Taken Amazon Original

Amazon has been advertising this series for the last six weeks or so with big build up coming on February 28th and so its finally here !

After 3 taken films the taken franchise is getting a bit tired like the Die Hard series how much can one guy be persecuted by a group before enough is enough and they move on to an easier target ?

This series is a back story to the films and shows how Bryan Mills gets recruited into an agency that tracks down individuals wanted by a government agency for terrorist related reasons.

While its a good action series and theres always plenty of action to move the plot along the first episode is more of a homage to the films and cashing in on the brand as much as it is part of the Taken franchise. While there are parts where you hear the lines delivered like Leason on the films the character Bryan Mills doesn't deliver the same menace as he does in the films and for me that was the point "I will hunt you, I will find you and I will kill you" that was the whole turning point of the film and the thing that made us sit up and watch the mayhem that enfolded before us. In the first episode of this Series Bryan's sister is murdered and it seems like its an everyday even for him as he moves forward theres none of the menace from the film.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement, with all the hype I expected more and something closer to the films not the week offering I watched this afternoon !

We Were Soldiers

We Were Soldiers
Movie Poster

There have been many films about the Vietnam war, I'm sure without really thinking about it you can name 5 off the top of you head. Nearly all of them portray the war either around the time of the Tet offensive in 1968 or in the wake of the aftermath from that campaign. This film show you the start the very first battle of the US Army "advisors" sent to Vietnam.

Based on the book by the reporter Joseph Galloway and the Lieutenant General in charge of the US air cavalry unit Hal Moore this films outlines the true horrors of the first battle and the fallout from it. How the Vietnamese regular army surrounded and cut US army uint off from its landing zone and the bloody battle that resulted from that action.

While the film itself is pretty much like any other Vietnam war film its trying to apply the Saving Private Ryan approach and graphically bring the harsh reality of the battle and the build up to the battle to us on screen. Its a war that the US wants to forget but we should really take the time to remember the young men who gave their lives and this is a memorial to their sacrifice.

Mel Gibson plays Hal Moore well and gives you a good impression of the leadership he bought to the battle, the gentle approach to the men under his command and how it got the best out of them when it really mattered. While I wouldn't rush to watch it myself, if your looking for a war film with a slightly different approach then this is a good choice.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) Dennis E. Taylor on Audible

So another audio book from Audible and this time round I've opted for some Si-Fi.

This is a relatively new book and it incorporates some modern inventions in its story and after a slow start I'm hooked. Leaning on the premise of the Borg from Star Trek this book is fascinating and moves along at a good pace where it would have been easy to get bogged down with details the author has found a good balance.

Starting in the current time a tech magnet sets up a trust so his body will be cryogenically persevered after his death with the money he's made from selling his giant software company. Just as he's about to start enjoying his life and fortune he's run over by a bus outside a Las Vegas convention.

Waking up 130 years in the future he learns that his personality has been downloaded into a space probe that is designed to scout out Earths nearest stars for future colonisation. The world has moved on from where it was 130 years before and there are now distinct super groups controlling each of the world continents and each is biding to be the first to set up a colony in space. Having do deal with a new world Bob works his way through the training course and learns about the world as he does so. Bob is now the intelligence controlling a deep space probe thats to search for habitable planets around different stars and relay information back to his controllers.

Bob is sent out and is closely followed by a probe from a belligerent Brazilian empire and soon battle ensues. Bob has no weapons and only a 3D printer and a head start on his rival. Using his intelligence and the resources to hand bob works out some defences and takes on his foe. On the journey out his sensors picked up the nuclear war that came about as a result of his launch. Are the probes the only remains of life on earth ? how will Bob cope with years of space travel alone ? This is one well thought out book and its really well written, if you can and you're into Si-Fi then you should definitely read or listen to this as you'll be well entertained.

The Pianist

The Pianist
Movie Poster

This film gathered a lot of awards when it was released fifteen years ago and its no surprise.

The film details the life of a jewish and how he managed to survive in Warsaw during the second world war. Like Shindlers List before it this film by Roman Polanski is very moving at times and shows the brutal reality of the Nazi's Anti Semitic campaign.

