Vintageme

I'm guessing it's not our David Tennant....

2010-03-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

David Tennant And The Ebay Auction That Coined It In For Troon Charity Shop!

AboutMyArea - ‎Mar 5, 2010‎

Shop volunteer David Tennant, who has been a collector all his life, said: "The coin really had the wow factor. When you are regularly dealing with ordinary ...

Still it might make an interesting one for a "secret lives" documentary. Found on Google news.

Celeb with a soul...

2010-01-09T06:21:00.000-08:00

The wonderful David Tennant here, saying what some might not say (thinking of some people ehh mum) Lets hope it helps poor beleaguered Gordon. Fingers crossed.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/01/09/doctor-who-star-tennant-begs-voters-to-snub-cam-or-face-miserable-future-115875-21953690/

Silence is golden...

2010-01-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

Another weird offering from someone I would have thought had learnt that sometimes its nice to be a little bit discreet. Remember the New Year is time for a new you. I notice that only one paper had so much negative to say about the lovely David, does extermination not seem to be going a bit far? Ahh yes I've just remembered someting about the paper in question but that was so long ago... Leopards never change their spots ehh? Some of us really enjoyed counting D.T's lovely eyelashes, and lets face it it's more interesting than anything that happened in Eastenders (sorry that's me being personal, don't listen Eastenders fans, enjoy yourself). I can't imagine that he managed more appearances than Myleen Klas has don't you have to invent your own dimension in time to do that? Ahh yes he is the Doctor isn't he, was the Doctor. Sorry didn't cry at the end, I had tissue with me but then I have got a cold.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1239802/JAN-MOIR-Its-time-exterminate-David-Tennant-TV-schedules.html

Anyway since when did the Daily Mail give fig about Proust, since when where its readers even familiar with Proust? Certainly I suspect David might have more of a grip on A la recherche du temps perdu, He was going to take it with him to his Desert Island. Or did you miss Desert Island Discs? Too high brow? Don't know how to work a radio?

A little bit of Advent magic...

2009-12-20T06:18:00.000-08:00

With four days to go till Q.I, five days to go until Christmas and six before Hamlet let the Guardian give you a little peek at your presents (sorry David!). Very nice new pics too.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2009/dec/20/david-tennant-best-doctor-who

Ding, Dong, Verily the festive listings are riven with...

2009-12-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Lots of Tennant treats. I'll readily admit that though I adore David Doctor Who leaves me colder than the arctic in January (though lets face it global warming is making that feat increasingly easy) so its nice to see that this year there is more to Tennant watching than Daleks and killer trees.There's Hamlet, a real treat for those of us who missed out on the stage version ( and you can record it or buy it and keep the memory forever), Q.I which I adore anyway for the excellent Stephen Fry (should be Sir Stephen!) though I'll like that claret velvet suit and its contents a lot more! There's Catherine Tate's Christmas Special and Alan Carr. Not to mention Radio highlights like Desert Island Discs, something nice to wake up to and just in case your thinking 'Wake up to, at 11.15!' remember it is Christmas and I come from a family who slept through the great storm of 87, just show me a soft flat surface... Although just in case your finding it hard to doze off there's always bedtime stories on Cebeebies read by guess who... Provided you don't mind tucking yourself in at 6.50. Just be prepared for someone else to have eaten your mince pies and tippled your Brandy when you wake up! Well a merry Christmas to all I shan't be sending any big boxes of Chocolates out by the way you never do know what people will do with them!

Well done Rupie...

2009-12-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/nov/29/rupert-everett-madonna-carole-cadwalladr

Look to the end.

Still here...

2009-04-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Yes I know I've been phenomenally lax about blogging but I've been busy either making altered art or waiting for now parcels to arrive (I'm waiting for one at the moment). Never the less I keep meaning to put something on. For instance the worlds smallest pie which might have said it was for one person or a family of anorexics which insisted that "This handmade pie has been loved since it was little more than a splodge of dough in the higgidy kitchen. We hope you love it too!" Of course I usually express my love by eating things where else do you think the pets went... Che was right Cat is a terrible meat and stringy.... Ahh belated birthday salutations by the way to David Tennant. How can you not love anyone who can't understand Twitter (do you twitter everything or are you selective? I'm on the loo. I've fallen down a man hole. -that's because you were twittering- Ohh and yes I do know Stephen Fry's on it and yes he is a national treasure but if I did all the same things as people I admire I'd be very busy not to mention a stalker) and thinks astrology is nonsense and people who text the news have nothing to say. I'm looking forward to his post Doctor Who work as after all he's a very talented actor and I would be nice to see him use his full range... As you can imagine I love the thought of a Hamlet film, didn't get to see it on the stage and that's really rather lucky as I can't quite buy into on stage performances besides the only time I would have wanted to go (around my birthday) it wasn't him I would have seen. Now lets see if I can think of anything else to talk about this Saturday...? And for all the Twitter (or first four words applicable) readers out there, I'm sitting down. On a chair.

Oscar who...?

2009-02-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

Ahhh haa not just people in Mumbai who are left clueless by the Oscars I've never watched them and don't imagine that I don't love beautiful dresses and all but frankly I just can't bring myself to care. Stick thin actresses drag themselves weeping and broken to the podium and then thank people I couldn't care less about. This afternoon on the local news they were stopping people to ask them how they felt about Kate Winslets (local girl) award and all of the gushed on and on about how they had watched every minute and cried. One woman clutching the bar of her pub as if she couldn't find strength to stand unaided cried out "Who would have believed it, she's come so far!" For God sake she's only acting not healing with her touch. I shudder to think what Jesus'es neighbours would have had to say if they were interviewed. Still if you take your clothes off often enough your bound to get one of two things an award or a dressing gown.
Lifes to short to watch the Oscars or for that matter the Baftas, the Emmys or the pointless twat awards .

This sceptered Isle..

2009-01-14T02:41:00.000-08:00

For some imponderable reason Ocado our food delivery company insists on including a free copy of The Times with every order. We wouldn't read it if our lives depended on it and to be frank this has as much to do with it's quality as with our political views. I have learnt more from the back of cereal packets than from flicking through the pages of this newspaper. After a few thin editorials about George Bush, the financial crisis and why the Scots are a bunch of dangerous murdering bastards who can detect somehow "a brief period of childhood spent in Cheltenham." (heres a film idea 'The Sasanak sense') They gave up and spent five pages considering what Michelle Obama would wear to the inauguration. More pages than they used to describe the current situation in Gaza. I suspect that if one popped up in their news room and asked them what they thought of the troubles in the Middle East they would truthfully answer "Ohh I've never heard of that designer, are they new?" Then written another four pages on how the new first Lady would be wearing a chic little number from up and coming, ultra-trendy design house Trouble in the Middle East.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...!

2008-12-24T11:36:00.001-08:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. To David Tennant, hope you feel well soon but don't rush to return to work if your not ready. Your fans will hopefully understand and your family wouldnt want to see you exhaust yourself.
This year saw the election of Americas first black president, as someone of mixed race parentage myself I can only say that I am proud and pleased by this news. When you think that segregation existed only forty years ago and slavery still existed in America only one hundred years before that it's nice to see how far the world has come.
This Christmas will not be a happy occasion for many people and we must remember that.
On a fickle note then eat, drink, be merry.... And mother hopefully will enjoy the gift I give her.... Sadly it isn't quite what she would have hoped for but how do you wrap Bryan Ferry exactly?

Mum has been ex-communicated.

2008-12-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

We now await the Inquisition with the dreaded comfy chair . What do I mean ? Mum has been banned from the unofficial Bryan Ferry fan-site for slightly critical comments. She is now a political agitator and expects support from Amesty .She is stitching a dress in black and white and becoming a Quaker ..oh now she already is one . There she was in 1972 an innocent lass only to become the most hated fan of all time it would seem , there's a fear of association with her kind I think in case the great God hears and a fan doesn't get an autograph from the almighty .I reckon I might shun her or spray her with something in case she spreads . She says that is fine so long as it's "Baghari" . Mum Dad doesn't read my blog so it's no good dropping hints.

"The wind that shakes the Barley"....

