chrisfawkes's Xanga

Mamma Mia

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:40:38 GMT

I cried. Just a fun ride, go see it.

That's my brother Martin in the grass at the end of the cinema car park. I should add that he didn't see Mamma Mia nor ever will.

Seven Graphs To End Global Warming Hype

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:57:34 GMT

This article by Andrew Bolt shows that the world has not warmed in ten years.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/column_seven_graphs_to_end_the_warming_hype/

I Just Saw Batman

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:25:03 GMT

And i loved it. The story was pretty intense so not one of those film where you just disengage the brain and enjoy.

Heath Ledger is brilliant as the Joker and completely buries Jack Nicholsons portrayal of the character. Much the same way that Chris Nolan's two films bury the Tim Burton ones.

Aaron Eckhardt is also excellent and when you see him as Two Face it really looks like he has half a face.

Very dark so not one for the kiddies. In fact anyone under the age of 25 may want someone to hold their hands. Especially some scenes with the Joker.

There is a very clever magic trick i'll have to use on a camp sometime. If i can find any volunteers.

BatMan

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:49:15 GMT

Several hours ago i was in the middle of a dillema. How was i going to get through the next few days. BatMan comes out this Wednesday but oh how long the wait will be.

Then a couple of hours ago i received a call from my brother in law Robert wanting to know if i would like to go to an advanced screening tommorow.

My sister Caroline had won tickets and did not really want to see it.

This is probably nothing to most people but it was like one of those times in the bible when a barren woman found out she was pregnant because the Lord had heard her cries.

So despite a throbbing head cold my heart is happy.

Caroline has always won stuff. Her daughters are the same. One time Emma won a double pass to a movie with the local radio station and as soon as she was done talking she hit redial and called one of her sisters over and they picked up another double pass.

Even recently there was a competition for a mothers day poem. My sister Helen wrote the following:

God made little boys with banged up knees,
To run up mountains and climb up trees.
He made little girls with cherub grins,
With pretty dresses and twirling spins.
Then He looked down and He knew right then
They need someone to love and nurture them,
To listen to stories of adventures begun
Cuddle and hug through an upset tum,
Patch the knees and dry the tears,
Listen to worries and allay the fears
To teach them how to splash in streams,
Reach for the stars and follow their dreams.
So He created woman in His infinite Grace
To love that angel He had generously placed.
And when He looked down at the work He had done
He was pleased for He had created Mum!
- Helen Grull

They liked it enough to read it on air. It was Carolines little ditty though that won a dinner for two at a $50 a plate restaurant and a microwave oven.

Here is Caroline's contribution to the fine art of poetry

She is our sunshine
Our only sunshine
She makes us happy
When we are sad
etc etc etc

Now if that's not testimoney to the fact that winning is often a supernaturaly endowed ability i don't know what is.

Sorry Caroline but thanks for the ticket.

I may even dust off my batman outfit for a pic for tommorows entry.

Hancock

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:13:35 GMT

Should have been brilliant. In fact the first half was very promising. But then the revealing parts of the story ended up pretty lame.
I'm not dissapointed that i saw it but knowing what i do now i would wait for dvd.
Charlise Therone looked amazing but did i need to say that?
Go see Get Smart again.

The Best Mash Potato...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30:09 GMT

I ever ate was tonight. I got this idea from a television interview i saw a few seconds of while i was doing something else.

The chef was saying that he boils his potato's in the jackets the peels them afterwards. This keeps all the goodness and flavor in the potato.

I'm sure that's old news to many but to me it was a revelation.

I mashed as normal, he mashed by pushing the peeled potato through a strainer.

All i can say is it was amazing just how much tastier it was.

Chocolate Cake:

I like cakes too. I cheat somewhat.

Here is how it goes. Soak one and a half cups of rolled oats in three cups of water in a bowl and cover for two days.

Then get some cheesecloth and squeeze out the liquid from the oats. Ditch the oats unless you have another recipe you can use them for.

Mix the liquid from the squeezed oats witha bottle of scotch, a cup and a half of honey and a cup and a half of low fat cream and stir until all is mixed in well.

Now get a Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix and a tub betty crocker dark chocolate icing.

Bake the cake in a round tin and as soon as it is cooked split it into two halves.
On one half grate a block of lindt milk chocolate. On the other spread it with strawberry jam (jelly) and a thin coat of marshmallow fluff. Put the cake back together and allow to cool. Do not refrigerate.

When you are ready to serve melt the betty crocker icing in a microwave or in a saucepan. Put out each serving plate and with a fork dip it in the melted chocolate and make a zig zag pattern on each plate.

Now cut a thin slice of the cake and lay sideways on the plate. You may wish to heat the slices for a few seconds in the microwave before putting on plate.

Pour some of the original scotch and oatmeal sauce on the cake leaving a tiny pool at the front of the wedge. Now pour a little of the melted chocolate icing.

Place half a strawberry next to the cake and sprinkle a little icing sugar over the top and serve.

If it does not turn out to be the most orgasmic cake experience of your life let me know.

The leftover scotch sauce you drink.

Prince Caspian

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:11:47 GMT

Was great. Much darker than The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and better for it.
It's going to be a good year for films. Indiana Jones was great. Iron Man was also great.
Still to come.
Batman
Get Smart
The Hulk
James Bond
Then next year Star Trek.

Facebook Wedding Photographers

Sun, 25 May 2008 13:56:23 GMT

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14189578787

Neika & Tim

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:49:56 GMT

Neika and Tim got married. We did the after ceremony photos down at Bells Beach.

One of the cars caught fire on the way which shaved an hour off of our time. Neika and Tim don't get fazed by much though and this was no exception. Nothing was going to stop this being one great day.

Having known Neika since she was ten it's so great to know she married such a terrific guy too. I kind of went through that with my sisters also and they all married really nice guys so now the crossbow is on ebay.

Neika and Tim's Album Showcase can be seen here.

Bob's Visit

Mon, 05 May 2008 14:04:36 GMT

I got a message on my facebook last week. My buddy Bob from Public Image Photography in Atlanta Georgia was in Australia for a whirlwind trip and wanted to catch up.

Bob used to work for me seven years ago before heading over to the U.S to live. Though i've known him since he was eight.

Our time was brief but so good to catch up with a friend i consider a brother.

The shots are Bob, myself and my real brother Martin when we went out for coffee.
Bob's site can be seen here