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Sunday 28 June 2009

I completed the 5k now back to the writing....

Race for Life is now over and I aim to put my energy into other things. I completed the course in just under 3o mins which (considering I walked some of it) is a personal best for me. I will keep up with the running but once winter sets in I shall start swimming again which is a preferred sport for me. So now this is all done until next year I aim to put everything into the writing. I managed to post on the 100 words a day 3 times last week (surpassing each amount by the entry so I'm happy with that). Next week I'll try harder. I've even sent my details to the Writer's Bureau for a some more details. I figure with some proper training I'm bound to gain in confidence and writing skill.

Friday 26 June 2009

Michael Jackson

I was so sad to hear the news last night that Michael Jackon had passed away at the age of 50. I was a huge fan of his and was massively affected by his music when I was growing up.

Rest in peace
x

Thursday 25 June 2009

Bookcrossing


A while ago I linked to and posted about my love of Geocaching. Bookcrossing is just like this but with yep you guessed it... books. The concept is simple, once you finish a book and want to pass it on you can register the book on the site and leave the book in the wild. You can also search in your area to see what books have been left recently in charity shops, pubs, airports, tubes, buses and even your local parks.


If your interested and you have a spare 5 mins you can:

Register...
It takes a couple of minutes to register your details, name, address, you know the usual

Go hunting...
There are currently 6,036 out there in the wild in Britain. It also includes Thailand, the USA and Ireland to name but a few.

I am yet to register a book (as I'm being a lazy reader and writer) but once I do I'll be leaving it somewhere for someone to find. Hopefully I'll find a novel racers work (not that I don't buy them already but it would still be cool to find one!)

Sunday 21 June 2009

Writing Again and Confessions

So most of yesterday was spent delving back into my novel world (and also having a facial, shopping and preparing food for a picnic today). I spent a good half hour trying to figure out why I had more words in YWriter than my word document. I couldn't figure it out when I compared each chapters word counts. YWriter is now empty of all chapters and with a new deadline of 24/12/09 I now have a new daily word count of 302 words. I have so far managed 129 words today and once I get back from said picnic later I shall make up the rest of the daily word count and maybe some more. Also with my 100 words met I was able to post on the 100 words a day blog again which was a good boost.



In other news....


I'm not writing a review for this one but I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic and all I will say is I really really.....

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LOVED IT. I eat my previous words because I think Isla Fisher was brilliant as Rebecca and although I would of course read the books any day over watching the film(s) I thought what was managed to be condensed into under 2 hours was really funny and enjoyable to watch.

Thursday 18 June 2009

Review: The Hangover


Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson

Slightly concerning time for me to go and see this film as my brother was in Hungary on his stag do at the time but this didn't stop me rolling in the aisles.

Set in Vegas this tells the story of Doug (Bartha) embarking on his stag night with his 2 best friends - cool teacher Phil (Cooper) and geeky Doctor/Dentist Stu (Helms) and his soon to be 'weird' brother in law Alan (Galifianakis ). They head out for a night they will never forget and it turns out they do just that.

They wake up the next morning with a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the cupboard and a missing Groom. The hilarity ensues as they retrace the previous night's steps in a bid to get Doug back in time for his wedding. Cue shot gun weddings, camp Asian gangsters, plenty of gambling and of course Mike Tyson.

Where the film lacks in recognisable faces it certainly makes up for in humour and suspense. The story is uncomplicated but keeps you on the edge of your seat as the plot thickens. With all that it has to offer it's little wonder they didn't feel the need to use an all star cast. For me Zach Galifianakis is the star of the show with his character's lack of social grace and weird dress sense.

This gets a 4 out of 5 from me. I fully recommend seeing this film with a crowd.

The next 2 films I fully intend to see are Bruno and Year One so if you see them before me and they turn out to be rubbish (which I very much doubt) please tell me!

Wednesday 17 June 2009

An actual writing related post

Following yet another writing break I am working out the best way to get back into it. I’m thinking I need to read what I have written so far, which as it's been a while since I started writing it (remember Miss Write anyone??) and read it last it will feel like I’m reading someone else’s work. Does anyone else read their work and feel convinced someone (the elves maybe) wrote all that for you? It takes time and I have now set a new goal to finish by the end of this year. If ever I start looking for an agent (meaning I finish this novel of course!) I will have to delete this blog and change my name (again) because there is no way I’d get a book deal if they knew how long it has taken to not finish this one! If my future agent is reading this in my defence I haven’t just procrastinated using frequently mentioned TV (I am training to be a TV critic in my ever dwindling spare time) I have also been writing short stories and researching all future novels that may involve telly watching and going out on the lash (I don’t really do that!!) Any helpful tips on getting back to it and sticking to it would help me out loads!!

Saturday 13 June 2009

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The first time I saw the trailer for this I was reeled in. In fact this is so totally the kind of story I love I am surprised I waited until it came out on DVD.

Starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, the film starts with Daisy (Blanchett) on her death bed while her daughter (Julia Ormond) reads from Benjamin's diary. In this we learn of Benjamin's life, loves and travels while Daisy desperately holds on to the end.

Amidst the Armitice Days celebrations Benjamin’s mother dies while giving birth to him. Thinking his son is a monster his father a wealthy Button factory owner abandons him on the doorstep where Queenie, a kind woman who is unable to have children of her own takes him in and loves him as her own. Despite being born in the body of a dying old man Benjamin defies the odds and grows younger while all of his loved ones grow older around him.

We learn of how Daisy and Benjamin came to meet for the first time at the retirment home where Benjamin lived. Daisy as a child visiting her Grandmother sees Benjamin as an old man and instantly they take to each other. While the idea is that he is a child in an old mans body it is still a little creepy that they fall in love on their first meeting. She is still a child and he is essentially an old man.

Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald the film has a touch of other films such Forest Gump, Jack and Forever Young, 3 films that really work for me and I loved. The only thing that let the film down was it's length. At nearly 3 hours I found myself getting distracted from the story a little and looking at the time. Despite this I watched the entire film, gladly at home and not in the cinema! The make up and special effects were excellent (hence the Oscar for Best Visual Effects).

Nice film to watch if you have a spare few hours but probably not a good idea if you value your time!

I give it a 6 out of 10 because I liked the story, the acting and the make up!

Wednesday 10 June 2009

I'm baaaack!!!

I am sooooo sorry for going awol this past month. It was by no means intentional but I think I really needed the break and sadly something had to give. I am only sorry that it was this and just about everything else I love doing. The good news is I have finally moved house and I am settled at last so I can finally concentrate on things again. I'm just easing back into things so I'll keep this one short and I'l be back with another post tomorrow. Hopefully with some writing progress. I also have a quiet weekend ahead in which I plan to see some films to review for you.

See you all at your blogs where I'll be catching up and inundating you with comments!