Knives Out — A Review.

22nd February, 2020.

It has to be said: I think I spent too much of my youth watching The Young Ones.

The anarchic early eighties comedy series: rather than the Cliff Richards movie.

Which sort of explains my ‘Movies, movies, movies,’ opening.

I was aiming for Vyvian … 

Hmmm … 

It’s possibly fallen flat‡, hasn’t it … ?

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve a spare Saturday night … 

One that I fancied spending with a movie.

And, if you’ve spent time reading this morning’s Teaser*, you’ll realise both Debbi and Olga had suggested one Daniel Craig movie in particular.

Yep … 

Knives Out … 

~≈†≈~

The (purely optional) Liebster Award, 2017

20th December, 2017.

OK … there’s possibly things I could be doing … 

Possibly relaxing, possibly not.

And possibly better — or worse — than things I’ve done.

No, I’m not talking about some of them.

The good stuff involved one or two other people.

The bad stuff … ?

Just involved me making a twit of myself.

At ANY rate … ?

The possible things … ?

Include watching a movie.

Maybe a TV box set: I still have a handful to start.

Teaser videos are something I’ve enough of, to be going on with.

Until, of course, the thought occurred.

Old friend, and Daily Teaser regular, Debbi Mack, decided I was worth a gong.

OK, the Liebsters are VERY unofficial gongs: for bloggers, by bloggers.

But, hey … 

How could I NOT thank the Old Peculiar’s longest running commenter, by accepting?   And taking part … ?

Hmm … ?

~≈§≈~

The Daily Teaser — 10-5-2015

Hmmmm … 

Did I tell you that — occasionally — I’ll knock out a letter to all of my neighbours?

I knock out a letter to my neighbours, occasionally.

The most recent one?

Was about the amount of letterbox theft we’ve been getting, recently.

With a couple of neighbours suffering identity theft as a result.

That recent letter suggested that our landlords should move the external letterbox from outside the building: to either individual letterboxes, by/in each front door, OR to a similar bulk letterbox.   But INSIDE the building, so there’s less temptation for opportunistic theft

The letter’s had various shades of response: mostly positive and lots of nervousness.   But also saw a friend of one neighbour banging on my door, last night, under the impression I’d named her and blamed her for lord knows what.

Lord knows what brought THAT on … !

At ANY rate … ?   At any rate, I’ve suggested to my neighbours that those deeply affected go on the record: and let the Brentwood Gazette know how they feel.   AND what they feel is to blame.

I hope they do.   I, for one, know how helpful the paper can be.

~≈fi≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 4-2-2015: Facebookin’ …

You know, I’ve got to admit: I’m thinking of getting a book out.

Of the library, I should add.

Once I’ve finished the ones I’m ALREADY reading: I’m partway through Assassin’s Quest, by Robin Hobb, so you know.

William Gibson’s The Peripheral is lined up, next.

Terry Pratchett’s A Slip Of The Keyboard lined up for after that.

I want to TRY and line up Invisible Me, by Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack, at some point: once I get a Kindle!   I can only hope Debbi’s doing print copies … !

The fact I’d LIKE to re-read Stephen Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant* — possibly the most psychologically murky of fantasy novels — has little to do with it!

There’s too many books: and too little time … !!!!¡!

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 22-11-2014

Ladies and gentleman, it’s Official.

We now have an extra link!

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, if you scroll down, you’ll see a link to the site of Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack.

And under that … ?

Is a link to the Hidden Herstories site: who’ve been kind enough to put in a reciprocal link, back here.

Which is helpful for all concerned.   From what I’ve understood, part of how Google — and other search engines — works is by counting the number of links going into a site: and boosting it up the search results, as a result.

If you’d like a link here — and can put a link to the Old Peculiar on your site — feel free to leave me a comment: or send me an email.

Now … 

Let’s get a move on, shall we?

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 12-4-2014: Waving The Flag

Yoicks!

That was a late night.

You know I’m a movie fan, don’t you … ?

There’s not many I get a chance to see at The cinema: so I tend to rent them from iTunes.

I did that last night: managing to get hold of The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug.

Which is a nice piece of work, I should add: and one I’m polishing up a post for, as we speak.

Saying that … ?

Saying that, it’s two hours and forty-one minutes long: including some ten minutes of credits.

Ten MINUTES of credits!

BOY, but that means you get to bed, late … !

~≈Ê≈~

The Friday Question Set — 2-11-2012

Oh … 

Now, that’s a handy thing to know!

Regular Old Peculiar contributor Debbi, has managed to formally restart her Indiegogo campaign.

And there’s me, on the ball enough to keep saying I’d mention it.

But not actually do anything about it, until today … !!

I’ve now formally put Debbi’s campaign into my Sidebar: just under her corresponding FB page.

