Overdue

It's been over 2 weeks since my last post and it seems this blog is suffering from neglect.  The header seems to have shrunk and my Last FM chart has disappeared. In my defence I have been quite busy of late. As well as the usual gigs, football and so on you also get the chance to catch up with friends and family, eat, drink and generally have a good time.  That's exactly what I've been doing

First up, The Vaccines at Leamington Assembly.  We arrived early.  Thinking doors opened at 6 we caught the train about 7pm. It turns out that doors were at 7 so we ended up catching all of the bounds. 

First up Howler.  I didn't want to like them because the were young and American.  They were actually very good and had some great tunes. Frankie and the Heartstrings were next and again I warmed to them very quickly despite not wanting to.  They had interesting songs with an 80s feel.

Finally, The Vaccines.  Very loud and lots of strobe lighting.  Short, sharp shocks of songs and a set that lasted about an hour.  Of all 3 bands these were the most disappointing although I don't know what I was expecting (if you'd pardon the pun).

The set list went something like this

Blow It Up
Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)
Tiger Blood
A Lack Of Understanding
Wetsuit
(New Song)
Post Break-Up Sex
All In White
Under Your Thumb
Wolf Pack
If You Wanna
Family Friend
We're Happening
Nørgaard

The following day Clare and I went to see Hugo.  We saw the 3D version obviously.  It looked fantastic and I can understand why the film is being credited with rejuvenating the 3D format.

Twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy.

Directed by  Martin Scorsese and with a cast that includes Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone, this is a lovely story which is visually stunning and as far as I'm concerned, a must see!

Later in the week I spent an evening at an old friend's. It was good to catch up and had a really nice evening.  At the end of the week I found myself at the Westley Arms Hotel in Acocks Green for a Christmas meal.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot but the staff were friendly and the food much better than I expected.  Most people opted for the carvery but I went for the vegetarian option.  I started with the leek and potato soup. I'm not really a soup fan but I thoroughly enjoyed it!  For my main I went with Pepper, Spinach and Mushroom Tart with a red pepper sauce.  It was accompanied by the veg from the carvery.  I was worried it may be a bit dry but my fears were unfounded. The sauce was lovely and more than enough to see me through my meal.

On the Saturday Clare and I took my mom into town to visit the German market.  My mom had not been before and she thoroughly enjoyed it.  We also went to Bacchus Bar for a warm drink and to the  Handmade Burger Co. for lunch.  It was busy but after a 15 minute wait for a table we were rewarded with great food and a lovely table with great views of St Martin's in the Bull Ring.

My mom had a lovely time and Clare took her on the carousal in Victoria Square. 

Last week and another meal with friends. Another carvery, his time at the Wheatsheaf in Sheldon.  Being the first to arrive we ordered drinks at the bar and whilst we were being served the rest of the staff were shouting across the bar to each other about their Christmas shifts.  It seems that most were unhappy with what they had been given.  The staff serving food seemed to lack the Christmas spirit and by the time we got to the counter there wasn't much in the way of vegetables. We waited for them to be replenished and eventually asked a passing member of staff.  The food arrived and having helped myself to the fresh roast potatoes hurried back to the table.  I was surprised to find that they were cold!  Still, it was good to catch up with friends and despite the food was a good night.

The following night it was time to wrap up warm and head to St Andrew's. Blues were taking on NK Maribor in their last group match of the Europa League.  Unfortunately qualification was out of their hands.  Not only did they need to win but they need a Braga victory against Bruges to qualify.  Birmingham did their bit winning 1-0 thanks to a Rooney goal in the 24th minute.  However, Braga could only manage a draw which meant we finished 3rd in the group with 10 points.  Bruges & Braga went through with 11 points. 

I'm not too bothered that our European adventure has come to an end.  It was nice while it lasted but I don't think anyone would have believed we could have gone on to win it.  We got there and played well but it's time we concentrated on the League.

That pretty much brings things up to date.  Just this weekend to cover.

Friday - Hatton Craft Village for late night shopping and a Christmas Nativity with real animals!  I really enjoyed it!  On a cold night, wrapping up warm and singing carols around a nativity scene. The highlight was the donkey which started braying at the end of Hark The Herald Angels.

Saturday - The morning was spent shopping and the afternoon spent wrapping.  We spent the evening Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jnr.  I enjoyed it but Clare fell asleep.

Today - Leamington Spa Christmas Market.  I have come to understand that a Christmas Market is the same as a normal market with a few decorations (in some cases no decorations).  Despite the dawning of this truth it was a lovely day.  Getting home a couple of hours ago, Clare finished the wrapping and I watched the football whilst writing this.

