Dirty Dancefloors and Dreams of Naughtiness
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Jun. 19th, 2009
(are you prepared for a long ramble full of tenuous links? And talking about...)
1. Bored at work this afternoon, I got a text from a friend referring me to a Daily Mail opinion poll “ should gipsies be allowed to jump the NHS queue?”. ( … )Following ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
shullie’s advice( … )decembre’s addictive nuggets( … ) bile salts. ( … )THREE FUCKING HOURS ( … )Holby City scriptwriters ( … ) mashed potato, in a pie case ( … ) expedition (it’s got an “x” in it, as Winnie Teh Pooh would say). ( … )(msb66 has, IIRC)( … )I bought four pairs of trainers( … )twenty two quid of cheese, meat and other goodies( … )
Current Mood: rejuvenated
Jun. 7th, 2009
1. It’s been a week of real mixed emotions, a busy week, and a week I’ve not had much time to sit and collect my thoughts. So, in typical *me* style, here’s ten trivial things to mull over whilst I try to temporarily ignore the “bigger” stuff (and try to work out how to express it through the medium of creative dance):
2. I’ve just booked train tickets for Mrs B’s parents to spend a couple of days down in London Upon Thames (like my parents they have no internets, so we do all their online bookings etc). Something I’d not noticed before is that National Express tell you the Carbon Emissions of your journey, and compare them to driving/ flying. For their 465 mile round trip they’ll apparently save 85kg of CO2 compared to driving to the Capital, which allows them to boil 859 kettles (901 if they’d flown). How very 2009…
3. We’ve had a week of headlines about Susan Boyle of Britain’s Got Talent (no, I’ve not watched it either, and, yes, I think the third word of the show’s title should probably have quotation marks), but that was until Big Brother started on Thursday. Hence the Daily Star’s Friday morning headline “Bonkers – Big Brother house full of Sex Starved Nutters”. You’ve got to love the way we deal with Mental Health in the UK. The number one single this week was called “Bonkers” (Dizzy Rascal), and the number one album called “Relapse” (Eminem). Yes, we are a nation of sex starved nutters, And, no, we can’t deal with mental health in the sympathetic way we can with physical health. Whilst Crohn’s is a horrible disease, and a horrible disease to explain, at least people can understand the general concept. It’d be impossible to get the same understanding sympathy of a mental condition in our ‘tolerant’ world…
4. Went to Lidl last weekend and bought a gigantic “continental” sausage WITH HAZLENUTS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.I think it’s fair to say WTF…( 5-8… )
(More on the other stuff later… maybe not in the medium of expressive dance though)
May. 9th, 2009
1. How did you spend your Saturday? I spent mine refereeing a game of football between Cambridge University and Manchester University, and a game between Sussex and Southampton Universities too. ( … )
Current Mood: wildly optimisic (not really)
Apr. 28th, 2009
I’ve a several thousand word entry in my head, but then I often do. There’s some things for another day (and some things for never, right now…). But, in the meantime:
1. We have a (temporary) goldfish. Our neighbour caught Hamble (his cat named after the PlaySchool doll) with aforementioned fish in her mouth, so it’s swimming round our wee pond in the meantime whilst he goes door to door round Crookes to find pond owners with a missing fish. If only Google Earth was high enough resolution to spot who had a pond in their gardens
2. There’s only one man who can save us from Swine Flu (it’s this year’s Bird Flu) – Hugh Pennington. The man knows. An ex girlfriend did her phd at Aberdeen University – apparently all the lab students would follow the Emeritus Professor at the canteen, and all order the same meal as him. Let’s face it, if the country’s expert on infections thinks the lasagna is safe to eat, then it’s probably a safe bet.
3. Talking of Mexicans (since that’s where this new strain of Flu is “from”), I spent a whopping £2.50 this weekend – the cost of my Saturday morning football with the Mexicans (and associated students etc). Friday night was spent in the house, Sunday was a five hour walk in the Peak District. The way things are looking, there’ll be a few more weekends of thrift this year…
4. There’s too much snooker on the telly. I love it as a game, I love it as a metaphor. But we get overloaded with televisual snooker at this time of year – I’d much prefer a channel that showed a nightly frame – say half ten/ eleven-ish – it’d be a lovely habit at the end of the evening. Much as I enjoy it, it’s impossible to keep up with so many games at once…
5. In local news, the Somerfield supermarket in Broomhill is about to close to become a Spar. When the mutually owned Cooperative bought Somerfield, they had a lot of stores close to each other; since there’s a Co-op in Crookes and a Somerfield in Broomhill we didn’t know which would get kept. We get to keep our local shop (open till eleven). At least neither is to become a Tesco…
6. It was the Sheffield half marathon on Sunday, same day as the London upon Thames marathon. Maybe next year…
Apr. 16th, 2009
I know where I was when I heard Princess Diana died (listening to Radio Five at about half five in the morning, waking me up to start my early shift at a papershop). Sat in my student bedroom I heard the Dunblane massacre unfold on the same radio station. I was off work the day of the London bombings, so watched it all on BBC News 24. And, twenty years ago yesterday, our family car was driving along the A706 from Lanark to West Lothian when Radio Two broke news of the deaths at Hillsborough.
I’d been to the ground for the first time in 1987, when staying at my grandparents down here. Been back since to the sanitised all seater stadium. And yesterday I went down to the ground to take some pictures (Leppings Lane, twenty years later). There’s not much I can say about it that hasn’t been said elsewhere (msb66 wrote some beautifully angry words on the subject), so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. All I’ll add is that it was heartening to see the variety of scarves and tributes. There were Nottingham Forest scarves (the opposition that day), flowers from Lincoln City (the Imps were visitors when Bradford City’s stand burned down, killing two of their fans, and dozens of Bradford ones).
A year later, and football was all about a crying Paul Gascgoine, with the soundtrack of Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma during the 1990 World Cup. The all seater stadiums came in, the Sky Television money came in, and look where we are now… I think that’s one reason for the resonance of Hillsborough; the way that you can split football into “pre” and “post”. It’s strange to think now that there used to be a time when being a football fan was still a relative minority thing. Nowadays, everyone seems to “support” someone, though the vast majority have never been to a game. Listening to the office conversation each morning, everyone has an opinion. But when I was at school, I remember being a football fan marked you out from the crowd.
Similarly, twenty years ago, music was still a relative niche hobby. You only had a couple of chances a week to see a band on the telly (Top Of The Pops or the Chart Show). Nowadays it’s impossible to avoid. Maybe part of me is nostalgic for those days, though I was too young to appreciate (twelve in 1989). I think, deep down, I’d enjoy some things a little more if they were a bit more underground. I know that sounds contrary, maybe a little perverse. Not sure what that says…
*Off to Milton Keynes for the weekend – do you want a postcard?
Apr. 12th, 2009
1. Yes, it’s a ten point entry. Been a while since I did one. But then, been a while since I posted, so got enough nonsense to pad it out…
2. The most depressing thing about the Bank Holiday is that Homebase advert with Dave Gorman voiceover and music from Peter, Bjorn & John. Not because it’s a bad advert (it’s pretty harmless – compared to the “bloomin’ fab” Jamie Oliver one, which makes me want to kill), but because it makes me realise that I’m probably the target market for the advertisers. I can picture their power point presentation: “If you like Dave Gorman etc, you’ll probably be the kind of person who spends his Bank Holiday building a patio and painting the spare room”. Sadly, it seems, I am that demographic. ( cut for length, and mild mention of Dr Who/ Red Dwarf, but no real spoilers… )
10. And finally… it’s been a long time since I added anyone “new” on LJ (ignoring new accounts of old friends) – probably a year and a half ago when I friended the wonderful lips_of_tragedy - so nice to be added by blimmy - hope you don’t get bored reading of pasties etc.
