The sun is about to breakthrough the clouds whilst passing Chinley
Almost a year ago when I moved to Sheffield to join my ‘previous employer’, my first week of work was dogged by a sudden outburst of snow. It is almost fitting that at the other end of the year the snow returns one last time to see the year out. Both Manchester and Sheffield are totally oblivious to the beautiful winter wonderland sandwiched between them. The snow-covered hills were a sight on their own, but add a glorious sunrise and suddenly one feels as though they have transcended into Tolkinesque land.
The sky explodes into custard and strawberry colours near Edale
Many were sceptical of my insistence that the trains would start to struggle when the weather turned cold. This was considered a light dusting.
Hazel Grove in a white blanket
29.Nov.05 
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Friday night was yet another top Faithless show. After seeing them earlier in the year I was a little worried that their set in Manchester was going to be identical to their set in London earlier in the year. For the first half of the show this was true, however by the second half the set had gone in a new direction, playing some new material. The Arena was packed to the brim with people, so many in fact that the sight of the heaving mass was humbling to Maxi Jazz as he walked onto the stage, looking up in amazement at the thousands of waving hands. Faithless had firmly arrived in Manchester.
I would love to give you a detailed account of what happened throughout the evening, however unfortunately I was under the influence and much of the last thirty minutes is now covered by a hazy memory of events. I know for a fact that the show finished at about 23:20 on Friday night, and the city centre was quiet dispite the fact it was a Friday, plus the licensing laws have been changed (more on that tomorrow).
Anyway, it was yet another super show, and once again I tell everyone to get themselves to the next Faithless gig they can as it is a show that leaves you wanting…. MORE!
28.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
2005 has been a year of pure FAITHLESS. On the 25th December 2004, a large portion of my immediate friends received a swanky yellow FAITHLESS ticket for their sell-out show on April 30th 2005 at Alexandra Palace, London. At the time we didn’t know we were all going to go to the show that would eventually be released on DVD.
FAITHLESS also were working towards releasing their retrospective best hits album, with a few hidden gems. The live show and the new album hit us in April and early May to a very warm reception; the two shows in London were up there with FAITHLESS’ best performances since 1994; FOREVER:FAITHLESS went straight to number one in the album chart.
By the end of September, FAITHLESS live at Alexander Palace was released on DVD and CD. To our surprise most of our group that went to see them appeared on the DVD, including myself. Siân takes the prize for most screen time. Look out for Siân at the end of We Come 1, and generally in quick cuts throughout the show.
And now, tomorrow night the year must end. Siân and I are going to see FAITHLESS, possibly for the last time for a while, at the Manchester Evening News Arena, for another sell-out show; this time in the North-West.
24.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
Clerks, the first film from Writer/Director Kevin Smith was a monumentus push for indie filmmakers. He proved that with $10,000 dollars of borrowed money and no studio input, he could make a movie that would be as popular ten years later after release, if not more popular. Most Hollywood studios fail to realise that dream. Needless to say, Clerks originally launched the View Askew universe mainly orbiting two characters, Jay and Silent Bob.
Kevin Smith’s last feature was ‘Jersey Girl’, which was pretty much considered to be a poor effort by all who watched it. So I guess that after getting his fingers burnt, he has put his effort back into what he does best, View Askew Universe films.
Check out the Clerks 2 Podcast here.
23.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
There is an important update on 18 // The Green Building page.
Click here to read more…
21.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
This week, The Juice has mainly been discussing how this promotional site for Ikea was created. It is very similar to the popular time-slice technique used on films like The Matrix. However, this was not created this way apparently…
IKEA | DRÖMKÖK ÅT ALLA
19.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
This weekend, the long and very stressful process of buying a flat begins. Myself and Siân have enjoyed living in The Green Building so much over the last six months that we thought we would try and buy ourselves a little bit of this plot and settle here for the time being.
However, as ever these things are never quite as simple as that. The cost of the two bedroom apartment we want is quite a lot, even though Taylor Woodrow are offering it to us at a discounted rate. Split the cost in half and suddenly it becomes more managable.
As of this weekend, our balls officially start rolling and by this Christmas, I could own a flat. But just as the end begins to come into sight, we discovered today that we are in competition with two other buyers, neither has made an offer yet.
So the month of hell begins… I’m going to create a new page in this blog especially for posts about this very subject - Mainly for family and friends to monitor progress.
19.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
Transpennine Express today
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
- Janis Joplin
Siemens have been commissioned to build about 60 new Transpennine Express trainsets for use all across the Pennine network. The route between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes (Manchester Airport - Manchester Piccadilly - Stockport - Dore - Sheffield - Meadowhall - Doncaster - Scunthorpe - Barnetby - Habrough - Grimsby Town - Cleethorpes) that I use to travel to work is currently served by up to 18 year-old trains.
This morning I was stranded between Edale and Hope on one of these old trains in the freezing morning. The train engines were running and the trains heating system was on, yet the coach was freezing to the point where I could see my breath.
Transpennine Express from early 2006
Although the new Class 185’s wouldn’t have helped my service run any quicker this morning, at least the pressure sealed coaches with environmental controls would have provided a warm cosy environment for me to doze in, rather than freezing to death!
So please lord, deliver me my new Pennine Express…
18.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
Sian today is beginning a new chapter in the big adventure called life. She has started working as a volunteer mentor for a group that cannot be disclosed. This group handles hundreds of cases at undisclosed prisons in the North West.
Sian is starting her mentoring assignment with a person who cannot be identified. Needless to say, Sian is delighted to be starting her new mentoring commitments, even if she can’t talk much about it…
Good luck Sian!
xxx
17.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
My sister’s film, ‘Butterflies‘ recently premiered in New York during a film festival that The University Of Salford were invited to attend. Butterflies, starring Erin Shanagher, Sarah Evans and Kimberley Dempster amoungst others, was produced in the winter of 2004. I was co-director and DP on this project, and although it clearly shows its age and our inexperience at this point, for our first short it stands above the rest in its class.
Shortly after the premiere in New York, Butterflies was shown at a gala event in Manchester at The Corner House on Oxford Road. Also, this week BBC North West Tonight presented a package about the Corner House event, beaming ‘POLARIS DIGITAL PICTURES presents’ to the region on Monday night - needless to say, a nice surprise for an indie outfit.
15.Nov.05 Uncategorized Comments (0)
