Birthday and I Won a Giveaway

Thank you so much for all the wonderful birthday wishes, it was so lovely to read them all, you really are my blogland friends. Thank you as well for the comments on my grand baby scan picture, it's good to be able to share my excitement.

I had a lovely birthday, spent it the best way possible, with my amazing husband and children. We watched a film in the afternoon, it was on TV over Christmas and I'd asked for the dvd for my birthday. It's very rare that we buy a dvd, but we both enjoyed it so much - Ethel and Ernest.

Here's the bit of blurb from Amazon

"Roger Mainwood writes and directs this hand-drawn animation featuring the voice talents of Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn, Pam Ferris and Virginia McKenna. Based on the autobiographical novel by Raymond Briggs, the story follows four decades in the lives of an ordinary couple living in London. Beginning at their first meeting in 1928, events that fill Ethel (voice of Blethyn) and Ernest (Broadbent)'s days include the Great Depression, World War II, the invention of the television and the birth of their son, Raymond (Harry Collett/Luke Treadaway).

I suppose it's a love story really, but it had me in tears, definitely one to watch with a box of tissues and I can't recommend it highly enough.

When Adam arrived after work, we sat down to a birthday tea partly made by Imogen. Ham and pickle or cheese and cucumber sandwiches sausage rolls, crisps and lots of tea. Followed by a lovely birthday cake.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day. I'll have to show you some of the lovely goodies I received another day.


The day after my birthday, I received this lovely parcel through the post, a giveaway from the very kind and talented Jenny at Winnibriggs House

The card was lovely, the heart decoration on the front was flocked.

Jenny had made herself a lovely warm and cosy headband to keep her ears warm in this cold weather. As well as kindly giving a tutorial in how to make one, she also offered some lovely fleece for us to make it with.

As well as the lovely soft fleece, Jenny included 2 little surprises... 2 beautiful brooches. A stunning vintage brooch...

and a very cute dog, how cute!

Thank you for stopping by

Take care
xxx

Ben Hur and Doggie Treats

We had a lovely relaxing weekend and I think we're now coming through the other side of this horrible cough/virus that has knocked us both (and I believe much of the country) sideways for the last couple of weeks. When I spoke to Adam (my lovely son) during the week, we recommended he didn't come for dinner this weekend. I do really look forward to seeing him every week and we'd cancelled last week too, but we didn't want to pass our nasty germs to him and his pregnant girlfriend.
Imogen had made plans with friends so it left just the 2 of us and we decided to settle down and watch a film together.

I'm a great fan of the 1959 Ben Hur film, I've been brought up on it (I believe it's shown on TV at least once a year if not more) and it stars the rather fabulous Charlton Heston who I always thought was rather lovely.

When I heard the film was being remade, I wasn't very enthusiastic, why fix something that isn't broken, could it be any better? Then when the film was released in the summer, the critics were not really very complimentary and I think it was a bit of a flop at the box office.

We were going to give it a miss, but it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and we wanted something to watch that wouldn't take a lot of thought. So, with no expectations we sat back with some chocolates left from Christmas and I have to say...  thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon!

I would definitely recommend it. I don't know the original story only, as I mentioned, the earlier film, but it seemed to tell it's story just as well with some of the more drawn out parts being omitted. I felt we got to know the main characters and could empathise with them. The famous chariot scenes were still there

I had no complaints about the acting and felt the overall story had a message about forgiveness that wasn't in the earlier film.

I understand that one of the reasons the film flopped was because it didn't really attract the under 25 bracket. I think that's a shame, it was full of action with a good story and even a message. It felt very different from the Heston film and I think needs to be seen as something different. When it finished, Andy and I both felt we'd just watched a good film... one to recommend!

While we kicked back and had our lazy Sunday afternoon, our 3 dogs kicked back with us enjoying a nice treat before curling up in the warm for a cosy sleep.

Are you looking at me?

Take care
xxx