Yep, still here. Suffering with more vertigo (which came on after my flu jab last Wed) than usual which makes painting the ceiling SO much fun (I've been hanging onto the exercise bike...) and as tired as ever but otherwise managing.

So... painting has been started. Unfortunately the gold paint doesn't cover the dark teal so I had to repaint with white undercoat first. It's coming on vvveeerrryyyy slowly, but it is getting done.

Kai's had doctor's appt, venesection and BMT Clinic in the last week and a bit, and is now back at uni. We didn't manage to get out to many places this summer, nor see the films we wanted to at the cinema, but his clock and watch collection is coming on splendidly from all the ones we've found in antique and charity shops. He's obviously inherited the family collector's gene...

Media... We've watched a lot. Contact was on the TV: Kai's friends have been lauding its qualities, so we watched and enjoyed it. Now looking for the DVD so I can catch the bits I missed while making dinner. Picked up Assassin's Creed (never played the game, I just like Michael Fassbender) - it's very disappointing. Tries, and fails, to be really clever, and the acting is pretty poor. As a complete contrast, The Last Witchhunter is brilliant! Really, really enjoyable with great appealing characters.

Finally watched 1984 and followed it with Ghost in the Shell, which is quite fun. Basically a live action remake of the anime, the acting is good and the sfx superb. We'll need to watch it again to fully enjoy the intricate settings and backgrounds.

My lithops is flowering!

Probably because I've started feeding my succulents...

This made us all cheer! David Tennant as Crowley? Can't wait!

No doubt there was more but I can't remember it. If I do will add later.

Labels: decorating, films, medical matters

Autumn arrives with a THUD, Storm Aileen (blew down my beans. At least they'd finished...) and colds for Kai and me. Oh joy.

Just a quick catch up. Won't bother saying it's been busy as that goes without saying. How many semantic whatsits can you see in that sentence? We finished watching Legends, which was dull and annoying in the middle but picked up wonderfully in the last few eps. Then The Crazies, which didn't give me nightmares this time around but is still a very depressing film, and Requiem for a Dream, which is amazing but also extremely depressing. Then The Lathe of Heaven which, while good, could have done with less 2001 and more Matrix. It's one of the very few films I'd dearly like to see remade. We're now looking for the novel.

And tonight we watched The Manchurian Candidate... Wow. It's bloody good! And now I understand all the references to present day politics. Frighteningly apt.

Tyjer's been sleeping on Ken's desk just recently. I guess old age is making him even more eccentric.

Now have dull gold fabric for this room's curtains: am all ready to start the redeco. Once I feel a little better. I always forget how much I hate colds during the summer...

Labels: films, medical matters, weather

And the new lamps arrived this morning!

Old (with cat, who is insisting on getting into shot recently) -

Close up of old. Yes, those are orchid lights. I sewed the green satin tape around them to look pretty. As you've probably gathered, I'm rather partial to orchids, and after four grim, horrendously worrying years I feel it's time for a little cautious brightness and lightness and frivolity.

And the new ones.

Yes, we now have mini Martian deathrays lighting up our nights!

They're awfully cute.

And before anyone asks (Lutra), the thing hanging on my side is actually a necklace I picked up at the Salvation Army charity shop along from Wild Oats at Clifton.

Not something I'll ever wear, and Kai thinks it's hideous, but it tickles me. Like a Cybertronian attempt at making earth-style jewellery with transparent energon crystals...

Labels: decorating, fun stuff

Well that was manic...

Let's just note the highlights. The bedroom sewing is finished -

That's better!

The ceiling still needs to be painted - Kai has volunteered to help with that. I've ordered new lamps to clip onto the pole that holds the cushions that we use as our headboard. Rather elegant and USB-charged so no more cables! I also need new cushions and a better way of attaching them - will give that more thought. Pics later...

I've now managed to find all the paint I want for this room. Lutra wants before and after pics, so here are the before ones...

Sorry about the lack of tidiness. Also, no pic of the other corner as it's currently piled with pots of paint, painting equipment, the new display case and anything else that doesn't have anywhere to live until I get things sorted. No, I don't like living/working in a mess, so yes, I shall be tackling the painting soon!

Oh, and the curtains will be a plain light gold colour, like the walls, so as not to detract from the displays. Peacock feathers are very nice, but would be too fussy. So rather glad Fabricland didn't have the right one when I was there for the bedroom curtain material.

We're ploughing through Legends still. It's not as much fun as the first season - the lack of Snart doesn't help - and when the third season becomes available I'll probably wait until I can get it cheap.

I like Bollywood films. I adore the musical interludes. We watched Baahubali 2, which is wonderful, and has the most beautiful musical interlude I have ever seen anywhere.

I loved the first one in the first film -

but this one... So pretty it hurts.

(Sorry about the ads, I took out as much extraneous material as I could but Yt will only allow so much. That's the son in the first clip, and the father in the second clip, in case you're wondering. The DVDs actually have all the songs as separate files: going to see if I can mp4 them and put on my phone. The two above in particular are favourites.)

And Ken's home - time to make dinner. Later!

Labels: decorating, films