#67 In the Summer time

Lucky enough to grow up on the coast, my childhood Summer memories involve hot days, Summer fruits, days at the beach or swimming in our backyard pool, and barbecues. Lots of barbecues. We were either in water or we were eating. So much fun. Mindful fun. Calm. Bliss.

We had a couple of really hot days here this past weekend and I joined my sister and brother in law and my nephews at the beach. We had body boards and a blow up raft and we had a ball. I haven't spent that much time in the water in years. We squealed with delight as our raft crashed into waves and when we caught the long ride in on a wave on our body boards - the boys taught me how to use one and now I'm hooked!

We then got take away and sat in my front garden for hours, chatting with mum and dad. I was in heaven and we asked ourselves why we would ever consider going away on holidays at Summer when we have this in our backyard.

I also got to spend an afternoon with some friends in their pool after a barbecue lunch. I felt like a kid again. What a weekend.

Today is Monday and I'm back at work, but I still feel so refreshed and calm. I'm making my resolution right here to spend more time in and with the ocean this year. I've heard there's an 'old ladies' group that meets Sunday mornings at the beach to go body boarding together. Maybe I'll give that a try.....

This Wednesday I'm off to count penguins again on Middle Island - I'll keep you posted!

Happy New Year!

My beach - Warrnambool beach

#66 Dear Rocky - To Kill A Mockingbird

Dear Rocky,

I cannot believe it took me until the end of 2014 to watch this classic film. I also must admit, I have never read the book. I think it sat on my bedside table for about 6 months in 2013 as I was going through one of my "must read the top 100 books in the world before I die" phases, but I didn't even pick it up. I might now though after seeing this most brilliant film.

I don't mean to be the film critic here, but in my opinion (and please point me in the right direction if I am wrong) the acting in many of the old classic films is quite overdone - do you know what I mean? As if the actors were on stage in a pantomime and needed to over-accentuate their performance delivery.

I guess I expected something similar from TKAM, but how wonderfully wrong I was. Each of those child actors who played Scout, Jem and Dill were shere genuises! Did they win academy awards?? I think they should have.

Add to the mix a classic tale of good versus evil and at least three major themes highlighting intolerances (of race, gender and differences in general) and we were in for a fantastic story about the human condition and compassion.

The court scene was so well written and played that it rivalled any of our current television court drama action. I'm currently a big fan of The Good Wife and thought that the dialogue between the lawyers and their witnesses could've fitted in perfectly today.

I also loved hearing the narration through Scout's character and the sense we had of her maturing towards the end of the film. I found the attack scene horrifying as I'd really connected to the kids and didn't want anything to happen to them. I had so enjoyed their innocence and freedom to explore up until that point.

And then of course, the point of the whole movie for me came when Scout was able to leave behind her fantasy monster version of Boo Radley and see him for what he was, another human being.

Two more points - why did they call their dad Atticus? Did I miss that? Also, I just loved the cigar box collection and the way it was used at the start of the film and throughout.

All up I'm giving this a 9.5/10.

How about you Rocky? You can read Rocky's review here!

Jodie