Leaving on a jet plane

Well this is my last blog for a while, I fly to Thailand tomorrow for a much needed holiday. I’ll try and blog whilst over there but can’t make any promises, either way there will be blogs and photo’s when I return.

What will I miss whilst away?

Big Brother final, Rock God Gene Simmons doing another series of Rock School for under privileged kids (take note thulsa doom) and I guess I’ll miss the news. It’s a shame about the whale not making it out of the murky Thames, I felt quite moved when it died, had it been in the holy river Trent then I’m sure it would have had a better chance in our purer northern waters!

I won’t miss the cold, you lot can have that while I bathe in the warm Thailand sea!

Ruined?

So, Gorgeous George has left the Big Brother house to one of the worst receptions I can recall. Has he done himself any favours, has he endeared himself to the public, has be made politics more accessible and mainstream – I don’t think so. Independent polls had just 7% liking George and 93% hating him. As I said in a previous blog I admired what he was trying to do, but having watched more of George I think he likes the limelight. Towards the end he did come across as unrelenting, unforgiving and just a little bit sinister puffing away on his cigar, maybe he’d make a good James Bond villain or perhaps he wants to be Grand Moff Galloway in the next Star Wars movie. The weeks to come will surely test his resolve and character more than the Big Bro house ever did, the press are baying like a pack of wolves, so are the media and his reception when he returns to parliament should prove interesting. I don’t dislike George but neither do I like him either after watching him some more. At first he consoled Barrymore only to turn on him, as for his dynamics with the younger members of the house, well they left something to be desired, I guess they were easy pickings for a seasoned orator like himself. George hasn’t endeared himself to the public, instead he’s become the opposite of what he set out to do, he’s become infamous, disdained by the majority youthful voters of Big Bro and berated by the older generation to boot. Good luck George, I think you’ll need it!

I’m just left musing, were George’s intentions really to reach out and bring politics to a broader public base? Did he plan to become more popular? Did he ever think that the press would follow his antics so closely and that he’d leave so unpopular?

Oh well George, you had balls in some respects, dressing up, making a fool of yourself and joining in where most would not. I noticed this morning during a telly interview, George raised my point from a previous blog I typed about politicians going on so called ‘fact finding junkets abroad and wasting money’, I still stand by this and think what George did was brave though self promoting and sadly due to facets of his personality – a flawed attempt.

As for me, I’m off to Thailand on Friday, so I won’t see the Big Bro final or the papers stories of George over the coming week or so, I can’t wait till Paxman interviews him!

Bangkok or Bust

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s holiday time… at long last.

It’s been a very hurriedly planned one this time but with a few phone calls and use of the internet it’s amazing what you can sort without even leaving your chair.

Last week started tense, I had an appointment at Queen’s Medical hospital at Nottingham to see if they could operate on my eye, my local hospital had refused, basically because I don’t think they had the expertise to do it. So then I had to wait for a referral to Nottingham and then see if they could do anything. So Monday came and to be honest I felt quite tense. For those that don’t know I have a scarred cornea on my left eye caused from operations I had years ago when I had an accident playing football, gradually over time my eye got worse and there was little that could be done. Anyway, I saw the specialist, a really nice Asian guy that offered me a few options but the conclusion we came too, and its sort of cool, is that he is going to tattoo my cornea to make it look better – hopefully I will be under anaesthetic when this is done!

So, with this out of the way, I felt relieved and decided now was the time for a holiday, not only with the eye business but also with my mum passing away back in September I’ve had a bit of a turbulent time, not to mention the job going too.

The holiday is now booked, I return to Thailand this coming Friday for 10 days, Bangkok first then down to the coast for a few days as well. I’ve not really spent much time in Bangkok before so I’m looking forward to spending some quality time there, an old, amazing and massively huge city. Ah a polluted, sprawling metropolis where I can have beers with like minded men, joke, fart and lose my head to a doxie! I’ve splashed out a bit on a decent hotel for a couple of nights and if I like it then I shall return early from the coast and perhaps have a couple of more days there. With it not being some package holiday and not really planned I’m hoping for a bit of an adventure, holidays for me are life defining moments, memories to be treasured and very character building, a chance for the mind to extend it’s boundaries and explore outside of the usual set routine.

So…. Its Bangkok or bust.

Big Bro - musings and George!

Politicians mixing with pop stars, actresses cavorting with basketball players, ordinary people becoming celebrities - only in the Big Brother house can this happen, it’s as good as reality t.v gets. The latest instalment of celebrity Big Bro hasn’t been a rollercoaster but neither as it been as dull as dishwater. Chantelle is a celebrity in the making, plucked from the public she passed her test to convince fellow house mates she was the ‘real deal’, though I’m not sure they were all convinced you had to admire the ‘have a go’ attitude of her.

