I love paying $10 for a drink at the movies. No really. I do.

Apart from all the obvious festivities, we've also had a few other things going on - like, seeing movies. This time of year always sees a slew of movies opening (though the rest of the year has been rather dismal on that front), and even though the cost of seeing a film these days is positively criminal, we do love a trip to the cinema. Here's what we've seen:




Paranormal Activity. Well, it scared the bejesus out of me. Of course Jo says it wasn't at all scary, but take heed - the tension alone is enough to get you wired, and my brother didn't sleep for a week afterwards.




Avatar. No doubt the biggest blockbuster of the year, and only a decade in the making after all. Seems everyone wants to see what the hell James Cameron's been up to since, you know, Titanic, and actually, we loved this movie. My only complaint is that its very long, at just under three hours. Still, the visual effects are amazing, the storyline was good and hell, looking at Sam Worthington for 180 minutes is alright by me (even the bits when he's a weird alien creature). Make sure you see it in 3D - partly cause it looks better and partly cause it's freaken hilarious looking around the cinema and seeing everyone looking like bad Elton John impersonators in their enormous, plastic, 3D glasses.




New Moon. Hey, don't judge me. Let me say that although i too was one of the many lasses sucked into the Twilight books, i really thought the first movie was laughable in its awfulness. Bad. Just...bad. The funny this is, i loved it BECAUSE it was so bad. Honestly, there's just so many to laugh at! Thinking of all this reminds me of my friend Erin, because she is one of the only people i know who i think would totally agree with me on this one. (By the way, she's currently tramping all over the Middle East on a religious study tour - her blog about the whole experience is rather great, and you can check it out here.) Anyway, i did think New Moon was better than the first movie... just not by much. There are plenty of roll-your-eyes, laugh-out-loud moments, and i particularly reference the wolf transformation scenes. Come on guys. CGI is pretty good these days. Maybe you'll have a bigger budget next movie.




The Lovely Bones. Alright, now i saw this one with Leah, Chris and Jo, and the three of them turned against me in disgust afterwards. Admittedly, i was the only one who had read the book, and therefore the only one who knew how sad the whole story was going to be. But, i firmly believe that dappling in the sadder side of life helps you appreciate the good things a whole lot more, and anyway, this was a serious and thoughtful movie - what's wrong with that!? The book is great, and i thought the movie did it justice.



Still to see? Sherlock Holmes and Bright Star! Whenever i actually have a spare moment, that is. We wanted to go see Sherlock this weekend, but time got away as usual. We stayed at Leah's place on Friday night - who was a wonderful hostess by the way. It was like being at a B&B - including the cooked breakfast the next day. Bad movies, board games and junk food. What more could you want?

Leah's cat Marvin, questioning my motives for climbing into his bed.

We also finally got to meet my newest cousin! And he is beeeeautiful. Thus, i introduce - Joshua Liam.

Cute yes, but it was his brother Max that stole the show as usual. He is just beginning to speak, and says Hello like a real Aussie - as in, 'allo. Hilarious. He is the happiest kid I've ever met, which means you're happy being around him.

After discussing the finer points of childbirth with my cousin Susie (thanks a lot. i told you NOT to be honest.), we headed home and i got stuck into my Nigella marathon on the food channel. So inspired was I that i made a nutella and hazelnut chocolate cake and homemade hokey pokey today. And it was good.

So, the holidays are officially over i guess. It's back to work tomorrow, joy of joys, but we take solace in the fact that we'll be on holidays again in about 6 weeks when y'all are slogging it at work, suckers. We're off to New Zealand again, in summer for one (though i use the word summer lightly). Will i need to wear a scarf? A jumper? Stockings? Only time will tell.