Top Ten Films

In the tradition of Sight and Sound's top ten films of all-time lists, I have decided to come up with one of my own. So, in no particular order, my top ten films of all time:

Blow Up (Michelangelo Antonioni)
Heat (Michael Mann)
Angel Heart (Alan Parker)
Dancer in the Dark (Lars Von Trier)
Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock)
This is England (Shane Meadows)
Le Cercle Rouge (Jean-Pierre Melville)
Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola)
Once Upon A Time in the West (Sergio Leone)
The Dreamers (Bernardo Bertolucci)

Down with Hollywood!

Long live British Social Realism!

The Genius of Photography (and ways it puts holes in your pockets)

Ok, so I'm sat in the library on campus contemplating whether or not the wide-angle lens I've just bought from eBay was actually necessary. Well, no it wasn't and yes it was. No because I can't really afford it and don't really need it, and yes because it wasn't that expensive and I do really need it. I blame television.

.

Last night I watched one of the programs in a series called The Genius of Photography. It's one of them historically-informative documentaries, this one charting the beginnings of said technology and it's subsequent developments over the last 150 years or so. This particular chapter talked about the period between the 1950's and 1970's, including street photography and the use of colour photographs as 'art' as opposed to commercial uses.

Seeing the photographs of Stephen Shore and Toby Ray Jones for example, inspired me to get up out of my seat right there and then and go out and snap people. Well, it was like night and stuff so I didn't. But seeing that programme last night and seeing these photos made me want to run out in the street and shoot....

Actually, I haven't at all thought this blog entry through and I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Basically I'm planning on taking my camera everywhere from now on and I needed a wide-angle lens to evolve my photos more to include 'the bigger picture', and not a condensed image that a 50mm lens offers. 28mm is the 50mm in my camp. Street photography would be so much simpler.

This Short Film is called It's About Bloody Time!

I've been too slack with this blog lately. It's not so much that I don't have the Internet (although that's a factor), it's more to do with the fact I have nothing to write about. Pretty much nothing has gone on in my life since the last post, apart from starting back at Uni and Suzy moving in with me. I did go to Amsterdam a few weeks back though, for the day.

Every so often I get the urge and motivation to do a project of some sort. Whether it be a bit of photography or an idea for a script. This time it's a short film. It's something I've been playing with for about four years, and it was probably four years ago I last thought of making one.

The inspiration behind this urge of creativity is Lars Von Trier. Recently I have rewatched Dancer in the Dark, as well as watching Epidemic, and Images of a Relief, and it's inspired me to want to pick up my DV camera and shoot something.

My idea is to mix documentary-style reality with filmic, story-driven characters - in the way that Von Trier did in Epidemic, which tells the story of two screenwriters writing a movie about a plague (shot in a Dogme, documentary-style), intercut with scenes from the movie they are writing, which is shot in dreamy, filmic style by Henning Bendtsen with overdubbed sound. I would be shooting with a DV camera but using a proper microphone to capture sound and dubbed it over in editing, so it gives it an unusal quality. I would probably use red lighting too.

Whether I will or not remains to be seen. I lose motivation quite quickly when I think to myself I won't be able to make the film I have in my head quite the way it should be made. I'm either a perfectionist, or just plain lazy. Hopefully it's the first reason.

Movies That Could Have Been, Part One

Blood Diamond

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan star in this true-story of Africa’s bloody diamond trade. Danny Archer (Chan) goes on the hunt to retrieve a particularly huge diamond with Solomon Vandy (Tucker), after the latter buried it whilst working as a slave for the rebel army, RUF, following his son’s kidnapping by said revolutionaries. Steve Carrel’s military colonel, meanwhile, is also after the diamond to bring into the hands of the government.

Cue hilarious, but clichéd buddy-flick consequences. In one sequence, whilst Vandy is seducing the rebel leader’s chick in a mud hut, Archer is busy dealing with over one hundred bad guys outside with his handy set of nunchucks – with some clever editing, each of the girl’s moans are matched with Chan’s vicious blows.


