Currently Watching Withnail and I By Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths, Ralph Brown see related

GOODBYE FOR NOW

Quote of The Week: "Parting is such sweet sorrow"
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I have a new blog, which is pretty much the final nail in the Xanga coffin. Yeap, I'm following Steven over to LiveJournal, something I've been meaning to sign up to for some time. A lot of my old Fanfiction.Net buddies can be found over there, and nostalgia can be a powerful decision-maker.

I remember a time when I could expect about 5 comments a week. A shockingly big deal, huh? Well, since then this site has fallen from mediocrity as I've fallen out of touch with people who seem to agree that Xanga is lame (Danielle, Eric, Josh etc.) However, for those few of you who still read this, you can find me at www.thepageoflegend.tk and now http://chicken-fox.livejournal.com/.

I'll leave you with a Shakespearean soliloquy, as I've been watching Withnail & I quite a bit lately, which I will attempt (and fail) to type from memory.

"I have of late, but wherefore I know not
Lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of excersice
And indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition
That this goodly frame the earth seems to me a sterile promontory
This most excellent canopy the air, look you
This brave o'er hanging firmament, this majestical roof
Fretted with golden fire, why it appers no other thing to me
Than a foul and pestilant congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is man!
How noble in reason,
How infinite in faculty,
In form and moving how express and admirable
In action, how like an angel
In apprehension, how like a god!
The beauty of the world the paragon of animals
And yet to me what is the quintessance of dust?
Man delights not me; no, nor women neither."

Nor women neither.

- Chicken Fox, 05 June 2006

Currently Reading Cell: A Novel By Stephen King see related

WELL, THIS'LL PUT A DOWNER ON YOU

Quote of The Week: "Then we'll be dead, yet still alive... Like Leonard Cohen!"
- "Neil" from The Young Ones as he realises a vampire is about to attack.

Got my results from the January Modules this week. They weren't awesome.

English Language: C
Business Studies: U

U!? What in the blue fuck is a U? I didn't even know we had Us.

Don't know whether I've mentioned this before, but I need an A in English Language and an A in Business Studies to get into the University of Liverpool. Fuck. Resit, here I come; so long, £60.

In other news, my uncle is in hospital with what must be his third stroke. He's also had multiple heart attacks in the past, and I can only pray that he pulls through this time. Any other prayers or just thoughts would be appreciated.

To top off the week, I awoke this morning to find not one, but two puddles of red (red!) vomit in my room. And this is not a Liverpool FC joke: I actually did throw up crimson sick.

I have come to the following conclusion: I cannot hold my red wine.

Currently Reading The Big Sleep & Farewell, My Lovely (Modern Library) By Raymond Chandler see related

WE HAVE TITLES NOW?

Quote of The Week: I've been too fucking busy, and vice versa.
- Dorothy Parker

Wow, it's been so long since I updated, I'm pretty fucking sure that no one reads this any more. But here goes anyway.

Chicken Fox has started another novel! That's right, in between intense schoolwork, updating my website (www.thepageoflegend.tk) and deep philosophical thoughts you wouldn't understand, I'll be finding time to actually sit down and write something. In fact, it's already started: I have roughly 7,000 words down at the moment, which makes up the first two chapters and the prologue (gotta have a prologue).

In truth, I'm a little cautious about using the word "novel". Probably doesn't help that I was once called "a gay novel-writing faggot" when I spoke of my literary ambitions in public, but also as a teenager, it makes me sound like some pseudo-intellectual who's attempts to realise his aspirations are coming too soon. Which of course I am, but at the same time, this thing is primarily for my own enjoyment. If any of you want to read my efforts, that's fine. But I'm not deluding myself into thinking I'm writing the great British book here, or even anything that will get published.

The story? Well, it's a weird one. The original premise started as Metal Gear Solid set in a school, but as it's developed in my mind there is now a definite theme running through, and it has somewhat betrayed the initial concept. I don't want to give too much away, and in truth I can't anyway; Stephen King once said that writing a novel shouldn't involve a pre-emptive plot and is more like discovering a fossil than anything, so solid details aren't really at hand.

--

Regardless of what my "Currently Reading" would lead you to believe, I have just this week finished my reread of Raymond Chandler's first two novels. Between them and Stephen King's new Cell (which I thankfully haven't finished), I have to say I'm enjoying something of a renaissance period in my reading.

Chandler practically defined the hardboiled detective with The Big Sleep, but that's beside the point: his novels are a fuckload of fun and extremely witty. There may be one or two plot holes, but you have such a good time with them that you won't even notice.

Cell, on the other hand, is actually a twist on the Romero school of zombie cinema disguised as a King novel. Anyone who's seen Night of The Living Dead, Dawn of The Dead etc. will feel right at home by the second chapter, and anyone who loves King's minimilist but very effective style will be reveling in the book long before then. It gets my recommendation if you feel as if you need a good scare.

'Til next time, whenever the bollocks that will be.

Currently Reading Red Dragon By Thomas Harris see related

Quote of The Week: Hay más tiempo que vida (There is more time than life)
- NathanVersus

It's been a funny week.

Well, not exactly funny. More like heart-wrenchingly eventful.

Firstly, I found out some really disturbing stuff about a good friend of mine. I'd never mention names or implicate anyone, but what I heard involved sexual assult... made worse by the fact that the perpertrator of this crime is also one of my closest friends, whom I've known for many years more. Truly sickening, but that just set me up for the next few days.

Last Thursday, news reached me of the passing of my former teacher and deputy headmistress, Mrs Nelson-Woods. Mrs Nelson-Woods taught me Biology for just over a year before breast cancer took hold of her, and she struggled on bravely for another year and a half before succumbing. I didn't know her half as well as I would have liked, but I always regarded her as an excellent teacher and disciplinarian, which earned her respect, fear (and hatred) among certain circles within the student body, as well as love. She was at Calday for over 30 years, and despite what anyone said, I know she always put the students first, and my lasting image of her will be of a still tough if uncharacteristically greying woman in her final few months, seemingly energetic and ruthless as ever as she instructed me to tuck my shirt as I got off the bus. That, and her ever-changing hairstyles throughout the years I was at Calday.

On Saturday, things began to improve for me as British sport enjoyed a red letter day. The English football team defeated ancient rivals Argentina, ranked the second best team in the world, in the best friendly match I have ever had the pleasure of watching. England also beat old enemies Australia in the rugby union, and in rugby league Great Britain overcame the New Zealand All-Blacks. Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff bowled the hell out of Pakistan in the cricket.

Then, I was mentally struck down again. Late last night, while I was in the middle of a history essay, I discovered that Eddie Guerrero, the professional wrestler and one of my few inspirations, had passed away aged 38. The heart that had gifted him the charisma and courage to go out nearly every night and entertain had given up on him as he brushed his teeth in a hotel room, a week before many speculated that he was booked to win the WWE Championship.

This, unlike my teacher's death, was completely shocking and unexpected. Eddie had overcome his prescription drug problems four years ago and had been apparently teetotal ever since. I admit to my eyes swelling with tears as I read the news on WWE.Com, and was immediately moved to write a tribute to the great man, which can be read on www.ThePageofLegend.tk. He leaves behind a wife and three children, with whom my prayers and condolences reside, and one hell of a legacy.

I feel, for the first time in a while, emotionally drained. Too much so to think of an effective ending for this commentary.