Well, it's looking like being an eventful couple of weeks for yours truly. Not only am I quitting these shores for climes Spanish on Saturday morning, but in the meantime I'm aiming to have the first three Agent Traps (TM) dispatched by Friday lunchtime. On top of that there's all sorts of exciting things going on in the background.
I'm currently typing on my new laptop whilst sitting on my sofa in front of the TV. I might need to clarify a couple of points though. The laptop cannot truly be described as new...and hasn't really been describable that way since about 1996.
It has a Pentium.
That's it.
Nevertheless, I am extremely chuffed, especially as it was free because Allie's parents didn't have a use for it any more. It also means that I can blog and watch telly at the same time, an important development as I have now come up with a theory on reality TV. More on that in a sec.
Don't Mind Him, He's From Hatfield
Alice has an inflated opinion of my ability to speak Spanish. This has arisen as the result of one of those sunny, leaf-shadow dappled moments that tend to make the covers of university prospectuses.
Allie: Go on, speak some Spanish.
Me: I know you are pretty, er, I am going to the post office my name is Stuart I have twenty three years and I like beer.
Allie: What does that mean?
Me: You are beautiful...
Alice is a linguist. She studied French and German for four years at Warwick and can also hold her own in Italian. Despite this demonstrable ability to pick up languages, the little Spanish I could teach her went in one ear in Spanish and came out of her mouth in a strong Italian accent. There were '-ay's and '-ee's creeping in where none went before.
I booked our first few night's accommodation yesterday, and in the first outing my Spanish skills had had in nigh on five years, I was nervous. I started sounding…different. The Argentinian accent I prided myself on in the GCSE oral exam...changed. The helpful lady on the other end of the phone changed languages to accommodate me, but unfortunately Italian has never been one of my strong points.
We got it all sorted out in the end...well, I think so anyway.
Yes.
Reality Bites
Reality TV is here to stay. Different types of it appeal to different people, and then there are those to whom all types appeal, and these would sadly appear to be the majority.
I can't stand the airport kind of programme. Big Brother...bearable. Anything where they get celebrities together? Can't stand them.
Now I may be wrong, but I think some people find the Airport/Club Reps style of programme watchable because it's people having arguments...real people getting pissed off and letting rip. This kind of programme has me trying to relax my fingernails out of the plaster before the ceiling gives way. Soooo frustrating. Annoying. Pointless.
I can't stand the celebrity-style programmes because everyone is so lovely with each other and they are all the best of friends, and of course, famous people only ever have positive emotions. Some people like that. They feel that they're gaining a deep insight into the workings of the celebrity lifestyle. Personally, despite the video evidence to the contrary, I cannot see Harvey from So Solid Crew and James Hewitt becoming homeys.
Maybe this is why I don't mind the Big Brother style of programme all that much. It's peopled by a group of people who aren't liable to start mouthing off or grinding each other's faces into the check-in desk, but their wannabe-celebrity skills are not so polished. They will start off by pretending to love and get along with everyone but it's fun watching the cracks assert themselves.
But only if it's already on in the background, you understand.
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