Michael's Meanderings

So including the time jugging on Tuesday (where I got a club in the face that bent my glasses, both glasses and face are fine). I didn't get home on time any day last week.

On Wednesday I went to the Prince Charles Cinema" Leicester Square. Which shows films after original release, usually stuff that doesn't get wide distribution, and a cheap prices. I actually had a fee pass from a while back that I hadn't use so got to see "FAQ about time travel" A HBO/BBC co-production, not action packed but when it's shown on BBC I'll watch again.

On Thursday I spent lunch and the evening looking for a Boots that sold digital cameras, so I could replace my lost one. It was end of life so wasn't generally available. Eventually found one in a store on Oxford Street. On my perambulations I also go sold a new phone, a Vodafone 533, but kept my old SIM card and number. It has Java and Internet access (though not WiFi). When I got home most of the kitchen cupboards had been removed and tiles had been removed from the floor.

On Friday the VDU/Audio cables arrived, and I made my regular trip to Forbidden Planet. when I got home the ceiling and wall had been painted and wall tiles had been removed. Further plaster had been applied, which needed to dry over the weekend before the next phase starts!

On Saturday morning I went to the library to collect a map of Bedelands Farm, with public footpaths marked. Then to the Chiropractor, apparently I'd got twisted and needed to come back soon for a checkup and review. Had to do some walked so walked from Brighton to Preston park where the Chinese State Circus had it's tent. Since I was early I tried to fly my pocket kite, but due to a lack of wind it wouldn't stay up for long.

I tried to note what acts were on, but I may have missed some, and writing in the dark can get a bit strange! Entered the tent at 2:45 and left at 5:00.

The start was a parade of the full cast giving a potted history of China, with emperor and Monkey King.
Then pole swinging (combining pole acrobatics and trapeze)
plate spinning (5 plate in each hand, while doing acrobatics and contortions!)
Hat juggling (self explanatory)
The Sholin Monks, followed by TNG Monk.
Chinese Lion Dance (traditional)

An Interval of 20min

Started with the Monkey King with a different costume, as we now entered the 21st century.
Bicyclists (8 young ladies manage trick riding on bicycles.)
Monkey returned
Diablo (sycronised, and passing)
Monks return
Ariel silks (two dance in air held up by thin silk)
Hoop diving (traditional)
And finally an Olympic Future.

Sunday rained nearly all day so I didn't get to walk in the woods / fields (though I've got some pain in my right heel, so that might be as well.

On Friday I got my copy of Nameless by copperbadge which is a Lulu.com published short novel or long novella, originally published online. .It's a very nicely produced book (and was, despite the info page, printed in England).

On Saturday I was intending to go to the Circus (part of the Brighton Festival) but circumstances intervened and I arrived in Brighton two late to see my intended film and still get to the Circus (I'll try again next week).

Instead I saw Star Trek the re-imagined start of the franchise. Using a time travel twist we got a total re-boot of the series, without incurring any retconning! And Zachary Quinto manages a perfect Spock (though the actor playing him as a young boy is also excellent. The other main cast were also very good.

I followed this by watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine which was a much slower paced story and more of a drama than a SciFi extravaganza. I'm not an X-Men fan but I did enjoy the way the story gradually unfolded, including trust and betrayal. But then I think Logan / Wolverine is my favourite.

I finally succumbed to two purchases. I bought a new flat screen 32" TV, and it arrived yesterday. It's really cool, has all the possible audio/video connection know to man and it's surprisingly big. I connected my laptop and at once I could see the display on the big screen. It has built in Freeview (which I'm not using) and analog too. My Sky box is currently connected via SCART but will move to HDMI when the wire arrives. I'll also be able to connect the DVD player directly too!

The other purchase is for new floor tiles for the kitchen, and once that's done replacement cupboards. Photo should appear here too!

So to round out my exciting weekends in February on Friday I went to the evening performance of Traces at the Peacock Theatre in Holborn I got a cheap seat at the very back of the stalls. The performance combine dance, music, and circus into a performance that transcended genre! I got the 9:47pm home and just missed getting off at my stop, (due to being to engrossed in my book) so after a helpful discussion with the guard I got off at Lewes, caught the train to Brighton and managed to get the last train from Brighton that stopped at my station! I did remember to get off this time and finally got home at midnight.

The following day I had to get a earlier than usual as I was planning on going to
Picocon 26, at Imperial College, which I did. Guests were Pat Cadigan, Robert Rankin and Michael Marshall Smith.

There was an hour of stuff from each guest then they combined forces on the subject of Ray-Guns and other stuff. I decided that enough was enough and left when the turkey readings started!

I've managed to snag copies of "The Middleman" recently and have been watching episodes as an when I've been able to download them. It unfortunate that after one season it's been canceled. It's a mad cross between the Men from UNCLE, the X-Files and Eureka!

