A few drinks in the "Front Room" (along with a great home-made birthday cake for S) and then on to have a Thai meal.
M chatted about cats who had mooched in to her home, called Duncan and Pamela (Pamela!). This is as good as cats called Brenda or Babs, or a guinea pig called Abigail (or Dave).
25 February 2007
12 February 2007
Notes on a Scandal
Saw this on Sunday 11 February. Stunning.
I loved the novel and the way that it became slowly clear that the narrator was not a very likeable person, with an agenda of her own. I wanted to see how well thsi was conveyed on screen (never likely to be too much of a problem with a talent such as Judi Dench playing Barbara).
If anything, the character was even more awful than in the novel. Loneliness and bitterness had contrived to make her a needy person who manipulated Sheba's (Cate Blanchett) situation around to her own ends. Barbara had Sheba's career and home life in her hands and could let the balls drop any time she liked.
The moment in the street after Barbara's cat had died put all the dilemmas into the frame and you could see exactly what was going to happen next. Not necessarily a bad thing: it was one of those films where you know it's all going to cave in for Sheba at some point, but the questions are when, and how will Barbara do it.
barbara used the male teacher who fancied Sheba as a conduit in a rather a clever way. She let him know Sheba wouldn't be interested in him (aside from the fact that she was married), because she liked rather younger men. Rebuffed, the male teacher then simply told the school what had been happening and all hell broke loose from there.
Brilliantly written and dramatised, here the relationship between the two women took centre-stage over Sheba's affair with Connolly. Wrapped up in 90 minutes. Stunning.
I loved the novel and the way that it became slowly clear that the narrator was not a very likeable person, with an agenda of her own. I wanted to see how well thsi was conveyed on screen (never likely to be too much of a problem with a talent such as Judi Dench playing Barbara).
If anything, the character was even more awful than in the novel. Loneliness and bitterness had contrived to make her a needy person who manipulated Sheba's (Cate Blanchett) situation around to her own ends. Barbara had Sheba's career and home life in her hands and could let the balls drop any time she liked.
The moment in the street after Barbara's cat had died put all the dilemmas into the frame and you could see exactly what was going to happen next. Not necessarily a bad thing: it was one of those films where you know it's all going to cave in for Sheba at some point, but the questions are when, and how will Barbara do it.
barbara used the male teacher who fancied Sheba as a conduit in a rather a clever way. She let him know Sheba wouldn't be interested in him (aside from the fact that she was married), because she liked rather younger men. Rebuffed, the male teacher then simply told the school what had been happening and all hell broke loose from there.
Brilliantly written and dramatised, here the relationship between the two women took centre-stage over Sheba's affair with Connolly. Wrapped up in 90 minutes. Stunning.
09 February 2007
Obituaries 1: Bah!
A very fine actor. What a great pity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6346301.stm
06 February 2007
Portugal
The Tube home from work rolled into King's Cross and was roundly thumped on the sides by a sea of Portugal football fans, many of whom filled the carriages. Very loud, very high-spirited and very good fun. I got chatting to a few of them (the carriage was rammed and everyone was packed in close). All good fun and livened up the journey home.
04 February 2007
Past Influences
Did gloriously nothing today. Fabulous. Pottered on GU and looked at web hosting services. Rock and Roll...
Forgot to mention this series, Soul Britannia on BBC4. Excellent stuff, with a look at the social impact of change in Britain between the 1950s and 1960s as well as some great music.
More BBC4 tonight: East of Ipswich. I saw this years ago when I lived at home and liked Oona Kirsch in it. I remember I loved this sort of low-key drama and writing, and finding them influential on my thinking and writing.
Forgot to mention this series, Soul Britannia on BBC4. Excellent stuff, with a look at the social impact of change in Britain between the 1950s and 1960s as well as some great music.
More BBC4 tonight: East of Ipswich. I saw this years ago when I lived at home and liked Oona Kirsch in it. I remember I loved this sort of low-key drama and writing, and finding them influential on my thinking and writing.
03 February 2007
Maps at the BL
An interesting display of maps at the British Library. We agreed that in some areas they could have been better displayed, but enjoyed the exhibition and poring over the maps, discovering when certain areas appeared (WG: 1822), along with 'Devil's Road' and Devil's House from Crouch End. I'm sure I've heard tell of Crouch End being the end of the world...
Meal and natter near Oxford Circus, and then a wander into Liberty. Back along Regent Street, more coffee in Piccadilly, then we parted at Piccadilly Circus.
Meal and natter near Oxford Circus, and then a wander into Liberty. Back along Regent Street, more coffee in Piccadilly, then we parted at Piccadilly Circus.
Squashing Down Moments of Evil (Part One in a series...)
I could see a dreadful woman ambling down a corridor towards me as I entered the staff canteen (she wasn't ambling, but I know why...). I made painful conversation with her in the queue and hoped she would go elsewhere to eat.
My colleague asked if we could make our way to a table with only two spare places. I badly wanted to, but squashed down the moment of evil and said we really shouldn't do that. So we ate our meal while listening to the dull conversation.
My colleague asked if we could make our way to a table with only two spare places. I badly wanted to, but squashed down the moment of evil and said we really shouldn't do that. So we ate our meal while listening to the dull conversation.
02 February 2007
Bookings
Missed the Writing Group on Wednesday after double-booking myself.
Am seeing maps and having coffee and cake with CB tomorrow.
Am seeing maps and having coffee and cake with CB tomorrow.
Salmon Recipe
Packet of smoked salmon
1 lemon
Tub of creme fraiche
Some Olive oil
Bottle of white wine
Garlic
Packet of pasta
Brown up a bit the salmon in a pan with oil/garlic add a bit of white wine and squeeze the lemon in. Then add creme fraiche while getting pasta ready. Makes a lovely creamy but sharp and light subtle tasing dinner.
Serves 4 adults easily with rest of bottle of wine.
1 lemon
Tub of creme fraiche
Some Olive oil
Bottle of white wine
Garlic
Packet of pasta
Brown up a bit the salmon in a pan with oil/garlic add a bit of white wine and squeeze the lemon in. Then add creme fraiche while getting pasta ready. Makes a lovely creamy but sharp and light subtle tasing dinner.
Serves 4 adults easily with rest of bottle of wine.
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