Serendipity

On the new Doctor

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:12:36 GMT

To be honest I'm really pleased at the news. He wasn't who I imagined they'd cast (having thought Team BBCWales would go for another younger prettier man).

I thought he was brill in Children of Earth and I think he brings the gravitas so the rabid lot of GB can eff off with their "but he doesn't have gravitas" nonsense they spout each time a new Doctor is announced (same goes for you Jo Whiley). (Sorry for the somewhat run on sentence there)

It appears that when it comes to casting the Thirteenth Doctor or the next companion we should be looking at the cast lists of Fires of Pompeii :D

In almost completely unrelated news Rufus Hound looks like a completely different person without his facial hair.

comments

That big DW news

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:48:25 GMT

( spoilers )

comments

Owie!

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:37:00 GMT

The snow was lovely for a few days but it made work so cold that I no longer have feet. I have two size five chilblains at the end of my legs. They hurt so much I can't sleep. It makes me woeful.

When ex-Cheddar woke up Sunday morning she cried because the snow had all been washed away by the monsoon that blew through Saturday night. This is why she's only seen The Snowman once because she gets abut hysterical at the end because snow doesn't last in this country. When she grows up she's probably going to move to Canada or Sweden or somewhere. Bless her.

comments

Snooooooooowwwwww!

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:58:37 GMT

Friday was horrible. took the best part of 3 hours to get home, there were a couple of bits where I couldn't grip the road and so many knobbers who drive too fast and too close. Driving up the street to my street (which is uphill) I was basically knocking off the kerbs on each side of the road. Not fun at all. And out drive slopes downwards so I couldn't park on it without the fear of hitting the house.

Friday afternoon was spent teaching Ex-Cheddar how to make snow angels and throw snowballs. (Her snowball throwing is nearly as bad as mine)

Saturday was spent making a 'better' snowman with Daddy and causing wanton vandalism to mine. (The cheeky gets pushed mine over!)

Sunday I ventured out for the weekly shop which wasn't too terrifying but it's snowed a couple of centimetres here this evening and is showing no sign off letting up so I'm not feeling massively hopeful about getting to work tomorrow. Unless we take the bus. Which I think Ex-Cheddar will love.

Today we made this:

He has been named Snowtoro.

Off to go and find some bus timetables.

comments

Currently watching...

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:57:57 GMT

Fringe: can't believe that it's nearly over. It gives me a sad. Love the fact Sky are showing the last two eps in sync with the US. But not that fact it means I'll be up till 3 in the morning watching it. There just isn't anything like it which I can use to replace it.

Breaking Bad: there's been so much chatter on My Twitter flist I thought I'd give it a ho. Only seen two eps so far. Not bad. His Lordship is quite possibly in live with it.

Stargazing Live: I love stars. And Prof B. and Dara. Wish this was a weekly series.

The Dark Knight Rises: not as good in some ways as the first two. But highly enjoyable. Michael Caine is awesome. That is all. The Batbike is really daft though. 8/10

This Means War: yes, I've had a Tom Hardy double bill. It was an enjoyable popcorn movie. Can't really say much without a spoiler cut. 7/10

Still NOT seen: The Hobbit. Having a small person really does prevent one getting out to the Odeon.

comments

That thing that's on every Christmas.

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:38:32 GMT

Spoilers that have eaten way too much Christmas pud:
( spoilers )

Spoilers for next half series
( more spoilers )

comments

Elementary.

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:12:17 GMT

I feel that I can't justifiably bitch about something without seeing it first. And you never know it may just be good. Plus more Holmes on the TV is not a bad thing.

( spoilers )
Nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. I'll probably even keep watching.

comments

The Idiot's Lantern

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:58:12 GMT

Giving Arrow a try. So far undecided. They get points for using Queen though. And for the digs at Lost and Twilight. Only halfway through so far.

Got Elementary to watch too.

