Family Affairs

“SHAME” – NEW SINGLE BY ROBBIE WILLIAMS AND GARY BARLOW

Being a HUGE Robbie Williams fan – I have to say I’m very disappointed with the new single due to be released in October. It’s just the two of them crooning with some terrible lyrics. My daughter likes it though and maybe it’s a grower (as we used to say in the business) and I’ll like it more after a few more listenings).

This single is in advance of a new album coming out later in the year – which (call me an old cynic) will no doubt be a Greatest Hits album of all their old stuff, which is why Robbie is rumoured to be making only a brief come back for a mega tour next year.

The video helped though – quite funny in a Brokeback mountain sort of way:-

WHITLEY RIDGE HOTEL REVIEW – 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

We all had a lovely time together for my father’s 70th birthday celebrations although sadly he wasn’t able to join us for both evenings as it was all a bit too much for him after his recent operation. Must have been a nightmare for him to have to sit through a meal listening to [...]

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ELIZA DOOLITTLE – PACK UP

We like this song in our house. Who is the gravelly voiced singer?? Notice it’s got old lyrics “pack up your troubles in your old kit bag…..” Anyway. Cheery for a Thursday:-

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ARMEN’S CAFE, SOUTHAMPTON, ONTARIO

My lovely cousin in Canada has just written a review of one of her favourite places in the world:-
“Food is about trust, security, and feeling good about yourself and the world.
Armen Higgins understands that. After spending several years as a chef at some
of the culinary hot spots of the posh ski-resorts of Alberta [...]

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MARMADUKE MOVIE REVIEW 2010

Taken from the old newspaper comic strip, an entire movie has been created around “Marmaduke” – a teenage Great Dane. This was a tricky call from the start given that I’m not quite sure who the movie is aimed at – it appeared to me, looking at the audience that the people enjoying [...]

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UNICEF “PUT IT RIGHT” CAMPAIGN

Please help Unicef promote their new video for the “Put It Right” campaign. “Put it right” is a five year initiative by UNICEF UK to inspire action to protect the rights of children everywhere. As part of the video Radiohead contributed their “videotape” track:-

Please watch and pass it on.

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KARATE KID REVIEW 2010

Builder Bloke and I have just been to see the remake of “Karate Kid” with lots of kids. I thought it was brilliant and judging by the amount of children all leaping about attempting to high kick anything that would stand still long enough on the pavement at the end of the film, I wasn’t the only one. Beautiful cinematography filmed in Beijing kept me interested for the whole of the 2 hours and 20 minutes. Jaden Smith, albeit perhaps a little bit small for the role was surprisingly good. A real star in the making (perhaps not surprisingly), with well timed humour being an added bonus. Jackie Chan was brilliant as the maintenance man/Martial arts expert/role model/new age modern man complete with tears and much emotional damage.

The fight scenes were well filmed and exciting, as were the scenes with the bullies/baddies – both were at times violent, but at other times Jaden Smith managed to ooze fear simply by being near them.

I liked the China/Black America combination – and the messages were clear and strong. Stand up for yourself but do it with humility and respect. We can all get knocked down but you have a choice as to whether or not we get back up again (isn’t that a song?). It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. just do your best. The young American was taught about discipline, focus and control – “being still and doing nothing are two very different things” and in return he succeeded in injecting a little fun into his love interest’s ordered and strict regime and teaching his mentor a thing or two about perseverance and determination.

I thoroughly recommend it.

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