accepting Shatner (in character) as the world's greatest actor calls on too much of a suspension of disbelief; that it disparages other actors too much. let me let you guess which side of this conversation i am on. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn0WB3AfhL97hQlgHhtPE4bxyvapGPrnsDOXqnoBR6yz_lYX-WCGTHqKepIAyOokGbE2HCDIa_LKhtP-sDMfsvYfIj2PSfXGPshT7bZXnG3xXSoW_8xol0-aN7dnSTNZXiZlHUfvTXC0SORB0N7DMnTLTIkBs6_onvmzbFjXP8G0OqHegjGGFiA/s512/02%20shatner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn0WB3AfhL97hQlgHhtPE4bxyvapGPrnsDOXqnoBR6yz_lYX-WCGTHqKepIAyOokGbE2HCDIa_LKhtP-sDMfsvYfIj2PSfXGPshT7bZXnG3xXSoW_8xol0-aN7dnSTNZXiZlHUfvTXC0SORB0N7DMnTLTIkBs6_onvmzbFjXP8G0OqHegjGGFiA/w509-h382/02%20shatner.gif" width="509" /></a></div><br /><div>from what i recall Shatner agreed, or consented, to be in a second episode (or edition) of this particular show, <i>Columbo</i>, in the 90s. mostly, or for the most part, i get distracted by his dapper pencil moustache when i watch that one. but i <i>think</i> he played the world' greatest writer, or lawyer or doctor or something in that one. </div><div><br /></div><div>here is where i shall more or leave this, then. you are free to continue thinking of the Shatner paradox, or if you like paradox Shatner, though. i do (obviously), frequently. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-47901626939652049472024-01-13T13:13:00.030+00:002024-01-13T13:13:00.143+00:00tolchocked by millicents<p>hi hi hi there droogies</p><p><br /></p><p>well, no, that above is not true. it is simply not the case, look you see, that your friend and humble narrator, being <i>moi</i>, was assaulted by the constabulary. my choice of title was purely for needless dramatic purposes. appy polly lodgies. </p><p>but still, you know, i <i>did</i> (indeed) have an encounter of sorts with a law enforcement official. recently, as in the past, not the future. i got stopped as part of what looked like a massive operation to catch people who may have been at the controls of a vehicle whilst intoxicated. or, in somewhat different words, they were doing a sting thing to try and catch drink drivers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6T3EVmQx7PYys90GxNl5hVtTWc0-6DRSvw_crRMxbDQm-nu73UJk1ROGFDo07ek81Iz5pxV3aGUi6xSxGHoVjTJMxmWrRC2RjwunpDvrMnUV9gzgg0DZJxCWy95kcQUOhXvPI0n6abeQ4NLdKfl9bUzu0d77UddfGIucpKrNd47uMyW4b9aVtA/s757/01%20breathalyser%20c64.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6T3EVmQx7PYys90GxNl5hVtTWc0-6DRSvw_crRMxbDQm-nu73UJk1ROGFDo07ek81Iz5pxV3aGUi6xSxGHoVjTJMxmWrRC2RjwunpDvrMnUV9gzgg0DZJxCWy95kcQUOhXvPI0n6abeQ4NLdKfl9bUzu0d77UddfGIucpKrNd47uMyW4b9aVtA/w486-h364/01%20breathalyser%20c64.png" width="486" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>pictured above, in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode (of course), is the bit of the breathalyser test what i had to blow into. the member of the constabulary who gone done tested me said i could keep it as a souvenir. cheers for that, since my taxes had likely paid for it. quite a curious test thing, and it took me a few goes to register a reading. so as to avoid any further needless drama, indeed it was so that my reading was zero, or whatever it is that reflects no alcohol present in my system. had there been, well, i would have had serious words with who(m)ever manufactured my coffee. </div><div><br /></div><div>the vagaries of language come to the fore again. our friends in America reading this shall no doubt be confused (and bewildered) by the term "breathalyser". for them the spelling, for some reason, is breathalyzer. beyond getting rid of perfectly good "u" letters in words they do seem to have a tendency to replace "s" with "z" in seldom used (yet key) words. <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo0CJqZCB9VcERcbsbbMyunz47GC9rMR7fMY9B3FCoK8JHN_27X19nBAYABgxdjJRFlbtVeAZQBegln87b3op7uIBP45VWJyBY5bOcq0fJUAMugVNY7iNW5EdCeANgl4P8JxQinAFd0EkVtQ0oE5o97lQ27ehJbv1TVbfCII49k45A7D18FslMQ/s833/03%20breathalyzer%20vhs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="833" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo0CJqZCB9VcERcbsbbMyunz47GC9rMR7fMY9B3FCoK8JHN_27X19nBAYABgxdjJRFlbtVeAZQBegln87b3op7uIBP45VWJyBY5bOcq0fJUAMugVNY7iNW5EdCeANgl4P8JxQinAFd0EkVtQ0oE5o97lQ27ehJbv1TVbfCII49k45A7D18FslMQ/w489-h367/03%20breathalyzer%20vhs.