2008-11-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

Having recorded "The wind that shakes the Barley" during the week (thank you Film4, a few more evening premiers would be lovely) we've just plucked up the courage to watch it all the way through. Thankfully apart from one scene close to the start that would not turn the stomach of horror movie fans but if you are like me look away. Now I have seen it I'm glad I did. Its a very good film and fully deserved its "Palme d'or " not only because with its acting, direction and the power of the script it conveys up a captivating sense of time and place. But also because this is a film that is long overdue. Many films have been made that offer insight into the troubles in Northern Ireland but few have been made that try to capture the situation before, the events that spilt over into the sectarian violence and terrorist actions that we associate with the 1970's and 1980's. I've only ever seen one film set in Ireland at this time which even touches upon these themes "The Last September" Its worth seeing in its own right and encapsulates much of the contrast between the anglo-Irish and the native Irish. This is something quite different and possibly one of Ken Loach's best.
In light of the subject matter I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised at the reception that this film received but have to confess I am, The Telegraph went so far as to accuse Ken Loach of hating his country whilst sponging of it before admitting they hadn't seen the film with the limp excuse that you don't have to read Mein Kampf to know that Hitler was a louse.... Excuse me...? I think there were rather a lot of clues as to Hitler's character and one does not have to be a genius to know that he had some unpleasant and clearly dangerous views. Why admitting that there was such a thing as the IRA and possibly suggesting that even if their methods were brutal so were ours is on a Parr with Mein Kampf I don't know. You could say that the film wasn't completely impartial but what a dull film that would be. Anyway how many films are just as impartial but because they aren't events so close to home never get a mention. Is "Waterloo" impartial ? You could say that a British director should not be making this film but you would have to be pretty closed to ideas other than blind patriotism to think that. Both sides were human, both were equally three dimensional and if you can't see those truths expressed in the film then look harder.
Everyone has to make their own decisions as regards "controversial" films, if you don't want to watch it then that's your choice asI said earlier I don't watch Horror films. I don't mind if you don't want to see this but then again you can't possibly make judgements about what a film is trying to say if you don't watch it.
Maybe one day the events of the last century won't be so fresh in our minds and this film will be more widely appreciated. For now I can speak only for myself ... Its a very good film and it needs a wider audience. If you want to know more try the IMDB reviews.

So Much for freedom of speech.

2008-11-13T01:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mum was asked to shut up and keep her opinions to herself on "Bryan Ferry Online" . This as a result of her extremely low view of Otis Ferry. This was rather odd and discriminatory as others have expressed similar opinons . The very rude moderator made her feel like a criminal for having opinions. Had she been made to sign a statement when she joined that she would never criticise Bryan or anyone to do with him she'd never have joined. She is an intelligent woman with forthright views who is no sycophant.Obviously she left as she could never be a toady . In fact Otis is digging himself into a deeper hole everytime he opens his mouth. So as she presumes she is allowed an opinion whilst it is a free country she will express them on her blog as will I .Mum has been a fan of Roxy since she was 17 at the very start and is very hurt . I have learnt that fans have no sense of proportion at all and fandom has taken over religion ..Mum you blasphemer you !

David Tennant Leaving Doctor Who....

2008-10-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

I only found out about it this morning and I'm sure that many will be terribly sad to hear this. I'm not one of them, ohh believe me I adore D.T ("Bath chair" come on you have to love anyone who still says things like that, so much more chic than a wheelchair) but I think if your a fan of his then you'll be as pleased to see him develop his skills in fresh parts as you were to watch him in Doctor Who. If your a Doctor Who fan well then I'm sure that you know that that's the nature of the show. The Doctor changes and just as David reinvigorated the show, that'll happen again if they choose the right man for the job (No David I don't think someone with your charms could be replaced by wee Jimmy Crankie but it's an amusing image). If your loyalties are split then guess what you can still follow both.... I won't comment on the many who can't accept this parting of the ways because he was always going to grow old and have to leave and how many of you wanted the doctor to totter out of the Tardis and bleakly mutter. "I don't know where we are, I don't know what I had for breakfast and I hope that I remembered to turn the kettle of. Whatever aliens I'm battling today they had better be slow moving that's all I'm saying... Still mustn't grumble, stew for tea tonight... Ohh we had a lovely stew during the time wars....". Not a particularly alluring image is it?
Well David, cheers, enjoy your run of Shakespeare. Have fun and enjoy whatever projects you take on in the future. I for one am utterly glad to see you doing something different rather than getting stuck in a rut and becoming "former Doctor Who David Tennant...". I won't name names but too many have got caught like that. On the reverse of that look at the still enduring appeal of Tom Baker?
I heard somewhere that D.T was keen to get into films, I'd be very interested to see if that comes about and in what form.
See always something around the next corner!

Beautiful promise...

2008-10-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday mother (the big Roxy Music / Bryan Ferry fan) ordered a new CD of the first record... I like a lot of their stuff now but this has to be my favourite. There is a magnificent atmosphere to the tracks, carving a seamless arch from Rock'n'Roll to Country. You can feel the inspiration oozing out. More than any other it proves that Roxy Music wasn't just a sound it was a whole experience. A chocolate box of Americana and Pop culture that seem to spill neon light and Deco cinema into the room. Excuse me if that sounds a little florid but then florid is not something of which we should necessarily be afraid.
It also got me thinking about that strange set of circumstances that means we can listen and watch the days when our household names were still full of promise, their whole lives laid out ahead of them and the future as yet a blank horizon. Amazing to think that Bryan couldn't have imagined then that he would be being graced with a BMI lifetime achievement award... Other things came to mind to but lets not spoil the mood now.
Something else brought this to mind only this morning, I was flicking through one of my collection of old Vogues (Mainly from the 1980's) this one came from x.mas 1981 and like most Christmas magazines it featured a round up of the year gone and a hint of what might be in the years ahead. No2 on its list of hot things to watch was that years Cambridge footlights troupe, all of whom it assured had glittering futures ahead (as you might know that year they included Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson). I smiled as I remembered that only two days ago I'd been watching "Stephen Fry In America " (wonderful show by the way). Back when those words were being printed in Vogue neither he nor the readers could have guessed that he'd end up as the nations teddy bear.
No none this really comes to anything, it's just interesting and strange to me that's all. Anyway what else would I put on my blog?

"I'm alright Jack."

2008-10-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Mother has been rather disappointed by a certain old glam rocker recently... Bryan Ferry. She's been a huge fan of his since she was a teenager and recently she's been having a little Renaissance of affection. Not such a good idea it seems.... Mothers always been a firm believer in the Labour party (well not in Blair, no one was that keen) and naturally assumed that due to the high volumes of actors and performers who vote Labour there was nothing to worry about.... Ohh.... She's been very disappointed to discover that Bryan attends Tory party balls, etc. Still she tried to convince herself that he might just be going and not know what it was for, or wasn't really a commited Tory. Now of course with news about the "lovely" Otis Ferry and certain discoveries shes made about Bryan's ex-wife Lucy Ferry and her new husband (I can think of other people who liked Pinochet, not that I'd want to share a lift with any of them) She has had to accept that if nothing else Bryan might be a little, tweeny bit more right than she thought... It's definitely getting her down. Not surprised, politics is very important and not forgetting where you came from is just as important. Washington was a mining town, what did the Conservatives ever do to help miners rights? Nothing until they finally closed them all down and put the miners out of work at the same time diminishing the power of British industry and manufacturing. It's a pattern that's been repeated in many industries under the Conservatives. It's a shame if people don't remember this. There has been a lot on about the party conferences if you watch the news now. When they ask people what they think the answers are as pitiful and inane as one would expect from those who have been convinced that they live in an age where the political parties are nearly indistinguishable (they might look alike but they are still poles apart). Quite a lot of people seem to have come around to the view that Mrs Thatcher was actually a rather nice woman who put the unions in their place. Very sad views to hear expressed by people who themselves probably come from working class backgrounds. Recently thinking about these things I started reading the sections on the founding of the Labour party from Roy Hattersley's book the Edwardians, so much I didn't know. It seems sad somehow that it took two Scottish men, both illegitimate and one a former miner to give all the U.K's workers a proper voice in Parliament. Still if one man shows the way more must have the courage to follow in his path. I've always been very proud as a fan of David Tennant's that he is a proud Labour voter even prepared to appear in adverts for the Scottish branch of his party. At the same time I'm always shocked by people who think either that celebrities should not indulge in politics or that what they believe does not matter. It does, we express or feelings and sympathies not just to ourselves but to our fellow man in our politics. That should never be de-valued.

In these very serious times running up to the American presidential elections....

2008-09-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

I thought that I should lighten the mood by showing you all how Mrs Nito will be voting see blog Musings of a moron at http://cuttingsprout.blogspot.com
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On a serious note Barak Obama for President please Mr God particle!!!! (Why call it the God particle when it isn't God, just a particle? And when you can't even prove God exists no matter how many useless breakydown things you build under the Swiss alps?)

Handmade trinket boxes...

2008-09-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

These little boxes were hand painted by me, I keep little pieces of jewellery in them, earrings and a favourite charm bracelet. The boxes themselves come from a store called John Lewis, big as my hand, made of papier -mache. I had been looking up lots of French Rococo at the time I made these two. Pre-revolution swags on hand painted wallpaper inspired the blue one and painted ceilings and Victorian valentines the yellow one. I've made others, and they'll appear soon.... Does anyone remember an American magazine of the late 80's and early 90's called "Victoria". My mother collected quite a few and I love trawling through them for ideas. I always loved Christmas and they made a big deal of it the way it should be. sugar cookies, etc. Goodness even E.R always had beautiful big Christmas episodes. Later I became a big fan of The West Wing and love those Christmas episodes... Umm I guess you can tell that I am planning some festive boxes. Maybe on a bigger scale with bigger boxes.

