Batman Live!

Leo and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the open dress rehearsal of Batman Live. It opens in Manchester on Tuesday, and last night was the first time it had been done in front of a live audience.

Stage

I was skeptical at first how they would pull it off, but they managed it. The thing that made the show was the bat signal shaped LED screen that dominated the back wall of the stage. It changed with the scenes by backing out in to a comic, flipping a few pages then zooming back in on another scene. It was amazing to watch, and very well done.

Story

The Story revolves around Dick Grayson (Later Robin), the murder of his parents and the resulting hunt that takes the Caped Crusader around Gotham encountering among others Poison Ivy, The Scarecrow (Eeek, that was scary), The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, basically all the "baddies" you would expect from a Batman Show.

Effects

What can I say? The effects were tremendous. The aerial displays were spectacular (like really being at the circus), the backing screen was brilliant, but above all, The Huuuuge Jokers head, with the performers making the hair, eyes and teeth was something else. The jokers Balloon was very well done, and the batmobile was the thing of childhood dreams!
One bad part was the scene in the asylum. That was Way too dark, and really scared my lad. it was not the action part, but the bodies suspended on chains that worried him.

Acting

As you might expect, the acting was at times slightly below par, but when doing a show in front of people for the first time, that is to be expected. I fully expect that the actors will get this sorted as their confidence grows. Bruce Wayne will probably need to improve his fitness so that he is not so out of breath after the fight scene!! Harley Quin could "down ham" the acting slightly, and make it less "panto" like.

There were a few fluffed lines, but apart from that, it was very watchable.

Overall

This was a great show, and I think that it will be very successful. The cast were good, the fight choreography was well thought out, and the effects were spectacular.

THanks for ShowFilmFirst for giving us the chance to be two of the first 2000 or so people to see this show.

Final rating: EXCELLENT!!

Bored of not smoking!

I am actually bored of not smoking now. It's strange but I anm bored of thinking about it. I am still taking the pills, but fewer than before.

It is now 2 weeks that I haven't been smoking, and it is improving each day. Weekends are easier than weekdays, afternoons are worse than morning, still not sure why.

On a different score, I am currently watching "The Social Network". What a great film it is!

Any one who thinks they want some advice on the first two weeks of giving up smoking, give me a shout.

Take care all, have a good rest of the weekend.

James

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11 days!

Who would have thought it, I have managed 11 days without smoking! After 20 years I have gone nearly 2 weeks without smoking. Still feel rough though, and cannot quite figure out why. I will have to do more reading up about the side effects of giving up.
I must say that not having to duck out of work regularly, or going outside in the rain at home is good.

However, long car journeys are not good as I used to smoke to fend off boredom (I do 1500-2000 business miles a month). Now I am just bored driving, will need to find a new diversion.

On a totally unrelated matter, I bit a nice hole (well, two actually) in my tongue in what can only be described as a pasta related injury. Much screaming like a girl, and blood later, I have a painful tongue and a slight lisp......

Well, onward and upward, will see what tomorrow brings (apart from a smokeless drive to Scunthorpe and back)

Take care

James
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Day 6 end of..

Still going! 6 days and counting! The minis are still helping me. Once I have a week out of the way, I will be happy, one can only build from there. Happy days!
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Day 5

Day 5 is upon me. Still haven't smoked, although the temptation seems to be ever present, worst in the afternoon for some reason, and not too bad in the evening.

How does that work? Looking back, I do not recall smoking any more in the afternoons than other times of the day, or whether it is a continuing lack of nicotine during the day, I do not know.

Was researching why I am feeling lethargic, all I want to do is lie down. Apparently, seems to be quite normal. I thought you were supposed to get more energy when you gave up! Worst thing is that this is meant to take 5 weeks to get rid of!

Ho hum, onwards and upwards!
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Day 3 nearly over

Can't think why I haven't done this before. Nearly 3 days in, no-one has died and the cravings seem to be in control.

Never thought that I would sit at work daydreaming about having a cig! Watched the guys smoking on the grass, but turned back to work. On the way out of the office, there was a cig. It was JUST THERE, shouting at me..... I walked past eyeing the cig suspiciously, but it never bit me.

Oh well, 3 days successfully completed, bring the rest on.

J
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Day three starts

Still no cigs, but then, haven't been near anywhere to buy any yet! We'll see what the day brings.....J
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Day 2 of the no smoking

After 20 years, I am giving up smoking. I am up to day two. I have used the niquitin minis things, and so far they seem to be working. The only problem is that they make all food taste worse that it did when I smoked (everything now tastes of mint!).

Oh well, onward and upward. I am reliably informed by friends that it only gets worse from here on in. To quote the annoying prat on the Apprentice, I will just have to "Roll with the punches".......

More in a day or two!

Tempus Fugit

Time flies when you are having fun. Please can someone let me know how you are supposed to get the time to do these blogs? I spend my time working, with my wife and boys, and twitter etc.

Now my mind (and my 5 year old boy) have told me that giving up smoking is a good thing to do.

Sooooooooo, lets start!

J

Ch, ch, ch, changes

Life has changed a lit since the last post. The car failed it's MOT again, and this time was scrapped! I have a new little boy, Gabriel, born on the 5th December, and a new house.

Life is good, there are opportunities around the corner, so the year is going to start on a high. Unfortunately, it means that I need to sell my car, so have decided that We Buy Any Car (they of the really annoying adverts) are the likely recipients of the car. I am going to take a hit on it, but really cannot face selling it privately.

Anyway, hope you are well, and still visiting the forum (I must admit to being a little lax on this score, as the new house and the new baby are taking quite a lot of time).

