Friday 27 February 2015

Challenge Update - February 2015

My 2015 challenges are:-

1. Read one book each month.
1a. Read Agatha Christie books in chronological order.
2. Watch films from IMDb's top 100 movies of all time.
3. Support charities.


I've had another good month in February. Two books have been read on the Kindle, the first one being Little Women. This is a book I've never read before, I remember watching the film but couldn't remember everything about it so when I saw this was free for the Kindle, I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad that I did as I really enjoyed it. I read a post at the back end of last year which Amy wrote on her Love Made My Home blog, Orchard House and Louisa May Alcott, about her visit to the author's house in Concord, Massachusetts which I found really interesting as the book was actually loosely based on Louisa and her three sisters.

The second book I read in February was The Inn At The Top by Neil Hanson. This book has the subtitle Tales of Life at the Highest Pub in Britain, so that should give you some idea of what this book is about. It's packed with anecdotes about the author and his wife's time at the inn, in a remote part of the Yorkshire Dales, back in the 1970's with bits of history about the area thrown in for good measure. A thoroughly enjoyable read.



I read the second of Agatha Christie's books, The Secret Adversary. This book introduces the reader to Tommy and Tuppence, two fictional detectives who appear together in four Agatha Christie novels and one collection of short stories. I'm familiar with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple but I've never come across Tommy and Tuppence in any Agatha Christie books I've read previously so this was a bit of a surprise. I enjoyed the book and didn't guess the ending.


I've had a bit of a film watching marathon this month, ten in total.

For A Few Dollars More is one of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, the second in the Dollars Trilogy which are a favourite of my dad's. I can't say I was enthralled, it was watchable but not really my thing.

The Shawshank Redemption is number one on IMDb's top 100 and I can see why. It's a film I've seen before and one, I'm sure, I'll watch again. It would definitely make it on to my top 100, quite near the top.

I wasn't looking forward to watching Life Is Beautiful, an Italian comedy drama. I confess that I'm not all that fond of films with subtitles, but this was such a lovely film. A Jewish Italian, Guido, and his family are taken to a Nazi concentration camp where Guido comes up with an idea to shield his son from the true horror of the situation. Bittersweet. I'm pleased I watched it. Roberto Benigni directed and starred in this film and he won an Oscar for Best Actor, very well deserved in my opinion.

I nearly gave Pulp Fiction a miss even though I didn't really know what it was about. I'd heard about the violence and didn't fancy it, but it wasn't at all what I was expecting, I didn't realise it was a black comedy. I actually really enjoyed the film, very clever how three separate stories are connected together, and I loved John Travolta in it. Mick had never seen it before either so I sat through it a second time with him.

American History X is a film I've never heard of before. It's about two brothers, one a neo Nazi skinhead who ends up a reformed character after his time in prison, and the other who seems to be going down the same lines. A very powerful storyline which is bound to stir up strong emotions. This is another film I wouldn't have chosen to watch but I'm glad that I did.

One of my favourites is Forrest Gump. I don't know how many times I've seen this already, but I'm sure it's another one which I'll watch again. I think Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor and is fantastic in the role. This would definitely make my top 100.

Full Metal Jacket is about new Marine recruits, taking the viewer through their basic training and in to combat in Vietnam. I'm not really in to war films and this wasn't my thing, but it was watchable. It wouldn't make it in to my top 100 though.

Another Tom Hanks film, The Green Mile. I think this would make my top ten, a hopeless, tragic story about men on death row, but a beautiful tale too. This is another film which I can watch over and over again.

The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II are number two and three on IMDb's list. They wouldn't make it on to my list, but that's not to say they're not great films. I'm not in to gangster movies at all so these really weren't to my taste. I did enjoy watching Al Pacino when he was younger though, a very good looking man.



Eleanor cleared a few things out of her drawers and wardrobes a couple of weeks ago so they were taken to The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd clothing bank. These clothing banks are so handy, they're usually situated in supermarket carparks and I know I can take my donations there at any time of day, they don't close like charity shops do.

Lend With Care, part of Care International, allows entrepreneurs in developing countries to make their own way out of poverty with the help of a microfinance loan. Making a contribution towards the loan is a great way to help someone help themselves and this can be in £15 increments. The entrepreneur's profile is regularly updated so you can follow their progress and see how their new source of income is transforming their life. Providing all goes well, the loan will be repaid to your account and you can then decide whether to withdraw the amount you lent or you can go on to help more entrepreneurs in the same way. I think it's a great scheme so I've helped a lady in Zambia with her bakery business this month. It's a very short term loan and should be repaid in July so I hope to go on and help more people in the same way.

