IT IS THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER WHICH DOTH MOCK THE MEAT IT FEEDS ON!

My brother's Christmas gifts arrived from Amazon toaday: Manga Shakespeare published by the amazing Self Made Hero. I've bought him Othello and Richard III. Othello looks especially cool.

"Osada brings a sense of ethereal and otherwordly enchantment to the story, re-imgining the setting in a Venice populated by winged beings, whre the lines between animals and humans become blurred."
- NEO magazine 'The Best Manga of 2009' feature (February 2009)

“O! BEWARE, MY LORD, OF JEALOUSY! IT IS THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER WHICH DOTH MOCK THE MEAT IT FEEDS ON.” Beginning with an argument in a street in Venice, the grudges and passionate jealousies that fuel Othello’s misfortunate plot are quickly revealed. This tale of the difficulties of military heroism and love travels to Cyprus where Shakespeare explores the nature of appearance and reality, and the dangers of isolation, jealousy and betrayal.

Ugly tree

"You are not your reclaimed Victorian hospital restoration apartment."

Remember that moment near the beginning of Fight Club when The Narrator's condo explodes? Something very similar happened yesterday in West Didsbury. From the Manchester Evening News:

It is believed the first explosion was caused when a workman was drilling through pipes under the central tower of the building.

Workmen at the scene told the MEN that a spark from a colleague’s saw ignited into a fireball.

The 40-year-old man was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary suffering burns. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Following the fireball at 8.50am, contractors were evacuated from the area and site managers also moved residents from the 20 flats in the building which are already occupied.

Decadence is...

...a bottle of M&S lager in a zone 1 hotel.

And the news, in your underpants today, is...

A hotel room can be a terribly lonely place. A Corby Trouser Press isn’t much company. There was one chair at the desk, and another at a small round table. This was room 628, but I imagined that it was the same as pretty much any room in the whole building. There’s nothing like the anonymity of a one-night visit to make you feel like a cog in the machine. I put my trousers in the Corby, and sat down to watch telly in my underpants.

Cupcakes

Bangers and Pippa

“Come round for your tea!” said Pippa.
“You betcha!” said I.
“Bangers and mash okay for you DTRMCR?”
“It’s my favourite food of all time.”
“So how’s your love life?”
“It’s complicated, but quite interesting.”
“Oooh!”

"You're a honey with a following..."

I confessed in a note, on green paper, then got on my bike, and dropped it round. This time tomorrow Nic will know I was behind the flowers. And soon I’ll know what Nic thinks about me. I’m nervous, but excited too.

Too much magic potion

Kate and I were invited to Annelore’s French-themed fancy dress party. I dressed as Asterix, and Kate went as a mime. There were several French peasants who looked like they’d have been quite at home in Dulcimer. Is Chorlton particularly French? It’s a matter of style, I suppose, and of fashion. There were several tricolours, and a couple of Thierry Henrys, but the best outfit there, by miles, was an accordion. I’ll have to find Annelore’s blog to see if there are any photos.

After a little bit too much magic potion, I wandered over to Eeyuni, Nicola’s housemate. Graham’s advice – you need to do something about this Nic situation – was ringing in my ears. As we spoke, I explained that I was behind the flowers. Eeyuni’s advice was very similar to Graham’s – do anything, but do something!