New things
Okay, itās been nearly two months since I moved into my new house. The gardenās all right (it will look nicer once itās been done up in the spring), Harry has gotten used to the house and I enjoy not having to wait for the bathroom to become free. The open plan downstairs is quite nice. The only thing is that ... Iām barely there. Weāve had NO internet since we moved in and BT are shite at sorting this out for us, so Iām spending most of my time at my mumās house. Itās nice in a way because Iāll go for walks with her, see films at the cinema and go shopping or just have a nice meal in and binge-watch TV shows.Ā
Iāve been doing my very best to find work and Iām either being rejected or not hearing back at all. Itās starting to get disheartening. Iām always getting freelance work though. I went on a course on how to use InDesign better and met a girl there, who invited me to her party in Leytonstone two weeks ago. I was terrified, it was one of my biggest fears coming true: going to a party in a place I didnāt know where I knew nobody there. But I went and had a surprisingly nice time. I need to find lots of nice new people to spend time with.
In the midst of all this madness of no internet and much freelance work, I managed to achieve something. I finished writingĀ Distant Echoes (possibly to be retitled to Shades of Her). It took me five and a half years to write, the longest itās taken me to write a book. Iām thrilled that I managed to finish it and in six monthsā time, I can start reviewing it. In case youāve forgotten what itās about, itās about a man who relives his major relationships in his life to understand why his wife is leaving him; itās about first love, second chances, if exes can be friends, and who you would let back in your life. It feels like the end of an era, an end to the first five adult books Iāve written - Dear Adele; Waiting For Sunset (originally titled Love Through A Machine); Dancing Shadows (formerly Falling); The Companion and now Distant Echoes.Ā I really feel Iāve achieved something and Iām so pleased about it. Now I have more book ideas that I can develop and continue to write.
Iām also very excited to be going to New York for my thirtieth birthday with John. Weāll be out there for a week and weāre staying in an AirBnB in Brooklyn. I really canāt wait to go, I havenāt been to America before. Itāll be a great way to begin my thirties, which I hope will be way better than my twenties.
While staying at Mumās, we watched a film Iād flicked past on Netflix many times, unsure if I really wanted to watch it. I loved it, it was beautiful. Itās called Before We Go, about two people who meet in Grand Central Station in New York; a married woman is stranded in the city when she misses her train and a street musician teams up with her to help her get home before her husband does. I thought this was a really sweet, beautiful and haunting film with some good comic moments. Alice Eve and Chris Evans as Brooke and Nick have good chemistry, sharing a memorable evening/early morning together as they try to get Brooke back to Boston; the camerawork was nicely done so it offered lovely shots of New York (which made me even more excited to go there next month), the soundtrack was gentle and calm which suited the tone of the film - it was all really beautiful. Not only that, it felt relatable, about having choices and being at crossroads and choosing the right path, or the road you want to take. It felt relevant. Throughout the whole film, I was very aware of how my heart beat (fast) as I felt tense at times, and it seemed as though this film made me go through the entire spectrum of emotions, from awkward to tense to happy to sad. I really want to see it again, I really enjoyed it. If you liked Before Sunset, then youāll like Before We Go too. 5/5
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Moving forwards
This is the last night in my house. Iām moving tomorrow, to a new house. Iām still living with my dad (and his woman, Faith, while her own house is being refurbished). This new house seems pretty great, it has everything Dad wants: good parking, an additional toilet room, decent sized bedrooms, a sizeable kitchen and a garden. The glace cherry on top of the cake is that both bedrooms come with an ensuite bathroom. Hurrah! No more waiting for the bathroom to become available!
Iāve been asked how I feel about the move, am I sad to be leaving the house. The truth is that Iām not sad. Iāve had plenty of good experiences in this house, as well as sad, painful, awkward, weird, funny and just plain mad. Iāve hosted fun parties with new friends - Posh Party, a halloweāen party; I once had a functioning TV in my bedroom; I still have my lovely cat Harry; Iāve been sleeping in a double bed for about eight years now in a room below the roof (it has its perks and downsides); for over two years Iāve had a man to bring back home with me - John. Iāve had a good time here and I donāt feel at all sad about leaving here, and I think thatās okay.Ā
I was sad when I left my old house because I lived there for sixteen years, I grew up there, it was my family home until my mum moved out and my dad and I couldnāt stay there by ourselves in a five bedroom house. I remember the day we moved out so well. Nearly eight years ago, just five days short. I messaged my friends about going out and getting wasted, I helped pack up and clean up the house and load the car. When the house was empty, Dad and I stood together in the hallway and we hugged for a moment. It felt very sad, I was a bit tearful to leave this big, beautiful house Iād grown up in and loved. We drove to the new house (the one Iām about to leave), freshened up and went out to dinner with Dadās friends whoād helped us move, to Il Ponte - before it became those American diners - where I discovered the very delicious and creamy panna cotta for the first time. I met my friends and we went clubbing at Reflex, and I got very, very drunk. I threw up in the girlsā toilets and attempted to go to sleep on the High Street on the way home because I was so tired.Ā
The weird thing is, I donāt feel excited about moving into the new house. Yes, I found it and persuaded Dad to make an offer on it and yes, I have an ensuite bathroom and it ticks all of Dadās boxes, but I just donāt feel it... I think perhaps thereās a transition between childhood home and your first home away from home thatās not uni. I donāt think I was particularly excited about moving into my current house, probably because my mum used to live here so it was already a home. All this, I feel, is a transition. Itās the way I feel about this house. Itās not a place of significance. True, I found a job I loved and a man I love while I lived here and made a few good friends, but thereās nothing Iām really going to miss about it. Maybe except the garden. I liked the archway at the bottom of the garden and the bench directly outside the utility room which looked out at the rest of the garden. That was my special place, where Iād sit and enjoy the moment, calm down or just be. Iām going to make a point to sit in it one last time.Ā
This new house will bring significance to my life. It will be the first place I share with John before we move to our own, first home. Iāll get more independence that Iāve been longing for nearly eight years. Eight years feels like a long time but surprisingly, it seems like not much has passed by. I think good things will happen in the new house.
