You know those moments when you end up unintentionally shopping on the Internet? I think that just happened.
I now have a nice clear garden. Well, mostly. This means that I've been thinking about my plan for a herb garden - mint, thyme, sage, rosemary and sorrel are happily growing in pots now, waiting to be planted out. The chives are just sprouting.
And it's a bit late in the year to be planting/buying annuals, isn't it?
However, I've just ordered some winter savory, french tarragon, salad burnet and lovage. Heh. I has plans.
Now, this isn't just because I've been wanting to cook with lovage for a couple of years, but unable to find any - although that's an element. It's more that I want to actually make an effort to transform thejungle garden into something scenic and pleasant, possibly with butterflies.
This is a relatively long-term plan. It may not go terribly well. Let's see.
I now have a nice clear garden. Well, mostly. This means that I've been thinking about my plan for a herb garden - mint, thyme, sage, rosemary and sorrel are happily growing in pots now, waiting to be planted out. The chives are just sprouting.
And it's a bit late in the year to be planting/buying annuals, isn't it?
However, I've just ordered some winter savory, french tarragon, salad burnet and lovage. Heh. I has plans.
Now, this isn't just because I've been wanting to cook with lovage for a couple of years, but unable to find any - although that's an element. It's more that I want to actually make an effort to transform the
This is a relatively long-term plan. It may not go terribly well. Let's see.
Johari window, revisited
Jul. 28th, 2008 10:35 pmI posted this a while ago, but as it's resurfaced, here's a repost...
Mrph's Johari window
If you didn't comment last time but feel like throwing a few words at me, here's your chance. Previous results are still saved as part of the window.
Mrph's Johari window
If you didn't comment last time but feel like throwing a few words at me, here's your chance. Previous results are still saved as part of the window.
The storm has just arrived.
One of those perfect moments - the rain started hammering down and the very first crash of thunder seemed to set off one or two car alarms further down the street.
That's proper weather, that is.
One of those perfect moments - the rain started hammering down and the very first crash of thunder seemed to set off one or two car alarms further down the street.
That's proper weather, that is.
Kung Fu Panda
Jul. 26th, 2008 09:03 amWell, that was fun. Not laugh-out-loud funny, for the most part, but it definitely made me smile. Ian McShane's rather good, too.
A little surprised that KFP was warmly accepted by some of the same sites that were criticising WALL-E, though.
A little surprised that KFP was warmly accepted by some of the same sites that were criticising WALL-E, though.
Bonekickers, part the third
Jul. 24th, 2008 08:23 pmBored now.
Well, ok, that might be a little harsh - but the season one arc is being overplayed (it doesn't have to be in every single episode), it's getting a bit formulaic and it was trying to be serious and dramatic this time...
...without much success. Although it should be noted that watching it on iplayer probably doesn't help my attention span.
Oh well. Next week might be better.
Well, ok, that might be a little harsh - but the season one arc is being overplayed (it doesn't have to be in every single episode), it's getting a bit formulaic and it was trying to be serious and dramatic this time...
...without much success. Although it should be noted that watching it on iplayer probably doesn't help my attention span.
Oh well. Next week might be better.
For those who don't read ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
covgoths - Inkubus Sukkubus are playing Coventry on Friday August 1st.
Now, I've seen the Inkies many times, and they're not exactly my thing these days - but they do know how to put on a good show, and support is from Killing Ophelia and Dyonisis, two bands I'd definitely like to see.
So, who's going to be there...?
covgoths - Inkubus Sukkubus are playing Coventry on Friday August 1st.Now, I've seen the Inkies many times, and they're not exactly my thing these days - but they do know how to put on a good show, and support is from Killing Ophelia and Dyonisis, two bands I'd definitely like to see.
So, who's going to be there...?
For lack of anything better to do right now, here's the slightly delayed July music post - there's plenty of serious stuff happening at the moment, so it's something a little more upbeat than usual.