So there you have it, back up to date. All I need to do now is sort out the layout. Think I'll do that over the holidays.

A Busy Few Days

It’s been a busy few days, starting on Thursday evening in the Coach House for a drink with friends. It was a good night but I was surprised at how quiet it was in the pub. Usually Thursday nights are quite busy but even the town centre seemed quieter than usual.

On Friday Clare and I went to The Royal Spa Centre in Leamington to see The Holly & The Ivy written by Wynyard Browne and starring Stuart McGugan and Corrine Wicks.

Set in a Norfolk vicarage on Christmas Eve 1947, the vicar's family gather for the festive season. Peace and goodwill radiates from the warm-hearted elderly vicar, cared for by his young daughter. But with the arrival of two irritable aunts and an errant daughter the emotional veneer is skilfully peeled away. As skeletons tumble from closets and stones are turned over, family members are forced to confront their regrets and secret anxieties. Even the lovable vicar is not immune to the stresses and strains of a normal family life.

The play is split into 3 parts and after a slow start I found myself being drawn further and further in. The cast were superb (with the exception of one aunt’s dodgy Irish accent, which could be forgiven) and although the whole play took place in the one room the set looked fantastic!

It’s a shame that it wasn’t a full house. It deserves to be sold out each night. However, the fact that it wasn’t worked well for me as it enabled me to move seats during the first interval. Having been hemmed in for the first part we asked if we were able to move during the break and we ended up with nearly an entire row to ourselves!

One last thing, the staff, at the centre, are great, friendly, polite and willing to help. It is how a theatre should be run!

Saturday

An early start. The 8.05 to London was quite busy but I’m glad we went at the time we did as England were playing Spain at Wembley later in the day so if it was busy when we went it would have been horrendous as the day went on!

Arriving in London we headed straight for the National History Museum (having stopped on Baker Street for a sandwich and cup of coffee).

We arrived and made our way to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 exhibition. There were some fantastic photos. Favourites included Moonlight Over Aloba by Marsel Van Oosten, Polar Power by Joe Bunni, The Assassin by Steve Mills, The Coming by Sven Zacek, False Killers Disguised Dolphin by Clark Miller, Sinuousness by Macro Columbo and Trust by Klaus Echle. There were also one or two that seemed either a little clichéd or, in at least a couple of cases, it seemed to me not worthy of entry but then again what do I know!!

Having spent the best part of 2 hours in there we decided we would save the rest of the museum for another visit and headed off to Tate Modern. I was amazed at the queue to get in!!! If you are going to go then get there early!

With parts of the tube closed for Engineering Work we headed to Embankment and walked along the river towards the Tate. With the mild weather it was lovely and we browsed the books of at The South Bank Market before continuing our stroll.

We arrived and immediately headed for The Turbine Hall to see the installation by Tacita Dean. Having first viewed it from the Level 1 we headed downstairs and whilst most people kept a respectable distance Clare and I went in for a closer look. I’m not sure what I made of it to be honest. I was impressed by it’s size but can’t say it spoke to me.

Upstairs we happened to stumble on A Living Man Declared Dead And Other Chapters  I - XVIII by Taryn Simon.

This was a great exhibition, photographs of families from around the world depicting bloodlines. In some cases, blank spaces were generations have been lost, refused to participate or were banned from participating on religious grounds etc.

Not only was it interesting but also very moving. A Brazilian family torn apart be a long running feud, a Bosnian family who lost many of their men folk during the massacre at Srebrenica and children from an Ukrainian orphanage are just some of the subjects.

We left Tate Modern and headed across the bridge towards St Paul’s and the tube station. Passing the Anti-Capitalist occupation at the steps of the cathedral. We also saw a few of the floats that were used in the Lord Mayor’s Parade which had also taken place that day and had been rerouted because of the demo.

Tate Britain houses a work by Constable that both Clare and I wanted to see. It is a picture of the deer park at Malvern Hall or as we know it now, Solihull Nature Reserve. We headed over to Pimlico and to Tate Britain. We wandered the galleries dismissing most of the other works and eventually found the Constable collection but unfortunately the canvas did not seem to be on display. A quick look at Henry Wallis’ The Death of Chatterton (a larger version than the one in Birmingham) and then we were off again. Walking back along the river, up through Westminster, along The Strand and then to Convent Garden and Piccadilly Circus before finding some place to eat.

Afterwards we walked up to Leicester Square and then jumped on the tube back to Marylebone but not before Clare had got herself an ice cream!

