Whilst reading through CNN I saw this

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/13/prince.andrew/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

It is Prince Andrew who is over here (apparently) promoting US/UK business.  When I watched it I first thought that he sounded much more down to earth than other members of the Royal Family do.  He didn't sound too plummy at all. 

But he has got himself in a pickle it seems (his father's son) by making a statement about Iraq and how politicians could have thought a little more and reflected on UK's experience of wading into other countries to try and take over.....when the Commonwealth was more of a feature in World Politics.  It the video iterview this is indeed brought up and here he seems to flounder somewhat.  But I do understand where he is coming from with what he said....at the time he did not believe it would be taken out of context but now I read it is making headlines as it is a 'Royal Voice' giving Political Opinion... and we all know that is not supposed to occur.....don't we?

It just struck me today - I am mailing 2 'with deepest sympathy' cards today.  One local - one back to England.

The English one is for a very old teacher, who was then a friend - she died last week - I mentioned it in a post. I think she must have been 80 at least.  She outlived her husband and her own mother.

The local card is for a man who hubby worked with very briefly at his current firm.  Jack (the man) met Hubby when Hubby first went into the office - and he was very down (Jack) as he had just found out he had cancer. This was maybe 18 months ago.  He had treatments and continued working but decided to take early retirement which he did - just last summer.  By this stage the treatments weren't really working.  The was a large retirement party for him at the end of last year where he really looked unwell.  He had aged an awful lot. 

Since then he has been in and out of hospital and the prognosis was never good.  We heard through a financial friend that things were being prepared for the death....and he died this past weekend.  Very sad but also a release from his pain.

But to retire at 60 (normal) and then have so little time - to never get to really carry out everything you'd been planning all that time.  Sad, so very sad.

So yesterday, running all my errands I FINALLY got around to going to the garage and getting another set of car keys.  That would be set number 4.  Car came with Sets 1 and 2 - one of which got lost - I blame hubby, he blames me...a child could also be involved but anyhow, last year I got Set 3 which also magically disappeared.  Since then I am the main driver of said car, and I have quite a large set of keys - which makes them, and the last car key, less likely to be lost.  Hubby calls them my 'Prisoner Cell Block H' keys.....not sure if that will mean anything to anyone Amercian....

Anyhow, went to the garage and saw the same old guy who looked at me like I was mad, needing another set of keys and remote control.... $100 +.  I joked to him that this new set, well that I was going to take them home and attach them to a brick so they wouldn't get lost.  Now I know they use the word 'brick' over here (I even know a little boy called 'Brick'), but he did not understand my humour one little bit.  Nada.

So waited in the cashier's office for them to programme new key fob when a little old lady came in with her Oxygen pump in hand....she had a bill to pay of over $600 (over 300 quid).  She was saying to the cashier that she hoped the part would last a long long time.....and then went on to say that the car was old but only had 20 000 miles on it, and she herself was 84 and there didn't seem much point in buying a new car.  This car would see her 'through' - I think this was the expression she used.  It just seemed very very sad. I think she saw me sitting there - obviously having heard what she'd said.  I gave her a closed smile but had no words.....

Then last night I got a letter from UK which included some news about an old teacher of mine from Infant school.  She had been my teacher at my first school and then we moved to the other side of the city - to the same village  where she herself lived.  So even though she was no longer my teacher, I still saw her regularly.  Her husband was very kind to me - he was a bit of a grandfather figure I suppose - he would let me help him wash his car, pick apples, help in the garden - taught me to row a boat even.  He died when I was a teenager and I never saw the teacher much after that but we always exchanged Christmas cards - even just this past Christmas.  I had enclosed a family photo and she wrote back saying I hadn't changed - she would still have recognised me anywhere.  Apparently she recently died from Kidney-related illness.  She must have been in her 80s.

Growing up in my house, anyone like a Doctor or a teacher was considered quite Saint like - their opinion mattered because of their degrees - it made them infallible.  It is not something I agree with but that was the way it was.  This teacher in particular was always someone to be looked up to as far as my Gran was concerned.

I remember buying my first record.  As in vinyl, turntable record.  I think I was maybe 12.  And my Gran thought it was a ridiculous waste of money.  She did not want me to buy it - at all.  And as was the norm with her, when she didn't get her own way she sulked and literally ignored you - froze you out - didn't utter a word.  For days. 

I remember at the time going to visit said teacher and telling her I was in trouble as I had bought a record, with my own saved up money, but that I was being ignored because of it.  I remember she told me that grown ups don't always make the right decisions and sometimes, going against a parent's wishes is actually the right thing to do.  She made me feel so much better about it.

I hope she didn't suffer.  May she very much rest in peace.

I think this is very 1980s...Saturday night?

Does anyone remember this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrh9hU7U7nM

We recently got a letter telling us neighbours were going to be doing some noisy building work, and we should be aware of it.  Well yes, we are bloody aware of it with all the racket from the diggers etc.  They are ripping out their own private tennis court and I am guessing that cannot really take the week or so they have been at it already so maybe they are digging down deep and are planning on putting in a pool.  Though why you would start in January when it is below freezing is beyond me. Not that I know much about this as we have no tennis court or pool.  But I need to get triple glazing if this keeps up!!! Oh and the people doing all the work don't even live there full time. WTF?

So last week we still had our free babysitter here (mother in law) so we went to the movies.  We rarely go to the movies together.  We also have pretty different taste in films hubby and I it's fair to say. 

There is a brand new swanky movie theater that has opened close by.  Not your usual 16 screen job but a high end artsy cinema.  Ticket price is a little higher than other places ($12 a ticket) but that includes free unlimited soda and popcorn.  There are also valet seats where you can buzz a waiter to come and take your order from a menu before the film starts, it is delivered to you (real plates and glasses etc!!) and you have extra comfy seats with arm rests/tables to hold your food.

Hubby knew I wanted to go and try out this movie theater but to say he is no fan of artsy films is quite an understatement.  But he looked up the showtimes and suggested we go and see 'Juno.'

I had heard great things about this film but had wanted to go and see it alone.  I love going to the movies alone.  Maybe it is the me time but I have no qualms at all about going into the movie theater ingonito and watching entirely what I want with no one talking etc. 

The main reason that I wanted to see it alone was because I knew it was about a young girl who gets pregnant and that there was adoption involved and it struck me as being a little too close to home (my birth mother was young-ish and gave me up for adoption) and at the outset I didn't know if I would even be able to make it through the film.  The whole subject affects me far far deeper now that I have kids of my own.

Well some of it was sort of hard to watch and yes it made me think but it was a brilliant film and even hubby loved it.  She is a great wee actress - the Ellen girl (Ellen Page).  She will get a tonne of awards for her performance I hope.  It is a really funny film too despite its subject matter.  I know it is not out in UK yet but I think it will do well over there.  It has been playing a fair time here in US but has excellent reviews so maybe will continue to be aired.  Next week I hope to go and see 'The Savages' which I have also heard good things about....

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/