The hateful wait

Well, that’s a bit of a concern – a vehicle has just driven around the estate blaring what sounded like an air-raid siren. Erm, are we at war now? I guess it could be some prankster having some “fun” at the expense of everyone’s anxiety, but I’m not sure. Perhaps I should read the news, which I’ve been actively avoiding for weeks.

Hmmm.

Anyway, I had that telephone chat with the counsellor at the surgery, which went well. It was more like an introductory session to what we’ll be doing overall, rather than jumping into deep existentialism. My mood has improved since I took part in their registration questionnaire, where my answers to the questions mostly scored ten-out-of-ten for negativity, so I think the antidepressants are finally starting to take a positive effect. I did stress “I think” over the phone, as these are rather surreal times we’re experiencing right now, so I’m not in my usual headspace. I’d like to think I’m getting better, but I’m keeping an open mind.

The pubs are still shut, unfortunately, so I’ve mostly been sat playing games or watching DVDs. It’s not a great shift from my usual routine of playing games and watching DVDs, but the motivation for not going out has shifted. That woman at my local pub finally got in touch about picking up some stuff from the supermarket for me, which is awesome. I’m still fine for food, but I asked today if she could pick me up some booze. I really feel like getting out of my head. She hasn’t responded yet, but she said she was going to the shops tomorrow. I might need to have a quick clean and tidy up before she arrives, as I haven’t done any housework in months. At least I’ve got an excuse not to at the moment – I’m on pay-as-you-go energy meters, so housework means a drain on my electricity, thus I’ll have to venture out to the shops sooner. I really don’t want to have to do that. I’m socially awkward and anxious enough as it is, and now there are all these new rules about how I’m supposed to act when I’m outside. I’m not sure how I’ll cope. I’ve got two weeks’ worth of medication left, so I’m hoping the craziness will have passed by then, or by the time I need energy meter top-ups. We shall see.

At least the takeaways are still delivering, so if I need the taste of fresh food (instead of tinned crap), I can just ring up one of them and order three days’ worth of junk. This isn’t panic buying, it’s just what I usually do when I order out.

I did start watching that Motown documentary, but I wasn’t in the right mood for it. I’ll circle back around to it eventually, but I’m still a bit off my music at the moment. I did finally watch Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, which is a wonderful movie. As always, I found things got a little dull once the guns started firing, but that’s just a testament to how riveting Mr Tarantino’s talking scenes are. I really liked the fact that he seemed to be channelling Martin Scorsese for his narration. He got the jittery inflections down perfectly. I wasn’t too fussed about Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance, for which she apparently won an Oscar, but she was solid as always. I do have a soft spot for her, even though she seems to have made a career out of mumbling for the past forty years. Not bad going.

I’ve just put a £90 Amazon order in for some more DVDs. You know – essential household items! I also added a disc cleaner to the basket, as my PS4 is struggling to load stuff. I had to switch over to my bedroom DVD/Blu-ray player halfway through The Hateful Eight, which meant a smaller television. I hope the cleaner sorts out the problem. I really don’t want to have to buy a whole new console. Sigh.

I’m still working my way through the Home Improvement boxset, which I’m still enjoying. They’ve noticeably reigned in Tim Allen’s ape-like grunting, which they kinda overdid in the first two seasons. I think I’m on the last disc of season three now. I’ll hopefully have King of the Hill arriving in the post soon, so I’ll start on that once Home Improvement becomes unwatchable. Most long-running sitcoms do after a while, usually around the fifth or sixth season.

I've fired up the motorbike stunt video game Trials Fusion, which I've had for years. It's both really fun and really infuriating. I guess all the best titles have that kind of variety in their gameplay. Here's me going crazy trying to get past one particularly annoying section:



I should give the follow-up game, Trials Rising, another go, but I found its lighting and colour pallet clashed with my eye condition, so I gave up after a few sessions. Shame really, but that does happen a lot. I'll have a think.

I rang my mum the other day, just to see how she was coping with all this in the news. Even though she lives alone, one of my two older brothers lives just around the corner from her. It sounds like she’s been able to get the booze in. At the end of our conversation I did say “I love you”, but she didn’t reciprocate. She has issues with intimacy, which is why I don’t get in touch very often. Think Leonard’s mother in The Big Bang Theory. She mentioned that my eldest brother did criticise her for dismissing him just as they were getting into a good conversation, which she does to me. She claims it’s an age thing, but old people aren’t generally known for having a problem talking for long periods of time. It’s something that obviously won’t change, so I won’t bother bringing it up. Still, it does create a distance between her and her loved ones.

