So, it’s now less than a week until Christmas Day, and I’ve just taken my first dive into the ever-promising Christmas TV schedule.
Lost Christmas is an ‘urban fairytale’ set in (my hometown) Manchester, following a tragic Christmas Eve and the steps that occur the following Christmas, impacted by what has gone on before.
Starring the magnificent Eddie Izzard, amongst many others, I found this to be a great piece of drama by the BBC. In spite of the time of day of original broadcast (a Sunday at 17:30), it manages to be both sensitive and a little brutal, where it needs to be, and ultimately, through a very fluid narration, handing off from character, to character (which prevents the viewer from becoming bored), it manages to tell a real modern-day style Dickensian tale!
All the classic elements are there, though more subtly than you would know from simply watching – there’s poverty, a real working class feel to the Salford locations and characters, children, a Scrooge, a time-lapse and, ultimately, a reformation.
Should you have 90 minutes to spare between now and Christmas Day, when the BBC iPlayer will deactivate this programme, then I would thoroughly recommend giving Lost Christmas a watch.
As a random bit of trivia, Eddie’s hair is short, and dyed a vibrant blonde, as he was required to have a shaved head for another role that he has undertaken for Sky, in their Christmas adaptation of Treasure Island (he plays Long John Silver). As this role in Lost Christmas followed straight after filming for that, and as his hair had not yet grown back, Eddie decided that doing something bold was the only way to make his current hair cut look ‘normal!’
Most people who know me will know that not only am I a huge, huge geek, and huge fan of the ThunderCats, but I am also a massive fan of Christmas… and it looks like all my Christmases have come at once this year – I am genuinely, genuinely, really excited haha!
I’ve just been provided with the below information on the new range of ThunderCats toys that are coming out in the UK in time for Christmas 2011, and which were first displayed at this years International New York Toy Fair, and I have to declare right now, that I want them ALL haha! (can I set up a blog donation fund, perhaps?? ).
I really love that there are two versions of Lion-O – a classic 80s version, and an updated 2011 version (the other figures are all based on the – FANTASTIC – 2011 series, currently airing on Cartoon Network at the moment).
More information can be found below, and do, please, click any of the pictures to see a full-sized version of the action figures!
RETURN OF THE CATS
A 1980s favourite is set to become this year’s Christmas ‘must-have’ as retailer demand outstrips supply of the new Thundercats action figures and vehicles.
The retro cartoon – with celebrity fans including Jonathan Ross, Chris Moyles and Paulo Nutini – has been updated and recently released on British TV screens. The toy range from Bandai is due to hit the shelves on 1st December – with all available stock already snapped up by nostalgia-loving buyers.
Andrew Welch, Product Manager for Boys brands at Bandai UK says:
‘The new animation series of Thundercats is fantastic, with a great refresh look to update the brand for new fans, whilst keeping true to the original series. Our Thundercats product range has previewed very well with all our retailers and with very encouraging early US sales we are excited about the launch of Thundercats in the UK.’
Buying Director Stuart Grant from toy store The Entertainer said, “As soon as we heard there was to be a new Thundercats range of toys we knew we wanted stock. Thundercats is expected to reenergise the boys’ action market and be a huge Christmas seller. News from America is that it’s flying off the shelves so we are confident it will have the same impact in the UK.”
Last week Peaches Geldof dressed up as the new look Cheetara to promote the launch of the new Thundercats series on Cartoon Network, which kicked off a wave of excitement at the return of this cult classic.
The toy range will consist of Thundercats figures, vehicles and role-play items from the brand new cartoon series, as well as Classic Collector Figures of Lion-O and Tygra from the original 80’s TV show.
Key items in the range include collectable figures, Thunder Racer cycles and the Thundercats most powerful vehicle, the Thunder Tank which comes complete with a Snarf action figure.
The predicted top seller in the range looks set to be Lion O’s legendary weapon, the Deluxe Sword of Omens. The toys are priced between £7.99 and £39.99.
It’s just after 17:00 on a very autumnal Monday afternoon. I’m currently sat in the basement of the Waterstones on Piccadilly – a really majestic building that is well worth a look in on any tour of London. I have a pot of tea in front of me, a tiffin brownie thingy, my iPad and currently the Cast of Hairspray The Musical are belting loudly in my ear. There’s no WiFi, 3G or phone signal down here, and, given how hectic life has been, this desolation is absolute bliss, and was just what I was seeking out!!! I’ve just come from work, but as it is a Monday, I finish at 16:15 as I get in early, and tonight I am off to the theatre, and need to wait for my pal from work, Paul, to finish at 18:00.