George Galloway has risen in my estimation, for many reasons. While in the corridors of power George is being mocked I really think he should be praised. Most politicians remain faceless, you only ever see them on flyer leaflets through letter boxes yet George has decided to open himself up for scrutiny, here the people get a chance to see the real person behind the politician. Most politicians whilst wanting to raise their public profile would shun Big Bro, considering the idea utter bad taste, after all they’d rather stick to high brow dinners and golf. Before people raise the point that George is indeed getting paid for his appearance, consider this – how many members of parliament jet off for all expenses paid so called ‘fact finding’ missions to places like the Bahamas? George is giving his constituents a chance to observe the man they voted for, I doubt he’s missed much whilst in the house, politics after all, never moves fast. By entering the house George is showing he wants to be in touch with things, experience things and this in my book has to be admired. Lastly, if a politician wants to go on Big Bro, then why not! We are a modern day society after all. I like the fact that in the house George is like a wandering therapist, politician, father figure and he’s also playing the game, I’m liking the bloke more each day!

People often only remember the arguments and tantrums on Big Bro, but what about the team building, the camaraderie and the chance to grow as a person? We often wrap ourselves in cotton wool, never want to share experiences with others, a lot of us don’t want adventure in social interaction because we're scared to leave our protective bubble or bravely reveal our emotions and personalities, many of us would rather appear to be cool.

In a lot of reality tv show’s I see celebrities as volunteers of sorts, they are happy to be observed in front of a camera where as a lot of us ‘normal’ folk would shy away, far too self conscious to grace the lens. Whilst they entertain and get paid, we work and get paid, what is the difference in a situation that won’t change between celebrities and joe public? They have a job, we do, they have breaks whilst we can be promoted at work. I’m no fan of Michael Barrymore but I admire the guy for doing what he has, often emotional and looking haggard Barrymore has had at least had the guts to give it a go even after being dragged over the coals by the press in the past. Barrymore is giving us a chance to judge him instead of reading gutter press that seeks to sensationalise and accuse at every turn.

Jodie Marsh on leaving said in the press she’d been ruined by Big Bro, yet I believe she had a 35k contracted fee to pick up, then of course chat show fee’s and cash payouts from the press wanting her two minute story. I don’t dislike Jodie, in fact I don’t really have any opinion of her but she needs to realise she chose to enter the Big Brother house, she knew the risks and she also must have seen the possible rewards.

Then of course we had the entrance of 80 year old television Legend Jimmy Saville to give the house mates Jim’ll fix it badges – tv magic !

For the people and axe grinders that see reality television as immoral then surely they must realise we live in an immoral society but it’s a society that offers choice and the media that seek to promote reality tv offer us the chance to be the original nosey neighbour.

With so many aspects of life to examine, creative ideas to embrace and so many facets of the human character to see I don’t think we’ll ever see the last of reality television.

Pure Klaasen

On Sunday night young Dutch sensation Jella Klaasen won the world darts championship at the Lakeside club, Frimley Green. I don’t play darts but I love to watch it, mainly for the atmosphere and the fact they can hit such small targets.

Whilst watching darts it reminded me of American wrestling, darts players and wrestlers have musical neon lit entrances to adoring fans, both are generally large males and both sports involve skill – the difference being darts is real and wrestling is pantomime.

Jelle Klaasen is only 21 and it was the 21st world final he played in, the match against fellow Dutchman Ray Van Barneveld was riveting stuff, a real nail biter, Klaasen was ranked a 100-1 outsider at the start of the tournament yet fought his way to the final to be watched by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on tv and members of the Dutch parliament who were at the lakeside in person.

Batty

According to press reports Dita Von Teese the long time girlfriend of Marylin Manson is planning a very different birthday party for him. We aren’t talking cakes here, we are talking cauldrons and bats, real bats flapping about that is!

I love Manson and his music but what about the poor bats, according to the article I read his loud music will blare out from speakers, the thing is don’t bats rely on sound to navigate as they can hardly see? The poor little buggers will be wondering what is happening!

Please Marylin, I implore you - have the party but forget the real bats, stick to plastic ones!

Celebs versus Kandy Floss

Celebrity Big Brother is back, praise be to Channel 4 !!

For the first time I didn’t really moan about the line up, usually I have a gripe about the non celeb and celeb shows but this time I sat on the fence and smiled – the line up seems to be inspired, though no Johnny Vegas which was a major let down.

Let’s get one thing straight before the critics begin to axe grind, the term ‘celebrity’ for this show has to be termed lightly. This is because the show is full of several different categories of celebrities. There’s the ones with notoriety seeking fame again, to thwart the press critics, those that seek to shock or cause controversy in order to springboard themselves back into the public eye and by no means lastly, those that have really nothing better to do.

