Helen Mirren was awarded the Bafta fellowship this week and I enjoyed the celebratory film clips which highlighted her key film roles throughout an illustrious career, including the high-class gangster moll, Victoria, standing firm with Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand, in the eponymous, The Long Good Friday.
I also rather liked her choice of …More»
I had a letter arrive in the post today, at work, in a pink envelope with a hand written address marked for my attention and on the back a note, “Do not open until the 14th!” How intriguing. Sure enough it was a Valentines card, but not quite what I was expecting.
“Be my Valentine” was …More»
Ipswich Gaumont, 12th April, 1982. The Scorpions are about to rip into Blackout, the balls to the wall killer title track from their latest metal opus. Just 1 year on, and with a little more spandex and hairspray, Phil Moggs mighty UFO are wrapping up the night with the holy trinity… Too Hot …More»
Trials and tribulations can be just around the corner. On Wednesday afternoon, the not so unexpected happened, the Orwell Bridge was closed because of high winds – and yes indeed safety is a concern to take seriously, but with a little thought and some planning the ‘total grind to a halt carnage’ that resulted …More»
My last drop of nectar was a sumptuous glass of Wirra Wirra – the bottle had been opened early in the New Year and not fully consumed and as consequence I was late in starting my sabbatical.
I had made a vow long before Christmas festivities began to …More»
It was brutal down on the front, with an icy northern wind and that ‘what on earth are were you thinking’ smeary dreary rain, but against all logic I was determined we’d go for a ‘nice’ stroll come hell or highwater.
Shotley sits at the head of the peninsula, at the clashing point between …More»
Arcade Fire – Reflektor.
Released late last year this double album is a gem – a throwback to in time to concept albums and a desire to emulate ‘rock-art’ rather than ‘sound-bite rock’.
The production is multi-layered – a tangled weave of intense sounds and harmonies that clash and resonant and then capture your imagination and …More»
Early last Saturday morn we (that’s me and Father Forté) headed for the old Ha’Penny Pier in Harwich, armed only with flask, thermals and binoculars. We were greeted by a gaggle of similarly shivering (but smiling) folk all destined for the intrepid mist laden voyage up the Stour on the Victor.
I took my daughter to see Le Corsaire, at the Coliseum a rarely seen ballet with a storyline about swashbuckling Ottoman pirates, slaves girls and Turkish sultans – all beautifully choreographed with wonderful costumes and very clever scenery effects, especially the end sequence where multiple screens …More»