We hung around the Departures board, waiting for a platform number to show next to our train and hurried through the turnstiles when the number 2 appeared, in an effort to get a decent seat.

It was a lovely day out and having spent the best part of 12 hours traipsing around London it wasn’t long after arriving home that I headed to bed!!

Sunday

The Rum Diary, written by Hunter S Thompson, is a fictional account of his time working for the San Juan Star. Johnny Depp has now made it into a film.

Although I could have done with something a little more quick paced on a grey Sunday afternoon it wasn’t too long before I settled into the film. It is slick, stylish and looks great. You really do get a sense of the humidity, the hot sticky nights and the rum soaked haze in which the lead characters see it.

A great story (although not much actually happens), superbly acted and beautifully filmed. Not for everyone I should imagine but I really enjoyed it.

Remember Remember

Remember Remember the 5th November. To celebrate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot Clare and I went to the bonfire and firework display at St Margaret’s C of E school in Olton. We have done this for the last few years. It’s a great display (put on by Solihull Fireworks) that lasts for about 20 minutes.

Hot drinks and food stalls helps fend off the cold (despite it being mild for the type of year it is still quite chilly having stood around for an hour and a half). After the display we paid my parents a visit and, having had baked potatoes, spent the rest of the evening playing Yahtzee.

Early in the day we headed over to Sandwell Valley to see what migrant birds had arrived. Although still fairly quiet we had Teal, Goosander and Snipe on and around the lake. On the walk to the lake we noticed a flock of birds at the top of a Poplar Tree. On closer inspection the flock was comprised of Goldfinch, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll and totalled about 20. Other birds included Redwing, Mediterranean Gull, Lapwing, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Kestrel and Buzzard as well as the usual Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tits, Great Tits and the like.

Sunday was a quiet day. Having spent some time wandering around the shops in Solihull we returned home. I spent the afternoon watching the football and listening to music.

After dinner we settled down to watch Harry Brown. Michael Caine plays a pensioner who lives on a housing estate which is terrorised by kids. Having lost his wife to illness and his best mate at the hands of the teenagers he finds himself alone in the world. With nothing left to lose he decides to take on the teenagers.

This is a dark film. It’s violent and paints a grim picture. At times farfetched and at times extremely accurate. Great performances by Ben Drew and Jack O'Connell who played gang members made for some very realistic scenes and some uncomfortable viewing.

I can’t say whether I enjoyed the film or not, perhaps it was the subject matter, but I’m glad I took the time to watch it.

Films

I watched a couple of films over the weekend and have to say neither were up to much.

Having spent Friday night out having a meal and Saturday over in Stafford I opted for a quiet night in on Saturday night and watched Killing Bono.

Directed by Nick Hamm and starring Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan, this comedy, is about two brothers who form a band to rival that of their school mates.  Their mates' band, however, turns out to be U2 and while they struggle for pop stardom U2 go on to become global stars.

I have to say it probably wasn't one of my better to choices to watch and although there wasn't anything wrong with it it just didn't keep me entertained.  It's saving grace was Karl the landlord played by Pete Postlethwaite. 

Yesterday, Clare and I went to the cinema to see 30 Minutes or Less. Jessie Eisenberg plays Nick, a pizza delivery boy who has a bomb strapped to him in order to force him to rob a bank, which he does with his friend Chet (Aziz Ansari).

I saw the trailer last week when we went to see The Inbetweeners and I thought it looked quite funny.  Although I did have a nagging fear that the trailer might have contained all the best bits.  It turns out that my fears were right.  The film didn't live up to my expectations and actually fell quite flat.  It seemed a little short on laughs and towards the end I couldn't have cared if Nick had been blown up or not! 

If you are to take anything from this post then it should be this.  Don't let me pick the film if you want to watch a decent comedy!

Films

I've not long got back from the cinema where I saw The Inbetweeners. 

The film version of the TV series sees the four lads head to Malia in search of sex, booze and more sex.  I have to say I was a little underwhelmed.  I like the TV series and was dubious about it being made into a film but the amount of people who said it was great meant I relented and headed for the cinema.

They're were some funny moments but for me it just seemed to amble along with no real plot.  Boys meet girls and despite some hiccups along the way all end up together. 

I don't think I was the only one in the audience who was slightly bored as one bloke even took a phonecall during the film. Usually I would be livid but in this case I could see his point.

Last night I watched another film.  The Be All and End All.  Again it's the story of young lads after sex.  This time it is two fifteen year old best friends, one of whom is diagnosed with a terminal illness.  Before he dies he wants to lose his virginity and so he charges his friend with the task of finding a suitable girl.

