Champagne Saturday & Cosmos

 

Well the last few weeks have started to be a bit more eventful, which is always good, especially for logging purposes.  A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a Birthday party for a company I know who had just reached their first Birthday.  Now, normally I wouldn’t be too enthused about a business ‘party’, however, this was a business party with a difference.  For a start, it was being held in an art gallery which is very forward thinking for Manchester.  Secondly, they had cocktails and gorgeous, yummy finger food and there were giving party goers the opportunity to learn how the make cocktails!  Job done.

I took my lovely friend Nisha with me and we had thoroughly lovely time.  The highlight of the evening was, not the yummy cocktails and fabulous foodage (it was all ‘bite size fish and chips’ and ‘bite size toad in the hole’ ... you get the picture) but it was the fact that we learnt how to make Cosmopolitans!  My favourite cocktail (that doesn’t involved bubbly stuff that is) and the best bit was that they are incredibly easy to make ... who knew! 

And as I’m the caring/sharing sort, I thought I’d share the recipe with you:

• The juice of half a fresh lime

• Two shots of vodka

• Two shots of cranberry and raspberry juice

• Pour over ice in a cocktail maker, shake violently and pour ... voila!

Yum, yum, yum  ... that tasted just like liquid sherbet.  So that’s my new speciality.  Of course, it will never replace bubbles, but it comes a damn close second.  So all in all a jolly little time was had.

The following Saturday was ‘Champagne Saturday’ with the lovely Justine.  It’s actually been a year since the last one (can you believe that?  A whole year) and it was thoroughly enjoyable.  In case you aren’t aware, Champagne Saturday consists of Justine and me grabbing ourselves a seat at the Cocktail Bar in Harvey Nichols (Manchester) on a Saturday afternoon, drinking champagne and generally having a good girlie gossip and catch up, followed by having some yummy food somewhere equally as fabulous.  For my American readers, for Harvey Nichols think Neiman Marcus and you’re on the right track.

We had a thoroughly lovely day and we actually didn’t seem to drink as much as usual, or at least my hangover the next day wasn’t as bad as usual!  I’m happy to say that for a change, nothing untoward happened, so there really isn’t any gossip to share (I think I must be getting boring in my old age – either that or I’m learning to dodge the drama).

Right lovelies, that’s it for another day.  Enjoy your Easter Sunday and be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

On-line Dating 2013

Well, I’ve been promising it for a while and I apologise if I’ve fallen short of expectations, but all good things come to those who wait!

As I told you a couple of weeks ago, I rejoined the dating site that I was on last year, a few weeks ago.  I have to be honest, I’ve been super busy, so haven’t done much with it, but here are a small selection of the more entertaining emails I’ve received (again, each one has been copied and pasted exactly I’ve received it – no embellishment needed!)... enjoy!

hya am john x

 

After reading your profile and viewing your very cute photos I fell I should ignore all of the dating website formalities and jump straight in and ask you out on a date !!! [Don’t ignore the dating site formalities]

But as we know the Internet can be a dark and murky place so to ensure my safety I have very carefully devised some vetting questions !!!!!

( 1). What is bluer the ocean or the sky. ?  [Who cares]

(2). Peanut butter or strawberry jam. ? [Who cares]

(3). Early mornings or late nights. ?  [VET! Bored now]

Hello there x [Hmmmmm]

hi x [And you really expect a response?]

 

Stunnnnnning xxx [Original]

liverpool man here your verry nice how are you [... and you can't spell.  I got the same mail 6 times from this guy]

 

Hi I looked at your profile and even though you did waffle a bit.....you do seem normal! Haha! [Ooooooh a charmer!]


Fancy a chat sometime? [Er, that’ll be a no - he was 65]

You keep popping up on my search as being my perfect woman and that we should get married within 6 months, so I feel compelled to go along with what fate is saying so that we don't miss out on something amazing! So hi how are things with you? [‘Run to the hills’]

 

you missed out very pretty on ur profile ..... hi by the way :) [blach – I was just sick a bit in my mouth - this guy is so overweight, he makes Homer Simpson look thin]

 

this one, I couldn’t resist mailing back ... this is how the conversation went:

Him: hello, lovely photos, and profile, very demanding ?

Me: What do you mean ‘very demanding’?

Him: As in what you want from a man and that you like the finer things in life!

Me: ‘Whatever’ [NEXT!]

 

very stuning lady xxx [funy guy]

hi 
i like what i see in you.
are you free to chat.
if not now.
later on tonight? [Er, no i'll be busy]

look really well im gaz in middle  [You've gotta love people who can't punctuate!]

