Author: ashleyelsdon

Storyteller - Poet - Explorer

Seeing Star Wars The Force Awakens (no spoilers)

Posted by on in FilmsLeave a comment

Well at last I went to see the new Star Wars film. I went to the iMax at the Science Museum, which is a brilliant place to see the film and a lovely venue all in all.

In some ways I was quite nervous. The original films were a big part of my growing up. The three ‘newer’, or ‘rubbish’ films were such a disappointment that I don’t really count them as Star Wars films at all. So I was worried that it wouldn’t meet expectations. However, it did. I really enjoyed it.

I won’t mention anything about the plot here or give anything away. I think that’s quite an unpleasant thing to do, especially to fans. But it really is a great reboot of the franchise, and a good signal that it’s back on the right track now. I’m glad it’s back.

Attempting to listen to the Wire’s top 50 albums of 2015

Posted by on in Listening, MusicLeave a comment

I sort of do this every year, or at least try to anyway. It has become a little ritual with me. I leaf through the Wire’s top 50 to see how many (if any) of these albums I’ve heard and then try and find them all on Spotify so I can listen to them. Of course not all of them are ever on Spotify so it isn’t really a comprehensive system, but it does most of the job, and that’s ok.

This year is no different. I’ve actively listened to just a handful of these albums in the Wire’s top 50, and only own 1 of them I think. So I’ve added the lot, or at least the lot I can find, into a playlist and I’ll attempt to listen to the lot. Probably next year I’m thinking.

That’s the plan. That’s been the plan for a few years now, and it seems to work.

PalmSounds has a new logo, on Twitter anyway

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, StuffLeave a comment
New PalmSounds Logo
New PalmSounds Logo

I’m very pleased with it, and so far, it seems to have gone down very well indeed. I hope you like it. You can see what I’m doing on Twitter (with PalmSounds that is), here.

UPDATE: Looking at this live on the site, this logo really suits the theme here. It fits so well! I only just noticed.

Big Finish’s Christmas offers are good but …

Posted by on in Audiobooks, Books and AudiobooksLeave a comment

So far, and we’re on day 5 of 12 I presume, I’ve either already got them or I’ve not wanted them. So they’ve not been the best of offers from my perspective, although I’m sure that they’re very good for other people. Just not me.

Of course, the current humble bundle for Big Finish (Worlds of Doctor Who) is very good, and I’m hoping that tomorrow they’ll add even more books to it. As for Big Finish’s own offers, I’m hoping that the next few will be a little more appealing to me. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.

Looking forward to the new episodes of Thunderbirds

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Thunderbird Christmas
Thunderbird Christmas

I kickstarted these new episodes a while back and I’m really looking forward to them, but I’m expecting to only watch them when I’ve got through the entire existing set of episodes. Only then will I watch the new ones. I want to get it done in order you know.

Anyway, the picture above was on the Christmas email from the project. It looks pretty cool. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done.

Old fashioned Cassette Recorder (biscuit tin)

Posted by on in Creative Process, Music, TechLeave a comment
Old fashioned Cassette Recorder (biscuit tin)
Old fashioned Cassette Recorder (biscuit tin)

I had one of these years ago. In fact, I had a number of these. But one that was very like this one. I think it was the Ferguson that was almost identical to this. It was excellent. Ok, not excellent, but really good for its time. I used it to record all sorts of things and amassed a huge cassette collection, and have very little of it left.

Even so, now I have a nice tin. I’ve decided to use it for field recording accessories. That seems like an appropriate use for it.