MakemineVanilla

On 15/01/2024 at 18:33, sharkyvilla said:

I've got a bollocksy team building/training day tomorrow.  I'd rather wipe my arse with a cactus than go to it.

Some people quite like a training day:

Close Range, starring Scott Adkins: I haven't laughed so much in ages!

Great fight choreography, everyone's a lousy shot and the ammo rarely runs out.

More ham than a deli-counter but great entertainment.

The only question is whether Scott, who was born in Sutton Coldfield, is a Villa fan?

Doesn't chaos theory suggest that the biggest events are caused by insignificant events we are not aware of and cannot be identified?

The thread should probably be called - Who should be a lot more famous than they are?

13

The American remake of 13 Tzameti, directed by the same guy who directed the original.

With stars like Statham, Ray Winston and Micky Rourke queuing up for this one, they obviously thought it was going to win prizes.

Sadly, the changes made to suit an American audience, just ruined it from the start, and although it isn't as bad as Rotton Tomatoes thought it (3.8%), I didn't feel prompted to switch off.

23 minutes ago, mjmooney said:

Never read that one. I'm a big fan of The Bridge, though. 

I never got round to reading his science-fiction, did you?

10 minutes ago, Designer1 said:

I love a bit of the Stath now and again. He's good at what he does and as he showed in Spy, he doesn't take himself too seriously.

There is something rather comforting, knowing that the kid's going to survive and the bad guys are not.

Determined to seek a bit of comfort and familiarity through these dark and chilly days of January, I decided to re-read Iain Banks's best book, The Crow Road.

Its just as good as I vaguely remember it.

Some say it is his best book, and I wouldn't disagree.

Forgive me father for I have sinned!

This week I watched three Jason Statham films, all with the same basic plot - kid in danger, bent cops, massive retribution.

I loved every minute!

Tarkowski played for Burnley - enough said!

A big test for Carlos and Langlet - the former for his distribution and the latter for is lack of pace.

On 03/01/2024 at 13:12, leemond2008 said:

I managed to drag my sorry ass back to the gym this morning, felt good to be in there again even if I didn't do a fat lot, it was more about just getting back on the hoss today more than anything.

Same again tomorrow I reckon.

Kaizen is an excellent strategy for easing yourself into regular workouts.

Resist the temptation to over do it by restricting yourself to one set of light weights or easy cardio.

Kaizen is the Japanese system of making small incremental improvements.

31 minutes ago, tinka said:

Changed it for you, think it sums up life in general.

You are Blanche DuBois and I claim the five pounds!

14 hours ago, lapal_fan said:

Ignore my last post, I've posted about 10 times in an hour and that included wanking whilst spying on women, punching Xela and just being an annoying clearing in the woods.

 

One of the problems with working at home is lack of the time structure which going to work provides: boredom is defined as "structure hunger" by psychologists.

Experiment with a timetable of when you work and when you take breaks; and try to stick to it.

Make sure you are getting enough sleep and set a time for doing your walks.

On 08/01/2024 at 18:25, Xela said:

You'll be fine once you are there. I was anxious on my last long haul trip, but once I got there, it was all good. 

The British transport system is run on the same lines as the evacuation of Dunkirk - long queues and a lot of dependence on the kindness of strangers.

2 minutes ago, maqroll said:

Same. It was a sensation when it came out. Very subversive for mainstream network TV in the U.S. I loved the moody atmosphere and deliberate pace. 

My friend group had watch parties and then discussed it all week until the next one. 

It was definitely a product of that very specific time period coming out of the 80's. 

Just doesn't quite hold up now.

So how do David Lynch's films hold up these days - I've always loved Blue Velvet but haven't watched it for a while?

Maybe quirkiness only works once?

6 minutes ago, Genie said:

Jimmy Fallon looks like a massive word removed, an American James Cordon.

The only thing I know about Jimmy Fallon is that he does a pretty decent Neil Young impression.

28 minutes ago, Xela said:

My three favourite characters:

Phil Leotardo

Tony Soprano

Tony Soprano's breathing. 

The latter really came into its own in later seasons. 

 

ps. I love it! 

I thought that the narrative arc lost its way, but as a collection of morality tales I found it powerful and very funny at times.

The Tin Drum with subtitles is available (sound a bit low).

Based on Günter Grass's novel.

https://youtu.be/HNVU7mVPsfc?si=Gr2suK5PNgFJ8jwQ

2 hours ago, chrisp65 said:

Kind of. Now, you’ll hear urban myths from ex pats, but the island was indeed an island and yes Clive Road was the top of a coastal cliff. But then 130 years ago the natural harbour was filled in and turned in to a dock, that made up ground then became industrial with warehousing and a train graveyard. That contaminated land then became a housing estate as per the picture above.

There’s no chance of serious deep flooding, there’s still a dock and the water level of the sea would have to rise a good few meters. So they should be able to pay off their mortgages before there’s regular flooding.

 

That's interesting and it does make me wonder whether the real reason there are no gardens, is to avoid the owners being tempted to try and grow vegetables etc.

I was amazed to find out just how huge the development is.

Personally, I would prefer one of the classic old council houses on the cliff: they're the same design as the ones my parents lived in.

On 26/10/2023 at 15:21, chrisp65 said:

 

 

Look at those pictures! Nothing quite says welcome to your new family home like the oil stain under the tarmac patch for your little audi you bought on a pcp.

 

 

It is quite an interesting location and it looks like the houses were built on land formerly occupied by warehouses or similar.

Clive Road looks like it runs along a cliff which was once the natural shoreline, and the ground below may have been both saline and devoid of topsoil.

The limitations might have determined the design, with the added risk of flooding in mind.

Ideal for two-car dinkies who hate gardening and like a harbour view.

But I bet there's a few been bought as a potential Airbnb.

I wouldn't deny that he can be frustrating but his stats of 4 goals and 2 assists is a very decent contribution.

His shooting accuracy (61%) is the same as Diaby and Bailey.

His deflected goal which got Villa over the line, proves that he might be luckier than most.

He's not as good as Ken Swain but few are.

Villa need more quality because I can't see a plan so far, except maybe to run the legs off them.

I've been watching Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective on iPlayer, which has proven to be just as brilliant as I remembered it.

The combination of 1930s music, hilarity, pathos, and Joanne Whalley's charms, adds up to a BBC tour de force.

Am I right, or am I right?

I doubt if Jack gives a damn about the trinkets and is more upset about the possible danger to his friends and family.

From the warnings being given about the dangers of social media, I suspect players are targetted who show themselves wearing expensive bling.

Maybe that's why Robbie Fowler bought houses, because you can't load them into the back of a van.

I seem to remember Ruud Gullit drove a Toyota when he moved to Chelsea.

Maybe Jack should become a brand embassador for Casio?