Pictures of You, Pictures of Me...

It seems that, with an alarming degree of regularity, I have to apologise for not blogging in a considerable length of time. I am sorry. It just slips my mind, and I hate myself for that. I feel like one day I will really regret not writing everything down. Today is the beginning of that day...maybe.

So what is going on in my life I hear you cry? Well I am in America still! I know, they haven't thrown me out yet. No-one is more surprised than I. Equally no-one is more thrilled than I either. Day by day I grow fonder of these United States. The people are splendid, I'm slowly getting used to the food and day by day I am closer to leaving. The temporary life.

So my latest revelation as far as  food is concerned is soup, wait for it, served in a BREAD BOWL, that's right, a loaf of bread, hollowed to become a bowl which is then filed with soup. It's everything that is good about soup in an easy to eat way. It is however alot of bread. But that is the way it works. I had witnessed this phenomenon back in November time but I had not had the courage to eat it. However whilst on a trip to Disneyland I threw caution to the wind and ordered it. Well, when in Rome... No Regrets.

So yeah. I went to Disneyland. We will talk about that more some other time. There will be a full debrief because, believe you me, you will need it. I mainly say this because if I start rambling about Disneyland now I will never stop and that's just awkward for everyone involved.

Recent adventures! I went and played tourist in San Francisco for a day recently. 'Such Fun!' The purpose of the trip was supposedly for a friend of mine to get his Visa paperwork filed, however I took advantage of the day to check a few items off my bucket list. I went and saw City Hall, very enjoyable. I also went to Chine Town, Union Square, Macy's and Rode a cable car. Talk about productive. We also saw a Disney Cruise ship which was docked at Pier 33. The temptation to try and steal aboard was very strong, but that would have reduced how touristy I could have been for the rest of the day. The cable car was a real joy! I got quite over excited about the whole thing. There is a small possibility I was bouncing...

With my time in California drawing to a close I don't quite know what to do with myself. The people I have met here have been fantastic and it will be very difficult to say that hideous word I hate so much. I have started to pack up my possessions. Grim.

Let's talk films briefly, Great Gatsby, yes well, good soundtrack if you don't watch the film and I have to advise that you don't watch the film. At the same time, watch the film. It's worth seeing, I'm just not going to stand up and say its the film event of the season.
Star Trek, Into Darkness. Brilliant. Some wonderful throwbacks to the original movies. Benedict Cumberbatch does a wonderful job in a excellent coat. I fear he would be nothing without a long flowing coat, but right now that really isn't an issue. The film is a good one for the Star Trek fans but also for people who just want a good Sci-Fi action movie. Simon Pegg does an excellent job as Scottie, Quinto is an excellent Spock once again. It was a delightfully nerdy experience for me. I was beyond excited and, even better, I was not disappointed.

Well that was a fun update on my life, I hope you enjoyed it oh reader.

'Goodbye trolley People' - I now count myself as a Trolley person, beyond excited!

Would you know my name, If I saw you in heaven...

Well well well, people of the blogosphere I greet you with the air remorse, regret and that of an Uncle whom you have not seen for quite some time. It has been a definite age since last we spoke, much has happened, the world has changed, changed back again and decided it wants to be called Trudy in the time between my last blog post and this one. I am however, here now, and there is much that we have to discuss.

The elephant in the room. Let's start with that shall we? I went to America, I was there for 13 weeks. Three fun filled exciting Months! I am to return there soon after Christmas for a further 6 months. You would be correct in thinking this is very exciting! My American adventure began on a fun day in September as I drove to Heathrow terminal 3 to depart on a Virgin Atlantic flight to San Francisco international Airport. I cannot tell you what time I left this country because frankly I don't remember the details. I do however know that the aeroplane was called 'Lady Penelope' (This did inspire me to say Thunderbirds are Go! at Take off...). Glad to know that my brain is really making sure that I remember the important details about my trip. Flying across the globe on your own is not something that I will ever advise. to anyone, you know, ever, but I made it through the rain and got out the other side. That was when the fun began.

Studying at UCSC for a term (or quarter as they say) has been a huge experience. I have met some fantastic people and lived the American dream for 13 weeks. I have encountered some of the great creations of the country. Ice Cream shops? Literally a store that only sells Ice Cream in its various guises with various toppings. These things just are not commonplace in England, its too bloody cold, but as an Ice Cream lover I adore it. I have also seen that if the Americans think there is a possibility of converting something to a Drive through experience they will do it. We are talking banks and pharmacy's people, I was as shocked as you are let me tell you. A real thrill of America as far as I am concerned is American Diners! I adore them, just wonderful, and the milkshakes are out of this world! I constantly feel like Luke will arrive and start shouting at someone about something stupid whenever I am in one. They are excellent. If I could make them work in this country I would abandon the whole Computer Science shindig immediately. For more information on my American experience please buy my book, it is sure to be a Christmas bestseller, suffice to say that I am super excited to return to America after Christmas even though being back at home is wonderful!