What could be quite a dark and harrowing film is actually very funny and the two lads played by Josh Bolt and Eugene Byrne have a real chemistry on screen. The rest of the cast were also great with Liza Tarbuck playing a fantastic role as the nurse Tina.

Like The Inbetweeners you can second guess the end but given the choice I know which one I'd watch again.

Out And About

Over a week since my last post! So, what have I been up to?  Not much going on in the week although last Thursday saw the return of Big Brother!

Having ended on Channel 4 last year, Channel 5 not only bought the format but also the set and voice over man by the looks of things.  Last Thursday saw it's launch with Celebrity Big Brother. I was surprised by the lack of celebrities.  Bored from the outset I've not bothered with it and from what I can gather I'm not the only one.

Thursday also saw Birmingham City play their first match in a bona fide European competition for about 50 years.  Away to CD Nacional in Portugal in the Europa League they were unlucky not to come away with a win, having hit the woodwork 3 times.  It ended up 0-0 with the return leg at St Andrew's on Thursday.

I would have loved to have been there but instead had to make do with the live text on the BBC.

Friday and Clare and I headed for The Electric Cinema to see The Guard.  Having been given the 4 seater sofa (for the price of two) I settled back with my G&T and a bowl of olives to watch the film.  It's a great way to start the weekend and the film did not disappoint.

Starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle it tells the story of  a policeman in a small Irish town who, with the help of an FBI agent, smash a drug smuggling ring. 

I really enjoyed it and thought Gleeson was fantastic.  From the outset you are laughing aloud although I think it is pitched just right with the more poignant moments bringing you down to earth. I thoroughly recommend seeing this if you can.

On Saturday we headed off to Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetland Trust.  Although they have a large collection of birds it is also a fantastic place to see wild birds.  I didn't see as many new ones as I'd hoped but can now add Bar Tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Rook to my list.

When we first arrived we had a spot of rain but it brightened up as the day went on.  It was a good day out and met a lovely bloke in one of the hides who was happy to let us use his scope. We chatted for so long that it meant we didn't have time to get over to the River Severn and the last hide.  That will have to wait for another time.  We also met a few odd people including a strange fellow on the way to New Street Station (he must have mentioned he worked part time at a local college at least 3 times in 5 minutes) and a taxi driver who was heavily in debt but had a love of flying machines (gyrocoptors, microlites etc.).

The only downside to the day were the trains on our journey home.  First we were delayed by 30 minutes at Gloucester and by over an hour at  Birmingham Moor Street. This meant it took us over 4.5 hours to get home!

Sunday was spent shopping in Birmingham and later that day my parents popped over for a couple of hours.

As usual the weekend flew by and before I knew it the working week was upon me once again.

The Rest Of The Week

Friday night and it was time to have people round for another race night.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and as at the end of the night we gave them all a free bet. Clare had printed off a list of runners for Saturday's races and we gave them a pound to bet with, which we put on on Saturday morning.  We had a couple of winners but I wasn't one of them!

Saturday and after a lazy morning we headed for the MAC in Cannon Hill Park.  We were off to see Life In A Day.  A film made entirely of clips shot by amateurs and uploaded to Youtube. The day in question was Saturday 24 July 2010. People from around the world filmed their day. Director Kevin McDonald (Touching The Void) had over 4 thousand hours of footage to trawl through.

The outcome is fantastic although I didn't realise it at the time. I left the cinema feeling just a little underwhelmed but the more I thought about it (and talked about it), the more I realised just how good it was.

It is billed as a document of our time and that's exactly what it is to a point but I think the over riding thing is that despite the age we live in, despite where we are geographically we all have the same hopes, fears and ambitions. 

In contrast Clare and I spent the evening watching The Mechanic starring Jason Statham. An easy enough film to watch.  Statham plays an assassin who, having killed his friend and mentor, takes on his mentor's son who has his mind set on avenging his father's death.

It's not a great film but perfect for a Saturday night in.

Sunday and as we had no plans we woke up and decided we would go to a car boot sale.  We arrived early and decided we would have a wander around Elmdon Park.  I'd not been there for years and it was nice to see how it had changed since I used to go there as a child.
We also found a new bit. The Walled Garden is an old orchard that has been left overgrown as is owned by The Wildlife Trust.

The car boot sale wasn't up to much so we headed back to the park before meeting up with my parents and heading for something to eat at The Harvester in Shirley. 

It was fairly busy but we didn't have to wait long for our food.  We spent a nice afternoon in there before we headed home.

Stuff

Another weekend is upon us.  With rain forecast I may need a back up plan. 