Friday Night Project - David Tennant - 22nd September, 4Music

2008-09-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

David is on the Friday Night Project on 22nd of September (being repeated on 4Music channel, so you'll need some way of recieving more than terrestrial). If you haven't seen this before then go ahead because David is magnificent. I've said before on my blog but the Friday Night Project is pretty funny and even better when the guest host is someone you are really interested in. Some of the things the audience ask - and I'm not being cruel to anyone - had me in stitches. It's nice to see that as well as being, a wonderful actor, smart, gorgeous and a Labour voter Mr Tennant is prepared to laugh at himself. We can all be a bit awkward about that (I'm awful) and I don't expect that this is something you'll see from a certain Mrs B' eckam.... Ohh....

Without reasonable explanation I'm forced to turn to loyal readership...

2008-08-01T13:48:00.001-07:00

I'd like captions or plausible explanations (no I don't think there are any).

So far I've come up with....

1) Worlds pushiest shoe salesman strikes again.

2) Harrods sale goes well despite intermittent skirmishes in the Men's shoes.

3) Whatever he trod in he's aggrieved.

4)Never buy gifts of shoes if you've only estimated the size.

5) Confusion over ownership sparks riot in T.V wardrobe department.

It's me again!!!!

2008-08-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

Autumn / Winter collections.

2008-07-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

I brought a copy of Elle today, because as well as the sheer joy of perusing a fashion magazine it had an Autumn and Winter collections special. I love the romance of winter and so I'm always drawn to the styles Designers construct at this time and the fabrics and trims that they choose to complement those styles. I was in heaven... From Ralph Laurens classics for the modern day to the hypnotic goth inspired trends of Luella and Rodarte. My prize though were I to give one would definitely go to Alexander McQueen for a collection that brought to mind Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker mixed beautifully with a kind of full blown Regency glamour and excess. Tulles, velvets and wonderful jewelling combined to create the sense that one was being led straight into the costume department of a film like "Vanity Fair ". Vividly coloured, dreamworlds from every little girls childhood that you feel decedent and nostalgic in one sumptuous mouthful.

Note for David Tennant....

2008-07-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Best wishes for your Stratford run in Hamlet, I hope you enjoy working on the play. Also hope everything goes well for a first night performance and the reviews aren't too scarifying. Since good luck is bad luck and bad luck is good luck break a leg, heck break both and have a horrid time of it.

Phone home....

2008-07-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

I just read a Sky news article which stated that a significant percentage of Britain's population tried to ring Doctor Who's mobile number the Saturday before last (a number, meant to be the Doctors was shown on screen) and were disappointed not to receive an answer..... Yes.....Well.... Still chin up those of you who haven't been carted of to the nut house Vodafone are resourceful but I doubt strongly that they've managed to put up phone masts throughout time and space. Their service is good it's just not that good.

I told You didn't I...

2008-06-29T05:26:00.001-07:00

Bryan Ferry a man ahead of his time.....

And many other times....

Of Milan and Men.

2008-06-29T03:13:00.001-07:00

Two things first,

A, I'm not a man so I don't know what you want exactly when you go shopping.

B, Even if I was I can't afford to pay the ridiculous prices attached to couture garments and their exclusivity is lost on me because this is one club I know I'll never belong to. I do however like to keep one eye on fashion and so I come to know the exciting new directions that men's wear will take next spring. be afraid be very afraid!!!

It's beyond me to know what designers think, I realised that when my eyes attempted to expand my brain around this one before they gave up. I've no idea why this is chic and wasn't everyone saying this year was very safari? Safari for who, there aren't even any tigers in Africa which I suppose is why this one looks like it was "caught" at that wild jungle as yet new to civilisation....Hamleys....Mind you some of the kids....? Mind you look on the bright side fashion lovers, on a market stall somewhere near you there will be toy tigers now all you'll need is scissors.....

talking of market stall owners...

Vivienne Westwood (one of lives strangers to sanity must be channeling a particularly grobby one as she unveiled her "Gypsy" look so Traveller you mean.... Finally you can stop sucking in you beer belly and let it all hang lose in some plastic clothes and a medallion. I don't see this catching on myself, the less overwrought pieces being not much more than posh football hooligan kit and If I know one thing its that you want your expensive exclusivity to be just that....Not something you can see on a real football hooligan. Still if you don't like that theres always the 1970's pimp look ..... On second thoughts don't.

If none of this appeals to you then fashion seem to offer a complete reverse..

. The Christian Boys Camp look (for clarification I do not mean the Camp Christian Boy look although it's tempting to call it that). I think this look is begging out for hours of prayer, bonding and hiking . Clearly one for those who find it just that little bit daunting one they've got their shorts on to take off their cardy... So you can guess it's not muscular Christianity I'm talking about....

(Don't get me wrong I'm not completely opposed to "Geek Chic", I'm a David Tennant fan an interest in thick specs and wrinkled suits is a must. But this isn't Chic it's just Geek.)

If all else fails next year in your quest to get stylish or you just stuck in the 1980's then the Spandau Ballet, Bryan Ferry look is doing well....

All together now .... You are Gold always believe it, Gold......

Somewhere over the rainbow of tat....

2008-06-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Tucked behind the main shopping streets in Reading is a place that goes by the name of Friar street, back in the Middle Ages the Grey Friars monks ministered to the poor and the downtrodden there, you had to fall pretty low to live on Friar street.... Several hundred years on you have to have fallen pretty low to shop there well that or lose your marbles. Every second shop is called something like Poundland, Pound stretcher, Pound Savers...Cheapskates are us (that ones made up but I wait for its opening in sure an certain knowledge that its coming soon). Spilling over in their windows lava lamps, prints of Elvis, and weird religious iconography. At least if anyone in Reading develops a burning desire for a resin sculpture of the last supper they know where to go, but why would you ever find yourself racked with a desire for something as obscure as that. The largest of these emporia has its own intercom which is a step beyond its competitors, when I went in to see what they sold these days (I like to know how bad things can get so I can work out when to emigrate) a male voice was all but hysterical announcing that they could help you beat the credit crunch. A swift look round confirmed my suspicions that it would have to be an odd sort of recession that would see you rushing to there open arms for your shopping. The only food in the whole place was a pile of biscuit packets all of which bore the names of companies that you've not only never heard of you never want to....The rest was just mysterious stuff. I imagine someone striding in and telling the girl on the till "Things are getting a bit hairy on the stock markets and I don't mind telling you I think that this might be our last chance to stock up on fake loo bowl cleaner and sequined devils horns." What follows would I imagine make a pretty good disaster movie as people who have overheard scream and clutch their innocent children to their bosoms. Children who might not grow up safe in the knowledge that theirs is a world in which one only has to take a short bus ride to acquire a reasonably priced knee high statue of Jesus sacred heart and all. After that it's only a short step to anarchy as a desperate scrabble begins for the last bri-nylon cardigan, those last few pink plastic clothes pegs. Civilization is a very fragile thing after all so remember as long as the flag of pointless economy still flies over Friar street there will always be an England, cut price, mass produced, populated by free men (and women) dressed by Primark..... Brings a tear to the eye... Though that might just be the plastic fumes overcoming me....

P.S Another of these shops was playing "Moneys too Tight to Mention" when I went in, They clearly aim to take their customers money first and insult them on the way out..

Terrible internet experiances that should be shared.....

2008-06-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Right first things first,this post is about Ravelry but if the bitchiness is this bad there I bet it is elsewhere...
My mother, charming harmless woman has been receiving rather a lot of hate mail recently, why you might well ask and anyone sane out there (I know it's a long shot these days) would be truly flabbergasted to discover the reason. You see she belongs to a rather large and rather popular knitting site that goes by the name of Ravelry. It was whilst looking at projects on this site that she stumbled across another knitters swastika mittens. Believe it or not these were mittens with an all over pattern of swastikas, the knitter was European so could hardly claim ignorance of the meaning that symbol has taken on since the Nazis and their hate fueled little war. Neither could any of the other site users claim ignorance but when my mother raised her objections she was told some almighty c**p. Apparently she had wilfully chosen to imbue the swastika with negative imagery... Ohh really so she just made up Hitler, the Nuremberg rally, the concentration camps, the war did she and why pray tell would anyone do that? It doesn't stop there ohh no. Because Ravelry has a group of people who like to call themselves the Rubberneckers and they deal as far as I can see in crass jokes and bitter character assassination and no one stops them no matter how nasty they get everyone just lets them get away with it and what if you do say anything? Then it becomes you fault...Just like that. Now I've met people like this before and let me tell you you don't scare me anymore because do you know how old all those people with a Rubbernecker mindset were.... Not a one over ten. Defend the Nazis if you like but look closely at your family backgrounds because a lot of you come from America, the great melting pot of the world and some of you might just have reason to be afraid that these people might come back and ohh they were so good at looking through records to find that one person you might all just have forgotten about whose name or face didn't fit with what they believed....