But for now, until I have to get up in the morning and start the process of moving out for the second time in less than ten years, Iām going to enjoy listening to some music (hygge playlist on Spotify), watching a little of Big Little LiesĀ and doing some writing. I need some pleasure before I leave.
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Book review: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
1961
On a summerās day on her family farm in Suffolk, sixteen year old Laurel, hiding in her childhood treehouse, is dreaming of her future. But then she witnesses an horrific crime that will change her life.
2011
Fifty years later, Laurel is a well loved actress. Her mother is dying and she returns home to be with her family. Being home again brings back memories of that day in 1961, and Laurel finds herself unravelling the mystery of what happened that day and discovering her motherās deepest secrets from wartime London.
I write this listening to my āoldiesā playlist on Spotify. Because what else can I listen to as I write about a story set in the middle of the twentieth century? The Secret Keeper, the third novel of Kate Mortonās Iāve read, shifts between the middle of the twentieth century (1930s-1960s) and the present day. The way Morton does this is really clever, how she inserts the various character perspectives, jumping from the past to the future and delivering her twists.
The story revolves around Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy, three people whose lives entwine in wartime London, yet theĀ āpartsā of the story belong to a female character: either Laurel, Dorothy/Dolly or Vivien. I found this really interesting considering that Jimmy, Dollyās boyfriend, is a key player in the events that took place in 1941 - why wouldnāt he get a āpartā to himself? Additionally, Gerryās role in the book, which is to assist Laurel in her quest to find out more about their motherās past, is limited too, and there are only two scenes in which Laurelās father has dialogue. I donāt think this is a feminist book but it definitely makes it clear this is a story about two womenās lives during the war, and Laurelās discovery of it.Ā
Described as a story of mysteries, secrets, murder and enduring love, The Secret Keeper certainly lives up to it. One of the things that stood out to me - and is perhaps Mortonās intention - is that it seems rather film/theatre like. For instance, Laurel āwrapped herself within the character of dutiful daughterā to be able to visit her ill mother and come to terms that Dorothy is dying, and when Laurel is being interviewed āthe next line was easy to deliverā. Acting is clearly an important theme, as is secrecy and much like The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton, the sense of home and family is prominent, and of course, love, whether familial or romantic. I really enjoyed the romantic scenes, as I always do, and the rich historical background (in London); it felt authentic and real. And Iām not familiar with Australian territory as I havenāt yet been but it was described so well it felt exotic and beautiful.Ā
I liked all characters involved, except one or two, but to tell you who would probably ruin everything so Iāll leave out their name. Everyone else is likeable and leave you sympathetic to their plights, even if they have done bad things. To quote one of them, āgood people do bad things in war.ā Laurel is clearly smart and a good person but I found her a bit bland as a sixty-something (her curiosity and courage are to be admired though) and Dorothy, although she seems to lose her mind in 1941, is to be pitied for the way things have turned out for her. Jimmy is just lovely and unfortunately caught in a bad situation and the elusive Vivien shines; I think I liked her most.Ā
The best things about The Secret Keeper include Mortonās writing, beautifully written with many emotional punches; the twists it takes (you wonāt see them coming, promise); how much you want to keep reading the book to come to the heart of it all and eventually, the secrets close to Dorothyās chest. In some ways, itās very much like the other books of Mortonās Iāve read but itās dissimilar in terms of era, location and just ... well, feeling. I found the pacing slow at the beginning but it really picks up in Dolly/VivienāsĀ āpartsā.
The Secret Keeper was a delight to read, it was difficult to keep my hands off it at times.Ā Like any Morton book, I fell in love with it. I only finished reading two hours ago and itās still with me. I canāt wait to read The Distant Echoes.Ā 4/5
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Cocktails and Dreams tag
Martini: means business! If you could have any job what would it be?
Travel writer - I could visit the whole world!Ā
Mojito: time to let your hair down! Whatās your idea of a great night out?
A great night out for me involves friends, good food and drink, and good music.
Pina Colada: the famous drink or the famous karaoke song! What karaoke tune do you love to belt out?
Iām not really a karaoke singer but it would probably be an embarrassing nineties tune!
Bloody Mary: the notorious hangover-curing drink. Whatās your go-to hangover cure?
A shower, a walk and food, but not necessarily in that order.
Manhattan: a true New York drink! Which city do you dream of visiting?
So many! New York, Sydney, Dublin...The list is neverending.
Long Island Iced Tea: quite a mix of ingredients! What are your three favourite foods or drinks?
Bubble tea, chocolate and pizza.
Cosmopolitan: Ā made famous by Sex and the City! Tag three friends to take part in this Cocktails and Dream tag!
Tag yourself and everyone you know!
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The Rosie Effect, Sicily and Big Little Lies
Okay, a catch up is due here. Iāll start with Sicily and end with the reviews.
