There and Back Again

I feel like I haven't stopped for the last seven days.
Starting with straight from work Tuesday, it was this months KI'n'DA meet, down the Great Western as per. Finally got to meet the very lovely and exceptionally hot James Gent. Even got to take him home too.... no, nothing like that .... because ....
Up at 4.15am Wednesday to fly to Newcastle. It was our semi regular group creative day, but we had to fly from Bristol. We arrived at the car park and couldn't actually see the terminal for the thick fog. As we had breakfast, flights were being grounded and cancelled left, right and centre. Except Easyjet. They stick those buggers up in the air come hell or high water. All I could think of was Pam Ann doing her skit about Ryanair being grounded. Of course, we were on Easyjet, so we took off more or less on time.
Wednesday was also the evening I saw The Dark Knight (including fabulous lenticular poster). Long film. Fucking amazing, but I did feel the time. Possibly because I had been up since 4.... Quite scary and horrific too, I thought. I can see why people are on about Heath's Joker. Its in how much he plays it down that makes the performance so incredibly striking. You believe this guy could be out there on the streets. Still unsure about the ending for one character.... but will go see it again soon!
After the film, we met up with the rest of the creatives and I had one quick drink before heading off to bed .. at midnight ... before having to be..
Up at 4.30 Thursday to fly back to Bristol and then came straight back into the office.
Up at 5.00 Friday to get my train as was working in London all day. Sarah & I had lunch at The Ritz, so that I could fully understand the experience and write an effective campaign for them. Hey - it was their idea ... and having been, I see why. Its not just some posh restaurant, its an experience. The food was like nothing I have ever eaten before. Salmon mousse that dissolved on the tongue, lamb that was as soft as butter and what that chef cant do with chocolate aint worth doing. The staff were beyond wonderful too. Our head waiter, always checked out orders and head wines to suggest that complimented each dish. He'd then explain each dish, each drink and give us the details and origins. And, the point of me being there was that its surprisingly affordable! You can get a three course meal for £36 ..... and all of that service comes too. I cant recommend it enough.
Spent Friday night with Rich, playing Indy Lego again. Nearly finished Raiders now......
Saturday was a bit of running around ... went and met up with Ian from Doctor Who Forum in the afternoon, then got a bus across to the O2 to meet up with everyone for Kylie.
Sweet lord. I was 10 feet away from the stage. I got a wave and a wink off the lady herself. And a smile off Will Baker her Gay Husband. *dies* Pics on facebook. David & I then went off to our hotel to crash for the night.
A quick drive round Richmond Hill Park on Sunday (have you been? Its fucking huge!!) and then on my bus back to Cardiff .... non air conditioned bus....... sweated like a pig. Thank fuck Rach called me and chatted most of the way to keep me occupied!
So there we are .... Batman, The Ritz and Kylie ... what a great week!

Short Trips and Fecktards

So in no particular order:
Mamma Mia. LOVED IT! Of course it helps that it has Christine Baranski in it (ooh, as I started typing, Dancing Queen has come on the radio). Its an utter cheese fest but really ... go in, kick off your heels and let your hair down. And stay through the credits.
Sadly, the first hour or so of the movie I had some inbred cunt of a woman from up the valleys chat at regular volume. So I told her to shut it. So she carried on. So I turned round and said really, I fucking meant it SHUT UP. Silence until the end of the movie. Then she tapped me on the shoulder and started having a go saying she had paid her money and would talk next time if she wants to. Please let her come to my till so I can refuse her entry, I thought. But stood up, turned around and screamed at her "You may have paid, but so has everyone else and they didn't come here to listen to you, you inbred fucking valleys whore. Now fuck off back up the A470 to Ponty, do me a favour and DON'T BREED".
Her amazingly insightful come back?
"Don't you breed either you gay"
Oh the pain.
I did apologise to the audience members around me for my language, but they all thought she had it coming.

Wall*E is amazing. Mostly because its very light on dialogue, which works on two levels. Firstly, it means that the kids don't get bored in the talky expositiony bits. Secondly, you can really admire the detail in the animation.
Do also make sure you are in your seats for Presto, the Pixar short that precedes it. Proving that Pixar really should reboot Roger Rabbit as a franchise.

I finally took the plunge and went to Prince Caspian too.
I don't mind admitting I had been inwardly putting it off as some things I read didn't match my hopes for the film, after being such a fan of the whole Septet (yes, its a word, unlike Quadrilogy, which FUCKING WELL IS NOT) for 30 years. I was anxious to say the least (heightened by my very delicate mental and emotional state right now ... but I may say more about that later .. or I might chicken out again) and spent the first 20 minutes or so actually really thinking that since it was going 'right' maybe it would be better to leave than be disappointed. Thank the Goddess I stayed! By the end I was totally in love with it. Its not as perfect as Lion/Witch/Wardrobe (hell, can we just call it Closet and be done?) .. I mean they have a cameo from The White Witch .. but its really not a bad adaptation. In fact, its very good!

