2.5 Months of Living in a GMT Zone.

The end of the school year allowed me to return to the beautiful United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Despite wanting to return to Glasgow, London, and anywhere in Wales, I was unable to escape the borders of England, leaving me to have a multitude of fun in the North West and Midlands. There was a good mixture of city-living and country-bumpkin-ing in my neck of the woods as well as slightly further afield with me and Tom seeing in trips to Birmingham (to see the marvelous The Duke Spirit), the Peak District, the Lake District, and the familiar favourite, Nottingham.

As you may have deduced from the fact I didn't have chance to venture further than the North and Midlands, I was confined to the area by a lack of funds and working unsociable hours at a major 'film exhibition centre' (cinema). There were perks to the job (free films and getting to work with some interesting and entertaining individuals) and downfalls (not being able to organise more than a week ahead and getting paid a month in lieu) but it kept me out of trouble (and doing research) whilst funding my return stateside.

So, here are some snapshots of the 2 and half months I spent baking, watching TV, and eating pub food with friends. What else do you do when you have been absent from friends, family and the BBC for 6 months?!


[Fruit Scone in a Cafe in Windermere/Puddleduck Cottage, Windermere/Batman Live After Party]


[Piccadily Gardens in a moment of sunshine/Cows at Dunham Massey]


[Homemade Chocolate Truffles/Teddy at Nana's Birthday Party/Love Padlock at Liverpool Dock]


[Private Sign at Little Morton Hall, Congleton/Fields by Quarry Bank Mill, Styal]


[Manchester stood beautiful throughout the riots: Victorian sign on wall of Bootle Street/Street Children's Mission Building/Vans Shop, Thomas Street]


[IWM-N, Salford Quays, where I volunteered over the summer/Twiggy on The Avenue, Spinningfields]


[Dentist Chair at Quarry Bank Mill/Part of Fabric Exhibition at Little Morton Hall/Mead at Tatton Park Medieval Fayre]

Schools Out for the Summer: Review of Horrid Henry and Arriety

The six weeks of summer holidays means an influx of children's films being released at the cinema. So, I joined in the spirit of the classroom escapees and saw 2 kids films in 2 days and the difference was staggering. A dismally disappointing Horrid Henry: The Movie and the enchanted Arriety, could not be further apart in quality, but then again what did I expect...

This summer I have been working in a cinema and whilst tearing stubs and serving popcorn I have been tortured by a number of screens in the foyer which play a loop of trailers for upcoming films. One of trailer

s in this loop is for Horrid Henry. Despite selling many copies of the series whilst working at W.H. Smiths, I have never read a Horrid Henry book, but the trailer had me really excited and hooked me into the next part of the franchise. I REALLY wanted to see it despite the embarrassment it would no doubt bring when entering the auditorium unaccompanied by an appropriately aged child. However, I was not going to be discouraged by a socially awkward situation as, as far as I was concerned, a film with Angelica Houston, Richard E. Grant, Noel Fielding, and Jo Brand would not only cater for adults, but it would also be incredibly funny.

I was wrong on both accounts.

Houston had a useless Scottish accent, Jo Brand was in it for a total of about 90 seconds, and Richard E. Grant got upstaged by Matthew Horne's pirate attired dancing at the end. It was a seriously disa

ppointing performance considering the mixture of great talent, and a best-selling franchise. I fear that Pixar have set the bar so high through their perfect mix of adult and kids humour and emotional connection, that it is difficult for other kids films to come close. Its clichéd talent show, stereotypical characters, and its inability to play upon its most prized asset - a crew of great comedic actors - made it a rather dull hour and a half, with only a few moments of glory.

Horrid Henry's failure to excite me, undoubtedly was not helped by my seeing Studio Ghibli's newest releas

e Arriety the night before. The Japanese film-house have made a little gem of a film with this tale of friendship based on the classic children's story of the borrowers. It saw great actors such as Geraldine McEwan and Mark Strong voice the UK version of the film to a great avail. The story was nothing new, and the animation no more wonderful than earlier ventures of the Ghibli studio. Its music however is perfect and truly magical, igniting the whole film. It is just a to

uching story, if not particularly exciting. The intricate detail is wonderful and the minimal humour refreshing in a culture that assumes that all children want is to laugh whilst at the cinema. Although no way near the likes of Howl's Moving Castle, or Spirited Away in originality it is an enjoyable and comfortable film that all generations can enjoy.

