I’m not going to name names, but MSN Messenger has become tedious. Nay, annoying. I used to love conversing with my old school mates, newly found mates and my countless ex-lovers. (Even if the lovers only ever existed in my imagination. And at the end of my right arm.) But I’m constantly having to put up with goits on there these days.

I know, I know - if I don’t want to talk to people, block them. Or don’t go on MSN altogether. But I don’t believe in blocking, as it’s not something I’d do to someone in person, and I shouldn’t have to not go on either.

As it is, I’ve only been using MSN again for about a month - since the new version (7.5) was released, which actually works on my computer. But I’m bombarded with idiots only messaging to ask idiotic questions - questions of benefit to them. No “How are you today, Blake?” or any attempt at proper conversation. Then there are those that make out that I’m obliged to talk to them just because we’re both online at the same time - regardless of my online status. Even then, when I do indulge them, it’s me that ends up putting in all of the effort to form a conversation then keep it going. They’re like that poor cat i’ the adage.

Of course, there are still a handful of people that are a pleasure to talk with. And they know who they are. But everyone else, really - don’t bother talking to me if you’re going to waste my time. I know that sounds… what’s the word… “pompous”. But I don’t mind giving a lot of time, effort and attention to people if they are willing to give me some of theirs back. It’s not too much to ask.

And now I’ve also finished two interior set designs for my animation project, which means I’ve only got two television sets and a planet’s terrain to make to be ready for shooting on Saturday.

I’ve spent the bulk of the day making my alien chap characters out of Plasticine for my animation project. They look fairly good – not *quite* how I wanted them. But then, I’m not a model maker, am I?

I’ve just got my hands on the iMP application from the Beeb. It all looks very swish, but with nothing actually worth watching on the tele at the moment, I’m kinda feeling like I’ve got a pot of cottage cheese without the pineapple chunks in.

The mice attached to the Apple computers in the Level 2 Graphics Studio at Racocac were manufactured by Microsoft. Clearly Racodac have come to their senses and realised that Macs can’t cut it. They’ll all be replaced with Windows systems soon - just you wait and see.

The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit are two films that I’ve neglected to mention on this here blog for reasons of mere stupidity. That’s stupidity on my part, mind, as both films were fantastic.

Apocalypse wasn’t quite what I expected it to be. I admire The League’s decision to again try something new - taking their ’story’ in yet another direction. And it works. It’s just that I adore the television series (and in fact, radio show) for the quirky Royston Vasey/Spent setting. And bringing the characters into our modern day London seems a bit too familiar for my liking.

That’s my only gripe with the film, and it *is* a personal one. That aside, the film was excellent. I’m not sure what those unfamiliar with The League’s previous work will make of it, but as a hardcore fan, I loved every minute of it. Apart from the video case prop, that is, as The League of Gentlemen was *never* released in that type of video case. (Yes, I’m nitpicking. But after such high efforts were made to keep everything else accurate for us dedicated fans, the video case error seemed a little lazy.)

Again, that sounds like a moan. I suppose it’s just far easier to criticise a film when you’ve got a passion for it long before even coming to watch the precious thing. But I did thoroughly enjoy it: ’twas very, very funny, the chosen characters were good choices, and the ending was a masterstroke.

On to Wallace & Gromit - something else that I adore. Firstly, it angers me when casual viewers watch something, enjoy it and then swear blind that they’ve been hardcore about it since day one. I don’t know why - maybe because I feel that it ‘challenges’ my interest in some way. And there are a lot of people I know going around being all arty-farty about The Curse of the Were-Rabbit because its inevitable popularity makes them sound, as some may say, “hip”.

I’m sure that I come across as a right git there. But it does anger me. It’d be like me going up to an old-school Doctor Who fan and telling them I was there - witnessing the early stuff - as it happened. And of course, I wasn’t. And I don’t pretend to have been. Yes, I’m passionate about it now, more so the new series, but I don’t claim to have always been a follower.

Like I say, I don’t know why it bothers me. It just always has. Now back to Wallace & Gromit, which was excellent.

Somehow I managed to fit seeing the film into my jam-packed schedule on Friday. And it did not disappoint. The animation itself was incredible. I’ve done a wee bit of stop motion animation before so can appreciate (to an extent at least) the animators’ painstaking efforts to achieve something so complex.

The trailer really did disappoint when I saw it, as the story came across as boring and the increase in characters made the film seem unfaithful to the duo’s previous escapades. But watching the actual film, the story is wonderful and it truly *is* Wallace & Gromit through and through.

Something that did seem a little… odd, was Wallace’s treatment towards Gromit in certain places. True, Wallace’s interest in his piece of Totty (and we all know which piece!) could’ve had something to do with this. But he managed to remain friendly with Gromit when Wendoline was on the scene in A Close Shave. (I could easily speculate further on this matter, but I won’t because of spoilers.)

And Wallace going by the name of “Mister Wallace” didn’t sit right either. Still, the film was a masterpiece and I’m sure it will be enjoyed by all.

It works!

I’ve been downloading something (legally, I might add) for the last two weeks and there are now seven minutes of download time remaining.

What’s the betting that, after all this, the file doesn’t work?

Lance returns to Ramsey Street in Monday’s episode of Neigbours. Woohoo!

I had to visit an animation house in London today for a special rostrum camera induction. It only lasted forty minutes and could’ve easily been done at Racodac instead. But I do feel a sense of personal accomplishment in braving London Underground alone, as I’ve always tagged along with other people before.

After the induction, which also gave us a glimpse at animators working on the forthcoming Gorillaz music video, I made my way to the Isle of Dogs… to see a man about a dog – namely, Elliot S. And that’s the man, not the dog.

Once there, a light bondage session ensued at his place before heading out again for a walk around town. It probably sounds gay. But that’s because it was.

Now at home, having conversed with Katherine McK. and Elliot S. via MSN Messenger for the last two hours or so, I’m going to bed. Because I’m knackered.