Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear… what can I say ? I was only half way through the film when I began to ponder – is this a ‘best we can do’ adaption of a poor book or an utterly awful rendition of a pacy, best-selling page turner. I don’t think anyone would call Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons a work of literary genius but easy to read, exciting and imaginative it certainly is. Unlike the film. Tom Hanks appears again as Robert Langdon, the beleagured symbologist, and wanders the streets of Rome sporting his English academic-abroad look – just a hint of C&A sports casual. His face remains either a) impassive or b) tortured for the majority of the film which trudges its weary way through its constantly twisting plot. Except of course, the producers decide not to follow the book and develop their own version. And why not ? Just because a book is a number one best seller – who says you can’t make it even better with Ewan McGregor parachuting from the skies with just a few cuts and bruises to show for his fall from a fire-consumed helicopter.
This film really is poor – and while I could sit and be reasonably entertained for a couple of hours, it is disappointing that so much cash had been thrown at a movie which made me want to laugh in all the wrong places. And it wasn’t a comedy. So, if you enjoy a ’symbol-infused’ chase across Rome ( more pentagons and harrowed looking angels than I could eat ) and a Disneyesque spiritual ending, this film may well be for you. If, however, you are a cynical old bird like me then, enjoy your ice cream, take the film for what it is and try not to laugh when Ewan chutes into the Vatican Square.
Sunday, May 17th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Unashamedly I’ve been indulging in Kath and Kim this week-end – my all time favourite TV show. I discovered this hilarious Aussie TV series some time ago while cruising some obscure cable channels. A mixture of The Office and Gavin and Stacey, Kath and Kim follows the lives of a suburban Melbourne household. A world of vinyl slip-ons, Kenny Loggins and grilled chicken’s feet, Kath and Kim is the funniest show in town – a gripping insight into the world of Kath Day Knight and Kel ( Purveyor of Fine Meats ) – your ultimate second-time-around mid-life loved up couple. They never fail to amuse.
Well, that does seem to indicate that I have been mis-using my time and not writing quite as prolifically as I should be, however, I decided I needed a few days break just to try and give the right hand side of my brain a boost. So I am looking forward to a prolific week starting prompto 9am tomorrow morning. I still have my entries for the Winchester Writers’ Conference to complete and need to crack on with the book.
Ian comes back from Washington this morning and will be able to walk into an industrially-deep cleaned abode – even the skirting boards are gleaming, the cat looks half decent ( i.e. alive ) and I’ve straightened my hair with Mrs Q’s cast-off straighteners. What more could he want ? Maybe a decent meal on the table…some sweet words of welcome…a calm and relaxing atmosphere ? Yeah well – there’s only so far I go. So in the words of Kath Day Knight: ‘Thank you for noticing – I like to go to trouble. I’m high maintenance – but you’ve gotta be.’
Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Well, we listened to the interview I did with Rob Richardson on Express FM on Tuesday night. Well, I kind of listened but I have to be honest and admit that it took two vodka and oranges for me to even get close to the radio. Ian set everything up to make a pod cast but I understand there have been some technical difficulties. Mrs Q was particularly supportive – texting me every five minutes with exquisite comments like: ‘You go Running? My a**e’, and ‘Lovely sweetness – listen to you.’ Well Mrs Q – when did you last shift your a**e, move away from the kettle chips and raise your heart rate by one beat? I have taken the liberty of posting a photo of myself and Mrs Q who is wearing something tall and pink on her head reminiscent of Black Adder ( or just plain odd ).
So in addition to the radio episode I’ve re-written a story rejected by one magazine and re-submitted to a different periodical. I’ve also written two more pieces – one of which I have sent off and the other I’m saving for the next Write-Invite session at Rosies Wine Bar. The story for Rosies is called The Feeder and is about Fat Admirers and the emotional and physical control they have over their partners. It’s a bit dark but ends on an unexpected upbeat note which I hope stops it being too depressing. You see I’ve decided that the time has come to try and lighten up some of my writing as at the moment it is rather ‘from the dark side’ of life.
In terms of non-writing activity there have been various local outings which Ive really enjoyed. Loved shopping with Natalie ( my God Daughter ) and Mel for Nat’s prom dress on Tuesday. She looked beautiful in every dress she tried on although unfortuntely she couldnt find exactly the right dress that day. Subsequently she has chosen a pink floaty number which looks wonderful on her.
We also said good luck and bye bye to Duncan on Friday night as he left for a new job. We finished the evening in an Indian at around 10pm. It was excellent value for money actually as I was still seeing the curry well into the next day. I shall not name and shame said Curry House needless to say it wasn’t our usual haunt – the wonderful Jewel in the Crown.
And the week wouldn’t have been complete without a trip to the new Southampton IKEA where you can go in expecting to spend very little and leave having picked up a motley collection of tea lights, candle holders and bed throws. I achieved all of the aforementioned.