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><p>another look at the bit off of (or out of) the breathalyser what i was allowed to retain, then, but in this instance in VHS mode. no, i have no idea at all what i am supposed to do with it, beyond take a picture of it and place it here. </p><p>did i mind, or object, to the constabulary stopping me and testing me so? not really. it is a minor inconvenience, true, but still, for the greater good, etc, if it helps get clearly dangerous drivers off the road, so much the better. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-31447414298735345072024-01-10T03:07:00.037+00:002024-01-10T03:07:00.138+00:00don't do itwelcome frankie fans<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>yes, indeed, for the last two (or so) years i <i>have</i> suggested that no, i won't commemorate or celebrate the anniversary of certain gigs any further. for years i have done so, look you see, and there is perhaps a finite number of words i can command which are different to the ones used before. </div><div><br /></div><div>but here we are. it is so that on this date, at least in regards of the date this is published, i got to see Frankie Goes To Hollywood in a very real and live sense. well, this date in 1987, which i think (or believe to be) is now 37 (!!) years ago. one would think i would have lost this information from memory or mind, if the two are different, yet it would seem not. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic5t4uim4rXXJZSFWNp3OwkN5jls2e6z8FUacjzeOSR1tfiKI8N2Ox5D2eML4FoOhw_fdF29tBTIlQFR3OxSjwUOTUO3x2uoQn43vjDoh2mHzcCNS6HWSFuMamd-W5ry12mDrACnHCIeFrTU27IQ4nofmYkv5AWoTUPdz8OofAojSJ6CkE6Tk6A/s221/frankie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="221" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic5t4uim4rXXJZSFWNp3OwkN5jls2e6z8FUacjzeOSR1tfiKI8N2Ox5D2eML4FoOhw_fdF29tBTIlQFR3OxSjwUOTUO3x2uoQn43vjDoh2mHzcCNS6HWSFuMamd-W5ry12mDrACnHCIeFrTU27IQ4nofmYkv5AWoTUPdz8OofAojSJ6CkE6Tk6A/w488-h486/frankie.png" width="488" /></a></div><div><br /></div>it might be if not prudent then wise for you to leave this post now, reading no further. well, no, by all means read, but the video (yes, we have got a video) below is unlikely to please or impress anyone. <div><br /></div><div>for those who have declined to heed the above, well, here is your reward. behold, for the video below presents fragments of me (<i>moi</i>), your humble narrator, performing a tribute (of sorts) to Frankie. done whilst out on the town on karaoke night. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='498' height='414' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz1cCLK-vkCCdvX4zzPtTVvUEZmTO8Uqq1r1F5F3T9xEZTQ6Zk2aU8gzo64bk0pqpKJ_-xpSs4IXho' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>perhaps i should have taken, or found, the time to edit down some further sounds from the bootleg i have of the gig and added that instead of the above. or simply added no sound or video. still, done now. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>my memory of actual, proper Frankie doing <i>Relax</i> at the gig was Holly introducing it as "a blast from the past". that was 1987, barely 4 years after it was released and 3 years after the halcyon days when it was back in the chart (on sales <i>alone</i>, no streaming sh!t back then) at number 2, just behind <i>Two Tribes</i> by the same band, of course. well, if it was a blast from the past then, of what is it now?</div><div><br /></div><div>should this sort of thing (ahem) be of interest to you then i would encourage you to look at posts i have made on this date over the years. one or two of them <i>might</i> be more better than this one. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-14198148797905164242024-01-07T13:31:00.048+00:002024-01-07T13:31:00.140+00:00incident in a public lavatoryheya<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>no, no, no, not (so far as i am aware) <i>that</i> kind of incident, look you see. i have every confidence that my chum Spiros really enjoys the short term, mutually beneficial friendships what he strikes up with like minded men in general public restroom facilities but such isn't really my sort of thing. what i write of here, and indeed present images of, is an incident that i did not witness but can only wonder of. </div><div><br /></div><div>so, i was, i <i>think</i>, in a place called Marlborough. you would think that i would really (<i>really</i>) like such, going on how the spelling is close to Marlboro. for the most part it was all right, i suppose. people living there tend to be a bit full of themselves, and slightly @r5sey with one when one points out they are essentially a suburb of Swindon, and not some rather posh, exquisite province in its own right. </div><div><br /></div><div>as is (or would be) so often the case when i am on my travels, when in this place i felt a compelling need to visit a bathroom. i found, with the help of an associate, a suitable place where one, for a somewhat nominal and as it turned out optional fee, could do just that. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQKKM6kFt1OvSA5nDIyordkNzz8xGny_ldH6k3AnSbyp1xv1NnrUIA56YLrwLBuOwd3aaN5mtEyMwuuw3xfyKq_A5DSg56VWBULzd9Dd20MdCFqfS03ycPoKhCRJ6-i3y6R50VzEfQ8s71YpbkyLPE8MLYQmQoCqjQqkYcoUgYsZUJw1QLbTecQ/s757/01%20no%20tea%20bags%20in%20the%20toilet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQKKM6kFt1OvSA5nDIyordkNzz8xGny_ldH6k3AnSbyp1xv1NnrUIA56YLrwLBuOwd3aaN5mtEyMwuuw3xfyKq_A5DSg56VWBULzd9Dd20MdCFqfS03ycPoKhCRJ6-i3y6R50VzEfQ8s71YpbkyLPE8MLYQmQoCqjQqkYcoUgYsZUJw1QLbTecQ/w512-h384/01%20no%20tea%20bags%20in%20the%20toilet.png" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>quite a peculiar set up at public restroom facilities found, in truth. from what i could ascertain, or otherwise work out, one was required to pay a fee of 20p (or if you will a fifth of £1) if they wished to make use of the lavatory with the door locked. i did not think to try such, but it appeared that if one was happy to do as they will in there without a locked door, no coin(s) needed to be placed in the machine. oh. well, i opted for some privacy. </div><div><br /></div><div>let me refrain from speaking (or rather writing) of the specifics of what went on in there. the interest here was rather the sign what i saw as i stood there, generally doing my business (so to speak). it was one of those moments where i had to do a sort of double take, to check that what i believed i was reading was actually written there. indeed it was, as you can see in the above image, presented in the greater good and glory of Commodore 64 mode. and somewhat clearer below. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcv4B9-iDTVQzLFJnIyBPMNy0rDAJyNUlyt9qdxqNyzXMt1VTl1-tcgF4Wle8R3hOWYDbKRCTEhYxJzPeVBv-hPerKBboe6-gSiZOxQp9MLQ1MGUxnrW8MHeE33eSD789VUDYmyyFWascdZk4zbZtYwR5DiHeVvOkg2borlNpXu-Y1WhT9sD4sw/s1009/02%20no%20tea%20bags%20in%20the%20toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1009" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcv4B9-iDTVQzLFJnIyBPMNy0rDAJyNUlyt9qdxqNyzXMt1VTl1-tcgF4Wle8R3hOWYDbKRCTEhYxJzPeVBv-hPerKBboe6-gSiZOxQp9MLQ1MGUxnrW8MHeE33eSD789VUDYmyyFWascdZk4zbZtYwR5DiHeVvOkg2borlNpXu-Y1WhT9sD4sw/w510-h287/02%20no%20tea%20bags%20in%20the%20toilet.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div>where does one begin with this? most of the sign makes great sense, with the good people of Marlborough having no wish for their sewage system to become blocked like it is in that there London place. but, then, priority is given to (politely) requesting that people refrain from flushing tea bags down the toilet? taking as a given that tea bags are not some sort of euphemism in areas of Swindon, exactly how many people were engaging in the practice of flushing tea bags down the toilets to prompt or otherwise warrant this sign? and, frankly, why? i saw no facilities there to make a cup of tea, so i am assuming people were taking boxes of tea bags in and flushing away? </div><div><br /></div><div>indeed yes, i am aware of the (rather) clumsy if not poor phrase or sentence structure there, for it suggests that tea bags are regarded as "sanitary disposables". maybe they are there. weird. </div><div><br /></div><div>unfortunately i don't believe there's much in the way of other observations to add. at the least not from my side of this screen what you are looking at. do feel free to ponder on the above information, making of it what you will. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-88102190938189103172024-01-04T09:41:00.147+00:002024-01-04T09:41:00.133+00:00filmsgreetings<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>so, i have watched a few more films. five, look you see, to be somewhat specific. actually likely a few more, but these ones (the 5) are the only ones what i can specifically remember. with some time on my hands i am quite likely to watch some more, but comment on these shall do for now. </div><div><br /></div><div>a thing what absolutely everyone loves is statistics. this is all the more true when such is (or are) presented via the medium of percentages. if you are one of them types of who(m) this is true, then get ready. from these five (5) films, a staggering 80% were ones i had not seen before. some overlap exists, but also it was so that 80% were watched on the vague promise of nudies. not <i>too</i> vague in one, for a film from that particular 80% was also the 20% what i had seen before. oddly 40% of the films were in that language what they comically use in France. and i <i>think</i> that's it for stats. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW34IMAVHrVRAqfk-15l7LdOlacbRD4riJ7n4Lf2ViI5YaGcogirMLwrwRDZ9I_3Ix9tImVcha6i84_5YkFenKLkSE62py5-tQ74dW08auo3eBTn5Ei7eS7hi9KxxXECsE23aKkWBFdnN99pAA32YcWLMVRxleoXQBC0ZGTYcTr5s-i4R8IV-nzw/s757/01%20films.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW34IMAVHrVRAqfk-15l7LdOlacbRD4riJ7n4Lf2ViI5YaGcogirMLwrwRDZ9I_3Ix9tImVcha6i84_5YkFenKLkSE62py5-tQ74dW08auo3eBTn5Ei7eS7hi9KxxXECsE23aKkWBFdnN99pAA32YcWLMVRxleoXQBC0ZGTYcTr5s-i4R8IV-nzw/w537-h403/01%20films.png" width="537" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>do i need to put, or is there a requirement for, one of them <span style="color: #ffa400;">***</span> <span style="color: #fcff01;">SPOILER WARNING</span> <span style="color: #ffa400;">***</span> things? well, i suppose such is done now. oh, another of those statistic things for you is that the BBFC, who are right miserable types and understand this century even less ("fewer") than what i do, have deemed 60% of these films are suitable <i>only</i> for those over the age of 18. which i am. so you may find that around 3 sets of comments here relate (or pertain) to mature adult themes and nudies. </div><div><br /></div><div>righty ho, off we go, in no particular order........</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI85E273LGlvyz-BVclQ9u3PPa_aMO2Czw8vXR2HNQKu4pRJ1y5wP8M_EirEEQBIfSE4yO_0NSEaqNZIfvwKBYIb0chlsJroeFnOacPiQ7aXRnKqg-_TB8lol0otBy_2jWR8f3Mo-0VHD5q2mmS_kVE_FndXJVomrpSVSCi7uPpKqXTcrvgFmaYg/s757/02%20new%20dune.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI85E273LGlvyz-BVclQ9u3PPa_aMO2Czw8vXR2HNQKu4pRJ1y5wP8M_EirEEQBIfSE4yO_0NSEaqNZIfvwKBYIb0chlsJroeFnOacPiQ7aXRnKqg-_TB8lol0otBy_2jWR8f3Mo-0VHD5q2mmS_kVE_FndXJVomrpSVSCi7uPpKqXTcrvgFmaYg/w534-h712/02%20new%20dune.png" width="534" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>for a fair while i deliberated watching the new (or most recent) take on <i>Dune</i>. i mean, i was (or am) vaguely aware of some television adaptation, but leaving that aside i wasn't sure if i felt the need to see a different interpretation, with the David Lynch version, flaws and all, being fine. often i had stood going, ok, should i get the new one or get a fancy video (disc) of the Lynch one, and then ended up with neither. but then my preferred tape (disc) seller down the market had it (new variation) for £3.