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The strings section are go!
I'm still in shock. Last night we watched the world famous Hallé symphony orchestra play the Ghostbusters theme. No, seriously. Luckily the rest of the programme was better, but I can't help thinking that 'Sci Fi and Fantasy' would have been a better title for the evening, given the Hogwarts and Hobbiton feel to some of the first half. However, my evening was made better still by a random comment from some woman at the Bridgewater Hall ("It's like a CD only more real"), a couple of friends in the pub afterwards ("Thrown out of a pub for being too drunk? Surely that's like being chucked out of McDonalds for being too full"), and that lovely extra hour in bed.
Posted on October 31, 2004 | Comments (0)
Little Britain
I think the teenager responsible for this ineloquent, yet highly amusing, piece of grafitti at my place of work may be disappointed to hear that the beeb is cleaning up some of the Matt Lucas and David Walliams' sketches for the more mature BBC1 audience. That'll be most of Ruth Madoc's lines from this week's episode cut then.
Posted on October 30, 2004 | Comments (2)
What happens to late night radio now?
John Peel has died. I have listened to Radio One all my life but have only recently 'grown into' John's show after years of misguided devotion to chart music. The stuff he played wasn't always to my taste, but it never failed to entertain with Peel's dulcet tones revealing the obscure band name and record label just before the sort of noise you'd hear nowhere else began to eminate from the speakers. Technical problems when broadcasting from Peel Acres, admitting to playing some tracks at the wrong speed, and the strange messages he'd read out from listeners made the show thoroughly enjoyable, and no one would have guessed he was 65 if he hadn't been at the same station for so long. What will we do without him?
A sad day for music, I feel.
Posted on October 26, 2004 | Comments (4)
My favourite photo
I like this image despite the fact that it is technically dull (I had to liven it up a tad in Photoshop), but because it is one of my first impressions of Manchester.
Posted on October 24, 2004 | Comments (3)
Cow fun?
Before I go anywhere on this post, I probably ought to mention that I have a fondness for cartoon representations of cows. Real cows are great but, ever since Topper bought me a cute cow toy at Christmas a few years back, I prefer to see more artistic licence with a bovine image. Trying to cheer me up after I had LLETZ treatment the other week, the lovely Kat bought me some cow-related pressies: two jars of delicious Belgian chocolate spread from a company called "La vache qui regarde passer les trains" (God bless Selfridges' food hall), and a cow-covered mug. There was also a Lindt chocolate reindeer in the bag, but I doubt that will last long. Well, it has to die for its evil crime of not being cow shaped.
On an entirely different note, my sister sent me an amusing email today that I thought I'd share. One of the reps sent a message to the HR department, letting them know that a member of staff wished to be known by her maiden name again. She'd already asked the IT department to change the woman's email address, and was just making sure that all the relevant company records would be amended accordingly. The funny bit was the reply from my sister's colleage, Asif, which he copied to everyone (including the HR Manager)... "Dear all, I've decided that from now on I'd like to be known as Sharon. Please amend all records accordingly. Ta, Sharon". Brightened my day, anyway.
Posted on October 21, 2004 | Comments (2)
Three in one night?
Yesterday we went to see Hero. Then, after a change of plan, we stayed at the cinema and saw Layer Cake. When we got home, we watched Dogville. Unfortunately, the last film was the one that stayed with me as I went to sleep and so, instead of gorgeous martial arts set to a back-drop of autumn leaves and swirling fabrics or a topless Daniel Craig waiting for Sienna Miller to slip on her stockings, my head is filled with images of rape and women chained up like dogs. I mistakenly believed that Dogville was thought of as strange simply because Lars von Trier hadn't used a set, but it was actually quite disturbing in places. I really couldn't see the art in it but then, I'm no good at analysing films. I think I'll stick with my nameless leading characters for now.
Posted on October 17, 2004 | Comments (2)
The petrol head returns
Whilst rummaging around on the interweb, I found this fledgling motoring site that needs some love (and forum members). If you love anything to do with cars and driving, pop over and take a look. Hopefully I can get my arse into gear* and write them some articles. Time to finish reading this week's Auto Express for some inspiration, I reckon.
*no pun intended!
Posted on October 14, 2004 | Comments (0)
AJ's words of wisdom
Today the words of wisdom from my photography tutor were on holiday photographs: If you can buy a good postcard of it, why bother with the shot? Looks like my time with the lomo has not been in vain after all. I doubt you'd get postcards of anything I've taken! You never know, I might need to make some money out of my photographs in the future as it doesn't look like I'll be able to retire before the age of 70. It's either that or stick to my original plan of working on the till in Asda once I'm considered too old for any other job. Mind you, I once worked with a lovely 73-year-old telesales diva who played Tomb Raider with her grand children when she wasn't working. You're only as old as you want to be, clearly.
Posted on October 12, 2004 | Comments (8)
Oh, what a night!
LomoDisco was a huge success and we had a massive turnout. Thanks to all who came along, and sorry I didn't speak to any of you for more than five minutes! A full report and photos will follow.
UPDATE: Photos are now online at lomomanchester.org!
Posted on October 09, 2004 | Comments (1)
Finger on the button
I am now a few weeks into learning 'the rules' via a short photography course at my place of work, and for the first time we're about to use the manual setting on our SLRs... or, in my case, on Topper's out of use film SLR. The first homework assignment was on composition, then we had depth of field (see above for a dodgy LC-A snapped example of this), and now it's shutter speed. Putting it all together with aperture, lighting and film speed considerations seemed daunting, until our tutor's veneer of cool cracked and he used an analogy. A car analogy. I remember how tricky learning to drive a manual car was, but there came a time in the learning process when it all clicked and I was driving with confidence. Hopefully the same will happen here. When I get round to scanning some of my new photos, I'll share them with you and constructive criticism will be more than welcome.
Ooh, and don't forget Friday night...
Posted on October 06, 2004 | Comments (1)
I'm an artist, doncha know
After a last minute scramble this morning to pick up my digital reprints from Jessops, stick them to a board, bundle it and some power tools into the car, pick up four people and head to Font, I can now finally say that I am an exhibited artist. Sort of. If you find yourself in the vacinity of Oxford Road station in Manchester over the next month, just a short detour will allow you to experience the work of the evil* genius that is LomoManchester. Go on, you know you want to.
* May not be true.
Posted on October 02, 2004 | Comments (4)
Another world
Today at work, one of my colleagues stood up and announced to the rest of the office that his wife is pregnant. Everyone else flocked round him, offering their congratulations, while I hid behind my monitor in a state of shock. I spent the rest of the day in a bit of a daze, never once speaking to him about it, although he probably didn't even notice (let alone take offence) as people were swarming around him for hours with their jokes and advice. I still don't know why I felt the way I did. Perhaps I feared that I would now be the office target for the "it'll be you next" line. Maybe I'm worried that I'll soon be losing an ally. Or it could just be that I'm petrified that months of daily talk of babies will culminate in me speaking my mind on the subject, leaving me even further alienated from my colleagues.
I managed to handle the afternoon visit from the woman currently missing from our office due to a slight case of baby, by returning to my work when it got to the 'having a hold' ritual. He really was a sweet little thing, and very well behaved, but that doesn't make me the slightest bit maternal. Never has, never will. I just know I'll either offend someone or get treated like a freak if they find out, so I'll have to remain undercover for now. Thankfully I have a sane friend who now has a daughter (see photo above), but has not turned into some cooing weirdo as a result. There is hope for the human race... it just doesn't involve a mini me.
Posted on October 01, 2004 | Comments (6)