Oh I See…

Well, this is quite novel I must admit. It has been some time since I woke to see the morning side of 12pm. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it just yet because I think the Nytols are still wearing off but all things considered, I should get to see more sunshine today – never a bad thing. Although, saying that, it’s cloudy. Bah!

I’ve been meaning to blog on many occasions since my last update but haven’t got around to it or have found/had something else to do. I’ve been working on three projects lately and trying to juggle them at the same time – which has been fine – but at the moment I am in zero gravity; that is to say I’ve thrown all the balls up and they’ve stayed…up. I’m hoping gravity is kind and brings them down one at a time…although, we all know from the comedic version (I still find it a little too good to be true) of Newton and the apple that they’ll probably all come down at once. Had he known the apple was going to fall, I’m sure he’d have chosen/hoped for his lap to be the receiving party, rather than his bonce!

Whilst I’ve been AFB (Away From Blogging – oh the things I do with acronyms!) Top Gear has returned. How fab! The first episode of the new series went well I thought. It was funny, informative and good entertainment. I’m not entirely sure about the whole stuntman thing though. I didn’t find it particularly funny and it came across as being a bit of a ‘time filler’. Andy Wilman (Top Gear’s producer) says we should give him a chance as he does get funnier…we’ll see, but Andy, you may need to go back to the drawing board on this one.

Episode two tonight, which I’m looking forward to. Namely because the RS6 and CLK Black films look brilliant but also because I’ve been thinking about trying to cast Rupert Penry-Jones in my film when it comes to fruition and I’d like to see what he’s like. I did have a couple of ideas for ‘A Star In A Reasonably Priced Car’ but I can’t remember them. I know one was Kate Beckinsale (of course) and the other was…umm…nope, can’t remember. It was a good one though!

Talking of my film, I’ve been writing little bits to my novel occasionally and have been finding it tricky to avoid humour. I want the novel/film to be slightly darker than the likes of Bond etc. Obviously, it won’t be completely devoid of humour as that would be a shame but it won’t be ‘silly’ humour. The section I’m writing at the moment is a dialogue and the situation is inherantly funny. However, it’s one of those things where it can be deadly serious but funny at the same time, depending on how you read it. Still, it’s a first draft, I can refine it later.

As it’s a sunday, I think I’ll take advantage of the patchy sunshine and go and sit out in the garden on my hammock.

Actually…do you sit (or lay, even) IN or ON a hammock?

Image Copyright Top Gear/BBC

Branson Pwnz Lodge

I remember watching Top Gear on one of the nights the chaps had one of their infamous ‘races’. They had already raced an Aston Martin DB9 against a series of trains to Monte Carlo but on the night in question the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti would be put through its paces in a battle against a plane. I, along with many others, watched on in anticipation as the trio battled the elements from Dunsfold (which is just up the road from me) all the way to the ski resort of Verbier in the Swiss Alps.

I was especially looking forward to this episode for a few reasons, chief among which was the 612 itself. I never particularly liked the Ferrari 456M but it did grow on me after a while; frustratingly, this new-found appreciation came just as it was being replaced by the 612 Scaglietti. I was hoping then, that the 612 would be a wonderful car and I’d love it. That was until I saw the pictures. Oh dear. I didn’t much like the look of it and wondered what the designers were thinking, putting those looks on a Ferrari. The episode was a chance for me to have a good look at it from all angles.

One of the other reasons for looking forward to this episode was the Alps. I love the snow, I love the cold and I love mountains. Combine this with a supercar and a race and you’re set for a fantastic episode.

You may remember the destination the three were aiming for; The Lodge, Verbier. As it happens, the same venue has just been purchased by Beardy himself (that is not an insult to the man), Sir Richard Branson. Yes, Branson has added The Lodge to his Virgin Limited Edition collection. After some serious (£3.7m) renovation since the Top Gear chaps were there, this alpine getaway has become the most expensive chalet in the Alps. With the entire chalet (which accommodates up to 18 adults in nine rooms and up to six children in a bunk room) available for exclusive hire in winter, priced from £36,250 a week, you could enjoy your daily ski on the slopes to return to a fully-staffed chalet to relax for the evening.

£36,250 a week may seem like a lot but if you have 17 friends who wouldn’t mind going skiing with you, it only works out at about £288 per person, per night. Roughly £2000 for effectively your own small hotel for a week sounds pretty reasonable when 5* hotel costs are taken into consideration. If, however, you wanted to treat a friend, you could stump up the whole sum and bathe in the tranquility of peacefulness. If I were taking Kate Beckinsale, this would be my choice. Although, I fear I’d have to give the skiing a miss due to the lack of limbs I’d incur whilst raising the funds.

If you don’t have to sell body parts to afford such luxury, perhaps you could drive there in your 612 Scaglietti. It’s quicker than a plane at any rate.

digg story