Karohemd's World

Last night we went to tenpin for some bowling fun (two games on three lanes) and afterwards to Pizza Hut for grub.
I'm getting better but still have no upper body and arm strength to control the ball effectively. I'd need the lightest category with X-Large finger holes (which don't exist). Still, I think if I were to practice more (than once a year), I'd get there. My first game was a 95 (IIRC, it was mid-90s) and the second a 94 which included a strike. If I hadn't had four gutter shots in that game, it would have been a score over 100... jholloway and razornet were joint first in that game with 100, then me and then slick_mink. I wasn't last! *bounce*
Then we killed some time at the arcades (sadly no pool tables available or I would have tried some more action shots) before we headed to PH for consumables. I'd had dinner at home so I only got salad from the bar and some garlic bread. After autumn_storm's cake, I was stuffed full and almost couldn't move. I won't need anything until (light) dinner after the small bowl of Müsli I just had...
Anyway, photos. All taken with the D70 at ISO 400 (800 when they switched to UV), the kit lens and the SB-600 flashgun in slow mode.

  

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Despite the alarm clock going off almost two hours earlier than during the week. *groan*

I was supposed to be at Shire Hall at 8 and figured it couldn't hurt to be a bit early. I got there at about 10 to and the carpark was empty so I phoned my contact who after a while turned up. There was some waiting for a keycard and then we could go in to keep warm. Meanwhile few others had arrived and kept arriving, including belak_krin.
Outside, we were then divided into groups (press and protesters) and given the general idea of what the two scenes we'd be involved in would be about and we did a dry run (without camera and actors) of the first scene to get an idea of where we're supposed to be and what we were supposed to be doing, which worked quite well.
After another wait (for the crew to finish shooting a scene inside), everything was set up outside. Then we did more rehearsals and finally filming began.
The scene was one of the characters arriving at the court being "greeted" by the press and angry protesters (against the reintroduced death penalty) and entering the building with the protesters and press being prevented from entering by two coppers.
IIRC, there were two slightly different setups filmed, with six or so takes each, not necessarily because things had gone wrong but basically to get the best shot possible.
The second scene was of the character and his lawyer leaving the building and being driven off, with the angry mob of protesters and the press behind him. This was filmed from opposite the entrance (in the first scene the camera was set up inside the entrance) so it took half an hour or so until everything had been moved and set up.
Again a few trial runs and quite a few takes filmed (about 10?).
The final bit filmed wasn't a different scene as such but the last bit of the last scene filmed from inside the car.

We actually wrapped just before 2 and got fed pasta and stuff (there had been bacon rolls and snacks and tea/coffee in the morning) and then send on our way with thanks.
It was a fun experience and an interesting glimpse behind the scene of a film production. While there was quite a bit of waiting (naturally) for us, the whole thing had a very professional atmosphere. All of the crew were very friendly and approachable, which was quite relaxing.

After lunch we set off for Farcet and after an uneventful and thankfully quite dry drive, we arrived at the Humphreys' for an afternoon of gaming fun.
belak_krin and I first played a match of BloodBowl, then the design copy of Robin D. Laws' Celebrity! card game I had won at the Dragonmeet auction in 05 (have Pelgrane actually released this by now or is this still in development?) and finally Before I kill you, Mr. Bond? (Cheapass Games). The others played Blood Bowl and then The Hobbit.
After Indian delivery dinner, we watched the quite hilarious Lake Placid, followed by Get Shorty, although I left halfway through the latter as I'd seen it and was feeling very tired.

Feeling tired didn't prevent me from switching on the computer at home, having a look at the photos (which turned out a lot better than I anticipated because I was mainly doing it for show rather than actually trying to get real photos). I then thought I'd play some more Sam&Max Episode 3 until I got stuck but finished it instead. Ooops. Either this was the easiest episode so far or I'm getting better at solving the puzzles. Never mind, much fun regardless.

Today I have been sleeping, eating breakfast, watching a bit of TV and generally vegging about. I need to do a pile of washing up and then find something for dinner before another long evening in front of the TV (Top Gear, 24, Lost) and hopefully bed before midnight.

To those of you who missed Primeval on ITV last night, it's being repeated now (4:30).

Just got back from Farcet where autumn_storm and twentypence were hosting a poker evening, and much fun it was.
I was very much surprised when I came second but my last few hands just didn't match allucius'. We could probably have played for a few hours more but as diasporal_waves had to head home, we played til 9:20 to see who had the most chips at that time.

