new place

Zip and Nada's blog has moved to a new location.

For a while......

call centers and support stockings

A couple of days ago my computer/internet turned into a geriatric snail. It goes without saying that on this particular day I really needed to surf faster than a sun bronzed surfie named Brad.
Frustration turned into tears and by the following day I was all geared up to discuss at length the standard of service NTL were, or rather in this case, were not providing.

I prepared to call NTL customer support. Preparation for such an event is as follows:

• ensure you do not need to go out within the next 2 hours
• sit comfortably in a good chair with extra cushions
• place on the table in front of you the telephone, notebook, pen, extra pen, cup of coffee, glasses of water, a plate full of sandwiches, numerous magazines or a long novel
• ensure windows are open for good ventilation and keep a blanket close to hand should there be a climate change during this time
• Support stockings (support hose) are also recommended to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Now it is time to play the number option game. You know the one. 'If you wish to speak to someone who hasn't a clue - press 1' If you wish to be spoken to in a condescending manner - press 2 ' if you wish to be told that the computers are down and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause - press 3.
Then you get level 2 options. 'If you wish to speak to someone who hasn't a clue but has an attitude problem - press 1. 'If you wish to be spoken to in a condescending manner in an accent you are unaccustomed to press 2. 'If you wish to be told the computers are down by a really poor liar - press 3.
A few more levels and we are nearly there.
"We are experiencing a high number of calls today and all our advisors are busy. Please note that most faults can be cured by unplugging...blah-de-blah...If this doesn't help please continue to hold"

So you hold. You listen to the piped music. You get told to unplug and start again. You listen to more piped music. You hold.
And then!....You either a. Arrive at the wrong department (I'm sure I chose the option for lies and not attitude) or b. The line goes dead.

Start again.

Now, a couple of days ago I prepared myself for all this, but I also prepared myself this time. Boy oh boy was I going to give them ntHELL. I would be taking no nonsense this time. Oh no!...

....What happens? I only get connected to the correct department straight away and speak to a very nice chap who actually knew what he was talking about! No, really.
This totally threw me and so instead of shouting and demanding a refund I thanked him for his help and told him what a pleasure it had been talking to him. How disappointing.

To make up for the disappointment and with a hope of finishing the novel, today I looked forward to a debate with the Inland Revenue.
It was looking so promising. Having received yet another letter regarding matters from 2 years ago I had so much ammunition to hand I was sure to satisfy my pent up frustrations. My emotional engine was revving as the recorded message told me they were unable to answer my call. I did, of course, re-dial immediately. Eleven minutes of classical music later and I was speaking to Gary. He interrupted my outpourings of facts with the words "You have nothing to worry about. Just ignore the letters (they are computer generated). You have done everything right, it is your ex partner who is in the wrong."
My ex partner is in the wrong! You sweet talking man you. Bless you Gary, you are a wonderful human being.

I tell you, it's a sad day indeed when call center workers refuse to play the game....

Honda’s Civic Choir’TV Campaign

I have to say, the new advert for the Honda Civic is pure genius.
I love it love it love it.

This advert is produced by Wieden and Kennedy, London.

Watch it here. Enjoy!

Who knew an advert for a car could entertain so well? It almost makes me want to go out and buy a Honda Civic (providing I get the guy from the choir as an accessory)

imo

Having an opinion on whatever matter crosses your path is good. We should use our minds and develop a mind of our own.
Discussing our views with others is also good, especially if we know how to listen, learn and where appropriate admit to being in the wrong and so adapt.
Forcing your opinion on others is just wrong.

It doesn't matter how someone goes about trying to force their opinion, whether it be full on confrontational or subtle, in my opinion these people end up looking silly.

The ones that make me laugh the most are anti-smokers. The ones who think they are being subtle by mentioning at every given opportunity the risks associated with smoking. These given opportunities are of course whenever they are in the company of a smoker. It almost makes me want to buy a packet of cigarettes and light up whenever I'm near them just so that I can partake in the conversation -
"You know that smoking can kill you don't you?"
"What? Really? Heck I had no idea! Thank you for telling me I shall quit this very minute"

I came across this recently. It surpasses silliness and enters the realms of the downright unhinged.
Be afraid
It may not put you off smoking but you're sure to be terrified of dolls forever more.

when hide-and-seek isn't fun

I know that all the documents I need to make my life tick over nicely will fit into one place; maybe a box, an expandable file, or a drawer. They could even be stacked in one small neat pile somewhere...anywhere. I have known this all my adult life.
I have tried to put this knowledge into practice for 20 years now and I still fail miserably.

How many hours/days/weeks have I wasted searching for that very important document? (answers on a postcard please)
I've just spent almost 2 hours searching for one such piece of paper. I have only had this paper in my possession for 5 days so how on earth did it manage to hide so well?

I don't have a big house. I don't have many rooms. I even have empty drawers which proves I don't over-hoard. These documents never hide in the same place. I do assume actual evil personalities of these papers and I do take it personally.

Are there people out there (apart from my Aunt V) who can, at the drop of a hat, lay their hands on any requested item?

If there are -
1. Were they born with this gift?
2. Did they go through a rigorous training course to acquire this skill?
or 3. Are they just annoyingly lucky?

I'm in a bad mood now and I'm waiting for the day when I can Google my house.

question of the day

How did I just manage to come back from the supermarket having spent a painful amount of money, unload 22 carrier bags from the car only to then stand in my kitchen thinking "hmm, there's nothing in here to eat" ?

satin and pixels

Asda are about to sell wedding dresses for as little as £60. How cool is that?

My way of looking at this is, if the average cost of a wedding dress is over £800 a bride could nip into Asda and get her £60 gown and with the change buy a 35 inch FST Flat TV, an Olympus Evolt E500 8.0 megapixel SLR Digital Camera and 19 inch Flat Panel Colour LCD Monitor.

No, my math isn't out...I'm just thinking that it's supposed to be the bride's special day afterall, and if hubby to be is going to be so picky about a few extra pounds then........ ;)

It's a shame the only aisle I'll ever walk down is actually the one in Asda. I'd really like that camera.

I'm here!

Some people search for a lifetime. Some travel the world all in search of themselves.

I just found me!

When I say me I mean this blog....on Google search - I'm sure this gives as much satisfaction as any other self discovery path.

It took some time and many attempts. I was beginning to think I was unloved and unincluded...story of my life. But then I found me! oh joy - top(ish) of the list too.

The three words to find me were - cherry pickers kipper - who knew?

Put these 3 little words in the google search box and my life is now complete. Saves all that travelling and meditation stuff doesn't it?

the dog's bollocks

You know how it is. You look at the housework to be done and decide the best way to tackle it is to write a blog entry instead.

Still running through my mind and making my head shake from side to side in an incredulous and disapproving manner was a programme I saw last night. If I don't blog these thoughts in my mind I will end up sitting on the parcel shelf of someone's car watching all the places I've been go by. Now if this isn't the most unique excuse for housework avoidance then I don't know what is!
I saw this programme last night but it was actually shown on the telly a week or so ago. A friend of mine saw it and thought of me and so kindy taped it. I'll try not to ponder too much on how my friends perceive me, but still I shall thank her because it did indeed entertain me. The programme in question? - It's me or the Dog, channel four.

I was cleaning the kitchen floor to provide a clean blank canvas for the dog to muddy up when I decided what title I should use for my blog. Why was I cleaning the floor when I was avoiding all housework? Well, should anyone call at least my house will smell like it's clean, and I'm kind of hoping that it is a proven fact that the sense of smell tricks all the other senses. Maybe the scent of Aqua Alpine Fresh will make the pile of ironing invisible. You never know.
Dog's bollocks. That's the title I shall use.

Sitting in front of Derek (my PC) I automatically google for dog's bollocks. No reason.... I google everything. Don't you? You will be happy to learn that you can get bargain dog's bollocks at fantastic low prices on Buy it. Sell it. Love it. eBay.
Of course you can.

So, this guy on the TV show says something like "you castrate my dog you are castrating me"
Eh? Say that again mister. So he did, numerous times. I mean this guy was serious. He was close to tears at the idea that someone would dare to suggest that his all humping, biting, pissing, pooing pooch should be neutered.

What is it with men and balls? I swear they would rather have their brain removed than have their testicles medically tampered with.
Actually, thinking about it, this may account for a few of my exes...... oh well.

It's just cruel this man said, tears welling in his eyes.
I'll tell you what's cruel mate shall I? It's cruel that you allow your dog to bite your son each and every day. It's cruel that your wife has to clean up piss and poo all day long and change the soiled bedding before the children can go to bed. And another thing that's cruel? You dog is so full of testosterone yet he doesn't have access to a bitchy lover. Have you any idea how frustrating that is for the dog? Have you? He's got the tackle but he will never be allowed to use it. No wonder he's humping every visitor to your house.
How can someone not be bothered that their dog humps their friends continuously yet bother that he may need to lose the balls he doesn't use?
What is it with men and balls?

No doubt I will be back with more dog owner rants soon, but now that I've unloaded this particular load of balls I'll sign off and go clean something.....

child support and cherry pickers

While I wait patiently for the CSA to decide what to do with my case I note in the news that private debt collectors are to be given the job of recovering child maintenance arrears from absent fathers as part of an overhaul of the troubled Child Support Agency.
I have quoted that from the various news sites reporting on this and I can't help but wonder if absent mothers escape responsibility of paying maintenance.

Whilst my case worker from the CSA personally agrees that my case should be dropped due to the violence aspect, it is up to the department who messed up in the first place to make that decision.
As it stands at the moment, the DNA department are insisting I agree to a test.
Obviously, in my case, this is out of the question. If I agree to the test, this will of course prove positive paternity. Once this has been achieved then the pressure will be on my son's biological father to pay up. Having the bailiffs turn up at his door will really anger this man and guess who he will take it out on?
So, I'm stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. Do I take the brunt from the government dept or from this man? As the former involves less hospital visits I'll have to choose that one.

Should private debt collecting agencies be given the task of recovering the monies owed I see a repeat of the scenarios when the CSA first came into being. Lets face it, these private companies are going to cherry pick. Just as the CSA did from the beginning, they will aim for the easy targets - the absent parent (notice I use the word parent and not father? Because hey, guess what? Sometimes it's the mother who leaves the man to bring up the children alone) who works, pays his taxes and has an actual place of residence. Usually these absent parents are already paying support and more importantly are having contact with their children. Heartbreakingly, it is these people who get stung so much that they lose their homes (where their children may stay at the weekend) or they are left with so little money that they can no longer afford to travel to see their children. So, the CSA gets to see their money but the kids don't get to see their parent anymore. Tragically, this scenario has often resulted in suicide.

But the government need to get their money.

So, we move onto the absent parent who is working and doing what they can. With the threat of bailiffs looming, rightly or wrongly, just as before, there will be a mass of people who realise they will be better off financially if they stop working and claim benefit. The government don't get their money afterall, infact they end up paying more out in benefit. And what if they then decide to do a few cash in hand jobs to help them get by? The government lose out again.
The debts, which are worth more than £3bn and increasing by £30m a month can now be increaseded massively when you look at the whole picture, and, lets face it, I've only dipped a tiny brush into the whole.
So, it might be argued that these absent parents are morally wrong by opting out of work. Maybe they indeed are, but lets be truthful here, when doing the right thing results in less money, less opportunities to spend time with your children, and visits from the bailiffs... who isn't going to take the easy option?
Out of the hundreds of thousands who have already taken this route, I wonder how many of them were skilled workers? An asset to this country? I wonder how many of them, living life on the dole became depressed and ill and ended up receiving help from the NHS? How many amicicable relationships broke down under the pressure resulting in children suffering the misery of feuding parents?


Tony Blair signaled a restructuring of the agency when he told MPs in November that it was "extremely difficult" to make it cost-effective when it was responsible for investigating parental disputes, adjudicating on maintenance claims as well as enforcing payment.
When it comes down to the individual cases many people need to seek their own help and advice regarding these matters that Tony refers to. We now have many solicitors who specialise in dealing with the CSA. It has been my experience, and the experience of acquaintances that solicitors advise and use the law of this country to put an end to each CSA case. So once again, Ill dip the brush into the whole picture and now we can add to the loss with the cases where the law says payment need not be made and also, for good measure, add the cost of the legal aid.

I first discovered these specialist solicitors when, many years ago, a friend came to me rather distressed. He had just discovered via the CSA that he had a 6 year old daughter. In brief - during his time in the army he spent some time in another part of the country. There, he met a woman and had a relationship with her, which ended when he was transferred to another location. At the time he was a little upset that the woman did not keep in contact with him, but as time went on he got over the heartbreak. Time does heal.
Six years later he reads about his daughter on a CSA letter. He made enquiries with acquaintances from the town where the woman lived and discovered that this woman had merely used him so that she could have a child. She had never wanted to have a partner in her life but had always wanted a child. We can question the morals if we want, but for now, I'll stick to the facts. As my friend was a soldier, he was ideal absent father material for her. She had spent the 6 years doing a grand job of raising her daughter. It was only when she was threatened with her benefits being cut that she agreed to give them the details of the father.
My friend, quite rightly, upon discovering he had a child, wanted to be part of her life. It was highly unlikely that any man in his situation would simply agree to paying a large percentage of his income over to the CSA and not give his child a second thought.
So I accompanied him to the solicitor and discovered how the law works against the rules of the CSA. Or is it the other way round?
Lives were disrupted in this case and much stress caused. Again ignore the moral issue for now. The facts of this one case are, money taken from legal aid, anxiety and disruption caused to both families and at the end of it all, the CSA weren't entitled to any money afterall.

A case where the CSA over-rode the existing law. Jack and Jenny had two children. They divorced when son#1 was 6 years old and son#2 was 3 years old. It was agreed that Jack raise son#1 and Jenny raise son #2. The judge decided that as they were raising a child each, then neither party need make maintenance payments to the other. Sounds sensible to me.
All lived happily for 10 years until the CSA arrived. They insisted that Jack now pay support to Jenny until son#2 reach the age of 16. Jenny didn't want any maintenance, but then of course, she wouldn't actually be receiving any. All money collected from Jack went to the government. So, cries of these hundreds of thousands of families going without child maintenance, may tweak at the nerves of some people and make them insist that the CSA is indeed right for enforcing absent parent maintenance, but in reality it is not always the families that get any benefit whatsoever.
In this case, Jenny and son#2 received nothing whilst Jack was forced to pay such a high amount to the CSA that he could no longer afford to pay his mortgage and so lost his house. Living in a one bedroom council flat he became depressed (and skint) and ended up losing the job he had been in for 19 years. I would like you to note also, that Jack had raised son#1 alone. He claimed no benefits whatsoever during this time and his son was a credit to this hard working man.

It has been suggested that assessment, collection and enforcement functions should be passed on to the Revenue. Is this is the same Revenue that can't cope with Tax Credits? Dear oh dear. I don't know whether to laugh, cry or slap myself with a soggy kipper at this idea.
I'm toying with the idea of inserting my Revenue rant here.But no, I'm sure you all have your own!
BUT, if it is easier for the Revenue to extract money directly from the working person's wage then ok, sounding good so far. That only sounds good if we imagine the theory of the Revenue and not the reality. So, lets scrap that idea.
But before we scrap it, let's meander to the non-working absent parent. There's a heap of benefits including ex-service pensions etc that can't be touched. And so the department of Cherry Pickers grows.

Amidst this tangled web of government departments, bailiffs, solicitors, NHS etc., are the children. No one appears to be gaining from all this. Neither the parents, nor the government.
The children certainly aren't gaining. Beside the extra support, that very few actually see anyway, they are growing up amidst the feuds and anxiety and many will learn that taking an immoral path through life is beneficial. We encourage the children to learn their math in school. Isn't it about time our government did the same, if nothing else?

new addition to the zip household

I am pleased to announce the safe arrival of the latest addition to the zip family.
Dell, (Dimension 3100) weighing in at quite a few pounds and ounces was delivered safely today at 2.30pm by a man named John driving a unmarked red van.

My middle child, Emachines270 will now move into big bro H's bedroom and assist him with homework, writing, design and occasional Star Wars PC games.

I would like to thank my partner/soul mate Mr Plastic. I could not possibly have conceived of the idea of new baby Dell without him. I do of course promise to repay his much need support. It has to be said that Mr Plastic does take a keen interest ( I do search for the inteterest free model for my shopping trips...but alas) in the new arrival.

Fraught decisions had to be made mid-term thus instigating the premature arrival. A midwifery promise of free delivery and a sale offer promising reduced stretch marks upon Mr Plastic were the deciding factors in this mid January event.

Mother and baby are bonding well, though I do anticipate a few sleepless nights.

I would like to thank all those nice people at dell.co.uk for their fine care in producing such a lovely bouncing baby dell.

marsh mallow and squishy bits

Some people just need a lot of coaxing into bed I guess.
I'm not talking about the seduction and romance of an early night, I'm talking about a good night's sleep.
These people will do anything to to put off the inevitable. Pottering about the house, reading this, playing that, but mainly rumaging around the internet.
Eyes drooping and watering with each and every yawn they still insist on one more surf.

I am that person.
I don't know why I put off climbing into my comfy bed. I love snuggling down under the big marsh mallow duvet, and one thing is for sure, once I'm in bed I don't want to get out. Fact - it's impossible for my feet to tread the bedroom floor until I've hit snooze at least a dozen times.

My latest trick to entice me into the bedroom is the promise of a good film.

...which leads me nicely onto my latest recommendation - The Terminal, starring good ol' Tom Hanks.
Boy oh boy did I enjoy that film! A lovely simple plot but paced perfectly and packed with humour and tender squishy bits.
I can't imagine anyone but Hanks playing the part so well. You are just getting over one laugh when he throws in another or throws you totally off with a tender moment so you don't know whether to laugh or cry. Just do both, I did.

Tonights film to get me up the stairs before midnight? Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

nine and a half years

Nine and a half years on, the CSA call me.
They have finally got around to contacting son's biological father with the intention of making him pay child support.

You can stop laughing now.

Now without going into too much detail - there is no way that this man would ever support any of his children, financially or otherwise. Read that sentence as a rock solid FACT.

Obviously he would do anything to avoid paying, so why, when the CSA told me that he claimed not to be the father was I saddened?
It makes no difference whatsoever to mine or my son's life (which is the important bit) yet I will never understand how anyone can deny their own child.

They want to do a paternity test and would I go with son and have blood tests? Let me think about that for a moment...NO! I would rather starve - which of course I won't. I haven't for 9 1/2 years and me and MY son have a very happy life thank you very much.

My only hope is that they will drop this case. It seems to have escaped (lost files more like) their notes that this man is violent. After months of physical attacks resulting in police arrests I was placed in a shelter and re-housed. The last time I saw this man was when he burst into the house, attacked me and tried to snatch my son. He was arrested and charged.

Years of peace could now be shattered due to the CSA.

no more! no, more

Sunday night - I couldn't sleep. I tried all the usual remedies, tossing, turning, throwing duvet on the floor, punching the pillow, staring at the clock, teach myself sign language.... In the end I decided none of these remedies were working so I thought I'd torment myself by thinking of all the pets I'd had that had died. Eventually I cried myself to sleep.
Of course, when the alarm went off I was that tired I could quite easily have fallen back asleep perched on one leg whilst standing next to the engines of a Harrier Jet. Typical eh?

So I ran around around the house in the usual Monday morning way, shouting upstairs with lies about the actual time to son with a hope that just once he would get out of bed with more than 5 minutes to go before class begins, drinking coffee, making packed lunch, tripping over things, brushing teeth with savlon...the usual morning stuff. This morning though I had extras to prepare for. I had to somehow drop my son off at school at exactly the same time as I had to be at the vet (2 miles away) with the dog. I managed it of course. I am WOMAN!

Bonnie (the dog) was being spayed (and chipped) (oh, and her nails were being clipped too whilst under anaesthetic. It's hard for a vet to clip the nails of a dog who thinks anyone in the same room/street/field/city is there the PLAY!!!)
Driving home from the vets I started with the worrying and got myself into quite a state. Thinking back to the early-hours' sobbing I had done about pets I decided "that's it! No more pets"

I arrived home, opened the front door, walked into a silent, empty house and thought "This is awful - walking into an empty house!" " I must get more pets"

the madness spreads

According to reliable sources, that's friends who phone me with the gossip not Heinz Tomato ketchup, although it has to be said that I have never once been let down by Heinz Tomato Ketchup in any way shape or form...... there have been a number of people over the past few days, going to Homebase and receiving the same treatment as Ii mentioned in the previous post. Apparently, yesterday, a man had to be pulled away from the manager as he was about to punch him.
Wish I'd seen that.

madder than...

How mad was I? Well I had to google this. Maybe this is a sign that I rely on the internet far too much when I can no longer decipher my own emotions without the aid of google.
It would seem I was madder than a bucket of colobus monkeys, madder than a wet hen/hornet, madder than a bobcat caught in a piss fire - now this intrigues me, though I know not what a piss fire is. Anyone who can enlighten me?...I will love you forever (in truth I will acknowledge you with a thank you) (which causes much less heart-ache and binge drinking/ chocolate-cake-over-indulgance afterall, which you have to admit is a good thing! A simple thank-you may seem trivial, but compared to the weeks of 'the bitch lied when she said she would love me till the end of time and now she can't even remember my name' scenario is really the supreme option.)
Where was I? oh yes - madder a bucket of snakes, madder than I initially thought, madder than ever, madder than Hell and madder than a Monk.

What made Zip mad pray tell? I (don't) hear you ask.
The little weasel-esque manager of the Homebase store, that's what!

Dear Mr Weasel, Homebase Manager, Do NOT approach your customer shaking your head. For one, it is bad practise for a manager to approach his customer in such a way. Remember, the customer is always right! Even if you believe her to be wrong, at least act in a subservient manner and politely patronise her until she leaves the store. For two, don't approach her whilst shaking your head if the customer is zip. Bad move.

In brief, I, zip, had a voucher to be redeemed at Homebase. Literature that accompanied said voucher stated clearly which documentation needed to be produced in order for the transaction to take place. I, zip, complied with all the rules, only to discover that Mr Weasel hadn't been successful in processing these vouchers and attempted to humiliate zip with his condescending head-shaking. Zip pointed out to Mr Weasel his managerial incompetence. Mr Weasel explained that he would not be paid the amount of the voucher, this being on this occasion, £10. Yes, Mr Weasley, a measley £10. I informed him that his store had accepted £300 worth of vouchers the previous day from me. "I won't be able to claim that back" he said. Can anyone guess what my reply was?

elephant's breath or pigeon?

Monkey Puzzle or Drab? All these colours! I just can't decide.

After months of having a total re-wire, new roof and new fitted kitchen, closely followed by the stress and disruption commonly know as Christmas/New Year Holidays, I have decided, on 5th January that now is a good time to re-decorate the entire house. Each. and. every. room.
I reckon I'm so mad - that's maaaaad, that I should audition for the next reality TV show.

The plan is I choose all the colours tonight and measure rooms and calculate stuff and wotnots and then first thing tomorrow I shall go out and buy the the whole kit, caboodle, satin sheen and turps.
Should have it all done by the weekend......

Now, do I want Smoked Trout or Dead Salmon for the hallway?

when I'm on the ceiling and screaming......

it's clue, a hint, an indicator that I'm finding the fact that you are drilling the nerve in my tooth a tad unpleasant. So you can stop drilling now eh? please....no, really, I'd like you to stop drilling the nerve. Yeah yeah, I know I've been in the chair for more than the 7 minutes the government allocate you for each patient. And if you don't finish my treatment soon you will lose so much money that you won't be able to pay your mortgage and support your family so you will be left with the choice of either starving or becoming a private dentist........ ah I get it now! that's the way the government is going to work it is it? Won't be their fault that there are no NHS dentists left will it? You all left of your own accord....
...but please stop drilling the nerve.

Thank you.

No! Don't rush so much that you burn my lip with that red hot soldering wotzit.
....too late.

Did I have a nice Christmas you ask?
"hurungh gurhh urgh hooranhg"

"I need another appointment please nurse."
"February 14th, 10am?"
"Sure. Why not? I won't be doing anything else that day...."

mutter mumble...

and a large diet coke please

Went to see The Chronicles Of Narnia (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) and you know what? It was jolly good!


I now have a crush on a fawn

Note to self - must get out more....

Harry Potter, King Kong and a BIG tub of Pop-Corn

Do you think anyone will notice that I'm writing this a week late?
Yeah yeah Pewari, I know you will..... ;)

So, to avoid partaking in the hustling bustling pre xmas shopping rituals we went to the cinema a couple of times.

First off was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I marvel at each and every HP film for many reasons, one being, when I read the books I think, okay, I'd need to turn this into 3 or 4 films to pack it all in...yet I'm never disappointed that each book is turned into just one film. I'm not going to say anymore...just go see it! ok?

Second film - King Kong.
In 1933 the original King Kong was released. Women were reportedly fainting in the aisles as the mighty Kong shocked, horrified, thrilled and moved to tears movie goers of all ages.
72 years later the remake did much the same. OK, I didn't faint but I probably made up for that with the blubbing I did at the end of the 3hours + (bum numbingly 3 hours but worth it)
I did think of the tales I've heard of old time cinema when the audience would cheer, boo and applaud. I'm too young to know anything about that - and it's not often I get the chance to brag about my youngness (made up word)
The audience were silent throughout the scary bits, the dinosaurs, the sacrifice, the mighty monkey, but when the giant cockroaches and centipeeds appeared, boy did they scream and squeal!
The effects were maginificent but I loved the fact that inspite of the technology, it didn't take itself too seriously.
Example - when you are running down a ravine amidst a rampaging herd of dinosaurs I'd say the chances are you are going to get trampled upon at least once or twice....or maybe I've just been unlucky in the past?

The weather is miserable...go get the popcorn and see King Kong.