singing in the rain

[mockturle06]

Friday. It is currently pissing down. In a most pleasing and dramatic fashion. And I am feeling somewhat relaxed as, despite my pc here crapping itself, it's been a reasonably quiet day. The absence of certain persons makes me very happy indeed.

Could have used the time for typing, but after my ill fated attempt yesterday, I don't think so. I'm just content to get some stuff out of the too hard tray into the done pile.

I have had many cups of tea. I used to have half a drawer of teas but gave it up, then a colleague wondered why, so I restocked and I'm glad I did. The right tea for the right mood, it's a good thing.

Yes, as you might have gathered, not a lot going on. I have done my errands, ticked all my boxes, emptied my in tray and am feeling curiously unmotivated to do anything more.

TV? Watched a very odd episode of Inspector Rex last night that, for all the world, unfolded as though it had been ghost written by Spooner's ghost. It was very, very Spooner (or Nation or Clemens, they're all much of a muchness in the daft ideas department). I liked, very much, but it was a very weird episode for what is meant to be a dog and cop show. Anything that ends with mystical and mysterious buddhist monks gets a thumbs up in my book, but it wasn't the usual tale of adultery, blackmail and murder that I was expecting. More Champions than Rex, now that I come to think of it, which is now bad thing, but it was a bit like having men in silvery space suits walk through Law & Order. Just a bit.

Speaking of which, a friend sent me some classic L&O. OMG, it's so Life on Mars, so chunky, so brown. And worse, I remember sitting down to watch these eps (on my own, while my partner cheated on me as his tea congealed, but never mind that). Was it really that long ago? I remember those episodes like yesterday. Still, fun, cause you know I'm no stranger to the period cop show, as my recent indulgence in matters Bergerac will attest.

Meanwhile, just the other day I was counting the sacred texts of my childhood not as yet butt-fucked by Hollywood on one hand, and now I hear another one has bitten the dust: The British UFO TV series is headed for the big screen.

I was so mad keen on this as a kiddie, and considering the hardcore trippy cold war plots, it's all rather disturbing. Oh, UFO is fun, and you might not know it but you've already seen an episode, sort of, as an episode of Dr Who with Martha ripped off an episode of UFO wholesale, right down to the green cordial breathing alien. Gotta love those cordial breathing aliens. And the one shot interceptors. And those string vests. And the purple wigs. And the opening titles. Love.

Okay, when are they going to make The Secret Service into a fillum? Martin Shaw needs the gig.

Maverick? We're back round to the Robert Louis Stevenson one. At least the tv writers of old copped to ripping off old stories, rather than passing them off as their own, and kudos to them.

400 years young: The magic and mystery of Shakespeare's Sonnets
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/400-years-young-the-magic-and-mystery-of-shakespeares-sonnets-1687684.html

Echo & The Bunnymen are heading into space
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090520/ten-echo-the-bunnymen-are-heading-into-s-c60bd6d.html

Lia Sophia Upfront Suite - Day 1
http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?cbi=969&igi=373187&nbc1=1

Oven Pride advert mocking men was 'not sexist', watchdog rules
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5352895/Oven-Pride-advert-mocking-men-was-not-sexist-watchdog-rules.html

'Bud' Tingwell departs the stage to a burst of applause
http://www.theage.com.au/national/bud-tingwell-departs-the-stage-to-a-burst-of-applause-20090520-bfpe.html

James May's Plasticine garden wins special award at Chelsea Flower Show 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelseaflowershow/5349670/James-Mays-Plasticine-garden-wins-special-award-at-Chelsea-Flower-Show-2009.html

Chelsea Flower Show 2009: James May's Plasticine Garden
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningpicturegalleries/5343082/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2009-James-Mays-Plasticine-Garden.html

My life lacks direction
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/jamesmay/5343365/My-life-lacks-direction.html

The Crow Call Incident
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Graham_Kennedy_Show

Misha
http://twitter.com/mishacollins

The British UFO TV series is headed for the big screen
http://scifiwire.com/2009/05/the-british-ufo-tv-series.php

62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival - "Adrift" Photo Call (Vincent Cassel)
http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?cbi=10751&igi=373743&nbc1=1

Lost, Mad Men and Southland's Patrick Fischler Can Take a Punch
http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/406426_tvgif20.html?source=pimail

Paradise in Plasticine
http://www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/chelsea2009/urban/jamesmay.asp

Fossil's pop star arrival born of a new thirst for PR
http://www.smh.com.au/world/science/fossils-pop-star-arrival-born-of-a-new-thirst-for-pr-20090521-bh81.html

Congressman Affleck meets the press
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/film/congressman-affleck-meets-the-press/2009/05/21/1242498859747.html

Sydney Chk Chk woman Clare Werbeloff is web non-PC sensation
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25520923-5012964,00.html?referrer=email&source=DT_email_nl

MP's duck island folly exposed on Google Earth
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/web/mps-duck-island-folly-exposed-on-google-earth/2009/05/22/1242498910263.html

Anthony Steen: 'You're all just jealous'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/anthony-steen-youre-all-just-jealous-1689211.html

New Zealand couple vanish after bank's £4m mistake
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-couple-vanish-after-banks-1634m-mistake-1689232.html

Bee rustlers cash in on honey shortage
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/bee-rustlers-cash-in-on-honey-shortage-1689228.html

How the Gurkhas' victory was sealed with a kiss from Lumley
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/how-the-gurkhas-victory-was-sealed-with-a-kiss-from-lumley-1689227.html