Hazelnut Latte

Today we went to see Thor in 3D. It's good we packed our 3D glasses, because otherwise you have to pay for them - they're no longer free. I guess it's a way to protect the environment as you don't throw away things you buy, but at the same time it's another way for the cinema to make more money. I did like the movie, but I was expecting a little bit more. Natalie Portman's portrayal of a smart-woman-scientist wasn't convincing and the special effects were only OK. But it was good fun to see it and only cinema gives you this quality and 3D image, so it's worth to go - even if only for the experience.

Later, we had a lunch outside in the sun. The only good bits of the lunching was the sun, some ingredients in my salad and the fact that I was spending time with the Boyfriend. The place was awful and I swear my foot will never step there again. It was supposed to be a nice French-Italian bistro, but the staff was horrible and the food was overpriced. 

Clock at Trafalgar Square measures time till the Olymic Games 2012 begin in London.

After a short walk we ended up in the same spot as yesterday and I've finished Room by Emma Donoghue sitting on the same bench, where I started it 24 hours before. It was great to lay/sit in the sun and just enjoy free time. The book is great, but I don't want to write a review and spoil it for anyone, so I'll only say - read it - you won't regret it! I also tried Costa's Hazelnut Latte and it's divine. New addiction has found me!

Mesopotamia exhibition at British Museum and Meek's Cutoff

I had to get away today, so when the plans with Dom-dom did not work out, I knew I will go somewhere anyway. I was a little bit sad about Dom-dom to be honest, because I thought we're gonna have a fun day together, but I also understand that she flew in in the middle of Friday night from the work conference. 

I woke up really early and was tired, because I didn't sleep well. I'm stressing out about going home and seeing Mother. Sometimes it terrifies me so much, I am sick. The only way is to focus on something else. So I decided to go to British Museum and explore Mesopotamia's history. I was really hooked after reading some chapters in A Little History of the World and wanted to learn more. There were lots of people in the museum toady - typical for Saturday - but these particular rooms were practically empty. I walked for almost two hours there, read almost every little information card on the displays. I also ate lunch in the museum - I love sitting behind these long tables.

Later, I went to Blackwells and - of course - ended up with few more books. I am pretty excited about Room by Emma Donoghue and Tiger, tiger by Margaux Fragoso. I also went to Superdrug and got an amazing kohl crayon, some mascara and gold eyeliner. 

Because I don't like going to the cinema alone to watch violent and stressful movies, after checking on the website I've chosen to see Meek's Cutoff. The movie is not something you would expect (especially when you see the trailer). It's not typical Western, to my relief, because I detest Westerns. It tells a story of a group of settlers, who travel through the Oregon desert in 1845 and find themselves stranded in harsh conditions. Lost and with no water, they capture the Indian on the way and since then their only chance of survival is to trust the person, who doesn't understand them, just as they don't understand him. Because the scenes are really long and not only on the people, but also on unforgiving nature, I've felt like I was inside the movie. It totally deserves all the star ratings it has.

 

A Little History of the World by Ernst Gombrich

Ugh. So Boyfriend left and he's boarding the plane right this second. To be honest, I still can't believe that he left and I'm all alone until Monday. I have this feeling that he's gonna come home any minute from work and enter the room with huge smile on his face. I keep myself busy with cleaning, mini-at-home SPA and watching Jersey Shore. I also have plans to read The Slap and maybe some leftover Sunday Times magazines. 

Last week I've finished reading A Little History of the World by Ernst Gombrich. The book is fantastic, and starts with the enternal 'Once upon a time...'. The introduction is brilliant and interesting. The book starts slowly explains the history of the world and provides a great outline for both adults and children. It does tell a 'story' in such a way that encourages you to find out more. The only drawback for me was that I realized at the very end of the book that it was written over 50 years ago (I had no idea who Gombrich was, as far as I know, Boyfriend got him mistaken with Polish writer Wiktor Gombrowicz). Therefore, I disagree with some of his views - especially concerning modern history - World War I and II as well as the communism era. He focuses on the industrialization and the connection between machines and people in whole chapter, regrettably omitting USSR and Marxism. I was also disappointed not to have any information on communist China (even though there are few China chapters along the way) or Korea and Vietnam wars. So that's why towards the end of the book I got a feeling that he was bored with writing and wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible. A real shame, because I would gladly give this book 10/10.

