Category: Life

“Life, uh, finds a away.”

Now that I have your attention with this quote from Jurassic Park, you read it in Jeff Goldblum’s voice didn’t you.

Just thought I would post a little update due to the lack of blog posts and film reviews. Believe it or not until Thursday (two days ago) I hadn’t been to the cinema for a month, which I actually feel is the longest I have gone in many years. That was for a few reasons really, being busy having started a new job in January, closing in on finishing my PGCE and not really wanting to see the films that had been released. Years ago I used to try and watch every single film that was released but these days I feel I make better choices for my personal prefrences when it comes to what I will actually enjoy watching.

It appears though, that Cineworld missed me in that month and have sent me a free popcorn and drink which I will natuarally be using in that 7 day period. But can we also just talk about the quality of films on offer over that past month not being very appealing, also please feel free to update me if you feel I have actually missed something good. On Thursday I caught The Penguin Lessons (with review to follow).

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9/11 – 20 Years on

On September 11th 2001, so many people innocently went about their normal morning routine before heading to work on what was a very normal day having no idea the tragedy that was about to come. In New York City a plane hit one of the twin towers and the world watched thinking it was a truly terrible accident until a second plane hit the second tower and it was clear that America was under attack.

As a 14 year old I can still remember coming home from school and seeing the news as the plane hit the pentagon and the fourth was “brought down” we later found out about the heroics of those on board United 93. Going to school the following day in an English lesson we talked about it with newspaper reports, all struggling to understand it.

In all honesty even now twenty years later I still cannot understand this truly tragic and horrendous day, which then turned to weeks, months and years of grief for so many people. The brave emergency service workers doing their duty and not really having any idea what exactly was happening.

Over the past few weeks I have found myself watching so many documentaries about this day and the true amazing moments of human courage to help save others, it really has been an emotional journey to see and hear about more stories from this day.

Forever rest in peace to all those people from around the world who were impacted on that day and still now.

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The Incredible Romance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Since seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the cinema when it was released I have had a soft spot for it ever since. A truly incredible film filled with so many emotions while managing to be thought provoking. I watched it again a couple of weeks ago now and have still been thinking about the meeting in the middle scene. Probably not a more satisfying scene in the whole film when Benjamin and Daisy can eventually be together.

Continue reading “The Incredible Romance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” →
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The Cinema and My Mental Health

Today is World Mental Health Day and I thought I would get involved with this blog post about my own mental health and how I find Cinema to be a fantastic way to keep it under control and a release from not only the world and life but from myself as well.

Considering Cineworld have just closed across the UK and Odeon are operating some cinemas on a weekend only, it seems even more appropriate to be talking about this. During the lockdown and period of time I was on furlough I also lost the best thing to keep me calm and at times sane. The cinema. While that might seem a little bit dramatic and over the top, it is the place where I truly switch off from everything and not look at my phone for a few hours. Something that is difficult when you are just at home.

Continue reading “The Cinema and My Mental Health” →
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Happy 4th July!

To all my American friends, blogger and follows I hope you have a fantastic Independence Day and throughly enjoy your 4th July celebrations!

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10 years ago I was lucky enough to be in Boston and 6 years ago in Houston! With amazing fireworks at the different events I attended which also included Neil Diamond and Sheryl Crowe!

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Help Needed!

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Everyone ends up with family friends who become more like a family and second family. Mine live in Houston, Texas (originally from the UK). This is Steve who I have always referred to as Uncle Steve! Last week he had a quadruple heart bypass, now in the US things are very different in terms of employment and healthcare to the UK. Steve is self-employed and now won’t be able to work for a couple of months.

I would really appreciate if anyone could help out for this truly special man, who is the nicest you could ever meet!

If you can donate anything a Go Fund Me page has been set up by one of his daughters:  gf.me/u/nyvjw6

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Remembrance Day 1918-2018

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They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Continue reading “Remembrance Day 1918-2018” →

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Me Nanna’s Diary – 1953

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My incredible Nanna passed away almost 5 years ago it was 1st December 2011, after suffering with Dementia for a few years. Which really feels like losing your loved one twice and in different ways. When she was moved into a home, everything had to be emptied from her house. Including some diaries she had kept over the years. As you can see from the above picture from 1953. She had written birthdays in and almost wrote in it every day. She was 22 and then turned 23 in the August of that year. I thought it was a perfect way to celebrate her memory by posting this blog post!

What I have found is that in 1953 it was a big deal to wash your hair and have a bath, which usually happened just once per week, this is documented in the diary. Visiting your friends to watch TV as not everyone had them, writing letters (my Grandad was in the RAF and used to go away a lot) and receiving them. But the main form of entertainment and well enjoyment was the cinema (and sometimes theatre) I am very lucky to therefore say that my Nanna actually wrote in each film she went to see. She used to go most of the time with my Grandad, her best friend, her sister and occasionally on her own.

I have therefore decided to turn this into a blog project and attempt to watch all of the films she went to see at the cinema in 1953! This is going to be rather tricky for some of the films, I am still trying to work out some of them as well struggling with the writing and then trying to cross it over with a film from either 1952 or 1953 as it gets later in the year, the only thing is though that sometimes older films were also shown. The fact that some films have since had a name change as not helped at times either! She did seem to get bored of writing in the diary by November as it had less in and hardly anything at all in December, maybe she actually lost it for a while?

Continue reading “Me Nanna’s Diary – 1953” →

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London Trip (4-7th Oct 16)

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As you probably noticed I went to London for a nice 3 day break last week, mainly because I had tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child something which I had booked nearly a full year before the actual date. I just so happened to book this on the same day that the BFI London Film Festival was going to be on, great timing! My original plan was to stay for 3 nights and get in as many films (and theatre) as possible. But due to cost I changed my mind on this as the hotel was pretty expensive.

Continue reading “London Trip (4-7th Oct 16)” →

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London Marathon 2016!

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You may have noticed the lack of activity on my blog for the past couple of weeks, well that is because I have been preparing (and panicking) to take part in my first marathon. Which has seen me not make it to the cinema as often as usual!

It is going to be my biggest physical and psychological challenge yet. I have completed five half marathons, so this going to be that next incredible step. I am also going to be raising money for the Sunderland and Gateshead Girls Centre of Excellence which you can read more about here –My Story!

Donate here!

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