Once A Geek..........

The Prof has a heavy cold man flu.
He is presently resting the Roger Moore eyebrows and is lying weakly in bed.
" what would you like for breakfast?" I called up from the kitchen this morning" Something light?"
He thought about this between wracking coughs
and eventually answered in a weak voice
" A three egg omlette with smoked salmon and a cup of tea"
I think he'll pull through.


Last night, as the Prof lay prostrate on the couch, I watched the Norwegian disaster movie Bolgen.
Bolgen literally means " The Wave" in Norwegian, so it will come as no surprise that the wave in question is in fact a tsunami, but a tsunami caused by an unstable mountain crashing into the head of a fjord.
Apparantly the Scandinavians are well prepared for such eventualities and like the Japanese have robust warning systems to alert the populations clustered in picturesque towns further down the valleys.
Bolgen does not swerve away from true disaster movie protocol. Kristian ( Kristopher Joner) is a scientist studying the stability of a local mountains. He realises ( like you do) that the mountain overlooking his hometown is about to collapse. When it does in spectacular style, he has only a ten minute window in which to warn the population of the town down the valley, the town in which his family is sheltering.
It's a popcorn movie, nothing more, but having the Norweigan twist makes for a bit more interesting a ride. Kristian's partner ( a feisty Ane Dahl Torp) has more spunk than the average disaster movie heroine and proves it by not being adverse to a bit of murder in order to protect her family ( oh err), there are several very dark set pieces like when Kristian comes across a drowned tourist bus and the special effects are rather impressive and more realistic  than we have gotten used to of late.
A good try  7/10.


Now I have only just realised just why, I am slightly obsessed with disaster movies and such tv shows such as The Walking Dead......it is a geeky childhood thing that has never been exorcised- an itch that has never fully been properly scratched
Last night, I caught a rerun of an American show from 1968. I watched it around 1970-1971 every Friday afternoon and although, even then, I could spot a shitty script from a hundred feet, I was totally excited by the general narative which had a group of strangers brought together by peril or disaster. That tv Show was The Land Of The Giants . 
Throughout the seventies disaster movies such as The Poseidon Adventure the format of " strangers working together as a team" and " who will die first" continued to box office delight and even now, The Walking Dead, ( which is literally the same plot but substitues the undead for tidal waves) has me on the edge of my seat....

Geeky kids grow up into geeky adults I guess.

Have to go. The Prof calls from the sick bed.

He's requested battered calamari rings with accompanying mayonnaise for lunch! 

33 comments:

  1. The Prof seems to get a lot of colds. The stress of a high-powered job?

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    1. Too many train journeys on crowded trains more like
      Plus it's tbe start of the academic year in university
      Fresher flu week

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  2. You can't fool me - Ane Dahl Torp is something you might find on a Bandladeshi takeaway menu. Thick dollops of it are supposed to be good for sufferers of man flu.

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  3. get well soon, prof!
    (at least he didn't ask for spam in his omlette)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

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  4. A three egg omelette with smoked salmon -- a man of good taste no matter how under the weather!

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  5. I agree with you re: geeky kids and geeky adults. Worse things we could be, I guess! I too am counting down the days until The Walking Dead returns (not sure for you; here it is October 23).

    Hope the Prof is feeling better.

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  6. Poor Prof ... that is why I never liked jobs where you were exposed to the Public all day long .. most people it seems have no clue about covering their mouth when they cough .. I often think the Japanese really are smarter when I see photos of them walking in the streets with their little surgical masks on their faces.
    I hope the Prof improves quickly. I am sure he will enjoy his own private nurse.. I always thought my husband dallied in bed longer than he needed, enjoying being waited on and nursed so much :)

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  7. So what will the Prof ask for next, Roast Squab perhaps? Enjoy your inner geek with lots of great disaster films.

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  8. Sounds like he's having a vacation with five star room service to me.....best start building him up with a daily echinacea supplement.

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  9. Well John they do say 'feed a cold and starve a fever'.

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  10. The Weaver has already commented what I was about to type.

    I hope that you don't catch the flu. Do you get an annual flu shot? Some years I do, some years I don't.

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  11. Despite being 'sick' the prof has quite a healthy appetite! Talking of disaster movies - due you remember the 1970's film Towering Inferno? I loved watching that. You always get the one 'I don't wanna die' being selfish and screaming and invariably ending up dead!!! A lesson for us all? I like the look of 'Bolgen' and must seek it out.

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  12. If that's what the Prof wants when he's sick I'd like to see him when he's sporting a healthy appetite. (On second thoughts, no I wouldn't).

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  13. If thats summat light - i would hate to see a heavy meal!!! Man flu is terrible - but us women as we have to put up with general whingeing and wining more than usual. Poor love. Tuck a few dogs and Albert round him to sweat out the fever.

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  14. I'd rather make an omelette than deal with the results of nausea! Get better Prof! Keep cooking Nurse!

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  15. Some people want to eat no matter what they are sick from. Glad you are catering to his needs. A mask might not be a bad thing for his travels ...
    Get well soon, Chris!

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  16. Did you watch Lost in Space as well?

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  17. Whatever he's got, it's responding to leave and attention! Poor bloke - but I suggest it's more than time for YOU to be the one who's being waited on hand and foot John!

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  18. Try serving him his tea and toast wearing nothing but an apron .. that is the true test of his strength and how ill he is / or is not .
    Yes, I learned a few things in my day ... ;)

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    1. Dear Lord, that made me laugh. 😱😱😱 Hope the Prof gets better soon . Cathy xxx

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  19. I hope the Prof is on the mend soon. When the cold / flu arrives, all I want is homemade chicken noodle soup. Funny, how we all want what comforts us.

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  20. I have this movie on my streaming list and it is up next.
    Geeky minds think alike.
    On long flight or trains with lots of student do as the Japanese a face mask. Lots of hand washing helps. Too much stress mess up the immune system. I hope the Prof gets beer soon, he needs a Scotty to curl up beside him. Only way to feel better.

    cheers, parsnip

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  21. Anonymous5:15 pm

    Travel in crowded trains isn't helpful with the flu going around this weeks. But I wonder about the Prof's appetite when he is healthy ;-)Hope he feels better soon. He has the best nurse at his side. Best wishes!

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  22. Anonymous6:14 pm

    There's some seriously good TV and film coming out of Scandinavia - Nordic Noir and all that.....

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  23. Good thing you got the door back on the fridge. I can only guess at whats for dinner. Take care

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  24. Good thing you got the door back on the fridge. I can only guess at whats for dinner. Take care

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  25. The Prof is doing well from his sick bed. And yes, it does sound as if he will survive. Home-made mayonnaise to go with the calamari?

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  26. Is it feed a cold and starve a fever, or the other way around? Whatever it is, it seems to be working its magic. Of course you being the nurse on call doesn't hurt a bit.

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  27. I have to say, it comes to something when I can pretty well date a movie by the bras the women are wearing!! Yes, I have my pedantic head on tonight.

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  28. Anonymous11:13 pm

    Thanks for not mentioning Towering Inferno.

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  29. I'm currently catching up with 'Contagion'. I love a good binge watch of disaster fiction. LH gives up he just like NCIS over and over and over again!!

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    1. Or even ' Containment'. doh 😉

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  30. Amen to that John! I love all disaster/end of the world/calamity type movies. I 'll have to look for this one.

    Growing up it was Poseidon Adventure, Towering Inferno, Earthquake, the first couple of "Airport" movies, and any meteor, comet, asteroid, killer flu, zombies, WWIII, etc movies I could get my hands on. Still continues to this day.

    The stories stay the same (mostly not there, ha) but the Special FX get better.

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