From Friday night to Sunday evening....

2008-06-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

The time might have changed but hopefully the wonderful sketches won't have. I'm talking about The Friday Night Talent.
Here are two of a fans favourites...Fan of the talent of course!This show seems to bring out their good sides...

1 Doctor Who as you've never seen it before. All the traditional elements are there, "Glamorous assistants", "Monsters", etc.
Mixed with the wonderful Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins.

2 The antidote to all those tedious Jane Austen dramatisations... And is that peeking out from that bonnet... No surely... Yes it's Rupert Everett.

Rupert Everett practices his unusual new form of yoga...

2008-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

There are many ancient yogic disciplines but amongst the most bizarre must be that practised by the inscrutable Rupert Everett. This practise sees it's most enlightened followers taking one foot and ramming this into their mouths, this can be done either literally or by the making of odd and crass statements. They will then meditate upon this foot or comment for a length of time before attempting to insert the other foot. Many true followers will admit to you that it is lamentably impossible to place both feet into the mouth at the same time so one foot or metaphorically a comment must first be removed to accommodate the other. This is a never ending cycle as you might have guessed but for the few who master this discipline true enlightenment is bound to follow. Judging by recent newspapers Rupert is well on his way to becoming a fully fledged yogi.

David Tennant speaks for us all ....

2008-06-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

When I started working in theatre in England, I would meet people and they would say, 'Oh, I voted for Margaret Thatcher'. The first time I heard someone saying that, I honestly thought they were joking.
"I'd be thinking, 'I have never met anyone from your world. What's it like? Do you roast children over open fires?' I still find it impossible to believe that anyone in the arts votes Conservative."

Well he speaks for me at any rate. I can't believe that anyone votes Conservative though if I'm honest. I find it particularly dis-heartening to see how many people have been sadly taken in by their superficial image change. I know that if it comes down to them getting back into power a lot of people will be disappointed to discover that a leopard never really changes its spots

Very sad at the moment but trying not to cry for mum....

2008-05-28T04:33:00.001-07:00

Sadly my Grandma passed away last night,I've always had both grandmas but I was never close to my dads mum and always felt that Granny Knight was the closest I would ever have to a story book granny. And she was very like one. I can't believe that everything that was her, thoughts, feelings even her voice won't be there anymore. She used to phone me on my birthday and wish me happy birthday, I'd get confused and I would always wish her happy birthday back. This year that won't happen, and I'll never be able to get it right, or laugh about my mistake when I get off the phone. Time keeps getting away from us.

A little taster from the magnificent B.B.C series Blackpool.

2008-05-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

I know it might seem odd at first, the average British Bobby being about as likely to break into a song and dance routine during an arrest as pigs are to fly (not that I'm ruling out the possibility that science will soon render that saying meaningless). But after a while watching this funny, intricate, sparkling series the songs, the dancing all just seem to blend in and make perfect sense.It pretty much says everything about our famously low rent seaside town Blackpool. I chose this one as the "Blooper" where David goes one way, bless him, and the other dancers go the right way is famous, if your a fan of D.T's that is. David plays a police officer investigating a murder in a newly opened arcade, to complicate matters he begins to have an affair with the arcade owner and chief suspects wife. Everyone has numerous secrets and their lives begin to disintegrate as the inquiry proceeds. I could explain it better at a later time but for now enjoy this clip, I believe the music is by the Smiths if anyone is interested.

By the by as a result of my appreciation of David's magnificent talents, achievements, looks, etc. I now know what a Clooty Pudding is ...Still don't know why you would want to eat one with fried egg though.........
Ohh go on then as I'm in a generous mood here is another of the wonderful clips from Blackpool. Should I stay? Yeah David since its you....

Beware the eclipse.... Very funny....

2008-05-10T13:42:00.001-07:00

As you'll no doubt have spotted not David related...I surprise myself somtimes. By the way Charles I apparently used to visit Cambridge to see the student's comedy performances. Obviously not in 1981... He was dead but I fancy he would have chuckled at this one.

This is so sweet and funny...Sad too If you ask me.

2008-05-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ohh come on how many people, let alone actors would show you their sweaty armpits...? I can't imagine how long its been since Emmerdale was Emmerdale farm.

The lovely David Tennant on The Friday night project....

2008-05-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

This is his second time on the British comedy hosted by the fabulous Alan Carr and Justine Lee Collins and I think he's enjoying himself.

Rupert Everett who has also been on the show twice is also hilarious, well worth seeking out!

Davina....Not McCall

2008-05-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

I thought it was high time you all met Davina. I find her oddly charming but don't worry I promise I'll be seeing a psychotherapist sooner or later.
She's got lovely.... Hasn't she?

Mother is not a happy bunny...

2008-05-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

For months she dreamt that Rupert Everett would take on the mantle of the Romantic poets, perching himself above the mist on the high craggy cliffs surveying that awful majesty that is nature at its wildest. But alas poor Roo it seems that the rug has been whipped out from under him as regards the cliffs, roaring wind, nature bit ,sorry Roo but look on the bright side you can still play Coleridge. Sitting in a drug induced high in a cupboard papered with news print... I'm saying nothing about art, imitation and life. Ohh well Roo until your own moment of romantic poet induced enlightenment strikes you can enjoy this Little Hamlet publicity shot with the rest of us ahh bless...

St Trinians

2008-04-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

Proof that Re-Makes can work perfectly, St Trinians was perfect for a modern make-over and I love the Emos.
Thank-You Mr Everett for making us laugh and if the local W.H.Smiths is anything to go by you'll be well rewarded by high sales.

Happy Birthday dear David happy birthday too you...

2008-04-18T03:57:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot, but just remembered...Sorry no cake

David Tennant cultured tastes.....

2008-04-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

I guess I was also going to the theatre for the first time [14 years old] " going to the Citz in Glasgow. It was an extraordinary artistic policy which they operated under. I saw some of the worst things I've ever seen and some of the best. The first thing I saw I think was School for Scandal, but an unusual, high-camp production. Brilliant. Macbeth set in a spaceship was probably the low point."
Crikey well Mother for your sake I hope Rupert wasn't in any of that, especially Macbeth. Ummm I wonder if Davie ever saw The Vortex there?

David Tennant returns to our screens......

2008-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

David Tennant returns to our television screens tonight , Admittedly in Doctor Who of which I am no fan but how can I resist, he's spent the last few weeks on a triumphal round of all the chat shows. Last week "The Friday Night Project" which was as usual funny and weird, although I found the "Ask Me Anything" section more than a little cringe worthy. David acquitted himself well of course to even the most curious of questions, and I doubt that I would be so... sweet. If you find it on Youtube you'll see what I mean. Last night "Friday night with Jonathan Ross". Charming throughout, wildlife presenters tapes aside (and wouldn't we all feel queasy watching a man having half his leg ripped off? I know I did.)
Later this year he'll be taking on the role most actors would die to play, Hamlet! I hope he enjoys himself tremendously. It's not the only Shakespeare he's appearing in this year but it is the largest and the most eagerly anticipated. And no I won't be going, ever since I was a Brownie and we all went to see The Wizard of Oz as a pantomime at the Hexagon (Readings civic venue, a former sight of Elizabethan heretic burnings). I can't control my mirth around stages. I knew that children's T.V presenter Michaella Strachen was not Dorothy and I thought to myself "Well that's a silly job pretending to be in a magical land whilst all around you are perfectly ordinarily dressed people (and a troop of Brownies ) it's ridiculous." I appreciate what actors do a whole lot more now but still I couldn't. Besides if I thought The Wizard of Oz was daft what on Earth would my mind make of Shakespeare....?

Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, nostalgia t.v to nostalgia T.V

2008-04-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Well Ashes to Ashes has finally ended, going out with a bang and more nonsense than can be squeezeed from a saturday night B.B.C talent show (i'm much to polite to name names) . Its nauseating nostalgia of course will return alas causing me to wonder if it's possible to just shake this dim wretch by the shoulders and tell her to pull herself together and wake up. Sadly not possible....Hoo Hum......

Classic pop tunes worth a second listen...

2008-03-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

(1) Song for Whoever by The Beautiful South
The perfect antidote to sickly love songs ( much like those warbled by Westlife).

(2) Hurt by Johnny Cash
I loved this and was delighted when I discovered it's name.

(3) Mad world by Tears for Fears.
Isolated and painful.

(4) One in Ten by UB40.
Just listen to it and you'll understand its message without difficulty

(5) Tainted love by Soft Cell
As an example of the style of the era it's perfect. The metaphors it has attracted over the years since it's release in 1981 and those which immediately rose up make it one of the most versatile singles of the decade. Try and find recordings by other artists especially prior to Soft Cell and compare them.

What, I mean what on earth are those trousers made from....?

2008-03-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

Crickey I thought Rupert Everett's early attempts to popularise knitted trousers were the worst I'd ever seen but I had no idea that these insults to good taste existed. Ohh well all those short sighted stylists need something to do....

Ashes to Ashes

2008-03-01T04:21:00.000-08:00

By God, It seems it wasn't just Bucks Fizz who spent 1981 in the land of make believe. After last week's atrocious episode in which everyone suddenly becomes terribly upset at the fate of all those poor prostitutes. Which was so terribly schmaltzy I surprised I wasn't violently sick, admittedly it wasn't all the writers fault the news that followed mainly centering on the Ipswich murderer but this Thursday's episode was hilarious. Greenham Common can not possibly be shoe horned into a program set in the Docklands, or so I thought at first. Later I was converted, I believe the cold war can be solved by locking policemen in small cupboards where we know that they are bound not to be in any peril as that would leave four episodes left to fill. So hey hoo that explains it! This scene features mild peril resulting in partial nudity and the possibility of sex between the world's ugliest human and the world's dippiest human. Fortunately they were rescued before we were forced to watch such stomach churning drivel. One of the biggest questions I had at the end of the episode was how lax was our nuclear security? No wonder no one spotted the Cambridge spies! Five of the most obvious people in England dolly in and out with only one security pass between them and no one, no one so much as raises an eyebrow. I half expected them to pass a tour party of Soviet soldiers taking notes and photographs on the way out, a couch party of young pioneers perhaps? Ahh well I dare say looking at the trailer for next week's episode that this isn't the lowest the series can sink. Ahh vulgarity how we love you so, ahh pointless will they won't they be scenes. As long as we've got those we won't have to worry about a plot....

David Tennant on Chain Reaction....

2008-02-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

And inhale and stop laughing.... Ohh wonderful, I know rather a lot of people seem to have had their noses put out of joint by David's (sorry to be so personal) comments on astrology but aside from the fact I agree with him (what a pain it must be to have you Aries up your... never mind. You have to admit that he is delightfully funny about any subject. Another wonderful interview from which he emerged as one of our most intelligent and quirky modern celebrities, he just has to speak for a few minutes and he'll already have made you either weep with laughter or coo "Ahh! Isn't he lovely." All that and handsome too! Even my Mother found him amusing and I got the feeling that she was dreading this little radio event. I love the notion that Marmite never quite reached over the border because you can't deep fry it, I dare say you can't, after all covering it in batter would be a bl**dy nightmare. I love the lines from "The Bill" , yes that would be a bit unlucky if fate dealt you the blow of being a serial killer. Still with your stars in that alignment....bound to happen.
Lastly David darling you can be assured that everything you've ever done and probably ever will do (theatre work aside, I never saw that side of your career) has a certain quality to it, whatever the first line of your eulogy will be there will be much more to celebrate than that. I have loved looking up David's films and then searching them out, because there is a lot more there than The Doctor and I'm glad that I've seen it.

Dont you want me? You know I don't believe you, when say that you don't need me.....

2008-02-15T07:26:00.001-08:00

As promised here is my opinion on last nights Ashes to Ashes. Well at last we finally know that they were right when they said incidents of police brutality could be tracked down to a "handful" of officers. With this lot around even the most horrifically unenlightened P.C would have to turn around and say "Sorry I tried, but I just can't top those levels of brutality. So I'm going into the fish and chip trade." This leaves the notion that any of this lot would be seen dead or even quite peaky, in The Blitz wondering in the desert of the improbable. In fact I want statistics, how many policemen ever set foot in the door, and of those how many had come in eyeliner? I realise that to watch T.V one must suspend your disbelief, so in the interests of fair play I took my disbelief last night and suspended it just over the Grand Canyon and gave it a very firm shaking (it’s what Gene Hunt would have wanted) but still it refused to give in. This it protested makes pitiful little sense and I couldn’t help but agree, especially when it muttered "Well if the actors don't know what the Hell this is all about I don't see how you should be expected to guess." It was right you know. But let me consider this episode for you, in a whole hour I only saw one scene that had any potential and even that was slowly deflated, wrong placement, wrong context. I refer to the cardboard box scene, every car chase from "The Rockford Files" to "The Sweeny", and from "Bergerac" to "The Streets of San Francisco" always featured a scene in which the police cars would plough through lots of empty cardboard boxes. Now let’s think about this, these boxes were almost always empty or contained nothing but some fruit, they were rarely seen to be in the care of anyone, had been placed almost belligerently in the centre of the road and had not rather strangely been knocked over already by the felon’s car. So why might you ask were they there? No idea. If they had been successful in puncturing that bit of eighties TV scene setting I would have had something nice to say as it is I don't. I think I even lost track of who the bomber was (everyone I think) until the end and just sat there thinking well thank God I know people who didn't cluster round the telly tugging their forelocks during the Royal Wedding. Still it’s always nice to know that the BBC is making the most of a basement full of old news clips....really wringing their moneys worth out last night. Ahh well no I'm still not a convert never will be if I have to see all those wobbly arses again, mind you it got worse when they pulled their trousers down. Sorry I couldn’t resist that joke.

Sunday night and the oil is (meant to be) flowing.

2008-02-12T02:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched BBC four's nostalgic look back at Sunday night T.V (entitled rather unimaginatively “The Cult of Sunday”). A look back at the glowing golden days when we all gathered round the Sunday TV....Or did we, as you might have guessed I missed the 1970's first time around (thank-God, I'd get lost in all that brown) but to a man no one else could remember the subject of last nights foray... “The Brothers”. Strange as for half an hour they attempted to convince us it was "Our Dallas". UMmm allow me to disagree for one big reason, we can do boardroom (after all a long table is not that expensive) but we can't do opulent. All the clips suggested to me that the actors had been dressed by Marks and Spencer and no one drank champagne, Babycham yes but Champagne that would have been very un-British. But to this day I find that anything set in a world we perceive to bring us riches and luxury must be “our Dallas”, “our Dynasty”... Nothing ever quite scales those well remembered heights, Footballers wives tried but quickly slipped into knowing self parody and fell a little short of the pinnacle. We can't kid ourselves like this we just can't, we will never be able to emulate American soap operas that’s why people so adored them, they were unlike anything they had ever seen before. Kitsch, camp and giddily at one with their decade. The opposite of the brown ale and misery they dished up on British TV under the rather uninspiring titles “Emmerdale Farm” and “Coronation Street”. Today if you want this sort of TV programme your better off with a dollop of “Desperate Housewives” or my personal favourite and I suspect the bane of my fathers existence, “Ugly Betty” (I told you I was a touch on the dim side) than cheap substitutes like “The Palace” My other objection to this program was that the showing I watched was a repeat; originally they broadcast the “Cult of Sunday” on ...Sunday, at 8o'clock..... No, no, no. Just when the BBC's Sunday night schedule starts to look up they plonk this on the listings. Why? Why don't you just let people watch all the plush, well lit and delightful dramas you've just spent a justifiable fortune on? At the moment you can revel in “lark Rise to Candleford”. It may not be deep but it is beautiful, cheerful and sweet and I for one rather like it. But then you know you’ll get your moneys worth with Liz Smith, Bless her, really, Bless her. Before that we had “Cranford” which lets face it if Liz Smith is your moneys worth then Cranford was designed to spoil us, Judi Dench glittered as she always does and although I can’t say I knew of Eileen Aitkin before, I can’t imagine anyone playing a formidable matron with so much gravitas. Even the Newsnight Review, one place you can’t usually expect people to be impressed only complaint was “Everyone’s so clean. “ Strange my Grandmother said the exact same thing. But I think that not washing would have been a bit much to ask of the actors. At least Cranford played to our strengths, everyone looked as if they were waiting for the advent of the Anti-Depressant, and if anyone dared to look as if they might try enjoying themselves their hopes were quickly dashed. Also living there seemed to be particularly dangerous if you were male, you either died or disappeared, or umm both. They needed to start spelling village fete with an a , they only had one but the death toll was terrible. I don't think Sunday nights have ever been as good as they are now, and God pray they keep this up and don't just slide back into nostalgia TV.

It means nothing to me...Ahh Vienna

2008-02-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

I avoided Life on Mars throughout its run partly because I thought it was just a really silly idea, partly because I just didn't really care (about the 1970's, about Sam Tyler the lot). However I did know it was very popular. So last night after having seen what else was on telly (Coleen Mclaughlin apparently, but you can't say she dosn't suffer for her art, after all she is Wayne Rooneys partner) I decided to give Life on Mars's sequel Ashes to Ashes a chance. Umm...well its not that I don't get it, David Bowie clowns, talking Rainbow characters, the whole psycological element. But my did they ever choose a song to fit it as I certainly have to say "It means nothing to me." And jeez the phallic imagery, ohh well if Gene Hunt was real you'd have to sit him down and tell him size dosn't matter as it is I'll cast no aspertions on the cast and crew but someone need that little talk. And boys don't think it's all ironic, it goes just that little bit to over the top to blame it all on ironic kitsch. I thought Phillip Glenister was going to have to pay someone to light his cigars for him as his arms got further and further from the end. I assume I wasn't meant to fall of the sofa laughing during the scene with the speed boat and machine gun but I confess I did. To be honest I started chuckling around the time the words "fire up the Quattro" were uttered (another penis substitute, this is really getting quite tragic by now) and compleatly disintegrated when he whipped out his... gun, do they make a longer barrel? I doubt it. Gosh I never even knew The Met. had a pick your own gun policy! Ohh no they don't, I don't believe they ever have! I gather that amongst women who feel that the days of the New Man and the Metrosexual are numbered, Gene Hunt has a wide following, you may gather if you read my other posts that I do not hold this belief myself. why ladies would you want a man who would probably care as much about your needs and feelings as a cat does? One last thing fans of the series seem terribly excited that the sound track always features the music of the decade, that's not clever, they do the same in Heartbeat.In fact I expect period dramas to feature music that fits in, after all you would'nt expect Snoop Doggy Dog in Jane Austin would you? And yes I know David Tennant's praised Life on Mars before but I do not put that much store in other peoples opinion ,even his. At least it proves one thing, you can make T.V about anything even men who feel inadequate, after all Channel Five have been doing it for years.....

David and Pin-ups .

2008-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

"Boyish and electric-thin, Tennant is a very modern kind of leading man. He retains a kind of undergraduate quality, and what he lacks in chiselled jaw and shoulder span he makes up for in the animation of his face and his quick intelligence. It's easy to see why smart casting directors have spotted his appeal for women in contrast to the more traditional, slab-like leading men of old."
Well they may not be my words (they belong to Stephanie Merritt from the Guardian) but I think that just about sums up the appeal to me.I'm not overly fond of the men that women are often said to like. Sylvester Stallone for instance, but then I don't think I'd be over keen on those sort of men even if every chat show didn't keep introducing them as "one for the ladies" as if we couldn't make up our own minds about what we like and want to watch on the T.V.

2008-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GyrRhK3mWM
The link above takes you to the rather funny Blackadder the Cavalier years. I just thought that I should put this here as you all know about Mothers love of all things Civil War and I like a laugh so its a bit of a win win. How many people just wanted to turn round and say "Ohh Damn Only one civil war in our entire history and I'm on the wrong bl**dy side"

I recently saw all about Eve...

2008-01-16T05:27:00.001-08:00

My God what a film, what a world to get lost in! I've always wanted to see this film because it's a classic and because Roo is always comparing himself to Eve... not that I can't see why. It's well acted, mesmerising and disturbing in turns and if they made them like that these days rather than just pretending too I might actually go to the cinema.

I live in a very odd country...

2008-01-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

Obviously I don't have the time or the space here to debate all of the idiosyncrasies that have rendered the British...Well British. But there is no denying that nothing seems to tickle the British funny bone faster than a man in a dress. So funny do we find this in fact that whole sketch shows and careers have hinged on their impressive gifts of physical deception (or not, try telling me no one could have guessed that Lily Savage was not a she ? ) . So its nice to see our Roo pulling it of so well. And god I love those teeth, that expression ! What a gal, what a gal !

Of course Miss Fritton (Rupie Poos) had to work hard to be this convincing, breasts which weighed according to his memory on the day quite a bit. And shaving every three hours to keep that baby softness (no wonder hes grown stubble I should imagine his face needed the rest).

But let me put it this way, if your going to do a thing its best to do it well. Some of the most commanding performances have been spoilt by the need for a closer shave...

I'm saying nothing you'll have to guess who that is for yourselves.

And sometimes well... as they often tell you at Christmas "Its the thought that counts"....

No you really do have to guess again (not that it'll take you very long).

Au Revoir ma Cheries, I hope to be back replying to you sooner than I usually manage. Well fingers crossed....

I found this list on the Guardian unlimited and I'm ashamed to admit some of them had me in stitches...

2008-01-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

How it should be done
Classic putdowns from famous women
· Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies - Bette Davis

· His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork - Mae West

· There's a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in high society, outside of a kennel - Joan Crawford in The Women

· Mr Maugham, I have two words left to say to you, and the second one is "off" - Tallulah Bankhead to Somerset Maugham ( after been turned down for one of his plays)

· If all the girls who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end, I wouldn't be a bit surprised - Dorothy Parker

· Acting is the most minor of gifts. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four - Katharine Hepburn

· She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong - Mae West

· She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B - Dorothy Parker on Katharine Hepburn's acting abilities

· Dramatic art in her opinion is knowing how to fill a sweater - Bette Davis on Jayne Mansfield

A very merry Christmas to you....

2007-12-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have just reminded my mind of what time of year it is and my mind went of for a little hysterical running around, jumping, screaming and a dizzy kind of semi dancing. I watched it through binoculars for a while, but it was all much to exhausting for me. Thankfully it has tired itself and popped back in to write this post. Ahh bless it. Ohh and bless Christmas, what a beautiful time of year, the fake snow glittering on the windowpanes, the silver tinsel trees fresh in from the forest (on which planet its hard to tell) and the semi-promise/ semi-threat of Christmas Dinner and the inevitable following exhaustion. But I do love Christmas, no its never the same when your not six anymore but it can still be lovely ( Alarmist documentaries on channel four not withstanding, with their merry festive assertions that your Christmas dinner, decorations and presents will kill you. Yes they will if you buy your turkey from a door to door salesman you've never clapped eyes on before, and get your gifts from a market stall where all the packaging has been crudely drawn with felt-tip.) Anyway I recently read that the Christmas tree, that most traditional of living-room dressings that gives people without pets something to hoover up, may not have been introduced by Prince Albert but instead the first may have been erected by another prince consort from the continent with time on his hands. Prince George of Denmark. Never heard of him? Not surprised, George was queen Annes husband and according to those who met him he was a dull as ditch water. A small quote from Charles II here (Georges uncle in law) "I've tried him drunk and I've tried him sober and there is nothing to him!" so it was no surprise that no one took him particularly seriously when they spotted him dragging a tree indoors and pinning candles too it. Someone probably suggested sending him to Bedlam but he was clearly too boring to bother with hospitalising. Another little Christmas fact for you, it is illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas day in England, a law I notice most people are quite happy to flout, including Santa (tushhhh shame on him). Guess whose Idea that was, yep Cromwell !!!! Fun Guy. Ohh well it's awful late and I must be going but who knows I may be back tomorrow

I'm Spinning in wool....

2007-12-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

With sanity still apparently alluding our favourite disco diva (Rupert Everett) I have stumbled across the one way that hes sure to win back his number one fan's (mother) affections. The answer is simple the answer...Is knit wear. let me explain how I made this discovery, this morning I was checking up on my other pin-up (David Tennant, If you haven't heard of him in America. He is a Scottish actor who has become famous over here for playing "Doctor Who" Iconic British Sci-Fi, No I don't like Sci-Fi in particular, loved Star Trek when I was little but not really my thing. I do however like D.T. Anyway I came across this picture of him wearing an apparently woolly creation up top. Now I know that mother would never find this particular young man attractive (he's not her type) but after some of Roos odd pronouncements of late she looked over my shoulder and said "Well if he carries on wearing knitwear I might just have to cash Roo in" (sorry but what a wonderful idea a bank where you can exchange Pin-ups, new for used). http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/tennant05/april/elle.jpg So Roo come on Lad buck up your ideas and find a place in your heart for something fluffy and snug this winter. At least you wont end up looking like a rapper those sexist, homophobic, shoot em-ups you seem to find "Just so stylish dahling!!!!" Allow me to snort with derision if I may but one thing Roo, how were you going to pull off that boy from the wrong side of the tracks look exactly ? Have you never heard of Ali-G? And if any of my readers haven't he's the only rapper from Staines, and he is of course a spoof. Well don't let me stop you from hanging out with your posse.....Julian, Neville, Sebastian ,all bolly good guys I'm sure and spiffing fun when you were in the upper fifth!" Whilst I'm on the subject, three cream eggs for breakfast !!!!???? Ohh allow me to be sick on your behalf !! Now I just know your No.1 fan loves that black jumper from "Separate Lies", that black jumper from "Unconditional love" .... Oh you can see where I'm going with this. Anyway I'm sure that there are some "Bolly good knitwear shops in London!!!!" Find one and don't buy a baggy granddad cardigan trying to do the Geek Chic look, your'e too old, it would be too sad. If not try to knit your own, Libertys have everything you need (two sticks a length of wool) and get cracking ,my sense of humour and I would just love to see the results......Snorts... A Merry bah humbug too all and too all a bolly good night yahhh.(Rupert Everetts Christmas greeting, not mine.)

This is Harriet

2007-11-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

Harriet is and I admit its hard to tell in this picture a Skunk, not being native to Europe how she got to England is a Mystery although this is what she told me last time I asked. She decided to upsticks sometime after hearing the 2000 Presidential election results. She waved by to Ma, Pa and her siblings who she claims resemble the Walton family but with significant issues. She'd heard that it was legal to keep Skunks as pets in England so decided that was where she'd head. On route she brought herself a pair of glasses and a cardigan. It is cold in England so the cardigan makes perfect sense, but Harriet is not short sighted so she actually has no reason to wear glasses. Still I'm not gonna mention it.
P.S. If you don't believe a word of this some say she comes from TKMAXX bargain bin.