So lets talk about Films, I always seem to do that. I enjoy talking about films. Since last we spoke I have seen four films that I feel I worth talking about! Let's start with Skyfall. Sensational. Bond is back in action and back with a Bang after Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. The new Q is played excellently, I adore him. The dry humour is excellent and I hope that we will see much more of him in the films to come. Desmond is a hard act to follow but I think Ben Wishaw has got it in him to really be spectacular. I won't say much more because anything I do say will end up being laden with spoilers and I really don't want to be that guy. All I will say is that it was a traumatic experience for me to watch certain scenes.

With Ben Wishaw on the mind I shall segue seamlessly into talking about Cloud Atlas. Now this was a film I LOVED. It is excellently written with 6 separate and yet interlinked stories across 6 timezones with 12 key cast members playing different characters in each time zone. It is, in  word Brilliant. The makeup and effects are excellent transforming actors into the various roles, including Hugo Weaving as a woman, don't ask me why, I was traumatised too. Ben Wishaw is also in this film - It's been a good time for him recently what with this, Skyfall and the Hour all be huge successes - and he does very well. The main character that he plays is enough to bring the audience to tears as well as, in the theatre I was in, scream at the screen. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry make an excellent Duo teaming up in many of the timezones. the film highlights how similar circumstances can pan out differently depending on the environment, with a variety of themes and stories coming full circle in time, with characters getting gradually more evil in different plots. Reading this paragraph back it sounds confusing, and maybe I haven't explained as well as I could of, but let me make it clear, this film is a puzzle. Decidedly so, but a puzzle worth watching as it will leave you thinking for days to come!

Film number three that I wanted to talk about was The Perks of being a Wallflower. Now I have read various excerpts from the book and I have always been very impressed by how the book combats the complex issue that is depression so when I heard that it was going to be a film I was alarmed, I will be honest, I thought that Hollywood would ruin this book. The saving grace of this notion is that the screenplay of the film was written by the books author, who then also directed the film. The result of this unusual situation was excellence. The Perks of being a Wallflower follows one child through his depression has he finds friends that he will stick with for the rest of his life. It will make you laugh and it will almost definitely make you cry. It is excellent. The boy from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Logan Lerman, plays lead character Charlie very well and with real conviction but for me the performance that is worth noting is Ezra Miller as Patrick. I do not think there is a single person that can watch that film and not want Patrick as a friend. The character is excellently written and does not provide conventional support for Charlie, but rather constantly provides him with an escape, with a conversation that doesn't involve how he feels. As far as I am concerned that is a friendship like no other.

My fourth film is a bit more fun. Wreck it Ralph! Disney's latest animated offering does not disappoint. Fun for kids and teenagers alike the film is based around Arcade game characters with references to my childhood left right and centre. I sat next to you a boy of six and a chap of 21. We all enjoyed the film immensely, the two of us that are older laughed in different places, to the 5 year old but we both left the screening with ear to ear grins that can only be the result of a truly entertaining film! It made a huge amount of profit in its opening weekend and I cannot say that I am surprised, it is a fun film for all the family, with a Disney esque message, fun plot, excellent animation and lots of laughs. Perfect.

Well if you have made it this far I salute you, that's real dedication right there! You have read through all the drivel that I write about the past and now we must look forward to Christmas. Coca Cola have told us that Holidays are coming, Marks and Spencer's have told us that we need to buy lots of food and the television channels have told us there is good television to look forward too!

BBC are giving us Doctor who, should be a goodun as well as Call the Midwife and Miranda! Fun for all the family as well as a good deal of laughing I expect! Sadly no Sherlock this festive season which I assume we can blame Mr Moffat for, but I guess Cumberbatch being off filming for the new Star Trek can't have helped the situation. 2014 seems like an awfully long way away though. Especially after the drama of the Reichenbach fall! ITV give us Downton Abbey. Of course I am excited for that one. This season of Downton showed Maggie Smith at her very best as well as having suitable amounts of Drama to keep you hooked and I really hope that the Christmas special lives up to that!

I have my standard hit list of Christmas films to watch at some point when they are on the telebox:

• Mary Poppins
• Muppets Christmas Carol
• Sound of Music
• Polar Express
• Miracle on 34th Street

and who knows, maybe I will add a new one into the tradition.

I wish anyone who is reading this a Very Merry Christmas filled with Joy and too much food!

Tarrah.

Let the River Run

Time is a fickle old thing, it and I have shared an odd relationship over my lifetime and I can never honestly say that I have understood its ways. It is now, with A level Results day but one week away and many of my friends in the position that I was in this time last year that glance back, a rare moment in my life, at how time has treated me.

It definitely marches on that time, when I look at how much has changed in only a year it amazes me the Distance I have come, Ive been through the UCAS system twice, I ended up in the frozen North and now I am back in Highcliffe preparing to spend a year abroad in the United States of America. I know right? Crazy. As I look back 12 months on I have very few regrets, yes it would have been great if things had worked out slightly easier but I don't wish they had. My blood pressure might but I'm not too fussed.