Well, I best go find a film to finish the evening on. I did start on Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead on Saturday, so maybe I’ll crack on with that. I might move through to the bedroom to watch it, as it’s quite a soporific number.

I hope you are all managing to stay sane. Let me know if you ever fancy a chat, as I’m sure we’re all feeling a bit of cabin fever at the moment.

Regardless, do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

I’m very relieved today, as on Thursday I tragically broke the power lead to my laptop, and was even more concerned that, in doing so, damaged the input socket on the machine itself. Critical stuff! After the replacement lead refused plug in, I was all ready to give up, sigh deeply, and reluctantly order a new laptop altogether. I really couldn’t be bothered to seek out a computer doctor (especially without my laptop to do the necessary research) and, to be honest, Windows 10 is so slow that I’ve recently been thinking about going Mac for the first time in my life. So, with nothing really to lose, I risked doing some DIY. Please note: I am one of the least practical people on this planet. Anyway, I unscrewed the plastic base to the laptop so I could get closer to the input socket and had a poke about. I guessed correctly that the lead connector had actually broken off INSIDE the socket, so I spent about two hours trying to pry it out. What ended up working was the pointy end to a nail file that I managed to wedge into the jammed nib and simply pull it out. After that, the replacement lead fit fine and I now have FULL POWER! I was so relieved that I nearly did a little dance. Well, swap “nearly” for “definitely”. I felt useful for once! A broken laptop, a key link of mine to the outside world, was really the last thing I needed.

The change I’ve made since my DIY session has been to take the laptop off its stand, which is how I managed to break it in the first place. It’s very good at slipping off my coffee table with the slightest of nudges. Especially if I’m staggering around drunk with the lights off. But that’s another story.

Anyway…

I was rather distraught this week as, due to a bit of a cough that’s going around, the government has decided to shut all the pubs in the country. You can only imaging the look on my face when I heard THAT news. My local is my other key link to the outside world. I only go once or twice a week, but I soak up all the society (and booze) I need in that four hour session. The last day I was in was Thursday (which may have contributed to me knocking over my laptop), and it was a genuinely moving experience. It kinda felt like the world was going to end. I nearly cried, and really wanted to hug people as left. Later that night, I was going to post a short blog post about it all titled “Last night on Earth”, but I was worried people might mistake it as some sort of suicide threat. AND my laptop broke, of course. But I’m here telling you the story now! I hear the pubs will only be shut for two weeks (while the nation’s kids are off school), but who knows. I’ve been avoiding reading the news more so than usual, so I’ll just keep checking the pub’s Facebook page every day until I get the all clear to go back and make a public spectacle of myself again.

My supermarket’s refusing to deliver, so I’m surviving on all the tins and dried goods I bought for the snow this winter that never came. I was nervous about going out on Thursday in case I ran into some crazies panic buying around the local shops, but it was generally fine. I needed to pick up my brain meds anyway, so it wasn’t like I had much of a choice. A woman who works at my local pub has offered to run errands for me (since I’m disabled and live alone), but she’s not been in contact since I gave her my number. Who knows. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. It was very sweet of her to offer though. She’s a very cool person.

So, yeah, some ups and downs this week. I bought the Home Improvement sitcom boxset to keep my spirits up, which arrived surprisingly quick. It’s a show I’ve not seen in, like, twenty years, but it still stands up. It’s not laugh-out-loud funny, but there’s a really fun, easy-going spirit to it. All the actors feel like they’re having a blast making it, and that’s really helping me right now. It’s nice to see people enjoying their work.

I started playing Shadow of the Colossus this week. I did have it for the PS3, but I gave up after I realised it was a game filled mostly with boss fights. I’m not really a grind-for-hours-to-kill-the-big-boss kinda gamer. However, after mulling it over for a few years (and recently being able to download the game as part of my monthly PS+ subscription), I began to think that maybe climbing up giant stone monsters and hacking away at them for ages until they fall over might be some fun after all. And it is! I’ve killed two colossi so far, which has amazed even me. Once I figured out that I just needed to find the small shiny patch on the big dark thing, I was on my way to success! I’m sure the game will throw me some curveballs as I go along but, for now, this is good fun for while I get used to more solo gaming.

Speaking of which, if you find yourself stuck indoors with a PlayStation 4 and don’t have anyone to game with, just drop me a line and I’ll ping you my PSN username!

Good times.