It's not been a bad week and last night I caught up with a few mates and spent the evening at The Coach House in Solihull.  Sitting in the beer garden with a Gin & Tonic, the evening sunshine still warm on the back of my neck, it was great to be out with friends.

The rest of the week had been quiet but Clare and I did sit down on Tuesday to watch Made In Dagenham.  We meant to catch it at the cinema but for whatever reason never got round to it.

The film itself is a dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination.

It has a pretty strong cast and a half decent period soundtrack.  All in all quite an enjoyable film but I don't think it will be on any best of lists.

Last Weekend

Monday again!  I can't believe another week has passed!

Weather wise, the last couple of days have been quite nice and what I'd expect for July but on the whole I've given up on the glorious summer I'd hoped for.  Warm and grey with the chance of showers seems to be the theme for this year.

Friday was pretty much like that but as Clare and I would be spending the evening at the cinema I wasn't too bothered.  We were off to see Mammuth, starring Gerard Depardieu at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington.

We arrived in Leamington and headed for Pizza Express just as the heavens opened up, though it didn't last long.  Having eaten (the place was quiet customer wise but very loud when it came to background noise) we headed over to the Royal Spa Centre.  We were a little early so stopped at the Newbold opposite for a drink. 

Eventually we headed over to the Spa Centre, and before taking our seats, stopped at the confectionary stand.  The woman behind the counter warned us off the popcorn by whispering "it's really expensive".  We ended up chatting about sweets now and past, the theatre and places in around Coventry and Birmingham.  She was really pleasant and it was nice to stand and talk.  She was quite funny and  reminded me of a skinnier version of Miranda Hart.

The film itself is an odd one.  Very funny in parts and quite dark in others.  The audience (which numbered about 15) really seemed to enjoy it.  If you've not heard of it then here is a brief description from IMDb

Serge Pilardosse has just turned 60 and is about to retire from his job in a slaughterhouse. He has always worked from the age of sixteen, never been on sick leave. So, how will this man fill his days? His wife Catherine, who still works in a supermarket, notices that her husband will not get full retirement benefits since some of his former employers failed to do the requisite paperwork. So off goes Serge, riding his old Munch "Mammut" bike, in search of the missing documents.

I enjoyed it and thought the soundtrack was great.  I'm not sure it is for everyone though.

It was really pleasant night and a great way to start the weekend.

Saturday was meant to be a trip to see Macbeth in Stratford.  Throughout the summer various theatre groups are performing some of Shakespeare's plays outdoors, free of charge (if you are interested have a look at the RSC website, there is a link below). 

As we were about to head out Clare took a call from a friend who lives over that way who wanted to meet up for a drink.  We headed over to Stratford (having had breakfast at Morrison's and popped into the bookies). We met our friend outside The Golden Bee before heading in and grabbing a gin. We sat in the window chatting and watching the tourists go by.  The sound of a low flying plane caught my attention.  My friend told me that there was a Spitfire fly over and so I found myself standing n the road outside watching the Spitfire as it circled and flew low over the town a few times before disappearing over the rooftops.  Clare, unfortunately missed this as she was at the bar.

The drinks kept coming and we missed the start of the play.  As there are plenty more throughout the summer we figured we could always catch another one.  Instead, upon saying goodbye to our friend, we opted for a game of mini golf.  Despite my gin soaked haze I still managed to win (Clare beat me at crazy golf a couple of years ago in Great Yarmouth so it was nice to even up the score).

Time was getting on but we decided we would visit the RSC and head to the top of the tower for the views of Stratford.  We purchased our tickets and as we had time to kill before our timeslot went and got some chips.  We sat on a bench and listened to a couple of saxophonists murder well known songs.  If they struggled they would simply stop halfway through, move onto the next tune and murder that instead.  As buskers go they weren't the best but it still didn't stop people throwing their loose to change to them! 

The woman who controlled the lift to the top of the tower at the RSC was at great pains to stress that she was on her own and therefore it was not her fault we had to wait.  Obviously not everyone could go up together and she had to be in the lift to take people up and down.  We waited and eventually we were allowed into the lift. At the top we were greeted by another member of staff.  It made me wonder why we had to be escorted in the lift as there are no floors inbetween and so can only go to the top! Surely the person at the bottom counts them up and down and the person at the top does likewise.  5 come down means another 5 can go up.  I have used a lift before so don't know why we had to be chaparoned.

The views from the top are OK. It's a view of Stratford I'd not seen before. The guide gives you a map that shows places of interest on the horizon but to be honest it isn't very good and I found it to be more confusing than anything.  We looked, took some pictures and left. 

