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Birmingham: Shit Or Not?

One of the things demanding an amount of my time recently has been trying to move. This activity has actually become an enduring theme in my life in recent years—and I still haven’t managed it. I don’t live in Birmingham per se. I live in a small town about 15 miles North. I’ve spent a large chunk of my life in this town variously. I’ve escaped a couple of times and somehow been sucked back in. As much as I hate this place (the small town), I’m sure it’s at least a bit unfair to aim that hatred at Birmingham as such.

I’ve even been looking for a place in Brum. But I have a few technical hurdles, let’s say, and being a dog owner happens to be one of them. Poor old Fred.

Fred Smile May 2010
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Lunch in London

Lunch on the South Bank near to the Royal Festival Hall, to be exact. Saturday, Aug 21. The below photo was taken by John Anderson, showing me with Paul Gambaccini, Dez Skinn, and to the far right good old Tim Bateman. Martin Skidmore was meaning to come, too, but he couldn’t make it.

With Gambo Dez Tim South Bank August 2010
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Gallery of Wonder

Meeting Jonathan Ross and crew at the Hot Sauce offices, Paul and I were treated to sensory overload, trying to take in just a portion of the original comic artwork he has stored in a number of drawers (not to mention the small selection hung on sundry wallspace, including the toilet!). JR could start his own gallery single-handed. The artists covered are innumerable, though there is an emphasis on Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, who have drawers mostly to themselves. To say the collection is awesome would be no kind of understatement.

The offices also are crammed in every corner with all kinds of toys, videos and media. It’s quite an experience to browse the place. Here’s JR sitting at his desk…

Jonathan Ross Hotsauce Office January 16 2007

And here’s me and Paul posing with JR and the slightly wonderful double-page spread from Devil Dinosaur #1:
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Expensive Trip!

It was nice to get down to London and catch up with Paul again, but there’s always a reluctance to come home! Let’s face it, this is a pretty dismal area. Birmingham, the city, is okay enough, but the rest? Pah!

Paul and I went into the British Museum for a while and looked at a lot of old Egyptian thingies. He tried to take a couple of snaps, but neither came out very well. The last time I went in the place was a school trip back in 1981; it brought back a lot of memories, even though it’s changed a lot since then. The main memory, alas, is of me dying of thirst and not being allowed to go to the canteen for a drink until we’d looked at everything we were supposed to see. School trips simply aren’t designed to be enjoyed.

British Museum London March 15 2004
Horrible, weird, blurry pic in the British Museum. Better luck next time, Paul!
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Convert to the Ring

Well, much to my surprise, mom did finally decide to give Lord of the Rings a fair hearing. We watched the first two episodes recently. Not on the same night, okay! 🙂 She hates this kind of thing normally, but all the hype and good reviews weakened her resolve. Of course, she ended up thinking they were terrific, and we plan to see the final part at the cinema soon. (Not right now; we’re both suffering from yet another cold virus at the moment. Lovely.)

Watching The Two Towers a second time helped resolve some of my own reservations about it. I’m told the extended version has better editing, but on the whole, I enjoyed it better than the first viewing. Look, I won’t forgive Jackson for the Christopher Lee thing in a hurry, but that doesn’t mean I don’t admire this work on many levels. It’s a genuine achievement.
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Stuck in the House

Terrible, rainy weather today. I’m not really stuck in the house, but I had a couple of non-urgent errands that this wretched downpour has dissuaded me from doing today. (Okay, I’m a wuss. Sue me.)

I had plans for last Wednesday. Saruman himself, Christopher Lee, was signing his autobiography, Lord of Misrule, in London at Forbidden Planet on Saturday and Borders on Wednesday. I thought I’d go for Wednesday. Alas, irrevocable transport problems put the kibosh on my plans… I did finally make it into Brum, but too late to get an affordable train that would’ve been on time. My only choice was a Virgin train for £30. I was forced to admit defeat.

Lord Of Misrule 2003
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London Stuff

My London trip last Friday went well. It was nice to have a break from all this house move stuff. The new place is still a mess and I’m starting to find it rather depressing. I know it’ll be sorted out eventually, but meanwhile, life is damned uncomfortable.

Anyway, London: I only got one half-decent snap. This is the Golden Jubilee Bridge, which Paul and I crossed to reach the South Bank and the National Film Theatre.

London October 3 2003
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