I am also watching:
Warehouse 13
Haven
The Vampire Diaries
True Blood
The Walking Dead
Merlin
White Collar (so happy it's finally back on mah
Alphas
Red Dwarf

I will be watching:
Fringe (only 13 eps left. So sad face)
Continuum (got it recorded not started it yet)

And I will definitely be watching Derren Brown's Apocalypse. Because he is the awesome (or has he made me think that???)

comments

Classic nursery rhymes, reinterpreted

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:18:09 GMT

Little Miss Muffin
Sat on her tuffing
Eating her curd and hay
Along came a spider
And sat down with her
And took Miss Muffin away

And this is Ex-Cheddar's current favourite nursery rhyme to sing to me in the car.

comments

#firstworldproblems

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 21:13:21 GMT

I really wish SyFy would get rid of the bloke who reads out the tweets in the ad breaks. If I wanted to know what people were tweeting I'd, y'know, go on Twitter.

In other news I love that Artie in Warehouse 13 rides a steampunk Segway.

comments

A Pond Farewell

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:07:22 GMT

Doctor Who has had the best hashtags on Twitter this mini series. But I think the one I’ve appropriated for my title is the best one.

( ”spoilers, )

And you know what, I missed the Christmas trailer that was on at the end. Gutted.

comments

Muuuuuuuuse!

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:09:25 GMT

Apparently it’s been three years since Resistance came out. It really doesn’t feel like it. Although it really has been that long as I couldn’t go to the Resistance tour as I was due to give birth the same week as the concert.

Anyhoo, new album. Already loads of people are hating on it. But I like the way that by streaming it you can try before you buy. (Let’s face it, there’s enough of us fans out there who have already pre-ordered it to get it into the top ten.)

Supremacy
I really like the start to this one. It reminds me a bit of a James Bond theme with all the sharp violins and then the quietness when Matt starts singing. I wonder if this actually is the song they wrote for the last Bond film (as it was rumoured they were doing). Close your eyes and you can imagine the silhouettes of nude ladies and slo-mo bullets and stuff.
Actually on first listen I really like this one. (But I do have big squishy love for the Classic Bond theme anyway and because that’s what it reminds me of that’s why I’m liking it I think)

Madness
I’ve been trying to get the small child to sing along to this on the radio. She doesn’t turn me to turn it off, like she does with 95% of all music on the radio (apart from Nicki Minaj – that’s how she’s going to rebel musically, I can just see it). It does lose points for a bit of an obligatory key change near the end of the song. Naughty Muse.

Panic Station
Like the base. It’s a bit Queeny. Love the guitar and the bass later on in the song. It was my hope that his album would have a lot more base because Chris is an awesome bassist and has been wasted on the last couple of albums.

Prelude
Reminds me a bit of Butterflies and Hurricanes, (God, I love that song). I’m glad they’re still doing all these little musical interludes.

Survival
Yay, the Olympics song! When we were watching the Olympics on the Red Button it always seemed to be on. (That, and David Bowie anyway).

Follow me
That’s definitely a baby’s heartbeat at the start of this one. I know. I spent a lot of time hooked up to a heart monitor. This is the first song on the album so far that is going down the more dubsteppy, electronic route. Like the middle section, don’t really like the lyrics (yeah, I know, shun the non-believer). This is the song that would be on the Twilight soundtrack. And I don’t mean that complimentary.

Animals
Like this one, a lot. Like the guitar and the instrumentally bits and the last section. Reminds me of Showbiz Muse.

Explorers
Really like this one too.It’s nice and gentle. I’m humming along to it at work. I’m getting some funny looks. And I don’t care. It’s really un-Muse-y, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Big Squeeze
Another rather upbeat sounding song.

Save me
Really like this one too. Like the guitar and the harmonies.

Liquid State
Ooh rocky. I miss rocking out Muse ever such a lot.

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
Dubstep-tastic and the start of it reminds me of the titles for Torchwood. Love the choral stuff, don’t like the dubstep bits.

