Can I post this link from Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=63408&id=628698151&l=413a33e31b - here to save me uploading the pictures to Photobucket?
If it's a FAIL, then I'll upload some at least over the weekend and maybe some others too, cause I've been a busy little photographer!
Current state of my brain . . .:  curious |
So then, what have I been up to since I was last here?
Well, I went to Dublin to see Amanda Palmer performing at the Sugar Club on 16/02/09 which was incredible. Standing in the queue beforehand I was almost having second thoughts since when I looked up and down the line I was pretty much a decade older than anyone else waiting to go in. I don't often feel my age (in my head I'll always be 14) but this was one of those moments. The club is only a small venue with rows of tables and and fixed chairs running down an incline to the stage so the fact you had several hundred people packed in like sardines added to the atmosphere (and the heat). I can't really describe the concert (these guys can though) except to say that I loved it and to show you a couple of selected clips (caution, may contain swearing), here, here, and here. That last one was her encore and was just wonderful.
So that was the 16th and than on the 17th Amanda was doing a signing at Chapters Bookstore in Dublin which is massive and has the best graphic novel section I've ever seen in a mainstream bookshop. But not only her, the signing was with Neil Gaiman as well. Nominally it was for their book 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer' (which is still awaiting publishing, I think) but was a combination of readings from the book by Neil and songs on the ukelele from Amanda finishing off with a signing for all the people there (500+ by official estimates). For more details, pictures and video footage of the event go here, as they've been much more complete than I could ever be.
All told it was a really good weekend and a treat I felt in need of having worked much too many hours over christmas and new year (and am still working now although an end is in sight).
Now I had planned to mention other stuff in catch up but it's late and I want to try and get some sleep before I'm back in work tomorrow later today.
Anyway here is the thing that got me to begin this post in the first place, a Meme from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) trixie_chick
people who have been tagged must write their answers in their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question
tag 8 people, don't refuse to do that, don't tag the one who tagged you
1 What are you listening to right now?
All Day and All Of the Night by the Kinks
2 How do you style your hair?
It's kept short now since last years big cut although I do seem to have developed a pair of lambchop sideburns, somehow.
3 What are you wearing right now?
Jeans and shirt
4 What are you currently reading?
Jules Vernes 'Journey to the centre of the Earth'
5 Dumbest thing you've done this week?
not set my alarm yesterday and then not wake up till 11.40
6 Have you named your computer? If so what's its name?
HAL, I'm a sci-fi nerd so what did you expect?
7 Theme song playing in the background as you die?
Monty Pythons 'Always look on the bright side of Life'
8 What have you ever wanted to do in your life but never had the guts to do it?
try and make a career from photography
9 What is your all time favorite movie?
This is liable to change on any given day but for today it's going to be Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai'
10 What is your weirdest habit?
probably the one I don't realise I'm doing
11 What is your favorite color?
blue
12 How much money do you think you are worth?
priceless but if I got a pricelist from work I could probably give you a breakdown for salvage
13 What's the weirdest thing you say in RL?
most of it, I don't do conversations well
14 Which languages do you wish you spoke fluently?
welsh, to keep in better contact with mums side of the family
15 What is your biggest pet peeve?
people that turn and walk away from me while they are talking to me
16 What's your ideal weapon?
Klingon bat'leth or samurai sword
17 Who was your childhood idol?
Didn't really have many but Monkey from the tv show of the same name might come close
18 Funniest movie quote you've ever heard?
From Serenity:
The Operative: That girl will rain destruction down on you and your ship. She is an albatross, Captain.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Way I remember it, albatross was a ship's good luck, 'til some idiot killed it.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: [to Inara] Yes, I've read a poem. Try not to faint.
19 If you were in a band, what kind of music would you play and what instrument would you want to play?
If I were in a band I'd probably be the roadie as I have the ability to play even a triangle out of tune so there is no way I'd be let near real instruments
20 Tell me something you love about the person who tagged you.
She waves her geek flag high and proud (and she's a generally cool and caring person who sends wonderful christmas cards)
Maybe more posts coming, or I may pull the plug on this LJ completely since Facebook seems to have taken over by din't of not having to write whole paragraphs there. Either way, notification will be made. Till then, lets be carefull out there.
Current state of my brain . . .:  awake |
( Christmas day at the Doctors )
Current state of my brain . . .:  tired Music of the sphere's: Amanda Palmer - Leeds United |
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
-- Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)Current state of my brain . . .:  thoughtful |
Just a quick update to bring you the news, David Tennant is quitting as Doctor Who after 2009's series of specials.
