I Had My Day Planned Out,

after I dropped Diana off to work,

but it all went mustang, firstly I was going to pay for the quote to insure my camera and lenses for my upcoming trip, but, when I looked at the quotation it gave me no way of paying it, so email the company, only to receive:

Hi stanley,
Thanks for reaching out!
Your request (458475) has been received, and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
🚨 Important: To ensure you keep your place in the queue, please avoid sending additional replies before we respond. Each new message moves your ticket to the back of the line, which may delay our response.
We appreciate your patience and will be with you shortly!
Best regards

no reply yesterday and so far none today, next I had decided to give my new laptop, bought for the trip a battery charge and make sure all was well, as it happens it was not! for some reason it refused to acknowledge that it already had been configured to have the Internet working on it, and also it did not recognise that it already had Microsoft Word installed on it, all it kept doing was tell me I had to buy a new licence for Microsoft Word and connect it to the Internet to do so, which of course I could not, as you can see from here when I bought it in August all was working well, so I kept trying to get it to work, eventually, suddenly the Internet opened and there was Word!, I have to say I now have no confidence at all in my brand new £300+ MSI laptop, I just hope it does not let me down like this when I need it on my upcoming Namibian trip, by now it was time for my evening meal, after which a Outback Opal Hunters and for a change a Deadliest Catch, then a treat, I was going to finish, 

The Last Duel, I finished what was left of the last half, so enjoyable, this is what I commented when I first started watching it, from the blurb:

"Based on the true story of France's last trial by combat in the Middle Ages. Knight Jean de Carrouges challenges his former friend Jacques Le Gris to a duel after Jean's wife Marguerite accuses Le Gris of rape. Told in three "Rashomon-style" points of view"

the storyline, acting, characters, sets and selection of cast could not have been better a truly enjoyable film, but as I mentioned I stopped part way through watching the film for two reasons, firstly I wanted to watch a Midsomer Murder, and also as it finished I was going to be out to pick up Diana after her late shift, so I am looking forward to the second half tonight, and I can not be the only one that thought it was a enjoyable film it had 5 wins and around 44 nominations from various critics associations and award bodies, and with this cast:

· Matt Damon as Sir Jean de Carrouges

· Adam Driver as Jacques le Gris

· Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges

· Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d'Alençon

· Harriet Walter as Nicole de Buchard

· Alex Lawther as King Charles VI

· Serena Kennedy as Queen Isabeau

· Marton Csokas as Crespin

I think it was a given that it was going to be good, but somehow back in 2021 we managed to miss it being released, there it is, must look out for new films more diligently! f you have not yet watched The Last Duel and you like period drama/action films this one is a must see, I followed that with,

 Gladiator II, the basic story is that after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people, we had watched the film once before at the cinema, but I fancied watching it again, before it finished, my alarm sounded, time to pick up Diana from her late shift, arriving home it was feet up for a coffee and a chat, also to apply for my visa for Namibia, after a bit of faffing around, the visa was issued and I printed it off, it has to physically be shown on entering the country, pity we are totally incapable of following Nambiar in this for the UK, showing a visa before entering, but then they have a much more advanced system than the UK in place to make sure illegals do not enter, after which it was a Bangers & Cash before we were off to bed.

First Thing,

looking out of the window,

the foxes were up and about, taking advantage of the water Matt keeps topped up for them,

three this morning, plus a magpie, 

they all liked the peanuts,

also this morning they had a treat, some Polish sausage, I had bought, but it was not as nice as I was expecting, I had memories as a kid of going to visit Christina and George, (Jerzy), where we often had Polish garlic sausage, but the one I bought just did not taste the same, but the foxes loved it, I tried to throw the cuts so that each had a equal number but inevitably failed, it was strange when one of the two cubs chased the mother she eventually gave up and let the cubs have it, although not without a fearsome squabble I must say, after our breakfast towards midday it was time to drop Diana off for her late shift today, in the afternoon a few YouTube videos before my evening meal, 

first a read and a milk, no sherry this evening as I will be driving to the Beckenham Photographic Society meeting this evening and later picking up Diana,

firstly tuck into a couple of vegetable samosas,

followed by a huge chicken tikka masala, 'Cheers!', shortly after off to the club, last week we were all asked for entries to the PDI competition, the term PDI stands for Projected Digital Image, the photographs are displayed on a screen, the same as many years ago slides were shown in the days of 35mm transparencies, I entered 2 images, 

titled, "Three couples, two waiters and a one cat"

and this one "Industrial size art" both failed miserably, scoring only 8.5 out of a possible 10, note to self, 'must try harder!', after the meeting ended I was off to pick Diana up from work, arriving home a coffee and a chat, well a spiced rum for myself as we settled down to watch a double helping of Bangers & Cash before we were both off to bed.

