Tuesday, September 29, 2026

The Lady Vanishes

 

I really do like Hitchcock

So this starts off as a gentle comedy, even as a comedy of errors. A few travellers are stuck at a hotel somewhere in Europe. An avalanche has stopped the trains. So people have to share rooms. I wonder if this where we get the trope of the uninhibited Swedish/German woman undressing

There is some cheese cake scenes of lithe young ladies. There is a switch of POV characters, as we don't meet the male lead until about 20 minutes into the film

In a scene which modern hollywood would not replicate. Our male lead blackmails the female lead by annoucing that he would tell everyone she invited him into the room.  A bit of foreshadowing there contrasting  one of the minor characters An up and coming barrister who is having an affair. Interestingly this man is carrying a Colt 45 on his person. 

A good way off calling someone a bastard

A joke about baseball being simply rounders

A funny line. When a local Oxford educated jackbooter is struck over the head. His assailant quips well I went to Cambridge, Hitchcock actually remembers that people do come round from a blow on the head

I liked the man, trying to get cricket scores from an unexpected phone call from London. I do remember things like that happening pre interent

The pretty big nose for such small glasses- is that anti Italian discrimination? As the ``friends of ours would say'' The two gents who are sharing a bed. One is not wearing bottoms... his companion was a guardsman... I wonder if there is a subtext here

I do wonder if Ms Froy leaving the train at the end is a more cold blooded act than the film lets us consider. Everyone else was distracted.. she could make her escape 

Great fun.. serious and silly 





Sunday, September 20, 2026

Union Jack Classic


My second College Football event of the year

I was suprised and pleased with the seats The organisers had moved the crowd down from the gods.
There was no fly past alas. My brother noted 
It was a pretty close game. Arizona won, over Kansas








 

Gerrit Graham

 

Gerrit Graham

November 27, 1948 – September 15, 2026

As Used Cars is one of my favourite classic comedies. I am sorry to note his passing

Played a Q, in Deathwish ST :VOY and was shortlisted for Odo

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Sunday, September 06, 2026

Clue ( 1985)

 




As a tribute to the late Tim Curry. I viewed this, I should actually sit down and watch the Rocky Horry Picture Show. Which stars one of my favourite actors Barry Boswick but nevertheless

I had forgotten the stepped in dog dirt joke at the beginning

It rains. It rains all the time, in DC so this is nice

It is quite a good period piece.If it was made now it would be set in 1985

Lots of comedy stalwarts- Christopher Lloyd, Curry, get the praise but Madeline Khan, Eileen Brennan, Martin Mull are no slouches either

Michael McKean made a career playing Federal Agents with something to hide. Lots of physical comedy from him and Curry- Curry throwing McKean about

Everyone smokes

I did wonder if Curry was bored timelord in this... Maybe the Dr or the Master, depending on what you watch









QPR v Middlesboro



 

Friday, September 04, 2026

Off to Dublin in the Sky blue



After decades I went to see what I have only read off..The GPO in Dublin, 


I was pleased to see the Cuchulain statue. I was disspointed that the statue is not more prominent. 
Oh and quite surprised to see word of Meagher 

The GPO building is quite impressive and still in use.

JW et al should not be allowed to use the outside site. Just move them up the road 

That said, I dislike the Garda uniforms - there were Garda huddling outside the building escaping the downpours of Dublin 

There was but one card reader at the GPO ticket office

The museum should be free

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Dublin notes







Took this photo for my daughter.


The Portal showing an empty NYC



Mural off O'Connell street


 

Croke Park, which was closed. Due to Jon Bon Jovi's visit. I was disappointed I could not do the tour


 

Saturday, August 29, 2026

TCU v UNC at the Aviva

I have not been to see UNC for years. 1999 and 2029  I never thought I would see them play live again. I followed a lot of the games last year online. My interst piqued by the Jordon + Bellicheck pairing
This is my first solo trip to Dublin. I got the time of game wrong I should have remembered 3pm pm out time is 10 am on the East Coast







I was drinking Guinnesss


UNC Cheerleaders


The UNC team being driven into the Aviva stadium. There were folk on stilts, and a band keeping people spirits up






Ramsees! He is off to the Tar Heel Tailgate which was 525 pounds a ticket


A photo taken  from4 floors high in the Avia!
It was something of a Trek




US and Irish flags- I was dismayed Ireland did not have a colour party 




I met some nice people, local lads Who loved American Football. A father and son from Texas.






 

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Dolly Parton

 

Dolly Parton 

(1946-2026)

Tennessean, Wife, Musician, Actor, Biblophile


``I will always love you''



Monday, August 24, 2026

Taxi Driver

 Taxi Driver

There is a lot of Cybil Sheperd in this film. Which I found disappointing  She seems to have been forgotten in the legend this film has made. I suppose everyone is overshadowed by Jodie Foster, and Robert De Niro. 

I have seen Travis talking into the mirror for decades. Do you remember The Fan- De Niro and Snipes? 

I could not really engage with Taxi Driver. I do wonder if the film's the legend is dying with the boomers

I started with high hopes Travis being a Vietnam veteran should be red meat for me. This just felt sleezy. Which is supposed too,  Cybil's  all American girl being taken to a Pnro cinema

I did wonder about the class dynamics.  Would Cybil's character really  have dated a taxi driver?

I am back in New York city again.. I don't like it. Unlike the French Connection this does feel coarse, or squalid. Maybe the rot has settled in 

I will say this film is fine. I am glad I have ticked the box. 



The French Connection

 

I saw this on BBC I-player

This is very much off it's time. Racial slurs abound.  The docker's union have to be paid off. When we see Marsielles it is a city of steps, and handcarts. You notice the cars are brightly coloured. Men wear suits. It is still cold. The Nightclub has a song about going to the moon. The club has a live band rather then electronic music 

The chase scene on the overpass is legendary.

It is interesting to see Marseilles, a city which I am not familar with. The French villian has a much younger mistress, he angles off his house

I did like Popeye

This seems to have created a lot of tropes. The upper class junkie, the undercover black police officer

The chases. Lots and lot of foot chases...




Monday, August 17, 2026

Thursday, August 06, 2026

Lima zoo


My daughter, and the flamenco





   This is an albino tiger, which is very rare- if it was not specifically bred by a collector





 

Sunday, August 02, 2026

QPR V Fiorentina


A pre season friendly at Loftus Road. Fiorentina, who had the indignity of having their name spelled in correctly on the board, conceded, but went on to claw back two goals. 




During half time, parents and their children were invited to try their luck at a penalty 






There was a pro Palestine demonstration outside the Wormwod Scrubs HMP


Fiorentina did not bring so many, the Ground was not even half full


 

Mayo breaks the curse



I was in the Shanakee, the night Mayo won the All Ireland. The Green and Red of Mayo was played
The bar was full, one of the barmaids broke down, a legendary night






 

Minoan socks



 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

World Cup Final

 

Argentina beaten by Spain...

Spain's victory was well deserved 





Kevin Keegan

 

Probably the first, sportman I was aware of.... Singing with Little and Large

 Referenced in Adrian Mole, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and Auf Wiedersen Pet


A member of the Irish diaspora, A son of mining royalty

Twice winner of the European Footballer of the Year

(14 February 1951 – 20 July 2026)

Father, Footballer, Dog Lover, German Speaker, Cancer sufferer

The Lady Vanishes

  I really do like Hitchcock So this starts off as a gentle comedy, even as a comedy of errors. A few travellers are stuck at a hotel somewh...