Category: Other

Last night I went to the London Comedy Film Festival showing of Wreck It Ralph. I managed to secure a plus one and took my little Mex for an evening out. It was so good. I won’t say too much about the film because that is what Screen Geek expect from me. It is visually incredible and very funny, and fits in nicely with the continuing legacy of Pixar films. That’s it though. That’s all I’m saying.

The showing was followed by a Q&A with director Rich Moore and Sarah Silverman who stars in the film as Vanellope. It has really invigorated my desire to one day make my own film project. I’ve had so many things on the back burner for so long, and I would love to get behind the camera and really make something of them. I think when a director does a job well it shows, and listening to Moore talk last night you could tell he knew he had hit the jackpot and was indeed living the dream.

It’s a shame directors aren’t given more time unless they’ve got all kinds of mega sass and a massive following behind them, because there’s a reason they get to be in charge of these projects, and there is a lot to be gained from them.

Knees kiss so awkward
There must be an apology
Before we get up

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘The worst decision I made this week’ and here’s your host, I am!
The worst decision I made this week was considering cancelling plans with a friend. As you may have gathered I am no social butterfly. When I leave the house it is for work or Kate as a general rule. I realise this sounds like an awful way to conduct oneself. I also spend a lot of time in queues if that makes you feel better about it.

Last night I just couldn’t be bothered. I had a full on day at work and I just wanted to go home and wallow. The ball wasn’t in my court though fortunately.
The friend I had planned to meet up with is my longest serving friend, he top trumps the lot of you. I don’t know what I’m going to say about him so we will just initial this one. My friend S had tried calling me a couple of times during the day. I text him and had not received a response by the time I left work. I started towards the train station figuring it gave him another half hour to get his arse in gear while I either walked to our arranged meeting place or jumped on a train. I was very undecided.
He called and there was just something in his voice. I realised we hadn’t seen each other in two years and there was too much unsaid we needed to catch up on.
After a couple of beers in Soho I confessed to him I had thought about ducking out or cancelling or taking a rain check whatever the fuck that means. He understood completely. We both work in quite highly strung industries and he agreed there are days when you need to just lock yourself away and respect your own privacy.
He’s right, as usual, but I sometimes go too far the other way.

S has always been the outgoing powerhouse of the pair of us but seeing him last night I could tell something had changed. He still has the spirit and we talked about it at great length but he is being heavily oppressed and put upon by those above. I hate seeing him like that and the areas we are both working in are no what we should be doing at all but a man has gotta eat.
So eat we did.

After eight beers we wandered the confused side streets of east London until we found a Mexican cantina. This might be the booze talking but wow, that was some good Mexican. I’m pretty sure we were taken for being a couple but I could do an awful lot worse.
It was nice to see the pressure of the day leave our shoulders, all of that stuff becomes nothing when you’re with a friend who shares the dream and shares the drive and just gets it.
I’m very lucky we have managed to stay so connected when months tick by in the way they do.
No matter where we get to and what we are doing there is something going back and forth and long may it continue.
My parting words were “don’t let the bastards grind you down”.
I hope you get to read this one S, and I’ll see you soon.

I like your jumper
Hope it keeps you warm now that
Prices have gone up

I’m currently reading what I understand to be Kerouac’s last book. I’m struggling with it for the same reason I struggled with the documentary What Happened To Kerouac? which I reviewed for Screen Geek way back when.
While the book offers an insight into how Kerouac sees himself and Paris, it just highlights what a shambling drunkard he became. That’s not to say it isn’t a good book or I don’t appreciate the kind folks who bought it for me, it’s just different from the beat poet stuff I love.
He reminds me of a drunk Shatner, hitting on girls young enough to be his daughters, frightening locals and being kicked out of hotels.
There was a time when I would have thought this kind of thing brilliant and rock n roll and whatever else but seeing how he died shortly after from an internal haemorrhage doesn’t make it all that rosy. He didn’t light up the sky like the Roman candles of On The Road, he just began a caricature drunk he could write about.

Much more of the same
Than you can ever explain
Call a doctor now

I started this blog at the end of February 2012, the 27th to be precise. Since then I have covered most things that have happened to me. It’s served to introduce me to a lot of people and ideas and things but like all good things it will eventually end. Stop crying.
I wanted to write a years worth of blogs and I’ve nearly done it. I know what I’ll do with it all after but still have some stuff to sort out in that regard.
The things writing every day has taught me are incredible, especially to someone who wants to be a writer. I can’t recommend it enough. It doesn’t matter how inane a thought or how dull a day, I write it down and there’s something to be gained from that.
Just write and see where it goes.

Sleep is so pleasant
When nothing is on your mind
How often is that?

I spent yesterday afternoon with my adorable little godson. He is such a little bundle of fun. His name is Toby and he’s so cheeky and funny and got such a sweet little personality. It’s so good to be able to be a part of his journey. He’s nearly two and he’s already caught up with me in terms of maturity. We both enjoy the swings and the slide and watching films and crushing up crisps and letting them drop on the floor.
That last one might just be him.

I think what I like about seeing him and spending time with him is that I knew his parents before they were together and before they were married and before they thought of even having a baby. They’re solid friends of mine and its so good to see them as parents, it makes them so happy and Toby is the perfect composite of them both.
Very lucky.