Waving the Flag

So I answered the question last week before I asked it. Which kind of defeats the object. I shall do better this week.

In summary; Big Mould doesn't like flags.

"What's good, Big Mould?"
Bluegrass versions of Van Halen classic
Salad - (if I have any American readers can you let me know what is in a Cob Salad - I was watching Curb Your Enthusiasm and there is a funny episode involving a man in a wheel chair and a Cob Salad and I was mystyfied what it meant!)
Nearly holiday time.

"And not so good?"
Email disagreements about Colonic Irrigation (do not EVEN get me started!)
Unpredictable weather - I mean hale stones in May - what is occuring?
People who don't reply to texts, emails and phone calls.

So to this week's question;

Modern morality and manners

What instance of bad manners infuriates you the most?

Shout out to the Fairy who is ill and has such a deep voice that I thought she was a man earlier.

Oh and I have read the NME this week. I was not impressed with Preston claiming to be Rock and Roll and some shit for brains teenage sensation claiming that Steps and S Club 7 should be called pop but should be called shit! Whatever!

I...

I am Mouldy, or Big Mould, or New Mould, or Big Fat Ugly Mould (BFUM) or Toad, or Oades. I am slightly over weight (but I have a thyroid problem). There is a rumour going round that I am a HOMosexual but I can't confirm this.
I want it not to be raining.
I wish I had more time to read, to listen to new Music, to watch movies, to swim in Lake Mould
I love fast cars, loose women and strong beer. Not really. I love peace and quiet and calm. And Rats.
I fear the unexpected. And loss.
I hear things almost as well as the next person unless you are stood immediately to my right in which case you will have to speak up.
I wonder what will happen in the next year and what Vice Versas are.
I regret nothing. Oh and not working harder.
I dance every Friday night in Brighton with the Brighton Bootleggers line dancing troop..
I cry when I think about Africa and Hong Kong (on Saturday).
I confuse Dogs -they always look at me like I'm mad. My parents.
I tag Fairy, Shinin Wit, Leonie, Monkey,

Feasting

Appetizer
How old were you when you got your first credit card?
I was 18. But for some reason I didn't use it at all until I was 21. It just sat there in my wallet not doing anything.

Soup
When was the last time you felt out of place?
I was going to say that I felt out of place at the Opera (at Glyndebourne) but I didn't - it felt just right! So I suppose it was a few weeks ago when my housemates and I went to have a kick around at a local park! No I like watching football, and I quite like playing it but only when I feel comfortable with the people I am playing with. On this particular day there were 7 14 year olds already playing and they challenged us to a match. I felt soooo out of place there because I was so self concious about my ability, It was awful.

Salad
Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?
When I was 13 it was 9pm. How early is that? And then when I got to 15 it just dissapeared. There wasn't one. And there was never ever a disagreement about it. Maybe my parents were cool. I don't know.

Main Course
Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.
I could say Wilde but that would be a bit obvious. Also, I've never been married so that doesn't work! I think Van Gogh! I hate my ears, you see.

Dessert
When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?
On Sundays its always the Culture/review bit. My sister-in-law always used to laugh at me for this (in a nice way). Its good when you all want to read different parts though isn't it. On a weekday I read it from the beginning. One funny thing is that I always leaf through the whole thing before reading anything properly. Its like I have to kn ow what is in there before I can concentrate on anything.

Howdy! How quickly the time is going! April 23rd already! The year'll be over soon!

Anyway, lets talk about popular things. I'm inclined to agree with most of the people that commented on my last blog. Popular doesn't mean bad and anyone who turns against something because its popular is ultimately losing out.

Whilst the Da Vinci Code isn't well-written its a good yarn but more than anything its accesible and, I suppose, that is one of the things that makes it popular. It doesn't mean I'm enjoying it though. So, I hear you say, why am I reading it? I suppose I want to know what the fuss is about. So I read, Harry Potter and The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nightime for the same reason and didn't really enjoy either of them.
Do you ever do this?

So last week was insanely busy. Dissapointing Champions League Football on Wednesday. I went to the Opera at Glyndebourne with Miss T on Thursday (such a different world), line dancing for three and half hours on Friday (I could barely stand up by the end but, boy, did I love it!) and Eurovsion on Saturday (I really hate it! Its shit and yet...I watch it).

