Hibernation-Mode Entertainment

 In my less than triumphant return to blogging last Saturday (after three weeks off), I mentioned that I'd been in hibernation mode, i.e. eating lots of chocolate while slumped in front of the telly.  However, I also slouched before YouTube and lolled about in bed reading. 

 And here are some of the things I watched, read and listened to:

 

Played

"Immortal Love" - MIKA

 Over and over and over again. Thank you, Jon!

"The Moon's A Window To Heaven" (Album Version) - Hiroshima

Because I rewatched Star Trek V: The Final Frontier after several years - It wasn't as bad as I thought (or as some on the internet would have you believe).  It's not a patch on III and IV, but easily bests VI.

 

"I Had This Thing" - Röyksopp

 I have been listening to a lot of Röyksopp in Car II on my way to work.

"Cold Sweat, Hot Boys!" - Bright Light Bright Light & Ana Matronic

 I found this one just now!

No Snowdrops Were Harmed in the Making of This Post

 Just in case anyone was wondering, hibernation-mode (i.e. eating lots of chocolate while slumped in front of the telly) had set in this month (along with some ill-timed visits and events), and somethings had to give - one of which was blogging.  However, I do have a few photos from various to-ings and fro-ings in the last three weeks, so I've managed to slap together this post to show a little of what we've been up to.

 

Saturday the 3rd: We had a little snow.

 

 Thursday the 8th: On the way back from delivering a friend's birthday card, I noticed this pine tree with a twisted trunk.

 

 Sunday the 11th: I found this little number, "Dance The Pain Away" by Haute & Freddy, and was going to post it but must have been short on time or got distracted.

Jon has since featured it at his place.

The Birthday with an Inconvenient Year at the Beginning

 Yes, it's the end of the year again.

 Not the end of this year again - I'm not sure who'd want to go through that again!

 No, I meant the end of another year in general.

 Well, perhaps just say what you mean next time.  It would save an awful lot of confusion.

 I'm sure no one was confused.  And aren't you just picking in an attempt to pad the word count out a bit?

 What do you mean?  Of course not!

 So the fact that you must have noticed neither of our SubConsciousnesses have left us a splendid end-of-year round up that we can embellish with our gracious presences doesn't have anything to do with this pointless bickering?

 Hmmph.  No.  Where are the little sods, anyway?

 Well, mine is at the gin.  I have no idea where yours has got to.  

 Double hmmph!  Right.  We'd better get on with what little we've got, then.

  

 First up: Happy Birthday Savvy!

 Yes, many happy returns!  Sorry you've had to go through this whole year to get to your birthday award.  At least there were holidays and garden photos and Freakin' Green Elf Shorts along the way.

 

 

[ crickets ]

 

 

 And finally: "Rain Down Love" by the Freemasons. 

 (This is the only thing the dratted SubCs had left us!)

Happy New Year to you all!

 Oh, and:

... of course.

 

"All the pretty girls and all the pretty boys are...

... Freaks"

 

 - Haute & Freddy

 

 

"Tectonic Plates" - Dubstar

 

 

"Thrill Of The Night" - Sébastien Tellier (feat. Slayyyter & Nile Rodgers)

 (Bits of this one remind me of Alcazar's "Tears of a Clone".  Kind of.)

 

 

"Mystical Magical" - Benson Boone

 (You can thank Mitzi for this one)

 

 

"Deeper Shade of Blue" (Steps 25 Revisited Mix) - Steps

 Yes, I'm still listening to this - and watching the video (Ahhh, Lee... 😍) 

 

 

"Love U More" - Sunscreem

 

 

 This has been a Tunes on Tuesday production.

  

 Oh, just in case anyone is expecting an end-of-year-round-up at the end of the year (Savvy's birthday allowing, of course), don't get your hopes up as I have been even more slack than last year (you'll hardly be surprised to hear).

 I think I heard some sighs of relief?

 Hmmm...

