I’ve been doing overtime over the weekend; thought I’d earn some extra shillings for the Boxing Day sales. Yes, I know I’m a typical ‘stani…..
Luckily I’ve had Cheeks keeping me company; he’s like a hot water bottle and has kindly kept my legs warm, although he’s crap on Microsoft Excel and bites my keyboard!
The little fella has certainly grown in the month that we’ve had him; another week and he can go for walkies!!!
This is Nigel; he’s a complete and utter shitcunt who spends all day squatting on the shelf next to my desk.
You can usually find him there hanging out with his posse of hoodlums; there’s:
Nigel will cut your throat as soon as look at you; so don’t ever get on his bad side!
I’m a huge fan of ‘The Walking Dead’ comic series, its so beautifully written, profound and stark; it took my fascination of all things George Romero to a different level when I first read it, and the series has never saturated since.
I knew nothing about the TV series until stumbling upon details online; to tell you the truth I was a little apprehensive as I thought they’d bugger it up and miss the essence of what made the comic so good.
I was wrong.
The TV series is fantastic, I loved every second of the opening episode, the casting is brilliant, cinematics reminiscent of Mr Romero himself with a very classy edge create a very believable post apocalyptic zombie infested world. Bravo!
Normally I’d feel uncomfortable with the story moving away from the comic, but I really enjoyed how they managed to break out into their own tale and retain nuances that reminded me of the first issue.
So that’s another tick on my weekly shopping list:
I’m now off to watch my first episode of ‘Haven’; kindly recommended to me by Baldie!
Let’s hope it’s 2 for 2 in good TVvillle.
‘Ow do!?!
Just wanted to wish all my fellow Joe Daki’s out there a funky time tonight for the annual festival of lights; I will never know how you lot were able to steal Guy Fawkes night away from the honkies. Bravo!
I do love a good Diwali; although given the option I much prefer a nice hot Madras!
Happy Diwali!
I woke today to read that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a woman in Iran who was originally sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery; will today be hung instead, for murder.
Whilst I am no Iranian legal eagle (I simply don’t have the beard for the job); there seems to be more holes in this case than in Sylvia Saints back catalogue.
Where are the people who mass-protest each time a satirical cartoon is drawn in Denmark?
Where are the crazed individuals who kick off when a teddy bear gets an exotic sounding name?
Where are the flag burners who have a seemingly endless supply of flags; where are the hysterical tantrums in the streets?? Has the Sri Lankan flag manufacturer not dispatched their EBay order yet?!!
The proposed death of this potentially innocent woman is an outrage to any civilised person; yet the usual protesting masses are silent.
Why?!?
Chico (Aka Mr Cheeks) is very insistent on his cuddles; I rather like this as I too am of the same disposition.
I have to get up a little earlier for work each day to facilitate his morning cuddle; and then I get home from work at around 6pm, take off my bike gear, let him out in the garden for a mooch and then up to my bed for the daily 7pm snooze and cuddle.
He’s quite literally like a little hot water bottle and snuggles right into me.
1……..2……..3………Ahhhhhhh. <—-I got a bit OCD there with the amount of full stops between the numbers. Help?
Angelo and I went to see Saw 3D last night over in Wimbledon; a smaller non-IMAX screen this time which was a shame, would have been nice to have seen it in the same theatre that we saw ‘Resident Evil – Afterlife’ in.
I must confess that I only got into the Saw films this year and thoroughly enjoyed a marathon of watching them back to back and was really looking forward to the ‘final’ installment.
Overall, I thought the film provided a very satisfying conclusion to the Jigsaw saga; personally, I felt that the film ran a little too quickly at times in it’s pursuit to tie up all the loose ends, and focused too much on the chase whilst showcasing all 11 trap scenes rather than find time for the slower and more intense psychological storyboards that I really enjoy. Such moments defined the story for me, not the traps.
There were two standout scenes for me that fitted into this category, a flashback scene with Jigsaw at a book signing (brilliant!) and the Jigsaw survival support group scene where Doctor Gordon shows a fantastically cynical side to his personality. Bravo Cary Elwes; take a bow!
Don’t get me wrong; I thought the trap scenes were fantastic and brilliantly thought out. The garage scene in particular was absolutely amazing.
I had to laugh out loud at the people in front of me who reacted very, very badly to the scene where a guy has to pull out two of his own back teeth with a pair of pliers to get a combination for a code lock. Ha ha ha, cringers!
The 3D element was certainly effective at times with limbs and body parts hurled at you; although I am finding the use of the 3D technology to be a little predictable already.
I would be very disappointed if this is the last Saw film; purely because it’d be a shame not to see where they can go with the new Jigsaw. They certainly tied things up very nicely with regards to Jigsaw’s legacy, but left things very open to the possibility of furthering it through his apprentice. IT’S DOCTOR GORDON!!!!! If you didn’t guess that, I think you’d best stick to watching simple detective programmes like Father Downing-Syndromes and Murder She Scrote.
Game over! Do do do, do do doooooo do, do do do!
Thought I’d quickly mention my visit to ‘Coal’; a nice bar/grill restaurant that’s right next door to the Odeon cinema in Wimbledon high street.
I had visited it before it became a ‘coal’; back then the kitchen was open plan and I quite missed seeing someone flame grill my food before I eat it. I have always been of the impression that you pay someone a fairly good amount of money for eating out, so you might as well watch them do it and get your money’s worth? Probably why most of my favourite buffets, restaurants and cafes are all open plan come to think of it in their own way!
Anyway, they do an excellent 2 courses for £7.95 menu down there, good selection too. I generally found the options and prices to be similar to that of Frankie and Benny’s (another favourite of mine) but ‘Coal’ edges it slightly on the variety of choices.
