Archive for the ‘videos’ Category

Posted on December 24, 2007 - by MG

Happy Christmas

Well, there’s just the present wrapping to do and we’re done!

Very tempted to go to midnight Mass. But not sure I can handle a third late night! We were all out yesterday at a friend’s house where we got together with mutual friends for drinks and munchies. At around eleven we had the idea to get our children (eight between us) to entertain us by playing their musical instruments. We tried this last year and they all grumpily refused. But this year they were happy to do it! We sat around for two hours, dazed and proud watching as the kids aged between 9 and 15 played piano, violin, recorder, trumpet, guitar and bongos – all from memory – the clever little poppets. It ended with a jam session on ‘Take Five’.

“This is what I dreamed it would be like to live in Oxford,” cried London-born Jane in delight.

That’s what I’m talking about. Make those music lessons pay!

Luckily they didn’t ask the grown-ups to perform.

Blog readers – I hope you all have a lovely Christmas break with your families and/or friends.

Here’s my favourite Christmas carol, sung by those fab choristers from King’s College.

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (by Elizabeth Poston)
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Posted on December 14, 2007 - by MG

Believe It Or Not…

I’m considering changing my phone message to our own version of George Costanza’s (of Seinfeld) Believe It Or Not.

We did this a few years ago and it was great – it annoyed everyone who called us. I particularly remember hearing my mother-in-law tutting and clucking with annoyance. In those days I occasionally got phone calls from friends, but nowadays most people realise that I don’t like the phone and they write me emails or send texts.

So all that’s left are the telemarketers…

For those who don’t know and love Seinfeld, here’s the clip:

(my favourite bit comes when George is listening to it second time round, hears the line ‘where could I be?’ and shrugs, askance…)

Posted on November 27, 2007 - by MG

Me, I kill you!

Up late last night talking to my cousin Oscar Raul on MSN and trading Youtube links, he showed me this very funny ventriloquist ‘bit’ – Achmed the Dead Terrorist performed by Jeff Dunham.

I laughed and laughed and laughed. Oscar and I love the joke that plays at around 7 minutes.

Posted on November 19, 2007 - by MG

Animoto – “Invisible City” slideshow

My agent told me about this cool new site for creating animated slideshows… Animoto.

So naturally, I’ve been having a bit of a play…

Heh heh. That was fun…

Here’s another remix. This is just experimental…I may well sign up for the full $30 per year to get unlimited videos of longer than 30 secs.

The music is ‘Invisible City’ by Beight, on the album File In Rhythm purchased from Magnatune.

Posted on October 6, 2007 - by MG

To Mexico – in one week!

This time next week I will in at Healthrow airport waiting for a flight to Toronto, Canada and then to Cancun, Mexico!!!!

Gosh I’m looking forward to it. The family are taking a break to do a Joshua Files Roadtrip. We had planned to follow in Josh’s footsteps from Chetumal all the way to Catemaco but honestly the driving would just be too tiring.

So we’re doing a cut down version. I will be posting much more about this, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, especially for Lucas, I dug out this TV ad for Josh’s favourite cupcakes, which he eats on his bus journey through Yucatan in ‘Invisible City’.

The are called ‘Pinguinos’ and are like Hostess cupcakes – white vanilla cream inside a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and a squiggle of white icing on top. And a childhood favourite of mine.

Mmmm, additives.