Bits and Pieces Post Today ....

Hi everyone.  Yesterday dawned with a lovely blue sky and warm (well, warm-ish!) sunshine, so off I went for a walk with a friend.  As we were walking along, it actually got quite hot - and this towards the end of January, here in England!  It was a real pleasure to see the snowdrops and irises poking through the gardens that we were walking through.  Before we know it, there will be banks of golden daffodils to please the eye.  There is even a solitary primrose in amongst the snowdrops.



I would just like to say how proud I am at the moment of my 'gawgus' number 1 daughter.  On Monday, she arranged a special fund-raising lunch in aid of Breast Cancer with a group of her friends over in Paris, with people donating prizes for the raffle.  I am delighted to announce that they raised the magnificent sum of 1,492 Euros.  Well done Emma and friends!

This particular charity is very close to her heart, after her very best friend (and Eleanor's godmother) was very ill indeed last year with Breast Cancer and this only a couple of months after having her first baby.  It was a very traumatic time all round.  I have to say that her friend, Kelly, was an absolute diamond throughout and an inspiration to all around her.  After months of gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by a masectomy, we are all very hopeful for the future.

Last evening I went to see my fourth film of the month.  Not bad, eh?!  This time  it was W.E., which was written, produced and directed by the one and only Madonna.

This is a difficult one! (to talk about - NOT the film!).   Of course, because of the era (the 1930's), the costumes were wonderful.  I don't know if any of you ever saw the film Julie and Julia, starring that wonderful actress again, Meryl Streep.  It was filmed a bit like that, in that you had flashbacks of the events happening around the time of the King's Abdication, and then a modern story going on at the same time, with the two main female leads interacting with each other at times, which was very clever.  I thought the actress who played Wallis was very good, BUT  the actor playing Edward, (David) Duke of Windsor, niggled at me all the way through the film really.  For a start, he was far, far too tall.  I believe the Duke was fairly small and, certainly, the Duke and Duchess were about the same height.  But even setting that aside, to be honest, I didn't think his acting was very good at all. 

This was a shame because I think Madonna created the story very well indeed and, of course, a lot of it is taken from the actual letters between Wallis and Edward (David).  I watched an interview with Madonna last week and her intention was to show the other side of the story.  In other words, we all know what the Duke gave up for her (a throne!) but what did she give up for him?  In actual fact, quite a lot and, of course, at the time she was the most reviled woman around for what she did.  Looking back, I think this was a bit unfair because all her letters to the Duke, right up to the time of the Abdication Speech, were begging him not to give up his throne. 

Anyway, if you are thinking of going along to see it, I think you will enjoy it.  Oh! There are a couple of scenes of violence against women.  Just thought I would put this in as an afterthought.

Two of my dear bloggy friends, Desiree and SkippyMom are grieving at the moment because they both lost their beloved pet dogs, Bonnie and Scooby, within a couple of days of each other.  Please hold them in your thoughts and prayers my friends.  As you can see, they were beautiful dogs.  The first photo is of Bonnie and the second one of Scooby.