Another twist to this film is that there is second modern day story running through, of Walli, a New York housewife who is named after and obsessed with Mrs S to the point of visiting the Sotheby’s auction house daily when the former royal couple’s goods are finally for sale. Walli is (for some reason) married to a successful, abusive, philandering doctor who insists on her not working in the auction house but now refuses to have the child she is desperate for.

The film easily moves between the stories, one set in a 30s British royal household and the other in a well to do modern Manhattan  apartment and picks up on synergy between the two women; they are both child free yet broody and both abused by their first husbands. The gruesome beatings are incredibly hard to watch; I had to cover my eyes and we learn much later that Mrs S cannot bear children due to the abuse during her first marriage that meant losing an unborn child.

There are lots of chronicles running through; including, what I feel is the lesser story of the friendship that Walli strikes up with a Sotheby’s security guard when her marriage is crumbling. The one liners that come from Mrs S throughout are divine but it’s only towards the end that we really delve into her feelings about what she has lost in order to spend the rest of her life with Edward, much of it in exile.

Beautifully told and shot, the film has me gripped throughout and is utterly watchable.

8½/10 

Smile factor 910

I really must add a little thing about film critics – or rather those people who decide to see a film based purely on what one person has said about it. Someone – or hundreds of people have put their blood, sweat and tears – not to mention money – in making it. If you like the idea of the film, I suggest you go and make your own mind up rather than letting anyone influence your decision.

It’s time to get up! It’s time go to work! It’s time to put the great, back into Great Britain!

I’m not sure why people haven’t enjoyed this film – I loved it. It’s everything I would hope and more. The subject matter is Margaret Thatcher but this isn’t a political film as such, although of course if you’re featuring one of Britain’s most successful Prime Minister’s, politics is going to feature.

I for one was not a fan of Mrs T in her day but having watched this, I realise this was probably peer pressure as I was too immature to form my own opinion during her early years. Now, politics aside, I see what a phenomenal woman she is.

Meryl Streep turned on the Oscar-worthy performance as the film depicts the story through Lady T’s matured eyes looking back on memories. As such, her thoughts dart about and I believe this has been the films’ biggest criticism. As always, I have no need to read reviews so this is just what I have heard via Twitter and indeed the people I saw the film with.

The pearls are absolutely non-negotiable

The most impact is felt when scenes of how Lady T broke the mould in what was – as much as I detest this phrase – a man’s world; her first time walking into parliament, the above quote when her advisors ask her to lose the hats and basically tone down her femininity, the young Margaret being mesmerised by her grocer father giving a speech, first fighting to be elected and then there are some gorgeous scenes of her talking to her dead husband, Dennis, played exactly as you would expect by Jim Broadbent, although the film probably draws on that a little too much.

I dislike too much ‘positive discrimination’ in the job market but it really does help if the country is being run by an equal amount of men and women and although we are far away from that, I’m pretty sure Maggie opened the doors.

The supporting cast are, in equal parts, excellent and amusing (Richard E Grant as Michael Heseltine). The film isn’t in chronological order and nor does it cover all of the many news worthy moments in her reign, but it sure depicts the woman behind the politician. I cringed at Phyllida Lloyd’s directorial attempt of Mama Mia, where she manages to make one of my all time favourite bands/theatrical moments, Mama Mia, dismal but here I have my money’s worth.

8½/10

Smile factor 9/10 In the minority

Having been overwhelmed by the first one – it’s always hard to  read, let alone review when you know the author – I wondered if the follow up is going to be able to live up to it. As I’ve mentioned before, I would not have picked up The Hating Game had I not known the writer so it’s a blessing that I did.

WWW has me hooked once again. The niche again is using a modern phenomenon as the basis; last time reality TV, this time You Tube, and then building a cast of interesting characters around it.