I watched two movies on Saturday. The first is Six Degrees of Separation starring Will Smith and Stockard Channing and is sublime! I love the way it keeps you hooked and builds. Then I watched the Contender about American Politics which was one of those films with lots of rousing speeches a la the West Wing. Good though.

Then last night I watched Mr and Mrs Smith! And I was impressed. I was expecting utter drivel but it wasn't at all. The joke of them both being assasins and yet being married wore a little thin but it was good fun! I'd like other peoples opinions on this...

So...things that are good;
Bank Holiday weekends
That soccer aid thing on ITV (I'm clutching at straws)
Trains

Not so good
Work
Illness (as in flu and stomach issues and things)
Apathy (ie not being able to think of things to put in these stupid lists)

But that brings us to this week's question.

We had a situation in our office recently where some people wanted to put up an England flag to celebrate the World Cup. Now, I'm into football as much as the next (gay) man but I was not at all comfortable with a flag being up because of the associations that that flag has. People say "Thats silly - the flag isn't racist" but I still feel uncomfortable.

So...would you feel comfortable (or proud) displaying your country's flag in a prominant position?

Greenery

Last week I asked how easy it was to live an ehtical life and whether or not it was worth it. From your answers the consensus seems to be "Its worth it but its mighty hard!".

And I think I agree with that. There's a constant aura of guilt around green issues. If I throw away a glass bottle or a can I feel guilty. If I drive somewhere I could've walked, I feel guilty. If I don't buy organic or free range I feel guilty. And yet all these things are only drops in the ocean.

I reckon there are much more effective things we could all do. Fair trade is one. Lobbying MPs, MEPs, local councils. These too may be ineffective in the short term but enough of us do it then...well, I don't know what.

So elsewhere...

I want to know more about the Mighty Boosh! Please tell me what all the fuss is about.

Stuff that ain't good
Annoying co-workers (well only one actually)
Feeling stressed about work whilst being fully aware that if I had a real job then I'd be a lot more stressed (thanks Mum for reminding me!)
Again, the time thing, I was only just 2005 and now we're almost half way through 06!
People who go travelling

Stuff that is good
The Fairy
Line dancing again (I'm moving up to intermediate this week)
Excercise (feel those endorphins - feeeeeeeel them).

Thin week's question relates to yesterday's blog (are the apostrophes right in that sentence?). Someone close to me made the other statement in a recent conversation about the Da Vinci Code; "It's far too popular for me to read!"

So the question is; does commercial success mean that the thing is going to be sh1t? How do you feel about things that are popular?

Life is a Pigsty

Culturally speaking;

Books;
I finished the new Nick Hornby book (A Long Way Down). I couldn't put it down but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it. I love the way he writes but I wasn't convinced by the characters, the plot moved at a weird and unsatisfying pace and there was only partial resolution. I'd give it 5 out of ten.
Next is the Da Vinci Code. I have caved to commercialism (again) but I want to see what the fuss is about.

Music;
I went to see Morrissey last night at the Palladium. He played for an hour and a quarter and then left the stage in a huff and didn't come back on. No bowing, no encore. Nothing. What an idiot. We paid £40 each for those blasted tickets plus the trainticketss to London and he didn't even have the decency to playa full set. Rubbish!
I'm starting to think that I am cursed because Beth Orton didn't even turn up when I went to see her in Feb.

Films;
The Edukators - a German film about Communism which is fab and I would recommend it to anyone.
This week I want to watch the Royal Tennenbaums. If you've seen it let me know what you think.

Also, I want to hear gossip about Big Brother...

Food

Appetizer
What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
This is unbelievably boring but my favourite flavour is Vanilla. But not just plain old Walls vanilla Ice Cream. I mean porper vanilla which is a real creamy colour. The best type of vanilla ice cream I've had has been in France or at Pizza Express.

Soup
What are 3 things you would like to put in a time capsule?
Tough one. A photo of myself (to give it that personal touch). A copy of Heat (it might sum up our style obsessed, over feminised times) and a mobile phone.