Today was a good day for those in my life. Some excellent results and almost all are very happily no headed to where they wanted to go. Of course a few slip ups here and there but nothing that cannot be ironed out. If you ask me, that is ample cause for a slight celebration! 

In other less eventful news, and quite frankly less deep conversation I saw the Dark Knight Rises yesterday, I'll be honest (I know so many of you cling to this blog for my film reviews

) I thought it was outstanding, I did not think it was as good as The Dark Knight with Heath Ledger as the Joker, but it was still a great Film. Yes Sean Connery and Darth Vaders Love child did start to grate on me by the end but still, I cannot fault either the cinematography or the script, and excellent plotline and a fitting ending to Christopher Nolans epic trilogy. Gary Oldman is as always sensational, just saying.

I still really need to see the Avengers, but that might just have to wait until the I have rewatched the past two Batman Films and have got over my recent Gilmore Girls Phase (I had a craving). This reminds me, Bunheads, a new show on ABC Family starring the ever brilliant Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop (of Gilmore Girls, hence the link) in a tv show about a Las Vegas Dancer (Foster) who Marries on a whim, goes to live with her new husband who lives with his mother(Bishop), but then the husband dies leaving the dancer there. Written and produced by Amy Sherman-Pallidino (The creator of Girlmore Girls) the script is as fast paced and witty as you would expect. The show is a joy to watch with some genuine laugh at loud moments. I am loving it.

I think that is about all I have to ramble about for the time being, but don't count on it. Im sure I will suddenly change my mind.

Ta Ta

No Business like Show Business...

"We're all thespians at heart really" was a comment just thrown away by a friend of mine earlier today, but it was a comment that hit me square in the face and so I thought to myself, this is a comment that deserves a discussion so a discussion I shall give it.

My initial thought is to scream no, no this is not true. A case in point would be BBC's new dramatisations of some of Shakespeare's historical plays such as Richard II which aired last week. The plays are billed that anyone can enjoy them even non-shakespeare lovers. I wouldn't say that that statement is strictly true, the adaptation is sensational but there are still parts that are rather heavy going and if you don't understand whats going on you really have to pay attention to get to grips with it. If you do get to grips with it though it does really highlight some of the bards greatest work, often work that people haven't even looked at since they were in school and even then they looked at it when told too and ignored it at all other times. I have always felt that schools teach shakespeare in an appalling manner, only when it is performed can you appreciate how delicately formed each line is but that is the subject for a whole other discussion in which I will probably end up sounding like some hideous person who adores Shakespeare but what can you do?

After this initial torrent of confusion my brian continued to spew out situations where really we are not all thespians at heart and then I stopped myself to ask the truly arty question "What is Theatre?" and before you get concerned that I am drifting off into an even more pretentious question than my original one never fear, I will be brief. I concluded that Theatre is really just some form of make believe that people can escape into, at which point it hit me. We are all thespians at heart. I have never met anyone in my live that does not enjoy escaping on some level, whether that be a week in Cuba or watching two and a half hours of ABBA hits strung together with a very loose storyline. Escaping is a fundamental part of our lives now.

I myself have often longed for escape and theatre in its various guises has often been a help to me. It allows you just to pretend you are someone else. DisneyLand is based on that very concept and that seems to have turned out okay. You are transported for a day into a land very different to our own where talking mice and singing bears are totally the norm and maybe dreams can come true, If thats not theatre I don't know what is. equally I know no-one that cannot relate to that and appreciate that on some level so yeah, I guess we are all Thespians at Heart...

I Just Wanna go Home

Coming home is undoubtedly one of the weirdest sensations I ever go through as a Human being, not because of anything that is at my home, just the circumstances regarding my return. Nine times out of ten I am excessively sad to be leaving wherever it is that I am, the process of saying Goodbye is never one I have participated in well, but then the moment I return home I am overwhelmed by a wonderful sense of familiarity, returning is like putting on a nice pair of slippers if you will.

Being at home I love, a chance to see people I have undoubtedly not seen for a great deal of time, party, catch up, share long and meaningful conversations about all the occurrences of the weeks of absence all culminating together so that the moment I am home, I feel on top of the world. Equally the moment I leave wherever I was before, I am overwhelmed by sadness of departure. As I read this back I realise that actually if I didn't have to travel everything would be okay.

To conclude, scientists, lets wrap up this whole Higgs Boson malarky and get right on the Teleportation problem.

Cheers

Hutt Out.

This is a life of illusion

So, here we are again gang, I am once again in a situation where, a. I have not blogged in an absolute age (slap on the wrist for me) and b. have examinations looming. It's enough to make you hate e entire education system as in many ways I already do!

Today is a Bank Holiday Monday but clearly no one let the University of York know that simple fact as I have a full day of 9 til 6 lectures. This I feel isn't too much of an issue as I did have a five week 'holiday' for Easter but it's still depressing to read on Facebook how everyone else is having a lovely day off living life to the full and Im stuck in a Numerical Analysis Lecture but what can you do?

