Ratatouille- Le Festin

Veggie Hubby and I have been married for a year today, our first year of marriage has whizzed by. To celebrate, we're off to Paris tomorrow. We watched Ratatouille last night, the second time we have seen it. I didn't notice when I first saw it at the cinema, but the music is also beautiful, & I like that it's in French even if I can't understand it without reading the lyrics.

Feel-good Friday

I've noticed that other blogs have 'Feel Good Fridays' with music videos. I considered being different and blogging about 'Musical Mondays,' but it's Friday night and I'm in the mood for music. Here is my favourite song of the week, Gabriella Cilmi's 'Sweet about me.' I always listen to the radio whilst driving (ie. a lot!) and I love it when this song comes on. I actually like most songs that play, I think listening to a song so many times makes you familiar with it and love it, even if it isn't the kind of music that you would normally listen to.

Bank holiday weekend

Saturday - Veggie Hubby and I watched Eurovision, and had particular fun as a) We had some really nice tapas with it including Quorn picnic eggs (which are new and very yummy) stuffed vine leaves and nachos and b) We very sadly scored each entry using the BBC score card, for song, performance and dance routine. This resulted in some terrible entries scoring quite well because of having a dance routine, and funny costumes. My favourite entries this year were Armenia, Greece, Denmark and the Latvian pirates. I wasn't that impressed with the winner, Russia.

I wasn't expecting the UK to do well and surprise, surprise they came joint last. I think they did badly obviousbly because of the politics, but also because Andy performed early on (the recency effect: it is always an advantage to be later on, Russia were the penultimate act so were remembered more) and his song just wasn't that exciting. I do think politics ruins Eurovision, but it is still cheesy fun.

Sunday - Went to visit my sister. We played with her little gerbils, who move around very quickly, and scare Veggie Hubby, which is funny. He didn't even like watching me holding them. We also went out for a meal in a pub which was disappointing because they seemed to run out of everything. I chose my meal for the garlic bread, but when I got it, there was no sign of any garlic bread. Veggie Hubby complained for me, and they said they didn't have any, but could give me a slice of bread instead, so I got a slightly stale slice of white bread. Veggie Hubby had ordered a roast dinner, but the turkey he got was the smallest slice of turkey I had ever seen! It was practically vegetarian.

Bank Holiday Monday - It is such a miserable, rainy bank holiday weekend. We went to the supermarket, and got oily filling up my car tyres with air as they were very flat.

Tuesday - I get an extra 'discretionary' day off tomorrow. I shall spend it going to a new shopping centre, and buying some new clothes hopefully. Also, there is a new cinema too, so we'll go and see the new Indiana Jones movie. The thought of it bores me, but VH is very keen to go as Cate Blanchett is in it....

Passing time whilst commuting

When I commuted into work in London, I travelled in by train. This was a 1.5 hour journey each way. I initially just sat doing nothing, but before long I started reading to pass the time. I really enjoyed reading all of the free London papers. I think newspapers are often the best to read on a train journey as you can dip in and out of them, and it doesn't matter too much if someone is distracting. It was also useful that there was a library right next to my work place, and despite being small it was the best library I have ever used, as it stocked such a range of new books. I suppose I could have bought an iPod or MP3 player, but I preferred to read. Being silent seemed to fit in with the mentality of people commuting into London; I have never been on such quiet trains.

Now I am driving to and from work everyday on a 45 minute commute either way, and this will get longer next week when the schools re-open after the holidays. At first I was driving doing nothing else, and concentrating on the driving as it was a new route, but before long I felt confident enough to start listening to music. When driving, in general I prefer listening to easy to listen to music, nothing too upbeat but rather music that relaxes me, that isn't too distracting. At the moment, I enjoy listening to albums by James Blunt, and Duffy which I bought last week. Today I bought Take That's album so I will be listening to that this week. If I am not careful I will end up buying an album every week! I don't feel too guilty, but see buying albums for my commute a bit like buying lunch, an essential part of working life.

Another Veggie Carrie...

I just googled Veggie Carrie, and realised that I am not the only Veggie Carrie in town. There is another, famous Veggie Carrie that I didn't think about, Carrie Underwood, winner of American Idol 4 (2005). She has also won PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian twice; in 2005 and in 2007.

I had completely forgotten about her, as country music isn't big here like it is in the US, so (as far as I am aware) she hasn't broken into the UK market. Also, I never even realised that she was a vegetarian in the first place. She isn't quite as I remember her on American Idol; now she looks more like a barbie-doll, and less like the girl-next-door (not that I ever watched American Idol much, but it can sometimes be hard to avoid). It is amazing how some of these reality TV stars suddenly start looking all glamorous, polished and professional as they move away from their humble roots; it is difficult to believe that they once started off on reality TV. Anyway, I'm listening to some of Carrie Underwood's songs as I'm typing this. I think they're nice enough in a bland way, but not particularly memorable. Nevertheless, I like her, as she is a vegetarian named Carrie, reason enough?