The Terminator

With first-choice Paul Reubens (AKA Pee-Wee Herman), out of the picture due to anal-bleeding, James Cameron reluctantly decided to cast aging Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier in the role of the cyborg killing-machine in this blaxploitation-come-MTV-style-video. Poitier is sent back in time to assassinate the mother of John Connor, the leader of a future war between humans and tin cans. Sarah Connor (Grace Jones) is forced to abandon her everyday life as a call-girl, and go on the run with Prince-wannabee, Kyle ‘The Cool Cat’ Reese, ironically played by Prince. Although even before you could say ‘Gimmemymoneybackyousonofabitchbeforeislugyouinthechops’, there was tension on-set. Reports that Poitier accused Grace of being a ‘n****r lover’ caused her to walk off the movie for a fortnight, thus halting production. It was then said that Prince wouldn’t come out of his dressing-room until every cast member wore at least one of his custom-designed winklepickers during shooting.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Forget Jim Carrey and Monica Cox-Arquette-Cox-Arquette, think Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks plays the role of the pet-dick like he would later play one of his most memorable characters, Forrest Gump – like a lovable buffoon. Down-on-his-luck and fired from his job as a golf caddy, Ace Ventura sets up a pet detective agency, finding lost or stolen pets (or your money back). That is, until Meg Ryan’s Melissa Robinson shows up, and the sad-sack falls in love whilst on his hottest case yet. It’s all pretty shit until the final reel, when Ace rides bareback, literally, on a horse all the way to New York City to halt Melissa’s wedding to a landscape gardener. He doesn’t actually retrieve many lost or stolen pets in the entire movie, and when he does he eats them with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Still Life in Mobile Phones

No mobile phone, no home phone, no Internet, no television - I may as well be sitting cross-legged and blindfolded in the middle of the Sahara desert, constantly shouting ‘nar nar nar’ with my fingers in my ears. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve shelled out another £45 in train fare to Hull, which is twice in a week (not that boredom is the only reason).

My phone should have come back to me in Lancaster this morning, which it hasn’t, so as I’m on my way to the other side of the Pennines, my phone should be arriving back in Lancashire tomorrow. That is, unless it’s gone forever, lost in the mail system until the end of time, or until the Royal Mail employee who nicked it realises it isn’t worth two-bob and chucks it in the dog bowl to be chewed on by Fido. So, no phone for at least another three days.

I’ve found it almost completely devastating in not having this small, communicable device in the last two days alone. It’s not that I use it that much anyway unless I’m receiving calls, but it’s the security that comes with it. It is also the fact that it’s a way of telling the world you are available, whether it be for drinks at your local, or a sympathetic ear for your dumped best-mate.

I can remember a time, four or five years ago in college to be exact, that I was the only Neanderthal not to have a mobile phone. In a year meeting one day, a tutor asked those who do not yet own a mobile phone to put their hand up – no one did. Not even me. I wasn’t going to put my hand up and admit it, like being the kid in school whose complete uniform had been handed down from his older brother (mine was new by the way). Those were happy days. Days when you didn’t necessarily need a mobile to function in everyday society. Having a mobile in this new millennium is as essential as say, eating or breathing. And that's just wrong.

Remake That Genuinely Would Be Amazing, Part One

North by Northwest

Instead of choking on your sausage roll at the thought of remaking such a classic film, put it down and imagine this: a fast-paced, edgy thriller from a competent action director (Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93)) and two huge, young actors (Di Caprio and Rachel McAdams). Not to mention Brian Cox in the James Mason role. The script could be written by the guys who wrote Casino Royale (Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade).

The Return on the Ghostfaced Killa

So I left my phone in the city of Hull. It's funny how lost you feel without it, even though I barely use it.