Scouting For Girls
This time I'm not pointing people at MySpace, as it doesn't seem to have full tracks. So, follow the link to their site and watch the 'Heartbeat' video instead. I really shouldn't like this stuff, should I? But as 2008 pop goes, it's got a certain character - and the lyrics are nicely done.
Previous links:
Tinariwen - Dustin the turkey- Dizzee Rascal
Scouting For Girls
This time I'm not pointing people at MySpace, as it doesn't seem to have full tracks. So, follow the link to their site and watch the 'Heartbeat' video instead. I really shouldn't like this stuff, should I? But as 2008 pop goes, it's got a certain character - and the lyrics are nicely done.
Previous links:
Tinariwen - Dustin the turkey- Dizzee Rascal
As if gardening wasn't enough, I'm watching the proms on BBC4.
There's obviously no hope for me. :P
There's obviously no hope for me. :P
Not killing plants, part I
Jul. 21st, 2008 08:15 pmI'm not very good at gardening. This won't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's ever seen my garden.
If it's indoors and in a pot, it's effectively dead (only the two spider plants have survived more than a few months - they're almost indestructible, but even they've almost given up the ghost once or twice).
If it's outdoors, it might simply die. Or it might be swamped by weeds and hidden from sight, never to emerge again. The front garden has carnivorous budleia. The back garden has brambles, nettles and tangled things that are harder to put names to.
Somewhere in the back garden, there are raspberries. There's a healthy looking (and quite large) bay tree, too - but you'd have to fight your way through the shrubbery to get there. Once upon a time, there was rhubarb, but it's probably gone now.
Not a good starting point. However, it's all getting a bit more attention this year.
The budleia's been ruthlessly butchered, revealing some straggly roses, which are now looking a little more alive. The back garden's going to need a lot more work, though - which is why it's getting levelled somewhen in the next week.
In the mean time, I've got a row of potted herbs sitting on the patio. Mint, sage, thyme, rosemary and sorrel. None of them are dead yet, despite the unexpected delays in preparing their new home (although I'm starting to discover that sorrel is a very thirsty plant).
I've just repotted the thyme - the second time I've done this. It appears to be thriving. I'm sure that's not supposed to happen to plants in my care. Well, ok, it mght be supposed to happen, but it's not quite how it usually turns out.
Pleasantly unexpected. I could get used to this, y'know...
If it's indoors and in a pot, it's effectively dead (only the two spider plants have survived more than a few months - they're almost indestructible, but even they've almost given up the ghost once or twice).
If it's outdoors, it might simply die. Or it might be swamped by weeds and hidden from sight, never to emerge again. The front garden has carnivorous budleia. The back garden has brambles, nettles and tangled things that are harder to put names to.
Somewhere in the back garden, there are raspberries. There's a healthy looking (and quite large) bay tree, too - but you'd have to fight your way through the shrubbery to get there. Once upon a time, there was rhubarb, but it's probably gone now.
Not a good starting point. However, it's all getting a bit more attention this year.
The budleia's been ruthlessly butchered, revealing some straggly roses, which are now looking a little more alive. The back garden's going to need a lot more work, though - which is why it's getting levelled somewhen in the next week.
In the mean time, I've got a row of potted herbs sitting on the patio. Mint, sage, thyme, rosemary and sorrel. None of them are dead yet, despite the unexpected delays in preparing their new home (although I'm starting to discover that sorrel is a very thirsty plant).
I've just repotted the thyme - the second time I've done this. It appears to be thriving. I'm sure that's not supposed to happen to plants in my care. Well, ok, it mght be supposed to happen, but it's not quite how it usually turns out.
Pleasantly unexpected. I could get used to this, y'know...
WALL-E...?
Jul. 20th, 2008 08:58 pmLooks like Pixar are back on form. That's the first film in a while that I'd actually like to go see again at the cinema.
Edit: Comments are starting to include spoilers. Read 'em at your own risk!