I’ve also just downloaded Mortal Kombat XL, which is a type of game I just don’t have. I thought something different (and on sale), might further brighten my spirits. If you have any fighting tips, let me know!

Well, I think I’ve covered everything for now. I’ve got my first counselling session next week (that’s now having to be a phone consultation due to you-know-what), so I’ll let you know how that goes.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

P.S. Yes, I did have to look up what the plural was for “colossus”.

Mist over a mill pond

I’m feeling a strange stillness today. It’s like the universe is holding its breath, for some reason. I didn’t get up until three o’clock this afternoon, which is frustrating. I initially didn’t sleep very well, to the point where I had to ring up and rearrange an eye check at the hospital but, after a bacon sandwich, I managed to get more than my minimum eight hours sleep.

I had a nice gaming session last night with a different gaming buddy. They usually can only manage coming online once a week, but it was still nice to talk with someone. It cheered me up greatly. My other gaming buddy, the one I used to get together with nearly every day but has now changed consoles, said during a brief text message chat last night that they find it “weird” not playing with me anymore. I’m not sure what “weird” is supposed to mean, but I feel different too. We didn’t always get on that well, but having a friend in your life so consistently, then having them suddenly go, is quite a shock to the system. I’m not sure how much it has been affecting me. I don’t want to actually tell them that I miss them, as it might seem, well, too intense. I’m trying to be as casual as I can about it.

I have an appointment with my doctor in the morning, at which I’ll bring up the fact that my new antidepressants don’t seem to be improving my mood. Afterwards, I might go down to the pub. I’ll see how I feel. I hope I don’t have to rearrange this appointment too.

I’m currently watching The Sky Crawlers, a 2008 anime by the director of Ghost in the Shell. It has his signature mill pond calmness, which is very haunting. There are short bursts of adventure but, overall, it’s a very sombre affair. It’s not what I was expecting, for some reason (given that I’m familiar with the director’s work). I’m not exactly sure why I should care about what’s going on, as the film deals with an alternate history where humans have bloody air battles just for the hell of it. There’s no war, so society engages in these tournaments just to satisfy its innate bloodlust. Since there’s no real outcome from the war games, the whole thing feels passionless. The focus is more on atmosphere and building up a mystery. I’m admiring its stubborn pace, but it’s not helping my state of mind. I’ll try and get it finished by the end of the night though.

I’ve got a bowl of egg mayonnaise in the fridge that I made earlier. It’s very nice. I added some paprika this time, just as an experiment. I can’t taste much difference. I used four eggs. I also added some oregano, ground black pepper and olive oil, as well as the mayo, of course.

That person I gave my PSN ID out to in the pub the other week still hasn’t sent me a friend request. They mentioned, on a different day, that they will add me eventually, but I don’t know what’s taking them so long. Nobody’s that busy, surely. I’ll take the hint and stop waiting for it. Sigh.

I’m wondering whether to put an Amazon order in. There’s a few boxsets I fancy having in my collection. I’m not that bothered though. My passion for my hobbies is pretty low at the moment. I’m really just existing from day to day. I’m not sure how much longer I can last like this.

Perhaps the universe will take a deep breath soon. Who knows. Anyway, I shan’t keep you.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

Drink, drugs and death camps

Greetings from the eye of the storm! Yes, apparently we’re getting another one, this time called “Jorge”. It’s supposed to have started already, but so far it’s been very sunny today with only relatively minor winds. Maybe the storm will “heat up” tomorrow. Or later on today. I was thinking about getting a takeaway later, so I hope, for the sake of the delivery person, that it doesn’t. We’ve been forecast snow for most days this week, but it really hasn’t materialised. Maybe it has in brief showers, but restocking my kitchen cupboards like a crazy person really wasn’t necessary. Oh well.

So, how am I feeling? Pretty rubbish. I still haven’t noticed a great change with being on these new antidepressants for two months. I’m still struggling to get out of bed in the morning, I’m feeling anxious and hopeless most of the time, and I’m resorting to boozing just to feel stable. I know the latter is a big no-no, but it’s the only time I feel vaguely sane. I need to file a new prescription soon, so I may ask for a telephone consultation with the doctor and discuss going up yet another dose. We shall see. I did have a chat with the local mental health people over the phone. We went through one of those standard “rate how you feel” questionnaires, most of the answers to which I gave the highest rating of negativity. That’s never happened before. Usually I have to think about my answers and give sevens or eights. In this case, however, everything was a ten. Bad across the board. It was pretty grim. It’s been over a week since that conversation, but nobody’s been in touch. My feeling of isolation and dread worsens.

