h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On Thursday I went in to the Uni to return - as requested - the key to Cubbyhole #4. It seems, even tho' I am a course co-ordinator, that my furure will take the form of hot-desking. In town I met a student and gave him post-exam fedback. I bought a 5CD Rick Wakeman 'bootlegs collection' live set, which turns out to be rather good in a cheeeeezeeee kinda way. In the evening, Susan and I grabbed a bite at Kilau, then we went to see the Corden NFT live relay at the Belmont, One Man, Two Guv'ners, which was absolutely brilliant; perfectly hilarious, spectacular comedy.

Yesterday, Friday, I tried, for pretty much all of the day, to get course material into shape and uploaded onto the electronic teaching blackboard - now MyAberdeen, formerly Blackboard, formerly Web CT. I didn't succeed with the uploading, but the course packaged are good. I will crack MyAberdeen though...

In the evening Susan and I went to Union Square (which I warm to) and ate at Wagamama. Susan liked it. We drove through a cold dark rail-lashed Aiberdeen to The Belmont, where we watched the new Tinker Tailor, which is quite splendid, though may prove problematic to those who have not read the book or seen the Guinness or heard the Russell Beale or, preferably, all three. It is a complex story - four-plus hours worth, collapsed down into 127 minutes. It flits backwards and forward in time. It beautifully recreates 1970's Britain. The cast is first rate. Oldman is excellent and Cumberbatch's fans can have no cavil. Recommended. Strong, meaty, juicy adult cinema.


Drugless

Can't wait!

Of course, Annie will have seen the film last night, and will doubtless publish her opinion.

I look forward to my second and third viewings.

Some hight points (CRYPYIC SPOILERS):

(SPOILERS)



The Guillam 'reveal'.

The staff wintermas party, the music, the 'all join in' song.

The Circus building.

How Toby was persuaded. The filming of the landing. I would have run away. No, correct that - I would have waddled...

How Prideaux was brought down. Also the bit with the chimney in the school.

The events in Istanbul that prompted Ricky's assessment "I couldn't have done it better myself..."

The pretty Russian girl's fate.

The nursing mother.

Boris' night-time entertainments.

Mole bows out.

Ann and Karla's magnetic screen presences.

Three men in a car, not to mention a bee.

The whole 70s ambience.


Ms Sachs was a bit of a let-down, though, but her Romeo and Juliet were ver' cute.

The guy who played Lacon was also in Jane Eyre (the head of the school Jane was packed off to), which we saw last week. He looks a bit like Polanski.


I took Susan to see the new library an hour or so ago. She didn't find it too shabby at all. Note, however, that two of the panes of glass are already cracked, and the library being a PFI, will doubtless cost £10,000 each to replace. Some snagging work is required.


Druggy

The other high point, and I cannot believe that I forgot it, was the frankly quite remarkable George Formby cameo, and the implication it bore in re. Soldier.

There was another cameo in the film, but I didn't spot it until the credits. OK, so he was in it, but I didn't see him. I wonder if he was the guy in the red coat leading the singalong?

I want to go and see it again. Soon. Maybe I should hunt up a Caius.


Drug

Is this a legal abbreviation I am not aware of?

'in re' is correct Latin for "in the matter", it is not an abbreviation, re is the ablative singular of res.

Therefore no need for a stop after re.

My knowledge of Classical Latin has proved to be a false friend when it comes to legal Latin on at least one previous occasion, however.

I was simply using it as an abbreviation of in respect of, but I do know of its use in Scots law, and cannot remember how it gets punctuated. Res to the Scots lawyer are things, as in res merae facultatis, res ipsa loquitur, res nullius &c &c. I got C-streamed at 11-Plus, and was channeled into Woodwork rather than Latin, which is why I cannot recognise ablative singulars - I'm not even too sound on the verb/noun distinction. I do, however, write perfectly serviceable wooden prose.

Anyhow, lamb for tea, and a bottlie garnacha. I can't think what to watch.


Droog

I did indeed see it at the Cambridge Film Festival premiere. Tomas Alfredson (director), Peter Straughan (writer), Gary Oldman and John Hurt were all present for the Q&A after the screening, and as I was sitting on the very back row, behind the gangway, had to walk past me to get to the front of the auditorium - wow!

Will report on it later, as I'm about to go out and experience the guided busway to St Ives for the first time. Some of our Sunday lunch mates have moved there, and we're going to see their new place and try a pub in St Ives for lunch. That's St Ives, Cambridgeshire, not St Ives, Cornwall, in case you were wondering ...