Extract (Film, 2009)

4/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 12 May 2010
This is a film about everything going wrong. That said, it's incredibly funny and hits just the right level of discomfort to be bearable. There are some great performances from Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig and Ben Affleck. It's not going to change your life, but is very entertaining for a couple of hours.

Riverford Farm Cook Book: Tales from the Fields, Recipes from the Kitchen

5/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 19 Apr 2010
This is a cook book whose production values are almost as wholesome as the recipes it contains. The Riverford Farm Cook Book is a beautifully put together piece of work that mixes fantastic seasonal recipes with background information about Riverford Farm and its produce. These snippets slotted between the recipes make great reading, bettered only by the recipes themselves. If you enjoy the book then a trip to the Riverford Farm Field Kitchen is worth making the effort for.

Airport Reviews - Budget Traveller Guide to Sleeping in Airports

4/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 06 Feb 2010
Really interesting, potentially useful, and quite entertaining site about sleeping in different airports around the world. The only downside I see is that for a large airport like Heathrow the reviews vary wildly, from great to terrible.

Domainr

5/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 06 Feb 2010
Domai.nr is a really useful site for helping you find available domain names. It ranks far above any regular domain registrar search service, as not only does it check whether a particular domain is already taken, it also suggests cunning alternatives based on splitting the name to want to make use of country-specific top-level domains. One of those services that you wonder how you ever lived without.

Tropic Thunder

1/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 23 Dec 2009
Total dross. I'm not saying this out of snobbery. It's just an awful film. Sad, given the cast.

The Guardian (Newspaper)

5/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 29 Jul 2009
In my view the only paper worth reading if you're a liberal thinker interested in UK news. Has a left-leaning slant but applies decent analysis across the spectrum. The print version is backed by a good Web site and some innovative usage of new technologies.

The Guardian (Film, 2006)

3/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 29 Jul 2009
Total cheese, like Top Gun applied to US Coast Guards but without the quality soundtrack. Still, if you're in the mood for something unchallenging then you could do worse than this.

Caledonian Sleeper

4/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 13 May 2009
This is the sleeper service between Scotland and London (or vice versa). I travelled on the 'Highland Caledonian' from Aberdeen to Crewe recently, and was quite impressed. There was a certain olde world charm about it, with decent service and a bit of a sense of adventure. My only complaints would be the plastic covering on the mattress, which can make for a bit of a sweaty night, plus the breakfast pack was a little bit uninspiring. Otherwise highly recommended.

The Square Restaurant and Bar, Aberdeen, Scotland

4/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 13 May 2009
I was taken here by a business partner for an evening meal, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The place has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and the food was delicious, particularly my roast salmon. Will certainly go back next time I'm in Aberdeen.

W H Smith

2/5 (minimum 1) by tom on 13 May 2009
I used to be proud of WH Smith's as a great British institution, but now I just feel ripped off by them, particularly their operations at railway stations, which charge incredible amounts for sandwiches, drinks and snacks, e.g. almost GBP2.50 for an Innocent Smoothie. Sad.