Bikes & Boats

Bikes

It's over, 'The long way around' has finished and Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman have ended their epic trip around the world, as shown on Sky One, Monday 9pm. It's been a really fantastic tour de force of television and ended on a fitting emotional high note. My only critiscism was that Alaska, Canada and America were all covered in the last episode! They'd just spent the last few weeks struggling through Mongolia and Siberia only to end with a rushed finish in the States when they apparently had plenty of days left. Surely Alaska through to New York was eventful? Complaints aside it was really good to watch, compelling at times. Well done boys!

On a final note, Alaska looked amazing but surely a state of that size would want to be a country in it's own right !?

I've always wanted to travel in a truck in the States from New York to LA, stopping at trucker diners and bars and sampling some real culture and people, forget touristy places - they aren't for me.

Boats

My dad has just returned from the Humber estuary with his friend Kim, they've had a 10 day adventure comprising of force 7 gales, engine failure, sweeping tidal currents and a near collision with a ferry. After catching some fish they later lost their tackle in the gale so headed home though not without incident. They stopped off en route at a few places, my dad told me how grim that Grimsby really is and that there is nothing to be gained in Gainsborough!

I have been to Gainsborough myself and it makes my home town of Mansfield look like Las Vegas! There is just nothing at Gainsborough, the nothingness eats you up, it's devoid of life and it almost seems surreal in the fact all the buildings look grey, drab and without feature.

Clockwork Orange

'There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in a Korova Milkbar making up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening.'

When Anthony Burgess wrote the Clockwork Orange his vision of the future wasn't too far misplaced. Kubrick's film based on the book was a masterpiece with it's portrayal of a grim future inhabited by the bowler hatted anti hero Alex de Large played so fiendishly by Malcolm McDowell.

As the promotional posters quoted back in the 70's

'Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven'.

Back in 1971 when it was released it attracted millions and was a long runner at the cinema but soon after a spate of copycat crimes from the film Kubrick withdrew it and the film went underground, of course this further added to it's cult status.

For me the movie has such a dark, brooding and subverse atmosphere - people identify with Alex, they love the chaotic streak he has, he's not all thug though - he delights in classical music!

I can't really compare the film to crime today, some may do but then again how many other films influence things? In fact some may say the film is tame by today's standards but for most it still has that shock value, it really is a total audio / visual package.

I think the point I want to make is the way the film portrays society and politics, that's the real message in the film that many overlook, the fact that Alex is a pawn and victim of society.

Is our society heading that way?

The first link is a really good fansite and the second is facts and cast listing from the film.

http://www.clockworkorange.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066921/

Creative

I wish I had more time to be creative and write or type more, I've got loads of ideas in my head, two sort of strong ideas for stories followed by alot of little ones. It makes me wonder what would be the most condusive atmosphere for me to create in. For some things it would be steaming cups of earl grey tea and loud rock music but sometimes the solitude of the country, especially the coast with the sound of the sea lapping against the shore.

I guess with my college course I've no time to get creative at the moment but I can still retain my ideas until some free time arises. I'm not sure they'll ever amount to anything at all but that isn't important, it's the therapy of creative writing that is!

Talking about therapy, my counselling course is later, I have to keep a weekly journal of my thoughts and feelings and thats very therapeutic, just like typing a Blog is!

Retro Love

If there's one thing in life I treasure it's my game boy advance, it's been all over the world with me and such a fab little companion. I love video games, of that there is no mistake!

It gives me a buzz that they are still releasing oldies for this little piece of techno wizardry, games we love and treasure from our past years. There's just something about the old games, the simplicity, the simple game play but mostly that nostalgia kick!

I remember being hunched over a rubber keyed ZX Spectrum astounded by the graphics and sound, after the black and white ZX81 it seemed a miracle. I'd play games for hours, huddled in the box room of our house with 80's music playing on the tape player after the game tape had loaded in. When I hear those tunes now it takes me back to the old games I once played.

