New Rear Indictor bulbs

Chrome Indicator Bulbs 

So before I took my X-Type for its MOT I did have a look around and some of the Orange is coming away from one of the indicator bulbs. Perfect chance for a small upgrade, so I bought these chrome covered indicator bulbs that flash orange from e-bay. Should make the rear light cluster look a bit neater. Just need to get the old girl washed now

High Road To China

High Road To China Movie Poster

I remember watching this as a child and being captivated. An heiress has to find her absent farther within 90 days otherwise his business partner will have him declared legally dead and take over the company that funds her high society lifestyle.

The only option to her is the local flying school run by a drunken, womanising war veteran. The last report of her father being alive is in Nepal and thats where they set off to. They leave England under fire from unknown agents. The war veteran O'mally believes it to be the vengeance mission of an outraged husband, his client Eve Tosser know its from her fathers business partner and they manage to escape just in time. The chase is on across Europe and Asia to reach her father before the dead line being pursued by mercenaries and running into war loads along the way. This is a good action adventure with nice romantic sub plot.

Apple MOT's Stoke Road Slough

MOT Testing Station Sign

So the MOT on my X-Type run out at midnight last night, to any owner of an older Jaguar its a moment of dread as there's a list of problems that could occur.

Knowing that I'm a 1430 start on my first day back after a two weeks leave I thought I'd get it in there early and then I'll have the whole morning to sort out anything that comes up.

I got to Apple's MOT bay at around 8:30 and waited for my car to be seen, I've been going there for years and the service is second to none. They go out of there way to keep you updated on where you are in the queue and once in they're really fast and efficient at getting your car through. If you want to watch Your car being tested then they are fine with that and if any problems arise they'll point you in the right direction to get it fixed. Today the Jag made it through Phew, just a polite and friendly reminder that my brake pads had around 5mm on them and should be replaced in the next few months. If you need an MOT they'll see you right and the cost was £40.

The Hunter (1980)

The Hunter Movie Poster

Ok so if truth be told I am a Steve McQueen fan, Its true i have his picture on my wall and a reproduction of The Great Escape t-shirt in my wardrobe. I have a huge collection of his films on DVD also even the ones with no story (Bullitt and Le Mans)

This film is a sad end note to an Icons career, playing the famous bounty hunter Ralph Papa Thomson McQueen is hardly believable and as much as the scenes are based on some actual events they seem forced and the comedy is out of place. The director starts buy establishing this as a bio pic then adds scenes that are just plain silly and they look as if they've been thought up by a child.

Go and watch a good McQueen film instead on this, watch him upstage Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno or Yul Brynner in The Magnificent Seven In these films he pushing himself and really acting. Junior Bonner or Tom Horn hell anything apart from this its Heart breaking to watch the King Of Cool in this.

Stealing The Superfortress

Submarine (Film)

Submarine Movie Poter

This strange Channel 4 film popped up on my fire stick and it strange and weird if I'm honest.

Oliver and Jordana
Submarine

In the style of the Peep show this is a coming of age film. Oliver Tate is a loaner how spy's on his parents as their relationship starts to fall apart, along with his mums ex boyfriend who is trying to re-entre his mums life. His father is a marine biologist who works at the local uni, with the claim to fame of being on the open university. His mum is bored and lonely and has had no intimate contact for months. All this troubles Oliver and he constantly looks for a solution.

He's bullied at school and one day while suffering at the hands of these bullies they asking him to insult another loner Jordana, When he stands up to the bullies and refuses it sets him on course for his first love. This is his story of that relationship with all the inner thoughts and anxieties told to you through his narration. The ups and downs of a teenager as he deals with life and the blows it deals him.

1,000 Page Views

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and web page in general. Today marks my latest milestone of a 1,000 page views in just over a month and your continued support makes this possible.

Google Adsense

Okay so I'm a bit of a sell out, I reached the required number of page views to turn Adsense on.

