Christmas!

Christmas Day

Some b*st*rd broke into our house last night!

They came in via the chimney, There were black bootprints all across the carpet (a mans I'd say).

They had it away with all the mince pies and drank my sherry and what's more, they even raided the kitchen and took vegetables! Well, some carrots were missing...

They spread boxes all around the front room making a right mess I can tell you.

Well, If I catch him I'm going to hang him up by his chestnuts and roast him over an open fire.


RP


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Christmas!

Christmas Eve...

'twas the night before Christmas
And all through the flat
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a rat...


RP


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It's Really Almost Here...

The Snow Castle
at
Cribbs Causeway, Bristol

I really thought it was snowing for a second or two...

RP


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It's snowing! Oh, no it's not, I thought it was

It's Almost Here!

Sky Lights

RP


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It's Coming...

Snowflakes

RP



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Christmas is coming...

Christmas was coming
Geese were clapping on weight like there was no tomorrow
And hats were full of assorted coinage from all the four corners of the globe.
It mattered not that one had neither low denomination currency
Nor the lowest denomination, currently in circulation and legal tender itself
For God in his heaven would shower his beneficence, like the snow that would surely fall
On all.


RP

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Christmas is coming...

Concentric Christmas

RP


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Christmas is coming...

Gold Flake
in a
shop window

RP


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Christmas is coming...

Angel Herald

RP


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Hansel und Gretel

At the Christmas Market, Bath England

RP


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Christmas is coming...

Bright Reindeer

Taken in Bath, England

RP


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Memorabilia - Red Dwarf

Memorabilia - Birmingham NEC - Saturday 24 November 2007

The cast of Red Dwarf were there...

The cast - nearly

Cat & Rimmer

Love this photo

A thoughtful Rimmer

RP


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Memorabilia - More Stormtroopers

Memorabilia - Birmingham NEC - Saturday 24 November 2007


The force was with them

Battle-worn

This could have been taken onboard ship!

Pose-troopers

RP


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Memorabilia - Stormtroopers

Memorabilia - Birmingham NEC - Saturday 24 November 2007

It was like being on the set of Star Wars

UK Garrison

The UK Garrison were ever present - more photos to follow...

RP


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Memorabilia - The Dukes of Hazard

Memorabilia - Birmingham NEC - Saturday 24 November 2007

The General Lee from The Dukes of Hazard

Door detail

RP


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Yo Yo snippets

I've been bouncing around from TV episode to game trailer...

Cadfael - volume 3 - St. Peter's fair, The Raven in the Foregate, The Rose rent on DVD
Assassin's Creed - trailer - Game Trailers
Mass Effect - trailer - XBOX 360 Fanboy


RP


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B5 Series 3 Z'ha'dum

Just finished watching Babylon 5 Series 3 - wow!
I had to move straight on and watch episode 1 of Series 4 - just couldn't wait.

Wikipedia
Babylon5TV
Lurker's Guide
Babylon5 UK


RP


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Go To Hellboy

Finally got around to watching Hellboy - Sword of Storms last night. It was excellent, my kind of blend of subject matter & dry humour (Wikipedia's entry for Hellboy under Mike Mignola states 'H.P. Lovecraft-style horror :-)). I have always liked Mike Mignola's style of artwork and it just all gelled.

The gotohellboy website is well worth a look - it deals with Hellboy animated!
Hellboy.com showcases Mike's work in comics/graphic novels.
I've not seen the film yet but it's on the list - the website supporting it is flash.


RP


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My Interactive Media blog

RPINTERACTIVE


RP



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Tinged Leaves

Autumn-tinged
The taint of time
Mottled green, as though rusted through
Coppered metal
Red blush amongst still lingering green
Displaying transition, as though decaying into beauty.


RP


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Autumn Leaves

RP


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AKIRA's memory lives on in our hearts

I watched AKIRA again just the other week and it's just the best film ever and I had the soundtrack on my iPod until recently. The following The Montoya Herald link discusses a newly released track by Kanye West & Daft Punk whose video references AKIRA. The discussion asks does it homage or rip-off? You decide! It's just good to see some images from AKIRA again. I haven't looked at my AKIRA Club book yet, I'm saving it...

[AKIRA Club book: published by Titan Books | Dark Horse for big picture of cover | Forbidden Planet have it discounted | as do Amazon]

I got here via Same Hat! Same Hat!, (my interest piqued by TETSUUOOOOO! KANYEEEEEEDA!!?!?) via MangaBlog while exploring Kazuo Umezu’s Mummy Teacher's covers...


