Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Coffee Station
A much-needed coffee from Coffee Station on New Greenham Park. Look who else was here!
Coraline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO3n67BQvh0
What a beautifully-made film with mesmerising and imaginative animation. This is the story of
Coraline Jones voiced by Dakota Fanning (always makes me think of 30 Rock: "He bit Dakota Fanning on the face"; "When you hear his side, she was kinda asking for it".
She and her parents move into an apartment with a secret door to an ideal version of this world (or is it?) with a kinder version both parents, except they have buttons for eyes, much like the doll that looks like Coraline which is given to her by her new friend Wybie.
One night, the "Other Mother" asks her to stay in the Other World forever in exchange for replacing her eyes with buttons. Naturally, she refuses and tries to escape to her own world. "Other Mother traps Coraline in a small room where she meets the ghosts of children who had lost their eyes and souls to the Other Mother by accepting her offer. And this is a children's film - I was behind a pillow at this point! Coraline escapes to her own world but finds her real parents have been kidnapped by the Other Mother. Armed with a seeing stone provided by the eccentric Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, Coraline saves her parents from a snow globe. It's a very striking adventure story which I look forward to watching again.
What a beautifully-made film with mesmerising and imaginative animation. This is the story of
Coraline Jones voiced by Dakota Fanning (always makes me think of 30 Rock: "He bit Dakota Fanning on the face"; "When you hear his side, she was kinda asking for it".
She and her parents move into an apartment with a secret door to an ideal version of this world (or is it?) with a kinder version both parents, except they have buttons for eyes, much like the doll that looks like Coraline which is given to her by her new friend Wybie.
One night, the "Other Mother" asks her to stay in the Other World forever in exchange for replacing her eyes with buttons. Naturally, she refuses and tries to escape to her own world. "Other Mother traps Coraline in a small room where she meets the ghosts of children who had lost their eyes and souls to the Other Mother by accepting her offer. And this is a children's film - I was behind a pillow at this point! Coraline escapes to her own world but finds her real parents have been kidnapped by the Other Mother. Armed with a seeing stone provided by the eccentric Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, Coraline saves her parents from a snow globe. It's a very striking adventure story which I look forward to watching again.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday
New thing today was heading up to the World Pooh Sticks Championships! However, I begged Mr Sthgnew to let me peruse the boot sale just nearby and I only spent 20p on a book for my dad! We then headed through the most beautiful villages to get to the competition to find it had been cancelled much to my chagrin!
http://www.pooh-sticks.com/index.htm
We had a look at the stalls and went for a walk along the Thames and then headed for a walk around Abingdon where we visited the shops that were open and had a pint in the Crown and Thistle Hotel.
http://www.pooh-sticks.com/index.htm
We had a look at the stalls and went for a walk along the Thames and then headed for a walk around Abingdon where we visited the shops that were open and had a pint in the Crown and Thistle Hotel.
Saturday
New thing was driving along new roads near Oxford as I thought it was a shortcut after our visit to the big boot sale this morning. Then later in the day, went to the Bear at Clerkenwell for farewell drinks.
Friday
Lunch at the Berkshire Arms. Although I've been here before, I hadn't had lunch at the back of the restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the meal although one of the waitresses was quite terrifying.
Thursday
Went to see a woman collect the car she'd won in Harlow and then popped into Hobbycraft and Costa before taking AGES to get home due to the horrendous rain and spray on the motorway. I picked up a couple of hitchhikers who were doing a charity challenge and dropped them a mile up the road to where they wanted to go!
Tuesday
Watched the absolutely brilliant film The Yes Men Fix the World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnQX09DZLYE , a documentary about two political activists who make fake corporate websites, wait to be contacted by the media and then posing as bigwigs from companies, make announcements that shake the stock market. Genius and breathtakingly brave!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday
First new thing was the Sterling Industrial Estate to find a fireplace but it was raining and the place was closed. So we headed up to Mabel's friends in Wellingborough and our new thing was a bar called Rafferty's.
