Tattoodave

So many classics, I'd be happy to hear that as a set and would stay on the floor as long as I could.

I once took a picture of some crocus with a filter on the lens and called it Soft Focus Crocus, twice as good as that in my opinion, and it came out as I wanted, not a fluke foot in a hole and press the shutter mistake. Photographers that make money out of it are as bad as actors and professional footballers, too many people fawning over them. If the picture was entered into competition it would be laughed at by 99% of people

Looks like a primitive cave painting done by a Neanderthal, arty types talk a load of BO**OCKS.

Watched it again without the beer glasses (Sangria and gin and tonic really), and enjoyed it as much as the first. I could pick a few small holes in it, but as a part of cinematography I found it great, breathtakingly real in parts and I now find my Tinnitus justified. Hats off to all those involved, best film I've seen for ages.

It's actually known as a Shaggy Ink Cap, edible when young, but that one appears too old.

Beats me, as does any three year old on Playstation

Watched it last night on DVD to cheer myself up after Sangria and gin and tonic, it did the trick too. The gritty realism of the 70's hit's you head on, the days of bootboys and football violence softened by the glorious music that tamed us all, or at least those that could be tamed. It made me smile from the outset, laugh out loud a lot of the time as I drew parallels in my own youth, and remember some that didn't make it. It's easy to find a fault or two in the continuity with record label colours, but the setting was perfection. Elaine should get a Bafta for this, it is well deserved, and done on a small budget which puts the entertainment bigshots to shame. I bumped into a couple from Bolton yesterday that asked if I'd seen it, I said the DVD was waiting for me, they were surprised at the DVD being already out, so maybe that confirms the distributors mistake. However, I shall watch it again this weekend, when I'm not so eager or drunk to try and rip holes in it, though from what I saw I doubt if I can, speaking as a foul mouthed, tattooed and once earring wearing veteran.

It looks like someone has booted it already, can't figure out how to post a link, but here it is ebay item 121453216489

The dog El Kapitan would have been 2 next month, and Borrasco, the cat was about 5, so neither of any real age. Just one little chap left now, Kapitan's half-brother, Happy, who is 2 and a half

DVD arrived yesterday morning, hoped it might have been something to cheer me up after one of my dogs passed away on Tuesday morning, but shortly after it arrived the cat was run over and died at the vets, so I'm saving it for a less dark time in my life as I don't want to blubber my way through it all, as I know I probably would. Secretly I can't wait, it's been well overdue, but I have the patience of Job.

Ever the pro Andy! Let's hope there's better news

I feel left out, albeit not in the cold, but my DVD was ordered a while ago and as soon as the Correos lady delivers it on her moped, it'll be on the TV and I'll be enjoying it. To everyone going to the various cinemas and events over the weekend I hope you all have a wonderful time and look back on the events fondly for many years to come, I envy you the togetherness that I know this film will bring on airing.

He's in Durham now, if you read the post. I came up to Burnley with Kev Moore a couple of years ago, had a great night, and will return when in England if there's a suitable night

Sadly I'm missing it all, but had a conversation two weeks ago with a retired teacher from Burnley, in his late 70's and now living in Durham, who said that he'd be going to see the film as a lot of lads he was teaching were all popping pills and going to Wigan Casino in the mid 70's, and he'd like to know what all the fuss was about. When I told him there's still a Northern Soul scene he was amazed, and started asking me about amphetamines, I, because of the company I was in, denied any knowledge

Who can tell, it looked like an adult bird to me, and was the only one around that had any white markings, I knew it was a cormorant, and knew juveniles had a white belly, but had never seen one so white and up to the chin. Wasn't there tonight, but then after the weather we had earlier I wouldn't blame it

maybe you're right Russell, though he was very white even under his chin, I've not seen a juvenile with such clean white markings

I pretty much knew it was a cormorant Swifty, but what was puzzling me was his underbelly, I looked at lots of pictures of cormorants and the juveniles never looked as white as he did, they do get birds blown in from the US on the gulf stream so I wondered if it was just misplaced. Sadly he was too far away to get a decent shot, but his belly was very white.

I thought that too Steve, but have never seen much of juvenile cormorants so was unsure, he was very white and some distance off, I enlarged it before I posted it, hence the poor quality

There are bits of autumn colour here and there in the mountains, but nothing major, there's still lots of buds on plants, so more flowers to come. The sun is now shining after some rain and thunder, and the loquat trees are in flower just outside the kitchen window, beautifully scented. I used to enjoy the fall colour when I lived in the US, but didn't enjoy the Minnesota winters, I'm looking forward to the winter here, and strawberries next February and March. Give me the warmth of southern Spain any day, I'm hoping to be on the beach Christmas Day.

This chap was resting on the rocks at Riviera last night, probably a juvenile, but I don't know, he looked lonely. Anybody know what he could be? I'm a bit puzzled

Three other plants that I've taken notice of recently. Ismene festalis Bignonia rosa and a curiously variegated foliaged bougainvillea with white and pink flowers, I'm thinking it will make a fine bonsai once I've got a stolen cutting to root

It's raining this morning, so after a few days of sunshine and me finding more hibiscus varieties I thought I'd share these, I am quite a fan of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

I've seen lots of them this summer, still hoping to see a blue roller though

B*llocks! you'll be telling me he was being chased by an orca next

I'll remember his smile at Crossfire, a cross between bewilderment and pride, a very humble man, RIP.