That week Dirk uploaded five buffet episodes because no one was keeping an eye on him

Hello

I hope your all well, I have RSI, so this is being typed with one hand. (You're choice to believe that previo7s statement is totally your own).

1ST FACT OF THIS BLOG POST: People who smoke E-cigarettes also smoke other people's real cigarettes for free.

The RSI is in my right hand, total bummer, so I'm doing everything with my left. I simply have to take timer off when playing Solitaire.

I have been up to many things since blogging last (2012) and am planning to do more things; but if I tell you them now and never go through with them, then this segment will be filled with lies and that's not cool. So, for now I will stick to just writing about what I've done. I've been abroad to a few countries this year: Switzerland, the Netherlands, Orkney. This has been fun, here, have some visual highlights to share on your instagram and snapchats:



Niki and I in Switzerland



Hayden drinking my Heineken in Amsterdam

5* Dune Tour in Orkney

The trip to Orkney could also be called a Crusade of the Heavy Metal Buffet, or Conquest with friends Ten Tonne Dozer, Chrst Alive and Beef Cleaver. The Heavy Metal Buffet and the three bands headed south for a long weekend to put on gigs with local Orkney band, the cuties, called Hybrid Constellation. The reception we received in Orkney was amazing and inspiring, both as a band and as the Buffet, to continue promoting heavy metal both on the podcast and in gigs and cement a link with Orcadians and their metal bands to form a North Sea Network of Heavy Metal. Next up: Faroes - that would be awesome, just listen to Tyr.


Maddrim also collaborated with the HNC Music Course at Mareel from the University of the Highlands and Islands, along with the band Wind-Up Projectiles and a bit of the Heavy Metal Buffet. And we made this:

Ok, BBlogger is not letting me link in a youtube video

I hate you sometimes BBlogger

Here is the link instead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdm3S8tYY_k

And now I'm going to blog about The World's End for a considerable length of time for a considerable length of blog (as in, until my left hand gets pretty tired).

Gary King (Simon Pegg) photo courtesy of collider.com

So, I was very excited to see this film, although it took me a few weeks to get to the cinema to get to see it I managed to avoid all spoilers (save someone saying this cornetto gag was the best to date) and watched the trailer only twice. Although, I would say as a golden rule: never watch a trailer more than twice. The first time you watch a trailer, especially for a film you have been lusting for ever since you've seen pre production tweets coming from those involved in the writing process. Best example was accompanied by this photo:

photo courtesy of filmschoolrejects.com

So, yes, the pre production news builds the excitement and begins expectations, what really cements them is the trailer.

The first time you watch a trailer, more than digesting the contents within it to a great extent, I just get an overall feeling of what I'll expect from the film, second time you pay close attention to characters, potential developments, relationships and memorise the gags. You'll learn too much when  you watch it a third time.

BACK TO THE WORLD'S END

START SPOILERS AND THAT

Not going to lie. When I first watched the trailer I was sorely disappointed. Mainly because it looked like a mash up of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, a mash up in the sense they had forgotten about those to previous films they made, thought of two different great ideas:
-People desperately trying to get to a pub in a Armageddon style situation
-A small outside village/town where something sinister is going on.
Then, cause they'd forgotten, they'd already made them, they merged them into a film.

This was the first time I doubted their ingenious.

The film starts brilliantly, I try not to compare things (is what I say) but I do it all the time, it reminded me of the introduction to the second series of spaced. When he reintroduces the characters of the first series to Mr Scruff's Spandex Man and they all freeze in a way that makes you think your DVD is skipping apart from the fact Simon's (or Tim's) soothing voice is still LEADING YOU ON... into the first episode. So yes the start of The World's End was done fantastically, also to music used (magic roundabout) when Daisy Steiner is way to high to get interviewed.

(P.S from here on in this blog post it is now a later date, I'm typing with both hands. Lucky you.)

Actually, this review of mine is going to turn into a very long description so I'm going to bullet points a few of the key moments in the film for me.