The film starts with a pianist playing for Warsaw radio when the bombs begin to fall at the start of the german attack and we go on to follow through the early stages and the slow erosion of jewish rights until the creation of the Warsaw Ghetto where he has to move to with the rest of his extended family. Life is hard and with hardly any food available the pianist gets a job in a cafè playing music for diners in the ghetto. Refusing a job as a Jewish Police officer (Nazi Puppet) he struggles through spending his pittance of a wage feeding his extended family on the little rations he can afford. When his brother gets selected by the Nazi's for something he manages to use his friendship with a Jewish Policeman to get him released but its only delaying the inevitable as its not long before the ghetto is wound down as the Nazi's implement the final solution. As his family are being herded on to cattle carts on their way to the Trablinka concentration camp the jewish policeman pulls him from the crowd and saves his life.

As he was selected to stay he's employed as a labourer on a building site as a hod carrier, when he takes time to watch allied bombers and stumbles dropping his load of bricks he bears the brunt of retaliation from the supervising germans. Soon his fellow jewish prisoners decide that something more clerical is more for our pianist. He's placed in charge of supplies and in that role he's able to smuggle weapons into the ghetto for a future up rising the labours have planed. Before the uprising starts the pianist is able to escape the ghetto and seek the help of a former singer on radio Warsaw and she guides him to a safe house where he lives on what little food is bought to him by her and other sympathisers. He watches the ghetto uprising from his safe house and its ultimate failure.

As the Russians get closer to Warsaw most of the population is evacuated but having no papers the pianist is left behind to fend for himself. As Warsaw is destroyed around him he scavenges for food, whist trying to open an old can of pickles he encounters a German officer. when questioned he tells of his life as a pianist and plays for the officer belatedly. The officer takes pity on him and as he hides i  the loft the officer brings him food and keeps him alive. Under no delusions the officer tells him he won't have to wait long for the Russians to come and before he knows it the germans are pulling out. The german officer gives him his great coat as its the middle of winter when Warsaw is liberated.

When the Russians arrive the pianist is pleased to see them and rushes out to meet the liberators, under a hail of gunfire he manages to convict them that he's polish not a german officer and narrowly avoids being killed. This sees the end of the war for the pianist and we next see him performing on stage again, he goes on to live into his 80's and stays in Warsaw all his life. The german officer who showed him kindness died in a Russian Pow camp in 1952. This film by Roman Polanski is very good and moving at times. Although it deals with the details of the final solution in a very soft and diplomatic way it still conveys the brutality and harsh environment well to the viewer. In short a very good film and takes its place well alongside Shindlers List

Grudge Match

Grudge Match
Movie Poster

There are some great movies about boxing, Raging Bull and Rocky are amongst them and they are both timeless. while the Rocky franchise went on for too long and cheapened some good films Raging Bull set the bar for boxing films and others have tried hard to replicate it and failed. They were both products of the late 70's early 80's and this comedy film sets out to place the two stars in a Grudge Match 30 years on. 

This film is never going to be on the oscars short list thats for sure but if like me you went to the rental store and rented the two boxing films mentioned then you'll appreciate this parody of them. While its hard to believe that the characters are the mortal enemies they're meant to be as it seems more like two old friends reuniting for shits and giggles with the back drop of a boxing movie it is fun to watch and light hearted. where you'd think twice to let your teenage son watch Raging Bull you'd buy this for them on DVD to keep them quiet for two hours. 

Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne
Movie Poster

Theres no doubt that Tom Hanks has delivered some of cinema's greatest films over his career, but away from the box office smashes some of his films should be avoided.

This pairing with Julia Roberts is actually rather pleasant and if your minds can go back to the financial crisis at the turn of the decade then you'll have the context of this movie.

Larry works at a big brand hypermarket and is constantly the employee of the month and always pushes himself to the max when at work. When they decide to downsize Larry gets laid off because his lack of further education means he won't be promoted.  Larry trawls around looking for another job with little success and uses this as an opportunity to get the education he missed out on. Signing up at his local collage he changes his life and falls into the collage set via his warn out scooter. This film is fun and engaging to watch with two actors delivering some good performances. Its a Sunday afternoon film with the family that you don't have to concentrate too hard on. Give it a try !

Danny Collins

Danny Collins
Movie Poster

Who doesn't like Al Pacino he's a wonderful actor and always draws the audience in with his superb acting skills. This film came to me via an Amazon recommendation on my fire stick and I'm glad it did.

