“Ah,women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent.” - Friedrich Nietzche

Was there ever a Woman more beautiful on screen than Kim Novak, in 'Vertigo' ?
Probably not.

I watched Vertigo on blu-ray tonight. I've seen it many many times before of course (it's my favourite film) but this was the first time in true high definition. For 2 hours and 8 minutes, day to day problems melted completely away. Almost everything about it is perfect (and I only noticed Midge's car for the first time - my all time favourite too -  a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia !)

(I could, and would if prompted, spout forth for hours on the subject of this film)

The scenes where Scotty revisits anywhere and anything that has even the vaguest connection to Madelaine, resonated with me. It's one of my many neurotic traits. For example, even now I'll look around my house and say to myself something like 'Barbara once sat in that chair'.
I'm a loon (but not a loony).


I'm so incredibly tired tonight, every atom of me is crying out - get to bed! but for some reason my stoopid mind wants to finish typing this inconsequential nonsense. Work is increasingly stressful, both physically and mentally, plus my slow descent into craziness doesn't help, I imagine. 

Billie rang me at midnight on Saturday. She was almost incoherent. It transpires she was drunk and heartbroken. Whilst I know this is normal teenage behaviour, I was very upset that I was only invited to the metaphorical party 18 months after it had apparently begun. I know that's a bit childish, and I sort of understand her reasoning, but it was something of a , not totally unexpected, shock to me. I haven't explained that very well, partly to save her feelings , but mostly because it's nearly 3 am , and I'm totally knackered...

“You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets and wonder when you are done that they do not delight in your company” - Samuel Johnson

“Too young to hold on and too old to just break free and run.” - Jeff Buckley

 I was almost in tears after saying goodnight to Billie earlier. She's all alone at 'home', I'm all alone in mine, shall ever the twain meet?
Parents and teenagers have so little in common with each other, and so it should be by the way, that often only the fact they share an abode drives the relationship. So if you don't even have that, then where are you?
It seems such a waste.

However, we did go to see "Skyfall" together earlier this week. We both enjoyed it , but as she'd never seen a James Bond film before (can you imagine being so very young?)  that she actually asked me to explain some of the in jokes and set up afterwards. It was nice to be considered a proper Dad expert!
The film was great fun.  A little long perhaps, and the music was, well not very memorable. Preposterous from start to finish, but that's exactly what you want from a Bond film (QOS, I'm looking at you).

It occurs to me that going to the cinema with someone is not the most social thing to do together. After all it's essentially two or more hours in darkness and self imposed silence.
But as I inferred above the anticipation and post film analysis is good fun, as is bitching over the insane cost of cinema "food", and insane it is!

It's absolutely freezing in here tonight. Such is the highness of ceiling and the inefficiency of boiler, that it takes about an hour to feel any effect from the central heating. As I have no fire, it's lucky that my computer is right next to my beloved radiator, source of all my winter warmness, apart from the two quilts on my bed. The modern bachelor can only afford to heat one room it seems.

“When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is” - Oscar Wilde

 

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

I've had a few horrible despondent days since last we met. A myriad of little to middling problems, congregating to drag me way way down.
As I write now it's a dark Tuesday afternoon, and while I don't feel great, I don't feel terrible either.

What's happening at work? Well the latest plan is to condense the current ward into an area with roughly half the beds we have now. The most obvious problem here is that all the staff cannot transfer to the "new" ward, so the powers that be must make a judgement of Solomon.
So for the last 10 days or so everyone has been wondering "will it be me?" an already strange atmosphere has become strangely stranger.
And me? I've had a twisty knot, akin to a giant pretzel, churning amid my superabundant torso.

I'm so very bored of my xerox life.
Even though I work odd shifts, I can usually tell what I'll be doing on any given day, at any given time, usually with stunning accuracy.
Most of it involves sitting right here. I never go anywhere or do anything. I honestly think that should the opportunity arise, a grown up conversation would stump me.
Just lonely I suppose.

“Lonely men seek companionship. Lonely women sit at home and wait. They never meet.” - Abraham Lincoln

 

“Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.”

My new neighbours moved in today, I think. I haven't seen them yet, just clues that they're there. They don't appear to be the heavy metal band I was worried about.
Still, there's plenty of room and time for disaster...

By the way, I finally got that new chair. whilst the quality isn't the best. it looks okay and is comfortable. Now I have a white chair to match my white sofa. Welcome to 1973!


(ps. - I watched the Blu Ray restoration of "Magical Mystery Tour" last night, and it really was, magical that is. What a clean up job. A few fuzzy scenes, but for a near 50 year old TV special it looked great)

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

Things that I recently liked -

I really enjoyed "Ruby Sparks".
I cannot recommend "Getting On" (BBC4) enough.
"Hebburn" (BBC2) is really rather good, gentle, but good.
The final series of "The Thick Of It", was masterful.

Dexter "season" 7 is turning out really well, after last years, um, rather disappointing run.
"The Walking Dead" (season 3) has finally become a show worth watching, rather than dutifully tuning in hoping something good will come out of such an intriguing premise.

By the way, can you guess which film I watched tonight?


"White line's in the middle of the road, that's the worst place to drive."