All my photos from Somerset have now been uploaded! now I have to tag and title them ;-)

I've finally got around tuit, updating LJ that is. I really meant to add stuff sooner but...

Anyway Parents and I arrived safely in Spain, collected a rental car (upgraded for free from the original spec) and got to the villa at Toscamar safely.

First few days were lovely, and then it started raining, and it hardly stopped! We did visit the JCC so we could check email and do a bit of web surfing.

So after a week in Spain I return to discover that in the UK that week was the hottest in recorded history [Wagh!]

I did get to read a number of ebooks including the excellent Little Brother by Corey Doctorow, which is available as a free download, but which has managed to stay in the NYT HC top 10 for 4 weeks! I'll be buying a paperback copy when it comes out in the UK.

I've been visiting my Chiropractor two or three times a week over the last month. It's difficult to judge such a subjective thing, and it's also difficult remembering how you felt a month ago, but I think there is significant improvement in how my back feels. Now I've got to train myself into better habits.

My first week back I had to catch up on all the TV I'd recorded on the Sky+ box while I was away, but by the following weekend I was mostly caught up.

May is the month of the Brighton festival and I usually manage to get to the circus that usually sets up it's big top, in Preston Park. This year it was the Moscow State Circus and there were some really cool acts, juggling, trapeze, magic, acrobatics. the clowns and a unicycling ringmaster!

I've also had a number of my amazon orders arriving this month, some of them made months back. some surprises and at least one duplicate ;-(

I saw Indiana Jones 4, which I thought was Ok, but not as good as the original, Though Harrison Ford still manages to be a believable action hero.

Just under two weeks ago, I got a message from my sister to say that Mum was in hospital in Spain, due to a dislocated hip. Fortunately she was all right and was able to recover with a local friend, before flying home safely last Thursday.

That same weekend a new washing machine was deliver and Dimitri and I had to install it, all seemed to go OK but then we found a leak!. The problem was with the master stop cock so a replacement was purchased and the water supply switched off outside. This seemed to work but then more water was discovered. This turned out to be a poor seal on the hose pipe connecting the mains to the machine. However now the kitchen floor is dry and I have a really cool new washing machine!

As a result of the leak I had to miss last week's juggling class, so with the Bank Holiday I've been off for 3 weeks, I hope I can manage tonight!

Last week was medical week on Tuesday I went for my yearly asthma check, breath volume was a bit low, but that may be due to not using my inhaler this month, my new one is at my sister's house!

On Wednesday was my visit to the dentist to get the temporary filling replaced. He had a new injection and my face quickly went numb, there were no problem and I now have a newly filled tooth.

Nearly up to date now. This weekend, on Saturday I went to see The Return to the Forbidden Planet at the Hawth. Before the performance I had a walk in the woods behind the theatre, I managed to find my way out in plenty of time before the curtain was raised. This was a different interpretation of the story than I'd seen previously. Partly I suspect because the performance was by a Rep Company, rather than a group brought together for tRtFP. As a result the instrumental switching which is a hallmark of the show didn't occur, only one member of the crew played more than 2 instruments. The costumes were also a change, echoing Star Trek and Galaxy Quest rather that the original movie. I did enjoy myself, at least until the right lens of my glasses fell out! Then I had to hold it to my eye so I could see the action.

On Sunday I was guilted into clearing grass and hedge off cuts off the grass bundling then into bags. I got a lift from my neighbour to the Tip to dump them all (I have no car). The rest burnt on a small bonfire, which was still smoldering 5 hours later.

I've been meaning to write this up since Saturday but..

I took the train down to Preston Park on Saturday afternoon so that I could get my annual Brighton Festival Circus fix. I try to go every year, even if I get additional visits at other times of the year.

I managed to get a good seat for half price so that was a good starting point. One thing that did irritate, the Souvenir Booklet for Cirque Surreal included acts that didn't appear and didn't portray acts that were in the show!

The theme was (as far as I could determine) acts from the four corners of the world, this was indicated by the floor which was inscribed by compass points, and by avatars from Russia (North) Africa (South) China (East) and South America (West).

There were a number of aerial acts, single trapeze, bungee cords and rope work. There was an amazing football juggler, and a ballet piece where the ballerina went en pointe was on the head of her partner

A very good afternoon, and recommended if you are in the area where it's on tour.

I was up early yesterday, as I had to do my weekly shopping prior to going up to London, to see "Sequins & Sawdust" at the Southbank (on the other side of the National Theatre to the Thames). It was a matinee and the sun was shining, so it was warm in the bit top.

"Sequins & Sawdust" told the story Phinnaeus Capelli circus owner, husband, father and grandfather from the early part of his life in the 40's to his death in the present day.

Using the circus ring as the core to the story it allowed the performers to show off their skills, a poor man's cirque if you will. The Ensemble cast being made of second year students from the Circus Space degree in Circus Arts.

And then back home in time to watch Dr Who and the Daleks in Manhattan!