Last week I worked from our London station for a day. That was good fun and also meant I got to squish in a very quick visit to Richies - largely because to do there and back in a day would have killed me and he kindly put me up the night before. I am back again this Friday ... having lunch at The Ritz! I KNOW! Had to buy posh trousers and everything (my suit ones need the hem wonder webbing). I am then staying in London, because Saturday is KYLIE!!!!
And before that, flying to Newcastle and back for work, slotting in a preview of The Dark Knight while I am there. Just no stopping me at the moment.

But ... Christ this is hard ... I am sad to report after a 4 year break, my depression has come back. Its been about for a while, probably getting on for two months truth be told. I am doing what I have always done with it, and carrying on best I can. Its not something i can give in to. On top of that, I did something a bit daft at work ... and while its not best to discuss on an open forum, its safe to say I have also totally had my confidence removed.
Each minute of each day feels like walking against the tide, but i keep moving forward. Not said anything to Dan, because he just says he doesn't know what he can do to help and then looks like he is going to cry ... which makes me feel worse because making him upset is the last thing I want to do. So its actually better for me to not say anything.

Still, shouldn't whinge. Nobody's life is in my hands. I have clothes, food and water and a nice house and I get to see films and eat chocolate and a trip to Florida to look forward to, Two Kylie & 1 Madonna gig ... I'm one of the lucky ones, right?

Something & Nothing

Yes, its been over a week.
Worked a lot .... even in London for a day .... had a friend over for the weekend, which was lovely.
But ... got stuff going on that I cant really bare to the public ... so might not be around much for a while....
enjoy!

Its Good News Week?

Dan has received notification of his annual pay rise and bonus! Hurrah!
It also occurred to me that his new salary is a few hundred quid more than mine.
No big.
Until you consider that he started working for his employer, seven months after I started working for mine, and he started over 2k lower.
Should I be asking for a better raise?

If Only I Could Send This Round My Work....

But I cant really. I just wrote it to ease my frustrations

The Glass Bottle: A Remarkable Invention.

Glass is first thought to have been invented around 3000BC by the Sumerian Civilisation. They mixed silica and sand in very hot forms and found that when it cooled, what remained was glass. Although very differently produced. the process still remains the same today. The glass is consistent throughout the mix, meaning its a thick and durable at the bottom as it is at the top of a bottle. Which is why its fine to use milk, right to the bottom of the bottle! Yes, right to the bottom! So one has to wonder why there are constantly about 8 pints of milk in the downstairs fridge, with only an inch used off the top.

You see, other great inventions, like when Louis Pasteur discovered you could pasteurise milk to keep it fresher longer, then some spark also invented a sealed aluminium foil lid, which means if replaced, it stays fresh longer, and even longer if not even opened before the previous bottles worth is used up! I know, its bloody incredible. And guess what (seriously, you are going to die when I tell you this bit) if you keep it in the fridge .. in any of these states .. it stays fresh longer still! I know!

So to cap it all, can whoever the OCD freak is that insists on only using the top inch of the milk before opening the new one, please stop. Or if genuinely, you believe all the other bottles have gone off so a new one needs opening - don't put them back in the fridge! Empty them down the sink!

If you get really really stuck, ask some of the people upstairs. They may be a filthy bunch of undeserving pigs when it comes to their fridge and kitchen, but they have really gotten the hang of this milk bottle thing. Amazingly.

Raccoon Time Again

So some poor chap over at the Doctor Who Forum has had to have his dog put to sleep. And as always in the Leisure Hive, the community has rallied with support. But two things in particular have caused a fly to fly right into my bloody eyes, don't you know. Both of them .. one then the other ... darned flies

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting s of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

If it should be, that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do, what must be done?
For the last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
But don't let grief, then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship, must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
When the time comes, hold back your fears
You wouldn't want me to suffer so,
Please, won't you please, let me go?

Take me where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me until the end
And hold me close and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

And knowing, that at 12 years old, this day is closer for young Smeagol than its ever been, breaks my heart. He had an operation on his ear over a year ago ... and now he scratches it a lot and once in a while it seems to be upsetting him ... and I have been making all kinds of excuses about it not being a problem and him just using to get attention (which, to be fair, he does actually do sometimes as it clears up the moment I get out of my chair to feed the little bugger) .. but I am terrified of getting it looked at ... just in case they tell me its the end.

Journeys End

Ok, lets pretend last week never happened, ok? I had a shit week from about four different directions, but as is motto for my family, Keep Moving Forward*
So .. Journeys End then?
I am a tad torn. At the time, I was wrapped ... but then I thought about it ... and am now not as impressed as I was. I still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong ... but running it around in my head yesterday on my 9 hour shift at Showcase, I managed to talk myself out of loving it.
You see, the first half is already a blur .... I'm not even entirely sure what happened to resolve the story. Something to do with the TARDIS having to power down (I let out a small amount of squee seeing the TARDIS totally powered down ... in the state it was in the day I walked upon it. Kind of made that moment more real for me), some gubbins about Captain Jack, a furnace and some clothes that can obviously stand very high temperatures. I know I got a bit panicky over Jackie Tyler nearly getting turned to dust, with an actress who looked dead like Gita from Eastenders, the duplicate Doctor and all the bollocks about Donna ..... and a massively wasted opportunity with the true nature of the Doctor. The companions didn't seem to jump to his moral defence, did they? I dunno ... lovely moment, not quite realised.
Then I am quite clear from here on ..... Davros, defeated but not destroyed - because you know he will be back. That lovely shot of all of them running into the TARDIS and flying it as its meant to be flown ... my first thought was that actually I can pretty much recreate that scene with my toys..... since Jackie & Donna weren't flying anything! The goodbyes ... and then the bit I loved the most .... the everlasting death for the faithful companion.
Yes, there is a corner of my mind hurrumphing at us being cheated from a promised death again ... but the fact Donna lives, having lost everything she became, is far more painful ... and yes, I bawled. Such venom from Sylvia kicking the Doctor out .... ingrate!
So yes, I did enjoy very much ..... but do think it was not what it could or should have been.
Never mind. Cybermen at Christmas.

So now ..... join me in my own TARDIS for a while ..... Remember this? That was the scenes of Donna being dropped home!
And just how much of this did I get right?
Missing Bees: check!
Lost planets: Check!
Shadow Proclamation: Check!
Rose: Half check ... seems it was our Rose but her reality was ahead of ours....
I then went on to say that the Doctor and Donna being mistaken for a couple was going somewhere: BIG CHECK! And people laughed at me saying it was just a running gag. HA!

So, bottom line, I rock. Oh yes, I totally fucking rock and you know it.



*points for anyone who gets this reference

I am in a vile mood today and getting worse.
that is all.

To Boldly Not Go

News has reached me today that the Star Trek Experience in Vegas is to close on September 1st.
Fucking gutted.
This was to be part of our holiday to the USA in 2010. Some time in Florida to do Harry Potter world, which should be open at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure by then ... and then take a few days to fly across to Vegas, specifically to do the STE. There's nothing else about Vegas that appeals to me, so now, chances are I will never go. Which is fine, because now I don't want to. So not sure where I was going with that.
Having a bit of a shit week all round and this is just one more kick in the nut sack.

I was lucky enough to catch the Star Trek Adventure back in 2003 in London, so guess its not all bad.
It was basically a large tent in Hyde Park, full of props and costumes. Then the final bit before you went out through the gift shop, because there is always a gift shop, (I fully expect that when I die, there will be a gift shop where I can buy tea towels and mugs to commemorate life, to take to wherever I go next. Perhaps there are two shops. 1 if you are going to heaven and one if you are going to hell. In which case, id need earplugs for heaven as the constant singing about god and wotnot will get right up my nose. If its hell, I'll need a Clone Zone before I get there. But I digress), So anyway, best bit was the trip through the NCC 1701-D. I have loads of pics at home. Will have to put some on here. The jist was you start in engineering and there is a problem. You get shipped into a very large turbolift (it held about 40 people .... so very out of scale with the tv show) and up to the bridge, where a full scale battle is going on on the viewscreen. Sadly, they didn't budget for paying actors to fill the roles on the bridge, so its just you lot and maybe a guide standing in uniform doing nothing, while the audio plays out. But good fun all the same.

Today's silver lining is this however. Min has got an OBE! How marvellous. I do find it worrying that she is planning on singing on stage until the age of 60. That's twenty tears away. Do I have to stay for the whole gig, or can I just dip in and out between now and 2028? I am assuming they will bring a screen on for her to wash and poo behind.

A Dark Night

If you are reading, chances are you know me. Or have read enough so that even though I am a total stranger to you, you feel like you know me, and maybe want to touch me inappropriately on occasion. So you can imagine how excited I would be at the prospect of an advance showing of The Dark Knight. And then to find they are doing one in my area. And then that the one in my area is at the cinema I work in.
You can probably then also imagine my reaction to the dawning realisation and abject horror that, said preview is on the day I am in Newcastle for a training session.
I cant bring myself to talk about it anymore.