Network(!) Rail

Okay! Time for a bit of a moan. As you know I attended the Harlequins v Bath rugby union match today. This involved getting a train from Reading to Twickenham. Herein lies the problem - there were engineering works on South West Trains line from Reading to London Waterloo. As a result certain stations, including Twickenham, were closed for most of the day. Knowing there was a problem when I bought my tickets I asked for details at Reading Station. The employee who sold me my ticket told me there were "no engineering works" as did the representative on the customer information desk.

The issue is that the rail companies are clearly not speaking to each other!!! Reading station is run by First Great Western whereas the line in question is run by South West Trains.

In the end it was not a problem as we just caught a bus replacement from Hounslow.

BUT WE ARE PAYING INCREASING FARES FOR AN INCREASINGLY INEFFICIENT AND DIS-JOINTED RAIL SERVICE! WHY!!!

Rant over!

This is the age of the Train!

Phoenix

Harlequins Rugby

The Harlequins Rugby Club colours must be unique in world sport. Their home shirt has Cerise, Blue, Brown, Grey, Green and Black all as main colours. This shirt is both unique and clashes with all their opponents. The current shirt is below:

I think this shirt is pretty cool. I like the dark silouette (hope I spelled that right!) of the London skyline and the sponser (not shown here) on the back - Greene King IPA - is one of my favourite beers.

I bought one of these replica shirts at the Harlequins v Bath Rugby match today.

It was a good afternoon out, but the game itself - a 6-6 draw - was not the best. In fact it was one of the worse games I have ever seen live. Ho hum!

Up the Quins!

Phoenix

Megan Fox 2

Another picture of the delectable Miss Fox - actually I think she's married now :-(

Why have I posted this?
1. Because I can.
2. Because it is only fair on her! All my other favorites already have 2 photos, but Megan only had 1.
3. I like this picture :-) It is an advert for Armani (I think).

Phoenix

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Last night I attended a free seminar by the Rich Dad Foundation in Reading. I attended with a former colleague, her boyfriend and brother. Fpr those of you who are not aware "Rich Dad Poor Dad" is a best selling guide to investment By Robert Kiyosaki. I have not read the book, but my colleague had and found it useful in parts.

The free seminar was perhaps not surprisingly a two hour sales pitch for a three day course on how to get rich quick from property investment. There is alot on the internet about this being a scam, particularly in America. However, I am open minded enough to think there is something in it. Certainly, as the presenter Stephen Sweet  said:

- In the long term property values go up.
- No one gets rich without taking action.
- Postitive mental attitude / mindset is important.

However, I am not in a position to "invest" nearly £800 of my money in what is clearly a bit of a gamble.

Food for thought though...

Phoenix

Rest of the top 5

Ok, Megan is one of them as you may have guessed. The others on my top 5 celebrity wish list are...

Natalie Imbruglia... I'm torn

Eliza Dushku... of Buffy and Dollhouse(!) fame

Myleene Klass... the best reason to shop at M&S!

Jennifer Love Hewitt... I know what she did last summer!

Actually, there is someone missing, so it is going to have to be a top 6...

Finally

Rachel Stevens... my LA X


Ok, so I clearly like my brunettes. But I think I have good taste.

A man can dream, can't he?

Phoenix

Megan Fox

In answer to the question in my first entry - the " Welcome to my Blog" entry: Did I like that film because it was a good film or because Megan Fox was in it?

The answer is usually "because Megan was in it"! See "Transformers", "Transformers Revenge of the Fallen".

Gratuitous picture of Megan in underwear in bed smiling at me to prove the point:

Exception: "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People". That was good, not great but good. Megan and Simon Pegg in the same film. Who would have thought...?

Phoenix

What are you reading?

I am currently reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K Dick. It is a book I have wanted to read for sometime and when I saw a copy for £2 in HMV in Manchester I picked it up.

This book was famously filmed in the early 80s by Ridley Scott as "Blade Runner" starring Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard the lead character.

I am only a couple of chapters into the book and have never seen the film (surprisingly). So I am doing it the right way round for a change. Unlike, say the Bourne or Harry Pottter films.

Reviews will no doubt follow.

Phoenix

Welcome to my blog

Hello and welcome to my blog.


I thought that I would start by giving my reasons for doing this and explaining myself:


I am going to call myself Phoenix. This is not a veiled tribute to Jean Grey of the X-Men, I am going to use this name for two reasons:
1. To preserve my anonimity. I intend to make these post anonymously. This will allow me to be totally honest (even though few if anyone will read this anyway) and therefore it will be more of a useful tool - both for me and anyone who might chose to read it.
2. I think that the rebirth of the Phoenix - from the ashes - is appropriate to what I am trying to achieve for myself. A new beginning. In the words of Paul Weller "You know it's never too late / To make a Brand New Start".

So what am I going to blog about? And why?


Firstly what...?
Well basically anything and everything - movie reviews, book reviews, TV, the weather, work, play, relationships, sex, art, sport. Whatever I have been doing, want to do. Whatever is on my mind.


Secondly why...?
Well why not...?
Actually I have long believed that it is easy to think too much and sometimes writing things down helps one order what is going on in their head. It can help to answer banal questions such as "Did I like that film because it was good? Or was it just because Megan Fox was in it?" and less banal questions such as "What is the meaning of life?" or "Am I doing the right thing for me? Or for others?"


I welcome any comments, questions or suggestions.


Have a nice day!


Phoenix