Sunday, June 01, 2014
Phantom
Strange that the actor playing the mad baddie in this ends up playing a goodie in the TV show Person of Interest - in my alphabetical list the episode P of I is the one before Phantom!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Cub Heaven
On Thursday I went to the zoo in the hope of seeing the cubs. Apparently they had not ben out for 4 days. I was not hopeful. Then, at 4.30, they appeared - and stayed out for an hour! We die-hards who had stuck with it had an amazing experience.
First, Melati came out and had a prowl.
When she went in we thought that was it. But one by one the cubs appeared. First the bold boys, who followed mum up on to a high wall. She then went in and brought out her daughter, who joined the boys on their high playground.
The girl got down relatively easily. One boy had a think about it and managed to descend, leaving his brother stranded. Mum went inside too, and the remaining cub cried pitifully.
She came out several more times, and the other boy cub rejoined his brother a couple of times, once descending without using all the stages (thump!) and once trying to get up a rather more sheer surface (thud!) but his brother didn't take notice of his clues. Eventually, though, they were all safely inside and the keepers closed the gate. And for once Melati wanted to come out again on her own and see JaeJae, so she and we all thought it was rather unfair.
I won't bore you with the details of how I found a camera online that would help me get better zoom on future photos, then couldn't buy it at two stores that were meant to have it in stock. I won't mention the store employee who had to be dragged out ranting by two of his colleagues because a mere old woman dared to challenge his patronising attitude and male "superiority". But expect better pictures next time. Once I can figure out the instructions. And what one dial does that is identified in the diagram, but has no place in the text...
First, Melati came out and had a prowl.
When she went in we thought that was it. But one by one the cubs appeared. First the bold boys, who followed mum up on to a high wall. She then went in and brought out her daughter, who joined the boys on their high playground.
The girl got down relatively easily. One boy had a think about it and managed to descend, leaving his brother stranded. Mum went inside too, and the remaining cub cried pitifully.
She came out several more times, and the other boy cub rejoined his brother a couple of times, once descending without using all the stages (thump!) and once trying to get up a rather more sheer surface (thud!) but his brother didn't take notice of his clues. Eventually, though, they were all safely inside and the keepers closed the gate. And for once Melati wanted to come out again on her own and see JaeJae, so she and we all thought it was rather unfair.
I won't bore you with the details of how I found a camera online that would help me get better zoom on future photos, then couldn't buy it at two stores that were meant to have it in stock. I won't mention the store employee who had to be dragged out ranting by two of his colleagues because a mere old woman dared to challenge his patronising attitude and male "superiority". But expect better pictures next time. Once I can figure out the instructions. And what one dial does that is identified in the diagram, but has no place in the text...
Saturday, May 10, 2014
The Pardoner's Tale
Not overly fond of this one. Carver was a pig and upset Bobby and Alex.
Bobby was stupendously hot, though...
Bobby was stupendously hot, though...
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
One
Oh, little did we know when first we viewed this episode how much of our lives we would spend thinking about the man in it.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Animal Magic
On Tuesday I visited my friend, who recently adopted two retired breeding Bengal cats, Juniper, a shy petite queen who resisted being photographed, and Bear, a huge stud.
When he was a tiny kitten Bear's mother had caught his eye with a claw, so he has lived his life happily with just one.
I made another trip to the zoo last Wednesday, and though the tiger cubs did not appear, a new baby llama made its entry into the world. This is the sweetie at just 2-and-a-half hours old:
One reason why the cubs may not have appeared is they had their first vet encounter, where they were vaccinated, microchipped and sexed - two boys and a girl.
I made another trip to the zoo last Wednesday, and though the tiger cubs did not appear, a new baby llama made its entry into the world. This is the sweetie at just 2-and-a-half hours old:
One reason why the cubs may not have appeared is they had their first vet encounter, where they were vaccinated, microchipped and sexed - two boys and a girl.
No Exit
This one tragic episode, misery from start to finish. Bobby's only smile was when he was suggesting the girl who committed suicide was probably drunk and wearing a lampshade at the Christmas party.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Cutely Cubtastic
I returned to London Zoo twice this week, on Tuesday and on Friday. The cubs didn't put in an appearance on Friday, but on Tuesday I was able to show them off to Helen, my boss.
Mum brought them out to see the world, and for the world to see:
Mum had enough of one of the cubs and slapped him down. Please excuse the loud noise - there is a giant brass tiger paw that kids can operate to understand how the claws retract. Some parents think it's OK for everyone else to have to suffer their kids' intrusive behaviour.
Mum brought them out to see the world, and for the world to see:
Mum had enough of one of the cubs and slapped him down. Please excuse the loud noise - there is a giant brass tiger paw that kids can operate to understand how the claws retract. Some parents think it's OK for everyone else to have to suffer their kids' intrusive behaviour.
My Good Name
I would really like to be showing Bobby tackling his suspect to the ground, but he was just moving too fast.
Sunday, April 06, 2014
The Joys of Motherhood
On Monday I went to see if I could have the pleasure of videoing the tiger cubs for myself.
After an hour waiting opposite the exit they would take from their den, I couldn't wait any longer for a pee. When I came back...armed with a sandwich too...they were out! Poor Melati was trying to get all three in the same place at the same time, either in or out, but without much success.
Bye, everyone!
Of course, I continued to wait, this time from a different vantage point where long grasses wouldn't block the view so much. Both there and in the previous place a dedicated core of people waited. And waited. and waited. For six hours, for Melati to appear at her usual time, 4pm. Except the clocks had gone forward, so her usual time would now be 5pm. Such a happy social time we had. But Melati hadn't reappeared with her tiny gang by the time I left at 5.45.
Meanwhile, my friend Julie is about to have a landmark birthday. She had her party before the date. From the photo, can you guess the landmark number?
Bye, everyone!
Of course, I continued to wait, this time from a different vantage point where long grasses wouldn't block the view so much. Both there and in the previous place a dedicated core of people waited. And waited. and waited. For six hours, for Melati to appear at her usual time, 4pm. Except the clocks had gone forward, so her usual time would now be 5pm. Such a happy social time we had. But Melati hadn't reappeared with her tiny gang by the time I left at 5.45.
Meanwhile, my friend Julie is about to have a landmark birthday. She had her party before the date. From the photo, can you guess the landmark number?
Sunday, March 30, 2014
All Kitties Great and Small
My dear cat Dandy is a big small cat, if that makes sense. He's just a kittie, but he's a pretty big boy, despite his thyroid problems. Dandy is nearly 18. He is very vocal, and I just had to film him "talking" to me, even at the expense of revealing my un-vacuumed floor...
Then there are the small big kitties at the zoo, who have just made their first proper outing:
Then there are the small big kitties at the zoo, who have just made their first proper outing:
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Jaspa at 20
My oldest kitty cat Jaspa turned 20 on the 21st.
She is very slight, not much more than 2kg. She mostly accepts the pill she takes for hyperthyroidism, which she doesn't like, because she knows it is immediately followed by her kidney tablet, which she loves - she'd take the whole packet at once if I'd let her!
She is very slight, not much more than 2kg. She mostly accepts the pill she takes for hyperthyroidism, which she doesn't like, because she knows it is immediately followed by her kidney tablet, which she loves - she'd take the whole packet at once if I'd let her!
My pretty little old lady thinking about her next move.
Her next move is to approach the camera and show off the cat milk dripping from her chin.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Best. Day. Ever.
I was at the zoo today when the news broke. I was wrong when I wrote last month that Melati the Sumatran tiger was pregnant. She had already given birth, to three cubs.
)
The babies were born on 3rd February. They are not yet on show. However, as those who have the concentration of a gnat wandered away, I continued to watch Jae Jae over by the gate, where Melati joined him from the other side. Then she walked way - with a cub in tow! I was the first visitor - almost the first person - to see a cub in the flesh! I squealed, and people reappeared, one with a powerful camera with which she took a movie. She promised to try and send it to me if the file isn't too big. Jae Jae had already thrilled us with his athletic feats and his beauty.
And for those interested in meeting the neighbours from hell:
)
The babies were born on 3rd February. They are not yet on show. However, as those who have the concentration of a gnat wandered away, I continued to watch Jae Jae over by the gate, where Melati joined him from the other side. Then she walked way - with a cub in tow! I was the first visitor - almost the first person - to see a cub in the flesh! I squealed, and people reappeared, one with a powerful camera with which she took a movie. She promised to try and send it to me if the file isn't too big. Jae Jae had already thrilled us with his athletic feats and his beauty.
And for those interested in meeting the neighbours from hell:
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Founders' Day
The first Thursday in March is the day when my old school (my current employer) celebrates Founders' Day, with a celebration in a local church in the daytime, and a reunion for old scholars in the evening.
I wasn't working on Thursday, but I took my atheist body along for the service, which opened with the School Song (a very rare thing for a school to have, they usually adopt a hymn and call that the school song, but my school has its own custom written song).
These days, this sentimental old baggage can't sing it for crying. There's a verse dedicated to each House (Addeys - Green; Stanhopes - Blue; Pepys - Yellow; and Evelyn - Red).
Addeys are named after the Elizabethan shipwright John Addey, whose 1606 legacy for the poor children of Deptford was later used to co-found the school. Stanhope is for Dean George Stanhope, a local churchman of the early 18th century. Pepys (pronounced by us Peppies, not Peeps) is after the 17th century diarist. Evelyn is as after John Evelyn, another noted diarist from the 17th Century. All had local connections.
As I recently mentioned, next year is the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Stanhope school, which later incorporated the Addey bequest.
This year I managed to persuade one friend along for the evening. Next year, I plan to entice lots more, whether I'm still working there or not.
Meanwhile, enjoy the sight, as I enjoyed the taste, of the cupcakes bearing the school badge served up to the evening visitors:
I wasn't working on Thursday, but I took my atheist body along for the service, which opened with the School Song (a very rare thing for a school to have, they usually adopt a hymn and call that the school song, but my school has its own custom written song).
These days, this sentimental old baggage can't sing it for crying. There's a verse dedicated to each House (Addeys - Green; Stanhopes - Blue; Pepys - Yellow; and Evelyn - Red).
Addeys are named after the Elizabethan shipwright John Addey, whose 1606 legacy for the poor children of Deptford was later used to co-found the school. Stanhope is for Dean George Stanhope, a local churchman of the early 18th century. Pepys (pronounced by us Peppies, not Peeps) is after the 17th century diarist. Evelyn is as after John Evelyn, another noted diarist from the 17th Century. All had local connections.
The last verse of the School Song celebrates John Addey's craft, which would have been of great use to Elizabeth I at the time of the Spanish Armada. Britain's shipbuilding and ships are known as Hearts of Oak, and here's the final verse:
Hearts of Oak that Deptford made
Guarded England well.
The ships are gone, but stands the School,
The shipwrights' worth to tell.
As builded they right sound and true,
So builds the School, and shall for aye,
Sing Addeys, Stanhopes, Pepys, Evelyns,
Prosper School always!
As I recently mentioned, next year is the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Stanhope school, which later incorporated the Addey bequest.
This year I managed to persuade one friend along for the evening. Next year, I plan to entice lots more, whether I'm still working there or not.
Meanwhile, enjoy the sight, as I enjoyed the taste, of the cupcakes bearing the school badge served up to the evening visitors:
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