Goodbye Warehouse 13

So SyFy's 'Warehouse 13' has finally ended after five seasons but, unfortunately, it went out with an embarrassing fizz and not a bang.

For those who don't know, Warehouse 13 is about a group of secret agents assigned to collect dangerous artefacts and store them in the secure Warehouse 13.  Yes, there have been 12 before it but they move around.  We don't know when or where to, but that's another story.  It's a light-hearted, easy to follow, paranormal series.

The first four seasons were well scripted, with the usual one-liners thrown in, good story lines and well acted.

Season five, however, was embarrassing to watch and cringe-worthy, save for the first two episodes that tied up the loose ends of season four and they got back to investigating weird artefacts.  The other story lines, unfortunately, seemed thrown together.
Clearly, the writers had ran out of ideas.  The characters being sucked into a TV show where they were all now part of a Spanish soap opera?  They all should have quit whilst they were ahead.  And the tap-dance routine in the finale 'Endless' - Just what was that about?  I was watching in a room by myself and still felt embarrassed in case anybody walked in (NOT for those reasons!)
 

It was as though the actors had decided to give up on everything they had worked for.
The acting throughout this final season wasn't up to much and really, it should have ended at the end of season four regardless of the unanswered questions. We know they can act (CCH Pounder - X-Files.  Joanne Kelly - Hostages) but in my opinion, they didn't want to be there only they had to due to some obligation with their contracts.

If this article is anything to go by - Warehouse 13 Season Finale ‘Endless’ a Recap - it was going to end after season four but the makers gave in to fans' protests.  I bet those same fans regret that decision now.

I shall fondly remember Warehouse 13 but hope someday I find my own artefact to erase season five from my memory.

Goodbye Warehouse 13

Seller beware

*** SCAM ALERT ***

I've sold a few cars over the past 15 years or so without any problems.  These sales have only been advertised locally - poster in the car windows, work notice board or newsagents windows.

I'm selling another car now but as we are looking for a quick sale, we have decided to advertise it on the usual websites, AutoTrader. Gumtree, etc.

Within ten minutes of posting on Gumtree I received a phone call and two text messages.  My first reaction was this was going to be an easy sell.

Despite the text messages being quite similar in asking for replies via Email, I thought this was how Gumtree operated.

The first didn't show a number, just SMS...
"[car], is it still available for sale? kindly get back to me in my email (jessicawalter125@outlook.com)

The second did have a number, 0019512617895 - I was suspicious of this as it is clearly a foreign number.

The text read "I'm interested in your CAR listed on Gumtree and what is your last price?kindly get back to me at ryanharrington05@gmail,com. thanks"

(I have purposely left their Email addresses in as I don't believe they are genuine.  Even if they are, they deserve a few Emails from a Nigerian Prince or two)

I replied back via Email stating the car was still available with the asking price.

'Ryan' was first to respond with..

Thanks for getting back to me i have check the listing and am okay
with it so I'm satisfied with the Price. I really want to purchase it
for my friend.i have a shipping agent that do pick
up for me, they will be the one to pick it up for me after the payment
has been made to your account. I will be paying you through PayPal
which is a fast, safe and reliable method of payment. .If you don't
have a PayPal account just logon to http://www.paypal.co.uk and setup
your PayPal account, after setting up your PayPal account you locate
the request money button located at the top of your PayPal account
home page, use it to request money directly from my PayPal account
which ryanharrington05@gmail.com once once I receive your money
request from PayPal, I will submit payment to you immediately via
PayPal asap.

Thanks

Yeah, right.  Who buys a car without looking at it first?  So we started looking into it and found this on a PayPal forum...

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Sending-and-receiving-money/Advice-about-selling-a-car-recieving-payment-via-paypal/td-p/273176?profile.language=en-gb

'Jessica' was less suspicious with her first Email...

Thank you for getting back to me. how long have you owned it? Can you assure me that  its in good condition and that i will not be disappointed with it.
whats your asking price.

Again, I replied and answered her questions.  Three minutes later, she responded...

I Agree with the price you willing to sell it , i will be happy to paying directly into your paypal account without any delay. I would have prefer to see or inspection it but am busy, i work long hours everyday,i have gone through your advertisement and i am satisfied with it.

As for the payment..i will be paying you with the fastest and secure way to pay online(PayPal).

 I have a private courier agent that will come over for the pick up at your door after the payment have been made, .You can now send me your PayPal email so i can pay in right away and also include your address in your reply.If you don't have a paypal account, you can easily set up one...log on to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy.I await your reply asap

You'll have a long wait for my reply, love.

Looking into 'Ryans' number a bit more I found this...

http://www.tellows.co.uk/num/0019518883614

Not the exact number, but the first six digits are a match and the people posting are saying the same.

So, if you're selling on Gumtree be aware of what seems to be a very common scam.  PayPal may be safe and secure but it's only as secure as you want it to be.

I hate Christmas

.....and every year I hate it that little bit more.

There are lots of reasons I hate Christmas but, surprisingly, religion isn't one of them.  If it were still a religious holiday it would be as easy as not going to church on a Sunday morning to avoid.

People change at Christmas and I don’t like that.  I’m a miserable git, I know, I’m told often enough. So to be told for four weeks at the end of the year to “cheer up, it’s Christmas” is going to make me do anything but cheer up.

The tacky decorations come out, not just at home but in the office as well.  People often go overboard turning their houses into a makeshift grotto.  Adults turn into kids with their so many ‘sleeps ‘til Christmas’.  Stop saying that...you’re not six!

This is also an excuse to wind down.  I know the schools do. Half of November and December is taken up with rehearsing for the school play.  What about my kids’ education?  Try taking them out of school for a family holiday and you risk getting a fine.

For my kids’ sake, I've tried to change.  I put on a mask every Christmas morning and pretend to be all happy but inside, I want the day to be over.

The mess is unreal.  I go from child to child picking up the wrapping paper as it hits the floor but I’m fighting a losing battle.  This is more practicality than OCD. It’s only a small room that has to fit 4 kids and (usually) 8 sacks of presents.  I would like to see the floor occasionally.

Then there’s the battle of getting toys thrown at you from all sides ‘cos they need batteries.  Each one more of a priority than the last.  At least this gives me an excuse to go to a different room to do the ‘technical’ bits.  Getting the toys out of the boxes these days is a challenge in itself.  Gone of the days of just using ties, now they’re screwed in!

Kids get greedy at Christmas.  Every single advert for toys on the telly and there’s the whisper of ‘I want that’, ‘I want that’.  How disappointed must my little kids be when they only get two sacks full of presents.  The older ones aren't too bad.  They don’t want toys anymore, they want concert tickets or shows in London which brings their own logistical challenges.

And of course, all this needs paying for.  In the current economical climate, this won’t be easy.  I’m sure I’m still paying off Christmas from years ago.

They don’t just get greedy, they get hyper and over-excitable.  And this is before the countless number of selection boxes are handed out.  After the sugar rush kicks in, it’s hard to get them down from the ceiling to get them to bed.

The television is awful.  Most of the decent stuff is put on hold until January and we’re left with the usual films and programmes dusted off from years gone by just to fill the slots.

You can’t even put the radio on ‘cos the same half dozen songs are played over and over again no matter what station you tune into.

The only saving grace is the multiple versions of “A Christmas Carol” but even this is ruined by the sickly sweet ending.  I must remember to start switching this off half way through.

Nah, you can stick Christmas where the sun doesn't shine. Roll on January when the deccies go away and people return to normal.

If I must wish you all a Merry Christmas so be it,  but don’t expect me to smile about it.

Unsung heroes of television

Twenty years after the first showing of 'The X-Files' on television, it is still talked about by fans and critics alike.

Ending in 2002 after 9 seasons, it is still regarded, in my opinion at least, as one of the all time classic TV programmes.

The fact it is still talked about by non-fans, usually in a negative light ("It was too slow", "It was boring" "I hate sci-fi") just emphasises the point it has ingrained itself into people's consciousness and there is no getting away from it.

Like it or loath it, there is no doubt about it, some of the best programmes to be aired post-The X-Files era should be credited to the backroom staff.

Breaking Bad - Created by Vince Gilligan who also wrote, produced and directed the show. With John Shiban (Consulting producer) and Michelle MacLaren (Producer and Director).

24 - Written and produced by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. Howard Gordon will also be Executive Producer of 24: Live Another Day (to be released in 2014).

