The Squeee

Tonight, in an hour, the UK will pass from 2010 to 2011. Almost half the world is already there, in fact! I hope 2010 has treated you well, and even if it hasn't, I hope 2011 will be (even) better. :) Here's a quick re-cap of the year of The Squeee . The Squeee in 2010 - A year of unabashed fangirling January opened with the All About the Brontës Challenge , where I set to work straight away, listening to some old radio plays of Jane Eyre , watched the 1996 film adaptation of the same and finished reading Wuthering Heights for the very first time. I also wrote about my visit to Haddon Hall the year before, and had ideas on how you might be able to make sports interesting , because let's face it, it's not exactly all that interesting. I also discovered I was Marianne Dashwood , even though I don't really play the piano. February announced the first International Magic Day , the blog got itself a makeover, and we were being spoiled rotten by Mr. Armitage n...

BrontëBlog are reporting some very much awaited release dates for Jane Eyre 2011. Here's me thinking merrily that it'll have a release 11 March, or at least thereabouts. Wrong! In chronological order: 11 March 2011 - USA (limited) 7 April 2011 - Australia 14 April 2011 - Germany 9 June 2011 - The Netherlands 9 September 2011 - UK 23 September 2011 - Spain September 2011 - Denmark

Humber Road, to be precise. He was walking down it, in broad daylight. Right about here. Nice and sunny day too, like this. And why was I sort of having a conversation with his "manager"? And who was I walking with? And why was his manager (a man) on Twitter under a fake name - a random woman? It was very peculiar indeed. And if it sounds a bit weird, that's because it was a dream. Had it last night. For some reason, I ... oh hang on. I remember now! I was walking down said fairly non-descript street in the Nottingham suburb of Beeston together with Nat from the Richard Armitage Fanblog , for some reason. Perhaps because I don't know what she looks like in real life is the reason why I can't remember what she looked like in the dream? Like this, and with jeans. But in the flesh. Gorgeous isn't a strong enough word. We came upon Richard Armitage's manager, who was also walking down the road, and we spoke of his charge. And speak of the handso...

This morning was a special event: the first full lunar eclipse on the Winter Solstice for about 400 years. In Nottingham, there was a solid cloud cover, so not much to see, unfortunately. Also, I woke up with my right foot hurting like the blazes, so I couldn't try to see if I could spot it anyway. This is what a lunar eclipse looks like, if you haven't seen one before: First time I heard of one was maybe ten years ago or so, when I decided to set the clock in the middle of the night to watch it. I thought it would be a quick thing, like a solar eclipse (never seen one - there was a partial one in Sweden once, but again, cloud cover ... with rain), but it took such a long time that I went back to bed. When I got up around 6 or 7, the moon was still red! It goes on for hours ! If you have the time and patience to wait all through it, or even just a few minutes, it's an amazing astronomical display. :) I thought that I wouldn't join in with the Christmas wishes this ...

Okay, let's start with one that didn't really work terribly well ... Epic Movie : And one that sort of worked ... Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire : And one that looks like it could be a heck of a lot of fun when it comes out, Your Highness . Enjoy! :)

What happens when Britain has a sprinkling of snow It's been cold and snowy in Britain recently (although today and during the weekend, we're going to have about +5°C, so nice and relatively warm), of course, being from Sweden, I've had a lot of "but of course, you're used to much worse!" comments. Which is true. -17°C certainly won't break any cold records even in the part where I'm from (which is around Gothenburg on the west coast, so definitely not "oop North"). However, Sweden has a neighbour in the east, where it does get very cold in winter. Because if you think even -20°C is cold, think again. The Finns are decidedly unfazed, because they're well hard, innit. No really, they are. Which made me think of a funny list I read ages ago, which I managed to track down and then translated: 15°C - It does not get hotter than this in Finland, so we begin here; the Spaniards put on caps, winter jackets and gloves. The Finns sunbat...

Here's something I wrote for a creative writing course. These were our instructions: You will try writing two different versions of the same story. The first story should be a detective story; the second one a romance. Following is your topic: two people meet after having been separated for 20 years. One of them has stayed in their hometown, and lives a traditional family life; is married and has two children. The other person left home in her/his early twenties and experienced various things that you are free to imagine. /.../ It should be clear to the reader why they meet again after all these years. There must be a conflict of some kind. Is the conflict something that happened recently/is about to happen, or is it an old conflict that has been going on for decades. It couldn't be more than 400 words either, but I changed a few bits to post it here (according to the feedback the teacher gave me at the time), so it might be slightly different than it was to begin with. An...