Willow Watt has gone back from her promising florist career in London to her home village (“Britain’s Ugliest”) to look out for her widowed father, in the process also leaving behind a hopeful relationship. She finds her father’s business in financial difficulty and comes up with a money making idea as she sets about finding the £10K needed for the tax bill. Begrudgingly, Willow is filmed for a talent contest as a Marilyn Monroe lookalike and a ghostly figure appears which the world takes as a sign that our local florist has the movie star’s spirit in her. The new Marilyn is born.

Unfortunately for her, an unscrupulous agent is out to make money from her, as he has done in the past with fellow villager, former startlet, Cissy. The books’ supporting cast of the father, the down trodden Marilyn fan from small town America (who becomes fathers’ companion), her hairdresser best friend who befriends a sleb journalist and the ex-love of her life all make this book come to speedily to life.

Bringing in the elements of strong women business owners, love and the social media makes this a thoroughly modern read. It is the second time Ms Roland has made me put the book down early so I can relish looking forward to the closing chapters the next day.

Love it.

8½/10

Inspiration factor 10/10

On Amazon

It portrays the silent movie era exactly as I imagine; a bustling film industry full of wannabees, the small minority of which will move over from and ‘extra’ to ‘star.’ It’s on glamour overload but then I wasn’t expecting anyone to be wearing jeans & trainers (heavens!) and although I fell asleep for a few minutes in the opening sequences, it’s just because there is no talking and the music is so relaxing! After that, I’m gripped right up to the fairly obvious but still great ending.

It has lashings of charm, a helping of romance, a touch of drama and even a song a dance routine for our pleasure; what’s not to like?

I would have liked to see a new silent film set in more modern times rather than in the 1930s and I’m not sure if the makers can sustain another one but I’d give it watch if they do.

7½/10

Smile factor 9/10

It’s a standard albeit enjoyable flick with the usual spy-gadgets, impossibly glamorous spies in fast cars but with a few ridiculously dangerous stunts. The typical storyline is something like (I forget already) Ethan Hunt and his team are after a terrorist who has the codes for Russian (don’t they get fed up of always having to be the terrorists?) nuclear bombs but their first attempt ends in the Kremlin being blown up. Now the department that our hero worked for has closed so any missions ‘should he choose to accept’ are now dark, i.e. Ghost Protocol.

Cruise is supported by Jeremy Renner (who even I have heard of via the Hurt Locker) and Simon ‘boy done good’ Pegg. The stunts lived up to the hype and there are plenty of sequences to keep my brain from wondering although why anyone would choose to jump of the world’s tallest building is beyond me.

In all, an enjoyable but forgettable boys-with-their-toys film. Bring on 24; the Movie.

7½/10

Smile factor 8/10

I wish the rest of the world has the classy Christmas lights that we enjoyed on our street.

Saved the best till last, our last meal on the last day of 2012. Perfect.

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

One of our favourite coffee shops, close to our gorgeous Hotel Siena

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

According to the brief, the main character is addicted to sex and his life is turned upside down when his sister arrives to stay.

I took that to mean that at least 50% of the film will be about his sister helping his recovery; what actually happens is his sister is no help whatsoever, a night club singer with her own low self esteem demons to deal with. So 95% of the film is as dull as dishwater with intimate close up coverage of the addict’s daily (or more) conquests. I have no idea why every women he looked point blank at immediately rose from their seat, be it on a train or any other public place and then stripped off to have sex with him, wherever.

I’ve wondered if you could be addicted to sex – I feel it’s just a matter of willpower as it is with other addictions. As a child, we want everything as we don’t control when we may get it again, i.e. sweets and chocolate. As an adult, we realise we mustn’t behave like that as we will hurt others and ourselves.

In almost every scene at home he’s naked and we are (mis-) treated to close ups of his dangly private parts which let’s face it, are not that attractive but especially not on a large screen.

I didn’t feel the film dealt with his issues at all, rather just focussed on his desperate longing for sex and indeed pleasuring himself several times a day. After all, there is no damage to him as he appears to enjoy a lucrative career despite being away from his desk many times due to the above mentioned activities. This character made me feel uncomfortable as I wondered how far he may do – other than turn to prostitutes occasionally – to feed his addiction.