In The Afternoon,

I dropped Diana off to work, 

which left a few hours before my meal to watch a little daytime television, it was dire! I had no idea daytime shows could be so mind-numbingly bad, people on couches with no discernible aim in life talking to so called stars/personalities/famous people, none of whom I had heard of, or indeed had the slightest interest in as they then pontificated their views on subjects way over their pay grade, thank goodness Outback Opal Hunters started after which it was time for my evening meal, I followed that with, 

 The Three Musketeers, I am sure we all know the story, but this one features gallons supported by balloons taking the battle in to the skies, I thought this would leave me enough time before I picked Diana up from her late shift to finish, 

The Last Duel, but I was wrong, I still had some time to go as my alarm went off to remind me to pick up Diana, arriving home, feet up for a coffee and a chat and then a bit of a treat, a double helping of Have I Got A Bit More News For You, before we were off to bed.

I Had Another Quiet Day,

after dropping Diana off at work, 

just watching a few You Tube videos about Nambiar, focus stacking and my camera, after my evening meal and the usual Outback Opal Hunters and a Deadliest Catch a film,

The Last Duel, it was a tad long so I only watched just over a half of it, but so far what a wonderful film, well directed by Ridley Scott it was doubtful if it would be bad! from the blurb:

"Based on the true story of France's last trial by combat in the Middle Ages. Knight Jean de Carrouges challenges his former friend Jacques Le Gris to a duel after Jean's wife Marguerite accuses Le Gris of rape. Told in three "Rashomon-style" points of view"

the storyline, acting, characters, sets and selection of cast could not have been better a truly enjoyable film, but as I mentioned I stopped part way through watching the film for two reasons, firstly I wanted to watch a Midsomer Murder, and also as it finished I was going to be out to pick up Diana after her late shift, so I am looking forward to the second half tonight, and I can not be the only one that thought it was a enjoyable film it had 5 wins and around 44 nominations from various critics associations and award bodies, and with this cast:

· Matt Damon as Sir Jean de Carrouges

· Adam Driver as Jacques le Gris

· Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges

· Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d'Alençon

· Harriet Walter as Nicole de Buchard

· Alex Lawther as King Charles VI

· Serena Kennedy as Queen Isabeau

· Marton Csokas as Crespin

I think it was a given that it was going to be good, but somehow back in 2021 we managed to miss it being released, there it is, must look out for new films more diligently! after picking Diana up from work we watched the latest Have I Got News For You and followed that with another film, 

Red, from the blurb:

"Frank (Bruce Willis) is retired, bored, and lonely living off of his government pension in a nondescript suburb in an equally nondescript house. The only joy in Frank's life is his calls to the government pension processing centre when he gets to talk to his case worker, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). Sarah is as bored and lonely as Frank and marks her conversations with the unknown Frank and her spy novels as the only things fun in her life. When something in Frank's past forces him back into his old line of work and puts an unwitting Sarah in the middle of the intrigue, Frank and Sarah begin a journey into his past and the people with whom he used to work. Like Frank they are all "R.E.D." - Retired Extremely Dangerous", and of course one of our favorite actors was in the film John Malkovich, after which we were off to bed.