I opted for a ‘Coalburger’ (original……) and Angelo had the jalapeno burger; both of which were presented nicely and with a good size portion (oooh errrr Matron!). Special mention must go to the handcut coleslaw and chunky chips too; although the burger itself was superbly cooked and presented in a nice rustic bun.
VERDICT = 8.5 out of 10! – sexy blonde Polish waitresses dressed in tight black clothing earned ‘Coal’ an extra point!.
Recommended!
Simon Kilpatrick passed away in his sleep during the early hours of Sunday the 17th of October, 2010; he was just 37 and one of my best friends. I feel a great emptiness now that he has gone.
Si and I both started working at Mondial Assistance at the same time; all the way back in June 2004. We both worked within the Warranty side of the business and my first impressions of him were that he was a loud, brash, ‘rough around the edges’ and a ‘no airs or graces’ kinda guy; that impression never changed, and blokeish acknowledgements down by the tea machine eventually blossomed into a strong friendship.
I can still remember the conversation that made our friendship; Simon and I had both lost our fathers during the same week and we both found ourselves (rather reluctantly as I recall) at TGI Friday’s on a company night out because my department had been absorbed by his. And even though we both felt and looked like shit, we had a laugh.
Simon was direct and ‘brass as a farthing’, it was a quality that I always respected him for and I can still recall how he took it upon himself to ask how I was doing that night because he had heard through the grapevine that we were going through the same thing. I was speechless; it was gruff male bonding at it’s finest, and I shall never forget how genuine Si was when in situations like that.
In the coming years I sat either next to or directly opposite Simon and had to ‘endure’ how loud he was whilst reprimanding dealership staff who tried (usually unsuccesfully) to have him over on a claim. That and putting up with ‘Soapbox’s’ opinions on politics, life and just about everything else! I jest, we shared a very similar outlook on life; especially the importance he placed on family.
I learned very quickly that Simon’s world consisted of Tasha (his then girlfriend of a zillion years) and son/best friend Billy; I was always humbled by how unified the three of them were together. Utterly devoted to each other and fun to be around.
Ray (who had worked with Simon for many years at Dees of Croydon), Hitesh, Alan, Andy and I gelled almost instantly into something of a ‘gang’ which became reknown in the office for our love of pranks, loud banter and constant pisstaking. I loved going into work during those times, it was the best of times. Things got so outrageous that we were actually separated within the office for a short time before we eventually got moved back together again. Much to the disappointment of some killjoys!
He practically carried his department for as long as I can remember, and opportunity eventually came knocking when Simon applied for Dan’s old managerial job in Mobilo; I spent the best part of a fortnight telling him how he’d walk it, all the whilst being surprised at how nervous he was during the application and interview period (he was a softy really!). And walk it he did.
Si and I also started riding motorbikes around the same time; he was there when I had my tumbles (once with a torque wrench to prize back my bent brake lever after I’d thrown the bike down) and we’d always encourage each other to keep at it.
Si would take the piss at my inability to stay out of A&E, and I called him ‘postcode’ because he would only ride his bike to and from work.
I was overjoyed for him when he recently passed his big test; only to get a text from him saying “YOU NEXT!!!!”. That’s the sort of guy Simon was. I could write for hours about stories, memories and tales involving our antics in and outside of work; however I very much doubt that I would ever be able to sum up Simon’s unique character, even if I had eternity to do it in.
I think some of my fondest memories of Simon were during our many trips to France together (with the gang) to stock up on cheap plonk and cheese; it was a scream every time. Simon and I both had England FAN memberships and went to support England at Wembley; we shared a love of football, he broke every stereotype of a Millwall fan you could think of (although he certainly didn’t lack the passion for them!).
Undoubtedly; my favourite memory of Simon was of him dancing with Tasha at their wedding to ‘It must be love’ by ‘Madness’ whilst cuddling Billy; Simon leaves quite a legacy because Tash is expecting their second child.
Although I have tremendously mixed emotions regarding this for obvious reasons, I am mindful of the fact that that both of his children will grow up much loved by friends and family; with many of those offering hundreds of examples of why their father was an amazing guy; loved by absolutely everyone.
Of my friend I shall simply say this:
‘Nobody likes us, we don’t care, but nobody will ever be as popular as you’.
Rest in peace fella.
Chico has come a long way in a short space of time and is settling in nicely!. I’m looking forward to taking him out for walks when he gets his injections done in a couple of weeks time!
The dubious nature of Chico’s previous ownership was often reflected in his behaviour; especially during the first 48 hours of his arrival. When we first got him he’d often cower after a toilet malfunction (there was a few!) to the point of shaking on the spot, I also got the impression that he had to fight for the owners scraps due to the way he initially went frantic around food.
The farmer/breeder who had him originally threatened to ‘shoot him’ if our mutual friend didn’t deliver him to a new home; I dread to think what he had to put up with. I’d love to meet this guy and give him a knuckle sandwich.
The change in 6 days has been incredible; he now ‘asks’ to go out in the garden to “do his business” (such a funny expression I’m sure you’ll agree?) and enjoys regular mealtimes. He’s still got a way to go though, he often gets quite bitey when he’s excited and I’ve been stamping out that particular behaviour by putting him down onto the floor and ignoring him. He doesn’t like those apples let me tell you!
When he first arrived, he was spindly and quite uneasy on his legs. Now, he’s steady and fast as lightening; he already fetches his tennis ball on command. Think he’s going to be a very clever dog!
I’ve spent most of the weekend playing with him and relaxing; relaxation has been a rare commodity in my life of late because of all the overtime that I’ve been doing. Thought I’d pop some more pictures below which pretty much sum up how cozy he is here.
Feel free to make soppy mushy noises.
The Antikrish 
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