2553 A visit to Middle Earth with Bilbo Baggins

Created  and  not completed until January 7th

 

It is Monday December 16^th and the start of the week before Christmas week and I am not as relaxed as I have been in recent years although I believe I have given myself sufficient time for Christmas letters and cards, to prepare for the visit and to get the house in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. I am not sleeping as well or as I long as I have been and need to.

Awake early I was ready to go to Asda for soon after 9am and walking first to the post office for a new set of passport photos as the first had been rejected because I had kept my glasses on. I now look open eyed but with almost a facial grimace and owl like circles around the eyes. I suspect these may also be rejected. I had great difficult in working the machine and needed help after money had been inserted and would not proceed or return the cash.(No the photos were accepted and the new passport has arrived).

I then went to the pound store and purchased 5 of the packs of glue sticks which are excellent value each containing two large and two small. I can sort out my materials box if I have time but not the registration of sets which have mounted up and will be left until the new year.

Then to the bank for cash in hand and to the computer store for inks where they only had three blacks so I added two colours for a total of £10. Touch wood the printer has been working well. As Asda I stocked up on dried figs, some pasta, tins of rice pudding(2), noodles, some smoked mackerel, which reminds of the latest Robson of Hexham on his Northumberland Travels with Craster kippers and the village pub at Low Newton ( where there is also a prison) which offers fresh lobster dinners with in the first half a visit to the Lord Grey Tea Rooms, the Woodland and the gardens at Howick

Because of the threat of rain I decided to travel to the Metro Centre by car and found my way with a problem except missing the turning down to the Yellow wing parking and having to go round in a circle a short distance before realising the mistake. I had a coffee £1.49 at Macdonalds and then having misjudged the time ( an hour early) made my way to M and S where there was noting my size but there was at the opposite end at Debenhams but not in my size. The assistant here was also a big man but there was only in black and dark blue with a pin stripe. I had set my heart on dark grey I will check Debenhams in Newcastle and perhaps Sunderland.

As anticipated the Imax Theatre was packed for the 3.30 performance but the premium seat at the aisle meant that I was comfortable if closer to the screen that I would have wished. As I am reading the Hobbit I will leave the detailed account of the film until I reach the appropriate section of the film. For now I will say that I agree with Kermode Mayo review and also film night on BBC TV 1 that the film is too long and padded and should have been made before Lords of the Rings as two film. It takes liberties with the original story as a consequence although as when I come to right up the first part of the book and review the first film in this context Peter Jackson has kept faithful tot eh core story line and the long openings sequence at the shire home of Bilbo Baggins his home is appropriate although critics at the time and since have make much often lack of excitement, action and for them engagement. I disagree.

After the film I decided to make my way home where I enjoyed a pasta dish.