Well that certainly went fast. Who would believe that we have been in our house exactly one year?
In some ways it feels like we have been here forever and in others like we only just moved in. Either way we are loving our home. And it really does feel like a home. It's got its flaws like a way too small kitchen and some of the decor is seriously stuck in the 1970s but we love it just the same. We've even manged a few small changes like switching to gas bottles. Of course the problem of being gassed in our sleep or blowing up in a fiery ball of flames due to the cylinder leaking gas fumes were slightly more motivating factors.
But change we did.
We also installed a heat pump, Mostly because it was kind of sad to see Other Half wandering around the house in the middle of winter dressed up as if he was going out on an Arctic expedition. So heat it was.
Less important changes were new front and back doors, only because the old ones rattled like crazy whenever the wind was up and as it's quite windy here the rattling kind of got old really fast. And look at how pretty our front door is.
From this...
... To this
We've also installed some shelves both in the kitchen and the laundry which at least has made the world's smallest and ugliest kitchen look a little less small and ugly.
Baby steps you see.
As for the garden well it's a bit of a mess in places with weeds that are threatening to become all triffid like and pull themselves out of the dirt at any moment. But in other places it's coming along really well and looking super pretty.
It's all being super productive providing us with cut flowers which are so pretty even if I am the world's worst flower arranger...
... and veg galore. From lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, spring onions, and rhubarb.
So much so that I am currently freezing a bag or 2 every few days. How cool is that?
There are also bees in the greenhouse. Lots and lots of bees. Pollinating like mad and hopefully going home to their hive to makes lots of yummy honey. Planting marigolds everywhere really has helped to attract them.
Still there's a lot more that I want to do... plant more veg and more pretty flowers, laid down some compost to make the soil better and finally attack those triffids before they attack me.
Until them though just look at my pretty veg.
Oldies galore this week while I still desperately try to catch up or at the very least make some headway. Being over the half way mark is definitely putting the pressure on.
Deep breathes and more chocolate is more than likely in my future...
The Nun's Story
Starring: Audrey Hepburn
Original release: 1959
Synopsis: After leaving a wealthy Belgian family to become a nun, Sister Luke
struggles with her devotion to her vows during crisis, disappointment,
and World War II.
Just as good as I remember it. Fascinating look into the life of a nun.
Dial M For Murder
Starring: Grace Kelly (directed by Alfred Hitchcock)
Original release: 1954
Synopsis: A tennis player frames his unfaithful wife for first-degree murder after she inadvertently hinders his plan to kill her.
My Hitchcock viewing has been a bit hit and miss. Some I have loved while with other I haven't even managed to get half way through before giving up.
Weirdly this one sits someone in the middle. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either AND I watched in all the way to the end. Of course Grace Kelly's clothes might have had something to do with it. Swoony sighs all round just for her wardrobe.
Green Fire
Starring: Stewart Granger and Grace Kelly
Original release: 1954
Synopsis: In Colombia, a mining engineer discovers an
emerald mine but has to content with a coffee planter who stands in his way.
I watched this not for Gracie whose clothes were once again on point but for Stewart Granger who I've always had a soft spot for. Something I totally blame on the whole silver fox thing.
Shallow viewing all round then. :)
King Solomon's Mines
Starring: Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr
Original release: 1950
Synopsis: Adventurer Allan Quartermain leads an expedition in to uncharted territory in an attempt to locate a missing explorer.
Granger again. Doing more manly stuff and making Deborah Kerr go all frosty... until of course she cuts her hair.
Sure. Cutting my hair always make me see a man in a whole new light.
Silly but fun.
Mogambo
Starring: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly
Original release: 1953
Synopsis: On a Kenyan safari, a hunter has a love triangle
with a seductive American socialite and anthropologist's cheating wife.
More African hijinks, more manly men and Gracie is back looking all cool and vulnerable.
An okay story but really this is all Ava's show. Great clothes, independent and goes for what she wants.
