le Da Vinci code

Monday night when we got back from the pictures, I saw that The Da Vinci code was on Sky movies so as there was sod all on anywhere else I watched it.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and more important still how I actually managed to follow it. It was slated when it first came out and I thought it would be way too complicated but I didn't think so. Maybe I am just too easily pleased but I could watch it again if there was nothing on. Of course I guessed that Sophie would be the person they were looking for all along but there were twists in play that I didn't see coming.

I thought Tom Hanks was good and although yeah he was a bit wooden on places, maybe that was just his interpretation of the character...dull scientist author geek type person.

If there were an award for Man of the Match in a movie then I guess that one goes to Paul Bettany in this one. He was amazing in a totally different part to that which he usually plays.

You know who is back!

Tonight we finally got to see number 5 in the illustrious series of Harry Potter movies. Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix.

I haven't bothered with the books as I know I can't do them justice but I do look forward to the films coming out. This one was most anticipated and sees a more mature, a more adult Harry not to mention his 2 trusty sidekicks. I mentioned to the children on the way home that Ron and Hermione should have their own spin-off. Either a TV show or series of movies or even a cartoon show. Ron and Hermione fighting crime with their powers of Wizardry...in fact I might write to JK and tell her of my ideas. I might be lucky like Mr Vernon or not so lucky like Mr Comedy Dave.

Back to the film. I really enjoyed it. I know it is supposed to be for kids but there is a lot there for us grown ups too. And the much anticipated snog between Harry and Cho was very well done. I thought it would be a little peck but It seemed to last forever. It really just did go on and on. Personally I have always longed for harry and Hermione to get together but I guess her heart belongs to Ron...
If I had the actual money I would go see it again. However there are more movies we want to see this summer and we have not the money or the time.

Pride Videos

Still getting used to my new phone. I took a couple of video clips on Saturday and I am really pleased how they turned out.



This is Drag queen Amber doing Do a Deer onstage at the Beer tent.



This is a random Drag queen dancing at the Niche bar tent.

I just love Drag artists...I don't know why, they just fascinate me

Out and about at Nottingham Pride

No before I go on this isn't my coming out post lol

Saturday July 28th was Nottingham Pride. Brian asked me weeks ago if I wanted to go down with the kids so I thought it would be a good day out.

It was a long day as we had to leave here at 9.30am to get the train but we could relax when we got to Bri's flat and when Tim & Al arrived Brian treated us to a glass of Champagne each - Even the children had a little taste.

We arrived at the event about 12ish and had a look around the many different stalls. There were lots of stalls selling anything from tee-shirts, jewelry as well as more adult items.
There were also information stalls giving away info on health issues, education, politics. There was a council stall with a big board where they wanted feedback on what people wanted more of to support the LGBT community. DS filled in a little star saying there should be more awareness in schools. He got a back pack full of goodies including a mug and a mousemat, pens and info about the council.

We made our way to the Beer tent where there was also a stage and a disco dj-ed by Amber and Sapphire 2 drag artists in the most gorgeous dresses. I only managed to get a picture of Amber as Sapphire was behind the decks for most of the time we were there.

There were a few drag acts wandering around wearing some incredible outfits and i must say the biggest heels I have ever seen. I am a woman and I could never wear the heels that these men wear. We took a walk to the bandstand area and found a place to sit while everyone got some food. On the bandstand at that time was a young singer songwriter who sounded very good.

Something I noticed (That you can't actually see on the photo) is that there was a signer for the deaf signing in front of the bandstand. I thought that was an excellent idea and all live gigs should have signers.
The next performer was Pippa Fulton who sadly is still getting gigs off of the back of her appearance in Fame Academy 2002. She did a good hi-energy set with lots of dancing.

After everyone had eaten and Bri's friend Jules arrived, we carried on walking around the park to look at a few more of the sideshows.




It was a very long day and by 5pm we were all exhausted with aching legs and feet. Plus both Brian and I seemed to have caught the sun. I as usual got burned on my head, face and arms. I never remember to take protection...

I will upload the videos tomorrow as I seem to be having a few technical difficulties.

