Category Archives: Conventions

The Week I Nearly Lost My Trousers

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Yet again time has flitted by and I haven’t written a personal blog post for ages. I must try harder to jot things down. I promise I’ll do better.

Movie Music Magnum Opus

After much indecision and pfaffing on my part I have finally completed my very own ultimate Spotify playlist. Essentially it contains every single one of my favorite movie tunes. (Ok, ok perhaps not every one. But at least the ones I remember).  Over one hundred tracks which equates to about six hours of top tunes. (You get a prize if you can name all the films that they come from*). Some are blindingly obvious while some are far more obscure. Just to make things are little bit more complicated some are original tracks from the movie soundtrack while others are just featured in key scenes. I can guarantee you this though – every single one is a musical marvel or your money back. Please enjoy!

*there isn’t actually a prize I was lying about that….sorry if I got your hopes up there….I apologise.

Exercise Update

Well it wouldn’t be blog post if I didn’t talk a bit about the 2012 challenge now would it? So I’m now 72% of the way there. I said I was going to run 500km in 2012 and so I’ve run 360km. Not bad considering last year I ran fucking nothing 🙂 What is the overall effect on my health? Lets see, well when I started this thing I was 259lbs, as of this morning I am 197lbs.

The only drawback to this new lifestyle is that the vast majority of my clothes no longer fit. They are all far to baggy. The best example of this occurred last Monday when I was at the gym. I nearly lost my jogging trousers when I was on my treadmill. It turns out trying to resolve this situation while still continuing to run not the best of ideas. This guy knows what I’m talking about.

That is a reasonably accurate representation of what nearly happened.

Down Time

We have a holiday come up. I whole week out of the office, I can’t hardly wait. You know what? I fucking need it. My brain feels all fuzzy at the moment. I think I just need some time to clear out the cobwebs.

The Con is On

Not long to this years FantasyCon. I have to admit a certain amount of excitement. Brighton was great fun last year and I enjoyed my visit immensely. Looking at the attendee list there will be plenty of folks there that we know. I think the key to a good Con is without a doubt the people. FantasyCon attendees are a top bunch of folks. This is good news as my natural shyness is always less pronounced when I’ve meet people before.

There are a good number of books I fancy trying to gets copies of as well. Myself and Mrs Cheesecake will be around for the entire weekend and though I’ll be the first to admit that I look a bit like the bastard son of an escaped gorilla and a Crimewatch photo-fit I promise I’m harmless really. I will happily engage anyone in conversation. Don’t be shy, do say hello!

Judge Cheesecake

Last night Mrs C and I finally managed to catch a showing a Dredd. I was over the moon to discover that  more than lived up to my expectations. Mega-city One was grungy and grim, Karl Urban’s chin was doing some superb work and having a plot that was simple and straightforward  was entirely the right way to go. It was just great to see Old Stony Face come to life in such a vivid fashion. HE IS THE LAW! *

*Let us never speak of Stallone – He Was NOT The Law

Till next time

Please be excellent to one another

Chief Judge Cheesecake

A Cheesecake Ponders…

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One Man and His Tech

I’ve realised that I am slightly obsessive when it comes to tech. I like to embrace new technology whenever I can but it appears that I’m also all about geeking it up as well. I present to the court exhibits A – C as evidence of said 1st degree geekery.

First up my MacBook

Welcome to the Madhouse!

then my Kindle

A wholly remarkable eReader

and finally my phone

 

Bigger on the inside

I think the evidence speaks for itself. The defendant pleads guilty.

The Great Cheese Hunt of 2012

Yesterday Mrs Cheesecake and I hit the city streets of Nottingham on a quest. Our mystical journey was to locate some provolone cheese. Why? (I hear none of you cry) So Mrs C could make a Stromboli and I could eat it. We hunted high and low (ok, so we went to two shops) and eventually managed to source some of this legendary dairy produce. We returned home and the Stromboli was constructed post haste. I’m not going to give a full review, two words should some things up nicely – Fucking smashing.