I kind of wished she had just carried on sailing off into the sunset (well down the river).
Now that would have been an ending.
The African Queen
Starring: Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn
Original release: 1951
Synopsis: During World War 1 a riverboat captain is persuaded by a strong willed missionary to go down the river and attack a German warship.
Seriously good.
No surprise that Bogie finally won an Oscar for it.
Sabrina
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden
Original release: 1954
Synopsis: A playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur,
but it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her.
How can people like this movie I really don't know.
Bogie looks old enough to almost be Audrey's grandfather. Like that isn't creepy at all. As for the rest...
Yeah I just don't get it.
It's been pretty light week reading for the past two weeks, mostly because I've been too busy watching all the movies as I try to catch up with my goal of 365 Movies in 365 Days.
Sometimes reading has to take a back seat while I concentrate on other things. As it is the only things I have read lately have been chick lit or children's.
Neither of the chick lit books were in any way taxing which is pretty much what you want for a chick lit novel - something light and slightly humorous to help ease away the stresses of the day.
The YA was one of those reads that had been on my radar for awhile so I'm super glad that I finally managed to read it. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for any future books by this author.
Then it was back to another Anastasia book and two books by an author I hadn't come across before which I totally enjoyed. Books about mothers and daughters really were the theme is this week's reading, with 4 of the 6 books featuring this in some form or other.
I know, I know. Just when you think I couldn't do anymore Hallmark Christmas movies suddenly I've watched 3 in row and forcing them upon you. I did warn you that I had a weakness.
Still there are a couple of non Hallmark movies thrown into the mix just so you... and I, don't go completely insane.
Christmas Around the Corner
Starring: Absolutely no idea
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: While staying at a bookstore during the Christmas holidays a young woman decides to give the town some much needed Christmas spirit.
You know the drill. Dead parent. Workaholic woman who has no life. Cue Hallmark and all the Christmas Christmasyis you can handle. And yes I know that's not really a word. But you get where I'm coming from.
On the plus side it's set around a bookstore, the story's kind of cute as is the female lead.
A Christmas in Tennessee
Starring: Two cute people and the mom from Home Improvement
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: Bakery owner Allison finds she has to fight off a real estate developer who wants to buy her store.
The sap is strong in this one. You'll end up coming out thinking that you've just had a bottle of something sickly, sweet poured over you.
Big, Big pass from me.
Christmas Joy
Starring: Killer Frost from Arrow and some dude
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: Joy returns home to take care of her aunt who has broken her ankle.
Well I like the actress so that helped. And there's baking and cookies. Always a win right there.
Sadly the male lead was a bit meh for me. If I had been her I would have run a mile in the other direction, taking all the cookies with me.
Outlaw King
Starring: Chris Pine
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: The rise of Robert the Bruce
Chris Pine. Playing a Scotsman. No offence to Chris and his fans but seriously this should not have happened. Also some of the historical details are changed and moved around or overlooked completely. Which so does not help.
Watch Rise of the Clans presented by Neil Oliver instead. So much better and real history too.
The Favourite
Starring: Olivia Coleman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz
Original release: 2018
Synopsis: 18th Century England and Queen Anne enjoys the close friendship and guidance of her friend Sarah Churchill but the arrival of Sarah's cousin Abigail soon causes problems and a bitter rivalry ensues for the Queen's affections and power.
This is a weird movie. But it's also kind of good thanks to some great acting from a great cast. Olivia Coleman truly makes you feel Queen Anne's loneliness and helplessness in the face of others more ruthless than her.
One of those movies that you might watch once but probably wouldn't watch again.
The Bouquet
Starring: Michael Shanks aka Dr Daniel Jackson from Stargate
Original release: 2013
Synopsis: Two sisters are forced to work together to save the family business.
Michael Shanks is the only reason I watched this.
If only the female lead role had been played by someone else and the script a little bit better it might have been good by Hallmark standards. Is it even by Hallmark? I can't tell anymore.