After a couple of weeksā jury service in May/June, I headed off on a long weekend to Sicily. Itās beautiful there and the villa we stayed in was gorgeous: big, three bedroomed and had a terrace around the premises. The holiday was for my mumās sixtieth birthday and John and I joined her, Jeremy, Lucy and her boyfriend Josh out there. It was really really hot in Sicily so it was lucky there was a beach a few minutesā walk from the villa and a nearby bar. The beer was excellent (move over, Peroni) and the food always the best. I had a lot of fun out there: I enjoyed the beach; I tried Limoncello and swordfish for the first time and loved both; and I learnt how to play the card game 500 (which I was pretty good at). We went to Syracuse, where we walked around the town, popped into significant cathedrals and had lunch, and to Noto, again looking at a cathedral (John and I kind of gatecrashed a service!) and a rare portrait of Da Vinci and sampling the gelato and having some lunch. Sicily is worth going to; thereās much to do and see there - you just need longer than a weekend.
The Rosie Effect, sequel to The Rosie Project, was possibly better than the first (though I will always love the first book). Don and Rosie have been married ten months and are now living in New York, and when Rosie announces to Don sheās pregnant, he panics and gets himself into trouble in more ways than one, threatening his future with Rosie. What I love about this book is that itās as consistent as the previous book, itās hilarious, heartwarming and I think more romantic than its prequel. Don grows so much in this book: heās presented with so many challenges (deportation, prosecution and dismissal from work, his capacity for fatherhood etc) and he overcomes each and every one in the hope he and Rosie can remain together. The Rosie Effect is far more problematic which makes the ending somewhat cathartic, worthwhile. Watching their marriage is fun, scary, tense and exciting. You donāt know whatās going to happen; itās both unexpected and unpredictable. I couldnāt put the book down, it was magical, sparkling from the first page to the very last. I take my hat off to you, Graeme Simsion - youāve created the most unforgettable characters. Now write another book about them, please. 5/5
Big Little Lies, the TV show based on Liane Moriatyās novel of the same title, is so good Iām watching it twice. It centres around three women: confident, passionate Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), beautiful and quiet Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and young Jane (Shailene Woodley) harbouring a terrible secret. The first meeting between Jane - new to the community in Monterey (originally set in Australia in the book) - and Madeline triggers a chain of events, which leads to a killing at the school their young children attend. The show has been described as āabout second husbands and second wivesā and ātelling ourselves little lies to help us surviveā. This is true insofar that a few characters are struggling to face exes and new wives, and that the show is deceptive - we see things but not as they are - we have to watch these womenās secrets and haunted pasts unravel themselves. It really is very intriguing, it makes you want to keep watching. So why I couldnāt I keep my eyes off it? Well, all three actresses give stunning performances, itās set in a beautiful location, the soundtrack is lovely and suits the general tone of the show, you want to know who hurt Renataās daughter Amabella and most of all, you want to know who was killed. Madeline and Celesteās respective husbands, Ed (an impressively bearded Adam Scott) and Perry (Alexander Skarsgard) are equally fascinating to watch; their reactions to events are interesting. At times itās romantic, sometimes funny, dark too and I was pleasantly surprised to find out Santiago Cabrera (aka The Musketeersā Aramis) was part of the cast. Without spoiling anything, all I can say it that in the end, everything links up. An excellent watch! 5/5
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TV review: You Me Her
I read about You Me Her in the Guardianās TV guide and thought it was an unusual but interesting show. So I watched it for over a month and I loved it. Itās sweet, dirty, messy, fun and passionate. And now I want to watch it all over again.
The premise is that married couple Jack and Emma are very much loved up but are in a bit of a rut sexually. Jack hires an escort/grad student (I donāt know what the equivalent of that is in the UK), Izzy, so he can have a bit of fun but bails, tells Emma what he did and she, angry but curious, seeks out Izzy so she can find out who Izzy is and why Jack likes her. She becomes interested in Izzy too and thatās when they begin a little menage a trois. They try to conduct their three-way as a business transaction and as things progress, it starts to become more complicated. Thereās a lot of chop and change with this show: the characters pull back from each other sometimes, walk away but they always come back. Itās a classic love story but the message with this show is that you can love more than one person.
What makes this show so great is the chemistry between the three leads - they make an amazing team. Theyāre beautiful people, theyāre honest, believable and they feel very real. They have the sort of problems real people have, which they address with a bluntness and show they are up to the challenges life brings. The sex scenes between them are so steamy they would make porn actors jealous. What the show also does brilliantly is its setting: itās based in Portland, Oregon but - spoiler alert - is actually filmed in Canada; either way, the surroundings are beautiful and give it a cosy, hygge sort of feeling (watch it in lamplight), despite the fact the storyline is of a sexual nature. Itās also smart and very funny, and has the right sort of obstacles to help the plot along: blackmailing student Ava, Andy who wants a relationship with Izzy, and both Emma and Jack anticipating a promotion in their respective jobs, which could threaten their relationship with Izzy. Whatās impressive is that the ten episodes span across ten days. The music too makes it brilliant, the theme song and the soundtrack, giving it the right feel for what itās about. There are so many twists and turns you never know how itāll end.
Thereās a second series and I canāt wait to see that. The series one finale ended the way it should and paves the way for continuous development for the next. I would definitely recommend You Me Her to you and anyone else who likes a fresh take on the romantic comedy. Itās different, hot and affecting, and gives a new perspective on polyamorous relationships. Give it a try - at least one episode but I bet youāll be just as hooked. 5/5
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Book review: The Rosie Project
There are so many words to describe The Rosie Project. Funny. Awkward. Sweet. Life changing. Affecting. Romantic. But above all, endearing.Ā
The Rosie Project is Don Tillmanās search for a female life partner. Heās an attractive, intelligent 39-year-old with undiagnosed autistic tendencies, who canāt understand why heās never had a second date. So he begins the Wife Project by devising a scientific test - he will find a woman who will accept and love him. Enter bartender/Ph.D. student Rosie, a young woman who turns his life upside down - literally.
