A little weekend bonus for you. If, like me, the idea of actually partying on a Saturday night hurts you like knives, here are just a few of the lows, mids, and highs of my adventures in geekdom.
CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK
This 1975-published period novel, written by Elizabeth Potters, is set around the turn of the last century, and is a mystery involving a couple of aristocratic English women on holiday in Egypt. It was recommended, along with many other things, by Professor Bob Brier, at the close of his wonderful History of Ancient Egypt lectures. I haven’t gotten very far with the novel yet, but, based on what I have read so far, I’ll be checking out more of Peters’ work. The main character would be perfect for a 1980s Penelope Keith, should they ever develop an adaptation and time travel. I guess Cate Blanchett would work too, or, failing her, Tilda Swinton AKA Budget Cate Blanchett.
MR VAMPIRE II
I’m not going to write full reviews for the rest of the Mr Vampire pentalogy (because I can’t be arsed), but I still want to share my thoughts with you fine folk. This second one doesn’t appear to be connected to the first, as they clearly didn’t have the money to keep up the lavish period setting, so it’s just set in modern China. It also seems to be an E.T. rip-off, with a girl befriending a little jiangshi boy. They also seem to consciously be trying to attract an international audience, as there are more Western-vampire cliches afoot. Who knows, I’m only halfway through.
FENDER BASBREAKER 007 VALVE COMBO
The “007” is just a reference to the amplifier’s wattage, rather than any involvement in the British secret services. I was looking for some new guitar equipment to inspire me, as I’ve been struggling to pick up an instrument of late. This one came up second hand locally, with the low-wattage being perfect for my sad one-bedroom flat. The bass is as, erm, breaking as the name suggests, with everything in my little music nook starting to rattle when I rock out. Oddly enough, I’m not even playing it particularly loud for that to happen, which is the joy of a low-wattage amplifier. It also has gorgeous “chicken head” control knobs, which I am all about. I think I need to pick a different distortion pedal though, as my Vox AC30 emulator doesn’t seem to be “playing nice” with the amp.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS (continued)
I’m watching, on average, an episode a day of this boxset, and enjoying it very much. It does help put life into perspective, what with its legendary silliness and all that. I swear there was a bit in the third episode which inspired the stunted-scream bit in Evil Dead 2. You know, the bit where Ash is prone in a chair just before everything in the room starts laughing. Anyway… onwards!
MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER
I was watching this 2017 anime with the full intention of writing a full review, so was diligently listening to the English dub, instead of the Japanese original. One must suffer for their art, after all. However, even though it’s a well-made and engaging film, I simply cannot stand the British voice actors, who are… just… fucking…getting on my tits quite extremely. So, for the sake of my sanity, I’m going to switch to the Japanese original track for the remainder. This means that I’ve not watched enough of it in Japanese to justify a “subtitles off” review, but not enough in English for a coherent standard review. So, erm, this is all you’re going to get, I’m afraid. Life, huh?! Just watch whichever version you prefer and let me know how you get on. It’s basically Kiki’s Delivery Service meets Spirited Away meets the boy wizard who shall not be named.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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