Live from the Pillon-Krzymuski dinner table
Friday 25 December 2009
Thursday 17 December 2009
Saturday 12 December 2009
Saturday 17 October 2009
Monday 28 September 2009
Apathy
It's been a while hasn't it?
There's a good reason but something I'll leave to explain for another time.
It's 1am on a Sunday night and there really are better thinsg to do than tap away in my living room. But I was reading some old posts and it made me think a little about where I am (and I don't mean literally... I've already established where I physically am).
I used to be what I thought was a "considered part-time activist". I'm not the type to shout my beliefs from rooftops, but certain things really get to me, and I used to be a lot more involved in trying to change them.
I now find myself taking the easy road so often, reasoning that the effort required to change something is not worth it. I think I hate apathy more than anything in the world, so I find myself embarrassed to realise that I have become apathetic. The lack of blogs along is perhaps a sign of that... I think I felt there was no point in writing anything because what was it doing except taking up memory on a server somewhere?
I realise that I've been irritated by little things a lot but not really done anything about them. And this week, I challenged some racist "jokes" at work. I'll be honest and say that part of my upset/anger was because I had a personal relationship with the person in question, so maybe my motivation was not quite altruistic. Nevertheless, the experience has jolted me into remembering that standing up for things was something once very important and prominent in my life.
I've spent many years being teased for simple easy things like recycling or re-using shopping bags. Every housemate I've had has seen me rummaging through the bin to retrieve tin cans they've thrown out, or tut when they come back from ASDA with a zillion carrier bags.
There's photographic evidence of me running around University with a rainbow cape on my back. I've written in a student newspaper about religious tolerance. I rarely let people get away with using the word "gay" as an insulting term.
I think it's easy to think that one person can't make a difference, because actually one person can't affect that kind of change by themselves. But what I had started to forget until this week was that one person can remind others of important things, and in that way, perhaps change can be affected.
Is change important? I think so. Perhaps the hardest and first problem is getting other people to agree with that.
There's a good reason but something I'll leave to explain for another time.
It's 1am on a Sunday night and there really are better thinsg to do than tap away in my living room. But I was reading some old posts and it made me think a little about where I am (and I don't mean literally... I've already established where I physically am).
I used to be what I thought was a "considered part-time activist". I'm not the type to shout my beliefs from rooftops, but certain things really get to me, and I used to be a lot more involved in trying to change them.
I now find myself taking the easy road so often, reasoning that the effort required to change something is not worth it. I think I hate apathy more than anything in the world, so I find myself embarrassed to realise that I have become apathetic. The lack of blogs along is perhaps a sign of that... I think I felt there was no point in writing anything because what was it doing except taking up memory on a server somewhere?
I realise that I've been irritated by little things a lot but not really done anything about them. And this week, I challenged some racist "jokes" at work. I'll be honest and say that part of my upset/anger was because I had a personal relationship with the person in question, so maybe my motivation was not quite altruistic. Nevertheless, the experience has jolted me into remembering that standing up for things was something once very important and prominent in my life.
I've spent many years being teased for simple easy things like recycling or re-using shopping bags. Every housemate I've had has seen me rummaging through the bin to retrieve tin cans they've thrown out, or tut when they come back from ASDA with a zillion carrier bags.
There's photographic evidence of me running around University with a rainbow cape on my back. I've written in a student newspaper about religious tolerance. I rarely let people get away with using the word "gay" as an insulting term.
I think it's easy to think that one person can't make a difference, because actually one person can't affect that kind of change by themselves. But what I had started to forget until this week was that one person can remind others of important things, and in that way, perhaps change can be affected.
Is change important? I think so. Perhaps the hardest and first problem is getting other people to agree with that.
Saturday 25 July 2009
Slovenian Beer Wars
The two main beers/pivi in Slovenia are Union and Lasko. A common phrase outside of Ljubljana, where Union is brewed, is "I drink Lasko and piss Union". We tried a few just to be sure. And our mission is ongoing...
Chilling in Piran
Tartinjev Trg/Piazza Tartini/Tartini Square by night. It was full of children and dogs running about with bands in the centre.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Sunday 14 June 2009
Home & Away
My friend Natalie left Manchester today, and whilst it's not like I won't see her again, it was still one of those "goodbye" moments. It's kind of got me thinking about a lot of things, not least all the friends I've said goodbye to as they've left Manchester for one reason or another.
I've lived here for nearly 7 years now... in fact, the house I'm in now is very nearly the place I've spent longest in my life. As an 18 year-old applying to Uni, I guess I didn't really think about much other than A-level grades and where I'd be going out at night. And without thinking about it, this place has gradually become more than just somewhere I live, but somewhere I might consider home. Hell, I've started growing vegetables in my yard, and if that's not a sign of settling in I don't know what is!
But something Natalie said has sat with me this afternoon. Home is not a place, a house or your surroundings. It's where people you care about are.
