Doctor Who, Dalek I Loved You, Dalek, Memoir, Nick Griffiths, Gollancz, Orion, seventies childhood, david bowie, matt smith, radio times, tom baker, david tennant, jon pertwee, patrick troughton, william hartnell, peter davison, colin baker, sylvester mccoy, christopher eccleston, harrison dextrose
You should worry about age-I saw Def Leppard in 1979 when the average age of the group was around 16. My fav group Deep Purple released their seminal Machine Head album 37 years ago, and reformed after the original break up 25 years ago.
Oh and John Bonham of Zep has been dead for 29 years.
494. Also just realised
that Who Goes There is released today in the Adobe epub ebook format! Which is far better than that funnydnl format linked to down below. American readers can but a copy here (for themselves, or for someone for Xmas, clunking hint): http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=538247
493. I've just realised
1984 is a quarter of a century ago. Jesus.
492. While accepting
that my Stuart Adamson fixation might be a little over-fried, I looked out my old Big Country Steeltown LP earlier, bought on the day of release in the Virgin Megastore back in... 83? 84? Hang on, I'll have to look it up... 1984. Includes some great songs, not least The Girl With Grey Eyes, which was never released as a single. Anyway, I queued in the Megastore for the Big C signing and made bassist Tony Butler write "No. 1 fan". Sad. But here's the great man's monniker, top of the pic queue. Another deep sigh.
491. Purchase
I've just ordered Barry Letts' Who memoirs, Who & Me, off Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Me-Memoir-Producer-1969-1974/dp/1906263442/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258723094&sr=1-1
Odd that it was published in the month after his death, though Letts had been suffering from cancer so perhaps it was a planned epitaph. The man's up there with the Who greats, so I look forward to lapping up his words of wisdom (and anecdotes). I'll let you know what it's like, as it's going straight to the top of my pile (am finding Anthony Beever's Stalingrad rather heavy going - so many blummin' long foreign names).
490. Weird world
Just skimming through Yahoo News and you couldn't make some of this stuff up:
* I'm A Celebrity star Gino DâAcampo spent two years in prison for burgling Paul Young's house
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1228981/Im-A-Celebrity-star-Gino-D-Acampo-spent-years-prison-burgling-Paul-Youngs-house.html#ixzz0XJx6njN9
Or this from the terrible tale of the young woman murdered in Goa, whose mother (Fiona MacKeown) is now being charged over benefit fraud:
'I don't fully understand the charges against me but my solicitor is confident the amount I am accused of falsely claiming can be reduced,' added MacKeown, who is now breeding dogs and growing willow trees with a view to making fence panels from the branches.
Exactly how many willows is she growing?!
All the rest of the 'news' is X Factor or I'm a 'Celebrity' and I am so heartily sick of it, particuarly fucking 'Jordan'. Bleugh. Our press is dying on its arse in its desperation for 'readers'.
Lovely set of contributions to the Mars debate, thank you. Also had this via Facebook from Anne: "Two of my mates said the sound was wrong on their TVs for Doctor Who. Too much background. Without prompting. I have an old 'fat' T.V. Mine was ok. So I blame your technology. And the BBC of course." Interesting. Keep this level of critique up and we shall soon rool the wurld (or similar). Chin chin!
The interesting thing I find about the Tennant stories is that although I find them enjoyable I rarely watch one more than once, and the odd one's I do rewatch I only really dip in and out of. Whereas I can watch some of the Ecclestone, Pertwee and Tom Baker ones repeatedly.
Top line whilst watching 'The Waters Of Mars' as a family on Sunday must go to my mum. Picture this, one of the quieter moments, everyone glued to the screen when, apropos of nothing, she turns to me & asks "Does he change tonight then, dear?". Bless!
489. It's a cracker
Just finished rewatching Mars. Yeah, cracking stuff. Couple of minor niggles - didn't they have space suits, or at least cagoules? - but such a classy romp that they pale into insignificance. Can't wait for The End of Time now. Ah, Chrimbo.
Personally, I liked the bit after the inhuman snarl over the speaker when Tennant says, all 'here we go again', "I really should go". Perfect!
finally got round to watching 'mars' on the iplayer last night after a weekend in stockholm. i am now broke, so expensive.
i LOVED it. really good show - i just wish the doctor left the 3 of them there and saw through what was meant to happen. i am going to be so so gutted with DT leaves ... he's been my fav dr since I were a wee kiddy .... :(
488. Back to Mars
Halfway thru second viewing (first hearing) on iPlayer and it is sooooo much more enjoyable when you can understand what's said. Love that early exchange:
Captain: State your name, rank and intentions!
Doc: The Doctor... doctor... fun.
And that name Bowie Base One. Took only a mild spin of the grey matter. Life on Mars? (Note the question mark.) No more mini-spoilers for those abroad, promise, but I'll get back with an overall view tomorrow. Till then...
487. One more
Still trapped. I had no idea that Bowie ever performed Teenage Wildlife, prob my fave Bowie song, live. yet here it is. How much have I missed in my life? Wails ad lib to fade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CwCBhwtU1k
486. Curse you, YouTube
Forgive me for breaking up the Mars comments - and please post again after this tawdry interlude - but I've been stuck in sodding YouTube, wasting time though thoroughly enjoying myself. Somehow linked from Big Country covering Bowie's Cracked Actor to Pink Floyd playing Animals live, at which I spotted one of the funniest run of comments, copied below for your pleasure. (Now, back to Who. Soz.)
grantaldn (3 days ago)
Pink Floyd are the best
seventhskate (5 days ago)
No shit Sherlock.
BrokenChair88 (5 days ago)
Comment removed by author
seventhskate (5 days ago)
wow you actually said something else in a comment, good accomplishment for moving the fuck on.
BrokenChair88 (5 days ago)
Pink Floyd wrote "Dogs".
floydgenesisnut (1 week ago)
How many videos are you going to say that jackass. Brokenchair's name should be BROKENRECORD because you go on Pink Floyd videos and spam with that stupid phrase. No wonder people think you are one stupid asshole! David Gilmour and Roger Waters WROTE "Dogs" and Pink Floyd PERFORMED and RECORDED IT! Get that through your fucking skull jackoff. Now go watch your Beyonce and Paris Hilton videos you dumbass piece of SHIT!
BrokenChair88 (1 week ago)
Pink Floyd wrote "Dogs".
Well for once I wasn't disappointed. 'Waters Of Mars' was very good stuff. I love those 'base under siege' stories. It had all the qualities of classic Who. My 6 year old Daughter Aimee was scared silly by the water-infected peopleone minute and then laughing out loud at Gadget racing away with it's arse on fire. She loved it and her Dad loved it. Which is what Dotor Who's supposed to be all about isn't it?
That's interesting re the sound-I too found some of the dialogue difficult to follow and a bit muffled, and I have quite an expensive t.v. I wonder if it was a recording/mastering fault?
Ta for the Mars comments - keep 'em coming! My enjoyment was greatly hampered by the sound quality of my telly. I heard only about half the lines in the domes because the sound went all, well, "fluffy". (Suspect the telly speakers are blown - it's my parents' old set and boy did they have it up loud, so Mum could hear.) A bugger. I'm going to have to reserve judgement until I can watch it again on iPlayer. Looked great though!
Well it was inevitable that RTD would eventually write a riff on 'Ark in Space', and Waters of Mars was rattling good fun. Now if Colin Baker fans watched the last 10 minutes-that is how to play a barking mad Doctor.
Well? What did we all think? Enjoyed Tennant getting a bit dark & playing God only to realise he's possibly gone too far this time. Interesting that Ood Sigma turns up at the end - reminded me of The Watcher in Logopolis/Castrovalva.
Big Country! Not a huge fan but Stuart Adamson's guitar playing was every bit as anthemic & unique as The Edge from U2 (whatever happened to them?). Loved the stuff he did with The Skids - even with Jobson's 'individual' approach to coherent singing!
I know what you mean about the ending of the film Nick. I always well up when I hear that song. I wept like a baby a couple of times when they did it in concert. Me and Mrs Lyth watched Restless Natives last week. Here's one of my fave moments. I found myself crying and sing along with it...again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ_Mg7m-ZfY
Finally, on the Stuart front, my favourite comment beneath all the tributes was this one, which so exhibits the Scottish sense of humour as well as the confusion and sadness. Stuart was from Dunfermline, for those possibly bemused:
"dunfermline is pish without you. fucking why m8"
Dave - and any other Big C fans - I've spent the past hour linking Start stuff on YouTube and finally alighted on this slice of genius. The last couple of minutes especially are - say this in Scottish accent in remembrance... brulliant!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXOpZAtgU8Y&feature=related
Here Big C here. Love the "What is this? The Grateful Dead?" 3 mins in.
PS Ade, I could try to review Julian, I suppose, I'm not sure I remember how to. Although I do recall the first rule of the school of rock hackism: Always use the word 'eclectic'.
485. Phew
Time to breathe at last. I'd forgotten how exhausting, time-consuming, how ghaslty, going to work every day (bar Wednesday, when I looked after the Beegster, which was just as time-consuming) is. Thank heavens it's over. I'm listening to your Big C link now, at it's hard not to get emotional. I can't watch Restless Natives any more without crying - those final scenes, as the bagpipe guitars soar over the Scottish countryside, all that freedom of spirit... Ah, Stuart.
The aliens alone look completely brilliant. After a couple of so-so specials I reckon this is going to be cracker. Gotta dash again - back to "normal" next week...
Anyone else really looking forward to The Waters Of Mars this Sunday. Or is it just me?
Thanks for the replies, daughter just about to fall off bed. Back soon!
Yep, still here. I can see the Auntie Vall/Geddy Lee comparison. I can just see Gatiss' creation belting out Natural Science. As regards Restless Natives...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN6eZOS5wQ0&feature=related ...fucking wonderful!!!
David Tennant, Johnny Vegas & Alison Moyet on The Graham Norton Show = inspired! Oh, & Nick, you lucky bugger for having Julian Plenti tickets! Trade your review of his gig for mine of P.i.L's in Manchester this December?
P.S. Since you mentioned cover versions of 'alternative classics', I always thought that 'Emma' was a Sisters Of Mercy song until I heard the Hot Chocolate original!
It comes up as a box set called 'Myths and Legends' in my 'personal recommendation' list (as do-rather more excitingly-Masque of Mandragora due Feb. 8th and Peladon Tales Jan. 4th.)
No joke-available on pre-order on Amazon, due Feb. 2010.
Is that a joke? Or is it under the banner of Some of the Worst Stories Ever?
Did you see the Underworld/Nimon/Time Monster box set due out next Feb? Wahooo!!!
484. Work (groo)
Am in Radio Times this week, so updates to Bob may be sporadic. [Please God no - Everyone in the World]
Hi Ade - I love the Julian Plenti album and have tix for him at the Scala early Dec. There are some vids of him playing live at the Guggenheim in NY on YouTube, which are interesting, though you wonder whether he couldn't afford a coloured lightbulb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6m7AFRHmTg
Have seen his house band several times, happily - always amazing. Reckon we're due a new album and tour next year. Also just bagged Editors tix for next March, having not seen live yet, which is a minor crime somewhere between littering and theft from a sweet shop.
Have never been able to get into New Order - picked up double Substance best of for a fiver in HMV, then put it back down - which is a shame. Joy Division, on t'other hand...
PS I used to think Love Will Tear Us Apart was a Paul Young original.
Hi, Nick. It's been a while. First off, can't wait for November the 15th... although I don't think I'm on my own there!
Secondly, I know from reading DILY how much of an Interpol fan you are. I've just bought their 'Black EP' as well as the Paul Banks solo album 'Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper'. Both awesome. Have you been lucky enough to catch Interpol live? I haven't but am working on it.
Speaking of music, saw Bad Lieutenant (essentially New Order minus Peter Hook) in Manchester recently. Brilliant! As well as the new album, did an Electronic number, 'Out Of Control' (Chemical Brothers collaboration) & 3 New Order songs. And if that wasn't enough... a Joy Division encore of 'Transmission' & 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. The roof was well & truly raised!
And on that note 'You're my wife now'...
Royston... Actually, that's sidetracked me from my intended glib reply. I've been watching the League of Gentlemen boxset with the wife, since it's a revered comedy (by those in the know) that I somehow missed out on. And it's had some brilliantly funny - and gross - moments. But it's the performances that are perhaps the most impressive, including those of our good friend, Mr Gatiss (having met him a few times, I can confirm that he is indeed a very friendly, unassuming chap, the sort you could imagine boring for Britain over a glass or two of cider, while he was too nice to yawn) - though I'd say that Steve Permberton's probably the best actor of the three. Am currently honing my "You're my wife now, Dave" impression. Is pretty good. Must try it on Mark Gatiss, should we ever meet again - bet he's never heard one before.
