Pigalinas know how to make Valentines Day lovey-dovey. Last year we watched the romantic comedy “12 Years a Slave”, this year we watched the up-lifting “The Skeleton Twins”.
“Hilarious” the poster said, “Really funny”. Don’t believe it.
movies
Lego Millennium Falcon, A Construction Story
I got the Lego Millennium Falcon from Mr Pigalina for my birthday. As yesterday was also Father-in-Law Pigalina’s 60th birthday I had to move my initial birthday celebration plan to today – build it and watch the original trilogy. Bliss. (I was going to wear my Princess Leia robe just to be super nerdy, but it is too warm. And I am also too fat for my X-wing Starfighter t-shirt from 5 years ago…)
You may notice in the above picture a typo – yes, it should read ages 9-33 but we all make mistakes. Now to put on “A New Hope” and begin.
Inside are fifteen bags and two A4 booklets. All bags but one are numbered. There are three bag 1’s. The booklet indicates that I need to locate Darth Vader and the other characters.
Found them! Under Darth’s helmet is a grey burned face and if you rotate Luke’s head he is wearing a little visor so that he can train with his light-saber.
The unmarked bag was actually also a bag 1, off to a confused start…
Maaaaaaaaaaaan Harrison Ford ❤ Must concentrate on Lego and not Han Solo on screen.
1 hour in brought lunchtime and the end of the group of bag 1's!
Back to it and the details of the interior are taking shape. 1st sticker applied on the holo-chess (sorry, uber-nerds, “Dejarik”) table. Don’t make me apply stickers! Not when wine is a part of the build! Next the interior control panel started to take shape.
End of “A New Hope”, time for “The Empire Strikes Back”. The rounded edges are going on, the blue thruster on the back goes into place and I take the first of many moments to stop and marvel at how incredibly clever the design of this thing is.
I also begin to marvel at how Kiwi Boba Fett sounds in the remastered versions of the movie “He’s no good tuh me did”. A quick google revealed they were re-recorded by Temuera Morrison. Sigh.
Onto Book 2 and bag set 4!
Time to flip the model upside down and add some feet, guns and a slidey back and forth bit, the purpose of which I am unsure of.
Now time for “Return of the Jedi”. It’s all taking shape mid bag set 5 – roof going on!
Only bag 6 remains, the cockpit needs to be completed!
Annnnnnnnnnnd we’re done! About five hours after I began it is finished. The level of detail is fantastic, Luke’s training orb, the holo-chess table, tools in a tool holder, the central control panel – everything has been so well thought out. I am amazed how well and easily the whole thing came together and loved how enjoyable the build was. Good work Lego! And good building Me! An afternoon well spent, thanks Mr Pigalina for the Birthday present! x
Daniel Watch
A movie starring Michael Fassbender and Rachel Weisz is being filmed in Dunedin. Rachel’s husband, Daniel Craig, is also in town.
He apparently visited our mall (lucky him) and a couple of boys got photos with him – right under the window where Mummy Pigalina works. My friend Shannon swears he saw his limo driving around and got excited today when he saw it again. Except it wasn’t him, it was a posh lady going to the bank.
Kathy and I went to see if we could see anything interesting where all of the movie trucks were parked. We saw the wardrobe truck (pictured, you’re welcome).
Not So Much Rib Tickling…
My rib has been getting increasingly painful over the week. I went to the doctor today who poked and prodded at it causing me to flinch and squeal.
After work we went to see “The Inbetweeners 2” and every time I laughed (and I laughed a lot) my rib hurt. Then I came home and watched “Modern Family” and laughed some more. Each time it hurt from a laugh it made me laugh more.
So, if you are a fan of the Inbetweeners, my sore rib can confirm you will enjoy the new movie.
I Survived a Zombie Holocaust – Movie Premiere
Four years ago I achieved a life goal – be in a movie. I was an extra in “I Survived a Zombie Holocaust” filmed here in Dunedin. I walked barefoot in mud after my shoes broke; stood in drizzle for hours; got cold, sticky, blood splattered all over me; endured hours with irritating contact lenses in; drove an hour for night shoots until about 3am; and took a week off work – all for the love of it. And love it I did.
Today was the Red Carpet World Premiere at Dunedin Town Hall and it was so, so fabulous. It was better than I could have imagined, hilarious and polished to a point you wouldn’t know it was made on a shoestring.
I had been a bit nervous about MiL Pigalina and her friend’s reactions, but they loved it – getting frights and laughing the whole way through.
Mummy Pigalina was also an extra and both of us can be seen on screen if you know where to look. And my friends will be knowing where to look once it is released. I’ll make sure of it!
(Pictured – preparing for the premiere).
James or Hugh?
Am in bed and realized I haven’t taken a single picture.
About to crack open the new Empire magazine. I am so over superhero movies at the moment, there are other genres! Every second cover is splashed with yet another tedious hero – Antman anyone? (Ok, so he hasn’t had a cover yet but watch this space).
Anyway, X-men I can tolerate – especially as I get to look at Hugh as Wolverine and the lovely James McAvoy, even if he does have terrible hair in this one…
…And Had a Really, Really, Really Good Time
I didn’t post a picture yesterday, naughty, as we were busy visiting Wellington! You’d be forgiven, from the photo below of me at Weta Studios and the previous airport post, that LOTR was the reason for our visit. In fact, the reason we were there was for the Macklemore and Tinie Tempah concert.
We were among the older people there, certainly the majority of the over 30s were accompanying their children (though when you are older than the main act you have to expect that!). Nevertheless we danced, cried, and had a really, really, really good time. I am now officially in the Shark Face Gang. (No photos of the concert sorry, I decided to not be that annoying person with the bright screen this time. Plenty of others took that mantle for me).
Here I am with either Tom, Bert or William at The Weta Cave.
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Wellington, the Middle of Middle Earth
Wellington is the Middle of Middle Earth – it says so on the side of the airport. Gandalf riding a giant eagle inside the airport confirms it.
Culkin, Prove Loi Wrong!
A reminder on my phone for tomorrow reads: “Did Macaulay Culkin die? Loi predicted so 18 months ago.” He has been looking rough but far so good for Macaulay.
A Typical Pigalina Household Interaction.
Movie starts – “The Expendables”
Mr Pigalina “Oh, this has got your mate in it. Your favourite.”
Pause movie, 2 seconds in.
Pigalina “Statham?”
MP “No, the other one.”
P “Stallone?”
MP “No, the other one.
P “Arnold?!”
MP “The other one.”
P “Dolph Lundgren?!”
MP “Oh, no, I’m thinking of the other movie where they ride motorbikes.”
P “Wha? Oh, Travolta! That’s Old Dogs…Wild Hogs…”
MP “Yeah. No.”
P “Chris Rock?!” [Oops, sorry Martin Lawrence]
MP “No.”
P (now throwing any name into the mix) “Fat one from Full Monty!?”
MP “No.”
P “Well who is it then? What does he look like if you don’t know his name?”
MP “He’s always got a moustache.”
P “Tom Selleck!”
MP “No. Desperate Housewives husband.”
P “Carlos??”
MP “No, he’s not in it. His wife is in it.”
P “I can’t think of any that are married.”
MP “He always looks old.”
P “WILLIAM H. MACY!”
MP “Yeah, your mate. Let’s watch something else, this looks too serious for this time of night.”
Pigalina's Palace 