Little BIG Planet

This has got to be the Mighty Boosh of gaming. Little BIG Planet on PS3 may be a simple platformer but it's great fun for co-op playing. So far we're about 70% through the story mode collecting all the materials, stickers and items which will help us create our own game levels to share on the network.

The character design is very cute as you can see with your very own SackBoy or SackGirl being able to customise their own clothing, headgear, wigs, tails(?) etc. The controls are quite simple though in places they can get slightly frustrating but the home-made style graphics and infectious music make up for it.

Mighty Boosh Live in Brighton

After seeing the preview show back in August, I hadn't set my expectations high for the actual paid for show in Brighton. Although we bought our tickets way back last year in November I thought we'd be a lot nearer the front especially being a member of the Modwolves fan club and being a day earlier than the general public were allowed to buy theirs. Unfortunately, this was not the case as we were to the far left with about 200 seats getting a better view. Another gripe was the early start and no chance to buy drinks - damn that Brighton Centre for running a tight(arsed) ship.

There were quite a few changes for the better with many of the fragmented scenes re-ordered including the Honey Monster (I won't say when and how in case you haven't seen it). I think the Boosh management have been listening to their public (they may have even read my blog but I may be getting cocky now) as they included Series 3 character favourite, Crack Fox. Rolled on in a huge wheelie bin surrounded in bin bags, he reminded me of a really skanky, evil Kermit the frog playing his plastic guitar.

The show followed it's normal format introducing the characters with their own long-running jokes. Some good banter again from Vince teasing Howard with his slow comebacks which were Indian food based for some reason. Vince managed to gain an entertaining heckler going on about Bovril. Bob Fossil's appearance involved some audience participation with dancing which worked for the Brighton crowd. His Lithuanian taxi driver stint was thankfully cut shorter than the preview but still didn't work though would say it helped the rest of the cast have time for costume change.

Tony Harrison was wheeled on in his armchair costume though the main joke was him dealing with how uncomfortable it was. Having seen the preview this felt a little put on but to the rest of the audience was hilarious.

Before the end of the first half, the Hitcher appeared doing an audience wander checking out any fan costumes and finished with the Eels song. The budget stretched to an enormous inflatable eel which the Hitcher was able to mount and bounce up and down on.

The second half was still the end of the world play with Howard and Vince blackmailing him with his jazz mag photos. At the preview, this part of the show was the weakest but with their lines well remembered and the quality of the props and songs they pulled it off well.

The end of the show was a medley of Crimping with all their best songs. I couldn't believe how good Jimmy Lazers (Bollo) sung - he so could have been a soul singer.

Overall, even though we'd heard and seen the jokes before, it was still funny and very polished.

Dead in the night

It so nearly didn’t happen and by mid afternoon Saturday we even debated to cancel the party. All through the working week we were struggling to muster up enough energy to do any preparation and even missed out on the annual chaos that is Lewes Bonfire Night thanks to that crappy flu like cold.

Luckily, we’d booked Friday off for the back-breaking work to clear all the remaining hardcore, old plaster and concrete fireplace taking it to the dump. Kerry was still too ill to help so I dosed up with everything we had to scrub the back yard clean.

Saturday was more work with the dining room (soon to be dance) floor to be have the laminate finished and skirting boards fitted. The weather started to misbehave and with 60mph winds expected we ditched the pop-up marquee for the tarpaulin. A few breakages and scratches along the way whilst moving furniture and decorating put us on a downer but the fakes cobwebs, skeletons etc. made the place look excellent.

Trev and Pom rolled up early with the red carpet which stopped our precious laminate getting trashed. No time to rest as I still had to sort the BBQ, get washed, dressed and put on the make-up. Can’t say I was pleased with the face make-up but happy with the suit and Crazy 88 gang mask (from Kill Bill). Everyone else’s efforts were amazing turning the place into a freakshow. Only Steve looked normal bringing his Cereal Killer accessory. Special mentions to Sue for the creepiest face make-up, Chris for his forehead horns, Sarah for painting herself blue (was she the Smurfit bride?), James for his creepy Silas monk look complete with cilice made from a pound shop studded strap and Gavin who came as Neptune complete with God/Father Christmas beard.

Still, no time to truly appreciate the fancy dress as I was organising the food in the persisting rain. Luckily, no vegetarians were hungry or present at the time so everyone was fed before the rain and wind got too much. Couldn’t get the disposable BBQ to light so the veggies had to resort to grilled food. Even the fireworks nearly didn't happen with Trev braving the wetness for some brief banging moments. The rest of the explosives were stock-piled for Pom's birthday meal next week.

Paul did a fantastic job at DJing and we swapped in time before he felt too rough to continue. My own set didn't happen the way I wanted as the Virtual Vinyl amp let me down and almost refused to work until an hour later - it was a Final Scratch headache all over again. I had to resort to old vinyl then play mp3's from one channel until multiple shutdowns and disconnections later. The Video DJing didn't quite go to plan either with only a few late set moments for some cool visuals.

By about 3:30am the stress of all and Kerry's health was almost too much so with some embarrassment and regret we turned the main music off. We kept it going with an Ipod and some random conversations leaving the die-hards on the sofa at 6:30am for the comfort of our bed. I wouldn't say we slept and at 10am Trev was banging on the front door after kipping in his campervan.

Sunday was just cleaning and moving back the furniture. I think either ourselves or mates over estimated on the booze as we've collected a nice haul of vodka for Xmas. We've also gained a witch's hat, Neptune's trident, a lot of boa feathers, some fake blood and another 'line of age' under my left eye. It took another day's motivation and recovery to clear up the rest in between sitting down and watching rubbish daytime TV.

Run DMC with Wii Music

Quantum of Illness

Cleaning the house with a head cold isn't at all fun obviously but that's exactly what had to be done for our visitors, Neil and Nikki before their Oz migration. It was Tuesday that hit me the worst having to take the day off work but even then I couldn't totally rest with more tidying and food shopping to do.

Kerry spoiled us with cinema tickets to see Quantum of Solace at the Duke of Yorks. They offer some cosy double settees for a little extra. Shame the audio was so naff sounding like a loud TV through the neighbours wall, plus the heating was unbearable.

The film itself needed close attention to follow what was going on, doubly so with the sound levels so low. Some of the action sequences were great but they tried too hard. This Guardian article seems to sum up what's wrong with action film editing. The critics were correct to say there was very little humour as it turned out to be a dark film, still gripping (if you were paying attention) but after Casino Royale, it's set itself up to be a million miles away from the corny one-liners of pre-Daniel Craig. Unfortunately like Casino Royale, Sony got to plug their mobilephones far too much. Still, with the excellent cast, some clever scenes (the Tosca opera one in particular) and short running time (around 90 minutes), it was a good film and deserves a second look just to fill in the plot line gaps you'd miss along the way.

Moaner

Last Saturday was yet another Underworld gig but had plenty of promise. Brixton Academy always delivers a good vibe plus we were meeting up with new mates, Candide, Gavin and Jackie from St. Albans which we'd met from Wireless.

Kerry was in London anyway having her haircut by long-time trimmer, Tony who had earlier that day had been released from an over-night stay at the police cells for GBH not GHB. Apparently so extra pervy gay guy stuck his hand down Tony's pants then after a Tony telling off, the guy cracked him over the head with a bottle. Somehow Tony recovered and beat the crap out of him. If it wasn't for the CCTV proof Tony could have been charged.

With Kev and Karol bedridden with flu, we prepare for the night around Steve and Sam's who have just got over the hideous same illness. I could almost feel the germs attacking me or it might have been having to watch X-Factor again thanks to Jake. After small cock-up with the pizza delivery, we went to the Ivan's Retreat to meet the other Underworld ravers minus Sam who didn't feel well enough, bless. The outbreak of flu must have cost a few quid as a lot of tickets were being offered and refused even though it was sold out.

Rob Da Bank was DJing when we went in and although the tunes were good he wasn't mixing or bothered about the order. Thank god Underworld came on stage on time for a 2 hour set which was being recorded for double CD. Like their Brighton gig they experimented with a wide selection of songs and never quite rocked it large until the end. Born Slippy went down a storm, as always, and would have, dare I say it, bored me, but like Wireless they brought out the giant balloons for the crowd to play with. The two encores were Dark Train, which was a treat, and Moaner.

We didn't hang around for long with so many 'to do's' for the next day to prepare for the Bonfire Night of the Living Dead party. Shame most of them didn't happen as what was thought to be past-clubbing achiness was in fact the beginnings of a cold. Damn those germ-infested mates (not German festive mates as work colleagues thought I said)!

Cut off me tenants
Sunday also had its lunchtime drama thanks to my nightmare tenants. I hadn't heard a single word from them in weeks since she decided to shred my Transco permission request letter. But at lunchtime, I was at the receiving end of a child-like tantrum as their electricity decided not to work. Luckily the electrician who'd installed the circuit breaker did me a favour to visit the house though before he arrived the electricity returned. At no point did the tenant apologise for having a go at me, slagging off Mark, who manages the house or hanging up on me twice. There was no mention of the boiler or Transco thing either. It left me thinking whether I can handle this type of stress of Mrs, Throw-all-my-toys-out-of-the-pram woman or convert the contract to fully managed just to save some sanity and get some rest.