Chatting with Patrice

In true Anne style, I'm a day late joining Patrice and the other ladies on Everyday Ruralty's porch, but that's okay - it means I have Wendell all to myself.

Today's questions have come from a variety of Patrice's readers, so here goes:


1. Beth asks: What's your favorite movie of all times? The one you've seen multiple times.

Gods and Generals: it makes me cry more than any other movie. I want to will it not to be based on true events. I want switch it off at the initial song being sung to the showing of flags and of young men going to war. My heart aches for days and days after I've watched it. And yet I re-watch it.

General Lee says in the movie, and said, I believe, after the Battle of Fredericksburg, 

"It is well that war is so terrible - or we would grow to fond of it."

The unavoidable truth is that there is a thrill to battle. This movie makes the reality of war so terrible to me that it makes me want to cry out to all the world's leaders: "Find another way! Don't send our boys to die if there is any other way."

Last of the Mohicans: I love this music in this movie so much. It really goes to my heart. I'm not sure whether it's the music, the scenery, or, er, something else, but Daniel Day-Lewis is the only man ever to have his hair long and still look good.

In my opinion.

Because every other time:  man + long hair = bleugh.

Take note, Italian footballers. 

I think I'm going off the subject here.

Let's get back to movies.

I love the BBC Pride and Prejudice, and never tire of cringing at Mr Collins' proposal, his fawning over Lady Catherine, and his ... well, simply his being Mr Collins. Such fun. Of course, we have to endure Colin Firth, but I guess it's a price worth paying.

Apart from Pride and Prejudice, I think I'd be more of a 'guys' movies' kinda gal. I haven't watched any, mind you, in the longest time, so I'm not sure if that would still be the case. 

In Father of the Bride, both the father and Frank, the wedding planner are priceless. In Finding Nemo, Dory makes the movie; and in Chicken Run, lines like:

"My whole life flashed before my eyes...... It were really boring."

make that movie worth watching.


2. Clairity says: Name three things that are permanent residents in your handbag or purse.

#1. Crumpled up receipts that have been hurriedly thrown in there in a store. I chuck them in, fully intending to retrieve them once I get home. My intention, of course, is to throw them out, and in the process, to keep my handbag nice and tidy.

That's the intention. What actually happens is that I discover them when I open my handbag to throw the next lot of receipts in. So, the receipts from week one are followed by the receipts from week two. And before you ask ... the receipts from week two will invariably be joined by the receipts from week three.

#2. My purse. For any who are unsure: a purse holds money; a handbag holds a purse. Y'all got that? 

#3. Stuff. Lots of it. It could be some, or all of the following:

- perfume
- chewing gum
- the gloves I was wearing last week
- a scarf
- my mobile (which, if I remember to take to town, normally stays in my handbag for a few days. Meanwhile, the missed calls and texts are building up. Yep, that's me!)
- tissues
- chapstick
- handcream

3. Red asks: What's the best way to your heart?

Oh well, my boys seems to have been born with that innate knowledge. It goes something like this:

"Mum, I love you ... give me a big hug.". Ah yes, they know the way to my heart.

Other ways may involve chocolate, tea or cake.

More seriously, the way to my heart is to talk. I don't mean to blether. I mean to really talk. I am happy to chat for a while with people, but to get a place in my heart, I truly want to get to know that person: who they are; what makes them tick; what their delights are, and their fears; what they love, and what they hate. That is the way to my heart, I think.


4. Mamaw wants to know: Do you like going to yard sales?

No such thing here in Ness! I guess everything would blow away before anyone was able to buy the stuff. Maybe I'll gatecrash one if I ever have another vacation across the Pond. 


5. Cathy says: If you could slide down a rainbow, what do you think you'd find on the other side?

Umm .... Pardon? Hang on a minute. I'm really struggling with this one and so I must conclude that I have no inner child in me, or that I heard far too few fairytales as a child. Or I'm a Lewis woman. Or a Presbyterian. Or a combination of all of the above.

I honestly don't know how to answer this.

So I'll show you a couple of photos instead.

Yesterday, while the Wee Guy was doing his Maths, the snow began falling. So, the Maths was abandoned, and he joined his legion of Roman soldiers to fight in the snow.

Two hours later, I was glad I'd allowed him his time in the snow, because this is what we had.

Reason #349 for homeschooling.