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I know I said I wasn't going to post about Big Brother too much, but I couldn't resist another one. Checked my site stats only to discover that hits in the last day are over twice what they usually are. The reason for this? People searching the internet for photos of Saskia, Makosi and Lesley's boobs. People too stupid to use Google Images, obviously. Well, if you came here looking for tits, I hope the shot of the squirrel made up for it. Jeez... just watch the show and I'm sure Lesley will get hers out again soon enough.
Posted on May 31, 2005 | Comments (4)
Big Brother 6
I'm not fighting the urge this year and am just going to admit that I watch Big Brother. Won't blog about it (too much) though, but have decided to log my first impressions here so that I can refer back at the end of the series and see just how accurate first impressions can be.
Derek looks like he could be interesting, as does Sam, but Vanessa is annoying as hell. I reckon Anthony will end up getting drunk and shagging Lesley after not very long (which might shut her up for a second). Dunno what to make of Maxwell. Just when things were looking too young and squealy, they popped Roberto in. I shouldn't like him (fit but he knows it), but he's streets ahead of the other guys if you imagine having to put up with him for more than five minutes.
Makosi is sooo cute. She's like a doll! Doesn't like shallow people, so should really love Vanessa. And doesn't like people who swear unnessecarily, so Craig will get a warm reception too. The guy sounds as bad as he looks - eurgh! Mary's strange, but at least different strange rather than run of the mill. Wondered how long she'd stand there waiting for the door to open. Hmm... Saskia seems OK - just eye candy though, perhaps? Biggest boobs in the house. Kamal is rather, erm, glamourous. Summed up by Davina with the phrase, "he's quite camp".
But most of all, from the opening show my one main thought is - I love Science! That guy is a star in the making, surely? Pure class. I want him to win already!
Posted on May 27, 2005 | Comments (0)
A grand day out
After spending Wednsday afternoon sat on the top deck of a sightseeing tour bus, eating fudge, I spent yesterday wandering around sand dunes and stalking squirrels with Topper's 90-300mm lens. Thanks to a warning from Parm, I also remembered to take enough colour film. It was a glorious day so I got some nice shots of the beach too, but ran off almost two full rolls of 36 on the squirrels as I found a spot they seemed to like and just hung around for a while. I was pleased with the results and can see why people like nature photography, but can't imaginge that all wild animals are as friendly as these reds were. I suspect you usually have to be a bit more patient.
Might try another trip out today. Hooray for time off work when the sun is shining!
Posted on May 27, 2005 | Comments (1)
Lady luck?
Spent a nice peaceful day in Liverpool, whilst all the Scousers jetted off to Istanbul for some football match or other. Looks like my presence in their fair city brought them a bit of luck too. Ha. This follows hot on the heels of my close proximity to an Arsenal supporter for most of Saturday afternoon, resulting FA Cup success.
In other news... finally, the Dome becomes useful! Seeing as the last time I visited Greenwich was 2004, I doubt this can also be attributed to me.
Posted on May 25, 2005 | Comments (1)
Handy helpful hints
Just a tip - if you have long hair and an upright vacuum cleaner, check the brushes of the latter every now and again. If you don't, this could happen. It certainly explains why my Dyson's been underperforming for months.
Posted on May 23, 2005 | Comments (11)
Great Manchester Run 2005
I got up early today and headed down to the Imperial War Museum North to find a spot where I could take photographs of people taking part in this year's BUPA Great Manchester Run. The conditions were ideal for the runners, and not too bad for photographers either so I started snapping away with Topper's EOS 300D, only to realise that I really should have put that battery on to charge last night! Still, I had my compact camera with me too so I continued to take photos as well as trying to look for the people I knew, but I missed them all bar one. Jeanne had made herself easy for me to spot with her Cancer Research t-shirt and careful placing near the back of the field - thanks for that!
