theOlster.net

So in an attempt to consider what I’m really doing with my blogging malarkey, I have managed to get away from my desk and am writing this from the peace and quiet of one of the busier cafes in Oxford. Venturing to a non-alcoholic` establishment such as this is really doesn’t make sense to me, but now that I’m here I have noticed that when it comes to coffee shops we really haven’t got a clue. This is probably because coffee shops are a relatively new sight on this side of the English channel (although after ten or so years you’d have thought we’d have got it right by now). This is probably because rather than inventing our own style of coffee house (other than the traditional Eastender’s Cafe) we have decided to copy someone else.

I have regularly been on holiday to France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Holland, etc., but am yet to find a coffee shop in England that remotely resembles any found in the countries mentioned. Why I ask? Because we copied the Americans! Doh! It would be alright if we
had copied the TV screen coffee shop found in ‘Friends’ or ‘Fraiser’, but alas no. We got STARBUCKS. (I wish I could find a way to queue this song (’Starbucks’ from ‘Hi-Fi Serious’ by A), for you now!) I am bored of Americanisms entering our country. I want to move to Paris. It’s probably why I read so much of ‘La Coquette’ even though I have bugger all knowledge
in interest, fashion, or women’s opinions on these things.

Anyway, just a slight diversion… The word Blog is short for web-log. And this site really isn’t a log of sites visited on the web - but instead a musing of thoughts, things that I want to talk about. From now on I really should refer to this as a Journal. Although I am unlikely to keep this up in practice, so I apologise now! I expect to
re-define this site soon…!

Actually I have just re-read the Wikipedia definition of bolg and don’t see any reason for calling this anything else!

“This anti-telly posturing always strikes me as a particularly irrational
affection in England, where we have what is generally acknowledged to
be the best television in the world, and there really is something
worth watching almost every day, even for those with haughtily highbrow
tastes.”
from Watching the English by Kate Fox (p212)

This extract has been taken from a highly amusing book that I’ve had on
the go for quite a while now. To be honest, if you are English or you
have some experience, as a foreigner, of living here then I recommend
this!

Anyway, the point is that we got rid of (or rather - we put in storage)
our TV at the beginning of this week. This is an experiment of sorts.
We were born at the end of the 70’s and are very much children of the
TV couch potato clan. We enjoy watching TV, there’s a lot of really
good programs on, you know about real life! However, we are just about
to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, and were recently talking
about all the things that we wanted to do in the last year, but
haven’t. So we have decided to remove the biggest distraction in our
life and start living.

Hmmm… I must admit I’m not totally convinced. What have we achieved so
far? Well we are talking a lot more, we are going out for evening
walks, maybe this is a good idea.

My grandmother died at midnight last night. She died a confused, frail, old lady and I shall miss her loads.

My only regret, is that I did not visit her as much as I should have over the last year.

I shall say no more on this, other than it is a relief for us all.

Goodbye…

I have just witnessed one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

I live in a small village just outside Oxford. I was born here and I know that someday soon I am going to have to move away. To buy a house in this area is definitely not within our means. So over the last few weeks I have begun my honest attempt to document the places that hold a very special place in my heart. This I have done with only a limited success so far.

So, after having a huge flair-up with my darling wife I stormed out of the house without either of my cameras. I strolled up into the barley fields (I think) behind where we live, and sat feeling sorry for myself (by which I mean that I debated by how much I was a complete plonker!). The sight before me was one that only God could design. The pale yellow of the sun drifting over the barley corn. The long shadows cast by the old farm buildings (now converted into band practice/recording studios). The shimmer of the lake in the distance.

This was true bliss. Except, that there were two things wrong with this scene, a bitter-sweet footnote if you like.

Firstly, I gave up smoking on about 8 Jan of this year. By my rough calculations that’s about 170 days without a fag. And, yep - you guessed it I had finally tripped up! As I reflected on my beautiful surroundings I couldn’t stop being angry with myself for my rash actions. The scale of my stupidity is truly overwhelming.

The second thing was that usually I get to go or these evening walks with my wife, who I had just been totally unfair with. You know out in the fields I was really missing her.

What a great start to my new blog! What a real Muppet!

“Star Wars”. Two words, everyone has heard them.

When George Lucas released the first three original Star Wars, a cult was born. Popularity for these films fell into two camps, those that loved them and those that really couldn’t care less. When I first saw Episode IV (one Christmas on TV), I was six and I knew I loved them. From then on I watched these films quite frequently (although not obsessively) with my childhood friends.

I am proud to say that when we went to see Episode I about six years ago, it was with the same bunch of friends that I was with years before. The only difference this time was that my old buddies did not enjoy the experience. In fact, one of them wanted to walk out half-way through. From the media and other friends I got similar reports. I was confused.

With the release of Episode II, I received the same experience! This time I was sure that the mistake was not mine. The main complaint seemed to be with the script and the story line. Of course I argued with them on this.
Firstly, the script… I challenged them to go back, look at Episodes IV-VI, look at other Lucas stuff like the Indiana Jones films. Really, are these scripts fantastic? Remove Harrison Ford’s humour and they are really crap. But that is George Lucas. That is what we should expect.
Secondly, the story… With Episode IV - he started in the middle. There were very good reasons for doing so (see here). This led to a very immediate association with the characters. These characters we got to know and love. Episode I had to start at the beginning. New characters, i.e. not the Han-Solo, Luke, Chewie…etc. we know and love. It’s a totally different film. I don’t blame people for not loving it in the same way, but I do blame them for feeling let down.

Last night I saw Episode III. Wow! Everyone loves it, so I’m told?! But I challenge them, why do they love it. Blah, blah, better story, blah, blah, blah. Yeah right, NO! It’s just that this time the story makes more sense. Episodes I & II actually means something. Then end of a very long bridge has been very skilfully built, that puts everything in perspective. The characters in Episodes I & II make sense. Maybe he should have released Episodes I-III in reverse order? Who Knows? Anyway, I’m glad this bitching has been put to bed. I can’t wait for Episodes I-III to be released as a box set, and then I shall do as Lucas suggests. Sit and watch one episode a week for six weeks. I can’t wait.

What A long post! I nearly feel out-of-breath!