Sunday Roast: what is a stolen drug dog doing in my house?

Slightly later than planned (my bad – blame trashy chick lit), I bring you something to wile away what is left of a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I was always concerned by jelly (jell-o) as a kid, but that was because of my allergies to the colourings and flavourings – at least I never mistook it for toxic waste.

Just when the Crazy Canalman is looking forward to a retirement cruising round the waterways of Great Britain, it looks like they are going to be closing some of them. Timing never was a family strong point.

Thank you everyone who sponsored me for this years Race for Life – here’s what you were supporting.

Despite every character I’ve ever RP’d ending up as a barmaid in some dive or another, I’ve never actually worked in a bar (though I’ve flirted wiht the idea a time or two – getting thrown out of the last establishment I was tempted to work for has kinda dampened my enthusiasm) but even after one night the smoke gets to me – so it’s good that a recent study has shown that since the smoking ban in Scotland, the health of bar staff has drastically improved. Bring on the ban in Britain England (thank you for pointing that out Moose)! It would be so nice to come home from a night out and NOT have to shower the smoke smell out of my hair before I stumble into bed. Not to mention not inhaling enough carcinogens and tar on a night out to pave New York.

In yet another stunning blow to civil liberties, scientists are suggesting tagging air passengers in order to combat terrorism. If you will excuse me I’m off to live as a hermit on some remote Scottish isle. At least there I’ll only be at risk from terrorist sheep and I think I like those odds.

I’ve been meaning to link to the MangoFalls Digital Project for some time, but I just kept forgetting. The situation is now remedied. I love the idea of this project – old slides and images are scanned and a new one presented daily. Some beautiful, quirky and down right amazing pictures come to light. Each one has a story that is just begging to be told. In fact, if you are a writer stuck for inspiration, you could do worse! (There is an RSS feed because I’ve subscribed to it, but it is a little buried. In fact, your best bet is to hop on over to 9rules photography community and nab the feed from there. It’s worth the investigatory work).

I’ve loved Mata since I first saw Mittens and Snowdrop way back… Certain people can still be brought to helpless giggles by well placed “I can smell your brains” comments. Anyway, he has a new strip – Trouble Down the Pit. It’s a classic story – angel meets devil, angel needs a place to live, fun, frolicks, and Cyber Ninga’s. Because why not? (Does contain religious imagery, sarcasm, and general light satire. Don’t click if you are easily offended – or have no sense of humour, though if that is the case what are you doing still reading my blog! – or if you do click, don’t come back at me with pointy sticks. Please?)

I’ve never been a fan of David Blunkett (then show me politician I AM a fan of these days) but I will admit his diaries make interesting reading.

I haven’t linked to, or talked about, movies in a while. That’s partly because this summers movies have sucked (apart from The Departed, that was good. Oh, and Children of Men, and The Queen, and The Assassination of a President) and partly because I got out of the habit of watching movie trailers. Well, I got back into the habit in a big way yesterday and here are a few that caught my eye (apologies for if I am out of date on any of these):

  • Eragon – what is it with Jeremy Irons and fantasy? Didn’t D&D put him off? Either way, this looks good, if only for the chance to see John Malkovic chew the scenery as the supreme bad guy. He does do such a good bad guy.
  • The Good Shepherd – I’m not sure what it is with me and spy’s, but it’s something that fascinates me. I could never do the job – for starters I abhor violence – but still I’m hooked on the genre. I blame my brother and a child hood of making me watch Bond movies.
  • Hollywoodland – Adrien Brody and Ben Affleck among others? This just looks totally delicious.
  • Freedom Writers – this might be one of those times when I’ve been suckered by a good track on the trail. Very Dangerous Minds but who DOESN’T like a nice stirring story of kids overcoming their backgrounds? And by writing? Grumpy sods ๐Ÿ˜›
  • My First Wedding – there are no excuses but this trail did genuinely make me laugh. And snigger. So every now and then a girl needs not to think at the movies! From the look on Moose’s face when I mentioned it this one might be a rental however.
  • Edmond – from the trail I could be watching large chunks of this from behind my hands (lots of icky violence) but William H. Macey going psycho? That’s gonna be good cinema.
  • The History Boys – and lastly, The History Boys has been getting a lot of press attention over here. It’s done well at the various festivals. And it has a good cast. I’m looking forward to it.

