MUSIC
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| Blackmore kicks arse! "The Mule" solo is inspiring! |
As mentioned in "Hey Meister DJ" my favourite band of all time is Deep Purple - from hearing Smoke On The Water for the first time I was hooked. And the album I heard it on is still my favourite album of all time, "Deep Purple (Mk III) Live in London". Richie Blackmore is the best axeman there is, no doubt!
- Live in London (with David Coverdale, better than Robert Plant!)
- Nobody's Perfect (particularly version of 'Perfect Strangers')
- Live in Japan (listen for Gillan's scream at the end of 'Strange Kind of Woman')
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| The ultimate album - can't help but sing to "Eclipse" |
A close second, Pink Floyd - I am a huge fan of David Gilmour and his guitar work, but to me the quintessential Floyd is Roger Waters.
- The Final Cut (Roger at his pessimistic best)
- Meddle (musically great, Echoes is tops)
- Dark Side of the Moon (need I say anything??)
I couldn't rightly say what band or album came next, but it could be from anyone or anytime - 80s, blues, Hendrix, Bad News, Blue Oyster Cult, Alan Parsons Project, Baby Animals, Rainbow, Sab, Lita Ford or Sam Fox (both hotties) or a multitude of artists and/or genres...I have eclectic tastes! But here are the nominees;
- Blues Explosion - Montreaux Jazz Festival - Sugar Blue on the harmonica gets me every time!
- Baby Animals - Baby Animals ("Ain't Gonna Get" rocks!)
- Alan Parsons Project - Eve
- Killer Watts - intro into Heavy Metal, Blue Oyster Cult's live rendition of "Godzilla" is gold!
- AC DC - TNT, remake of Chuck Berry's "School Days" and the title track.
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| Keith Moon on a good nite |
Favourite Muppet?
MOVIES
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| Too much...please stop! |
I cannot rightly say when I first saw the movie, but when I saw it listed, I video taped it as I knew it must be OK as I was a fan of Zucker, Zucker and Abrahams - who? they are the kings of spoof - Airplane (Flying High), Naked Gun & Police Squad, Top Secret! and Ruthless People. Individually they have done Top Shots and Scary Movie, Ghost, and First Knight. Anyway, I am straying a little here. TKFM is a masterpiece - not strictly a movie, more a collection of skits. Amongst the most memorable include "A Fistful Of Yen", "united Appeal for the Dead", "Courtroom" (Pt's I and II), and "the Wonderful World of Sex"...but to me, it is all a laugh a second humour and I cannot recommend it enough.
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| The United Appeal for the Dead - tips on what not to do "should death knock at your door". |
- Anything by the above writers.
- Blazing Saddles - the hostage situation is classic comedy.
- American Werewolf in London - actually directed by John Landis who also directed TKFM and Michael Jackson's "Thriller".
- Starship Troopers - "the only good bug is a dead bug!" and "c'mon, do you want to live forever?"
- Forrest Gump - no explanation needed, killer soundtrack.
- Shawshank Redemption - you were rooting for him all along!
- The Green Mile - and him too, just didn't have the same outcome.
- Kingpin - top five easily, by the pretenders to ZAZ, The Farrelly Brothers.
- The Hunt for The Red October - predictable ending, but hey, as an ex-Navy man, it was Viagra!!!
- A Few Good Men - Jack, you are the man!
- Rain Man - for a person not that big a fan of Cruise, he features a bit doesn't he?
- Once Were Warriors - frighteningly realistic (WARNING, clip has coarse language and scenes of extreme violence)
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| Amazing what can be result from a crate and a 5 string guitar... |
From the time I saw one on ad for Alpine, I fell in love with the Lamborghini Countach and have been obsessed with them since. From the early 400s through the LP500S and Anniversary Model, the Countach is the epitome of sports car garishness and opulence. And what colour? For me, any colour but red.
Remember them dropping from the sky in the opening credits for Rain Man? Sonny's Daytona chasing one in Miami Vice? As if!!!!
BOOKS
I love to read, and I read a lot. I aim to complete a book every week. I make no apologies for my selection here. I love historical fiction, especially war related, especially WWII naval. Most of this has to do with my hobby of making kitset models, and I like to do homework on those that I do on commission so I can get a feel for the plane, ship, or tank. It also gives me ideas on those I set up as a diorama. My other preference in reading is comedy, from the scripts of Blackadder, to comic books (Asterix, Footrot Flats), to anything by my favourite author, Spike Milligan. These are just a few of the more recent memorable books I have read.