</div><div><br /></div><div>i appreciate this version has had loads (and loads) of good reviews. my take is not that it was bad, but it was decidedly "meh". one comment i saw again and again was that it was "visually stunning". no, it is not. the visuals are quite bland, really, and not as iconic as the Lynch version. also this is "part one", with the conclusion (so far as i am aware) coming March 2024. so this took longer than the entire story being presented in the Lynch version to give (roughly) one half of the story. and nothing within it gave any indication that the expanded amount of time provided any extra stuff of consequence, with the key scenes or moments remaining pretty much the same. </div><div><br /></div><div>yes, the "ensemble" cast is quite the line up, but most of them just stand around looking poignant. only Javier Bardem (sp) seemed to get to act with any consequence, and even then it was little more than rehashing what he'd done in, say, <i>No Country For Old Men</i> or even <i>Skyfall</i>. certainly there was nothing like Sting in space underpants. it is likely i will rather just pick up the blu ray tape (disc) of the Lynch version and watch that again rather than rush to see part two of this. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFbQNK_tMCEKvt5jqrIA_7EtKRQyXweyWLqLs0z1gWBm4GIwBcBStZhycEZ6an0-zThzzgpPbZN18fx8FRUnGy1GK2_ctXderbRhJAdtZciWiFgJDsO0WgEH1JC1EdAloUSSEnLaB7iMyXSuyPodwiTGbgFTw8-14ZvO8bghIAaU41S4NFek_aQ/s757/03%20matriesse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="757" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFbQNK_tMCEKvt5jqrIA_7EtKRQyXweyWLqLs0z1gWBm4GIwBcBStZhycEZ6an0-zThzzgpPbZN18fx8FRUnGy1GK2_ctXderbRhJAdtZciWiFgJDsO0WgEH1JC1EdAloUSSEnLaB7iMyXSuyPodwiTGbgFTw8-14ZvO8bghIAaU41S4NFek_aQ/w536-h402/03%20matriesse.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>on the subject of market finds, <i>Maitresse</i> next, then. an early 80s (i <i>think</i>) French film with an 18 certificate. it was on offer (in a blu ray and dvd set) for £2, so i went yeah, all right, there is likely to be some nudies in it. which there very much is, but alas (and this is the French for you) of a most decidedly male nature. thanks for that. </div><div><br /></div><div>plot? quite breezy, best you go with the flow sort of stuff. a generally loathsome gent (played by that one famous French actor no one seems to like no more) forms an unlikely relationship with one of them mistress (hence the title) dominatrix types, with it starting via him (with a chum) breaking into her house and finding all sorts of unusual bondage, s&m stuff. it is peculiarly compulsive and compelling viewing, despite rarely showing anything sordid. it is at least true that the French would appear to make much better films than they do cars, or anything else. </div><div><br /></div><div>the best way to consider this film, i suppose, is within the context of the time it was release. it would be very fair to say that the sexual proclivities on display (as it were) here were very much an underground thing and not in the mainstream so much as such is in this brave new world. a glance at a world of pleasure many would be unaware of as existing would have been a rare, unusual experience back when it came out, which i <i>think</i> was early 80s. that said, i am not sure how glad many (i wasn't) would have been with the bit where a chap gets his (ahem) private parts nailed to some wood (or similar). much of the extras on the disc seem to concern arguments with the bbfc about letting that scene stay in. one can undoubtedly see "worse" or more graphic things on that "internet" now, but few scenes of such made today would match the artistic skill or merit on display here. as an avant garde, symbolic sort of look at what makes a "strange relationship", whilst giving a glance at human nature, oddly i would find myself recommending this motion picture. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOm_V8ev27valN6_mT901o8GgNXk-DJYAqOH6C5mC7t67YQLdo6MG_0zjMQWJH0s_pL4ITqlCO3v4QuT6MRknPH2nBOYfG_ch3k2TzsxxxGwAICVKiyU_QxuBcum9fU4DB5BRKiDSea4-tF778EzhpzCuaPoE__8amqyXDIX0GmnYdHQpqtIh_w/s757/04%20howling%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="716" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOm_V8ev27valN6_mT901o8GgNXk-DJYAqOH6C5mC7t67YQLdo6MG_0zjMQWJH0s_pL4ITqlCO3v4QuT6MRknPH2nBOYfG_ch3k2TzsxxxGwAICVKiyU_QxuBcum9fU4DB5BRKiDSea4-tF778EzhpzCuaPoE__8amqyXDIX0GmnYdHQpqtIh_w/w535-h716/04%20howling%202.png" width="535" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>here we are with the 20% of the films what i had already seen. predictably enough that would be the 80s film <i>The Howling II</i>. oddly it is one that i have wished to watch again for a while now, but a random advert on social media offering it for somewhere south of £10 on the fancy video (disc) format meant i went ahead and embraced the wish. </div><div><br /></div><div>exactly why did i wish to watch this, which is trash by any standard measurement, again? let's go back to my teenage years. i first saw it <i>probably</i> out of a mix of loving horror films, in particular werewolf ones. there's also the presence of Christopher Lee, and it's worth noting (in terms of how bad the film actually is) he apologised for being in it. for good measure Jimmy Nail is in it too, and i was (quite) sure that Timothy Spall was too, but he isn't. must have been some other horror film. but why i would go back to the film is as simple as how much time in it Sybil Danning is in a state of undress, with particular (precise) emphasis on the infamous end credit scene, where they just loop (or repeat) the scene where she rips her shirt off. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7v3GPbxD2PfxxBJUQW4GDCGMn6eWwLc7oZgqsWDSb_PRzxUQ8n1ABgsPoTvOt1xnLwHnb-UlCtLZv_L1Sebx5bfjiH9qkuj-an8nFBOYxNEsqB4031CL9il-fGVR_vWsZpz0jSCsEqRrLEx_BKSNcfzTTBjZLESIZwdFFu-qj0T6fRV4OoLX5g/s512/howling%202%20end%20credits%20c64.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7v3GPbxD2PfxxBJUQW4GDCGMn6eWwLc7oZgqsWDSb_PRzxUQ8n1ABgsPoTvOt1xnLwHnb-UlCtLZv_L1Sebx5bfjiH9qkuj-an8nFBOYxNEsqB4031CL9il-fGVR_vWsZpz0jSCsEqRrLEx_BKSNcfzTTBjZLESIZwdFFu-qj0T6fRV4OoLX5g/w532-h399/howling%202%20end%20credits%20c64.gif" width="532" /></a></div><div><br /></div>should it be so that anyone tells you they propose watching <i>Howling II</i> under the guise of it being one of them films described as "so bad it is good", well. no. the only reason to watch (or endure) this motion picture is for the scenes of Sybil Danning in states of undress. ok, it <i>might</i> be that they are determined to watch every Christopher Lee film ever made, but that shall be quite the minority. there is every chance i shall watch it again, and i think you know why. <div><br /></div><div>which <i>kind of</i> leads on to how i came to, eventually (or at last) see the motion picture <i>Slaughterhouse Five</i>. this is a film i have wished to watch for around forty (!!) or so years, but never got the chance, or around to it. and why did i wish to watch it? because it's based on a classic of literature? due to it being relatively celebrated as a work of cinematic art? or because i saw a magazine article which gave every indication that Lex Luthor's girlfriend out of (proper) <i>Superman</i> had a nudies scene in it?<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI80Tbo5Cj9Wc02GrHACLNDylTBWbcOh6h4YgrdxmNrf1sWZMwieXO6E_KSH1uWGIOJnSEa8gixU4wgVmu1sTESsJMbeVBKVMlNPMGiyT7w-4hSzsULnQEiDV2mm43KIZ4EEAuK1rPvb3FehHNOHpoSuCiiMtEqShY5b9J1p1fTimPAUFgIWeNlw/s757/05%20slaughterhouse%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="568" height="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI80Tbo5Cj9Wc02GrHACLNDylTBWbcOh6h4YgrdxmNrf1sWZMwieXO6E_KSH1uWGIOJnSEa8gixU4wgVmu1sTESsJMbeVBKVMlNPMGiyT7w-4hSzsULnQEiDV2mm43KIZ4EEAuK1rPvb3FehHNOHpoSuCiiMtEqShY5b9J1p1fTimPAUFgIWeNlw/w534-h712/05%20slaughterhouse%205.png" width="534" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>a chance trip to Fopp in that there London (innit) saw me see it for sale on fancy (video) disc for a most agreeable price. the standard video (disc) was even more agreeable, but on inspection it seemed that the fancy version had a slightly longer running time. which in my mind translated into every chance, or potential, for more nudies. yes, this is how my mind works. </div><div><br /></div><div>quite an interesting film, and concept. perhaps (maybe) i should find a copy of the novel and read it, if