Playful as a pussycat? Not as wise as a serpent, for sure?
I know some people who enjoy, and adore the Royal Family for everything they do. Equally I know others who would happily dump the whole lot, and create a Republic. Me, I’m somewhere in between, though definitely not a member of their fan club.
So no, the arrival of the latest Royal baby clearly held far less (pretty much zero) interest for me, than some who wanted to swoon, and get overwhelmed by the whole event. The thing is, however you feel about them, there are bounds of decency that you have to keep when talking with them, and not just the ones concerning the fact that the person you’re talking to might be a fervent Royalist, you just dont know.
So anyway, while showing a total lack of enthusiasm about the whole birth, at the same time, I’d never say anything horrid about any member of the Royal Family, other than maybe the ‘witty’ taxpayer burden comment, but thats as far as it goes.
Sadly, as was showed earlier today, some celebrities think they are above the rules of decency, or just think that a very bad taste joke will be written off, just because they are famous. So, as you may, or may not know, Danny Baker thought it was ‘funny’ to post a comment re Harry, and Meghan, and leaving the hospital after the baby was born, to post a picture with the baby as a monkey, presumably because of the whole half caste thing? Personally, if people are happy together, does it matter what sex/gender/colour, or anything else some might like to consider, matter? No, it shouldnt!
The only things that sadden me over the whole affair is that the BBC, in their wisdom, only decided to sack Baker when a public furore blew up about the posting on Twitter. Until then, seemingly they were prepared to look the other way about the whole issue, which doesnt cast them in a great light. Baker seems to thing he’s been hard done by, but I have no idea why?
The second thing that saddened me, was the number of people supporting Baker on Twitter over the whole matter (though I do wonder, having looked at a few profiles, if some weren’t Russian bots), and saying that he was being incorrectly treated for what he’d done. Of course, to many racists, I suspect, they probably agree with him! Sad, scary, but with where things are currently heading, not at surprising as it should be!
The cynical side of me meant I did sent a tweet to Radio 5 (from whom he was sacked) offering a non controversial, but bisexual, trans woman as a replacement for their new vacancy, but as of yet, I havent got a reply. Given I’m probably the antithesis of the sort of presenter they would like to have, I wont be expecting one either. But fine, a ridiculously well paid (he was supposedly on a £300 K contract), sit down job would be heaven for me, pre retirement. Just imagine the pension I could get on 5 years of a salary like that, lol?
So no, I might not become a fan of the Royal Family, but I will at least give them a decent level of respect. Doesnt look like I will be paying tax on my salary for much longer, anyway, as from all I’ve heard, my next role is medical retirement. Unless Radio 5…? No chance!
OK, video time. Sorry, its a wicked choice, and its unlikely Meghan will ever become Queen, but…
Well, they ‘killed’ Danny Baker’s job, in a sense, though in truth, it was his own stupidity that killed it
May the fifth be with you
Fine, I’ve cheated with the title, and I can hear a ‘couple’ of people saying that this should have been posted yesterday accordingly, but tough. Unless anyone can give me a C3P0 upgrade, I have to post when the force is with me to do so. Yes, happily now?
In truth, some might be shocked to know the number of Star War films in the series I’ve seen? Yes, just three, the first three, in order of release, for those who have every film dutifully in actual chronological order, for which I wouldnt have a clue. So mentioning any of the characters who have been introduced to me, waste of time, not a clue!
Oh fine, I also dont deny it, if anyone offered me a chance to wear any of the outfits, see above for my first choice, C3P0. And Star Wars fans, thats nothing to do with him, its the fact that its a pretty good take off of Maria, the robot of Metropolis fame, its not even subtle in doing so.
Beyond that, just because they would be amazing to wear, I wouldnt say no to a Storm Trooper outfit (though it might ruin my shooting skills?), or even more so, the full Darth Vader outfit, oh please! Could think of a few Transphobic people who might have problems if I could do the ‘Death Grip’ thing, mind!
Other than that, if I was young, slim, and naturally female, I’d love to do the Princess Leia slave girl look. I know, I’m submissive, and it amuses me, but I would have a few issues with that look, without serious surgery, and a rejuvenation machine! Mind, if anyone is offering both for free? But fine, one of the ‘full cover’ looks is wiser, and easier at my age!