If you’d like to help a struggling author, feel free to click on that link.

~~~~~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, today is a Friday: and, as my regular readers know, that means it’s time for the Friday Question set.

Here it is, along with the usual Creative Commons License and ‘How To’.

Online 175

ROUND ONE.   GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.     

Q1) Your So Vain, by Carly Simon, is allegedly about which movie star?   

A1) Warren Beatty.

Q2) Which pre-decimal British coin had a value of 2 shillings?   

A2) Florin.

Q3) The Art of Noise did the theme-tune for which police comedy?   

A3) Dragnet.

Q4) Spell Rioja.   

A4) Rioja.

Q5) What European language is the main one spoken in Brazil?   

A5) Portugese.

Q6) How many cards are there, in each of the suits of the minor arcane of tarot cards?   

A6) 14.

Q7) Which is the longer distance, a mile, or a kilometre?   

A7) The mile.

Q8) Was Sir Walter Scott Scottish?   

A8) Yes.

Q9) In which country would you find Uluru?   

A9) Australia.  (It’s the aboriginal name for Ayer’s Rock.)

Q10) Which John married Sheila Hancock?   

A10) John Thaw.

ROUND TWO.   HOBBIES & LEISURE.   

Q11) How many balls are needed for a game of Snooker?   Bonus point for telling us what colour most of the balls are.   

A11) 23.   (15 reds, 7 coloureds, and the cue ball.   Red.)

Q12) In which English town is the Jorvik Viking Centre?   

A12) York.

Q13) In which sport would you snatch and jerk?   

A13) Weightlifting.

Q14) What toy was invented by Danish brothers, Olé and Godtfred Christiansen?   

A14) Lego.

Q15) The world’s oldest toyshop is in Regents Street, in London: what’s it called?   

A15) Hamley’s.

Q16) Where does a Steiff Teddy Bear have its label of authenticity?   

A16) In its ear.

Q17) What are modern canoes made from?   

A17) Fibreglass.

Q18) When played on clay, or shale, what name is given to Lawn Tennis?   

A18) Lawn Tennis.

Q19) TSR Ltd are famous from producing which game: Dungeons & Dragons, Monopoly or Scrabble?   

A19) Dungeons & Dragons.

Q20) What would you be doing, if you were doing Callisthenics?   

A20) Keeping fit.  (Accept Keep Fit.)

ROUND THREE.   MUSIC & LIGHTS.   

Q21) The Three Choirs Festival involves choirs from three cities: name one of them.   (Two points for telling us all three.)   

A21) Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. 

Q22) Which British television comedy had Liberty Bell as its theme tune?   

A22) Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Q23) Who was Born to Make You Happy in 2000?   

A23) Britney Spears.

Q24) In which city is the Halle Orchestra based?   

A24) Manchester.

Q25) From which Andrew Lloyd Webber show does the song Another Suitcase in Another Hall come?   

A25) Evita.

Q26) A trumpet voluntary is usually played on which instrument?   

A26) An organ.

Q27) What instrument do Vanessa Mae and Anne-Sophie Mutter play?   

A27) The violin.

Q28) Whose number one hits have included Careless Whisper, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me and A different corner?    

A28) George Michael.

Q29) Where did the Thompson Twins get their name from?    

A29) From characters in the Tintin cartoons.

Q30) Sitar player Ravi Shankar has a piano-playing daughter called what?   

A30) Norah Jones.

ROUND FOUR.   TELEVISION.   

Q31) Who played Robin Hood in the classic 1950’s series, The Adventures of Robin Hood?

A31) Richard Greene.

Q32) Which long-running US series claimed Suicide is Painless?

A32) M.A.S.H.   Or M•A•S•H.   Or M·A·S·H if you’re REALLY picky …   (It was the name of the Theme tune)

Q33) Which series followed the long-running romance of Jean and Lionel?   

A33) As Time Goes By.

Q34) What was the subject of the UK’s first television advertisement?   (Bonus for telling us what the brand was.)   

A34) Toothpaste. (Gibbs SR).

Q35) What is the name of the city in which the medical drama series Casualty is set?   

A35) Holby

Q36) Who was the Polish-born scientist who presented The Ascent of Man in 1973?   

A36) Jacob Bronowski.

Q37) Who hosts the television archaeology series Time Team?   

A37) Tony Robinson.

Q38) In which television sitcom would you find Patsy and Eddy … ?   

A38) Absolutely Fabulous.

Q39) Which part did former child star Jackie Coogan play in television’s Addams Family?   

A39) Uncle Fester.

Q40) With whom did Andy Pandy share a basket in Watch with Mother?  

A40) Teddy.

ROUND FIVE.   SPORTING CHANCES.  

Q41) In the 1st ever World Cup final, who lost?   

A41) Argentina

Q42) Which indoor sport was invented in a Massachusetts YMCA?   

A42) Basketball

Q43) Which American swimmer won a record 7 Gold medals, in the 1972 summer Olympics?   

A43) Mark Spitz

Q44) Which Italy defender did Zinedine Zidane head-butt, in the final of the 2006 World Cup?   

A44) Marco Materazzi

Q45) Which football club is generally agreed to be the oldest in England?   

A45) Notts Country.

Q46) Who was the first Rugby Union player to score 50 international tries?   

A46) David Campese

Q47) Which Derbyshire wicket-keeper  set a record for the most dismissals, between 1960 and 1988?   

A47) Bob Taylor.

Q48) Francis Chichester made his 60s solo round the world trip in which yacht?   

A48) Gypsy Moth 4.

Q49) Bob Nudd became a world champion in which sport?   