There were other exciting machines as well, the Commodore vic2o and 64, Amstrad, Dragon 32 and the Atari Vcs 2600 console that made me drool too!

Then came the Amiga, it seemed like the rolls royce of computers, disk drives, fancy colours and a mouse! The games just got better and more involved as computers became more versatile. Around this time we were hit with a wave of consoles, Sega and Nintendo battled for school boys hard earned pocket money and of course kids didn't have to worry about computer skills.

Early pc's appeared but were prohibitive in price and not likely to take over but they did of course but that gap before they became affordable saw consoles flourish.

Now we have pc's to thank for keeping retro games alive in the form of emulated roms or remakes and then coming back to my begining there's the good old gameboy with retro titles such as speedball, manic miner and wings, not to mention collections of old console faves.

Awww I'm all glowing now, nostalgia feels so good.

If you are sad like me and collect old retro games and consoles check out the link below to a site I use regularly, a bit pricey but often worth it. There's also a couple of links to sites in Hong Kong that sell cheap retro games and consoles.

www.telegames.co.uk
www.play-asia.com
www.liksang.com

Reality hook

What is it about reality t.v ?

You know its cheesy and a load of pants yet still you watch it. These shows just draw you in slowly until your hopelessly hooked. I must be weak! To reassure myself I claim its helpful for my diploma or it's because I'm into psychology yet the truth is I end up a slave to my square box just to see wannabe's and 'B' list celebs make arses of themselves.

So far this year 'Hell's Kitchen' was my favourite. seeing those celebs under duress was compulsive viewing, evilly laughing when things go wrong or shouting abuse when somebody quits. Do these shows bring out the worst in us?

Then came 'Big Brother', at first I thought they were a bunch of idiots but by the end of the second week I was warming to Ahmed and Victor and the lovely Shell of course (dribble)

Now we have 'I'm a celebrity (nobody) get me out of here' and I find myself tuning in every night to see those celebs suffer! I'm glad Vic Reeves is in there now, a celebrity of epic status!

Whatever I or others think - reality tv is here to stay (muffled cheer)

Going underground

Why does our transport system suck so much?

Say over my last 15 visit's to London I've been let down by the train service about 5 times, that's a 3rd !

It's the usual excuses, cancelled trains, break downs and the general sloppy excuses you get. Then you get to London and have to gamble on the lottery that is the underground. The announcements always tell you that works are going on to improve services yet I see no evidence of this. The London underground is hot, stuffy, over crowded old fashioned but a fab place for people watching.

When I was in Hong Kong I used the Metro there, such a contrast to our dilapidated system. It's so high tech, spacious to avoid crowding and user friendly. You can by an 'Octopus' card that you use on all train services and buses until the credit runs out, then you just top it up again with how much you want. You swipe the card over a sensor and voila, you travel. You can also use the card in McDonald's and many other outlets.

During my time in Thailand I used motorbike taxi's, basically you raise your hand at the roadside and someone stops in a jiffy, ok it's risky but its quick and its cheap.

I remember using a taxi in China and we traveled 40 or so miles for £2, the taxi driver hangs around for you like a personal assistant and is a font of knowledge on the local area, you want it - he can get it or get you there.

All the taxi drivers want to do over here is rip you off or take you the long route with their foot down.

Anyway, moan over.

Bah Humbug

Well Christmas is evident all around us again, a house across the road from me had it's light up a week ago, how sad. The festive season is upon us again, mad stampede's in town, overkill on t.v and marketing gone mad - I hate it.

There's just no significance to its real meaning any more, that's long gone - people are only interested in material gains. Of course this must sound dour to you all as I moan about it but quite frankly I'll be glad when it's all over.

I will celebrate christmas in my usual religeous way, that being a fusion of pagan, buddhist, technocratic and overindulgent elements, combined with the worship of Crom (but thats another story of high adventure when the ocean's drank Atlantis and the rise of the sons of Arrius... !!!).

I'm passing on christmas this year.

By the way, I will be expecting gifts from all of you.

