A breath of fresh air

Yesterday I firmly told James that I wanted a lovely day of leisure, but this had the result of making poor James feel cooped up. Although he also relaxed and pottered around a bit, I could tell he was longing to go for a walk; I even found him looking out of the window once or twice, like an animal in a cage. So today we decided to get some fresh air and we set off to Chatelherault Park with Jamie and Davie. Alasdair stayed at home with the intention of studying. I do hope that intention was translated into action; when we left he was still in bed using his laptop but when I suggested that he get up he told me witheringly that he was very busy downloading work from the school website. When we got to Chatelherault we noticed a dad smoking as he walked along with his tiny children; Jamie approached him and told him how damaging smoke is to young developing lungs. Needless to say this didn't go down too well and the angry parents shouted at him and told him to "beat it"! I was half horrified and half extremely proud. Luckily the furious family didn't catch up with us on the walk, probably because their fitness was affected by all that smoking! The rest of the walk was thankfully less eventful; we walked to the green bridge, crossed the river and walked back on the other side. At one point I stopped to admire some beautiful leaves which were an amazing pale gold colour - they actually looked gilded - however I was mocked by my cynical family who thought that I was stopping to catch my breath! By the time we got home Ally was already on his way into town to watch "Sherlock Holmes" with friends. James, David and I thought that this was a splendid idea so we went to see it ourselves at the Quay, and very good it was too, great fun, with Jude Law and particularly Robert Downey Jr. hamming it up excellently. And here we are back home in time for tea, with the evening still ahead of us. How nice it is to be on holiday. 

It really is a Wonderful Life

It has been an emotional twenty-four hours. Last night there was a big fight in the family which had been brewing up for a while, which was upsetting for all concerned. I will not go into the details because some things should remain private. Today was my last day at school before the holidays, which I normally enjoy, but I was tired after last night and it didn't give me my normal feeling of excitement, although it all went fine. So when the five of us met up to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the GFT I was worried that it would not be the joyous celebration that I had envisaged! However I need not have worried, the film worked its magic on all of us and we had a great evening. "It's a Wonderful Life" is such a good film, and even though I watch it every year I never get tired of it, and in fact I always notice something new in it. Like most people I am moved to tears at the ending, especially when George's brother says, "A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town", but the film is full of wonderful moments. This year I was thinking about how bad guy Henry Potter seems to understand the frustration that George feels about his life, when he is trying to tempt him to come and work for him; in a way George's enemy understands him better than his own wife, brother and mother, none of whom support George in his quest for adventure. It's not as if they don't know that he is desperate to try pastures new. When his brother comes home from college with a new wife and a job offer, why doesn't their Mum say, "Great idea, but first work for four years in the Building and Loan so that George can have a break." James and I smiled at each other wryly when an anguished George says to Mary, "You call this a happy family? Why did we have to have all these kids?" but in fact I do think we are essentially a happy family, despite our differences in personality and occasional dreadful clashes, because even though this has been a difficult few days we all turned up to go to the film and then out for dinner together. And at dinner (in Red Onion, very nice) we all chatted and laughed about all sorts of subjects, from science to medicine to politics to chat-up lines to James' work to films and holidays. Friendly relations have not been completely restored but I am optimistic! 

Movie Memories

This evening we were watching the Strictly Come Dancing results show with Grandma, who was round for tea. The guest judge was Jennifer Grey of "Dirty Dancing" fame, who is almost unrecognisable now because of her nose job. This made me think about how much I enjoyed watching that film when I was very pregnant with Jamie. So I decided to make a list of some of my favourite scenes in films; this is not the same as a list of my favourite films, it is scenes or moments that made a big impression on me. Here goes.
Some of my favourite movie moments (in no particular order):-
* Dirty Dancing - when Patrick Swayze dances up the hall to Jennifer Grey and she falls forward from the stage into his arms. I want to be her.
* Bridget Jones - the fight between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. Stirring.
* Evita - the bit where Antonio Banderas is walking through the fountain with his shirt all wet. Amazing.
* George of the Jungle - when George is dancing round the camp fire. Strangely moving.
* Mr Bean's Holiday - the end when Mr Bean sees the beach and walks towards it across all the vehicles and the cast all sing - this made me feel so happy that I cried.
* Cabaret - when the young boy sings "Tomorrow belongs to me" and the crowd joins in. Scary.
* La nuit americaine - when one of the crew tells a newspaper reporter something along the lines of "I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it". Very funny.
* Elvira Madigan - the ending. I didn't see that coming.
* It's a Wonderful Life - when his brother says, "A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town." Floods of tears even though I have watched this film dozens of times at the GFT.
* Slumdog Millionaire - the dance at the end of course!
I may well add to this list as I think of more! 

Amadeus

James and I have just watched Amadeus with Ally and Davie, I think it was made in about 1984 and we haven't seen it since then when we saw it in the cinema. Anyway, I recorded it recently because I thought that the boys would enjoy it since they are both interested in music, and it didn't disappoint. The music was beautiful and the acting by Tom Hulce and the rest of the cast was great. Monday was Ally's 17th birthday, he is getting driving lessons and a pair of Abercrombie & Fitch swim shorts! On Monday he was helping at Disabled Scouts so we went out last night with Grandma for a meal at The Byre in EK. Ally was proudly wearing his birthday present from Jamie and Davie - a pair of union jack converses! The meal was very nice. Ally had been to an Oxbridge Open Day with his school and was saying that he preferred the speakers from Cambridge to the Oxford ones. He is interested in a course called PPS which I think stands for Politics Psychology and Sociology. Who knows what he will end up doing! Or where! He has always been interested in Law but recently has also spoken of doing History and Politics. Whatever Ally chooses to do, we will support him. I love that he has all these interesting ideas. I have finished my Personal Study for the Diploma in Autism and posted it yesterday, I hope it passes. One more assignment to go. Am tired after tonight's parents' night then watching Amadeus.