Film Review: Woman in Black

You may remember me mentioning that the other day I went to the cinema with my boyfriend to watch The Woman in Black and I absolutely loved it!

I was not sure whether I would as I studied the play for GCSE and have seen it twice at the theatre. The story is really good though, so I gave the film a chance and I actually enjoyed the film just as much as I did the play. The film has made a few changes but nothing major and I think, if anything, this simply added to the story and made it even scarier.

I always find it hard writing film reviews, especially when a film is relatively new, as I don't want to ruin the plot for those yet to watch it. The basic premise is that an old woman has died and Arthur Kips has been sent to a little Northern village to sort through her papers as part of his job. Upon arriving at the village it is clear that there is something not quite right with the occupants; several children have died and there is a sense of foreboding amongst the adults. Nobody will go near Eel Marsh house where the old woman used to live. As Arthur spends more time at the house, he starts to uncover some rather chilling information which puts a whole new light on the story.

There are some huge jumps in the film, my boyfriend swore quite loudly at one point because he was not expecting something to happen. I felt that the effects were used really well. I am very rarely scared by horror films, having watched so many of them, but this one really creeped me out. I was especially scared by the old fashioned toys so watch out for them if you go to see it!

I cannot recommend this film strongly enough. If you like a good horror then this is definitely one to watch. If you are easily scared I wouldn't advise it however as I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at one point. I would also say that whoever decided to make it a 12A was an idiot. Do not take a child to see this film, not only is it quite gruesome and disturbing in places, the language in the cinema audience was definitely not for young ears!

Things You Should Know about Toddlers

I have posted previously about things I have learnt since having a newborn, and since having a young baby. Cameron is now 17 months and the bar has been raised yet again. For any mummies out there approaching toddler territory, or fellow mums already in the thick of it, here is my rundown of the biggest shocks I have come across (all to be taken lightheartedly!)....

1. You will end up knowing the words to shows such as In the Night Garden and Fireman Sam off by heart and will probably start singing them to yourself even when your little one is nowhere in sight.

2. Mummies to little boys, you may have survived up until now without being peed on but there is an even higher risk once your toddler decides they want to start using a potty....

3. Those toys you used to wish your baby would play with back when a cardboard box was more interesting? You will be harbouring secret plans to find and destroy each and every one of them if you hear one more chorus of "1,2,3,4,5 all aboard the counting train" at half six in the morning.

4. Bathtime is fun. Getting out of the bath time not so much....

5. Remember watching that advert on TV with the woman getting on the floor and banging her fists and screaming to stop her little boy from having his tantrum in the supermarket? Remember thinking to yourself, who in their right mind would actually resort to that? Yeah, that could be you soon. Believe me, when it happens, all rational thoughts go out of the window and you just want the screaming to stop right away!

6. Gone are the days you could shove a whole sharing size bar of Dairy Milk in your mouth when you were having a bad day. The eating of chocolate, or indeed any 'bad' food, must be carried out like a military operation. Your child is playing happily with a toy? Go, go, gooooo!! Believe me, if they catch you eating it, they will want it, a lot more than those healthy raisins in their hand.

7. Be prepared for your adorable baby to suddenly change into the child from the omen complete with evil eyes and strops that definitely resemble a demonic possession. They may hit, bite, punch, slap and headbutt you to within an inch of your life, but trust me, they love you really.

8. The rivalry between mums you may have come across when your baby was younger will still be there with statement such as "My little one has been sleeping through the night since they were only a few days old", "I don't ever resort to using calpol/bonjela/cough mixture on MY child" and "We only eat all organic, freshly sourced foods in our house" being the weapons of choice. Who cares if you aren't 'doing it by the book'?! Every child is different and you always know best.

9. If you were lucky enough to have a routine from an early age, this could all be disrupted by something as minor as a cough, cold or yet another tooth coming through. Bigger changes such as moving house could mean having to start from the beginning again.