If it dealt with his addiction at all, the film may have been saved. Avoid unless you are a hormonal young boy – or girl for that matter. Just don’t get addicted.

0.5/10 – there were some nice home interiors to look at

Smile factor 0/10

Photos courtesy of @Timmy666

Yesterday, we drew attention to the rise in the number of start-ups in 2011. Unsurprisingly, the number of freelance workers has also gone up – quite a lot, in fact. According to research released by Kingston University in November last year, there were 12 per cent more freelancers in 2011 than in 2008, the start of the financial crisis – that’ll be a rise from 1.4 million to 1.56 million in three years.

EN contributor Rickie Josen is a freelance evangelist. In the second of her occasional musings on the joys of freelance life, she draws attention to all the things you can do when working alone that you can’t necessarily do when working for others. Read the article as published by Enterprise Nation here

Holmes & Watson are portrayed very well by Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law despite them appearing to be very much in the 21^st century via the theatre dressing up box. The support cast add a huge dose of humour but I didn’t get the wow factor I had when I left the cinema after watching the Sherlock Ritchie style Mark One.

Perhaps because that was Christmas day in snowy Montreal or maybe because it’s more of the same this time.

RDJ still plays Holmes more as an SAS trained action man rather than a be-suited detective but it’s good to see Stephen Fry play himself as his brother.

I’ve forgotten both story lines (saw this one 5 days ago!) but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy and will look forward to what I assume will be a third one in a couple of years.

7.5/10 (same as the last one)

Smile factor 8/10

Service

Service

From the minute I reach the website until I get out of the airport on the return journey, what I need is real customer service; where I can call on a normal number rather than having to have to listen to two minutes on a premium rate just to hear all the options. Or better still, an actual email address that reaches a person rather than an automated ‘we’ll get back to you when we can be bothered’ message. This is on top of the expected standards of politeness and courtesy of course.

Treats

One example is a delightful indulgence to eat while watching the movie, having eaten a decent meal earlier. I love the way Virgin always give old fashioned ice cream.

 Food

Lots of food – keep the options coming so I can choose when and what I want to eat.

On board drinks

Serve refreshments immediately we’re up in the air, or if there’s more than 20 minutes of waiting before we’re airborne.

Loyal points 

Or air miles, even if I book through a third party and for on-board purchases

Customer focused staff

Groomed, friendly and ready to help and greet customers like guests of the airline.

Discounts and additional services

For booking in advance, booking multiples flights and for airline loyalty

Ideally discounted or VIP treatment for insurance, hotels, theatre tickets etc

Seats

Choose our own seats for free and have somewhere under the seat to neatly place footwear. Have a warning light on the seat so person behind knows it’s about to move, like a reverse light. When it does go back, make it so the difference can be felt and it’s easier to fall asleep. To this end, we need a flap that comes out of the head-rest (rest?!) so the head can lean against it.

Refresh

A clean roomy bathroom with somewhere to place toiletries is a must and a mini hairdryer would be handy for 60 second touch ups.

A shower room (pay extra and possibly book in advance) including towels and toiletries will be a nice addition.

Socks, toothbrush/toothpaste and headphones are good as a basic requirement with each seat purchase as are decent blankets, pillows and reading material. A bottle of water will be very handy.

Entertainment

A variety of choice of music and films and an in-flight radio station

This is not a description of the perfect airline as then I’d want 30 minutes from check in to plane (need 20 minutes to mooch around shops), unlimited luggage that a porter will carry, no delays, drink & snack immediately upon boarding, fine food restaurant for main meal, a large armchair in a suite on my own with a cinema screen that I don’t need wear uncomfortable headphones for. Come to think of that some off that is available on business class – but a complete waste of money, I’d rather travel 3-4 times a year than pay that once a year.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4 – a handmade Christmas tree

I’m inspired firstly by Creative Open Workshops who taught me how to sew a tote bag in the summer and then by a birthday visit to Reykjavik where they appear to have a craft shop on every corner – possibly because it’s too cold to ever go outside. Having made the decision, I’m delighted to find when I come back that as well as Cow, Hannah Moreton is running several weekend Christmas decoration workshops.

