Author: theroyalist

Lob shots keep falling on my head

For the first time in about twenty years I was on a bike today. It is a short trip to the local tennis court that we usually walk. My son said why we don’t we take the bikes for a change. After getting permission from my other son for a loan of his cycle, off we went.

It is said that you never forget how to ride a bike. In seconds I was on the saddle and pedalling through the revolutions. The wind was in my hair cutting a dashing figure. Continue reading “Lob shots keep falling on my head”

Emmy award prediction

Politics is not my usual fare though I have enjoyed Sky Atlantic’s, in association with HBO, TV series The Newsroom (one episode from the first season still to be shown in the UK).

Created by Aaron Sorkin of West Wing fame, the show deals with the behind the scenes and on-screen actions at a cable news broadcaster. Based around real news events such as the killing of Osama Bin Laden or the explicit text messages of Anthony Weiner, the episodes have enthralled me.

While some of the acting falls on occasion the dialogue in the programme is first rate; it’s quick, it’s quirky, dynamic, funny, it sounds real. The headliner is Jeff Daniels who plays the anchor of the news station. Dumb and Dumber is one of my favourite films and in it Jeff plays it for laughs with a brilliant performance. Here, his acting is outstanding and shows his versatility as he plays it grumpy with sardonic quips along the way. When asked why he won’t do interviews for the tabloids, he says “They use too many exclamation marks. When I say “I like the news” they print “I like the news!”

Jeff is my prediction for Emmy glory as best actor.

Continue reading “Emmy award prediction”

One rung after another

Christmas. A suggestion was put forward by one of the gang to have a fancy dress party for our Christmas do. This was given a lot of consideration. The impulsive mood was in the air and the motion was almost passed. Saner minds took over and the costumed ball was binned.

My son’s football team had a fancy dress party last year. The novelty effect made it a success though no one wanted a repeat performance. I have only ever been at one myself (I was a snowman, pretty boring I know). It was that long ago it was a party held by one of my old football teams.

If we did have a dressing-up gig this Christmas I would have made a big effort and went for something special. I would have disguised myself as a window cleaner. The outlay on this costume would be minimal: A couple of chamois’s, a bucket, a sponge, one of those wipe the suds down the window thingy’s and we‘re away. Now I know what you’re thinking. This is a boring outfit. You’re forgetting one thing. Continue reading “One rung after another”

As easy as I, II, III

When watching an old TV show or film sometimes curiosity comes upon you to know what year the vehicle was made. Crystal clear if an easy to understand (c) 2003 flashes up on the screen. Not so simple if it’s in heathen Roman Numerals.

MMIII is crystal clear too. It gets rocky (Sly gave us I through V then he dropped the numbers with Rocky Balboa) when MCMLXXXVIII is displayed. Now you all can work out what MCMLXXXVIII is as it is prominently on display here. Trouble occurs when the Roman clock face year is shown for a split second then you’d have to be Superman (Christopher Reeve made IV of these) to decode the legion length letters (LLL is better than CL, don’t you think?). It gives me a hangover (II of these so far) when the year zips by and I’m left in the dark.

Still life is a bowl of cherries

Usually I don’t enter the photo competitions. Simply because it is dangerous to cut about with a camera in my neck of the woods for a variety of reasons. Once a man goes beyond a certain age he is looked on as suspect when he starts taking snaps outdoors. Vigilante bands with pitchforks appear out of nowhere. Another basis for not photographing is the danger of catching a crime being committed in the background of your shot. This can annoy the criminal no end. They have been known on occasion to drop the plasma and attack the amateur paparazzi because a set of lens have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. As I treasure my skin I tend not to photograph in the neighbourhood.

This still life has still got some life in it.

Continue reading “Still life is a bowl of cherries”

Our House (and we’ll play what we want)

The experimental English rock band Muse have their new album out in October of this year. The CD will be called The 2nd Law. For those of you that can remember Muse were the group that wrote the official song of the Olympics and the dinosaurs amongst you lambasted the tune. Obviously, you’re still living in the Jurassic age. Listen, Marc Bolan is gone, get over it.

This is the new single by Muse that was released last week. Those of you expecting a hard-edged rocker can put your leather jacket on and leave the building now. This is devoid of the usual bombastimy, overthetopness and multi-faceted intricacy that is symptomatic of their works. This song is sublime in its understated playing. Muse never fail to surprise their audience. It is a bedtime story. It’s as if Marlon Brando has become David Niven.

The Flame that never dies

The pretty young woman dropped her glove on the pavement. As she stooped to collect a young man beat her to it.

“Let me get that for you. It’s bad luck to pick up a glove you’ve dropped.”

He handed her back her glove and received a big beaming smile in return. The woman tilted her head slightly to the side and said. “Thank you.”

The young man was taken aback by the reaction. He was called Keith Stone and his experience with the other sex was limited to a few stolen kisses at school dances. Continue reading “The Flame that never dies”