Edit: Comments are starting to include spoilers. Read 'em at your own risk!
Today has featured a Cy Twombly exhibition at the Tate Modern, evensong at Westminster Abbey... and beer at the Porterhouse.
Not bad. There's been a lot of London in my life this week, and it's mostly been extremely enjoyable. It's just the bits involving trains that all went wrong.
Anyway, I now need some sleep - I may ramble about some of this in a little more detail tomorrow, though.
Not bad. There's been a lot of London in my life this week, and it's mostly been extremely enjoyable. It's just the bits involving trains that all went wrong.
Anyway, I now need some sleep - I may ramble about some of this in a little more detail tomorrow, though.
The Watchmen trailer is now available online.
...
...
...um, it doesn't appear to obviously suck. In this context, from me, that's relatively high praise. They might actually succeed in making a Watchmen film I won't rant against for months on end.
Maybe.
At the very least... it's going to look damn stylish. Doctor Manhattan appears to be just how he should be. And the snapshot of the scene from Vietnam that's featured in the trailer... well, that works.
...
...
...um, it doesn't appear to obviously suck. In this context, from me, that's relatively high praise. They might actually succeed in making a Watchmen film I won't rant against for months on end.
Maybe.
At the very least... it's going to look damn stylish. Doctor Manhattan appears to be just how he should be. And the snapshot of the scene from Vietnam that's featured in the trailer... well, that works.
Back to the historical crime
Jul. 17th, 2008 09:47 pmCurrently reading Jason Goodwin's The Snake Stone, the second 'Yashim, the Ottoman Detective' novel. As it happens, I haven't read the first one yet, but that doesn't seem to be spoiling it.
There is, however, one thing that made me go 'feh' - the advertising.
As mentioned, the by the same author page describes it as the "Ottoman Detective" series. The front cover describes it in slightly different terms, as "A Yashim the Eunuch Mystery" - and the ads on the London Underground had a dire tagline along the lines of "The detective may be a eunuch... but he's missing nothing..."
This has not renewed my faith in marketing. But it is a pretty good book, so far.
There is, however, one thing that made me go 'feh' - the advertising.
As mentioned, the by the same author page describes it as the "Ottoman Detective" series. The front cover describes it in slightly different terms, as "A Yashim the Eunuch Mystery" - and the ads on the London Underground had a dire tagline along the lines of "The detective may be a eunuch... but he's missing nothing..."
This has not renewed my faith in marketing. But it is a pretty good book, so far.
Bonekickers, episode 2.
Jul. 17th, 2008 09:31 pmMissed it on Tuesday, just watched it on iplayer. Better.
Still cheesy, but definitely better (I have to agree with sneerpout, I think).
Not sure that next week's looks quite so entertaining, but I'll be watching it again anyway... :-)
Still cheesy, but definitely better (I have to agree with sneerpout, I think).
Not sure that next week's looks quite so entertaining, but I'll be watching it again anyway... :-)
(no subject)
Jul. 13th, 2008 10:21 pmOne more book finished - Greg Egan's Incandescence.
Not entirely sure about ths one. Egan's always mixed science with his fiction and, in this case, the science isn't of a nature that immediately grabs me (unlike, say, Permutation City or Quarantine).
That's not entirely why I found it unsatisfying, though - the two narrative strands didn't end in quite the way I was expecting, and I'm not entirely sure that the resolution is one that really works as an ending for me.
Hmm. Might need to sleep on that one, though - Egan's novels do sometimes need a little post-book thought...
Not entirely sure about ths one. Egan's always mixed science with his fiction and, in this case, the science isn't of a nature that immediately grabs me (unlike, say, Permutation City or Quarantine).
That's not entirely why I found it unsatisfying, though - the two narrative strands didn't end in quite the way I was expecting, and I'm not entirely sure that the resolution is one that really works as an ending for me.
Hmm. Might need to sleep on that one, though - Egan's novels do sometimes need a little post-book thought...
