Movies

It's not like me to write movie reviews, so I warn you now not to base an evening's cinema going on anything I might say (I have been described as the type who will watch anything). But I'm breaking from the norm, for once (maybe) and reviewing some movies I saw at the weekend.

You see, we (himself and myself), in our new abode in Southampton don't have a telly. (Gasp! I know) We're are managing amazingly well without it. When you consider that on any given day of the week The Times is quite a large paper, it does keep you busy for most of the day. Then of course, The Sunday Times will keep you busy for quite a large portion of the week. Really, I'm better informed now than I ever was when I had a telly - what with my propensity to watch anything but the informative programs (see above). This weekend was quite a good cinema going weekend and really we have no excuse for it not to be, with two cinemas - Harbour Lights PictureHouse and UGC - within a 3.5 minute walking distance of our building. This weekend we went to see Something's Gotta Give and Mytic River...

Now, I have to admit that I thought Something's Gotta Give was going to be mushy twaddle, released around Valentine's for the mushy couples who insist on seeing really mushy crap together one day a year. Really the only reason I could see for going to it was Jack Nicholson - he's just super. But I was pleasantly surprised and so, was spurned to write about it.
It is mushy in quite a lot of places, I won't deny that, but there are plenty of laugh out looud moments which should bring as many tears to your eyes as the soppy bits. Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson work really well together but I must warn of the crusty kissing scene!!! And, again to my surprise, Keanu Reeves was not irritating. Mainly cos you didn't see enough of him for him to annoy you, so you come away with opinion that he might be a good actor. There is life after The Matrix. Shock!! So if you're feeling a little blue, go see this, it'll cheer you right up (more warning about "granny porn").

I've been wanting to see Mystic River since reading reviews of it in New Zealand papers. Again, there were only shallow reasons involved - I love Tim Robbins (phwaor!), there I said it, it's out, and I think Kevin Bacon is a super actor, I have yet to see him do something I didn't like him in (I have not seen Footloose and don't intend to watch it, just in case). Both of these fine actors (fine men!) are in this movie, along with Sean Penn.
It's a very dark story, having not read the book as I intended (you know I'm bogged down with all those papers) I wasn't really prepared for this. But Sean Penn played his part superbly. Really, it's not just a conspiracy by the critics to get him an Oscar, he's good. So good that I'm really looking forward to 21 Grams. I found the story to be an emotional roller-coaster, but I think this was only possible cos of the great csating. I actually would recommend that people go see this (if you're skeptical, see my earlier warning).

I'm off to see Calendar Girls tomorrow. UGC are showing it as part of the Seniors Club - you don't have to be a senior to go but I may get a blue rinse to be on the safe side. I'm not going to review this.... I'm sure no one wants to hear my opinion on movies anymore, so I'll keep it to myself, which I suspect is what I should have done in this case.

Rant!

Yes, I want to complain, whinge and moan in general. And I want to start with the fact that I felt like a total criminal for two weeks trying to convince a bank to let me open an account with them. Simply because I haven't lived in England all my life, they were convinced I must be some mastermind criminal trying to launder money. It also appeared that the fact that I had also signed on the job centre didn't help in convincing them that my intentions were nothing but honourable. In the end, all that would satisfy them was a letter of introduction from someone they consider to be an upstanding citizen. Get this though, the requirements for being an upstanding citizen are that you hold an account with the bank!!! So I had to drag Jamie from StudentLand to vouch for me. I mean a student is more upstanding than me, a respectable human being who wants nothing more than to do a hard days work and earn an honest crust - ok I'm embelishing my good character here, but you're getting my point. Anyway, I now have a very basic cash account, which can be upgraded to a current account when I prove myself worthy. I'm envisaging an episode of walking over hot coals....

Next gripe is a biggy - council tax! This apparently has increased above inflation each time it was increased over the last couple of years. This is shocking enough, but I'm not sure what we're getting for our money. We would have to pay over £1,000 a year but we get a 25% discount because himself is a citizen of StudentLand. The amount you pay is linked to the type of property you're in, apparently we're in a high band because it's an apartment. Still, it's like living in a town run by vampires and they're just sucking us dry here!!!

And finally, the lovely people in the DSS offices (who by the way went on strike on Monday, as if they do anything anyway, I can say this I've seen them at "work"). I was told on Monday, by a member of the skeleton team, that they would NOT be giving me a National Insurance Number because I couldn't prove I was me. Now a National Insurance number is required for just about everything, in my case the most important thing I need it for, is to be paid the money I am entitled to by the JobCentre people. Of course, Mr. DSS (or "The Man", I'm turning into an anti-establishment hippie type, really need a job) doesn't care about my poverty. Despite the fact that I am holding my passport and have produced proof of address, this does not verify that I am me and that I live in Southampton. Apparently, if I could provide extra information, such as a library card (!) it would substantiate my case! A LIBRARY CARD!!! Can we all see why the blood vessel in my temple is pulsating and why I am slowly turning purple from the stress of it all? I can get just about anything with my passport, but not a National Insurance Number, because the DSS want to see my bloody library card!!!!!

Prepare for more rants on these and topics like them in the future. There is another showdown with the DSS in March. I'm going in armed, it's going to be like the gunfight at the OK Corale - spurs, holster, guns and I'm going to be the only one who walks away...

Photos

As promised there are now photos of my radio controlled mini, including some "action" shots, just click here.

Lots of other new photos have been added inlcuding pictures taken on Valentines day in London. The picture on the left was taken as we crossed the Millenium Bridge going towards the Tate.

Enjoy!

Love and cars...

It was Valentines weekend and love was in the air. Jamie and I went to London on Saturday, just for something different to do. We started off at the Tate which was nice. It's a funny old building and we had morning coffee on the balcony, looking across the Thames at St. Pauls Cathedral.
After a spot of lunch we went for a touristy/historical walk down Whitehall, past Downing Street, past Westminster and Big Ben and the across St. James park to Buckigham Palace. I couldn't believe that after the number of times I've been in London I never saw any of these really famous places.

It was a lovely day and I thought all the lovey-dovey, Valentines stuff was over, until yesterday evening when I was surprised with my gift! Well I thought the day out was my gift!? But no, my clever Casanova had had a present in mind and was unable to get it because of staying late at work on Friday night.
He got me a Radio Controlled Mini Cooper - isn't he lovely. One of my friends got one of these cars (a real one) last summer and I think they're lovely. Mines shiny red, with a white roof and goes like a mini rocket. I don't yet know how to drive and even if I could drive I couldn't afford the real thing... But I had a great fun with my new toy. Photo's of my new car (to be named CeeCee) will follow.

Travel...

Got the link to this from Jamie..... Here is a map of everywhere I have been in the world. I have to say I'm alittle impressed with me :-)



create your own visited country map

Alton Towers

The other night myself and Jamie were having some silly chat - obviously initiated by me :-). Anyway we got onto ways of describing our personalities and I compared myself to a ride at Altons Towers! No, that does not mean I'm a slapper. I meant that I go up and down (mood wise) and have lots of loopy bits. Apt methinks!

So here's a philisophical type question - If you were seomthing at Alton Towers, what would you be?

Food

I have always been a big fan of food so a blog devoted to food is no surprise. I just wanted to rave about the sausages we get in ASDA - yes we are now ASDA shoppers, complete with a slap on the bum :-). You see the thing is I never understood how anyone could enjoy the meal of Bangers & Mash, especially with the sausages we get at home - I have now named them the breakfast sausage. They're just too skinny for the main meal of the day.
However, ASDA have a great selection of sausages. For example, last night we had POrk, Apple and Spice sausages and last week we had Thyme and heb sausages. The sausages are also large and meaty. As a result Bangers & Mash will now be a regular occurence i nour houselhold - kudos to ASDA.

The other foodie item to be included is on Pancakes. Yes it's that time of year again, Pankcake (Shrove) Tuesday is 24th February. Unfortunately, I will be having a solo pancake event as Jamie will be away on his first PhD related trip. I have a link here, to pancake recipes for those of you who enjoy pancakes as much as I!

Also....

on more mundane business, we got a phone into our apartment today (yes the laziness precluded me from telling you we found a place to live in Southampton - whaoo! - catch up!). Anyhoo, when Jmaie gets his wicked way, we will also get internet access, at which point I promise to upload a blog with better coloured links - so you can actually see 'em and stuff.

Please don't take this an invitation for suggestions on the design or overall colour scheme of my page, cos it's not!!! I like girly pink, you just have to live with it.

Laziness...

Right, so I had great plans of writing a long, witty and very interesting blog about returning from travelling, Christmas in the cold and the subsequent move. But each day passed and I hadn't blogged and then I had even more to say, until I've gotten to the point now where frankly, my dears, I just couldn't be arsed. The next couple of sentences should bring you up to speed and I can return to short little blogs which fit in snuggly with my laziness.

Arrived home from travels (see here) in time to enjoy a cold Christmas (well cold compared to New Zealand). Spent time catching up with everyone and then myself and himself moved to Southampton - he's returning to college I'm going to try to support us, repeat after me, HA!.

So now I'm here -have been for 2.5 weeks - looking for a job, feeling a little lonely sometimes, but all in all I don't consider it to be a bad idea. Southampton's ok so I'll give it a shot.