•  The first fight with the blanks in the pub, holy shit the fighting is well choreographed in this film. It looks real, it's satisfying and it's still great fun to watch.
• The beaufitful moments of acting that shine through, like when Peter confides in the group at the pub about meeting his old bully, or when Gary tells Andy his Mam died.
• One key moment for me, that I did not like, was when Gary tells Sam to leave, drive for freedom, and she does, only returning at the end where she makes a passing comment about getting lost on the roads. I felt this was an example of the lacking for a strong female role within this film.
• Although not a key moment, the film perfectly captured the actions and ideas of a group of old friends who are caught in an outlandish situation, trying to survive, when at the same time, continiousluy drinking and becoming ever more inebriated. This was greatly portrayed by all the actors, particularly for me, by Nick Frost, who acts drunk better than any other I've seen. It also paved the way for their mistakes, giggles and emotion filled conversations when  you take into account their levels of intoxication. 
• Another, not quite moment, but many monets, was everytime we got to see one of their friends from another show...



END OF ALL THE SPOILERS

I have to move on. Because weeks have passed since I started writing this... and now it's BUFFET WEEK:

This weekend we will be hosting a two day rock festival in Shetland. I hope to see you there. BYE.

HMB visits SIBC

Back catologue of Buffet episodes:

https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-62-countdown-to-buffet
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-61-mars-is-back-from
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-60-oxjam
https://soundcloud.com/#heavymetalbuffet/buffet-59

Picture to word ratio is good in this post.

Heavy Metal Buffet episode 21


Usually I avoid making new years resolutions for myself. I really don't want to begin a new year with added tasks in hand, like to remember to brush my teeth twice a day - which always ends up in dissapointment. Three days. I once went three days with no teeth brushing in January, after making a resolution to brush my teeth twice daily. Manky #056.

But anyway, it's not a resolution, more of a "This should have happened by now and it's really going to require one sitting, a good idea and a jpeg image."

That's right I'm finally going to personalise the design of this blog.

I can't believe this blog will be about a year and a half old and I'm still using these books as a background. Look at them, not one of them even has a title, protentious books. No offence Blogger but it's pretty shit.

Also in the vein of improving the blog. I have been spell and grammer checking these days. I really have (to an extent). Although I still miss blatant mistakes, like when I leave myself blindingly obvious notes in caplocks to insert a picture or link in. Then just skip right over it in the last read through. Here's a screen shot example of one of these incidents from last time I blogged:

So, now you're all excited bout the video again let me actually post it here:

So that was Oxjam summed up in video format. From montages to interviews to a pretty long segment when I stood between the members of Ten Tonne Dozer trying to get a good picture of what the band are like during a gig: awesome.

You'll have notice Jamie's stoic performance (he's lead guitar) and has been described as:
"the eye of the hurricane as the rest of the band thrash around around him like a wild storm."

Ten Tonne Dozer are also often described as:
"The unstoppable force meets the unmovable object"
- Dave Kok going round Jamie's for some tea and a session and aussie football. JOKES. Jamie goes round Dave's for that.

Also talking of the Heavy Metal Buffet. The ever lovely Ivan Hawick took us out on a trip to a top secret location (Shetland) and we made another Heavy Metal Buffet picture introducing my to the team. Brally cold day it was.

So continuing on that topic, tonight is the night we decorate the house, watch Elf and have a take away; and hopefully Jamie and I will finish Heavy Metal Buffet episode 22. Without having to get as drunk as we did during 21. So it's time to go and get that ready cause I've already missed Elf on channel 4, I'm hoping four has one of those pluse one channels and I can catch it in 18 minutes. Before that I've got to clean the house and wake Ashlea and decorate, I bet your glad you got to read all of that.


Well, I will probably blog again between now and 2013. I really should considering last year I wrote 13 posts in four months. This year I'm sitting pretty (shitly) at nine and currently wondering how many t's I should have used back there in those brackets.


For now have a Merry Christmas however you celebrate it, or not, whatever the case: MERRY CHRISTMAS.

http://tfwiki.net

And on a last note: Leave Bugarach alone. There's not enough room for you in that village or the spacecraft.

BBC story: Mayor of Bugarach fears large influx for 'end of the world'

Mareel, Skyfall and a bit of Heavy Metal

Hello

Before I start writing about the main reason I've started writing the post today I just want to share some news. Exciting news.

I've written on here before about the Heavy Metal Buffet, but incase I gave no context as to what it is, or you've never read it, skimmed over it, forgotten it, didn't give a damn, let me shove it right into your face for another helping of some more smorgasbord (thanks wiki).

The Heavy Metal Buffet was established by my brother Dirk and friend Jamie, back, well roughly 21 weeks ago. It is a celebration of all things metal with an emphasis on local (Shetland) bands and musicians as well as advertising local gigs.

On October 20th, this year, Shetland had it's first ever Oxjam Takeover coordinated by Ashlea Tulloch. The day consisted of four gigs around town with dozens of artists, one wristbadn could get you into all four and all money raised goes straight to Oxfam. Dirk, Jamie and myself (as a newly joined member) presented a 7 hour metal gig in Da Wheel Bar. It was as follows:

(INSERT YOUTUBE OXJAM AT DA WHEEL BAR HERE)

That's not even the exciting news.

As the Heavy Metal Buffet we had the honour and privelage to interview none other than the Anthrax bassist Mr Frank Bello. Thank you so much to Frank for giving us the time during your Worship Music tour of Britain to chat to us over Skype, and thank you to Andy for getting us into contact.

Blabbermouth link to the Heavy Metal Buffet

To be honest I was really nervous about interviewing Frank, and none of us wanted to ask any questions he gets thrown at him all the time. So we tried our best to come up with some interesting questions (again thanks to Andy for giving us the heads up about the birthday lap dance for Rob. If you're interested to learn more of this dance listen to our interview with Frank on the Buffet linked below, and why not listen to the buffet before and after)

http://soundcloud.com/heavymetalbuffet/heavy-metal-buffet-episode-20

Frank Bello and myself at Doonlod 2012

Thank you Frank and thank you Andy and also thank you Anthrax for Worship Music.
2011 was an amazing year for Metal, some awesome albums. Thank you 2011.

Enough of that.

Recently Claire, myself, Jamie and Peter started up a band: Beef Cleaver. We played at Oxjam and a gig up in the Mid Brae Inn (this time with Dwayne on drums)
We just recorded our first original song, it's on't Buffet or you can have a listen here:

Black Island - Beef Cleaver

So to the title of this blog.

Was going to write this blog post on Sunday night as soon as I'd come out of Skyfall because I was on a just seen an awesome Bond film high. Then almost a week went past and I realised how time escapes me. #willalwaysbejealousofbernard

I love the Bond films, watched them since I can't remember, but Roger Moore is my favourite.

http://www.thedailytouch.com/

I was a bit nervous about Skyfall, I suppose if there's anything you've invested your time, money and part of your soul (but not a horcrux) into you want it to be good.

It was awesome.

SPOILERS:

I suppose for me I feel the film had two main points to get across:
1) The world of espionage is not over, infact it is more important than ever.

2) Bond, this Bond, is growing from the character in the books into the suave Bond we know from earlier films. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing that Daniel Craig took Bond's character to the darker addict Flemming wrote him as, I think it was an interesting take and took Bond closer to reality after that invisible car. What I like is that through Casino Royale, Quantam of Solace and now Skyfall Bond has been broken down emotionally and physically (several times) and lost the person closest to him (I suppose twice) and was forced to evolve into, what I believe is a Bond akin to Connery's and he will be fully emerged as this incarnation in the fourth Craig film (there better be a fourth).

Highlights for me included the nods to previous films; Q's quip about "exploding pens" (Goldeneye, Boris was vincible after all) and the return of the beloved Aston Martin with the features of that from Goldfinger.

Also Moneypenny. What a way to reintroduce her, I don't know about you but I figured it was her as soon as we met her in the new headquarters. However I don't think that matters at all, I just liked that Moneypenny has proven herself as a knowledable member of the team who has worked in the field.

Also, it wasn't just the film that made me enjoy my trip to see Bond so much, niether the advert beforehand featuring every Bond ever in a car chase, or the face that Ashlea, Jamie and myself all went to the cinema in our pyjamas with a massive blankie. It was just being in Mareel itself.

I love Mareel. It's welcoming and comfortable. It's like going to a friends house, a really clean house, but not in that way it makes you feel guilty about the state of your own home. I always look forward to going there, the cinema is so comfy and the cafe is amazing, I could stay there all day everyday, anyone could.

Just ask Rodrigo.

Kom binnen

'Kom binnen' that means 'welcome' in Dutch, or 'come inside' I forget which, maybe even both, I'd really like to learn the Dutch for 'come outside'

Photo courtesy of BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/come-outside

 

Why this amazingly bilingual introduction?

I'll tell you. I've been trying to learn Dutch. My Mam is Dutch, hence the 'Marjolein' name, and I've never been fluent in Dutch. Not remotely - stereotypical Brit. So I'm trying to learn some now, this late in life.. it's not going too badly, thanks to this beauty of a website:

http://www.memrise.com/home/

I've even learnt how to read "There is no fish" in Japanese.
Procrastination.

So far I've just been learning singular words, which is fine, especially with their helpful mnemonics to remember words, these are submitted by other users of the site. A community they call it. I used to ignore these tips till I found they really helped. One of my favourite examples being for the Dutch word for dissapointment 'teleurstellen' the tip being: If you tell your Stella (Artois Beer) a joke, you will be dissapointed by the bottle's reaction) since then I have never forgotten teleurstellen. Magic.

Also I greatly enjoy these mnemonics, as they are contributed by the users, pretty much annonymous beings of the site, it allows for hilarious results. The more hilarious the tip, the easier it is to then memorise the word, taking it up a notch, this also applies to innuendoes, the more double meaning the mnemonic has, the quicker I learn the translation. I've come to notice that almost all  all the tips written by the ever helpful 'edcooke'

 

 















I don't even know who Marquis de Zaad is, I don't know if I want to know, but I always remember now that seed in Dutch is 'het zaad'. Although I have no idea whether these are double entendres in Dutch as well. Drawer.


Asides from learning, I've also been filming, this week for Heavy Metal Buffet. Since I've been taken on as 'video director' I haven't produced anything... until now. Last Wednesday, Emma-Louise let us in her cupcake shop to film and eat cup cakes. Great fun was had by all.

As Emma-Louise described it: "Something a little bit different that happened in the coffee shop!"

Thank you Emma-Louise for your patience, kindness and cupcakes. If you haven't been yet then go! The cupcakes are so good, Orkney Fudge is perhaps my favourite. If you're on Facebook search 'Emma-Louise Cupcakes' and give their page a like, you'll get updates on what is literally cooking.

Here's Heavy Metal Buffet's first scripted film:

 Url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqV2mkOmFZ4





If you want some more Buffet goodness, (the podcast kind) click on the following link to listen to the latest episode, it incldes an unreleased version of Ten Tonne Dozer's 'Roo Shooter' check it oot:
http://soundcloud.com/heavymetalbuffet/heavy-metal-buffet-episode-14

 Also, as I've missed a couple of HMB episodes since I last blogged here, so have a gander at 13 as well. (Because I don't think I even feature in 14):

http://soundcloud.com/heavymetalbuffet/heavy-metal-buffet-episode-13


Right, I've got to love you and leave you lovers,

Got an Oxjam meeting, make sure you get your tickets for the 20th! We're playing with Beef Cleaver in the Wheel Bar, at Heavy Metal Buffet presents Oxjam at the Wheel.

And for my last link, if you want to hear our new band Beef Cleaver click the link, this is our cover of System Of A Down's ATWA.

http://soundcloud.com/ronalddrivesatractor/beef-cleaver-atwa

Cheerio. x



LATER NOTE:

Marquis de SADE - got you know.