dirtyleeds.net

Lucky enough to be asked to review this film, yesterday. I went with an open mind, hoping/expecting to be entertained by great performances and a captivating plot.

I was half right! Michael Sheen, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent and even Stephen Graham (as Billy Bremner) are all class. But the makers of this film have made a shallow adaptation of an excellent and deep novel.

Biased? Me? Probably, but I’m not blind or gullible and I know when a film has lost the plot and when it’s not sure what sort of film it really wants to be. Brilliant book, excellent acting, so-so film.

What felt like a crappy and annoying little cold on Monday night turned into one of those stinkers which knock you out. I ended up producing snot on an industrial scale, and so much sneezing caused me to have a neck and back ache for the week.

Albeit being a sickly child, even at 43 years of age, one redeeming feature of me is that I recover quite quickly from illness usually. So, having lost three days this week, I’m now back. Trouble is, my prospective publisher has been laid up ill as well. The weakling!

The sun’s out, blimey.  Oh there it goes again, back in.  That sun is one strumpet!

I heard some really promising news with Dirty Leeds the book this morning - can’t say too much just yet but we’re hoping for August publication, in time for the new football season.  i’m getting as giddy as that kipper so many people seem to talk about.

More good news too, as I’ve been invited to join a playwriting group at Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse. Getting a play produced and performed has been a big ambition for a long time so I’m hoping to seize the opportunity and get a play what I wrote put on stage!

A main ambition of mine, much less likely than stageplays, is getting a screenplay of mine made into a film. Well it’s still a pipedream but as I’m in the middle of writing a biopic with the support of a great bloke in the US, the pipe is at least getting shorter!  I’m really enjoying the writing but that’s not always a good thing : ~ /

Soundtrack of my week - so far have had ‘Dub Side of the Moon’ album on - reggae version by EasyStar All-Stars of the Floyd classic, plus a Wire ep which is magnificent, plus the free Pet shop Boys cd from the weekend which ain’t bad, considering, plus the soundtrack to the Pistols doc The Filth and the Fury as well as that of the brilliant Control (Ian Curtis/Joy Div) flick.

And tonight, fingers crossed, will see Leeds get the 3 points out of the Yeovil match at Elland Road (or Elland-road as it’s called in a certain soon to be publication) and back on proper track for the play offs.  And then we’ll just have to hope as it’s all a lottery - but one I’d rather be in than not.

Come on Leeds, come on DIRTY LEEDS!

LUFC - the Guardian has recently printed reports about various alleged court dealings and indiscrepancies on the part of K Bates and Leeds United. Some people are saying that crooked dealings are being outed and that the chairman’s reputation is in for more scrutiny. Probably about chuffing time but I wonder how many points we’ll be deducted by the FL due to our tragic connections with this man. I’m not being entirely serious. Not entirely.

STAGEPLAYS - I’m waiting news on a play writing course I’m hoping to be selected for. News expected in the post tomorrow - I think it will be bad news but if it is, ‘one door closes, another opens’.

SCREENPLAY - I’ve completed about 25 pages of the biopic I’m writing. I don’t want to divulge any more really as it’s very early days yet and I don’t want to give any thieving bastidoes the idea or chance to steal it. I’m a screenwriting virgin but have a great contact in te US who is very much on my side.

CATS - in my parents’ street, there are a few moggies, including a large ginger and white one which is constantly being followed by a ginger and white kitten. The kitten follows the adult everywhere, within a yard all the time, it’s brilliant to watch! Except the adult doesn’t want the kid with it and it keeps stopping mid walk, to turn around and tell the kitten to bugger off with its tail going mad at the same time. Kitty ignores it though and follows on its leader’s heels straight away. Love it!

The Team - hardly a classic match on Skyhighprice telly last night but I thought it was a well-earned point for the lads. We could easily have won it but then again a defeat was on the cards after Oldham took the lead with a horrible goal thanks to Casper looking like he was auditioning for a porno film, legs akimbo.

The Weather - it’s gone pretty shite again, drizzling at the moment and snow forecast in various areas.

The Book - still waiting but very hopeful.

The Screenplay - it’s chugging away nicely thank you very much.