Whilst up the tower the rain came down and once back at ground level I was suprised at how quickly the streets had emptied.  Having looked at the swans on the river we headed home.

Sunday.  The forecast was for a sunny start, clouding over in the afternoon with rain and the possibility of a thunder storm.  Clare and I headed over to Solihull Nature Reserve to make the most of the sunshine before the rain set in.  We followed the path along the river and then over the motorway bridge and across a field before coming to a lane.  Not wanting to venture too far in case of rain we turned around and headed back.  We stopped at the cafe in Brueton Park before heading back over the Nature Reserve.  We spent a good few hours wandering around in the sunshine and it wasn't until we were heading home when the cloud finally rolled in. The rain, however, never came!  On the way home I heard a rustling in the bushes and as I looked a baby hedgehog appeared briefly before disappearing back into the undergrowth.  A nice way to round off the day.

We didn't see much in the way of birds on our travels.  Buzzard, Kestral and Goldfinch seem to have been the main ones but there were a few more butterflies, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and quite a few whites were present.

All in all a lovely weekend.

Oh there is one more thing.  Yesterday was the last ever edition of the News Of The World!  I didn't buy the paper myself but over the years my Dad has and I've spent many a Sunday afternoon trawling through it. 

It's demise is due to a phone hacking scandal that happened a few years ago and is now coming to light.  The original claims were glossed over and the police didn't find much in the way of evidence.  It has since emerged that this was much bigger than first thought and a new police investigation is under way.  Members of David Cameron's circle have been arrested and there are sure to be more.  Advertisers such as Ford pulled the plug and others followed. As a result of this Rupert Murdoch decided that the paper could not go on and yesterday saw the final edition.

Last Weekend

The problem with a good weekend is that it is harder to get up on a Monday morning and that's what happened to me this morning.  It's not easy to motivate yourself on a grey, albeit warm, Monday morning at 6am. The weekend was lovely but as is usually the case over far too quickly!

Friday afternoon was spent watching the Wimbledon semi final between Murray and Nadal. I'm not a big tennis fan but enjoyed the match (which Murray lost 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4).  The rest of the evening was spent listening to music which is something I don't do often enough these days.

Saturday and it was our monthly trip to Sandwell RSPB reserve.  The day was glorious travelling over, with blue skies and plenty of sunshine, but as we arrived at the reserve it started to cloud over.

This time of year is the quiet period for birds and although it certainly seemed that way going round when we arrived back at the centre we had a tally of 40 plus birds seen. These included Lapwing, Pochard, and Sparrowhawk.

After the guided tour Clare and I headed off in search of some Parakeet and bumped into two women, who were lovely but kept us talking for at least half an hour about all the birds and animals that had seen on their trips to Scotland.  Having spent so long chatting we decided to abandon the search for the parakeets and instead headed back across the reserve to the dairy farm on the other side.

Forge Mill Farm is a working farm.  They have Jersey cows and you can watch them being milked at times throughout the day.  We did this and we also fed the goats and chickens.  There isn't much else there to be honest and I was surprised at the lack of food on offer.  A packet of crisps and some orange juice had to suffice.  The shop was reasonably priced which made a change.

The evening was spent watching Black Swan.  It wasn't at all what I expected and I have to say I really enjoyed it, although it did leave me a little confused. I imagine most people know it is set in the world of ballet but I won't spoil the plot for those that are still to see it.

I noticed that the music was credited to Clint Mansell.  I wondered if it was the same Clint Mansell of Pop Will Eat Itself fame.  It turns out that not only is it the same person but he also wo an Oscar for it!

Sunday and with weather similar to Saturday (bright and war whilst travelling and clouding over when we arrive) we headed to Winterbourne House and Gardens.  Part of Birmingham University, it opened it's doors to the public last year. 

The Edwardian House and Gardens was built in 1903 and belonged to the Nettlefold family. The gardens were created in the Arts & Craft style.  It's about six acres and boasts various landscapes including a woodland walk that leads you to the lake on Edgbaston golf course.  It's a lovely place and was fairly quiet.  Having explored the gardens we had something to eat at the terrace cafe. Sitting outside overlooking the gardens was lovely.  A woman close to us had a sparrow land in her hair which was quite amusing.

A stable has been converted to a second hand book stall and we browsed before we heading into the house itself.  Entrance to the house is free as only the downstairs rooms are open but it was still nice to get an insight into the original owner's world.

Having been around the house we did a quick circuit of the gardens again before heading home.  All in all a relaxing day and a great way to spend a summer Sunday

The Last Few Days

It's pretty humid at the moment and the grey skies seem to suggest a storm might be on the way.  Yesterday however the skies were blue and we had the first good day, weather wise, for some time. It seems that this summer is going to be like the last few, a bit of a wash out.

We did manage to get out into the sunshine yesterday, taking my parents to Earlswood.  We've spent a lot of time there in the last couple of months!  We wandered around the lake, stopped off at the Manor House Tea Rooms and strolled through the woods.  My parents hadn't been there for years and seemed to enjoy it. 

Saturday despite being warm was quite a dull day.  We never ventured far.  Did a bit of shopping and in the evening we watched Burke and Hare.  A typical Simon Pegg film, filled full of familiar faces. An easy enough film to watch and perfect for a quite night in.

Friday we had people over for a "Race Night".  You have fake money and watch a DVD of a real horse race. The commentary has been changed and all the races have a theme.  Clare had bought prizes along the same theme for the winner. For example whoever won the fruit themed race got a pineapple!  Despite it being a bit of fun it was surprising how people got into it.  Shouting for their horse and so on.  I bet the neighbours loved us! 

All in all a quiet(ish) weekend.

Owls

Having cooked a meal for Clare we settled down to watch Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans. It tells the story of Howard Marks who was, for those who don't know, an infamous Welsh drug smuggler.

The film was OK.  Not much to write home about.  I liked the way it was filmed but think I prefer the book.

Anyway, about halfway through we heard an owl.   It seemed quite close so we turned off the lights and looked out the window.  We saw it sitting in the tree outside.  Not long after we spotted it it flew to another tree on the other side of the garden.  It was calling to a female who we could hear replying from somewhere close by.  There was also a second male calling and as the one we were watching flew off the second flew in and  landed where the other one had just departed from. 

After a good few minutes the second owl flew off and we returned to the film.  It was brilliant to see and as I'm writing this I have one ear on the garden just in case they come back.

Below is a quick clip of what the male hoot and the female reply sounded like last night.
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male and female tawny owl mp3

Paul

I went to see Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's new film Paul yesterday.  It's pretty much what you'd expect from these two.

The story is about two comic book enthusiasts (Pegg & Frost obviously) who are on a journey of a lifetime in the USA.  Having been to a comic book convention they hit the road to visit all the sites of major extra terrestrial importance (Area 51 etc.).  Not long into the journey they meet Paul.  Paul is an alien who has escaped from the government and needs their help to get home.  Pursued by inept government officials they head north to the alien rendezvous point.

As with all their films it is filled with in-jokes and little nods to the genre they are sending up. I probably missed a lot of them but still enjoyed it. 

The cinema was quite full, I hadn't seen it that busy for some time, and the film seemed to be well received.  I don't think it will make any Top Ten lists or win any awards but it's not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

True Grit

I found myself at the cinema again on Friday (twice in one week).  This time to see True Grit. 

Based on a novel by Charles Portis it tells the story of Mattie Rose (Elizabeth Marvel), who in her quest to track down her father's killer, hires US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges).  Rooster is a ruthless killer with the law on his side and at first turns Mattie down.  Eventually he accepts her money and strikes out to track the killer down.  He is joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) and also Mattie (despite his protestations).

The film, directed by the Coen Brothers, is closer to the book than it's prevous big screen outing (Henry Hathaway, 1969 starring John Wayne), and has an air of authenticity about it.  The dialogue is of the time and at the start I struggled to understand some of it. The soundtrack is also of the time and works well with the cinematography which shows the washed out beauty of the harsh landscape.

The Coen Brothers have made another great film.  I'm not usually a fan of Westerns but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Brighton Rock

Clare and I popped along to the Electric last night to see Brighton Rock and had a really good night, getting there in time to grab a sofa and have a quick drink.

The film itself is dark in content and drab in appearance but is thoroughly enjoyable. Based on a novel by Grahame Greene it tells the story of a small time hoodlum, Pinkie Brown.  After the murder of his boss, by a rival gang, Pinkie takes over control and sets about seeking revenge.

Rose, a waitress at a nearby cafe, becomes witness to the final moments of a rival gang member. Pinkie needs to make sure she won't talk and so takes her on a date. Rose subsequently falls in love with Pinkie and as the truth as to what he is really like dawns on her she vows to stand by him.

The film is based in the sixties (Mods and Rockers fighting on the beach) and has an all star cast including Dame Helen Mirren and John Hurt.  However, it is the two lead characters that steal the show. Sam Riley (Pinkie) and Andrea Riseborough (Rose) put in great performances that keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Up In The Air

Last night with the temperature climbing to a heady minus three Clare and I toyed with the idea of going for a meal but settled for a DVD and pizza instead.

