A quick one...

This is ace and soooo true!



Website here:- Simon's Cat

I think it's been doing the rounds for a while but M alerted me to the new vid that's been uploaded, so very funny.

I need to go and make various cds for my dad now so I'll do some posting when we get back from our trip.

Much love

Pixie

Brokeback Mountain - a review

When I was doing my journalism thing at college we had to write various article. I was chatting about one of them with someone today so I said that I'd post it.

So here goes:-

Brokeback Mountain

I was at first sceptical about seeing a ‘gay cowboy film’ as Brokeback Mountain had been described by mainly my male friends.

But within half an hour of the film starting I was gripped by the essence of love between two people, gender aside that this film captures. In fact I haven’t stop thinking about it since which I take as a good thing.

The film follows the love story of two young men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy who meet in the summer of 1963 whilst driving cattle on a mountain range.

These two men, burley, macho cowboy types rarely speak to each other in the first 20 minutes of the film, barely spending a night together in the mountains whilst doing their chores separately. During this time you feel like you are also with them in a tent next to theirs, taking in the magical and spell binding landscapes of Wyoming.

In fact when Jack Twist (played excellently by Jake Gyellenhall) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) finally begin to get close and after too much whiskey end up sharing a bed, it feels like a natural progression. It feels like they and us, the viewer have been isolated from reality for long enough not to care about the consequences.

The first sex scene, which in my opinion is more suggestive than explicit contains no passion, no caring at all. It is over in a few short minutes, but the regret of the two characters seems to last hours.

I felt myself empathising with their regrets and fears about the situation. There seems to be an acceptance though and although Enis concludes their encounter by stating 'I'm no queer' the two men decide what has occurred on Brokeback Mountain should stay on Brokeback Mountain.

They continue their lives, both going their separate ways. They both marry and have children. But it seems that neither of them are fulfilled with their marriages and when, after 4 years Jack, the more forceful and excepting of his sexuality sends Enis a postcard it rekindles old feeling and their desires to be together. Not just for sex, to simply share experiences, laughs and loves (under the guise of men's fishing trip weekends away.)

Jack wants them to tell their secret to the world and move onto a ranch together but Ennis has been traumatised by a childhood event in which he saw a man being tortured for that very reason, because he was a 'queer'.

Whilst we are watching Ennis and Jack's desires to be together (which spans a 20 year period) it hits you that there has been no mention of those three words 'I love you' but it's as if we do not need to hear it just as they, the characters don't. You know implicitly, you feel their pain and heartache of the situation from their facial expressions alone.

This is a right person/wrong time love that fates won't allow, star-crossed lovers with whom we sympathise. A Romeo and Juliet of cowboy films if you will.

Brokeback Mountain makes you realise the beauty and sheer wonder of ever getting to feeling that much in love, some people never do.

This film isn't about a life defining sexual relationship that two men didn't get to keep, it's about life defining love that they didn't end up keeping.

'That ol Brokeback got us good' said Jack to Ennis after one of their nights together, and yes as a viewer you think about your life-defining loves, you feel almost under a ‘loved up’ spell.

This is simply one of the finest love stories in Hollywood in years; In fact as I was leaving the cinema, I didn't see a dry eye in the house, even from the men.

I simply must go to bed now otherwise I will never wake up in the morning. Last night I was dreaming that M and I stole some horses from a stables that I used to go to when I was about 10. It was all going fairly well until the farmer man (who I didn't see the face of) came back from his trip out and M was half way through stealing my horse.

I didn't even have time to put the saddle on before we had to try and ride off into the night. However, M stole me a really lame horse that was more like a Shetland pony and no matter how hard I tried it wouldn't move. Then I woke up. Rubbish.

Sweet dreams folks

P

Bits and bobbins

What an odd week it's been so far. I've been getting monster headaches but due to my jaw, yeah, really. My teeth at the back don't line up properly so, according to the dentist I must clench my teeth at night and it causes the whole area to be inflamed and then I get headache. Gah. In fact, double GAH!

