Lonely This Christmas

This is a favourite of mine from the mid 1970's when we used to gather around the tv looking at what would be the seasonal hit of the year.

Lonely This Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

Grave of the Fireflies

Coming up to christmas so I have been adding to my collection of full length Studio Ghibi anime movies.

This, possibly the bleakest anime Studio Ghibi have put out is based on an semi-autobiographical novel by Akyluki Nosaka tells the story of two Japanese children Seita aged 14 and his four year old sister Setsuko struggling to survive in war torn Japan with daily American bombing raids and napalm being dropped.
Their mother was killed on a raid on air raid shelter while their father, enrolled in the Japanese Navy remains unknown, they are left to fend for themselves as best they can and even a brief period being looked after by an elderly aunt who is very cold and distant proves no salvation, they set up home in an abandoned air raid shelter.
For a period this brings a sense of peace and solitude as they enjoy watching the fireflies keeping them company, the increasingly worsening situation with its food rationing , Seita finds it an increasing struggle to feed himself and Setsuko to keep them both alive.

Motown Anthologies

As part of my building a music collection, I've sometimes you have to choose between buying whole individual albums and buying recordings that only hits such as compilations either because of economics (albums may be very expensive if out of print) or many of their hit recordings were not on the albums.
For many Motown artists from the 60's, albums were a secondary consideration to the 45's typically containing a couple of hits, their reverse sides and then 8 cover versions so in many ways the compilation if chosen with care makes more sense.

This is a trade advertisement for one of a series released around 1973 and 1974, a 33 track retrospective by Marvin Gaye starting with his hit 45 Stubborn Kind of Fellow from 1963 to his then last studio album Let's Get It On featuring his duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross. Like the ad, my copy is the UK edition.

I also have the Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder and Junior Walker and the All Stars volumes although I don't own the Diana Ross & the Supremes (have both UK volumes of "Greatest Hits" instead), Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Temptations volumes also issued at the time.

 Junior Walker's Anthology is desert island material for me being very distinctive borrowing a lot from jazz.

That one wasn't out for long as Stevie Wonder didn't care much for it issuing Looking Back on November 30th 1977 instead although I feel it's the best selection of his pre Talking book output.It wasn't issued in the UK but imported especially for that market in its three lp plus booklet form.

Also in the series is the Temptations one covering from The Way You Do The Things You Do to 1972's All Directions album.

My copy is the US edition. I also own the 1973 1990 album in a UK pressing STMA 8006

This was issued in late 1973 but not officially part of the Anthology series although in many respects being a double album with all the Four Tops hits up to 1972 on it it almost certainly should be.
Apart from find good stereo recordings, each set has a full colour insert with background capsule, essay and exclusive pictures.

I have the two UK single lps of Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits as issued in 1968 and 1970 that have most of the tracks featured in the 1974 Anthology set as well as the 1974 'new' Supremes Greatest Hits covering the Ross less recordings from 1970 thru 1973 such as Up The Ladder  To Roof, Nathan Jones, Floy Joy and Bad Weather.

Tsubasa Reservior Chronicles

I bought this 6 dvd set that includes all twenty-six episodes of the first season the `Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle' anime a while back but - as ever - have only just gotten around to opening it!

The series follows Sakura and Syaoran as they search for Sakura's memories which have been scattered across numerous parallel worlds in the form of feathers. Joining them on their journey are the warrior Kurogane, the mage Fai, or Fye, together with magical ball of fluff Mokona.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle's is highly enjoyable anime series that has some nice characters and an interesting plot. Regarding the English dub it is relatively good and the soundtrack is beautiful. The series does have a brief crossover with `xxxHolic', which was nice, and it is just a sad that the `xxxHolic' anime didn't follow suit.

Clamp fans will recognize Syaoran and Sakura from Cardcaptors (Disc three has the story of their childhood past) and indeed some might suggest this is a more shonen take on that story but whilst there is some truth in it this goes deeper into the characters.

Highly recommended

A Winter Wonderland

This time of year is always associated to me  with sledging, snowball fights and making snow men which is what I did when I was younger.
I actually damaged my right shoulder and upper arm in my teens when after coming in from a recess snowball fight I came into the classroom near a radiator  that melted the snow on my shoes. This lead to me slipping!
I still have the irresistible urge to throw snowballs at people and to help kids making their snowmen.

Ponyo

Yes at last here is my post about this much anticipated Studio Ghilbi movie Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea.

Unfortunately for those of us living in the UK Optimum Asia the UK distributor, isn't showing the theatrical release until February 12 2010 so the DVD/Blue Ray won't be out before then at least.

Of course as we're in 2009 not 1989 this doesn't mean we can't get to see it as having been shown in the Spring in Japan followed by Summer for North America - with Disney 'English' dub - the DVD and Blue Rays are out in East Asia already.

From Hong Kong you can get the R3 DVD in NTSC and I got to see it.

Buying Asian means we lose the English dub but unless you've very young children it's really no loss and frankly I prefer to hear the original Japanese cast dialog with their intonations intact.

Pictured above is the two dvd edition issued June 7th 2010 in the UK which I own.

Let me start by saying it's very much a children's story with a good heart about acceptance of people for who and what they are are.

The animation is well up to Hayao Mayazaki's excellent standards being well drawn not being upon effects adding to the spoken narration.

I'd give this 9 out 10 as really enjoyed it.

Plot outline:

The plot centres on a fish-girl who lives in an aquarium in her father's underwater castle with numerous smaller sisters. When her father takes her and her siblings on an outing in his four-flippered submarine, she is driven by a desire to see even more of the world and swims away. She ends up stranded on the shore of a small fishing town, and is rescued by a boy named Sosuke. After taking a great liking to her, Sosuke names her Ponyo and promises to protect her forever.

Meanwhile, her father, Fujimoto, is looking for his daughter, upset that she ran away and believes the humans kidnapped her. He calls his wave spirits to return Ponyo to him. Sosuke is heartbroken by this, and goes home with his mother, Lisa (or "Risa" in some translations), who tries to cheer him up, but to no avail. Ponyo and her father have a confrontation, where Ponyo refuses to let her father call her "Brunhilda". She declares her name to be Ponyo, and voices her desire to become human because she has started to fall in love with Sosuke. Her father silences her with difficulty and goes to summon Ponyo's mother.

Meanwhile, Ponyo, with the help of her sisters, breaks away from her father, and uses his magic to make herself human. This causes an imbalance in the world, which in turn results in a huge storm. Riding on the waves of the storm, Ponyo goes back to visit Sosuke. Lisa, Sosuke, and Ponyo stay the night at Sosuke's house, hoping the storm will be over, whereupon Lisa leaves the house to check up on the residents of the nursing home where she works.

Granmamare, Ponyo's mother, arrives at Fujimoto's submarine. Fujimoto notices the moon has come out of its orbit and the satellites are falling like shooting stars. Granmamare declares that if Sosuke can pass a test, Ponyo can live as a human and the world order will be restored. If he fails, Ponyo will turn into sea foam.

Sosuke and Ponyo wake up to find that most of the land around where the house has been covered by the ocean.

Lisa has not retured home yet, so with the help of Ponyo's magic, they make Sosuke's toy boat life-size and set out to find Lisa. While travelling they see ancient extinct fish swimming, such as the Gogonasus and Licosus. After landing and finding Lisa's empty car, Ponyo and Sosuke go through a tunnel. There Ponyo loses her human form and resumes the form of a fish. Sosuke and Ponyo are taken by Fujimoto into the ocean and down to the protected nursing home where they're reunited with Lisa and meet Granmamare, both of whom had just had a long private conversation.

Granmamare asks Sosuke if he can love Ponyo even if she is a fish or human. Sosuke replies that he "loves all the Ponyos".

Granmamare then allows Ponyo to become human once Ponyo kisses Sosuke on the surface. The film ends with Ponyo jumping up and kissing Sosuke, turning while still in the air into a little girl.

Aww. That was cute!
The UK DVD comes out July 8th 2010 and I hope to get a copy.

An American Tale

Following on from the last entry, I replaced my VHS tapes of Steve Spielberg's An American Tale series with the double pack 2 DVD sets. I have felt for along while this series starting from the mid 80's was well animated with a good storyline running through it

Pencil Skirt

An older teen side of my inner child is the memory of the fashion of office workers mostly female back then and to which a 'good girl' aspired and even looked up to as you started thinking a bit more about such concerns as getting a job or going to college.


A staple of my more formal wear is the Pencil Skirt of which this from Top Shop is good example.
It is a knee length pencil skirt with back zip fastening.






- 75% Polyester,23% Viscose,2% Elastane.Machine washable.
Worn with a classic plain blouse, belt and tights, it has that business like feel but at the same time approachable.
£35
Link: 27P10VGRY

Watership Down.

I recently replaced my ancient VHS tape of this by the DVD that has a making of featurette.

If you never read the novel by Richard Adams it is based upon it about a warren belonging to a community of rabbits is threatened, a brave group led by Fiver, Bigwig, Blackberry and Hazel leaving their homeland in a search of a safe new haven.I first saw in my teens on vacation.

Although the animation as befits something getting on for 30 odd years is a little dated it is marvellous drawn at rabbit level.

Alice

If I think of summer as a child one thing that sure comes into my head is lightweight summer dresses that girls often wear at primary and increasingly at some middle/secondary schools  that are made material such as gingham.You might put a sweater in blue or red over the top if it was a bit chilly.
These are often in green, red or like this blue which is very close to to the sort of dress that Dorothy wore in The Wizzard of Oz.

There is a part of me that would love to wear such a dress although most I've seen here seem to be quite expensive looking at the material for what is charged. I wonder if they see us a niche market they can exploit?

The Magic of the Fall, 2009.

As a Little Girl I always looked forward to the fall being that magical period  of transition from the late summer through to the onset of winter with it's bright crisp colours, leaves making pretty carpet like paths in the woods and forests.

It was time like most others where the seasons dictated what we would be doing
 in school in terms of lessons and games played in PE and also our own childhood playground games of which conkers was one of mine.My inner child feels all warm inside thinking of the fun we had and actually as you'll see some later in the chronological years love it still.
Conkers is an age old playground favourite, so if you harbour nostalgic memories of fast and furious conker competitions from your youth, then get yourself down to the conker championships and see whether you can beat the best. There are often different age categories to compete in, from the under fives to adults, and the winner of each receives a prize.

Here the berries are out ready for the birds and Mr Nutkins when he comes on over from the woodlands nearby

It's that time of your and I just adore those colours!

Dancing On The Valentine

Yes, it was 25 years ago that I bought this VHS EP video of Duran Duran performing three songs from the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album. This was video, issued by Picture Music International/EMI, was one of first to be done in stereo.
I still have my original copy in excellent condition.

Cardcaptor Sakura

I am currently enjoying this anime first show in a heavily westernized from as Cardcaptors on Children's ITV in 2002.

Sakura Kinomoto was an ordinary 4th grader until the day she opened a strange book and let dozens of powerful magic cards loose on the world. Keroberos, the Guardian of the Clow Cards, informs Sakura that it is now her responsibility to find and capture the freed cards. However, much to the reluctant Sakura's dismay, things aren't going to be easy for her; simply saying magic words and waving her wand around isn't good enough. Each card is a living, thinking, extremely powerful being. She'll have to learn to cope with her new responsibilities, as well as ordinary troubles like love, school, family, and friends. With the support of her friend Tomoyo and a young boy with powers of his own, she must learn how to use her newly awakened magical abilities to collect each card and prevent the disaster that will befall the world if she doesn't.

 

I was able to get this pack of two DVD's from Taiwan that has all 70 episodes on a total of 8 discs packaged in a fold out book manner with protective slip case. Although it has 8 or 9 episodes per disc the coding quality is actually very good - a par with many digital TV services - and has a excellent menu structure.

This is from the anime Cardcaptor Sakura a fantastic magical girl series from the early part of the this decade.

Knee high socks for the short skirted look

One unavoidable fact of life for me in my 'Little Girl' side is the fascination in maintaining the look I adored as a a child, that of the just above the knee skirt with long socks that are often either colour or striking in design.In many respects it's fortunate for me that at least a part of this aspect has become more mainstream so not only can I buy these cute girlish over the knee socks fairly easily but others are doing so to so there's less eye batting or outright ridicule as there used to be.




I just love these Grey and dusty Pink over the knee socks as they're so cute.
Available from the Sexy Minx ebay store and good local stockists.

Beatles in mono

Twenty-two years ago in 1987, the world finally got the Beatles on compact disc after  the issuing of the 60's Rolling Stones catalogue and it was that that in eyes of many marked the compact disc had come of age.
Although people who are more interested in how recordings sound have over  period criticized the sound of a good number of these, they've remained in print as the authorized Beatles selling well so rather like the originals while the Rolling Stones had their 70's albums reissued in much improved sound belatedly  Apple and EMI did the same for these in stereo and in Mono as a single box set.
I bought that Beatles in Mono box pictured above - the best part of GBP 199.98 - because it seemed to the only box of the two (there was a Stereo Box) that offered anything really essential and not otherwise available.

To start with the cds are all mono - the way many in the 1960's first heard them - and also the priority for mixing the separate tracks together by the record studios as most people bought mono records back then. Often the stereo versions had much less time spent on them so bits of the original mono mix just didn't make it into the stereo.
Most of these have been unavailable since the early 1980's (and then for a very limited time).

Then there's the packaging.
These cds have all been made in Japan with what is called a 'mini lp' form. That's to say they are made to resemble a miniature lp record sleeve using high quality card reproducing exactly the front and rear covers of the originals. There are replica inner sleeves with the designs used for each lp with the actual cd in a mylar wallet to keep it from getting scratched.
The individual cds have original period Parlophone, Capitol and Apple label designs featured for the centre labels of the lps.
The whole cd is then packed in archive quality acid free resealable see through envelope to protect it.

 The box has been carefully designed to store the discs with a slide in disc storage compartment to make getting them out to play easy.

The Discs:
Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help! *
Rubber Soul *
Revolver
Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles (Also known as the "White Album" )
Mono Masters - a compilation of singles and EP tracks issued in mono that were not on any UK studio album which includes the prepared but unissued mono mixes of the Yellow Submarine film songs which one album I have no need to get.

* = These have the original stereo versions also on the same disc NOT the remixes done for the (stereo) cd.
The transfer to cd is extremely good - something that was a problem with the original cds issued in 1987.

I topped the set with the stereo only remastered Abbey Road and Let It Be which more open than the previous issue although the tri-fold unlined card cover isn't as attractive.

Get The Knack!

There was a time in the late 70's when bursting on to the scene they really were  'IT'.
Brash with catchy Power Pop possessed of the catchy but sexist lyric where would we be without Good Girls Don't, Frustrated, It's You, Baby Talks Dirty and My Sharona?
Well I fell under their spell in 79/80 as I was looking for guitar based pop muisc at the time loving much of the 60's music, so bought the 45's have the albums on cassette, 8 track and vinyl but this a UK cd on BGO - catalogue number BGOCD 248 - is the best of the lot sounding like you're in the studio with them.

"Growing up" IS optional

Sometimes people argue about how children today are turning out.
One school of thought thinks they are getting all cossetted trapped in perpetual childhood unable to basic things for themselves whilst others still say they're too advanced and so fail to see the dangers coming lacking the experience  older peers had.

However is our model right?

 There are expectations put on children to perform to ever more difficult targets, especially in the school environment when you look at  the way  western societies mentor and tutor them.
I'd guess we all can sure remember hearing these phrases from parents and teachers:
"You're a big girl now, not a baby"
"Act your age"
"Grow Up!"

In order to stay in favour with our mentors and peers as children we are put under pressure to change; to "grow up". This is mostly because the duties of parents in maintaining a stable home are at odds with the basic needs of free play and casual living as a child.

Can anyone think of child who never said  "I hate school"? It's not an environment conducive to natural and happy growth for the most part. There are tears and tantrums on those initial separations from parents, problems with large group integration especially at high school, and there's always an undertone of not meeting the expectations of a teacher, or fitting in with peers, none of whom would give the same level of emotional support as a close family member. When you need support, most your parents that you look to for support are simply not there, you don't get that contact again till the last school bell of the day.The system we have currently  is one that evolved following the destruction of older co-operative ways communities lived prior to the industrial revolution.
From such an alienating environment  we go into defensive mode (mood) putting up barriers, instead of letting our uninhibited joy flow out to touch others with happiness and playfulness.
This becomes especially so in the financially driven world of commerce, and by extension formal employment.
Essentially, the model we have is not ideal although it may be the best we have right now for the absolute numbers it needs to serve but if one was to issue a report on it you'd say "can do better". You have to recognize the fact that schools are not there for the benefit of the individual child, but to mould societies into pliable employable tax paying citizens for those with the power.


Now you might say what has this to do with our heading "Growing up IS optional"?
Simply that is encourages the attitudes deemed desirable for those who rise to the top which for the most part are ruthless. aggressive, self centred, and only focused on that which pays. Caring, accepting responsibility for others well-being and behaving in co-operative ways are viewed with cynicism at best and outright ridicule.
If the so-called lessons of growing up are indeed ruthlessness, aggression  and only being concerned with your needs, then while we're getting older (chronological speaking) this being Grown Up is one we can opt out of because it doesn't fulfill our needs.
Is it not surprising therefore it's  that's one of many reasons free thinkers like those of us who are LG are persecuted for having the courage to be different and to think differently?

Clannad with Clamp Collective

The best way of describing this series is it's a semi-fantasy romantic comedy drama. It is lovely show and it'll make you cry like nobodies business.The story is about the attempt to revive the Drama Club at Tomoya and Nagisa's high school. The anime is based on the popular game visual novel.
The main female characters have their own arcs, Fuuko, Kotomi, Ryou/Kyou, Tomoyo and of course, Nagisa. Its a bitter sweet story in that since only one girl can get the guy, and they all (bar Fuuko) like Tomoya.
As the year goes by the two leading characters begin to realize that real life is more complex than any stage play as new friends and rivals make everything more complicated.A strange visitor with a unexpected message enters to change Kotomi's life forever.

The second half afterstory outlining the 20 years in the life of Nagisa and Tomoya after graduation is available on DVD.

Added 10/30/11

I bought Afterstory but discovered my edition wasn't properly licensed as well as squeezing 12 episodes onto a single layer dvd which resulted in poor picture quality. I have replaced both the Clannad Collection and the Clannad After story with the UK region 2 issues.

Clamp in Wonderland.

Various characters from the Clamp collectives manga and anime series gathered together

Down at the waters edge.

One of the things I loved to do as a child as to look at boats seeing the different shapes, colours and functions of things and chatting with the owners. Luckily I never had an accident and fell in which is what happened to my brother!

Well that's the other kind of playing at the waters edge I liked either near lakes, ponds or at the seaside on the beach. That pastel pink skirt is so me too.

Shugo Chara!

Recently I was able to get the Malaysian DVD's of Shugo Chara! which has yet to be issued in the UK or US. The series centres around Amu Hinamori, a Elementary School pupil clash between her popular cool, spicy exterior loved by fellow students and her internal introverted personality. Amu's wish for a character re-birth as would be self leads to the discovery of three colourful eggs that hatch into her guardian characters, Ran, Miki, and Su.

 
The first discs (above) house all 51 episodes of series 1.
This story started off life as a manga following successful serialization in Japan and is currently being aired by TV Tokyo series one having aired from October 2007 and a second series Shugo Chara!! Doki— in October 2008.
The DVD of Series two Part one has the first 15 episodes from that series.

In essence the Guardian Characters aid Amu in discovering who she truly is and help fulfil Amu's dreams. Amu's life becomes much more complex as she struggles to deal with her "would-be" selves and the Seiyo Elementary's Guardians, who recruit Amu as the Joker to search for X Eggs and X Characters, which are the corrupted forms of peoples' dreams. Amu 'restores the eggs' to their original form neutralizing the harm the X Egg cause to all around them. Meanwhile, the Easter Company is extracting people's eggs in search of a special egg called the Embryo. The Embryo is believed to grant any wish to the one who possesses it. However, the process they use creates X Eggs and X Characters. What I like about the story is the way in which it shows how peoples self image can be effected by these 'bad' eggs that started off life as pure but have become corrupted in their pursuit of self interest harming others that get in their way. Equally the story shows how through positive encouragement people can change becoming more pure in thought - practically spiritual in a away, putting others well being first. The first image is that of the series 1 DVD, second the inner disc carrier with the picture at the footprint being that of Series 2 Part 1. 

Hold on to your hats and save those precious eggs from Easter but at last the last 26 episodes of Season two of this much loved anime has finally come out on DVD this week!

This is Amu as a 'Punk' from the Shugo Chara manga

This is your Princess calling!

Every little girl goes through this stage bar the odd exception, my inner child was none and I still can't get it out of my system.

 In your little world you are the Princess, whose world revolves around your needs natural as perceived by you as you live in your imaginary castle complete with it's flag.

In this castle you have servants usually boys to do all the things you want to happen at that very instant and woe betide them if they don't!

Some of us could turn this into a game you played at school recess or at home or in the park and in lots of ways it's really cute as for one thing you have a lovely set out dresses and tiaras and magical slippers.  Yummy!

It's this kind of innocent play that many of us look back on with fondness although acting in that kinda  pushy manner isn't really to be recommended in real life. Give me an outfit and I'll play Princess Pushy with you all day!

Every girls friend

It's a basic truism, that a child and it's teddy bear cannot be separated no matter what and if anything happens to  it it is like a death in the family.
My own Little Girl side is very much alive and kicking having a strong bond with my own teddy bears that I treasure. This image means a lot to me because it illustrates something quite important, the notion of the teddy bear as your 'real' friend and the girl is showing him the stars in the night-time sky because she loves him so much, she wants to share this magical event.
I like many name my teddy bears in age-old  ceremony that binds us together and still frequently hug them, telling them all my secrets - the good as well as the bad in the knowledge they're safe.
Don't ever lose the magic!

Beatles Second Album

This must of been one of the first studio albums by the Beatles I bought.
It was March 1979 if I remember correctly and I spent the weeks allowance on it in a matter of minutes!
The label was a Green Apple which suggests it might of been old stock as the later ones such as my current copy are Purple with the Capitol dome logo.
I still get a buzz from hearing Thank You Girl in stereo.

Kiki's Delivery Service

At the instigation of a online friend from a forum I recently bought this title in the acclaimed Studio Ghibi collection.

Adapted by Hayao Miyazaki from the Japanese childrens book by Eiko Kadono, it is about Kiki - a thirteen-year-old witch, and daughter of a witch - who is eager to leave home and spend a year working away from home. Her only talent is flying on her broomstick, but she sets off with her black cat JiJi) and finds a big city by the sea that she decides to live in.

She makes a deal with the bread store owner to work for her board in store that soon transforms into a courier service delivering anything from pies to pets. In this activity she -a polite, cheerful if naive child - encounters the rudeness and spoilt behaviour of others especially of a girl of her own age.

She encounters a boy on a bicycle who becomes her friend but undergoes a crisis of confidence losing her ability to fly. Only by looking into herself can she regains her abilities saving the boy from a Zeppelin flight that goes disastrously wrong.

What I liked about was the attention to detail in the drawings coupled with the message of triumph over adversity it presents.

Sports day

One essential ritual of my school life was the annual Summer school Sports day where like it or not you were entered into the various sporting competitions for your school year group and house (cos we had operated a 'House' system).
There were  a number of them that stick in my mind and this is one of them.

That's the Egg and Spoon race that every junior school I went to always had  with the point being to fast walk with the egg balanced on a spoon not dropping or breaking, a feat that require much co-ordination the likes of which I never had!

Often there would be running races along a predetermined distance  with the first to reach the winning post getting a prize. Okay I could kinda run but staying in lane was hard going!
The other  common race was the Sack Race where you'd stand up wearing a sack over your PE kit holding the edges and have to run with the itchy material not tripping up over yourself which usually happened.
Usually some teacher or helper had the first aid kit at hand!
Although I was rubbish at it, I enjoyed taking part although we'd have to walk to the local park where it was held and was the 'Mascot' for our House.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Well this was going to happen sooner but I got waylaid so here goes...

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

I wanted this so much when it came out around November time last year but if ya hadn't noticed there's a recession on and one consequence of this was threat Beez's UK distributor went into receivership but I managed to get this reissue.

The story revolves around Haruhi Suzumiya, a high school girl obsessed with finding all forms of the extraordinary and supernatural, and Kyon, a cynical classmate who proclaims his non-belief in such matters and narrates the series. After being displeased with the mundane happenings at school and the lack of interesting after-school clubs, she forms her own, the SOS Brigade, to investigate any mysterious happenings, with Kyon forcibly drafted as its second member.

She drafts in additional members into the SOS club and in time they are revealed to be the extraordinary characters she is seeking (Yuki, an artificial human created by the extraterrestrial Integrated Data Entity; Mikuru, Time Traveller; and Itsuki, esper), sent by their various organizations to observe Haruhi. All see Haruhi as possessing a superhuman control over the universe, capable even of recreating the entire universe in a state of dissatisfaction and attempt to prevent this by keeping her entertained, holding her powers in check, and maintaining the illusion of a normal life.

The series became an Internet phenomenon and in the absence had to make do with a subbed import with so-so quality but have now gotten the UK R2 Re-issue 4 dvd set

Debbie

My 'Little Girl' side has always had a mania for dolls, initially as objects of play or as a means of experimenting with images of how I could look and later on into the field of collecting as objects.

This side of my Little Girl nature has never gone away.

This is a picture of a porcelain doll I've had since my teens called Debbie who has long pantaloons.

She was bought for me from a doll fair near Macclesfield and she's been with me no matter where I've been living ever since. I like the blouse and dress she's wearing.

Moon Phase and Anime Round up

This anime about the relationship between Kouhei Morioka a freelace photgrapher and Hazuki, a teenager who descends from a royal vampire lineage.

We learn at the start of the story that Kouhei travels to a castle in Germany to take photographs of all sorted Paranormal phenomenon for his friend Hiromi, the editor of an occult magazine. At the castle, Kouhei meets Hazuki, who feeds on Kouhei's blood and claims him as her unwilling servant. She is a 14 years old vampire - selfish but adorable - who was separated from her mother and restrained in a castle in Germany.

Although this "blood pact" is supposed to bind Kouhei to Hazuki as her obedient slave, her act has no effect on Kouhei. Following an action packed sorcerers battle, in which Kouhei and his cousin manage to free Hazuki from her captivity in the dreary castle, Hazuki travels to Tokyo, and takes up residence with Kouhei in his grandfather's house in Japan. Hazuki reveals this is what her mother wanted her to do when she disappeared.

Hazuki claims that, because she fed on his blood, Kouhei is now her servant, but Kouhei continually refuses to obey her, especially when he thinks her requests are unreasonable. Despite their fighting, the relationship between the duo progresses over time - even in the face of repeated attacks by opposing vampires - until Kouhei becomes determined to protect Hazuki from the vampire servants of her family, who themselves are determined to retrieve her by whatever means necessary.We learn later on in the anime he possesses great spiritual powers which were sealed by his family in order to allow him to live a normal life, as they were too strong for him to control. In the anime, he once again seals away his Jyougan so that it doesn't affect his relationship with Hazuki.

Other characters include Ryuuhei is Kouhei's grandfather who took in Hazuki and is a powerful spiritualist and exorcist.

A word about Revelation's DVD packaging. It is beautiful with pop up disc holders and a set of guide notes to further explain things as well as points to look for in later viewings.

Below is a picture of it in exploded form:

Glimmers of the past

There is much in here that resonates such as  the playfulness of the child in trying to wake up the man who one assumes is a Minister of religion with no hint of malice or being mean in their whole demeanor and the playing out of doors in a cultivate garden which was a part of my childhood.
The other thing is personal which is that child is outside in a traditional girls school dress being carefree in the presence of a powerful male character although they in terms of physical build look more 'boy' and I suspect was 'assigned' as such even if they may of been transgendered before that term came into vogue.
I so wish that child could of been me at that age as it was all I really wanted.

Sony's Mastersound cds

I've always been interested in music and one by product of this is I like to have good sounding copies of my favourite recordings so I do sometimes buy two or more versions of an album where the the recording is transferred to cd or record differently.
These cds came out during the mid 1990's being made in Japan by Sony Music and I bought several of them as they purported to from the original mastertapes and were a bit cheaper than those issued by so-called 'audiophile' labels such as MFSL and DCC a factor that was important as being very pawley(tm) I didn't have a lot of spare money to spend on such things.

They were a mixed bag - I couldn't get on with the issue of Boston's self titled album being screechy replacing that by a regular US version - and failed to see the sense and trying to make a audiophile issue of Bat Out of Hell, an album that has lots of mixing issues whatever you might think of it musically.

On the other hand the issues of Toto IV, Bridge Over Troubled waters and Billy Joel's 52nd Street in that series were quite something and continue to provide me with much pleasure upon listening to them.