Get outta my way

It seems like forever ago I wrote my last annual review however it does feel like this year has passed by rather quickly. What's most disconcerting is that I can't remember much of it. I had to look most of it up. For instance, I can't remember the last time I read a book.

Another thing was when I took a couple of those news tests where you have to remember certain things that made the news this year. It gave me a 4/20 and a comment of "were you out of the country a lot?". Which I wasn't. I was home all year long, but I must not have paid attention. Then I took the 'celebrity scandals of 2010' test and scored 9/13. If that's a good or bad thing, I'll leave up to you to decide.

The year did just fly by, and we saw Kylie releasing a new album, Robbie rejoined Take That (and practically took over the BBC and ITV it seems) and The Black Eyed Peas went number 1 in the UK with the worst single of the year The Time (Dirty Bit).

There was also some Royal news as the Norwegian king had an affair, Prince William finally proposed to his Kate, Danish Queen Margrethe II turned 70 and Princess Mary of Denmark got pregnant again (baby expected to drop any minute now).

Let's face it, it's not really about *them* though, is it? It's about me. I can do that, this being my blog and all. So, shall we?

Book Challenge

The challenge of the last few years, was for me to read 12 books. One per month. However as I mentioned earlier, I can't remember the last time I picked up a book. So it was rather shocking for me to realise I've read 16 books!

Not all the books were mentioned here on the blog, so I'll list them all for your viewing pleasure.

My Side of the Story by Will Davis

See here

I Lick My Cheese and Other Notes: From the Frontline of Flatsharing by Oonag O'Hagan

See here

The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina

See here

The Distance Between Us by Bart Yates

See here

The Sims 3: World Adventure Game Guide by Prima Games

It's a game guide, so I can become even more enlightened when it comes to the true glory of The Sims 3

The Englor Affair by JL Langley

See here

The Broken H by JL Langley

See here

Handyman by Claire Thompson

See here

The Assignment by Evangeline Anderson

See here

Lovers Who Stay With You by David MacMillian

Basically an erotic anthology with a vampire theme. Not at all my thing. I read a few of the stories but it left me a bit sick and I had nightmares. Not at all sexy.

Precious by Sapphire

See here

Being Human: The Road by Simon Guerrier

See here

Being Human: Chasers by Mark Michalowski

A sequel to the other Being Human book.

Being Human: Bad Blood by James Goss

A sequel to the other Being Human books.

Pretty in Plaid: a Life, a Witch and a Wardrobe, or the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered, Smart-Ass Phase by Jen Lancaster

See here

Most were enjoyable, but I must admit that I much prefer this one.



With the success of Book Challenge 2010, I think I'll try again next year. I've got a lot of books stashed away under my bed for these cold and snowy/rainy days. In this type of weather, I find that a good movie is there to help me along. Either at the cinema or a DVD.

Movies of 2010

I love movies, and I've got a few DVDs so in order to find out what I've actually watched this year, I've had to look through my bookshelves as well as search my mind to see what I've actually watched this year. I think Hermoine was a little too thorough when she did that Obliviate spell a few weeks ago.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The first of the last Harry Potter movies. It had a good build-up to the big climax. I still don't fancy Harry as it just seems so wrong. He's 21 but I remember him as that little boy with the round glasses. Ewww. Can't wait to see the final movie though.

Up In The Air starring George Clooney, Vera Famiga, Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman

This was good. You'd think any movie that's nominated for Oscars would be good. Yet, I made the mistake with Sidewaysbut Up In the Air is good. George Clooney could charm his way through anything I'm sure.

Sex & the City 2 starring 'The Girls' and Liza

Everyone says this is terrible, and was even worse than the first one. I actually prefer this to the first one. Although I must say I don't much care to get Carrie'd away. She's so whiney.

The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates

I'm not into sports movies and the only reason why I watched this was because I adore Sandra Bullock. She delivers and deserved the Oscar. It's a wonderful movie about so much more than American football.

Post Grad starring Alexis Bledel, Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett and Michael Keaton

Sweet little chick flick starring Rory from Gilmore Girls about the troubles after you finish college.

Vampires Suck

Anything that mocks Twilight is alright in my book. I'm shocked it's not a Zucker Bros. movie.

The A-Team

Action/comedy starring the always hot Bradley Cooper. It's funny and action packed. I'm not sure if it's anything like the original TV show because I haven't watched that but the writing is not exactly Hemmingway or Henry James.

The Expendables

I'm not a fan of this. Hard hitting action with a touch of comedy. Basically it's an 80s rehash of all the B-movies these has beens have starred in. I do however fancy the pants off Jason Statham

Inception

I like the idea of this movie. The acting was good, and the CGI was not bad. A fan of CGI, I'm not but it worked in this. This wasn't CGI for the sake of CGI or cutting cost or saving a trip to the actual place.

Avatar

I watched this in early 2010 I think. Needless to say I didn't like this. It will be very difficult to find a more overrated and over exposed movie. EVER. I think I'd prefer to watch Twilight see my commentary on this here again. Blue creatures who run around on a planet and speak their own 13 word language for 162 minutes. No thank you. The story could have been, and probably was written on a cocktail napkin. My reason to watch this CGI travesty was the 3D. I had to see what that was like. Meh, I wasn't impressed.

My favorite is this one





I may have watched more movies that came out in 2010 but I honestly can't remember. That Hermoine is a skilled witch. Either that, or my Time Capsule is playing tricks on me.

TV Shows

I've followed 6 new TV Shows (new episodes) and 3 vintage ones. By vintage I mean old, taken off the air shows. They are as follows

Desperate Housewives

I wasn't too keen on Edie being fried and Kathrine being committed, but I still like it.

Being Human

I'm not really a vampire/werewolf kind of person, but I did think the idea of a ghost, werewolf and vampire living together trying to lead ordinary lives. It's good!

Hawaii Five-O 2010

I've never seen the original series, but this is action packed, bright, sunny and beautiful people. How can you not like that?

Bones

I'm not keen on dead people or soggy corpses/remains but I am keen on David Boreanaz and I like the chemistry between the characters.

White Collar

Matthew Boomer. Enough said.

Covert Affair

She fights crime in Christian Louboutins. Oh yes!

Dynasty (vintage)

I've got the first 5 seasons on DVD, and season 6 was just released in Denmark. I love that show. Takes me back. Shoulder pads and BIG hair galore.

The O.C.

I started recording this, and watching it on the weekend. However it never quite caught on. I spent some time mocking it a little on Twitter but it wasn't enough to keep me watching. Perhaps it was Tate Donovan who was just way too awkward and plasticy.

Beverly Hills 90210 (vintage)

I've been recording this on my box, and it's great. We've made it to episode 86 which is around the time the gang made it to college. The Dylan/Kelly romance (he should be with Dylan!) is a little rocky and Brenda had a brief stay in Minnesota.

My favourite



Dynasty



Biggest disappointment is still



From movies and TV we move onto music.

Top 4 albums I bought

I didn't buy a lot of albums this year. To be honest I don't buy a lot of music so it has to really catch my interest.

1. Kylie Minogue - Aprodite

The album contains the 3 singles All The Lovers, Get Outta My Way and the most recent Better Than Today. It's a complete hands up in the air dance pop album. Very positive and upbeat.

2. Scissor Sisters - Night Work

Contains singles Fire With Fire, Any Which Way and Invisible Light Utterly brilliant camptastic pop album. Pure joy with little nuggets of hilarity if you listen to the lyrics.

3. Hurts - Happiness

It's a bit Pet Shop Boys ish album. I like it. There's first single Wonderful Life which is just brilliant along with Better Than Love and Stay. Kylie joins Hurts for a duet on Devotion. Not really my type of album but I like it a lot.

4. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

I didn't buy the first version of this album, but I thought it would be fine to get this one. With all the 'old hits'. The only really awful track on it is the Telephone one with Beyonce. I'm not saying this album is amazing but it's a good 'greatest hits' album considering she's only done this one proper album she's done pretty well for herself. She's gone overboard with the styling though. When she put on that meat dress and the telephone hat, she became a caricature of herself. A bit of a joke really.

My singles top 10 of 2010

Kylie Minogue - Better Than Today (Club Junkies Remix)



I didn't quite know if I should pick Get Outta My Way (7th Heaven Remix) or this one, but I opted for this because it's a little bit overlooked brilliant.

2. Example - Kickstart



Love it!

3. Scissor Sisters - Any Which Way



Camptastic, and love the video.

4. Cheryl Cole - Parachute



Her most recent stuff doesn't really tickly my fancy but I like this. The video is gorgeous.

5. Hurts - Wonderful Life



Love it. I'm glad that I'm not one of those Hurts girls though. Not a fan with being too long under water. I prefer it a bit more sunny and lounging by the pool with a colourful umbrella cocktail.

6. Roll Deep - Good Times



I've never heard this on Danish radio or on any of our music video channels. I did however watch this on the UK Top 40 and I love it. It's so happy.

7. Robyn - Dancing On My Own



I remember this girl from the days of Do You Really Want Me. She was huge in Denmark back then, and voilà she is again. Love this song. She's quirky and not conventionally pretty. I mean that as a compliment.

8. Take That - The Flood



They were everywhere with this song, which is a shame really. I love it, but there is too much of a good thing (when we aren't talking Kylie). It's mostly just Robbie Williams feat. Take That. That's how I prefer it. The Robbieless Take That were boring.

9. Alexandra Burke - Start Without You



I like this song, but I do have to confess that the video does have something to do with it getting into my top 10.

10. Katy Perry - California Gurls



I hate to admit I like the song, but I thought this was great too.

From the best to the worst songs of 2010.

Top 3 worst songs of 2010

A lot of crap was released this year, but these 3 take the cake.

1. Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit)



Quite frankly the most hideous track of 2010. I mean, if Ann Widdicombe had released a song it would still be better than this pile of shite.

2. Rihanna - What's My Name



Just no. No, no, no, we don't care.

3. Duffy - Well, Well, Well



Well, well, well... What the fuck happened to Duffy. I mean, I've never cared for her music but this is awful.

Before we end this almost epic review, we have one more thing to do..

Top 10 hottest men of 2010

1. Ryan Reynolds



2. David Boreanaz



3. George Clooney



4. Jake Gyllenhall



5. Bradley Cooper



6. Cesc Fabregas



7. Matthew Bomer



8. Chris O'Donnell



9. Zachary Quinto



10. Mark Salling



So, the annual review is over now. Happy New Year everyone (and thanks for all the holiday wishes)

The case of the mysterious post-it - VAT what?

I love Amazon a lot. That's where I do most of my shopping when it comes to books. I know I'm supposed to be supporting my local shops. However Amazon is just more convienient and cheaper.

In the shops I have maybe two shelves of English languaged books, and will need to bring titles and authors when I got. Plus the dreaded; Last time you bought ... so you might like this? It's a small town and people talk. So what if I bought A Passion for Stiletto? That's nobodys business but mine, and no I don't want the Stiletto Birthday Book, thank you very much.

On Amazon I can troll around and read about the books on my chaise with a glass of Champagne in hand, and ignore the rude suggestions that I might want to buy Twillight New Moon on DVD because I previously mentioned to the dastard thing, that I owned Practical Magic on DVD. Or that I should buy Lauren Conrads L.A. Candy... Wait, I might actually like that hmmmm. Anyway, the suggestions should be private and not something to be yelled out into the store and Amazon does that for me.

So, last week I logged onto Amazon for a quick trip though their shop. A hop to the DVD department with a little a skip through music and a brief stop looking at watches. It was lovely, and I hadn't even found something I wanted to buy. Perfect. So I finally stopped by the books. You see, although I am boycotting the evil witch that is IDV for slandering remarks etc. in his post about TFGES I did find a few books on his blog that I wanted to read.
I found them, added them and then I went on a little vampire crazed shopping spree. In the shopping basket it said how much they were, and I thought that was a bit much but oh well - besides it said something about qualifying for free supersave delivery or something. Lovely! Imagine my surprise that when I'd put in my credit card information and was ready to confirm the transaction. Not only had the prices changed, but they'd also been lovely enough to add shipping costs. Because apparently they changed their minds, Denmark is not included in their free shipping. The higher prices are due to the fact that Denmark has a 25% VAT added to all products sold in Denmark. If I'd bought something on Play.com or other Internet shops, they wouldn't add the extra VAT because they don't have to. They are not Danish companies, and neither is Amazon. Which is why I'm slightly peeved. I can forgive them for the added shipping because they aren't Danish, but the added VAT really puzzles me. If they were Danish, they would have to charge the 25% but then they should have a free shipping supersaver thing for us. But I digress.

Then yesterday the package arrived. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and I spotted this.


The strange Q34 post-it. I didn't put it there. So who did? Why? And is the book in fact used (although it shouldn't be)? There are no post-its on the other books, it's just that one.

Why? What? When? Where?

I'll end this with a little public service announcement

Naughty book meme

My last post was a book meme and in the comments Mr. Bingowings insinuated that my Danish languaged book was a Ho-mance novel. It wasn't, but rather the book which the Oscar nominated movie Precious, something Push by Sapphire was based on. I have to say, the title makes me want to gag. Anything with a title that annoying gets on my 'I'm not doing that - ever!' list. The fact that the woman who gave us Glitter, Wisegirls and a whole bunch of albums which mostly are just vocal range exercises stars in the movie. Well, let's just say it isn't helping the matter. I'm about half way through it, so look out for it in an upcoming book update.

Well, I take what Mr. Bingowings said as a bit of a dare. So I found the two books with the juiciest page 123 and I thought I'd pick the dirtiest, so be warned, this is all male handyman sex.

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)

Well, as mentioned I didn't pick the book nearest me, but rather the one with the raunchiest page 123.


There was a whole debate going on about the tie issue in the photo, started by our very own Tim who thought it was a bit unpractical. But I ask you this, Tim. If you saw a woman in just knickers and a tie. What would you say to that eh? Still unpractical, or just unbelievably hot?

2. Open the book to page 123

Will is trying to seduce his handyman Jack. He has gotten him to lie on his bed for a massage.

3. Find the fifth sentence

His eyes still locked on Will's face, he slid the denim down his things and calves.

4. Post the next three sentences

He was wearing dark blue cotton boxer shorts. Loose as they were, they couldn't quite hide the obvious erection poking against the fabric. Will's mouth actually watered and he had to swallow to keep from choking.

Ok. So it isn't really that naughty, but if you are feeling frustrated you could always buy the book on amazon.co.uk but if I were you I'd hold out for the Sci-Fi series - Hot sweaty manlove of the interplanetary kind - of My Fair Captain and the Englor Affair both by J. L. Langley.

Marilyn vs. Scarlett

From one meme to another. This one is a book meme, and I may have done it before or at least thought about doing it. Let's get to it.


1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).

I have two books fairly close to me while lounging on my chaise. One is in Danish so that won't do. The other is Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered Smart Ass Phase by Jen Lancaster and I've actually finished that one. So look out for it in a book update sometime in the future.

2. Open the book to page 123

Ok, this is where Miss Jen faces the big conundrum. Scarlett or Marilyn. Hold on to your knickers everyone.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

And lower your voice, you sound kind of dumb.

4. Post the next three sentences

Also, blond hair and black eyebrows? Oh, honey, no. I'm still grumbling about the Marilyn/Scarlett conundrum when I arrive at my locker after seventh period.

Book Update 3: I don't wanna be alone

When my girlfriends get a little lonely, they cuddle up alone in bed with a cup of tea and a Barbara Cartland/Danielle Steele or other book and once they've finished it, they are all better. No more lonely, they get back on track and all is well. Maybe they put something funny in their tea, because no matter what I'm still feeling alone.

Reading 4 erotic (alright, slightly if not fairly pornographic) books, didn't work on me. At least not in the way it should be. Still, I was entertained by lovely stories, fair writing and I quote

Hot sweaty manlove of the interplanetary kind

Oh yes, oh yes. It does say that. Ain't life grand?

Let's start with that one.


The Englor Affair by JL Langley

It's actually the sequel to My Fair Captain which I wrote about here

I couldn't remember much of it to be honest, so I might have to read the first book again, and then read The Englor Affair again afterwards. Some of the same characters and the same universe is used, and for an erotic book (I sound like such an afficionado don't I, for someone who's read 6 in all his life) that's a little unusual.

I'll spare you all the graphic details but just say that the book is set in another universe on the Planet Englor (and a little on the planet Regelence which was featured in My Fair Captain) where things are a mix of the old days of aristocracy and hi-tech stuff in the far, far future. There are kings, princes, lords and dames. It's actually quite entertaining - but you will be confronted with

Hot sweaty manlove of the interplanetary kind

and you'll love it!

It comes with a warning though, one of the guys is a ginger.

I can't wait to read book three as I'm fairly sure there will be a third because like in My Fair Captain, not everything was solved in this one either.

After having read three books by JL Langley (I had also previously read a book called The Tin Star with hot all male cowboy lovin - read about it here) that were pretty good, I thought I'd make it an even four.

The Broken H by JL Langley

This book was about hot cowboy lovin, and it actually mixed in with the storyline of The Tin Star

The book was good. I liked the story and the lovin but I wasn't so keen on one of the dudes having long hair, and the editing was fairly bad. Imagine the nonsense and mistakes I make and multiply it by 10. Still, the book had me.. let's just say it had me going through most of the colours of the rainbow. I even cried. That in itself isn't a big thing because I could cry watching a commercial afterall.

Handyman by Claire Thompson

I suspect doing the handyman is every girl and gays fantasy. At least if he's hot. Perseonally I haven't met one of those yet, but in this book a yuppy guy moves to the suburbs and hires a handyman to do his kitchen. Let's just say, he ends up doing more than his kitchen. Much happens, some things fairly funny, and others a little more serious. A lot of self doubt and such and of course lots of handyman lovin.

This book was pretty good, and refeshing from reading all those JL Langley books.

The Assignment by Evangeline Anderson

The Assignment was about two police officers who had to go undercover at a gay sex retreat in San Francisco and pretend to be gay in order to bust some druglord who distributed bad coke.

Needless to say there were lots of sexual frustrations, erotica and down and dirty sex involved. The story was far from weak considering the nature of the book (you can't expect to pick up something of the same level as Puskin, Hemingway or Tolstoy) and the writing fairly good.

Next time I'll order books, I think they'll have to be books on knitting and sewing.

Swinging London town

The time has come for me to tell you all about my fabulous trip to London. It was every bit as fabulous as I had imagined it would be. There were a few surprises along the way and sights that we didn't get to see. Actually we didn't get to do much sightseeing, and to my horror we forgot to go touch the lions feet on Trafalgar Square. You can see it here though.

We arrived late on Friday evening. Like always, there was something wrong with the Stansted Express (why they call it express, I'll never know) which meant we arrived by Tube at the Russell Sq. station (I love Russell Square) too late to shop at the Brunswick.



Remember, at that time I still had my FABULOUS and much missed iPhone so the photos are blurry and rather poor but you get the idea.
Just across the street from the Tube station is a Tesco. It wasn't always a Tesco, but once the wonderful Hart's Grocer or something like that. It was a wonderful place and I have bought many a sandwich in there over the years. It has been closed for many years though. Anyway, I was waiting outside the station while my friend (after this only referred to as Madgetastic for his love of Madge) was in Tesco to get something to drink and possibly chocolate eclairs (he loves chocolate eclairs and is completely obsessed with them). While I was waiting I saw a young man standing outside, much like I was standing outside the Tube station and I thought he may have been a hustler. Or maybe it was just laundry day as our dear friend Bingowings had experienced once. Anyway, this older man came up to me and started chatting but Madgetastic came to my rescue.

After checking in, we hung out in Madgetastics room for a while talking. I say that, but I'm a little fuzzy on the details although I know for a fact that we didn't have any alcohol and the hotel bill didn't include any roomservice ordered that night. Now that I think about it, I am a little shocked at how poor my memory is, but I think we just talked for a while and I went to my room and took a lovely long bath and read for a while. The book is called The World of Normal Boys by K.M. Soehnlein.

On Saturday we went shopping. This was fantastic. We went to Carnaby Street and Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden to name a few places. Madgetastic was on a mission to find a Storm shop. He had his mind set on getting a watch and maybe some rings and a bag. After visiting the second Storm shop he'd gotten what he wanted. A quick stop at Marks & Spencers where I got a bottle of nice Italian red wine (but no cork screw) and a visit to the Holy Land we discovered it was actually London Pride day.



We also managed to find a Doc Martens shop on Neal Street (I think it was) and they had some pretty kinky high heeled leather boots for an otherwise pretty so 90s phenomenon. I wonder if those were the ones Madge wore at her Old and Bitter concert. By the way, I put a POX on Crocs!

Anyway, Pride. To be quite honest, I've never actually done the whole Pride thing. It's just a bunch of screaming, cunty, skinny, skanky queens in leopard print trousers isn't it? That, and those leather daddies that MJ is so fond of. However Madgetastic who isn't actually gay (although he weekly claims either being bi, straight or gay - I think he kissed a guy once) was too obsessed with it and wanted to go to "that gay part of town". I kept telling him he might be thinking about Soho where we once shopped at Prowler. He wasn't sure. Anyway, we started on Leicester Square home of the famous handprints of Dame Maggie Smith and made our way towards Soho.

Of course the square and the streets were packed with people. It seemed harmless and fun, except for one poor bloke with a bloody nose who was surrounded by the police. Had the parade been in Denmark he'd probably been dead.



Faggots, faggots everywhere and not a drop to drink.



Oh look! Skanky queen. I'm being a bitch, I know. Sorry.







Oh look! Nando's! Oh how I waved. Like a spechul.

After cruising the parties, listening to some dodgy singer belt out a few tunes, checking out the shopping booths and the advertising whores in their tiny pants (not that I'm complaining because sweet jebus they were hot!) we walked homo. Ooops! I meant to say home. Stopping at a lovely square on the way.


It was near the British Museum.
That night we went out to eat. My treat. There was no plan about where to eat so we just walked around aimlessly in the area around Russell Square where our hotel was. At one point we considered eating at the hotel but that's a little too touristy so we found this lovely restaurant called Denise's. We had drinks and dinner before stumbling back home.



That was where I learned what a Manhattan is. A Manhattan is....Something you should NEVER order. I can't remember when I've had a more disgusting drink. Ever. Of course my Manhattan didn't have a cherry.

We went back to the hotel. The Hotel Russell by the way. My favorite London hotel. Where we called roomservice and asked them to bring up a bucket of ice. We had bought a bottle of sequin Absolute Vodka and some soda and at 3 am I stumbled back down the hall to my room.





That day we'd been shopping at Lush (I've never had better service evah! Even at the Apple Store and Tous which had lovely staff too) so I decided I needed to take a bath with my rubber ducky.



Bringing along my book, wine and a pink cupcake.


The next morning the phone rang at 9am and I looked around.





How on earth did it get to look like that?!? I did make it down to breakfast and we also made it to Debenhams and House of Fraser (where I bought some Kylie - Couture) before heading off to the Old and Bitter concert.

The Old and Bitter concert was at the London O2 (the old Millenium Dome) and to get there, as the Jubilee line was closed, we sailed from the Millenium Pier by the London Eye (old Millenium Wheel?).



From the base of the London Eye overlooking the River Thames, Big Ben and Palace of Westminster


London is gorgeous isn't it. Same place, almost just the other direction. We sailed under Tower Bridge, past Tower of London and went to the concert. More on the concert in an upcoming post. Then we sailed back.

Since it was so late on a Sunday night the Tube had closed and I put my foot down and said. We're walking! I needed the fresh air, the stillness of London and let's face it. I needed the exercise.



The London Eye from the other side of the bank, at 1am. London is so beautiful isn't it just.

A few drinks in Madgetastics room, and it was time for another Lush bath.



A bath, a book and a bottle of wine. That's heaven! Scary morning after, and off we were. It was time to leave London again. So sad, I almost cried. I wished the Ryan Air flight would be cancelled. We took the Tube to Liverpool Street Station and caught the Stansted Express to the airport.



Random escalator at a random Tube station.

At the airport we went to Starbucks to get something to eat. I love Starbucks. The pink thing is some kind of raspberry frappuccino thing and the nutty thing is a rocky roads I think. My memory is a little fuzzy.



After that, we just sat and waited for our flight number to be called.



Such a sad day it was.

This was my trip to Swinging London Town.

Blur

You might ask yourself what 'Petra has been up to lately. What's been going on since the move and why am I only updating every once in a while? Or what's been going on with me in the past few weeks. I wish I could tell you, it's all been a bit of a blur. After I moved back here, I thought my life would be dinner parties, cocktail parties, Wii parties and movie nights with friends. Honestly I don't know what I spend my time doing anymore but here is a clue.





I know the events but I can't put a date on them. I've upped my work hours from 37 to 39 and a half hours per week. This was done by April 1st actually but for some reason I only started appreciating it now. Maybe because my bank account felt it now for the first time. To be honest I didn't actually feel as much as I had hoped. Turns out if I start doing the math to see how much I get paid hour, I get very disappointed. Still, it's better than nothing I suppose and it's not like I wouldn't be at work anyway so I might as well get paid for it. However little it is.

Over the past two weeks I watched the following

• Paris - When It Sizzles (1964) William Holden and Audrey Hepburn



• Roman Holiday (1953) Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn



• Because I Said So (2007) Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore and Lauren Graham



• Mean Girls (2004) Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey and Rachel McAdams



• What Happens in Vegas (2008) Cameron Diaz. Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah



• Bachelor in Paradise (1961) Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Jim Hutton



• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Gene Wilder



• North by Northwest (1959) Cary Grant, James Mason, Martin Landau



• Sunday in New York (1963) Rod Taylor, Jane Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Peter Nero



• "Gilmore Girls" season 3 and 4 Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, Ed Herrmann

Unfortunately I couldn't find my favorite episode from Season 4 on youtube, in which Emily Gilmore (Lorelais mother and Rorys grandmother) goes mental at a mall.

I also finished a book called Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim which was fairly good. It was another pretty sad and depressing book, which I've been reading a lot of recently and it's got to stop sometime. This book makes number 6 this year which marks the halfway mark. The book was actually pretty well written and the characters were, albeit not the nicest, well written and I did to my horror identify with a few of them. I don't believe in UFOs though and would never stick my hand inside a dead cow - or a live one for that matter.

Apart from those things, I've had 5 pretty memorable days.

Thursday last week I went to the movies and watched Angels & Demons after work. It was a company thing where we could get tickets at reduced prices including popcorn and soda. I may have been the only one who didn't care for the Dan Brown book, or I was the only one who weren't afraid to say it out loud. I really didn't like that book. I also am not a fan of Tom Hanks and what was the first thing we saw? Tom Hanks in nothing but a blue speedo. Oh.My.God.No! It did pick up and the movie was a lot more enjoyable than the book but they should have cast someone else than Tom Hanks because he's just so annoying. Yet it was a fairly average movie and I did enjoy it for the most part.

Friday last week was a company outing. Not for the whole company, but our team was meeting with the law firm we use. We left work at noon and I stumbled in my front door at close to 1am. It started with us hearing the ins and outs of the estates of deseased persons. To be honest I thought it would be boring, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. Then we met the lawyers and their secretaries that we deal with daily. We had a glass of Moët and went to dinner. I know there was wine, and cognac and a very large slice of Tiramisu and beer. Everyone was very nice and I didn't make a big drunken fool out of myself. Pheeeeew!

Saturday was the Eurovision Song Contest live from Moscow, but more on that later.

Tuesday this week I was picked up by my boss at 6.30am for a trip to Copenhagen to visit my former colleagues. Apparently they needed to be explained some things but it turned out it wasn't because they didn't understand, but rather that they didn't want to understand how things worked. It was nice to see them again and it made realise that I made the right decision to move. The trip gave me the opportunity to talk to my boss in a more informal environment and we got to know each other a little bit better. When I say "a little bit better" I do mean a little bit. Nothing rude if that's what you are thinking. Shame on you! I'm nothing if not a professional. Ok, rude but it's not supposed to be. And it wasn't. We talked about a lot of things. Including books. When he heard I liked reading he immediately asked what and when I mentioned I was reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro the conversation came to a stand still. So naturally I had to tell him about another book, something more to his taste. Since I knew he probably wouldn't appreciate My Fair Captain (with fisting and all) by J. L. Langley I mentioned a thriller I'd just purchased called Amberville by Tim Daly. It worked up until I mentioned that it takes place in an alternate world of teddy bears which I happen to find quite ingenious. He didn't and the conversationen ended right there. We didn't speak for a good 15 minutes after that. He did have me home by 8.15pm, bless him.

Then Thursday this week it was Star Trek day! This movie was beyond awesome. I cannot tell you how much awesomeness this movie was. It was, awesome. Some colleagues and I were supposed to go, but most of them couldn't because Thursday was a bank holiday here and they had things to do. Too bad for them! They missed a great outing.

In the end we were 3 people going. The girl I usually go to the movies with, we have almost the same taste in movies except she liked Failure to Launch. What a terrible movie. Bleugh. The other person going with us was a guy I've got a massive crush on, so it was pretty risky asking him to go with us. He's a total comic book geek and he's so lovely. Best part is that he isn't rude to me. Perish the thought. Well we went, the movie was well, awesome! and then he went home. I went to dinner with the girl and we had a lovely evening. She found it quite disturbing that I hadn't watched any of the other Star Trek movies. I told her to start looking up the series because she's never watched any of those.

Oh, how strange was it seeing the guy from American Pie and Sylar as a Vulcan? I completely bought it and totally understand Uhura because who wouldn't, freaky hair and all.. As of now I'm practicing my Vulcan sign and stuff. I want to be a Trekkie.

Book update

I decided to repeat my book challenge of last year and this means reading 12 books this year. I've already finished four books this year and I started reading two more books. Unfortunately I've been so very busy over the past few months that I haven't been reading a lot or anything at all. My new (fabulously interesting and rewarding with the pityful salary) job has been taking a lot of time and energy.

Yet today I was doing nothing. I mean nothing, n-o-t-h-i-n-g! Absolutely nothing, so I could do as I pleased. This meant a TCM (Turner Classic Movies) movie marathon with a fabulous lineup.

• the last bit of The Glass Bottom Boat (Doris Day baby!)
• Gone With the Wind (Well frankly my dear, I don't give a damn)
• Little Women (now I want to read the book!)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (what gorgeous cinematography, gotta love Stanley Kubrick)

The next movie on the schedule was Training Day but I have to say, I am not too keen on watching that. Mostly because it doesn't belong on TCM because it's only from 2001. It's not a classic, and especially not yet. So I decided to read and I ended up finishing the fifth book in my 2009 book challenge.

Brothers by Ted van Lieshout. To be honest I don't remember why I picked it. It sure as hell wasn't because of the cover. Maybe it was the tagline, Life, death, truth. I don't think it could have been said more clearly than that.

Since this book is an English translation of a Dutch book, the writing doesn't flow. Either Dutch is just really difficult to translate, or the translator wasn't very good. I hope it's the first. In any case, it's still a good book.

The style is very interesting as it's about two brothers. One is dead, and the other has stolen his diary (no, I haven't stolen the storyline - I wasn't aware this book existed at the time) and decides to save the diary from their mothers ritual burning of all his earthly posessions by writing in the diary. Making it more his, that his late brothers. It may sound strange or a little naive, but it's a very touching book despite the poor translation (I don't speak Dutch but it seemed evident even to me).

It was sweet, disturbing and very sad. It made me wish my brother had left behind a diary I could read. Even if it seems like a massive invasion of privacy to pry into the most private thoughts of another person, living or dead. I guess my question is, would you? I don't know if I would. I guess to me it would be a chance to know my brother who I never got a chance to know, but morally would it be OK?

Book update

My Valentines day/evening went fairly well. I didn't have anything planned as it's not a big deal in Denmark. In fact it's a fairly recent development brought on by flower shops. Truth be told I have never been on a date on Valentines day so it was nothing new when I was trying to figure out how to pass the time. Finally I decided to read a book, but which one? That proved difficult as I was reading two at the time. Eventually I opted for a third book, the following book.




My Fair Captain by J. L. Langley. Afterall it was Valentines day and you need a bit of romance and "explicit sex, graphic langyage, violence and hot nekkid man-love" as it promises on the back. It did exactly what it said on the tin (or back cover) and the cover is quite delightful.

Naturally I picked the book from the photo on the cover and because I'd read another book by the same author called The Tin Star. A book I enjoyed quite a bit, even if I was initially shocked that it was gay erotica. This time I was very aware of the fact.

The story was surprisingly well put together and mixed sort of mediaeval stuff with sci-fi elements and although the plot wasn't successfully wrapped up at the end it was still a good read. The sexual tension between the two main characters was very good but ultimately it turned into some sort of daddy thing and I'm not into that. Fisting was mentioned once, but thank god it was never described in any way. I almost dropped my cup of tea. Still it was a good book and it shows that there is more to J. L. Langley than hot cowboy lovin (although there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with that).

In the end my special gentleman friend came over and I had to take a break from the book. He laughed at my choice of book but after showing him a few passages he became inspired.



The other book I finished was a book I started sometime around Autumn of last year. Which is a little bit embarrassing, taking that long to finish a book. Mostly if it takes me THAT long to finish it, chances are I never will. That would have been a shame because it really is a good book.



The book is Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett and I started reading it because it was recommended by our very own Queen of the Ringlets and witch IDV. He had told me to read the book Mort also by Terry Pratchett and I did that last year. I loved that so much, so imagine my expectations of Wyrd Sisters.

The book is extremely well written, funny, well though out, and the story is great. The characters are fabulous and I especially loved the cameos by Death. He is my favorite character in the Discworld (or does he live there? I can't remember).

Anyway I enjoyed the book a lot, although it did disappoint a little bit after having read Mort - which was a lot better if you ask me. I want more Death and Granny Weatherwax.

Those were the books I've managed to finish until now so I'm well ahead of my goal. I just can't help being disappointed that I didn't win MJs Big Penis book. That would have made a lovely entry.

Book Challenge 2009

Hot on the heels of my previous post, I can actually produce the first two books completed for my 2009 book challenge. This year I'm sticking with the 12 book goal, hoping I'll end the year having read more. On a side note that belongs in yesterdays post, I can inform you that I'm currently still reading Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett and that I've not given up. Even if I've been reading it for a very, very long time now. It's a good book.

The first book I read was

J.L. Langleys The Tin Star. I was just sitting a Saturday afternoon browsing on amazon.co.uk looking for books I could buy and I'd clicked on a whole bunch of books. You know how it is. They see what you last bought and recommend other stuff. So naturally I clicked on the cover thinking the young man in front of the hot texan behind him looked a little too pretty. Not at all something I'd go for. I read the recommendations and it sounded promising. It had a gay theme, it dealt with homophobia in the bible belt. Plus it was a little soap opera like, apparently. That would be a good way to start up the book challenge, I thought. I clicked, amazon.co.uk shipped and I started reading.

It's gay erotica. I know! I didn't read on the back because I wanted to be surprised and I was very, very surprised. At first I thought, well maybe this is vital to the plot, and it was. Then it reared (so to speak) it's ugly head again, and again. And again! Once I'd finished the book I noticed something on the book. It said "erotic romance" near the publishers logo. Huh!?! Now I'll be forever remembered by amazon.co.uk as the guy who bought gay erotica, and I'll be clicking the "not interested" button until I'm blue in the face.

I might as well just not do that. Truth be told I kind of liked the book. The characters were sweet and the story wasn't bad. It could have been longer and I wouldn't have complained either. It ends, although organically, a little rushed with an epilogue and that's it. Had it been me, I would have milked it for everything it had. So to speak. Risking ending up as that pervy old gay man everyone sort of looks at funny and rushes past in the hallway I might consider checking out more of them. This book lifted my spirit - and made me call my special gentleman friend who was only too happy to come over and laugh at me.

That said, I find it a little troubling that it seems like there are a million catagories for books, and when it comes to gay theme books there is only one catagory "gay and lesbian". Because there is more to it than that. The other gay themed books I've read were not erotica. Another thing, should it be erotico? Because it is marketed at men afterall and in languages like Spanish words that are "male" end with "o" or "i". Just something to think about.

The cute covers just keep coming don't they? Changing Tides by Michael Thomas Ford was bought at the same time as the previous book. The reason for buying this one was the recommendations from amazon.co.uk because I'd previously bought something else that was gay themed. The cover and the name of the author did help too. Somehow authors with 3 names that roll off the tongue like Michael Thomas Ford for instance just screams "you've got to read this" to me.

After a slow start, the book started picking up. Still I could never get over all the references to Cannery Row by John Steinbeck and Steinbeck in general. It also seemed to center around marine life and marine biology something I am yet to find even the slightest bit fascinating. That said, it wasn't all bad and I did stay up until 2am on Sunday night to finish it. That's something I guess. It's not a bad book. I did find it enjoyable, and if you like nudibranchs, marine biology, Steinbeck, history and the interactions between 16 year old girls and their estranged fathers interesting - combined with more goodies, this is the book for you. I'm not sure I'll read more by Michael Thomas Ford, at least not without reading what the book is actually about.

Now this was the first 2. Can't wait to share the next books with you.

Book Challenge 2008

Last year I challenged myself to read at least 12 books. One per month, and I think I did quite good most of the year but then as the year started to come to a close things looked a little dreary. Especially since the last time I mentioned the book challenge on here was on August 1st when I mentioned a book called Brothers Bishop by Bart Yates.

Looking at the year that came and went quite quickly I managed to read 13 books. Impressive considering how few I'd read had I not challenged myself. You can read my posts on the first 11 books here if you like. I never finished the list though because one thing or the other came in the way. Just like with TFGES (hush you in the back, yes you!)

The final two books of the year were the following

First was Blind Fall by Christopher Rice, ne of my favorite writers, the son of vampire writer Anne Rice. His books have nothing to do with vampires or the ghoulish things. He started out being the token 'gay author' (there are elements of the gay community in all his books and they do deal somewhat with this) branded by his first book A Density of Souls which happens to be one of my favorite books of all time. Granted I haven't read a lot but I know what I like.

Back to his book Blind Fall though, you'd better read what it says on the link up there. The link takes you to the UK Amazon shop where you can read a lot more about it and find his other books. The book did disappoint though, like the previous book of his, Light Before Day. They just don't measure up to his first two. Still Blind Fall is a good read and I found myself not wanting to put it down.

I bought this book Leave Myself Behind by Bart Yates because I'd already read his book The Brothers Bishop which I loved. This book Leave Myself Behind was his first book and I thought I should read it because I'd enjoyed the other one so much. Now it's been quite a while since I read it so I don't remember what it was about, but it was a good book. Although the story was a little convoluted. At least part of it. It was a good read though - so much so, that I haven't given up on the writer and purchased his 3rd book for the 2009 book challenge.

The ones mentioned so far were all winners, but they weren't all. I managed to give up on 3 books.


Umberto Eco - The Name of the Rose didn't stand much of a chance as I was too impatient and the style simply wasn't something I'd want to put up with for 512 pages. I may have made it 20 pages in before putting it down.
The second and third book I didn't finish were actually linked as they were both by the same author.


I started reading Rupert Everett - Red Carpets & Other Banana Skins not once, but twice. Because I like him, his writing is not bad, and his life isn't at all boring. Yet something just didn't click with me and so I've finally resigned and know I won't ever finish it.

The other book Rupert Everett - Hello Darling, Are You Working? is also a more or less fictional version of his autobiography just the names were changed and bits left out. At least as far as I made it. It's also not a bad book, but it just didn't capture me. Have I learned my lesson about buying books written by celebrities yet? No, because I quite like the Geri Halliwell autobiographies, enjoy Joan and Jackie Collins, adore Kylie Minogues books and yes I didn't hate Naomi Campbells book Swan.

Well, that concludes the 2008 book challenge which was an overall success. Let's see what happens here in 2009!

T for Tramp or something

Eroswings (affectionally dubbed Bingowings by me) did this meme to the letter S and gave us an offer we here at Sayhey couldn't refuse.