Good fun and good practice for the Charity tournament at the end of the month. I've got a pretty good idea of when to fold and when to bet/raise now so that should help. It won't be a regular feature but I wouldn't say no to a few more poker evenings with good friends.

didn't go as planned in terms of Getting Things Done™, I'm just rubbish. At least I got two loads of washing done and cooked dinner (pork steaks, fried onions, carrots/leeks, new potatoes)
I watched Carnivale last night and felt really tired/shattered so wanted to go to bed when I had finshed the DVD but then various things caught my attention on the net so I didn't go to sleep until 2 am which meant I slept until 11. Bah.

After yummy dinner, I went to the Loft (upstairs at the Graduate) to meet up with toripink, dmh, daevid and a few other gothic reprobates. It was good to catch up again and toripink looked smashing again but was even taller than usual in her platform boots which made me look tiny. :o(
The first band, Season, started off being not my thing at all (too loud and incoherent) but improved as they went along and ended up being quite enjoyable indeed. I thin the supplied earplugs helped a lot because it was simply too loud.
Symbo were next and they delivered again, playhing lots of fun and bouncy music, including a cool and fast cover of Down Under and a Britney Spears song.
There weren't a lot of people and disregarding the bands' mates, there were maybe 15 people. Shame, really.
The function room hasn't really changed much, it still has the red/green colour scheme with the bit along the windows being the stage (about 20cm high) and another raised platform in the back (in front of the bannister of the skylight) for the mixer desk. The sound system isn't bad but was turned up far too loud for the small (and low) room. The lights (a series of scanners, mostly) would work better for a club dancefloor than a stage, too.

Right, bed now. Full day of usefullness tomorrow, hopefully.

Just shows that I'm still suffering the after-effects from the cold/flu as I only got up an hour ago when I originally wanted to get up at 10 to get things done. *sigh* Oh well, personal well-being is more important  than an untidy place.

Anyway, this weekend is the annual "raggedy_man's parents have buggered off on holiday and left him in charge of the house - The Fools!" party so I went along, at least last night and it was a very good and relaxing party. Some highlights:
- surprised ditzy_pole with a rose I nicked off Solomon Burke last night
- various people commented on the fact I had lost weight *beams*
- belak_krin drunkenly singing various silly folk songs including one about the Tractor Factory Song
- raggedy_man leading a rendition of the above mentioned song weirding out all those who hadn't heard it before and making those who had too many times cringe
- devalmont playing a few superb pieces on the guitar, incl. an acoustic version of Once In a Lifetime (*giggles*) and Hurt (Johnny Cash style)

Left just before midnight, drove home, watch Venture Brothers and went to bed.

I now need to sort various urgent things and then make my way into town to meet up with my models for the day. *waves*

Thank you to everyone who came to the meal tonight and also those who later stayed for the Calling. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

the_mendicant and robinbloke picked me up and we were far too early so we had a browse around the Asian supermarket. I picked up some chili oil and will have to go back there at one point for other supplies.
At the Cafe Adriatic, raggedy_man was already waiting and the others arrived soon, too, except Ola, who had a big deadline and couldn't make it. :o(
Masses of delicious and reasonably priced food were ordered and enjoyed by everyone. I had the smoked tuna carpaccio with rocket salad as starter, roast pig belly with onion smashed potatoes as main and the dark chocolate coffee cup as dessert with a very nice Barbera. It was all wonderful.
I immediately made the resolution to go there once every month until I've tried everything on the menu. :o)

Got a text from Calling John asking when I would be there. Apparently, I didn't have the last set so we had to scramble a bit to get out of the restaurant but I made it in time.
Apologies for screwing up the first track but bloody Loki had switched off the cross fader again which I noticed too late. Sorry about that.
It was quite quiet so I had the occasional empty dancefloor but on the other hand I was surprised how well some of the other tracks were received (especially some of the medieval ones like Drachenschiff, or Samsas Traum and Lluther) so woo for a non standard set that not only made a difference but was actually liked.
After my set, I chatted to vyvyan and razornet for a while and then caught a taxi home at about 1:40.
All good.
( Setlist, The Calling, 28/03/06, 22:40 - 00:20 )

fried_chicken brought over anwen_swift and we had loads of fun taking photos. The "little 'un" is a natural model and likes to pose. She just needs to work on her attention span. It was a great but tiring experience.
Went with fried_chicken on a quest to find take-away for lunch on a Sunday. Eventually we did and the Shish Kebab was enormous and very good, especially at that price (£3.90).
Then said good-bye to the visitors, packed the car and waited for Sami's text so I could go to Urmston and pick him up from the station.
Took the A628/A1 route back which was a lot less busy than the M6 so eventually got back at a quarter past seven.

Just downloading the photos to my PC and then an early night. I'm knackered but happy.

Many thanks again to my gorgeous models!

I've added a few recently so please say hi to dr_wez, emilydongray, ev1ldonut and rivetmike.