So, Breaking Dawn Part 1: Er…

Well, it has taken me a while to write about the 4th film instalment of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.

Before I go into why that might be, I’ll start by telling you what I’ve heard other people say – both good and bad.

The good stuff:
‘So romantic!’

‘I love what they do with the Summit logo at the beginning’

‘Gorgeous wedding, that dress! I’m not so sure about the ring’

‘The best part is by far the ‘back breaking’ scene!’

The not so good stuff:
‘What a pile of excrement!’

‘Did, I really just spend 11.25 on that? Why, why did you make me spend 11.25 on that?

‘Is it ever a good thing in films when people laugh at something that wasn’t supposed to be funny?

‘Did anyone else notice the continuity error when Bella and Edward are at the Alter? When the camera pans around them? One second all the seats are occupied and the next they are vacant, then they’re occupied again. Just not good enough really’

So…
With all that said, I’m sure it won’t surprise you to learn that most of the people who had the worst things to say about the film are not exactly the key demographic/ target audience; mainly teenage girls who have read the books and love the characters

As for why it took me so long to write this, it took me a while to watch it and let’s just say that ‘Breaking Dawn, Part ’1 is not my favourite of the Twilight films. That would be ‘New Moon’

I do agree that what Summit do with the logo is cool. The back breaking scene was well done and it’s true, I’ve heard people laugh when laughter was far from the desired effect. But overall, I’ll confess that as for Breaking Dawn Part 2, my fingers are crossed that everyone will be very pleasantly surprised.

The Ultimate Sign of Summer: The Loudest!

Writing from the point of view of a London, England resident, there are very few signs that let people know that Summer has officially arrived.

For example:

Sign 1) When choosing to have ice cream is really just about a basic need to cool down

Sign 2) Thinking about sleeping with a window or two open – at the risk of letting in insects and maybe even a bird. It has been known to happen

Sign 3) The male dilemma of shorts versus trousers. Well, unless you’re Tom Ford, because shorts according to him are always an absolute NO NO

With the first few signs of summer covered, so what is the ultimate indication that marks the official arrival of summer?

Sign 4) The guaranteed smile inducing moment that I spot a (perhaps ill-advised) man, proudly sporting a bright and VERY BUSY multi-coloured Hawaiian shirt. This for me is the ultimate sign of summer in all its loud and jazzy glory.

I saw one in Summer 2011 and it made my afternoon.
My experience is that unless you’re actually in Hawaii, choosing to wear a Hawaiian shirt is a risky affair and a sure fire way to get you some attention, desirable or otherwise.

I don’t personally know any fans of Hawaiian shirts, and by ‘fans’ I’m talking about those who like them enough to wear them in a fashion capital like London, England. OK. I admit; at a push there is a ‘distant’ uncle or two who shall remain nameless).

Why this topic? I’m in the mood for summer already and the coldest month of Winter 2011/ 2012 hasn’t even arrived yet. So I decided to try and get myself in the mood.

What brings summer home for you?

Taylor Lautner: A Girl’s… Ok, A Woman’s New Obsession. But I’m Definitely A YOUNG Woman!

Taylor Lautner

I am rather embarrassed right now. In fact, one could say I’m even more than a little ashamed.
You see, I have a new crush. A rather big one at that. TAYLOR LAUTNER a.k.a Jacob Black from the Twilight Saga. Please excuse me while I take this moment to thank the Lord for my eyesight. Thank you Jesus!

I was in the midst of my occasional leisurely browse of a well known celebrity website when I came across a recent photo of this young specimen. My God! The image of this young man stopped me promptly in my tracks. So much so that if you’d have asked me what my name was at that precise moment, I really don’t think that I could have told you.

For 60+ seconds (I’m lying – it was longer, quite significantly longer) I was held captive in a semi-conscience trance as my eyes slowly washed over the vision before me. Once I snapped out of it – no idea how, I then proceeded to immediately copy the picture you see here, and very quickly set it as the new desktop background on my laptop. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that I’ve been drooling profusely over it since I clapped eyes on it, and even more so as I type this post. (Excuse me while I go wash my face).