Diana Unfortunately,

was asked to go into work today,

so a Sunday lunch by myself, first a read and a sherry, 

as it was Sunday a starter, a king prawn cocktail, 

followed by a chicken and vegetable Yorkshire pudding, 'Cheers!', as usual I gave the foxes a few peanuts when I saw them outside, one of the residents here, Matt, puts out buckets of water for them, 

both buckets,

appreciated by the squirrels as well, as it was Sunday a couple of films for the afternoon and evening, starting with,

 Riddick, the third in the series, I had watched the film before but still enjoyed watching it again, in the evening,

The Pianist, it is the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, at the time Poland's most acclaimed pianist whose life is transformed during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw beginning in 1939, the film spans several years and maps his many personal trials in addition to providing the perspectives of his family, rebel factions and sympathizers, brilliantly directed by Roman Polanski, I should also mention that a few times I have heard some of the music in the film used in other television dramas and commercials, Diana then arrived home, next a real treat, hot chestnuts, Diana cooked a few to snack on as we watched a Midsomer Murder, before we were off to bed.

Diana Was At Work,

on a late shift today, 

for myself I had a lazy day, well most of them are! just watching You tube videos about focus stacking amongst other things, in the evening, time for my read and sherry, 

next a Lancashire hotpot, 'Cheers!', after which a film, 

 The Statement, it is the tale of a former Nazi executioner who becomes a target of hit men and Police investigators, as it happens it is based on a real story, the film is loosely inspired by the true story of Paul Touvier, a Vichy French police official.

Real-Life Parallels

• The Crimes: Paul Touvier was a leader in the Milice (a paramilitary police force under the pro-fascist Vichy regime in World War II). He ordered the execution of seven Jewish prisoners in 1944.
• The Cover-Up: Like the fictional Pierre Brossard in the movie, Touvier evaded justice for decades after the war. He hid in safe houses and monasteries with the help of right-wing Roman Catholic clergymen.
• The Pardon and Arrest: Touvier received a controversial presidential pardon in 1971, but public outrage led to new charges. He was arrested in 1989 inside a Catholic priory, convicted of crimes against humanity in 1994, and died in prison in 1996.

Differences from the Film

• The film is directly adapted from Brian Moore's 1995 novel.
• The main character, Pierre Brossard (played by Michael Caine), is a fictionalized composite rather than a strict biographical portrayal.
• The plot involving hitmen hunting Brossard down in the 1990s is dramatized for the thriller
• Touvier was caught and died in jail in 1996.

then on a much lighter vein, a comedy fresh out of Sherwood Forest!

Robin Hood: Men in Tights, so funny especial the sight gags that Blinkin misses, the legend had it coming... find out where Robin Hood put his Little John, what made Will Scarlet, and what did Friar Tuck into his tights that made Maid Marion all of a quiver? great fun, Diana had to work late this evening, so she did not arrive home until nearly midnight, so a hot night-time drink for her before we were off to bed.

First Thing,

I was out,

into a nice bright day, on to a number 354 bus to Bromley,  

where it took a diversion due to road works, so a walk back past the Swan & Mitre, 

which was quite serendipitous, I passed the fruit and vegetable shop I do not normally walk past when I go to Bromley, and there they were,

the first of the years chestnuts, one kilo later and I was on my way,

past the now empty art deco cinema, 

and The Partridge,

lots of stalls, 

as today was Friday, 

the haberdasher here as well,

into Lidl, stocks of spiced rum dangerously low, then back home, in the afternoon I dropped Diana off at work as she has a late shift today, for myself some Saturday afternoon television, 

which brought me up to my read and sherry, 

and a huge king prawn salad which Diana had made for me, 'Cheers!', for tonight's entertainment I continued with, 

The Blue Max, and very enjoyable it was too, then a bit of a surprise, some time ago I bought a black & white movie, the 1953 version of,

Titanic, I had never watched it before, and I have to say it was remarkably good, a different story line to the latest version of the tragedy, from the blurb:

"Unhappily married and uncomfortable with life among the British upper crust, Julia Sturges takes her two children and boards the RMS Titanic for America. Her husband, Richard, also arranges passage on the doomed luxury liner in order to allow him to have custody of their two children, Annette and Norman. Meanwhile, Annette begins a romance with a young American college student and tennis player, Gifford Rogers. Unfortunately, their family problems soon seem minor when the Titanic strikes an iceberg".

after which Diana arrived home, so feet up for a coffee for Diana and a spiced rum for myself, as we watched a Have I Got A Bit More News For You, followed by a Bangers & Cash before we were off to bed.