I may be missing home (and sunshine) just a little... Shhh don't tell anyone. I just keep listening to this song and making myself more and more depressed. Should probably stop and maybe go out and have some fun... but meh.
Enjoy.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
TV's Best - First Kisses
So I'm a sucker for a good list. You know the ones... Top 10 this or the best 5 of that. I've always written them but now I can inflict my nonsense on the unsuspecting public. Well at least the imaginary people in my mind that actually read this blog.
Anyway back to the subject of today's lesson. My all time favorite kisses from the wonderful world of television drama. This is only my incredibly biased opinion of course. I don't want to create some kind of shipping war. CHILL!
In the hopes of creating some manor of suspense I will begin with number 10 and work my way down.
10. Kurt and Dave Karofsky - Glee, Never Been Kissed (02.06)
The only reason this is at number 10 is because it's so incredibly new... I mean it only aired last week but it was so shocking and so fabulous I couldn't not put it in here (excuse the double negative).
With an episode title like "Never Been Kissed" some form of smooching is to be expected. But when I signed on I didn't not expect the kiss to come from homophobic jock and general jerk-ass Dave Karofsky.
But we know what homophobia really means.
It's not all that innovative - macho high-school is really hiding a dark secret, Buffy anyone? But it's the context that it's placed that makes it so awesome.
Kurt has just been serenaded by Harry Potter (with help from a choir of hotties) and dammit if he is not going to stand up for himself. He certainly stands up for himself - only to be cut down to size once again when instead of beating the crap of him Karofsky plants one on him right there in the mens locker room. I literally squealed.
Of course it ends up being sad because there is no way Karofsky's coming out any time soon and Kurts first kiss wasn't with the boy he's crushing on. Yet still for bullied gays everywhere - yay!
9. Mal and Inara - Firefly, Our Mrs. Reynolds (01.06)
Yes there does always have to be one Joss on here... but there's a reason for that... he does good. I could have gone with quite a few different first kisses within Joss's worlds. Buffy/Angel being the most obvious but new favorites Echo and Paul and getting up there. The reason I chose this one is because it's just so perfect for the characters.
Mal and Inara clearly have the whole will they won't they Taming of the Shrew thing going on. But they are both so stubborn that there is no what either of them is going to give in to the other and admit that they love each other. Therefore to get them to actually kiss, well that takes some skill but a life or death situation will usually do the trick it's even better if somehow you can kiss them without the other person knowing.
Poor Inara thinks she's got away with it too, but alas that would be too easy for Joss. Turns out Mal ingested poison from the last girl he kissed (yes I just said that) which transfers to Inara when she kisses him.
This kiss is even more perfect because it teases a relationship upgrade that is never going to happen because well the show got canceled (it still hurts to talk about) and well it's Joss did we really want them to get together - no good can come from that.
8. Rory and Jess - Gilmore Girls, I Can't Get Started (02.22)
Some might say I should have gone with Lorelai and Luke's first kiss, but as much as I fan girl squealed when that happened there is something about the innocence of this kiss that makes it special.
I guess I have to come clean - and am and always have been on board the HMAS Rory and Jess. Sure Dean was sweet (at least in the beginning) and I guess Logan was amusing some of the time... but no one suited Rory quite like Jess did.
Way before Logan made her steal a boat Jess showed us that Rory really was a bad ass at heart. I should mention that she has a boyfriend at the time of this kiss a boyfriend she continues to date long after this kiss even though it's clear to anyone with eyes that she fancies the pants of Jess.
The best part about this kiss is that it really seems to capture the confusion of adolescence. Rory really has no idea what she's doing and the fact that she runs away well I guess it reminds me of being young again and having no control over your hormones (or me now for that matter).
7. Rose and The Doctor - Doctor Who, New Earth (02.01)
I'm gonna ruffle a couple of feathers with this one, but I don't care. I call it as I see it.
Even if you're not a fan of the Romantic subtext in Russell T. Davies new series of Doctor who you have to see the awesomeness of this kiss. Try to place it in contest. It's before The Doctor kissed everyone of his companions every season. This is the one that set the trend. Well I guess technically the Bad Wolf kiss did but that was different. I'm referring to Rose's first kiss with the tenth Doctor - not the Doctor in general.
Some might pass this kiss of as out of their control. Rose is possessed by Cassandra at the time, so technically she doesn't have control of her actions. But it's clear that there is a hell of a lot of pent up sexual tension between these too. If only by the Doctor's reaction. He's not shocked when she kisses him... I'm just saying, don't shoot me.
This kiss is great because it gives the viewers what they really want without affecting the "No sex for the Doctor" rules. It's kind of ruined a bit by the fact that every season seems to find a new crazy way for the Doctor to kiss his companion. Although the make out session between the Doctor and Amy Pond in Season 5 ran a close second if only because Amy Pond finally had the guts to do what we've all wanted to forever.
6. Pacey and Joey - Dawson's Creek, Cinderella Story (03.17)
All I can say is THANK GOD they exhausted the Dawson/Joey romance by the end of season two because the UST between them was nadda. Also it paved way for the best coupling of the entire series.
Pacey and Joey will always be close to my heart because it was the TV show I grew up with, the relationship I rooted for most of all.
By now you must have realised... I'm kind of a fan of the Slap, Slap Kiss moments and this definitely follows trend. Unlike some of the previous examples this one doesn't come out of nowhere. Joey and Pacey have always fought, which, if television has taught us, means that they will hook up at some stage. Then they have been spending a lot of time together, both just out of serious relationships. Dawson even asked Pacey to look after Joey - that's basically giving his blessing (even if he does go back on it later). So we knew this was going to happen, they just made us wait a bloody long time (17 episodes long) to see it.
The anticipation that made it exciting and the fact that it didn't disappoint made it one of my all time favorite first kisses.
5. Ross and Rachel - Friends, The One Where Ross Finds Out (02.07)
I know, I know... It's a major cliche. But there's a reason why this kiss makes everyone list. Think back to a time before we had been watching Ross and Rachel break-up and make-up for 10 years to the point where we just want to glue them together. It was a simpler innocent time. Before the phrase "we were on a break" was even uttered. A time when all we wanted was for these to love birds to tell each other what everyone knew - they were meant to be.
It's perfect. Ross has loved Rachel since high school, but Rachel was too bitchy and stuck up to notice that is until he gets himself a girlfriend. There is nothing like jealously to wake the heart up. It's played perfectly as well, funny yet somehow heartwarming at the same time. This kiss won an Emmy for christ sake! That's got to count for something. It was one of those rare moments that the TV show gave the audience exactly what they wanted and people still kept on watching (even after the third break-up).
I don't care how many times I see it, it still makes my heart go giddy up.
4. Chuck and Blair - Gossip Girl, Victor, Victrola (01.07)
I don't think any list about television romances could be complete without Chuck and Blair anymore. They are the people you hate to love... I mean seriously they are horrible people and they have all the money in the world yet you can't help but root for them.
Originally the beta couple for the series, behind Serena and Dan the soon took over Mr and Mrs Boring to become one of the most fascinating duos on television today. There is nothing more wonderful then seeing two people who think that they can control everything fall in love. Because it's the one thing you cannot control.
Despite the fact that I love this romance (to the extent that I sometimes fast forward the other storyline just to get to the bits about them) this kiss is on here because of the way aesthetics. This kiss is about lust, and desperation but what makes it stand out is the fact that it's still manages to be sweet. Everything from the way Blair slides towards chuck to the way he asked "You Sure" it's just about the sweetest desperate, late night, revenge hook up ever.
Like or leave it, it certainly sets up what's to come in the tempestuous will they wont they relationship that follows.
3. Sookie and Eric - True Blood, I Smell a Rat (03.10)
Two words - TEAM ERIC!
Bias admitted, this kiss is hot. Don't even deny it. Even you Bill shippers out there can see the URST between these two. But I mean honestly - who wouldn't have URST with Eric. Well mine would be resolved pretty quickly but you get that.
Before you say it - yet they did kiss before, and it was hot as well, but that was a dream sequence so it doesn't really count as their first kiss.
But that's not the reason this kiss is here. This kiss is number 3 in my list because Sookie has more passion, love and tension in this one Kiss with Eric than she had in her entire relationship with Bill.