I have a friend that look's like santa, In fact I'm sure he's doubled as him in chain stores before, especially those that have lingerie sections.

Cake and kinkyness

I was in London at the weekend, catching up with friends and taking a break from work. It actually felt good being back there, the feel of the place and the buzz it gives me. My friend took me on one of our walks throught London, each time being a different route but always interesting and not touristy. We ended up in Covent Garden and at a coffee bar called 'Coffee, cake and kink' - a very interesting little place indeed.

Black and white photo's and prints adorned the walls, books of all sorts of sexual natures stood erect on shelves, whips were boldly on display and the coffee wasn't too bad either. Thats what I like about London, well cities in particular, the fact there is something for everyone's taste be it museums, coffee house's or seedy alleyways bristling with opulent neon signs. I just love cities, love the real part of a city, down town bars where local congregate, markets and parks where tramps slouch on benches - it's humanity at it's worst but it's humanity as it really is, the stuff of life.

If someone asked me what would I prefer, rolling country fields, quiet meadows or neon blue alleyways where the hustlers whore and the whore's hustle - what would I choose?

Would I prefer a quiet country pub or a vibrant coffee house? would I prefer to listen to a city slickers woes or a country man speculate about the weather?

For now it would have to be cities I guess, there's just so much to explore and when I tire of the pace, then I always have the countryside.

www.coffeecakeandkink.com

My own personal 'Brazil'

I sat and watched Brazil today, it's a Terry Gilliam film and like all of his films it's very surreal. I loved the feel of it, the 1950's come futuristic slant but most of all I like the message it has. On watching the 'What is Brazil?' featurette after I understood the film alot better, the film draws you into making your own conclusions, you form your own ideas watching it and I'll wager everyone see's it different.

Terry got the idea from Port Talbot in Wales, when the beach there was covered in coal dust and the view was none too idyllic, he imagined someone sat there listening to a radio playing a Brazilian tune and dreaming of escape.

The film itself is very dark in nature, a future grim society where pen pushers rule supreme, its about one mans dreams - a free man in an oppressed society.

I drew so many parallels with this film and my own life, working in a dull office environment and wishing to escape it, imagining being a kind of hero and dreaming of being loved. Some people in my office mirror the film, one of the new boss's in particular.

This I guess brings me to the title and thinking I'm in my own 'Brazil' at the moment, stuck in a grey town, doing a mundane job but hoping of escape. We can't forget our dreams can we?

After all, they are what keep us going.

Time

It's all about the sands of time isn't it?

Books remain unread, Cd's are still unplayed, Dvd's remain unwatched and the piles of stuff to do for my Counselling diploma just gets bigger, it's a good job I can take a break at work and catch up on things!

I just wish I had more time to concentrate on things I want to do - the actual stuff of life but as ever the treadmill of work, daily routines and fatigue are ever present, seemingly a constant force keeping us in check from doing what we desire the most. When we get free time we often waste it on leisure pursuits, socialising or the escapism of sleep.

Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy as I sit there playing video games or watching the television but I guess that is a therapy we need too.

In an ideal world I'd have a cottage by the sea and I could just sit and read, write a novel, try my hand at painting or just sit back and settle down to watch the massive plasma screen television I'd have installed !!!!

All the power in the world........

There's a quote from a film that say's 'All the power in the world resides in the eyes my friend'.

I guess it was that quote that made me reflect this past weekend, the reason behind it was that someone who I'm very close to had recently had a scare about her eye sight. Fortunately she's ok after a check up at the opticians and hospital. In the past I've had eye problems too, so it seemed to make her plight even more sensitive and acute for me, speaking to her on the phone really brought things home to me. After we'd spoke I sort of felt I hadn't been much good to her at all, in fact I'd just quoted serious stuff to her or recollections about my own problems, maybe I just compounded things for her? I think I was trying to convey the message that technology and treatment are better today than when I was treated but I felt it came across muddled. It was a difficult situation to use counselling techniques in - yet was it? I remember telling her that boxers get her condition because of blows to the head, to make a point that she probably didn't have what she thought she had. I've got to say I can truly empathise with that person, I've been there, I know the fears, the pain - I know how precious eye sight is, I also know what a precious person she is too and I just know she'll be ok.