So what's new with me I hear you all ask. Well assuming that you did ask I shall tell you. I have been wonderfully busy, for those of you that know me you will know that this is my preferred state! Second Term at York was particularly manic, lots of lectures, lots of practicals applications for studying abroad, meetings, writing a pantomime it really was all go. Then Easter, which rather than being the lovely break I'm sure I deserved I worked most of however such working provided me with some much needed funds! I was lucky enough to be appointed Assisntant Head Writer for the Pantsoc Summer panto, Hercules! This was particularly fun and now as we enter rehearsals ( the show is on in week 8 for any York people reading ) it is very surreal to watch words I wrote be interpreted and performed.

At the end of the Easter Holidays I jollied on up to Oxford on my route back to York for the exciting event that says the Exeter College Ball. This was a highly anticipated event and did not disappoint in any respect. A lovely weekend with an old friend and a chance to make some new friends, not something I have ever been good at truth be told but I think I did ok. Dodgems, A Heltar Skeltar and numerous live bands with some donuts and noodles thrown into the mix all came together to prove to be one of the best party's of my University career.

The have been rumours flying around that I am studying abroad next year and I can reveal that these are entirely true, it has been recently confirmed that I am to be a student and the University of California Santa Cruz come 'fall 2012' which I am super excited about. Thoug I have known I am going abroad for a while the exact location had for a while been unknown but now I do know and it is all suddenly very real and very scary. I have a multitude of paperwork that I have to complete before June the 1st, part of this is choosing my top five colleges. The university has 10 colleges, all with different themes and locations and of these I must pick my top 5, this process is made all the more difficult by the fact that this is where will be where I am living and the people I am living with next year. Having not visited UCSC (that's what all the cool kids call it I'm informed) I turned to Google for advice on which college to pick, this was only hindered by the fact that the Americans call university in general college so as I googled UCSC college choice I was greeted with a lot of information about choosing UCSC ofer other university's in America. I continue to investigate my top five and will I'm sure update you with my choice!

I am I in a very sorry situation where I haven't seen any new films for some time, I desperately want to go and see the New avengers movie however time just seems to keep getting in the way! I did however see Titanic in 3D which surprisingly I really enjoyed. The 3D was very well done and I found it all very immersive if you will pardon the in. I still maintain that it is one of Leonardo DiCaprios finest films! James Cameron is a very cleaver man.

While I have not seen many new films I have been watching the old telebox! I adore BBC's latest offering, The Voice, though this might just be related to the presence of Tom Jones on the television that has caused this. I must admit that I havent seen much of Britains got Talent is time around, mainly again due to time. Smash is my other new addiction, it is what I can only describe as Glee with grown ups and I think it had the potential to me much better than glee. By having a standard cast of well known performers who have previously been on broadway you know you are on to a winner from the beginning. This is helped by the presence of some excellent original songs, two favourites of mine have to be "let's be bad" and "Second hand white baby Grand". Both are excellent numbs and ell worth a listen. If you haven't tuned in to watch Smash just yet I advise you do, it really is great fun and gripping, though slightly trashy, television!

I think that's all for today really, congratulations if you fought through this mammoth post, you are a better man than I.

Ta Ta

Seas would rise when I gave the word...

So, we are back, its 2012. Who's excited? ... no, me neither. 2012 so far holds no promises greater than 2011. The year amy change but I can't honestly imagine anything else changing.

So lets start at Christmas, what a delight it was to go home, the process of getting home was quite the fiasco but once I got there it was a delight. Good to see the angels again as well as young Mr White. We had a carvery which was simply wonderful, nothing is better after student life than simply eating food and ever really stopping. I also went to sway to se the inhabitants, always an intriguing trip, new mysteries every time. The actual day itself was lovely, food that was simply to die for, tasting all the better after having been cooking for myself for so long as well as just being a lovely day in general with family.

Now it is time for my review of the television at Christmas time. Its always a brilliant time of year for TV but this year quite frankly the people who create these things just excelled themselves. My morning started with some classic Morecambe and Wise going on in the background, comedy at its best, proper timeless comedy setting Christmas day off to a cracking start...

"I'm playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order"

Then the festivities of the day took me away from the television, which is of course as it should be with the next television interruption being the Queens Christmas message. Now I have watched quite a few of these over the years and I have to say, I was rather impressed by the whole thing, the speech was one of the better ones, focussing on the importance of family which was lovely really. Next bit of christmassy goodness was Doctor Who, a heartwarming christmas special with lots of science fiction goodness. Strictly was equally lovely, a nice family show that everyone can sit down and enjoy.

The icing on the cake of a classic Christmas was Downton Abbey, It was simply divine. We were treated to some excellent storylines, answering many of the questions left at the end of season 2 but posing many more. Simply brilliant. Dame Maggie Smith stole the whole show with three words

"Do you promise?"

Brought the house down with all of Maggies glory. A True national treasure.

Boxing day I saw the new Sherlock Holmes film, It was a vast improvement on the first film but still not as good as Sherlock on TV which came back on New Years day and was quite frankly brilliant. More stunning adaptations from Steven Moffatt! Irene adler was portrayed very well and the whole things was just wonderful.

