Mandi is working today so we
used our bank holiday to give me an early birthday. I watched Ace Ventura: Pet Detective while Mandi went to the shops,
(on a bank holiday, terrible) to get some food for the afternoon. Mandi doesn’t
like the films where Jim Carrey plays the Jim Carrey character; Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, Liar Liar, and so I didn’t get
to finish the film before she came back. It isn’t as if I haven’t seen it a
million times before, so I wasn’t too put out. There are certain things that
you can watch again and again without it being spoiled for you, whereas I
usually only read a book once and there is so much music around that I have
albums in my possession that I have only listened to once. My favourite film of
all time, (in fact it is the best film ever made, no arguments) is The Blues Brothers, a film that I own on DVD, VHS and even
on Laserdisc. Despite having one remaining medium for being able to watch the
film whenever I like, I will watch it every time it is on television, (ITV4
went through a phase of screening it every week and I watched it every single
time – and if I missed the beginning I would set the channel change to switch
to ITV4+1 when it started). The Simpsons, Family Guy
and American Dad are the same case, I watch
at least four episodes of The Simpsons a
day on Channel 4 and Sky 1 in the evening, and Family Guy
and American Dad are the only two reasons
why anyone should watch BBC3 even though they show the same episodes time and
time again. The same can be said of (to pick one example) Only Fools and
Horses on GOLD.
The brand
new Family Guy episode
screening on a Sunday night at ten o’clock is one of the reasons I opted for
the 7pm-9pm timeslot when I brought back The Sunday Alternative. You are all very welcome.
Anyway, with Mandi working
today, we had a little birthday family afternoon tea affair at home. Dad and
nana came round and Mandi went to town on the little sandwiches while I
prepared the teapot. I had already said that I wouldn’t open my cards because
it is bad luck to do so before the day itself, (not that I’m superstitious,
touch wood) but Mandi did persuade me to open one of my presents; a new MP3
player. I have filled it with Mud, Blood and Beer,
the new album from The Bad Shepherds (I have had the promo copy for a couple of
months now – I love my job), The Empire Never Ended
by Captain Dangerous, and several live David Bowie concerts. There will be more
to add before I travel to London again at the weekend.
A few hours later when our
guests had gone, we watched a film. Mandi had bought a couple of DVDs while on
her morning shop and I was determined to not do anything work related on a bank
holiday because self-employed people don’t get double time, and I already give
you my Sunday, (not that I’m complaining, I love my radio show). Of the two
films she had bought, I fancied We Bought A Zoo
the most. Giving up the hustle and bustle of working life and running away into
rural living is something I often think about. I soon stop thinking about it
when I consider the countryside vs. city list of pros and cons, as I hate
spending too much time in the country. There still exists within me a feeling that
I should retire and take over a farm or become a fisherman or something. A home
for retired donkeys is my ultimate goal, or a chimpanzee sanctuary. The main character
in the film did just that; decided to buy a zoo. There’s a lot to the story and
this isn’t going to be a review so I will just recommend watching it.
I have a theory that the hole
in the ozone layer is caused by workaholic people having a rare day off. The
rare phenomenon of relaxation on a day completely away from work causes the
pressure and worry to lift up into the atmosphere. Bank holiday Mondays are one
of the most environmentally damaging days of all, as all that pressure goes up
at once. Get your sun screen on, and thank us for the hot weather.
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