I went to see RocknRolla last weekend and I enjoyed it. It’s the most recent film by Guy Richie and if you liked his other two successful films ‘Snatch’ and ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ then you’ll probably like this film. The story centres around a real estate scam in London. Lenny is an underworld figure in the thick of lots of dodgy dealings. He is played by Tom Wilkinson. Mark Strong was great as ‘Archie’, Lenny’s right hand man. The character of Johnny Quid played by Toby Kebbell was a mental character and quite possibly boasted the longest torso ever. I believe that there will be a sequel to this film known as ‘The Real RocknRolla’ which I’ll probably go to see it when it is released.

Yes, Strictly Come Dancing is back on BBC1 with sixteen celebrities dancing it out. Last week the eight guys danced with their professional partners and Phil Daniels was voted out. Most of the guys did a good job of their first dance. I did however cringe when I was watching Gary Rhodes dance with Karen and when Andrew Castle took to the floor with his partner Ola who was wearing the most awful catsuit I’ve ever seen. The fact that Andrew got through the dance at all with his partner wearing that outfit was a minor miracle. Tom Chambers was the first out on the floor and he looked great dancing with Camilla. It will be interesting to see how the ladies get on tonight. I hope they can match or better the standard set by the boys last week.

I would not know what the spirit of a philosopher might wish more to be than a good dancer.

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science, section 381
German philosopher (1844 - 1900)

Phew, I’ve survived another series of Grey’s Anatomy relatively unscarred. Thankfully this series didn’t drive me as nuts as the last one although it had its moments. So McDreamy and Meredith have gotten together again, what a big surprise. I don’t believe for one moment that the script writers will let them be happy so I’m now worried that McDreamy will be in some awful car accident on his way to tell Rose that they are finished. I can just see it, weeks and weeks of Meredith being completely miserable before they actually kill McDreamy off. The other option is that McDreamy goes to break up with Rose and she tells him that she is pregnant from that one time they had sex. Then we will all have to endure lots of tortured soul searching from McDreamy and misery from Meredith. Bring on series 5!

This one is kind of funny with lots of socks to choose from!!!

What Your Socks Say About You

You Are: - Quite mysterious - Known as beautiful - Always polite - Simply magnificent

If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is not a barking dog, to be tethered on a ten-foot chain.

Adlai E. Stevenson Jr., speech at the University of Wisconsin , Madison , October 8, 1952
US diplomat & Democratic politician (1900 - 1965)

The support for this gig was a guy from My Evil Ex who had a cool guitar and played a very eclectic mix of songs. He told the audience that a critic had once described him/his playing as adequate and for the rest of the time that he was on stage I couldn’t get that comment out of my head.

The Colin McClean Latin Trio is made up of Colin and Mick on guitars and Dave on double bass. They played some great music by Luis Villegas, Rodrigo y Gabriella and Oscar Lopez. There is good atmosphere in the Roundy for gigs like this although there isn’t much space for dancing. :-)

Puttanesca – noun

A pasta sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, olives, anchovies, etc.

ORIGIN – Italian, from puttana ‘a prostitute’ (the sauce is said to have been devised by prostitutes as one which could be cooked quickly between clients’ visits)

I hadn’t been to the Pavilion before but I really enjoyed the Fred gig there on the 6th of September. I’ve seen Fred play a few times in the Savoy, the Opera House and in De Barras and they always put on a good live show. It is virtually impossible not to enjoy one of their gigs unless you are a complete Grinch!

The lead singer was sporting a porno moustache at the gig. This seems to be a bit of a worrying trend at the moment as I also noticed a guy in the audience of the Aaron Dillon gig sporting a porno moustache. A porno moustache is NOT a good look, in my humble opinion, no matter how cute you might be under the hideous moustache.

Anyway enough about ill-advised facial hair and back to the gig… lots of good songs were performed and there was some great on stage antics. One of the guitar players jumped onto a large speaker (I think it was a speaker?) and gave it loads much to the delight of the screaming fans. There were also some great covers performed on the night like ‘Fame’ and ‘Eternal Flame’.

The night ended on a slightly sad note as it was Eibhilín’s last night with the band after ten years (1998-2008). There was a great slide show with lots of pictures of Eibhilín and the band which you can see if you head over to Fred’s website. Fred are getting great airplay at the moment, so long may that continue and hey maybe someday Eibhilín will be back?

I'm not sure if I agree with all the results of this particular quiz. :-)

What Your Bed Says About You

Outward appearances are a concern of yours, but not your primary concern. You try to take care of yourself and your home, but it's not an obsession. You try to be an organized person, but you often fall behind. Certain parts of your life tend to fall into chaos. You are not very high maintenance in general, but you are high maintenance about a few things. In relationships, you tend to kick back and let the other person be in charge. You tend to be a down to earth, practical person. You think in terms of what is actual. You are a total homebody. You are happiest when you're at home.

Pyrrhic – adjective (of a victory)

Won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.

ORIGIN – named after Pyrrhus, a king of Epirus whose victory over the Romans in 279 BC incurred heavy losses.

A friend is one before whom I may think aloud.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)

Aaron Dillon played in the Roundy last Thursday night and had a really good band as support but I can’t remember their name. This memory lapse may have something to do with the savage tiredness and the two lovely glasses of wine that I enjoyed. Anyway the band was made up of a guy on drums, a guy on guitar (and a number of other instruments) and a girl on piano who had a really good voice. Aaron and his band played a good set of songs from his album ‘Brown Envelope’ and to my eternal delight they played ‘Everybody’s Messing with Their Sexuality’. I honestly think this is one of his best songs and should be released as a single. Why oh why is it not on the album?

I went to see ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ last weekend with my cousin, my sister and her friend. Kudos to my cousin for suggesting this film, which was really lovely. The film stars Frances McDormand as Guinevere Pettigrew and Amy Adams as Delysia Lafosse. The story centres around Miss Pettigrew losing her job as a governess and being unable to get a new job from the employment agency. As a result of a misunderstanding Miss Pettigrew becomes the social secretary to Delysia Lafosse who is an American actress and singer. Miss Lafosse is trying to make a name for herself in London. She has enlisted the help of three boyfriends to help her in this quest. It soon becomes Miss Pettigrew’s job to help Miss Lafosse keep her life from getting too complicated. Lee Pace plays the character of Michael, one of Miss Lafosse’s boyfriends and he is extremely yummy throughout the film (hence the picture to the right). :-)

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.

Joseph Addison, The Spectator, March 17, 1911
English essayist, poet, & politician (1672 - 1719)