Monthly Archives: October 2002

Friday Night’s Gonna Be Alright

Well, in a few minutes I’ll hopefully be leaving the office. I have been here late most evenings and, to be honest, I am really looking forward to going home and sleeping. The air-conditioning in the office has been broken, so we have gradually baked our way through today. I would he happy without the nonsense air-conditioning anyway, but all the windows have been sealed shut so that you can’t get any really fresh (well, fresh for London standards) air into your lungs. I have a weekend of hard, manual labour planned. I have to tame some of the wild growth in my garden. I can’t wait. Friday Night, as Danny (one of the Kids from Fame) once sang, is “gonna be alright”. I’m sure I remember that because I used to have a huge crush on Carlo Imperato.

Start shaking your hips
Baby, pucker your lips
Cause I’m coming to see you soon

I must only have been about 10 years old!

Anyway, why, you may ask, do I spend ten minutes writing this? Well, our dumb systems are taking forever to do some processing, and I am not going to sit here all night watching the screen!

On this day…

2004: Value From The Street

Mussels

Last night I met up with some old work colleagues. I used to work with most of these guys six or seven (if not more) years ago, and we’ve all remained in contact ever since. This is fantastic, especially for me, as they were the first people (apart from some ex-University friends) whom I met when I moved to London. We have, however, fallen into the trap of thinking we are all six or seven (if not more) years younger than we actually are and spend the evenings getting very drunk in various London drinking holes. We then wander like (drunken) startled rabbits around the West End looking for a post-closing curry. A fun, if somewhat painful, experience.

Well, not last night. Firstly, we added some extra people – friends of ex-colleagues – which made the night more interesting. Secondly, we decided (this is all very grown up) to go out for a meal. We decided to go to Belgos in Covent Garden. I had very little to do with the decision (in fact, to be honest, I never replied to that email, so I have nothing to complain about), but the great thing is that I love Belgos. I’ve always enjoyed the whole pots-of-mussels thing and make a mess to show I enjoyed the food.

And to add to that, there was the cutest waiter serving the table next to ours – which was all the better as he got to lean over and serve them. Ah, the joys of lust!

On this day…

2005: Sky One’s The Match
2004: Big Match Update

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding was something of a hit-and-miss film. You learned a lot about the Greek (lead) character, Toula, and her family relationships. But you learned very little about her love interest, Ian. If the point of the film was to show the development of Toula from the shy woman living life for her father by waiting tables (“seating hostess”) in his restaurant to the confident, beautiful self-styled woman that Ian Miller falls in love with, then, I guess, it succeeded. Sadly, because you know so little about him and his one-dimensional parents, this film feels empty and fails to pull you in.

Reviews will tell you how My Big Fat Greek Wedding makes you laugh, cry and feel. I, however, was left wanting more. The large Greek family, played with love and humour, finally accepts non-Greek Ian into the family. Ian, however, never challenges that their acceptance requires him to turn into them. Far from celebrating diversity, the film fails to show both sides of the tale, and we are forced to believe that Ian will do anything, unquestioningly, for Toula. I suspect I’m reading too much into what should be a light Saturday night romantic comedy, but as the film played out, I found myself less and less engaged.

Having said all this, there were some laugh-out-loud moments and some top-class performances. Andrea Martin (Aunt Voula), Michael Constantine (Gus) and Lainie Kazan (Maria) all stood out. Nia Vardalos (Toula), who also wrote the story, is worth mentioning as well, because she certainly conveyed Toula’s side of the story. Unfortunately, that’s all I felt I got (Toula’s side), and it could have been so much more.

On this day…

2004: Autumn Again
2002: First VHS For Sale

Weymouth

[Written on my Palm & posted Sunday 6th]

Arrived in Weymouth last night and went out with PY’s mother and her husband to a lovely Chinese restaurant (I do love Chinese food). Today we spent the morning ambling around Weymouth town centre (which was busy) and buying tickets to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding later today.

On this day…

2004: The Timewarp Times

A Walk on the Wild Side

[Written on my Palm & posted Sunday 6th]

My two days off have been great. Yesterday we drove to the Outlet Mall (what’s the British equivalent of that?) in Swindon. It’s the first time we have put miles on this new Ka (which I haven’t mentioned yet). Still, we drove in the sunshine and shopped. One call from a client was swiftly dealt with.

In the evening, we made it to Bristol, where we are staying at a Travelodge in Bristol City Centre. After unloading, we took a quick taxi ride to visit some friends we hadn’t seen for a long time until last month. And now it’s been twice in five weeks which is a great feeling. Chinese meal and back to the hotel.

This morning we had a quick walk around Bristol City, as it’s been many years since I was last here and things seem to have changed. The most amusing thing was the ill-fitting suits on a bunch of young men walking towards the Magistrates Court. I know I shouldn’t leap to conclusions (perhaps they were newly qualified solicitors), but I could just imagine their legal representation reminding them to look respectable for the judge.

As this holiday was originally pencilled in for longer and as a trip to Cornwall to see the Eden Project, we decided to opt for Bristol’s local equivalent Wildwalk at the complex known as @Bristol. I suspect this isn’t anywhere near the scale of Eden, but it was an interesting walk through the development of life on Earth. It features a glasshouse full of tropical plants and – to my surprise – living, breathing birds (I thought it was just a tape of their calls). Recommended if you are in Bristol. Right now we are heading south via the lovely A roads, looking for a suitable tourist spot to stop at.

On this day…

2004: A Mighty Wind
2004: Going Outside The Canteen For Lunch Is Gooooood

Nearly There

Looking back at yesterday’s post, I see that everybody has a much more interesting life than I do, or at least it seems that way! As I am not going to fake the blog, you, dear reader, must put up with the dull bits as well as the not-so-dull bits.

Today is my last day at work this week. I am taking two days off to clear my head. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to work and, more importantly, PY and I want to spend some time together. The downside of this break (originally meant to be a week and reduced to two days) is that I will be here (in the office) for another couple of hours. So, no more time to update. I am going to boil the kettle and get on. Posts beyond this point will be written on my Palm Pilot and updated when they can be.

On this day…

2004: Shrewsbury Town
2003: Another Year, Another Autumn
2002: Ultimate Boy Band CD (1)

Ultimate Boy Band CD (1)

I am trying to compile the ultimate boy band CD, and I am unsure where to start. Anyway, my current thinking includes:

  1. N’Sync – Pop
  2. Take That – Relight My Fire
  3. Take That – Could It Be Magic
  4. F5ive – If Ya Gettin’ Down
  5. Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
  6. A1 – Same Old Brand New You

I shall now go away and think about it properly, updating as I go.

On this day…

2004: Shrewsbury Town
2003: Another Year, Another Autumn
2002: Nearly There

Snapshot of the Blogsphere

It may be October, but the weather doesn’t suggest it at all. Anyway, my current three favourite blogs are saying this today:

  1. You think you’re fine with everything until you wake up at 4am convinced there’s someone in your flat again. [plasticbag]
  2. Bloody hell, it’s October. How did that happen? [not.so.soft]
  3. I don’t know what to do with my life. This morning I had my Early Modern Architecture class, and it made me indecisive again [trabaca]

Wonder how this will read in a year’s time?

On this day…

2004: Today In London
2004: Thirteen
2003: 12 Years And Counting