The 2nd Law: Isolated System
Uses lots of samples and soundbites. Reminds me a bit of a Prodigy song, not much, just a tiny bit. Can’t think what it’s called though.

In conclusion
On first listen I like it a lot more than I did Resistance. It’s more cheery and positive I think that the last couple of albums have been. Maybe fatherhood is mellowing Matt, who knows? I was a bit concerned it was going to be massively dubstep, especially after hearing Unsustainable, I’m glad that Matt was just trolling.

(And no, it’s not as good as OoS, but none of their albums ever are and also blah blah Twihards get off my lawn)

In other news, a month until I go to see them in concert. Woot!

comments

[Insert Mercy themed pun here] (I’m sure you can come up with something funnier than me.)

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:29:26 GMT

( ”here )
In conclusion: a rather good episode. 8/10

comments

Woo!

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:58:53 GMT

Who is now a qualified Business Admin NVQ Assessor?

I am!

Just had confirmation of my certification come though. Apparently the IV thought it was a very good portfolio.

Woot again!

comments

Doctor Who

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 07:17:43 GMT

Oh here be spoilers, lots and lots of spoilers about last night's episode.

( spoilers! )

In Conclusion:
A solid opener marred by a few inconsistencies, but I'm just happy that Doctor Who is back, it's been toooooooo long!

8/10

comments

ooooooh-ooooh-oooh!

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:59:28 GMT

Here be spoilers for that there new Doctor Who trailer. (Which is here if you've not already seen it)

( random ponderings )

So saying that it's back this Autumn means a September start then, yeah? I'm a bit excited now. Bring it on!

comments

I don't think I'm green thumbed

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:15:18 GMT

The bastard slugs have now got to my courgettes and eaten all the courgettes and the sudden hot weather how caused a mildew to form on the leaves. They were going so well too.

I think next year I'll put them in hanging baskets (as apparently they grow well in them). We have 5 sunflowers left from the original 10 we planted , they're about two foot high now, but a bit spindly looking I'm protecting them with this gravelly slug deterrent I got from the poundshop. It's hedgehog/cat/baby friendly which is a plus.

At least the plum trees have got loads of plums on them and the rhubarb is looking quite impressive.

Now I'm starting to plan growing for next year. I'm stocking up on bigger pots for my tomatoes and once the peas have been harvested we're going to start work on slug-proofing the veggie patch (gravel moats, copper pipe round the edges, buried water pipes to water the roots but not the surface of the soil, that sort of thing). I've even been out and bought a pile a hanging basket brackets ready for my courgettes for next year.

At least ex-Cheddar's nursery veggie patch is going well, so she will get to eat veggies she's grown herself after all.

comments

Meet the veggies

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:32:44 GMT

So the year is progressing and our veggies are growing. Not as good as they should be, but not surprising considering the vast amount of rain we're having at the moment. As a side effect of the rain the slug population in my back garden has exploded and they are eating everything they can get to.

( photos behind the cut )

Not pictured: two planters (similar to the courgette ones but three tier) full of my back up lettuce, again propped to prevent slug access and growing great. Every time we go into the back garden the small child helps herself to a handful.

And that is exactly why I wanted to grow veggies in the first place. I want her to know where her food comes from and I want everything in the back garden to be edible. She's not been too interested in the whole growing this this year, but as she gets a bit older she will and she's going to reap the benefits (and eat her body weight in plums again this year as the plum trees are full of fruit again).

comments

Oh yeah, thanks for that.

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:43:10 GMT

Thanks to the hot sunny weather the house is creaking and it sounds like someone is walking around upstairs.
Me (to His Lordship): just go upstairs and check will you?
(His Lordship goes upstairs. Stomps around. Comes back down.)
His Lordship: there's no one upstairs. Apart from this scarred bloke standing by your side of the bed. He called himself Pipes (laughs)

Tonight I'll be lying in bed with this face on O_O

Thanks for the oncoming nightmares.

comments

It's sunny!

