Pablo Cheesecake vs That There London

It's not very often that Mrs Cheesecake and I get the opportunity to head of to the big city but yesterday we had a perfect excuse. Mrs Cheesecake is a rather huge fan of Michael Sheen (don't believe me? check out www.michael-sheen.co.uk, all her own work don't cha know). Anywho, we had scored some tickets to go and see Himself (that's what he is known as in our house) as Hamlet at The Young Vic.

As the show wasn't on until 7pm we decided we would check out a bit of the city we hadn't experienced before. I should state for the record I was also jonesin for a Starbucks Eggnog latte and figured I could cater for coffee habit along the way.

So prior to the show - Borough Market. Awww man this place is food porn of the highest order. Every direction you turn there are loads and loads of specialist vendors hawking their wares. It is a blissful assault on the senses. Within the first 100ft we had walked past someone making grilled garlic king prawns, someone else selling hot mulled wine and another selling pates, relishes and many varieties of salami. Best part, without a doubt, LOADS of free samples. I just didn't know where to start.

Eventually, after much umming and ahhing,  we ended up joining a queue for a stall called Roast to Go. The queue was pretty long but I took this to be a good sign, turns out it was totally worth it. I got a salt beef, mustard and pickle sandwich while Mrs Cheesecake had turkey and cranberry. It may have been the best sandwich I have ever eaten (and I really do mean EVER!)

More wandering about and I got to try some splendid cheese, an exceptional terrine and a great wild mustard relish. I think that if we had the time, the cash and the inclination we could have spent the entire day at there.

The evening found us at The Young Vic and we had pretty epic fucking seats, 4th row ain't at all shabby. We've seen a good modern take of Hamlet before, starring the Tenth Doctor and Jean-Luc Picard, but this interpretation was a different class. The performances were all mesmerising but Sheen was exceptional. Nothing better than a bit of live theatre.

I reckon that'll do for now. Much as I enjoyed visting that there London. It is nice to be back in our little house, fussing the cat on the sofa. I have some serious mooching about scheduled so best be off to do it.

Laters Taters

Ohh by the way, before I forget,  after such a hectic day it may not be a massive surprise to discover that I completely forgot about, and didn't manage to get, the coffee I was hoping for. Perhaps next week.

A Week of Cheesecake

This week a bring you a random assortment of the stuff that has happened in our house

The Seven Day Sandwich

Mrs Cheesecake and I enjoy watching Man vs Food. I you haven't ever seen it I strongly advise you check it out, it fucking rocks. Anyway it got us to thinking about all the strange a delicious looking foods that our American cousins have access. How easy would it be to replicate this sort of culinary adventure in the UK? We decided we would give it a go. We set our sights on creating a Reubens. The primary ingredient is salt beef. Just to make things interesting we thought we would have  bash a preparing our own salt beef. Turns out this takes the minimum of seven days. The beef has to be soaked in water that contains various herbs. Was it successful? We will find out tomorrow. I am hoping for something along these lines.

Paging Dr Cheesecake

A few months ago I entered a competition to appear in a book by the publisher Abaddon. Bugger me if I didn't go ahead and win. The prize was to have an academic named in one of the appendices in the novel Savage Knight by Paul Lewis. I decided the nominate Mrs Cheesecake instead and today the book arrived. I had a rummage and low in behold on page 279 the following....

This may be the coolest fucking thing ever. I'm sort of jealous I gave the prize away now. She'll be in print forever. Immortality achieved at last.

2011 Challenge Update

We are well and truly in the final stretch. After nearly 10 months I have managed over 16000 sit ups. Less than 4000 to go. Happy days. Actually that is not entirely accurate. I have to think of what I am going to do in 2012. I've done the huge cycle trek (500km in 2010) so I am looking for suggestions for next year. No not chin ups I am to tall for that. Perhaps I should come up with some sort of weight training program? I'm sure I can come with something. Hey you never know one day I may not be fat anymore. Stranger things have happened. Admittedly I'm unsure what these stranger things are but you get the gist.

Ohh before I forget, if you feel the urge you can still donate to my just giving page. Well I say mine. It is one that I share with my amigo @Seabrie. Together we are Two Fat Men. Impressive non?

Sunday Night Whimsy

I am a creature of habit. After a long hard week I enjoy putting my feet up and giving my self over to the Lords of Whimsy. What, you may ask, is this? I have this theory that someone, somewhere invented a rule that every Sunday night there has to be a lavish looking TV show on. Disagree? I submit the following as evidence. Hamish Macbeth, Monarch of the Glen, Lark Rise to Candleford (known as Lark Rise to Bumble Fuck in our house - I don't know why either), Spooks, Downton Abbey. Now don't get me wrong. These shows ain't Shakespeare but but sure as hell are entertaining.

Oh well enough of this jibber jabber

Stuff to do

Laters Taters,Adios

Mr C

UPDATE

Just realised this my 150th post. Can't let this go by without a Fuck Yeah! I can also pretty much guarantee that there will be 150 more. I mean where the hell else am I going to waxy lyrical.

Lazy Technology

Does tech enhance our lives and make things easier or does it just make us big old amorphous lazy blobs? I've been thinking about it and after much pondering I think I'll go with the second conclusion.

Why would you come to that staggering conclusion Pablo?

Well, basically because I am lying in bed writing this post on my iPhone. Fuck - even for me that is lazy. I mean seriously I'm in bed writing a blog post on a phone. It's not even difficult.

On second thought perhaps this is a good thing? Maybe horizontal blogging is the future? If it catches on remember you heard about it here first!

A Random Ten Things

Tonights post is brought to you by ten random things that have occurred this week in my life.

1. I'm obsessing about sandwiches again. This time something called a Reubens. Mrs Cheesecake has bought into the lunacy and we are going to prepare our own salt beef brisket. Takes about a week to do so don't be surprised if there us another update re: this in about seven days time.
2. So iOS5 landed this week. Based on what I have read on the interweb I have had a hassle free update. Some others have had some issues. I guess I have been lucky.
3. Fantasycon is going back to Brighton in 2012. The same team that were responsible for this year's con are going to be running the show again. Same hotel as well. I am pretty keen to attend I think. This year was a great deal of fun. Lots of real nice folks there this time out so I don't see why it shouldn't be the same again next year.
4. This years annual challenge is still going strong. To recap 20000 sit-ups in 2011. This week I have hit 15700. Possibility of completing challenge remains highly likely. 
5. Werewolves continue to usurp my reading list. Poetry as well. Truly a eclectic mix.
6. I bought a body warmer. This must herald the return of the 1980s. I look forward to the return of day glo socks. They were fucking great.
7. I have admit defeat and concede that the pumpkins have not performed as well as I would have hoped. I think again the great British weather is entirely to blame. Next year there will be greenhouse and hopeful slightly more successful crops. The parsnips will get picked this weekend. My hopes for them are sightly higher. 
8. No movement on Project Cthulu yet. Perhaps in the New Year If I'm lucky.
9. Tomorrow my brother in law is coming to visit and we are off to see The Three Musketeers. I have a great love for Frenchie styled movies. I love the numerous versions of The Count of Monte Cristo and also The Three Musketeers so this should be fun.
10. Messing about with my phone earlier I captured Freya up to mischief - No I don't know what she is doing either. I'm sure she is up to something though.  

Cat in a bag

Nighty night,

Sleep Tight,

Don't panic there aren't any bedbugs that'll bite....

Just me hiding under your bed

And It's Hello From Me

Damn you real life. Damn your black heart for getting in the way. *shakes angry fist at the sky* It has been ages since I have last written anything here. I've been busy. What with holidays, work, book reviews and everything else it life get quite cluttered.  I've had a flurry of new followers on the Twitters and Facebook so I thought I might do a little introductory post/ Q&A thingee.

Who the Hell are you? Around most of Interweb I go by the name Pablo Cheesecake. You may be stunned to discover that this isn't my real name (I know I was). You can call me Paul if you like. I live in a  little house with my significant other, the redoubtable MadNad as well as two cats (Odin & Freya) and a tarantula called Athena. When I'm not here or at work I run a book review website called The Eloquent Page. Gives me the chance to read a lot which can only be a good thing no?

What can you expect from A Mid-Life Crisis? Well, to put it in a nutshell, basically this is my on-going experiment trying to upload my consciousness on the internet. I like the idea of opening my brain giving it a shake and seeing what falls out. To give you a rough idea of the sort of thing you'll witness. In the past I've blogged about my quest for the perfect fish finger sandwich, my obsession with crappy movies and in one memorable instance I ranted while drunk about Tesco's plastic bags.

How often will I post? Your guess is as good as mine chief. This is the nature of random. Could be tomorrow cold be next week. I have no idea.

Will there be swearing? Fuck yeah. Probably lots if I'm honest. If it is in my head then it will eventually find its way onto the blog.

So I think that covers just about everything for now. Are we all strapped in and ready for lift off? Good show, lets see where we end up shall we.

Till next time
Please remember to tip your waiters and waitresses

Pablo Cheesecake

Trolls, The New 52 and a Bake-a-thon

Pablo Cheesecake, Trollhunter

This morning Mrs Cheesecake and I went to the cinema and we saw the latest found footage movie, Trollhunter. I demand you go and see this film immediately. This Norwegian epic is such good fun. The scenery is breathtaking. The story was highly enjoyable and the trolls themselves are a sight to behold.

I enjoyed this so much I felt compelled to ask Mrs Cheesecake to help me recreate a scene from the film. If you have been lucky enough to see the film then I think you can agree that the result is spookily accurate.

Pablo Cheesecake - Troll Hunter

I would particularly like to draw your attention to the fact I am wearing my nice bright green socks (perhaps not obvious as the photo is quite small, click on the photo to em-biggen). My feet were freezing when we got to Norway this afternoon. Also worth pointing out my hair goes the same colour as the trolls when it needs to get re-dyed (sad but true).

I am slightly concerned that there is going to be an English language remake of this. That would be a damn shame. The Norwegian cast were pitch perfect and I really cant imagine this story working anywhere else in the world.

The New 52

I also dipped my toes back into the world of comics this week. After much pondering I decided to I pick up Swamp Thing and Animal Man from the new DC range. Both were rather good. It has been a long time (years) since I bought any comic and I have to admit I was sceptical but turns out I was wrong. I think I may have to pick up Green Lantern next week. How long will this rekindled love affair last? Only time will tell.

Cakeageddon

Mrs Cheesecake has found her own bliss this week. Today after we got back from town she made a huge rustic loaf of bread, an apple and blackberry pie, a red velvet cake? and roast lemon and herb chicken. Check out the Twitters for evidence of this epic feat. I am being totally spoiled by all this homemade cookery. It is epic. Even as I type now she is pottering around in the kitchen making a cream cheese frosting for the cake. I think my waistline may explode. At least I will die happy :)

I'm going to go and get some cake.

Cheerio

Cheesecake Away!

Hey, Hey Its Saturday

Of Fantasycon and Holidays

Not long to go now till a two week holiday topped of with a visit to Fantasycon 2011 in Brighton. This will be our third FCon but I've never been to Brighton before so I'm looking forward to visiting somewhere new. There are a number of book launches that sound exactly great. Roll on our long weekend at the seaside. Hopefully I'll meet some of you there? I'll be the one with the bright red hair. More on that nearer the time I think.

The Curse of the Brown Trousers

(Before reading this update it would be well worth your while to check out my last post to understand the ins and outs of my trouser trauma. Hmmm trouser trauma sounds rude. Please note this is not erection related in any way. Just in case you were worried.)

They have finally arrived and I'm wearing them right now as I type. They seem to be very comfortable. Will this change my entire wardrobe? I dont think so. I'm still reticent to move into the realms of corduroy for example. At the very least I have a new choice I suppose. Like I've said before I'm not a fashionista so change is always a bit traumatic. Baby steps eh people?

Walking Music

This morning I had some errands to attend to and I decided I would do them on foot. Nice to get a bit of exercise and all that. I also decided it would be a good idea to take along my iPhone so I could listen to some sounds along the way.

My musical tastes are at best described as eclectic but I have a confession to make. Most of the time when I walk along the street this is what is playing in my head anyway.

or this

I fear I may have revealed to much. Oops. Oh well, never mind.

New Blogger

Looks like Blogger has a had a bit of an update. I am liking some of the new features. Certainly this first attempt at using it has been stress free.

Anyway enough of this waffle

Till next our paths cross

Your servant

Pablo Cheesecake Esq.