Blog Updates

Just a quick post to let people know that at last all the missing family posts have been completed for December. All that is left to do is finish the six posts that still in draft form, these will be done as soon as I have time.

Once again I want to thank all the people that read the blog for there time, be you a regular reader or someone who has just popped on to look a single page. I hope you are all having a smashing new year.

Stormy Tuesday

It been one of those days that come along now and again when high winds sweep the whole country and over turned Lorries and fallen trees litter the roads. Thankfully they don't come along too often and when they do normally they pass without too many serious injuries, but not today, two people have died and my heart goes out to their families.

As the wind blew outside and the roar filled the house, I was trying to remember similar days in the past. I can remember once walking past the end of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport clinging onto the lamp posts, stop from being blown away after my car broke down, but I can remember the year, but hat wasn't the the worse. That is more recent.

I can remember was back in January of 2007 when I was travelling from Rutland back to Leeds. A journey of two hours took over seven hours and it was the worse car drive in terms of weather I have ever done. I wish I could have stayed where I was that day but I had to go back to Leeds for Emily and Catherine. I can still remember the over turned lorries I passed and see those that I overtook, when I wasn't in queues of traffic, looking like they were going to fall on me. When I got off the A1 there were trees on the roads and teams of men chopping them up to clear the roads. Nine people died that day including a two year ole child.

I do feel for anyone travelling today and I hope it will be another fives years before we have winds like this again. We could all do without weather like todays.

Home Again

With the approach of the start of a new school term today was the day that Emily and Catherine returned back home from being with there mum's for the New Year. By all accounts they had a smashing time in Leeds and they came back full of stories of the exploits.

As is now the becoming the norm, I am travelling that little bit further to pick them up because of their mum continuing back problems, but as I said to their mum many years ago now I would always make sure she saw them. Thankfully we are sharing the cost as much as possible, even if we can't share the driving any more.

It was lovely to have them home again, I do miss them while they are away. I just wish, especially now, that their mum was closer so they could see more of her. I was of course hoping that we would be seeing Lucy this week, as where she lives the school holidays don't finish for another week, but as careful readers will know that not going to happen. It would have went some way to making up lost time with her. All the same at least I will be seeing her at the weekend and I know she will be having a good time. I can't wait to have them altogether again, and I do understand her mummies needs too.

Anyway, it didn't take them long to get back into the swing of things. Soon as they got home that started catching up with their friends after we had popped to the supermarket for the food for dinner we had all agreed to on the way home. It was nice to have the noise of young people around the house again. I know some might disagree, but I rather like it.

As for me, I spent a couple of days in Wales, returning yesterday evening. It is a wonderful drive and some of the scenery is breath taking as you head down the Heads of the Valley Road which skirts the Beacon Beacons national park.

Film of the Week - The Black Book

This week film of the week is a bit different in that it the first that is not a English spoken film. In fact the film is Dutch, but don't let that put you off seeing it. It simply is a wonderful film with a wonderful story. It is the film Black Book.

The film is the story of rich Jewish girl hiding in Holland during the second world war who stars working for the Resistance after her family are murdered by the SS while trying to escape to liberated Belgium towards the end of the Second World War. Although set during the war it is a very human story full of twists and turns and it is not a typical war film. It has a mixture of action, romance and mystery giving it a wide audience appeal.

The film is directed by Paul Verhoeven who is better known in the English speaking world for his hollywood films like RoboCop, Total Recall and Basic Instinct. As you would expect of any european director that has been recognised in America the direction is first class as in the editing and cinematography. Add to this is some fine acting by all the cast it makes this film a must see. 

If you haven't seen a european film this is a good one to start with. It doesn't take you long to get use to the subtitles and after you do it like watching an English speaking film. I'm really looking to seeing it again and I hope you will join me.

Happy New Year

At last old year is done is finally over and new year has begun. It a time of new starts and rebirths when we make plans for the coming year and are hopeful of what it might bring.

I'm no different from everyone else, I have dreams and plans as well as hopes and fears. If any of my dreams and hopes come to fruition only time will tell. All I know is I will enter the year with my heart open and full of love to those I hold so dear in my life and I wish all of you that read this blog a very happy new year.