only to find out exactly how many times the protagonist in it says "and so it goes", which i believe is a lot, despite the phrase not featuring in the film. the whole thing of the hero being "unstuck in time", with the vague notion of him really being either remembering places and fantasising things to escape the horrors of world war two, was intriguing enough. as for the actual, real and main (if not only) reason i got the film (and watched it) oh yes, very satisfactory to have such an itch scratched after so very long, thank you. </div><div><br /></div><div>finally, then, and also off of Fopp, the second (of two) French films. i had not ever heard of this film before, but a quick glance at the cover of <i>Benedetta</i> said it was about the forbidden love of lesbian nuns in the seventeenth (<i>possibly</i> sixteenth) century, so it was sold. further inspection said it was made by him off of <i>RoboCop</i> and <i>Starship Troopers</i> (and <i>Showgirls</i>), Paul Verhoven, so yes please. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRb2rQ1ieYHfU5JAfg5vUqWc_loD-JdPvJaTgkBElpISGVJe-1i5zznVbXZfW2MtAvXXL3_CqeQDeto4Uf4OCsnI4oSdBepHYR9HW2d1JZvsHetjclLSB4J3RUF38LtLSbGGt8-DYlQJDIRhnj0PSsJdPEBqJLybTEYrYqy8vv0Cy_hFxBUnsWw/s833/06%20benedetta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="625" height="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRb2rQ1ieYHfU5JAfg5vUqWc_loD-JdPvJaTgkBElpISGVJe-1i5zznVbXZfW2MtAvXXL3_CqeQDeto4Uf4OCsnI4oSdBepHYR9HW2d1JZvsHetjclLSB4J3RUF38LtLSbGGt8-DYlQJDIRhnj0PSsJdPEBqJLybTEYrYqy8vv0Cy_hFxBUnsWw/w534-h712/06%20benedetta.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br /><div>watched it expecting to get some exploitative titillation (ahem) dressed up as some obscure, avant garde kind of "social commentary" black comedy as is the case with just about all Paul Verhoven films. if i am indeed spelling his name proper. let me check oh should be Verhoeven. never mind. anyway, soon found myself quite gripped by this. films, or other forms of art, what tend to challenge preconceptions or notions surrounding faith, expressions of christianity and what have you do fascinate me. despite the usual Verhoeven elements here (the nuns just happen to be stunningly beautiful with shaved armpit and trimmed you know what) what nudity there was, and scenes of <i>that sort of thing</i>, were actually tasteful and entirely relevant to the story. just why Verhoeven has decided to be all mature and sophisticated is a mystery of sorts, unless he intended this to be a laugh. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>i would, in a positive way, place this film alongside <i>The Devils</i> and <i>The Last Temptation Of Christ</i> as quite magnificent works destined to forever be controversial but at heart pushing confrontation and conversation around faith. should this subject be of interest then there's every chance you have already seen it, if not then <i>Benedetta</i> is very much worth seeking out. often disturbing watching, but stick with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>right, that's that for this. who knew that i would ever (sort of) praise two French films? as i have said before, i am not entirely sure i understand this century, for i find myself forever doing things that i was reasonably sure that i would not. highly unlikely that any comments around any films here would be of a practical use, but thanks for reading anyway. so it goes. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9850147.post-34543613667234270522024-01-01T09:25:00.035+00:002024-01-01T09:25:00.134+00:00see my stumble see my fallhello there<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>and so it goes with another year starting, or if you will commencing. this one happens to be 2024, look you see, on the off chance you are looking at all of this from some future date. rather than a past one. </div><div><br /></div><div>indeed my wrestling with the concept of owning a calendar has (or rather <i>had</i>) continued. my challenge, or should you prefer quarrel, is of a two (2) pronged attack. first is the (mass) debate as to whether i should get one, with me likely to gaze upon it for considerably less ("fewer") than half of the days. then after that is resolved there's the question of which one to get. </div><div><br /></div><div>both have, of course, been resolved. hence us being here with this. and here it, the calendar, is. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_brVfQBtx1i1BWxCpZelbNaBvIBfBjtNw1MMn-tec68duj-3mxRP8txHEZFvlHUsgBsPiDJ3yy1HOYycWQjzrd63OWe7quI9mv48JSRZDTF5mLpvEui6yT3HrWOkD2HRlsP7lnRN4BosiEUfefkqbShISScFebppFyFW9piamy3oBIHNcm8Ev5g/s293/01%20bowie%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" height="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_brVfQBtx1i1BWxCpZelbNaBvIBfBjtNw1MMn-tec68duj-3mxRP8txHEZFvlHUsgBsPiDJ3yy1HOYycWQjzrd63OWe7quI9mv48JSRZDTF5mLpvEui6yT3HrWOkD2HRlsP7lnRN4BosiEUfefkqbShISScFebppFyFW9piamy3oBIHNcm8Ev5g/w528-h704/01%20bowie%2024.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>perhaps, for some (those few who know me) there's not <i>that</i> much surprise that i went and gone done bought a Bowie one. yet, i feel, there is. to start with i went and paid <i>full</i> price for this, with such being just one singular penny south if £10. i suspect that is more than i have spent on calendars entire in the last four (4) or so years. also it would not be all <i>that</i> normal for me to get a "favourite". usually i would go with the cheapest. sometimes that works out <i>kind of</i> all right, like that one time i got a <i>Star Wars</i> one. </div><div><br /></div><div>so, what drew me to a Bowie calendar? no, that's not a fair wording. what drew me to <i>this</i> particular one would be a more better proposition. quite simply the excellent choice of images. and it being around or close to £1 cheaper than the "official" one. have no sense of mistake, for i <i>did</i> consider the officially issued one. it was terrible. first off they had made a decision to go "plastic free" with it, so all copies of it on the shelves are right battered and sort of floppy-foldy in quality. should one get over that, well, the images selected for the official one are, mostly, rubbish. well, ok, there is only so bad a picture of Bowie can be, true, but for some reason they went and selected lesser (fewer) striking images of him, as if to prove some point no one wished to have elaborated.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz4q7guJ43DfNdrrOP28RFbPSSYGYC3hnTE9btNkuqMY99DsSncsyMj4oUJDBiGrwamSUfnvL_vGtZpXeeYAS0x8KQqhuf9S8uUA7Dhby_eKD-ketcCat3WthB0Yi9EoWwgsz55vf81KMC-JdDMTKa8XnKl29r9b89aRKYMxreqVaDyrTZWfz2g/s833/02%20bowie%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="625" height="706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz4q7guJ43DfNdrrOP28RFbPSSYGYC3hnTE9btNkuqMY99DsSncsyMj4oUJDBiGrwamSUfnvL_vGtZpXeeYAS0x8KQqhuf9S8uUA7Dhby_eKD-ketcCat3WthB0Yi9EoWwgsz55vf81KMC-JdDMTKa8XnKl29r9b89aRKYMxreqVaDyrTZWfz2g/w530-h706/02%20bowie%2024.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><br /><div>one resoundingly (exceptionally) solid point of sale to (or for) me was the selection of the "shhhh" image for february. as this month is <i>kind of</i> important to me, it has been a constant source of frustration that weak, poor or dull pictures normally get used. like, for instance, as and when i have had a <i>Star Wars</i> calendar it has been so that february seems to forever feature the gay robot and his bin. seeing what has come to be one of my favourite images of him (Bowie) for that month was a win.</div><div><br /></div><div>going on, and there's a trilogy there, in the form of june, july and august, which reflects three (3) of the best pictures what i have ever seen of Bowie. the remainder are not <i>bad</i> as such, and the whole this looks more satisfactory than the derisory official one. </div><div><br /></div><div>maybe one day someone who actually <i>likes</i> Bowie will take control of what stuff with his name on gets offered for sale. surprised that this has not happened as such, but we can hope. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>RLRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10917114036072862973noreply@blogger.com0