A Digital Nativity

How the birth of Christ might happen today. Quite clever. Courtesy of Denise Nesbitt at Mrs Nesbitts Place.



I often wonder how the return of Christ would be accepted in today's society. He'd probably be treated just the same, sadly. What a terrible indictment of mankind that he hasn't moved on from self-serving egoism in over two thousand years. Jesus would probably build a healthy following but the will of the people is rarely followed by those in power, and He would be brought down by some modern-day regulation or other - 'Feeding the five thousand Mr Christ? I'm afraid you can't give any of that out without a food handling certificate.'
Merry Christmas!

A Real Christmas - again!

Odd that my first post in almost a year should be about the weather, or perhaps not. The weather has dominated life here in the North East of England for the past five weeks. We've had snow on snow on snow which has compacted into ice on ice on ice, then more snow and temperatures of minus 15 degrees at night, with a maximum daytime temperature of minus 1 degree, so the snow and ice has had no chance to thaw. Today we had to venture out as a family to get the obligatory two-trollies-for-two-days-closure-Christmas shop. I HATE driving on ice (anyone with half a brain would hate driving on ice) but today I had to. I've been driving for a little over twenty five years and have, somehow, always managed to avoid driving in heavy snow and icy conditions. Not today. Today I had to endure a ten mile per hour road trip for some six miles to our local Tesco superstore. On the way I slid off the road twice and, whilst in the store, roughly four more inches of the white stuff fell from the skies making the drive home even more treacherous. Never again. We made it back home safely thank goodness, but my guts took a beating from the adrenaline coursing through my body during the drive. Car and family are now safely holed-up until this cold snap ends - a thaw is forecast to begin sometime after Boxing Day - but more heavy snow is coming tonight and tomorrow making a very white Christmas Day on Saturday.
Merry Christmas.

Invasion of the Not Quite Dead - Teaser Promo

Here's the promotional video for the pre-production independent film "Invasion of the Not Quite Dead" starring Middlesbrough's very own Leslie Simpson (Dog Soldiers, Doomsday, The Descent.)

Why don't you sign up to become one of the film's producers? Have yourself a day on set, get a digital zombie makeover, appear as an extra in the film, get a credit in the closing titles plus loads more stuff - sign up here: The Indywood Project

Here's an interesting concept...

Ever fancied being involved in the making of a movie?

With the link below you can, from as little as £5, become a producer, you could even see your name in the end credits of the movie and get all sorts of goodies and exclusive items - this is independent film making at it's best and most exciting.

The Indywood Project is looking for 3000 horror fans to get involved - you could even get a walk-on role in the film "Invasion of the Not Quite Dead" which will star Middlesbrough's own Les Simpson (Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday)
THE INDYWOOD PROJECT BECOME A FILM PRODUCER TODAY
Check it out.

New Year Wishes.

And so we come to the end of another year and decade. And what a decade it's been, hasn't it? War in Iraq, Afghanistan, Twin Towers, London bombings, Jacko, Blair, Brown, Expenses, Tsunami and other extreme weather, melting ice-caps, rising fuel and food prices, taxes, taxes and more taxes, smoking bans, pub closures (I'm a man, I will mention this!) Banking collapse, recession, redundancy, repossessions, misery, doom and gloom - much the same as any other decade really. But there were some highlights: The birth of my beautiful Daughter, Emily, in 2003, my new job with Business Link in 2001, ..erm, ....erm - well that's enough 'highlights' for any man to cope with.
So now, as we look forward to all the gloom and doom and misery of the next decade, I'd like to wish you all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous 2010. Enjoy it while it lasts, the new decade honeymoon will be over soon enough!

(Photograph may be subject to copyright and can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/beto_frota/2152688405/)

Merry Christmas

The weather has been somewhat seasonal of late - hence the lack of posts. (I am the Fairweather Blogger, after all.) However, I couldn't miss this opportunity to say a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and prosperous New Year to all in Blogland.

Cat on a hot tin bonnet...

I've been wondering where the pawprints had been coming from... now I know!

Stray Cat Update...

Stray Cat, seen here relaxing on bonfire night, seems to have been 'adopted' by my wife. He's been coming in to eat, sleep and eat some more during the day and then is off on his travels at night. Except for last night that is. Last night Lesley decided to keep him indoors over night. We bought him a new litter tray - knowing that he's probably never used one before - and when the time came for him to go 'out', he was shocked to find that we didn't open the door but merely plonked him in the tray, which he quickly got out of. We closed the door of the utility room, settled Pepper in the house, and went to bed - fully expecting to be greeted by a mess this morning, but I'm pleased to say - he used the tray!

If he is to become a permanent fixture of the household he'll need a name. We have had three cats since we were married - Penny, Jude and Pepper. Pepper is still with us of course. Can you see the connection between the three cats and Stray Cat's proposed new name "Rigby"?? (Hold your mouse button down and scroll between the brackets)
[They're all named after Beatles song / album titles - Sergeant Pepper, Penny Lane, Hey Jude and now Eleanor Rigby]

It was twenty years ago today....

Although this photo was taken almost twenty two years ago, I can't let today pass without reminding readers of the fall of the wall against which I am leaning. Twenty years ago today some brave souls decided that they'd had enough of communist East Berlin and decided to break down the wall which had divided the city, and Germany, for nearly thirty years. Much to the surprise of the wall-breakers and, indeed, the world, they weren't shot and within hours even the East Berlin Guards were helping break down the concrete structure. The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe had begun. The grafitti above my head reads "FREEDOM COMES FROM INSIDE ONESELF, BUT WALLS CAN STAND IN THE WAY." Luckily this particular wall didn't stand in the way for too much longer.

A Victor Meldrew Moment.

Why is it that my Friday evening was disrupted by Fireworks? Surely Bonfire night was Thursday and everyone in my neighbourhood put on absolutely splendid displays (except that is for our household who could only afford a £38 box of squeaks - squeaks from mice with laryngitis to be honest.)

So why is it that, having had their fill on Thursday night (and into the early hours of Friday.) three of my neighbours decided to repeat the exercise last night? The three neighbours concerned have never worked a day in their benefit-laden lives, have swarms of children of differing paternity and seemingly no respect for anyone or anything, including themselves. How can they afford the spectacular public-display fireworks they've been setting off for the past two nights? I've worked pretty much most of my life, I earn a decent enough wage, so why can I only afford a £38 squeak box and they can afford to pay for two nights of fireworks worthy of Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Years Eve??

There's something wrong with that, surely?