Oranges and Sunshine with some books

I went to the cinema all by myself today. One time when we went to the movies together, Boyfriend didn't particularly like one of the trailers. I could see that it wasn't his type of the movie. I, on the other hand, was very eager to go. Because there's a lower price for the tickets from Monday to Thursday before 5pm, I decided to go today. The movie is called Oranges and Sunshine, has very good reviews in The Times and Time Out. It tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the forced migration of children from the United Kingdom. Almost singlehandedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. She discovered a secret that the British government had kept hidden for years: more than 130,000 children in care had been sent abroad to commonwealth countries, mainly Australia. Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead, and been sent to children's homes on the other side of the world. Many were subjected to appalling abuse. They were promised oranges and sunshine, they got hard labour and life in institutions. There were very people in the auditorium, but after the last scene everyone went silent and there were sniffs during the projection. The saddest thing is that it was completely hushed and only recently British and Australian governments had the decency to apologize.

I had a lovely lunch in at the Soho Square - just like last week. The weather is so perfect, the sun is shining and all the news are screaming that UK is hotter than the Mediterranean! I sat for more than hour with my Pret-a-Manger sandwich (with some mustard - I forgot how mustard tastes!), latte (again, mostly milk than coffee) and Time Out. I scouted few new interesting exhibitions and wrote them down in my little notepad. I was sitting back to the sun and my neck is now sunburnt. 

 

Because it's not in my style to be at Tottenham Court Road and not to go to the bookstores, I went to Blackwell's. They have "3 for 2" offer. Of course I bought three books: Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I'm looking forward to read them, they seem mucho interesting!

Smelling spring in the air

Today officially the spring has begun. You could smell it in the air - it was so sunny and warm. Just one of these perfect London days when you're happy and strangers actually smile at you on the streets. Some of them are already wearing flip-flops and short sleeves - that's what happens when the temperature reaches over 16 degrees. I truly hope that it's going to stay like that, because I want to go cycling over the weekend (even Dom-dom agreed to come!).

I went to the gym today and I was pretty let down when I stepped on the scales. It's just my stupid body resisting to any change even though I'm forcing it. I just have to survive. But it's really unfair when I think that I haven't eaten ANY chocolate or crisps for more than 3-4 weeks and although my stamina improved, I don't see the results.

Yesterday I sat and read One Day by David Nicholls. I was gripped by the story of two people who meet after their graduation and we follow their lives from then on to the same date every year. It's amazing how people change and yet remain the same. How their priorities and desires change over the years. This book helped me to put some things in perspective. I also talked to Dom-dom for over 2 hours today and she kept repeating the thing she always tells me - that in few years I'll forget about this period of not having job and just simply move on.

New books

To have some part in a celebration of the recent World Book Night on 5 March 2011 I purchased some books. There are now a lot of promotions in the bookstores linked to this event and I was able to buy a book for only £1!

One of the things I love is a smell of a new book, skimming through the pages and finally reading it for the first, second and third time. I remember when in High School one of my friends said that she only reads books once (!!!), because she doesn't see the need/point in reading them again. I was shocked and I still am. My whole childhood was founded on books and I couldn't live without them!

So now I'm really looking forward to reading these gems, especially because I read some fantastic reviews about them.

Scared of scales

Yesterday I've finally read a proper book. I am a true book-worm ever since Mother taught me to read when I was three. But because I'm not feeling good and this horrible depression I can't concentrate on anything and even reading was put aside. It is a book Polish written by Małgorzata Gutowska-Adamek "Cukiernia Pod Amorem". It is a story about the twisted and tangled family ties on within a space of a century. There are supposed to be two other tomes and I hope to read them soon. I'm not really fan of books like that, but I was surprised how interesting it was becoming with each chapter I read.

I also have a pile of magazines waiting for me to read them. I'm so bad - I usually buy and them forget or put it aside and never actually get down to read it. By the time I want tom there's new issue and I put it on top to make even bigger pile. I have weekend editiong of El País, Culture from The Sunday Times, Glamour, Stylist and Zest. 

