The Greatest Showman

This works well as an adaption of a musical rather than a film, as that’s what everyone really wants to see. It’s interesting that in this case, the film was made before the musical. It does seem odd that characters burst into song randomly, yet that melody could last an evening or a whole decade. Jackman exhibits his cuddlier to attract the female viewers, while others are made to marvel at the circus freaks, though it’s a shame that they weren’t given more screen time to develop as individual characters. We also focus on just one showman. It would have been an interesting angle to portray other showmen who would have to prove who is the greatest. But what I do like about the tale is that it encourages you to never give up on your dreams. The actions are inspirational to do whatever it takes to get to the top.

On yer Head

This little one’s had a great week. She’s got a brilliant pose to show that she’s at the top of her game. The only reason she joined was to prove that she could do better than her elder sister and her cousin, and it’s really given her confidence which will take her far in sport. She’s so proud of her achievement and her expression says it all. I hope that it was a presentation at the end of a training day rather than just handed out to her on the way home. I’m trying to work out what the creature on the certificate is. It could represent a lioness. I hope that the net behind her isn’t a real goal though, otherwise it’ll take ages for someone to score. Hopefully it’s just a target net and the black bar or paint line behind her is the real goal. She’s certainly joined a great team. I wonder who they’re playing?

Pride

What’s it all about? There’s a bit of confusion. Is it all to do with tolerance and understanding of other sexualities? Is it an excuse for a party? Or do you have to swear allegiance to a particular sexuality? It’s not always clear what’s going on. I was once on a pub crawl which coincided with a Pride Day, and we had proper shire people with us whose jaws just dropped when they saw what was happening on these event stages. It honestly looks like something off TV, people who just want to bring attention to themselves. They certainly glam themselves up to make them look like a larger-than-life character. It’s a shame that these groups have such a stronghold over the word, and that we can’t celebrate our community without rainbows being involved. It’s a minority group, but it’s so easy to be labelled as discriminatory if you’re not into it.

Who let that Tramp in? #ralphcourtgardens 19

So here I am, the author of these musings. Will I return to these gardens? I think there’s something for everyone and I wouldn’t mind another visit; if only for a bit of my favourite gardens and in the hope that others have been renewed or replaced. I wouldn’t like it to be too crowded though as you’d be restricted to where to go It’d be nice to think that the hedge behind me is a maze in progress with a viewpoint built in front of the pine tree. The gardens aren’t easy to get to though. You certainly need to make the time for the journey. I’d hope that the café would be a bit quieter to be able to sample some local food or have the opportunity to visit a local pub nearby. Hopefully I’ll have shaven by then, my hair won’t be in clumps, and my teeth will be a bit straighter.

Wowcher

I found a great gift for my mother’s birthday; an afternoon tea for two at a local luxury hotel. She could either invite me or take a friend along. I was a bit confused by the pricing and hadn’t used Wowcher in a while so I wasn’t  sure if I was signing up for a paid subscription as well. I also looked at booking it through the hotel’s website and although Wowcher was cheaper, I do believe that it’s not the saving that was initially advertised. The only downside with the e-mail gift is that the voucher that comes via email and could be a little more presentable to print out to give as a gift. There is a postal option to have the voucher printed and sent for you but the timescales aren’t clear and the cost increases. The voucher was easy to redeem and there were no problems checking in at the venue and I’m told that Mum and her friend had a wonderful time. 

Miniature Gardens #ralphcourtgardens 18

At first glance, I thought this was a miniature line of trees lining a paved path into a hedgerow.  Perhaps it was the entrance for a children’s maze. It’s the height of the fence next to it which is also confusing. There’s even  a building beyond that, but even that could be miniature. The only large building that I can remember being on site is the entrance and administration building. But I could  have also taken it from a height of a balcony overlooking the gardens from a café, but I don’t remember being that high up. Perhaps it is the work of a miniature garden in progress. Beyond the gap in the hedge is something in white. It could be a statue, but if it’s a person it’s difficult to picture them emerging through the gap. I like how the trees get taller from left to right, but again that could just be from my perspective.  

 

Pope thanks well-wishers as he records message in hospital

It’s nice that that the Pope acknowledges his followers of their well wishes to get well soon. But is it because they know him at a personal level or that they’re keen to see him get back up on his feet and continue the job? It’s a traditional joke that becoming Pope is a fast-track way into heaven because of the work involved, but when it’s dragged out all sorts of details can be unveiled about your past, especially at that age. Some might argue about the lifestyle that you lead and that you should have set an example. And he does look a little on the chubby side. Perhaps he’s been taking too much advantage of the finer things and that he hasn’t been exercising enough. But for a figure who’s supposed to represent the world internationally, he certainly hasn’t been practising his English. You’d think that  there’d be better procedures for him to be treated in somewhere other than a hospital though.