Rattling through March
In real life news a major new study has come into work and as it has a paediatric element I have been tapped to assist on it. I like the manager who is heading it up and it has been agreed I can continue to work with my other manager too. I am cautiously optimistic that this might be a turning point at work but we shall see. In not so good news I had a run in with my upstairs neighbour last night and may have to introduce him to Sir Floyd if there's anymore of his nonsense.
As an early mother's day present I accompanied mother to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert which we both thoroughly enjoyed. I was worried at points it was a bit smutty for her but when I turned to see how she was reacting she was roaring with laughter. I was naturally appalled by this as she's my mother.
In quick film reviews round up I have seen Pitch Perfect and 10 minutes of Gangster Squad. I enjoyed Pitch Perfect and it won extra brownie points for incorporation of Judd Nelson's fist in the air salute at the end of The Breakfast Club. I had Gangster Squad on my Love Film list as it starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Whatever they were paid wasn't enough. To say the dialogue was bad is an understatement on par with 'water is a bit wet'. Even if you'd paid me a thousand pounds and gave me a spaniel I wouldn't watch the rest of it.
I have also been to the cinema to see The Grand Budapest Hotel. If you don't enjoy Wes Anderson's genteel surrealism this won't convert you but I liked it and thought Ralph Fiennes turned in an excellent comic performance.
On the book front I have rattled through Blanche of Castile by Regine Pernoud. It's a biography of, well, Blanche of Castile, from the 1970's and translated from the original French. As is inevitably the case with biographies of queens it's hopelessly romanticized and lacking in actual academic criticism. This is a real shame as Blanche was a formidable woman. One of my favorite quotes from a history book was discovered flicking through a book on the Albigensian Crusade. The author wrote the barons of France were delighted when Louis VIII died in his 30's as it left a child as king and a woman as regent but "Unfortunately for them that woman was Blanche of Castile." She of course powned the lot of them by the end. Blanche was Richard the Lionheart's niece and Phillip Augustus' daughter in law and it was interesting for the light it shed on Phillip's family and life post Richard. My favorite story from it is that when Louis VIII, while still the Dauphin, was captured in England a messenger rushed to Phillip for help. Now Phillip had few sympathetic qualities, even his staunchest admirers would probably admit that, but he loved his children. However he had disapproved of Louis' attempts to invade England and claim the throne in Blanche's name as he thought it was futile once John was dead and the barons rallied around Henry III. Phillip demanded of the messenger 'Does William Marshall still live?" When told that the Marshall did indeed still live Phillip replied "Well then I have no need to fear for my son's safety." He didn't send help and Louis was released in due course unharmed. I just love that even Phillip acknowledged the awesomeness of Will!
As an early mother's day present I accompanied mother to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert which we both thoroughly enjoyed. I was worried at points it was a bit smutty for her but when I turned to see how she was reacting she was roaring with laughter. I was naturally appalled by this as she's my mother.
In quick film reviews round up I have seen Pitch Perfect and 10 minutes of Gangster Squad. I enjoyed Pitch Perfect and it won extra brownie points for incorporation of Judd Nelson's fist in the air salute at the end of The Breakfast Club. I had Gangster Squad on my Love Film list as it starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Whatever they were paid wasn't enough. To say the dialogue was bad is an understatement on par with 'water is a bit wet'. Even if you'd paid me a thousand pounds and gave me a spaniel I wouldn't watch the rest of it.
I have also been to the cinema to see The Grand Budapest Hotel. If you don't enjoy Wes Anderson's genteel surrealism this won't convert you but I liked it and thought Ralph Fiennes turned in an excellent comic performance.
On the book front I have rattled through Blanche of Castile by Regine Pernoud. It's a biography of, well, Blanche of Castile, from the 1970's and translated from the original French. As is inevitably the case with biographies of queens it's hopelessly romanticized and lacking in actual academic criticism. This is a real shame as Blanche was a formidable woman. One of my favorite quotes from a history book was discovered flicking through a book on the Albigensian Crusade. The author wrote the barons of France were delighted when Louis VIII died in his 30's as it left a child as king and a woman as regent but "Unfortunately for them that woman was Blanche of Castile." She of course powned the lot of them by the end. Blanche was Richard the Lionheart's niece and Phillip Augustus' daughter in law and it was interesting for the light it shed on Phillip's family and life post Richard. My favorite story from it is that when Louis VIII, while still the Dauphin, was captured in England a messenger rushed to Phillip for help. Now Phillip had few sympathetic qualities, even his staunchest admirers would probably admit that, but he loved his children. However he had disapproved of Louis' attempts to invade England and claim the throne in Blanche's name as he thought it was futile once John was dead and the barons rallied around Henry III. Phillip demanded of the messenger 'Does William Marshall still live?" When told that the Marshall did indeed still live Phillip replied "Well then I have no need to fear for my son's safety." He didn't send help and Louis was released in due course unharmed. I just love that even Phillip acknowledged the awesomeness of Will!