Why Last Christmas (the movie) made me cry

Why Last Christmas the movie made me cry

A brand new, Christmas themed chick flick is out! Excitement filled me as I realised there was a gap in my diary to go and watch it at the cinema the day after it began to show.

The trailers showed what looked like a rom-com type of theme with lots of love to be had and of course, Christmas ‘things’. Was it going to be like Mamma Mia? Everyone said it was set to the theme of Wham! songs. Remembering back to when I was a kid, I saw Wham! on tour at Wembley in London.  December 23^rd1985.

Those were sad and lonely days in my little bedroom, playing over and over, "Like a baby" on vinyl until I fell asleep, to the glow of an oil lamp I used to light. 

Last Christmas (the movie) gave me a jaw-dropping plot twist to fathom! I am the person who can always predict what is about to happen in the storyline but I really didn’t see this one coming. Of course, there are no spoilers here but if you see the trailer you will see what I am about to mention here on this post.  

You see, for me, this day saw far more than just going and watching a movie.  The main character Kate (played by Emilia Clarke – who has the most incredible facial expressions and eyebrows) goes through a personal journey.  From being somewhat a ‘misfit’ in life and trying to please her family and friends, while getting so much wrong, she has a miserable time until she meets Tom.  Played by the most handsome guy I’ve seen on the big screen lately, Henry Golding, Tom begins to break down the hard outer shell Kate has built for herself through past hurts.  As her softer side unfolds, we see her opening up to letting her heart do the talking as “Heal the Pain” (George Michael) weaves throughout the film.

Casting my mind back many years to an old friend who was a guy, he used to play Heal the Pain to me all the time after my own heartbreak. Corny, I know but I don’t mind; it is a lovely memory that moved me at the time and took me right back to that moment in the film too.  Of course, my eyes began to fill with tears and I hoped they wouldn’t flow. 

It worried me how much I could relate to the main character and if you have seen the trailer, I’m giving nothing away by telling you there is pretty much a love story unfolding.  Kate lets Tom in to her closed heart. Something I struggle with, letting people in.  I can only imagine how hard this is for her.  

The plot twist happens and we see so much unfolding within the story which takes us to an ending where Kate has to go on her own journey of learning to love herself, just like the song says, 

     “Be good to yourself ‘cos nobody else has the power to make you happy.”

And I cried LOTS more. 

Did I love this film?

Oh goodness, YES! 

Some have said it’s cliché’ and cheesy.  Isn’t that exactly what a good rom-com Christmas themed movie needs to be?

Set in London, it was beautiful to see familiar places like Regent Street and Covent Garden lit up for Christmas but for me, the characters made this film what it is, with a little George Michael magic thrown in. The storyline definitely took me through a personal journey, during the time I was watching, and the tears were a demonstration of my own life adjustments I am trying hard to sit comfortably with just now. 

Go see this film! It will make you feel Christmassy and that plot twist is definitely something to make you gasp! 

Let me know what you thought too while I try and be a little more ‘Kate’.

"I'm just scared all the time; they just expect me to be normal." (Kate) 

Signs that autumn is here

October 30th already - gosh - and today it was plain to see that autumn is here.

The cool air in the morning and the dewy tops of the cars starting out their day were a sight to see in their glistening beauty as I snuggled into my warming car seat to drive to the coast.

Today was a brand new start on my writer journey as I travelled to the Kentish coastal town of Deal to begin a writing course with the plan to hone my craft of writing a story arc more fluently.  As one of my very best friends lives in Deal, we decided to use this opportunity to get ourselves together for a fabulous catch up!

Coffee and Walnut gluten free cake (made me smile..)

....Julie made me laugh, as always

I do love a classic. This Triumph made it look like we had gone back in time

Officially Autumn

End of day writing session

WHY Blogs used to be about peoples lives

When blogging first became a thing it took a brave heart to begin talking about life online.  It wasn't for the feint hearted of course but quickly we all became invested in hearing about peoples stories. 

Day to day journalling was most definitely a type of therapy almost for so many readers and writers and the way blogging has morphed is both a good and bad 'thing'.  So many bloggers now are wonderfully creative and writing about various niche topics and creating an income at the same time! Fabulous! It's hard work maintaining an online business and while often there is a flexibility to it, allowing people to fit it into a laptop lifestyle, travel, take care of children and other things, there is no denying it's a constant stream of implementing ideas.

Seldom do we write about life on blogs now and most blogging experts, offering advice and courses, advise against this idea if you want to make good money blogging. Is it all about making money though?

What do you think?
We have a huge audience for the 'big brother' type of shows, love island and other fly on the wall programmes and documentaries.  We all know someone who only reads true stories or biographies, especially autobiographies which are written from the point of view of the author and narrator.  So, we are definitely all interested in other people's lives.

We like to be inspired and motivated by those stories. Learning something or feeling something.

So why not blogging?

Why don't we resurrect such blogs? There are plenty out there with a huge audience.  

For so long, I have neglected my blog here and it truly is one of my most favourite things to write.  My stats have dropped from 9000 views a month to around 1-2k in my absence.  I apologise.  It is my intention, now that life is calming down and beginning to feel more like my old life once again, to write more, including this blog. 

I'm going to begin to urge people (maybe you?) to do the same; to write their stories.  Perhaps your story has meaning and you want to share it for others to understand, or maybe you simply want to write to help you through a bad patch but keep your thoughts private! Yep, look out and stand by as I will be encouraging, inspiring and helping those of you who want to write your personal stories, to write them.  I am on a mission to get my stories written and out there, as well as keep sharing my life on Youtube and instagram.

Recently, I have deleted the copious amounts of websites I have been running intermittently while studying my science degree then my post grad in writing and it's time to laser focus on the thing I really love and need to share before I leave this world.  Who's with me?  Fancy a bash at writing your stories, with my help? 

Much love, as always

Louise xoxo

Ps it's great to be back!