Loosely based around a real event that happened to a British folk singer. A rock legend gets a letter from John Lennon 34 years after it was sent as a reaction to an interview he gave to a music journalist. This takes the legend on a journey of rediscovery with not only himself but his estranged son who he's never met.

This film is nicely set out with the music of John ,Lennon which shifts you from one stage of rediscovery to the next and helps deliver the films theme with iconic music. While the main character Danny is a rock star and has the lifestyle to match he's always been a good person and although there are some twists and turns this is a feel good film and will leave you pleased that you watched it.

Marta's birthday and a day out in Windsor and Eaton

Peasgood Street Windsor

Today is Marta's birthday and we spent the day looking around Windsor and Eaton, even though its right on my door step I hardly ever go there and its a nice place to visit.

To be different we caught the train from Slough its only £2.70 return each and even though its only a journey of a few minutes its a nice picturesque way to get there, the journey takes you past a beautiful golf course and theres a great view of the castle as you approach Windsor itself.

We had a look through the shops in the arcade of the station itself and had a nice lunch in Cafe Rouge. Its one of my favourite restaurants and the one in Windsor is nice and relaxed and great to visit at any time. We went for the lunch menu but if I'm honest its good value no matter what time you go.

We went for a stroll through Eaton, I was tempted to buy a new turntable in richer sounds but its the end of the month and funds are a bit low. That said it was nice to look at the art in the gallery's and window shop, the works are always great and perhaps one day we'll be in a place to start a collection. The antique shops are nice and if your looking for some quirky furniture theres a shop at the bottom of Windsor high street that you'll love to visit, it has everything from art deco to gallopers from a carousel. We also looked in the charity shops its a nice hobby and sometimes you come away with something good, on this front I have to say Windsor is disappointing and you'll be better off going to Henley or even Gerard's Cross.

Even though Windsor is on a hill its not to much of a strain getting around and if you have the funds you can visit the castle itself, for us the price is a bit steep but it's something I'll bear in mind for a future post.

Distinct E-Liquid

Distinct E-liquid 

Most of my blogs are of a positive nature and by and large I'll tell you how good something is, in this case I'm bucking the trend.

This is simply the worst E-Liquid I've come across and at any wattage or temp it burns rather than forming a vapour and is a big let down. Please do not buy this for your tank take the time and find some thing else as this destroyed a coil in my brand new Target Pro.

Aero 360 by Unibond

Aero 360 Unibond

Anyone who follows this blog or if not you can use the search function well remember I started using the aero 360 dehumidifier in the middle of January to combat some damp that had sprung up in my bedroom.

Well its now just over a month on and the first tablet has been used up and its collected just over 750ml of moisture from the air and the damp has almost completely gone. At the time i ordered two refills to go along side the aero so I'll swap it over and keep you updated. But I can say its a good buy and its really done a good job of soaking up the damp.

Breaking Bad Overview

Breaking Bad

A few weeks ago Marta and I started watching breaking bad and yesterday we finished the whole box set.

I can say its completely addictive TV and the journey of Walter White is a compelling one. Starting out as a school chemistry teacher who wanted to make some money for his family when diagnosed with lung cancer and watching the meek and mild mannered man change and become a dark all consuming monster as events mould him into a new person.

Breaking Bad

There are moments when you'll laugh and others when you'll cry and often they are with in the same episode, You'll watch the twists and turns and with every cliff hanger the steaks get higher as the show progresses. Even though there are some plot devices early on, in the main its completely believable and shows you the world of drugs and drug use in often stark terms.

If you haven't seen the show that everyone raved about a few years ago I want to be on the record and say its a must see. It doesn't glorify drugs or the lifestyle in any way and brings home the fact that they distroy the lives of everyone who comes into contact with them.

8 Days with The Vaporesso Target Mini

Vaporesso Target Mini 

So its been just over a week of vaping now and I'm converted. There is an adjustment curve from smoking but once you've switched its a lot better.

The fact I can vape secretly and the only evidence is a cloud of strawberry smelling vapour is a big bonus and saves me going out in the cold to smoke ciggs. My breathing has improved a lot and even though I was coughing for the first few days it was the tar that had settled on my lungs shifting loose and it now seems to be calming down. My circulation is better and I'm warmer than I used to be.