Couple of points for Dave Lythgoe - you still there, son? (Is weird typing this knowing it'll be read by at least three people, but neither who they are nor where in the world they are.) Is Gatiss' Auntie Val modelled on Geddy Lee, I keep wondering. And I was hit by a double-whammy of delight while watching Ray Mears' new series, when his birch-bark-caneoing scenes were given a soundtrack of Big Country, from the Restless Natives s/t I believe. Mears and Adamson - bliss.
Bet you find it wearisome shopping at Fortnum and Masons all the time though Nick?
I'm afraid I don't shop in 'local markets'. Only authorised retailers for me, because I hate to see anyone other than the registered licensee getting the cash. Anyone else?
What's your favourite pirated Who toy? A local market was selling an 'officially' packaged set with orange coloured Tennant doll with rubber sucker dart gun and darts (presumably to fire at him). Classy.
I didn't! That's one teeny part of my Xmas list sorted. Ta!
You boys do know you can get Airfix Doctor Who kits, don't you? There's a Tenth Doctor one with the TARDIS and Martha Jones available...
Haven't picked up a DWM yet, and will hold off on paying 500K for your 'collector's copy'. Your Airfi memories brought my own flooding back. Liquid Glue - which, though terribly neat and applied by brush, if you please, failed to stick stuff. Humbrol Enamel paints - the smell of matt green. And the 'joy' of opening a new kit to discover proper rubber tyres. Sigh. Must add a kit to my Xmas list.
Anyone else got a wrongly bound copy of this months DWMag? Mine has pages repeated etc. Will accept offers of around £500k from collectors.
As for Airfix-I forgot the joy of trying to glue the transparent cockpit canopies down without streaking them with glue.
Ah Airfix models-memories of stringy glue, realising that pilots were easier to paint BEFORE affixing in the cockpit, building a 1:72 scale Mustang, leaping over my bed and landing on it, trying to elegantly lift transfer roundels off the wet paper without them crumpling in half and sticking togther (or drying out en route to aircraft and thus tearing while being eased into position), the smell of the airfix paint, trying to put the damn guns in the damn housing in the damn warship models and not have them pointing in three different directions...
I just paint warhammer dwarves now...
483. Quiz!
I ran a Hallowe'en quiz a couple of nights back and thought I'd give you a chance to have a go. Click on the pdf at the top of the pic queue for the Table Round - identifying the spookily disguised famous faces. Feel free to add your solutions here. If anyone would like the three written rounds (Current Affairs, Spooky Stuff and Family Fortunes) to run their own Hallowe'en quiz, just e me and I'll pass them on...
Interviews and stuff which I've signed forms declaring that I won't talk about, which is why i was necessarily vague. However, yes, I do miss question marks, and all sorts of punctuation; if only people's use of the English language were more refined.
PS When you coming down for a curry? Next week sometime?
What who moves are afoot? Did you miss a question mark?
482. Nostalgia Central
I don't remember, but I imagine my love of Airfix models was included in DILY. Just watched James May's Toys (or whatever it's called) on BBC2, it being about Airfix, and gimmicky as it was, and presented by one of the Top Gear team (who think cars are great and are therefore risible), I did love it. Reminded me of trying to make a large-scale Spitfire with Dylan when he was seven or eight, and becoming impatient (parenting mistake no. 762), because I really wanted to make it myself and I couldn't bear any imperfections. Only child, see. Anyway, I've pressed Keep on Sky+ so the boy can watch it with me one day soon, and maybe it'll - I was going to type reignite, which would have been wrong, since my impatience hardly sparked an ignition - ignite his fondness for the toys of yesteryear. At the very least I can ask Santa to bring him some plastic stuff on sprues. Hehehe.
481. Who
moves are afoot.
480. Best gig
Saw Bloc Party in Brighton last night, with merely minor hopes prior to the off. And they were stunningly good. Just amazing. Anyone who's thought to themselves - as I had - hmm, maybe I'll see Bloc Party play one day... DO IT!
479. Dear to my heart
As someone who loves his fish, I am deeply committed to the idea of sustainable fishing. A wee in the ocean as it is, I have set up a Facebook group to promote the idea, including info and a pledge to avoid eating non-sustainable species. If you'd care to join, you'd be very welcome...