How's your weekend going? Mine has taken a nosedive......I told my U-13 football team that if they won by 2 goals on Thursday - I'd wash and iron their kits!! They only went and won 3-1!! So I'm surrounded by a pile of washing!! How does a first date of......extreme ironing sound?!! [WTF?  Like I care ... I don't know you!]

afternoon miss x [miss what?]

hello . . [that took a lot of effort]

ur gorgous hi im ricky xx [Wow, flattering and intelligent ... a winner]

 

Hmph ... forgot how hard work it is.  Hey ho.  I’ll keep going and keep you informed.  Until then, have a wonderful weekend – be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Hansel & Gretel, Oz the Great

Well lovelies, I did a quick double yesterday and took in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and Oz the Great and Powerful and have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

Hansel & Gretel **** (4 Stars)

The story is based (as you would imagine) on the story of Hansel and Gretel when they are all grown up.  The story is pretty basic in that it’s 15 years after the initial incident (they show all that too) and follows the pair as they cross the country seeking and killing witches.

If you like Van Helsing, you’ll love this.  It’s the same mix of seemingly old ie set somewhere in Europe in the 1800s and the use of 20^th century fire arms.  There’s also a bit of weird mix of accents (I favour the English accent for these types of films, it just seems to fit, but they decided to go with American for the main characters ... mistake in my book).  There was also quite a bit of gratuitous swearing that just didn’t seem to fit and an odd humour that ran though it which made the film seem a little confused about what it was trying to be.

That said, I really enjoyed it, as did the two teenagers sitting behind me who laughed all the way through it, which actually was really rather amusing and made me giggle to.  There’s also a really lovable Troll in the film, which was the source of most of my co-watchers’ amusement.

What’s right with it?

The cinematography, the sets, costumes and make up are amazing.  The witches are suitably witchy and really rather fabulous and the story had a few unexpected twists.

What’s wrong with it?

The American accents, the swearing and some of the really rather poor script writing.

All in all, I really enjoyed it and would probably see it again!  Here’s the trailer:

 

Oz the Great and Powerful **** (4 Stars)

This was another good film (although I did fall asleep for about 10 minutes, 20 minutes in to the film ... I’m so tired lately!) and really aimed at quite a younger market.  If you liked Alice in Wonderland, you’ll love this; it’s exactly the same genre and looks like it was shot in the same country (I know it's all CGI, but you know what I mean).

The story is a prequel to the original - the Wizard is a small time circus magician with dubious ethics, he tries to flee the circus (due to having to make a quick exit) in a hot air balloon, gets sucked into a giant twister and is hurled away from Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz where he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda (the good witch ... remember her? Awwwwww).  Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, Oscar transforms himself into the great and powerful Wizard.  We also find out why one of the witches turns from being a white witch to a dark one ... heads up, the reason for it involves a man!

What’s right with it?

Good story, fabulous sets and CGI ... I actually loved the bit about the good witch turning bad ... kind of resonated! Mila Kunis was absolutely brilliant in it too as Teodora/Wicked Witch of the West - I'm liking her more and more with each film I see her in.

What’s wrong with it?

It's a bit too long ... oh and it’s very child friendly ... which wouldn’t be a bad thing if I was a kid!

Although I really enjoyed it, I probably wouldn’t bother watching it again.  Some films you’re happy to (like Hansel and Gretel) others you wouldn’t want to lose another 2 hours of your life for ... this was one of those - however I'm sure your kids would watch it over and over.  Here’s the trailer:
 

 
 

I saw the trailer of the new Star Trek film today ... it looks amazing.  Here’s a bonus trailer of that too (boy do I spoil you!)...

 

Right lovelies, that’s me for another day.  Until next time, have a wonderful week and be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Mama, Stoker, Broken City

Well lovelies, I had quite an exciting week last week (for a change) and I’ll give you an update on that later.  I’m just aware that lots of my friends are off to the cinema this weekend, so I thought I’d give a quick update on some of the films I’ve seen lately.

Mama *** (3 Stars)

I had high hopes for this film as the trailers looked really good and I’m sure it had links to Guillermo Del Torro who made Pan’s Labyrinth (which is one of my all time favourite films).  Mama (according to the blurb) is a supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared after their father killed their mother and drove their car off a cliff (nice!).  After the father drags the kids through the woods where they find an abandoned cabin, but there’s something very sinister in that cabin!  Their father’s brother (that’ll be their uncle then) never gives up hope of finding them and hires detectives who eventually locate the cabin and the kids.

As you would imagine the children are severely disturbed but are released into the care of their uncle and his Goth type girlfriend.  That’s when the fun starts in earnest ... the girls had been looked after in the cabin by a sinister force that came with them to their new home....

Well, toward the beginning of this film, I actually really quite enjoyed it.  It was a bit scary/jumpy and as I hadn’t really read the reviews, I didn’t know what it was about.  However, it did descend into silliness quite quickly.  At one point, Mamma disappeared into the floor and you could only see her hair trailing across the hall floor – that was actually quite hysterical and everyone in the cinema was laughing.  It actually looked like that used a long haired wig and dragged it across the floor on wires; unfortunately it totally broke the suspense that had been building.

Also, towards the end of the film (and don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away here) you actually saw the face of ‘Mama’ (it had been obscured until that point) and it looked like one of the ghosts from Disney’s Christmas Carol!  So funny ... again, completely broke the mood.

So would I recommend it?  Well, if you’re not looking for something too intense and are not expecting too much from it, then yes, I’d recommend it.  Without the silly bits, it would probably have been a 4 and it actually had the potential to be a 5!  Here’s the trailer:

 

Stoker – **** (4 Stars)

Well this was a complete surprise for me.  I hadn’t seen any trailers so I had no clue what it was about.  Within the first 20 minutes or so of the film, I did think about leaving because it was a bit too arty with very little substance, but I’m glad I didn’t as it got immeasurably better!

The story: After a girl’s dad dies in an auto accident, her Uncle, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother (Nicole Kidman).  Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious charming man has ulterior motives and witnesses him carrying out some rather heinous acts.  However, instead of feeling outrage or horror towards him, she becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

This was a really good film, I think partly because I didn’t know anything about it and it unfolded in ways I absolutely didn’t see coming.  Go and see this one (especially if you like more arty type films).  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.  Here’s the trailer...

Broken City * (1 Star)

Well, I went to see this against my better judgement (as Russell Crowe has a leading role in it and as you know if you read my posts regularly, he should have given up acting after Gladiator) and I wasn’t shocked that it was appalling.

The story: When disgraced cop turned private detective (Mark Wahlberg) is hired by NYC’s mayor to tail his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) , he uncovers a city wide conspiracy of corruption, sex and murder (I didn’t write that bit, that makes it sound interesting).  With his life threatened, the detective finds himself faced with an impossible choice which could have disastrous repercussions for his career and family.

If I’m honest, I pinched most of that from Flixster as I really could think how to explain the total load of rubbish I watched.  I don’t even know why I stayed until the end (I guess I’m ever the optimist and hoped it would get better ... it didn’t!).  Anyway, just in case you’re interested, here’s the trailer...

I still want to see Hansel & Gretal, Oz the Great and Powerful and Side Effects – I’m not sure if I can fit 3 in in one day, so I may need to be selective based on start times!  I’ll let you know about those and give you an update on my escapades last week, as soon as I can.  Until then, enjoy your Sunday!

Lots of love

Jx

Can Men and Women be 'Just Friends'?

I thought I’d just throw this one in for good measure.  I’ve been working at a new company I haven’t worked with before this week and inevitably, this question came up when I was chatting with the girlies in my team ... Can men and women ever be just friends?


I think it’s a fantastic debate which I tend to have quite a lot with lots of different people.  When I say can men and women be just ‘friends’ I don’t mean acquaintances eg people in work, or people who you say hello to at the gym, I mean people of the opposite sex friends (I’m not including if one or both are gay here – definitely different rules apply there) who you go out with regularly for dinner, cinema, shopping etc with whom you have no sexual relationship.

I used to think it was possible, however, on two occasions in the last couple of years, men who I’ve known for a loooooong time and who I thought were perfectly clear that there would never be a ‘partner’ type relationship – in fact I’ve gone as far as to say “we will NEVER be partners” to both of them, have actually at some point over stepped that mark.  Before that happened, I would have always said, “Yes of course they can be friends.  My best friend is a man” however, I’m now coming to the conclusion that it’s a definite ‘No’.

I have one female friend who always maintains that men and women can NEVER truly be just friends as one is always more attracted to the other, even though they may not say so, or even may not always be fully aware of it.  I have to admit, that the more I see and the more I debate this with people, it seems to be true.

What do you think; do you think men and women can be friends without one being more attracted and deep down wanting more?

On another subject and just to have a minor moan, this month, I have to pay for my car service, gas and electricity bill, broken washing machine and to top it all, I need a new boiler!  How the hell does all that stuff come in one month?!  Beats me … just thought I’d throw that one in there.  Oh, and some other news ... I'm on-line dating again, so watch out for the updates.  We're in for some more fun or another bumpy ride!  Until next time lovelies, be fabulous.

Jo

Flight & Warm Bodies

 

OK, last two film reviews for now...

 

Flight ***** (5 Stars)

I really wasn’t expected much from this film.  I’d read some reviews and they said it was good, but even though I review films, I don’t hold much store by those written by others – I’ve seen films that were slated that I loved and vice versa,  I think ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ and films are really subjective.  This film however, I really loved.

So what was it about?  A seasoned airline pilot (Denzel Washington), miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving all but 7 of the crew and passengers.  After the crash, he is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on the plane.

