New Year Greetings!!!

Here's wishing you all a fabulous New Year!!!

Much love and blessings to everyone!!!

:) xoxoxo

Christmas 2005

Just stopping by to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!!!

:)x

Shayne wins British X-Factor 2005

My heartiest congratulations to Shayne who went on to win the British X-Factor 2005. Unfortunately it was not a real surprise. The British public has once again voted for the kind of boy next door/boy band type.

Journey South were not really likely to win. In fact they were not likely finalists so I say good on you lads. You grew throughout the competition and on the night you were worthy competitors.

It was a close call for second place finalist Andy (he lost out by just over 1% of the vote) but I think poor performances over the last few weeks did him no favour. Andy gave his all and pulled out some outstanding performances, especially "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Me and Mrs Jones". He really stepped up during the final and proved he can sing with real passion, moving away a little from the easy going Andy we've all come to know. Well done you!

In my heart I wanted Andy to win but once Shayne sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" the game was truly over. Shayne's rendition of "Somewhere... " was superb! Hairs standing on the back of your neck stuff! The youngster can sing. Of course the fact that his looks are very, very easy on the eye helped massively. I hope he realises that this first year is not about making money for him but for the record company. He needs to enjoy the ride get as much exposure as possible but be prepared to really put in the serious work now the limelight of a weekly show on prime time TV has gone. The winner/s in these types of programmes are the TV and record companies.

I don't like the winner's song much. It's ok but very much something that's great for on the night of the win, as a song for general release I think it's pretty poor. I look forward to hearing these guys do some real stuff, provided all the touring doesn't wear them out first.

As for me personally, I'm looking out for albums by Andy and Brenda!

:)x

Space Cadets - The Final Frontier?

It's over, the surprise has been sprung, the joke is done, the cosmonauts have been brought back down to earth with a bump.

It was good for me but for many others it was not. The viewing figures testified to the public loving shows where celebrities eat live bugs and kangaroo testicles, where people send in their most humiliating videos, where murder detectives investigate the most heinous killings for our entertainment week after week.

The contestants signed up for a show being produced by a sister company of Endemol who have brought us such enthralling masterpieces as Big Brother without knowing exactly what they would be asked to do. They went through some pretty ridiculous selection tests before they were even supposedly flown out to Russia for a 3 week training programme to prepare them as civilian space tourists.

You see there are a lot of people who like to shout "I'm wacky, I am! The life and soul of every party! Woo hoo! I'll do anything, I don't care what anyone else thinks." - yawn, yawn. I kinda see this as Channel 4 taking people at their word. All power to the chosen few, those brave souls Keri, Paul and Billy who agreed to fly, that alone is brave. Me, I know I would wet myself before I did that, so yes they picked up the gauntlet. While at the moment of the reveal they probably felt a bit embarrassed, I think they have been rewarded handsomely.

Keri by all accounts is on the books of an agency offering people for extras work, hey this can't have harmed her profile much. As an actor you can be asked to do some of the most ridiculous things, as Charlie and the actors on the show can testify. Billy, has admitted he could do with the money to "consolidate a few debts". Billy, you have got it. There's even been a little bit of a "friendship" developing between Billy and Keri, aw! As for Paul, he's finally popped the question to his girlfriend and now he can afford the wedding.

Last nights performance with Charlie "passing" an intestinal worm and the burial ceremony for Bimby the (famous Russian) Dog was just plain funny. The way they did the reveal was not the harshest thing I've seen. Certainly better than those shows where they line up possible prizes for children then take them away when they fail the task. Certainly better than watching incest, murder, rape and spousal abuse on a prime time soap opera. Certainly better than being told on a Saturday, Wednesday or whichever night the lottery can get away with that "It could be you!" - yeah along with the other 60 or so million in the country (that's the cruelest deception of them all).

So most people didn't like the programme, it was a bit cruel, it was boring, it was too obvious to fool anyone. Open your eyes, there are many more things to get upset about all around us every day and I don't hear much murmuring going on there.

Still a little part of me hoped that it would have turned out to be a double bluff, that we the viewing public, were being conned all along. Oh well, there's always Space Cadets 2 - The Mission to Mars...! (supposedly being filmed now)

Right now - Cadets, I like you, I admire you and I salute you!!!