When did I last feel like this? Not a clue. To think that he is only 17! How CRUEL life is… The idea of Mr Taylor having a girlfriend – :O!!! Maybe I should become, something, ANYTHING as long as it means I get to be next to him every day.

Taylor baby, I’M COMING!!!! (Please don’t run away!)

Robert Pattinson: At My Local Supermarket.

Last night I met Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen. What? Where? How? I hear you wonder. At my local supermarket. He was reasonably friendly, and well mannered enough, not only to smile back, but to speak to me when I smiled at him.

I’ve never been one to get embarrassingly star struck at the sight of very famous people. But as I’m sure you can understand, as a regular girl, I felt pretty damn special to be speaking to the equivalent of Leonardo Dicaprio around the time Titanic was released over a decade ago.

It was at the check-out that our eyes first met, I was queuing to pay for a box of strawberries and he was rather surprisingly, about to purchase a long grey full length leather coat. Not the kind of thing one would expect to purchase from a supermarket I know, but hey, winter has been crazy this year.

All was going unbelievably well. I was perfectly calm, I managed to not scare him off by displaying ALL my teeth when I smiled, and I was still standing! It was when he smiled at me that I noticed something… something strange. Mr. Pattinson was the owner of a set of what I can best describe as extremely bad teeth! This didn’t make any sense! We’re talking about THE Robert Pattinson here. There must be some kind of explanation, I thought. Perhaps it’s a practical joke, yes. Some kind of social experiment he had undertaken. Or maybe he’s still in costume for his latest film and just rushed out to buy the coat forgetting that he was still, partly in character.

By the time we’d both finished paying for our goods and stepped outside the store, I noticed a large group of teenage girls and a couple of teenage boys racing towards us. Before I could utter anything else, my dear Robert had said a hasty goodbye and dashed in the opposite direction.

Only the good Lord knows what would have happened next had the teenagers never appeared. It would have all been even more amazing had all the above happened while I wasn’t, well… fast asleep. LIFE CAN BE SO CRUEL!

Angelina Jolie: Why I Love Her So.

Angelina Jolie

Yes she is beautiful – a fact that cannot be overlooked. Talented? Absolutely. But that is not why I love Angelina Jolie. My love is greater than her aesthetic and how well she does her day job. It is how she gives to others because she can – and in ways not accessible to everyone, that I admire.

I said I love Angelina Jolie, but don’t get me wrong, I’m not crazy. I know very well that I do not ‘know’ Angelina Jolie. I just really cannot help loving her. The truth is, I couldn’t care less about her private life. What I love about Angelina Jolie are the facts that I see. Like I said, I don’t ‘know her’ but the way she has opened her heart to help others in need simply warms my heart.

Many of us are unfortunately only too aware of the kind of cruelty and evilness that exists in our world. So when I see such selflessness, kindness and compassion from one human being toward another, I just can’t help but get emotional.

I’m sure the fact I know that not everyone can do what she does whether or not they have the means, is why I love Angelina Jolie even more. I’m not saying that everybody who can, should do exactly what she’s doing, but that I appreciate her inspirational example.

Considering all I’ve just stated, it’s not surprising then that I have great difficulty listening to people who have nothing positive to say about Angelina Jolie. By no means do I think she is perfect because nobody is. I’m just saying that I feel gratitude for all the people out there like Angelina Jolie who believe in ‘Love Thy Neighbour,’ ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’ and so on.

Leonardo Dicaprio: “But he looks like a girl! He’s a rubbish Actor…!” They Said.

Leonardo Dicaprio

What happy memories the above words bring to mind… I say this because I was one of those thoroughly ‘passionate’ and ‘dedicated’ young girls that got carried away into the all consuming Leonardo Dicaprio infatuation, when the movie Titanic was released in 1997. I wouldn’t say that my passion and dedication took over my life exactly. But, not too dissimilar to some Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson fans today, I was arguably a very ‘serious fan’.

