I usually do not really suffer with jet-lag but this trip it has really hit me hard. Possibly it is because I started a new contract the day after we returned home? I have had to nap or at least rest a bit each afternoon as I have not been sleeping well at night, I have been dreaming lots but do not really remember the dreams.
On Tuesday night we were woken by the pounding of rain on the aluminium roof of our house. Norm and I were both out of it on Wednesday as a result of our intermittent sleep the previous night. The rain was on and off all day which at least kept it cooler. Vanessa came to do my pedicure Wednesday afternoon. After time in the freezing cold of Georgia, my feet looked like the hooves of those mountain goats who can cling to what appears to be nothing, but is probably dead hoof skin sticking to the rocks.
After Vanessa left I was outside waiting on Norman to get home and Blue kitty was sitting on my lap. I was looking at the beautiful mountain and the changing lights and shadows and thinking how lucky I am. I felt overwhelmed by gratitude. I list the reasons I am grateful every morning and give thanks for them all, but sometimes you just get that warm feeling of contentment that washes over you.
On Thursday a work colleague who is over from France came to visit before he flew back home. It was interesting to hear about his life and how things are going. We have known each other a long time and gotten into lots of trouble together! We have also delivered some great projects together, we are both a bit mad but very focused when at work. Neither of us suffer fools and we had the ability to tell each other off then go for a coffee 5 minutes later. When he arrived I had 4 day dirty hair, and was wearing pajamas and an old cardigan. He is that kind of friend.
This week has been full of drama and chaos in our little village. There was a fire in Hangberg on the other side of the bay from our home. There was a flood in Donse Yahke, very near where we live. A pipe at the reservoir has burst and water was pouring into and through people’s homes in the township. There was a person struck down by a motorbike. There was a motorbike and a car collision very near our house and a second serious collision on the road into the bay. I could hear the sounds of the sirens all week.
Fire trucks were used to quickly contain the fire on the ground.
And there were helicopters over the bay dropping water on the fires from our various reservoirs.
The week ended in a lovely way. My friend Tamlyn came for dinner last night. We ordered dinner for delivery from Papino’s and it was delicious. I ordered a 200gram fillet steak with salad, Tamlyn ordered a burger with veggies and then we shared the veg and salad between us. It was just gorgeous sitting outside under the setting sun eating dinner.
I want to review a few films I saw on the flights, I wanted to add these last week but my site was acting up and I was too tired to deal with it.
First, I want to discuss ‘It Ends With Us‘. I hesitated over whether I could bear to watch this film as the theme is domestic violence against women. Sometimes the triggers from this type of storyline are too much for me. There has been such controversy over this film, from the original press which branded Blake Lively (who plays the lead character ‘Lily’) as very dismissive of domestic violence and rather cavalier about the subject. It was then discovered that the cast were contractually obligated to promote the film as a story of ‘hope’. Then there is the fighting and lawsuits between the actors. I am not rehashing all of that, just google it.
Lily was from a life of upper class comfort filled with secrecy around the violence in her childhood home. Her father abused her mother and nearly beat her first love Atlas to death. The movie commences with the death of her father. After the funeral Lily meets Ryle (played by Justin Baldoni). Lily has dreams of opening a quirky flower shop and does so in Boston. She randomly meets a girl who becomes her assistant and the new girl’s brother pops in and it turns out to be Ryle again. We are supposed to be breathless and titillated at the chemistry between them. I did not see the chemistry, I saw mistrust in Blake’s eyes and hunger in Justin’s.
After decades of lost contact, Lily rediscovers Atlas, played by Brandon Sklenar. Unfortunately this meeting happened after her marriage to Ryle. One thing in the story line that I was not so fond of was that Lily needed a man to rescue her from the first man? Lily had access to funds and I just found it all so trite. It was superficial and fluffy and lacking in the grit which should be found in this story line.
I give this film 3 Kitten Stars ⭐⭐⭐and that is being generous.
The other film was ‘Speak No Evil‘ which is a psychological thriller starring James McAvoy. I had no clue what this was about but I love James as an actor so I gave it a try.
It stars Mackenzie Davis as Louise, the mother of Agnes (played by Alix West Lefler) and wife of Ben (played by Scoot McNairy). Is it just me or does the name Scoot McNairy sound like something a 14 year old boy would make up?
Louise and Ben are having some marital difficulties because of job changes and electronic flirtations between Louise and some dad at Agnes’ school. The family have recently emigrated from the US to London and while taking advantage of the cheap flights to Europe, had met an outrageous couple called Paddy (played by James) and Ciara (played by Aisling Franciosi) and their son Ant (played by Dan Hough) who were staying at the same Italian hotel. The couple said that Ant could not speak due to a birth defect. The families got on so well that Paddy invites the other family to visit them in the west country.
The accents were all over the place in this film. Most Americans will not notice, but Paddy’s accent drifts from Scottish to English to west country, never staying long in one place or another. Despite this, I really thought it was a good storyline. It kept my interest and gave me a few jumps.
Speak No Evil is a bit like The White Lotus and Cape Fear had a spliced up film baby. If you have never seen the 1991 remake of Cape Fear with Robert DeNiro then you must do so. He was amazing in it!! But warning, his character is rather raw and terrifying. If you only know Robert as the elder version of his career, watch this film to understand why he is considered such an amazing actor, his portrayal of Max is brilliant. It also stars Nick Nolte, Juliette Lewis and Jessica Lange.
It shows DeNiro’s raw sexual energy and domination (which would probably be considered assault these days).
Then the darker side of Max where Sam (Nick Nolte) hires a group of thugs to beat up Max but Max proves too much for them.
It is a classic which should be watched (at night, in the dark).
I have lots to look forward to. I am babysitting my granddaughter this afternoon, I get to take home our little Poppy the Pomeranian puppy next Friday the 24th, then Lily and Amelia arrive on the 29th. We will exchange gifts then and do a little mini-holiday dinner for us all that weekend.
I have also just joined a new women’s group which I am looking forward to attending later this month.
2025 is going to be a good year, I feel it in my bones 💜I hope yours will be as well.
Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxoxoxo
Kitten in the City 