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:23:38 GMT

Oh it pleases me that it's finally decided to stop raining and the sun's come out! I've been celebrating the fact by spending an hour every evening in the back garden painting the fences. I believe it is an English tradition or something.

The main reason that I'm glad that it's stopped raining is that it means it is going to be dry on Saturday night when I do the Midnight Walk. (You can still sponsor me by going here) There's nothing worse than a 10k walk in the pouring rain when you want to be in bed.

I've got to go out tomorrow and buy about half a ton of glow in the dark tat from the poundshop. At least you'll be able to see me coming :)

In other news Bilbo has decided that the to of the fridge is his new favourite place in the world. He likes to pat you on the head when you go into it, which is less fun (for me at least)

comments

Fringe

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:46:33 GMT

I have a lot of feels over the finale of Fringe

Spoilers.

( my, oh my )

comments

Relevent to my interests

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:18:01 GMT

I've have invigilation funtimes coming up soon so I need fic, lota of fic to keep me going.

Can you rec me good fic (one-shots or multi chapters) for:
[x] Sherlock
[x] Thor
[x] Captain America
[x] Avengers

Thankee kindly

comments

Is hating technology (cont)

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:44:52 GMT

And I've just spilled broth over the keyboard of my laptop. gaaaaah!

comments

Is hating technology

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:12:22 GMT

All week I've been having problems with my iPhone (and iPod) accessing my wireless. It would connect but it would be sssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooo slow or not work at all. My laptop and the PS3 (on the same wireless) absolutely fine.

Spent an age on the phone to Vodafone who suggested that I upgraded my iOS to version 5 (or whatever fancypants name it has) and it's made absolutely no difference but has left me with an added annoyance as now my Stanza ebook reader refuses to work and just crashes over and over!! I'm halfway through the second Ice and Fire book, gaaah!

I don't know what I can do to sort out my WiFi speed, back to Google it is then.

comments

Kali, Kali quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:45:24 GMT

So here are the work in progress shots of the vegetable patch:

This is how it began:

A patch of garden that was doing absolutely nothing. I'd originally planned to dig up the interfacing and the stones and grass it over, but decided a veggie patch was a better use of the 'land'

And here it is after 3 hours of back breaking labour and playing with a 2 year old (who got bored of helping very quickly and went to play in her house. So many little stones. I need to rake them out down the side of the play house (still) and tidy up around the bottom of the veggie patch, make the garden look a little bit tidier.

So those photos were taken the start of March and here's how it looks now:

Baby plants! So clockwise from top right, peas, a patch of ground where the tomatoes are going to go, carrots, mixed lettuce, iceberg lettuce.

Some more peas and some sunflowers. There are random pea plants growing all over the garden where ex-Cheddar helpfully planted them. I think I spotted a couple growing in the front garden too. I'll be having surprise!peas through the summer.

Here's the lettuce and some courgette seedlings that are currently sunning themselves in our greenhouse/conservatory. (Yes I know the tomatoes are a bit bit to be in such a shallow seed tray unfortunately it keeps being frosty round by us and I don't want to kill them off. I'm going to re-pot them in a flower trough this weekend so at least they'll have room to grow.

Not pictured, but also growing:
[x] strawberry plants in a hanging basket. Haha now try and eat our delicious strawberries, little ants!
[x] rhubarb that came from the old house and even the stresses of digging it up (sans most of it's roots) and having it sit in a tub of water for a couple of weeks didn't kill it off. It is mighty, our rhubarb
[x] 2 plum trees that came with the house. Hopefully it will be as fruitful this year as last.

I want to go out and buy a blackcurrant and a raspberry bush now that would be trained into a pair of pyramids in a pair of pots for the patio, especially with the amount of money we spend on fruit in Tesco.

comments