Like any regular teenage girl with a movie star ‘preoccupation,’ I had a huge collection of books and magazines I’d bought, just because Leo’s name/ image appeared on the cover. My nose was dutifully emersed in these publications during almost all of my free time; and often as my brothers looked on in utter disgust. Naturally, I was only too happy to annoy them.

Not only did I shamelessly declare my love to anyone who dared ask, (not that they ever had to) but I had a habit of writing his full name, (Leonardo Wilhelm Dicaprio) on just about every bare surface I could find.

Unsurprisingly, every time anyone (usually very jealous teenage boys), dared say a single word about ‘my darling Leo,’ that wasn’t remotely complimentary, it made perfect sense that I should take it upon myself to defend him. So deep was my love I really couldn’t have been more outspoken and dedicated, had I personally received a cheque from the man himself for my services.

Over a decade later, it just seems clear now that all my past efforts were somehow, not a complete waste of time. If only because ‘my dear Leo’ is today very much a successful Hollywood Actor. His achievements rather prove that regardless of what all the jealous boys had to say about him, (“But he looks like a girl,” “He’s a rubbish Actor,” “He’s so obviously gay!”), Leo was never really ‘just’ teenage eye candy. They only had to watch ‘The Basketball Diaries’ and ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ to see that.

I won’t even mention the number of times I’ve watched the all important Titanic movie. But let’s just say that my brothers were far from pleased about my choice of DVD, each time I was in the living room watching a film.

The Reason For My ‘Crazy’ Smile: Usher’s New Song Featuring Will.i.am

A few days ago my younger sister updated her Facebook status as follows: “So in love with the Usher and Will.I.am tune!!!!” Having been tied down with a couple of projects lately, I hadn’t taken the time to investigate for myself whether she really should be ‘in love’ with said track. I’m her big sister you see, so it’s my job to tell her what to listen to!

I finally got the chance yesterday and I confess I’ve been unable to stop since. I wouldn’t say that it’s Usher’s best ever track but I love how it makes me feel. I get an incredibly irresistible urge to dance and I find myself smiling like a perfectly unbalanced individual, but of course I don’t care.

For me, the song perfectly captures the feeling or state of great joy, pride or exultant gladness experienced after finding something you’ve been in search of for the longest time. As is the case in the song, perhaps you’ve per chanced upon the guy/girl of your dreams. Or you may have won something you fought very hard to get. Whatever it is about this song, it makes me very, very happy indeed.

I can just imagine an athlete along with their entourage dancing to the track at the after party of a medal presentation ceremony. Not that there’s anything stopping them from dancing to it immediately after winning a race, as fans chant (oh, oh oh oh oh oh!

Another reason the song makes me smile so uncontrollably is the reminder of the late Michael Jackson’s influence. The words thank you, thank you, thank you flood my thoughts and I am crazy happy.

Here it is if you haven’t already been blessed with the sounds: http://bit.ly/dtKsRK

MICHAEL JACKSON: Thankfully, Extraordinary Artistry Lasts Forever.

I really cannot help but feel genuinely excited for the generations yet to learn of and experience the phenomenon that was Michael Jackson.

Of course it hardly feels real or right that I’m referring to Michael Jackson in past tense and in June 2010. It’s even harder to believe that nearly a whole year has now passed since the day the world woke up to the news. Nevertheless, we always knew that the day would come when Michael was no longer physically in this world.

Ever since the event, for the longest time I was unable to watch any videos of Michael, let alone look at pictures and read news articles covering his passing. The truth is, I still haven’t fully watched any film footage of him yet. But unlike in the last 11 months, I can now listen to his music without getting very emotional. The mere mention of his name still moves me, but this time it’s as a result of feeling incredibly lucky that I was blessed enough to grow up with Michael, as well as experience and witness his immense talent and positive influence.

There are so many moments of happiness, especially whilst growing up that are linked to listening to and watching videos of the music of Michael Jackson. It is therefore incredibly fortunate, particularly for later generations that brilliant music has a way of lasting forever.

So, even though Michael Jackson has physically left us, he is so very present every time we are exposed to his music, and hear or see the work of all the people he inspired as well as those he’ll continue to inspire many years after.

I write this to say: “Thank you again Michael, for the immeasurable joy. I really hope that you are getting exactly what you need wherever you are at this time; especially so because with ‘Blood On The Dance Floor’ playing in the background as I type these words, thanks to you, I am.”

Riley Biers: I know he’s supposed to be ‘BAD’, but I like him!

Finally, at long last, I have watched Eclipse. I can’t believe how long it took me! The film was only released nationwide, in the UK last Friday. But still!

The real reason it took me so long is actually to do with something a friend who had seen it before me had to say after watching it.

What she said had me a little worried. So much so that her feedback drove me to desperately search online to find out if everyone else agreed with her. Thankfully, in the most part they did not.

Following my long awaited ‘date’ with the entire cast, I can now say that I thoroughly enjoyed the third installment of the Twilight Saga.

As known by several, I’ve not been at all shy about letting everyone know that the biggest pull for me, to all the Twilight Saga films is a certain Mr. Taylor Lautner. Nevertheless, I was rather looking forward to meeting the new characters, the Newborns especially.

After watching the Eclipse trailer months ago, only one Newborn in Particular really caught my eye. Riley Biers. The reason? A perfectly executed scene; the sexy and cinematographically satisfying moment when the Newborn army of vampires emerge from the water. Perhaps it’s just my usually excitable character but how wonderfully sexy was that moment?

The only thing my friend mentioned after watching Eclipse, which I completely agree with is how short the fight between Edward and Victoria was. I really do wish they had made more of it. But then again, on the other hand, maybe doing just that would have eaten into Taylor Lautner’s screen time. So perhaps I can live with it after all.

Today The Local ‘Crazy’ Touched My Face.

I was on my way home from work. I spotted him several metres in front of me – and since he’d already seen me, to avoid being rude, I stopped to exchange a few neighbourly words.

There I stood with him chatting away when before I knew it, it happened. He’d touched my face.

I say the local ‘crazy’ touched my face but I don’t really have the right training to label anyone crazy. Perhaps what I should really say is ‘eccentric’. Yes, eccentric. ‘Today the local eccentric touched my face’.

So, why is he eccentric? He is eccentric because he wears ladies clothing. He is eccentric because he wears ladies clothing and doesn’t care what anybody else thinks. He is eccentric because he doesn’t just wear ladies clothing, but he wears ladies clothing whilst sporting a dark, VERY manly beard – in the brightest light of day.

Just to clarify; by ‘ladies clothing’ I’m talking about a blouse and skirt, and by skirt I don’t mean a kilt – this is not Scotland. Come to think of it, have you ever seen a pleated golden kilt with black ribbon trimming?

Since the part where he touched my face kind of stands out, I haven’t a clue what we actually spoke about. Plus, I excused myself pretty soon after the first touching of the face.

I can certainly assure you of one thing – at no point during the brief conversation were the words ‘Gia, can I touch your face?’ uttered. Nor did I reply ‘yes’, ‘why not?’, ‘ok’, ‘sure’ ‘please’ or anything of that sort.

So really, I have no idea what could have led Mr eccentric to believe that touching my face at that moment in time would have been in any way well received. Answers on a postcard.

SHOPPING: What Happens When 5 Minutes is Not 5 Minutes.

Gia: ‘Oh, what’s this shop? I’ve never seen this before.’
I enter anyway even though my instinct warns that this is one of those shops with an over-zealous Sales Assistant. Plus, the fact that it’s totally empty on Saturday afternoon must mean that it’s also pricey.