Dont get me wrong I'm not saying that vaping is the complete solution because its not and eventually I want to reduce the nicotine content and vape sparingly, but for now its a much better alternative to smoking and its the start of a better path and still for fills the need to put something to my lips and get a hit of nicotine and I can get that in three tokes of the target mini with .6 mg of nicotine. If you smoke and want to quit give it a try, if your like I was smoking 20 a day the thing pays for its self in 4 days then you're back in the back and feeling healthier.

Vaporesso Target Mini Day 3

Vaporesso Target Mini

Its just coming to the end of my third day vaping instead of smoking and I have to be honest and say the transition is tricky but I've managed to cope rather well.

Vaping gives you a different sensation to smoking and theres a period where I wasn't sure if I could stick it out but now I'm firmly convinced that in the short term vaping is a better way forward and when I walk past a person smoking the smell is the first thing i notice and its horrible, to think not that long ago it was me.

The Target Mini was a great choice and after playing about with it for the first few days I've now got it set to 18.1Watts and I seem to generate a nice clean vape with that setting and a pretty impressive cloud it has to be said. Because I'm using juice with 0.6% nicotine I'm keeping the wattage low so it keeps the nicotine in there and doesn't make me cough when the nicotine burns on a higher setting. I think i could play about with it some more and get it failed in better. I'm using the pre fitted .5ohm coil as a mouth to lung coil which is technically wrong but its working fine for me so far I'll give you some updates as I progress but its nice and cool to the lungs and performs well give it a try if you're trying to quit. If you're like me the kit will pay for itself in just a week of vaping with money saved from smoking !

Barn Find Hunter

Barn Find Hunter
Title Page 

A recent find on Amazon prime video and at first I was unsure about it but I slowly got into the series as it progressed.

Tom Cotter travels around the US looking for barn finds and pointing out the possibilities to us the viewers and gives you the value once restored according to the programs sponsor Hagerty which i'm guessing is like Parkers guide in the UK and lists car values.

The programs other main sponsor shell is featured a lot within the program but if you can get over the infomercial aspects its a really good watch and shows some classic cars and offers inspiration to those wishing to restore a classic. If you like rusty classics then this is for you, if you like the final product and watching the process then this isn't for you and you'll be left wanting more and turning to Jay Leno's garage.

Tom Cotter 

Barn Find Hunter

Heroes Don't Come Home

Heroes Don't Come Home

We all remember the events of September 11th 2001 the sadness we all had as we watched the events unfold on T.V, Hundreds of people died that morning and many more would volunteer to put their lives on the line.

This is the story of two friends, one of whom lost his farther in one of the towers as a result they sign up for the marines to serve their country and avenge the fathers death.

At times this film is moving especially when dealing with the fall out from signing up at the age of 17 and how a family deals with their son losing his innocence in a war zone. Leaving friends behind who are moving on to collage and other things while the two involved are facing death on a daily basis. You see the two friends fighting together in Afghanistan with the harsh reality that is war, loosing friends and  then coming home and trying to deal with ordinary life afterwards. This film doesn't show the fitting like most but does show the effects of war very well.

Moving and thought provoking through out the whole film should be watched and appreciated for all the difficult things it deals with.

The Sweet Escape, Comme un avion 2015

The Sweet Escape
Movie Poster

I'm not adverse to foreign language films, in fact I rather enjoy them in the main but this one was a tad different. Maybe a bit to french for my liking think Clouseau on a boating holiday. But for me Clouseau only works because its a british actor standing up the french, we all know its not reality and thats what makes it funny. 

The Sweet Escape
Screen Shot

The Sweet Escape is the tale of one mans midlife crisis and while at work and creating 3D computer models his manager comes up with a team bonding game involving palindromes. The rest of his colleges cheat and come up with remarkable answers by searching the web. When Michel gives in and he too searches the web he comes up with Kayak and that sets him on the path to his adventure. 

From then on its a comic tale of a middle age man on an adventure, He hardly gets a kilometre before getting stuck and having been rescued by his wife sets out again. the rest of the story sets out more mild comic scenarios for our hero and while its ok the humour is a tad forced at times and borders between The Office and Pink Panther but with out a good character to back it up. 

Dom't rush to watch but if you do want a typical french comedy film then fill your boots but try to laugh. Bean, Clouseau and Brent do it better in my book ! 

