Monday, 18 July 2011

Harry Potter and the (armchair) Philosopher's Stone

I'm knackered tonight. I picked up the cut Sherborne stone and delivered it to my workshop, where I had to man-handle it off the back of this 7.5 ton truck. The block you can see is the off-cut, and weighs about 3 tons. This is why I had to hire the truck. Nothing smaller would have done it. Luckily, I discovered that the lorry had an tail-lift hidden away behind it, but I'm still knackered.


Talking of stone, whist I was waiting to go and see the latest Harry Potter film yesterday (it's bloody good), I took the opportunity of photographing the last (I think) remaining, WW2 bomb-scarred building left standing in Bath, because I thought you might like to see it, and it is now preserved as a sort of monument to the war, though still used - what's left of it.


I would NOT have been wanting to stand next to it when the 1000 pound thing landed a few feet away. The pinkish stains around the windows is fire damage. That's what happens to Bath stone when you cook it - it turns pink.

Anyone else seen part 2 of the last Harry Potter Film? Like it?
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18 comments:

  1. John Going Gently18 July 2011 at 14:02

    tom
    I just cant get into Mr Potter.... leaves me all a bit cold actually.......
    have not read the books, dont know a dumbledorf from a slitherin

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  2. Tom Stephenson18 July 2011 at 14:08

    Good. I'm glad you said that, John. I will shortly be subjecting you to a review of the fillum, couched in the sort of language you were trained to use. Anyone who does not like Powell and Pressburger does not ring quite true with me.

    Then again, maybe I'll ask you to review 'Carry On Nurse' instead... Hmm...

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  3. Anonymous18 July 2011 at 14:16

    How does one wrestle a 3 ton stone off a 7.5 ton truck and live? And, where does one keep a 3 ton stone until they are ready to use it, particularly someone who lives in an "adorable" apartment? That first swing of hammer to chisel must leave you feeling like David attacking Goliath.

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  4. John Going Gently18 July 2011 at 14:38

    now I did love BLACK NARCISSUS,GONE TO EARTH,A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH,THE SPY IN BLACK, and 49TH PARALLEL
    SO GET it right.....Thomas!

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  5. John Going Gently18 July 2011 at 14:47

    but I hated The Red Shoes and Colonel Blimp!

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  6. Olive18 July 2011 at 15:16

    Tom, we three are going to see that film as we have read all the books. While we are talking about film let's talk "Deadwood." I know it's a TV show. Joe is watching that series because he reads this blog and I must say the language is very bad and remember I worked in a prison. He seems to be enjoying it. Every time I hear c-sucker I say " It's all Tom's fault we are looking at that!" in a chuckle.

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  7. Tom Stephenson18 July 2011 at 15:19

    It was only about 1/2 a ton I wrestled off, Dolores - the rest went to my client's estate, and was removed by fork-lift.

    'A Canterbury Tale', John? 'Carry On Nurse'?

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  8. Tom Stephenson18 July 2011 at 15:22

    I'm glad you are enjoying 'Deadwood', Olive. You are not the first people to associate the term 'C***-Sucker' with me, I fear.

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  9. Olive18 July 2011 at 15:26

    Tom, I have been called every vile name under the sun and some I still don't understand by those inmates as well as some other folks. I actually associate very fine writing with you.

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  10. Tom Stephenson18 July 2011 at 15:45

    That's very nice of you to say that, Olive. I am reminded of 'Silence of the Lambs'... I wonder if the term has ever been associated with John? (I mean 'very fine writer', of course).

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  11. Tom Stephenson18 July 2011 at 15:49

    P.S. - I have just bought both '49th Parallel' and 'Spy in Black' from eBay, because I am ashamed to say that I have not sen either, John! Here's looking forward to another wet sunday!

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  12. Donna OShaughnessy18 July 2011 at 18:27

    I used to live just 10 miles from Deadwood, South Dakota.

    Sorry, thats all I got.

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  13. Cro Magnon18 July 2011 at 21:58

    May I bore you about why I now have a bad back... Bloody stone!

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  14. Tom Stephenson19 July 2011 at 01:24

    That was remarkably restrained, Cro. A one line explanation like that would have taken me a month's worth of blogging - with photos.

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  15. Unknown19 July 2011 at 04:35

    I've decided it's time to read the Potter books. Daughter #1 has 1 through 5, so I'll borrow from her. I'll wait until I've finished all 7 before seeing the 2-part ending-movie...feel it's time for a little magic in my life!

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  16. Tom Stephenson20 July 2011 at 11:32

    That's the spirit, Jacqueline. Next thing you know, you'll be running into walls in a London railway station, then waiting for an ambulance.

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  17. Iris20 July 2011 at 21:12

    I've just seen Harry Potter last Sunday and absolutely loved it! Like John of Wales I can't keep the characters apart. And don't ask me to recount what happened in the last Harry Potter movie (although I have seen it). It is fascinating even if you can't keep track of it all. I even got to see it in 3D. It was my first 3D movie ever (o.k. I HAVE been living under a rock, being an old fashioned person and all...) and I can only recommend it! It made me feel like I was right there at Hogwarts. And I am feeling quite proud at always having suspected that Prof. Snapes (?) wasn't really a bad guy. Ha!

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  18. Many Coats23 July 2011 at 05:39

    Really enjoyed the last Harry Potter Tom, except for the final 5 minutes. Why did the grown up Harry and Ron look like a couple of accountants on their day off. If I had finished Voldermort I would flout my status with a colourful gown and a fancy hat.

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