FantasyCon 2012

Not long till the next Con of 2012 that I’ll be attending. Brighton was a lot of fun last year and I’m hoping for more of the same. I shall endeavour, once again, to reign in my near crippling shyness (always a tough job) and meet many new peoples. Its funny but I genuinely do have trouble meeting/speaking to new people.

Authors are particularly nerve wracking. Don’t get me wrong I’m fine once I relax a bit but initially I have a tendency to be over awed and tongue tied. I suppose its just always a bit of a shock when people ask my opinion about anything. (Wow, what does that say about my self esteem?). The good news is that Mrs C will be with me and this year I know there will be people there who I have met before. This should keep the panics under control*

*You wouldn’t know that I am panicking to look at me. I’m like a fucking iceberg. 90% of me is underwater?…Hmm that analogy made a lot more sense in my head. Oh, wait. I’ve got it. I have hidden depths. Underwater!….what a twat.

Any-who, enough of this folderol, I’m off

Later Programs

End of Line…

 

My 1st Proper Update ( and about chuffing time too)

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Welcome one and all to the shiny new WordPress flavour of my Mid Life Crisis. As of today my Blogger blog is on ice and I’ll be doing all my updates here only. I am going to endeavour to update more regularly than before but in all honesty how long that lasts is anyone’s guess.

So without further ado. My latest nonsense.

The Amazing SpiderCheesecake

I saw The Amazing Spiderman yesterday and I have to admit I was pretty impressed. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone share a great on-screen chemistry. There were lots of nice little awkward moments between the two that made their burgeoning relationship feel very real. Speaking of awkwardness Garfield does a outstanding job playing the king of  geeky teenagers, Peter Parker. Even when he becomes Spiderman he didn’t entirely lose that sense of uncoordination it was always there lurking in the background. Mrs Cheesecake was impressed with the movement that the new Spiderman was exhibiting. Using a style heavily influenced by parkour it seemed more natural than the previous movies.

Unsurprisingly Martin Sheen and Sally Field were pitch perfect as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Sheen is utterly convincing and Field brought a nice modern take to a character that has deserved an update for years.

Eagle-eye views will no doubt notice some small nods to the larger Spiderman universe. I really hope that they expand upon these glimpses next time out. Admittedly it is going to be bloody difficult to top J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. (c‘mon he was fucking splendid, admit it).

I was a little dubious when I heard they were rebooting this franchise, it all seemed a little unnecessary, but now that I’ve seen the results I’m happy to say I have been convinced otherwise. Marc Webb, the director, has shied away from overtly comic conventions and I think works all the better for it. This film falls somewhere in middle ground between the more realistic approach of The Dark Knight and the outrageous spectacle of The Avengers. I heard the other day that Sony are committing to a trilogy with this new cast. Good news. Perhaps we’ll finally see a cinematic interpretation of Electro or Kraven the Hunter?

So Close I Can Smell It

Last July I realised that my dietary habits were, frankly, fucking shocking. I was waddling about at 17st 8lbs (that’s 246lbs American chums) and giving Mrs Cheesecake endless sleepless nights due to may incessant snoring. Now nearly a year to the day  later I am 14st 6lbs (202lbs) and, I’ll be honest, I haven’t felt this good in a long while. As regular readers are aware I’ve been going to the gym regularly for the last six months. That and a healthier diet are starting to pay off. Just 3 more pounds and I’ll be under 200. Its been years and years since I have been that light. (I best keep an eye on things I don’t want to blow away in a strong gust of wind).

Once I hit may target (I’m aiming to drop another 12lbs at least) that’s when things are going to get really tricky.  I’ll need to try to find that elusive balance that will allow me to maintain a healthy lifestyle without falling off the wagon. I don’t ever want to go back to the way I was before. Enjoying my sessions in the gym should help with that. I guess I am going to have to remain ever vigilant.

Ohh and according the Mrs Cheesecake my snoring is a lot quieter than it was before as well.

EdgeLit

This coming weekend I’m going to be in Derby for EdgeLit. Looking forward to it. Every convention I go to is an experience in itself. What makes a con for me? It’s the people that you meet. Though I am naturally quite shy once I get chatting and I come out my shell a bit there is really no stopping me. So if your going to be there and spot a tall, hirsute looking man with bright red hair feel free to engage him in conversation. There is every possibility it may even be me. (I appreciate that I do look a little bit like the bastard son of a Crimewatch photofit and an escaped grizzly bear but honestly I’m harmless and will be happy to natter to anyone).

Thats all for now friends

Till next time, stay golden

The Amazing SpiderCheesecake

Hey, Hey Its Saturday

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Of Fantasycon and Holidays

Not long to go now till a two week holiday topped of with a visit to Fantasycon 2011 in Brighton. This will be our third FCon but I’ve never been to Brighton before so I’m looking forward to visiting somewhere new. There are a number of book launches that sound exactly great. Roll on our long weekend at the seaside. Hopefully I’ll meet some of you there? I’ll be the one with the bright red hair. More on that nearer the time I think.

The Curse of the Brown Trousers

(Before reading this update it would be well worth your while to check out my last post to understand the ins and outs of my trouser trauma. Hmmm trouser trauma sounds rude. Please note this is not erection related in any way. Just in case you were worried.)

They have finally arrived and I’m wearing them right now as I type. They seem to be very comfortable. Will this change my entire wardrobe? I dont think so. I’m still reticent to move into the realms of corduroy for example. At the very least I have a new choice I suppose. Like I’ve said before I’m not a fashionista so change is always a bit traumatic. Baby steps eh people?

Walking Music

This morning I had some errands to attend to and I decided I would do them on foot. Nice to get a bit of exercise and all that. I also decided it would be a good idea to take along my iPhone so I could listen to some sounds along the way.

My musical tastes are at best described as eclectic but I have a confession to make. Most of the time when I walk along the street this is what is playing in my head anyway.

or this

I fear I may have revealed to much. Oops. Oh well, never mind.

New Blogger

Looks like Blogger has a had a bit of an update. I am liking some of the new features. Certainly this first attempt at using it has been stress free.

Anyway enough of this waffle

Till next our paths cross

Your servant

Pablo Cheesecake Esq.

FantasyCon 2009: The silent geek perspective

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I haven’t blogged in a while. What can I say…real life has gotten in the way. I had a deadline for a project (which I managed to complete in time). I also seem to have been quite sociable of late. Flitting from engagement to engagement.

Last Saturday was no exception. I went to Fantasycon 2009 in Nottingham. Great that it is just along the road from where I live. I love going to these things. Don’t get to do it very often but always a blast when I get to go. There are crowds of geeks from every conceivable genre. Not a criticism I hasten to add. Proud to be a geek and all that.

I got to hear some interesting people speak about some cool topics relating to the state of British Fantasy today. Vampires, The Green Man, Highlander 2: The Quickening. All brilliant to behold. Nothing better than thinking you’ve heard it all and then someone just casually says something new and it blows you away. So many new authors whose work I am now keen to try.

The best part was I got to people watch. I love watching social interaction. I think I am just inherently a nosey sod. I am just so feckin curious about everything. Ironically as much as I love to watch these little tableaus unfold I am also pretty shy so never involve myself in them. I’m the one attempting to be unobtrusive in the corner. Not easy when your 6ft 2 and have bright red hair but I manage it quite well. Now calm down no need to feel sorry for me. Mrs Cheesecake was right there with me and I’ll take her company over anyone else any day of the week.

I guess I am slightly in awe of authors. I’m not really a very creative person. I have attempted and failed to write/draw/create (take your pick) something original on a number of occasions. Now that’s ok. I’ve made my peace with that particular failing. Every time I meet an author though I am just a little bit dumbstruck. Ironic really…in a past life a used too talk for a living. It don’t matter though because I still get to watch/read/enjoy all of this work.

Gosh I think I’ve come over a bit philosophical this afternoon. They really shouldn’t let me have days off if this is what is going to happen.

In other unrelated news my drunken blogging exploits my return soon. I was talking about it in the pub at the weekend and came up with an interesting concept that I think can only fully be explored while inebriated. Which this space.

Till next our paths cross

Cheesecake away

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