I Hate Public Transport

Yesterday on the train to Yorkshire, I sat opposite a man who looked exactly, and i mean exactly, like Jim Bowen. The only slight difference was that this imposter had a slight tan and a fatter nose. He even had the glasses. He constantly had a sad expression on his face like he'd just found out he's on the shortlist for Auschwitz Mk II, so I was more-than-tempted to sit on his knee and stroke away on his bald head, telling him, 'Everything's going to be ok, Jim. You'll be back on telly one day.'

Which brings me onto something that really gets on my tits. The people that sit on the outside seat on public transport, leaving the window-seat empty. Who do these people think they are? What gives them the right to park their fat, ignorant arses there, whilst other people have to stand up at the front? It's not something that's directly affected me before, but just to watch these morons is annoying enough. It's almost as bad as when they take up a seat with their bag or laptop case. I sometimes feel like snatching their bag and hitting them round the face with it, before pulling them out their seat and kicking them in the throat.

This Entry Doesn't Have A Title Because I Couldn't Think of One

I'd like to tell you I've been doing something alluring or productive in the time I've been away, such as going on holiday or happy-slapping Topshop employees with an ironic fist. Sadly for me, the truth isn't that compelling. The only new info I have for you is that I didn't get the job in Sainsburys, but I do have a job in Jessops...for four weeks until it closes.

The folk who work in Jessops are a lot more interesting than the job itself. We have a graduate in a walrus costume, whose life seems to have been sucked out of her through the gaps between her brown teeth, a Baldrick-wanabee who seems to have borrowed Patrick Stewart's head, and an old tea-maker who is probably the nicest and most pleasant man ever to come out of a womb. He would probably even offer to clean the blood from your shoes after you kicked his face in.

I think my laptop has finally passed on to the great big skip in the sky. Last night, it went black after a sudden heart-attack. It had to happen soon.

Movies I'd Like to See Part One

National Lampoon's American Migration

Directed by Eddie Murphy

Will Ferrell stars as Ali Mohammed Dahir, a rich African prince who comes to America to study at Harvard Law School. An nervous outcast on arrival, Ali eventually proves his worth to the college fraternity during a party drinking game, in which blind-drunk on Bud, pisses into the mouth of an unsuspecting blond extra from up on the balcony. The 'Fresh Prince' as he is now known ends up getting booted out of the prestigious school after he gets caught ragging the Dean's wife (played by Rob Schneider in drag) on the football field during a game, Crank-style al fresco. It all ends well though when he cleans up his act and his father comes over on his customed banana-boat to bribe the school board into reinstating him.


Younger Women

Directed by Woody Allen

This new Woody Allen joint tells the story of Marv Tesslerjew, an ageing, once-respected fashion photographer, who becomes down on his luck when his thai bride leaves him for his son. Marv soon gets his mojo back (and his reputation) when he decides to compose another book. The book, Younger Women, has him taking photos of the fannies of all the women under the age of twenty-five in Upstate New York, before he falls in love with fresh-faced slag Rita Swineback, played by Dakota Fanning.


The Jew Eater
Directed by Martin Riggs

Apocolyptic tale of one man's fight to rid the world of all evils. Mel Gibson stars as Ben Fist, an ex-cop with a hunger for violence after his family-business is taken over by Jewish investors. Ben kits out his ex-patrol car as a weapon against this deadly terror and takes to the streets in a sphere of violent rage. Blood is spilt and lives are destroyed in what critics say is a 'cross between Abel Ferrera's TV-movie, The Gladiator, and The Punisher'. One critic even goes as far as to describe it as 'the sickest film I have ever seen. Makes Takashi Miike look like Chris Columbus. During the final sequence, in which Mel savagely massacres an entire Jewish orphanage, it actually looks as if Mel isn't acting. It looks as though he is actually enjoying it.' For mentally stable patrons only. Jews may be offended.