Over the past few years I've said goodbye to a fair few people who made Manchester my home. I've waved goodbye to people like Steve, who I think about a lot (and luckily get to stay with in Seville every now and again) and Andrew, who is now a barrister.
In my final year of medical school, I made a fair few new friends, a lot forged in that time in Blackburn. Andy, Nick and Kath now work and live in Edinburgh, Devon & Leeds, whilst Rach lives in Liverpool. Lauren is back in Canada (soon to be Detroit) and Kat has travelled the globe.
I keep in touch with some of these better than others. And even with e-mail, Facebook and international roaming, there are plenty others whom I neglect.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my "home" is pretty spread out. I can sit here, alone in my house now, but think of all those times where I've been elsewhere that felt like home: falling over in the Alameda de Hercules, sleeping under a desk in Sefton Park, singing Abba at 3am somewhere between Montreal and Ottowa, getting takeaway in Leeds... the list is long.
I don't know where I'll end up. Right now, it ranges from right here, to Sarajevo, Ljubljana or Malaga and right back to Southampton, Portsmouth and London. You know what? I wouldn't even rule out Blackburn!
So don't let me be a stranger... I might come knocking one day!
I've lived here for nearly 7 years now... in fact, the house I'm in now is very nearly the place I've spent longest in my life. As an 18 year-old applying to Uni, I guess I didn't really think about much other than A-level grades and where I'd be going out at night. And without thinking about it, this place has gradually become more than just somewhere I live, but somewhere I might consider home. Hell, I've started growing vegetables in my yard, and if that's not a sign of settling in I don't know what is!
But something Natalie said has sat with me this afternoon. Home is not a place, a house or your surroundings. It's where people you care about are.
Over the past few years I've said goodbye to a fair few people who made Manchester my home. I've waved goodbye to people like Steve, who I think about a lot (and luckily get to stay with in Seville every now and again) and Andrew, who is now a barrister.
In my final year of medical school, I made a fair few new friends, a lot forged in that time in Blackburn. Andy, Nick and Kath now work and live in Edinburgh, Devon & Leeds, whilst Rach lives in Liverpool. Lauren is back in Canada (soon to be Detroit) and Kat has travelled the globe.
I keep in touch with some of these better than others. And even with e-mail, Facebook and international roaming, there are plenty others whom I neglect.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my "home" is pretty spread out. I can sit here, alone in my house now, but think of all those times where I've been elsewhere that felt like home: falling over in the Alameda de Hercules, sleeping under a desk in Sefton Park, singing Abba at 3am somewhere between Montreal and Ottowa, getting takeaway in Leeds... the list is long.
I don't know where I'll end up. Right now, it ranges from right here, to Sarajevo, Ljubljana or Malaga and right back to Southampton, Portsmouth and London. You know what? I wouldn't even rule out Blackburn!
So don't let me be a stranger... I might come knocking one day!
Thursday 21 May 2009
Monday 4 May 2009
An important duty
Okay, so with less than a week to go, I thought I'd make you aware of an important duty, which is that the UK votes on which 10 countries progress to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The first Eurovision Semi-Final will be broadcast on Tuesday 12th May on BBC Three (with ace commentary from Sarah Cawood and Paddy O'Connell). As a big country we automatically get through to the final, but we still help to choose who our competition is in one of the two semi-finals. With 42 countries in total, there are 21 in each semi-final, and it has to be said, the better songs are in the second one.
The following countries are performing, and here's a brief review of the songs. If I like them, I'll post the video, to try and convince you, but links of the country names will take you to the BBC page if you're curious about something I've missed...
Montenegro / Crna Gora
Andrea Demirovic - Just Get Out of My Life
This is a delightful euro-camp-fest, but it's a little "Pop Idol - Disco Week". Look out for the male dancer onstage who the Schlagerboys call "a big dancing jessie".
Czech Republic / Česká republika
Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale
"Come on Gipsies!" - you'd be forgiven for pulling a face at that title, and you'd be right to, cos this song is not a grower.
Belgium / België / Belgique
Copycat - Copycat
An Elvis-A-Like croons out this Fifties-style song, but the "cat-call" that starts it off makes me want to switch off.
Belarus / Беларусь
Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie
It's all a bit earnest really, and he looks a bit of a fool with that bizarre straightened blonde fringe.
Sweden /Sverige
Marlena Ernman - La Voix
Oh Sweden, you never let us down! Opera + Popdance beat can't fail can it? It's got the traditional key-change for the last verse, and a dance routine involving masks. Brilliant.
Armenia / Հայաստան
Inga & Anush - Jan Jan
This song is brilliantly mental - "We are dancing NOR PAR" - what does that even mean?! And they look so completely oblivious to how astonishingly ridiculous they are throughout. It's awful, but I keep getting drawn back.
Andorra
Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisió (Get A Life)
Oh poor Andorra. I do feel a bit sorry for them, so tiny, but this song captures "90's single woman singer-songwriter" for me and it's not my bag.
Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse / Svizzera
Lovebugs - The Highest Heights
This was produced by U2 and I think it shows. I quite like this song, which is so different from the rest of Eurovision it sits apart - which might mean it does very well.
