Day at the movies

Needed to escape home and the noisy neighbours for a bit so we headed to the cinema. We saw Deathrace first, was very surprised by how enjoyable it was. No brain needed but a lot of fun to watch. Good easy fun, worth the visit. Next up was Tropic Thunder. Another pleasant surprise,
the whole cinema spent most of the movie laughing, pretty much every joke was sexist, racist or some other -ist but it was still very funny. Not one to watch more than once but it definitely put a smile on my face!

I beat the tax man!

Today is one for the diary, for once the tax man sent me some money!!!!

If anyone out there has a pension and is a higher rate tax payer you may find the tax man owes you some money too. Turns out by default you only get basic rate tax relief for your pension contribution, but if you're a higher rate tax payer then you are being ripped off. Strangely no one seems to publicise this much. I found out and wrote a short letter to Mr Taxman explaining the situation and then after we exchanged a few more letters I got a nice fat cheque and a new tax code.

So if you pay higher rate tax and have a pension at work, get writing to the taxman now!

Soooooooo hot!

Anyone else finding the stupidly hot and sweaty weather hard work? Not normal for the UK at all, need a good storm to wash the heat out of the air. Still, thank god for air con at home :-)

Saw Wall-E earlier, great film, not Pixars best but very very good. Dark Knight tomorrow morning I think...

Latitude in review - part 1

Just thought I'd review a few bits of this years Latitude festival while they are still in my mind! Lets start with a few music acts...

Amadou and Mariam

Well, these guys were astounding. Both blind, Mariam sings with a really deep bluesy voice, Amadou also sings but amazingly plays lead guitar! Even going as far as doing several lengthy solos. The crowd loved them, very loud lively music, even with the crappy sound system in the uncut tent they sounded brilliant. Well worth seeing if you get the chance. more about them on their own site here.

Julian Cope

Julian was a huge disappointment, he came on stage 30 mins late, only stayed for 25 mins, played a couple of crappy versions of his songs and spent the rest of the time spouting self important crap. I've never been so disappointed in a performer. He actually had most of the crowd booing and jeering him when he finally went of. If you want to know more about him his site is here.

Grinderman

Never heard of them before? Me neither! They are essintially Nick Cave and the bad seeds do heavy, loud, experimental rock. Was very very good. Loud, brash in yer face. Bit of an odd choice for co-headliner on the closing night of the festival but well worth seeing. More about them here.

Rosie and the Goldbug

I'm guessing you've never heard of these guys. Live they sound a lot like Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, back when they were good. Loud, funky pop music with a sharp edge in the lyrics. Rosie looks great, sounds wonderful(although the voice doesn't match the body at all). Keep an eye out for their debut single in the charts soon. More here.

Lenny Beige

Richard and I saw this guy doing the MC role in the cabaret tent on the last night. Absolutley hillarious, wicked camp covers of classic songs, sharp jokes and great banter. I'm going to have to find out wheres he playing in London as he regulalrly plays the cabaret circuit. Sample of his show here.

Joanna Newsom

Never in my life have I had to watch such drivel. A small woman who sounds like Minnie Mouse playing a harp twice her size on stage at a music festival??? Even worse the entire of middle class England were worshipping at her feet, terrible. I managed to stick it out for 2 songs before I felt my brain turning to mush and I wnet of to watch someone else. Avoid like the plague, if ever there was an artist being successful for nothing, its her. One for the Daily Mail readership.

Thats it for now, more later :-)