It's another case of we knew it was coming, it's been coming since they first met even if you haven't read the books you can see that. Whether or not you wanted it to happen... it was going too so many a Truebie held their breath as Eric FINALLY went for it. Sookie tries to resist, but her hearts clearly not in it. Any kiss that can cause this much pleasure and pain within the fan base is something exceptional and worth recognition.
I can't wait for next season - if you've read the books you'll know what I'm talking about.
2. Elisabeth and Mr Darcy - Pride and Prejudice BBC, Episode 6 (01.06)
Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest love stories ever told (just behind Romeo and Juliet) as well as the reason I have such unrealistic expectation of men. So many different versions to choose from - but really only one choice. It's probably best known for the bit with the lake but this kiss is a perfect climax.
It's all about delayed gratification. It takes 6 whole hours to get to this kiss, and it's well worth the wait. It's not as sexy as some of the others mentioned, it's pretty simplistic as whole really but it's love. This is the only example on this list that's a happily ever after kiss. Mainly because it's a period piece, so you can have a happily ever after kiss sort of realistically. But you can feel the love.
It's kind of makes you want to slap your boy friend just because he never looks at you the way Mr Darcy is looking at Elisabeth. He's not just lusting after her, although there is that, he's in love with her and just happy to finally have her.
I adore the fact that for a couple that is always fighting - their first kiss is not a Slap, Slap Kiss. It's just romantic and hugely satisfying to watch.
AND FINALLY... Drum roll please.
1. Veronica and Logan - Veronica Mars, Weapons of Class Destruction (01.18)
The best kiss you never even knew you wanted.
Sure they yelled at each other, and I guess you could say that a couple of episodes before they were starting to get some kind of connection. But mostly that connection was not hating each other... It had nowhere near progressed to the point of possible hook up. In fact any possible flirtation between the two of them had been forgotten for the whole episode leading up to this point. Even if I liked Logan better, I pretty much thought Duncan or possibly Weaval would be the love interest.
Logan had just attempted to save Veronica's life... even if it turns out she wasn't in danger after all, so I guess a kiss of gratitude is kind of understood. This kiss differs from a simple, thank you for saving my life/thank god we're alive kiss because it continues. Veronica kisses Logan, a shocking move even she doesn't understand - you can see from her face. It would be understandable to expect the kiss to be forgotten or kept secret, similar to Rory and Jess's kiss above. It might have been a starting point for the will they won't they plot that would follow, an added aspect of awkward that could be played off. But one move changes all this.
Instead of standing there stupefied, Logan grabs Veronica and kisses her back. This time there is no doubt of the implications. They both want it... bad. It ends, again like Rory and Jess, with Veronica fleeing the scene. But unlike Rory and Jess, these two don't mess about. There's no point denying their feelings now. Shown best of course through one of their famous lingering stares. I swear these two do a meaningful look like no one else. In fact their meaningful looks are the only reason the final ever episode is so easy to read.
In the words of the writers - it was always Veronica and Logan.
Well that's that. You've read the novel now watch the movie... here.
You know you love me, xoxo
Anyway back to the subject of today's lesson. My all time favorite kisses from the wonderful world of television drama. This is only my incredibly biased opinion of course. I don't want to create some kind of shipping war. CHILL!
In the hopes of creating some manor of suspense I will begin with number 10 and work my way down.
10. Kurt and Dave Karofsky - Glee, Never Been Kissed (02.06)
The only reason this is at number 10 is because it's so incredibly new... I mean it only aired last week but it was so shocking and so fabulous I couldn't not put it in here (excuse the double negative).
With an episode title like "Never Been Kissed" some form of smooching is to be expected. But when I signed on I didn't not expect the kiss to come from homophobic jock and general jerk-ass Dave Karofsky.
But we know what homophobia really means.
It's not all that innovative - macho high-school is really hiding a dark secret, Buffy anyone? But it's the context that it's placed that makes it so awesome.
Kurt has just been serenaded by Harry Potter (with help from a choir of hotties) and dammit if he is not going to stand up for himself. He certainly stands up for himself - only to be cut down to size once again when instead of beating the crap of him Karofsky plants one on him right there in the mens locker room. I literally squealed.
Of course it ends up being sad because there is no way Karofsky's coming out any time soon and Kurts first kiss wasn't with the boy he's crushing on. Yet still for bullied gays everywhere - yay!
9. Mal and Inara - Firefly, Our Mrs. Reynolds (01.06)
Yes there does always have to be one Joss on here... but there's a reason for that... he does good. I could have gone with quite a few different first kisses within Joss's worlds. Buffy/Angel being the most obvious but new favorites Echo and Paul and getting up there. The reason I chose this one is because it's just so perfect for the characters.Mal and Inara clearly have the whole will they won't they Taming of the Shrew thing going on. But they are both so stubborn that there is no what either of them is going to give in to the other and admit that they love each other. Therefore to get them to actually kiss, well that takes some skill but a life or death situation will usually do the trick it's even better if somehow you can kiss them without the other person knowing.
Poor Inara thinks she's got away with it too, but alas that would be too easy for Joss. Turns out Mal ingested poison from the last girl he kissed (yes I just said that) which transfers to Inara when she kisses him.
This kiss is even more perfect because it teases a relationship upgrade that is never going to happen because well the show got canceled (it still hurts to talk about) and well it's Joss did we really want them to get together - no good can come from that.
8. Rory and Jess - Gilmore Girls, I Can't Get Started (02.22)
Some might say I should have gone with Lorelai and Luke's first kiss, but as much as I fan girl squealed when that happened there is something about the innocence of this kiss that makes it special. I guess I have to come clean - and am and always have been on board the HMAS Rory and Jess. Sure Dean was sweet (at least in the beginning) and I guess Logan was amusing some of the time... but no one suited Rory quite like Jess did.
Way before Logan made her steal a boat Jess showed us that Rory really was a bad ass at heart. I should mention that she has a boyfriend at the time of this kiss a boyfriend she continues to date long after this kiss even though it's clear to anyone with eyes that she fancies the pants of Jess.
The best part about this kiss is that it really seems to capture the confusion of adolescence. Rory really has no idea what she's doing and the fact that she runs away well I guess it reminds me of being young again and having no control over your hormones (or me now for that matter).
7. Rose and The Doctor - Doctor Who, New Earth (02.01)
I'm gonna ruffle a couple of feathers with this one, but I don't care. I call it as I see it.
Even if you're not a fan of the Romantic subtext in Russell T. Davies new series of Doctor who you have to see the awesomeness of this kiss. Try to place it in contest. It's before The Doctor kissed everyone of his companions every season. This is the one that set the trend. Well I guess technically the Bad Wolf kiss did but that was different. I'm referring to Rose's first kiss with the tenth Doctor - not the Doctor in general.
Some might pass this kiss of as out of their control. Rose is possessed by Cassandra at the time, so technically she doesn't have control of her actions. But it's clear that there is a hell of a lot of pent up sexual tension between these too. If only by the Doctor's reaction. He's not shocked when she kisses him... I'm just saying, don't shoot me.
This kiss is great because it gives the viewers what they really want without affecting the "No sex for the Doctor" rules. It's kind of ruined a bit by the fact that every season seems to find a new crazy way for the Doctor to kiss his companion. Although the make out session between the Doctor and Amy Pond in Season 5 ran a close second if only because Amy Pond finally had the guts to do what we've all wanted to forever.
6. Pacey and Joey - Dawson's Creek, Cinderella Story (03.17)
All I can say is THANK GOD they exhausted the Dawson/Joey romance by the end of season two because the UST between them was nadda. Also it paved way for the best coupling of the entire series.
Pacey and Joey will always be close to my heart because it was the TV show I grew up with, the relationship I rooted for most of all.
By now you must have realised... I'm kind of a fan of the Slap, Slap Kiss moments and this definitely follows trend. Unlike some of the previous examples this one doesn't come out of nowhere. Joey and Pacey have always fought, which, if television has taught us, means that they will hook up at some stage. Then they have been spending a lot of time together, both just out of serious relationships. Dawson even asked Pacey to look after Joey - that's basically giving his blessing (even if he does go back on it later). So we knew this was going to happen, they just made us wait a bloody long time (17 episodes long) to see it.
The anticipation that made it exciting and the fact that it didn't disappoint made it one of my all time favorite first kisses.
