2009 — 23 February: Monday
It's getting a bit late, I guess. 01:21ish and pretty cold outside. In between reconnecting most of the A/V system I enjoyed both the HG Wells radio play and the second half of The History Man — it strikes me now as a lot bleaker than it did on my first viewing, 28 years ago. I must be growing up. Anyway, tonight's picture of Christa is (I think) from 1977, and obviously at the seaside, but where? (Same place as here, I deduce. In fact, I think it must have been in Guernsey.)
Definitely time for bed...
Is the "special" relationship...
... bust, I wonder? Oh happy day — good morning. Try this chunk of Bad Science from our Defence Secretary.
"In all my years" I can't remember the PM holding a Cabinet meeting in Southampton before. Sounds like a good time to avoid the city today. I shall confine myself to Eastleigh. Sound F/X: letterbox. If any proof be needed that I have changed some of my habits since Christa's death, here's some. I've just received the new catalogue from "Bibliophile" and I haven't even opened the shrink wrap on last month's ditto. Not that I have any spare bookshelf space, but that's a different (and ongoing) issue.
Rescanned
Pah! What I'd (self-)scanned was spot-on. Still, at least they packed stuff back into my bag more neatly. Barometer is still high. Sky is still dry, though there are plenty of clouds around. It's pleasantly quiet, and time for a bite to eat. 12:32 already...
You hafta laff:
Staff at the British Board of Film Classification are not easily shocked, but they are in revolt over a management plan that would require them to watch hardcore pornographic films alone in a bid to save money... Some are concerned that viewing pornographic content alone will increase the chances of being sexually aroused by the material.
It's getting harder to make an honest living. In vaguely related news, that same worthy (or do I mean "worthless"?) institution (I just love the idea of fellow citizens deciding what I can and cannot watch) has issued an "18" certificate to the film version of one of the very best of modern graphic novels. I'm amused, slightly, to note from several error messages that the BBFC runs its site on Notes databases.
High-tailing it for high tea
Having first confirmed that the new toy won't be en route today, I conveyed self and main co-pilot out for another cuppa tea and to admire the large trout. I don't know why, but whenever I visit Stockbridge the high street always seems to be freezing cold. Returned without incident at 17:00 or so (not counting the long queue at the badly-phased temporary lights in the Bournemouth road) and am now thinking how best to amuse myself this evening. Starting with a nice bit of Bach on BBC Radio 3's upmarket equivalent of "Drive time".
I'm never quite sure, with the New York Times, when they're just being silly.
... not everyone in the Austen world relishes the idea of Elizabeth Bennet, action hero. Myretta Robens, site manager and co-founder of the Austen fan site Republic of Pemberley (and herself the author of two Regency romance novels), said she was cautiously pessimistic about the forthcoming zombie invasion...
Do I dare to eat a peach?
Actually, I didn't much like the look of the ones I saw in Waitrose today, and I've now learned the hard way that when I buy a punnet of such fruit it invariably passes its peak before I've munched my way through it. Supermarkets are not really aimed at single chaps of frugal culinary inclination, it seems. Still, this evening's meal (a couple of poached eggs on toast, each on a slice of ham) was easy to prepare — I've also learned that frozen sliced bread can actually be popped directly into the toaster if you give it about 25% more time. And you can also heat a plate by popping it in the microwave with a thin layer of water on it. Beat that, Mrs Beaton!
I wonder if I dare to watch the Danny Boyle horror zombie film on Channel 4 tonight. Probably not. Even though Junior told me it was good, while admitting that "you probably wouldn't like it". And I've seen (and, indeed, recommended here) the competing comedy film on BBC 1. Still, no problemo, as the Terminator was taught to say. I have no shortage of other options to engage one or more of my remaining brain cells.