Rockmother

Well, it certainly is Lost In La Mancha but to follow are photo’s showing the plus side of my job – not just the minus side that I seem to eternally winge on about.
Yesterday – the Pyramids…….

shooting horses galloping into the sun….

and then today Cairo Khan El Khallili souk….where we caused near riot and endured three punch-ups due to disruption and not enough back-handers going round. This man however just sat and read his paper in the early morning sun…..

We had a big debate amongst the crew yesterday about the pyramids – how they came to be, when they were built etc. Everybody has their own explanation it seems. Our Lighting Cameraman was adamant that they are ‘alien landing sites’. He came a day earlier than everyone else and made a point of visiting them. He said that he stood inside the main one and felt the most amazing energy. Over the years, the ‘pyramid energy’ thing has been subject to alot of scrutiny and ridicule. I’m sure Fergie was once photographed under an aluminium pyramid in a velour plaited headband receiving healing energy……make of it what you will. Actually, we spent two days at the pyramids – one lining up and planning shots and two – actually shooting. I suddenly realised on day two that I had just rocked up and completely taken them for granted – like the pyramids…whatevah! They are pretty incredible and I am very lucky to have seen them – I wish I had had the chance to go right up to them and experience them at close hand rather than from afar. More tomorrow…….

Sorry for blog-silence everybody. I am currently back in Egypt going through what I can only describe as a re-enactment of the Gilliam film Lost In La Mancha. For those of you who have seen it you will appreciate why I haven’t been able to blog. Will try to catch up when back – if I ever get back that is! Been here two weeks – only another painful two to go……..

I was going to head this post Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now but then I realised despite it being officially THE most depressing day of the year it wasn’t really all that bad today. Tomorrow however is quite exciting in what could turn out to be genuinely depressing if I let it – turning 40. But….I actually feel quite excited about it. I’ve crammed alot in so far and I intend to cram in a whole lot more. And anyway – I haven’t changed a bit!

Perhaps the eyeliner isn’t quite so extreme (this picture is tame believe me) and I no longer sport a fetching Eighties fringe but hey, I’m still me! My dad summed it up today and when he asked me if I really was going to be 40 tomorrow to which of course I replied ‘yes’ he exclaimed “Shit, that makes me 68! Is that really how old you are going to be?” It made me laugh.

I’ve started my fourth decade by deciding to go back to freelancing beg March. This means I can have time back for my own creative projects that have really suffered this year which in turn has made me really unhappy. I reckon that’s a good start. I had a row with a ticket inspector at Richmond Station the other night as he wanted to fine me – for trying to buy a ticket. I was quite proud of myself as I realised I still had it in me to defy authority – and I won the argument with a measured dose of sarcasm and healthy disrespect. If the Kids Are United…………

Well, apologies for appalling blogsilence but my logic board died on my computer whilst working in Argentina recently – in the middle of a presentation of some photo’s at a very important meeting. I stayed calm…. I got a new logic board fitted within 48 hours but since then my hard drive is struggling. Buying a lovely new one tomorrow…it’s about time. In the meantime I’m considering filing a suit against Apple (hhmm…I’m really going to win that one). I really do think I have a good case.
Count one: was originally sold a brand new ibook with known (to them not me) faulty logic board. So I was sold knowingly faulty goods for starters – I think that’s against the law…
Count two: faulty logic board replaced after 9 months and waited a month for new part – wholly unacceptable – only to find out recently that
Count Three: that the second logic board that replaced the first one was also part of a faulty batch hence am now on logic board three within a year. I think I have a good case to make them give me a new computer for nothing don’t you?

Anyway……not much to report – had three days at home with family at Christmas and then went to Argentina to work.

Here’s a good sunset over Buenos Aires

Here’s a cool location we shot at

Here’s an old Ford Falcon – there are alot of these in Buenos Aires

I really loved Buenos Aires – the place, the people – possibly too much beef for me but the beef I had was the best ever. The poverty made me sad – I hate seeing people and especially kids in filthy, dire and desperate states and I saw quite alot of that. I was also really lucky to go to Patagonia briefly – quite possibly the most exquisite and beautiful place I have ever been fortunate enough to visit. I’m going to dig out my old, battered copy of Bruce Chatwin’s great book In Patagonia and re-visit. Soundtrack to my trip: an eclectic mix of Hard-Fi, assorted mainly old school Hip-Hop, The Clash, Stevie Winwood, Motorhead, Sly and The Family Stone, Roland Kirk, Snoop Dogg, Pixies, Janes Addiction and some classic 80’s. Yes – I think the mid-life crisis has finally hit – the big 40 next week! More soon……….

going home
Originally uploaded by rockmother.

This was the Alps on the way home from Egypt. Egypt – god-forsaken hell-hole of a place. I sort of quite liked it but have come away wishing never to go back. Unfortunately it looks like I have to return in a few weeks time. I would rather eat my own earwax but alas I fear I may not even get that particular luxury! SO I return to Egypt on or around 20 Jan for 3 weeks – hideous!!

I’m about to sack the person who was fixing for me out there. I am trying to organise a 6 day commercial in egypt. It is almost impossible – I really do feel like we are definately bringing Mohammed to the mountain. Ill keep you posted.

Christmas morning
Originally uploaded by rockmother.

The plastic teeth were a big hit in the stocking this Christmas!

Last week Prague – this week Egypt. Heavy schedule these days and all for the sake of making television commercials. Between Dec and mid Feb 2006 I worked out I will be home 14 days – not very nice when you have a four year old. Horrible in fact. Plus I miss New Year and my milestone birthday in Jan (no I will not be divulging quite what that milestone is).

More tomorrow, My hotel overlooks Cairo Zoo and I can hear lion’s roaring in amongst the traffic noise. Odd combination.

Laters pop pickers……

ponies in prague
Originally uploaded by rockmother.

Ladies and Gentlemen…I give you…the charming Ponies of Prague! Walked around the corner from my hotel and saw this. Apparently, they only put this on in the square at Christmas for the children. The ponies looked quite happy and I couldn’t see any signs of sadness or maltreatment. I’d quite like to see this in England but I think the government has changed all the laws that say anyone can actually have any fun!

Which reminds me…I got a work call from a German Producer the other day enquiring (amongst other things) as to whether I had a good weekend ‘binge-drinking’?! Apparently, the European news programmes (and ours for that matter) are full of items on how our nation is gripped by a binge-drinking epidemic. I was flabbergasted so I said ‘yeah, it was great thanks but the Crack was better’. Short silence…”sorry I said, only joking” And then he laughed saying “oh, don’t mention the war”. At which point I completely lost track about precisely what we were meant to be discussing and where this rather surreal conversation was going. I was going to say something like ‘well, no wonder we bloody won it’ but decided to be the consummate professional and divert the conversation to something more relevant other than binge-drinking, doing crack and WW2!

eurohotdog
Originally uploaded by rockmother.

You can’t use euro’s in Prague yet but you can get a eurohotdog! We have a curry house around the corner from where I live in London – it’s called Eurobalti which sounds utterly disgusting but tastes actually delicious. I didn’t sample eurohotdog though – I drew the line there.

Hello, I haven’t quite abandoned the blog …..but almost. Am back in Prague filming again. Have had no time for living at all – just working. Will try to get back on my blogging horse soon. Got the morning off tomorrow – am going out traipsing the streets and looking for interesting things/people to take photo’s of.