I guess that at some point in the future, long after I have left this world, the whole May the fourth thing will die away? I guess a generation or so after the last film is released, probably? But until then…
So, the video, the combination of 2 classics. The Star Wars take on the Queen classic, that probably changed music back in the 1970’s. Quite a decade, dont you agree?
Stop breaking free!
Yes, I know, a blog on a Saturday night, shock horror! Sadly, as is often the case, extra blogs, outside of holidays are not usually the tiding of good news, and this is no exception. So all those who had ‘wrist’ on the sweepstake as my next physical issue to arise, you can be paid out. I have had issues with my left wrist, ever since fracturing it about 1980, in a fall on ice, and as I’ve got older, the arthritis in said wrist has been known to show itself more often.
It hasnt been right for a couple of weeks or so, bit more soreness than normal in the lower arm, but nothing I couldnt survive…until yesterday. I know the weather hasnt been great for someone with joint issues (no, not that sort of joint, lol), but even so I’ve been getting by. But yesterday, every time I tried to type on the computer, pain went through my left wrist, and not in a good way.
Right, the good news, I dont think anything is broken in there, but dont quote me on that. Prior to the back issue, I would have been certain of that fact, but yeah, nowadays I’m not so sure. If it is, its minor, like the back, just pretty sore. It could just be that repetitive stress syndrome thing of course, a hazard of my sort of job. Anyway, I’ve learnt my lesson after the back, when I thought it was just standard back pain until the X-Ray, this time I’ve quickly contacted the Physio assistance line at work, and got an appointment at the doctor! Probably an over reaction this time, but better to be safe, than sorry.
Anyway, when I finished (early afternoon), I headed back to Huddersfield, and tried to buy a wrist brace of some kind in the shops in town, since retail people have been complaining because of everyone buying online. Tried 4 stores in all, all of which you would think store something like tbis, and nothing. So ended up coming home, buying on Amazon, and getting one delivered today! And that, dear retail outlets, is why I buy mainly online!
So now I have a back brace, which I have to wear pretty much all of time I’m awake, temporarily, I hope, a wrist brace, because of issues with that, and I own a knee brace, which thankfully I dont need at present. What next, I only ask? Probably an arm sleeve, because I’m not convinced just bracing the wrist is enough, seems to be soreness above that point too. Ah well… 😦
So, just asking, if anyone has a spare, cute looking (ideally) young female body I can have my self downloaded into, please let me know, as its getting more of an urgent issue! Not too slim ideally, as I’ve already got my dress for the Christmas do, and if I’m too slim, it will be way too large! But then again, I have dresses I havent been able to squeeze into, so fine, lets discuss! 😛
OK, the video, what all my bones seem to want to do, break free. I’m sure a few of my friends, especially Angie could tell me the Coronation Street characters portrayed here, but I havent a clue!
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
As some readers may already know, and others outside of the UK might not, summer has officially arrived here in the UK of late, and quite delightfully so, for me. Why, you might ask? Simple, as with so many joint issues, they tend to flare up in cold, or damp weather (or worse, both), and ease to some degree when the weather is warm/hot, and dry.
So yes, at present, I’m in a lot less pain than I was a few weeks ago, when it was cold, and damp, shall we diplomatically say? In truth, I have contemplated easing off on the meds while its like this, but in truth, I’m practical, would hate to have any issues, of my own making, so have stuck to standard levels of painkillers for now. Mind, I’m due my quarterly review on Thursday, and I’m sure the matter is going to be discussed. After all, the Naproxen was only meant to be a top up while the weather was bad, so whether I really need it currently, who knows? But yes, I’ll let the medical experts make the call on that! Have to say that its lovely that on an evening like this, I can sit here typing this, not wearing the brace. Mind, it might mainly be because, being neoprene, I sweat like hell underneath it when the weather is like this, and even if I could do with losing a couple of pounds, maybe, thats not my planned way, or probably the best way of doing it!
As previously mentioned, I did a pre retirement course through work yesterday, and a rewarding experience it was too. Fine, a lot of it related to Civil Servants, with decades of work, and very nice pension funds, unlike my modest amount, but it gave me things to think about, and plan for my future. Hopefully I’ve got nearly another 6 years to give that pot a boost, but whether my back will let me go on, that long, I wouldnt put good money on it. Of course, a new option could come into my life anyway, and change matters, and I dont just mean the lottery jackpot at work, because I’ve never won anything in life, so cant see that happening. Yes, a jackpot win would very quickly see retirement on the grounds of health, believe me! I’d love to say enough to move somewhere hot, all year round, but given there are about 25 of us in the syndicate, it would need to be a rollover jackpot to do that on my own basis, probably!
