Scifi Saturday!

Merry Xmas Eve!

Finally got to see the new Star Wars movie and it was *fantastic* Such a great end to the saga and looked amazing.  We were meant to see it last Friday (I had paid for tickets - Linda saw it before me!) but I had a nasty bout of gastric flu which kept me in the house for 6 days or so.

I hope everyone is well and are enjoying the festive season.  

Scifi Friday!

Photo Friday!

Scifi Friday! And I'm back.

Hi.  I'm back from my self imposed hiatus and feel improved after the time away.  Orlando was amazing (Star Wars Galaxy's Edge even more so).  Two weeks in the sunshine during early November was quite a tonic, I was feeling pretty awful prior to the holiday but Linda convinced me not to cancel.  

It was pleasant just to get outside of my head space, eat some great food (alligator!), see some great animals in the Everglades (baby alligators but I did not eat those!) and do fun things.  (Also, Orlando has one of the best comic book/collector stores I have ever been in and it is very much off the beaten track).

I took a break from shooting pictures and just tried to "exist in the moment" and I found this refreshing and liberating.  Everyone around me appeared to be waving their phones around trying to record things (which was a bit frustrating at times as it was a distraction, all in all) but I just wanted to experience and savour some great memories.  

So, the short and tall - my physical and mental well being is improving (but in small, realistic and measurable increments!).

We're now in the countdown to Xmas.  I'm hoping this year will be quiet, intimate and positive.  I hope you're all well and thanks for dropping by if you're reading this.

See you all in December - Gone fishin'

I'm taking a much needed break from online activity.  My mental well-being took a massive turn for the worse during the Summer and I need respite/a leave of absence.

I'm tired of seeing all the liars, the hate, the fraudsters, the beggars, the hypocrites, the grifters, the fakes and those schilling their mediocrity/"work" in the name of "art" (or what barely passes for it).

It will be nice not to see all those idiots with their micro aggressive acts and their need to be akin to a dog pissing on a lamp post.

Most of all, it will be lovely not to witness toxicity, hype and the usual bullshit/sense of self-entitlement and bi-polar/border line personality disorder excuses/nonsense.

Keep well and see y'all in December!

Photo Friday!

Shiny Saturday!

Scifi Cyber Friday!

A female take on the classic Cyber Controller from this story.

Happy Anniversary Linda!

Linda and I got married 26 years ago today.  There have been ups and downs, high points and low points.  Love you 3,000, kiddo x

Nut Up or Shut Up

Oh hell yeah!  Just when I thought I had #zombiefatigue this happens!

*Edited to add - these arrived for Linda today.  Also, it's our 26th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow :)  Woah, time flies!  #tempusfugit

Teddy is not fake - be more like Teddy.

Photo Friday!

Managed to finish up work on time and the weekend now beckons!

(Almost) Photo Friday!

I'm busy with work things tomorrow (real life, eh? #salaryslave) so Photo Friday is landing a bit early....

It's beginning to feel a lot like Autumn

Taken in 2007.

Dovedale - UK

This photo was taken at the location where this all time classic movie was shot:

The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue.

More photos can be found here

Scifi Friday!

Buffy and Ro

Friends and pets who are no longer here but Linda and I miss them everyday...

Wonder Wheel - Coney Island

Kenilworth UK - blue skies and green fields.

Thistles (in Quad Tones)

(Bonus) Scifi Friday!

Double bill!

Photo Friday!

1996

It's in the Eyes

The Rapture

Amplify Love...

World Trade Centre, Manhattan NYC (2007)

NYC - The Financial District

Macro flower photo

Scifi Friday!

Yep, I know I have already posted an image from this set last week but I think it's groovy!  

9/11 - lest we forget.

Equilibrium

Old Skool

The Rise and Fall of Boba Fett

Central Park - After that Mandalorian escaped the Sarlaac Pit.

Cyberwoman Saturday!

Inspired by one of the greatest Doctor Who stories ever made - The Tomb of the Cybermen

Scifi Friday!

A view of Roosevelt Island - NYC

The original image that I shot can be found here

I'm not feeling too great

Not at my best right now, arguably I haven't been for the past couple of years.  However, it is a journey that can be a challenge.  Either way, articulating how I feel (and why I feel this way) is something beyond me at the moment.

However, I've been through this before and I will see it to its logical conclusion again.  Each instance has its own peculiar set of rules and diversionary paths.

I have one thing (or many things) that are in my favour.  A loving wife is top of that list and the messages she sent today made me smile. 

I guess I am lucky in that respect, to have an amazing partner who is there no matter what.  Who I wake up next to everyday, who I share a meal with every evening and who still makes me laugh.  A person who knows my value and reminds me of that and her acerbic wit that diminishes the comments from worthless naysayers who inhabit this world.  She's my universe, she's my perspective.  My life.

I guess I'm blessed.  

Monday Meanderings

(This post has been popping in and out of the back of my mind for a few days now and I've been drafting it piece meal).

I'm trying to be more diverse in my posting on this blog. I post a photo each Friday and usually this centres upon the work that brings in the views. What I do want to explore is to look at posting some of my more obscure photos (travel/urban themes) here that are not necessarily popular but what I believe to have some merit.

There is no failure, only feedback and as a photographer, I strive for self development. Also, the impending ad revenue which will pay for the next 2 years of my FlickR pro-account.  Thank you again, kind visitors.

Although I am living with the effects of clinical depression, an obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety issues which have curbed my photography work of late, I do have some projects planned and hoping to have them place before the end of the year.  Optimism is the key for me to keep buggering on.


So, here is a shot I took in Manhattan a few years ago. I like the colours and the view brings back some amazing memories.

I just wanted to explore some concerns too:

What I have noted of late is that social media appears to celebrate negativity and has a habit of trying to cancel successful people, or even worse, try to destroy their achievements through petty jealousy.  It is also unfair to the actual people who enjoy the films/tv series/comic books, novels or whatever.  I perceive it as a mean, pernicious, cynical and cowardly act on the part of people who have zero talent but who believe that they should have a say over output "just because".  

Some people actually enjoy these movies but these negative discourses are in the minority (thankfully).  But, I've even witnessed some individuals who are trying to cancel a show before it has even been made, FFS!!  How  insane is that??  To deprive people of something is just mean spirited.

What is even more annoying is that many of these "so called fans" have not even (through legal means) seen the shows or movies in question which, in my opinion, is even more screwed up and massively illogical.  How can one critique a text when one has not even watched said movie/tv show or read the book/comic in question?

Check your privilege, people! (Or, learn to code or do something useful with your life).

I just cannot understand this current obsession with bringing people down instead of celebrating the contributions they make to society/the media/everyday life.  It just seems...petty, insidious, rude and distasteful.

So, my personal mission is to explore positive things (that matter to me) and celebrate the good  and not become an old git who shakes their fists at (metaphorical) clouds due to their own social shortcomings. Yeah, we all hate stuff but when you turn it into a habit or more frighteningly, a lifestyle, maybe it's time to call it a day. 

Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name!

Prepping for Brexit...lol

Two years.

It's two years to the day since my mum passed away.  I've written about it here and here.

I don't think I have anymore to add on the subject, so today will be spent with quiet reflection, maybe a book or a movie.

Photo Friday!

Malcolm Tucker is my Spirit Animal. Video features swearing.

Just sayin'

“You’re about as funny as a blind toddler in a f***ing minefield.”

From the The Tao of Malcolm Tucker.

That post Bank Holiday Feeling and the first day back in the office.

*meh*

But, was rather nice, got to hang out with genuine, talented, decent human beings and I love my desk that has an amazing view of Brum.  #win

(Not So) Guilty Pleasures: The Verve.

Edited:  My blog stats and flickr hits are off the chain!  Hello to all the new readers and thanks for visiting :) 

And, every visit = ad revenue and lovely money!  :) 

Shine!

If I'd listened everything that they said to me, I wouldn't be here!

and if I took the time to bleed from all the tiny little arrows shot my way,

I wouldn't be here!

the ones who don't do anything are always the ones who try to put you down

and you could spend your entire life walking around

in the nowhere land of self doubt

'coz when you start to doubt yourself the real world will eat you alive!

it's time, it's time to align your body with your mind, it's hero time

it's time, it's time to align your body with your mind, it's hero time

'coz when you start to doubt yourself the real world will eat you alive!

and you know it's true!

I'm talking to you: hero time starts right now! Yeah, hero time, yeah,

time to shine, hey, hero time!

Rollins - Ghost Rider!

Henry Rollins is *never* a guilty pleasure.

(Not so) Guilty Pleasures - Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here.

Current mood.  Lifelong friends are missed - Pete C (if alive today - 45 years of friendship).  Dave H (if alive today - 30 years of friendship).  Life is a struggle - some of us make it, others don't.  I'm disappointed the good people don't seem to succeed or continue to breathe but that's it, the house always wins.

The Rise of Skywalker - New footage from D23.

The final 2 seconds of the footage - well.....some of us saw it coming and my jaw is still dropping!

Too hot to sleep....

It was way to hot overnight and have been awake for an hour or so which is *criminal* on a national holiday/bank holiday.

The sun is coming up and even the cats look like they're melting.

Roll on winter!

Foucault - Panopticism

Foucault's theories were the core centre of my dissertation (Fandom).  His background is just as interesting as his theoretical frameworks.

Sneak Preview - Sequel to DC's Justice League Movie!

Man, I'd buy that for a dollar! ;)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Speechless - all I can say is that this looks to be shaping up to be something special and rather good.

Scifi Friday!

Hypno-Woman

Best Spider-Man movie ever?

Gaming stuff

I finished Days Gone yesterday (really enjoyed it!) and a while ago I picked up Uncharted 4 for a reasonable price (£12!) on Amazon.  (Still need to give Red Dead Redemption 2 a spin but it seems like you need to commit to that more than you would commit to bringing up a child!  It's all installed and ready to go but after the first game having *that* ending, not sure if  I could endure that trauma again)

I played the first game and was so disappointed with the combat.  I hope this one improves upon that shortcoming?  In all honesty, I do prefer the new Tomb Raider reboots but willing to give it a spin.  I have the 4 hour rule - if it doesn't grab me, it gets resold.

Also, hooked up the PS4 VR again into the PS4 Pro - I do miss HDR gaming but playing the VR Star Wars Mission in Battlefront more than makes up for it.

(Not so) Guilty Pleasures: Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OST by Goblin

It's been a funny few months...

A difficult post - I've been struggling massively these past months/few years with depression.  Full disclosure, earlier this year things got way too heavy and I came very close to doing something very stupid.

My resolve/resilience is massively low right now and I have taken some annual leave from work to try and "fix" things - insomnia, moods which swing from low to even lower and a general lack of appetite for life.

When I say "fix" things, I mean "manage".  Depression, both clinical and chronic, is something I have to live with and adjust to.  I've come to the conclusion that it will never go away.

Therapy has helped, massively when it comes to processing my feelings and emotions (I learned that emotions, even the negative ones, are not "bad" things - they act as a temperature check and enable us to cope with certain situations).  Since August 2017, I kind of switched off my emotions in order to deal with a traumatic life event.  Since then, I've only felt anger, remorse and resentment.  It's kind of like all the "good" and "positive" was vacuumed  out of me, leaving only a hollow husk of an unlikable individual.  However, I am trying to take pleasure in the smaller moments, the simple things that enable me to experience pleasure again.

A pattern I do need to break is this sense of dislocated "doom" or "disaster" that lurks just out of sight on the periphery of my thoughts and emotional "spectrum".  I think this is a massive trigger for me.  It feels like my life lurches from one negative experience to another and again, not healthy.  I am no longer able to "live in the moment" and I always feel as if my life experience is like a VHS tape, always on "fast forward".  And this is why I fail.

Something I have learned is that depression is a killer.  It not only steals happiness, it takes time and happiness away from us.  Stunting our development and life experiences.  I have missed out on so much since I was first diagnosed (medically) with depression in 2010.  Nine years later and I have learned so much, about myself, what makes me tick and what drives me.  Sometimes I like what I see and other times I don't.

I guess I need to embrace the positive and the negative to become the person I need to be instead of the one I think I *should* be?

Edited to Add - Myself and Linda are not going to taint this blog with commenting on certain people's lies.  By acknowledging their existence, Linda and I give them power and dominion over us.  Which is exactly what they crave.  #sad

(Not so) Guilty Pleasures - Night of the Creeps

I am so gutted that #shoutfactory would not ship to the UK.  Hoping to potentially pick one up when next in the USA but it appears to be sold out.  #ebay prices are off the chain!  I love this movie so might watch the #bluray at some point this week.  Yeah, the action figure would be great but the movie is on my shelf so it's all good :)  #positive #outlook  Reject the negative!