The Lucky One

The Lucky One
Movie Poster

The days are getting warmer and longer so its time for a movie with a summer romance just to get you in the mood for those long days that are just around the corner.

Logan is a Marine on his third tour, when his company are pinned down by enemy fire he finds a picture of a girl with the words "Keep Safe" written on the back. Logan makes it through the rest of the tour unscathed and puts it down to the photo.

When Logan rotates back to the states after his tour he sets out to find the girl in the photo and using a landmark in the back ground he finds Beth in Louisiana. Unable to explain why he's there Beth assumes he's applying for a job in their kennel operation. Needless to say romance ensues and although they are presented with obstacles along the way true love has its course.

For a nice spring/summer evening with a loved one this would be the perfect choice to curl up and enjoy. Open a bottle and enjoy food for the heart !

The Lucky One
Screen Shot

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer
Movie Poster

I'm sure there are many actors who can point to a film and say that wast the turning point in my career  and this is that film for Mathew McConaughey.

I must have seen this film not long after it came out, a friend of mine downloaded it and we watched it in his front room. The film had great reviews at the time and even now 4/5 years latter on it's still a really good film that draws you in and shows the star reaching the top of his game.

The Lincoln Lawyer
Screen Shot 

The lawyer Mick works from his Lincoln town car as a defence lawyer he's street smart as well as legal smart and knows a few tricks that maybe aren't the right side of the law but he enjoys hustling a few extra bucks from his clients. When he is personally selected to defend a client who's committed assault and battery along side attempted rape for a rich client who he believes to be innocent things take on a different edge as the case progresses and soon Mick is questioning every thing but all the while he is still bound to defend his client and fight his case. The film is a gripping legal thriller and it's fast paced story is great to watch. Team that with a great actor coming of age in McConaughey and its a recommended watch and you'll be pleased you did !

The Vaporesso Target Mini

Vaporesso
Target Mini

On the no smoking front the chewing gum wasn't really cutting it and since we came back from Poland I have been smoking too much, so after chatting to a few people I've chosen to re-start vaping.

The advise I was given was to list a vape shop and ask them for the right product But I felt that left me to open to just one line of products so I looked up some Kits and Mods on YouTube and came up with the solution shown in the picture.

The Vaporesso Target Mini is really good and a great introduction to vaping. I charged it up over a couple of hours added my Liquid of choice. Which is Vapetto's strawberry wit 0.6% nicotine and its really nice. It gives a nice hit of vapour with no hint of spitting or other problems I experienced the first time I tried vaping and I haven't smoked for 2 days.

I love the fact I can have a sneaky vape when I'm not really suppose too and all thats left is the smell of strawberries that saves me venturing out in to the cold. the battery lasts a long time and its quiet frugal on juice too. This little mod is a great introduction to vaping, I'm considering getting the Target Pro next month to augment this one when I'm at home or on a trip out with Marta as I feel it would have a better life to the already good battery life.

The Girl On The Train

The Girl On The Train Poster

So I had £2 of credit for an Amazon digital product essentially and with that in mind I rented The Girl On The Train for 48 hours.

Its been adapted from a best selling book and thats pretty clear all the way through the film and it must be a good read and a really progressive thriller. I might even look out for it in the future.

Screen Shot
The Girl On The Train

The film itself is good an alcoholic constantly looks out the window of her train home and thinks about the past she left behind. One day she sees something that makes her want to go and investigate and the whole story starts to unfold. Being an alcoholic she's unsure of the events herself and has to sober up and work out the events for herself and place together everything that happened and as she does so the tension builds.

It was a good film and gives you the perspective of an alcoholic and how they see the world through their ongoing struggle, while it wouldn't be my first choice of movie it was worth the rental and worth a look in the future if only for the way the story is constructed.

AA DriveTech Speed Awareness Course

AA DriveTech Logo

Just before Christmas I was on my way home from Uxbridge on a duel carriageway when I was caught speeding by a mobile speed camera. After getting the ticket and going through the process of admitting the offence of speeding I was offered a place on a speed awareness course, I'd been on one a few years ago and luckily I was allegeable to go again.

The Course costs £95 thats £5 less than the speeding fine and you have to give them four hours of your time as well. If you're reading this because your going on one then take some photo ID with you or two forms of proof of address. I forgot mine last night and had to come home to get it making me 5 mins late.