Homeland - Again, written and produced by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

American Horror Story - Written and produced by James Wong

It also deserves a mention that Glen Morgan and James Wong made it to the big screen with the cult horror franchise Final Destination.  Final Destination written by Morgan and Wong with Morgan as producer and directed by Wong.  Final Destination 3 written and produced by both Morgan and Wong with Wong again as director.

I'm sure there are other programmes that wouldn't be on our screens without the input of the former X-Files staff but these are the ones I consider / considered compulsive viewing.

To all those mentioned above, I thank you.

And remember folks, "The Truth Is Out There"....



Source: IMDB

Small world

People often say "It's a small world" but that is a huge understatement.

I came across this gif which shows just how insignificant we are....

How the (potential) mighty have fallen

He could have been a Liverpool legend. Instead Michael Owen went to Real Madrid under a cloud to win things. He won nothing.

He had the chance to redeem himself (slightly) and return to Anfield. Not happy being 3rd or 4th choice striker, he opted for Newcastle where he would have been first choice. Clearly he targeted an England recall. Always the man who put the National team over club football. Injury stopped that in it's tracks.

He really put the (football) boot in when he signed for Liverpool's most bitter rivals, Man Utd (Scum).

And just when you think he couldn't sink any lower, he's now writing for The S*n!

Spitting on the memory of the 96.

Michael Owen, you really are a vile little man. I hope you and Kelvin will be happy sharing stories together.

Edit : So it turns out, like many Liverpool fans, I may have been a bit hasty in jumping on the bandwagon in relation with my comments linking Michael Owen to The S*n.

For that, I apologies.  

I stand by the rest of this post though.  As far as I'm concerned, he will never be welcomed back to Anfield. His ties with the Scum (Man Utd NOT the rag) have burnt all his bridges with the Club and the fans 

Our Volunteer Day

On 25^th April 2013, Staff from United Biscuits and Jacob’s in Liverpool were invited to a ‘Team Volunteer Day’ with FareShare who are based in Hunts Cross, Merseyside.

Why us?

United Biscuits (UB) is a manufacturer of biscuits, savoury baked bagged snacks, biscuits for cheese and cakes through their Companies McVitie’s, Jacob’s & Carr's and are a founder supporter of the FareShare organisation.

UB pays FareShare £5,000 a year in support but due to the long shelf life of their products do not give them a lot of product, unless there is an exceptional situation where they have produced something that they could not sell but which is still absolutely safe.

Keen to build upon this relationship, they invited us to go along, help out and see first hand the work they do.

www.unitedbiscuits.com

Who are FareShare?

To quote from their official Twitter page @FareShareUK “UK charity fighting hunger and food waste by rescuing surplus food and getting it to people in need.”

Volunteers go out in vehicles packed with crates of food and deliver to women's refuges, homeless shelters and other similar organisations in the city.  

Their Merseyside branch can be found at @faresharemersey

For more information and details on how to Volunteer or Donate visit their website www.fareshare.org.uk/

Our Day

After introductions, inductions and a tour of the depot, it was down to work.  Two of our team jumped onto the van to help the driver with the deliveries.  The four of us who remained in the depot got down to sorting out the boxes of food donated by Manufacturers, Supermarkets and the general public courtesy of food-drives.

The majority of the stock comes in on pallets but, as we found out, there are also huge cardboard boxes filled with anything that a Supermarket may stock.

It was one of our tasks to sort through 2 of these boxes, putting similar items in crates by weight and documenting how many crates we’d sorted.  Each item had to be checked for damages such as ripped packets or dented tins and also by Sell By or Best Before dates.  Later, the number of crates we had filled would be inputted onto a database to make picking for the next days deliveries easier. 

It was a dirty (and sometimes sticky) job but somebody had to do it and well, that’s what we were there for. 

On a break with other volunteers

There were a number of other volunteers there, whether they wanted to be or not! We learnt some of these may actually have been carrying out community service.

Whatever their reasons for being there, they all worked very hard and worked well as a team.  They got the job done without any complaints.  Credit deservedly goes to them.

It was certainly a day of mixed emotions.  Shock at realising just how many organisations rely on charities such as FareShare.  Disbelief at realising only 1% of surplus stock goes to the likes of FareShare but overall satisfaction at knowing we did our bit to help out even if it was for only one day.

And Finally...

A short poem pinned up on the toilet wall...