Sunday, February 15th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Wednesday, February 04th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Did my first ever radio interview today in Portsmouth with Rob Richardson at Express FM 93.7 The purpose of the session was to discuss what I am doing this year in terms of writing and to share my experience of Rob’s wonderful Write-Invite project which seems to grow from strength to strength. The regular on-line competition held on Saturdays at 5.30pm is now attracting interest from writers in other countries as far afield as India which is amazing. Read back 3 short stories ( two gloomy ones and one about a transvestite ) and talked through how the writing was going. It was an interesting experience and I have to say it felt a little strange being interviewed rather than the other way around. Enjoyed it though and will remember to switch on the radio on Tuesday 17th to hear it. Rounded off the morning in a truely media-professional and adult manner by going to feed the rabbits in Victoria Park.
Sunday, February 01st, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Sometimes you feel ‘yes – this feels right’ or ‘what goes around comes around’ or just plain ‘ha ha ha ha’. And this happened today. Helen ( aka Mrs Q of Company Y ) had proactively informed me yesterday that she would be making one of her roulades to take to Mum and Dad’s for our family lunch. ‘Good’ I thought, ‘that’s nice’ and ‘bully for you lovee’. However all was not as she planned and I was delighted to walk into the kitchen and discover that things weren’t going well roulade-wise. Yes dear reader it had collapsed and produced an enormous shapeless mound of what looked like dinosaur do-dahs. Mrs Q was not happy yet bravely struggled to keep up appearances by ’serving’ the aforementioned desert. Now those of you who know Mrs Q well will know she is also known as Queen of Puddings – a title earned following years of back-to-back perfect pudding production. Not so to-day though…Today was something else…please enjoy the photos below which I feel clearly show the disappointment and shame felt by Q.o.P. and the shock on Dad’s face at being served a sub-standard pudding.
Saturday, January 31st, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Apologies – I know I have blogged about this before but why, oh why, are we watching Top Gear? This week sees the hapless trio in Vietnam. ‘I’m watching it because we’ve been there and it’s nice to see it again.’ Course you are Ian. So why do you keep laughing? What is funny about Mister Mid Life Crisis on a pink motorbike with the sounds of Bruce Springsteen urging him along a Vietnamese highway? Absolutely bugger all. When will these ‘men’ realise that they are just not funny and should be banned from mainstream TV ? Listen Clarkson – cut your perm, get off your bike and go and get a proper job in a Call Centre. You’re just not doing it for me. Not like Coach Trip – now that’s quality TV. Take a group of Manchester’s finest and put them on a coach trip round Europe. Then inject a little Big Brother mentality and have a ‘vote off’ system resulting in catiness, bad behaviour and Mancies at their worst. Bring it on.
Saturday, January 31st, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Took this photo when I was in London on Monday. It’s a new film and I obviously liked the title but I was particularly taken by the caption printed underneath the name ‘Julia’ as I feel it somes up my life at the moment: ‘A woman on the edge takes a journey into the unknown.’ Except this woman is an alcoholic while I stick to Jack Daniels miniatures – a totally different league.
Sunday, January 25th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Been a few days since I’ve updated my good friend – the blog. That’s not to say it hasn’t been a busy time. The writing is going well and I’m loving being able to have whole days to devote to exploring what’s inside my ( sometimes ) very strange head. Day starts with an uber-large caffettiere of very strong and potentially lethal coffee. This certainly gets my mind a-racing. I’ve found that some days I’ve even forgotten to get lunch which for a compulsive eater is quite extraordinary. I make up for it afterwards though with cake. Lots of it. And I’ve sent off some more work so fingers crossed – who knows…
And on a different subject, we went to see the film Frost/Nixon last night at Harbour Lights in Southampton which was brilliant. I do remember Watergate very vaguely as a child although clearly I had no understanding or appreciation of the issues ( this was a child who called Nixon ‘Pregnant Nixon’ – clearly confusing the words President and Pregnant in a totally inappropriate manner ). I also remember bill-board posters depicting a photo of Nixon’s face and then the caption: ‘Would you buy a used car from this man?’ I was highly politically sensitive as a young child. Anyway the film is great and not to be missed. I followed it up by watching some of the original footage of the infamous David Frost/President Nixon interviews on You Tube; they are uncannily alike. So – one to be recommended.
And on a lighter note, I had my first dining experience at a branch of Nandos this afternoon. Think chicken, then think more chicken and then round it off with a little more poulet and you’re there. Yes – it’s a foul-fest but suprisingly tasty. Ian explained that I was in fact eating my bird portions incorrectly. I was using a knife and fork ( in the accepted civilised manner ) to pull small, mouth-sized pieces of meat away from the aforementioned carcass and then chewing slowly. Seemingly you gut the whole thing down in sub-fifteen minutes using hands if necessary. Now who moved my napkin…
Friday, January 09th, 2009 | Author:
Julia
Or Top Gear. I detest this TV programme much to my husband’s outrage – he loves it you understand. Three saddo mid-life crisis males in checked shirts and stone-washed denims drive cars. And arn’t they funny? Well, actually no, they are not. They are pathetically humour-free with their male cameraderie and made-for-TV ‘tricksie’ stunts. Laughing in the aisles ? I’d rather boil my own head in acid. The hamster man is irritaing with his surfy necklaces, the long-haired Led Zep hippie one would be better suited selling burgers at a car boot sale and the infuriating JC ? P – lease – get rid of the demi-perm and get real. The only thing that makes me smile is when they say ‘cock.’
