A veritable conrnucopia of nice things
Today, I pootled. This makes me happy. I need to do a spot of cleaning a little later on but, otherwise, that's my day nice and free for more pootling. I may return some books to the library - the sun outside keeps tempting me with shininess, but I suspect that it is a RUSE to lure me outside and the RAIN ON MY HEAD. Hmmm.
Random meme from somewhere -
Only answer in Yes or No
You can't elaborate unless someone asks in a comment.
1. Taken a picture naked? No
2. Made money illegally? No
3. Had a one night stand? Yes
4. Been in a fist fight? Yes
5. Slept with your best friend? YNo
6. Had sex in a public place? Yes
7. Ditched work to have sex? No
8. Slept with a member of the same sex? Yes
9. Seen someone die? Yes
10. Ran from the police? Yes
11. Woke up somewhere and not remember how you got there? Yes
12. Worn your partners unmentionables? No
13. Fallen asleep at work? Yes
14. Used toys in the bedroom? Yes
15. Ran a red light? No
16. Been fired? Yes
17. Been in a car accident? No
18. Pole danced or done a striptease? Yes
19. Loved someone you shouldn't? Yes
20. Sang karaoke? No
21. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
22. Laughed so hard you peed your pants? No
23. Caught someone having sex? No
24. Kissed a perfect stranger? Yes
25. Shaved your partner? No
26. Given your private parts a nickname? No
27. Ever gone in public without underwear? Yes
28. Had sex on a roof top? No
29. Played chicken? No
30. Mooned/flashed someone? No
31. Do you sleep naked? No
32. Blacked out from drinking? Yes
33. Felt like killing someone? Yes
34. Had sex more than 5 times in one day? No
35. Been with someone because they were in a band? No
36. Taken 10 shots of liquor in a day? Yes
37. Shot a gun? No
38. Gone outside naked? Yes
Well, that was nice and easy.
Last night's Dr Who : loved the continuity refs - the Toclafane turning out to be the Utopia people, and the little kid Martha bonded with recognising her; captain Jack being the Face of Bo; Torchwood & missing his team; all the Old Who refs, even though they went over my head.
Loved the Master dying in the Doctor's arms, and the Doctor crying into his shoulder - I think that he felt the loss of his people, no question, but it's something else to have hope bloom in front of you again and then die in your arms. Moreover, to prefer death than to spend eternity with you.
I loved Martha. Period.
Things I didn't like - wtf paradox? I knew that we were heading for a deus ex, and, still, it was disappointing.
The Master's intentions were... what, exactly? cause death and carnage? Wage a war? That could have been a little clearer. His relationship with Lucy also didn't get any screen time, really, so I felt a bit cheated there.
Even though I loved Jack as the Face of Bo, the way they got to it felt a little... forced. The dialogue wasn't quite up to scarcth there.
The Doctor saves the universe through the magic powers of people liking him? Must remember that as the ultimate weapon in his arsenal. It also sidelined Martha's role, somewhat - I liked her as a bard, but several people pointed out that it essentially reduced her to the Doctor's herald, with humanity caught in between two gods. Ultimately, although I loved her, I would have liked her to have had something else to do other than sing the Doctor's praises. The unrequited love thing was also starting to grate a little.
Am utterly gutted that she left at the end of that; I read an interview with Freema where she denied leaving the show, so, hopefully, this means that she'll be back next season.
And, also, a book review -
This Thing Of Darkness
by Harry Thompson
page count:: 730 pages
*
You may have heard me raving about this book, and with good reason. It is fabulously crafted - well thought-out, absorbing, fabulous. It's about the voyage of the HMS Beagle, just before Darwin comes on board, and then takes you through that voyage and the subsequent, famous voyage with the even more famous ship's naturalist on board. Darwin is a fascinating character, and I was totally taken in my his reasoning all the way through - knowing that something was missing from contemporary theories, and trying to figure out what. The real star of the book was, however, the captain of the Beagle, Robert FitzRoy, who was one of the first great modernisers in the British Navy. I'm a bit of an Age of Sail buff, and seeing how he came to formulate his thoughts on these changes - why the men should have less rum on duty, and why fresh fruit was imperative, and why they should use 'port' instead of 'larboard' - was a fun ride.
The book is a weighty one, but it doesn't feel overly long. It's helped by the fact that it is broken up into several discrete voyages, and there is a sense of completion at the end of each part. I understand that this was the first, and only, fiction book that Harry Thompson wrote before his death; I find that a great pity. It is rare to find a historical novel that paints such a vivid picture of the time and of the personalities involved. I would have liked to read more of his work.
