// April 2007
Out of Warranty
Despite the happy, restful, head-clearing (and at one point ruinously retail-therapy-oriented) nature of my Bank Holiday weekend in Canterbury, there was one element that cast a significant shadow over the time off.
No, it’s not having to return to work today – although now you mention it: “ugh” – but instead it’s the fact that I seemed to spend much of my time in a state of some physical agony.
On Thursday I had a late session with the Personal Sadist who for some reason decided to combine a cable-crossover machine with a diagonal shoulder-press to seriously unpleasant effect. During one of the sets I found a ligament (or something) in my arm protesting mightily about the particular exercise and – whilst I managed to complete it – I had a bad feeling about what might go on next.
As it turned out what went on from Friday through to Sunday was my inability to bend and raise my left arm at the same time without a red-hot dagger of pain cutting through me. It made putting on clothes rather tricky I can tell you.
Still, rigorous application of Nurofen Plus and Movelat cream over the weekend finally left me able to move it freely on Sunday afternoon, so I was finally free of pain by the time I left my parents’ to come home.
Sadly I was only free of pain up to the moment I stepped out of the taxi whilst trying to carry my suitcase at the same time, that is. Within seconds of doing so the excruciating pain in my back left me barely able to stand, let alone walk. Thankfully during the course of the evening I did manage to regain some movement and recovered enough yesterday for it to be a distant memory now.
Today, however, I’m suffering the occasional twinge in my knee, which rather suggests that – all things considered – I may just fall apart before I actually reach 30 next week.
I dunno… it’s one thing after the other at the moment, it really is. Clearly my body has now passed out of warranty and should be left for recycling.
Posted on April 10, 2007 | Filed Under Health and Fitness | 0 Comments
Agatha Christie’s Marple
Hmm.
Now, I love Geraldine McEwan normally but it’s not just me who thinks that she’s hopelessly miscast in the role of Miss Marple is it?
That said, she’s also adrift in a fairly apalling set of productions anyway. Somehow the BBC adaptations I grew up with keep on shining by comparison. I caught the new “Sleeping Murder” the other day and – whilst Sophia Miles was predictably brilliant – somehow something didn’t feel at all right about the whole thing.
Joan Hickson, we miss you.
Posted on April 9, 2007 | Filed Under Film, TV, Theatre | 2 Comments
The end of DRM?
So, much to everyone’s surprise, Apple and EMI have agreed that they will make “unlocked” versions of music downloads available on iTunes from May, with Steve Jobs predicting many other companies will follow suit.
Clearly they’ve reasoned that locking people’s files in the way they have been to date has not really given them a friendly image or helped in the fight against piracy. Everyone’s been telling them this for ages anyway, but the music industry has been historically very slow to keep up with the demands of its customers – usually viewing them as people to be penalised rather than serviced (as it were).
So today’s announcement is quite a bold and welcome move as far as I’m concerned. And yes, we’ll admittedly pay more for this privilege, but we’ll also get an additional benefit in that the quality of the recording will be higher as well, so I think it’s great news.
Now if iTunes allowed non-AAC media players to benefit too then life gets even easier for us e-music purchasers. Okay, I suspect we’ll see pigs flying first, but after today I think I’ll keep watching the skies just in case.
Posted on April 2, 2007 | Filed Under Pop Music, The World we Live In | 0 Comments
Doctor Who – Smith and Jones
“Look, I’ve even brought a straw!”
Lord… I can’t be bothered with doing big reviews of every episode any more. Life’s too short after all.
But I will just say that as far as I’m concerned Martha Jones’ debut as the new companion took place in what was frankly a blinder of an episode. (Which, considering episode one is usually the weakest in the run, bodes well for the coming weeks.)
And for me “Smith and Jones” was possibly the most perfect single-part episode Davies has done for the series so far. Previously he’s been all too fond of marring an episode with a sudden, unlikely resolution that leaves you feeling a bit “where did that come from?” but this time it was immensely satisfying and played out from quite away in advance of the end.
And d’you know… I think Freema’s going to be just great as the new companion. She was really very good.
Sighs of relief all round I think.
Posted on April 2, 2007 | Filed Under Film, TV, Theatre | 0 Comments