And to finish, all good things come to those who wait

16 thoughts on “Sunday Roast: what is a stolen drug dog doing in my house?

  1. I love the fact that Jeremy Irons is digging this fantasy and medieval phase of his career. He and Richard O’Brien alone (and I mean alone) made D&D worth watching.

    Jeremy Irons, Billy Zane, John Malkovich and to a lesser extent Johnny Depp: I can watch any of their films no matter how bad, based purely on their voices.

    Jeremy and John in the same film. That’s guaranteed my hind on a seat. That and the fact the leading kid looks like a young Mike Myers so I couldn’t possibly take the film seriously if I wanted to.

  2. Ack!
    *runs*
    Hello Mata and welcome (back) to Bright Meadow ๐Ÿ™‚

    And Dan, I challenge your Johnny Depp statement – I love him as much as the next person but really, Secret Window? That’s the one and only film I can remember not finishing.

    But yes, Jeremy Irons was good in D&D. The film was just so gleefully BAD. The guy I watched it with at the time just didn’t appreciate the bad-ness. Grumbled the whole way through – should have realised then and there it wasn’t going to work out ๐Ÿ˜€

    Is it geeky of me to admit that I was very impressed with the CGI in the Eragon trailer?

  3. No, not geeky. It sold me too.

    Never taken the opportunity to watch Secret Window but I cannot refuse a challenge (bearing in mind I did say “to a lesser extent” with the diverse Johnny).

    The guy I watched it with at the time just didnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt appreciate the bad-ness. Grumbled the whole way through – should have realised then and there it wasnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt going to work out ๐Ÿ˜€

    Would have never happened with me. ๐Ÿ˜›

  4. um, Cas, you may want to re-word that bit about the smoking ban, I think any Scots reading might be upset to discover they’re no longer in Britain (then again, maybe not).

  5. I think now is the time to introduce all Bright Meadow readers to the concept of the fifty pence bet.

    Quite simply, a 50p bet is a matter of honour. If someone fifty pence bets you to do something, you’ve got to be a strong person to refuse. They shouldn’t be used lightly. The only thing better/worse than a fifty pence bet is the fabled one pound (ร‚ยฃ1) bet.

    So people, I challenge you all to a fifty pence bet.
    – 50p to watch Secret Window all the way through.
    Once you have completed this task, email me and convince me that you have indeed watched the film and not just read the IMDB synopsis, and you shall get your just rewards.

    (I got as far as the bit with the dog and decided that even Johnny wasn’t enough to keep me watching).

    Dan, so you like bad films? Interesting…

    *makes notes*

  6. I saw Secret Window as well, in the theater, no less. But it was a free pass to the premier, so I couldn’t go wrong really.

    And thank you for pointing out MangoFalls, it’s bloody awesome! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Rich & Jay – I don’t think having watched already you qualify for the 50p bet. If you watched it again however…

    And premiere Jay? Lucky sod. The only time I got near a premiere was for Harry Potter and I didn’t realize the premiere was going to be at that cinema till walking OUT after the film and walking into a man who was laying the red carpet. And that was the second time I’d seen Harry Potter 1 – for the record, it’s not a good date movie, the first time round is was mildly good, the 2 time was just dull, and by the third time I was ready to strangle Harry, all his magical pals, and my so called ‘friends’ who insisted on dragging me to the bloody film. But I digress.

    Surly – If by ‘kicked out’ you mean ‘asked to leave not so politely by some grumpy bouncers because we were causing unrest’ then yes, yes I have. The edited story is here.

  8. Let me redefine what I meant by “premier”. I often get passes to avant-screenings of movies, usually up to a week before it officially opens in theaters (in Montreal). We don’t the ‘red carpet’ kinda deals like they do in Hollywood. They’re often for the press, the lucky (winning a radio contest for example) or people who know people (like myself). ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Sometimes we like different things and anyway, you like bad films!

    Time has passed, I have learnt my lesson, and I will always bow to your superior taste oh great Moose ๐Ÿ˜€

    Still Jay, you get to see a film before everyone else – great bragging potential!

    And it is spreading indeed illyna. Like a rash, only more welcome ๐Ÿ˜€

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