Monday 30 August 2010

To Infinity...

OK so I gave in (I play easy to get at times) and the two of us took a trip to the cinema this afternoon to see the latest adventures of Woody, Buzz and co.

I'm quite surprised that the child discount/reduction for the ticket is only £1.90 (US$2.85, AU$3.23). Am I out of touch? However we both really enjoyed it. Although LL found the scenes of peril a tad frightening and had to cling to my arm at times. And then deny later that he was scared LOL.

On the way home, he started to ask when I would buy the DVD for him. Must have been a hit then.

Sunday 29 August 2010

Game Of Two Halves

Executive producer Steven Moffat has announced the next full series of Doctor Who will be split in two with the first 7 episodes screening in the spring of next year, with the balance in the autumn and a 2011 Christmas Special to follow. Apparently the idea is that this will allow a slightly different method of story telling and make for an exciting mid-season cliffhanger and an equally thrilling restart.

Personally I suspect it has more than a little to do with trying to avoid a ratings drop-off as summer starts, bringing with it warmer weather and lighter evenings, which tends to lead to viewers deserting their tv sets in favour of outdoor pursuits.


Karen Gillan meets the plastic version of her character, Amy Pond.









Either way, let's hope for a swift demise of the Teletubby Daleks...

Saturday 28 August 2010

Toy Story Too





















Today's adventures included:

  • Swimming at the outdoor heated pool.
  • Performing a couple of small science experiments.
  • Building some new Lego* vehicles.
  • Settling in to watch Toy Story 2 on video (prior to a possible cinema visit).
  • Making (and sharing) popcorn.
  • Practising cycling proficiency. 
  • Meeting two Dalmatians, one of whom was very "barky," the other quite placid.
  • Being cheeky lol.
Phew.



Leicester 1 - 2 Reading


*Other toy building block products are available but they're probably not that good.

Thursday 26 August 2010

Negative

Someone hiding behind the "anonymous" log-on tag has seen fit to leave me a couple of fairly negative comments tonight.

The following is aimed at that person, should they choose to stop by again: 
  • This blog is about what occurs to me and I don't force anyone to visit it or even expect them to enjoy it. But if you do bother to take the time to read this blog you'll see there's a whole lot of different things going on. I talk about cancer, pottery, LL, books, local history, films and a whole lot more.
  •  I assume despite your wide ranging comments you've not bothered with the above, to get your facts right, otherwise you'd be able to calculate the age of my son. It's not rocket science, you know.
  •  Before pressing the button to post a comment, you should spend a few moments checking both your spelling AND grammar. Ask yourself, is it clear to the recipient what you're trying to say and is it easy to understand? 
  •  Perhaps you might wish to try posting positive and constructive comments. You might make friends that way.

Given you haven't fulfilled any of the above criteria and in fact I felt quite insulted by what you said, I'm sure you can appreciate I have marked all your comments as SPAM and they won't be published. 

Thank you.


30 Aug 2010 Update: Do you think I was a little peeved when I posted this?

    Frank

    My Ginger Beer obsession knows no end! All the way from Sweden, Frank's Alcoholic Ginger Beer. Serve well chilled over ice mmmm.


    Monday 23 August 2010

    Marmite Cereal Bars

    Apparently some things are just wrong.











    Cereal and Marmite, sadly not a good combination. In fact I had to get rid of the taste by eating two rice cakes. Marmite flavour of course LOL.

    Sunday 22 August 2010

    Ponderance

    In no particular order...

    • This years A-Level exam results were announced this week and for the 28th year in a row, overall pass rates have improved. How does that work? Does that mean my (dim and distant) qualifications are worth more or less?
    • Have found something new (to me): Marmite Cereal Bars. Tasty? 
















    • Took LL to Windsor to the leisure centre for a swim and a play on the water slides, wave machine etc. Great fun. Couldn't get him out of the water.
    • Reading 1 - 1 Nottingham Forest. Another fumble from The Royals?
    • Doesn't seem true that Mum has been gone two years now.
    • I've been somewhat shamed by the fact I've fallen behind with my correspondence of late. Will try harder. Promise.
    • We took a trip to the cinema this week to see the Cameron Diaz/Tom Cruise action film 'Knight And Day.' Lots of fun and big on action set pieces but I'm not quite sure what the point was. Not convinced there much of a coherent story line to be honest. 















    • I have found that you're never too old to play Pooh Sticks.
    • So our cousins- the Aussies- have gone to the polls this week. Pity neither major party could field a "true blue Aussie" candidate for Prime Minister. All I can guess is that Australia must love us British more than they let on. Julia Gillard is from Barry in Wales, while Tony Abbott is from London. They could almost pass for 'Gavin And Stacy" don't you think LOL?    
    • While in Windsor, we took (another) ride on the Royal Windsor Wheel. It's one of the tallest wheels of it's type dontchaknow. And we had a pod to ourselves. Even better.














    • I seem to be reliving the music of my youth at the moment. Is that a bad thing? Have just bought "The Best Of Matt Bianco." 16 tracks of nostalgia.   
    • If the flag on the top of the castle is to be believed, HM the Queen was in residence. I wonder if she's ever been tempted to take a ride on the Wheel?

    Sunday 15 August 2010

    Air Miles

    Today we took a short trip down the road to the Berkshire Museum of Aviation based at the former Woodley airfield near Reading. Woodley was the home of the Miles Aircraft manufacturing company and also the infamous site where ace pilot Douglas Bader crashed and lost his legs (although this didn't stop him returning to the skies during WWII and later escaping from a German prison camp).


    Fairey Gannet T.5












    Sadly all that really remains of this once great industry is a few fairly run down factory units and a dozen or so streets bearing aviation related names.














    Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 100












    Height of aviation luxury in the Dart Herald 100

    Saturday 14 August 2010

    Edukation Pays

    Proof it ever it was needed that a good education is worth its weight in gold- how else can we excel in our chosen careers?

    Newly painted sign near Southern Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, US. 



     
    Portsmouth 1 - 1 Reading

    Monday 9 August 2010

    Sunday Art

    Took a trip yesterday to Art in Clay at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Now in it's 16th year, this is one of the premier events in the ceramic year, with potters from across the county and Europe exhibiting.


    Here's some examples of the fine and varied work on display.
































































    Frankly I haven't a clue where the time went...

    Saturday 7 August 2010

    Poor Start

    It seems like only yesterday the football season ended and yet today the new one got under way.

    The Royals got off to less than impressive start, in a somewhat scrappy game, with two injured and some questionable Refereeing.

    Reading 1 - 2 Scunthorpe

    Monday 2 August 2010

    Tempting




















    Alcoholic Ginger Beer. How could I resist?