As soon as I enter and reach for a garment -
Over-zealous Sales Assistant: ‘Hi there. That is a beautiful one you’re looking at. Which colour do you prefer?’
Before I could even answer –
Over-zealous Sales Assistant: ‘This one here is quite versatile, because you can wear it as a jacket or a dress. A ‘Jacket-Dress’ if you will. Let me get this colour for you in your size.’

Wow! I didn’t even say that I wanted it yet, nor did I inform her of my size.

It comes, I try it on and it’s beautiful. I definitely want it. Oh but wait, what is this? A half broken button? Now I definitely can’t buy it. How am I going to tell her?

Over-zealous Sales Assistant: ‘How’s it going in there?’
I mention the button.
Over-zealous Sales Assistant: ‘I can have that sewn up for you right now. I’ll get it done downstairs; just give me a few minutes.’

Gia: How long will it take exactly?

Over-zealous Sales Assistant: Just five minutes.’
‘Ok’, I hear myself say. It’s hard to say no when she’s so clearly desperate to make the sale. Maybe she’ll get fired if she doesn’t close this deal? I mean the woman that looked like her Manager had been watching us quite closely since I entered the store.

Two other customers enter the store and I realise that 20 minutes have now passed. That’s it; I’ve officially waited far too long; for a Jacket-Dress I’m really not sure I’ll buy; so I take matters into my own hands. I walk up to her Manager –

Gia: ‘Hi. My friend is waiting for me at the station. I’ll be back in a few minutes for the Jacket-Dress.

Over-zealous Sales Assistant’s Manager: ‘Oh, ok.’
The way her face ever so slightly dropped when I said those words means she knew only too well that I would not be entering her store again today.

I leave feeling just a little guilty. But I did wait for 25 long minutes – even though I was told it would only take 5. So you see? I shouldn’t feel bad at all and just like that I get on with the rest of my day.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?. ‘I Was Here’ (Beyonce) By Diane Warren.

A little tip: Listen. Don’t watch. Well, unless you need reminding on the beauty that is Beyonce.
This song makes me think of dreams, my dreams and yours. Michael Jackson also springs to mind. Love, love love. ¦-)

ROBERT PATTINSON & BRUNO MARS Are Brothers!

Robert Pattinson and Bruno Mars are almost identical. Don’t believe me?
Just look…

He Was HOT! ¦-)…

My oh my he was hot!

He was hot, HE WAS HOT!

Considering the day I’ve just had, now I’m just smiling and smiling

I really didn’t think there was an upside to public transport in London England; especially during the 6pm rush hour.

But indeed he was hot! Tanned, gorgeous, tall, sexy, polite, HOT! Friendly, HOT! Accent, HOT! HOT, HOTTT!!!

He was hot; just another reason to love this city!

An Unforgettable Experience With ‘The Wilde’ in ‘Gay Paris’. ¦-)

For the benefit of those not in the know, this image is from the final resting place of one of my favourite Word Smiths – and one celebrated by many the world over.

Who am I talking about? The one and only Oscar Wilde of course!

I’m happy to say that I have indeed seen this very gravestone with my own eyes; though I’m actually not the one responsible for this photograph.

Pere La Chaise (Paris) is where Mr Wilde rests.

Should you zoom out of this picture you’d see that there are so many kisses on his huge gravestone that to try and count them all would be more than foolish.

I confess that late arrival and being ‘lost in the moment’ very nearly led to me getting locked overnight in this most full and famous of Parisian cemeteries.

For a brief while I actually entertained the idea of a night with ‘the long gone.’ I even reasoned that being trapped in a massive cemetery amongst dead people I never actually knew wouldn’t have been too scary at all. Why? Because I felt that I would be ‘perfectly safe’ as long as I curled up by one of my favourites, Mr Wilde.

Still, that comforting thought did absolutely nothing to stop me from running out of there as fast as my little stumps could carry me.

Final thought? Decisions made in the midst of states of heightened emotion (in this case total awe) are best and at the very least reconsidered.

A reminder of just a few of his best:

‘Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them’

‘All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his’

‘I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying’