Peas Are The New Beans

© Bob and Roberta Smith

Saw this on Flickr courtesy of rsinghabout. I had no idea that the government had such an interesting and varied art collection. Wouldn't mind getting in on one of the Open House events. As rsinghabout says "I can safely say that this picture is unlikely to end up in John Prescott's office."

100th Post - January '06 Highlights

The main highlights of the new year so far include finally discovering a house to buy which actually has a garden larger than the size of the small facial mole on my right cheek and the welcome return of Battlestar Gallactica and ER. But even better than all of those things combined is that Call Centre Confidential is back online! As someone commented on the triumphant return of Wrapstar - "That hold music was the worst. Seems like I've been on hold for months".

tunes to remember january '06

The Decemberists - Picaresque

Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die

flicks to remember january '06 - (and probably some from earlier that I'd forgot too!

• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers ****
• King Kong ****
• Wedding Crashers **
• Unleashed (Danny the Dog) ***
• A Very Long Engagement *****
• Mr and Mrs Smith **
• XXX2 - The Next Level *
• Madagascar ***
• Assault on Precinct 13 ***
• Hide and Seek ***
• Hostage ****
• Hitch ***
• Kingdom of Heaven ****

*****woh! ****brainfood ***popcorn **braindead *two hours of my life - wasted

books to remember january '06

The Character of Rain - Amelie Nothomb

Fear and Trembling - Amelie Nothomb

2006 Is Moving!

At last Lando C and I have found a house to buy and our offer accepted! Not that we've looked much but after visiting the 7th place, I knew the first one we'd seen this week was the one for us. It's in Long Eaton, was built in 1938 and has some really interesting and traditional features.

We got the 3 bedrooms and a garage we were after, and had the additional bonuses of a dining room, brand new kitchen, garden shed and small soundproof workshop/den at the end of the garden to set the drums up in (now named the Grotski). It has original floorboards in many of the rooms and the pagoda on the front patio has hops growing on it during the summer - just divine!


View from the patio.


The guy who owns the house now is going to leave a heap of furniture and bits and bobs he doesn't want to take with him. Check out the strawberry planters!


The Grotski - complete with veggie patch, hidden away from main garden.


Other side of the patio. Lando C says "yeah!" to hops.


One side of the kitchen.


Living room complete with traditional fireplace and wooden floors. Cosy.