5. Ross and Rachel - Friends, The One Where Ross Finds Out (02.07)
I know, I know... It's a major cliche. But there's a reason why this kiss makes everyone list. Think back to a time before we had been watching Ross and Rachel break-up and make-up for 10 years to the point where we just want to glue them together. It was a simpler innocent time. Before the phrase "we were on a break" was even uttered. A time when all we wanted was for these to love birds to tell each other what everyone knew - they were meant to be.
It's perfect. Ross has loved Rachel since high school, but Rachel was too bitchy and stuck up to notice that is until he gets himself a girlfriend. There is nothing like jealously to wake the heart up. It's played perfectly as well, funny yet somehow heartwarming at the same time. This kiss won an Emmy for christ sake! That's got to count for something. It was one of those rare moments that the TV show gave the audience exactly what they wanted and people still kept on watching (even after the third break-up). I don't care how many times I see it, it still makes my heart go giddy up.
4. Chuck and Blair - Gossip Girl, Victor, Victrola (01.07)
I don't think any list about television romances could be complete without Chuck and Blair anymore. They are the people you hate to love... I mean seriously they are horrible people and they have all the money in the world yet you can't help but root for them. Originally the beta couple for the series, behind Serena and Dan the soon took over Mr and Mrs Boring to become one of the most fascinating duos on television today. There is nothing more wonderful then seeing two people who think that they can control everything fall in love. Because it's the one thing you cannot control.
Despite the fact that I love this romance (to the extent that I sometimes fast forward the other storyline just to get to the bits about them) this kiss is on here because of the way aesthetics. This kiss is about lust, and desperation but what makes it stand out is the fact that it's still manages to be sweet. Everything from the way Blair slides towards chuck to the way he asked "You Sure" it's just about the sweetest desperate, late night, revenge hook up ever.
Like or leave it, it certainly sets up what's to come in the tempestuous will they wont they relationship that follows.
3. Sookie and Eric - True Blood, I Smell a Rat (03.10)
Two words - TEAM ERIC!
Bias admitted, this kiss is hot. Don't even deny it. Even you Bill shippers out there can see the URST between these two. But I mean honestly - who wouldn't have URST with Eric. Well mine would be resolved pretty quickly but you get that. Before you say it - yet they did kiss before, and it was hot as well, but that was a dream sequence so it doesn't really count as their first kiss.
But that's not the reason this kiss is here. This kiss is number 3 in my list because Sookie has more passion, love and tension in this one Kiss with Eric than she had in her entire relationship with Bill.
It's another case of we knew it was coming, it's been coming since they first met even if you haven't read the books you can see that. Whether or not you wanted it to happen... it was going too so many a Truebie held their breath as Eric FINALLY went for it. Sookie tries to resist, but her hearts clearly not in it. Any kiss that can cause this much pleasure and pain within the fan base is something exceptional and worth recognition.
I can't wait for next season - if you've read the books you'll know what I'm talking about.
2. Elisabeth and Mr Darcy - Pride and Prejudice BBC, Episode 6 (01.06)
Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest love stories ever told (just behind Romeo and Juliet) as well as the reason I have such unrealistic expectation of men. So many different versions to choose from - but really only one choice. It's probably best known for the bit with the lake but this kiss is a perfect climax.
It's all about delayed gratification. It takes 6 whole hours to get to this kiss, and it's well worth the wait. It's not as sexy as some of the others mentioned, it's pretty simplistic as whole really but it's love. This is the only example on this list that's a happily ever after kiss. Mainly because it's a period piece, so you can have a happily ever after kiss sort of realistically. But you can feel the love.
It's kind of makes you want to slap your boy friend just because he never looks at you the way Mr Darcy is looking at Elisabeth. He's not just lusting after her, although there is that, he's in love with her and just happy to finally have her.
I adore the fact that for a couple that is always fighting - their first kiss is not a Slap, Slap Kiss. It's just romantic and hugely satisfying to watch.
AND FINALLY... Drum roll please.
1. Veronica and Logan - Veronica Mars, Weapons of Class Destruction (01.18)
The best kiss you never even knew you wanted.
Sure they yelled at each other, and I guess you could say that a couple of episodes before they were starting to get some kind of connection. But mostly that connection was not hating each other... It had nowhere near progressed to the point of possible hook up. In fact any possible flirtation between the two of them had been forgotten for the whole episode leading up to this point. Even if I liked Logan better, I pretty much thought Duncan or possibly Weaval would be the love interest.
