Happy birthday Mr Cole

Possibly the only jar of Marmite ever to go to a Lloyd Cole gig. The Marmite is for The Boy.The Marmite was a last minute purchase on the way to the concert. Smuggled in I expect it enjoyed it every bit as much as we did. The musicians around Lloyd Cole are The Leopards. As it happens it was his birthday...he's exactly 6 months older than me.

Film 2014

We've managed to see four films this year already...it's that season when the best films are being shown, so we tend to be cinema heavy in January and February.  And so far it's a 100% track record for good experiences.



Ok, this is not a GREAT film, but it's fun, watchable and entertaining.  I don't normally enjoy Ben Stiller films, but here he's quite restrained and we walked out with smiles on our faces.  If only every film was as feel-good as this



Somewhat more grown up, quite heavy going, but ultimately totally rewarding because the performances are outstanding.  We had a lot to talk about once the curtains had gone down which was a good reflection of how much we had become engrossed in it



This is one film that I was over-excited about from the moment I saw the first trailer a year or so ago.  It didn't disappoint.  Leonardo DiCaprio is totally outstanding, and the supporting ensemble do their thing brilliantly.  A three hour film and I don't look at my watch once...it was an absolute hoot that careers along, only going to prove the devil does get the best lines.



Another one that I've been madly excited about.  There may have just been just 4 people in the cinema including us when the film started, but by the end of the first song, there were another thirteen....most of them rustling their sweet packets and chomping away...irritatingly.  Ultimately that didn't detract from what is probably the best of the films we've seen so far.  Funny (hilarious) in parts, sad in others and very thoughtful and reflective throughout.  Excellent performance all round.  My advice is to get down to the cinema quick with this one.  Pay very, very close attention to the first couple of scenes.  And from the outset, ask yourself, "What does the cat represent?"  We need to see this again, so probably a blu-ray purchase in the autumn.

Father and son

This weekend I learnt that Rabbie Burns was a tax collector.  I'm no sure what it says about a country that worships and celebrates a tax collector.  There is an inner glee knowing this fact.

I keep getting messages from The Boy headed "Wagwan".  It's been a mystery to me, so I headed to the Urban Dictionary,

"Greeting in the Patois dialect of Jamaica, rather than a "bastardization" of "What's going on" though it is the equivalent. Originally evolved out of the dialect formed by African slaves being taught to speak english by the British in Jamaica during the peak of sugar plantations. Used in a greeting as, "Hey mon, wagwan".

So now I know.

There was a piece recently that said childless couples are happier that parents.  I wonder where this sort of nonsense comes from?  Is it from people who don't have children themselves and feel the need to justify their position?  I've seen other meaningless reports too about parents being happier than couples with no offspring. These statements are all pretty spurious, as are all sweeping generalisations.  We all find happiness in different ways.  In my case, I always said I never wanted children but then The Boy came along...and it has been the most rewarding experience I can imagine.  The news story struck a chord at the moment, because The Boy is away...and as far as I can tell, he is having the most amazing and wonderful time.  He is extremely happy. Probably the happiest he has ever been. And his happiness has infected me...there's a tingle in my bones that I don't feel often, but it feels very, very good indeed.

He was able to ski with one of his heroes this week.

The man is so famous in skiing circles, he has his own bubble car named after him

We're off to see The Boy again this weekend...I can't wait!

P.S. I discovered you can't legally send alcohol abroad...so Hippo, I'm sorry I can't fulfill my promise :-(