ScotlandGer

Mick Jagger's favourite microwave meal from Marks and Spencer is Bangers and Mash. He likes that there are real bits of onion through the onion gravy. Keith Richards is not allowed to leave the table until he eats all his vegetables. Ronnie Wood teases the dog with Space Raiders crisps. Charlie Watt forgot his packed lunch yesterday, but his friends shared some of their sandwiches and crisps and then they all went out for a game of football.

My black Labrador is pleased with himself after he found a Nike golf-ball on the golf course last night and carried it all the way home without dropping it. He then buried it among his bedding. This was a satisfactory end to the weekend for all involved.

Just finished World War Z. Really enjoyed this, it is a smart book which brings in some interesting political ideas to the genre. If you like horror / fantasy and enjoyed World War Z movie then I would really recommend this book. This isn't a spoiler because it's on the blurb at the back, but a good example of the political dimension is when the 'outbreak' begins in China but the Chinese government try to cover it up instead of addressing the problem. The author is quite clever in thinking how different countries would react / fail to react. The section on North Korea is absolutely chilling. The book is split into different sections accounting for the outbreak and then the war and the recovery told from different characters' perspectives. I can see why Brad Pitt's production company bought the rights to this book as it seems every other section could be a zombie movie in its own right. It would good to see a follow-up to the movie sticking closer to the novel. I haven't decided which book next. I have a habit of -re-reading old books. I quite fancy going back to Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy.

Good night in tonight - probably forced to watch X-Factor, though, tbh. I need to get back into shape, mate. Either that or jeans keep getting shrunk in the wash.

Last day on decent food and lager before 'the regime' begins when I hit the gym tomorrow and it's salads all the way for the next few months to get back into shape. Chinese Chicken Curry tonight with Stella Artois stubbies sitting in the fridge as I write this.

The banter between newsreaders and weather reporters on morning news programmes. The g/f losing my iPod somewhere between the kitchen and the shower-room and so having to listen to 'real-life' on my commute instead of year-old football podcasts. Two hipsters in front of me wearing trousers that are far too short for them with white socks and black shoes - I really hope this isn't a thing now. It's Friday - I'm working Saturday and Sunday.

Living the Thug Life. It's good to be a Gangster! West Coast Crew ... and what not!

Billy Bob Thornton invented the internet in 1992. "I just wanted to look at pictures of nude ladies," he told reporters. "It was one of those 'Eureka' moments!" The internet was an immediate retail success and would remain in Amazon's Top-Ten Bestseller list ever since.

Star Trek Into Darkness - 6/10 I really enjoyed this film and will probably watch again as a back-to-back with Abrams' first Star Trek. It was easy to watch and the action sequences were really impressive. The plot was a little stilted and there were definite plot-holes which distracted from the flow of the film. I know Benedict Cumberbatch has won a lot of plaudits for this performance, but for me, not so much. I would recommend this film, if only for the space action sequences and really impressive special effects.

Pigeons have an acute fear of flying and believe their wings to be a curse from the Pigeon God. Consequently, they have developed a fatalistic culture which manifests itself in many ways, the most visible of which is standing in front of moving cars and buses simply pecking at the ground. Moreover, they have developed an aversion to the procreation of the species, which is why you will rarely see a baby pigeon.

Lea & Perrins' Worcestershire Sauce doesn't really exist. The adverts are a viral marketing campaign for a flavour of crisp.

Sightseers 8/10. I agree with StandFree above, this is a really interesting dark, dark comedy. I often find that this genre leaves me a wee bit cold with the emphasis too much on one or the other elements. I enjoyed Ben Wheatley's Kill List and was a bit perplexed by Field in England, but I was hooked by this film the whole way. The two leads are really good to watch together - with great lines which I won't put here in case it spoils them for anyone yet to see it. Spring Breakers 8/10 The critics seemed to be split on this one with some thinking it to be outstanding and some a shell of a movie. I agree with the former group, and I think you need to be ready to expect this to be a study in nihilism which seems to completely interest the film-maker. I think if you watch this film as a crime caper, you'll be left confused, because there is a meaninglessness and selfishness to the characters' actions which is completely gripping if you watch this as a study of self-destructive behaviour.

Timberland is a small independent nation-state which lies on the border between the USA and Canada. Its primary exports are footwear, jackets, and hooded pullover tops. The country has established a range of bilateral trade agreements with a number of advanced developing economies such as the Former Yugoslav Republic of USC, the confederal regional body TK Maxx, and the small trading hub of River Island. This has ensured the country has been relatively unaffected by the global economic downturn. Consequently, it is now looking to diversify its economy as the government increases research and development spending in the sock, denim, and leather belt markets.

Red Squirrels sleep upside down in tree branches, hanging by their tails. In order to preserve the species, Scottish Conservationists now go around at night with clothes pegs to clip the sleeping Red Squirrel to the tree. This is to counter the threat from the Grey Squirrels who enjoyed untying the Reds. Grey Squirrels are unable to operate clothes pegs.

Finished Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy a wee while ago. Completely hooked all the way through. It is one of those books you get through in a couple of sittings. I think his books are up there with the best. The one book of his that I can't get out of my head is Blood Meridian. Tough read, but I would recommend it if you have read other McCarthy books and enjoyed them. Now reading World War Z. I know the book is completely different to the movie, but really intrigued by the premise and the political ideas he tries to put in.

Trying to walk past a bus stop in Edinburgh during the fringe and ending up wedged in the middle of a crowd of people waiting for the bus. Unless you take evasive action, you will be crowd-surfed into the next bus and end up in Colinton.

I see where you are coming from, but I think it is a role that will need a special performance. It is one of the top roles in movies after Nolan's films, and this sequel is now one of the most anticipated films in a long while. He played the main role in Argo, but that was a role that suited his style of acting being slightly restrained, underplayed for the most part, which was balanced with a good surrounding crew. Similarly so in The Town. Affleck is a good actor just as Cavill is a good actor, but I wouldn't count either a having great screen presence, which is what both roles maybe require.

One of the problems for Man of Steel was that Cavill did not demonstrate the charisma which is necessary for such a big role. Clearly Affleck is a top director, but when I think about Affleck's roles in The Town and Argo, he was surrounded by an excellent cast and both films had a good script. In the lesser Affleck movies, I don't recall finding Affleck interesting as a screen presence at all. I wonder if the sequel to Man of Steel will fall down on the basis that neither of its lead actors are truly lead actors. I remember being bemused about Heath Leadger as the Joker, but the result was two electric performances from Bale and Ledger. I can't envision a similar outcome for Cavill and Affleck. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

The Place Beyond the Pines - 8/10 Brilliant film. The cast is brilliant, the story is interesting and the director tells it really well, but really impressed with Eva Mendes who is outstanding. It's strange to think Bradley Cooper became world famous for being in The Hangover, but is actually a top actor and puts in another brilliant performance in another difficult role after Silver Linings.

The Wire is the best, no question about it. I had heard good things about it before it was on the BBC who put on a few per night a wee while ago. I remember being slightly underwhelmed at first and I struggled to adjust to the Baltimore accents. I could tell there was some potential so decided to stick with it, and was hooked about after the first couple of episodes - to the extent that I ended up buying the box-sets so I could watch them all ahead of the BBC. The best series for me is Series 4. Series 2 was the second best. So tough to choose - the Dickensian aspect of them all. Stringer and Omar were brilliant characters as well as Dookie. I think my favourites, though, were Chris and Snoop.

Nice one, just went on to their website. I'll end up buying the DVDs when they come out anyway as I've got the other boxsets. Cheers Real Saint

I don't have Netflix and so have to wait until the DVDs come out. I'll have to dodge spoilers for months. I was listening to an Empire film podcast the other day that asked the question of how long Hank 'knew' about Walter / Heisenberg. The suggestion was that Hank has always had little suspicions but because of his job / injuries / hospital bills was never able to really pin it down. Not sure, but it'll be good ton watch them back to see if there is anything to this.