Today I had a meeting with personal trainer Renata. She is extremely nice and easy to talk to. I had all the measurements taken and to be honest I am embarrassed. I don't know how I could have allowed for such enormity to happen... I really need to start taking care of myself in all areas of my life - psychologically and physically. I have two more sessions with her and then my 6 weeks membership expires (of which I didn't use much, because of my laziness and being sick), but I'm already planning to buy 4 months membership. I MUST exercise and diet or it's going to get even worse. I have never, ever weighted so much in my entire life and I had no idea it is even possible for me to weight that much (OK, I am exaggerating, but it was pretty bad when I stepped on scales). The worst thing is that I don't have energy and determination. I just have to find it in me.

So today is my first day of diet - I eat less, no sweets and fast foods, I drink plenty of water and I go to the gym 4-5 times a week. Easy to write and say, so much harder to actually do, but I have to keep trying. Almost one year ago I've survived TEN whole days without any food - just mixture of water, honey and lemon, so I know I have it somewhere inside me. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Yesterday we ventured to the outside world - finally - after all the illnesses, fevers and bad cough. I was so happy! We went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I am a MAJOR fan of the books. I got them as a Christmas present from my uncle when I was six years old. I was reading them all the time throughout the years and I love them! The books are pure magic. I am fortunate to have them in two big hardcover editions, which are sturdy and full of the coloured original illustrations. I remember that there was a time when I was reading all stories so often, that I've known them by heart. My personal favourite is The Horse and His Boy, which I have also in English, French and I also recently purchased one copy in Spanish - I am mad! But I know the story by heart, I know all the sentences and it's a good way to learn a language - to read something you know so well - only in a "slightly" different manner. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - the movie - was of course made in a Hollywood style. There were some over the top scenes, but in the end - I liked it. Of course, as a usual practice, they've altered the storyline and bended it for better filming, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be. I was really impressed by the fact that they've managed to actually insert a meaning into a movie - we can see the internal struggles of the characters and how they are giving in or how they are trying to fight with them. I was surprised by it, because the book differs in that respect - it's more about the journey, while the movie is about different journey - the one which takes you to the darkest places of your own mind and soul. So, now I am very interested in watching Black Swan.

Today I wanted to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (I am SO behind), but because Boyfriend has (so far) a mild attack of the kidney stones, we've stayed inside. I also wanted to see two exhibitions in the National Gallery, but this also had to be postponed for the next weekend.

Eat, Pray, Love

I started reading today one of my presents from Santa - book: "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I've heard about it long time ago, but never got a chance to actually buy it and read it. There is even the movie with Julia Roberts based on this book and as I always prefer to read first and watch later - I knew that I had to put the book on my Santa List. 

I haven't decided what to think... yet.

After reading the reviews in The Times and hearing Oprah saying that the book is "the bible for XXI century woman" I was expecting a lot. I think I expected a little too much and so far, the book is not really delivering. Maybe I am too young, maybe I don't understand. I think the fundamental issue is that I am not really fan of the author - I do not like her as a person she is. Of course, I will give her a chance (I still have 2/3 of book to read), but so far - it's not so good. The book reminds me a little bit (or maybe it's only the similar story) about another million-copies-sold bestseller: "Under the Tuscan Sun" written by Frances Mayes. I wonder what will happen to Elizabeth Gilbert when her journey takes her further. I hope she'll choose smart, because so far, for me, her portrait is a little bit of a spoiled brat.

Thing about the cinema

Today I'm not feeling very well, so since I came back from the WE I'm staying in bed and reading. I'm finishing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Then I want to read the last book in the series and finally go to the cinema and watch Deathly Hallows - Part 1. It's been such a long time when I was last watching a movie in the cinema. We used to go every week or sometimes twice a week - every time when there was something interesting. And now with all this money shortage we just stopped. I love going to the cinema - especially during the week and on weekend's mornings - when there is few people and quiet. There were few times when we actually were the only ones in the whole room! Boyfriend always buys something to drink and we sometimes share nachos or toffee popcorn - but most of the times I prefer nothing, because if only we have time - we're going for eat-fest and drink-fest to some nice restaurants. I have a feeling this weekend we may finally go out and watch something! I certainly hope so!