Cynergist

Beowulf

This evening I went to the cinema for the first time this month to see Beowulf. There have been posters all over town, and I was interested to see how a motion captured film would actually look on the big screen.

If you don't know the story, it is based on an Anglo-Saxon poem that is believed to be about 1,200 years old and is one of the earliest examples of English literature.

The story is set in Denmark, where aging dragon slayer King Hrothgar (played by Anthony Hopkins) is holding celebrations in his new mead-hall. Unfortunately this disturbs the rest of the monster Grendel, who attacks the hall.

A message goes out across Scandinavia that the King will give half his gold to anyone who can kill the beast.

Beowulf hears of the Thanes plight, so comes to their land with his troops. On their first night he manages to kill Grendel, but this incurs the wrath of its mother (played by Angelina Jolie).

Summer Holiday

In September I went on my first holiday to Eastern Europe. During our initial plans we talked about visiting Poland, or perhaps traveling around the Czech Republic.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had heard good reports from friends who had previously visited Budapest in Hungary, so this is where we eventually decided to go.

One of the main advantages we found of traveling into Eastern Europe was that our money went quite far. For less than we would normally pay to stay in a two star hostel in Barcelona or Paris, we managed to rent a private apartment in the centre of Pest. The cost also included the cost of someone meeting us personally at the airport and driving us back to the apartment (although we did have to pay a little extra for a ride back to the airport at the end of the holiday).

My initial impressions of the city were that the shops and fast food establishments were getting very westernised (with branches of M&S and Burger King found across the city), but the styles of many things seemed to be a bizare blend of both 70's and 90's fashions.

I've included a photo of a telephone box I found in Buda. How many colours are there? The telephone handle is pink, the telephone's body is blue, while the telephone box itself is green and yellow!

During our stay, we managed to take in quite a few trips. One of my favourites was up into the Buda Hills. I've included a short video clip.

We set of by taking the underground metro from Pest into Buda. We then transfered onto a tram to take us to the base of the hills. Next we took the cogwheel railway up into the hills.

Open Garden

I visited my parents a couple of weekends ago as they had an open garden to raise money for the RNIB.


My father has always been (justifiably) very proud of his garden, so this was an opportunity for him to share it with other members of the community.

Unfortunately the weather on Saturday was rather poor, but there must have been at least 50 brave visitors that came for a viewing while the sky was full of thunder, lightning and rain.

Things did brighten up on the Sunday, and the number of visitors must have reached the hundreds. It was good to chat with them about the stories behind some of the objects and plants, as well as hear my fathers stories about how much the plot of land had changed since he bought the house.

Easter Holidays

I'm not yet back to posting every weekend, but I am getting there!

Since my last post, Easter has been and gone. As has usually been the case since my move to Stockport, this sees my sister (Julie) and her two boys (Dominic and Alex) coming to visit. In the past I've kept them occupied by taking them to various attractions around Greater Manchester, but as I sold my car last year (and Julie doesn't like to drive on the motorway) we thought this may be a problem.

In the end it was agreed that after finishing work on Thursday, I would catch the train to Northampton and drive them back to Stockport. Then I would take the day off on the following Tuesday. Drive them home and then hop on another train heading to Stockport.

Unfortunately the train journey down to Northampton had problems. To begin with there were point failures and our train was moved onto a different line. Then there was something on the overhead wires, so our train was diverted again. Finally, as the train was no longer going anywhere near where I was trying to reach, I (along with about 20 other passengers) were dumped at a small platform in the middle of a field. Needless to say, I was quite a few hours late arriving in Northampton. But at least this meant that the motorways were fairly clear for the drive and we arrived back in Stockport before midnight.

Back on the web

Wow. I can't believe we are already in April and I haven't made a post this year!

I do apologise, and I hope to be back to making entries at least once a week.

May I start by saying a big thank you for all the cards and presents I received for Christmas and welcome to anyone who has found their way here after receiving the address in one of my Christmas cards.

As usual I bought myself a little present, a new digital camera. You may be asking yourselves why I would by a camera, when I already have several. Looking back, I calculate that over the last few years I have purchased 8 digital cameras, so this is my ninth. However technology in this field has moved on considerably,

Christmas Party

I'm a bit late with this post, but just over a week ago I went along to my company's Christmas party.

For the last two years we have been with lots of other companies at the Jarvis Piccadilly, in the center of Manchester. There has usually been a Bucks Fizz when you arrive, and a band playing while you eat your meal, followed by a disco. All very standard and traditional.

This year there was a little change, as we instead went on a "Trail to Timbuktu".

It was described as follows:

You have arrived by river steamer at a small colonial outpost on the border of the secret Tree Kingdom far up river, deep in the heart of darkest Africa. From the deck you look down on the busy market port, alive with all the contrasting sounds and smells of an exotic land.

El Laberinto del Fauno

My old school friend Robert was visiting this weekend and yesterday while we were on our way into Stockport to visit the shops, we passed the local cinema multiplex and I happened to notice they were showing "Pan's Labyrinth".



This was a film I had been waiting to see, but I had expected I would need to go into Manchester and watch it at the Art House Cinema. I didn't think that a Spanish language film would be on general release, but I was pleasantly surprised. So we popped straight in and bought tickets.



The film was by the Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, who also directed "Hell Boy" and "Blade 2". I do wonder how many people were expecting something similar. If so, they were in for a shock.

Merry Christmas

I would just like to say Merry Christmas and send best wishes for the New Year to everyone who is coming to this blog after receiving a Skype contact card in one of my Christmas cards.

Tom Baker

Tom Baker's publicising an interactive sci-fi quiz DVD at the moment, which explains why he's doing a blog for Blockbuster. When I think of my childhood, and watching Dr Who from behind the sofa, it is Tom that I think of.

He is fixed in my mind in a way that David Tennant can never achieve. When I hear his voice, its like hearing my grandfather offering me advice. This is no doubt why he is heard as the voice over on so many British TV adverts, such as the current one for Duracell Batteries.

I can't think of another voice that has the same affect. There are other very recogniseable voices, like Brian Blessed, but they don't make me feel the same way.

Unfortunately the blog was only for a weekly entry during the month of November, so its now over.

Manchester United

This week I had the opportunity to take a short tour around Old Trafford, the Manchester United football ground, while attending a presentation from a software company.

I found the players lounge quite interesting. This is a small bar area that isn't open to the manager or the board, its just for the players and their families. They will arrive at the ground at least an hour before the match and relax in the lounge with their families before going to the changing rooms.