I like this ‘man’s gift’

This is the time of year when magazines and newspapers are filled with 'gift guides' – selections of ideas for different 'types' of people that rarely ever make it into anyone's stocking. 

I'm always particularly disparaging of 'Gifts For Men', simply because they're nearly always full of leather goods, golf memorabilia or pointless gadgets that even the slackest brain will tire of within a couple of days. 

However, one of my recent discoveries online is the fantastic Not On The High Street. It's full of quirky, fun stuff that you can genuinely imagine fitting into your house and life. 

Now admittedly, the gifts for men section still doesn't completely float my boat, but the above 'Dunk Mug' is something that is truly unique and also fun. 

What's more, they're individually handmade, so not an off-the-shelf product that you'll see in every branch of Ikea or Habitat. 

More stuff like this, please!

Posted via email from Rob’s stream of web

An Education – My Thoughts

I finally finished Lynn Barber's An Education the other night.
 
As a film, it is likely to be garlanded with awards come 2010, with praise coming from all quarters, but the book is a different story.
 
I don't mean it's not well-written, but it covers a far greater span than I expected.

All the preamble was about Lynn Barber's relationship with an older, shady man who also managed to charm her parents. In fact, most of the extracts I read in the different papers were solely about this part of her life, so I had no idea that the actual book covers Lynn Barber's life and career way beyond her pre-university years.

And for me, this was the most interesting part of the book. How Barber's career progressed, the people she met and how she ended up becoming the star interviewer that she is.

Also, the final chapters, where she charts the descent of her husband's illness, were completely fascinating. Her reaction to his deterioration was remarkable and brutally honest – almost to the point that she becomes extraordinarily unlikeably.

Until, that is, you remember just how difficult watching a loved one dying really is. It's totally unlike anything else. All reason and normality flies out of the window. Your everyday reactions change and you find yourself thinking and doing things that you never previously believed yourself capable of.

Forget the film. The final chapters of An Education, for me, are far more revealing and interesting.

Posted via email from Rob’s stream of web

Why the X Factor judges aren’t as clever as they think

Last night was George Michael night on X Factor – a particularly ill-starred night as far as the contestants went, with a number of duff performances.

Yet again, Joe McElderry was the star of the show with his version of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. As Louis Walsh – Mr Rulebook for this year’s X Factor – pointed out, it’s technically an Elton John track and not a George Michael one. George only guested on it.

Surprisingly, though, none of the judges picked up on the fact that Stacy Solomon also sang a technically ‘illegal’ song. I Can’t Make You Love Me was indeed recorded by George Michael, as part of Double A Side back in 1997 with Older, but that was a cover version.

The original rendition was recorded by Bonnie Raitt. Clearly Louis, Cheryl, Dannii and Simon don’t know their music as well as they think they do.