Turkey / Türkiye
Hadise - Düm Tek Tek
This is pretty catchy, danceworthy and has a little "arriba" noise 2/3 through which does it for me. Plus I like the "Düm Tek TEK!" chorus a bit too much.
Israel / יִשְׂרָאֵל
Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way
It's one of those "meaningful" songs - and I can't be bothered this year. Plus I don't think Hebrew was designed with singing in mind, there's something about hocking at the back of your throat that kind of kills the mood.
Bulgaria / България
Krassimir Avramov - Illusion
This is so OTT it's not even funny. There's only so much high-pitched wailing I can take from a man, even one as built as old Krassimir.
Iceland / Ísland
Yohanna - Is It True?
A plain ballad from Iceland - a bit disappointing really, like one of those X Factor acts who is pleasant enough and you continue to like when you know deep down they should have been voted off weeks ago.
F.Y.R. Macedonia / Македонија
Next Time - Neshto Shto Ke Otsane [Something That Will Remain]
Just a simple no here. Though the boys do have nice perms.
Romania / România
Elena - Balkan Girls
"The Balkan girls they like to party like nobody" - it's all pleasant enough.
Finland / Suomi
Waldo's People - Lose Control
This is excellent, a bit Bomfunk MC (which is perhaps not surprising, given both acts are Finnish).
Portugal
Flor-de-lis - Todas As Ruas Do Amor
This has the dubious honour of being my most played Eurovision 2009 song. I like that whilst many countries have opted to sing in English, Portugal remains steadfast in only using Portugese in this folky song. Portugal has participated in the Contest for longer than any other without securing a win, and I wouldn't mind if this were to do it.
Malta
Chiara - What If We
Chiara seems to enter Eurovision every other year and always with a yearning ballad. Same old, same old...
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosna i Hercegovina
Regina - Bistra Voda [Clear Water]
Now I actually quite like this one, but maybe because I have a soft spot for Bosnia. It's got sweet lyrics and I like the tinkly bits at the start.
Georgia / საქართველო
Georgia were due to take part but withdrew following that war with Russia, where, incidentally, the contest is being held this year. Then they came back, with a song called "We don't wanna Put-In", a barely veiled reference to Russia's Prime Minister, so they got banned. Oops.
So my favourites to hopefully make the Final are: Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Romania, Finland, Portugal & Bosnia-Herzegovina. What are yours? We'll find out in week.
The first Eurovision Semi-Final will be broadcast on Tuesday 12th May on BBC Three (with ace commentary from Sarah Cawood and Paddy O'Connell). As a big country we automatically get through to the final, but we still help to choose who our competition is in one of the two semi-finals. With 42 countries in total, there are 21 in each semi-final, and it has to be said, the better songs are in the second one.
The following countries are performing, and here's a brief review of the songs. If I like them, I'll post the video, to try and convince you, but links of the country names will take you to the BBC page if you're curious about something I've missed...
Montenegro / Crna Gora
Andrea Demirovic - Just Get Out of My Life
This is a delightful euro-camp-fest, but it's a little "Pop Idol - Disco Week". Look out for the male dancer onstage who the Schlagerboys call "a big dancing jessie".
Czech Republic / Česká republika
Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale
"Come on Gipsies!" - you'd be forgiven for pulling a face at that title, and you'd be right to, cos this song is not a grower.
Belgium / België / Belgique
Copycat - Copycat
An Elvis-A-Like croons out this Fifties-style song, but the "cat-call" that starts it off makes me want to switch off.
Belarus / Беларусь
Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie
It's all a bit earnest really, and he looks a bit of a fool with that bizarre straightened blonde fringe.
Sweden /Sverige
Marlena Ernman - La Voix
Oh Sweden, you never let us down! Opera + Popdance beat can't fail can it? It's got the traditional key-change for the last verse, and a dance routine involving masks. Brilliant.
Armenia / Հայաստան
Inga & Anush - Jan Jan
This song is brilliantly mental - "We are dancing NOR PAR" - what does that even mean?! And they look so completely oblivious to how astonishingly ridiculous they are throughout. It's awful, but I keep getting drawn back.
Andorra
Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisió (Get A Life)
Oh poor Andorra. I do feel a bit sorry for them, so tiny, but this song captures "90's single woman singer-songwriter" for me and it's not my bag.
Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse / Svizzera
Lovebugs - The Highest Heights
This was produced by U2 and I think it shows. I quite like this song, which is so different from the rest of Eurovision it sits apart - which might mean it does very well.
Turkey / Türkiye
Hadise - Düm Tek Tek
This is pretty catchy, danceworthy and has a little "arriba" noise 2/3 through which does it for me. Plus I like the "Düm Tek TEK!" chorus a bit too much.
Israel / יִשְׂרָאֵל
Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way
It's one of those "meaningful" songs - and I can't be bothered this year. Plus I don't think Hebrew was designed with singing in mind, there's something about hocking at the back of your throat that kind of kills the mood.
