Date: 2009-11-18 22:13 Subject: And more on Country Houses Security: Public Location: Still Chigwell Mood: intrigued Tags: architecture, film, harry potter

I'm intrigued by the way that the newly released Deathly Hallows movie concept art for Malfoy Manor looks a lot like Hardwick Hall with added Bavarian mansards.

It could have been worse. It could have been Waddeston.

Or Hampton Court.

Date: 2009-11-17 21:09 Subject: Boldly Going Yet Again Security: Public Location: Muddy Chigwell Mood: geeky Tags: film, tv

Have just been watching the Star Trek 09 DVD and, dammit, that gives me exactly the same buzz as the first Star Wars movie (by which I mean 'A New Hope') or the first Indy Jones movie. They are just so damn much FUN.

thassorl.

(Oh, except for having occasional flashes of Eric Bana as 'the star in a reasonably priced car' and carefully not planning a crossover fic...)

Date: 2009-11-17 12:24 Subject: No surprises there then... Security: Public Location: Sunny Chigwell Mood: frustrated Tags: rl

As expected, the heating engineer has told us very sternly that THIS CANNOT GO ON - so we need to clear the garage and start getting builders quotes to brick up the door so that there is an external wall onto which a new boiler can be fixed.

Need to call council to take away the two sofas currently in the garage. I was going to find a local recycling/charity to take the cabin bed from the spare room (the one who refused to take the sofas seems to have packed up doing business), but that may get 'tipped'as well, since the only contact points for charity recycling seem to be via yahoo (which I will not use).

Have ordered train tickets for Birmingham on Saturday.

Must go and get on with this damn cat newsletter now.

Date: 2009-11-15 22:06 Subject: Sunday **** Sunday. Security: Public Location: Dark Chigwell Mood: tired Tags: dogs, tube, tv

At least the rain has eased off, and although there was a lot of water in the ditches this morning it wasn't flowing nearly as fast as last night (first time I've seen any water flowing under the board bridges in the woods for ages). Took Dracopup for a longish run this morning since we intended to spend a few hours at the Discover Dogs show at Earls Court. ( Tube woes )

The dog world, like everywhere else, is showing the effects of recession - fewer trade stands this year, and fewer dogs (in fact there was only one ETT on the breed stand when I arrived - apparently the Club had had problems finding people to man the stand - if only I'd known I could have taken Draco - given that he likes tube rides. OTOH he would probably have disgraced himself... Anyway, he now has a new green coat, and a flourescent ball which will hopefully not get lost amid the Autumn leaves like his last three tennis balls. He might have had a new collar, except that I am not paying £50 for dyed buffalo hide - and that's before considering the addition of bling and crystals.

Got back in time for Who.

( and some thorts on Who )Rather wish I hadn't.

Meanwhile R7 is repeating an episode of Men From the Ministry which is much more entertaining. also at least Sunday Nights have Antiques Roadshow, though that is becoming more of an antique itself by the moment, and a returning post-watershed Top Gear so not quite a washout this evening then.

Date: 2009-11-08 10:23 Subject: You wait for media distractions... Security: Public Location: Damp Chigwell Mood: blah Tags: fic, tv

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Date: 2009-11-05 22:01 Subject: Halloween is late this year. Security: Public Location: explosive Chigwell Mood: happy Tags: review, tv

Yet again I only realised that Sarah Jane Adventures was on this afternoon as I emerged from the woods at 4.30 with Dracopup in tow (or rather, towing me). He is getting used to the abrupt ends to his Thursday and Friday afternoon walks.

And it was certainly worth it.

( Cut for Spoilers )

Date: 2009-11-01 19:22 Subject: Sunday in the Woods Security: Public Location: Wet Chigwell Mood: lazy Tags: computer, puppy

Ever since I've had this little pink laptop I've been trying to get rid of the automatic part of the startup program that plays an AOL advert. Yesterday I updated my AVG security and purged a lot of extraneous temp files. And on starting up just now AVG gave me a 'Detected Malware' warning. Naturally I told it to purge the programme, and imagine my surprise^(TM) when the filename of the AOL advert came up. So now I'll have a faster startup, and won't have to hit the X button on the advert. Result!

Of course, I am supposed to be retiring the little pink laptop.

In other news, despite the fact that it was drizzling this morning Dracopup had to have his walk. So we put on his waterproof fleece, and our wellies and ventured out into the woods. halfway down the path Lil picked up a discarded tennis ball - "Is this one of Draco's?" (he's managed to lose three this week in the autumn leaf-fall). It was indeed and, despite being rather waterlogged Draco was happy to play 'fetch' for a while. Until, that is, the downpour started in earnest. At which point, despite his nice warm reflective fleece, Draco decided that it was time to demonstrate exactly why terriers have a reputation of digging. He found a convenient place under a fallen tree and scraped himself out a nice Draco-sized hole into which he proceeded to curl up to wait out the storm.

No, we didn't have a camera with us to record this. Sadly I extracted pup from his nest and carried him (and about half a pound of excavated mud on his paws) back home.

Though although his paws and ears (and my coat) were extremely wet and muddy, the Equifleece coat had kept him remarkably dry.

Date: 2009-10-31 19:48 Subject: X-Rated Family Entertainment Security: Public Mood: annoyed Tags: tv

I am not a prude - but frankly if I had young kids I would not allow them to watch 'Strictly' this week, which seems to consist entirely of women showing their knickers. Some of those dresses are quite disgusting.

Now if only they had the men in crotchless spandex...

And the quality of the dancing this year is much worse than in previous years - I suspect that the new format has put too much strain on the participants.

I seem to have mislaid my Vampire Tarot.

Date: 2009-10-29 09:13 Subject: Why Don't You Turn Off The TV And Go And Do Something Useful? Security: Public Location: damp Chigwell Mood: giggly Tags: tv

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Date: 2009-10-28 08:16 Subject: The smell of plastic glue in the morning... Security: Public Tags: toys, tv

They've just been talking about the Christmas toy market on TV, but after last night's May programme I suspect that one of the big sellers this year will be Airfix Spitfire kits. That was glorious television. I do love May.

Though I was surprised that no one mentioned that real Spitfires were 'kit planes' - designed to have new bits quickly replaceable (this having been one of my father's jobs in the RAF), albeit with a bit of the judicious use of lump hammer and saw (so very like an Airfix kit then).

Was disapointed in the girls. I used to make the Airfix cavalry kits (something about a man in uniform on horseback - but perhaps such things are not for primetime TV). The last kit I made up was a WWII Messerschmitt 109 as reference for an illustration to a story. Maybe I ought to make a matching Spit...

I do hope that Airfix are geared up for Xmas.

Date: 2009-10-15 18:50 Subject: The Hills are Alive... Security: Public Location: Essex Mood: amused Tags: essex, fandom, tv

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Date: 2009-10-10 19:31 Subject: Strictly Come Merlin Security: Public Location: Dark Chigwell Mood: annoyed Tags: merlin, tv

I am watching this (well, I have it on as background following the execrable Merlin. (What were they thinking of with that matte work? And the cutesy map? And since when has Gwen gone from 'lady in waiting' (upper class) to 'maidservant' (lower class)? Also love the "Giant Molerat of Sumatra Camelot - but I digress) and am spitting nails about the way in which they are treating Lynda Bellingham. If you are going to dress a woman of a certain age (61) in a pink and black basque-style the least you can do is provide a properly boned corset that holds in the worst of the wobbles. Now I have this urge to vote for her because she was clearly labouring under handicaps that the others don't have. (And I like Lynda - I am unreconstructed fan of Loose Women - so sue me.)

Date: 2009-10-10 08:41 Subject: Unexpected commentfic Security: Public Location: Damp Chigwell Mood: geeky Tags: fic, hp, humour

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Date: 2009-10-08 13:33 Subject: Shopping Security: Public Location: Sunny Chigwell Mood: accomplished Tags: shopping

I drove Lil ito Barkingside to see the dentist this morning, and did some shop-browsing. Found a lovely denim skirt in the PDSA shop, together with a new wooly hat, some wellyboot socks, and a tin of squirty puppy treat intended for use in Draco's rubber Kong toy (and therefore, ultimately, in Draco).

Right opposite the two dental surgeries on the high street some enterprising people have opened an old-fashioned sweet shop. So I have a quarter of milk bottles, and of sherbert lemons, and Lil has some jellybeans with which to replenish our dispensing machine. Will doubtless go back later for aniseed balls, flying saucers and blackjacks...

Stopped off at the pet shop in the village for cat food, and, on the suggestion of the owner, a target stick with which to start Dracopup on clicker training

I have also ordered Dracopup a polo-neck fleece coat for winter from Equafleece which will hopefully make him feel better about going out in the rain (the poor thing hated yesterday's trip to the post office, and is sneezing intermittently this morning). If the flourescent yellow one fits him I may order myself a matching fleece for our winter walks.

And now I must go and start painting the woodwork in my bedroom...

Date: 2009-10-03 10:04 Subject: We interrupt our normal LJ blogging... Security: Public Location: Windy Chigwell Mood: bouncy Tags: hpfic, squee

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

Date: 2009-10-02 09:09 Subject: A blast from the past Security: Public Location: Warm Chigwell Mood: happy Tags: drama, fanfic, professionals, radio, theatre

Browsing through my f-list yesterday I came across the news that an on-line version of Rediscovered in a Graveyard is now available on the Hatstand archive.

There are some stories that have iconic status in their fandoms, and this is one of The Professionals ones. I not only still have our circuit edition in the house (all 281 pages of it, copy #7), because it's regularly re-read (as comfort reading). It is also one of the few stories in our collection that I took the trouble to bind and do a cover for (like all stories circulated in the early days it came as a photocopied or duplicated plain manuscript ). It's also one of the very few 'alternate universe/historical stories where the historical bits (set in 1788) are as exciting (if not more so) than the contemporary slash (look, it's an early Pros fic - of course it's slash - we didn't write anything else).

Settles down for a wallow in nostalgia.

Yes, I know I should be writing Pottersmut - look on it as 'research'.

(Hmm. It must be a time for C18 fictional intrigue - and handsome men in lace and brocade - I shall be missing Mayo this afternoon in preference for part 2 of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, with Lindsay Duncan reprising her original performance and Ciaran Hinds as Valmont).

Date: 2009-09-30 21:19 Subject: Writing and Research Security: Public Location: cloudy Chigwell Mood: artistic Tags: film, writing

I am wondering whether to count the plot blocking and research notes as part of my '500 words a day' objective - if so, I have, just about, met it today.

I was contemplating a biblical quote as a title and, remembering the line but not where it comes in the NT, I did a quick google. The first two pages of reference were to some modern song lyric - not one of the referenced pages acknowledged the origin of said song lyric.

So now I wonder whether to use this as a title - or will my readers assume I'm writing a songfic?

Believe me, if I ever write a songfic it won't be for an 80s boyband.

I see that there's a dvd set of Summer Holiday, The Young ones and Wonderful Life in singalong versions. Am tempted.

(Wanders off singing 'we Love a Movie')

Date: 2009-09-17 11:42 Subject: Shiny? Security: Public Location: Breezy Chigwell Mood: triumphant Tags: computer

I am writing this on the whizzy new computer, which finally deigned to connect to the internet this morning with no problems at all!

Everything people say about Vista is true.

Will now go away and make a cup of tea, and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs on toast for lunch - by the time I get back this may have posted...

Date: 2009-09-15 12:08 Subject: When fandoms collide Security: Public Location: Wet, WIndy Chigwell Mood: blah Tags: fanfic, historic houses, history, tv

I probabably need that title as a tag, I'm sure I've used it before...

I just got as far as Sharpe's Justice in my watchathon. This is the 'Peterloo massacre' one set in Keighley - and also the point at which Sharpe suddenly acquires Yorkshire roots (courtesy of Sean Bean's portrayal finally trumping the book version). But what really struck me was the appearance of Captain George Wickham (played by Douglas Henshall) who, in context, is indistinguishable from his Jane Austen namesake. Which is useful shorthand for the viewer and an example of 'professional fanfic' that I've not come across before (though a quick check on the net indicates that this is regarded as more of a 'crossover' or 'tribute' than outright fanfic).

It's almost a pity in fact that Cornwell/Harbison didn't subvert the character - one gets the duplicitous baddie that one expects.

Though one would wonder what Austen's ladies would have made of Major Sharpe (points to icon - avoids trawl through Austen fansites where the question is doubtless answered).

This episode also has a bravura performance from Philip Glenister. It may be short on historical accuracy and bloody battlefields, but definitely one for the fans.

And besides, we have Sharpe's Waterloo waiting in the wings, which has enough battle, mayhem and sudden death to suit anyone.

ETA. I just did a quick check on IMDB to see whether the Austen connection is made (it isn't) and realised why the house inherited by Sharpe's wife is so familiar - it's East Riddlesden Hall. Maybe my tags list was trying to tell me this when it suggested 'historic houses' as a tag?

Date: 2009-09-03 09:19 Subject: If it's September, it must be fanwank time Security: Public Location: Windy Chigwell Mood: amused Tags: fandom, meta, puppy, slash

Since I defriended metafandom I've missed most of the trivial issues that have been engaging mediafandom, but I did happen across SurveyFail courtesy of a couple of Pottercoms and watched it with interest.

( More Inafannish meta )

Now, Dracopup looks so sweet curled up beside me - I wonder whether I should subject him to the Tube this morning...