Awesome Polish Tattoo

Was talking about tattoos to a girl at the Goth night Nomi was DJ at, and she showed me this awesome tattoo she had done in Poland (being that she was Polish). I love it... And apparently they're dead cheap out there too :) Holiday to Poland anyone? :)

DJ Mini Nomi

Nomi was invited to do a DJ set at our local Goth Club night :) I know I'm biased, but I thought it was excellent :) it was so funny seeing her (or rather not seeing her) behind the decks as all you could see was the top of her head :)

I'm eagerly looking forward to the next time DJ Mini Nomi takes to the turntables :)

Won't somebody think of The Owls?

I'd seen a few trailers for it and even played the demo of the game on the PS3 but the "Legends Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" was a total mystery to me. And it didn't let me down on expectations... it is a very beautifully rendered CGI film, with exquisite attention to detail (the feathers ruffled when the wind blew). One scene immediately springs to mind where they're flying through a storm in slow motion, the 3D rendered CGI raindrops and the "wet bedraggled look" of the owls was beyond description... if it's still on where you are go see it!



This was our first outing with the Unlimited cards from Cineworld, and hopefully the first of many, as the more you use them the better value they become. It was a really good experience being able to just pick the film hand over our passes and only pay a token £1.50 each for the privilege of a 3D film. The only thing that besmirched the experience was a member of the audience.

Where we decided to sit (which being late was a very quick selection) was roughly in the middle, and directly in front of a father and his 2 sons. Aside from them and us there was probably another 4 people in the cinema (owing mainly to the early performance and the fact the film was at the end of its run). As with all cinemas (at least when you're not in outrageously priced "first class" seats) the seats are far too close together and the inevitable fidgeting results in the person in front getting jostled, this is par for the course, and by and large I overlook it. If it becomes a regular occurrence, a quick look around is usually enough to shame the offender into staying still. Sadly in this instance it wasn't... I come to the conclusion the guy behind me was blissfully ignorant to the fact his son (who at the age of ~8 years old was sitting on his lap) was frequently banging the back of Nomis chair. So after a couple of jostles in rapid succession I turned around and exclaimed "seriously mate, please could you stop kicking the chair" to which he replied something along the lines of "why don't you move?". Thinking this was enough to point out what was occurring and he'd have the decency to either sit his son on a seat properly (of which there were hundreds) I turned around and resumed watching the film... only to feel yet another nudge in the back of Nomi's chair. Quickly spinning around I said "Why don't you move" to which he replied "we were here first"... now seriously am I in the wrong here? Shouldn't the offending party in something like this move away, not the victim? He knew what was going on and that it was his fault yet was refusing to do anything about it. So I stood up and said "fine" and promptly sat behind him and rather childishly (although not entirely deliberately) gently kicked the back of his chair :-) Oh what a feeling as he stomped off to get the manager :-) Eventually when he came back with the manager in tow I explained the situation calmly to the manager (who was very calm and collected) whist the other guy ranted and raved. Eventually after hearing my side of the story the manager advocated that "you're both here to enjoy the film, so can we all just sit down?" to which I replied "certainly... and I (emphasis on the I) promise not to kick the back of your chair mate". The rest of the film went on with us sitting behind him, and without incident. When we left after watching all the credits we bumped into the manager I had spoken to earlier, and apologised for the display and that how I was amazed at how idiotic some people could be. Thankfully he agreed with me.

On the set of the Call Cutter Trailer

I've acted a bit in the past, but only stuff I've scripted and "on stage" at an anime convention, mostly it's been about the costume and "getting a laugh". This time however it was serious, as I was going to be in front of a video camera, with a crew and acting out a scene I had to get perfect. And most importantly I had to look serious and natural, and not scared rigid like I do usually.

I was vastly helped by the fact I only had to act alongside Nomi and I could ad lib my part as much as I liked as long as I got the general import of it right, I wont go into details spoil it for anyone as I want everyone to see the final cut (watch this space). Suffice to say I was surprised at how I managed to totally block out the fact there was the director, a camera, a sound guy, a makeup girl and possibly a whole host of other people in the room with us and totally focus on the acting. I've never felt a buzz quite like it, and was sad when after several takes the director had got what he wanted.

There was more fun to come though, as we then had to go and get more makeup applied in the form of grisly wounds and copious amounts of blood, the director was thrilled when I said to the makeup girl "yeah just cover me in it I've got a change of clothes with me". Hence the fact I'm covered in blood from having my throat cut :-)

The next scene I thought was going to be far easier to act as all I had to do was lie there and pretend to be dead... wrong, I had to remain perfectly still with eyes open propped up uncomfortably. But it was such fun being covered in all the fake stage blood (which is actually corn syrup and tastes really nice!).

