I like to know if someone is reading my journal - whether you regularly hang around LJ or not. Maybe you know me from real life? Or somewhere else online? Maybe you've just friended me (or even defriended me on LJ - though I hope not) Say hello, criticise, ask a question, make a statement - whatever it is -this is the post to click the comments button below and and get typing on the keyboard.

thanks :)

PS. no hating please. Life's too short.

On the internet is entertainment like no other. Obama does Thriller. Watch this, not Fox News:




Looking forward to meeting londongqmfs @ bfi tomorrow :D Khaaaaaaaaaan!

Seen at the cinema:

Slumdog Millionaire
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Franklyn
Watchmen
The Boat That Rocked
The Damned United
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
Moon
Inglorious Basterds
The Time Traveler's Wife
Passchendaele
District 9
Blind Dating
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Michael Jackson's This Is It
Nowhere Boy

Trailer:



This movie is brilliant. Watch it. Emotional and moving. The birth of the band that became the Beatles is really a sub-plot. What this film is really about is family, friendship and identity. All the performances are superb, as is the writing and directing. It deserves to do well. I hope it does. As good as Milk which I also loved.

Seen at the cinema:

Slumdog Millionaire
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Franklyn
Watchmen
The Boat That Rocked
The Damned United
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
Moon
Inglorious Basterds
The Time Traveler's Wife
Passchendaele
District 9
Blind Dating
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Michael Jackson's This Is It

Trailer:



I am a fan. I had a ticket to this tour. This is a nice tribute and a glimpse into what I would've seen. But better than that its a chance to see Jackson in rehearsal - something I don't think we'd of seen or he'd want us to see because it is not the finished product. I love what was planned for the song The Way You Make Me Feel - and there are lots of other highlights if you are a fan of his music and his dancing. Dangerous was always my favourite album - it was the first I ever bought with my own saved up pocket money and I remember seeing live concert footage and wishing I could go. I found this on you tube and could watch it over and over:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXK5xOJaYHI

Haven't posted for a week or so... been feeling tired all week. Have barely been online either so will attempt to catch up. Anything exciting happening on my-flist? point me to the links pretty please? - am feeling lazy, and still tired.

Spandau Ballet @ the 02 Arena on Tuesday. Brilliant. I had such a good time with missy_manic. Whilst much of the audience got nostalgic about 20 years ago - the 80s and Spandau, the two of us got nostalgic about 10 years ago - when me first met at uni, and both together discovered Spandau Ballet through a combination of EastEnders and Steve Owen, The Krays movie (still can quote this movie far too much) and 80s club nights. Ten years ago we watched VHS recordings of Spandau's concerts in the 80s wishing we could have seen them live because from the concert footage they looked and sounded great. We never dreamed we would get that chance because at the time there were nasty feuds going as a result of the court case in which 3 members tried to sue songwriter Gary Kemp for unpaid royalties. We met Gary Kemp a few times between 2000-2003 when he was acting in various plays in the West End:



I am still proud of my signed Through The Barricades album :D.

Even at that time despite the difficulties in the relationship between Gary and his other band mates he asked us if we thought the band should get back together. We said 'No' LOL! Because we just could not see the rift being healed and there would be nothing worse than seeing a band who have fallen out attempt to perform as a band as if all was ok.

But moving forward to 2009 - I am so so pleased to be proved wrong. The band really have forgiven each other and seeing them live was as I had imagined it might have been in the 80s (minus the clothes and the fashion of the decade). This tour really is I think about a happy ending to the bands history. There is no mention of court cases for example in the tour programme. And really who can blame them - bands want to be remembered for their music. And I forgot how much I liked their music - I knew all the songs! The set list has all the hits (minus Musclebound - a wise choice, I'm not keen on that song either). There were some non-single release songs - loved How Many Lies and With The Pride. Would've preferred Cross The Line to Virgin. And I was right not to expect any songs from the Heart Like A Sky album. There were none sadly. But these are minor gripes to what was a fab night. I don't know how it compares to the 80s concerts - all I know is I'm grateful that this band got over their issues to give me the opportunity to see them perform together.

missy_manic This post is dedicated to you. Here's to the next 10 years. I don't know where we'll be in another 10 years time. But I know we'll be friends :D You are GOLD!



^ More photos from missy_manic to follow this post.

I was tagged by shesdeadjim


♥ Write down the alphabet of your name.
♥ Then, type a song that pops up into your head for each letter.
♥ Count the number of letters and tag that many people in your friends list.

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbI_2rE9TRQ )
All That I Need - Boyzone ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHops3rZ-2w )
Wasted - Gary Kemp (yes of Spandau Ballet. From solo album)
No One - 2 Unlimited (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kuMwVbO5EA )

I tag redderz, placebobitch, swankyfunk, crapguitarist

• 19:08 Spandau Ballet gig tonight *excited* x #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter. Follow me on Twitter?

