Annual Iteration n (Where n is an integer > 35 and < 37)
Yes, it's that time of year once again: I'm now a year older than I was a couple of days ago, as it was my birthday yesterday. As is usual, I don't actually feel any older, but that 'HippyDave < 40' equation is shakier by the week. Ah well. it's only a number, innit?
I've had a smashing weekend, mind.
I took Friday off work in order that we could troll into Worcester for a poke around and to see the new X-Files film, I Want To Believe. Many of the press reviews of the film have been very negative - rarely a good sign, but no guarantee that it's going to be a stinker (after all, Alien 3 got terrible reviews and that's a belter). Typically, though, most of the reviews were bemoaning the lack of spectacular set-pieces and "slight" story: in other words, criticising the film for what it wasn't, rather than enjoying it for what it was. I really enjoyed it, actually: Duchovny and Anderson were both on great form as Mulder & Scully, and there were some great guest turns, notably from Billy Connolly as a disgraced psychic priest(!) and XZibit who was great as a surly FBI agent. Whilst the film was noticeably low on those "big set pieces" the press reviews were constantly moaning about, it was beautifully shot - a lot of huge-looking snowy exteriors contrasting nicely with a claustrophobic chase scene set in the city and the grisly scenes set at a remote location where the bad guys were conducting some gleefully nasty surgery. Mark Snow did a great job with the music, as usual, and whilst the pace was fairly relaxed, there was always something to draw your attention. I think the press were confused because it's very unlike the first X-Files feature, which was big on action and CGI wizardry; this is almost like a low-budget art flick by comparison, much more character-driven and psychological. Expectations were raised for something like the first film, but Chris Carter and co clearly opted to confound those expectations, which has left everyone but the hardcore X-Philes scratching their heads. Of course, opening against The Dark Knight probably didn't help either... ;-)
Still, I really enjoyed it: a smashing film. Probably not at all what anyone was expecting, but none the worse for it, at least as far as I'm concerned.
After that, we had quick poke around Worcester before setting off for home, stopping only to pop into The Nightingale for a late lunch, complicated slightly by a particularly determined wasp that wanted some of my drink. Thankfully he eventually gave up and followed some of the other patrons outside.
Wasps were to become a feature of our Friady, though. My old school mate Alan had decided to meet up with us at one of the pubs in town for a bit of catching up and general birthday-based conviviality, and no sooner had we all got there, bought drinks and sat down than a wasp plummeted into my lovely glass of London Pride and amused itself to death. Having only just begun to drink said pint, the only solution was to fish it out and proceed with the drinking - bloody wasps! That incident aside, we had a relaxed and very chilled evening at the pub, spoilt only by the appearance of rain about half an hour before we decided to call it a night. Of course, by that time it was absolutely hammering it down, and there we were without transport or umbrellas. Rather foolishly we walked home as fast as possible in the pounding rain, rather than ringing for a taxi - even now, we have no idea why we didn't think of that. We were absolutely soaked to the skin - I literally wrung out my clothes! - by the time we got home. And still we laughed. It was that kind of evening... :-)
Saturday was the big day, and I was well and truly spoiled. I was allowed a lie-in, Steen made me exquisite toast, and I had a pleasingly large stack of CD and DVD-shaped packages to open. Perhaps most pleasing was the presence of a large chunk of the remastered Talking Heads back catalogue, meaning I have a mere two or three albums left to pick up now to complete the set. I was well into The Heads when I was at school, but with a couple of exceptions I never got around to replacing my cassettes with CDs - these re-releases were the perfect opportunity to replace them and listen to these much beloved albums that I haven't actually heard in years. As usual, the new music was a bit of an eclectic mix (Talking Heads, accompanied by Camel, Kraftwerk, Faithless, Katie Melua and numerous others), but that's what makes the world go round, right?
A chilled afternoon followed, before we spruced ourselves up and set off for Worcester, for an evening with our friends Ann & Tony who run the Cosycats cattery. The weather was a lot better than the day before, so upon arrival we were shepherded into the garden and handed nice cool drinks (bless them, they do look after us) before Steen and Ann disappeared to play with the cats, whilst Tony and I supped our ales and set the world to rights. Then it was off to one of our hosts favourite curry houses, the excellent Cromwells (HippyDave Curry Rating: 8.8) where we became external to further ales and a most excellent curry whilst laying our plans for the Marillion weekender in Holland next year. Things are really falling into place with that now: our places are reserved, our flights are booked, and thanks to Ann & Tony's prior experience, we have transport at both ends - all we have to do is get up on time and jump in the car. It certainly looks like being a vastly different vibe to the previous weekends, at which - with the exception of the first weekend (and last year's, which we didn't attend) - we were both working the event in some capacity. We're both really looking forward to focusing on enjoying (and pleasing) ourselves this time out.
Then it was back to Cosycats for some fine music (a bit of Centrozoon, followed by all manner of stuff our hosts plucked from their capacious shelves) and further random beer-assisted chit-chat. We also got the chance to properly admire the makeover of Cosycats itself: we hadn't been over since they got the builders/decorators in, and it has to be said, they've done an absolutely bang-up job - the place looks amazing. Our night was topped off by watching a whole family of badgers (five or six of 'em, including some youngsters) trolling around the garden in the moonlight. Awwww!
