My latest bit and pieces

Two weeks ago we were off for what I believe is rather irritatingly known as a 'stay-cation'. Still, it was just nice to be at home, get some bits and pieces done and relax. We were going to do some day trips that week, but the weather had been so unpredictable we didn't bother going far. However, on the Thursday evening we drove over to our friend Toria's house for dinner. It was lovely to see her (and her two cats - their antics are always fun to watch!) again after a long time, and the meal was very nice. During chatting, the series "Sapphire and Steel" came up in the conversation. I hadn't seen the show in ten-forevers, so I was intrigued to watch it again as I have found memories of it, even though at the time I found it very creepy! So I ordered it from dvd.co.uk and it came last week. We started to watch it the other night and I have to say although its a bit 'stagey' (like a lot of old British TV shows - see 1970s "Doctor Who" for example) the premise is very interesting. I like the two leads, David McCullum ('Steel') and Joanna Lumley ('Sapphire') a lot. Anyway, a short documentary on the show can be found here, and this is the DVD box set. I also ordered the two "Grange Hill" DVD box sets that the BBC released a couple of years ago. It will be great to see Tucker Jenkins again! I also picked up the DVD of Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" which I thought was a very enjoyable and well made drama. Loved Denzel Washington in the role of the drug lord and Russell Crowe played the goody-two-shoes New Jersey cop excellently, although I wasn't to sure about his accent. Also, nice belly Mr. Crowe! Staying with DVDs, I've done some more video tape recordings to DVD conversions over the last week or two. Many more to go..... Amongst the gems found recently were a 2005 documentary about "War of the Worlds" (mainly concentrating on the Tom Cruise/ Steven Speilberg film) and loads of old early 1980's adverts, including this television advert for Parker Bros. Atari games!

I enjoyed reading my friend Mary Jo's 'Star Wars Celebration V' detailed convention reports recently, which can be found on her blog link from this page (see right). Sounds like she had an amazing time in Orlando and got loads of great stuff. I have another pal, Jason Joiner, who went as well.

Oh, to round of this entry, a 'Happy birthday' to all of my friends who were born in August (there are a few!)

A quick workout and Nick Owen's *terrible* puns (at least Suzanne has nice legs)

I used Carla's "Rebounder" this evening to get a quick workout in before dinner. The great thing about it is that you can watch TV as normal as you bounce around sweating and getting the heart rate up! Well, as this was at 6:30pm I watched Nick Owen and the lovely Suzanne Verdee (with Shefali doing the weather - the classic lineup!) present "Midlands Today", haha! I have to say twenty minutes on that is a pretty fun, but it makes you *ache* later if you aren't used to it. I will do some proper home gym work on Sunday - a mix of weights and cadio I think. Carla has just completed a five day rotation of working out to Chalene Johnson exercise DVDs, and wow they have been tough.


<----Suzanne and Nick: Great to bounce to. :)

There was a very entertaining episode of "The Supersizers Go..." on TV this evening. This time Giles Coren and Sue Perkins did food in the 1970's in their imdomitable way. Funny, but Sue just seems to get plastered every episode, whatever age they cover!

It's been odd weather wise here in the midlands over the last few days. Rain one minute, sun the next. Plus it was pretty cool today - of course, it is the middle of summer. :P Let's hope it's nice for our trip to see friends and to visit the excellent Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising on Saturday (I'm donating the second of two boxes of old stuff.)

As me and the Mrs. are both off work next week, we hope to do some fun day-trips and see more castles and countryside. I wonder where we will end up going to!? Will have to see where the roads take us!