The book opens with what might go down in the literary world as an infamous first line: āI may have found a solution to the Wife Problemā. He starts his Wife Project with only friends Gene and his wife Claudia helping him by suggesting theĀ ātraditional dating paradigmā but he goes in another direction - creating a questionnaire to weed out unsuitable partners. So basically, the unpunctual, vegetarians, non smokers, drinkers, those with STDs and so on. Larger than life Rosie fails on almost every score, leading Don to disqualify her as a potential partner but when she explains her mission to identify her biological father, Don becomes involved in her search as he is a genetics professor with the means of sampling DNA results, which pushes them into a friendly relationship. What starts out as a quest to discover Rosieās biological father turns into new projects and new tests and the one that leads him to where heās meant to be.Ā Thereās a clear chemistry between Don and Rosie and Simsion brilliantly bats the ball between them in true romantic comedy style - will they, wonāt they?Ā
The things I loved best about this were Simsionās writing, which makes you want to read and read and read - he will immerse you in Donās self-focused life, make you want him to change, to find love. At every step, youāll feel affection for him, even through awkward - but very funny - social blunders. There was also location, which is never really absolutely revealed. I thought it was London at first, until it became clear itās set in Australia. This sense of location seems unimportant because weāre focused on Donās own little world but in some ways it is important, because itās where he travels to that gives him a sense of purpose, as well as adding a touch of romance. And of course, Rosie and Don too - their imperfections make them feel very real, and their best qualities endearing. Donās uniqueness makes him unforgettable heās a character that the book world will immortalise. It was very funny, relatable, heartwarming and one of the most relevant books of our age about how love finds you, not the other way around and that social differences donāt matter.
The Rosie Project is being adapted for the big screen and I would love to see that. Iām curious who will play Don and Rosie. Until then, I thoroughly recommend the book to everyone. Whoever you are, you will love these two people all the way to the end. I did. Completely un-put-downable. 4.5/5
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Film review: Beauty and the Beast
Of course I watched Beauty and the Beast last weekend. Itās a classic. And a much loved Disney film. You donāt need the trailer to pull you in. But I did. I had reservations about Emma Watsonās Belle and it took the trailer to convince me to watch the film. I think it was Ariana Grande and John Legendās rendition of āTale as Old as Timeā that really persuaded me, as it made the trailer even more appealing.
I neednāt tell you the summary of Beauty and the Beast - you know it. A cruel, selfish prince refuses entrance to a hag who turns out to be a beautiful enchantress, and she curses him and his castle until true love finds him. Simple. Itās much the same story in any adaptation you see, from a 1946 version to the teen film Beastly.
Letās just jump ahead to my thoughts on the film. Itās clearly a well considered update on the original 1991 animation feature and has made extremely good use of modern cinema for a live action remake *cough digitisation cough*. A couple of reviews have suggested this version holds feminist ideals but one could also argue that Belle is ahead of her time, given she has a new occupation as an inventor, and a female one at that. Yet it is still very representative of the Regency era, with all its romanticism and fears that women were getting ahead of themselves, which was unhelped by the booming publishing industry. Gastonās dreams of Belle becoming his wife supports this ... oh wait, Iām getting a bit analytical on this film (but Iāll end the sentence in laymanās terms. Gaston holds the ideal that a womanās place is in the home). Itās also interesting that each character has even more depth to them: LeFou gay for Gaston, Maurice (Kevin Kline) still pining for his dead wife, Belle as an inventor, the Beast taking after his cruel father, Lumiere in a relationship with feather duster Plumette, and, if possible, an even meaner Gaston.
Okay, highlights. I liked the costumes and designs - beautiful and thoughtfully crafted. The camerawork was well done and the settings were lovely. There were occasional comic moments. The acting, for the most part, was brilliant, due to the casting of Ewan McGregor, Luke Evans and Josh Gad (all three of whom were factors for watching the film) as Lumiere, Gaston and LeFou, as well as Emma Thompson and Ian McKellen as Mrs Potts and Cogsworth. What really, really shone out the most was the music, it was absolutely perfect from the beginning (though I felt Watsonās singing voice wasnāt strong enough) up until the end. There were new songs that were sweet on the ear but the originals were the best, in particularĀ āGastonā,Ā āBe Our Guestā and as always,Ā āTale as Old as Timeā. Gad, Evans and McGregor nailed the first two brilliantly; the last two are fantastic singers.
Gushing over, I must now direct your attention to the filmās flaws. The unsubtle use of CGI (so obvious, darling), the casting of Emma Watson as Belle (a good choice as she does have the looks for Belle but ultimately I feel her acting skills arenāt quite up to par to the actors she worked with), the fact that Belle is an inventor yet she hardly does anyĀ āinventingā before she goes to the Beastās castle. The idea of LeFou being gay when the so-calledĀ āexclusively gay momentā wasnāt even gay at all - itās such a fleeting scene the directors shouldāve abandoned the idea of homosexuality altogether, if not theĀ āgay sceneā itself. The lip syncing, especially in theĀ āGastonā song was obvious and didnāt look good. Emma Thompsonās accent was too overdone. And Iām aware that this is a family film so the script would be suitable for young children but honestly, I felt that in some areas the script was weak. The dance scene between Belle and the Beast did give me goosebumps but it didnāt have the same sort of enthusiasm as the original.
Hate is a strong word. I didnāt hate the film, I was merely dissatisfied with most of it. The rest of it was fine. (Memo to self: donāt obsessively watch over-glamourised trailers.) It is definitely worth watching - all remakes of classic fairy tales should be seen. You may find, as with book adaptations, that the original is always better! 2.5/5
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Valentineās Day 2017
I really donāt have much to report today. Iāve been busy with freelancing - but Iāve really whittled down my pile as I only have one more manuscript to edit from a huge list Iāve accumulated since December. I even gave myself a celebratory treat of coming so far with a little TV and a couple of scones with jam. Lovely! Iāve been swimming too. Those are the extent of my activities today until I do some writing (obviously a romance) or watch a romcom.
