Saturday, July 26, 2003

Current "Reds"

Harry Potter - Order of the Phoenix: JK Rowling [***1/2]
700+ pages, weighty, fun, full of Hogwarts Elaboration... but it left me disappointed... I wanted more than a trivial 700 page filler between books 4 and 6 & 7. Set up nicely though.

Ghost Rider: Neil Peart [****]
How does a man survive the deaths of his daughter and wife within 11 months? He gets on a motorcycle and rides. Outstanding account of one man's struggle to exist.

Chasing Down the Dawn - Jewel [*****]
OK I'm a bit biased here. Big Jewel fan. Incredible insight into the dreams and motives of the singer/songwriter.

Friday, July 18, 2003

Little Victory
Own Coffee; Hot Water Only; 6p Profit.

Thursday, July 17, 2003

Current Spins - Point Proven
Bemuddlement is a great believer that all great albums are under 40mins in duration. No better proof can be found, at the moment, in two of the latest spinning aquisitions

The Darkness - Permission to Land [38mins 11secs]: [*****]
Four letter words, sex, alcolhol abuse, sex, satanism, sex, a Naked woman on the sleeve and sex. Its NWOBHM meets Guns'N'Roses, meets AC/DC, meets Geedy Lee on Acid, meets The Scorpions, meets Hipnogsis. They even nick a riff from "Red Barchetta" (Stuck In A Rut) and I'm sure there's a bit of Brian May's "Starfleet" inspiration on here... but hey... this works.... and it works well. They even have a "pointy tail" in there logo... it feels like 1979 all over again or is that 1988? Not since Axl Rose have we heard a heard singer who can cram so many Syllables into a line.
"Be they Angels or but men who rock"? You decide....

Electric Six - Fire [38mins 20secs]: [****]
Any band that passes a nodding wink to Tubeway Army's "Down In the park (I Invented the Night) and Van Halen's Panama (I'm the Bomb) is alright by me. It's "Fire at the Taco Bell". Disappointing lack of video-extras in this day and age.. costs the CD a "*".
Life in the Slow Lane
Rain: Time Delay = 18 plays of Electric Six's "Gaybar"

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Little Victory
Pack of 3 Jaffa Cakes; Price 35p; Inserted 40p; Change returned 17p; Net profit 12p.
Little Victory/Recovering Vegetarian
Tasty cup of chicken soup price 15p; Inserted 20p; Change given 7p; Net profit 2p

Accidents Can Happen
But not usually with 200 people, forced out in the rain, due to a fire alarm,looking on. Splendid collision betewen Parcel Force van and unidentified car. Fleeming Way/A23 roundabout.

Monday, July 14, 2003

Little Victory
2 cups of free vend sparkling water; Price paid 0.00; 4p returned; Net profit 4p.

Grime Watch
"IF YOU WANT AN EXAMPLE OF A DOOS, SEE DRIVER" spotted on the back of metallic blue Citroen dispatch van. Manor Royal, Crawley.

Life in the Slow Lane
Peugeot 206 pointing the wrong direction on the Crawley Way roundabout. Lack of passenger side suggests it was driven by the same idiot in the BMW, that cut me up last week. Time Delay: 0.5 plays of Electric 6 - "Gaybar".

Friday, July 11, 2003

Grime Watch
A rather unoriginal "ALSO AVAILABLE IN WHITE" on the back of a white transit van, westbound M20 approaching J4.

Thursday, July 10, 2003

Little Defeat
Campachino (SE Rate) 18p; Inserted 50p; Change given 27p; Net Loss 5p
Dull Man Confirmation #2
Luggage carousel Gatwick North terminal (UK Internal): Clockwise

Wednesday, July 09, 2003

Dull Man Confirmation
Luggage carousel 2 - Manchester Airport: Clockwise

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Little Victory on Tour
Tasty cup of campanchino 12p; Price paid 4p ; Net profit 8p.

Theater of Dreams
Bemuddlement is ashamed to report Old Trafford has been visited.

#23 Your time has come
Spotted Manchester city centre 11pm+, single white female wearing "Real Madrid" white rugby shirt with #23 on the back.

Monday, July 07, 2003

Live from Manchester
First remote posting to the Bemuddlement Blooger. Strange to see children who can legitimately wear Manchester United shirts.

Thursday, July 03, 2003

Life in the Slow Lane
Spectacular collision of car and road sign, Running Horse roundabout onto the M20 at J6, coupled with 4 car shunt just before J4. Time Delay: 2 Fresh breath Mints (Air Surge).
Special mention to the complete j*rk on the Crawley Way roundabout this morning , who clearly thinks that the 3rd Lane was for the 2nd Exit... may a large heavy weight fall through the roof of your silver convertible.



Strange Currencies
Spotted in change. Falkland Islands 20p piece, complete with sheep.

Falkland Islands 20p Piece...
yesterday


Tuesday, July 01, 2003

Little Victory
Packet of tasty Bacon Flavour Wheat Crunchies (172 cals), 30p; Price paid 8p; Net profit 22p.
Life in the Slow Lane
As reported yesterday, not only are the Clackett Lane services now host a "Total" garage, the whole service area is now "roadchef" and there is a 24/7 "Spar" convenience store at the fuel station.
To mark this momentous occasion, a tethered advertising balloon is today floating over the M25 at this point, slowing traffic down even more, whilst curious drivers try to see what's written on the dirigible.