I have rambled about television for sometime now. I feel its time to stop.

Over and Out

I've been for a walk, on a winters day....

Well I have to open with the simple fact that York is getting cold. Its true, I know that over the past year you have come to suspect me of casually lying to you, but York is actually getting cold, not sure I can cope.

Last week I went to see a student production of Thoroughly Modern Millie which was actually really good. The music from the show I love and the plot is really awful but as a production it was well worth the seven english pounds and fifty pence that I paid to go see it. At the start, if I'm honest I was apprehensive, the first song was slightly tense, but after that it really picked up, and became a, dare I say it, thoroughly enjoyable evening of entertainment. Do you see what I did there?

Uni has been busy these past couple of days, Group project is due in quite soon, tests have been all this week and the excitement of the Study abroad talk is this week as well! I really want to do it but I am not sure if I will be able to afford to go, however myself and the bank will have a conversations about my finances, we will laugh we will cry, we will live the dream. Banks and I are such friends really, but shush its a secret.

I dont really know why I felt the need to write this particular blog, I diddnt have a huge amount to say, however it is lovely to think that infact I have now blogged. Lots of exciting things to look forward to next week, the old man is coming to visit not to mention the fact the angels will be re-united once more.

Gilmore Girls provides me with the quote one which I close:

"I don't leave messages, If I wanted to talk to a machine I would talk to my VCR"

Concrete Jungle where Dreams are made

Me and Goofy, out on Safari

Alright, So I'm not in New York, but I am now in york and its all very new to me so I feel the title is still relevant to the blog in hand.

Now it has to be said that I do appear to have abandoned my blog over the last few months. I cant pretend they have been the best months of my life and I was terribly scared that the blog would end up being a moan which I am against on principle! That being said I did go on Holiday in September which was simply amazing! I have a whole written out blog come diary of the two weeks sitting on my computer but for some reason I just had no inclination to post it. Two weeks in Florida are always just what the Doctor ordered, outstanding weather, excellent customer service and the most theatrical place on earth, Disney.

Main Street USA

It really was outstanding, The Magic Kingdom is just one of those places where you cannot help but smile. Walking down Main Street USA having just entered the park with Cinderella Castle up infront of you, characters swarming around you not to mention Barbershop Quartets, ice cream shops and the occasional sighting of a rather famous mouse is, dare I be cliche and say it, a magical feeling.

Over the course of the two week I saw some of the best shows that I have ever seen, but it has to be said in many ways the whole place is a show, the moment you step through the turnstyles you are on there stage and are in the hands of the 'cast members' who I found will forever go out of their way to make sure that you are having the best time possible.

Mr Goofy

Before I close on the subject of Disney, as I am sure all the talk of it is boring you intensely, I have to mention two things, Characters and Fireworks. I have to be honest, I am a big kid when it comes to meeting the characters, I love to go up and get an autograph in the book and a photo with them. The character performers are simply brilliant, they are prepared for every situation whether it be a small child that is scared of the giant mouse, creating the perfect photo or dealing with a big kid like me! Not to mention the fact that they do it all without speaking.
The fireworks have to be mentioned, while I was there I saw four different firework displays, all perfectly timed to a musical accompaniment, all with a storyline, a message and one heck of an impact. I think to conclude it has to be said that what makes Disney special is that they always get it right and I am determined to go back in the not too distant future!

I will now, as promised, move the blog on to York. It has been rather a wild ride getting here but now I am here I am totally thrilled. The course is just excellent and I am pleased to say that I have already made some friends, always a positive when your as socially awkward as I can be at times. Yesterday I painted myself blue in the name of Fancy Dress... nothing ever changes.

The original Angry Bird

Societies have been very exciting, I have joined a choir, got involved with a Pantomime and I am hopefully going to get involved with the University of York Radio station. I have, since the age of 9, been a lover of radio and am super excited to be involved with a station in some capacity.

Being so far away from everyone from back home is rather tough I cant lie, Missing my angels, the old man, and of course my parents especially. But soon we will be reunited and it will literally be fine. Perhaps the oddest thing so far about moving away has been celebrating my Birthday away from home, for the first time in 19 years I was not with my parents on by Birthday however Cards, both from old friends and new made the day much brighter than it potentially could have been! Not to mention a belated present of a wooden spook from my Grandma! Epic!

Its time to march onwards I think, new day, new challenge.

To Isengard!

Wit Beyond Measure is mans greatest treasure

So something very exciting happened today, more exciting perhaps than a Poirot novel, and it is that my Pottermore email has arrived. I raced to my computer as soon as the words were displayed on my phone and from there I was able to begin the adventure.

Ill be honest I love it, there is lots of extra little bits of information that just fills in the tiny holes in the Potterverse. It really peaks the curiosity and pleases my mind. So far there has been some excellent information regarding McGonagall, as well as the Dursleys and Quirrell.

