Taking my stuff over

I'm about halfway through my house move -- even though I'd planned to do it all in one evening -- and I'm starting to think that maybe I underestimated the scale of the task. Still, just another couple of runs tonight and I should have it all shifted.

Squonky's move seems to be going annoyingly well.

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I bought Shameful's car -- hereafter called the Slimobile -- yesterday and last night was my first experience of driving it.

This then was another factor I hadn't anticipated. I'm getting used to it, but I've had a helluva job remembering where everything is. I know he told me all this a couple of nights ago, but I'm damned if I can remember any of it. I've flashed so many people when I meant to dip (and sprayed passers-by when I meant to turn my wipers on) so many times that I'm rapidly becoming the most hated person on the roundabouts of Swin.

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Saw a fox last night. I was parked in the underground garage (having stalled the Slimobile the first time I put it into first gear) when, brazen as you like, the ginger vermin sauntered in through the front door. Didn't seem to notice me at all -- even though I had the headlights on -- right up until the point where I tooted the horn. Can't be having them tearing my bin bags apart.

Later . . .

Taking the car for a spin

Drove the halmobile for the first time today. Damn, was that car -- a Daihatsu Charade -- built for short people, or what? The visibility when I'm driving it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, but then I've not had to drive with the visor down yet. If it's anything like being a passenger then I'll be driving blind. The other thing I've noticed is that when I'm driving I can't actually see the speedometer because the steering wheel gets in the way. I actually have to duck my head to check I'm not speeding.

In strong winds it drives like a wardrobe on a skateboard.

Today was also my first time driving on my own. I kinda felt like I shouldn't be behind the wheel -- like I'd get in trouble if anyone caught me. Felt like a joyrider.

Later . . .

Slap her she's not man enough

Far From Heaven

Watched this the other night. Good film but it's pretty damned slow. I know that's the point -- that it's trying to capture the feel of a certain genre -- but I found my attention wandering and started chatting to my housemates.

Later . . .

Slap her she's the oracle

The Matrix Revolutions

About a year ago, when this one was on in the cinemas, a friend of mine told me, rather empatically, 'Do not bother seeing this, it's rubbish.'

I finally got around to seeing it and, whilst I wouldn't use the word 'rubbish', I certainly shan't be recommending it to anyone in the near future. Which is a shame, because The Matrix was a great piece of cinema, and I wanted so badly the trilogy to be complete, to be equally good in all parts. The Matrix Reloaded suffered from the introduction of too many new characters, an inbalanced raising of the stakes bad guy-wise, and trying to be too clever for it's own good. The plot -- which in The Matrix was easy enough to follow -- takes so many twists and turns that the second movie began to bear little relation to the first. You left the cinema with too many questions and too few wow moments fresh in your memory.

. . . Revolutions suffers from all of the same problems, but it suffers from them twice as badly.

The special effects are now a mixed bag; visually stunning as for the first two, but this sort of thing has been done so many times before that it's really hard to get excited about it. The attack on Zion is impressive, and for shear scale you can't fault it, but everything else disappoints. Neo vs. Smith round III is over-long and unfulfilling compared to the 100-agent rumble in the second film (one-on-one just doesn't cut it anymore, not even now that Smith can somehow fly). There's a shoot-out lifted shot-for-shot from the lobby scene in the first movie. The chase sequence (as the remaining ship tries to make it back to Zion) lacks because Morpheus is left holding the map and making puppy-dog eyes at Niobe. The one fight scene outside of the matrix looks like a fight between two drunks compared to the ballet of fights in the matrix.

Later . . .

Taking a story out

Since discovering that I had He Missed the Sea published [entry], my brother has been telling everybody about it[1]. He's shown it to both of his bosses at work, and more-than-likely the rest of the staff up there. He has, according to my parents, printed up a copy.

My parents. Yes, there was an interesting thing. Can you imagine that if I didn't even tell my brother about it -- who can use, and has sporadic access to, the internet -- that I actually told my dad and step-mother?

No, not really.

I think they want to read it. They mentioned Dan's printed copy in tones that all but asked 'When do we get a copy?' I have to say that my reply was pretty much along the lines of 'It's online, all you need is internet access'. Hmmm, they didn't mention it further[2], but I get the feeling that they would like to see it; that they feel a bit left out by my not talking about this part of my life.

I'm sure I will send them a copy sooner or later, but it will feel weird. Part of me doesn't want to show it to my dad. I think I can take criticism fairly well, but the thought of him -- or my step-mother, for that matter -- telling me that it sucks chills me slightly. I'm sure they wouldn't, am sure they would be supportive, but part of me doesn't want to find out just yet. Let it wait until I get something published that I can't hide from them.

I'm not worried about them not liking the speculative element of my work -- they know the stuff I read, so they shouldn't be surprised by what I write. I am worried -- bizarrely -- about the length of the piece. After all my brother has said about the piece are they going to be disappointed when they finally get to see it and discover that it only just runs to a second side of paper?