It's been another busy month where my challenges are concerned but I'm hoping to have a bit of a rest over the weekend as I'm suffering with conjunctivitis at the moment and I've also done something to my back, I'm not sure what as it came on suddenly without me realising. I do hope it doesn't stick around, a bad back is something I can definitely do without now that the gardening season is nearly upon us.

Have a good weekend everyone.

34 comments:

  1. Thank you for the mention Jo, I am so glad that you enjoyed Little Women!! She wrote lots of other things which you can get free on your kindle if you are inspired to try more. I have never read any of the Tommy and Tuppence books, although knew of them, so I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed this one. I was just thinking the other day about you and your Agatha reading! Certainly a busy month for your challenges, I hope that your back is better soon so that you can get out in the garden. I hope too that your loan to the lady with her bakery works well, it is amazing how what seem like small amounts to us can make a huge difference elsewhere isn't it. A really worthwhile thing to do! Good luck next month! xx

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    1. You're welcome, it was such an interesting post. I thoroughly enjoyed Little Women and may read more of her books in the future. I think the Lend With Care scheme is absolutely brilliant, as you say, a small amount to us can make a huge difference to someone else. They give updates so it will be nice to hear more about how she's doing. Thank you, I'm hoping it doesn't take too long until my back is feeling better.

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  2. Love the book Little Women and the movie with Susan Sarandon did it great credit. I've been to Orchard House. It is lovely and you can almost hear the giggles and tears that permeate from the walls where once the girls lived.
    You've done well with your challenges. Soon you'll be back along the trails and then you can set new ones.
    Susan x

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    1. I can't remember now whether it was the Susan Sarandon film or the earlier one which I saw, but I'd like to see it again now that I've read the book. How lovely to be able to visit Orchard House. Amy did a great job in her post of bringing it to life.

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  3. Oh yes and I hope you feel well soon...
    Susan x

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    1. Thank you. I've never really suffered with back pain so it's very annoying that it's bothering me now.

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  4. Hope you get to feeling better soon! I did finish the "Yorkshire Shepherdess" and enjoyed the book very much. What a hard life when you have to care for so many animals (and children) in such a remote area of the Dales. Good read!

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    1. Thank you I'm dosing myself up with painkillers at the moment, I'm hoping it doesn't hang around too long. Glad to hear that you enjoyed The Yorkshire Shepherdess. It does seem like an idyllic existence in some ways but then you hear about how cut off they are and I'd rather not.

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  5. I love the book Little Women, I'm hoping I can persuade my daughter to read my old battered copy. You've accomplished so much from your challenges this month xx

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    1. I'm surprised I haven't read Little Women before now as it's just my type of thing. I'm sure your daughter would love it. Eleanor isn't a big reader, I'm so sad about that as I know she's missing out on some great books.

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  6. I love Little Women and am so glad you enjoyed it. I studied English in college and concentrated in 19th century American literature, female authors in particular, so that era is really one of my favorites. The movie list is very impressive. I've only seen a few of them myself. I love The Green Mile, it's a very good story. If you'd like to watch another movie based on a short story by Steven King, I recommend Stand By Me, if you haven't seen it already. It's a wonderful story, sad at times and very affecting.

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    1. How lovely to study something you're obviously so passionate about. The Green Mile is such a brilliant film. It's funny, I've never been able to get in to Stephen King's books, though Mick used to read them. I've seen Stand By Me a few times, Eleanor watched it for the first time about a year ago and loved it.

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  7. Well done on keeping up with your challenges, Jo. You've watched a lot of films that I wouldn't watch! I hope your eyes clear up soon and I always use a hot water bottle to ease my back pain. In fact, there's one at my back as I type! Take care of yourself! :o)

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    1. The thing I like about my film challenge is that I'm watching films which I would never have watched otherwise, and I'm finding I quite enjoy some of them. My eyes are much better today, thank you. I wouldn't be without a water bottle, they ease so many aches and pains and I've been using one on my back.

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  8. Haven't heard of Lend with Care before. What a great idea. I will look into this. Iv'e always loved Little Women and Jo's Boys.
    Look after yourself you sound run down
    xx

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    1. I found Lend With Care on the Money Saving Expert forums, I think it's a wonderful idea, and providing you get your money back, your £15 can go on to help more and more people to help themselves. I really enjoyed Little women and will probably read more of Louisa May Alcott's books in the future. I think you've hit the nail on the head about being run down, I usually pick something up around Christmas time but I didn't last year, I think I'm just a little late this time round.