The sorting was a very traumatic process, It really scared me especially as there was a quick video from JK telling you to be truthful and that it was the moment to be sorted. Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. As you can probably tell from the picture above I was sorted into Ravenclaw. Now I just need to get a scarf.

In other news I saw the Smurfs at the weekend, crackin' little film, could do with some more singing of the Smurf themetune (I used to love that as a kid) but brilliant none the less. Neil Patrick Harris plays the same character he plays in everything else but that is his way and he is good at it.

My trip to America is on Friday, very exciting. I simply cannot wait.

Pip Pip

You've got a fast car...

Whats that? Two blogs in as many days? I know right? But I just felt I had to blog today, I think it stems directly from the fact I'm not really tired but Im just a cynic at heart.

Sang with Bournemouth Funky today, nice to have a good sing song again, sing a song or two without worrying about whether I am in teh correct diagonall or what the next dance move is. Singing with another branch of funky is quite odd really though basically the concept is the same and all the songs are the same its the little things that change, when the unversal breath point is, how things are pronounced, moments when the Rhythm is not strictly observed. Fun to try and adapt to their new way of doing things.

Directly following singing with Funky went off to see Cars 2. I'll be brutally honest, is it a good film? Probably not the best, did I enjoy it? Hell yes. It was colourful, fun and a good chance to escape the dullness of our day to day lives. This film focuses far more on Mater rather than his Racecar friend Lightening McQueen. Its a move for the better I think, the romance side is far smaller and we end up with a Spy film but with Cars. Brilliant. Gadgets and visual spectacles ahoy. Some brilliant representations of London in there as well as a witty script and abouve all it was, unlike the first film, fast paced. If you are looking for the next Inception or Kings Speech I advise you now not to go anywhere near Cars 2, but if you want to smile for 2 hours head down to the cinema ASAP and get a ticket for Pixars latest offering.

When the credits started to roll this song was played, and I rather liked it, so I decided to add it to the end of the blog.

Toodles

To sit in solemnly silence in a dull dark dock...

Well its august apparently and I can't help but feel that old father time had a bit of fun with the changeover into this particular month, we were all casually enjoying July, weather was more hit and miss than an episode of take me out bit it was lovely none the less and then boom, there it is, august the first. I wouldn't mind but I ruined 2 forms on monday just because I diddnt even realise that the month had changed. I wouldn't mind so much if it was just a force of habit thing but it wasn't, I literally diddnt realise July had ended. Points definately go to Old father time for slyness there.

Another Charity players show is now over which is always rather sad but this one was particularily bad as it was my last for a while. Seems to be becoming a paternal at the moment. The show itself was a real laugh to do, as all charity players shows are, but also a real challenge from the point of view that I had not done review before and very quickly had to adapt to quick changes and constantly consulting a bit of paper to find out what was next. The audience seemed to enjoy it and my personal favourite moments of the evening were a song written and performed by the ever brilliant Polly Morris about a lost mobile phone as well as Tracey, Loo and George doing a rendition of the Cheap flights song. Blooming hilarious. Though the shows completion does give me more time it is a bitersweet moment as it marks the closing of another chapter and the tieing of another knot.

Pottermore has been another recent excitement and I am over the moon to say I have taken part in the Magic quill challenge and have obtained an account. This is very exciting and truth be told I am very excited however the sorting process fills me with fear, once and for all I will be told in which house I belong. Scary stuff. This is going to cause me to buy a scarf and tie in whatever house. If its slytherin I shall take solace in the fact that Snape was a syltherin.
Not really seen many films recently, went to see Harry Potter again at the cinema (its still awesome) but have seen nothing new :(. Got seven on Dvd to watch at some point but that is subject to the availability of friends.

Ah well. I'm off.
Ttfn

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Something Wicked this way comes....

So here I am, another blog, please hold the applause. This past week has been slightly epic. In this respect it has not been hugely epic but there has been one hugely epic moment.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released on Firday, I logically went on Friday. It was epic, sensation and just outstanding. I loved it. I have grown up with the Potter books, starting off having them read to me by my dad and then as I grew older reading them myself. The books have been a key part of my childhood, they lead to me making some of my best friends as well as an amazing trip to California. I think its safe to say the books have been crucial to my childhood.


Now onto the film, firstly Helena Bonham-Carter, always a brilliant actress but was truly outstanding in this film, in the Gringotss scene Bonham-Carter was playing Hermionie pretending to be Bellatrix (Bonham-Carters Character). This is a beautifully complex concept but she impersonated Emma Watson perfectly, with little mannerisims and even down to the way she held her hands.


Another mention must go to Alan Rickman. The big wide world that is the internet says that Rickman is Potters main shot at an Academy Award and I'm going to be honest with you people of the world I cannot help thinking they are probably right. The Prices tale, an epic chapter in the book, was just excellent, there were few people in the cinema not in tears. The amount of gifs that I have seen on tumblr about Snape and the fateful word that is "Always". I myself posted on tumblr "After Seven books, some amazing times the best moment is just one word, 'always'" Definatley one of my favourite moments of the entire series!


Maggie Smith and Julie Walters are also awesome, Special effects are the best they have been for all the films so far and I think over all probing that the British CAN do films, we can bing out a blockbuster and we can break records as Harry Potter has done all over the world this past weekend.


Thats the end of my rave about Harry Potter, I'm sure my love for it will never die, I also think that it is nearly the end of this blog entry. I have my last official choir session tonight, emotional times indeed. Eras are ending left right and centre. I cant pretend im even close to ready for it.


Ah well, onward to war...

Happy Days are here again

So I took a blogging break over the exam period, the exams are now over and as I direct result, boom, here I am, Back in the 'blogosphere' if thats the word Im looking for. Its probably not but the modern lingo has often evaded me.

Its been a really busy time, not going to lie, exams, Salad Days, Funky Little Choir Concert, all the fun of the fair. All other than the exams went really well. Gotta love being busy. Its all a bit sad that Salad days was my last T2000 show for a while and then the Concert was my last big Funky event. Still got one more show to do which is always exciting. Working now as well. Marching onwards into a brave new world, or thats what I keep telling myself either way one part of my life is definitely coming to a close rather quickly. But thats enough about me.

It would appear that I cannot go anywhere at the moment without hearing about the News of the screws fiasco. Exciting as it all has been the best part has, as always, been the News International cover up. It followed the typical pattern. "We Know nothing about this it diddnt happen", "It may have happened but we had no idea", "Okay one person knew it was happening" "Well we think there is a group of people that were involved and we are shocked" Im now waiting for it to be announced that everyone in the paper was aware of what was going on.

Harry Potter is out at the end of this week, I am so super excited it is untrue. The final chapter of what has basically been my childhood is fast approaching! To be honest the most exciting part is Snape, Alan Rickman doing the princes tale, its going to be ultimately epicly epic!!!

Thats all for now folks, Im sure I will blog again soon (well soonish).

Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet, Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet, hooray

Though the quote in the title is from Shrek the musical, the blog post is far more predictably about Twitter.'the micro-blogging sensation' I mainly included that quote because of its use of the word sensation. Do love a quick sensation before dinner.

Twitter and I go through phases! There are intact three phases.'Read and write', 'read only' and 'what's Twitter?' I love it I really do, it keeps me up to date with all the news about the royal family, its been great on the run up to the royal wedding. It's where I heard about the engagement for crying out loud, but which phase is the right one?

From a marketing and advertising point of view Twitter is a godsend, people tweet offers and competitions, play.com for example regularily give away stuff on Twitter if you can be bothered to follow then and occasionally retweet what they say. Disney make great use of it as a marketing tool. Then there are its uses as news feeds, newspapers all have a twitter accounts, theatres do, I myself follow several technology news accounts as well as mugglenet, who have been known to post some great things!

So there is definately reasons to read Twitter, to scroll through the feed can often be a worthwhile past time and you can often gain information, but is there any point in me tweeting? I have 57 followers, most of the people I know, let's face it I'm not famous or particularily interesting. So is it worth me tweeting, do people actually care what I am doing/have to say. I'm gonna have to say no.

There we have it, hardly a reasoned argument but a logical thought process. Twitter, the correct mode is read only.

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The Winner takes it all...

It feels like an absolute age since last I blogged, and yet in reality it isn't that long, especially compared to previous gaps in blogging. Ah well.


Aprils here, it arrived with a group of fools that in many ways disappointed me. A lack of creativity this year I think, Google however caused me to bow to their superiority. The Google Motion controls for GMail was pure genius, plus the job advert to be an auto completer. I was rolling in the aisles. If that wasn't enough there was the cheeky Easter egg that if you googled comic sans you got all your results in Comic sans. This it has to be said amused me less as I'm not comic sans' biggest fan. Then again. Who is?


I went to see teh Kings Speech, Stunning film. It was one of those films taht I was always going to love though, period drama, royal family. Im in love really. However it was beautifully done. Helena Bonham Carter was perfection as always, really nice to see her do something just a trifle more normal than her usual though. Just to prove that she still can. Geoffry Rush, also brilliant, I havent really seen him in much to be honest, but it was a heck of a contrast to his character in Pirates of the Carribean, I barely even relised they were the same people until a few pages before teh end. Having mentioned the other two lead characters it would be wrong of me to leave out Mr Firth. He portrayed the reluctant King very well, the stutter was brilliant.


While on the subject of Royalty, the royal wedding. Im so excited. I dont really even know why Im as excited as I am. It just all seems so thrilling. We are in the month of it now. I wonder if they are nervous?


I have Pre-ordere my DVD of Hazza P and the deathly hallows part one. I am so unbelieveably excited! Its less than a week to go! I watched Film 6 the other day. Micheal Gambon dying still annoys me, but the bit after where they all light their wands and hold them in the air is photographic genius!


I watched Mrs Henderson presents again, I still love it. Its still one of my favourite films! So I shall leave you with a quote from it.

We've had some good shows, but they're not daring enough. Let's get rid of the clothes.