Take care, and happy cruising.

James

Blimey, a year has passed!

Sooooooo, it seems that I am not particularly good at this blogging lark!

Changine times

Well, things have changed a lot since the last posting. I start a new job in August, The forum has been threatened by socially inept idiots, and my car has failed its mot (badly).

At least I have had a great weekend. Started with the failed MOT, but then I went with Leo to the "Dads group" at the local nursery. Time spent on my own is always a pleasure, even when he is acting like a 2 year old!

Today, we have been to the local farmers market, full of local produce that outsrips the supermarkets quality in spades.
An afternoon spent at the farm was cut short, as thunderstorms were likely to hit, so we decided against the pre-planned bbq.

As it was, Lexx made a great rosy veal and mushroom pasta dish that was great.

To top it all, I briefly spoke to Vic tonight. Always a pleasure.

Take care all

James

gary moore concert

Sitting here watching my favourite axe man play the blues at the apollo manchester. Life is good!

Queen Mary to sail the oceans again?

Meanwhile, another development company hopes to buy the Queen Mary and has grand plans for the ship - restoring it to seaworthiness and turning it once again into a luxury ocean liner. Is that plan a pipe dream - one in a seemingly endless series of plans and proposals for the Queen Mary that never came to fruition - or would city leaders actually consider selling the vessel that has been a symbol of Long Beach for more than four decades?

This article (New ideas floted for Queen Mary) says that there are possibly plans developing to return Mary to sea worthiness. Whilst I would love to see this, I am not sure it will happen. As is stated in the article, it would require a huge amount of money, and, more importantly, Cunard's permission to use her as a passenger vessel. Also, hasn't it been mentioned that, when compared to current liners, she would be move to much in the water to be comfortable to modern passengers?

I would personally love to see her sail into Liverpool, even just watching. I think it would generate 10 times as much interest as either QM2's first or QE2's last arrival.

Imagine, one of the original Cunard Queens plying the Atlantic again(albeit somewhat bumpily). That really would be a sight to behold.

What do you think, will it happen, can it happen?


J

I have pleasure in announcing that the April photo of the month gallery is now active, and that voting can begin.

Please peruse the gallery, which can be found by clicking here

When you have decided which photo to vote for, please send me a PM through the forum with the number of the photo that has taken your fancy.

WE have a great selection, and not just Cunard ships, although QM2 and QE2 feature heavily. I hope you enjoy looking at them, and I thank the entrants for their sterling efforts.

Any problems, please email me. Take care

James

Free magazine subscriptions

Well, in the history of Cunard Forums, I do not think anyone has given away magazine subscriptions!

I have a load of Delta sky miles expiring at the end of the month. As I live in the UK, and do not have enough miles for a return trip to Atlanta, the only way to use the miles is to give away magazine subscriptions to the American members of the board.

To get to the thread, click the link. Sorry, but only members who were registered before I offered this are eligible for the free subscriptions.

To go to the thread, click here!

Thanks

James

Pictures for the competition

The pictures are flooding in now that the subject has been changed. There are many to choose from, and the ships in question are very diverse, especially from one member!

Please keep sending them in, and they will be put up on the 26th April for voting.

Gallery is now operational

After much faffing about, the gallery is now working on the new forum. There was a conflict between the forum skin we use and the gallery software. By remapping the gallery skin, it now uses the default IPB skin. The gallery can be located by clicking the gallery button at the top of the forum. Each member can have 2 galleries, so get uploading!

Whilst this makes for a not too good looking forum, at least it works and can be "tarted up" at a later date.

The newsletters that I send out from Cunardcritic seem to be a success. There is always a good deal of interest after the emails are sent out, and none more so that todays detailing the launch of the forum. Please let me know if you are, or are not happy with the newsletters.

The first ever photo contest was won by Robert (tyneturbine) with a lovely night shot of QE2 leaving North Shields on her "farewell to the UK" tour.

This months competition is titled "from a distance", meaning shots where the ships are in the distance, and not the main subject of a shot.

Anyway, I will write again, when I have something pertinent to say.

Still wondering about which trips to do in 2010!

Take care

James

What to do, what to do

Cunard have released details on what to expect in 2011. It seems that Lexx, Leo and I will be flying to LAX and popping on Queen Victoria for her maiden call to Hawai'i. With any luck, there will be other CuTic'ers with us as Betsy has expressed an interest, and hopefully we might be able to drag Vic on for the ride. It will be like the Jan 2008 Caribbean all over again!

Other details have also been made public. The much publicised QM2 7 day crossings have been cut in number to 11, with the other 10 crossings taking the more normal 6 days. Personally, I like the ship to be stretching it's legs on a crossing, so a 6 day 24kt crossing is more my thing rather than 20kt.

Anyway, it seems that decisions will have to be made when the voyages go on sale in just over two weeks time, hopefully my brochure will land on the doorstep soon.

James

A day of missed dentists and others...

Don't you love getting all worked up about going to the dentist, and then having them cancel 10 minutes before your appointment? It happened to me this morning, I am peeved, annoyed and down right hacked off.

I do not like dentists at all, and I have to psyche myself up for going, then it is cancelled!!

Anyway, I am going diving tonight, CIMA have put on a Scuba diving sampler evening. Quite what Scuba diving has to do with management accountancy I do not know! Still, they are providing an Indian meal afterwards (I hope that the qualification enables their Indian cooking skills to come to the fore...).

Therefore, I will be losing weight while diving (having put on weight attaching the equipment), will lose more weight when I take the equipment off, then put some back on as I ingest just enough indian food for it not to be called "Gluttony".

Fun.

J