Musings From The Chair

Today dragged and dragged. Everyone at work today had a case of the '...God, when can we leave???...' blues after about 9.15am which, of course, always makes the day longer as you are clock watching.

We broke up the day with a bit of You Tube, all bunched round the only computer in our part of the office that is modern enough to show streaming video. We watched the Borat trailer - what a scream. I know it has caused a stir, but it is extremely funny. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying that, and best to find the link for yourselves if that's your thing.

Then there was the monthly 'free lunch' where a nice Sainsbury's spead is laid on for all the staff in the boardroom to have some free scran and a natter. A good idea, although temptation was thrust in my direction once more and I buckled under the pressure and had a french fancy (a pink one).

The boss left at 3.30, so immediately after that we all started sloping off.

The exercise regime is getting a bit poor - it's always rain, rain, rain - so all that's left is for me to get on that exercise bike. Much prefer a brisk walk and/or a spot of strenuous gardening. All to get in shape for next year's major events: a hen night and 4 weddings.

I have found a substitute for wine - 'gold' coke, or the diet/caffiene free. I drink gallons of the stuff. There's about 12 calories in a 2 litre bottle and I can't seem to get enough. That reminds me, need a top up...

I'll find some amusing things to entertain everyone this evening.

Just heard the Hoffmeister on Steve Wright in the Afternoon. Despite his slightly cheesy image, he is very funny, extremely popular and doesn't take himself too seriously at all! Here are some interesting Hoff facts, shamelessly plagerised from the Internet:

There's large, extra large and then Hasselhoff size! Woohoo!!

Well it's a Friday night and it's very very clear that I am bored. Expect a few more random blogs from me this evening people!

Gilraen. xx

Following on from Nerina Pallot, has anyone come across Imogen Heap? An excellent new unique singer/songwriter. Here's a link to her web site and MySpace page. She's really good...

http://www.myspace.com/imogenheap

http://www.imogenheap.co.uk/

Has anyone else discovered Nerina Pallot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YSTYCU64q8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3FYousgi0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-QSoM--TV0

http://www.nerinapallot.com

All TOGs will know her new single. Her new album may be my 'half stone lost reward'. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4TDrE67mI

The book:

And the description of the book:

This encylopeadia of excrement covers 68 different types of animal dung, from antelope to zebra. The book contains stories of this taboo by-product, exploring the various ways faeces can be cooked, built with, worn and appreciated.

One for the 'have on your recipe shelf to worry your guests' list.

Had to feel a bit sad today when I heard about Richard Hammond, so I hope he gets better soon. Concerning Top Gear (and I know this true - some have spilled the beans!) he was the reason that many women endured the programme alongside their husbands/partners, etc. I think it's one of those programmes that, at whatever time of the day, some channel is showing an episode of the damn programme.

But poor old hamster. I know he is a good driver and is very experienced at driving fast cars at fast speeds, but really - don't people that go for the land speed record train for years or are at least ex-fighter pilots? I had always wondered about some of the stunts that they did on Top Gear and thought - I hope they did a risk assessment for this. One recent skit was where each of them had to make a submersivle from a car and in the end, Hammond and Clarkson were on Clarkson's 's car which promptly sank and nearly dragged them both under. Brief flurry with danger aside, it was hilarious.

So was he taking liberties with his TV personality? It's clear that Top Gear gets a few priveleges more than your average BBC programme. But that doesn't detract from the fact that this was a terrible accident which  could have been avoided if a more realistic piece of footage was filmed - getting the guy who did the land speed record to try and break it rather than a TV presenter as a skit for the show.

But that aside, I hope you will all join in when I say,

Get well soon Hamster!

Ha ha! I knew if I bided my time the washing would dry. It's been out there since Sunday and just as I was going to get it in - terrential rain. Wait until tomorrow I said, it'll dry again! But I had to wait until Thursday for a dry day. What do you mean? Just brush down the spiders when you put the clothes on (we iron only in life-and-death situations in our house). I did take a chance taking three loads  in one basket though. Two pairs of socks, a t shirt and a pair of pants became casulaties and have to be washed again.

I'm not that clumsy am I?

My husband is thousands of miles away in the Caribbean (coming in a later post) and I can hear him wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes.

And then there's the garden. Excercise this week has taken a knock because of the rain (I'd better get used to it now autumn's arrived in Scotland) but came up with a garden action plan to carry out over the winter. It involves chainsaws, skips and lots of spadework. Clearance needed. Big time. Went past the ivy on the side of the house just now getting the aforementioned washing in and about 20 starlings flew out. I think Polo the cat is getting his little monkey friend (opposable thumbs you see) to fashion a small ladder from tree bark to amount an attack on the flying meals...

...OK, going a little crazy now. I blame the diet. I can't blame it on the drink.

Saw Superman Returns last night and thought I'd jot down a quick review for you'all. I saw this because Empire gave it 5 stars and I usually like all the superhero/comic crossover films. However, boy were they wrong. I would have given it 3 stars, maybe a 4 for trying. So here goes (warning plot spoilers).

From the start, it was clear that Bryan Sunger (director) was trying to emulate the 1980s versions with Christopher Reeve with even the same music and title credits. Even Lex Luthor was bald, Kevin Spacey doing his best Gene Hackman all the way through. I remember hearing somewhere that this was supposed to be set 5 years after Superman II, although it wasn't clear in the film and those younger viewers who may not have seen the originals would be a tad confused. Rather than re-inventing Superman, it seems to have tried to do a 1980s version but updated it with better special effects and some more 21st century plotlines.

I thought that the whole Lois Lane/baby/new guy thing was a bit of a contrived wishy washy plot ... and the new guy? What was the point of him? The whole film could have done without him to be honest and the film would have been better if the supposed father of the Lois's baby was no longer around. If this was emulating the characters portrayed in the Richard Donner films, then Kidder's Lois wouldn't have put up with such a wet blanket. I understand that there had to be a rivalry (her and Supers can't really be together because of the new guy) and he also saves the day at one point by 'flying' to Lois's rescue in a plane, but honestly. However,  the worst thing about it was the kid. I won't go on, just repeat the question...why?

Brandon Routh was very good, but his Christoper Reeve impression seemed to be the mainstay of his talent and lacked some of Reeve's comic timing (Reeve sadly missed, died in 2004). Routh was also fairly low-key and reserved and - dare I say it - a little 2 dimensional - compared to our superman's of recent years (Dean Cain, Tom Welling). This may have been down to the fact that he didn't have too much to say in the movie and his interpretation of the character didn't really get a chance to shine.  And Clark Kent. Completely underused! About halfway through the film, Clark had been more or less forgotten about completely. A nice bit of Clark at the end would have been good at the very least to tie things up and remember that he is the superhero in disguise, but we were denied.

Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor was excellent. A touch of Gene Hackman and a sniff of some more evil character, maybe Spacey's character in 7. He had the second best lines (the first goes to the brilliant Parker Posey as Kitty) and showed up the weakness of the script given to the rest of the cast. Luthor's treatment of his enemies was a tad lame though. If you're going to have a hammy bad guy, then at least tie your heroine to a rope and dangle her over a pit full of crocodiles, not just lock her in the kitchen and leg it...(poor show).

But where was the inevitable confrontation with Superman? ('...You're not going to get away with this Luthor, etc etc...'. No, Lex's hoodlums just started beating him up (lthe whole fight scene on the crsytal island was well lame). And Supes in the hospital? Please...

Completely under-used characters - nearly all the supporting roles - Jimmy Olsen just sucked up to Clark in one scene and then took a few photos. Perry White was not funny or had much to do with anything. And as for the James Marsden character (Lois's new man) - I'll say it again - what was the point of him? It would have been better to keep the characters that there were on screen and use them better. I know Jimmy Olsen, etc, are part of the Superman franschise, but if they aren't doing anything and have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot then why bother? And Martha Kent? Gone in a blink of an eye.

But one thing that completely shone in this film was the 'superman saves the day' scenes. The plane crash scene was pretty spectacular, and another scene like that towards the end would have been good (rather than relying on Superman to just lift heavier and heavier objects throughout the movie rather than anything else spectacular). Oh, apart from getting shot in the eyeball. Cool.

Despite what I've said, I did enjoy it, but I think what annoyed me the most was Singer was trying to make a sequel to the Reeve films, but had completely changed the personality of the characters which made it a little confusing (what I really mean is maybe Lois). The action sequences were excellent, but maybe relies a little too much on the 'poses of Superman' (in space, getting energy from the sun, hands on hips, etc). We needed to see more of the bafoonishness of Clark Kent (possibly why the Spiderman movies worked so well because it played on the rule that all superheros are dorks when they are not playing superheros) and more of the scatty disorganised Lois. I got the impression that there are going to be quite a few deleted scenes on the DVD version when it comes out, it felt like that kind of film.

Hope I haven't put you off, it's worth seeing if you like that kind of thing but (in my opinion) the new X Men III was better.

And Brandon Routh is a babe, so an hour and a half of watching  him on the screen wasn't exactly torture.

TTFN xx.