Like I said, I will send them a copy, the question is: when to do it? They want me to send them some photos down soon, so I shall probably sling it in the same envelope. We'll see . . .

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[1] Yes, it would seem that I now have my very own little publicity agent.
[2] Although, we did touch upon it briefly when he ran me to the station. 'What did you think all that writing was that I've been doing when I've come back?' I asked him. 'I did wonder what kind of job gave you homework,' he replied.

Slap her she's the living dead

Shaun of the Dead

Tris didn't like this movie, as you may have noticed [entry]. Don't listen to Tris. He's wrong :)

This film is great. Absolute genius. One of the funniest laugh-out-loud films I've seen in ages, and that's saying something because it wasn't too long ago that I watched Thirteen Ghosts.

I don't really want to say too much about this film, other than: GO AND SEE IT. Oh, and the extras on the DVD are quite good as well.

Taking the golden path

Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

The continued story of the Dune saga follows, chiefly, the exploits of Paul Atriedes' sister, Alia, and his two children, Leto II and Ghanima, as the empire that he created begins to tumble. This is definitely a book about House Atriedes as its main concern is evidently the relationships between the surviving members of this family, their retainers and servants. There are sources of conflict from outside the family -- House Corrino's attempt to regain the throne, frex -- but these are dealt with early and it leaves the book at times feeling slightly off balanced.

Plot threads are seemingly forgotten for long stretches and it's only when certain characters are referred to that you realise you haven't seen or heard from them in a hundred pages or so. I can see why this happens; if it's not going to advance the plot, themes or characterisation in any way, then its pointless including scenes with these characters if they aren't actually doing anything. Unfortunately, this does mean that the last chunk of the book centres almost entirely around Leto II and what he's playing around with. This, coupled with the fact that sometimes months pass between scenes without much by way of comment, means that you do feel like you're losing track of what's happening.

That said, I liked this better than Dune Messiah, which I found to be just a little too short, a little too . . . easy. Whilst this book is a bit heavy and thoughtful at times -- I've read enough about Leto II debating the spice trance by now, thank you very much -- it's not enough to dissuade me or make me loathe to pick it up again each time I stop. The characters motivations and their reasoning behind why they do what they do are some of the most finely detailed in SF; everyone has their own aims and everyone is working towards something different. People question their loyalties and their plans change as they come into contact with others and as external events force them to reconsider what they believed as true.

Yes, it can be hard going, but it's worth it. I'm looking forward to reading the last three[1].

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[1] Altho', I've got so many books in my pile now that I imagine they'll be a long time coming. Eight books in a precarious stack on my bedside table, and that's not counting The Dark Tower, which I started last night [entry].

Taking the initiative

I've been aware that there are other Brits at the writing workshop since I joined a few years back, but until now no-one's really suggested a meet/get-together. That all seems about to change, as one resourceful young UK-OWWer has set up a mailing list and is pursuing some kind of meet/crit session. Should be good.

Taking it well

Thank you for your submission of The Well, while well written it is not quite a fit for us at this moment, as we have recently taken one with a similar theme, thank you for submitting it to seasons in the Night and we look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Nolove from Seasons in the Night [entry]. As rejections go, quite a good one, but it's frustrating to think I was rejected by timing again.

Later . . .

Taking the plunge

HE MISSED THE SEA: by Kevin Jones . . . You sneaky git!

Oh yeah, it turns out I never told my brother about getting that story published last year.

Oops!

Taking your time

My copy of The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, 7) by Stephen King arrived yesterday. Very exciting. I'm torn between wanting to start reading it straight away, and hiding it away somewhere and not reading it at all. Seems like I've waited so long for this book to arrive, that I really don't want the story to end now it's got here.

Of course, I know what will win out in the end.

Along with it -- primarily because I had to qualify for super saver delivery -- was Shaun of the Dead on DVD. Looking forward to watching it when I can hi-jack the DVD player for a couple of hours.

Later . . .

Slap her she's going to cut my belt

I-Spy

I went into this with the wrong assumption: that an action-comedy should be funny. Guess I should have known better. Owen Wilson delivers all his lines like he has somewhere better to be, and he really wants to get this down in just one take. Eddie Murphy hasn't been funny since he made Nutty Professor II[1].

The biggest problem is that, for a buddy movie, there is just no chemistry between the two male leads. And that kind of thing's essential. Add into that a romantic interest between Wilson and XXXX that is funny for all the wrong reasons, and you've got something that isn't all that good.

I was going to say that the film had it's moments, but I've been sitting here for fifteen minutes and I can only think of one: Wilson trying to get his long-term crush into bed by telling her 'And when I get that feeling, I need sexual healing, sexual healing, so right.'

But, an invisible plane? Come on! I had my fill laughing at invisible stuff when I saw Die Another Day.

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[1] And some would say before even that.