h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ha! That grabbed your attention didn't it!

Not me though, but my sister. She suddenly announced last week that she and her ex-OH, who have been living together again for the past six years, have decided to re-tie the knot. The wedding is on 10 September, so it was pretty short notice, and we have an Open Day at work that day, so although my boss has kindly said she could manage without me, I was reluctant to take the time off.

And anyway, I feel rather ambivalent about the whole thing. On one hand I'm quite relieved for her sake that they are regularising their relationship (tax, pension and so on), OTOH I think that deep down I have not really forgiven her OH for the way he treated her leading up to the divorce. She was in a very bad way for some time, on anti-depressants etc and her son, a teenager at the time, was also affected quite badly.

So have decided to compromise. I'm not going to the actual wedding, but will go to the evening party. No idea what I'm going to wear. I don't feel like buying something specifically "weddingy" because I'd never wear it again, except perhaps for my nephew's wedding next July (my sis has bought herself a smart suit, which she plans to recycle as her mother-of-the-groom outfit). As the party is at their house, I suppose I could wear something quite informal, rather than a suit. Any ideas gratefully received.

Why buy anything at all? Why not simply haul out a 'works night out' outfit from your existing wardrobe and treat yourself to something else with the £££s you would have otherwise spent?

Douglas


I agree.

Sue

Good thinking you two! This had in fact crossed my mind, and is probably what I will do.

I also did a tour of the Cambridge charity shops yesterday, just in case somebody happened to have discarded a designer suit/dress/whatever in my size. No luck, unfortunately.

How well does your sister know your wardrobe? mmm thought so - wear something from the existing clothes and save the money. If you need any sugfgestions on how to spend it do feel free to call

Jane

Hmmm... let me guess... cinema tickets. Coffee (and cake?) books a charity shop troll I don't think Annie's going to have any problems at all spending her "money not spent on posh frock" money. Sfunny but if you sustritute CDs for cinema tickes you come up with MY ideal day.

Oh! Annie. Our Picture House Cinema has got a friends preview this sunday - Arsine Lupin. I'm going to try to go, but this will mean missing the Archers and giving Susan the run of the house on a sunday night, very dangerous. It is the cinema's fifth birthday this september, and they are showing a customers choice/best of programme - Moulin Rouge, City of God, Aimelee, Lost in Translation and Downfall. I am thinking of the special woman in my life to see Moulin Rouge or if she can't make it Susan.


Douglas

You are making me nostalgic for Aberdeen and the Belmont cinema in particular.

Good movies all, with the possible exception of Amelie, which i didn't see, but was told by Aberdonian friend was a pile o' shite.

There is a flick house in Stellenbosch but it is a Ster Kinekor and only shows the popular movies. I have yet to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That's one I really want to see.

Hi Richard

Don't agree with your Aberdonian friend about Amelie - thought it was not a great film, but quite sweet. Audrey Tautou has since made a film about WWI, A Very Long Engagement - the rest of the film was very good, but I thought she was miscast.

On the other hand, I started watching Moulin Rouge when it was on TV and couldn't stand it!

It's a good thing we don't all like/dislike the same things, isn't it?

Yes, could easily blow "posh frock money" on cinema tickets ...

Arsene Lupin was in the Film Festival, but I didn't see it, so will have to wait until it comes back. I love Kristin Scott Thomas.

Went to see a Uruguayan film on Saturday called Whisky (the Spanish equivalent of saying "cheese" for the camera). It's about some people with very boring repetitive lives, and not a lot happens, although at various points you think something is going to. The blurb in the Picturehouse brochure compared it to films by Kaurismaki, but I think his stuff is much funnier.