Casino Royale

On Sunday, we went to the Odeon cinema around the corner from our flat to see the new Bond film. It’s a good enough film, for a Bond film. Daniel Craig is a worthy Bond, easily passing the grade from what has been previously expected from actors playing Bond. I’d say he was the best Bond yet. May be it’s because of the trouble the writers went to explain why Bond is why he is. He has a pretty … Steinunn here, taking over. This is MY domain, the posting of stubs and blogging about the event, and Nick’s gone and taken it over. I can’t believe this, the cheek! Honestly. So, Nick what has Bond got that is pretty? Do tell us, we are dying to find out, from your stub&report entry. Whimperwhimpercry.

Whoops! I’ve upset Steinunn here. I’d better leave it to her for a review of the film. I can tell you what she’s gonna say though… ‘It was too long and I don’t understand poker’.

Last minute trip

Steinunn and I have made last minute plans to make the most of the 3 days off of work next week. Easyjet’s winter sale started this morning. I bought a couple of cheap tickets to Gatwick and will be in Brighton by midday tomorrow. We’re gonna spend the afternoon with my sister and my nephew. In the evening, we’re going to spend the evening in a pub I know as The Blackamoors.

On Sunday, after the inevitable hangover, we’re meeting up with Jen, Chris and few others, rendevouzing in a pub somewhere in London for Sunday lunch. In the evening, we may go to the National Film Theatre to see the Radiohead, The Visionaries: A Decade of Breaking New Talent.

On Monday, we’re travelling north to Harpenden to see my uncle, aunt and nan. It’ll be great to catch up. I hope to quiz my nan about her past as I’m attempting to put together a family tree. On Tuesday, we’re heading up to Stafford to see another uncle. We’ve hired a car for this part of the journey because, by train, it’d cost over £250 to return to Edinburgh via Stafford. Will train fares ever become affordable for the masses?

Right, I’m off to bed… early rise tomorrow morning.

Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago when Jackie, Chaz and Zoe were visiting. Chaz, even though he was suffering from a dislocated knee, wanted to go explore, by foot, what Edinburgh had to offer in the way of museums.

The first museum we stumbled upon was the Musem of Childhood. One of the floors played host to dolls, hundreds of them. Some were almost lifelike and some not. The photo here is of Diddums ( the one of the left) who was born in 1930.

If you have an hour to spare on a Saturday or Sunday, check out the museum on the Royal Mile.

Ikea

Our last trip to Ikea was on May 14th. This and each previous visit haunts me still. I’ll do anything to avoid a repeat visit to the Sweden’s second worst export.

This man has adopted the right attitude:

Ben Adetimle, 31, from Leytonstone, added: “I bought a sofa but when I turned my back someone stole it. I’m not upset. It’s just furniture, not worth dying over.” – ThisIsLondon

Exactly. Ben was speaking of his experience of a riot prompted by the opening of a new Ikea store in Edmonton in early 2005.

Who wants to go

traipsing around the labyrinthine displays. Hours lost hunting for furniture not in stock. Further hours spent queuing. Being charged to use a credit card. The ridiculous delivery fees (when you find you’ve bought too much for the boot). The hour’s journey back home. That’s before you have to build the things. And above all, you just get the impression that Ikea doesn’t care. Clagnut.

Ikea in Iceland is nothing like it is here in the UK, so says Steinunn. So I say the next time we visit Ikea we will be in Iceland.