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March 18 WOWWow. What a fabulous birthday weekend I had. I can honestly say it was the best birthday I think I've EVER had.
I was down in London for a function on the Sunday, but several people that were attending the same function were already in the area on the Friday, and one sweetheart in particular, made a point of being there for my birthday.
Kirsty is a wonderful friend of mine. The best in fact.... and as soon as I'd met her at the station and got her checked in to the hotel, she presented me with some home-made cupcakes. She'd brought candles too. I did make a wish, but I don't hold out much hope of it being granted. That was the first of several lovely surprises that weekend.
After a nice meal together, we popped on a train for the short ride to Windsor, where a few folk had agreed to meet in the Carpenter's Arms. Given all the other things these people could have been doing on a Friday night in Greater London, I was very touched that so many (not a huge number) had bothered to turn up. Karen and Lindsay from Australia, Paul and Cara from New Mexico, Tim from London, Paul from Guernsey and Rob from Jersey (or maybe it's the other way around...) Howard from Sheffield, Lee from West Midlands, and of course, Kirsty from E. Sussex. Quite a mix, and great to meet the Australians and Americans for the first time. Great people, and it must have been nerve-racking enough for them to be so far from home.
So... drink. Then more drink. A quick play of a board game that Guernsey Paul has created. More drink. Winebar. Hotel bar. Then finally back to our own hotel at 3 ish.
Then the following day. A nice breakfast with Kirsty. A lovely drive out with Kirsty, Rob and Paul. Then back to meet more folk at our hotel. Taxi into Iver Heath, near Pinewood Studios (yes, it WAS a Carry On party on the Sunday) Where we met even more people. Admittedly, this gathering wasn't for my birthday, as we tend to meet up the night before any Carry On event. However, they had clubbed together to buy me a nice bottle of booze and had all signed a card for me. I was truly moved. Here were thirty or so people, who I see maybe three times a year, all singing Happy Birthday to me in a pub, in Iver Heath, Bucks. Fantastic.
So... drink. Then more drink. A game or two of darts. More drink. Back to hotel. More drink. Fall asleep about 3 ish.
Sunday morning. Out for a nice drive with Graeme, Karen, Lindsay and Kirsty. Then meet up in Iver (different pub) with most of the folk from the night before.
1pm, get to Pinewood Studios for the 50th Anniversary of the Carry On films party. Unfortunately, it wasn't the greatest Carry On event. Despite over 20 celebrity guests, a decent meal, fireworks and entertainment. I may blog about it in more detail later. I just want to say though, I would travel far and wide to spend time with my Carry On friends. I don't just mean the crowd that I was drinking with all weekend, I include in that people like Leslie Phillips, Peter Rogers, Jack Douglas, Larry Dann, Norman Hudis, Anita Harris, Suzanne Dannielle, Alan Curtis, Kenneth Cope, Shirley Eaton... the list goes on. These people don't attend these events because they have to... they attend these events because they WANT to. They have so much time for us, and it's a joy to just chat with people like this over a drink and discuss anything and everything.
All in all, a fantastic birthday weekend. Just perfect.
March 14 Not a lot of people know that....... nor do they care.
Happy 75th Birthday, Sir Michael Caine....
Happy 129th Birthday, Herr Albert Einstein....
Thank God, I'm only 39 today, and take after both of them **
(**...still, the screen presence of Einstein and the brains of Maurice Micklewhite are nothing to boast about)
March 05 An unfortunate ironyLast week sometime, I was "chatting" on MSN Messenger with my mate, Helen, when something came up. Well, I say "mate", but I've never actually met her, and I'm never likely to. Not because we live thousands of miles apart, but because she doesn't want to. Nevertheless, I'll call her "mate" for now.
She asked me what plans I had for the Saturday, and I told her. Everybody here would be out of the house all day and night, visiting various places and attending a couple of functions. I had no problem telling her this, as I actually trust her, but I did say to her, "Please don't tell anybody else," and she wondered why.
I told her that, although I trust her and the friends of hers that I know, she (and they) chat to people that we don't actually know, and they in turn chat to others, and so on. You can effectually tell one person something, and before you know it, a complete stranger to both of you, at the other side of the world, may know it.
I said to her, "Supposing we get burgled tonight? You are the only person I have told of my house being empty. That would make you prime suspect."
Needless to say, she didn't actually see the seriousness of that point. Fair enough. Maybe it is a little over-cautious. Well that's me.
Now, here's where the irony comes in. I'm not saying this situation is to blame for events. I'm sure it's not, but it COULD have been.