Interview on BBC website
I have to say I've always prefered Christopher Ecclestones Doctor to Tennants but he has grown on me over the last couple of years. The speculation will now begin as to who is going to succeed him. I don't have any candidates yet just so long as it's not Russell Brand.
In other news, I'm still trundling my way through my India pictures and will get around to posting a visit report eventually. Also, last night I went to Manchester to hear Neil Gaiman reading from his new book. 'The Graveyard Book' and in the Q & A afterwards he revealed his next book project is a non-fiction travel book retracing the journey through China of Tripitaka, Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy from 'Journey to the West' (having just done a quick Wikipedia search for link, I've discovered the monks name wasn't Tripitaka but that was a title he's sometimes referred to as. Since my main frame of reference is the Monkey tv series then for now the monk will remain Tripitaka otherwise I'll just get very confused)
Just to finish with, here's one of my India pictures for you. It's a panorama made from 3 merged pictures taken at Golconda Fort near Hyderabad. It's my first go at taking pictures to be merged and in future I will be more careful ;)
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| » The Big Shave has Happened! |
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Well, last Sunday morning I looked something like this,
( Before . . . )
But then at about 12.20, this happened . . .
( The Big Shave )
Which wound up with me looking like this.
( After . . . )
As you can probably tell, it was a very traumatic time for me. I think I'm actually still in shock over what I look like without the aid of hair or beard.
But it was for a good cause, building schools for the Dalit people in India (as I detailed here).
I must say a great thank you to every one who has sponsored me in this, I've succeeded in raising in excess of £1000 which is a great deal more than I had anticipated. I must also thank Chantal and Donna for doing the deed and actually cutting off my hair for me, and for relishing the task so much. Thanks also go to my wife for her continued support and the fact that she took quite a risk in encouraging me in this since she had never seen me without my beard, so didn't know what lay beneath.
Sep. 12th, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
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| » Getting re-aquainted |
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In just over 2 and a half hours I'll be seeing someone and something I haven't seen in over 10 years.
I'm really not sure if I'm going to recognise my own chin after all this time.
Pictures will follow.
Wish me luck.
If you're baffled, then go here for context.
Sep. 7th, 2008 @ 09:52 am
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| » La Princesse awakes |
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Yesterday La Princesse was taken from her resting place on the side of the building and transported down to the Albert Dock for scientific study.
This morning she awoke and was barely restrained from escaping before she could be lulled back to sleep.
Here is a record of what happened.
( Pictures of the event )
Sep. 5th, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
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| » La Machine has arrived! |
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It first appeared at dawn on the 3rd of September. It was rumoured that preparations to demolish the tower block had driven it out of it's hiding place and into the cold, wet Liverpool daylight. Was it an ancient species of spider, coming to light after millenia hidden away from prying eyes? Was it the steam-punk invention of a mad genius? Was it just looking for Ziggy?
( More pics . . . )
Sep. 4th, 2008 @ 03:40 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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I should have known that as soon as I wrote that I'll update this coming weekend, there would be absolutely no chance what so ever that I would. So sorry about that.
I'll begin with the promised news. On the 7th of September I will be getting my long hair (which hasn't been cut since 2000) cut off and the beard that I've had since the age of 18 shaved off, all in the name of charity!
The cause in question is to raise funds towards building schools for the Dalit people in India. I have set up a Facebook group with more details about my temporary madness and which will contain many pictures of my hairless state after the event. Details for sponsorship are on the Facebook pages as are details of where I'll be doing this, so any visitors are welcome. If you want to know anything more about the event or more about why I'm doing this then please comment here or e-mail me.
On other news, yesterday was the Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool which I've finally managed to get along to see. It usually seems to happen that I'm working when its on and so can't get to it. Technically, I was working yesterday but finished at 08.00 so I was able to stay up and after a quick shower and change of clothes head back into Liverpool with Anna.
Our first port of call was the Tate Gallery on the Albert Dock for the Gustav Klimt exhibition. Really enjoyed the exhibition even if some of his more famous pieces (such as 'The Kiss') are not there because they never leave Vienna due to their fragile condition.
After the exhibition we wandered up into the centre of Liverpool to see some of the festival and to look for some more of the Superlambanana sculptures dotted around the city. The weather was perfect, so wandering from music stage to music stage amidst the crowds of people was incredibly pleasant and relaxing. It also helped that our route took us past the my favourite comics shop which meant that I could pick up the 'Brief Lives' Sandman graphic novel as my anniversary present from Anna.
On the way home, we dropped in on my sister and got to see her wedding video and look through the official photographers pictures of the day. I was horrified to see that on the video, during the ceremony, you can see me over Claires shoulder grinning like a loon. Ok, it was a very proud moment seeing my little sister getting wed but even so I could have held a little decorum, surely ;)
And so then back home and an evening catching up on tv which having been up since 4pm the previous day really was all I had the energy for.
Definitely a day very well spent.
And to finish, a meme pinched from greygirlbeast.
Go here (UK) or here (US) and see what was on the top of the charts on the day you were born and every birthday thereafter. Learn just how astrologically-musically lame your life has been. If you want, add in your own favorite No. 1 hit single of that year, wishing that your birthday had been cool enough to have that song be #1. Share your findings with your unsuspecting friendslist. Put it behind a cut.
Aug. 26th, 2008 @ 10:58 am
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| » Space filler |
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Firstly, an addendum to the last post.
When I said "It's very Harry Potter in it's set up with the exception of the main character being female, but it doesn't really suffer for that." I meant that it doesn't suffer for borrowing from Harry Potter not that it might have suffered from having the main character being female. No-one took me to task over this and so I'm guessing those as read the post knew what I meant and not what my mind saw when I re-read it, but I felt the need to clarify all the same.
There was going to be a secondly, but it's getting later than I intended and I need to be up reasonably early for my sisters wedding tomorrow later today.
I have news to share which some of you will already know but for those that don't then you'll have to wait till I post next, which may be Saturday but more likely Sunday. Till then, a hint in picture form ;)
Aug. 7th, 2008 @ 11:42 pm
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| » Well, I've never been called that before . . . |
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. . . but then it is an internet quiz and so it must be true ;)
Have to go get tea on soon but first a quick link to a new webcomic I started reading last weekend called Gunnerkrigg Court. It's very Harry Potter in it's set up with the exception of the main character being female, but it doesn't really suffer for that. J.K.Rowling borrowed from all over the place for her and it's not as though 'orphan child of power with a great destiny' is an original concept anyway.
That aside I'm enjoying the way the story is progressing with the occasional plot point reveal and character development amidst the general storyline. The art work is good with a simple style of clean lines and strong colours (I say simple, in that it's not going for a realistic look rather than it being basic because it's far better than I could ever dream of doing). the characters have something of a manga look to them but not so much that it's overdone. The overall style reminds me of one of the artists who worked on Neil Gaimans Sandman comics but of course I can't figure out which one. Should I work it out (I may have to mine Wikipedia for the answer) I'll post it here, although that would probably by for my benefit rather than yours as I guess you're not overly worried about it, are you dear reader ;)
Anyway, go take a look at Gunnerkrigg Court, it's good.
Jul. 16th, 2008 @ 03:55 pm
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| » Questions, questions . . . |
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Pinched (as so many things are) from trixie_chick
Ask me seven questions. Not just any seven questions though. No, to keep it interesting, use the seven questions as per below - just copy and paste the following, replace the blanks with something you want to know/ask (e.g., 3. Donkeys or sandcastles and why?), anything you want, personal, silly, surreal or deep, comment away and I'll answer honestly as I can! Then post this in your own LJ and see what kind of things people want to ask you!
1. What do you think of _____________ ?
2. When did you last ____________?
3. __________ or ___________ and why?
4. What did you ______________?
5. What's your favourite ______________?
6. How would you ______________?
7. Who would you most like to ________ ?
Jun. 27th, 2008 @ 01:13 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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I've been meaning to do this for a while but tonight I finally got around to putting together a video of some of my best pictures from this last year. It's a little frustrating that in the WMV format the lose a fair bit of sharpness but I guess I can work with that.
So here it is, hope you enjoy it and all comments gratefully received.
Jun. 14th, 2008 @ 12:24 am
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| » Vampire meme |
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Pinched from trixie_chick
Vampire Quiz by QuizRocket.com Personality Quizzes!
MySpace Quizzes | Love Quiz | Online Quizes.
Sounds fun ;) And as Trixie says
the quiz pretends that you need to give it your name and address to get the result, but if you close the window, it'll give up and give it to you. ^_~
I always liked 'The Lost Boys' tagline,
Sleep all day, party all night, never grow old, never die.
It's fun to be a vampire
Jun. 12th, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
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| » Righteous Among the Nations |
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Just a link on this one to a news story about a woman who should be celebrated.
May. 13th, 2008 @ 01:24 am
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| » Three years and two weeks later . . . |
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. . . and I still have nothing really profound to say. Not so much of a surprise there I guess but a little disappointing none the less.
Yes, I've managed to miss my Journals birthday by two weeks, although to be honest this is actually quite good compared to some of the distances I've managed to miss other peoples birthdays by (Sorry Haylea) and they are rather more important.
So, what has happened to me over the last (quickly checks) 3 and a bit months then. I had originally meant to do a nice long post covering things in detail but I doubt that would really benefit you or me, so if there is anything you would like to know more about then please remember that e-mail / snail mail / the phone / walking up to me in the street and saying "Hi" is your friend.
Items in no real order of importance, except for this first one.
And so that this post has something else to it, here are two meme's for you. The first by way of greygirlbeast
And this one, thanks to trixie_chick
May. 9th, 2008 @ 09:53 pm
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| » Travels |
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Well, the intention of seeing the Terracotta Warriors at the British Museum didn't quite come off on Tuesday but then I hadn't really expected it too. The back up plan though of going to see the newly reopened St Pancras Station, the Photographers gallery and The National Portrait Gallery was more successful however.
I'd heard a few things on the radio about the newly refurbished St Pancras Station, and so since the Tube could drop me there I though i would go take a look. The big glass roof does make for a wonderfully light and open feel to the station but then it is a very large open area anyway. There are (at least) two statues in the upper platform area, the one of John Betjaman admiring the roof and this one, which I think I prefer of the two purely for the size of it (apparently they were originally going to be kissing but this was vetoed, by who and why I have no idea but the information comes from a very trusted source). All in all, it is a beautiful station and has definitely been worth whatever they've paid for the restoration work on it.
Next stop was the National Portrait Gallery to see the entrants and winners in the fifth annual Photographic Portrait Prize. I had actually seen them on the website but really fancied seeing them at their proper viewing size. Portrait photography is something I haven't had much experience of (people tend to either hide or make threats when I point my camera at them) and so was hoping to get some ideas about what makes a good portrait. From seeing these I do think I prefer the more formal head and shoulders shots, they seem to be more of what portrait is about to me but then this exhibition runs the full range from that to just having the subject in the bottom of the frame and their environment informing the rest of the picture and all points in-between.
Then on to the Photographers Gallery which unfortunately wasn't showing anything in their main gallery space but I still got to mooch around their bookshop but as I wasn't looking for anything particular, I just got totally overwhelmed and came out empty-handed.
And so back to the tube to meet up with Anna and head back to our hosts just outside St Albans for a fun, relaxing evening together.
Was pointed towards this last week by one of the comments on this Making Light thread. I'm sure that a nominally 'censored' version of something shouldn't be more suggestive than the 'regular' version of it. Before anyone else says it though, yes it probably is just my mucky mind ;) That aside, it is very funny.
Jan. 31st, 2008 @ 06:31 am
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| » Strange . . . |
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Because I need to break the inertia that has become my blogging life and post something, anything, here is a meme pinched from docbrite who's latest book, Antediluvian Tales , should be arriving on my doorstep any day now. Admittedly, it will have to go on the 'to be read' pile, but it will be going to the top of said pile. But still on to the meme . . .
Not too many amusing coincidences, although answer 16 is a bit worrying (and I have to admit, a bit funny).
Since I'm typing already, I'll continue.
Since I manages to forget to mention this last post, I'll mention it now. Seeing Crowded house in the Birmingham Arena at the start of December has to have been one of the highlights of last year, they were incredible!
Christmas was not too bad a time, in spite of working both Christmas day and Boxing Day. My nan was well enough (just about) to come out of hospital to spend the day with us, which hadn't been expected. We all had a good feed, courtesy of my mum and dad, and many presents were handed out, so I was well pleased ;)
New Year was spent with Anna's family down in Suffolk. The edited highlights include the evil delight gained by pipping an in-law to the finish line of Mariocart on 3 wireless DS's, seeing 'I Am Legend' with Jesse while Anna and her sister watched Enchanted in the next screen, seeing wild deer while walking (and being walked by) Lexies donkey's, getting woken by Chipmunk Surround Sound far too early in the morning, watching us all try to play bowling on the Wii.
All in all, a good fun time.
Jan. 8th, 2008 @ 01:00 am
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