Apr. 6th, 2009
Did you know I own five cans of shaving foam? No, neither did I. But I’ve been in a tidying mood for the past week or so, and part of that involved finally tackling that cupboard under the bathroom sink, where cosmetics hide. Things get bought, things get put into that cupboard, things end up hiding under the mountain of Paracetemol (I’ve still got most of the 96 tablets they gave me last time I was discharged from Hospital…). And, presumably because I could never find anything in that cupboard, I end up buying new ones. Too much shampoo too. But no spare deodorant. Hmm. Now I’ve sorted things out, I really hope I stop stockpiling these things…
In other news, my dad got a parking ticket last week for parking at a Bus Stop. Which sounds fair enough. I’ve no problem with Traffic Wardens. However, in his defence, due to them rebuilding Edinburgh’s roads, there’s been no bus service down my Grannie’s road for months (due to the traffic cones etc). So, no chance of a bus coming along. Hmmm.
Spent Sunday afternoon starting on the garden again. When we bought the house a few years ago, I was made redundant a few months afterwards, so used the following few months tackling the acres of overgrowth that had built up (the house was rented for years before, so nobody looked after the garden – meaning that I found a patio underneath the ‘lawn’ that had grown over it, amongst other surprises). I was young, I had ambitions, I had no idea how bad the soil was (and most of what I planted died). Then, with my time in Hospital (etc), I wasn’t able to keep on top of things. Now, I’m hoping to keep it in shape, especially now it’s still light when I get home after work.
Right, I’m off to bed to read When Saturday Comes (the magazine, not to be confused with the Sean Bean film…) and some more Colin Bateman. Night…
Current Music: Newsnight programme about Cancer
Mar. 27th, 2009
elaine4queen said I should post again, so, here goes: Any plans to spend an hour *not* doing anything this weekend? Since it’s the time we gain lighter evenings (at the expense of an hour fewer in bed on Sunday morning), I feel I should ‘give up’ something to compensate. Probably Facebook would be a good idea, but you know me…
( cut for public transport news… )
Talking of The Recessionz, how do you react to the news that Marks and Spencer sell 75p Jam Sandwiches. Doubleyou Tee Eff? Is this a sign of how cheap and desperate we are for basic nutrition (cue newspaper articles about recession) or proof of how lazy and rich we are that we’d rather buy a jam sandwich off the shelf than spend a couple of precious seconds spreading some jam on some bread (cue newspaper articles about how well off we all are)? Seventy Five Pence? You could buy a three course meal in Greggs for that ;-)
And finally, the National Trust for Scotland have announced they want to close Arduaine Garden, near Kilmelford. I’ve not visited them (yet), but this is important to someone who is important to me, therefore it’s important to me. I’ve signed, and would love you if you did too:
The National Trust For Scotland Kill Kittens For Profit
Mar. 17th, 2009
Mar. 15th, 2009
The Dunblane shootings (where Thomas Hamilton killed sixteen young children at a Primary School and one teacher) were a hugely important event; I remember freezing to the spot listening to Radio Five in my university bedroom as I listened to the news unfold.
A horrible horrible time. I remember our Minister Professor Whyte (former Moderator of the Church of Scotland) doing the memorial service (he gave a very conciliatory and moving memorial after the Lockerbie bombing, which occurred when he was Moderator).
Nowadays there’s very little said about it (other than a rare mention in biographies of Andy Murray – the tennis player was at the primary school back then).
That’s until I noticed decembre had joined a Facebook group called The Sunday Express is abhorrent. Intrigued, I clicked on the link to find what it was about.
No, it’s not a story about Princess Diana or Madeline McCann (the paper's normal obsessions). Turns out that Paula Murray has written an article about the children of Dunblane.
What’s the story? Erm, the fact that the five year olds from 1996 are now eighteen, and behaving like eighteen year olds. Some drink. Some smoke. Some have Bebo accounts (where lazy journalists can copy and paste quote).
There really is no fucking news whatsoever, apart from the chance to make a group of eighteen year olds (who have had a pretty shitty start in life) feel guilty for living the kind of “normal” lives we’d all wish for them to have.
Sorry. I don’t normally swear online. But Murray’s trashy article has really made me upset. I’m actually slightly surprised how such a tawdry bit of sensationalist “journalism” can make me react.
