Film: A Bittersweet Life
**** 1/2
Friday, January 27, 2012
**** 1/2
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Where did the evening go?
I have lost a great deal of time this evening and little has been achieved. I am neither tired from exercise, although exercise I did, nor am I suitably relaxed, and I have tried to relax. I have cooked too much food and am struggling to eat it all. I have put my cardigan on and taken it off repeated times. Still, I am either too hot or too cold. My socks, let me tell you about my socks. I looked for my thick thermal socks but couldn't find them. I slipped on a random pairing from the shelf, beige in color, not worn in a long time; the socks that time forgot. And for good reason too: the ratio of man-made fibres to cotton was too high, causing excess heat and discomfort. I replaced this pair with another beige set. Fortunately, these were made up of more appropriate ingredients, with a higher cotton portion. Alas, just as the comfort began to filter up - comfort starts from the feet up, as the old adage runs - I stepped in a puddle in the kitchen. This is my evening. I hope yours is going well.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Apple
Pre-market: 449.90
+29.49
(7.01%)
Wow, it's a good thing I exited my small short position a couple of months ago. They've just blown the market away with record profits of around $13bn.
Having bought their shares at around $13-$14 and exited for a gain of a few bucks, it pains me to see their roaring success. Still, credit to these guys and especially to the great Steve Jobs, for opening up technology to a much broader audience.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Orange and the highly profitable lazy customer
Regular readers of this blog will know how much pleasure I derive from saving the occassional pound or two, not as a penny-wise pound-foolish Scrooge McDuc, but more as a savvy customer with a keen eye to value. Well, I have a confession to make: it is that I have been on one of Orange's worst contracts for several months, paying £18 a month on average for unlimited texts and just 100 minutes of talk time. Ruinous I say, absolutely ruinous. How did I sleep at night? Not well, not well at all.
After calling Orange, asking for my PAC code and threatening to leave for better deals elsewhere, they kindly offered the following for £15.50 a month:
- A new Orange smart phone called the Monte Carlo
- 600 minutes
- Unlimited texts
- 500MB data
- Continued home broadband.
What makes this a cracking deal is that I am not keen on smart phones as yet, largely due to their weakling battery lives, and so the newly received smart slab that is the Monte Carlo has been sold on E-bay for around £100. This will reduce my effective bill (over it's 24 month life) to £11.33. Then there is the free home broadband legacy deal which is worth a minimum of £6.50 a month, so that really leaves me paying £4.83 a month which is pretty darn good. And so it is that I remain with Orange. It just sucks that you have to threaten to leave on contract expiry to squeeze a decent deal out of them.
The next challenge is on the camera front. I am planning on upgrading to a bridge camera in the near future but I don't want to dent my budget and so am looking to score about £250 from other avenues to pay for this treat! Plans are afoot!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Virginia Water and the last foray for the Pentax H90, my trusty companion : (
The Pentax H90 struggled again in low light, but having read a few photography magazines I don't feel at all guilty about applying some crazy whippy-dee-doo-da effects post production. They are all at it!
Alas, later in the day the Pentax suffered at my slippery hands of incompetence and the lens has truly jammed. The magic light box of joy is dead. I am going to see if I can get it fixed under my insurance but until then the old Kodak DX7440 has come back out to play, an old brick of a digital camera that rocks a mind-blowing 4MP.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Haywire film
Alas, the story is unsatisfying in it's final conclusion and the dialogue a bit cheesy at times. A little more effort could have made this film a must-see. Instead, it's popcorn fun, albeit very stylish popcorn fun.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Runnymede photo session
Woke up pre-sunrise today and headed over to Runnymede with a house-mate for a little early morning photography session. The change of air both numbed the hands and re-invigorated the spirits. My little Pentax H90 was pushing against the limits on the auto-setting although for the most part it managed to capture enough data in the pictures to so they could be carried over to Photoscape for a little editing. Here be a selection:
Like there weren't going to be any lego people! Notice the new Bruce Lee dude. Does he stand ready to fight ninja or is this the start of a beautiful friendship?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Pentax H90 triple filtered
This one uses the retro filter, then the toy filter, and then the red tone filter. I'm liking the effect:
My Pentax H90 is a great little toy but it is quite likely already being surpassed by the high-end camera phones. I have the upper hand with battery life, which is a big plus.
Also, whilst I have an eye to future technologies and the latest compacts, I was also looking at past pics taken by my old Kodak DX-7440 (5MP), which are pretty much on par with the H90, if not better! It didn't have the cool filters though and has an impractical form factor (comfortably chunky for single hand snaps and highly configurable, but not so easily pocketed). I may have to brush the dust of the old brick and do a contast and compare.
