Cynergist

Christmas Party

I'm a bit late with this post, but just over a week ago I went along to my company's Christmas party.

For the last two years we have been with lots of other companies at the Jarvis Piccadilly, in the center of Manchester. There has usually been a Bucks Fizz when you arrive, and a band playing while you eat your meal, followed by a disco. All very standard and traditional.

This year there was a little change, as we instead went on a "Trail to Timbuktu".

It was described as follows:

You have arrived by river steamer at a small colonial outpost on the border of the secret Tree Kingdom far up river, deep in the heart of darkest Africa. From the deck you look down on the busy market port, alive with all the contrasting sounds and smells of an exotic land.

El Laberinto del Fauno

My old school friend Robert was visiting this weekend and yesterday while we were on our way into Stockport to visit the shops, we passed the local cinema multiplex and I happened to notice they were showing "Pan's Labyrinth".



This was a film I had been waiting to see, but I had expected I would need to go into Manchester and watch it at the Art House Cinema. I didn't think that a Spanish language film would be on general release, but I was pleasantly surprised. So we popped straight in and bought tickets.



The film was by the Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, who also directed "Hell Boy" and "Blade 2". I do wonder how many people were expecting something similar. If so, they were in for a shock.

Merry Christmas

I would just like to say Merry Christmas and send best wishes for the New Year to everyone who is coming to this blog after receiving a Skype contact card in one of my Christmas cards.

Tom Baker

Tom Baker's publicising an interactive sci-fi quiz DVD at the moment, which explains why he's doing a blog for Blockbuster. When I think of my childhood, and watching Dr Who from behind the sofa, it is Tom that I think of.

He is fixed in my mind in a way that David Tennant can never achieve. When I hear his voice, its like hearing my grandfather offering me advice. This is no doubt why he is heard as the voice over on so many British TV adverts, such as the current one for Duracell Batteries.

I can't think of another voice that has the same affect. There are other very recogniseable voices, like Brian Blessed, but they don't make me feel the same way.

Unfortunately the blog was only for a weekly entry during the month of November, so its now over.

Manchester United

This week I had the opportunity to take a short tour around Old Trafford, the Manchester United football ground, while attending a presentation from a software company.

I found the players lounge quite interesting. This is a small bar area that isn't open to the manager or the board, its just for the players and their families. They will arrive at the ground at least an hour before the match and relax in the lounge with their families before going to the changing rooms.