RP



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Howl's Moving Castle

Studio Ghibli - bringer of Japanese animation to the west, graced my eyes and cerebellum last night. I originally saw this at The Watershed in Bristol when it went on 'arthouse' (hate that title) release in the UK. I was blown away then across Howl's field of flowers - I was again last night. Standout moments are; in the hatshop - in fact the whole European town setting scenes, the Wicked Witch of the Wastes' henchmen as they carry her about in a sedan chair, Howl's bedroom (no it's not that type of film) and Howl's field. I didn't initially like the fire (voiced by Billy Crystal of City Slickers fame) first time around but this time I did. The story is involved but stick with it and it's worthwhile.

The original story is by Diane Wynne Jones who lives in Bristol (it's on my list of books to read) and she is planning a new book with a guest appearance of Howl. She likes the film and Miyazaki came to UK to provide a private showing upon completion - cool.

Howl's Moving Castle - Hauru no ugoku shiro

Hayao Miyazaki

Studio Ghibli

RP



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BLOOD - The Last Vampire

This is the second time I have watched this film about vampires set at the start of the Viet Nam war on an American Air Base in Japan. It was even better the second time around - visceral action, stunning 2d/3D CGI graphics mix and an ethereal music score. A strong female lead (she wields a samurai sword!), good vampires and an excellent muted colour palette. 'The making of' included on disc gives a good insight into the combination of 2D/3D animation. From the creators of Ghost In The Shell 'nuff said!

Released in 2000 by MANGA
Rated 15

Production IG - planning and original concept

Mamoru Oshii - as Producer (planning)
Kenji Kamiyama - script writer
Yoshihiro Ike - composer (music)


RP



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Back To School

Well, back to University actually.

Starting MA Media (Interactive Arts) at UWE, Bristol.

This blog is going to take the form of thoughts/notes on influences that inform my work (and then instantly degenerate into all the comics and films and games and books I love - ah, the death of lofty ideals...).




RP.

Monkeys

It has been said that if enough monkeys sat down at typewriters for long enough, they could write the complete works of Shakespeare. But the sonnets would all be about bananas and jungles and picking insects off each other’s backs...


RP



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Wedge of Cheese

The world is a wedge of cheese
And god moves in mysterious curds and whey.



RP



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Resistance is Fertile

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EXPOSURE - INNER CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

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EXPOSURE - INNER CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

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THE GREEN ORCHARD

Taking Shape...

Konstruction

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RP Leftcroft

The new me!

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Rupert Blair

Bristol, England

(I'm thinking it's Banksy ;-))

rustle



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Hiatus complete

There has been a lull while I got to grips with my new role as Staff Nurse in A&E but I have been busy.

My novel is nearing completion and I am in the middle of creating the most important letter to date, namely the latter to seek an agent to represent my creative outpourings. A flavour of the novel can be tasted over at THE GREEN ORCHARD under Tales... (under its working title).

My new iPod Nano is never off my ears and is stocked with; Cradle of Filth, Blind Guardian and Dream Theater. Only regret? Not getting the biggest one!

Went to Download on the Sunday. Dream Theater were awesome, closely followed by Dimmu Borgir, Orange Goblin, Paradise Lost... Iron Maiden headlined (NME review) and built up to an astounding concert. Just play A Matter Of Life And Death. The more you play it, the better it gets! What a day!

Saw Marillion in Bristol another awesome concert. New stuff was good but the ending with Neverland just blew the world away - what an amazing song. The support band The Reasoning were brilliant! I bought the CD.



rustle



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It's My Birthday

Soundtrack of my day:

Blind Guardian - Another Stranger Me : single
The Eagles - Hotel California
Curved Air - Phantasmagoria
Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine (Live)

and Morris Dancing from Border Morris




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The Living Roof

CREATE - Bristol

City Farms H/quarters - Bristol

@Bristol - Bristol

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Mad as a Hatter

Mad hatter

Found outside the @Bristol exhibition in Bristol.

rustle



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The Strange Incident of the...

I attended Chemical Incident training the other day. I got to put on the big yellow suit with breathing filter and set up the emergency decontamination shower! At the same time, the fire alarm went off so we got a massive audience. Also got to play around with a Geiger counter.

Just have to hope the mad world doesn't require its use!



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One Daffodil

One Daffodil Can Make a Difference

Visiting the Centre for Alternative Technology has been like opening the door to a Wonderland. I've been reading the Crazy Idealists? The CAT Story and everything just resonates.

During my visit there were two things that really struck me. At the beginning, the intro video playing at the site which stated that if the rest of the world behaves like we have done in the West, we'll require something like two more earths in addition to this one to support it! From then on it was if the door had been opened, I'd passed over the threshold and I'd come home. Just before I left I saw the daffodil growing on the living roof of a building and I thought, that's what I want.

CAT was set up in 1974 - I was 14. It's taken a long time for me to reach this point and I've been on many journeys but the biggest one begins now. We are planning our sustainable house, a not so Grand Design but oh, so great for the environment.


I'm at the last chapter of Ballard's 1973 novel Concrete Island - another 'must read'. This is the third of his books I've just read and every one of them is socially pertinent to today and tomorrow. I'm finding they dovetail with what CAT are saying - he is the Oracle of Shepperton.


rustle
(Just watched the Bioshock teaser over on Eurogamer - WoW!)


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Shepperton's Oracle

J.G. Ballard: Shepperton's Oracle a film by French filmmaker Thomas Cazals on Ballard. There's a 10 minute preview available on The Ballardian and Postcardsfromthefuture (Cazals blog). It's scheduled for an April film/website release.


rustle



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Marillion tickets...

Tickets for Marillion's gig at the Colston Hall in Bristol arrived today :-)

The tour is the 'Somewhere Else' tour also the name of the new album which is due for release on 9th April.


rustle



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Centre for Alternative Technology

Visited the Centre for Alternative Technology (C.A.T.).

It's in Wales and is a beacon for sustainability in everyday life. It is situated in an old Welsh slate mine and was set up in 1974. The place itself is a beautiful haven but as you thread your way around the site, you discover its buildings and ideas and its inspirational effect is captivating. You can make a difference.

on a hill

In reading about the history of the place and people, I found out that Peter Harper (he coined the term 'Alternative Technology') a founding member of CAT was influenced by Bestall's Rupert!

This place is important!

Centre for Alternative Technology
Machynlleth
Powys
SY20 9AZ
UK.

http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl



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Blurred Vision

Blurred Vision

Just finished my first two nights in A&E. An eerily quiet couple of evenings punctuated by moments of frenetic activity. In charge of the Observation Unit, sat in the faded night glow and listening to people's broken, mumbled sleep is comforting in a Ballardian sort of way. As I trained, a variety of emotions swelled and receded throughout the three years and I couldn't see how it would be - I had blurred vision. I couldn't imagine how it would feel, if I ever passed and got a job. I now can - it feels right.



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Batman & Mario

Bandaged Batman

Bleached Mario

I finished reading High-Rise by JG Ballard what a story! Once again, it is as though you have really existed through this story. Written in 1975 but as fresh today as ever - Alsatian never tasted so good...

Walked at Avebury and photographed

Stone

My PIN came through so now I'm a registered nurse.



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Passed my Degree and got a job!

I passed my Degree but had no prospects of a job at the hospital I had been working for the past 31/2 years. But then, out of the blue I had an interview, got a job and was placed in A and E and started, all within the space of 5 days! I'm awaiting my PIN (Personal Insanity Number) so I'm an unregistered Staff Nurse at the moment. I get to wear scrubs - suddenly everything is very real but very cool.

It's been an up & down time and everything seems to have been on hold but I'm back with a vengeance. I've written two new short stories; Footfall and Scaredy Cat, both horror stories after HP Lovecraft. I've also started chapter 7 of Tales...

Marillion have a new album coming out on 9 April 2007 called Somewhere Else and are playing Bristol Colston Hall on 8 June 2007 (£20).


Blind Guardian are playing Bloodstock open air festival in Derbyshire on 7 July 2007 (Day Pass £36)

I finally bought Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes

2007 is shaping up nicely :-)



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THE GREEN ORCHARD website updated

A new GREEN ORCHARD

rustle



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Dead Days

Cut mistletoe lay withered off the bough
Holly, crown-fallen, no more king now
Discarded Christmas tree thrown against the wall
Needleless, left to languish 'gainst the squall
The rain runs, off pavement, into gutter
Only seen by faint light cowering behind window shutter
These are dead days
Into which is born a new year.


rustle



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New Year has started well...

The soundtrack of my day?

• Black Sabbath - Paranoid. Soooo many good tracks on one album; War Pigs, Paranoid (duh), Planet Caravan, Iron man, Electric Funeral, Hand Of Doom, Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots. That's all of 'em!

• Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night. Has C'thlu Thlu as Track 4, a 1973 H.P. Lovecraft reference!

A website re-vamp underway (I'll post when it goes live)

Morello is developing 'Love Above' (working title). A Stop Motion film as part of her MA Media (Animation). It's all concept and sketches at the moment but it's shaping up!

Bargain of the century? Metroid Prime 2: Echoes for £2.99! From WH Smith! They don't even sell Gamecube games do they?!!!


rustle



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Happy New year

Welcome to 2007

(I got this in Derbyshire in 2006)

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