Stuart McLean book tour for the Vinyl Cafe Unplugged
Monday May 22, Ottakar's in Putney Exchange


Stuart McLean, Canadian broadcaster and writer, tells his hilarious tales from the Vinyl Cafe centered around the Vinyl Cafe owner Fave and his family and chronicling their valiant attempts to rise to the challenges of modern life. In these hymns to common foibles and absurdities, nothing ever quite goes according to plan. Stuart's first visit the UK last year was a temendous success and he returns to the UK in May 2006 for a nationwide tour to promot his new book Vinyl Cafe Unplugged.

More about Stuart McLean

The Canadian version of the Portuguese Nuno Markl is in London …. Although 20 years older. The guy is a radio comediant that as recently launched a book: Vinyl Cafe. He's really funny he talks about daily life situations in such a way that can make a stone laugh out laud. Not a difficult task he said, “…All one needs is to be silly but in the right moment”. I had the privilege to be sitting 5 feet from him and to hear him telling 2 of his stories. I was so delighted hearing him and his inspirational tails with such a great humour… that I ended up buying his book and I even found myself in the queue for an autograph.
When I was actually in from of the guy…we had a little conversation in which of course he asked me where am I from…and he looked at me and said: “Run out of ink … sorry no autograph”. Fortunately he was just kidding…
I was really curious to read what he was about to write to me, expecting of course something really substantial.
We shaked hands and as soon as I coud I opened the book where I could read in a blue permanent ink:

For you Sofia,

HAPPY TRAILS,

Well this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting… I mean… 2 words… 2 little words. And the worst… What does this mean? He’s the guy trying to tell me I should go in an Inter-Rail... He’s he sending me back home?
Well none of these. According to my Canadian friends this simple words have a deep meaning… It’s like “good journey throw your life”… And it looks like there’s a very famous Canadian song that talks about this… Happy trails la la la …..

THE ROYAL BALLET - La Fille mal gardée
Ballet in Two Acts Choreography by Frederick Ashton

It was beautiful.... The Royal Opera House in Convent Garden it's amazingly beautiful... the perfect performances and the very witty love comedy... made it definitely worthed to be seen.

I particularly liked the chickens dance... The guys must have first observed very well every single detail of a chicken’s movements.... it was very funny and at the same time perfect ...
Everything was synchronised ... all the steps matched with the orchestra music rhythm.


During the break I noticed that more than one woman that were standing near the entrance to the stalls were trying some dance steps ... that explained a lot to me because I just felt exactly the same... I felt like jumping and dancing ... all way home =)

By the way I did try to dance at home... didn't work very well !!!!


Another note:
PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOUR 4 YEARS OLD CHILD TO THE BALLET...
I love children ..but give me a break .... there's nothing more annoying then having a little child in front of you ...doing funny faces at you ... and asking silly questions in laud voice, to daddy and mummy... and ending up falling asleep in the chair ... this when you are tying to watch the ballet.... My question is: Isn't it babysitting less expensive.




Short Summary

Frederick Ashton's pastoral comedy La Fille mal gardée is one of the most beautifully constructed of all ballets, full of detailed character observation and poetic lyricism suited to its story of young love.
First performed in 1960, it has established itself as one of the most charming works in the Company repertory, and is always a sunny addition to the Season. Although Widow Simone is determined to marry her daughter Lise off to the simple son of a wealthy farmer, Lise has other plans. She is head over heels in love with the poor Colas, and both use every trick they can to outwit the Widow so they can be together.

IS IT ALL ABOUT MONEY?


Money can’t buy health,
But we need money to buy medicine when we or our children are ill.

Money can’t buy friendship,
But with money we can give a big party and join all our friends.

Money can’t buy love,
But men can pay to have a beautiful woman who to make love with.

Money can’t buy happiness,
But if we give money to the one’s in need, we can help them to live happier.

Money can’t buy success in life,
But if you are successful you have plenty of money.

Money can’t buy luck,
But if you have money, you’re very lucky.

Money can’t buy destiny,
But with money your options expand drastically.

Money can’t buy life,
But without money you have to struggle to survive.

Money is not everything, but surely is something

Sofia

Never trust critics - "Secretary"... the worst movie ever....

Last weekend I went to Virgin Mega store in Piccadilly and I’ve spent their almost 2 hours .. diving throw all the DVD’s and CD’s …I completely lost track of time… I wanted to buy a good DVD .. a very good one .. the best one ever made by Human Kind…just couldn't find it...but I knew it should be out there, somewhere in a hiden shelve…

So I kept searching and searching ….

Of course it took me a long time to decide…don’t know yet why but I always had this great talent for having difficulties in choosing between whatever we are talking about:
The other day for instance I went out and I was so between Corona and a glass of red wine ( which may occur to you have much in common) that I kept staring at the bartender for at least 2 minutes…. Which is a lot considering that the bar was crowded and that I wasn’t definitely trying to seduce the guy …. Well as you can see I am very straightforward when the hard task of making choices is concerned.

So…I ended up buying “Secretary” ….. Ok Ok for the one's who might have seen it ….don’t laugh at me…I read the plot ok? And for your knowledge maybe that’s what tricked me. The movie has 7.2 stars out of 10 and was awarded in “Fantasporto” “London Movies festival “ “Canada Festival “ etc… It looked very good to me… =)

I went home …I tried to create the perfect atmosphere: no lights…. popcorns… I stretched my legs and I was ready to see the amazing acquisition……

I prefer to leave all the comments about the movie to your consideration….

At the beginning I must say that I believed somehow that something would happen …at some point that would make the movie… a masterpiece … but instead.. I kept absent minded all the time: 1st thinking that I should stop the DVD player… run outside the house… and before anyone could see just jump in the DVD till it would be triumphantly squeezed…. 2nd I felt an awkward desire to kill the main actress whose voice was so but so irritating that I couldn’t help myself from wanting to break her neck …. 3rd I thought that one day my children may step into it at home… “I need to HIDE IT” - I thought…

While all these thoughts were crossing my mind …. I laughed so much….but so much that I think it might have worthed to have bought that peace of junk….



Plot Summary


Lee Holloway is a smart, quirky woman in her twenties who returns to her hometown in Florida after a brief stay in a mental hospital. In search of relief from herself and her oppressive childhood environment, she starts to date a nerdy friend from high school and takes a job as a secretary in a local law firm, soon developing an obsessive crush on her older boss, Mr. Grey. Through their increasingly bizarre relationship, Lee follows her deepest longings to the heights of masochism and finally to a place of self-affirmation.