Zola

Björk - All is Full of Love Can't believe this is 20 years old! Nice song, but the computer animation was way ahead of its time; even today it looks pretty impressive.

I'm only 24, but I may as well kill myself now and save myself another 50 years of "being a woman" grief, lol

Thanks so much for the valuable information, especially regarding peak-season visiting: I am clearly going to have to do my homework on when, where and for how long. My friends and I don't have much in the way of options visiting before May at the very earliest, especially since we're devoting between 4-6 weeks away from our work. I suppose we could hang on until September, October time, thus avoiding the peak summer months entirely. And clearly, I need to scale back all those places I want to visit: taking on far too much over too wider area in such relatively short window. Guess I'll need to go back to Google Maps and be a bit more realistic.

I am another fan of Tudor/Elizabethan England (1486-1600); and Georgian (1710-1830) and Victorian (1830-1900) periods. Difficult to really pin-point exactly why I like these eras: perhaps there was a certainly elegance, style, charm and sophistication that it so absent in modern times. But those eras also had real abject poverty, misery, hardship and disgust - things that are very hard to imagine today perhaps. I always like to indulge with fiction/non-fiction books of those eras; more so than anything contemporary or set in the future.

"Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" by Jeanette Winterson Perhaps the most pivotal book I have ever read, and a book I have a lot to be thankful for. My teen years was full of the usual rebellious angst against my parents and the Establishment (i.e. schools). Complicated somewhat because I wanted to come out and say to the world "I'm gay! I am a lesbian. I am still normal!" etc. but I just didn't have the nerve to do so. But a friend loaned me this book, and it just ticked so many boxes that it quickly became my own little saviour and "best friend". So much so that it gave me the courage of my convictions to finally "come out!" and to hell what society thinks! (As it turned out it was pretty smooth-going, other than a few battles with my parents)

17 and 20

Thanks for the tips. As for carrying self-defence "weapons" like pepper sprays - well we're very limited what we can carry legally in the UK. Even certain certain types of pepper spray are deemed illegal. So basically my potential attacker can be tooled up with a couple of knives while high on drugs. But if I'm carry a knife and I use it it self-defence and actually hurt him, I become the criminal that will be arrested while he will probably walk away as the innocent party. Anyway, I can legally carry one of those personal alarm things that make a high-pitched noise when activated. Very reassuring. NOT! I will take a different route tomorrow, and probably wear something a bit more "baggy" but not quite so comfortable. Of course I could be doing this guy a complete disservice, and that he just likes running. ho hum: just another complication in a person's ordinary daily life :(

Small nit-pick, but this morning I went for my usual daily run, which normally covers a few miles of streets, roads and countryside. I go running 5 or 6 times a week, and during the working week I have this route almost to myself in terms of seeing other runners. But the weekends are different because obviously a lot more people have more time on their hands. So even at 5am it's not surprising to see at least another 10 or so runners/walkers on my route, This morning was no different, but on this occasion - and not for the first time - I ended up with a runner who decided to spend at least 3 or 4 miles on my tail. Even when I deliberately slowed down to a slow jog he slowed down also, but never overtook or even got any closer. So I upped the pace to a full run, and he did the same. But after about 2 miles he couldn't keep up and I eventually lost him and that was that. I don't know if I've seen this guy before, but in the past I've had similar things happen nothing came of it. There was never any communication, acknowledgement or anything. I don't know whether they were pacing themselves with me, or worse just wanted to stare at my Lycra-covered arse for a mile or two. This morning's incident was no different, but worrying because you never know their motives (innocent or otherwise), and being out in the countryside with a stranger on your tail is a little unnerving (I did have my phone on me); and I didn't want to head back home because I didn't want to let this guy know where I lived. Might try a different route tomorrow.

Just tried by my hand at something different - Lemon Peri Peri Chicken & mixed pepper skewers, on a bed of boiled rice and side salad; with some Tabasco sauce to add a bit of zing to proceedings.

Ways and means Enemies

Through recommendation I finally got round to watching "Heat" (1995) last night. Am not really a big fan of crime/thrillers, but I was compelled to give the film a shot because I love the work of Al "Scent of a Woman" Pacino and Robert "Taxi Driver" De Niro. Much was said about the "coffee shop" scene between the two stars (apparently this was the first time the two icons had shared screen-time together); and I have to say a few tingles went up and down my spine when the scene did finally arrive and we see Pacino (good guy cop), talk casually with De Niro (bad guy crook). Such a simple scene that would probably not register had it been lesser stars, but because it was Al and Bob, it demanded a huge deal of respect. And it delivered in spades. The film itself was just okay for me, although the ending was quite special too. But the coffee shop scene certainly lived up to expectations.

20. Enemies Foreign and Domestic 21. The Black Vera Wang 22. We Killed Yamamoto

home made chilli con carne with wholegrain rice. Dead easy to make, and very filling

Not a big fan of glam-rock band Van Halen but I must admit to quite liking this Kinks' cover "You Really Got Me!"

3. Manchester (Part 2) 6. War Crimes 21. The Black Vera Wang

I was a little miffed about that particular scene too, but then again they did something very similar when Leo ran into the Oval Office to inform Jed of Mrs Landingham's RTA and subsequent death. Instead, it was spoken about behind closed doors before fading to black. Which for me was a kicker because I too wanted to share the "grief" with Jed and Leo.

13. The Two Bartlets 14. Night Five 21. The Black Vera Wang

Whatever works for you :) Personally I kept advanced electrics till last and just focused on the areas i mentioned in my previous post in order to build up my skills and become competent and more importantly, confident with the job at hand. I then focused on electrics, circuit diagrams, consumer units, voltmeters, multimeters, and basic rewiring, adding spurs, power sockets etc Still quite scary and demands complete attention, but hugely satisfying, and all above only a fraction of the cost compared to getting a pro to do it (i should add that here in the UK there is only so much an unqualified person can do for home improvements in terms of major electrics. There's various regulations and approved certificates required; plus there's always the risk of your home insurance company taking a dim view if you do your own electrics and you ultimately do damage to your own home that the insurance people may not pay out on. Perhaps the rules are different over in the US?)

I am no expert in furniture restoration, although i suspect it may have something to do with "French Polishing", or at least that's one particular aspect; there might be others. https://www.jmfrenchpolishing.co.uk/how-it-works

Apart from very basic DIY jobs involving electrics, I would shy way from that potentially lethal area and focus on the more practical aspects of DIY. i learnt from my dad how to do carpentry for such jobs as trimming, planing and sanding doors, frames, tables and chairs etc. He then told me about drilling and what kinds of drill bits to use (wood, metal, masonry, SDS, countersink etc); and the different kinds of wall surfaces (plasterboard, chipboard, brick etc). And then there's plumbing - changing taps, replacing pipework, fixing toilet cisterns, even replacing sink units. These are all fairly general and not overly difficult or dangerous - just patience, common sense and an eye for detail and accuracy is all that's needed. Am pretty sure others here will offer more ideas. Electrics are a different ball game, and I would suggest you get some professional advice on how far to take that.

Sex scenes. In one respect I can understand why they're included in a film (usually dramas, thrillers or the odd rom-com); but it's the sheer explicitness I could really do without as it seems completely out of context in terms of moving the story along. Implication & suggestion are better alternatives to having to see (and hear) all of the explicit goings-on twixt two (or more) people. And of course it can make for uncomfortable viewing if you're watching with friends, or worse your parents! (I recall watching "Desert Hearts" for the first time 4 or 5 years ago with my parents. It came recommended as a good lesbian drama/romance, but in my naivety I wasn't expecting the rather explicit love scene between the two female protagonists; and I'm pretty sure my parents weren't either!)

Thanks - I don't think it aired here in the UK, and neither was it included in the TWW box set.

1. Isaac and Ishmael 20. Enemies Foreign and Domestic 23. Posse Comitatus (I am not aware of the "Documentary Special" for this season? Was it about the show itself, or just another variation of "Access"?)

Another vote for under cabinet lights! They make a huge difference to the appearance of a kitchen especially when not in use and you have the lights on just for display purposes. The wiring can be a bit of a hassle, although you can get individual USB lights that work just as well. Then there's the consideration about shape - puck-shape or bar? Either way, they're definitely worth having!

"Foster Child: Intimate Biography of Jodie Foster" - by Buddy Foster, Leon Wagener. I have always had a warm affection and respect for Ms Foster, and not just for her acting roles in the cinema. I even had a schoolgirl crush of her during my impressionable teen years. Despite her numerous films, both in terms of acting and directing, trying to find a decent biography of her is a bit of a challenge. But this book, written by her brother, Buddy, offers something far more enlightening and personal than some books I have read about her. That said, even this book is something like 20 years old, and therefore is far from complete. But there doesn't appear to be anything more contemporary around just yet.