Mark West's Blog, page 87

Of Videodromes and Sure Things

Starting from Saturday, Alison & I have held a bit of a filmfest which, as the days have gone on, has turned into an 80s blowout. This is the first film we watched: VideodromeMy choice - Alison can't remember ever watching it before - and one of my favourite films of all time. I first saw it in the early 80s (it came out 82/83, so I'd guess 1984 or so), on VHS, at my friend Steven Corton's house

The Dude

This is Matthew - I love him dearly, but that doesn't stop me from sometimes setting him up for photo-opportunities. He & I went to Isham on Saturday, to do a bit of train chasing and as we walked back to the car, he put his hat on sideways for some reason. Spotting my chance, I got him to hold his hand like this ("yo yo yo, white-bread"). I'm sure, in years to come, he'll look at some of these

It's the 100th post!

This is the 100th post here on the main section of the blog (plenty of posts in the other parts, folks) and I thought it might be nice to mark the occasion.Since I started here, back in September 2009, quite a bit has happened (more than I'd thought, actually, writing this up though some appearances are long overdue). We've seen the publication of "Conjure" (which, thankfully, was a hit with

"All That Mullarkey" is brilliant

I've just finished "All That Mullarkey", by Sue Moorcroft and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is my review, which I published at Goodreads.comCleo is a free spirit, a wonderfully realised character in a gripping, thoroughly entertaining novel of modern life. Told in two parts, the first sees her splitting from controlling husband Gav and then falling pregnant during a one-night stand with Justin. The

Architecture strikes again!

We went to Leicester on Saturday and used the old Silver Arcade to cut through from the market to Dominoes toy shop. The Arcade, Victorian terraced with glass bricks on the metal walkways, is now pretty much dormant - all of the upper tiers are closed off, with shops only occupying the ground floor area. I remember when Black Cat Books were in there, top floor, far corner - it was a cracking shop

True lost films

I am currently in the midst of researching lost films for a new project (which is quite exciting, since I'm in league with someone else on it and that means my chances of letting it drift quietly away have been seriously reduced) and, quite by accident, I came across a site called Found Films.I don't know who runs the site, but they find and buy old cameras, then develop the films if they find

An old friend - and INXS

I'm meeting up with an old friend tonight and we're going out for a drink, to catch up and find out how life has been treating us. I last saw Steve Jacklin in 1993, though we corresponded for a year or so after that, when he moved back to the north from Kettering (and went to Uni). I've tried to find him since then, as he was an avowed techie back in the day but he found me in the end, through

I'm in a pack, apparently

I was just checking something on the TTA Press site and decided to have a look at Pete Tennant's case notes. In talking about another writer, he terms "Where the Heart Is from Gray Friar Press" as a "Brit-pack anthology". Brit-pack! Excellent. I'm easily pleased sometimes, it appears.

Terror Scribes Gathering Leicester 2010

Terror Scribes GatheringThe Lansdowne - Leicester - 17th July 2010Off to the Lansdowne once more, for a gathering organised by Sue & Morgan Philips. After struggling with a parking meter at DeMontfort Hall that somehow charged me twice, I made my way to the pub and 'The Pits', where we normally meet. Already there were the Bradshaws, Sue & Morgan and Simon Marshall-Jones. It was good to see Sue &

The Terror Scribes Are Gathering

Terror Scribes GatheringThe Lansdowne, 121-123 London Road, LeicesterSaturday 17th July, 1pm to 8pmFree EntryYes, the Terror Scribes are gathering once one. There'll be plenty of the usual stuff going on - talks, readings, eating, drinking, plenty of chat - plus the raffle, which this time is going to the EDGE charity (which works to help species which are evolutionarily distinct and on the verge