Friday - A river runs through it
Well, this was meant to be my new thing, but I didn't have time to watch it, so my real new thing ended up being buying an apple strudel that I hadn't tried before. And very nice it was too.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday
New thing was buying compost from the Scats Country Stores that is not 100m from my house. I must have been looking rough today as I'd just come from the post office where the woman behind the counter asked me if I needed life insurance!! I told her I didn't as I don't have dependants, and she said: "but you don't want your parents to worry about you". To which I said that they didn't. She said "Good!" just a little too enthusiastically.....
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday
Lowestoft. It's so far away and difficult to get to! So actually spent eight hours in the car and just an hour or so in the town. Funny place, with a strange threatening feel to it, with people standing around on corners...anyway, had a good look around the town centre and then drove back along the A14 and A12, a beautiful route which passes lovely countryside. I stopped at one point in a village called Blythbrugh where the Holy Trinity Church rises like a cathedral and just looks amazing. Happy belated St Patrick's DAy!
Tuesday
Watched "All About Eve" this afternoon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnr3AMCmJ3A (a mere 60 years after it was made!) What a great film! I really enjoyed it and thought the concepts and ideas were right up-to-date, so relevant and has really stood the test of time.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday
New thing today was watching a film that I was given at last year's G20 protest. I haven't had two minutes to sit down recently, until now as I seem to have a chest infection. So I dug out Zeitgeist, Addendum and watched it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-2fenmLnc Fascinating stuff. It's about how the system has built in war, poverty, and corruption and how these make our society fail. It starts with an explanation of "fractional reserve banking" from an official document called "Modern Money Mechanics" which shows that money creation by the banks is based on nothing. Or more accurately, based on debt creation. There's also an interview with an "economic hit man", and then an interview with the amazing Jacque Fresco who designed the "Venus Project" which is a vision of a world based on abundance, yet environmental friendly and sustainable. Very interesting and I now look forward to passing it on to someone who understands this and would enjoy it.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sunday
New thing was heading to the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham as it was such a beautiful day and there was also a workshop on making jewellery out of rubbish which sounds like my kind of jewellery!
However, when I got there, it was absolutely packed, and after being missed by an inch by a woman who backed into a space without looking and then being cut up by a woman whose view was obscured by her hair, I gave up and went to work.
By this time, I could hardly speak. (If you see my voice anywhere, please could you return it to me?), and far from being pleased that I had actually made it to work, the shift manager seemed mildly pissed off; so I was home early and took the opportunity to watch Ladri di Biciclette. This is a wonderful Italian film from 1948 known as the Bicycle Thieves. It's a simple, yet touching tale about a father-of-two of finally gets a job posting bills, but needs a bicycle. However, on the first day of his new job, his bike his stolen, forcing him and his young son to search the streets or face starvation.
It's a tragic tale, not overly emotional but so touching, particularly in these times where hard work and honesty are not rewarded. The actors in the film were plucked from the streets with no formal acting training, making for a poignant but simple tale of desperation and father-son relationships.
However, when I got there, it was absolutely packed, and after being missed by an inch by a woman who backed into a space without looking and then being cut up by a woman whose view was obscured by her hair, I gave up and went to work.
By this time, I could hardly speak. (If you see my voice anywhere, please could you return it to me?), and far from being pleased that I had actually made it to work, the shift manager seemed mildly pissed off; so I was home early and took the opportunity to watch Ladri di Biciclette. This is a wonderful Italian film from 1948 known as the Bicycle Thieves. It's a simple, yet touching tale about a father-of-two of finally gets a job posting bills, but needs a bicycle. However, on the first day of his new job, his bike his stolen, forcing him and his young son to search the streets or face starvation.
It's a tragic tale, not overly emotional but so touching, particularly in these times where hard work and honesty are not rewarded. The actors in the film were plucked from the streets with no formal acting training, making for a poignant but simple tale of desperation and father-son relationships.
Saturday
So busy today and feeling full of cold so new thing (on the way back from 8 hours of sniffing at work) was exploring Greenham Mill flats.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday contd
Then went to Chipping Norton - a very swish place which is like a more knowingly cute version of my home town, where I bought a Big Issue, funnily enough, before heading to the post office and the charity shops -ha! Then headed to Woodstock to do the same, noting the "stocks" where the name probably DIDN'T come from, and a quick look at Blenheim Palace before taking a secret route to my other job where along with the usual nice customers there was some fantastic rudeness - one guy who didn't speak at all throughout the transaction, instead throwing his receipt back at me, one customer who said; "you're empty", only explaining that there weren't enough green vegetables when I thought she meant I was empty ie my brain, and a guy who asked for an army discount because he thought the sandwiches were too expensive and shouted "extortionate, disgraceful etc etc" at me all the way out. Now, is it just me, but I can't afford a Ferrari, but instead of shouting at the staff who work in there, I've just bought a car that is more suitable for my budget. Anyway, I then got told off by a woman as we're not allowed, by law, to sell anything past its best before date to which she stormed out. Better that than a huge fine though: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/5035845.Supermarket_fined_for_selling_out_of_date_food/
Friday - Human Performance
Wonderful new things today starting with a drive up to Enstone for the launch of a new fitness training scheme for racing drivers. The presentation took place near Enstone at Renault's F1 training centre which is set in beautiful countryside, emerging out of nowhere like a James Bond bad guy's lair! It was only recently that I realised that F1 drivers need an astounding level of fitness - I had always thought that they were pretty sedentary and had filed them in my head with darts and snooker players. The truth though is that not only is their level of fitness up there with the fittest sportsmen and women, but they also need to cope with high temperatures in the cockpitstrong arm muscles and ultra high levels of concentration. We started with a look at the gym, which has a room dedicated to a machine for strengthening the all-important neck muscles. Drivers need to cope with 3.5g when cornering which feels like a hand pushing down on your skull. The other specialist piece of equipment is a Batak machine which tests driver's reflexes, and appealing to my juvenile sense of humour, reminded me of the children's game where you bash as many hippos (not real ones) over the head with a hammer in a minute. There was also a presentation on the importance of nutrition (which I was nibbling on a nice Danish pastry on throughout) and talks of sports psychology which were fascinating. It was brilliant to meet the F1 stars of the future and see their commitment in action, as I think all who turned up signed up to the scheme. In fact, there was one guy who said goodbye to me and went into the car park before racing back in to have one more try on the Batak machine.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thursday
New thing today was going to Furniture Village for a look-see with an eye on getting a cheap bedside table. I saw this http://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/bedrooms/bedsidecabinets/allegro/alroqfcb220l and aimed for it, only to find that it's worth more than Mr SH's car (not an Allegro)!!
Other new things included the back of Renault Slough where I had my car cleaned inside and out for a very, very reasonable £14.99! Good times!
Other new things included the back of Renault Slough where I had my car cleaned inside and out for a very, very reasonable £14.99! Good times!
Wednesday
New things started with going to Manor Park to collect something from a really friendly freecycler. When Freecycle (or is it called Freegle these days) is at its best, it's just brilliant. The good experiences have outweighed the bad so far, but it can be frustrating when people don't turn up when they say they will or don't say thank you! Today was great though - saved me some cash and when I've finished with the item, I will put it back on freecycle!
Things continued when I couldn't see the line markings on the road near the A40 and nearly ended up driving the wrong way down a one-way street and had to back into one of the industrial estates, ending up at the entrance to John Lewis' distribution centre! When I got home via Ikea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcaaehKaC8 I tried seabass with fennel as a new dinner!
Things continued when I couldn't see the line markings on the road near the A40 and nearly ended up driving the wrong way down a one-way street and had to back into one of the industrial estates, ending up at the entrance to John Lewis' distribution centre! When I got home via Ikea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcaaehKaC8 I tried seabass with fennel as a new dinner!
Tuesday contd
Almost forgot! We also went to a new Indian Tapas Bar called Lucky's. We were very well-behaved and didn't order a whole meal, but really enjoyed sharing tempura prawns which were great and quite filling.
