I finally got around to watching Birdsong. I loved the book and I wondered how this long-awaited adaptation would hold up. I wasn't disappointed. I'm looking forward to seeing part two on Sunday night.

I watched this last night and I left literally speechless: After reading reviews, I was expecting a Kubrickian masterpiece. Instead I was left watching the most smug and pretentious film I think I've ever seen. It's not that I didn't get the film's visual metaphors and latent symbolism. For me it just didn't work. Dinosaurs with a sympathetic conscience?! It was so bad I was laughing hysterically at one point.

I agree this was the best scene in the film and the one that I will always remember. Despite the flaws in the film, I think this scene sums up perfectly Thatcher's approach to politics and life in general; it's about thinking of new ideas even if those ideas are often unthinkable to others.

I'd take Charlotte over Emily any day. Charlotte was the most prolific of the Bronte sisters, and I have always preferred Jane Eyre to Wuthering Heights which I consider to be a rather bleak and depressing novel. Anne shouldn't be overlooked either. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is just as worthy of recognition.

It's some kind of sponge based cake I think. Back to Chocolate, which I do consider myself to be a connoisseur of. I've had Hershey's and it does have a strange tang to it. I don't know what it is, but I don't really like it. Cadbury's is pretty good, especially when you've not had any for a couple of weeks. Wispa bar is my favourite, I'm so glad they brought that one back. I do believe, however, that Cadbury's creme eggs should be strictly for Easter. Last year we had the Halloween eggs with the green goo inside, they just didn't taste the same. Now Cadbury's are bringing out a 'Ga

I love that series too. I just watched the Christmas episode for the second time.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood on the BBC.

A great scene from a great film:

I went to see this film with my mum. We both cried. Its style may be dated for some, but it's like watching a work of art. Its soundtrack is devastatingly moving. One of the few films that does the book justice. 'I know you'll come and carry me out into the palace of winds'...

As you know Kenog I'm huge fan of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. I'll have to get myself down to London to see those rare painting. I've got plenty of time to book a cheap train ticket! Thanks for posting!

I saw it last night. To be fair he was only 18, and must have been very nervous. Although I was surprised he got the No Quarter question wrong. I thought the questions were incredibly easy.

My guinea pigs, Bertie and Betty

Many congratulations Kiwi!! Enjoy your break, you've earnt it!

I have a real phobia of slugs. I know that it's completely irrational. What harm could a slug ever do me? I thought I was getting over it, that was until last week a slug slided into my house through an an open window. I was so horrified seeing this slug in my house I couldn't even look at it. I don't have a problems with snails (the shell seems to make a difference!) or spiders, just slugs.

The photos being posted here are real works of art, and truly are inspiring. Greenman your photos capture England so well; they're beautiful and inspirational. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Clint Eastwood is one of the few 'great' directors and actors left in Hollywood. As a director, I think what makes his films so exceptional is that they are so unfussy and understated, and the focus of the film is very much on the narrative. Having learnt his trade on the ground, he knows how to get the best out of the actors he works with, and demonstrates a maturity of judgement that's so rare in modern cinema. In period films such as Changeling, Los Angeles in the 1920s is so wonderfully evoked that once you've taken it in, you can almost forget about it.

I hope these made available online for us to see. Unfortunately I can't get down to London to see them for myself. http://thefloodgalle...led-zeppelin-iv Edited to add: the pre-orders can be found here, but, as expected, are rather expensive: http://www.thefloodg...t-prints?page=2

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling a little more relaxed. Stress can make even the calmest of people jumpy. Fool's right, it sounds like classic panic attack symptoms to me as well. The problem is if you get yourself all worked up, you won't be able to concentrate on the work you need to do. Try and take a couple of hours out of your day to just unwind and not think about anything stressful. Easier said than done, I know!

^^Kiwi, of course these lovely photos you took belong in this thread! Albert Park looks like a wonderful place to relax and hang out. Thanks for sharing them.

What a lovely picture Fool, thanks for posting. Leo is a real cutie! He looks like he's going to be a big boy.

Hi Kenog, Has the British Library acquired a copy yet? According to the British Library website: Publishers and distributors in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have a legal obligation to send one copy of each of their publications to the Legal Deposit Office of the British Library within one month of publication. This legal requirement dates back to 1662. Genesis had better get their act together!