"HEIGH-HO! IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!!!"

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY

Well, as they say - A Loss is a Loss - and I'll take it over a Gain any day! Just the 1lb this week.

And as they also say - There's always next week. Still it's moving in the right direction....

THANKSGIVING IN LA.

Chris & Karen's Disney Dog - HARRY - looks on "And is there Turkey for Dinner??"

BAFTA SCREENINGS

"A MOST WANTED MAN"

When a half-Chechen, half-Russian, brutally tortured immigrant turns up in Hamburg's Islamic community, laying claim to his father's ill gotten fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest: as the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish this most wanted man's true identity - oppressed victim or destruction-bent extremist? Based on John le Carré's novel, A MOST WANTED MAN is a contemporary, cerebral tale of intrigue, love, rivalry, and politics that prickles with tension right through to its last heart-stopping scene.  

I took my friend, Robert Dickson, along to this Screening and we both whole heartedly enjoyed this movie

it is intriguing right up to the very end - not a great deal happens but that is why the ending is totally 

unexpected and powerful. Philip Seymour Hoffman's last film - what a tragic waste his untimely death

has been. A film to recommend!

"THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING"

This is a look at the love story between Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane - based on her autobiography. ("Travelling to Infinity - My life with Stephen Hawking") After the Screening there was a Q & A with the producer for Working Title - Eric Fellner and the Actor who plays Hawking - Eddie Redmayne. They were asked how involved Hawking was with the movie and if he was behind
the production. Eric Fellner explained that Hawking had distanced himself from the making of the
movie. However - when he was shown a rough cut of the film and he heard the electronic voice they were using for him towards the end of the film (as his own was under copyright) he agreed they could use his own electronic voice as it was so instantly recognisable.

Eddie Redmayne as Hawking

I bumped into Eddie Redmayne in Soho the other night and I was able to say how amazing his performance was. For my mind he WAS Hawking - it was a terrific performance and will definitely

get my vote for a BAFTA Nomination. As for the film, well, it's another one I can highly recommend.

"BIG EYES"

However Tim Burton's "BIG EYES" is another Story altogether!! This is a drama centered on the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s. I am a true

Fan of Tim Burton, I love his movies. I met him years ago when he was a child prodigy director dressed as Edward Scissorhands (!!) he offered me the part of the fat American Cop in the first BATMAN - a part played by my friend, the late William Hootkins. I turned the part down as it was only 2 weeks work and at the same time I was offered 6 months work in France by the Academy Award Wining Director Milos Foreman ("ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST" and "AMADEUS") I ended up making "VALMONT" with Colin Firth & Annette Bening. In retrospect when "VALMONT" vanished without trace and "BATMAN" hit mega heights, I might have made a mistake - but hey, the family had a great time in France!! Anyway coming back to "BIG EYES" - I'm also a huge fan of Christoph Waltz his performances in "INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS and "DJANGO  UNCHAINED" were out of this world - but unfortunately his performance in "BIG EYES" is so over the top it is through the roof and into the built up area - to say the least!! Shame!!

Screenings Coming Up: "The HOBBIT" and Ridley Scott's "EXODUS: GODS and KINGS" - so watch this Space

THAT TIME OF YEAR

Happy Christmas

It's December and the time has finally come to open my Jacqui Lawrence Advent Calendar. I have one every year on my computer. Last year the theme was like Downton Abbey - the Upstairs/Downstairs of an Edwardian Stately Home. This year its based on A Christmas Market.

From Jacqui Lawrence:

"Our Christmas Market Advent Calendar will transport you each day to a festive market scene in a bustling European city. Following the tradition of Christmas Markets from Copenhagen to Vienna, you'll be tempted by stalls of mouth-watering delicacies, thrilled by a ride on a carousel or a skate in the park, and entertained by delightful animated stories and a host of games and puzzles. And all accompanied by our gorgeous artwork and Christmasy music, not to mention the cute cats and dogs that every Jacquie Lawson fan has grown to love!"

Let me know if you'd like one!