Tuesday
New thing today was visiting the Slater Centre on New Greenham Park which is a brilliant new building housing local charities including the Alzheimers Society where I was today and also the Community Furniture Project which recycles furniture and sells it to people on benefits at low cost.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Sunday
Another new thing for Sunday; I went to Greenacres to see about signing up! I'd like to find a gym where I can go swimming without fear of swallowing a plaster or being unable to go to the loo because it hasn't been cleaned for years...or ever....Yes, Chesham Pool, I am talking about you.
While we're on the subject of new things I've forgotten about; I saw Carol Thatcher! And more excitingly I saw Jason Dawe! I was so excited I said: "You're that motoring journalist!" He said; "yes" and I said: "Mike Rutherford"! and then realised what I'd done and went to live under the sea....
While we're on the subject of new things I've forgotten about; I saw Carol Thatcher! And more excitingly I saw Jason Dawe! I was so excited I said: "You're that motoring journalist!" He said; "yes" and I said: "Mike Rutherford"! and then realised what I'd done and went to live under the sea....
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Sunday
New thing today was leaving Gosport and getting home to enjoy some Waitrose mussels! YUM YUM YUM!
Saturday
A brilliant day with lots of new things! Firstly, Mr SH and I drove down to Tadley to go to a very popular and well-attended bootsale which was great, even though he wouldn't let me buy anything (although looking back, perhaps we don't really need a coffee table or Mr and Mrs Board game, a painting of a flower with a broken green frame!).
On the way back, we went to an event at Mercedes-Benz of Newbury called the "Finer Things" event where they had Mr Valentine Warner, star of What to Eat Now, doing a cookery demonstration to launch the new e-class Cabriolet. What a wonderful experience! He was a top guy - very friendly and with such an enthusiasm for his cooking. He, like me, is from Dorset, which is usually a plus point. He cooked four dishes which looked incredibly simple, but tasted - oh so divine! I don't normally eat meat but how could I refuse the delicious clams and bacon, anchoise and purple sprouting broccoli and his chicken livers on toast. He signed our book with a flourish and I cannot wait to get cooking with it!!
After the excitement of meeting Mr Warner, we took off for Portsmouth where we queued for ages to get into the carpark for Gunwharf Quays, putting Mr SH into a vile mood, which abated when we got to the top of the Spinnaker Tower. It's like a mini CN Tower, with a glass floor and various viewing decks and the view is surprisingly good. Today was beautiful and you could clearly see the Isle of Wight and the nice bits of Portsmouth and Gosport. We came back down, went to a couple of shops (one of which I had been into when I lived in Portsmouth six years ago in the days when the tower was under construction), before heading to our friends' house. And WOW! Their house in Gosport was wonderful with a great view over the water and onto the Spinnaker Tower. We caught up for a bit over a glass of rothe, before walking to the ferry and back to Gunwharf. We had a pint in the Slug and Lettuce (which I cannot for the life of me remember if I'd been to before), and then into Haha (which I think I'd been to with my parents a long time ago) and in walked a guy I went to University with! I last saw him 14 years ago - incidentally our last exchange was the morning after our graduation ball when he was making about 6 cups of tea with the last of our milk. "How thoughtful" I exclaimed, only for him to snatch my mug back off me and tell me that all 6 were for him!
We then went to Zizzis for a meal where they had given away our table booked for 8.30pm (it was 8.32pm), so we went to the Water Margin (not the wonderful series http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvd6s6q_LxU which my mum and used to watch. There was a character in it who used to be able to run faster than a horse and I used to think his name was Fast Foot Chan, which became a nickname for anyone who could run fast in our house!) Anyway, I digress. We had a buffet style meal in the Water Margin before heading to the casino. Between the 6 of us, we only lost £15, so not a bad haul in the end! I have a terrible lack of discipline -watch me with a packet of jaffa cakes, so I decided to keep my hands firmly in my pocket!
On the way back, we went to an event at Mercedes-Benz of Newbury called the "Finer Things" event where they had Mr Valentine Warner, star of What to Eat Now, doing a cookery demonstration to launch the new e-class Cabriolet. What a wonderful experience! He was a top guy - very friendly and with such an enthusiasm for his cooking. He, like me, is from Dorset, which is usually a plus point. He cooked four dishes which looked incredibly simple, but tasted - oh so divine! I don't normally eat meat but how could I refuse the delicious clams and bacon, anchoise and purple sprouting broccoli and his chicken livers on toast. He signed our book with a flourish and I cannot wait to get cooking with it!!