Bulgaria / България
Krassimir Avramov - Illusion
This is so OTT it's not even funny. There's only so much high-pitched wailing I can take from a man, even one as built as old Krassimir.
Iceland / Ísland
Yohanna - Is It True?
A plain ballad from Iceland - a bit disappointing really, like one of those X Factor acts who is pleasant enough and you continue to like when you know deep down they should have been voted off weeks ago.
F.Y.R. Macedonia / Македонија
Next Time - Neshto Shto Ke Otsane [Something That Will Remain]
Just a simple no here. Though the boys do have nice perms.
Romania / România
Elena - Balkan Girls
"The Balkan girls they like to party like nobody" - it's all pleasant enough.
Finland / Suomi
Waldo's People - Lose Control
This is excellent, a bit Bomfunk MC (which is perhaps not surprising, given both acts are Finnish).
Portugal
Flor-de-lis - Todas As Ruas Do Amor
This has the dubious honour of being my most played Eurovision 2009 song. I like that whilst many countries have opted to sing in English, Portugal remains steadfast in only using Portugese in this folky song. Portugal has participated in the Contest for longer than any other without securing a win, and I wouldn't mind if this were to do it.
Malta
Chiara - What If We
Chiara seems to enter Eurovision every other year and always with a yearning ballad. Same old, same old...
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosna i Hercegovina
Regina - Bistra Voda [Clear Water]
Now I actually quite like this one, but maybe because I have a soft spot for Bosnia. It's got sweet lyrics and I like the tinkly bits at the start.
Georgia / საქართველო
Georgia were due to take part but withdrew following that war with Russia, where, incidentally, the contest is being held this year. Then they came back, with a song called "We don't wanna Put-In", a barely veiled reference to Russia's Prime Minister, so they got banned. Oops.
So my favourites to hopefully make the Final are: Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Romania, Finland, Portugal & Bosnia-Herzegovina. What are yours? We'll find out in week.
Sunday 3 May 2009
Thursday 30 April 2009
Eurovision Hotties
Whilst I continue to blast out this years Eurovision entries on YouTube, here's a little diversion as we take a little look at the boys on offer this year...
Zoli Adok (Hungary/Magyar)
Zoli was Hungary's third choice for Eurovision (two others dropped out), but luckily for us, we get to see his dance & acrobatic skills in Moscow. Plus, he dresses up as a sailor in his video and isn't shy of sequins or glitter it seems...
VERDICT: Take Me To Your Heaven
Niels Brinck (Denmark/Danmark)
Not bad for a ginge, though what is that neckerchief all about huh?
VERDICT: You're my lover, undercover
Alexander Rybak (Norway/Norge)
Little Alexander plays away on his violin during his song, and I think he's pretty cute.
VERDICT: Boom Bang-A-Bang!
Regina (Bosnia & Herzegovina/Bosna i Hercegovina)
Regina are a Bosnian rock band made up of Aleksandar, Bojan, Denis & Davor who have reunited, Take That style, for Eurovision 2009. I'm pleased they did.
VERDICT: Ooh, aah, just a little bit
Petr Elfimov (Belarus/Беларусь)
Underneath that astonishing hair "style" Petr might not be so bad... oh who am I trying to kid, he'd scare blind children away. And once he started singing, the deaf ones would be of too.
VERDICT: Save All Your Kisses For... someone else
Igor Cukrov (Croatia/Hrvatska)
I think he won the Croatian equivalent of Fame Academy, and his smile is cute enough. I quite like his Croatian swarthiness, even if his song is a bit of yawn-fest.
VERDICT: Every Way That I Can
Sakis Rouvas (Greece/Ελληνική)
I think pictures speak a thousand words here.
VERDICT: This Is Our Night
And, lastly, it's not always the main act that you should be watching...
Svetlana Loboda (Ukraine/Україна)
Whilst Svetlana isn't my bag, Ukraine has a good history of having some great backing dancers, and costumes aside, this year doesn't dissappoint...
VERDICT: Go Go Wild Dancers!
Zoli Adok (Hungary/Magyar)Zoli was Hungary's third choice for Eurovision (two others dropped out), but luckily for us, we get to see his dance & acrobatic skills in Moscow. Plus, he dresses up as a sailor in his video and isn't shy of sequins or glitter it seems...
VERDICT: Take Me To Your Heaven
Niels Brinck (Denmark/Danmark)
Not bad for a ginge, though what is that neckerchief all about huh?
VERDICT: You're my lover, undercover
Alexander Rybak (Norway/Norge)
Little Alexander plays away on his violin during his song, and I think he's pretty cute.
VERDICT: Boom Bang-A-Bang!
Regina (Bosnia & Herzegovina/Bosna i Hercegovina)
Regina are a Bosnian rock band made up of Aleksandar, Bojan, Denis & Davor who have reunited, Take That style, for Eurovision 2009. I'm pleased they did.