This Thing of Darkness was longlisted for the Man Booker prize and is highly recommended.
Now. To the library, or to the sofa? Decisons, decisions...
Random meme from somewhere -
Only answer in Yes or No
You can't elaborate unless someone asks in a comment.
1. Taken a picture naked? No
2. Made money illegally? No
3. Had a one night stand? Yes
4. Been in a fist fight? Yes
5. Slept with your best friend? YNo
6. Had sex in a public place? Yes
7. Ditched work to have sex? No
8. Slept with a member of the same sex? Yes
9. Seen someone die? Yes
10. Ran from the police? Yes
11. Woke up somewhere and not remember how you got there? Yes
12. Worn your partners unmentionables? No
13. Fallen asleep at work? Yes
14. Used toys in the bedroom? Yes
15. Ran a red light? No
16. Been fired? Yes
17. Been in a car accident? No
18. Pole danced or done a striptease? Yes
19. Loved someone you shouldn't? Yes
20. Sang karaoke? No
21. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
22. Laughed so hard you peed your pants? No
23. Caught someone having sex? No
24. Kissed a perfect stranger? Yes
25. Shaved your partner? No
26. Given your private parts a nickname? No
27. Ever gone in public without underwear? Yes
28. Had sex on a roof top? No
29. Played chicken? No
30. Mooned/flashed someone? No
31. Do you sleep naked? No
32. Blacked out from drinking? Yes
33. Felt like killing someone? Yes
34. Had sex more than 5 times in one day? No
35. Been with someone because they were in a band? No
36. Taken 10 shots of liquor in a day? Yes
37. Shot a gun? No
38. Gone outside naked? Yes
Well, that was nice and easy.
Last night's Dr Who : loved the continuity refs - the Toclafane turning out to be the Utopia people, and the little kid Martha bonded with recognising her; captain Jack being the Face of Bo; Torchwood & missing his team; all the Old Who refs, even though they went over my head.
Loved the Master dying in the Doctor's arms, and the Doctor crying into his shoulder - I think that he felt the loss of his people, no question, but it's something else to have hope bloom in front of you again and then die in your arms. Moreover, to prefer death than to spend eternity with you.
I loved Martha. Period.
Things I didn't like - wtf paradox? I knew that we were heading for a deus ex, and, still, it was disappointing.
The Master's intentions were... what, exactly? cause death and carnage? Wage a war? That could have been a little clearer. His relationship with Lucy also didn't get any screen time, really, so I felt a bit cheated there.
Even though I loved Jack as the Face of Bo, the way they got to it felt a little... forced. The dialogue wasn't quite up to scarcth there.
The Doctor saves the universe through the magic powers of people liking him? Must remember that as the ultimate weapon in his arsenal. It also sidelined Martha's role, somewhat - I liked her as a bard, but several people pointed out that it essentially reduced her to the Doctor's herald, with humanity caught in between two gods. Ultimately, although I loved her, I would have liked her to have had something else to do other than sing the Doctor's praises. The unrequited love thing was also starting to grate a little.
Am utterly gutted that she left at the end of that; I read an interview with Freema where she denied leaving the show, so, hopefully, this means that she'll be back next season.
And, also, a book review -
This Thing Of Darkness
by Harry Thompson
page count:: 730 pages
*
You may have heard me raving about this book, and with good reason. It is fabulously crafted - well thought-out, absorbing, fabulous. It's about the voyage of the HMS Beagle, just before Darwin comes on board, and then takes you through that voyage and the subsequent, famous voyage with the even more famous ship's naturalist on board. Darwin is a fascinating character, and I was totally taken in my his reasoning all the way through - knowing that something was missing from contemporary theories, and trying to figure out what. The real star of the book was, however, the captain of the Beagle, Robert FitzRoy, who was one of the first great modernisers in the British Navy. I'm a bit of an Age of Sail buff, and seeing how he came to formulate his thoughts on these changes - why the men should have less rum on duty, and why fresh fruit was imperative, and why they should use 'port' instead of 'larboard' - was a fun ride.
The book is a weighty one, but it doesn't feel overly long. It's helped by the fact that it is broken up into several discrete voyages, and there is a sense of completion at the end of each part. I understand that this was the first, and only, fiction book that Harry Thompson wrote before his death; I find that a great pity. It is rare to find a historical novel that paints such a vivid picture of the time and of the personalities involved. I would have liked to read more of his work.
This Thing of Darkness was longlisted for the Man Booker prize and is highly recommended.
Now. To the library, or to the sofa? Decisons, decisions...