It was pretty late/early by the time we got home - consequently today got off to a very slow start. Another day of doing not very much at all appears to be on the cards... ah, this is the life! ;-)
All in all, a most pleasant and chilled birthday weekend for yours truly. Someday, all weekends will be this way!
I've had a smashing weekend, mind.
I took Friday off work in order that we could troll into Worcester for a poke around and to see the new X-Files film, I Want To Believe. Many of the press reviews of the film have been very negative - rarely a good sign, but no guarantee that it's going to be a stinker (after all, Alien 3 got terrible reviews and that's a belter). Typically, though, most of the reviews were bemoaning the lack of spectacular set-pieces and "slight" story: in other words, criticising the film for what it wasn't, rather than enjoying it for what it was. I really enjoyed it, actually: Duchovny and Anderson were both on great form as Mulder & Scully, and there were some great guest turns, notably from Billy Connolly as a disgraced psychic priest(!) and XZibit who was great as a surly FBI agent. Whilst the film was noticeably low on those "big set pieces" the press reviews were constantly moaning about, it was beautifully shot - a lot of huge-looking snowy exteriors contrasting nicely with a claustrophobic chase scene set in the city and the grisly scenes set at a remote location where the bad guys were conducting some gleefully nasty surgery. Mark Snow did a great job with the music, as usual, and whilst the pace was fairly relaxed, there was always something to draw your attention. I think the press were confused because it's very unlike the first X-Files feature, which was big on action and CGI wizardry; this is almost like a low-budget art flick by comparison, much more character-driven and psychological. Expectations were raised for something like the first film, but Chris Carter and co clearly opted to confound those expectations, which has left everyone but the hardcore X-Philes scratching their heads. Of course, opening against The Dark Knight probably didn't help either... ;-)
Still, I really enjoyed it: a smashing film. Probably not at all what anyone was expecting, but none the worse for it, at least as far as I'm concerned.
After that, we had quick poke around Worcester before setting off for home, stopping only to pop into The Nightingale for a late lunch, complicated slightly by a particularly determined wasp that wanted some of my drink. Thankfully he eventually gave up and followed some of the other patrons outside.
Wasps were to become a feature of our Friady, though. My old school mate Alan had decided to meet up with us at one of the pubs in town for a bit of catching up and general birthday-based conviviality, and no sooner had we all got there, bought drinks and sat down than a wasp plummeted into my lovely glass of London Pride and amused itself to death. Having only just begun to drink said pint, the only solution was to fish it out and proceed with the drinking - bloody wasps! That incident aside, we had a relaxed and very chilled evening at the pub, spoilt only by the appearance of rain about half an hour before we decided to call it a night. Of course, by that time it was absolutely hammering it down, and there we were without transport or umbrellas. Rather foolishly we walked home as fast as possible in the pounding rain, rather than ringing for a taxi - even now, we have no idea why we didn't think of that. We were absolutely soaked to the skin - I literally wrung out my clothes! - by the time we got home. And still we laughed. It was that kind of evening... :-)
Saturday was the big day, and I was well and truly spoiled. I was allowed a lie-in, Steen made me exquisite toast, and I had a pleasingly large stack of CD and DVD-shaped packages to open. Perhaps most pleasing was the presence of a large chunk of the remastered Talking Heads back catalogue, meaning I have a mere two or three albums left to pick up now to complete the set. I was well into The Heads when I was at school, but with a couple of exceptions I never got around to replacing my cassettes with CDs - these re-releases were the perfect opportunity to replace them and listen to these much beloved albums that I haven't actually heard in years. As usual, the new music was a bit of an eclectic mix (Talking Heads, accompanied by Camel, Kraftwerk, Faithless, Katie Melua and numerous others), but that's what makes the world go round, right?
A chilled afternoon followed, before we spruced ourselves up and set off for Worcester, for an evening with our friends Ann & Tony who run the Cosycats cattery. The weather was a lot better than the day before, so upon arrival we were shepherded into the garden and handed nice cool drinks (bless them, they do look after us) before Steen and Ann disappeared to play with the cats, whilst Tony and I supped our ales and set the world to rights. Then it was off to one of our hosts favourite curry houses, the excellent Cromwells (HippyDave Curry Rating: 8.8) where we became external to further ales and a most excellent curry whilst laying our plans for the Marillion weekender in Holland next year. Things are really falling into place with that now: our places are reserved, our flights are booked, and thanks to Ann & Tony's prior experience, we have transport at both ends - all we have to do is get up on time and jump in the car. It certainly looks like being a vastly different vibe to the previous weekends, at which - with the exception of the first weekend (and last year's, which we didn't attend) - we were both working the event in some capacity. We're both really looking forward to focusing on enjoying (and pleasing) ourselves this time out.
Then it was back to Cosycats for some fine music (a bit of Centrozoon, followed by all manner of stuff our hosts plucked from their capacious shelves) and further random beer-assisted chit-chat. We also got the chance to properly admire the makeover of Cosycats itself: we hadn't been over since they got the builders/decorators in, and it has to be said, they've done an absolutely bang-up job - the place looks amazing. Our night was topped off by watching a whole family of badgers (five or six of 'em, including some youngsters) trolling around the garden in the moonlight. Awwww!
It was pretty late/early by the time we got home - consequently today got off to a very slow start. Another day of doing not very much at all appears to be on the cards... ah, this is the life! ;-)
All in all, a most pleasant and chilled birthday weekend for yours truly. Someday, all weekends will be this way!