The One Thing That's Cheaper

Pretty much everything is more expensive here. I went to see the new movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age last night and the box office offered me a choice of seats that cost £12.50, £13.50 or £16.50. Of course I picked the lowest tier and tried not to do the currency conversion because of the guilt. However the other day in the grocery store I found one thing that is actually cheaper. Clementines!

Saturday Night Entertainment

One benefit of having time on my hands is that I have time to wander on the weekends. It’s how I accidentally got a ticket to a sold-out screening of I’m Not There at the London Film Festival. I was walking through Leicester Square last Saturday evening and saw some people standing behind a barrier in front of one of the Odeon theatres. I thought, what the heck, I’ll see what’s happening. I quickly learned that Christian Bale was going to be walking down the red carpet in front of the theatre since he is a star of the film. Again, I thought what the heck, I want to see Batman so I kept standing there. Soon a man came up to me and asked me if I was waiting for a return ticket. I asked him what he meant and he said that for the film festival screenings, so many tickets are allotted to the press. But if the press has already seen a film, they will turn their tickets back in and these tickets will be sold at the door. I thought, what the heck, yes I’ll wait in line to see if I can get a ticket and I did. It was funny, when Christian Bale turned up (looking sloppy but handsome), the crowd behind the barrier got totally nuts, pushing, taking pictures, and trying to get closer. I heard several in the crowd say things like, “Who is he again?” It just goes to show that people can get caught up in the moment and not even know why.

The director, Todd Haynes, and another star, Ben Whishaw introduced the film with Christian Bale. They also came on stage after the screening for a Q&A. Interestingly enough, it was obvious that they had not sat through the screening because when it was time for the Q&A, the moderator said that the director and others were having traffic issues getting back to the theatre. I was able to stick around for the why did you make this film question, which I was curious to know, but needed to get out early to catch my train.

As for the film, if you need a linear story line, this is not the film for you. I enjoyed it because it was very different, but I don’t know if I would watch it again. The most amazing person in the film is Cate Blanchett, playing a man, a persona based on Bob Dylan.

A Nice Surprise

I was a little disappointed with my trip to Salisbury so I exited the train in London and began just walking the streets trying to decide whether I should have some dinner or just head back to my little village. Just then, I noticed this poster that directed me to walk down the adjacent street to a photography exhibit at a local gallery where Bruce Springsteen was the subject. I walked in and the exhibit spanned from about 1972 all the way up to about 2005 and all of the pictures were black and white. Some were concert photos and some were behind the scenes pictures.

I have never seen Bruce Springsteen in concert but my friend J in New Jersey once sent me some beautiful pics he had taken when he was covering one of his shows. Everyone that I know who has seen him says it is an incredible experience. Since moving here, because of lack of funds, transportation, and being without my buddy K, I haven’t seen many concerts and I miss it. Because of my love of the live show, I thought the concert pictures were really moving. The photographer had taken pictures from behind Bruce on stage so you could see the reaction of the audience. Some of them looked like they were experiencing the greatest moment of their life. The gallery was such a nice surprise.

Autumn in Salisbury

Salisbury

As I mentioned early on in this blog, some of my dear friends at work got me a BritRail pass, so last Saturday I decided to use the first day and go down to Salisbury. What’s in Salisbury? Well, it’s the train stop where you can get the bus to Stonehenge, which I did not do since the family wants to see that. There is a cathedral and the regular shops. It was really gloomy and rainy when I got off the train which probably coloured my perception of Salisbury. I did not stay too long before I got a train back to London. I did see some pretty fall foliage and I finished Ian McEwan’s Atonement on the train ride back.

Autumn in London

Pity Party

Recently my boss and I went out to view parts of Hertfordshire and the schools. I really liked a few of the areas and it gave me a different perspective since I have spent most of my time in Buckinghamshire. Of course when I have inquired at the schools that were good they are all oversubscribed which means I now have to contact the Hertfordshire Education Authority to find out what the options are if we move to an area we like with an oversubscribed school. Like all parents, I want A to have the best educational experience she can have. But while I am doing all I can to find her the best, she has chosen to slack off and withdraw at her current school.

Yes, I have neat things to do on the weekends but I’m also navigating new waters at work, some not as good as others. It’s hard not having a support base here during this process. However, I know that H doesn’t have it easy, throwing (or giving away) our American lives and dealing with the hormones and the attitude of a twelve year old girl. It is very hard to be here when there are discipline issues going on at home. It’s part of the move that hasn’t been a walk in the park.

I am trying to think of the positive.
1. Soon we will be back together as a family and we will appreciate each other more than some do who take advantage of seeing one another every day.
2. I have a boss with a great sense of humor and also cares about people. It makes a difference in tough times.
3. And due to the chilly weather, L put flannel sheets on my little bed.