TFC.net

I was on a proper baking spree yesterday. I baked both a quiche and a lemon meringue pie! I was astounded when the quiche actually tasted like quiche. The lemon meringue pie is still yet to be tested; we're eating it tonight.

Other things of note: I applied to two jobs this week, and will hopefully apply to another next week. I really need a job for once I graduate.
Speaking of which, I was looking into gown hire for my graduation. Not long now! Everything is happening so fast D:

Also, all things being well, I shall be visiting a real masonic temple tonight. They're having an open day believe it or not.
...I'm so excited :D

The new page is up!

Woo! Now, if only I'd draw more frequently...

I just spent all morning finishing of the next Clematis page. But! I can't log onto my FTP to upload it.

Just thought I'd let you know that one is on it's way. Watch this space, I'll let you know once it's up.

So it seems that I am still caught up in the throws of the Mighty Boosh. This has led me in the direction of two things.

1. New comedy. The sketch show, Snuff Box, with Matt Berry and Rich Fulcher (aka. Dixon Bainbridge and Bob Fossil). I couldn't watch it because it's on BBC3 and I'm digitally challenged, but I managed to download the third episode. It's like a funny mixture of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, the Mighty Boosh, Jam and a number of other series. I'm not sure what to make of it. It was definately funny in some places. I think I'll have to try and watch it some more.

2. Electro! I heard Zane Lowe play this song a couple of times and I quite liked it. It turns out that it is a song called Easy Love by MSTRKRFT. I had a listen to some of the songs they've remixed and I really enjoyed them. Go check them out and have a bit of a dance to yourself.

Turns out that I spent most of yesterday grinning like a loon after going to see the mighty boosh live. It was super.
I'm still not used to seeing people from the TV on stage, I get a little starstruck because I am somehow amazed that they look the same in person. It was also unusual to see so many fans of the mighty boosh in one place, I normally find it hard to come across anyone who likes the show. And what fans these people were, some of them had dressed up, some of them were sporting variations of Vince Noir's haircut, and all of them were really excited. There was much screaming and cheering anytime anyone came on stage. Half of the fun was recognising the characters and knowing what they were going to say. I don't really think that people who hadn't seen the TV show would enjoy it that much, but it is much much fun if you know the TV series.
The overall plot of the show seemed to be an amalgam of a number of plots from the TV series, with the best bits, characters and songs from each. The whole thing seemed like a bit of a shambles. Seriously, it would have been more professional if it was performed by a troup of bees. And as such, it was amazing. Whenever someone forgot their lines, or fell over, or in one case, ran into a pole, it was very funny.

Some highlights:

- Vince's spangly jumpsuit
- at one point a wolf-whistle came from a member of the audience, which caused Noel Fielding to remark, "Who are you whistling at? I'm an 80 year old rapist, he's a gorilla, and he's dead."
- Rich Fulcher (dressed as a Spaniard) actually spat at Vince (Noel). He really strikes me as a person who's a little unhinged and would do anything if it got a laugh. He is awesome.
- The cast laughing to themselves very frequently

In conclusion: woo!

I'm so excited!!

I'm going to see the Mighty Boosh live this evening!

Their TV show is one of the funniest things; this is going to be awesome :D

So the animation was a lot better than the TV series by Bee Train. There was actually good timing and action instead of lots of people standing around with exciting music. The character design looked better too.

Um, maybe spoilers in the next bit.

Full story »

I suppose I should finally put down my thoughts on the xxxHolic movie. I watched it almost as soon as I downloaded it, but I had to write a seminar over the weekend, so I've been pretty busy until now.

I won't be mentioning any spoilers so feel free to read on.

Firstly: I loved it! I don't think I was hoping for much, perhaps that's thanks to the Tsubasa Chronicle anime. So it was a very nice surprise when it actually turned out to be good. It had all the right elements that xxxHolic should have. It was a bit scary, it was a bit weird, and it was funny. Watanuki is quite funny when he's actually animated, it makes you realise how, for the want of a better word, animated he actually is. As for the other characters; Yuuko is just awesome and supercool, and Doumeki is, well, Doumeki. I actually enjoyed the animation a lot. I was a bit unsure when I saw the promotional pictures. The character designs are really long-limbed, and while this works for CLAMP because they actually keep the rest of the body in proportion, it makes the anime character designs look a bit weird. I really thought I wouldn't like it, but actually I think they pulled it off quite well. It turns out that the gangly-ness of the characters really adds to the weird feeling of the film and doesn't look out of place at all. As for the story, I'm not sure it's possible to get stranger, it reminded me a little of Alice in Wonderland; it was quite interesting.

So in conclusion; I am very happy with the way this film turned out, it seems like the essence of the manga was retained. I am so glad that Production IG will be making the TV series now.

Hmmm, xxxHolic movie, eh what?

More news once I watch it.

I went home at the weekend. There was a family gathering on my Dad's side, everyone was there. As with most family gatherings it was both loud, drunken and a little bit embarassing, but I wouldn't have it any other way <3
First there was curry and then there was bowling.

The next day I took another trip, with my parents, to one of the oldest remaining coaching inns in the country. We took a tour around the building this time. It was so interesting! The whole place looked like it had grown up organically. None of the rooms were the same size and they were all on slightly different levels. Each room you walked into seemed to have another door, which would lead into a tiny staircase to yet another room, this in turn would have tiny staircases leading away from it. It was like a warren! There were places where the sizes of the rooms didn't quite match up, suggesting that there are lots of secret nooks and crannies that you don't know about. Indeed, there was a priest-hole under the floorboards of one room, that you could only enter through a tiny cupboard. I find this kind of place fascinating! There was a room that Oliver Cromwell had stayed in (supposedly) and a room where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed on their honeymoon!
Don't get me started on the network of tunnels that are supposed to run under the town centre, connecting this inn to the church and all the other pubs in the area...

Man, I feel bad for not updating Clematis in a while. I've had a half-drawn page sitting on my desk for ages! I just don't have the time at the moment. When I'm not in the lab, I'm writing my seminar for next Monday. Please bear with me, I will update sometime.

Oh, and Mariya: I got your card! Good luck for Saturday!

I read Tsubasa chapter 107.

Full story »

Any guesses at what came through the post yesterday? Anyone?
You betcha, it was my new DVD player! After trying a large selection of my DVDs, I came to the conclusion that it a) works and b) is multiregion. Woooooooooooooooo! Now all I need is some time to watch some DVDs or something.

But good crikey I've been so tired recently. I keep going into the lab early to work on my final year project. I haven't worked in months, I'm not used to early mornings yet. I spend most of my days growing up little E. colis. I'm getting more used to it, so it's getting better, I even managed to save some files on, possibly, the oldest computer in the world without it crashing on me today. Score!

I've just been knocked for six by Tsubasa chapter 106. Read more for spoilers ahoy!

Full story »

I bought a new DVD player, la la la! Only 27 pounds for multi-region, why yes please.

My current DVD player doesn't work anymore and no one else in my house can play region 1 DVDs, so I can't watch my Tokyo Babylon OVA D: