To end my busy two week stint of traversing London from early int’ morning until considerably late int’ evening, I spent yesterday afternoon moving about London with Katherine McK. (who has surprisingly not got FAT despite having just returned from a year in America - although she is still a ginge), ending the day with a viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

It was great finally catching up with Katherine in the flesh and the film was sensational - the ultimate in cool. The extortionate ticket price of £12.50 didn’t impress either of us, although getting reasonably good seats, the film being exceptionally long - a digital print at that - and being an awesome film to boot was of some comfort.

Ah, I really want to see it again now. I’ve never seen the same film twice at the cinema, but I’m almost tempted to go again as I know waiting for the DVD is going to be painful. As is waiting a whole year for the final instalment of the trilogy, dammit.

I got tickets to see That Mitchell and Webb Look being filmed some time ago but have feared not seeing it all of this week because of yesterday’s planned rail strike. Thankfully the strike was called off on Thursday, and I got to see the legendary duo in all their physical glory last night as intended.

I was really looking forward to the evening, as I absolutely love the radio version of the programme - and indeed all of the pair’s work. I didn’t expect the majority of the programme to literally be just a televised version of the radio show (word for word identical), but it transferred brilliantly to screen. The new sketches, however, were excellent. And what’s more, I got to see my Mitchell and Webb favourite, Big Talk, being filmed in entirety.

Hats off to Robert Webb as Raymond Terrific is all I’m going to say on that one - he nailed all but one of the lengthy spiels in one take.

Atul K. and Paul B, whom I took with me, also seemed rather impressed with the material. But then again, Paul laughs at Father Ted so you’ll just have to take my word for it that it was actually funny.

It was my last day working at Paramount yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks there. The work was great and a fair deal of what I did is actually going straight ont’ television. Excellent with brass knobs on!

Bidding farewell was a tad… odd, as I could really see myself staying there forever; I got on swimmingly with the team and altogether settled in unbelievably quickly. My guvnor, Chris W, was a right dude, providing many a laugh (and expertise) throughout the fortnight. “Don’t worry, I’ll rinse my mouth out with Blake’s semen,” is one of many gems that I shan’t forget in a hurry.

All in all the experience was fantastic. Most importantly, it has revitalised my desire to work in this industry - something I desperately needed to happen after previous experiences and institutions had clouded my sense of direction in generally being mind-numbing and spirit-crushing. And with any luck I’ll end up working somewhere as fun and rewarding as Paramount has been.

End.

Well, not all of me. But my hand is going to be famous.

I rarely remember my dreams, but I had the most vivid of dreams last night - that Red Dwarf IX had secretly been filmed and I somehow stumbled across the continuity announcement just as the first episode aired having not been scheduled to.

The episode was mind-blowing too, far better than what VIII had to offer. Then my dream skipped forward several days and the success of the first episode alone had seen funding materialise for the movie.

If only it were true.

I tend not to talk about Big Brother on this here blog because every other munchkin discusses it at length everywhere else. But I will say that I’m going to stop watching it now, as the public has voted out all of the strongest characters this year - and have just evicted possibly the most amusing housemate to date.

Sure, Nikki’s tantrums were pathetic but at least she entertained - which is more than can be said for the others left in there.

Alex to win.

1. Paramount have asked me back for another week.
2. Several pieces of my work are going on air.

Go me.

Postage is soon to be based on size as well as weight. Anything to make more money, eh? Why don’t they just make stamps bigger and have a dedicated space for advertising on them? That’d make Royal Mail a tidy packet and keep the general public happy.

Fair enough, you can’t travel across the country for as little as 32p - or however much 1st class stamps cost these days. But come on, this new move is hardly going to cut down queues at the post office is it? - And that’s apparently one of the reasons why they’re implementing this new system.

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Look at me. Twenty years old and moaning about postage costs and queues at the post office. What has happened to my youth?

I hate you and your stupid little grids.