Thrill me!

Moments in art - The Garden of Unearthly Delights (Bosch)

I think I was about 8 years old when I first saw this image in a library book.  A complete mind fuck but even as an adult, it's still a mind fuck now.

Click here for larger version.

Interpretation 

As a lay person, I always interpreted this triptych as "Heaven, Purgatory and Hell".  But who am I to guess?  (Heaven has cats - woot!) 

Ideas!

I was contemplating starting a new blog to post stuff other than photography but I thought, that might be a bit dull and a faff.  Having one all purpose site to put ideas, photos and things that interest me is much more utilitarian (for me at least).


I guess in my old age I just like a one stop shop where I can pop my thoughts, share an idea or a photo is much handier.  Also, it keeps everything in one place for my audience of 10 hardcore readers ;)

Recent stats - this humble page has had almost 253,000 views since it was first started.  My Flickr is up to edging towards 50,505,000 hits (I had a spike of almost 92,000 hits on 17/08/2019).


So, things aren't changing - new shoot planned hopefully in the next few weeks and will involve a classic Dr Who villain from the Troughton era (specifically, this story).

Have a great week, peeps!

Something to keep you all amused in the meantime.

(Not so) Guilty Pleasures: Gary Larson - The Far Side.

I have a copy of this cartoon pinned next to my desk at home.  It's one of my lovely wife's favourites.

(Not so) Guilty Pleasures: Exorcist III

I will make no bones about this one - this movie is one of the best examples of Horror Cinema.  William Peter Blatty was an utter genius.  30 years on and this work of cinematic genius still holds up today.


This article really nails the amazing intellect behind what is a unique experience (and the novel is well worth reading).

Bloody Disgusting - Exorcist III 30 years on.

Time for some fun. Charlie the Unicorn

It's all been a bit doom and gloom recently so, Candy Mountain!

Mental Health Support

This is another great resource.  If you're feeling low, there is always assistance out there.  I admit, I struggle with my mental well-being, given recent events (threats made to myself and Linda, but I will not go into that as by even mentioning it here brings even more unwanted attention**) and life changing events of the last couple of years.

**Note:  I guess it won't end while I am still breathing.  Bullying a vulnerable person who is at risk of self harm is acceptable, in their eyes I guess?  I just wish they would stop and leave us alone.

Edited to Add - Not going to taint this blog with certain people's lies. By acknowledging their existence, Linda and I give them power and dominion over us. Which is exactly what they crave. #sad

Owl Kitty vs Thanos!

Does this mean that Tony lives??

Linda pre-ordered this! New Star Wars Barbies.

How awesome is this?!

This can be ordered here.

Art Spiegelman is the voice of the 20th and 21st Century

This man is a genius, author of #maus.  I'm sure if he lived in the UK, he'd be protesting against the likes of Jeremy Corbyn and his party of the many.

Well worth a read.

Art Spiegelman: golden age superheroes were shaped by the rise of fascism

Tonight's Viewing.

Linda loves this movie and so do I.  One of the best Marvel movies *ever*.   We will be watching this on 4K UHD HDR Blu Ray on our 65 inch 4K UHD HDR set in 5.1 Surround.  I love my wife, she has amazing taste!

Edit 21:53 - It was even better second time around.  Brie is a positive role model for young women and girls who aspire to better themselves.  The haters and trolls should be ashamed of themselves.  Shame on you.


Brie Larson for the Win!  Such a gorgeous babe and a brilliant actor!  Go Brie, Go Brie!  We love you, Go team Brie!  #brieforstarwars

What do they call the #briehaters?  Oh yeah....woman hating misogynistic gun obsessed incel idiots.  Oh the humanity.

Edited to Add - Not going to taint this blog with certain people's lies. By acknowledging their existence, Linda and I give them power and dominion over us. Which is exactly what they crave. #sad  

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker (potential theories/spoilers)

Only a few more months to go now.  I'm rather looking forward to this to see how the final trilogy of the Skywalker Saga plays out.

Some of the best writing in television ever - Doctor Who

"I do what I do because it's right...because it's....decent"

SciFi Friday - Alien!