Update

Okay thought I'd better give a quick update as I haven't got round to blogging again recently. I had meant to do a post with reviews of the films I've seen since the last filmic post, but to be honest I can't be bothered - I'll just say that I've seen State of Play, X Men Origins: Wolverine, Coraline and Star Trek and they were all pretty good. Star Trek was at the IMAX at Waterloo, which I'm not sure was an improvement - probably not, although it's not going to stop me going to see Harry Potter at the IMAX as it has bits in 3D apparently (sadly probably not Severus Snape though). Coraline was in 3D, although I'm sure that wasn't improved for being so, it could have used the 3D far more effectively and sadly, the Jonas Brothers concert film that was shown as a trailer was excellent and showed just how good it could have been.

Anyway, as you'll see from the counter it's now only 31 days until the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and of course I'm getting mega-excited. I've stopped watching all the trailers etc. as I'm fed up of seeing bits of the film and WB have released so much footage now that I feel like I've already seen it. D Day is Wednesday 15th July and I expect to be at one of the first showings of the day - sadly no midnight showing at any of the cinemas near me, as there apparently are in the US, but I think the first showing is about 11am.

Talking of Severus Snape, WB have just released this and I’ve decided that I NEED it. No don’t ask where I’m going to put it ‘cos I have no idea, although I’m happy sharing my bedroom with both Alan Rickman and Severus Snape ;) I don’t care how impractical a 6’ 2” standee is ... I want it!

So to other news. Went to Chelsea Flower Show as usual, but this year Lynnie Lou had the audacity to go away on holiday to Spain with her sister so instead Mrs H3 and I went. Had the usual cracking day and were very lucky to have excellent weather. We got hundreds of photos before the batteries went on my phone and her camera about half way round. Sadly, I didn't get to see James May, but we did see most of the other major TV personalities.

Mrs H3 and I spent Bank Holiday Monday at Hall Place in Bexley where we joined King Henry VIII and his court in watching jousting etc. It was fun and once again we were lucky with the weather. In fact I actually got sunburnt. However, I’m not sure they were expecting the turnout they got as the food court contained only a burger bar, a jerk chicken stand (wtf?) a donut stall and an ice cream van. Queues for all were horrendous and we ended up leaving and driving the ten minutes down the road to Bluewater to grab something from Burger King instead. Anyway, photos to follow when we get round to uploading them, which will be after Mrs H3 returns from her highly exciting holiday in Skiathos.

Coming up next Saturday is the London Ukulele Festival. Having finally got my beautiful lilac sporano ukulele, I signed up to take part in the World Record attempt for the most ukulele's played in one place at the same time, assuming that we go. All well and good, but firstly I have to play (and I believe, sing) The Sloop John B - a tune that I haven't played since I was 12 and gave up guitar lessons. Not only have I had to relearn the chords (and believe me my fingers are feeling the burn) I've had to learn how to tune my ukulele as this warm weather is knocking it out of tune almost every time I play. Fortunately I've found a great online tuner - I have no idea what I'll do at the festival itself though. Hopefully one of the many hundreds of other ukulele players will be able to help me. Secondly, I'm supposed to be raising sponsorship money as it's an event for Cancer Research, but as I’m still not 100% sure that we’re going I feel a bit bad asking people to sponsor me for something I might not end up doing. If anyone’s interested in sponsoring me if I do go, please leave me a message or e-mail me to let me know.

Skype. Since changing to my new computer I’d completely forgotten about Skype, mainly because it turns out that my phone is not compatible with the new software. The old Skype software, plus the new phone software has now been installed and Skype is once again a great place to chat!

It's My Blog's Birthday!

I’ve just realised that I’ve been doing this blog for two years now so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my blog which I started on the 15th May 2006! Wow two whole years of aimless rambling – doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!

Disappointingly I’ve just lived through a whole week without any live music; I’ve not seen a show, been to the cinema or done anything even vaguely of interest. Of course there are things on the horizon – in fact the future looks pretty good, but my present is most definitely boring.

The one bright spark has been the acquisition of the new(ish) Elbow album ‘Seldom Seen Kid’. I already had and enjoyed an earlier album ‘Cast of Thousands’ but hadn’t really taken much notice of them for a few years. With the possibility of seeing them with I Am Kloot in Cheshire next month I thought it was high time to catch up with their newer work. I had heard (and loved) the single ‘Grounds for Divorce’ but hadn’t expected to enjoy the album quite as much as I did. I think it is probably a completely ‘me’ album. With fantastic lyrics, lush storytelling over divine music, upbeat yet careworn, dreamy and enchanting, the album is a joy to listen to and gets better with repeated listenings and I can safely say is one of the best albums (if not the best) that I’ve heard this year.

Not such a surprise I guess when Elbow are so closely linked to Kloot and have Richard Hawley doing guest vocals on a track. Perhaps it was obvious that I was going to love it.

Music will be playing a big part in my future as we’re still going to see Duran Duran on 3rd July at the O2 arena and now that Pete’s been released from jail it looks like his concert at the Royal Albert Hall has been rescheduled for the 12th (according to the NME anyway). I’m really interested in the Mighty Boosh Festival on the 5th at the Hop Farm as Gary Numan has announced he’ll be playing there and I love the Mighty Boosh; whilst Mrs H3 has shown interest in the Zoo8 festival at Port Lymphe mainly due to Chas & Dave’s appearance I think, who are unfortunately on the same date. I'm also extremely tempted by Jools Holland's upcoming concert at Rochester Castle on the 17th as Marc Almond is playing with him. All I need now is to win the lottery and I can go to all of them and the Latitude Festival that same weekend which IAK have just confirmed that they are playing (with Elbow).

But it doesn’t stop there. Next week sees the opening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Although the critics haven’t been very kind to the film I’m sure it’ll be just as entertaining as the other three so I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’m not sure when though, next Friday Mrs H3 and I are off to see ‘Potted Potter’ a 70 minute take on the Harry Potter series. Believe me when I say we’ll go and see just about anything if it looks interesting enough!

In my last post I mentioned Diesel Park West playing at Chatham Central Hall. Fortunately I didn’t get tickets for this as the following day Mrs H3 got us tickets for the premiere of ‘Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’ at the O2 arena. Not only did she get us tickets but she got us amazing tickets at the front, dead centre. Obviously this is going to be a fantastically star-studded event (after all it is the UK’s biggest film premiere and for charity – Great Ormond Street Hospital) and I understand that there is a dress code involved so look out for the two of us gracing the red carpet, no doubt trying to upstage any minor celebrities that may be there.

But before all this comes Chelsea Flower Show on Wednesday – the horticultural highlight of my and Lynne’s year and so far the weather forecast is looking good. The gardens … the flowers … the Pimms … ahhh the pleasure of a nice day and relaxing with the sounds of the brass band and an ice cream. Of course there will be the usual hundreds of photos uploaded somewhere on line after the event – my fabby purple new camera very kindly donated by Mrs H3 has a card big enough to hold almost 3,500 pictures – more than even I’ll need for the day!