Salad
Name something you are 100% sure of.
This is much harder than I thought it would be. There are a lot of things that I am 90% sure of but that extra 10% is hard to commit to. Like my sexuality - I am pretty sure about it but you never know do you. Like the fact that I will always like in Brighton - well I don't want to move away but supposing someone came to me and siad that they have this great opportunity for me in Sydney, or San Francisco, or Slough - what would I say? No this question is too difficult.

Main Course
What is something you do to calm yourself when you're stressed or upset?
Stay very quiet. Or talk it out. One or the other. Oh and alcohol helps.

Dessert
If you could receive an invitation to any important event, what would you like it to be?
It sounds fake and false but I woyuld love to go to the Oscars. But that isn't really an important event. Full of glitz and glamour though!

Twice in one day!

I have a lot to say today.

Last week I asked how your year was going. The fairy has had a great on so far which is brilliant for her. Every time I see her I see how happy she is. So thats good.

My year has been ok. I feel a lot more like myself this year if that makes any sense. But there have been some actual issues to deal with. Mostly they centre around parting from people which can be a hard thing to deal with. But change can have good aspects too. Who knows?

Anyway, I've been to Paris this week. It was marvellous. I have never seen a more beautiful city. If you havn't been, go as soon as you can. I cannot think of one thing that I didn't like about it. Leave me your Paris stories in the Comments!

Bookwise; I'm with Nick Hornby this week. He's a tricky one. Very readable and yet there is something deeply unsatisfying about his latest book. I think it lies in the characters. I'll keep you informed.

I've just booked tickets to go and see Kate Rusby in Brighton in September. I've wanted to see her live for over 5 years and finally she has come far enough south for me to go. Can't wait.

I go Line Dancing and I'm not ashamed of it. Comments please.

Things annoying me;
Time going too quickly.
People who want to move house all the time.
Unpredictable British weather
Unpredictable public transport

Things that are good;
Eurostar
Country Music (again not ashamed)
Blogging (please note new found enthusiasm)

And so we come to this weeks question;
In Paris the four of us were sat around having a coffee and one the girls (lets call her A) was telling us about her newly found ethical life. She doesn't shop at Tescos, she buys organic and Fair Trade, she uses the bus and she recycles. So my question is this;
How easy is it to live an ethical life and is it worth it?

Tuesday Feast

Ok, so its late but I was in Paris last week.

Appetizer
From which country(s) are some (or all) of your ancestors?

There's a can of worms. They are rumoured to be from; Portugal, Germany, Russia, Scotland. But most were in South Yorkshire.

Soup
How would you describe your sneeze?

Too loud. Over the top. You might even say flamboyant but not camp.

Salad
What is the last thing you cleaned?

Everyone else has said themselves. This is true of course but the most interesting thing I cleaned was the pan in which I had boiled my eggs in. Here is a question; when boiling an egg, how do you stop the egg from cracking? I have tried everything and they still bloody crack and leak out all over the pan.

Main Course
Who made the strongest first impression on you?

In terms of actual, split second, first impression, that would be a guy called Istvan at Uni. He came into the kitchen whilst I was eating Museli. He wasn't wearing a shirt and he evidently worked out and was quiet buff. He said "Hi! I'm Istvan!" But it sounded like "Hi! I'm blaa blaa!". It wasn't what I expected to face at that hour of the morning in my first week away from home.
The other person who made a strong impression on me we shall call by the letter R. I really didn't like him at first. How that changed!


Dessert
Name one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime.

Write a whole book.

Blogsday

Tuesday is the new Blogsday seeing as I am completely unable to do it anywhere near the office anymore.

Three things that annoy the Mould today;
Being busy at work.
My own inability to make my house tidy.
A person a work who we shall call Craig.

Three things that are good;
I'm going to Paris on Thursday.
I thought this week would be one of the hardest of the year. It isn't. I feel fine.
Country music although I am a bit shamed to admit it - I just love and I don't know why!

If you read this, answer the follow question in the comment and next Tuesday I will answer it;
We are almost halfway through the year! Is it going how you planned? If not why not?