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Crawling through technology, life and love Contact me: hotmail gmail home 
Listening: 
Playing: Donkey Kong Jet Racing - Wii iTuning: Podcasts - Russell Brand, Chris Moyles and Mark Kermode Reading: The End of Mr. Y - Scarlett Thomas Bits and Bobs: Wish List Gerry's Lyrics Pop Quiz Minipops Quiz Sites I like: Marc Almond Top 40 Singles News IMdb The Register Hacks Sainsbury's Recent GBlogs Arsenal FC Some blogs I enjoy: bboyblues2000 bitful blogadoon brainsluice chig groc minkered scally sparky troubled diva Books recently read: I Never Knew That About London - Christopher Winn The Arsenal Miscellany - Adam Gold Young Hearts Run Free: The Real Story of the 1970s - Dave Haslam Magical Thinking - Augusten Burroughs Veronika Decides To Die - Paulo Coelho Time Out Guide - Amsterdam Lillian's Story - Kate Grenville The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins Schott's Original Miscellany - Ben Schott Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling A Gay History Of Britain - Matt Cook Time Out Guide to Madrid Time Out Guide to New York Kingdom Come - J. G. Ballard The Hours - Michael Cunningham Mutants - Aramand Marie Leroi A Young Man's Passage - Julian Clary Growing Pains - Billie Piper The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath Wild Swans - Jung Chang Highbury: The Story of Arsenal N.5 - Jon Spurling Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins - Rupert Everett Affinity - Sarah Waters Lighthousekeeping - Jeanette Winterson Tipping The Velvet - Sarah Waters The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini Of Human Bondage - W Somerset Maugham Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier Lucky Man - Michael J Fox Labyrinth - Kate Mosse Fingersmith - Sarah Waters The Night Watch - Sarah Waters The Pedant's Revolt - Andrea Barham The Republic Of Trees - Sam Taylor Written On tbe Body - Jeanette Winterson Untold Stories - Alan Bennett The Plot Against America - Philip Roth Read All About It - Max Clifford The Folding Star - Alan Hollinghurst Thursbitch - Alan Garner Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris Staying Alive - Matt Beaumont The Bookseller Of Kabul - Asne Seierstad Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - J K Rowling A Short History Of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Count Karlstein - Philip Pullman The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood The Spell - Alan Hollinghurst The Double Life Of Daniel Glick - Maurice Caldera The Smoking Diaries - Simon Gray Straight- Boy George Digital Fortress - Dan Brown Deception Point - Dan Brown The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith Angels and Demons - Dan Brown Sydney - Time Out Guide Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood Eleanor Rigby - Douglas Coupland The Scarecrow and His Servant - Philip Pullman Tha Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky Planet Simpson - Chris Turner The Line Of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst Barcelona - Time Out Guide The Closed Circle - Jonathan Coe The Clerkenwell Tales - Peter Ackroyd Copenhagen - TimeOut Guide The Butterfly Tattoo - Philip Pullman The Broken Bridge - Philip Pullman In Search of the Pleasure Palace - Marc Almond Brick Lane - Monica Ali Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre Last Exit To Brooklyn - Hubert Selby Jr You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers Touching The Void - Joe Simpson Life Of Pi - Yann Martel Istanbul - Time Out Guide Millennium People - J G Ballard The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down - Jesse Browner Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss The Wind-up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami Our Man In Havana - Graham Greene The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon Lyra's Oxford - Philip Pullman Doran - Will Self Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides the book, the film, the t-shirt - matt beaumont High Society - Ben Elton Man And Wife - Tony Parsons I Was A Rat - Philip Pullman Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix - J R Rowling Great Apes - Will Self Barrel Fever - David Sedaris Round Ireland With A Fridge - Tony Hawkes Close Range - Annie Proux The Third Way - Anthony Giddens dot.con - John Cassidy The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams One Hit Wonderland - Tony Hawkes The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen The Cloud Sketcher - Richard Rayner Keane: the Autobiography - Roy Keane A Wasteland of Strangers - Bill Pronzini The English - Jeremy Paxman How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Toby Young Dead Famous - Ben Elton The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman (again) The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman (again) Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman (again) The Bear and The Dragon - Tom Clancy 101 Reykjavik - Hallgrimur Helgason Forward The Foundation - Isaac Asimov Carter Beats The Devil - Glen David Gold The Tin Princess - Philip Pullman Atonement - Ian McEwan The Tiger In The Well - Philip Pullman The Rotters Club - Jonathan Coe Generation X - Douglas Copeland Perfume - Patrick Suskind All Families Are Psychotic - Douglas Coupland The Shadow In The North - Phillip Pullman No Logon - Naomi Klein The Dirt - Motley Crue Miss Wyoming - Douglas Coupland The Amber Spyglass - Phillip Pullman The Subtle Knife - Phillip Pullman Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman The Ruby in the Smoke - Phillip Pullman The Sandman - Miles Gibson Blood and Gold: The Vampire Marius - Anne Rice The Actrocity Exhibition - J G Ballard Shameless - Paul Burston Sing Out! - Boze Hadleigh Brilliant Orange - David Winner New Boy - William Sutcliffe London - Peter Ackroyd Wonder Boys - Michael Chabon One For My Baby - Tony Parsons How To Be Good - Nick Hornby White Teeth - Zadie Smith Lust - Geoff Ryman Tulip Fever - Deborah Moggach Dead Souls - Ian Rankin The House Of Sleep - Jonathan Coe A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers What a carve up! - Jonathan Coe The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck Heartwood - James Lee Burke Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson Man and Boy - Tony Parsons The Map Of Love - Ahdaf Soueif e - Matt Beaumont The e Before Christmas - Matt Beaumont  
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Monday, April 30, 2007
Arsenal 3-1 Fulham...Drew and I went to the game last night. We had the run in the first half but Fulham fought back in the second. It was not their night though and the result was fair. Just two more games to play this season - the next being Chelsea at home next Sunday. Can't wait. Thursday, April 26, 2007
Three Things about me you may not have known...I got this 'chain letter' from my sister. It's a rather old fashioned thng to do - but great fun all the same. Feel free to forward to three of your mates, answer here etc. Here are my answers Jobs I have had in my life: Screwer (AirWick) Engineer (MOD) IT (Oil company) Three Places that I have lived Welwyn Cambridge London Three TV shows I like to watch: Simpsons Lost Heroes Three places I have been on holiday Brazil Cork Melbourne Three of my favourite foods: Mayonnaise Mustard Marmite Three places where I would rather be right now: At work (no, really!) Amongst friends In a taxi Three fantastic memories: A night out in Tokyo Hearing “I love you” for the first time Heaven night club one Sat in Nov 1987 Three people I think will respond David Guy Roger Ohh! The pressure for you three .... Now, here's what you're supposed to do... And please do not spoil the Fun. Hit forward, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you. Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Little Shop Of Horrors...Mum, Dad, Stu and I went to see bit of nonsense that is Little Shop Of Horrors again last night. It's now transferred to the Duke Of York's. Alistair McGowan has now joined the original cast of Sheridan Smith, Paul Keating and Mike McShane. The transfer has been largely successful. A few more bells and whistles. But the sound was much better when we went to see it at the Chocolate Factory. Still, we enjoyed ourselves. Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Credit Card Crazy...I've gone a bit credit card crazy recently: applying for three of them that is. Why? Well, they all offer such great deals that's why and they're free. (It should also perhaps be noted I collect BA miles.) With my new British Airways American Express Credit Card each £1 I spend gets me 1 BA mile (3 BA miles if I buy BA flights and products with it). With my new Tesco Clubcard Credit Card each £4 I spend gets me 1 Clubcard point (5 Clubcard points if I buy Tesco products). And Tesco Clubcard points can be converted into... (you've guessed it) BA miles. And with my new Arsenal Rewards Credit Card I get... er... well... not much really apart from a few reward points to buy tat (a-hem) but I do get that nice feeling of having a a bit of Arsenal plastic in my back pocket. I'm not actually planning on running up any debt as such just seeing if I can get some 'points'. And this from the man who has 11,495 Boots points and 34,137 Nectar points unspent. Monday, April 23, 2007
Happy St George's Day...St George's Day 2007: Trafalgar Square will host a free programme of classic film and television comedy on Monday 23 April, as part of the Mayor of London's St George's Day celebrations, which will culminate in a special screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and a 'coconut orchestra' world record attempt involving cast members of West End hit, Monty Python's SPAMALOT. The supporting programme from the BFI National Archive will also feature silent films showing London across the 20th century alongside a selection of comedy silents with a Python-esque theme. At 6.45pm, cast members from SPAMALOT will teach members of the public how to ‘clip-clop’ with two halves of a coconut, in time to the Monty Python classic 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' prior to the 'coconut orchestra' world record breaking attempt, due to take place at 7pm. The current record holder is New York, where 1,785 people took part in a similar event last year, and at least 2,000 people are expected to help set a new world record in London. The Guinness Book of Records are being invited to verify the numbers taking part - coconuts will be provided! Participants should register by 6.30pm in order to take part in the ‘coconut orchestra ‘world record attempt’. The climax of the evening will be the special screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (15 certificate) at 7.30pm. This classic example of Monty Python’s own brand of comic lunacy is a tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. Entry: FREE Information: http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/events/index.jsp All in TRAFALGAR SQUARE Classic English Comedy on Screen Monday 23 April 2007, 12:30pm-9pm English humour is recognised and enjoyed throughout the world and what better way to celebrate St George’s Day than with a dose of collective laughter. See a selection of English comedy shorts compiled by the BFI plus a special showing at 7.30pm of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (15) on a big screen in Trafalgar Square. As Monty Python's SPAMALOT delights audiences at the Palace Theatre, come to the Square and see the classic film from 1974 that inspired it! Arranged in association with Monty (Python) Pictures Ltd. PLEASE NOTE Monty Python and the Holy Grail carries a 15 rating. * 12.30pm - Classic television comedy clips representing the best of English Humour. Selected by the BFI * 1pm-2pm - 'Futtock's End' (1969) written by and starring Ronnie Barker. With permission from Digital Classics * 2pm - 5pm - Historic silent films from BFI National Archive revealing London across the 20th century * 5pm - 6.30pm - Selection of comedy clips (see 12.30 - 1) and BFI archive programme * 6.45pm -7.15pm (Register by 6.30pm) Monty Python's SPAMALOT, the London stage production inspired by the 1974 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail will lead on an attempt to break the world record for number of people playing in a coconut orchestra, currently held by New York with 1785 people. Registration from 5pm onwards. Coconut Orchestra rehearsal at 6.30pm. World Record attempt at 7pm. Be there to guarantee your place in history. Coconuts will be provided! * 7.30pm – 9pm Screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (15) With its byline 'Makes Ben Hur look like an epic', this tale of King Arthur in medieval England is packed with Monty Python's unique brand of comic lunacy. (SUITABLE FOR OVER 15s ONLY) [Thanks Rog] Friday, April 20, 2007
The Lives of Others...Last night Stu and I went to see the Oscar winning film The Lives of Others at the Vue N1. It's original title was Das Leben der Anderen i.e it's a German language film (not that it said that on the poster mind you and as a joke some wag in the cinema groaned loudly when it started in German). It was a good film though in that it seemed a truthful representation of the East German Stasi in 1984 and now they snooped on people all the time. Perhaps the Stasi might have been a little bit meaner though and there was no violence or fabricated evidence which I find hard to believe. There was a little bit of a Hollywood ending too but enjoyable all the same. God, the GDR looked grey back then. Thursday, April 19, 2007
Booze worse than Speed or Acid shocker...So recent research from the Lancet magazine suggests a better way to categorise drugs is based on the harm they do to the user and to society more widely. The final list put heroin at the top, alcohol was in fourth place, ketamine in fifth, and tobacco in sixth. Cocaine was at number two followed by barbiturates. Cannabis kept its mid-rank position at number 11. Bringing up the rear were khat or qat in 20th place and amyl nitrates (poppers) in 19th. Ecstasy was the third least dangerous drug, according to researchers. So there you go. Think I'll stick to a good strong cuppa. Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Gas Bill...I know the warmer weather is upon us at the moment but memories of last month's chill came back when I got my three monthly gas bill recently. This time last year it was £132. But this most recent one was over £455! Either I've turned into a gas guzzler this past three months, they've made a mistake or gas prices have shot up (which everybody tells me has indeed happened). Wait, it's probably all three. Let's hope me turning the heating down, having it on for less time and British Gas's recent price drop will help with next year's winter bill. I feel like a pelican. Everywhere I look there's a massive bill in front of me. Arsenal 3-1 Man City...Yay! We're up to third (for the moment at least). It was an exciting yet frustrating game to watch at the Emirates last night though. We just don;t have the strikers available. The law of averages (should such a thing exist) meant that if our midfield got it up to their area it had to go in eventually. Three times as it happens. And Lehmann is a ruddy liability at times. But the biys played well and the scoreline reflected the game we watched. Tuesday, April 17, 2007
It's Gym Space, But Not As We Know It...I've final taken the plunge (quite literally as it has a pool) and joined our local gym. The membership set me back the princely sum of £517 plus a £50 joining fee which I guess is a high enough price/incentive to keep going regularly. No point in wasting the fee. I've promised Stu I'll give myself ten weeks to get into it. The membership I chose (Izz card Platinum) gives me access to everything for free so we went swimming on Sunday (Stu thirty lengths, me a paltry twenty) and last night I went to a step class (how 1990s?). I used to go to step three times a week yesteryear at the Y but I'd not done it in over a decade. It soon came back to me though; 'repeater knee', 'straddle', 'superman' and 'round the world'. And no, I wasn't the only man in the class. Just. God, I ache this morning. But I feel better. Has anyone got any tips for starting out back at the gym? Monday, April 16, 2007
Arsenal 2-1 Bolton ...Paul and I went to see the Gunners play on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon. It was our first win in five games. What a relief. Shame we had to come from behind again though. Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Crimson Diva - Marc Almond remixed...My mate Hanko had edited a video of Marc Almond's The Crimson Diva. Fab. Friday, April 13, 2007
Gwen McCrae...Last night Stu treated me to dinner, drinks and a show: the rather marvelous Gwen McCrae at the Jazz Cafe in London's glitzy Camden Town. Due to turn sixty-four this year McCrae has lost none of her sultry sexiness. She oozed onto the stage cracking jokes, playing with the audience and rendering each of her songs note perfect. Buried amongst her hits Rockin' Chair, Funky Sensation, All This Love That I'm Givin' and 90% of Me Is You were a bit of Prince's Purple Rain and Hues Corporation's Rock The Boat. Fab. Thursday, April 12, 2007
Apple iPod Sales Surpass 100m...Not that that means there are 100m owners mind you. I've bought four of them myself! Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Arsenal 0-1 West Ham...I took my Dad to see Arsenal play on Saturday. A shameful performance by the Gunners didn't in any way dampen my mood. I do like my Dad.    Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Brain Teaser Answers...Well we only had one entry this time round so maybe it was a bit too tough. I'll make it easier next time. Here are the answers anyway. 1. 72 people: we have enough room for 60 of these, expanding the 60 capcity by 40% will give us enough room for 84 - which we know is 12 more than the current count. 2. 4 people. 159 is the product of the number of people invited and the number of pages in each document. The only two numbers which, when multiplied together, give 159 are 3 and 53, which are known as its prime factors. So the number of people given documents was either 159, 53 or 3. It is extremely unlikely that Stephen would have had time to distribute 53 documents to 53 people (let alone 159) in the few minutes available, so he must have distributed three copies of the document, and each copy had 53 pages in it. His manager kept the original, making four documents for the four at the meeting. 3. The letter U Thursday, April 05, 2007
300...Stu and I went to see 300 last night. Load of old bollocks. I almost fell asleep. Bring back Sin City (coming soon I hear). It made the 300 Spartans with their 1800 abs seem like homophobic homoerotic hypocrites. Bah! Spartans, 300: Plot, Nil. Calvin Harris 'Acceptable in the 80s'...I so love this: Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Brain Teasers...A slightly tougher set of questions this time round as it's Easter. 1. Our company has recently expanded and we can no longer accommodate all the staff in the conference room for a training course. Luckily 12 people do not need to attend the training course on this occasion so we are OK this time round. However if we increase the conference room by 40%, this will allow for everyone, plus enough room for the extra 12 people for future events. How many people work at our company? 2. Stephen has to take photocopies of the marketing strategy and personally deliver one copy to everyone who is coming to the management meeting at noon, and return the original to his manager. And he only has half an hour to do it. Stephen churned out 159 sheets of paper from the photocopier. How many people went to the meeting? 3. What occurs once in June, once in July, but twice in August? Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
N-n-n-n-nineteen...I've now been in my current office for thirteen years. And for six years before that I was doing the same job for the same company but in a slightly different office across the road. So that's nineteen years doing the same job. Man and boy. < -5 BoyLOGS +5 ? > < webloggers > < # Blogging Brits ? >
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