I believe the number of pages views differs between territories and the requirements are different too so to define them here would be pointless please check on your local Google web   site as to the requirements.

The registration is simple once you qualify and google make it an easy step by step process. you'll have to verify your address and have an active Google account but otherwise you'll soon be away to the races.

Once qualified you can use the google tools to place ads on your sit or theres a handy HTML link that is easy to find if your building a web page yourself. All the adds are based on cookies and once installed they look after them selves and find content relevant to the reader of your page.

Give them a go and see it costs nothing to set up and if you get a lot of readers you could turn your hobby and passion into a pay day.

Candle Lantern

Old candle hanging on

Yesterday while out shopping I bought a new plate to sit in the bottom of the lantern that sits on my coffee table. Like an impatient child I couldn't wait for the current candle to give up the ghost and snuff it so to speak. Marta and I must have lit it at about 3pm this afternoon and I'm truly amazed by the amount of time it held on for. Your normal average person would have thrown the whole lot in the bin but I had to see it through to the end. Like children Marta and I watched the last flickering flame struggling to hold on until eventually it was out and dead. Strange the little things we can get engrossed in.

New candle and plate 

A Walk In The Woods

A Walk In The Woods
Movie Poster 

After watching a serious film a bit of comic relief was in order so searching through the comedy section on prime video Marta and I found this.

Robert Redford is a name we all know and he delivers a great performance in this story by Bill Bryson. Bill Bryson is bored and wants and adventure whilst going foe a walk in his home state he comes a cross an sign for the Appalachian Trail an decides to walk it, the whole 2200 miles of it. His wife looks into it and sees all the dangers and insists he can't go alone. The only person he can find to do it with him is an alcoholic former associate who still owes him $600 from 30 years ago. These unlikely hikers set out to conquer the trail and find themselves in one hilarious scrape after another, while running into all kinds of strange people.

Its a really good comedy and from Bill's bad social skills and mis adventures you'll be laughing the whole way through like I was a definite see and a movie for a wet Sunday Afternoon/Evening 

Chocolat 2016

Chocolat Move Poster

Don't panic I haven't switched to a blog about french cinima its just that I have happened across two french films on consecutive evenings thats all.

The story of Rafael Padila who escaped slavery and join the circus, thats where this film picks up his story. Playing a savage to ignorant audiences it is 1885 Rafael Padila is convinced to team up with a struggling clown to perform a new and unique show. Centred around him being abused in various different ways to comic and slapstick effect the act makes it big and is taken up by the largest circus in Paris.

Rafael struggles with his fame and turns to gambling, alcohol and then drugs to deal with his fame and the fact that he is only recognised and promoted by the colour of his skin and not his actual talents. The addictions get worse as time goes on until he's heavy in debt to the criminal world. Rafael wants to show that he is more than just the foil in a racist act and turns his hand to acting.

With the criminal world chasing him for his heavy debt and a drug and alcohol problem he struggles to learn his lines for Shakespeare's Othello and on opening night the play bombs and Rafael suffers further abuse and it spells the end of his acting. The films cuts to an older Rafael who's working as a stage hand in the circus and dying fro TB his ex partner is supporting him financially and is be his bedside reminiscing about old times as he slips away.

While the racism in this film is a thread that travels through the film its more of a celebration for a pioneer as the first black man to appear on the stage in France and does a very good job of showing you the struggles he had to deal with and how he overcame them for better and worse. I found it to be a good film and it kept me going all the way through. Give it a watch and remember the trail blazers who fought through the hardships to set us on the footing of equality that hopefully we'll find one day!

The Double 2011

The Double Movie Poster

Richard Gere doesn't get that much lime light for what ever reason in Hollywood any more the days when he was it are decades behind. But I don't think that should put you off from this film because it good.

An assassin that used to work for the soviet regime reappears and kills a US senator. The CIA agent Paul who spent a lifetime tracking him is called back out of retirement to help with the reopen case. When he's paired with his fresh from collage partner he dismisses the partners (Ben)  theory's out of hand not because they are bad but because they are close to the truth.

Slowly the Ben begins to realise that the person they are tracking is a mole in the agency and as the rope tightens it can only be his Paul. Paul tries to warn Ben off and save his life but the head strong raw recruit stays on the case and the tension builds over the film to the final show down.

In brief its a good film, a bit to close to internal affairs that classic Richard Gere. But still worth a look.  

The Assault L'Assaut

L'assaut Movie Poster
Showing GIGN

Okay so another foreign language film (unless you're reading this in french) but I've found a cherry of a film for you this time and it's probably one of the best this week along side The Horseman.

Based on the true events surrounding the Hi-jaking of and Air France Airbus in Algiers this film shows you three different perspectives. The hijackers themselves, the negotiator and the commander of the GIGN who is tasked with taking the plane back.

The story and direction is gripping from the start and had me hooked. With the Hijackers unable to get the stairs removed from the plane in Algiers, the negotiator trying to make contacted with the head of the group who's in France and the GIGN commander trying to deal with his new family before placing his life on the line to rescue the hostages the three threads combine to make this a great watch. If you're just a native english speaker like myself you'll forget the subtitles are there and be enthralled before you know it .

Storage 24

Storage 24 Poster

A good thriller thats a long the lines of a TV film, a military plane crashes in London near a storage unit and due to resulting electrical disruption a group of people are trapped inside. Something strange stalks them as they move around the facility. The engineer sent to repair the faulty shutter is the first to get attacked unbeknown to the others and they are all targeted one by one. how will they escape or when will they realise what is going on. Add to that a couple who have recently broken up with the guy still madly in love with his disinterested ex and its not a bad film for its small budget.

I resisted it for the article but you can see Laura Haddock sitting on the loo believing something fishy is going on,  I couldn't resist much more !

Tastecard and Pizza Express

January 28th 2017

Tastecard

A few years ago I signed up for Natwest's platinum account this gave me a whole host of benefits that are to long to list here, but one of them was a Tastecard membership. Well this has sat in a draw for most of that time and it was only when this years replacement came that I got round to using it.

Pizza Express logo

I downloaded the app on to my phone and checked for restaurants that except it and normally on a Friday that would be thin as there are restrictions on most places for the weekend but Pizza express have a promotion running from the 23 Jan - 2 Feb inclusive, so Marta and i went to use their 2 for 1 offer and it was really good and we saved a fair bit.

Having already checked the taste card was valid for the day (this is important as you cold get stuck with a full bill otherwise) we went into Uxbridge did a little shopping then went for lunch in Pizza express. We ordered two of their pizza's which are normally around £13 each, a couple of soft drinks and I had a desert in its self £6 and the final bill with the taste card came to £25 which is good considering otherwise it would have been closer to £40. If you look on the Taste card web site you can pick them up for a £1 for 90 Days membership (until 31st Jan 2017) so have a look and give it a try.

Hardcore Henry

January 28th 2017

Hardcore Henry
Movie Poster

Taking inspiration from first person console games is always going to be a risky move, don't expect to see this one on the Oscar or Bafta short list soon. But if you like first person games then this is right up your street. With its fast pace and action packed plot this could be Duke Nukem or Doom on film in a world your familiar with, well kind of ! All shot in the classic POV style that these games made famous.

I'd dearly love to wright you all a more concise synopsis but the truth is this film is too complex and fast paced for that to be worth reading. I honestly have too much respect for you guys than to type a page of gibberish thats hard to follow for thats what this film is like. Think of a speed freak telling you a story and thats this film in a nutshell !

Air Crash Investigation, German Wings 9525

January 28th 2017

Air Crash Investigation
National Geographic 

This week saw the return of Air Crash Investigation to our screens here in the UK, this sires never gets old and its always fascinating to watch how investigators piece a crash back together piece buy piece and all the circumstances that build up to it as well.

Its a really well put together show, firstly showing you the event as it happened then walking you through the investigation. All the blind alleys and false leads and finally showing you how they came to their conclusion.

German Wings Aircraft For Reference Only 

This week looked at the tragic German Wings aircraft that crashed into the french alps. A German Wings plane on route from Spain to Germany looses altitude when it enters Marseilles control and crashes into the alps. Despite the best effort of the controllers on the ground to get in touch with the plane no word is heard and the investigation starts to piece back the crash and work out what went wrong.

The worst air disaster on french soil in 30 years Is quick to be investigated, with pressure from social media the authorities move in quickly. Of course as with any crash the BEA (french crash investigators) search for the data recorders and check weather reports. Weather was perfect for flying and as the crash has come just months after terrorist attacks in France with heightens suspicion that this is a terrorist attack, but a check of the wreckage rules out a bomb straight away. The radar track looks like a controlled flight into terrain so mechanical problems are the next avenue to be eliminated. Due to a lack of communication and previous accidents involving hypoxia this avenue is explored, as mechanical problems are now the prime suspect they have to be eliminated quickly incase theres a wider impact on other aircraft. The records of the aircraft's maintenance are checked and nothing points to problems with the aircraft.

The cockpit voice recorder is the first clue and although damaged the BEA are able to piece together the recording. This is where the plot thickens when the captain goes to the toilet the first officer locks him out and repeatedly ignores his request to reenter the cockpit, then starts a decent into the mountain side. With no evidence of mechanical problems and no terrorist organisation claiming responsibility every thing points to copilot suicide. German police begin to look and the co-pilots home and french investigators look at his personal records and find a history of depression mid way through training. He was signed off as cured by a psychiatrist and fit to resume training. After training he got a job with german wings. Passing every medical it was only a matter of time, with delusions of ill health he sees over 40 doctors and one issues a note telling him not to fly due to his mental health. Every thing points to the co-pilot suicide.

The flight data recorder is found at when timed to the voice recorder it shows that the copilot set the plane to a descent and controlled it all the way in. As a response airlines make it a requirement to have two crew members in the cockpit at and one time whilst in flight, and more stringent psychological evaluations . A tragedy I think you'll agree.

House Plants

January 28th 2017

Marta and I have a growing collection of hose plants and they do add to our living space as well as creating a bit of oxygen.

As I'm off today I went to the garden centre and had a look around, it was a better option that sitting around watching a movie and writing a review I'll save that for later.

While I was there I bought some plant food in little bottles to hopefully add some more life to them, Im going to keep an eye on them and let you know about their progress.

Bottled Plant food
Drop By Drop

War Commander, Rogue Assault

January 28th 2017

War Commander
Rogue Assault
Title Page

So for around 10 days I've been playing this game on my iPhone. Well it is addictive but my advise to anyone opening for the first time is to really look through all the menus as the instructions are vague to say the least.

 Make sure you swipe through all the options on the army screen, there are multiple platoons in there which I didn't realise until around a few days in.

There's no real need to spend money for in app purchases just take it slow and build you base slowly, check out videos on you tube for some great tips and tricks and you'll enjoy it as much as I have.

Written by team member from the original Command and conquer, if you were a fan of that franchise and who wasn't you'll enjoy this but take it slowly.

Rouge Assault In Game Footage 

Aero 360 Dehumidifier Update

January 27th 2017

Aero 360 after 22 days 

Just wanted to give a quick update, On January 5th of this year I started using an Aero 360 dehumidifier in my bedroom as there has been some damp in there.

In 22 days its collected just over 250ml of moisture out of the air and the damp problem is receding slowly so if your thinking about getting one. Then its good and beats the other kind with small beads and a catch tank underneath.

Mr Robot

January 27th 2017

Mr Robot Banner

Mr Robot Screenshot 

In the modern world controlled by computers and servers who actually runs the world ?

One sociopath hacker working who works for a bank spends all his spare time hacking his coworkers and bringing people to justice via his hacking skills. When he realises that 1% of the world controls the worlds financial markets he is recruited into a group of hackers who plan to change the world by re-distributing the worlds money. While he struggles in his work place among his coworkers and battles wit delusions that haunt him. How will he use his genus, will he save the world or end it as we know it.

While its hard to follow some of the dark themes raised by the this sires it is good to watch and gives you a brief glimpse into the mind of a disturbed genus. I'm gonna give it a try but its only just keeping me on the hook.

Hanna

January 27th 2017

Hanna Movie Poster 

Hanna Screen Shot

Marta and I were chilling out this morning and I surfed thorough looking for a movie when we came across this little gem.

Hanna Screen Shot

Jason Bourne in a dress best describes this film, a secret East German program to develop the ultimate soldier produced 20 children with resequenced DNA to make them smarter, stronger and better than the average human. When the program is stopped 19 of the children are destroyed but one is saved by a CIA officer and after surviving one assassination attempt that killed Hanna's surrogate mother. The agent decides to bring her up in the forrest and teach his skill's to her. When she feels ready she can take on the system by pushing the emergency button on a transmitter. This is the story of a highly trained chilled taking on the CIA across Africa and Europe. with plenty of action and a great subplots as she discovers electricity for the first time and struggles to make friends on route to her ultimate test.

The Horseman

January 27th 2017

The Horseman Movie Poster

Dark, Brutal, Nasty and violent this film should come with a warning if you don't like violence or dark themes this isn't for you.

A father picks up his daughters ashes from the crematorium, she died of a heroin overdose after being raped for an adult movie. This father plans revenge and sets out to track down all involved. This film hits hard from the start and only gets worse the deeper it gets. With some moments of relief on his dark mission to off set the people who are tortured, beaten and murdered on this vigilantes battle. Charles Bronson looks like a wimp next to this guy !

Traders

January 27th 2017

Traders Movie Poster

Ok so the synopsis of this film didn't really do it justice of I'm honest. The small bit of blurb gives a very brief and under whelming report.

I found this film to be very good and even though it took a bit of time to get going once the plot had kicked in we were off to the races.

A pair of merchant bankers are laid off from there jobs, one of them Vernon hits upon an idea of setting up a web site where people can fight it out for an agreed purse the winner has to place the looser in a grave they've dug together. The theory being you're only 7 fights from a million if you double you're money each time. Vernon tries the concept out with his former co-worker on a piece of waste land. But ends up stabbing himself in the shoulder and his former co-worker Harry feels sorry for him and lets him live taking the money. Harry's hooked and goes on to make more Trades as the fights are called and Vernon harbours resentment towards Harry. The film builds to a great ending and is really worth a watch. The violence while brutal at times is well within the context of the film and well thought out and the camera really makes you feel like a first hand witness to these events. Give it a try you won't be disapointed.

Out Of Nothing

January 26th 2017

Out Of Nothing Movie Poster

I'm going to be honest I'm not normally a fan of these movie/documentary projects a lot of them spend too much time chasing the art and have no real content. Sunsets are nice but over an hour and a half I don't want to see 30 of them. But this is different not only is there stunning HD camera work theres a great story to.

Rider at start of a speed run
Bonneville Salt flats 

A team of amateur bike builders working together to break records on the Bonneville salts flats. This introduces you to the bikes they've built and shows you their journey through to the trials themselves with some trash talking and a range of personalities all working together over the week through mechanical problems and one team member who is trying to over come claustrophobia so he can run the bike he's spent years building. Stunning film work with great footage almost makes you want to go and see it all for your self. Watching the team hit 180mph at times on home made bikes is scary but you'll root for them all the way !

Bike No 171 Bonneville Salt Flats 

Michael Palin Pole To Pole

January 26th 2017

Michael Palin
Pole To Pole

A snap shot of the early 90's and the sequel to 80 Days around the world the first in the Michael Palin travel sires.

Michael travels from the north pole to the south pole along 30 degrees of latitude. If you haven't watched any of Michael Palin's travel programs you missing on on a unique form of film making.

In this documentary sires Michel meets Santa in lapland travels through communist Russia just before the velvet revolution that destroyed communism in Russia. Its worth watching just to see the struggle he has buying a bottle of vodka in the state owned super market. Traveling further south Michael represents Watford when he travels through its twin city and endures a strange ceremony laid on just for him. The BBC researchers place Michael in ever stranger situations with almost perverse pleasure as sires rolls on A Turkish Bath and ever dilapidated forms of transport and its all taken with typical python humour its a joy to watch and a shop shot of the time it was film and the world as it used to be.

Michael Palin on the North Pole 

Steamed potatoes

January 26th 2017

Steamed Potatoes 

To add to hot pot steamed potatoes, for hotpot accompaniment !

Le Creuset Lamb Hotpot

January 25th 2017

Hot pot just before oven 

One passion that Marta and I share is that for La Creuset cookware we have the whole set I mean the pots, plates, tableware and jars. I know its expensive but its just brilliant to cook with and retains the heat so well. If you're after quality then this is unmatched.

Today we're cooking lamb hot pot the Ingredients are.

500g diced lamb
2 Carrots 
1 Leak 
1 clove of garlic
4 large mushrooms 
1 Onion 
1/2 nutmeg 
1 tbl spoon flour
1 tbl spoon gravy browning 
2 Lamb stock cubes  
1, bunch of mixed herbs

Browning the lamb and onions 

1, Peal and slice the carrots, leak, mushrooms and onion and leave to one side. 

2, If not already diced dice the lamb in to small cubes 

3, Seal the lamb in a hot frying pan along with the onion thats already diced.

4, In a french oven or similar add your veg to the bottom 

5, Placed your browned meat and onions on top 

6, Quickly fry the mushrooms and add to the pot 

7, Great your nutmeg into the pot 1/2 a nutmeg should be ok but its a matter of taste. 

8, Crush your garlic clove into the pot 

9. mix 2 lamb stock cubes and 1 tbl spoon of four to 500ml or 1 ltr of water it depends on the size of your stock pot and add to the pot with other ingredients.

10, give the whole lot a quick stir and place the herb bunch on top for easy collection latter. 

11. In an oven preheated to gas mark 6, pop the french oven with the lid on for 90 minutes and enjoy an nice water warmer. 

If Desired you can slice potatoes and cover with oil and layer on top but Marta and I and having boiled baby potatoes with it. 

Le Creuset French Oven

Veg in Le Creuset French Oven

T-Rex The Slider Limited Edition No 204/1000

January 26th 2017

This morning my limited edition press of T-Rex The Slider with Alternative Slider arrived in the post. Containing most of the Classic T-rex songs with that original Vinyl sound and in the amazing glam rock colours of silver and red.

This is the classic 70's sound with T-Rex's top hits on one album. Metal Guru, Telegram Sam, Mystic Lady and Spaceball Ricochet. Its a great Re-issue and sound amazing. Also a great investment piece for the future.

April 9th Film

January 26th 2017

April 9th Movie poster

Scanning through Amazon prime there tends to be a lot of good foreign language films that get recommended to me and this is the latest. So if you don't do subtitles well firstly your missing out on some great movies and secondly you should probably look through my page and find another film because this one can be heavy going.

April 9th screen shot 

April 9th 1940 was a significant day for Denmark with German soldiers massing on its boarder the invasion was imminent. Denmark with its small army tries its best to prepare for the attack but hopelessly out numbered and out equipped this is the story of how it soldiers tried in vein to hold back the might of the German army with soldiers on bicycles who were under prepared and faced with a hopeless task. Seen through their eyes its a good watch and gives you a different perspective to the normal British/American view we're used to in the english speaking world.