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  9. Little women is a lovely story. Sounds like you are doing a good job with your challenges. Hope your conjunctivitis clears up and your back improves! I have had lower back and hip issues this past week. Today, is better hurray! Its just no fun when part of you is not right! Have a good weekend. :)

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    1. I really enjoyed Little Women, I'm pleased that I'd forgotten huge chunks of the story from when I watched the film, it made the book even more enjoyable. My eyes are much better today, thank you, but my back isn't. I don't usually suffer with back pain so it's even more annoying.

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  10. I must reread Christie's Tommy and Tuppence books. You certainly watched a lot of films but I'm not sure that I would have watched many of them.
    Lend With Care is a such a good idea and I know several people who support it and donate regularly. Flighty xx

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    1. I'd never even heard of Tommy and Tuppence before I read this book, yet I read quite a lot of Agatha Christie in my teens, I wonder how I missed them. I wouldn't have watched many of the films I did this month if I wasn't doing this challenge, but I really enjoyed many of them so I'm pleased I did. I think Lend With Care is a brilliant idea. I like to support charities where you can see exactly where your money is going and the good that it's doing. I'm looking forward to reading this lady's updates.

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  11. Sounds as though you've done really well in February, well done! I was interested to read about Lend With Care - I've been lending on a similar basis for several years now, with a website called Kiva. It's a lovely way of helping people to help themselves, I think. Have a great weekend.

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    1. They're fun challenges so very easy to keep up with. I'd never come across anything like Lend With Care before but I agree, it's a brilliant way to help people. It seems to work really well as I read lots of reviews before committing so I'm anxious to read more about the lady in question now.

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  12. The Godfather films are among our favorites, we liked Pulp Fiction too, Green Mile was ok, Shawshank Redemtion was ok, not crazy about Forest Gump (part of it was filmed here in Savannah), haven't seen American History X. We do like the Clint Eastwood films, but the 3rd one is by far the best.
    I've read Little Women many times. Not crazy about the Tommy/Tuppence stories.
    You have been busy.

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    1. I like to hear which of these films you've enjoyed too. Pulp Fiction really caught me off guard, I was convinced it wasn't my kind of film but I thought it was very good. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is on my list so I'll be getting round to that one soon.

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  13. Did you have time to do anything apart from watch movies? I haven't seen Pulp Fiction before, but may well give it a go now. I love Little Women and I enjoyed reading all her other books about the March family.
    But Lend With Care sounds brilliant; I love the idea that, with luck, you get your money back to keep or lend again. Sort of like an endless donation of the same £15? But such a good idea.

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    1. I must admit that my movie watching did take up quite a bit of time this month. Be warned about Pulp Fiction, it is violent and there's lots of bad language, but it wasn't what I was expecting, I did enjoy the film. Lend With Care is such a brilliant scheme, I've never heard of a charity like this before and I'm sure my donation will go on to help lots of people.

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  14. I'm sorry to hear about the conjunctivitis and your back. Do you think this is from where you fell over the other week?
    I read LW years ago, I do remember enjoying it a lot. Never heard of Tommy and Tuppence, they sound like an interesting couple!
    I have been lending loans through the same organisation for a few years now, it's a great idea isn't it.
    You have certainly done well with the movies, I'm with you on most of them!
    Lisa x

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    1. My eyes are much better now but my back is still very painful. I don't think it's from my fall. I really enjoyed Little Women, I don't know why I haven't read it before now. Lend With Care is a brilliant idea, I'm all for helping people who want to help themselves, they just need a bit of help. I'm ready to start on my movie watching for March now, I've got lots taped so I'm raring to go.

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  15. I hope that you're feeling a bit better now... Bad backs are SO miserable. You have been busy! Jx

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    1. Thank you, I'm feeling much better today. I've still got twinges in my back but it's nowhere near as bad as it has been.

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  16. That's loads of movies Jo! I really enjoyed the LW books when I was a girl, perhaps I should revisit them. I've not heard of Lend with Care, it sounds good though. I do hope your back gets better soon, and your eyes too xx

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    1. I don't know where I found the time to watch that many films, you'd never believe that I'm not a huge movie watcher looking at this list. I hadn't heard of Lend With Care until recently but I think it's a brilliant scheme. My back and eyes are much better today, thank you.

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  17. Glad to read above that your eyes are better, I do hope your back soon is too. You do have my sympathy. There is something weird going on with my back as well.

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    1. Thank you, I'm feeling much better today, but still getting twinges in my back. I think I need to take it easy until it's gone completely but that's easier said than done.

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