On the Technical Miracle that is GPS, and Hollywood's Depiction of England

Posted on 2007/05/29 22:19:50 (May 2007).

[Sunday 27th May]
Had a generally pretty lazy day today, and didn't leave the flat at all.

Started with the (semi) usual weekend big cooked breakfast. Actually we didn't have a lot of the bits in, and as I burnt the toast (yes, that smoke alarm does work, it turns out) it ended up just sausage, beans, a fried egg and some fried potatoes. Still, nice enough nonetheless.

I spent the majority of the afternoon writing a webpage for displaying track logs from my Sony GPS. I spent a good hour or two quite simply in awe at the state of modern technology - GPS and Google Maps make a fantastic combination.

Knocked up a quick curry for dinner from odds and ends we had in the cupboards. It wasn't one of my most successful creations, but at was just about edible I suppose.

In the evening Chie and I decided to watch a DVD - and opted for an utterly aimed-at-a-female-audience film called The Holiday. This forms part of Chie's extensive collection of films featuring Jude Law - her favourite actor. I am quite embarrassed to admit I actually really enjoyed this "romantic comedy". It was set half in the US, and half in the UK, and as one might expect the depiction of England was achingly twee - and yet I found myself particularly liking this aspect of it.

Perhaps I too long for this imaginary fairy tale land, in which moderately paid office workers can afford to own delightful little cottages in charming unspoilt villages within commuting distance of London. A village with an adorable little pub, smoking chimneys, hardly any cars to speak of (err, and did I mention easily commutable from London?) and where it is guaranteed to snow at Christmas.

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