Super Duper Saturday

Great Britain did quite well today. Gold medals were won by:

Mo Farrah- Men’s 10,000 Metres

Greg Rutherford- Men’s Long Jump

Jessica Ennis- Heptathlon

Laura Trott, Dani King & Joanna Rowsell- Women’s Team Pursuit Cycling

Katherine Copeland & Sophie Hosking- Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls Rowing

Andy Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Alex Gregory & Tom James- Men’s Coxless Fours Rowing

Caption not required, surely?

Now don't get me wrong- just because I'm only listing our gold winners doesn't mean I value our second and third placed competitors any less. Anyone deemed good enough to represent their country at the Olympics earns my respect. For a full list of Britain's gold, silver and bronze winners to date, visit the BBC news site here.

Team GB are now in third in the medal table with 14 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze. Our old friends from Kazakhstan have 5 gold putting them in 8th.

While some of this was going on, Dad and SM (who are visiting for a few days) took LL and myself out in his new car to the National Trust house Basildon Park. This was used as the location of the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice which starred Keira Knightley dontchaknow. Here's a picture of the little fella (mostly) being sensible LOL.

 Stately home not included.

After Dinner

Readers of this blog may recall one of my favourite films is Ridley Scott's Alien. Absolutely love it and despite pretty much knowing it inside out, I still find it exciting and somewhat scary.

You can imagine my delight at the thought of a trip to the cinema this week to see Prometheus, Scott's (possibly maybe) prequel. Definitely set in the same universe and playing by the same rules or as I think Scott put it, it shares the same DNA. A good film- certainly superior to Alien 3- with big spectacle set pieces to please. Not as scary as perhaps I would have liked but there you go.

Regardless of whether Prometheus fits into the Alien canon, there was I noted quite a big plot hole that got over looked. Just taking the film as a stand alone, a pretty big plot device had been used and then contradicted later on. I won't spoil things here, see if you can work it out.

Oh and while I think of it, I had real difficulties with the main character being named after a well known After Dinner Mint brand. Would have thought fellow Brit Scott would have known LOL...

Has anyone noticed today is meant to be the longest day (at least in the northern hemisphere)? It's more or less rained all day (see previous post re- summer weather) with temperatures likely to have struggled to get to the low 20's grrr. Of course now all we can look forward to is the nights gradually drawing in as we head towards Christmas. Cheerful soul aren't I?

By the way has anyone else been enjoying the excellent sitcom 2 Broke Girl$? See what they did there with the title LOL? Nothing ground breaking and a bit obvious at times but quite fun.  

Star Wars Day

May The Fourth Be With You.

Two Sherlocks

Some readers will know I'm a bit of a fan of Conan Doyle's most famous consulting detective. You can imagine my joy at an impromptu trip with a friend to the cinema to see Guy Richie's latest this afternoon. Added to that the BBC are currently showing the second series of Steven Moffat's modernised version on Sunday nights. Two for the price of one you might say.

I thoroughly enjoyed the big screen version even if the final destination was somewhat signposted. The spectacle of the thing and its scale was most impressive. I did however comment that the actor playing Moriarty had- to my mind- more than a striking resemblance to the former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, poor bloke.

Also I should say last week's opening episode on BBC 1- text messaging and all- kept me gripped throughout and guessing right to the closing credits. So which is better? Must I choose now..?

Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr as Dr Watson and Mr Holmes, big screen style.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson in 21st Century Sherlock.

Recap from the Best Weekend Ever

This past weekend was amazing! We went to themed parties, slept in, ate amazing food, made gingerbread houses, walked around a Christmas village, watched movies, ordered take out and even got homework done in the mist of it all!

Me & Mommy from Thanksgiving

Me and E at the Christmas village

My roommate and I decorating our tree last week!

I definitely recommend these next two movies! They were hilarious and cute all at the same time.

PS How is it ONLY Tuesday? One week and 2 days until this semester is over and I am free!

Hands Off?

There's been mixed reaction to the news BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) are planning a big screen film version of Doctor Who. Apparently Harry Potter director David Yates is one of the prime movers behind this announcement. Now I don't know about you but I thought he did quite a decent job with the later instalments of that franchise. However Andrew M Brown in the Telegraph even went so far in his blog to seemingly list many of the reasons often cited as being behind the series cancellation (in the 1990's) as reasons why "Hollywood" should keep well away. So because it used to be seen as fairly low budget- and I guess against the average episode of say Battlestar Galactica it still is- Hollywood money shouldn't be used to (possibly) improve these things? I dunno.

But this is not the first time Doctor Who has appeared on the big screen. Those two 1960's Peter Cushing films weren't too bad. Surely?

 Yes that was the Bernard Cribbins co-starring.

For me the jury is still out and I'll wait to hear more information before passing judgement. Perhaps a new film will be a welcome addition to the canon and assuming they move quickly maybe even a fitting 50th anniversary celebration in 2013...



1 Nov Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Reading
6 Nov Reading 1 - 0 Birmingham

Cowboys And Buses

My recent life in brief...

• Last night I met a friend at the cinema and we saw Cowboys and Aliens. Absolutely brilliant concept and really well executed. Couldn't quite believe it had such a low certificate mind you. Ford and Craig, almost but not quite a movie dream team.


• Love the new series of "Who Do You Think You Are?"


• College beckons again. Seems like ages since I last had my hands in some clay.


• I've recently found someone really important.


• I have resumed work on the loft hatch cover. I intend to be snug this winter no matter how cold it gets.


• After 8 months out of work, just like buses, two different job offers come along in one go. For the record it's not all about the money but the prospect of having to drive 200 miles (about 320 km) each way at least twice a week sure had something to do with my choice.

Gone

Have just seen the final Harry Potter. Wow.

Can't believe it's all over now (sniff).

End

How sad the Space Shuttle program has now come to a close after 30 years.

In my younger years I had a poster of one of the Shuttles sat on it's launch pad over my bed (next to the life size one of Kate Bush, naturally); like many I used to dream about space exploration and the brave new era it promised. Not quite the fully reusable craft to make Han Solo envious but still an incredible vehicle. I guess now I can add to my list of unfulfilled ambitions: to fly Concorde, to see in person the Space Shuttle take-off and ...  oh maybe I'll cover those in another posting...

At least the crew completed their mission and returned home safely. Truly historic.

Potter Fest

I seem to have a little time on my hands at present so I'm thinking perhaps I should re-watch the first 7 Harry Potter films in readiness for the final. Maybe not all in one sitting; that might be considered a tad extreme and I wouldn't want to come across obsessive in any way LOL.

 


















Have I mentioned I can't wait until The Deathly Hallows part 2 comes out..?

Deathly Hallows

I've just seen the latest trailer for the final instalment of the Harry Potter series. It looks great.

It's due for release on 15 July and based on part one, it should be a good one even if it has the shortest running time of all 8 films. To be honest I thought the final book was flabby and somewhat unfocussed; thankfully the screen version- at least of the first part- corrected matters and was a much tighter affair, so I have great hopes Harry and co will leave the silver screen on a high. 




What exactly is the deal with Pottermore, I wonder?

Book Worm

Now I don't usually do this but may I just recommend a thoroughly good book?

It's "Empty Cradles," Margaret Humphreys 1994 account of her work uncovering the scandal of the Home Children scheme. You may recall I mentioned it here after I had seen the film based on this book.

A compelling read that tells how Margaret first became aware that over several years children had been removed from this country without parental consent. She details how they lost their identities, were split from brothers or sisters and often ended up living in worse conditions than those the so-called "orphans" had left behind in the mother country. Many told of abuse at the hands of the individuals entrusted to look after them.

Sunshine

Can I take a moment to recommend a film, currently showing at Cinemas..?

"Oranges and Sunshine" is the story of Margaret Humphreys and the formation of the Child Migration Trust. This truly moving account, set in the 1980's, tells how Margaret a Social Worker from Nottingham, discovered vulnerable children- who had been placed into the care of the State- had been shipped to far flung Commonwealth countries to start new lives. This was done without the knowledge or consent of the parents and in some cases the children were told their parents had died and that they had no choice. They were promised better lives but in many instances they ended up being split from siblings, living in hardship and for some in abusive situations.

Migrant children arriving in Australia.










The film focusses on the displaced children sent to Australia but in reality many were also sent to Canada, New Zealand and (the former) Rhodesia, with the knowledge and approval of the respective governments.

Britain had also sent vagrant children from London to Virginia, the first British outpost in America, back in the 17th century in order to boost the population. Forced migration would continue for some 350 years, with over 100,000 children being affected. The Home Children scheme as it was known ended with the last arrivals in Australia in 1970 but it was not until 2009/2010 that the Prime Ministers of those countries (Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd) formally recognised and apologised on behalf of both nations.

Margaret's book "Empty Cradles" has been re-released (to coincide with the film) and sales have helped fund the work of the Trust.

Illegal

Thought I would share these pictures of illegal immigrants found smuggling themselves into the Reading area, hiding in the back of a truck.

Someone has too much time on their hands but I'm not admitting to anything LOL!


Also I've read Warner Bros have announced that next year there will be a Harry Potter themed tour over here at the film studios. Don't think it will be a patch on the Florida theme park. Still sounds like it might be fun.


05 March 2011 Reading 5 - 2 Middlesbrough

Speech Therapy

Have just got back from seeing The King's Speech. What a great film- so moving and funny all in one go, with strong performances from an excellent cast. I came away from the cinema saying I'd be quite happy to stay and watch it over again.

FAB

You can tell it's the New Year: many of the TV shows I love have premièred the first episodes or two of their new seasons this past week to 10 days. Let me see: There's Hustle (series 7) on BBC 1 and NCIS (also on series 7) on Five, long running Scottish crime series Taggart returns over on ITV 1 starting a new run of six stories. And let's not forget the second series of Nurse Jackie appearing very soon on BBC 2.

However the new series I thought I'd never get to see (and the whole point of this TV-geek themed posting) is still just out of reach but perhaps a step closer to making it to our screens. Today's Daily Telegraph has carried the news that the master of "Supermarionation" himself, Gerry Anderson, has announced a new series of Thunderbirds is actively being planned. I grew up on the 32 episodes of puppet escapism and yes I do own them on DVD. But even 45 years after the last adventure was made*, there is still something special about the exploits of the Tracey brothers, Lady Penelope and all their fabulous crafts. 

All together now, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Thunderbirds are GO!"

Hero worship.












*The Jonathan Frakes directed big screen travesty doesn't count. Mr Anderson was not involved in any way with it's production and you can tell. It was rubbish.

Better

You know how it is- tv or film adaptations usually don't live up to the original source book. There are of course one or two exceptions to this rule, once in a while. An obvious example of this is the new Harry Potter.

Beautifully dark, far more concise and much better focused than the source, despite the extended run time. I'm sorry JK, really I am but I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I should. The film (part 1 at least) was a vast improvement.

Can't wait for part 2.

What Cutbacks?

So we're being told the economic situation is dire at present, that we should expect huge increases in bills and wholesale cuts to public services. Already as a result we hear of huge job cuts in the public sector because there just isn't enough money in the pot for basic services.

To reinforce this message just this week our neighbours on the Emerald Isle have been forced to request a multi-billion pound loan and the government there will be shortly announcing huge budget cuts.

How come then today a team of three workers from my local council- Wokingham- have been along cutting the grass on the public verges? It wasn't long by any stretch of the imagination. It's Autumn, rolling into Winter here for goodness sake- temperatures this morning were about 1 degree Celsius (about 34 F) and grass stops growing at 6 degrees. Snow has even been promised by the end of the week. I'm pretty sure this was a pointless exercise and the verges didn't benefit from the cut.

What a waste of money. Let's be clear about this: what a waste of my Council Tax.

End of rant.



Off to see Harry Potter this Friday.

To Infinity...

OK so I gave in (I play easy to get at times) and the two of us took a trip to the cinema this afternoon to see the latest adventures of Woody, Buzz and co.

I'm quite surprised that the child discount/reduction for the ticket is only £1.90 (US$2.85, AU$3.23). Am I out of touch? However we both really enjoyed it. Although LL found the scenes of peril a tad frightening and had to cling to my arm at times. And then deny later that he was scared LOL.

On the way home, he started to ask when I would buy the DVD for him. Must have been a hit then.

Toy Story Too

Today's adventures included:

• Swimming at the outdoor heated pool.
• Performing a couple of small science experiments.
• Building some new Lego* vehicles.
• Settling in to watch Toy Story 2 on video (prior to a possible cinema visit).
• Making (and sharing) popcorn.
• Practising cycling proficiency. 
• Meeting two Dalmatians, one of whom was very "barky," the other quite placid.
• Being cheeky lol.

Phew.



Leicester 1 - 2 Reading


*Other toy building block products are available but they're probably not that good.