I would like to wish all my followers a Happy New Year and send my best wishes for an amazing 2013.
Monday, 31 December 2012
London break
We just got back from a fantastic break in London. We had a lovely time seeing our friends S and B and visiting the sights. My husband and son went to the Science Museum whilst my daughter and I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and we had a wonderful day. The next day we went to the Natural History Museum and my son and I saw lots of fascinating exhibits whilst my husband and daughter went ice skating. We also visited the sales and had some delicious food in a variety of restaurants. Our friends have just set off for a lovely break in Japan and we have returned home to celebrate the New Year. I thought I would share some of the photos from our trip.
I would like to wish all my followers a Happy New Year and send my best wishes for an amazing 2013.
I would like to wish all my followers a Happy New Year and send my best wishes for an amazing 2013.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Merry Christmas
I would like to share the picture of our Christmas Cupcake with all my followers and wish them a very Merry Christmas
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Online Writing Course
Anna Turner has just informed me that her course for next term 'Writing Fiction' is now open for online booking:
01422 392606
Central Library
Northgate
Halifax
HX1 1UN
Anna Turner
Reader Development Librarian01422 392606
Central Library
Northgate
Halifax
HX1 1UN
Her hours of work are: Monday and Tuesday 8am - 4pm,
Wednesday 9.30am - 2pm
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Nativity 2 film review
Having enjoyed the original Nativity film, my children asked me to take them to see Nativity 2 today and to sum it up in one sentence: 'David Tennant commits career suicide.'
The film stars David Tennant (Dr Who, Harry Potter and Fright Night) as Mr Donald Peterson (he also plays Roderick Peterson, his famous twin brother) the new teacher for the children of Mr Poppy's (Marc Wootton from the original Nativity) the classroom assistant's class. Even though the headteacher tells Mr Poppy that they cannot enter the 'Song for Christmas' competition, Mr Poppy does everything in his power to ensure that they do. I wish I could say with hilarious consequences, but this film was just plain dire. I had expected it to be worse than the original, due to reviews I had read but wasn't expecting it to be this bad. For a children's film, it was irresponsible and totally devoid of coherent plot. The best thing about it were the songs, but even they do not stay with you. What does, however, is the plot holes (not that there was a plot particularly, but how does Mr Poppy get the London Duck Tour bus when the school is meant to be in Coventry?) and the total lack of sense. The children are sent down swollen rapids in a dinghy, walked through miles of admittedly beautiful Welsh countryside, hung off a mountain-side by a single rope and at one point, a baby is thrown high into the air by Mr Poppy (anyone recall the outcry when MJ tried something similar?). I am sure Mr Tennant tries his best with the script, as does Jason Watkins (Gordon Shakespeare, also from the original), but there is just no saving this donkey. It was heartbreaking to see such classically trained actors trying to unsuccessfully pull themselves out of the mire.
It was 105 minutes of my life I will never get back, not to mention the cost. Even my youngest couldn't tell me something positive I could put in my review and he loved David Tennant as Dr Who, so should be biased. 2/10 for the countryside
The film stars David Tennant (Dr Who, Harry Potter and Fright Night) as Mr Donald Peterson (he also plays Roderick Peterson, his famous twin brother) the new teacher for the children of Mr Poppy's (Marc Wootton from the original Nativity) the classroom assistant's class. Even though the headteacher tells Mr Poppy that they cannot enter the 'Song for Christmas' competition, Mr Poppy does everything in his power to ensure that they do. I wish I could say with hilarious consequences, but this film was just plain dire. I had expected it to be worse than the original, due to reviews I had read but wasn't expecting it to be this bad. For a children's film, it was irresponsible and totally devoid of coherent plot. The best thing about it were the songs, but even they do not stay with you. What does, however, is the plot holes (not that there was a plot particularly, but how does Mr Poppy get the London Duck Tour bus when the school is meant to be in Coventry?) and the total lack of sense. The children are sent down swollen rapids in a dinghy, walked through miles of admittedly beautiful Welsh countryside, hung off a mountain-side by a single rope and at one point, a baby is thrown high into the air by Mr Poppy (anyone recall the outcry when MJ tried something similar?). I am sure Mr Tennant tries his best with the script, as does Jason Watkins (Gordon Shakespeare, also from the original), but there is just no saving this donkey. It was heartbreaking to see such classically trained actors trying to unsuccessfully pull themselves out of the mire.
It was 105 minutes of my life I will never get back, not to mention the cost. Even my youngest couldn't tell me something positive I could put in my review and he loved David Tennant as Dr Who, so should be biased. 2/10 for the countryside
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Turbulence by Samit Basu review
Just finished reading the novel I purchased when I met Samit at the Morley Literature Festival for the Sci-fi andSuperheroes event. I was expecting a 'Heroes' meets 'DC/Marvel comics' vibe and I wasn't far wrong. Aman Sen is aboard a plane when he discovers he has developed internet superpowers and he is not the only one. When he comes up against Jai a one-man army superpowered villan who wants to rule the world, he bands together with fellow Indian supers including Tia (who can duplicate herself), Uzma (an aspiring Bollywood actress who's power is that everyone who meets her loves her) and Vir who can fly. Aman wants to save the world and Jai wants to destroy it but during the battles of power between the supers who are on each side, some must lose their lives and no ordinary human is safe from an unknown super who can control them with devastating consequences.
With a good dose of comic history, Bollywood, cricket and 21st century India, this novel gives an interesting post-modern slant to the question 'What would you do if you were given the power to do anything you wanted?'
With a good dose of comic history, Bollywood, cricket and 21st century India, this novel gives an interesting post-modern slant to the question 'What would you do if you were given the power to do anything you wanted?'
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Christmas Cleckheaton Writers Group meeting
The CWG met yesterday before adjourning for a Christmas drink at a local pub. We discussed our plans for our writing for the New Year over a cold glass of Christmas cheer. Next meeting will take place at the Library on 7 January 2013.
Today I met two of my fellow writers I and K at I's house, where we also discussed our writing plans for next year over a delicious meal that he had prepared. It was fantastic fare that would not have been out of place in a restaurant and I had a wonderful time. We had homemade butterbean soup with parmesan shavings to start, grilled salmon with a dijon mustard dressing with a watercress, avocado, tomato and buffalo mozarella salad and buttered new potatoes for main, and finished off with a mulled wine poached pear. Yum :)
Today I met two of my fellow writers I and K at I's house, where we also discussed our writing plans for next year over a delicious meal that he had prepared. It was fantastic fare that would not have been out of place in a restaurant and I had a wonderful time. We had homemade butterbean soup with parmesan shavings to start, grilled salmon with a dijon mustard dressing with a watercress, avocado, tomato and buffalo mozarella salad and buttered new potatoes for main, and finished off with a mulled wine poached pear. Yum :)
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Birthday Bliss
It was my birthday yesterday and I have enjoyed a lovely birthday weekend. First, on Friday night the girls and I went into Leeds to Las Iguanas where we enjoyed the Christmas menu and cocktails. I had the Festive Funghi Quesadilla which contained brie, mushroom and truffle then the Extraordinary Xmas Xinxim which is a brazilian crayfish, chicken, peanut and lime dish and then finished with Caipirinha Present which was a sponge laced with cachaca. It was all delicious and they were kind enough to supply me with a free birthday cocktail and main course. So good, we are going again with friends on New Years Eve.
On Saturday after a fun family trip ten-pin bowling (I won the second game), my husband took me to The White Hart at Pool and we enjoyed a delicious meal. I started with the scallops and pancetti which were so perfect they melted in my mouth. I then enjoyed the fillet steak with fondant potato, enoki mushroom gratin & veal jus and finished off with a pudding from the specials board - meringue with greek yogurt and honey, bilberries, sesame seeds, cranberries, apricots, strawberry and raspberries - amazing.
I got some lovely presents including some gorgeoous jewellery, cds, books, wine, chocolates and a fabulous galaxy pad.
On Saturday after a fun family trip ten-pin bowling (I won the second game), my husband took me to The White Hart at Pool and we enjoyed a delicious meal. I started with the scallops and pancetti which were so perfect they melted in my mouth. I then enjoyed the fillet steak with fondant potato, enoki mushroom gratin & veal jus and finished off with a pudding from the specials board - meringue with greek yogurt and honey, bilberries, sesame seeds, cranberries, apricots, strawberry and raspberries - amazing.
I got some lovely presents including some gorgeoous jewellery, cds, books, wine, chocolates and a fabulous galaxy pad.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
More local writing events
Anna Turner has just informed me about more local writing events:
Literary
Thievery – Short Story Workshop with Cassandra Parkin
2.30 – 4.30pm
Tickets £6/£4
The Long
Poem – Poetry Workshop with Pauline Plummer
2.30 – 4.30pm
Tickets £6/£4
Tales of
Magic and Faraway Places – readings and discussion
5-6pm
Free event
Monday 11 March Poetry Reading Workshop with Anna Woodford
Read Regional Events in Calderdale 2013
Saturday 12 January
Meet the Author - Michael Stewart
Sowerby Bridge
Library 2pm
01422
831627 Tickets £3 – available from Sowerby Bridge Library
Thursday 17
January Meet the Author - Fiona Shaw
Central Library,
Halifax 7.30pm
01422
392330 Tickets £3 – available from Central Library
Wednesday 23
January Meet the Author – Stephen May
King Cross Library
6pm
01422
288028 Tickets £3 – available from King Cross Library
Sunday 27
January Writing the Journey – Poetry workshop with Christy Ducker
Hebden Bridge Library
11.30am –
1.30pm
01422
288040 Tickets £6/£4
2.30 – 4.30pm
Tickets £6/£4
2.30 – 4.30pm
Tickets £6/£4
5-6pm
Free event
Monday 11 March Poetry Reading Workshop with Anna Woodford
Skircoat Library
2pm
01422
354828 Free – booking essential
Anna Turner
Reader Development Librarian
01422 392606
Central Library
Northgate
Halifax
HX1 1UN
Her hours of work are: Monday and Tuesday 8am - 4pm,
Wednesday 9.30am - 2pm
Monday, 3 December 2012
Two free poetry events
Anna Turner has just forwarded me the following information about two free poetry events:
Saturday 8 December, 2pm
Todmorden Library
The Price of Gold
Poetry Reading – Poems about Bees
with Grey Hen Press
Free entry
Saturday 15 December, 1pm
Brighouse Library
Eleven Wonders with Julia Deakin
Poetry Reading
Free entry
Come and enjoy a glass of wine, a mince pie and
fantastic poetry
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