10. Don't spend too much time comparing those children the same age as your own especially when looking at developmental milestones such as walking, talking and potty training. Every child is unique and will get to these milestones at a different point. Cameron didn't walk until he was 11 months old and I was all set for calling up the health visitor as I walked at 9 months and thought he was unable to do it!

No matter how many hard times there are raising a toddler, I wouldn't change Cameron for the world.

Every day he amazes me. I love him so much!

Happy Pancake Day!

Today is turning into one of those days.... My brother managed to accidentally take my house and car key with him to work this morning instead of his locker key, which has meant not being able to leave the house all day for me and Cameron, not fun!

Deciding to celebrate Pancake day, I went to make them and, after mixung flour, milk and an egg together in a bowl, I realised the milk was out of date and there were lumps in the batter.... Needless to say, I abadoned the mixture and will have to wait until tonight when I can get some more milk to make my pancakes!

I hope everyone else is having a better day and have had some yummy pancakes! What do you have on yours?

Project 365 #35 Flowers from the Boyfriend

I had barely any sleep last night as Cameron has been unwell with a cough which wakes him up a lot. I was exhausted all day and then almost fainted at my exercise class. When I got home my boyfriend came round and gave me a big bunch of flowers which was really lovely and such a surprise! I love them!

Project 365 #34 My gorgeous son

This morning I had a visitor into my bedroom.... I love him so much!

Project 365 #33 Cinema Trip

Tonight I went to the cinema for the first time in months with my boyfriend. We went to see The Woman in Black which I've seen twice at theatre so wasn't sure I would like it but it was amazing. I'm going to write a proper review of it in another post.

Tag, You're It!

I have been tagged by Chloe at A Twenty Something Mum. Here are the rules:

1) You must post the rules

2) Post 12 fun facts about yourself in the blog post

3) Answer the questions the tagger has set for you in their post and then create 12 new questions for the bloggers you plan to tag

4) Tag people

5) Let them know you tagged them

 

12 Facts About me

 

 

 

1. I live by the sea now and have done since I was 8 but I was born in Kent and lived in Kent and London throughout my childhood (and now I hate both places, Bournemouth feels like my home now).

2. I graduated from University last November in Events Management despite having my son just a week before starting back for my final year.

3. After having Cameron I honestly thought I wouldn't be with anyone again. I have been with my boyfriend just over four months and am unbelievably happy.

4. I have two best friends, one who is about to have her first baby and the other who I rarely get to see as she lives in Brighton with her boyfriend.

5. I dyed my hair black when I was 17 and it took an age to get back to my natural dark blonde and then finally highlighted to my current pale blonde colour (which I love too much to probably ever dye another colour again).

6. When I was 16 I was engaged for six months. So glad that didn't work out!

7. I can be extremely argumentative and can definitely hold my own in a fight despite looking weak.

8. I still think Johnny Depp is the most gorgeous man alive even though he is the same age as my mum.

9. Having a baby was the best thing that ever happened to me (yes, even though I wasn't with the dad and went through it alone). It has put a lot of things in perspective and made me a stronger person and I would never be without Cameron.

10. I used to want four kids (a boy then twin girls and then another boy). Now I will be happy with just one more.

11. I absolutely love wedding planning and will be an absolute nightmare when it comes to planning my own as I have seen so many amazing ideas whilst doing my dissertation.

12. I have absolutely no desire to own my own house anytime soon. I cannot imagine myself getting excited about settees and painting. I am quite a restless person and renting suits me better.

 

My Questions from Chloe:

 

1. Which one person has had the most influence on your life and why?

Definitely Cameron, without a doubt because he has just changed absolutely everything about my life, but definitely for the better. Before I had him I had no real aim in life. I knew I wanted to finish my degree, but other than that I was a bit lost. He gave me purpose.

2.Looking back if you could tell your pre-child self one thing what would it be?

Get as much sleep as you can! Seriously. You are going to be sleep deprived for the next few years and you will never appreciate how free you were before having Cameron. Every little thing is harder with a baby, from getting some lunch to going out to the shops to even the mundane things such as having a shower and shaving your legs.
3.When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher like my mum until I realised just how bloody stressful the job is and I decided I wanted to go into events instead ('cos, you know, that's not stressful at all haha).
4.What tv programmes do you like to watch?

I love Desperate Housewives, and will be very sad when it finishes this season. I also love One Born Every Minute even though it does make me really broody. I used to really like TOWIE but this series has definitely gone downhill. I like watching things like House and Dexter from time to time which is good as my boyfriend loves them.
5.What's the most rebellious thing you've ever done?

Hmmm.... having the baby despite my ex trying to get me to have an abortion? I would say that was pretty rebellious. But other than that it would probably be going to a party I was told not to go to, sleeping in my first boyfriend's room when his parents said I couldn't, or getting my piercings and tattoos despite my mum being against them.
6.How would you describe parenthood (in one sentence only)

The most amazing thing you will ever do, but you will never be fully prepared for it.
7.What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you?

Since being a mum? Or ever? Being a mum it would probably be the amount of times Cameron has very nearly managed to wee on me.
8.If you were given £5,000 how would you spend it?

I would be sensible and save some then take Cameron to Disney, myself and my boyfriend somwhere abroad, and then maybe get myself some nice perfume and go on a shopping spree.
9.What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate and crisps. I have started hiding chocolate in my underwear drawer for when I get majorly stressed out and need a chocolate fix. I am awful at controlling myself when I have crisps, especially Doritoes. I can easily sit and eat an entire sharing bag in one sitting.
10.Who in your life do you wish you showed your appreciation for more than you do?

My mum. Being one myself has made me realise just how hard a role it is and she does so much for me especially now I have Cameron. She is amazing and I still don't show her how much I appreciate everything she does.

 The People I Tag are:

 

Rachel at Life of a Sweetaholic

Charlotte at Confessions of a Small Town Girl

Emily at Egtx3

Nadine at Freebird

Bex at Futures

Lucy at Lucy Writes

Lauren at The Cosmetics Kitten

Juliette at Sophie the Giraffe

 

 My 12 Questions for you to answer in your posts!

 

1. What is your goal for this year?

2. Who is your biggest inspiration?

3. What was your nickname when you were younger?

4. What is your all time favourite film?

5. Favourite way to relax?

6. Best holiday you have ever gone on?

7. If you only had one day left on earth, what would you spend your time doing?

8. Can't live without beauty product?

9. Favourite childhood toy?

10. Craziest thing you have ever done?

If I have tagged you and you decide to participate please either leave me a comment below or let me know on Facebook or Twitter so that I can be nosey!

Getting Broody!

Why is it that as soon as you start getting broody, suddenly babies and pregnant women appear absolutely everywhere?!

I know I already have a baby (well, a toddler, he is way too big and advanced to be a baby now), but seriously a combination of weekly episodes of One Born Every Minute and seeing my best friend get steadily closer to having her baby is making me want another baby!

Project 365 #32 Catch up with the Girls

Last night I went for a meal and a catch up with my friends from school and had a really nice time. I don't get to see them as much as I would like as three of us have kids and the fourth is very busy at work as a teacher. We met at a nice new cafe/bar in town and I had a very yummy chicken panini. I can't believe how much we have all grown up. The conversation was centred around marriage and babies and buying houses. Very mature!

Project 365 #30 Time with my Little Man and #31 Brother's Birthday Meal

Oops, missed a couple, bad blogger! On Wednesday I had lots of quality time with Cameron and took advantage of him being in a cuddly mood. I even managed to take a photo (although it is blurry, and when I tried to take another one he decided he wanted to get up and play instead, damn it!).

Yesterday was my little brother's 17th birthday and we all went out for a meal (slight disaster with not being able to book a table meant we didn't eat until gone nine, starving!). It was a good night, although Cameron is definitely at that akward age of never wanting to sit still!