• 21:59 Hot Fuzz slash written by @edgarwright @simonpegg and @nickjfrost best thing on I've seen on Twitter @xredderz knew you would request Andys #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter. Follow me on Twitter?

Seen at the cinema:

Slumdog Millionaire
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Franklyn
Watchmen
The Boat That Rocked
The Damned United
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
Moon
Inglorious Basterds
The Time Traveler's Wife
Passchendaele
District 9
Blind Dating
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Trailer:



Loved this. So cute, great story, fun. Will put a smile on your face. Flint actually reminded me of David's Tennant's version of The Doctor - same excited enthusiasm, also same hair style ;)

Favourite quote: This contact lens represents you! And my eye represents my eye!

Made over the last few months. Feel free to use. Comment = love.

Take That x 1
Star Trek x 13
Chris Pine/Zachary Quinto x 1
William Shatner x 1
Leonard Nimoy x 14 (credit to vengefuldemon69 for the Mission Impossible icon bases)
Christopher Reeve x 11 (thanks to rizny for The Muppet Show screencaps)

Preview:



( Click for Icons )

Last weekend, went home to see the parents for first time in ages. It was nice and I made them watch my latest blu-ray buy - The Damned United with the amazing morph-like ability that is Michael Sheen. They liked it. Also watched again Recount. This is a great great movie - a favourite of mine of Kevin Spacey's in a while. The whole cast are great and there's a lot of big names in it. Watch this movie. It makes politics interesting and if you don't care about the issues in this movie, I don't think I want to know you. That is all.

Oh, except Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead are now available on blu-ray :D :D These will most likely be my next purchases. I feel there should be a blu-ray party for these. Will see how the Star Trek one goes next month... :)

So today was Stephen Gately's funeral. I've not seen any of the news coverage apart from some photos on the front pages of the tabloids. I hope it gave family and friends some closure. The Daily Mail should be ashamed - its made ma ashamed. I'm reluctant to link this because it deserves no publicity but this piece of homophobic journalism from the newspaper discussing Gately's death just makes me ashamed and sad, and angry that something like this would be published in 2009. It has apparently provoked a great number of complaints to the PPC which does help restore my faith in much of the British public's own attitude towards homosexuality. And thank you Charlie Brooker for shredding the journo to bits as is deserved with this article. What did Stephen ever do to you Jan Moir?! Gately's death last weekend threw me slightly because I was already trying *not* to get sad at the fact that last weekend also marked 5 years since the death of Christopher Reeve. So when I saw the Superman "S" tattoo that the remaining members of Boyzone have got in memory of Stephen, I couldn't help but think of Reeve again. :( There's a time to remember, and a time to move on... I've said all I will say on Gately - as a Boyzone fan I will miss his music and Reeve is never far from my mind as an inspiration :)

Oh PLEASE BE TRUE :D

NO NO NO. 2009 - STOP TAKING AWAY GIFTED ENTERTAINERS. Horrible news this morning that Stephen Gately has passed away suddenly whilst on holiday. Far too young at just age 33. I only saw him in concert with the rest of Boyzone in May. :( So sad.

My favourite of his singing:







And a solo song which won't embedd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uLE39qEaKU

Today is National Poetry Day and according to a BBC poll, Britain has voted TS Elliot as the nations favourite. This made me wonder, what poetry do people on my f-list like? Consider this a meme and let me know! Send me recommendations!

For me, I remember quite clearly the first poet I was ever really aware of was Spike Milligan and I still to this day have my copy of Silly Verse For Kids. I also like his serious stuff which doesn't get nearly as much attention as it probably should.

But the poet I am to share here is the poetry of Langston Hughes. I discovered his work at uni and I love it for his accessibility and simplicity. I think he was a great voice for people of his generation and the themes of America, African American culture and race relations/politics are what his most famous poems are about. But instead I am sharing some that he wrote on the human condition. Hope some of you enjoy it!

Hope

Sometimes when I'm lonely,
Don't know why.
Keep thinkin' I won't be lonely
By and by.

Late Last Night

Late Last Night I
Set on my steps and cried.
Wasn't nobody gone,
Neither had nobody died.

I was cryin'
Cause you broke my heart in two.
You looked at me cross-eyed
And broke my heart in two -

So I was cryin'
On account of
You!

Wake

Tell all my mourners
To mourn in red -
Cause there ain't no sense
In my bein' dead.

Could Be

Could Be Hastings Street,
Or Lenox Avenue
Could be 18th & Vine
And still be true.

Could be 5th & Mound,
Could be Rampart:
When you pawned my watch
You pawned my heart.