My Style Icons....

2007-11-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yes I am odd but there you go.... The odd thing is that all my style icons are far from umm how shall we say discreet girls...Ethel Merman, Miss Piggy, Delores Del Rio.... Have you ever seen "Theres no Buisness Like Show Buisness" Wonderful film, "Call Me Madam", "How to Marry a Millionaire". I sometimes worry if left to my own devices I'd turn ito a maribu clad, big hatted diva......

Ahh yes, I have!!

Some more clothes and blankets for weirdos....

2007-10-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Picture above is a merino fairisle blanket, two silk textured cot blankets and Mrs Mouses five children (one quite obviously adopted), dressed in their Christmas party dresses, all except for the baby who is wearing her night gown. I have included a tuppence piece for scale, but for those not familiar with English coinage the baby is 1 and a half inches high undressed.

Expect Mum already put this on but there wil be more comming soon.......

2007-10-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Mum has a new bog....

2007-10-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

we all knew it wouldn't take long !!

http://angieismad.blogspot.com/

Rupert Everett's Mum's Christmas headache over !

2007-10-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

There you go Mrs Everett two for one. After Rupie has made it up he can give it to you for Mother's day . This rag of a gift catalogue what came with my copy of "The World of Interiors" a Code Nast publication of a high quality what I likes to ogle and I might say my dear Dad paid for and he won't find his old school cushions in there !! sniff.

Rory Kennedy documentary on "More 4" ...

2007-10-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

" True Stories ghosts of Abu Ghraiv " time is 10pm 16th October ( Tuesday).
Mum says watch it !!! You see can't get rid of her that easily.

Rupert Everett fans ...film on I.T.V 1 on.....

2007-10-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

"B.Monkey" is on at 1.10am Monday 15th October .

Mother has decided to delete her blog...

2007-10-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Mainly because she thinks that she is spending far to much time on it. Also if she was a newspaper she'd go out of business. She will be popping up on her occasionally. Also she will email Marianne and Dana. Thanks to all her readers. xx

Book MeMe

2007-10-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

1) Hardcover or Softcover? Well a hardcover book you can keep forever, drag around after you, insert notes into to find and be reminded of some passion stirred by writing in years to come. But you can take a softcover book to the bath with you.

2)If I were to own a bookshop what would it be called? Tea Leaves it would include a cafe for book club evenings.

3)Favourite book quote? By the time he was eight he knew he would never be a Great Actress. Chapter one of Hello Darling Are You Working by ...guess who..... Rupert Everett.

4)The author you would most like to have lunch with? Ahh now I hate to feel shy so I couldn't have lunch with any of them without trembling and feeling sick. I wouldn't hear a word they said and then I'd pass out. So maybe not. If I were less nervy, Isabel Allende, Irma Kurtz, many more. On second thoughts death not being a barrier I could probably meet with Louisa May Allcot who wrote Little Women as I have a feeling she may be a little shy herself.

5)The book I would take to a desert island? "Red carpets and other Banana skins"

6)I would love to invent a book gadget that? Ohh reads them too you whilst you knit or draw or just lounge around in bed. Yes I know about the tape machine but the choice of tapes is so limited so a reading robot would be nice.

7)The smell of old books reminds me of? Not real memories, just the film constructs in my mind. Warm fires and large half decayed libraries a little drafty (The sort of place Mrs Moony and Mrs Nito might help out in).

8)If I could be a lead character in a book? Well you see this is why I'd simply love to write books of my own. But in case I never get round to it... I'd like to be someone warm and cosy and safe possibly a female furry in the old bear tales by Jane Hissey.

9)The most over estimated book of all time? Anything by Jane Austen.

10)I hate it when a book is? Published by Mills&Boon

I Tag Mrs Nito.....

Selvedge

2007-09-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

I brought this at the local W.H.Smith and one look inside made me absolutely adore it. I picked my favourite picture from the inside too show you . I love the collages and the old Quality Street tins which look like decoupages themselves. I spent Thursday making a black 1950's inspired organza petticoat, two layers gathered onto a pink satin belt, under a dress with a cinch belt hopefully it will look beautiful and dramatic. I also brought World Of Interiors more about that tomorrow.

Arrived today !

2007-09-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Mum and I have been fighting over it ..kidding , reading it to each other. It is brilliant .

I've been on Ebay again......

2007-08-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

And got these at a wonderful price , I love the winter myself its fashions and that kind of wonderful feeling of being cold and getting warm again. There are some nice things in these as well as christmas gift ideas and a handful of beautiful interiors. Being British and from 1981 they tend to wax lyrical about the Royal wedding. I admit I find this a little irritating (I'm not much of a fan of the late princess ) and sometimes its weird to read people talking about the promise of the future when you've already seen what happens. But all in all its a good buy

Marianne awarded me this...

2007-08-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mum his no is ...

2007-08-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

226672227122.

Vintage through the post....

2007-07-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I brought a couple of old 1984 vogues from E.Bay. Today's vogues don't stir me , the last one I brought was U.K vogues 90th anniversary special packed with retrospective features and vintage make-up tips. But these two are from a whole other world where glamour is concerned. Ralph Lauren and faux pearls abound. This picture comes from Octobers evening wear section little angora jumper with faux pearls and icing sugar pink duchess satin ball skirt . It was so wonderfully girly that I typically fell in love with the look. Yves Saint Laurent's "Paris" perfume adverts had me reaching for a pen and paper as they inspired me to write another bit of the story I've been working on for months now. Oddly nostalgic although I wasn't born until Christmas 1989...

Cutting down the carbon may mean cutting down the free gifts for Rupert Everett

2007-07-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

According to a spring Vogue U.S (2006) you can come across some great goodies on airplanes and in hotels. Springy socks, eye masks, moistened towelettes. My grandma once gave me such a gift after she'd been to New Jersey, an orange plastic bag with support socks and earplugs and a small bag of sweets (ahh she couldn't spend less if she tried), what she should have brought was a T.Shirt that said "I'm so tight all I brought back from flying across the earth was this." So Roo leave your carbon footprint where it is and give some love this Christmas. Now I think of it your not the person who kept stealing the Christmas decorations from John Lennon airport are you? In your own life, go on drug busts with the police and slip the evidence into pockets when they are not looking and transport cafes always have lots of sugar and salt and ketchup sachets on the table so there is another perk ! Try these tips Roo they could fund your life (style).

Rupert Everett interview in THE SPECTATOR

2007-07-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

Ohh dear I think the dear old queen ( Rupert Everett)got out of bed on the wrong side this morning, if in fact he ever went to bed at all (It seems ohh so doubtful). Apparently nowadays no one's good enough to be a celebrity aah gone are the good old days when" Royalty Today" was the only magazine with celebs in. And have you seen the clothes these people wear? , shocking mind you coming from T.D.O.Q style advice doesn't really seem terribly how shall we say up to date? Anyway howls, sobs because someone on a dating site asked him if he was older than it said he was, no doubt that is dame Botox I hear sweetly calling "Roo, Roo I can vanish the years!" Rest assured she can't and no doubt you 'll still be clubbing when you 108 but that is not everyone's fate Roo. Even some gay guys, you know like the ones who are shock horror thinking about someone other than themselves and adopting children (the small people Roo, like the ones you went to school with?) Never mind though you obviously couldn't ask your friends what they were , Princess Margaret for instance one of those wasteful Royal twats. Not the one with the pastel coloured hats who pops up on the telly at Christmas. The other one so stepped in alcohol you would be forgiven for thinking she was Christmas pudding. Never mind no ones under any assumption that you're a saint dear (If you are they've changed the rules since I did R.E) but try not to turn into Elton John. There that's scared you, now what's all this stroppiness about ? You want to sell something, people don't know it exists unless you advertise. Its like the oldest profession in the world, if you don't stand on street corners at night in a mini skirt curb crawlers are unlikely to ask you "how much?", of course you would know more about that than most people non?

Welcome to The Hotel Cleopatra

2007-07-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

When I was younger than I am now (about eight or nine) I turned a corner of my bedroom into "The Hotel Cleopatra". A place of my own invention ,with a delicate decaying elegance. This was where old dowagers spent their last years and actresses sunned themselves on the terraces. A kind of Savoy but nominally in the south of France. Recently I started to sketch and illustrate the hotel that existed in my head. An Art Deco/ Art Nouveau palace with print rooms whose wallpaper had begun to fade and fall off and mirrored reception desks. But I was always fascinated with how the downstairs of such crumbling old establishments would operate. Dark beams hung with herbs, cracked tiles, lemon and salt scrubbed tables and mismatched chairs. The picture is a preliminary sketch of a member of staff. A pleasant and instantly likable country woman with a home brewed remedy for everything.

