Staycation - Despicable Me

Due to various planning difficulties, and Brody having his treatments, the second week of my holiday will be at home this year.

So, starting with Saturday.  Liz had arranged a visit with Leo to see "Despicable Me 3" at the cinema.

I had won 4 tickets to the Odeon in the raffle at the Carousel concert at St Mary's recently, so we had to go to either Chelmsford or Southend.  Chelmsford is closer, and I don't like the Odeon in Southend, so it was an easy choice.  Not realising we could have book, we arrived at the cinema in time to get the last 4 seats together (2 in row A, 2 in Row B).  Things were going our way as I had driven straight into an available space in the car park on the ground floor near the entrance.

We were soon settled in the theatre, enforced toilet breaks taken.  It was FULL.  The noise was horrific.  Next to me two young girls were 'nesting' - they had a blanket, had removed their shoes and were huddled together like birds on a cliff edge in a storm - except they also had mobile phones.

The film started, and the volume it was played at mainly drowned out the noise, only during quieter parts could you here the inane chatter.  Next to me two skype sessions were in full swing, they weren't interested in the screen it seemed, they couldn't see it from under the blanket for part of the time.  Meanwhile, Leo sat in his seat eating his sweets and was properly engrossed in the film.  Surely that's what you go to the cinema for.

Ah, yes, the film. It is popular today to talk about fictional universes - so here goes.  The Despicable Me universe containing Gru,  Dr Nefario (who is still a man (#DrWho), but not in this film), Lucy,  the three girls and the Minions is not as consistent as it should be.  As the minions are looking for the 'most evil  boss' surely they should switch from Gru to Dru (the twin brother) but they don't.  Nevertheless, the story is good enough, the jokes are reasonable, and the animation is very good.  There are also some nice asides and cross-references for the adults.  Dr Nefario in Carbonite - for example.  So - enjoyable, if not brilliant.

American New Year's Day

When we returned home yesterday the TV had arrived, so this delivery at least had worked well. Today is a quiet day, we were late home last night, but still awake at 7am. Time to catch up with the blogging, and enjoy Karen's American breakfast - pancakes, maple syrup, bacon (freshly cooked), scrambled eggs, and cinnamon bread. Then more time spent learning the tablet while Job finishes her knitted blanket.
We went out to the local Crackerbarrel for lunch. There was a long wait for a table, and an even longer wait for food. Karen spoke to the manageress, and the service improved. She also gave us our meal for free.
As it seems impossible to get to a drive-in, I will have to settle for seeing The Hobbit in a regular cinema. There is only one in Auburn, so it is an easy choice. The next 2D show is at 8:55, which is rather late. It means that we won't be back until midnight. The cinema is a huge multi-plex, our theatre is almost empty. The seats are very comfortable, and the building is reasonably clean. The Hobbit has been criticized for being too long, everyone agreed, except me. It is so long since I have read the book that I can't remember a lot of the details in the story. The key points I recognize, but the dwarf history I do not - time to re-read the book.

Waters End Farm, Iden Green

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After a day at home which passed in the blink of an eye, we set off for Kent - not quite so glamorous as Barcelona, but we had to get away again.   Iden Green is near Cranbrook, Tentenden, Hawkhurst and Rye.  The room we had was lovely, as was the setting.  The weather was kind to us (so glad it wasn't this week!).  We visited various places, and walked around the towns.  We saw the new 'A Christmas Carol' film in the Kino digital cinema in Hawkhurst.  This must be the cinema experience of the future, the waiting area is a bar, serving drinks and cakes.  No popcorn in sight, no pushing and shoving, no arguing about seats.  I have long been a fan of small Cinemas, now it looks like there is a future for them too.

On Saturday we went to St. Dunstans, Cranbrook to hear a production of Handel's Messiah.  It was uncomfortable sitting on the pews for all that time, and as we hadn't booked, and didn't arrive that early finding seats was difficult.  It was a very good production.  We got to sing the Hallelujah chorus for Children in Need.  No, I'm not going to make the obvious joke.

All these little Kentish towns are beautiful and have their own unique character.  We enjoyed our few additional days away, and returned on Sunday via Tunbridge Wells.