On the slightly plus side, my libido seems to have improved. I’ve started feeling naturally amorous at random points throughout the day, and haven’t struggled to reach orgasm. Actually, I’ve been getting so much precum whilst masturbating that it’s gotten annoying. Well, only in a technical respect. It means there’s just another thing to have to dry off. Still, my orgasms have been nicely intense, one being so much so that I overshot the towel between my legs. Not bad!

I actually managed to go to the pub on Thursday and not continue drinking once I got home, which is good. For me. I was pretty much over my hangover by yesterday afternoon. I need to do that every time, really. My best tactic is to plan an elaborate meal to cook for myself once I get home, which saps my energy. I can have a can or two while I’m cooking but, basically, the feast will send me to sleep so I don’t continue drinking indefinitely. It’s actually more fun that way. I think I stopped doing that a while back because I kept having incidents where I fell asleep while waiting for stuff to cook. Cue the smoke alarm. So, yeah, I just need to be a bit more careful, which is kinda tricky when you’re smashed.

At the very, very, very least, this behaviour gets me out of the flat and talking to people. Otherwise, I’ve got nothing.

On the hobby front, I’m still not playing guitar much. I had a little strum yesterday, but it was very uninspired. I’m mainly watching sitcoms and listing to Discworld audiobooks. I did watch the documentary Night Will Fall the other day, which follows the rediscovery and completion of the post-war government documentary German Concentration Camps Factual Survey. I have a vague interest in stories about lost artworks, so I decided to invest in the DVD. I was a bit dubious about a documentary-about-a-documentary, but it generally justified its existence. I think German Concentration Camps Factual Survey might be in the public domain, so free to watch online, but I’ve yet to catch it. It may not be. As you can imagine, it’s quite an emotional thing to experience. One should never be in the right mood to witness such horrors, but there is a middle ground somewhere. I’m sure I’ll get around to it this weekend.

I’ve been listening to the new album by La Roux this week, which has yet to grab my attention. It’s elevator music akin to the recent Arctic Monkeys album Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino. Is this a new genre: boring the crap out of people? Sheesh. And I thought I was the one supposed to be getting old and stale. I shall persevere though. Maybe it just takes a few listens. I’ll let you know.

I’ve been listening to the Astronomy Cast a lot this week. I’m ten years behind, so I’m sure a lot of the information is out of date now but, hey, that just means I’ll have lots of fun update episodes to listen to. The two hosts are so inspiring. Due to my deteriorating Retinitis Pigmentosa eye condition (and maths blindness, intellectually speaking), astronomy is something I’ve never been able to engage in, which has always upset me. However, hearing these two wonderful people getting excited about it and sharing their enthusiasm with the world is a constant joy. I can’t recommend it enough.

I’m still doing a lot of solo gaming at the moment, almost to the point where I’m tempted to cancel my PS+ subscription. I’m just not talking to anyone anymore. I’ll give it a few more weeks though. There’s only a few games I’ll have to purchase if I do end it. I still enjoy doing GTA Online races and, when I’m drunk and feeling brave, playing Rainbow Six: Siege multiplayer, but it may not be enough for the £7 a month. I’ll have a think.

I’ve still not watched that documentary on Motown, which I’ve had on Blu-ray for about a fortnight now. Since I’ve not been feeling particularly musical, I’ve just not felt inclined to sit down with it and press play. Maybe doing so will inspire me to start performing more music myself. I’ll see how I feel later on today.

My mum rang me yesterday. I’ve not spoken to her since, well, probably early last year. Or maybe longer. She’s well into her seventies now and has been recently having trouble with her memory. She said over the phone that she’s been diagnosed with Early Onset Memory Loss, but I’m wondering whether it’s Dementia and she just doesn’t want to admit it to people. She’s very sensitive about what people think. She did get something wrong about me during our chat, which was rather worrying. It wasn’t a major thing, but she recalled something that I just hadn’t done. I kept trying to tell her that she must be thinking of someone else, but she didn’t seem to understand. Bless. She’s always been a bit eccentric, so this is hardly a huge step but, still, it’s sad to hear someone you love deteriorating. I haven’t seen either (divorced) parent in person in a decade now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about them. I’m just worried about my depression affecting them, because it probably will.