A49) Angling.

Q50) In January 2005, Joachim Johansson set the world record for the most aces in a match: how many did he get?   

A50) 51.

ROUND SIX.   GENERAL IGNORANCE.   

Q51) Jerry Springer is the former mayor of which US city: Cincinatti, New York or Chicago?   

A51) Cincinatti.

Q52) During the 80’s, the USSR occupied which troubled middle-eastern country?   

A52) Afghanistan.

Q53) Desmond LLewellen found fame as Q, in the James Bond films.  Which children’s TV show did he appear in?   

A53) The Lightening Tree.

Q54) Renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar has a daughter called what?   

A54) Norah Jones.

Q55) Which football club does Alf Garnett support?   

A55) West Ham.

Q56) In which country was opera singer, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa born?   

A56) New Zealand.

Q57) Shimon Peres was Prime Minister of which Middle Eastern country?   

A57) Israel.

Q58) Anna Pavlova found fame in what form of dance?   

A58) Ballet.

Q59) In which country was the Duke of Edinburgh born?   

A59) Greece.

Q60) Lord Louis Mountbatten was murdered off the coast of which European country?   

A60) Ireland.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I hope they help.

Identity Crisis: Blood, Swearing … And Terribly Entertaining …

Can I ask you a question, here, folks … ?

Can I … ?

Actully, no, forget I asked … !

I’m going to, anyway … !

Ever hear the phrase, page-turner … ?

You have … ?

Me too …

And I’ve always felt that — with rare exceptions — it’s not a term I apply to every book that I read.

Terry Pratchett’s usually an exception, for example: Thud, Nightwatch and Nation, in particular.

Oh, and Dune …

I really can’t be forgetting Frank Herbert’s Dune …

The point I’m trying to make, here, is simply that it’s not often I come across a page-turner.

I think I just have …

»»•««

Do you remember, a while back, I wrote rather extensively about Brentwood Library, and how it was going to have its hours adjusted … ?

As part of that, Debbi, bless ’er — writer, recovering lawyer, and one of my regular contributors — got in touch with Essex Library’s head, Susan Carragher, and offered to donate some copies of her first novel, Identity Crisis.

I went and ordered a copy, as soon as I got word they were in …

»»•««

I’m glad I did …

Identity Crisis sees Stephanie Ann “Sam” MacRæ — Maryland lawyer at arms — finding her working day starting with something nasty at her office: her friendly local plain-clothes police officer, Detective Derry … accompanied by the somewhat obstreperousª FBI agent, Special Agent Jergins.

Seems they want to ask a few questions about a former client of hers, a certain Melanie Hayes.

Who’s gone missing.

After her ex boyfriend — Melanie had filed a Domestic Abuse complaint against him, with Sam’s help — has been fatally shot …

On top of that … ?

Sam’s found out that there’s quite a few odd things happening with bank account: which is at the same bank where Melanie works …

And on top of that … ?

There’s a bunch of seriously unfriendly Mafiosi floating around in all of this, with threatening cars that make President Obama’s Beast look lightweight …

»»•««

Now, I was saying page turner, earlier … ?

Yes, I was, wasn’t I … ?

Now, I know that one could — arguably — make the point that Identity Crisis is possibly a little much like a latter day Miss Marple.

Possibly …

One could also argue that Identity Crisis is possibly even a touch tame*: especially me, having seen various shades of gruesome horror movie and crime thriller, over the years.

That’s also possible …

On the other hand, though … ?

On the other hand, though, Debbi, bless her, has written a bit of a corker … !

I actually found meself patiently going to bed and spending a long time reading Identity Crisis, night after night and chapter by chapter, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter, and how Sam either deals with a problem, finds information, or puts another next piece of the puzzle in place.

Identity Crisis is a rock solid read, literally a page-turner.

And what’s more … ?

It’s also an entertaining one, that’s built a nicely solid introduction to Sam McRæ and her world …

That I think I’ll be heading for my local library to see if I can’t get hold of Least Wanted.

I want to know what happens next … !

Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack.

Lulu.com; July 2009

ISBN: 978-0-557-08325-1

Paul: “Identity Crisis? It’s a Keeper!” ★★★☆

* In spite of one use of the ‘C’ word: I’ve known people who have done serious time, for serious crime and are seriously nasty, and even they’ll raise an eyebrow at that one … ! (To be fair, though, Debbi DID tell me she was trying to drop the hint that these guys weren’t pleasant … )

ª I‘m almost tempted to say mildly snotty. Or even slightly tetchy …

The Library’s Scores a Goal … !

You know, I think I’m going to make Debbi nervous, here, I really am … !

Because … ?

Well …

I can’t imagine a writer not being nervous when she find’s out someone’s reading a book of hers … !

But at any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ll be frank, Brentwood Library has finally taken delivery of Debbi’s first novel, Identity Crisis.

And I’m going to be frank … ?

I’ve think I’ve got my bedtime reading sorted, for the next few days …