August 2006 Archives

Today I was informed that the interior of my flat is 31.5 square meters, a whole 5 square meters smaller than the average of the surrounding flats.

And this is very good news indeed!

The cost for the work that's being done on the block is being apportioned to each owner relative to the size of their flats. I believe todays revelation saves me £600 almost immediately, and a further £1400 at somepoint down the line. At last, the flat gave back! It had to happen sooner or later.

It's only money, admittedly, but it's my money, and I can most definitely think of better things to do with than to not have it at all.

If you'll recall my unwritten review of Spielbergs A.I., my summation was that it was pretty much exactly what you'd expect of Steven Spielberg directing a script by Stanley Kubrick.

Funnily enough, A Scanner Darkly is also pretty much exactly what you'd expect of Richard Linklater directing a story by Philip K. Dick. It's a strange, rambling story set in the near future in a society ravaged by a drug named Substance D, the long term side effects of which make it difficult, if not impossible to trust what you're seeing around you. That, coupled with suits used by the police to disguise their identities - even from each other - and Linklaters trademark penchant for stream of consciousness conversations means you're in fertile ground for an extremely confusing thriller.

To be honest, I'd be reluctant to say whether I believe the film is any good or not. I think a second viewing (at least) would be required to make that determination, but I doubt I'll get around to watching it any time soon. That said, it's definitely different, which rates it at least a few plusses in my book. Visually it's striking, with rotoscoped actors giving it a uniquely animated style. Strangely, though, it's animated nature also means it's a bit distancing, in contrast to more traditional animated fare which normally make it easier to relate to their iconically rendered characters (Scott McCloud goes into this topic in some detail in his excellent Understanding Comics). I found myself concentrating on following what was happening on screen more than I would with either a conventionally filmed movie, or with an animated picture.

Lately I've taken to classifying films into two broad categories. Those which are "interesting" and everything else. The former contains many films I've enjoyed and many I've disliked but in general I'm glad to have watched them all. A Scanner Darkly most definitely falls into the "interesting" category. I didn't love it, and I'm not even sure I liked it, but it was thought provoking at the very least and I appreciate it for that much.

Hmm, Steve, the guy who normally runs the juggling group I go to each Thursday, has set off on his six months of round the world travels this week (of which I'm rather envious). Supposedly someone else was to be taken over the reigns on his absence, but I arrived there earlier tonight to find the place shuttered up.

I'll be disappointed if it's not continuing. I wouldn't go so far as to say that my juggling has improved in leaps and bounds, but I've shown slow and steady improvement over the last six months of which I'm rather proud. There's no reason I can't continue on my own, of course, but it's not quite the same, and I'll certainly miss the encouragement that was on offer, not to mention the rigorous practice at least once each week.

Or perhaps I just need to find a new hobby.

As predicted, August has been rather a busy month for me and it seems my blog has suffered somewhat as a result. Tut, tut. I shall endeavour to return to my regularly scheduled blogging each evening.

Amongst the numerous things which have been taking up my time recently was a day trip out to Glasgow to catch up with old friends Kevin and Mija and their absolutely delightful six month old baby girl Catriona (pronounced Catri-ona, not Katrina as I've mistakenly been calling her). Though she was evidently tired for most of the day she seemed as good natured a tot as almost any I've encountered and there was barely a tear during the whole day (by the end of which I was left with a strong hankering for a puppy again). It was good seeing all concerned again, albeit for too short a season as our day together was cut slightly short by a previous engagement which I'd earlier forgotten about, namely the Edinburgh Tattoo.

The the tickets were a birthday present from Nicky and Kerry who were also in attendance. Funnily enough although I've never been to the Tattoo before, I've been listening to it for the last week or so - the various cannon firings and firework displays are surprisingly audible from my flat. Anyway, it's not something I'd ever given much thought to about attending in the past but Nicky and Kerry had both been before and thought I'd enjoy it, so I went along with an open mind. And indeed, it was tremendous fun. Firstly the assembled pipe bands entering the esplanade from the castle gates made for an impressive sight and the quality of playing of the playing was also top notch. What really makes the evening work was the lack of seriousness with which many of the bands displayed. The New Zealand band in particular went out of their way to put on a good show, at various points breaking into familiar tunes such as the James Bond theme, and later the Bossa Nova, instantly recognisable to anyone who's ever watched an Austin Powers film. The Swiss drum band - named in all seriousness "Top Secret" - also put on a fantastic display of synchronised drumming. Even the grand assembly of all the different bands broke out into a Benny Goodman number at one point. There was even a rendition of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from a group of orphaned African children. The audience duly lapped it up.

Whilst I'm leery of all things patriotic, I have to confess that a montage projected on the castle walls towards the end of the night, with an accompanying voiceover describing the feats of the various Scottish armies over the course of the countrys history, left even me feeling a tinge of nationalistic pride.

A very enjoyable evening all in all.

Underground train systems throughout the world

...was a very, very, very fine week. For a whole swath of reasons, but primarily because I got to spend some quality time with Matthew, who was over from New York to set up his bosses flat in preparation for his arrival. That I got to spend the week in the aforementioned flat was also something of a plus, it being a penthouse apartment in the center of London with a view overlooking Leicester square, and complete with rooftop terrace and jacuzzi. All rather swish.

It was a fun, if busy week, involving numerous shopping trips around London to buy flat stuff (and bits of Apple hardware including a shiny new MacBook. Want one!), theatre outings (Avenue Q is a truly wonderful piece of theatre - see it if you have the chance), cinema trips (Angel-A, yes. The Lady In the Water, not so much), barbecues (at both ends of the quality scale - sorry Matthew!), a Prom outing (Stravinskys Firebird - magnificent piece of music) and some work stuff, which included my second appraisal in almost 6 years ("Excellent work - keep it up").

All in all, it's been a bit of a comedown returning back to Edinburgh again. Though there's plenty coming up to make up for that. My next task is to sift through the phonebook like tome that is the Fringe guide and make the best of the wonder that is Edinburgh during the festival. Top of my list of things to see: Jim Hensons Puppet Improv.

Round and round and round went the luggage conveyor belt, repeating the same unchanging story every three minutes: Red suitcase. Red bag. Green bag. Repeat ad infinitum. The assembled crowd gazed on hopefully, waiting for this interminable status quo to be broken by the arrival of new luggage. We waited and waited.

This distinct lack of luggage seemed to be the only visible sign of the supposed airport crisis. Well, aside from the trouble I had getting my laptop on board the flight, after I was told three very different stories by the same attendant in a very short space of time. Despite humming and hawing I was eventually allowed to carry my laptop bag on board with the laptop actually inside after being informed that I might be allowed the bag but not the laptop and then the laptop but not the bag. Technically the bag was slightly too large to allowed on the flight but they eventually capitulated in the face of my wheedling, saying "lets just pretend it fits this time".

"Airports in chaos" screams Evening Standard headline.
"Airports in state of mild confusion" says iMark.

It's really quite remarkable how London response to terror threats. Or doesn't for the most part. Aside from the increasingly bombastic headlines, the city seems to amble along same as it's ever done with the only other noticeable difference being the realisation in a restaurant that all the surrounding tables are having almost exactly the same conversation. Rather spooky that.

Back in Edinburgh I was still living in the land of the luggageless. As bored as those around me I felt in my pockets for something with which to amuse myself. Thanks to my overly caution packing, however, I was left with very little at hand. I regretted somewhat not picking up the complimentary newspaper as I boarded the flight. For some reason there were an awful lot of them on the rack. Perhaps the headline had something to do with it: "Terror panic at 35,000 feet!" I'm sure those of a nervous disposition were particularly comforted.

With naught else to play with I laid out a single pound coin in the center of the conveyor belt. I was firstly curious as to whether anyone would notice. They did. Almost immediately there were a flurry of hands pointing at the coin, many tracing it's journey along the belt. I was rather pleased by the ripple of excitement it seemed to generate. I was also curious as to whether the coin would make its way around unmolested. For all the attention it seemed to be gathering, no-one seemed inclined to reach for it. Well, until it reached about a 1/3 of the way round, at which point it vanished from my sight in a navy blue blur. Almost immediately a small head dressed in a navy blue hooded top popped out looking excitedly down the belt in search of more booty. Into the hands of babes it seems. I would have tried again, but alas, the luggage started rolling almost as soon as the coin was grabbed.

Obviously I made a mistake in starting with such a large denomination. Next time around I think I'll try working up from a penny and see how long it takes for someone to snatch it...

And yet again the change of month seems to have crept up on me. I can't help but feel that I've been cheated somehow, that there were still a few more days of July to be squeezed out if only I'd tried a little harder. Still, I can't say I'm sorry to see August here already - there's plenty happening over the next few weeks that I'm very much looking forward too. I've extended the time around my usual monthly visit to the office to give me a whole week in London to do fun, stuff and catch up with friends I've not seen in too long. I return to find the Festival and Fringe in full swing back in Edinburgh, as well as the arrival of more friends in the country. And last but not least, if Steve Jobs is good to me next week at Apple's WWDC, I'll be ordering myself a shiny new laptop at last.

Roll on the good times.