Anyway, I think that’s all for now. This post has been a bit of a mixed bag. I’m not sure how far off a little positivity is. The horizon looks pretty bare.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

Playing the fool (in the game of life)

Well, well, well, here we are again. The weather is still rather horrid, with high winds and horizontal rain battering the building as I type. It doesn’t help one’s mood, I must say. Speaking of mood, that’s not been great this week either. My new medication is supposed to combat this, but I’ve been feeling rather rejected and hopeless since my trip to the pub on Wednesday. I know booze doesn’t help but, as you may have noticed from my ad hoc “An alien” post, I felt like I’d failed to connect with people yet again. I may go back to a more anonymous drinking establishment, who knows. I feel so much for people, despite my outward misanthropy, and yet I just can’t seem to express it. Or am too afraid to. Why? Maybe it’s my rather reserved upbringing. Or just my mental health issues. I did give my gaming handle to someone, in case they might want to add me as a friend. They haven’t. I guess they could be busy or blah blah blah, or maybe I should just take the hint. That guy I like ended up taking another bloke home with him from the pub. For a friendly hangout, I assume, but still… I wish that kind of thing would happen to me. That’s my simple dream – to sit and watch some bad movies with a friend and get drunk together. It seems such an impossible thing to achieve. Everyone but me are pairing off together. Sigh.

Anyway, my two medical appointments didn’t pan out this week. The first I rearranged because the weather was so bad, the second my doctor cancelled because he couldn’t get to work due to snow. I’m guessing he lives somewhere nice out in the country, as Sheffield seemed snow-free. I think it did try to snow one day, but it didn’t stick.

I ended up having to walk down to the pub the other day, as part of the route down there was closed off for some reason. My bus service seemed to be cancelled altogether. There was a simple way of going around the obstruction, but I don’t think they were even trying. Oh well, at least I got some exercise. I’d do that more, but the weather does tend to sap one’s enthusiasm. I think I may feel well enough now to start using my exercise bike again, so maybe I’ll start later on today, or do it tomorrow morning. We shall see.

I re-watched that Shock Treatment film on Tuesday, only this time with the audio commentary track by Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn on. What a delightful pair of old lushes! They’re SO catty! Listening to them rambling on is the most fun you can ever have. Patty Quinn is not quite on this planet, unless she was having a few glasses of wine as they chatted. She was just as bizarre during the mid-90s Rocky Horror commentary recording that she did with Dicky O’Brien. That one’s on the DVD. I’ve been listening to the Shock Treatment soundtrack all week. I highly recommend: “Denton USA”, “Bitchin’ in the Kitchen”, “Little Black Dress”, “Shock Treatment”, “Breaking Out” and “Anyhow, Anyhow”. “Breaking Out” is a great moment in the movie itself. I don’t know why, but the tight medium shot of Oscar Drill as he sings it is so powerful. I was totally rivetted the first time I saw it. I may have to add “Breaking Out” to my Good Songs playlist on Spotify. Here's that scene:



I haven’t watched much else new, as I’ve mostly been indulging in safe, familiar stuff. Hopefully I’ll be brave and branch out this week. I certainly have plenty of new stuff to be getting on with. I did start watching that Good Omens series, which I was really enjoying. I’ve just not gotten around to continuing it yet. I’ll add it to the list!

I’m wondering whether to treat myself to a takeaway tonight, but I feel so bad making delivery people come out in this weather. I almost talked myself into going out to the pub again today but, alas, this weather has put me off. It looks and sounds pretty brutal out there. Apparently the storm has been named: “Clara”. So now you know.

What else? Hmmm, I guess my sex-drive has been pretty low the past few weeks. Maybe that’s medication related. I’ve masturbated nearly every day, but I’ve kinda had to remind myself to do it. I tend to fire-up some porn, rather begrudgingly, in the hope that something will interest me. Mostly I’ve gotten there in the end, but it’s been a pretty mechanical process. I could do with some real passion in my life. A big fat cock to suck would be nice. Nom, nom, nom!

Oh, I just found out Green Day have a new album out, called Father of All Motherfuckers. I just listened to it about an hour ago. It was pretty forgettable, like Revolution Radio. Shame, as I’ve loved all their stuff from American Idiot to the Uno! Dos! Tre! trilogy. I guess you can’t keep going forever. They can’t need the money anymore, so I admire that they’re probably still working simply because they enjoy it. That’s a comforting thought.

I was quite proud that I managed to complete Downwell the other week. I’ve been playing it for years, but have only just managed to defeat the big boss. I almost didn’t finish that session actually, as it was just before I went out to the pub last Saturday. As I went through each level I was all like “Shall I keep going? I really need to leave the house!”, but I stuck with it and, miraculously , actually got to the end. I was so stunned. Here’s the video of my extraordinary victory:



Speaking of video games, my gaming buddy has said they’ll be offline indefinitely from now on, so I’m guessing that’s another friendship coming to a conclusion. I’m really stacking them up, aren’t I? Well, it’s not the most shocking turn of events ever. As I’ve said in the past – I’m used to having to move on. Maybe they’ll make a comeback someday, but I’ll gracefully accept their departure in the meantime.

Right, I best go experience life so I have more to write about. I hope you’re all staying dry, darlings.

Do stay in touch!

Toodles!

An alien

I guess I sort of know, but generally I don't get why I don't connect with people like other people do. I do legit feel like an alien sometimes. Like everybody's in on something that I'm not.

I just don't understand.

I want to befriend people, but everyone just seems freaked out with me. Like there's something wrong with me.

Is it because I'm too complicated? Is it because I'm disabled? Is it because I'm queer?

I feel utterly lost tonight.

Society simply doesn't want me.

Why? Tell me the secret.

Blown away

But not in a sexual fashion, unfortunately. Chance would be a fine thing. Anyway, yes, the weather is appalling here in the north of England. I was genuinely worried my windows were going to shatter from the sheer force of the gales last night. I’m not quite sure where this has all come from, as I thought the weather was supposed to be getting better. Nope! Time to stock up on energy meter credit again, just in case it snows. Alas!

I’ve only got two medical appointments to attend this week, so at least I’m able to avoid unnecessary travel. Still, it all makes me a little anxious. I’m on the top floor of a block of flats that’s quite high up on a hill here, so the wind feels even stronger. The rain has been horizontal! If it’s not too rough on Wednesday, I’ll try popping to the pub after my appointment. I’ve started going back to my regular ale house, which is good. I think my new antidepressants have boosted my confidence a little. I was in such a bad state a month ago. I still have downs, but I’m definitely noticing some positive change. I just hope more is to come.

It’s been a bit quiet on the gaming front, but I’m actually getting used to that. My regular gaming buddy is still busy with other things at the moment, so I’m making do with single player stuff. I’m not sure whether this is a permanent situation or not, so I’m preparing myself for the worst. I’m familiarising myself with Rainbow Six: Siege maps by creating custom solo matches, then I just wander around getting used to the layout of each area. The villa map is my favourite. I wish I could live there for real. I like that it’s clearly a mansion owned by a single person, as there’s only one bedroom and the rest of the upstairs rooms are dedicated to hobbies. That’s how I’d have it. You never know! I just need those winning numbers.

Oh, I’ve just watched the 1981 film Shock Treatment, which is the sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s generally referred to as a “semi-sequel” as, while it follows the characters of Brad and Janet again, the story is completely different. It’s sort of a cross between The Prisoner and The Truman Show. It makes about as much sense as Rocky Horror, which is none, but it looks fabulous and the songs are great! I’d say this is a better film than Rocky Horror, and I prefer the lovely Jessica Harper as Janet. I can’t recommend this film enough. It’s just a shame that it’s generally ignored as an inferior accompaniment to Rock Horror. But no, it’s not! They made a real effort with Shock Treatment, and every penny is up there on screen. Please, PLEASE watch it, if you can. I’m becoming more and more convinced that Patty Quinn has the best voice ever. It’s just a shame she hasn’t done any audiobook readings. Bah!

I’ve also got a documentary on Motown, The Hateful Eight, and the Hamlet spinoff Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead to watch. I saw the latter on television years ago, but it’s taken me this long to track down a copy. I think they finally did a rerelease in 2015, which is what turned up yesterday.

Speaking of Tim Roth, I didn’t manage to finish that Vincent & Theo miniseries, in which he plays the titular Vincent Van Gogh. It was pretty terrible. I might get the shorter theatrical version and compare the two. The miniseries is just baffling. I’m not quite sure what Robert Altman was thinking, if he was thinking at all. It’s almost worth recommending just for how bizarrely dreadful it is. I’ll try and finish it before I dismiss it entirely though. If I can summon the energy.

Well, I best try and get some sleep. I’m working my way through Will & Grace in bed again. I’ve needed plenty of comfort watches recently. I did start watching the 80s British sitcom Shelley, but I’m taking a mini-break from it. It’s not been funny or interesting enough to stick with, but not bad enough to abandon. It’s just kind of, well, there. Hywel Bennett is delightful though, may he rest in peace.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!