:)x

Oh gosh I better go lie down quick - I've just read this again and I sound like Jerry Springer - gggaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrhhhhh!!!!! Bucket Please!!!!!

Jamie Oliver's Flavour Shaker

Has anyone seen the advert for Jamie Oliver's Flavour Shaker? I think it's so funny.

Just to recap for those who have missed it. Jamie appears, holds up the Flavour Shaker, spouts some sort of spiel and pops it into the back pocket of a girl whose wearing shorts. She then spins around and does some mighty booty shakin'. It puts Beyonce to shame, trust me!

It's so surprised me, I've not even caught what he's said yet. I thought it was a cocktail shaker until I did a web search for this post and discovered it's for spices, marinades and stuff. It crushes, it grinds, it blends!!!!

Hey folks, just to remind you here that I think it's a funny ad. Why not plug into the urban vibe? That's what he's supposed to be about young, hip and happenin' (oh ok, so I'm not hence the use of terms from the 60's man). I think I want one of those but I certainly will not attempt to shake it the way she does mainly because I'd probably cause myself an injury but also because I'd probably put someone's eye out, cause serious bruising and maim anyone within two feet for life. (Those of you who know me, know I ain't kiddin' there!!!)

Have a look at what Jamie's got to say here: Jamie's Flavour Shaker - Watch it

Oh and by the way the lowest price I've found is £17.99 from Play.com with free delivery - hint hint!

:)x

Nip / Tuck

Now I remember when this programme was first being advertised.

I would roll my eyes and sigh heavily. Oh no what a stupid idea for a programme. It's just going to feed into this stupid trend for plastic surgery, artificiality, big boobs, lips and everything else. If you don't look a particular way, you're not a valid person. Only the west's idea of blonde, boobs, no waist, pouty lips, no brain and long hair counts. Empty, superficiallity wrapped up with liberal lashings of lasciviousness (if you get my drift).

Well I was wrong. I know!!! It's a shocker but I admit - I was wrong. I have been hooked by this programme. The beautiful people are not really so beautiful (ok so we all know this was going to be a part of the show) but there's so much more. There's a lot of stuff in there about consequences. It's chock full of modern day morality tales (and I always love a bit of morality).

I'm not even going to attempt to explain some of the stories, you have to watch the show. I warn you though, it makes more sense if you've seen it from the beginning, you get totally into each character and their relationship to each other.

Let me flash a warning here, it's not one for the kids. No children allowed (I don't care how progressive a parent you are)!

At times it's a bit gruesome, for example they did a face transplant this week- the poor girl ended up with no face. Trust me, it's a good show. Ok there are "lashings of lasciviousness" too but it's not as liberal as I thought it would be - cue huge sex scene next week to my embarrasment.

;)x

Oh and of course I'm totally crushing over Sean and Christian (sigh... it looks like this girl will never grow up - LOL).

More Space Cadets

I hope you've all been watching.

Can you believe they believe they are actually in orbit around the earth? I felt a real twinge of guilt tonight when they finally saw the "money shot" of the earth from space. They were all so over-awed it was cute and to think that on Friday the whole thing will be revealed as a giant hoax really made me feel sorry for the little cadets.

Mind you, I still have this uneasy feeling that it's really us, the British public who are being fooled so I don't feel overwhelmingly guilty about the show at all.

All's fair in game shows and pranks or is that love and war?

:)x

PS. I am sooooooo in love with Val. He's got the most gorgeous eyes, a lovely smile and he's soooooooo strong. Take me and train me now Val for you I'd go to the gym!!! I'm not happy because now they're in space we don't see Val anymore and that's not fair. I say we need more Val. Bring him back! Bring him back! Bring him back!!!!!!

X-Factor - Brenda's Gone

Well I'm a bit suprised that Brenda is out but I'm not too heartbroken for her. It's probably the best thing to happen because let's face it, the winner of these programmes usually have a much harder time than the runner ups.

I'm positive she will do much better for being free to choose her own path along the bumpy road in the world of showbusiness.

Well done girl! I'm proud of ya for getting this far! You've taken full advantage of this opportunity and you deserve the success that you have only just started to taste.

:)x

The Crazy Frog CD

He's done it! He's realeased an album!

Why?!?!?!!!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

:)x

Supermarket Tantrum

Ok, my pet peeve at the moment is the advert for Vicks First Defense.

This is the one where a mother feels a cold or something coming on so she whips out Vicks to squirt a bit up her nose. No problem with that, so far so good. In the meantime, her son has wondered to a shelf in the supermarket and picked up stuff which he knows full well he shouldn't. Again no problem, we all know that happens. The mother looks at the child, the child looks at the mother then proceeds to throw himself and the offending item down on the floor giving it some as he lets out a tantrum in order to try manipulate his mom. Naughty boy :)!

Mom, to her credit is onto his game and chucks herself on the floor too. You have to marvel in admiration as she puts on a performance worthy of an oscar. So much so that her baby in the shopping trolley lets loose an adorable smile and the little boy gives up and comes running to her knowing on this occasion, he has lost.

All good and fine, highly amusing, very clever. However, even though he puts the jar of stuff back on the shelf, they just walk off and leave the packet of crisps (or whatever) lying in the middle of the isle.

Whaaaa??!?!?!?! You lost me now! This is where I get annoyed. Pick it up! One of you pick it up!!!! Don't just go waltzing off! What happens when some poor old dear comes along and trips over it? She would probably end up breaking a hip, then her kids would sue the supermarket and then the prices would go up to pay for the increase in insurance premiums.

You see the consequences of not cleaning up behind yourself? Now I hope you've all taken careful note of my warning.

:)x

Space Cadets - Channel 4

If you have not yet caught Channel 4's latest show Space Cadets, I would advise you to do so!!!

You must, must, must tune in. It's easy to find, it's on every night at 9pm.

Forget 'I'm a Celeb', 'Big Brother', 'Strictly Come Dancing' and all the rest. This programme rocks. The concept is to select a group of people, tell them they're going into space, ship them off to a (fake) Russian Space training facility (STAR) and teach them as many ridiculous things as possible without them rumbling it's all a big con.

Sounds cruel I know but it's brilliant.

My highlights so far are one of the contestants describing it the thought of going into space as being "like Chessingtons World of Adventure x 10.000!" and the tale of Minsky the Monkey who died to enable the space programme to progress. Aw.....!

Fantastic TV. It's not on for much longer so, come on, watch it! What are you waiting for?!?!

:)x

Hot Wheels Playset - T-Rex

Just when I thought I was safe. I popped my head back up from under the covers to see, to my dismay, the Hot Wheels T-Rex Playset.

No, no, no!!! I screeched as the children on the screen merriy/deleriously raced cars up and down and along a track which was along the insides of a T-Rex.

How do you get to that? Who thought of the concept? Are the men in white coats going to warn us before they release whoever thought of this mad, mad, mad game?

Maybe I'm not such a big kid after all.

I must have imagined it all. Right? Right? Quick where's my medication?!?!!?

:)x

Singing Santa

Has anybody seen the advert for the new Singing Santa CD? I couldn't believe it!

There's me, minding my own business enjoying a Saturday morning lie in, watchin M O M (Ministry of Mayhem - a Saturday morning children's programme). I was enjoying being a totally big kid. Suddenly we go to the adverts and up flashes this monstrous apparition in red, laughing hysterically (ho ho hoing that is), bouncing around the screen, attempting to screech er I mean sing and being followed by lots of "mini me's" in green.

Well the makeup was bad enough, never mind the stockings, the scenary and the jolliness it was all just plain scary!!! BUT then they struck up their very own version of "Is this the way to Amarillo" only they called it "Is this the way to Santa's Grotto" Oh the horror!!!!!

I was afraid, very afraid so I ducked back under my two (tog 13 rated winter) quilts and hid until I was sure it was all over.

Mommy!!!!!

:)x

Welcome!

This blog has been floating around my head for weeks but I've just been too busy to do anything about it... until now that is :)

I've struggled with what to call it some ideas were

The Kif Commentaries - A sigh and a shake of the head! (in homage to Kif in Futurama)
Advertiser Chronicles
I've seen it all now...

However, as you can see, I decided on "All publicity.... (is good publicity)" because let's face it, in this day and age it is!

:)x