Here are the instructions: How this meme works is that you leave a comment on this post, and I'll assign you a letter. Then you write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on.

I was given the letter T. Bless. So here we go.

T is for Tuc crackers.

These fabulous salty (I prefer the plain salt ones) crackers bring back a pleasant memory from my childhood. We had them twice a year. For the Danish Eurovision show and again for the International Eurovision show. We would always sit down and watch the Eurovision together while having cheese and crackers. These were my crackers of choice. There is nothing really special about them as they are just a plain golden cracker with salt on it and holes in it. But I liked them and I still do. Maybe I'll have some later.

T is for Tea.

I like tea. To be honest I haven't always liked tea. It was the drink I'd order if I was given the choice between coffee and tea because it was the lesser of two evils. Over the years I've come to appreciate it a lot. Sitting on the sofa wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of tea or being at High Tea is a wonderful thing. Two very separate things though. I've come understand why a lot of people treat tea as something very important. Because surely it is. It's more than just a hot drink.

T is for Travel.

I love to travel but I rarely do it as I get very comfortable where I am and the interest disappears. This is why I've never made it outside Europe. On the map above you can see where I've been. When I was filling out the thing on the website I was shocked that I've never been to Norway but on the other hand, why should I go there? The list of where I've been is, as you can see, quite short. So here it is.

Denmark - I've travelled all over Denmark multiple times with my parents. So much I've grown quite sick of it.

Sweden - I've been there a few times, but most of the time it's been a one day experience because really, what's to see in Sweden?

Germany - I've gone on multiple one day trips there, mostly to buy cheap alcohol and candy. However I did spend a week at a luxury hotel in Wismar and another week by the lake in Plön.

Poland - While in Germany we drove all the way to Poland just to say we had been there. We didn't see anything of interest but I'm sure there are many things of interest in Poland.

The Netherlands + Belgium - Two countries I drove through once with a friend who worked as a truck driver on our way to France to deliver some toys. It was exactly what I needed that summer. Something bad had happened and I was ready and willing to escape for a week. Sadly the trip was cut short because of something shipping related. We did however spend one night in either Belgium or The Netherlands and it was lovely. I've driven through once before on my way to Paris.

France - I spent a lovely week in Paris during Easter once.

Spain - Been to Mallorca twice.

Italy - I've spent a week in both Riva by Lago di Garda and Rimini (all I remember from Rimini was the fantastic beach) both times bus trips and if I ever go to Italy again it will NOT be by bus. You'd think we learned that the first time around, but no.

San Marino - While in Rimini we drove to San Marino. I can't remember anything from there. I do however remember a spaghetti incident.

Austria - I've spent a very long week in Austria. It rained a lot. All week. We did get to see a lot though, including snowy mountains and Gross Glockner.

Hungary - I've been to Budapest. I went with my graduating class in 1998 and we had an OK time. Some better than others but it wasn't really that bad. Loads of designer shops and the prices were pretty low compared to say London. I'm sure all the nouveau riche were having a field day there. I tell you a bunch of 20 year olds on government student funding felt like they could buy the town.

Greece - I've been to both Crete and Rhodes. Lovely places, but I prefer Crete to Rhodes.

England - London. I've never been anywhere else in England but I do have a love affair with London. My favorite place in London is definately Russell Square.

T is for The Queen.

I could mean our Queen Margrethe II or HRH Queen Elizabeth II and while I adore both and the Royal families and all that comes with that it's not exactly what I mean. Well I do, I mean the movie The Queen because it allowed us a sneak peek inside the Royals private life. Obviously most of what goes on in the movie is pure speculations but it's still an interesting movie and the actors did an amazing job. Helen Mirren was spot on and James Cromwell as Prince Philip - I've got chills. He was such a nasty bugger. Please don't tell Prince Philip I said that. I don't want to be excluded from their next big bash.

T is for The Devil Wears Prada

I love that movie. Of course I adore both Anne Hathaway and movies about the fashion industry. Prêt à Porter is another favorite. A bitchy Meryl Streep is also always a treat. The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite movies of 2006.

T is for The Snow Garden

A book I love so very much by Christopher Rice son of vampire book writer Anne Rice. I've read it 3 times. Last year I read his most recent book Blindfall and I'll be mentioning that in a future post. If you want to know about the book, and Christopher Rice click on his name.

T is for The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

I've got the book but I haven't made it further than the first story of Narnia. A great story that I remember watching a cartoon version of when I was a kid and also remember reading many moons ago. In fact I made it as far as book 4 - The Silver Chair before calling it quits. Not because the stories weren't good but rather because I had other things on my mind than reading.

T is for The Sims 2

It's the one PC game that can still keep me entertained these days. I don't play it a lot these days but it's more or less the only PC game I've played since 2004. It's also the game I've spent the most money on. It's cost me a small fortune in Xtra Packs and Expansion Packs but I've only been too happy to fork out the money for the Sims goodness.

T is for Too Far a track by Kylie Minogue

The track 'Too Far' is in my opinion one of her best because it's different. It is taken from the album originally called Impossible Princess but changed swiftly as Diana went and died around the release. They panicked and named it Kylie Minogue, which was also the same title as her previous album creating much confusion. It was re-released years later with a bonus disc with loads of remixes of this song with it's original title. Even now, 10 years later it stands as a great track that doesn't feel dated at all.

T is for TV series.

I'm a big fan of TV and over the years I've become quite the fan of TV series of all types. Some good, some bad and some very very ugly. The shows I watch now are Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, Doctor Who, Ugly Betty, Heroes, Dirty Sexy Money, Bones and Boston Legal (I haven't watched any of the new season). Although I've seen quite a few of my favorite shows slowly die or suddenly taken off the air, I remember most fondly Gilmore Girls. Other shows worth mentioning are Dynasty and Las Vegas.

The best opening to a TV series ever!