Long day

Leisurely day ending with popcorn and...

Bev recovering nicely after the 'blasting'.

Today's little treat.

A nice enough day to get out for a walk around Heskin Hall. Although we went with friends, these pics are mostly of other things that struck me for one reason or another.

The first that caught my attention was Heskin Hall itself. The design is peculiar in the sense of its lack of an entrance of note...and the back of the property is positively ugly. I can't imagine why they( whoever they were) would build such a building in preference to what they could have had built.

The horizontal shadows of the trees on gushing water was spell-binding.

He's well into his eighties and is as sprightly as ever...that goes for his wife, too.

It was a pleasure walking alongside this hedge. It's amazing that anything that has been hacked as much as this can still exude beauty.

Penny for your thoughts, Bev.

I loved the perspective here. Nancy and George (centre) just didn't look real. They seem far too small. My eye would have cast them taller, given they are taller than Bev on the bridge.

The photo doesn't really catch it, but those hills were covered with spectacular colour.

This wasn't the first thing we did today and it certainly wasn't the last. Life is so good at the moment.

Finished the book, but won't see the film, because...

Wonderfully written. An incredible book.

It may have won three Oscars, but here is just one reason why I won't be watching the film...

"His manners are repulsive and course, and his language gives speedy and unequivocal evidence that he has never enjoyed the advantages of an education".

Doesn't that tell you all you need to know about the person? In the film, however, I will doubtless be bombarded with what Solomon had to endure and I'll not to be a slave to that.

Even the most horrific experiences in the book were expressed fully in terms of anguish, hurt, pain and suffering, yet I'm certain the film will be brutal and specific in it's choice of scenes and will be unrelenting and horrific throughout.

There isn't one single swear word in the book, yet it expresses everything perfectly. It doesn't hide from the reality of the situation, and nor do I.

I've read the book, word for word, from the person who was the only eye-witness to the events and I've no real desire to experience the perhaps more sensationalist version... even though my original goal was to read the book then watch the movie.

Results

I've just finished "The 100-Foot Journey", and before that, "The Book Thief".
So, what do I think of the first two books on my list to read before watching the film...

The Book Thief...

I loved the way this was written...not because of the unusual narrator so much as the originality of the writing. Reading the book was a new and refreshing experience for me.

It didn't concern me that the full horror of what was happening to the Jews in Nazi Germany wasn't a feature...I know critics have been savage regarding this omission, but I really don't need another book or film to shock me back into line... lest I forget. I was happy with the whole focus being centred around the perspective of  a young German girl along with family and friends...albeit through the eyes of 'Death' the ever present narrator, who's articulation gave plenty of indication, to me at least, of the horror of events, merely by mention of his harvest of souls. 

I also appreciated the very short chapters and the reminders and explanations of what was to come in the pages ahead. At first I thought it would spoil the plot...knowing what was to happen before it actually happened, but as it turned out, it added another dimension.

I'm really looking forward to the film. No, really, I am.

The Hundred-Foot Journey...

I never thought a book centred around French haute cuisine would hold my attention for very long, but oh, my goodness, what a treat this book was.  Outstanding!

Admittedly my interest did wane for a few pages towards the end, but I was soon hooked back in and finished the last page with a smile.

The film comes out in August starring Helen Mirren as Madame Mallory and Manish Dayal as Hassan Haji...the Indian boy who makes the 100-foot journey from his families' newly established Indian restaurant situated in the south of France, to a competitor's Michelin 2-star kitchen just across the road. For me, the journey is really from Mumbai to Paris via England, but I guess the real drama is contained within that hundred-foot distance separating Le Saule Pleureur and Maison Mumbai.

The anticipation of watching this movie is palpable. It will be such a treat. I know I'll be in France when it comes out, but I don't want to watch it in French, so I guess I'll be treating myself to the DVD. An early Christmas present :)

I could get used to this.

Yesterday I woke up to the message on our door with a little present...I suspect it was from the Telfords a few doors down the corridor.

...and then Bev served up a breakfast treat.

We had lunch out.

Incidentally, this is a shot of David's Valentine Tree to Eileen...

Each leaf (one for every year he's known her) is heart-shaped with a message.

This caused me grief with Bev at the time, me being so thoughtful and all :)

Anyway, today we were invited next door to breakfast with the Bartschis, Moffatts and Copes...yes, the decor and furniture are the same in all our apartments (except that table, which was borrowed from downstairs).

It was a great starter.

The main course was traditional American pancakes with 100% pure maple syrup with scrambled eggs containing something delicious, along with sausage, bacon and ham...with second helpings.

The company and conversation matched the breakfast...awesome!

We will have lunch with the Flinns.

There's nothing like eating out.

Life is good.

I'm 62 today

The mind, as you age,

Is an artist, it seems.
Monet paints your mem'ries,Picasso your dreams. -Robert Brault.

An evening with friends

Belated Feb 14th Sweethearts evening...

The venue was packed with less than a minute walk to our apartment at the end of it all.

The food was exquisite, the company first class and the evening a great success.

During the entertainment section Doug Murray sang a few, I sang a few (thanks to the Slatters for the loan of the guitar), all the men sang a few to the ladies and everyone else sang a few to everyone else.

The poetry (Linford original) was pure gold.

It doesn't get much better than a night like tonight.