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Tulips at the Botanical Gardens

Spring is here because the flowers say so. During the week I went to see the flowers in the botanical gardens at the suggestion of some work colleagues:

A beautiful lunchtime escape.

Today we returned en famille. The weather was not so good- the wind!The place was packed to the rafters and the tulips have already “turned”. Still , lovely little trip. This was after lunch at the Speights house. The trip a result of our guess the NRL Grand-Finalists-Joe the winner.

THe final is today-go the Dogs.

Double Doco

Off to the film festival again this weekend. Another action packed weekend, with a trip to the ballet included on Friday evening.

Today was fun and maybe a touch lighter weight? We went to see ‘Marley”, obviously about Bob. Sara loved it as Bob was a hero of hers from her youth. It was an interesting film with input from numerous people who knew him well and were close to his life. The music was good which goes without saying I suppose. The story was enlightening and well worth the time and trouble.

On Saturday we went to a more serious film-Bernadette: A Political Journey. It was very interesting to watch a film about an incredible period of history, which is still in progress now and for which one has a personal recollection and social meaning. The drive of a woman, and others, who had so much drive because it was so important to them. The other overtones are of the issues being the same as elsewhere and current-history repeating and all that.



A new film asks ‘where is Bernadette Devlin?’

Notes on a Political Journey, which has been shortlisted for the Grierson award, revisits the life of an extraordinary and uncompromising woman
She survived an assassination attempt, but Bernadette Devlin is best remembered as the 21-year-old Irish republican from Ulster who, in 1972, strode across the floor of the House of Commons to punch Reginald ­Maudling, home secretary of the Conservative ­government. His grave mistake had been to suggest that the ­British army had fired only in self-­defence on Bloody Sunday when they shot dead 13 civil rights ­protesters.

Film fever

Going the cinema this weekend is the hot activity. As well as going to the multiplex at Courtney Place we are also going to movies via the NZ Film Festival.

Friday evening was Batman and ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ . It was so well done and a good storyline. Great entertainment for the boys and parents alike. Isaac found it a little too realistic!

Yesterday it was something quite different. A French film Farewell my Queen (Les adieux a la reine) is about Marie_Antoinette around the time of the storming of the Bastille. It is from the perspective of the servants to the Queen and how they see the behaviour of the Queen and her entourage in light of the political upheaval. It gives and interesting twist to the story of M-A and was very enjoyable.

Then today, we went off to Brooklyn to see ‘In Darkness’ a Polish language film about the survival of Jews in a Polish city during WW2. They were helped to survive by lkiing in the sewers of the ity with the aid of a Polish local. It shows the desire to survive and the need to maintain usual human behaviour in the face of massive adversity. It also recounts the dark side of human nature very well. It is a fim to experience. It is so black but still compelling. Based on a true story. A thought provoker.

So trips to cinema: to be entertained and to be provoked.

More coming next week.

Olympic opening ceremony

We were all up this morning to watch the big show. I must say I enjoyed it and was pleased with the themes presented. That is saying something for someone who is a MG.
I thought the historical perspective was well done and brought into focus the current UK well with its cultural diversity. I loved the singing at the beginning with the Welsh, Scottish , Irish and English children and loved the redition of ‘Abide with me’ -so beautiful. Old gits like me must have appreciated The Jam as well as the 60s and 70s music with the modern teenage story as the backdrop.

My only moan; no problem with the NHS but cliche land was entered with the focus on GOSH-again. Please save us.

Looking forward to the rest and late nights

School perfroamnce

We lived in London for years and never managed to go to see this.

On Thursday Sara, the boys and I went to see a production put on by St Pats. Other schools were involved in order to obtain enough quality talent, as the singing roles are so demanding.

It was a great story and so well done. Enjoyed every minute.

It goes to show what some schools can do and how they can invigorate their community.

Now I will have to see a professional production!