(no subject)

[rebness]

I didn't get a chance to update my journal regarding the weekend before the operation came along, but it was indeed a fantabulous affair. I met up with jaffacakequeen in Manchester for festive goodness. We went to the European markets which were in town, and had that gluhwein and Dutch waffles and lo, they were good. It's so wonderful to hear the different dialects and accents about (and that's just the other Brits). There was a real sense of community and festiveness about as we rubbed shoulders with Germans, Spaniards, Italians, French, Dutch... I think Manchester is brilliant for hosting the markets. I also learned it's probably best not to trawl the market after that potent German wine because it makes a person make stupid and costly decisions.

At the French market:

Becky: (sees some nice pate) Ooh... c'est combien?
Man: Douze.
Becky: *Hands over £20, starts walking away* Wait... I... seem to have paid my life savings for that pate.
And then, somewhere in my drink-befuddled brain, I realise that douze is twelve. Twelve quid for pate! Uh-oh.

I think that'll be going towards my aunt's Christmas present.

We also went on the Manchester wheel, pics of which I'll post later. It was great to catch up with jaffacakequeen and just relax before this week came about. We also went to the Manchester Natural History museum or whatever it's called, and I picked up a gorgeous amethyst stone and some Egyptian ornaments before being struck by how impossible massive a T-rex was. And now, I shall talk about Narnia, which we went to see and which she knew I'd rant about.



I am a Roman Catholic, and feel comfortable enough in my faith not to care about the blitherings about OMGZ teh evul people who want to say “Season’s Greetings” instead of Merry Christmas, and I also feel confident enough to denounce something as Christian propaganda shite if I so feel moved.

Narnia, you’re Christian propaganda shite. I hate how Susan was lambasted by the others for thinking instead of just acting, even told she should stop “being clever” at one point. What kind of example is that to modern children? The Christian messages were more overt than covert, I thought, but the problem was it focusing on mainly aggressive takes on religion rather than a conciliatory Christianity.

The most cringe-worthy, annoying, stupid part was when Father Christmas appeared. Not the appearance itself, as fromage-laden as that invariably is, but when he hands Susan a present of a bow and arrow.

Susan: But I thought… war was bad?

Father Christmas: *Smiles condescendingly*

Now, yes. Narnia is a product of a different time, but when the world is awash with blood and the war on terror leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of so many nations, this was an insensitive and stupid take.

There were good things about Narnia. I can see why Tolkien hated the series, but I can also see why children would like it (though I despised the books as a child, ha!) There was the witch, for one. Scary and demure. Edmund was quite good. Nice special effects. I don’t think it will be gracing my films of 2005, though.