Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good,...... more

Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good, old-fashioned joke-telling at its finest. And yet even the most ardent Kay-fan, including this reviewer, would have to concede that this DVD release of Peter Kay--Live At Manchester Arena is a misstep. Its not that the material here isnt funny, as frequently it is. Kays observations on the likes of Crimewatch, Bullseye, the daft things that people say and weddings hit home with resounding accuracy. Yet all this has been delivered before on a far better DVD. His Live At The Bolton Albert Halls disc, released two years prior to this one, is a taping made on exactly the same tour, and as a result, the material across the two discs is virtually identical. Furthermore, the show on this latest release is cut down to a dramatically shorter length. Save for a strong DVD extra that takes you behind the scenes of his tour, theres simply no reason that anyone who bought the previous release should fork out for this one. Kays talents are undisputed, and the aforementioned Live At The Bolton Albert Halls DVD is a must-have for fans of strong stand-up comedy. But you really should give Live At The Manchester Arena a miss, and treat is as the unwelcome cash cow it clearly is.--Simon Brew

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media dvd region 2 packshot packshot item description ross noble things brand new region 2 pal dvd all our dvds are original authentic items we do not...... more

media dvd region 2 packshot packshot item description ross noble things brand new region 2 pal dvd all our dvds are original authentic items we do not sell copies illegal goods or questionable imports uk buyers please note most dvds are sent from our offshore warehouse outside the eu please allow 3 to 4 working days from dispatch for delivery we accept payment by paypal only item description ross noble things returns for his 6 th live dvd things recorded at manchester opera house during the 180

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Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good,...... more

Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good, old-fashioned joke-telling at its finest. And yet even the most ardent Kay-fan, including this reviewer, would have to concede that this DVD release of Peter Kay--Live At Manchester Arena is a misstep. Its not that the material here isnt funny, as frequently it is. Kays observations on the likes of Crimewatch, Bullseye, the daft things that people say and weddings hit home with resounding accuracy. Yet all this has been delivered before on a far better DVD. His Live At The Bolton Albert Halls disc, released two years prior to this one, is a taping made on exactly the same tour, and as a result, the material across the two discs is virtually identical. Furthermore, the show on this latest release is cut down to a dramatically shorter length. Save for a strong DVD extra that takes you behind the scenes of his tour, theres simply no reason that anyone who bought the previous release should fork out for this one. Kays talents are undisputed, and the aforementioned Live At The Bolton Albert Halls DVD is a must-have for fans of strong stand-up comedy. But you really should give Live At The Manchester Arena a miss, and treat is as the unwelcome cash cow it clearly is.--Simon Brew

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Available at the time of writing in 17 different guises, Club Football is a commendable new entry into the world of console football games that proves itself to...... more

Available at the time of writing in 17 different guises, Club Football is a commendable new entry into the world of console football games that proves itself to be a good deal more than the marketing gimmick it first appears. The principles, whichever team-branded version you opt for, are inherently the same. You take the club you've picked through a domestic season, with the clear intention of filling up some of the empty spaces in the trophy cabinet. In doing this, you can use the game's player generator to put yourself into the midst of this team, and then it's down to action. And the action is good. Backed by strong in-game graphics, Club Football offers an enjoyable rendition of the beautiful game, which endears itself to a healthy, long term challenge. There are a couple of quibbles that temper things a little. The fluidity of the gameplay, for instance, is sometimes hampered by an over-insistence on a good animation instead of a quick pass for example, and there are other mild issues that slightly break up the flow of things. Yet considering the healthy state of the competition, with both FIFA 2004 and Pro Evolution Soccer 3 putting in strong performances, it's to the credit of Club Football that it does enough to make it well worth considering. As it stands, it's not the best title of its ilk on the market, but it's a good, promising debut. --Simon Brew

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Good Quality White Tack from Ultratape. Re-usable sticky tack, stick and hold, easy to use. Removable. For use with posters, photos, DIY,...... more

Good Quality White Tack from Ultratape. Re-usable sticky tack, stick and hold, easy to use. Removable. For use with posters, photos, DIY, decorations, craft and many other uses around the home, school, office & workshop. Great alternative to tape and drawing pins when you need to hang things up or hold things down. Just the same as the original Blu Blue tack but white so can't be seen through posters walls or paper.

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Artsy popsters 10cc rarely figure in the critical pantheon of classic Manchester combos. This is a tad unfair. Formed in 1970, the quartet of Graham...... more

Artsy popsters 10cc rarely figure in the critical pantheon of classic Manchester combos. This is a tad unfair. Formed in 1970, the quartet of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Crème were that most bothersome of bands, a supergroup. However, from deft doo-wop pastiche "Donna" in 1972 to the ear-curlingly naff, post-Godley and Crème "Dreadlock Holiday" in 1978, 10cc scored an impressive 11 (out of 12) UK Top 10 singles. As it says on the tin, this collection isn't a greatest hits set, but rather a selection of tracks plucked from 10cc's extensive repertoire, sweetened by a trio of more familiar hits. Of the three, "Life Is a Minestrone" and "Art For Art's Sake" spotlight the band's cerebral, satirical brilliance, while "The Things We Do For Love" is simply perfect pop. If their singles were often complex and esoteric, then their albums presented even further freedom to indulge such artful ambition. The extravagant likes of "Brand New Day", "Don't Hang Up" and "I Wanna Rule The World" are "Bohemian Rhapsody"-esque mini-operas. Thankfully, it's not all, "Hey! Aren't we the clever clogs?"; "For You And I" and "Lazy Ways" are wistful, wide-eyed ballads that emphasise 10cc's innate pop nous. --Chris King

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2¾ oz. 10' 4-piece Tip Flex fly rod for 5-wt. line. Why would we take the world's best fly rod and change it? The answer is simple. We're driven by constant...... more

2¾ oz. 10' 4-piece Tip Flex fly rod for 5-wt. line. Why would we take the world's best fly rod and change it? The answer is simple. We're driven by constant improvement. Put this rod in your hands and feel the rush. You'll completely understand.It's possible to be both versatile and specialized. Just fish with the 105-4 Helios 2 fast action 10 foot 5 wt. and try to think otherwise. Its long reach powers your casts when fishing from drift boats and pontoons, and provides enough line control to roll cast and mend on any sized stream. We've taken an excellent trout rod and simply made it 10 feet in length. You can't have too much of a good thing, right? Proudly made in Manchester, Vermont.

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Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Box...... more

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Box Set, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A former Manchester gangster living Ireland ventures back to his old stomping grounds to clear his teenage son of murder charges, and realizes that he may never make it out alive in this mini-series written by Emmy winner Frank Deasey and starring Dougray Scott. Michael (Scott) had a reputation as one of the meanest thugs in Manchester, but during his stint in prison his wife was brutally murdered. Upon his release, Michael abandons his 15 year old son Sean, and plans to start a new life in Ireland. But just Michael's his girlfriend prepares to give birth to their first child, Michael learns that his son has been implicated in a fatal shooting back home. Determined not to sit idly by as Sean careens down the same destructive path that he once did, the repentant father returns to Manchester determined to set things right. Unfortunately for Michael, not everyone is willing to forgive and forget. Now as the man who murdered his wife goes on trial, Michael contends with a vindictive cop who seeks to lock him up for good, and prepares to sacrifice everything in exchange for his son's freedom. ...Father & Son - 2-DVD Box Set ( Father and Son )

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Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good,...... more

Peter Kay has rightly earned himself a reputation as one of the countrys finest comedians, mixing in wry observations, northern humour and good, old-fashioned joke-telling at its finest. And yet even the most ardent Kay-fan, including this reviewer, would have to concede that this DVD release of Peter Kay--Live At Manchester Arena is a misstep. Its not that the material here isnt funny, as frequently it is. Kays observations on the likes of Crimewatch, Bullseye, the daft things that people say and weddings hit home with resounding accuracy. Yet all this has been delivered before on a far better DVD. His Live At The Bolton Albert Halls disc, released two years prior to this one, is a taping made on exactly the same tour, and as a result, the material across the two discs is virtually identical. Furthermore, the show on this latest release is cut down to a dramatically shorter length. Save for a strong DVD extra that takes you behind the scenes of his tour, theres simply no reason that anyone who bought the previous release should fork out for this one. Kays talents are undisputed, and the aforementioned Live At The Bolton Albert Halls DVD is a must-have for fans of strong stand-up comedy. But you really should give Live At The Manchester Arena a miss, and treat is as the unwelcome cash cow it clearly is.--Simon Brew

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Rhubarb & Black Pudding is a rare find among books about food. It not only provides fabulous recipes, but it is also a good read. Written by...... more

Rhubarb & Black Pudding is a rare find among books about food. It not only provides fabulous recipes, but it is also a good read. Written by award-winning journalist Matthew Fort, the book serves three functions: it paints a portrait of Michelin and Egon Ronay star chef Paul Heathcote, it records his recipes, and it describes the atmosphere in his restaurants, Manchester's Heathcote's and Preston's Heathcote's Brasserie. Stunning colour photographs have been used to illustrate the food and emotive black-and-white pictures are used with reportage on kitchen activities, the landscapes of the Ribble Valley and the changing seasons in Lancashire. The book is divided into seasons and clear, concise and very detailed instructions are included in the recipes. Heathcote's food has been described as similar to the French cuisine du terroir, but it remains distinctively British or even Lancastrian. His approach, in his own words, is to use seasonal ingredients and to avoid fashion trends. He is quoted as saying: "One of the bees in my bonnet is that too many chefs want to cook what's in fashion. They want to put plenty of olive oil and roasted peppers on to their menus, and every restaurant you go to has a similar kind of feel to it. Why can't we use things the same way chefs do in France and Italy, in the villages and bistros. They cook what their suppliers have in season." The result is pig's trotter filled with ham hock and sage, jellied eel terrine, roast breast of Goosnargh chicken, roast duckling with mead, broth of quail with wild mushrooms, baby leeks and artichokes, and black pudding. Desserts are just as good: apple tarts with gingerbread ice- cream and cider butter, hot banana soufflé, or deep fried Stilton fritters. --Dale Kneen

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In 1978, A Certain Ratio's idea of a new funk must have seemed like anathema to most British punks. Imagine: sublimating that righteous grumpiness, those...... more

In 1978, A Certain Ratio's idea of a new funk must have seemed like anathema to most British punks. Imagine: sublimating that righteous grumpiness, those defiant angles into a groove, of all things. But the first wave of post-punk bands, lead by ACR, proved this most unlikely of hybrids wasn't just possible, but utterly desirable. Early is compelling evidence of ACR's peculiar genius. Birthed in Manchester and signed to the nascent Factory label alongside Joy Division, they went on to become darlings of New York clubland (Madonna once supported them) and, eventually, make some rather dull records. Thankfully, this two-CD set rarely strays from the good stuff, collecting tracks from the peak 1978-85 period with plenty of obscure singles and Peel session versions to satisfy completists. For neophytes, however, much here will sound pretty startling. The likes of "Blown Away"--intense percussive jams, monkish chanting, squawks and squeaks coming from the undergrowth--are still both exciting and unnerving. A music that provokes discomfort as well as dancing, that has a jittery rather than slick momentum, remains ACR's powerful legacy. Contemporaries like 23 Skidoo and The Pop Group made some great records, not to mention American fellow travellers like ESG and Liquid Liquid. But nothing sums up the time and sound as effectively as ACR's "Shack Up": parched rhythms, jagged guitars, doom-laden vocals, and some very confusing carnival whistles. It's the point where Northern miserabilism and dancefloor culture collided, and even now it sounds fantastic.--John Mulvey

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One thing's for sure: you won't have heard a hip-hop album quite like Hinterland before. Aim man Andy Turner recorded this--the follow-up to his...... more

One thing's for sure: you won't have heard a hip-hop album quite like Hinterland before. Aim man Andy Turner recorded this--the follow-up to his excellent debut album, Cold Water Music--in a private studio on the sleepy Barrow-In-Furness seafront, a hundred miles from the bustling hip-hop underground of Manchester where he made his name. Rolling elements of vintage soul and classic Bacharach-style songwriting into its grand hip-hop design, Hinterland pulls out wild cards a-plenty. "The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice" finds Turner loops a flourish of violins and frosty synths, as longtime Aim collaborator Kate Rogers wrapping her tonsils around a chill tale of a doomed love affair. The upbeat "No Restriction" revives A Tribe Called Quest's daisy-age blueprint, with guesting rap crew Souls Of Mischief offering rhymes of a mischievously English bent: "We mean biz'/ You won't believe this/ We're in Buckingham Palace droppin' beats with Queen Liz". And "Good Disease" strays right off the hip-hop map: a slick four minutes of R&B-tinted lounge music, it features a unexpected falsetto-high cameo from ex-Baby Bird man Stephen Jones that bafflingly, is one of this commendable record's high points. It's not for those that like their hip-hop raw, but Hinterland is a very welcome addition to the traditional rap terrain.--Louis Pattison

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Festive Craft Projects with Recycled Materials is full of innovative, easy and thrifty crafts to suit all ages and abilities. From turning junkmail into festive...... more

Festive Craft Projects with Recycled Materials is full of innovative, easy and thrifty crafts to suit all ages and abilities. From turning junkmail into festive gift toppers to folding newspaper into bags and even rolling used wrapping paper into jewellery, this colourful 20 projects book takes you through each step with photographed tutorials. The book is ideal for people new to crafting or those wanting inspiration as well as for organisations delivering craft workshops. Many projects suitable for any time of the year. All crafts in the book have been tried and tested on real people at craft workshops run by Rubbish Revamped in Manchester, UK. Rubbish Revamped workshops have been enjoyed by hundreds of people from young school children ("Brill, wicked, ace") to pensioners ("It made me feel young again. Better than Botox!"). The book, priced at only £5, makes the workshops available to even more people. "I just received the festive craft book yesterday and I am very very impressed, plus totally inspired." Occupational Therapist "LOVE LOVE LOVE my book. It's amazing!" Youth workshop tutor "I've had a quick look at the book and what I've seen so far looks impressive. It's beautifully photographed and presented, too." Handmade business owner and blogger "I'm delighted with the book. As a crafter and someone who cares about how we treat the Earth, it's just my sort of thing. The second copy I bought for my daughter for her birthday, which is at the end of this week, so she hasn't seen it yet." "Excellent book and very good value, many thanks!" "Received the book today it is fantastic. I am a primary school teacher and can already use at least two projects next week and have some wonderful ideas for Christmas! Do you do any more books as I would be very interested as the quality and ideas in this one are excellent."

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One thing's for sure: you won't have heard a hip-hop album quite like Hinterland before. Aim man Andy Turner recorded this--the follow-up to his...... more

One thing's for sure: you won't have heard a hip-hop album quite like Hinterland before. Aim man Andy Turner recorded this--the follow-up to his excellent debut album, Cold Water Music--in a private studio on the sleepy Barrow-In-Furness seafront, a hundred miles from the bustling hip-hop underground of Manchester where he made his name. Rolling elements of vintage soul and classic Bacharach-style songwriting into its grand hip-hop design, Hinterland pulls out wild cards a-plenty. "The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice" finds Turner loops a flourish of violins and frosty synths, as long-time Aim collaborator Kate Rogers wrapping her tonsils around a chill tale of a doomed love affair. The upbeat "No Restriction" revives A Tribe Called Quest's daisy-age blueprint, with guesting rap crew Souls of Mischief offering rhymes of a mischievously English bent: "We mean biz'/ You won't believe this/ We're in Buckingham Palace droppin' beats with Queen Liz". And "Good Disease" strays right off the hip-hop map: a slick four minutes of R&B-tinted lounge music, it features a unexpected falsetto-high cameo from ex-Baby Bird man Stephen Jones that bafflingly, is one of this commendable record's high points. It's not for those that like their hip-hop raw, but Hinterland is a very welcome addition to the traditional rap terrain.--Louis Pattison

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