Exhileration&Happy Endings
on Blog From Beyond (Rwanda), 24/Apr/2010 13:53, 34 days ago
(picture fromhere)Woop, woop! Just got back fromthe stablesand had a wicked time. Went on a hack and discovered that usually sleepy Arthur horse actually has legs! Didn't get much of a start as the ground is rock solid - been crazy warm here the past couple of weeks. But when we found part of the field that was good to go, he totally went!Well chuffed. Really enjoyed myself. Ponytail flying, sun high in the sky and the world whizzing by in a green blur lol How much fun can you have on a Saturday afternoon?Home now, contemplating the latestopinion poll. Doesn't that absolutely suck? One hell of a case forproportional representation.Watched most of the second debate. Can't link to it as it appears that sucky Sky isn't YouTubing it. But I have to say, Gordon Brown was winning me back from the clutches of Clegg. He sounded much more authoritative this time.The only major stumble is I totally disagree withTrident. Like Clegg said, it was developed during the Cold War to flatten St. Petersburg. Brown's argument that 'when other countries disarm, we will' just sucks totally. What he appeared to be saying was that it's our nuclear deterrent for countries like Iran. But it's only a deterrent if you're prepared to use it. So that leaves two problems really:1) Hope that if someone wants to attack us with nuclear weapons that we reach the button in time - because, not being funny, I think it's unlikely.2) Use it, and accept the consequences - that you've murdered potentially millions of people.Really, would you ever hit that button? And expecting others to disarm before we do is just silly - lead by example. In the event that someone did decide to fire at us, would we see it in time, and would we accurately make a decision as to where to return fire - and would we do it with such ambiguous force?So, is it worth the billions of money we spend on it?I'm all for the Lib Dems on getting rid of that one, and whereas I fully agree when Brown said Cameron is a risk to our economy, I'm not sure I agree that Clegg is a risk to out defence.But otherwise, Brown sounded on much better form.Anyway, moving on. Just a quick nod to the fact is was Genocide Memorial Week this weekend. Ruairi wrote a verypoignant blog postabout that. Worth mentioning.Also wanted to promote theThis is Africa blog, which writes some very interesting articles on Rwanda. I've added this to my blog reel on the right.I have to admit, a few things have been puzzling me this week:An example of hedonistic Western society - there's an advert on my FaceBook page for 'stylish' tampons. That's like the TV ad for 'comfortable' lipstick. Ship me back to Africa - things made a lot more sense there.Thanks to Dad, who forwarded me this information - we now know the cause of earthquakes across the globe.Promiscuous womenapparently - according to one Iranian cleric. Mum's reaction was simply 'I'm surprised there aren't more then.' ;)Still, good that we know this now. Perhaps stoning them to death isn't such overkill...volcanic rock anyone?Mostly this month I've been in the Cinema. As mentioned, I sawKick Assin Edinburgh. Also sawWhip It, which was entertaining, especially as the adverts say: 'Whip It out now' ;)Then went with Harri the other day and sawThe Ghost Writer- long but enjoyable. LikePolanskiif only forBitter Moon, which is a great film.Then last night I did a late-night dash to seeCemetery Junction. It seems to have slipped through the local cinema - I thought it would be showing longer but it's down to 9:20pm viewings only already. Shame. I really wanted to see it and I'm so glad I did. Wonderful fresh British talent. The critics haven't been overly kind about it but I loved it. Great atmosphere int he cinema too - everyone laughing along. Bit of nostalgia as I knew Cemetery Junction well once upon a time, in my student days in Reading. Truly,Tom Hughesplayed the back-side off his character; they all did. Excellent performance and just a fun kind of movie. Nicely done.So, I'm home from riding now and hennahing my hair. Driving over to Gloucester tomorrow to see Dad, Marilyn& Aunty Jean. We're off to Alicante for a week to celebrate Jean's birthday. Looking forward to it, just hope we can get back again ;)Oh - and the 'happy ending' - I was up until 2am last night glued to the last few chapters ofHowl's Moving Castle. It's possibly myfavourite Studio Ghibli movieand I was fascinated to read the book. I prefer to do it that way: watch the movie then read the book. I like to uncover 'what really happened' ;)I laughed out loud - should have guessed: Howl's real name: Howell Jenkins, wearing a rugby top lol Welsh author, stands to reason. And it was very different to the movie in many ways - rather gaping differences in the plot, but I loved it. And they all lived happily ever after. There's two sequels so I'm, busy ordering those.Do love that story.Anyway. Holiday awaits. x