Sites I like
Shop 'til you drop
Might just re-descover the joys of shopping now that Yo! Sushi have opened a place in the Trafford Centre's Selfridges and there are loads of good albums and DVDs out soon. Clothes stores might lure me in with their nice window displays, but at least you don't have to try on a CD only to discover that you can't get your arse in it.
Posted on August 31, 2004 | Comments (1)
Worst blogger in the world... ever?
I liked my revamped site and my new (self-proclaimed) photoblog status but, since the new server went in and I've been unable to upload new photos, I've lost heart. I could use the photos I already have in the gallery but they're just too big. Perhaps I should just post images to the blog once in a while, when it suits the writing, rather than forcing myself to do it every time*. It's funny how I lost interest in the writing because I was spending so much time taking photos and now I miss it. Still not as inspired as I once was though.
Rummaging around the internet for inspiration, all I found out was that: 6 Music are having a Cure day next Thursday; Scaryduck can only speak the truth; B3ta is still the bext place to be on a Friday; and, althought it's great to have an ambition in life, some aren't as great as others. Anyway... have a good weekend and I hope you'll venture back next week to see if I've come up with any interesting content after all.
* UPDATE: Don't worry, Bryany, I've found a better solution... I'll keep posting the photos here, and more writing will go here. Sorted.
Posted on August 27, 2004 | Comments (3)
Marketing technique
Topper asked me to list his Sigma zoom lens on eBay for him, and I happily obliged. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea going along with his idea of clever marketing when the item is listed under my own username though.
Posted on August 26, 2004 | Comments (2)
Black and White
Just as I really discover it, black and white film photography suffers a bit of a blow as Ilford have been forced into administration. I bought a wonderful print from Keith Cardwell at Greenwich Market on Sunday and, although he does also work in colour and has a book out of that work soon, I can't imagine some of his black and white images if he'd had no choice but to shoot them in colour. Take away the colour and lighting, composition and exposure become so much more important... damn you digital.
Posted on August 24, 2004 | Comments (3)
Me, and me mum, and me dad, and me gran
Being home alone last night caused me to have all sorts of strange thoughts, none of which I'll bore you with here. I'll just share a couple of photos from an album I was looking through as a result of those thoughts and you can all laugh at what an odd looking baby I was.
Posted on August 21, 2004 | Comments (5)
The joy of motorways
I remember when motorways were a thing to be feared. I remember a time when one of my friends had been driving for about five years and had never been on one, always taking extremely convoluted routes instead to avoid the things. These days, we have both done so much motorway driving that it has become second nature. For me, there's rarely a week that goes by without me popping on the M60 for some reason and weekends often involve driving long distances, so I'm lucky that motorway driving is now only a drain if the weather is extremely bad. I forget how some people must dread going on these types of roads. Things always get easier when you're used to them.
Posted on August 20, 2004 | Comments (2)
Server well again - back now!
In the few days that Topper's server has been contemplating suicide, I've had lots of ideas for blog posts. Now that I am able to publish one, none of the ones I'd already composed seem relevant any more and I have no time to come up with anything new. Tomorrow is A-Level results day and my boss will be at the sorting office by 7.30am to pick them up, so I have volunteered to go in for 8am to help put results slips into envelopes ready for the arrival of the anxious teens (and Key103 FM, apparently) at 10.30am. Time for some sleep.
If you're interested... I've written a book review for The F-Word. Let me know what you think.
Posted on August 18, 2004 | Comments (0)
People I first met online #2
Another group of people I wouldn't know without my good friend, the internet, are the camera crazy bunch over at LomoManchester. Last summer, Finn left a comment in the guestbook on my lomohome to say that, despite there being so many of us snapping away in and around Manchester, we never bumped into one another and so Dave then took it upon himself to arrange our first little 'lomomeet'. Since then, we've grown to include (amongst others) Edward, G, Ryan and Sarah, plus a website and a photograph encrusted fake cow. They've been great friends in the short time I've known them and, with their inspiration, my photography has improved no end. I hope our group goes from strength to strength.
Posted on August 15, 2004 | Comments (1)
D:Percussion 04
Late afternoon last Saturday I ventured out in the still blazing sun to join some friends at the free music festival D:Percussion. Temperatures were high, and so were spirits as thousands of Mancunians packed the canalside venues in Castlefield to listen to all sorts of local bands and DJs. There were plenty of acts and many stages but I only recognised one name and, despite not knowing when or where he was on beforehand, I managed to catch the second part of Mr Scruff's set at Canteena. This photo was taken just outside that bar as one guy took the plunge and everyone looked on to see if he would forget how to swim after 12 pints and too much sun. He didn't.
Posted on August 13, 2004 | Comments (5)
Sometimes there is blue sky in Manchester
Posted on August 11, 2004 | Comments (8)
Workin' 9 to 5
Forgot I still had a lottery ticket from last Saturday. Checked it but won nothing (as usual). There must be something better than working that I could do without a cash windfall. Hey ho... back to the grind.
Posted on August 10, 2004 | Comments (5)
People I first met online #1
These people are responsible for the site where my online adventures really began which, in turn, is the reason I sign up for so many sites and message boards as lipstick-lori when the username Lori is already taken. Via the lovely Ms Ditsy-Bint, Topper and I found the Lipstick Girls' site, the history of which is as interesting as the people you'd find in the chat room and on the forums. It was there I made further friends in Bryany, Jude, Ingybing and Hobbes - we chatted, we partied and we DJed until things changed at the site and Lipstick FM went legal. By that time, my blog and my writing were taking more of my time so I spent less and less time in chat. They know I still love them though, so... here's to absent friends.
Posted on August 09, 2004 | Comments (4)
Lamb Pasanda not Portugeezer
Went out with Finn and Kate last night for an awesome meal and pretty impressive magic tricks at the Al Nawaz in Rusholme, but realised halfway there that I forgot to press record on the VCR. I know it's only Big Brother and I already know that Nadia's won it, but I missed the delight of Jason being trapped alone in the house with her for half an hour while Dan was interviewed. I bet he really thought he and his fake-tanned buttocks had won the show. I know it's tragic that I watched it at all but I have my life back now, and my belly certainly approved of last night's inadvertant decision.
Posted on August 07, 2004 | Comments (3)
A shady corner
I know some people don't see things the way you do, but honestly... when I took this picture Topper's dad asked me what it was I was photographing. I thought it would have been obvious.
Posted on August 06, 2004 | Comments (3)
When will I be famous?
I had a really strange dream last night. I dreamt I was in the Big Brother house and, when asked by my fellow housemates why I had decided to come on the show, I said it was because I wanted to go round the Top Gear track in the Suzuki Liana but they only allowed famous people to do it. Big Brother was the best way I could think of to become quite famous through no hard work whatsoever.
Posted on August 05, 2004 | Comments (5)
University challenged
In the days before Manchester University and UMIST once again become a single entity and jokes abound that UMIST degrees will now be worth more, it is interesting to read that a Russian woman who was given the opportunity to study at any university in the UK has chosen Luton. I find it intriguing how someone without the 'background knowledge' and subsequent tainted view obtained by growing up in Britain is better equipped to make a choice that's right for personal reasons rather than appearances. As Saffer Sevitz did when choosing who to vote for in recent elections... it's a breath of fresh air.
Posted on August 04, 2004 | Comments (5)
Making up for lost time
Plans that were in my diary for this weekend fell through and so we were left with the prospect of some free time. What better opportunity to catch up on a few of the most recent movie offerings at our local multiplex? Well, the planned foursome ended up only being a double-bill as we didn't venture further than our own road today (and there is not a cinema on it, unfortunately). Yesterday was a different matter and the afternoon saw a dose of The Stepford Wives followed by some Spiderman 2.
Unfortunately HMV did not have a copy of the original Stepford Wives film as I think it would work better as thriller - as a comedy it's pretty lame. The performances are OK but I can't think what posessed Kidman, Midler and Close to agree to such a movie. The pitch must have been better than the reality. Spiderman 2 was a far better film but, having heard so many rave reviews for it, I still couldn't help but be a tad disappointed. Always happens when things are built up too much, but it didn't help that I found Peter Parker supremely annoying. At least all the irritating kids I thought would be in the cinema with us were watching Thunderbirds instead. Can't wait for Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne... now that'll be a superhero film worth seeing!
Posted on August 01, 2004 | Comments (5)