( Anniversary Shame Of Dunblane Survivors… )
The rest of the article is here. Please join the group (I don’t like sending “invitations” on Facebook). Please tell other people about what a crap paper the Express is. Please be angry, because if we can’t be angry about this kind of tripe then…
Thank you for listening. I’m off for a lie down…
Remember me? Not posted for at least a day or two. And to think I used to get a nose bleed if I posted more than once a week…
Went out for a curry at Jeera to avoid Comic Relief on Friday Night. Nice little garlic chille nan, well spiced ;-)
On the day when Berwick beat East Stirlingshire on Astroturf, I played a game of football on grass for about the first time in a decade yesterday morning. Since all of the University pitches were booked, we decamped to Weston Park. Good muddy fun, plenty sliding around between consenting blokes and a lovely location between the bushes Jarvis Cocker lost his virginity in and the renovated bandstand.
Walked home via Commonside, where there’s a new chip shop. We have some interestingly named chippies in Sheffield (such as “Codrophenia”), so this latest one is called New Cod On The Block. What next?
Went for a wee drive round the Peak District (round Ladybower etc), before going for a walk at Surprise View. It’s a wonderful place where the road from Sheffield rounds the corner and suddenly you’re at the top of a hill looking down on the Hope Valley. Beautiful spot. Local legend says that Queen Victoria commented on how enamoured she was by this “surprise view” of the valley that the name stuck. Which now means it appears on the map. You see road signs saying “Surprise View 1 Mile”. Would it be cynical to suggest that all of the signs take away the element of surprise somewhat?
Round the corner from Surprise View is the Fox House pub, a great place for weekend walkers heading towards Stanedge. So, where better to meet kirstygold and Dougie (nice name…). Had a great afternoon (apart from when I was being bullied for my lettuce consumption), full of meaty mushrooms, Slovakian bus drivers, peppered pineapples and interesting facts about golfers... As Ms Gold is in Wales for the next week, it’d be unfair for me to say more, but I really hope there’s a “next time”…
Came home to watch Lars And The Real Girl - Mrs B’s choice from Love Film about a man with a “life-sized, anatomically-correct doll”. Strange stuff (I think she’d have been a bit worried if it was *me* who’d added it to our rental list!)…
Mar. 12th, 2009
Mar. 1st, 2009
The first of March is only a day after the last day of February, but it feels significant, which is strange. Why does turning the calendar to a new page feel such a difference? Just because someone in 1582 decided how our year should be split, why is the start of March such a big deal?
I suppose listening to Weathermen talking of the start of (Meteorological) Spring helps. The daffodils on our windowsill brighten up the morning when I open the curtains. The nights have been getting progressively lighter, but maybe it’s only now that we notice a significant enough difference – going home in pure daylight.
Friday was the second payday since Christmas, meaning finances are getting back to ‘normal’ again (though that will obviously change over the next few months, something I’ll write about later). It’s strange how, after incremental increases to the date, suddenly writing a new month feels like a bigger step.
So, weight finally improving. Reading more books again. No health problems recently. Things feel like they are getting better. Is it just a temporary lift? Possibly. Come back in a month to read how happy I am it’s now April, and how miserable March was!
In other news… I’ve tried to write about more ‘personal’ things lately, rather than writing about the news (to hide from what’s occurring in Real Life). But I have to make an exception for the story of Fred Goodwin’s pension.
( Myopia? )
Feb. 21st, 2009
Today's Guardian, bottom left hand corner of page 33:
Charles Garside* informs us that the Daily Mail had two 'leaders' last week regarding teenage pregnancy, and that "neither of them metnioned sex education". Could it be that not talking about the latter may be the reason for the former?
Doug Newton
Crookes
South Yorkshire
(* - Charles Garside was the deputy editor of the Daily Mail who had a letter published in yesterday's paper trying to defend the Daily Mail's hysterical editorials about teenage pregnancies)
Current Music: We could send letters (Aztrec Camera)
Feb. 8th, 2009
Jan. 29th, 2009
1. Meh. I know, I know. There’s a lot of it around. So, in an attempt to shake some things out of my head, I’m going to spend the next ten minutes writing. Writing anything. Get it out of my system….