It really is quite annoying. I'm going to the dentist next week to see if they can somehow perform a 'there and then' miracle cure. Everyone that I've mentioned the D word to so far has practically backed away with fear.

I personally don't mind the dentist. I've had my wisdom teeth out but hardly anything else so that's probably why I quite like it. The eye goggles that they make you wear theses days are slightly offensive but I can get over that.

It's a new dentist that I haven't visited before. I had to go to a private practice that M found because there are no NHS ones around here taking patients. However, that is a rant for another day that could take some time.

I hope it all gets sorted soon, although I have a feeling it's going to take quite some time. M offered to come with me to ask them to just wire up my jaw, I declined.

So that coupled with the rain is making it quite an annoyance of a week thus far.

However, things are looking up because we're off down South at the weekend to see my dad who is back in the country on one of his flying visits. I'm also seeing my mum because we'll stay at the mansion on Saturday night and drive back on Sunday, so some nice relaxing hours in the country. Heck, I might even borrow the sauna for a few hours - bliss!

I can't remember why I started this post but we've just had one of M's friends round. He popped in unannounced and has only just gone after being here since before 7pm. I love having people round, mostly because I love talking. However I've lost my blog rhythm in the process!

Ah, yes - accessories. Lately I have become obsessed with accessories. Actually, that's a lie, I've always been obsessed with accessories. Ever since those sparkly hair clips I had when I was about three. It's not just me that is obsessed with my accessories though (try saying that quickly). I have this bag. It's amazing. My amazing friend bought it for me.



Here it is on it's latest expedition out, last Friday. I didn't photograph it in the best possible light because you can't see the lovely diamond clasp thingy and it's a bit open. But everywhere I take my precious bag people can't stop touching it! Last time I went out with the girls they all had their picture taken with it. And on Friday night one of M's work colleague said "gosh, it's very tactile isn't it?" It reminds me of this Roger Sanchez video:-



The other thing I've acquired a taste for is hair bands. I've never really worn them and the more traditional ones tend to hurt my ears at the back after a while.

But when we were away on holiday we happened upon a shop in Berwick-Upon-Tweed and the window display quite literally jumped out at me. They had hair bands, necklaces and earrings all made out of plastic vinyl type materials and they were ACE!

I have tried to capture them in photos, however, they don't quite do them justice.





They are absolutely gorg, I'm regretting not buying more in every different colour and the gingerbread necklace they had.

I'm going to do another post now about something else...see you up there.

Pix

Ps.....

I have found some very cool accessories/kitchy type things websites.

Love the Rain the earrings below are from this site and are ace!



They are made by jewellery brand N2 who apparently specialise in fantasy jewellery with a kitsch and retro twist.

I also love Eclectic Eccentricity and more particularly this necklace.



I've got a thing about russian dolls. My mum bought me a makeup set a couple of years ago which is made by Pupa - edit, I found a picture of it:-



Despite Pupa being a fairly good make, I suspect the makeup is a little 'cheap', I just love it because it's a russian doll and it's so cool.

And finally...I can't explain it but something quite awful has happened. Every time it comes on...my face lights up, my body starts to move...the unthinkable...I like Cascada. Clearly Aldershot has rubbed off on me more than I thought. :(

Drink...or drive?

So we're going to a wedding reception on Friday evening at Nostell Priory in Wakefield. It looks rather lovely from the outside. I've never actually been in but driven passed it a few times.

Anyway, it's one of M's work colleagues who I've not met before. Also attending the party celebrations are some other of his work chums(and +1s) who I have painted in my mind to be like the IT crowd but slightly less funny. Although I think my friend Ipandah would agree with me, she has insider knowledge because she used to share the same work place.

I like geeks so I think I'll be fine. I might even brush up on a bit of Babylon 5 so that if it gets awkward, I can come in with a few conversation starters. I jest of course, I'm sure they'll all be very much normal. Eek.

