Happy New Year

AULD LANG SYNE

Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Hope you all have a good one.

Graham Cooke, and Alistair Greene

Yesterday while walking though Blackwells in London, I noticed what I thought was a new book on the broadcaster Alistair Cooke. Only it wasn't, it was in fact a biography of Graham Greene. The reason for this mix up was the photo on the cover. I had never realized before how much alike the two men looked. Not only in old age, as in this photo but throughout there lives. Although I cannot find any real connection between them. In many ways there lives were quite opposite.
Cooke who started out as a film critic before becoming one of the top political analyst's in the US did talk extensively about Greene's script for 'The Third Man', in his 'Letter from America' on the occasion of Orson Wells death.
Sadly like Wells, Cooke was not allowed to rest in peace after death.

So it is back to work now.

Now for the first time ever I am writing a Blog from work.
Still this is just because I am a little bored, plus the fact that it will expose my bad spelling as I doubt that I have a convenient way to spell check on here.

So well then here is the day so far. I got up and watched some TV ate and come into work a little early. This was so that I could try and pick up a couple of bargains in the sales, although that didn't happen, as there really are not that many sales, or things that I would want to buy. I almost brought a model of a 1974 AAR Eagle Indy car, which was £19.99 reduced from £99.99. Then realizeded that I didn't really need it and that I was only going to buy ibecausese it was cheap. I might still go back. AlthougI i don't thathataI i will. MaybI i will look and see if they are for the same price in some of the other shops. Probably not.
After that I came in and messed about on the internet, and then I went to Subway. Which is good as I have a discount card for a free drink with a 6" Sub. Not only that I am only two stamps away from filling my Sub Club Card. Which will be good, as I will then get a free Sub.
I set up microphonene, and that is iuntilll I have to introduce a show abouhurricanene Katrona which is presented by Vinnie Lombardo who I think is differentnt person from Vince Lombardo thlegendaryry drummer with Slayer.
Time to look for a new job!

So that is over with then

Well that is Christmas over with for another year. Until about June when you have to start thinking about it again. A little tip if you are thinking of investing in high st. stores of the stock market. Go to any Mall in about September, just when the 'Back to School' stuff is over with, and see which stores have an Autumn season and which go straight for Christmas. The former are doing well, and would be a good investment. The latter recently M&S, House of Frazer and Alders are doing badly and you will lose your money.
Anyhow, Christmas is over with, now we just have to prepare for the horror that is New Years Eve. Which this year I'm just going to ignore. Probably just settle down and watch the whole of my Bob Dylan DVD's which I got on Sunday. I'm giving serious thought to going on Travelocity and booking myself a holiday for next Christmas and New Year, so I miss the whole damb thing.

Tis the night befour Xmas

And all through the house, nothing is stirring not even a dead mouse.
The copses are all hung, and the flies they are bussing,
And right by the fire a big man trap is set.
For later tonight with Ho Ho Aw!
I hope to catch me a Santa Clause and steel all the toys.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

A machine with everything for a good night

Yesterday morning on my way to work I needed to use the loo at Fenchurch Street. If you ever venture into the gents there and wash your hands you will notice that the condom vending machine is right next to one of the basins.
This machine doesn't just sell you a packet of three, it also sells something else. Neurophen. Yep you can buy head ache pills from the same machine as you buy your johnny's.
Imagine the scene, guy thinks his luck is in drops a two pound coin for a packet of three, gets home to hear the words "Not tonight, I've got a head ache". This is now banished as our young would be stud (well once your over 18 you generally have the balls to buy condoms in a store) has the perfect answer to this problem.*

*This blog is written in humour. You should always respect women and understand that No means No.

Present update

Okay well the present buying for myself has been resolved. I went for a nice bottle of ten year old single malt from The Balvenie. Look forward to it already.

Presents for yourself?

I wonder if anyone else dose this. I always buy myself a present for Xmas and for my birthday. Not always something expensive, usually something completely useless. The sort of thing I would look at normally and think that's cool, but do I have the cash to waste?
Normally I decide that I don't. But at this time of year it is different. I haven't actually decided what to get yet. I did have a small discussion about it at work which came up with some suggestions. One was a Ipod Shuffle. I seriously considered this, but then rejected it. For a start it is still a little too pricey, and for a second thing will I use it? I might for a while, and it would sometimes be nice to have some tunes while on the night bus. On the whole I decided that it would be like the Diskman, and not used. I prefer to read while on the train/bus for a start.
Someone else suggested I might like to hire an escort, not a car, this was dismissed with a middle finger.
Another hire suggestion which was considered was a car, this time a Ferrari at Silverstone. I've already had some experience with racing and track days (at Brands Hatch) but it was tempting to take the wheel of an Enzo on the track. This was until I read the small print. You have to pay £500 towards insurance on top of the £100 advertised fee for the day. Rejected.
This next one came from me myself, a London Irish Rugby shirt. Sounds a bit lame compared to a Ferrari day, but the point is to buy something pointless. But at £50 the shirt is just too overpriced for me normally. In the end I rejected this one as well, in all probability it will be reduced in the January sale at either the club store or Rugby Scene and will defiantly be reduced at the end of the season.
Finally we come to what the choice is between. It'll be either a 'Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas' paperweight or a 1/43 scale model of a 1982 Le Mans Ferrari BB521LM.
The paperweight is just a neat thing to have, the Ferrari has some sentimental value as when I was a child I had a matchbox version of this car, and it was what got me interested in Ferrari in the first place. The Ixo detailed model would bring back a lot of memories. Still I'll probably find some Peanuts collectibles in a store tomorrow and add more choices.

Xmas music

What is it about us all that for 11 months of the year we turn our noses up at crappy music. But then it comes to December and suddenly we're all out there buying some twat from 'I'm a celebraty...''s Xmas single. Most of the year novelty records only sell to 10 year olds but at this time of the year everyone has to have one. It was thought that the race to be the Xmas #1 was killed by Michael Jackson with the horrendous 'Earth Song' a few years back. Sadly it has once more reared it's ugly head.
Of course there is the music in the malls and the stores as well. Betty pointed out earlier that there are still some places that play of all things Gary Glitter. Although i still say that the official start of Xmas for me is when I head the dulcet tones of Noddy Holder bellowing out "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!" although Roy Wood comes a close second with 'Well I wish it could be Christmas everyday'. Of course that song predicted computer logic by a good ten years. A bunch of economist's at Oxford programmed up a super computer to 'fix' the economy in the 1980's. All the possible variables were programed in, and they hoped that what they would get would be the answer to a bullet proof economic system. After a week of cogitating the computer came out with it's answer. "Hold Christmas once a week".
Anyway as for my favourite Christmas song, I'm always tempted to say The Pogues 'Fairytail of New York' which is great, and god Kirsty McCall banned from Top of the pops for singing the word Arse even though she was told not too. These day's arse is the word used to describe Andi Peters balls up of a national institution.
But there is one song that just pips Shane, Jem and the boy's off the top for me. Perhaps it is all to do with being a child of the `80's. I have to go for The Waitresses 'Christmas Wrapping'. The perfect early 80's Xmas party song.

Not much

Haven't posted this week as I have been busy. I should be back in the swing next week, I was thinking of doing a post about the first human face transplant. Although if I had it would have merely turned into a cheap shot at Michael Jackson. Talking of alleged kiddie fiddlers I did hear the plans for the Christmas decorations in Ho Chi Minh city this was basic. They are just going to hang Glitter from the tree.

Anyway enough madness, I'm off to buy even more stuff from West Coast Choppers massive end of year sale. Maybe I'll even start on that CFL!