Vintage ce'st Moi......

2007-05-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

I Have had rather a lot of problems recently uploading photos to my site so now I wanted to tell you about these vintage books which I have been looking at with longing. This is the front cover of a book charting and detailing twentieth century fashion along with one of my favourite photos from the book. Christian Dior's last show in 1957. Ive loved 1950's dress design since I was a little girl, when I was old enough to appreciate grown up films I loved to watch the Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, etc films that were put on to fill Saturday afternoons. The moment I saw Grace Kelly all full skirts, little cardigans and frothy ball gowns in "To Catch A Thief" I knew that was how I wanted to dress when I grew up. Poor Mother doesn't know where she went wrong, being an old hippy and all but at least she get to look at the chapter on the 1970's. Zandra Rhodes is one of her big inspirations as I suppose you might have guessed from her designs. Privately I do not wear them myself but I think she has a wonderful eye for colour and a strong flair for capturing the mood of the British coastline.

Mothers Idea.... Rupert Everett as a gay James Bond.

2007-04-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Rupert is scrummy so I'd find this very umm easy on the eye. And after all times have changed, if James Bond can't reflect modern British life (Well actually British life at any time)then it's a great shame. Now is the ideal time as the plots hinge less on the authors original work and more on the political climate of the day.

My Desert Island Discs .

2007-03-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

1) July Tree , Nina Simone.

2) Cry me a River , Dinah Washington.

3)Silent Night , Joan Baez .

4)Sad Mood , Sam Cooke

5)Ave Maria ( in German) by Joan Baez.

6)The Look of Love , Nina Simone .

7)Smooth Operator , Mongo Santamaria .

8)Dream a Little Dream of Me , Nat King Cole .

9)Canon in D , Pachelbel.

10) Cupid , Sam Cooke

I guess this is a MEME ...

2007-03-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

What are your three favourite perfumes?
Mine are :
1) Nina Ricci's "Love in Paris"
2) Guerlain's "Vol de Nuit"
3) Chanel's "No5".

Two more on Mum's needles !

2007-03-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Vintage perfume bottles from my new book.

2007-03-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Q.V.C

2007-03-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

Now I've never seen the American QVC but I just love the English one. The items they sell are praised to the hilt although I know that If I popped into town I could pick up half this stuff at.... well cheaper prices ! This week we had a woman who looked a lot like an Indian Dolly Parton with "Global Beauty Secrets" containing rare ingredients that seemed to change their country of origin every five minutes and which she claimed to have blended herself to ancient recipes. I had a feeling a Chemist might have had more luck. Anyway sum total of her beauty secrets she can make you "glow". That's the thing now, look in Vogue and It tells you how to glow. So for a cheap fix I suggest you move closer to Sellafield (English Nuclear power plant) where a lovely if greenish glow can be obtained for next to nothing. And its bound to last longer than faux tan. Now her other secret will only seem funny if you've seen "Father Ted" (a British comedy set on one of the outer lying Irish islands where three Catholic priests and their deranged housekeeper are more or less exiled from the rest of the Church ) .On one trip to the mainland they go in search of Priests black socks "The others are just very, very, very dark blue". Now they can breathe easily as she's found "Israels secret, carbon black the blackest black in the world!!!! " I wonder myself how she can tell.?And the poor models they had their make up put on twenty times at least and yet they still smile( how brave !)
Ahh well whilst we're on the subject Mum says if she ever sees the Jackie Kennedy collection again, she wants compensation from the Kennedy family.

She's got out her green pen Marianne...

2007-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

The free paper that is popped in our door every week was very rude about Rupert today calling him "an old lovie" .I heard the teeth grinding and now she'll have to write ! I could not comment under yours as blogger is being a real pain !

Is your mother mad?

2007-03-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

Every day Mum watches "To Kill a King" at least once. To be fair she is looking at all the scenery, background detail and studying the acting (I did inflict the "Cassandra crossing" on her yesterday just to see Martin Sheen with long hair, this is one of the worst films ever made). Anyone who hasn't seen T.K.A.K. will not have had the pleasure of Cromwell's rant at the King. Many critics see a homo-erotic relationship between Fairfax and Cromwell. It is the words he shouts in a state of hysteria at the king that make me think Fairfax is not the only one who needs to worry. It goes Something like this " You think everyman is born to kiss your hand grovel at the hem of you're well fingered gown and if you expect to buy back the crown with your pirates gold you're little more that a villain and a Whore master" I think he's having a Johnny Depp fantasy. I admit Rupert seem to over enjoy the thigh boots, long red hair and pretty lace collars. But hey he looks pretty good.

Mum and Rupert Everett ...

2007-03-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

No folks he's not desperate and he is gay but she is not only fuming about her treatment by a "friend" but at his on "The Apprentice" . She has been reading his book and loves it .She also heard him on radio 4's "Libby Purves" and adored him. So she'll probably ask you all to complain about the blatant bullying he received ...well if anyone is out there !

I love a comedian called Mark Steel.

2007-02-23T03:04:00.000-08:00

As a comedian I mean. He's a Left winger who is just so smart and so funny. If your not a roaring fan of Marie Antoinette then next time you find yourself in a bookshop history department have a little flick through "Vive La Revolution" Or listen to his series on radio seven "The Mark Steel Solution". But here is one of the most important reasons why I like him. Last night during his education stand up he said everything I think about schools.
"There are things that you learn at school. Violence, fear and anxiety"
Well that was my experience of school as well.

Some of you may already know I have another site....

2007-02-22T02:19:00.000-08:00

Last year I invented the little village of Cutting Sprout, the home of some very British eccentrics. Your correspondent is Mrs J. Nito, obsessed with Brussels Sprouts, a stalwart of the W.I and the cinema organ player. She wants to bring her messasge of Brussels to the masses. Since her husband "Woger" dissapeared and her son Bramwell grew up and opened a charming little boutique she shares a house with her old school friend Mrs Moony who used to be the Pharoah Tutankamun and is now a Gin soak. A host of fellow villagers keep her busy writing, the vicar whose name luckily enough is Mr V.Vicar is a bit of a lech. Henretta Maria and hubby Charlie (or if your as simple as Mrs Nito, her hubbys' Charles, Im and Milord), Fitness fanatic Mrs Bagshott -Smyth, Madam Ida Batwing whose psycic powers are almost legendary (well they would be if she had any. But she tries to bend spoons and talk to spirits like a proffessional ) ,Lord Arbathnot who has his uhh hem..... Secrets and Mr Misery (the worlds last puritan). If the people of Cutting Sprout are a bit odd, then they don't mind you knowing it and their hospitable to a fault. So dunk your tea bags, fold your song sheets and cycle down for evensong or if you prefer unevensong.

Charity shop find from yesterday.

2007-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Only cost £1.50 .

My latest buy.....

2007-02-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

I love looking at vintage jewellery on the internet but I always prefer books .This was a very lucky find .I have some of Mum's books like her Vogue covers and her Fortuny book that I think I'd have to surf for hours to find the same amount of information and pictures.I can also cart them around with me anywhere and be inspired.

I still love it Ma !

2007-02-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

Getting better every day ....

2007-02-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

The big Maltesar ( as Mum calls him) is coming along fine. He is still very tired but can eat near normal portions and Mum is cooking him the finest . Dad was taken into hospital after two weeks of extreme pain and illness only for the surgeons to find his appendix had been strangled by his bowels .It died went to Gangrene and was shutting down his organs with toxins ..it was a close thing.

Latest charity shop find.

2007-02-16T00:53:00.000-08:00

Part enamel , part bakelite or a plastic?

My next project

2007-02-16T00:50:00.000-08:00

after finishing the dress I cut out yesterday.

I love this suit..

2007-02-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

It's a perfect Spring colour. Today I am cutting out my first Vintage Vogue pattern for a 1950's dress. A very simple shape and if it goes well I'll make the jacket too. Mum is teaching me some basic stitches but I already sew a little as I make miniatures.

Huntley and Palmers..

2007-02-15T00:55:00.000-08:00

sadly the building is demolished now but it's one of Reading's most famous landmarks. I love these old tins and the town museum has some beautiful ones.

Mum's idea of a perfect coat..

2007-02-15T00:53:00.000-08:00

if you like this you'll love the film "wings of a Dove"

Reading mum's old Laura Ashley catalogues

2007-02-13T02:07:00.000-08:00

from the 1980s .I like some of the Edwardian inspired clothes ,sadly she only has a couple of items .

Not a tear...

2007-02-13T02:04:00.000-08:00

Just about five weeks ago it was warm enough to go out like this ..not now ..that's part of the fold in the silk of my skirt b.t.w. It has red silk roses appliqued on the hem and was a present from Mum .

Mum's capelets

2007-02-13T02:01:00.000-08:00

Mum cast on a sleeveless top in Damask yarn for me yesterday which will make a change from her capelet obbsession. This one came in really handy last week when it snowed and I could throw it over my Edina Ronay Russian style coat.