Downton Abbey
Watched two episodes but it didn't quite hook me. There were a few great lines but it lacked the sharp-tongued wit that makes some period dramas really shine. It's moves at a fast clip at least and it's all good light fluff for soap fans, but one of them I ain't.
And before you think 'look at him, thinking he's better than the masses' let me tell you the true reason why it didn't pull me in: there was a complete absence of ninjas. I thought I saw one in the corner of a room but it was the dancing shadow of a candle light.
Recent films
Both films are highly recommended. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is very brutal and graphic and not at all for the feint hearted (and especially not for cat lovers), but it is one of the best detective stories I've seen of late. I haven't read the book and have no great desire to but I am looking forward to more movies with the same key characters.
K-20 (DVD film) is a different fish altogether. It is set in an alternative history when WWII never took place and is very steam-punkish with loads of retro sets, which makes the movie very easy on the eye. Despite being subtitled, this super-hero style actioner is good fun for all the family, expect small children perhaps, as there is some rough language, shootings and a few beatings but the comic book feel about it makes it enjoyable throughout. I'd give both movies a strong four stars.The story revolves around a masked character who steals from the rich and basically wants to keep for himself, and the circus performer who is mistaken for K-20 and arrested. I think I'll be watching this one again before it goes to the charity shop.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Katlama - the source?
The Katlama mystery post has received an interesting comment:
"Shereen Kadah on Moseley Road in Birmingham have the BEST kathlamas in the UK... Second would be Saleems on Ladypool Rd...
Trust me.. I'm 34 years old and have been eating them since the age of 7!
I believe kathlamas were invented in Birmingham and Shereen Kadah & Saleems were the first to make them in the 60's
Regards
Special K"
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol review
Super-cheesey, met low expectations. Tom Cruise struggles to beat up an old man. Apple sponsorship is evident throughout.
In the less interesting segments my thoughts turned to what I was going to eat for dinner. I opted to oven up two battered fish. One was eaten with lemon and tartar sauce and the other with cheese and ketchup squidged between two slices of slightly toasted rye bread, which was chopped into triangles. Delish. With the Vogel original bread increasingly rare these days, rye bread is fast becoming my back-up.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Short Groupon
It's the next Game Group, I tells ya.
Okay, not quite a Game Group disaster but the business is horrendously overvalued. I've been getting Groupon e-mails sent to one of my Hotmail folders for several months and the deals are often overhyped and are repeated way too often. The occassional true deal such as a cheap car service, which I took up, was great value for money but it didn't make me want to use the garage again because the regular price was out of my league. Groupon shares are currently at $17.90.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Kerrygold spreadable butter is back ... yippeee!
Things were not looking good going into 2012. Kerrygold stopped selling their pure unanimously praised spreadable butter, the perfect partner to a slice of hot Vogel toast. The Kerryold eating populous were up in arms, venting their anger at its replacement which is no more than another ten-a-penny butter vegetable oil blend.
For my part, I wrote an frustrated missive to Kerrygold HQ asking why they had done this and if the issue was related to low sales then they should darn well start selling smaller tubs of the stuff, instead of just offering large family sized tubs. They never got back to me. Could this spell the end for the pure butter spreadable?
Well, I discovered that Presidente have a spreadable but it is French and low in salt, the worst of all possible worlds. The French thing is a joke, but I do hear reports that it isn't quite up to the Kerrygold mark. I also managed to find a Marks&Spencer pure spreadable butter but it too is low salt, so expectations are low.
Nevertheless, I thought I was going to have make do.
Until that is, I went to Sainsbury's today and found this beauty on the shelves:
"We are delighted to announce that the 100% pure Kerrygold Softer Butter is back! You will be able to find this product in selected Sainsburys stores from the middle of Jan 2012.
Initially this product will be available in the same packaging as before, but we are working on some brand new packaging, so look out for this soon (don't worry - the product is exactly the same as it always has been).
Thanks to all the people who got in touch with us - you've all helped to get this product back in stores!!
Kerrygold's Softer products combine our natural taste, with the convenience of softer butter - making your day that little bit easier, but without compromising on that pure butter taste.
Most other 'spreadables' are actually blends of butter and vegetable oil. In fact, they can contain up to 33% vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is an inexpensive ingredient by comparison to pure butter fat and the type of vegetable oil added in these products is usually not declared, with the result that consumers do not know the source or origin or the extent of industrial processing to which the product has been subjected. In stark contrast, Kerrygold Softer Butter is exactly that. It is 100% pure tasty Irish butter, made softer without the addition of vegetable oil.
How did we make our Kerrygold Softer Butter even softer?