As far as Valentineās Day itself has gone, itās been an OK day. Iāve progressed with things, Iāve given myself a littleĀ āself-loveā. Iāve done this by doing my Valentineās Day tradition of buying something flowery - I got a rose plant this year, and Iāve made myself look good with a little makeup and nail polish. Iām also going to buy myself a little something. Iāve wanted this elephant teapot for a while so I think Iāll get that. I found in the post a Valentineās card from John that said: I LOVE YOU, VALENTINEĀ and told me whatĀ āI love youā is translated into German, French and Spanish, with monkeys to show it, ie dancing monkeys for Spain, beret wearing monkeys for France and monkeys drinking from large Steiner glasses for Germany. It was very cute. I also had a package from Bravissimo, yay!
I havenāt been able to see John today but weāll have our Valentineās date at the weekend. Weāre doing it low key this year, weāll see a film and weāve already exchanged sweet gifts. Literally. John gave me a box of Guylian chocolates (I do love them!) and I gave him homemade raspberry compote and a jar of entirely strawberry flavoured sweets. That was fun to create.
I think when alone on Valentineās Day (which I am until John Facetimes me) itās nice to focus on yourself. Be kind to yourself, be kind to others (Iāve refrained from annoying or making fun of my dad today); do something that will make you happy - whether itās listening to music, having an extra piece of something sweet, going to a spa etc. Itās good to be happy by yourself.Ā
At this point, it almost doesnāt matter that I havenāt seen John today because Iāll see him at the weekend and we can have a date then. Thatās the problem with Valentineās Day, itās reserved for one day only and if you miss it, you miss it. You canāt get the balloons, cards, heart shaped sweets and other one day only merchandise after the day. Itās not like Christmas or Easter. As Iāve said on my previous Valentineās Day posts, thereās no need for a grand show of love for one day a year, you should show someone you love them as much as you can. Every day a year.Ā
Valentineās Day is indeed a nice day, if you really are going to carve out time for a special someone. It shouldnāt be a day where the gifts do all the talking. It should be about the experience: where are you going? What will you be eating/drinking/listening to/watching? (I hope none of you are watching Fifty Shades Darker - I fail to see that itās romantic at all). As long as youāre enjoying each otherās company in a place thatās special for you, then Valentineās Day can be magical.Ā
Hope youāve all had a beautiful day. <3
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My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you ā I am forgetful of everything but seeing you again ā my Life seems to stop there ā I see no further. You have absorbād me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving ā I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you ā¦ I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion ā I have shudderād at it ā I shudder no more ā I could be martyrād for my Religion ā Love is my religion ā I could die for that ā I could die for you.
John Keats
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The hygge life
The first I heard of hygge (how the hell do you pronounce it? Hoo-gah? Hue-gah? Higgie, as Ciara calls it?) was in a feature in Glamour magazine. I was hooked. It seemed so simple, so easy to accomplish if you took on their advice to buy candles, making yourself a comfortable corner and getting stylish furniture. What I gathered from the feature was to make life a bit cosier, a bit warmer but yet minimalistic. And I wanted to do this.
I was further fuelled into the concept by articles in the Guardian and other newspapers and online pages relating to everything about hygge, again reiterating the importance of lighting, warmth, togetherness and cosiness. I wanted to learn more, I wanted to become moreĀ āhyggeā when I found out that Denmark is rated one of the most happiest countries in the world. So I set out to do this.
I bought myself a three month subscription to Hygge Box, founded by Sally and Gabby who provide the most beautiful and very hygge gifts in their tissue wrapped boxes. When you subscribe, they offer you an introductory box, which includes a candle, socks, chocolate and sample tea bags to get you in the mood and to show what hygge means. It made me feel all warm inside and the socks were sooo soft. My first ever Hygge Box I was very excited about and I eagerly awaited it like a child - I was almost impatient to receive it. I got it just minutes before having to run out the door to catch a train but I managed to find out what Iād been given in that brief moment. It was advent themed and contained:
Advent candle
A little box filled with goodies like chocolate, mulled wine kit, jam and one of those candle jars
Pfeffernusse making kit (which I mucked up by baking too long but it was still a lovely experience to make and then eat)
A little Danish gift of a little girl figurine, sort of Christmassy
Danish language card
Danish heart making kit
I loved it, really loved it. It was gorgeous and made me feel fuzzy and comfortable and cared for. It made me feel hygge, especially when I drank the mulled wine, ate the pfeffernusse (translates in English as peppernuts) or put up my Danish paper heart in my bedroom window as a Christmas decoration. The founders also send a little note to you, with your name on the front of the envelope. It just feels so special, so personal and thatās one of the reasons why I loved receiving the box so much. (Iāll return to it when Iām paid more for my freelancing work!) I canāt remember much of my second box, though there was a beeswax candle making kit, a packet of black tea, probably chocolate too. I think the first box was my favourite but the third had my name on it. It had fairy lights, chai tea, caramel chocolate from a company called Gnaw, a cushion cover, two candles, and a notepad and coloured pencil. All the things I love.Ā
I read in an article that Morley College are actually teaching hygge as a course. That I would go to if there were any classes available! But I do have a good source to rely on: Meik Wikingās The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well, given to me as a birthday present from John. In fact, all of his birthday presents to me were hygge themed, heād also given me two chocolatey gifts and a Pukka selection of teas. Hygge, writers say in articles, is about togetherness and cosiness and I certainly felt that last Christmas as there were about seven of us (not been part of a big group at Christmas in a while) and I enjoyed their company, the food and drink we had and the gifts given to me. I screamed in excitement when I discovered John had given me a bubble tea making kit, as it is one of my favourite things ever and was so surprised Lucy gave me a mermaid blanket, as Iād been thinking that Iād quite want one. So Christmas was a very hygge affair.
