End of year roundup...
Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes regarding the drippy, sneezy cold that Eldest Cee shared with me. I'm hoping that today is the worst day, so we officially declared a 'duvet day' and watched the ABC Murders reboot with John Malkovich. Did we enjoy it? Overall I'm going to say no because I do understand artistic licence to change a story from the written page onto the small screen, and thank goodness they didn't change whodunnit. However...
Why oh why do we have to have a new 'origin' story for Poirot. Why did Japp have to die? Where was Hastings (yes, he's in the written story). Why so DARK..... this is not a light hearted story, but it's not all doom and gloom and has enough twists in the original story line to keep someone trying to figure out what is going on and red herrings abound. I don't understand why they have to add a load of stuff which I didn't feel added anything to the story at all. *sigh* I'm sorry Mr Malkovich - you can't speak French with a Belgian accent either...
Having said that the atmosphere of the time was impecable, the costumes excellent and time appropriate and Rupert Grint did OK.
Don't think we'll be bothering with any more of these adaptations...
At the end of each year I do a 40 question meme and this year won't be any different as I like how it's a good way to reflect on the past events. Under the cut for those not interested.
- What did you do in 2018 that you'd never done before? I set up an Etsy store which has grown slowly over the year and I've made small profits and covered my costs (v. important!).
- Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Still don't do resolutions. I don't really have a plan for this coming year.
- Did anyone close to you give birth? No
- Did anyone close to you die? Tiger the cat - I still occasionally expect to see him around my feet.
- What countries did you visit? No holiday this year as we were hanging around waiting to help Eldest Cee with his flat move which all fell through at the 11th hour.
- What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018? I really want a proper holiday where I get away somewhere.
- What date from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 24th February - my first sale on my Etsy shop.
- What was your biggest achievement of the year? Dancing on a professional stage with my belly dance girls.
- What was your biggest failure? Not having a holiday.
- Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious.
- Whose behaviour merited celebration? Eldest Cee for putting up with the vendor of his previous flat and keeping his temper over the fraught months he was trying to buy the flat.
- Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? Politicians and politics....
- Where did most of your money go? Well this is embarrassing, the same place as last year, buying glass to make things and lots of sparkly stuff for belly dancing.
- What did you get really, really, really excited about? Etsy sales. I still get a little buzz when I see someone wants my stuff. Also the new electric car which I still love.
- What song will always remind you of 2018? The Pussycat Dolls 'Buttons' which was our group show dance this year.
- Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? I'm a pretty happy person. ii. thinner or fatter? Much thinner. iii. richer or poorer? About the same - we bought a new car so that was expensive, but we could afford it.
- What do you wish you'd done more of? Travel. We went to a lot of belly dance shows and I enjoyed staying away for a couple of those, but I'd have liked to have had a proper holiday. Maybe this year.
- What do you wish you'd done less of? Sitting at home.
- How did you spend Christmas? With immediate family and we saw some close friends.
- What LJ users did you meet? Well of course there was writerconuk this year which was lovely. I haven't seen Lj friends as often as I would have liked, but I did FINALLY meet frenchani in person in London and we had a fun time.
- Did you fall in love in 2019? Always in love with Mr Cee :)
- How many one-night stands? No, no and no.
- What were your favourite TV programmes? The Great British Bake Off still comes out on top. I've enjoyed Liam Bakes (although that boy will end up with diabetes after all the sugary stuff he makes!) and Nadia's shows are fun.
- Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't do hate really.
- What was the best book you read? I can't say just one. I'm currently reading a novel by Anton du Beke (from Strictly Come Dancing) who surprisingly can write well and I'm enjoying the story.
- What was your greatest musical discovery? I don't think I had one this year.
- What did you want and get? I got a stand and stool for my electric keyboard for Christmas which means I can now sit and play the piano without balancing it on an unsuitable surface.
- What did you want and not get? A holiday, we did go out with friends a lot and enjoyed that, but I need to get away somewhere properly.
- What was your favourite film of this year? I really enjoyed Black Panther and Avengers Infinity Wars. Can't choose between those. I really enjoyed the Screen Unseen showings too.
- What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 59. Holy crap!! Youngest Cee and GF can round for lunch which was nice.
- What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My year has been pretty good really.
- How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018? Comfy or incredibly glizzy and glittery. There was no in between LOL!
- What kept you sane? Mr Cee as always.
- Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Doesn't really apply...
- What political issue stirred you the most? That most ridiculous thing - Brexit. It's just such a mess.....
- Who did you miss? Tiger cat.
- Who was the best new person you met? I met a couple of nice people at belly dance shows who were lovely.
- Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018: That if I try and do stuff I usually can and I should!
- Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?, Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very fright'ning me! (Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro magnifico..." Which was being analysed by some dons from one of the universities on a programme about the song on the TV. It was hilarious and so silly - it means NOTHING! It sounds good..... :)
RIght - I'm going to have a hot shower to try and clear my sinuses and then have some dinner. I'm hungry! 🤧