Christmas is coming!!!

Every year, it's always the same. I look forward to the festive season with excitement, and by the time Boxing Day comes around I am sick of anything and everything to do with baby Jesus and all of the tinselly tat that surrounds him.

I try hard to hold off until at least December the 1st, but having had an 'early Christmas' with Wifey's dad (who's heading off to Australia for winter) – complete with presents and dinner with all the trimmings – it's difficult not to get sucked into it all.

So, as December looms I am bracing myself, determined to enjoy the season and not become the anti-Santa or whatever.

Pray for me.

Films I've Seen of Late (November)

#65 A United Kingdom (2016)
Moving and stirring story of the birth of the African nation of Botswana. Originally a British protectorate, Bechuanaland became independent after a long struggle with its British rulers. Secretes Khama, the next in line to the chieftainship, falls in love with an English girl while studying at University. The resultant opposition (from both the British estblishment and Batswana people is unsurprising but depressing) - although love and freedom prove resiliant enough.

#66 Capture the Flag (2015)
Okay-ish animation about a boy and his friend who accidentally end up on a mission to the moon (along with their ex-astronaut grandpa), in an attempt to stop an evil Elon Musk-type billionaire from claiming the moon for himself. Enjoyable enough, but all the family-friendly messages feel shallow and forced.
(5/10)

#67 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Kenneth Brannagh does a fine turn as eccentric Belgian super sleuth Hercules Poirot in this new adaptation of the classic murder mystery. Lavish sets and an all star cast are the cherry on top of a tight script and inventive direction from Ken. A great couple of hours of escapism.
(8/10)

#68 My Scientology Movie (2015)
Louis Théroux tackles the ultra-secretive Scientology sect in this feature-length documentary. Louis is his trademark self, quizzing his subjects with a self-deprecating innocence, although members of the so-called 'church' are mostly absent because of their secrecy and refusal to participate. Instead, most of the film centres around a former leader who has been excommunicated by the church. Whilst providing a fascinating insight into a bizarro mind-control cult, Louis’ movie doesn’t really deliver on its perceived promise.
(6/10)

#69 Pacific Rim (2013)
Giant robots battling enormous inter-dimensional monsters. That is all.
(7/10)

#70 Allied (2016)
Brad Pitt and Marion Cottilard play World War Two spies who fall in love after completing a daring mission together. This love is thrown into disarray, however, when one of them is accused of being a German double agent after they have moved to London and gotten married. With a tight and tense script, along with lush sets and costumes, Allied keeps you guessing to the end in what is a great thriller.
(8.5/10)

#71 La La Land (2016)
The lives of an aspiring actress and frustrated jazz pianist entwine amongst the bizarre backdrop of Los Angeles and Hollywood dreams. I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but La La Land was a pleasant surprise, thanks mostly to the excellent Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. More importantly, it’s a good story too.
(8/10)

Allergic to Coffee?

I have become one of those people who I used to despise - a coffee snob.

That's right. I turn my nose up at instant coffee and even grind my own coffee beans.

What the hell happened?

I don't really know, but one thing that I've discovered is that I have some weird olfactory (that's stuff to do with the sense of smelling in case you didn't know) response to coffee. Actually it's coffee shops.

If I make my own coffee at home, it has no effect, but if I go to a coffee shop (regardless of brand) afterwards my sense of smell is dominated by a weird coffee aroma. Its sort of like a stale coffee smell.

I've written about the coffee shop aroma before on my blog, but to actually have it as some kind of phantom smell is quite unsettling.

All I can think of is that it's some kind mild allergic reaction.

I'd love to know if anytone else is afflicted by this - and whether it's a recognised medical condition.

In the meantime, I'll just go and have another cup of joe...