De-Flowering Amy

Directed by Nancy Meyers

Daft Rom-Com in which Reese Witherspoon plays a stern stockbroker who must lose her virginity before she turns thirty. Her best friend sets the task in which she must ride a massive cock before the end credits roll. No plausible explanation is given as to why she hasn't already done it, the best being a quip from her mother, 'I guess you just haven't find the right man yet. Well, I'm not surprised with that sour face' Yeah, right. Even with a face like she's trapped a tit in the door, Miss Witherspoon should have had no trouble doing the nasty. That is, of course, if she either, a) had a fanny like a dog-meat kebab, or b) she would constantly excrete liquid-poo everytime she dropped her kecks in sexual anticipation. Daniel 'Harry Potter' Radcliffe plays the schmuck life-friend trying to get her into the sack, whilst Rupert Everett plays the eventual sack-emptier. Bland.

Is That One Drop of Blood or Two, Darling?

Horror films have always been a big part of my movie-watching life since my early teens. I remember the first horror film I ever saw was IT, based on the Stephen King book of the same name. I remember watching it with my friend, Ian, when it first aired in two-parts on Sky One around 1990/1991, and I must have been about seven years old. It scared the shit out of us for a long time. I think from then on I had a penchant for visual scares that's lasted up to this day.

In my early teens I discovered Halloween, then the Friday the 13th series, as well as movies like Scream, Nightmare on Elm St., and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I couldn't really tell you what it was I liked about them, and I probably still couldn't now, but there is something appealing to me about the way these films gnaw into the fears of their audience. I can tell you it isn't the gore that captivates me. I could name a heap of films that offer gratutious, graphic violence that turn me off. I think the best I can offer as to why they interest me is the fact that they are so formulaic. You go into a horror film knowing damn-well what you're expecting, and you go out feeling satisfied, to an extent. Even those that are just shockingly terrible movies (The Ring Two, and the remake of The Omen) are intriguging because they give us, the audience, what we're after - no matter how awful it may be.

The two things that horror movies lack these days, particularly Hollywood horror, is originality and scares. Films like Halloween were successful because they provided their audience with something fresh, or at least a new perspective on an existing formula. I don't think there has been such a refreshing take on an old, stale genre since Scream in 1996. Maybe that's a foolish statement to make, but can you even tell me of an American horror film that's influenced the genre so much in recent memory? The post-Scream, post-modern slasher died long ago, around the time Valentine hit the cinemas, and it now needs something new. Maybe these gross-out, back-to-the-basics gore-fests like Hostel could be horrors saviour for the time-being, but that said, most of the better ones seem to be foreign (Wolf Creek, Switchblade Romance).

But for now, I think Hollywood will continue to be happy in churning out bland, MTV-style remakes and making a small earning from those films such as House of Wax, The Amityville Horror, The Hills Have Eyes (admittedly not so bad), and The Hitcher. Even the remake of Halloween will be out soon. What's next? Alien? Jaws? Rosemary's Baby? The Thing is already in the pipeline, as is The Evil Dead, so it wouldn't surprise me if Michael Bay decides to wipe his arse on something like The Birds next. Oh, wait...



Other Horror Must-Sees



Profondo Rosso and Suspiria (dir. Dario Argento, 1975 and 1977)
The Tenant (dir. Roman Polanski, 1976)
Zombie Flesh Eaters (dir. Lucio Fulci, 1979)
The Shining (dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
The Return of the Living Dead (dir. Dan O'Bannon, 1985)

Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured

Managed to bag an interview at Sainsbury's next Friday. The job title is 'Night-Shift Replenishment', which is basically stocking shelves when the store is closed. I've always liked the idea of working in a supermarket at night because there's no hassle and it's a bit more money. It's only two nights a week - Thursday and Friday - so it won't really affect my study-time too much. Study time, ha!

I'm currently writing this from my own bedroom. I've managed to connect to some unsuspecting fools wireless connection, as they've not put a password on it. The connection is quite slow but it does the nesscessitities for now, although downloads are off-limits.

I've bought a red light bulb for my bedside lamp. Don't think Suzy is too pleased about it, saying it looks like a brothel, but that's the effect I was after. I think it gives my room atmosphere and a certain coolness. It's like I'm living in a photography darkroom. I love it. All I need now is a bit of Marvin Gaye and the mood is perfect.

This House is a Circus

So, this is my new house for the next year. It's the blue door on the left, and the first two windows to the left of it is the living room. The only bad thing about being that close to the ground is you can't really leave your window open when you're out. The two flats above us got it made on that deal. Still, we're the only ones with a back door that leads directly into the garden, and my window opens up so I could climb in and out if I ever feel like it.

This is the view from my front door, looking up the street, at the castle:

Me and Suzy went in Au Naturale yesterday and came back with a head massager. It's like an orgasm in your brain. Probably. I literally could have spent about £100 in there. There's lots of stuff I could have done with for the house; cushions, throwovers, rugs, plates, artwork. Nice place for when I buy a proper house when I'm all growned up.

I don't have an Internet connection either yet so I won't be posting as much on here over the next few weeks unless I have time at Suzy's. Anyone have any reccomendations regarding ISP's? I want one that's fast and has unlimited downloads. Do they all do wireless these days or is that something you have to request? Ian should know, he's just got one himself. So leave a comment.

Currently listening to the Stooges, Beat Happening, Neils Children, The Coral, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

Recently watched Léon, Perfume: the Story of a Murderer, and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.

Blisters of Mercy

Sorry for the lack of updates (As if anyone actually cares), I've been too busy either working or moving stuff into my house. A picture of the fabled house will be posted soon, probably in the next couple of days when I charge up my camera.

Work is going ok. Only worked two and a half days this week though. Injured my neck yesterday moving some massive fridges so couldn't really carry on lifting heavy stuff. Neck is still hurting and finding it hard to move my head quickly, I look like Dracula when I turn my head to talk. PLUS I have a blister on both feet which makes me hobble along the street like I didn't make it to the toilet in time.

This is Kraftwerk in their early, krautrock days, after they changed their name from Organisation. Good stuff, completely different from their usual stuff.

Moaning Lisa's Smile

No pictures today unfortunately. My camera is running out of battery and I haven't stayed in my own room since last Friday - which is where my battery charger is.

Today we walked along the canal again and this time got to feed the ducks! I was like a kid all over again. The smile on my face when the ducks came over for the bread was worth a photo alone. Two massive swans kept following us wanting more food, which took the limelight off the little ones in the water. Then later on we fed a mother duck and her eight babies, although the mother kept stealing all the bread for herself. Tomorrow I shall report on the new Barney video, and post pictures from my 23rd bouncey castle birthday.

Found out that the landlord/owner of Cable Street was looking for some 'strapping young lads' for some manual work. I immediately knew I was right for the job. So I'm starting at 9am on Monday morning. Not sure how long it will last, or even if it's going to be five days a week, but it's some money towards my debts. Apparantly it's basically breaking things down and chucking them in a skip or something. Getting paid to smash things up? Brilliant!

New DVD's bought by Suzy today: What Lies Beneath, Mona Lisa Smile, El Mariachi/Desperado, and Once Upon A Time in Mexico. I wasn't happy about the second choice.

The Ant Hill Mob

Yesterday we walked along the canal. Went quite far actually. On the way back we decided to sit on the edge of the water on some lush-looking grass. Everything seemed nice; the sun was beaming down its lightwaves, the ducks were happily floating by, and it wasn't until about thirty seconds later I looked down and saw my jeans and trainers were covered in ants. About a hundred of them running up and down my legs and over my Converse. Well, it was pretty lucky no one was walking past at that point because I made like Colin Jackson and jumped. I must have looked like a coma victim stood up and zapped with a cattle-rod (to quote Mark off Peep Show). My legs were flailing like Jacko in his heyday. Took Suzy another ten seconds to realise what was going on. Sitting on an ant hill is not a good idea and shouldn't be attempted by anyone without prior precaution.