Logan had just attempted to save Veronica's life... even if it turns out she wasn't in danger after all, so I guess a kiss of gratitude is kind of understood. This kiss differs from a simple, thank you for saving my life/thank god we're alive kiss because it continues. Veronica kisses Logan, a shocking move even she doesn't understand - you can see from her face. It would be understandable to expect the kiss to be forgotten or kept secret, similar to Rory and Jess's kiss above. It might have been a starting point for the will they won't they plot that would follow, an added aspect of awkward that could be played off. But one move changes all this.
Instead of standing there stupefied, Logan grabs Veronica and kisses her back. This time there is no doubt of the implications. They both want it... bad. It ends, again like Rory and Jess, with Veronica fleeing the scene. But unlike Rory and Jess, these two don't mess about. There's no point denying their feelings now. Shown best of course through one of their famous lingering stares. I swear these two do a meaningful look like no one else. In fact their meaningful looks are the only reason the final ever episode is so easy to read.
In the words of the writers - it was always Veronica and Logan.
Well that's that. You've read the novel now watch the movie... here.
You know you love me, xoxo
Friday, September 17, 2010
True Blood awesomeness - Preview
I just watched the True Blood season 3 final and it blew me away. I can't say too much because it has not yet aired in Australia but just you wait.
I have read the books - so I pretty much thought I knew what was going to happen (in a round about way) but it was just epic. The only problem is that I have to wait forever for the next season to start! SUX!
But it does mean that we have months of predictions and guesses (all spoiler free of course) ahead of us.
For those of you who have not yet entered into the wonderful world of Sookie Stackhouse either on television or in print here is something to wet your appetite...
Also I'm in Paris... and well this ones for my Mum.
By the way, we walked all the way down the Champs Elysees and it was a rather busy... boulevard.
More tales from London and such coming tomorrow.
xx,
Von
I have read the books - so I pretty much thought I knew what was going to happen (in a round about way) but it was just epic. The only problem is that I have to wait forever for the next season to start! SUX!
But it does mean that we have months of predictions and guesses (all spoiler free of course) ahead of us.
For those of you who have not yet entered into the wonderful world of Sookie Stackhouse either on television or in print here is something to wet your appetite...
Also I'm in Paris... and well this ones for my Mum.
By the way, we walked all the way down the Champs Elysees and it was a rather busy... boulevard.
More tales from London and such coming tomorrow.
xx,
Von
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
My dreamboat and his petticoats...
I'm sure you are all super worried about the why's and how's of our night on the West End. Stop the presses because your wait is no more. I know this is supposed to be mum's holiday and that she can make all the decisions because I have a WHOLE year to go back and do whatever takes my fancy. But if you have ever tried to travel with my mother you might know that she is not particularly good at making decisions and especially not when under pressure. So as we waited in the line at tkts (as explained in the last updates) it was just too much for my poor old mum, there were just too many choices and the 20 minutes it took to get to the end of the line just wasn't long enough.
Ok so maybe that is not exactly how it happened... Maybe I had already looked up what all the shows where and knew exactly what was going on. But my mother does not like pressure so I was really just helping her out pre-emptively. Seeing as I knew what would be playing and I had had months to pour over the various shows and make an educated decision.
I asked myself:
What have I seen before? (Less importantly – What has mum seen before?)
How long is it playing?
What do I really want to see – Mamma Mia, Wicked, Oliver?
But in the end I made my decision based on eye candy.
Superficial, I know but as it turns out, it was well worth it.
I don't know if any of you saw a show called How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? If not, it's not really that important... but if you have seen please skip forward to the next marker.
***
I few years ago now the English (rulers of reality TV) created a television show that is basically what I have been waiting for reality TV to make for years. It consisted of 12 hopeful (both professional and unprofessional performers vying for the role of Maria in Andrew Loyld Webber's new production of The Sound of Music. It was fabulous! They sung, they danced, they wore some of the most hideous outfits on television and in the end the British public crowned Connie the winner.
Because we live in at the ass end of the earth it took about three years for the tapes to be sent (by telegram I supposed) to UKTV and it aired last year. I watched it avidly and had I been able to I might have even voted (well probably not, but I might have thought about it). And before you ask, yes I watched it with my mum, but my grandmother was a fan as well. Mum and I would rush home on a Thursday evening to catch the latest performances followed immediately by the eliminations.