- We Come Unseen - a great non-fiction book following five submariners moving through the ranks and 'Perisher' to become Nuke COs. Some fascinating stories including the sinking of the General Belgrano
- Red November - another non-fiction book about life and times in the submarine corp, from trying to locate Russian subs through the Cold War, to some close calls, and great narrative on the Cuban Missile Crisis and the famous Ivy Bells
- Hostile Waters - again with the subs! This is the true story of K-19, the Hotel Class nuclear sub that appeared to be jinxed which climaxed with a nuclear "accident" in the North Atlantic. The politics of it all, including the arrogance of the USN makes this fascinating and disturbing reading.
- Pursuit - my favourite book - I have read this story over and over again and still it never bores me. The true story of the search and destruction of KM Bismarck I always hope the end will change and she gets away. The reason I became so fascinated in Naval Warfare and joined the Navy
- Tom Sawyer - I won this book in recognition of my school's Literature Awards. Have only read it twice. I think it should be a must for any kid growing up - and damned if I agree that they should change 'some terms'!
- Jutland - a fiction book chronicling the history, precursor, battle, and post analysis of the famous WWI sea battle. Beautifully narrated with great diagrams of fleet movements. How does the RN figure that it was a victory to them??
The Gobbler - Adrian Edmondson, Vivian, Vim Fuego...whatever his name is, this is a great comedy about the life of a famous (or infamous) personality and his cheating ways catching up with him. In the same vein as Wilt.- Spike Milligan - his war memoirs are classic, from his desperation at not being conscripted, to his battles in North Africa and Italy, his shell shock, and the start of what was to become his variety career. A must for anyone, especially Bad Jelly the Witch.
- Calvin & Hobbes - some people are Peanuts lovers, but C&H reign supreme. I have a large collection of these volumes - I have been compared to Calvin by many.
- Gary Larson - Far Side, is there anything more able to make you realise the problems you are facing are nothing compared to the demented ideas of this man? Absolute genius!!
My favourite song is Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is . However, when the mood takes me, it can be as wide ranging as a beneficiary's political views...Steve Perry's Oh Sherrie!, Pseudo Echo's Funky Town, Katrina & The Waves Walking On Sunshine, Def Leppard's Pour Sum Sugar On Me, and the list goes on...fair to say that while the 70s probably makes up my favourite albums, the 80s makes up the songs.
FOOD
- Sausage on bread with Hot English Mustard - I cannot walk past a fundraising sausage sizzle, even though they are cheap and nasty bangers unlike the lovely fatty home kill sausages I have at home, on white bread, with mustard (they never have Hot English at fundraisers) with some tomato sauce and sauteed onions...divine.
- Chinese, especially Combination Fried Rice. I love Chinese food! Black Bean Beef, Sweet & Sour Pork, Egg Foo Young, you name it, I love it. Although, despite everyone raving about it, I am not a fan of Yum Cha.
- Singapore Noodles - I first had this in a outdoor food court in Singapore. I had had a few brews at "The Strip" and we had found this place, about 1am, packed with people eating all kinds of foods. Singapore Noodles has long become a favourite of mine, however it never quite made the grade as I remember it that night.
- Pasta - all kinds of pasta, I love to cook it, I love to eat it. Some of the best pasta I have had in restaurants include creamy mushroom from Pukeko Junction (Pasta of the Day), and Risotto Di Pollo at Portofino's, Mission Bay.
Tuna sandwich - I make the best sandwiches, and a favourite is tuna (chunks in oil) on white bread, with red onion (although brown will do just nicely) and lettuce, cheese, cucumber, and salt & pepper.- Quarter Pounder - I have a vice for takeaways, who doesn't? By far and away my favourite burger is the Quarter Pounder. I just don't see what the deal with the Big Mac is. Last QP I had they were selling rashers of bacon for an extra $2...waste of money and killed the burger.
- Flame Grilled Whopper with Cheese - a close second to the QP is this, and I actually have a preference to eat at BK (Hungry Jacks in Aussie) and read the old car ads on the walls.
- KFC Fries - I don't mind KFC, but I don't eat it that often. The cost is one thing, and seeing the odd raw piece of chicken doesn't help (and I have an iron gut). But no-one makes fries like they do - but they must be out of the pack as the steam makes them soggy and washes away the flavouring.
