James Franco – Shades of Grey

James Franco was recently interviewed in the March edition of Four Two Nine Magazine stating about his sexuality:

“Well, I like to think that I’m gay in my art and straight in my life. Although, I’m also gay in my life up to the point of intercourse, and then you could say I’m straight. So I guess it depends on how you define gay. If it means whom you have sex with, I guess I’m straight. In the twenties and thirties, they used to define homosexuality by how you acted and not by whom you slept with. Sailors would fuck guys all the time, but as long as they behaved in masculine ways, they weren’t considered gay.”

If I had read such a statement a few years ago I would have probably glanced at it and been a bit dismissive being just another Hollywood actor seeking attention. But in 2012 I discovered AVEN and asexuality and entered a whole other world and a journey of self discovery. I am realising that the world is a far more complicated place sexually and there is a place in it that fits me and I am not alone.

Film Review: Kill The Messenger

 
 

 

Having waited so long to see this film and with such high expectations I was concerned that it wouldn’t deliver but I needn’t have worried. I liked the documentary style opening and I think despite its obviously complex subject the screenplay and the way it was edited set out clearly what had and was happening so I understood and could follow the events even though I had not read Gary Webb’s book. Jeremy Renner’s performance was a very intense portrayal and movingly conveyed his journey from his euphoria at having achieved what every journalist is searching for THE story to his slow disintegration into despair when he realised his dream was crumbling as the CIA, fellow journalists, TV reporters turned on him. I found the family scenes very poignant and convincing. It was horrible watching the people he trusted the most betray him and you could see that they were doing so reluctantly but doing so nonetheless.

I was under the impression when following the filming that the ending would be different I thought they had included Gary’s suicide but instead they only mentioned it as a postscript. I also thought they included him having an affair but what was conveyed was the toil it took on his marriage and his family because again it was only mentioned. But I’m glad this was the case as I feel this would have detracted from the message the story was conveying. So the film wasn’t at all exploitative in the way it treated Gary’s story despite those that turned on him and destroyed him using his personal life for their own purposes the film itself didn’t sensationalise which is so common in Hollywood these days to create a ‘good’ story. I thought it was a nice touch to see the real Gary Webb with his family in a home movie as the film closed.

I thought the music was a little intrusive at times but I think this was because the theatre I was in was only small being only 4 rows of seats and the sound was too loud. At first I was not sure what purpose was served by seeing Gary occasionally zooming along on his motorbike but I guess it was to convey how important his bike was to him and why he was so upset when it was stolen contributing to his depressed feelings.

I think Jeremy Renner can be very proud of this film and this his first with production company The Combine if he can continue to develop projects of this quality then we are in for some real treats in the future.

Rating – 8/10

2015 Reading Challenge

It has been a long time since I have posted on my blog but I have decided to revive my interest in it (inspired by a blog that I have been following by Jeremy’s Flame).  Hoping it will encourage me as well to start stitching again since that has also gone by the wayside.  I’d thought I’d start with posting about my 2015 reading challenge (yes I know it doesn’t exactly indicate hope for my cross stitching aspirations!) I did join a reading group on GoodReads thinking there would be other like minded souls and we would encourage each other and talk about books but unfortunately there seems to be very little traffic on the forum and we seem to be talking to ourselves rather than interacting.

I have completed 9 categories so far:

  • A book with more than 500 pages: All The Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson
  • A book by a female author: Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris
  • A mystery or thriller: Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris
  • A book set in a different country: Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
  • A book a friend recommended: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
  • A book you can finish in a day: The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
  • A graphic novel: Jack The Ripper: A Journal of the Whitechapel Murders 1888-1889 by Rick Geary
  • A book by an author you’ve never read before: The Witch’s Ladder by Dana E Donovan
  • A book that was originally written in a different language: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 


I am currently reading A book with Magic – Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke which is a 1000 pages long and to be honest I am struggling with it to me there is not enough story to sustain the length but I am still interested in how it is going to wrap up.  Poor Arabella, Stephen and Lady Hope!