VERDICT: Ooh, aah, just a little bit
Petr Elfimov (Belarus/Беларусь)
Underneath that astonishing hair "style" Petr might not be so bad... oh who am I trying to kid, he'd scare blind children away. And once he started singing, the deaf ones would be of too.
VERDICT: Save All Your Kisses For... someone else
Igor Cukrov (Croatia/Hrvatska)
I think he won the Croatian equivalent of Fame Academy, and his smile is cute enough. I quite like his Croatian swarthiness, even if his song is a bit of yawn-fest.
VERDICT: Every Way That I Can
Sakis Rouvas (Greece/Ελληνική)
I think pictures speak a thousand words here.
VERDICT: This Is Our Night
And, lastly, it's not always the main act that you should be watching...
Svetlana Loboda (Ukraine/Україна)
Whilst Svetlana isn't my bag, Ukraine has a good history of having some great backing dancers, and costumes aside, this year doesn't dissappoint...
VERDICT: Go Go Wild Dancers!
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Saturday 28 March 2009
Thursday 19 March 2009
Ottowa Senators 4 - Buffalo Sabres 2
Giving the best of British Luck to the Sen(ator)s on Saint "Patty"s Day.
Monday 16 March 2009
Saturday 7 March 2009
Eurovision is coming
Eurovision 2009 is coming and so clearly I'm started to get a little too excited. This year, the contest is taking place in Moscow, Russia, and there will be 42 countries taking part in 2 semi-finals, with the best 20 joining Frace, Spain, Germany, the UK and hosts Russia in the Final.
The wonder of YouTube means freaks like me can preview the songs in advance, and so here are some of my "favourites"... I'm using that term loosely to describe both songs I actually like as well as ones that are just plain awful.
So here they are... The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and... well just the plain Gay...
Finland/Suomi
Waldo's People: Lose Control
Official video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYAPyBAo9U
Live:
I really like this song and love how Finland always enter a song that that would be popular in Finland.
VERDICT: Good
Bulgaria/България
Krassimir Avramov: Illusion
Here is a prime example of a singer who completely and utterly goes for it just that little bit too much.
VERDICT: Ugly
Norway/Norge
Alexander Ryback: Fairytale
I don't want to like this but it's a bit of a grower and he's a little bit cute.
VERDICT: Good
Slovenia/Slovenija
Quartissimo feat. Martina: Love Symphony
I'm loving all this OTT singing going on, but she keeps you waiting doesn't she? They guys playing violins also really need to either be fitter or do something vaguely interesting, given that instruments aren't actually live at Eurovision. I was waiting for them to rip their suits off revealing sequins or do some acrobatics, but no. They just jig about. A bit. Needs work boys!
VERDICT: Ugly.
Spain/España
Soraya: La noche es para mi
This is my favourite song, and it's one of the favourites to win. I like how she keeps doing Tyra Banks style poses in all her close ups, as well as how much grease seems to be in the hair of her backing dancers.
VERDICT: Good
Albania/Shqipërisë
Kejsi Tola: Carry me in your dreams
This is the most unbeliveably crap video you have ever seen, look out for her jogging-style dancing in front of the bluescreen! Plus her entirely bored face throughout. I think she really wants to win.
VERDICT: Bad Bad Bad
Greece/Ελλάδα
Sakis Rouva: This is our night
Sakis is a Greek heartthrob, and has both sang at and presented Eurovision in the last 5 years so might do pretty well. But there's something a little odd about a 30-something year old belting out disco numbers... hence...
VERDICT: Gay
Montenegro/Crna Gora
Andrea Demirovic: Just get out of my life
This song is the musical version of a gay break-up, all mock drama with ridiculous lyrics to a dance beat. It's also my clear winner for best (i.e. most sexually suggestive lyrics) with:
"Just get out of my, out of my, out of my head;
Just get out of my, out of my, out of my bed"
VERDICT: (most definitely) Gay
Cyprus/Κύπρος
Christina Metaxa: Firefly
Nice song, let's see if she can work on those tuning issues (i.e. a lot)
VERDICT: Ugly
Sweden/Sverige
Marlena Ernman: La Voix
What is it with the blinking violins this year? Russia had one in their winning entry last year so Slovenia, Norway, Estonia and now Sweden are following suit in glorious disbelief that Europe loves violins. Let's see shall we. Anyway, Sweden, who normally churn out some fabulous Europop have left me a little confused this year. It's opera with a disco beat. WTF?
VERDICT: Good? Bad? I'm undecided.
Azerbaijan/Azərbaycan
AySel & Arash: Always
All things considered, Azerbaijan aren't that bad and this song does get in your head. There's a little too much wailing at the end and the guy could lay of the sleaze but I bet this will make the final.
VERDICT: Good. Ish.
Malta
Chiara: What if we
This is Chiara's zillionth attempt at Eurovision and she still hasn't lost any weight, you'd think the stress might have some effect. Perhaps she just needs some better make-up. In any case, I like the particularly imaginative video concept: Just. Standing. In. Front. Of. A. Microphone.
VERDICT: U.G.L.Y.
Netherlands/Nederland
The Toppers: Shine
Sounds a bit like Katrina in the Waves, so maybe this will do well, given that it's all about "loving the one we hate" and "letting the darkness fade away". Loving the return of the hand-torch though, as debuted by Slovenia a year back. Great lyrics include "...love will make us glow in the dark".
VERDICT: Gay
Hungary/Magyarország
Zoli Ádok: Dance With Me
This came third in the Hungarian national selection, but the first and second place withdrew for some spurious reason, leading to this hidden gem of camp-ness featuring the lyrics "disco fantasy" and sailor costumes. F. A. B.
VERDICT: Gay = Good
And lastly, but not least, our own, home-grown entry. It's certainly no Scooch (I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a good thing or not)
United Kingdom
Jade Ewen: My Time
This is very Andrew Lloyd Webber (funny that... given he wrote it) and you can't deny that she belts it out pretty well. Whether I actually love it is another question, but I think I like it. Maybe a Top 10 finish this year after all?
VERDICT: Good (surprisingly)
Well, that is all for now. I may well add in some more gems as they come through. And for those of you in the know, keep May 16th free, I might well be doing something...!
The wonder of YouTube means freaks like me can preview the songs in advance, and so here are some of my "favourites"... I'm using that term loosely to describe both songs I actually like as well as ones that are just plain awful.
So here they are... The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and... well just the plain Gay...
Finland/Suomi
Waldo's People: Lose Control
Official video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYAPyBAo9U
Live:
I really like this song and love how Finland always enter a song that that would be popular in Finland.
VERDICT: Good
Bulgaria/България
Krassimir Avramov: Illusion
Here is a prime example of a singer who completely and utterly goes for it just that little bit too much.
VERDICT: Ugly
Norway/Norge
Alexander Ryback: Fairytale
I don't want to like this but it's a bit of a grower and he's a little bit cute.
VERDICT: Good
Slovenia/Slovenija
Quartissimo feat. Martina: Love Symphony
I'm loving all this OTT singing going on, but she keeps you waiting doesn't she? They guys playing violins also really need to either be fitter or do something vaguely interesting, given that instruments aren't actually live at Eurovision. I was waiting for them to rip their suits off revealing sequins or do some acrobatics, but no. They just jig about. A bit. Needs work boys!
VERDICT: Ugly.
Spain/España
Soraya: La noche es para mi
This is my favourite song, and it's one of the favourites to win. I like how she keeps doing Tyra Banks style poses in all her close ups, as well as how much grease seems to be in the hair of her backing dancers.
VERDICT: Good
Albania/Shqipërisë
Kejsi Tola: Carry me in your dreams
This is the most unbeliveably crap video you have ever seen, look out for her jogging-style dancing in front of the bluescreen! Plus her entirely bored face throughout. I think she really wants to win.
VERDICT: Bad Bad Bad
Greece/Ελλάδα
Sakis Rouva: This is our night
Sakis is a Greek heartthrob, and has both sang at and presented Eurovision in the last 5 years so might do pretty well. But there's something a little odd about a 30-something year old belting out disco numbers... hence...
VERDICT: Gay
Montenegro/Crna Gora
Andrea Demirovic: Just get out of my life
This song is the musical version of a gay break-up, all mock drama with ridiculous lyrics to a dance beat. It's also my clear winner for best (i.e. most sexually suggestive lyrics) with:
"Just get out of my, out of my, out of my head;
Just get out of my, out of my, out of my bed"
VERDICT: (most definitely) Gay
Cyprus/Κύπρος
Christina Metaxa: Firefly
Nice song, let's see if she can work on those tuning issues (i.e. a lot)
VERDICT: Ugly
Sweden/Sverige
Marlena Ernman: La Voix
What is it with the blinking violins this year? Russia had one in their winning entry last year so Slovenia, Norway, Estonia and now Sweden are following suit in glorious disbelief that Europe loves violins. Let's see shall we. Anyway, Sweden, who normally churn out some fabulous Europop have left me a little confused this year. It's opera with a disco beat. WTF?
VERDICT: Good? Bad? I'm undecided.
Azerbaijan/Azərbaycan
AySel & Arash: Always
All things considered, Azerbaijan aren't that bad and this song does get in your head. There's a little too much wailing at the end and the guy could lay of the sleaze but I bet this will make the final.
VERDICT: Good. Ish.
Malta
Chiara: What if we
This is Chiara's zillionth attempt at Eurovision and she still hasn't lost any weight, you'd think the stress might have some effect. Perhaps she just needs some better make-up. In any case, I like the particularly imaginative video concept: Just. Standing. In. Front. Of. A. Microphone.
VERDICT: U.G.L.Y.
Netherlands/Nederland
The Toppers: Shine
Sounds a bit like Katrina in the Waves, so maybe this will do well, given that it's all about "loving the one we hate" and "letting the darkness fade away". Loving the return of the hand-torch though, as debuted by Slovenia a year back. Great lyrics include "...love will make us glow in the dark".