Shopping in the holidays

Basically it is a nightmare trying to go about your normal business in the school hols.
1 bonus these days is that my children are old enough for me not to have to drag them round with me. Only a shame that the rest of the population can't leave their kids at home. You have to weave in and out of whining kids and risk getting run over by pushchairs and those stupid Westfield car things. The shops are all 3 times as busy and the buses too.

I remember the days when I had to drag my 2 round. It was a nightmare because I was used to going off at my own speed but you had to be aware all the time of whether the children were still there and I couldn't just go zooming off through the crowds. I don't understand why anyone would want to traipse round the shops with teenagers in tow, all they do is moan...

School's out for Summer

So it's the big 6 weeks holiday and it's all going well so far. The routine is all out the window and the children are more or less going to bed the same time as me.

Monday I had to take DS to town to get his glasses fixed but after that I ended up home alone as DD was at her friend's house and DS was over the road. I guess that will be mostly the way things will go this summer but I do have a few plans as long as the weather holds up!

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Carnival Time

Saturday was Derby Carnival. Only as usual I had no idea until I actually heard it going down the road.
So I nipped out to the shop to have a look at the parade. The batteries in my camera were dead so I had to rely on my phone for some pics...

End of term - End of an era

Tonight was the End of term / Summer concert at school.
As usual DS would be playing in the Steel band as well as playing a solo and a duet on the clarinet.

It was also a very special night as the music teacher would be leaving at the end of the term and everyone was very emotional about it. Mr Cheer has been at the school for 4 years and before he came along there wasn't very much of a music program let alone the Steel Band which has brought so much notoriety to the school.


The program of events for the evening was pretty much the same as always starting with the Steel band and then all the solo performances including Piano, Cornet, guitar,violin and this year a couple of solo vocal performances. and then the usual choir performance. Then at half time we had a 20 minute break where the pupils all got to take a drink and speak to their families.



In the second half we got another performance from the steel band as well as a great performance from the junior steel band and DS played a Clarinet solo - You are my Sunshine.



He also did a duet - Oh Suzanna - which I imagine was very hard as they were playing in Harmonies.



The show went overtime this year as there was a longer program than usual and because there was a presentation to the departing member of staff and the obligatory speeches that went with it.
It was way past 10pm when we got home but it was a very enjoyable evening and a great tribute to Mr Cheer who has done so much for the school!

New faces

Today I took myself out of my comfort zone.
A member of the local freecycle group was having a make-up party at her home and invited other members of Freecycle along. I wasn't really interested in the make-up as I don't wear it much unless I am going to an event but I thought I would take the plunge and go along.

For me it was a big accomplishment to get on a bus and go somewhere I have never been before and visit the house of a stranger. Of course I wittered on about it, pacing about the house beforehand trying to think of reasons why I shouldn't go. I willed for it to rain so that I could use that as my excuse. However at 10am I was waiting for the bus to Littleover.

OK so I got to the house and after the initial walking in and saying hi, it was relatively good. I was the only person there without children and that was interesting as I could just sit back and take no responsibility for the screaming and crying and fighting and tantrums. All the children were under 5 so you can imagine it was very hectic. The hostess has a 1 year old who is very clingy and was also 7 months pregnant, I don't know how she was managing but she didn't stop the whole time.

I declined the makeover but it was interesting to watch someone else have their make-up done and it looked very good at the end. I couldn't really afford to buy anything from the party. I only really went for the company and the getting out of the house but as there were only 2 other people there, I sort of felt obliged to buy something and ended up with a £10 mascara for which the hostess is coming round for the money at the weekend.

I only just managed to miss the rain (And the bus) coming home so by the time I got back about 2pm I was knackered and hungry.

Been busy

I have (Again) Totally re-vamped my website. It has a nicer look to it now and is less clumsy.
I have uploaded it although I have lots more work to do. I want to add so much more to the TV section as well as the movie section. I am going to put together some Wallpaper and icon downloads to go with all my content and I also have planned a puzzles page with some lovely DT/ Doctor Who jigsaw puzzles.

http://jembie.co.nr

Don't forget to bookmark it ;)

Keep a weather eye on the horizon

The highlight of the weekend for me was our trip to the pictures on Sunday to see Pirates of the Caribbean - At Worlds end.
We saw the first 2 movies at the cinema and we have left it as late as possible to see this one but I thought we better go before it gets ousted. They are down to 2 showings a day now and in the smallest theatre in the complex.

Sunday afternoon we made it nice and early for the 2.35pm showing and we thought we had the whole theatre to ourselves but people were still coming in 20 minutes into the film. Now I ask you, what is the point in that??



The film was brilliant. I was a bit worried about the fact that it is 3 hours long but I really honestly didn't notice it. It had a lot of bad reviews and James King from Radio 1 said it had no plot but I think that it all depends on how much you are into the whole thing as there was a lot of plot there for me to follow.

I would still say that the 2nd movie was the best but I wouldn't have missed out seeing At World's end. Its funny how we went full circle with Jack though. The first time he appeared in the first movie he was in that little dinghy and that's exactly how he went sailing off in the end.

Oh Yes, we stayed right through the credits at the end along with about 6 other people to see the very last scene which answered my question and leaves it open if they do want to do a 4th movie or even start a new generation trilogy.

Bloody Friday 13th

(Today would have been my 16th wedding anniversary)

Usually it doesn't make a difference what day it is, I have never seen Friday 13th feel as bad before. I guess it was my fault, I should just have stayed inside.

I had a Cafepress order to collect from the post office (With £12 to pay customs) and I didn't want to wait.

I caught the bus into town first so I could nip to Gamestation and get the PSP game that DD wanted. Although it was absolutely throwing it down I managed to walk up to the post office near the train station.

Something I found out while waiting for my parcel was that there was actually a postal delivery strike on so there were a lot of people the other side of the counter. This meant that the wait wasn't long. I wasn't aware though that there had been any publicity about the strike - No wonder my photos didn't arrive in time to send to my Nan.

I got out of the office and realised that the number 40 bus goes that way into town. I thought I could get on it and go all the way round and get off at home. -That would be a no then! I was told I wasn't allowed to go all the way. I had to pay 90p, get off at the bottom of town, walk up to the top of town get on and pay 90p again. SO I had no choice really. I may as well have just walked all the way home as I was soaked through anyway. If the box wasn't so awkward to carry I would have done.

I got home 2 hours later, soaked through to the skin, shivering from the wetness yet sweating because I was so hot.

The saving grace from the the whole thing is that the 2 items I ordered came out brilliantly.

My Pillow

My shirt...errr should look like this...

Piccies from Pride Park stadium

Just a few pictures that I took while we had a little wander round the stadium.

Pride in my children

Tuesday night was the school presentation evening.
This year we were in for a treat as it was to be held at Pride Park stadium in the very illustrious Toyota suite.
As always DS was playing in the band so we had to get there a little earlier. I ordered a taxi for 5pm as I knew the traffic would be bad so the usual 10 mins journey could take anything up to half an hour. I wasn't far wrong. We zipped through town and got caught up on Bradshaw way and then Traffic st for what felt like hours. Then up Pride park way was easy until we got to Egg and then it took 10 minutes to travel about 100yds to the stadium.

We were the first to arrive but it wasn't long before the rest of the band started to arrive.
One of the girls came with her parents and as they didn't want to sit around, they asked me if I wanted to go for a drink with them. I jumped at the chance, not for the drink but for the chance to hang out with some other adults for a change and to get to know some other parents which I haven't had the chance to do since my 2 went to that school.
We couldn't go in the BBG as there was a kids party on so we walked round to the JJB complex which has a sports bar. I have never been there before so that was an experience. We sat down and chatted for about half an hour before we started walking back up to the stadium.

When we got inside, the band were playing and people were already queueing up the stairs. I found DD and we got ourselves a seat.

There was lots of speeches to start and the head told a story about Charles schultz who drew the Peanuts cartoons

Then it was onto the presentations. As always with these things it was just like a conveyer belt. Names were called pretty fast and the children would troop upto the stage, get their awards and sit down again. It was in in alphabetical order in order of year.
1 ludicrous thing they have done this year though is move all the children up a year in June. so although technically DS is still in yr 8, he was in the yr 9 list...very confusing - Especially for me!


Once the official proceedings were over, it was pretty casual and there was a chance for everyone to sit outside and take in the magnificence of the stadium. Everyone was taking pictures of their children in front of the pitch and it was a lovely informal end to the night.
I sat chatting to the couple from earlier and they were trying to work out where they sit and were telling me about their trip to Wembley for the play-off final (I wasn't jealous one bit...)

I called a taxi home and we arrived back about 8pm after getting ourselves some chips for a late tea.

1 more outing for the term will be the Summer concert next week, then we are all done for another year.

Pussy loves DT too

After watching LA without a map last night, I played it again this afternoon so I could screencap it.
I left the laptop in the corner playing the film while I worked on the main computer.
I happened to turn round and notice my cat Pica sat on the sofa looking over in the direction of the laptop. Sure enough he seemed to be watching the film. Of course I didn't have my camera handy and I thought by the time I got it, he would stop. Nope, I fetched my camera ands still his eyes were a-fixed on the film.
Guess what? no batteries, so I went and got some fresh batteries and still he didn't move his eyes away.

I took these pictures over the space of about half an hour.

LA without a map

Last night I watched LA without a map.


Just in case you haven't heard of it. David Tennant stars as Richard, a hapless Undertaker from Bradford who has a chance meeting with American wannabe actress Barbara in a graveyard.
He falls for her instantly and once she has flown back he ups and attempts to follow he to LA.

I am not going to spoil the film for anyone who wants to see it still but I have to say, I saw a new side to the acting talents of DT. Scotland's answer to Hugh Grant?
I have read a few bad reviews of this movie but I thought it was wonderful. I especially loved the cameo from Johnny Depp as Richard's poster boy conscience.


And then later on he meets Johnny in a graveyard and shares chicken with him


I will just share a few caps form the film with you as I have 10,000 of them...




Blimey I could go on and on but don't want to give too much away you know.

Brand new DVDs Squee!

I have been a member of Valued Opinions for a couple of years now. Every so often they send you a survey to fill out and it can be worth anything between 20p and £2 (usually)
So you can save up until you have £5 or more then you can apply for payment in vouchers. I opt for HMV vouchers because then I can really treat myself.

I have been saving for ages and finally got up to £20. I was really excited when my vouchers came the other day. In the past I have used the vouchers for pressies.

I went to HMV to see what I can get for my £20. They are having a sale at the moment with otems for as little as £3. I spent ages going round and round the shop looking at every single shelf and every single sale item. In the end I decided on 2 DVDs worth £15. Instead of getting something from the sale that I have seen already seen I got 2 films I always wanted to see but didn't.

Little miss sunshine and 24hr Party People (starring John Simm)

Experimenting with food

For ages I have wanted to experiment with cooking.
Every week I have been watching Gordon Ramsay's F word and desperate to try out one of his recipes. Especially the Fast food recipes that are only supposed to take about 15 minutes.

Friday I bit the bullet and told the kids I am going to try one of Gordon's pasta recipes. Knowing that they love Pasta so this should be an easy one for them to try.

I didn't do it exactly like the recipe. I missed out the chili and the pepper and I didn't have olive oil so used normal sunflower oil. (Have you seen the price of olive oil??)

It actually turned out very nice. I put a bit too much cream in though so it took me a bit longer as I tried to reduce the cream off a bit.

The verdict of the children was that they loved it. DD didn't like the Prawns but gave a thumbs up for the rest.

Might try another GR recipe next Friday.

Setting targets and making plans

Thursday was Target setting day at school so that meant a lie-in and a long walk up to school.

I don't know why but I have always felt intimidated going along to teacher/parent meetings. I know it is only so that I can keep informed of my children's progress but I never know what to say to the teachers. I feel like it is me who should be responsible for everything that my child does in school and me that should be punished if the4y are not doing well.
OK it is me but I encourage my children as much as I can at home, Once they get to school it is down to them.

So because of my uneasiness with meeting the teachers I usually just make an appointment with the form tutors. DD's Form tutor is fantastic anyway. Having known him now for 4 years I feel comfortable and I know that he has all the information I need. He knows all of his pupils really well and even though he has had a bad couple of years in the way of illnesses and hasn't been there a lot, he still has a lot more to tell me than DS's form tutor who is absolutely useless. Luckily this time, she wasn't available to speak to so DD's form tutor even said he would find out for me what DS's progress is and send me the information. That is what I call a dedicated teacher.

So what did we learn?
DD still refuses to wear her shoes in school and forgets her tie once or twice but she is on course for good grades in all her subjects and provided she applies in good time should get on the courses she wants after Yr 11 with no problems!

Harry Potter Order of the Pheonix - UK Premier

Not like I am a HP geek or anything like that but I have just been looking at the Photos from the Premier and thought I would blog about it.

Don't David and Sophia make a gorgeous couple?


It hardly seems a few months since the very first Potter movie came out but haven't those 3 young stars grown up and blossomed into 3 very good looking adults.





I actually can't wait to see the movie and will most likely go with the kids sometime in the summer hols.

Concert for Diana

Anyone who knows me really well, will know how I was a big fan of The Princess.
I remember the day Charles and Diana got married. It was my sister's first birthday. It was glorious weather. My mum was inside making Strawberry Jam and I was outside sat on the sun lounger with the portable telly watching the wedding whilst my little sis frolicked in the paddling pool.
I remember the day Diana died too. I got up on a Sunday morning with the children and put Nickelodeon on and there was nothing but news ticker reporting the death of our Princess. I immediately turned over to the news channels and stood gobsmacked as the story unfolded.
Of course I also sat and watched the whole funeral on the TV and sobbed my heart out. I think there was still a lot of emotion inside me though as it was only 3 years since my own mum had died. I saw those boys being so strong and knew what they were going through.

So when asked if I would be watching the concert I said that I would watch Take That and Duran Duran but would probably flick though the rest as the archive stuff and the interviews with the Princes would probably upset me too much.
Well I did indeed watch it from the very start, and as expected I was bawling within a half hour but I couldn't bring myself to change channels.

Duran Duran were Amazing! SLB has so still got it. I think I fancy him all over again.


They started with Sunrise and then dedicated Wild boys to the Princes. They finished the set with Rio as they had been asked.

I was amazed at how good Lily Allen was. She is only little and I wondered if she wouldn't lose it on the huge Wembley stage in front of 60,000+ but she really stepped up and was fantastic. She sang LDN and Smile.


There was many many great acts and some not so good. I did flick through Pharrell and Kanye and Nelly Furtado. There were also appearances by Anastacia and Fergie (Who mimed!!) Joss Stone and Natasha Bedingfield.

I was just waiting out time though for Take That.
I kept thinking maybe they weren't going to be on after all. On 2 occasions Theakston and Winkleman announced Take That. Both times they were wrong. It was Tom Jones and Rod Stewart respectively. In fact I almost missed TT as I had switched over to ITV for the final episode of Talk to me (With Max Beesley) Lukily though we flicked over in the ads and saw Take That perform Patience and Back for Good.



Unfortunately I missed Ricky Gervais though.

I did enjoy Any dream will do with the ultimate Josephs - Donny Osmond and Jason Donovan (Where was Phil??) and even though I didn't watch ADWD I thought the winner of that was good too. That gave me a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

There was a surprise appearance by Will Young..Well a surprise to me anyhow. He did a short interview with Cotton wearing a hideous pink shirt and then appeared onstage later to do just 1 song :(



I daresay that the whole thing will be out in a box set anytime soon so I will have to save my pennies up for that.

I have to mention how amazing the Princes were in the whole thing. It was brilliant to see them in the Royal box bopping away unashamedly. Although on 2 occasions Harry was refusing to sway and wave his arms, both times he gave in to the delight of the crowd.


There has been a lot of questions asked of the Royal family the last few years and they have suffered a lot of criticism but if these 2 young Princes William and Harry are the future of our monarchy then things are looking up. 1 of the most marvellous things that Diana ever did for this country was her 2 sons despite their father.