Popcorn & Prosecco treats....

This autumn & winter going to the Cinema for me has taken on a whole new adventure..... I no longer have to rush for the train to get to my local cinema on time, I can just pop down 4 flights of stairs from my desk to the Everyman Cinema in the lowerground sales floor of Selfridges. The cinema hit the headlines when opened, as its the first of its kind in a department store and is proving to be one of the coolest after work places to be seen.

As you can see its retro glamour at its glorious, with velvet chairs and couches and side tables to watch the films in comfort, with a fabulous bar offering treats not often found at the cinema... yes the signature popcorn is on the menu, but how many times can you accompany it with a glass of prosecco!

Winter is my favourite cinema time, as you really can escape from the cold and rain and escape into other times, realms & worlds. Here are a few of the things that I have seen in this lovely cinema and some that I am looking forward to:

Autumn reviews:

Pride: With a fabulous British cast this film details the support that the Gay campaigners gave the Miners strike in the mid 80's. ... I really enjoyed this movie on so many levels, I was completely unaware of any of this growing up and was so interested in it. Bill Nighy is one of my favourite British actors and he is his great in this. This movie has a real feel good factor and really does fill you with a sense of pride.

Mr Turner: Another British film, directed by Mike Leigh , this biopic showcases the life of the artist Turner. Starring Timothy Spall, is is a cinematic masterpiece, stunning visuals which look glorious on the big screen. It takes you from the dingy streets of Victorian London to the seaside esplanade of Margate. Spall deserving of some accolades for this portrayl.... thoroughly enjoyed.

I have a few movies booked for forthcoming weeks and a lovely Christmas Treat..... here's whats on my Winter Watchlist:

The Imitation Game; another biopic, based on a true story of  Alan Turing, the Enigma codebreaker. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley. Although Turing was regarded a hero he was persecuted for his homosexuality and is a forgotten hero of the 2nd world war.

Paddington: I have already professed my love for this little bear in a blog post here, and is there a better venue to see this movie, than the department store that the original bear was purchased from.

and a very special Cinematic Christmas Treat for a couple of weeks in December.... It's a Wonderful Life.

Looking ahead to 2015.... tickets are already booked for the much talked about Fifty Shades of Grey. ... 2nd trailer released yesterday in-conjunction with advanced ticket sales.

As you can see its the perfect escapism from the hustle and bustle of shopping and the stresses of the winter season in a fabulous location. Great for a night out after work, or a treat during the day ... and with a Saturday morning children s slot its great for families too!

100 years on.... a nation remembers

This weekend, this nation will pause for 2 minutes silence and reflect on lives lost past and present in conflicts spanning the last 100 years. 100 years ago Britain went to war... millions of men signed up to fight for Queen and country without any hesitation...... 888,246 British boys did not make it home. 18 years after WW1 was over, we went to war again, this time overcoming the allies, fatalities still in the 100,000's ... since then we have lost lives in many conflict, both on home soil and far afield in Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. There is nothing that I can type that can repay the debt that we owe to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and Thank-you seems so insignificant on a day like today.

The Poppies at the Tower have touched so many this year and have the ability to span generations.... it has been one of my favourite things to see and do during the past 5 months. My heart aches when I visit and I so wish my Nan and Gramps would have seen it, they would have loved it and would have been so proud.

Remembrance weekend is always a difficult weekend for me, I miss my grandparents every day, but I always feel it the most this weekend. We always watched the Remembrance service both from the Albert Hall and the Cenotaph together, attending church parade together when I was younger,
This morning, my mum and I visited the cemetery for some quiet contemplation.....
So today I wear my poppy with pride, and remember all the sacrifices made....

I have posted many different memorial/remembrance posts, here are a few of my favourites...

• Remembering the heroes
• Poppies at the Tower ~ 3 posts documenting the evolving installation
• Westminster memorial Gardens
• 5 favourite memorial sites in London.

Paddington has arrived in London

Way back in June I shared my excitement of the news that Paddington would be heading to the big screen for Christmas.... there has seen some changes since the 1st trailer with BenWishaw  replacing Colin Firth as the voice of Paddington.
I also shared that I had some things that I needed to keep under my hat... I can reveal that Paddington is also taking centre (more like corner) stage in Sefridges on Oxford Street with his own curiosity shop and windows.

Back in 1956 on Christmas Eve, Michael Bond was shopping in Selfridges Oxford Street, when he spied a lone bear sitting on a shelf in the Toy shop. He purchased he bear and took him home to his wife, where they named him Paddington ... this little bear became the influence of so many books written by Mr Bond over the years. Within the Curiosity shop, sits the original typewriter that Michael wrote the books on and also some of the costumes from the forthcoming film.

3 of the windows have had a Paddington takeover, complete with train track, lost & found post and trunks and marmalade galore.

The pinnacle being a golden taxi, covered with marmalade and a golden bear (designed by Kate Moss for the Paddington Trail)

The Paddington Trail will come to life across London this week, where 50 specially designed Paddingtons will be sited for children and adults to find across the winter holiday season. I look forward to spending some time finding these!.... minature versions of some of the bears will be available in the paddington curiosity shop.

Having seen the 2nd trailer of the film this week I am looking forward to seeing the film in December

Along with many gorgeous bears, the curiosity shop also houses some gorgeous bear essentials.... including some very special golden labeled marmalade and buttered marmalade popcorn. The perfect accompaniment for bears and santa!

pop back for more paddington adventures over the holiday season....

Poppies at the Tower....

I have shared my visits previously to the Tower of London poppy fields over the summer, and on each visit the crowds have grown considerably. Back in July when I visited at the beginning of the install, the crowds were minimal and you could walk around the tower freely and really take in the humbling impact it had in peace and quiet solitude.
When I returned in early September the crowds and the poppies had grown, increasing the visual impact of such an amazing piece of work. By my return visit in October the crowds had grown to such proportions that it made any movement around the tower reminiscent of a battling through Oxford street Christmas week.

The first of the 888,246 ceramic poppies was planted in the Tower's dry moat in July, with the final one due to be installed on Armistice Day and thousands of people have travelled from across the globe to visit the tower and see the poppies.

I am so thrilled that all the poppies have sold and I look forward to receiving mine in 2015.


Each evening at sunset a roll call of honour is read and the last post sounds.... it is without one of the most moving things I have heard. You can hear a pin drop around the tower during this 20 minutes, followed by a huge applause, I was at this point sobbing....

As Armistice day approaches I am sure the crowds will continue to expand, it is one of the most humbling visions that I have seen....

# Project Life ~ October

Its hard to believe as I sit ad type this, that it is November and currently 18' outside.... October was glorious, filled with occasional rain, an even more occasional cold day and oodles of  autumnal sunshine.  With the weather being so warm, its hard to realise that Christmas is now only 7 weeks away......
October for me was gorgeous, I had some much needed time off work and I spent some it chilling and enjoying some sumptuous surroundings. It also kicked off Christmas and time for some planning... here's some snapshots from my October.

 

• Destination Christmas Selfridges wrapped the store windows for a week to complete its holiday window install. Unveiling over a night to reveal the Selfridges Christmas story filled with fairytales, magic & wonder.... and 1000's of sparkly lights.
• Fitz & Darcy have become familiar with the cat carrier this month as they have had weekly trips to the vets this month; they are now inoculated, micro-chipped, flea'ed and their boy bits chopped!... both have been exemplary patients.
• Sunshine... glorious sunrises captured at different parts of the month, favourite being from the Savoy and standing on the station platform waiting for the train.
• Kit sitting... this month I looked after Fitz & Darcy's brother and mum whilst friends were on holiday...  the kits are going back to spend the week with mum & bruv whilst  I am away next month.
• Christmas & 2015 planning..... with so much in my diary I spent some down time planning and organising the next few months.
• Starbucks Red Cups ... with the launch of Christmas at work, they also secured and exclusive with Starbucks to release their holiday range on the same day, along with an exclusive gold range of eats & treats.

• A Sunday at the Savoy ~ overnight stay at The Savoy ticked a big box on my bucketlist. An glorious hotel full of glamour, old school charm and exemplary service. Had a truly magical stay.  Room was gorgeous, and the late night drinks were divine in the American Bar.
• New York Planning ~ with 4 weeks to go until I'm in the big Apple!.... have 62 things on my 'must' list which I need to condense into 5 days!... think that I need to streamline the wish list!
• Remembering loved ones passed... October saw Nan's birthday arrive, she would have been 93, although I go weekly to cemetary, for birthdays & occasions I have taken to picking my mum up and visiting together.. this allows us to grab a coffee after and spend sometime togther ( a rare occasion)
• A night in Memphis - preview seats for the new west end musical Memphis, was fabulous. Beverley Knight & Killian Donnelly stealing the stage in presence and voice... a must see,great night out with me and the 'olds'.
• Afternoon Tea Mr Selfridge style - Theatre pre-fixed by a scrumptious tea Mr Selfridge style in The Corner Restaurant of Selfridges ~ a hidden gem on the 2nd floor overlooking Oxford street.
• Tony takes Drury Lane ~ Sunday night at the Savoy entertainment from Tony Hadley... an all round old school entertainer... sung a repertoire of songs spanning decades accompanied by a 50 piece orchestra... filled with glamour, charm and the occasional JD, all in beautiful surroundings.

So as we say goodbye to October, here's to a memorable November...... alas no trips to the Savoy planned this month, but with a trip to New York 4 weeks away, and Christmas 3 weeks after that, I have a quiet month planned!