THANKSGIVING IN SAN DIEGO - PART ONE

FROM OAKLEY PURCHASE:

Thanksgiving was amazing! Kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, football, and beer tasting with Trav and Jenny in San Diego. All of it with a broken finger! I fractured and dislocated my finger playing football a week ago, only two weeks after getting the cast off my wrist, so I have been very injury prone this quarter. I was staying with a friend and Trav was in SD too so we met up for some beers at a brewery called Rip Current in Carlsbad. 

Sorry to hear about your finger Oaks! Hope it gets better soon. Still it apparently didn't stop you having an amazing Thanksgiving in San Diego!

THANKSGIVING IN SAN DIEGO - PART TWO

FROM TRAVERS & JENNY McNEICE:

Jenny and I got invited to spend Thanksgiving in San Diego this year. So we drove down after work on Tuesday. It took us 9 hours but thankfully we have a new NPR radio show to listen to. It is called Serial and is compelling listening. I highly recommend people give it a try. Dad I know you like your 48 hour murder mystery, and this is just that. Just too good, and great for a long road trip: http://serialpodcast.org

So we spent the American holiday with Kyle and Elizabeth and their adorable 2 year old boy Jack, who runs around the house like a caveman and is obsessed with his penis. 

Caveman Jack

While the rest of the country was freezing, it was beautifully hot and we spent some time on the beach in November, just another reason why California rocks. 

We spent Thanksgiving with Kyle's family. Traditional thanksgiving meal, friends, family, wine, football, games, Jack picking lint off his willy and eating it, you get the picture. A really lovely day. On Friday Jenny and I headed out to go beer tasting with Oaks and his friends at Rip Current Brewing. 

Rip Current Brewing Tasting

Great to see Oaks and all of his friends, what a fun bunch! Oaks was in great spirits even though he had recently broke and dislocated his little finger. 

Oaks and his Friends.

On Saturday we headed out to spend the day with Elizabeth's family. After some beach time we arrived at Sue's house where she had put together a huge Chinese themed 

feast! 

The Chinese Themed Feast.

It was incredible, every detail thought out, and the food was suburb. I think there were 6 courses as well as copious amount of bubbly! So overall a bloody fantastic long weekend, although not very calorie friendly! 

Thanks Travers for taking time to write this in your lunch hour - much appreciated

WALES COMIC CON

Last Saturday I travelled on the train to Wrexham in North Wales for my final Comic Con of the year.

And I was not disappointed - over the years I've become a fan of the Soap:

I like nothing better than snuggling up in my bed and watching the latest half hour episode of Enders!

It's on four times a week - so there's lots to see! Imagine my delight when two of their major Stars -

Jessie Wallace who plays Kat and Shane Richie who plays Alfie turned up for the Signing!!

"Kat and Alfie"

Not only that - but bless them - they made a special point of coming over to my table to say "Hello!"

Totally made the weekend for me. Stars from "BREAKING BAD" last week and now "EASTENDERS" this week - what more does a chap want. As I had not been to North Wales before - there was a whole new Fan Base who came to say hello. Here are some of those WACKY CHARACTERS!!:

A Wrexham Journalist came to do an interview with me and still practices the "Lost Art of Short Hand."

He sent me part of the Newspaper Article he wrote:

"Stage and screen stalwart Ian McNeice, who played wartime prime minister Winston Churchill in a recent series of Doctor Who – and who sci-fi fans will also recognise thanks to his roles in Dune and The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – also spoke to THE LEADER.

He said: “This is my first time here. I was in Cardiff for a celebration event for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, but this is my first time in this neck of the woods.

“I’m impressed, because it’s been very much non-stop since I started here at 10am, with lots of very lovely people."

This is a South African Barn Owl Called "Malqui"

Me and The Road Warrior Animal are thinking of becoming a Wrestling Tag Team!!

FITBIT NEWS

I got sent this in the week from Fitbit:

Please don't tell them about that Fitbit Incident with the Washing Machine!

COMMENTS:

Just as "The Bubble" above says!