A couple of days after we had this convo, Helen's friend was going into hospital for a short time, and Helen blogged this to show support for her. That's a nice gesture. No denying that. I'm sure many other people were discussing this person's hospital visit, as she was performing the noble sacrifice of donating an organ to a family member. I assume such selfless acts are well worthy of conversation amongst people who know her. But anyone overhearing it in a pub, being told it by a third party, reading it in a blog etc... will then know. And..... yes... she was burgled.
Not much was taken, and nothing suggests that she was burgled BECAUSE she was in hospital. THAT would be a despicable act. It could just be a huge coincidence. Personally, I'd prefer to think it was a coincidence, rather than a contrived act of evilness.
I hate not being able to tell folk what plans I have. I go away to events quite often, but I will only ever blog about them AFTER they have happened.
Trust is a tricky enough commodity. Don't let it fool you.
Coming soon... my battle with the Royal Mail... which I won... for now.
February 27 Earthquake???... but this is England....What a shit-scary thing to happen. Not long before 1am, I'm sat here typing away, and the house shakes. I just had time to say "what the f**k was that?" before it shook again. I was on my way outside, to survey the damage to the house. For surely something had driven or flown into it. No. Before I got to investigate, a guy I was chatting online with, 60 miles East of me, reported the same thing. Then another guy, 50 miles South of me. Then checking Sky news, seems the whole country shook. What did you guys make of it? February 23 Palin to insignificanceMichael at his best.
(Press Esc to stop the music before running the skit) I'll be seeing him live next week. Should be good. February 09 oh wowFebruary 05 oh dearGot a call from my sister today, whilst I was on a bus somewhere (that's not important though) telling me that my Grandad had been found dead in his bed this morning, by my dad, who was there to let his care-nurses in.
I don't know what to make of it yet.
He was old. He was often poorly. He was lonely since my Nan died several years ago. But he was my Grandad. Know what I mean?
He passed away one day after my nan's birthday, and on the very anniversary of the day that my niece, Victoria, passed away a few years back. I don't know why I'm telling you that. I guess I'm just rambling.
I think it's probably cos I have yet to start grieving. Not sure that I will. I just dunno. I went to his house yesterday with my dad, but I waited in the car whilst dad took his groceries inside. I wish I'd gone in now. But wishing that helps nobody.
Ah well. Another February ruined.
Oh, and to the charming person who decided it would be cool to point out spelling mistakes on this blog.... cheers. I did have other things on my mind..... ffs. (but in fairness, it would normally bother me) February 03 Any ideas?For the past few months, every so often, I've been getting anonymous phone calls from kids. Just titting about mainly, but it's quite disturbing and slightly intimidating. They don't even hide their number most times, so I thought I'd ask if any of you lot recognise it.
079** 448135
It's not my number, so don't go calling it expecting to speak to me. Little bastards. January 27 ...don't ask me...Don't know why, but feeling funky today. I'll do a proper blog soon. I promise. I haven't been sleeping much lately. Apart from afternoon naps, I've probably had about 15 hours sleep in the last two weeks. Something ain't right, but for now, join me in a groove.......
(press ESC to stop background music playing..... unless you already have, you philistines....
 )January 26 26th JanuaryI know it's almost over for most of the country,
but happy Australia Day to all my friends down there.
Have a nice holiday weekend. January 23 Ruling the WavesBEING BRITISH. Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of all things foreign! Only in Britain can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. Only in Britain do supermarkets make sick people walk all the way to the back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. Only in Britain do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET coke. Only in Britain do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters. Only in Britain do we leave cars worth thousands of pounds on the drive and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the garage. Only in Britain do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place. Only in Britain are there disabled parking places in front of a skating rink. NOT TO MENTION... 3 Brits die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue. 142 Brits were injured in 1999 by not removing all pins from new shirts. 58 Brits are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers. 31 Brits have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in. 19 Brits have died in the last 3 years believing that Christmas decorations were chocolate. British Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year after Xmas cracker-pulling accidents. 18 Brits had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth. A massive 543 Brits were admitted to A&E; in the last two years after trying to open bottles of beer with their teeth. 5 Brits were injured last year in accidents involving out-of-control Scalextric cars. and finally... In 2000 eight Brits were admitted to hospital with fractured skulls incurred whilst throwing up into the toilet.
Doesn't it make you proud to be British? January 11 Be afraid...... be very afraid..... I amWell, that made me think. I've just watched this week's Panorama programme via the BBC website. It was called "One Click From Danger" (still available to watch online for the next two or three days)
It was all about the many internet social networking sites and how little we know about a huge percentage of the people we call "friends".