Yes, I notice the difference with the weather. When its bad weather (cold, damp, or both), the 0.7 miles from work to bus station (or other way round) seems like the end of a marathon by the time I get there. Even in average weather, its about my limit. In the heat of yesterday (Low 80’s, I guess), I walked back from the course location, to Leeds station, about a mile, no issues whatsoever! Was just starting to tire at the end, but seriously… And yes, in Seattle, I was probably doing as much, if not more, at times!
So yes, somewhere warm/hot to live, post retirement, I really need to! Either that, or find someone daft enough to marry me, who lives somewhere hot, lol!
Right, video time. I’m sure many will have worked out the song tonight already. Of course The Kinks couldnt do anything too seriously, so they filmed the video on a freezing cold day in winter!
Oh, and as an added extra, another song of a very similar title, from about 10 years later, though to some degree, it sounds like something from 30 years earlier. Well, maybe not the electric guitar, but…
Yet to have their finest hour?
I may not be the biggest fan of Social Media in the whole wide world, and I find Facebook, and to a lesser degree, Twitter, more than plenty for me. So when I had to do assessments for my current role, involving the use of social media, I had some fun working out what the headers were for some of them. Thankfully, most were blindingly obvious enough that I survived, but seriously, how many of these things do some folk have? Too many, clearly!
Anyway, last month, on Facebook, I saw the announcement of a Yorkshire Silent Film Festival, during July. Several of interest to me, but one of those I was interested in, was on an evening, well off the bus routes, so I passed on that. I know its summer, and stays light quite late, but even so, around 9.00 or so, a mile and a half walk, to get a bus back into town, no, sadly. Details…
http://www.yorkshiresilentfilm.com/
It left 2 that I could get to, and would enjoy, but 1 of which I’d already seen on the big screen, that being Pandora’s Box, starring Louise Brooks, showing in Leeds. The other, is actually next weekend, a little nearer to me, in Hebden Bridge, Metropolis. Now somewhere here (no, I cant locate it at this moment), I have a copy of the 80’s version, with the Moroder soundtrack, on DVD. That was lengthy, but since then, in about 2010, in deepest Argentina, they found, and added about another 30 minutes of film, that they had been missing to the version, it now has a running time of 148 minutes! And judging by the running time shown for the Hebden Bridge show, thats the version they’re showing! There are now just 2 small scenes missing, incredible, really.
Fine, the bad news, for me at least. Not unreasonably, its £10 to get in. Hey, I paid that for Pandora’s Box, so under any other circumstances, quite fair. Of course, my lack of finances make that an issue, though, assuming I get paid this week as planned, less so than before. Also, a friend has offered to pay my entry, so no real excuse. My other issue isnt so easy to solve, its called travel by public transport in the evening! Getting there isnt an issue, the show starts at 4.00, the film starts at 4.30, so I can do the travel in about 80 minutes, door to door. The snag is, getting home again! Getting out just after 7.00, you’re talking about 2 hours to get home! And yes, I need to eat at some point, which makes that, and the money even more complex, so…I’m sort of accepting its not going to happen!
Unless, someone reading this is going, or someone reading this, knows someone who is going, who can take my travel issue out of the equation, I’m going to have to pass, I think. If you can help, shout here, or on my Facebook page (Harlean Stephanie Carpenter), though tag me, if you do, as I dont do much there on work days. I know, wont happen, but no harm in trying. I can get there fine, its really the travel back to Huddersfield afterwards where I really need help!
Fine, the video. Well, which song has a lyric in the blog title, and heavily features Metropolis in the video? Yes, this one!
20 years ago today…
One of the great legends of pop died, Freddie Mercury.
Lets say it wasnt totally unexpected, he’d lived an wild, gay lifestyle at a time when AIDS was prevalent, and in a sense it was inevitable that he paid the highest price, with his life.
I wasnt what you would ever call the biggest Queen fan in the world, but their music was certainly very good at times, and the video art was certainly developed by them, thats for sure. One obvious one takes plenty of kudos (more later), but for some strange reason, Radio Ga-Ga and I Want To Break Free hold extra memories for me. The former because of what the video was built around, the latter because I wanted to look as cute as Roger Taylor in that wig!
