General Chat

Hello all,no don't like that Mel Gibson atall. Yet he speaks very highly of me!

I can remember a really embarassing moment years ago...well it wouldn't bother me now as I'm a lot older! Myself and a friend walked into the bar of a pub and literally as we did so the intro to Harlem Shuffle,by Bob and Earle started on the juke box...DAA DA DA DAAAAAA and lot's of blokes clapped...I was about 17 and wanted the ground to open...ah they were the days!

Pam.

EDIT: Just like to say I'm not that old!! That was an old record even then!! LOL

nudge

Hello Pam,

Never walked into a pub to a fanfare before - that's something I would have loved to have seen!

I have walked into a strange pub before and everyone's stopped talking - oooh I hate that.

Still jobhunting - got 10 days to go at my place but not found anything suitable yet. Never mind, still got my chin up and the OH has a list of things to do around the house/garden as long as my arm!

I've been trying to think of films we haven't mentioned but I am struggling for something new - how about The Long Day's Dying?

It only had four actors in it - David Hemmings, Tom Bell and Tony Beckley as the three British paratroopers in the lookout position - and another actor as the German paratrooper they capture (I can't remember his name).

There is very little dialogue between the cast, most of the story is told as voiced over thoughts of the characters. It is a very powerful anti-war film which subtly portrays the thoughts and fears of men put in extraordinary circumstances, and although there is very little violence, what does occur in the film is exceedingly graphic, especially the portrayal of what booby-traps can do to a person.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film when I saw it but I believe it has been heavily criticised in the past.

There you go - one for discussion - The Long Day's Dying; anyone remember it?

Ed

Hi all,

I'm afraid it's a bit like that with the little pubs around this area Ed, you feel like you've come from another planet, so we mostly go to pubs that are frequinted by holiday makers to the broads (they accept you there and you don't get the long silence as you enter)...and then they wonder why the 'village pub' has to close!

Hubby remembers that film Ed, says he saw it years ago, when he saw it think he was in his late teens, it was quite graphic he reckons but a good film none the less. David Hemmings and Tom Bell, both good actors, don't know much about the others. Tom Bell was very good in the TV series 'Out' in the late seventies early eighties. They don't seem to make stuff like that any more do they...I know that's a real cliche but they don't.

I remember watching a spy series on TV with Stuart Wilson and George Sewell, can't remember the name...it's driving me mad...it was set in Iceland I think in parts of it.....oh what was it's blo*dy name!!

Just Googled it...'Running Blind.' Anyone else remember that one?

Hello Pam,

The earliest things I remember George Sewell in are UFO (Gerry Anderson's sci-fi series with real people) and Special Branch - which I think we've mentioned somewhere before.

Going off the wall here, I'm watching 4Music on TV at the moment and they've got an evening dedicated to Green Day, one of the more recent rock bands I like. It's great - good music in the background not disturbing my PC activities.

Aaah heaven ...

Hi All........Think i may have seen your film Ed, are they all in sort of "ruins "type place? If it is the one the one then yes, it was very powerful, agree with Pam ,Tom Bell an excellent actor.

Sorry Pam ,don`t recognise your programme at all........



Nicky

Hello Pam and Nicky,

Tony Beckley from the Long Day's Dying was "Camp Freddie" in the Italian Job. and he played Peter in Get Carter too (I Googled that one). He sadly passed away in 1980 aged just 53.

Just got back from picking my eldest up from a school trip - she went to the Somme today as part of her History curriculum. She managed to find the name of my great uncle (who was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme) on the Thiepval Memorial and got some pictures of his name which will be going into the family scrapbook. She thoroughly enjoyed the day, found it very moving and I think it is something every child should do so they can appreciate the sacrifices made by the young men of this country (and others too) in order to defend freedom.

It's almost inspired me to put on "All Quiet on the Western Front" - one of the greatest films ever made.

Couldn't agree with you more Ed. She must have found it very moving.

I've been to Thiepval and several other places in northern France, also the village where my dad was captured in May 1940, some of his friends are buried there.

When we wnt to Poland a few years back, we went to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau. All Polish children fourteen years of age and over are taken to see it with their schools.

Pam.

Ed.... What a wonderful experience for your oldest daughter, I too have gr gr uncles and cousins who lost their lives in WW1 and are buried at Sailly -le- Sac and Helles Memorial...........isn`t your great uncle on the CWGC site? if so you can print off a certificate with all the details.

I`d imagine the trip to Auschwitz was heartbreaking wasn`t it Pam?...... did you see the Who do you think you are? with Jerry Springer?........it was a really moving one, probably one of the best WDYTYA iv`e seen.

Nicky

Hi Nicky

Yes it was very moving indeed. It was a sunny day in May (and birds do sing there, unlike what I'd been told) so you can never ever imagine how these poor souls must have been feeling really. It was truly heart breaking seeing human hair, clothes, spectacles, gold teeth, false limbs etc. behind the glass. Suitcases with peoples names and addresses and worst of all babies shoes and clothes.

I can't watch anything to do with these dreadful places on TV without crying, it was such a short time ago and so close to home, but we apparantly knew nothing of these things over here in the UK.

My late dad used to tell me of some of the shocking things that the guards did to POW's in his camp in Poland, don't think he and the thousands of other poor souls ever really get over it, i know dad didn't. As he always said though, he was lucky he got through it and made it home.

Pam.

PS Yes i saw the Gerry Springer one Nicky, very moving wasn't it.

I think I'd find visiting Auschwitz a bit too much - I have a vivid imagination that would run riot in a place like that and it would probably give me nightmares.

I watched a good film last night - it was called "The Bunker" and was made in 2001. It was about seven German soldiers trapped in a bunker in the 2nd World War. Whilst trying to find food amd ammunition in the tunnels below, they discover that there was an atrocity committed in the area a few hundred years earlier and that the tunnels have uncovered a mass grave. Uncanny things begin to hapen and the soldiers start to turn on one another as they believe the Americans have found a way into the tunnels - you're not too sure whether it is the spirits from the catacombs who cause them to begin the in-fighting or the stresses and trials of the situation that spill over and freak them out.

There is the usual mix of characters - the old reservist, the young lad, the war-weary sergeant, the hysteric, the by-the-rules officer, the party fanatic and the disillusioned idealist. It was one of those war/horror films that the cast and director pulled off very well.

Most of the cast were British character actors; Andrew Tiernan was the party fanatic and played the part really well. If you get the chance to see it I'd recommend it as somethign a bit different.

Ed

Yes Ed, your film The Bunker sounds good.... I like any film that makes you examine the charecters they play, and ask questions of their situations/ pasts/presents etc........

.I have just watched the Season finale of Series 5 of "Lost"..... now that programme really gets you thinking....... just as they reveal an answer to one mystery .they pose another for you to mull over.....OH has lost patience with it, and can`t beleive they`re stringing it out for another series, me though....I feel a little sad, as it probably won`t be back till next year, and what witth ER finishing for ever in a couple of weeks time I`m going to be in a bit of a quandry lol....

{I think OH`s problem is really that the fooball season is coming to an end, and with no World Cup or Euros this year, he`s going to be at a bit of a loss}...... I think he just counts the days till August when it all kicks off again............


Nicky

Your OH has my deepest sympathy over the footie - I feel the same.

Never mind, we still have Formula 1, although it's already beginning to turn into the Jensen Button show!

Went to the local canal festival today, which was quite good fun. They had a display there for a local open air museum that I'd never heard of before (only lived in the area 12 years!) I think I'll have to take the girls along to it one Sunday as it looks good.

They have about 30 buildings from the ages ranging from an Iron-Age house to a Victorian farm, and a woodland walk. I went to something very similar when I was a kid and watched traditional charcoal burners in action.

There's also a lot of displays and re-enactments over the year, there's 'Romans vs Britons' over the bank holiday, a heavy horses show and Napoleonic soldiers in June and Saxons vs. Vikings in July!

I'm not too sure whether I'd be taking the girls for their entertainment or mine!

Ed

Sounds right up your street Ed......... but must admit, I wouldn`t have been intrested in that years ago, its just since I`ve been doing my family tree, I`m fascinated by it all.

We have something similar to the Iron age to Victorians times down near Portsmouth somewhere.....never been myself but I have a friend whos a Teacher who has taken many classes down there over the years, apparently they`re all dressed up in the appropiated costimes of the time and you can see them doing all the different trades and preparing foods etc........It sounds a really good day out.


The Heavy Horse Show sounds really good as well......Iv`e loved horses since I was a kid, I used to ride in my younger days, always said if we win the Lottery ,thats what I`m having my own Horse.....


Nicky

Going back to the films.

One that I thought of and think I may have mentioned before is 'The Trench' with Paul Nicholls and Daniel Craig.

It sprung to mind because of my daughter's field trip and is the story of a group of British soldiers in WW1 on the night before the Battle of the Somme. Daniel Craig plays the part of their platoon sergeant and Paul Nicholls is a young soldier in his care. There are a few gory bits but mostly it looks at the men (actually most of them are boys) who reflect on their lives, loves and friendships before the 'big push'. Their Lieutenant is a young man who's a product of the upper classes fascination of the military and is in fact a raging alcoholic. Apart from Nicholls, there's a crop of young British actors in it and it's quite a star-studded cast.

Adrian Lukis (Peak Practice) is also in it and plays the Lt. Colonel in charge of the regiment.

A good film that makes you think.

Did I mention that apart from my Great Uncle Reg (the Somme casualty), my Grandfather (who was a professional soldier for 25 years) had two other brothers who were also on the Western Front? The fifth son would probably have been called up too but he was a train driver and therefore in a reserved occupation.

My other grandfather was also in WW1 for a short while (he was only 19 when the war ended) but he also had a brother who was a casualty and is buried at Bailleul Road Cemetery near Arras.

Ed

Hello All,

Now that's one I have seen Ed, exellent film The Trench.

Have been to Arras many times.

Pam.

I see Independence Day is on tonight - and I've missed the opening 40 minutes again - but I'm not too fussed. (I've never seen it all the way through)

Everyone reckons the film should be right up my street - Sci-Fi, BIG special efects and some god actors.

I have one problem though - it's a story of how the good old US of A saves the dang world again.

Ed

hhhhhmmmmmm Ed the good old USA saving the world......all on their own................surely not............Lol

Yes Independence Day is quite good, though like you don`t think iv`e ever seen it all the way through..... the film I DO like though that is a similar ilk is The Day after Tommorow....we saw it at the cinema when it came out, and the way they portrayed New York under water and snow was brilliant..... { as I always say..."So much better on the Big Screen"}


Nicky

Hi Nicky,

That's another film I never did get around to seeing - same old scenario; not OH's cup of tea, can't take the kids, mates live too far away to do an ad-hoc cinema visit, don't like going on my own.

Counting down to my last day at work - Friday sees the end of me at my current place. Went for an interview today, I think I presented myself really well, waiting for feedback in the hope to get to the second stage. I'm also awaiting confirmation for another interview. Maybe I'll have to start getting less picky about what I'm going for soon!

Ed

Bluddy bluddy bluddy bluddy!

Don't you just hate it when the signal starts to break up on digital TV in the last 1/4 hour of a film!

Thanks very much E4+1 _ you made my day!