Saturday Morning Film Review

If you get the chance to see Norwegian Wood - DON'T. Instead, buy a poetry book and a bottle of wine to share with your companion. I wish I had.

Law Of The Jungle

Disturbing start to the day as we went to see Animal Kingdom last night and it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning. Someone - I think it was my brother - told me the mark of a good film is if you think of it at least three times the next day. By that criterion, Animal Kingdom is right up there. 

I'm a fan of the novels of the Australian writer Tim Winton - Cloudstreet, Breath, Dirt Music to name but three. He is a genius at describing family dynamics and the dark side of Australia and Australian life. So imagine Winton at his darkest, then subdue the lighting, turn that dimmer switch to its lowest setting. As you adjust your vision, you'll begin to make out the shapes in Animal Kingdom...

We went to see the film at the Cornerhouse in Manchester. If it was an American film it would be in mainstream cinemas, who knows, maybe it will get there. But in the meantime, it is worth seeking out. Prepare yourself for some discomfort as you head out on safari.....

Wandering Lonely as Clouds

Helm Crag - The Lion and The Lamb

Jean Sprackland's poetry workshop today in Grasmere was wonderful. I find classes like this more than a wee bit scary, but as she is such an inspiring and encouraging tutor, I felt challenged yet safe enough to come away with some very satisfying work - considerably more than the foundations for at least three poems, and some good ideas for sustaining and encouraging the creative process - thank you Jean! 

This evening we had a pre-booked cinema deal at Zeffirellis in Ambleside - a two course meal in the very classy restaurant, followed by a film in a charming retro cinema - all for £17.95 each. The film we watched was An Education - back at Zeffirellis by popular demand - a great end to an exciting day.

Grasmere (Lake) continues to be iced over, there are some ice-free patches in Rydal Water, but hey! Spring is round the corner (I've spotted several lambs in the fields) and we'll just have to come back for another weekend that is dedicated to swimming rather than poetry!

Every post a winning post

It's like a fairytale. All the confidence, power and rhythm that I establish by the end of a swim have inevitably disappeared by next morning when I hit the pool again. The lengths have stopped swimming themselves and it's like Groundhog Day, or 50 First Dates. Back at square one and facing the same barriers that were there yesterday.....and the day before.....and the day before.....

.....This morning was no different. The alarm went off a bit later but we were in the pool by 7.35, ploughing up the 50 metre lengths. Although the barriers feel the same, I know I have made important changes, which I don't want to discount. Hence the title of this post, one of my dad's wise sayings. For instance, I'm now freestyling and enjoying it. Six - no - three months ago I couldn't have predicted that. I'm swimming three, sometimes four times each week, and missing it on the days when I don't get to a pool. I've lost six pounds in weight and feel stronger and healthier. So what, if it takes me 12 or 15 laps to get settled in the water. Perhaps the next bit of progress will be to see that number decrease as time goes on.

We're having a bit of a swimfest weekend. Last night we watched 'The Swimmer' starring Burt Lancaster. Made in the late 60's, it's strange and compelling, quite political in its way, awkward, but maybe it's meant to be. It's based on a short story by John Cheever and like all good short stories, it leaves you with questions rather than answers. And speaking of short stories, I've received my copy of the latest Mslexia, announcing their short story competition. 2,200 words by January. I've been percolating an idea for some time now - guess what - it involves swimming! Now, maybe this deadline will give me the incentive to develop it.