… Christmas and New Year always feels just a bit unreal. For most people (excepting DS who wil be hard at it tomorrow again) there’s no work of the paid variety, and when Christmas is past, we’re on holiday on the domestic front too, unless you count opening the fridge and choosing between ham, cheese or turkey, any of which will taste fine with the remains of last night’s wine …
Despite having got out of this year’s Christmas entertaining, it still feels like a time when the putting up of feet and the switching on of telly is not so much allowed as obligatory. Soon that feeling of relaxation will tail off into seasonal torpor, but until then I’m going to enjoy it.
So far my sloth has been rewarded by some decent viewing. I particularly enjoyed Wallace and Grommit (especailly The Wererabbit – I couldn’t take my eyes off Lady Tottington’s plasticine lips!)and last night found myself indulging in a whole evening on BBC2 devoted to that old favourite (and I mean old – my Granny was a fan!) University Challenge. I normally avoid a whole evening devoted to anything but this was a good time to make an exception. Apart from reliving classic moments with Bamber Gascoigne and seeing a young Stephen Fry before he started sending himself up, I also watched Starter for Ten, something (along with most other films to be released in the last ten years) I never got round to watching at the cinema. It was a real treat with just enough plot and period detail to eke out the coming-of-age romance. Great cast too. I think my Granny would have approved.
So what’s on tonight? I’m torn between a nifty looking Thirty-Nine Steps (but will they have the Forth Bridge scene?) and Affinity. I loved Sarah Waters’ book and although there’s a fair chance at least one of these or even both, will fail to live up to expectations, that isn’t going to stop me dipping into the chocolate box of Sunday night and watching both.
My next post will be about writing (honest).
Ali Bacon, Author 