• 
• 

2009 — 8 April: Wednesday

After midnight at, as it were, the oasis. Must be time for another picture of Christa...

I'm almost sure this was in Guernsey, which would therefore make it either August 1987 or July 1991. From the look of Peter, I'd have to opt for 1991.

G'night, at 00:16 or thereabouts.

Recession-busters?

If you believe "U.S. News & World Report":

1. Home gardening
2. Hollywood
3. Harlequin "bodice ripper" novels
4. Condoms
5. Résumé editing

One of my favourites (chocolate) only makes an appearance at Number #7. Time (09:16) for a cuppa on this lovely sunny morning.

It's 10:24 and I've just finished breakfast, sitting in what was Christa's favourite chair (my 1971 Parker) and looking out at the garden (one of her favourite views). Listening, too, (through the wide-open patio door) to a woodpecker — does Mrs Woodpecker ever say "Not tonight, dear, I've got a splitting headache" I wonder. Regardless of the shower risk I shall pop down into town. It's too nice not to. Being mobile is a major blessing and a major component in the "Keep David sane" arsenal. Counts as "fun" too, doesn't it, Christa?

Say what?

Three calls on the Ansaphone while I was out. #1 and #3 both hung up immediately. #2 garbled something about the 23rd but, of course, the callback lost the ID. So, if it was you, and you think I got your message, please try again!

Moderately different town trip. For starters, I got diverted by a "Road closed" and ended up via Archers Road having to take the route Christa and I always used to take. Thus I found myself amidst plentiful lunchtime city centre traffic — always interesting. Then, given the sad demise of the "Fopp" chain, the more recent ditto of "Virgin", not to mention the earlier ditto of the DVD store in West Quay, the ditto of "Forbidden Planet", the ditto of "Athena", and in any case being deterred by the outrageously high prices for some DVDs in "HMV", I decided to give the DVD shelves of "Borders" a thorough scouring, and am very glad I did.

90 minutes later, I emerged with some bargains. Yet further tiny insights (of sorts) into my purchasing decisions:

• In Bruges
  It's taken less than a year to end up in the IMDB Top 250 and I've been looking out for it
• Last exit to Brooklyn
  Doubtless dark, like the source novel, but ...
• The Killing of a Chinese bookie
  Both variants (1976 and 1978 re-release) on two DVDs for less than £4!
• Garage
  Gas stations in rural Ireland? What's not to like?!
• All the real girls
  It did well at Sundance in 2003
• Milwaukee Minnesota
  Interesting cast and premise
• Flags of our Fathers / Letters from Iwo Jima
  My friends Mike and Carol have both praised this pair very highly. Of course, Christa and I had to be careful about "war" films. We were, and I am still, pacifist. But out of the worst conflicts sometimes come the best elements of humanity. It's a harsh paradox.
• Torch Song trilogy
  Watched on LaserDisc many moons ago, but never forgotten

Less than a fiver each, on average. Amazing. But now it's 14:59 and time to go see what Blu-rays lurk in Postie's parcel depot down the road. Sun's still shining, too.

That's three five-minute bursts of my life that aren't coming back: one while Ms Postie plays "Hunt the parcel", the second while the lights on Leigh road seem to take forever to give my lane a "go", and the third while I carry out, to the letter, but without success, the Toyota's clock adjustment instructions back on the driveway, thus ensuring I was sufficiently flustered to take two goes at getting the Yaris back into the garage. The damned clock will have to stay on GMT! Right. On with the kettle and off with the Jiffy bags (or whatever they're called these days).

I wuz robbed!

Here I am, hatches battened down against the torrential rain that's been forecast, and it's still (at 18:08) a gloriously sunny, fresh Spring day. Swizz. Oh well; it's obviously a day for a diary entry full of lists. Here are the six Blu-rays and the one further delivery:

• Pretty Woman
  I like Julia Roberts, Christa liked Richard Gere, we both liked this film despite its incredibly dubious morality
• Men in Black
  I like the combination of SF and humour, though it all-too-rarely works as well as this
• L4yer Cake
  Successful on the second attempt, so now I shall also unpack the "Brideshead Revisited" set that arrived last time instead of this excellent thriller
• Swordfish
  Entertaining tosh, with a surprisingly interesting director's commentary. What's not to like?!
• Shall we dance?
  I like Susan Sarandon, we both liked J-Lo, Christa liked Richard Gere, and (although it's not as good as the Japanese original), it also has some wonderful music from the "Gotan" project
• Starship Troopers
  Tosh, but a beautiful HD showcase and, with lines of the quality of "They sucked his brains out", who could resist?
• Skins, series 3
  Recommended to me. We shall see

Time to go and feed the inner man before the tricky task of deciding what to watch first. Something new? Or something already known, but not yet enjoyed in hi-def?

Not only is Buttercup 43 today, but she's in a probably completely unnecessary remake of 2003's "State of Play". <Sigh²!>

• 
•