Was going through Marvin (the desktop computer) to find some files, and came across this, which I believe was posted on Facebook a couple of years ago or so. So not necessarily very up-to-date, but anyway. Here goes: 1) What author do you own the most books by? Technically, Carolyn Keene, but on the other hand, they’re not all mine and besides, they’re all at my parents’. Seriously though, we’ve got probably 100+ Nancy Drew books! Sheer number of books aside from that … Bengt Linder. My collection of books about Dante and Tvärsan is almost complete. :D 2) What book do you own the most copies of? Hmm. I’ve got a few doubles of Jane Austen books now, as I decided to get a new batch from the same series (Wordsworth Classics) to make it look nice and consistent. 3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? Prepo-what-a? :P

I was googling to find a picture of Ciarán Hinds as Aberforth Dumbledore. Found this: Has a thing for goats. Hence the goatee? Har har. THAT'S Ciarán Hinds?! But but but ... it looks nothing like him? Hard to judge by just the one picture. Maybe it will be clearer in the actual film itself. But still, looking at that photo, it really looks like someone else? THIS on the other hand: Yup, that's definitely him. Oooh one of the Mr. Rochesters with a wand. I could swoon for less! Either way, I can't wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 to come out. While waiting, I really should be working on the review of Part 1, so I can gush over how brilliant it was. Yes. But first, sleep. EDIT: Bright and early (and very cold) morning, and a good night's sleep later, I've realised where the confusion lies. Aberforth Dumbledore, the character, is only shown in Part 1 as an eye glimpsed through the mirror Sirius Black gave Harry Potter. Harry thinks...

Another day full of snowing, so I thought I'd share what it looks like outside the house at the moment! There's about 4-6 inches or 10-15 cm or so here, and temperatures are set to drop. Nice afro there, bird table! I also put together a little video for illustrative purposes! :) What's the weather like at the moment where you are?

...before they go as mad as the secret wife in the attic? I aim to find out! :) This is where it all began. Okay, I don't mean I aim to read Jane Eyre prequels, sequels, spin-offs and inspired bys/based ons until I actually go insane, more like, how many can I manage to read before I get thoroughly fed up with the whole thing. Here's the cunning plan ... (updated 13 December 2012)

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It's that time of year again. I had forgotten about this, but watching Russell Howard's Good News last night, he mentioned being on the list and being slightly miffed about it. After all, it's weird crush, people whom it would be weird to have a crush on. And Russell Howard? What's not to love? Here's the list, courtesy of Heat magazine : 25. Gregg Wallace - bald guy from Masterchef . Any appeal he had vanished when he commented on not seeing the point of organic produce. Yeah, because there's no point in avoiding toxic chemicals and treating animals with a bit of kindness. So yeah, crushing on him is weird. 24. John Torode - the Aussie guy from Masterchef . Ehh, whatever. 23. Gordon Ramsay - TV chef and definite alpha male. That's all the explanation you need right there. 22. Kevin McCloud - from Channel 4's Grand Designs . I'm more interested in ogling the houses than him, personally. 21. David Cameron - Tory politician and curr...

One is now ridiculously, deleriously happy. First, yesterday, the movie poster, but I was too caught up with other things (*cough* NaNoWriMo, basically *cough*) to have time to post. Now, the actual TRAILER for the upcoming Jane Eyre (2011) movie adaptation! Thanks to Ruth and Charleybrown for the heads up. I love you guys. You've made my day, week AND month, all at the same time. Thank you thank you thank you!!! How come all Jane Eyres have the same hair style?

Celebrating NaNoWriMo, I might decide to become rather (more) obnoxious (than normal) with posting random writings. This was something written for a creative writing course, and was supposed to portray a turning point in someone's life. I decided to write about the turning point for an alcoholic widower - the father of one of my roleplaying characters that I care a little too much about. "Resolutions" At the beginning of every year, Robert Malford decided to do something useful with his life. It normally didn’t last very long, as he always found something to remind him of times gone by, and it hurt too much. Every year gone by was another year in which he couldn’t read his daughter a bed-time story or help his oldest son with schoolwork, or kiss his wife. They were gone, and no matter how much he prayed for them to return, they never would, and the pain was unbearable. The only thing stopping him from going under completely was his son Christian, who was in school at t...

Every November, there's a Thing going on around the world, called the National Novel Writing Month. Should be International and not National, really, but I suppose they prefered NaNoWriMo to InNoWriMo or something. It's a writing challenge, so that all those of us who say we're going to write a novel "one day" stop making up lame excuses and get down and actually DO write it. Not "one day", but rather "starting today". Or, actually, starting yesterday. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days - and you have November to do it in. My NaNo history so far has been mixed. The first attempt was made in 2006, but I started writing it by hand and didn't know what to write about so just wrote a lot of nonsense. Gave up after 3000 or so words. Not willing to be deterred, I went back for a second try in 2007. To begin with, I was going to be writing something along the lines of an autobiography, but that idea was slated on the forum, be...

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - Thorin Oakenshield What an exciting start to a Friday morning! Reading all these lovely blog posts between trying to make a website layout. I think it's safe to say we're all tingly with excitement over the news that Richard Armitage has been cast in Peter Jackson's forthcoming adaptation of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit . This I greet with a slightly overawed: Aaaaawesomes ! I wonder where it's going to be filmed, though. Or have they sorted out the problems with the New Zealand acting union finally? Even Sam Neill got involved with that a while back and thought they should pipe down and settle it over a cuppa tea. Which I noted with considerable glee, not previously really caring about The Hobbit film because, well, who cares? I'll see the film, absolutely, but I'm not actually a fan of the Ring trilogy. I am, however, a big fan of Sam Neill. An...

The BBC have revealed who will be starring in their upcoming Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency adaptation. And it is: Stephen Mangan as Dirk Gently. Don't know the name, but recognise the face. Mr. Holistic Detective (Love the glasses!) Darren Boyd as Richard Macduff, the computer programmer. Again: no idea, see the pic: Oh him ! The owner of a stuck sofa Helen Baxendale as Susan Way. Rachel off of Cold Feet ! :) Unless they don't bugger up the script to be completely different from the book, she doesn't die in this. Yay! Yes, she has been in more things than Cold Feet . But that's the one we all know her from. There is nothing on IMDb yet (gasp), so that's actually all I know when it comes to casting so far. But oh, I'm all excited! :D Would love to find out who will portray Gordon Way and the old professor as well, but I guess time will tell. The filming has started in Bristol this week, and the show will air some time this...

The National Television Awards have opened the first round of voting. Spooks is nominated (drama?), as is Richard Armitage (actor) and Chris Ryan's Strike Back (new show?). Go vote! :) http://www.nationaltvawards.com/vote Winners will be announced at the ceremony on ITV1 in January. All votes must be in by one minute to midnight on Monday 11 October. Then the countdown begins!

This is my slightly longer than anticipated comment on ‘Rise and Rise Again’ – 100 YEARS OF ROBIN HOOD: Part Two . Today the Google Alert summary on Richard Armitage actually yielded 100% articles about the actor, as opposed to the former US secretary of state ... and a US murder victim. I'm surprised - and delighted. As the comment turned out to be surprisingly long, well, I can post it here too. Because I can. *cough* Det är Robin Hood jag vill ... jag vill haaa! Leaving 2006 aside for a mo, I LOVE the Disney film. I know it almost by heart in Swedish (which, imho, has better voice acting than the original – shock horror). Prince of Thieves is fun in a “yeah Kevin Costner is soooo from Nottingham … not” and the best part is Alan Rickman’s sheriff. Men in Tights is brilliant (“I am a Robin Hood who DOES have an English accent!”), and features Matthew Porretta as Will Scarlett – the actor who went on to play Robin in that godawful New Adventures series. He left after 20-od...

Found this in an interview with Laila Rouass (who plays Lucas's old love interest in Spooks 9) and found the bits regarding Richard Armitage truly aaaaaaawww-worthy: Who do you play in Spooks? A doctor called Maya. She’s the ex of Lucas North (Richard Armitage) who comes back into her life and turns everything upside down. She’s the love of his life and he’s the love of hers. Their relationship is dynamic and explosive and it makes them both question certain things – he has to make some serious decisions. Dun-dun-dun!! But how cute is that? It's twu wuv. Naww. <3 Are there any strip searches? It gets hotter. There’s one scene where we get together in the kitchen and the director was like, ‘Come on, let’s be honest, you haven’t seen each other for years, you’re not going to get all romantic, you’re going to shag her on the table,’ and I must have looked a bit nervous because Richard whisperered, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not really going to shag you on the table, you’l...

Recently, we of course had the privilege of seeing Richard Armitage on ITV's Lorraine (on the show , not on the lady :P - although, if she's anything like the rest of us, I'm sure she wouldn't mind), where he was interviewed and then partook in looking at another Richard making a Thai green curry. Well, as it happened, the Sunday following that interview, we actually went to a Thai restaurant (not even my suggestion!) - and we picked a couple of dishes each. The Squeeze even picked a green curry, to my delight. ;) So let's get cookin'! Thai green curry with Richard Armitage Courtesy of Heathra on YouTube: Thai green curry without Richard Armitage You'll have to do your own coriander-chopping, but on the plus side, you actually get to eat the final result. Courtesy of the ITV website, where you can find the original and rather more to-the-point recipe. The one posted here is the jazzed up version because I couldn't just copy and curry p...

According to Expressen , who got the low-down from the Daily Express , a survey by Debenhams has revealed men are still seen as attractive until the age of 55. Seriously, they needed a survey to tell us that? I thought the evidence of hotness in guys over 50 was pretty obvious already: Exhibit A: Mark Harmon (1951) Exhibit B: Pierce Brosnan (1953) Exhibit C: William Petersen (1953) Exhibit D: Alan Rickman (1946) Exhibit E: Sam Neill (1947) I'm starting to stray into the 60s here, back to the 50s! Exhibit F: Ken Olin (1954) Exhibit G: Jeff Bridges (1949) Woops, relapse, let's over-compensate: Exhibit H: George Clooney (1961) I could go on. A lot longer than this. Richard Madeley, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Martin Sheen - and sons (they're not 50 yet, are they?), Harvey Keitel, Rik Mayall, Bruce Willis, Bruce Boxleitner , Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, Timothy Dalton ... No really, I...

Found a couple of very long lists, " 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die " and " 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up ". After going through both, I think it's safe to say I'm better read when it comes to childrens books than adult ones. Although, some I might have read and don't remember - or that I am not familiar with the title in English, even if I would have recognised it in Swedish. Not to mention all the ones I've seen as movies without reading the books. Some I didn't even know were books! Anyway, here are my not-so-impressive results. How many have you read? :) 28 Books I Have Read Already 134 Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh 209 The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul – Douglas Adams 210 Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – Douglas Adams 272 The Color Purple – Alice Walker 301 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams 411 Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys 494 The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkie...

In fact, if you're in the UK, the return of the FBI agents who bag and tag is scheduled to this Thursday at 9pm on Syfy. One is delighted to see Artie in the promos and hopes the bloke really did survive that blast at the end of season one. Warehouse 13 is back! Awesomes! AND Spooks tomorrow night as well. Going to be a good week for telly.

Just came across this: Richard Armitage doesn't like violence for the sake of violence. He'd like Lucas to go out in a way that isn't necessarily violent - maybe drowning, because it's a personal fear for him. Harry would take Lucas in an armwrestling match and he would like to do something "nice and calm and all about love". Other than that, nothing really new under the sun. Oh, and there's stubble - and you can see chest hair. Not that I was distracted or anything. *cough* Also, why not have a look at the brand new Richard Armitage Daily online "newspaper" ? It's based on people using the #RichardArmitage hashtag on Twitter. :D David A Stephenson has an audio interview available as well, for £1. I can definitely bear to part with that amount of money for a near half-hour's interview with the Man with That Voice. Oh, it just finished downloading, yay! I repeat: "Jaysus, ladies, it's Christmas!" ( said in a broad...

Wowza what a day to be Richard Armitage fan! And what a busy day for him! In the studio with Myleene Klass and then off to BBC to be on Radio 1 with Greg James. See, yesterday, the Chris Moyles breakfast show were lamenting the fact they didn't have a celeb lined up for Friday's show and I was thinking "hey, they could always get Richard Armitage in!" - and all the while, he was going to be on a later show instead. Cheered me up a lot to come across all these RA goodies thanks to fellow fans. My back has been playing up a lot lately so I finally made it to a physiotherapist yesterday so it can start to feel better and this totally made me forget about the aches and pains at least for a little bit, so thanks, ladies! A big thanks especially for all the lovely people who have made these things available for the rest of us! Grounds, walking upon, worship ... you know. :) After reforming my body from the happy puddle I got transformed into, let's see what's cr...