But one record changed music as such, primarily because until then, most pop singles had been no longer than about 4 minutes, because of vinyl limitations as much as anything. So out comes a record over 6 minutes long, and it stays at number 1 for quite a while! And repeated that feat after his death.
I’m not sure if Freddie was the first pop star to be openly gay, but he certainly made it known to the public in style. Others then followed, and though even now, some tabloids make a fuss when pop stars come out, most people now just say ‘so what?’ when it happens.
RIP Freddie, we miss you.
The video, well its a song I hinted at earlier, but its not, err, the Queen version. Mind, there is a ‘grand dame’ of entertainment in the video at the end lol!
A funny thing happened last night
Anyone who is a Facebook friend may have seen the brief version of this already, but that certainly didnt include the video, so…it might be worth looking again lol, well, at the video at least. I promise you one thing, it wont be the last Queen song this month, due to an anniversary later in the month.
Yes, some of us have to work on Sunday’s, and if James says a word about that, well I’ll get him back at some point next year! 😉 No, you arent going to get a full description of the day, as all the entertainment occured within 200 yards of home, on the way back in the evening.
Use your own image, you’ll have to, as far as I know there’s no CCTV down our street, and even then, you wouldnt get the sound on the film anyway. Having got off the bus near the corner, and walked through the alleyway, I started up my road towards a warm and welcoming house. Oh, and Sunday dinner (albeit a late one), but thats beside the point.
Coming in the opposite direction down the road are two boys in their teens, heading somewhere, I’ve no idea where. Me, no make up, hair a bit windblown, and definitely a bit weary from the day.
We pass each other. The beauty about teenagers is that maybe they lack for diplomatic skills we learn as adults. To quote
First boy : “Now thats what I call a she-man.”
Second boy : “What do you mean?”
First boy : “The fact that she’s so butch that she could almost be a man.”
I just smiled, and laughed as I walked down the road, and went indoors. Seemingly I might be butch, but clearly I pass as a woman all the same, albeit one he clearly didnt fiund attractive. Question is, which should I take more from, the fact that I should be flattered that he clearly thought I was a woman, or hurt that I’m clearly a very butch one lol?
Oh, the video, I so want Roger Taylor’s wig, or by some miracle, my hair looking as good as that. John Deacon’s slippers are quite cute too. So if anyone is looking for Christmas items for me…mind, the wig would have to be a decent quality one, I’d want to wear it outside as well as in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8Ss28zjcE&feature=related
Thanks to Amy for reminding me about this video in the first place, a posting of hers on Facebook.
stevielounicks 
Biting the dust
Its amazing just how many times, and how often sports commentators can put their feet firmly in their mouths. And yes, alright,.its so funny when it all goes wrong for them.
All summer long, the Sky cricket team have been going on about how brilliant the England cricket team are, and how only the weather stopped them being the No 1 team in all 3 versions, and then they play against a decent team, and oh dear! Things looked so bright for them on Thursday, a great start against South Africa, but since then, oh dear! A quick collapse on Friday, but still they were saying how the bowlers would do so well. Err…
South Africa declared today at 637-2, a lead of 252 over what England managed with all their batsmen! Still, as they were saying even then, the wicket is so good, that England will just bat out for a draw. Next time I looked, they were 65-3! By the close they’d reached 102-4, but still 150 behind, with a full day to play, and most of their batting gone! No, by then I watching another sport (more in a moment), so I have no idea how the awfully biased commentary team coped with that.
Ah, but I was still going to watch a sporting collapse, little did I know. Yes, the end of the Open. I turned on to hear the BBC commentators saying that Adam Scott only had to keep going to win the title (4 clear, with about 4 holes to play), and they couldnt see him not doing that. Oh. dear, 4 over par for the last 4 holes, and he presented the title on a plate to Ernie Els!
I know, I’ve never been in that position, nor am I ever likely to be, so I have no idea how hard doing what they do is, but I suspect its not easy. But its not them that amuse me, its those commentators who only succeed in putting their feet in their mouths, and not learning by it. I know, live commentary doesnt give you time to think too much, but clearly in the case of the cricket commentators at least, they get provided with rose tinted glasses.
So, in tribute to those clever folks behind the microphones, I pay respects with…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE