Toy Story Didn't Disappoint

We wanted to be amongst the first to see Toy Story 3 and I'm delighted that we were. The cinema was packed for the 4pm showing yesterday and the film lived up to all expectations being warm, touching and funny. Pixar pay so much attention to detail that you would need to see the film again to spot everything that is going on.It is a truly lovely film and I defy anyone of any age not to enjoy it. And, fortunately, although there were some of the sad moments that we expected, it is not in the same the sob out loud category as the tragic "Up".



It's good to see that we have a full staff here at Instanta again after a couple of the lads broke bones (not at work I hasten to add). Joey Jones (just behind Jenny) and Rafa Kolasinski (front row centre right) both broke bones in their hands within a few weeks of each other but I am glad to see both back and fully fit. I am twiddling my own thumbs a bit at the moment as I have handed over a lot of my duties in the office in view of our imminent retirement. I even offered to help out in the factory yesterday but there wasn't a rush to find me something to do. I'm getting a visit from Head Office soon and that should leave me with plenty to do as I'm aiming to set up a new computer system here before I leave. But time is running out quickly tick, tick tick.


I decided to steer clear of commenting on many of the major issues in the news recently like "Paul the Octopus" or "Raoul Moat" and Facebook as there are far too many people who are able to express their opinions far better than me and who cares what I have to say? But I have to make mention of the crime of the theft of two bronze plaques from the WW1 war memorial in Blackley for scrap. A scrap value of about £150 to destroy the memory of young men who lost their lives in the most horrendous circumstances. Pathetic.



Having got on my high horse I'm staying on it for a few minutes as, once again, the horrendous practise of stoning people to death is in the news. It's almost two years now since I highlighted the plight of poor Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow who was barbarically "executed" for the crime of being raped but now there are a dozen women on death row in Iran and a couple in Pakistan face the same fate for adultery.It's usually the women isn't it? What about the men? What was it someone said in the bible? "Let him without sin cast the first stone". My personal opinion (not Instanta's) is that even the most humane method of capital punishment is a crime.Any country that sanctions stoning should be shunned by the world.

OK I'm off the high horse now. No more political comment and back to the anodyne daily routine at Instanta.

I like Ridley Scott and just came across this project. Check it out. Looks interesting. And get your cameras ready for 24th July

A Hosepipe Ban. The Sure Way to End A Drought

Last Thursday Marion was frantically watering the garden in a last bid attempt to save our brown and dying lawn and our withering vegetables before the hosepipe ban came into force. She spent hours making sure that the precious garden was soaked (great now that we are on a water meter). I suppose it was pretty obvious and we should not be surprised at what happened next but ever since we were banned from using the hosepipe we have had no need for it whatsoever with cloudbursts and thunder and lightening punctuating the days at regular intervals.Oh well, the garden is looking very very green now. It's just a pity that we won't be able to sit in it.



It was thirty four years ago tomorrow that Marion and I walked down the aisle (or to be accurate, through the registry office) and it only seems like yesterday. I had hoped that we would be celebrating by visiting a garden near Pendle Hill that opens to the public on Sunday but the weather forecast is looking grim (see above) and we may have to settle for a trip to the cinema.



Where at last, after weeks of drought and a dearth of films to see, there is a new movie with half decent reviews. Inception, the new Leonardo DiCaprio film is a thriller based on dreams and it looks well worth a visit as does...



Toy Story 3 which hits the screens on Monday and is a shoe in for this week's Orange Wednesday choice. As with all Pixar films, it is reported to have a very high tearjerker rating so we will need to go equipped with plenty of tissues. I hope that it doesn't match "Up" on this score as it took Marion almost a week to get over that one. Let's hope that with two worthwhile films this week we are back into a golden period of cinema choice.



A quick word of praise for the BBC in filling the gaps left by the absence of films at the local Vue. It was a brave move to put a four part police thriller on over four nights this week but "The Silence" starring Genevieve Barr (above) as a deaf woman who witnessed a murder was original and highly watchable and the director along with Ms Barr (who is deaf) gave the viewer a real insight into the silent world of the deaf and the frustrations that it must create. Five stars for the Beeb.

I'll finish this week by directing you to The Chip Shop Awards 2010. Nothing to do with fish and chips, these awards are for the advertising and creative industry and offer agencies a chance to show what they are made of. Instanta's agency Workhouse Marketing, who were nominated in the best politically incorrect category, pointed me to the website and , if you have a spare ten minutes, have a look at the wealth of creativity that's out there. Guaranteed to raise more than a few smiles click here to see more.

For an example here's my personal favourite.