My dilemma is this:- The venue itself is too far away from our house to get a taxi. Well, we could get one but it would cost more than buying the drinks all evening. So, either M or I will have to drive and not drink anything.

I am an absolute lightweight when it comes to alcohol especially when I'm nervous. The last wedding reception we went to was in Cornwall last year for a friend of M's that he hadn't seen for a few years and I hadn't met. Despite the fact that my friends would describe me as the exact opposite, I am quite shy when it comes to meeting new people so the odd glass of wine is a good ice-breaker.

That particular wedding, or evening of it, is one I'd happily forget.

I ended the evening on an old fashioned bus (which took us away from the venue - a field, back to Padstow), ducking down in between the seats because I thought there was a gazillion flies gathered on the lights on the bus ceiling much to the amusement of the other passengers who could see it was more like a dozen, insisting that there wasn't a single cash point in Padstow despite it being directly in front of us and finally falling over into the doorway of the pub where all of the other attendees of the wedding had congregated, scrapping my leg and sobbing into M's arm because my life was over.

Then insisting he trawled the streets of Padstow looking for cigarettes for me, even though it was gone midnight.

Back to Friday - Do I have a drink and risk a repeat performance of the above, which in all honesty I'm absolutely sure won't happen - I don't even smoke anymore; or do I drive and risk being very quiet due to being nervous? Answers on a postcard please.

M should really be the one drinking, they're his friends. I'm sure I'll be fine....

Arhhhhgghhhh.

Pix

I must become a lion hearted girl

Wow I didn't realise I was going to be that long. I can only apologise for what seems like months away from my blog. Oh, it is...ermm.

Anyway, it's been busy busy busy with me and it's been fun.

My life in the last few months in paragraphs starting.......now.....

Baked Goods
I seem to have developed a fetish for baked goods. When I say a fetish, that's not actually what I mean at all. In fact, I just looked up the word fetish and baking definitely isn't "an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion" or "an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression". I must add, I don't have any issues with cake fetishes. Or any fetishes of any type.

This is the reason why I shouldn't blog during evening hours when my brain appears to have gone to sleep and waffle takes over. What I actually meant to say was that I have started baking cakes (that wasn't hard was it)?! It started because I saw a recipe for Rainbow cake on this fantastically funny blog so I decided to give the whole thing a go.

I've always had the ability to cook because both my mum and dad are fantastic cooks, but I've mostly only ever done savoury meals/recipes for dinners etc. So far I've made:-

Rhubarb and Cinnamon Cake


Cherry Bakewell Birthday Cake.


Close up.


So this is weird...after we'd eaten some of the cake, because it was so hot the icing melted a bit. And a strange face appeared on the plate - almost as if he is shouting into the cake. He looks like he should be called Derek, and I named him as such.


I made some cinnamon buns this week (forgot to snap them) and they were ok, albeit slightly dry and need a bit of perfecting. I also have the recipe for millionaires shortbread which is M's favourite so I'm going to try that at the weekend and report back. It's quite relaxing actually.

Edit:- since I've so far managed to even slack off with my update I've made the shortbread. Well, Nigella, move aside with your box of half eaten honeycomb, it was a roaring success! I would post some pics but it's in the fridge currently setting nicely.

Trips Away and Outings
M and I seem to do lots of trips out. He is really good at planning places for us to go. I'm more of a flitty person that will just decide at the last minute to do something. I'm still getting used to the planning but it's a good motivation, I'll give him that. Over the last couple of months we've done something every weekend which is ace. I'll try and add just highlights for a few here because otherwise I'll be here for some time.

In April we went to Chester.


It was lovely because a) I've never been before, except to the zoo and b) it's a lovely place. All the shops are in Tudor buildings and the high street seems to have two levels of shops which is fun to explore. M bought me a lovely bracelet which was plastic but had tiny flowers in it. It reminded me of when my sister and I used to spend hours pressing flowers (we even had our own pressers) only to achieve....a pressed flower. I can't understand what possessed us now I think about it.