Kerrygold Softer Butter is a 100% pure & natural dairy product, containing only one non-dairy ingredient; salt to accentuate its inherent flavour. In order to achieve enhanced spreadability, rather than compromising on the purity & naturalness of butter by adding vegetable oil, we sought a little help from Mother Nature. During the summer months the pastures on which the Kerrygold cows graze are at their most rich and lush. As a consequence, the milk they produce is most abundant in naturally softer milkfat. It is this naturally softer milkfat that is the key to the enhanced spreadabilty of "Now Even Softer" Kerrygold Softer Butter. Using a gentle cooling and crystallization process, we have increased the quantity of this softer milkfat in the butter, resulting in a velvety smooth and "Now Even Softer" Kerrygold Softer Butter."
Here is a list if stores selling the little blocks of gold. Good luck.
| Alperton, Wembley, HA0 1PF |
| Alphington Rd, Exeter, EX2 8NH |
| Archer Rd, Sheffield, S8 0TD |
| Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6BN |
| Badger Farm, Winchester, S022 4QB |
| Bagshot Rd, Bracknell, RG12 7SS |
| Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6BJ |
| Banbury, OX16, 9XA |
| Barnstaple, EX31 3NH |
| Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 3RT |
| Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2LA |
| Bishops Stortford, CM23 3XG |
| Blackhall, Edinburgh, EH4 2EB |
| Blackheath, Rowley Regis, B65 0HG |
| Bramingham Park, Luton, LU3 4AB |
| Brentwood, CM14 4WQ |
| Bridgend, CF32 9ST |
| Broadcut, Fareham, PO16 8SU |
| Bromley, BR1 1TP |
| Burpham, Guildford, GU4 7JU |
| Burton on Trent, DE14 1AA |
| Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EJ |
| Bybrook, Ashford, TN24 8YN |
| Calcot, Reading, RG31 7SA |
| Cameron Toll, Edinburgh EH16 5PB |
| Canley, Coventry, CV4 9BJ |
| Cannock, WS11 8XP |
| Castle Court, Bristol, BS4 3BD |
| Castle Vale, Birmingham, B35 6HB |
| Cheadle, SK8 3BB |
| Chesterfield, S41 0UB |
| Chichester, PO19 7YR |
| Chippenham, SN14 0BJ |
| Christchurch, BH23 4RY |
| Cobham, KT11 1HW |
| Colchester Ave, Cardiff, CF23 9XN |
| Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3HP |
| Court House Grn, Coventry CV6 7NS |
| Craigavon, BT64 1AA |
| Crayford, Dartford, DA1 4HW |
| Crystal Peaks, Sheffield, S20 7PJ |
| Darlington, DL1 5JG |
| Darnley, Glasgow G53 7RH |
| Denton, Manchester, M34 3SJ |
| Dulwich, London, SE22 8BB |
| Dundee, DD4 8XD |
| Durham, DH1 5GD |
| East Mayne, Basildon SS13 1SA |
| Edenthorpe, Doncaster DN2 5PS |
| Ellesmere Port, CH65 9HN |
| Eltham, SE9 5DL |
| Emersons Grn, BS16 7AE |
| Enfield, EN1 1TH |
| Fairfield Park, Bedford, MK41 7PJ |
| Farlington, Portsmouth, P06 1RR |
| Forestside, Belfast, BT86 6FX |
| Fosse Park, LE19 1NT |
| Gloucester Quays, GL2 5SA |
| Godalming, GU7 1LQ |
| Greenwich, London, SE10 0QJ |
| Hadleigh Rd, Ipswich, IP2 0BX |
| Hankridge Farm, Taynton, TA1 2LR |
| Harlow, CM20 2AG |
| Harrogate, HG2 8QZ |
| Hawick, TD9 7AD |
| Hayes, UB3 3EX |
| Haywards Heath, RH16 1DG |
| Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7JW |
| Heaton Park, M9 0QS |
| Hedge End, S030 2UH |
| Hempstead Valley, ME7 3PB |
| Hereford, HR4 0AG |
| Heyford Hill, OX4 4XR |
| Hoddesdon, EN11 8HF |
| Horsham, RH12 1SQ |
| Hull, HU13 9NS |
| Kempshott, Basingstoke, RG22 4TW |
| Kidderminster, DY11 6XP |
| Kidlington, OX5 2PE |
| Kiln Lane, KT17 1EQ |
| Kings Lynn, PE30 1DS |
| Lancaster, LA1 1HH |
| Larkfield, Ayleford, ME20 7NA |
| Leamington, Warwick, CV34 6RH |
| Livingston, EH54 6RQ |
| Locksbottom, Orpington, BR6 8NZ |
| London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1AB |
| Longwater, Norwich, N55 0JS |
| Loughborough, LE11 5AS |
| Low Hall, London, E4 8ST |
| Macclesfield, SK10 1BJ |
| Maidenhead, SL6 8AG |
| Marshall Lake, Solihull, B90 4AJ |
| Mere Grn, Sutton Coldfield B75 5BT |
| Merry Hill,Brierley Hill, DY5 1QY |
| Merton, London, SW19 1DD |
| Monks Cross, York, YO32 9LG |
| Moortown, Leeds, LS17 5NY |
| Nantwich, CW5 6PH |
| Newbury, RG14 5AB |
| Newbury Park, Ilford, IG2 7SH |
| Newcastle U Lyme, ST5 2AF |
| Newport, NP20 5NJ |
| Nine Elms, London, SW8 2LF |
| North Cheam, Sutton. Sm3 9AA |
| North Walsham, NR28 9DS |
| Oldbury, B69 3DB |
| Paignton, TQ3 2HW |
| Pound Lane, Norwich, NR7 0SR |
| Preston, PR1 6PJ |
| Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 4XT |
| Rice Lane, Liverpool, L9 1NL |
| Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3QP |
| Rugby, CV22 6HU |
| Sale, M33 7SA |
| Sedlescombe Rd, St Leonard's On Sea, TN37 7SQ |
| Sevenoaks, TN14 5EG |
| Shorehead, Huddersfield, HD1 6QR |
| Shrewsbury, SY3 9NB |
| Sittingbourne, ME10 4DN |
| Slough Uxbridge Rd, SL1 1SU |
| Southend, SS1 1PL |
| Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 5PA |
| Sprucefield, BT27 6UQ |
| St Albans, AL1 2QU |
| St Clares, Hampton, TW12 1AN |
| Stanway, Colchester, CO3 9AA |
| Stratton, Swindon, SN3 4EW |
| Sunderland, SR3 1PD |
| Swansea, SA1 8JA |
| Sydenham, London, SE26 4PU |
| Talbot Heath, Poole, BH12 4BA |
| Tamworth, B78 3HD |
| Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0JY |
| Telford, TF3 4AG |
| Tewkesbury Rd, Cheltenam, GL51 9RR |
| Thornhill, Cardiff, CF14 9BB |
| Torquay, TQ2 7HT |
| Truro, TR1 3XL |
| Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5QL |
| Upton, Wirral, CH49 6QG |
| Uxbridge, UB8 1QW |
| Wakefield-Marsh, WF1 1QQ |
| Wandsworth, London, SW18 4AD |
| Warren Heath, Ipswich, IP3 87Q |
| Warrington, WA1 2TN |
| Washington, NE38 7RU |
| Water Lane, Farnham GU9 9NJ |
| Weedon Rd, Northampton, NN5 5DG |
| West Belfast, BT11 9AE |
| West Grn, Crawley, RH10 8NF |
| West Hove, Hove, BN3 7GD |
| White Rose, Leeds, LS11 8LS |
| Worle, Weston Super Mare, BS22 6BL |
| Wrexham, LL11 2BA |
Confession
Last week I posted an entry about my longest ever run, which stretched some 8 miles. I came across as a bit of a superman as I commented that I seemed to be suffering little ill effect despite running on concrete and not warming up.
Well, the following day my right knee joint started playing up and has only just healed a week later. It wasn't a bad pain by any means but it was a joint pain and not a muscle pain, which was a bit worrying. Indeed, I went for a short 2m walk today and could still feel it niggling away. Looks like that may well be my run for the year. I may do a few short 1-2m jogs every now and then but for the most part I think I'll stick to pushing a bit of iron about the place every now and then. The mind is young, the body not so much : (
Chopping food on your plate = blunt knives
Doh, there goes my 'one less thing to wash' approach. Fortunately I have a 'World's Most Amazing Knife Sharpener' to come to the rescue. I have learned that chopping away on ceramic plates is very useful when striving to attain a blunt knife in the shortest space of time possible. Those horrid glass chopping boards are equally useful. Best to stick to good old wood or plastic.
As for whether to go for wood or plsatic, Wikipedia notes that:
"... Wood has some advantages over plastic in that it is somewhat self-healing; shallow cuts in the wood will close up on their own. Wood also has natural anti-septic properties."
"... While plastic is theoretically a more sanitary material than wood for cutting boards, testing has shown this may not be the case. The softer surface of plastic boards is scored by knives, and the resulting grooves and cuts in the surface harbour bacteria even after being well washed. A plastic surface can also ruin the sharp edge of the knife."
Looks like wood is the ultimate winner, although I'm happy continuing with a plastic chopping board for my infrequent use.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Friday, January 06, 2012
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
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