Kevin De Bruyne - a faster David Beckham

Everyone knows how much a fan I am of the current Belgium football team - and I just wanted to say a few words about one of their young players, currently plying his trade in the English Premier League with Chelsea.

One of my favourite players in this Belgian squad is Chelsea youngster Kevin De Bruyne (22).  This young lad's pace, technique and overall hunger and appetite for the game is a joy to be hold.  He is one of the best attacking young midfielders in Europe and despite being a first pick for Belgium, he does not start for Chelsea every week and that is a real shame, because the Chelsea fans are missing out.

He was one of the top players in the German Bundesliga last season on loan with Werder Bremen and apparently Wolfsburg are eyeing up a January move for him.  To be honest, he would be far better off away from Stamford Bridge playing somewhere else as he could play for any team in Europe, such is his talent.

  Chelsea have just got far too many attacking midfield players to keep absolutely everyone happy and if your face doesn't fit at that club...

Kevin De Bruyne.

How would I describe Kevin De Bruyne?  A faster David Beckham, who can dribble, score goals and has a left foot equally as good as his right.  To think that England could've snapped him up (his mother is actually English) - but he chose to represent the country of his birth.  England's loss and Belgium's gain.

Trollhunter - destined to become a cult classic

I watched the Norwegian "mockumentary" horror/adventure TrollHunter the other evening for the first time.  There were some crazy, hilarious moments (I felt that they were deliberate and tongue in cheek, but maybe not...) - some of the monster/troll names were "interesting" TOSSERLAD and RIMETOSSER being a couple of them and there's also a scene in the film where the gang/crew are stuck in a cave hiding, while a small army of mountain trolls are just a matter of yards away, minding their own business (and farting loudly), that was pretty funny.  Oh, and by the way, not to sound too judgmental, but those mountain trolls are ugly! 

Remember when Arnold Schwarzenegger said; "you're one ugly motherfucker..." about the alien in "Predator" (1987) ???  Well, these guys were well and truly beaten with the ugly stick.

A typical looking Troll seen in childrens' books - very similar to the mountain trolls in Trollhunter

Also, the moment that Hans the trollhunter revealed one of his troll proof iron/steel superhero outfits, my stomach was actually aching and had us all in stitches!!  Some people are put off watching a foreign language film, but there are English subtitles and once you get settled into the adventure, you forget all about it.  In actual fact, hearing the Norwegian dialogue, only adds to the fun of the film, particularly in the more tense moments and action sequences.  Oh, and who knew that trolls hated Chrisitans???  Watch it and find out more.

Theatrical poster.

All in all though, I thought it was a very clever and well made monster movie, which is surely destined to become a cult classic.  Written and directed by André Øvredal, Trollhunter was filmed in the mockumentary style with "found footage", which brings obvious comparisons to "The Blair Witch Project" and was filmed on location amidst some stunning Western Norway landscape and scenery (it actually reminded me of parts of Scotland a little), the acting was pretty solid too, with well known Norwegian comedian Otto Jespersen a stand out as Hans the trollhunter.

Hans, the trollhunter - (played by Otto Jespersen)

Apparently, several American movie production companies have been fighting to acquire the rights to a (no doubt over the top, over produced) remake, so I suggest you check this one out first, before Hollywood claims it as their own and everyone else jumps on the bandwagon.  Then you can be proud to say; "it wasn't as good as the original..."

"Troooollllllll!!!!"

New Olympia Swimming and Leisure Centre - Dundee

So, the new Olympia Swimming and Leisure Centre in Dundee finally opened its doors yesterday (Thursday 27th June 2013).  More than 6 months behind schedule and at a cost of over £30 million.  I am a little sad that the original Olympia has finally shut its doors for the last time, I always thought that it was a great and perfect location right by the water (and almost like a wee escape from the city centre), got lots of fond memories of the old place. 

Ideal location - The old Olympia Swimming and Leisure Centre.

But times are changing and a more modern complex was needed.  I am sure I will grow to love the new Olympia and look forward to taking my daughter there soon and enjoy going to the place as a family as well - it really does look like an impressive, modern and fun place.

New Olympia Swimming and Leisure Pool - Dundee, Scotland (June 2013)

It doesn't appear to be quite the most spacious of places and I'd imagine it would get very crammed during peak times.  The old place was definitely a lot more open and spacious.  I am also not convinced that it is the greatest of locations to be honest (by Gallagher Retail Park near the City Centre).  It could cause mass havoc and contribute to a lot of traffic congestion in the area, not forgetting how dangerous it could be with the busy roads surrounding the new complex, particularly with the many young children and families that will be going about.  People will just have to be a little patient and take that little bit extra care.  Food for thought.

Below is a wee video (provided by The Courier), showing you clips of the new Olympia with some of its first visitors giving their thoughts also.

Those that belittle

People who indulge in the art of belittling others are one of the lowest kinds of people and are clearly unhappy with themselves and their own life.  While belittling may serve the purpose of lowering the other person's confidence or self esteem, whilst for a short while boosting the confidence of the one doing the belittling - this is a really sad way to live your life and makes you a very ugly person.

I try my very best to not let these types of people bother or upset me, but it is very hard sometimes, the sensitive soul that I am.  But I am trying my very best and getting better with dealing with these kinds.  There are far more important people and things in life to worry about than these cowards.

Half the time, the person doing the belittling, is in actual fact only belittling themselves at the end of the day.  Belittling others makes you neither tough nor impressive.  It just makes you stupid and rude.

Self doubt of an Artist

As a photographer, writer, story teller and a love of documenting things - I consider myself an artist.  Many different people may have differing views of what qualifies one person as an artist.  Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.  Perhaps my own creative work doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in terms of art.  My belief is that we are ALL artists in our own little way - well, at least we all start out that way.

Many "artists" have self doubt - a fear of not being good enough creatively, fear of people not loving or appreciating your work.  Having the constant need for inspiration, through feedback, love and a little TLC, in the form of someone putting their arm around and you saying "this is great, keep up the good work..."

In terms of Social Media, you will never 100% understand just quite how much a simple like, share or retweet means to me when it comes to my work.  All these little things and receiving positive feedback is like receiving a special daily gift, that absolutely means the world to me.  So, please do not hesitate when it comes to giving feedback or "liking" something of mine - I like that you like it.  Actually, I love it.

These periods of self doubt or loathing come and go, I don't like it, but I do understand that many "artists" go through it and it somehow inspires the artist to push on and continue to create more great things.

"I don't think there's any artist of any value who doesn't doubt what they're doing."

~ Francis Ford Coppola

"Basically, you make another movie, and another, and hopefully you feel good about every picture you make. And you say, "My name is on that. I did that. It's OK". But don't get me wrong, I still get excited by it all. That, I hope, will never disappear." ~ Martin Scorsese

Anyways, this has been playing on my mind the past few days and I just wanted to note a few words down, get it off my chest, so to speak.

It is a long road for an artist, but it never ends.  It can be a rather lonely one, but it is an exciting one.  A constant journey, discovering new ways, new routes to finding something rather special and expressing yourself - your pain, your passion, finding yourself and losing yourself at the same time.


"The greater the artist, the greater the doubt.  Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize..."

This Year's Love (Under rated British film) - 1999

Just watched British film "This Year's Love" for the first time in years.  This was always a real favourite of mine and vastly under rated in my opinion.  I'm not sure many people I know actually really liked, enjoyed or even ever saw the film and it certainly wasn't a huge commercial success at the time.

Written and directed by David Kane - the film features an impressive ensemble cast featuring the likes of Kathy Burke, Dougray Scott, Ian Hart, Jennifer Ehle, Douglas Henshall and Catherine McCormack. 

Original theatrical poster (1999).

The film also features British singer/songwriter (unsigned at the time) and chart topper David Gray as the lead singer in a pub band, I was then immediately hooked on Gray's voice and music after watching this film at the cinema - which, by the way, I watched on my lonesome at the old Odeon at The Stack Leisure Park in Dundee, Scotland with barely half a dozen other people in the auditorium also.

David Gray in cameo role.

The film is set and filmed almost entirely on location, in and around the trendy Camden Town area of North London and centres around the lives of 6 people over the course of 3 years and their relationships and how their lives intertwine with one another.

Camden Town - London, England.

Funny, sad, at times tense, touching and with a lot of heart - I think the reason I love this film so much is that it has a realistic, contemporary quality to it and I can relate in many ways with the lead characters as they are all flawed, real and humane. 

Scottish actor Dougray Scott as artist Cameron.

The film also boasts a great soundtrack too, which is always a good thing; including the film's opening number; Welsh band Stereophonics'  "Just Looking".  I really liked the song and, at the time, I actually thought that it was a new song from Bryan Adams as I felt Kelly Jones' voice resembled him a little and I hadn't actually heard Stereophonics' music before watching This Year's Love.

 The film also captures a time and place (mid to late 90s, pre-millennium) that I feel is rather long gone now, which pretty much makes this film now a period piece.  There was an energy and buzz around London and Britain at that time.  I can relate so much to this film in almost all the characters in different ways, being a young adult trying to find and feel my way in the real world. 

At the end of the day, the film is really entertaining, makes me smile and you just have a really good time with it - which is why we watch films, isn't it?  To be entertained.  Check it out if you can.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/Wwq5gQCgbE8