I have since heard from a few of the runners that I know since they finished, and the fastest was Adrian who finished in 51 minutes 42 seconds - a new personal best. Well done Adrian! Gaynor managed it in a wonderful 58 minutes 30 (ish), and was running near Fred and Barney so I have no idea how I missed her. Craig also did well finishing in 63 minutes 50, despite describing himself as not much of a runner and only having a few weeks to prepare. I hope Jeanne and Gillian also managed to finish in times they were proud of. They can all rest assured that I didn't get any photos of them as they passed the 5k point, but the shots I do have will be going online later today.
UPDATE: A selection of my favourite photos from the run are online now, here. And Jeanne finished in 1 hour 46 minutes, which is brilliant!
Posted on May 22, 2005 | Comments (2)
Kill the Flippin' Commercials?
It's official (sort of). Speaking with your mouth full is more offensive than dog breath.
Posted on May 12, 2005 | Comments (5)
Make my vote count!
Although parm has managed to vote for the (apparently) extremist, dangerously different Lib Dems and see them win in his constituancy, the results in mine show that's not going to happen any time soon with the current voting system - Beverley Hughes* (Lab) 51%, Damien Hinds (Con) 30%, Faraz Bhatti (Lib Dem) 14% - basically, if I vote for the person I actually want to win, it ends up being a wasted vote. Sorry Mr Bhatti, I tried my best but they only let me have one measly X to make a difference with.
Still, I've added Make My Vote Count to my blogroll, signed their petition and have been reading the information that the Electoral Reform Society's website has to offer on alternative voting systems. Maybe something can be done after all.
* Now back in the cabinet as Children's Minister, fact fans.
Posted on May 10, 2005 | Comments (4)
To iron or not to iron?
The BBC news website's magazine section has excelled itself again with an entire article on ironing, justified by the fact that Prince Harry is now going to have to learn this particular skill. My favourite part of the entire piece is a comment from a rather sensible chap called Andrew Rodgers: "The entire construct is an exercise in absurdity". Quite.
Posted on May 10, 2005 | Comments (2)
Parents vs. the childfree
Watch out... a debate is raging over at the Observer Blog. Understandably, Lucy Siegle's article Rise of the smug parents has fired up the commenters into a bit of a slanging match. In one corner, we have people who love their kids and think anyone who doesn't want their own must be mad/selfish/etc, and the other corner contains the childfree peeps who are frustrated at having to listen to their friends and colleagues rant on about babies all the time. Also, in the middle, there are a few people (with and without kids) who just don't understand what all the fuss is about becuase all their friends are lovely and so the debate has just never reared its ugly head in their lives before. I have many thoughts on this subject, but can never seem to articulate them particularly well. I shall have another go though, just for the sake of reassuring any remaining readers that I am still here.
Let me start by saying that I like children. Babies are fascinating in their smallness, the noises they make, and the way they don't look like either parent for at least a few months (despite what people claim). Toddlers are amazingly curious little sponges for learning and, once they hit school, every child begins to become even more interesting by the day. I have always liked talking to kids (probably why I don't get on quite so well with babies, as you get nothing back!), but that is part of the reason I don't want my own. When you hang around with other people's children you can talk about any old rubbish and play the most stupid games but, when you have your own, you have to be sensible and organised. I never wanted to grow up, and being a parent would force me to do that... parents always want to talk about parent things, whereas I'd rather talk about kiddy things. Is that selfish? Maybe, but I don't see why not wanting to subject a poor child to having a (no doubt) resentful me as a mother could be seen as anything other than really rather nice.
I like hearing about people unravelling the mysteries of first-time parenthood, but wish I could think of a way to invite them round to dinner sans bébé without offending them. I love hearing about how friends' children are getting on at school, but also like talking to them about other things. I think it's when parents can't talk about anything else that it can get frustrating, and then the child-free lash out. Unfortunately, it seems to be understandable that someone's a bore when they go on and on about their job/hobby/car/house for hours on end, but is totally acceptable when people can have a conversation about nothing other than children. One of life's little mysteries, that one.
Posted on May 09, 2005 | Comments (7)