Tag: cinema

248: festive fatalism sets in

I had my hair cut on Saturday afternoon and during the usual chat the stylist said she wished she was as chilled out as me about Christmas. Anyone who knows me knows that at this stage in the festive month it’s less about being chilled out and more about fatalism: whatever I do or don’t do, it’s going to happen anyway so I might as well give in. The outside lights are finally up so we are longer the sole dark corner of our little Essex street, and the shopping is all done bar the food and the presents actually being delivered to my house to wrap and then cart over to Ealing to hand to my sister next weekend. Thing 2 and I braved Harlow today, which was exactly as horrible as I expected it to be, so stocking presents are also sorted. (T2: Do you want me to come in Superdrug with you Mum? Me: It’s up to you – do you want the magic of Christmas ruined or not?) There were people singing carols, a tree walking about the place, a talking postbox that must have been driving the Trespass team to unprecedented levels of fury, a crammed Santa’s grotto filled with frazzled parents and WAY too many people.

The trip to Harlow was also to go to the cinema to see Paddington in Peru and to get her very belated birthday ear piercing. This was her first needle piercing and the lady said she was the best fainter ever – I was less impressed, as I had to catch her before she hit the floor. I manoeuvred her onto the bench, but it was a close call!

Paddington was enchanting, with Olivia Colman as a not-suspicious-at-all nun, Antonio Banderas as a lot of people, and the usual stellar support from an A-list of British actors. Julie Walters as Mrs Bird gets a bit more airtime in this instalment, Sally Hawkins was missed as Mrs Brown (Emily Mortimer is just a bit too mumsy) and the return of Phoenix Buchanan was worth waiting around for. Considering the time of year there were no trailers that really jumped out at us for our next outing, but I suppose Moana 2 is already out there. (As an aside, my Beloved is watching the new version of Ben-Hur – honestly, doesn’t he know that biblical epics are for Easter??)

We’ve been hitting the Christmas watching quite hard this week too, with Violent Night and Elf making the cut, as well as a nostalgic treat with the BBC showing the Box of Delights for the 40th anniversary (ouch). The special effects and language are a bit dated but the story remains magical. I looked up the book on Amazon as I don’t think I have ever read it and, lo and behold, the most recent version is illustrated by none other than Quentin Blake…

…whose Box of Treasures is also available on iPlayer – a series of animated versions of his picture books. The two latest instalments, Angel Pavement and Loveykins are now out, and to tie in with this our team at work have been working with BBC Teach to develop a Live Lesson for Key Stage 2 based on Zagazoo, another of the treasures. These live lessons are great, supporting the curriculum and complete with downloadable resources. They’re completely free and remain online afterwards for teachers (and home educators and so on) to use, and you can watch it online from 9am on the 17th or ‘live’ and interactive at 11am. How was that for a brilliant segue?

Other things making me happy this week:

  • An impromptu team lunch on Monday which left me craving a jacket potato with cheese.
  • Coffee with Amanda
  • Taking my little family out to dinner on Friday
  • A lovely community event making festive gifts in Holborn
  • My Christmas Spotify playlist

Today I’m off for a chilly swim with the woolly hat gang, a trip to Tesco to do the Christmas food shop and some baking later on. Even though we’re off to TT1’s for the big day the kids were horrified that they wouldn’t get a Christmas dinner at home so guess what I’ll be up to on Boxing Day?

Same time next week, unless the interminable drizzle has washed us all away…

Kirsty x

What I’ve been reading:

One For The Money – Janet Evanovich

Hogfather – Terry Pratchett (Audible – both versions!)

A Child’s Christmas in Wales/Under Milk Wood – Dylan Thomas (Audible)

Midnight at Malabar House – Vaseem Khan

238: I myself am strange and unusual

Last Sunday Thing 2 and I took another trip to the cinema, this time to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – my choice of film as the original is one of my favourite 80s movies. I was wary of it being a sequel for the sake of it (see the latest and hopefully final instalment of Bill & Ted for an example of this. Actually…don’t see it, it’s bloody awful, take my word for it instead). I’m happy that she wants to spend time with me even though she’s almost 16 (in 16 days, as she has just reminded me), and also we wander over to TT1’s afterwards and see the ever-growing family.

