A modern remake of an old school classic always has the possibility to create discontent amongst the die-hard fans. Having said that I;m not a die-hard Astroboy fan... I remember watching it after school in the 60's and 70's and have seen some of the "modern" stuff from the 80's but I was never really gripped - some of the stories and action were a bit lame and cheesey. I have just watched the movie and I am a HUGE fan of this film.
The pacing was very good - we got through the history on how he came to be without getting too bogged down in sentiment and tears and his struggles and pain throughout the movie make you really warm to the character. There are plenty of laughs too and not too much to scare kids or bore adults. It's a Japanese cartoon so there HAS to be a showdown between Astro and a Giant Evil Robot - this is one of the highlights of the film - the animation is exquisite and the confrontations balances action and humor REALLY well. There is an excellent cast including the voices of Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Matt Lucas, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland and Nicolas Cage. It was great to see a few nods to the original creator Osamu Tezuka in the film too - watch out for them...

SERIOUSLY.....I LOVE THIS FILM

I have loved my job for the past 10 months, seconded to the Learning and Development department for the company I work for, Sadly today got the news that the company doesn't need a very large L&D department (despite the fact we have doubled the size of the company in this time to over 400 front line workers), so my position will be terminated on November 1st.

I'll e in Japan at that moment and won't care. A bit sad today though because I really did love the work and was encouraged by my boss saying that she was optimistic of keeping all the L&D team together. At the end of the day - 2 of us got told today, and the other four will go in March next year.

I'll spend the next week sending out job applications ( I still have my old job with the company - but don't particularly want it) then go to Japan to have a great time and contemplate my options on my return.

The other day Jimi introduced me to a cartoon called "CHOWDER" - it's one of these modern cartoon creations that come from the Ren & Stimpy / Sponge Bob Square-Pants stable so there is plenty of colour and noise for the kids but enough slapstick to make it worthwhile watching for adults. One of the attractions for Jimi is that the main character reminded him of someone... and I can see what he means. There are also a couple of other characters (one is in the clip but not focused on) that reminds Jimi of people that he knows.
If you have young kids, or don't have a daytime job you might already be familiar with Chowder - and if you watch the show on TV or see it on the net or YouTube you might guess who the three people are --- for me the main character featured in the film clip is pretty obvious. I think the name of the other characters that remind Jimi of people that we know are Mung Daal and Truffles (I think they are married).
Enjoy.

I seem incapable of typing anything meaningful at the moment. There is no overwhelming trauma in my life and I like my job, so here's a video in lieu of anything of substance. Cheers.

Tickets went on sale today for the Australian leg of the ACDC 'Black Ice' Tour (2010). Perth sold out in SEVEN MINUTES - Sydney and Melbourne added TWO more concerts. Adelaide has sold out and there is no room to fit in another show. Starting at $100 it could be best value in Rock and Roll history.... only time will tell.








This will be awesome!

Currently working in Wollongong - it's the first time I've been here and although it's not a thriving and heaving Megalopolis like I prefer, it OK. The train ride down from Sydney is about 90 minutes and is scenic enough to not seem like a long time. On one side of the coastal run is waves crashing on rocks (I'm glad I came) on the the other fairly high and steep green hills - it reminded me a bit of Japan which also made the journey pleasant. The training is going along OK - no outright hopeless cases - Day 3 usually helps them float to the surface. A couple have showed themselves to be struggling a bit now the pressure is up and I'm glad at least one of them has put their hand up and asked for some 1:1 training - hopefully this will help clarify things in her head. There are a couple of galpals who are a bit disruptive and ALWAYS ask "what are we doing?" after I've just told them and they are never ready when the rest of the group are. Overall I really like my group of Gongsters that's why I'm here in a 24/7 internet cafe (a big YAY for the city for that!) preparing notes and learning aides for them. I know some of my peers don't agree with this - they subscribe to the sink or swim theory, but sink or swim is really a crap theory - most people spend good money to have their kids taught how to swim. If sink or swim was a great teaching method we'd all be at the end of the jetty chucking the kids out to sea. I still don't know what is planned for me after Wollongong - maybe I will be getting more training or going up to Newcastle - I'll find out on Friday. Whatever happens, life is good.

He was a little bit Roger Daltry, a little bit James Brown, maybe even a little bit Freddie Mercury - but he was all Rock and Roll - Kiyoshiro Imawano passed away May 2nd 2009 of throat cancer. Japan and the world has lost a great rock and roller.