 

 

 P.S. Remember that the Freakin' Green Elf Shorts Caption Competition is now on at Rimpy's, so get yourselves over there and leave a caption to be in with a chance of winning the FGES.  You know you want to! 

What song did you last...

... have stuck in your head?

 

The Beautiful South : "A Little Time"

 

 I hadn't intended to do another of these 'What song...' posts* so soon, but as I was waking up this morning, "A Little Time" was running through my head so I trapped it for use later in the day - i.e now.

 

 I think it came from a dream I only have vague recollections of now?  In my dream I was getting ready to leave a big, many roomed house.  There were a few other people there but they were staying, or at least not coming with me.  I have a feeling that there was another big house close by - a neighbouring property - which I may or may not have seen once I got outside.  But it was at that point that I woke myself up properly because the song was already in my head.

 I don't know if it was playing in my dream, or whether someone said something which reminded me of the lyrics, but however it was conjured up, it's here now.

 

 At the risk of having it stuck in there again (or maybe it's still there?), what song was your last earworm? 

 

 

* A little like the '4 Photos' posts, I thought I could do 'What song...'s once in a while to break up the barren expanses of NotBlogging that occasionally sometimes often occur here these days.

 We'll see how that turns out, hmm?

 

 

* * *

 

 In other far more exciting news, The Freakin' Green Elf Shorts Caption Competition is now on at Rimpy's!   Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!11!!!1!!

What song did you last...

... dance to?

Deee-Lite : "Groove Is In The Heart"

 I'd finished my swim, had a shower, and was partially dressed in the changing cubicle this morning when the first song accompanying the ladies-of-a-certain-age doing aquarobics came on: "Groove Is In The Heart" 

 

 I was a bit glum because I'd had to finish my swim earlier than anticipated to make way for the aquarobics class (which had been brought forward from Friday because the pool is being closed for two weeks for maintenance), and My Lifeguard wasn't there which means I won't see him for at least two weeks (because of that dratted but probably essential maintenance).  However, Deee-Lite soon cheered me up and before I knew it, I was Lady Miss Kier in the cubicle!

 

 What song did you last dance to? 

GPE 2025 : Terrifying Triffidery

 

 Ah, here you all are - Welcome to the 6th annual Terrifying Triffidery extravaganza!

 

 Gathered here for your bewilderment and horror are some of the finest specimens of triffidery from across the globe.  And possibly from other globes, too.

 As always, the Bloggerati who supplied them did not see fit to provide any labels so it is up to you to identify these menacing monstrosities and from whom they originated.  The originators are listed on the poster above and, to make things a little more complicated, some of them supplied more than one triffid.  Good luck!

 

 A word of warning: Some of the specimens are mobile or have prehensile tendrils, so do keep your distance from the enclosures as you go by, and be sure to strap yourselves in. 

 The Hexenhäusli Device woodsman is on hand to ensure your safety and provide a demonstration of how to secure your extremities should you need it. 

 (I have personally gone through this with him several times - for certification purposes, of course - and still find myself somewhat breathless such was his enthusiasm and vigour!)  

 

  Oh, and please note: The Management cannot be held responsible for loss of limbs/head/life, and We hope you all manage to get through the tour relatively unscathed.  Or at least manage to Stay Alive...

 

 

 Yes, we watched Romy and Michele's High School Reunion the other day.  I love their dance routine to N-Trance's version of "Stayin' Alive" which is why I've featured it here!

 In fact, I've picked another Hallowe'en-adjacent song from Romy and Michele for later in this post.

 

Here's the full track for those who are interested:

 

Tunes on Thursday: You didn't notice my new leather catsuit, did you?

 I'll warn you now, this is a bit of a big one.  I started this post last week, but forgot to enable the auto-publish for Tuesday just gone.  And of course, since then, I've listened to more music, both new and old, so the list has grown.