Children's films can be accessible and enjoyed by adults, but they should always be approached with caution.

Jane Eyre (dir. C. Fukunaga) Review

I was delighted when I heard the new version of one of my favourite books, Jane Eyre, would have the magnificient Michael Fassbender as the brooding, mysterious, and complicated Mr. Rochester. His talents have been displayed in the award winning films Fish Tank and Hunger, but, they are unable to shine in this dull and monotonous version of Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece. It is not only Fassbender who is incapable of igniting the brilliant story, with both the charasmatic Judi Dench and budding Mia Wasikowska failing to bring their characters to life.

With all these talented actors failing to entice the passion, intrigue, and angusih, which Brontë created in the original novel, it will come as no surprise that it is due the poor screenplay. The writer of the dull British "comedy" Tamara Drew, Moira Buffini has badly adapted the book for the big screen. In an attempt to hook the audience in from the beginning, Buffini starts the film well into the plot when Jane is struggling through the torrential rain on the bleak Yorkshire Moors to escape from Mr. Rochester and the magnificent Thornfield. She is rescued by Saint-John and his sisters and nursed back to health. Jane's story is then unfolded to the viewers through flashbacks. This strategy does not work. Instead of intriguing and enticing the audience, it sterilizes the anticipation which should be created by the behaviour of Nurse Poole (who doesn't even feature in the film), the curious noises, and the unexplained violence that goes on whilst Jane is governess at Thornfield.

It is visually sumptuous with beautiful scenery and magnificent dresses, but you can see all of this from the trailer. Yes, this is one of those films where the trailer outweighs the actual film. Of course, I am biased; I adore the book, dote upon the BBC 2006 version with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens, and may possibly prefer Mr. Rochester to Mr. Darcy, but I still feel even without high expectations, this is a resounding flop. The more than capable cast, exhilirating story, and beautiful sceneray and costumes, were unable to shine due to this poorly written and directed adaptation.

' The subway is a porno, The pavements they are a mess' - 2 Days and Nights in the Infamous NYC

In April, Tom and I went and visited the 'city that never sleeps'. It was a brief visit that saw us attempt to see as much tourist hotspots as possible, which meant our trip was a bit lacking in culture, but full of great photo opportunites. It was a fun, fast, and entertaining few days. We managed to do lots including eating some very unhealthy food, seeing a Broadway show, walking around Central Park, doing a tad of shopping, and going on the Roosevelt tram. One of the things which I personally relished were the fantastic buildings. The combination of Victorian tenements, art deco skyscrapers, and glass fronted modern complexes really showed the different sides to the city.

New York is a fragrant and colourful city. There is such a diversity of people, food, shops, and architecture, which allows it to be bright, dark, lively, and somber all at the same time. I can't wait to go back and delve further under the skin of this magnificent city, exploring more of Manhattan as well venturing into some of the other buroughs.



Diner where we had our first breakfast/Empire State Building/Wall Street Subway Station



Times Square at Night/Roses from a general store



42nd Street and Madison Avenue/'Best Burger Ever' - Thomas Hillman/Roosevelt Tram from the Roosevelt tram



Yellow Cab/The Majestic Theatre where we saw Phantom of The Opera/Me inside The Chrysler Building



Grand Central/Wigs which reminded me of The Return to Oz



Tulips on Broadway/Street View from Roosevelt Tram/There were lots of dogs on the Upper-East Side

Getting to Know Boston Better.

Tom came to visit for 10 days in mid-April, so we had a few days in Boston, and tried to see and do as much as possible, whilst he was here.



We managed to get in a 'ball game', a whale watching trip (but minus whales), and a venture into Cambridge.



The new stuff wasn't instead of what have now become traditions, including munching on Mike's Pastry's cannoli. Thoroughly recommend the Limoncello flavour. Tasty.



Visiting the ICA, meant that we saw a part of the city we had not explored before. It was beautiful by the sea front, a great mix of industry and panoramic views.



Whilst we were in Boston, it was the start of the baseball season, and the first contenders were the rival NY Yankees. We saw the Red Sox against Tampa Bay Rays, and didn't really understand what was happening, but deciphered (with some help) that the Red Sox lost.



Cambridge was exciting and full of great shops, to the extent that Tom voluntarily browsed in a card shop. It had beautiful shop fronts, beautiful buildings, and funky graffiti, so for me the makings of a cool little town.