This is the first weekend of my first solo training group - we're on the Gold Coast so it should be a paradise but not so - after 1 day my trainers laptop ceased being functional and I've covered that problem but it leaves me disadvantaged as I don't have a computer that I can use to review upcoming lessons or past results. We've lost oodles of time because the company has changed servers which means that 'the computers were down' which is a major league crap situation when you are trying to teach a computer based job. Further drama as head office realised that no-one had any paperwork done so the are legally qualified to do their job until the paperwork is sorted - so another half day is lost while we tidy up management's mess. I think all my group are good enough to get through and be productive but there are some who don't see that it's not "the computer's fault" because they can't log on - when I log them on using case-sensitive passwords --**HOLA!** it works. Anyone who is an adult educator out there ... what's a really nice and effective way of saying "If you fucking well listened when I tell you something you might not be the same 2 people with you hands in the air with basic questions everytime."
I do like my job - but I've found that there are all these concessions and niceties that we make for adult learning where the only concession we should ask is they stop acting like huffy 12 year olds if things go wrong.
Maybe I'm just jealous because this job doesn't allow me to release my 'inner princess' when things don't go my way.

I've just coome back from 4 and a bit days in Melbourne which were fantastic days. I have been feeling a bit swamped by my job so to totally escape it was GREAT - my phone even went flant so I couldn't be hassled by anyone!
One of my main reasons to go to Melbourne was to see the stage musical version of Billy Elliot - it was fantastic - I may me cry twice and laugh for nearly 3 hours and absolutely filled my heart with joy. If you've got any reason to be in Melbourne while thus show is playing - grab a ticket to see this show. The worst tickets (what I had) are about $70 and are still pretty good - you miss some of the high up action but that accounts for less than 90 seconds of the show. I had my doubts if it would work as a musical - I loved the film - but the whole show was a total joy. Did I already mention that you should make a real efort to see this show?



The major highlight, of course, was catching up with K&G&N and the newest addition A (aka 'the Boodge'). K&G have every right as parents to say she's wonderful and gorgeous and beautiful and adorable etc etc etc... but she is. She's an absolute charmer - on her best behavior while I was there and by all accounts that's pretty standard - a beautiful child who has quickly adopted a routine - seriously perfect. N is now at school and seems to love having a baby sis. They look very similar as babies so it could well be K&G have a pair very beautiful daughters to look forward to over the years. With the amount of time that they (particularly G) invests in their education and artistic outlets - these two young girls could amount anything! K&G I know you are awfully proud -- but wow! You really should be! You done good work!





Click the piccy to see more...

OK - it's still very early days as far as this new job is concerned - but I really like the people I work with and the people I work for (not withstanding that I liked the people I used to work with too). This fortnight will be my second and last training fortnight and after that I'll be on my own - which makes me nervous but also quite excited - my bosses tell me that they aren't looking to kill people when they make mistakes (as we inevitably will) so it will be a massive chance to really kick on the learning curve. Our first semi-solo setup seemed to go OK (albeit theat there were no computers there) but the only difference that made was that we didn't plug in 11 data cables which are unnecessary at this time. It was a great time to do things as a group and the dinner out at the Taj Tandoor (followed by dessert at Cocolat) was a very pleasant time had. At the end of this week (so the head trainer can come along) we are planning to have dinner at the Apothecary on Thursday and this will be followed by a trip to the Barossa on Saturday (unless it's an absolute stinking hot day). We'll probably have one more meal as a team before people start flying out friday-week evening... and that will be that as far as group get togethers go. It's been really wonderful to meet these folk and I hope we do get to keep in touch..... we shall see!

I'm into week 2 of a 3 week stint away from home (except for 2 days this weekend) as part of new job as a company trainer. When our group of trainee trainers started we all thought it quite wonderful having Cabcarge cards, company visa cards and 4-star accomodation... and it is! It's lovely to come home and the appartment is clean and tidy and they even do the washing up for you if it isn't too much. There are some downsides - but not many. If the bed is OK then life is pretty sweet - some of my training group have found it hard to sleep on a strange bed and have resorted to sleeping on the couch. Hey I sleep on the couch too but it's usually after dinner and I crash there until about 0200 then go to bed for 4 hours. The new cities we have gone to have been great and pretty - but in reality we have been so busy there has hardly been any time to do any sight seeing and i ended up not getting any photos in Perth - I'm hoping to get some pics in Brisbane but we will see. The other thing about the job is that you sign a contract to do a minimum of 38 hours per week but it's never been less than 50 hours with all the preparation time and after class reviews. Eating and drinking out some nights that are claimed against a company expense account is pretty nice too... but I still miss my couch, car, internet and DVDs. Am I complaining? Hell no! I fucken love my job!

ST TRINIANS (2007)

I actually watched this film because someone I knew told me it was really really good and don't be put off by the trailer. It starts Rupert Everett, Stephen Fry, Colin Firth, Russell Brand, Gemma Arterton (who has since been in "RocknRolla" and "Quantum of Solace") as well as a huge potload of up-and-coming British female acting talent (or so the blurb goes...).

I won't wax too lyrical over it or it's fine sounding cast..

IT WAS A PIECE OF SHIT

I really wanted to laugh, enjoy and love this film - but I cannot. It is excruciatingly unfunny, the cast are wasted in this bilge - there is no wit, no humour and no character you actually care about. Rupert Everett plays two roles, and is equally shit in both. Perhaps the only thing to watch out for is how many references to other (and better) Colin Firth films they managed to fit in.

What makes this film so bloody awful? A complete lack of charm! It's all about a feral High School, and would have been much better served to have perhaps used kids that were high school aged - it worked for Harry Potter - and wicked kids can have a certain charm if they ARE kids and not a bunch of 20-somethings.

There was no wit in the script, no subtlety in the design, nor originality in the wardrobe it was cliched to fuck and dead boring. No seriously, I hated this movie which is a pity because I've been loving so many Brit films recently.

This is probably the worst Brit film I've seen since "Carry on Columbus" (which is my all time low mark for judging a film)... the tragedy is they are making a sequel.

As a dual role player in the film and as an executive director I feel Rupert Everett must take a huge amount of blame for this shite. They must have made money from this film or they wouldn't bother with a sequel, but I'd rather see Rupe take some of that cash and give his acting skills a bit of a polish...being 'charming and gay' doesn't make you a good actor.

And spend some good money on someone who can write.

I AM … trying to get myself into good routines.
I WANT… my friends and family to be happy with who and where they are.
I HAVE … plans but no drive.... and sometimes drive but no plan.
I KEEP … wasting so much time.
I WISH I COULD … rely less on money and just write and take photos.
I HATE … having to devolve into a creature that worries about income source.
I FEAR … that I will never write that book, or tell people how much I love them enough.
I HEAR … Mach Pelican may be reforming...and this is good.
I DON’T THINK … and of course, that's half my problem!
I REGRET … that I should have so many regrets.
I LOVE … anyone who I have hugged kissed and said I Love You to - I mean it.
I AM NOT … as smart (nor as scary) as people think - these are the biggest bluffs in my life.
I DANCE … but not enough.
I SING … more than I ever used to .... fuck it! Why not?
I NEVER … try to take too much for granted these days - things can end pretty quickly.
I RARELY … get genuinely angry... it never ever EVER achieves anything
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … sad movies - and I do so deliberately on a regular basis.
I AM NOT ALWAYS … logical, quick to the point nor quick off the mark.
I HATE THAT … so few have so much and do so little with it.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … why every piece of cow manure seems to think that they are the strawberry
I NEED … to lose weight above all else.
I SHOULD … become the man with a plan
I WISH … I could do more for those I care about
I SEE … a novel, a pompous autobiography and a book of poetry before I'm 60.
I LOVE WATCHING … people sharing good times,

Seriously... I've had enough of this fucking cough!