  

 From old to new (but not in strict chronological order):

 

Shakespear's Sister - You Made Me Come To This

Best served in the car turned up to 11 so that anyone who can hear you screeching along to it just thinks you're Siobhan!

Donna Summer - State of Independence

Jon and Vangelis - State of Independence

I included this because I've only recently discovered that this is the original version.  I prefer Donna Summer's though.

 

 

Toto - Africa

Heard at the swimming pool this morning while I was gayzing at My Lifeguard 😍.

 

 

Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero

Dubstar - I Can See You Outside

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Stay On Me

White Lies - Keep Up

My favourite glum, beardy, miseryguts is back!

 

 

Haute & Freddy - Anti-Superstar

Haute & Freddy - Shy Girl

Thank you, Jon, for sharing your discovery of Haute & Freddy!

 

 And to play out - because I watched the film again last Thursday night - 

Monsters Theme by Jon Hopkins:

 

I saw the underside of a painted lady...

... and her name was Vanessa

 Anyway, before we see more of Vanessa and her ilk, here's a summery tune to accompany your scrolling: 

 

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Dolce Vita

This tatty silver-washed fritillary alternated between feeding...

 

... and fannying about amongst the webs under garage's eaves.

Hey Hi Hello

Alison Goldfrapp - Hey Hi Hello

 

 

 I think it's about time for a Garden Photos Event reminder, don't you, Very Mistress?

 

The House of

 

I N F O M A N I A C

 

Garden Photos Event 2025

 

 As with previous years, this year's GPE will be held throughout November, with the event kicking off on Hallowe'en with the now traditional Terrifying Triffidery exhibit.  This leaves you little more than three months to take photos of your green spaces (if you haven't already made a start) and curate them before emailing them to me by the end of October.

 

 Infomaniac Bitches should already know the score, but for the muddled, forgetful, and easily startled/distracted - not to mention anyone new who'd like to take part - there's a potted history of the Infomaniac GPE on its own dedicated page at the top of this blog so you can see what you'll be letting yourself in for/getting involved in.  And despite some comments to the contrary, the GPE is NOT a contest, so your gardening efforts (or lack thereof) will not be judged and there will be no winner.  This means you, Savvy!

 There's no particular theme this year - we'll accept photos of pretty much anything garden-related, whether selected prize specimens that would make Monty Don weep or breathtaking vistas of your expansive grounds, to the potted dwellers on your balcony/windowsill, to a resilient plant that you haven't managed to kill yet. 

 And if you have a straggly and unruly bush that you suspect may be a weed but fascinated you enough to wonder what it is, the Official Plant Spotter of Hexenhäusli Device and its Extensive Witchdom, nay, All of Blogdom Itself, Jon, should be on hand to identify your unmentionables. 

 

 Right.  That's that bit done.  Here are a few bits & bobs from my garden this month to goad you into action:

 

View over the Circular Paysho from behind a hebe.

Not the Hexenhäusli Device Gardens IV*

Agave montana flower head

 In the comments of my latest Four Photos post, I said to Jon that I might put up some photos from a recent visit to The Old Vicarage Gardens in East Ruston - and here they are!

 

* III can be found here. 

 

 We shall try to identify the various plants featured here, but The Host couldn't be bothered to stoop down and find the labels and photograph them while at the gardens, despite my nagging urging, so The Official Plant Spotter of Hexenhäusli Device and its Extensive Witchdom - AKA Jon - may have his work cut out.

 I was with a friend!  I had gossiping and laughing to do, not to mention trying to keep Witchface under wraps, so grubbing around in the undergrowth was low on my list of priorities! 

 

 Anyway, before we set off, Alison Goldfrapp has kindly offered to provide a musical accompaniment with her latest release, Sound & Light: 

I think these may be the flowers of Dianella caerulea?

(The plants I grew from seeds liberated from TOVG back in 2019 haven't flowered yet.  They're not doing very well where they are - and get trampled quite a lot by Bitey - so I will probably have to move them.)

 

 

Some sort of cow parsley/angelica thingy.

Tunes on Tuesday - on Thursday!

 Its been a month since my last Tunes on Tuesday, so here's a collection of some new, borrowed, and old music that I've been listening to since then.

 

 Oh, and the reason this is on Thursday is because I forgot to set up the autopublishing thingy at the weekend when I put this post together.  Drat! 

  

Reverberotic - Alison Goldfrapp

Nothing on Me - White Lies

 A couple of new ones from Ms Goldfrapp and my favourite glum, beardy miseryguts and his band.

Tunes on Tuesday

 We haven't had one of these for a while.

 Here's a collection of tunes that have caught my ear recently.  No videos (except the last one) so you can be looking at something else while these are playing.

 

 

Love Shy - Kristine Blond (Sandgate Extended Remix)

 This remix is on a cheapo compilation CD I've had for years - if not decades - Chillout Moods.  I must have copied it onto the little memory stick that I plug into Car for music as it popped up yesterday as I was driving home from work.

 

Behind the Mask - Eric Clapton

 A song came on at the swimming pool while I was doing my lengths on Thursday and it reminded me of this.  I didn't know it's name or the artist, but searching YouTube for "Who Do You Love" soon brought it up.  I'm not a fan of Eric Clapton, but I like this.

Behind the Mask - Yellow Magic Orchestra

 And this is the original!

Head on the Highway - Great Waves

 This one took some sleuthing to find.  In Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (TV series) this track was often heard when the Rowdy 3's van showed up (along with the growling of its engine), and I loved it!  However, it wasn't mentioned in any of the articles or soundtrack lists I found.  It wasn't until a chance googling encounter in which someone had mentioned Great Waves - and then listening to pretty much every track by them on YouTube - that I found it.

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) / Venus - Bananarama (Glorious: Live in London)

 This one by the Bananas popped up in YouTube's "recommended for you" section. It was right, of course. (Although I do think the transition from "You Spin Me Round" to "Venus" goes on too long.)

"Did Someone Say ----?"*

I caught these two doing it in the pond Lake.  Disgraceful!

 

 

* Answers in the comments, please.

 

 Hello!  Here I am!  I don't have much to say, so I will just bombard you with gardening-related photos (mostly) which may also serve as a prompt to start photographing your own gardens and/or green patches for the 15th annual Lady Garden Presentation

 

I N F O M A N I A C

Garden Photos Event

later in the year.

 

 But first some music to accompany your scrolling, the always delightful Dame Sophie Ellis-Bextor with "Relentless Love": 

 

MARCH

The 30th to be precise...

 

I finally got around to shingling the other side of the walkway from the Grand Paysho to the South Lawn (after I'd moved the buddleia back a bit).  As well as that pink cordyline, I popped in some irises, echiums, crocosmias, alliums (which had all been hanging around in pots for the past year or so), and a peony (which I moved from my shade garden the Gardener's Retreat).

Bitey Gets Ignored

 It has been near enough freezing all day, so I've been indoors mainly working on my entry for this month's Star Trek fan art challenge.  However, at about half one I felt the need for a stretch and some fresh - if cold - air, so I gathered Bitey up and took him down to the beach.  And here are the photos to prove it!

 Oh, in a couple of photos time (after the jump) there is a scene that sensitive viewers may wish to brace themselves for.  All I'll say at this point is that you should count yourselves lucky you weren't here to smell it!

 Anyway, the main thing is: the photos.  Oh and this tune (which I know from the film, Evolution):

The Winter sea has scoured away much of the sand exposing large swathes of the underlying chalk bed.

 

Approaching the End-of-the-Line

 Hold your noses and stomachs for what's next:

The Year with a Convenient Birthday at the End

 I'm sure it won't come as any surprise when I tell you that I've been somewhat slack with regards to blogging this year - both posting here, and reading all of yours.  And the Host hasn't been much better, either.

 Hey!

 Well, isn't it true?

 Yes.  I suppose so.  Except for June and November.

 Anyway, June and November aside, we've pretty much given up on our annual "Year of..." extravaganza, and instead focused on one very important award that always features towards the end of said extravaganza.  And that award is, the Most Inconvenient Birthday Award. 

 Only this year, it's the Most Convenient as it's saved us from exploding with frustration and exhaustion in an attempt to pack two or three days worth of work into just a couple of hours!

 And so, we'd like to present this golden, hazelnutty, chocolatey award to, none other than Savvy!

 

✮ ✮ ✮

GPE 2024 : The Finale

the 2024

 

I N F O M A N I A C

 

Garden Photos Event Finale

 

☙❧

 

 Strap yourselves in - Here we go!

 

 Well, what a gardening year we've had!  Very many thanks to all you lovely green-fingered Bloggerati who took part and sent in your garden and garden-related photos.  We've been up close and personal to all manner of intimate specimens from across the globe: from Savvy's chocolate-frosted Monty Don to Ms Scarlet's Big Pink Bush™, there are no secrets here anymore - everything was on show!  And what a show it has been: 

Secret Garden, by T'Pau (1988)

 

 

Programme of Events

 

Hallowe'en brought out the Terrifying Triffidery

 

1st November : The Infomaniac Garden Photos Event opening ceremony

GPE 2024 : Terrifying Triffidery

 

 You made it.  Splendid.  Welcome to the fifth annual Terrifying Triffidery show!

The hors d'oeuvres are here!

Hang on... I didn't think we were serving our Bloggerati guests with food?

We're not.  We're serving them as food!  The triffids are getting peckish and without Gavin and his monstrous arms we have no way to hold them back.

We are NOT feeding our guests to a load of house plants with ideas above their station!  And where is Gavin?  I haven't seen him since last year.

I think Maddie made off with him.  Or was it Hound?

Christ!

 

 Ah.  Don't pay the SubCs any attention.  And don't open that door!  Just follow me to the orangery where one of the staff will be serving Champagne or cocktails or something before we begin the tour.

What's Witchface talking about?

We don't have any staff.

Unless you count the woodsman?

I hope he's changing out of that horrid flannel shirt...

 Right.  Let's have some music to accompany our tour.  Oh, and remember to keep all your appendages on this side of the velvet rope - unless you don't need them, that is.  And some of the triffids' tendrils and tentacles are quite long, so be on your guard.

"Just spun in a web made of moonlight"

  Another clear sky yesterday which means more photos!  And a timely release from Sophie Ellis-Bextor with "Freedom of the Night" as an accompaniment.  Yes, I know: I spoil you.

First glimpse of the Moon emerging from the hazy clouds over the North Sea horizon

Cloudbusting

 Yesterday was the first clear-skyed day for some time, and the last chance to see C/2023 A3, otherwise known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS or Comet A3, for 80,000 years.  An occasion such as that warranted leaving work early and hightailing it home in order to witness said comet, so I did.

 Having miscalculated the amount of time required to get home, take Bitey out for his evening "movement", and then wander up Madam's Lane with Camera and Tripod, I set out with all three - getting hotter and hotter as I neared Madam's Lane (it had been a VERY warm day for the time of year).

 Once I'd trudged up the not-very-steep-or-very-high Toll's Hill to the Nightship stop (very near boiling point), I gazed around the points of the compass, marvelling at the beautifully clear skies above and to the North, the East, and the South.  And there to the West was my target - obscured behind the only clouds in the sky.  Drat!

The view west from the Nightship stop looking out over Toll's Hill and not seeing any comets.

Where was Kate Bush when I needed her?

 Not wanting to have a completely wasted trip, I thought I'd take some photos of the stars coming out in the west.  But that was scuppered by the Moon which was massive and brilliant, totally obscuring the stars in Camera's sights.  Bah!

 Still, I did inadvertantly get a shot of the light from Cromer lighthouse: