Sunday 27 October 2013

Challenge Update - October

My 2013 challenges are:-

1) Watch one old film each month.

2) List five items on Ebay each month.

3) Have a date night with Mick each month.


I watched one film in which Vivien Leigh won an Academy Award earlier on in the year. I love Gone With The Wind, a wonderful film, but I'd never seen the film in which she won her second Best Actress Oscar, A Streetcar Named Desire, so I chose this as my film to watch for October. I didn't know anything about the story so didn't know what to expect at all, and I have to say that the film didn't pan out at all as I was expecting. When visiting her sister in New Orleans, Vivien Leigh's character is told to "Take a streetcar named Desire and transfer to one called Cemeteries", a good outline of the plot. Three of the four main actors received academy awards for their performances, which isn't surprising as the acting is fabulous. It's just a shame that Marlon Brando missed out on the Best Actor Oscar for which he was nominated as, in my opinion, he gave a wonderful and very believable performance. I enjoyed this film and will definitely watch it again.

Listing on Ebay is ongoing, I'm still managing five items each month, and most of them are selling. I have a few things which haven't sold but I find that most have sold when they've been relisted. I'm hoping that I won't be left with many of the sixty items I'll have listed over the course of the year when this challenge ends.

Mick and I went for a pub meal for our date night. The pub we went to is one we used to visit quite often, but haven't been to for a number of years now. We bumped in to our old neighbours there from the house we used to live in twenty years ago. We'd never seen them since we moved so it was nice to catch up and hear all their news.

It feels as though my washing machine has been going constantly this weekend as Daniel has come home from university bringing his washing with him. I've stood and ironed it all this morning so it's all ready for him to take back with him later on today. It's time to start all over again now with our washing which has had to wait while Daniel's got done. I hope you've all had a more relaxing weekend than I have.

22 comments:

  1. I think I may take a leaf out of your book and try out a film a month, an excuse to just chill out for a couple of hours, sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This challenge has really made me watch some films I've intended to watch for some time now. As you say, it's nice just to chill out sometimes.

      Delete
  2. Another classic film this month which I haven't seen, but from your review it sounds as though I should make a point of watching it.
    Oh no, the thought of all that ironing! But it must have been wonderful seeing Daniel.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd definitely recommend this film, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vivien Leigh is brilliant in it, in fact, all four main actors are. I'm glad I keep up to date with my ironing, it doesn't seem so bad then, but it's been lovely seeing Daniel, though he's spent lots of time sleeping and also working. Time for him to go home very soon.

      Delete
  3. Are you going to continue these next year or have different ones?
    Your last paragraph made me laugh. I bet that a lot of mums have done the same. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will definitely have challenges again next year, though they'll be different to these. They'll still be fun though. I'll go forward trying to carry on with these challenges though, like I did with last year's challenges. I still have fresh flowers in the house, though not continually. and I'm still trying to read a book each month. I'm still knitting and crocheting, though I'm taking on larger projects like blankets so I'm not completing one item each month. I'm loving my crafting though. I'm very aware of my weight still, though not actively dieting at the moment, and I'm still enjoying walking. These were all challenges from 2012, so even though they're not current challenges, I'm still aware of them. I'm sure that going forward, I'll be able to say the same about the challenges I set this year.

      Delete
  4. It sounds like you're doing very well with your challenge! I really love Streetcar; I can watch that one over and over again. I'm glad you had a nice dinner out. I hope you enjoy your weekend with Daniel at home. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Streetcar is a film I will definitely watch again, it wasn't at all what I was expecting, even after it started. I enjoy going for meals out, it means I get to eat some things which I never make at home, like curry, which I had this time. I don't tend to make things which the rest of the family don't like, even though Indian food is my absolute favourite. I've loved having Daniel at home but it will soon be time for him to go back to uni again.

      Delete
  5. Well done for keeping up with your challenges. I'm sure there must be a challenge for Daniel here somewhere!
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're enjoyable challenges which makes it easy to keep up with them. There's plenty of challenges for Daniel, I don't think he'd be very keen to take them up though.

      Delete
  6. I've never seen that movie either and may try to borrow it when we are settled.
    Glad your ebay listings are going well. That washing sounds like when you come home from holidays and feel like another one when it's all done. Is Daniel enjoying Uni so far? Take care and enjoy the coming week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a great film, I'm sure you'd enjoy it. I get a bit fed up listing everything on Ebay but I'm sure I'll be happy with my Paypal balance at the end of the year. It was a bit like holiday washing, I felt a bit under pressure to get it all done to go back with him today but I managed it. Daniel had a little wobble a couple of weeks in, but he seems to be really enjoying uni now.

      Delete
  7. What a great idea, I bet that you have seen some great films this year. I have never seen Streetcar, but if I see that it is on, I will definately watch it after your good review. Hope that the other challenges are going OK and that you have a good result by the end of the year. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've enjoyed just about all the films I've watched this year. I'm sure you'd enjoy Streetcar, I didn't have a clue what it was about but it was really good, some great performances. I'm enjoying the rest of the challenges too.

      Delete
  8. I bet you have enjoyed every minute of having Daniel home, even if you have been busy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly have. I was sad having to take him back tonight but he'll be home again soon, I'm sure.

      Delete
  9. Hi Jo
    Glad you enjoyed your weekend with Daniel and that he seems to be settling in to Uni life now. I love old films especially old black & whites. There is nothing I like better if everyone is out on a Sunday afternoon I can snuggle up with my boys and watch uninterrupted.And because when you go to the pictures you have nice munchies to eat I treat myself to that as well. Not watched anything for a while as I haven't had a quiet Sunday to myself in ages. May be that will be my 2014 challenge to get them back again. Daughter was home from Uni this weekend but spent Saturday night in A & E as she had pulled something in her back and was in agony. Needless to say they couldn't really do anything except give her pain killers which we then couldn't get from the pharmacy until yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Daniel was glad to be going back to uni last night. He comes home to recharge his batteries as there's so much going on there, as well as his studies, so he's all set to go again after some much needed rest. It's a bit of a treat to set aside some time to watch a film, especially if munchies are involved too. Very enjoyable though. Sorry to hear about your daughter having to spend time in A&E, I hope the pain killers work for her. There isn't really much that can be done for a bad back, is there? I hope it mends itself quickly.

      Delete
  10. I don;t think I've ever seen this film before but I love the way you've kept to your monthly challenges. Just think how many excellent old film you'll have seen by the end of the year. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've really enjoyed this challenge, I've rewatched some films and seen lots of new ones too. I can definitely recommend this one.

      Delete
  11. There's nothing quite like the old movies and that would be a challenge I'd have no problem fulfilling.
    I do hope you are ok there and that nasty storm that we even find telecast about all the way over here passes quickly.
    Susan x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love old films so I'm thoroughly enjoying this challenge. The storm has passed by already, though we didn't get much of it here, in fact, the sun is shining at the moment.

      Delete