The DVD we chose was Up In The Air. Directed by Jason Reitman (Juno) and starring George Clooney it is based on a novel by Walter Kirn and tells the story of Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert.

Ryan (Clooney) loves the life he leads, spending 290 odd days a year flying around the country "letting people go". Domesticity is not for him. His home is the airport, hotel rooms and the sky.  When a young undergraduate at the company  proposes that the work can be done via the internet and all staff are to be grounded to save money, his way of life is threatened.  Having voiced his objections Ryan is told to take the young woman with him on his travels to see how he works. 

I'm not sure what I thought of the film.  Some great dialogue and the isolation of Clooney's character put me in mind of Lost In Translation (although in the case it was self imposed).  The aerial shots and soundtrack are fantastic, and the film as a whole works but it left me feeling not much of anything. Why? I'm not sure. Pizza was nice though.

Red

I really liked this film.  I imagine it will have come in for some criticism but I have thought it was good fun. 

Bruce Willis is a retired C.I.A agent who is struggling with a normal suburban life.  The highlight of his day is when he speaks to Mary Louise Parker, a Customer Service Rep, over the phone.  She also struggles with her job and dreams of a life of excitement.

When Bruce survives an attempt on his life, he kidnaps her (as he believes her life is also in danger) and sets about trying to find out who has ordered his death.  Along the way he asks his old spy pals for help.  These include Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovic.

This gentle shoot 'em up, if you can have such a thing, matches the age of the cast.  It rolls along at a slow but steady pace and has a good mix of action and laughs.  A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The Town

Went to see Ben Affleck's The Town last night.  I heard mixed things about it but I thought it was a really good film. 

A group of bank robbers take a hostage and then release her only to realise she lives around the corner. Affleck is then sent to talk to her to see if she knows anything and to find out what she has told the FBI. He inevitably falls for her. 

With the FBI breathing down their necks Affleck decides it's time to move on but before he can there is one more job to do.

The film is quite long at just over 2 hours but never drags and builds quite nicely.  A strong cast and some great scenes.  I really enjoyed  it!

Knight and Day

Yesterday I went to see Knight and Day. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I won't spoil it but the story is about June Havens (Cameron Diaz) who finds her everyday life tangled with that of secret agent Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) who has realised he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn that all they can count on is each other.

Tom Cruise is a great actor, something I forget, coupled with Cameron Diaz they seem to have a chemistry that really comes across on screen. Both turn in strong performances. Add some great locations and some fantastic action scenes and you're away.

If you want an all action Hollywood Blockbuster you can do a lot worse than this. I don't imagine it will win many awards but for a couple of hours of escapism it really hits the spot.

The Weekend

Friday night and my plans to watch the meteor shower were dashed by cloud.  Instead I contented myself with the spectacle that is Big Brother. Josie is guaranteed a place in the final courtesy of her house mates and Jo was evicted.  The countdown to the final begins now. Just over a week to go.

Saturday was spent shopping.  I have decided to start collecting cricket books and after a trawl of the charity shops I managed to pick up both Botham's and Fintoff's autobiographies, a tribute to Dickie Bird and a book on cricket writing.  Not a bad start! 
Obviously if you are having a shopping day you need to start it right.  For me that is a vegetarian breakfast at Morrisons.  It has become quite a regular thing on a Saturday morning. For around £2.70 you get fried egg, mushrooms, tomato, beans, 2 x hash browns and a slice of toast. Wash it all down with a cup of coffee and an extra round of toast if you're really hungry (I usually am) and you're away.

Yesterday Clare and I went to the Electric Cinema to see Skeletons.  For those who don't know it is the oldest working cinema in the UK.  It shows both Hollywood blockbusters and small independent films. You can either sit in the stalls or have a sofa at the back.  The sofas are great with plenty of room to stretch out.  You can also text the bar and they will bring you your drinks so you do not miss the film. 

Yesterday's film was Skeletons.  Last week it won the Michael Powell award at Edinburgh.  A British Comedy, directed by Nic Whitfield and starring Ed Gaughan and Andrew Buckley, it tells the story of 2 agents who work for a psychic cleaning company.  In other words they are employed to clear metaphorical skeletons out of real cupboards. 

I still don't know what I made of this film.  I thought it looked great and thought all the roles were performed really well.  I liked the premise of the story and thought the script was well written but as I left the cinema the one word that kept coming to mind was bleak.  I think I enjoyed the film but I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone.  If you read the reviews it seems to be a mixture of good and bad, a little confusing and I think that's how I feel about it.