Last weekend Pete and I headed out on an adventure. As it's only an hour from Paddington, Pete and I decided to get our Network Railcards out headed in a totally different direction to Oxford.
When we visit somewhere new, Pete and I don't really plan things and spend most of our time discovering what we can about a place as we wander around. We ended up at the covered market, the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodelian Library before continuing to our walk to the Museum of Natural History and back into the centre to visit the Museum of History of Science. Oxford is a great city just to wander around.
The city is extremely picturesque and a great place to go if you're into photography. There were several guided tours too and if we had more than a day there we would have definitely gone on one. Don’t expect to get phone signal though, so if you rely on Google Maps on your phone, be careful.
We had a great day in Oxford and will definitely be back again in the future. Check out this gallery for more pictures: http://bit.ly/1jkgREA
I was introduced to KERB last year when I visited one of their monthly markets at UCLU with some of my workmates, it was great to find out that there was an organisation bringing together the best foodie stalls in London. (Their markets happen at different locations around London, so check out their site to find our year nearest.) I had been planning to visit their market at the Gherkin, but was gutted to see that the City of London had closed it down (Check out this article for more details).
Over the summer, KERB have been holding a series of weekend markets and a couple of weekends ago, Pete and I headed to the last KERB Saturday event at Granary Square near Kings Cross.
The square itself is worthy of a visit if you are in the area, especially as it currently is wrapped in a stunning art installation by Swiss artist Felice Varini and houses some great coffee shops, restaurants and the University of the Arts London (Central Saint Martins).
When we arrived, the square was filled with a huge variety of stalls and vans to please any foodie and a big crowd of people who were stuffing their faces with the great food on offer. After wandering around, trying to decide what to eat, we settled for a devilled pork roll from the guys at What the Dickens? and washed it down with two gin cocktails as it was the weekend. Both feeling rather full, we started to stroll around the square itself and explore the Granary Square site. The whole development is massive and it’s amazing to see it change so much since I was last here in 2012 when I did my evening photography course at University of the Arts London (Central St. Martins).
As we started to crave something sweet, we head back for more food and settled on two delicious coffees from Beanstalk Coffee and hot doughnut bits covered in cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce and crushed Oreos from the team at You Doughnut! I can’t really explain how orgasmic they were! After munching on our sweet treats and watching the world go by, we both left the event with a huge grin on our faces and stomachs full of food.
If you are a foodie, I would suggest following KERB to see what events they are up to. Or if you are at a loose end one weekend, head up to Kings Cross and explore the area.
So, some of you might have noticed that I haven’t posted a new Bond reviews for a while. This isn’t because I’ve got bored with the world’s favourite British spy, it’s my own fault.
The last two months have been pretty big for me personally. I’ve left one job, started a new one and I’ve got Pete moving in this weekend (see my last post here). Unfortunately, this has meant that I haven’t had the spare time or brain power to watch the next Bond and write a review.
But fear not, Bond will return in September with Live and Let Die.
Phase 1 of my life in the flat will be drawing to a close very soon. After being here on my own for nearly 6 months, it’s time welcome Pete into my home and let the place become our home. I do love living on my own, but I am looking forward to having someone to come home to every (most) nights. Before the flat takes on the radical transformation from being a home for one into a home for two, I thought it would be worth reflecting on what I did to make this place my home. Buying a new build has had it’s ups and downs. Downs being lots of little problems that need to be fixed and little things getting rectified by the original builders. Not to mention the massive problems I (and other residents) have been having with the communal hot water system. The system has had some massive problems over the last 6 months. These problems though are to be expected with a new build. Hopefully everything will be fixed and all residents can get on with their everyday lives. On the up side, I’ve got a huge blank canvas to stamp my identity on. I’ve always loved looking at interior design and used to spend loads of time flicking through the Ikea catalogue as soon as it hit my parents doormat. I used to watch Changing Rooms, Home Front (both versions) and Grand Designs to be inspired by what I could achieve. So, when this blank canvas got handed to me I had to take a step back and make sure that all of my ideas didn’t come spilling out at once. I’ve dreamed of this from a very young age as my parents refused to let me decorate my childhood and teenage bedrooms. When I was 15 and I ended up with a dark blue and yellow bedroom (I blame the late 90’s). This has made me very cautious about doing anything too drastic in my new flat. But, I know for some this can be a bit of a daunting task, so here are a few tips that have helped me along the way. 1 - Keep everything simple
The furniture I chose was very clean, simple and relatively inexpensive. Doing this means that everything you chose can go with it. I’ve always loved a vintage look, but doing a style like this is expensive and takes time to find the right pieces. Once you start on a very stylised path, you can’t really go back. The only strong pattern I have is on the curtains in the living room and cushions on the sofa, which means that I can change it when I need to. 2 - Pick an accent colour
Even before I moved in I knew that the key colour in my flat was going to be green. Once I knew this, I built the rest of the flat around it. Choosing very simple furniture to go with it. My sofa is green, I have a green rug, tea towels, green lamp shades in the hall, green bedspread and even a green watering can. By only using it on a few things means that If you don’t like it after a few years you can always change it. That is also the good thing about Ikea sofas, you can always buy new covers. 3 - Don’t put anything on the walls
This pains Pete, but I haven’t hung any of my pictures on the wall yet. In most new builds they say not to decorate or put things on the walls for the first year. This is so you let the building settle and can get the builder to fix things if cracks appear. I also know that as soon as I put in the first nail, that’s it. I have lots of things leant against walls (very Carrie Bradshaw in her apartment in Sex and City) and am prone to move paintings around until I have decided on the perfect location. 4 - Let things develop and leave space
When I put together my first furniture list I tried to include everything I could. I would've needed a huge budget to buy everything I wanted. So, I sat down and took non essential items off the list and I’m so glad that I did. I have consciously left myself space in rooms, and a few extra pennies, to buy more furniture if and when I need it. Also, if I change my mind and start moving things around, it won’t be an issue. 5 - Treat it as your home, not a show home
It’s great to flick through a magazine and see beautiful homes. But, most of the time they look very soulless. Don’t be afraid to put up and show what you want. It’s your home and no one else's. For me, this means that I have my Daleks, Lego figures and Superman figures on show. I haven’t hidden them away. Make sure you have space to show your stuff. So just to show you what I’ve done, here are a few pictures of my flat. The before and after. A few spaces, such as the hall and the 2nd bedroom are still in development. This will happen over time. Phase 2 (as I like to call it) is already planned so I will show you more when it happens.
What advice do you have? Have you just moved into your first place. Tell me more in the comments below.
To me, Sean Connery plays a great Bond in the majority of his films for the franchise. His cheeky smile, charm and white make you fall in love with a man who you know is going to break your heart. His fight sequences are great and he really brought Bond to life.
He was lucky enough to start so many Bond legacies that have echoed through all of the 22 films over the past 50 years.
Even though his Bond was more of a womanizer, he will always be one of my favourite Bonds.
Each of his Bond films built on the other and they weren’t afraid to try things out. You could tell that the directors got more confident with the character over time.
So, here are my favourite Sean Connery films in order:
1 - Goldfinger - With Pussy Galore and my favourite villian we are lead on one great Bond Adventure. I gave it 9/10 - Read my review here: http://bit.ly/17Daqtg
2 - You Only Live Twice - A great end to Sean Connery’s Bond and a great Bond film where East meets West. Will “Little Nelly” and ninjas, what could go wrong? I gave this film 8/10 - check out my review here: http://bit.ly/ZRBV0h
3 - Doctor No - The film that started a 22 film franchise that has lasted over 50 years. if you really want to find out the origins of the modern Bond. This is one to watch. I gave it 8/10. Check out my review here: http://bit.ly/16ucJNF
4 - Thunderball - Even with the epic voice of Mr Tom Jones singing the theme song, I found it hard to get on with this Bond. Even though he had a jetpack and fought off the villain in an underwater fight scene. This was not one of my favorites, I gave it 5/10. Check out my thoughts on it here: http://bit.ly/ZJdG30
5 - From Russia with Love - From great start with Dr. No, you can tell this is the Bond where they tried something different. It was more of a serious spy thriller than a Bond for me. I gave it 4/10. Check out my thoughts here: http://bit.ly/10NUnni
6 - Diamonds are Forever - It’s great to see Sean back after the brief stint from Geroge Lazenby. For me, it might an echo of Goldfinger, but it lacked so much for me. I gave it 3/10: Read my review here: http://bit.ly/19ixLRV
What do you think? What would your order be? Let me know in the comments below.
There might be a few spoilers in this review... you have been warned.
After the disappointment of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and finding out that Diamonds are Forever marks the return of Sean Connery, I had high expectations for this film.
Unfortunately I was left disappointed.
The 70’s had started to hit Sean Connery in this film. With his longer hair, bushy eyebrows and more relaxed dress sense, Sean had definitely lost his sparkle. Even when he seduces a woman, it still feels like he is not really there. Maybe he should have finished off his run with You Only Live Twice.
Even the Bond girl didn’t save this film. I can’t even remember her name so I’m not even going to mention her. On the other hand, Miss Moneypenny was back on form and who could forget the name of “Plenty O’Toole” the saucy mare.
The only saving grace for this film were the villains. Even though Blofeld has been used alot in the last few Bonds, each actor has played the roll slightly differently. Charles Gray has to be my favourite Blofeld. He is interesting and a little bit crazy, but not too weird, even when he is dressed as a women.
I would have loved to see more of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd. Their double act saves the film in so many ways and I was more interested to see how they were involved in the story. Unfortunately you never really find out.
As you can tell, I really didn’t enjoy this Bond. It was great to see Sean Connery back, but I think it’s time for next chapter.
I give this film 3/10 What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.
It’s very hard to take over the very iconic role of James Bond following the brilliant acting of Sean Connery. George lacked a lot of the charm and the sparkle that Sean brought to the role. His love scenes seemed very flat and he looked a bit dead behind the eyes. His fight scenes were quite impressive, and this was one of things that got him the role.
For me, this film was trying so hard to be the new Bond, to move it on from where previous films had left the character. Showing Bond fall in love and then to see his new wife die before his eyes was a hard thing to watch and very different to how we have seen Bond before.
I might be quite biased as I have just watched Diana Rigg in The Avengers as the amazing Mrs Emma Peel, in Doctor Who as the evil Victorian villain and Game of Thrones as the forthright grandmother. I would say that she was a brilliant Bond girl. She was action packed, intelligent and beautiful. She gives Honor Blackman in Goldfinger a run for her money, in my honest opinion.
Another big difference in this film is the portrayal of Blofeld. In You Only Live Twice, he comes across as the crazy, evil villain. In this film, he seems a lot more sophisticated and clever. His new lair in the Alpes is very special, but not as spectacular as his previous places.
To be honest, I wasn’t really impressed by this Bond and am not surprised that George didn’t come back for a second. He actually quit the role just before this film premiered. The overall film feels very slow to me and not one that I will be revisiting again soon. The story is ok, and the honey trap scenes in Blofeld's Alipine HQ are fun. The action sequences are very well done, and the ski chase is impressive, but not enough to save the film.
I’m going to give it 5/10.
What did you think? Is this actually your favourite Bond? Let me know if the comments below.