I tried to spot any potential Hollyoaks people but sadly, the McQueens sisters weren't in town. There were lots of WAG looking girls though. We stayed in a hotel for a night, I think it was a De Vere. Cheapo type place which was taken over mostly by someone having their wedding but we only needed the bed so it was fine.

We also visited Scarborough.

I really liked it there. Despite my frequent trips to North Yorkshire over the last 10 years I've never been which is quite shocking really. The actual sea front itself is a little bit chav tastic and has a hint of Blackpool/Redcar/other Northern seaside resort to it but you could imagine what it was like in it's hay day.

We tried to go up the cliff lift thing but it was out of order - turns out some people got stuck in it the following day so I'm quite glad we didn't! It lacked goths though which is one of the things that I love about Whitby.

Last week we went to Alnwick. We stayed in a hotel in Otterburn which was ermm, a bit of a disappointment but only in terms of the service. The actual hotel and room was fine. It was a little in the middle of nowhere but that's nice sometimes isn't it?

So, I have to confess, this trip was a birthday treat for M but secretly I was itching to go to Alnwick castle because of the Harry Potter connection. I'm a bit of a geek but I loved the books so much, read thousands of times etc. The castle itself was about 30 minutes away from where we stayed so we got there extra early (thanks M) so as to avoid the crowds.

The castle is separated off from the 'gardens' which are fab. There's a massive water fountain which does a different show every hour, naturally kids pile round it to get soaked. Then there's a poison garden section which is closed off and you have to have a tour round because there is a danger that you will want to eat the plants...well, kids might.

There was also a group of girls posing in front of the water fountains having their picture taken by a professional photographer for some kind of shoot. Their dresses were a bit suspect and they were all tiny in length - the girls, not the dresses. We didn't ever find out who they were or what they were doing there, I suspect some kind of amateur fashion student's clothes, or at least I hope that's what it was.

Near to the entrance there is a maze, which we decided would be 'fun' to try out. It looked relatively tame at the outset, cut to us 15 minutes late hunched over, desperately seeking the exit. The top of the maze was severely overgrown so you had to bend down throughout. Not so bad for me but M was suffering by the time we got out.

The actual castle itself was a bit of a let down if I'm completely honest. The Percy family, who have owned and lived in the castle for centuries actually occupy a lot of the building. Not during the summer months but in the winter when it is shut to the public. Even so, there are lots of out of bounds bits.

The Harry Potter link which is why I was interested is quite played down but I suppose that's not really important to a lot of people. You could do a 'magical' tour where they explained bit from the film but actually it was pretty easy to work out what was filmed where. I did find out that only two of the films were filmed there which I didn't realise. So, pictures below:-

One of the many fountains in the gardens.


The main fountain, pretty spectacular when it went off. You can just about see the little diggers that were at the front of it for kids to play with the water, so cute!


The poison gardens....enter at your own peril.


The amazing tree house. This occupies one part of the gardens and houses several rope bridges, a restaurant and an outside decking area. It was one of the highlights for me, so well built and scarily high at some bits!


The restaurant was in this bit. Now this did raise an interesting subject - marriage. I've always been dead against getting married because, well, I just don't believe you need a piece of paper to prove you love someone. M has been married (it was annulled so doesn't really count) and engaged before and hurt quite badly so he's not really in any rush to do the deed. But....when you come across a venue like the treehouse it does make you wonder if you could actually do that...maybe just a big party would do the trick instead.


The castle. Selfishly I only added this picture because my hair looks ace.



Quidditch lessons occurred here in the first HP film. I obviously didn't capture the replica scenes which I performed.

Definitely a nice relaxing couple of days away. We visited some of the coast east of Newcastle on the way back home too, although it was just driving through.

Now, just gigs, family occasions, friends visits/night outs, and work related activities to update next week. Time for bed now though.

Don't be a fool, always follow the green cross code.

Pix