VERDICT: Gay
Hungary/Magyarország
Zoli Ádok: Dance With Me
This came third in the Hungarian national selection, but the first and second place withdrew for some spurious reason, leading to this hidden gem of camp-ness featuring the lyrics "disco fantasy" and sailor costumes. F. A. B.
VERDICT: Gay = Good
And lastly, but not least, our own, home-grown entry. It's certainly no Scooch (I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a good thing or not)
United Kingdom
Jade Ewen: My Time
This is very Andrew Lloyd Webber (funny that... given he wrote it) and you can't deny that she belts it out pretty well. Whether I actually love it is another question, but I think I like it. Maybe a Top 10 finish this year after all?
VERDICT: Good (surprisingly)
Well, that is all for now. I may well add in some more gems as they come through. And for those of you in the know, keep May 16th free, I might well be doing something...!
This weekend, i will be mostly...
My season one of 30 Rock arrived this morning so my bad mood from a shitty week now seems long gone!
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Resisting the Twitterers
As much as I love Philip Schofield, I'm not sure I want my life reduced to one sentence soundbites, like one big continual Facebook update.
I like to think I'm more interesting than that... or is it more that I just talk too much and wouldn't be able to say all I want to say in one little sentence... I won't let you answer that one.
But given that I've had my Sony Ericcson phone for nearly 9 months, I think it's time to make beter use of it and its multiciplous features, so I've now linked my "mobile blog" (no, me neither) to this one, which essentially means I'm now going to upload photos direct from my phone.
They say a picture says a thousand words, so this is my way of showing you what I'm doing, rather than trying to say it.
Ta.
I like to think I'm more interesting than that... or is it more that I just talk too much and wouldn't be able to say all I want to say in one little sentence... I won't let you answer that one.
But given that I've had my Sony Ericcson phone for nearly 9 months, I think it's time to make beter use of it and its multiciplous features, so I've now linked my "mobile blog" (no, me neither) to this one, which essentially means I'm now going to upload photos direct from my phone.
They say a picture says a thousand words, so this is my way of showing you what I'm doing, rather than trying to say it.
Ta.
Sunday 15 February 2009
A day in the life of an (unwilling) surgical house officer
0555h
Alarm goes off. Snooze button depressed
0602h
Crawl out of bed and into shower. Realise have forgotten towel.
0610h
Realise need a shave. Cannot be bothered.
0615h
Select least creased-looking shirt.
0620h
"Breakfast" - at this hour, a glass of water, some tablets and half a piece of toast.
0640h
This being winter, gloves, hat and scarf on ready for the car.
0645h
iPod in, Morning playlist on.
0700h
Hello M61. Mentally remind self for the zillionth time not to follow sign saying "Bolton" in order to get to Bolton Hospital.
0710h
Park up.
0720h
Say "morning" to the night nurses (deliberately leaving out the 'good'")
0730h
Print off lists and test results and find out what bits are missing. Have a minor panic, but remember that I don't care so wander over to F6 to begin the Power-Clerking.
0755h
Still waiting for patients to arrive, but need to go as post-take. Weigh up which consultant getting angry first before remembering I supposedly here for patients, so pace off to F3.
0800h
Night house officer looks fed up. See the on-take list and realise why. Grab some radiology cards, spare history sheets and try to remember where I left all that boyish enthusiasm.
0820h
Breathe out. Have seen 15 patients in almost as many minutes and now struggle to avoid all distractions in order to note down all the jobs.
0830h
Arrive at radiology in order to attempt to get 10 ultrasounds done in 2 slots. Get bleeped 3 times by various wards asking why the jobs I just found out about haven't been done yet.
0900h
Ward round of current patients. Realise no-one has blood forms done and so attempt to dissuade registrar from ordering any more tests to avoid more work.
0930h
"Doctor, can you come and put a cannula in this patient?" Arrive to find patient is not mine.
1000-1230h
Work from bleep to bleep, incredibly inefficiently, but unavoidable unless I throw the bloody bleep out the window. Swear at nurses. Apologise to nurses. Re-explain things to patients. Take bloods.
1230h
Remind self this is lunchtime.
1400h
Realise canteen has now closed.
1401h
Get bleeped by registrar immediately after opening flapjack/Mars bar/crisps/generic fat-snack to do another ward round. Spend ward round apologising for not having done all jobs.
1445h
Arrive on F5 and cup of tea (strong, 1 sugar, drop of milk) and banter from ward clerk. Smile, laugh...then remember where I am and head off to make nonsensical referrals, check bloods and rewrite TTOs because the ones I wrote when I had time have got lost.
1530h
Get bleeped whilst sat by a phone. Immediately call back. Phone engaged. Call again. Rings, but no answer. Call other number for that ward. Get through to ward clerk. "No-one's bleeped you love!"