The story follows Denzel and his struggle to come to terms with what happened and his drink problem.  It was thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you entertained from beginning to end.  Definitely worth a watch, it’s my must see film of the week.  Here’s the trailer …
 

 

 

Warm Bodies * (1 Star)

Well, what can I say?  This may have reached 2 Stars if I hadn’t been so put off by sharing a cinema theatre with about 150 teenagers.  Firstly, I’m going to have a bit of a rant about that.  Not having any kids, I was immediately struck by how unruly 13-15 year olds are when there is no authority figure there to keep them in check.  I don’t care who you are or how well behaved you think your teen is when you’re not there, but I’m telling you, they aren’t! 

I can’t recall ever being in that situation before, but I was completely amazed at the showing off, the shouting, giggling, talking, phones on/phones off, throwing stuff, food rustling and general rowdiness of the kids in that theatre.  In my observations, kids under the age of 13 don’t act like that and teenagers over the age of 16 don’t act like that, so what is it that makes that age group so mental?

Is it because it’s probably one of the first opportunities they get to test out their independence without a parent or teacher being present?  Whatever it is, I suggest you parents have a word with your teen (even if you don’t think this doesn’t relate to your 13-15 year old, I’m telling you it does - there wasn’t one child in there that didn’t misbehave, even if only in minor way).

Right, rant over, humbug … on to the film.  After a zombie epidemic, a zombie encounters a human survivor and well, falls in love with her.  She sees that he is a bit different from the other zombies and they form a special relationship.  As the film goes on, he starts to become more and more human (ahhhh that’s what love does for you … or that’s what the film producers would have you think … it’s not like that in my experience!).

I guess it wasn’t that bad, in fact, if I’d been able to go in the day, mid-week, it may have even reached a 3 star status, but we’ll never know.  Note to self: Don’t EVER go and see a teen pic on a Saturday afternoon ever again.  The mahoosive ice-cream was good though!  Here’s the trailer …
 

 

 

Right, that’s it for another episode, there are another new batch of great looking films out in the next couple of weeks, so that'll keep me busy for a while!  Until then, be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Lincoln, Bullet to the Head, I Give it a Year

Again, not much to report really.  I’ve been incredibly quiet lately, that’s going to need to change soon, I’m getting a bit bored.  I know that at Champagne Saturday is on the cards pretty soon, so that’s something to look forward to, I also don’t have any holidays planned which is something I’m going to have to sort out soon!

So, back to the ole’ faithful film reviews.  Again, I’ve seen a few over the last few weeks, so let’s get stuck in …

Lincoln * (1 star)

I’ve got to be honest; this was the dullest film I think I’ve ever seen.  Now, don’t get me wrong, the acting was brilliant.  Daniel Day Lewis definitely deserved to win the BAFTA for it and he’ll have been robbed if he doesn’t receive the Oscar and Sally Fields as his wife as also fabulous, I just found the content and story EXTREMELY boring.  In fact, I can’t even remember watching a more boring film – I think I snoozed a few times too.  I guess if you’re into American history, then it would be slightly entertaining, but I just found it dreary, dreary, dreary.  The story is based around the time of the American Civil War when Abraham Lincoln was attempting to abolish slavery and win the war against the South.  Here’s the crux … he wins.  There you go; you don’t need to see it now!  Here’s the trailer just in case my review didn’t put you off enough!

 

Bullet to the Head ** (2 Stars)

This is the new Sylvester Stallone film.  It’s only been on at cinemas for a couple of weeks, but I think it may have gone off now … it doesn’t surprise me, I think it should have gone straight to DVD.  It was a typical Stallone film (he really is getting too old for this action s**t now – honestly, a man in his 70s is never going to win a fight against a buff twenty something!).  Here’s the premise: Career hit man Jimmy Bob enters into an unlikely alliance with a detective, Taylor Kwon, to bring down the ruthless killer of their respective partners.

I have to be honest (as you would expect) but the guy who played Kwon has to be THE worst actor I’ve seen in a long time.  It was amateurish and truly cringe worthy to watch him.  The story was full of awful cliché’s and was only mildly entertaining.  See it on DVD if you must.  Here’s the trailer …

 

 I Give It a Year **** (4 Stars)

I actually found this quite entertaining for a typical Rom Com.  More so than I expected (although that could be something to do with the fact that Simon Baker – him from The Mentalist – was starring in it … I love him).  Here’s the story: a couple meet, fall in love and get married within 7 months.  Their friends and family are really not convinced that they are right for each other and trouble ensues due to his ex-girlfriend still hanging around and her having to deal with a new, rather dishy client.

It was all really typical rom-com stuff, but I really did quite enjoy it (which was quite a shock!).  Here’s the trailer.

Right, that’s it for me today lovelies.  Tomorrow, I’ll review Flight and Warm Bodies.  Until then, be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx