Here are some highlights from March 2021: A week of annual leave for Sam's birthday, walks and car picnics at Kingston Lacy and Arne, Netflix's Moxie, the rollercoaster conclusion of Alexander Freed's Alphabet Squadron trilogy with Victory's Price, WandaVision handing the baton to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, my first Da Mario pizza in … Continue reading March 2021
Adjusted dials
How is it we manage to change behind our own backs? You can be going about your day, minding your business, when suddenly you notice something different about the way you feel or the way you've handled a situation. You surprise yourself. It's happened to me a few times recently and I'm wondering how much … Continue reading Adjusted dials
February 2021
Here are some highlights from February 2021: Spring making an early appearance this month, WandaVision getting weird and wilder, an album release each week to look forward to, all four albums delivering the goods (Foo Fighters - Medicine At Midnight, Pale Waves - Who Am I?, The Hold Steady - Open Door Policy, Maximo Park … Continue reading February 2021
Burning days
The act of burning cards in poker is fascinating when you stop and think about it. I've had some explosive nights playing that game, the sort that tested friendships over the sake of less than £50 prize money. The outcome of those evenings (and the subsequent time after) could have been totally altered if the … Continue reading Burning days
January 2021
Here are some highlights from January 2021: Disney / Pixar's Soul, Two Track Mind's Album Club 2021 podcast, the first four episodes of WandaVision, making the jump to an e-reader (Kobo), the first book in Star Wars: The High Republic (The Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule), the first two album shows in Jimmy … Continue reading January 2021
Lessons From Punk Rock – The Intro
This photo is of me in November 2004, hustling demo CDs outside Mister Smiths (previously of Poole Hill, Bournemouth) with a former partner in crime, Alice Ralph, looking very cool in her Le Tigre t shirt. I’m glad my friend Kerry captured this moment as it’s the perfect photo to introduce a new series of … Continue reading Lessons From Punk Rock – The Intro
Traditions
Traditions serve as a comfort blanket. A warm and fuzzy feeling, with an undertone of being held back. It's worth remembering that all our traditions started somewhere, while we were idly going about our lives. It may sound cynical, but I say this as someone who likes having markers throughout the year. Along the way … Continue reading Traditions
Talking Star Wars and Trek with Trisha Lewis
I had a great time sitting down to talk with fellow Bournemouth University alumni and You Are The Media regular, Trisha Lewis earlier this month about all things Star Wars and Star Trek, via Zoom for her podcast Make It Real. From Trisha's website.. Episode 77: Liam Toms - Star Wars v Trek (Emotional Pull) … Continue reading Talking Star Wars and Trek with Trisha Lewis
Custodians
A colleague recently told me that a line in a previous post I wrote stood out to him. It was about how I enjoy reconnecting with the people who I have "joint custody with" over a set of memories. It made me laugh because when I wrote it, I surprised myself by how much it … Continue reading Custodians
Keepsake
Between starting to look forward and still sorting through the life luggage, I've been thinking a lot in the past couple of weeks about how relevant it is who we once were or who we've always been, when considering who we might be in the future. When it feels like something is missing in life, … Continue reading Keepsake
Hibernation
Around this time last year I was feeling burnt out. I know, it's become a buzz term, but there's a lot of truth to this modern sensation that we just used to call "tired". Compared to thirty years ago, we don't live simple lives anymore. Even those of us in the mundanity of the suburbs … Continue reading Hibernation
The significance of Cobb Vanth
I've often heard football fans say it's a hard life supporting (enter your team name here). I'm not remotely interested in the game but I always felt I could relate to this. When you go all in on something, you naturally wind up in a position where you find yourself having to defend it, perhaps … Continue reading The significance of Cobb Vanth
