Visited some old friends yesterday, who live in Rawtenstall Lancashire. Took the boys with us to play with their children, and to have a sleepover.
It was a scorcher of a day. We had a great time chatting, drinking and eating whilst the kids splashed in the paddling pool, and explored the huge hillside garden at the back of the house.
After a cracking barbecue'd feast the cool evening was warmed by a roaring log fire in a chiminea. This provided a focal point for the wine-drinkers to keep going until after 11, when it was time to let the fire burn out and move into the house.
The boys didn't get to sleep until after 10pm. I was woken by Samwise at 4am, who had woken up with a nosebleed. I sorted this out for him and put him back to bed. Then up again around 8:30 am to give two over-excited and hungry boys breakfast.
Frodo discovered the attic room at the top of the house, and was enjoying the view from up there. Samwise enjoyed playing with the other children, and loved the Guinea Pigs.
We headed home in the early afternoon - taking two teary-eyed boys with us who'd had far too good a time - they always love staying somewhere else, and never seem to want to go home!
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Saturday, 23 May 2009
"The Company" Logo
I'm made up with this T-shirt that Novelist Supermum bought me for my Birthday, amongst some other clothes by Fat Face, and the latest book in the Mortal Engines series.
The T-shirt is made by Last Exit to Nowhere who have a great range of similarly themed products.
The T-shirt is made by Last Exit to Nowhere who have a great range of similarly themed products.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Stealth Destroyer - HMS Daring
This strange looking ship arrived in Liverpool today.
Of course we didn't see it as it sailed past the office windows :)
It's designed to only give a radar profile of a small fishing vessel.
My own personal theory is that this is all bluff, and it isn't like Eliot Carver's stealth ship from the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. The trapezoid panels are just hiding a normal ship's superstructure. You tell your enemy that you've got a few of these craft, and he wastes ordnance taking out the local fishing fleet.
Of course we didn't see it as it sailed past the office windows :)
It's designed to only give a radar profile of a small fishing vessel.
My own personal theory is that this is all bluff, and it isn't like Eliot Carver's stealth ship from the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. The trapezoid panels are just hiding a normal ship's superstructure. You tell your enemy that you've got a few of these craft, and he wastes ordnance taking out the local fishing fleet.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Eurovision 2009
Almost missed this annual masochistic form of entertainment, as I was at work until about 8pm.
Different voting rules, but the same result - a show of solidarity for old political alliances.
Graham Norton appeared to have been ordered not to be bitchy about the acts (come back Wogan!), so he ripped it out of the voting countries representatives instead.
e.g.
"You'd think he would have had a shave".
"Good god!".
"Looks like he's skipped lunch to join us".
"Plaid can be so concealing".
I also caught a bit on Radio 2 on the way back from work. They had a Wogan sound-a-like on, who wasn't doing a bad job.
His best line, after Russia had performed, was "Now I know why Anna Karenina threw herself under the train..."
Of course the fashion is now to use twitter to follow a celebrity who's watching the event. Apparently Wossy was commenting.
The weirdest part (if you don't count the Azerbaijanian entry) was the interval act, which involved people splashing around in shallow, perspex swimming pools flown from the lighting rig. How Bizarre, How Bizarre!
Different voting rules, but the same result - a show of solidarity for old political alliances.
Graham Norton appeared to have been ordered not to be bitchy about the acts (come back Wogan!), so he ripped it out of the voting countries representatives instead.
e.g.
"You'd think he would have had a shave".
"Good god!".
"Looks like he's skipped lunch to join us".
"Plaid can be so concealing".
I also caught a bit on Radio 2 on the way back from work. They had a Wogan sound-a-like on, who wasn't doing a bad job.
His best line, after Russia had performed, was "Now I know why Anna Karenina threw herself under the train..."
Of course the fashion is now to use twitter to follow a celebrity who's watching the event. Apparently Wossy was commenting.
The weirdest part (if you don't count the Azerbaijanian entry) was the interval act, which involved people splashing around in shallow, perspex swimming pools flown from the lighting rig. How Bizarre, How Bizarre!
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Star Trek
Just got back from seeing the new Star Trek film.
I won't put any spoilers here, for anyone that hasn't seen it yet, but what I will say is that I was expecting to be disappointed, and found it thoroughly enjoyable.
The writers and cast do a great job of breathing new life into old characters, whilst at the same time keeping them familiar. There's a fair amount of homage to the original series, which is fun to spot, but not enough to make the film just for Trekkies.
The special effects and sound effects are excellent - definitely one to see at the cinema.
My only quibble was that a couple of scenes are reminiscent of Galaxy Quest, but not enough to turn the film into a self parody.
Verdict: Thoroughly enjoyable, whether or not you're a Trekkie.
I see that impworks, who was with us, has also blogged a review
I won't put any spoilers here, for anyone that hasn't seen it yet, but what I will say is that I was expecting to be disappointed, and found it thoroughly enjoyable.
The writers and cast do a great job of breathing new life into old characters, whilst at the same time keeping them familiar. There's a fair amount of homage to the original series, which is fun to spot, but not enough to make the film just for Trekkies.
The special effects and sound effects are excellent - definitely one to see at the cinema.
My only quibble was that a couple of scenes are reminiscent of Galaxy Quest, but not enough to turn the film into a self parody.
Verdict: Thoroughly enjoyable, whether or not you're a Trekkie.
I see that impworks, who was with us, has also blogged a review
Monday, 4 May 2009
Dark Satanic Mill
I've been at work for most of this Bank Holiday weekend.
Sunday was a change of scenery, although I was still working.
I spent the day in this ex-cotton mill (now a business centre) in Darwen.
The chimney tower of India Mill is a fantastic piece of Victorian built Italian inspired architecture, and is a landmark for the town - you can see it from the M65. I didn't really need my Sat-Nav to find the place, I just had to look for the big chimney.
Sunday was a change of scenery, although I was still working.
I spent the day in this ex-cotton mill (now a business centre) in Darwen.
The chimney tower of India Mill is a fantastic piece of Victorian built Italian inspired architecture, and is a landmark for the town - you can see it from the M65. I didn't really need my Sat-Nav to find the place, I just had to look for the big chimney.
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