I thought this couldn't possibly get any better... I was wrong.
***
The next show they chose to make was Any Dream Will Do? Which followed basically the same premise as Maria only this time they were searching for Joseph in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and you know what that means – BOYS! The girls were pretty enough, but there was no real talent and they dressed so badly that it was impossible to find them sexy. The boys on the other hand were definitely sexy. Not all of them of course but as a rule they were much better looking then the girls.
Now if you ask my mum she will have only one name on her lips and I have to admit that he is really quite fit. Even though it is still majorly gross when you hear your mother talk about “doing” some guy that is almost the same age as you... but that's something for my therapist to deal with later on. The guy in question is of course the beautiful Lee Mead.
He may have won the competition but there was was another who stole my heart.
Mr Ben Ellis!
I can't help it he makes my knees go all weak and stuff.
He was eliminated in like the 2nd last week! It was horrible – especially as it brought back memories of when Rob Mills was eliminated from Australian Idol.
Anyway because it took too long for Any Dream Will Do? to air in Australia the Production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (starring mum's honey Lee) had already finished... Unfortunately it meant that the production of Hairspray that stared none other then BEN ELLIS himself had also ended.
Sadness abounds!
But do not despair because both these boys had moved on to bigger and better things. Lee was staring in Wicked. Which was awesomely good because mum had just seen the Australian production so she wasn't that keen to see it again. Which meant that I was free to point her in the direction of Dreamboats and Petticoats the cast of which had recently been joined by a youngster by the name of Ben James-Ellis (he changed his name for some union crap I mean reason).
So the moment I saw Dreamboats and Petticoats on the list... and that the tickets were half price, there was no turning back.
Boy am I glad I didn't. The show was fantastic. It had all this great early sixties music which mum loved (I did too but not in the same nostalgic way as her).
It was as if Ben had been made for the part of smooth talking crooner, Norman (yes really Norman). I swooned the moment he walked on the stage and took the mic (especially when he ripped open his shirt – but don't tell my father). He's got a bit of pudge that makes him all the more cuter. So by the time he came out at for the encore of “Let's Twist Again” I couldn't help myself but get up and dance!
Don't freak out with embarrassment, everyone else was dancing too. It was sooo much fun.
If you want a fun easy night out... where you don't have to think but you do get to have a good time then I would suggest seeing Dreamboats and Petticoats.
That was the tale of my future lover (well one of many).
Stay tuned for more London shenanigans!
xx
Von
Saturday, September 11, 2010
An Australian in London.
Ok it's official.... I love it here. I may never leave (but shhh don't tell my mum).
The first thing I have to say is that the weather has been fantastic! All those people who complain that it's cold and rainy here are wingers. I have been caught in the rain ONCE since I arrived here. Every time I think, the rain has finally caught up with us it starts to fine up again... usually just in time for us to start touristing (e.g walking and open top busing).
The first day we got here (the day I wrote my last blog) I was smashed with jetlag... But I thought I have to get out and see something. I can't just hide away in my hotel room when I have come all this way (even though that is what I desperately wanted to do).
*Travel Fact*
Sleeping Pills don't help with jetlag, they just make you more tired...
So after what was too short a nap I forced myself and my aged mother out of the hotel room and onto the street. Luckily the hotel room we booked (on "otels.com") was in a FANTASTIC location. It's the City Inn Westminster and it is literally a 3 minute walk to the Houses of Parliament (BIG BEN), Westminster Abbey and the London Eye. So even though we were out of the hotel room for about 30 mins in total we actually saw heaps and did not feel at all bad when we went right on back to the room ordered some room service and passed out for about 17 hours.
*Nerd Fact*
Nerdsicles out there might recognise this location from the Doctor and Rose's first adventure against the Autons.
By the way - I have not stopped smiling like that since I arrived here!
The good thing about many sleeps is that the next day I was fully prepared to tourist like a mad woman, which is exactly what we did.