It was great. A cameo from Danny De Vito, reappearances from some familiar characters in bit parts – in bits, in fact – as well as (of course) Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara from the original cast. Jenna Ortega put in a great turn as Lydia Deetz’s daughter who’s taken second place to ghosts her whole life. Justin Theroux as a would-be stepdad was revolting. Michael Keaton, as the bio-exorcist being stalked by his soul-sucking ex, was on top form – but then isn’t he always? No story spoilers, but do go and see it.

I love a good 80s movie, and although some of them are a bit problematic in these enlightened days, I’m still introducing the kids to them when they pop up on the streaming channels. We’re drifting into the 90s a bit now, with Billy Elliot a recent watch, but mostly I’ve been sticking to my own teen favourites. So, in no particular order, here they are…

  1. The Princess Bride. The greatest film ever. No arguments.
  2. Say Anything. Featuring John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler, best known for standing in the rain playing Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes at Ione Skye’s window. Stalking by any other name, but I LOVE it.
  3. Pretty in Pink. I still think she should have ended up with Duckie like in the book, and her prom dress was the ugliest dress EVER. But this was peak Andrew McCarthy…
  4. …and so was Weekend at Bernie’s. One of the funniest films ever made. Wildly inappropriate. I still cry with laughter.
  5. Reckless. Oh heavens, Aidan Quinn as a teen rebel. Be still my beating heart.
  6. Ghostbusters. Giant marshmallow man. Sigourney Weaver. Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd.
  7. The Outsiders. Brat Pack heaven*, based on an amazing book by S.E.Hinton that makes me cry every time. So does the film.
  8. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Matthew Broderick in cheeky mode, Mia Sara in gorgeous mode, and Jennifer Grey in pissed off big sister mode
  9. Dirty Dancing. Nobody puts baby in a corner. Great soundtrack and Jennifer Grey again, and *that* speech in Johnny’s cabin. Swoon.
  10. Labyrinth. David Bowie and Muppet monsters. Win-win.
  11. Batteries Not Included. Community spirit and a really cute baby alien.
  12. Stand By Me. One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever, beautifully done – one of his novellas, starring a very young River Phoenix.
  13. The Blues Brothers. Carrie Fisher’s finest moment. Dan Ackroyd. Aretha. Endlessly quotable lines.
  14. The Lost Boys, Pretty Woman, The Breakfast Club, Time Bandits, Field of Dreams, Heathers., The Goonies, Footloose, Big….so many.

*You may spot that apart from #7 there is no Tom Cruise in this list. I loathe Tom Cruise, even more than I loathe Jim Carrey and Ricky Gervaise. This means that there will be no Top Gun or Legend on this list. Ever. Despite Tim Curry’s appearance in the latter. Tim Curry also gets an honourable mention as The Grand Wizard in The Worst Witch (also starring Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom – perfect!).

Other things making me happy this week

  • A sunny walk this morning to the farm and across the hare field – no hares today, but lots of deer and some autumn calves. I did a bit of jogging and a bit of walking, and my knees and achilles seem to have survived which is nice!
  • On Tuesday I took part in audio description training run by Mind’s Eye – so interesting and useful, and it really made us all think differently.
  • Taking a break from making tiny Christmas Mice – making crochet gingerbread men and starting a baby blanket too
  • Series three of Heartstopper – this really keeps the feel of the graphic novels
  • Tiny pumpkins. I am tempted to paint them.
  • My beloved made me some excellent display boxes for my Copped Hall Apple Day stall next week, and Thing 2 and I started making props for Christmas displays.
  • Being given a rheumatology appointment well within the twelve weeks – six weeks since referral, in fact. Less pleasing was the ‘aging’ bit but at least it’s osteo and not rheumatoid. I think.

Today I am off for a swim at the lake with the ladies, and next weekend it’s the annual Ally Pally visit for the Knitting and Stitching Show.

Have a good week, people!

Kirsty x

What I’ve been reading:

21st Century Yokel – Tom Cox (Audible)

Real Tigers – Mick Herron

Unruly – David Mitchell

We Are All Made of Glue– Marina Lewycka

Razor Girl – Carl Hiaasen