Morecambe and Wise

So, a brief catch-up on the last few days:

After the boring night in on Friday night, Suzy came round on Saturday afternoon and we walked down to Galgate, via the scenic route. A detour through a cemetery and a quick mess about by a stream was good. Some very interesting cottages and old mills along the way too. The evening was spent drinking Bulmers and vodka (not together) and having my first Guitar Hero experience; I'm hooked. Sunday was completely uneventful except for a stroll to 'the meadow'. Yesterday we got the bus to Morecambe for a couple of hours. Had a go on those 2p machines; didn't win.

Still looking for a job, which is annoying because I have to pay my first months rent on the house early next week and I don't have the money for it. No idea what I'm going to do. I don't fancy telling the landlord I'm skint. Bad impressions.

If you haven't noticed, I have decided to use larger images for the blog now.

Staring at the Sea

A (nice) day in Morecambe today. I can't be bothered going into detail right now, I'm going out tonight and there's valuable drinking time being consumed already. Today we ate a traditional fish and chips at a traditional fish and chips joint, which was run by an Asian family and waited by a mute, black boy in a football shirt and trackies. Classy.

The Long and Winding Road

Been a good weekend. I'll expand on this later. I'm going to Morcambe today.

Hunting for Witches

For those of you who are interested this website offers streaming of a lot of top movies. I think some of them are from public domain as their copyright has expired, though a lot of them are quite recent like The Shining. From what I've checked they all seem to work. It includes such gems as Un Chien Andalou, Fahrenheit 451, Rashomon, Freaks, and It's A Wonderful Life. It even has the Mario Bava giallo classic, Black Sunday. Go buff up on your films now!

Moving into my wonderful Georgian house sometime next week (I think). It's a ground floor flat in the massive three-storey house, which was built around the mid-to-late 1700's, and is literally next to the castle. I'll be living there about three weeks on my own until my housemate, Jess, moves in.

Friday Night Lights

It's Friday night and I'm in my room, alone. This could probably only happen off term time. Usually by now I would be either a) getting ready to go out, or b) getting ready to go out whilst drinking. Hopefully the latter. But as I'm in and bored, a long post may have to do.

Me and Suzy (or Suzy and I if you prefer the proper English) are doing the Die Hard trilogy on DVD. We're going to watch the third, and second best film of the three in my opinion, tomorrow night. Hopefully after this I can convince her to watch the Beverley Hills Cop trilogy. Apparantly she doesn't like Eddie Murphy. I would agree if you didn't take into account a lot of his 80's movies, BHC, 48Hrs, Trading Places, etc. Maybe we could do other great trilogies/films and their sequels over the next few weeks? They could include the Alien quadrilogy, the Indiana Jones trilogy, the Dollars trilogy, the Halloween series, Star Wars and its sequels/prequels, and maybe the Rocky series?

I'm currently re-drafting my creative writing portfolio, which includes the beginning of a Coen Brothers-style thriller script entitled, 'The Girl from the North Country' (yes, after the Bob Dylan song), a TV comedy script, some poems, and a short story. I also included the beginning of a Michael Mann-inspired crime script which I named 'Held Up', which is retrospect is a shit title. Maybe I will use the beginning of this in another idea I have for a feature-length script about a photographer, obsession, love, and double-identities. 'An Affair Through A Lens' is inspired by films; The Passenger (dir. Michelangelo Antonioni, 1975), Vertigo (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1958), and The Element of Crime (dir. Lars Von Trier, 1984).

By the way, the posted photograph was taken a couple of weeks ago, I haven't got my camera on me at the moment.

Shoplifters of the World Unite!

The Mirror Cracked

Currently listening to The Chinese Stars, Arab on Radar, Silicon Vultures, Beat Happening, Cold Cave, and Ye Olde Maids.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

I am currently re-reading The Railway Man by Eric Lomax. I had previously read most of it in college, but I'm discovering it on my own accord this time. It's the story of his time serving in World War Two and his capture and life as a POW (including beatings and torture). It's a good book. Quite unsettling in some parts though. Sample text describing him being beaten with wooden bats by the Japanese:

I remember the actual blow that broke my wrist. It fell right across it, with a terrible pain of delicate bones being crushed. Yet the worst pain came from the pounding on my pelvic bones and the base of my spine. I think they tried to smash my hips.

The Christening today was enjoyable. It was at/next to The Priory church of something. Apparantly what stands of it is a thousand years old. Whatever the truth, it was impressive. Although I don't think I'm interested much in getting my own children christened now. The chants by the audience of 'With God's help, I will' ran a shiver down my spine. I'm not sure whether many of the people in attendance were actually religious and believed all that, but it reminded me of some kind of sacrificial cult. The BBC Panorama episode on Scientology came into my head during various points in the cememony.

Van Wilder 3: The Revenge of Sherminator

Here's me with Rasputin. Photo by LBP (I think).

Didn't take that many photos at the Frat Party. Too Drunk. In fact, the past two nights I haven't remembered falling to sleep. I need to keep my big gob shut when I'm drunk too.

Had a nice dinner at the Burrough with Suzy and her dad. None of us actually finished though. Too much food. Nice though.

Going to Liverpool tonight to Suzy's nanna's. It's her cousins christening tomorrow so that should be alright. Would have been better if we didn't have to come back to Lancaster in the evening. I have an interview with an agency Monday morning to find me a job for Summer. I have to find £500 before August 6th. Looks like I'll have to invest in some lube out coz my arse will have to make me some money, and fast. Any takers? Ha ha.

Holidays in the Sun

This is what our British summer sky has been like. Usually minus the blue bit.

Politics and Parties in Albion

A bit of political banter today...

I'm becoming more disillusioned by the fact that England/Britain is losing its cultural identity. What does it mean to be British anymore? Who knows... Maybe I'm a nostalgic at heart? When I think of Britain I would like to think of flat caps, fish and chips, class divides, and a good sense of nationalism, rather than its pathetic security measures regarding immigration, its growing Americanisation, and the pitiful prison terms it gives its criminals. I'm all for bringing back the cane at school. Think about it, if kids these days were given ten whacks on the arse when they do something wrong they wouldn't dare do it again. No wonder they're all cheeky bastards today, they get away with things far too easily. I think I'll send my children to a scrict private school if I can afford it when the time comes. And don't get me started on political correctness...

It's quarter to five in the morning and I'm still awake. I've always been more of a night person and I prefer to be awake when it's dark outside, but I've never been too keen on being awake as it becomes light. I've set my alarm to go off at 11am because I need to go into town to look for a job over Summer and then I'm off to Suzy's for a smooch and some melted cheese crumpets. Mmmmm.

House party tonight at Cable Street. The theme, 'Frat Parties'. Basically it's anything American. I'm going as a trucker, complete with check shirt, trucker cap, aviators, and handlebar moustache. I think the missus is going as florida white-trash. Should be fun. I'll post the photos tomorrow.


My current inspirations:

Interpol, Cut City, night time, David Hemmings in Blow Up, a certain beautiful girl, the Blade Runner soundtrack, guitar effects pedals, white light, shadows, the Union Jack, the Devil, mods, the lyrics of Alex Turner, fame, recognition, fog, Victorian serial killers, Alain Delon in Plein Soleil.

Baguette Face

The First Cut is the Deepest

This is a blog I've set up as a time consumer and whoring of my life. I'll post my photos/thoughts/recommendations/lyrics/sex-tips on occasion. I'll try and update it at least once a week and/or update it daily with a photograph. So bookmark it and you can comment on posts if you like.


This weeks albums:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Interpol - Our Love to Admire
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Kraftwerk - '2'
Sisters of Mercy - First, Last, and Always
PiL - Metal Box
Chet Baker - Sings


This weeks films:

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
Quadrophenia
Annie Hall


I'm thinking of having a 'mods vs. rockers' themed housewarming party in October. Feedback?

xo