You'll get by, You always have before

So today was the day I decided to sit down and actually Listen to the Bruno Mars album, I've had it for ages but not actually got round to listening to it. Having now gone through it I do feel I was mistreating myself by not listening, its a good ol album. Glee Volume Five on the other hand, disappointing. A couple of good tracks but definitely more miss than hit, and that saddens me, I have come to look forward to the Glee albums, as odd as that sounds.

In film news I watched the Queen this week, Good film. Helen Mirren is fab. I expected it to be over a longer time period than it was, but I ended up loving the in depth nature. Unfortunately I found the film in no way quotable, which is sad, as I often thing that the mark of a good film is whether or not you can quote a line later.

I went to see Rango at the cinema, can't say I was overly impressed. It looked great, but the story just didn't seem to know what on earth it was, its trying to do the Muppet's, but then a serious drama, character work, and then be a western for funsies. All very odd! Saw some cool trailers at the cinema though, Hop looks great, and the new Pirates film looks entertaining. Captain Jack is returning to our screens, and I have to say I love the line "Did everybody see that, because I will not be doing it again" I'd go see the film just for that to be honest.

Comic relief was good, wasn't really in the mood for laughing, but I did enjoy it. Smithy sketch was golden! Masterchef was Hilare, mainly because I love those three women. Also The Downton piss take really had me laughing. "You can't talk now, the music is playing"

Its been a tough week, but heres to the next one.

Life is a Rollercoaster, Just Got To Ride it...

Well March arrived. Who knew? Nice of it to turn up. Wish it had come earlier really.

So, I have started rehearsing again, Hip Hip Hooray, for a show called Salad Days with Theatre 2000. its on at the regent in half term and quite frankly I cannot wait. Ridiculous lyrics, Corny music and a magic Piano, its like the show was written for me.

Life at home is borderline horrific at the moment, so we wont dwell on it, I only mention it to point out that it lead to me buying a book called Noel and Cole, abiography side by side of Cole Porter and Noel Coward. Only read a small bit of it so far, but I rather like it. Not Gonna Lie.

I also watched Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium the other day. I have to be honest, I got it becuase I like the sound of the name but it is actually quite a good film. Really sad, possibly one of the best lines being "I fell so completely in love with these shoes, I bought enough pairs to last my whole lifetime. This is my last pair."There is also a stunning bit of dialogue discussing King Lear which I will also quote:

"When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words.
I've lived all five of my acts, and I am not asking you to be happy that I must go. I'm only asking that you turn the page, continue reading... and let the next story begin. And if anyone asks what became of me, you relate my life in all its wonder, and end it with a simple and modest "He died.""
The director probably needs a hanging but altogether a pretty decent film!

Results day tomorrow, could not be more concerned. Jan exams was not a happy time in my life and tomorrow I have to see what affect that had on my grades and where I am going to University. Whats not to dread? Literally terrified.

Lastly and possibly most importantly we move on to the good Lady Bing. She happened to comment that she one day hoped to read my blog and it to be all about her, and though I feel this is not quite possible today as I had other things to mention, I still feel that the Fabulous Lady Bing deserves a quick mention and I wish her the best of luck on her expedition in the hunt of Monkeys, and remind her to contemplate taking nails with her on the trip.

One last quote used in Mr Magorium to close... ( you can tell I liked the film)

"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it"
Tinkerty tonk!

Please Let me...

Well its been a busy old time! Two weeks in which I havent really stopped.

Half Term brought work, always a joy, I had fun as I always do but I also had stressful time also. I had to tell someone that the sound had stopped on tehir computer becuase they had put it on mute. Never a dull moment...

Tw1tterband has also taken up a rather large part of my life recently. The concept is pure genius. Its a song with each part done by a different person on twitter and then the whole thing put together by a mystical Computer Whiz. None of the musicians ever meet and the final track is then released on Youtube for Charity. The Choir has been part of their latest venture and it was such fun to do. We recorded it in Sandies Living room, (where else?) and then the mystical man added it in to the track. The final thing was released on sunday and I rather like it. Good FUn all round. Not to mention the twitter banter that goes on.

I went to see Tangled in the glorius 3D and loved it. Disney back at its brilliant best. Was so much fun, the 3D element is brilliant and the songs involve the words 'THE PLAGUE' almost randomly. The imagery thats involved is rather brilliant with that moment. Great Songs, Great Film, all round good fun who could ask for more?

The last level of funness of my past two weeks was a great trip up to The Royal Opera House for an audition for a choir for the olympics. Some of the workshops were brilliant, others less so, but a grand day out as wallace and gromit would say. Well Gromit wouldnt, he doesnt speak, but you get the idea.

Auditions for HCP summer show are coming up. I love that I am starting to be busy again!

Toodles

Stephen

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun

Well one big happy valentines day to anyone who is reading my blog! Hope youve all had a laugh and chuckle today!

Saw that picture on Twitter and I just loved and I thought to myself, "this, this is something that I will blog" because its heart warming really. Call me old but I like that.

Have fun.

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