Hannah’s workshops came along just at the right time as I was at the point of choosing which of the plethora of Martha Stewart Christmas books I was going to buy. It’s a shame we don’t seem to get the Martha Stewart programme over here which would pretty much sew Christmas up. However, here’s how my handmade theme has shaped up.

What I made with Hannah Week One

What I made at home part oneWhat I improvised at home

The start of the tree decoration

 

Well it isn’t really, it tackles the issues around getting the illness head on but the story is based on the Adams’ (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) relationship with his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen). It all focuses on Adam and how the people around him cope and react with the shock. His best friend’s main goal in life is to party hard & get laid, he doesn’t have a close relationship with his Mum (Anjelika Huston) and his Dad has Alzheimer’s. It’s inevitable he’ll grow closer to his Mum, helped in part by his shrink but not at ll by his cheating girlfriend who didn’t take the easy way out when offered. What we expect the film to focus on though is how his best friend will support him and the answer is better than the façade he puts on.

Cancer and comedy are not natural bed fellows and of course the whole time watching this movie I am thinking what if it happens to someone I love, although it already has, both ladies are doing well and being closely monitored and thankfully they hadn’t got to this advanced stage.

Well worth a watch as the movie is packed with humour and love even in the few gloomiest moments.

8/10

Smile factor 7/10

For someone who doesn’t drink tea and who thinks cake is an everyday essential, I still feel this refined British occasion between 3-5pm is a treat. In the last year, I have experienced the Afternoon Tea offerings of Hyatt Regency, Hotel Du Vin and most recently Mint Hotel. All have their good points, despite being very different in styles.

Hyatt Regency £19

I confess I have been here twice, firstly it was the second outing I ever organised for Out with the Girls (the first was a brunch) and then again for one of the girls’ birthdays. The first time was fantastic with the only imperfection they charged for every cup of tea (coffee) but they changed that when I asked; to pay for every little cup at Hyatt prices will mean more than double the cost of the meal. Secondly the price had gone up from what was on the website and what it was when I booked but again, they honoured the original price. That gives them a 9/10.

The Hyatt Regency, despite being extremely modern from the outside epitomises old school charm. The staff wouldn’t look out of place if they were frilly aprons and penguin suits and placed a bell for attention on each table. The food is exquisite in presentation and taste and now the coffee is bottomless, it’s as near perfect as you can get. Of course the sandwiches are sans crusts and cut in two bite portions as expected but the delightful mix of mini scones, bite size brownie cubes and creamy delights served on tiered cake trays is a slice of heaven arriving at your dreamy white linen draped table. 9½

 Hotel Du Vin £11

I wondered if Du Vin could pull it out of the tea cosy for almost half what the Hyatt charge. It’s an awful tag ‘boutique hotel’ but really, Du Vin is more traditional charm than the name suggests. I’d never even had a drink in the hotel bar (just in the pub or the conservatoire) so that fact they serve a delightful tea in a separate room of the bar is a find. We sat at a low square table surrounded by comfy sofas and chairs and watched dish after dish, pot after pot bought to us. It felt like high society in a bygone time. Nothing was too much trouble and the food and drink – no matter which tea – were in plentiful and ready supply.

Du Vin also wins out as they actually offer the cucumber sandwiches and the scones are soft enhanced by the perfect snowy cream. All the cakes were bite size temptations and a rest was needed before contemplating. There is nothing between these two other than price. It’s lovely to sit at a civilised table but it’s also lovely to take it in the drawing room, as it were. 9½ /10

City Inn, at the Mint Hotel £15

Both of these are hard acts to follow and the Mint is still at the aspiring stage. It’s modern so not my taste and perhaps that’s why I didn’t sit right in there but the scones were dry, the sandwiches weren’t exactly full, the cakes were dull (mini Victoria sandwich – big deal) and I had to ask very strongly (beg) for a pot of coffee whereas the tea came in a pot! The coffee did go cold in all three places and I think the only way to go is for staff to come round with top ups or have 1 cup cafetiere  that can be replaced with a fresh hot one.

We are also kept waiting despite being there on the dot; the people that came in after us got shown their table first and it would have been nice to have  a cosy table for two rather than be on the end of a long empty row. The meal needs work and I’m sure, knowing the staff there, they are striving to improve. 7/10

So where shall I go next?

Hyatt Regency

Mint Hotel

Hotel Du Vin

This year’s Christmas cinema visit (I don’t know of any other films that I’d want desperately to see but I  always try and see one festive offering) is for an animated tale of what happens in Santa’s North Pole in the 21^st century.  It is indeed a modern take as Santa now has a space ship and thousands of elves in the Christmas warehouse ensuring every child receives a gift.

Except this year, the system fails and one – just one – present falls of the conveyor and Arthur, Santa’s younger, hapless but caring son, takes it upon himself to get that present delivered. Fortunately, Granddad Santa is still around to steer him through the old fashioned way, using magic dust.

A no-nonsense Christmas film that is worth a watch to get you into the Christmas spirit, even if you’re past the age of seven.

7½/10

Smile factor 8½ /10

Urban flowers

On my actual birthday, I had the lovely treat of eating in the Tower Restaurant, whilst staying in the Tower Hotel, Lincoln. I’ve already reported the meal was amazing, one of the best I’ve had.

So when it comes to going to Purnells, with all its Michelin star glory, for my official birthday celebration, expectations are high. I’d already been there for my birthday last year and even when I booked it 8 weeks in advance, I had second thoughts as I that it could never eclipse the first experience.

It didn’t. In fact it didn’t match it. There’s nothing wrong with the food or the service this year but somehow it isn’t quite there. There are mutterings of certain foods being not quite perfect around the table, the service seems a touch arrogant compared to last year, I’m not sure if the fact that we were in the private room last year made a difference as we were treated like royalty then. Worst of all though, they didn’t explain that there was a set price for 3 courses so those of us who knew we couldn’t manage 3, opted for 2 but paid the same. I thought that was very presumptuous of them, given the ample opportunities to explain this to us during the ordering process. Why would anyone in their right mind only have 2 courses when they are paying for three – at Michelin star prices?

It’s a lovely meal, with even better company but both The Tower and Edmunds three weeks later easily eclipse Purnells.

Guinness cake, coffee made with love & flowers; the Urban birthday experience

Conversely, the next day is my Birthday Tea (coffee) in my regular Urban Coffee Co although last year was in the original Church Street, this year the newer Jewellery Quarter branch won out.

Urban, could not do enough; I walk in to see my ‘table’ laden with little pots of flowers, my favourite Guinness ‘birthday’ cake is on offer (not an Urban staple so bought in especially)  and there are already welcoming friends there. Quite an overwhelming but delightful afternoon.

The most thoughtful, handmade present

Enjoying good cake, coffee & company

Mathew Broderick

That’s all I need to know for that this movie to be at least half good and actually, Ben Stiller is not too bad in it.

Plus it’s set in a hotel apartment building – actually the Trump Tower at the bottom of Central Park in New York – and I love a good hotel scenario.

When Building Manager Josh (Stiller) finds out that the president of the building, Mr Shaw has swindled the staff out of their pensions with a Ponzi scheme (sound familiar?) he sets about getting their money back. The bank accounts are empty so he figures there must be a cash reserve in his apartment.

Shaw is under house arrest so Josh needs a team to help him work out how to get the cash. Enter the criminal (Murphy) who he has to first bail out of jail, the newly jobless Wall St genius (Broderick) who is being evicted from the building, Charlie (Casey Affleck) who is still employed on the inside and the fabulous Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe).

What’s not to like.

8/10

Smile factor 9.5/10 

All the time, the pair are fighting off the wicked Mr. Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who until know has had the Captain locked up whilst hi-jacking his ship.

How’s your thirst for adventure, Captain?

Throw in a couple of bumbling detectives and this animation is a fun packed, high-speed film with no room for boredom that for once lives up to the Spielberg hype. Oh, the star of the show, Snowy the dog.

8/10

Smile factor 9½/10

I nteresting - Weird, magical, quiet, quaint, contrasting, weird, empty, expensive, mountainous, cold, weird, Hell.

View from the hotel

Not really hell, but our driver took delight in taking us past Hekla, a volcano known as the gateway to Hell and where the expression ‘Oh heck’ comes from. Or ‘Oh Hekla,’ as I will say it from now on.

I couldn’t pronounce some of the street names so we renamed them for easy reference, the favourites being Slipknot (Skipholt) and Trigger Happy Street (Tryggvgata).

On a windy road trip

C old - I’ve been in colder places, i.e. Montreal in -16c and New York in sub-zero but this is a different kind of cold. Forecast actually says ‘3c but will feel like -3c’. The coldest but one of the most beautiful sights is the waterfall, Gullfuss. Because we are at the top looking down, the cold was biting and we are hit by shards of ice rather ran water splashes. I didn’t fancy going to the bottom of the waterfall but I figured I’ve already had that experience at Niagara Falls. The scenery though, is spectacular.

Because it’s cold, it would be nice to have a hot shower, right? Wrong. Once I’ve had a two minute morning shower, I cannot go back into the bathroom again if the water is running – the smell makes me nauseas, apparently because of the sulfate.

Because its cold, it will be nice to stay wrapped up in warm wintery clothes, right? No. I find myself in a swim suit in the open mountain air before wrapping myself in the famously warm Blue Lagoon water. A surreal experience to be outside in the freezing cold, in warm water amidst the snow topped mountains. It smells but not as much as in a small closed bathroom.

This ‘Golden Circle’ trip that apparently eight companies offer in Reykjavik is arguable the best decision of the week as we drink in so much that Iceland has to offer just by going an hour or so outside the capital.

 

E asy - Everywhere is quiet which means we can move around and get seats in any coffee shop we choose. I still don’t know where the capital city’s population is. All I imagine is Icelanders flying into Heathrow and hitting London. There’ll be more people in one carriage on their train

Reykjavik's Oxford Street mid-morning

Wireless in Reykjavik is plentiful and super fast. I imagine because there’s barely anyone in the city.

 L ove - The best thing about the trip is sharing it with someone who loves travel and exploring as much as I do.

A rea - Iceland is huge and along with the freezing temperatures is similar to Canada where a huge majority of the population live in a small chunk of the land. Both countries have vast open lands and some extreme temperatures. The difference is, the cities of Canada, have people moving about in them.

‘Reykjavik is vibrant city with active and energetic habitants’

Iceland Tours

 With a population of 320,000, we expect most of the population to be in the capitol city considering the majority of the country is volcanic or lava fields. Not so. For the first three days we see barely a soul on the main street and we look inside every coffee shop, restaurant, home and office window. Where are the people? Who runs this country? How do they make any money? Why don’t they commute? Why don’t they eat?

On the fourth day, we se more people, presumable as the temperature tripled to 9c. But we count more bods in the one carriage on the train from Gatwick home than we did in the week in Iceland.

N orthern - The most northern part of the world I have been to, previously this was Glasgow but Iceland has more mountains, more volcanoes, more lava fields and more film sets. It felt like we’ve landed in Mars and we have days of being in Star Trek, Total Recall (or was it all a dream?) and especially Lord of the Rings. On our amazing ‘Golden Circle’ day trip we visited Thingvellir National Park, where the General Assembly was first formed in 930. With its little streams, caves, valleys and mini foot bridges, I’m half expecting to bump into a little person. Alas, there is not a gold ring to be found.

Kaffitar

The coffee shops however, are excellent. What I read about people socialising over coffee or a beer in the evening is wonderfully true.

D ear - The most expensive place I’ve been to and I’ve been to Paris and indeed lived in London and New York. You know I don’t mind splashing out but I do seek value and £5 for a hot chocolate isn’t that. We had to stick to basics although being a closet vegetarian, I didn’t relish some of the local delicacies. I particularly didn’t enjoy seeing the whale and puffin meat restaurants advertised next to the whale watching tours.

What was great though was the lovely buffet breakfast supplied by our fantastic hotel, Foss Baron. We fill up on ‘make yourself waffles’ every kind of toast, cereal and lots more and then left with a bag of goodies for the road; such tourists. Even better we discover happy hour, or hours, 5-8 in Reykjavik, which means we can actually have a beer without eating into our budget for our next travel jaunt at Christmas.

Birthday flowers in Lincoln

This year, despite the big day falling on a Saturday, I’ve managed to stretch the celebrations to 10 days. I’m not a big drinker; my way of celebrating is through travel and fantastic experiences so first up, is a weekend in Lincoln.

My five year old tradition is to visit a new city for my birthday each year; San Francisco, Washington, Montreal, Milan and now Lincoln. Technically, I’m going to Reykjavik for my birthday but practically, it’s not possibly to fly till Monday and this way; I’m still waking up in an interesting new city on the actual day.

Lincoln is cute for a visit and although there are not enough coffee shops to keep me in coffee crawl mode ordinarily, the Tower Hotel is well worth the trip and if this scrumptious hotel at the top of the hill isn’t enough, its restaurant near blew  me away.

Birthday meal – Tower Restaurant

The starters look fantastic but knowing my ‘eat small chunks every two hours’ appetite, something has to give so it is straight onto the main course:  

Pan Seared Fillet of Silver Mullet, Cauliflower Puree, Parsley Mash, Caper Berry Dressing, Cauliflower and Pine Nut Fritter

 Everything about this collection of goodies oozes goodness, how can a dish not be good if it has mash and fritters?! I devour every morsel with my reasonably priced wine (I thought it was a typo) before moving on to one of the things I live for, dessert:

 Ricotta and Vanilla Cheesecake Lemon Meringue, Buerre Noisette Crumb, Coffee Puree, Orange and Cinnamon Sorbet

If I’ve ever tasted a better dessert, it’s beyond my memory.

The chefs have clearly placed secret ingredients in this as every intricate part of this dish exploded in my mouth like heavenly volcanoes.

The Coffee Puree tastes so lethal it’s like espresso they may have served in the prohibition era, the cheesecake – already my favourite food on the planet – has its faultlessly crumbly base served in bounders piled next to it, saves having to cut into it and Lemon Meringues are unlike any ever tasted on earth so clearly are from another planet. But this is before the explosive Orange and Cinnamon sorbet which is exactly what they serve in heaven.

Perfect.

The setting is lovely, if not the luxury of a regular fine dining restaurant. It has a busy bar in the next room but we didn’t

Three kinds of butter

hear anything from it and I found our lovely window seat a delight, despite looking out to the car park opposite. It’s brighter than an intimate setting found in Michelin’s but the staff and fellow diners next to us were chatty and friendly, not at all pretentious. I’ve just read through the entire menu and I could eat it all, even the Sunday Lunch which is the one meal I proudly make.

This is one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had and if it was in Birmingham, this will be a monthly treat, or perhaps more often. How is next week’s Michelin star’d Purnells, where I also ate last birthday, going to compete with this flawlessness?

9½/10

Tower Restaurant menu  Tower Hotel website

Amuse Bouche; Pea, ham & popcorn

The draw to this one is my little thing for American politics but The West Wing this isn’t. It’s slower, not as quick witted and less of a story in all its 101 minutes than the West Wing had in its short 60 minute segments. Clooney plays the Democrat running for Presidential candidacy and Gosling (again, he’s everywhere) his campaign manager who finds out something about his Boss he needs to smooth over but the press have already got hold of it; something about an intern with a powerful political figures as a father, blah blah blah.

It has a good cast; Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman brilliant in opposite political camps and the fantastic Marisa Tomei playing the only (NY Times) reporter who seems allowed in. Alas, I see it far too late in the evening and have to keep fidgeting in my seat just to stay away. All I’m saying is it should have done more.

7/10

Smile factor 5/10

Is the old work/life balance mantra is out of synch with today’s working environment? And surely if you love what you do, you want to do it as much as you can?

So why do we have to stop ‘working’ when the corporate world does to have this said balance?Unquestionably, laptops, smart phones and the internet mean we can squeeze in some tasks anytime, anyplace, so why don’t we take the pressure of ourselves and let our work fit around our chosen lifestyle?

Here are seven reasons why being a freelancer means never having to say you’re sorry:

1. Work when you want and where you want! As long as you’re not disturbing anyone else, there’s no need to feel guilty about getting the laptop out at 11pm to act on the evening’s emails, do some work related reading or plan for tomorrow’s meeting.

2. Plan your day to suit you. Fair enough you have to make phone calls at civilised times when the rest of the world is awake but if you want to go to the cinema when it’s (a little) quieter at 3pm on a Friday so be it.

3. Run the business from home. We live in a different time to when I started in business seven years ago; it’s acceptable and almost quirky to have a home based business, or run it from your shed or indeed the coffee shop, as I do.

4. Choose and vary your working environment There are many businesses where premises are unnecessary so if yours is one, choose wherever you want to work each day; coffee shops, business centres, hotels, on the beach or there’s always co-working at Jelly if you get fed up of our own company.

5. Only work on what pays. Remember if you were in the corporate world, a lot of your day is spent gossiping by the watercooler but as a freelancer you can make every minute count and earn money for you. Then you’ll have more free time for leisure pursuits. Or sleep.

6. Get some air! If the sun is bursting through your window, go out and enjoy it for an hour and whilst you’re at it, get some exercise. You can always catch up on the work after sundown. Enjoy the perks of being a freelancer.

7. Be social. Never feel guilty about being on Twitter (or your chosen) procrastination method. It’s your lifeline, your banter (indeed your watercooler moment!), your market research, your feedback and potentially your client base.

This one took a while to get into, despite it being as beautifully written.  I’m almost half way through when I realise that the author is writing about two different families, in different eras although I would have known that had I read the jacket first!

There’s two types of freedom, son.

The freedom to do what you want and the freedom to do what you should.

The story gives us the viewpoint of those men who endured ill-health and early demise to dig the tunnels beneath New York City so that the transportation we see today can be implemented. This is supplemented but the more modern story of those homeless – the forgotten society – who still make their homes underneath our pavements and the modern builders working on sky scrapers.

“The knowledge that he is the one who will pierce the virginity of

space where the steel hits the sky.”

 Because of my previous read, I read avidly to see where the generation connections may come; it’s a journey through history seeing what the successors know about their ancestors and how much has changed for them. The book centres on the racism that still exists in the early 20^th century and in particular around a rock solid mixed marriage and their children.

An excellent, literal look look at New York’s underground.

7½/10

Inspiration factor 7/10

So taking away from the fact that this bares little resemblance to historical facts – after all they have air ships doing battle in the skies and over usage of guns rather than just the traditional swords – this is fresh take on the children’s classic. The Musketeers are now at a loose end, with no cause to fight for, so are looking for action.

Its 105 minutes of escapism if you can bare the annoying use of slow motion in the fight scenes and the predictable script; I feel like I’ve heard it all before and then realise they are pillaging lines from films left right and centre.

Its The Musketeers meets Pirates, if you like that sort of thing.

7½/10

Smile factor 7½/10