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Blog · January 26, 2014

You dance an iPad dance class

You dance an iPad dance class

One of the things I miss most about running is playing about with Zombies Run. Making exercise fun is a key thing for me, and the game aspect of it helped keep my going when otherwise I would probably have stopped early. I've been keeping an eye on apps and things that made moving about fun, and spotted the new Zumba Dance app. Now, I've never done Zumba - my …

Blog · January 20, 2014

I feel the need

I feel the need

I wrote about our difficult initiation with the Playstation 4, but once it finally started working, there is no question that it's a great bit of kit. We've played a couple of games and been pretty impressed with what we've seen, but most of our attention has been on Need for Speed Rivals. I am the first to admit that my virtual driving skills are practically non-existent, and racing games …

Blog · January 17, 2014

Sherlock Series 3 - Marriage is all about compromise

Sherlock Series 3 - Marriage is all about compromise

For the previous two series of Sherlock, I have written a dedicated post for each episode, celebrating the highs and lows of each series as it progressed. This year, I didn't feel the need to do that, as my thoughts tend to cover the third series as a whole. That seems like a good place to start, the whole series didn't seem to generate as much excitement within me as …

Blog · January 14, 2014

Ten pin bundling

Ten pin bundling

I always like to look at the iTunes Film Bundles section, to see what they've got on offer. They do a lot of franchise bundles - Back to the Future, Harry Potter, etc. - but this past week I noticed they were doing a set of genre collections instead. The brilliance of these bundles is that they are around the £40 mark, for ten films. And not ten rubbishy films, …

Film · January 13, 2014

Rush

Blog · January 11, 2014

Some of my best adventures

Some of my best adventures

So much love for this. I often forget to check xkcd but every time I do, there's always something that resonates.

Blog · January 9, 2014

The Playstation 4 - A rocky start

The Playstation 4 - A rocky start

Console gaming is a slow moving beast, particularly when compared with the fast moving online and app world. But after twenty years in the business, and with a desperate need to distinguish themselves from Microsoft's offerings, Sony should know better, try harder, get the digital side working seamlessly. Santa brought us an incredible gift this Christmas, in the shape of a Playstation 4. It's been well documented that we don't …

Blog · January 2, 2014

Mr C's top five films of 2013

Mr C's top five films of 2013

Just as with the top five songs of the year, Mr C also likes to pass judgement on the movies we have watched over the past twelve months as well. This is a slightly more tricky selection to explain, as we live constantly about four months behind cinema release dates due to the rental window. So, it's not quite "top five films released in 2013" and it's not really "top …

Blog · December 31, 2013

The year of changing tastes - Life List review 2013

The year of changing tastes - Life List review 2013

It's the last day of the year, and this is the time when people start making New Year's Resolutions. I don't tend to do that anymore, instead working from a broader Life List instead. When I set about thinking of this annual round-up, I felt a little disappointed about how much (or how little) I've achieved this year. Looking back can be useful though, as I hadn't quite realised I'd …

Blog · December 30, 2013

Mr C's top five songs from 2013

Mr C's top five songs from 2013

This is the time of year where I hand over the keys of my blog to Mr C, or at least give him a paragraph or two of space, to share the things he's been loving this year. There are two categories - films and music - and we'll be starting with the latter. Here's Mr C's top five songs from 2013, and I will tell you now, it's been …

Blog · December 30, 2013

Why is Top of the Pops only good enough for once a year?

Why is Top of the Pops only good enough for once a year?

This year, I was quite excited to see the Top of the Pops Christmas special, because it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't seen much, if any, of the TOTP brand through the year. I used to watch the 1970s editions that were showing on BBC Four but soon bored of that. I remember last year, there was a festive edition on both Christmas Day and New Year's, and …

Film · December 29, 2013

Red 2

Blog · December 26, 2013

The day after Christmas

The day after Christmas

I used to be a total Grinch about Christmas. The entire concept offended me and I wanted nothing to do with it. I'd link to the many posts I wrote about boycotting the festive season, but really, I'm over it. I've mellowed in my old age. In reality, I've realised that my issue with Christmas is the same as the issue I have with most things - the pressure from …

Blog · December 26, 2013

Doctor Who, Christmas special - The Time of the Doctor

Doctor Who, Christmas special - The Time of the Doctor

This Christmas special found itself with a really difficult task to accomplish. Following the almost-perfect anniversary special was always going to be difficult, but it also had to steer clear of the normal festive schmultz to head rapidly towards a regeneration. It was still a heartwarming piece in places, the children of the town called Christmas, the Doctor's dedication to staying in spite of himself, and Clara's constant despair at …

Blog · December 21, 2013

Introducing Pocket F1 Handbook: Grand Prix Almanac 2013

Introducing Pocket F1 Handbook: Grand Prix Almanac 2013

Every Formula One season tells a story. A continuing saga, a sporting soap opera, it dates back to the inauguration of the World Championship in 1950 and even before that. At the same time, each and every year, the slate is wiped clean and both drivers and teams are given the chance to impress all over again. This book will guide you through the 2013 season, visiting each event in …

Blog · December 20, 2013

Tomb Raider 1 makes a comeback

Tomb Raider 1 makes a comeback

The chaps in charge of Tomb Raider these days, Square Enix, have in their infinite wisdom released the first installment of the game for iOS devices for just 69p. I was always more of a fan of Tomb Raider 2, but getting access to any of the early games has been tricky of late. Now, the game that made Lara Croft famous has been released for next to nothing and …

Blog · December 17, 2013

Super slo-mo at the touch of a button

Super slo-mo at the touch of a button

This weekend, we had chance to test out the slow-motion feature on my new iPhone. It's something we've been excited about (as there aren't that many major feature upgrades on the phone), but we needed some time and something fast moving to video. Step up some trusty alcohol. I love it. Although, I've realised that many of the videos I take tend to be slower things that need speeding up, …

Blog · December 14, 2013

The pressure is on

The pressure is on

At some point this year, I became absolutely obsessed with Cabin Pressure. If you're not aware of it, Cabin Pressure is a Radio 4 sitcom, penned by John Finnemore and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephanie Cole and Finnemore himself. It follows the plight of a small charter airline (although you can't put just one plane in a line) and it is brilliant. I don't remember where I heard of it, but …

Blog · December 11, 2013

Puzzle me this

Puzzle me this

At the beginning of this year, I wrote about my ambitions to complete a puzzle book. Not a grand aim, I'll grant you, and not one I thought it would take me almost twelve months to get back to. I have, on occasion, sat down to write an update about my adventures through puzzle land, but as it turns out, writing about puzzles isn't as entertaining as I thought it …

Blog · December 8, 2013

Five parts awesome, one part terrifying

Five parts awesome, one part terrifying

When I first starting putting together my Life List, I pondered adding "See a Backstreet Boys concert" to it. I added it, then I took it off again, then added it, then removed it, and repeated the process a few more times. In the end, I left it off. I wasn't totally convinced I wanted to see the band with just four members anyway, and besides, going to gigs isn't …