Victoria Seafood Fish and Chips - on Victoria St in Rangiora, this is the undisputed king in North Canterbury for fish and chips (effing cee we call it). It has won numerous awards for it food, and their chips aren't what you would call traditional. The other big plus in this place is that while fish escalates to over $2/piece, they do fish bites for 80c each, and these are about the same size, just a lesser fish, not that you would know. Just around the corner on High St, the fish shop there is worth a crack as it comes second every time to Vic.- Poached Eggs on toast - I love to eat eggs. As a child dad who reared chickens used to make us soft-boiled eggs, something I have passed onto my kids (the wife is no fan of runny egg). But poached is what I love the most, on toast with salt & pepper. The runnier, the better, but they must be farm fresh and organic, none of these factory eggs!
Gwyneth Paltrow - gorgeous and talented. There are not many movies of hers I haven't seen. In Sliding Doors, and A Perfect Murder has her looking so stunning, although wasn't at first sure of her darker hair in Doors.
Tom Hanks - how could you not love this guy? In Big, The Green Mile, Forrest Gump, That Thing That You Do, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, Castaway, the guy is a genius.
TV
- MASH - I'm not a big fan of American comedy as most of it is canned and always seems to need a moral or lesson from it, however shows like Cheers, Ned & Stacey, Modern Family, and Simpsons feature as favourite shows, but the king of them all is MASH, although sometimes deep (which is fair enough, it is war). Highlights for me include the continued harassment of Frank Burns, Radar's naivety, and Colonel Blake's inability to have anyone take him seriously. I admit, I cried when Blake died, and during the last show, but laughs were aplenty.
- Office (UK) - as much as the Americans like to murder classic comedy, it is the originals that stand out. The Office will forever be considered the second best comedy made in the UK which is fair enough. Every time I watch it, I still grimace and get uncomfortable at the socially inept David Brent. It was introduced to me by a mate who couldn't see that he was no different than the guy he laughed at!
- Extras - Ricky Gervais continues his genius in this show of someone trying to make a break in TV...and full of celebrities, this show is a laugh and grimace every time. Amongst the best, the seemingly innocent Kate Winslett playing with her breasts, Harry Potter trying to get it on with everyone, and Steve merchant as the hopeless agent.
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK) - another great show butchered by the Yanks, Clive Anderson runs a great laugh a minute that has some of UK's (and invited American) guests - Peter Slattery is a deviant, Mike McShane is larger than life, and Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Colin Mockery were great here and predictable in the Drew Carey (that guy does my head in!).
- Fawlty Towers - the essential British viewing, voted the greatest UK comedy ever, and how right they are. Cleese as Basil Fawlty, the worst inn-keeper you could ever hope to meet. Done for only two seasons (plus the famous Tatty Review) you cannot help but watch it over and over again and still laugh each time. My favourite episodes involve the Americans wanting Waldorf Salad, the Germans coming to stay ("Don't mention the war, I did once but I think I got away with it"), and Mr.s Richards, the deaf old bat who thinks "the manager's faulty".
- Early Brit Comedy - Not The Nine O'Clock News, Kenny Everitt, Morecombe & Wise, Q, The Two Ronnies, Open All Hours, Porridge, Alas Smith & Jones, Hale & Pace...oh, the memories! The Amercians could learn a thing or two about humour.
- Test Cricket - if there is one sport I cannot get enough cricket, especially if my home team, the mighty (although maybe not now) Aussies are playing. I adore test cricket (which plays over five days for you non-British out there) as opposed to the slap and tickle of One Dayers and T20. I must admit though, with the retirement of Warne, the game has lost some lustre, as a spin bowler myself when younger, watching the 'trap' be set over multiple overs was like watching a chess player move in for the kill.
- Superbikes - I love watching most forms of motorsport, but bikes are the real deal, most especially, Superbikes. The fact that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can wander in and purchase one of these bikes make it seem so more real as opposed to the high money stakes in modified racers in MotoGP, not that I don't mind watching that too.
- Bledisloe Cup Tests - the Ashes of rugby - Wallabies vs All Blacks...now, I would admit, that we are more likely to be spanked by the ABs more often than not, and I have taken some stick over performances of years gone by. But in biting my tongue, I get the ultimate comeback, as the Aussies aren't all that bad (we have two Webb Ellis Trophy's to NZ's one) and when we do beat the Blacks, I don't need to say a thing - the anger, embarrassment, and sulkiness of Kiwis is enough...especially as when we do win, it is with a last-gasp bit of brilliance from us (or choke from them) that gets us home.
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| David Brent - the ultimate anti-hero |
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| "We seem to be right out of Waldorf's" |
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| Nice one John! |
Favourite Icecream
French Vanilla...although partial; to Vanilla, and most fruit (especially Strawbeey, Raspberry, and Apricot).