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=158175381917&ref=nf
478. Who mode
Spoke to Lindsay Duncan a while back, concerning her upcoming role as DT's latest companion, Adelaide, in Waters of Mars. Have very high hopes for that ep as a return to the usual form...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/videos/
Yes, where is my butler? Bastard must have died.
Surely your youngest is now of an age to be sent out to clean chimneys? And I assume the eldest is comfortably ensconced in Eton as a full boarder. So all you must do all day is wait around for Mrs G to return to feed you hand peeled grapes and fine wines as befits your status as reknowned author. I assume your butler updates your blog for you.
477. Too hectic
Forgive the sporadic updates to Bob - with the wife recently back at work and nursery care seeming to involve me doing everything (small exaggeration), plus the Daredevil Fishing writes and rewrites, feel have too little time to potter. And now I'm being chased for Lindsay Duncan (as opposed to being chased by Lindsay Duncan, which would be unlikely), plus a radio script - and Mrs Dextrose is due in three months. Zoiks.
*splutter, drops monocle into brandy glass* A writer who knows next to nothing about Shakespeare? *no wonder we lost the Empire*
And now I've googled Goneril and understand. I know less about Shakespeare than I do about the petting habits of Latvians. Had you asked whether I'd called the other kid Carter, I'd have got it straight away.
Goneril's a lovely name. You telling me you don't like it?
*phones childline immediately* and you do realise Your Good Lady can see you have been slacking by checking your blog. Is your other kid called Goneril btw?
476. Gotta be quick
Looking after Regan today again, since the wife went back to work this week, so allowing self 46 seconds of the alloted 163 to update Bob the Blog. Have realised now have nothing to add and cannot retrieve said seconds. Hmm.
475. Mrs Dextrose!
At last, contracts confirm it. Looking for Mrs Dextrose will be published next May, and more importantly I have until January 20th to write it. Having typed '...will return in Looking for Mrs Dextrose' at the end of the ItFoHD manuscript at least half a decade ago, it is coming to pass. Am very excited. (And may start up the Twitter page for Mrs Dextrose again, in which I will Tweet re the writing process and plotline brainache - will see.)
474. A little originality at last!
Now a princess (named Fatty) needs my help!
I am a princess i need yr help to transfer my father wealth pls reply me urgent
Par votre hôte: Faty Wedrago
Date: mardi 13 octobre 2009
Heure: 8h 00 - 9h 00 (GMT+00:00)
Rue: Dear friend, How are you today,i hope fine?I am a female student from University of Burkina-Faso, Ouagadougou. I am 22 yrs old. I will love to have a long-term relationship with you and to know more about you. I would like to build up a solid foundation with you in time coming if you can be able to help me in this transaction. Well, my father died earlier 1 year ago and left I and my junior brother behind. He was a king, which our town citizens titled him over sixteen years before his death.I was a princess to him and I am the only person who can take care of his wealth now because my junior brother is still young and my late mother is also late two years ago before the death of my Late father. He left the sum of USD 5,350, 000.00 dollars (Five Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars)in a security company.This money was annually paid into my late fathers account from Gold Exploring companies operating in our locality for the compensation of youth and community development in our jurisdiction. I don't know how and what I will do to invest this money somewhere in abroad, so that my father's kindred will not take over what belongs to my father and our family, which they were planning to do without my present because I am a female as stated by our culture in the town.Now, I urgently need your humble assistance to move this money from the security company to your bank account after which i come over to meet with you. and I strongly believe that by the grace of God, you will help me invest this money wisely.I am ready to pay 30% of the total amount to you if you help us in this transaction and another 10% interest of Annual After Income to you, for handling this transaction for us, which you will strongly have absolute control over. If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me in lifting this fund,i need your picture and your details.Do send it to me before tomorrow morning.This is my home address,From Burkina Faso in West Africa.Home Address: Rue 54 ave. LOUDIN
Maybe the planes crashed into each other, and the grief and shock has casued the mailers grammar and spelling to fall apart. I reckon all the mails look like a sound financial investment to me. Now, could I interest you in a certain 'Tower Bridge' property I happen to be selling?
473. PS
I shall be making the Dextrose announcement tomorrow. Definitely.
472. Hang on
I don't normally read my spam for obv reasons, but I just did and i could be a very very rich man soon! I've got loads of people with millions of dollars thanks to dead blokes in plane crashes! Except for this one, in which the poor family died in a plan crash. (How many of my plans have crashed. However I survived. Seems I was the lucky one.) At least this one is risky free:
BUSSINESS TRANSATION FOR YOU
By your host: kabiru Abrahim
Date: Saturday October 10, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am (GMT +00:00)
Street: Dear Friend I am Dr kabiru_abrahim the Director in charge of Auditing section in Bank of African ouagadougou, Burkina Faso,I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of($14 million us Dollars.) to your bank account. The fund belong to our deceased customer who died with his entire family in an a plan crash, leaving nobody behind for his claim and as such, I decided to contact you to enable us claim the fund. Your share is 30% while 60%for me 10% will be used to defray all expenses incurred in the process of the transfer. Contact me through my private email kabiru_abrahim@mail.ru for more details: on how the business will be executed,send me your contact information.1.Age,2)Residential adress,(3)occupation,(4)private telephone,This transaction is 100% risky free. Thank WAITING TO HERE FROM YOU
471. Finished
I just sent off the Daredevil Book for Anglers, which is out next May - not in time for Xmas, the date I had in my head for some reason - and can be pre-ordered off Amazon by hitting that cover there.
I just love that it's the same story, even the same amount, but with different names. Can they not change it just a bit?!
470. Luckiest guy in the world!
From Anvil to this! I've been contacted by another bloke (or perhaps a lady - he's not sure) who's found 14.5 big ones after some chap died in a plane crash - yet completely different names from our good friend Bob Hakam. (Gee, I miss Bob.) Here's the email, from Patrick/Patricia, who may be a cross-dresser. Do I have a strong enough hand to go ahead?
From: Mrs. Patricia Robertson
Johannesburg, RSA
Investment Proposal
Good Day.
This email transmission is coming to you from my residence because of it's confidential status. However, this letter contains some confidential materials and should be deleted from your mail box indicating that you are not interested concerning the proposal. For the formality of this transaction I would appreciate introducing myself.
My names are Mr Patrick Robertson, the director of audit in First National Bank Haughton Estate branch here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
We discovered an amount of $14,500.000.00 (Fourteen million five hundred thousand united states dollars) during our audit and the amount belongs to Mr. Ziya Bazhayev who died in the plane crash of Yak-40 jetliner on March 9, 2000. You may follow the Link below to read about the plane Crash which cost my client his life:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/672849.stm
I and my colleague have all the necessary documents involved in this deposit. Now I want you to stand as the next of kin and help us transfer this amount of money from the bank here to your bank in your country. We assure you that this transaction/deal is 100% risk free and I will prepare all the documentation and prove the source of the fund before the transfer.
Furthermore, I would want you to understand that this business involves two bank top officials and must not be played with. We advise that you think very well before responding to this proposal because we need a matured and strong hand that can handle this transaction.
Your percentage and other important details will be discussed once I confirm your kind willingness in assisting in the transfer.
We anticipate your prompt response indicating your willingness and readiness to proceed.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Patricia Robertson
Very kind of you to say so, Royston, thank you, but fear not I was in a light-hearted mood - if admittedly resigned - when i wrote those comments. Something to do with that Anvil movie, I suspect. Onwards and sideways!
Nick-you have written books that people take great pleasure in reading, so don't be on such a downer! Book sales always take a dip at some point-sometimes because of the second hand market for a start. So realise that your writing has made many a reader chuckle and ignore the current sales figures.
Erratum. That last entry should have been 469. I can't even count. Sigh.
468. Am I Anvil in disguise?
To rub in my Anvilness, my bi-annual DILY royalty statement arrived this morning. It seems I'm selling minus books. Sort of DILY black holes. I don't know how this works, but it goes beyond 'demoralising', while flicking Vs in the rear-view mirror and leering slightly. I console myself that Anvil are now headlining huge festivals and are finally the success they dreamed of being. Bless.
468. Anvil
Just watched The Story of Anvil, doc of the 80s metal band who never quite made it. (One for you, esp, Dave.) Yes, it was very funny, knowingly Tap, but also very affectionate. Man, I cried twice. Loved it. Highly recommended.
PS Still waiting for my Dextrose announcement. Am feeling a bit like Anvil myself.
PPS All the reviews of DILY on Amazon have disappeared! (Mind you, a few of them am glad to see back of.) Still odd, though.
Am lost for words.
PS That Dextrose announcement - though later than I was expecting - should be happening tomorrow. I hope.
giant cough? Don't tell me your wife is giving you a 'medical' as you type?
Royston, please. There are some things i wish i had never committed to print. Giant cough.
Got to say I rather like the new logo ... I am quite excited to see how the new series turns out - and we've got the old one to end yet
I believe a certain author once wrote that his wife 'wore a nurses uniform.' Mayhaps that same author will be treating his wife to a Xmas pressie with a Dr Who theme.
Thanks for all the comments, the rec (have considered that one in the past - am v tempted) and general to-do. Anyone catch Amy Pond in yesterday's papers? That police uniform looked suspiciously non-reg.
Looks like something the cybermen would use!
Jeez I find those dvd extras of interviews with people unsettling-watch someone aged about 30 capering around a Who episode and then-bam!-fast forward 35 years to have them interviewed with all those years suddenly dumped on them.
It's very hardcore HD, like the TARDIS and the Sonic Screwdriver. Can't say I particularly like it, or dislike it. Actually feeling a fair amount of indifference about Who 2010 still - not enough info been released to get me excited.
'Chunky and retro' just about covers it.
It's really good.
The new logo is a lot better than what they've got at the moment. I suppose the only gamble is that by making everything new (Doctor, companion, Tardis exterior/interior, etc) a lot of people might become alienated - no pun intended! I for one can't wait for the new Matt Smith season. It promises to be interesting if nothing else.
Quick book recommendation for you, if I may be so bold. 'The Fallen' by Dave Simpson, where he attempts to track down former members of The Fall & there have been a few! For anyone who moans about their boss, you want to try working for Mark E. Smith!
What are everyone's thoughts? I love it. Chunky & retro. Anyone else? http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/logo/index.shtml
I take it as a given that we've all seen the new Who titles. They are really going for a 'new broom' approach, aren't they?
Wahoo-got Frontier/Planet yesterday thanks to amazons pre ordering. Watched first two episodes last night. Bliss.
Thank you for clearing that up.
Its a hoax. Good old 419 scams - that would be the fella offering the money. Have a look at http://www.419eater.com/ - a bunch of people who lead them on. Read "Carving for cash", and "A stunt too far" - a new character in life called Klench Mychiques
RE. Letterman. Ironic that his behaviour seems to be acceptable to joke about when this is the very man who was party to dropping Bill Hicks' last ever appearance on the show on the grounds that it's content would offend the great viewing public! The very public who appear to lap this sort of 'frat-boy jock' thing up...
I thought he'd bought a base too. What I couldn't work out is whether he was a complete dick or was having the bloke on?
I thought he'd bought a pizza base, but no, he's opened it upside down! What an idiot!!
467. And I rarely - if never? - pass on 'funny' emails, but...
There's an audio file in that red circle at the top of the pic queue - and I can't decide whether it's a hoax or not.
466. It's not often that I moralise...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/02/david-letterman-sex-blackmail-plot?CMP=AFCYAH
But I can't believe an American TV audience claps, laughs and cheers when Letterman admits to sleeping with women who work on his show, when there are abuse of power issues, quite apart from the fact the he is married with a five-year-old son. Made me feel a little queasy.
And I didn't mind that Buffy version of the Japanese haunted house. But generally. I'll dig out my PD collection on VHS, as I imagine I have most. I've seen Earthshock a couple of times and I surely must have seen his Dalek effort. Hmm. Indeed I might rake through the entire VHS shebang and delight in a memory or two. The weekend beckons, after all...
Hi Nick. Davison had some pretty decent stories, some verging on the great. Admittedly there were some right howlers as well such as 'Four To Doomsday' & 'Time Flight' but off-set them against 'Earthshock' (your bezzie mate's swansong!) & 'Resurrection of the Daleks' (perhaps the biggest Who body count ever) & you won't be disappointed.
Know what you mean about Hollywood remakes of British/European/Rest of the bloody world classics. The Stallone version of 'Get Carter' is something that will haunt me forever, made even more of a travesty by the fact that Michael Caine actually appears in it! Still, a valuable lesson was obviously learnt as I gave the Nic Cage version of 'The Wicker Man' a wide birth - you cannot improve upon perfection. Having said that, 'The Ring' films with Naomi Watts weren't too bad...
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29?! I remember the news blowing around school and Tim Mannings going into mourning. I didn't get into Led Zep until the mid-90s - always last on the bus - so received the news with minor nonchalance.