I think I feel at my most hyggelig when Iām watching a favourite TV show or film, enjoying a cup of tea (whether bubble, chai or herbal) and/or a sweet treat, cuddled up with John under a warm blanket and always, always, always, when I am wearing pyjamas. Pyjamas are the clothes I feel most comfortable in and I do have a pair that actually scream hygge, theyāre my favourite at the moment - theyāre so warm and comfortable! I also feel a sense of hygge when I listen to music I love and when the sun comes out.Ā
Iād love to do more though to get into the essence of hygge. Iād like to learn Danish. I really really want to visit Denmark and Iām currently editing a book that is mostly set in Scandinavia, and itās making me itch to be there. Iāll finish reading Wikingās book and take on all the tips and advice, and definitely cook the recipes included, such as skipper stew, meatballs in curry and twistbread. Yummers, as Becks says. My room is hygge in the sense I have sconces on the walls, candles where I can fit them and fairy lights twisted around my bedās headboard, as well as my mermaid blanket and cushion on my bed. I want to do whatever I can to be as happy as the Danes and sometimes I like to imagine how I will decorate my future home so it captures the true essence of hygge. I will certainly be referring back to Wikingās book on how I can do that.
I can see this year being peppered with the word hygge and I will be one of those people. Iām going to make it my best year yet. Get your hygge on, everyone!
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The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -
they must be felt with the heart
Helen Keller
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Book review: The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Summer 1924
During a society party, a young poet is found dead by the lake of a grand house owned by the Hartford family. The only people to witness his death, the Hartford sisters Hannah and Emmeline, will never speak to each other again.
Winter 1999
Grace Bradley, 98, once a housemaid at Riverton Manor in the early twentieth century, is visited by a young director making a film about the poetās suicide. Old memories resurface, ghosts awaken and Graceās shocking secret she has kept to herself for decades begins to slowly emerge.
This is the second book of Mortonās Iāve read, which I learnt was her debut novel. I can see now, from reading both The House at Riverton andĀ The Forgotten Garden, why her books are such a hit. The former was both alike and unlike The Forgotten Garden; similar in themes (grand Gothic house, doomed family, the literary world and a secret that has never been discovered) but ultimately, more tragic. Iām not going to spoil the book but tragedy is at the very heart of the book.Ā Set against the backdrop of the Great War and the decadent twenties, the Hartford family are coming to terms with the death of Victorian ideals, etiquette, society etc, and of the beloved family members they lose along the way. It questions where loyalties lie, whether secrets can ever remain secret and what you would die for.Ā
Reading The House at Riverton was very different to the way I read The Forgotten Garden. I liked it, of course I liked it. The writing was gorgeous and while it didnāt have the same sort of grip on me as The Forgotten Garden did, it was still able to pull me in and not let me go. I was curious, desperate to know about Robbie - the poet - and his fate, and what Graceās secret is, why she feels guilty. I felt like a voyeur as I read because it was through Graceās eyes that we see what happened, she is the only survivor from Riverton who was a witness to everything, and whose bond to Hannah kept her in close proximity to the events that were to unfold. Itās almost as if sheās deliberately watching and eavesdropping on the most private and intimate matters of almost every character in the book, passive and quietly.
It isnāt just Grace, Hannah, Emmeline and Robbie at the forefront of the book, thereās the film director Ursula, Graceās daughter Ruth and grandson Marcus (whoās missing but is the catalyst for her secret confession), the girlsā brother David and their father Mr Frederick aka Lord Ashbury and Hannahās husband Teddy. The last three all have a contribution to the events that occur within the book, and they all seem to have their secrets. David is only seen in a few scenes but is kind and adores his sisters, Mr Frederick is somewhat withdrawn and aloof and I found Teddy completely unlikeable, which is why itās so surprising that Hannah marries him - heās a sexist pig and concerned only about money and reputation. Hannah is wild and longs for adventure whilst Emmeline seeks the glamorous life. Grace, in retrospect, is half hidden - almost invisible, much as she is bidden to be when she first starts housemaid duties at Riverton. In 1999, itās much the same: she is just another resident at a care home and her daughter Ruth is distant with her due to the nature of their relationship over the years.
What I loved about the book was the way every scene was exciting, from the moment Grace enters service, the first time she meets the Hartford children, her discovery of her own parentage, when Alfred flirts with her and of course, the lead up to Robbieās death by the lake. The way Morton writes is exquisite, she captures the Edwardian period perfectly, from costumes to music and entertainment. The descriptions were lush, providing a gloomy yet beautiful scenery for the setting of Riverton Manor, and the characters are well-rounded, bouncing off each other well. Much as I liked Hannah, I wouldāve liked more access to Emmeline, whose version of events wouldāve been very interesting to read. I enjoyed the moments where older Grace linked the present and past together when Ursula brings her to the filmās set, or Riverton Manor to see what itās become; to see it after the events that occurred, to watch Grace return to the past with rose-tinted eyes, it offers a supernatural, haunting touch. The way the book shifts between the nineties and the twenties was magical, it was like stepping back in time and shows how much time has passed, how many years have gone by but havenāt erased Graceās guilt. I liked the bond between the Hartford children, and the hints of romance everywhere, from widowed Mr Frederick, to Grace and Emmelineās amours. Itās described as a mystery and love story; the mystery is always there yet the theme of love bounces from familial love to romantic love, which asks this question: which is most important between the two?Ā
If you havenāt read a Kate Morton book, you should. Buy this book, buy any of them (I have three more to read) - it will be a truly magical read. The mystery, the romance, the historical elements are all so crucial and the twists and unexpected turns it takes will leave you wondering why and how it all happened. Youāll never forget it. I still havenāt. 4/5
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The Imaginarium turned 5 today!
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2016 so far
At the beginning of the year, we got a metaphorical punch to the face when Terry Wogan died. Our mouth said, āWHAT?ā without saying it because we were too shocked to speak. Much like being punched. Weāve had to endure other beloved figures passing away, such as Alan Rickman, Prince, David Bowie, Louise Rennison and Caroline Aherne. I only found out last month, three months after it happened, that Anton Yelchin (Iāve only seen him in Like Crazy) died. I was appalled I didnāt know this at the time. And the other day, Jimmy Young died. This is sad, so so sad.Ā
In the middle of the year, the UK let itself down by voting to leave the EU. Well, only certain people voted to leave and their votes have caused madness. Thank God Cameron resigned but we still have a Tory Prime Minister (Theresa May) and a racist little pig running around stirring up trouble. Yes, Nigel Farage, Iām looking at you. Goodbye, multicultural Britain. Hello, price increases because the British currency is losing its value.
Not to mention, ISIS is scaring Europe senseless because we donāt know who will be targeted next. It was Paris at the end of last year, Brussels in March and there have been further suicide bombings and every other sorts of bombings since. We donāt want to be bombed out, ISIS. Go fuck yourselves. And bring back the women you brainwashed into travelling with you to Syria and Iraq.
And now, on top of this horrible, crappy year (which is no longer crap, itās shit) Donald Trump has been made President-elect of the USA. Who voted for him?? What is the world coming to? While researching, I discovered a blind woman, Baba Vanga, had prophecised events that came to pass and who predicted, in the years to come, that Barack Obama would be the 44th and last President, and the rest of the world would be pulled into an Islamic war and eventually, an Islamic caliphate with Rome at the centre. I only walked into the article because the headline screamed that bad news was predicted for Donald Trump - my first thoughts were that someone might kill him. Well, if the prophecy does turn out to be true, it might still happen...
I can only hope things begin to get better. We need a little less bad politics and a little more hope for the future. Nigel Farage and Donald Trump should be thrown as far as they can be flung. Boris Johnson, too. Jeremy Corbyn should replace Theresa May. Heāll save us from catastrophe. Hopefully.
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Fireworks, Feeder, and other magical things
Tonight - well, last night, I attended the Wimbledon Park firework event with John (as we did last year and we loved it, so we decided to come back) and made a different night out of it, from the rides on to the food we ate. Thereās a funfair and food and drink stalls, so last year I dragged John onto the Waltzers, which terrified him, and we had one of winterās best drinks: a mulled one (wine for me, cider for him). The childrenās fireworks had a Disney musical theme to it while the adultsā fireworks was Music Through the Twentieth Century (think Rolling Stones, Beatles, Spice Girls, Beyonce, Ellie Goulding etc). It was one of the best sights Iāve ever seen, and one of the best musical compilations Iāve heard - it was a such a feel-good, unforgettable moment of my life. Absolutely romantic and magical.Ā
This year, the musical themes for the fireworks were Magic for children, where I only just made out the music such asĀ Frozenās āLet it Goā,Ā and All Around the World for adults.Ā āZorba the Greekā was for Greece,Ā āThe Circle of Lifeā for Africa andĀ āNew York, New Yorkā for, obviously, New York. I liked that the fireworks began with Scotland and Ireland. It was a bit of a party, becauseĀ āGangnam Styleā played for Korea and āNo Speak Americanoā for Mexico, so it was kind of fun to watch all these colourful fireworks light up the sky to a song associated with a particular country in the world. It was a beautiful sight, the fireworks ranging from spinning, curling one to bangers and showers, in Barbie pinks, minty greens, ruby reds, champagne coloured, silver, and diamond blue. Tonightās event was a marvellous watch but it doesnāt have the same quality last yearās did. It did have a nice wintry feeling though, we enjoyed mulled wine and German style hotdogs - currywurst and bockwurst (delicious) and were all wrapped up because it was cold. John won me a cute panda on the lucky dip (the first time anyoneās won me something) so now I have a new friend. Iām going Wimbledon Parkās fireworks event again next year, but not on the dodgems again - theyāre so violent!
Last month, I went to a gig to see one of my favourite bands for the third time ... Feeder. (The first time I saw them was in 2008 in Newport with a friend, the second in Brixton, alone.) This time, I took John with me, who I think may have enjoyed the experience even more than I did - he had a very emotional moment when listening toĀ āFeeling A Momentā. I loved seeing Feeder again. They played tracks from their new album All Bright Electric -Ā āUniverse of Lifeā,Ā āEskimoā,Ā āGeezerā and others. And of course, they sang old favourites, fromĀ āBuck Rogersā toĀ āSeven Days in the Sunā andĀ āJust A Dayā and my ultimate favourite,Ā āInsomniaā. It was a proper party, everyone on the floor was dancing and moshing and going mental. I even saw John push someone as he moshed! One of the best things about this gig were the throwbacks to their ninetiesā music so I was pretty excited when they sangĀ āSweet Sixteenā and āHighā. Their quieter, slower songs had a lovely quality to them and the upbeat numbers created a full blown party, so I was on a bit of a high when it ended and hadnāt wanted to leave. That was the best gig of theirs Iāve ever been to.
In September, I experienced something different: outdoor cinema, hosted by the Luna Cinema. I took John to Hampton Palace Court to see Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a film I hadnāt seen until then. It felt like a very romantic setting, a huge screen against a backdrop of trees and an iconic building, and sitting on the grass, surrounded by shop bought food and drink and huddling into someone because itās so cold. (We hadnāt prepared very well so John and I shivered throughout most of the film.) I really enjoyed the film, it had Kevin Costnerās heroic Robin Hood, action, sword fighting, a bit of romance and some comedy from the late Alan Rickman. It was another of those magical evenings I spend with John, and I tweeted a picture of the pair of us at the event, which earned me two free tickets from the Luna Cinema to see another screening. For the free showing, I took my sister to see Die Hard, a film of a genre Iāve never had any previous interest in, on the rooftop of One New Change. It was a lot colder on the rooftop but it was still a pretty magnificent experience, with St Paulās opposite and stunning views of the city. And as it turns out, I likedĀ Die HardĀ - a clever, fast-paced action film with some comedy and good one-liners. I might just watch the sequels...
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Mini reviews
Despite the Falling Snow
The big screen adaptation of Shamim Sarifās book is very different to the novel. For one, there are are a couple of characters missing (Estelle and her husband, to name) and the role of Melissa and her connection to Lauren has become a new one. She is now Marina and a journalist helping Lauren find out what happened to Katya, though she has her own, rather selfish, motives for doing so. Yet the main plot remains, of Katya spying on Alexander while falling in love with him, despite what he stands for, and what happened to her all those years ago.Ā
The film could easily be seen without reading the book, as they are slightly different to one another, while carrying the same plotline. All leads played very well, particularly Charles Dancesās older Alexander pining for his lost love and Oliver Jackson-Cohenās young Misha, who perfectly captures a man in love with a woman whom he canāt have, and a dangerous cunning to bring down Alexander. Rebecca Ferguson (Katya/Lauren) and Sam Reid (young Alexander) have a lukewarm chemistry which could have been developed further, yet Reid brings an endearing quality to his role that makes their love believable. What makes the film outstanding is the authenticity of 1950s Moscow, the beautiful costumes and the intensity of emotion. However, it does have its pitfalls, from Ferguson perpetually looking as if sheās going to cry at any moment, that itās lacking in depth and it couldāve been longer, allowing for extra layers and scenes to be added. It is worth watching for the romance though, which is what it is and is done nicely. 3/5
āAfter the Rainā by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
The second album from Leftwich,Ā āAfter the Rainā has a quality that its predecessor hasnāt.Ā āLast Smoke Before the Snowstormā has an earthy, autumnal/wintry feel to it but this one has a spring-like/summery feel - like a rebirth, a new life. Itās absolutely beautiful, itās as though the sun comes out when you listen to it. The instrumentals are gorgeous and Leftwichās vocals have this breathy, calm and melodious sound to it, which is one of the reasons itās so magical to listen to. As well as that, the tracks really are beautiful, all of them, even if they are slow and sad. The tracks, I felt, that really stood out wereĀ āTilikumā,Ā āGrovesā,Ā āMayfliesā,Ā āSummerā andĀ āSome Other Armsā. They were extraordinary to hear, so very memorable. I found myself listening to the latter over and over again because I couldnāt get enough of it. Itās lovely, absolutely lovely. Itās the charm of Leftwichās half melancholic, half chilled voice, combined with the instruments used and other musical effects.Ā
Itās a real shame I didnāt get to see Ben live this year because I know this album, when played in front of an audience, wouldāve been beyond phenomenal. The stunning āAfter the Rainā is not to be missed. Iād say this album is probably better than Ā āLast Smoke Before the Snowstormā. Whoever you are, you need Benās voice in your life. 5/5
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I heard a lot about the book before I read it last month. I read it in four days, unable to tear myself away from it. It was exciting, it was tense, it was gripping, trying to find out what this girl on the train knows about a young woman who disappeared one night, and why sheās involved.
The Girl on the TrainĀ is a multi-layered story. It deals with Rachel (the girl on the train) whose divorce from husband Tom has led her down a path of self-destruction and for him, to his new life with wife Anna, and the perfect couple Megan and Scott (but she calls them Jess and Jason in her mind) whose lives are shattered when Megan goes missing and the police investigation Rachel intrudes on, and in effect, Scottās. It dives into Meganās past, strings us along a line of red herrings - including Scott himself and Meganās therapist. This book is such a page turner, you want to know why Megan is missing and who is involved. And when you do, you want to kick yourself for not having seen it chapters earlier.
The best things about the book is the way that author Paula Hawkins creates such a colourful, yet dangerous cast of characters who are unreliable, untrustworthy, sometimes unlikeable but at the same time, utterly sympathetic; Rachelās flashbacks to the start of her depression/alcoholism where she discovers the truth; and how easy it is to enter these peopleās lives and observe them. Itās just fascinating. I know I like to look at other peopleās homes and look out of the window on trains but this goes beyond that. Weāre transported to a London that is scary and full of people we donāt know if we can trust. I also loved the multi perspective narrative, bouncing from Rachel to Megan to Anna, so we have more depth to the key characters who can help tell us what happened to Megan.
I canāt think of anything I didnāt like about this book. Itās a haunting, horrifying read and we canāt help but be drawn into these peopleās lives. Itās as if Hawkins seduced my eyes the entire way through, making me read until the story had ended (I read it in four days). But it hasnāt ended. The film is out next week, which looks TERRIFYING judging from the trailer but Iām still going to watch it. I wonder if itāll be as good as the book...? 5/5
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