61640

just finished watching Crash (2004)
excellent movie

Memoirs of a Geisha * * * *

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (audio)

wonderful
because the film is such a feast for the eyes I was a little nervous that the book might be disappointing but I loved it

SPOILER AFTER CUT

61079

For the 4th year on the trot i went to the Peaks Booze and Blues Festival and the festival itself, unlike previous years was a complete disappointment. Last year there was 200 beers on offer and this year although I was told there was 140 beers they didn't seem to crack most of them open and maybe 50 were on offer. The festival was very poorly attended and there was no atmosphere. They're moving to a new location next year and I think maybe the pub is under new management and certainly the guy on the door said the festival nearly didn't happen at all and went ahead despite strong local opposition. There were still some great brews on offer, particularly Bumblehole - which inevitably was refered to as bumhole all weekend.

28 of us went away together for the bank holiday weekend but we only went over to the festival site on the Saturday due to the weather. I understand Leicester had torrential rain, happily we didn't but it did rain on and off all weekend particularly on Sunday and a few people gave up and went home. However most stayed and on Sunday Sam, Rob and I went to pick up some beer from the festival to take back to the campsite and spent the afternoon and evening ( I went early evening for a pub meal at the Coach and Horses because I couldn't be arsed to cook ) and there were 18 of us and 2 dogs in Rob and Sarah's tent.

Sitting in that tent; with the rain drizzling down outside, wrapped up in a billion layers to keep warm, surrounded by my friends, the kids giggling, with a beer in my hand, I had a moment when I knew that I was content and happy.


a few of us on the walk to the pub



Philippa pulling a face



Phil's cheeky grin



Rob making faces at his baby daughter Holly



Richard on the way back from the festival decided we needed firewood



Plus I finally bought a new tent which made a huge difference to the whole experience. I can stand up and cook in it and for a few hours on Sunday I sat contentedly in it listening to Memoirs of a Geisha on my iPod.

60875

rain, drink, mud and friends = happiness

Venus in Furs * * * *

Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
not porn and rather literary
I enjoyed it
quite well written although rather pretenious at first and surprisingly feminist

'The moral is that woman, as Nature has created her and as she is currently reared by man, is his enemy and can only be his slave or his despot, but never his companion. She will be able to become his companion only when she has the same rights as he, when she is his equal in education and work.'

I was also reminded of certain aspects of courtly love

60364

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

by The Beatles

The Prefect * * *

The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
a little weak

SPOILER AFTER CUT

59540

tired, drunk and depressed
the women i like never like me
i'm a fucking nice guy and women never seem to see it
pissed off

59182

messing with linux and forgot to back up private pgp key
ooops gone
new pgp key
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58941

a couple of John's pictures from today

58680

went to dovedale with John, his kids and Jenny and had a lovely time

saw the place i camped years ago when i went with Andy and Joe (ooooh look at all the stars -- shut up you stoned hippy + turn that bloody stream down)

went for a walk
had ice cream
had a pub lunch at the Bentley Brook Inn, where i'll be back in a few weeks for the beer festival during Whit