Me and mum being a new breed of lazy tourist decided to do The Original London Sightseeing Tour (according to the website it's award winning). I know it sounds lame and as I said it is the lazy way to to tourist but it was actually fantastic! I would recommend it to anyone. It's really good in a big city like London because it's so hard to get around and if you can't read a map like me then it's difficult to navigate yourself. With this bus all you have to do is wait outside a landmark and it's bound to come around.
The City Sightseeing tours are also great if you don't have a lot of time in a city (especially if they have a live guide) - as we learnt later in out travels.
Back to travel journalness...
The first thing we did was go into Leicester Square to pick up some cheap West End tickets. Now I am paranoid, I was so freaked out by various travel guides that I would not go near anything that wasn't the OFFICIAL tkts booth. It took a while to find it the brochure we had said it was in the clock tour building. We spent about half an hour wandering around Leicester looking up until we realised it was right in the middle! Ok lame out of towners... I was surprised we weren't mugged. Walking around with various maps looking lost. But like I said we found it.
Yeah there was a bit of a line. But we were there when it opened and it moved pretty quickly.
This ticket office opens at 10am.
*Travel Fact*
If you're going to be traveling in England then you best get used to scenes like this because the Pohms they like to queue.
The wait was well worth it though because not only did we get half price tickets to a show but they were fantastic seats. I'm talking in the stalls about 10 rows from the front. The show that we, well I say we but I really mean me, chose to see comes with a bit of a story. More on that later.
After we had procured tickets we headed of on another adventure. We decided to take advantage of the walking tour that came free with the Bus Service. We had no idea what it was but it seemed like a good idea. So off me and mum trotted towards Trafalgar Square where the tour left from.
It turns out it is a tour for the changing of the guard... only it was a non changing of the guard day. I know it's one of those things that I still really want to see but it turned out to be a good thing that it wasn't on for a few reasons. There were a total of 3 people in our tour group including me and mum and we had TWO tour guides. We got up close and personal with the changing of the horses and we got way closer to buckingham palace then you would if it was a guard changing day. So I would recommend going on a non guard changing day you'll learn more and see more and you won't been crush by the masse. Plus you'll be cooler because you knew it would be better on a non guard day.
There you go now your in the know.
We were pretty much buggered after this... and did I mention that we had forgotten to get breakfast! I would recommend that you always get breakfast when you are touristing... and maybe just in general.
*Life Fact*
Always eat breakfast... it's the most important meal of the day.
We were so hungry we got a sandwich at a small sort of deli place that might have been the front for some kind of drug pushers. But I was so hungry I didn't care. What I find strange is that the English don't eat much salad and after all that travel and bad food and not enough and too much sleep all I really wanted was a salad sandwich. What I had to settle for is an egg sandwich with lettuce and cucumber. Weird. But it was only the first day we were in the country and we didn't really have a feel for the place and where to eat and all that yet. Now we do.
*Travel Fact*
This may only be new and different for us Aussies but if you're in the UK and good place to get healthy/nice/fresh and reasonably priced food is at Pret a Manger (ready to eat).
After the weird ass sandwich we got back on the bus and headed out to the British Museum.
This Place is EPIC --------->
So epic that it wasn't the best idea to attempt to see it all in about an hour... but we were short on time and like I said we are lazy tourists. The only thing I wanted to see was the relief from the Parthenon and it was worth navigating the maze that is this museum to see it.
I will have to go back to have a closer look.
After the worlds shorted trip through history we got back onto the bus and headed out towards the tower... as in The Tower of London!
The tower is full of fun history stuff and guards and torture and mystery. It was fun and all but it wasn't my favourite part of London. I'm not a huge fan of the whole looking at weapons thing but I do like the building and for someone who loves shiny things I wasn't that impressed with the crown jewels (I've seen better). I'm glad I saw it but I don't think I'll rush back in a hurry but if I did I would go on the tour so that I could learn more about all the history and stuff.
*Travel Fact*
DON'T take picture of the crown Jewels... They don't like it and they make you figure out how to delete the photo of your stupid and difficult new camera. I'm pretty sure I'm on some kind of list now. But there were no signs saying not to take photos.
So after this debacle we caught the bus almost to our door and prepared ourself for a night on the west end. And a chance to look at one of the many possible future Mr Yvonne Popplewell's
Ok so you get it now - Hop on Hop off Tours = Good!
Check back soon for the tale of...
Love from the land of history...
Von
xoxo
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