Obviously, the programme focused on people who use such sites, like Facebook, SpacesLive, Bebo, with the clear intention of 'seducing' and 'grooming' young people for their own sexual gratification. The safety of children should always be paramount when considering the ease with which information can be gathered online. It can take no time at all to get to 'know' somebody on these sites. But what of the older people who use such things? What of the older, gullible, lonely people out there? At what age does it become safe to meet a complete stranger?
Isn't it the same as chatting somebody up in the pub?
Not quite.
Granted, when you chat somebody up in a pub, neither of you know anything of the other person. The old maxim is true; "A Stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet." So how is approaching someone in a pub any different from meeting somebody you're acquainted with online? Surely you know MORE about the person online than you do about the stranger in the pub. Don't you?
With the pub stranger, you know nothing other than how they look. You have to make your own mind up.
With the net stranger, you know only what they want you to know. Your mind has already been made up for you.
A huge difference between the strangers, is that you'll generally meet the pub stranger in a heavily populated environment. Plenty of people about. Both of you can take some comfort from that security.
With the web stranger, even if you've seen them on a webcam, or spoken to them via Skype or MSN or such, you can't know anything about them with any certainty. Even if they are a friend of a friend, you have to ask yourself how your friend knows them.
AT ANY AGE.....
Let's take it to an extreme. This is graphic, and I make no apologies if it shocks you, but it's as easy to slit the throat of a 30 year old as it is to slit the throat of a teenager.
I'm a stockily built 38 year old man. I've met people that I've only known from social network sites and fan forums. But after thinking it through tonight, I'll certainly take much more care if I'm ever to do it again.
I like personal contact, and cosy friendships, but I like living even more.
Be careful.
January 09 How come irony is so sweet........yet hypocrisy is so very bitter?
Okay, I've been thinking about this for a while now, and one option would be to not mention it, and just accept that whatever I say or do will always be misinterpreted by some people. The other option would be to express my feelings via some sort of public diary system, a binary log if you like. If only there was such a facility available to me...... hmmmmm.
So here's my tale. Yesterday I was accused of making light of something tragic. I maintain I hadn't, but that's beside the point.
I read a blog which was partially about young, inexperienced drivers causing death on the roads. I left a comment on this blog, agreeing that death caused by careless driving was terrible. However, the accusation levelled at me was that by mentioning the tragedy suffered by, and the inconvenience caused by, a road traffic accident, I was bound to upset people who had suffered injury or loss in such a manner. MY COMMENT would cause such feelings.. NOT the blog itself. Here was a blog about (partially) road deaths...... which I commented on, referring to road deaths, and agreeing with the blog creator. Yet anybody moved to being upset by it, would be done so by me.
Summary;
Blog about road death
Comment agreeing with Blog
Outcome: If anybody is upset by reading of road death, then it is entirely my fault.
How the hell, in the name of all sanity, can that be right?
Incidentally, the person who accused me of this, has just done a blog where she jokes about taking, amongst other things, Valium and vodka. She said it as a joke. It was funny. I see no problem with it. But given that a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol, is a fairly common method of suicide, particularly amongst depressives such as Kenneth Williams and Tony Hancock, (heroes of mine) it COULD..... not necessarily will, but COULD, upset people affected by such tragedy.
So, when does a joke stop being funny? And if a joke is likely to offend a single person, should we not make it? Wouldn't that prevent EVERY joke from being told? How dull would that be?
Does anybody get the feeling that I should have taken the first option?
What's more, I've been made aware that yesterday's blog about misinterpreting things, has been completely misinterpreted somewhere. Where, once again, words have been put in my mouth. Oh, the irony..... ;-) January 08 ...the one eyed man is king...
Reading between the lines is much easier...
... if you completely ignore the lines themselves.
Which must be why more people do it that way.
Love & Laughter to you January 07 Talking about Pettiness- in it's extreme...
This is a blog, posted elsewhere, about me apparently. Forgive the spelling and the language. It can't be helped. I'm not surprised by this, just a little disappointed. Quote Pettiness- in it's extreme... January 02 a little later than expectedI'd just like to wish everybody a belated Happy New Year.
I would have done it much sooner, but since 30th December, I've been bed/chair ridden, suffering with flu, and haven't even had the energy to switch the PC on.
I hope everyone had a great New Year, and I look forward to catching up with you all when I feel a little more human.
Cheers. December 25 December 25th - Christmas DayI hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Day,
and look forward to a Happy New Year.
I hope you've enjoyed sharing some great Christmas memories with me. Thank you for calling.
(No clicking today... take a break)
December 24 December 24th - Christmas EveI make no apologies for this final choice. It's a great Christmas sentiment. Go on.... click the last number.
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