A Snippet of Life

If you're reading this post and are yet to see the film, stop reading immediately and watch it. I won't give too much away but A Dog's Purpose  is the perfect summary of the happiness and comfort that dogs bring to so many lives. We've only ever had one dog in my lifetime at home, we've always been 'cat people'. They say you're either one or the other but I completely disagree. I have loved all the pets we've ever had and love the one and a half cats that are still with us, dearly. I say one and a half which kind of has two meanings. Lily was the runt of the litter so her growth is somewhat stunted and Frankie only decides to live with us for six months of the year, prancing around our village like he owns the place for the rest. Which one is the half can be up to you. Of course I love them, however I do understand why some people prefer dogs. When I come home, if I'm in a bad mood and need cheering up, though Lil will snuggle on my lap (or loo...

This post is largely inspired by my recent visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, which as any of you who have been reading my Travel posts will know, really impressed me. Not only was the museum well set out, taking you on a journey through the story of the Jews in the Second World War and this particular family, but the quotes dotted around the place from Anne herself about her writing were also very stimulating. "The nicest part is being able to write down all my thoughts and feelings, otherwise I'd absolutely suffocate"- Anne Frank Writing, for Anne, was an escape from her horrific situation into a safer world of her thoughts and feelings. It was a saviour that today provides an insightful glimpse into her experience for the whole world to read. She left her imprint through her writing and, whether this is deemed right or wrong, this is the main thing that I took from my visit. Writing isn't for everyone, I get that. Not all people enjoy discussing th...

The Windsor's - a hilariously inappropriate television series. It is a comedic and exaggerated representation of the younger generations  (I don't think they dared include HM The Queen)  of the Royal Family and one that I would highly recommend.  I was first told to watch the series by my Dad who,  after observing a discussion  between my sister and I about our futures,  strongly felt that  we were Beatrice and Eugenie, no question. On the show, these two represent every aspect of the typical 'living off daddy' type. The Verruca Salt to the Royal Family and quite frankly Daddy, they unreservedly do want another pony. Played by Ellie White and Celeste Dring, the two have constant wild and fluffy plans for their lives, coming out with questionable knowledge (dumb statements) and discovering that a full time job consists of more than three days a week for two hours each day. Oblivious to reality and having never worked a day in their lives, ...

  At the start of my first seminar back at university after Christmas I was asked for the dreaded Icebreaker. It seemed an odd task since we were entering our final semester of third year and I hadn't been asked for one since welcome week but I went with it. I knew it'd be different to the usual 'favorite food', 'last book you read' ones of first year so I prepared myself. 'A Cultural Recommendation' - came the request from my teacher. Luckily I was sat on the back row so I had time to come up with something but it didn't help that my mind had gone completely blank. As people gave their suggestions of sophisticated books, films and unique travel locations, my mind remained blank so I gave the extremely inaccessible proposal of wine tasting in South Australia. I didn't intend on sounding like an alcoholic but it was the only semi-sophisticated culturally related thing I could think of recently doing, I felt severely uncultured. This feeling has ...

  So, being one of those people who lack talent in every aspect of musical theatre but having friends who are very successful in it, I've always admired the casts of musicals. Whether it's been in the West End or various theatres up and down the country or locally in Bury St Edmunds, I always love a trip to a musical. I come out after feeling so happy and usually attempting to sing all the songs, annoying people around me for days after due to a lack of singing capabilities on my part.    Recently I went to see the 25th Anniversary performance of Miss Saigon which blew me away as it always does. I saw it live on stage in the West End last year but this was a recording of their 2014 performance and it was shown in the cinema. The fact it was a recording of a live performance did not make me any less impressed and I loved every minute despite welling up before anything sad had even happened - so moving. After the amazing performance was shown the finale topped i...

  So I am writing this post having just returned from the York Barbican as I felt I needed to write it while still feeling the post gig hype so that you readers can feel this with me (though I admit I am in my onesie already because this place is freezing!!).   I absolutely love the feeling that you get after going to see someone perform live and KT was no exception. She completely owned the stage from her ability to loop the loop on the guitar pedal using various lush looking guitars, sing like a rock-star, entertain the crowd with so much banter and even mash in some Seven Nation Army while she's at it. Even the songs I had not yet heard made me want to dance and she kept the crowd so involved that people of all ages were up and enjoying themselves - from the over 60s in the wings to a little girl of about 7 moshing at the front. Not to mention when my favourite 'Other Side...' came on and the phone torches were swaying I was absolutely loving life belting every word (b...

  I love reading- of course I do, I am just about to begin an English degree! A few weeks ago I was recommended an Author (Kate Atkinson) and leant her first book 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum'. Having just finished (and loved) it, I thought I would share with you one of the many weird and wonderful ideas of Ruby Lennox, the main character and narrator of the whole novel.   Ruby has a tough upbringing, but it's not all sad- her life gets better! Also, the way she tells it all is matter of fact and sometimes can make you chuckle( I won't go too much into details as you may want to read it).      One page, out of the 490 that I read, particularly stood out to me. A moment where she is discussing the end of the world and comes up with the 'Lost Property Cupboard'. A cupboard where 'every hair grip, every button...earring and key', all the little things that we lose on a daily basis in our lives, are kept, there waiting for us at the end. But the...

  I watched a film today that at first is a story with a few jokes here and there and a happy ending, but in actual fact it has so many strong messages inside. It was based on a true story.   Two men. One from a bad background, brought up by his uncle and aunt since the age of 8, uncle dies, aunt has many children, none with the same father, just recently spent 6 months in prison for robbery, thrown out by aunt, you get this gist! The other, a very wealthy man, widower of his much loved wife, paralysed from the neck down due to a paragliding accident, needing constant care. Basically, two men in very similarly negative situations, but having  got to this position in very different ways, the first is the fault of the man himself and the second is simply a very unfortunate man with bad luck.   Of course the two men's paths meet! The ex-prisoner becomes the other poor man's carer, a bloody good one at that, and they get on like a house on fire. They ...