Dark Shadows - Official Trailer

Back online

Well, that was pretty painful but it's over now. I am settling into my new lair and letting my nesting instinct run riot. I am also wondering why, dear God, I have so many small, breakable objects...

Here are my top Lessons Learned:

1. Pack everything REALLY well. My removal men were great but they still manhandled things brutally. Don't assume those miniature cases with the dodgy handles won't crack open and spill their lovingly painted contents all over the removal van's floor. Because mine did.
2. Don't ever trust anything an estate agent says. They are agents indeed, but of The Devil and Father of Lies. When they tell you they'll have the keys for the mailbox ready (which you requested two weeks ago) they actually mean is that they won't be able to pull their finger out and get it sorted.
3. All UK Council-run parking services are run by shambolic halfwits who take no responsibility for anything. The UK needs to save money by slashing the deficit. Start by sacking the chimps' teaparty in charge of parking.

That is all.

The studio is dark

Some months ago I popped over to see my friend Ada Zanditon. In her studio she has a large white board marked out as a calendar to plan her work. Spanning a two week period in huge letters was written "STUDIO IS DARK".
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"Oh, God!" She replied. "I wish Christian hadn't written that, as everyone keeps on asking me!"
It transpired that the phrase is 'industry speak' for times when the studio is closed (and there are no lights on). In the 24/7 world of fashion this is pretty much the only time when the studio is, indeed, dark. Hence the name.

So, the Tears of Envy studio is now dark. More importantly it's been carefully packed into a multitude of boxes ready for my move to Nottingham tomorrow.

In theory I should have the interwebs back up and running by the end of Wednesday. But Sod's Law might well get involved and postpone that happy event.

In the meantime, I leave you with the new Universal Movies company logo made by Weta:



Via Computerlove

Zombie Frog Hip Hop Routine

復活！カエルゾンビ水中バレエ！Reanimation!Underwater Zombie frog ballet! from LuYang on Vimeo.

Dungeon crawling in Derbyshire

I spent a lovely few days with my friends in Matlock in the Peak District overt the summer. During my stay we visited Matlock Bath Spa. This is a Victorian 'inland resort' - a sort of retreat. It is famed for its rugged scenery which Byron likened to Alpine Switzerland. Part of the location's popularity stems from  a hot spring with allegedly medicinal qualities. The minerals in the water petrify anything they submerge. Visitors to the (very entertaining) aquarium are able to see a 'grotto' of these strange objects. These weird artifacts (and a series of subterranean tunnels) are separated from the viewer by a barrier. I just wanted to clamber over it and hunt about for treasure and magical weapons.

Sources: Wikipedia and The Andrews Page.

The death of Kristy Bamu

The UK papers have been giving high profile to the appalling murder of a young man of Congolese descent at the hands of his sister and boyfriend. Kristy Bamu, 15, was killed by sister Magalie Bamu, 29, and Eric Bikubi, 28 after they accused him of being a witch. The boy suffered hideous injuries as the couple tried to extract a confession from him.

The UK court has sensibly taken a very strong stance against the couple, who have both been jailed for life. Detective Superintendent Terry Sharpe said, "This is a hidden and under-reported crime and therefore difficult to deal with in terms of protecting potential victims from harm."

Although cultural differences should not for one moment be regarded as a valid excuse for such violence, the interesting religious background of the Congo and southern Nigeria goes a small way to eplaining the couple's belief in wtichcraft. Western Pentecostal missionaries in the region encouraged the fusing of African tradition of witchcraft with Christian notions of the devil. Not only do these priests legitimise witch hunts, they encourage them and even profit from them. They may offer to identify children as witches for a fee and "cure" them for further payment by exorcism.

Via The Guardian

100!

There are now one hundred of you fine fellows and ladies out there. I just want to say a big thank you to you all for being interested in what I do and for putting up with my inane ramblings. I just hope I can continue to live up to your (possibly low) expectations.

In the meantime, check out the hilarious image below from the wonderful Hide yo Wife Hide yo Kids.