life « Journal of David Atlee @ Frozen Designs

Archive for the ‘life’ Category

Where to go!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Well it’s been a little while since I have posted anything, there a couple of reasons. Google Analytics tells me no one has visited in the last month, but I think it lies as friends have told me they have and I have visted it too! So not sure whats going there!

But it did lead me to thinking that whilst having a journal is all nice and well, the successful ones have a purpose beyond the own gratification of the blog owner. So I need to give my blog direction and purpose. The two main creative outlets for me is my photography and writing, I am working on a bunch of short stories that I to get published, but also tie my photography up with it. Well my journal is ideal place to start it off, whilst it may not be my main stories, it will be my photography with some creative text. I will still add the odd link to things and stuff as well. So lets see how that goes!!!

Tags: blog, journal, photography, short stories, writing
Posted in Creative, life, photography, writing | 1 Comment »

Marrowbrook and the Sandman

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

As Easter fades in the distance, my Easter egg that had melted leaving a perfect foil egg to trick me is eaten, it is about time I posted something on my journal. I have had a good weekend of heading back to the place of my birth, seeing family (Dad is doing well, I have left with the first two CD sets of Battlestar Galactica to watch whilst he recovers) and also friends. Ended up at one of those parties where everyone is there. Except for an odd few people I saw most of my friends (known as ‘Marrowbrook’) over the last 14 years in that one house on that one night. I also ended up staying in my old room at the house of Marrowbrook, the home of my early adult years and many good times. The room is still the purple and black that I painted it when I moved in. It brought back many memories as I laid there looking up at the underneath of my old black shelves. I wrote a little poem that started as a text, its simple but for me poignant.

Laying in Bed in my old Room

Old Room

Stayed in my old room last night.
Lots of memories.
Many smiles.
Some tears.
It was good to see you.

Onto another memory,

Many, many years ago when I was a Technical College at the tender age of 18. It was a dark evening between the departure of Autumn and the arrival of Winter. I remember being sat in the Library watching short films from Channel 4′s ’4mation’ collection. It was already a atmospheric and spooky night, the Library was quiet and generally empty. I grabbed one of the VHS videos off the shelf and sat back down at the CRT television with a the built in video player and massive black headphones. I had found a animation short called ‘The Sandman‘. I was engrossed in instantly, loving the style and story. It stuck with for many years, but had trouble sourcing a copy. But as seasons passed and returned the Internet grew and youtube was born. And once again I could watch the short animation that had spooked me out so much all those years ago. It was directed by Paul Berry who went onto bigger things with the likes of Tim Burton with ‘The Nightmare before Christmas‘ and ‘James and the Giant Peach‘. The sandman inspired by ‘Hoffmanns’ novella ‘The Sandman’ and is is very expressionist drawing on many infulences from German film to Hitchcock.

So if it is bright outside, wait till its dark. If it is noisy and busy around you, wait until your alone…

…is it dark?

…are you alone?

Enjoy…

Tags: animation, battlestar galactica, marrowbrook, memories, monster, paul berry, poem, sandman, writing, youtube
Posted in film, life, writing | No Comments »

USB Dad, REVCO, Ministry and Shelves for Life

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Well, well, well…

(Three holes in the ground)

Right, now after the cheap joke. Time for more serious things. Firstly my Dad is recovering really well, after a week of his heart playing silly buggers and being up and down, it seems to of finally settled and yesterday he was eating more, up and walking and having a joke! With the will of the Gods, he should be out by Thursday. Not bad for someone who had about a tea spoon size bit of heart cut out of him a week ago. I’m seriously happy (eye juice has been involved) and would like to thank everyone at the London Heart Hospital for looking after him and bringing him back to his family. It has been a odd weekend of hospital wards, shopping on Oxford Street, Cosmopolitan restaurants and Lord of the Rings on my laptop in the evenings.

I hope that will the last time I have to head up to London before the end of the month when I go up for a talk by Simon Marsden (a photographer of the spooky) for part of London Ghost week! I shall be featuring him in a journal posting soon, keep those peepers peeled!

It was a ‘Happy Post Morning’ today as I arrived at work to find a letter from work extending my contract, good news! Also a parcel from Houston, Texas with goodies from the world of Al Jourgenson.

Ministry Live Adios (CuLaTour)

I have the new album from REVCO ‘Sex-o Olympic-o’ of which the few songs I have listened to so far is pretty awesome. It has an interesting revamping of ‘Keys to the City,’ the Ministry and Co-conspirators track for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Along with that came the Ministry live album ‘Adios’ from their last and final tour ‘CuLatour‘.

For those who know me, you know I turned into a 31 year old Ministry groupie and saw them last year in Chicago, then London and Bristol (where I got to meet my GOD and had a beer with him on the tour bus!). Good times! Ironically the live album seems to be recorded from their Manchester gig, gutted! I travel across the UK and the Atlantic, and they choose Manchester for the recording! Well I hope the upcoming live DVD provides me with footage of the gigs I saw.

Al Jourgenson and I on the tour bus in Bristol during the CuLaTour

As well as the two CDs came a t-shirt and lots of extra free goodies in the shape of two posters (one signed by the band), a badge, stickers, postcards and a promo CD of Ministry, Prong and Revolting Cocks (REVCO). Much excitement!!!!! ** CLAPPING OF HANDS IN SPECIAL MANNER**

So onto features I have had backing up on my igoogle page from the world of tech geek things.

Whilst this could considered in bad taste, it does tickle my sense of humour and with my Dad on the mend, I think I can feature these shelves for life. Personally I think they are very eco-friendly and also its one less thing for relatives to worry about. Just bring a screw driver with you.

230 Miles of Love is a project of comedy, the M6 and SatNav. Whilst I’m not a fan of SatNav, preferring good old paper maps and the adventures of getting lost. This is a really interesting new way to deliver story telling.

Oooh just found another ministry goodie, Ministry earplugs!

Till next time!

Tags: al jourgenson, father, ghost, gigs, london, ministry, music, photography, revco, simon marsden, surgery
Posted in Buy Things, life, music | No Comments »