Lots of fun in Cardiff last night. It felt a tad strange to be back there after a couple of years since my last visit, but it didn't let me down.
As a student many moons ago, I used to frequent an Indian restaurant called Kismet on City Road. Whenever I return to the city I make an effort to pay Kismet a visit, because the value is unbeatable and the food is yummy. A mere fiver for a starter (Kebab-E-Kismet is awesome), curry, rice AND side dish. Booze is pretty cheap too - £11.95 for a bottle of house plonk, but with their permanent BOGOF wine deal, you get two bottles for the same price. Excellent stuff, and precisely what we needed before heading to the CIA to watch The Killers.
What can I say, the gig was faultless. Check out some footage that I managed to film here. At 2mins55secs I very nearly drop the camera, hence my girly shriek. There was tickertape, pyrotechnics, and a fab mass-singalong to Bohemian Rhapsody just before they came onstage. I also managed to avoid the ridiculously long queues for drinks by sneaking upstairs and discovering a secret bar.
Hmmm, I appear to have written more about Kismet than The Killers...
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Shrove boozeday
Pancakes pancakes pancakes. I love them. Can't make them to save my life, but nom nom nom. So, imagine my delight when I found out that Ed's Diner in Soho was giving away free pancakes yesterday, courtesy of The Kindness Offensive!
Luckily for me I got there shortly after the giveaway started at 8am (there were massive queues later), so I got a seat at the counter and was even filmed whilst filling my gob with syrupy yumminess. Sadly the person interviewing me didn't quite understand any of my Masterchef references when I described the quality of the food, but never mind.
I also got a free coffee, which was possibly a mistake since I only normally drink coffee about once every six months when I have a life-or-death requirement for it, and because I was feeling quite perky yesterday anyway, the caffeine in my bloodstream meant that I was talking at about a million miles an hour - AND VERY LOUDLY - all morning.
After a couple of post-work drinkies and a very pleasant, girly dinner with Shell, I went to the February London Bloggers Meetup event at Verve Bar in Covent Garden. This time it was sponsored by Bacardi, promoting their new range of 100 Calorie Bacardi Breezers. And very tasty they were too. So even though the day started off with lots of pancake-related calories, at least I sort of made up for it later on.....yeah right.
Luckily for me I got there shortly after the giveaway started at 8am (there were massive queues later), so I got a seat at the counter and was even filmed whilst filling my gob with syrupy yumminess. Sadly the person interviewing me didn't quite understand any of my Masterchef references when I described the quality of the food, but never mind.
I also got a free coffee, which was possibly a mistake since I only normally drink coffee about once every six months when I have a life-or-death requirement for it, and because I was feeling quite perky yesterday anyway, the caffeine in my bloodstream meant that I was talking at about a million miles an hour - AND VERY LOUDLY - all morning.
After a couple of post-work drinkies and a very pleasant, girly dinner with Shell, I went to the February London Bloggers Meetup event at Verve Bar in Covent Garden. This time it was sponsored by Bacardi, promoting their new range of 100 Calorie Bacardi Breezers. And very tasty they were too. So even though the day started off with lots of pancake-related calories, at least I sort of made up for it later on.....yeah right.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Hot (choco)date
Oh the joys of being single on Valentine's Day. Ah well, worse things could happen. In fact, I had quite a nice, chilled-out day, which mainly consisted of me fuelling my obsession for two things:
1. Hot chocolate. Since living with my brother, we have somehow turned into hot chocolate connoisseurs. We have scoured the market and have decided that the best high street option is Cadbury Drinking Chocolate. Simply stir three (and a bit...) teaspoons of the stuff into hot milk (the hotter the better in my opinion, and NEVER put it into cold milk because for some strange scientific reason it won't mix) and you have perfect hot chocolate in a matter of moments. None of this 'just mix with boiling water' nonsense. I came home from work a few days ago, opened the hot chocolate cupboard and, to my joy / horror, discovered that there were four tubs of the stuff in there. My brother's justification for this excessive purchase decision was that they were on special offer. One and a bit tubs have already vamoosed. I had a modest two yesterday (mugs, not tubs).
2. Twitter. 'IT'S THE NEW FACEBOOK' everyone is proclaiming with big manic grins on their faces. Me included. It is strangely addictive, and I find it fascinating the way the boundaries between celebrities and us mere mortals are being eroded away through Web 2.0. But are we all beginning to know too much about each other? Isn't it nice to keep a bit of mystery sometimes? That's why you won't find me moaning about my numerous dating disasters on this blog. I reckon it'll only be a matter of time until someone is relying on Twitter to provide them with an alibi in a big court case. "It wasn't me, honest - look, at 7.56pm I was chatting to @Schofe on Twitter..." Hmmmmmmm
Monday, 26 January 2009
Laughterchef
Ok, so I know I've banged on about 'Masterchef' before, in particular the raw emotions on display from the celebrity contestants, but now I feel I must expand on my previous diatribe. I swear tonight's episode is one of the ridiculous things I have ever seen on TV (yep, even more ridiculous than 'Jonathan Creek').
Firstly, do they even check to see whether the contestants can actually cook anymore?? A dude on tonight's show concocted a plate of what can only be described as a tin of chickpeas with bacon on top, all floating in what looked to be the the result of a nosebleed.
Needless to say he was torn to pieces by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The efforts of the other competitors were pretty pants too. One contestant couldn't even finish cooking his dish because he chopped the top of his thumb off and had to be rushed to A&E (we were reassured later that he hadn't bled to death, although I think some of the blood may have spurted on to the plate above).
Other amusing attempts at recent cooking by contestants include a well-meaning lady with a nervous giggle who started out by making a risotto, panicked and decided to PUREE it into a 'soup', which resembled concrete, and a guy who served up boiled carrots (complete with a bite taken out of one of them) and potatoes!! Even Gregg today admitted that "anyone who can open a tin is through to the next stage" because the standards were so low.
Secondly, the programme is becoming increasingly formulaic - there now seems to be a 'novice cook', 'experimental cook' and 'traditional cook' in each episode (as well as the 'crap cook'). And, of-course, they all have bags of PASSION, as repeatedly expressed by the husky-voiced voiceover woman who sounds like she could do with a good cough.
I must say, however, that it is hugely entertaining, and I have had some massive belly laughs tonight as a result of the incompetence on display. Experience the hilarity for yourself on iPlayer. I might even enter next year's series and whip up a bowl of Heinz tomato soup, followed by Supernoodles and a Wagon Wheel.
Firstly, do they even check to see whether the contestants can actually cook anymore?? A dude on tonight's show concocted a plate of what can only be described as a tin of chickpeas with bacon on top, all floating in what looked to be the the result of a nosebleed.
Needless to say he was torn to pieces by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The efforts of the other competitors were pretty pants too. One contestant couldn't even finish cooking his dish because he chopped the top of his thumb off and had to be rushed to A&E (we were reassured later that he hadn't bled to death, although I think some of the blood may have spurted on to the plate above).Other amusing attempts at recent cooking by contestants include a well-meaning lady with a nervous giggle who started out by making a risotto, panicked and decided to PUREE it into a 'soup', which resembled concrete, and a guy who served up boiled carrots (complete with a bite taken out of one of them) and potatoes!! Even Gregg today admitted that "anyone who can open a tin is through to the next stage" because the standards were so low.
Secondly, the programme is becoming increasingly formulaic - there now seems to be a 'novice cook', 'experimental cook' and 'traditional cook' in each episode (as well as the 'crap cook'). And, of-course, they all have bags of PASSION, as repeatedly expressed by the husky-voiced voiceover woman who sounds like she could do with a good cough.
I must say, however, that it is hugely entertaining, and I have had some massive belly laughs tonight as a result of the incompetence on display. Experience the hilarity for yourself on iPlayer. I might even enter next year's series and whip up a bowl of Heinz tomato soup, followed by Supernoodles and a Wagon Wheel.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Frost/Nixon fact/fiction?
Another reason why I love living in London. I got into work ridiculously early on Monday as a result of a big leak in my flat (long story). As a consequence of my early start, I managed to spot an advert in the Guardian offering free tickets to a preview screening of 'Frost/Nixon' much earlier than I normally would have done, and managed to get my hands on a pair.
So Thursday night, just hours after the film had picked up five Oscar nominations, off we went to Cineworld Haymarket after a beer and a sausage at my favourite pub, The Harp. The foyer was packed, with hundreds of people all clutching their printed tickets, and amongst the throng was none other than former Lib Dem leader, Charles Kennedy. I do like my celebrity spotting, so I was quite chuffed with this one. Then, when we took our seats in the grand, art deco Screen 1, we spotted legendary broadcaster John Humphrys (whose real first name is apparently Desmond, according to Wikipedia). Turns out that, as well as watching the film for free, we were to be treated to a Q&A session after the screening with Charles, John, Observer film critic Philip French and Channel 4 news broadcaster Samira Ahmed, hosted by the Observer's political editor, Gaby Hinsliff.