Firstly it has to be said this is a really well laid out course and with the help of the two facilitators Roger and Bob the time went quickly and as expected there was a lot of information about the difference that speed makes and how it has a drastic effect on stopping when something happens. Theres some interactive segments which you have to use a remote to vote with and you can interact with the facilitators as well and with that in mind it only take a couple of characters in the room to make it a little entertaining as well. There were 21 in my Class and it was a good learning experience and hopefully it saves a life !

Le Creuset One Pot Chicken

A nice simple dish heres the ingredients.

One chicken
Potatoes 3-4 per person 
Carrots 1-2 per person
Spouts 3-4 per person 
Baby Sweet Corn 3-4 per person 
Mixed herb bunch
Salt/Pepper 
Olive Oil

1, Prepare the veg and have ready to deploy to pot.
2. Season chicken to taste
3. Pre heat your large pot on hob with enough olive oil to coat the bottom. when the pan hot place the chicken into seal place it breast side down first then once it starts to turn brown turn it the right way up.
4. Add your potatoes and veg around the sides and place your herbs on top, apply the lid and place in a pre heated oven gas mark 5 for 90-120 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
5. After cooking you can drain off the juices add three chicken gravy cubes and 200ml of boiling water and stir to create a nice gravy and serve. Its that simple the chicken will be nice and tender !

The Aviation Art Of Robert Taylor Hard Back

The Aviation Art Of
Robert Taylor 

I picked this up in Oxfam Henley and at the time i had a glance through but over the week I've had the chance to look at it in more depth.

Not only does it feature the stunning art works of Robert Taylor but it gives you some of his biography as well and its a good read and inspiring for any up coming artist.

It tells you how Robert got the break to work in a picture restores after studying art as a child. He progressed through a family business learning all he could and in his spear time developed his passion for aviation art, until he got to the stage where he could turn to it professionally.

Theres an interesting side story of Douglas Barder picking up a biro and explaining how the spacing should look an an immaculate early proof, Robert took it with good grace of course and there are lots of little anecdotes with in the book that make in interesting to read as well as admiring the art work with in.

David Rodigan's Bob Marley Tribute 6 February 2017

Radio 2 Logo

February 6th 2017 would have been Bob Marley's 72nd birthday and as a tribute his life long fan and Reggie guru David Rodigan broadcast a show dedicated to his work.

Bob Marley the king of reggie in most peoples eye had a sort career of 20 years and in this show Rodigan has compiled some of his most iconic work and gives you some of the facts behind the music.

Rodigan's easy style lends its self to reggie as much as (well use your imagination),  in this one hour special Rodigan plays the popular hits of Marley as well as some of less widely known works of Marley and the wailers but even a casual reggie fan like myself can't help but be absorbed by the works and the different styles of Marley's works presented in this show. If you check BBC Iplayer its a treat in reggie presented in the soft voice of his biggest fan.

Christmas Fairy

I just have to set the scene for you guys it was Christmas Eve and I'd been on an early shift at work, I'd finished about 2 and had a few hours to kill at home before I picked up Marta and we could start our celebrations together. Before this could happen we also had to deliver presents to one of her close friends who lives just round the corner from her.

So its about 8:30 on Christmas eve night and I've pulled up outside mart's home in order to load up the presents in the boot for our delivery. By this point in the day I'm a little tired and just want to drop the stuff and make a quick exit so we can come home and relax together with a nice movie before we spend our first Christmas together. I don't actually say this to Marta as its one of her closest friends but the truth of the mater is simply that as she's been working all day she's pretty much on the same page and just as we set off we agree that it'll be a quick stop then we'll be on our way.

Even though her friend only lives round the corner its still far enough that we have to drive for 5 mins  and as its my first time there I notice that her friend lives in a nice set of flats with an Audi parked in every car space and a Mini cooper S crowding the curb. By this time in the evening the parking spaces are limited so it was a bit of a hunt to find a spot for the old Jag but no problem. We get the bag of presents from the boot and make our way in.

Now its the first time i've met her friend and he's confident and a little loud but in a good way, the kind of person you'd like to take to a party because he would provide the entertainment what ever the evening had in store. On first entrance you could tell that he's spent a lot on Christmas and theres a room full of presents and a nice spread on the kitchen table in the front room. Being the good host he hands out drinks and offers us food, but we have a pact already quick in and out no messing.