Could be you love me,
Could be that you don't
Might be that you'll come back,
Like as not you won't.

Hastings Street is weary,
Also Lenox Avenue.
Any place is dreary
Without my watch and you.

Evil

Looks like what drives me crazy
Don't have no effect on you -
But I'm gonna keep on at it
Till it drives you crazy, too.

Border Line

I used to wonder
About living and dying -
I think the difference lies
Between tears and crying.

I used to wonder
About here and there -
I think the distance
Is nowhere.

Desert

Anybody
Better than
Nobody.

In the barren dusk
Even the snake
That spirals
Terror on the sand -

Better than nobody
In this lonely
Land.

Maybe

I asked you, baby,
If you understood -
You told me that you didn't,
But you thought you would.

Motto

I play it cool
And dig all jive.
That's the reason
I stay alive.

My motto,
As I live and learn.
is:
Dig And Be Dug
In Return.

Advice

Folks, I'm telling you,
birthing is hard
and dying is mean -
so get yourself
a little loving
in between.

Saw a quartet of short plays with missy_manic at the Southwark Playhouse which is a great venue underneath London Bridge (you can hear the trains go by above you in the theatre!). Saw:

The Experiment
Written and performed by Mark Ravenhill
Directed by Anthony Banks

Psychogeography
by Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Adam Meggido

Twisted
by Anthony Neilson
Directed by Hannah Eidinow

Some White Chick
by Neil LaBute
Directed by Jason Lawson


My two favs were Some White Chick (this is a shocking play but not for the sake of being shocking - makes you think about violence as entertainment and how desensitised people can become. Uncomfortable to watch) and I loved the performance of The Experiment and the writing itself - I cannot find much about it online but I would totally read more of the playwrights work :)

Thanks all who responded to my original post. From now on all updates will be posted here. Please consider joining londongqmfs where I will post notification of updates to this master post when needed (plus details of other meetups in London :D )



For those that do not know Wood Green is in zone 3. It can be reached on the Piccadilly Line or bus number 29 from central London, or Alexandra Palace Station is a 10 min walk/2 min bus ride away. If you are arriving by car, there are spaces to park but none are free - you will have to pay and it is probably pricey (I wouldn't know I don't drive). If you plan to drive here let me know and I can find out if need be.

Because I'm slightly anal and Spock-like I've put two start times for you all to decide when you want to arrive - you can of course attend both. Please can you comment on this post to confirm what time screening you plan to arrive for - I will then post a master list of attendees (if your not sure can you respond with a TBC as to time arrival for now)

Note: Please arrive BEFORE the start times listed - myself and missy_manic will be ready from 12pm onwards. If this sounds bossy I apologise but no one wants the door buzzer ringing when screening[s] has started right? And now that I've been bossy I gonna ask for your help! There will be some nibbles and drinks available but we would love it if you guys could help - bring food, drinks, anything to help make it a GQMF party atmosphere right? Got an idea? Share it in the comments! etc etc.

Have I missed anything out? Or if you have questions just ask. Note: Street address will be sent via PM nearer the time.

ATTENDING FOR 1pm MOVIE SCREENING ARE:
dj_intheuk (both)
missy_manic(both)
ms_treesap (both)
placebobitch (both)
chuckney (both)
mwmm23 (both)
infernalbad (both)
lady__ishtar (both)
sakuraso (both)


ATTENDING FOR 4.30pm EXTRAS SCREENING ARE:
dj_intheuk (both)
missy_manic (both)
ms_treesap (both)
placebobitch (both)
chuckney (both)
mwmm23 (both)
infernalbad (both)
lady__ishtar (both)
sakuraso (both)

ATTENDING for ...? TBC ... ARE:
1up_mushroomxx
soomka
bitterstar_x
neral_idazmi

For the record, I actually like it :) Something ever so slightly retro about it whist being completely different to the current one.

Rach's bday was fun - met her friends from football, book club etc - really easy going. Kareoke was a lot of fun, and we all believe we have actually got a tiny bit better at singing Take That's Patience without murdering it completely. The nightclub turned into a bit of arse - tried to get into Shake at Camden but the queue was so long and after waiting over 45 mins I kid you not - we gave up trying to get in and went to the off license for a bottle of wine and a chat back at the flat. The following morning we had breakfast and ate far too much at Eagle Diner. Rach seems to have settled in pretty quickly back in Glasgow so really pleased for her. Was sad to have to say goodbye again on the Sunday. For the last two days I've been off work to move into different room in the flat - am all settled in now and happy with it :) I just have to collect duvet from dry cleaners and I am done :D

Got 3 days worth of LJ to catch up on - this will take forever! I may for the first time do a f-list cut. I don't want to though :( Will think about that one....

This evening I will post more details on blu-ray Star Trek XI screening for anyone interested ... :D