It’s been a very busy week or so – on Thursday, I was at the World Premiere for Respect La Diva; Friday I picked Max up from Paddington and then we were up first thing on Saturday to pick up day seats for Betty Blue Eyes, The Musical (saving ourselves £60 per person!!); then we had breakfast across town at The Crosse Keys near Liverpool Street, before coming back to watch the evening show of Betty, hanging around at Stage Door after the show, before a nice stroll home (I LOVE living so ‘close’ to the West End!). Sunday evening we went to the Greenwich Comedy Festival for a bit; tonight, I am off to Rock Of Ages and tomorrow is a very much delayed ‘thank you’ dinner for all the staff who worked Wimbledon this year. Weds and Thurs evenings are my own, and then Max is back for the weekend, and we plan to be busy with Open House Weekend, as I’ve always wanted to visit a windmill!!!… and that’s just THIS week…!
Not that I begrudge being busy of course (especially when either Max, the theatre, or BOTH are involved)… if I was left to my own devices, I’d be bored stupid and incredibly lonely! Just every now and then, for a few brief moments, it’s great to shut the World out and go off the radar.
I am very excited that Maxie and I have made our first Christmas plans together! We’re going to be spending Christmas in an awesome 4* hotel in Manchester City Centre, all VERY posh hehe! I’ve not spent a Christmas in Manchester for nigh on 5 years, and not one with any member of my family, for various reasons, in about 8 or 9. EXCITED!!!! I’m a huge fan of my home city, and not a day goes by without me wishing at least once at I was back! It’s all very Home Alone-y I reckon, hehe, but if I get forgotten and left at home, I’m gonna be very pissed!! I shall retain all the tickets… if I can’t go, nobody can…!
Speaking of family, Max met mine the other week… all seemed to go very well!
I’ve noticed that I’ve suddenly started maturing very quickly too! I mean, I always thought that I was far too mature for my age anyway, but now, for example, I appreciate the value of a nice quiet sit down and a cup of tea, and maybe a scone or two as well! That’s not to say that random, hyper Gari has disappeared, far from it – the more mature I reckon that I get, the more the other side of me acts up hehe!
Perhaps that’s why I’m really looking forward to seeing Joan Collins on October 2nd! I imagine she is a devious minx, and I wanna get lots of tips offa her!! heh. I’d dearly love to be even a smidgen as fabulous as she is, darhliiing!
I’ve just poured my second cup out of the pot, whilst glaring at this weird lady as she nearly came and sat next to me. Definitely getting this mature thing down to a T, heh!
Oh, instead a random chap has come and sat there instead. I’ll let him off, he has a MacBook, rather than a bag of crumpled newspapers in a Sainsbury’s bag like the witchy lady… maybe he’ll watch a movie or something so I can sneakily watch too! ^_^
I’ve decided that I also really need to try to see more of my current fab friends, such as Simon and Andrew, and try to further expand my social circle – it used to be huge, but over the last few years, the circle of friends that I was in has pretty much collapsed upon itself, and I’ve found myself out of the loop with pretty much everyone these days
Oh, how boring… the chap next to me is here to work and type. Ready for him to clear orf now!!!
Just looked up and saw that there is actually a genuine book club meeting right before my eyes! The stereotypes are totally true btw, heh!
I’ve currently got a lot of stuff whizzing around my head at the moment, not much of it that I can process at the moment. A lot of ‘what ifs’ and the like. Gets a bit frustrating and stuff from time to time, but everything seems a bit swirly at the moment, so it’s hard to find a moment to try to pin down an action plan, as I very often find that the very next day things have changed ninety degrees again!
I realised the other day that I’m already looking at stuff well after Christmas 2011, that’s how far in advance that I am working with life :-/
Anyway, this was really just a bit of a ramble post to be honest, and as you can probably tell, if you’re even still here!! Been trying out audiobooks, with One Day being my first, and I’m finding them hard work to be honest. I used to love them as a kid, but as an adult, they’re just far too impractical. Call me an old romantic, but in an age of e-readers and the like, I’d much prefer a tatty old paperback any day! Therefore, this post was kinda unplanned, and accordingly came about as I’ve decided that I can’t stomach the audiobook any more!
Girl just walked in with bright pink hair. I just shook my head and said to myself ‘silly old cow’… I’m definitely maturing and becoming cantankerous! Last week, it would have been ‘FAB!!’ *screech & hand flaps* hehe.
Right, I’m done rambling, thanks for reading! If you like my ramblings, theatre reviews or just genuine awesomeness that I post, do please feel free to subscribe, links are at the bottom of the page.
In summation, I am tired, slightly delirious, but actually, surprisingly, happy with most elements of my life a the moment, it just seems to take rare pockets of quiet for me to be able to recognise this
OM-freakin-G, this is absolutely off the wall crazy, I fckn LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
This display was from last year, and over 29,000 computer animated lights were used. It goes without saying, the McNamara family from Arizona are very well known for their awesome light displays.
They also get much Kudos for using the song Wizards in Winter by Trans-Siberian Orchestra – I absolutely adore this piece of music, so it’s very good to see it getting put to awesome use! (though this song was first used for exactly the same thing by a chap called Carson Williams in 2005).
Trans-Siberian Orchestra are also playing the Hammersmith Apollo on Monday 28th March 2011, and tickets are onsale now!
Even if I ignore for a second her awesometastic name, I have to say that I think that Darlene Love’s version of Winter Wonderland is my absolute favourite! (well, my favourite of the several dozen of the 150 different recording artists who’ve covered this since 1934 that I’ve heard, anyway!!)
Once again, it is that time of year when I get really really super hyper and get to do really silly things and be ‘creative’ – though, that said, this year I’ve decided against anything too ‘creative’ heh (one year, I got so excited on Christmas eve that I genuinely didn’t sleep until February!).
In fact, my super-gorgeous boyfriend Karl already beat me to doing what I was going to do today – here’s a marvelous disco JibJab of the two of us and some friends getting down and going all Gloria on our bad-selves! (I love twirly Gari and the bum-bump I get to do with Karl heh!).
Karl also did a video for the True and Proper Royal Household and House of Trouser (aka, my housemates and I) which I love too heh:
VERY excited for tomorrow, just been sorting out the last of Karl’s presents (I am fit to burst I am that excited for giving them to him, even if we do have to Skype) and my housemate, Danny, has very very VERY kindly offered to cook us a three course Christmas lunch tomorrow (and won’t let me help or even kick in some cash for the ingredients!!).
Here’s hoping that whatever you’re doing, and especially, if like me, your plans have changed constantly over the last few weeks, that you’re all set to have an amazing Christmas!
To be absolutely honest, the only thing that could make my Christmas even more perfect is if I were spending it with Karl, but then that’s just cos I’m a gooey mushy guy heh! Really can’t wait for him to get back to London on Monday, and can’t wait to see him on Skype in the morning when we open our presents together! \o/
I will be about on Skype tomorrow if any of my friends wanna wish me a Merry Christmas in person (ask for details if you need!), and if anyone would like to send me an e-card, I can happily give out my email address!
I must be getting old, as I’ve got a definite shortage of cards this year… I have one from my fab friends Tom and Tom, one from all the lovely ticketing people at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) who I worked with over the summer, and one from Ed Milliband – I NEED MORE PLEASE!!!! heh).
For the benefit of anyone who we’ve not already screamed excitedly in their face at and told several times already, Karl and I are going to be heading off to Iceland in February in a bid, amongst other things, to see the spectacular Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
This will be my first holiday since New York in December 2007, and will also be the fulfilment of a lifetime ambition if we’re able to see the lights, so I really am edge-of-my-seat excited about this! (We both are!). It’s something that I’ve been planning for many many years now, and I’m so excited to finally have the opportunity to make the journey happen.
Accordingly, I am going to need to buy a brand new wardrobe of clothes to help me ‘embrace’ the Artic weather (those who know me in London will know that I regularly wander around London in sub-zero temperatures in just a t-shirt) – so this year, I am considering asking that instead of Christmas gifts, that my family kindly pay money into my account so that I can get all kitted out and stuff
Of course, I wouldn’t even think about asking if any of my loyal and ever so lovely blog readers / friends would like to contribute, but there is a lovely shiny ‘contact me’ link on this blog if you ever feel the need to click it to see exactly what it does! heh!
Oh, and for anyone disappointed that this wasn’t a blog post about Vanilla Ice’s defining hit record… here you go!
).
(I love twirly Gari and the bum-bump I get to do with Karl heh!).