What would be the point of having aloof celebs or massive star names, their expectations would be far too much, they’d never sit in a small building for three weeks, simply because they have no need to, nor would they want to diminish their ego’s by farting live on tv or committing trivial faux pas.

That the hook of celebrity big brother, you can almost smell the desperation of the celebs wanting to be noticed, wanting to claw their way back to some from of status and credibility (Barrymore for one). The irony is the press who openly criticize minor celebs will have a field day continuing to do so.

Despite the ethical pro’s and cons of it all, Big Bro is something to be enjoyed, an experiment in the social psychology arena were we have ample chance to observe people for our own perverse entertainment. In some respects its like a game show as you sit there waiting for someone to crack first, someone to lose their temper or get drunk, yet in contrast to be reserved and sensible the housemates won’t do their selves any favours either. I could say it’s a no win situation but I think on a personal level the housemates can gain a lot from it – but only if they want too.

This year we have a lovely diverse bunch of celeb housemates, I’m not sure where it’s going to go – so no early definite predictions as such. I’m happy to see Pete Burn’s in there, an 80’s pop icon but alas I think he may get bored quick and leave. George Galloway could prove interesting, I was shocked when he emerged from the limo (and no Pat I am not a fan, though my workmate Pete is). I’ll bet half the nation didn’t have a clue who George Galloway is but come the next few days I think he’ll leave his mark. George being a champion heavy weight debater may cause some tension in the house, particularly with some of the younger members, then again he may become their icon with his radical views. You have to muse as to why Mr Galloway wants to be in the house? What are his motives, is he being fair to his constituents being in the house as my blogging friend Pat rightly says? Whatever his reasons I’m sure the cavalier style he seems to have will prove interesting viewing.

As the online Independant states about George;

‘And how thrilled the electors of Bethnal Green and Bow must be to find their new MP pursuing the cause of truth and justice on the banana-yellow sofas of the Big Brother house’

Adding a non celebrity to the mix in the shape of Chantelle could prove interesting, especially if she lasts for a while, oh the faces of the celebs knowing they have been evicted before a non celeb – it’s like Romans and Plebs! It will be interesting to see how long Chantelle can keep up the charade of being a celeb in the fictitious band ‘Kandy Floss’ (I want their cd already!)

The American contestants seem to lack character, personally I think we have enough celebs of our own to include Americans – though if Groucho Marx was still around I’d want him in, Woody Allen would be cool too.

I’m sure all of the celebs in the house have potential to entertain, as I watched into the early hours on my small tv at work I noticed Barrymore was seemingly looking jaded, perhaps a little tired or worse for wine? Remember Michael the often savage British press will be watching your every move!

We all know the show isn’t exactly reality, what we see on our screens is about 20 minutes behind the real action but lets not take it all too seriously, sit back, make a cup of tea and watch geriatric pop heroes, oblique villains, faded actors and the ropey models of yesteryear make complete idiots of themselves.

Rome - finale

So, HBO’s Rome ended last night, and ended in style. This first series of episodes has been compulsive viewing in days where I don’t watch the telly too much (apart from Eurotrash and Hammer horrors etc !!).

It really has been a tele-visual revelation for me, a feast of decadent entertainment sprinkled with heaps of treachery, lashings of sex and topped with a generous portion of good old fashioned violence. The actors are amazing, the sets are so believable, the whole show has that ‘period’ feel about it, were not talking sparkling white toga’s lounging on perfect marble benches – we’re talking ‘real’.

HBO are prepping another series for 2007 after leaving this series on a knife edge (literally for Caesar) it’s left it very open for the main focal characters to move on in the corruption that is Rome !

Melancholy

It’s a seemingly odd week for me, my last week at work in five and a half years, my mood being a mixture of relief, reflections and melancholy. Friday is my last night shift so come 8:30am that morning, that’s it – I officially become a hobbit of leisure. I’m not worried about what the future holds because I’m practically minded that way, if I sit on my arse and don’t make things happen then they won’t, I’m sure fate will also have a little say too.

When I came in for my shift today at half past midnight it was my boss’s last shift, a very sad and muted occasion (muted as in hardly any staff left to see him go), he’s been a great guy to work for over the years, honest, understanding and he had that human touch that a lot of boss people often lack.

I’m looking forward to new challenges when Friday is over, in all honesty my job has become mundane and is making me lethargic, so there will be no regrets come Friday but a fair few fond memories.

I was saying to my work mate that it feels like the New Year actually begins Friday when the job ends, like I have to say goodbye to the job in order to welcome the New Year in and a fresh start.

And there’s always the booze up to come Friday !!!