Theres some general chit-chat and then he hits me with the question
"what have you got Marta for Christmas ?"
 Well having seen all the show and flash I thought I'd have a little joke.
"Well I said, funny you should ask as I've only just got it yesterday, I know it'll be something she can use every day and its a Limited Edition !"
Now the host feels he's missed something and it must be something so incredibly valuable so I decide to thicken the plot a little
"You know Marta is very special to me so it was important I made the right choice"
Now the host is egger to find out, What could this be ? Is it something I've missed and should have bought for my wife ?
All these questions are written on his face and its time to put him out of his misery
 "Oh yes, I don't mind telling you while she's in the room, I'm sure she'll guess anyway when we get home" I say.
 "What is it?" my host enquires with anticipation.
"The biggest I could find" I reply, my host is now well on the hook and comes closer.
"Fairy liquid of course"
The Lady who was sat to my right nearly chokes on her Chicken leg and my host takes it with great humour to his credit.
And thats the real Christmas Fairy.

Amazon Dash Button

Amazon Dash Button

The Amazon dash button is here on the shores of the UK and if you're a prime member with a subscription to any line of the products you should seriously consider one.

As a prime member you'll already have free next day delivery and if you're constantly running out of everyday items and you don't have time to go to the supermarket this push button device can make your life a help of a lot easier.

Amazon Dash Button
How It Works

You sign up for a subscription to a product pay the initial £4.99 for the button and if Amazon has you're wi-fi settings on record once it come you just place it somewhere convenient and when you need to order your replacments you push the button wait for the green light and depending on your area it'll be delivered either same day or next day with the cost of the button deducted from your total bill. simple easy and efficient I wonder whats coming next !

Cop Car (Movie) Kevin Bacon

 I was waiting in line at the supermarket and they have a range of DVD's for £5 and even though I've been caught out a few times and bought films only worth consigning to the bin, I thought I'd give this one a go and I'm pleased I did. 

Kevin Bacon plays a dirty town cop who's committed a murder and has someone hidden in the boot of his patrol car with a view to murdering them also. While he's away disposing of his first victim a pair of kids find his patrol car with the keys in the ignition and take the opportunity to go for a joy ride. 

As thrillers go this is a good one with lots of twists and turns and some edge of the seat moments, will the two boys discover their hidden passenger who's ready to kill not to mention Kevin's character who's trying to get the car back with out informing the rest of the local police through fear of being found out. A nice film at a bargain price ! 

Trip Advisor

 Whenever we travel we always want it to be the best experience possible and if there are any potential pit falls it's good to be aware of them in advance. One of my colleagues from work made me awear of trip advisor a few years ago and it's done me a great service since. Wherever your going you can bet that some else has been there and they've taken the time to write a review about it and there within are golden nuggets of information that might just turn you trip form good to brilliant and more often than not there's some money saving advise too. 

As with all things there's a sales side to this site, but I've found that the hotels and b&b's advitised on there are cheaper then most other sites and you get to read an unbiased review along side saving you even more leg work. If you like to travel this is a great companion and will save you lots of hasstle. Best of all it's free !

U2's Joshua Tree

Its arrived the pressing of U2's Joshua Tree and its simply epic, In my mine the record of the eighties and with out doubt the album that created the legend that is U2.

On the first side you get the best introduction of any album ever with some of U2's iconic songs,

1, Where The Streets Have No Name
2, Still Haven't Found What I'm looking For
3, With Or With Out You

Its no wonder that when this album was released in 1987 people were waiting for record shops to open at midnight so they could get there hands on it first. If you've never heard these songs then you must be living under a stone but in a way I envy you because you have a treat in store. Once you've finished reading head over to youtube and give them a look.

The rest of the album is just as good and takes me back to a simpler time when I was younger and I heard this for the first time. Even though the headline tracks are the icons the rest of the album continues the sound and its a complete work. with album Tracks like, Bullet The Blue and Mothers Of The Disappeared this album hits some heavy subjects and delivers some meaning to these events. Its U2 at there best !

Qi with Sandi Toksvig

Since Qi started all those years ago I've been watching and the concept was new and fresh, It also to us interesting facts along the way the former host Stephen Fry was great and he had the perfect comedy foil with Alan Davis on the panel who helped move the shows forward by not beefing afraid to sound the klaxon and give the obvious wrong answer.

The new series of Qi has a host change in Sandi Toksvig, Sandi's been on the panel a few time and in that role she was great with interesting stories and some quirky information of her own. Now that she's moved to the centre seat its clear that she was the only replacement for Fry and by introducing new items that make the show her own in the way of a Randy Skandi and various Scandinavian facts its given the show a new edge for the current run. Im sure the show has a long life ahead of it.

A Day In Henley On Thames

The river through Henley On Thames

Marta and I spent a wonderful day in Henley on Thames, Just walking around looking in charity shops and some antique stores that are in this beautiful town.

Henley has a nice relaxed atmosphere and a more gentle pace of life while there are some of the major chains you'd find on most high streets in the U.K theres also a lot of small independent stores with unusual items. The say was fresh and there was a bit of a chill in the air especially when we were walking by the river.

We called into a small coffee shop and had a mocha with chocolate cake soon after we got there. Then we started to look around the road traffic through Henley is heavy but in all its a really nice place to visit. I'd like to take the time to go there when its warmer and get you some photos of Dusty Springfields grave as there are some out there who would be interested to see it.

The only item I bought was a hard back book detailing the paintings of the aviation artist Robert Taylor which is really insightful and goes in-depth about the construction and composition of his art works.

The Tudor House
Antiques Shop
Henley

Inside The Tudor House
Antiques Shop
Henley 

Yankee Candle Wax Melting Dish

After our walk in Hodgemoor woods this morning Marta and I went for coffee in a garden centre near by, Marta's been looking at the wax melting dish for a few months and today she bought one.

I have to be honest I was a bit sceptical about how good they were, we've had the sticks in a bottle before now and they really didn't have much effect. How wrong was I we've had this little thing lit for a couple of hours now and the scent has completely filled the flat and even when I've come in from outside you can really tell how effective it is. I'm not sure how long the wax lasts for but if your having a dinner party or friends round this will create a nice atmosphere.

Spies In The Sky, Taylor Downing

On a vist to Capel Le Ferne a few years ago I picked up this fascinating book detailing the battle of aerial intelligence during the second world war.

While much has been made of the work at Bletchley Park and the breaking of the Enigma code by the boffins that worked on Ultra. Not much has been said about the work at and equally important country estate and the work carried out there. This book sets out to change that detailing the important work carried out at Medmenham and the photo interpreters there and the hours they spent analysing photos of Europe taken by some of the most daring pilots in the RAF.

The story of those daring photo reconnaissance pilots is also detailed in this book often flying alone and unarmed over axis territory these pilots had nothing but their skills to keep them alive. Often arriving only hours after a bombing raid with and enemy set on revenge for the horrors that lay beneath them these pilots had to conduct the vital job of securing the intelligence needed to assess results and out line the continuing strategy.

Its well worth a read and outlines lesser known part of the second world war with the information reading as if its benign told to you by the persons involved and gives new perspective on some of the most famous parts of the conflict.

Hodgemoor Wood, Polish Camp

Hodgemoor Woods Entrance 

Just off of the A355 between Beaconsfield and Amersham lies Hodgemoor Wood, Marta and I went there for a walk this morning and I thought I'd take the time to write about it for you.

Its a short distance from the A355 and you do have to travel down a country lane to get there, Once there its a nice place for a walk and to just enjoy nature. You're free to take your dogs and to even cycle on the bridal ways, however if you do choose to cycle please be aware there are also lots of horse rides also using the bridle ways also.

Memorial Plaque To the Polish Solders
who lived in Hodgemoor woods after the
second world war.

Hodgemoor Woods has so interesting history, when the second world war finished the Polish soldiers of the third Carpathian division were bought here from their postings in Italy. With Poland under communist rule and a satellite of the Soviet Union they it was no longer free for them to return to their homes.

So from the end of the war until 1962 many of the soldiers lived on this site with there families. Indeed there is still a very strong Polish community in the local area who had a plaque commissioned to mark the area an commemorate the place they used to call home.

Foundations Left Behind from former polish camp
Hodgemoor Woods 

Not much is left of the former site now the Nissan huts and most parts of the camp completely dismantled. The only evidence are the remains of some foundations that are slowly decaying and being reclaimed by the forest.