Went on a flying trip to Melbourne last week with the major quest being to dine out at MAEDAYA : 400 Bridge Road, Richmond (PH 03 - 94283981). This time around shared the experience with K,G & N. The owner of the restaurant (Toshi) welcomed us warmly when we arrived (surprisingly on time for me) and took time to make some menu and (more importantly) sake suggestions. On his advice we open with a round of Kaganotsuki Gekko Junmai Daiginjo sake which was delightfully flavorsome - most of my previous experiences with sake in Oz have been with rather rough tasting gut-burners, whereas this was as subtle and complex as a good Barossa wine (Note : ALWAYS consult the sake master!)
https://www.sakejapan.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=868400163
It was now time for food - and after having our appetites whetted with the Maedya bread and sauce tasting platter we finally got rolling and started ordering food on sticks and dumplings on platters - we opened with a double set of Maedaya Gumiyaki (which is a sampler plate of 5 different foods on sticks) we tried 4 different types of gyoza (or maybe it was 3 different types with our favorite one tried twice), king prawn, grilled eel, spicy sausage, and Okonomiyaki (which was a little smaller than those I've tried in Japan but perfect for sharing as you did not want to fill up on it). K wasn't drinking so G and I decided to work our way through some of the many sakes on offer. OK..we were probably not very adventurous and we ended up trying both of the available Umeshus (sweet) and the only sparkling sake hey had... all of these were delicious and moresome - even K (who normally dislikes plum wine) thought they were nice.
The grand finale of the night was when we ordered desert - didn't really know what to expect - G and I ordered a Tofu Panna Cotta each (G was going to share his with K & N) - K took one mouthful and just about ninja-kicked a waitress* (to get her attention) so she could have one of her own. The only disappointment was that I didn't notice any Japanese beer on the menu... apparently these can change fairly regularly so they are written on a blackboard behind the bar - something I only noticed when I went to to the toilet shortly before we left. I shall be better prepared next time!!
It was a great meal out and a nice way to catch up and say hi to Toshi since the break up of MP - he's looking very well and business looks good. Cheers Toshi!

*OK.. K didn't actually ninja-kick anyone it just makes for slightly more engaging reading - she certainly did insist on having her own Panna Cotta and suffered terribly with indigestion for hours because of her current reduced stomach capacity...but she says it was worth it.

Hopefully, we'll be dining there again before the end of the year and although we spent more on alcohol than we did on food this time, next time promises to be even more so.

GO EAT THERE - IT'S GREAT!! GREAT FOOD - FAST SERVICE - and TRY THE SAKE!!!

PAUL WELLER CONCERT - AUGUST 15TH 2008
I'm not going to say I speak for a large number of people I can only comment on those in my area - we were all really disappointed that Weller pushed so much of his recent material which he himself admitted may not have been available in Australia. Plenty of people were there to hear the stuff that drew them to Paul Weller in the first place - The Jam and The Style Council. He played 4 Jam songs (including the swan song 'Town Called Malice') and the only time the crowd really came to life was after he played an old Jam tune (pity he chose 'Carnation' as one of the 4 Jam tunes to use - most punters would have loved to have heard 'Going Underground' "Tube station' or just about ANYTHING else). The self indulgent wandering off to the wings for a ciggie and a pint was not endearing - it was off-pissing! Weller used to rebel against overblown wanky posturing... guess there's no mirrors in his house. Look... I DO love the guy, but when you come here once every 20 or so years and take $90 from the punters you really do have to give them a little more of what they wanted, which on this night was more Jam and probably some of his better Style Council tunes. I saw the Jam in 1979 and they blew me away, I took my son to see "From The Jam" earlier this year and he was blown away, sadly, Weller was musically as tight as a ducks' arse, and he proved just as tight when it came to servicing the wants of his audience.

I remember most of it - maybe not the subtleties but the overall gist, (I think) I have retained. My old workmates joined me at the BBC on the 26th and got pissed. Great turnout - I would never bother to organize one for myself as I would not enjoy the night as I would be too fearful that no-one would show and those that did bother showing up wished that they didn't. For the people that did organize the event it must have been quite satisfying. Our work sometimes finds it hard to get a decent group together for the Christmas party so to plan something with 2 weeks notice and get 20 odd people there was a pretty good effort. I have no idea exactly how much I drank on the night but since I wasn't flat on my back and unconscious I can rightly assume that I have drank more in the past. This was not a night to get pissed into paralysis but a night to get drunk and share a "good time" with those you work with and with whom you've shared fun times with at work. I cannot speak for other people, but I had a great time - from the vibe of the night and reports I've heard since, it appears as if most people had a really good time too which is an excellent result. There were probably a few people there I kissed and hugged a bit too much and maybe some too little, but I was great to have such a fond farewell from my old job (even though I am there on a casual basis) and receive the love and best wishes from all those around me. Ah..the pleasures of aging - I have finally evolved into a pleasant drunk!

Just for something to do, I grew some muttonchops for the month of June 2008. I have shaved them off as I have started a new job and have found (in their brief existence) that muttonchops are a very polarising facial adornment - even moreso than my eyebrow ring. Anyhoo... apparantly Nykita was keen to see me with chops on board, but that'll be highly unlikely in the flesh (can't imagine growing them again). For her benefit here's a couple of pics....





"MARTINCHOPS"