Update

It has been a long time since I updated my blog but have been remiss in not cross stitching as often as I should or really wanted to because once I start I get the bug all over again!  I have been stopping and starting and moving between projects so have not completed much of anything recently.  So I thought it would be a good idea to give myself some encouragement by doing an update.  I did complete a couple of smaller projects:

for anyone who knows me knows I love country music so I stitched this fun design 🙂

and to commemorate the occasion of my parents’ 50th anniversary I gave them this framed design.  I did this one in particular as they went to Switzerland not on their honeymoon (they were sensible and saving for a home) but a few years later and it was my Mum’s first holiday abroad and they have such lovely memories:

In addition I have been working on and am nearly finished ‘Discovery of the New World’ which I really enjoyed doing I love cross stitch projects that tell a story – I have got to finish the backstitching which is yes a little tedious not my favourite bit to do but it is absolutely essential.  I had a friend some years ago who was working on a cross stitch project and it was her first piece and she was doing a really good job but told me that she wasn’t going to bother with the backstitching.  It was a shame as if a job is worth doing then it is worth doing well and the stage of adding the backstitching although slow and fiddly is important to the finished look and really brings the design to life.  Anyway enough lecturing you can see the progress I have made so far and I will post the results of the finished piece:

I always take a project on holiday with me something lighthearted and fun and this is my current piece, my first Disney design I absolutely love Eeyore and both my Mum and myself have an eeyore on our beds.  The instructions for this is not as clear due to the number of backstitch lines which transverse the piece making it not easy to stitch but it is very colourful and should look really nice:
 
Lastly but not least is my albatross the Humphrey Bogart design which I am determined to complete but is a struggle and very slow growing this is the current stage it is at.  Still have my reservations but my Dad is keen for me to do it and I do hate to give up on something so am persevering with it.

Opinions on my work are encouraged so if you have any thoughts/suggestions please let me know.

I am determined not to leave it so long when I post again so watch this space!

Cross Stitch Comeback

Cross stitching has never gone away just like anything its popularity fluctuates – but I just found this link to a whole new world of cross stitch – how about stitching a Twitter saying or do you fancy stitching the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling – it will only take you 8 years and 3,572 hours! There are amazing skills out there in the cross stitch world – wow takes your breath away:

http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/07/08/cross-stitching-makes-a-comeback/

Seashell Cushion – Complete


It’s done, it took about two months, roughly two weeks for each square. I love the bright colours and the outer border in purple and the variegated blue sets it off well. Now it needs to go to Betty, a friend of my mother who is wonderful with a needle and thread I am going to ask her to add the finishing touches and hey presto I will have a cushion for our bathroom. I will post a picture when its ready. I am now working again on my Humphrey Bogart picture I think that once I have done a little more I will post it here I am unsure of how I feel about it I’m not sure about the colours but have been encouraged to continue so I will.

My next big project I am going to do as I said below stitch on evenweave I have picked out a great project called Discovery of the New World with Columbus’ ship Santa Marie as the main focus surrounding it will be clouds, the moon and sun and globes representing the world as it was seen in 1442. It looks a striking piece. I am a little nervous about using evenweave so have chosen a small project to get a feel for the fabric first. Let you know how I get on.

Shell Cushion


I have completed half of the shell cushion, this side will not need anything else doing to it all the backstitching is complete. I estimate that it will take about a month to stitch the remaining half. This photo doesn’t show it but in fact the fabric is a lovely ice blue colour which I think looks much nicer than just plain white. This is intended to go in the bathroom as we have a seaside theme. It is much easier to do the quarter stitches than I thought it would be and the variegated blue thread is a nice touch. As it’s name suggests the thread changes its shading as you stitch so it is best to stitch each complete cross so the colour is consistent.

Update – About Time!

I started this blog with the intention of posting about my hobbies particularly about my cross stitching projects but sorry to say it has fallen by the wayside but I thought it would be nice to start posting again. My main problem is that I have so many other interests in addition to cross stitch that although I have fairly regularly kept at least one project going I do tend to progress rather slowly. Anyway here are those projects I have completed recently. I am really proud of The Magnificent Seven but have to say my favourite is the sleeping elf which now hangs over my bed. I am currently working on two projects one of Humphrey Bogart for my Dad and the other a cushion with sea shells of which I have already almost completed one quarter of. This one is coming together quite quickly. I am already thinking about what to do next! Am considering trying to stitch on evenweave fabric which I have never done before but apparently people say once you start using evenweave you don’t want to go back to aida. That is enough for now but hopefully I’ll keep up the posting a little more often from now on!

Jane Austen


Recently watched the new Jane Austen productions and thoroughly enjoyed them and a new discovery for me was watching JJ Feild’s performance in “Northanger Abbey” he was brilliant and so scrumptious! Definitely be looking out for his new films coming out later this year
“Shadow in the North” (second part of the Sally Lockart series) and “O Jerusalem”.