Monday 26 December 2005

(it's just like) Starting Over

Ok, I am biased. Did you really think I would say anything bad about the programme that came second in the viewing ratings on Christmas Day? From the opening scene, which was the same as the start of the new series (yay Mum and Dad for getting me the DVD series), to the steady build up (no DT for virtually 30 mins) to the hard edge which underlies the slightly flippant exterior of the new incarnation, this, I thought, was classic.

Yep there were cringe moments, but for me they worked - 'Doctor who?', I mean can they get any more cringe worthy than that? Although there was little DT throughout the opening exchanges, when he appeared, and we all knew it was coming, it was timed to perfection. As the translation kicked in and then, the Tardis doors opened - wonderful.

Ok, let's try and be critical. I think the overuse of the 'Torchwood' theme was a little overbearing - OK, there is a spin off TV series coming, but did it have to be so sledgehammered into the script? Also I thought the turn of the Harriet Prime Minister character into the 'evil' leader was a little out of sorts. And the shoe horning of the Christmas theme was a little close to the edge, I mean why send Santas and a Christmas tree to fight the Dr?

But, in gerenal I loved this, as I have loved everything, so far in R T Davis' version. I suppose there will be some point when I will lose heart but so far there is no end in sight. Dr Who is still fun, a great family favourite and we're all enjoying it. And in March when the series returns we'll get to see some more old friends - nostalgia never tasted so good.

Friday 23 December 2005

Deadringers in funny line shock

It seems that Deadringers have been taking note from the comments left on the BBC website for ideas for the show, I presume they now use that for the majority of their script. Unfortunately they haven't taken on Andrew's comment that they should do a sketch without telling the audinece who the character is.

Caught a few minutes tonight and actually laughed at a line. There was a James Blunt impersonation and the funny line was 'Morrisey says James Blunt is rhyming slang' well it made me laugh and any mention of the cool Manc is ok by me.

If i don't blog before 25th, then a happy Christmas to you all.

Thursday 22 December 2005

Dr Who countdown

Well couldn't resist this little plug for Dr Who - The Christmas Invasion, which airs on Christmas Day at 7:00pm on BBC 1. I am a little scared just in case it doesn't live up to expectation but from the clips they've been showing I am sure it is going to be great.

As soon as it has been on, and I can, I'll post about it, and all being well it will be a positive post.

To be honest I think that Dr Who has been one of the best things to happen in 2005. It was a great reinvention of a TV programme that had run out of steam many years before.

Tuesday 20 December 2005

Yahoo

Nice to see that others are noticing that there could be a conspiracy going on. Check out Flipping Heck for a quick post of the power of Yahoo.

But as I comment there, they seem to be influencing a whole lot more. Flickr and del.icio.us (why do they need so many '.' s in their name?) were the first to fall into disrepair, but also Typepad had a major outage just after Yahoo announced a deal with them and their 'beta' community 360 has been having all sorts of problems (well my little bit of it - oh i could spit)

Anyway I was wondering what else they would or could touch? Typepad is part of Six Apart, which are the people behind Live Journal and Movable type, so expect them to suffer shortly. I am now waiting for my broadband connection to die, and also my phone line to go dead because my isp is BT who are in collaboration with Yahoo.

If only Yahoo could do something that would benefit the communities they serve, such as sponsor the Take That comeback tour or be the airline for Gary Glitter's trip to Asia. They are things we could all do without. Let's breakdown the things we don't need, not the really useful sites on the web.

Now back to my tea.

Friday 16 December 2005

Beatles sue EMI

Ok saw this on the BBC website and can't help but think something is wrong somewhere. OK, this is a lot of money and I have no love for the big music conglomerate. But hey, do the surviving members of the Beatles and their estates really need that money? I suppose they'll claim it is a matter of principle, but to be honest they haven't got my sympathy.

Although, it also smacks of Apple trying to sort out its financial issues. I wonder if the first Sir Paul heard about it was when he read the above link here - LOL. Of course he is an avid reader, what do you mean?



Thursday 15 December 2005

Interesting

Things seem to be going a lot better after the last week or so.

Some software issues seem to have been cleared up, life in general seems a bit better and, although I hasten to add this is allegedly, 1 and 1 internet are due to repay me within the next 14 days - LMAO.

To add to this Ferdinand finally breaks his duck and scores for Man Utd, which puts him slightly ahead of Diego Forlan in Utd's top scorers.

I've caught up with a lot of sleep and now feel ready to take on the world again (damn different time zones). Which means a lot of to do lists, a clear out of all the 'stuff' and a lot of contructive thinking with regard to someday/maybe lists. (I still haven't got David Allen's book, but I know all the lingo). Why mention this? Well it's because I'm not sure where cold tea is going at the moment, it has lost a bit of focus and it may simply be easier to use the other blogs and sites I have to 'get out there'. So watch this space.

Tuesday 13 December 2005

1 and 1 Internet again

Ok so pay me the refund

We already have an automatic payment to the card details we have.

No, I told you I don't have that account anymore, please pay me.

Send us the bank statements, to show that payment wasn't made and we'll send a cheque

I don't have the bank statements. I don't have the account. I told you that three times before you sent the refund invoice. And no way would I send you my bank statements even if I had them. They are private. Please pay before I have to take this further.

Ok, give us the new details and we'll do a new bank transfer. We don't send out cheques.

Prats

Sunday 11 December 2005

I need a break

Have decided that exactly what I need right now is a break, a complete shutdown to clear my head and re-evaluate things. Unfortunatley, work is so busy I can't stop there for a while, personal issues are such that there is no room there either. The pile of cold tea cups is mounting.

I need to do a big life laundry exercise and focus on what really matters to me. Well I know what really matters but I can't seem to make any headway on those issues, both because I am unable to and because at the moment things are impracticle.

I am dues a sabbatical at work next year and to be honest it can't come quick enough. But what I ma going to do when it arives I don't know. Anyone fancy a road trip ;-)

Friday 9 December 2005

Little Britain III

I think I've just watched my last episode.

At least we get to see the Boosh next year

Thursday 8 December 2005

1 and 1 internet - again

Well, just a quick update. I paid the outstanding bill after being threatened with a kneecapping, well they sent it to a collection agency, because they said they would refund me for the amount of time I didn't use. And yesterday they sent me an invoice, with a credit amont on. I was going to recieve the refund.

However, there was no information on how they are going to refund me, and when this is likely to happen. Still I have the invoice - that is their first mistake mwahahaa.

Little Briain vs Christmas Do

My faith in British comedy has been revived. Why, I hear you ask, Surely Darren hasn't decided that the third series of Little Britain is worth the licence fee? No, Andrew, don't worry I haven't gone that far. So why the reason for this outburst? Well, the fact is I have found something more unfunny than Little Britain!!!! Or should that be less funny?

Yes, it was our annual works do last night, I knew I shouldn't have woken up yesterday as it was going to be one of those days. Anyway, I agreed to give a lift to Mr Hopper, as I can't remember the last time I drove people to a do, so it probably was my turn. We had a minutes silence for departed friends - we remembered you, and then I had the first shock of my life. We arrived late, becasue we didn't want to be too sociable, and when we finally got to the bar we were asked, 'are you with that lot?' 'Yes,' we replied. 'Then there is a tab running.' Well, I had to be picked up off the ground, we remonstrated with the bar staff, told them this surely couldn't be, but apparently it was so. Absolutley, bloody typical... free drink and I was driving. I could have had a couple of Ladyboys (see Alan Partridge just in case you think I've gone all gay like).

So that was pretty funny in itself but the highlight of the evening was the entertainment. If you thought Little Britain has become dull, then believe me, it is still comedy genious compared to what we had to put up with. Ok, we are a creative bunch, we are full of ideas and can come up with some pretty cool solutions to problems. But comedy demands, timing and humour. Unfortunately the comedy presented had neither. At the best of times I felt like I was in a nightmare, at the worst of times it was a parallel universe where all the atmosphere had been replaced with treacle.

Ok, break the golden blog rule and go into four paragraphs. Having said that the food was nice and so was the local company on the table - but missed you A. So comedy genii our company is not, where are Howard and Vince when I need them? (see the Mighty Boosh just in case you think I've gone all gay like)

Monday 5 December 2005

Another week

Too much to do, too little time but...

hey, Utd won at the weekend and the Dons are now into the third round of the FA CUP. But, Berman and Bragga struck again with one of the worst Enterprise episodes ever, and that is saying something.

Life is the normal mix of highs and lows, both personally and for others I know. In fact my lows look like highs compared to what some are going through, so I don't have much to complain about.

Anyway, I've been neglecting cold-tea-recently, so whether that means I need to rething what I'm doing here, or just put a little more effort in, I don't know. In the meantime I'm back and we'll see how it goes.

Saturday 3 December 2005

Mr Myagi

Should have posted this the other day, but been a little busy. Thanks for the text Andrew, I did know.

Wax on, wax off
Wax on Waxed off
Goodbye, we will miss you

Thursday 1 December 2005

Little Britain again

Ok, I must admit laughed tonight, particular highlights were:
Ting Tong as the Green Goddess
Orville
'Spitroast'
and
the slap to the guys you know what

and of course any programme with a reference to Monkey gets my vote.

Top Ten words and phrases

Welcome to a new regular feature of cold tea again - LOL, I miss Alan Partridge.

Inspired by a previous post here are my current top ten words and phrases, all are used frequently and go down well with a nice cup of tea. Credit is given for the inspiration where credit is due. And the order isn't based on usage, but just as I wrote them.


  1. Keep it together man - Monsters Inc classic
  2. Goth Juice - the Mighty Boosh, made from the tears of Robert Smith
  3. really nice
  4. Bottrop - hoping it is a place
  5. Yeah, I know - comedy crown slipped but the catchphrase still rocks
  6. That there's one damn fine coat - Sin City
  7. That's just Milky Joe in a wig - the Mighty Boosh
  8. That's just saaaaad - Alan Partridge (you really need the sound clip for this one)
  9. Enjoy the moment
  10. You have been and always will be my friend - hey, I like Star Trek, what would you expect

There were others that I was tempted to add but as children may read this I thought it best to keep it clean. I may put the X rated version on my LJ, but you'd have to find that first ;-)