( mind the cut… )
Current Music: Jamie Oliver
Jan. 17th, 2009
I’m still here, just not been around recently. I could tell you a long story (or lots of short, but interconnected, stories), or I could take the easy option and just post a list of the comments I’ve had since I last ran my comment stat thingummy: ( 9th August 2008 – 16th January 2009… )
…all of which has made me realise that there’s a lot of people on my flist who haven’t commented in the last six months (or so). Am sure I’m equally guilty of not commenting, but I was wondering about another wee “cull”. Let me know…
Next entry may be a little different ;-)
Current Music: Songs from ten years ago
Dec. 26th, 2008
Been ages since I updated – just realised. Things that have happened in the last fortnight:
1. Birthday thanks: ( ::mwah:: )
2. ( Bonhomie… )
3. Talking of my dad ( 20 years on… )
4. And talking of Catholicism( Yes, I know I have to find another way of starting sentences… )
5. If you want to understand the farce of different “Halleluiah” records in the chart, you have to consult the wise words of Edwyn Collins. ( A great philosopher once wrote… )
6. In the heightened atmosphere after the horrific Mumbai bombings, The Sun newspaper’s front page headline was that some of the bombers were from Bradford. ( Yorkshire United… )
7. There’s an old saying that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, then it’s probably a duck ( Duckie Fuzz… )
8. So, that’s Christmas over with for another year( That was the Christmas, that was… )
9. Been taking dozens of pictures recently, partly due to the changes in Sheffield City Centre. Not only will the big ferris wheel be coming down in the next few days, but Woolworths is closing, Zavvi gone into Administration, Home Bargains is closing down and four branches of Barclays Bank are closing in the New Year when a new one opens in the old GAP building. This old town’s changed so much, to quote Edwyn Collins again. He knows what he’s talking about.
10. Lovely local Christmas dinner. Some slowly roasted (three and a half hours) lamb from Castle Markets, and sausages from A & K Butler High Class Family Butchers in Crookes. I spotted the shop open late on my way home from work on Tuesday, dashed in and bought twenty delicious tomato sausages before they closed (they are normally closed by the time I get home from work). What I hadn’t realised is that Mrs B had done exactly the same on her way home from work slightly earlier and bought eighteen. So, in the kind of daft situation straight out a bad sitcom, we had thirty eight sausages. There was me thinking I’d get some brownie points… Luckily, their sausages are made of win. And tomato.
Dec. 14th, 2008
1. It was raining so hard in Crookes yesterday that Rotherham United’s game at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield against Aldershot was been postponed. And, after a work Christmas “do” I got home at four o’clock on Saturday morning in a “tired and emotional” state. So, two hours of football later that morning in the cold rain was probably a bad idea…
2. Strange being out with people from work (no partners allowed), makes me realise that these people are just colleagues, rather than friends. They’re not bad people; it’s just that (probably after redundancy a few years ago) I draw more of a distinction between “work” and “social”.
3. Ended up in the Casbah afterwards, the Sheffield equivalent of a Hard Rock Café (by which I mean it’s a bar that plays loud music, not that it’s an overpriced burger chain with pictures of Bruce Willis on the walls). Great place, a breath of fresh air in an age of sanitised corporate pubs. Best thing about the Casbah is their dress code…
( …just an old, saggy Orthodox Miaoist. Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams… )
Dec. 5th, 2008
1. According to the local paper, there’s a line in Ridley Scott’s new film (Body of Lies) where (referring to a terrorist attack) Leonardo DiCaprio says to Russel Crowe “they know about the Sheffield bus bomb”. Whilst some on my flist would enjoy writing raunchy slash about these actors, it’s nice to see them discussing the buses of Sheffield too. Just hope it wasn’t a 52…
2. So, what’s the difference between a Pit Bull and a Social Worker? ( ? )
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