Did you get the film quote? It was the bad guy from the film 'The Crow'

Sympathy for the Devil

As I trudged the familiar road to work I noticed something odd as the houses faded behind me and the trees and fields beckoned, it was the glow of a campfire in the dark distance. I veered off my path, curiosity over coming my pragmatic feelings to ignore it and walk on regardless - I was shocked at what I discovered. Shrouded in a circle of trees that stood silhoutted against the moonlit sky were creatures and beings that defy belief. I warily crept nearer and my eyes widened in shock and astonishment at what was revealed.

Dancing around a plump fat roasting pig on a spit were bare chested satyrs and gobln's whose pale green skin was illuminated by the eerie shimmering flames. There were faeries chasing glowing insects in the cool night air, minotaurs grinning wildly whilst slaking their thirst on flagons of foaming ale. Pixies bowed to naked nymphs before dancing luridly, leprechauns sang and jigged and dryads smiled sardonically - one thing for sure, they all partied wildly.

Then I noticed him, basking in the fire light, the glow reflecting from his crimson chest, horns sprang from his head defying the night air, trinkets adorned his legs and torso. He looked at me directly then, a wry yet warm smile spreading across his comely face, his hand lifted and gestured me over. I suddenly felt compelled to join the throng, shed my inhibitions and join in the perverse merry making, a succubus leaned into kiss me as a buxom vampirette leaned forward to reveal her charms. The distant charismatic red figure began to chuckle in low deep tones, my legs began to go numb, my will deserted me..... I was their's. The wild intoxicating music hypnotised me, drew me further into the wicked circle of pleasure and debauchery.

Then suddenly the track on my mp3 player ended, I jolted alert, back to reality and smiled with relief as I mused...

'I'm going to have to stop listening to 'Sympathy for the Devil' by the Rolling Stones'!!!!

Why are films these days so....lacking?

On Sunday I went to see Aliens Vs Predator at the local multiplex with a friend. I'd read various negative press reviews previous but I still remained open minded beforehand. In truth its got to be one of the worst films I've seen of late, no real story line or plot, no continuity and certainly no depth. There's a couple of credible actors in there but thats about it, there were just no real redeeming features to save it. I think they've killed any credibility this licence had, it all started to go pear shaped after the second movie 'Aliens'. I won't bore you with any more details suffice to say it's down right dire - avoid.

Prior to seeing this film I'd seen Sky Captain and the world of tomorrow, that wasn't big on a plot line too but at least it looked good and provided some food for thought. It just strikes me that these days we get re-hashed versions of old films, poor remakes and basically a universal lack of originality.

It looks like the only good thing on the horizon is the new Star Wars film, I think the first teaser trailer is out on the 5th Nov, for details check the link below.

www.theforce.net

The long way around

Over the last few week's I've been watching 'The long way around' (Sky 1, Monday 9pm) and dreaming of doing something like what Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman are doing. In case you didn't know it involves travelling from London to New York on Motorbikes. They have set off from London, through Europe and a currently going through Mongolia, it's one of those programs I could just sit and watch all day.

I'm begining to think my Blog is turning into a t.v critique!

The nearest I ever got to what they are both doing is planning to go to Skegness on a bicycle as a teenager but it never happened. Though on reflective thought, travel does change you, I've been to China and that just knocked me for six, Thailand had a similar effect and there's still countries I want to visit.

A close friend of mine is off to Belgium soon, ok it's not far but Belgium is a fascinating little place too, once had a week there with my dad on a British Motorbike rally.

oO(thinks)

Ok perhaps I have had a travel adventure then of Ewan McGregors type, we'll call it 'The little way around' or maybe 'To Belgium for beer and cakes'!

Well I'd best get back to work.........