It was riveting stuff, with lots of intelligent debate about the film itself (I thoroughly enjoyed it, although the Q&A session sparked the panel to deliberate whether it should have simply stuck to the facts, rather than adding in bits such as the late night phonecall between the two lead players), as well as some amusing anecdotes from John Humphrys after he was asked whether he believes Gordon Brown is 'Nixonian'. According to Humphrys, Brown, like Nixon, has a 'desperate need to be loved'.
A fab evening, and spookily, all as a result of my own, rather less complicated, 'Watergate'.
So Thursday night, just hours after the film had picked up five Oscar nominations, off we went to Cineworld Haymarket after a beer and a sausage at my favourite pub, The Harp. The foyer was packed, with hundreds of people all clutching their printed tickets, and amongst the throng was none other than former Lib Dem leader, Charles Kennedy. I do like my celebrity spotting, so I was quite chuffed with this one. Then, when we took our seats in the grand, art deco Screen 1, we spotted legendary broadcaster John Humphrys (whose real first name is apparently Desmond, according to Wikipedia). Turns out that, as well as watching the film for free, we were to be treated to a Q&A session after the screening with Charles, John, Observer film critic Philip French and Channel 4 news broadcaster Samira Ahmed, hosted by the Observer's political editor, Gaby Hinsliff.
It was riveting stuff, with lots of intelligent debate about the film itself (I thoroughly enjoyed it, although the Q&A session sparked the panel to deliberate whether it should have simply stuck to the facts, rather than adding in bits such as the late night phonecall between the two lead players), as well as some amusing anecdotes from John Humphrys after he was asked whether he believes Gordon Brown is 'Nixonian'. According to Humphrys, Brown, like Nixon, has a 'desperate need to be loved'.
A fab evening, and spookily, all as a result of my own, rather less complicated, 'Watergate'.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Wicked 48 hours
So I have completed another rotation around the sun and have waved goodbye to my mid-twenties. Ah well. A very good birthday it was too, with a birthday lunch, lots of wine, laughter, Chinese food (leading to doggybag-gate) and a surprise delivery to the office of a fab Authentic Cuervo Margarita kit courtesy of the lovely people at Splendid Communications. It was delivered by a courier and everything and came with a gorgeous glass with sparkly bits down the stem. Yum yum.
Then the following evening a bunch of us from work went to see the musical 'Wicked'. I'm a regular theatre-goer, but musicals aren't usually my bag, yet I swear this one blew my socks off. Fab story, catchy songs, witty humour. I even shed a couple of tears, which is VERY unlike me. Go and see it. Now. It's even got Carol from 'The Brittas Empire' in it (the receptionist who used to keep her baby in the drawer).
Then the following evening a bunch of us from work went to see the musical 'Wicked'. I'm a regular theatre-goer, but musicals aren't usually my bag, yet I swear this one blew my socks off. Fab story, catchy songs, witty humour. I even shed a couple of tears, which is VERY unlike me. Go and see it. Now. It's even got Carol from 'The Brittas Empire' in it (the receptionist who used to keep her baby in the drawer).
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Sonic relief
Funny Dunlop family joke earlier. What with Doctor Who being 'in the blood', my mum, dad and I were waiting with baited breath for the BBC's over-dramatic televisual announcement of the actor who has been chosen to portray the Eleventh Doctor. The build-up was anti-climactic (apart from some well-deserved airtime for Great Uncle Patrick Troughton), with the selected actor being unveiled as the relatively unknown Matt Smith. He is going to be the youngest ever Doctor. He's younger than me for goodness sake! Now I do feel old.
Anyway, my brother was out at the time of the announcement so we concocted a plan, and decided to tell him when he got back that Lenny Henry had got the job.
The build-up was perfect - resulting in a game of 20 questions for him to work out who it was. He got to Lenny Henry after about ten questions....and was absolutely delighted! "I'm definitely going to watch the next series now!" he proclaimed, with the widest possible grin on his face. The rest of us completely cracked up and broke the news to him that sadly it wasn't going to be Lenny Henry after all, although in hindsight I kind of wish we had let him go on believing it in order to cause maximum embarrassment.
Congratulations young Mr Smith - don't let us down!!
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