And that was our scenes done... and I must say that was the most fun I've ever had with my trousers up :-) And I can't wait to see the results, and perhaps reprise my role in the film proper and or take up any other offers for parts in other films.

On a side note whilst waiting for my makeup to be done I twittered what I was doing and got a few quizzical "what're you up to?" responses, of which I replied "I'm an extra in a film". That evening after we got home the lead in the film (a good friend of Nomis) told me what a good job he thought I'd done and that I wasn't an extra, but "an ACTOR". I can think of no higher praise than to receive that comment from Rob as he is a superb actor both on stage and on screen, and for him to consider me as such really touched me and made me feel really emotional.

Finding Nemo Tank

The Chessington World of Adventures Hotel has a fish tank in the lobby with what can only be described as a replica of Finding Nemo :) the only fish missing is a cleaning shrimp :(

Go on... suck it!

"My god that can't be real!" I thought when I saw this giant lolly.

The photo doesn't do it justice. This is a bigger than normal grab crane... The lolly itself is just a tad smaller than a football!

My dad tried to win one... But unsurprisingly the crane wasn't strong enough to pick it up :( I wonder if it is one giant lolly or if it's full of smaller ones?

Fatslide

Saw this at the hospital... I'm sure it was an accident that the "P" in Patslide ended up wearing off to look like an "F"... either that or it is for the "big boned" patients :) Good to see a sense of humor in the workplace tho :)

Flag in the Window

Is this a weird semaphore or some foreign flag that looks epicly strange?

Not a Toy for Impressionable Children

If my parents bought me this when I was young I'd have been scared shitless... I mean look at it... All it needs is an axe and a broken door to poke out of! No wonder it's on sale. Alive quite possibly... Demonic most definitely.

Vote Talanas

A good friend of mine is the Drummer for Talanas, and they're up for a chance to play on the Jagermeister stage at the Damnation Festival so please take the time to vote for them using the below voting box:

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Pick a Bulb

Nomi sent me to get some free daffodils from a local farm shop. When I got there I was told to fill my bag... "If there's any left". I expected to see an empty bucket... Not to have to sift through a dustbin full of daffodil skins!

Thong Conker

Nomi's been bringing me Conkers she's been finding on the way to the bank. I've now got quite a collection... But this is my favorite :)

Rainbow

Unfortunately by the time I could get to my phone I wasn't in a good position to photograph this. But the minute I walked out of the office I saw a double rainbow that I could see both ends of (IE a full 180 deg). First time I've ever seen a rainbow touch the ground both ends... Let alone a double one!

Biking with Barclays

This is a really cool idea... Bikes you can rent and deposit all over the capitol. We have a similar scheme where I work (except it's free) I wonder if it actually works though on such a grand scale? Be cool he it did, but I imagine some areas of London they'd spend more time dragging them out of the river than renting them!

007

Can't really make out the back of this. But it says "Licensed to Fill" :) wonder if they have bother sister company called "Octanepussy"?

Builders take it to a new level

Saw this and couldn't help but laugh :) I do hope the builders are gay... Otherwise they'll attract the completely wrong attention with a sign like this!

Narrow Load

I always find it funny when things like boats, trains etc are transported by road. Seems so odd to see something out of it's element. Go back a couple of hundred years and they'd call you mad for dragging a boat across land!

Mini Grill... A Magnet In Disguise?

Mini's are beautiful with all that lovely chrome trim and a chrome grill (I miss the chrome on my old Rover), unfortunately it does mean that any knocks the chrome receives result in a nasty dent, as opposed to a scuff. And Nomi's Mini seems to attract towbars better than a magnet :( so it's time to replace it...

Here's the before picture.

And the after... Shiny huh? :-)

Cigarette Run

Now that is a shitload of tobacco!

On The Rock

There's a fantastic gastropub near us called The Spread Eagle. You'd be forgiven for walking past it as on the outside it just looks like a regular pub that does food. But check out the specials... Ostrich, Bison, Kangaroo, Zebra and Crocodile to name but a few :) not content with that being special enough they cook it in a unique way. Or rather they don't cook it at all, they leave that to you... By giving you a heated lump of volcanic rock to act as a grill you cool it to your taste at your table :) Which for me is barely at all... Liking my meat blue means it gets cold before I finish. This way you can cut a raw chunk off and cook it then eat it straight away :) Mmm delicious... And not too expensive either. Four 8oz steaks to share with 4 four sides is £35 :)

As a side note Zebra meat is divine! I'll never be able to go to a Zoo again without eyeing the Zebras up for quick a BBQ :)

More Scat Cars

Is there something I'm missing with people wanting cars that have poo related number plates?

He's The Scat-man?

If scat's your thing then that's fine by me... but does he really pull the ladies in with a numberplate that advertises the fact he's into his Coprophilia? Just hope he's got leather seats!

Luk Ina Fag

Does it make me immature that my brain went straight to the gutter when I saw this :)

Bench vs. Lump Hammer

Lump Hammer WIN

I had to break up our old garden bench as it had rotted through. Actually that's an understatement... It had practically rotted away to nothing. One side of the bench collapsed last year when my dad sat on it. The other side has been looking dodgy for a while until I gingerly perched on it and it gave way :( even the top of it was coming apart. So to relieve stress I decided rather than taking it apart I'd smash it to bits! Now it's shattered remains are off to the dump courtesy of Nomis step dad :)

Scissors

This is not a good table to sit at in a restaurant if you're of a nervous disposition. It comes with your own Scissors of Damocles :)

Nomi Goes Feral

20oz of near raw cow is Nomis dinner... Mmm blue T-Bone :) Smith and Western is a truly kick ass restaurant... Not exactly cheap mind, but we all walked away stuffed beyond belief! Or should that be stuffed with beef? :)

Sharing

I like how the menu states "enough to share"... That's more than enough to share... And there was 3 of up eating it as a starter! No wonder the waitress was so quick to say yes it's big enough for 3 to share. Thing is if me and Matt walked in there we'd have insisted on one each... Then of course nearly died after inevitably following it up with a 20oz steak! And probably desert :)

Chandelier

Photo doesn't do it justice. It's obviously fake, but no less awesome. A chandelier made from interlocking antlers :) bad ass :)

Paddling Pool

So hot that my mum got out our old paddling pool... It's probably not seen the light of day for 10-15 years!

It was a more than welcome addition to my sisters birthday BBQ :)

Video to follow.

Startled

That'll teach my mum for handing me a packet of postit tabs when I'm bored :)

Dalek

We've got two new composters to facilitate Nomis vegetable growing. Of course given their shape I now need to attach a sink plunger to them :)

Better Boarding

Saw this around a building site in London.
Pretty cool idea I thought. Much better than just nothing. Love the spider one :)

VW Eagle

Saw this on the back of a pretty cool looking matt black VW Camper... Very witty adaptation on the Nazi German Eagle. Perhaps a little close to the mark for some peoples tastes... Don't think he could ever drive this on the continent!

Help for Heroes Charity Performance

Fantastic charity Performance done by a local group of singers. Including several friends of ours.

Commemorating 70 years since the end of WW2 they sang a selection of wartime songs all knitted together with a story spanning all aspects of the war including drafting, evacuation and the Home Guard (which was especially funny for spoofing Dads Army). An exceptional bunch of singers... With some stuningly well acted pieces by the young children in the group.

Grr Manly Peugeot

Sod your big exhaust pipes and coffee table sized spoilers... What you need to man up your pug is some teeth on the grill :) awesome idea :-)

Strange Writing?

Found this strange sign at The Lights Theatre in Andover... I wonder what it says?

Predators

Ah the movie I've been waiting for... or at least I hope. Fingers crossed when it comes out on the 8th July that I'm not disappointed. Only time will tell.

I bought a copy of SFX magazine specifically to read an article on Predators (See if you can spot the error with the picture). And I'm pleased to say what it said sounded very positive, a return to the old slow reveal (Tension building till you jump out of your skin) of movie monsters of the 80s, rather than the quick action packed scare the audience through making them jump of the 00's. And using SFX rather than CGI.

I hope it lives up to the original two... but lets face it as long as it's better than AvP I won't mind.

PS The errors the fact that the shoulder cannon has the classic 3 lasers targeting system on it, when in fact it's mounted on the side of the helmet.

Winchester Film Festival

Winchester Film Festival

Organised by a very good friend of mine, and showing such films as:

• Dog Soldiers
• The Wicker Man
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail
• Blair Witch Project (Held in a cemetery... how cool)

Not to mention such fine guests as

• Terry Jones
• Don Letts
• Neil Marshall
• Matt Berry

Should be awesome... can't wait... watch this space.