After the excitement of meeting Mr Warner, we took off for Portsmouth where we queued for ages to get into the carpark for Gunwharf Quays, putting Mr SH into a vile mood, which abated when we got to the top of the Spinnaker Tower. It's like a mini CN Tower, with a glass floor and various viewing decks and the view is surprisingly good. Today was beautiful and you could clearly see the Isle of Wight and the nice bits of Portsmouth and Gosport. We came back down, went to a couple of shops (one of which I had been into when I lived in Portsmouth six years ago in the days when the tower was under construction), before heading to our friends' house. And WOW! Their house in Gosport was wonderful with a great view over the water and onto the Spinnaker Tower. We caught up for a bit over a glass of rothe, before walking to the ferry and back to Gunwharf. We had a pint in the Slug and Lettuce (which I cannot for the life of me remember if I'd been to before), and then into Haha (which I think I'd been to with my parents a long time ago) and in walked a guy I went to University with! I last saw him 14 years ago - incidentally our last exchange was the morning after our graduation ball when he was making about 6 cups of tea with the last of our milk. "How thoughtful" I exclaimed, only for him to snatch my mug back off me and tell me that all 6 were for him!
We then went to Zizzis for a meal where they had given away our table booked for 8.30pm (it was 8.32pm), so we went to the Water Margin (not the wonderful series http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvd6s6q_LxU which my mum and used to watch. There was a character in it who used to be able to run faster than a horse and I used to think his name was Fast Foot Chan, which became a nickname for anyone who could run fast in our house!) Anyway, I digress. We had a buffet style meal in the Water Margin before heading to the casino. Between the 6 of us, we only lost £15, so not a bad haul in the end! I have a terrible lack of discipline -watch me with a packet of jaffa cakes, so I decided to keep my hands firmly in my pocket!
Friday - wellbeing day
New thing today was going to the absolutely beautiful St Cassians Centre in Kintbury, a residential retreat run by the LaSalle Brothers for a wellbeing day run by the Alzheimers Society. I got there a bit late but was in time to watch and even participate in "Singing for the Brain" a pioneering activity for people with dementia. We sang "Oh what a beautiful morning" and "Dem Bones" as well as a well a lovely aboriginal song called "Oboye" which was a calling song that people used to sing to each other over mountains to welcome each other. What was incredible about the session is the very obvious and visual change in people who engaged with the music and tapped along with the rhythm. At first, I thought it was recognising the words that helped, but I think it is the very moving power of music. As Lauren Laverne said the other day: "Music is the closest thing we have to magic on this earth" and her insight brought a tear to my eye. We then enjoyed taster sessions on massage and sound therapy and how they can help dementia sufferers. I disappeared just as everyone tucked into lunch and drove back through the wonderful sunshine singing so hard I nearly missed the turning back home!
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Thursday
New thing today was checking out Angelica Flowers in Newbury to see just what proportion of my meagre wedding budget will go on flowers. And the answer is, a much higher percentage than I had thought! I also learned that less isn't necessarily less expensive when it comes to wedding posies. I have so much to learn!
Wednesday
New things started with a trip to the post office in the village of Seer Green which was like stepping back in time or at least travelling to Greendale! Then had lunch at the White Hart in Chalfont St Giles. I've been here before, but we had today's meal (mine was tortellini) in a different part of the restaurant. New things continued with a trip to the bowling alley in Thatcham where my bowling skills deserted me (you could say I put the OW back into bowling)....good to do something different on a night out though...
Tuesday
A betting shop where I placed a bet on Huddersfield to beat Southampton 2-0. The Saints ended up thrashing them 5-0. Money well wasted - hahaha!
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Burnt Sugar crumbly fudge
New thing today was the crumbly fudge with a hint of sea salt which was a very pleasant sugary hit. Quite expensive though for five pieces at £2.39 -that makes them 48p each!
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