1535h
Get bleeped from same ward. Go through whole process again. This time get through to early shift nurse who wants me to write up fluid for a patient. Tell her I did it this morning. Nurse apologises.
1540h
Get bleeped from same ward by late shift nurse about the same fluid chart. Am less polite this time around.
1600h
Start checking bloods. realise loads haven't been done. Head off to redo them all.
1630h
Get bleeped by the SHo to ask if there's anything he can do now he's out of clinic. Say you're done and just updating the list.
1631h
Start updating the patient list. Get bleeped about an ill patient.
1700h
Get back from ill patient and redo list because forgot to save it before.
1715h
Get bleeped by the reg to handover patients.
1800h
Think about going home, but instead start printing off tomorrow's elective patient list and preparing the print-outs.
1830h
See every other house officer still at work and have group lament about how crap our jobs/lives/colleagues/sense of personal worth is/are.
1845h
Get in car and head home.
1930h
Sit and talk to housemate for one hour about how much we hate our jobs.
2100h
Refuse to give into tiredness and stay up watching some crap on telly.
2130h
Give in and get into bed.
2230h
Still awake thinking about tomorrow's jobs.
2300h
Watch some more crap TV.
0000h
Finally get off to sleep.
Alarm goes off. Snooze button depressed
0602h
Crawl out of bed and into shower. Realise have forgotten towel.
0610h
Realise need a shave. Cannot be bothered.
0615h
Select least creased-looking shirt.
0620h
"Breakfast" - at this hour, a glass of water, some tablets and half a piece of toast.
0640h
This being winter, gloves, hat and scarf on ready for the car.
0645h
iPod in, Morning playlist on.
0700h
Hello M61. Mentally remind self for the zillionth time not to follow sign saying "Bolton" in order to get to Bolton Hospital.
0710h
Park up.
0720h
Say "morning" to the night nurses (deliberately leaving out the 'good'")
0730h
Print off lists and test results and find out what bits are missing. Have a minor panic, but remember that I don't care so wander over to F6 to begin the Power-Clerking.
0755h
Still waiting for patients to arrive, but need to go as post-take. Weigh up which consultant getting angry first before remembering I supposedly here for patients, so pace off to F3.
0800h
Night house officer looks fed up. See the on-take list and realise why. Grab some radiology cards, spare history sheets and try to remember where I left all that boyish enthusiasm.
0820h
Breathe out. Have seen 15 patients in almost as many minutes and now struggle to avoid all distractions in order to note down all the jobs.
0830h
Arrive at radiology in order to attempt to get 10 ultrasounds done in 2 slots. Get bleeped 3 times by various wards asking why the jobs I just found out about haven't been done yet.
0900h
Ward round of current patients. Realise no-one has blood forms done and so attempt to dissuade registrar from ordering any more tests to avoid more work.
0930h
"Doctor, can you come and put a cannula in this patient?" Arrive to find patient is not mine.
1000-1230h
Work from bleep to bleep, incredibly inefficiently, but unavoidable unless I throw the bloody bleep out the window. Swear at nurses. Apologise to nurses. Re-explain things to patients. Take bloods.
1230h
Remind self this is lunchtime.
1400h
Realise canteen has now closed.
1401h
Get bleeped by registrar immediately after opening flapjack/Mars bar/crisps/generic fat-snack to do another ward round. Spend ward round apologising for not having done all jobs.
1445h
Arrive on F5 and cup of tea (strong, 1 sugar, drop of milk) and banter from ward clerk. Smile, laugh...then remember where I am and head off to make nonsensical referrals, check bloods and rewrite TTOs because the ones I wrote when I had time have got lost.
1530h
Get bleeped whilst sat by a phone. Immediately call back. Phone engaged. Call again. Rings, but no answer. Call other number for that ward. Get through to ward clerk. "No-one's bleeped you love!"
1535h
Get bleeped from same ward. Go through whole process again. This time get through to early shift nurse who wants me to write up fluid for a patient. Tell her I did it this morning. Nurse apologises.
1540h
Get bleeped from same ward by late shift nurse about the same fluid chart. Am less polite this time around.
1600h
Start checking bloods. realise loads haven't been done. Head off to redo them all.
1630h
Get bleeped by the SHo to ask if there's anything he can do now he's out of clinic. Say you're done and just updating the list.
1631h
Start updating the patient list. Get bleeped about an ill patient.
1700h
Get back from ill patient and redo list because forgot to save it before.
1715h
Get bleeped by the reg to handover patients.
1800h
Think about going home, but instead start printing off tomorrow's elective patient list and preparing the print-outs.
1830h
See every other house officer still at work and have group lament about how crap our jobs/lives/colleagues/sense of personal worth is/are.
1845h
Get in car and head home.
1930h
Sit and talk to housemate for one hour about how much we hate our jobs.
2100h
Refuse to give into tiredness and stay up watching some crap on telly.
2130h
Give in and get into bed.
2230h
Still awake thinking about tomorrow's jobs.
2300h
Watch some more crap TV.
0000h
Finally get off to sleep.
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